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(Plaindealer photo by Anthony Oliver) Sparky meets youngsters ef AM MeHenry Township Fire Departmeit at the Trade FjOrwaa an attfarttoa faywy and oM aMke^iparky, the talMng Battery is changed to murder charge for Whitt By Angela Borden Plaiadealer News Service Charges of aggravated bat­ tery against an 18-year-old McHenry man were changed Monday to murder charges because his alleged victim died Sunday. Patrick E. Whitt, of 3111 Sunrise View, is being held in the county jail on charges brought by McHenry County sheriffs police. Whitt was arrested Thursday after sheriff's police in­ vestigated an incident at 2609 Emerald Court where David M. Garrelts, 28, of 4110 E. Lakeshore Drive, Wonder Lake, had reportedly been struck on the head with a baseball bat. McHenry Rescue Squad transported the victim to McHenry Hospital, where he was given treatment before being airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital, Rockford, where he died Sunday. Police said they responded to a house party at the Emerald Court address, where they found Garrelts iqjured on the road. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Whitt, police said. Bond for the accused man was set Monday morning at $250,000. In an unrelated incident, sheriffs police Monday morning investigated an incident near the McHenry Dam, where a 42- year-old Palatine man was found with head injuries. Police said the victim sustained gunshot wounds. He was transported to a Rockford Hospital. By Plaindealer news service The board of education of High School District 156 was scheduled to vote the evening of April 3 on a stepped-up educational plan which has been under study. It is a short and long range program to improve "an already exemplary system", according to Assistant Supt. Norb Wolter, who presented the plan to the board at a recent meeting. Hie short range changes are scheduled to go into effect in September of 1985. The changes are the result of a study of several education reports, the best known being the President's Commission on Excellence in Education. The study was followed by com­ munity hearings for citizen input. When the short range plan goes into effect, graduation requirements will go up from 17 academic credits to 18%. A credit is equivalent to one year's study. All students will be required to have a minimum of 3% credits in English (up from 3), 2 credits in mathematics (compared to 1 credit now), 2 credits of Social Science including % credit of Social Science; 1 credit of U.S. History and *4 credit of American Government (present requirement: 1 credit in l?.S. History). Two credits of Science will be compulsory with 1 credit in a life science (up 1 credit). Other requirements would include Vfe credit of Physical Education for each semester of student attendance (same as ^present); also, % credit in Health Education. One credit in either Art, Music, Foreign Language or Vocational Education will become a requisite where now none of the subjects in the group are required. Also, a v* credit in Driver Education will continue to be mandatory. Students may be allowed to c o m p l e t e g r a d u a t i o n requirements in seven semesters with parental and • school faculty approval. All courses would be planned to integrate the basics of reading, language arts, writing, mathematics, logic and study skills into the curriculum when appropriate. In the plan, a district-wide textbook adoption policy will be developed to insure the best available textbooks be pur­ chased; also, teacher-made material will be reviewed. Homework will be em­ phasized. A homework log will be developed to help students and parents be mindful of assignments. The long range plan addressed faculty encouragement through time allotments and finanriai incentives for program im­ provement and planning, through faculty recognition programs, and _ through establishment ot master teacher concepts. It recommended a study of s p e c i a l g r a d u a t i o n requirements for college-bound students with consideration of grade weighting and grading incentive programs. It suggeked a better program for gifted students. In addition, the plan recom­ mended more communication and coordination with grade schools and the junior college. Furthermore, it called for a greater linkage between local business and industry. Finally, a plan to further incorporate computer learning in the schools was recom­ mended to keep up with in­ creased technology. Wolter noted that no overall plan can reflect all of the opinions of faculty and ad­ ministration. Other position papers presenting individual viewpoints were offered for board study. The administrator added that 50 percent of the success of any educational program depends on the motivation of the students and parents. Before Wolter's presentation, Greg Johnson, principal of West Campus, reviewed a State of the District report. It took five typed, singled-spaced pages to describe all the good things about McHenry High Schools from their facilities, curriculum and co-curricular activities to the faculty and the schools' community service, and more. Wolter commented that looking at all that has been accomplished in the Challenge for Excellence program in­ spired by the board several years ago was "an awesome experience." In other business, John Dunne, president of the Warrior Booster Club, presented the district with a check for $1,000 to be used for the prom. Principal Johnson noted that without the help of the Booster club, such special expenses would be difficult to meet. After an executive session, Supt. Robert Swartzloff reported that a West Campus student has been expelled from school for the remainder of the semester^ because of gross misconduct-- Ask recount for committeeman A close race for precinct committeeman in McHenry's 24th precinct has resulted in a request for a recount, according to papers filed with County Clerk Rosemary Azzaro. In that race, incumbent Er­ nest Schooley, 5214 W. Victor Drive, was edged out by a two- vote margin (32-30) by Timothy Serritella, son of Alderman Cecilia Serritella. The petition, filed with a check for $10, asks for an examination of the 72 ballots cast, a test of the machines used, and a recount of the ballots. Schooley asserts that he received 95 percent as many votes as did the successful candidate. County Clerk Azzaro notes that this was the only petition filed for recount for the March primary. The canvassing board, con­ sisting of two persons, will be called in for the hearing on the petition scheduled for Friday, April 6. The county clerk said the cost of the procedure will be $40 for the time of the two board members plus the time of herself and staff to locate the ballots, present them for examination, and to process them through the computer which is still set for processing the ballots. Azzaro added that since the board will be in session they plan to hold the required lottery for party ballot positions for the general election set for November on this date. Audrey Walgenbach, former county treasurer, has been invited to do the formal drawing of lots out of somebody's hat to decide which of the two parties will be printed in the preferred first position. Introduce new column commentary Starting today in the McHenry Plaindealer, columnist Cliff Ward speaks out on the retirement of DePaul Coach Ray Meyer, and his long career coaching college basketball. Readers can look forward to Ward's comments every Wed­ nesday, as well as those of another writer, Dick Peterson, every Friday, on page three of the Plaindealer. The columns will be commentaries on subjects of local interest, which we feel will generate regular readership throughout our circulation area. These new features come as a result of a recent readership survey, which revealed that our readers appreciate locally- wriUen articles of general interest. We feel the columns spotlight the talents of our local reporters in the Shaw Free Press Media Group. Ward is a city reporter for the Woodstock Daily Sentinel. The Marquette University graduate is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind. Peterson, city editor of the Harvard Herald, has three years experience writing columns. Originally from Iowa, he graduated from the University of Iowa and has been writing news professionally for two and a half years. We hope you like tbe addition to the Plaindealer of local columnists. If you do, let us know, and just as important, if you disagree with one of our columnists, we would like to know that too. Let"us know how we're doing. 2 Sections 32 Pages 25* n» Wednesday April 4, 1984 Number 69 Volume 108 aindealer Okay revenue bonds for area dealership bv Marlon Olsen Plaindealer news service The Lakemoor village board of trustees this past month approved revenue bonds totaling $145 million for the Sullivan Lake Development. The 500-acre area was annexed to the city last year. Two other commercial revenue bonds were approved last year for a shopping mall and other commercial development in the village addition. Meetings continue between developer Robert L. Krilich, village officials and the Island Lake Sanitary District to pur­ chase sewer service for the development. Krilich is aiming A look inside. . . County Transportation Volunteer Recognition Regular features Crime of the Week Obituaries Classified Reader Ads Display and Classified Display Section 2, Page 2 Section 2, Page 13 Page 4 Page 7 344-4800 385-0170 according to Village President Richard Hyatt. In police department business, Hyatt discussed the village ordinance which forbids t parking on the village streets. He said the ordinance makes no exceptions for parking on dead end streets. "All streets must be open for snowplowing, garbage pickup and for turning around of village or garbage trucks," he declared, "Cars parked on streets will be ticketed." The board, in related business, approved payment of $88 for one year's cost of marksmanship qualifying sessions for the village's two police officers. In addition, Hyatt announcea that Office Chris Felde had been certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In othei^ action, Public Works Director Mark Zeffery was authorized to spend up to $500 for maintenance equipment. He was also authorized to attend a one-day economic development seminar in LaSalle, DJ. McHenry police detective is commended Twenty-seven police and juvenile officers from throughout the state inrlnrting Gary Wigman, detective with the McHenry Police Depart­ ment, were winners of Partners on the Street commendations for outstanding police youth work and effective cooperation with youth service agencies. The framed certificates or plaques were presented in Chicago at a youth services conference sponsored by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois Collaboration on Youth. About 800 people from 18 states and communities throughout Illinois attended the conference. James Reilly, chief of staff for Governor James R. Thompson, presented the awards. "Recent changes in state law marked the beginning of a new era in community services to troubled youth", said DCFS Director Gordon Johnson. "Under this system, youth and juvenile officers play a crucial role in identifying troubled youth, protecting them from harm, and directing them to local youth service which can help them resolve problems at home, in school, or in the community. "Cooperation between all groups and individuals who serve youth is the key to this new system. Since police officers play such a vital early role in this effort, we wanted to salute and thank those individuals whose dedication and com­ mitment have helped us make the system work," Johnson said. Johnson added that 1984 was the first year of the awards, which will be presented an­ nually. Gary Wigman, left, McHenry city Police award from Gordon Johnson, director, Illinois Department, receives 1984 Partners on the Street Department of Children and Family Services.