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McHenry aiiklealer 2 Sections 30 Poges 25 Wednesday October 19, 1983 Number 21 Volume 109 t* Cary Lanphier and Todd Hughes were proclaimed queen and king of the annual MCHS homecoming festivities held last weekend. Crown homecoming royalty When Cary Lanphier and Todd Hughes were named queen and king of the McHenry Community High School 1983 homecoming Friday afternoon, it was just one of the highlights of this annual fall event. Announcement of the East campus seniors to reign over festivities was made at an all-school assembly held on McCracken field prior to the parade. Cary is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lanphier and Todd is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hughes. The East Campus junior class entry was judged best in the parade and also was delarea best looking float. Second place went to the East Campus freshmen, whos^ float also was judged to be most original. Other winners were West seniors, third and also most humorous; East seniors, fourth; West juniors, fifth and also most school spirit; West sophomores, sixth: East sophomores, seventh; West freshmen, eighth; ana for most unusual car, John Arpistrong and John Snyder. Clemency plea for Orton Burden f-Free News Service i for executive i Wednesday to the Prisoner Review Board on behalf of Terry Orton, the 27-yearold Crystal Lake man serving a three-year prison term for the death of his brother-in-law. "He's a good, kind, God-loving man who has never before com­ mitted a crime or been involved with the law and he doesn't deserve to be imprisoned," was the plea made by Orton's sister, Margaret Buckner, 29, of Qrystal Lake. She appeared before the review board in Chicago, along with Orton's wife, Susan, and Dean Caddell, an officer at Greet Lakes Naval Ease, where Orton's engineering job is being kept open for him Her petition for clemenc tor her brother was made Gov. James Thompson's office, sdxnitted many letters to the board from persons favoring clemency for Orton, as well as a petition con­ taining about 200 signatures. Orton pleaded guilty June 6 to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced July 11 by Judge Roland Herrmann in 19th Judicial Circuit Court to serve a three-year- term of imprisonment. The charge against Orton stem­ med from the Oct. 11,1962, death of 28-year-old Jeff R. Novotny of McHenry, who died of injuries following a fistfight in the parking lot of Raymond's Bowling Alky, 3312 Chapel Hill Road, Johnsburg. . Following the fight, Orton was held on assault and battery charges. However, after Novotny's death a few hours later, he was charged with murder. * As a result of bargaining with the emency through Bee. She state's attorney's office, the charge was reduced to involuntary man­ slaughter. Orton and Novotny were brothers- in-law, both married to daughters of the bowling alley owner, Raymond Kuna. On July 28, a motion for recon­ sideration of the prison sentence for Orton was denied by the court. "We cannot get away from the fact that Orton took a Hie. He went and did bodily harm resulting in the i of Novotny," Judge Herrmann said. Orton testified at the recon­ sideration hearing that Novotny had tried to sexually assault his wife and he wanted to call police, but his wife wanted to keep the matter in the family. Ms. Buckner told review board members that her brother wanted to go to the police about the matter, but the family persuaded him not to. "It was an accident. No weapons were used:-Terry had no intention of killing Jeff...they were friends," she said, adding that when Novotny fell after "a few punches" her brother, believing the victim was suffering a heart attack, attempted to ad­ minister cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She also stated that when Novotny was being transferred from McHenry Hospital to a helicopter, the head of his stretcher was to the ground. review board members gave no indication of a decision on the clemency petition. The court and state' attorney's office reportedly was notified of the clemency petition. However, there were no objections to it. A look inside... Fish asks help United Way support Regular features Obituaries Mostly Social Twice Told-Tales Section 2, Page 2 Section 2, Page 5 .Page 6• Pages 10-11 Section 2, Page 4 Council acts to prohibit smoking in ' .• ., • f - -» e * , " ' •' * v larger retail food stores of McHenry STAW PMOTOWAYNI GAVlOftD by Anthony Oliver Cleaner, fresher air in the larger retail food stores may well be the result of action facing drafted by the City of McHenry. The McHenry City Council Monday night authorized the city attorney to draft legislation which would prohibit smoking in the larger retail food stores. The council, which is comprised of smokers and non- smokers, was unanimous in its desire to act on this proposal. Ann Wheelock, a McHenry resident representing more than 100 area shoppers, argued successfully for the ordinance. Mrs. Wheelock commented that petitions were signed by smokers as well who felt it was ill mannered for people to smoke in grocery stores. The legislation was not intended to infringe on the rights of smokers, rather to protect food shoppers from potential hazards. "A person does have the right to be protected from known and suspected hazards," Mrs. Wheelock said. She defined a toxic substance as one which "demonstrates the potential to induce cancer, to produce " term disease or bodily injury, affect health adversely, to produce acute discomfort, or to endanger s the life of man...resulting from exposure via the respiratory tract, skin, eye, mouth or other routes." t She said the validity for such Jlh ordinance stemmed from possible health hazards (effect of second-hand smoke on young and old, allergies, asthma, heart problems, lung conditions, etc.), reducing the hazard of fire, public safety considerations, public nuisance, sanitation and cleanliness (infants have been known to pick up cigarette butts). Mrs. Wheelock pointed out that while going out to eat is an elective, grocery shopping is a necessity. i "Wisconsin does have a statewide ordinance regarding food stores and Minnesota's non­ smoking laws are the most ' restrictive," she pointed out. She urged the council to be a county forerunner in this matter and the council was inclined to do so. Councilmen did express some concern about defining just what stores would be affected. Alderman Cecilia Serritella (4th) commented that some smaller establishments, like the White Hen, have, coffee machines and people stop in to chat, have a cup of coffee and a cigarette, Aid. Edward Datz (2nd) said he supported the measure and asked if there had been any reaction from owners of the larger retail food outlets. Mrs. Wheelock replied that most store owners were not opposed to the restriction, but wanted an ordinance to protect them. Aid. Gary Snell (4th) and Mrs. Serritella questioned the method of enforcement. Police Chief George Pasenelli said if a complaint were to be signed, it could be signed by either the store management or a citizen. City Attorney Bernard Narusis commented that, ir reality, most people are reasonable and will extinguish a cigarette (cigar or pipe) when asked to do so. That, in effect, is the enforcement, Narusis said. The motion called for the city attorney to draft an ordinance which would prohibit smoking in the larger retail food stores. It passed unanimously. In other business: -Alliance Contractors, Inc., of Woodstock, was awarded the bid for sidewalk construction in the amount of $4,945. - The council approved the purchase of 24 trees to be placed at various locations in Knox. Petersen. Pearl1 ° Street. Whispering Oaks. McHenry Shores beach and Riverside Drive beach parks. - Mayor Stanek reported that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) had apparently been convinced that traffic lights were needed a Bull Valley Road and S. Route 31 The project is slated for FY 1985 (July 1, 1984-June 30. 1985). -Stanek also noted that the widening of Route 31, from Route 120 south to High Street, was pushed back to the third quarter of FY 1985. - The Route 120 bridge project is scheduled to go to bid Dec. 9. 1983. The council authorized the city to extend the Riverside Drive water line across the Elm Street intersection when the bridge work tears up the street. - The Council voted to put two donated lots in the Orchard Heights area, south of McHenry. up for auction. -Halloween hours were set from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 0ct^30. -The dedication of Walsh Park was set for Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Computers -- teaching tools of classroom Editor's Note The following is the first in a series of feature articles focusing on the role of computers in-the modern school system In this and future ar tides, the McHenry Plaindealer-. wrfl siudyv ihe curjiputer 'device at diffeieni gta(fe*f*vcfc. kindergarten through high school by Donna Bertulis^ Computers are as important a teaching tool as textbooks in the modern school system. Just about 10 years ago, students took their first typing class while in high school. Today, children are learning the functions of a computer keyboard while theyfre still learning to write. ' Perhaps we ought to add a "C" for computers to the original "three R's", This is certainly the computer age. At one time the computer generated thoughts of a towering, complicated machine with blinking lights and buttons. But the forboding machine eventually grew more compact and became functional in different areas. This is the first year the McHenry Grade Schools are using computer education district-wide. The Johnsburg grade schools have been using computers for some time, but this year are concentrating on including computer study into the regular curriculum. 'class" is called C o m p u t e r A s s i s t e d Instruction (CAI). Informally, Dan DeRoche, assistant superintendent at District 15, refers to it as "educational Ataig". There are currently 19 putecs in McHenry School District 15, and 45 computers in the entire Johnsburg Consolidated School District, including disk « drives, monitors, software, printers and mobile carts. . •Vi Each school in District 15 was able to buy two computers last spring and possibly two more will be purchased this year for each building by a Computer Committee. A majority of District 15's equipment was purchased through a new block grant e n t i t i e d E d u c a t i o n C o n s o l i d a t i o n a n d Improvement Act (ECIA). Probably the best news about computers in the grade schools is the way they are accepted by the children. Computers make school fun for primary school students. Kids take to the keyboard like a fish to water. DeRoche tells the story of a McHenry girl,, who expressed interest in working on a district computer this summer. The student was to enter the third grade. After five lessons, the girl was tested at 31 words per minute. "Also in a short time, she finished the first 18 pages of the programming book." Supt. Duane Andreas of District 12 in Johnsburg says his junior high already has two active computer clubs. Seven of his junior high students are already more on the computer K!Wl tai students. There is no limit to a computer, as there is with a textbook, the --local administrators explain. But for that same reason, it is difficult to grade a student on his level of computer knowledge. Many children are familiar with home computers and therefore are far more advanced than other children in their class. In both school districts, computers is a non- graded part of the curriculum. "We're really going to have to redesign our curriculum," said Andreas. "It is a self- instruction mode. Grading a student should be by his own advancement, rather than in comparison to others." The normal procedure in each building at District 15 is to move the computers into different classrooms on a rotating basis. Students may work on the computers in addition to their regular work. Some teachers may allow access to the computer as a privilege for accomplished students. DeRoche stressed that computers are being utilized as "supplements," and were not taking the place of r e g u l a r i n s t r u c t i o n (teachers). As early as kindergarten, children are learning their way around the computer keyboard. Reading and mathematics readiness is the bal lb ot the educational program in kindergarten through third grades. For example, a large "A" appears on the computer screen. The child is asked to punch the key which shows the same symbol. If a correct key is punched, the computer screen lights up with a Fourth of July scene, or plays music, encouraging the child to continue. Most children in grades four through eight will know the fundamentals of typing. Through a Creative Learning series, students will begin to write their own computer programs. It is an individualized program, that will teach the student at his own pace, through junior high school. Dr. Richard Farmer, superintendent of District 15, and Andreasboth stated that the computer in the grade school represents a "new literacy". It is the hope of these administrators that they can create a computer- literate elementary school population, which will p r o v i d e a f o u n d a t i o n f o r responsible adult usage of computer technology. Computers have found an important niche in the classrooms. In today's educational system, students are trained in computer literacy as early as kindergarten. Mary Diedrich, a STAFF PHOTO WAYNf GAVIOHO kindergartener af. Landmark School, becomes familiar with the computer keyboard while learning math basics.