Amcore Bank Sold--Riverside Square Uncertain

Village of Algonquin attorneys will spend Monday trying to figure out who now owns the failed and decaying Riverside Square project in the middle of its Downtown District.  It might belong to Harris Bank which Friday acquired most but not all of the assets of deedholder Amcore Bank at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation auction.

Depositors at Amcore's 12 area branches including its South Randall Road location in Algonquin will see business as usual today.  Money in    checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and CD's is insured up to $250,000. The FDIC said ATM's and online services would continue to function and checks would be processed "as if no change had occurred."  Payments on loans will be business as usual, too.

Rockford-based Amcore was done in by, among other things, heavy exposure to soured commercial real estate deals, deals like Riverside Square, the half-completed condo/retail project which Amcore tipped into bankruptcy in late 2008.  After more than a year of what the village said were broken promises to close in and cosmetically complete the structure Algonquin took Amcore to court a month ago.  The suit asked to force the bank to tear down the eyesore at the village's high-profile Route 31 and Algonquin Road intersection

Although technically showing on Amcore's asset side, in practical terms Riverside Square was probably a liability and it's possible that Harris rejected taking it on, leaving the FDIC to add it to its growing pile of failed bank toxic assets.  McHenry County Circuit Court records show Amcore was served a summons two weeks ago but shows nothing for most of the other 23 lienholders to the project.

Amcore's parent holding company wasn't directly affected by Friday's FDIC action.

Amcore wasn't the only Illinois bank to bite the dust Friday.  Among six others was Chicago's Broadway Bank, the family bank of Illinois Treasurer Alexis Giannoulias, Democratic candidate for Barack Obama's old Senate seat.  Giannoulias called it "just a sliver of the hardship which has become endemic in our society."

In the pic: Amcore's Rockford Offices

ECC Job Fair Draws Hundreds Of Hopefuls

Hundreds of job seekers descended on Elgin Community College Friday as 75 local employers took job applications.

Despite a supposed end to the recession,  area unemployment remains at or near record levels but ECC Director of Career Services Peggy Gundrum said Friday's ECC Job Fair offered anecdotal evidence the jobs picture may be starting to turn.

"We had as many employers at our Job Fair last Fall but not as many positions," she said.  "(Employers) must be feeling better," she said.

LITH Lunch With A Cop Teaches Kids About Police

There was no outbreak of public disorder Friday at the Lake in the Hills PD Safety Center, at least no more than might be expected from a bunch of kids playing with a couple of squadcar sirens.  All the hurley burley was another edition of the village's Lunch With A Cop program to teach kids police are the good guys (and girls) who even like pizza and pop just like regular people.

LITH PD conducts Lunch With A Cop quarterly.

McHenry County Indictments

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

GRANT W. LEMKE, DOB: 08/18/79, 1210 SYCAMORE STREET, LAKE IN THE HILLS. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE,UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--North Central Narcotics Task Force

MICHAEL J. STEIN, DOB: 06/10/92, 1590 BARRINGTON COURT, ALGONQUIN. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFULPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--LITH PD

MICHAEL R. HUDEC, DOB: 12/27/81, 2413 N. CLUB ROAD, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.--McHenry CountySheriff's Office

THOMAS G. REED, DOB: 01/16/70, LKA: 124 W. RAILROAD STREET, MARENGO. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

MATTHEW J. POLLOCK, DOB: 08/31/68, 22116 W. GRANT HIGHWAY, MARENGO. BURGLARY, THEFT.--Marengo PD

MACIEJ GRABKOWSKI, DOB: 03/12/52, 21020 116TH STREET, BRISTOL, WI. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.--Crystal Lake PD

BRIAN WALKOSZ, DOB: 05/15/76, 759 S. STATE STREET APT 11, UKIAH, CA. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TODELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, CONSPIRACY(2CTS).
GREGORY ATHERTON, DOB: 02/02/81, P O BOX 7001, TAHOE CITY, CA. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER,UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, CONSPIRACY(2CTS).
STEPHEN LEDERMAN, DOB: 10/15/79, 10192 SCHAEFER DRIVE, TRUCKEE, CA. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER,UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, CONSPIRACY(2CTS).
RICHARD KRUG, DOB: 11/20/73, 317 N. KENT ROAD, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFULPOSSESSION OF CANNABIS, CONSPIRACY(2CTS).--North Central Narcotics Task Force

CHRISTINA M. SKALAK, DOB: 12/20/85, LKA: 3308 W ELM STREET #26, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE,UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--McHenry PD

OMEED S. PARVINMEHR, DOB: 04/30/90, 919 COURTNEY DRIVE, CARPENTERSVILLE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TODELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUGPARAPHERNALIA.--Cary PD

RICHARD W. SMITH, DOB: 07/12/91, 5020 MEMORY TRAIL, JOHNSBURG. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFULPOSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR.--Johnsburg PD

DARYL A. ASHBECK, DOB: 12/26/69, 2507 N. ELMKIRIK, MCHENRY. FORGERY.--Crystal Lake PD

DEADRA D. BLOCK, DOB: 12/09/63, 1542 N. SEMINARY AVENUE, WOODSTOCK. FORGERY, THEFT. --Crystal Lake PD

BILLY G. DOTSON JR., DOB: 08/02/69, 4715 OAKWOOD DRIVE, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT(3CTS).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

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
April 23
1435 HRS 300 BLOCK OF S. ANNANDALE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. MUNOZ, GERARDO E., M/W 48 YEARS OF AGE, 320 S. ANNANDALE DR., LAKE IN THE HILL. CHARGES: Domestic Battery, two counts. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0816 HRS 300 BLOCK OF ANNANDALE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 42 year old female having a diabetic reaction. No transport.
0956 HRS 158 RANDALL RD., (CURRENCY EXCHANGE). THEFT. Victim’s stolen checks were cashed fraudulently.
1333 HRS 300 ANNANDALE DR., (LEROY GUY PARK). ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. tree. Property damage only.
1714 HRS HUNTERS PATH & WANDER WAY. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

D300 Calls For Compromise On Parochial Busing

Facing determined opposition from parochial schools, District 300 administrators scaled back plans Thursday to cut transportation costs to balance the district's budget next year.

An original proposal to save more than $400,000 per year called for busing parochial school students only to their nearest public school.  Opponents said the plan had safety problems and would probably raise district costs by causing parochial kids to enroll in public school.

Superintendent Ken Arndt announced a compromise plan Thursday afternoon eliminating dedicated bus routes for parochial students but retaining shuttle buses from middle schools.

St. Margaret Mary School Board President Dennis Wiener, Algonquin, told FEN Thursday evening, "We're pleased to open a dialogue with District 300 and we're also pleased the Board has listened to our communication."

Under the latest proposal special shuttles will run daily between the five D300 middle schools and the parochial schools near them. There would be no dedicated routes at all, either mid-day, afternoon, or on early release days.  Parochial students would ride with D300 middle school students.  (Middle School boundary maps are located here: http://www.d300.org/files/Map_G10_Middle.pdf)

"This compromise solution continues to go above and beyond what the law requires but will manage to save D300 about $335,000 a year," said Arndt.

"Dr. Arndt made a commitment to me that if this doesn't work the parochial schools will go back to the busing they had before," Wiener said.

A D300 release said parochial bell times might have to be adjusted to accommodate the new regime and Wiener said a meeting with parochial principals in the district was planned for next week.

Other transportation cuts including eliminating preschool busing remain unchanged and they're all scheduled for a Board vote Monday.

Details on the latest round of D300 cutback proposals are here: http://www.d300.org/news/17663

Demolition Clogs Route 47 Traffic At Huntley

Traffic was delayed on Route 47 through Huntley Thursday when debris from demolition of Randy's Cycle spilled into the roadway.

There was no injury and little, if any damage but police closed the main southbound lane to shift traffic away from another possible spill and jinking into the left-turn lane backed up rush hour traffic worse than usual.

Deputy Chief Mike Klunk said Huntley Police would do the same thing when it's time to raze the old Weltzien IH dealership at Route 47 and Main. Construction managers weren't sure when that would be, though.

Klunk said traffic would get really complicated when road construction begins and urged drivers to check the village's Route 47 page regularly. It's at: http://www.huntley.il.us/Route47.htm .

Republicans Say Quinn Won't Cut Enough

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Republicans said Thursday Gov. Pat Quinn is exaggerating his budget cuts, and his plan relies too heavily on taxes and borrowing. Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, called Quinn’s budget “a lot of smoke and mirrors.”

“He is trying to convince people he’s going to cut $2.6 billion, when it’s clear that at best, he’s got $200 million up there in unspecified cuts, and this is from a guy who’s got a track record of claiming he is going to cut and not having the guts to go ahead and do it,” Murphy said.

However, Kelly Kraft, spokeswoman for Quinn’s Office of Management and Budget, said if the governor’s proposed income tax increase passes, there would still be $900 million in cuts. She added that Quinn is seeking to make $400 million more in reductions, in addition to the cuts he proposed in March.

Republicans are calling for more substantial cuts before they would even consider a tax increase. “I would think that a number that would cause movement (on the governor’s budget) over in the House would be in the range between $2 billion and $3 billion,” said Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican.

Lauzen said he voted for billions in borrowing in the current fiscal year’s budget because the governor promised cuts that he says never materialized. “I voted for that borrowing, and I saw how it was used. I will not vote for that again — period, I won’t."

Republican leaders are asking for a list of the cuts Quinn says he has made to the current fiscal year’s budget. Kraft said her office will give Republicans those numbers in the next few days.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/republicans-say-quinn-wont-cut-enough.html

iTax On Downloads Shot Down On The Rise

Things move fast in the digital age, even in politics.  Tuesday the Illinois budget office floated taxing music and video downloads, Wednesday Chicago and McHenry County Young Republicans started an Internet campaign against it, Thursday the Governor sank it.

The plan would have imposed a 62-cent tax on every download of a $9.99 music album, 94 cents on a $14.99 movie download.  "I read it and I was ragefully angry," said McHenry County Young Republicans Chairman Bryan Javor Thursday who saw it especially targeted at the younger politically apathetic demographic. "The youth of America is getting stuck with paying for the excesses of the last two administrations."

When Led Zeppelin topped the chart opponents of a tax on music would have probably seized and occupied Rose Records.  In the Black Eyed Peas era Javor's group and their Chicago counterparts threw up a Facebook page and sent out an email blast. Lake County Young Republicans immediately friended it.  All that was missing was an instant Twitter demonstration.  "In less than 24 hours we've gotten a decent base to work from," said Javor.  "I think opposition's going to go viral."

At the first sign of fever, though, the Governor euthanized the the iTax proposal.  "I didn't advocate that. I'm not interested in doing that, frankly," Quinn told reporters in Chicago Thursday. The Governor said he'd concentrate on pushing his proposed income tax increase, instead.

Lady Gaga couldn't be reached for comment.

In the pic:  This was apparently going to be the logo for iTax opponents.

Manzullo Seeks McHenry County Amtrak Stop

Congressman Don Manzullo R-14 called on Governor Pat Quinn to designate a stop in McHenry County as part of the state’s plan to extend Amtrak passenger rail from Chicago to Dubuque. Either Huntley or Marengo was Manzullo's choice according to a letter Manzullo sent Quinn.

“Establishing a stop in McHenry County will help increase Amtrak ridership and secure the route’s viability while providing tremendous benefits for businesses, tourism, and quality of life in one of the fast-growing collar counties of Chicago,” Manzullo said.

There are $60 million for track upgrades on the Chicago to Iowa Amtrak route included in the state's capital bill passed last year. Quinn announced earlier this month Amtrak would follow a northern route on existing tracks running from Elgin’s Big Timber Metra station through McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson and JoDaviess counties before crossing into Iowa. Quinn and Amtrak previously announced stops in Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, and Galena.

The Huntley Mayor Chuck Sass and and Marengo Mayor Don Lockhard have each submitted letters to Manzullo expressing interest in hosting an Amtrak stop.

In the pic:  The dotted red line is the route Amtrak officials have chosen for Chicago to Dubuque service.

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
April 22
0215 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF SORREL ROW. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. SEDLACEK, MAXROY F., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 3721 TILCHE LN., CRYSTAL LAKE CHARGES: Burglary to Motor Vehicle, Trespass to Vehicle. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
HERRERA, JORDAN M., M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 4120 S. COUNTRY CLUB RD., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Burglary to Motor Vehicle, Trespass to Vehicle. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
NOVY, TIMOTHY, M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, 6 RAXBURG CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Burglary to Motor Vehicle, Trespass to Vehicle. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH PD). WANTED ON WARRANT.  CECHINI, CRAIG J., M/W 40 YEARS OF AGE, 581 x ALGONQUIN. CHARGE: Wanted on Warrant, SO Dupage Co, Contempt of Court, bond is $640.00 dollars full cash. RELEASED ON BOND.
2333 HRS ROUTE 31 & EDWARD ST. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. WATTS, STEPHEN E., M/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 7810 NEWBOLD RD., CARY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0719 HRS 2700 BLOCK OF BRIARCLIFF LN. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT. Passenger side door was found open.
0721 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF SORREL ROW. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Damage to fence.
1128 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF LARKSPUR LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 85 years of age, not feeling well. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1050 HRS LAKE DR & ALGONQUIN RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 54 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1155 HRS 5000 BLOCK OF HIGHWOOD LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Father vs. son. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
1741 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SKATE PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 22 years of age, made suicidal statements. No transport.
Algonquin
April 20
14:24pm Manson, Nicole M., DOB: 12/17/90, of 3015 Woodscreek Drive, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS.  She was taken into custody at Bunker Hill Drive and Golden Eagle Drive.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
15:31pm Brzizinski, Thomas R., DOB: 700 Juniper Lane, Lake in the Hills, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
April 21
07:58am A fifteen-year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody in the 500 block of Sussex.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
15:18pm A seventeen-year-old male from West Dundee was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 05/26/10, in Algonquin.
18:03pm Cruz, Carmelo, DOB: 03/20/71. of 5010 Bristol Court, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Harrison Street.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
18:10pm Formales, Kaye B., DOB: 09/24/87. of 2502 Amber Lane, Elgin, was charged with DWLS, Suspended Registration and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Corporate Parkway.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
23:38pm Rodriguez, Melissa B., DOB: 10/08/85, of 4710 W. 12th Place, Cicero, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
April 22
01:06am Acevedo, Susana, DOB: 04/22/73. of 2406 Dawson Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery, Criminal Damage to Property and Interfering with the Reporting of a Domestic Battery.  She was taken into custody at 2406 Dawson Lane.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
10:38am A fifteen-year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Unlawful Possession/Storage of a Weapon on School Grounds.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his parents.

New Shelter For Abuse Victims Due May 1

Three apartments will be ready in about a week to shelter victims of McHenry County spousal or child abuse.  Their locations are secret (so abusers can't find them) but the reason for them isn't.  It's to fill a hole in a bureaucratic donut.

About 230 victims from Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Huntley came to McHenry County's Turning Point domestic violence shelter in its last fiscal year according to Development Director Mary Anne Weltch.  Emergency shelter for abuse victims is available for up to 90 days at Turning Point.  "If they're out of the abuse we can see a big change.  There's a sense of empowerment," said Weltch.

Meanwhile Home of the Sparrow, the transitional program for McHenry County's homeless can provide shelter for victims only if they haven't been abused for at least six months. There's a hole in between the two.  The only public program to bridge the gap in between has been the McHenry County PADS emergency church shelters for the homeless.

That's better than nothing, according to Weltch, but not very good. "PADS can be a scary place for abuse victims," she said. "There are a lot of men there and these women have been abused by men."

All of which leads to a new program called Sparrow's Point which is the new shelter apartments, a joint venture between Turning Point and Home of the Sparrow under a grant from Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women.  The grant is to Home of the Sparrow but Turning Point provides on-the-spot social services and counseling.

Between the two agencies Sparrow's Point provides rent assistance, life skills training, and domestic violence counseling for women and children escaping abuse.  The two-year funding allows sliding-scale rent that increases over time as women move from homelessness to economic and personal stability.

Since the grant is only enough for three apartment shelters resources are obviously limited.  On the bright side, Weltch observed, "It's more than we had."

McHenry County Deputy Retraining In-House

Fired McHenry County Deputy Bob Schlenkert will be back on patrol soon after he completes in-house retraining at Woodstock Headquarters he said Wednesday.  Schlenkert returned to duty last week after the Appellate Court ruled Sheriff Keith Nygren was wrong in firing him for insubordination.

"It's good to be back," said Schlenkert, whose ordeal began five years ago with a medical leave that eventually culminated in an order to undergo retraining at a police boot camp. The camp's entrance requirement included passing a PT test but the middle-aged Schlenkert failed it. The Appeals Court ruled last month that didn't constitute refusal to obey an order.

Schlenkert said he wasn't ordered to take other training programs that have less-stringent entrance requirements. "I've been working on computer stuff, programs to get up to date on police developments while I was fired," said Schlenkert.

During the appeal Nygren's attorney was adamant that Schlenkert needed to undergo thorough and extensive retraining and the judges seemed OK with that.  It was the particular retraining Nygren chose with the PT test to qualify to which they took exception.

Nygren was out of the office Wednesday morning when FEN called to inquire about why he'd apparently changed his mind on retraining. There was no reply Wednesday afternoon, although he was expected to return then.
In the pic: Schlenkert

CM PTA Flower Sale Deadline Monday

Final frost is within view (how lucky do you feel?) and there's still time to get a flower order in to support the Chesak/Martin PTA.  Prices, including tax, are the same as three years ago according to organizers.

Par exemple, ten-inch baskets are $14.00, 48-count flats are $13 and 4 ½ inch potted geraniums are $3.50 apiece. They're all locally grown and conditioned in Marengo.

You can download an order form to drop of at Chesak here: http://www.cmpta158.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/FlowerSaleFlyer.82105446.pdf

Part of all flower sales goes towards the beautification of the Chesak and Martin campus. In past years, funds raised have allowed the Chesak/ Martin PTA to plant shrubs, flowers and trees on the campus. Orders of $25 or more will be entered in a drawing for a free planter.

Flower pickups will be 4:30 to 8 pm May 5 at Chesak.

Huge Springfield Rally Calls For Income Tax Increase

By Jamey Dunn and Rachel Wells, Illinois Issues
An estimated 15,000 teachers, union members and public workers rallied in Springfield Wednesday to call for an increase in the state income tax rate.

With chants of “We’ll remember in November” and “Save our schools. Save our state,” protesters marched around the Statehouse and then filled the halls. They came to advocate for education and social services, such as mental health care, addiction counseling and in-home care for the elderly.

“We have tens of thousands of people whose well-being is at stake if this state does not act. So I’m here to advocate for responsible decisions, a tax increase to support social services in this state, and I’m happy to join these thousands and thousands of people who have come out here to do this,” said Rev. Bob Rasmus, board member for Lutheran Social Services and a pastor in Urbana.

Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican,said many of his constituents were at the rally but the message of chants such as “Raise our taxes” did not echo the opinions of the majority of the people he represents. “I don’t know that that kind of theater is necessarily representative of most the people in my district.”

Righter said that he doesn’t think the rally will change the minds of many legislators who are opposed to a tax increase. He also doesn't think Democrats are willing to take the political risk to pass a tax increase before the November general elections.

You can Read Jamey and Rachel's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/raise-our-taxes.html

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
April 21
1637 HRS FOLLOW UP ARREST: 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT. CULKIN, ELIZABETH A., F/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 456 VILLAGE CREEK DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Filing a False Police Report. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0103 HRS 10 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 24 years of age, pain all over. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2126 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & BOULDER DR. FOUND ARTICLE. Bicycle. Entered into Evidence.

County Board Passes New 20-Year Development Plan

In a grueling six-hour session the McHenry County Board early this morning approved a plan for the county's development over the next 20 years.  The plan is merely advisory, however, and even so will probably leave a lot of people unhappy.

More than two years in the making, the plan generally looks to avoid "sprawl" by limiting development in the rural western half of the county. Many of that area's residents didn't think the plan limited development enough, though.

Planning and Development Director Dennis Sandquist said the plan would only allow development of 11 percent of the agricultural land in the western county.

That was the problem, according to Woodstock resident Joe Daleiden.  "If each (succeeding)  plan converts agricultural land eventually all the land will be sacrificed to development," he said during public comment.

Board Members from District Six which covers the county's rural half last week called for measures to toughen up the plan's restrictions, especially those that might affect county groundwater which is thought to be in short supply.  District Five's Tina Hill, Woodstock, Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee introduced 24 amendments Tuesday evening to do that but that still didn't satisfy District Six's Ersel Schuster who wanted half a dozen of the limiting measures turned into outright bans.

At one point everyone had to stop to check to see if they were arguing about an amendment to an amendment to an amendment to an amendment or just an amendment to an amendment to an amendment.  Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Rein had to pull the board Back repeatedly from wording she thought would cause legal trouble after the plan's passsage.

District Four's Peter Merkel, McHenry, repeatedly warned that if the County put on too many restrictions developers would just have their land annexed into the nearest village, bypassing any county control at all.  "There's going to be a big land grab," he said.

After almost four hours of minutiae, eyelids were drooping and tempers were getting short. Hill suggested postponing a final vote until next month but fellow District Five Member Virginia Peschke, Woodstock, argued, "If we wait we'll find more things we want to change."

Hanging over the evening was the fate of the County's 2020 plan.  After eight years' work the Board deadlocked four years ago and simply gave up.  That didn't happen this time.  The 2030 Plan passed 19 to 3 at 12:40 am.

Even so it was no more than a plan, a document without teeth.  The start of some sort of dentition is expected next month when Sandquist will ask for about $250,000 to start writing a County Unified Development Ordinance covering zoning and subdivisions guided by the newly passed 2030 Plan.  That's expected to take two to three years to finish.

In the pic:  The audience was packed Tuesday evening as the McHenry County Board took up its 2030 Plan.  Overwhelmingly they were from District Six and, from their applause for speakers, against it.

Board Approves Giant Sportsplex At Routes 47 And 176

McHenry County Board Members voiced no awareness of irony Tuesday night trying to curb rural development after approving $18 million worth of federal stimulus bonds for a 120-acre sports complex more than mile from the nearest community.

The Village of Lakewood is currently trying to annex more than 500 acres in the vicinity of Route 47 and 176 between Huntley and Woodstock including the proposed site of the McHenry County Sportsplex.

District Five Member Jim Kennedy, Lake in the Hills, said the Sportsplex would provide lots of needed construction jobs but District Four's John Hammerand argued once it was built it would run by low-paid service workers.  District Three's Kathleen Bergan-Schmidt, Crystal Lake, said even if the Sportsplex survived it would turn bad traffic in the area worse.

Nevertheless the Board voted overwhelmingly to allocate the bonding authority to the Sportsplex.  They also voted to allocate $11 million worth of stimulus bonds to a minor-league baseball stadium for Woodstock, that is if the County ever gets any more bonding authority.  After the Sportsplex measure there was only about $3.5 million left.

The two proposed facilities would, if both were built, only be about five miles apart but District Three Member Mary Donner, Crystal Lake, said they wouldn't draw business away from each other because the developers both said that wouldn't happen.

Chase Bank Branch Under Construction In Algonquin

The construction at Randall Road and Harnish Drive in Algonquin will be the village's latest banking facility when it's done.  The project was delayed last year when the Village Board told Chase Bank their proposed branch looked more like "Gone With the Wind" than Algonquin and tried to cram too much onto too little space.  Eventually the bank came back with something closer to the Algonquin "look" and not as many drive-thru lanes.

LITH Student State Finalist In National Competition

Lake in the Hills Elementary fifth grader Heather Anderson recently bested thousands of her peers to be an Illinois finalist in a Library of Congress reading-writing contest.

Heather was one of 21 Fourth and Fifth grade Lake in the Hills Elementary students who submitted "personal reflection" letters about their favorite books. The students wrote to their favorite authors to express how the books had impacted their lives and taught them lessons. Heather wrote about the emotional connections she experienced as she read the book, "Miles to Go," by teen celeb Miley Cyrus.

It was all part of the Letters About Literature contest, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in cooperation with the Illinois State Library and Illinois Secretary of State with support from Target Stores.

The contest generated almost 70,000 letters. Six Thousand advanced to the third round of judging in Illinois.  From those, 19 finalists were chosen, among them, Heather.

In the pic: LITH Elementary student Heather Anderson was a state finalist in a nationwide reading-writing contest.  On the left is Principal Tracy Poole.  On the right is Teacher Katherine King. 

Quinn Proposes More Cuts, Borrowing

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn isn't giving up hope on his income tax increase proposal, but his latest budget plan is perhaps a preview at his "Plan B." Quinn unveiled his updated budget proposal to legislative leaders at a statehouse meeting.

In the latest spending plan, the governor targets $400 million in additional cuts.  Quinn also wants to increase lapse period spending, which allows the state to carry over bills from one fiscal year to the next.  And he is proposing a plan that would "liquidate" money from Illinois' tobacco settlement.

Quinn's budget office estimates the money from the tobacco settlement and other state bank accounts that would be cleared out could net close to $2 billion.

But Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said the problem is that the Quinn administration hasn't cut anything yet but wants the authority to spend even more. "Again the [latest] proposal is about $900 million in cuts, but we're not sure of the details on that," Radogno said.  "And $900 billion in borrowing and taxes."

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, is mum about the future of Quinn's proposed budget. "There weren't a lot of specifics…it was all about [the statewide construction plan] and some general discussion of the state we're in," Cross said.  "And that's about it."

Lawmakers have scheduled their adjournment date for early May, though it remains to be seen if that will be the last day for lawmakers at the Capitol.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2726/quinn-proposes-more-cuts-borrowing-spending-extension/

Pension Reforms Confuse Some Teachers

By Ashley Badgley, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn signed the state's pension reforms into law last week, creating a second tier of slimmer benefits for state workers, including teachers, university faculty and staff, judges and lawmakers hired on or after Jan.1, 2011.

Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. State workers hired before Jan. 1 will fall under the current pension system, creating confusion among current K-12 teachers who have received pink slips for next school year but may be rehired after Jan. 1. Where do they stand?

Teachers' Retirement System spokesman Dave Urbanek said those teachers, no matter when they are rehired, will remain in the current pension system and not be affected by the new pension reforms.

"If they are in the system currently, if they have been teaching and are riffed (reduction-in-force), they are in Tier One forever," Urbanek said. "If they get rehired after Jan. 1, 2011, they're in Tier One. They are in the current system."

Urbanek said once individuals pay into a pension system, they are in it and will remain in the system they first paid into no matter what. "If you leave the state or even if you leave teaching altogether and then come back at some point in the future and you have credits with us prior to Jan. 1, 2011, you're still in Tier One," Urbanek said.

You can read Ashley's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2707/pension-reforms-confuse-some-teachers/

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
April 20
1948 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD LN.DOMESTIC BATTERY. JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two counts of Domestic Battery. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1629 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LAKE IN THE HILLS PD). FOLLOW UP ARREST: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. BRZIZINSKI, THOMAS R., M/W 42 YEARS OLD, 700 JUNIPER LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Aggravated Assault. RELEASED ON BOND.
0000 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Four priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1242 HRS 310 RANDALL RD., (CHASE BANK). FOUND PROPERTY. A purse was found in the lobby.
1453 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 38 years of age, possible seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1557 HRS 0 BLOCK OF DOGWOOD CT. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. Three priors.
1622 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1803 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Complainant's sliding glass door was damaged. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2030 HRS 200 BLOCK OF PYOTT RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 68 years of age, low blood sugar. No transport.
2028 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Unauthorized transactions on complainant's credit card.
2255 HRS 400 BLOCK OF PLUM ST. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
Huntley
April 12
Omar Martin Jimenez-Moreles, age 24, of 309 Hoy St., Woodstock, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license. He was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Jimenz-Moreles posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
A plastic slide was stolen from a yard in the 11200 block of Grove St. The victim valued the slide at $8.00.
April 14
A criminal damage to vehicle report was taken in the 10500 block of Yellowstone Dr. A vehicle was spray painted with pink paint overnight.
A criminal damage to vehicle report was taken at the High School. The back of the vehicle was keyed on April 13.
April 15
Luis A. Gutierrez, age 25, of 760 Parkway, Elgin, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for speeding and driving without insurance.  Mr. Gutierrez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date May 21, 2010.
April 16
Nathalia C. Cook, age 20, 11507 Douglas #402, Huntley, was arrested for two counts of endangering the life or health of a child.  Ms. Cook posted bond and was released with a McHenry County Court date of May 28, 2010.
A theft report was taken in the 12900 block of Applewood Dr., Huntley.  The victim states that two lawn lights were taken from her yard some time in the last several weeks.
April 17
Christopher J. Pucci, age 36, of 1512 N. George, Chicago, was arrested on an outstanding McHenry County Warrant for violation of bail bond.  Mr. Pucci was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
April 18
Matthew R. Hicks, age 45, of 11841 Cape Cod Lane, Huntley, was arrested for domestic battery and unlawful interference with reporting domestic violence.  Mr. Hicks was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
Hugo G. Gonzalez, age 32, 489 North St., Elgin, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license.  Mr. Gonzalez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
Felipe Martinez, age 23, of 1022 Center St., Elgin, was arrested for an outstanding Kane County warrant and driving while license suspended. Mr. Martinez was cited for display of expired registration.  Mr. Felipe posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 28, 2010 for the traffic charge and a Kane County court date of May 8, 2010 for the warrant.
Juan G. Arellano, age 44, of 10767 Oregon Trail, Huntley, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for failure to signal.  Mr. Arellano posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 28, 2010.

Aaaand They're Off! Huntley Rt. 47 Widening Starts

With all the utility prep work going on to widen Route 47 at Huntley it's sort of hard to find the start of the job itself.  That came Monday with the demolition of the first of seven structures Illinois Department of Transportation had to buy to make way for the project.

Resident Engineer Tom Costello said Friday IDOT was still scrambling to line up all the necessary permits but at about 8 am Monday morning demolition began on the many-named former used car office at Route 47 and Main. By about 8:10 it was gone.

Next on the list are a former beauty parlor, a home, a storage shed, a gas station canopy and a service garage.

The erstwhile site of Randy's Cycle and the defunct factory at Route 47 and Main are also scheduled for demolition but they'll come last since workers have to remove asbestos insulation from them first before they're knocked down, according to Costello.

In the pic:  Demolition is part of the IDOT contract to widen Route47 at Huntley so this destruction is the start of construction.

Congressman, Officials Tout Area For Investment

Congressman Don Manzullo R-14 and local officials pitched McHenry County as a dandy place for foreign investment Monday to Japan's Ambassador to the U.S.

Nissan's forklift plant in Marengo was the site of the presentation and its prime example, too.  The plant's 275 local workers make $150 million worth of forklifts for Nissan each year.

A gaggle of embassy functionaries, local officials and reporters followed Ichiro Fujisaki through the plant which builds about 8,000 forklifts annually out of mostly U.S. parts including one third manufactured in Illinois.

Japan has never really recovered from the collapse 20 years ago of an equities and property bubble so there's an incentive for its companies to invest somewhere else in hopes of higher returns. Local Nissan bosses told Fujisaki McHenry County was a good place since it has a skilled labor pool, a central location for the U.S. market, lots of local government support and a special exemption from duties on import parts.
Nissan officials said that last saves them $100 per machine.

Also present was U.S. Ambassador Don Pramudwina from Thailand where the current red shirt/yellow shirt conflict might offer another reason for foreign investment.

In the pic:  Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki (left) was watching some welding while Nissan Vice President Tony Salgado explained details of forklift manufacture to Congressman Don Manzullo during Monday's McHenry County foreign investment presentation in Marengo.

Virginia Road Part Closure To Begin Today

Virginia Road is scheduled to close to northbound traffic today between Route 31 and Rakow Road but it will stay open to southbound drivers during construction.

Northbound traffic will be detour via Illinois Route 31 and Rakow Road until the work is done July 2.  "Subject to variation due to weather," according to MCDOT.

Blood Drives Scheduled For Weekend

Two area blood drives are set this weekend in Huntley.

Friday there'll be a drive at the Wellness Center at Sun City from 9 am to 1 pm.  Appointments for donations are preferred (847-515-2078) but walk-ins are welcomed if the mood arises.

Sunday Faith Community Church will host a drive from 8 am to Noon.  Appointments can be made (with Lori at 815-236-0911) but walk-ins will get a big smile, too.

To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months should contact Heartland first at 1-800-7TO-GIVE to determine eligibility.

Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.  Not to mention juice and cookies, too.

Fair Map Amendment In Peril

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
The Fair Map Amendment proposal touted by supporters as an anti-corruption tool is falling way short in its quest to get on the November ballot with a deadline fast approaching.

The proposed citizen initiative has garnered more than 120,000 petition signatures to get on the ballot but that is less than 50 percent of the 288,000 signature threshold and the petition deadline is May 3.

The coalition behind the amendment said the fight is not yet over. “We’re not having so much trouble; it’s two weeks before we have to file,” Jan Czarnik with the League of Women Voters said.

Kent Redfield, a member of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield, said the effort to put the amendment on the ballot is “a longshot.”

;Redfield said that redistricting does not carry with it the emotional appeal that successful citizen initiatives, like the 1980 Cutback Amendment–which reduced the size of the General Assembly. He believes redistricting is an insider baseball issue.

The amendment would take redistricting out of the hands of the General Assembly. As it stands, the map is drawn by party leaders, which favors incumbent politicians. If passed, the amendment would create an independent commission unaffiliated with political parties, lobbying organizations or state government tasked with drawing the political map.

The initiative is identical to a Republican measure that stalled in the Senate last week Czarniik, however, said some Democrats are joining the coalition, including Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Sheila Simon.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2706/fair-map-in-peril/

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
April 19
1006 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HARVEST GATE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. REYES, RAYMOND G., M/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 891 WEST AVE., WOODSTOCK. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0103 HRS 3400 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs Girlfriend. Verbal only. One prior.
0315 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 14 years of age, having sharp pains in his neck. No transport.
0500 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD., (DOMINICK’S). ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 33 years of age, with a cut on his leg. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1003 HRS 2 E. OAK ST., (POLICE ANNEX BUILDING). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Contact with registered sex offender.
1544 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 12 years of age, with a wrist injury. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1600 HRS 1212 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (POA). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Complainant’s vehicle was damaged. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
OFC FEELY (RP)
1815 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF GREENFIELD LN. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Complainant’s purse was stolen. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1934 HRS 700 BLOCK OF DOGWOOD LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 17 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.

Employers Hiring At ECC Job Fair Friday

The local job market hasn't ground to a complete halt.  Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with dozens of area employers with positions to fill at Elgin Community College's Job Fair Friday from 1 to 4 pm.

ECC’s 2009 job fair attracted more than 1,600 employment-seekers and over 100 area employers.  This year 59 employers have signed up for the fair so far. These include Swiss Automation Inc., Elgin Community College, Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial Services, Chase Card Services, Fox Valley Broadcasting Inc., Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Grand Victoria Casino, Dominick’s, TCF Bank, UPS, Fastenal Co., Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa and Alexian Brothers Health Network.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in lots 11 and 12 off Renner Drive and entrance is through the Spartan Events Center on Campus.

For more information, contact ECC Career Services at 847-214-7399 or visit www.elgin.edu/jobfair. 

H1N1 Flu--The After Action Report

The H1N1 Flu scare sure was a tempest in a teapot, wasn't it?  The doctors frightened everybody half to death and then it didn't act like they said it would.  The question is why?  The answer is nobody's quite sure yet.

Certainly H1N1 Flu began a strong rise in early October as predicted but then it petered out again.  That wasn't entirely unexpected.  Seasonal Flu rates rise and fall. That's why it's called Seasonal Flu. The puzzling thing is H1N1 rates didn't vault back in the Spring.  Even more puzzling, neither did Seasonal Flu and it almost always does.

In retrospect, according to Dr. Craig Conover, Medical Director at the Illinois Department of Public Health, flu numbers were beginning to go off the expected track a year ago.  "What's not normal was last Spring we had a (seasonal flu) rise that started when the flu season is usually over," he said. On top of that it turned out "We had three strains (of seasonal flu) which is unusual," said Conover.

Conover said, again in retrospect, H1N1's virulence may have been overstated. The disease sprung to world attention when an outbreak in Mexico appeared to cause in unusual number of deaths.  "We think now the (Mexican) records (of infection rates and deaths) weren't very good," he said.

Even though H1N1 didn't turn out to be a rerun of the 1918 Spanish Flu it served as a pretty good test of the health system's ability to deal with one. The test showed there's plenty of room for improvement.

"The (H1N1) vaccine was later than we preferred," Conover said, proving that 60-year old technology isn't up to providing enough shots fast enough in a serious emergency.

Other parts went better, though, Conover said. "I think it was good that we expanded access (to vaccine)."  Shots at schools and pharmacies worked out pretty well, he said.  "It was very good at delivering shots to the target population of the people most at risk," said Conover.

The H1N1 bottom line according to Conover: "There are lessons to be learned here."

In the charts:  (above) Illinois H1N1 cases didn't spike again this Spring.  (below) Neither did Seasonal Flu, though, as McHenry County numbers illustrate.

Art On The Fox Deadline Extended

The Village of Algonquin has extended the deadline to apply for its Third Annual Art On The Fox fine art show in Riverfront Park June 5 and 6.

Artists can apply through the end of the month to display their works of original design and execution including paints, drawings, sculptures, glasswork and photography.

Algonquin's fine art show along its winding downtown riverwalk has been expanding for the past two years even as similar ones in other villages in the region have been dwindling or dying.  This year organizers hope to jazz it up even more by suggesting artists demonstrate what they do right on the spot.

Applications to display at "Art On The Fox" are here:  http://www.algonquin.org/egov/docs/1264546413_877380.pdf

In the pic:  Comfy walking shoes are a good tip to enjoy Algonquin's Art On The Fox show in Riverfront Park.

LITH Senior Spaghetti Dinner Sunday

Area Girl Scout troops will dish up the pasta for Lake In the Hills' Seventh Annual Senior Spaghetti Dinner Sunday.

The event starts at 4:30 pm when seniors over the age of 62 will be treated to will be treated to transportation, dinner, and games in the lower-level Multipurpose Room inside the Village Hall.

The Senior Spaghetti Dinner is free but space is limited and registration is required. To reserve a place call the Lake in the Hills Parks &
Recreation Department at 847-960-7460.

In the pic: LITH's Senior Spaghetti Dinner always draws lots of diners.

Illinois Hospitals Make The Grade

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois residents now can evaluate their community hospitals with the Department of Public Health’s latest Hospital Report Card.

The report looks at mortality rates, surgical care quality and customer satisfaction rates at every hospital statewide from July 2008 to July 2009. The report represents a combination of data collected by two federal agencies: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Illinois met most national averages evaluating the quality of its medical care. In fact, the state’s handling of cases involving heart failure had a success rate of nearly 90 percent, five points better than national averages. However, there is room for improvement in patient care. Sixty-three percent of Illinois patients described their hospital visit as “highly satisfactory,” on par with national averages.

Dr. Napoleon Knight with Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign-Urbana was pleased overall with the report card analysis. But he warned anyone approaching the numbers to keep an eye on the particulars of the study, in order to get a better idea of what the statistics mean.

“It may take people some time to understand all of the information that is there in terms of what it really means to them. It will likely lead to more questions to their physicians or providers,” he said.

The study includes a hodgepodge of measures ranging from overall mortality rates to details like whether or not aspirin is a routine part heart case admission.  Generally the hospitals in and near McHenry County looked good in the report with some below-average exceptions.  Even those might be ambiguous.  For instance, a higher than average mortality rate might come from poor care but it might also come from sicker patients in the first place.

The full report is available at http://www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov .

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2654/illinois-hospitals-make-the-grade/

$6,000 Raised At First Congregational Sale

Huntley's First Congregational Church Rummage Sale drew about $6,000 over the weekend.  Some years the event has drawn as much as $10,000 to support the Church, according to organizer Nancy Storms.

Fieda Lamb who's helped at almost all of the past 30 years of the Church's Rummage Sales said Saturday had good attendance but that was part of the problem. That's the day when stuff's only $3 per bag. "We don't just make money on the last day," she said.

In the pic:  Bargains abounded Saturday at Huntley's First Congregational Church Rummage Sale. 

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
April 18
0433 HRS RANDALL RD. & MCHENRY AVE. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SILVA, PEDRO AYALA, M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 1600 NORTH AVENUE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Speeding, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. RELEASED ON BOND
1531 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE DEPT)FOLLOW-UP ARREST: HARASSMENT BY TELEPHONE. ROMAN, DIEGO, M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 3140 BRISBANE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Harassment by telephone. RELEASED ON BOND.
2334 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE DEPT). AGRRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MOTTL, CLIFF W., M/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 5248 W. 131 ST., CRESTWOOD. CHARGES: Aggravated Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving while License Revoked, Obstructing I.D, Improper Lane Usage. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL
0447 HRS 3300 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 65 years of age, having stomach pains and shivering. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1236 HRS 4511 ALGONQUIN RD., (CVS). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. REPORT TAKEN.
1456 HRS 20 BLOCK OF ECHO HILL. ASSIST AMBULANCE 62 year old female slipped out of wheelchair.  Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2141 HRS 00 BLOCK OF SHADOW CREEK CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 38 year old female with severe back & leg pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2204 HRS 00 BLOCK OF E. ACORN LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 24 year old male with abdominal pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2240 HRS 00 BLOCK OF LINDEN ST. DOMESTIC. Husband vs Wife. Verbal only. No priors.
2310 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE DEPT). FOLLOW-UP REPORT: BATTERY. Complainant was struck in the face by another female while at Moretti’s restaurant. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
April 16
11:09am A sixteen-year-old male from Carpentersville was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
14:47pm Buzinski, Elizabeth A., DOB: 03/19/92, of 1010 Shadowwood Lane, Crystal Lake, 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 05/26/10, in Algonquin.
April 17
13:12pm Webb, Brandi J., DOB: 10/07/68, of 430 Nokomis Trail, Algonquin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody at Sandbloom Road and Hickory Lane.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
22:59pm Bookout, Richard W., DOB: 03/28/78, of 18N305 Sawyer Road, Dundee, was charged with DUI, DUI Over and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Harnish Drive.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
23:10pm A seventeen-year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody in the 400 block of Flora Drive.  He was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 05/26/10, in Algonquin.
23:45pm Piatek, Cynthia, DOB: 01/22/83, of 2064 Peachtree Lane, Algonquin, was charged with DUI and Driving in the Wrong Lane.  She was taken into custody at Peachtree Lane and Stonegate Road.  She was released after posting $100 and her Illinois Driver’s License, with a court date of 05/19/10, in McHenry County.
April 18
22:40pm Staley, Stephanie M., DOB: 02/15/91, of 1311 Monroe Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 05/26/10, in Algonquin.

Huntley Route 47 Widening Project Nearing Start

ComEd crews worked overtime Saturday to get their lines switched over to allow construction to begin on widening Route 47 at Huntley.  AT&T has to transfer its lines to the new power poles, too.

Meanwhile Nicor continued its main upgrades, mainly between Kreutzer Road and Mill Street.

Another precursor to road construction is a retaining wall near Huntley Car Wash at Joan St.

Separately,  work is set to begin Monday on Huntley's Reed Road reconstruction project east of Haligus to just short of Cambridge Drive.  The good news there is the dual lanes each way and median are only expected to take about three months.

Instrument Donations Strike Up The Band

Some of the brass needed some Brasso but Saturday's District 300 Foundation Instrument drive sponsored by Houlihan's saw about $10,000 worth of musical instruments dropped off at Algonquin Commons.

The drive for unused instruments was to support District 300 middle school music education. A lot of the cases looked as if they'd been through WWII but the trumpets, trombones, drums, clarinets and flutes in them were still (ahem) sound.

Diane Magerko, Performing and Fine Arts Chairman, said even though Saturday's dropoff was supposed to be a one-day event, the D300 Foundation would be happy to accept any instruments through the end of April. Just leave them with Algonquin Commons Guest Services. The phone there is (847) 458-2700. And if it takes even longer than that to dig out Dad's ukulele (there was one of those Saturday, by the way), Magerko said her phone is (312) 310-9156.

In the pic: Houlihan's Manager Nick Izzo once harbored ambitions to be a rock 'n roll star, one reason the restaurant/bar provided free appetizers for instrument donors and a $100 gift certificate for a drawing among them. That and, "what we do is try to get out in the community," Izzo said.

Gift Card Program For ALITH Pantry Lags

Meijer, Algonquin, has a special program through March 15 to benefit the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry but it's running behind expectations.

The Meijer program encourages shoppers to purchase a $10 Food Pantry Donation Card at special displays throughout the store. The donation cards are converted into Meijer gift cards which go to Food Pantry shoppers to purchase food and household supplies.

An earlier holiday program to support local food pantries near stores throughout the Meijer chain raised nearly $300,000 with customers donating $187,000 and Meijer another $100,000 in grocery gift cards to 185 local food pantries.

Local Meijer Store Manager John Jacobsen said earlier programs to support the ALITH Food Pantry were very successful but this one is lagging a little.  "I don't know if that's because of the trend down in the economy," said Jacobsen whose stored donated $500 to kickstart the local program.

In the pic:  Slips to purchase $10 gift cards for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry are right in front of Meijer registers.

Cigarette Tax Increase Polls Strong

By Ashley Badgley, Illinois Statehouse News
Nearly 75 percent of Illinois voters support a $1 tax increase on packs of cigarettes bought in the state, according to a poll released Thursday by the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco.

Advocates from several antismoking organizations met with state senators and representatives Thursday to promote the tax increase and present data from the survey.

Currently, Illinois state tax on cigarettes is 98 cents per pack.

Kevin O'Flaherty, regional advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the $1 tax would bring in $297.6 million in revenue to the state. That revenue could then be funneled toward health care and human services — areas currently under the budget knife due to a $13 billion state deficit.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said that while most residents in the state favor the tax on cigarettes, it has been a struggle to get lawmaker support.  The word "tax", he said, is what he thinks is turning many lawmakers away. Cullerton claimed the cigarette tax is a good idea in terms of public health, too, though. "If this didn't bring in any money, it would still be a good idea," Cullerton said. "If it didn't bring in money, it would keep all these young people from starting [smoking] and a lot of current smokers would stop."

Along with producing nearly $300 million in new revenue for Illinois, the estimated healthcare cost savings to Illinois taxpayers with the $1 cigarette tax is $2.4 billion, according to the survey.

If approved by the General Assembly, the $1 tax increase for a pack of cigarettes would come on the heels of a federal tax increase of 62 cents implemented earlier this month.

You can read Ashley's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2698/cigarette-tax-popular-among-illinois-residents/

In the pic: This cigarette ad from the 1930's claimed Luckies weren't as bad for you as all the other brands.

McHenry County Indictments

A McHenry County Grand Jury returned indictments against the following individuals this week:
An indictment is not proof of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
MARTY J. VINCI, DOB:  02/13/54,    254 TORINO DRIVE, CARY. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE(4CTS), DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED(SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE).--Algonquin PD
  
BRYAN L. HANSEN, DOB:  05/14/74, 308 PHEASANT TRAIL, LAKE IN THE HILLS. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.--Algonquin PD
  
DEMETRIUS NASH, DOB:  01/03/67,  385 TRIGGS, ELGIN. RETAIL THEFT(2CTS).--Algonquin PD

TERRI S. DURHAM, DOB:  06/18/70, 10418 OXFORD DRIVE, HUNTLEY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL PRODUCTION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT.
LARRY T. DURHAM, DOB:  05/18/71, 10418 OXFORD DRIVE, HUNTLEY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL PRODUCTION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

RUBEN A. RIOS, DOB:  07/27/81, 6230 STONECASTLE LANE, LAKEWOOD. FORGERY(2CTS), ATTEMPT (UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE).--Woodstock PD

LARRY R. KAMINSKI, DOB:  11/08/81, 8601 SQUIRREL DRIVE, SPRING GROVE. RETAIL THEFT.--McHenry PD
  
MICHAEL A. REICHLEY, DOB:  06/18/69, 11311 ILLINOIS ROUTE 173, HEBRON. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
NATHAN A. ESTES, DOB:  08/25/80, 4508 ELM LEAF DRIVE, JOHNSBURG. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS(2CTS), CONSPIRACY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
STANLEY T. NIEDER, DOB:  12/02/78, 603 HICKORY ROAD, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION  WITH THE INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
MICHAEL SANCHEZ, DOB:  08/08/86, 3102 LYNWOOD COURT, STREAMWOOD. UNLAWFUL PRODUCTION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL MANUFACTURE OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
          
DEVIN C. BELLAK, DOB:  06/07/89, 1092 ACORN WAY, CARY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--Cary PD
  
KATHRYN M. FISHER, DOB:  06/01/82, 2952 SHOREWOOD, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry PD
  
MEGGEN L. SHAFER, DOB:  08/21/87, 3419 W. JOHN STREET, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--McHenry PD
  
KEVIN P. JENSEN, DOB:  08/28/92, 2704 KENDALL CROSSING, JOHNSBURG. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA(2CTS).--McHenry PD
  
DAJAUN L. PETTIS, DOB:  09/27/85, 16W626 HONEYSUCKLE ROSE LANE, WILLOWBROOK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry PD
  
GUSTAVO RAMOS AVALOS, DOB:  06/25/91, 102 GARFIELD STREET, HARVARD. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Harvard PD

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
April 17
0310 HRS HEARTLAND GATE & NORTHLIGHT PASS. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/ BENSON, KATIE BETH. F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE,
984 WATERFORD CT., CRYSTAL LAKE, CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0044 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTI’S). BATTERY. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
0130 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). BATTERY. Five male subjects pushing each other in the drive-thru lane. FAIL TO FILE.
0349 HRS 0 BLOCK OF E. OAK ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE/ Male, 77 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0859 HRS 4300 BLOCK OF GREENFIELD DR. CHECK FOR WELL BEING. A well being of a 3 year old child was checked. Department of Children and Family Services was contacted.
1005 HRS POLARIS DR. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property Damage Only.
1801 HRS 2265 W. ALGONQUIN RD., (THORNTON’S GAS). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1911 HRS 61 OAKLEAF DR., (JAYCEE PARK). DISORDERLY CONDUCT/ Two groups of juveniles threatening each other. UNFOUNDED BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2309 HRS 0 BLOCK OF SUN VALLEY CT. DOMESTIC. Father vs Daughter. Verbal only. No Priors.