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Mark 25 Years Of The Johmburg Rescue squad Is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary of service to the community with a celebration planned Sunday, Oct. 2. Hie day will begin at 1 p.m. with a parade through Johnsburg, to be followed immediately by a program at the Community club. There will be a display of area reserve units and another of a memorabilia of Johnsburg Rescue squad material accumulated during the past quarter of a century. The public is invited to celebrate with squad members and view the equipment shown above. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD 99.75 Percent In Opposition Unlucky 13 Favor RTA Only thirteen McHenry county citizens signed a petition approving of the RTA while 5,112 stated their op­ position to it, according to Cal Skinner, Sr., McHenry County board member who prepared the petitions and made them available to interested residents of McHenry county. Skinner is the father of State Rep. Cal Skinner, Jr. (It- Crystal Lake). Skinner, Sr., prepared a "Petition Against the RTA" but also provided space for RTA supporters to sign, because, he said, he wanted a sincere ex­ pression. As the petition returns passed the 5,000 mark, Skinner advised that of the thirteen who favor the RTA, four were from Crystal Lake, three from McHenry, two from Woodstock and one each from Cary, Harvard, Union and Wonder Lake. The signers against the RTA represent 99.75 percent while those favoring were only 0.25 percent. Skinner pointed out. No more clear-cut expression of disapproval . could be visualized. Skinner concluded. "It is obvious," he said, "that the people 'want out' and they want to 'stop paying into' the RTA. They were suspicious of the RTA proposal in the first place and they have "had no reason to change their minds." Based on an analysis of data from state officials, Skinner reports that $2.44 from each of the 101,047 licensed motor vehicles in McHenry county goes for the RTA rather than for needed highway im­ provements. This is almost $250,000 a year, he commented, which goes primarily to sub­ sidize the Chicago Transit system. In addition, more than $8 from every person in McHenry county - and similarly for all other counties in the state - is siphoned off the total state sales tax for a similar sup­ plemental subsidy. For McHenry county, this exceeds $1 million a year. During the past three years of RTA's existence, this would be $4,750,000, or almost $5 million which McHenry county people have paid in. For what? seems to be the question the petition signers are asking. The same rail service continues as before RTA with some fare reductions and some fare increases. As to bus service, RTA has added none. And, in fact, some bus service that did exist has now been discontinued. On top of all this, motorists are now facing a gas tax to further subsidize the RTA. Based on 65 cents a gallon, 12 miles to the gallon and 12,000 miles a year, this 5 percent gas tax will cost McHenry county residents an. extra $3,284,027 each year. Skinner acknowledged that the real gas tax collections will probably be less than this because many citizens will arrange to buy their gas outside the six-county RTA area. This, however, will be harmful to the service (Continued on page 18) *111TII1S * THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 102 NUMBER 18 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1977 1 SECTION 20 PAGES Johnsburg High New School On Schedule Despite a miserable month of September, which featured nearly twenty days of rain, construction on Johnsburg high school is just about on schedule, according to K$n Falkinham, assistant superintendent and business manager of District No. 12. Falkinham stated that construction is only about one toeek behind despite the poor weather, and reported that the general contractor, J.J. Henderson, of Gurnee, is placing extra men on the Job in an effort to meet the Aug. 1 completion date. In discussing the progress to date, Falkinham stated that the masonry (bricklaying) began Sept. 15, and would take about two months to complete. The plumbing is presently being installed, and the workers are attempting to enclose the entire building before winter, so that interior work may be done during December, January, and February. Hie school is being con­ structed on approximately forty acres of land, with twenty acres being devoted to the building and parking, and the other twenty acres being used for things such as a football field, baseball diamonds, water reservoir, etc. Workers have already begun doykjng the roof for winter, and although the district had to wait about six weeks for a supply of bricks for the exterior of the building, Falkinham stated that the workers now have all the brick they need. (Continued on page 19) Reports of flying saucers, or reasonable facsimiles, in the jfcrection of Rt. 12, have been reported by a Lakemoor man. James Hmcira said he was letting outside a store looking Into the sky Monday night about 8:30 when two bright orange, oblong objects ap- peared, a small one seeming to rest above a larger one. - i Because he thought no one wobld believe him, Hrncira summoned a clerk in the store and another man. Also wat­ ching the phenomenon were several children, he said. Three times during almost a ten-minute period, the objects disappeared, only to appear again. , Hrncira was still looking for an answer as he commented, "If there are clowns running around up there I want to know it." And looking another direc­ tion, other people have been seeing astounding happenings of a different kind. -A Crystal Lake lady reports driving on a road near Wood- Mock and coming upon a man beating his dogs as they were being exercised on the road­ way. This was a few weeks ago, and since that time she has been trying to get someone to listen and accept her com­ plaint. Complaints against the dog breeder are not new, but he manages to stay within the law to the extent that he has escaped more than censure. We talked at length to Jack Rehorst of the Animal Control center of McHenry county and were left with the impression that anything short of extreme cruelty or neglect will be thrown out of court until such time as more humans demand humane treatment/ Apparently the laws are not well defined. In fact, Rehorst said when the newly formed Animal Control center asked for legal cooperation about four years ago, he and others were greeted with snickers. The situation has improved. Of the last five cases brought to court by Animal Control (apparently claiming extreme cruelty or neglect) all were won. Three paid fines and there were permanent injunctions on theothers, stating the offenders may never again own an animal in McHenry county. Rehorst admitted that with the present backlog in the court system, and with laws not specific as they pertain to the subject, there is little use taking most of them to court. Rehorst reminds that it costs (Continued on page 18) Set School Referendum Polling Places Oct. 15 <When the board of Grade School District 15 met at Parkland school Tuesday evening, they designated polling places for the Oct. 15 election as Hilltop school and ,'juiior high. The district has been split at the river, to cai^se least confusion to voters. - A stipend was set at $30 for election judges who will serve Irom to a.m. to 7 p.m., two additional hours over previous elections. Some discussion took {dace concerning a problem at ^ * brook school that involves t in the gas line outside the r>1 «titdv will be mtm Auto, Motorcylces Lead Long List Of Area Thefts Two area residents were victimized by automobile thefts over the weekend, with one car being taken after the owner left the keys in the car and the vehicle unlocked. The cars were reported stolen by Frank Muse of 2800 Myang, McHenry, and Phillip Schmidt of 1902 Grandview, also in McHenry. Muse notified police of the theft of his auto Sunday at 6:40 a.m. He said that during the night, his black and burgundy 1977 two-door auto was stolen from his drive. He further stated that the vehicle was unlocked with the keys in it at the time of the theft. Schmidt contacted police at 2 a.m. Saturday, stating that sometime after midnight. someone took his green 1971 auto from the parking lot of the McHenry Moose lodge, 2816 Rt. 120, McHenry. He further stated that the keys were not in the car when it was stolen. Besides '.he two automobiles, two motorcycles were also stolen during the week. John Smart of 9701 Riley in Wonder Lake contacted police about the theft of his 100 cc. dirt bike Monday night. He said that the bike was parked in his driveway at the time it was stolen. The other motdftycle theft was reported by William Parcenka of Kenosha, Wis. He said that while attending a racing event at a race track in Spring Grove, he left his cycle Intersection Crash Injures Three Persons Looking upward from beginning stages of construction on the new Johnsburg high school, the Plaindealer photographer shows two workmen silhouetted against the bright sky. They are working among the beams in preparing to lay trusses In place. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD The ever-dangerous in­ tersection of Rt. 31 and Bull Valley road was the site of another accident Tuesday, with three McHenry residents being injured in the two-car collision. Injured were Sheila M. Gerrard of 2308 Fairview, McHenry, and two teenage girls in her car, Barbara and Laura Lescher, both of 1711 N. Woodlawn Park, McHenry. They were hurt when the Gerrard car collided with one driven by Gerald M. Marunde of Crystal Lake. Ms. Gerrard was ticketed for failing to yield at a stop in­ tersection by Sheriff's police who investigated the accident. Ms. Gerrard told police she was stopped at the stop sign, and when she thought it was clear, she proceeded across the intersection and was struck by the Marunde car. Elsewhere, Robert J. Hromec of 1611 N. Pleasant in Joint Agreement Costly MCC Nursing Program In Review made on the best and most economical way to repair it. The bid of McHenry Oil Co., 3809 W. Waukegan road, was accepted to supply gasoline to the district for the 1977-78 school year at a price of forty-nine cents per gallon. During the instructional portion of the meeting, Cathy Berlhiger of the staff presented a report on the new reading guide designed for Junior high use. It is intended to provide help. by defining skills and listing supplemental materials for teachers at the junior high schools in reading instruction. ' 8 • J- mkm | • . flti Although much of last week's meeting of the board of McHenry County college focused on a review of the Joint Educational agreement with Elgin Community college as it affects the nursing program, no action was taken. Instead, a list of alternatives was asked from a special committee, to be presented at the October meeting for a board conclusion. The original agreement signed in 1973 has served over 300 students from the two districts. However, the agreement has been difficult and costly to administer due to its complexity. The agreement reserves twenty-nursing slots a year for students from MCC's district. Students may take the support courses at MCC and take the clinical courses at ECC and are considered graduates of McHenry County college. ^ A revision was brought before the board, as requested last mdftth, for approval which included several changes. Students entering the nursing program in the fall of 1978 and after would be considered students of ECC and would be graduates of ECC. MCC would take only ten slots in the 1978 nursing class as an interin\ step to bring the end of the year payments between the two institutions into balance. Provisions would be made to honor the commitments made to students entering the program previously. The agreement was prepared as a two-year agreement with appropriate cancellation and amendment provisions. Four second year MCC nursing students were present and asked to be hoard. Ollie Loewenherz, Crystal Lake, as spokesperson for the four, told the board the students felt they were being forced to "chani up to the previous commitment to current classes. The agreement of 1973 in­ cludes programs in Agriculture Ornamental Horticulture, Agricultural Business Technology, Agricultural Production Management, and Police Science by MCC and Nursing and Plastics Technology by ECC. Trustee Barbara Pautz; Crystal Lake, reported the Presidential Selection com­ mittee had seven semi-finalists for the position of MCC president which the committee is in the process of in­ terviewing. A schedule for second interviews would be made and the target date for a recommendation to the board is Oct. 27. Trustee Herb Lutter, Cary, reported the Dean of Ad­ ministrative Services Selection committee had eighteen semi- finalists out of 148 applicants. Interviews will be held in the near future. The October meeting will be held Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the Main hall building on the college campu* McHenry was ticketed for having fictitious plates following a two-car accident Sunday afternoon on fclm street. Neither Hromec, nor the driver of the other car involved in the crash, motorcyclist Jon S. Eastman of Waukegan, was injured in the crash. Hromec told police he was stopped in traffic behind the motorcycle. He said he eased the pressure on the brake and rolled forward, bumping the cycle, knocking it over. Joseph F. Walter, 603 Oef- fling, McHenry, was ticketed for improper backing after his car collided with one owned by Steven C. Wijas, 1335 River­ side, McHenry, earlier this month. Walter was not hurt in the crash, which caused less than fifty dollars damage to his auto. He told police he started to back out of a parking space and tried to avoid hitting a garbage dumpster. In the process, he struck the Wijas car in the rear. Finally, Duane D. Cedergren of 3705 St. Paul's, McHenry, was ticketed for improper lane usage following a two-car accident last week at the in­ tersection of Green street and Elm street. Both the Cedergren car, and (Continued on page 18) unattended briefly, and upon returning, discovered it was missing. Parcenka's cycle was a 125 cc. dirt bike. Among other incidents reported to police, Hal Vor- nkahl of 909 North avenue, McHenry, stated that sometime Monday, someone removed a padlock to gain entry to a' storage shed, stealing a ten-speed racing bicycle. Ted Curry of McHenry reported the theft from a home he is constructing at 2814 Regner road, McHenry. He stated that someone entered the home and stole a portable generator with a gasoline engine, a saw, and a gasoline tank. fUlph Hanna of 708 Regner road, McHenry, reported that someone cut two chains securing his boat to his pier, and stole the boat. A neighbor later found the craft adrift, but the 25 hp. outboard motor and a gasoline can were missing. Finally, there were three rather unusual incidents, none involving theft, but involving local residents. Employees of the Pistakee Highlands Water company reported that they discovered a fire hydrant had been broken off at the intersection of Fox Lake road and Rt. 12 in Spring Grove. From area residents, it was learned that someone had backed an auto over the hydrant, with the. driver leaving the scene. A short time later, the driver returned with several companions, and they succeeded in freetnf the automobile. Employees of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul k Pacific railroad told police that, at the railroad tracks just east of Wilmot road in Spring Grove, someone fired shotgun blasts into a control box, breaking the lock and damaging equipment inside. As a result of the in­ cident, the warning lights at the Wilmot road crossing were activated. A United Parcel Service., truck, driven by Gary Scbinaki of McHenry, struck a natural gas service pipe leading into the Radicom Corporation building on Chapel Hill road, just northeast of McHenry. The McHenry Fire-department was summoned to the scone to standby while repairs were made by the gas company. Garage Saved After were being forced to "change mm . a , a . a /# Trailer Is Set Afire Arrest McHenry Man For Drugs, Delinquency vehicle, marijuana leaves were allegedly observed in the vehicle, and further inspection apparently produced a quantity oi cannabis plants, as well as a pipe for its consumption. He was then arrested on th*e cannabis charge. No in­ formation was made available concerning. the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. , their slots be reserved for one more semester to simplify the registration process and that the class that started could finish under the previous agreement. Bob Bartlett. MCC dean of instruction, stressed the revised agreement would live V" • '"<'*•' • . • * The quick reactions of a McHenry man saved his garage from burning down Monday evening after someone set fire to a trailer parked alongside the garage. Drexel Miliar of 2710 Riverside. McHenry, notified police that someone had set fire < • • • Jl< ' , to the trailer near his garage.' He succeeded in extinguishing the Maze before my damage was done to the building. Police have no suspects in connection with the incident. County authorities were (Continued on page 18) A young McHenry man has been charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and contributing to the delinquency of a minor following his ap­ prehension by McHenry county Sheriff's police Monday evening. Arrested was Vance Roth, 20, of 1112 Quincy in McHenry. He was charged after police in­ vestigated the report of an auto entering a wooded area off Breezy Lane road, near Rt. 173, Spring Grove. The call came in at about 6:20 p.m. to the Sheriffs office in Woodstock. An officer located the vehicle in question and stopped H. According to the police report as the driver left the REFERENDUM FORUM An open forum on the topic of the Oct. 15 tax rate referendum for Elementary School District 15 is being hosted by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce. It will be held at Parkland school at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4.