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

\ VOLUME 106 NUMBER 12 "SERVING THE CHAIN O LAKES REGION S INCE 1875 ' WEDNESDAY, SEPTfiMBER 9. 1981 m*: o-: ••. •PMfH I.S f3H MM I y7'•• s}$sS&H<-•••• iSsoa New County Junior Miss Mary Ellen Higgins, right, holds Junior Miss title in McHenry county, throughout the county to win a |4M i Higgins also was winner in the Poise ai Smith of McHenry, who rated tint in the i Scholastic award. Saturday evening as winner of the [topped a field of 25 contestants from Itip to the college of her choice. Miss Appearance category. At left, is Susan lolarship competition. She won a $100 STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Before a large audience gathered in Crystal Lake Central high school Saturday evening, Miss Mary Ellen Higgins of Wonder Lake won the title of Junior Miss of McHenry county. The West campus high school senior topped a field of 25 girls for the title. We stepped into the flivver, pushed down on the starter -- and wow! Smoke emerged from under the hood and a loud explosion filled the air. We were outside in a jiffy and looked around to find grinning faces emerging from beyond the hill. A harmless bomb had found its way into the working parts by a conniving newspaper crew. We were in the flivver again on Green street. It was 5 o'clock --going home time - and we shifted but nothing happened. It was impossible, even with this vintage car, that with all controls working we were sitting still. Could it be? Of course! The back wheels had been jacked up, again the work of the staff, to produce a car working perfectly in position. Could this have been part of an old TV rerun? Oh, no. It was all part of a Memory Lane trip we took last week when co-workers transported us back through a good part of our 40 years with the Plaindealer. The author was Publisher Tom Miller ; the producer was Society Editor Betty Smith; the director, Earl Walsh. The players were some very special friends and co-workers who make even the daily sound of the alarm clock a pleasant experience. Location was Chapel Hill Country club, where Cameraman Wayne Gaylord snapped continuously through reminiscences that started back on the northeast corner of Green and Elm on Sept. 1, 19411 The story that unfolded was mostly factual, with just enough fiction to put sparkle into an unforgettable evening. It was former Plaindealer Publisher Bill Burfeindt who recalled the flivver incidents. Out of reach of the mike, we shared memories of hand set type and an old addressograph responsible for sending the home town news to several hundred McHenry men and women through World War II. Former Publisher Larry Lund left moving operations to a new home, and his own newspaper in Monroe, Wis., to add "roastful" thoughts and complete the trio of publishers we were reminded we had "outlasted". That fact was announced in a special edition of the Sept. 1 Plaindealer presented to every guest. From each department came tasteful reminders in word and gifts (all tongue in cheek) of our own idiosyncrasies in "putting to bed" the newspaper each week. Mary Miller, JoAnn Hutchinson, Millie Jeschke, Laura O'Brien, Joel Wakitsch, Tony Oliver. Carl Moesche, (Continued on page 18) The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Higgins of 4315 Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, Mary Ellen will now compete in state competition next December at Naperville. In the spring she will be promoting the Junior Miss program in county high schools. Susan Smith, an East campus senior, topped all contestants to win the $100 Scholastic scholarship. -Am eeeiik of the judges' decision, Miss Higgins will wear a medallion representative of the program's traditional slogan, "Emphasis on Excellence". She receives a $400 scholarship to the college of her choice, a $100 award as winner of the Poise and Appearance category, and a $25 savings bond. The participants, representing various parts of the county, were judged on an interview with the judges, their appearance in formals and their talent. Miss Higgins, in a cosUp~~ appropriate for her selection, sang title song from "Cabaret". Later, appeared in a beautiful white formal al the judges' decision was announced t< an enthusiastic audience*4-**1 She plans to continue her education, with a major in Music Theatre, when she graduates from high school next June. Mary Ellen has had starring parts in MCHS musicals throughout high school. She is serving this year as vice- president of the West campus Student i Council. , Susan Smith, daughter of Mr. and t Mrs. John F. Smith of 903 Green street, attended Girls State last June. She is vice-president of the East campus Student Council. _ For her talent, Susan iang "The Goatherder's Song" from "Sound of * " • t yeafrshe plans td attend college and major in Business. The contest in which the girls par­ ticipated is sponsored by the Crystal Lake charter chapter of the American Business Women's association of McHenry county. Its goal is to honor outstanding high school senior girls. Air Proposal For School District Land Detachment By Anthony Oliver Issues and information regarding a proposal to adjust school district boundaries in the Village of Island Lake were aired at a meeting Sept. 2 at Wauconda high school. The village, and an adjacent un­ developed subdivision, is presently divided by the boundaries of McHenry High School District 156, Elementary School District 15 and Wauconda School District 118. According to District 156 Superin­ tendent Robert Swartzloff/ who at­ tended the meeting, the proposal to make all of the Island Lake area a part of District 118 came from Mayor Al Schmidt. The mayor pointed out that if anyone was going to plan a small municipality, one would not want boundary lines from three school districts cutting through the community. For any small community to be unified, Schmidt said at both the meeting and in a letter to school district administrators, fhere should only be one district. Swartzloff noted that many activities center around a school building, par­ ticularly in smaller villages. "Basically there was no movement, or groundswell of public unrest," Swartzloff said. "The administrators present provided Mayor Schmidt with some information and pointed out how the law provides for change." Swartzloff explained that every county has a regional board of school trustees, which deals specifically with the setting of boundaries. "There is always another board over you," he added. In this instance, the regional boards from both McHenry and Lake counties would be involved in the proposal. "Evidently, the McHenry county board acts first because the affected land is in McHenry county," Swartzloff added. When asked what would happen if the two county boards disagreed, Swart­ zloff replied, "I don't know, that's a question for the lawyers a long way down the road." The matter can be brought to the regional boards in one of three ways: agreement by all three affected school districts, a petition signed by two-thirds of the registered voters in the area affected, or, if the land is vacant, a petition signed by the land owners. Swartzloff noted that the last method would not apply since the area is populated. "Speaking for District 156, the first option is not viable," Swartzloff said. He noted two reasons for insisting that the matter be brought to the at­ tention of the regional board by petition. The first was that if the school districts spearheaded the proposal, it would appear that District 156 was abandoning the Island Lake residents, he said. "We have had a good relationship with those people," he commented. "Secondly, all school boards want to be sensitive to the people they serve," he pointed out. "A two-thirds petition would be a good indicator of how people feel." Swartzloff said the president and (Continued on page 18) More Group Homes In Planning By Anthony Oliver Preliminary plans are being made for the development of two group homes in the City of McHenry, ac­ cording to Robert Lambourn, executive director of the Pioneer center. "There is a demonstrated need for residential alternatives and this con­ tinues to be the greatest gap in services available to the developmentally disabled," Lambourn commented. The McHenry County Association for the Retarded (MCAR) is making plans to develop two group homes near the intersection of Lillian and Front streets in McHenry. One of the envisioned facilities would involve the construction of a new home on a tract of land just west of the in­ tersection on Lillian street. The second facility would involve the purchase and remodeling of the house that is presently occupied by the McHenry Alternative high school. Lambourn said the association is awaiting an interpretation of the zoning ordinance from the city which would determine whether the group home is a permitted use under the existing "R-4" residential classification. If the use is permitted, the association would not have to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Lambourn emphasized that the association was not trying to "sneak anything through," but was trying to av^kl the added expense of a zoning hearing. The administrator commented that the facilities would house a set number of residents in a family environment. Lambourn noted that the new structure would be designed to house six developmentally disabled adults and the remodeled house would hold five. "We have found that six residents is a manageable number and this type of facility is the most humane approach to the alternative housing problem," he said. "The homes would not be mon­ strosities," Lambourn said. "They will be architecturally compatible with the neighborhood." Lambourn added that the association has applied to the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) for 100 percent financing and the association is awaiting the results of the review. The total request, including the purchase (Continued on page 18) 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 25* $175,000 Verdict In Condemnation Suit By Anthony Oliver A jury in the 19th Judicial Circuit court has handed down a verdict of $175,000 concerning the city's attempt to purchase a 31-acre tract of land on the southern part of McHenry, ac­ cording to Mayor Joseph Stanek. The City of McHenry instituted condemnation proceedings on the tract, known as the Decker property, more than a year agu. The parcel lies between the Fox river and a 27.5-acre piece of land, which was originally designated as a possible site for a water treatment facility. The 27.5 acre parcel was dedicated to the city as part of the annexation of the Bauer farm. "The acreage has over 1,800 feet of river frontage and could be used for passive recreation and other uses," the mayor said. "This is something that should be done for future generations." He noted that while this proposal has been discussed for more than a year- and-a-half, there are still some legal questions which have to be resolved. "I hope to buy this property out of the $200,000 reimbursement grant monies (for the Knox park development)" Stanek said. The matter will be brought before the City Council meeting which is scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight (Sept 9> at city hall. Second Girl Dies In Auto-Pedestrian Crash A second girl has died of injuries received when an auto ran off Route 12 and struck four pedestrians near Fox Lake on Friday, Aug. 28. Pamela Bowles, 16, of Spring Grove, died Thursday in Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, according to official sources. Lee Milraney, 18, of Richmond, was pronounced dead at McHenry hospital the night of the accident; Julie Schlaffer, 15, of Palatine, was tran­ sferred to Resurrection hospital, Chicago, where she is listed in good condition; and Denise Branham, 14, of Richmond, was treated and released from McHenry hospital. The driver of the auto, Gregory Bogacz, 35, of 406 John avenue, McHenry, was charged with reckless homicide, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. No information was available at press time as to whether additional charges have been brought against Bogacz. A car-bicycle collision near Marengo at about 8:15 p.m. last Friday claimed the life of Ronald S. Morris, 15, of 23619 Carmack road, Marengo. The driver of the auto, Steven R Morris, 16, Ronald's brother told McHenry County Sheriff's police he was driving west on Carmack road when he saw a bicyclist, who was also heading west. As he moved to the center of the road, to give the bicyclist room, he struck Ronald, who was riding in the eastbound lane of traffic. Ronald Morris was pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital for McHenry County, Woodstock. The Marengo Rescue squad trail sported Steven Morris to Memorial hospitals where he was treated and released. A passenger in the auto, Marcie S. Kospal, was not injured No citations were issued. Julie Ann McGee, of 1620 Park street, McHenry, was ticketed for failure to yield the right-of-way following a two- vehicle eoUision at the intersection of Park and Elm streets. (Continued on page 18) Back Home From Peru By Anthony Oliver "I was shocked," said Michael Nejedly, a McHenry high school student who recently returned from Lima, Peru, as part of the American Youth Exchange program. "I had seen pictures and talked to people and it was totally different than what I ex­ pected," he said. "They talked as if it were grass houses, but it was really a large city." Nejedly became involved in the exchange program after a Peruvian exchange student finished his stay in Michael Nejedly shows a favorite of many tourists -- a stuffed llama made from the fur of its larger relation. Nejedly recently returned from a two- month visit to Lima, Peru as part of the American Youth Exchange program. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD the McHenry area in March of this year. The trip was arranged through an office at East campus and he left for Peru on June 12. While in Lima, Nejedly lived with two families and attended an all-boy Catholic school. The curriculum was varied, ranging from chemistry and religion to English and grammar. There was one period of physical education each week, he added. Nejedly commented on the dif- (Continued on page 18) Family Tree Climbing Popu lar i t y Grows Page 5 As the Plaindealer went to press, the coroner wai onrouto to McCullom Lake rood at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, $opt. 8, after an unidentified drlvor struck an electric pole with transformers. The pole snap­ ped and was resting on the car, with the transformers next to the vehicle. Fire and rescue squads were called to the scene. Pictures and details will appear In Friday's Plaindealer. Set No-Till Tour At Coun ty Co l l ege Page 16