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PAGE 16 - PLAINDEALEK WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1975 Malicious Mischief The Devastation Of Fire Henry Nell, Jr., president of the board of School District 15, looks over the damaged light fixture in the learning center. Gary Gough, assistant chief of McHenry Co. 1, directs the crew from amidst the smoke-filled school. Firemen from Companies 1, 2 and 3 battled the blaze that was Started in a second grade classroom, in the northwest wing of Valley View school. File cabinets were opened and records were doused with liquids. Damage nears the $200,000 mark in Saturday's fire at Valley View school. Three fire companies were at work from the time the call was received at 3:40 in the afternoon until the blaze was brought under control. The McHenry County Sheriff's department spent many hours of investigation. Teachers, custodians, board members and volunteers also had a busy weekend cleaning up. The excitement of a change of classrooms came to some first graders who lost their classroom temporarily. It was different for teachers who had lost treasured personal belongings and also found many of their records destroyed. Some of the items that could not be saved were possessions accumulated through a lifetime. The school will soon be restored to use as before, but it will be much longer before those most closely associated with it will forget the devastation that results from malicious mischief. Staff Photos By Wayne Gaylord Teachers, janitors and even a school board member labored part of the weekend to prepare the building for the students' return to school Tuesday. * The learning center, a shamble from floor to ceiling as the result of the action of vandals. Second graders will be mfarat the use of this room as it received total damage in the fire. An investigation into the arson and burglary is conducted by the McHenry County Sheriff's department and continues through the night. Above, Detectives James Fitzgerald and Elof Borgeson dust for fingerprints.