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H V / / THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER J "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 107 NUMBER 25 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1982 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25' Teacher-Board Agreement OfliCv i of the McHenry Community High School District 156 board and High School Teachers association are shown signing contract which officially ended many weeks of negotiations. The two-year agreement calls for a one-year salary increase averaging 9.4 percent. Sitting are James Tonyan, secretary, left, and Edward Neumann, president, of the school board, and standing are Gloria Burke, secretary, and James Aull, president,of the Teachers association. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD by Marion Olsen Many weeks of contract negotiations culminated Tuesday night in the signing of a contract for high school District 156 teachers. The two-year agreement calls for a one-year salary increase averaging 9.4 percent. This figure represents a 5.37 percent supplement to a new salary schedule and 3.67 percent for increased insurance costs. A re- opener clause allows for re­ negotiation on salary in June, 1963, for the 1983-84 year. The contract became official when President Edward Neumann and Secretary James Tonyan signed for the school board and President James Aull and Secretary Gloria Burke, for the teachers' association. Before the board ratification* Negotiations Chairman David Benrud commended the teachers for "star­ ting the school year recognizing their basic responsibility of educating students." He referred to the respective negotiation teams who "hung in there" through two months marked by some "strong discussion". He said, "The citizens and parents of the community deserve special recognition for their patience and understanding during those anxious days." In citing the contribution of the school administration. Benrud singled out Administrative Assistant Norbert ICC To Decide Fate Of Track Sale by Anthony Oliver An upcoming decision by the In­ terstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in Washington, D.C. may well decide the fate of the sale of 19-miles of railroad track between Ringwood and Lake Geneva, Wis. A consortium of businessmen and "If you need a friend, go hug a vending machine". Sound a little crazy? That's the kind of world we live in. The above quote is an invitation from vending machine companies which have designated this week as "Hug-A-Vending Machine" week. They're doing it all over the country. According to one enterprising vending machine owner who originated the slogan, these machines are on the job night and day, but no one ever gives them a pat on the back. The idea caught on, we're told, because customers of one company gave his machines plenty of hugs last year when he offered a free drink or candy bar to those "caught in the act" (df hugging). Not bad promoting if you can get enough people as crazy as the scheme. Thai, there's Mothers-in-law day. That's coming up Sunday, Oct. 24, after the House of Representatives passed a resolution officially naming the fourth Sunday in their honor. Senate action is awaited. Right now, hopes are high that these (Continued on pogo 14) municipalities, known as the Geneva Lakes Joint Transit Association, has petitioned the ICC for an extension of the closing date set for the sale of the line. In a decision earlier this year, the ICC gave the association until Sept. 30 to raise the $1,300,321. The association has been trying -- in a seven-year battle before the ICC and the courts -- to forestall the abandonment of the 10-mile line by the Chicago and North Western (CNW) railroad. According to George Hennerley, head of the Lake Geneva Chamber of Commerce and a spokesman for the association, the consortium has not been able to raise the necessary funds. "We are still looking for investors," Hennerley said. "It has been frustrating. A lot of people have ex­ pressed interest in saving the line because their lives depend on it, but few are putting up the money. It's a shame there has not been more support from Illinois." Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said it would make available a one-time, interest-free loan of $454,076. However, Hennerley noted that in order to get the state money, the Geneva Lakes Association (GLA) would have to provide an irrevocable letter of credit. "In other words, we still have to come up with the entire amount," Hennerley said. The director of the Bureau of Railroads and Harbors, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Paul Heitmann, said cash or a letter of commitment was not necessary if the association could get a commitment from a bank to cover the loan. Asked if this changed the com­ plexion of the financing arrangements, Hennerley said, "Only slightly." "All it does is shift the burden from the GLA to some bank. If a banker is willing to make a commitment to cover $454,000 for a non-binding association, I'd like to talk to that banker. There are a lot of things I'd like to buy. Essentially, we still have to crane up with the million-three. There is just nothing forthcoming." On pth^wi^ttejWe.the Chicago and Northwestern is tired of waiting for the money, which is lesr than the company had requested. > After the association had the line appraised, the GLA originally offered the CNW about $900,000 for the 10-mile stretch of track. The railroad rejected the offer and countered with a figure of approximately $1,900,000. The matter went to the ICC, which set the price at $1,300,321. The ICC decision was upheld in the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals. Thomas Judge, CNW public relations manager, said the railroad company has filed for a certificate of abandonment, but noted that it will not be granted until the matter of the extension is resolved. "I wouldn't want to second-guess the ICC, but we are expecting a decision sometime near the end of the month," Judge said. Asked if the CNW intended to stand firm on the petition for the aban­ donment certification, Judge com­ mented, "If the GLA can show they have the money, or offers us more, then we would be willing to talk." According to Lawrence Lessor, of the Washington office of the ICC, the commission is generally flexible on extensions if it appears that negotiations have not totally broken down. . Judge said, "It is our position that enough time has been spmt. We want (Continued on pago 16) Wolter's hard work as being difficult to measure. The assistance of Federal Mediator Bob Calloway was also noted. Benrud concluded that the contract would provide an educational program within fiscal parameters - "the best possible dollar." The board then voted unanimous approval of the contract. Following the contract signing, the board approved by a 4-3 vote the purchase of two microcomputers to serve East and West campuses. The purchase includes necessary equipment and programming to handle student records, scheduling, grade reporting and attendance ac­ counting. Board members Benrud, Barbara Slater, Judith Zid and James Tonyan voted "yes". Members Edward Neumann, Michael Low and Robert Anderson voted "no". President Neumann said he agreed with the financial logic projecting a payback in four years based on present external computer service coats. He felt, however, that the program should be adopted slowly by purchasing one unit to serve both high schools. Judith Zid agreed with West Campus Principal Greg Johnson who delcared "The schools either need two computers or none at all to effectively handle the present paperwork." Computer access, transporting records, immediacy of need, and personnel displacement were cited as problems arising from installing a computer at only one of the schools. The computer purchase totalled $30,126.60. | ; Although voting to internalize record keeping, the board voted to externalize snow removal by awar­ ding a 1982-83 snow removal contract to Atlas Construction Co. of McHenry. Michael Low abstained from voting. The district's snow removal truck was warranted inadequate to handle heavy or frequent snowfalls and the members agreed that the necessary equipment was too expensive for the district to buy. Atlas Construction lists cost of from $20 to $100 per hour for sanding services and using various heavy snow removal equipment to clear the parking lot and driveways after every 2 inches snowfall and before 6 a.m. In other business, due to increasing operational costs, the board raised building rental fees to the organizations renting the school rooms, pool, cafeteria and other facilities of the schools. Members also approved the Lions club request to use the West campus lot for picking during its Oct. 23 and 24 Oktoberfest carnival. After ah executive session the board reconvened to take the following actions: - Suspend an East campus student until the next business meeting after a multi-disciplinary conference has been completed (related to injuries sustained by instructor William Toalsen). - Increase department coor­ dinators' stipends by $50 per teacher retroactive to the beginning of the year. 0 - Increase athletic, speech and debate coaching stipends by 8 per­ cent, also retroactive to the beginning of the school year. County Concern About Drug-Alcohol Abuse by Anthony Oliver More than 100 people from across MclIcB^'co^ gatb^ed in Wood­ stock the past week for a two-day workshop to set broad policies relating to drug and alcohol abuse. The task force was set up by the McHenry County Subcommittee on Drugs and Alcohol, which is chaired by Ann Hughes, District 3 member of the McHenry County board. "Attendance at the two-day workshop was excellent," said Mrs. Hughes. "We had 125 people the first task day and about 106 the second." Those people attending the force seminar included tatives from 15 school districts, 10 churches, six law enforcement (Continued on 1*) No Courthouse Expansion Money by Angela Burden Shaw Media News Service Reports of costly space used for storage and under-utilized areas in the McHenry county courthouse led to a unanimous vote Tuesday by the McHenry County board that no money be placed in next year's budget for a study for an addition to the cour­ thouse. In supporting a recommendation of the special courthouse study com­ mittee, the board agreed with proposals for relieving overcrowding .in some departments of the cour­ thouse facility. The board approved the proposals to provide storage space away from the existing building, to remodel existing, vacated and under-utilized space within the present courthouse, to purchase and install jail modules and to relocate the garage facility. The three-member special com­ mittee, appointed in late August by board Chairman Ronald Morris, is chaired by Dean Cunat, of McHenry, with Ann Hughes, of Woodstock and Gary Verdung, of Cary. Cunat said the committee decided on the recommendations after defining the problems, scrutinizing former studies, checking available space and seeking advice from department heads on present and future needs. "I feel we can go through the year 2000 without physical additions to the courthouse, with the exception of modular jail cells," Cunat said. Earlier proposals to the board in­ cluded a suggested $12-million courthouse addition. "That is not necessary, even for a study. We have sufficient space here in the courthouse, if properly utilized," Cunat said. Cunat told the county board Tuesday that the special committee estimated the total recommended project would cost $1.2 million and could be financed by building com­ mission bonds or general revenue funds when the economy picks up. He emphasized the under-utilization of several areas and the overcrowding (Continued on pago 16) Set Murder Trial Orion Pleads "Not Guilty" By Angela Burden Shaw Media News Service Terry Orton, 26, of 856 Coventry lane, Crystal Lake, pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to the Oct. 11 murder of 28-year-old Jeff R. Novotny of 5515 Wilmot road, McHenry. Orton, who is being held in McHenry county jail, was arraigned Thursday in 19th Judicial Circuit court before Judge Roland Herrmann, who reduced the defendant's bond from ),000 to $200,000. Tfie<ourt set the murder trial for Jan. 10, 19Q3. The judge also set a further bonahearing for Nov. 5. The defense motioned for a bond reduction to $100,000. Orton pleaded not guilty on a two- count murder information and one count of aggravated battery in con­ nection with the death of Novotny, who died of injuries following a fist (Continued on pogo 16) Lightning Destroys Transformer . STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A thunderous bolt of lightning destroyed a lightpole, street lamp and transformer in McHenry during the heavy rainstorm Tuesday night. McHenry Township Fire depart­ ment and McHenry police responded to the scene. According to police, the homes of Robert Zujewski, 419 Kensington, and Richard Doherty, 502 Kensington, McHenry, were damaged by smoke. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The lightning bolt struck the streetlight shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 19. No other serious incidents were reported in the City of McHenry as a result of the storm. McHenry Area Women In Business National Business Women's Week Special Supplement FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Railway Museum Auction Steam Locomotives Page 9