VOLUME 107 NUMBER 101 ' SERVING THE CHA1N-0-LAKES REGION S INCE 1875 WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 3. 1983 , A garden is an avocation that takes pounded the problem with a pumpkin a lifetime to master. Our own ex- and a canteloupe plant. perience covers at least 30 years and Even at a distance, it is evident the the magic touch is still elusive. fight is on, and in our inexperience • Each Spring we plant with the with these particular varieties we Expectation of reaping, in the normal have no way of knowing which will span of a growing season, luscious win. vegetables like those pictured in the It is quite evident the squash will not garden magazines. But each Aug. 1 be subjugated, for its runners are comes the realization that we have stretching out in rampant style. Right done something different, and beside them the canteloupe is something wrong, that assures the displaying bright blossoms and maintenance of our status as a second threatening to hold its place in the rate gardener. sun. Nearby, the pumpkin is Like all who rank No. 2, we continue spreading into the dwarf Cock's to try harder. Comb, whose brilliant colors are now all but hidden. The prolonged heat spell of the past Something went wrong with this two weeks kept us from the customary year's garden, and the signs point to a daily trek to the 20-square-foot plot gardener's zeal which knew no where we carefully placed the seeds bounds. and plants late in May. Consequently, Runners extending from the squash, it was a startling experience to find pumpkin and canteloupe are already that our weeds had taken on far into the lawn even before the end proportions of the fabled beanstalk of product has begun to emerge. Jack. There are books on proper gar- But this occurrence was not nearly dening, none of which takes into ac- as disconcerting as the array of count the bug and temperature dominant vegetables that were problems of a particular summer in a overrunning the more reticent given location. Nor does it take into varieties almost to the point of ex- consideration the willful gardener tinction. who defies all impediments in the In place of the usual 22 tomato, optimism that clings to a die-hard plants, we reduced the plantings this tiller of the soil. year to 11, which should still supply As rambling flowers and vegetables the neighborhood under the proper intertwine, forming a latticework growing conditions. garden in which there is little chance In their place we added three of success, there is much to be lear- pepper plants, three eggplants, three ned. But will we? Of course not! small rows of beans, a squash plant, The ultimate confidence of this and a few flowers. This was our first gardener will see the same plot next mistake. Spring and once again envision Squash have a way of taking over a success in the growing period ahead, garden as no other Vegetable can do. For the avid gardener, there is no Just the addition of one squash plant belief that history repeats itself, was too much, but then we com- KAF Nominating Petitions Available For School Posts Page 4 Success Marks Fiesta Days Ten days, almost uninterrupted by rain but marked by intense heat, ended Sunday with thousands lining McHenry streets for the annual Fiesta Days parade. When the judges had finished a tally of votes, the Rae Corp. float was judged best in the parade. A trophy for best professionally made float went to the City of McHenry (Parks department) entry, and the mini-float winner was the McHenry Beautification committee. In the category of handmade large floats, winners were the McHenry State bank, Busy Hands and Young Farmers. The first year of Family Feud evoked much interest and resulted in McHenry hospital's First Aid Family emerging the winner over Pioneer Center Group home. The score was 494 to 67. TKfrvtfnfcini team had as members Jackie Small, Debbie Hodges, Joan Skiba, Ann Gribben, Debbie Mayo, Grace Bentz, Mary Davis and Julie Boelter. There were 238 participants entered in the Big Wheels race held at Pearl street park race track. Three, four, and five-year-olds competed for first, second and third place in each division. The final results showed the following winners: Girls 3 years old: first, Abby Christensen; second, Angela Zoiss; third, Carin Sitz. Girls 4 years old: first, Lisa Weber; second, Jessica Mann; third, Melissa Reinboldt. Girls 5 years old: first, Nicole Wirch; second, Rebecca Bauer; third, Megan Michels. Boys3 years old: first, Brian Moen; second, Danny Anderson; third, Adam Taylor. - Boys 4 years old: first, Jon Toussaint; second, Kyle Frost; third, Ryan Mercure. Boys 5 years old: first, Brandon Gough; second, Jason Matchen; third, Greg Sobacki. Five babies were named top win ners in the sixth annual "Cutest Baby" contest sponsored by the (Continued on pogo 22) Three Die In Cycle Crashes Three people sustained fatal in juries in motorcycle accidents in vestigated by Illinois State police during the weekend in McHenry county. ' Patricia M. Welter, 24, of 5408 Christine. McHenry, was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident Sunday aftfernoon on Fox Lake road, south of Sunrise. Her passenger, Kristina L. Garcia, 22, of 311 End Road, Ingleside, died Monday morning in St. Anthony hospital, Rockford, where she was transferred by helicopter from McHenry hospital, state police said. The accident occurred about 2:25 p.m. when the northbound motorcycle operated by Ms. Welter was at tempting to pass another northbound vehicle. Ms. Welter reportedly lost control of the machine, which went (Continued on pago 22) Staff Hiring Practices In McHenry by Anthony Oliver With a 5 to 3 vote, aldermen of the McHenry City Council called for more participation in the hiring of per sonnel to staff various departments. Aid. William Bolger (1st) said the council should approve the hiring of employees and have access to ap plications. McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek told the council he had merely used a rotitine that has beeii followed for the last four years, where the mayor screens applicants and hires them. "It's supplanting my judgment with collective judgment." Stanek said. "I don't apologize for anyone I've hired." Stanek pointed out that in many municipalities, especially those with city managers, hiring decisions are made without the approval of the council. "It's a wholly proper and good form of government," Stanek said. The exceptions to the council participation are the sworn police officers, who are hired through the police commission, and the city clerk's office staffers, who are hired by the clerk. The clerk's hiring authority is specified in state statute, said Bernard Narusis, city attorney. Narusis commented that there was some problem with some of the city clerk's employees who also work for and are paid by other departments. These employees could come under council domain. Aid. Ray Smith (3rd), who sup ported Bolger's move for council participation, said 99 percent of the time, council approval would probably be automatic. Aid. Gary Snell (4th) commented that there was an individual hired last summer wno did not . meet the residency requirement. Fortunately, he added, the outcome of the problem was favorable and he suggested that there be more even ward represen tation. T Stanek commented that this was a "dangerous" situation, where one person might not be hired in favor of someone from another ward. Snell said there could be a lottery held to determine who gets the job. Aid. Elizabeth Nolan (1st) came out in defense of the mayor's position, saying the issue sounded like so much "hamstringing" and the council should not be concerned. The council, she said, has control through the budget and sets the number of employees to be hired. Beyond that, the council should not be involved, Mrs. Nolan said. A motion to calling for council approval of hiring, with the ex ceptions of sworn police officers and city clerk employees, passed 5 to 3. Voting in favor were Aldermen Bolger, McClatchey, Smith, Snell and Serritella. Voting against were Aldermen Nolan, Busse and Datz. In other business: --The council denied a request for no parking on a portion of South street in front of the Charles Hollenbach home. Aid. Smith cited the precedent- setting nature of the move as reason for the denial. --A request for subdivision of the McDonagh property into two lots, at Clover and Green street, was ap proved. --The council approved asking the developer of Martin Woods sub division to make the overlayment on Martin road, from Route 120 to (Continued on pogo 22) dealer as we expand our news media coverage to meet the needs of a fast growing community". Linking the two newspapers will bring a staff of more than 400 emloyees in the Shaw Free Press Media contributing to the news coverage of the communities they serve. The McHenry Herald staff will be employed throughout the Shaw Free Press Media publications. Merger Promises News Expansion The July 6 announcement of the McHenry Plaindealer, which had its merger of the Shaw Media Group and start in 1875. Free Press Newspapers becomes Thomas C. Miller, publisher of the effective in McHenry Wednesday, Plaindealer, expressed enthusiasm Aug. 10. At that time, the operations of over the possibilities created by the the McHenry Herald will become merger. incorporated into the publishing of the "The McHenry Herald has entered McHenry Plaindealer. several thousand homes since its inception in 1980 and has earned a The merger joins the McHenry wide readership", he said. "I am Herald, which has been in operation excited about joining the readers of for more than three years, and the the Herald with those of the Plain- Emcee Alan Gabor awaits an answer from one of the finalists in Family Feud, Uie game show that attracted much attention during Fiesta Days. At left is a member of the winning First Aid Family team, and at right, a member of the Pioneer Center Group Home, which placed second. At right are team members in Pearl street park during the final quiz period. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD 5-3 City Coupcll Vote Changes County Fair Opens Aug. 3 The McHenry County Fair opens Wednesday, Aug. 3, with the Miss McHenry County pageant that evening headlining the many grand stand features. All grandstand events are free. Friends of Miss McHenry, Linda Davidson, and Miss Wonder Lake, Jeannie Jorgenson, will be among the large crowd anticipated to applaud the appearances of their favorites. The pageant opens five days of events on Wednesday evening at 7:30, when candidates representing every part of the county seek the title of Miss McHenry County and the chance to enter next year's state competition. Thursday night will feature out standing 4-H members, focusing on the contributions to the program made by county members. The evening program begins at 7 p.m. when a 4-H king and queen will be selected. The Friday grandstand show will be devoted to a new event featuring the Chicago Knockers Mud Wrestlers. This all-girl, traveling team will demonstrate their strength and talent, as well as their beauty, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Jeannie Riley and LeRoy Van Dyke, country singers, will perform two shows Saturday at the grandstand in programs scheduled at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The Sunday grandstand attraction (Continued on pogo 22) Recommend 1984 City Levy Reorganization by Anthony Oliver Striving to free some monies in the General fund, the City Council Finance committee has recom mended a little reorganization in the 1984 levy request.. The 1984 levy was presented to the council at Monday night's regular meeting, but no action was taken. Approval of the ordinance will come following a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 29. While "reorganization" in many cases sounds just like "increase," Finance Committee Chairman William Busse (2nd) noted that actual proposed increase for 1984 was less than two percent. As proposed by the committee, the 1984 rate is $.867 per $100 of assessed valuation, as opposed to last year's $.852. Busse said the penny-and-a-half difference would result in a $3.75 tax increase for a home with an assessed valuation of $25,000. In the reorganization, (he Finance committee proposed using the police protection levy, which has not been used in previous years. If approved by the council, the levy rate of $.05 per $100 assessed valuation would generate funds to be used by the Police department. The maximum i • " . ' (Continued on page 22) The Events Of Fiesta Picture Pages Pages 8 & 20 County Fair Schedule Five Days Of Events Page„15 A lost child was not an unusual occurrence uring Sidewalk Sales held Saturday in conjunction with Fiesta Days. This unhappy boy found wandering on Riverside drive was consoled by Officer Gary Wigman who helped him find a familiar face. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD