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k- «• New Look In Oakwood Shores Gravel Conflict FOCUS mm Mention gravel mining to many McHenry county residents and there is likely to be a reaction of frustration and anger. The controversy swirls around charges of inadequate taxation, non-existent en­ forcement of regulations, unfair assessments, pollution and rape of productive farm­ land. "The Great Gravel Con­ troversy", a fact-finding conference sponsored by the McHenry County Defenders, will examine these charges Saturday, April 30, at Central school, Crystal Lake. The all- day (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) meeting will bring together representatives of state regulatory agencies, industry, and local officials who must deal with questions of assessments, enforcements and zoning. One of the thornier con­ troversies surrounds the level at which gravel areas are assessed. Both state and local officials agree that mined-out land, land actively being mined or used for processing and land being held for future mining should all be assessed at dif­ ferent rates. However, they differ on whether or not to assess the valuable gravel under the land. Two years ago Forrest Hare, then Algonquin township assessor, requested help from the state Department of Local Government Affairs on assessing three maior gravel pits in the area. These reports recommended sizeable assessments on the mineral itself. Willard Hogge, McHenry county supervisor of assessments, states that the local Board of Review has determined not to assess the gravel itself. His argument is that if gravel under land owned by [Material Service is assessed, then the gravel under the farm across the highway must also be assessed. Hogge stated, "I'll be ahxious to hear what Greg LaFakis, Depart­ ment of Local Government Affairs representative, has to say about that problem at the conference." Registration is still open for the conference on Saturday Local municipal officials. County board - members, Planning commission mem­ bers, citizens concerned with gravel pits in their neigh- (Continued on page 8) THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 101 NUMBER 66 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1977 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 20' Township trucks are shown as workmen undertake some of the final work on major road repairs in Oakwood Shores, Wonder Lake. More guard rails are due to be installed later this year in an Due to severe winter weather, township crews have been busy in recent weeks reconstructing roads in Oak- wood subdivision. Wonder Lake. The thoroughfares became practically impassable when the frost started to leave the road bed A total of 2,000 feet of road­ way is being rebuilt by town­ ship crews, with additional equipment used to get the job done in a miminum time. effort to prevent serious accidents. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD There were 2,288 tons of grade 7 gravel used to upgrade this road. The final 2'^-inch black will be applied in June to give the 10-inch loose gravel time to compact. A chloride solution will be applied to stabilize gravel and prevent dust from leaving the road. Clarence Regner, township road commissioner, said this week that when completed, it will be "a modern im­ provement". The project was considered an emergency so that school buses could enter the Oakwood shores sub­ division. Regner said it was the onl^ area where the frost necessitated such a major improvement. Another early spring im­ provement on township roads are the new guard rails in two different areas. One of these is on the newly constructed Ringwood road and the other on McCullom Lake road, west of the village of McCuhom Lake. These installations of guard rails were accomplished and paid for through motor fuel tax funds. Regner said more guard rails will be installed this year in particular areas where need is shown. They prevent serious accidents. Establish New Special Education Class Locally With the anticipation of a savings of several thousands of dollars, the board of School District 15 has agreed on the return and establishment of a Junior high school Special Education class next fall. It is known that at that time the district will have fifteen, and more probably eighteen, students in level III-A junior Findings In Analysis Anyone who worked in the electrifying atmosphere of our editorial room in the pre­ election days has reason to breathe a sigl^of relief. It is over, and one can only hope the bitterness that accompanied it will soon be dispelled. We are hopeful, but not highly optimistic, for there are signs to the contrary. Charges and counter- chargers; petty issues - they have been created on both sides. In the meantime. Council meetings have taken on the air of a turbulent game in which sides were chosen and each was aligned so closely there was hardly need to vote Such games are good for a newspaper for they create readers. They are not good for a city that budgets well over a million dollars a year to provide the best possible service for its citizenry Who is right and who is wrong is not very important this twenty-seventh day of April, 1977. Voters have made their choices and we must be on with business that may now be considered in the light of cooler heads and minds uncluttered with campaign issues. Certain facts remain clear and should be considered in viewing future service. McHenry has the same mayor to lead government for the next four years. It also has one reelected alderman, four others who remain to complete their terms, and three who are new to city government. If we are to believe the ballyhoo that accompanied campaign messages, and other indications of support for mayoral candidates, one fact emerges. Two aldermen are aligned behind the mayor. The others have demonstrated some opposit:on. In our opinion, city officials on all levels will be failing to provide us with the leadership they have promised unless they put aside their personal dif­ ferences. Diverse viewpoints are good, but not when they are prompted by the vengefulness we have known increasingly in recent months. May we suggest that Mayor Stanek and the five remaining aldermen rise to the stature we deemed them to be worthy of in electing them to office. It just might be that their actions would provide an example and an obligation for three new aldermen to emulate. KAF Complete Yearlong Health Study In City The School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at the Medical Center, Chicago, reports it has completed a year long health study in the com munities of West Dundee and McHenry, 111. "The cooperation and par ticipation of the residents in the two communities was ex cellent," a University of Illinois spokesman said. The survey, organized by the School of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was aimed at judging the possible health effects of naturally occurring minerals such as those that produce "hardness" in water EPA standards for water quality require re-evaluation, especially in the area of drinking water minerals which are found in different amounts depending on the source of the water. Family members over 18 years of age from 1,000 homes in each of the two communities were asked about their past and present health and had their blood pressure measured. Samples of water were taken from the homes and in­ formation on water softening was obtained. Data obtained during the survey is now being analyzed. A report on the findings is expected in December. The study was under the direction of Dr. Bertram W. Carnow, professor and director of Occupational and En­ vironmental Medicine in the University of Illinois school of Public Health. Open Walk-In Center May 2 For Seniors McHenry's new Senior Citizen walk-in center at the Moose lodge will have its of­ ficial opening Monday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because of the generosity of the city of McHenry, the center will be bpen three days, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. u Any senior citizen is eligible to enjoy the services provided, including homemade goodies and coffee. School Leaders Meet To View Development Careful Serious A tragedy was* narrowly avoided Saturday afternoon when a conscientious driver slowed down after observing several children playing near the street, and thereby only slightly injured a six-year-old girl who ran out in front of the moving car. Julie A*. Burgess, 2415 Johnsburg road, McHenry, received minor injuries when she was struck by a car driven Driver Averts Injury To Child by Lillian Boutin, 306 W. Nippersink drive, Spring Grove at 3:20 p.m. on Johnsburg road. Ms. Boutin was not ticketed from the accident which did not damage her car. She stated to police that she was westbound on Johnsburg road at approximately 30 mph when she saw several children come to the edge of the pavement and start to enter the road. Special Zoning Issues Concentrate On Horses The Special Zoning com­ mittee of the McHenry County board will be holding its next public meeting Wednesday, April 27, at 9:30 a.m. at the courthouse in Woodstock. The committee is in the process of reviewing the proposed zoning ordinance amendment. This meeting is being held to discuss further the sections of the amendment dealing with horses. Representatives of the McHenry County Horsemen's association as well as Doctor Johnson, the county veterinarian, will be present. Others having an interest in horses are also welcome to attend. There will be an opportunity to present differing ideas to the committee. It would be helpful if any comments made are also submitted to the committee in writing. Public participation in the project is important, since it provides a means of citizen input into the project, so that the zoning ordinance text will reflect the needs of McHenry county. Copies of the tentative (second draft) text are available for inspection at most public libraries in McHenry eounty. Fortunately, Ms. Boutin reduced her speed at this point, for the Burgess child then ran out in front of her. She added that she applied her brakes and attempted to stop, but the left front of her car struck the child, knocking her down. Rescue squad assistance was not required for the child who was not taken to a hospital. Kimberly A. Spengel, 1314 Old Bay road, McHenry, was not as fortunate as the Bergess girl, having to be taken by the Johnsburg Rescue squad« to McHenry hospital for treat­ ment of injuries sustained in a two-car accident Saturday night at the intersection of Rt. 31 and Johnsburg road. The driver of the other car, Adrian F. Uelman, Crystal Lake, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in connection with the collision which caused more than $100 damage to each car. Uelman stated he had the cruise control working on his car, and was coming around a curve southbound on Rt. 31 when he saw a car. He added that he couldn't stop in time and skidded into the Spengel auto. Ms. Spengel stated that she had her turn signal on, and was (Continued on page 8) As the Plaindealer went to press, the boards of Con­ solidated Grade School District 15 and High School District 156 were scheduled to meet regarding the effect of sub­ division development in the Island Lake area. The land to be developed is partially in­ cluded in both school districts and for some time development progress has been watched carefully. A joint meeting was also planned at last week's District 156 meeting regarding the advisability of renting or purchasing property for the storage and maintenance of buses. A proposal made last year regarding the feasibility of setting up a non-profit cor­ poration of citizens to purchase land is being considered again. Such a plan has been carried out in Crystal Lake. One advantage is seen in the fact that no state reim­ bursement is forthcoming for rental, but land purchase by such a corporation is viewed as possibly advantageous, with a percentage of the repair costs assumed by the state. Some concern was expressed over correspondence from the State of Illinois stating that the emergency life safety work recently conducted at East and West campuses causes each facility to lose its compliance status. This necessitates the board requesting a time ex­ tension for the purpose of completing services to each facility. There has been some reluctance to engage in ex tensive wor^ at East until it is known definitely whether the building will be used. Resignations were accepted from Gary Collins, assistant trace coack; Bill Hutchinson, freshmen wrestling coach; and Gary Fields, principal of East campus, al) effective at the end of this school year. Collins and Hutchinson will remain on the faculty but have chosen to relinquish their coaching duties. The board also accepted the resignation of Gladys Johnson, Phone Survey McHenry High School District 156 will conduct a telephone survey Thur­ sday, April 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. The survey will give the entire community an opportunity to aid in set­ ting goals and objectives they want the schools to achieve. high school classes outside the district. The placement of them would have been done at a tuition cost of $1,779.36 per student, and based on- fifteen students the cost of the local district's involvement would be $26,690.40. TTiis figure includes cost through SEDOM for certified personnel, psychological time, speech time and supervision. The board vote followed a determination by the ad­ ministration that the district would save $3,211 the first year. In the long range the saving would be considerable since the district would be reimbursed between 80-92 percent for certificated personnel. The costs of operating the local classroom was estimated at $23,480 the first ye&r. Net costs would be reduced greatly, with an estimated figure of $14,550 if the class should be operated locally in 1978-79. Also in connection with SEDOM, the administration made known its intent to rent space to this Special Education district to house a junior high school hearing impaired program at Parkland school next year. This will be a SEDOM owned and operated program. Board members deferred a commitment on next year's Bilingual Bicultural program in the local system. There was general satisfaction expressed in the program, and a desire for continuance, but uncertainty on funding prompted a post­ ponement of a final decision. The administration indicated final word on funding should be forthcoming in July or August. The state identifies bilingual students according to their ability to speak and com­ municate in English. In the event the program is not funded, it would cost about $16,000 in district funds to maintain the present program, which has a full time teacher. In the meantime, Linda Spear, the bilingual teacher, has, at her request, been transferred to a regular classroom teaching position. In other action, the board amended the 1976-77 budget, the major change being an appropriation for teacher salaries in the amount of $1,849,000 from the original $1,873,000. The change was necessitated with the close of negotiations and agreement on (Continued on page 8) Trial Begins Charging Four With Manslaughter secretary to Principal Donald Seaton. Appointments were of Mrs. Sue Arimitsu, Special Education teacher at East, and Duane Gamble as Industrial Arts teacher at East. Authorization for the issuance of tax anticipation warrants was given through two resolutions. One is not to exceed $500,000 in the Educational fund and the other is for warrants not over $200,000 in the Building fund. The low bid submitted by the McHenry State bank was 3.78 percent. At the suggestion of Board Member Henry Nell, approval was given to policy statements dealing with possible censure of, or injunctive relief against one of the board members for unauthorized disclosure of confidential instructions. Approval was given to the establishment of the summer school program again this year on a self-sustaining basis. The first semester runs June 13 to July 1 and the second from July 5 to July 25. In the reorganization meeting, in which James Tonyan and Paul Nitz were officially seated, James Althoff was reelected president and Catherine Alvary, president pro-tem. Edward Neumann was elected secretary and Dave Benrud, secretary pro- tem. Committees are expected to be set up by the next meeting. Michael Kelly was named district treasurer, and both the McHenry State bank and First National bank were named official depositors. The trial of four young Harvard men charged in connection with the death of a Chicago woman and her two stepchildren Aug. 17, 1975 began this week in Woodstock. Gerald L. Powell, his brother Donald E. Powell, Ralph J. Henning, and Charles Tt Donner were charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection With the removal of a stop sign which apparently caused the death of Sheila Cato, 32, Cyd Cato, 14, and Stuart Cato, 13, in an automobile accident. The McHenry County Grand jury returned indictments against the four men, all bet­ ween the ages of nineteen and twenty-five, in September of 1975. The Grand jury alleged that the four defendants acted in a reckless manner, and in removing the stop sign, per­ formed an act which would likely cause the death or great bodily harm to some individual. In court Monday, two policemen testified to what they saw at the accident scene. Illinois State Trooper Robert King reported that near the scene of the accident he ob­ served a stop sign in a ditch. Police Sgt. Dannye Bankson also testified that the stop sign was removed at the time of the accident The jury trial is being presided over by Judge Charles S. Parker in 19th Judicial Circuit court in Woodstock. Conservation Tour Arranged By Voter League The Woodstock-McHenry League of Women Voters in­ vites everyone to join members for a tour of selected areas of the McHenry County Con­ servation district, including Queen Anne prairie, Deep Cut marsh, Beck's woods and Harrison Benwell area. They will meet at 9:30 a m Thursday, April 28, at the Conservation district office, 142 Washington street, Woodstock. Parking will be available behind the office or around the corner on Clay street Babysitting will be available at the Presbyterian church in Woodstock. Those participating should plan on brown bag lunches for (Continued on page 8) A Work Of Art Spring arrives and Butch Kennebeck utilizes his talent once more in final chiseling on the face of the lft-foot high project he undertook last fall. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Kennebeck, he spent four hours a day for ten days on the pole that once was a 25-year-old spruce tree that had overgrown and threatened to di * the driveway with its huge roots. Using a hammer, a pair of chisels and a hand axe. Butch shaped the pole intact in his parents' yard at 1408 Channel Beach avenue, Sunnyside. (STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD)