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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "Serving The Chaii-O-Lakes Regioa Siice 1875" Volume 91 -- No. 1 -- 3 Sections McHENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1965 22 Pages -- 10c Per Copy VOTE ON HIGH SCHOOL BOND ISSUE MAY 1 $3,200,000 Referendum Will Be Presented To Fires Damage Area Homes STANLEY BROWN RESIDENCE -- COONEY HEIGHTS Photos Courtesy Firemen ARTHUR JOHNSON HOME -- MeCULLOM LAKE One of the important issues at stake in the McHenry area this weekend is certainly the bond issue to be voted for a new high school. The prospective voter who is not acquainted with the facts and figures at this point is probably not interested, for they have been well publicized in recent weeks. There seems only one important consideration at this point, and that is the money involved. Only the necessities are being asked in the money requested, unless one considers the swimming pool in the category of a "frill". It is doubtful, in view of the fact that without it other provisions would be required to meet state requirements for the physical education program. AU of us are willing to make some sacrifice for those things we want most, and all of us should include in this category the educational facilities we have enjoyed, and which should be provided for young folks tomorrow. Is the sacrifice of a few dollars' increase in our tax bill over the life of the bond issue too great? McHenry's young folks hope we will say "no". Almost a year and a half ago the county defeated a junior college referendum, very probably for the reason that while it was a commendable program, it was something voters felt we could do without. The high school proposal is sonlething entirely 'different. No one questions the importance of a high school education, and it is a well known fact that only a certain number of "peas fit in the pod", regardless of how hard you push. This is not a referendum that can be defeated - - only postponed - and postponement can mean inferior educational opportunities for many hundreds of teen-agers over their entire high school career. April 25 to May 1 is being observed nation-wide as National Library Week. It might be timely to consider the great strides McHenry has made in the past few years in the establishment of additional library facilities for McHenry area residents. Two slogans are being used for the wo^k this year: "Know What You're Talking About-- Read" and "Open Your Future --Read". Once again last Thursday evening we were guests of the Northern Illinois Gas company at their annual press dinner. There are no finer hosts. Without associating a very interesting talk with "commercials," we heard about the record cold of last winter. The company evidently believed that the stormy blasts from the north would be less difficult to take if they were personalized, and the guest speaker enumerated the storms fi'om Albert to George. The latter proved the real culprit when he brought the winter's coldest temperatures on Feb. 2. You would never have thought the fuel bill could be forgotten for a story unless you had been present to, hear Executive Vice- President. Habenicht tell it The Stanley Brown residence at 4108 W. Crestwood, Cooney Heights, was damaged to the extent of about $1,500 Tuesday evening when a fire started in the basement. "One of the Brown boys was filling a gasoline lantern in preparation for a smelt fishing trip. The fumes apparently ignited from the furnace or hot water heater and the blaze spread quickly. Fire Chief Ed Justen reports one wall with numerous shelves badly burned, and there was smoke damage throughout the residence. About $4,000 damage resulted from a blaze of undetermined origin which broke out in a home at McCullom Lake Sunday evening. Chief Earl Murray of the village police force, on routine patrol duty, noticed smoke arising from the building at 5111 W. .Greenwood place, and summoned the fire department at 10 p.m. Fire Chief Ed Justen and members of Company I, McHenry, arrived on the scene in minutes and worked for about an hour and a half before the blaze was extinguished. Also lending assistance were Police Officers Ken Loesch, Jack Schlofner and George Scarbrough. The single story dwelling is owned by Atty. LeRoy Welter and rented to Arthur and Patrice Johnson. No one was home at the time of the fire. OBSERVE LAW DAY IN COURT HOUSE, SCHOOLS Law Day, U.S.A. will be observed in McHenry county on April 30 with appropriate ceremonies in the Circuit Court of McHenry County, the Honorable William M. Carroll presiding, and assisted by Associate Judges James H. Cooney and Charles S. Parker, and with legal seminars and talks conducted and given by local attorneys in county senior and junior high schools. Congress and the President, by official proclamation, have designated May 1 as Law Day U.S.A. and its observance is being proclaimed by mayors of the various towns in the county. The court house ceremony is open to the public. Leroy Welter of McHenry, president of .the McHenry County Bar Association, will address the court on the significance of Law Day U.S.A. to the legal profession and to the public, and Judge Carroll will respond with remarks on law's contribution to an ordered and free society. The school programs will deal with the application of various laws to the everyday activities of our citizenry. The McHenry County Bar Association will also present a Liberty Bell award to a county citizen who has contributed significantly to the respect for the Rule of Law.; Admiral Plans For Expansion Depend On Available Parking Area (Continued on Page N' One of the last problems to come before the City Council Monday night at the annual and special meetings was presented by representatives of the Admiral Corporation. The firm announced that it wishes to stay in McHenry and enlarge the present plant if parking area can be found. Time is pressing since they hope to have expansion completed by Jan. 1, 1966, and employ 900 persons. The. Council and Industrial Committee will assist in an attempt to solve the problem. The annual meeting consisted of hearing monthly and annual reports of the City Treasurer and City Clerk and paying bills to date for the fiscal year. At the close of the annual meeting, all newly elected officers took the oath of office and were seated at the council table as the special meeting was called to order. In the drawing to determine terms of office for the two newaldermen in Ward No. 4, Gerald J. Wegener drew the fouryear t^rm and Arthur V. Jackson drew the two-year term. Approve Licenses The same number of alcoholic beverage licenses were approved. with two changes in the Class "A" tavern applications. Joe Simon did not apply for renewal and\ license was approved for Victor S. Adams. In the other change, Alvin Phannenstill discontinued business and license was approved for R. J. Genz, formerly of Crystal Lake. (("outinued on Pa-'O Si LIBRARY WEEK OBSERVED WITH BOOK REVIEW In observance of Library Week, the board of the McHenry library has arranged for Mrs. Ruth Pearsal] of Dundee to present a humorous book review on Tuesday evening, May 4, at 8:30 o'clock in the library. There are accommodations for sixty persons to hear this fine program. A small charge will be made, and proceeds will be used to purchase new books. FORMER ASSISTANT PASTOR IN CITY DEAD AT AGE 59 McHenry friends of Rev. Fr. Frank J. Miller joined others this week in mourning the death of the former assistant pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church. Fr. Miller, 59, pastor of St. Joseph church, Richmond, died Thursday afternoon. April 22. in McHenry hospital. Fr. Miller was born July 4, 1905. in Chicago, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Miller. After attending St. Joseph high school in Aurora for two years, he transferred to St. Francis seminary. Milwaukee. Wis., where he received his AB and AM degree in philosophy and theology. Fr. Miller was ordained to the priesthood in 1931 by the Most Rev. Edward F. Hoban. In the vears following, he NEWLY REELECTED MARENGO MAYOR DIES ON FRIDAY Mayor Frank A. Niffenegger, 60, who was re-elected to that position in Marengo last week Tuesday, died Friday following a heart attack. He had just completed two full terms. The City Council met in emergency session Friday night and voted to hold another election, the date for which was not set at that time. A temporary mayor will be named until results of the new election are known. Niffenegger had defeated Raymond Kelly, an alderman in the outgoing administration, to be returned to office last week. County Board Names Janak The first meeting of the county board of supervisors since the recent election was held Tuesday, with eleven new or reelected members present. By unanimous vote, George R. Janak of Algonquin was reelected chairman of the board. Committees for the year were named. They included Walter Dean, chairman of legislation and also of purchasing and public buildings, and member of zoning and right of way; Edward J. Buss, chairman of health and member of claims and general assistance, fees and salaries; Thomas H. Huemann, member of claims, labor, fees and supplies and sheriff; Charles Weingart, chairman of judicial and member of road and bridge and of finance. Dr. Lee Gladstone, who heads the mental health drive, and George Malley, psychiatrist with the Mental Health Clinic of McHenry County, appeared before the board to discuss, in detail, mental health problems, and particularly those confronting the county clinic located in McHenry. Recommend Referendum Supervisor Walter Dean recommended that a tax referendum for this purpose be subr mitted to the voters at the next election. This was seconded by Edward Buss of McHenry and met the approval of the board. A petition by Highway Commissioner Charles Miller to the board requested assistance in construction of a bridge at Lakeland Shores, on Meadow Lane. There is a special fund (Continued on Page 8) (Continued on Page 8) STATURE OF A VOTER (An Editorial) The stature of a voter is very often the true stature of the man or woman who casts a ballot. This may not be the person we greet daily on the street, or even the one who occasionally expresses an opinion in public. It is the man or. woman who accepts responsibility as a citizen, even protected by anonymity of the secret vote. Next Saturday, many hundreds of local residents will have the opportunity to demonstrate their stature when they go to the polls to express themselves on a $3,200,- 000 referendum for construction of a new high school. The decision should be easiest for parents of children attending McHenry high school and those who will attend in the years ahead. They are well aware of the crowded conditions as 1,343 students daily pour into facilities designed for a maximum of 1,200. It will take more courage to be a good citizen for those who have no children, or whose boy or girl is attending another school. The problem, simply, is no longer being able to place a fast growing enrollment into a building not adequate to care for them. Before long, a serious impairment in the education of the average child in crowded classrooms will be evident. Even now, teachers are limited in offering to these many students^the services of which they are capable. V From 632 students in 1955, the enrollment stands at 1,343 today, and the projection for 1969 is 1,628 and for 1974, 2,233. The seriousness of the problem becomes evident when one realizes that even if work were to begin immediately, late 1967 is the earliest time at which additional facilities could be ready for occupancy. Schools are not constructed without a sizeable expenditure of money, although in the proposed bond issue, the average person in the district would spend less than a nickel a day over the life of the issue. Only consideration of the money involved seems a valid issue in voting, and this expenditure is outweighed by the advantages to be gained. The question of site has slipped into insignificance as legal opinion cites entanglements almost sure to occur in other proposed locations. One question remains. Are wc, as individuals willing to provide adequate educational opportunities for McHenry's young people, and in so doing protect the social and economic rating of the community? The stature of our voters will be tested in Saturdav's bond issue. How will YOU rate? FIESTA DAY QUEEN CONTEST OPENS Mrs. Jean Wiles V.F.W. Auxiliary Chairman Of Event The McHenry Fiesta Day committee, together with the Relieve Overcrowding School Names New Principal Reno Bertellotti, principal of McHenry Junior high school for the past seven years, has been engaged by the board of High School District 156 to act as assistant principal there, starting next fall. He will replace Jack Thomas, who has resigned to accept the duties of assistant principal in a Las Vegas, Nevada, school. Mr. Bertellotti, a native of Berkeley, 111., acted as principal of a kindergarten through sixth grade school in Western Springs before coming to McHenry. He received his BA degree at Western State University, Macomb, and his Master's at Northern Illinois University. Mr. BETH CiLYSIXG auxiliary of Fox River Post VFW, No. 4600 of McHenry, announce plans for the Fiesta Day queen contest of 1965. VFW auxiliary chairwoman will again be Mrs. Jean Wiles. Her committee, together with Mrs. Carol Jepsen, will advise and instruct the contestants as in past years. The closing date will be about the middle of May, and the exact date will be announced next week. This will enable the committee to work with the girls for a period of about five weeks. Each year's contest seems to grow in number and excellence. The 1964 Fiesta Day queen, Miss Beth Glysing, was chosen from an entry list of some twenty contestants. Beth spent several days with her mother at the New York World's Fair as guests of the Fiesta Day committee. Plan Washington Trip This year's queen and her mother will travel to Washington, D. C., the nation's capitol. Reservations have already been confirmed for plush train accommodations as well as a suite of rooms at the capitol's finest hotel. Other plans for (Continued on Paere 8) FULL YEAR SCHOOL PLAN IS THEME OF PTA PUBLIC MEET Mrs. Charles "Liebman, well known McHenry resident, will present the program for the final McHenry Community P.T.A. meeting of the year on Thursday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Junior high school. The meeting is being called early so that the business portion can be concluded before 8 p.m.. when the program will be presented. The general public is cordially invited to attend this meeting and hear Mrs. Liebman present a review of the history of the full year school plan, its advantages and disadvantages. Efforts are being made to interest the state of Illinois in this project and have certain areas set up as experimental centers for long range planning of this program. There will be a discussion period after the presentation. This year's membership cards will be available for those members who have failed to pick them up at previous meetings. Anyone wishing to turn in the attached sheet to April's Newsletter. which was sent to parents of all public school stu- | dents, may do so at this meeting. BAND IN COUNTY When the University of Illinois concert band, celebrating its diamond anniversary this year, performs at the Woodstock high school next Tuesday. May 4. at S p.m.. Prof. Guy Duker, formerly of McHenry. will be assistant conductor. Woodstock is one of seven stops on the tour schedule. RETAIL MERCHANTS MEET The retail merchants of the Chamber of' Commerce will meet next Tuesday, May 4. at T:.'40 p.m. in Room 107 of the hi<'h school. RENO BERTELLOTTI Bertellotti is now working on his certificate of advance study. He resides with his wife and three children at 4310 Sioux Lane, McHenry. PUBLIC SERVICE The picture page showing overcrowded conditions at the local high school, which appeared in last week's issue, was a public service news feature of the Plaindealer. Residents of High School District 156 will go to the polls in seven locations next Saturday, May 1, to express themselves on the referendum for a new high school building. The bond issue is in the amount of $3,200,000. Voting will take place between the hours of noon and 7 p.m. at the high school, boys' gym entrance; Lakemoor firehouse; McCullom Lake beach house; Sunnyside community hall; Johnsburg public school; Harrison school and the Fred Amour residence, Circle Drive, Island Lake. It is necessary to be a registered voter over 21 years old, a resident of the school district for thirty days, the county ninety days and the state one year. There is one reason for the bond issue on the proposed new building--rising enrollments in recent years and the overcrowded conditions that exist. There are 1,343 students now attending the present high school in a building which had its last addition in 1957 to accommodate a maximum of 1,200 students. : Growth to Continue Large classes now attending underlying elementary schools make evident that the high school will continue this tremendous growth in the future. Late 1967 is the earliest time additional facilities could be ready for occupancy even if work were to begin immediately- Plans call for the school to be erected in the new Boone Valley development, west of Crystal Lake road, which will be annexed to the city. The tax ratd increase for the first year will be twenty-one cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation. It will decline in later years to an average of eleven cents. This means that on a house with an assessed valuation of $8,000, the maximum increase would be $17.60 the first year, declining to an average of $8.80 for the life of the issue. The tax burden in the McHenry school district is less than in neighboring high school districts of comparable size. Singers Take Musical Visit To New York World's Fair Rudi J. Photo Mary Idstein and John Johnson are shown in their costumes for "Kismet." one of the Broadway plays to be featured in the McHenry Choral Club's musical visit to the New York World's Fair on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. More than sixty singers from McHenry and the surrounding area will travel to New York in song this weekend for a musical visit to' the World's Fair. The program will be presented May 1 and 2 at 8:15 p.m. in the McHenry high school auditorium. Arriving first in the international pavilion, they will be heard in "Russian Picnic", "Ifca's Castle", "Madame Jeanette" and "Flying Down To Rio". A pleasant interlude at Little Carnegie Hall will interest classical music lovers as (Continued on Page 8)