Sheriff's Spokesman Blasts State's Attorney

According to published reports, a letter from the Illinois State Police made public by the McHenry County Sheriff's office Friday cleared deputies of wrongdoing in the alleged manhandling of an elderly Crystal Lake couple two years ago.

The letter said an investigation of the incident found deputies committed "no criminal acts", according to a published account. Newly-appointed Undersheriff Andy Zinke is reported to have used the release to attack McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi for failing to prosecute the couple.

In an exclusive interview last August Bianchi told FEN deputies legally erred in the way they entered the home of Jerome and Carla Pavlin to serve a warrant on their son.  Bianchi said he also found "inconsistencies" among witnesses in the case.

FEN was not notified of the State Police letter.  In fact FEN hasn't received any releases from the McHenry County Sheriff's office about anything since last month when it requested Sheriff Keith Nygren's comment on a charge by his November Democratic opponent Mike Mahon.

FEN Publisher's Statement To McHenry County Politicians

By Pete Gonigam
I know this is hard to understand but just because I'm not for you doesn't mean I'm against you.  By the same token, just because I'm not against you doesn't mean I'm for you.

If you've figured out my position on an issue you're a better man than I am because it's usually more than I can do.

Northern Fox Relay For Life Tops Fund Goal

The Northern Fox Valley Relay For Life at Huntley's Diecke Park drew 230 walkers including 22 cancer survivors Friday and raised $72,000.  That was $15,000 over the group's ambitious goal.

Twenty two teams from around the area marched through the night from 6 pm Friday to 6 am this morning to raise funds to fight cancer.

More than one third of the relay's funds this year were generated by students at Heineman Middle School at their own "mini relay" May 25. Heineman students raised almost $27,000 at that event.

School District 300 will hold its own separate Relay For Life event next Friday/Saturday at Hampshire High School.  So will Elgin Community College at ECC's campus the same day.

Algonquin Martini's Marks One Year

Algonquin's Martini's on Main got a nice first anniversary present this week when the village board approved a request for sidewalk tables at the downtown historic district restaurant.

"The odds (of a new restaurant surviving a year) were five percent," crowed Martini's Co-owner Greg Geigel as he placed the new furniture in front of the restaurant for the evening Friday.

So how'd he and partner Klara Cukova beat the odds?  "We've just been trying to give everyone good value and show that we care," said Geigel.

That and constant experimentation.  The sidewalk dining, for intance, is part of a plan to lure bicylists from the Prairie Trail to Martini's.  "We're going to add things like milkshakes and smoothies just during the day," Geigel said.

"I'd like more business during the week," said Cukova.  "We do good on the weekends.  During the week we suffer a little."

Geigel said he and Cukova have recovered their first year's startup outlay and operating costs by each working over 100 hours a week.  Geigel's retained his day job as Chief Operating Officer at a plastics company while handling Martini's business end.  Kukova meanwhile takes care of the restaurant's day-to-day operations.  "She really runs the place," said Geigel.

Mistakes?  "We seriously underestimated the carryover reputation from all the previous owners," Geigel said.  "We probably should have changed the name but we liked it."

In the pic:  Martinis On Main owners Klara Cukova and Greg Geigel try out their new sidewalk tables with cross-Main Street neighbor Ernie DiFiore from Bullwinkles.

Marta Makowski Wins Miss Huntley

The judges Friday chose 16 year-old Huntley High sophomore Marta Makowski to be 2010's new Miss Huntley.

Makowski, the daughter of Wieslawa and Lech Makowsi, won a $1,500 scholarship and succeeds 2009's Miss Huntley, Hannah Smith. She'll go on to represent Huntley in the Miss McHenry County pageant at the County Fair August 4 through 8.  Smith won that pageant, too, last year.

Patti Blagojevich Cries At Denial Of Postponement

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Patti Blagojevich burst into tears Friday after federal Judge James Zagel refused to postpone her husband’s corruption trial next week so the former Illinois governor could attend their daughter’s grammar school graduation.

Zagel, however, indicated opening statements could begin Tuesday morning, allowing the couple to attend the ceremony that afternoon.

Blagojevich Friday described his legal situation at the hands of the government as ”Kafkaesque” in his first public remarks since the trial’s start Thursday. The reference was presumably to a famous story by author Franz Kafka about a man charged with a crime whose nature the authorities refuse to reveal. The literary allusion may not have been quite apropos since prosecutors have charged the former governor with 24 specific counts of fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum 415 years in prison.

Blagojevich was arrested in December 2008 after federal authorities recorded his telephone conversations, as he allegedly sought to sell President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat for personal and political gain. The Illinois legislature impeached and convicted him, throwing him out of office in January 2009.

Jury selection in the case will resume Monday.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3160/patti-blagojevich-cries-at-judges-denial-of-postponement/

Obituaries

Antoinette C. “Toni” DeSalvo, 63, of Lakewood, passed away at her home Tuesday morning following a lengthy illness.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am today at St. Mary Catholic Church,  Huntley. Burial will be in Huntley Cemetery. Visitation will be after 9:00 am today at DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley. On-line condolences may be directed to defiorejorgensen.com

Antoinette DeSalvo was born March 22, 1947, in Marano Principato, Italy, the daughter of Francesco and Gulia (Ruffalo) Sessa. She moved with her family at an early age to the Chicago area and grew up in Oriole Park. She graduated from Taft High School in 1965 and married Russell P. DeSalvo. The couple made their home in Chicago and she worked as an office manager for Graef Engineering until October of last year
DeSalvo is survived by her husband, Russell, of Lakewood; her daughters, Nancy (Scott) Albergo of Algonquin and Jennifer (Terry) Henning of Huntley; five grandchildren, Anthony, Jacob, Sara, Terry & Madelyn, and her sisters, Carol (Paul) DeSalvo of Crystal Lake and Patricia (Larry) Farrar of Pinellis Park, Florida.

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.

AUTUMN K. WILSON, DOB:  12/25/86, 581 SILVER CREEK ROAD, WOODSTOCK. RETAIL THEFT(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE.--Algonquin PD

SCOTT L. JOHNSON, DOB:  11/05/85, 4 TORREY PINES COURT, LAKE IN THE HILLS. THEFT.--LITH PD

RYAN A. LYNCH, DOB:  03/16/90, 3508 WOODLAND CIRCLE, ISLAND LAKE. RETAIL THEFT.--McHenry PD
  
MARK J. WALLNER, DOB:  06/24/55, 528 E. CALHOUN STREET, WOODSTOCK. AGGRAVATED BATTERY.--Woodstock PD
   
MARIO D. WILLIAMS, DOB:  12/16/81, 603 LINCOLN AVENUE  APT E, FOX RIVER GROVE. BURGLARY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--Fox River Grove PD
   
RICHARD P. HOCKENBERRY, DOB:  07/16/55,    205 CREEKSIDE TRAIL, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER.--Harvard PD
   
DONNA LOU DOWELL, DOB:  06/28/61, 134 ILLINOIS STREET. CRYSTAL LAKE. THEFT(3CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(3CTS)--Crystal Lake PD
   
FRANCISCO R. MONTESINOS, DOB:  10/01/82, 4718 ARBOR DRIVE, ROLLING MEADOWS. FAILURE TO STOP AFTER HAVING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.--Cary 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
June 04
0119 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & RANDALL RD. FLEEING AND ELUDING. VANDERMUELEN, KIMBERLY A., F/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 7 HOLLYHOCK CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Fleeing and Eluding, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0100 HRS 0 BLOCK OF SUGAR CREEK CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 68 years of age, pain to right side. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0930 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 34 years of age, had a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.
0909 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HUNTERS PATH. VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION. Ex-Husband sending harassing e-mails and text messages to Ex-wife.
1518 HRS HILLTOP DR. & CRYSTAL LAKE RD. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT. Male acting strangely near a school bus stop and a garage sale across the street.
1854 HRS 339 N. RANDALL RD., (COLD STONE CREAMERY). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1904 HRS 300 BLOCK OF CLEAR SKY TRAIL. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE. Pending investigation. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1958 HRS MASON LN. & GRANITE CT. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted Crystal Lake Police Department.

District 300 Picks Plaza To Sub For Ryan

At a Special Meeting Thursday the District 300 Board of Education voted to fill the seat vacated by Algonquin's John Ryan with Lake in the Hills resident Karen Plaza.  The move was surprising since the two had opposing views on the district's fractious 2006 tax increase referendum.

Ryan was elected with support from the anti-tax Family Taxpayer's Network while Plaza was part of Advance 300, the group in favor of the referendum which passed.

Plaza, the wife of Lake in the Hills Village President Ed Plaza, said in her application, however, that with state funding to the district lagging, "The district will need to live within its means."

Currently Director of Finance in Crystal Lake's District 47, Plaza was a District 300 Financial Assistant from 2004 to 2007 when she discovered a Dundee-Crown secretary had embezzled $75,000 from student activity funds.  After being sworn in at the Board's next meeting June 14 she'll serve the rest of Ryan's term until early next year.

In other action Thursday trying to deal with uncertain state funding the Board cut 30 paraeducators, custodians, and secretaries from the next schoolyear's budget. Still on the table is possible elimination of a building manager.

In the pic: Karen Plaza

Algonquin's South Hanson Road To Open Today

Crews in Algonquin scrambled Thursday to finish work for this morning's scheduled re-opening of the south leg of Hanson Road.  Removing the barricades had been uncertain earlier in the week for fear heavy rains would wash out the ungrassed dirt berms shielding the new bike path along Hanson from errant golf balls at the Golf Club of Illinois.

Hanson is scheduled to reopen today from County Line Road to and including the Harnish Drive intersection.  At the same time the north leg from above Harnish to and including the Huntington is supposed to be shut down for further construction.

Heads Up: New Huntley Traffic Signals

The burlap is supposed to come off a bunch of new traffic signals today at Huntley's Route 47 and Main Street intersection. The new temporary signals include left turn arrows.

Meanwhile crews are ripping up pavement to get ready for new temporary lanes on the east side of 47 north of Algonquin Road and there's a lot of storm sewer work going on at the other end of the village.

Next week Nicor is scheduled for work around the 47 and Main intersection which will probably involve lane changes. Nicor will be putting in a new gas main from Borden Street to Main next week.

Penny Pancakes Benefit Huntley Family, Foundation

Almost $1,300 was raised Thursday by Penny Pancake Day at Algonquin's Colonial Cafe to benefit the family of Huntley's Carter Kettner and the foundation to be established in the little boys' memory.

Colonial Manager Rick Rittigarn had expected the fundraiser to be successful. He said an earlier effort in February produced the largest total in the restaurant chain's history.

"I thought we're the perfect persons to help out," said Rittigarn.  "I went through something similar in my family," he said.  "I know some of what's in front of them."

Almost 1,500 people consumed over 3,000 penny pancakes.  Adam Swiatek of Carpentersville was the champion in a series of pancake-eating contests gobbling 5-1/2 cakes in 2 minutes.

In the pic:  Cinnamon Kettner, Carter's Mom, chats with Huntley's Cheryl Kuhns and daughter Caitie while Hailey Richert tucks into a Penny Pancake at the Colonial Cafe Thursday.

Art On The Fox Set Saturday, Sunday In Algonquin

The Village of Algonquin's two-day Art on the Fox outdoor fine arts exhibition starts tomorrow.  For its third year the event has been expanded to cover the weekend from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm both days.

The show will run up and down the village's Riverfront Park overlooking the Fox River in the community's historic downtown on North Harrison Street one block north of Algonquin Road.

Algonquin's Art on the Fox is free featuring local artists performing demonstrations and selling artwork in a variety of media. More than 30 artist booths will include paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, as well as sculptures. There'll be live music at the park's central plaza during the show and the Downtown Algonquin Partnership merchants' association will have a booth  about its Thursday Farmers' Market and member businesses.

Judge, Bugs Outshine Blago Among Jury Pool

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
It may have been former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s trial, but it was federal Judge James Zagel’s show at Thursday’s jury selection.

After a late start on the first day of the federal corruption trial, Zagel eased through the process, completing interviews with one-third of the trial’s 90 prospective jurors before recess. It was a calm process amid a courthouse crowded with calamity. Jurors were stowed away in a back room throughout the day to avoid the bright camera lights in the courthouse lobby, as well as the two packed courtrooms awaiting their testimony.

Many of the jurors expressed only a broad understanding of the corruption allegations against the former governor, which include an attempt to “sell” President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat for political and personal gain.

Wife Patti’s stint on NBC’s “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” was known by some jurors. “Something about some bugs on TV,” one prospective juror told Zagel questioned about familiarity with the defendant. Mrs. Blagojevich ate a spider in that reality show.

Blagojevich, however, did not shy away from the potential jurors or anyone else for that matter. He entered the courtroom smiling and shaking hands and left it in the same manner. The former governor remained calm in the courtroom. Rarely did Blagojevich look down at the table or miss out on a laugh during the hearing’s more lighthearted moments, especially Patti’s renewed celebrity among the jury pool.

The court will be back in session this morning when the prosecution and defense will eliminate jurors thought to be biased.

You can read Bill's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3143/judge-bugs-outshine-blago-among-jury-pool/

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
June 03
1457 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. RICHARDS, BRITTANI S., F/B 24 YEARS OF AGE, 1334 CUNAT CT. 2C, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery – two counts, Wanted on Warrant, Winnebago County for Failure to Appear, Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $3,000 at 10%. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0400 HRS 500 BLOCK OF E. OAK ST. DOMESTIC. Cousin vs. cousin. Verbal only. No priors.
0739 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF VIRGINIA RD. OVERWEIGHT TRUCK. Citation issued, fines paid.
1208 HRS 500 BLOCK OF PAWNEE DR. DOG BITE. Hiker bitten by a dog.
HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1918 HRS 800 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Shelves in a closet were damaged.
2119 HRS 20 BLOCK OF HILLY LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 8 months old, with a high fever. No transport.
Algonquin
delayed
Huntley
May 25
Jennifer M. Allie, age 33, of 11605 Douglas, Huntley, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for driving with no insurance and use of a cell phone in a construction zone.  Ms. Allie posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 25, 2010.
Jessica M DeSomer, age 21, of 522 McHenry #211, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for obstructed windshield.  Ms. DeSomer posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 25, 2010.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at a parking lot in the 12800 block of Del Webb Blvd.  The victim states that two of her tires were punctured.
A 16 year old male from Lake in the Hills was arrested for disorderly conduct at the High School.  The juvenile was given a notice to appear in McHenry County court on
June 14, 2010.
May 26
Alexander N. Cuellar, age 19, of 928 Beaver Pond Dr., Marengo, was arrested for retail theft at a business in the 11900 block of Kreutzer Rd.  Mr. Cuellar posted bond and was released with a Kane County court date of July 5, 2010.
May 28
Two 16 year old male juveniles from Huntley were arrested for battery.  Both juveniles were released to their parents and were petitioned to McHenry County Juvenile Court.
May 29
Luis A. Flores, age 24, of 2019 W 21st Place, Chicago, was arrested for driving while license revoked and cited for registration suspended for non-insurance.  During the traffic stop it was learned that Mr. Flores was wanted on an outstanding Cook County warrant for failure to appear in court on a DUI charge.  Mr. Flores posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 25, 2010 and a Cook County court date of July 9, 2010.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10400 block of Bethel Ave.  The victim states that someone damaged her mail box.  The damage is estimated to be $80.00.
Matthew C. Gustafson, age 29, of 11318 Grove St., Huntley, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Gustafson posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 25, 2010.
Charles Fu Chen Lin, age 58, of 2075 Leavitt, Chicago, was arrested on an outstanding Village of Westmont warrant for a liquor violation.  Mr. Lin posted bond and was released with a Downers Grove court date of June 16, 2010.

McHenry County College Loses Another President

Hapless McHenry County College has lost another president with the announcement Wednesday that interim boss Kathleen Plinske will be leaving at the end of this month to become provost at a JC in Florida.

The MCC board still hasn't chosen a permanent successor to Walt Packard who either retired or was retired by the MCC Board a year and a half ago.  VP Brian Sager ran things briefly before he retired and Treasurer Ron Ally took the reins but then Ally left.  A guy named Larry Tyree was appointed interim president but was only there for a month before he left again at which point Plinske took over for the past year.

Plinske was showered with encomiums when she said she was leaving but she wasn't among the top candidates the MCC Board is considering for permanent appointment beginning July 1.

Woodstock Advocate blogger Gus Philpott notes that two of the three candidates being considered for the spot are at or close to retirement age so there's a good chance whoever is chosen to head MCC will turn out to be a shorttimer, too.

Grafton Administrator Was Attorney's Idea

Testimony ended Wednesday in the trial over who runs Grafton Township.  The day's most important development was Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer's admission that it was her idea to create a Township Administrator's spot.

Krafthefer said after the law firm Ancel-Glink was hired the warring Township Supervisor and Trustees pestered her with so many questions and duties "I was starting to spend 75 percent of my time on Grafton Township."  She said officials called her anywhere from 3 to 20 times a day and she thought hiring a Township Administrator would somehow relieve that and save the township a lot of unnecessary legal fees.

In the event it didn't.  The Administrator position itself became a bone of contention and the legal tab kept rising.  According to Wednesday's testimony Ancel-Glink's bills to Grafton Townhip in the first two months of this fiscal year total about $75,000.  Would-be Township Attorney John Nelson told FEN Wednesday his bill for representing Supervisor Linda Moore will probably come in at $25,000.

Nelson finally managed to tag the other side with at least the appearance of wrongdoing when he got Trustee Betty Zirk to admit the Board in 2006 had appropriated $5,000 to hire someone to run the Grafton Township Food Pantry.  "We could do that," said Zirk, who added she wasn't sure if the money'd actually been spent.

The Food Pantry's been ambiguously intertwined throughout the Grafton Township battles that began with a plan to build a new $3.5 million Township headquarters. Testimony in the current case has suggested all the space the Pantry took up, along with all the new people running the township's Senior Bus service were part of the impetus for the now-aborted scheme.

Defense attorney Thomas DiCianni scored what may have been a save when he got Zirk to remember the Township plan to hire a Food Pantry boss came before the Pantry was spun off into an independent non-profit corporation.

Judge Michael Caldwell set June 17 for Nelson and DiCianni to file summary briefs on the case and June 23 to file answers.  A quick housekeeping check is set for June 24 but there's no telling when the judge will announce a decision.

County Businesses Hope For Boeing Contracts

Hopeful local businessmen packed the Shah Business Center in McHenry Wednesday looking to snag a bit of the $177 million in business that aerospace company Boeing contracts out in northern Illinois each year.

The meet with Chicago-based Boeing managers was arranged by Congressman Don Manzullo (R-16).  "The Boeing Company already has a strong supplier presence in northern Illinois that I believe will expand greatly as Boeing ramps up production on the 787 Dreamliner and possibly the next generation air refueling tanker,” Manzullo said.

The Dreamliner is behind schedule and the tanker is balled up in Congress so there are a lot of "ifs" but local businessmen were optimistic.  "It's a huge turnout," said Manzullo spokesman Rich Carter.  "We ran out of agendas."

A contract with Boeing might be the entree McHenry County manufacturers need to go high tech.  "We all talk about good suppliers," said Boeing VP Ron Shelley, "Trust me."

In the pic:  Boeing execs Wednesday outlined some of the manufacturing and service opportunities available to McHenry County businesses in their company's  $68 billion aviation empire.

Lacrosse, Anyone?

The local NWS Knights Lacrosse Travel Team has tryouts and fundraisers on tap this weekend.  Good news, since lacrosse seems to be catching on as the latest trendy obscure sport.

The Knights are skilled high school and junior high players in the Northwest Chicago Suburbs featuring college level coaching and the chance to compete against the best lacrosse players in the Midwest.  The High School level Knights team (for players graduating in 2012 or 2013) will hold an open try out for the summer season Sunday from 9 to 11am at Oakwood Hills Park in Crystal Lake.

Saturday the Knights will have a fundraising carwash at Castle Bank, Algonquin and Lakewood, in LITH from 1 to 5 pm.  Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm the Knights will get 15 percent of any order at Moretti's restaurant in LITH from patrons mentioning the team or presenting a flyer.

FEN Marks First Anniversary (Cheers and Huzzahs!)

By Pete Gonigam
I know marking the First Electric Newspaper's first anniversary isn't exactly earth-shattering news but journalists do this sort of self-referential thing a lot and, at the risk of seeming immodest, it does have some sort of local importance.

For a year now Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Huntley have had their own newspaper.  Most other places the appearance of a reporter itself counts as news these days.

François Duc de La Rochefoucauld observed there was "nothing more horrible than the murder of a beautiful theory by a brutal gang of facts" and FEN is a good example.  I find, as I expected, people are actually excited to learn they have a local newspaper.  "Where can I get it?", they ask.  "It's free and online," I tell them and suddenly they get this look like they just found something bad on their shoes.

Say this over and over; think about getting a tattoo: "FEN is not a Blog."

In any case, in the space of a year via word of mouth and, apparently, random Google searches FEN has gathered roughly the same number of weekly readers as the late and unlamented Algonquin Countryside.  Yeah, I know, it's comparing apples and oranges but so be it.  The Countryside had about 2000 apples, FEN has about 2000 oranges.  (And the regional newspaper has in my three villages, at a semi-informed guess, 5,000 kumquats which just goes to show the value of inertia.)

I've been flying by the seat of my pants for the past year.  FEN is the first time someone's tried to create a local online newspaper that isn't an vermiform appendix or relict of a paper one so there's nowhere I can look to see how to do it. Printing's been around for 500 years, the World Wide Web for about 15. Most of what I've got to guide me are examples of what doesn't work.

Be that as it may, the past year seems to demonstrate FEN's editorial model works in some fashion or another.  The next year will test whether it works financially.  Are you, dear reader, worth 1.25 cents a week to local businesses?

The world awaits an answer.  Well, I do, anyway.

Tale of Two Jurors

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
After months of waiting, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will finally face a jury of his peers in connection to a slew of federal corruption charges. The only thing left to do is to determine those peers.

The former governor faces charges of racketeering and fraud, including the alleged conspiracy to “sell” President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat for personal and political gain.

Robert Hirschhorn, a jury selection specialist  said the defense should be eyeing a very particular type of juror. “The defense is going to want what I call a ’shades of grey’ juror,” he said. “If you see the world in terms of right and wrong, good and bad, black and white, I think that’s pro-prosecution.”

So what is a “shades of grey” juror? “The inference is that he was trying to sell this vacant Senate seat,” said Hirschorn. “What the defense is going to try to do is say…he was being a politician, not a crook.”

The prosecution will be looking for a different type of juror, according to former federal prosecutor Rodger Heaton, who has handled high profile corruption cases before. “Allegations of dishonesty are a big part of what’s in this indictment,” he said. “If (the prosecutors) find people who have to protect themselves or protect others from dishonesty, they’re probably going to see that person as a potentially valuable juror.”

Although the case has been surrounded by reality television appearances and one subpoenaed president, Heaton predicts that U.S. District Judge James Zagel will maintain a firm command of the process. Already Zagel has squared off against the defense over courtroom procedure after dismissing large groups of potential jurors without input from lawyers on both sides of the case.

The trial is set to start today.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3127/a-tale-of-two-jurors/

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
June 02
1740 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. TAYLOR III, EUGENE F., M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 872 BRANDT DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0314 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Ex-boyfriend vs. ex-girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1320 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HERON CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 53 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1424 HRS 500 BLOCK OF DELAWARE DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1548 HRS 0 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE CT. CHECK FOR WELL BEING. Check for well being for a mother and her children.
1943 HRS 400 BLOCK OF S. ANNANDALE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Sister vs. Sister. Six priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2005 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF POPLAR ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 43 years of age, having extreme leg pain. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
2031 HRS 2265 W. ALGONQUIN RD., (THORNTON’S). FOUND ARTICLE. Wallet.

Grafton Ex-Clerk Charges "Constant" Harassment

Former Grafton Township Clerk Dina Frigo was the star witness at the truncated fourth day of testimony in Grafton's lawsuit over who gets to do what in which office at the gridlocked township.

Frigo who resigned the part-time Clerk's spot in January for another part-time job said it was for several reasons but not the least was, "I could not work with (Supervisor) Linda Moore anymore.  It was very stressful for me and my family." Frigo claimed Moore subjected her to intimidation and harassment almost from the day she took office.

"She told me the minutes weren't proper and I was in violation of the Open Meetings Act," said Frigo. "She would continually tell me she would turn me in because I was not in compliance with the minutes," Frigo testified. "Any time I was in the office she was there on top of me."

Frigo claimed the atmosphere was so poisonous that when Frigo was in the midst of refinancing her home, Moore refused to confirm to the mortgage company that she was, in fact, the Township Clerk.  She said she had to finally ask County Clerk Kathie Schultz to fax her oaths of office to the lending company.

Moore's Attorney John Nelson pounded away at Frigo trying to get her to admit incompetence.  Frigo countered that a backlog of months of unapproved meeting minutes had nothing to do with her.  "(The minutes) were completed by me.  I was never late doing my work," she said.

Frigo later explained her calm in the face of harsh TV-style questioning citing her complete job history:  "For 14 years I was a clerk in the Cook County Court," she said later.  "I (cumulatively) ran every courtroom there."

In other testimony, Senior Forensic Investigator Yaniv Schiff from the computer firm Forensicon largely recapped charges reported in FEN last week about monkey business with the Township's computerized financial records missing since March. Schiff said his firm found traces on one computer of a program to permanently destroy records.  The Township server had evidence of the Senior Bus schedule being intentionally sent to the Recycle Bin, he said.

Schiff said there was other data on the computers but he and his company hadn't analyzed it yet because no one has paid them for the work they've done so far.

Township Attorney Kery-Lynn Krafthefer, a defendant in Moore's suit, is scheduled to testify today.

In the pic: Former Grafton Clerk Dina Frigo left the McHenry County Courthouse Tuesday after charging Supervisor Linda Moore tried to intimidate her.

Algonquin Board Solves Student's Problem--Kinda

A high school student's class assignment is still ungraded but Algonquin's Board of Trustees earned high marks Tuesday for treating it seriously and solving the young man's problem, although not the way he'd hoped.

Dundee Crown Junior Mike Kelley appeared before the board complaining a curb lip at his family's driveway on Glacier Parkway was whanging the daylights out of the family's cars.  "We have three cars and we probably do a front end alignment every six months," he said.  Kelley told trustees the lips were all over his neighborhood and suggested the village give everybody there $250 toward fixing their cars.

President John Schmitt told Kelley the lips weren't just a problem in his neighborhood but, indeed, were everywhere in the village. He estimated the number of bumpy driveway entrances in the village probably numbered around 6,000.

"That was the curb of choice," for developers once upon a time said Public Works Manager Bob Mitchard. "The secret is to hit it square and hit it slowly," he said.

Subsidized front end jobs "might not be the best use of taxpayer money," Village Manager Bill Ganek told the youth with a perfectly straight face. But Trustee Debbie Sosine recalled she'd solved a similar problem at her own home a long time ago by grinding the lip down to street level.

"That's something you could certainly do if you want to have it inspected by our inspectors," said Mitchard.

"What's a saw cut cost, Bob?" said Schmitt.

"Probably $15 to $20 a foot," he said and gave Kelley his number to call for a list of contractors.

Kelley admitted later his complaint was part of a class exercise in his Advanced English class but even so he stayed for the rest of the meeting.

In the pic:  Dundee-Crown's Mike Kelley wanted to keep his new car from getting bunged up.  The Algonquin Board gave him a way.

McHenry County Board Rejects COLA Raises

The McHenry County Board voted Tuesday to skip scheduled pay raises for some county office holders and half the board members next year.  Collectively the 2.7 percent cost of living increases would only have amounted to about $25,000 but Board Members decided with County unemployment still clocking over 10 percent raises weren't a good idea. Especially in an election year.

County administrators and the Board have worked for about three years trying to set salaries that were all theoretically equal and proportionate to responsibility.  Tuesday's salary raise rescission creates a two-tier scheme again since some office holders and board members not up for election this year will still be set to get COLA increases in the 2012.

Algonquin Man Charged With Unemployment Fraud

The U.S. Attorney charged a sometime Algonquin bricklayer with misdemeanor theft Tuesday claiming he collected unemployment benefits even though he was working.  Thirty six year-old Nicholas Boulhanis was charged with collecting more than $19,000 in unemployment payments while he was actually getting a paycheck in 2007 and 2008.

Ten other people in the Chicago area, two of them post office letter carriers also charged with mail fraud, were named in similar criminal information filings. Altogether the eleven are alleged to have bilked the Illinois Department of Employment Security out of about $250,000.

“The Department of Employment Security initiated these investigations and referred these cases to federal authorities because we take seriously our responsibility to root out fraud and theft,” said IDES Director Maureen O’Donnel.

Convictions on the unemployment charges alone would included making restitution, paying up to a $100,000 fine and serving up to a year in prison. 

Nonprofit Thrift Shop Opens In Huntley

Huntley's latest business is a non-profit one. Sweet Repeats Thrift Shoppe opened Tuesday next to Papa G's on Route 47, to benefit McHenry County's Pioneer Center for Human Services and Youth Services Bureau.

Open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm the store will offer clothes, furniture,small appliances, books, music, jewelry and housewares. All of the proceeds go to the Pioneer Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. They also benefit the Youth Service Bureau, now part of Pioneer Center, which helps victims of sexual assault, the homeless and autistic.

Donations to Sweet Repeats will be accepted each week Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.

Illinois Tries For Federal Education Funds Again

By Jennifer Wessner, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois education officials submitted an application for the second round of “Race to the Top” Tuesday hoping to get more than $400 million in federal education funds.

States vying for funds are supposed to demonstrate their commitment to reforms in their public schools, including new evaluation systems for teachers and administrators and improved data collection in districts. Illinois failed in an earlier attempt to secure funding in the Race to the Top competition, but managed to finish fifth out of 38 states.

“They just were only going to give out a couple,” said Robin Steans, executive director of the educational reform group Advance Illinois. “So I think it was less that there was anything wrong with our first application and more just that the Department of Education only gave out two grants.”

Matt Vanover, a spokesman with the State Board of Education, added that Illinois’ application fell short because of a perceived lack of commitment from communities around the state.

“Illinois’ application was a strong application,” Vanover said. “However there was some concerns expressed about…local buy-in, how many districts had signed up.” Vanover said the previous application had participation from 368 districts, or 42 percent of the state’s school districts. The application submitted Tuesday for the second round has the participation of 522 districts. almost 60 percent.

“I think the big question is what have other states put in their second round application and will there be things in there that for whatever reason are more appealing to the people who are reviewing them,” Steans said.

Awards for this round won't be announced until late summer.

You can read Jennifer's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3113/illinois-tries-again-for-federal-education-funds/

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
June 01
0004 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 50 years of age, for detoxification.  Transported to St Joseph Hospital.
0237 HRS 2200 W. ALGONQUIN RD., (SUPERWASH SOUTH). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Vehicle parked behind carwash.
0759 HRS 800 BLOCK OF NAVAJO DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 88 years of age, pain in legs. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0901 HRS 81 RANDALL RD., (CHAZIO’S). PRIVATE PROPERTY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1000 HRS 400 BLOCK OF BOULDER DR. TRESPASS. Possible unauthorized entry to gated community. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1027 HRS 8715 PYOTT RD., (SIGNET PAVEMENT). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Vehicle's back window possibly broken by construction debris.
1137 HRS 2255 ALGONQUIN RD., (FIRESTONE). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1204 HRS FRANK RD. & PEAR TREE DR. ACCIDENT. Single vehicle accident. Property damage only.
1316 HRS 800 BLOCK OF BRANDT DR. HIT & RUN ACCIDENT. Vehicle was struck by unknown vehicle.
1318 HRS 4675 ALBRECHT, (HYNES PARK). FOUND ARTICLE. A bicycle was found at the park. Entered into evidence.
1654 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. UNLAWFUL USE OF A CREDIT CARD. Complainant's credit card was used without authorization. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1736 HRS 700 BLOCK OF MOHICAN TRAIL. ASSIST MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFFS. Assist to McHenry County Sheriffs department reference possible child abuse.  TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY.
Algonquin
May 28
09:01am A fifteen-year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of his father.
14:48pm Kuiper, William, J., DOB: 11/18/65, of 1750 N. Crilly Avenue, Chicago, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Contempt of Court.  He was taken into custody at Mimi’s Café, 2561 N. County Line Road.  He was released after posting $5000, with a court date of 06/15/10, in McHenry County.
May 30
04:23am Lee, Daniel, DOB: 02/07/69, of 8 Quayside Court, Algonquin, was charged with 2 counts of Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 8 Quayside Court.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
08:03am Casagnon, Omar, DOB: 06/20/72, of 369 Abbot Drive, Elgin, was charged with DWLR, Speeding and No Front Plate.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Edward Street.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 07/07/10, in McHenry County.
15:33pm Mistretta, Sean W., DOB: 10/26/88, of 651 Virginia Road Apt #125, Crystal Lake, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Failure to Appear, on a No Valid Driver’s License/Permit charge.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Commons Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await pick up by Kane County, when unable to post bond.
May 31
21:11pm Muench, Kyle D., DOB: 10/28/77, of 641 Lake Plumleigh Way, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Criminal Sexual Abuse.  He was taken into custody at 641 Lake Plumleigh Way.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await pick up by Kane County, when unable to post bond.

Algonquin Toastmaster Still Headed For September Demolition

IDOT acquisition of Algonquin's contaminated Toastmaster factory and nearby property is still in negotiations but a call for cleanup contract bids remains on the schedule for July, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation's Region One design and land boss.  Toastmaster is Job One in the plan for the Route 31 Western Bypass at Algonquin.

"At least the money's there," John Fortmann told FEN Friday referring to allocations in IDOT's new fiscal year budget to purchase, tear down and cart off Toastmaster and adjacent land which have been found to be contaminated with industrial solvents and lead.  July bids would imply work on that would actually begin in September based on IDOT schedules and paper shuffling averages.

Fortmann said revised designs had brought to 31 the number of properties needed for bypass right of way. Some of those only amount to bits of residents' backyards, however, and some have already been acquired, anyway.

Fortmann said owner privacy considerations limited how much he could say about current negotiations for the Toastmaster area properties but the presence of stray chemicals and the moribund condition of the commercial real estate market are two obviously complicating factors.  "We consider (the offers) fair," was all Fortmann was able to say.

"The goal is to get it all cleaned up by next year," he added.

Memorial Day Observances Honor The Military Dead

An honor guard of Lake in the Hills American Legion members, Sons of the American Legion and active duty personnel fired a salute to honor local fallen at Algonquin Cemetery Monday.  Then a gulleywasher hit the parade down Route 31 to Riverfront Park.

The skies had cleared again an hour later when Huntley's parade led by Huntley American Legionnaires and active duty military marched down Main Street  to Town Square to hear a speech by Mayor Chuck Sass.

4th Annual LITH Triathlon Filling Fast

The Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department is still accepting registrations for its Fourth Annual Triathlon Sunday. The “big city event with small town atmosphere” features a serial half-mile swim, 15.5-mile bike ride, and a 4-mile run.

Registration is $55 and you can do it online here: www.lith.org/triathlon.html It even shows who's signed up. Registration is limited to 400 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants also get to practice before race day.

Charles Tillman To Tackle Kitchen In Algonquin

Area autograph hounds with a signature from William "The Refrigerator" Perry might be able to add a scribble from Charles "The Cookstove" Tillman Wednesday.  At least that might be the Bears cornerback's nickname when he's done whapping up some of his very own Chicken BBQ Sandwiches (serves four) at the Meijer store on Algonquin Road from 5 to 6 pm.

The first 150 fans in line after 4 pm get a wristband assuring a Tillman signature but a release says he'll sign stuff until 7 pm.  Maybe copies of his recipe which, amazingly, lists four different Meijer brand ingredients among 6 total.

Kitchen nickname motifs might serve the Bears well.  How about:  Jay "The Can Opener" Cutler?  Or Olin "The Convection Oven" Kreutz.  Mark "The Microwave" Anderson?  "Cuisinart."  "Garlic Press!"  The mind reels.

In the pic:  Tillman.  On the "gridiron", of course.

Experts See Dire Time For Illinois Budget

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
Budget experts don’t have a rosy outlook on the state’s financial situation heading into a new fiscal year. State lawmakers sent Gov. Pat Quinn a spending framework before departing for the holiday. But lawmakers did not address the fundamental problem afflicting state finances: state expenses are far outpacing the money the state is receiving.

Quinn has advocated a 33-percent tax increase to help backfill the budget gap, while Republican lawmakers want more scrutiny and reductions in spending.

Sheila Weinberg, CEO of the watchdog Institute for Truth in Accounting,  said the budget package passed by lawmakers is not only irresponsible, it’s illegal. Illinois has about $6 billion in overdue bills to state vendors, according to the state Comptroller’s office. “Bills have to be paid year to year, and those are being carried forward,” Weinberg said. “We do not believe that borrowing money is an available revenue source that they can use. The Constitution does require a balanced budget.”

Ralph Martire, executive director with the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, said lawmakers are more concerned with their political futures than they are with fixing the state’s fiscal crisis. “No elected official in either party is willing to solve these problems in this election year.” he said.

A preliminary CTBA analysis indicates that if Gov. Pat Quinn signs into law the budget framework approved by lawmakers, the state would be more than $7 billion in the red. That figure is based on the difference between recurring revenue and recurring expenses, as well as $3 billion of revenue expected only for this fiscal year, such as fund transfers, borrowing against proceeds from a multi-year tobacco settlement, funds from the federal stimulus bill and a proposed tax amnesty program.

“No one who is running for government, any office, is being honest with voters if they say they can solve these problems without raising taxes. That is dishonest and it can’t work mathematically,” Martire said.

The $7 billion deficit figure does not include one of the bigger pieces suggested for the budget puzzle.

On Thursday, the Illinois Senate did not vote on a proposed $4 billion borrowing plan with proceeds going to the state’s five public employee pension systems. Lawmakers don’t have to borrow funds to make the pension contribution, but using $4 billion from state revenues to go towards state pensions would cause serious cash-flow problems in other areas of state government, such as education and human services. Lawmakers could also opt to skip the pension payment, but the pension systems would then have to sell interest-earning assets and could lose out on tens of billions of dollars over a number of years.

Weinberg said Illinois state government needed to fundamentally change the way it handles its finances. “Would you consider your budget balanced if you borrowed to pay your current bills?” she asked. “And would you consider your budget balanced if you just hid your current bills in the drawer and didn’t pay them?”

You can read Kevin's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3101/experts-see-a-dire-time-for-illinois-budget/

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
May 31
0314 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTI’S). BATTERY. RECCHIA, JOEY V., M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 1773 WOOD HAVEN DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Battery. RELEASED ON BOND
0813 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & WANDER WAY. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. RENDON, ELIAS, M/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 1045 VILLAGE RD., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving while license suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0900 HRS 00 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE CT. DOMESTIC/ Husband vs. wife; verbal only. 4 priors.
HRS 00 BLOCK OF JOSEPH CT. REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Pool heater fire caused damage to the home.
1315 HRS 00 BLOCK OF W. OAK ST. HIT & RUN. Vehicle sideswiped during the night.

Memorial Day 2010

"Decoration Day" began after the Civil War.  Thanks to a rondeau written by a surgeon in World
War I it evolved in complicated fashion into Memorial Day. You don't see that poem much, anymore.  Particularly the last stanza.

In Flanders Fields
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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
May 30
2119 HRS 10 BLOCK OF LINCOLN ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. GATLIN, RICHARD, M/W 53 YEARS OF AGE, 18 LINCOLN ST.., LAKE IN THE HILLS CHARGES: Domestic Battery, two counts. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0226 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
0757 HRS OAK ST. & PYOTT RD. ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Sign on easement. Sign removed.
1320 HRS 4511 ALGONQUIN RD., (CVS). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 46 years of age, unresponsive. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1619 HRS 1111 PYOTT RD., (LARSEN PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 88 years of age, feeling dizzy. Transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
1706 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 60 years of age, with leg pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2044 HRS 1216 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (RYDER PARK). ACCIDENT. Car vs sign. Property damage only.
2123 HRS 800 BLOCK OF JESSIE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 50 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2247 HRS 900 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND ST. THEFT. Items removed from a residence. UNFOUNDED.
Algonquin
delayed

Flight For Life Delay Unresolved

The Flight For Life Helicopter from McHenry was late coming in to the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District's Open House at Fire Station One Saturday but that was due to a technical problem not a possible regulatory foulup. Officials still aren't sure what went wrong Friday night when
Flight For Life couldn't get clearance to transport a Cary area child fallen from a window.

There were flight restrictions at the time because of the President's visit to Chicago which shouldn't have covered the emergency chopper flight but the pilot said all he got was a busy signal trying to reach the FAA for official clearance. By the time permission came though the child had already been moved twice on the streets.

An FAA spokesman Saturday said she didn't know what had gone wrong but she was sure it wasn't the agency's fault.  A flight to transport a motorcycle accident victim in Lake in the Hills went off without a hitch four hours later.

Open House At ALITH FD Educates Kids

At ALFPD's Open House Saturday Paramedic Kevin Raether showed little Robby Yaw how to treat Teddy's booboo.  It's part of an education program he's helped develop to familiarize kids with EMT procedure in case they ever need emergency treatment for an injury.

Miss Huntley Aspirants Have Sudsy Saturday

With the temp upwards of 90 again it was a good day Saturday for the girls in the Miss Huntley Scholarship Pageant to raise a little money washing cars.  The carwash money will help support scholarships for Miss Huntley and the runnerup.  The 2010 Pageant is set for 7 pm Friday at Huntley High School.

Reed Road Construction To Finish Soon

Trucks full of steaming asphalt stood in line Saturday as crews laid down another layer on Reed Road almost from Cambridge Drive to Haligus Road.  It's that "almost" part that might delay things a little.  The first 300 feet west of Cambridge actually belongs to Lake in the Hills. LITH only late last week approved an intergovernment agreement allowing Huntley to pave it.

Adult Adoptees To Get Birth Records Access

By Rachel Wells, Illinois Issues
Adopted adults will soon have greater access to their own birth certificates, under a measure signed into law recently by Gov. Pat Quinn that will open most records beginning in November of 2011.

The law will allow adopted adults born before 1946 to access their birth certificates immediately and will allow most people born after January 1, 1946 to access their birth certificates after a year-long informational campaign.

“[Seeing your birth certificate] is a right that a lot of you who are not adopted take for granted,” said Sara Feigenholtz, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the bill who is an adoptee. “My story began on a piece of paper that I have never been allowed to see."

By Pete Gonigam
Most of us can't imagine the yearning of adoptees trying to find who they are and why they were given away.

I once met the daughter of a dear friend who as an unmarried teenager had given her up for adoption a quarter century before. When that baby grew up she spent years tracing available records to find her "real" mother who, by that time, was dead.

The woman went to her birthmother's grave in Elgin hoping for some sort of epiphany. She said she became very angry at her deceased birthmother when nothing happened. I told her that was exactly what her mother would have done, too, and she seemed pleased to know even that much.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
May 29
0026 HRS INDIAN TRAIL & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. BOGDANIC, VIRGINIA F., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 410 E. CHICAGO ST., ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driver’s License Expired for 6 months or less, Fail to Notify Address/Name Change, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
1311 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE). WANTED ON WARRANT. KOBESZKO, JONATHON J., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 26700 N. HUSTON WAUCONDA. CHARGE: Wanted on Warrant; Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Failure to appear on a traffic offense. Bond: $233.00 cash. RELEASED ON BOND.
2335 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTI’S). DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. RODWAY, GREGG G., M/W 50 YEARS OF AGE, 1541 BIRMINGHAM LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0631 HRS 300 BLOCK OF N. ANNANDALE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 42 years of age, having a seizure. No transport.
0923 HRS 220 N RANDALL RD., (MORETTI’S). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Vehicle scratched and air let out of tire.
1402 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles; 21 month old child assessed by the fire department for any injuries. No transport.
1431 HRS 300 N. RANDALL RD., (LOWE’S). ACCIDENT. Two vehicle’s. Property damage only.
1522 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1633 HRS 2400 BLOCK OF WEXFORD LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 15 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.
1956 HRS 4500 BLOCK OF MACKINAC ST. THEFT. Theft of a bicycle. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1959 HRS COOLSTONE BEND & HARVEST GATE. FOUND PROPERTY. Two bicycles were located by the creek. Entered into evidence. Returned to owner.
2016 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.