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PAGE 4-PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984 general Special memories of smiling Irish eyes Board of review cited in civil rights lawsuit The new plan for me to write only one column each week has me confused. Normally, I wrote a St. Patrick's Day column for the last issue before that big day when Irish eyes are smiling. The time is now. by Angela Burden Shaw-Free News Service The McHenry County Board of Review is cited in a lawsuit seeking almost a million dollars in damages for an alleged violation of civil rights. The suit, filed last week in 19th Judicial Circuit Court by the Illinois Institute of Technology, UnibankTrust and Chicago Title and Trust Co. names the board as defendants in connection with the methods and procedures of imposing 1981 through 1983 real estate assessments on the plaintiffs' land. The complaint states the plaintiffs are owners of about 107 acres on the west side of Main Street in Crystal Lake, which was not used for any purpose in 1981 and was planted in corn in the tax years of 1982 and 1983. The lawsuit claims that the land is taxed on a per-acre basis at 26.2 times more than a second cornfield directly across Main Street. The plaintiffs' land real estate tax bill for their cornfield is approximately $56,000 to $58,000 per year. The second cornfield's tax bill, if prorated to the plaintiffs' exact acreage would be about $2,055 per year. The complaint states that both properties are and were com­ parable at all times in that they were similar in use, in soils, in topography and in shape. Each piece of land is located directly across from each other and neither can be developed without further zoning. Both properties adjoin fully developed, mature shopping centers and both are suitably located for future commercial and residential development. They both are in identical taxing districts and within the cor­ porate limits of the City of Crystal Lake. The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs' civil rights were violated because the cornfield is constitutionally entitled to a uniform tax burden and the board failed to hold a fair and impartial hearing on an appeal concerning the assessment. The complaint states that the board of review deliberately violated the plaintiffs' civil rights, since they had no legal alternative but to reduce the assessments when they were appealed. There was a 2,600 percent disparity in assessments compared to the second cornfield, according to the suit. The lawsuit, in its first count, asks the court for actual damages in the amount of $200,000 and punitive damages, for the intentional constitutional violations, in the amount of $600,000, plus attorneys' fees and court costs and "such other relief as in equity may be just." In the second count of the complaint, charging the board knowingly failed to assess the plaintiffs' property in com­ pliance with the United States and Illinois constitutional mandates of ratable taxation, the lawsuit claims the plaintiffs' suffered damages in the amount of $300,000. The second count of the lawsuit asks the court to award double damages as provided by law in the total amount of $600,000, plus costs of the suit and further equitable relief. The suit was filed this week for the plaintiffs by the Crystal Lake law firm of Franz, Naughton and Leahy. Walsh If I should be writing another 50 years, my thoughts would always go back to my father singing "The Hat Me Fa-ather Wore" when the sun was up before the rest of the family on the 17th of March. He sang once a year. Of course, corned beef and cabbage was on the menu at our house. Horse radish was also featured. We felt the special menu on the big day was a far cry from the big bowl of corn meal mush my father told us was the main dish in Ireland. There were no taverns in McHenry in early days. They were called saloons. Laughter was the order of the day unless some non-Irisher made a snide remark about the wearin'-o-the-green. After a few snorts under the belt, no self respecting Irishman could let it go without a fight. Celebrations started the day before the "day of the year" and lasted into the day after. The day after was time to be put in the recovery room. As I move on to other items, let me wish you all happiness on St. Patrick's Day. May the following be your cup o' tea: OLD IRISH BLESSING May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you. May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you. Dear Earl, Noticed your questions in your S.I.H. column dated 2-29-84. Why can't Johnnie read and why can't Johnnie spell? Below is part of the answer: Johnnie, as a small boy, listened daily to the ball games on radio and TV, and was told ball players and sportscasters made fantastic salaries. The following is what the sportscaster taught Johnnie daily: Sportscaster fUbys Smoke Another k Rope On the corners Superstars of 1983 Could go on and on and fill et small book on sportscasters double talk. So, Johnnie, as a small boy, dreams of growing up to be a big leaguer, then a sportscaster. So why study, .then work all his life? Best regards, Frank Rourke Dear Frank, You have thrown a new light on the question. I'm sure you remember when Dizzy Dean was broadcasting baseball games and his descriptions brought down the wrath of school teachers. 01' Diz would say, "He slud into second". That was con­ sidered a terrible word to reach Johnnie's ears. Another one I well remember is the story about Will Rogers during depression days. When he was criticized for using the word ain't, he replied, "I know plenty of people who don't say ain't who ain't eatm' S.LH. ADDED NOTES: I wanted like all get out to see the McHenry-Johnsburg basketball game last week -- the spirit was willing, but --. Hear tell they packed the gym - Must be Dick Babbitt's remarks in his column helped--. The little Chef restaurant has a sign telling one and all how English Definition Runs batted in Fastball Strikeout Line drive 1st base 3rd base 200 batting average many days remain before St. Patrick's Day - That's good- Heard somebody on TV reminding us how many shopping days we have before Christmas--That's too much--A phone call from my friend Jake Stoffel brightened my day -- Jake and I were born in McHenry so go way back in our recollections--We find plenty to talk about without half trying-- One of the nicest letters this corner has ever received came from Bob Stock this week- Some contributions may have to wait another week under this new schedule. Be patient. Have had many inquiries about cutting down to (nice a week. I must have given the impression that my disability this winter dictated the decision. Sorry. I'm not t£iat far gone. ATRUESTORY A man and his wife entered a doctor's waiting room. Being a true gentleman, he saw that she had a chair and hung up her coat. Next, he went to the magazine rack. Brought her a magazine. She had seen it. Brought her another one. No luck. She had seen that one, too. Back he went and dug down to the bottom of the pile and said, "Here-- read this one --you weren't born when this one was printed." Accidental death rate continues to decline The nation continued its three- year trend in annual accidental death reductions based on preliminary 1983 accidental death totals, reports the National Safety Council. There were 90,000 accidental deaths last year, down 4 percent from the 1982 total of 94,000 fatalities, the Council says. This DELIGHT SOMEONE... GIVE A HAPPY BOUQUET * o OF BALLOONS SEND A * ST. PAT'S MYLAR L7"BALLOON HELIUM FILLED 7 BALLOONS ILATEXI $ C 9 5 HAPPY r> Sr- patrick-s DAY TO A LOCAL LAD, OR LASSIE OR>. PHONE (815) 385-8097 TO PLACE YOUR ORDER (312) 658-3700 ^r~y (ANYWHERE IN 48) ^ UP$. JtjiJerecl $ i n o ; o n e ( i ) 1 7 " I U . 7 J M Y L A R VISA/MASTER CHARGE ACCEPTED ORDER NOW-DONT DISAPPOINT YOUR FAVORITE LAD or LASSIE HURRY! ^PaAty CAcations by<0(flAe« (815) 3S5-g097 ho/1 utppoin tment BALLOONS FOR ALL OCCASIONS PERSONALIZE ANY BALLOON ALWAYS AVAILABLE - ALL OCCASIONS ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS. (Black Bouquets), GET WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, CHARACTERS FOR CHILDREN...MANY. MANY MORE resulted in a death rate of 38.5 per 100,000 population, the lowest accidental death rate on record. Alan Hoskin, manager of the Council's statistics department, said one reason for the decline was the relatively mild winter the nation experienced in January and February of 1983. "People generally didn't have , to rely on home heating and alternative heating devices as they do during normal winters," he said. "Consequently, there were fewer home fire deaths." Hoskin said home deaths were down 7 percent last year, totaling an estimated 19,500 fatalities. The largest category for accidental deaths-motor- vehicle accidents- was reduced 4 percent from 1982. The 1983 total was an estimated 44,300 deaths, compared to 46,000 fatalities in 1982. The Council said the motor-vehicle death rate for every 100 million vehicle miles was 2.73, also the lowest rate on record. The two other principal ac­ cidental death categories- public and work-each showed 3 percent reductions, the Council said. Public accidental deaths totaled 19,000 and workrrelated deaths amounted to 11,200. The Council also reports that there were 8.5 million disabling j injuries in 1983. The total cost to | the nation lor accidents amounted to $91.3 billion, up from the previous year's total cost of $88.4 billion. Pi McHenry* «sin«i»7j lamdealer McHenry Herald (USPS 335-200) Established 1875 3812 West Elm Street Phone 815-385-0170 McHenry, Illinois <>0050 Published Every Wednesday & Friday at McHenry. Illinois Second Class Postage PAID at McHenry, Illinois by McHkNRY PUBLISHING COMPANY POSTMASTER Send address changes to McHenry Ploindealer 3812 W Elm St.., McHenry, Illinois 60050 Subscribers are requested to provide immediate notice of change of address to the McHenry Ploindealer 3812 W. Elm St., McHenry. III. 60050. A deduction of one month from the expiration of a subscription will be made where a change of address is provided through the Post Office department. Thomas C. Miller-Publisher Adele Froehlich-Editor ghoarfc ©inning ilrtospaper MEMBER NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION 1 Year SUBSCRIPTION RATES $19.00 1 Year $27.00 !n McHenry County Outside McHenry County ^THINGS C SHAMROCKS * AT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS M+ / EVERY Tuesday NO LIMIT The WEST ELM LAUNDRY will give you 254 for EACH wash that you do. the sfelni 4506 W. ELM (ROUTE 120) JLSt. Patrick's Calendar Day Countdown 1^1 Irish Fortune Cookies ilg Green Shamrock Knee Sockt-̂ ~-Green Lacey Garters JKg Large Selection of Irish Musk' on Î PJTR * Cassette ifl Sweatshirts! T-Shirts LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Saturday afternoon, March 10th Mike Duignan from Co. Derry Saturday Afternoon, March 17th The McNamara-Curran Irish Step Dancers afl Irish Flags of All Kinds d|b Party Hats & Pins •flSt. PafsTies Jf* Baseball Caps •fi Shamrock Boppers All Other Good Things Irish REGISTER TO WIN! An Irish Wool Sweater Winner will be announced on St. Paddy's Day Crystal Lake Plaza (Rt,14j Crystal Lake, IL 815-459 1800 The McHenry Ploindealer 3812 W. Elm Street McHenry, II. 60050 McHenry County • I YEAR-*19.00 • 4 MONTHS -S10.00 Name Address City Stat* 2«P --