Life Safety-Long Range Goals Occupy School Board Two Will Reign Over • « * . Johnsburg Prom These attractive young students at Johnsburg high school will be competing for the crown of prom king and queen when the 1980 prom, Knights in White Satin, is held Friday, May 23, at Chateau Louise, from 7 to 10 p.m. Post-prom activities will follow at RaacyWheels roller rink. Seated are the queen candidates, from left, Christy Andrews, Laurie Rath, Nancy Fowler, Nancy Popovich, Penny Khldirlan, Lynn McKay and Vicki Buccelli; standing, in back, Doug Free, Kurt Valentin, Brian Roberts, Bill Hovseth, Jim Flood, Brett Zimbrick and Chris Dixon, STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 104 NUMBER 84 FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1980 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 25' City Expansion On Move Part development and expansion in the City of McHenry appear to be moving ahead, according to at Monday night's Government can make life miserable. And it doesn't take too many encounters to send you out for the rose- colored glasses necessary to get through an average day. A senior of our acquain tance has had her ex periences with the Circuit Breaker, that gift of Government devised to assist with taxes or rent. It took a few years to acquaint the public with the dollars that could be theirs, and during this time the mail was clogged with an nouncements about the program. Not enough people were taking advantage of a real opportunity to beat the system. Apparently the idea caught on - it doesn't take long when it's something for nothing. So the lady of our acquaintance sent in her first bid for funds. Naive about such matters, she merely filled in the form and made no explanation. Back came the form after about six weeks with a notation that her income seemed small in relation to the real estate tax. Did they expect her to alter the figures? The amount of income and the tax stated on the form were correct. In the next mail the an swer was sent, explaining how the lady managed to eat in spite of figures that in dicated she might be un dernourished. Eventually, she received a substantial check. Govern ment had believed her! Thereafter, each year the Circuit Breaker application was sent a statement of explanation was included. Each year she received a second letter stating, "The amount of income seems small in relation to the real estate tax", at Another explanation and another check. This year Government changed its lingo. It asked the lady for verification of any claims she had made even though she had listed names and addresses of the Social Security office and the county treasurer's office for Just that purpose. No wonder Government is driving Small Business into rotirenMot. Unfortunately, individuals can't escape City Council meeting. At the last Council meeting two weeks ago, City Park Director Peter Merkel reported that red tape at the federal level had stalled the development plans for Knox park. The. City had sub mitted plans for develop ment of the park in hopes of receiving a $200,000 grant. • Merkel said federal cuts had halted grant monies temporarily and the City's grant request had not been approved in time to receive funds. A letter to Merkel from Robert Johnson, of the Division of Grant Ad ministration, Illinois Department of Conservation (IDOC), said, "It is an ticipated that the Depart ment (IDOC) will receive federal approval ap proximately June 16...." Merkel told the Council that development plans had been delayed about 90 days, but could be started when approval is in hand. The Council voted unanimously to purchase a 16-acre addition to Petersen park. "We are buying the land at $3,000 an acre," Mayor Joseph Stanek said. "The ?: land is worth substantially more than that." "This is actually a sub stantial contribution to the City - of many, many thousands of dollars," the mayor added. Mayor Stanek apprised the Council of a number of road related projects to be started this summer in McHenry. Included in the City Federal Aid Urban (FAU) street program for this summer are, in order of priority, Meadow street, from Elm street to Shore drive; Green street, from Kane avenue to the City limits; and John street, from Green street to Route 31. Mayor Stanek told the Council that work should begin June 20 at the in tersection of the Crystal Lake blacktop and Elm street. The work will include road widening and. stoplight in stallation similar to the work at the Pearl street-Route 31 intersection. Regarding plans for the railroad depot, the mayor said, "No firm, commitment that the cKicago Nor thwestern terminal will be in McHenry, but it appears that the decision has been made." In other Council action, bids were awarded to Lakeland Construction company, Peter Baker and Sons and Carey Electric foe the pavement and lighting improvements of ' the parking lot on the west side of Green street. The City Council unanimously approved the mayoral appointments of Kay Halverson to the Zoning **Poard of Appeals, 4o replace Bryce Klontz; and* William Wilson to the Plan com mission, to replace Kay Halverson. Roof problems at East campus dominated the discussion Tuesday evening as the board of High School District 156 accepted the agreement with the firm of O'Donnell Wicklund Pigozzi Architects, Inc. for life safety work at the two campuses and im provements at McCracken field. The work resulted from a safety survey report submitted Dec. 13, 1979. Len Peterson, for the firm, said that the agreement established the "upset maximum" fee rate at 104 percent but it could run less than that on the larger jobs. Peterson reported that the roof at East campus needed comprehensive work, especially over the gym area. Records indicated that $65,000 worth of roof work had been done on the building five years ago, he said, but "thermal shock" due to no insulation had damaged the "roof mem branes" according to core samples taken this spring. And while the winter snow and ice leakage had been quite severe, the roof was still resisting rain leakage fairly well. This Midwest area is rough on flat roofs, Peterson noted. Supt. Robert Swart - zloff said there was probably no recourse against the roofer because of the time elapsed and the work must be done. The board agreed to research the most satisfactory® way to repair the roof, noting that there were already two coverings over the gym. Board president, Edward J. Neumann urged the board not to build any artificial deadlines. "Let's take our time and do it right." A cost analysis report completed by the Ad ministrative Council com mittee as part of long range goal planning indicated that separate athletic programs for the two campuses may be a distant goal if costs are the determining factor. Swartzloff said the report would be referred to a committee composed of school people, represen tatives of civic organizations, parents and booster organizations to help with the study. He noted that the board should review the studies and determine if the programs should be divided and if so, when. Swartzloff indicated in a later con versation that the programs would eventually have to be separate for each school, but the question was when could they afford to do it. The coming school year 1980-81 marks the complete separation of East and West campuses for four-year attendance and the (Continued on page 20) Observe Memorial Day With May 26 Programs Suspect Arson In Fire under investigation, but according to McHenry Fire department Chief Glenn Peterson, the fire appeared to have started in more than one place. "This seems to indicate an unnatural cause." Peterson said. An estimated 50 percent of a home at 4424 Lakewood, McHenry, was damaged when fire broke out at about 2i30 a.m. May 16. Companies I and II of the McHenry Township Fire department answered the call and spent ap proximately three hours extinguishing the blaze and cleaning the debris. The cause of the fire is Damage from the fire was estimated at between $20,000 and $25,000. Memorial day will be celebrated in McHenry, Johnsburg and Wonder Lake Monday, May 26, in honor of those who lost their lives defending this country. McHenry will mark the occasion with a memorial program in the city park at 9:30 a.m. The invocation and benediction will be given by the Rev. Roger Schneider of Shepherd of the Hills church. "The Lord's Prayer" will be sung in fine tradition by Bill Molnaire, a veteran of World War I, and "The Star Spangled Banner" will be played by the McHenry high school band, under the direction of John Leighty. Mayor Stanek will give a few words of welcome. The guest speaker for the memorial service will be Adele Froehlich, editor of the McHenry Plaindealer. The service will be short and solemn in keeping with the spirit of Memorial day and will conclude with the placing of a wreath on the city memorial monument by veterans' post commanders and the ritual of a volley by the rifle squad and the playing of taps. Covers County Numbering System Legalized At Tuesday's May meeting of the McHenry County board, the membership unanimously voted approval of an ordinance to legalize the numbering system in McHenry county. An explanation of the system was made by Don Doherty of McHenry, chairman of the Planning & Zoning sub-committee..That committee and the Public Safety committee, chaired by Erv Walters, have been working for many months on drafting the ordinance. The program will result in no changes in the City of McHenry, which has had the system in effect since the early 1960's, the first municipality to adopt it. Lake county marks the east- west dividing line, with all addresses west of it so marked. The Nunda town ship line divides the north- south addresses. While the system has been implemented in most cities and villages, the new or dinance will permit it to be more fully utilized in all areas governed by the County board. The County board passed a resolution in the '60's adopting the county-wide system. 1 Don Doherty, who ex plained the program, told members that residents and businesses have had quick Tax Bills Out July 10 Tax bills in McHenry coumty are expected to be sent about July 10, with payments due Aug. 5 and Sept. 5, as the result of action taken by the County board Tuesday. A resolution was passed directing County Clerk Rosemary Az2aro to estimate the valuations and determine the tax rates of overlapping taxing districts The Bosrd of Review completed its work for the tax year of 1979 on April 24. However, the abutting counties will not have completed jMr work to determine an actual assessment within their counties' for those overlapping districts that affect McHenry county. Action by the board Tuesday will speed bills locally emergency services and delivery service when needed by telling their house number and official road or street name. The two committees felt that with the continuous growth during the past 20 years, new residents and those new to delivery and emergency services need to know just how the system works. The present system will not be changed. It was legally adopted to assure uniformity throughout 6 the county. Most postmasters in the county aided in the inception of the program 20 years ago by issuing new addresses to their patrons as they were determined and made available to them. Ray McGee, then postmaster of McHenry. started the movement by asking that something be done to set up a system. With the help of utility company engineers in the county and district postal authorities, the system was devised. Asked tbe cost of the greater utilization of <he program through the new ordinance. Doherty said he thought it would .be nothing at all to the County board. Utility firms, he explained, are interested in assisting in order to see the ac complishment of a complete countywide system. The financial problem of starting it was met by rural fire protection districts and town boards, to a large extent, Doherty stated. Local Chambers of Com merce, fire district per sonnel and service clubs were helpful in reaching the business community and the many outlying major sub divisions. In zoning matters, several approvals were given. One was to Frank and Mary Geister for variation of bulk requirements for an accessory building in art "R- 1" Residential district. The jjroperty is in the Bay area Another allows for reclassification from "B-l" Neighborhood Business to "B-3" General Business, property on the north end of Wonder Lake The petitioners were Steve Simon and Martin Mueller The Wonder Lake Fire Protection district was (Continued on page 20) it The parade will start at about 10 a.m., moving to the Fox river beach, where a wreath will be placed on the water in memory of all who lost their lives at sea. From the beach, the line of march will move to Washington street and then to St. Patrick's cemetery for another brief ceremony. The marchers will then proceed to Woodland and St. Mary's cemetery for ceremonies in memory of honored dead veterans. The marchers will then move south on Rt. 31, back to the city park, where they will disband at about 10:45. The flowers will be placed at the cemeteries by the presidents of the auxiliaries of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rifle squad and color guards will go to Johnsburg after the McHenry ceremonies. Assembly will be at 11:30 a.m. with (Continued on page 20) Successor Sought For McNulty Term The board of High School District 156 accepted "with deepest regrets" the resignation of board member Dan McNulty at the regular meeting Tuesday, and in executive session discussed a possible replacement. According to statutes the board must fill the vacancy within 30 days. An appointment will probably be made by the June 17 meeting, it was learned. McNulty's term would have run to November of 1981 and his successor will serve about 18 months Due to a number of difficulties including the loss of his home jn the McHenry area by fire, McNulty has been unable to attend meetings recently, board members indicated » Annual Art Fair Set June 13-15 Bertha Stange, sitting, co-chairman of registration for the 1980 McHenry Country Art fair, discusses plans with Carol Cooney, left, and Voni Ferguson, co-chairmen of receiving for the fair. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD T h e t w e n t y - f o u r t h a n n u a l M c H e n r y C o u n t r y A r t a n d C r a f t f a i r , t o b e p r e s e n t e d b y i h e a u x i l i a r y t o M c H e n r y h o s p i t a l J u n e 1 3 . 1 4 a n d 1 5 . w i l l b e j u d g e d b y t h e r e n o w n e d a r t c o n s u l t a n t a n d c m i s e r v a t o r . 1 . " u i s P < > m e r a n t 7 . P u m e r a n ' z . c o n s u l t a n t t o i h e A r t I n s t i t u t e o f C h i c a g o , h e M i l w a u k e e A r t c e n t e r . N a t i o n a l g a l l e r y o f C a n a d a a n d ' h e F i e l d m u s e u m , w a s a v o l u n t e e r c o n s e r v a t o r i n F l o r e n c e I t a l y . d u r i n g t h e f l o o d d i s a s ' e r n f 1 9 6 6 H e a l s o s e r v e d a s m a n a g e r o f s e c u r i t y m e a s u r e s t o p r e > * < r v e a n d g u a r d t h e D e a d S c r o l l s w h e n t h e y w e r e l o a n e d b \ ' h e I s r a e l m u s e u m o M e x i c o u u i i n g m e 1 % 8 O l y m p i c s . S i x c a t e g o r i e s o f a r t w i l l h e j u d g e d a n d a w a r d e d p r i z e s T h e y a r e p a i n t i n g i o p a q u e a n d t r a n s p a r e n t ) , g r a p h i c s p r i n t s a n d . d r a w i n g s 1 , t h r e e d i m e n s i o n a l . p h o t o g r a p h y , m i x e d m e d i a a n d s e l e c t e d c r a f t s A r t i s t s w h o a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n e x h i b i t i n g a t t h e f a i r ' m a y o b t a i n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s f r o m M r s E l m e r W ( B e r t h a * S t a n g e , 5 0 4 N M i n e r a l S p r i n g s . M c H e n r y F u n d s r a i s e d b y t h e . A r t f a i r w i l l b e u s e d b y t h e a u x i l i a r y t o p u r c h a s e e q u i p m e n t f o r M c H e n r y h o s p i t a l a c c o r d i n g t o C h a i r p e r s o n . l < > a n T e i c h miliar Commencement At MCHS May 28 , The sixtieth annual commencement exercises for the Class of 1980 will be , held Wednesday, May 28, at 8 p.m. at McCracken field. Supt. Robert Swartzloff will be keynote speaker. Valedictorian Jill Hut chinson and Senior Class President Teresa Deveikis will also address the Class of '80. Principal Johnson will award medallions to the ten highest ranking graduating seniors. The board of education president, Ed ward J.- Neuipann, Jr., and board secretary, James Tonyan, will present diplomas to the graduating seniors. The graduating class of McHenry Community hi school will recei scholarships and awards at the annual Honors assembly in the West campus auditorium Tuesday, May 27, at 9 a.m. The ceremony will be preceded by a break fast for the senior class in the West campus cafeteria. Following the awards ceremony will be com mencement practice at McCracken field at 10 a.m. Parents and families of graduating seniors are encouraged to attend the wards and honors program. Principal Greg Johnson wijl open the program and ad dress the graduating class. Other speakers during the program will be the senior class officers, including Vice-President Jenny Fossum, Treasurer Dawn Beshk and Secretary Alane Zinke.