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CAGE 18 - PLAINDE ALER-WEDNESD AY, APRIL 17, 1974 EDITORIALS Trailer Homes In recent years we've witnessed ajboom in the sale of trailer homes. Some like the idea of beingable to move their abode, travel, etc. Trailer homes, or mobile homes as they're called, are also less expensive than conventional homes. * Some, however, believe these homes will be the slums of tfrp ftiture. Others see them as eyesores but that need not be, if they are attractively sited and there's some land­ scaping shrubbery. Of course, mobile homes situated o^ly temporarily too seldom enjoy such surroundings. A danger in mobile home living is that these homes are dften vulnerable to high winds. Time and time again sud- cten storms devastate trailer parks when other homes near­ ly are left undamaged. Tied down, these homes are safer titan untied, but they are nevertheless vulnerable. > Only recently fifty-five persons were injured in a mobile Ubme neighborhood near Tampa, Florida. That happens regularly. It's a danger which should be faced by owners and communities. • *. Advice On Children - ~ One of the facts of life parents should appreciate is that there's an over-abundance of advice, much of it half-baked, about rearing children. One constantly reads magazine and newspaper articles by various "authorities" telling us how to rear Junior. There *8 really not very much complicated in this worth­ while task. Common sense, love and time will enable most Barents to do a fine job. A good book on medical care in the home is advisable but the current spate of psychologi­ cal digging, overdone worrying over junior's reactions, his (Or her) frustrations, resentment, etc., is often misleading or worse. 1 All children must learn discipline and the sooner the better, if it isn't allowed to crush their spirit and initiative. £11 will have some frustrations, some resentments. Fine and good. That's life. All must be curbed at times, some­ times punished. Consistency and love, however, in guiding them along, is recognized and understood by children. . ' And if he or she doesn't turn out just like parents expect, it isn't necessarily the parents' fault. There's no need for these parents to consider themselves failures, and wallow in a sea of remorse. Too many sorry influences today can lUre a youngster from the proper path of life--including tele­ vision, films, associates, etc. The Kidnappers \ Kidnappings are once again news on the American scene. Such crimes pose a difficult decision for parents and other loved ones, since fatal risks to the kidnapped are involved. The famed Lindberg kidnapping in the thirties, however, taught the nation only firmness can thwart abductions and ransom demands and this is probably still true, even with our new television generation. When the nation moved four decades ago to make kidnap­ ping a federal crime, such abductions practically ceased, 'irm enforcement now of tough federal statutes already on books is the major hope to pieuent a fresh wave of kid­ nappings. I* Latin American kidnappers demanding money for the poor ^rab terrorists and certain others (some in this country) Allegedly acting for righteous causes, have encouraged the Current trend. Compliance with often childish ransom de­ mands and dreams, while understandable, will only en­ tourage juvenile and criminal minds. THE STREAKERS t F . vcwx"wssl [ C A S O L I N E T lift,' f y r > i /• r-' i f ' W P R I C E *• ' i t -L ***** PTf-T,^ l! .fflfMriowv, i^^r*{ r iENT :Vi- - 3 Land Values, Property Tax Highlight League Meeting Educationar Foundation (Prepared by McHenry County Educational Foundation) People all over McHenry county are asking questions concerning the McHenry C o u n t y E d u c a t i o n a l Foundation. According to the executive director, John W. Buckner, these are questions that are well asked and he indicated that a series of four articles wore being prepared to try and inform the people of McHenryCounty just what the McHenry County Educational foundation is, and what its goals are to be. Buckner indicated that the entire series of articles would be questions and answers relative to the Foundation. At the conclusion of the series of articles, a membership drive would be conducted throughout the county and more informath ijApril, 1917 V More On 1917 In April of 1917 the United States declared war on Ger­ many. Americans were in­ furiated by Germany's con­ duct; they believed many^ atrocity stories and were con­ vinced the "Lusitania" had been wrongly and immorally sunk. They resented unre­ stricted U-Boat warfare. The succeeding years have shown most of these convic­ tions were incorrect. The "Lusitania" was indeed car- rying contraband--and the German government had pub­ licly warned Americans not to sail on her. And while U-Boat sink­ ings were a ruthless form of war, Britain was at that time _ . , . , , , . . . . , a t t e m p t i n g t o s t a r v e o u t G e r - s.m apec.al session and declared war to exist; this sealed many by blockading all her ports; because Britain was s t r o n g e r i n s u r f a c e s h i p s , Germany's only recourse, actually, was to seek victory or a truce through a subma­ rine campaign. Yet, we went to war, and insured defeat of the haughty Kaiser's Germany. That de­ feat and the unfair and im­ moral Treaty of Versailles produced first the Weimar Republic, weak and ineffec­ tive, and then Hitler. That, in turn, produced World War II, which resulted in a strong communist Rus­ sia, a divided Germany and the threat of communist dom­ ination of the world. And so, scholars now wonder about America's action in 1917. Would it have been better if we had stayed out of it? A good question--but who can say he knows without a doubt? > S In 1917, as some remember, President Woodrow Wilson % asked Congress--on the 2nd--to declare that war existed % between this nation and Germany. On the 6th Congress met §> vthe fate of the German monarchy. % Wilson acted because the German Imperial Government ^had served notice on all nations earlier that it would en- *vforce a total blockade of England and all ports in western Europe controlled by the Allies. Had that blockade suc­ ceeded the Central powers would have won the carnage that was the First World War. Russia had surrendered to them in 1917. It was Germany's last chance to win, and she took it But unrestricted submarine warfare so repulsed the U.S. public a wave of sentiment against Germany swept the country; America's young men enthusiastically went off to war to make the world safe for democracy. Over fifty years later the world is still not safe for democracy--and the ^Germany produced by the defeat of 1918 turned out to be puch more destructive and tragic than the Kaiser's Ger­ many. i • t > . Are You New In McHenry Area ' J ' . •I* ' t S: is • t » •••••••••• Do You Know Someone new? WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A ROYAL WELCOME TO EVERY NEWCOMER TO OUR AREA MM !; CALL JOAN STULL DORIS ANDREAS -385-5418 385-4518, & % X ROYAL WELCOME KNOW YOUR AREA-ROYAL WELCOME DOES IT BEST J • i x» * 7' .3 - % • X» 1 ' . >• *• I' x » : x> x- x> >• I • > • X- X' J> x> *• x> X' x » , X- X- X- l ' i materials would be passed out at that time. The first of the series will deal with what is the Foundation. The second of the series will concern how to become a member of , the Foundation. The third article will concern the inner workings of the Foundation, and finally, more details of the membership drive itself. Question: What is the McHenry County Educational Foundation? Answer: The McHenry C o u n t y E d u c a t i o n a l Foundation is a non-for-profit organization formed to help the McHenry County Junior college to provide materials for them either in forms of actual materials or other substances which they could not provide themselves within a reasonable period of time. The Foundation might be compared to a PTA with the Junior college furnishing the basic materials and the Foundation providing them with materials to enrich the program. Question: Has the Foundation only recently been formed? Answer: No, the Foundation was formed in 1966, even priori to the Junior college district being formed. In fact, this was one of the major purposes of a group of interested citizens to try and form a Class 1 Junior college for McHenry county young people and adults. It has not been extremely active except in case of referendums in the past, but now that the Junior college is planning its buildings, the Foundation has a chance to actually step in and fulfill the purpose for which it was founded. Question: What is the purpose of the Foundation? Answer: The purpose of the Foundation is stated in its papa's of incorporation which are filed with the state of Illinois. Quoting directly from the incorporation papers, "To encourage the establishment of a Class I Junior college district in McHenry, Illinois, area; to promote the objectives of such college once formed; to provide assistance including financial aid, and to assist in carrying out study and research for the increased educational benefit of all the citizens within the said Junior college district." It is not the purpose of the Foundation to provide the basic funds to operate the college on a day-to-day basis. Monies for this phase of the program are obtained through local and state taxes and other revenue. Question: What has the Foundation done in the past? 0 Answer: As indicated earlier in this article, the Foundation has been very active in the referendum leading to the March 10 ground breaking ceremony at the Junior college. There have been two or three major projects on which thev For Your Information Dear Friends, If a widow is covered by her deceased hus­ band's Social Security benefit, but has no Social Security of her own, she is not entitled to death benefits when she dies, as the death benefits were already paid on her husband, and they can only bo awarded once on any one Social Security policy. Respectfully, PETER M. JUSTEN A- QDIU FUNERAL HOME McHanry. Illinois . 385-0063 have worked prior to March 10. All of these projects involved getting active in support of the referendum dealing with the Junior college district. The Foundation was quite active in support of this particular referendum. Secondly, once the Junior college district was farmed, the Foundation then became active in support of the various referendums trying to get a building for the Junior college district. Since this was successful, some seven years ago, the Foundation has not been an active working organization. However, at this time, they are interested in helping the Junior college in any way possible. Question: What does the Foundation plan to do in the future? Answer: The Foundation, working with Junior college administrative officials and staff, have come up with two goals for 1974. These goals are beyond the planned phase of die building program which is now under way at the site of the new Junior college. GOAL 1. A community center for the college. This building would be a combination community center, recreation center and gymnasium. Plans would also call for the installation or construction of an athletic field in order that physical education classes could be conducted and inter- scholastic contests be held. A basement will be provided for additional services to the community. The basement area will be utilized for classrooms, recreational games, community affairs and locker rooms. The gymnasium floor would be a plastic type which will be used for volley ball, tennis, basketball, active games, dances, meetings and assemblies. The seating capacity will be 1,200 plus additional chairs on the floor when the occasion permits. The estimated cost of this project is $450,000. GOAL II. Vocational educational equipment. Equipment will be purchased to equip the vocational wing which is a part of the original construction. The equipment purchased by the Foundation would be beyond the basic equipment and would allow some programs to grow more rapidly and would allow new vocational courses to be added much sooner than planned. Equipment would be purchased for the Electronics Technology program, Graphic Arts T e c h n o l o g y p r o g r a m , M e c h a n i c a l D r a f t i n g t e c h n o l o g y , A g r i c u l t u r a l technologies, Welding and Automotive technologies. The estimated cost of this equipment is $300,000. Investments, or donations, whichever one prefers, are completely tax-deductible and it is hoped and expected that the entire population of McHenry county will lend full •t to the Foundation to "The issue is land and people," said June Girard to a 'standing room only' gathering of the Woodstock-McHenry League of Women Voters. The April luncheon in Mrs. Girard's home also featured a detailed discussion of property tax reform by Rep. Cal Skinner, Jr., Crystal Lake, (R. 33). "Land value is that which attach to it by virtue of need to live on it, to play on it, to eat and drink from it and to extract crops and minerals from it," continued Mj*s. Girard in her background presentation on "Land Use and Taxes." Also serving on the committee were Donna Stohlberg, Woodstock and Madeline Bolger, McHenry. Mrs. Girard, also a member of the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals, went on to say the public is using more land than the last generation. Disproportionately, over 640,000 acres are last to urbanization each year. Although there are 11 acres per person, 70 percent of all Americans live on 10 percent of the land. Traditionally land has been a commodity, but now several states have legislation to regulate major d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d environmental areas. The Vermont plan, a forerunner in comprehensive land use planning, is being used as a model by other states wishing UHdUow Vermont's lead. "Costs must be considered, traditional areas of revenue resource are being questioned," she said, finishing her presentation, Besides r e g u l a t o r y l e g i s l a t i o n , desirable land use can be encouraged by the type and extent of taxation. A member of the Joint House- Senate Revenue Subcommittee on Tax Reform, Rep. Skinner said they have been "holding hearings throughout the state and finding out the property tax system doesn't work." He questioned, should the real estate tax burden be shifted to the sales and-or income tax? The value of vacant land in McHenry county is inordinately high as a result of very low holding costs. Although he previously supported removal of property tax, Skinner now believes this would cause land prices to skyrocket. High property tax may be a guarantee to be able to own homes in a given area. Around London, England or Geneva, Switzerland, where the property tax is nil, land costs are prohibitive. "Who's going to pay how much? That's what the tax game is all about," Skinner said. Despite legislation requiring uniform assessments on like classes of property state-wide, this is done informally in Cook county, but one could say illegally." In Cook county business bears the greater tax load, but in McHenry county the reverse is true. Non-income bearing land, homes, pays the greater share while income producing land, primarily farms, does not. Classification is a way to shift the real estate burden to business from homeowners. The law states property should be assessed at 50 percent of the fair market value. In attempt to protect farmers from excessive tax rates, a rollback bill was passed. Farmers with more than 10 acres can apply for a rollback from fair market to productivity level. But when die use changes, the rate changes and the difference for the previous three years is multiplier of -.9804 Skinner replied there are four counties with the same negative multiplier. The multipliers are used for political purposes. A range of 31 percent to 48 percent still exists after application of the multipliers. "A total of $29,000,000 went to the wrong school districts last year," as a result of the inequitable use of multipliers. "State law says equalize at 50 percent. We can pass laws, but how do you get them enforced? Hie concept of equalization for at least state aid has to work." "We have to do something about going after atrocities. Things that are just so grossly under-assessed that it just shakes the confidence of the taxpayers in his tax system," Skinner said. Anybody can do it through appeals. When asked about class action suits against the county board, Rep. Skinner didn't hold out much hope, even the ACLU won't handle these. He pointed out however, a suit has been filed by Crystal Lake School District 47. As a means of improvement Skinner said, "(Present) a referendum to offer voters two choices: 1 - the county does all the assessing, or 2 - have area assessors with at least 10,000 parcels each." He also stressed the need for qualified assessors, "people who know what they're doing and want to do what is right." Township assessors are now elected, but not any helpers he may have. Urban sprawl in Skinner's opinion is caused by the availability of cheap land far out. Site value taxation would not hurt urban fringe farmers because of the rollback tc productivity level. Farmers aren't penalized for improvements to thei property. 'The biggest assetin this county is farm land." The tax system is one way of effecting good land use. Four lane highways also have a lot to do with land use. "The new state aid to education formula makes fiscal zoning unnecessary for school purposes because it equalizes, if the multiplier system works. The new capital assistance program also helps neutralize growth." Rep. Skinner also urged developer payments to offset the increase demand for services and facilities, not just schools, but also fire, water, et cetera. They must be forced by local communities, made to pay their own way. Flood Plain ordinances have more to do with land use than any taxation policy, he said. The flood plain ordinance now effective in McHenry county will minimize future flooding problems. Some place for surface water runoff must be retained. It broadens purchase options for the conversation districts. Zoning can effectively control the flood plain, thus making it unnecessary to purchase those properties. ^ "Groups are needed like (the League)....to serve as a check and balance against the commercial interests who come in and then do not stay after development is done," Rep. Skinner concluded. Anyone wishing more information should contact Mrs. H.D. (June) Girard, Jr., Woodstock. Those interested in League membership should' contact Mrs. James P. (Carol Jean) Smith, McHenry. A wards Program Honors Service To Education of die community to reach their goals and to make McHenry County Junior college one of the best in the state of Illinois. The second in the series of these articles will appear soon in this paper and will talk about the membership of the Foundation. Those who have Although Skinner feels, "the administration of the property tax * is abysmal," some improvements were passed this year. These are mailed notices every year, extension of the appeal period to 20 days, a: qualified county board of reveiw, and equalization of assessments within a county. More improvements need to be made, he said. In attempting to equalize assessments throughout the state, the Department of Local Government Affairs assigns a multiplier to determine state aid for each county. In response to a question of why McHenry county has a negative any questions relative to the Foundation may contact its permanent offices located at 95 Grant street in Crystal Lake. Calling 459-9218 or drop by the office in person. An awards program to r e c o g n i z e i n d i v i d u a l contributions to education in Illinois has been announced by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The program, called "Those Who Excel," will honor thirty persons -- teachers, school administrators, school board members, students, and parents - for their outstanding contributions to Illinois education, according to State School Supt. Michael J. Bakalis. • •< " Nominations can be submitted by any person or organization. Nomination forms must be completed and sent to the State Education office by April 22. In announcing the program, Bakalis said, "The success of the Illinois public school system is due in large part to individual contributions made by pareits, students, teachers, administrators and school board members across the state. "In light of this," Bakalis continued, "I believe a meaningful/ method of r e c o g n i z i n g o u t s t a n d i n g service to Illinois education must be developed, not only to acknowledge those already involved, but hopefully to encourage others to participate." Awards are to be presented in five categories: (1) outstanding teacher ; (2) outstanding school administrator: (3) outstanding school board member; (4) outstanding studeit; and (5) outstanding parent. Winners will be selected from six geographic regions, with one award winner to be chosen in each category for each geographic region, for a total of thirty whine's state-wide. Nominees will be judged on the basis of leadership, creativity, relationship with others, philosophy of education (except students and parents), impact of educational contribution and ability to inspire" others. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee made-up of representatives from the Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of Studeit Councils, Illinois Principals Association, Superintendents of Educational Service Regions, Citizen Advisory Council members and staff from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Awards will be presented May 24 at a banquet in the Pick- Congress hotel in Chicago. Nominating forms and guidelines have been sent to educational organizations around the state. Further information and nominating forms for "Those Who Excel" may be obtained from the Community Relations section of die Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 302 State Office building in Springfield or Room .88 West Randolph in Chi Nature's Air Conditioners Energy Savors Step into a woodland on any hot summer day and you can appreciate, without needing any elaborate instruments to prove it, the air conditioning job performed by trees. They can do the same work at your home, and the right placement of a few large-growing, leafy trees can mean an important reduction in the use of yoiar mechanical air conditioner. All summer long the shade trees intercept and absorb the sun's heat, at the same time transpiring cooling water. With your house shielded from the impact of the sun's rays, inside temperatures are kept lower- power consumption for the air conditioner is down. Even if you don't have an air conditioner, those beautiful gifts of nature can help you be more comfortable. Differences of eight degrees in temperature have been recorded between shaded and unshaded outdoor surfaces. » As winter approaches, the clever shade trees shed their leaves to let the sun shine through to help warm your home. The American Association of Nurserymen points out that shade trees will do their work most effectively if they are arranged on the south and west sides of the building. They should be not less than about 20 feet from the house so they won't crowd the walls once they're fully grown. COURTHOUSE SQUARES &x>p Go&MMeA/r/s Nor*/ ACC/Usvr /r/$ pc&7toe aesptwd# TO -rue exp&s&EP Msnes J OP iNTtnesTtP, - -- CYCLONE IS COMING TO Jos.H.Huemann & SONS WELL DRILLING ORNAMENTAL IRON Railings-Columns Custom Fabricating Welding & Structural Frozen Pipe Thawing STEEL SALES, ADAMS BROS. (Next to Gem Cleaners) 3006 W. Rte. 120 Phone: McHenry 385-0763 FORMAL WEAR RENTAL tor ALL OCCASIONS ....It 1214 N. Green St., McHenry