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

Musin[And VOLUME 103 NUMBER 27 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1978. 2 SECTIONS 28 PAGES 20" A full page of pictures on Monday's school bus ac­ cident can be found on Page 12. Police, fire and rescue personnel assist the injured at the Monday morning crash of a Mclienry grade school district 15 bus, which lies nearby on its side with a portion of its top torn off. Forty-three children and the bus driver were injured in the accident, which occurred on River road, between the McHenry dam and Moraine Hills State park. Three children remain hospitalized, one in critical condition in the intensive care unit of McHenry hospital. Members of approximately 14 rescue and law enforcement agencies responded to the crash site, with the injured being transferred to four medical facilities. Below, Wayne Amore of McHenry Fire Protection district Company one comforts one of the injured children as a unidentified paramedic administers first aid. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A routine bus ride to school ended tragically Monday morning when the bus went out of control, striking a tree and rolling over on River road near McHenry dam The driver and forty-three children were injured in the terrifying crash One child. Paul Davison, a fourth grader at Edgebrook school, remains in crit ical condition in the intensive care unit of McHenry hospital, where he and most of the in­ jured where taken following the crash Davison is the son of Mr. and Mrs James Davison. 2506 Lilac It was bus number nine of McHenry Grade School Dist­ rict 15. transporting children from the Holiday Hills area to Edgebrook and Landmark schools, driven by Mrs Joan Kowalec. 4510 W Parkway, which crashed at ap proximately 8:30 a m Mrs Kowalec is in McHenry hopsital in satisfactory con dition as are two other children who were on the bus Peter Cornwell. son of Mr and Mrs Ronald Cornwell. 2403 Park terrace and Michelle A City Works Together.. . In Time Of Trouble "I'm distraught ", was the comment of Dr Richard Farmer, superintendent of Elementary School District 15 after he had spent eight hours checking into the accident in which forty-three children and a bus driver were injured early Monday morning "I am all the more distraught because of the seriousness of the crash", he continued, "but I'm gratified it was not a great deal worse". Dr. Farmer then commented on the excellent work of several persons who came on the scene just moments after the ac cident He termed it "super all the way around". Wayne Amore. a local fireman who assisted several of the injured, was also en thusiastic in lauding the efforts of the helpers Referring to a •first class job", Amore said ' when firemen and rescue squad members arrived the children had been separated according to the severity of their injuries John Shay of McHenry, who coordinates all emergency services for the county, was also enthusiastic in his com ments "This is a plan we've been working on for years It all jelled because they followed the plan' ' Shay was referring to the fire department, rescue squads, hospital, police and other agencies involved in an ongoing program to meet emergency s e r v i c e s S i m u l a t e d emergencies are met each year for the purpose of being able fo better coordinate efforts when the actual need arises McHenry police, he ob served, cordoned off the city and there was emergency personnel at almost every corner By radio. McHenry hospital was in constant contact with key people on the accident scene When it became evident that the local hospital would be taxed beyond the number who could be accommodated at one time, orders were sent out to take the less seriously injured to Condell Memorial hospital. Libertyville; Crystal Lake Ambutal and Memorial hospital. Woodstock Shay said Dr J H Mowery, Mobile Intensive Care Project medical director, was in charge of operations t Molla Haugen of Cary, Emergency Medical Services Trauma regional director, located in Chicago, was prepared to send helicopters to the scene, either to transfer the (Continued on page 18) Kathan of 1508 W Birch were both reported in satisfactory condition by a hospital spokesman Tuesday morning Danny Khollman, 1807 Beachnut road, a second grader. was listed in satisfactory condition in Memorial hospital in Wood stock, where he was taken after the accident In addition, some of the in­ jured were taken to Condell Memorial hospital in Liber­ tyville and the Ambutal emergency center in Crystal Lake, where they were treated and released Sheriff Arthur Tyrrell said that evidence gathered at the scene indicated that the bus went out of control as it rounded a curve north of Moraine Hills state park "She left the road going around the curve and tried to correct i t ," he said 'When she turned the wheel the bus swerved across the road " "The bus went back to the right side of the road." he continued, and the driver was somehow thrown from the bus It then moved at a 45 degree angle, striking a tree and then overturning ." The tree ripped off a portion of the rear end of the bus "We are now investigating in an effort to determine when and how the driver was thrown from the bus," Tyrrell said when contacted by the Plain dealer Tuesday morning "She apparently was thrown out. but we don't know how because the window wasn't broken and the door was closed " A McHenry resident. Mildred Palmer, arrived on the scene just after the crash "Kids were running all over the street and screaming," she said "The bus driver was trying to contact help on a CB radio, but couldn't get it to operate I helped her and we summoned assistance on Channel 9." A truck driver for McHenry Woodstock Disposal. Jim Pryor. 4305 W Prairie, was the next to arrive at the scene Pryor and another man to arrive at the scene freed one child whose arm was pinned under the overturned bus, using bars to lift the bus off the arm "Credit that truck driver (Pryor) with making our job a lot easier," said a paramedic who was at the scene moments later . "He had all the children sitt ing down, with the more seriously injured together and those with minor injuries together!" LaVonne Ketchum. another District 15 bus driver, was on her route behind the overturned bus. and assisted the injured children in getting out of the bus Moments after the accident was reported, units from the McHenry County Sheriffs department and the city of McHenry police department arrived at the scene, followed by the McHenry Area Rescue squad and McHenry Fire district Company One As other police and rescue units arrived, it was reported that some of the children had wandered away from the crash site "Some of the kids ran away because of the gasoline." said one child The overturned bus had spilled gasoline on the roadway, which was washed down when firemen arrived Four children were found about two miles from the scene according to Tyrrell "The kids were all over the road, screaming and crying." said Pryor "I saw some run from the scene, but I s tayed with the others " Twenty-eight children were transported to McHenry hospital along with the driver, with the remainder going to the other medical centers Other emergency units and police units to assist at the scene included the Nunda Rural Rescue squad, the Wauconda police department, the Wauconda fire and rescue department, the Crystal Lake Ambulance serv ice, the Crystal Lake Fire department, the Island Lake police department TEK Ambulance service, McHenry Shores Police. Mc Cullom Lake police, the Johnsburg Rescue squad and the Ill inois State police "The City Of McHenry should be proud of i ts police depart ment and its fire department and rescue squads. ' McHenry Police Chief George Pasenelli (Continued on page 18) Stores To Open Thursday Night THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 3toart) Winning /Jrtospaprr 1978-- Illinois Press Association Newspaper C'ontfst Setting Records Straight Immediately following Monday morning's tragic bus crash, the Illinois Department of Transportation began its investigation Dr Richard Farmer, superintendent of Elementary District 15, said late in the afternoon that the bus was found to be in proper working order A broken drive shaft was believed to have occurred as a result of the accident. In declaring the bus safe, Dr. Farmer noted that the state representative had checked over maintenance records and the district was in compliance with the semi-annual requirement to have the bus checked mechanically. The superintendent clarified reports concerning the status of the driver license of Joan Kowalekof 4510 W. Parkway, McHenry. the 40-year-old driver of the bus Dr. Farmer, speaking for District 15, said Ms Kowalek had a valid driver license but her bus driver's permit had expired seventeen days prior to the crash A check of school records revealed that the Kowalek permit was the only one not valid Dr. Farmer noted that she had been a bus driver for the local district for just over one year. She complied wjth the required number of hours behind the wheel of a school bus, the classroom instruction required and had taken a refresher course demanded by the McHenry district. Drivers are under the immediate supervision of Dick Glawe, transportation director for both local school districts. He is a certified bus instructor, Dr Farmer said that unlike the state driver's license, for which a notice is sent, it is the responsibility of the individual drivers and the school district to seek a renewel of the bus permit. A thirty-day period of grace is allowed in which to make application, but the driver may not drive during this period. Regional Superintendent of Schools Edward Hall said Tuesday morning that with a good driver record, it is necessary only to take a health exam, pay a $2 fee and have the renewal recorded by the regional superintendent. Nothing in Ms. Kowalek's driving record would have prevented her from receiving a renewal permit. _ Mayors Consider Best Role For Organization In Future The mayors of McHenry county considered the ap propriate direction their association meetings should take as they gathered at the McHenry Country club this past week. Adding to the in­ terest of the monthly meeting were two brief presentations by Robert Martens, executive director of the Family Services and Mental Health Clinic for McHenry County, and Ralph Brown, field representative of the Illinois Chapter of Nature Conservancy John McPhee, president of LITH, who serves as president of the McHenry County Municipal association, presented the question for the mayors and village presidents Should the group continue as a largely social and political gathering, or should they become more active and take strong positions on various issues9 Richard Hyatt, Lakemoor village president, urged con Find McHenry Woman Dead Of Knife Wound \ere are angry people.%all around us. and not the fewest of these are identified with politics This year's campaign has been labeled "dirty", "cheap and "low" among other terms applied In fact, some news commentators of long standing insist the current campaign has been marked by the most disgraceful attacks in their memory Between elections, the average citizen is accused of expressing little respect for office holders and the govern­ ments they represent Maybe they have had some reason. But whatever feelings we have, no one should stay away from the polls because his vote "won't do any good". There are honest candidates and honest office holders who (Continued on page 18) v A McHenry woman, Dorothy W. Whittemore, 47, of 4516 Garden Quarter apartments, died of a knife wound Saturday night, Oct. 28 She was found in a parked car on Cherry Valley road, Bull Valley. A doctor who accompanied the Woodstock Rescue squad pronounced her dead. Mrs Whittemore, who was found behind the wheel of her car, suffered a severe neck wound Further investigation being made into the death is t inuation of the present arrangement He declared that otherwise it would boil down to all night seminars This. Hyatt suggested, would leave no time for the informal discussion of mutual problems, which he (Continued on page 18) Beginning Nov 2, McHenry retail stores will be open Thursday nights for the greater shopping convenience of their customers This will prevent conflicts with the many Friday night activities in McHenry. particularly during the warm weather months A few of the stores will remain open both Thursday and Friday evenings, and some store hours have been changed Signs containing all pertinent information are posted in each individual store An ad vertisement in today's Plaindealer also gives a list of the stores that will be open Thursday nights. This new shopping night is just another way that the Retail committee of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce says. "Shopping is easy in McHenrv" Present Showboat Days HIGHW AY I I E I .P McHenry county will receive $36,316 as its share of the allotted $3,565,245 statewide from motor fuel tax paid into the state treasury during September The McHenry Sweet Adelines bring4the showboat to McHenry as they present "Showboat Days" in song, barbershop style, Nov 3 at 8 pm at the McHenry West campus auditorium. McHenrv This is the 30-member chorus' fifth annual show and this year promises to be the best of the five The singers w ill be bringing back the nostalgia of those glorious days on the riverboat when singing and dancing was all that mattered MclfENKY SWEET ADELINESCIIOKI S and the southland gave birth to the blues Featured in the show will not only be the chorus' own two quartets, The Musical Express and the Happy Times Four, but also the 1978 regional cham­ pions of Sweet Adelines Inc. Region 3, The Stereo Sound and the 1976-77 Ill inois district champions of the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Bar bershop Quartet Singing In America. Inc.) from Elgin the Valley Four-Gers The McHenry chapter of Sweet Adelines was organized and chartered only four years ago Since that t ime they have never walked away from Competition without honors In 1975 they won the novice award (first t ime in contest to be eligible i and in 1976 they were voted the Most Improved Chorus award In 1977 they came home in eighth place and in 1978 they won the Small Chorum uwaru duu ned tor eighth place again The chorus is under the direction of Mrs Pat Gattone of McHenry and rehearses every Tuesday at the Methodist church in McHenry at 7 30 p m New members and guests are always welcome More information can be obtained by calling Mrs James R i Mary Jane) Boelens, 5501! Christine drive Pistakee Highlands Tickets will be available at the door until the house is fi l led