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/ I f McHenry under sponsorship of Faith STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 187S" VOLUME 105 NUMBER 52 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1981 1 SECTION 20 PAGES Other Races On No Contest For City Mayor 25 Youthful Driver Killed With Michael Wieser's decision not to file his petition, it appears that the office of mayor of McHenry will be uncontested Aprtt 7. Both Wieser and incumbent Mayor Joseph Standi had taken out petitions and Stanek filed on opening day, Jan. 26. Wieser was frank in his explanation of the change of mind. He told of securing the services of a professional, political survey consultant to conduct a telephone survey, at random, of registered voters within the city. Results, he continued, showed that 80 percent of the people contacted thought the present administration was providing the necessary leadership. "In these conservative times", Wieser observed, "it would be like betting on a three-legged horse in a race to enter the contest". Wieser's was not the only change of Richard Barrows of McHenry Shores saw a robin this month, and it may be the best news (except for the eaeitinj; release of the hostages) we heard last week. This wayfarer of the, skies either failed to get off the grouhd last fall, or it is imbued with a courage to challenge the elements sorely lacking in many humans. Whatever the reason, there is a robin in McHenry Shores that provides a ray of light in a world that gives us increasingly more depressing news. If newspapers ever go out of existence, it will not be because of a lack of something to fill them - only a dogged refusal by a weary public to read about the pains of life. It is often referred to as "vigorous growth", but the mushrooming population effect evident in McHenry amounts to one big headache for many. Preliminary results of the 1960 census indicates a growth in McHenry county of 31.8 percent compared with 11.5 percent in the country as a whole in the past 10 years. Growing almost three times as fast likens the county of McHenry to the awkward feeling experienced by the 6- foot tall eighth grade boy or girl whose classmates haven't started to keep pace. The situation can be downright embarrassing. Just glancing at recent issues of our own newspaper tell the story, and the holiday season was probably more optimistic than others. Hospitals to the south continued their relentless effort to halt McHenry hospital's plans for a $29 million, 200- (ContkiiMd on page 16) Symbol For Shaw Group In the Plaindealer's nameplate today there appears the new, stylized "S", which represents the Shaw Media Group. With the creation of this group, the Plaindealer, a B. F. Shaw publication, becomes a part of the largest news gathering organization in McHenry county. In the expansion of news, a reporter has been assigned to the Wonder Lake, Spring Grove and Richmond areas. This is in ad­ dition to the regular columnist for Wonder Lake. A reporter has also been assigned to cover all activities of the McHenry county courthouse. Police Quell Rumor Of Fall From Bridge Sheriffs police have put an end to rumors that a girl or woman fell or jumped from the Rt. 120 bridge late Monday afternoon. In heavy traffic, a passing motorist reported that he saw a woman climb to the railing of the bridge. She disap­ peared, but because of the necessity to watch his driving he could not deter­ mine what happened to her. Several units of the Sheriff's police hurried to the scene but their in­ vestigation failed to reveal anyone in the water. Hie incident occurred about 4:40 p.m. Gypsy Moth Meeting Topic The Illinois Department of Agriculture is holding a public meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28, concerning the department's plans for Gypsy moth control in the community. The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. at city hall, 1111 N.» Green street, McHenry. It is open to the public. mind. Three other candidates for other offices who picked up petitions failed to file. Sharon Gacek and Jerry Rogers, who had petitions out for alderman in Ward IV, never filed. It was the same story with Marilyn Nystrom, who had ex­ pressed a desire to run for treasurer but failed to file her petition. As the deadline passed Monday, the following filings had taken place: Mayor - Joseph B. Stanek Clerk » Barbara Gilpin Alderman, Ward 1 - Elizabeth Nolan (incumbent) and Lynne Donarski Alderman, Ward 11 - Edward Datz (incumbent) and William Austin Alderman, Ward 111 - Vincent Adams (incumbent) and Ray Smith. Alderman, Ward IV -- Ernest Schooley (incumbent) and Cecilia Serritella Treasurer - Robert Podgorniak and Jon Meyer. The present treasurer, William Brda, is not seeking reelection. Most of the filings were made at 8 a.m. Jan. 19, making necessary a lottery to determine placement on the ballot. This will be done at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the City Council chambers. It is open to the public. A 17-year-old Arlington Heights youth was killed Sunday at about 1 a.m. in a one-car accident near the intersection of Lily Lake road and Route 120. The youth, William C. Vitale. was pronounced dead after his car struck a tree and a utility pole on Route 120 A passenger in the car, Robert D Dore, 18. of Arlington Heights, was listed in fair condition at Northwest Community hospital, Arlington Heights. Police said the collision occurred after the youth lost control of the car in a curve on Route 120. Two accidents at the same in­ tersection were investigated by McHenry police. On Jan. 21, the police responded to a two-car collision at the intersection of Route 31 and McCullom Lake road, where a car driven by Deborah E Besserud. of 1311 Long street, Ingleside, had been hit in the rear by another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, Jeffrey J Unteidt, of 218 Baron, Spring Grove, said the Besserud vehicle was signalling a right turn at the in­ tersection and turned left as he at­ tempted to pass Unteidt was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and passing at an intersection Another time, the police were called to the same intersection where another rear-end collision had occurred. Michalene G. Neumann, of 2425 Alton, McHenry, was waiting to make a left turn when her car was struck In the rear The driver of the other vehicle, John J Adelman. of Twin Lakes, was ticketed for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision A Wonder Lake driver was cited for driving with a suspended license when (Continued on page 16) History-Hubbub In Washington "Washington anytime, but it citing because inauguration situation," said DC. is exciting was particularly ex- of the presidential and the hostage McHenry State bank president, Thomas F. Bolger Bolger was invited to attend last week's ceremonies because he is also president of the Independent Bankers Association of America The highlight of the Washington trip, Bolger said, was a reception for newly elected senators and Cabinet ap­ pointees at the home of Sen. and Mrs. Schedule Fiesta Days, Trade Fair John Unemann, president of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, posts sign advertising the dates for the annual Bryce K Trade fair as his sign for which he looks on. Klonts is ready to place the important dates of 1961 Fiesta days. Fiesta days will be held July 17-26, while the Trade fair is scheduled for March 27, 28 and 29 at Parkland school. Anyone with questions on either event, or who would like to make a reservation for a Trade fair booth, should call the Chamber office at 3854366. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Warner (Elizabeth Taylor). Bolger commented that the reception was "very interesting" and included many stars from the entertainment field as well as the aspiring politicians. He also noted that the tempo of social life in Washington was set, to some degree, by the administration. Bolger explained that' the Reagan ad­ ministration has been likened to the Kennedy administration, which was known for its large and gala parties By comparison, the Carter administration was more "low-key." "The social part of Washington is very excited about the new ad­ ministration." Bolger said. Adding to the inherent hubbub and excitement of the presidential inauguration was the imminent release of the 52 American hostages from Iran. On Sunday, Jan. 18, Bolger witnessed President Carter's arrival at the White House from Camp David and later heard the announcement of the pending release of the hostages. "The time of the release (after the inauguration) was pretty much dic­ tated by Iran," Bolger said in response to allegations that the release had been timed by the United States The McHenry businessman com­ mented that there was general agreement in Washington that the freezing of Iranian assets in the United States made it possible to negotiate the release He also said the timing of the release served to "show the world how our system works." "We can have a bitter election and then the parties change very smoothly," Bolger said. "I think Reagan handled it well - designating former President Carter to be the of­ ficial U.S. spokesman." He said the inauguration ceremonies were very well organized and run and added that the mood in Washington toward the new administration ap­ peared "good." This same feeling, he said, applied to the large number of demonstrators, primarily Equal Rights Amendment (Continued on A New Life... It Starts Here If you swam across water 10 times the width of the Fox river to escape Communism, were taken to prison and then to a refugee camp with 4Q.OOO others to do the bidding of a foreign government, what would be your greatest wish? It would probably be "Freedom". That's what Bounthanh Rattana of Laos wanted too, but he embellished his response to include, "in the United States". Twenty-seven-year-old Boun­ thanh had his wish granted and now he is a resident of Mc­ Cullom Lake. Ahead of him lies a future that brings a smile to his face. The young former medical officer in the Laotian Army has been in this area only since last September, but the experiences of those few months and the previous year would fill the lifetime of most people. He was drafted by the Com­ munists after their invasion of Laos in 1975. "I tried to believe them, they said many beautiful things", Rattana said as he recalled the first couple of years under their rule. He remembers one particular friend who disappeared after being accused of working for the CIA. After giving much thought to his plan, he escaped one night, swimming the Mekong nver which he described as "about 10 times the width of the Fox river in McHenry." At the time he became so weary he thought he would never reach the other side, but a fierce , determination gave him the will to continue. T After reporting to a prison in Thailand, he was assigned a number in a refugee camp housing about 40,000. They were confined to longt* narrow buildings, sleeping on the floor. Bounthanh's good fortune was his medical knowledge, which he willingly shared at the camp. Like the others, he awaited the day he could leave, and when his number was called he asked to come to the United States. Three months later, after nine months in camp, he was enroute to this country. Through the YMCA in Elgin, arrangements were made for Rattana to be sponsored by Faith Presbyterian church of McHenry. Nancy and Don Brothers of Ingleside, members of the church, tried to help him but found no hospital that would assist the young Laotian follow his dream of working in a hospital "even if it meant scrubbing floors". With a broad smile, Bounthanh observed frankly that, "I mostly work for my car". In slow, but improving English, the personable young man recounted his progress "The first month I learned the rules in the driver book; the second month I passed the test; (Continued on page 16) his home in McCullom Lake. He is In Presbyterian church. A happy Bounthanh Rattana sits behind wheel of his recenUy acquired car and holds his state driver's license card. The 27-year-old Laotian escaped from the Communists, who took control of his country's government In 1975, and now makes Fishing Derby Success At McCullom Lake Pag* 5 Observe YMCA Week Invitation To Public r Page 19 Income Tax Help Do It Yourself Form Page 14 -