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December 30, 1983 Number 42 Volume 108 Since 1875 1 Section 22 Pages 25' City leaders look at goals for '84 by Donna Bertulis and Anthony Oliver A matter of vital concern to the McHenry community, the retention and expansion of the area's business community is * high on the list of both Mayor Joseph B. Stanek and Trey Covalt, president of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC). For the city, the larger the sales tax base, the more income that goes into the city coffers. With the sales tax revenue, which is the largest contributor to the General Fund, "the city provides the services residents have come to expect. From /he Chamber's point of view, retaining and expanding the local business community will provide needed jobs for many people and insure the quality of life in McHenry. Speaking from a city-wide standpoint, Mayor Joseph Stanek predicts that 1984 will be a year of considerable progress. The mayor's greatest hope for 1984 is to accomplish a grant funding base in order to build a new sewage treatment plant south of the city. Plans for the sewer plant had been stalled in 1983 by what Stanek calls "red tape". "I hope to cut through that red tape with imaginative funding and somehow realize a sewage facility on the Decker proper­ ty" The plant would immediately serve Tonyan Industrial Park and the new Northern Illinois Medical Center, but would also open up many more op­ portunities for growth south of the city. Related to that goal, the city also hopes to start a preliminary development of the 59-acre Decker property next year, including access roads. The new McHenry Hospital, slated for opening in June, 1984, will be a definite highlight of the year to come. Stanek com­ mented that he hopes "the hospital's relocation will run smoothly," adding that the sewer line extension on Green Street, now in the works, will be complete within the city's budget and the hospital's time frame. Turning more toward a city- wide improvement, the mayor feels the city should put a high priority on upgrading its sidewalks. "! would like to see 1984 be the first year of a comprehensive sidewalk program. I want to start a major sidewalk construction effort." Retaining present businesses while encouraging further business growth is an area that will certainly get some attention by the city council in the months to come, the mayor continued. "I hope the enterprises the city has assisted with, in terms of issuing industrial revenue bonds, (former Jewel property, Alpha Plastics, and the medical arts building), will complete their projects, thus contributing to the tax base and economy of our entire community." He added that in 1984 "some. enterprising investor may build a hotel to accommodate a pent up demand." Other areas that Stanek sees some progress in 1984 include the following: Traffic - "I hope that the Route 120 bridge (construction) be let and the dislocation of traffic and frustration caused be minimal" "I hope to have at least STAFF PHOTO WAYNF OAVIOW temporary lights installed at ~ Mayor Joseph Stanek, president of the Mc merce> look at plans Route 31 and Bull Valley Road, creating a permanent, safe intersection as soon as the state authorizes." Knox Park - "I hope that the Knox Park bam will be restored, for storage of equip­ ment, etc.; that a pond be built at Knox for asthetics, drainage and fishing; and that fill to be used for topsoil dressing and filling of the pond now adjacent to the parking lot at poolside." Additionally, the mayor looks forward to finishing the parking lot facilities at the poolside in Knox Park. * Water tower - "I'd like to incorporate Well 7, located on Crystal Lake Blacktop, into our water system, and start con­ struction and planning on another water storage tower in 1984." Lakeland Park - "Hopefully, the Lakeland Park Property Owners Association property and equipment (recently acquired by the city) will be assimilated into our facilities and the beautiful lake, beaches and parksites will be a benefit to our community." Heading the list of Covalt's goals for the upcoming year is the retention of existing businesses in the McHenry area. "We are seeking to prevent the loss of existing businesses and we hope to revitalize existing retail areas," Covalt said. In order to accomplish this goal, Covalt said the MACC Professional and Retail Council will be sponsoring periodic seminars for the benefit of the small businessman. The aim of the seminars is to provide in­ formation which the small businessman needs to survive in the commercial world. A second, and equally im­ portant goal, is to attract new business to the McHenry area. "Through the McHenry Area Economic Development Commission, we are putting on a campaign to promote McHenry," Covalt said. "It's a nationwide campaign to actively solicit businesses." What types of businesses? "Everyone knows we need a hotel in this town bad," Covalt said. He-added that the MAEDC was going to target light in­ dustry that is looking to expand or relocate. Covalt said the Chamber would also be looking into existing vehicular and left, and Trey Covalt, Area Chamber of Conrv for retail business pedestrian traffic patterns, with an eye toward some im­ provement. "I don't know what can be done, but we will be looking into it," Covalt said. "Have you ever tried to drive through here on Saturday...?" One item that surfaced recently and has taken a place on Covalt's list of goals concerns McHenry's annual Fiesta Days celebration. Find grandmother guilty of child cruelty development of the former Jewel Food Store on Elm Street. Similar developments are included in their and no beer would be permitted out. Covalt noted also that the location of Fiesta Days would probably be moved from Pearl Street Park to Petersen Park. This is in response to the an­ ticipated reconstruction of the Route 120 bridge across the Fox River. The project is expected to disrupt traffic and parking iu the downtown area. "We are going to be main­ taining the family atmosphere of Fiesta Days," Covalt stressed. "We consider the purpose of Fiesta Days to be a homecoming-a promotion of community togetherness." The Chamber exec said some changes are in the works for the 1984 celebration. One of those under consideration is a beer garden, where only people of legal age would be permitted in STAFF FMOTO WAYNI GAYIORC Firemen probe the wreckage of a fire that destroyed a garage and car at 1205 Clover Lane, McHenry. By Angela Burden Shaw Free Press Media ' Rethel Devine of rural Har­ vard, who was indicted by a grand jury in 1982 in connection with child cruelty charges following the death of her grandson, was found guilty of a cruelty to children charge Wednesday and sentenced to a ternf of probation. >. Devine, 54, waived a jury trial, declined to offer any testimony in her own defense and stipulated to facts brought by the state against her. Judge Henry Cowlin of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court heard Morning fire destroys garage Fire destroyed a garage and vehicle at 1205 Clover Lane, in Eastwood Manor, shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday. The call was dispatched to Co. 1 of the McHenry Township Fire Department as a car fire, but the blaze spread to the struc­ ture. The garage portion of the building was engulfed as fire fighters arrived. Asst. Fire Chief Chris Bennett said the firemen attacked the fire from front and rear. As a result, only minor damage was done to the house, where some siding and eaves caught fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials are also looking into the cause of a couch fire in an apartment at 4108 Lillian St., McHenry, that was reported shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday. Bennett said the apartment was cleared with smoke ejectors after the sofa was removed. the negotiated plea of Ms. Devine and sentenced her to serve a one-year term of non- reporting probation. The court halted the hearing for a short while until Ms. Devine could control a sobbing spell after Assistant State's Attorney Gary Pack stated that she was responsible for the Feb. 4, 1982, death of 5-month-old Earl Ketchum Jr. when he in her care. Continued on pago 9 Ax falls on drunk drivers With all the attention that drunk drivers have been getting recently, many states are passing more stringent laws concerning the problem. In the last legislative session, the legislature passed five DUI- related bills which have since been signed into law. These laws take effect Jan. 1. All five of the bills were developed by Secretary of State Jim Edgar. The bills require the Secretary of State's office to be notifted of all DUI and other serious traffic cases where court supervision has been granted. The intent of the bill is to identify those drivers who commit serious offenses, i.e. DUI, driving on a suspension or revocation, leaving the scene of a personal injury or fatal ac­ cident (a felony), reckless driving and drag racing. Another bill requires man­ datory imprisonment for a minimum of 48 hours or 10 days of public service for second or subsequent DUI convictions within a five-year period. The legislature also established specific offenses for illegal transportation of alcohol. The previous law made no distinction between the driver or passenger having open liquor in a motor vehicle. National statistics indicate that 70 percent of the drivers whose licenses were revoked or suspended for serious offenses continue to drive. In response to this, the law requires im- Continuod on pago 9 A look inside... Drunk driver laws Youth Service grant Regular features Obituaries Mostly Social New classified number Page 2 - Page 5' Page 9 Page 8 344-4800