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V I************ ********************************** * * " * ^-r-n~T~r-T~r-rrTTT*Tttttttfttfttttttt^*t1 Your Police Department by Officer Jim Fitzgerald i- i- Happy New Year! It's good to see that everyone made it through the New Year's eve parties and fun in fine shape, and we all can be together again for another year, and decade. With any 'kind of luck, and if the creek doesn't rise, the new year will be just as good as last year for all of us, and I hope everyone stays Wealthy and happy. Fortunately, (at least I think that it is fortunate), we haven't had an abundance of snow yet. However, I do feel that the odds of my getting another of my Christmas wishes (that the last three weeks of January be in the high 80's, and the weather improves from there) are about a million to one, and I'm sure we are going to get "dumped on" but good, and very soon at that. I'll bet there will be enough slush and junk to make all of us long for the garbage weather that we had Christmas eve. Therefore, by the power vested in me to write these articles by the people who run this paper, I'm going to go over a few pointers with you about the driving problems that always arise as a result of any snowfall. I'm sure there are a few people who do not think there is any difference in the way they must drive when the roads are dry and clear, atyl the way they should drive when there is snow and ice on the road. They must drive along thinking "it won't happen to me" or something to that effect, and as they slide along into another car or a tree or something like that, they may also think "what happened?" I'm sure we can all agree that if there is anyone in a moving vehicle who should know exactly what is happening, it is the person driving. We all know that a bridge is almost always very very slippery, but do all of us know why? It is because of the fact that the bridge is always the last thing to thaw • after a freezey because so much of it is exposed to the cold air, both the top and the bottom, and it gets colder than the street surface. Also, since it is colder, as vehicles pass over the snow, it warms slightly and some of it turns to slush and water, and then refreezes from the cold, making a bridge one of the *most hazardous road surfaces around. One should look far enough ahead to see that if he is going to have to try and stop upon the bridge, he should try and slow down prior to reaching the bridge just in case it is slick. Trying to stop on ice, as we all know, is next to impossible. Since thereq is less friction between the road surface and the rubber of the tires of your vehicle, it becomes very easy to over-apply the brakes of the vehicle, and get yourself and the vehicle into a four-wheel slide, either straight ahead, or worse yet, sideways. Once a slide starts, there are usually two things that people do to try and stop it. The first thing they try, and the one which is a gut reaction rather than the correct thing to doi is to Publ ic Relations Officer McHenry City Police Phone 385-2131 Accidents wiH T happen. TONY CHUCK FICK LEWANDOWSKI Crar of Crystal Lake Blacktop t Rt 120 Mriteanr WMWly CAU US FOR DETAILS 385-2304 mMTnun American f amity Mutual Inauranca Co MM*aoA.Wis * that's why you need the (Protection that American , Family's Special Homeowner 1 Package Policy provides. It's jthe most complete home- | owners coverage we've ever (offered. Call me today for Jail the details. stomp down on the'brakes harder. Unfortunately, all this does is give your leg a little isometric exercise, and does nothing to help stop the vehicle. The correct thing to do is to let up on the brakes a little, and then start pum­ ping the brakes so that the tires do not break traction, and help the vehicle slow, 'instead of slide. If you do get yourself into a four-wheel slide, there are two things to do which should get you out of it safely, and they should be done almost at the same time. You ^ill have to ease up on the brakes, and steer into the slide. In other words, feel which way the rear end of your vehicle Is going, either towards t|ie passenger side, or the diver's side. \If it is trying to pass you An the passenger side, turn the wheel to the right; on the driver's side, turn the wheel to the left. This way, when the tires regain traction, the front of the car will straighten the whole car out, at which point you can start to pump the brakes and slow the vehicle. Please, please do not drive your vehicles when the windows are covered with snow, or fogged up on the inside, until you have cleared them off. Just before you are ready to leave for the morning, run out and fire old Betsy up and brush off the windows, front, back and both sides!! Let the. car warm jip-a4ittle so that the defroster can start working, to clear the inside of fog. I kriow about the gas shortage and such, but it is far better to spend a little money make the trip safe, then tc spend the money later in case of an accident. The price is a small one to pay. 1980 is here now, and we all have another chance to smash the highway records and make this year the one County Defers Road Action PAGE 21 • PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 9. IMP At the recent McHenry County board meeting, the Transportation committee, headed by Tom Huemann, McHenry, deferred action on three matters with the recommendation that any decision be delayed until the countywide transportation study arid development of priorities for the county's highway network is com­ pleted. The committee reported it discussed a proposed in- where we all decide not to have sya accident, and to apply asriyall amount more of care arid\safety when we drive. Lets see if we can shock the shorts off the government people and have a year where no one is killed on the highway. terchange at Randall road and the Northwest_tollway, first suggested-by "Senator .Jafik Schaffer "to alleviate traffic problems on Route 31." Tjhecommittee discussed inquiFtfig into the feasibility of an interchange at this location, the impact of an interchange on Randall road, and the feasibility of relocating Route 31 to Randall road in McHenry and Kane counties. The matter of adding Hebron road to the county highway system^ as discussed in Octob^jf and November was deferred pending the long range high­ way improvement program study. Hgbron road extends westwaraFr&m the northern limits of Hebronito Route 14. Jim Rakow, county superintendent of highways, told the committee that Hebron road is presently under township jurisdiction and is classified as a "local access" highway. He said the comprehensive coun­ tywide transportation study is due for completion|within a year and will provite the opportunity to establish improvement priorities. It may show the desirability of expanding or extending selected segments of the present county highway system, he continued. An earlier communication to the county's tran­ sportation committee from Alden, Chemung and Hebron township commissioners pointed out their lack of funds to improve the road. The committee also decided to postpone a recommendation concerning a bridge across the Fox river between Cary and Algonquin. yThe newest comment was in response to a letter from Algonquin village president, Ray Bangert, Jr. He said the village opposes Site A-the site that passes through a B would extend north of Route 25 where it junctures with Route 62, then angle northwest across the river where it would connect with Klassen road and join Route 14 near the Route Si-Virginia road intersection. In his letter, Gangert said Site B is primarily through rural area and would have minimum impact on existing land use. Approach roads would be on existing roads, requiring a minimum of new right-of-way to be obtained. 9:00 n. THURSDAY. JRNURRY IO © (Crystal Laki Stop* Only) OOINO OUT OF BUSINES5 OFF EVERY ITEM IN THE STORE HERE ERRLY WHILE SELECTION IS TERMS OF SALE: CASH, CHECKS, VISA, MASTER CHARGE ONLY NO STORE CHARGES -- NO RETURNS T CHOOSE FROM., *RPPLIRNCES * PRINT *CRSURL CLOTHES *SNOW BLOWERS TELEVISION SEl * MICROWAVES •WORK & BOOTS •RND MRNY ITEMS *LRWN MOWERS * RIDING MO WERS *FRRM SUPPLIES * TIRES *GRRDEN SUPPLIE5 *HRRDWRRE •PLUMBING SUPPLIES * PET SUPPLIES GET llERE ERRLY!!!- 0 Farmtown ' 'Route 14 at 176 Crystal Lake, IL Phone 459-3810 HOURS: Monday thru Friday 9-5:30^aturday 9-5:00; Sunday 10-3 TO W O O D S T O C K f S PAHWTOWN < M O TO M H j N M i RT I 76 T f R R A l " O T T A TO Algonquin • \. ' J '"