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Neighborhood Watch Alertness Solves Burglary Alertness on the part of in­ dividual citizens, and their w^ioaparation with the police, can \ payoff. That fact was proved last weekend when vigilance, plus some unusual snow tracking L ability by members of the DuBell Park Neighborhood Watch program, were credited with solving a burglary. The sub­ division is located in the Pistakee Highlands area, and its association is headed by Richard Wirtala. The Neighborhood Watch program, supported by the McHenry County Sherifff's of­ fice, encourages watchfulness for intruders by private citizens and other passive measures to prevent crime. The footprints made a winding path through several sub­ divisions and around many parked and locked cars, then across frozen Nippersink creek to the suspect's home, more than a mile away. Leading the search was a resident of the subdivision who had experience tracking game in the North Woods. Also helping were the burglary victim's wife and two men who had learned tracking years ago as Boy Scout leaders. The trail was difficult, because it was often crisscrossed with other foot tracks and tire marks. Stolen from a carelessly unlocked car were several hundred dollars worth of tools, recreation equipment, cigarettes and a small amount of cash. Wirtala also pointed out that the parking area was dark because flood lights had been turned off. The theft was immediately reported to the McHenry County. | Sheriff's office, and the tracking^ done only after consultation with a sheriff's deputy. When the ^ trackers had firm evidence linking the suspect, a minor, with the burglary, one of the parents was contacted. The suspect at first denied implication but later personally returned most of the stolen property to the owner. The next morning, an observant citizen in the subdivision saw the suspect walking with nearly all the remainder of the stolen property. He surrendered this voluntarily. The investigation was con­ tinued by the McHenry County Sheriff's department. "I want to make it clear that the Neighborhood Watch and other citizens did not act in the role of vigilantes, but cooperated with the police," Wirtala said "They conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, and did not trespass on private property or otherwise violate the rights of others or the prerogative of the police." Wirtala added that the Neigh­ borhood Watch programs en­ courage everyone to mark their valuable property for easy identification in case of theft. "The victim in last weekend's burglary had done just this," said Wirtala. "He had used an etching tool and thus had no trouble in establishing his ownership of the stolen goods." VOLUME 106 NUMBER 57 'SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 • FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 12, 1982 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 25 The McHenry Shores village board of trustees Tuesday evening defended their action and purpose in furloughing two full time police officers when questioned by Attorney Randall Baudin, who was retained by Officer Norbert Sauers to protect his interests in his former job. Village President Richard Panerali maintained that because of budgetary | restrictions, the board had to reduce police expenditures to accumulate money to satisfy the $41,000 claim of the Baxter and Woodman engineering firm, incurred when the previous board entered into commitments for work in preparation for special assessment based road work. The project was placed on hold after last year's election changed the consistency of the board and the previous president resigned. The amount due was negotiated to the $41,000 figure by Panerali and the present board and is due July 1. Attorney Baudin expressed concern with the circumstances of the furlough and about a possible gap in health coverage for his client whose wife is expecting another child shortly. Panerali, speaking for the board, said he had been advised by the village attorney, Cowlin, Cowlin and Ungvarsky of Crystal L&ke, that it was the right of the board president of a village under 5,000 population to discharge employees for any reason, and the reason was financial. He assured Baudin that there was no discipline or other problem for the furlough. And if the terminology was a problem, the board could change that. Baudin wondered if Sauers was hired through an ordinance and if there was a reference to a yearly salary. A reading of the minutes by the acting village clerk indicated that Sauer's em­ ployment was authorized by a board action setting a $12,000 annual salary and certain other benefits. Baudin thought this might imply a contract for a year's employment and that his client might be entitled to payment for the balance of the year ending in May. Panerali noted that the board was not a court of law and that Baudin could talk with the village attorney about the legality of such a claim. Baudin noted that it was his duty to mitigate possible damages to his client. He questioned the board further about a possible lapse in health insurance coverage during the period from May to August of 1961, at which time the baby now being expected was conceived. Baudin said that if the amount for this insurance had been budgeted and not paid it was a reprehensible action by the board. Treasurer Johann Bartel, asked to explain, advised that the local agent for the insurance company was apparently responsible. In December, people were coming and going on and off the payroll and a billing received was incorrect. She said that company representatives advised her to hold the bill until it was corrected. Also, audience remarks at a meeting during which the matter was con­ sidered caused the board to reassess their position on "blanket coverage'*, and the policy was to be rewritten. She claimed that the company assured her that the coverage would be honored regardless, and the bill would now be paid. Trustees wondered how the bill could not have been paid since it was a regular fixed expense. Panerali assured Baudin that the village would be responsible up to the amount specified in the policy if Sauers was not covered in the policy. Trustee Rose Lillegard differed with Panerali, "You can't really give that assurance. But the board will look into it." Panerali reviewed the status of the discharged officers, noting that John Kayse had been scheduled to be laid off in November but had been retained until January. Sauers had originally been a part time officer, and after village-financed training had been employed full time last May, and then offered part time employment in November. Sauers had I refused it, Panerali noted. Both officers had been (Continued on page 18) Blaze Guts Area Home Company I fire fighter Ron Schaefer wets down the the burning window frame and wall of the Raymond Pries home, at 1112 S. Biackhawk. Smoke billowed from the building, bat the tub-zero temperatures made use of the air-packs impractical. Fire fighters from Companies n and in of the McHenry Fire department were also called to the scene. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Shores Board Furlough For Defends Police Lake were called to change quarters for standby at the Company I fire house in McHenry. Bennett said about 40 men and pieces of equipment from all three companies were at the scene for about three hours, before returning to McHenry. The assistant chief noted the high winds off the Fox river and the sub-zero (Continued on page 18) Focus On County Board Park Grant Received There have been better starts to the month of February! The groundhog came out on his ap­ pointed day, saw his shadow, and ac­ cording to tradition, returned to his hibernation for another six weeks of Winter. We would have bet on the continued cold even without his prediction. And the clever announcement that reached our desk about "how to make April 15 less taxing" did nothing for our funnybone. All of these clever ways to avoid paying could either put us behind bars or prove to be a scheme that would take more than Uncle Sam. Even those posters that warn, "Smoking can be dangerous to your health", hit home this past week. A smoker in our car asked us to pull to the side of the road for the purpose of ex­ tinguishing a cigarette because some extra baggage prevented use of the receptacle intended for that purpose. A look at the level shoulder of the road appeared innocent enough so we pulled one wheel off the main surface. That was a mistake, for a well con­ cealed accumulation of snow grabbed the tire and buried it. Even the neighbor's cat, which we have fed faithfully during the entire month of January, turned on us when we offered to pet him as well as appease the gnawing feeling in his stomach. Unaware of the human adage, "Never bite the hand that feeds you", he curled (Continued on page 18) Voice Concerns For Keeping CNW Agent by Anthony Oliver "Never in the long history of the Chicago and North Western (CNW) haye they Removed a ticket agent from the last station on the line and have service continue," said Kit Carstens, chairman of the Economic Develop­ ment Committee (EDC). Carstens said he questioned CNW representative Michael Payette after a recent meeting between those seeking to remove the ticket agent and those seeking to retain one. Payette is the director of commuter services at CNW. The CNW, with the go-ahead from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), has petitioned the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for removal of the ticket agent at the McHenry station ostensibly as a cost- cutting measure. The ICC is holding hearings on the matter, not because of the commuter impact, but because the station agent also handles the paper­ work for freight trains. The next ICC hearing is slated for March 22 in Chicago. "It seems obvious that if I were sitting in Chicago, I'd look at cutting the branch from Crystal Lake to here as a Wallet Size Medical Cards For Emergencies Page 9 means of cutting overhead," Carstens said. The chairman of the EDC voiced concerns over the removal of the agent and the possible impact it could have on industry, like Morton Chemical, in Ringwood, which needs rail service. Morton Chemical employs, ap­ proximately 300 people. At the worst extreme, if the company were to relocate, it could mean a loss of 300 jobs in a community that already faces about 20 percent unemployment, Carstens said. " Carstens said the goal of the In­ dustrial committee of the EDC is to bring a viable industrial park within the corporate limits of the city. This project, he pointed out, is heavily dependent upon rail service. "We're willing to help the city in any way we can," Carstens said. The city, the EDC and the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce have joined in a "three-pronged" effort to retain the agent at the McHenry station. The three groups are expected to meet with the transportation com­ mittee of the McHenry County board in (Continued on page 18) TV Mayor Joseph Stanek, left, and City Parks and Recreation Director Pete Merkel are shown with a $200,000 check received from the Illinois Department of Conservation. This money is the amount the City was awarded when it submitted a grant to the I.D.O.C. for the Knox park development. The 33.9 acre Knox part site was purchased by the City in April of 197ft. Local funding for the purchase and development of this site was with Developer Donation and Revenue Sharing funds accumulated by the City of McHenry. All phases of development were completed this past fall and will be available for public use this summer. The sledding and toboggan area is now open and lighted from 5 to 10 every evening! FREE Guide In s Edition $5 ̂ Status Of Lakemoor Changes Flood Insurance Program Page 18 Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Pries of 1112 S. Biackhawk, McHenry, were left homeless Tuesday afternoon when fire caused extensive damage to the structure, according to Assistant Fire Chief Chris Bennett. A report of a structure fire, at the home near McHenry dam, was received at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Company 1 of the McHenry Township Fire Protection district was the first to respond to the scene. Additional men and equipment, from Companies II and III, were also called to the site as the extent of the fire was realized. Fire fighters from Wonder