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\ THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "Serving The Chaiu-O-Lakes Region Since 1875" Volume 89 -- No. 31 -- 3 Sections McHENRY, ILLINOIS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12. 1963 24 PAGES -- 10c PER COPY VOTE ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEC. 14 If there has been doubt In anyone's mind that the Christmas season is at hand, a look at some of the first lighting displays should be convincing. We were very pleased to see the unique setting of Mc- Henry's lighted tree on a raft in the Fox river early this week. When the tree was first placed there a few years ago, it resulted in mention in papers throughout the country. it year the tree had the ine to be the victim of vandals, but was later restored to its original beauty for the enjoyqgent of passersby. It is a cheeW welcome as one crosses either bridge from the east, ) This year the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the biggest home lighting display contest McHenry has ever had. With many valuable prizes offered, it will no doubt attract even finer displays than those which have beautified our city in the past. It can only be hoped that the spirit of the Christmas season will permeate the hearts of even those who may have stooped to the degrading "hobby" of vandalism in the past. Many families have spent considerable in time and money, only to have their display destroyed by the devious minds and hands of the few who are unfortunate enough to find nothing better with which to occupy themselves. It might be an excellent Idea if law enforcement agencies pledged stiff punishments for anyone guilty of such destruction. Certainly tfie good will of those who would beautify and spread cheer to others during the holiday season, Is worth support. This is the time of year when that semmingly inoffensive little apostrophe takes on all sorts of unusual and wrong uses. Most '»f us are happy to roceive a Christmas card regaidless of its signature, but WP still can't help but be concerned over the fact that tne small apostrophe is the most abused character in the English language -- and holiday cards are the major reason. For those ordering printed cards, a socially correct guide usually is available for usage, but the fate of hand signed cards lies in the whimscy of the individual. And the whimseys get pretty ridiculous. AJthough the chief functions of the mark are either to show possession or to take the place of an omitted letter, the apostrophe finds itself thrown helter- skelter into signatures, names on mail boxes, addresses on envelopes and almost everywhere else. The majority of folks seem to throw in an apostrophe when they don't know what else to do. The extent of one's educational pursuits seem to have little to do with the small character. Grade school and college graduates alike overlook its purpose ani continue to punctuate all of their writings with it. How very refreshing it is to receive a Christmas card marked simply, The John Browns. It's right and it's easy -- maybe that's the reason so many people choose to add their favorite, Character, the overworked apostrophe. Fred Meyer, superintendent of rmljlic works, and other city employees have been busy in recent days preparing for the holiday in McHenry. One of their rewarding tasks was constructing the huge wreath which decorates the outside of the city hall. The other^was building Santa's hut, which is portable and will be moved from one business section to another. Symbol Of The Season the first time in our rem< : ; leHenry's city hall is decorated for the holiday with a beautiful, lighted wreath. centered with bright Christmas bells. The American flag which flits at half mast in tribute to the late President Kennedy adds dignity to the lovely symbol of the season. Commit Man After Attack The young Woodstock man who assaulted Mrs. Joseph Zahn of 2416 Orchard Beach, McHenry, in the Woodstock Armory last September has been committed to a state institution. John P. Turner of 206 S. Fleming road was examined by a psychiatrist, and on his testimony the 20-yearold man was ordered into the custody of the Public Safety Department of Illinois for confinement. Turner had been held in county jail since his attack on Mrs. Zahn last fall. She had gone to the Armory building thinking it was headquarters for the driver license bureau, which had moved to a new location. A few moments later she was followed into the building by Turner, who said he v. anted to join the National Guard. Finding no one else in the Armory, Mrs. Zahn asked Turner if that was the place to obtain a license, and after a brief conversation started to leave. Before she reached the door, Turner came up behind her and beat her on the face and choked her to a point where she was near unconsciousness. As she screamed, Turner evidently became frightened and ran from the Armory, followed by Mrs Zahn. A neighbor, hearing her screams, called the police and Turner was apprehended several blocks from the scene. & INVESTIGATION OF AREA GARAGE FIRE CONTINUES Sheriff's police are still investigating a fire which destroyed a two-cai garage on the property occupied by the Norbert Wegener family in Oakhurst subdivision last Friday evening and again Saturday morning. Firemen were sure the flames were of an incendiary nature. Glen Glos, a neighbor, reported the first fire about 9:12 Friday evening when he was returning home. Members of Company I hurried to the scene and brought it under control. About 5-30 the next morning they were again summoned when the fire broke out anew. Fire Chief Ed. Justen said there was every indication that the fire had been started again the second time, and members of the Wegener family and neighbors saw someone in the vicinity of the garage before each fire started. Damage was estimated at about $500, including the building and a truck parked nearby. SPEAKS FOR KIWANIS At the noon meeting of the McHenry Kiwanis club on Monday, Miss Maurie Taylor, MCHS faculty member, spoke on her summer trip to South Africa, using slides and film strip to illustrate highlights. One of the most interesting features of her talk to Kiwanians was a description of her entrance into a gold mine. Supervisors Approve Partial Remodelling Of Jail For $15,000 The world continues to grow smaller--or so it seems. The unusual wedding photo of Georgette Kotalik and" her bridegroom, Anthony Marzano, last August has travelled nearly around the world through various newspapers. The latest place to come to our attention \&as Dunedin, New Zealand. (CeatiMted on Page 8) In a busy session of the board of supervisors on Tuesday of this week, members approved a partial remodelling of the county jail, not to exceed a cost of $15,000. The expenditure was allowed to alleviate crowded conditions and separate women prisoners and juveniles from long time criminals. It was stressed that most'of the equipment will be of the type that could be moved if a change is ever made to new quarters. By a vote of 16 to 6, Del Freund was given a ten-year renewal to operate a gravel pit on property between Lilymoor and McHenry, on Rt. 120. The request brought considerable discussion among some supervisors who were opposed to such allowances without a stipulation that the land be levelled or in some other way left in a suitable condition at the end of the lease period. At present, the , board has no control over such land. Name Plan Commission Announcement was made of the appointment of members of the newly formed McHenry County Plan commission, formed for the purpose of estab- UNANIMOUS VOTE ' GIVES APPROVAL TO ROAD PLANS A total of 168 persons, about 100 from Lakeland Park and the remainder mostly from the Sunnyside and Pistakee Highlands area, were present at the special town meeting held Tuesday evening at the Legion home. By a unanimous vote, they approved the town board of local improvements proceeding to prepare plans and specifications, and to obtain estimated costs in regard to the improvement of roads and streets by a special assessment, The land affected lies in subdivisions known as Lakeland Park Units No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Sunnyside Estates Unit No. 5. After estimated costs are ascertained and property owners know their assessments, there will be a public hearing at which any objections may be voiced. The board of local improvements will then proceed accordingly. The roads in question are private streets and do not now meet township specifications. Residents there have expressed a desire that they be improved. A special meeting was necessary because the streets do not come under the township road program. Atty. Roland Herrmann acted as moderator at the meeting. Introduced were the various township officials, the assistant supervisors, Edward Buss, Charles Weingart and Thomas Huemann, the town board of local improvements, including the chairman, Supervisor Walter Dean, the auditors, Arnold Rauen, Charles Adams and Harry Freund, the highway commissioner Charles J. Miller, and Walter Anderson, who served as clerk by appointment. CLEAN STREAMS MEETING The next meeting of the McHenry County Clean Streams committee will be held in January due to the holiday being so near the regular December meeting date. The proposed conservancy district will then be explained to all in attendance. Shop early in McHenry. ICY ROADS ARE CAUSE OF AREA CRASHES Two Injured In Sunday Accidents In McHenry Area Icy roads caused two accidents over the past weekend, resulting in injuries to two. Sunday afternoon about 5 o'clock, Paul J. Damen of 3816 W. Main street, McHenry, was driving on Griswold Lake road when he slowed on a curve and his car skidded off the shoulder. Damen was hurt, as was Rose Damen of the same address, a passenger, who was taken to the hospital by relatives. Alphonse Lanners of Rt. 3, McHenry, was ticketed by sheriff's deputies for failure to have his car under control when he was involved in an accidcnt at 4:20 Sunday afternoon, during a snow storm. Lanners was driving on Mason Hill road when his car •went out of control as he applied the brakes, striking a fence on the Horenberger farm. The vehicle continued about 230 feet and left the road, landing on its top. Three motorists suffered injuries last Thursday in a threecar collision on Rt. 176, west of Rt. 31, near Crystal Lake. Joseph F. Jahnke and his wife, Margaret, were riding west and stopped to turn left when his car was struck from behind by another vehicle driven by Joseph F. Klecka of Crystal Lake. The Jahnke auto was pushed into the path of an oncoming auto driven by Irma E. Gunther of 4216 N. Riverview, Sunnyside. The latter was not hurt. Harvey Hildrebrandt of Richmond road, McHenry, was ticketed for driving. .too fast for conditions when his auto was involved in an accident last Monday. The youth old sheriff's police he was driving northeast on north River road, toward McHenry, when his auto skidded On some loose gravel on a curve, spinning around and striking another car driven Award Prizes For Displays Home lighting displays will be judged this year in four categories, according to Donald Howard, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event. Winners will be selected from original, religious, elaborate and amusing entries. Four first prizes will be awarded in each category, as well as twenty honorable mention prizes, which will be gift certificates awarded to excellent displays in any of the four classifications. Judging will take place in McHenry and for one mile in each direction from the city limits. Selecting the winners will be Mayor Donald P. Doherty, Walter Dean and Marilyn Bacon, who will tour the contest area on the $vening of Sunday, Dec. 22. Entry blanks are available in this issue of the Plaindealer. Although the judges plan to drive through the entire area, entries are asked so that no one will be missed. Polls Open From Noon To 7 At Ten Polling Places In This/ Area Conduct Jaycee Cinder Program The McHenry Jaycees will hold their fifth annual Cinders for Safety program on Saturday, Dec. 14, when packages of free cinders will be given to all motorists who request them. (Jaycee members will be at the McHenry fire station on Elm street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to distribute handy packages of cinders for use by motorists with winter traction problems. Distribution will be on a ' first come-first served basis. (Continued on Page 8) (Coatiaued on Page 8) CHILD DIES SUDDENLY AFTER SHORT ILLNESS The joy of the pre-Christmas season was marred for one McHenry area family this week when 2-year-old Ronnie Eugene Craig died Monday morning, Dec. 9, about 9:30 o'clock, shortly after being admitted to McHenry hospital. The family resides at 708 W. Nancy Lane, Fritzsche's Estates. The cause of death was determined to be virus pneumonia, which resulted in his unexpected and sudden death. The child was born in Carbondale, 111., July 21, 1961, and had lived here for about seven months. The family moved to McHenry from Chicago. Survivors are his parents, Roger and Donna Russell Craig; one brother, David Wayne; the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Russell, of Dangola, 111.; and the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Craig of Anna, 111. The body rested at the Peter M. Justen & Son fufteral home until Wednesday at 11 o'clock when Rev. Virgle Chappell of the McHenry Baptist church officiated at last rite* Voters Challenged With Their Value Of Education Dec. 14 AN EDITORIAL On Saturday, Dec. 14, voters of McHenry county will be asked to express themselves at the polls on something new in educational facilities for the area. The issue concerns the establishment of a Junior College school District, with authority to levy taxes at the rate of .09 per cent for educational purposes and .05 per cent for buildings and the purchase of school grounds. The proposal is new, not only to McHenry county, but in terms of time changes in educational pursuits, is also of relatively recent origin throughout the United States. In communities where a progressive and farsighted public has taken the initiative, some of the newest and most serious problems of a changing society have been at least partially met through the community college. There are many advantages to be gained through such an educational institution and only one disadvantage has been cited even by critics -- the question of money with which to build and maintain a college. With the referendum only two days in the future, it would seem most appropriate to examine the proposed issue. It is a fact that within our own jjounty, a number of qualified high school graduates are unable to continue their education each fall because of the expense involved. Part of this expense lies in the high cost of living, which could be cut considerably if the student resided at home. The economy of the area would also stand to benefit from a college for the very reason that the average cost of college attendance would keep thousands of dollars in circulation within the county. Since the college is expected to be operated in keeping with requests made in a recent survey, there is little doubt that such a college would not attract young men and women desiring training in specialized and technical fields. At present, the lack of highly skilled persons in industry is recognized as one of the leading economic problems without a solution. It is possible that the very industry which McHenry and the county desires so greatly might be induced to settle locally in the knowledge that trained personnel is available. Land values also stand to increase through an institution, which by its very nature, adds to the prestige and progressive trend of the area in which it is located. On the other side of the picture is the cost. No one has attempted to convince voters that any college is not an item of expense, and technical facilities are known to run high. If voters approve next Saturday's referendum, they will authorize the expenditure of an amount which will assess an individual taxpaver between $11 and $14 on a valuation of $10,000. If- more money is required for construction of the type of buildings deemed necessary by a board to be elected, another referendum would be required. , Whether or not a community college is costly would seem to depend on our sense of values. Those things we place of highest value will be inexpensive at any reasonable price, in the knowledge that as individuals and as a community we stand to gain much. It is with this in mind that we urge voters to go to the polls on Dec. 14, Curriculum Coordinator Presents Progress Report Before Board On Monday In a relatively quiet, preholiday meeting, the board of School District 15 concluded their business for this year last Monday evening. Highlight of the meeting was the appearance of Miss Helen Curran, new curriculum coordinator who was present to give a report on the progress that has been made since the beginning of the term, and also to present plans which have been formulated for the future. Both the administrators and members of the board feel that their ability to add to the staff such capable personnel as Miss Curran, Miss Nichols, reading specialist, and Mr. Greenhill, school psychologist, have been a major step toward providing the best facilities possible for the students. They also expressed an assurance that benefits to be derived from these services will be immeasurable. Supt. Carl Buckner gave board members a progress report on the new faculty members and work being done in the various schools. Approval was given for use of some of the school buildings as polling places for the community college election on Dec. 14. The Underwriters re-inspection report was presented to the board, noting only slight changes recommended in two of the buildings. The speech correction survey report from Mrs. Nancy Johnson and Bill D. Dial was presented. According to the report, 511 children have been examined, and a total of 113 will be given aid, with a waiting list of eighty students. POSTMASTER ISSUES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS "PRESENT" IN FORM OF GOOD ADVICE - "MAIL EARLY Postmaster LeRoy Smith has his annual Christmas 'present' ready today for his patrons and, to nobody's surprise, it was his perennial suggestion: "Mail Early." In keeping with this, the post office will remain open Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21; Wednesday, the 18th and Sunday, the 15th, from 1 to 3 p.m. The office will not be open on Sunday, the 22nd, because with the exception of local cards, this is too late, as a rule, to mail for delivery by Christmas. "Christmas shopping and mailing is, for most people, one of the heaviest chores at Christmas, "Mr. Smith said, "and if I can persuade some people to get it done right now I think they will agree later-- when they are taking it easy while others rush around -- that I have given them a very good present. Makes Suggestions "Virtually all Christmas mailing can be disposed of now I by observing the following five suggestions, "Postmaster Smith explained: Do your shopping for your Christmas gifts now. Ch^ck and revise mailing lists for cards and presents. Package and mail Christmas parcels promptly. Don't worrj about being too early -- jusl mark them "Do Not Open Un til Christmas." Buy Christmas cards now and address them ri^ht away, separating them into out-oftown and local bundles. This is something that we urge business mailers to do year 'round. Mail them immediately with ZIP codes on them and you've got it made, with the exception, perhaps, for that last- YOUNG SINGERS PRESENT ANNUAL HOLIDAY PROGRAM About 225 members of vocal groups in McHenry high school will present their annual Christmas program next Sunday evening, Dec. 15, at 8:15 o'clock in the school auditorium. Large choruses will be featured in such well known popular favorites as "Winter Won- (Continued on Page 8) Voters in McHenry will join those throughout the county in going to the polls Saturday, Dec. 14, to vote for or against the establishment of a junior college school district. Voting hours are from noon to 7 p.m. In order for the type of district being considered in McHenry county to be organized, it must receive a majoxity vote of all the incorporated areas taken separately and a majority of all the unincorporated area taken in the same manner. The requirement of a separate count of votes in the Incorporated and unincorporated areas makes it necessary that the precincts, in many cases, must be different from previous county or school elections. Also, the election must be provided as economically as possible. Polling Places Ten polling places are provided in this area as follows: Precinct 10, the area lying in the corporate limits of the city of McHenry, with voting at the high school boys' gym. Precinct 11, all of high school District 158 lying in the limits of Lakemoor, with voting in the firehouse on west Rand road. Precinct 12, all of District 156 lying in the corporate limits of Sunnyside, with voting at the community hall, 4206 N. Wilmot road. Precinct 13, all of District 156 lying in the corporate limits of the village of Mc- Cullom Lake, with voting at the beach house. Precinct 14, all of District 156 lying east of the river and south of Rt 120, and all of the unincorporated area of Wauconda high school District 118 lying in McHenry county. Voting will be at the Roy Kronenberger real estate! office, Griswold Lake. Other Voting Area* Precinct 15, all of the corporate area of Island Lake, with voting in the village hall on Rt. 176. Precinct 16, all unincorporated area of District 156 lying west of the river and south of Rt. 120, with voting at Valley View school. Precinct 17, all of the unincorporated area of District 156 lying north of Rt. 120 and west of Rt. 31. Voting will be at Harrison school. Precinct 18, all the unincorporated area of District 156 lying east of Rt. 31 to the river and north of the corporate area of the city. Voting will take place at the Johnsburg public school. . Precinct 19, all the unincorporated area of District 156 lying east of the river and north of Rt. 120. Voting will take place at Hilltop school, 2615 W. Lincoln road. There are three types of junior college districts in existence. The type being considered (Continued on Page 8) Treats Fawn (Continued M Page 8) Tim, BI LUI--ul fawn is shown enjoj ing a pre holiday treat from smiling Santa Claus. Th6 young deer is one of two born at 904 N. Front street several months ago. Their mother was shot with a tranquilizer gun more than a year ago by Edward Thennes and brought to McHenry, where the twins, Joe and Josie, were born Aug. 11, 1963. Mother Peggy is now staying in a kennel in Lake county. In a^ holiday setting of pine branches, the twins are especially popular with loeftl children during the Christmas seasons