The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 3

Pantagraph A-3 Bloomington-Normal, III. Dec. 7, 1978 Central Illinois gets taste of winter By Stephan Gleason The first storm of the winter season struck Central Illinois Wednesday night and Thursday, knocking out power lines and playing games with drivers. More of the same is expected tonight. As of noon, however, only one injury accident and few non-injury accidents were reported in McLean County.

A Bloomington couple was injured in a three-car collision about 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the 1200 block of East Locust Street, according to the Bloomington rescue squad and police. Undergoing treatment Thursday noon at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Center was John McManus, 47, and his wife, Rachel, 31, both of 313 Hillside Lane. Firemen said McManus possibly had a fractured leg as a result of the accident.

His wife received a bump on her head, firemen said. A fire crew also was dispatched to the scene to help pull McManus, who was driving the car, from the wreckage. Firemen said the car was on a driveway to Bloomington High School. Details of the mishap were not immediately available. Bloomington-Normal appeared to have escaped the worst of the winter storm, which dumped up to 10 inches of snow on parts of Chicago and laid a sheet of ice over Southern Illinois.

The Illinois State University weather station reported 1.3 inches of white, crunchy stuff (snow, ice and sleet). The area around LeRoy, extending south to Clinton, was hit with ice that snapped some power lines in the early morning hours, knocking out power to 200 to 300 homes, according to a spokesman for Corn Belt Electric Cooperative. Service crews were attempting to restore power this afternoon. About 100 homes were without power at noon. Illinois Power Co.

reported "isolated" power outages, but no major problems. General Telephone Co. of Illinois re-jprted no downed lines. Bloomington-Normal Airport was open, but flights through the Twin Cities and to Chicago were canceled. Britt canceled three morning flights to O'Hare International Airport and the St.

Louis flight stopping in Bloomington en route to Chicago returned to St. Louis. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System reported delay? because of the slick streets, but most of those delays, according to a spokesman, were caused by automobiles stuck on the ice. Trains and cross-country buses were reporting 5- to 10-minute delays. Salt and plow crews in Bloomington, Normal and the county reported progress as the sheet was beginning to chip off the streets late Thursday morning.

Normal streets were "very bad and slick" Thursday morning, according to Richard Paulson, public works director. Bloomington streets were slushy and icy Thursday morning. County spokesmen said rural roads were "hazardous," but the break in the system and the warmer weather helped in trying to clear the roads for afternoon. State police said all roads were "hazardous." State police in Pontiac reported no accidents, while the county reported two non-injury accidents. Normal police re-j ported one non-injury accident.

4 Northern Illinois, for the third time this season, reeled from the brunt of a storm. Aytifforcf rtl lllarl fraa iVlUIVjl lOl UUIlKZU II C7C7 Firemen helped pull John McManas from tne car ne was drivin8 after 80 accident in the 1208 block of East Locust Street Thursday. McManus, 47, of 313 Hillside Lane was undergoing treatment Thursday noon at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Center. (Pantagraph photo by Chris Covatta) inois motorists face same tiring question motorist in deciding.

According to test results reported to the National Safety Council two years ago by the Safe Winter Driving League, chains provide by far the best traction on snow and ice. On ice, the study showed, conventional snow tires provided 28 percent more traction than regular tires; studded snow tires, 218 percent better traction, and reinforced tire chains, 630 percent more traction. On snow, conventional snow tires provided 51 percent more traction than regular tires and reinforced tire chains, 213 percent better traction. Clearly, the chains' best advantage is on ice; the snow tire's best advantage is on snow (loosely packed). The same study showed that, general Seven to 10 inches of snow fell in the northern part of the state, shutting down schools and snarling traffic.

Only one runway was open for traffic at O'Hare. The last two storms through the'-' Midwest managed to miss Normal, as did the worst of this storm. However, the season is apparently just starting. y- A second ice storm warning has been1'' issued for this afternoon and tonight. More of the same, according to a spokesman for the National Weather'-' Service in Peoria.

Snow or freezing rain is predicted for'1' Friday. Friday night the snow will end'1 but cold temperaturers, lows from 10 15 degrees, will roll into the area. Saturday's high is expected to be only in the low 20s. Sunday, the snow will return and Monday snow mixed with4 rain is predicted. ISU reported .70 inches of about 1' inches of snow.

The temperature rose in the morning to a high of 31 but started falling late in. the morning. The temperate at noon was By Jim Flannery After three unusually harsh winters, the Central Illinois motorist is faced with a bewildering choice: What will he buy for his car? Snow tires? Radials? Belted bias? Radial snows? All-season tires? Chains? What will work best this year will depend in part on the answer to another question: "How bad a winter will we Police chose snowmobile; charges filed An early morning snowmobile ride through southeast Bloomington resulted in charges against a Bloomington man, police said. Charged with driving an unauthorized vehicle on city streets is Daniel E. Madlinger, 21, of 815 S.

Bunn St. Madl-inger also is charged with reckless driving and fleeing and attempting to elude police after a police car followed Madlinger's snowmobile about 15' minutes on the snow-covered pavement. Police said they saw the snowmobile driven by a man, later identified as Madlinger, on Market Street at Allin Street at 3:40 a.m. Police followed the snowmobile through Miller Park. The vehicle stopped on Colonial Motel Road, about a mile east of U.S.

51, police said. Soft drinks stolen from service station An unidentified youth took eight bottles of soft drink, valued at $2.05, from a display at the Clark Super 100 Service Station, 806 S. Main Wednesday. An attendant at the station told police the youth distracted him momentarily and then took the soft drinks. Police said the incident occurred about 6:30 p.m.

descends, sled sales rise Last year's snowfall helped sell quite a few sleds and, Sams said, this year's sales will be more dependent on Christmas sales. Just a few toboggans have been sold this year at J.C. Penney Co. in the Eastland Shopping Center, according to Carl manager of the sporting goods department. He said most of the toboggans will be given as Christmas Thieves get mirror, billfold with cash 1.

1 upfcfitres. Firemen called to two residences Bloomington firemen were called late Tuesday and early Wednesday to two residences after a clothes dryer began smoldering and wires behind a light switch melted together. Firemen said the lint in the bottom of the dryer at the Michael Kirk residence at 1511 N. Fell Ave. began smoking about 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday. Firemen cleaned out the lint and no damage was reported. Before firemen arrived at the residence of Hazel Finefield, 415 E. Jefferson about 11 p.m. Tuesday she already had removed the switchplate.

cover and switches after the wires melted together, reports said. Damage was confined to the wires. shovels driveways and in light-snow areas. Single-stage snowthrowers are avail- aMc in whpplpH or self-DroDelled models. Thieves made off with a billfold containing cash and a $500 mirror in separate incidents, Bloomington police were told Wednesday.

Wendy Duffy, 207 S. Cottage Normal, told police her billfold, containing $20, was taken from her purse have?" Sales experience the past several years seems to show that people are adjusting wheel gear to the kind of winter they anticipate. Fred Groves, owner of Fred Groves Servicenter, 303 S. Main says chain sales have revived the past two years. "Chains, of course, are the ultimate in traction," he said.

"But they're the ultimate in nuisance, too." There's a trade-off. The studded snow tire was to have combined the best features of a snow tire and chains, but it was banned in Illinois two years ago. That leaves the motorist with the same old dilemma: Tires or chains? Snow tires or radials? There are some facts that can help the Winter wonder Snow With snowflakes falling in Bloomington-Normal, it is time to get out the sleds and toboggans and head for the hills. If you don't have sledding equipment, area retail stores are supplied and ready to serve. A survey of some Twin City retailers found sled supplies comparable to last year.

There are quite a few sizes and types of toboggans or sleds for $1.89 to $59.95. Sizes are available to accommodate individual children through adult groups. Styles range from the traditional wood toboggans to plastic snow saucers. Edwin Sams, manager of Bergner's sporting goods department in Eastland Shopping Center, explained that sleds are sold in two to three year cycles. "One year you get a big snow and sell toboggans, then the next year you won't sell too many because the market is saturated." Ready for the inevitable white stuff that blankets Central Illinois each winter, gingje.gtage wm ciear driveways to Charles Pendleton, associate professor of industiral technology at llinois State University, is that a tire whether it's a snow or a regular is no good without treads.

"A bald snow tire is not as good as a new bias ply," he said. "The depth of the tread is important. Most snow tires, he said, have a tread at least three-quarters inch thick. A final point to remember is that what we use should reflect how critical it is that we be out on the roads in treacherous weather. "If it's bad enough to use chains, then I'm going to stay home," said Vernon Trower, co-owner of Clay Dooley tires, 216 E.

Grove St. That's perhaps the best advice of all to beat hazardous winter travel. Wilson, salesman, said most were sold as Christmas presents. Customers at Murrays Jewelers and Distributors, 1500 E. Empire have been asking for sleds and toboggans.

Salesman Brian Dunn said their stock has not come in yet, and they only have the plastic models. Being optimistic, Ron Bordewick manager of K-mart Discount Store's sporting goods department at 1608 E. Empire said he is expecting another big snowfall this year. He said toboggan and sled sales will depend on the first snow. "If the first big snowfall is not before Christmas, then most of the sledding equipment will be sold for Christmas," Bordewick said.

At Rada's Hardware, 204 E. College Normal, a spokesman said stock is less than last year. The reduction was traced back to the manufacturer's reduced volume. ins for mower engines. The engine rotates an auger-like blade that resembles a blade on a manual lawnmower.

The rotating blade lifts the snow and forces it through a chute. The force of the swiftly rotating blade in a single-stage machine throws the snow from it, hence the name. A double-stage snowthrower has two blades one picking up the snow and the other taking that snow and throwing it a much greater distance than a single-stage machine. Each size is designed for the amount of snow to be picked up. According to Bill Rainwater, manager of Bloomington Battery Service 1610 S.

Main who sells and repairs snowthrowers, available units can cut a path up to 32 inches wide. He said gasoline engines on snowthrowers range from 2Va to 10 horsepower. The difficulty in operating a snowthrower depends on what kind of snow the machine is against, Rainwater said. "A snowthrower operates like you do on the end of a snow shovel," he said. "If the snow is dry and "fluffy, it (a snowthrower) can take a bigger bite.

If the snow is wet and slushy, it will be more difficult to operate the machine." However, Rainwater said, a snowthrower involves less misery than using elbow grease: A consumer should assess the size of snow-removal jobs in selecting a snowthrower. Units that operate on the same principal, but with an electric motor, usually are used for small sidewalks and ly, radials have more traction on snow than belted-bias tires; that conventional snow tires have more traction than radials, and that radial snows have more traction than conventional snows. Regardless of the wheel gear, the motorist should remember traction on smooth ice is eight to 10 times less than on dry pavement. Authorities recommend cutting speed by at least one-third when driving on snow to allow safe braking. The NSC studies show that on dry pavement a car going 20 miles per hour will stop within 17 feet.

On ice (at 25 degrees a car going that speed with regular tires will stop at 149 feet; snow tires, 151 feet; studded tires, 120 feet; and with chains, 75 feet. Another point to remember, according presents with a few being sold after Christmas if there is a big snowfall. Due to remodeling, the firm no longer has a toy department and stock has been limited to toboggans, Erickson said the sleds took up a lot of room and the store did not have the display space. Montgomery Ward and 102 N. Center reported sales of a dozen plastic toboggans and saucers.

Mike Wednesday while she was at work at 300 Unity Building. According to reports, the mirror was taken Saturday from Turn of the Century restaurant, 612 N. Main' St. About the time the theft was discovered, the management found a back door open, police said. By Greg Conroy This is Central Illinois and we know what that means.

It means we're far from the Equator and, naturally, weather turns colder this time of year. Cold weather includes freezing temperatures that have an interesting effect on rain it turns to snow. And rain here usually turns to more than enough snow. It's the kind of snow that gets in the way and has to be cleared from driveways and sidewalks, which is a nuisance. However, there are choices in coping with this annual problem.

Residents can use a snow shovel, or they can move to Miami. Or, you may use a snowthrower and save back muscles from kinking after shoveling a ton of white stuff. For the uninformed, a snowthrower is similar to a lawnmower except for a major difference. Snowthrowers pick up snow. Since 1976, sales of these handy gadgets have increased in cold regions of the U.S.

There is an obvious reason. The 'last two winters have brought snowstorms that have ravaged the country with ceaseless cold and drifting snow. Large snowthrowers have been used for many years by businesses, but the machines now are manufactured in smaller sizes for the homeowner. Snowthrowers vary in size. The three types are electric and single-' and double-stage gasoline powered.

The gasoline-powered snowthrower uses a 2-cycle engine, similar to lawn- Snowthrowers popular stand Double-stage units usually are self -pro- npllpH and are considered the most efficient for larger jobs. .77 fj '1; 1 1 lie scluiiu atac, dm pi mnripl is pnninnpfl witn torwara SDeeas and is usually the most expensive. But the large units can handle the toughest -jobs, according to snowthrower manu- facturers. By law, Rainwater said, a snow- thrower must be equipped with a "dead-man" clutch system which causes the rotating blade to stop if the operator loosens his grip on the snowthrower's pushbar. "In the past, snowthrowers were direct drive.

And if snow clogged the blade and the operator put his hand in there to free it, that created a dangerous situation," Rainwater said. He also said to beware of using a snowthrower near rocks because "it will throw rocks, too." Care of the snowthrower in the offseason also is important, he said. "I would suggest that the unit be wiped off after each use. "The oil should be changed in a 4-cycle unit at the beginning of each season and the gasoline tank should be emptied before the unit is stored during the warm months," he said. "In preparation for storage, lubricate all controls and drive chains so it all doesn't rust.

The unit should be stored indoors or, if outside, with a canvas over it to protect it from the elements." and sidewalks. The machines come in various sizes to suit different needs. (Pantagraph photo) Ainf(r nPj DQr rnlici.