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Voters in the Tuesday, March 19, primary do NOT need to declare party affiliation to vote on either the Regional Tran­ sportation Authority or the M e n t a l H e a l t h propositions. RTA - Who Will Gain? (an editorial) For the past several weeks the Plaindealer has outlined some of the major objections to the Regional Authority Transportation proposal as it will be voted in a six-county area at the Tuesday, March 19, primary. One concerns the governing board, heavily weighted in favor of Chicago and Cook county even while legally meeting the one-man, one-vote requirement of law. The six persons appointed by Mayor Daley and Cook county commissioners represent three-fourths of the original board and could, if they chose, control all action. The taxing powers of the RTA proposal add up to another of the distasteful features. They include the power to impose a new 5 per cent sales tax on gasoline and a new, unlimited parking tax. Whether he is moving or parked, the RTA would tax the motorist. But more than any other particular disadvantage, the proposal is offensive in its lack of guarantees for the masses of taxpayers in the outlying counties, such as McHenry, who admittedly will be sharing the cost with those who gain most. These are the people who will benefit from the RTA, in the words of the RTA committee asking a favorablc^vote. ... People who now ride mass transportation; ... People who travel by bus at times other than rush hour; ... People who find it difficult to change from rail to bus or make other transfers; ... Suburban women ( who need to get to PTA meetings); ... Businessmen; ... Motorists who must use their cars (because persons who can travel by mass transportation will use less gas, and there will be less traffic)) ... Persons with lung and other health problems because air pollution will be reduced. It is difficult enough these days to subsidize those things we feel will benefit the greatest number of people. To -agree to the RTA in its present form seems to us like buying a pig in a poke. Unless you fall into at least a few of those categories who will benefit most, we suggest you vote NO at the polls next Tuesday. THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME98 NUMBER65 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1974 20 PAGES& ONE SUPPLEMENT Hold Primary Vote Tuesday, March 19 Several thousands of voters are expected to go to the polls in McHenry county next Tuesday, March 19, to express preferences for both candidates and issues. Because only one county contest exists, prime interest is expected to be generated through the RTA. On a special blue ballot, voters will decide whether a Regional Transportation Authority will be established for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Jam Courthouse 500 Horsemen Push To Voice Health Complaints Hie unprecedented number of Public Pulse letters in op­ position to the RTA proposal in recent weeks would suggest that the type of Regional Transportation Authority of­ fered in Tuesday's primary has few friends in the McHenry community. It is important for these people to realize that each vote is important, and only by a large voter turnout in the collar counties can there be any hope of defeating the issue. .This becomes evident when one looks at the registration figures for Chicago and Cook county in the amount of just under 3,000,000 compared to just over 709,000 in combined McHenry, Kane, Will, DuPage and Lake Hies. About 500 horsemen con­ cerned over provisions of the proposed new McHenry County Health ordinance, pushed into the courthouse Wednesday evening to make their com­ plaints known. However, so huge was the crowd that only about 250 were able to squeeze into the County board room. Sheriff's deputies, believing the gathering might get out of hand, kept an eye on proceedings. Many of the spectators were forced to sit on the floor and another couple hundred waited in the hall. Realizing that little could be accomplished, Charles "Chuck" Weingart suggested holding a meeting some nice Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds on this article of the ordinance only. Weingart is president of the McHenry County Fair association and a member of both the Agriculture (Continued on page 11) is no time to be discouraged, however. A large vote in the outlying area may prove more important than we think if primary apathy is present in the big city, as it often is. And from TV rebuttals to channel editorials, it would seem that all the metropolitan area is not in accord with the proposal. City Council action on the odd-even system of gas pur­ chasing, commendable as it was, may have come too late. We haven't seen a line at any station for the past ten days and for that we are grateful. A friend drove up to one station and asked if he could make a purchase on an odd- numbered day. The operator informed him that with business as it was, he could buy gas any day. Our own ex­ perience came Sunday morning when we drove into a station where there was a $3 limit the previous week. We asked for whatever amount they were selling. The operator beamed and said we could have all we wanted. At another station we saw a large sign informing the driving public that "we have gas". But maybe station operators know something we don't and the odd-even arrangement may yet become necessary. Whatever the situation is, we haven't seen bright lights in­ viting us to make a purchase at night. Maybe the good old days are gone forever! K.A.F. Present Jazz Festival Bob Freund, left, William Toalson and John Leighty meet to discuss plans for the second annual all-city jazz festival which will be held Friday night, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in West campus* auditorium. Absent from photo is Richard Mikus, one of the four musical directors planning the event. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Sounds of jazz will fill Wesl campus school auditorium Friday night, March 15, starting at 7:30. The occasion is the second annual all-city jazz festival. Featured on the program will be the stage band from Harrison school, Wonder Lake, directed by Richard Mikus; East campus band under the (Continued on page 11) McHenry and Will counties. A majority of all votes cast is needed for passage. The second issue to be decided will be voted on a white ballot. The proposition asks whether McHenry county should levy an annual tax not to exceed .1 per cent for the purpose of providing com­ munity mental health facilities and services. Again on this issue, a majority vote is needed for passage. Another non-partisan vote will place in office two school trustees for the county. Can­ didates are Clarence C. Foote of Woodstock and Benjamin Winn of Richmond. Greatest interest in can­ didate races will be that bet­ ween Edward W. Hall of 536 W. Jackson street, Woodstock, and Herb Sass, president of the Whispering Oaks association, is shown below at desk, before microphone, as he spoke at a House Revenue subcommittee hearing on Property tax relief for senior citizens, held in the Whispering Oaks clubhouse last Friday. Top photo shows part of the large crowd in attendance. STAFF PHOTOS - WAYNE GAYLORD The only county contest on either ballot in the Tuesday, March 19, election will be for the office of superintendent of educational service region. Edward M. Hall of Woodstock and Roy E. Johnson of Lake-in-the-Hills will seek voter support for their party's nomination. In the November general election, the winner will meet Henry Kenyon of McHenry, the sole Democratic candidate for that office. < notified the Crystal Lake board that separate tax bills would be sent if the district agreed to pay the $4,041.14 necessary for the additional cost of postage. The board felt the entire county should not be expected to assume this obligation. This idea was rejected by the school board. Several County board members expressed their objections to the necessity for an expenditure of taxpayers' money throughout the county for an obvious error within the school district. Members Thomas Huemann and Willis Simms of McHenry were two of those who most vehemently voiced opposition to the proposal, Both said they had received phone calls from people within their district who had learned of the problem following a committee meeting, State's Attorney William Cowlin said state law requires a county to send out bills if asked by a taxing district. He ad­ mitted to the confusion that will result as he stated he did not want to say it was right or wrong. "Why not have a friendly law suit to test the legality of it?" was one suggestion by a board member. After much discussion, on advice from the State's At­ torney, it was agreed that the bills must be sent, even though Acts Roy E. Johnson, Jr., of 108 Hickory road, Lake-in-the- Hills. They seek the office of superintendent of educational service region for McHenry county. All of McHenry township's twenty-six precincts except the twenty-fifth are located within the 16th congressional and 33rd state legislative districts. They will be voting on these can­ didates after selecting either a Republican or Democratic ballot. U.S. Senator: George M. Burditt and Lar (America First) Daly, both (R) and Adlai E. Stevenson and W. Dakin Williams, both (D). State Treasurer: Jeannette H. Mullen and Harry Page, both (R) and Alan J.Dixon (D). Representative in Congress: John B. Anderson (R) and Marshall Hungness (D). State Central Com­ mitteeman: David L. Mar- tenson (R) and Raymond Hallquist and Francis X. Mahoney, both (D). Representative in General Assembly: R. Bruce Waddell and Calvin L. "Cal" Skinner, Jr. both (R) and C.R. (Ron) Stroup, Thomas J. Hanahan, both (D). County Clerk: Vernon W. Kays (R) and Nancy S. Wade (D). County Treasurer: Audrey R. Walgenbach (R) and no Democratic candidate. Sheriff: John C. Carroll (R) and Arthur T. Tyrrell (D). Superintendent of Education Service Region: Edward W. Hall and Roy E. Johnson, Jr. both (R) and Henry A. Kenyon (D). Judge of the Appellate Court: Leroy L. (Rex) Rechenmacher (R) and Francis X. Mahoney (D). Judge of the Appellate Court (2nd Judicial district to Till additional judgeship): Glenn K. Seidenfeld (R). Judge of the Circuit Court (19th Judicial circuit to fill vacancy): William J. Gleason (R) and Nello P. Gamberdino (D). Judge of the Circuit Court (19th Judicial circuit to fill vacancy): Thomas R. Doran (R) andTerrence J. Brady (D). Member of the County Board: Edward J. Buss, Willis J. Simms, Walter J. Dean and Thomas Huemann, all (R) Kenneth Donald Zabielski and James Michael O'Laughlin(D). The ballot in the 32nd legislative district will be the same except for candidates in the General Assembly. There is a contest on the Republican (Continued on page 11) County Correct A deficiency in school tax money in Crystal Lake District 47 for the year 1972 brought forth a storm of controversy at the monthly meeting of the McHenry County board on Tuesday. No explanation for the shortage was disclosed. The Finance and Salaries committee asked for action by the board following a request for the county to send out bills to taxpayers in that school district to cover the deficit. The committee disclosed that the cost to the county to place an additional line on tax bills, stating the charge to each taxpayer, would be $11,187.80. The committee, headed by Edward Buss of McHenry, had Board Acts To Tax Deficiency there were grumblings of possible law suits. Board Member Richard Klemm made a motion to send out tax bills, but he said the school district would be liable for their legality. Other action brought op­ position to the March 19 RTA referendum and approval for passage of the Mental Health vote. Neither vote came before considerable time was spent in debate. Edward Buss made a request to strike the first reason set forth in the resolution against the RTA. He objected to the wording: "The RTA board as proposed in the current bill is (Continued on page 11) Chain O'Lakes Commission Studies Flooding Condition The Chain O'Lakes Study commission will meet March 22 at 1 p.m. at the Fox Lake village hall for a public hearing to study flooding conditions. William Brooks of Antioch is chairman of the commission. It is made up of four Represen­ tatives, four Senators and four lay people from Lake, Cook and McHenry counties. Priority is given to flooding. SCHOOL ELECTIONS Little interest has been shown in local school board elections to date and there are few filings. Elections will be held Saturday, April 13. March 22 is the last date for candidates to file. Livestock Theft Threat Viewed At Banquet McHenry County Livestock Feeders association members plan their annual banquet and program at the Cloven Hoof, Marengo, Thursday night, March 28, Don Stoxen, president, has announced. Featured speaker will be Sheriff Art Tyrrell as he discusses the threat to theft of livestock in the country and ways farmers should work together to protect their property. Theft of gasoline and other shortage supplies is a - possibility, also. Lou de Graf, executive secretary of the Illinois Livestock Feeders association, will be among special guests. The roast beef and barbecue dinner will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available from Stoxen, -Bob Fritz, vice- president, or Dan Walters, secretary-treasurer. Klndergaten Registration At Landmark School Kindergarten registration for all District 15 children will be held March 20, 21 and 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Landmark school. Any child who will be 5 years of age on or before Dec. 1, 1974, should be registered at this time. Working parents may obtain a registration form to complete at home and return the following day. Vandals Damage Telephone Equipment, Other Property The Illinois Bell Telephone company informed county authorities of several incidents involving vandalism and theft to their property last week. When a repairman was sent to Pistakee Highlands at Broadway and Woodland last Thursday to repair four sets of wires which had been cut, he also discovered that the lock had been removed from a patch box at that location. Repairs were made, but about an hour later it was discovered that fifteen sets of wires had been cut since the repairs. It was believed a wire cutter may have been used. The company also reported that sometime since March 1, a nitrogen tank with a regulator and 25 feet of hose were taken from a repair site at a line terminal at 1019 W. Lincoln road, McHenry. Investigation is continuing. Richard Adams of 3001 W. Maryville, McHenry, reported that sometime during the past week, someone stole twenty blue spruce trees from vacant property he owns at 1610 W. Lincoln road, McHenry. The summer home of Herbert Winters at 1209 South street, Spring Grove, was burglarized sometime since March 3. Taken from the premises were a Bulova wrist watch, a camping knife in a leather case, a pair of boxing gloves and head guard, $20 in dimes and an 8 mm movie camera. The home of Peter Waichunas of 1205 W. Northeast Shore drive, McHenry, was entered sometime last week. The home had been searched but it cannot be determined if anything was taken until the owner arrives to take inventory of die premises. Extensive damage was done to the unoccupied home of Antic Velimir at 611 Rand road, McHenry, recently. Inspection revealed a section of the fence had been torn down, the basement door was opened, several statues on the property were damaged and extensive damage had been done by articles being thrown through windows. Investigation is continuing. Five windows were broken in the scale house of Chain O'Lakes Sand and Gravel, Lily Lake road, McHenry, last weekend. However, the offenders failed to gain entrance to the building. A mailbox was thrown through a front plate glass window at the business place of Klingberg and Tetzner at 2214 N. Ringwood road, McHenry, last Friday night. The identity of the offender has not been determined. Fred Bykowski of 2618 Shorewood drive, McHenry, reported that three light bulbs, a glass meter cover and a window were broken on his (Continued on page 11) Express New Optimism Over Senior Citizen Tax Relief Between 75 and 100 senior citizens attended the House R e v e n u e s u b c o m m i t t e e hearing on property tax relief for senior citizens held in the Whispering Oaks clubhouse last Friday morning. Brought to McHenry by committee member Cal Skinner, Jr. (R-Crystal Lake), three state legislators heard many significant viewpoints from local residents and those from Waukegan and Elgin. When asked what were the chances for increased relief, Skinner replied, "I'm positive that increased relief for senior citizens will be approved by the legislature this year. After all, the major state politicians are all calling for it." Jay Harris, a member of the Lake county chapter of the American Association of Retired People, complained that the State Revenue depart­ ment is not getting this year's circuit breaker property tax relief forms out fast enough. Skinner explained the situation is state-wide, but that his office (No. 8 Crystal Lake Plaza) has them now. He (Continued on page 11) ROY E.JOHNSON, JR. HENRY KENYON EDWARD W.HALL