The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

* / Feb. 23 - May 11 Offer MCC Admission Help Vice-president and manager of Shamrock Beef Cattle corporation, Vernon E. Schiller, is shown testifying at Thursday's hearing before the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals. Shamrock Beef had requested a conditional use permit for part of its land between Draper and Curran roads for use as a private airstrip. Roland E. Person, attorney for the corporation, is shown at the far right of the picture. Also in the picture, from left to ritfht. are a court reporter, nekt to Schiller, and board members, F. Daniels Rawson, Edward Schweiger (partially hidden behind Rawson), Thore Emricson, chairman June Girard (seated above and behind Emricson), Mrs. Phyllis Koeppel, and Horace Wagner. All testimony was heard, but the board will not vote on the proposal until a later date, possibly Feb. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry County college is offering special assistance in college planning to area high school students and their parents. The college will hold Admissions Assistance nights Thursday evenings, Feb. 23, March 16, April 13, April 27, May 4 and May 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m Conducted by MCC coun­ selors and held in the Office of Student Services, Admissions Assistance nights are being offered to give students and their parents a complete pic­ ture of the programs and courses available to students through their community college and to assist them in obtaining information needed to make college decisions. The evening will consist of a brief information period, a question and answer session and a tour of the MCC campus facilities. "Admissions assistance is available by individual ap­ pointment during any school day or evening," explained Shirley LeGare, MCC counselor and coordinator of high school relations. "What we are trying to accomplish with the Ad­ missions Assistance nights is to encourage parents and students who are still un­ decided about their college plans to seek help now. In many cases college decisions are put off and made haphazardly or with inadequate information." Those wishing to participate in the Admissions Assistance nights may call the counseling office (455-3700, extension 260) and ask to reserve a space. * Find Youth Dead Who Fled Accident Scene A 17-year-old Lake In The Hills youth who had been missing since the previous day after he fled the scene of a traffic accident was found dead in a cornfield Sunday morning. The body of Charles R. Lane, 801 Willow road, Lake In The Hills, was found at 7:20 a.m., approximately one mile from the scene of the traffic accident which had been reported to Sheriff's police at 2:45 a.m. Saturday. According to Sheriff's deputies, Lane was driving north on Randall road, two miles south of Crystal Lake, when he struck the rear of a car (Continued on page 20) * mwB * */ty i»\^ THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 102 NUMBER 59 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1978 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 20< Postpone Vote On Airstrip The zoning hearing requested by Shamrock Beef Cattle corporation for a conditional use permit for the operation of a private airstrip ended Thursday with no vote being taken by the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals. The hearing ended with all testimony being heard but no time was left for a vote. Ac­ cording to June Girard, chairman of the County Zoning board, members will vote at a future date, possibly Feb. 28. Shamrock Beef requested the conditional use permit for approximately 4 acres of land, currently zoned Farming located near 533 N. Draper road between Draper and Curran roads. Vice-president and manager of the farm, Vernon E. Schiller, explained to the board that the land would be used as a private airstrip for the corporation's private aircraft. "There will only be eight to ten landings and takeoffs per month," said Schiller, "and they would only be during the summer and fall months." Roland E. Person, attorney for Schiller and Corporation President George Johnson, told Conservation Club Proposals For City In Mais* Property Sale Superintendent of Public Works Fred Meyer, representing the city of McHenry, questions the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals, as Alderman Edward Dats from McHenry's Second ward looks on. Meyer, Datx and the city went on record in opposition to the request by Shamrock Beef Cattle corporation for a conditional use permit to use part of its property on Draper road for a private landing strip. They later withdrew their objection. Meyer had been instructed by the City Council at its Feb. 6 meeting to attend the hearing at the county courthouse to determine if the "Conditional Use" permit would limit the airstrip to private use only. Musin* And Meanderin Several items that crossed the desk this week suggested transportation as a timely subject. Best news of all tells us that the crusade to improve con­ ditions on the Rt. 31 bridge over Dutch creek, north of McHenry, has been heard in the right places, and heeded. Unfortunately, it failed to come soon enough to save the lives of a 19-year-old McHenry man, Donald McBride, and a young Wildwood girl, Debora Slobe, who lost their lives last month when the car she was driving skidded on the snow-covered highway and collided with another auto. But at this moment there is reason for optimism. A letter to Senator Jack Schaffer from John Kramer of the Illinois Department of T r a n s p o r t a t i o n l i s t s rehabilitation of this bridge scheduled during the fiscal year 1978. "Work will include widening the bridge to provide for a 44- foot clearance and realignment of the approach curve for safety purposes", the letter indicates. "We anticipate that bids will be taken this spring or summer for the work". It was just a year ago, in January of 1977, that pictures appeared on this page calling attention to the dangerous situation. At that time the p r o j e c t e d d a t e f o r i m ­ provement of the bridge was 1981 "due to limited funding on the Short Range program". That word came from th$ same Illinois Department of Transportation that has now thought better of the urgency of the project and placed it on the earlier schedule. Legislators took up the plea of the Plaindealer and made noises where they could be heard. As a result, action has been initiated and it would seem that within the next year the problem of the Dutch creek bridge will be eliminated. The first response to the intersection problems at Waukegan and Front streets came shortly after publication of last Wednesday's edition. A thoughtful lady in McHenry suggested that no west-bound traffic be allowed from Waukegan street, which would (Continued on page 20) The McCullom Lake Con­ servation club will present a list of proposals to the City of McHenry that it wants in­ corporated into the sale con­ tract for the Mass property the city is purchasing. The club reached that decision following a lengthy discussion at its meeting Feb. 16. The club is concerned with the beach property and wants the city to impose certain restrictions and regulations on the beach. They hope that by incorporating the proposals into the purchase contract, they would be binding as long as the city owns the property. President Jerry Raycraft reminded club members that they could not force anything on the city. "We cannot force anything on them, but we have their verbal assurance that they will not enter into an agreement until we present our proposals," stated Raycraft. Raycraft read a list of restrictions proposed by the Lakeland Park Property Owners association (LPPOA) containing ten items they would like to see incorporated into the sales agreement. Of major concern to the club and the LPPOA is restricting the city to* the area it pur­ chases. The list asks that privacy fences be put up designating the side boundaries of the property and buoys be placed out in the water, designating city property. Other proposed restrictions include allowing no boat launching or snowmobiles or other motorized vehicles ac­ cess to the property; limiting use of the beach to McHenry city residents only; and abiding by the rules of the LPPOA and the Conservation club gover­ ning activities on the lake. One club member said that it would not be fair to tell the city to impose restrictions, and then ask them for revenue sharing funds to improve the quality of the lake. "We cannot put a lot of restrictions on them," ex­ plained the member, "and then expect them to give us a lot of money." Jim Thennes, representing Lakewood subdivision, asked that another proposal be added to the list. Thennes asked the club to request the city to purchase property farther north on the lake from Mass, rather than the property it has negotiated to purchase.. The property the city is in­ tending to purchase is adjacent to Lakewood subdivision. (Continued on page 20) the board that Schiller had discussed the proposal with some of the neighboring land owners, none of whom objected to the request. Johnson, who owns Shamrock Beef, as' well as farms in Mississippi, was not present at the hearing. Schiller told the board that the airstrip would remain just as it is. "All I want is a sod strip, and only one plane will be stored there at a time." Schiller explained that the corporation owns two planes, but only one would be able to land on the airstrip, because the other is too large. "I am restricted by the Illinois Department of Tran­ sportation to use by only two private aircraft, and no commercial use," said Schiller. According to Attorney Person, the Department of Transportation Safety division and the federal government had already given their ap­ provals of the airstrip. Shamrock Beef currently flies its aircraft from the Crystal Lake airport, but wants the private airstrip because of the time it would save and its convenience. During a recess during the hearing, Schiller presented a map of the area in question showing all landing and takeoff patterns that would be used. Many of the large crowd in attendance examined the map during the break. Schiller discussed the map and explained that the ap­ proach patterns would not be over the city. " When questioned by a board member concerning the location of the airstrip in relation to homes, Schiller answered, "The airstrip will be >4-mile south of the closest home, and V4-mile east of the closest home." (Continued on page 20) Land Review Hearing Tempers Flare In Struggle To Maintain Lake Privacy Will Wonder Lake remain a private lake? The residents of this rapidly growing community have fought to keep their privacy since the lake's inception nearly fifty years ago. They continue their struggle through the public hearings of the Plan commission with the Wonder T ------ Lake Realty trust (WLRT) regarding the proposed an­ nexation of 147 acres to the Village of Sunrise Ridge on the west side of Wonder Lake. At their fourth hearing in the home of Eugene Kaiser, 8056 Dorr road, Sunrise Ridge, Wednesday, Feb. 15, the sub­ ject of lake privacy surfaced lime and again and a flare-up of tempers regarding this issue prevented any significant accomplishment toward the final goals of the commission. The main function of the Plan commission was to review the land requested by the WLRT to be annexed and determine a recommendation for zoning arid plat approval. WLRT Attorney Dan Curran of Woodstock stated that the petitioners are asking the village only to annex the property, have it zoned and platted and that the WLRT will give a donation of 34 acres to the village. This parcel of land is to be used at the discretion of the village board of trustees with the condition that the village provide a beach with accessible roads that the residents of the new subdivision could use. The expressed concern of the people of Wonder Lake is that if (Continued on page 20) McHenry Woman Blamed For Bridge Mishap Injuring One A McHenry woman was arrested for driving while in­ toxicated and a McHenry man injured following a two-car accident on the Pearl street bridge Saturday evening. According to the McHenry County Sheriff's police accident report, Belle M. Krieger, 5010 Oakwood drive, was westbound on the bridge when she entered the eastbound lane. William J. Weyland, 1609 N. Riverside drive, was eastbound and observed the Krieger auto approach him in the wrong lane. Weyland told police he came to a complete stop, but was struck head-on by the approachingcar. Weyland was transported to McHenry hospital by the McHenry Rescue squad following the collision. Ms. Krieger stated that she remembered nothing about the accident. Witnesses traveling in a car behind Ms. Krieger said to police that the Krieger auto had been swaying into the other lane for a half-mile prior to the accident. Police noticed that Ms. Krieger appeared to be in­ toxicated, and as they began to question her, she became abusive and attempted to drive from the scene. A "McHenry City police of­ ficer who assisted Sheriff's deputies in the case, injured his hand while trying to take the keys to the car away from Ms. Krieger. She was finally taken into custody and charged with driving while intoxicated and improper lane usage. Both cars involved in the accident were heavily damaged and had to be towed from the scene. Diane M. Wade, 3801 W. John street, was cited for improper lane usage after the car she was driving collided with a car driven by Jill A. Urbanski, 3801 W. John street Sunday af­ ternoon. Ms. Wade told police she was eastbound on Rolling lane and (Continued on page 20) >• ,%• •- . Little Squirrel Causes Big Power Outage A curious squirrel lost his life and caused a power outage for between 500 and 1,000 Commonwealth Edison customers about noon Friday. His antics also resulted in this blazing line at the intersection of Center street and Kane avenue. An Edison spokesperson said the dead animal was found at the scene. It apparently had crawled into the transformer and shorted out disconnects for the equipment. As the area line came down, it hit secondary wires and in a few cases fell on roofs, which started smoking. The McHenry fire department was called to the scene. The large majority of customers had service restored about 1 o'clock, but for about twenty commercial and the same number of residential users, it was some longer because of a blown fuse in a substation. The Edison representative urged anyone without power to call the company immediately because of the possibility of a particular small area being affected without its knowledge. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD