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I --J- V •- Photo taken near McHenry dam/ THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER " S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " Picnic Benches. . . Here We Come! These picnic benches may be tipped in silent reminder that the season for outings is far ifr the future, but the weatherman suggests something different. The first «week in January is coming to an end without a covering of snoW, and there is a promise of temperature readings rising well past the 40 degree mark. It is timely for the City of McHenry Parks & Recreation department to an­ nounce that the first date for residents of the city for city park summer picnic sites is Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the city hall. People outside the city limits may apply for a reservation Feb. 8. STAFF PHOTO/WAYNE GAYLORD Distinguished Graduate Award Deadline Extended VOLUME IOTJnIUAABER 47 FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1982 1 SECTION 16 PAGES 25' Success Marks Workfare "Super successful!" That is McHenry Township Supervisor Albert "Alby" Adams1 assessment of the Workfare program after a year of operation. Through the program, recipients of General Assistance are given a variety of jobs to work for the taxpayers' money they receive. No money is exchanged for the work, but Adams gives vouchers for food, rent, utilities, etc. Work is assigned only through governmental units, non-profit or charitable organizations. *• ' 1 The majority of those engaged in the Workfare program want to work, according to Adams. "The ones who don't are taken off General Assistance," he continued. Adams was quick to add that the program is only for those who are able to work. It excludes the elderly, those with physical problems that exempt them and mothers with children under the age of six. Last summer, some of those working on the dredging of McCullom Lake were Workfare participants. Others washed and waxed squad cars. cleared parks and painted signs for the City of McHenry. "They feel they are helping to support their families," explained Adams, who said he had great respect for those who could not find a job and wanted to earn the help they received. One young fellow, the supervisor recalled, walks to the township office weekly for his rent voucher. He is one of many unable to find a job. A few will receive a voucher and an assigned job but never report for work, he said. These people are "When Are We Ever Gonna Have lb Use This?" Career Topics At Johnsburg '> mC ~ lili There is probably no one who has not observed the United Nations in action, even by way of TV, and not been given to wonder how anything of consequence is ever accomplished. Although nothing better has been devised as an agency to thrash out world problems, these ladies and gents known as diplomats sometimes do everything they can to earn a laughing disrespect. With the serious current problems all over the world, you wouldn't really expect old Christopher Columbus to have caused such a hubbub, but he did. A proposal that the United Nations celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' * discovery of the New World started the whole thing early lasfmonth when the Africans decided the celebration would amount to honoring a colonialist. Their oppostlon came after Iceland's ambassador insisted in a General Assembly debate that America was discovered by Leif Ericsson, an Icelander of Norwegian descent. The ambassador, tongue-in-cheek, said the resolution would be the first in U.N.. history to commemorate colonization. Suddenly, sponsoring Spain and 29 New World nations found their proposal foundering. As registration time nears for the 1983-84 term, students at Johnsburg high school are spending increased time in their classes discussing career topics. Pictured above, math teacher Roger Zawacki illustrates a career tip to junior student Janette Ready. Teachers discuss not only what careers their courses prepare students for, but what individual class topics can be useful later in life. Recommendations are then made to students about the appropriate courses to enroll in for 83-84. At Johnsburg high school, registration material will be distributed to students Thursday, Jan. 13. At that time, teachers from all --departments will dilscuss the registration process with students. -Students will meet individually ' with counselors throughout the month of January. At these sessions, students will review career plans, test scores, high school credits, and possible graduation deficiencies. Based upon these conferences students will choose their courses for the next term. To further assist in the process, parents of all high school students will be. invited to a special Curriculum Preview night Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. This program will provide both an overview of the course registration process and specific advice for individual parents wishing to guide their sons and daughters in the course selection process. it was then that the 50 Africkn, states, sensitive on the issue of colonialism, caucused and decided to vote against the resolution en masse. Later, it was announced the vote would be put off indefinitely. Besides the Africans, Ireland also is said to have taken a dim view of the proposal. Its ambassador suggested that the Irish monk, St. Brendan the Navigator, may have discovered America in the 7th century. At this point, a disgruntled Spanish diplomat retorted that the only thing the Irish have contributed to the American continent "is the well trained police force in New York City". The contributions of St. Brendon the Navigator and Leif Ericsson certainly aren't to be minimized. But it seems that the United Nations could better spend its time on more important matters. International terrorism continues to bloody the civilized world; hunger and illiteracy plague much of Africa, Asia and Latin America - and these diplomatic clowns busy themselves worrying whether Christopher Columbus was a colonialist. All the while, the political criminals of the world carry on in serene con­ fidence. KAF Search For Armed Robber SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE, Sheriff's police were assisted by four other police agencies in search of an armed robbery suspect Tuesday night. The search stemmed from an in­ vestigation of the armed robbery about 6:15 p.m. at Gas Express, 4407 W. Hi Point road, McHenry, where an attendent was robbed at knife-point by a lone offender who stole ap- (Continued on page 14) Floodplain Meeting At Wonder Lake Page 16 dropped from the General Assistance rolls. Sponsors of Workfare participants supply materials and supervision for the work done. Five years ago, Adams estimated that the number receiving General Assistance in McHenry township might have been five or six monthly, with about $500 being spent from the fund. That figure has increased dramatically, especially with today's poor economic conditions and shor­ tage of jobs. In July of 1982, there were 85 cases handled. The caseload runs from 85 to 100 a month. Currently, Adams has about 200 on General Assistance, some of them, as he described it, just "now and then " Seventy-four were dropped from the rolls this past year but the job shor­ tage has replaced that number. Six of those placed in Workfare received steady jobs as a result of their participation. Sixteen are on \y$rkfare at the present tine. The amount given in General- Assistance is determiiied by the number of people in the family and the need. The dollar figures run from as low as $20 a month to several hundred. Adams released the General (Continued on pago 14) To give all community members an opportunity to nominate candidates for the Distinguished Graduates program of McHenry high school., the deadline for returning nominations has been extended to Jan. *17. Nomination forms may be picked up* at the District 156 Administrative office located at 3926 W. Main street. Nomination information will be screened by a committee made up of staff, students, alumni, and com­ munity representatives, who will decide which nominees will receive the award. A maximum of five per­ sons (living or deceased) may be selected by the committee. To be considered for the award, a person must be a graduate of at least 15 years. Those nominees who did not receive the Distinguished Graduate award last year will remain in con­ sideration this year. Further information may be ob­ tained by calling Norb Wolter at 385- 7900. Set Multiplier At 1.9155 McHenry county has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.9155, ac­ cording to J. Thomas Johnson, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the "ryultiplier", is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state's 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization, among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. State law requites "property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland and buildings assessed according to standards based on productivity. The equalization factor is deter­ mined annually for each county by comparing the sales price of in­ dividual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county assessor. If this three-year average level of assessment is one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be one. If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one. And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one. Assessments in McHenry county are at 17.40 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 1979, 1980 and 1981. The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 1982 taxes, payable in 1983. Last year's (Continued on pago 14) Juvenile Problems To Community For years juveniles could be petitioned into juvenile court for non­ criminal otfenses such as truancy, running away from home, or in­ corrigible behavior in the home. As of Jan. 1, juveniles alleged to have committed. such acts will not be petitioned into juvenile court until all possible me^ns of solving the par­ ticular problems have been exhausted in the community. The new legislation, passed by the General Assembly, emphasizes the need for local communities to provide resources to resolve the. problems faced by juveniles and their families. According to David J. Klasing, director. Court services department of McHenry county, implementation of the new legislation will not be a hardship for local communities. Beginning in May, 1982, the Court Services department and Youth Service bureau of McHenry county initiated a program to meet the problems of juveniles and families who are characterized as "Minors in Need of Supervision." Instead of referral to the juvenile court for ac­ tion, juveniles and their families were referred to the Youth Service bureau for services. The program developed by Susan Krause, Court Services department, and Tom Engle, Youth Service bureau, has been a project model for the state as implementation of the new legislation becomes necessary. Features of the program are 24-hour- a-day crisis intervention services; provisions for temporary shelter care for juveniles; individual and family therapy; and follow-Up services. The goal of the new legislation is to remove "status" offenders from the juvenile court system. David J. Klasing and Kenneth Kunzer, the latter executive director of the Youth Service bureau, believe the program initiated in McHenry county can be successful as communities utilize existing resources to assist families in trouble. Local police departments have been assisting in the development and implementation of McHenry county's program. The cooperation exhibited by police departments with the Youth Service bureau and Court Services department has enabled McHenry county to become a forerunner in implementation of the new legislation affecting juveniles and the juvenile court. Information on the pilot project can be obtained from the Youth Service Bureau of McHenry County located at 14124 West South street, Woodstock, phone 338-7360 Long Service For Fire Truck Old fire trucks never die - they just keep serving the public. This one, of 1920's vintage, is being taken from Pearl street park for winter storage and renovation in the city garage. It will be painted, sharp edges removed, and weak spots replaced so that it can be returned in the park next spring. Park Director Pete Merkel said this piece of equipment is one of the most popular in the park with children. The truck, long obsolete, was used to fighlfires in McHenry more than a half century ago. It was later sold to Protection district for $1, and then bought back for $10 to be used asa. playground vehicle. \ STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Schedule Trail Walk Harr ison-Benwel l Si te Page 14