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I process of being finalized. Prompted by controversies He was just a little fellow when we came to know him. We don't even remember how it happened. One day he was just one of the neighborhood kids. The next he and his younger brothers and sisters were companions on an exercise jaunt in the south part of the city. Learning to drive many years before had revealed some never forgotten statistics- -the square which included our home and Edgebrook school was exactly one mile. As a very young driver 10 feet tall behind the wheel, that was important. As an adult looking to lose an inch around the waist, it was still important. And with four or five chattering youngsters with the stamina to half-walk, half-run and keep up a steady con­ versation on subjects ranging from the smart aleck who annoyed the teacher to the antics of a bug whose life their sneakers had just saved-it was still very special. Donald Smith was part of our unlikely assemblage - adult and pre-pre-teens. And while the conversation may not have been stimulating to a scholar, it was mutually satisfying to us. Donald was a bit more quiet than the others. We thought it was because he was a little older. Then, one day Donald was no longer one of us. He had reached the age when walking with an adult, even Mom and Dad, just isn't the thing to do. But we saw Donald from time to time. Occasionally he would accompany his older brother on a paper route, and later he had his own route. Then last winter when snow was piled high on our roof, he joined an older brother in a snow removal effort. How he had grown! A handsome, still quiet boy who would never accompany us again on a walk. When the siren blew late Wednesday afternoon, we drove down James street with an eye to McCracken field and the tragedy we heard had oc­ curred. It was only after the ambulances had rushed on and serious, questioning onlookers remained on the field did we learn our young friend was the victim. We will probably walk that mile many times in the months ahead. And we will remember when we pass McCracken field the little boy who outgrew our walks but never had the chance to outgrow childhood. KAF Time Change Daylight saving time returns this weekend, which requires setting clocks ahead one hour Saturday night. The "fast time" remains in effect until the last weekend in October - - r -- -- THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER R~RZI vjtifcjjw Illinois Press Association "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" | N,c„n.„, ' V . VOLUME 103 NUMBER 78 FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1979 2 SECTIONS 28 PAGES 20* 3Hurt) Winning jfrbnpapcr 1978-- Illinois Press Association \Vwspaper Contest Extensive Gifted Program In Johnsburg School Plan equipment being used in a track meet on McCracken field. Donald, a member of the school's track team, and two other boys, Steve Stack and Rob Mortell, reportedly walked over to a machine called Cloud Nine, to see why it was not inflating properly. The machine is used to inflate an air Rob Mortell received a shock as he disconnected the ex­ tension cord and the motor cord. Members of the McHenry Police department, the McHenry Area Rescue squad and TEK ambulance worked until after 5 o'clock to revive the boy on the field. He was then taken to McHenry hospital, where efforts con­ tinued for more than two hours. It was raining when the accident occurred. Reliable reports indicated that the machine was defective, and was seen smoking as recently as a week ago Along with the cords, it was taken to the No. 111. Crime lab by the police department. Business Manager Michael Kelly of High School District 156, whose property the machine is, said only that the equipment is being turned over to the insurance company for investigation Donald, one of nine children of Mr and Mrs. John F. Smith of 903 N. Green street, was born June 12, 1966, in Chicago Heights The family moved to McHenry 11 years ago Donald was a patrol leader for Scout Troop 131. He was a valuable member of the Junior high track team, where he won first, second and third place in meets just a week ago. running with the eighth graders. Donald also was a newspaper delivery boy. Besides his parents he is survived by five brothers and three sisters. Michael, Sharon, David, Susan, Eileen. Brian, Patrick and Steven The body will rest at the Peter M. Justen & Son chapel from 2 to 9 p.m Friday. A funeral Mass will be offered at 10 o'clock Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic church. On RTA Program The board of directors of the Regional Transportation Authority will hold a public hearing in McHenry county at 7.30p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in the McHenry Community high school West campus, 4724 West Crystal Lake road. The hearing will be on RTA's proposed annual program and budget for fiscal year 1980 and its proposed five-year transit program for fiscal years 19801 1984. Residents from the county are encouraged to participate in the hearing and express their opinions and ideas so they may be considered when the RTA board adopts a final budget for fiscal year 1980. Anyone wishing to testify Members of the McHenry Police department, McHenry Area Rescue squad and TEK ambulance work in a vain attempt to revive Donald Smith after he received an electrical shock during the grade school track meet at McCracken field DONALDSMITH Twelve-year-old Donald Smith, a seventh grade student in McHenry Junior high school, was electrocuted about 4:45 Wednesday afternoon, April 25, when he touched a piece of mattress to prevent injuries to participants in high jump. A motor on 110-volt fills the mattress. His companions told investigating city police of­ ficers that Donald touched the cart on which the motor rested and was unable to release his hand. Someone shouted for help a n d m o u t h - 1 o - m o u t h resuscitation was started at once. i Proposed New Facilities For Retarded In Review Machine To Crime Lab This is the Cloud Nine machine which was responsible for the electrocution of 12-year-old Donald Smith Wednesday afternoon. The machine inflates a mattress which rests in the high Jump pit to prevent injuries to high jump participants. Police have turned the machine and extension cords used to connect it to a power source to the Northern Illinois Crime "Lab. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD may register at the public hearing. Written testimony may be submitted to RTA not later than seven days after the conclusion of the hearing. Copies of the proposed annual program and budget for FY 80 and the proposed RTA five- year transit program are available for public inspection in the McHenry County Regional Affairs office, 101 Main street. Crystal Lake, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at most public libraries, township, municipal and village offices in McHenry county. The McHenry county public hearing is the second in a series of nine that will be held throughout the RTA six-county region City Clerk Barb Gilpin swears in the winners of the recent city aldermanic election. From left to right are Jack Pepping, who was elected to represent Ward One (Pepping was unchallenged in the April 17 election); Ronald Meurer, who defeated Len Abruzzo in Ward Four; Mike Wieser, who unseated incumbent Raymond Smith in Ward Three, and George Marker, whodefeated Mike Teta to keep his seat in Ward Two to begin his third term in office. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE <• AYLORD Three outgoing aldermen were honored and four aldermen sworn in at Monday night's annual City of McHenry meetirfg William Bolger, first ward alderman for 22 years. Raymond Smith, an alderman from Ward three for 16 years and Jerome Rogers. Fourth ward alderman for lour years were presented with resolutions as their terms in office came to an end (Continued on page 12) Wednesday evening. The shock came from a blower type motor that keeps a high jump cushion inflated. Schoolmates assembled at the meet look on in background. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Budget Figures Disappoint Police Information about planned new facilities and predictions of a much greater client population for the McHenry County Association for the Retarded will be discussed during the association's annual membership meeting Sunday afternoon, May 6. The customary potluck dinner following the 3 p.m. annual meeting in the John­ sburg Community hall, Johnsburg, is planned. All residents of McHenry county are" invited to attend and citizens are welcome to join the association as members, Mrs Dixie Meyer, president, said in issuing the invitation. Guest speaker will be a representative of Governor Jim Thompson, Mrs. Meyer said One of the main develop­ ments during the past year was the start of construction of a 20,400 square foot vocational rehabilitation training center at McHenry Shores south of McHenry. Construction began early this month and should be ready by late this fall, Robert Lambourn, executive director, said. In his annual report, Lam­ bourn calls the decision to construct the facility "one of the most significant develop­ ments during my 11 years as executive director." He'll (Continued on page 12) check list of performance, and an IQ of 125 or above Johnsburg's application of the program would begin with third, fourth and fifth grade, which now have accelerated and enriched offerings available, and would ideally be interrelated and remain coherent throughout a high school program The plan would address itself not only to academics, but to leadership and critical thought I)r Andreas explained that a gifted coordinator was not in the picture immediately, because there is much work to lie done on the application of the plan (Continued on page 12) The City Council examined the 1979-80 budget proposed by the Finance committee at a public hearing Monday night, but discussion on the McHenry Police association's request for additional money was limited. The budget proposal has included an across-the-board increase of 10 percent for all city employees, with police patrolmen receiving a $2,000 raise and sergeants will earn $2,500 more. Both raises are higher than the inflation- fighting 7 percent recom­ mended by President Carter. "We looked long and hard at expenses," explained com­ mittee chairman Edward Datz, "and long and hard at income. The mayor asked us to prepare a balanced budget and we have." The budget projects a total general fund revenue of $1,737,000 and total projected expenses for the year of $1,734,556. A balance of $2,444 is projected to be available at year's end. The police department program The current program includes individualized study, print and broadcast jour­ nalism. and Spanish and math on the junior high level, and creative writing and math on the high school level Seaborn explained that the state funding of the program is to be improved from the present $40 per child to an optimistic $250 in the foreseeable future. He presented guidelines, based on those found in the Illinois Program for the Gifted, to help identify the possible 5 percent of school children who would be considered gifted Included in the suggestions were a teacher receives the largest piece of the budget pie, $740,556. "The police department salaries received special con­ sideration," Datz explained. "We raised the starting salary for patrolmen to $14,800 (an addition of $2,460) as an incentive to attract new men," he added. Police Chief George Pasenelli questioned the reduction of money available for overtime pay in the department's budget from $12,000 to $8,000. "At the least meeting," he said, "the amount was $12,000 now it's $8,000." Datz indicated he thought it was agreed at the final meeting to reduce the amount. "The men are now averaging a 44-hour work week," Pasenelli reported, indicating the officers arrived at least fifteen minutes before their shift and working past their scheduled quitting time. He explained they did not receive overtime pay for court time or for training time, which each averaged five hours a month The officers apparently want to receive overtime for Fiesta day work and snow removal opefations Outgoing alderman William Bolger explained the officers were paid during their lunch every day, '--hour per day, for a total of 24 hours. "We can also allow com­ pensatory time rather than time and one-half," reminded Mayor Stanek. The Police association was to address the Council but was late in arriving at the hearing and near the end of the hearing Sergeant Patrick Joyce of the association addressed the Council. Joyce reported that two men on the department were currently receiving food stamps and three more would be eligible in May and "$2,500 would take them off food stamps." Mayor Stanek explained the food stamp program depends on the amount of children in a family and other factors. "We want to get our salaries competitive with Crystal Lake and Woodstock and get the men off food stamps," Joyce told the Council. Adams called the report of officers being on food stamps a "dirty shame" and recom­ mended a raise if possible. "Find the money." Datz told Adams. "We can find the money for parks and other things, damn it," Adams replied "We don't have to apologize to anyone for these salaries," Stanek explained. "They are very generous " Datz told the Council everyone . in the other city departments was satisfied with the raises they received Joyce indicated the police department should be separate from the public works department. Alderman Raymond Smith felt it was important that all the (Continued on pape 12) Veterans Leave Office Install New Aldermen In an effort to reassess its own needs and amplify its gifted program, the board of the Johnsburg Community Unit District 12 voted to submit for approval to the Illinois Office of Education a more com­ prehensive plan, still in the finalized. and inequities in the workings of state and federal mandated gifted programs. Dr Duane Andreas, superintendent, and Scott Seaborn, principal of the Middle school, have un­ dertaken a detailed examination of Johnsburg's offerings and have come up with an assessment of the future thrust of their district's