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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 stesrti Winning ittMpaptr VOLUME 105 NUMBER 30 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12. 1980 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 25' Need Money To Serve 20,000 McHenry Area Rescue squad president Carmon Hodges (left) and Assistant Chief Ray Mathis take a look at the books to see if ends will meet this year. Autumn is traditionally the time of year when the squad begins its annual fund drive, a drive that provides the money for the day- to-day operating expenses of the squad. The squad is responsible for the emergency health care of more than 20,000 people in a 30 square mile area and is manned by unpaid volunteers. The money generated by the fund drive will be used for gasoline, medical and other supplies, continuing education and building and vehicle maintenance - costs which average a little more than $20,000 annually. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Unique For Cooperation Hospital Expansion t . . . Open Debate It was standing-room-only last Thursday in the Council room at City Hall when a representative of the Health Systems Agency for Kane, Lake and McHenry counties (HSA-KLM) appeared to collect public testimony regarding the proposed relocation and expansion of McHenry hospital. The $29.6 million (estimated) project is slated For the benefit of drivers On Washington street, and perhaps other places in the city, there is a warning that school bus arms will probably be extended in the future and a warning light will say, without words, "You cannot pass". It has been for at least two years that we were aware of ' confusion at the Montini Primary school bus stop, * when younsters were let out of the vehicle for classes in the morning. We did like many others for a time ~ stopped as we thought we should, or paused, then proceeded with caution if drivers behind displayed annoyance. Everyone seemed to be doing the same thing. At one time we consulted a police officer who said that yes, indeed, it was necessary to wait until the bus moves on. * In the meantime, other * drivers were not even slowing, regardless of whether they were meeting the bus or overtaking it. Everyone just passed at the normal speed. Then, last Friday, we were pushed beyond the en­ durance our early morning, before-coffee, temperament would accept without fighting back. We found ourself driving behind one bus discharging passengers, with a lady auto driver behind and another bus following her. We ! stopped, only to be tooted from behind. We waved the lady on and she promptly passed both our car and the bus. The second bus then came up behind, we heard another toot, and could only guess that it was for our benefit. Still we sat until Bus No. 1 continued on its way. A call to the McHenry police chief has revealed (Continued on page 22) for a 100-acre tract of land at the southwest corner of the Bull Valley road-Route 31 intersection, if it is approved by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning board (IHFPB). The HSA-KLM Director of Program Review, Nick Stamatakos, was present to collect the testimony for later review by the project review committee. The controversy over the relocation and expansion of McHenry hospital boiled down to two arguments at the public hearing. On one side are the residents of Crystal Lake, who do not have a full service hospital in their community and Sherman hospital, Elgin, which would like to expand its operations into Crystal Lake. On the other hand, there are the residents of McHenry, who have had a full-service hospital for the last 20 years, but which has apparently outgrown its building. The Elgin hospital has been trying to expand the Ambutal facility in Crystal Lake into a satellite full service hospital. Robert J. Smith, vice- president of Planning and Support services at Sher­ man, appeared for the hospital in opposition to the project. "We (Sherman hospital) have a responsibility as a provider of services which is magnified by our com­ mitment to the people ol Crystal Lake - the largest and busiest municipality in the county," Smith said. "The community has in­ vested large sums of money in the Ambutal, but has also looked toward Sherman hospital and the Greater Elgin MICU (mobile in­ tensive care unit) program for medical care." Smith charged that the application for a certificate of need examined neither the impact on other area health care facilities, i.e. the Ambutal, nor the cost ef­ fectiveness of abandoning a building that is less than 20- years-old. He suggested that if a study were undertaken, it might show that renovation of the present structure is feasible. James Corcoran, ad­ ministrator of McHenry hospital, and others in at­ tendance took exception to the claim that the present hospital might be renovated. Corcoran noted the present location of the building, which is bounded on four sides by either municipal «r education structures or water. Representing Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, Timothy Craig said simply that the new hospital was not needed. He argued that the downtown location of the present medical facility was more accessible to the "primary service area" of McHenry hospital - the communities on the west, north and east. ' Craig said further that there is "no support" from other health care providers or the community for the relocation and expansion project. He charged that there was little or no cooperation between McHenry hospital and other area health care facilities in determining the (Continued on page 22) Arson Investigation In House Explosion Shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, the McHenry Township Fire department Co. II and the Sheriffs police responded to an explosion and fire that destroyed an unoccupied house at 302 Broadway, north k of McHenry near Sunnyside. According to the Sheriff's police, the cause of the ex­ plosion and fire has not been determined and the incident is being investigated by the arson unit of the Sheriff's police. At press time Tuesday morning, there was no damage estimate available. Co. II of the Fire depart­ ment was called to the scene later Monday morning when the foundation rekindled. That fire was ex­ tinguished. Johnsburg School Board Ready For Nov. 22 Vote Dr. Duane Andreas, superintendent of District 12, told board members recent­ ly that the voters have to make an "extremely im­ portant decision" Nov. 22. They have to decide if they want to maintain the Johnsburg * "style" of education. If the referendum passes on all three issues < an increase on the educational, tran­ sportation and operations, building and maintenance tax rates) the home owner assessed at $10,000 will be paying an additional $75 in property taxes. National Education week, Nov. 16-22, will be the final time for citizens to ask questions about the referendum before going to the polls. District 12 is planning several events that week for parents, such as a fashion show and a band student meeting, at which time they will provide in­ formation booths for citizens and question sessions on the issues involved in the referendum. The -board approved to accept the lone bid for the purchase and installation of a new 25hp well pump at the County Jail Rehabilitation The Jail Rehabilitation program at the McHenry county jail is an unique example of what cooperation between government agencies can achieve. Begun in 1971 as an effort by McHenry County college to provide GED and educational coun­ seling for county jail inmates, the program has grown to be a combined effort of the county's Court Services depart­ ment, the county's CETA (Comprehensive Em­ ployment and Training Act) prime sponsor, the McHenry County Mental Health board, the County Public Defenders office, the State Department of Corrections and the college. At the same time it has grown to serve former prison inmates as well as county jail inmates and to provide mental health screening and help in finding a job as well as vocational training. Bob Meyer, a McHenry County college counselor who coordinates the program, explains that the cooperation in this county is unique in the state. Meyer notes that the program involves coor­ dination with the county state's attorney's office, the sheriff, the probation officers and even the cooperation of local judges. But all the work to coordinate seems wor­ thwhile, Meyer notes, when there is a case like a young man convicted for a minor offense who is able to spend his days in class at MCC and his nights in the county jail instead of having to serve hard time in prison. "When I first started the program, the com­ bination of vocational counseling classes and a GED program to allow inmates to earn high school diplomas seemed adequate," Meyer noted. But the county jail's population and problems have grown as the local county's population has grown, he adds, and so last January it was decided the program needed expansion. One addition to the program was a $21,000 grant from the 708 Mental Health board to allow the program to include mental health screening for prisoners "At the same time we are screening inmates to find out which ones need psychiatric help, we are also finding those who are mentally stable and can benefit from vocational training," Meyer said "Agreeing to allow the expanded services was a real feather in the college's cap," Meyer said, explaining that the cooperation shows a real concern for the people who need the rehabilitation program rather than the territorial wars that are common among governmental agencies in other coun­ ties. The program has also expanded to include providing vocational services for local residents who return home after serving time in a state prison, Meyer explained. "Our continuing goal is to get these people back into the mainstream of normal activity as soon as possible, to get them back with their families and shouldering their own financial obligation," Meyer said. Meyer will share the uniqueness of the local program with others in the field at a three-day seminar Nov 18 through 20 at the maximum security hospital in Chester, III. He will be speaking at the eleventh annual Institute on Law Psychiatry and the Mentally Disordered Offender Seniors-Aging Council In Partnership Agreement high school from Joseph H Huemann and Sons for the amount of $7,277. The board also moved to submit an addendum to the county superintendent for approval in order to obtain funds for Life Safety corrective work on the repair of roof problems at the Junior high. It will cost approximately $4,991 75 to provide adequate drainage, vents, flashing and reinforce existing roof joints. Junior high girls' softball team won the Fox Valley (Continued on page 22) According to information from the McHenry County Senior Citizens council, Region Two Area Agency on Aging last week entered into a partnership agreement with the council Which will enable the agency to ad­ minister all program funds used in certain programs. These include nutrition, information and referral services, and the outreach program. It was expected that the funding resulting from the agreement would enable the senior centers, closed by the earlier financial crisis, to open Nov. 1. However, because the funding was not immediately available, the reopening date was set back to the middle of the month. The agreement provides also that the agency will assist the Council to administer all other local funds raised for Council programs. Linnea S. Olesen, speaking for the Council, said the staff of the Council is preparing a revised budget for the eight months remaining until June 30, 1981. The reduced ap­ propriations will cover basic elements of the outreach services, information and referral services, and the "Meet and Eat" program, besides programs funded through other sources such as health screening, recreation, chore services, senior transportation, carrier watch and the Council's newsletter. Council difficulties began last summer when it was reported that the Internal Revenue Service had an­ nounced its intention to seek payment of approximately $53,000 in payroll deductions and penalties which had not been deposited after being withheld from Council employees salaries. This information was discussed by the McHenry County Mental Health (708) board in considering further funding for the Council's mental health program for seniors and the resulting publicity brought the Council's problem to light This resulted in officers and staff resigning and the abrupt terminating of all Council programs until the required audit was com­ pleted and the financial picture clarified It was discovered that the Council, at that time, did not have the funds to pay its current bills and continue its programs. According to the audit report furnished by Fleming and Co. of McHenry. Council obligations totalled about $43,000 plus a $6,800 quar­ terly payment due for the Crystal Lake Senior center and $16,000 billed for the audit. Apparently, the audit indicated, $38,000 is available to pay the obligations, but some of this cannot be used for general purposes. Many of the grant monies and funds received are targeted for specific pur­ poses and cannot be diverted to other uses, according to the most recent Council t r e a s u r e r , W i l l i a m Morefield, administrator of Valley Hi nursing home at Hartland. Former treasurer, Thomas Evans, had resigned when the Council learned that supporting government agencies were restricting their support to short term periods and were reducing the Council's role in the operation of its programs. A number of private groups which sup­ port the seniors' programs indicated willingness to help the Council pay its bills and solve its problems. F o l l o w i n g t h e reorganization of the Council's board of directors and officers, newly elected president, Victor Lundemo, made some statements critical of the mental health programs for the seniors, and the 708 board which is the local group responsible for allocating tax raised funds and federal grant monies to the various mental health agencies. The remarks resulted during discussions about the Council's non-compliance with its contract as alleged by 708 board members, and whether the board would take over the mental health program or let the Council take it back. Lundemo was quoted as saying, "1 would like to stuff it in their ear and let them keep it forever. They're just a bunch of phonies...If they want to take over the program, let them." Lundemo noted also that the directors had learned through mental health workers that the seniors apparently didn't want the program, that counselors had to go out and recruit oldsters for the program which just was not well accepted because of the stigma of "mental health". Lundemo indicated at the Oct 30 meeting between the Council committee and the 708 board representatives that his remarks were fully and accurately reported in (Continued on page 22) Request Estate Zoning A petition has been filed for hearing before the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals by Dominick and Kathryn Scolaro. They are seeking an amendment to the McHenry county zoning .ordinance from "A 1" Agricultural district to "E l" Estate district with a variation of frontage requirements, or in the alternative to "R-l" Single Family Residential district. The property is located in ) McHenry township on the west side of Weingart road, approximately one-fourth mile south of the intersection of Weingart and River roads and consists of ap­ proximately 2 acres. The hearing on this petition will be held Nov. 20 at 2 p.m in Room 112 of the McHenry county courthouse, 2200 North Seminary avenue, Woodstock. All those who are interested may appear and be heard. A petition has been filed for hearing by Itobert and (Continued on page 22) Wins Writing Award Stephanie AJIen of McHenry high school West campus has been cited for outstanding performance in w r i t i n g . T h e N a t i o n a l Council of Teachers of English has named her a winner- of a 1980 A c h i e v e m e n t - a w a r d i n Writing The NCTE writing STEPHANIE ALLEN contest is held annually beginning in January Over 5,000 students were hominated last February by their English teachers for NCTE Achievement in Writing Each nominee submitted a sample of his best writing and impromptu essay These compositions were evaluated by state judging teams of both high school and college English teachers The approximately 850 finalists selected each year represent high schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and American (( onlinued on page 22)