The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Your Police Department by Officer Jim Fitzgerald PAGE 15 - PI.A1NDE AI.ER - WEDNESDAY, APRIL II, 1»7» This article is for all of you nice ladies out there, because unfortunately this thing hap­ pens to you more often than to the men. However, you men should also check this out, because some of what I'm going to say may also apply to you. Ladies, I'm going to talk about what you should do when you lose your purses and-or wallets, or when they are stolen from you. I went through all that I'm going to tell you just a few months ago, and I thought that what I learned would be helpful. I was amazed at all the things that ladies pack into one of those small suitcases that you all carry, and what a major loss it really can be. My wife's purse was stolen while she was at work, and she lost everything that was of even the slightest importance to her everyday living. We finally found the purse along the roadway a couple of days later, but there wasn't anything left inside. Taken were her house and car keys; her checkbook, with about sixteen checks still in the book; her wallet which had numerous pictures, cash and coins, several credit cards, the medical records of our daughter, our car registration card, social security card, and her driver's license. My wallet had most of the things that she carried in duplicate, so replacing certain things was a little easier. That is where you men fit into this article... you could lose some of these things also. To cover yourself against any further loss, the first thing that you must do is to make a police report of the loss or theft to your local agency. Banks and credit card companies demand this on any loss. In making the police report, be as precise as you can with such things as where you were, what hap­ pened, what the offender looked like if that applies, and what exactly was in your purse or wallet. All of this will go on the report, and some of the banks and credit card companies will ask for a copy of the report. The next thing that you have to do is to report the loss to each of the companies for which you had a Public Relations Officer McHenry City Police Phone 385-2131 credit card or a checking ac­ count, and your driver's license bureau and social security office. Let's take each item separately. First, regarding our checking account, it was rather hard remembering the number of the last check that we wrote, to whom it was written and for how much. Now, we keep the check stubs or ledger at home. When we return from shopping, we write in the checks. This way, if we lose the checkbook while , shopping, we can remember to whom we wrote a check and how much it was for, and can check the stub or l&dger for the number of the last check we wrote. This way, when we call the bank and tell them that the checkbook was lost or stolen, we can tell them the number of the last check used, and they can stop payment on any other checks that come in from the remainder of the booklet. The banks will demand that you call them at once, or as soon as possible. Be sure that you do, and there won't be a further loss from your checking account. If you do find the checkbook at a later date, make sure that all of the checks are still there. A favorite trick of the thief is to take the checkbook, and remove one or two of the checks from the middle or rear of the booklet, and leave the check­ book to be found. The victim may be relieved to find the checkbook, will not report to the bank that it was lost or stolen, and the offender can cash the checks that he stole at his leisure. The victim won't realize it until he gets the checks back from the bank at the end of the month, or until he finds a check out of sequence. By then it's too late. For a lost driver's license, go to Woodstock to the driver's license bureau, with the police report number, and ask for a duplicate driver's license. They will replace your license, and on the license will be the word duplicate. If the police should stop the offender and he should try and use your license, he can be caught. The police computer will say that you have a duplicate license, and the of­ fender's license won't have the word duplicate on it. For your Social Security card, again go to Woodstock to the Social Security office and report the card stolen. They will issue you another card, with the same number. Now comes the hardest things to replace, the credit cards. Finding out just whom to report the loss or theft to, and trying to find the correct phone numbers is difficult. You must report the loss or theft im­ mediately, or you may be liable for the charges that the of­ fender makes on the card. Most credit card companies have twenty-four hour phone numbers for reporting the loss of a credit card, so call them right after you make the police report and get the report number (they will ask for the number, and to whom you reported the loss or theft). To find out to whom you must report the loss or theft, look on the back of all your credit cards, or on the back of the monthly bill. There will be an address or a phone number to call. On a separate sheet of paper, write down the number of the credit card, the com­ pany, and the address or phone number to call or write, and place the paper with your other records. If it's already too late, possibly a call to the local operator will help though it didn't in my case. Most of the companies will require that you be responsible for the first $50 if the loss or theft isn't reported right away, so call them as soon as you can. In regard to your house and car keys, you will probably want to get the locks changed on the house and car. Remember, you lost your checkbook and your driver's license and both of them have your address on them, and the offender could come and take your car. You should make up your own mind on this. Hopefully, you will never lose your purse or be the victim of a theft; but if you are, I hope that this article will have helped. Testing Of Newborns Soon To Be Mandatory After July, testing of newborns for hypothyroidism will become mandatory in Illinois. The condition, which strikes about one in 5,000 newborns, results in physical and mental retardation. Ac­ cording to Dr. Paul Q. Peter­ son, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, "If the condition is diagnosed and treatment begun im­ mediately after birth, the child will develop normally, both mentally and physically. The treatment, a lifetime regimen of daily medication, is simple, inexpensive and effective." Peterson said that the Public Health Laboratory in Chicago began eight months ago to phase in the capability for conducting the tests. "The hypothyroidism test can be conducted using the same blood sample used for pheny­ lketonuria (PKU) testing of newborns. Testing for PKU, a condition which can result in mental retardation, was begun in 1963 and has been mandatory in Illinois since 1967. PKU occurs in one out of 12,000 newborns and is treated with a diet supplement during the early years of life. The sup­ plement is provided by the state health department, at no charge, to all PKU victims. "The Chicago laboratory is now offering hypothyroidism and PKU testing services to hospitals throughout the state," Peterson said. A series of twelve meetings will be con­ ducted throughout the state to acquaint directors of hospital laboratories with the methods for collecting and submitting blood samples and the repor­ ting mechanism. Staff from the Illinois Department of Public Health will conduct the meetings. Each hospital will be notified of the dates, times and places of the meetings. "Although both tests can be conducted by any qualified laboratory, the services of the state laboratory are now available to all Illinois hospitals free of charge," Peterson said. Health officials say that, in state-operated facilities in Illinois there are now seventy- six persons institutionalized due to retardation associated with PKU or hypothyroidism. "The $250,000 we will spend this year on testing newborns for these conditions is not nearly as much as it would cost to pay for the lifetime institutionalization of even one PKU or hypothyroidism victim," Peterson said. 60-Day Extension For Blizzard "79" Loans I I Senior Hot Line { A 60-day extension to June 1, has been granted by the Small Business administration for the acceptance of disaster loan applications from victims of Blizzard "79". The. action, taken in Washington by A. Vernon' Weaver, SBA administrator, was announced by John L. Smith, the federal agency's Illinois district director. * * Feb. 1 Weaver declared 41 Illinois counties, including McHenry, a physical disaster area as the result of the bliz­ zard. The original declaration carried an April 2 deadline. The extended declaration, which also covers Illinois areas adjacent to the 41 Illinois counties, enables home owners and tenants, business people and farmers, churches, private schools, and other non-profit organizations in the affected areas to qualify for low-cost, long term SBA loans to restore or replace damaged property not covered by insurance. According to Smith, the following SBA. disaster offices remain open throughout the state, including one at 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Area Soybean Growers To Nominate Directors Thirty-four Illinois counties are scheduled to nominate district directors to the Illinois Soybean Program Operating board over the next month for election in June. The Operating board, commonly known as the Soybean Checkoff program, is composed of 18 districts. It administers the half cent per bushel checkoff levied on the first sale of all Illinois soybeans, According to Larry Aldag of the Illinois Depart­ ment of Agriculture, which oversees the election. Ac­ cording to the Board's bylaws, one-third of the eighteen districts must elect directors each year. The districts which will elect new directors this year include McHenry in District 2. (Written under the auspices of Lieutenant Governor Dave O'Neal) Q. What are the camping fees at state-operated campgrounds for Illinois residents who are senior citizens? A. Persons aged 62 through 64 can visit state-managed campgrounds at half-rate. Individuals aged 65 or older, as well as the disabled can camp at state campgrounds without charge. Senior citizens or the disabled who are not Illinois residents must pay the full charge. Q. What type of identification should the senior citizen or disabled person provide for the state camping privileges" A. Senior citizens should carry some form of govern­ mental issued identification showing age, such as a driver's license, Medicare card, or Golden Age passport. Begin­ ning this year, the state Department of Conservation has become very strict on requiring identification for the disabled camper. The new identification standards are the same as those for the Public Aid code. Persons will be regarded as disabled if they are not capable of earning a living. To prove this, they can supply their current Public Aid green card, which is issued monthly, or a letter from the Social Security administration, less than one year old. stating they are not capable of earning a living, or they can show their DAV license plates Q. What are the charges if senior citizens want to visit a national park? A. There is a 50 percent discount on camping and recreation fees for senior citizens at national parks, as well as free admission to over 260 national parks, historic sites and monuments, if the senior citizen Has a "Golden Age passportThe passport can be obtained at the entrance to the national park, historic site or monument, or by writing the National Park Service, Midwest Region. 1709 Jackson Street. Omaha, Neb , 68102. Q. What is the cost of hunting and fishing licenses for senior citizens? A Senior citizens aged 65 years or older and the disabled are exempt from purchasing hunting and fishing licenses Disabled persons and those aged 65 and over who intend to hunt waterfowl are exempt from purchasing a state waterfowl stamp; however, they will need a federal duck stamp Again, this does not apply to out-of-state residents. Q What are the identification icense^ n AgC of th£ requirements for senior citizens or the disabled wha wish to hunt or fish? * A Persons should carry some form of governmental issued identification showing age. such as a drivers' license. Medicare card, Golden passport, or, in the case disabled, some form of documentation that the person has sustained some form of physical impairment. There has been legislation proposed during the current session of the general assembly which would set the same iden^ tification requirements for the disabled hunter or fisherman as for the camper However, this has not been made law at this time. Write or call us at Lieutenant Governor Dave O'Neal's Senior Action Centers, at 160 North , LaSalle street. Chicago. 111.* 60601, or 3 West Old Town Mall, Springfield. 111., 62701 with questions or concerns about any government agency or. programs. This column will be covering the many questions senior citizens may have on various subjects. Call statewide: toll free 800- 2 5 2 - 6 5 6 5 ; M e t r o p o l i t a n - Chicago: 312-793-3333 > Blame the Boss "Sometimes I think our boss is , a jerk," the secretary com­ plained "He told me to take one of the 't's' out of 'rabbitt' but he didn't say which one." Drexel & Special Purchase! Save on in stock items or special order fabrics through April 27th. Drexel 2 Piece Sofa/Love Seat Group EMPLOYMENT SURVEY A sample of households in this area will be visited by Bureau of the Census in­ terviewers during the work week of April 16-20 to conduct the bureau's monthly survey of employment and unem­ ployment, Stanley D. Moore, Director of the Bureau's Regional Office in Chicago, announced today. Households in this area are part of a sample of 76,000 across the country scientifically selected to represent a cross section of all U.S. households. VOTE *FOR* SMITH RLDERMRN WRRD3 The 2-piece grouping --or either unit -- is yours in a classic border print. Your choice of colors. Treated for soil resistance, of course And you'll appreciate Drexels famous quality throughout: graceful roll arm styling, luxurious multi-pillow , back, tufted single seat cushion, kick pleat skirts and arm covers. 87" Sofa *699 Reg. '889-Save '190 58" Love Seat $549 Reg. *689-Save >140 Velvet arm chairs To all this, we suggest you add a pair of graceful chairs They're also sensibly Sale priced and offered in a luxurious new velvet Colors coordi­ nate with the print, of course Choose now. to insure early delivery1 ^ t »- Flexible, fashionable arrangement in your choice of fabrics WRINKLES SMOOTHED without surgery Now there is an exciting new cosmetic that can temporarily smooth away wrinkles for up to 8 hours. It's called Secret Miracle and its scientific blend of unique beauty ingredients works within minutes to smooth over wrinkles, crow's-feet, and under eye puf- finess. New Secret Miracle will keep your skin practically line free ail day or all night. Secret Miracle costs $5 and is sold with a strict money back guarantee by the manufacturer. So before you consider that $5.00Qface lift, con sider the $5 alternative. . .new Secret Miracle Temporary Wrinkle Smoother. BOLGER'S DRUG STORE 1259 N. Green St.-McHenry It has been 50 years since we first had the plea sure of bringing you Country Life Insurance Since then we have grown with you, and tried to satisfy your growing needs. Now, we are one of America s largest and most successful Life Insur­ ance companies. Wte owe that success to you Thank you ^ LortR Miller RICHMOND, ILLINOIS Keith Seamichsen McHENRY, ILLINOIS 9%. 344-2772 Your Country Companies Agents. ea. *269 Reg. '339-Save *70 If "someday" you plan to add the sweeping, spacious beauty of modular seating to your living room, someday is now By very special arrangement, we are offering our most popular Drexel* modular grouping at remark­ able savings' Corner Chair $29995 Reg. '360-Save »60 Our Reputation Is Your Guarantee Armless Chair $23995 Reg. '293-Save *53 DONAHUE FURNITURE FURNITURE SHOWPLACE OF THE MID-WEST 1818 South Route 47 (South of 14) Woodstock 815-338-1086