Musin9 And Meanderin9 The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its first quarterly dinner business meeting Tuesday, March 7, at the Farmer's Almanac, 3702 N. Richmond road, McHenry, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and prime rib dinner at 8 p.m. The agenda will include the president's address, in troduction of new members, executive director's report, committee reports, committee preference selection by the general membership, and a guest speaker, Doug Odell. Following a brilliant 35-year career as an executive mer chandising and sales manager for Sears, Roebuck and Co., Odell now volunteers his ex pertise to SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the other Chambers in McHenry county, is presently working toward the .for mulation of a SCORE chapter in McHenry coutny. Any Chamber of Commerce members who would like further details on this meeting should call the Chamber at 385- 4300 immediately. SCHOOL SURVEY For the last time, the School Survey pertaining to the educational future of students in High School District 156 appears in this issue on Page 15. Residents of the district are urged to fjll out the form and return to the Plaindealer office no later than Monday, March 6. Response to date has been very good. State Scholars Represent MCHS Shown above with Principal Greg Johnson of West campus are seniors selected as Illinois State Scholars. From left, front row, they are Kathy Ahern, Gerianne Armon, Kathryn Besserud, Timothy Byers, Danielle Byron and Rondi Cunat; second row, Susan Herrmann, Karen Huebner, Philip Kent, Michael Krasucki and Debra Krier; third row. Donna Laskso, Jeffrey Partenheimer, Tom Pepping, Jay Robison, Cynthia Short and Ann Snyder; fourth row, Gerald Thiel, Jr., Linda Walter, Betty Zamastil and Alan Zinke. THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 102 NUMBER 62 FRIDAY, MARCH 3,1978 2 SECTIONS 24 PAGES 20' NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST - Ann Snyder, West campus senior, learns that she has been named a 1978 Merit Scholarship program finalist from West Principal Greg Johnson. STAFF PHOTOS - WAYNE GAYLORD Ann M. Snyder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Snyder, 2914 West Lincoln, McHenry, a senior at McHenry Community high school, West campus, has been chosen as a finalist in the 1978 Merit Scholarship program. As such, she is among a highly select group of 14,000 students who represent less than one-half of 1 percent of the nation's graduating secondary school seniors. Finalists are considered for 1,000 National Merit $1,000 scholarships and some 2,900 four-year Merit Scholarships to be awarded in mid-April. Ann has been involved in many activities both in and out of school. She is currently serving as president of the National Honor society, treasurer of Student Council, and is a member of the Science club. She enjoys bike riding, softball, and teaches Sunday School. Her future plans include a goal to pursue a career in the field of Medicine. This year she is taking College Composition, Physics, Advanced Chemistry, Math V, British Literature, Consumer Economics and Physical Education. The Illinois State Scholarship commission has named 10,175 students as Illinois State Scholars in the 1978-79 com petitive Illinois State Scholar program. High school academic record and examination scores are used in the selection process. Forty-four students from the McHenry area were included, although not all are students at MCHS. From McHenry, the young people honored are Dirk An dreas, 3920 Hillcrest; Gerianne Armon, 1509 May; Kathryn Besserud, 2509 W. Johnsburg; Ann Bolger, 3513 W. Broad; Timothy Byers, 112 N. Green; Danielle Byron, 3811 W. Waukegan; June Cardinal, 809 Area; Thomas Carey, 613 Center; Rondi Cunat, 3200 W. Justen; Cheryl Hansen, 2708 Iroquois; Susan Herrmann, 1402 N. Freund and Karen Huebner, 1712 W. Ringwood; Also Dawn Jaburek, 5406 W. Euclid; Lori Johnson 3803 W. Clover; Philip Kent, 3316 W Skyway; Michael Krasucki, 4901 W. Shore; Debra Krier, 1518 N. Lakeland; Donna Lasko, 1708 N. North; Daniel Nye, 3705 W. High; Jeffrey Partenheimer, 4202 W. Crestwood; Tom Pepping, 3105 W. Virginia; Le Anne Run- strom, 1317 Hiawatha and Cynthia Short, 3411 Coun tryside; Also Ann Snyder, 2914 W. Lincoln; Gerald W. Thiel, Jr., 3510 0akdale; Janet Thompson, 2806 Aloha; Laurie Tjardes, 2615 Riverside; Linda Walter, 4204 W. South; Brian Walters, 109 Dowell; Allen Willis, 1120 Fisher; Peter J. Wilt, 605 Green; Betty Zamastil, 1301 W. Miller and Alan Zinke, 4709 Cumberland. Wonder Lake students were Kathy Ahern, 4322 E. Lake Shore; Randal Borchardt, 8103 White Oaks; Robert Cristy, 3137 Elk Shore; John Frett, 7125 Loras; Mary Kasting, 7309 Nantucket; Jay Robison, 7605 Hancock; Lynn Stelter, 8518 Coral; Heather Tyrrell, 8011 Howe; Michael Wenkel. 4121 E. (Continued on page 9) *» Seven Arrested A gambling raid at two business establishments in Island Lake resulted in the arrest of seven men on charges of gambling and keeping a gambling place, late Wed nesday night. At 11 p.m., twelve in vestigators from the Illinois Department of Law En forcement, five State troopers from Elgin District Two and the Island Lake Police department, in conjunction with the Lake County State's Attorney's office conducted the raid. Using a search warrant Continue Investigation Of $3,700 Business Burglary Investigation by the McHenry Police department is continuing into the theft of over $3,700 worth of merchandise from Lee and Ray electric. Although the exact time ol the theft has not been deter mined, it is known that sometime between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. intruders gained entry to the firm, located at 1005 N. Front street, by forcing open an east-side door of the building. According to a spokesman for the electrical appliance dealer, the offenders took eight microwave ovens and one glass-top stove and loaded them onto a Lee and Ray truck which was parked inside the building. They apparently drove away and unloaded the merchandise, (Continued on page 9) Mayors Learn Of Problems In Transportation, Housing Andy Plummer of the Chicago Area Transportation Study and Nancy Briscoe of the McHenry County Housing authority were guest speakers Open Competition For Marine Festival Queen at the McHenry County Municipal association monthly meeting held Feb. 22 at McHenry Country club. The association holds a dinner meeting every month at a different city in the county. New laws and activities of communities are discussed and •committee reports are given to all those in attendance. Plummer reported to the association concerning a transportationstudy for the county and the individual communities. CATS reviews all ap plications for federal monies to be used on transportation and places priorities on projects to determine if the federal government should grant the request for funds. Plummer spoke to the mayors about the complicated process involved in securing federal funds, explaining restrictions and standards that must be met before receiving any federal aid. Ms. Briscoe, who is the executive director of the County Housing authority, explained to those in at tendance the need for future housing plans for urban areas. She spoke of the need for housing for low-income and underprivileged people, and said housing was especially needed for larger families. Most communities in the county were represented at the meeting including McHenry, whose mayor, Joseph Stanek, attended. Others present in cluded Municipal association President Rose Lillegard, Village President of McHenry Shores; Lakemoor Village President Dick Hyatt; Spring Grove Village President Lyle Thomas; and Holiday Hills Village President Roger Saunders Following the regular meeting, many of the mayors met informally and discussed problems of their communities and proposed solutions to them. secured earlier, law en forcement agents entered Tessie's Restaurant and Lounge, 312 State street, Island Lake, and Happy Day's Bar, 310 State street, Island Lake, and arrested the owners and patrons. According to Sgt. Lamb of the Law Enforcement department, investigators were confronted by two steel doors upon en tering the gambling room. None of the people present offered resistance to the of ficers. Arrested in the raid and charged with gambling and keeping a gambling place were Joseph Amato, Barrington; Michael Posner, Skokie; and, (Continued on page 9) C Of C In Quarterly Dinner-Business Meet Anxious Moments Without benefit of scoreboard, expressions on the faces of the Warrior cheerleaders tell the storj of the seesaw battle during the third and fourth quarter of the first Regional tournament game between McHenry and Belvidere Tuesday night. Not until there was only a second remaining, and McHenry ahead by only a point, was there no doubt - the home team was victorious. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Flu Hits McHenry Area Schools McHenry area schools are experiencing very high rates of absenteeism according to school authorities, as flu viruses and winter illnesses keep students home. Marian Central high school in Woodstock heads the list, with 192 students absent Tuesday and nearly the same amount on Wednesday, out of a total of 711 students. On the average, approximately 30 percent of the enrollment was not in school. According to dean of students, Lou Hartlieb, Marian's sick list is well above normal. "We're about double over an average winter day, and flu symptoms seem to be the major cause of illness." In McHenry, Assistant Principal Don Seaton at East campus said that ap proximately 200 out of 1200 students were absent Wed nesday, and the number had been growing larger each day. The last five-day period was 7 percent higher than the previous five days. Assistant principal of West campus, Jeffrey Pettit, ex plained the absent student situation at West. "On Tuesday, approximately 175 out of 1000 students were ab sent, which is double the average amount for a winter day." - Junior high schools have also been heavily striken by student illness. Charles Schott, attendance officer at McHenry Junior high, noted that absenteeism has doubled what it normally is, and has risen each day since Monday. "Most of the illness seems to be flu related," said Schott. A spokesman for Johnsburg Junior high said that the school is still experiencing higher than normal absent rates, but that the number has decreased slightly since a high of over 100 students out of 515 earlier in the week. As of Wednesday, Parkland Junior high in McHenry was the only school not to be striken heavily by student illness. "We are experiencing nor mal attendance," a school official said on Wednesday afternoon, "with only forty students absent." When questioned concerning a possible flu epidemic in the area, McHenry County Health department director, Richard Wissell, said that most of the illness could be a flu virus. "The symptoms could be that of Russian flu," said Wissell, "but we have not received reports from any doctors in the area sending for a culture to determine if the virus is ac tually Russian flu." Health department director of nursing, Ms. Hansen, ex plained that many viruses may be in the area. "It is possible that Texas flu, Victoria flu, and even Russian flu could be in the area." she said. While the absenteeism rate at local schools continues to climb, it apparently has yet to reach epidemic proportions. "The Russian flu is believed to strike mainly at people of junior high school age and above through college age," said one school official, "and it looks like it may have arrived 'in McHenry." Our best resolution to focus attention on any subject besides bridges once again has gone astray, and this time through no effort of our own. In our Feb. 28 mail arrived a note and an excellent drawing of the old Pearl street bridge. The writer informed us that it was a copy of the artistry of the late Bill Meeker of McHenry, who had used the stately land mark on the family's Christ mas card that year. The recipient had copies made and knew we would appreciate one. The old bridge had no sidewalk so there was no question of keeping the structure more than passable for vehicle traffic. But the state bridge a block away does, and we havie often heard complaints because they were not shoveled. Now the same complaints are made to us about sidewalks on the new Pearl street bridge. "Who is responsible?" someone asked. We only smiled and suggested any irritated pedestrian might ask county, township or city officials. It was their effort that put the bridge in place and we were so busy trying to save the old structure we never asked trivial questions. Come to think about it -- who IS responsible for keeping those sidewalks clean? And if the matter of not being able to cross the bridge on a snow-free sidewalk is a problem, let's consider another that is just beginning to surface with some thawing. Have you ever stood on a street corner waiting to cross only to have a driver hit a puddle directly in front of you? It's happened this early in the (Continued on page 9) KIMKANTLEHNER Marine Festival Queen Kim Kantlehner announced the opening of the Miss McHenry Pageant for 1978. She invites all young ladies between the ages of 17 and 21 who reside within McHenry High School District 156 to enter. The pageant is preceded by a ten-week charm course con ducted by Sharon Nye, com mittee chairman. Included in the course are lessons in poise, posture, make-up application, hair care and fashion. Mrs. Nye asks that girls personally submit entry forms, with a current photo, to the Plaindealer office as soon as possible. The form appears on Page 2. The starting date of the charm course and pageant will be announced next week. Special Rates On Plaindealer Subscriptions... •