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w Since 187 - - n Cat searches for new home Mil 0 tin' & Meanderir.' Page 2 1--fl 11 New Arrivals . • •i life ft*? ' * v . - ' : • Friday September 7. 1984 Number 5 Volume 109 1 Settlor. 24 Pages 25 Increase of DUI cases brought into cpurts Editor's Note: The McHenry Plaindealer's drunken driving series continues in this issue with a study of the crusade against intoxicated motorists, and how the crackdown impacts on law enforcement and the court system. By Kirk Birginal Plaindealer News Service In the two-year fight against driving drtink, in­ creasing attention has focused on so-called "death- valley" areas like McHenry County where the drinking ages of neighboring states differ. The name comes from the high rate t>f fatal traffic accidents involving young people, who go to a state where they can drink legally, then attempt to drive home drunk. "In this death valley situation; they just leave a trail of blood from the bar they leave to wherever they thought they were going," said Don Costa of Allstate Insurance Co. in Nor- thbrook. Border-hopping by drivers under 21, Secretary of State Jim Edgar's push to trengthen drunken driving laws in 1982 and federally- ided police crackdowns combined to generate a sweeping crusade to reduce the carnage on Illinois high- Ws struggle has brought an increasing number of diving under the influence (DUI) cases ihto McHenry County Circuit Court and has jurists debating how best to protect the public and appropriately puhish the guilty. / "We're not really sure what our role is," said Circuit Court Judge Haskell Pitluck. "Are the courts hereto keep the druiiKs off the road? Is our philosophy to educate and reform them or is it to punish them? Our role may be different depending on individual circumstances. It's a complex issue." The influx of peases stems in large part from efforts to control DUI offenders crossing McHenry County's "blood border" with Wisconsin. To document the problem, the Wisconsin Department of Tran­ sportation in 1983 studied alcohol-involved accidents in Wisconsin counties contiguous to Illinois, in­ cluding^ McHenry County. The findings helped con­ vince Wisconsin legislators toVraise their state's drinking age to 19, effective last July. The study found that 42 percent of Illinois drivers involved in accidents in Walworth County from 1980 to 1982 were under age 21 and had been drinking. By comparison, alcohol played a part in only 22 percent of the accidents invplving young Wisconsin drivers in that county. In McHenry County over the last three years, drivers under 21 involved in fatal accidents had been drinking 21 percent of the time, ac-( cording to figures from the Fatal Accident Reporting System of the state tran­ sportation department. With the situation documented, the federal government has made funds . available for roadside checks by local police departments. In July, for example, McHenry County sheriff's officers and state police from four states carried out an $11,000 crack­ down aimed at nabbing 18- year-old drinkers returning from Wisconsin. DUI arrests by sheriff's police so far this year already total 531, a 40 percent increase over all > arrests in 1983, according to Sgt. George Corson, director of the county alcohol project. The result was that McHenry County judges disposed of a reported 289 more DUI cases in 1983 than the year • before. They imposed three sentences of court super­ vision for every conviction of drunk driving last year. Up from three supervisions for every conviction in 1982. Under supervision, loss of driving privileges does not normally occur if the djriver successfully completes requirements set by the judge. Requirements usually involve undergoing an alcohol assessment and completing a rehabilitation program or 10 hours of remedial alcohol and drug education. Associate Judge Susan Fayette Hutchinson said "there is definitely a need for stricter penalties. And in cases involving serious injuries there should be careful scrutiny whether that person should be allowed to drive again." Hutchinson added, however, that she prefers to put first offenders under supervision to get them into an alcohol program where they can be helped. In addition, prosecutors are viewing supervision for first-timers as better than bargaining with that of­ fender to plead guilty to a reduced charge such as reckless driving. "It's a good handle oyer them and puts them under the gun to perform - go to school, do t community/ service and not commit any more driving offenses - or face losing their license," Hutchinson said. She said supervision was also being viewed more favorably in light of a growing trend of Continued on page 3 I . , • . . ^ , v . ' la th . >-v 'iWi frf - 'i ft *>• , , > ' y:. . R'W * Illinois law enforcement agencies, especially those near the Wisconsin border, are putting out an extra effort to curb drunk driving. Since Wisconsin has a lower drinking age than Illinois, many iocal youths head north to drink at bars where they are of legal age. The road back to Illinois, then, is frequently navigat by drunks. Crystal Lake police officer Marie Hernandez (above) monitors her radar unit while watching traffic in Crystal Lake. \ Talks continue for teachers' contract By Marion Olsen •_ Plaindealer News Service McHenry High School teachers continue to work without a contract as negotiators completed their 19th meeting Sept. 4. Another meeting was scheduled for Sept. 6 as meetings speeded up to two or more per week, according to Robert O. Swartzloff, superintendent of schools. "There are a lot of items on the table in their proposal," Swartzloff said. But he noted that the situation is without stress or tension. He also emphasized that the schools are running smoothly; "fantastic" was the word he used. Working without a contract at the start of the school y^ar is not new to McHenry High School teachers. Last year's negotiations were completed Aug. 26 and the contract signed on Sept. 6. Negotiations at that time centered on salary only. A two-year contract on language was signed Oct. 19, 1982 with a one-year salary increase averaging 9.4 percent. The figure represented a 5.37 percent supplement to a new salary schedule and 3.87 percent for increased insurance costs. A re-opener clause called for re­ negotiation on salary in June, 1983 for the 1983-14 year. That negotiation led to a salary in­ crease of an average 6 percent. This year a competely new contract is being negotiated. Because of legislation passed this year, some mandatory items, such as binding ar­ bitration of grievances, must be included in the contract. Previous contracts did not in­ clude the requirement, Swart­ zloff said. Board negotiators include Chairman Barbara Slater, Steve Cuda, President Edward "Ned" Neumann and Assistant Superintendent Norb Wolter. The teacher team is chaired by Gary Trembly and includes Gloria Burke and Bill Winkel. -The present contract's provisions stipulate that "If an agreement is not reached on all items within 90 days of the commencement of negotiations and all items have been throughly discussed with no apparent reconciliation of the differences being possible, either party may declare in writing that an impasse exists and call for the appointment of a mediator." At this point, the committee has evidently not met that criteria, although negotiations jpegan March 9 of this year, according to Board Chairman Barbara Slater. McHenry schools are not unique in the slow-moving meeting of educational minds. Chicago teachers started their school year minus a contract and a number of Illinois schools are dealing with teacher strikes. Council votes^to take new bids for well pump By Anthony Oliver Plaindealer staff writer Following conflicting reports from both sides of the issue, the McHenry City Council opted to rebid the well No. 7 pump. Since the middle of August, the council has been seeking more information on whether to purchase a high speed or low speed pump for die well. While both pumps deliver the same amount of water, alder­ men had to weigh the ad­ vantages and disadvantages of each. On one side, the high speed advocates, which included Mayor Joseph Stanek, John Huemann, of Huemann and | Sons; and a representative of Henry Boysen Company, of Liberty ville, said the pumps are more energy efficient, less expensive, had nearly the same life and replacements are easier to come by. On the other side, a representative of Layne- Western and an engineer from Baxter & Woodman, the engineering firm retained by the city, were in favor of the low- speed pump. While this pump costs about three times as much, they contend it operates more efficiently, is more energy ef­ ficient, has a longer life and replacement down-time is minimal. Joseph H. Huemann and Sons. Layne-We stern and Henry Boysen Company were all bidders on the original project. "I find it very hard to sit here and go against the recom­ mendation of our engineers," said Aid. Cecilia Serritella, 4th Ward. "It's not a question of right or wrong. It's a policy decision,"- said Stanek. A motion to rebid the project using high speed pumps passed 5-2. Aldermen Bolger, Busse, Datz, McClatchey and Snell voted in favor. Aldermen Smith and Serritella voted, against. Aid. Elizabeth Nolan was ab­ sent. In other business: -The council voted unanimously to upgrade the fire- burglary alarm board at the police station. The existing, board of 50 will be expanded to 1,000. Businesses or persons wishing to be included on the alarm board must first receive council approval. Approval was given Wednesday night to the First Methodist Church. -Most of the permit parking Continued on page 3 Plaindealer's parent company makes pledge to" carrier fund The B.F. Shaw Printing Co. today pledged $5,000 for the reward fund for two missing Des Moines, Iowa, newspaper carriers, Eugene Wade Martin and Joseph Gosch, announced company president E.K. Shaw. The parent company of Shaw Free Press Media, Inc. represents newspapers in Illinois and Iowa, including the McHenry Plaindealer. The reward pledge was announced in an effort to "assure the safety of n e w s p a p e r c a r r i e r s everywhere," said Robert A." Shaw, president and publisher of Shaw Free Press. The Des Moines City Council voted unanimously to add $25,000 to the fund, matching th% pledge made by the Des Moines Register. The council's pledge will be held separate from other pledges calling for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the apparent kidnappings. In addition, the. Iowa Newspaper Association has pledged $5,000 to the reward fund and several other media representatives have made pledges. The latest pledges brought the reward fund to well over $100,000. Police continue to search for Martin, 14, who disappeared Aug. 12. Gosch was 12 when he disappeared Sept. 5, 1982. Police say they have no real leads in either case. The carriers were last seen in Des Moines residential areas about seven miles apart. A look inside. Waste Study Committee Local Man Indicted "• Regular features 'Twice Told Tales Helping Paws Obituaries Page 22 Page 3 Page 22 Page 20 Page 20 -\