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t, * $75,000 Grant For New Park Student Recalls Year In Japan Kim Olsen, 14, looks with fascination at the Japanese umbrella brought back by her brother, Ernie Olsen. Ernie spent the past eleven months in Japan on a Rotary scholarship. He brings back to McHenry, and to his classes at Marian Central Catholic high school, a wealth of experiences over the past eleven months. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Mux in" and Meanderin' The familiar warning to "drive with care", has been issued once again for the long Labor day weekend The word of caution reminds us of numerous complaints in recent weeks that few drivers observe the new 55 m.p.h. speed limits, particularly on tollways and freeways. A friend traveling in a southern state said he asked a state trooper why he was constantly being passed by fast moving cars that were not being stopped. The reply was that drivers were usually not t icketed unless they exceeded 70 miles per hour. In view of the greatly reduced highway death toll since the lower speed rate was imposed last winter, this seems too bad. Even if this action has been given too much credit for saving lives, there is no doubt that i t is a major factor. True, there may be fewer cars on the road, but the reduction has not been great, particularly during the summer months. It 's an individual preference whether one wants to drive a lit t le faster or live a lit t le longer. Unfortunately, the speeding driver not only imperils his own life but those of others on the highway. Noting the substantial saving in lives marks the new program as a success. Less important, but also noteworthy, is the saving in gasoline. The proof has been established and stil l i t appears we are unwilling to keep a good thing going Suddenly the end of summer has caught up with us, and the flurry to get everything done before Sept. 1 was evident last weekend Probably the greatest flurry in McHenry county took place just to our north, in Johnsburg Saturday night it was the annual Rescue squad dance, which we are informed was "jammed to the rafters" The next day St John's church held a picnic which drew a huge crowd that enjoyed a perfect day well into the early evening hours Saturday night also brought crowds to the McHenry city park, where a group of very fine dancers presented a delightful, free program It was a first-of-its-kind in the city, and in the words of one viewer, "refreshing' ' Unfortunately, we were able to get to the park for only the very last portion of the program Even this small bit was a treat, and we left with the promise that next t ime even a busy schedule must permit us to include the entire performance (Continued on pa^e 18) Ernie Olsen, 16-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Olsen of 3411 N. Cove court, Dutch Creek Woodlands, has returned home after a year spent in Japan, sponsored by the Rotary club of Woodstock. "Just being there-the total experience," is his answer to the question of what he felt were highlights of the eleven months in this small, highly populated country with interesting traditions extending back many centuries. He saw Mount Fuji , and learned to eat with chopsticks, standards for the visitor. Most meat was not the quality found in the United States, but Ernie recalls one fil let that was "superb". He never had occasion to price meat, but believes it is very expensive. One honeydew melon cost his adopted mother $15. She was astounded when he told her the approximate cost in this country. Ernie stayed'with the Kanji Tokui family which consisted of the parents, the grandmother and two sons, one presently in the U.S. under a Rotary scholarship, and the other who attends college in Tokyo. Mr Tokui heads his own lumber importing company with offices throughout Japan. It was not unusual, then, for the American visitor to find what he believes may have been a million dollars in paintings in the home Young people attend school six davs a week. "The big thing," Ernie says seriously, "is to get into good schools". Traveling by city bus, train or street car, sometimes require students two hours of travel t ime Uniforms are worn in every school, with basically five Mayor Joseph Stanek learned this week that the city has been approved for a grant in the amount of 75 per cent of the total cost of land acquisition for Petersen Park The property, located off McCullom Lake road, will be annexed to the city and used as a recreational Of 125 applications for grants made to the Ill inois Department of Conservation, Director Anthony Dean said forty were successful. However, McIIenry's request was one of only a few that were funded the maximum, in this case $75,000 The city of McHenry has an option agreement with the owner, Kenneth Petersen, for purchase of the 35 acres until Sept HO This agreement was made particularly to meet one of the specific grant requirements that land not be purchased in advance ol receiving tins financial assistance. Mayor Stanek credits Alderman Jack Pepping lor much ol the preparatory work which result approval Mar assisted the city* need, compliar requirements, , of plans not in either the Northe; Plan commission or the McHenry County Plan commission 1'he city found it necessary to supply two appraisals of the property, and an on-site inspection was made by a representative of the state 's grant also proof of legal ntation conflict with istern Ill inois Conservation.department. As a result of meeting these map-y requirements, the property" received the highest possible classification for a grant, based on need, with the exception of ghetto areas Among those who assisted the city were Kenneth Fiske of the McHenry County Conservation department and .John Quay and Hob Silhane of the Mcllenrv County Plan commission, who supplied much necessary data City officials were especially pleased with the cooperation of Mr Petersen in arranging for the sale of the property. Mayor Stanek referred to him as a "good neighbor" whose ehief interest in the transaction was to assure that his property would be used for the public benefit of future generations. Two other local grants were also approved The city of Elgin will receive $127,500 for 12 HH acres and the McHenry County Conservation district was approved for $75,000 for 27 acres in Hickory drove. Both pieces of property are on the Fox river THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 99 NUMBER 8 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1974 26 PAGES - 2 SECTIONS - FIFTEEN CENTS Public Asks Action On River-Chain Problems types, all in dark colors with white. There is l i t t le central heating in Japan, and last year, although the Tokui family could afford oil , their patriotic spirit kept them from using it . There were small space heaters which required three hours to warm a small room. Schools had no heat except for an old fashion oil , pot-belly stove in the teachers ' room and a heater in the library, the only w:irm room to which students had access. School years run from April to March, with something they call a summer vacation from the end of July to Sept. 1. They take one week to celebrate the New Year, which is the most important t ime of the year The familiar dragon parades are held here and there throughout the year, and always at holiday time. For the New Year celebration, girls dress in their kimonos and spend considerable time walking through the towns. Much visiting takes place between friends and neighbors as all stores close for three days. Mr Tokui is transported in a chauffered Mercedes car, but for one month last year he used a smaller car because of the fuel shortage. Ernie had difficulty understanding the language in the classroom, but felt there was much of educational value in his experiences. He made some attempt to learn the two alphabets. All Japanese students study English, in which department he assisted the teacher, whose knowledge of the language he found limited. The American student (Continued on page IS) A large crowd in attendance at the public information meeting held Tuesday night at the McHenry VFW hall told state officials they wanted action, not more studies concerning problems on the Fox river and the Chain of l^akes waterways. Officials conducting the meeting were Anthony T. Dean, director of the Department of Conservation; Leo M. Eisel, director of the Department of Waterways, Nancy Phillips, director of the Oovernor's Task Force on Flood Control and Sen. Robert Mitchler, R.­ Oswego, chairman of a commission appointed to study problems on the Fox. Dean announced that the purpose of the meeting was to "try to present some of the dilemma we have been wrestling with in Springfield and to present alternatives so we can begin to allocate dollars to solve these problems." Dean reported that the Chain of Lakes is one of the largest resort areas in the country. He listed some of the problems as lack of public access to the Chain, water quality, high powered boats which cause erosion and muddy and turbulent water conditions, overcrowding and overuse of boats and regular flooding. It was noted that eleven years ago, the Coast Guard counted 30,000 boats on the Chain in one weekend. Today, figures indicate there is one boat per every one-half acre, Dean said He said this overcrowding and overuse probably contributed to the fact that twenty-six people have lost toeir l ives on the Chain since January of this year. One alternative Dean suggested was to have the state acquire additional land facili t ies to provide additional access areas. He mentioned this would be extremely costly as the land would have to be purchased and would be taken off the tax rolls when made public property. Another alternative was to expand the Chain by raising (Continued on pa^e 18) State officials who conducted an information meeting concerning the Fox river and the Fox Chain of Lakes Tuesday night discussed problems and possible management alternatives for these waterways. Shown above, left to right, are Anthony T. Dean, director of the Illinois Department of Conservation, Leo M. Eisel, director of the Illinois Division of Waterways and Sen. Robert Mitchler, commission chairman. STAFF PHOTOGRAPH - BARBARA GILPIN McHenry Man Among Farm Bureau Nominees Sept. 3 Deadline McHenry County Farm .Bureau members in nine townships are selecting directors to represent them on the board of directors in balloting taking place preparatory to the 1974 annual meeting Sept. 9. Keith Weingart of McHenry is a nominee. Regular members choose their directors in the respective townships. One of the main Success "At Least 25" It was an apartment for rent, and Harold Miller had not even received his Plaindealer when the first of his many responses came, courtesy of Alexander Graham Bell. There were "at least 25", Miller commented with a sigh of relief that the apartment was rented and the phone calls had ended. matters to be discussed and voted on at the annual meeting concerns an increase in membership dues. Members desiring dinner tickets should contact the Farm Bureau promptly since seating will be limited to 350. Ervin Walters, retiring president, said the increase is prompted by overall costs increases since the last raise in 1964 and the fact that the I l l i n o i s A g r i c u l t u r a l Association has assessed County Farm Bureaus an (Continued on pa^e 18) $12,000,000 In County Real Estate Taxes Are Collected Approximately $12,000,000 of 1973 McHenry county real estate taxes have been collected from a total of $33,700,000 levied by taxing districts, Mrs. .Audrey R. Walgenbach, McHenry county treasurer, announced this w eek "A great deal more remains to be collected by Sept. 3. the second installment delinquency date for sixteen of the seventeen townships in the county, and I want to remind taxpayers of that deadline so they can avoid interest penalty on bills paid after that date. * Only Algonquin township tax bills may be paid as late as Sept. 15 without penalty," Mrs Walgenbach said. Mrs. Walgenbach plans further distribution of taxes to taxing districts later this week, bringing total distribution to all townships except Algonquin to approximately 50 percent of the amount charged Personal property tax bills, paid by corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts, are also due Sept. 3 for the sixteen townships, and will be subject to interest penalty thereafter, Mrs. Walgenbach A-' noted. ' Youth Dies, Other Drivers Seriously Hurt In Accident A young Broadview man was killed and two other motorists were seriously injured m the crash of three cars on Rt 12, a tenth of a mile south of Johnsburg-Wilmot road, late Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 2H The dead youth was Edward S Rimnac, 19, of 2412 S 22nd avenue, Broadview , w ho died in McHenry hospital Allen David Pink of Dallas, Texas, one of the drivers, was said to be in c r i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n i n t h e intensive care unit of McHenry hospital Thursday morning In fair condition in the hospital was John Hannahs, ol Houston, a passenger in the Pink auto Dianne Koercher, 17. of Forest Park, who was ruling with Rimnac, was treated and released, along with the third driver. Donald R Samotug, of Genoa City. Wis State police said Pink and Samonig were traveling north on Rt 12 and Rimnac was south-bound on the highway. The latter lost control, veered into the north lane and hit Pink head-on Samonig then skidded into the Pink vehicle. Police had high praise for the efficiency and speed of both the Johnsburg and. Fox Lake Rescue squads in extricating the drivers and passengers from the Pink and Rimnac autos The four were pinned in the wreckage until the arrival of squad inemlx'rs Arthur F Geiger of 420 Lily lane. McHenry. was charged with driving while intoxicated after he is reported to have hit a p e d e s t r a i n W e d n e s d a y morning about 1 40 a m at 402 Lily lane. Lakemoor Geiger was north bound on the roadway and said he didn't see James W prasil of 402 Lily Lane, McHenry, walking in the road Prasil said he was walking home when he heard an auto behind him He turned around, saw the vehicle coming toward him and attempted to avoid the car but was hit in the back He was taken to McHenry hospital by the McHenry Rescue squad, where he was treated l inda A Kidd of 5425 W Highland, McHenry, received minor injuries in a two-car accident Tuesday afternoon about 5:15 at the corner of Elm and Court streets She was taken to McHenry hospital by the Area Rescue squad Richard S Koster of 59 Austin,. Carpentersville, was traveling on Elm when the Kidd auto pulled out from Court street and the collision occurred Ms Kidd said a car stopped in the outer east-bound lane and so she proceeded to cross the intersection She was ticketed for failure to yield right-of-way at an intersection t Handicapped Enjoy Country Camping Some of the large staff at Camp Villa Maria are shown helping handicapped youngsters with a morning swim during their vacation period. They are among forty-five from Misericordia home, Chicago, who are enjoying the facllitie» of camp life this week. Their aim is to demonstrate that with assistance, they can perform in other than a home situation. STAFF PIIOTO-W AYNE GAYLORD < Prov ing one's self is difficult enough for the average person When the proof must be made by the handicapped, the task becomes even greater, but it is also more rewarding It is just such a program that is unfolding now at Camp Villa Maria on Pistakee Bay, where youngsters with various afflictions are engaged in a camping program Its purpose is to demonstrate that these less fortunate children can prosper in an established camping program All are under the age of 10 and reside in Misericordia home, 47th and California, in Chicago They are victims of cerebral palsy and other crippling afflictions Twenty eight visited the camp last week; this week there are forty-five A large staff, including many nuns, tend to the needs of the li t t le ones as they engage in a program of arts and crafts and learn to swim It was a huge truck tliat arrived with special beds for many of the youngsters and toys designed especially for their needs Tiny tables were also brought in to make the dinner hour more pleasant A very short t ime s|>eiit at the camp is sufficient to convince the visitor that here is an effort supreme on the part of very young citizens to demonstrate that they can perform in other than a home situation That effort, and the good fresh air of the country are credited wilh much improved appetites Sister Rosernarie in administrator of Miaericordia home and spent some tune here duririĵ he vacation period / M