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100 TEARS THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 101 NUMBER 73 FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1977 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20' MCHS Task Force Report Recommend Solutions To Fiscal Problems Ed Cepulis, chairman of the Curriculum subcommittee of the Task Force, discusses possible areas of cutbacks in the high school budget. As the meeting wore on, Cepulis proved instrumental in formulating a plan of operation for the Force to follow. The entire committee will meet Monday night to discuss further findings. STAFF PHOTO-JEFF BONATO As one possible solution to the financial bind which McHenry high school District No. 156 is in, the Task Force, a com­ mittee of concerned citizens searching for possible ways to alleviate a $500,000 deficit, Thursday night pledged full support for a tax referendum should the school board decide to hold one. However, the Task Force will continue holding meetings and subcommittee meetings in an effort to determine exactly how the money could be saved should a referendum fail, or if the school board, who will make the final decision, chooses not to have one. Thus, the Task Force will meet together Monday night, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. at West campus to discuss further cutbacks than those presented at the meeting last week. At the last meeting, all of the subcommittees, when examining the school operation, discovered that District No. 156 is already operating efficiently, and subcommittee chairmen all stated that most of the cutbacks that would be made would seriously affect the quality of education in the district. However, in order to present a complete report to the board of education, the Task Force will be reassessing all ex­ penditures once again, sear­ ching for further savings. Total cutbacks discussed at Thursday's meeting totaled less than one-half of the needed savings. Worse, the com­ mittees were adamant that the proposed savings would greatly hamper education. At a meeting six weeks ago, the Task Force, headed by Mel Prust, was divided into five subcommittees, each with the responsibility of examining the expenditures in certain areas of school operations. The five subcommittees were the Staffing committee, the Co- curricular committee, the Curriculum committee, the Support Services committee, and the Facilities committee. The five subcommittee chairmen gave their preliminary recommendations to the entire Task Force Thursday night, with the Facilities committee, chaired by Don Gerstad, making the strongest points. "It is the conclusion of this subcommittee (Facilities) that the board of education add on to West campus so as to provide a single four-year high school program at West campus," Gerstad told the remainder of the Task Force. "The savings from this recommendation would almost be enough to retire the bonds for the new addition. "It is our further recom­ mendation that East campus and McCracken field (the outdoor sports facility across Kane street from McHenry junior high) be sold and all of the school's activities be moved to West campus," he added. If this recommendation is adopted by the entire Task Force, and is then approved by the board of education, a referendum would appear to be the only way to get enough money with which to put the addition on West campus. It was emphasized that the Facilities subcommittee report and preliminary recom­ mendation has not been for­ mally adopted by the Task Force, let alone the board of education. One of the key savings points in Gerstad's report was the fact that once the addition is built, if it is, the school district would save $300,000 annually. "This is due only by a reduction of administrative and support staff," he said. "This savings would not affect the educational program. It is truly a savings of operations under one roof." The Facilities subcommittee report contained several figures illustrating the ap­ parent value of moving the entire school under one roof. The subcommittee estimated that $6,000,000 would be needed to move all students and ac­ tivities over to West campus. Presently, District No. 156 has a commitment from the Capital Development board of the state of Illinois to pay $2,500,000 of the cost. However, that money must be used by the end of the year or the commitment is lost, and so is the 2.5 million dollars. Using the state money, that leaves $3,500,000 still to be raised to enlarge West campus. The sale of East campus, if possible, would bring in an estimated $800,000 and the sale, of McCracken field would bring in another $100,000. This leaves a net cost for enlarging West campus of $2,600,000. Gerstad explained that, "maintaining the present system, and bringing East campus up to state standards would cost an estimated $3,000,000 to $3,500,000. This would cost the taxpayers as (Continued on page 17) Crash Kills Driver Child Drowns On Outing With Class ALEX B. CHAMBERS Tragedy struck the McHenry area twice within five hours Wednesday, with a Lakemoor boy drowning and a Wonder Lake man being killed in an automobile accident. Alex B. Chambers, son of Fred and Gwenda Chambers, 701 W. Amanda, Lakemoor, drowned while swimming in the Fox River at a party in Orchard Heights subdivision at ap­ proximately 5:20 p.m. Then, at 10:15 p.m., Jerry L. Huddleston, 35, 8413 Memory trail, Wonder Lake, was killed when the ear he was driving collided head-on with a pickup truck on Thompson road, just north of Rt. 120. The drowning of 10-year-old Alex Chambers brought to a tragic close a party involving twenty-four members of the Hilltop school fifth grade class. As has been the custom for many years, Mrs. Barbara Novak invited the entire class to a cookout at her home near the state park at Orchard Heights. Mrs. Novak warned the children against going near the water. Alex was noticed missing while food was being prepared in the backyard and the youngsters were gathered in groups in the recreation room and outside. When his absence was noticed, some of his classmates remembered having seen him near the water's edge. Mrs. Novak, her husband, and two other adults were joined by the children in an attempt to locate the child. When he was not found authorities were summoned. County police were called at approximately 5:20 p.m. The McHenry Area Rescue squad was summoned, as well as the McHenry County Emergency Services (MCES) unit. Divers from the MCES unit spent more than one hour searching for the boy, before his body was found in the river approximately twenty feet off the shore. (Continued on page 18) :• The public has often been quick to criticize school bus drivers, particularly if their vehicles are involved in an accident. And maybe this is natural, for they are carrying precious cargo. But if adverse criticism is thrown their way, then they also should be credited for the many small, but important acts that sometimes may be classified as heroic. One of these came to our attention this week. Seven-year-old Andrew Wiley was riding in a bus driven by Carol Hamil, who stopped to discharge him on the highway near his home. The youngster stepped out and was just starting to cross when the driver realized an oncoming motorist had no intention of stopping. She shouted to get the youngster's attention and halt his progress across the busy highway as the unidentified driver continued on, either oblivious of the averted tragedy, or uncaring. The bus stop signal had been extended and two cars were stopped behind the vehicle, one driven by a state police officer who was unable to see what happened. Young Andrew Wiley awakened the 4 next monring and started a new day meeting his bus, spending the day in the classroom and returning home. Except for the alertness of Ms. Hamil it could have been otherwise. The story came to us, not from the driver, but someone who had been informed of the details. We are using Ms. Hamil to represent all those bus drivers who perform similarly in emergencies daily. In the meantime, we are reminded by Illinois state police at Elgin that with the advent of spring and warmer days, there seems to be a growing number of motorists who disregard signals from a stopped school bus receiving or discharging children. They emphasize once again that all motorists must exercise their responsibility to obey the law when approaching a school bus from either direction. K.A.F. City Hears NIPC Wastewater Plan Arrest Four, Seek Others In McHenry Area Burglaries Three teenage youths were arrested and charged with a total of forty-eight counts of theft and burglary as numerous burglaries in the area were cleared by county police. The three youths, Roger Ketchum of Woodstock, Robert Luccetti of Crystal Lake, and Charles Schulten, also of Crystal Lake, were originally arrested in connection with the burglary last week at AERO- PA Motorcycle shop, 4452 Bull Officials from the city of McHenry held a night meet­ ing with representatives from the Northern Illinois Planning commission (NIPC) and the Illinois Environmental Protection agency (IEPA) to discuss the future of a regional wastewater treatment facility which would service McHenry, McHenry Shores, and Mc- Cullom Lake. The meeting was to deter­ mine if there were any grounds for pursuing the regionalization concept of sewage treatment at this time. Previously, the McHenry City Council has been adamant in voicing objections against a regionalization plan, while officials from McCullom Lake and McHenry Shores, have both expressed a willingness to participate. Presently, McCullom Lake and McHenry Shores are without a wastewater treat­ ment facility. Mayor Joseph Stanek called County Enters Selective Traffic Enforcement Plan On a motion by Walter Dean of McHenry, the McHenry County board approved placing $32,000 in the 1977-78 budget to be used for joint funding for participation in the Selective Traffic Enforcement program. The total grant amounts to $108,561.11, of which the remaining 70 percent would be paid by the state. Ed McFadden of the Sheriff's department was present along with Sheriff Arthur Tyrrell to present final information on the program and make the grant request. . The Public Safety committee urged the county's par­ ticipation in a program that calls for hiring three more deputies. They will patrol certain speed areas near schools and give presentations before assemblies of students regarding proper driving, rules for pedestrians, etc. A quarterly evaluation will Set Deadlines Ahead Memorial Day Issue The Plaindealer office will be closed Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial day. Deadlines for the first issue that week will be set ahead as follows: General news and display advertising will be accepted until noon Friday, May 27, and classified advertising until 4 p.m. the same day. Community correspondents must have their columns in the office by noon Thursday, May 26. be made by the sheriff and Public Safety committee, and there will be a complete evaluation after one year. Action was necessary at this time so that, if approved, the money could be included in the next budget. The board concurred with the Finance & Salaries committee recommendation to pay ex­ penses for William Morefield, Valley Hi Nursing home ad­ ministrator, to attend a meeting with the Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) officials in Washington. The trip was deemed necessary because of a recent ruling made in Springfield against the legality of the present method of township funding of Valley Hi. ^ Morefield said the total amount involved is between $30,000 and $40,000. He pointed out that he was holding present township checks in escrow. A report of the McHenry County Liquor & License (Continued on page 18) the meeting so that the aldermen, who have previously instructed the mayor to refuse to cooperate, would have a chance to hear the NIPC and IEPA presentation and discuss any problems and objections. No discussion between aldermen or a decision on the regionalization subject was forthcoming that evening because the gathering was a committee meeting, and not an actual Council meeting. Essentially, NIPC and the IEPA are seeking to get a wastewater treatment needs analysis report on file for the city of McHenry. "In the six county (Chicagoland) area, there were twenty-three communities which, in spring of 1976, had not done a wastewater treatment plan," explained Paul Kraman, NIPC official. "There were two reasons for a community failing to file a plan. First of all, there are communities, like McHenry, which just increased their present plant, and their present needs are satisfied. The other reason is that the com­ munities have a very low priority on funding, and the state has run out of money. Tribute To MCHS Seniors Seniors of the MCHS graduating class will be honored when the annual Tribute to the Class of 1977 is held at West campus Tuesday, May 24, at 8 p.m. Following the processional. Principal Robert Swartzloff will give the welcome and tribute to the class. Numerous awards and honors will be bestowed on outstanding seniors. Brief talks will be given by Cathy Pintozzi, vice-president, and Clare Higgins, secretary A musical program will be provided by the West campus select choir, directed by John Leighty. The singers have selected "You'll Never Walk Alone", "The Long and Win­ ding Road", and "Orange and Black". A senior choir will be heard in "Alma Mater" and "May You Always", after which Doug Pfau, treausurer of the class, will speak. That applies to McHenry Shores," Kraman added. He then explained the three- step process which must be followed in the development or expansion of a wastewater treatment facility. The first step is the plan for a sewer system. Then, there is the actual design of the facility, and finally, the actual funding to build what has been designed. Presently, NIPC is seeking ( Continued on page 18) Montini Graduation Mass For Eighty-Six Montini Catholic schools' eighth grade graduation Mass will be held Tuesday, May 24, at St. Mary's church. The graduation Mass will be con- celebrated by Fathers Baumhofer, Petit and Sch­ wartz, with Father Baumhofer giving the homily. Diplomas will be given to the eighty-six graduates by Ken­ neth Diedrich, president of the Montini board of education. Representatives of the American Legion, Kiwanis and Catholic Order of Forestors will be present to give their respective club awards to six of the graudates. Valley road, McHenry. During the follow-up phase of the investigation, numerous burglaries in the McHenry, Crystal Lake, Huntley and Woodstock areas were cleared. The burglaries were in both county and city jurisdictions. The burglaries that were cleared within the respective city limits were turned over to their departments. A large amount of property either has been, or will be recovered as the investigation continues. In other developments, a youth apprehended in con­ nection with the theft of several musical instruments from a home earlier this month, was arrested on an additional charge of burglary and theft (Continued on page 18) Two-Year Members Of MCHS Honor Chapter At the eighteenth annual induction ceremony of the McHenry high school National Honor society, some seniors were honored for two-vear membership. On floor from left, are Mary Gattone, treasurer; Wendy - Gildemeister, secretary; Renee Freund, vice-president; and Mark Snyder, president; first row, from left, Bonnie Bourke, Scott Crittenden, Kristy Day, Jim Dostal, Tina Glash, Maureen Hall, Debbie Hay, Clair Higgins and Bill Hurckes; second row, Joan Lingeman, Rich Long, Candy Massheimer, Erin McGibbon, Cathy Pintozzi, Gary Seavers, Sean Thomas and Cathy Ullrich; third row, Linda Vick and Sue Wickenkamp. Loretta Malinski was missing from photo. More pictures appear elsewhere in this issue. The eighteenth annual in­ duction ceremony of the McHenry high school National Honor society was held May 12 in the West campus auditorium. This year a record number of juniors and seniors were given this highest of honors, a total of 101. There were twenty-nine juniors and seventy-two seniors, with twenty-four of the seniors 2-year members. The students, their parents and friends, and members of the faculty were welcomed by West Campus Principal Robert Swartzloff. Following an en­ tertaining and inspirational talk by Larry Leafblad of radio station W.K.R.S. in Waukegan, the membership pins, cards, and tassels for graduating seniors were awarded by members of the N.H.S. faculty committee. Sponsor, Karen Lescher expressed appreciation to this years' officers: president, Mark Snyder, vice-president, Renee Freund; secretary, W e n d y G i l d e m e i s t e r : treasurer, Mary Gattone and announced the new officers for next year. R. William Dodds, a s s i s t a n t s u p e r i n t e n d e n t , administered the oath of membership and made the closing remarks, after which the assembly was invited to extend congratulations while refreshments were served in the cafeteria