Youth Appreciation Week, sponsored by the Des Plaines Optimist Club, named 26 Maine West students junior city officials. Teachers were asked to select juniors from their U. S. history classes who have shown qualities of leadership.

A luncheon was held November 7 to commence the activities. The random selection of city council positions to assign students and post in the city government was held at that time.

The junior city officials are Sue Bednarz, mayor; Mark Dunavant, first ward alderman; Jon Ferraiolo, second ward alderman; Fran Tierney, third ward alderman.

Sharing the fourth ward alderman's post was Nancy Serra and Mike Fahey; Pat Redmond and Greg Schmidt were the eighth ward aldermen. Fifth ward alderman was Jeff Yetter, while Marilyn Stenoien held down the seventh ward alderman's post.

Other junior officials are Cindy O'Grady, treasurer; Jill Schludt, police chief; Chuck Provenzano, fire chief; Al Bollet, city engineer; Al Biestek, public works commissioner.

Also named as junior officials were Jerry Hynes, health director; Frances Kuecker, librarian; John Tookey, civil defense director; Diane Defenbaugh, city attorney; Don Jakesch, assistant public works commissioner.

More junior officials are Maureen Jaacks, superintendent of streets; Diane Gatsis, superintendent of sanitation; Jan Pintacura, deputy fire chief.

Also selected to participate were Oscar Menoyo, Jenny Jobst, and Carol Gigante.

On Wednesday, November 13, the junior officials toured the four major public facilities.

After being sworn into their junior offices that morning, they toured Forest Hospital.

From Forest Hospital the students went to Chicago's lakefront to visit Chicago's water filtration plant. This plant is the world's largest water treatment facility. After lunch they stopped to a visit at Cook County Jail and then proceeded to O'Hare Airport for a guided tour.

For the first time in 14 years the week included a trip to Springfield. The trip, taken on Saturday, November 14, gave the students a chance to see the old Capitol, Lincoln's tomb, and his home. They left for Springfield Friday night and stayed in a Holiday Inn. The next morning they enjoyed a breakfast with the major of Springfield. The entire trip was compliments of the Optimist Club. The students were able to formulate an idea of how state government is run and contrast it with city government.

On Monday, November 16, the week ended with the junior officials taking over the city for a day. The students, that evening, attended a city council meeting and sat next to their older counterparts.