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Saturday brings one of the community's most emotion- packed referendums in many years. Interest runs hig[h, and at no place is it greater than in our schools, where young people are most aware of the seriousness of the outcome. With the ingenious qualities of youth, one student has even offered to shave off some ex­ cess facial foliage in return for the support of his elders. , Actually, the issue is serious, and the voter who cannot, or will not, admit the validity of the two chief arguments is not viewing the situation in fair­ ness. Students and parents have a right to expect that basketball and football teams, an art department and a band are a part of the local educational system. The school board tells us they will not be if the referendum is defeated. On the other hand, one must ap­ preciate the plight of those who in sincerity, find a fixed income can no longer make the rounds. Unfortunately, too many side issues have entered into the picture to compound an educational problem which needs clear and fair judgment. Probably each of us will find personal experiences entering our final decision. P r a c t i c a l , f i n a n c i a l motivation may very well accompany newer residents and older voters to the polls, whereas fond memories and loyalty to the alma mater will certainly guide the emotions of many graduates. Others will find it difficult to deny young people in 1971what have been considered routine parts of our educational system for many years. , At this point, most voters will have formed opinions which words are not apt to change. It is only important that they have come about through a fair appraisal of the proposal. At a time when faith is not always a common ingredient of man, we are mustering much of it in a belief that greater powers than ours will watch over a school system which has survived the. changing problems of more than a century. When schools are in the news, rumors begin to fly, and there is usually no distinction bet­ ween happenings in the various districts. To find out for ourselves the condition of Parkland school at the present time, a member of our staff toured the building Wednesday with Joseph Vondrak, architectural firm representative for Frasier, Orr, Fairband and Quam; Paul Steinnert, superintendent for Driessen Construction Co., and Board Member Richard Golbeck. Contrary to rumors that the structure had begun to sink into the ground, the staff member reported "no visible settling of the building or any indication of cracked floors, walls or separation of walls from floors". * We just knew the sun would shine Wednesday. St. Patrick was up there to intercede, and there were plenty of good Irish­ men down here to add their own petitions. We started the day off right by listening to a medley of tunes from the old sod as only Dorothy Weber can play them on an organ. You didn't need to be told her mither-or her & grandmither-came from (Continued on page 17) After study by individual aldermen for some time, ideas for change in zoning classifications were coor­ dinated Monday night and a petition will be filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals. It is proposed that churches and golf courses be classed under special uses. Other changes are also listed for clarification. Publication and hearing date will follow. Some present non-conforming oc­ cupancies are expected to be made conforming. Following a committee report and expression of various views, an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage License section of the code was passed. This provides for a Class "G" license to allow a service bar and serving of alcoholic beverages at tables when food is served. The fee was established at $400. Under another amendment, the permit fees for all residential buildings will be 7 cents per square foot instead of the present 6 cents. This will also apply to apartment buildings which are now paying $25 per unit. Additional in­ spection will result. A report from Attorney Sheldon Karon on the golf cart and parking 'problem at McHenry Country club was reviewed and the mayor directed to contest Attorney Karon requesting that he work out an agreement with the attorney representing the Country club. The annual meeting date has been set for Monday, April 26, at 8 p.m. A l d e r m a n R o g e r s represented the city of McHenry at the bid opening for the Lakeland Park drainage ditch project last Thursday, March 11. The low bidder was Eric Bolander Construction Co., of Libertyville in the amount of $68,966.45. Supt. Fred Meyer was in Springfield on Thursday of this week for the awarding of the bid and to work out plans for the extent of work to be done. Teacher-Welfare Group Adopts Salary Schedule The Teacher Welfare com­ mittee of Johnsburg School District 12 has announced the adoption of the '71-72 salary schedule by both board and faculty. The starting salary for a B.A. degree is $7600 and in general, an increment of $250 is paid for each additional eight hours of credit and years ex­ perience at the B.A. level. The M.A. starts at $8,600 and ex­ tends to $13,800, with thirty-two additional hours and fifteen years experience. Reim­ bursement maximum per semester hour is $45 and a hospital-medical insurance program is in effect. The committee has met monthly since the beginning of school. The committee is composed of four board members and four faculty members, with the superin­ tendent present at each meeting. Any item affecting the instructional process or per­ sonnel may be placed on the agenda. BACK REFERENDUM The McHenry Chamber of Commerce board, in a unanimous decision Wed­ nesday night, voted in favor of the March 20 school referen­ dum of District 156. "No Foolin' (an editorial) Some years ago a composer titled a popular song, "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin' ".In recent days its theme was recalled as some residents of the community used it to answer an announcement by the board of School District 156 con­ cerning curtailments in educational offerings necessary if the March 20 tax referendum fails. In a commendable decision, the board has refused to continue deficit spending. It chooses, instead, either to raise needed money through an increase in the educational tax rate, or cut back numerous school offerings. It is the public that will select the alternative next Saturday. To assist in that decision, voters should realize that the current $340,000 in-the-red has resulted from rising costs, increased student enrollments and inflation. A tax rate in effect since 1958 has made it impossible to keep pace. An­ ticipation of a $280,000 additional loss in revenue through removal of the personal property tax has strengthened the board's resolution to act at once. The problem is just that simple; unfortunately, the an­ swer is not, for it involves a request for money many tax­ payers feel they cannot afford. Probably more than any school referendum in recent years, we feel this must be a vote of conscience. Failure of the referendum means the loss of many of those educational of­ ferings which were a regular part of school systems even fifty years ago -- football and basketball teams, art, music and drama. Before you cast that ballot March 20, take one last look at the list of cutbacks (Page 5) which will be made if your answer is "no". The board says -- and means "No Foolin' " Neighboring Business Firms Are Burglarized Sunday morning about 9:15, deputies were called to in­ vestigate a burglary at Chain O'Lakes Sand and Gravel, Lily Lake road and River road, Island Lake. A locked cable at the entrance to the pit had been cut. In checking the pit area, officers discovered several trucks and storage trailers that had been locked were forced open and many tools, gauges Music Contest Winners PROCLAIM VFW WEEK--Mayor Donald P. Doherty, right, signs proclamation designating the week from March 21-27 as VFW Post 4600 Week in McHenry. Looking on is Wal­ ter Scarbough, post commander. The local post is observing its twenty-fifth anniversary this year. PLAINDEALER PHOTO Board Members, Objectors In Referendum Discussion and other equipment had been taken. Among the missing items were a generator, cutting torches, battery charger, copper tubing, wire and many hand tools. Estimated value of the stolen property was $1,853. While deputies were in­ vestigating that burglary, they discovered that the Frams Material company of 2018 Lily (Continued on page 17) Details and discussion oc­ cupied the attention of the board of School District 156, both at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday eyening and in attendance at a meeting of objectors to the March 20 referendum, held at the Legion home. The school session opened in the central administration office with three members absent because of their at­ tendance at meetings in con­ nection with the referendum. President James Althoff told members of a call received from a local resident, asking who would assume the cost of lights used during the marathon volleyball tourney in East campus gym last weekend. Althoff explained that since several non-profit youth activities are allowed use of the school, he thought there would be no charge made. The tourney was arranged by the students to assist the Saturday vote. In a discussion later, it was noted that the students, on learning of the incident, said they would take care of all expenses, including lights and any materials used. Although the young people had intended to donate proceeds of the tourney to defray expenses, the board requested that they keep it for some worthwhile school cause. Early in the meeting, Member Edward Neumann suggested that the board recess to attend the gathering of ob­ jectors at the Legion home. Board Member Clint Claypool, who had been designated to answer questions of these senior citizens, explained the reasons for the deficit as an enrollment growth from 1,000 to 1,700 in the last ten years and teacher salary increases, among others. Someone in the audience asked why needed money could not be taken from any fund with a surplus, but Claypool em­ phasized that this is not allowed under state law. The matter of the school budget also was brought up for discussion, with the question: "Who draws up the budget and why can't it be seen"? The interrogator was informed that the budget is posted every year, but seldom does anyone stop to (Continued on page 17) County Pre-Easter Youth Crusade Planned For City Young people and youth directors from ten churches of McHenry county are pooling ideas and efforts aimed at conducting a high county-wide pre-Easter Youth Crusade for Christ. From Marengo to Wauconda, from Richmond to Algonquin, the young people assemble at 3 p.m. each Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist church of McHenry. There plans are discussed and strategy is laid out to conduct the largest single youth hap­ pening ever held in McHenry county. The dates of April 2, 3 and 4 have been set aside and the McHenry high school east campus gym has been reserved for the occasion. It is planned that on Friday and Saturday evenings the youth will assemble at the gym at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday there will be an afternoon gathering at 3 o'clock. Each meeting will feature a different music group invited to McHenry for the occasion. Included in the groups is an organization from Rockford and another from Waukegan. "The excitement is already building in anticipation of the happening", was the ex­ pression of the Rev. Terry Piatt, Youth and Christian Education director of the Evangelical Mission church of Crystal Lake. Each of the meetings will be open to the public but the program will be prepared and conducted with the junior high-senior high youth in mind. The Rev. Piatt is chairman of advertising for the planning group and Paul Walker of the Free Methodist church of Woodstock is co- chairman. April 25 Open House At Montini Schools Scheduled Students pictured above express pleasure as Director John Leighty peruses one of the sheets of music used to receive high ratings in last Saturday's solo and ensemble contest. In the first row are Carol Wirfs, Pam Naverolli, Maggie Mil­ ler, Debby Walter, Leanne Brabenec, Amy Leighty and John Cassell. In the second row are Robin Fossum, Jackie Whee- lock, Cindy Jones, Cheryl Elbersen, Scott Curry, Jim Curran and Dave Borcovan; third row, Craig Spengel, Del Gerstad, Chris Sweeney, Sue Reihansperger and Dave Nugent; top row, Paul Dethlefson, Bruce Eternick, Eric Weiss and Steve Mus- kovin. , « (PLAINDEALER PHOTO) McHenry high school \ awarded for superior and musicians returned from excellent ratings won at the Gurnee high school last annual state solo and ensemble Saturday with an enviable contests. number of blue and red medals Superior ratings among solqists were presented to Scott Curry, Cheryl Elbersen, Bruce Eternick and Amy Leighty, vocalists. Ensemble first place winners were a boys' vocal quartet, Eric Weiss, Jim Faas, Scott Curry and Craig Spengel; a girls' vocal octet, Pam Naverroli, Cheryl Elbersen, (Continued on page 17) The Montini school board announced at their March 10 meeting that an open house will beheld Sunday afternoon. April 25, at the Primary and Middle schools. Classes will be in session that afternoon and everyone will be invited to tour the schools and visit the classrooms to observe the excellent teaching and learning facilities available in the Montini Catholic school system. Board Member Marilyn Truckenbrod reported that she and Willard Pierce had at­ tended the March 9 meeting of the District 15 board of education, where they sub­ mitted a petition in which various proposals were presented. They also asked that the grade school board meet with a committee from Mon­ tini's board j to discuss bus transportation problems. Henry Nell, president of School District 15, stated that he would contact Montini School Board President Willard Pierce and arrange a meeting after his boqrd has had time to study all the^materials presented to them f A group of mothers at the meeting asked that before uniforms are reordered for next year, they recommend that boy's uniform trousers be purchased in a heavier and sturdier material. Many mothers are not pleased with the present uniform trousers because they're too light weight and do not wear well. They also mentioned that the girl's gray and maroon leotards are dif­ ficult to find in those specific colors The matter was referred to the uniform com­ mittee, which will meet with the mothers and seek a solution to the problem. In other business, Sister Leclare asked the. board to make a policy statement in regard to children's attendance at morning Masses. After some discussion, the matter was turned over to the policy committee. Sister Leclare also reported that she had sent question­ naires to the seventh grade mothers in regard to their participation in a graduation (Continued on page 17) Two Drivers Charged With Revoked Licenses Last Thursday morning about 3 o'clock, while sheriffs deputies were making routine business checks in Lilymoor, they observed a vehicle westbound on Route 120. The vehicle had one tail light showing white. Intending to warn the driver of the violation, the deputy followed the vehicle as it turned south onto Lily Lake road. In a three-block distance, the vehicle crossed the center line several times. The auto was (Continued on page 17) VOLUME 96 NUMBER 13 FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1971 18 PAGES TEN CENTS THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 City To File Petition Zoning Changes Planned O.K. Regional Hospital Plan Crystal Lake and McHenry Hospital associations have been advised to "continue working towards establishment of a hospital to serve all of the surrounding area" in a statement by an Illinois Department of Public Health official. This statement by Paul X. Elbow, acting chief of the Division of Health Facilities, follows a meeting in Springfield last week which included representatives of the Illlinois Department of Public Health, Crystal Lake Hospital association and McHenry Hospital association. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current status of direction in planning a new regional hospital and health park complex which has been the focal point of effort by the two groups. Concerning these efforts to provide a hospital to serve the Crystal Lake and McHenry area, Mr. Elbow this week commented in letters to the interested groups, "It is ob­ vious that much effort has been expended by you (Crystal Lake nospital association and McHenry hospital) and the many other interested citizens in the area. Your planning does follow the recommendations previously made to you by this department and by the Hospital Planning Council for Metropolitan Chicago. I recommend that you continue working towards establishment of a hospital to serve all of the surrounding area." Discussion at the meeting in Springfield related to the planned merger of the two groups and with any other health organization expressing an interest in the development of a new regional hospital as recommended in the "Master Program" recently submitted by Gordon A. Friesen In­ ternational, Inc., nationally- known health care consultants. (Continued on page 17)