The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 2

Bloomington-Normal, III. Aug. 28, 1977 Rl iHntinn Counfs committee trimming fat DUUycl 1 1 ly wjfh fne jcjea Qf increasinq employe salari Pantagraph A-2 By Dave Haake After more than three months of preliminary budget work, the McLean County Board's Finance Committee will sit down Wednesday night to put together its 1977-78 budget proposal. The committee completed its review of individual departmental budgets Friday. Its success in balancing expenses with general corporate tax revenues will determine whether county employes receive equity salary adjustments in the year beginning Dec.

1. Requests for equity adjustments have been made for sheriff's deputies, nursing home personnel, state's attorney's assistants and secretaries and employes in the circuit clerk's office. The board has agreed to an across-the-board raise of 4 per cent for all county employes. An additional 3 per cent will be doled out by department heads on the basis of merit. In providing that 7 per cent adjustment, the committee has shaved $47,000 ing Sally Jones, acting The $274,000 budget deficit is based on an average of 10 private-pay patients next year.

The home now has 22 such patients. If it had an average of 40 private-p'ay patients next year, the $324,000 increase in income (with a resulting decrease fli reimbursements for public aid patients) would trim that deficit to $154,000. Patricia Wannemacher of the finance committee stressed that the third 50-bed wing was added to the nursing home with the general understanding that at least 50 of the home's patients would pay for their own services. In reaffirming its $100,000 deficit limit for the nursing home (set earlier year), the committee said its action was based strictly on economics. If it is a question of giving county employes salary increases or keeping the nursing home operating, the committee went along with its chairman, A.W.

Tompkins, in setting salary increases as the top priority. No change McLean County's tax rate of 74 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation to finance county government won't be altered materially by the county's 1977-78 budget. Virtually all 19 county tax rates are at their limits. The corporate tax rate has been at its 12-cent maximum several years. With rates locked in, the county board can't look for increased tax revenues to meet cost increases.

It has to look for efficiency or alter its priorities. up with a deficit of $274,000. Its deficit this year is expected to be between $50,000 and $60,000. The Finance Committee has urged the board's Health Services Committee to request board permission to waive the home's admission policy for private-pay off current appropriations to 24 departments financed out of corporate tax receipts. Budgets for those departments next year total $2,796,000, compared to $2,843,000 this year.

"It's apparent," said Bambridge Peterson, county administrator, "that the board is squeezing the fat out of budgets. It's requested and is getting more budget information than ever before." Determined Those savings despite money added in next year's budgets for salary increasesand money turned back into the county's corporate tax fund Nov. 30 from unspent 1976-77 appropriations will determine the size of equity adjustments. For example, Sheriff John W. King said last week that he expects to refund $150,000 to the county from his $1,025,000 appreciation.

King doesn't agree with the committee's estimate that he'll turn back $200,000. The Finance Committee is attempting to hold next year's corporate fund expen ditures to $3.2 million. Next year's receipts are estimated at $3.6 million. However, the committee says it will need about $400,000 to make up operating deficits in other funds out of corporate tax receipts to balance the 1977-78 budget. County officials do not want to use tax-anticipation warrants to get through 1977-78 or any other year.

Such warrants must be paid back with interest out of taxes slated to finance the following year's operation. The committee's budget proposal will go to the county board Sept. 13. Board members will not adopt the budget until their Nov. 8 meeting.

Key A key to achieveing a balanced budget and greater governmental efficiency lies in the committee's goal to limit the county nursing home's deficit to $100,000 next year. The nursing home's budget calls for an expenditure of $1,325,277. Based on its current admission policy, it would wind patients "to thei extent necessary to allow the home to operate at a breakeven point or at a deficit not to exceed $100,000." The Health Services Committee will consider that request Monday night prior to considering applications to fill the home's administrator post. Two weeks ago, the Health Services Committee recommended that the home's admission policy be altered so that patients could be admitted on a chronological basis by date of application. Its goal was to bring about half private-pay and half public aid residents in the 150-bed home.

Private patients are now charged $800 a month and will pay $900 a month beginning Dec. 1. The state reimburses the home at the rate of $622 a month for public aid patients under skilled care and $512 for those on intermediate care. Actual cost It actually costs $756 a month to care for patients in the nursing home, accord Work program to get $100,000 -t -j If ferret 0I: SCJT v. said.

But McLean County still would get its $25,000 in jobs. If administered locally, the program will be handled by his office, Stein said. The funding for both programs still is tentative. However, Stein said figures released by the Labor Department are base figures that will increase if they change at all. The new programs differ from CETA's summer youth programs in that the summer programs are for impoverished youths.

The new programs likely will be for all youths, he said. Stein said he has received preliminary funding figures for several existing programs, which also will begin Oct. 1. He said he has $809,000 for the county's public-service employment program and $431,000 for the county's training program, both of which are for people of all ages. Department of Labor figures indicated that Tazewell County tentatively would receive $28,000 for conservation and improvement projects and $98,000 for training and employment.

Registration for youths who want to participate in the new programs is being accepted at the CETA offices, 201 E. Grove. Bloomington horsewoman takes 3 first places Holly Streid, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Streid, 1232 E.

Jefferson, won three first-place prizes Friday at the Georgetown Fair. Competing in the Society Horse ShoW, Miss Streid took first in three-gaited saddle-bred pleasure, English equitation and open English pleasure. The Daily Pantagraph Reg U.S. Pat. Off.

Telephone All Departments. 829-9411 Published daily and Sunday by Evergreen Communications, 301 VV. Washington PO Box 2907, Bloomington, Illinois 41701 TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION By Carrier: SI. 00 a week. By Motor Route: SI.

OS a week. By Mail: Inside Illinois, Daily and Sunday: Year M2.50; 6 $24 75, 1 S5.00; daily only: Year 139.50, 6 S23.25, 1 $4.75. Outside Illinois soli only as Daily and Sunday combination: Year S54.00; S33 00, 1 S6 25. Mail subscriptions to menr bers of Armed Forces in Illinois: Year S36.00; 3 $10.75. Armed Forces outside Illinois: Year $45 00; 3 $13 25.

Sunday only mail subscriptions in Illinois' Year $30 00; 1 $4.00. Outside Illinois: Year $34.00, 1 $4.50. (No mail subscriptions taken where there is carrier or motor route service Second clasJ postage paid at Bloomington, Illinois "Ojf By Jim Flannery Figures released this week by the U.S. Department of Labor indicate that McLean County soon will have more than $100,000 available for youth training and employment programs. Keith Stein, McLean County Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) administrator, said the new programs will be administered by the CETA program, either by the state or the county.

The money will be available Oct. 1 as a result of the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act of 1977, which was signed into law Aug. 5. Stein said the money will be for two programs, details of which are being hammered out by the Labor Department. However, preliminary Labor Department figures indicate about $86,000 will be available for McLean County Youth Employment and Training Program and $25,000 for Youth Community Conservation and Improvement Projects.

Until now, except for summer youth programs, CETA programs have been for workers of all ages, Stein said. The new money, he said, will be "strictly for young people," between 16 and 22 years old. Stein said it is likely that the employment and training program will be administered by his office and that it will take several directions: Work experience, in which youths will be employed by not-for-profit organizations and will be paid full salaries through the CETA program. Classroom training, in which youths will be trained, probably on contract with adult education, in job skills. On-the-job training, in which companies would agree to train youths at CETA expense, with a guarantee from the companies that they will hire the youths later.

The conservation and improvement program will be similar to the old Civilian Conservation Corps, Stein said, although details of its operations are not complete. It's possible the state will decide to use the program to improve state parks and facilities, in which case it would administered at the state level, Stein i v-J If OnQ-fDOn ShOW Balloon trip across vrr for a party Mrs. Williams had Saturday night. Johnson sings, plays guitar and accompanies himself on drums and an electronic rhythm section. He was in Bloomington for four days.

(Pantagraph photo by Jim Weiland) planned enough hydrogen to fill it, however. When Lowe managed to get it filled, a gust of wind caught it, and it burst. Lowe later made another attempt, but during a test flight from Cincinnati he was blown into South Carolina where he was promptly arrested as a Yankee spy at the start of the Civil War. Samuel King planned a crossing in 1881, but his balloon came down a few miles from the launch point. Seventy-seven years passed before another attempt in 1958 four Britons left from the Canary Islands, but were forced into the sea during a thunderstorm four days after they left.

There were four more unsuccessful attempts in the '60s, and on Sept. 20, 1970, the Atlantic claimed its first fatalities. Rod and Pamela Anderson and Malcolm Brighton took off in a balloon called Free Life, using a new concept in combining helium and hot air. They were never found. Thomas Gatch lost his life in 1974 flying a spherical cluster of 10 helium balloons.

Later that year, Bob Berger lifted off in a 12-story plastic envelope which later burst, plunging him to his death in Barnegat Bay, N.J. Karl Thomas left Lakehurst, N.J. in June of 1976, and was found alive and afloat in a raft about 375 miles northeast of Bermuda four days later. General Aviation News said, "We can look back on 142 years of disappointments of perils and defeat. "But men will keep on trying; their lessons will be taken from the failures, and feat will be accomplished.

"Not even the hostile Atlantic can withstand man's technology, his determination and his courage." Two speakers stolen Two speakers, valued at $47.25, were stolen overnight Wednesday from a van owned by David A. Ambrose, 810 Towan-da police said. The burglary gained entry by forcing open a vent window when the van was parked in front of 505 Vz E. Locust, police reported. Roy Johnson Jr.

may not be a star, baby, but he's in his own show. Johnson, a nightclub country-rock performer from Tullahoma, rehearsed Saturday afternoon in the backyard of his aunt, Mrs. Robert Williams, 1202 S. Wright, Atlantic Reinhard has been an "aeronaut" for four years and a licensed pilot for 10 years. He is a former naval electronics technician and is skilled in sailing.

Stephenson has more than 8,400 hours of flying time in aircraft, but little balloon experience. When he was chosen to accompany Reinhard, he said he had had only one balloon flight. Reinhard said, "I think we'll make a good team. We're of similar temperament and I've flown with him quite a bit." Stephenson said he had few anxieties. "I'm more fearful of not completing the mission than of losing my life," he said.

'Actual intent' General Aviation News says there have been 19 previous attempts "if we consider actual intent." The most successful, by Ed Yost, didn't get him across the Atlantic, but gained him a record 2,475 miles for distance traveled by a free balloon in a single flight. Yost's flight was marred by conflicting weather reports which sent him into a standing clockwise wind pattern near the Azores. He had no way out of the circling winds, and had to lower the balloon into the ocean 4Vz days after it lifted off the Maine coast. General Aviation News said the first attempt may have been made in 1835. An English immigrant named Richard Clayton was reported' by a New York newspaper to be constructing an enormous balloon, named "Star of the West," which was to carry up to 30 passengers over the Atlantic.

There is no record of the balloon having been built and flown, however. In 1844 another New York newspaper reported that Thomas Monck Mason crossed the ocean from England to South Carolina. The story turned out to be a hoax believed to have been perpetrated by Edgar Allen Poe. Not enough gas Thaddeus Lowe, a pioneer aeronaut, built a giant, 200-foot high balloon with a capacity of 725,000 cubic feet of hydrogen in 1859. The New York Gas Co.

couldn't find By Mark Spencer A Bloomington native and a Colorado partner will attempt to make aviation history next month by piloting a balloon across the Atlantic Ocean. Charles A. Stephenson III, son of Mrs. E.M. Stevenson of 308 Riley Drive, will board a gondola attached to an helium-filled balloon in Bar Harbor, Maine.

He and the balloon's builder and owner, Dewey Reinhard of Colorado Springs, hope to land several days later in Europe. There have been about 20 other attempts to balloon over the Atlantic, according to General Aviation News. Most have come down in the ocean. Mrs. Stevenson said she is somewhat apprehensive about her son's flight.

But she was reassured after learning that the pilots intend to maintain radio contact with commercial flights and the U.S. Coast Guard. She also has worried less since reading an article about the most recent attempt by a balloonist named Ed Yost, who came within 700 miles of Portugal last year and who was fished from the ocean after only three hours. Mrs. Stevenson said her son "has always been adventuresome." He retired as a lieutenant colonel with the U.S.

Army Air Force in 1973 after 20 years of service, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Stephenson also resides in Colorado Springs and is a pilot for a firm which manufactures Jeep tops. Mrs. Stevenson, wife of Dr. E.M.

Stevenson, said she hopes to attend the take-off, as do her son's wife and three children. She said CBS television plans to cover the lift-off, and believes the news media will keep the family abreast of the flight's progress. 'Eagle' The balloon has been christened "Eagle." Departure date hasn't been chosen because the copilots will depend on weather and favorable winds. The decision to make the attempt was Reinhard's. He later chose Stephenson to accompany him.

Reinhard, who owns a television sales-service business in Colorado Springs, was quoted in his hometown newspaper as saying the trip involves one of the remaining challenges for man. "We've been to the moon, the bottom of the ocean and the tops of the most challenging mountains," he said. "This is one of the last frontiers of aviation. I think this would allow a guy to go down in aviation history with some of the reat aviators. I guess it's more comparable to Lindbergh's flight than anything else." Not courageous Reinhard said he does not consider himself to be courageous.

He began work on the project about two years ago, after discovering, that no one else had accomplished the trans-Atlantic flight. "It just sounded intriguing to me," he said. "The more I got into it, the more I really got hooked on it." He estimates the project will cost him $225,000. He attempted to obtain a $250,000 insurance policy on his life, and one for $150,000 on the balloon, but no company would insure either. Reinhard, however, doesn't think the risk is that great.

"I don't look at it as involving any more of a risk than flying a hot-air balloon over a populated area," he said. He also thinks he is better prepared to make the trip than others have been. "This is probably the best-equipped balloon to make the attempt," he said. He depends upon having accurate weather data available throughout the flight. The communication system will consist of six radios, a receiver to pinpoint the exact location of the balloon, and two emergency transmitters.

Aeronauts The gondola in which the pair will ride is made of light-weight fiberglass and polyurethane foam. It is shaped like a boat, complete with attachable sail and rudder. It will carry a 30-day supply of rations. The balloon is made of nylon coated with neoprene. "4 m'L LtJ Recycling was a major enterprise Satur-day at Eastland Shopping Center.

Geff Rfsrvrli tin McCracken, 6, of 808 S. Fell, Normal, helped load cans. The next Operation Recycle drive will be Oct. 8. (Pantagraph photo by Marc Featherly).