Zis: < *'"";-M ::J>:0M&-. • "WF9^ Vtj? ^?TS'TA -1 •s»,r-; ^'5 . - , i* 5 *SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAMES REGION SINCE 187S" Volume 91 -- No. 20 -- 3 Sections McHENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 1965 18 Pages -- 10c Copy CITY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SETS RECORD $600 DRUG STORE BURGLARY 4,855 Welcomed To Fall Classes T7" ' ' 'SW. i - V"- ]|«V *' 'j r^V' , :1 , ; - */' "• " * fI'-oN'S -iSuM* ' McHenry became- a lively "beehive" of activity this week with the start of another school year. With cars and young people everywhere, the older generation must sometimes give a sigh as they wonder what it was like in the good old days. Actually, it isn't necessary to go back too far to make a comparison. Our Twice Told l"ales this week gives us some idea of the comparative quiet that existed twenty-five years ago when schools were a small fraction of their size today. For instance, the 220 who matriculated at M.C.H.S. did So in the same size building that had been used since the oldest portion of the present high school was built around 1926. There were fifty-four seniors that year of 1940 compared to the 285 who made their way to classes this week. Wednesday. y. Busses weren't quite the problem they are today either. How many remember when the late George Worts and Mike Pitzen were the only drivers for District 156? In addition, they took their turn at transporting athletic teams and other school groups here and there for a variety of activities. Our own recollection of the period -- and of these men -- is a fond one with which we would not like to part. We are grateful for memories like these even as we recall the great strides in education now to progress locally and look ahead to even finer things to come. It is probably good thai none of us has a choice, or is forced to express a preference for a favorite time in which to have taken our formal education. As experience continues to teach throughout life, it is enough to have a warmhearted memory of yesterday, a contentment with today and enthusiastic anticipation for tomorrow. BURGLARS STEAL CASH AND CIGARETTES FROM NYE DRUG EARLY LAST SUNDAY MORNING Bill Nye, proprietor of Nye Drug Store on Riverside drive, is shown inspecting the door through whigfe burglars entered his store in the early hours of Sunday morning. They took money and merchandise valued at about $600. A fairly good sized crowd attended the firemen's dance last "Sunday evening, but the work of our local department merits much greater support. *Jtast prior to the event, voluljfber members answered a calL that put into use some of the~ equipment made possible through attendance at previous annual dances. Herman , Brown, who was burned and whose home was damaged, would probably be the first to testify at this time to the quick action and efficiency of our fire fighters. It is too bad so many of the rest of us wait until just such an emergency to appreciate the security we enjoy through our McHenry Township Fire Protection District and the work of its firemen. As the highway death toll over the three-day weekend continued to mount Tuesday morning, it was evident that too many folks who read the tragic statistics think they will always apply to the other fellow. As the figure rises, it would do well for everyone who drives to make a few driving resolutions. The many friends of Miss Judy Conway, 18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Conway, will be happy to learn that she will be appearing in a new weekly television program starting Tuesday, Sept. 14. Judy, a 1964 M.C.H.S. graduate, will be one of the Sue Charles dancers on "All Time Hits" over Channel 9. A column this week just wouldn't be complete without a mention of the birthday of our "Personal's" lady, Ann Frisby. Ann, one of the best known residents of McHenry, has been contributing to the Plaindealer news for many, majoy years and is one of the best authorities we know on the history of our community in the days following 1900. K.A.F. Burglars broke into the Nye Drug store on Riverside drive eary Sunday morning, Sept. 5, and took $125 in cash from registers and about 150 cartons of cigarettes valued at $450. They also took thirty one-ounce bottles -- the entire supply in the store -- of paregoric. Bill Nye, store owner, believed the intruders may have been frightened away by a passing police car as their departure seemed hurried. A tote box with twenty cartons of cigarets, and three razors in a drug store bag were found on the floor, apparently left behind in a sudden decision to leave. Difficult Entry It is believed the burglars spent considerable time in gaining entry, made through a rear door. They knocked out the lock, and when this failed to allow them to enter, they broke a window in the door and finally managed to get the crossbar up in such a way as to open the door. The paregoric, a medicine containing a slight amount of opium, is dispensed by signature. Prescription type narcotics were kept in the store safe. McHenry police have been investigating the theft. CHILD NARROWLY ESCAPES DROWNING AT WONDER LAKE A young Chicago child visiting with his family at Wonder Lake had a narrow escape from drowning on Labor Day morning. Joseph Tontzek, Jr., 2, was rescued from Beach creek by his father after the youngster wandered from the home at 7605 Beach road and fell in the stream. The father administered artificial respiration and revived his son by the time the Wonder Lake rescue squad arrived on the scene. CHORAL CLUB TO OPEN 25TH YEAR MONDAY, SEPT. 13 Next Monday evening, Sept. 13, the McHenry Choral club will launch a new year, its twenty-fifth. It is the only choral organization in this area to have continued in existence for such a long period of time. In observance of the anniversary year, the theme for both the holiday and spring (Continued on Page 8) Major Fall Interest Of PTA Is Proposed Bond Issue For New School . r Fires Cause Injury, Damage Herman Brown of 3607 Ann street, Edgebrook Heights, sustained burns on the face and arms last Sunday evening when gasoline exploded. Damage to his home was estimated at about $200. Brown was washing some clothes in gasoline in the basement of his home when a hot water heater turned on, ignited the gas and caused the explosion. Grabbing the flaming pail, Mr. Brown ran up the stairs. In his attempt to open the door, he set the pail down and some of the liquid spilled. Both the door from the house to the garage, and from the garage to outdoors were burned as he passed through. Three firemen residing in the neighborhood, George Ro^ denkirch, George Biggs and Jerome Buch, hurried to the scene and extinguished the fire. They also used the smoke ejector to keep smoke damage at a minimum. Fire damage estimated to run about $250 was reported by Fire Chief Ed Justen at the Fred Nootdbarr home, 25- 17 Scheid lane, Griswold Lake, last Friday morning. An overheated oil stove caused flames to break out around the chimney, resulting in plasterboard burning. JUHIOR GREAT BOOKS PROGRAM OPENS NEW YEAR Interested Youth Enroll Sept. 17-18 At City Library The community Junior Great Books program will begin its second year this month. Under the guidance of qualified volunteers, Junior Great Books give interested students the opportunity to read and discuss books which have helped shape and enrich our culture and civilization. Children in this extracurricular reading program will meet twice a month for a total of twelve sessions. The books used are specially prepared by the Great Books Foundation. Discussions will be conducted in the McHenry Public library for students in grades 5 to 9 who may wish to join. It is not recommended for' any child who has difficuty doing average work in school. First-Come Basis Registration will take place at the library on Friday, Sept.. 17, between 3 and 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 18, between 1 and 3 o'clock. Acceptance to the groups will be on a firstcome, first-serve basis. For answers to questions about the program or registration call Mrs. George Hoffman. DEFER ACTION ON REQUESTS FOR ZONING Contact Property Owners Behind On Assessments In Nine Buildings In District Reports from the Zoning Board of Appeals were first and foremost on the agenda at the City Council meeting held Tuesday night of this week. The petition of Christian E. Jfepse:i for reclassification of property used as a fa sol infilling station at the corner of Elm street and Park Street, askirg for a change l'rom B-l to B3 to make the operation conforming, was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the report given to the council. I.i reviewing the report, some uncertainty arose is to the map presented so the council decided it would be advisable to defer action until the next regular meeting to be held Sept. 20. Apartment Request Attorney Joseph E. Conert.v and Lee J. Cooney wore present to discuss the report from the hearing in which Cooney petitioned for additional apartment units in Cooney Heights. Action on this was also deferred when questions regarding the original petition were brought out. The original reclassification was granted in 1962 with limitations. The present council wishes to review both hearings before nctfcpn is taken. City Attorney John E. Looze reported information secured from City Treasurer Thomas F. Bolger on property owners delinquent in payment of special assessments. Air. Loo?e explained that legal action would be necessary according to law, but preferred to sp^re the property ownersadditional expense of lawsuits. Council members agreed to contact persons on the list to atteiMnt to secure payments and avoid lawsuits. Approve Plat The final plat of three lots on the west side of Nor th Av? in Tcnyan's Millstream Park was approved. Afier long discussion and without unanimous approval, a majority voted to approve tho bid cf Clark Chevrolet Saies to furnish a new truck to ti\? city at a cost of $5,590,.12. Seibel Motor Sales bid So - 272.0"? to furnish International truck and McHenry Implement bid $4,797.70, but did nof follow specifications, showing a 6 cylinder instead of 8 cylinder. .An unusual hid was presented by Sunnyside Dodge in which a bid of $4 819.06 \v,i.; mad-.! on a 60 to 90 day 'I'Mivery date. As a supplement to the bid an additional $1,010.00 Is x Ralph Lundgren, left, guidance con intendant of Public Instruction for the stat after he had appeared as a guest speaker be held in District 15 last Thursday morning. H School Guidance". With him, right to left, are faculty m Carolyn Bauer of Edgebrook, Mrs. Ruth Ha and Mrs. Laura Ferwerda of Hilltop. Mr. Lundgren, who has his B.S. and M.S. degrees, is a doctoral candidate at Loyola university. sultant in the office of Ray Page, Supere of Illinois, is shown above immediately fore the second annual pre-school workshop is subject was "Dimensions in Elementary i embers Henry Kenyon of Junior high, Miss . asl of Hilltop, Dan Suffoletto of Junior high Holiday Spirit In Air As Chamber Of Commerce Talks Of Promotion Plans (Continued on Page 8) A touch of the holiday season ahead is in the air. It was very evident last Tuesday evening when the monthly meeting of the retail merchants of the McHenry Chamber of Commerce was held in the high school A decorating plan presented by a company representative earlier in the day before the C. of C. board, was again explained to the retail merchants in the evening. It c^lls for entering ,into a lease plat | for Christmas decorations in ; the business districts Considerable discussion as to price took pl?.cv and a final decision was deferred to a later date. N":ime Committee A committee was also appointed to work out details oi the holiday promotion program. They include Bill Nye. chair-nan of the retail merchants group; Myrt Martell, Larry Lund. Eleanor Justen, Ernest Useman, Cha'-les Giea and John Shay. This group will i.oid its first meeting next Tuesday evening to formulate plans and budgets. Another item for iheir consideration will be a proposed addition to holiday decorations in the city park. Lasi year an attractive hut for Santa was erected and proved very successful. Preliminary plans call for him to make his entrance by sleigh this year. Merchants present expressed the hope that contributions toward the promotion program would be forthcoming in the near future so that plans might be finalized. Bus Kequest Pctli the Chamber board and business men heard a request lrom the McHenry Bus Co. for a subsidy of $40 a day to co\er the cost of two buses running between nearby subdivisions and the business districts. This would include the time interval until approval is obtained from the ICC to collect fares. An all time high total of 4,855 answered the familiar ring of the school bell on Wednesday of this week in McHenry. First classes marked the start of a nine-month educational period characterized by numerous changes. The figure of 4,855 is 154 more than the number of young people who returned to classes the previous fall, another clear reminder that the population growth of the community continues. By far the greatest number will matriculate at McHenry high school, where the enrollment, wheir completed, is expected to reach the 1,400 mark. This is forty-three more than the number enrolled in September of 1964. Final figures should include about 416 freshmen, 363 sophomores, 349 juniors and 288 seniors. Adjusting to rather crowded conditions, a number of changes and additions have been made to the curriculum,, which will be in charge of sixty-nine full and part time instructors and administrators. William Godshal has joined the staff as a full time reading specialist, both to assist those with difficulties in various subjects because of a reading problem, and also to help students enrolled in accellerated courses who intend to go on to college. (Continued on Page 8> (Continued on Page 8) New Teachers In District 15 BUSINESS WOMAN FOR MANY YEARS DIES ON MONDAY Mrs. Howard Weiss, left, Mrs. Jack Cooper and Mrs. Alan Dimon, officers of the McHenry High School P.T.A.. are shown with Supt. of Schools Carl Buckner discussing plans for the year ahead. Officers of the McHenry High School P.T.A. met early in September with Carl Buckner, superintendent of schools, to discuss plans for the coming year. Of major interest and importance will be the proposed bond issue for construction of a new high school. Mrs. Howard Weiss, president, has announced that Mr. Buckner will discuss plans for the high school, followed by a question and answer period, nt a P.T.A. meeting this fall. If the public k convinced of the necessity for expanded facilities, and is presented with pertinent facts and figures, the organization feels the bond issue will be successful. The P.T.A. hopes that the October meeting will serve this purpose. Officers of the P.T.A. for 1965 are president, Mrs. • Howard (Jane) Weiss; vice-president, Mrs. Alan (Marion* Kreimeier; treasurer, Mrs. Jack (Pearl) Cooper; secre- (Continued on Page 8) Mrs. Morris (Anna E.) Crouch, who with her husband operated the McHenry Floral Co. for many years, died in McHenry hospital Monday, Sept., 6, at the age of 85. She had been hospitalized for twelve days. Mrs. Crouch was born April 9, 1880, ijn Dubuque, Iowa, and had resided in McHenry for thirty-five years, all of that time in the operation of the business. Survivors are her husband; a son, Morris, C., Jr., and a daughter, Mrs. Harold (Helen) Johnson of Rockford; seven grandchildren and six great-! grandchildren. She was pre- j ceded in death by a son, Ralph Bennett, in 1962 and a daughter. Beatrice, in 1922. The body rested at the George R. Justen & Son funeral home, where Rev. Carder of the Community Methodist church officiated at last rites Wednesday afternoon o'clock. Burial was in Woc$& land cemetery Carl Kohrt Instrumental Music Catherine Kohrt 4th <Jraile - Edgebrook Robert Casey 4th (irade - Edgebrook Etlielwyn Cain 3rd (irade - Hilltop Kenneth Loertseher Science - Math Cheryl Soul.t 5lh Crude - Landmark Susan Siehen till <.rail*' - Edgebrook Diaune W oole> Seventh tirade Helen Wallace Sivlh (irade Mary Kuhlow 1st (»rade - Edgebrook