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'SERVING THE CHAIN Declare Need For Alcoholism Center Within County A review of data in a study of needs for an alcoholism treatment center for McHenry county leads to a different conclusion than the one submitted one year ago to the Planning and Management board of the McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service system. Robert Lesser in­ patient coordinator for the system, argued that point in his recent report. Lesser asserted, "Since the time of the 1082 feasibility study, some im­ portant changes have taken place." Lesser has been detailed by Wood­ stock Memorial hospital to work with the mental health system to im­ plement patient placement in con­ nection with releasee! due to the Elgin (hospital) Project. Lesser pointed out that the *82 report dfcT recommend a four-bed detoxification program in a hospital setting, a primary outpatient program and accelerated community education about alcohollmm, but due to financial considerations, a center to implement these programs was not recommended as feasible, at that tftne. While conceding that a need to develop locally based detoxification beds existed, the year old report noted that existing treatment programs, even though out of the county, could in the interim serve inpatient alcoholism treatment needs. PLAINDEALEM RFC-MAI SilVrF lave" -LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME • . 107 NUMBER 97 FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1983 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25* New Miss McHenry Named A happy smile on the face of Linda Davidson is the telltale sign that she has just been selected the 1983 Miss McHenry. The 17-year-old daughter of Winn and Linda Davidson was crowned in an impressive judging held at Most of us will admit to a bit of excitement as the July Fourth holiday approaches. The big booms in the sky may offend our ears, but the beautiful colors that light it more than com­ pensate. Maybe it's the youngster in each of us that persists in spite of age, but whatever the reason most folks look forward to a fireworks display. Fortunately, acts of law ordain that they are now a source of enjoyment with none of the perils at one time associated with firecrackers. This is as it should be. Hie ex­ ceptions are those who get their kicks from illegally bringing in the outlawed fireworks from across state lines. The sharp sounds that pierce the night long into the Fifth give evidence that there are many offenders. It is doubtful if many of them are caught or the practice would not continue to flourish. The people with the facts about the dangers of fireworks - the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blind­ ness - aye estimating that 1,500 children wall suffer eye injuries this year because they played with fireworks. Some of them will be permanently blinded. The estimate is that 50 of these children will be from Illinois. Even "harmless" sparklers are not exempt from causing damage. And it isn't only eyes that suffer. There are cases where a child has lost fingers or even a whole hand through use of fireworks. # ' McHenry and Wonder Lake will have public displays this year, con­ ducted by trained professionals. This is where youngsters should be, ac­ companied by adults. Last year in our own community, where fireworks are illegal, a red peony rocket apparently misfired and swept through the screen of sliding glass doors and into a home, setting carpeting afire. No one admitted the act, but the result was damage run­ ning hundreds of dollars. Is there anyone who was living in McHenry a decade ago who doesn't remember that warm June day when the World Wide Fireworks company building on McCullom Lake road, housing a large quantity of fireworks, exploded? Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the force of the explosion and the fire that resulted caused damage of about a half million dollars. This explosion, together with another about the same time in another community, prompted a big reduction in the number of fireworks displays for several years. Handled in a professional manner, public displays are things of beauty to be enjoyed in any community. In­ dividually, any use of fireworks, under any circumstances, is not worth the danger of the loss of a hand or an eye. KAF Parkland school Wednesday evening. Above, Miss Davidson is receiving the congratulations of other contestants and friends. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD MCC Board Nixes Travel Expenses A former McHenry County college trustee, Robert Weidner, of Harvard, is seeking reimbursement for travel expenses, but the board won't hear of it. On April 28, the MCC board of trustees voted 4-2 to deny payment of Weidner's request. This past week, the board mused to consider the request Weidner originally asked the board to approve reimbursement of $2,004 based on 10,020 miles he traveled in order to attend 167 board meetings between 1975 and 1981. He lost his bid for reelection. Based on mileage rates paid in past years, the college administration responded with an offer of $1,088. Weidner's attorney, Michael T. Neese, said his client would accept the lower amount. "No one ever asked for money for travel expenses to and from board meetings," said William Ryan, trustee. "After Weidner lost, he submitted five years of expenses. I find that upsetting." Trustee Herbert Lutter commented, "It is very possible a lawsuit will be filed over this matter. I think, of course, the board "is making a big mistake." Lutter reiterated the opinion of college Attorney William Carroll that Weidner should be paid. Lutter said the board was arbitrarily deciding not "US* Chairman Pro-tem Robert Murphy directed MCC President to give Weidner the news. Weidner refused to comment except to say a litigation was a possibility. (Continued on pogt 16) By Annie O'Leary t As friends called out their approval, 17-year-old Linda Davidson, a brown- haired, hazel-eyed beauty wat crowned Miss McHenry as she ex­ claimed her disbelief. Runnersup for the title were Dawn Wiggerman, first runner-up; Jennifer Jantzen, second; and Diane Heard, third. At Parkland Junior high school on Wednesday night, the 1983 graduate of Johnsburg high school won the coveted crown for which 14 local girls competed. After 10 weaks of charm courses, the girls presented them­ selves in evening gowns and swim* suits and answered questions before a captivated audience. Thi* new queen, who ti 17 years old with light fcftwn Mir and haiel eyes, covered her IV frame with a buruundy taffeta ,\|own with spaghetti straps and • dropped waist. Her swlmiuit was //, purple one-piece trimmed in aquit In high senool Miss Davidson participated in track, pom pon, and the theatre. She is preeently working as a bank teller in the area. She plans to attend Northern Illinois university in the fall, where she will study business marketing. Miss Davidson's hobbies include water skiing, running, and reading. The new queen, who will reign over iesta Days later this month, enjoys uranwr sunsets, a clean room, fast cars, food, pay day, and "anything that fyas to do with California." She dislikes bugs and hangnails. The new queed has three sisters and two brothers. Miss Davidson selected her question from a basket held by newly crowned Little Miss Peanut, Robin Olszewski. She smiled when mistress of ceremonies, Bonnie Sheehan, read the question to the audience, "If you could live anywhere, where woul^ it be, and why?" Before answering, Linda remarked, "That has got to be the easiest question I could have picked!" Newport Beach, Calif., was her an­ swer,because,she said excitedly, "It's on the ocean, the sun always shines, and the people think freely." Dawn Wiggerman is 5'6", with brown-hair and blue-eyes. She is 19- years old. She will take over the queen's duties when she is unable to do so. (Continued on pogo 16) Lesser said the report was generally accurate in its facts and figures and conclusions, but the reason for not recommending an inpatient program was unclear. Parenthetically, Lesser noted that the out of county agency that did the 1982 study is in the business of providing inpatient alcoholism rehabilitation, "and it was to their advantage to recommend that existing inpatient alcoholism treatment programs be utilized." The coordinator noted further that during the period of the study there was a drastic reduction in referrals for inpatient alcoholism rehabilitation, an annual reduction of 100 referrals. Since that time some important changes occurred: an increase in hospitalization rates, and a significant change in referral patterns due to the Employee Assistance program (substance abuse referrals increased to 200 with 42 percent being hospitalized for rehabilitation). The DUI. (driving under the influence) referrals in­ creased threefold with half of the referrals in need of further evaluation for alcoholism abuse. About half of this group were referred for reeidential rehabilitation . Lesser said that based on these rates and trends .he can identify a need for 15 residential rehabilitation beds and four detoxification beds. And because the dynamics for addiction are the same for alcohol and other drugs, the program should treat both categories. He went on to point out that with a 75 percent occupancy rate a 15-bed rehab unit would be financially viable and that from a daily room rate viewpoint a free-standing (outside of a hospital) facility would be more reasonable. Ranges now are from $98 to $184. Because of the high risk for serious medical complications for a patient undergoing detoxification, those four beds must be hospital based, Lesser added. In considering locating the rehab beds they must consider space availability in a hospital or outside, indirect costs, licensing requirements with certificates of need processes, need for future expansion, insurance coverage and financial support for initial start-up and early years of operation. Lesser indicated that there appears to be no available space for a 15-bed treatment unit within any McHenry county hospital, but there are buildings which could be excellent locations for a free standing program if cost and zoning factors don't prohibit. Rates in a free standing program would be lower because of elimination of indirect costs as at a hospital (building costs at two of the three hospitals in the county). While being a simpler process than the certificate-of-need licensing requirement for hospital affiliated programs, the unit would still need Department of Public Health ap­ proval, Lesser said. And although there is no official criteria to control, the number of beds for an alcoholism rehabilitation treatment program, a problem exists in that the county is considered adequately served by other programs outside the county within a driving time of 45 minutes. About the future, Lesser forsees some increase in referral rates as the community is better educated about alcohol and substance abuse. So a treatment center would need to ex­ pand as the population in the county grows. Concerning financing the center • operations, Lesser noted that (health) insurance carriers provide a wide range of benefits which in general emphasize out-patient or care in a non-hospital based treatment center. Lesser said that financial support considerations could be the key reason to go with the "free standing treatment center". A hospital could encounter negative space constraints for varied programming needs. Favoring a hospital environment would be the fiscal ability to support a treatment center moneywise during its initial operations, which usually would be at a loss or possibly break-even point. (Continued on page 16) LakOmoor Faces Grant Loss IMAW MIMA NCWS SERVICE At least two McHenry county communities face losing eligibility for a federal grant program because of recent requirement changes. The villages of Lakemoor and Rich­ mond are two of 211 Illinois municipalities cut from the eligibility list foT the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) program. Made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the grants are designed to assist cities in economic distress, provided they meet three of five criteria. The criteria include having at least 38.98 percent of the homes built before 1940, a net increase in per capita in­ come between 1969 and 1977 of $2,683 or less, a percent of population growth between 1970 and 1980 of 1.04 percent or less, a percent of city population below 10.87 percent and a rate of growth in retail and manufacturing between 1972 and 1977 increased by 6.75 percent or less. The Village of Lakemoor stands to lose little because of the recent action. Village Clerk Alice Owen said the village had no proposals for grant money, nor had they any intention of applying for any before the Aug. 31 deadline. In Richmond, Village Clerk Kathleen Hellmann said the cutbacks could scrap plans to annex Andre's Steak House into the village. The village has intended to use grant money to extend sewer and water service to the restaurant. - Sen. Charles Percy (R., 111.) has taken up the fight against the proposed cutbacks. He plans to in­ troduce an amendment which would call for unemployment figures to be a sixth standard for eligibility. If ap­ proved, this would give some com­ munities a better chance at being awarded the grants. According to information received from Percy's office, HUD did not consider unemployment when it revamped the eligibility requirements. Since the program's inception in 1978, 25 Illinois municipalities have received 30 grants, totaling $40.5 million. In turn, this development has reportedly spurred $279 million in private investment and created 7,328 new jobs. Teresa Zogby, of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), said the grant money is awarded quarterly on a competitive basis. Reaching Out To The World Above, Morse code operators listen carefully to the signals coming I* through their headphones. Once a contact was made, a record of the' time and station was kept on a computer. Reaching out to touch someone in their own special way, amateur radio operators took to the field last weekend, just as they have done for the past 46 years. Field Day 1983 for amateur radio operators all over the country was held from 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday. The object of the Field Day exercise was to make contact with as many radio stations as possible within the 24-hour time frame. At 1 p.m. Saturday, in Glacier Ridge subdivision, on McHenry's southwest side, "N9KC" was set up and took to the airwaves as 12 operators used telegraph keys and microphones to reach other stations. The 12 operators who manned the STAFF PHOTO --ANTHONY OLIVER station worked under the licensee! Louis Eckert, of Round Lake Park. The annual radio exercise is designed to give amateur radid operators experience in operating stations under less than ideal con­ ditions and help develop the skills and equipment necessary for operating in an emergency setting. (Continued on pogo 16) A Queen Is Crowned Miss McHenry Contest Photos Page 18 FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition McHenry Fireworks Display July Fourth Event Page 12