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I J'l. p111 SB$ •; § 5^/S® #•* , ,v I Wons To Felony Court by Anthony Oliver Robert M. Wons, 40, who faces four charges of taking indecent liberties with a child, was bound over to felony court Wednesday as probable cause was found. Judge Susan Fayette Hutchinson said the facts and circumstances of the case were sufficient to show probable cause. The case was assigned to Judge Leonard Brody, 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Woodstock. Wons, known as "Uncle Fluffy," was arrested in early August in connection with incidents involving four McHenry area youths, all of whom were about 13-years-old, according to Mark E. Jacobson, a detective with the McHenry County Sheriff's Police. The incidents allegedly occurred in June and July. The prosecution's only witness at the preliminary hearing, Jacobson testified that the youths had iden­ tified Wons from a photo lineup. The prosecution alleges that Wons, then 39, cruised the Fox River in a 16-foot blue runabout and asked the boys to go for a ride. Once in the boat, he allegedly gave the youths beer and later performed various sexual acts with them. The testimony given Wednesday also alleged that Wons threatened the youths with death on two occasions if they told anyone about "what happened on the boat." 4 Wons is scheduled to appear before Judge Brody on Tuesday, Sept. 20, for arraignment. Bond was left at $125,000. Outside the courtroom, Defense Attorney Benedict J. Ori, of Waukegan, said Wons was to appear Friday in 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Lake County, for trial on similar charges. Wons, of 609-B Waters Edge, McHenry, was charged earlier this year with 10 charges of taking in­ decent liberties with a child and four counts of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a child. The Lake County incidents in­ volved young men ranging in age from 10 to 19 and dating to December, 1978. The incidents reportedly occurred in the Antioch- Lake Villa area. New School Year Activity at every McHenry area school this week gives indication that books will be opened and study will begin within a few days. The pic tare was taken during registration at West campus. At right, several students All n necessary forms as Identification picture is taken of student sitting at for left Registration at West Is expected to reach 775 when completed. At East campus 759 registered on the designated day, bat that figure is expected to reach SIS by the time doors open next week. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Focus On Wonder Lake At J Historical Museum Aug. 28 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALERA "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 108 NUMBER 6 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1983 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 25* Proposed Sign Ruling city number by Anthony Oliver al sigh of vi< „ of the McHenry City Council Mon­ day night. Building and Zoning Committee Chairman Aid. William Busse (2nd) presented a new ordinance intended to deal with proposed sign ordinance amendments. Busse said comments had been received concerning the appearance of the approaches to the community. "With the growth of the com­ munity, we have a good chance to take a good critical look at what's The arrival of a health care catalog in yesterday's mail caught our eye. We are wary of this kind of offer for we have been the victim of claims before. A few years ago we were attracted by the promise of special soles for the shoes guaranteed to keep cold feet warm in winter. This, we thought, was the answer to one of life's small problems that plagued us. The first freezing morning arrived and with confidence we slipped the soles in place. As we walked outside, our original self-assurance was fthnkftn only slightly to find that our feet had become numb. After all, it was very cold and no product can be expected to be 100 percent effective. Later, sitting behind the desk in a heated office, our feet were still cold. Then the realization came that we had been conned by the glowing description of a first' class ad­ vertising man. And so when the catalog arrived this week we were not to be so easily deceived. We looked at the thermal fleece insoles (pictured beside a lamb) and quickly turned the page. There were others that held momentary interest. A new cir­ culation cycle promises to improve the Mood flow in legs, tone up muscles and improve mobility of stiff, sore joints - and all of this while comfortably exercising your legs as you read or watch TV. A hot water bottle in sheep's clothing is said to "lot* adorable" on your bed. This charmer provides cozy warmth and is more appealing than a naked rubber bottle. Assurance is given that people with memory problems will be helped by a medi-timer with a clock (Continued on page 20) I • • out there," Busse said. "We have signs in poor repair, portable signs signs are still up from 8 election." Busse said the basic proposal was a whole new ordinance, but added that he was not looking for changes overnight. The ordinance would deal with maximum heights, areas and locations of signs, and would provide bonuses (in the area of the sign) to enhance creativity. The proposal also recommended a 10-year grace period for people to bring their signs into compliance. - "Many of the items in this or­ dinance are not in the existing sign ordinance," Busse said. "It describes what you can do, not just what you can't. The ordinance is not designed to restrict creativity but it coordinates what goes on in the city." Busse admitted some points would need some "fine tuning" in order to make the proposal more compatible with McHenry. Not all aldermen viewed the proposal in the same light, however. "I'm confused. I couldn't interpret the thing," said Aid. Ray Smith (3rd). "I thought this was intended to simplify...it looks like someone took every ordinance in, the whole country and (Hit it into this. I don't think this ordinance says what you (Busse) said." "I think it's put together well and all in all, I like it," said Aid. Frank McClatchey (3rd). Aid. Edward Datz (2nd) com­ mented, "I can understand it. The only problem is with the non­ conforming signs. I won't give anyone 10 years...I'll give maybe six months or a year." City Attorney Bernard Narusis advised the councilmen not to 'Miss Wonder Lake, Jeanne Jorgenson, will greet visitors to the McHenry County Museum at Union on Wonder Lake Day, Aug. 28. The hours for Wonder Lake Day are from 1:30 to 4:30 with a series of events planned for a program. Persons attending from Wonder Lake will be admitted free to the museum on the twenty-eighth, although other persons interested are invited to attend. Items from the Wonder Lake community that might go back at least 25 years are solicited for viewing. These items, of course, need not be donated to the museum, just shown to the public on Wonder Lake Day. Booklets detailing the history of the postal service in the U.S. are offered free to visitors. They have been obtained by Wonder Lake's postmaster, Lorraine Murphy. She will also show a film strip about stamp collecting. Several reels of film about World War Two will be shown by Henry Setzler. A brief history of Wonder Lake will be given by the Reverend Richard Wright. There is much to see concerning the early history of McHenry County at the museum and visitors are invited to browse through the rooms. In the music room are copies of sheet music written by county residents, including that of Down By The Old Millstream, written in the county. Early farm machinery hangs on the walls of the auditorium; a restored fire wagon gleams on the floor. The log cabin, built by an Irish immigrant, is a "must" for visitors to see. More than 100 years old, it was erected near Huntley and a large family was reared in it by the immigrant, Luke Gannon. proceed too hastily with the "non- use aspects. lUe at- anted Some time to atter, noting that ordinances consider signs to b#MStructures." "I don't compare signs to legal, non-conforming structures," Datz said. "I'd glve a reasonable time to comply, but we're only talking about signs. They're stuck in the ground, on a pole or put on a wall." "A sign is a structure--a very expensive structure and the kind of structure people sue for," Narusis said. "Let me have some input here." Aid. Elizabeth Nolan (1st) said she it three to five years would be and supported the or­ dinance. . ,, "I found it to be thorough and done in a positive way," Mrs. Nolan said. Mayor Joseph Stanek said, "It would appear that we would almost have to have a full-time employee to regulate signs. The bonuses are subjective and I shudder at the maintenance requirements." The mayor suggested staying with the existing ordinance and ad­ dressing temporary and message center (similar to those at the banks) signs. "We should tell the Building and (Continued on pogo 20) School Staff Pay Hike By Marion Olsen A District IS elementary school board decision. Aug. 23 on a 5.7 percent 1983-84 wage increase for transportation workers allowed final calculations on classified staff salary increases for District 156 high school employees. The high school classified staff increase averages to 6.75 percent, according to SupUlobert Swartzloff. It covers all employees other than administration, who received an average 6 percent increase Aug. 16, and teachers who are still negotiating their 1983-84 salaries. The high school board of education had approved increases Aug. 16 for the transportation workers and the district s own classified staff. They waited for the District 15 decision on increases for the bus drivers, mechanics and dispatchers who work for both districts. The decision completed the statistical data needed to release the overall figure. District 15's board of education had approved in June a 5.4 percent 1983- 84 salary increase for all other non-certified staff and teachers. Local Farmers Look At Harvest Hopes by Donna Bertulis McHenry County farmers will suffer some major losses this year due to the drought, but generally crops are facing better here than in central and southern Illinois. A statewide field survey taken recently gave a grim forecast for harvests throughout the state, predicting that Illinois farmers would average only 97 bushels of com per acre this year. Last year the average was 134 bushels per acre. But McHenry County farmers differ in their predictions on the local harvest. It appears forms near the City of McHenry were hurt more by the dry spell than other parts of tiie county. "This was an odd year," com­ mented Clarence Adams, who forms 80S acres in Bull Valley. "We had a late spring, with a lot of rain. Then when we did get the crop in, it was too hot." "The rain we did get during the summer was so spotty. It usually missed us. Within a mile of here there, is a difference (in crop yields)." Adams remained optimistic: "I will take some beating, but not too bad. I think I can still get a decent crop." A "decent" crop to Adams will be about 100 bushels of cwn per acre, while in better years he has yielded from 110 to 140 bushels per acre. "I have about 80 acres that were hurt by tiie drought." The Bull Valley farmer said the rain storms, which did finally break the drought last week, did save some soybean crops, but they came too late for the corn. Much of his corn crop, just >, already dried up by the beat, cracked off at the stalks from the high winds of the storms. Chuck Weingart, who farms on the east side of McHenry, is not as op­ timistic about this year's harvest. "The damage is already done. Rainfall won't help bring the crop back anymore. Two inches won't do anything now but make the grass green again." Weingart said this is the least productive year he has ever ex­ perienced. "I've lived out here all my life, and I've never seen it that dry before." "There's an incredible amount of loss," Weingart said of his 600 acres of corn, soybeans and hay near Lakemoor. He feels he won't get half his normal crop yield of corn. "Normally, our yield is 125 bushels per acre. We'll be lucky to see half that much in this area. The corn stalks have withered, without any ears on them. It is growing only in the hollows." The recent rains did give some relief to Woodstock and Harvard farmers, Weingart added, but "it missed here all the time." "I have spots in my soybean fields that are burned like there was a fire in the fields." Both the McHenry farmers also raise dairy cattle. The livestock was also affected by the drought. Two of Adams' cows died in the severe heat. When the temperature hovers around 100 degrees, the cows are simply too hot and un­ comfortable to eat. "The cows just stand in the fields with their mouths open, panting like dogs," said Weingart. When the cows fail to eat, milk production drops significantly. Adams' dairy production dropped (Continued on pogo 20) Ask New View Of Water Rate Hike Action by Anthony Oliver The Lakeland Park Water Company is trying to get the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to reconsider its dismissal of the utility's general rate increase petition. On Aug. 9, the Lakeland Park Water Company filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) petitions for rehearing and reconsideration of an order that dismissed a general rate increase request. In early July, the ICC hearing officer noted problems in getting financial information from representatives of the utility. The Lakeland Park Water Company is one of six utilities owned by T.P. Mathews: Ths difficulties in ob­ taining accurate information were compounded by common ownership, common officers and employees and intercompany loans within the six- utility framework. , In light of these problems, which bogged the hearing that began last year, the ICC issued stern requirements for the water com­ pany to meet before any further talk of a rate increase would be con­ sidered. In addition to the order that dismissed the rate increase petition, the ICC also required the company to put all their books in order, within six months. The company was then to notify the ICC. The commission further ordtred its accounting department to audit the books and report back. by Atty. David H. of Aurora, tile water is aniring the commission to recqbsider the order. According to the petition for rehearing, the Lakeland Park Water Company charges that the order is contrary to law, unsupported by the evidence and denies the petitioner due process of law. The petition states that main­ tenance of the existing rates would cause an "unconstitutional deprivation of the petitioner's property without due process...." rather, tiie petitioners argue that the application for the rate increase was summarily dismissed without notice, that the petitioner's income is not enough to meet a debt (for water meters) incurred at the request of the ICC and that the commission's action was based on the inability of the petitioner to obtain cooperation from its ac­ countant. The petition points out that the petitioner has obtained the services of a certified public accountant, who can supply all the records and documents requested. Lastly, the petition says allowing the order to stand, without some interim relief, "will in all probability bankrupt the petitioner and cause it to default on its loan approved by the Commission...." City Attorney Bernard Narusis said the petition was necessary for the Lakeland Park Water Company to make any kind of an appeal. State law says the ICC is supposed to make a decision in 20 days of filing whether to grant the petition, in which case the water company and the city (rick up where the matter was left, or deny it and let the order stand. "If the ICC does not make a decision in 150 days, it is the petition is denied. If the petition is denied and the dismissal is final, the water com­ pany can take the matter to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Woodstock, for further review. The matter can still be carried to the Court, if the ICC is upheld in court. Prairie Walk Aug. 28 \ f Veterans Acres Pag• 9 FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Fingerprinting Program At Landmark School Page 20