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&>#>• The Guidance department of Marian Central Catholic high school recently ad­ ministered the SRA high school placement test to 171 eighth grade students who are currently McHenry count schools. The n represents a 24 increase in students tending lor high ir tested ercent the number of taking the students construct class schedules for the freshman year with a school counselor. Additional information regarding the make-up test and curriculum may be obtained by calling Marian's director of guidance, Ty Keller. placement test in 1978. This test is the first step taken by eighth graders for enrollment in the class of 1984. The final step is fresh­ man registration Sunday, Feb. 24, when parents and Water erosion causes an average loss of 12 tons of topsoil an acre each year in the United States, according to the National Wildlife Federation. The McHenry Plaindealer Newspaper Available At The •MAYS DRUG •BELL LIQUORS •McHENRY WALGREEN • BOLGER'S DRUG STORE •BEN FRANKLIN OSCO DRUGS •JEWEL •HORNSBY'S •HERMES 4 CO. LIQUOR MART ^ •VILLAGE MART •J tR STORE \ Following Locations: •LAKEVIEW • SUNNYSIDE FOOD • JOHNSBURG FOOD MART • ADAMS GROCERY •LITTLE STORE •FRED! IRENE'S TAP •McHENRY QUICK MART • SUNRISE GROCERY • STEINY TAP •McCULLOM LAKE GROC. •FOOD MART •NORTHWEST TRAIN •McHENRY HOSPITAL We d like to welcome our old and new friends to the Grand Opening of four new First Federal of Chicago branches--Crystal Lake, Algonquin, McHenry, and Wauconda. Visit any one of these branches through January 12, deposit $300 or more, and you can get beautiful, fully leaded Gorham Crystal, free or at special prices. ; . -- v FREE DRAWING And while you're at First Federal, don't forget to register for the outstanding prizes to be given away in our drawing on January 14. You could win a Litton microwave oven, a Sony home stereo system, a 30-volume set of the 1980 Encyclopaedia Britannica, or a motor driven 35mm Nikon camera outfit. Register between December 15 and January 12 at all four locations. No deposit is necessary. DEPOSIT LEVELS Crystal Gift (A) 5H" Bon Bon Dish (B) Crystal Heart Pendant (C) Sugar & Creamer (D) 6" Bowl (E) Candleholder (F) Decanter (G) Set of Eight Old Fashion Glasses (H) Set of Eight Highball Glasses $300 Free $ 5.00 $ 7.50 $ 7.50 $ 8.50 $19.50 $29.00 $29.00 $1,000 Free Free $ 3.50 $ 3.50 $ 5.50 $16.50 $24.50 $24.50 $5,000 Free Free; Free Free $ 3.50 $14.50 $20.00 $20.00 Add. $100 $ 4.50 $ 6.50 $ 9.50 $ 9.50 $10.50 $21.50 $31.00 $31.00 Sales tax is included in prices shoum above. Offer good only at First Federal of Chicago offices in Algonquin, Crystal Lake, McHenry and Wauconda Offer is good from December 15, 1979 through January 12, 1980, or while supply lasts. First Federal of Chicago reserves the right to modify or withdraw this offer at any time without notice. A customer does not qualify for additional premiums from the first three columns on above chart if the customer opens additional accounts or makes deposits into more than one account under the same title, whether single or joint owner­ ship. Customers participating in this offer must comply with standards established by First Federal of Chicago basea upon federal regulations governing premium promotions. Sorry, no mail orders. HOLIDAY FUN And while you're there, be sure to enjoy our holiday hospitality. There'll be refresh­ ments, door prizes, and First Federal gifts at each branch. Plus, we'll have; entertainment December 15 from 10 a.m.-l p.m. at all four offices. On December 22. therefe entertain­ ment again in Crystal Lake and MdHenry from 10 a.m.-l p.m. We've booked some terrific musicians. You'll hear everything from Christmas Carols to your favorite tunes. So stop in and say hello and enjoy the holiday cheer at our four new offices. We'll be looking for you. • You must be 18 years old or over to enter drawing. It is not necessary to be a First Federal account holder or to make a deposit in order to enter Only one prize will be awarded per family household. Prizes are not transferable and will not be substituted. Winners will be notified by mail. Drauing date. Monday, January 14, 1980 First Federal of Chicago Illinois' Largest Savings and Loan. ITS NICE TO HiWE FIRST FEDERAL NEARBY Crystal Lake: 1 E. Crystal Lake Ave., 815-459-1400. McHenry: 4400 W. Rte. 120,815-385-9000. Algonquin: 1309 Dundee Road (Rte. 31), 312-658-8622. Wauconda: 475 W. Liberty (Rt. 176), 312-526-8622 ©1979. First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Chicago. Member: Federal Home Loan Ba<. i Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. LENDER . . V , - Nearly 2,000 years ago, the three wise men saw a light in the heavens, signaling to them an event of the utmost importance. In the words of the Book of Matthew: "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." » The brief mention of the Star of Bethlehem has in­ trigued scientists, historians and theologians for hundreds of years because, other than descriptions in the New Testament, there are no other known accounts documenting this apparently < short-term celestial phenomenon. Much speculation exists over whether there really was such a star, according to Von Del Chamberlain, an astronomer at the Smithsonian institution's National Air and Space museum. In an annual public lecture, Chamberlain traces the various theories ad­ vanced to explain the Star of Bethlehem. "Most of us assume that the Christmas star was an extraordinary sight to behold," he says. "It may hot have been so spec­ tacular, Actually, it may have been an event which only professional star gazers -such as the Magi- would even have noticed. And, perhaps what the wise men saw was not really a single star at all." One theory holds that the Christmas star was a comet. Early records kept by the Chinese mention a comet without a tail visible in the spring of 4 B.C., a date which fits the most recent estimates of the year in which Jesus was born. (Scholars now believe that Jesus was born between 8 and 4 B.C. Since our present calendar system was not instituted until the 6th century A.D., more than 500 years after his birth, errors in calculation are possible.) But comets move slowly from night to night through the starry sky. Moreover, comets were believed by the ancients to be omens of impending doom, not har­ bingers of glad tidings. Another theory has it that the star might have been an unusually bright meteor, called a fireball. As fireballs IFB President Sees U.S. Citizens Uniting The Iranian situation, as shocking as it is to the American public, could be the'catalyst that will cause American citizens to unite once again in a common effort. That was the message that Illinois Farm Brueau President Harold B. Steele gave to the nearly 3,000 persons attending the organization's annual meeting in Chicago, Dec. 9- 12. Steele said that while every citizen is hoping that the lives of hostages held in Iran will be spared, the ordeal could be the stimulant that will cause the United Slates to move forward into the 1980s with a sense of pride and purpose. "Our attempts in the 70s to be everything to everybody have been disastrous," Steel said during his speech to the general session. He cited * inflation, interest rates, energy dependency and loss of global influence as some of the main problems that have plagued the 1970s. Steele, however, sees new \ hope for the next decade, the 1980s, but he said a progressive decade ahead can only come if Americans use their individual in­ centive -"good old Yankee ingenuity"--to make the 1980s what the decade should be. , The incentive in America is "individual freedom," Steele said. "That incentive is still the predominate force in America today." For the farmer, this means strengthening the process in solving some priority problems on the farm. "The first priority is to maintain an efficient and profitable operation," he said, noting that the strength of the nation rests on the freedoms of agriculture, industry and business. Steele said another priority problem for agriculture to help solve is energy. "There needs to be specific answers f o r d e t e r m i n i n g agriculture's role in solving our energy needs," he said, "whether it be alcohol, gasohol, ethanol or other products. Steele cautioned his audience not to think that the troubles of the nation rest with the government. In reality, he said, the people are responsible because the people'are the government. "We, the people, will have the type of government we are willing to work for and support," he said. One fact about America is indisputable, Steele said, "Whether it's the boat people of Vietnam, the starving masses in Cam­ bodia or those seeking asylum from the Soviet Union, the nation they seek out for help or a new homeland is the one we proudly call 'The Land of the Free.' flash through the at­ mosphere, they burn with an intense but fleeting light. But ancient records and modern knowledge indicate that fireballs are fairly com- monplace occurrences lasting only a few seconds. A third and more tenable explanation is that the Star of Bethlehem was a "nova," which means literally "new star." Actually, novas are not new but uld stars that have reached the end of their evolution and have become unstable. These exploding stars abruptly rise to great brilliance, then lose their luminance slowly over a period of weeks. "This theory has poten­ tial," Chamberlain says. "A nova could be blight enough and last long enough to lead the wise men on a long journey to Bethlehem." "In addition," he con­ tinues, "a nova would cer­ tainly be the most dramatic explanation. What could be more exciting than to have a 'new star' appear on the night that Christ was born?" One recent study of an­ cient Chinese and Korean records indicates that a nova may have appeared in 5 B.C., but there is no definitive account that such an event took place. The theory most widely accepted by astronomers today was put forth in the 1600s by German astronomer Johannes Kepler. Kepler suggested that the Christmas star was really a "conjunction" of planets. A conjunction occurs when two or more Dlanets aDDear to pass by each other in the sky. Using ancient sky records, astronomers bave verified that the planets Jupiter and Saturn appeared in conjunction not once but three times between 7 and 6 B.C. -- a relatively rare phenomenon. A conjunction would ex­ plain the lack of other records, since it most likely would have gone unnoticed except by those, like the Magi, wh6 were trained to watch the ^y. A conjunctfrwv -takes on even more significance when viewed from an astrological standpoint. The ancient astrologers would have considered conjunctions to be highly symbolic events. To them, conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn held special , significance- Jupiter, symbolic of the king of the gods, and Saturn, said to be the protector of the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean. In 6 B.C., the planet Mars joined Jupiter and Saturn s following the third con­ junction, according to the records. All three planets appeared in the constellation of Pisces (the Fishes), which signified to the astrologers the House of the Hebrews. While the triple con­ junction is the most widely accepted theory, -it is unlikely that the world will ever know for certain what produced the Christmas "star." But whether the star was supernatural or part of the natural order of things, the story of the Star of Bethlehem has endured as a symbol of Christmas. PACK 1«2 The monthly Cub Scout meeting of Pack 162 featured the annual father-son cake bake-off. The entries were so good it made judging very difficult. „ Ribbons were awarded to first, second and third place winners of each den. Overall winners received special ribbons. They were first place, Robert Hunt; second place, Daniel Evans; and third place went to Edward D'Sousa. All cakes were then auctioned off. Everyone was then en­ tertained with skits given by Dens 2, 3, 5 and 7. Achievement awards were presented to Brendon Ryan, artist and traveler patches; Richard Argy, showman patch; Daniel Evans, one- year service star and recruiter patch; Donald Adams, 2-year service star; Edward D-Sousa-Geologist, outdoors men, citizen, forester patches, a Webelo patch and a 2-year service star; Robert Dorazil, a Geologist, naturalist, showmen, traveler and Webelo patch; Marc Johnson, Wolf patch and gold arrow, and Brian Mann, Wolf patch and gold arrow. Art Kreulzer took his Webelos to O'Hare and were given a guided tour by American Airlines. They enjoyed boarding several planes and viewed the cock­ pits. Next they toured the repair hangars and fire stations. Their busy and exciting day ended with supper at a local restaurant. Drama Club Prepares For Winter Play The McHenry high school Drama club's winter play, "All My Sons" will be presented in the West campus auditorium Jan. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 20 at 2. There will also be a special senior citizen's performance Jan. 17 at 8 for SECTION 2-PAGE9-PLAINDEALER/WEDNESDAY.DECEMBER 1», IW» High Interest Rates American farmers are almost $160 billion in debt, and midwestern bankers want their farmer customers to wait until interest rates come down before making major new investments. At the same time, the high interest rates have forced midwestern farmers to delay some of their large equipment purchases. The question for farmers, bankers and implement dealers is; "Have interest rates peaked and when will they come down?" a reduced rate. "All My Sons" is the story of a man whose first loyalty is to his sons and family. During the second World War the company, owned by Joe Keller and his partner, ship defective airplane cylinder heads to the Air Force. Joe and his partner are arrested and convicted after many planes crash mysteriously. Joe is found innocent by an appeals court while his partner remains in jail. Robins Boost miniatures and (tollhouses QUALITY \ U DOLLHOUSES *381.'2000 •MINIATURE BUILDING AND ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES •FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES 'Get the quality you're paying for' Hours this Week: Monday-Friday 10-8 Saturday 10-5 Sunday Noon-5 131 CENTER STREET - GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS (312)223-4455 Marian Tests Eighth Graders