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(firemen from McHenry Company One fight Thursday afternoon to keep a liquid propane fire from spreading onto an apartment building ^under construction. Firemen responded to the scene at 4013 Lillian at 12:40 p.m. Workers for O.E.A. Construction reportedly were using a liquid propane torch to heat mortar to use during construction. For an unknown reason, the propane tank ignited, burning the side of the building. The fire caused an estimated $500 damage to the building before being extinguished. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD College Planning Help MCC Sets Admissions Nights As we enter a year long in­ ternational Centennial of Light in observance of the 100th anniversary of Thomas Alva 'Edison's birth, it seems ap­ propriate to reflect on the wonders he brought forth. He gave us the first practical light bulb in 1879 after hundfeds of tries that failed. Some have burned that bulb to better raise a family; others have built a bigger empire through its use. And then there are some who have used it just to look for the dust left under a chair. Edison also gave us the phonograph, the' embryo of the modern day sound system. Some have used it to produce, for the world to hear, musical sounds and historic speeches that have thFilled millions and saved for all time the mastery of artists and statesmen. Others have used it with such fierceness as to destroy the very ears for which the in­ vention came into being. * And Edison invented the telephone. It has served as one of the most necessary at­ tributes to business and social life of modern times. At the same time, it has been put to such excessive use as to rate as top nuisance in more than a few homes. Edison invented the stock ticker, an instrument fhat seemingly, by magic, prints off stock quotations on- a paper ribbon. The invention has relayed news that has put a Chosen few into the million- naire class. And it has been responsible for a few diving off tall buildings in despair. This incredible inventor made possible the movie c&mera, an innovation that has been used to create countless hours of entertainment for the masses. It has also been put into service for the most base appeal to humans by those who would realize financially from degrading films offered the public. And there were more in­ ventions. None of them were intended for anything more than the upliftmentof mankind. Although his first practical light bulb gave birth to the electric industry, this deter­ mined man certainly had no intentions that millions of unhappy people would some day open their light bills and complain.. Edison's reflections on his own life provide a fitting response to those who say "stand still" or "go back". "If I have spurred men to great effort, if our work has widened the horizon of man's understanding even a little and given a measure of happiness in the world, I am content." Poor Mr. Edison! Even his greatness as an inventor and humanitarian spirit have failed to keep many of us from spoiling the very things he intended for our own good. K.A.F MOTOR FUEL TAX McHenry county has been allotted $78,976 as its share of motor fuel tax funds paid into the state treasury during January. The money will be used for highway needs, the amount computed on the basis of motor vehicle registration fees. McHenry county parents and high school students may receive special assistance in college planning by par­ ticipating in Admissions Assistance nights at McHenry County college. Admissions Assistance nights will be held every Thursday evening during March from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Conducted by MCC coun­ selors in the Office of Student Services, Admissions Assistance nights are being offered to give students and their parents a complete pic­ ture of the programs and courses available to students through their community college and to assist them in obtaining information needed to make "college decisions. The evening will consist of a brief information period, a question and answer session, and a tour of the MCC campus facilities. "Admissions assistance is available by individual ap­ pointment during any school day or evening," explained Shirley LeGare, MCC counselor and coordinator of high school relations. "What we are trying to do with the Admissions Assistance nights is encourage parents and students who are still undecided about their college plans to seek help now. In many cases college decisions are put off and made haphazardly or with inadequate information." Ms. LeGare said Those wishing to participate in the Admissions Assistance nights may call the MCC counseling office at < HI5) 455- 3700. extension 260. and ask to reserve a space for either March 1, March 8. March 15, March 22 or March 29. Seminar On Alcoholism A seven-week seminar on Alcoholism Awareness was scheduled to start Feb. 20, at St Patrick's parish hall, McHenry. The public is invited to these Tuesday night sessions, which continue through April 3 from 8-10 p.m. The seminar is sponsored bv SPACE (St. Patrick's Alcoholism Caring En­ deavors ). The sponsor hopes to inform those attending about what the disease is; to show how at­ titudes *^jre often based on myths; to 1-ell what are the helps and the hopes for recovery; and to look at what alcoholism is doing to families. Jail McHenry Man In Purse Theft Attempt A McHenry man was being held in county jail Tuesday on $5,500 bond after he allegedly try to steal a woman's purse after she had offered him a ride. Clarence A. Ellis, 24, 3212 Fairway drive, was arrested at his home Saturday night, after the incident which reportedly occurred at 7:15 p.m Police repqrt Ellis called the department at 7:15 to report that his car had been stolen. Moments later a woman called police to report the at­ tempted theft of her purse. She told police she saw the Ellis vehicle in the snowbank at 820 John street and offered to give him a ride He allegedly told her to pull over and give him her purse. She reportedly began sounding her horn and Ellis fled from the scene ' Police later apprehended Ellis and found a billy club in his possession. He was charged with at­ tempted theft, disorderly conduct, unlawful use of weapons and making a false police report Hold Blizzards Bonus Bonanza Sale The Big Three points of public contention were still alive when the Special Zoning committee made , its revisionary report tp the McHenry County Zoning of Appeals last Thursday at the McHenry county courthouse They are the 35-acre minimum for single family residence; the agriculture intensive use clause; and the prime land classification. JStfe Zoning committee proved that it had worked long and hard by presenting page by page revisions of the proposed ordinance for over a two-hour period. Chaired by Erwin Walters, the other members are * "Don Dohertv, Dean Marlowe. Luann Majewski ai Bob Stoxen. Backing the committee were members of the staff. Susan Hutchinson, assistant state's attorney; Jean, Hervert, Glenn Peterson an< Steve Aradas. Each committee member,/n turn, presented several of revision and then answered questions of clarification for the five ZBA members, chaired by June Girard. Where con­ sidered necessary, the board was given UD to three alter­ native suggestions for its study and final selection The 35-acre minimum for single family residence, which had come under heavy attack recently by the realtors of the county, was considered basic in an effort to control the present 5-acre dispersal of houses in all directions. Testimony at recent meetings has battered away at the idea that 35 acres is too large an area for most persons' pocketbooks; is too small to farm ; and would decrease the value of farmland Actually, the * 35-acre minimum means that any area under 35 acres that is going to - be used for other than farmland must be properly zoned Then there are provisions for many Blizzards Bonus Bonanza is the intriguing name selected by more than 30 McHenry area business people for a special sale that begins Wednesday, Feb. 21, and continues through Feb. 24. The sale, following closely the first Dollar Days of 1979, is being held because of the severe weather since early January that prevented many from following normal shop­ ping habits. It allows mer­ chants to clear their selves for new Spring merchandise and at the same time provides a cost saving for buyers. A special supplement to this issue of the Plaindealer carries many of the sale items. Participating merchants are Windhill, What's Up?, Weathervane Shop, Tones, Toddler Shop, Tami's, Spurgeon's, Shamrock, Riverside Retail Outlet. Radicom, Pants > Place. McHenry Paint, Glass & Wallpaper, McHenry Favorite Sport and McGee's Store for Men; ' Also Hornsby's Family Center, Goodyear Tire Center, Gladstone's, Genevieve's, Fox River Valley Boat Company, First National Bank of McHenry, Fashion Shoppe, Community Auto Supply, Coast to Coast. Casual Shoppe, Cary Electric, Brouhaha, Ben Franklin. Beard & Stovall, Arizona Sun. Adams Lawn & Leisure and Ace Hardware. sizes of parcels. To meet the needs of agriculturists a petition for variation from the 35-acre minimum may be made to provide additional housing for arsons engaged in farming or .the farm family In all areas zoned to allow animals, the requirements of the McHenry County Public Health or­ dinance must be met In felation to the agriculture intensive use provisions of the proposed ordinance, the county hearings had brought to light the fact that consideration also must be given to business and to industrial intensive use The one-half mile radius restric­ tion had been pounced upon with enough , vigor in the hearings to wipe it out An intensive use is a unique use that requires consideration of encompassing En­ vironmental Protection agency standards. In agriculture it generally refers to the number of animal units involved; in business it generally refers to the regulations on gravel pit operations; while in industry, consideration must be given to air quality standards. The proposed ordinance promotes a ZBA hearing to find out if the proposal is an intesified use and to better inform the public, particularly those in close proximity to the proposed use of the land. Although prime land is only one of the many factors con­ sidered in zoning property, many of the hearings brought out the fact that it needed to be more clearly defined The Zoning committee decided that the U S D A definition of prime land is the most appropriate , The definition is: prime land is land best suited for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and all seed crops and is also available for these uses The land currently could be cropland, pastureland, grainland. forestland. or other land but not urban built up land or water It , has the soil quality, growing ' season, and moisture supply needed to produce the same high yield of crops economically when treated and managed, including water management according to modern farming methods At the start of the meeting the room was filled with a wide variety of spectators Agriculturists, realtors, and other interested individuals eagerly awaited news of change for their particular interest As the detailed revisions slowly ate up the clock with no particular signs (Continued on page 14; Largest Baby Born In 18 Years At Hospital Although he doesn't qualify for entry in the Guiness Book of Records, young Eric Reichert Lightbody established a name for himself locally when he was born in McHenry hospital last week Contrary to his name, the 13 lb. 2 oz. baby is recorded as the largest born at the hospital in the maternity department's 18-year history. Eric is the son of William and JoAnn Lightbody of Crystal Lake, who have two other children, a girl, Joell, and a boy, Mark. MCHS Placement Director Aids Job Seeker, Employer Barbara Ludwig was recently appointed as the new job placement officer at McHenry high school She replaces Mary Ann Littleton, who resigned to accept other BARBARALUDWIG employment Mrs Ludwig has already begun to find em­ ployment for interested per­ sons in the McHenry- Johnsburg-Richmond area Mrs. Ludwig's office is STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD located at West campus Her duties include. a Working very rlosely with the Illinois Services Bureau and the Comprehensive Kn (C ontinued on page 14; The McHenry City Council, acting as a committee of the whole for parks, decided at a meeting last week to go to a citizens' committee for advice on the proposed community building for Petersen park. As Mayor Joseph Stanek responded to Alderman Jerry Roger's suggestion to set up an advisory committee by naming some familiar and well used persons, Alderman Ed Datz cautioned, "You got tb get out -to the common citizen (to find out what people want)." The mayor then said he would take several days and get five or eight names. Mayor Stanek laid to rest the affordability of an indoor swimming pool, using available resources, when Jim Zoellick, director of the YMCA facility at Crystal Lake, testified that his building, completed a number of years ago, cost $780,000 and now would probably cost at least $1.5 million. Stanek estimated that the building which he proposes would cost up to a half million and he listed various sources from which he believed the* money would be available or soon to be received. This included about $181,000 from current and next year's revenue sharing funds, some existing park funds, and various, contributions from' developers. William Ewald, a local ar­ chitect who has been working with the park committee to develop plans for an affordable building, warned early in the meeting "Before we get into design, we need input for what kind of groups are coming in. If there is to be a future pool we should spot it now for building orientation". Mayor Stanek noted "We can't act tonight", and Alderman Rogers asked, "If we move into this new building, what are we going to do when we get in there? We need research on what we want to do and then build around jt. I am in favor of including the swimming pool , when someone determines what we want, and we can afford it, fine.Let's not rush into a building unless it's what we need and what we want." Stanek responded with a question, "Who has more ex­ pertise (on this) than you?" Rogers replied,"If it was up to me, I want a pool". The discussion turned to methods of exploring public opinion. A referendum was suggested, except it was pointed out that there was no bbnd issue or local taxes in­ volved. City Clerk Barb Gilpin asked "How about a newspaper poll on the Public Pulse page." Alderman William Bolger said they could hold an open meeting and invite people. Rogers recalled that the school districts had established blue ribbon committees which came up with ideas that are still being used. He believed that a committee was a good idea. And as the mayor did not respond to the discussion about committees, Rogers conceded, "This (building idea) is your pet. You could say to the committee that we got this far (with the building proposal). What do we do with it? And he added later, "I believe that we're going to need many tax dollars to support this struc­ ture." Rogers then asked Ewald if he would rather know what goes in a building and design around it or design a building and fit things into it. E w a l d r e s p o n d e d diplomatically, noting that it was time well spent (on the building discussions) to determine t what the square footage will cost. 'Now we should find out who wants to use it and what programs." Alderman Vincent Adams said that most people would prefer a swimming pool, and Rogers added, "and exercise rooms and facilities for weight w a t c h e r s . " A l d e r m a n Elizabeth Nolan agreed, "It has been a true argument for vears. There has been no swimming pool, and no place for kids to go." Then Mayor Stanek suggested that if people wanted a pool, why not let them sub- sribe money for it Rogers noted that the public woula say that they (the Council) should use the available money for a pool and to spend its own money on the building Rogers continued his urging, "What about a citizens' com mittee"'" Bolger. "We're pretty close together ion ideas about the building)" and repeated his suggestion for a community meeting Ewald observed that if the whole city meets, "It's Katy bar the door" He said a committee could screen the input Stanek. How manv on the committee shall I appoint0 '" Bolger. "Should the Council consider a Park commission"'" Rogers, i suggest we set up an advisory committee, so that it won't take over as he in­ dicated some earlier com mittee and commissions had done (Continued on page 14) THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 3ui<irt> Winning /iruispaprr i 1978-̂ -- IIIin<ii> I'n-N- iaiK.il1 VOLUME 103 NUMBER 59 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1979 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 20s Revised Report By Zoning Group