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1 I PAKE 2 -PLAINDKALER - WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 14, 1M3' News and Views Public action cited in drug campaign Help for language skills "Dear Editor: "We, the members of the English departments of Mc- Henry High School, East (and West campuses, are often asked by parents, "What can we do to help our child acquire better language skills?" Over all, our answers include these ideas. "First, encourage their child to read; by high school, he can benefit by habitually reading a daily newspaper, including editorials, news summaries, and feature stories; even the comics and crossword puzzles are good exercises for vocabulary and references to literature; in addition, expand the child's awareness with a weekly news magazine; establishing reading habits such as these will help the child to gradually acquire a broad base of information which will be useful to him as he selects topics for speeches, for compositions, for research papers, and for discussions in various classes.. "Second, have available for the child both a'dictionary and a thesaurus (both are great Christmas gifts); these reference books can help a student throughout high school, college, and beyond. Third, if the child has dif­ ficulties with spelling, help him to tackle five or 10 words a week; tape a list to his mirror, the refrigerator door, his tote bag; most spelling errors we see are commonly ufed wo^ds (its- it's; your-you're). "Fourth, ask to see the child's English folder from his high school English teacher ; at both campuses, we maintain a folder on each student, and it contains reading scores, samples of tests and compositions, progress reports, and teacher comments; our students claim their folders as they finish the last semester of English as juniors or seniors. "And, finally, we do ask parents to let us know what they would like us to do to help their child as an individual. "P.S. Foreign language courses will increase a child's grammar skills." "BevAweve "Jim Blum "Coodinator of East and West Campus English departments." Encouraged by the en­ thusiasm of an effort spearheaded by McHenry schools, the local public is becoming involved in a program to reduce drug and alcohol abuse. The movement is similar to programs throughout the country, the impetus provided by the increasing number of highway deaths and the cam*- paign to get drunken drivers off the highway. A task Force committee has set priorities for action con­ sisting of 18 suggestions which have been placed in four larger categories: Education, Help, Community Center Approach, and Political Action. As we look at the 18 priorities, some stand out at first glance as very worthy of a try. Decreasing local availability of drugs and alcohol to under age youths is one of them. It is something that has been in progress in our schools and within our police department for some time - ridding the community of those who would benefit financially from sales. A related approach touching on the same priority is the anderin sensitive area of community use of alcohol at public events. .v m v. Alcohol is a known money raiser and an attraction at any public event. Unfortunately, its initial attraction for adults often extends to young people in situations so large that control is difficult if not impossible. This is a community problem that deserves a good amount of thought and probably some compromises before it is resolved- It's a problem that was seldom discussed openly until the Task Force meetings in which frankness was the keynote. There were differences of opinion among members as to what constitutes the priority to a problem shared witR^tnost- other communities this year of 1983. While the concept of a com­ munity center has its merits, we are not convinced it will do what needs to be done in the way of reducing abuse of drugs and alcohol. This approach was tried in McHenry on at least two other occasions over the past 30 years and neither time was it marked by success. Good kids will be provided with another source of recreation, but most of them now have as many ac­ tivities as they are able to manage along with school work and possibly an outside job. The young folks who really need help will not find what they want At a community center and their presence, more often than not, is a disruptive influence. If a community center is undertaken with this in mirid- to provide a recreational center for youth - fine. But there should be no illusion that such a center will be a major influence in combatting drug and alcohol abuse. Many may disagree, but we remember well the results of past endeavors. The biggest influence for good, and probably the most difficult to attain, is a change of attitude on the part of some parents concerning their responsibility for the youngsters living under their roof. When they realize that their role as model is the most important influence of all, maybe some progress will be forthcoming. May planning conference aimed at economic growth Governor James R. Thompson said his Small Business Ad­ visory Commission will hold a statewide planning conference to develop an Illinois economic growth plan for samll businesses. "The conference, modeled after the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business, will tap the creative resources within the private sector to provide innovative recom­ mendations for improving the business climate and s t r e n g t h e n i n g ' s m a l l businesses," Thompson said, adding that these recom­ mendations will encourage their growth and survival in the state. The May, 1984, conference is being preceded by a series of meetings throughout Illinois to give all sectors of the economy- labor, education, big and small business, as well as legislators and community leaders-an opportunity to" offer recom­ mendations and ideas. Thompson said Lieutenant Governor George Ryan will be chairman of the Illinois Con­ ference on Small Business. 1701 N. RICHMOND ROAD (ROUTE 31) McHENRY *385-8116 PlOmE PITU\ WE THINK McHENRY HAS NEEDED Its Ttrn-m « . I » • V - r. g, . g . • •* :« "V* •• v. r ' . t H e p * 1 / •5 SPECIALIZING IN • STUFFED PIZZA • PAN PIZZA • REGULAR PIZZA ALSO SERVING SANDWICHES • ITALIAN BEEF (WE ROAST OUR OWN) • ITALIAN SAUSAGE COMBINATIONS WE DELIVER TO THE GREATER McHENRY AREA i •, . s * " * ̂* ""V *'*• .; K', CALL AHEAD FOR CARRY-OUTS OPEN WEEKDAYS - 4 PM - 11:30 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY - 4 PM - 12:30 AM Ryan noted that strong lines of communication between government and the small business sector are critical to* the economy of the state. Payroll figures up The number of employees on the regular state payroll rose to 112,167 in October due in part to the hiring of additional help at colleges and universities reported Roland Burris, comptroller. The October employee total represented an increase of 1,664 or 1.5 percent from the previous month. More specifically, the higher education payroll increased by 1,511 while all other state agencies showed an increase of 153. Payrolls * for all agencies totaled $178,290,529, an increase of .8 percent from September. Payroll for all agencies, except educational institutions, was $123,331,376, or a decrease of $197,796 (.2 percent). rf Doiioto i'l tOO to FISH g AND HAVE A CHANCE TO I WIN A BEAUTIFUL HANtINt POINSETTIA 8 PLANT FOR CHRISTMAS S FISH HAS ALL VOLUNTEERS AND ALL DONATIONS ARE USED LOCALLY 8 STOP IN - DONATE - WINNER t PICKED 12/22/83 AT 10 AM 1 ** 8 southgate ;r,c" I A Quality Full-service Facility £ Carpet Cleaner, Coin Laundry £ Dry Cleaning . ! 810 N. Front (R«. 31) McHenry 385-9517 1 DISCOUNT DRUG TRY k SIP OF CHRISTMAS SWINGS! 12 PACK* 12 OZ. CANS LA'; STROH'S BEER (OZ. CAN' $3« REVCO'S LOW, LOW PRICE FLEISCHMANN'S VODKA 80 Proof • Liter Distilled from 100% Grain REVCO'S LOW, LOW PRICE CUTTY SARK SCOTCH 86 Proof • 750 ML REVCO'S LOW Product of Scotland LOW PRICE *9" E (J1MNOT 80 Proof • Liter Extra Smooth REVCO'S LOW, LOW PRICE »6« HANNAH & HOGG WHISKEY AB^Biwd5 L"e' ?owC°nSicEOW' i ' . ifj •i : v RIUNITE LAMBRIISCO t(MQ 9°/# Alcohol • 750 ML REVCO'S low ^ Product of Italy LOW PRICE ' £ McHenry • 4400 W. Elm • 385-1125 Pncn in W»fl ihoj Tu»« Due '< ^Tjjl lirms ..v^.iahir whil* quanMt*\ U\| Copynght 198 ) by Revci 1) S ln<