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; D>' l.hu •, -,'s' "y \ ; ,J - ' r.""' ' ; \vV[JJP/j THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 :0p-;-r VOL. 91 - No. 21 - 2 SecHio ns Friday, October 11, 1968 20 Pages - 10$ 'X Public To Decide Fate Of Valley Hi Nursing Home Commend MCHS Students V&te AP^ °M>i Special Prices ^ On National Merit Tests $450,000 Program Observe School Lunch Week CLIFFORD MORRIS Letters of Commendation Honoring them for their high mm SHARON MASON performance on the 1968 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) have been awarded to two students at McHenry Community high school, Principal Richard Swantz has announced. (Continued on page 13) Major discussion at Tuesdays meeting of the county bdard of supervisors centered on the fate of Valley Hi Nursing home in Hartland. The long debate was concluded with a 17 to 11 vote against spending $450,000 for a remodelling and expansion program. The supervisors then decided unanimously to present the proposal for an appropriation in this amount to the voters at the April, 1969, election. Plans for the building are the same as presented to the public in 1963. At that time the program was turned down by a large margin. For this reason many board members felt the public should be given an opportunity to express themselves on the expenditure. The proposal does not call for any additional tax load since there is money in the general fund for the entire remodelling and expansion program. The fate of Valley Hi hinges on the vote next Spring, since state requirements .must be met by 1970 or much of the institution will need to be closed. Hie building program would add forty-eight beds. PRESENT FIGURES Figures presented to the board reVealed that within Mc- Heriry county there are now six nursing homes with 344 beds. Of this number, only 142 are conforming. Forty-four of the remainder could be corrected to meet state regulations, while another 158 cannot be used. A projected need by 1970 disclosed 382 beds, an increase of 196 over those which are, or could be, made useable. SALARY INCREASES A number of increases in salaries have been approved for county employees. New salaries are State's Attorney, $25,- 000; Clerk of Circuit Court, Recorder of Deeds, Coroner and County Auditor, $12,500. It was agreed that minimum starting salaries for employeea in all offices will be $300 a month or $1.75 an hour. Other increases were made (Continued on page 13) This is Newspaper Week, a very special time for those of us in the business. Particularly in the editorial field, it gives one an excuse to cast himself in the role of a piper, leading the parade of ideas in the community. However, we find it an embarrassing truth that frequently we are tootling all alone when the parade has turned the corner a block or so behind. So we -run* like mad to catch up and get out in front of the parade again. As many folks may have noticed, a newspaper is one commodity that is never complete, ft will never get all the news it should, it will never satisfy all of its readers, and it will never solve all the problems facing it. There is probably not a newspaper editor alive who is not aware that he never does quite all the things he knows how to do ^ar writes all the things he should. This doesn't alter the fact that he is trying to do a conscientious job to make the community a better place to live and work. As we observe our strength and belittle our weaknesses, it is timely this particular week to pledge that we will keep our (Continued on page 13) New se The county board, in session Tuesday, studied a recommendation from its legal firm suggesting that supervisors first select a site, and then agree on the type of building desired and obtain an estimated cost. Their advice was in regard to a proposed referendum on a new court house. Reports read to the board indicated that neither magistrates serving McHenry county nor the McHenry County Bar association had preferences on site, but would like to be consulted concerning a lay-out of the building. Mayor Frances Kuhns of Woodstock and three Council members were present to inform the board that all except one, Melvin Stuessy, held firm to only one court site, the Annex. Mr. Stuessy said his first choice was the Annex, his second, the R.O. Andrews property and the third, the Flood farm. Assistant State's Attorney Cowlin offered his personal opinion that the matter might be resolved if other sites could be considered besides the two on which each side was holding firm. Board Chairman Walter Dean of McHenry then suggested that drawings of all sites be made, as well as layouts of parking, etc., and submitted at the next meeting. At this point, Assistant Supervisor Ed Buss of McHenry suggested that the building committee of the board get professional help in making a recommendation. The matter will be returned to the board after a complete study by the committee. Change Locations Of School Meetings The next two meetings of the Board of Education of pistrict 156 will be held at McHenry high school, West campus, instead of in the Central Administration office. The Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Commons. RECALL SERVICE OF FIREMEN IN SPECIAL WEEK The public is invited to attend open house at Station I of the McHenry Township Fire Protection district between 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, during Fire Prevention Week. The fire house is located on Elm street. I n recalling service by the local department, which includes three stations, Chief Ed Justen said this week that fires in the past year were estimated to have resulted in $150,000 in property losses. During the year, the three stations handled 202 grass fires 37 car fires, 66 house fires, 3 barn fires, 7 business fires and also had 9 miscellaneous calls and 22 rescue calls. Company I handled 204 of the calls, Company II, 79, and Company HI, 66., - w- Fi* r-v.-rfc: r£ Eager to get on with the business of eating are these young pupils in Valley View elementary school. They will be taking advantage of half-price lunches during the observance of School Lunch Week. PLAINDEALER PHOTO COFC GENERAL MEMBER MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY Members and non-members of the McHenry Chambef of Commerce are reminded of the general membership meeting to be held Tuesday, Oct. 15, at noon at the clubhouse on Rt. 120. Everyone is issued a special invitation. Through this meeting, the C. of C. hopes to inform concerning functions of the organization and to obtain new ideas from those in attendance. Plans for the year will be discussed. Reservation cards should be returned for the luncheon, or those planning to attend may call the Chamber office, 385- 4300. Fourth School Bond Vole Brian Hosts ilege Night Marian Central Catholic high school will host a college night on Wednesday, Oct. 16, for the junior and senior students and their parents. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with a convoca^ tion by the Rev. Philip L. Kennedy, principal of Marian. The assembly in the gymnasium will feature two guest speakers to discuss the challenge of college education. William Pickerill, director of teacher education and recruitment for the state of Illinois, will talk on "Teacher Opportunities - In College and Career". A representative from Northern Illinois university's Financial Aid department will present an approach to " Financing a College Education." (Continued on page 13) School Districts 15 andl56wil observe National School Lunch Week Oct. 14 through 19 and to promote the event, lunches on Wednesday, Oct. 16, will behalf price, 15 cents. An average of 2,400 students are served each school day in both districts and the school lunch program is designed to serve a balanced diet at the lowest possible cost. The price of a school lunch in Districts 15 and 156 is 30 cents per meal. The Administration this week praised the cafeteria workers who strive to provide a satisfactory meal for all students and whose task it is to estimate the number of meals which will be served in each district. In many cases, the students aid in the operation of the lunch program for whch they are given a token amount of pay plus free meals. Although the menus do not include the delicacies which could be ordered in fancy restaurants it does give the students an opportunity to sample andtaste a variety of healthful and different foods rather than just eating the standard hot dog and hamburger. It should be emphasized that the school lunch program requires the total cooperation of the boards of education, the Administration, cafeteria employees, custodians, parents and students. INDIAN RIDGE MEETING The Indian Ridge Property Owners' meeting has been postponed from Oct. 13 by the board of directors. More details will appear when a new date has been set. SUPPORT CANDY DAY . Support the Lions Candy Day for the Blind in McHenry, Friday, Oct. 11. vs Sf fc££HI m •TWA:* imm•.' J m:- MR-f & •<( m'mmm To Be Asked In 60 Days Manor" WomaJl Of Year Little boy§ usually are more interested in toys The Van Fleets had the plant in their home at than flowers on their birthday. However, this traditional lily season last Spring. Mrs. Van Fleet lovely Easter lily was a bonus for young John planted it outside and eventually it seemed to die. Van Fleet, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Van However, later in the summer new growth ap- Fleet of 2501 Martin road, McHenry, for whom it peared and the plant is now proudly displaying bloomed on his fifth birthday, Oct. 1. two blooms. PLAINDEALER PHOTO Following a canvass of votes in the recent school referendum board members of District 15 decided to present the bond issue to voters again in sixty days. '"'resident August Uttich asked ir nbers for opinions and comments concerning the defeat. Most were in agreement that high taxes and apathy among parents were largely responsible. A few interested visitors attended the meeting, and one of them commended both the board and administrators for work done on behalf of the referendum. They were asked by the board for their opinion on reasons for the defeat. These varied, including opposition to the site, preference for additions to Junior high and other elementary schools, and objections to policy. It was explained that school additions would cost more per pupil and thus reduce the number of students they could provide for under a limited bonding power. A suggestion for assistance in recruiting votes through a classroom mothers plan used elsewhere was discussed with the idea of possibly utilizing the plan in McHenry in December. Further study on the building program will be held Friday evening of this week at 8 o'clock at the Administration office. TEACHER SALARIES Considerable discussion took place regarding House Bill 26- 44, which states that After Aug. 17 of this year salary credit for all their years of teaching must be given to teachers transferring from other school districts in Illinois. It was voted that in Danville, the additional cost is estimated to run $2,000,000 in a year. Dr. Carl Bergstrom pointed out that in McHenry some salaries might be increased as much as $300 to $400. The board approved the resignations of Alice Wirtz, man- CQlIHTnv uiiu iA>i to x iat i at Valley View cafeteria and employed Mrs. Dorothy Weichmann, manager and Mrs. Betty Winston, helper, in that school. Miss Rose Brittain was employed to replace Virginia Anzinger in accounts payable in the central office, subjecttoapproval by District 156. The board also agreed to the employment, full time, of a man to drive a bus for shuttle service, deliver mail between the schools and central office, help maintain busses and help clean central office. Robert Rollins Blazers, Inc., was accepted as low bid 'er for fifty blazers approved for the junior high school chorus. The cost was $22,97 for each. Members also approved creation of an imprest, or petty cash, fund for the central office. A list of qualification requirements for insurance agents submitting quotations for school insurance was also given an okay. The board voted to issue ratified checks before the next school board meeting to bus contractors whose routes have not been checked for mileage. i'r;, x. I t'&if; Mrs. Louis Kagan of Spring Grove, right, receives a beautiful scroll as "Catholic Woman of the Year" from Msgr., Louis Franey of Rockford A Spring Grove physician's wife, mother of six, Mrs. Louis Kagan, was voted "Catholic Woman of the Year" at Marian Central Catholic high school la^st Sunday. The selection of Mrs. Kagan for this honor was made by the Bishop of the Rockford diocese and chancery ofas Mrs. Julia ident, looks on Sauter, Malta, 111., DCCW pres- DON PEASLEY PHOTO fi^ce fro m names submitted throughout the year. Presentation took place at the annual conference of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Mrs. Kagan, recognized for broad interests and service in many capacities, is the second McHenry area woman to be so honored. Mrs. Maurice Clark received a similar recognition in recent years. Mrs. Kagan has held the pos|s of treasurer and president of DCCW and has served as spiritual development chairman. She was appointed by the National (Continued on page 13)