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X mm Parade Opens Christmas Season lntensive investigation I D. r\I T. l i The official- start of the Christmas season in McHenry will be marked by the annual Santa Claus parade through McHenry Saturday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. The parade will form at the Market Place on 120, proceed east to the Crystal Lake blacktop, then south to Main and east to Green street. It will turn north to Elm street, then east to Riverside drive and north to Pearl to disband at the city park. In addition to Santa, the parade will be highlighted by the appearance of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Santa and his helpers will ride on the beautiful city float. Also in the line of march will be the fire and police departments. Following the parade, Santa will be in his hut in the city park until 5 p.m. Saturday. Other weekend hours for Santa will be 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. The week day schedule until Christmas will be as follows: Monday through Friday, Dec. 16-20, 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Burglaries Of Two Homes An intensive investigation continues by McHenry police following two burglaries of McHenry homes within the same number of days. More than $4,000 in money and other items, mostly jewelry, were taken in the break-ins. The first occurred at the Ralph Ott home, 3706 Main street, where intruders entered between 6 and 10 p.m. last Thursday. Entrance wu gained by breaking a basement window. Mrs. Ott told police the first things she found missing were (Continued on page 4) 15 Q THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAINOLAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 99 - NUMBER 34 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1974 •i 14 PAGES & ONE SUPPLEMENT II I Will Not Resign n McHenry Police Chief Airs Grievances Complete New City Road ! ,-*» City officials were on the scene Friday morning to watch as Lakeland Construction paved the final section of roadway on Oak street, east of the tracks, which will eventually link up to Lillian street west of the tracks. Shown with the formless machine which lays half a roadway and the curb in one operation are George Harker, chairman of the Street and Sidewalk committee; Fred Meyer, superintendent of public works; Jim Widen, job foreman, and Mayor Joseph Stanek. The crossing will not be open until the railroad installs warning signals and other safety equipment. STAFF PHOTO-BARBARA GILPIN "I am not going to step down now and I will not resign." With these words, Chief of Police Kenneth Espey turned a routine police committee hearing called to revise rules apd regulations, into one of the riost candid, outspoken, "lay it on the line" meetings of his career "I am making my New Year's resolution thirty days ahead of time," Espey said. "I am going to be the Chief of this department and run this department. Kranz (Robert Kranz) and I are going to at­ tend every Council meeting and any questions that come up, we are going to answer them," he said emphatically. Espey detailed internal froubles in his department and charged the City Council and the Police commission (with interference in administration of the Police department. "During the past months, there has been talk that I should step down or resign. At times I was on the verge of doing it but then pressure became part of the act," Espey stated. "If a chief of police is going to run his department, he can have no interference from outsiders or from the City Council if he is doing his job. And no alderman has the right to sit in judgment or interfere with this department," Espey emphasized. In referring to dissension and low morale in the department, Espey s^id he would not be forced out of his job by anyone on the police force. He related that he had received a letter signed by twelve members of the department asking that immediate action be taken against "two fellow officers" whose actions were interfering with proper administration and undermining morale and ef­ ficiency of the department. When orders are issued and schedules are made, if these two officers are not satisfied, "they run to aldermen or send them letters," Espey said. "The next thing, we get a call," he added. He stressed that he could not run the department with in­ terference and meddling such as this. He asked the Police committee to inform aldermen that when an officer came to them and complained about something in the department, "tell him we are trying to build a good department and if you have a complaint, go back to Espey and bring that complaint up through the ranks the proper way." Espey insisted he is willing to do anything to make the department one of the best in the state. "I think it is the best in the county now and we can get to be the best in the state if we are left alone to get there," he emphasized. Espey conceded that he had been lax in the past "because I tried to be too good to everybody." He said he was told by a member of the Police committee that he could do the job but that he was too "soft­ hearted." "He said I was going to sell myself down the sewer if I didn't stop being a good guy," Espey related. "As long as I wear this chief's badge, I am going to run this department," he repeated. He agreed he may not have been tough enough in the past but promised to suspend anyone in his department who did not follow orders in the future. "I worked my way up in the department and have always worked for the betterment of the city, its citizens and the department. I think I know more about police work, police business and everything in this department from mopping the floors, which I also did here, and on up," Espey noted heatedly. "I don't intend to let anybody who has only been in this department one or two years tell me or my command officers what we can and cannot do." "If for any reason they don't want me, bring charges against me and fire me or leave me alone. That's all I ask," he concluded. Espey referred to "bad aggravation" he had suffered recently in the department when approximately fifty charges were brought against him by Officers James Molitor and Kenneth Kunzer of his department before the Police Commission board. "It cost me a lot of money to clear myself for something I never did," Espey said. One of the charges accused Espey of soliciting gifts for the police department and himself. "I never solicited a package of anything in this community and never asked anybody for a dime," Espey said vehemently. This year he said everyone Musin and Meanderin' Uncle Sam's postal service is helpful. In our mail the other day we received a festive flyer that told us our packages must be mailed before Dec. 10 and our cards and letters before Dec. 15. We decided to try, even before we turned to the other side and found that our good Uncle had also included special Christmas tips to make it easy. No. 1 -- Make sure you do your card shopping early. It makes everything else easier. (This suggestion came late. Long ago we pondered the merits of cards in fifteen books and became utterly confused. We decided a nice "Merry Christmas" greeting going door to door might be less frustrating.) No. 2 -- Remember there are beautiful Christmas stamps available at your post office that put the spirit of Christmas right on the front of your en­ velope. (Sure they do, but if we have the luck we had last year, we will be trying to buy the stamps before Uncle Sam has put them up for sale. Or even worse, they will be sold out - temporarily of course - and we will be asked to come back). No. 3 -- While you're at the post office, pick up some handy bands or labels to sort your cards for local or out-of-town delivery. (That we did, too. last year. Our problem was that by the time our cards were ad dressed the labels had disap peared deep in the collection of ribbon and holiday wrapping paper - the ones that hadn't become stuck to the tape). No. 4 - You might plan a family night for writing cards and checking everyone's mailing list. But schedule it in early December. (We tried, we tried! But the first ten days of December on our personal calendar list two dress rehearsals, two programs and two Christmas parties). No. 5 -- When you mail packages, it's important that you wrap them securely. (It surely is. Uncle Sam has a strong arm and he is known to wield it passionately in his intense desire to get our package delivered on time. Unfortunately, the contents have not always arrived in the condition they were sent, - but they were on time). No. 6 - Then all you have to do is mail early. (Until we can find some way of using the previous tips, we won't need No. 6. Besides, we just heard that by Christmas, 1975, the price of stamps would be up to twelve cents and Uncle Sam hasn't even promised to compensate for the inflationary trend by continuing to offer the pre-licked stamps). We've just about decided to forget all about sending cards and gifts. We're going to spread our cheer this year by smiling a lot! K.A.F. The long awaited completion of the thoroughfare that will connect Rt. 31 and Crystal Lake road, within the city, was accomplished this past weekend. Started almost a month ago/ it extends Grove avenue at the highway with Lillian street on the blacktop. Supt. of Public Works Fred Meyer said the project cost is $67,000, to be paid for with Revenue Sharing funds. The road will not be open to the public until the North Western railroad installs signal lights. The Illinois Commerce Commission has given the railroad until June 1 for in­ stallation, but city officials hope they can persuade the North Western to do the work New County Board Members Will Be Seated December 2 Several Charges Await Two Drivers In Court While on routine patrol Saturday night about 8 o'clock on State Park road west of River road, deputies stopped to investigate when they saw an auto parked along side the roadway. They found John Lent of 2602 Indian Trail, McHenry and two juvenile passengers inside. Open liquor was discovered in the vehicle resulting in Lent's arrest for open liquor in a motor vehicle and purchase or acceptance of alcoholic liquor by persons of non-age. His bond was set at $1,050 and he is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 5. Two juvenile companions were released to the custody of their parents with notice given to appear in court Dec. 6 for purchase or acceptance. Robert Banach of 1015 Windsor drive, McHenry, was arrested for improper lane usage, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and driving while license was revoked. His bond was set at $1,525 with court appearance scheduled for Dec. 9. The arrest last Saturday night resulted after Banach's auto ran a county squad car off the road on Riverside drive south of Johnsburg road. Deputv Michael Keane pursued (Continued on page 4) The McHenry County board must have two meetings in December, a constitutionally required one on Dec. 2 and another Dec. 17. At both meetings regular business will be acted on and committee reports discussed. Walter Dean of McHenry, chairman of the County board, explained new board members will be seated at the Dec. 2 meeting along with the re-elected board members. Oath to the new board members will be administered by County Clerk Vernon Kays, who was re-elected. The new board members are Alfred ( Collins, Wonder Lake; George W. Lowe, Jr., Cary, son of the retiring board member, Watson Lowe; Kenneth Saladin, Woodstock; and Calvin Skinner, Sr., Crystal Lake. Outgoing board mem­ bers include Watson Lowe, Cary; Leo Benecke, Garden Prairie , August Dahlke, Union, and Conrad Floeter, Crystal Lake. Under new rules proposed to the County board, the number of committees would be reduced to the following: Public Safety; Health and Agriculture; Legislative and Licensing; Audit and Court Services; Transportation; Finance and Salaries; Cour­ thouse Operations; Purchasing and Insurance; Zoning and Planning; and Countv Home. This was referred back to committee for further study and action Dec. 2. The county's fiscal year ends November 30, and it is im­ possible for department heads and officials to have all bills ready for payment by the Dec. 2 meeting, Dean noted. Dean emphasized at both meetings regular business will be handled by the County board. under his command would be told they are not to accept any dinners, donations, "not even a bar of candy. I will pay for the cake and sandwiches we have at the station the day before Christmas myself," he declared. At a previous meeting, it had been pointed out that there was a big turnover of men in the police department, sixteen in the last three years. Espey said he had been blamed for that situation also, even though he has not done the hiring recently. He did admit there had been some "bad guys" on the department in recent years and he had fired them. Espey reiterated that he wanted to get along with Mayor Stanek and the City Council and would work with the Police commission if he could. He stressed that he wanted to make his department a good professional one but in order to do that, "I have to have support from the Council, Police commission, members of my department and the com­ munications department." "I know I will get it from the communciations department and from my men," he said confidently. As Espey returned to his seat after "getting it ail off my chest," he was met with ap­ plause from those in at­ tendance at the meeting. Alderman Edward Datz of the Police committee said, "I've been waiting to hear you talk like this for a year. Don't back down. Stay in there swinging all the way." Arnold Rauen of the Police Pension board said, "Three years ago we had a meeting similar to this one and I told Chief Espey then. 'Damn it, get tough.' It's taken three years but I think he's got it." Police personnel at the meeting spoke in agreement with Espey's remarks and for the first time in many months, appeared to be united in a common cause and presented a unified backing for him. Lt. Robert Kranz said command personnel were in agreement .with Espey's comments and adaed that there can't be any political in­ terference in running the department. "I want to be a policeman and not a precinct (Continued on page 4) College Board Votes Against Tuition Raise There will be no raise in tuition for the second semester at McHenry County college this year. This decision was made by the board of trustees following the review of a study presented by Student Board Member Tom Amettis. Amettis submitted a questionnaire to students asking if they would be able to continue attending the college if the tuition were raised to either $17.50, $20 or $22 per credit hour next semester. Also, students were asked to indicate which of five choices they would select and following are the results: A total of 26.1 percent would continue attending MCC as planned; 31.1 percent would continue attending MCC but with a reduced course load; 13.7 percent would transfer to another community college in the area, 11.5 percent would transfer to a senior institution and 215 percent would stop attending college. At $17.50 tuition, 357 of the students questioned indicated they would continue at MCC, 2(14 said no; at $20 tuition, 113 said yes and 452 no; at $22 tuition, 88 said yes and 443 no. Trustee Gerald Smith of Woodstock made the motion that there be no tuition raise, seconded by Robert Weidrich of Harvard. It carried unanimously Smith said the board told the college administration that it did not want to operate on a deficit budget. Three courses of action were decided upon: Get more money by raising tuition, cut back on operating costs and have the board go to the community and ask for ad­ ditional funds. The first two courses have been followed but the request for more tax money was denied, Smith related. "I think it is up to the board to unite and go before the people in the communities and convince them that if this school is going to operate we need additional funds," he said. Smith declared he would never agree to charge a student more tuition to go to MCC than he would have to pay to attend (Continued on page 4) View Inserviee Training Plans Mrs. Betty McKillip, R N., has been named staff development instructor at McHenry hospital by Miss Victoria Behan, R.N., assistant administrator, • inpatient and education nursing service division. Mrs. Betty McKillip. R.N., right, of Crystal Lake, newly appointed Staff Development instructor at McHenry hospital, looks over Um inserviee training facility planned for the Northern Illinois Medical center with Miss Vicki Behan, R.N., assistant administrator, inpatient and education nursing service. Ground breaking for Um two-level base and five-story patient tower of the Medical center hospital is scheduled for June 30, 1975. A graduate of the College of St. Teresa nursing program, Mrs. McKillip earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in a five-year curriculum affiliated with St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, Minn She has worked in nursing service at the Henry Ford hospital, Detroit, and Northwest hospital, Min­ neapolis. "Staff development will provide an educational en­ vironment which will increase (Continued on page 4) V