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McHENRY TRADE FAIR Feb. 28-27-28 Parkland School Rt. 120 and Ringwood Road Friday: 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. VOLUME 106 NUMBER 61 'SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES &GION SINCE 1875 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25* Easter Seal Campaign "Back A Fighter" Page 5 Free Coupon Books To New Plalndealer Subscribers Page 13 FRiE fv Guide In Today's Edition School Buses by Anthony Oliver McHenry may still be a relatively small city, but the drivers of the McHenry school district do get around. According to figures provided by Transportation director, Fred Goering, the district drivers routinely log more than a half million miles each year and deal with 3,800 students on a daily basis. The district employs 55 people in the Transportation department including drivers, substitutes, mechanics and office staff. Both the mechanics and the drivers play an important role in keeping the buses on the road and operating safely. * ?'We don't compromise safety," Goering said. "We do most of the work ourselves, using our own mechanics." The director explained that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the mechanics check the fluid levels in each bus. Each bus is also , v inspected after every 2,000 miles and 10,000 miles and a state safety sticker is required every six months. On a daily basis, the drivers check a myriad of items related to the operation of the bus - heaters, fans, the "stop" arm, lights, signals, brakes, tires, etc. Goering pointed out that the Transportation department does not stop when school lets out. "We work 12 months a year," he said. "Whenever possible, we ,Jgf.to save the extensive, heavy s mechanical Woft tor tiMrtihnmer and around the Christmas and Easter vacations. But, if we had to. we could change an engine or For Retarded Go-Ahead After several weeks of anticipation, the Easter Seal Society for McHenry County haa been Informed of official approval to upon a day school for the severe and profoundly retarded. These young people have IKHMI attending the Pioneer Day school al McCullom Lake. School will imen at the Therapy venter, ft# Washington street, Wood­ stock, March U In advance of the opening, an H'*MI hiatae for all school district r*|irc«wtlallve* throughout the county was held I his week It waa lielorc unit January that the Kaalar Meal society voted to take over the Day fare urogram of the McHenry County Association for the Retarded (MCAH >. The transfer of authority puts McHenry school districts, and others with students enrolled, in a position of responsibility to assume costs for this sheltered workshop. It was a concern over the financial condition of the program, and a growing deficit, that brought the problem to the attention of the public last fall. At a meeting of parents of students involved last Nov. 12, many of them protested the possible closing. Robert Lambourn, executive director of Pioneer Center for the Exceptional, told them at that time that if service should be continued at the present level, they would face a deficit of $88,887 by the end of the school year. The possibility of bussing the 14 students who then attended to the Beverly Lakes facility near Elgin was greeted unfavorably by many of the parents. "Workfare" A First In McHenry County McHenry township is the first in the county to institute a "Workfare" program, which has been allowed by state law since Jan. 1 of this year. According to McHenry Township Supervisor Albert "Albie" Adams, three municipalities, including the City of McHenry, and two not-for-profit organizations have taken advantage of the new program. Under the program, recipients of General Assistance monies from the township can work off their debt by working without compensation until the amount is cleared. The relief recipients work at a rate equal to the minimum wage, Adams said. The township supervisor commented that the program typically reduces the relief rolls by about 20 percent. Adams noted that 10 percent of the recipients choose to look for work at a regular work wage and stop receiving general assistance. Another 10 percent, he added, choose not to take part in the program, which makes them ineligible for continued assistance. According to the rules of the program, participation is required if the person is to receive any aid from the township assistance fund. The participants in the Workfare program may work at maintaining public offices, buildings and grounds, streets and highways, cemeteries, etc. If the Workfare assignments are not completed satisfactorily, the par­ ticipant is not eligible for continued assistance for 90 days. After that period, if the person has shown a good faith effort and completes at least a portion of the work assignment, township financial assistance may be forthcoming. The individual participating in the program is expected to report for the assignment on time and to satisfac­ torily complete the job. Adams noted one case where an in­ dividual, who had no transportation, (Continued on page 16) On The Move transmission in a day." A fully-equipped garage at the Transportation facility atop Sherman hill fits four buses comfortably and it is here that the heavy work is done. The second floor of the office building holds both the drivers' lounge and a parts department, where many regularly used replacement parts are kept. Goering also said the depart­ ment never has to worry about the buses starting on a frigid morning. "The lot has a plug-in system for block heaters in each of the buses," he explained. The summer is also the time of year when the department handles the bulk of the paper­ work - the routing, the record keeping, the bus passes, etc. "During the summer, it's quieter in terms of the phones, but no less in terms of the work that gets done," Goering ob­ served. As for resources, the Tran­ sportation department has 51 buses, belonging to both school districts, more than half of which are less than two years old. Goering said there is a replacement schedule for the older buses and he added that the buses are traded in after eight or nine years. Goering said the drivers must take a battery of tests before they are licensed by the state. He pointed out that each prospective driver must take a written test on school bus rules, take the written (Continued on page 16) Given Day School The day school, originally a day care center, was started in 1970 by the Pioneer Center, which has operated services for the MCAR students bet­ ween the ages of 3 and 21. School has been held in the remodelled former rehabilitation center of MCAR at McCullom Lake, with a highly regarded staff of teachers, therapists and aides. Staffings for eligible students in the Easter Seal facility are held through Feb. 26. For further information, phone the program director, Nancy Livingston, at 338-1707. Fire Damages Business Workfare - a program in which in­ dividuals earn off their General Assistance by performing work for taxing units or for community agencies - is now under way in McHenry township. It is proving a lesson in un­ derstanding our fellow citizens. Before we attempt to understand them, however, it is necessary to realize that they are working without compensation at minimum wage ($3.25) to the level of the amount received that month. It is very easy for those whose financial problems are not as serious to say, "It's about time". And indeed it is for some who have repeatedly passed up opportunities offered to them. For others, who are down on their luck in spite of every effort to be self- sustaining, there is only the greatest admiration for their cooperation with the new program. It is the county supervisor around whom the Workfare program revolves, and in the case of McHenry township that man is Albert Adams. He has seen the relief rolls grow from $27,000 the year before he took office to a figure at this time which indicates that amount will double for the 1481-82 year. That's the state of the economy. Workfare is an experiment that shows much promise. As we view it, the program will do the two things for - which it is intended. It will provide needed assistance at the same time it allows taxing bodies and non-profit groups to use employees for which ' taxpayers' money will nit need to be spent a second time. A third benefit, which may or may not have been the intent of the new law, gives pride to the person who must accept help but is reluctant to ask for something for which he cannot pay. There are 16 presently at work locally. Even that small number, and the short time the program has been in operation, give indication that the venture separates the individual who feels good about paying (in work) for the help given him from the individual who enjoys taking as long as it doesn't cost him anything. Proof that there are both kinds living (Continued on page 16) Restaurant Two men, each armed with a sawed- off shotgun, robbed the Long John Silver restaurant, at 4313 W. Elm street, McHenry, of an estimated $1,700 in cash. McHenry police were called to the restaurant at 8:12 a.m. Thursday after the district manager, James Davis, and the manager, Jackie Geissler, of Cary, were found locked in a freezer. According to Davis and Ms. Geisaler, the two men, both of whom wore ski masks and gloves, were waiting inside the establishment when the two opened that morning. The victims said the robbers forced them to open a floor safe in the office area of the building and then locked them in the freezer. A salesman, who arrived at the restaurant shortly after 8 a.m., found the rear door ajar, called out and, when no one answered, went in. The salesman, Larry Arms, of Naperville, removed a mop that was barring the freezer door and found the two victims. Davis and Ms. Geissler told police they had been locked in the freezer for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The robbers were described as being 5-feet, 8-inches and slim and the other as 5-feet, 7-inches and stocky. Both wore ski masks and were armed with sawed-off shotguns. Set Bond For Two In Drug Arrests Probable cause was found Wed­ nesday on narcotics charges against two Crystal Lake area residents who Chicago police described as "the biggest drug dealers in the area." Bryan Kilfoy, 26, and 27-year-old Linda Stroh, both of 4008 Cherry Valley road, were bound over to felony court following a hearing in 19th Judicial Circuit court. The two suspects were arrested Feb. 5 in their Cherry Valley road residence, where police reportedly found 161 pounds of marijuana and 56 grams of cocaine, in addition to five weapons. Bond was set at (25,000 for Kilfoy and $20,000 fdr Ms. Stnfh. Fire fighters and equipment from all three McHenry Township Fire department companies were called to the scene of a 4:10 a.m. fire Thursday morning, Feb. 25, at Grande's Sundries and Drugs, 3910 W. Main street, McHenry. Within a couple of minutes after the alert went off, engines from Company I responded to the scene. Assistant Chief Chris Bennett later called for a "full response" from Company II in John- sburg and a change of quarters from (Continued on page 16) Above, some of the 51-bus fleet of the Transportation department are ready to roll frpm the.fafUUy atop JU*rmaa hiU. Center, Transportation Director Fred Goering handles soine of the paperwork involved with operating bis department. Right, mechanics at the Transportation facility perform routine maintenance and inspection on one of the Buses. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD Armed Robbery At McHenry fire fighters run a line down I combat a fire which broke out at about 4 blaze is under InvestigaUon. e back stairs of 3910 W. Main street, to i.m. Thursday morning. The cause of the STAFF PHOTO-ANTHONY OLIVER