Real Estate Tax Cap To Incease For 2010

One of Friday's first tasks for McHenry County tax district budget officers was logging on to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website to  check what 2009's inflation number turned out to be.  More than a measure that it cost 2.7 percent extra last year to buy the same stuff as in 2008, Friday's Consumer Price Index number sets a limit on how much property taxes can go up in 2011.

"It's kind of hard to explain," said McHenry County Assessor Donna Mayberry.  Nah, it's just hard to understand. As the Attorney General put it in 1996, "The limiting rate is a fraction, with a numerator consisting of the last preceding aggregate extension base multiplied by an amount equal to one plus the extension limitation. The denominator consists of the current year’s equalized assessed value, without including new property or the recovered tax increment value."

It all starts with an Illinois law called PTELL, short for the Property Tax Extention Limitation Law, even shorter "The Tax Cap." What it means is the dollar amount collected from  a district's taxpayers  all together isn't supposed to go up each year more than the last year's CPI. (Not counting anything extra for new construction.)  That "cap" on increases in collective taxes usually sets a rough limit on the rise in individual property taxes.

For homeowners it's been a swell thing: for a long time housing values increased around 7 percent a year but taxes only went up maybe three. Budgeteers got used to that.  In 2008, however, in the midst of the Great Recession the CPI increase was only .1 percent.  District's' aggregate property tax takes for 2009 were almost frozen and that's part of why they're all wearing sweaters and using the backs of  driveway coating company fliers for scratch paper to make it through the 2010 budget year.

"I've been talking to school districts," said Mayberry.  "Their costs have gone up, things like heat and power, busses and stuff, that they can't change."

Friday's CPI number is all about next year's budgets, though.

"I'm not going to say it's going to solve all our problems," said County Financial Administrator Ralph Sarbaugh.  "It'll give us more room," he said. "A lot of our other revenues are still going to be down.  But it'll help."

Back at the individual taxpayer level Friday's CPI number may not be such good news.  The inflation rise means even though  market real estate values are still down about 25 percent from their 2007 highs, after a lot of complicated rigamarole with assessments and statutory tax rate limits,  next year's tax bills might not fall as much as everyone hopes or even go up some more.

Local McDonalds To Benefit Violence Shelter

Four local McDonalds restaurants, in  Algonquin, Huntley, Marengo and Fox River Grove will hold a “McCare Night” Feb. 3 for Turning Point, McHenry County's shelter against domestic violence.  Fifteen percent of proceeds at the restaurants between 5 and 8 pm will be donated that day.

Owner Susan Singleton said, "Giving back to our communities is a core value of our company.  Turning Point serves our entire county, so we felt it was important that each of our four McDonald's in McHenry county combine their efforts for Turning Point."

Turning Point is a domestic violence agency and shelter to confront violence against women and children in McHenry County.  This is the first time these four restaurants will hold a McCare night simultaneously. The restaurants are the McDonalds at 125 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, 10711 Route 47, Huntley, 200 W. Grant Highway, Marengo, and 840 Northwest Highway, Fox River Grove.

No coupon or flyer is necessary and all purchases made during the appointed hours will generate donations to the charity.

More information on the McCare Night for Turning Point is available at the agency,  815-338-8081.

Stimulus Money To Make County More Energy Efficient

McHenry County showed off this week for the U.S. Department of Engergy so officials could see what the county plans for close to $1 million in Recovery money to make facilities more energy efficient.

Board Chairman Ken Koehler said, “This is an excellent opportunity for the County to tap into federal stimulus funds. First, it allows us install cutting edge technology to reduce our energy costs. Secondly, we are able to lead the way in demonstrating environmentally sensitive solutions for energy needs.”

The County and Siemens Industry have worked up several energy-saving upgrades. They'll include solar photovoltaics, solar walls, LED lighting, boiler upgrades, high-efficiency motor replacement, retro-commissioning of the McHenry County Government Center and an education program to track and display renewable energy production.

Planners figure annual cost savings for the projects will $118,000 and reduce the County’s carbon footprint by 1,655,888 lbs of carbon dioxide. That's about 5.2 acres of trees they estimate if the county had a fireplace that big.

In the pic:  Board member Sue Draffkorn; John Hadley, Director of Facilities; Board Chairman Ken Koehler; Jonathan Aardsma and Ryan Kabat, Siemens.

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
delayed

Local Sports

Boys' Basketball
Friday's results

Crystal Lake Central 64, Prairie Ridge 54
Crystal Lake South 52, Cary-Grove 38
Grayslake Central 83, Woodstock 51
Grayslake North 66, Woodstock North 47
Marian Central 71, Chicago Christian 44
McHenry 29, Dundee-Crown 27

Huntley Trustees Challenge MCDOT Over Flood

As Yogi Berra famously observed, "It isn't over 'till it's over." Thursday even though widening Algonquin Road in Huntley looks like it's been over for a while the village Board of Trustees decided it may not be quite done. They tabled a payment to the County Division of Transportation for finishing it.

Huntley owes MCDOT a $78,000 final check for engineering and construction costs on the project but when the time came to approve it Trustee Harry Leopold asked if anyone had figured out who was responsible for a flash flood down Douglas Avenue from Church St. during a storm in late summer.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said MCDOT variously blamed "A 200-year storm" and Huntley construction taking place nearby at the time.

"I've never heard of a 200-year storm," said Trustee Paul Mercer.

"It wasn't even a 100-year storm," growled Mayor Chuck Sass.

Johnson said the village engineers' suspect a pair of MCDOT-designed detention ponds may have been made undersized.  "The water was running out of the ponds before it ever got to the (Huntley sewer) system."

Johnson said the flood was more than a nuisance calling it an issue of life and safety. "A child could have been walking by and been injured," he said.

"I for one don't feel we should pay the entire amount," said Leopold. "Then we'd have some leverage," he said.  So the board voted not to and now they do.

Tryon Calls State of the State Speech Disappointment

State Rep. Michael Tryon (R-64) said Thursday Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State Address  didn't have much to say about the state’s worsening financial situation and increasing unemployment.

Quinn's address Wednesday patted himself on the back for passing a capital budget last year and banning text messaging while driving but  mostly skipped over the state's deteriorating finances.  Last week the Illinois sold $3.4 billion in bonds to help cover its overdue bills.

“The citizens deserve a financially secure Illinois, and nothing Gov. Quinn said will help us to reach that goal,” said Tryon. “Under Democratic leadership we’ve seen our backlog of unpaid bills reach $6 billion and unemployment skyrocket near 11 percent, yet the governor would rather give a campaign speech filled with fluff and feel-good proposals than address these problems.”

Tryon wants a five-year plan to solve the budget problems. “Just last year Gov. Quinn promised massive cuts to the state budget, which we haven’t seen yet," Tryon said. "And, despite our high unemployment, he continues his push for an income tax on working families and employers.”

Legislators returned home Thursday and aren't expected to go back to Springfield until after the Groundhog Day Primary.

SA Finds Financial Disclosure Ordinance "Teeth" False

The count now stands at 18 candidates for McHenry County offices who've voluntarily filed financial disclosure forms an advocacy group wants made mandatory.  The push to enact the measure suffered a setback this week, though, when a State's Attorney's analysis said a penalty in the proposed ordinance isn't legal.

The Alliance For Agriculture, Land and Water's proposed disclosure ordinance would make false disclosure a felony and strip a county employee or officeholder of his position.  The legal analysis made public at this week's meeting of the County Board Management Services Committee said the county can't define a felony since that's a job for the Legislature.
It didn't address the automatic loss-of-office penalty but that looks pretty shaky, too, at least for elected officials.  Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Schaupp said she only meant to provide a draft for the committee's guidance since ALAW wants the ordinance enacted double-quick.

The Committee invited ALAW to come back to try to work out a penalty that could pass legal muster but no one had any idea of what it might be.  "I can't think of one at this point,"  Chairman Ersel Schuster said Wednesday.

ALAW attorney Emily Berendt said Thursday, "I'm researching that. There're going to be some sanctions.  But I don't know what they're going to be."

Huntley FPD Asks Residents To Keep Hydrants Clear

Huntley Fire Protection District Chief James Saletta said Thursday his men have almost finished digging out fire hydrants buried in mounds from recent snows.

Since it's a pretty safe bet they'll be buried again before Winter's over, though, Saletta offered a simple equation in practical firefighting math:  His trucks only carry about 3 1/2 minutes worth of water and it takes 4 to 6 minutes to dig out a hydrant. Saletta said an average housefire doubles in size every 20 seconds.

Saletta asked volunteers to help keep the hydrant nearest their homes clear for about three feet around this winter.  HFPD calls it the "Adopt A Hydrant" program.

Algonquin Lake in the Hills firemen this week have been clearing hydrants in their district, too.

In the pic: Here's a hydrant HFPD dug out. Metrically precise but neatness doesn't really count digging out fireplugs, just clear access.

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
January 14
1717 HRS ACORN LN. & VILLAGE CREEK DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED. SCHNECK, NICHOLE M.,  F/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 334 VILLAGE CREEK DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While  License Revoked, Improper Turn and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0034 HRS 0 BLOCK OF DOGWOOD CT. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1209 HRS 100 BLOCK OF LAKE DR. IDENTITY THEFT. Unknown subject attempted to open up 3 credit  card accounts in complainant’s name. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1336 HRS 00 BLOCK OF CLARK AVE. MISSING JUVENILE. Juvenile ran away from home. Entered into  LEADS.
1341 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & OAKLEAF RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1405 HRS 2450 W ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1718 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WINDERMERE WAY. DOMESTIC. Father vs. son. Verbal only.
Three priors.
1849 HRS 5500 CHANCERY WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 36 year old male and 34 year old female  advising that they have headaches. No transport.
2128 HRS 400 BLOCK OF E. OAK ST. OUTSIDE ASSIST TO ALGONQUIN POLICE. Assisted Algonquin  Police Department in locating a subject possibly involved in a retail theft. TURNED OVER TO ALGONQUIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Algonquin
January 13
17:21pm A fourteen-year-old male from Carpentersville was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Meijer’s, 400 S. Randall Road.  He was referred to the Tri Area Court for Teens and then released into the custody of his mother.
January 14
00:37am Pollack, Richard P., DOB: 01/29/65, of 521 Blackhawk Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS.  He was taken into custody in the 2200 block of W. Algonquin Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 02/17/10, in McHenry County.
14:40pm Harrington, Robert A., DOB: 08/08/91, of 325 Circle Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 02/17/10, in McHenry County.
16:53pm Rosales, Gloria F., DOB: 03/20/81, of 523 Gentle Breeze Terrace, Carpentersville, 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 02/24/10, in McHenry County.
22:15pm Medansky, Lucas F., DOB: 03/26/91, of 503 Lincoln Avenue, Fox River Grove, was charged with Theft of Services.  He was also Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Failure to Appear, on a Possession of Cannabis charge.  He was taken into custody at 404 E. Oak Street, Lake in the Hills.  He was released after posting $100, on the Algonquin charges, with a court date of 02/17/10, in McHenry County and after posting $500, on the Kane County warrant, with a court date of 02/04/10, in Kane County.

McHenry County Indictments

A McHenry County Grand Jury returnted indictments this week against the following individuals:
The charges against these defendants are merely allegations against them.  The defendants are presumed innocent of any crime until proven guilty in court.
ANDREW M. KUKLINSKI, DOB:  08/20/92, 10901 BREEZY LAWN ROAD, SPRING GROVE. BURGLARY(3CTS), CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO MOTOR VEHICLE(3CTS), THEFT(UNDER $300)(3CTS)--FOX LAKE PD

MATTHEW D. WELLINGTON, DOB:  03/17/92, 967 GOLF COURSE ROAD #1, CRYSTAL LAKE. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY(OVER $300)(3CTS), CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT OF PROPERTY(2CTS), CRIMINAL DAMAGE  TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY--CRYSTAL LAKE PD

DUSTIN L. GAUDIO, DOB:  04/09/89, 61 GATES STREET APT D, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION  WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS(2CTS)--NORTH CENTRAL  NARCOTICS TASK FORCE
  
MICHAEL J. GHILARDI, DOB:  01/02/51, 2904 HOLIDAY DRIVE, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH  INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF  CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITHOUT REQUISITE FIREARM OWNER’S  IDENTIFICATION CARD, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM AMMUNITION WITHOUT REQUISITE FIREARM  OWNER’S IDENTIFICATION CARD, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA--NORTH CENTRAL  NARCOTICS TASK FORCE
  
PATRICK J. O’DONNELL, DOB:  06/04/90, 643 CARY WOODS CIRCLE, CARY.UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF  CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE--NORTH CENTRAL NARCOTICS  TASK FORCE
  
COLLEEN K. RYAN, DOB:  07/20/68, LAST KNOWN ADDRESS:  3516 W. WASHINGTON  #1, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG  PARAPHERNALIA--MCHENRY PD
  
PAUL KOROLUK, DOB:  11/28/78, 2103 SWEETWATER DRIVE, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS--WOODSTOCK PD
  
MICHAEL J. KVACIK, DOB:  05/10/79, 5416 THEKEN DRIVE, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS), UNLAWFUL DELIVERY  OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL  POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED(2CTS),  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO DELIVER--MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF

Sheriff's Candidate Asks For Special Prosecutor

Republican McHenry County Sheriff's candidate Zane Seipler Wednesday notched up his complaints about against Keith Nygren asking the Circuit Court to appoint a Special prosecutor to investigate the Sheriff's political activity.

Seipler's petition basically repeats his earlier complaints to the State's Attorney's Office, the Attorney General and the Illinois Election Board.  Seipler charged Nygren used or allowed the use of County resources to support Dan Regna in his Primary campaign against State's Attorney Lou Bianchi two years ago. Seipler Initially complained to Bianchi's office which said the matter belonged to either the AG or the Election Board.  Both of those, however, eventually said no it didn't it belonged to the State's Attorney which Seipler said seemed to close a circle with his complaints left on the outside.

Seipler's Circuit Court list of charges was slightly cut back from the earlier version.  "I only complained about things I have pictures of or that I personally witnessed," Seipler said.  However, one of them actually comes from a lead in an earlier court-ordered investigation that was never followed up.

Looking into the theft of computer files from Bianchi's office in 2006, Special Prosecutor David O'Connor said he found they'd been given to Regna's campaign manager, a part-time member of Nygren's Courthouse Security detail who kept them hidden in a safe deposit box for several months but then claimed he'd lost them. Seipler's complaint says Nygren never did anything about that.

In another incident Seipler didn't actually see he said Nygren Courthouse Security personnel harassed one of his supporters last year.  "The witness is willing to testify on that one," he said.

Nygren has said there's nothing to any of Seipler's charges and he's just mad because the Sheriff fired him.

Midwinter Weather Report At Algonquin Township

Road Commissioner Bob Miller told Algonquin Township Trustees Wednesday that he'd like to declare Winter's done but he can't.  Miller said the Road District's measured 42 1/2 inches of snow so far this year.

"There've been 12 'events' but some of them sort of ran into each other," Miller said.
So far Miller reported, "We've used about as much salt as last year."  The good news is this year's salt cost less than $70 per ton instead of last year's exorbitant $140 per ton, Miller said.

Separately Wednesday Illinois Department of Natural Resources Project Manager Rita Lee told FEN the Chain O' Lakes is a little higher than she'd like right now and IDNR's draining them through the McHenry and Algonquin dams as fast as conditions allow.  They're not running full-bore though because of ice jams lower down the Fox in Kane County. 

Grafton Twp. Paper Reycling : Use It Or Lose It

The Grafton Township Road District's in danger of losing the Abitibi paper recycling bin at its Huntley offices if more residents don't start bringing their old newspapers and catalogs.

Assistant Jenny Moore said Wednesday Abitibi has warned the district it'll pull the bin soon if it doesn't draw a couple of tons of paper a month.  "It's only been doing about half a ton," said Moore.

Paper company AbitibiBowater provides the recycling bins at no no cost, to schools, churches and other non-profit organizations and even pays a little for the paper collected.  Moore said there's not much time left, though.  "They said they'd pull it in February if people don't start to use it," she said.

In the pic:  Besides the endangered paper bin, the Grafton Township's Recycling Center includes red and white U’SAgain recycling bins for clothing, shoes and household textiles. 

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
January 13
1018 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & BERG ST. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. NOVAK, CHRISTOPHER J., M/W 39  YEARS OF AGE, 641 POPLAR AVE., ROMEOVILLE.  CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License and No Proof  of Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0700 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF STARWOOD PASS. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 23 years of age, swollen face,  cannot hear or speak. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1413 HRS 4400 BLOCK OF HERON DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 47 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.
1723 HRS 400 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 43 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2007 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Complainant’s ATM card used  without permission out of state.
2333 HRS 170 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 41 years of age, with a  rapid heartbeat. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Latest Randall Corridor Plans Revealed At LITH

"Very nearly the entire (McHenry County) Division of Transportation," as Lake in the Hills Village Administrator Gerald Sagona described it, briefed  the LITH Board Tuesday on the latest plans for improving the Randall Road corridor.  MCDOT Design Manager Wally Dittrich told trustees The Randall/Algonquin Road intersection is the key to making the corridor work and engineers think they've got a solution.

In mid-November when U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited the area planners announced that  a novel design called a four-leg continuous flow intersection looked like the answer.  They said the numbers looked good for cutting the traffic backups at Randall and Algonquin during Rush Hour.  The map to build the thing, however, didn't look so good for some of the businesses at the intersection, notably Walgreens, Bank of America and Phillips 66.

Dittrich said MCDOT crunched some more numbers and ran more simulations and found half the continuous flow intersection with two legs only on Randall worked almost as well as the full version.  Dittrich said it would cut delays from more than two minutes to 35 seconds, smack in the target time area engineers were shooting for.

"To be eligible for federal funding we're not going to get an approval without the improvement a CFI gives," Dittrich said.

Even a two-leg CFI would require changing driver access to businesses around the intersection, though.  Dittrich said after discussions with local planners MCDOT has come up with routing plans to take care of that, too.

MCDOT Chief Joe Korpalski said he planned similar briefings in the next few weeks for the Algonquin and Crystal Lake boards.

LITH Rejects Incentive Deal For Hobbytown

The Lake in the Hills Board took a by Tuesday on a request for incentives for a Crystal Lake business to relocate to the village. Trustees without comment agreed they weren't interested in giving away the store to get one.

Hobbytown in Crystal Lake has been rumored for several months to be planning to move from its current too-small location. Village Administrator Gerald Sagona said Hobbytown was looking at a spot in LITH but wanted a $30,000 cash allowance and half-priced permitting to pick it. Meanwhile, he said, Crystal Lake was offering a different package of incentives for Hobbytown to stay there.

Sagona recalled the last time LITH did a location package it was for the village's Costco store, justified by the retailer's building on a difficult site. That wasn't present in Hobbytown's case. "There's no element of hardship here," he said.

The decision appeared to come down to simple fair play. "We've had a lot of businesses locate (in Lake in the Hills) in the last 18 months," said Sagona. "What are they going to say if we do this now?"

Huntley Library Annex: Some Assembly Required

The second and third wayward pieces of Huntley Area Library's new Annex appeared Tuesday as workers locked down the first one.  Library Director Patrick McDonald said once the other two are installed work can begin on phone and computer wiring.  "And, of course, then we have to move the childrens' library in," said McDonald who reported the temporary addition is still on schedule for a March 1 open.

Librarians hope the 28,000 square-foot expansion will help cope with the crush of new patrons brought out by the bum economy.  Before things fell apart in 2007 circulation was 468,000 books, tapes and disks.  That number jumped a bunch in 2008 and did it all over again last year hitting a new high of 599,000 items loaned out for 2009.

State Scholars Chosen At Huntley High

Huntley High School Principal David Johnson Tuesday announced 66 seniors have been recognized as “2010 Illinois State Scholars”. The award is given each year by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) which this time recognized 19,345 high school students from 752 different schools across the state as this year’s State Scholars.

Winners rank in the top ten percent of high school seniors. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. Sadly, there's no money involved but the honor helps perk up college applications.

Here's the list of Huntley High honorees:

Brian Ackermann               Kyle Lewandowski
Arianna Albanese              Michelle Lisack        
Victoria Aroworade            Taylor Lombardo             
Amelia Auchstetter            Joe Lopez
Kalvin Brown                  Aaron Mamparo
Kirsten Bushman               Andrew Meyer
Alejandra Canales             Alesa Mueller
Amanda Carrol                 Chris Nguyen
Emily Christ                  Jennelle Nystrom
Margaret Christie             Alexandra Perez
Joseph Chung                  Nicholas Pesce
Claudio Coultzen              Marcus Poppenfoose
Paige Cordle                  Anthony Prerost
Brittany Devine               Carrie Quinn
Brian Dinh                    Hubert Radon
Kevin Doran                   Amer Rasheed
Wesley Fait                   Abishek Rawalji
Sean Fuhrer                   Dylan Rehner
Danielle Funai                Vicky Rhine
Lauren Gaitsch                Jeremy Ritzert
Javier Garay                  Kaitlyn Rooney
Saadia Gaziuddin              Victoria Ross
Samantha Guttenberg           Jonathan Schacherer
John Hackett                  Sanya Siddiqui
Taylor Henning-Fletter        Zachary Staab
Vinay Hiremath                Shannon Stanis
Sara Hoffman                  Melissa Sutherland
Megan Kasper                  Max Tynczuk
Kacey Keegan                  Patrick Walsh
Joanna Kurnat                 Emily Webster
Rebecca LaPorta               Eric Wiedenfeld
Sara Lawler                   Carter Wilson
Karolina Lernacinska          Jamie Wimberly

Obituary

Alice C. Sherer, 89, of Huntley died peacefully January 12, 2010 at Hearthstone Manor. She was born January 31, 1920 in Chicago, the daughter of George and Caroline (Dreksler) Simonsen. November 18, 1938 she married Lewis L. Sherer who preceded her in death in 1996. She was a secretary for Sara Lee Company for twenty nine years, retiring in 1988.

Alice C. Sherer is survived by children Pamela (John) Morzos of Huntley and Jeffrey (Patricia Pickens) Sherer of Naperville and and her grandchildren Steve Morzos (Natalie LaPorte), Pete (Nicole Shadle) Morzos,Scott (Patrice), Sherer and John Pickens-Green and great grandchild Emma Rose Sherer. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Florence Kelleher and Lillian Kitteken.

A Memorial service will be held 11:30 am Friday at Drendel Ball Room,12940 Del Webb Blvd. Huntley. Following the service a luncheon will be held at Drendel. Memorials may be directed to the American Indian Center. 1630 W. Wilson, Chicago, IL 60640. On line condolences may be directed to www.defiorejorgensen.com or for further information call 847-515-8772.

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
January 12
0653 HRS 800 BLOCK OF WILLOW ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 83 year old female having difficulty breathing & chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0942 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF ADAMS ST. REPORT FOR INSURANCE A car was found scratched.
1312 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO). DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. Bad checks written.TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1312 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO). DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. Bad checks written.TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1335 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 67 year old female with difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman  Hospital.
1656 HRS 00 BLOCK OF PROSPER CT. MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT. 1976 Red Chevy flatbed truck with wood side rails stolen. Entered into  LEADS. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1958 hrs 300 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. son. Two priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2053 HRS 00 BLOCK OF CLARK AVE. MISSING JUVENILE. 15 year old female, did not return home. Entered into L.E.A.D.S. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
2125 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Damage to a sign in the lobby of the  police department. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2144 HRS 220 N RANDALL RD, (MORETTI’S). DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Female customer, complaining of disturbing behavior from a male  customer. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.

District 300 Examines $6 Million Plus Cuts Next Year

One month ago the District 300 Board of Education asked Finance Officer Cheryl Crates to prepare a ranked list of budget items they could whack up to as much as $6 million for the 2010-11 school year.  Monday Crates told the board Illinois' education funding looks so bad half-measures are already past and the ticket's up to $6.4 million.  At least.

Crates warned, "(This is) my best-case scenario.  But we may be cut back as much as $18 million (by state shortfalls) next year."

The problem isn't in Carpentersville, said Superintendant Ken Arndt, rather it lies in Springfield where funding has fallen to about 30 percent of the district's budget from an earlier 40 percent level. "The state's borrowed over 10 years from the pension funds.  Now we're out of time and we're out of money."

In the current school year Crates said, the state's already some $8 million behind on payments to the district, and headed toward $10 million. 

Crates presented the board with a salmagundi of cuts ranging from no music or PE for kindergartners to colder classrooms in winter and warmer ones in summer for everyone.  The bulk of the cuts come in personnel costs though: fewer janitors, a cut in substitute teacher pay, a week's worth of summer furlough days, unfilled administrator slots.

In a point sure to cause confusion, Arndt said the cuts mean the district will lose on paper about 15 teaching slots, 7 certified non-teaching  positions, 3 administrative spots and 14 support staff.  However, in fact the district plans to hire 13 new teachers in the coming school year to cover enrollment increases. Even so, the cuts would involve current staff layoffs and that sets a Feb. 22 legal deadline for dealing with the proposed budget cuts in the first place.

"We are not looking at another referendum," said Arndt. "We will not cut sports and arts.  We will not have huge class sizes."

"It's not if we cut, it's how we cut," said Board President Joe Stevens. He  asked residents to email feedback to the board at board@d300.org .

A summary of the district's proposed cuts is here:
http://www.d300.org/news/15798

In the pic:  A crowd of about 150 loosely filled the Carpentersville Middle School Auditorium for Monday's D300 Board Meeting.  All but a handful were district employees, though.

District 300 Approves Early-Start Calendars For Two Years

The District 300 Board approved calendars featuring a mid-August start for the next two school years.  The early-start change is supposed to allow more and better time for students to prepare for state performance testing.

In a public comment session Hampshire Mom Judy Ranschle charged the district was just gaming the state's testing system.  "Aren't we just playing with the numbers to get a jump on the rest of the state," she asked.

Later Board Member Anne Miller said, "As a parent I live for summer vacation with my kids."  Even so, she said, "I have to step back and listen to what our educators tell us."

Member Dave Alessio was unmoved, though.  "I think starting the 1th is just too early," he said.  Alessio was the lone dissenter on the five to one vote.

Member Karen Roeckner called the calendar a test.  "It's a two-year plan," she said.  "It works or it doesn't work."

The 2010-11 District 300 calendar is here:
http://www.d300.org/files/Calendar%202010-2011%20FINAL.pdf

2011-12 is here:
http://www.d300.org/files/Calendar%202010-2011%20FINAL.pdf

Some Candidates Submit Financial Disclosures

The Alliance For Agriculture, Land and Water announced Monday that 10 McHenry County candidates for office have now submitted financial interest disclosure forms to the organization. ALAW's trying to convince the County Board to make everyone do it.

Of the ten forms submitted so far only three come from incumbents.  Likewise, of the ten only three reveal any financial interest in anything at all.

Forms are in for Donna Kurtz, District 2; Craig Steagall, District 3;Nick Provenzano, District 3; Barb Wheeler, District 3; Jeff Thirtyacre, District 4; Tina Hill, District 5; Frank Wedig, District 5; Diane Evertsen, District 6; Mary McCann, District 6; Richard Draper, District 6.

Perhaps the most interesting form belongs to Steagall, a Crystal Lake businessman.  He lists, among other things, interests in two businesses that might, he said, do business with the county. If they do, Steagall said on his form, he doesn't know about it.

The disclosure forms sent to ALAW so far are shown here:
https://sites.google.com/site/landagricultureandwater/disclosure-statements-public-officials-and-candidates

One Down, Two To Go For Huntley Library Annex

One third of Huntley Library's new mobile addition arrived onsite shortly before sundown Monday, stopped for the night in the parking lot.

Snowy roads in Wisconsin and "issues with one of the trucks" delayed the other two sections. They're supposed to show up today, according to Communications Assistant Doug Cataldo.

The 2700 square-foot mobile Annex is scheduled for an early-March open housing the Library's now-cramped Childrens' Area.

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
January 11
1708 HRS PYOTT RD. & WILLOW ST. POSSESSIONOF FIREARM WITHOUT VALID F.O.I.D. SMITH, CURTIS  E., M/W 51 YEARS OF AGE, 5 SIERRA CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Possession of Firearm  without a Valid FOID card, Possession of Firearm Ammunition without a Valid FOID card. RELEASED ON BOND.
1708 HRS 700 BLOCK OF ELDERBERRY CT. WANTED ON WARRANT/ASSIST AMBULANCE. SCHNECK, JUSTIN J.,  M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 775 ELDERBERRY CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant,  McHenry County for Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $5,000 at 10%. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY  COUNTY DEPUTY.
Female, 21 years of age, possible overdose. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
0920 HRS 9100 BLOCK OF TRINITY DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1108 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 47 year old female having difficulty  breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1147 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. LOST PROPERTY. Mexican ID card.
1202 HRS 9225 TRINITY DR. (BIG GROW HYDROPONICS). BURGLARY. Multiple items taken from  business. Forced entry used. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1446 HRS 9341 PYOTT RD. (BARBARA KEY PARK). DEATH INVESTIGATION. PENDING INVESTIGATION
1556 HRS 5500 BLOCK CHANCERY WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 54 year old male having difficulty  breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1702 HRS 0 BLOCK OF WALNUT GROVE CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 18 month old female hit her head on  father’s knee. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1739 HRS 00 BLOCK OF CROFTON CT. LOST PROPERTY. Mexican ID card.

County Nursing Home Condition: Improving, Guarded

What to do about McHenry County's Valley Hi nursing home will likely occupy a lot of County Board time this year even though members though they'd solved its problems more than two years ago.  And that assumes ObamaCare doesn't upset what's been done already.  So went last week's Committee of the Whole meeting devoted entirely to the home.

Most Illinois counties shut down their Poor Farms and Old Folks' Homes 30 or 40 years ago but McHenry County was among a handful that didn't.  Indeed, five years ago the county built a new facility on Hartland Road north of Woodstock only to find that it still took in less money than it cost to operate. A consultant said Valley Hi was badly managed, then bid to operate it but the Board only accepted the conclusion, not the solution.

Cary-based Revere Healthcare took over the home's management and after a rocky start in two years pulled the operating deficit down by roughly half to about a $1.4 million loss last year.  Mainly that came from hiring more staff nurses to replace expensive temps and from changing the home's resident mix to include more (higher-paying) Medicare patients and fewer (low-pay) Medicaid ones.

Revere's contract's run out now, though, and it's time for the County to take over again.  That'll save Revere's management fee but the administrator's salary will return to the County's books so it's not as much as the $275,000 per year it looks like.  And contrary to the Board's original hopes, Revere's administrator, Bob Yearian, isn't interested in staying. Nothing personal, he said, he just likes cleaning up Dodge City, not running it.

The rumor for years has been that all the Valley Hi fixes have been an elaborate ruse to ease out of the nursing home game but Finance Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto said that's not in the cards.  At current prices, he said, the nursing home wouldn't bring near what the County has in it.  On the plus side said Munaretto, there's enough money set aside that the county might be able to call and pay off the new home's bonds next year.  At least that would save the bond interest.

The biggest Valley Hi question mark is in Washington right now.  No one knows what the conference committee is going to come up with as it tries to make one healthcare  bill out of two wildly differing House and Senate versions. The best bet, though, Board Chairman Ken Koehler said is that whatever Congress comes up with, the Valley Hi operating deficit's probabably going to start widening again.

Dashing Through The Snow--RRRRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRR

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office will host three IDNR Snowmobile Safety Certification Courses in February and March.  The courses will be at the McHenry County Government Center in the McHenry County Sheriff's Office - Training Division.  The first one's Saturday, Feb. 13.

The IDNR Snowmobile Safety Certification Courses cover maintenance and repair of snowmobiles, proper and safe operation, history of snowmobiling, first aid, protection of the environment, and the state laws. Completing the minimum eight hours of instruction and passing the final exam wins a State of Illinois Certificate of Competency and a graduate patch.

The courses will run from 8 am to 4:30 pm each day.  Besides Feb. 13 coures will also be on Feb. 28 and March 13.  They open to children 12 years and older to those who don't have a  driver's license. Without a driver's license snowmobilers need a certificate to legally operate a sled.

Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To pre-register call Cathy Hardt at (815)334-4739 or email her cdhardt@co.mchenry.il.us . For further information on snowmobile safety courses IDNR's website is: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/safety/snwmob.htm

In the pic:  A pack of snowmobilers along Route 14 west of Woodstock just before dusk Sunday.  Snowy fun but watch out for those guy wires, guys.

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
January 10
0955 HRS 2265 W ALGONQUIN RD. (THORNTONS). WANTED ON WARRANT. COOPER, KRISTEN A., F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 683 DARTMOOR, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County for Probation Violation, Possession of Marijuana. Bond Amount: $4,000 at 10%. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0321 HRS 211 N. RANDALL RD. (STEAK N SHAKE). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1431 HRS 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK. ASSIST AMBULANCE 43 year old female needing an evaluation. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1513 HRS 9244 TRINITY DR. (WARP SKATE PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. 50 year old male having a seizure. Transported to NIMC.
HRS 311 N RANDALL RD. (LITH THEATERS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1710 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC Boyfriend vs Girlfriend. Verbal only. Eight priors.
1914 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2115 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF ALEXANDRIA DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 47 year old female with chest pains and difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
January 8
22:04pm Mulcahy, Colleen M., DOB: 12/19/90, of 3960 Pear Tree Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Meijer’s, 400 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 02/24/10, in Algonquin.
January 9
Cottle, Stacey M., DOB: 10/15/78, of 14543 Archer Avenue, Lockport, was charged with Battery.  She was taken into custody in the 1700 block of S. Randall Road.  She was transported to Kane County to await a bond hearing.
January 10
18:06pm McMahon, Rebecca J., DOB: 04/07/74, of 1690 Hartley Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 02/17/10, in McHenry County.

Fired Deputy: "I'll Beat Him In Court. Again."

Like a lot of Feb. 2 Primary candidates McHenry County Sheriff's hopeful Zane Seipler was busy this week erecting campaign signs.  Seipler had more time than most for it, though, since Sheriff Keith Nygren filed an appeal this week against an arbitrator's decision to give Seipler back his deputy's spot.

Nygren fired Seipler more than a year ago over two traffic stops involving a warning ticket and a no insurance card ticket.  Nygren charged they were misuse of officer discretion.  Seipler said it was payback for complaints he'd made about supposed racial profiling at the Sheriff's Office.

A federal arbitrator in October agreed with Nygren that the tickets weren't right but likewise agreed with Seipler that firing was disproportionate.  The ruling ordered Seipler reinstated with a three-day suspension for punishment.  Nygren's suit in Circuit Court claims the arbitrator exceeded his authority.

While Seipler's been waiting for Nygren to file his appeal he and supporters have been following up on Courthouse rumors about the Sheriff and posting the results on the Web.  At the moment they're working on an apparent gap in Nygren's resume before he joined the Crystal Lake PD.

In the pic: Supporter Bob Schlenkert (left) and Sheriff's Candidate Zane Seipler put up a sign on busy Algonquin Road in Algonquin Saturday.  Schlenkert's another fired McHenry County deputy trying to get his job back.

Emergency Response Classes Set In LITH

CERT is the Community Emergency Response Team, volunteers trained to help police and other first responders in the event of a disaster, community crisis or major incident.  The Lake in the HIlls PD will conduct some of that training in three different sessions this year.

The CERT course consists of four lessons and a final which is practical exercise.  The course is currently held on Thursday nights and runs from 6to 10 pm. The first course is set to begin Feb. 4 running until Feb. 25.  Later courses are set to start March 4 and April 8. thru April 29th .

For more information or to sign up call the LITH PD community relations division at 847-658-5676.

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
January 09
1358 HRS 8407 PYOTT RD. (AIRPORT). DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. AVITIA-HERNANDEZ, MIGUEL, M/W 44 YEARS OF AGE, 426 N. LAUREN LN., ISLAND LAKE. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1708 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED/ACCIDENT. MARTINEZ-ALARCON, GILBERTO, M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE,
156 WEST WOODSTOCK APT., A CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Insurance, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident. RELEASED ON BOND.
0804 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Female, 58 years of age, had hip and face injuries. Transported to Good Shepherd Hospital.
0817 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF BRITTANY BEND. THEFT OVER. Delayed--theft of jewelry. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATION.
1730 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF SPRUCE ST. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT TO PROPERTY. ComEd telephone pole was defaced with spray paint.TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1730 HRS SPRUCE ST. & E. OAK ST. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT TO PROPERTY. Picket fence was defaced with spray paint. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1814 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WINDERMERE WAY. DOMESTIC. Father vs Son. Verbal argument only. Two priors.
2007 HRS 4590 ALGONQUIN RD. (BISTRO WASABI). ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 50 years of age, passed out in the restaurant. No transport.