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PATRICIA JAMCS LAVERN TRACY SCOTT ROGER RARRARA KARRN GRETA JAMES BONNY DAWN * EUGENE KIMBERLY ELIZABETH GORDON JOSEPH CANDACE ERIC JOHN STOVE KNAACK SCHILLER . ATCHISON JUSTEN PERSCHKE CANADY JOHNSON LARSEN MAAS WANLAND W R I G H T JOHNSON BIGGERSTAFF BROOKS FERNSTROM ZELECK JUSTES ARTHURS LANWAY Photos taken at Valley View school Pre-Holidav Tragedy VOLUME 99 - NUMBER 41 TUESDAY. DECEMBER 24, 1974 18 PAGES FIFTEEN CENTS 15C THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1675 'Tis the Christmas season and a time to be merry. Therefore, we believe it's time to take one column away from the serious subjects with which we have been occupied in recent weeks. Anyone who has missed viewing the city park at night should plan to ride by. Without doubt, it must be one of the most beautiful displays of any city hereabouts. Santa's presence has added a new dimension to the popularity of the scene. It's a time for Christmas card addressing and personal notes. If one can meet the high cost of postage stamps, it remains one of the real joys of the season for both the sender and the recipient. No need to look ahead to December, 1975, when the inflationary trend promises to hike the cost another two or three cents. It is a time, too, for shopping for family and friends; For many years in this affluent society many have strained their budgets buying expensive gifts. An idea that is becoming increasingly popular is to give something made at home. Bather than being second-best, these gifts are usually more cherished, more personal and more appreciated. But whether it is a purchased gift or one fashioned at home, the golden rule of Christmas giving remains the same. It is the spirit of giving, not the monetary value involved. Bemember to shop at home, where your dollars are returned to you through the services of local business people. December is also a time for letters to Santa, and we have two on our desk that we asked to use, in part, even though they were not sent by local youngsters. Grandmas are favorite targets for the expressed wishes of youngsters for a full holiday stocking. Somehow, they become very close to Santa as dreams go skyrocketing. Some very amusing reading might be offered the public if a book should be published of selected letters. Two of the grandchildren of Plaindealer Bookkeeper Mary Miller had no thought of having their wishes expressed publicly when they confided their thoughts by letter from LaGrange. Polly Weber, 11, presented her list, along with hieroglyphic markings which she explained this way: "One circle means I really want it; two circles mean I really really want it; dotted lines mean I sort of want it and a wavy line means I don't need it or I really don't want it." This may be hard for some people to understand but Santa and Grandmas know what it means. Then there was her younger sister, Jennifer, who was un­ concerned that the time of witches was long past. She wants a few Halloween decorations, as well as a "Jineese" jump rope. Grand­ mas know what those are, too. Little people know about inflation, as Jennifer indicated in her last request: "Grama, did you here about the stamp that has no glue on? It's ex- specive for a stamp my teacher brought one to school. We passed it around the room. Boy I'd like to have one". These things - and the wonderful birth we celebrate Dec. 25, are the things Christmas is made of! KAF CLOSE AID OFFICE The Department of Public Aid in McHenry county will be closed at noon Dec. 24, all day Dec. 25 and the morning of Dec. 26. The office will open at 1 p.m. Thursday. It will be closed New Year's day New Year Deadlines The Plaindealer will be published for delivery Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Friday, Jan. 3 next week. For this reason deadlines will be set ahead. Display Advertising Deadline -Noon Friday, December 27, and Monday, December 30. General News Deadlines -2:00 p.m. Friday, December 27, and Monday, December 30. Correspondents' Deadlines --Noon Thursday, December 26, and Monday, December 30. Classified Display Advertising -4:00 p.m. Friday, December, 27, and noon Tuesday, December 31. A young McHenry mother was -killed and her 3-year-old daughter was critically injured in the crash of two cars about midnight Monday, Dec. 23. The dead woman was Lin- daree (Linda) G. Boepenack, 23, of 4814 N. Howard street, who was taken to McHenry hospital by the Johnsburg Bescue squad. Her daughter, Jennifer, was taken there also but later transferred to Evanston hospital with head injuries. The accident occurred at 12:05 a.m. on West Bingwood road, east of Bt. 31. Driver of the other car was Bichard Boettcher, 16, of 4115 Thompson road, Wonder Lake. He was charged with no valid driver's license due to curfew, and driving with faulty equipment. A witness to the accident was the husband and father of the crash victims, Michael J. Boepenack, who was driving behind them. Boettcher and a passenger, Dennis Carpenter, of 8904 Vine avenue, Wonder Lake, were driving west on Bingwood road when the hood of the car flew up and obscured his vision. He told sheriff's police he began to slow, but made no move to roll down his window and look out as he could see the side of the roadway. Suddenly he felt impact, but said he never saw the other car prior to the crash. Michael Boepenack said he was driving about 200 yards behind his wife. He saw her drive up an incline and noticed the lights*of an approaching car over the hill. As her car passed from view the lights of both vehicles could not be seen. Officers noted a faulty hood latch on the Boettcher auto as the result of a previous ac­ cident about a week ago. The hood was held closed with a bicycle lock chain. Carpenter was taken to McHenry hospital by his parents. Mrs. Boepenack, the former Linda Kunz, was born Sept. 16, 1951, in Illinois. She was em­ ployed by the city of McHenry in the office of City Clerk Earl R Walsh. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at the Peter M. Justen & Son chapel. Thefts, Forgery, Arson Among Police Complaints Two auto thefts, two forgery complaints, an arson complaint and a charge of possession of narcotics were handled and arrests were made as the result of investigations by McHenry city police and Detective Sgt. Daniel Kinnerk during the past week. Clarence A. Ellis of 3604 Johnsburg road, McHenry, was charged with two counts of auto theft which occurred in the city .. His bond was set at $6,000. Investigation began when police were notified that the auto of James Zednik of 1019 Chesterfield court, McHenry, had been taken from behind a building at 1210 N. Green street about 6:15. The stolen auto was located the same night by Officer Patrick Joyce while on patrol at 9:15 at the intersection of Park and Elm street. While investigation was taking place on the theft, of­ ficers were notified at 11:58 a.m. that another auto had been taken from the parking lot of the Fox Hole Tap on Riverside drive. David W. Dulberg of 6903 W Route 120, McHenry, told police he had parked his auto in the lot at approximately 11:35 and entered the building to pick up a pizza order. When he returned to the car at 11:55, it was gone. An 1SPERN (Illinois Stale Police Emergency Radio Network) message was broadcast regarding the theft. About 20 minutes later, Lake County Sheriff's police reported to jocal officials that the stolen auto had been recovered at the intersection of Rena and Grass Lake roads, between Spring Grove and Fox Lake. Through evidence taken from both stolen cars, Detective Sgt. Kinnerk determined Ellis was a possible suspect and further investigation resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest. Almost a week later, Kin- (Continued on page 17) Five-Year-Old Struck While Leaving School District Bus Five-year-old Laurie A. Bulow of 1019 English Prairie road, Spring Grove, was hit by a car as she left a McHenry County Special Education district bus in Richmond Thursday morning about 11:15. Driver of the car, Ronald L. Spitzbart of 8314 Solon road, Solon Mills, was south-bound on Route 12 when he saw the school bus stopped on the high­ way. He attempted to stop by applying his brakes but they failed. In order to avoid hitting the rear of the bus. Spitzbart veered to the west edge of the road. As his car approached the right side of the bus he saw the girl run out of the bus directly into his path. Spitzbart was ticketed for operating his vehicle with "defective or no brakes". The child was taken to McHenry hospital by the Rich mond Rescue squad, where she was treated for her injuries. A three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 31. Route 176 and Terra Cotta resulted in a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an ac cident being issued to Steven M. King of 3701 W. Anne streel, McHenry. According to the report in the sheriff's office, King was north bound on Route 31 when he saw the signal light at the In­ tersection turn from yellow to red He applied his brakes but slid into the center of the in tersection, where he hit cars driven by Donald R. Musa of 219 Delia drive, Wauconda, and Flora Keating of 408 Foster road, Wauconda. Ms. Keating was taken to McHenry hospital by ambulance for treatment of injuries received in the collision. Robert E. Calek of Route 1, Spring Grove, was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after his van left the road at 2601 Bingwood road and hit a mail box and iron post The mishap occurred Fricfey evening about 10:20 p.m. Calek said he was west-bound when an approaching vehicle caused him to lose control of his van. Lawrence R Lamberg of 1008 N. Front street. McHenry, was (Continued on page 17) STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Auto Accident Kills Young McHenry Mother Home Display Winners After a holiday season of comparative darkness in 1973, McHenry residents turned on their lights this year. James Wegener, chairman of the home lighting contest, said Monday morning he had twenty-two entries. He noted with enthusiasm that the displays were so beautiful there was usually only a point or two difference between the top two displays when judges added up their scores. The Kurt Thomas home, 2610 Thorrias court, won top prize for most colorful display and a close second was the Wayne Kraus residence, 2114 N. Timothy. In the original category, the Joe Hilgers home captured first place. It is located at 3018 Lincoln road. Second place went to the Homer Fitzgerald display, 311 Riverstream drive. The Kenneth Homo home, 3806 Maple avenue, won first JOE HILGERS HOME 3018 Lincoln Road Most Original for most amusing display. Judging the displays were Boy Henry and Sally Miller and Wayne Gay lord. They traveled throughout the area for three hours in coming to their decisions. First prize in each of the three categories - colorful, amusing and original - was $50. Second prize was $25. The McHenry Chamber of - Commerce sponsored the competition. KURT THOMAS HOME 2610 Thomas Court Most Colorful KENNETH HOMO HOME :sx<Mi Maple Avenue Most Amusing STAFF PHOTOS - WAYNE GAYLORD i