The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

A '•!? • / ; . * *A v: • Vsk> mmm :f;/S ̂ '%f0'r • ; , . i , , mmimmm • Ĵ v« ' ' . < t &W$-. 5® *i ; v" * > >•* •• ., A.V ,-• f ErQP " ** • S. ' • • = '•' : mms « M - • • ' • ? - \;<V -' ' - \V * > h WS '^| •• v••*.•> ,* '•. ->. Q J - T f . l • | • ¥ " \ 1 U n d e r s p o n s o r s h i p o f t h e M c C u l l o m L a k e C o n s e r v a t i o n c l u b , m o r e t h a n B l u e g i l i s a n d P e r c h . A t l e f t a b o v e , l i n e s a r e b e i n g c h e c k e d , w h i l e ^ II /) /LMT I/*/) f> I €11 IIt £T m w G T* f\ \r 10® avid fishermen took part in the eighth annual Ice Fishing Derby at scattered here and there are huts to protect the participants from a sharp ^ v V f I'v -Z XI/ I v v •*. i/uf l'1/f -L' O " 1/ t McCullom Lake last weekend. They were vying for prizes in various January wind. The names of winners appear on Page 7. CJ %/ categories with catches of Northern Pike, Bass, Channel Catfish, STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER ' S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 ' VOLUME 106 NUMBER 53 FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1982 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25 Business Community Says: n Bad Checks Increase by Anthony Oliver Bad checks are an occupational hazard for any merchant, but lately, McHenry area shop owners have noted a dramatic increase in the number of checks that are received from the bank marked "Not Sufficient Funds." The McHenry tradesmen pointed to three new bills, recently signed into law by Gov. James Thompson, which are designed to reduce losses due to bad . checks. The first law was designed to keep the store owner,from accepting bad chocks or at least be aware of high* risk patrons. f. As explained by Tucker Olson, an attorney and vice-president of the Illinois Retail Merchants association, the law requires that every new checking account established by a bank, savings and loan or credit union carry the date the account was established on the face of the check. Further, all checks must be numbered in sequence starting with "101." Olson commented that 85 percent of the bad checks received by merchants in the state are written on accounts that a*e two years Aid or less. The practice at printing the date the account was established and the sequential number No Ghost Town I There's a new look on Elm street and it has the effect of disquietude. The front of the A & P store, which attracted shoppers as recently as Jan. 9, has been boarded up in a way that gives the appearance of a ghost town. But McHenry is no ghost town. It's thriving as well as any group of merchants can thrive in the economy that prevails. It has business people who don't often look back; they're too busy looking to the future. Even in the bleakness of a January that has set low tem­ perature records, they are an­ ticipating a trade fair that has increased its exhibit space by 15. There is an enthusiasm in their voices that radiates optimism. These merchants want this to be the best offering they have ever given the community. And before the end-of- February fair becomes a reality, there are minds at work on the summer festival, an event of such dimension and color that the little speck that is McHenry on the map becomes an important little city attracting thousands of visitors. And what do these office and shop keepers do when they're not occupied with major un­ dertakings? They're in their stores making a living, of course. But that's not all. They're interested in the new bridge promised for McHenry in the years immediately ahead. They are asking questions about the kind of bridge that will replace the half century Rt. 120 span which carries hundreds of cars into McHenry and out of it daily. Education is another interest. The children of these merchants of McHenry attend local schools. As parents, they want to know they are top rate. Their knowledge of good business practices tells them that top schools are absolutely essential to attract good people to a community. They're looking ahead to the day McHenry hospital becomes a regional health complex that will proudly serve a large area. In fact, they represent very well the men and women whose initiative and persistence were resp- ponsible for overcoming ob­ stacles that beset the project for many months. You may not see many of them at a City Council meeting, but they are well aware of the proceedings. An alert business community knows it is in their best interest - and ours -- that th'ey be informed. When it becomes necessary, they voice their concerns. At this moment they are assembling facts on the proposed annexation of McHenry Shores Village to the City of McHenry. They are weighing the pros and cons. When the issue comes before the public in March, they will make up a good percentage of the voters because they know better than most that this is part of being a good citizen. Will it be a good move for the people of McHenry and for the future of the city? And how will it affect the residents of the Shores, whose dollars most often find their way into the coffers of local stores? The answers will be made before entering the privacy of the polling booth. What does a business man do on these cold January nights after locking the door of his establishment? The lock doesn't necessarily mean he isn't behind the curtain- drawn windows pouring over uncountable government papers that make their way onto his desk each day. Even if he's home watching TV with the family, it's a safe bet that an occasional thought turns to that Elm street store with the front boarded up. He is sure it will soon be an active part of the community again, but in the meantime there is an anxiety. It is a temporary flaw in the small city that means so much to him. Wherever the business man is tonight, he is never long without a thought for the McHenry in which he plays such an important role - its present and its future. A ghost town? McHenry? Never! KAF Year End News Resume Supplement To Today's Plaindealer of the check should alert a shop keeper to a high-risk check, Olson said. "The merchant can then decide whether to call the bank, verify the address in the phone book, which is a good credit reference, or ask for ad­ ditional identification," he said. The second law makes it easier for the state's attorney to establish "in­ tent" to defraud and prosecute the offender. The law provides that "in­ tent" to defraud may be "presumed" if a check is returned for non-payment, resubmitted & week later, and is returned again. In this instance, Olson said, it can be presumed that the in­ dividual intended to pass a bad check. Olson commented that retailers had been running into problems with some state's attorneys who were reluctant to prosecute bad check cases. "A $50 bad check just does not attract the attention of many state's at­ torneys," Olson said. McHenry County State's Attorney Theodore Floro was unavailable for comment. McHenry Police Chief George Pasenelli commented that there has been little, if any, increase in the number of bad checks that are reported to the department. One McHenry merchant said in most cases the merchants either try to collect on their own, or, use the collection agencies. Many merchants prefer to avoid time in court, unless the sum is sizeable. The third bill signed into law makes going to court a little more practical for the store owner, in that the merchant can recover the costs of handling the bad checks, including bank fees and interest charges, court costs, etc., in civil bad check cases. Olson explained that, in Illinois alone, bad checks amount to a multi-million dollar loss, to the merchants and the state coffers, each year. "There is considerable lost revenue in state sales and income tax, which has a significant impact." Olson said. The attorney noted that the problem is pervasive, particularly in times of economic downturn. (Continued on page 16) Express Dim I View Of More School Aid Prospects for state aid which might restore some of the programs eliminated in McHenry's elementary school system brought comments from administrators and school board members Tuesday evening. The discussion was timely since it followed a presentation of an art appreciation program conducted by volunteers to offset the cut in school offerings. Dr. Richard Farmer, superintendent, explained that in nearby Wisconsin, the educational system operates as unit districts. This, he explained, means that the money allotted to education cSn be distributed by the board as it sees fit according to grade level. His comments were prompted by the fact that in Illinois, high schools receive about a quarter more funding per pupil than grade schools. Because (Continued on page 1 ̂ Citizen Foils Gun Threat When Fred Holtrichter closed his business, The Liquor Mart, at 2314 W. 'Rt. 120, McHenry, an hour early last Saturday evening, he had one fear. It was getting home with the extreme cold, icy roads, and blowing snow. But before he left the parking lot at 9 p.m., he added what he believes to be an attempted robbery to his problems. Holtrichter said he was driving slowly in reverse when he heard a tapping on the fender. As he left his car to investigate, a man stepped up, told him he had been hit by his car, and ^threatened, "Be calm, I have a gun". h .The mart owner followed his first 'TweilTOtlon and threw the contents of the coke can he was holding into the face of the intruder. As the stranger put his left hand up to wipe away the liquid, Holtrichter pushed the can into his face. This action so angered him that as he fell, he uttered an oath and promised to shoot. Holtrichter jumped into his car, kept his head low, and tried to back the car and leave but failed to get traction on the icy surface. Suddenly, he saw the intruder jump in front of his car and run in the direction of the nearby Circle R restaurant. The mart owner said it was very possible he would have run over the man except for the slick surface which prevented his car from moving. Fireman Capt. Wayne Amore, left, of McHenry Fire Company I, receives beautiful trophy as "Fireman of the Year", an honor bestowed on him by the firemen of the county. Making the presentation is Ron Bergsma, president of the McHenry County Firemen's association. The award was made to Amore for his knowledge of, atofl dedication to, the fire service. Capt. Wayne Amore of McHenry, a fire fighter for almost 10 years, has been awarded the coveted "Fireman of the Year" award by a vote of the county membership. After a tour of duty in Vietnam, he joined the McHenry Township Fire Protection district in October of 1972. Five years later he was elected secretary of Co. I and in 1978 became a lieutenant. He is now serving his second one-year term as captain. The young man is a State of Illinois certified Fire Fighter II and has at­ tended many tactical schools and seminars. Through hi^fforts, the district has begun to infilwrc a yearly allocation in its budget for fire prevention work. He also was responsible for acquisition of "Sparky the Fire Dog". The lifelike "Sparky" has proved popular with school children and helped to increase their interest in learning about fire prevention. $67,077,377 To Taxing Units WILL LEAD PLANNERS i John J. Shay, of McHenry, director of the McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster agency, was recently named president-elect of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners (ASPEP) by the membership at their annual meeting in Denver, Colo. The total amount of the general tax distributed to the taxing units for calender year 1981 was $67,077,337. This includes $248,415 in prior year's tax. The amount charged on the 1980 tax was $68,507,051, with $66,890,923 being collected, or 97.64 percent. This com­ pared to the 1979 tax charged of $60,009,927 with $59,499,677 collected or 99.15 percent. The schools in McHenry county received $47,035,462 or 70.12 percent, cities and villages took $5,672,895 or 8.46 percent; the county received $5,135,435, or 7.65 percent to perform the many services which are required; the 17 townships received 5.77 percent or $3,867,864. In addition, the Fire districts received $2,445,167, or 3.65 percent; P a r k , L i b r a r i e s , C e m e t e r y a n d (Continued on page 16) t ' ' , ' IJ*> Rescue Mission FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition ami ' An Illinois Department of Transportation helicopter prepares to take off with a 14-dav-old baby who needed emergency transportation from McHenry to Children's Memorial hospital in Chicago. The McHenry Area Rescue squad made the transport from the hospital to a landing zone that was cleared by city crews at Freund field. McHenry Fire department and police stood by as the helicopter landed. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Open Kindergarten In Fall Montini Schools . P a g e 8