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McHenry aindealer Shew Free fre* Wednesday July 11, 1984 Number 97 Volume 106 Bridge construction, traffic may affect in-town shopping BRIDGE OUT ' w * * . " r » * T* * «> ,.w • " • • ' r . ' • ••• By Anthony Oliver Plnindenler staff writer While the reconstruction of the Route 120 bridge has caused headaches for commuters, some McHenry merchants have not noticed any significant impact on_their businesses. v "Actually, I haven't heard anything from the merchants," said Kit Carstens, chairman of the McHenry Economic Development Commission (EDC). Carstens did point out, however, that comifients from some residents on the east side of the river were not too favorable and indicated a potential impact on sales. "Ibis is critical to the city," Carstens said. "Half the budget is from th* retail sales tax." Carstens yoiced some concern over a potential change in consumers' buying habits, where people may drive far­ ther-to Fox Lake or Island Lake-rather &an fight traffic to get to McHenry. "This could form buying Fire, ambulance tax drop forseen Plaindealer News Service The McHenry Township Fire Protection District passed tentative budget and ap­ propriations ordinances which are expected to generate about $346,000 for the next year in the general fund. Board President James L. Althoff predicted that taxpayers could see a potential drop in the ambulance tax monies would not be received until 1986, the service was being funded by loans from the fire depart­ ment-loans that must be repaid. The ambulance tax was originally based on $200,000 a year, but the trustees are seeking $400,000 to coVer the two years of operating without revenues. in years. However, he noted that when the ambulance tax levy is passed, it would be at a rate of about $.11 per $100 assessed valuation., ' "What do we tell the tax­ payers?" asked Richard Woellert, Co. 2 asst. chief. Woellert referred to the publicity given for the referendum, which indicated a rate of about .08 per $100 assessed valuation. _ Althoff explained that since might be able to cut the am­ bulance tax rite," Althoff said. "We might be sible to cut the fire tax as well. We're in good financial shape." Althoff pointed out that the new ladder truck is paid for as are all major items. Dep. Chief Chris Bennett said delivery of the vehicle was expected by mid-July at the latest. Althoff also advised fire of­ ficials to start thinking about the future in. terms of what major items would be needed. He said the trustees would expect to hear from a committee about (dans for either the renovation or reconstruction of Co. 1 in McHenry, whether to move the ambulances to Co. 1, etc. In Johnsburg, Co. 2 is seeking a new tanker and some building modifications to permit a drive- through station and Johnsburg Rescue Squad has requested some major new equipment. Both ambulances-services have been told td hold off major requests until the tax monies are received. In order to make accounting easier, the trustees voted to establish separate bank ac­ counts for the following funds: general fund, ambulance fund, building fund and equipment fund. The move eliminates the co-mingling of all funds in one account, Althoff said. In other business, the trustees authorized the purchase of diving gear, at a cost not to exceed $8,604. Local man indicted on marijuana charge By Cliff Ward Plaindealer News Service An Alden man implicated in a large drug smuggling operation is still free but plans to surrender to the authorities, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Theodore Juchcinsld of Alden, one of six Illinois men indicted Friday for conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana, will surrender to authorities, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ira Raphaelson said Tuesday. Raphaelson said Juchcinski,, 3i, is an over-the-road truck; driver and had just recently- received word he had been in­ dicted. A McHenry man, 32-year-old James Amoroso, who was named in a related two-count indictment two weeks ago in­ volving other defendants in the case, remains in custody, Raphaelson said. The indictments, involving 11 people, came in what U.S. At­ torney Dan Webb called "one of the largest and...most sophisticated drug smuggling operations we have ever dealt with." Webb said the indictments involved between seven and eight tons of marijuana with a wholesale value of $5 million and that about half the marijuana was intended for the Chicago area. Two men named in the case - William Blanco, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, and Peter Loris, 39, formerly of Chicago - have not been brought into custody, Raphaelson said. The rest of the defendants, including three men from Antioch and Lake Villa in Lake County, have either surrendered to authorities and have been released on bond or are ex­ pected to surrender shortly, Raphaelson said. The seven men named in the first indictment were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, conspiracy to im­ port marijuana, and conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to facilitate the drug con­ spiracies, Webb said. Bicyclist injured in collision with vehicle Plaindealer News Service A bicyclist was injured in at collision with a car that oc­ curred in the 3000 block of Elm Street in McHenry. Both people involved were died by police. Ttoe driver of the car, Mark T. Piasecki, 157 California, Mundelein, told police he was exiting a parking lot and did not see the bicyclist approaching from the right. Hie McycHflt, Darin W. Klatt, A look inside . . . •• Rod Show Page 7 Regular features So 1 Hear Page 4 -Obituaries Page 5 Crime of the Week Page 4 New Circulation Number 385-0178 1305 Fairview, McHenry, said the vehicle pulled out in front of Mm. Piasecki was ticketed for failure to yield the right-of-way and Klatt was cited for riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in a business district. Klatt was taken to Northern Illinois Medical Center (NIMC) for examination. Kristine M. Baseley, 4010 Grand Ave., McHenry, was ticketed for disobeying a traffic control device following & two- car collision at the intersection of Elm and Green Streets. Both drivers involved, Baseley and Erich Gramer, 1508 Eastwood, McHenry, said they thought the light was green as they entered the intersection. A witness said the light was yellow for the Gramer vehicle. habits that might be irrever­ sible," Carstens said. "It's making the buying for that whole' segment of the com­ munity (east of the river) almost a last resort, and that's dangerous." This is particularly im­ portant to the food stores. Tom Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Foods, the closest major food store to the bridge project, commented that while the volume of customers in his store had not really changed, their buying habits had. "There's been no change except in when they shop," Sullivan said. "Since the biii project, we're heavy in the mid- morning and the late evening- after the rush hours." Generally, he said, traffic in his store during the summer months dies off during the evening hours. On the east side of the river, Gary Morley, at Sunny side Foods, commented that there had been no noticeable change in his volume .of customers. "To be quite frank, with the July 4th holiday at the same time, we had an increase in business anyway, but f don't think there's anything that can be directly attributed to the bridge." Morley added that some wBTTTi.* •! -- i nil a--• in customers said they would be staying away from "that side of town." ^ Likewise at the Jewel Food Store, the manager said he had not noticed too much of a change. At most, he com­ mented, people seem to be planning their trips more carefully. Other retailers, like Dennis Locke, manager of Hornsby's, and Craig Bjorkman, at Ace Hardware, said peak business times had remained essentially the same since the bridge project began and the number of customers had not really been i 'I A m W $ W* ... •, x., - Rush hour traffic snarls, caused by the Route 120 bridge project, are now commonplace in McHenry. Construction of the bridge is expected to take up to two years, and some McHenry Plaindealer photo by Donna Bertulis businessmen are beginning to worry if McHenry's sales taxes will be affected by shoppers trying to avoid the traffic congestion. Three fires fought in three days Thursday, Friday and Saturday were busy days for for the McHenry Township Fire Department as fire fighters were called to extinguish blazes on each day. Two of those fires are under investigation. At about noon June 5, a barn fire was reported at the in­ tersection of McCullom Lake and Richmond Roads, on McHenry's north side. McHenry Police blocked traffic on McCullom Lake Road between Richmond Road and Orleans Drive, as tankers shuttled loads of water from a nearby hydrant. Dep. Chief Chris Bennett said all three companies were called to the scene and firemen had the blaze under control in about 35 minutes. Upon arrival, firemen found the abandoned barn engulfed in flames and the roof caved in. Most of the afternoon was spent removing hay from the barn with pitchforks, spreading it and wetting it down, Bennett said. At about 3:30 p.m. June 6, Co. 1 of the fire department was called to a garage fire at 3710 W. Maple Ave., McHenry. Bennett said firemen found "large quantities of fire" coming from the structure, which was loaded with all kinds of items. The fire was brought under control in about five minutes. The garage was gutted and the house suffered extensive heat damage in -the^form erf melted siding. The cause of this fire is also under investigation, Bennett said. Late Sunday afternoon, Co. 1 was called to 606 S. Crystal Lake Road, McHenry, where a con­ trolled burn had gotten out of control. Residents were in the process of razing an old barn and burning it when the fire became too large to handle. Firemen were at the scene for about 40 minutes. V Plaindealer photo by Anthony Oliver Co. 1 firemen hose down a garage that caught fire at 3710 W. Maple Ave., last Friday afternoon.