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• V MCHeitry^^^^^^*Sincel87^^ aindealer _ Friday January 6, 1984 Number 44 Volume 108 1 Section 22 Pages 25c A Fight against drug abuse continues in community STAFF PHOTO WAYNE GAYtOBD Tree Pickup Rich Stull, Public Works employee/ throws a Christmas tree in the back of this truck. City pickup officially begins Jan. 9 and continues throughtout the week. Trees should be placed on the curb fcjy 7 a.m. Seek grant for village drainage I by Marion Olsen The Village of Lakemoor is seeking a federal grant to im­ prove drainage and road con­ ditions. Village President Richard Hyatt recently reported that he had met with Robert Morris of the Community Development Committee of the McHenry County Board and Baxter and Woodman, sanitary engineers, to takeiiteps toward obtaining the necessary grant. He said the grant will be com­ prehensive covering pressing drainage and road problems and also needed playgrounds and police protection. Hyatt quoted a portion of the [rant proposal instructions [escribing a community block grant for small city programs for the purpose of "development of a viable urban community... for persons of low and moderate incomes." Baxter and Woodman, he said, will review previous, already- paid-for studies which will be used for the proposal. Hyatt emphasized that the village must aim for 100 percent fun­ ding rather than matching grants because of its limited resources. He said the village might be able to provide 10 percent matching funds through bonding and assessing the beneficiaries of specific im­ provements, but otherwise no money was available. . He noted that grants are long range while the community needs assistance on an im­ mediate basis for problems likely to arise in spring. "We're Working with thegfe people with both type^ of assistance in mind," he added. At an early October meeting the board received help from Rep. Richard Klemm (Rep., Crystal Lake) with suggestions on grant applications, state centralized purchasing and a source for emergency help for culvert problems. 'Rescue 50' Jan, 15 "Rescue 50" coordinators are putting the final plans together for the well known snowmobile marathon ride. Harmony Snowmobile club president Dick Short said that..."community response indicates the ninth annual marathon will be a great success". With the trails in good con­ dition and snow in the forecast, the ride is1 expected to be as exciting as usual. A look inside... Tax shelter warding MCC Class^support Regular features Obituaries Mostly Social New Classified Number Page 10 Page 9 Page 3 Paoe 11 "34^4800 by Carol Stevens McHenry Police Officer Gary Wigman will demonstrate drug paraphernalia when he speaks for the Citizens for Community Action (CCA) meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10 in rooms 210-211\of West Campus High School. Wigman will explain also the effects of various drugs and how to identify the user. Following the demonstration, the Task Force Committee will meet individually for brief reports on current efforts. The Citizens for Community Action - A Better Way (CCA) met recently re reorganize and set new goals in dealing with the problems of drug and alcohol abuse by ^cHenry area youths^ This meeting was an outgrowth of the recent two-part series seen on television entitled, "The Chemical People," and is part of a nationwide movement spearheaded by First Lady Nancy Reagan, to organize to fight these problems. Approximately 36 area residents gathered at the McHenry High School West Campus to discuss the problems and organize to find a better way to deal with these very , real and growing problems. After the viewing of the second part of the television series at the last gathering, a list of 18 different priorities was compiled. At the recent meeting, these priorities were discussed in an effort to decide which were the most important and should be dealt with first. Some felt that education is the number one priority because the more that is known about the adverse affects of drug and alcohol abuse, the less likely one is to become involved in such abuse. Others disagreed, stating that there already is much in­ formation available. What is needed, they say, is alternatives, perhaps a com­ munity center where area youth can go with their friends and do the things they like to do without the presenc^of drugs and alcohol. Stilf others felt a need for some immediate action. The final decision was-4? divide the 18 priorities into three groups: education and help, community center, and other community action Three task forces were then set up to deal with each of these categories. The group then divided into three, each group taking one category. iSach task force met separately to elect a chairman, a vice-chairman (who is a youth under the age of 19) and a secretary-treasurer. Discussions were held within each group to determine the goals of each task force and to begin thinking of ways to meet these goals. The goals of each task force are as follows: Education Task Force - To better train teachers for in- service help; to teaclj coping skills to youth; and to further parent education on the. problems of drug and alcohol abiise. Community Center Task Force - On a^ong-term basis, to establish a youth-oriented, adult-supervised community center where youths can gather; on a ; short-term basis, to organize a "family day" to be held after the first of the year. Community Action Task Force - To address the problems of drug and alcohol abuse through community channels, i.e. city council, local politicians, schools, etc. One of the goals announced was to make holiday seasons as drug and alcohol-free as Once the task forces had met, the officers of the groups met together to form a governing board for the CCA. Selected as board chairman was Karen Kay ward, who will be organizing future agendas and meetings of the/CCA. Anyone interested in, and concerned abo&t, the drug and alcohol problenrin McHenry or in a particular area, is invited to come for more information. For the answer to questions, call (815) 728-1311. Trial opens for ^attempted murder Local merchants have again donated orange juice, coffee and rolls for the cmorning registration at Raymond's Bowl beginning at 8 a.m. Jan. 15. Baseball stars Rick Rueschel and Larry Bittner are expected to ride with Jim Wright, one of the leading faqd_raisers. The 50-mile circle trip, planned by Roger Zielke, will have several pit stops and lunch in Woodstock. The riders will be escorted by rescue squad members, sheriff's police and auxiliary deputies on snowmobiles, and should Return about 3 p.m. for hot chili and sandwiches. All licensed, 1 insured snowmobilers are invited to ride with at least a $25 pledge for funds to be used for the benefit of the members of the John- sburg and McHenry Rescue Squads and a new recipient, the Crime Stoppers. ~ For more information on the ride or joining the Harmony Snowmobile Club, contact Dick Short at 385-7180. A directed finding Wed­ nesday of not guilty on at­ tempted murder and aggravated battery charges against David Blasius of McHenry resulted in the defendant being discharged on all charges. Blasius, 37, was discharged by Judge Leonard Brody in 19th Judicial Circuit Court. By Angela Burden Shaw Free Press News Media In opening statements Tuesday at the start of the trial of 37-year-old David Blasius of McHenry, the state said evidence will show the defen­ dant "methodically sought out his victim and attempted to kill her." Blasius stands accused of attempted murder and aggravated battery in con­ nection with a May 21 incident when Rita M. Dragonette was allegedly knocked down by Blasius' car, which continued pushing her for approximately 20 to 30 feet. Assistant State's Attor Gail Moreland, prosecuting the case in a bench trial before Judge Leonard Brody in 19th Judicial Circuit Court, stated that evidence will show Blasius stopped his victim when he was driving in one direction to ask a question and a short while later drove his car up behind her, left the road and knocked her down, only coming to a stop when the vehicle became stuck in mud in a ditch. "The vehicle pushed Mrs. Dragonette along some distance, she was injured and the defendant refused to get her help," Ms. Moreland told the court. She said the defendant acted with malice. "A total disregard for human' life with intent to kill," Moreland said. The. defense, conducted by Assistant Public Defender Dan Hoffman, declined to make an opening statement to the court. -^-Mrs. Dragonette, a 33-year-old public relations executive, testified that she was in the habit of taking five-mile walks and on May 21 left her Cherry Valley Road home to take her usual route to Crystal Springs Road, Oak Ridge and Hillside roads and back to Cherry Valley ad. The incident occurred on Oak Ridge. She testified that„ B\asius stopped his vehicle and asked her directions to a residence she did not know and then proceeded on his way. Ms. Dragonette said shortly after that, she heard a vehicle approaching from the rear and, as its engine noise came closer, she stepped about four^feet from the shoulder of the road. . "The next thing I kne^ I was flying through the air, then landed on the ground and the car continued to bear down on my head and shoulders," she said. ' Ms. Dragonette said when she looked at the car, she realized it was the same vehicle which had stopped her earlier. She said she then recognized Blasius as the man who had earlier asked directions. She testified that she told Blasius she was injured and needed to get to a hospital, "I asked him to go to a nearby house for help and he said he'd already been there and got no response." ^ Ms. Dragonette said her dog, a Doberman, arrived at the ac­ cident scene, followed shortly by her husband. Just before her husband drove her away to get medical aid, she asked Blasius to provide his name and address. She said he gave her the name of John Johnson and a false address. - The Dragonettes left Blasius at the scene. Mrs. Dragonette. was taken to Crystal Lake Ambutal and then to Good Continued on page 3 j STAFF PHOTO WAYNE GAYIORD Aid Injured Fire and rescue volunteers from Co. 1 of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District aid those injured in this col I ision in the 2500 block of N. Riverside Drive Wednesday morning. Additional details were unavailable at press time.