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I * THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" - VOLUME 107 NUMBER 57 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1983 2 SECTIONS 22 PAGES 25' Teachers To Vote On Union Choice Campaign speeches promise to cut taxes, provide services, and strive for a land of plenty. The next time we consider those promises we'll accept the "no tax" clause and all the services we can get. We will rebel at the land of plenty. There is too much 'plenty' now. Even recognizing lack of patience as a major flaw in our character, we hardly feel alone in an objection to the amount of paper work that ac­ companies every transaction in which we participate. It has been a source of annoyance for a long time standing in line at a checkout counter behind people who have their credit checked for the purchase of a dollar and a half worth of candy. It is understandable that cash is not in large supply this year of 1983, but there are times when we have been led to believe the dollar bill is a threatened species. Perhaps these little annoyances come to mind because it is time to prepare income tax. Just assembling the material is sufficient cause to declare the records a disaster area and file for federal help. Added to the lines of people being checked for credit, and assembling income tax material, this year we are being besieged by other vexations. The real irritation lies in the fact that nothing is simple any more. A perfectly routine procedure can become as entangled as the fly the spider has latched onto for her web. And we humans are just as defen­ seless. Stores have become too large; schools are an assemblage of stair­ ways, rooms and people in too great numbers; hospitals are endless halls that lead everywhere and nowhere. Ah yes, hospitals! Our motto for the future is to enter only if we are to be carried in, unable to be punished with the paper work that has become a hallmark of these institutions. As it was, oui* health was good and we entered only because some well meaning friend decided for us that checkup time was at hand. A first bit of advice is to scratch that kind of friend from your list. Enough petty annoyances will find you without trying. Common sense told us to arrive early and avoid the rush, even though the sun was barely above the horizon and the temperature near zero. Common sense also made us ask, "What are we doing here"? We an­ swered the question immediately with the observation that the mind must be slipping. At this low point in our morale the tests were merely something to be endured. The staff was pleasant enough - even happy, it seemed - and we were well on our way to getting it over with and going to work. Only one minor flaw did we ex­ perience when it became necessary to don a hospital gown and walk through a small waiting room that was par­ tially occupied. We commented to the nurse that the gown seemed rather large for we could feel the cool air on our shoulders and upper back. A lack of fit was obvious. In the interest of modesty, she walked behind us, holding the gown together, all the time assuring us good naturedly that "one size fits all". After a bit of lackluster levity over the comment, the test was completed and the headache began. It was time to sign papers. We're getting smarter, though. When they suggested we might be more comfortable filling out the form in the waiting room, we declined. Past experience at filling in any kind of form assured us there would be quer'es. There were. The importance of the occasion grew as our signature was required four times on one sheet of paper. And numbers? Of course. But which ones did we select from the card we carried? We weren't sure -- the staff per­ sonnel wasn't either, but she looked it over and said, "I'd put that one down". That was all. The routine testing and the deluxe, routine paper work was over. It was only necessary to find the right direction in the maze of halls which lead to every specialty one could wish for. What they did not lead to was the coat we left behind at our first stop. Windows looked out onto snowy lawns that had a familiar look but they were not the ones we passed before. Finally, through the helpful (Continued on pago 14) that With a very limited time to enjoy snowy hills this winter, McHenry youngsters are now taking advantage of snowfalls this past week. The photographer caught these three youngster with their sleds on a hill near McHenry Country club. Another kind of enjoyment belongs to the ducks swimming peacefully in the cold water nearby. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD By Marion Olsen An election is being planned to decide which of two teachers' unions will be the sole negotiating agent representing McHenry Elementary District 15 school teachers. A meeting was held Wednesday, Feb. 9 between the county superin­ tendent, local school officials and representatives of the local IEA-NEA and IFT-AFT unions to establish ground rules and set March 3, at the conclusion of the school day for the election. There will be about 140 eligible to vote. At the district's February board meeting, Judy Krabbenhoft, president of the local IEA, expressed confidence that her group will receive the teachers' support. David Miller, president of the local IFT union, was not present. A chart showing county schools' operating expense per child was viewed by board members, disclosing Elementary District 15 at the bottom of the 21 school districts. While there was an increase over the previous year, the figure of $1,926 was still below the next lowest claim made by Richmond Elementarv District 13 with a per pupil cost of $1,988. Members recognized that the favorable standing for the McHenry district was due to an austerity program in which they are applying funds to a trailing deficit. In a "good news" segment of the February school board meeting. Principal Jim LaShelle reported that the Edgebrook school January Enrichment program was suc­ cessfully culminated. A PTO- sponsored, after school series of mini- courses. the program covered four to five sessions of Creative Writing, Spanish. French. Calculators, Colorful Poster Art, Basketball Skills, Song Fun and Pompon-Cheerleading. Colorful Poster Art and Pompon- Cheerleading drew the maximum of 30 students each and were the popular choices among the offerings, he said. Jill Olszewski. PTO chairperson of the program, was credited with initiating it at Edgebrook school. A similar program was previously- sponsored at Valley View school. LaShelle indicated the series is presently being evaluated and will probably be offered again. Seven On Village Ballot This April, Wonder Lake residents will select five trustees, a village president and a clerk, amid a wave of seat-swapping. Three trustee seats and the presidency are four-year terms. William Andrea, who succeeded James Rachel as president for the last eight months, is stepping down and running for his old seat as trustee. Village Clerk Duane Zeman and Donald Sturwold are vying for the top job. Linda Wollpert is running unop­ posed for Ms. Zeman's old position as clerk. Trustees Brian McLaughlin and Richard Matthei, appointed to fill vacancies on the board last summer, are seeking four-year terms of their own. Incumbent David Kuziel is seeking a second four-year term and Fred McKinstry his first. Trustee John Sorenson announced he would not seek re-election due to time constraints he faces as a pilot. There are also two unexpired, two- year terms which resulted from the resignation of Trustees John Depyssler and Scott Axelson. Village Building Inspector Jack Crawford, John Scarbrough and Carol "Kelly" Solare are running for the two-year slots. Locker Fire Sends East Campus Students Outside To Each His Own No Recommendation i On Crematorium by Anthony Oliver The McHenry Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will not make a recommendation concerning a petition to allow a crematory at the George Justen and Son Funeral Home, 3519 W. Elm street, McHenry. The motion for a positive recom­ mendation was defeated last week by a 4-3 vote of the ZBA. The petitioners, Mark and Robert Justen, were seeking a special use permit for a crematory at the W. Elm street location, near Richmond road. The proposal called for a 55 x 14 foot addition to the existing garage, which would be compatible with existing architecture, Mark Justen said. Justen told the ZBA a crematory located in McHenry would eliminate driving to Elmhurst, the nearest crematory. He estimated the savings at between $150 and $200. Justen added that new regulations will in this case require a licensed employee, i.e. funeral director, to accompany the deceased to Elmhurst. He noted that there is sentimental and emotional value in having the service performed at the same place that arrangements are made. "Many people do not realize that the crematory is not in the funeral home," Justen said. Justen noted that crematories in funeral homes in Batavia, Lombard, Monroe and Kenosha had experienced no problems with surrounding business and residential uses. Citing figures from the McHenry County Clerk's office, Justen said the death rate had dropped five percent in 1982, as compared to 1979. Comparing those same years, there was, however, a 29 percent increase in the number of cremations. Justen commented that he had been told by another party that if he did not build the facility in McHenry county, someone else would. He said he would like to have the facility in McHenry, but admitted other locations would be considered if the proposal was ultimately denied. ZBA member Harold Semrow, Jr., suggested that the proposed use would be an expansion of a non-conforming use. City Attorney Bernard Narusis explained that the operation of the funeral home was a legal non­ conforming use, but that was really not the question. "The question is, 'Will this council permit the special use?' " Narusis said. Kenneth Robinson, vice-president of Industrial Equipment and Engineering, which manufactures cremation equipment, testified concerning the operation of the crematory. -- He noted that about 70 percent of the equipment sold went to funeral homes, rather than a cemetery location. The equipment has pollution monitoring devices and is subject to stringent Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regulation. "Illinois has the most stringent requirements of any state for equipment of this type," Robinson said. "Each piece has to be approved. There is no detectable noise, odor or smoke from the operation of this equipment." Robinson said that anything in­ volving internal combustion will give off gases, but it is the level of allowable pollution that is important. In Illinois, he reiterated, the regulations are the most severe. Robinson testified that the equip­ ment considered in the proposal was tested by an independent laboratory and came out fully ten times better than the IEPA regulation. "Who monitors the (IEPA) stan­ dards?" asked ZBA member Kay Halverson. "The state does," Robinson said. He noted that the state makes periodic announced and unannounced in­ spections. Semrow asked who would repair the equipment if something went wrong. Robinson said there are service and "start-up" personnel who are on the road, or, someone could be dispatched from the Orlando, Fla., office. (Continued on page 14) McHenry Fire department and McHenry East campus high school officials are investigating a locker fire broke out on the third floor Fire fighters from Co. I of the McHenry Township Fire Protection district were called to the third floor of the school building where the contents of a locker had been set on fire. Someone at the school attempted to extinguish the flames with a dry chemical fire extinguisher and a large quantity of powder remained. "There was powder everywhere," said Asst. Fire Chief Chris Bennett. Firemen working on the third floor had to wear airpacks and smoke ejectors were used to clear the air. East campus Principal William Dodds complimented the Fire department on their speedy response to the scene and in cleaning the mess. "They did a super job," Dodds said. "They had the whole mess cleaned in about 20 minutes." He noted that the students had to be taken outside until the powder and smoke was cleared. "The kids were outside, but you just can't bring them back in until you're sure the air is clear," he said. Admitting that the fire was not due to natural causes or spontaneous combustion, Dodds said someone apparently lit a pom pon that was partially sticking out of a locker. Some of the contents of the locker were set on fire as well and there was some personal property loss. "We're following up on all leads," Dodds said. "1 was very impressed with the (Continued on peg* 14) Rescue 50 Fans In Eighth Event After two postponements of the long anticipated Rescue 50, snow came to the McHenry area in sufficient amounts to schedule the eighth annual event Sunday, Feb. 13. A goal of $15,000 has been established, with proceeds to be divided equally between the McHenry and Johnsburg Rescue squads. The ride is open to all snowmobilers, and early expectations are that there will be 150 riders joining popular baseball and TV personalities for the day's events. Pledges can be made to a favorite rider. Registration will take place from 8 to 9 a.m. Sunday at Raymond's Pier Inn, Johnsburg. Starting on the long trek at 9 o'clock, riders will return to that point between 2 and 3 in the af­ ternoon. Pledge cards are available by calling Jim Wright at 385-9448,Dick Short at 385-7180, or Judy Mazrin at 344-2929. Apple For The Teacher Montini Catholic schools are this week observing Catholic Schools week, carrying out the national theme, "In God We Trust and Teach". On Appreciation day Monday, Feb. 7, Annie Truckenbrod, a third grader, brought the traditional apple to her teacher, mounted on an impressive pedestal. Showing her appreciation is her teacher, Mrs. Mary Steinbach. Annie is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Kent Truckenbrod. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Wildlife Calendar ------------ FREE MCHS Minimum Competency The Value Of Trees Today's Edition Tests Start In Fal l ? Section 2 Page 6 Today's Edition Section 2 Page 5 J S