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It had been a long time since we had indulged ourself in an early morning ride north on Riverside drive before coming to work. There were several reasons, chief among them the necessity to answer the earlier sound of an alarm. But Wednesday morning dawned bright and blue and crisp. This was surely the day to make the effort for the pleasure of observing the contrast of spring grass as it met water that sparkled with a sun now well in the sky before 8 a.nr ' An undecided duck started to cross the street, then thought better of it and retreated to the safety of the sandy beach. A starling and a robin vied for a choice bit of nesting material, while nearby another bird, with beak filled, left the ground to start her 1981 abode. Having left the usual unpleasant news stories at the office the previous night, it was refreshing to make our way slowly along the river and observe the coming of spring. Maybe it was the spirit of hope inherent in the Easter season; maybe it was just the kind of day that makes it hard to face the problems that are always waiting for attention -- whatever the reason, we felt good. We knew that beneath the glistening surface of the Fox river was dirt and debris that should not be there. And we knew we could not just look at the surface and imagine there was nothing wrong underneath. We would have to show our concern through action, along with others, if the Fox is expected to bring us the same pleasure in the future that we know today. As we drove further, there were new homes emerging from yesterday's cornfield. This, too. was something that looked new and pleasant to the eye. but there lurked in the recesses of our thoughts a fact we wanted to overlook Our hometown - McHenry sometimes referred to almost with reverence as 'rural', and in more colloquial terms as 'boondocks', was losing its beauty through growth. Would there be any open spaces a generation down the road? And would there be any woods like Che Goodman woods near the golf course, where we wandered as a child, unwatched except by an occasional gray squirrel0 It was dense and it was cool, and in that small area grew every kind of wild flower we had ever read about. As we turned the car around for the return trip, we remembered that there is no Goodman woods today. Oh. many of the trees remain, but surrounding the old home are dwellings that long ago claimed their rightful place in the new look of the last 25 years or more. We were almost at work, but in that short, early morning drive the memories of a generation of changes had passed through our mind. They are changes we had recorded in print in Iheir own time, but not often did we lake the time to be fully aware of their impact. There was something disturbing in those memories which we expect to resurface some day and cause uneasiness again But for the moment we had hope. t It was the approach of Easterl KAF Baby And Bunny Soft and cuddly is the word for Easier when it involves babies and bunnies. Karie, daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Joel Wakitsch, holds an egg as she looks with admiration at the Easter bunny decorated with a large bow to rival her own finery. Karie's daddy, formerly sports editor with the Plaindealer, is now employed in the advertising department of the newspaper. STAFF PHOTO-JOEL WAKITSCH THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER 'SERVING THE CHAIN O-LAKES REGION SINCE 187.V VOLUME 105 NUMBER 75 Si FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1981 2 SECTIONS 24'PAGES 25c Extend Restraining Order Against Hospital Directors SHAW MID*A NEWS SERVICE Judge Harry D Strouse of the 19th Judicial Circuit extended,, the restraining order against the board of directors of the McHenry Hospital Corp , at the April 15 hearing until a second hearing on April 20 after board president. LeRoy Olsen. advised the court that the board was on the point of hiring a new chief executive officer (CEO) April 6. A meeting of the entire membership has been called for April 21 at the McHenry Country club when all parties Enrich District 15 Elementary Program IHAW MID*A NfWS SERVICE In an effort to enrich the budget starved District 15 elementary program, the Valley View School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) offered a post * school afternoon program for their school which the board has accepted and commended. Diane Kappen explained to board members in session Tuesday the proposal for volunteers to give children instruction in arts and crafts with some music related activities. She said they had volunteers for six different skills and the schedule would start April 29. Included are round dancing, watercolors, cartoon drawing, gift making, texture pictures, and basic sketching. Children from grades 1 through 5 will participate. The groups will meet Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m.. Ms. Kappen said. There will be no charge but par­ ticipants will be responsible for bringing certain supplies and help with the cleanup. Board members asked if any supervision would be needed and what the school liability might be. Ms. Kappen said there would be at least two volunteers for each group and Superintendent Richard Farmer noted that any time people gathered in a school building the district runs a certain risk on liability. (Continued on page 17) Approve One-Year Trial Library For Johnsburg The Illinois State Library Advisory committee has approved a proposal recently submitted on behalf of Johnsburg by the Northern Illinois Library system. The proposal, which requests federal funds for a one-year trial library system for an area roughly defined by the School District 12 boundaries, was prepared by a group of local citizens in consultation with Ms. Beth Mueller, the consultant of NILS. Ms Lila Brady, executive director of NILS, reports that due to delays in allocation of funds presently occurring at federal level, it may be some weeks before Johnsburg receives official notice of funding. When this does occur, the citizen's group will be able to proceed with renting a building and hiring staff under the guidance of NILS hope the corporate differences will be resolved In the meantime the battle for proxies to be used in the crucial voting on that night is heating up. Circulating among the membership are two letters recently sent out on hospital stationery, one of which, David Kent, candidate for director, and Jeff Ladd. acting as attorney for Tony Corcoran, former CEO for the hospital who was fired on Jan. 30. characterized as bordering on slander This letter dated April 14 and seeking proxies for the existing board, signed by Joseph B Stanek, mayor, alleges that Corcoran refused to accept an assignment of­ fered him by the board and now he. with his "counsel" Joseph Washburn from Algonquin and Jim Bishop and Jeff l.add. attorneys from Crystal Lake, "who have never before been active in McHenry hospital affairs -- are publicly tearing at the fiber of our hospital board the issue of Mr. Cor­ coran is being used by other hospital competitors and detractors for their own purposes to adversely affect the hospital's Certificate of Need (CON) application." The letter further declares, "A Crystal Lake organization is actively working to destroy our new hospital Their goal is < as it has been) to block us and thus make a Crystal Lake hospital possible I don't profess to understand what motivates people but I do know that people and institutions compete and that a $29 million project is at stake" Dan Schmitt. corporation treasurer, sent out a letter dated April 9 seeking proxies and containing information to "set the record straight." It notes that the board concluded in late 1980 that the responsibility of administering the hospital and simultaneously pursuing the ('ON from the State of Illinois was too heavy a workload and so the board asked Corcoran to direct his efforts solely to obtaining the CON The board offered him on Jan. 12. 1981. $105,000 in salary and consultant fees for the six months' job Schmitt alleges that Corcoran refused the offer for unknown reasons and further charges that Corcoran and others initiated a drive to overturn the board's decision including soliciting support and proxies from hospital employees Schmitt's letter relates the board version of events at the membership annual meeting on Feb 8. 1981: "Mr Corcoran's group attempted to present their own slate of candidates during the election of new board members and to amend the corporation by-laws This effort failed, as it did not comply with the current corporation by-laws. However, this group did succeed in defeating the slate which had been presented by the board in accordance with the by-laws and a tradition of 24 He notes that the board remains intact until either new directors are elected at a subsequent meeting or are appointed by the board when any member resigns Schmitt also states the March 31 meeting of the mem- Ix'rship was not sanctioned by the board on advice of attorney because by­ laws had not been complied with "and insufficient time had been allowed for (Continued on page 17) Bus Riders Ask For More Area Service An exceptionally high 91 percent, response from McHenry county bus riders surveyed on four RTA routes in December indicates that riders generally are satisfied with service and would like more, according to a just- released Regional Transportation Authority survey analysis The four routes. N'os 805 806 807 and 808. carry an average of 1.280 riders per day As determined from the returned survey forms, the greatest number of KTA bus boardings. 23 percent, are made in Woodstock Crystal Lake, with 21 percent, is second in number of boardings, and 11 percent of the boardings originate in McHenry Carrying 200 riders per day. Route No 806 from Crystal Lake to McHenry. Johnsburg. Sunnyside and Fox Lake is boarded by 35 percent of its passengers in McHenry and 26 percent of its passengers in Crystal Lake On Route No 807. Woodstock McHenry via Wonder Lake. 44 percent of the passengers get on in Woodstock. 31 percent in Wonder Lake and 24 percent in McHenry This route carries an average of 280 passengers per day Emerging from the survey statistics is the representative McHenry county RTA bus passenger 61 percent of the passeng^s>rt^wmale. over half are under age 26. and nearly one-third do not own or have use of a car and have an-annual income under $10,000 The one-day ridership survey will be used by the RTA to update the 1977 McHenry County Public Tran sportation plan and to measure productivity on existing routes as \ael 1 as need for service extensions ()pinions and data supplied by passengers provides the RTA with a rating on the degree of public acceptance of existing services and" passenger profiles of persons using RTA McHenry eCurify bus routes While giving the RTA bus services a 70 percent "good" or very good rating, in seven out of nine categories, passengers asked tor service on weekends 40 percent and evenings < 37 percent i Also, they want bus shelters <33 percent) and routes closer to destination <24 percent' Bus driver competency and courtesy were given (Continued on page 17) City To Sponsor Easter Egg Hunt The City of McHenry. Department of Parks and Recreation, will sponsor a children's Easter Egg hunt Saturday. April 18 This activity will take place at 10 30 a m in Petersen park Only children r> years of age and under may participate in the hunt Children must bring a basket or bag for the eggs they find The Easter Bunny vull be there "in person" to greet all the children Prizes will be given out For further information on this ac­ tivity. call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 344-3300 $15,000 Fire Damage Sil Firemen are shown fighting a blaze early Wednesday the Bob Knowles residence in McCullom fire caused an estimated I15.MM in damages. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Firefighters from Companies I and II of the McHenry Township Fire department fought a blaze that did an estimated $15,000 damage to a Mc­ Cullom Lake home .Wednesday night According to Fire Chief Glenn Peterson, the back porch and kitchen area of the house, at 4813 Orchard, was engulfed in flames Peterson said the dining room, kit­ chen and living room of the house had been damaged by fire, while the bedrooms were damaged by smoke and heat No cause has yet been determined for the fire, that was reported at 6 42 p m Company II of the Fire department (Continued on page 17) Easter Time Fun Bunnies And Litt le People Page 15 FREE TV Guld* In Today's Edition Bicycle Safety Course County Instruction Page 17