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i DEBRALANDRE STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD If Uncle Sam's parting with the old year was made amidst furor with postal increases, his entrance in 1976 was little better. Our intentions were the best as we made our way into the post office Saturday afternoon to supplement our left-over Christmas stamps with one- centers. Since the office was closed we made our way directly to the stamp machine. The natural choice was the penny slot, for which a par­ ticular larger coin was designated. In it went, and out it came. The first couple of times it was fun -- a little like paying your money and not really losing it. But we knew something was wrong because the penny stamps failed to follow. Then we saw the light, a bright red one that said "empty" each time we pulled the handle. That took all the fun out of the game. # So we decided to try the quarter machine. For twenty- five cents we would receive two ten-cent stamps and five one- cent stamps. But would we ever acquire enough penny stmaps to come out even? Logically, it seemed this machine was defeating our purpose. Nevertheless, in went our quarter, and out it came. No light, just the money even on the second try. Now we're sure our local postal employees are as upset as we are about the predicament in which Uncle Sam has placed us. Surely they are receiving complaints. Important mail to go out over a weekend and no possible way to get it stamped. Our last resort was one of those money-making machines in a private store where one puts in a quarter and gets just two ten-cent stamps. But what good are ten-cent stamps without the benefit of the one- centers. We admit to being in a con­ fused state at times, but Uncle Sam is having a worse time, and he's running a whole country! _• -» To our knowledge there was no widespread celebration of the entrance of the Bicen- , tennial year. This was in contrast to the celebration of the nation's Centennial at midnight, Dec. 31, 1875. Cannons, small arms, firecrackers and rockets were fired, bells of all kinds rang, and steamboats tied up along the rivers added to the din with their thistles. Midnight watch services were held in some churches. There were thirty-seven states that year, and to control the noise, cannon-booming was limited to just that .many rounds. Chicago, however, circumvented the order by holding three exercises, one for the north, west and south sides of the city. Maybe the premature planning for the year 1976 was the reason for less celebration when the big moment finally arrived last week. Whatever this cause, we hope the fervor * that has characterized the past few months will continue throughout a year that should have special significance for every American. (Continued On Page 14) Youth Dies Of Crash Injuries David A. Weber, 17, of 220 Lincolnshire, Crystal Lake, died in McHenry^ hospital Friday, Jan. 2, from injuries suffered in an auto accident Dec. 18. He had been reported in fair condition in the intensive care unit following a crash that occurred on Rt. 14, near Harvard. "1 v. i According to the police report, Weber's auto left the road and struck a large rock and tree in the early hours of the morning. A passenger in the car, Ritchie Walker, 17, of Crystal Lake, was pronounced dead at Sherman hospital, Elgin, a few hours after the accident. A second passenger, Robert Coghlan, 17, also of Crystal Lake, had only minor injuries. Weber was a senior in Crystal Lake high school. A Mass was offered in St. Thomas Catholic church Monday morning. Area Juvei Escapes Mental Center vegute From *4,000 Damage In Spree One of the four patients who escaped from the Elgin Mental Health center early last Sunday morning was a juvenile from the McHenry area., In the process of making their escape, the offenders assaulted a hospital employee and another patient. r A large quantity of drugs was taken along with a 1968 Gld- smobile which the four stole from the Elgin area. Illinois state police reported that Missouri law enforcement officials informed them Sunday evening at 9:30 that they had apprehended the four of­ fenders. They were taken into custody by Butler County Sheriff's police in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The -escapees are being returned to the Elgin Mental Health center where local authorities will examine the 'ingch possibility of bringn against the offenders charges ~ f ter-"1 A sixteen-year-old McHenry juvenile was apprehended by city police Thursday morning about 5 o'clock after he was found inside the First Methodist church at 3717 W. Main street and was blamed for about $4,000 damage to the premises. Earlier that same morning, an apartment at 3815 W. Main street was entered and burglarized and an attempt was made to enter a home at 3801 W. Main street. During the investigation of an attempted break-in at the Carl Weber home at 3801 W. Main, police officers heard loud smashing noises coming from the churth across the street. Officers arrived at the^scene and discovered a large window had bteen broken and a male juvenile was inside the building. The juvenile, who was nude, had wrapped himself in a white bridal aisle runner and was seen going from one room to another in the building. When asked to unlock the door and (Continued On Page 14) McHenry Area Records Four New Year's Eve Accidents County deputies investigated thirteen accidents New Year's Eve, four in the McHenry area. Of the four accidents, only one resulted in a ticket and no in­ juries were reported. David J. Krauz of 5109 Willow, Wonder Lake, was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for unsafe tires following a collision at the intersection of Barnard Mill and Howe roads last Thursday morning about 2:45. According to county deputies, Krauz apparently fell asleep while west-bound on Barnard Mill road. When he awoke^ he saw a car stopped at the sign at the intersection but was unable to avoid a collision. After im­ pact, Krauz's auto continued on into the yard of Fred Wiedemann at 7515 Barnard Mill road, where it hit two trees and damaged other property on the premises. Driver of the other car, Robert E. Smith of 8115 White Oaks, Wonder Lake, said he tried to back up when he saw the Krauz car approaching but was unable to get out of the way. A one-car accident on Lincoln road, about one-half mile west of Cuhlman road, resulted in a Ups And Downs 1975 Highlights In Review * A complete review of McHenry area news In 1975 will appear In the Friday Issue. The most important news of 1975 in the McHenry area was not in every case good news. This was revealed in a glance of highlights of events as they appeared in the Plaindealer over the past twelve months!. School happenings dominated the news. Although plans to proceed with the establishment of a career center in cooperation with other county high schools started in February, all hope of holding a referendum in the near future faded by year's end. In May, the Board of Control set the date for Dec. 6, when the question of a .05 per cent levy was to be submitted to the eight participating districts. ^ Legal technicalities that arose with the establishment of a new high school in the Johnsburg area were responsible for the postponement. v The Johnsburg referendum itself was the biggest news item in this area in 1975. A total of 1,666 voters turned out to express themselves on two issues. By a comfortable margin of 919 to 729, they favored forming a new community school district comprising all territory of District 12. Voters also approved issuing bonds in the amount of $3,033,600 for the purpose of purchasing and improving a school site and building and equipping a senior high school building. The close of the year found High School District 156 board members deeply involved in the problems associated with 'an increasing enrollment at West campus, and the return to a more traditional program for many juniors and seniors. Good news for District 156 was realization of an '^alternative school", for which a check in the amount of $47,000 was received early in the year to fund the new concept in education. Later, on a rental lease basis, the district acquired usage of the white house on Waukegan street formerly used as a kindergarten. v The program, which had its start in September, provides a new environment for learning offered dropouts and potential dropouts. Previous indications of a money problem came to light when a gloomy picture of city finances was presented to the City Council in October. A review of the budget indicated a deficit of $27,392.19 for the first five months. A projected cash flow for October through December revealed that the projected monthly deficit for that period would be $18,853. Earlier, for the first time in history, the city deemed it necessary to use tax anticipation warrants in order to meet the payroll and pay monthly bills. On the plus side, the city had received funding in the amount of $86,250, representing the state's T (Continued On Page 14) D m n U / \ n / % » * e D / « n / t C * A n / ^ A f * 4 ticket being issued to Ralph M. Berent of 1400 Fairview lane, McHenry. He was charged with . failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Berent told deputies he "lost it" and ran off the road Thursday evening about 8:45. Linda Kraus of 1902 N. Or­ chard Beach drive, McHenry, was taken to McHenry hospital by the Johnsburg Rescue squad after the car she was driving went out of control as it crossed the little bridge near 3106 N. Route 31, about one-half mile south of Johnsburg road. The car slid on the wet pavement (Continued On Pagd 14) Shown above with the festival hop on ha ad director, McHenry county's Conductor-in-Residence, Dr. Elmer Thomas, are members of the McHenry high school honors concert hand. In first row, from left, are Dr. Thomas, Pete Kaspershl, Jim True,0 Virginia Wllsman, Dawn Campbell, Cheryl Ripley and Ray Miller; second row, from left. West chqipus director, John Lelghty; Scott Ask Removal Of Ice, Snow From Sidewalks McHenry residents are being aSked to Vemove ice and snow from parches, steps and sidewalks during the winter season to essen the dangers to mail carriers and other deliverymen. "Slips and falls on snow and ice result in serious injuries," said Postmaster Leroy Smith "There were 1,660 injuries to mail carriers due to falfcon ice and snow in 1974. These injuries are not only painful, ^lit may also result in loss of work and medical expenses," he said The postmaster also asked (Continued On Page 14) Anderson. Dave Hlnspoter. Tim Oakley, Mfta and Peter Bender; third row, from left, Marty Fooonm, Cathy Byers, Charlynda Johnson, Lowell Khr ley,* Brad Hertet and Brott Thomas; fourth row, from left, Dong Hertel, Cassandra York, rb Grandt, Kathy A hern, Carol Petty, An^ew Davidson «d aul S la nek. ^ Woodstock's Community high school auditorium will be the site for the first county high school honors band festival Sunday, Jan ,11 at 3 p m ' Honors concert and stage band members were chosen from Marian Central, Cary- Grove, Alden Hebron, and high schools in HuntleV, Marengo, Woodstock, McHenry and Richmond Classical pieces by Handel. Mahler and Hoist will be heard in one^fgjfitne«t of the concert band program Recent ex­ perimental pieces by Nehybel and Perischetti will stand in contrast to the Americana themes provided by Ives' Variations on 'Ainerica', William Schuman's "Chester" and Souse's "Stars and Stripes Forever/. As^Successors to the "Big Bands" and dance bands of the 1930's and 1940s, the high school honors stage band will feature solos from the brass. (Continued On Page 14) Happy New Year's Eve Only M minutes left In the old year and the celebration starts for t|to happy team as they display their championship trophy in the Kankakee tournament while the cheerleaders show the spectators who is No. 1. McHenry won four straight games in the sixteen-tnnm tourney, totaling 303 points, while holding their opponents to 21C during the three-day event The Warriors also ran their winning streak to eleven gsft^kafter their season opening loos to highly regarded West Aurora. ~ < STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD) VOLUME 100 NUMBER 45 WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 7, 1976 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 30' McHenry Math Whiz Develops Magic Triangle New math or old math is a headache for many, but not Debra Landre. The 20-year-ol^ Bradley university senior from McHenry recently turned a "battle of the intellects" bet­ ween herself and a friend into what could be the first magic triangle. Her work on the triangle won her entrance into the mathematics conference at St. Louis university as the only Illinois student speaker. Miss Landre, daughter of Mrs. Joy Landre of McHenry, is a graduate of St. Patrick's grade and Marian high school. A spokesman for the U. of I. mathematics department verified her finding that there is no evidence anyone has ever done such work besides herself in Illinois universities. The magic triangle is Miss Landre's answer to the magic square, a mathematical puzzle often worked by those of all ages. Magic squares consist of numbers from 1 through 9 which provide the same sums when added vertically, horizontally or diagonally. None of the numbers may be repeated The triangle contains numbers ranging from 1 through 9 which are grouped in triangles within a triangle and whose sums are equal. The magic triangle research ; began about a year and a half ago when Miss Landre and a friend were studying math together Bringing it to his attention, she showed him the theory by French mathematician Antoine de la Lo'ubere and said, "Look, this always works". With his challenge, the magic square, magic triangle work began as a "battle of the in-; tellects". After researching the possible existence of a magic triangle.^she could ftnd no work done on one^ana decided to examine the idea herself. With some disbelief in the accomplishment^ Debra ex­ plained, "There was an 8 in 1 million chance of finding it" After three weeks of work, she found the answer, and decided to enter an abstract of her work to the Pi Mu Epsilon. honorary mathematics society conference She was pleasantly surprised at the invitation that followed to speak at the St Louis program With only three weeks to organize the work it had taken her one and a half years to do. it was necessary to- obtain the help of two friends with com­ puter analysis. The accumulated facts became a speech titled. "Magic Squares and Magic Triangles Are Not Empty", which ex­ plained the similarities bet- 9 ween the two and gave a history of the puzzles. Miss Landre said the magic square was not really discovered by a human. The tale of this square began in 2200 B.C in China when turtles were worshipped. Supposedly, she explained, a turtle rose with a magic square design on its hack The turtle rose in sight of emperor, who copied the tie ' The math whiz recalled that even Benjamin Franklin ex-" perimented with magic squares She said that like Franklin, she is often asked why she spends so much time with the squares and triangles. Debra admits that it may be a waste of time, but "I live math and I love working with it" She observed that the magic figures are a way of getting children interested in math, After a class presentation she observed with excitement. "They were doing algebra and trig and they didn't even know it^ "When calculus was invented no one thought it was wor­ thwhile but about 200 years later it became the basis for engineering". Debra Landre only hopes that the practicality of magic squares and magic triangles is realized in her lifetime Among the organizations in which Miss Landre held membership were LSS.D <Pt Kappa Alpha), president;** chairman, Bradley U 4 ICC. Pike Hike for M.D for which $23,000 was raised, chairman of Homecoming Steering com­ mittee. Hospitality corps; Leo Amis de la France (French club in Peoria), Math club; ANAGA (yearbook); In­ t e r n a t i o n a l S t u d e n t s organization;' Student Center board; Mortar board. National Honor Society for Senior Women. intermurai football and volleyball (OCSA); American Association of Teachers of French; Illinois Association of Teachers of Mathematics and counselor, 1975 IATF Camp Miss Landre waa the only student speaker chosen from Illinois to speak at the Illinois- Missouri Mathematics con­ ference. I THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 B 7 6