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V "\ Rescue 50 In Progress As Rescue 50 progresses Sunday, a rescue squad or sheriffs vehicle is waiting al every road crossing to assist with traffic *s snowmobilers use portions of roads and highways during their cross country marathon. This scene is about a half mile south of Johnsburg road, on Riverside drive. The McHenry and Johnsburg rescue squads will benefit from proceeds of pledges made to riders. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD iff 1 • t# THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' 3toart> Winning Dttospaper 1978̂ -- Illinois Press Association Newspaper Contest VOLUME 103 NUMBER 53 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31. 1979 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 20' Wonder Lake Couple Dies In Home Fire A Wonder Lake couple died early Saturday morning when their house at 7705 Orchard drive was destroyed by fire. Firemen found the badly burned bodies of Walter R. Vltavsky, 44, and his wife, Roxanna R. Vltavsky, 42, in the home after the fire had been extinguished. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The body of Mr. Vltavsky was reportedly found in the upstairs of the two-story home, while Mrs. Vltavsky's body was reportedly downstairs. The Wonder Lake fire department received the call at 12:41 a.m. and within four minutes the fire department and rescue squad were at the scene. When they arrived the house was already engulfed by the fire, with flames shooting into the air. A resident from the other side of Wonder Lake reported that the flames were visible across the lake before the fire had been reported. The house was a two-story frame with a one-story ad­ dition The fire reportedly was caused by a gas wall heater located in the addition. There was a strong smell of gas present when firemen arrived on the scene. Damage to the house, which was completely destroyed, was estimated at $50,000 by the fire department. Investigation into the fatal blaze will be continued by the McHenry county Sheriff's police and the Wonder Lake Fire department. AIdermanic Contests Loom Although to date there has been only one filing in each of the city's four wards to fill aldermanic vacancies, there are indications contests may exist. One example is Ward I, in which Jack Pepping of 3105 W. Virginia has filed. Pepping stepped out of office when his term ended two years ago. thus creating a vacancy that was filled in 1978 by Elizabeth Nolan. The seat he seeks is presently held by William J. Bolger, a veteran on the City Council Bolger has a petition out but has not filed. In Ward 2 and Ward 3, only the incumbents have filed. They are George Harker of 1108 Somerset Mall and Ray Smith of 1511 N. Park, respectively. However, other petitions are out. one in each of these wards In Ward 4, where Jerome Rogers is presently, serving to fill a vacancy. Leonard Abruzzo of 5201 Home, has filed. Because Feb 12. the stated deadline for filing, is Lincoln's birthday, if has been extended to Feb 13. County Youth Gacy Victim Feb. 5 Hearing On Zoning Ordinance Due to difficulties in the location, the public hearing scheduled in McHenry on the new zoning ordinance has been changed. The meeting, to be held Monday, Feb. 5, will be at West campus high school, Crystal Lake road, at 7 p.m. The map location is McHenry city hall. The remains of a body unearthed beneath the crawl space of alleged murderer John Wayne Gacy's home, was identified Saturday as the body of a young Crystal Lake man. Mathew Bowman, 18, 316 Maplewood avenue, was one of two victims identified Saturday by Cook County Medical Examiner Robert Stein, who used dental charts supplied by the families to aid in the identification of the skeletal remains. The other person identified was John Mowery, 20, Chicago. Bowman reportedly disap­ peared in July of 1977, although Homicide Victim Identified Positive identification of the body found last Wednesday afternoon in the area of Greenwood and Vender Kan- roads was made by Sheriff's police Friday. Police identified the homicide victim as Edward J. Caraher, Jr., 22, from the Lake Villa area. He had reportedly been listed as a missing person by Lake county authorities. Sheriff's investigators were called to the scene at 3:12 p.m , after a passing motorist discovered the body. The cause of death has not been determined, pending the results of pathological and toxicology reports made at an autopsy. Police had circulated a picture and description of the body late last week in an effort to make an identification. A Sheriff's department spokesman said Monday no further information would be released at that time. a missing person's report was apparently never filed with McHenry Sheriff's police or the Crystal Lake police depart­ ment. The two positive iden­ tifications are the eleventh and twelfth made of the twenty-nine bodies found linked to Gacy. Twenty-nine bodies have been found so far. Tw6 were pulled from the Des Plaines river in Will county and the rest were dug up under the crawl space. Cook county police have once again begun digging in the house and on the property of Gacy's residence, in an unincorporated area of Nor­ wood Park township. Gacy, a known homosexual, reportedly told police he killed 32 young men and boys over the past six years. He reportedly indicated he would have sexual relations with them, often against their will, then killed them in his house The total number of murder victims is reportedly the most ever linked to one person in the history of the U.S. The Cook county grand jury has indicted Gacy on seven counts of murder, but the in­ vestigation is continuing The state's attorney has indicated he will seek the death penalty for Gacy Seventeen bodies found remain to be identified The problem is compounded by the fact that not enough dental records have been received by the Medical examiner's office to help in the identification McHenry Dancers On Ray Rayner TV Show Three Hurt As Snowmobile Hits Car Sunday Afternoon which she could not see. The Adams vehicle was northbound (Continued on page 14) Seek Two In Robbery A fire claimed the lives of a Wonder Lake couple and completely destroyed their house just after midnight Saturday. Firemen found the badly burned bodies of Walter R. Vltavsky, 44, and his wife, Roxanne R. Vltavsky, 42, in the home at 7705 Orchard road after the fire had been extinguished. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The fire reportedly started in the gas wall heater in the addition to the left of the home. Firemen arrived at the scene within minutes after the fire was reported and the flames were already shooting into the sky. The entire building was destroyed and damage was estimated in excess of $50,000. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD Three Wonder Lake residents were treated and released at Memorial hospital in Wood­ stock following a car- snowmobile accident Sunday afternoon. The accident was one of over 60 investigated by Sheriff's police in the county during the weekend. Rhonda S. Smith, 4707 W. Wonder Lake drive, told Sheriff's police she was operating her snowmobile southbound on Greenwood road at Dorr road, approaching a stop sign. She reportedly attempted to slow, but her brakes failed and she struck a car driven by Anthony T. Demitropoulos, 8404 Dorr road, broadside. Demitropoulos said he was westbound on Dorr road and as he went through the Greenwood road intersection, his car was hit by the snowmobile, which didn't stop at the stop sign. Ms. Smith, a passenger on the snowmobile, Laura C. Foreman, 8713 Riley road, and a passenger in the Demitropoulus car, Dena Demitropoulos, Hillside, were injured and taken to the hospital by the Wonder Lake Rescue squad. The driver of the snowmobile was issued three tickets: disobeying a stop sign, operating an unnumbered snowmobile and improper display of snowmobile iden­ tification. A Grayslake woman was ticketed after her car struck a vehicle driven by a McHenry resident. Mary E. Fassbinder was cited for improper backing following the mishap on Charles street near Lake street Sunday morning. She told police she was backing out of a driveway when she struck a vehicle driven by Rita A. Adams, 3001 Maryville, The Robot Dancers, a group which sprang to life spon­ taneously during the 1978 Easter Seal Dance A Thon in Woodstock, have perfected their act sufficiently to rate a spot on the Ray Rayner show. The group of ten McHenry county young people will ap­ pear Feb. 6. The program is seen between 7 and 8:30 a.m. on WGN, Channel 9. The Robot Dancers will perform one number during each of the show's three half-hour segments. The members of„ the group are David Lindquist, Mark Patterson and Sue Barwig of McHenry; Terry Meckley and Colleen Myers of Johnsburg; Bruce Helmied, Ginger Gibbs and Margot Brenten ol Woodstock; and Tina Giuntoli and Steve Petros of Crystal Lake The evolution of the Robot Dancers was an unexpected fringe benefit of last year's Dance-A-Thon which netted $16,700 for the Therapy center (Continued on page 14; At Gas Station Mourn Pastor, 50-Year Local Business Woman sear-McHenry police are ching for the two men repor­ tedly responsible for the Thursday evening robbery of the Clark gas station on Elm street. Police report the two men walked into the station about 7:30 p.m. wearing ski masks. The attendant told police the men threw him up against a wall and demanded his money. After taking $180, the two fled on foot. There was no display of weapons. Investigation of the robbery is continuing by McHenry detectives. Dissension For Sheriff Successor? The year marches on, but in the view of winter-haters, it isn't marching fast enough. As we sit at work, Elm street takes on a rather unique (although not unpleasant) appearance. For almost an entire afternoon, the first within our recollection, traffic on this heavily travelled thoroughfare has been halted for snow removal. We who must get out from parking lots into the melee of cars several times daily found the diversion of all vehicles to other roads a welcome relief. It also prompted our memory to extend back to the years when a constant stream of cars was the exception, not the rule. But as we revelled in our daydreams. the clock reached 4:30 p.m. and cars began whizzing by as we were brought back to Jan. 25, 1979. For some of us who part reluctantly with almost everything, this is a time of (Continued on page 14) Monty Yates of McCullom Lake, vice-chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Central committee, voiced support for Henry Nulle to replace Sheriff Arthur Tyrrell as sheriff. Tyrrell last week Monday announced at a press conference that he was sub­ mitting his resignation to County board president Richard Klemm the following day. "I'm not interested in politics", Yates asserted, "but in the best man for the job. After eight years as chief deputy, he (Nulle) just has to know the operation of the department." Yates, a former trustee for the village of McCullom Lake, was aware of the state election code which dictates that "the appointee shall be a member of the same political party as the person he succeeds was at the time of his election." Nulle reportedly is a Republican. However, Tyrrell, a Democrat, said at the time of his resignation that Nulle was "the most qualified" replacement for his post. Yates said he understood a meeting of the Democratic Central committee is scheduled for sometime Friday. He was unaware of what the committee action would be. In making his statement of support for Nulle, Yates noted that he is precinct com­ mitteemen of the biggest * Democratic vote precinct in this county. At the last election there were 134 Democratic votes. He explained that the election to "support Nulle to the fullest" was his own personal view, but it was influenced by talks he had last weekend with about 40 of "my people". He said they feel the same about the suc­ cessor to the present sheriff, believing it should be the best qualified person Yates said he was unaware ot the feeling of Wayne Frame of Woodstock, president of the Democratic Central com­ mittee The president of the County board will appoint the new sheriff with the approval of the board. FR. ARTHL'R McKAY The Rev Father Arthur Donald McKay, vicar of St Paul's Episcopal church. McHenry. since 1964. died Monday. Jan 29 in McHenry hospital He w as stricken with a heart attack ten days ago Father McKay was born Sept. 9. 1915. in Evanston He received his BA degree.from (Continued on page 14) CLARA STOFFKI. Miss Clara Stoffel. for 50 years a part of the McHenry business community, died Thursday. Jan 25, at Carestoel Professional Care center, McHenry Her home was at 3711 YV Main street Miss Stoffel 90. became associated in 1914 with the firm founded bv her father, the late (Continued on page 14)