The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Gap Between Life Span, Sight Span Is Widening The tragic gaj> between the human life span and the human sight span is broadening. Visual disorders and blindness are increasing at a rate con­ siderably faster than our population growth, says the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness. It is little wonder, according to a recent Gallup poll, that Americans fear blindness more than Jiihy other disease except cancer. At the same time the current, cost of providing services to the blind has soared abovl $2 billion a year. Th$ Steadily increasing life sparrof Americans is attended by many problems of visual disorders and blindness which are symptoms of the aging process. Cataracts, which occiir most commonly in older people, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, the thief of sight which usually does not affect people under 35 years of age, are among the leading causes of blindness today. And all of these affect older people, the Society points out. According to recent estimates, there are more than 4000,000 cataract operations performed each year in the United States at a cost of more than $200,000,000 annually. Diabetes, another potentially blinding disease, strikes older persons most frequently, and diabetic retinopathy, a destructive disease of the retina caused by diabetes, is affecting 5,000 more Americans every year. Eye doctors estimate - that diabetic retinopathy is present in 50 per cent of the cases of known diabetes, where the disease has lasted twenty-five years or more. Sixty per cent of all Americans over 60 years of age have some cataractous changes in their eyes even though these changes may not interfere with vision according to the Society, and by 80 years virtually all persons have more or less serious cataract problems, many of them requiring eye operations to prevent complete loss of sight. As for glaucoma, the Society has discovered, after examinations of more than 160,000 persons on its mobile Li iy Pol ice Report (NOVEMBER) Accidents (vehicle): Property damage Injuries Parking lot Alarms: Fire - Burglar Rescue Animal Calls Assault Assists: Citizens Motorists Outside Battery Burglary Cars and Trucks: Disabled Abandoned Illegally parked Criminal Damage: Vandalism Property Vehicle Curfew Violation Deaths-natural Disorderly conduct Found property Garbage calls Investigation of quasi-criminal cases Liquor law violation Lost-Stolen: Drivers' licenses License plates r wu 4 .-<»! Wallets Mental cases Missing persons Narcotics Public Service: Vacation house checks Public relations Funeral escorts Speeches Vacation business check Open window and doors Taverns Telephone calls: Obscene Suspicious Threatening Thefts Traffic violations Truancy Warrant pickups Weapons Misc. wanted person Recovery stolen property Traffic tickets issued Criminal complaints Desk Information: Phone calls Information Radio Transmission Log Daily log Leads messages Parking tickets written Meter Money collected Squad car mileage 36 9 4 16 24 31 18 1 3 11 8 6 14 3 3 2 1 15 4 4 3 7 6 3 23 6 14 .3 1 1 2 3 13 8 13 1 1 22 1 1 1 1 13 9 7 1 4 \ 1 54 17 2,287 1,477 7,879 784 955 1,025 $1,300.99 14,655 unit, that nearly 1 per cent have early beginning signs of the disease. Unfortunately eight out of ten cases of blindness are the result of diseases whose causes are still unknown to science, ac­ cording to eye doctors. Diabetes, glaucoma, cataract, and sickle cell anemia make up this group, along with various retinal diseases which are most difficult to treat. Much more research is needed to solve these serious problems created by the life span - sight span gap. While it is impossible to estimate accurately the total costs of blindness to the nation, it surely runs into the billions of dollars, says the Society, when one considers the costs of medical care; lost wages, and government aid. In spite of this total cost, Congress last year appropriated only $33.7 million for research to the National Eye Institute, compared with $43.2 million the year before. The Administration request for 1974 is $32.1 million. Citizens groups and the Society, which has put $200,000 of its limited fund into research during the last four years, are urging Congress to increase this amount in order to bring about a better understanding of the eye diseases and the threat of blindness which afflict the nation's elderly. Farm Mortgage Limits Raised Robert C. Becker, the Far­ mers Home administration supervisor at Belvidere, said this week that a new limit of $225,000 has been established for the amount of mortgage debt which may be owed by a farmer receiving a real estate loan from the agency. The previous $100,000 debt limit has been abolished. Farm ownership loans have been popular with local far­ mers, according to Becker. Most of the loans have been made to help tenant farmers become owner-operators or to help small farmers enlarge their units, but funds are also available for building and land development, to refinance debts if necessary, or to finance a non-farm enterprise which will supplement farm income. In most cases farmers are able to obtain a part of their Extend Indefinitely Tax Relief Deadlines PAGE 11-PLAIMDEALER-FRIDAY. DECEMBER 21. 1973 POOOOOOOOOOOOOOI POLITICAL . CORNER . ItOOOOOOOOOOOODOOOCOOi I Rockefeller Will Speak At Anderson Dinner Former New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller will speak at a fund-raising dinner for Congressman John B. Anderson (R-Ill.) it has been announced. Rockefeller will be the principal speaker at the dinner, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Wagon Wheel in Rockton, 111. "We are pleased and proud that Governor Rockefeller has agreed to be our featured speaker," said dinner co- chairmen Dennis W. Johnson and John G. Holub. Anderson noted that Rockefeller "has compiled an outstanding record as a for­ ward-looking public servant. His efforts have benefited not only the state of New York, but the entire nation, as well." Johnson said those interested in attending the dinner should write to P.O. Box 4036, Rock- ford, 111., 61110. Earn less than $10,000 in 1973 and over 65 or disabled ac­ cording to Social Security standards? Have you forgotten to apply to the State of Illinois Department of Revenue for property tax relief for home owners and renters? If so, a law resulting from the fall session of the General Assembly may mean up to a $500 grant for you from state tax funds. The original property tax relief act was passed during Governor Richard B. Ogilvie's last year in office, but the checks didn't begin going out until this year. Unfortunately, not as many eligible people have applied for property tax relief as were projected. In fact, over $12 million dollars remain to be distributed. The Director of the Revenue Department twice extended the Sept. 15 deadlihe for filing applications for the relief, the second deadline being Dec. 17. "It became apparent that thousands of eligible people would fail to file on time for this tax relief. In order to create an administrative mechanism to allow anyone who forgets to claim the money meant for them, Dave Jones and I in­ troduced a bill late in the fall session to eliminate the cut off date completely," reported State Rep. Cal Skinner, (R- Crystal Lake). "The alternative was for individual legislators to in- troduce a bill every time a credit from another long term lender secured by a first mortgage. Farmers Home administration loans may be secured by a junior mortgage if the total mortgage debt does not exceed the market value of the farm. That part of the loan provided by Farmers Home administration is still limited to $100,000. Becker said that the agency's limit on operating type loans was increased from $35,000 to $50,000 several months ago. He expressed the opinion that the new higher limits will enable him to serve eligible farmers until they progress to a financial situation where they can obtain all of their credit from other sources. Applications are being received at the agency office at Belvidere, 111., 61008, P.O. Box 217, Appleton road. GIT SMART WITH A QUICK-STARTING ® USED CAR 1969 FORD L.T.D. COUPE Full power equipment. Turquoise. '745 1972 CHEVELLE MALIBU COUPE Full power equipment. Beautiful surf green with green vinyl roof. $1495 1967 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE >595 WE BACK OUR 0 USED CARS IN WRITING! 1969 P0NTIAC >745 1966 CHEVROLET CAPRICE '295 forgetful eligible was discovered, just as some did for World War I and World War II veterans' bonuses earlier this year. We thought the ad­ ministrative approach was better," Skinner said. The average grant so far has been $156, but almost 40 percent who apply are ineligible. Ap­ plications may be obtained by writing Rep. Skinner at his office, No. 8 Crystal Lake Plaza, Crystal Lake, 111., 60014, or the Illinois Department of Revenue, Box 3124, Springfield, 111. 62708. V.A. NEWS Q - I draw compensation from the Veterans ad­ ministration for a service connected disability. If I get a job, will it affect my com­ pensation? A - Not unless your VA rating is based on unemployability and you are rated 100 percent disabled. Q - Is my deceased husband, a World War II veteran, eligible for a headstone? A - Yes, headstones are available for any deceased veteran whose last period of military service was ter­ minated honorably. Suggest you apply to the Veterans Administration, since this program was transferred from the Army Sept. 1, 1973. Q - My brother was blinded during the Vietnam War, and can't seem to get interested in living again. What is the Veterans Adminstration doing about young men like him? A -- VA recently entered into an agreement with the Blinded Veterans association to augment agency services to the blind. This is in addition to other agency benefits such as compensation for service connected blindnesss, guMe dogs and electronic fftd mechanical aids, their repair and replacement. Kittens turn on their busy signal now and then, too. Courthouse Squares CHRISTMAS IS TH£ TlME MANY OF US BUY THIS YEAR'S PRESETS MThlNEXT V'EAR'S MONEY. owe »• woo is your J I I & One size fits all. Flowers ancf plants are perfect for tall people, short !people, chubby people and thin people. They fit every |name on your list. Including that extra special one. They also fit all situations. A fresh Christmas decoration in your own home. A spot of cheer to bring when you visit friends. Call us or stop by. We'll come up with something that fits everything. Including your budget. FLORIST HEADQOftRTfSs SERVING ALL OF McHENRY COUNTY, 50 STATES AND THE WORLD 1 ewer woe IORIST NURSERY GARDEN CENTER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FRESH FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Sweethear t Roses or Br ida l P ink Roses wi th Mums, Hol ly and Pine in a beaut i fu l ar rangement . AT A VERY - SPECIAL PRICE # 10 OPEN DAILY 8 9 - SAT. & SUN. 9-5 RTS. 14 & 176 815 459 6200 CRYSTAL LAKE Flowers and plants. They're a natural for Christinas. TOR0LET HWY 31 SOUTH McHENRY CARS-TRUCKS PHONE: 385-210< MARKET PLACE.SH0PPING CENTER BEAUTY SALON HOI HS Tues.-Wed. 9-6 Thurs.-Fri. 9-8:30 Saturday - 9-6 STORE HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30-8:30 Saturday 8:30-6:00 Sunday 10:00-5:00 4400 W. Rte. 120 Play Santa and Charge It at Spurgeon's