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

Musin •WW m THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER > • "SERVING THE CHAINOLAKES R&ION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 106 NUMBER 39 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1981 1 SECTION 22 PAGES School Gives Levy Estimate i Sewer by Anthony Oliver i Area population growth and a possible addition to the proposed sewer planl were the topics of discussion at an informal meeting discussed by engineers of Baxter and Woodman, the City of McHenry and the Village of McHenry Shores regarding the Step I facilities planning area (FPA) sewer plant study. < According to George Heck, an ^engineer, an approved FPA study is ^required by the Illinois Environmental 'Protection Agency (IEPA) before any rnew sewage treatment facilities can be built. The approved study in the McHenry area FPA, which includes southern McHenry, McHenry Shores and unincorporated lands on both sides of the river, would allow either municipality to go ahead with plant construction (if approved) either in­ dependently or as a joint venture. "We were held back once because of the IEPA regulation," Heck said. The IEPA is encouraging the development of "regional" facilities, a trend that appears to be common throughout many state and federal agencies. i The purpose of the informal public $h»eeting was to gather input from McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek regarding projected population figures for 1990 and the year 2000. Heck explained that the firm was looking toward a two-stage im­ plementation of a sewer plant on the south side of McHenry which would Plant Studied eventually have a population equivalent (PE) of 20,000. According to tne^rojection^made at last week's meeting, the unin­ corporated areas between and to the west of McHenry and McHenry Shores, as well as areas on the east side of the river, are expected to increase in population by about 7,500 by 1990. In that same time, the projections for McHenry Shores, developed by the engineers and Richard Panerali, village president, indicate a growth of about 2,500. Heck said the current trend in fun­ ding is for 10-year facilities. "The government wants you to plan for 20 years, but they'll fund for 10," Heck said. By the year 2000, the projections for both areas had doubled to 20,000 people. Heck commented that the firm was planning on building a plant to handle a PE of 10,000 by the year 1990 and adding on to handle additional population as the need arose. "This is so you don't put all your money up front for a 20-year guess," Heck said. a Mayor Stanek noted that there was a possibility of McHenry annexing a parcel across the river. There is a developer interested in annexation and the mayor commented that it should be known in the near future whether the project will go. The time projection for the com­ pletion of the required Step I study, which .was initiated after the receipt by the Village of McHenry Shores of a federal grant, is April of 19U2. Heck said there would be *. waiting period of at least three to four months while the study was being reviewed for approval. At the beginning of the process, an application could be made for a Step II and III grant, which would earmark money for the design and construction of the plant. The "normal" channel is to apply for Step II (design) and Step III (construction) grants separately. One possible feature of the plant which could aid in the approval of grant monies is the increase in PE to allow for space in the plant for the treatment of septage. It was noted at the meeting that there is an increasing need for places to treat septage brought in by various haulers in the area. Heck explained that septage has to be treated differently than the raw sewage which enters the plant through sewer pipes from the city. Mayor Stanek suggested that perhaps a place on the river could be built where boats could stop, and for a fee, empty the built-in heads Heck noted that the possible septage treatment or boat service station were "good positive ideas." "That's what the EPA and the en­ vironmentalists like to see." estimate of the taxes needed for the next fiscal year. Superintendent of Schools Richard Farmer stated that the estimated levy is based on an estimate of the district's assessed valuation next spring when the actual budgeting is done, and noted that the levy is generally higher than the actual amount the district receives. Dr^Earmerinformed the board that Hewoula be temfying in lSwoo<fs name to the School Problems com­ mission meeting in Chicago Dec. 9. Part of his testimony included a break­ down of the audit of all school districts in McHenry county. The audit shows that elementary districts have the lowest per-pupil expenditure, while high school districts have the highest per-pupil expenditure. McHenry District 15 was the only school district in the county whose per- pupil expenditure actually went down during the 1980-81 fiscal year Dr. Farmer joined other school officials in arguing the case of elementary school districts that they receive a larger share of state school aid than these districts presently receive. According to Dr. Farirter; fcfofns to build a well to serve Hilltop school are still on hold, pending a decision by the county Department of Health and the Illinois Department of Education. Normally, according to Dr. Farmer, the Illinois Department of Education recommends that schools be on a public water supply. However, according to (Continued on page 20) Reduce Albanese Bond By Angela Burden Shaw Media News Service The bond for accused murderer Charles M. Albanese of Spring Grove was reduced by $1 million Thursday morning during a hearing in 19th Judicial Circuit court. He is being held in McHenry county jail on two charges of murder, one of attempted murder by arsenic poisoning and two felony theft charges. New bond for 44-year-old Albanese was set by Judge Roland Herrmann at $1.5 million* The accused man's wife, Virginia, 39, testified in regard to the family finances at the bond hearing, where defense attorney Gene Armentrout told the court she wished to have her husband return to their home pending prosecution. Armentrout argued the $2.5 million bond was oppressive and there would (Continued on page 20) The McHenry Elementary school board of education announced a tax levy estimated to be 5 percent above the actual 1980 tax figure, Dec. 8 at a public hearing before its regular business meeting. In compliance with the new "Truth in Taxation" law, the board held the public hearing to announce its Democrats * Prepare For Road Options meeting because, "LAMCOG offers the only major forum in the area that covers the interests of people on both sides of the Lake and McHenry county (Continued on page 20) Christmas Card Design Winners Above are the prize winning designs in the annual Christmas card contest held within High School District 156. First place winner at top left, was designed by Tracy Tietz, a West campus senior. For her efforts she won $25. Second place, right above, is the entry of Cathy Carlson, an East campus junior, who won $15. Third place went to Marilyn Stueben, a sophomore at East, who received $10. Seventeen students entered the contest. The greeting contained in the first place card, to be mailed from the Administration and board of education, reads: "May your holidays be filled with joy, happiness and the peace you find at Christmas time to last throughout the year!" STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD March Primary By Angela Burden Shaw Media News Service Police Chief Gene Westergren of Marengo will be a -Democratic can­ didate for nomination for McHenry County sheriff in the March primary election. Westergren is among several Democratic candidates seeking nomination, said Monty Yates of McHenry, chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Central committee. In addition to Westergren, Democrat Ray Buhr of Wonder Lake also is seeking nomination for the sheriff's position. Yates announced that Darlene Dee of (Continued on page 20) There isn't much time for day dreaming in December, and that's sad. There is no other time that brings as many satisfying recollections. There is some difference of opinion on the best time to celebrate, with Christmas evening versus the early morning opening of gifts. For our family, it was traditional to let the excitement build until mid-evening on the twenty-fourth. Only when it had reached a high level was there a signal to reach for the scissors and the waste basket and "dig in". Two Christmases will forever remain indelibly in our memory, although the events were among life's simplest pleasures. One occurred when we were no more than 6 or 7 years old. As was the custom, we were taken away from home for perhaps an hour, and very conveniently Santa always timed his visit during our absence. But this year he was still there on our return. We left the car and started up the front steps, only to find the familiar red cheeks and white beard peering out at us from a glass pane in the door. If we later found a mask hastily thrown on the steps leading upstairs, we found no connection. Kids were naive then -- and it was wonderful. That was the year a chow puppy was wandering aimlessly under the tree - a small bear-like bundle of red fur just waiting to win his way into our hearts. And win he did. No other Christmas was quite like it. Then there was the year when a new snow lay white and undisturbed and there was agreement among the family that a yvalk downtown would be in­ vigorating before the gift exchange. Now who would expect to find Mr. (Continued on page 20) Learn Private State Rep. Dick Klemm will advise residents attending a public meeting of the Lake and McHenry Council of Governments on how they can apply for local government aid to upgrade pri­ vate roads in the LAMCOG area. The LAMCOG meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., in the Island Lake village hall on Route 176 just west of Roberts road. Earlier this year, Klemm sponsored a bill that was passed and signed into law that, for the first time, provides a systematic method of allowing counties and townships to upgrade and maintain the so-called private roads within their boundaries. Currently, such roads, which are found almost entirely in unincorporated areas, are maintained at the expense of local residents. The freshman legislator, a Nunda township resident and former chair­ man of the McHenry County board, has chosen to address the LAMCOG A & P Closes In January SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE One of three large super markets in McHenry, the A&P is scheduled to close its doors for the last time in January, according to an assistant manager at the food store. $ Dan Chmura, assistant manager at the McHenry A&P, said that store will close in January. He said the store had been notified of the closing by A&P regional headquarters in Des Plaines, and notices of the closing had been posted in the store. Chmura said the 40 store employees met Monday afternoon to discuss what opportunities might be available to them in the wake of the store closing. (Continued on page 20) Day Of Solemn Promise Richard Russo's ordination to the Diaconate was conferred by the Most Rev. Arthur J. O'Neill, D.D., bishop of Rockford, in an impressive rite held in St. Patrick's Catholic church, McHenry, Tuesday morning, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Above, the seminarian is shown with Bifjfeop O'Neill just before entering the church. At right is the focal point of the ordination, a ceremony of "laying on of hands", in which Richard kneels before the bishop. Without words, the action symbolically recognizes the Spirit of God being given to Richard as a minister of the church. The young seminarian assisted at the McHenry parish last summer, and will return in January to serve his deacon internship. His will be the only ordination to the priesthood in the Rockford diocese next May. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD Vote For Park District Highland Shores Page 20 FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Wildlife Report December Calendar Page 18