New H1N1 Flu Cases Fall

The Centers For Disease Control reported Friday that H1N1 Flu hospitalizations fell for the third week in a row but remain higher than expected for this time of year.  That report appears to match
the latest information from the McHenry County Department of Health
flu testing. 

Doctor visits for flu-like complaints also fell nationally but remain high, according to the CDC. A similar pattern shows in in McHenry County data.

The Illinois Department of Health reported 241 new H1N1 hospitalizations in the state and 9 more deaths this week.

MCDH this week added an H1N1 flu shot clinic next Sunday Nov. 29 at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy 14, Crystal Lake from 1pm to 5pm.
Ealier MCDH clinics are reported filled.  Appointments can be made at www.mcdh.info or via MCDH's hotline 815-334-2800.

Centegra Health System is continuing to offer 200 H1N1 nasal vaccines and 200 H1N1 vaccine shots at its four walk-in clinics including Huntley from 9 am to noon today. The vaccination clinics will not be open Tuesday, Nov. 24, Thursday, Nov. 26 or Saturday, Nov. 28. The clinics may resume Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Thursday, Dec. 3 if another shipment of vaccine arrives, according to a release.

The limited supply remaining at Centegra will be used for public and private school clinics in the Woodstock, Marengo and Alden-Hebron areas throughout December. Spokeswoman Kim Kubiak said schools in McHenry County will be scheduled to receive the vaccines as supplies allow.

Centegra said its flu treatment clinics, including Huntley would maintain their normal hours from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday. 

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
November 20
2116 HRS 200 BLOCK OF RANDALL RD. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. BROEDERDORF, ANTHONY D., M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, 1301 CARDINAL DR., ALGONQUIN/ Charge: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
1513 HRS FOLLOW UP TO: 11/08/09 @1326 HRS. 5300 BLOCK OF WILDSPRINGS DR. BATTERY. GARCIA, JACOB F., M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 2781 MELBOURNE LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. Charge: Battery. RELEASED ON CASH BOND
0343 HRS 10 BLOCK OF HAWTHORNE RD. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Female, 26 years of age, severe stomach pain. Transported to Sherman Memorial Hospital.
0535 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WHITMORE WAY. THEFT TO MOTOR VEHICLE. A Global Positioning System was taken from an unlocked vehicle.
1223 HRS 00 BLOCK OF MARION CT. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Spray paint graffiti found along fenceline.
1256 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. An I-pod was taken from an unlocked vehicle.
1355 HRS 800 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
140 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF BURR ST. AMBULANCE ASSIST.  Male, 22 years of age, having a reaction to an unknown substance. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1857 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD. (WALGREENS). HIT & RUN A silver two door vehicle struck a car and fled.
2046 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Male, 44 years of age, having a hard time breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2125 HRS 200 BLOCK OF LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. One vehicle. Property damage only.

Algonquin Rushes To Use Arboreal Windfall

Algonquin's Parks and Forestry Division is in a race with Jack Frost to use up more than $70,000 of free trees before it gets too cold to put them in the ground.

"We've got nine guys planting trees right now. We've never had nine guys planting trees before," said Algonquin Public Works Director Bob Mitchard.

The village's unexpected windfall is more fallout from the Great Recession.  During the housing bubble there was a timing mismatch between developers and landscapers. Builders can throw up a new home in a few days but it takes nurserymen several years to grow a tree big enough that a homeowner won't accidentally take it out with an errant lawnmower.  When housing collapsed, area tree farmers found they'd overshot the market. This year there's a forest of saplings about to take permanent root in the tree farms around McHenry County  but not much demand for them.

"They have an abundance of these balled and burlaped trees and nowhere to sell them. Some of them are just running them through a chipper," said Parks Superintendent Steve Ludwig.

Not one county nursery owner, however, whom Ludwig said preferred to remain anonymous. "He knew we weren't going to (try to resell them) and asked if we wanted them," said Ludwig.  "I asked 'How many can we have?' and he said, 'How many can you take?'"

So far the answer is 386 and Ludwig hopes to manage at least 70 more before the frost hits. "This is really great.  We get all these trees just for the cost of labor."

Ludwig says his crews are racing to install the trees in village parks, particularly Keller and Spella, and in neighborhoods hit by the Emerald Ash Borer beetle.   Anent the latter, see related story below.

In the pic:  Algonquin Arborist Steve Ludwig can see the forest for the trees. Right now it's behind the Public Works Department and he's hurrying to fix that.

More Ash Borer Infestation Found In Algonquin

With the Fall leafdrop Algonquin Parks and Forestry crews have been cruising the village's streets looking for more signs of Emerald Ash Borer infestations.  The bad news revealed this week is they found them.

"Because the leaves are gone we've found 30 more trees with EAB," said Arborist Steve Ludwig. "Some are in new areas," he said.

Ludwig said he'd expected to find more EAB infestation.  That was the point of the inspections which he said aren't yet complete.  "So far we've found 122 trees in total," Ludwig said, but added he expects to locate more.  The village has about 4,400 ash trees growing in its parks and right of ways.

In the summer EAB infestation signs are hard-to-spot weakness in a tree's top foliage.  Now that the leaves are gone Ludwig said his crews are looking for something easier to identify, woodpecker holes.

It's not the ash borer beetles that kill ash trees, it's their larvae.  Insect larvae are what woodpeckers eat, so a lot of woodpecker holes in an ash tree is a pretty good indicator of EAB, according to Ludwig.

In the pics:(above) A crew from Algonquin Public Works grinds up an EAB-infested ash on Lakeview Drive off Fairway View Thursday.  (below)  Roughly 1/4-inch diameter woodpecker holes marked this ash tree as a goner.

McHenry County Indictments

A McHenry County Grand Jury returned, among others, 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.

MICHAEL A. FARAWELL, DOB: 11/21/68, 337 LANCASTER DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014. DRIVING WHILE DRIVER’S LICENSE REVOKED.--ALGONQUIN PD.

FRANK A. LINTZERIS, DOB: 01/04/92, 1 LAKE DRIVE COURT, ALGONQUIN, IL 60102. AGGRAVATED BATTERY (7 COUNTS), RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF.

ALEXANDER JOEL PALMER, DOB:  05/16/91, 240 S. LAKE DRIVE
ALGONQUIN, IL  60102. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY--ALGONQUIN PD

FRANK J. CMIEL, DOB:  02/28/82, 790 CIRCLE DRIVE, ALGONQUIN, IL 60102.
ARMED ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED BATTERY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY--MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF

Wheel Of Meat To Spin In Algonquin Saturday

The Second Annual Wheel of Meat (which, as columnist Dave Barry might say, would be a great name for a rock group) will be at Algonquin's Barley House Restaurant Saturday at 6 pm.  It's the Huntley Jaycees' raffle of turkeys, hams, beef, chicken, wine "and more" to benefit the Grafton Township Food Pantry.

Raffle tickets cost $1, six for $5, or 15 for $10. FEN has some killer soup recipes for the bones if winners will us send an email.

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
November 18
0042 HRS 101 N RANDALL. (DOMINICK’S). NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. JUVENILE, F/W 16 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License, No Headlights, Curfew Violation. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1623 HRS 100 BLOCK OF NORTHLIGHT PASSE. WANTED ON WARRANT. KOIDAHL, RODNEY A., M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 113 NORTHLIGHT PASSE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Kane County for Contempt of Court. Bond Amount: $3,000 Full Cash. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1249 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2154 HRS 4590 W ALGONQUIN RD. (BISTRO WASABI). DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs Wife. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
November 16
10:52am Steinhable, Jason J., DOB: 06/28/72, of 7912 County Road JI, Lilly lake, Wisconsin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Lake County for Failure to Appear, on a Criminal Trespass to Residence charge.  He was also Wanted on a Probation Violation out of the State of Wisconsin.  He was taken into custody at 9560 S. Route 31.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.
18:37pm Chartier, Michelle R., DOB: 12/16/70, of 4407 Route 176, Crystal Lake, was charged with Felony Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Meijer’s, 400 S. Randall Road.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
21:40pm Castillo, Oscar DOB: 12/09/91. of 802 Ollie Court,  Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS and No Seat Belt.  He was taken into custody at County Line Road and Merchant Drive.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/23/09, in McHenry County.
November 17
14:07pm Washington, Nicole C., DOB: 04/15/75, of 1215 Cherry Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 12/30/09, in Algonquin.  Also taken into custody during the same incident was Horan, Danielle E. DOB: 05/15/81 of 130 E. Fountainview Lane, Lombard, who was charged with Felony Retail Theft.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
19:00pm Steinhable, Jason J., DOB: 06/28/72, of 7912 County Road JI, Lilly Lake, Wisconsin, was Wanted on a Parole Violation out of Wisconsin.  He was taken into custody at 9560 Route 31.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await extradition to Wisconsin.
November 18
13:07pm Lassiter, Lauren E., DOB: 08/01/86, of 111 Jefferson Street,  Algonquin, was charged with 2 counts of Domestic Battery.  She was taken into custody at 111 Jefferson Street.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
21:37pm Lara-Acevedo, Juan C., DOB: 05/05/70. of 3348 Blue Ridge, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, Suspended Registration and No Seat Belt.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Bunker Hill Drive.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/23/09, in McHenry County.
November 19
01:37am Gafka, Alan J., Jr., DOB: 01/09/76, of 3305 Golfview Road, McHenry, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Front Street.  He was released after posting $535, with a court date of 12/18/09, in Kane County.
03:11am Hill, Tremayne D., DOB: 05/28/86, of 1408 Indian Lane, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLR.  He was taken into custody at W. Algonquin Road and Crystal Lake Road.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.

Grafton Township To Restore Status Quo Ante--It Hopes

One of a pair of dueling Grafton Township Board meetings was called off Wednesday and after a fractious session of the other the board agreed to try to hit the reset button on the sale of the township's offices to the township highway district.

Supervisor Linda Moore canceled on the advice of newly-hired township attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer a special meeting she'd called for 7 pm. The attorney said proper notice hadn't been given.  Moore chose instead to preside over a different special meeting called for 7:30 by trustees Rob Laporta and Betty Zirk.

That meeting bogged down over paying attorneys' bills to the township that now with Krafthefer's charges  total nearly $50,000 for the year.  Why lawyers bills have been so high was demonstrated in a second conflict, that one over who should prepare briefing packets for the board and what ought to be in them. Krafthefer had to footnote and referee the argument and even so,  another special meeting was scheduled next Tuesday to deal with bills LaPorta said should have been in Wednesday's packet.

A third conflict arose over charges "someone" at the Supervisor's office was intercepting mail to trustees.  That issue was eventually resolved by directing village clerk Donna Frigo to repost letters delivered to the township offices to trustees' homes.

Hope was low when the board retired to closed session to discuss "property acquisition and possible litigation." That was a complicated way of saying turn back the clock on the sale of the township's offices to the township highway district to finance new township offices now canceled.

Less than 45 minutes later, though, the board opened the doors for public session again to vote on a motion by Trustee Barbara Murphy to  "declare the sale of township property to the road district to be declared void and unwind it and to work with the road district to negotiate terms."  The measure passed 4 to 1, Trustee Gerry McMahon against the idea.

After adjournment Moore simply said, "Finally."

LaPorta said, "We made a decision that would be the least costly thing to the taxpayers."

Highway Commissioner Jack Freund, currently the township's landlord although without a lease for the past two weeks, said, "This is going to save us a lot of money.  The taxpayers, I mean."

In the pic:  Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore and Trustee Rob LaPorta sat next to each other at Wednesday's meeting, almost the only way in which they were close.

County Salvation Army Prepares For Season Open Friday

The Salvation Army of McHenry County will be shipping out Christmas Kettles today for tomorrow's start of a Christmas/Year End fundraising drive it hopes will top $356,500.

Commanding officer Major John Price concedes it'll be a tough goal to meet.  An ex-cop, he put the matter bluntly. "The economy stinks," he said. That's also the reason according to Price that this year's goal is almost 20 percent higher than last year's.

Requests for Salvation Army aid in McHenry County have increased between 30 and 40 percent Price reported, in Grafton Township almost 50 percent.  Cries for help were so bad this summer the Army's local voucher program to pay rent and utilities had to be shut down for almost two months.  "That's our program where you're going to be homeless if you don't get some help," said Price.

Friday's kettles and bell-ringers are only the most visible part of the Army's fundraising efforts.  Price said he expected almost half the next year's funds to come from a Salvation Army mail solicitation that went out this week.  Kettle contributions from last year (which exceeded goals) only contributed 11 percent to the McHenry County Salvation Army's operations this year Price said.

In the pic:  Major John Price Wednesday unpacked some of the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettles scheduled to make their first appearance this Friday.

Congressional Hopeful Meets McHenry County Dems

Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp was almost an hour late for a stump speech to McHenry County Democrats in Woodstock Wednesday night.  Local Dems were in a mood to forgive almost anything, though, for their latest hope to unseat long-term 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo.

Gaulrapp pitched his experience as a businessman and mayor of economically hard-hit Freeport, saying he'd be a better job-creator than Manzullo.  Gaulrapp picked a plan to put Guantanamo detainees in western Thomson as an exempli gratia claiming it would be good for the tiny town's economy.  Manzullo opposes the idea saying it would draw terrorists to Illinois.

In the pic:  McHenry County Democrats Chairman Kathy Bergan Schmidt welcomed Congressional hopeful George Gaulrapp in Woodstock Wednesday.

Mideast Coffee, Eats To Meet Midwest In Algonquin

Economists claim the country's on the upswing again but Sief Asadi was taking no chances Wednesday as he braved a chilling mist to affix a sign for his new Crescent Moon coffee house and bakery in place of the now-defunct Java Bar's at Main and Washington in Algonquin's Historic Downtown.

"If I were working for someone else I'd be crying and asking for $100 an hour," Asadi said.  Instead the Palestinian Israeli and his sister Mai were beavering away at all the prep work to open a Middle Eastern coffee house in the Midwest.

"We'll have gourmet coffee and espresso, cakes and cookies," said Asadi "and a (WiFi) hotspot."  Those are all pretty standard issue these days, though.  Asadi said he's pinning his hopes on an Israeli breakfast/quick-anytime-meal called Bourekas.

"It's a phylo puff pastry dough stuffed with cheese.  Or it could be mashed potatoes," said Asadi. "Or spinach," added sister Mai. "We're going to offer a Bourekas plate, too, with hard-boiled egg, olives, pickles," Asadi added.

Likewise on offer will be a Middle Eastern salad called Tambouli and later Asadi said when he lines up the ingredients he plans to sell hummus, a popular chickpea spread or dipping sauce.

Crescent Moon's opening date is still a little uncertain and that relates to the state of the economy as well.  Asadi has a spanking new convection oven to bake the bourekas but not a critical vent kit he needs to use it.  That was out of stock and may take a couple more weeks to show up.  "It's on order," he said.

In the pic:  Sief Asadi didn't have much choice about about putting up his new business sign in the middle of a chill drizzle.  Sister Mai, though, toughed it out to lend her brother moral support.

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
November 18
1711 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MARTINEZ HERRERA, IVAN, M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 42 BIRCH ST. CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended and Failure to Reduce Speed to avoid an Accident. RELEASED ON BOND.
0742 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
0851 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MASON LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 77 years of age, feeling very dizzy and light headed. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1118 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1402 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 24 years of age, possibly took to much medication. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1529 HRS 950 E OAK ST. (DLS INTERNET). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1722 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Tobacco compliance checks.
1801 HRS 120 N. RANDALL RD. (LOVES LIQUOR). ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Underage sale of tobacco violation.
1918 HRS NAVAJO DR. & PYOTT RD/ CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Spray paint was located on stop sign. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
----------

Your editor is pretty sure he put up Wednesday's Police Blotter but it doesn't seem to be there today.  There's no way to look in the posting program's wastebasket and if there were there's no way to go back and put it where it should have gone.  Mea Culpa, whatever I did.

----------
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
November 17
1224 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED.  GAUCH, BRIAN C., M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 775 ELDERBERRY CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving while License Revoked, Failure to Stop, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND
2335 HRS 20 BLOCK OF SIERRA CT. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. SIMPSON, LUCAS S., M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 543 TELLURIDE DR., GILBERTS. CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1410 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEARTLAND GATE. SEX ABUSE. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1616 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT/INJURY. Two vehicles. Female transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.

H1N1 Flu Vaccine In The Pipeline

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Tuesday that according to revised figures almost all of the H1N1 flu vaccine it's ordered for downstate counties so far this season has been shipped for distribution.

Spokeswoman Kim Kubiak reported "little to no wait times" recently at  Centegra Health System's  four immunization clinics including Huntley.

Thursday's Huntley clinic will run from  4:30 to 7:30 pm Saturday's clinic will be open from 9 am to noon.

A McHenry County Department of Health clinic set by appointment for 4 to 8 pm today at Heineman Middle School is reported fully booked but officials suggest checking the county's site in case of canellations:

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health/Pages/H1N1ComApptw2.aspx

A list of all McHenry County locations for H1N1 immunizations can be found here:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/vaccine_locations/sf_vaccine_locations_mchenry.htm

Algonquin Bypass Schedule Revealed

Algonquin's Board of Trustees paid a few bills Tuesday in a session otherwise devoid of action.  However, Village Manager Bill Ganek in his report to the board was able to outline for the first time a rough schedule to build the newly-approved Western Bypass to eliminate the village's Route 31/Algonquin Road choke point.

Based on consultations with Illinois Department of Transportation and McHenry County Division of Transportation officials last week, Ganek said the village could expect to see cleanup of recently-revealed soil contamination and "massive grading" beginning next year.  "There's a year's worth of grading and then they want it to settle, so that takes it into 2011," said Ganek.

Construction of the bypass itself isn't planned until 2012 and will take at least a year, Ganek reported, "So that puts ot into 2013 or 2014 for completion."

Ganek said that schedule isn't carved in stone, however, nor even written on paper yet.  "We hope to get that in a letter in a week or two," he said.

Democratic Sheriff's Candidate Begins Campaign

Lake in the Hills resident Mike Mahon will kick off his Democratic campaign for McHenry County Sheriff Thursday with a fundraiser in Huntley.

Currently a Deputy Director in the Cook County Sheriff's Office, Mahon hasn't staked out any issues yet but a campaign site line that Sheriff's Department employees, including the Sheriff, "will be held accountable for their actions and the actions of their co-workers" hints at one to come.

Mahon's campaign group, Friends of Mike Mahon, was officially created Friday with Mahon as its head and Huntley resident Laura Warzecha as treasurer.

The group's first press release doesn't say where Thursday's fundraiser will be located but drilling through its website reveals it will be at Warzecha's home at 7:30 pm.  Another fundraiser is scheduled next Tuesday at Chicago's  Billy Goat's Tavern, also at 7:30 pm.

New Reefer Truck Aids Local Food Donation Pickups

A new Northern Illinois Food Bank refrigerator truck from the Walmart Foundation made its first rounds in McHenry County Monday picking up food donations from local Walmart stores to support area food pantries.

The $85,000 truck was the latest in a nationwide Walmart campaign for hunger relief.  Huntley Walmart Co-Manager Gilberto Cruz said that since August his store has sent about 16,500 pounds of food to the Food Bank.The Algonquin store has sent about 16,600 he said. "Some of this would have been discarded," said Cruz. "Some would have just been sent back to the manufacturer."

The St. Charles-located Food Bank aids food pantries all over northern illinois inluding 18 in McHenry County.  Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith pantry and the Grafton Tonwship pantry are among its customers.

Calls for help from the Food Bank have grown this year.  According to a recent report,NIFB has distributed more than 27 million pounds of food so far this year, up from 22.5 million during all of last year.  In fact, Food Bank spokesmen report it's running out of space and has just begun a campaign to raise funds for new facilities.

Huntley Wal-Mart Produce Manager Jim Ankrom wasn't surprised. He's a volunteer at a small church food pantry near Elburn. "Last year we had 15 or 20 families.  We provided help for 50 families last week."

In the pic:  Jim Ankrom and Gilberto Cruz at the Huntley Walmart help load boxes of surplus food onto the Northern Illinois Food Bank's new refrigerator truck.

Windmills Deal LITH Planning and Zoning A Blow

The Lake in the Hills Planning and Zoning Commission wrestled with windmills in the village Monday.  After a two-hour hearing they decided to go back to the drawing board. Literally.

Architect Bradley Epier said, "I'll be one of the first adopters to put one of these on my property."

He told Commissioners, however, he couldn't figure out proposed regulations for  mounting a windmill on a home.  Village Development Coordinator Lynn Stevens had to draw pictures to explain it and Commissioners decided it might be a good idea to include some in the proposed windmill ordinance.

The bottom line remained that the top of a residential windmill in Lake in the Hills can't be more than 15 feet higher than a home's ridgeline.

Even that was too much for homewowner Frank Holley. Envisioning windmills sprouting from rooftops like mushrooms he said, "I can't believe it. You're going to invite controversy from every neighbor."

"I think a more logical stand would be not to put them up at all," Holley said.

Even though there aren't any windmill generators in Lake in the Hills yet, commissioners spent more than an hour trying to figure out how to keep abandoned windmills from falling apart or falling over.  They finally agreed on an inspection program but decided the language in the plan needed some retooling.

The Commission tabled the measure until it's next meeting Dec. 14.

In the pic:  The only windmill in Lake in the Hills is probably this one at the riding school on Pyott Road.  It's not an electrical generator but it's certainly picturesque.

Grafton Township Holds Another Non-Meeting

Grafton Township Trustees didn't meet again at a Special Meeting called Monday to handle everything that wasn't dealt with at the regular meeting they didn't attend last week.

Monday's agenda included entries submitted by Trustee Rob LaPorta. Their absence from the previous meeting agenda was, apparently, the reason for trustees' absence then.

Two more township meetings have been set for Wednesday. One, called by Supervisor Linda Moore, is scheduled at the Huntley Park District at 7 pm.  The other called by LaPorta and Trustee Betty Zirk is set for 7:30 pm at the Park District.

Meanwhile McHenry County Blog publisher Cal Skinner is reported to have filed a complaint that township trustees violated the state Open Meetings Law claiming they met without public notice to agree to boycott last week's meeting.   McHenry County Chief Assistant State's Attorney Tom Carroll confirmed receipt of the email complaint and said his office was investigating it.

Huntley Welcomes Local Serviceman

Fire and Police lights flared and Harleys rumbled down Main Street in a welcome home Monday for a Huntley native son back recently from Iraq.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Stohlquist drove down from North Dakota for a Thanksgiving visit with Mom Patsy Stohlquist and Grandma Bessie Piske. The pair beamed as Stoholquist shook hands with VFW Adjutant Herb Glissendorf, Mayor Chuck Sass, Trustee Pam Fender, Fire Chief Jim Saletta and dozens of friends and well-wishers.

Stohlquist won't stay in Huntley long. Although his term was almost up, Stohlquist said he'd re-enlisted.  "I signed the papers last week," he said.

"I'll go back (to Iraq)," said the Firefighter Crew Chief. "I'm not afraid."

In the pic: SSgt. Jason Stohlquist, left, receives a special token from Joe Alger, head of the Patriot Riders motorcycle escort, "good for a free beer", anywhere there's free beer. 

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
November 16
2349 HRS POLARIS DR. & HARVEST GATE. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted Crystal Lake PD with a motor vehicle pursuit. (Report from 11/13/09)
1349 HRS 9010 HALIGUS RD. (PUBLIC WORKS). THEFT. Two heavy duty straps taken from salt dome.
1654 HRS 100 BLOCK OF COURSE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 84 year old female, having hip pain. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1902 HRS 2600 BLOCK OF CROFTON CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 56 year old female with difficulty breathing. Transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
1916 HRS 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Daughter vs. father. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1946 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend, verbal only.
Huntley
November 9
Daniel A. Sanchez-Garcia age 29 of 357 Country Brook, Harvard, IL was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Sanchez-Garcia posted bond and was released.
November 10
Jon M. Bauer, age 30 of 11402 Grove, was arrested for no valid driver’s license and cited for expired registration, no proof of insurance, and unlawful use of registration.  Mr. Bauer posted bond and was released with a court date of December 11, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
A resident near 11500 Douglas reported theft of two scooters that were left outside.
November 11
Michael C. Husenica, age 22 of 11402 Grove, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for improper lane usage. Mr. Husenica posted bond and was issued a McHenry County court date of December 11, 2009.
Francis C. Rowinski, age 61 of 12869 Timber Creek, was arrested for domestic battery and unlawful interference in reporting domestic battery.  Mr. Rowinski was transported to Kane County jail.
A male student at the high school reported theft of a cell phone that was stolen from his locked gym locker.
Frank W. Biernat, age 41 of 11707 Woodcreek, was arrested for domestic battery.  Mr. Bierenat was transported to McHenry County jail.
November 12
Petro Yurkovsky, age 32 of 10707 Wheatlands Way, was arrested for forgery and theft by deception.
Sandra Valadez, age 33 of 893 Harvest Circle, Crystal Lake, was arrested for no valid driver’s license.  Ms. Valadez posted bond and was given a McHenry County court date of December 4, 2009.
Frank W. Biernat age, 41 of 11707 Woodcreek. was arrested for violation of bail bond.  Mr. Biernat was transported to McHenry County jail.
November 14
Edward J. Blaha, age 54 of 10N612 Highland, Hampshire,  was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for improper lane use, disobeying a red light, and open alcohol.  Mr. Blaha posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 18, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Criminal damage to property occurred at 10502 Route 47, Papa G’s Restaurant.  The owner advised that a refrigerator unit was pushed off of the roof.
Burglary to motor vehicle occurred near 10700 Timer Drive.  A resident reported that a Garmin 100 GPS unit and some keys were taken from an unlocked vehicle in the driveway.
Criminal damage to property occurred near 10101 Route 47, American Community Bank.  An employee reported an arm was broken off of a satellite dish and the dish was distorted.
Burglary to motor vehicle occurred near 11300 Timer Drive.  A resident reported that a wallet and a Blackberry phone were taken from the vehicle.
Francisco Garcia-Dominguez,  age 37 of 5405 Outer Loop, Louisville, was arrested for no valid driver’s license and cited for suspended registration and no insurance.  Mr. Garcia-Dominguez posted bond and was released.
Burglary to motor vehicle occurred near 10200 Humbolt.  A resident reported that a GPS unit was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.
November 15
Daniel M. Bolwin, age 19 of 10705 N. Church, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for possession of suspended driver’s license.  Mr. Bolwin posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 18, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Criminal damage to property occurred near 11300 Timer. A resident reported that several boards were broken off a fence.
Burglary to motor vehicle occurred near 10700 Timer Drive.  A resident reported that a vehicle registration sticker was stolen from inside his vehicle.

Permit Denied For LITH Environmental Repair

Environmental advocate Al Wilson will sort his options today to salvage the half-finished repair of a landslip above Woods Creek at his home in Lake in the Hills.

Begun two weeks ago using funds from a village insurance settlement for the slip, work stopped Nov. 6 when village officials said Wilson's contractor should have obtained a permit.  Wilson claimed at the time his contractor had checked before starting and been told no permit was required.

At an administrative hearing Thursday the village called for a maximum $750 fine for Wilson's unauthorized restoration citing his continued failure to apply for a permit.  Hearing officer W. Randal Baudin asked if anyone had told Wilson the deadline for that was the next day. The consensus among representatives from three different village departments was that no one knew, so Baudin continued the hearing to Dec. 9.

This weekend Wilson reported his contractor applied for a permit on the Friday deadline but, despite approvals from the Army Corps of Engineers and state Department of Natural Resources, Village Engineer Dave Van Camp denied one.

"Now I've got a copy of the stop-work order," said Wilson. "It says if we can't get a permit we have to tear out what we've already done."

Wilson said he'd rather not do that, although not quite in those words.

In the pic:  Al Wilson's restoration of a landslip above Woods Creek is, basically, dirt.  The biodegradable sandbags are full of dirt and hold back more dirt.  The whole thing, if it's ever finished, is supposed to be covered with native plants next Spring, Wilson said.

Last Call For Festival Of Trees Sponsors

There are only three more days for local businesses to sponsor a tree in the eighth annual Lake In the Hills Festival of Trees and Food Drive.

Through the Festival of Trees event, the LITH Parks & Recreation Department spearheads one of the year’s largest food drives to help local food pantries bring Christmas cheer to area residents. Wednesday is the deadline to sponsor a tree for $75, and for not-for-profit organizations to decorate them.

This year's festival starts with the traditional Santa Ride-In Saturday, December 5,  Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via LITH fire truck at 5 pm to perform the tree-lighting ceremony and stay to hear children's Christmas wishes. Spectators can “vote” for their favorite tree by placing non-perishable household items under it . Trees will remain on display through December 25 to allow time to “vote”.

All items collected during the Festival of Trees will be donated to the Lake in the Hills/Algonquin Interfaith and Grafton Township food pantries.

Potential tree sponsors or decorators can sign up with the Parks & Recreation Department at 847-960-7460.

Friends Tell Friends About The First Electric Newspaper

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
November 15
0319 HRS RAKOW RD. & PINGREE RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MASONSONG, ENRIQUE D., MALE/WHITE 46 YEARS OF AGE, 4315 W. SHAMROCK LN., MCHENRY. Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Blood Alcohol Content Over .08, Improper lane usage and No Proof of Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1416 HRS 3100 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE LN. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. SMOROVSKY, ERIC R., M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 11730 CAPE COD, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Class 1 Felony for Residential Burglary and Theft. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL. BERNDT, ZACHARY P., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 11014 N. MYRTLE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Class 1 Felony for Residential Burglary and Theft. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL
1012 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH POLICE). ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Officer assisted the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department with serving an order of protection.
1516 HRS 1200 HEARTLAND GATE. (KC PARK). DOMESTIC. Verbal between father, mother and daughter. No priors.
1940 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 83 years of age having difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2307 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend v. girlfriend, verbal altercation only.One prior.
Algonquin
November 13
07:27am Booker, Brittany M., DOB: 05/30/88, of 3201 Nottingham Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident.  She was taken into custody at 550 Brookside Court.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/16/09, in McHenry County.
09:22am A sixteen-year-old male from Carpentersville was charged with Unlawful Use Weapon.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2600 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was Petitioned into Juvenile court and then released into the custody of his parents.
10:33am Mendoza, Gerardo A., DOB: 03/10/92, of 72 Hilltop Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Unlawful Storage of a Weapon on School Grounds.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2600 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.
16:15pm Spanier, Andrew, DOB: 01/06/53, of 1 Hartford Court, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Criminal Sexual Assault and Criminal Sexual Abuse.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $10,000, with a court date of 12/04/09, in McHenry County.
18:51pm Flores, Jorge C., DOB: 05/05/80, of 5451 Whitmore Way, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS, No Proof of Insurance and Following Too Closely.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Lake Cook Road. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/16/09, in McHenry County.
23:44pm A sixteen-year-old female from Barrington was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, No Headlights and Zero Tolerance.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 and Sandbloom Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 12/15/09, in McHenry County.
November 14
12:52pm Davis, Dominick J., DOB: 08/21/92, of 599 Flora Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery and 2 counts of Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody at 599 Flora Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
20:28pm Ramos-Cabrera, Adan, DOB: 12/12/76, of 116 Adobe Circle, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and No Rear Registration Light.  He was taken into custody at Souwanas Trail and Sandbloom Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 12/16/09, in McHenry County.
20:47pm Barratt, William G., DOB: 02/25/90, of 13 Birch Street, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, Speeding, Zero tolerance and Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody at 7-11, 1495 W. Algonquin Road.  He was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 12/16/09, in McHenry County.
20:53pm Fliginger, Jessica A., DOB: 01/01/91, of 203 N. Green Street, Carpentersville, was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  She was taken into custody at 7-11, 1495 W. Algonquin Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 12/30/09, in Algonquin.
November 15
02:13am Kosarek, Doreen, DOB: 04/05/61, of 719 Alice Place, Elgin, was charged with DWLS and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Longmeadow Parkway.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/30/09, in McHenry County.
November 16
00:12am Martinez, Maria L., DOB: 08/21/84, of 3258 Oak Knoll Road, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Disobeying a Traffic Control Device.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Harnish Drive.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 12/30/09, in McHenry County.
Huntley
delayed

County Dems To Meet Manzullo Challenger Wednesday

McHenry County Democrats will host 16th District Congressional candidate George Gaulrapp, Mayor of Freeport, at their regular meeting at the McHenry County Farm Bureau Building Wednesday. Gaulrapp is running for the seat now held by Republican Don Manzullo.

Gaulrapp is in his second term as mayor of Freeport. This is the third time in three elections that Manzullo has been challenged by Democratic mayors in the district. Galena Mayor Richard Auman tried in 2006. In 2008 Barrington Hills Mayor Robert Abboud made a run.

"It is a telling indictment when responsible municipal leaders from all corners of his congressional district challenge a powerful incumbent," said McHenry County Democratic Chair Kathleen Bergan Schmidt.

Last Day For Algonquin Friends of Library Book Sale

Books will be half-price today, the last day of the Friends of the Algonquin Area Public Library book sale at the district's Eastgate Library.  Hours today will be from 1 to 4 pm.

Saturday Grace Pytel carried off a bagful of bargain reading.  The
money Ann Marsland and other volunteers collected supports the districts local libraries with materials, services and programming  not funded by the library budget.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas II

Algonquin Eastside homeowner Craig McMahon was a little early putting up his Christmas lights Saturday.  "Normally I'd wait to do this until after Thanksgiving," McMahon said, "but it's 60-degree weather today."

Health Screenings At Grafton Township Senior Bingo Tuesday.

Grafton Township's monthly Senior Bingo at the Huntley American Legion Tuesday will include free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.
Senior Services Associates will also provide information about medicare, Medicaid and other senior issues.

The screenings will begin at 10:30 am followed by a lunch provided by Healthquest.  Bingo will start at 12:30 pm.

The township's next Bingo tourney will be Dec. 16.

Vendor Fair Benefits Huntley Church Community Care

Area vendors overflowed into the lobby Saturday at Huntley's Faith Community Church  Stop & Shop Vendor Fair. Ten percent of all sales supported the church's Community Ministries.

The church operates a food pantry, helps with a food service for those in need and currently is sponsoring a children's coat drive.  "This is entirely separate and apart from our church community," said Community Care Director Donna Kownacki. "Of course, we help them, too, if they need it."

Local Football

SATURDAY’S STATE QUARTERFINALS

CLASS 6A
Cary-Grove 42, De La Salle 0
Prairie Ridge 28, Belvidere North 20

CLASS 5A
Woodstock 44, Glenbard South 35

CLASS 4A
Richmond-Burton 28, Johnsburg 10

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
November 14
0103 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HAWTHORNE DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. TRNKA, MICHAEL E., MALE/WHITE 21 YEARS OF AGE, 451 ENTERPRISE ST., ELGIN. Charges: Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, Blood Alcohol Content over .08, Possession of Cannabis, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Speeding. Released on cash bond.
0257 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR. KOPP, ROGER A. III, MALE/WHITE 18 YEARS OF AGE, 1202 GREENVALLEY ST., BENSENVILLE. Charges: Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, Blood Alcohol Content over .08, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by minor. Improper Lane Usage. Transported to the McHenry County Jail. RIVIERRE, ALEXANDER C., MALE/WHITE 18 YEARS OF AGE, 476 ITASCA ST. WOODDALE. Charge: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by minor. Notice To Appear issued. Subject released. KROTSER, ALEXIS M., FEMALE/WHITE  18 YEARS OF AGE, 347 WILTSHIRE LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by minor. Notice To Appear issued. Subject released.
0308 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF W. ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. ORTIZ, ELIZABETH, FEMALE/WHITE 21 YEARS OF AGE, 3500 CHADWICK LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. Charges: Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, Improper Lane Usage. Released on cash bond.
1202 HRS 4500 ALGONQUIN RD. (7-11). DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. GOMEZ, SALVADOR, MALE/WHITE 23 YEARS OF AGE, 279 FRANKLIN BLVD., ELGIN. Charge: Driving While License Suspended. Released on cash bond.
0009 HRS 50 W ACORN DR. (HOME STATE BANK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 21 years of age, felt like she was going to lose consciousness. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1227 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HUNTERS PATH. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. both daughters. Verbal only. No priors.
1409 HRS 300 RANDALL RD. (LOWES). PRIVATE PROPERTY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1413 HRS 100 BLOCK OF COOL STONE BEND. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1643 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WINDERMERE WAY. DOMESTIC Father vs. Son, verbal only. One prior.
1646 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF ADAMS ST. MISSING JUVENILE. 14 year old male refusing to come home. Subject entered into LEADS.
1705 HRS 300 BLOCK OF PLUM ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 48 year old female with difficulty breathing. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.