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o PLOCHER Postpone Zoning Hearing Subscription Rates * Plaindealer Offer Front Page News One of the best offers ever made by the McHenry Plaindealer is now in progress and will continue through March 31. With rising costs, subscription rates within the county will be increased to $12 a year effective April 1. Until that time, present subscribers will be offered the same price as new readers. One may take a first subscription or renew for one, two or three years. For one year, at a rate of $10.50, the saving amounts to $1.50; for two years, at $20, it is $4; and for three years, at $27, the saving will be $9. An advertisement explaining details of the offer appears in this issue on Page 20, including a subscription blank which should be filled in and returned to the Plaindealer office, 3812 W. Elm street. The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals last Thursday postponed the hearing regarding the conditional use permit for gravel mining operations at the request of the petitioner. Chairman of the board, June Girard, explained that although the board does not ordinarily grant continuances, it would in this case due to the four-fold problem experienced by the petitioners. The hearing has been rescheduled for April 27 at the county courthouse. Attorney Jim Green, representing the petitioners, R.C. and Neva Raven, Donald Roberts, Jr., and Frances Roberts, made a motion requesting that the hearing be postponed, immediately after Hold Forum On Land Use A happy Warrior, perspiration streaming down his face, cats down net. Al Reinboldt, senior center, and his teammates captured win over Honooegah to clinch the Regional basketball title In the MCHS gymnasium Friday night It was the fifth time in the past seven seasons that McHenry Warriors have won the Regional competition. The team will now advance to the Sectional in Rockford, where they will meet Antioch Wednesday night at 8:30. Full coverage of the 47-40 victory in the Regional appears on sports page. <? STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD The McHenry-Woodstock League of Women Voters is hosting a forum to discuss land use planing in the cities at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 9. It will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal church, 3706 W. St. Paul avenue, McHenry, where the nursery will be staffed for babysitting. Special guests featured will be Mayors Joseph Stanek and Frances Kuhn of McHenry and Woodstock, respectively, and Planners Willis Martin and Alan Cornue. This meeting is the climax of the league's Cities-Urban Crisis study which began with a survey of the cities last sum­ mer. The February meeting covered planning and land use at the county level. June Girard, chairman of the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals, Diane Easty, member of the McHenry County board and Northern Illinis Planning commission (NIPC) and Steve Aradus, (Continued on page 18) Chairman Girard opened the hearing March 2. Green stated that he and his client were very recently made aware of the fact that the Zoning board required a rehabilitation plan for gravel pit land be given to the County Planning commission for in­ spection prior to the hearing. Green continued by ex­ plaining that they were not aware that the Village of Holiday Hills was in opposition to the conditional use request, and the petitioners would like an opportunity to discuss the problem with the village. The property in question is 78 acres located in Nunda township, and is within the planning boundaries of the village. The village board passed a resolution opposing the request at an eariler meeting. The Illinois Department of Conservation was also present at the hearing, and Green stated that although the department was not yet for­ mally objecting, it was con­ cerned with the petition with respect to Moraine Hills State park and the effect the gravel mining operation would have on the water level. Challenges Presented In Proposal For Annexation "We would like to discuss the petition with the Department of Conservation, as well as the Village of Holiday Hills prior to the hearing," said Green, "so that some lengthy testimony could be avoided during the hearing." Finally, it was explained to those present at the* hearing that there was some question as to the publication of the notice for the hearing. Attorney Green explained that the petitioners had published the notice in the Wauconda newspaper, but Chairman Girard was of the impression that the notice should have been published in a McHenry county newspaper. All notices of zoning hearings are required to be published in a newspaper of general cir­ culation within the area af­ fected by the petition. Green explained to the board that the notice would be published in the Plaindealer prior to the rescheduled hearing to statisfy the publication requirement. Green explained that the current permit for the present gravel mining operation ex­ pires in May, 1978, so he (Continued on page 18) « Disability Evaluation In School District Outlined Fred Kusch, assistant principal of Grade School District 15, outlined the evaluation process now in progress for pre-school children to board members meeting at Hilltop school this past week. The basement of Zion Lutheran church has been rented for this purpose when needed because of a lack of space in the schools. Kusch said testing of 3-to-5- year-olds for early iden­ tification of all types of disabilities should be com­ pleted by mid-March. Under the new law, school districts must assume "responsibility for searching out and assisting children from the ages of 3 through 18. At this time, there are 358 children, kindergarten through eighth grade, found to have some type of disability, although many of them are of high intelligence. Board members were also advised that general testing in the local grade schools showed pupils to rate 9.6 against a national average of 9.2. It was pointed out that McHenry was (Continued on page 18) At the fifth meeting of the Plan * commission with representatives of the Wonder Lake Realty Trust (WLRT) regarding the proposed an­ nexation of 147 acres to the Village of Sunrise Ridge, Wonder Lake, Engineer Fraser Scholes of Richmond testified and answered questions of the commission for nearly two hours. Scholes attested that perc tests and soil borings have been done in the entire area of the proposed Sunrise Ridge Estates Units I and II and the tests show that the general area is quite suitable for septic systems. He said the only problem is that reasonable drainage to streets will be required and this can be done in many ways. Charles W. Greengard Associates, Inc., designers of the plats for the new sub­ division, have proposed a 7- (Continued on page 18) HOME IMPROVEMENT SECTION The annual Home Im­ provement supplement to the McHenry Plaindealer will appear as part of the Friday, March 10, issue. It will be a 44-page tabloid, in color. Late Winter Snowmobile Mishaps Injure Drivers Two people were injured in separate snowmobile accidents Dave Piocher Named Agriculture Adviser Cooperative Extension service. Piocher is a familiar face to the Extension office. He previously was responsible for the 4-H and Youth programs in McHenry county. In his new role, he will be coordinating programs designed to assist farmers, home owners and the general public in the areas of Agriculture, Production and Marketing and Horticulture. The University of Illinois Extension service in McHenry county is available to all McHenry county residents. It is an educational program geared to answering questions in Agriculture and Home Economics and in addition, the Extension service sponsors the 4-H program. For information, call 338-3737. The offices are located at Rt. 47 and MdOonmll road in Woodstock. DAVE Steve Johnson, Illinois ExtenskM council chairman, announces the appointment of David G. Piocher to the position of Agriculture adviser for the McHenrv rnnnty office of the University of Illinois on the Fox river Sunday af­ ternoon. At 1:30 p.m., the McHenry Rescue squad and the McHenry County Sheriff's department responded to the 1700 block of Riverside drive to the report of a snowmobile accident.John Hawley, Gurnee, told police that he was racing with other snowmobilers on the frozen river, when his vehicle struck a frozen snowdrift. Hawley, who was thrown from the vehicle as it over­ turned, was taken to McHenry hospital for examination. Later in the afternoon, an East Dundee woman was slightly injured when her snowmobile struck a frozen snowdrift on the river. Dorothy Lau, was thrown from her snowmobile after it struck the drift, near the 700 block of N< River road. Ms. Lau was also taken to McHmy hospital by the McHenry Reicue squad for treatment of her injuries. A McHenry man is recovering from serious in­ juries he sustained in a freak snowmobile accident Feb. 26. Thomas Cote, 3518 N. Fairview avenue, was riding on a snow-disc being pulled by a snowmobile when the disc struck an object protruding from the snow in a field near residences on Church street in Johnsburg. Cote was transported to McHenry hospital by the Johnsburg Rescue squad and is reported in satisfactory con­ dition following surgery. Kerry J. Neff, 2311 W. Country lane, was taken to Woodstock hospital by the Woodstock Rescue squad, following a two-car accident Sunday. Neff told police he was rounding a curve, northbound on N. Valley Hill road, when his car suddenly went out of control on the snow-covered road. According to the accident report, the left side of the Neff vehicle struck a car driven by Dennis L. Johnson of Wood­ stock. Johnson explained to police that he saw the approaching vehicle begin to slide, but he (Continued on page 18) C.P.R. Course For Kiwanians Kathleen LaGreca, director of the McHenry hospital's Intensive Coronary Unit, right, instructs local Kiwanis members in the art of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The course, which has now been concluded, certified Dr. Robert Peterson, left, Phil Kiefer and Chnek Larson, as well as other club members. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD With heart attack the No. 1 killer for many years, McHenry hospital's Mobile Intensive Coronary unit is coming into focus as its director, Kathleen LaGreca, a nurse, and other know­ ledgeable individuals teach a four-hour course in C.P.R. An effort is being made to encourage organizations to make arrangements for the course for their members. C.P.R. training is being urged for 5 to 10 percent of the local population to make these people basic rescuers. The course stresses that the sooner life support systems are initiated, the better chance the heart attack victim will have. The first effort is to make the victim comfortable and then get to a phone and call for help. After summoning the rescue squad, the phone should be left off the hook so it can be traced, if necessary. Nurses administrating the program emphasize the im­ portance of getting help fast even if the victim objects. In the course, instructors demonstrate the alternate ventilation (breathing) and compression (heart massage) techniques basic to C.P.R. They warn to be sure the un­ conscious victim actually needs life support action by checking for breath and pulse. The course is sponsored by the Illinois Heart association and is available free to any size group by calling Mary Spraetz at McHenry hosp|tal. Predict Record Winter Fish Kill In This Area The record snow cover experienced this year in northeastern Illinois may al§o result in record fish die-offs, according to Illinois Department of Conservation fisherv biologists. Although the severity of fish mortality or "winter kill" will not be known until spring, Department of Conservation Regional Fisheries Supervisor Gary Erickson said tests indicate that several lakes in northeastern Illinois are in trouble. "As far as this area of the state is concerned, it looks much worse than last year," Erickson said. Tests conducted by Erickson and Biologist Harvey Brown indicate little or no oxygen in several lakes. Major fish kills could occur an Turner lake (34 acres) at Chain O' Lakes State park in Lake county, Long Lake (335 acres) near the town of Fox Lake, Crooked Lake (130 acres) near Lake Villa, and Lily Lake (89 acres) near McHenry. "You can announce the death of Turner Lake," Erickson said grimly, adding that it would be closed to fishermen until 1980. Also in danger of experiencing serious fish kills are Warrior and Wilderness Lakes at Moraine Hills State park in McHenry county, and McCullom Lake near McHenry. The demise of the Moraine Hills park lakes would be a cruel Mow to anglers who have discovered them to be some of the best new fishing holes in the region since the park opened in October, 1976. Erickson also plans to test all the major lakes within the Chain O' Lakes but does not believe any of them will be victims of major fish kills. Although last winter was colder, there was far less snow and it thawed earlier. The heavy snow cover is particularly hard on fish because it blocks sunlight from reaching aquatic plants that produce oxygen in the water, Erickson explained. Larger fish are the first to suffocate because they need more oxygen, Erickson said. Often the fish that do survive are those more tolerant of low oxygen levels: carp, bullhead, northern pike, green sunfish, and goldfish. Fish generally cannot survive in water with oxygen levels below 3 parts per million, Erickson said. All the lakes he has tested that appear to be in trouble have shown levels of dissolved oxygen no more than 1.4 parts per million. Another sign that a lake may winter kill is the odor of hydrogen sulfide or the rotten egg smell that emanated from Turner, Tomahawk, Wilderness and Warrior Lakes when holes were drilled in the ice. This odor is the result of organic material rotting anaerobically or through a process which does not consume or produce oxygen. Although lakes less than 10 feet in depth are in greatest danger Of experiencing winter kill in this climate, several of those in danger are of greater depth, Erickson noted. "Because they are so enriched and polluted with this organic material," Erickson said, Long and Crooked Lakes are oxygen deficient despite depths of well over 20 feet. ' When winter kill only partially destroys a lake's fish population, ^git usually creates an imbalance in favor of those species able to withstand the low oxygen content. To restore a balanced fish population it is necessary to kill the entire fish population in the lake and begin restocking from scratch, Erickson said. On largo*, privately owned lakes, this could cost a great deal of money, more than the residents are often able to afford. On 220- acreSlocum Lake, which experienced a heavy fish kill last year, it would cost over $20,000 just for fish toxicant before stocking could begin anew, Erickson said. THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 102 NUMBER 63 WEDNESDAY. MARCH 8. 1978 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 20' Gravel Mining Petition People have long been fed up with federal interference in local and individual affairs, but in-spite of absurd decisions that Strain public patience, the mSssage seldom gets through. Local communities like to run their schools. They always have. Aside from legal or constitutional questions, they should be allowed to do so. One of the rulings affecting McHenry, and all other schools, came to light at a recent meeting of the high school board. Dennis Welter, Learning Management coordinator, presented information regarding a relatively new federal law requiring a "free and appropriate public educ- stion for all handicapped children in the United States". In name it sounds like something everyone wants. In reality, it has complications. Under state jurisdiction, each school district must come up with a program meeting requirements which include identifying all handicapped between the ages of 3 and 18. A $300 incentive is allowed for each student so identified. To assure that each one is provided every opportunity to obtain an education, the in­ dividual school district must care for the physical needs of all, even if it means extended hospitalization. rfltie age span will increase ff!>m 3 to 21 by 1980 and it will eventually be 3 to 25 years. The school district also is required to have available someone who is able to speak the language of the parents so that communication can be carried out successfully. The requirement of any (Continued on page 18) Taste Of Victory