Arbor Day Bummer: Ash Borer Spreading In Algonquin

Arbor Day was a bad news day for Algonquin residents with ash trees. Village Parks and Forestry Superintendant Steve Ludwig told FEN in the first thee months of this his crews have found as many new trees infested with killer Emerald Ash Borers as they found all of last year.

Ludwig said a new outbreak showed up in the Willoughby Farms area of Algonquin and more trees have been diagnosed in previously discovered areas.  Ludwig said 115 new cases have turned up this year and the running total of contaminated trees now stands at 269.  "Those are only (trees on village right of way), not private trees," said Ludwig.

The Emerald Ash Borer beetle has been spreading through the Midwest for eight years now, four in the Chicago area, three in McHenry County villages.  Some areas in Michigan where the bug first showed up have been denuded. That bodes ill for this area where developers favored the cheap fast-growing ash for landscaping.  Officials estimate overall about 1/4 of the trees in neighborhoods in the region are ash.

Signs of borer infestation include sucker shoots from the tree base, split bark and lots of woodpeckers who apparently can hear the beetle grubs gnawing away at the tree.  Experts claim by the time those symptoms appear, though, a tree's probably doomed. "The message, '38, 161, 259,' is this is just going to continue," said Ludwig.

The remedy, he said, is to take out the diseased trees and, getting back to Arbor Day, plant some new ones.  Just not all the same kind, please.

The official EAB website is located here: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/


In the pics:  (top) The latest Algonquin EAB outbreak is in the Willoughby Farms area but more infected trees have shown up this year in the areas already identified. Click the map to expand it.  (bottom)  Neubert third-grader Anthony Klotzbucher was first up at the Arbor Day spade helping Algonquin Forester Steve Ludwig plant a flowering crab behind the school.

Local Businesses Help Raise Funds For Algonquin Couple

The speedboat's already gone at the really big garage sale in Algonquin's Willoughby Farms section this weekend.  Against that, though, shoppers will be able to buy some old-fashioned frozen custard, or a slice of pizza or an Italian sausage sandwich as they browse for bargains.  Local businesses really stepped up to help a local couple have a healthy baby.

The giant garage sale is to raise money so Marvin and Carrie Koenig can have expensive genetic testing to prevent the inherited disease that affects their two children. The Koenigs were pleased that so many of their friends and neighbors donated time and stuff for the sale but were surprised when businesses volunteered to help, too.

"Van's (Frozen Custard, Carpentersville) said I could put up a flier," Carrie Koenig remembered.  "The next week we went in for a cone and Nancy (Van Acker) said, 'You take our machine for the sale.  Whatever you sell is yours.'"

That set off an avalanche of business support for the sale.  Besides Van's, Lee's Pizza in Carpentersville; Mimi's Cafe, Algonquin; Einstein Brothers Bagels, Lake in the Hills, and Ed's Rental Sales, Algonquin, pitched in to help out.

It wasn't a tough decision to make, said Nancy Van Acker's son and Store Manager, Chad.  "We've known them since we opened the place."

Meanwhile, despite 600 garage sale customers Thursday and a whole flock more Friday, the Giant Koenig Garage Sale so far shows no signs of running out of stock. "We've got boxes we haven't even opened yet," said Carrie.

In the pic:  Garage sale shopper Joan Pinchot had a yen for some pizza at the Giant Koenig Garage Sale in Algonquin Friday.  That's Carrie Koenig's dad, Terry Donati, dishing out the slices.

LITH Playschool Academy Expansion

Since opening three years ago  the Playschool Academy of Lake in the Hills has enjoyed providing early education to hundreds of area preschoolers. Enrollment has increased again this year, prompting the expansion of the program.

Additional classes have been opened to accommodate more students in the 3 to 4-year and  4 to 5-year range. In addition to the main facility on Indian Trail, classes will be offered at the LaBahn-Hain House and Village Hall Multipurpose room.

Registration requires copies of the child’s birth certificate and immunization records, a recent photo, and a registration fee of $50 for residents/$60 for non-residents. Registration is ongoing as long as space is available.

Details and forms are at: http://www.lith.org/Playschool.html

Lawmakers Look To Slots At Tracks For Road Plan

By Jennifer Wessner, Illinois Statehouse News
Lawmakers are turning to the perennial standby of gaming expansion to pay for the state's six-year construction plan. This year’s proposal includes allowing slot machines at the state’s horse-racing tracks.

Gov. Pat Quinn has estimated the six-year road plan including Algonquin's Route 31 Bypass and Huntley's Route 47 widening would generate $12 billion in contracted work, $5 billion in the first year. However, lawmakers have been stumped on how to fund some of the projects since money counted on from last year’s legalization of video gaming machines has not materialized.

Chicago and many communities have opted out of the law, refusing to legalize the machines often found in bars, truck stops and fraternal clubs. State Rep. Will Burns, D-Chicago sponsoring the slots at the tracks bill said they could provide the $177.5 million originally expected from the legalized machines.

Rep. Mark Beaubien, R-Wauconda, sees the plan as an obvious move for the state and the racetracks. "It’s something that can be done rather quickly," Beaubien said. "And I think particularly for downstate facilities . . . it may actually save those facilities, save those jobs, save those tracks.”

However, a representative of Illinois’ nine floating casinos said more gaming in the state could seriously harm the industry.

“Revenues are down 30 percent, partially because of the smoking ban and partially because of the economy,” said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association. ”It just doesn’t make sense to us to open six new casinos when operations out there are losing so much revenue.”

You can read Jennifer's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2814/lawmakers-look-to-slots-at-tracks-to-fund-road-plan/

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:  08/18/10 (sic),    1210 SYCAMORE STREET, LAKE IN THE HILLS. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

TIMOTHY A. TOBIN III, DOB:  06/07/86, 445 BRANDY DRIVE  #A, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.
ROBERT A. AGUILAR, DOB:  03/04/84, 431 BUCKINGHAM DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--Algonquin PD.

CRAIG T. ZURAD, DOB:  09/13/68,    743 WINDSOR DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. BURGLARY, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Crystal Lake PD.

SCOTT J. BREHM, DOB:  06/04/79,    4301 SHAMROCK  APT #2B, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY (2CTS), DISORDERLY CONDUCT.--McHenry PD.
  
ALEXANDER F. HENSON, DOB:  10/02/84, 1816 W. GRANDVIEW DRIVE, MCHENRY. EAVESDROPPING, OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER.--McHenry PD.
   
KEVIN J. RUIZ, DOB:  10/10/80, 120 MAPLE AVENUE, WOODSTOCK. DEFRAUDING DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENING TEST.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office.
   
CHERI C. IRVINE, DOB:  09/03/81, 9419 CREEKSIDE ROAD, WONDER LAKE. IDENTITY THEFT.--Woodstock PD

DAVID S. HEINZ, DOB:  07/31/63,    LKA:  523 WASHINGTON STREET, WOODSTOCK.AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD.--Woodstock PD
   
TIMOTHY S. NEWBERRY, DOB:  08/27/62, LKA:  600 N. EAST STREET  APT #4, MARENGO. RETAIL THEFT, BATTERY, CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO MOTOR VEHICLE, DISORDERLY CONDUCT(2CTS)--Woodstock PD
   
NANCY L. LIMA, DOB:  01/25/60, 750 GOLDEN OAKS, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS)
JAMES L. LIMA, DOB:  09/04/83, 750 GOLDEN OAKS, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--McCullom Lake PD

JOEL P. LAUER, DOB:  11/28/82, 7607 GENE, WONDER LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--McCullom Lake PD
   
GERARDO LEMUS, DOB:  03/22/76, 714 UNIVERSITY STREET, HARVARD. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Harvard PD
   
JOSHUA SLATEN, DOB:  07/22/76, 15520 KISHWAUKEE VALLEY ROAD, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL PARTICIPATION IN METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE MANUFACTURING MATERIAL, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE.--Woodstock PD.
   
SCOTT J. BREHM, DOB:  06/04/79,    4301 W. SHAMROCK DRIVE  APT 2B, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Crystal Lake PD.
   
BRYAN J. FOTOS, DOB:  07/07/89,    2311 N. HIDDEN TRAIL, SPRING GROVE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Spring Grove PD.
   
GAVIN J B DALY, DOB:  12/29/83,    8906 SHADY LANE, WONDER LAKE, IL. AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO A CHILD(5CTS).--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 30
0152 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MCCABE, LYNN F., F/W 48 YEARS OF AGE, 586 SOMERSET LN. APT 4, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, No Seat Belt. RELEASED ON BOND.
1511 HRS HILLTOP DR. & PINE ST. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. CARBONELLI, MATTHEW M., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 119 HILLTOP DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1547 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. DUPLESSIS JR, PAUL J., M/W 56 YEARS OF AGE, 115 N. HAYWARD, WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol by Driver. RELEASED ON BOND.
2351 HRS 8407 PYOTT RD., (LAKE IN THE HILLS AIRPORT). TRESPASS TO LAND. ARROYO, RUBEN C., M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 4806 ROSE ST., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Trespass to Land. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED
BAILEY, RICHARD R., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 8640 CHICAGO AVE., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Trespass to Land. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
BOZEMAN, NATHAN J., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 987 PLUM TREE DR., CRYSTAL LAKE, CHARGES: Trespass to Land. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
OGLESBY, JORDAN J., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 9210 POLO CT., CRYSTAL LAKE, CHARGES: Trespass to Land. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
FOLLOW-UP REPORTS: 1010 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PINE ST. ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Adult subject was firing a BB gun on 04-29-10.
1412 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1449 HRS 90 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 62 years of age, feeling dizzy and having body cramps. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1502 HRS 130 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 92 years of age, with flu like symptoms. No transport.
1603 HRS 10 BLOCK OF CROSSVIEW CT. ASSIST FIRE DEPARTMENT. Assisted the fire department with a brush fire.
2043 HRS 0 BLOCK OF FAIRHAVEN CT. DOMESTIC. Husband vs Wife. Verbal only. No priors.
2151 HRS 211 N. RANDALL RD., (STEAK N SHAKE). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO A MOTOR VEHICLE. Passenger window was broken during the evening.
2353 HRS 0 BLOCK OF MILLER RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE Female, 32 years of age, needing evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Huntley
April 21
Sara N. Leschke, age 26, of 801 Washington St, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Ms. Leschke was also cited for obstructed windshield, failure to notify SOS of address change and operation of uninsured motor vehicle.  Ms. Leschke posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
A theft report was taken in the 12800 block of Del Webb Blvd.  The victim stated that her purse was stolen out of her vehicle.  The victim was unsure if the vehicle was locked.
April 22
Martin Rodriquez-Banuelos, age 25, 975 Grand Canyon, Hoffman Estates, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for improper display of license plates and operation of uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Rodriquez-Banuelos posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 28, 2010.
A 16 year old male from Lake in the Hills was arrested for criminal damage to property at the High School.  The juvenile damaged a gym locker.  The juvenile was released with a notice to appear in McHenry County court on June 14, 2010.
Candido E. Salcedo, age 34, of 205 S. Jefferson St, Harvard, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license.  Mr. Salcedo posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
Timothy W. Madigan, age 24, 13547 Delaney St, Huntley, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for driving with no valid registration, disobeying a stop sign and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Madigan posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
Jazmin Cruz-Lopez, age 22, of 4 Times Square St. #210, Elgin, was arrested for driving while license suspended and driving without headlights when required.  Mr. Cruz-Lopez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
April 23
Brian J. Sindelar, age 37, of 8702 Lakeview Ave. Crystal Lake, was arrested for DUI and DIU blood alcohol level over .08 and was cited for speeding.  Mr. Sindelar posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
Timothy W. Graves, age 33, 10880 Grand Canyon, Huntley, was arrested for DUI and DUI blood alcohol level over .08 and was cited for improper lane usage.  Mr. Graves posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 21, 2010.
A criminal defacement report was taken at a park in the 9900 block of Bennington Dr.  Racist remarks were written on the men's room walls and mirror.
April 24
Kamil W. Pryda, age 20, of 1149 North Shore Dr., Crystal Lake; Rosario E. Militello, age 19, of 935 Viewpoint, Lake in the Hills, and Justin M. Marquette, age 20, of 1114 Spruce St, Lake in the Hills, were charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor. All parties were released with a notice to appear in court on May 24, 2010.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10700 block of
Timer Dr. E.  The victim states that the window was broken overnight.  The damage appears to be caused by a BB gun or pellet gun.

McHenry County Foreclosures Remain At High Level

While Chicago area home foreclosure filings fell during this year's first quarter, McHenry County's remained at the same high levels.  So did Kane County's.  It was a big drop in Cook County that shifted the region's average, according to a report released Thursday by the nonprofit Woodstock Institute of Chicago.

McHenry County saw 842 new foreclosure filings in the first three months of this year, about the same rate as the last half of 2010 and an 11.5 percent rise from the same quarter in 2009.  Algonquin saw 52 of those, continuing a decrease in foreclosures that began last year.  However, the level of new foreclosures remained about the same in Lake in the Hills which saw 94 new filings.

Crystal Lake decreased slightly with 92 new filings while McHenry rose with 74.  Huntley and Woodstock numbers were not included in the report.

It takes about a year for foreclosures to wend their way through the court system so completed auctions continued to rise shadowing last year's jump in filings.  Banks ended up with 9,302 more homes in the six-county Chicago region in this year's first quarter, a 79.3 percent increase from last year's final quarter.  McHenry County saw the smallest auction increase with only 264 homes going on the block in this year's first three months, a 3.5 percent rise.

“The increase in completed auctions means that more homes have been lost due to foreclosure and more distressed, lender-owned properties have entered the market in the first quarter of 2010 than in any quarter since the beginning of the mortgage crisis,” said Geoff Smith, Senior Vice President of Woodstock Institute. “These properties often stay vacant for long periods of time, depress local real estate markets, strain municipal resources, and generally destabilize communities.”

The mortgage crisis is so bad McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto mooted the idea this week of a County Land Bank to acquire vacant properties in municipalities after the end of foreclosure.  There is, not surprisingly, a federal program for that.

The Woodstock Institute's full report can be found at:  http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WoodstockInstitute/383ae98079/6a6fa35c63/01b1a814af .

Huntley Scouts To Host Pancake Breakfast Sunday

Huntley Boy Scout Troop 167 will be holding their annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the Huntley American Legion on Coral St. in downtown Huntley. An early Mother’s Day breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, juice, milk, and coffee will be served from 8 am to 12:30 pm. There'll be lots of door prizes from area businesses, too.

Tickets are available from any Troop 167 Boy Scout or at the door. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 3 to 10.  Any questions?  Contact Jim Kostecki at jimkostecki@sbcglobal.net .

4th Annual LITH Triathlon Registering

The Village of Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department is getting ready for their 4th Annual Triathlon on Sunday, June 13.  There are two quirks, though.  First, only 400 people can sign up and, second, there's no raceday entry.

The event features a 1/2-mile open water swim, 15 1/2-mile bike ride, and a 4-mile run. Highlights of the race include seeded wave starts by 1/2-mile swim time with 50 athletes per wave on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also included will be assigned bike racks and personalized slots, two transition areas, and pre-race open water swim and bike practices.

Entry Fees are $45 for Early Birds prior to or on May 2 and $55 for  registrants after May 3. More details and registration are here:
http://lith.org/triathlon.html .

Franks Vows To Break Ranks

Governor Pat Quinn's budget hinges on more state borrowing. Thursday McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks D-63 announced he's not going to be the guy who helps put it over.

“Borrowing requires a three-fifths majority vote in both chambers," said Franks in a release.  "The House of Representatives requires at least one Republican vote to reach three-fifths. As of today, at least two Republican votes will be required because I cannot in good conscience vote for Governor Quinn’s dangerous 'borrow and delay' strategy."

Franks said the only way he'd get back on board the bandwagon would be for Quinn to make $2 in cuts for every $1 borrowed.  "I have offered suggestions of big spending cuts," said Franks. "My first cut would be the elimination of the $1 billion Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity whose usefulness expired when former-Governor Rod Blagojevich turned it into a pay-to-play cesspool."

Franks charged,“Illinois’ political structure is dominated by powerful legislative leaders and governors who cut deals and expect the rank and file to blindly follow orders. The failed results speak for themselves."

Dems Raise More Campaign Cash Than GOP

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
The state Republican Party has touted their fundraising success this year as an indication of goodwill from voters, but federal disclosures reveal they are still trailing Democrats in the fundraising race.

The Democrats have raised about $388,000 through April, $80,000 more than the state Republican Party, according to April fundraising reports from the Federal Election Commission.

Steve Brown, spokesman for Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and chairman of the state Democratic Party, said fundraising has proven very successful as the state enters the final six months of the campaign. “Part of what we are able to do is develop grassroots, good field operations — in a lot of cases make more contacts door-to-door with voters than traditional direct mail (and advertisements).”

Kent Redfield, a political science professor at University of Illinois at Springfield, is not surprised the Democrats are outraising Republicans.

“Madigan uses the party as a vehicle for moving money out of [the Democratic Party of Illinois] fund and into campaigns,” he said. “Democrats are more unified, so in general they have raised more money.”

Democratic candidates trounced Republicans in fundraising and spending in the last election cycle. The Democratic Party of Illinois was the top spender in the 2008 election, with about $4.1million in expenditures in the race — $1.5 million more than the Illinois Republican Party.

The GOP is getting some outside assistance to help them keep pace. The Republican National Committee pledged at least $5 million to help candidates throughout the state. But Brown is skeptical the RNC, which has only $9 million in the bank, can deliver on such promises, saying “they seldom come through.”

Editor’s Note: Wednesday ISN examined the fundraising efforts of the state Republican Party. Today is a followup look at the Illinois Democratic Party’s fundraising.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2798/dems-outraising-gop/

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 29
0043HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SCHUETZ, AMANDA J., F/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 11773 LUDBURY CT., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0848 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
0938 HRS 500 GRACE DR., (PLOTE FIELD). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti found on dugout.
0943 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 11 years of age, having a hard time breathing. No transport.
1349 HRS 600 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 15 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1519 HRS 91 N. RANDALL RD., (GNC). CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Child left unattended in a vehicle. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY RESPONDING OFFICER.
1607 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD., (DOMINICKS). RETAIL THEFT Delayed from 042610, alcohol was stolen. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1622 HRS 800 BLOCK OF WILLOW ST. ASSIST. AMBULANCE Female, 72 years of age with high blood pressure. No transport.
1545 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & FRANK RD. STOP ARM VIOLATION. Possible stop arm violation. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1647 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LA COSTA CT. SUICIDE. Male, 34 years age, committed suicide.  TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER
1706 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & ANNANDALE DR. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti located on subdivision entrance sign. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1705 HRS 1109 CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD, (SAFETY EDUCATION). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 32 years of age, with severe back pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1722 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 38 years of age with severe back pain.  Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
April 26
09:15am Frausto, Edgar, DOB: 03/26/92, of 1045 Coventry Lane, Crystal Lake, was charged with D.W.L.S., No Proof of Insurance, Speeding and a warrant out of Kane County for Disorderly Conduct. He was taken into custody at Sandbloom Road and Souwanas Trail. He posted a bond of $100 on the Algonquin traffic charges, with a court date of 06/02/10, in McHenry County and was turned over to Kane County on the warrant.
09:24am Romo, Juan J., DOB: 09/24/88, of 301 Pyott Rd. #201, Lake in the Hills, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Speeding. He was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Pyott Road. He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 06/02/10, in McHenry County.
14:45pm A fifteen-year-old female from Carpentersville was charged with Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. She was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 05/26/10, in Algonquin.
16:02pm Atkins, Stacey, DOB: 08/22/82, of 337 Bayberry Avenue, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for DWLS.  She was taken into custody at 337 Bayberry.  She was released after posting $500, with a court date of 05/05/10, in McHenry County.
April 29
14:06pm Balleno, Josue I., DOB: 08/03/88, of 1300 N. Parkview Terrace, Algonquin, was arrested on a warrant from Kane County for FTA/Drugs and Disobeying a Stop Sign. He was taken into custody at Huntington Dr and Briarwood Ln. He was released after posting $500; with a court date of 05/27/10, in Kane County the Elgin Branch. He posted his driver’s license as bond for the traffic charge and was released.
15:16pm Lobocki, Joseph E., DOB: 11/06/86, of 925 Thornwood Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department and transported to the McHenry County Jail to await bond court.

LITH Student Aims To Be Top Chef

An aspiring Lake in the Hills chef won his entree category and a $500 scholarship in a cooking competition at Elgin Community College Wednesday evening.  Harry Park was one of the top six in a field of 130 hopefuls.

Park returned to school after a year in the business world left him cold.  "I'm not going to live just paycheck to paycheck," said Harry Park. "There's got to be more."  For Park "more", somehow, has always been cooking.  "I remember when I'd come home from preschool I'd watch Julia Child," he said. "I started cooking for my brothers, our parents worked, when I was in second grade."

Park, whose full-time job is in patient care, enrolled in ECC's culinary program to become a chef. So far he's doing pretty well.  Earlier this year he beat out 120 other contestants in an upscale burger competition at Elgin's Grand Victoria Casino. He said the kudos were nice but so was the $2,000 scholarship prize.

Park's scholarship Wednesday night came in a Fisher Nut cooking competition at ECC.  His entry was roast rack of  lamb dredged in hazlenuts with a cherry/wine sauce.  "You could serve it with maybe some garlic mashed potatoes and some asparagus or carrots," said Park whose food-thinking is mainline but by no means in a rut.

Park said his goal in a year or so is an associates degree which he figures is his ticket to a junior chef's spot in a professional kitchen.

"Everyone needs a little healthy obsession," he said.

In the pic:  Aspring LITH chef Harry Park slathers some New Zealand lamb with a daring Grey Poupon-based coating to anchor a hazlenut crust.

McHenry County Cracks Down On Judicial Deadbeats

McHenry County isn't steaming the stamps off return envelopes yet but this year's budget is tight so officials were pleased Wednesday that a plan to go after unpaid court judgements and costs has netted about $145,000 so far this year.

Assistant State's Attorney Tom Carroll said SA Lou Bianchi and Circuit Clerk Kathy Keefe hired a collection agency to go after circuit court deadbeats when they found "delinquent defendants" had piled up $4 million in  fees and fines during the last seven years.

Carroll said besides the $145,000 recovered another $50,000 has been taken off the books. The collection agency found some deadbeats were just dead.

Carroll said the money collected so far is a dollar for dollar recovery.  Unlike commercial collections which are usually sold at a discount to their face value,  the County retained ownership of the court debt and the collection agency makes its profit from a fee on top to collect it.

A little quick math shows there's still about $3.75 million outstanding, however. "We're still working on it," said Carroll.

Huntley Surveys Residents For Strategic Plan

Huntley's City Fathers (non gender-specific term) are trying to figure out again what residents think about the village now and want for its future.  A new Resident Survey is featured in the latest edition of the village newsletter and on the village website.

Management Assistant Barb Read said the survey will gather information to help create the village's Strategic Plan to set goals and objectives for the next five years.  Residents can take the online survey until May 14.
"Then we'll take a couple of weeks to put it together for the trustees," said Read. "The Board will look at it at the end of May."

Question areas include "quality of life", "service", "communication", "economic development" and "transportation".  Each section asks for checkmark responses but ends with a box where residents can type in their own comments in their own words. And it's anonymous....

The survey is located here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VR9YX6C

Blood Drive Sunday At St. John's Lutheran

St. John's Lutheran Church, Algonquin, has a blood drive scheduled Sunday from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm in the church's activity center. Walk-in donors are welcome but organizers say pre-registration is preferred.

http://www.heartlandbc.org would be the place to do that.  Sue Stroup at
(847) 458-6857 has the answers to questions about the drive and donor qualifications.

“Every two seconds, someone needs blood. It only takes about an hour of your time to make a huge difference in someone’s life,” said Ann McKanna, Vice President of New Business and Development with Heartland Blood Centers.  “It is important to build up a strong blood inventory now to help us get through the summer months, when blood donations typically are lower.”

If donors can't make the drive at St. John's, Algonquin's Wal-Mart has another drive set May 24 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

Rep.’s Engagement Brings Gay Marriage To Illinois House

By Jennifer Wessner, Illinois Statehouse News
The gay marriage debate came to the Illinois House Wednesday when state Rep. Deborah Mell, D-Chicago, announced her engagement to her partner of more than five years, Christin Baker.

Mell, the sister-in-law of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is one of only two openly gay members of the Illinois House.  She used the announcement to call for her fellow lawmakers to legalize gay marriage in Illinois.

"Christin and I are going to get married in the fall of 2011 and I'm afraid that we still don't have equal marriage in Illinois," Mell said, "so we will have to go next door to Iowa to get married.""

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, the other openly gay lawmaker in the legislature, congratulated Mell on her engagement, but expressed frustration that Illinois laws against gay marriage will keep Mell from enjoying the same rights heterosexuals enjoy.

"It's a very bittersweet moment," Harris said, "because there are certain legal rights and obligations that the state bestows on some which you will not be able to have, which if you should go to Iowa and get married there, you will eventually come back to the state of Illinois where those recognitions are not valid."

David E. Smith, the executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, said he disagrees with Mell and Harris and believes the voters have already settled the issue.

"We respectfully disagree with Deborah Mell in the effort to redefine marriage," Smith said. "The American people have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of counterfeit marriage."

You can read Jennifer's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2780/state-rep-s-engagement-brings-gay-marriage-to-illinois-house/

In the pic: Deb Mell.

Quinn Hoping For Federal Money

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
With lawmakers counting the days until they can leave town, and his income tax increase stalled at the statehouse, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is narrowing his focus on the state budget.

Quinn said after a Wednesday speech that he still hopes for an up-or-down vote on his 33 percent income tax hike, or as he calls it his 1 percent surcharge for education. But he is looking at other options. The governor said he hoped to meet with President Barack Obama while the president is in Quincy to talk about another round of stimulus money.

"The thing we'd like to see, if at all possible, is getting more money for education from Washington," Quinn said. "The president I know is committed to that, but I'm not sure if the Congress is."

State Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, worried that Quinn may be counting on too much from Obama. The Canton Democrat said a new stimulus would bring "only $900 million at the most to the state."

There's also concern in the legislature that Quinn is turning his back on other ideas, such as a tax amnesty. Some estimates put the windfall from an amnesty between $100 million and $250 million.

"I'd have to see the details…We don't want to have gimmicks [to] solve our budget problems," said Quinn. "We'll take a look at anybody's proposal, but I wouldn't hold your breath on that one."


You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2782/quinn-not-interested-in-tax-amnesty-hoping-for-federal-money/

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 28
0205 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RAKOW RD. WANTED ON WARRANT. CRUZ, STEVEN, M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 145 ARQUILLA DR., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County for Failure to Appear, Consumption of Liquor by a Minor. Bond Amount: $5,000 at 10%. RELEASED ON BOND
0251 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MITCHELL, AMY M., F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 26 E CRYSTAL LAKE AVE., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1429 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF BRISBANE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. GAPASTIONE, ANTHONY N., M/W 54 YEARS OF AGE, 12 AUBURN DR., GLENDALE HEIGHTS. CHARGES: 2 counts of Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL
PONTE, MARLO D., F/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 2841 BRISBANE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Aggravated Assault. RELEASED ON BOND
1329 HRS 300 BLOCK OF E. OAK ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 47 years of age, having chest pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1413 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Delayed ex-boyfriend vs. ex-girlfriend. Ten priors. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1744 HRS 100 BLOCK OF PHEASANT TRAIL. ASSIST MCHENRY COUNTY PROBATION. Assisted McHenry County Probation with possible probation violation. Subject detained.
1759 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 12 years of age, possible injury to the knee. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1857 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Senate Bill Threatens Sportsplex, Minor League Stadium

A new cloud looms over plans for a huge sports complex planned for the intersection of routes 47 and 176 between Huntley and Woodstock according to a briefing Tuesday at the McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee.  A bill is pending in Springfield that would take away the stimulus bond money the County planned to give its developers.

Last week the County Board allocated its authority to issue $18 million worth of Recovery Zone Bonds to McHenry County Sportsplex to build the 180-acre amateur sports center.  However, a Senate bill thought to be nearing passage would seize that right for state use if the bonds aren't actually issued by July 1.

"I think we've been kind of set up to lose all the (stimulus bond authority) we've allocated," said Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto, District 1, Algonquin.  That would include not only $18 million in authority for the Sportsplex, but also about $3.5 million allocated last week for a minor league baseball stadium in Woodstock and $6 million allocated in February to Wonder Lake Property Owners for dredging.

For the past couple of months the Finance and Audit Committee has been pressured by rumors of state plans to raid the stimulus bond authority allocated to its counties by last year's giant federal stimulus bill.  The original version of the Senate bill left a 90-day safe window after its date of passage.  A total rewrite in mid-March introduced the July 1 issuance deadline.

"I'm not aware any of our projects can make that," said Munaretto.

"This sounds like they've got something in the wings," said District 5 Member Tina Hills, Woodstock.

The stimulus reallocation bill is co-sponsored by Emil Jones III, son of just-retired Senate President Emil Jones. It's unclear how close the bill is to actual passage.  Officially it's set for debate next Friday. That's the last day before legislators plan to go home.

Other counties are upset, too.  The DuPage County Board, for instance, has allocated $67 million in stimulus bonds to create 800 manufacturing jobs but the company, Peerless Industries, says it won't have a bond underwriter lined up until late this year.

In the pic: The proposed McHenry County Sportsplex would create 400 jobs according to developers.

Huge Algonquin Garage Sale To Finance Genetic Test

Marvin and Carrie Koenig want to have another baby so the Algonquin couple and their friends are having a huge garage sale starting tomorrow.
Um, maybe that needs a little explanation.

The Koenigs both carry a recessive gene for a rare disease (only 1000 cases known) called Cohens Syndrome.  Both of the Koenig's children, 12 year-old Tyler and 8 year-old Allie, inherited double recessives and suffer developmental disabilities and some physical problems because of that.

Carrie Koenig said the couple wondered about the pace and path of Tyler's development but became really worried when Allie was born.  "We saw the pattern repeated all over again," she said.  That set off a seven-year search among specialists to try to find out what was wrong.  "We didn't get a diagnosis until a year ago," Koenig said.

The bad news: there isn't a pill to cure the Koenigs' kids.  The good news: there's a test so any more children won't inherit the disease.  And the Koenigs want more children.

"We have rooms to fill," said Marvin, one four siblings. "I'm the oldest of six," said Carrie.  "On Sundays we love to sit down to a table of 20."

The genetic tests cost about $30,000, though, and Marvin's insurance won't cover them.  The problem seemed insoluble until Carrie's best friend Korin Curran came up with the idea of a garage sale.  A really big garage sale.

"Our garage is full," said Carrie.  "And this isn't half of it," said Marvin. "It isn't a third of it." Friends' garages are full, too. So's a storage room full of furniture. Seventy five households chipped in stuff. There's even a speedboat parked at the curb. We're talking a quite large garage sale here.

The REALLY BIG garage sale for the Koenig's genetic testing starts tomorrow at 1980 Cloverdale Lane, Algonquin, from 9 am to 4 pm and will run those hours through Sunday.

In the pic: A mega garage sale to finance genetic testing for Algonquin's Koenig family features everything but the kitchen sink.  Correction: it includes a kitchen sink.

Algonquin To Save On Bond Refinancing

The Stock Market is bubbling merrily along but the Bond Market remains in the doldrums, good news Tuesday for the Algonquin Village Board.  Finance Director Jack Walde said it gives the village a chance to save some money refinancing some bonds, rather like homeowners doing a refi on a mortgage.

The village has about $3 million in bonds that mature in the next five years that Walde figures are good candidates for refi's.  One series carries a 4.45 percent interest rate, the other 4.5 percent and a bond expert told trustees they can both probably be replaced with ones sporting only 1.85 percent interest.

The expected saving for the refi's amounts to about $100,000 over the life of the bonds and Trustees put the plan on the agenda for full Board approval next time.

MCC, Bradley U Create Scholarships

McHenry County College students transferring to Bradley University will have a chance at new scholarships starting this Fall. Twenty students per year will be eligible to receive $3,500 in financial aid from Bradley. Along with other Bradley-funded awards, will provide up to $8,500 per year for qualified MCC students.

“The partnership shows how much high quality four-year institutions such as Bradley value our students,  said Tony Miksa, MCC VP of  Academic and Student Affairs.

To qualify, students must have a 3.25 or higher cumulative grade point average and must have completed 30 transferable hours. The scholarships are available to students studying for any degree at Bradley. Recipients of these scholarships must maintain a 3.0 GPA at Bradley to continue to be eligible for the renewable financial aid.

Applications and other information are available online at http://admissions.bradley.edu/transfer.

In a Blue State, GOP Seeing Green

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois may be one of the bluest states in the country, but that has not stopped the state Republican Party from pulling in the green. Curt Conrad, executive director of the Illinois GOP, said the party has raised more money in the first four months of 2010 than was raised in all of 2009 — when it collected more than $500,000.

"We've put in a little bit more of an aggressive approach to fundraising to support our candidates from the top of the ticket to the bottom of the ticket and we're going to do what we can to make sure we get some wins this election," he said.

Rupert Borgsmiller, assistant executive director of the state Board of Elections, said it's common for political parties to raise more funds during elections years.

"During the election year, people are more into wanting to contribute," he said. "If they (the party) are behind the issues that are motivating the people to vote, then you can generally raise more money."

But Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said party money does not automatically produce Election Day success. Most campaign dollars are raised and spent by individual candidates, rather than state political parties.

"The vast majority of the money that is going to be spent in terms of state elections is going to be raised by the individual candidates," he said. "The parties don't have the kind of control over the process that they might have 20 years ago — this is pretty much candidate centered politics."

The Republican National Committee closed out 2009 with less than $9 million in the bank — a $21 million decrease from 2005. Even so, the RNC is pledging at least $5 million to the state GOP to unseat Democrats in Washington and Springfield.

And the Republicans will be receiving even more out-of-state support in May when former vice-presidential candidate and fundraising magnet Sarah Palin is set to visit the state.

This is the first of a two-part look at campaign fundraising. Today's story focuses on Republican efforts. Tomorrow, a look at Democrat fundraising. You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2766/in-a-blue-state-gop-seeing-green/

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 27
0834 HRS 4700 BLOCK OF HIGHWOOD LN. FOUND ARTICLE. A bicycle was found in the front yard. Returned to the owner.
0851 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. son. Verbal only. Five priors. Fire department responded for 48 year old female experiencing difficulty breathing. No transport.
1132 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF BRISBANE DR. HARASSMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. Female harassing complainant via the Internet.
1612 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. BURGLARY TO A MOTOR VEHICLE. GPS was removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1736 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 13 years of age, possible broken leg. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
2048 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF BRISBANE DR. THEFT. Money was stolen out of a purse over the weekend. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2136 HRS 2400 BLOCK OF WEXFORD LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 40 years of age, difficulty breathing.  Female, 17 years of age, fell and struck her head. 40 year old female was not transported. 17 year old female transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.

Grafton Investigator Says No Pay No Play

The investigator hired to find out who deleted all of Grafton Township's financial records didn't quite say Monday he knows who did it but he did say he won't tell what he knows until he gets paid.  In an email complaint Lee Neubecker said Supervisor Linda Moore has refused to pay for the work he's done.

"It is my personal opinion that delay tactics are being used to impede the reporting of our findings," said Lee Neubecker, president of Forensicon computer investigators, in an email sent to a number of Grafton Township officials.

All the computerized township financial and transportation records and their backups went missing March 4 after trustees called for their audit for irregularities.  The Board hired Forensicon to examine the computers to try to reconstruct the files and find out who wiped them out in the first place.

Neubecker whose charges total at least $8,000 and probably a lot more  complained Monday that he hasn't received anything from the Township except a letter Moore sent Saturday saying since she didn't hire him she won't send him a check.

"We're going to pay this bill," said Trustee Rob LaPorta Monday.  "It was approved by the Board."

Indeed, in December the Board approved a procedure whereby two Trustees could sign a check to pay bills if Moore refused to do so.  LaPorta said that fell flat when they found they'd have to buy expensive personal bonds to allow check-signing privileges.  No one ever mentioned that glitch, though, in the Township's myriad subsequent meetings.

LaPorta said it looked as if paying Forensicon's bill would probably have to be folded into the Township's suit against Moore for multiple alleged infractions.  That isn't scheduled for hearing until May 12, however.  LaPorta quoted an email Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer sent Neubecker Monday saying Moore's failure to pay him might amount to obstruction of justice.

In the pic:  Computer investigator Lee Neubecker says he won't reveal his findings until someone pays his bill. 

D300 Cuts Buses, Saves Parochial, Though

The District 300 Board of Education Monday approved another series of budget cuts for the coming year expected to save $2.3 million.  The cuts preserved public transportation for students in the district's five parochial schools, though.

Carol Norman, a teacher at St. Catherine of Sienna School in Dundee told the Board "All my strictness in the classroom went out the window," when she heard of D300's revised plan to save parochial busing.  "I started jumping up and down," she said.

Administrators had originally announced plans to drop the busing in hopes of saving $400,000 but Board President Joe Stevens said that drew a petition for the buses signed by more than 1000 parents and "hundreds of emails which we read."

Superintendent Ken Arndt came up with a modified plan for parochial schoolers to ride middle school buses, then shuttles to the church schools.  That plan is still expected to save $335,000.

Although the promise wasn't in the measure approved Monday, Stevens told parents in the audience, "If it doesn't work out we will basically revert to what we have now.

The board cut busing for several other programs including preschool and advanced college classes at ECC.

The board also whacked new technology expenses, a literacy program and building budgets.

So far the District has cut about $9.3 million from next year's budget in the face of state funding shortfalls.  Another $1.1 million savings has been tentatively approved in administrators' contracts.  Still to come is about $4.3 million the Board hopes to save in teachers' contract negotiations.

Local Chiefs Laud Huntley PD In Hearing

Police Chiefs from Algonquin, Woodstock and McHenry, Huntley's Fire Chief and the Sheriff all told hearing officers from the national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Monday that Huntley PD is a topnotch outfit.

The hearing was part of the Department's quest for certification as McHenry county's second state-of-the-art police agency. McHenry PD was the first.

"It's a full-time job for three years," getting all the paperwork ducks in a row said Huntley Chief John Perkins.  Against the upfront expense of documenting or upgrading all the Department's operations, management and support procedures Perkins said later on he expected a savings on liability insurance.  "It protects the department," he said, from defending against attorney charges of laxity and ineptitude. "They don't even bother," said Perkins.

Besides, he asked, "How do you put a dollar figure on gold-standard quality service to the community?"

CALEA's examination of Huntley PD isn't expected to be done until at least late July.

In the pic:  Sheriff Keith Nygren told CALEA examiners Huntley PD certification would "put us all on the same page" in joint operations.  The Sheriff's Office is seeking CALEA certification, too.

Girl Scouts and Spaghetti at LITH Senior Dinner

Sunday saw Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation's Seventh Annual Senior Spaghetti Dinner at LITH Village Hall.  Twenty six girls from Scout Troops 567, 920, 120 and 148 served up the victuals for 42 hungry seniors.

People for the Parks Foundation of Lake in the Hills paid for the food from Papa Saverio's. Northwest Home Health & Rehab paid for the drinks.
Wal Mart paid for the holloware and flatware. Costco paid for the appetizers, coffee, and paper goods and The Fountains of Crystal Lake provided dessert and a gift basket as a BINGO prize. Buffalo Wild Wings donated a $25 gift card for BINGO and  Provena St. Josephs Hospital donated a free 60 minute massage likewise.

In the pic:  Amanda Santillo, Lake in the Hills, served up some greenery Sunday to (left to right) Pat Boi, Adeline Kunde, Ruth Kahl, Rsalie Cacciatroe and Wayne Boi at LITH's Senior Spaghetti Dinner.

Civic Federation Pans Quinn Budget

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s “credit card” solution to the state’s budget is coming under fire from outside the Capitol. The Civic Federation, a Chicago-based business and tax policy organization, has issued a new report that blasts Quinn’s budget for relying too much on borrowing and not nearly enough on cutting spending.

Lawrence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, said Quinn and lawmakers in Springfield have not done enough to gain control of Illinois’ $13 billion budget deficit. “The governor doesn’t have credibility, the General Assembly doesn’t have credibility to ask for a tax increase as long as we see all of the programs which are not clearly a priority.”

Msall said Quinn is only going to hurt local schools and local governments if he cuts $1.3 billion from education and shrinks the local share of income tax money.

“What are the things that are a priority to the state of Illinois? Can everything in a combined $53  billion budget be a priority?" Msall asked.

The Civic Federation has put the price tag for “needed cuts” at $2.5 billion.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2755/civic-federation-no-support-for-quinn-budget/

Giannoulias Ad Uses Family's Bank Failure To Attack

By Bill McMorris, Illininois Statehouse News
Just three days after a teary-eyed Alexi Giannoulias addressed the federal government's takeover of his family's Broadway Bank, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate used the issue to slam his opponent Mark Kirk.

The sixty-second-spot has Giannoulias turning one of Republican Mark Kirk's biggest weapons against him. The Democratic state treasurer places blame for the bank's failure on the economic policies of the Bush administration — policies Kirk supported as a five-term North Shore congressman.

The ad opens with black and white images of the candidate's late father as the Illinois treasurer compares his family's financial troubles with those of everyday people claiming no one could have foreseen them. Then a female speaker blames everything on George Bush and slams Kirk for his support of tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs and his opposition to extending unemployment benefits.

Giannoulias has tried to downplay the bank's troubles throughout the campaign. But new revelations of risky investments and loans to convicted felons while he served as Broadway's senior loan officer kept the bank in the news and the Democrat on the defensive. Friday the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation formally took control of the bank and sold it to MB Financial.

The ad began airing statewide on Monday. It is the first of many to come, as Giannoulias looks to regain lost ground against Kirk since the Primary.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2756/giannoulias-ad-uses-family-banks-failure-as-attack/

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 26
0012 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
0809 HRS 5200 MILLER ROAD, (SUNSET PARK). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti at the park.
1055 HRS 43 W. ACORN LANE, (DELTA CHIROPRACTIC). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 79 years of age, passed out. No Transport.
1111 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 37 years of age, possible broken ankle. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
2049 HRS 200 BLOCK OF PYOTT RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 63 years of age, incoherent. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
2133 HRS 200 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 31 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Assistance For Poor Varies By Township

In the midst of deleted records, name-calling and dueling attorneys something's been missing from Grafton Township meetings for quite a while now: reports on the Township's Assistance to indigent residents.

Distributing Assistance is one of the township duties assigned by statute to the Township Supervisor and Supervisor Linda Moore has used that as one of the foundations in her ongoing battle with Grafton trustees. FEN filed a Freedom of Information Act request  early this month with  Moore to obtain Grafton General Assistance and Emergency Assistance figures for the past year.  FEN phoned the Algonquin and McHenry Township Supervisors to obtain comparable figures.

The General Assistance program (GA) provides ongoing aid to poor people who don't receive or don't qualify for other public benefits. It helps meet basic needs such as housing, utilities, food, clothing and medical care. Emergency Assistance (EA) is temporary help for emergency needs for shelter, food, utilities, medical attention, clothing or other basic essentials. Standards to receive GA and EA are supposed to be uniform among townships but the figures FEN came up with aren't.

Grafton Township has 46,309 residents according to U.S. Census 2008 estimates. From April 15, 2009 to April 6, 2010 Grafton Township saw 62 applications for assistance.  Of those 51 were approved for Emergency (short-term limited) Assistance and two hadn't been determined yet. Only six requests for General (continuing) Assistance were approved. Two GA applications hadn't been processed yet.

Next-door Algonquin Township had 100,664 in 2008 according to the Census Bureau, roughly twice Grafton Township's size. Algonquin Township's Assistance program was more than double Grafton's size, however.  According to Supervisor Dianne Klemm during the past fiscal year Algonquin Township received 247 applications for assistance.  Emergency Assistance was granted for 157 requests.  General Assistance was given to 75 other applicants.

McHenry Township is almost the same size as Grafton Township, 48,565 estimated residents in 2008.  It's assistance program was larger than Grafton's, too.  Supervisor Donna Schaefer reported during the last fiscal year McHenry Township took 334 applications for assistance.  Emergency Assistance went to 215 of them.  Eleven applicants were granted General Assistance with four more still being processed.

Comparing apples to oranges probably accounts for some of the Assistance disparities among the three townships.  McHenry Township is a very different place from Algonquin Township, physically and demographically.  "We have a lower average income and there's a lot people out of work," said Schaefer.  In Grafton and Algonquin townships, though, sometimes it's hard to tell which side of the line you're on without a good map.

First Rabid Bat Of Year For McHenry County

Never mind the first robin of Spring.  It's time for the first rabid bat. The McHenry County Department of Health last week confirmed the first one of the year in Spring Grove. No one was exposed, though.

McHenry County led the State with 17 rabid bats out of a statewide total of 83 last year.  MCDH thinks its not that the county's inundated with slavering insectivores. Spokesman Debra Quackenbush believes the department's just done such a good job warning people about the furry fliers that they're more likely to be reported here than in other areas.

MCDH says in order to test bats for rabies, it's important they be in good condition – either alive or recently deceased. On the other hand the department advises not playing around with bats in the first place and using gloves if you do.

Possible rabid bats should be reported to McHenry County Animal Control  immediately at 815-459-6222.

Under Quinn Pressure Brady Shows Taxes

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady made the last six years of his tax returns available to reporters in Springfield for about three hours last week.

That came after Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and running mate Sheila Simon released their 2009 tax returns to reporters earlier this week. Quinn had criticized his gubernatorial opponent for not releasing his tax documents earlier.

Brady's adjusted gross income has fallen by nearly $440,000 in the last six years, which the Brady campaign attributes to the difficult economic climate for small businesses. Brady's family owns a house building business in Bloomington. Brady's 2009 tax returns indicate he brought in an adjusted gross income of $119,910, which includes his wages as a state senator, his share of business assets sold, as well as overall gains in his business interests and rental properties.

The Quinn campaign criticized Brady for not making his tax returns more permanently available.  "This sounds more like a glimpse of Haley’s Comet or of a solar eclipse than the full disclosure the public deserves," the Quinn campaign said in a statement.

But Jason Barickman, personal and campaign attorney for Brady, said the Bloomington state senator has a lot of business partners and interests that could suffer with the release of his tax information. "By providing information on the financial status of his businesses, we are opening the door to (Brady's) competitors to have information that, in no other circumstance would be available to them. He's chosen to release that to his own detriment," he said.

Quinn reported an adjusted gross income of $157,122 for 2009, which included his wages as governor, some interest income and some withdrawal from his pension fund.

You can read Kevin's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2751/under-quinn-pressure-brady-shows-tax-returns/

Unions Push Evaluation Removal From FOIA

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Less then five months after Gov. Pat Quinn signed what he called a major new law to open up government, lawmakers are moving to keep information about public employees secret. A Senate committee last week approved a plan that would exempt performance evaluations for all public employees from Illinois' recently expanded freedom of information law.

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, is shepherding the bill through the General Assembly. She said teachers unions and labor groups that represent state workers want to make sure only employees and supervisors can read the results of an employee evaluation.

Melissa Hahn, president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, said performance evaluations can be used to protect favored workers or punish workers who don't toe the line. And Hahn said by keeping those evaluations secret, taxpayers will never know the difference. "It's not like people are showing up in droves to see everyone's performance evaluation."

But State Sen. Maggie Crotty, D-Chicago, said that's a common fear around the statehouse. "This isn't just the press that gets this information…The person who's getting evaluated, their colleague [can also read it]."

The bill is not the first roll back of the new FOIA law. Lawmakers approved a similar carve-out for teachers and principals as part of a deal with teachers unions for the federal Race to the Top education funding program. Illinois never received any Race to the Top money, but lawmakers made the FOIA change anyway.

"So basically, we gained a lot last year…and now we're losing it," Hahn said.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2752/unions-push-to-remove-evaluations-from-new-foia-law/

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 25
0159 HRS VIRGINIA RD. & RAKOW RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. JUAREZ, ALONSO, M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 100 SUNSET #109, CARY. CHARGES: Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Use, Driving in the Wrong Lane, No Drivers License, No Insurance. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0201 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HARVEST GATE. DRIVING UNDERTHE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. STEELGLOVE, ERIN ELIZABETH, F/W 32 YEARS OF AGE, 2802 COLEEN CT., ROLLING MEADOWS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater than .08, No Insurance, No Turn Signal. RELEASED ON BOND.
0208 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MICHELSEN, DAWN L., F/W 47 YEARS OF AGE, 1136 BRANDYWYN CT., S BUFFALO GROVE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0249 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. 1 WOODS CREEK CT., NORMAN, RYAN J., M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content
greater than .08, Failure to Signal When Changing Lanes, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Cannabis. RELEASED ON BOND.
0512 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. EVERTSEN, WILLIAM S., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 120 WOODY WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
2009 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT/NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. QUIROZ, ARMANDO, M/W 36 YEARS OF AGE, 869 CARRIAGEWAY, ELGIN. CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License, Following too Closely. RELEASED ON BOND.
0310 HRS 200 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Two male room-mates. Verbal only. One prior.
1048 HRS 00 BLOCK OF SIERRA CT. DEATH INVESTIGATION. Male, 60 years of age, not conscious not breathing. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1055 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. HIT & RUN. Vehicle hit mailbox and fled.
1333 HRS 500 BLOCK OF SEMINOLE TRAIL. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Neighbors had a disagreement about a noise complaint. FAIL TO FILE.
1433 HRS 00 BLOCK OF MILLER RD. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. A stereo and amplifier box were taken.
2117 HRS 100 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
2125 HRS 80 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 38 years of age, feeling weak with a headache and fever. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
April 23
15:43pm LaMotta, Ricardo D., DOB: 08/05/80, of 205 Stearn Drive, Genoa, was charged with DWLS and No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and County Line Road.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
April 24
00:53am Turner, Tiffany D., DOB: 11/20/70, of 507 Joy Lane, Sleepy Hollow, was charged with DWLS and Disobeying a Traffic Control Device.  She was taken into custody at Harnish Drive and Hanson Road.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 06/02/10, in McHenry County.
12:58pm Landa-Galicia, Elva, DOB: 03/14/74, of 201 Sandbloom Road Apt #6, Algonquin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 and Countryside Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
16:27pm Cuevas, Daniel R., DOB: 11/21/84, of 640 Brookside Avenue, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 640 Brookside.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
22:42pm Massaro, Brian J., DOB: 10/11/82, of 650 Braewood Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Criminal Trespass to Vehicle.  He was taken into custody at LaFox River Drive and Madison Street.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 05/26/10, in McHenry County.
April 25
10:37am Frost, Amber M., DOB: 09/27/89, of 12275 Donahue Drive, Huntley, was charged with Domestic Battery.  She was taken into custody at Route 31 and Edgewood.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.

McHenry County Unemployment Rate Unchanged For March

McHenry County's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 11.3 percent according to the latest report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Illinois' unemployment rate of 11.7 percent dropped .3 percent from February while national unemployment fell .2 percent to 10.2

Generally, the number of jobs went up but so did the number of people looking for work. Seasonally adjusted, the state unemployment rate actually increased .1 percent from February. “It is not surprising that Illinois simultaneously would experience job creation and slight increases in the unemployment rate," IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said.  "As jobs are created, people become more encouraged about their ability to find a job and therefore re-enter the workforce.

In the Chicago collar counties the March unemployment rate stayed the same or eased except in Kane County which saw an increase to 12.2 percent unemployment.

In McHenry County Algonquin's unemployment rate was steady but Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake and McHenry all saw their rates fall slightly.  IDES doesn't break out Huntley's rate.

The March state unemployment rate is at its highest level since July 1983.

                                  UNEMPLOYMENT             
               REVISED FEB. 2010        PRELIMINARY MAR. 2010               
               LABOR    UNEMPLOYED      LABOR   UNEMPLOYED     MAR. 
               FORCE    NUMBER  RATE    FORCE   NUMBER   RATE  2009   
U.S. (X1000)   153,194  15,991  10.4    153,660   15,678 10.2  9.0 
ILLINOIS     6,617,711 795,534  12.0  6,653,121  777,768 11.7  9.6 

COOK COUNTY  2,596,310 296,298  11.4  2,612,501  296,040 11.3  9.6 
DUPAGE COUNTY  520,742  48,013   9.2    524,483   48,373  9.2  7.7 
WILL COUNTY    366,672  44,317  12.1    368,995   44,334 12.0  9.8 
MCHENRY COUNTY 180,312  20,443  11.3    181,559   20,547 11.3  9.6 
KANE COUNTY    270,074  32,378  12.0    272,590   33,194 12.2  9.7 
LAKE COUNTY    362,549  48,779  13.5    363,243   47,112 13.0  9.9 

ALGONQUIN       16,604   1,559   9.4     16,730    1,578  9.4  8.1
LITH            17,019   1,749  10.3     17,122    1,743 10.2  8.4 
CRYSTAL LAKE    22,268   2,382  10.7     22,404    2,376 10.6  9.2   
MCHENRY         15,178   1,769  11.7     15,254    1,749 11.5 10.3 

Red Light Camera Changes Ready For Gov.

By Ashley Badgley, Illinois Statehouse NewsA compromise measure refining the use of red light cameras at traffic intersections is headed for Gov. Pat Quinn's desk after clearing the House Friday. The measure had previously passed the Senate.

The legislation would regulate the minimum length of yellow lights to 2.6 seconds, require municipalities to post videos of red light violations on a Web site and require a police officer or trained reviewer to look over the violation videos. The Web video posting is the only change that would affect LITH and Algonquin red light camera operations.  Police have said that IDOT and MCDOT control the timing of the yellow intervals.

Bill sponsor John D'Amico, D-Chicago, said drivers who run through red lights will still get tickets, but those who stop on the line or just after the line will not. "You have to come to a complete stop, otherwise you will get a ticket," he said. "Before, if you eased over the line a little bit, you still got a ticket. You will not get that ticket now, but you have to come to a complete stop. You can't just roll through an intersection."

You can read Ashley's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/2753/red-light-camera-measure-ready-for-govs-signature/

Born To Be (Blessedly) Wild

The 100 or so motorcycles through Huntley around noon Saturday were the somewhat damp recipients of the Sixth Annual Blessing of the Bikes at South Barrington's Willow Creek Community Church.  The High Riders Motorcycle Group were semi-shepherding the newly-blessed scoots to Woodstock Harley for lunch and a drawing for an iPod and a way-cool handlebar clamp.

Start For Teach Children To Save Week

Saturday kicked off American Bankers Association’s 14th annual national Teach Children to Save week.  It was “Round –Up Day” for Algonquin Bank & Trust’s Junior Savers Club. Kids brought their coins to the bank for counting and the bank rounded the total up to the next dollar.

“In these challenging economic times, I can think of nothing better than to teach our children the value of saving for their future,” said Jim Thorpe, President & CEO Crystal Lake Bank & Trust, AB&T's parent.

Through Friday kid savers can enter to win one of two $25 prizes and spin a wheel of fortune to win smaller prizes on the spot.

In the pic:  Nine year-old Rachel McNamara ran a sandwich bag full of change through Algonquin B&T's coin-counting machine Saturday for deposit to her Junior Savers account.

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 24
0040 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SPAIN, ERIC R., M/W 32 YEARS OF AGE, 9865 THORNTON WAY, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Operating Motor Vehicle on a Suspended Registration. RELEASED ON BOND.
0120 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. AMAYA, DANIEL P., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 370 HIAWATHA DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater than .08, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
2308 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GARCIA, JR. JORGE A., M/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 436 VILLAGE CREEK DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater than .08, Possession of Cannabis less than 2.5 grams. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0813 HRS 300 BLOCK OF N. ANNANDALE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 42 years of age, medical problem. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1152 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1252 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 20 years of age, unresponsive. No transport.
1446 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF HILLSBORO LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 54 years of age, extremely intoxicated. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1536 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ROOSEVELT ST. DUMPING COMPLAINT. Four subjects were issued citations for littering.
1852 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF CREEKVIEW LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Area check for a dark colored Chrysler PT Cruiser that rolled down window in front of complainants house & sped away when the complainant approached the vehicle.
1932 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles in the parking lot; property damage only.
2022 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH PD). DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
2140 HRS 311 N. RANDALL RD., (THEATERS). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 36 years of age, fell. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.