Family Opens Algonquin Restaraunt To Area's Troubled At Christmas

The Mandile family, owners of Mandile's Restaraunt and Banquets, Algonquin, many of their staff and a dozen friends served Christmas dinner Friday to about 200 of the area's less fortunate.

"We were sitting around the table at Thanksgiving," said Papa Carmine Mandile.  "We thought, 'We're so fortunate to have a place to be and plenty to eat.'  Because of the economy there's a lot of people who don't.  They've lost their house, their job."

"We appreciate what we have," said Mandile, "and we thought we ought to do something to show it."  Free dinner at Christmas seemed to be the answer, he said.

"One lady called up and said, 'Are you going to serve pizza?'" said Mama Maria Mandile.  "'No,' I told her.  'We're going to serve turkey and ham.'"  Not to mention pasta, (an Italian restautant, you know) and potatoes, veggies...Christmas dinner.  Oh, yeah, homemade cookies and cheesecake, for dessert.

"It brings tears to your eyes," said Maria Mandile.  "People would call and say, 'Oh, thank you and God Bless you for doing this.'"

There was even a pile of presents "For the kids, you know.  In case they need them," said Maria.

The Mandiles (Vincent, Nino, Michael and Angela are the "kids") said they hope Friday's Christmas dinner might become a family tradition, although they'd prefer in a way that it not. "It's the economy," said Carmine Mandile.  "Even our business is 'off'."

In the pic:  Chef John Calderaro, Carmine and Maria Mandile slice one of the turkeys and hams for Christmas Dinner Friday served to some of the area's less-fortunate at Mandile's Restaurant, Algonquin.

MCDH Warns Against H1N1 Complacency

Only 41 new hospitalizations and 1 more death from H1N1 flu were reported in the past Christmas-shortened week according to the latest tally from the Illinois Department of Public Health. National reports from the Centers For Disease Control show the wave of illness from the flu variant receeding.

McHenry County Department of Health Administrator Patrick McNulty warned against complacency, however.  “The H1N1 virus can cause serious infection, especially to those with underlying conditions.”  MCDH laid on two more free H1N1 shot clinics Jan. 6 and 1o in Johnsburg and Marengo.

Spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush said CDC remains worried there might be a resurgence of H1N1 later in the coming year, perhaps complicated by an upswing in seasonal flu.  She reminded children under 10 who've already been vaccinated need a second shot to produce an immune response.

LITH Parks and Recreation Schedules Ski Trip

Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department report there are still a couple of weeks for kids 11 to 17 to sign up for their annual trip to Wilmot Mountain, Wisconsin, on President’s Day Jan. 18.

The Parks & Recreation mini bus will leave Village Hall at 9 am that day and return at about 5pm after a day of skiing and snowboarding Wilmot Mountain's 25 open runs. Equipment is available to rent from the facility, according to a release.

All participants will be supervised by adult chaperones, have
designated check-in times throughout the day, and will need to bring
snacks or money for the snack shop.

Reservations are due at the Department by Thursday, Jan. 14 and fees include transportation, chaperones, lift ticket, lesson, and rental.

Lift & Lesson only - $47 resident/$57 non-resident
Lift, Ski rental & Lesson - $72 resident/$82 non-resident
Lift, Snowboard rental & Lesson - $87 resident/$97 nonresident

For more information call the Department at (847) 960-7400.

In the pic:  Frosty fun at Wilmot Mountain on an earlier LITH Parks and Recreation Wilmot outing.

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
December 25
0947 HRS 4000 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 48 year old male, unconscious. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
0957 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. A briefcase, an electric saw, and a power drill were taken from an unlocked  vehicle overnight.
1031 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOL STONE BEND. CIVIL DISPUTE. Female subject not complying with visitation arrangement.
1344 HRS OAK ST. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1954 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD. (WALGREENS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, in the parking lot. Property damage only.
2123 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. DOMESTIC. Girlfriend vs. boyfriend, verbal only. One prior.
2327 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 35 years of age, requested a psychiatric evaluation. Transported to Woodstock  Memorial Hospital.

Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men

Longmeadow Parkway, Algonquin, 12/24/09

 More honored in the breach than the observance, it's still a pretty good idea.

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
December 24
2129 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. KEARNEY, ALLEN S., M/W 58 YEARS OF AGE, 2278 WOODSIDE DR., CARPENTERSVILLE. Charges: Driving While License Suspended, Driving on a Suspended Illinois Registration and no proof of valid insurance. RELEASED ON CASH BOND
0014 HRS 200 BLOCK OF N. ANNANDALE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 68 years of age, having a possible heart attack. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0621 HRS 200 BLOCK OF RAINMAKER RUN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 57 years of age, having abdominal pain. Transported to Good Shepherd.
0637 HRS 400 BLOCK OF PRIDES RUN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 47 years of age, unconscious. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
HRS 500 BLOCK OF BLACKHAWK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 51 years of age, experiencing chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1119 HRS 5000 BLOCK OF PRINCETON LN. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1129 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF JEFFERSON ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 79 years of age, feeling dizzy.Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1416 HRS 290 RANDALL RD. (VERIZON). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1507 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICKS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, property damage only in the parking lot.
1620 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & TALAGA RD. ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY. Assist Algonquin PD with a traffic stop and arrest of subject in a stolen vehicle.
2146 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Huntley Residents Sing To Young Cancer Victim

More than 100 Huntley neighbors and well-wishers sloshed through slush and freezing rain Wednesday to carol Christmas songs at the home of Carter Kettner, the village's six year-old resident battling an inoperable brain tumor.

The spontaneous event was organized, to the extent it was organized, by a group of women from the St. Mary's Mother's Reading Group. "I had the idea to go caroling," said Kristen Giangrego, "and then Meghan (Lentz) said, 'Let's carol for Carter,' and then Angela (Marotta) just ran with it."

Also on hand were fire trucks from the Huntley Fire Protection District, police cars, public works trucks and tow trucks. "Carter really liked the trucks (on Carter Kettner Day in August)," said Fire Chief Jim Saletta.

A roughly 6 foot 4 inch Santa was there too, to visit, young Carter who described it all as "awesome".

Tax Appeals Pile Up At County Assessor's Office

Clerks at the McHenry County Assessor's office continued this week to try to stay ahead of the flood of appeals from 2009 tax assessments. More than 3,600 appeals have been filed, according to Assessor Donna Mayberry, up from just over 1,800 last year.

Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley figured about one quarter of them came from his office but said the problem wasn't the assessments themselves as the state of the economy.  "These are kids that got in over their heads," said Ottley. "Appealing is one way to try to save money on the cost of owning a house," he said.

On the other hand, the collapse of the housing market does inject an element of uncertainty into the equalized assessed value equation.  Complicated as it is, it still rests on market prices.

Waiting for her appeal hearing P.J. McCaughn of Lake in the Hills said, "There are 34 of my house model in Lake in the Hills and not one has sold in two years."  McCaughn argued on secondary evidence for a 12 percent reduction. She got 10.

Mayberry said she'd like to plow through the appeals in the next seven weeks but doesn't think she'll make it.  "Ideally we aim for Valentines Day," she said.  "Last year we were a month late and we probably will be again."

Mayberry tried to put it in perspective.  "At least we're not Lake County," she said. "They've got 15,000."

In the pic:  Kim Jacobs, one of many processors, can barely get at her desk in the McHenry County Assessor's office for all the appeals stacked on, around and under it. 

Local Firefighters Man Salvation Army Kettles

Algonquin Lake in the Hills Firefighters Local 3985 manned the kettles Wednesday for the Salvation Army of McHenry County at Algonquin's Jewel-Osco on South Randall Road.  After three hours their kettles were almost half full and they planned to keep ringing their bells for another six hours.

The local will also collect non-perishable food and household items in a "Fight to Extinguish Hunger" drive for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry Jan. 15 at the East Algonquin Road Jewel-Osco.

In the pic:  Gianna Garza makes her donation to the Salvation Army of McHenry County while firefighters Matt Berg and Eric Kennedy warm themselves with some vigorous bell ringing.

Cheap Holiday Family Fun

Back in the day when men lived in caves and there were only four TV stations (all black and white and Channel 7 reception was usually iffy) Mom and Dad used to keep your editor and his siblings from strangling each other by packing us up on a holiday evening and driving around to look at all the Christmas lights.

With gas at 27 cents a gallon it was cheap family fun and it's probably still cheaper than, say, renting "X-Men at Wuthering Heights". If you try it, don't miss the Mathis family's display on Sedgewick Drive in Del Webb in Huntley.  There's a house down in Elburn that has them beat but not by much.

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
1105 HRS RANDALL RD. &  ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Female driver of unit two experiencing neck pain. No transport.
1423 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF RIDGEWOOD CIRCLE. DOMESTIC. Delayed report, husband vs. wife – verbal only.
1516 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, property damage only.
1515 HRS PYOTT RD. & JESSIE RD. ACCIDENT. One vehicle, property damage only.
1532 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF DANBURY CIRCLE. HIT & RUN. Red pick-up truck struck a light pole and left.
1547 HRS RANDALL RD. &  MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, property damage only.
1654 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. THEFT. Driver side outside mirror taken off vehicle during the night.
1806 HRS 00 BLOCK OF MILLER RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 30 year old male having a seizure. Transported to Northern IL Medical Center.
1954 HRS 00 BLOCK OF LONG COVE CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 89 year old female, incoherent. No transport.

County Committee Approves $18 Million For Area Sportsplex

With little discussion the McHenry county Finance and Audit Committee Monday voted unanimously to recommend awarding $18 million in federal recovery zone bonds to a developer who plans a $40 million sports complex at Route 47 and Route 176.

Headed by Lake in the Hills businessman Louis Tenore, McHenry County Sportsplex would cover 200 to 350 acres featuring an outdoor arena and indoor sports facilities, restaurants and shops.  Tenore said it would attract 600,000 people a year and employ 420 persons, mostly from McHenry County and surrounding areas.

CABA Baseball Excecutive Director Enrico Heirman, Crystal Lake, is the company's vice president and Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto said that seemed to be a big plus for the proposal.  "Based on my limited experience with CABA we'll have teams from all over coming to McHenry County"

Board Member Mary Donner, noting the development area is environmentally sensitive asked where all the effluent from 600,000 people was going to go.  Tenore said he expected the village of Lakewood would run water and sewer lines to the complex.

That would probably require the village to annex it, something that hasn't happened or even been formally proposed yet.  Lakewood President Erin Smith and Village Manager Cathy Peterson were both at Monday's meeting supporting the proposal which promises to expand the roster of Lakewood businesses, at the moment basically two country clubs, a concrete company, and a pizza restaurant.

Munaretto called the bonds a bridge loan for the Sportsplex and said they'd have a term of 5 years.  Tenore said his "creative financing" plans might take as much as eight years, depending upon an obscure immigration program that gives a green card to foreign investors who provide U.S. jobs.

If the County Board approves the Sportsplex bonds Jan. 5, that would  leave only $6 million in bond authority remaining for minor league baseball stadium promoter Mark Houser.  Houser requested $15 million in county recovery bonds but hasn't been able to line up a banker yet and his plans seem to be encountering opposition again in Crystal Lake, anyway.

Munretto said, "We've always sort of said this was 'first come, first served.'"


In the pic: Outlining their plans for a $40 million McHenry County Sportsplex, (left to right) Enrico Heirman, consultant Terry Gaouette and Louis Tenore.

Station Wreaths Promote Holiday Fire Safety

All the lights on McHenry County fire station wreaths are still red, as here at Algonquin Lake in the Hills Station One.

The county Fire Chiefs Association Keep the Wreath Red program calls for a white light to replace a red one every time a fire is caused by Christmas decorations.

The association recommends:

If you want a natural tree, select only a fresh cut one with tight needles.
Avoid overloading circuits or extension cords.
Keep trees away from any heat source.
Never use real candles on or near the tree or packages.
Turn off lights when adults are away since a short circuit could start a fire.

Good News: Area Unemployment Mostly Unchanged

McHenry County's unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in November, up .1 percent from the previous month to 9.7 percent.

Those were the latest figures released Monday by the Illinois Department of Employment Services. The state's overall unemployment rate reported earlier remained the same at 10.5 percent while U.S. unemployment fell slightly to 9.4 percent.

A growing number of economists believe the Great Recession ended several months ago but by the definitions they use that doesn't mean things are getting better, just that they've stopped getting worse.

“Past experience in Illinois suggests that signs of an economic recovery first will be felt elsewhere in the nation before significant job growth appears here at home,” according to a statement from IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell.

Cook County unemployment decreased nominally in November while unemployment in the collar counties remained largely unchanged .1 to .1 percent.  U.S. Bureau of Labor statisticians said that sort of change might just be random blips. Overall, Illinois non-farm payroll reported 6,300 fewer jobs in November than in October, the 22nd consecutive monthly loss.

Locally, unemployment broken out by municipalities saw rates largely unchanged except for McHenry's which  jumped .4 percent thanks to an increase in both the available labor force and the number of people out of work.

                               AREA UNEMPLOYMENT             
               REVISED Oct.  2009        PRELIMINARY Nov. 2009               
               LABOR    UNEMPLOYED      LABOR    UNEMPLOYED    Nov 
               FORCE    NUMBER  RATE    FORCE    NUMBER  RATE  2008   
U.S. (X1000)   153,635  14,547  9.5     153,539   14,407  9.4  6.5    
ILLINOIS     6,631,289 696,777  10.5  6,644,016  695,215 10.5  6.7    

MCHENRY COUNTY 177,953  17,052   9.6    179,241   17,322  9.7  6.0    
KANE COUNTY    264,929  26,772  10.1    267,086   27,423 10.3  6.3    
LAKE COUNTY    367,321  37,706  10.3    365,346   38,370 10.5  7.2    

ALGONQUIN       16,700   1,475   8.8     16,755    1,433  8.6  5.1    
LITH            16,990   1,544   9.1     17,115    1,572  9.2  5.6    
CRYSTAL LAKE    22,255   2,150   9.7     22,411    2,178  9.7  6.1    
MCHENRY         14,839   1,429   9.6     14,987    1,492 10.0  6.5    

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
December 22
1600 HRS RANDALL RD. & ROOSEVELT RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. QUIGLEY, ELIZABETH A., F/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 138 HARVEST GATE LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1045 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 27 year old male feeling light headed. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1222 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. THEFT. Musical equipment taken without owner’s consent.
1225 HRS 108 RANDALL RD. (O’REILLY AUTO PARTS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only. 1341 HRS 250 RANDALL RD. (COSTCO). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1703 HRS PYOTT RD. & INDUSTRIAL DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2140 HRS 8600 BLOCK OF ROUTE 47. ACCIDENT. One vehicle drove off into a snow bank.
2253 HRS 8600 BLOCK OF ROUTE 47. FOUND ARTICLE. License plate located at intersection.
2346 HRS 900 BLOCK OF BRANDT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 20 years of age, having a hard time breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Sheriff Details Record Pot Bust In Huntley

Surrounded by 58 mini-bales of marijuana Sheriff Keith Nygren Monday disclosed details of Sunday's giant pot bust in rural Huntley. Nygren said the interception of almost 1500 pounds of grass hidden in a semi full of onions was the largest confiscation of street-ready marijuana in the county's history.

Five men were arrested as they began to unload the pot into a pole barn at a farm about half a mile west of Huntley High School.  Nygren said the school's proximity appeared to be coincidental.  DEA agents had been trailing the truck from an undisclosed "out of state" location to what they expected would be a Chicago destination.  Agents notified Nygren's office when the truck pulled off the tollway and headed toward Huntley.

Arrested were Alfredo Bautista, 30, Frankfort; Kip Ernest Dalke, 32, Pingree Grove; Jesus Raymond Padilla, 34, Hanover Park; Carlos Martin Rodriguez, 32, Hazel Crest, and Guillermo Rodriguez, 44, Blue Island.

Why did they take the pot to Huntley? Nygren either didn't know or wasn't saying. "This is an ongoing investigation," he said.  Nygren said the farm owner, a widow in a nursing home, probably had no knowledge of what was going on.

Why onions?  Nygren speculated it might have been an attempt to foil drug-sniffing dogs.  "Maybe they thought the dogs couldn't smell it," said Nygren. "They can."

State Stiffing Area Social Service Agencies

In a replay of August's Social Services funding crisis Illinois agencies are again warning they may have to cut back if the state doesn't come up with some money soon.

State Comptroller Dan Hynes in his most recent statement in October said Illinois had nearly $3 billion in unpaid bills despite borrowing $2.25 billion due by the end of June. He said then the state was about about three months behind in bill paying.

Some agencies complain they haven't seen any money since August.  One Kane County agency is preparing to lay off its entire staff at the end of the year if Springfield doesn't pay what it owes them.

Two of McHenry County's 20 social service agencies are already running on loans from the McHenry County Mental Health Board, Deputy Director Bob Lesser told FEN Monday.  And that's the good news.

"Fortunately we have a resource most don't," said Lesser.  That's the Board's own tax receipts.  But Lesser said the Board can usually only lend client agencies money for a couple of months.

"Part of the issue is the state expects providers to get a line of credit from the banks," Lesser said. He warned that doesn't work now if it ever did.  Aside from the extra cost of interest, Lesser said, bankers are beginning to wonder if the state will ever pay what it owes.

"Many have exhausted their resources," said Lesser.  "It's very thin."

Hynes, Democratic candidate for Governor against Pat Quinn, said after legislators went home, "This is a reckoning brought on by years and years of irresponsible budget practices and nothing has changed." 

Friends Tell Friends About The First Electric Newspaper

Another Christmas Mystery Will Remain a Mystery

Just out of idle curiosity, how much power do all those pretty Christmas decorations consume?  A call to ComEd provided the answer: no one knows for sure.

Spokesman Jeff Burdick said there's no way separate the increased power demand for decorations from the increased demand for lights and heat during the long cold winter nights.  He said the latter demand was probably larger, though, since "February is usually the month for peak winter demand."  Even FEN's groundskeeper (and publisher) has decorations down by then.

ComEd Energy Efficiency specialist Maryl Freestone was able to quantify the power to light one average Christmas tree, though.  She said a tree with 1120 Italian lights (from China these days) consumes about 450 watts of energy which works out to about $10.70 cents worth of juice if the lights go up at Thanksgiving and come down before Twelfthnight.
In a pitch for efficiency Freestone said the new LED Christmas lights would only cost $1.60 to operate.

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
December 21
0241 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. TIERNEY, STEPHEN W., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 724 ARROWHEAD DR.,  YORKVILLE. CHARGES: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Hypodermic Needle. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0943 HRS 200 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. RUIZ-OCAMPO, RAUL G., M/W 54 YEARS OF AGE, 211 WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS.
CHARGES: Domestic Battery, two counts. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1329 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & FAIRWAY VIEW. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. PENATE, MAURICIO A., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 2829 N. SPAUDLING, CHICAGO.
CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, Expired Registration, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
FOLLOW UP ARREST: 1815 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH PD). FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT. KARKOWSKI, GARY M., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 826  SHAWNEE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Filing a False Police Report, Aggravated Driving Under the Influence and Failure to Report a Motor  Vehicle Accident. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0925 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 65 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1311 HRS 519 WILLOW ST. (LITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 13 years of age, with an injured knee. Transported to Sherman  Hospital.
1622 HRS 0 BLOCK OF MILLER RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 30 years of age, having chest pain. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
1628 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2121 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 89 year old female having chest pain. Transported to Good Shepherd Hospital.
2257 HRS 6900 RAKOW RD. (RAKOW CURVE). ACCIDENT. Car vs. deer. Property damage only.
Huntley
December 14
Richard J. Gaston, age 39, of 3069 Cortland, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Gaston posted bond and was  issued a McHenry County court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
December 15
Criminal defacement to property occurred at the high school.  Graffiti was found in the boys' bathroom.
Israel Martinez, age 26, of 104 Golf, Carpentersville,was arrested for no valid driver’s license.  Mr. Martinez posted bond and was issued a  McHenry County court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
December 16
Branden L. Williams, age 31, of 174 N. Lill Avenue, Crystal Lake,was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court in  Kane County.  Mr. Williams posted bond and was released with a Kane County court date. 
A female student at the high school reported theft of an iPod Touch from a locker.
A resident near 11909 E. Main Street reported residential burglary.  A firebox containing $200 cash and miscellaneous important documents  were stolen.
December 17
A male student at the high school reported theft of an iPod Touch during second hour class.
A female student at the high school reported theft of a cell phone from the bus.
Shane E. Adams, age 27, of 1004 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, was arrested for no valid driver’s license.  Mr. Adams posted bond and was issued a McHenry County court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
Telesforo Lopez, age 28, of 451 Summer Boulevard, McHenry, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for failure to signal  when required.  Mr. Lopez was released after posting bond and issued a court date of January 8, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.   
December 18
A male student at the high school reported theft of a Blackberry Curve cell phone stolen out of an unlocked gym locker.
A female student at the high school reported theft of a cell phone stolen out of an unlocked locker.
December 19
Eduardo Vazquez, age 20, of 1240 Robinwood, Elgin, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for improper signal.  Mr.  Vazquez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
Steven Pitts, age 50, of 9226 S. Layfayette, Chicago, was arrested and cited for revoked driver’s license.  He posted bond and was issued a  McHenry County court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.

Algonquin Commuters: Thanks, It's Just What We Wanted

Algonquin's Hanson Road reopened this morning after a four-month closure for reconstruction. A mild Fall allowed more work to be completed on the busy thoroughfare than planners had expected.

The reopening until next Spring should relieve pressure on Route 31 and Randall Road, not to mention Stonegate and Edgewood drives, primary parts of the detour routes. Hanson will close down again in Spring, however, to allow additional work including some tricky drainage installations at Ratt Creek.

H1N1 Flu Falls While Vaccines Increase

H1N1 flu continued to abate in Illinois last week according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, even as vaccine for the disease finally began to pour into the state.

According to IDPH's latest tally Friday only additional persons were hospitalized for H1N1 last week and only two additional deaths were attributed to it.

Non-Chicago vaccine shipments reached 3.1 million by the end of the week, roughly double the figure of three weeks ago.

Joseph E. Gugle, McHenry County Department of Health Manager for Planning, Personnel & Administration, cautioned Friday against complacency. "That's not to say we're out of the woods," he said. "As we move into the holidays that's when the (regular) flu season begins to pick up," said Gugel.Put simply, vaccine doesn't protect against seasonal flu and seasonal flu vaccine doesn't protect against H1N1. There were troubles producing H1N1 vaccines in quantity and those troubles slowed down production of seasonal flu vaccine as well.

Centegra Health Systems reported H1N1 flu vaccines will be available to everyone, not just high-risk groups, beginning today at its Immediate Care Centers, including Huntley, from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

MCDH has an H1N1 clinic still open tomorrow at headquarters in Woodstock from noon to 4pm and Dec. 29 at Marian Central High School in Woodstock from 1 to 5 pm.  The department also plans H1N1 immunizations at county domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and social service agencies.

MCDH has also received another CDC shipment of Tamiflu and Relenza antivirals for treatment of  H1N1 symptoms in high risk individuals. The department said the latest shipment will be available to primary care physicians and pharmacies who need them.

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
December 20
0039 HRS RANDALL RD. & MCHENRY AVE. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SENSOR, JAMES L., M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 9505 3RD AVE., CARY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0155 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & SQUARE BARN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. JAEHNIG, BLAINE K., M/W 39 YEARS OF AGE, 11289 TIMER DR., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with Blood Alcohol Content Over .08, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
FOLLOW UP ARREST: 1637 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. CHILD ENDANGERMENT. ZEEK, MELISSA MANZAR, F/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 912 CYNTHIA LN LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Child Endangerment. RELEASED ON BOND.
0841 HRS 200 BLOCK OF OAKLEAF RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 74 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1643 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 2 year old male subject was choking on a foreign object. No transport.
1702 HRS ROUTE 31 & VIRGINIA RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2346 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. Two priors. Female, 16 years of age transported to Sherman Hospital for an evaluation.
FOLLOW UP REPORT: 1441 HRS 100 BLOCK OF ELLIS RD. VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION. Possible violation of an order of protection.
Algonquin
December 18
15:32pm Cazares-Villa, Erika, DOB: 05/17/88, of 737 Southwind, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Speeding, She was taken into custody at N. River and Echowoods. She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 01/20/10, in McHenry County.
13:32pm Walker, Melvin, DOB: 05/17/57, of 1545 N. Harrison, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS and Disobeying a Traffic control Device. He was taken into custody at RT 31 and LaFox. He was released after posting his Driver’s License and $100, with a court date of 01/20/10, in McHenry County.
December 19
7:57am Mueller, Deana M., DOB: 07/29/72, of 305 Country Lane, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS, No Insurance and Speeding. She was taken into custody at Golden Eagle and Harnish. She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 01/20/10, in McHenry County.
17:53pm Hajroja, Burim, DOB: 02/22/82, of 701 Wedgewood Circle., Lake in the Hills, was Wanted on Warrant out of Kane County for DUI, DuPage County, for DWLs and McHenry County for DUI. He was turned over to Kane County Sheriff.
20:26pm Hirsch, Pamela, DOB: 08/09/53, of 830 Applewood, Algonquin, was charged with Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicle. She was taken into custody 400 S. Randall Rd. She was released on a Personal Recognizance bond, with a court date of 01/20/10/, in McHenry County.
December 20
16:06pm Bruno, Tania K., DOB: 05/28/91, of 297 Alpine, Gilberts, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Following too Closely. She was taken into custody at Bunker Hill and Fairway View. She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 01/20/10, in McHenry County.

Salvation Army Donations Up But Not Enough

With six days until Christmas, McHenry County Salvation Army reported  Saturday that donations this year fall in the classic good news/bad news category.  The good: after a year of terrible recession donations are actually up from last year.  The bad: not as much as they need to be.

"We're slightly ahead of where we were on the kettles last year," said Commanding officer Maj. John Price.  However, last year the kettle funraising goal was $175,000.  This year it's $200,000.  "We're about $3,000 ahead of where we were.  But we need to be $25,000 ahead," said Price.  That's because requests for Salvation Army help in McHenry County have increased between 30 and 40 percent this year.

Price said a kettle donation tradition that began in McHenry County  marked its 27th year even though times are tough. "Someone donated a 1/4-ounce gold coin last week," said Price.  That doesn't seem as generous as the one ounce-Krugerrands of yore but with the price of gold up 50 percent this year alone it works out to be more in dollar terms than it sounds.

Between kettles and year-end donations McHenry County Salvation Army hopes to raise $365,000 this year.  Price remained optimistic.  "We're on track to do it," he said. "This last week (before Christmas) is always very important."

In the pic:  Taylor Mitchell places her donation in Mark Forner's Salvation Army kettle in front of the Randall Road Jewel in Algonquin Saturday.

Ex-Huntley Man Convicted Of Child Abuse

McHenry County Judge Joseph P. Condon in a three-day bench trial earlier this week found a former Huntley man guilty of slamming his infant son’s head into an entertainment center four years ago. Jay Siedelberg was found guilty of Aggravated Battery to a Child and Aggravated Reckless Conduct.

During the trial, Dr. Thomas Valvano, the child's pediatrician and expert witness for the State, testified that the infant suffered abusive head trauma consisting of a depressed skull fracture, brain swelling, and hemorrhaging in several areas between the skull and brain. Valvano categorized the injuries as severe and similar to those observed when an infant falls from a second-story window.
 
Siedelberg admitted in testimony that he initially lied to his wife, hospital personnel, and police about the events that caused the child’s injuries. He said it was because he was scared and sleep deprived.  He denied that he meant to hurt the boy and testified the injuries were accidental.

The child is now four years old and unable to walk as a result of his injuries. Seidelberg faces up to 30 years in prison with sentencing set for Feb. 17.

MCC To Offer Small Business Classes Starting January

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at McHenry County College will offer a number of classes for small businesses in January. Among the timely topics are classes on starting a business in Illinois and marketing without a lot of money.

Starting A Business In Illinois takes more than a bright idea and a cardboard sign. The class will cover many of the basics of entrepreneurship and list the agencies whose forms may be need to be filed and resources to help the budding business owner. The class will be 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 13, and the fee is only $25.

Cash Flow Analysis is one of ISBC's most popular since cash flow is a key indicator of how healthy a business is operating. The class will be from 7 to 10 pm starting Thursday, Jan. 14. The fee is $45.

How To Develop A Business Plan will help business owners create a road map for the future success of their company. Whether business owners are going out for capital or is simply looking to drive a greater margin, a business plan is essential. This class meets from 7 to 10 pm beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19. It's fee is also $45.

Marketing On A Shoestring Budget teaches how to do more with less to drivea business's awareness and increase revenue. IT will run from 7 to 9 pm Thursdays starting Jan. 21. The fee is $39.

Performance Management teaches the tools to create baseline measurements of operations, employee and service performance as well as customer satisfaction. The class will meet from 7 to 9 pm Wednesday, from Jan. 27 with a $39 fee.

How To Use Trademark, Copyright and Patent Protection  will cover the basics of intellectual property as well as what can and cannot be protected. This class will be held from 7 to 9 pm beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12. The fee is $39.

All classes will be at the Shah Center 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry. For more information or to register, contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at (815) 455-6098 or sbdc@mchenry.edu.

Local Sports

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Saturday's results:
JACOBS HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Barrington 65, Crystal Lake Central 49
Bartlett 73, Woodstock 44
Jacobs 60, Lindblom 48
Marian Central 63, Elk Grove 46
Mundelein 79, Cary-Grove 65
Prairie Ridge 58, Wauconda 52
St. Charles North 64, St. Edward 37
Zion-Benton 53, Crystal Lake South 39

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
December 19
0225 HRS MAIN ST. & CONGRESS PARKWAY. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. TURNER, GLENN F., M/W 55 YEARS OF AGE, 127 N. MAIN ST.. CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Blood Alcohol Content Greater than .08,  Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0322 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LA COSTA CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 90 years of age, in and out of consciousness. Transported to Woodstock Memorial  Hospital.
0503 HRS 800 BLOCK OF NAVAJO DR. SUICIDE ATTEMPT. Male, 25 years of age, suicide attempt by cutting. Transported to Woodstock Memorial  Hospital.
1531 HRS 9100 BLOCK OF TRINITY DR. THEFT. Failure to return money following a failed car sale. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY OFFICER.
1738 HRS HILLTOP DR. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. One vehicle accident, property damage only.
1905 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Children left home alone on 121809. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY OFFICER.
2031 HRS 9100 BLOCK OF TRINITY DR. THEFT. Employee theft; offender was getting checks under false pretenses. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY  OFFICER.