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rime Seats open on Fox River Federation The filing period for persons in­ terested in becoming members of the board of directors for the Chain of Lakes-Fox River Water­ way Management Agency is Jan. 14-21, according to State Senator Jack Schaffer. The Chain, of Lakes-Fox River Agency was approved by voters in a referendum Nov. 6 as an alter­ native to the Chain of Lakes-Fox River Commission, a political agency created in the early 1970's, and abolished in the spring of 1984. There are openings for six direc­ tors, to be elected from both Lake and McHenry Counties. In McHenry County, one director will serve four years, and two will have two year terms. Lake County will have two four year directors and one two year board member. The chairman of the agency will be elected at large, and will serve for four years. "This agency has the potential to bring so much more to the residents in Lake and McHenry Counties," Schaffer said. "1 en­ courage anyone interested to col­ lect signatures and file a petition. Only with the leadership of qualified directors can the water­ way best suit our needs." To be eligible for a directorship, an individual must be a resident of the county represented, be at least 18-years-old and complete a nominating petition with at It ant • Mpf > titiorts wm be filed ard of Elections Of­ fice in Springfield early in January for the April 2 election. "I hope interested Lake and McHenry County residents will file petitions to become board can­ didates," Schaffer said. "I urge anyone who would like more in­ formation to contact my district office at 56 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014, or call (815) 455-0309." The new agency's directors will be responsible for implementing rules and programs to improve the recreational waterway, con­ structing and maintaining public recreational facilities and other administrative duties. 1 The Chain of Lakes- Fox River Water Management Agency referendum passed by more than a two to one margin in November, and the final version of the act SEATS OPEN--Page 3 Above is a postcard greeting from the early 1900's, from the collection of Thomas Morjal. Hilltop tries special ed alternative By Marion Olsen PUtntfealer-Herald Newt Service , District 15 elementary: schools' good news came in two forms this month, according to Dr. Richard Farmer, district- superintendent. The first is an, experimental program at. Hilltop School to discourage the- need for special education referrals and the second is the; joy of reinstating the music.. programs in the district. "Special education classes sometimes become a self- fulfilling prophecy situation," said the administrator, "If a district has a special education class, it becomes easy to find' children to fill it." At Hilltop School, Principal - John Nilles and the teaching staff are attempting to stem the' trend toward special education with a program adopted from one already in use in Crystal Lake. "Normally, teachers are isolated," said Nilles, "They have little opportunity to ex-; change information with other teachers or even other adults." Teachers with expertise in an area or experience with solving . certain learning problems only use their knowledge for their particular students when others could benefit by it, he added. By providing time for exchanging this knowledge, the students benefit. This is what is being done in Crystal Lake and is now being tried at Hilltop. "Sharing a particular problem with a team of others teachers bring the school's: resources together to the: student's benefit," said Nilles.* Dr, Farmer sees the program, as a step before referral to.* learning disability programs or; psychological help, a way to' exhaust all resources before' turning to special education. ; Nilles said it is too early to; adopt the program formally, but* sees it as worthy trying^ More concrete good news; HILLTOP-Page 3 Opposition to Willows home termed 'unfounded' By MarkBaus Plaindealer Herald New* Service : Dr. Candice Chorjel, executive director of the proposed Willows residential school for socially maladjusted youths said that allegations by citizens groups opposed to the facility are largely unfounded. A number of residents in Wonder Lake, for which the facility is proposed, have cir­ culated petitions and leaflets calling on residents to contact McHenry County Board members to express opposition to The Willows. The Wonder Lake residents charge that The Willows will adversly effect property value^and security in the area. Chorjel said this week that studies have been made at similar facilities to determine the effect on surrounding property values, and it has been determined that there is no adverse effect. "There is no evidence to prove that The Willows or similar facilities will have any effect on property values," Chorjel said. As for security concerns, Chorjel said the children who would attend the Willows are already in the community and have not shown that they are a danger to neighbors. "We appreciate the concern of the neighbors, but there has been a lot of false information circulating. The fact is that there are group homes in McHenry County right now where these types of youths are staying, and there has not been any trouble," Chorjel said. "I think it is safe to say that there are much more severely impaired children than would be at The Willows in the com­ munity right now," Chorjel added. Youths eligible for admittance to The Willows would not be Nominations sought for distinguished grads The McHenry High School Distinguished Graduates Committee has requested that nominations be sub­ mitted for graduates who have distinguished them­ selves during their lives. Last year, Harold "Zeke" Bacon, Class of 1925, was selected from among 16 persons nominated fbr the award. Persons wishing to nominate individuals for the award must complete a form available from the high school for each in­ dividual nominated. Upon receiving the completed nomination forms, an effort will be made to contact the aduate or his or her amily for additional biographical information. The nomination information will then be screened by a committee made up of staff, students, alumni, and community representatives who will decide which nominees will receive recognition as distinguihed graduates. A maximum of five persons (living or deceased) may be selected by the committee. To be con­ sidered for the award, a person must be a graduate of at least 15 years. Those graduates selected for the award will be honored at an academic r e c o g n i t i o n d i n n e r , scheduled for April 24. A picture and list of ac­ complishments will be hung in a hall of each school. In addition, each person so honored will receive a small plaque in recognition of the tribute. Persons wishing to obtain nomination forms may request copies from Norb Wolter who may be reached at 385-7900. Completed forms must be received by Itiursday, Jan. 31, to be eligible for consideration. The forms should be directed to Wolter's at­ tention at 3926 W. Main St., McHenry. severely emotionally un­ balanced or violent, Chrojel said. The county zoning committee has said that a non-climbable fence must surround the facility. Chortel stressed that no tax money/will be used to support the facility. "Onp of the stipulations to getting the zoning changed was that the facility couldn't put a financial burden on the com­ munity. By voting 6 to 1 in favor of the zoning change, the zoning board found that to be true," Chorjel said. Funding for each student will come from Governor Thomp­ son's Purchase Care Program, which calls for the state to pick up educational and living ex­ penses of students who, for one reason or another, cannot be served by local school special education programs. For each student, school districts must pay twice the per capita educational expenses and provide transportation. The state pays any additional costs. Chorjel said that she had to submit a statement of estimated costs for each student to the purchase care board, which will set the rate The Willows can charge per student. Chorjel said that The Willows could save local school districts tran­ sportation costs because of its location in McHenry County. "School districts are already sending these types of students to Elgin or even out of state," Chorjel said. District 15 board re-evaluates consumable materials formula By Marlon Olsen PUIadealer-Herald Newa Service A tentative building budget plan approved by the District 15 school board Dec. 19 will be reviewed because of a question asked by an elementary school teacher. Audrey Regner, a member of the board-teacher liaison committee, asked why junior high school students use more consumable materials than the primary grade students. Ad­ ministrators present at the school board meeting were short on a quick answer to her question and had to think before replying. The question stemmed from routine approval of a formula for building budget planning foil each of the district's six schools.' Hie planning formula for 1965-86 allots $32 per student for kin­ dergarteners, $37 for grades one through fifth and $43 for grades sixth through eighth. "At Edgebrook the budget for fifth grade is less than the primary grades," she said. She added that primary grade children use more one-time materials: workbooks, paper, etc. for writing and mathematics. She said she recognized that fifth graders use less of these items. But she did DISTRICT 15-Page 3 GOOD MORNING INDEX The first Plaindealer-Herald sports fans'poll runs again in today's edition, and Chris Juzwik's column on page 24 details the excitement which will be experienced by the poll's winning entry. SHAW FREE PRESS MEDIA. INC. Business Page 5 Life Today Page 10 Obituaries Page 3 Volume 109 Number .36 Opinion Page 2 Schools Page 14 Sports Pages 22. 23 24 1 Section 24 pages McHenry, I l l ino is 2 S C F N T S Wednesday. December 26, 1984 Crime of the Week CRIMESTOPPERS