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This is the first part of a four-part profile of the McHenry Area Rescue squad as prepared by McHenry Plaindealer Reporter Anthony Oliver. • ~ In the left photo, two members of the McHenry Area Rescue squad get in some practice time with the "Hurst tool." Powered by the portable gas engine, these metal jaws can apply 10,000 pounds per square Inch and can pop open a locked car door in a matter of seconds. In the right photo, another squad member shows one of the airpacks and hard hats used at fires by the Rescue squad. The airpack is also used in situations where toxic fumes may be present. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 104 NUMBER 61 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1980 2 SECT. 30 PAGES 20° For Accidents-Enforcement PR people are very special. They can say the most ordinary in the most extravagant way. people can make you think they're handing you a silver piece when it's only a copper penny. PR people can turn your political persuasion completely arouno by their elegant wording and turning of a phrase. Yes, PR people are very special - but they can be a headache when they leave their role of persuading people to persuading newspaper editors. Editors are often not as clever but they have one thing in their favor. Newspaper editors carry unwritten signs that say: Beware of PR people! The signs don't emanate from intelligence. No, they come from the experience that tells editors they can't believe everyone they listen to. But the PR people are smart. There are some things they know people want to hear, and they hope newspapers will convey their messages - free of charge. For instance, one candidate for representative, through his PR man, urged all candidates for public office and their campaign workers to "do everything possible to prevent turning public property into unsightly garbage heaps". He was referring to campaign signs on fences, poles and trees and he knew everybody would be on his side. A congressional candidate wants people to know one of his first acts will be to repeal the 50-year-old Davis-Bacon act. "What's that"? you ask. Well, the act was passed in 1931 to protect local construction firms from being underbid by outside firms during the depression. Now there's a good promise that's sure to win votes. There are a lot of construction firms and right now, with property not moving, these people have plenty of time to decide this fellow is worth voting for. Crime is another popular topic and the PR man and his candidate haven't passed it up. One of them noted: "During my walk of the district, a repeated concern of our citizens, particularly our senior citizens, has been skyrocketing crime." Ah, now, there's the group to appeal to-senior citizens. Their number grows and they believe in their vote. Frightening folks is another good pitch. Everybody doesn't scare easily , but there are enough to garner a substantial vote if you can convince them it's an alarming situation. One stated it this way: "I would like to tell you today that the United States is first in the world militarily, economically, technologically, educationally and will be in the future. But I cannot make that statement. I cannot make those claims". - This candidate then sets about telling us how we can be No. l--if we elect him. Other expressions sure to find favor with voters are these: ..."The state is fully funding schools and I oppose what is nota rescue but a gift of the treasury of the state of Illinois. It may be the Christmas season, but for this ill-conceived idea, I say 'Bah, Humbug'!!! ..."The people who live near nuclear sites should be given the opportunity to decide about an issue that is so critical to their lives. People must have a voice when their lives and livelihoods are at stake". Pointing to an opponent's proposal for a cargo plane rescue of the Iranian hostages, an opponent speaks: "That proposal shows a reckless disregard for the safety of the American hostages and a complete lack of understanding of the obvious military situation". We could go on and on. Each day's mail has a bundle of letters from political candidates and the PR men who live on their promises. But even the politicians have to take a back seat to the PR man who came up with this one. In our pre-holiday mail was a questionable news release with the heading--"Pod group suggests: stuff stockings with summer surprise". It continued to state that a pool dould be ordered from a particular firm for $127,174.32. It promised that an Arizona firm would give you a miniature one wrapped as a present for under the tree. And in most parts of the country you could carry one home in the trunk of your car to give for Christmas, although it wasn't recommended that you assemble it until the first signs of spring . Never underestimate the working of a PR person's mind! K.A.F. Plans to form a Police Traffic unit in the City of McHenry have been ap­ proved by the Illinois Department of Tran­ sportation. The purpose of the unit will be to reduce traffic accidents and in­ crease enforcement of traffic laws.in the City. Seventy-five percent of the approximately $106,000 cost of the unit will be reim­ bursed to the City from federal funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety. According to Sergeant Robert Zujewski, the unit will consist of a part-time supervisor, two full-time patrolmen, and a part-time records clerk. Officer&i assigned to the unit will attend training courses in "On-Scene Accident In­ vestigation", and "Selective Traffic Law Enforcement" at the Springfield Police academy. Upon completion of the training, unit officers will begin enforcement efforts which will be concentrated on high accident locations. A specially marked police car will be purchased for use by the unit. In addition to enforcement efforts, the McHenry Police Traffic unit will be involved in public information efforts to educate the public of the need and reasons for the increased enforcement. According to many people in the field, the trend in emergency medicine has taken a decided turn for the better. Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) have replaced the Cadillac am­ bulances and on-the-spot medical treatment Ijy trained personnel has replaced the old "throw and go" method. But, good emergency medical care requires people, training, time and equipment and none of this comes cheaply. Rescue squad member George Landholt said, "The people of McHenry and Lake counties don't know how lucky they really are." In Chicago, Landholt' pointed out, there is an MICU for every 160,000 people. "In McHenry, we have three MICU's for about | 20,000 people," he asserted. In addition to the three MICU's, the McHenry Rescue squad is equipped to handle just about any situation that arises. The MICU's have portable ^-communications, telemetry, - equipment which allows the paramedics at the scene to stay in constant com­ munication with the physician in the emergency room. The ambulances also have portable EKG machines which can be set up anywhere and, when con­ nected to the telemetry equipment, will send the patient's EKG -- a picture of the heart's rhythm -- to the physician in the emergency room. The squad is equipped with four pairs of inflatable Military Anti Shock Trousers (MAST) which will extremities to the brain. With supplies ranging from oxygen tanks, in- trjyenous (IV) equipment and medications to tongue depressors and splints, the MICU is essentially an in­ tensive care unit of a hospital on wheels. Designated by the number "1259", the crash-rescue truck has what is needed to get a person out of a tight place. The truck has a winch mounted on the front bumper, floodlights for night work, chainsaws, prybars, cables and ropes, cones, blankets, the Stokes basket - a special stretcher - fire extinguishers, a life raft, an air compressor and hydraulic prying equipment. The "Hurst tool" is a pair of hydraulic jaws which can Routine purchases of classroom materials and authority to seek bids for more buses were approved by the board of High School District 156 in a short meeting held last week. The board also learned that negotiations with the High School Teachers association for a new contract were to begin on Feb. 21. In order to improve classroom equipment, the board approved the pur­ chase of six new Olympia 65 heavy * duty electric typewriters for East campus business education classes at a total cost of $3,480. The successful proposal was submitted by McHenry County Office Machines of Crystal Lake. For the East campus art classes, the board okayed acquisition of a potter's wheel and a kiln at a cost of $1,525 from Art Studios of Elk Grove Village. For the building trades courses the board completed the pur- deliver 10,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. The toOl can snip the columns of a car supporting the roof or can pop a door open in 10 seconds. According to squad member Bob Dooley, the tool is especially useful because of the "Ralph Nader pin" onto which all car doors lock. "The Nader pin causes mOst of the problems when we try to get into a car," Dooley explained. Also deriving power from the air compressor, air chisels can cut off the roof of a car in about two minutes. Pointing to one of the ways that the trend in emergency medicine has changed recently, Dooley said, "In the old days, we would take the victim from the car. Now we take the car from the victim, unless there is a fire." The '^catch" in the operation is the cost of some of the equipment. Some of the electronic equipment, like the EKG machines, is becoming very unreliable and will have to be replaced within the next year or two, Dooley noted. "We can keep them going for a while, but we are getting closer to the time when we will get to a call and won't know whether they will work," he said. Dooley pointed out that the squad also needs two more big ticket items: a new ambulance, to replace the oldest of the three, and another telemetry unit. The EKG machines cost $6,000 each and both of them need replacing. A new MICU truck will cost an estimated $40,000 and the telemetry unit runs about $8,000. "Unfortunately, people don't think .about us until they need us," Dooley commented. "It's sort of like a funeral service necessary but people hope they'll never have to call one." The Jaycees first suggested the need for the service in 1971 and a working High School Board In Buy-Bid-Bargain Session Linda Bonk In Miss Illinois-USA Contest March 17 from the Rialto theater in Joliet. Miss Bonk is a former Miss McHenry. Both the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competition and the televised finals competition will be open to the public March 15 and 17. Tickets for both can be ordered in ad­ vance by writing to Pageant Productions Co., 434 W. Downer Place, Aurora. The winner will fly to Biloxi, Miss., in May for an opportunity to compete for the Miss U.S.A. title. Two Illinois girls have captured the U.S.A. title within the past seven years. Amanda Jones of Evanston was Miss U.S.A. 1973, and Karen Morrison of St. Charles was Miss U.S.A. 1974. The reigning Miss Illinois-U.S.A. is Debbie Niego of Oak Lawn. LINDA BONK Linda Lee Bonk, 20, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Matthesius of 3200 N. Richmond road, McHenry, will be among those vying for the i960 Miss Illinois- U.S.A. title and over $15,000 in awards. The Miss Illinois pageant will be televised committee was set up. With the help of the Johnsburg Rescue squad, training programs in advanced first aid and the use of equipment were started. After obtaining their first ambulance, from Antioch, the McHenry Rescue squad became active at 8 a.m. on Jan. 10, 1972. The first call for help came in at 8:20 a.m.,. according to Carmon Hodges, the founder of the squad. In 1974, the building on Court street, which presently houses Company One of the squad, was built and the squad was an­ swering about 500 to 550 calls a year, Hodges said. Hodges pointed out that the squad is funded in three ways: donations, memorials and the annual fund drive. Usually, the fund drive will provide enough money for the day-to-day operation of the squad - about $20,000 a year. This money covers maintenance of the equip­ ment, training expenses, insurance, fuel, etc. This year, though, the Rescue squad is about 30 percent behind the money received last year. Of the more than 6,000 letters sent out in this year's fund drive, the squad has received a little more than 1,000donations. According to Bob Dooley, the donations received thus far amount to $.55 per person in the district served by the McHenry Rescue squad which is not restricted to the City of McHenry. Part and parcel of the McHenry Rescue squad is Company Two, which handles calls-Tn the state park, Holiday Hills and the southern part of the district. Dooley also pointed out that the members of the Rescue squad are not paid for their time, either in training or in practice, and the sqUad does not charge for the medical supplies used on a call, as do some private ambulance services. "A full time, tax supported Rescue squad would cost about $200,000 a year to operate," Dooley explained. With 75 percent of the squad members qualified a9 paramedics, Dooley agreed with George Landholt and said the people of McHenry are indeed lucky to have a well trained and equipped squad. Dooley noted that to maintain the high standard of treatment which the squad can provide will require an expenditure of about $100,000 in the next two years. The people who make up the McHenry Rescue squad, the time involved in being a member, and Company Two - the latest addition to the squad - are the subjects of the next three parts of this series. Primary Absentee Voting Deadlines McHenry county electors expecting to be absent from the county for the March 18 primary election may now cast an absentee ballot in the office of Rosemary Azzaro. county clerk, according to an announcement, from the clerk's office. Absentee applications in person can be accepted up to 5 p.m. Monday. Marrh 17 in the clerk's office. The last day to receive applications by mail is Thursday, March 13. Applications for absentee voting may be obtained by calling 815-338-2040 or writing to the office of County Clerk, 2200 No. Seminary Avenue, Wood­ stock. 111., 60098. Food International Language chase of garage and exterior doors and windows at a cost of $3,708 from Edward Hines Co. at Crystal Lake. In response to a recom­ mendation by transportation director Fred Goering and the transportation com­ mittee, the board granted approval to advertise for bids for three new 1980 buses w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e specifications. Earlier in the school year the board had purchased three stock school buses from a major company as an "emergency measure." This time the board will accept bids according to specs on standard chassis by motor companies and- the bodies separately from school bus body firms with the com­ pleted units to be delivered by July 31. This procedure is recommended to permit more competitive bidding and participation by local d e a l e r s . C o m m i t t e e chairman David Benrud pointed out that in the near future there would be a need for more buses because of a lack of purchases from the years 1975 to 1979. In other transportation business, board president Ed Neumann, noting the bad appearance of a number of District 156 buses, wondered about their refinishing and also if the work could be done at school shops Goering said they had facilities and space for painting at the bus garage (for small jobs presently) but they did not own a compressor for spray painting However, they did (Continued on page 20) Students at Ringwood school, part of the Johnsburg school system, view preparations for mixing the dough for the Norwegian Lefse by their teacher, Grace Vyduna. Other pictures in connection with the observance of "Around The World In 30 Days", a month long international event which will come to a close with a fair Saturday, March 1, appear on Pago 14. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Probably very few students in the Johnsburg school system will have the opportunity to travel around the world. That doesn't mean they can't dream! This dream is now in progress throughout the school system as they participate in a month long international event called "Around The World In 30 Days" The 29-day program will culminate with a fair S a t u r d a y . M a r c h 1 , i n ­ cluding all students from kindergarten through high school. Theme for the event f o c u s e s o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l customs and lifestyles, cultures and heritage Depending on age and skills, students are making d i s p l a y s a n d e x h i b i t s , learning folk dances and music, preparing foods All of them are experiencing d i f f e r e n t h e r i t a g e backgrounds These activities will be stored with parents and interested members of the c o m m u n i t y S a t u r d a y , March 1, when a fair is held starting at 2 o'clock at the three school buildings in Johnsburg James C. Bush elementary and the Middle school have been designated for open house, where visitors can browse at leisure At Junior high, in addition to open house, performances and special demonstrations and exhibits will be offered (Continued on page 14) Move Over- Rescue Squad Goes To Work!