Ex-Judge Special Prosecutor in Stolen Records Case

A former chief judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit that used to include McHenry County will be the special prosecutor looking into whether State's Attorney Lou Bianchi used county staffers to do campaign work.

Judge Gordon Graham appointed North Barrington attorney Henry "Skip" Tonigan to investigate the charge from an ex-Bianchi secretary that he made her do political work on county time. Ordinarily Bianchi's office would investigate that kind of complaint but it would hardly work in this case.

Bianchi has already announced he's done nothing wrong and said of the appointment, "Judge Tonigan has a fine and excellent reputation."

Tonigan was chief judge and then presiding judge of the law division of the 19th Circuit before McHenry County was split off into it's own 22nd Circuit three years ago. For the past couple of years he's been a mediator and abitrator.

Tonigan said his investigation would be based on the complaint of Amy Dalby who pleaded guilty to copying State's Attorney computer records in case, she said, anyone found out she was doing politics instead of secretarial work. The theft began to surface when she took them to a newspaper columnist during Bianchi's last primary campaign. Bianchi's own investigation eventually found the records had been taken.

"I'm not going to comment on my investigative techniques," said Tongan. "I'll examine the case fully and fairly."

Plan To Release 1,000 Prisoners Unveiled

By Bethany Jaeger
About 1,000 prisoners who committed non-violent crimes will start being released from the Illinois Department of Corrections “within a couple of weeks” as a way to ease overcrowding and budget constraints, according to a plan announced today by department director Michael Randle.

The announcement came with a $4 million boost from the governor’s office. About $2 million of that is slated for so-called mandatory supervised electronic detention, or releasing non-violent drug offenders early from prison and giving them ankle bracelets and parole officers.

Reducing the average daily population by 1,000 could save the agency about $5 million a year, according to Januari Smith, spokeswoman for the corrections department. At one time, it was rumored that the state could release between 5,000 to 10,000 prisoners, which would have included more categories of prisoners than Randle intends to make eligible.

Friday’s announcement did not mention layoffs of prison staff, but Smith said 419 prison workers already have received their notices and will be terminated September 30. Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration has said it will have to lay off as many as 1,000 corrections employees.

Read Bethany's full report at:
 httpillinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/plan-to-release-1000-prisoners-unveiled.html://

Real Estate Tax Cut Tips in Algonquin Next Week

McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew's hit show "Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your Real Estate Taxes" will come to Algonquin this coming week with sessions scheduled at Jacobs High School Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 pm.

LeFew's presentation highlights Illinois' exemptions that can cut a homeowner's tax bite. There are a lot and some of them are obscure because they're fairly new.

Although LeFew has been doing these taxpayer education sessions for years, this is the first time he's scheduled a regular circuit which opened in Crystal Lake last week and will travel to Huntley next month.

It's also the first time county Republicans like LeFew, running for re-election, are a little nervous about growing Democratic influence in the county.

Seed Gathering Set For LITH Fen

Lake in the Hills Fen Plant Monitor Barb Wilson will be recruiting volunteers this week for a wild seed-gathering session at the Fen next Saturday.

"We need the seeds to restore the areas that have been taken over by non-native plants," said Wilson.

Before the Fen became a nature preserve it was used to pasture cattle. Invasive grasses were planted to improve grazing and have been crowding out the original vegatation.

Wilson said harvesting native seeds will be part of National Public Lands Day. The gleaning will run from 4 to 8 p.m. starting at Barbara Key Park and will include a hotdog and marshmallow roast.

In the pic:  Even youngsters can help gather wild seeds at Lake in the Hills Fen, as this shot from an earlier year demonstrates.

Local Football

Friday

Cary-Grove 56, Woodstock North 0

McHenry 20,  Crystal Lake Central 42

Woodstock 27, Huntley 24

Crystal Lake South 38, Prairie Ridge 7

Thursday

Grayslake North 41, Dundee-Crown 18

Grayslake Central 20, Jacobs 0

In the pic: Pushing the FEN camera past its limits at Huntley's Homecoming game.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 18
0002 HRS 250 N RANDALL RD. (COSTCO). POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. GRUMAD, SHAUN C M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 1424 WASHINGTON ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Possession of a Controlled Substance.TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1114 HRS 2450 ALGONQUIN RD. (BANK OF AMERICA). POSSESSION OF A FICTICIOUS DRIVER’S LICENSE. PINEDA, MARTIN, M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 2250 MORNINGSIDE, CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Possession of a Fictitious Driver’s License, Driving While License Revoked. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1637 HRS 400 BLOCK OF ANNANDALE DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. MURRAY,MARISSA
D., F/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 420 S. ANNANDALE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County for Probation Violation, Bond amount is $3000 / 10% applies. RELEASED ON BOND.
1850 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOL STONE BEND. WANTED ON WARRANT. ACEVEDO, NOELIA Y., F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 715 Smith Dr., Woodstock. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County for Probation Violation for Obstructing Justice, Bond amount $3000 / 10% applies. RELEASED ON BOND.
0906 HRS 3400 BLOCK OF CHADWICK LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 1.5 year old male consumed an unknown amount of toilet bowl cleaner.No transport.
1034 HRS HALIGUS RD. & GENEVA LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 62 year old male experiencing chest pains. Transported to St Joseph’s Hospital.
1743 HRS 300 OAKLEAF RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 60 year old male feeling dizzy. Transported to St Joseph’s Hospital.
1750 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOL STONE BEND. OUTSIDE ASSIST TO WOODSTOCK
POLICE. Possible child abuse investigation that occurred in Woodstock. TURNED OVER TO WOODSTOCK POLICE.
1948 HRS 3100 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE 18 year old male subject made suicidal statements. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
2146 HRS 5300 BLOCK BRAIRFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Verbal argument between boyfriend and girlfriend. 15 priors.
2229 HRS 5300 BLOCK BRAIRFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Verbal argument between
boyfriend and girlfriend. 16 priors.
2258 HRS LAKEWOOD RD & REED RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicle. Property damage only.

D158 Approves $77 Million New Budget

Without debate, but likewise without the protest that marked earlier public hearings, the D158 Board of Education approved a $77 million budget for the 2009-10 school year. Critics had said the budget shortchanged district Special Ed students.

The budget, thanks to a more than $2 million stimulus fund prop, works out to a more than $1.8 million surplus if everything turns out the way it's supposed to. Comptroller Mark Altmayer called the budget a "break-even" measure and said while it included some operating cuts, "This will set us up for 2011," when district tax revenue is expected to fall.

Member Aileen Seedorf voted against the measure saying it contained too many of what she called "catch-all" allocations. She wanted to use another term but stopped herself.

Squabbling broke out later over rebidding the district's ice-melt contract for the coming year. The board's Building Committee recommended rejecting all bids after last year's winner protested this year's low bidder hadn't submitted one that met bid specs. Member Kim Skaja proposed limiting each member's comments to only two minutes. Seedorf said it was against the board's own rules but then managed to summarize her opposition in about one minute, anyway. The board voted for the rebid, nevertheless.

Juried Art Fair At Algonquin Commons Sat., Sun.

The Art Institute isn't raffling off any Seurats this weekend but the District 300 Foundation will be selling chances to win a work of art by the selfsame artists whose works will be on display at the Algonquin Commons Juried Art Fair Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Only $5 a pop, the proceeds from the raffle and fair support teachers and students in area schools and besides, the trip's shorter than to Michigan Avenue and the parking's free.

In the pic: District 300 Foundation Organizer Diane Margerko Friday organized some of the artwork donated for the group's Juried Art Fair raffle this weekend at Algonquin Commons. Not an Elvis on black velvet in the bunch.

Algonquin's Huntington Drive Resurfacing Starts Monday.

Beginning Monday Algonquin residents will have a chance to see some of that $780 billion stimulus package pay for something concrete. Rather it will pay for something asphalt, final surface work on Huntington Drive from Stonegate Road to Biarwood Lane.

Unfortunately that's part of the detour route for the now-closed (ground up and trucked off) Hanson Road route. Huntington won't be closed as in "no through traffic" but there'll be intermittent lane closures as in "expect delays" for a few days, according to Public Works officials.

McHenry County Indictments

A McHenry County Grand Jury returned indictments against the following individuals this week. An indictment is not proof of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

KARL SPLETT, DOB: 11/06/63, 2003 E. CANTERBURY, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004. HOME REPAIR FRAUD, THEFT.--LITH PD

Bob Kaempfe To Run For 64th Distric Rep. Again

Retired postal worker Bob Kaempfe of Crystal Lake formally announced plans to run again for the Democratic nomination for Mike Tryon's 64th District Representative's spot in Springfield.

The announcement wasn't a surprise since Kaempfe has been building a campaign website for the past couple of weeks.

This will mark Kaempfe's second try for the office. He pulled 39 percent of the vote against Tryon last November when Barak Obama is thought to have been wearing long coattails in McHenry County.

Kaempfe said, "Springfield is still a mess and nothing seems to be changing. I want to represent the average person and not owe allegiance corporate lobbyists, like so many elected officials," naming no names.

Garage Sales

Lake in the Hills

Friday, September 18

4000 PEAR TREE DR 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
2910 GENEVA LN 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
5010 PRINCETON LN 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
649 ANDERSON DR 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
4360 ROLLING HILLS DR 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
220 FERRYVILLE DR 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
5 PRINCETON CT 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
785 ELDERBERRY CT 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
207 HAWTHORNE RD 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
765 ELDERBERRY CT 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
2970 GENEVA LN 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
5 WEDGEWOOD CIR 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
80 HILLTOP DR 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 19
1165 HEAVENS GATE 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
207 HAWTHORNE RD 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
5 PRINCETON CT 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3461 CHADWICK LN 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
4360 ROLLING HILLS DR 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
2910 GENEVA LN 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
5010 PRINCETON LN 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
649 ANDERSON DR 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
765 ELDERBERRY CT 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
220 FERRYVILLE DR 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
785 ELDERBERRY CT 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
2970 GENEVA LN 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
5 WEDGEWOOD CIR 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
80 HILLTOP DR 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday, September
1165 HEAVENS GATE 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
2970 GENEVA LN 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
5 WEDGEWOOD CIR 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
80 HILLTOP DR 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Although Algonquin and Huntley regulate garage sales they do not require a permit. The First Electric Newspaper will publish free garage sale notices for those villages. Send address, date(s) and time(s) to garagesales@firstelectricnewspaper.com .

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 17
FOLLOW UP REPORT: 1344 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH POLICE). HARASSMENT BY TELEPHONE. Complainant receiving obscene telephone calls. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
0110 HRS 20 BLOCK OF SIERRA CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs Girlfriend. Verbal only. Three priors.
1020 HRS 500 BLOCK OF WILLOW ST. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Counterfeit currency found on lawn. TURNED OVER TO SECRET SERVICE.
1135 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 49 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1651 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2146 HRS 200 BLOCK OF BRIDLEWOOD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 44 years of age, possibly needing an evaluation. No transport.
Algonquin
September 14
07:29am Mellor, Edward R. DOB: 09/26/72 of 1035 Thornwood, Algonquin, was charged with Theft of Services. He was taken into custody at 1035 Thornwood. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 10/14/09, in McHenry County.
21:15pm A fifteen-year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Theft. He was taken into custody at Spring Hill Mall. He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his parents.
23:24pm Reed, Christopher R. DOB: 08/23/90 of 4020 Stratford lane, Carpentersville, was charged with Retail Theft. He was taken into custody at Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 10/21/09, in McHenry County.
September 15
10:54am Kolodziej, Renata Anna DOB: 12/01/85 of 11722 Evergreen, Huntley, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License. She was taken into custody at Chase Street and Route 62. She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 10/21/09, in McHenry County.
22:22pm Little, Tabatha L. DOB: 07/17/92 of 9405 Rainsford Drive, Huntley, was charged with Retail Theft. Also taken into custody was a fifteen-year-old female from Carpentersville, who was charged with Retail Theft. Both were taken into custody at Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road. Little was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond and the fifteen-year-old female was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 10/28/09, in Algonquin.
September 17
15:36pm Birney, Bradley S. DOB: 09/22/90 of 2819 Waterfront Avenue, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken into custody at Ted Spella Park, 2610 Harnish Drive. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 10/21/09, in McHenry County.
Huntley
moretocome

Algonquin Riverfront Owner At Odds With Village

The Village of Algonquin will likely face a quandary today: What to do if a property owner ignores them.

Friday the village's Community Development Department cited Mike Griesman for cutting trees without a permit and issued a stop work order for earthmoving at his riverfront property just off Route 62 at River Road. However, Wednesday, Griesman and a crew of as many as half a dozen workers were clearing material and shoving dirt around with a Bobcat earthmover.

Griesman said he owns a 600-foot strip along the river and he's just trying to clean up the mess of crud that's accumulated over the years.

"There's giant chunks of rebar concrete, logs, tires, tv's, wire fencing, cans of paint and varnish." he said.

"I've been working on this by hand for 10 years now with a pick and shovel," Greisman said, claiming the Bobcat was just to speed things up, the earthmoving merely a way to get it from the road to the shore.

Griesman said the trees he cut were already dead. "There was a kid down here who said he'd sue me when one of them fell on him. I had 32 'No trespassing' signs posted but the kids ripped them down."

Anyway, Greisman said, he hadn't received any tickets for cutting trees and a raft of officials, each cited by name, had OK'ed his cleanup.

Nevertheless, late Wednesday afternoon Greisman later reported, a platoon of Algonquin officials descended on his site to tell him "If I so much as move the Bobcat tomorrow they'll fine me $1,000 a day and put me in jail."

"I wonder what they'll do to me if I just start the motor and let it idle?" Greisman mused.

In the pic: Mike Greisman displays a jelly jar full of goop extracted during cleanup of his Algonquin riverfront property that he says is full of "lead, zinc, mercury, asbestos, asphalt and something else I can't remember the name of."

County Department Of Health Short On Flu Vaccine

Appointments for McHenry County Department of Health Flu shots at Algonquin Township offices are still good but there won't be any more until new vaccine supplies show up the department announced Wednesday.

Spokesman Debra Quackenbush said MCDH only received 500 doses of its order for seasonal flu vaccine and can't schedule any more shots until it gets more. "We've maxxed out the supply of vaccine," she said.

Quackenbush reported MCDH usually does about 2,500 flu shots a year but hasn't received the full order of vaccine it placed early this year. "Sometimes the retailers get it before we do," she said.

Indeed, Centegra Health Sytems, an MCDH partner reported in a release Tuesday it has "plenty of seasonal flu vaccines" including at its Primary Care Center at Huntley.

Centegra is a "partner" with MCDH in the seasonal flu program and the charge for vaccine there is only $25, the same as MCDH would charge if they had any.

Lake County Dem Chief Meets McHenry Cohort

McHenry County Democrats heard Wednesday in Woodstock from another of the herd of Democrats who want for some reason to be Lietenant Governor. This particular one was Lake County Democratic Chairman, State Senator Terry Link (D)30, who said, "We took a bright red county and turned it light blue." That's what the Dems hope to do in McHenry County.


In the pic: Terry Link told area Democrats he'd use the prestige (...) of the Lieutenant Governor's office to stop mean politicians in Wisconsin stealing northern tier Illinois jobs, a sore point in Lake County.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 16
FOLLOW-UP ARREST: 1217 HRS FRANK RD.& MILLER RD. DOMESTIC BATTERY. MUKHTAR, SHAHANA, F/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 2870 BRIARCLIFF LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0801 HRS PYOTT RD. & RAKOW RD. INFORMATION. Report for Insurance. Construction sign damaged passing vehicle.
0818 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT Two Vehicles. Property Damage Only.
0853 HRS 9354 VIRGINIA RD. (TRANSMISSION EXPRESS). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY/THEFT. Vehicle with a broken window. Theft of 2 tires valued at $400.00.
0856 HRS CHANCERY WAY & WRIGHT DR. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Stop sign with graffiti on it.
0913 HRS 149 HILLTOP DR. (HAIN HOUSE) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 77 years of age, with a fishing hook stuck in his hand. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1410 HRS MILLER RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. Two Vehicles. Property Damage Only.
1420 HRS 2700 BLOCK OF BRIARCLIFF LN. ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY. Report taken reference a criminal sexual assault that occurred in another jurisdiction. REFERRED TO OTHER AGENCY.
1518 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1712 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. INJURY ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Female, 44 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital.
2053 HRS 9300 BLOCK OF VIRGINIA RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 68 years of age, not breathing. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
2108 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 17 years of age, with shortness of breath. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Huntley
delayed

Algonquin Liquor Check Draws Three Guilty Pleas

The sale of a six-pack of beer to an underage but undercover minor earned three Algonquin liquor purveyors $1000 fines from the Algonquin Board of Trustees sitting as the village Liquor Commission Tuesday. The case of a fourth was continued.

Prince &Jay, Inc., doing business as 7-Eleven, 1495 West Algonquin Road; Mark Oil Corporation also known as Phillips 66 or Algonquin Phillips 66, 2390 East Algonquin Road, and River Valley, Inc., doing business as 1 Stop Pantry & Liquor Store, 3989-3991 West Algonquin Road, all pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to a minor during an Algonquin PD compliance check July 22.

Main St. Billiards Cafe, Inc., 113 South Main St., requested a continuance in its case. Owner Richard Geschrey said he wanted to wait to enter a plea until resolution of the village's case against the employee who allegedly made the underage liquor sale during the check.

The July 22 check was the first in more than a year, according to Chief Russell Laine. "And yet this night you found four places making underage liquor sales," said Commission Member Jim Steigert. "It makes me wonder what was going on on all other other nights," he said shaking his head.

Commission Member Jerry Glogowski was near outrage. "It's so easy. Just look at the date of birth and add 21," he said. Loudly.

When one seller tried to explain the difficulty of checking for underage purchasers Commissioner John Schmitt cut him off saying, "We can make it easier for you. We can make it so you just don't sell liquor." Later he added, "We're literally talking about people's lives here."

In addition to the fines the businesses who pleaded guilty were charged Commission costs and agreed to run all their employees through the village's liquor sales training program.

County Board Approves Rt.47-I90 Interchange Agreement

The McHenry County Board Tuesday approved a $2 million agreement to design Huntley's long-awaited full interchange at Route 47 and the I-90 Tollway.

IDOT and the Tollway are in the midst of initial studies for the interchange but planners urged beginning actual engineering now so the project doesn't stall when those are completed.

McHenry and Kane counties and the Village of Huntley will jointly pay for the Phase II blueprints each with a one-third share of the cost.

The state Capital Spending bill passed by the Legislature this summer allocated $16.5 million to build a full east-west interchange to access the tollway.

LITH/Algonquin/CL Park And Ride Lot Due Next Year

The McHenry County Board Tuesday OKed appropriating about $70,000 to engineer a new Park and Ride lot for commuters at Route 31 and Virginia Road.

The project, now sized for 165 slots, has been in the planning stage for more than two years. Throughout, planners have admitted privately there's a Field of Dreams element to the lot, that "if we build it they", in this case PACE buses to Metra stations at Crystal Lake and Cary, "will come."

"Eventually we hope to coordinate with PACE" said County Transportation Committee Chairman Anna May Miller. In the meantime Miller said the idea is to provide drivers a convenient secure location to leave their cars from which to work out individual and extemporanous travel arrangements to reduce traffic congestion. In other words, some sort of car pooling. Planners refuse to call the Park and Ride lot an experiment. Miller said, "This is forward-thinking."

In any case the money for design and construction is to come from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program so, as Tuesday's resolution noted, McHenry County's cost will be an "estimated local share of zero."

Miller said construction on the Park and Ride lot probably won't begin until next Spring.

In the pic: The new Park and Ride lot will be bigger than seems possible now since Virginia Road's intersection with Route 31 will move slightly north to make it a right angle.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 15
2016 HRS FRANK RD. & COYOTE LAKES CIRCLE. ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION BY A MINOR. SACZEK, KATHRYN E., F/W 19 YEARS OF AGE,1149 PRESCOTT LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption by a Minor.NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
0705 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT COURT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 47 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0816 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK COURT. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assist McHenry County Sheriff with serving an Order of Protection.
1039 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ANNANDALE COURT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. Daughter. No priors. UNFOUNDED.
1055 HRS 260 N. RANDALL ROAD (COSTCO). INFORMATION. Report for insurance for damage on vehicle.
1214 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF BRIARCLIFF LANE. DOMESTIC BATTERY Sister vs. Sister. No priors. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1218 HRS MILLER RD. & DEERHAVEN DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 31 years of age, and female, 3 years of age, fell off a bike. No Transport.
1528 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1856 HRS ALGONQUIN RD & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1938 HRS DECATUR AVE. & OAK ST. FOUND PROPERTY. Keys.
2112 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
Huntley
delayed

Heavy Vet Turnout At Algonquin Stand Down Monday

By midafternoon Monday NASA Educators still weren't sure how many Chicago area vets had showed up at the group's latest two-day Stand Down at Camp Algonquin.

About 250 mostly homeless ex-soldiers from as long ago as the Korean War had been scheduled for showers, clean war surplus uniforms, warm meals and medical and dental care. "We have more than we expected," said Case Manager Donna McCafferty. "It was a pretty well-publicized event."

"I took the train here and there were 150 vets on it," said NASA Treasurer Joanne Blanchard. "The conductor gave us our own car so the group had a chance to relax. They had a good time."

"Algonquin Township provided buses for us," she said. "And the Cary Police directed traffic because so many came all at once."

Albert Smith, vet and homeless Chicagoan said from his wheelchair, "This is really a help to us veterans. I'm trying to find a home but it's hard right now the way things are with the economy."

In the pic: American Legion volunteer Richard Lesniewicz gives vets at NASA Education's Camp Algonquin Stand Down a pep talk in the style only possible to an ex-drill instructor.

D300 Board Learns College Credit Program Up 50 Percent

Director of Assessment and Accountability Carole Cooper told the D300 Board of Education Monday that enrollment in the district's college advanced placment courses has increased almost 50 percent in the past three years thanks to a state grant to encourage students to earn college credit while still in high school.

District enrollment in a dozen advanced placement programs increased from 558 in 2005 to 833 last year, said Cooper. She said exam results in the advanced placment program have fluctuated at Dundee-Crown but steadily increased at Jacobs where 80 percent of students scored high enough to earn college credit, depending on individual college policy.

In Board Action, members despite qualms about how to make a four-sided agreement work in practice, approved creation of an environmental education center at the Schweitzer mansion at Sleepy Hollow and Higgins Roads. The Kane County Forest Preserve District was going to bulldoze the structur but Friends of the Fox River and the Citizen Advocate Team persuaded D300 to lease the mansion for $1 per year as a joint nature center.

The Board also approved a three-year extension on the district's Cambridge Lakes Charter School. Board President Joe Stevens said, "I'm going to vote for this but somewhat reluctantly. I was not impressed with the audit."

Stevens said he took particular exception to the charter school corporation's chairman of the board being one and the same as its chief executive officer.

Fox Cleanup At Algonquin Saturday

Cornish Park Saturday will be the focal point for the Village of Algonquin's and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County's annual river cleanup.

More than a cleanup of the detritus that's washed downstream in the past year, the "It's Our River Day" event from 1 to 4 pm is intended to be educational, maybe even fun. Besides stoop labor it will include lectures, demonstrations of water quality monitoring, canoe and kayak demonstrations and live music. Festive as that may sound, the point of the thing is cleanup, so gloves will be provided.

In the pic: A lot of stuff had accumulated along the banks of the old Fox last year. There's probably as much this year that needs to be hauled off.

Huntley Lists Top Village Restaurants

The favorite restaurant in Huntley is official now with the posting of results from the village's online restaurant survey. The favorite of almost 1,100 residents is Culvers.

The Huntley venue of the closely-held Wisconsin chain is followed by Walleye Grill, Niko's, Papa G's, McDonald's, Del Toros, Dairy Mart, Subway, Taco Bell and Sammy's.

The top 10 list, of course, approaches half the restaurants in Huntley, anyway, depending on how you define the term. (e.g. donut shops, in or out?)

Huntley's Restaurant Survey was more than an exercise in whimsy, according to Business Development Coordinator Margot Gifford. "We hope to use it to persuade restaurants to come to Huntley," she said. "We'll be able to present the results to developers and restaurant owners thinking of coming here."

The survey includes information about more than just favorite dining places. There's detailed information about residents dining habits.

For instance, 93 percent dine at a full service restaurant at least once a week. And they like to do it close to home. Outside of Huntley the Randall Road corridor is the strongest destination, followed by eastern Algonquin Road, with occasional forays to Crystal Lake or Schaumburg.

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Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 14
0244 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & SULLIVAN PASS. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. TORDOROV, TODOR K., M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 10496 LONGEFIELD DR., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND. LAMBERT, TYRONE H., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 2920 GENEVA LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Possession of Cannabis. RELEASED ON BOND.
1722 HRS FOLLOW UP ARRESTS: ADAMS ST, & LINCOLN AVE. HIT & RUN. SILBERBAUER, JOSEPH S., M/W 17 YEARS OF AGEm 1412 DOLDER LN., SPRING GROVE. CHARGES: Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Failure to give Information and Improper Backing. RELEASED ON BOND.
1142 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. FOUND PROPERTY. A bicycle was found.
1534 HRS 8603 PYOTT RD. (SNELTEN INC.) SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Male, 51 years of age making suicidal statements. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
1815 HRS 2400 BLOCK OF STANTON CIRCLE. DOMESTIC Husband vs. wife. No priors.
1839 HRS 10 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck while parked on street  on 09/12/09. Offending vehicle left.
Huntley
delayed

Ex-Deputy Running For McHenry County Sheriff

Friday Woodstock former sheriff's deputy Zane Seipler was either a whistle-blower or a disgruntled ex-employee. Sunday Seipler became a candidate to replace McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren in February's GOP primary.

Seipler is suing the Sheriff's Office and five of his former bosses for allegedly firing him last year when he tried to stop ethnic profiling practices in the Sheriff's Department.

Nygren's office has come under more recent attack for the alleged beating of an elderly Crystal Lake couple charged with resisting arrest during service of a warrant on their son. State's Attorney Lou Bianchi refused to prosecute in the case citing deputies' legal error and discrepencies in reports from witnesses.

Seipler's announcement said, "Change is long overdue in the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department. New leadership is required"

Woodstock blogger Gus Philpott is also running for Sheriff on the Green Pary Ticket.

Seipler was cleared two years ago in the death of a knife-wielding Wonder Lake man whom he shot with a "bean bag" gun. Bianchi said a State Police investigation found the shooting "justified".

"Other" Huntley Food Pantry Holds Fundraiser

With all the ruckus over who should do what at the Grafton Township Food Pantry and where they ought to do it, Huntley's "other" food pantry has been somewhat overshadowed. All the more reason Faith Community Church held a picnic fundraiser and raffle for its Food Pantry at the church Sunday.

"We have to keep doing these fundraisers," said Pantry Director Will Welsh. "This is entirely supported by donations.

"Last Wednesday we had a lady almost in tears," said Welsh. "Well, she actually was crying; I had to calm her down. Her husband had been laid off and they'd cut her hours back and she could barely make ends meet. She didn't have anything to shop with, really."

Such calls for help were what led Faith Community Church to set up it's own food pantry in the first place. Welsh said pantry planners weren't aware of the Grafton Township Pantry when they set up an account with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and were up and running by the time they heard about it.

"We're serving about 75 people a week now," he said, including people from Algonquin and West Dundee.

In fact, there's a third Huntley group that provides food assistance to those in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley, delivers food and clothing in a general program of social aid to the poor as far away as Hampshire.

"You don't have to be a member of our church," said the Society's Dennis Quinn. "You don't even have to be a Christian."

Faith Community's Welsh said much the same thing adding that his church, too, hopes to expand its mission to provide other social services beyond food aid.

In the meantime, Faith Community Church's Food Pantry is open every Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 7 pm at the Church at 10547 Faiths Way, Huntley. And St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society can provide assistance by calling (847) 669-3137, ext. 361.

In the pic: Top--Will Welsh shows off Faith Community Church's walk-in refrigerator, an Ebay find installed by a congregant. Bottom--Raffles are one way Faith Community Church supports its Food Pantry.

Algonquin Attorney Runs For Kane County Board

Algonquin and Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Maggie Auger hit the campaign trail Sunday on what she hopes will be the path to the District 23 seat on the Kane County Board.

District 23 includes the Kane County part of Algonquin as well as portions of Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow, West Dundee and unincorporated Dundee. Hence, she spent Sunday afternoon meeting and greeting at the Dundee Township Republicans Picnic at Randall Oaks Park in West Dundee hoping to meet voters. So were a lot of other office incumbents and hopefuls and who, with their families, were most of the voters in attendance.

Observed Kane County Treasurer David Rickert after a cordial chat with Auger (and obtaining her signature on his ballot petition), "There's so much to learn when you're just starting out like that."

In the pic: Maggie Auger and Dundee Township Assessor-elect Mike Bielek talk Kane County politics Sunday. Auger's husband, Ray, is at left.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 13
1726 HRS 201 LAKEWOOD RD. (LEROY GUY PARK). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. JUVENILE, 16 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Criminal damage to property. RELEASED TO PARENTS.
2223 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. FOOTE, ALLAN S., M/W 49 YEARS OF AGE, 135 POLARIS DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two Counts of Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL. DISANTIS, AMY J., F/W 41 YEARS OF AGE, 135 POLARIS DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two Counts of Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0713 HRS 4500 BLOCK OF HERON DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 79 year old female, possible broken ribs. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1016 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 54 year old male experiencing extreme abdominal pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1116 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF HARVARD LN. CIVIL MATTER. Dispute over personal property.
1144 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. 32 year old male injured his knee. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1225 HRS 251 RANDALL RD. (APPLEBEES). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1526 HRS 311 N RANDALL RD. (LITH THEATERS). FOUND PROPERTY Green mountain bicycle found in the bushes.
1831 HRS 3400 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Ex-Husband vs. Ex-Wife, one prior.
1821 HRS 500 BLOCK OF MOHICAN TRAIL. THEFT OVER $300. Resident paid for seal coating work that was not completed. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2028 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH. HIT & RUN. Vehicle parked in the street struck by a blue car that left the scene. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2104 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE). AMBULANCE ASSIST. 20 year old male requesting an evaluation. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
2307 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 45 years of age, having a hard time breathing. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
Algonquin
September 12
11:35am Lopez, Maria P. DOB: 10/24/75 of 1422 Indian Lane, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License. She was taken into custody at Route 62 and Ryan Parkway. She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 10/14/09, in McHenry County.
12:41pm Anbriz-Heredia, Nancy Guadalupe DOB: 05/15/86 of 329 Locust Avenue, Elgin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and Following Too Closely. She was taken into custody at Route 31 and Washington Street. She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 10/14/09, in McHenry County.
21:06pm McNerney, Shane P. DOB: 06/21/91 of 1611 Glen Eagle Court, Carpentersville, was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive. Also taken into custody was Olis, Jordon R. DOB: 09/24/91 of 1764 Bradford Lane, Crystal Lake and Pessetti, Kylie DOB: 01/23/92 of 1191 White Chapel Lane, Algonquin. Both were charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. All three subjects were released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 10/28/09, in Algonquin.
September 13
01:30am A fourteen-year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Violation of Curfew. He was taken into custody at High Hill Park, 501 Kirkland Drive. He was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 10/28/09, in Algonquin.
03:40am Gale, Jonathan D. DOB: 05/26/92 of 1711 Ridgefield Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor and 2 counts of Domestic Battery. He was taken into custody at 1711 Ridgefield. He was transported to Kane County Jail for a bond hearing.
September 14
02:34am Saveliev, Vladimir DOB: 03/18/53 of 815 Old Oak Circle, Algonquin, was charged with Battery and Resisting Arrest. He was taken into custody at 815 Old Oak Circle. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 10/14/09, in McHenry County.

"Liberty Trail" Lines Randall Road Saturday

Protesters lined Randall Road in Lake in the Hills and Algonquin Saturday to protest...well, a lot of things but mostly current healthcare proposals.

They were part of Liberty Trail 9/12 which aimed to line Randall from Crystal Lake to North Aurora before a rally in Geneva Saturday afternoon. The demonstrations were supposed to echo the so-called Tea Party March on Washington Saturday.

Patriots United organizer Karen Ulrich said more than 2,000 people had emailed plans to join the protest and as many as 10,000 were expected. About 200 were strung north and south of the Algonquin Road intersection with Randall and another 40 or so gathered at the Commerce Drive intersection.

Algonquin resident Julie Dahl was mad about health care reforms proposed in Congress. "We don't want the Health Care. We want to say a free people."

Wally Gullang of Huntley was upset with more than that. "I think the govenment is wrong. Health Care is wrong. The budget is wrong. There's not much that's right."

Huntley's Charles Czochara listed a lot of grievances, too. "Obama lies about who's going to pay for health care. He's weak on strong defense. He's appointed all these left-wing advisers."

Critics of the Washington event called its organizers right wing idealogues but passing motorists honked and waved and local protesters had a different take.

Dawn Broom of Lake in the Hills said, "I'm digusted with the way the White House is acting. Disgusted with the way they treat anyone who disagrees. Our freedom of speech is being silenced."

Indeed, the most remarkable thing about protests against current health care proposals is the protesters themselves. Consevatives/right wingers, as a rule, don't protest. Ayn Rand's iconic conservative John Galt didn't grab a picket sign. He withdrew from Society. So the question is whether Saturday's protesters were hardline conservatives or middle-of-the-roaders driven together into a conservative position.

Lake in the Hills' Ted Birnbaum, a lonely critic of garage sales licenses at village board meetings said, "I find I'd rather be together with people that protest than just being by myself."

LITH's Blogging Trustee Holds "Coffee Talk"

Lake in the Hills newest trustee, Denise Barreto, held what she planned to be the first in a series of quarterly LITH "coffee talks" with constituents Saturday. Not many showed up so she talked to the press.

Barreto stands out among local politicians in at least three different ways.
First, taking a leaf from Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes, Barreto seems to be the only McHenry County officeholder publishing her own blog. "I was going to be a journalist in college," she said.

Second, she may be the only black office holder in McHenry County. "Ask (fellow LITH trustee) Steve Harlfinger. He's our resident historian." She said race is irrelevant, laughing as she observed, "Certainly black people didn't elect me."

Third, Barreto claims to have no fixed ideology. "My generation, Generation X, we're not loyal to anything." She said that was the point of having "coffee talks"-- to see what Lake in the Hills residents want done.

In the pic: LITH resident Julie Arndt shares a cup of joe and a bit of political discourse with Trustee Denis Barreto. (Emma Barreto, 8, was admirably patient.)

Jacobs HS Homecoming Dance Starts Social Season

Students flooding to Jacobs High School's Homecoming Dance Saturday evening were notable for the number of stags, male and female, at an event that usually marks the start of the school year's pairing-up and sorting-out process.

Then again, they'd had less than two weeks to work on it. Other area high schoolers will have more time. Huntley High School's Homecoming is next Friday, Sept. 19, the dance next Saturday, Sept. 20. Dundee-Crown's isn't until Sept. 25, the dance Sept. 26.

Huntley Jaycees Prepare For Fall Fest

Huntley Jaycees raised about $300 Saturday evening to support the village's fourth (not fifth according to Pam Fender's recollection) Huntley Fall Fest Sept. 25 and 26.

Jaycees organized a Poker Crawl involving drawing a card at each of five local establishements to see who had the best hand at the finish.

In the pic: Huntley Jaycee Todd Bartter draws a card from J.R. Westberg's deck. Which one? That was a toughie. They were coded, Wesberg had the key and he wouldn't say 'till the Fall Fest poker crawl was finished.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
September 12
0204 HRS SKYRIDGE DR. & WINDHAM COVE DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GALIE, CHRISTOPHER J., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 720 CONCORD ST., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Over .08, Speeding, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. RELEASED ON BOND.
0753 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. &; HILLTOP DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. ROSSPANK, KRISTOPHER J., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 763 WILLOW ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0136 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 65 years of age, with high blood pressure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
0308 HRS 3700 BLOCK OF CHADWICK LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 50 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
1123 HRS 100 RANDALL RD., (WALGREENS) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1138 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEARTLAND GATE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 32 years of age, feeling dizzy and vomiting. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1146 HRS 4100 BLOCK OF BREENFIELD LN. FOUND PROPERTY. Bicycle found at residence.
1234 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1420 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & DENNIS AVE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1952 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEAVENS GATE. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. 23 year old female making suicidal statements. Transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
2119 HRS 3100 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 71 year old male having abdominal pain. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
2228 HRS 500 GRACE DR., (PLOTE FIELD). ASSIST AMBULANCE. 50 year old male subject struck on the head with a ball. No transport.
2341 HRS 100 BLOCK OF ELLIS RD. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Father vs. son. No priors. FAIL TO FILE