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I .J Iff 0* L $50,000 - $75,000. Loss Steak House Gutted By Flames Christmas This is all that remains of Miller's Steak House, known for many years as the White House, located at the corner of Chapel Hill road and Rt. 120. Fire of .undetermined origin gutted the entire building in the early afternoon Christmas day. Estimates of damage varied from $50,000 to$75,1160. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Miller's Steak House on the corner of Chapel Hill road and Rt. 120, known for many years as the White House, was destroyed by fire shortly after noon Christmas day. Fire Chief Glenn .Peterson estimated damage in excess of $50,000. Sheriff's deputies on the scene set the figure at over $75,000. Origin of the fire was still undetermined Thursday morning, but county and state arson units were called in to investigate. Mrs. Lillian Smith, who resides across the street, noticed smoke pouring out of the building at 12:30 p.m. and turned in the alarm. The three McHenry fire companies responded, and in the hours that followed poured 40,000 gallons of water on the con­ flagration. At no time, ac­ cording to Peterson, were firemen hindered by a lack of water. When firemen arrived on the scene minutes after the call, they found the building entirely engulfed in flames and thick, black smoke rising from the roof. At the height of the fire there were forty men fighting the blaze with eight pieces of equipment. Firemen broke windows and doors to gain entrance, but the heat was so intense that about an hour and a half elapsed before they were able to get inside far enough to attack the flames from within. Peterson said it was im­ possible to tell at this time in what part of the building the fire started. The kitchen and. bar area collapsed and fell into the basement, hindering efforts to make further investigation. When firemen left the scene at 1:30 Thursday morning, only portions of the front and west framework and a small amount, on the north remained stan- ding. ' Until six months ago the business had been operated by R.J. Miller. There were reports that plans were being made to - reopen. County Man Seriously Hurt In Farm Mishap George Sowinski, 40, of 3212 Greenwood road, Woodstock, was seriously injured Saturday afternoon in a farm accident. Sowinski was assisting his father with the feeding of livestock from a power-take-off operated feeder wagon which was being towed by a tractor. He fell backward off the wagon and his clothing became en­ tangled in the power-take-off- shaft. His father, Sigmund, succeeded in stopping the machine and cutting his clothing loose, freeing him from the shaft before the Woodstock Rescue squad arrived. (Continued on page 12) 15° 0 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER V SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 99 - NUMBER 42 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1974 14 PAGES - FIFTEEN CENTS Set March 8 For College Tax Referendum usin "Dear Santa: "Here we are on the eve of Christmas, still pouring over letters to the North Pole that became sidetracked to our office. We realize most of them are from little people, but it occurs to us that big people also need some consideration. "Here we are in the midst of a real dilemma, with prices going up and the number of people working going down. "Now, Santa, we know that in a few hours you will be heading back for the North pole -long before our letter reaches print. But we also know that with the magic you possess you will have a few out-of-the-ordinary gifts of the very kind we need. Send them back! "Why, even in our own office people need a little help. Please bring Foreman Dick Sagers a treadmill. He makes so many trips to our office to see if we're working that the carpet is wearing. And bring Helen Seborg a little tape player with the message, "Are you sure this is what you wanted to say"? "And we have some more friends we'd like to see remembered. "Please bring pacifiers for the City Council. They're a good bunch, Santa, and eventually they accomplish a lot. We just happen to think they could do the same amount of good without irritating each, other because of jangled nerves. "For the pleasant meter maid we want some earmuffs, Why? Not to keep her ears warm but to keep out all those unpleasant gripes from folks whose parking time has ex­ pired. "The next item is a big order, but we need it so badly, and after all it promises to be a gift for everybody in this country. Please give us a separate court system for our big city, state and federal public officials. The little crooks have a eight to be heard, too, and there simply isn't.time as things stand now. "Send a 'love thy neighbor' badge to our city police of­ ficers--along with a big magnifying glass to view it. They're a great group of fellows, but a few times this past year they forgot that all organized groups work best in a "big family" atmosphere. "And last of our requests is for pep pills for our Chamber of Commerce board members. Enthusiasm was evident in a few of them last year. Just imagine, Santa, what could be accomplished with 100 per cent participating? "That's all for us, Santa, but a frustrated home owner who (Continued on page 12) Several Hospitalized After Auto Accidents In Area Three persons were taken to McHenry hospital by the Rich­ mond Rescue squad Saturday morning about 1:30 a.m. Richard W. Dawson of 33 Center street and his passenger Jeffrey M. Norman of 1 Pad­ dock street, both of Crystal Lake, were transported to the hospital along with driver of another car, Lawrence J. Giurlani of 3701 Spring Grove road, McHenry. According to sheriff's deputies, Dawson was south­ bound on Spring Grove road when he saw what he thought was a vehicle driving in his lane of traffic. As he approached the scene he saw the other vehicle was not going to move so he steered to the right to avoid a collision. As he pulled to the right, he noticed a parked car directly in front of him and was unable to avoid hitting it. Giurlani said his car had run out of gas and he and some friends had returned to the scene to start the car. His auto was parked on the west side of' Spring Grove road, just south of Miller road. According Giurlani, a car owned Robert S. Ruemelin was parked directly in front of him with jumper cables in place to start the stalled auto when Giurlani's auto was struck from behind by Dawson's car. Giurlani said both autos were completely off the roadway and both had lights in operation. However, Dawson said Ruemelin's auto was on the roadway parked alongside Giurlani's auto and no lights were visible. Officer's noted that the Ruemelin car was moved prior to arrival of police units. Ronald Rukujzo of 3604 W. Main, McHenry, was charged by county deputies with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident following a two-car accident last Friday afternoon on Barreville road, just west of Gracy road, south of McHenry. A passenger in Rukujzo's auto, Peggy Michalczyk of 3307 S. Riverdale drive, McHenry, and the driver of the other auto, Ann J. Seday of 810 S. Riverside Art i° by the ho Masked Man Threatens Driver, Steals Auto Burglaries, Vandalism In Area Investigated Christmas gifts were taken from under the tree at the Patrick Letizia home at 7411 Birch drive, Wonder Lake, Christmas eve, along with other items from the home. Missing from the premises were a shaver, hair dryer, two portable televisions, watches, clock radio, jewelry, calculator, crockpot, can opener, toys, games and items of clothing. Letizia discovered the burglary just after midnight when the family returned home after being away for the evening. An eight-horsepower garden tractor with snow plow was stolen from the garage of Charles Ackerman of 4705 Ringwood road, McHenry, sometime Sunday afternoon. The family discovered the burglary when they returned home after being away for the afternoon County deputies assisted Spring Grove police in the investigation of a burglary at the home of Cpnrad Peura of 3307 Chelmsford, Spring Grove The family had been away for the evening and when they returned, found the home had been entered by breaking a kitchen window. Taken from the premises were $150 in currency and a tool box con­ taining assorted hand tools. Ross LaMotta of 425 Dowel 1 road, McHenry, returned home after being away for the evening and found his home had been broken into. Between $150 and $200 in half dollars had been stolen from the bedroom. Nothing else was disturbed in the home. The top sections of two blue spruce trees were sawed off and dragged from the vacant property of Alexian Brothers at 1226 Old Bay road, McHenry. A neighbor had observed tracks in the snow Wednesday where the trees were dragged to the roadway and taken away in a waiting vehicle. A ten-foot blue spruce tree was taken from the property of Christian Jepsen at 3415 Riverside drive, McHenry. Sometime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, someone sawed the tree down and hauled it away. An investigation is con­ tinuing in an effort to find the young man who Joan Irwin said pointed a gun at her and stole her auto last Sunday night about 7:30. Ms. Irwin, of 143 S. Rand road, McHenry, reported to sheriff's police that the man was wearing a ski mask. She told authorities she had been driving her auto west on Route 120 in Lakemoor when she observed a young man wearing a ski mask hitchhiking along the roadway. Believing him to be a friend of her brother, she stopped to pick him up. When he entered her auto, he displayed a small caliber revolver and pointed it at her. She screamed and ran from the auto. The offender then left the scene driving her auto. A search of the area was made and the vehicle was found later abandoned on Sheridan road, Lakemoor, with all contends intact including her purse. The identity of the of­ fender has not been learned. Drug Charges Filed Against McHenry Youths Steven Pesz of Roberts road, McHenry, was arrested for possession of cannabis and violation of curfew after deputies found his car parked in the roadway of Riverdale road, McHenry, at 4:15 Friday morning. His bond was set/at $1,025 with court appearance scheduled for Jan. 2. When deputies stopped to investigate they detected the odor of burned cannabis as they approached the vehicle. A quantity of the substance was found in the vehicle, resulting in Pesz's arrest. Two juvenile companions were taken into custody on similar charges and referred to juvenile authorities. Michael Scherer of 524 N. Lakeview, McHenry, was charged with possession of cannabis by county officials Thursday. His bond was set at $1,000 and he is to appear in court Jan. 9. The arrest resulted after deputies observed a car parked on the wrong side of the road Thursday night about K: 30 on Broadway, east of Wilmot road in Pistakee Highlands. When officers approached the auto to investigate, a plastic bag containing marijuana was found on the ground next to the driver's side of the vehicle. McHenry, were taken to ospital by the Lake "Region Rescue squad for treatment of minor injuries. Rukujzo reported that when his vehicle came down a hill, it started sliding sideways. As he was attempting to keep the auto under control, an oncoming car driven by Ms. Seday ap­ proached and impact took place. Deputies noted that the road conditions at the time of the accident were snow packed and icy. A two-car accident on Route 120, just east of Queen Anne road west of Woodstock, last Friday evening resulted in a ticket for driving while in­ toxicated being issued to George Kazimierz of 3721 W. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake. Julia R. Vazquez of 909 S. Victory street, Waukegan, told officers she was east-bound on the highway when the Kazimierz auto approached in her lane of traffic. She at­ tempted to pull over to avoid impact but was unable to do so. Witnesses following Kazimierz's auto said the car had been swerving back and forth across the road prior to sideswiping the Vazquez auto. •• Evelyn Lr Halleran of 3008 W. Orchard drive, McHenry, was taken to McHenry hospital by the Cary Rescue squad last Friday morning after her car ran off the roadway when she attempted to avoid hitting a truck at the intersection of Crystal Lake avenue and Blue court, near Crystal Lake. Ms. Halleran said she had been following a Com­ monwealth Edison truck driven by Ralph C. Whitehead of 3019 Ringwood road, McHenry. According to Ms. Halleran the truck moved slowly and pulled off the road several times. When she went to pass the truck, the turn signals suddenly went on and to avoid impact she ran off the roadway. Whitehead said he was driving slowly because he was looking for Blue court. As he started his turn when he? came to the intersection, he heard a horn behind him and noticed the car start to pass his truck. Ms. Halleran was cited for improper passing at an in­ tersection. Jona Gehlaar of 1332 Old Bay road, McHenry, escaped injury Thursday morning when the car left the roadway totally demolishing the vehicle. According to deputies, Ms. Gehlaar was east-bound on Bay road, just west of Regner road, Pistakee Bay area, when the car left the road as it came (Continued on page 12) McHenry County College trustees voted unanimously this past week to hold a tax referendum March 8 seeking an increase of 8Vfe cents in the education fund rate. Trustees based their decision on a recommendation made by a citizens' advisory committee which has been studying the matter. The committee felt a minimum of two months was necessary to properly inform people of the district on the strong reasons why the referendum is necessary. They indicated that the earliest date the referendum could be scheduled was Feb. 22. Trustees felt more time was necessary and picked the March 8 date. Two members of the advisory committee appeared at the n^eeting and gave a presen­ tation backing up its recom­ mendation. Dan Stegmaier of Woodstock and Bernard Grass of Crystal Lake showed detailed information on the committee's studies. Stegmaier said the reason the committee chose the 8M>-cent figure was that "we felt we could go to the people and say we would not come back to them for a tax increase for five years, unless all chaos breaks loose." "With the cost-control that the present administration has shown, 8'-2 cents could possibly carry into the fifth year completely," Stegmaier said. Grass said the committee started out with the following questions: 1. Do we want to keep MCC and what kind of a college do we actually want here? 2. Why are we where we are? 3. Do we need increased funds? 4. Do we need decreased expenditures? It was noted that the com­ mittee consisted of a "fair amount of skeptics" and Grass and Stegmaier admitted they had voted against the Aug. 20 referendum "because we didn't know the facts". Ron Wilson of Crystal Lake, co-chairman of the advisory committee, said he, too, had voted against the referendum. But after thoroughly reviewing the facts, the committee concurred it was not a question of whether or not the referendum was needed but how much and when it should be held. Stegmaier explained that the first thing the committee looked at was the budget and how accurate it was. He said he had never seen a budget as detailed as that of the college and the committee felt it showed more than adequate financial planning. Stegmaier pointed out that income from real estate had dropped frofn 1969-70 when it was 37.5 percent to the present time at 26.1 percent. In that same length of time, tuition has only increased five dollars. "In this period of inflation, it is a tribute to the ad­ ministration of the college," Stegmaier said. "This is an excellent job of cost-control and in running any business, this is what it takes today," Stegmaier emphasized. The committee stressed that if the college should close, MCC's junior college district would be incorporated into a neighboring district whose tax rates are all higher than MCC. McHenry county taxpayers would also have to continue paying off the bonds they ap­ proved for construction of new campus facilities. This would mean double taxation, Davis noted. The committee's report in­ dicated that if the present 7 cent educational tax rate continued over the next five years, by 1979-80, the college could be operating with a $725,000 deficit budget. By taking 7 cents and adding .0504 in 1975-76, 6 cents in 1076- 77, .0665 cents in 1977-78, etc. up to 8'£ cents, the committee felt the school could operate with a balanced budget over the next five yeafs. The committee stressed that the public must be properly informed as to why a tax in­ crease is needed and they must be assured that only the funds needed to balance the current budget would be used each year. Board members expressed deep appreciation to the committee for its in-uepth study. All pledged complete support and cooperation with the committee's recom­ mendation. Dr. Davis happily reported to the board that an anonymous donor has made available, through the McHenry County Education foundation, nineteen scholarships for nursing students. Full tuition, fees and books will be covered under these scholarships. Nursing students will benefit from the gift in the second semester of this school year, Davis an­ nounced. "This is a milestone in the history of the college," Davis said, "and I hope it leads to proliferation of the practice." Davis noted that the donor felt strongly about this and hoped what he was doing would encourage others to do the same. "I think this is a tremendous service the foundation has rendered the school and these students," Davis added. College Vice President John Garrett informed trustees that sewer work at the new campus site scheduled for this fall would be complete in a week. All that remains to be done is to cross the highway and put the lift station in, Garrett said Dr. Davis reported that he attended a recent Crystal Lake City Council meeting, as requested by the board, to make councilmen aware of a commitment by the city. "The Council did go on record as recognizing that a $23,000 commitment was its obligation in this project," Davis advised. He also pointed out that with the $50,000 from property1 owners and $23,000 from the city of Crystal Lake, the sewer was being installed within the college budget. Trustee Gerald Smith of Woedstoek observed, "This sewer project is a demon­ stration of seven board members cooperating with the administration and insisting that things be handled in a properly managed program" "It was only with the support of the board members that I could go to the City Council and request these things," Smith pointed out. Approval was given to pay Kuch & Ingram, Inc., partial payment of $50,831.38 for sewer construction work and $1,303.93 to Baxter & Woodman, Inc. for engineering services on the project. Four proposed policy revisions were submitted for board approval. Revisions on student admissions, transfer of credit and partial reim­ bursement for part-time in­ structors were approved with little discussion. However, much debate took place on revision of the policy on Student Health Services. Trustees objected to flu shots being administered to students and staff personnel through the office of Student Health Ser­ vices. Trustee William Ryan of Crystal Lake pointed out this service may be desirable when students are away from home but "we are not the University of Illinois". Most students have personal physicians and can get the shots from them, Ryan noted. The board expressed ap­ prehension since some persons suffer negative reactions to flu shots and the school could be held liable. William Carroll, attorney for the college, advised that Dr. Paul of Woodstock volunteered to cooperate with the college in setting up procedures and policies for the Health Service. He authorized standing orders for medications and treatments and agreed to act on a con­ sultation basis whenever the need should arise. By signing the agreement, Dr. Paul's professional liability policy would stand, Carroll explained. "However, "Carroll added, "I didn't assume you were going to give flu shots. I think you are sticking yBar neck way out". Dr Davis told the board he got the picture very clearly from their remarks and the practice wouldn't be repeated. Davis was instructed to bring a detailed report on policies regarding Student Health Services before the board at a future meeting. The purchase of two used 10x50 foot mobile home type structures which were builC<6 be used as offices was afc- (Continued on page 12) ** i