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

WARRIORS EKTL " DRUNK AND DRUG AWARENESS WEEK DRIVE SAFE In the spirit of the season, we" feel compelled to add our insignificant contribution to the inconsequential offerings of other columnists con­ cerning the end of a year. It's probably the absence of real news at holiday time that prompts people to expound on something trite. Or maybe it's just the customary thing to look back and at the same ti&e use a caustic remark or two without appearing to be too un­ pleasant. After all, everyone is doing it for the New Year. And so, with tongue-in- cheek, we will make our comments on observations and experiences relating to the past year. Our congratulations to a City Council that keeps the Plaindealer reporter awake with its verbal sniping. Meetings can become a terrific bore, but not in McHenry government. Our aldermen have eyes and ears that rarely miss the op- portmity for adding a bit of spirit to an otherwise dull gathering. In a list of "things well done" we cannot omit the "sportsmen" who take their trusty gun into the field to bag some game - all on land on which they have carefully planted wildlife's favorite food and watched it reach maturity. The sportsmanship of our fellow man cannot be overlooked as he takes advantage of the natural in­ stincts of the hungry wildlife to seek food in this controlled atmosphere. A round of catcalls for these proud hunters who take home their "trophies" for excellent marksmanship. And we must not forget those drivers - hundreds of them -- who made our life miserable during 1962. They have become particularly ob­ noxious at holiday time when we have driven into a busy parking lot. ' Time after time the lights go on and we think, "Ah, we have timed this perfectly - someone leaving just as W£ arrive". ;But no such luck. We pull to one side, slow the car and wait. Patience is not one of our virtues and soon unpleasant thoughts are followed by the mumbling of even more un­ pleasant words. They have no effect on the driver who procrastinates. He has no preference as to the driver who pulls into the spot which he will sometime vacate. (Continued on pogo 14) Hinger Pleads "Not Guilty" by Angela Burden • SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE James E. Hinger, 19, of 1017 River Road, McHenry, who was involved in a fatal accident last month, pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless homicide in 19th Judicial Circuit court, Woodstock. Hinger was arraigned before Judge Roland Herrmann, who set a trial date of March 7. The state alleges Hinger was under the influence of liquor on Nov. 14 when driving his vehicle on River road, McHenry, when it struck an ap­ proaching car head-on. A passenger in the other vehicle, Janet Cody, 42, was pronounced dead- on-arrival at McHenry Hospital after sustaining severe trauma to her head and chest. Evidence presented at a preliminary hearing on the charges against Hinger showed the south­ bound Hinger vehicle proceeded through a curve on River road in the northbound traffic lane, striking the Cody car. The Hinger vehicle had reportedly been involved in a traffic accident about one mile from and just prior to the fatal incident and had left the scene after a traffic signal was knocked down. Changes At Dam Probable by Anthony Oliver In a report to the Chain O'Lakes- Fox River commission, it was noted that with federal approval and funding, area dams at McHenry and Algonquin may be in for some structural changes. Michael Gregory, project super­ visor for the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), told the commission recently in Fox Lake that a series of public workshops on the tentative plans had been completed. The workshops were held in municipalities along the Fox river and the Chain, including McHenry, Algonquin, Geneva and Elgin, and concerned the Step I feasibility study completed by the ACE. Gregory said the corps is leaning toward the construction of "Foster gates" at both McHenry and Algonquin dams. The gates may be 50 feet, 100 feet or 150 feet in length. At McHenry, Gregory said, the plan would be to remove a section of the dam directly north of the Foster gate. The purpose of the Foster gate is to allow more water to pass downstream during high water times. The net result would be a reduction in the amount of flood damage. "The gate would not give a level of protection to say a 10-year or 100-year flood, but it would reduce a 10-year flood to a five or a two-year," Gregory said. The engineer pointed out that Foster gates have been in existence for about 30 years and said 15 or 20 were in use in the United States. The gates are constructed on a concrete footing and are raised and lowered by means of a buoyant chambei^ and a hydraulically operated slide. The gate itself is the buoyant chamber which is filled with air in the "up" position. In order to lower the gate, and let more water pass over it, the chamber could be filled with water and the slide moved to the rear. Gregory said that sedimentation and ice formation has not been a significant problem in gates in use in the country. Asked if any sedimentation studies were done, Gregory replied that none were conducted. He pointed out that all dams have a life expectancy in which they will fill in with sediment. "In the case of the Hoover dam, the expectancy might be 150 or 200 years," Gregory said. "There are a number of variables involved, but there is nothing in this plan to reduce the amount of silting." He urged local agencies to identify problems in their areas and take corrective measures. Gregory said the ACE would need a "local sponsor" to operate the gates once they were built. He noted that the construction and planning would be funded totally by the federal govern­ ment, if the plan were approved. Thereafter, the responsibility for the operation of the gates, the land easements, the rights-of-way and the maintenance of the structure would be up to the local sponsor. (Continued on pogo 16) ON MEDICAL LEAVE John Prange, administrator of McHenry hospital, is on medical leave, which he requested, and received, from the board of directors. Dewey "Bud" Lytle is the atting administrator in the absence of Prange, who has been employed at the hospital for about 12 years. Is McHenry El igible Recipient? M. David Cain announced Monday that Northern Illinois Medical center, formerly McHenry hospital, is asking the Circuit court of McHenry county to clarify and determine if the intent in the Thomas W. Ames last will and testament indicates whether or not the hospital is an eligible recipient under the terms of the trust. It is the hospital's understanding that a similar request has been filed by another hospital in the county. Cain stressed the fact that the suit should not be interpreted as an at­ tempt on the part of the hospital to prevent the use of the funds for alternate charitable uses for the residents of Crystal Lake. However, he said it is clear from Mr. Ames' will that his primary intent was to serve the health fare needs of the com­ munity. As responsible hospital trustees, Cain continued, it is therefore necessary to seek clarification from the court. Thomas W. Ames died in 1963, and directed in his will that the bulk of his estate be used for the development of a hospital in or near Crystal Lake within 20 years. Cain advised that the Northern Illinois Medical center serves the medical needs of the Crystal Lake community. The facility is being built approximately 5Vfc miles north of Crystal Lake, and con­ struction commenced Sept. 1, 1982. Cain indicated that when the new hospital is completed, he expects a substantial increase in the number of Crystal Lake patients. Wins $7,000 In Lottery SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE Two McHenry county residents, Charles Cerny, of McHenry, and Richard Penza, of Woodstock, were winners in the Illinois lottery drawing held Dec. 23. Cerny, 65, won $7,000 while Penza, 20, took home $11,000 making Christmas in 1982 a little merrier for both families. (Continued on pogo 16) Home For Christmas Brian Robert Williams, born Dec. 17 At Northern Illinois Medical center (McHenry; hospital), gets ready to go home in a festive holiday bunting made by members of the auxiliary. The tradition of sending home babies in Christmas stockings began at the hospital over 20 years ago. Brian is the son of Patricia Mueller and Robert Williams o| McHenry. His mother said, "The stocking will be saved for Brian as a keepsake, and I know it will mean a lot to him when he's an adult." There is also a special stocking made every year for the first baby of the new year. Police Boost Patrol Total Lunar Eclipse Cancel First '83 Recycling Holida\ Weekend 'Hows' And 'Whys' Next Drive Jan. 15 Page 4 % Page 17 Page 14 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 107 NUMBER 44 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1982 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25' Students Against Drunk Driving Students and advisors from 43 northern Illinois and Indiana schools recently participated in a "Students Against Drunk Driving" (S.A.D.D.) program, sponsored by a leading insurance company. From McHenry high school West campus, Jeff Wallace, Jeff Bjorn and Margaret Oleszczuk and Principal O. Gregory Johnson attended the December program in Long Grove, 111. According to various national safety sources, statistics indicate that one of 10 drivers on any given weekend is intoxicated. Drunk drivers account for an estimated 27,500 deaths yearly on the nation's highways. Further, alcohol is involved in nearly 55 percent of all fatal highway crashes and at least 25 percent of accidents resulting in injuries. Each year, 700,000 people are seriously injured in traffic accidents involving alcohol. The statistics that really hit home to teenagers these days include: 1) drunk driving is the No. 1 killer of people between 16 and 24 years of age; 2) 50 percent of all high school students drink in cars and nearly one in four drive after drinking; 3) 35 percent of the people killed in alcohol- related traffic accidents were between the ages 16 and 24; and 4) persons between 16 and 24 comprise 22 percent of the driving population and travel 24 percent of the total vehicle miles, however, this same age group causes 44 percent of all night-time fatal alcohol-related crashes. In response to statistics like these, a teacher and a group of Massachusetts high school students organized S.A.D.D. At the December program in Long Grove, Robert Anastas, founder and director, spoke, as did Fred Foreman, Lake county state's attorney, and other speakers. A part of the program includes the S.A.D.D. Drinking Driver Contract. The two-party document calls for both the teenager and parent to sign the contract. The teenager agrees to call the parent for advice or transportation, at any hour, if he or she is in a situation where the teenager is intoxicated, or, the friend who drove is intoxicated. The parent agrees to come and get the teenager, at any hour, with no questions or arguments, or, pay for the taxi. The teenager can expect to talk about the incident at a lata* time. The parent also agrees to seek safe transportation homevif he or she, or a friend who drove, is intoxicated. "We thought the program was pretty good," said Jeff Wallace. He admitted there was a definite need in the McHenry community for this type of program. "They didn't say, 'Don't drink,' they just said 'Don't drink and drive,' " Wallace said. The matter was brought to the Student Council and Wallace said they were quite receptive to the idea. He added that they were appointed to set up the program. McHenry West campus sUident, Jeff Wallace (left), signs the contract ihai is pari of ihe Students Against Drunk Drivers (S.A.D.D.) program. At right, Wallace, and two other stadenls, Margaret Oleszczuk and Jeff Bjorn, attended the S.A.D.D. seminar in Long Grove, which was sponsored by a leading insurance company. v-. ' " , t 8TAFF,PHOTOS-WAYNE G^YLORD