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\ f Growth Marks Hospital Year The year 1977" at McHenry hospital was notable for an increase in the rate of oc­ cupancy, the renovating of the hospital, and the decision to open aj nuclear medicine facility, according to LeRoy Olsen, president of, the hospital s board of directors, in his address Feb. 4 to the hospital association's meeting. "The last, expansion of McHenry hospital was in 1966," Olsen noted. "That was before the introduction of our ex­ tensive diagnostic equipment and ancillary services. That was also before our Trauma center was inaugurated? more specialists were added to our staff, and more outpatient services were developed "It is no wonder that, in addition to encountering a periodic bed shortage, we have been forced to play Chinese checkers with the limited amount of space we have." Commenting on the fact that the hospital's board of directors has bid on the high school property adjacent to the hospital. Olsen said, "We believe that this is an op­ portunity for two community service agencies to cooperate and help each other. However] if our bid is rejected, we can live with what we have." Expressing the board's concern about health care costs. Olsen pointed out that "the government has stimulated demand for in­ creased health care without expanding the training of physicians and nurses." In response to rising costs, he reported. McHenry hospital has instituted programs which help the patient at the least expensive appropriate level. "The new Continuity of Care service is designed to match the patient's needs with the resources available. Most often, it refers patients to public agencies which can help > them after their hospital discharge Many patients who might otherwise be transferred to outside facilities can be returned to their own homes and families through the in­ troduction of part-time help. This is not only less expensive, but is preferable." Chicago Tribune columnist Jack Mabley. who was guest speaker at the meeting, spoke as both a newspaper man and as president of the board of directors of a community hospital, Mabley has just returned from a series of conferences in Washington. D C . as a member of the executive committee of the National Advisory board on Hoards of Directors of the American Hospital association. He thus represented directors in 5.500 hospitals. During the business session of the annual meeting, John O. McGee. Daniel Schmitt and Virginia Williams. R^N.. were reelected to the board of directors for three-year terms. Edward F. Wilt. Jr.. M D . and Hayim Rodrick. M.D .b were elected to one-year terms as representatives of the Medical- Dental staff. Mrs. Elmer Stange was reelected as the representative of the auxiliary and Anthony Corcoran as the chief executive officer of the hospital Nine employees were honored for their ten-year records of service: Margaret Anderson. Barbara Beden. Marian Boswell, Helen Golbeck. R.R.A.; Edythe Lavin. June Madden, R.D.; Marian Stokes, R.N.; Margaret Sundby and Margaret Thurlwell. Shown at McHenry hospital's annual meeting Feb. 4 are, from left, Daniel Schmitt, treasurer of the hospital's not-for-profit corporation; Tribune columnist Jack Mabley, guest speaker at the meeting; and LeRoy E. Olsen, president of the hospital's board of directors. * 100 TIUS * THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKE S REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 102 NUMBER 56 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1978 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20' Buy Mass Property New Beach For City Following a lengthy discussion the City Council voted Monday night to purchase property fronting McCullom Lake from Herman Mass. The property, which is ad­ jacent to Petersen park, will be added to the park and the 500 feet of shoreline will be made into a city beach. Mass, who was present at the meeting, told the Council that he would sell the 4.67 acres to the city for $47,500, which was the value an appraiser hired by the city had given the property. In his original offer to the city, Mass had asked for $100,000 for the property. Mass also wanted the city to extend the sewer main through the 500 feet of property to the edge of the property he would still own. Mass told the Council at an earlier meeting that he was planning on requesting annexation to the city of the remaining part of his property, at which time he would hook up to the sewer and subdivide the property. To purchase the property, the city would have to assume the cost of extending the sewer line the 500 feet. Alderm&n Ernie Schooley stated that purchasing the property and making it a city beach would benefit the city and the lake and made a motion that the city purchase the High School tile initial and most important part of a small park project undertaken by the McHenry Rotary club is raising a huge American flag at the intersection of Waukegan and Third streets. Long range plans call for benches and shrubs to take their place in the park for the convenience of those who would like to use it as a rest area. Shown above, accepting the flag for the city of McHenry, is Mayor Joseph Stanek, left. At right are Rotarians Fred M^ycr, Dennis Conway. Bob Adams, Ken Bruce, Don Howard, Larry Strohman, Don Gerstad, Marty Fredricks and George Harker. Bruce is chairman of the project committee which also includes Meyer, Howard and Harker. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD Youth Suspended For Arson At East Campus Construction Fund Prospect Changes i Referendum Date A McHenry high school East campus student has been suspended from school after city police determined he was responsible for the fire at East campus Monday afternoon. At approximately 2:15 on Feb. 6. the McHenry Police department and firemen from McHenry Company I responded to the report of a fire campus Green at East street. Upon arrival at th^p scene, fireman discovered an ex­ cessive amount of smoke on the second floor of the building and determined that there were two points of origin for the smoke. A pile of paper in the washroom was on fire and a (Continued on page 9) Something new in the matter of facility planning in High School District 156 came to light at the Tuesday evening meeting of the board. As a result of information divulged by Board President James Althoff, members voted to cancel the Feb. 25 referendum and to establish April 8 as the new date, the amount to be determined after March 10. There was unanimous ap­ proval to both proposals. Althoff presented ar­ chitectural plans for the proposed addition to West campus, which would amount to 125,000 square feet and ac­ commodate 2,300 students. He told members of the trip he and Supt. Robert Swartzloff made to Springfield last Thursday to meet with representatives of the Capital Development board concerning possible funding. He said the figure could reach $2 million. To questions on how the agency arrived at that amount, Althoff said it was computed on the average cost of new con­ struction, which is $36.55 a square foot and 43 percent subsidy. The board president em­ phasized the excellent treat­ ment the McHenry men received and added that the agency representatives were pleased with the building presentation. Althoff commented that (Continued on page 18) property and assume the cost of extending the sewer. During a previous meeting, one alderman had suggested that the city and Mass share the cost of extending the sewer through the property. When questioned concerning a deadline for installing the sewer, Mass originally placed a sixty-day time limit on the construction. Mayor Stanek commented that the frost would not be out of the ground for some time, and construction would never be completed in sixty days. Mass then withdrew his sixty- day limit and extended the deadline to June 1. Alderman Smith questioned the ability of newly appointed Alderman Jerome Rogers to vote on the issue. Smith was of the opinion that the decision concerning the purchase of the property be put off until Rogers could better acquaint himself with the issue. "We have had several meetings and spent hours examining this proposal," said Smith, "and he cannot know as (Continued on page 18) Investigation Into Missing Juvenile Clears Burglaries Council Opposes Airstrip The City Council has decided to oppose the Shamrock Beef Cattle corporation request for a conditional use permit from the County Zoning board to enable it to use part of its property for a private airstrip. The decision to voice an objection was reached at the regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, after the Council was informed of the request for a hearing. Although the corporation is located outside of the city limits. Mayor Stanek and the alderman were concerned with the request because of the proximity of the proposed location to the city. Questions were raised by the councilmen, many of which could not be answered. Mayor Stanek questioned the future use of the airstrip if the zoning is granted, inquiring whether or not it would remain private or eventually turn into a commercial airstrip. "Many zoning requests are very vague," said City At­ torney Bernard Narusis, "and (Continued on page 18) A report of a missing juvenile provided McHenry city police with a lead into many area burglaries and further in­ vestigation resulted in the arrest of several McHenry youths in connection with the thefts. On Jan. 31, the McHenry Police department responded to a call to a residence in the Edgebrook Heights area to investigate the report of a runaway youth. While at the home, the mother of the missing teenager turned over to police several articles of value not belonging to her household that she had found inside her home. Through inquiries, the police determined that the property had been stolen from homes reportedly burglarized in the McHenry County Sheriff's department's jurisdiction. Several of the interiors of the homes had also been severely vandalized. A search of the area enabled police to find the missing youth. Interrogation of him revealed that he was involved in several McHenry area burglaries, and he gave police information regarding other youths who were involved. The Sheriff's department and city police joined forces and their joint investigations led to (Continued on page 18) Blaze Damages Apartment Wonder Lake Appointee Name County RTA Officer Vannesse Sells of Wonder Lake has been appointed by the Regional Transportation Authority as the regional af­ fairs officer for McHenry county. The McHenry county RTA office is located at 101 N. Main street. Crystal Lake, with office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (815) 455- 2855. "As Regional Affairs Officer for McHenry county, my main objective will be to act as conduit of information between the citizens of McHenry and RTA." she said. Prior to joining RTA, Mrs. Sells was employed as a (Continued on page 18) Musin And Meanderin The Flag At Night Much like the Christmas star on the old standpipe provided a focal point for anyone entering the city, Rotarians hope this brightly lighted flag, 70 feet above the ground will serve a similar purpose as a welcome to McHenrv. ' A long awaited day of dedication took place Thursday when Rotarians of McHenry completed the intitial and most important phase of a $2,500 (Continued on page 18) On one item in the news there is agreement -- this has been a long, hard winter. And among the hardest hit are mail carriers. If they follow the motto of the Postal Service, the mail must go through. This means a long day in the cold and snow, walking on icy, and many times unshoveled sidewalks. Others do the same, you say? Of course! But not too many also have the unpleasant task of delivering unwanted bills and getting the blame for the rising cost of services and a threat of a service cutback. They must often feel their business leaves them as open to complaint as newspaper people. And it has always been the same. For instance, take this little story that came to us indirectly through a postal employee who (Continued on page 18) Fire to an upstairs apartment caused an estimated $8,000 damage to the Bogdaci residence. 2209 N. Ringwood road, McHenry, Tuesday, Feb. 7. Flames can be seen emitting from an upstairs window and equipment from Companies I and U is pictured stationed at the scene to fight the fire which was reported at 11:15 p.m. According to Fire Chief Glenn Peterson, the fire was confined to the ceiling Joists of the first floor and the walls of the second floor apartment. "The fire may have started in a waste basket and burned down through the floor," said Peterson, "and it quickly spread both ways and up the walls." The kitchen area and a closet were most severely damaged along with a Mansard roof structure in the back of the building. Firemen from Company H were called back to the scene at 9:06 the next morning because the fire was still smoldering. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD