Freeport Journal-Standard from Freeport, Illinois • Page 4

Page 4 Freeport (III.) Journal-Standard, Saturday, September 4, 1971 'V, A FIERY STACK: IN EARLY MORN THE SUN SITS ATOP THE SMOKESTACK AT FRBEPORT HIGH SCHOOL. Journal-Standard Photo Does One's Outlook An Assault Victim 'Church Social'Spirit Amid Party For 25,000 By DUNCAN BIRDSELL Journal-Standard City Editor "If this had been a gun episode I'd think seriously of retiring. But this was a lousy 21 cent fishing item. I don't know what we'll do, but it never should have happened." The reflection made Thursday night by Michael Ciganek in the quietness of his Staver Street home in a setting far removed from those violent minutes of Aug. 21 when the swipes of a knife threatened his life.

Without warning on that afternoon closing time, the 63-year old downtown merchant found himself in a protracted struggle with a knife wielding youth. Ciganek received ugly slash wounds on the upper part of his body from 'waist to scalp, but is now making a satisfactory, although tedious, recovery. An 18-year-old Freeport youth faces a court on several counts ranging up to attempted murder in the incident. For the mild mannered Ciganek, the assault just doesn't make sense, although he speculates that his locked store safe might have been an objective. "I still wake up about 3 a.m.

in the mornings and rehash the whole thing," he said. Ciganek is fully aware that, the guns and ammunition'he stocks in his and paint store on East Stephenson Street leave him a target for irrational people, but he had never been physically attacked before. "We've been here since 1938," said Ciganek in recalling his business years in that location. "We've been making a living and there's been pleasant harmony between all people." Ciganek said he first started selling firearms after World War II when a salesman came in with some guns. "We got to where w.e were selling a gun a day at one time.

They were 70 per cent of our business before the assassination of President Kennedy. Then sales dropped. I'd say we'd guns so far this year." Ciganek has given a full accounting of the assault to police officials and now recalls the events in a detached manner. He had planned to close the store somewhat earlier and make a delivery when he met an old customer, G. Laverne Bookholder at the door, and was happy to tarry and sell him a Wisconsin fishing license and Illinois hunting license.

"While we were finishing up a Negro youth walked in. Laverne stood watching for a bit, and then I gave him the high sign to leave. The youth was clean cut looking. They, say he was 'high' on dope. To my knowledge I'd never seen him," Ciganek said.

"The youth was standing by the fishhooks and I asked him what he wanted. He mumbled 'fishhooks' and somothing about fishing around Savanna." "I showed him some, he said he'd take them and I said they'd be 21 cents. He told me I'd have to bust a $10 bill and I said 'I can't, the money is locked up and I can't cash the Ciganek said he turned around and was ready to tell him to take the hooks Indian Princesses Organize At Powwow The annual fall powwow of the YMCA Indian princesses will be next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Douglas School. There are now more than 'JOU fathers and daughters in the Black Hawk tion of the princesses.

Girls must be 5 to 8 years old to join. Princesses meet with their fathers in tribes twice a month. and pay later, but was confronted with a poised butcher knife. "I said 'huh, and he mumbled something back." The still well-conditioned Ciganek said he instinctively grabbed for the youth's left arm to ward off a blow, but gradually lost his grip and his glasses as he was pushed down. Blows came to the top of the head while he was trying to find his glasses, Ciganek said.

"We slammed backwards into the cash register, knocking it to the floor, and I remember holding his left hand at one point when he pulled the knife through my fingers," Ciganek said. The struggle flowed toward the rear of the store. Ciganek said he once kicked off his assailant while lying on his back and later grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun barrel and whacked the youth on the neck. Finally the youth broke off his attack and fled through the front door, grabbing a rifle from the window- as he fled," Ciganek said. The merchant was still able to phone the Freeport police for help.

"I never lost, consciousness, but I was mighty sick. It seemed the scuffle lasted about five minutes. I didn't realize I was fighting for my life, but there were no words or anger from him." Ciganek required 66 stitches to close his wounds. two thumbs and one finger emerged unscathed on his hands. Tendons on must be reattached.

Some nerve damage was incurred en the left side of his face near where the left ear lobe was cut arid Ciganek's physician estimates it will take until April to fully heal. Another cut was received just below the left eye, but Ciganek's vision is intact: Since the assault some people have advised Ciganek on what he might have done differently in the situation. "I do have a loaded gun in the store with target ammunition and I would AN UNWED MOTHER recently found help and embarked on a rehabilitative program through consultation with Lt. Herbert Law, commanding officer of the Freeport Salvation Army. People who have nowhere to go, or who have no way to turn, can find help and comfort through the Salvation Army.

Immediate emergency help is given, with very little red tape attached, and a more permanent plan for the future Is suggested. Journal-Standard Photo. Your Community Chest Gifts At Work Salvation Army Meets Crises Round-The-Clock (Editor's Note: This article is one in a series which describes the role and services of member agencies of the Freeport Community Chest. The annual Chest campaign starts in early October.) The doorbell rings often in the middle of the night for Lt. Herbert Law of the Salvation Army in Freeport.

He is not a man who is easily shocked. He calmly listens to the problems of those who come to him for counseling or help, no matter what the problem might be. Recently a young unwed mother came to him for help, about a week before her delivery date. She came from out of state, to stay with relatives here, because her parents didn't want her any more. This was her second child and her parents were raising the first one.

Her relatives didn't have room for her in their home. So Lt. Law arranged for her to enter the Salvation Army Booth Memorial Home and Hospital in Chicago. After her baby was born, she allowed him to be adopted and was given psychiatric and rehabilitative help from the army's family services. The Salvation Army is a Community Chest agency.

It is a well-rounded and unique program, working to make good American Christians out of every individual, Lt. Law said. It works closely with every other well-established agency to help the person in general need, he said. Alcoholics who stop for a meal and a room often find a sympathetic ear and are persuaded to embark on an extensive program of rehabilitation. They are sent to the detoxification center at Rockford Memorial Hospital and then to the Salvation Army men's social service center, where they are given food, clothing, a place to live and to work.

The corps' Sunday services offer spiritual assistance. Many other services are offered. Fire victims are given clothing and furniture, some children are sent to summer camps, and a six-year Bible study course is conducted for corps cadets. The Salvation Army is a neighborhood center also. Many children use the playground area there each week.

Lt. Law hopes to add some additional recreational facilities soon, sych as ping- pong tables and a pool table. "They'll be well used," said Lt. Law. have used it if, I had got to it, but hell, I wouldn't kill anyone.

I wasn't brought up that way," Ciganek related. Ciganek's son, Michael, and son-in- law, Merle Zimmerman, have stepped into the breach to run the store, assisted by Mrs. Ciganek, the younger Mrs. Ciganek and friends. Ciganek figures it will be a month before his hands heal sufficiently to permit regular work.

The merchant's faith in humanity has been tested by the incident. "I've never had anything unpleasant before. I've dealt with whites and Negroes. Sure I know some steal. I don't like it, but not begrudge some small fishhooks or sinkers.

I'd rather see them fishing than doing something else." Will Ciganek be uneasy in going back to work? He says it's hard to tell exactly, but that the incident has made him less color blind. "I saw two Negroes over at the bus station tonight and I caught myself looking them over to see if they were good or bad. I never used to do that before. A Negro was a person," he said. Some of his older black acquaintances in the community have expressed condolences, Ciganek said.

One special word came from the father of McKinley "Deacon" Davis for his son. Possibly-one of the many sympathy cards received expresses Ciganek's mood of disbelief as well as anything. "We still can't understand why this had to happen to a wonderful person that has served the public so well," said the sender. By ROBERT A. FASCE CHICAGO (AP) For all the elaborate preparations and the magnitude of the event, the "world's largest party" for some 25,000 dairy frmers had the down-home atmosphere of a Sunday church social.

"This is what I call a real nice get together," said Mrs. Lillian Segebrecht, of Stoughton, Wis. "It's nice being here with all these farm folk." Mrs. Segebrecht had plenty to choose from. More than 40,000 dairy farmers, milk handlers, haulers and processors, all members of the Associated Milk Producers arrived in Chicago early Friday for the group's annual convention.

More than 25,000 of them attended a buffet dinner in one room at McCormick Place convention hall. President Nixon was the featured; speaker. Inside, guests grabbed a plate at any of the 180 serving lines where waiters and waitresses in turn dished out a thick slice of Yankee Pot Roast, a spoonful of green beans and a scoop of Au Gratin potatoes. The diners consumed more than nine tons of beef, 800 gallons of green beans, 400 gallons of slices of apple pie and 1,500 gallons of coffee. And, quite naturally, dairy products were prominent on the menu.

There were 25,000 half-pint cartons of milk, 25,000 slices of Wisconsin Cheddar cheese and 50,000 pats of butter. The entire feast was served by a task force of 800 waiters and 160 cooks. The entire tab for the affair, including transportation and hotel costs, in addition to the dinner, was paid for by the AMPI. The bill is estimated at $4 million. The friendliness of the farm- fraternity spread into the main convention hall where "Hall To The Chief" announced the of President Nixon.

"You know, I've probably spoken to more conventions arid more gatherings than any other political figure in the world," Nixon told the audience. "And I can tell you this is by far the largest indoor crowd I've ever seen in my life." The guests cheered and whistled with their applause as the President spoke of the "heart of our nation's strength" in America's farmlands and of the increased dairy productivity. "I spent 14 months in the Pacific during World War II, Nixon said, "and you know what I wanted most of all when I came back? Not a steak, nor any of those foods'you would usually think of. I wanted a nice cold glass of good, fresh milk!" That brought the house down. Hospital News Patients at Memorial Sara Stukenberg of Forreston is a surgical patient in Freeport Memorial Hospital.

Medical patients include David Ashley, 1407 Winter Drive; Mrs. Harold Rundall, 943 S. Arcade Mrs. H. Albert Neebel, 430 W.

Empire Nick Vurnovas, 1229 S. State Carl Klett and Mrs. Edgar Parkinson, both of Stockton; Ernest Ostler; Lena; Sarah Schlueter, Rock City; and Victor Nichols of Polo. PTA Organization Now Losing Its Appeal In Local Schools By SHARI WHITTINGTON Journal-Standard Reporter Parents of Taylor Park School children wfll be faced with the question of whether they want to stay with or disassociate from the Parent-Teacher Association when the school's PTA meets Sept. 14.

Members of the Center School PTA unanimously opted to leave the state and national association last spring and will begin this year with a Home-School Association. If Taylor Park parents support a res- 'olution passed by the school's PTA board in the spring, it will mean six out of the 14 public schools in the Freeport school district will be outside the traditional parent-school organization which has local, state and national branches and is considered a spokesman for parents in the country. Mrs. Inez Taylor, a member of the Taylor Park PTA board, which passed a resolution to dissolve the school's PTA and form a new group whose "total relationship" would be to the school, said it is an attempt to involve more parents. Attendance Poor She said attendance was to the point where more teachers than parents were at the PTA sessions.

She said the organization "could not get parents there, no matter what type of program we had" outside of the traditional Christmas program. Unbound by the PTA regulation that it meet on the second Tuesday of the month, the group might try scheduling afternoon meetings or other meeting times to bring the parents out, she said. Mrs. Taylor said she did not know if the change would bring about desired results, but she hoped it would improve attendance. She discounted money as a factor in the proposed dissolving of the PTA, noting there were very few dues-paying PTA members, but the amount of dues available for local school use was a factor in the departure of Center School.

Distribution Of Dues Mrs. James Wagenknecht, president of the Center School organization, explained 30 cents of the 50 cents dues for PTA members went to the local PTA Council and state organization. In return, she said, she believed the local school organization received "little benefit" from the national and state organizations. She said the money could be used for Center School. A list of "pros and cons" distributed to parents in the Center School area in May listed reasons for remaining and nine reasons for disassociating from the PTA group.

Included in the reasons for staying were the national organization's strong influence through lobbying in the legislature and that it informs members of educational bills before the legislature. Benefits It also gives members access to films, speakers and program suggestions, supports scholarship funds, keeps members abreast of educational trends and offers training sessions for officers. Opposed to this was the money paid to the national and state groups which could go to benefit Center School, the fixed meeting night, and the possibility of attracting parents who are "apathetic toward PTA." A separate organization also would be less time consuming for officials and would eliminate "endless paper work and 'red The list also said the Center School group has its own access to films, speakers and programs, can always rejoin the PTA in the future and can continue to support scholarship funds if it wishes. Mrs. Wagenknecht said the Home- School Association will operate along the same lines as the PTA group, but will be only for Center School.

Diverging Views She pointed out not all the positions of the state and national group represented views of parents in the PTA. I In addition to Center, Jane Addams School in Cedarville has a Home-School Association. Ridott School has a Ridott Community Club which is associated with the school. Lincoln School does not have a formal organization and the Freeport Senior High School is without a parents group; Two Catholic schools Aquiri Central Catholic High School and St. Mary School have Home-School Associations.

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Joseph Middle schools do not have active parent groups. i chirmerisms Do you wish you had more faith in God? Come to this Christian Science Lecture TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 8:00 P.M. Y.W.C.A.

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