More Street Closures For Huntley Rt.47 Widening

Work to widen Route 47 in Huntley will spread to cross streets in the coming week.

Monday Coral Street will be closed from Dwyer Street to Route 47 all day and Tuesday or Wednesday parking along the north side of Main Street will be completely closed from Church Street to Route 47.

Meanwhile excavation for and placement of temporary pavement between Mill and Borden streets will probably continue through Friday with traffic down to one. When the temp paving is done traffic will shift over to that side.

Also likely through Friday Main Street from Janice Drive to Church Street will see single lane closures and lane reconfigurations. Public Parking lots will remain open on Main Street at the railroad tracks and the lot next to Old Village Hall on Coral Street.

Work will continues a the box culvert at Kishwaukee Creek extending the current culvert to four-lane width.  The tall spidery orange contraption there is a concrete pump.

Storm sewer work at the south end of the project area will continue to make it's way upstream.

In case anyone missed it, the new Walgreens at Route 47 and Reed Road opened about 10 days ago.  It was in the works long before the money for Route 47 came through but it's another instance in which customers don't have to grind their way from one end of the village to the other for service.

The most up-to-date public info on the Route 47 widening project is here: http://www.huntley.il.us/Route47Widening.asp

If that's not good enough the village has a project hotline at 847-515-5266.

Faith Community Church Garage Sale Enters Second Day

Business was brisk Friday at Faith Community Church's first-ever garage sale to support the its Food Pantry.

Little Olivia Ray, down from Harvard for a treat at McDonald's, passed on a nice sofa and loveseat combo for $40 but bought a box, "a pretty box", for a quarter.

The garage sale runs today from 9 am to 5 pm at the church just north of Algonquin and Haligus roads.

The church Food Pantry helps families Wednesdays from 4 to 7 pm.

Huntley Police Department Awarded Accreditation

The Huntley Board had a small ceremony this week to celebrate HPD's winning full Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

The Department spent three grueling years that included a total revision of policies and procedures, department restructuring and extensive training to be in compliance with 463 standards set by the Commission.  Then it had to go through two reviews before finally being certified as being as good as it gets in the copper business.

Mayor Chuck Sass reported examiners gave the Department one of the highest scores they said they'd ever seen for a first-time certification.

Besides a pat on the back, CALEA state of the art certification will save the village money on liability insurance premiums, according to village officials.

In the pic:  HPD Chief John Perkins congratulated Deputy Chief Todd Fulton this week on completing the FBI's rigorous 10-week course for police officers at Quantico, VA.  That wasn't required for the department's CALEA certification but was a nice fit with it.

Grafton Distributes Schoolpacks For Needy Kids

Grafton Township handed out about two dozen backpacks full of back to school supplies Thursday and Friday to help needy families prepare for the start of the new school year.

The backpacks were provided by the Salvation Army of McHenry County which projects it will distribute more than 600 through the area this year.

In the pic:  Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore helps Salvation Army volunteer Ralph Gebert sort through backpacks full of school supplies to help needy kids start their new year.

Another Tech Problem

The First Electric Newspaper has found there have been instances of people posting entire articles to bulletin boards to help people claiming difficulty accessing FEN's website. Unfortunately that short circuits the revenue model that (in theory, anyway) allows FEN to operate in the first place.

If there's a problem reaching FEN it's probably not on this end. FEN is hosted by Blogger.com which is, basically, Google. If you can't connect to FEN it's probably not because it isn't there. However, experiments run with the help of FEN friends indicate some business network Nanny Filter programs block whole groups of IP addresses that belong to Blogger.com.

Heaven knows what the rationale is for this sort of thing. Sun-Times' system used to block Babelfish, the machine translation site. Maybe the bosses thought too many reporters would log onto it to translate the hot parts of Flaubert.

Anyway, feel free to link to, summarize or excerpt FEN articles, but please don't repost them in their entirety somewhere else.

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.

KEVIN R. WASSELL, DOB:  01/05/86, 186 TIMBER TRAIL, GILBERTS. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Algonquin PD

NOACH BERESTIZHEVSKY, DOB:  05/10/93, 36W340 HUNTLEY ROAD, CARPENTERSVILLE. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Algonquin PD

KEVIN C. BROWN, DOB:  08/05/71, 6419 RIDGEVIEW DRIVE, HUNTLEY. HARASSMENT OF JURORS OR WITNESSES.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

ALEXANDER N. PERA III, DOB:  06/03/87, 245 SUNSET DRIVE, NORTHFIELD, IL. UNLAWFUL USE OF CREDIT CARD, THEFT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
MICHELLE L. PRATT, DOB:  03/12/71, 1811 FERNWOOD LANE, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
TIMOTHY A. TOBIN III, DOB:  06/07/86, 445 BRANDY DRIVE  A, CRYSTAL LAKE. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
COREY CARRILLO, DOB:  07/12/91, HOMELESS. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, THEFT(4CTS), BURGLARY(3CTS).---McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
ISREAL R. MARQUEZ, DOB:  10/20/92, 3914 MAPLE AVENUE, MCHENRY. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY(2CTS), RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--McHenry PD
  
JOSE NOVA-RIVERA, DOB:  01/01/91, 109 N. DIVISION, HARVARD. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE(2CTS), AGGRAVATED FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER(2CTS), RESISTING ARREST.--Harvard PD
  
DAVID W. VIRGIN, DOB:  08/11/81, LKA:  3701 JAMES STREET  #1F, MCHENRY. THEFT.--McHenry PD

ADAM C. LONGTIN, DOB:  10/06/83, 1403 N. POPLAR AVENUE, ROUND LAKE BEACH. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--
JOHN K. GUENTHER, DOB:  07/19/66, 3703 JAMES STREET  APT 1C, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry PD
  
KYLE A. AVERKAMP, DOB:  05/20/86, 8711 ALDEN ROAD, WONDER LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry PD

KEVIN R. HOULIHAN, DOB:  07/12/91, 1513 BRIXHAM LANE, JOHNSBURG. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Johnsburg
  
WILLIAM T. EVANS, DOB:  12/13/76, 5902 MARIETTA DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED BATTERY.--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
August 13
0217 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & SQUARE BARN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. POSTELNICK, KATHRYN HILARY, F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 1215 MERRILL AVE., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Over .08, Improper Lane Usage, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0537 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. GUEBARA, EMILIO, M/W 50 YEARS OF AGE,153 ABERDEEN DR., EAST DUNDEE. CHARGE: No Valid Driver’s License. RELEASED ON BOND.
1001 HRS 842 MCPHEE DR., (LAKE IN THE HILLS WELL 14). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance.
1131 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). HIT & RUN An SUV was hit by an unknown vehicle while unattended in the parking lot.
1323 HRS 60 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. A purse was taken from a locked vehicle between 0900hrs and 1300 hrs. A window was broken to gain entry.
1358 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK LN. HIT & RUN. A parked vehicle was hit by an unknown vehicle that left.
1616 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1727 HRS 0 BLOCK OF WEXFORD CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Made suicidal statements. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.
1823 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2007 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Postal Lawyers To Sort Out Grafton Mail

Lawyers have been arguing for months about who's in charge of Grafton Township.  Now lawyers are trying to figure out who's in charge of Grafton Township mail.

U.S. Postal Service Spokesman Sean Hargadon told FEN Thursday "Our lawyers are looking into this and will make a decision" about who directs mail addressed to Grafton Township in general, the Grafton Supervisor, Assessor and Highway Commissioner.

Huntley's Postal Officer Guy Schmalz referred to Hargadon an FEN inquiry  about reports he'd been called to the Township to try to straighten out the latest (they've been going on since April) mail dustup.

Grafton Assessor Bill Ottley said he'd talked to Schmalz because "I'm not sure I'm getting all my mail," a charge he repeated later at Thursday's Grafton Township Meeting.

The mail dispute got all mixed up with a wad of late invoices Ottley slapped down when Supervisor Linda Moore submitted the month's bills for approval by the Board. "I have my own warrant list," said Ottley.  There followed an hour of shrill argument over whether he could do that or should even if he could.

"My mail is going to (Moore's recently rented) Post Office Box," said Ottley, claiming that's the reason some of his bills were delayed.  Ottley had three late bills he wanted approved Thursday.

Moore maintained only the Supervisor could submit bills to the Board and since the Board wanted their meeting packets for review two days before a meeting there had to be an early cutoff for accepting them.

Trustee Barb Murphy said she wanted to see the actual bills, anyway, not just a list of them.  "The bills are available for review any time at the Township Offices," said Moore.

"I work in Schaumburg.  I don't get home until 6 o'clock.  That's just not going to work," said Murphy.

Preempting another oration by Trustee Jerry McMahon ("Jerry...SHUT UP!") Murphy went on, "If the due date is before the next meeting we have to pay it to avoid late charges. Pay the damn bills."

Which is what the Board did, including Ottley's late additions, by a vote of three to two.  McMahon joined Moore in opposition although he, too, wanted the bills paid, just organized his way.

Another squabble broke out over the Freedom of Information Act Officer's monthly report of FOIA requests.  Moore is the FOIA Officer now and didn't have one.

Murphy, once again, wasn't in a mood for compromise.  "Previously you demanded a report from Clerk Frigo when she was the FOIA Officer.  Now that you're the FOIA Officer it doesn't need to be done."

"There are no FOIA reports required by statute," replied Moore.

"Maybe the Board needs to FOIA a FOIA report," piped up Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer with a reasonably straight face.

In the pic: Grafton Assessor Bill Ottley was wroth Thursday when he threw down a wad of late bills Supervisor Linda Moore wouldn't accept.

Union Pickets Contractor In Huntley

Informational picketers were at all entrances to Huntley's Northbridge subdivision Thursday where an Addison contractor is doing some sidewalk and driveway apron work for the Village.  The picketer at Northbridge and Algonquin Road was accompanied by a giant inflatable rat.

Vern Bauman, spokesman for Laborers International of North America Local 1035, Marengo, said the picketers were out to show that contractor Big Time Construction didn't have a union contract.  Big Time Construction didn't respond to a request for comment.

Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson said the picketers didn't really have anything to do with Village.  "We're required by law to pay Prevailing Wage" on public works contracts, he said.

That's a rate that supposed to be more or less equivalent to union wages that's handed down from the Illinois Department of Labor.  The Prevailing Wage this month for McHenry County for laborers is a base wage of $35.20 per hour.

The August prevailing wage rate for 62 other job classifications in McHenry County is here: http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/rates/EVENMO/MCHENRY9.htm

In the pic:  A picketer who asked not to be identified fearing reprisal said the Laborers sometimes also trot out an inflatable Fat Cat crushing the Proletariat.  Or something like that.

Florida Man Charged With "Grooming" Huntley Minor

An 18 year-old Florida man is in McHenry County Jail today charged with "Grooming" a 14 year-old Huntley girl.  Grooming is a new Illinois felony that involves using the Internet or a cellphone to involve a minor in sexual conduct.

Huntley Police said Ervin A. Betancourt of Miramar, FL, had been "corresponding via the Internet" with the girl for about four months until he came to Huntley to visit her. Police said Betancourt and the girl decided to go back to Florida together resulting in her parents filing a runaway report a week and a half ago.

Huntley investigators said they figured out the pair were on a bus, probably in Georgia, and alerted authorities there who intercepted the duo at a stop in Dalton, GA, two days later.

Betancourt waived extradition and Huntley detectives brought him back Tuesday.  The girl, meanwhile had been released to her parents' custody.

Betancourt awaits $15,000 bond on the charge of grooming, added to the Illinois felony list last year, and a misdemeanor charge of criminal sexual abuse.  His next court date is Aug. 31.

In the pic: Irvin A. Betancourt

LITH American Legion Golf Outing Set

Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231 Golf is taking reservations for its annual Golf Outing and Marengo Ridge Golf Club in two weeks.

The event Aug. 27 will feature a shotgun start at 11 am with a scramble format.  The cost is $80 per golfer,  hole sponsors $100.  That includes the golf, a cart, driving range fun and  refreshments on the turn.

There'll be a $10,000 for a hole-in-one,and other prizes, raffles and a steak dinner at the Post. The Golf Outing will be hosted by the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 1231
with proceeds to  benefit the Veterans & Disabled Veterans.

For reservations (there's a limited number) call the Legion Post, 847-658-2010; Kerry Ellison, 847-515-2495, or Tim Kohl 224-325-9396.

Sixties Style Band Closes Out LITH Concerts

The New Invaders, a ‘60s flashback band complete with go-go girls and tie-dye outfits, will be rocking the Lake in the Hills Village Hall outdoor amphitheater Sunday starting at 6 pm.

The New Invaders covers more than 80 groups ranging from all those loveable moptop Brits to later artists who lived fast and tended to die young. Ranging from from The Kingsmen to Badfinger the groups' playlist is an eclectic one, if not downright bizarre. But that's kind of the way the '60s were.

The event will be the last of the LITH Parks and Recreation Department's Summer Concerts this yer.  It's free and in case of rain everything will just move inside.

In the pic:  The New Invaders' costumes are straight out of the 60's.  That was part of the 60's. Everybody wore a costume. Well, except for LBJ and Tricky Dicky.

Blagojevich Jury Agrees On 2 Of 24 Counts

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Jurors in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich rocked Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Thursday, telling the judge they had reached agreement on only two of the 24 charges against the former Illinois governor and his brother.

The jury has been in deliberations for 11 full days — the same amount of time it took to convict former Republican Gov. George Ryan of 18 corruption charges — with little to show for it. The slow pace could potentially exhaust the jury and increase the likelihood of a second trial, according to a legal expert. "The longer they are in deliberation, the more likely a hung jury is," said former federal prosecutor Rodger Heaton.

Federal Judge James Zagel informed the court the jury is ready to return verdicts on only two charges, though he would not disclose the counts or the agreed-upon verdict. The jury noted that it has not been able to agree upon 11 charges relating to extortion and bribery and has not yet considered 11 counts of wire fraud.

The jury's indecision has baffled regulars at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, along with the judge. "It's bizarre, I've never seen anything like it," said Richard Kling, a defense attorney with 38 years of federal litigation under his belt.

The jury will have the day off today to give members time to come back fresh on Monday. It is the second straight week of truncated deliberations. The jury had a half-day last Friday.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3915/blagojevich-jury-agrees-on-2-of-24-counts-judge-says-to-keep-talking/

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
August 12
0131 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RAKOW RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. FRANKLAND, JAMESON B., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 3099 COURTLAND STREET, WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Over .08, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
1726 HRS 4400 BLOCK OF PRINCETON LN. POSSESSION OF CANNABIS. JUVENILE, M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. Charge: Possession of cannabis. RELEASED TO PARENTS.
1403 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF CHANCERY WAY. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Two priors.
1607 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Information referring to Burglaries to Motor Vehicles.
1807 HRS 500 BLOCK OF BLACKHAWK DR. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. Two computers, a camera, and a video game system were taken. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
2042 HRS 10 BLOCK OF PERSHING AVE. SUICIDE ATTEMPT. Female, 52 years of age, took too many prescription pills. No transport.
2125 HRS 10 BLOCK OF WOODLAND RD. DOMESTIC. Father vs. son. Verbal only. No priors
Algonquin
August 9
18:08pm Kaplan, Andrew, DOB: 08/22/86, of 52 Grove Street, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Lifetime Fitness, 451 Rolls Drive.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 09/15/10, in McHenry County.
August 11
16:23pm Gambrel, Travis L., DOB: 04/13/81, of 35440 Herrick Road, Warrenville, was Wanted on a Warrant out of DuPage County for Failure to Appear, on a Possession of Cannabis charge.   He was taken into custody at 2030 Brindlewood Lane.  He was picked up by DuPage County Sheriff’s Department, when unable to post bond.
17:59pm Mendes, Antonio B., DOB: 06/13/90, of 15 Arrowhead Drive #32, Algonquin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  He was taken into custody at Harrison Street and Front Street.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 09/15/10, in McHenry County.

Algonquin Bypass Start Delayed One Week--At Least

Hopes for an early start on demolishing Algonquin's derelict Toastmaster factory were delayed Wednesday until next week at the Village's own request.

Algonquin attorney Dave McArdle asked McHenry County Judge Thomas Meyer to grant the time so the Village and the Illinois Department of Transportation can work the bugs out of a motion that would give IDOT title to Toastmaster right now instead of after a possibly lengthy court battle.

The most notable bug is an Algonquin water main that runs through the Toastmaster property.  "It's on the engineer's plans," said Village Manager Bill Ganek.  "This is just to make sure that IDOT is aware of the easement."  Otherwise it'd belong to the State and demolition workers could technically dig it up and haul it out of their way.

Ganek said there's also a small village lien on the Toastmaster property IDOT forgot to  recognize.  The lien is a claim against whatever money IDOT finally ends up paying for the property.

IDOT attorney Rick Redmond confirmed that IDOT hopes to do what's called a quicktake on Toastmaster and another property south of the factory.  In a quicktake the judge would give IDOT title to the land immediately in return for a payment in escrow while lawyers argue about the ultimate price.

There's an element of owner assent to quicktakes.  Redmond said he believed Toastmaster's owner will go along with a quicktake but wasn't sure if there'd be a fight over quicktake on the adjacent property.

In the pic:  Knocking down Algonquin's Toastmaster factory would be the first step in clearing the way for the Route 31 Western Bypass in Algonquin.

No New Date On Riverside Square Teardown Case

No date is set yet for further proceedings in the suit to tear down Algonquin's Downtown mouldering Riverside Square project. McHenry Circuit Judge Thomas Meyer Wednesday allowed a motion to assign the case to someone else.

Attorney Joe Gottemoller said, "In these cases a lienholder has a right to one (change of judge) one time." The problem is there are two dozen liens totalling what Gottemoller estimated is $2.2 million in claims against the project. 

Meyer got the case three weeks ago after Judge Michael Caldwell was asked to give it up. Now Court Administrators have to figure out who's next on the list.

Amcore, recently sold to Harris Bank, pulled the plug on the Riverside Square luxury condo development just before the wheels fell off the national economy almost two years ago.  After a year and a half of what officials said were broken promises the village went to court in March to have the half-finished project ordered torn down as a safety hazard.

In the pic: As attorneys maneuver, temporary weatherproofing installed last year at Algonquin's Riverside Square is starting to come apart.

Algonquin Township Board Learns Windmill Details

The Algonquin Township Board Wednesday got their first look at a proposal to putting a pair of 10KW windmills at the Township complex on Route 14.

Emmit George, President of wind company ElectriTech, Inc., told the Board the windmills could generate about 20 percent of the power the Township buys from ComEd.  He said that  would save better than $2,000 per year, depending on what exactly the Township wanted to do once they generators were installed.

For one thing, there's a sellable credit for generating electricity from wind even if the township uses all the power itself.  Emmit said that might be worth about 2 cents per kilowatt hour.  The township would also have the option of "banking" electricity in off-hours and then either selling it to ComED or simply taking it back out for its own use in daytime. Emmitt didn't offer detailed figures on that.

Two windmills and towers in a box would cost $110,000 and Emmit said they'd ordinarily cost $50,000 to $60,000 to install.  However, Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller said his men could probably do a lot of the work in-house.  "I like to dig trenches," he grinned.

Emmitt said he thought the Township could get federal and state grants to pay about half the costs of the windmills, and soon, too.  "Forty five days is what it took for Aurora," he said, where his company just finished a similar windmill installation.

In the pic:  A 10Kw Bergey wind generator, two of which are proposed for Algonquin Township.  For scale, the prop diameter here is 23 feet according to ElectriTech President George Emmit.

Self Defense For Seniors At Grafton Seminar Next Week

A self-defense and crime-prevention class for seniors will be the presentation feature at Grafton Township's monthly Bingo and More event Tuesday at the Huntley American Legion.

Self-defense expert Joe Rosner will offer a Crime Safety and Self-Defense for seniors seminar at 11 am.  Rosner promises to tell how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations and how to use voice and language for self-defense if you can't.

The seminar will be followed by a free lunch at noon provided by Converge Health Care.  Then it's Bingo from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.  Supervisor Linda Moore has details at 847-669-3328.

Blagojevich Jury Deadlocked

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
The jury in the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is now cryptically deadlocked, according to the latest missive sent to federal Judge James Zagel. Jurors in their first communication to the outside world since July 30 Wednesday asked the judge what can be done to avoid a hung jury

"We have been unable to agree on (some counts)," Zagel read from the note. "What should the next logical step be (if we can't reach a unanimous verdict)?" The judge will ask for clarification on the note this morning.

"It is usually best to reach a unanimous verdict…but (you can) return a decision in respect to some counts," Zagel read from his reply.

Zagel's instructions would allow the jury to return a unanimous verdict of guilty or not guilty on some of the 24 corruption charges, while maintaining a hung jury for other counts. A jury must be "hopelessly" deadlocked in order to be declared hung.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3903/blagojevich-jury-deadlocked-judge-gives-further-instructions/

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
August 11
1747 HRS PINE ST. & OAK ST. WANTED ON WARRANT. LORING, RIKI L., F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 301 OAKLEAF RD., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Union County for Driving while License Suspended and Speeding. Bond Amount: $500 Full Cash. Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
2349 HRS 311 N. RANDALL RD., (AMC THEATRES). CURFEW VIOLATION. JUVENILE, M/W 15 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Curfew Violation. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED. TURNED OVER TO PARENT.
0332 HRS 00 BLOCK OF KURT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 73 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Good Shepherd Hospital.
0915 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 85 years of age, feeling numb. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1639 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WOODLAND RD. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Complainant’s information was being used to obtain a loan.
1704 HRS 3500 BLOCK OF BANFORD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 47 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1832 HRS 3400 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. IDENTITY THEFT. ComEd account was opened in complainant’s name.
1847 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Port-o-potty was on fire and the fire spread to a shed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2138 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF RIDGEWOOD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 80 years of age, fell from a standing position. No transport.
Huntley
August 2
A criminal damage to property report was taken at a residence in the 10100 block of Ashley St.  A mail box post was damaged.
August 3
A battery report was taken in the area of Disbrow St. & Ackman Rd..  A female subject reported that she was battered after leaving a party.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at a business in the 12100 block of Rt. 47.  The front window of the business was shattered.
August 4
Calvin W. Meziere, age 39, of 10744 Wheatlands Way, Huntley, was arrested on an outstanding McHenry County Warrant.  Mr. Meziere posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of August 17, 2010.
Justin J. Roe, age 20, of 9913 Glen Lane, Union, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for loud muffler.  Mr. Roe posted bond and was released with a McHenry County Court date of September 17, 2010.
August 5
Frank Jaroslaw Czapla, age 33, of 10984 Cape Cod Lane, Huntley, was arrested for violation of an order of protection.  Mr. Czapla was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
August 6
Officers responded to a loud party complaint in the 11200 block of Fleetwood Street.  Emanual Calispa, age 21, of 11266 Fleetwood St., Huntley, was arrested for unlawful delivery of alcohol to a minor.  Mr. Calispa posted bond and was released with a  McHenry County court date of September 10, 2010.  David W. Neri, age 21, of 5200 N. Sheridan #729, Chicago, was arrested for obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer.  Mr. Neri posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 17, 2010.  Joseph P. Brock, age 19, of 810 Fairwayview Dr., Algonquin; David A. Conrad, age 19, of 863 Teverton Lane, Crystal Lake,  and Ly Nguyen, age 18, of 130 Wright, Lake in the Hills, were charged with consumption of alcohol by a Minor.  Mr. Brock and Mr. Conrad were released with a McHenry County court date of September 13, 2010.  Mr. Nguyen was released with a McHenry County court date of August 23, 2010.
August 7
Two criminal damage to property reports were taken at residences the 9600 block of Rainsford Dr.  Both residences had their mail boxes damaged.
August 8
Officers took a vandalism report in the 10800 block of Sawgrass Ln.  The victim’s car was egged.

Founders' Days Redux Due To Weather For Ducks

The Founder's Days rainout last month that shut down the celebration's events in Algonquin's Towne Park for two days hurt more than organizers first let on.  Founders' President Kevin Meyer announced Tuesday his group will hold a follow-on Founders' Carnival in about two weeks.

Meyer said the Founders' Committee is lining up publicity for the event to be held in the parking lot of home leisure retailer The Great Escape on South Algonquin Road between Longmeadow and Broadsmore Aug. 26 through 29.

Meyer said he'd just received permission from the store's building owner Tuesday.  The Algonquin Board has to grant its approval, too, which can't come officially until next week. Members voiced support at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting, though.

"We've never done this in the past," said Meyer.  "We're kind of scampering a little bit."

In the pic:  Hair raising fun on a Founders' Days roller coaster last year.

Big Daycare Center Proposed For Algonquin's Fountain Square

The Algonquin's Board  grilled developers of a big new child daycare center planned for the village's East Side Fountain Square retail and office center Tuesday.

Atlanta chain Kids R Kids is expanding into northern Illinois and wants to open a child daycare and early education center in Algonquin like the one set to open soon in Crystal Lake.  The center would be sized to handle up to 270 kids from 6 weeks to 12 years old and trustees were worried parent dropoff and pickup would create traffic and parking problems.

"You've got less than 50 percent of the parking that we require for a daycare center," said Village President John Schmitt.

Developers said yes, that was true but there's plenty of parking in the rest of Fountain Square and they plan to have sort of a drive-through lane for pickups and drop-offs, anyway.  Attorney John Gottemuller said the Department of Children and Family Services goes through daycare center plans in minute detail and won't allow any unsafe conditions.

Maggie Kusiak, manager of nearby Shining Stars early learning center, told trustees Kids R Kids would crush a market already operating at less than full capacity.  "You guys are going to approve this and it's going to be another abandoned building," she said.

Argument wandered off point when neighbors Leslie and Scott Coper complained Fountain Square isn't taking care of its nature areas.  That led off on another tangent about whether Queen Anne's Lace is a plant or a weed.

Kids R Kids is shooting for a Spring 2011 construction start.

Huntley Fire Station 4 Up For Algonquin Approval

The Huntley Fire Protection District plans a Sept. 11 groundbreaking for its new Station #4 after the Algonquin Board finishes annexing, zoning and platting it next week.

Deputy Chief Ken Caudle told Algonquin Trustees Tuesday although the station will be done in the usual Algonquin brown and tan earth tones, underneath it'll be "green".  Caudle said the station's been designed for LEEDS certification, the first fire station in the county to feature such energy efficiency.

Huntley Fire Station Four is planned for the spot next to Christ United Church at Algonquin and Square Barn Roads.  Ordinarily that would only allow  right-in-right-out access but Caudle said the District is working with McHenry County Division of Transportation to cut down the Algonquin Road mid-berm so trucks can make an emergency exit west.  He said the exit would be protected by a beacon to warn traffic when that happens.

In the pic: Here's what Huntley Fire Protection District's new energy-efficient Station 4 will look like in Algonquin. 

Algonquin Cruise Night Shows Cool Rods

The Algonquin Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Cruise Night car show drew several hundred auto fans to the parking lot of Algonquin's Sonic Drive-In Tuesday.  Besides some really groovy wheels, Man, the event also garnered food donations for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry.

In the pic: Technically in the old days skating Sonic waitress Jamie Ambrose would have clipped a tray to the window of Vic Borrelli and Brent Steele's ride.  Only they didn't have one at the Chamber's Car Show Tuesday.  Borelli said if wishes were fishes he'd go for a '69 Z28 Camaro.  ("Tach it up, tach it up, Buddy gonna shut you down.")

Windmill Project Might Carry $225,000 Ticket For Schools

Now there's at least $225,000 riding on whether a newly-formed school consortium can bring in a big windmill farm by its funding deadline.  If it can the money will be rolled into a bond issue.  If it can't the member districts, including District 300 with an 80 percent share, will have to pull it from their budgets.

District 300 Finance Officer Cheryl Crates, President of the School Wind Consortium Joint Action Renewable Energy Agency, created Monday revealed at its first meeting Tuesday that a  review of developer plans to make sure the numbers weren't cooked would cost $25,000 to $35,000.  Previously the member districts had paid Kirk Heston of Heston Wind, Milwaukee $50,000 to conduct a windfarm feasibility study and announced lawyer and bond counsel fees for the project would run $150,000.

Precisely when the project deadline falls wasn't clear Tuesday.  With no land, no purchase contracts to generate revenue and part of the financing scheme still up the air the first order of business was to meld three different "to do" lists and decide which job belonged to whom.

The first order of business was to find out if the State has any cutrate stimulus bonding authority left and if the Authority can get some of it.  Otherwise its bond issue would be taxable and more costly to pay off.

Another vital deadline will be placing an order for 13 giant windmills.  That's necessary to quality for federal grant funding the consortium's counting on.  Heston said that had to be done "by the first week in December."

That's uncomfortably close to the "drop dead date" in early December when everything else has to be lined up so an underwriter can review it to issue bonds in the first place. "Everybody's very concerned about the timeline," said Crates. 

Pres Signs State Aid Bill

The President signed a $26 billion teacher and Medicaid bill two hours after it passed the House on a mainly party-line vote.  How much of the money comes to Illinois and how the Governor will apportion it isn't known yet.

The unusual recall session followed last week's surprise Senate passage of the $26 billion measure after House members had already departed. Democratic leaders called the return to pass a bill they said in total would save hundreds of thousands of jobs, mostly teachers but police and firefighters, too.

The legislation provides $16 billion for Medicaid and $10 billion to avert teacher layoffs. The final vote was 247-161 with only three Democrats voting against the measure and two Republicans voting for it.

Democrats said the bill was needed to shore up crumbling state budgets like Illinois', and they noted that governors of both parties supported it. Republicans said it was just another bailout.

"I don't know if this is stimulus-bill part three or bailout-bill part four," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R., Texas). "There have been so many of them, it's hard to keep track."

Other Republicans called it a special-interest bill and a payoff to teachers' unions, a complaint dismissed by Mr. Obama. "I suppose if America's children and the safety of our communities are your special interest, then it is a special-interest bill," he said.

The legislation generally would channel $10 billion to school districts to rehire laid off teachers or prevent more cuts just before the school year begins. Supporters claimed the money would save more than 160,000 public education positions.

From news reports

Employee Credit Scores Safe From Probes

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Those who have been having trouble making ends meet and are looking for work in the down economy may have one obstacle cleared from their paths. Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Tuesday that prevents employers from looking at credit histories when deciding whom to hire, promote or fire. The law introduced by McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks (D-63) makes exceptions for certain jobs and industries, though.

Franks said, “Financial hardships are a side effect of our economic climate and workers who were living paycheck to paycheck find themselves in unfortunate situations when they lose their jobs," Franks said. "When someone is the victim of the economy, it is not fair for that person to be discriminated against when trying to obtain employment and get back on their feet.”

The bill exempts industries, such as banks and insurance providers, which Oak Park Democrat Don Harmon, its Senate sponsor said “traditionally and almost universally deal with people’s confidential financial information.” The bill also makes exemptions for specific positions that might require an applicant to handle cash or have access to credit information.

Lisa Callaway, vice president and general counsel for The Management Association of Illinois, said the bill was much ado about very little. Some employers may have run credit checks when they found a “red flag” in a potential employee’s resume, work history or interview, she said, but claimed that practice was not the norm.

Laura Minzer, director of policy for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, agreed. She said that businesses are not regularly pulling credit reports on potential employees. “In all fairness, it is probably not going to get more jobs on the table,” she said.

You can read  Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/most-employers-cannot-check-credit.html

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
August 10
0050 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. FUDALA, JENNIFER J., F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 5409 CROSS VIEW LN., 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, Failure to Signal When Required. RELEASED ON BOND.
0246 HRS 103 S. RANDALL RD., (JEWEL). DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. CHAMBERS JR, JOEL A., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 301 WINSLOW WAY, 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 Drug Paraphernalia, Improper Turn at Intersection, Disobeying a Red Light. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0313 HRS 2370 W. ALGONQUIN RD., (MIDAS TOUCH). CURFEW VIOLATION. JUVENILE, M/W 13 YEARS OF AGE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Curfew Violation. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED. TURNED OVER TO PARENT.
JUVENILE, M/W 13 YEARS OF AGE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Curfew Violation. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.  TURNED OVER TO PARENT.
1527 HRS ROUTE 31 & VIRGINIA RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MEJIA, KATRINA, F/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 530 GENTLE BREEZE, CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Registration Suspended, No Insurance. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1753 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE EXPIRED. TERAN JR, ESTEVAN, M/W 35 YEARS OF AGE, 3118 WAKEFIELD DR., CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Driving while License Expired (expired over one year). RELEASED ON BOND.
2323 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF W. ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SALDANA, FRANK F., M/W 60 YEARS OF AGE, 320  W. CAMPBELL APT 405, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0206 HRS 300 BLOCK OF MEADOW LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 54 years of age, bleeding from the leg. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
0736 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1046 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. THEFT. Paddle boat taken. Valued at $400.00. Entered into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.
1830 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK LN. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. Items removed from vehicle on 080810. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1917 HRS 0 BLOCK OF FEATHERSTONE CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 3 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
2033 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 69 years of age, fell and struck his head. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2131 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF SULLIVAN PASS. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. No priors.

D300 Board Approves Windmills, Developer Guarantee

The District 300 Board of Education Monday approved forming a school consortium to build a 20MW windfarm in Stark County and guaranteed to pay developer Heston Wind up to $2 million if the group pulls out of the deal for any reason other than a bad financial projection.

Board President Joe Stevens kept trying to figure out how the district could end up on the hook for the guarantee but Finance Chief Cheryl Crates kept saying, "That's not going to happen."

The point of the consortium is to sell electricity to ComEd to offset the cost of buying electricity from the utility. D300 spends about $3 million each year on power.  Developers are in a hurry to get the windfarm up and running at least on paper since about one third of the financing depends on a federal grant that turns into a pumpkin at the end of the year.

"I've talked with attorneys and (bond counsel)," said Stevens, "and they tell me they don't believe it's remotely possible to do this by January 1."

"Then it's not financially feasible," said Crates indicating the District wouldn't be obligated, at least insofar as the $2 million guarantee was concerned.

The Board's already paid Heston $44,000 for a feasibility study and, according to Crates, spent about $56,000 on lawyer and bond counsel fees.  Crates indicated another $64,000 in similar fees will be necessary to put the deal together. The plan is to roll all that money into the bond issue for the windfarm so the District will get it back.

Member Chris Stanton argued the Board ought to approve the plan because if it didn't  the money already spent was down the drain.

Member Monica Clark was suspicious of the developer's guarantee to Heston.  "Any model Heston puts togther is going to be 'viable'," said Clark.

Crates replied the District has already hired an auditing firm to go over Heston's numbers when the company finally has some to examine.

Superintendent Ken Arndt urged the Board to approve the consortium and guarantee.  "If we don't, we'll be criticized for stepping back and protecting the status quo," he said.

"Does everybody have sweaty hands?" asked Crates.  "You bet."

At the vote and despite obvious reservations by Stevens and Clark only recently-appointed Member Karen Plaza voted against the windfarm and guarantee.  "I wasn't here when this first came up," she said.  "Had I been on the Board I would have voted not to," said Plaza.  "We have a lot of other issues to focus on."

In the pic:  A windmill at the Camp Grove windfarm a few miles from the one D300 wants to help build.

Government Contract Tips Feature At MCC Fair

About 70 businesses and area organizations turned out to for tips on how to do business with the Feds at a Grant and Contract Fair at McHenry County College Monday.

Sponsored by Congressman Don Manzullo (R-16), the fair included booths manned by the Defense Logistics Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Health and Human Services, the SBA, the Export-Import Bank, the Export Assistance Center and the General Services Administration.

Manzullo was only able to stay for an hour or so before flying off for today's vote on the $26 billion Medicaid and teachers' bill.  "It's going to increase the deficit," said Manzullo which sounded like a probable "No" vote.

In the pic:  Congressman Don Manzullo checks local contract prospects with the Commerce Department's Patrick Hope and Ex-Im Bank's Mike Howard at the Grant and Contract Fair at MCC Monday.

Food For Fines Opens At Algonquin Libraries

The Algonquin Area Public Library is once again accepting food in lieu of fines.
From now through Monday, Aug. 23, patrons can pay off their overdue charges with unexpired non-perishable food items. (Or they can just drop off some food because it's a good thing to do.)

The donations will go to the Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry.  Donation barrels are at both the Main and Eastgate branches. The food pantry is in special need of canned fruit, according to a spokesman.

McHenry County Foreclosures Increasing

New foreclosure filings surged in July, according to the latest report from the McHenry County Circuit Clerk's Office.  Last month mortgagors filed against 316 County homes.

That figure was the second highest in the last 10 years.  The highest was in March when new proceedings began on 366 homes.

There's been no particular pattern to foreclosure filings in the past decade other than a vague tendency to drop in late Spring and early Summer.  That happened this year, too, but not a lot. The latest national economic numbers have some economists worrying the nascent recovery may be stalling out and the latest local filings may be a reflection of that.

You can review the the last decade's foreclosure filing stats here: http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/circuitclerk/Pages/CaseStatistics.aspx

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
August 9
0840 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. HARDCASTLE, ERNEST G., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 520 CHEYENNE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS.  Charges: No Valid Drivers License (Expired over one year), Improper use of registration, No proof of valid insurance, Two citations for failure to secure a child with a safety belt. RELEASED ON BOND.
0641 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF ADAMS ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 2 years of age, having a seizure. No transport.
1030 HRS 500 BLOCK OF BERNYCE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 75 years of age, feeling ill. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1128 HRS 400 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 44 years of age, lost consciousness and injured her face. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1236 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 66 years of age, had high blood pressure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1335 HRS 10 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD CT. LOST ARTICLE. A public works street barricade.
1451 HRS JESSIE RD. & PYOTT RD. FOUND ARTICLE. Three credit cards. Items entered into evidence.
1627 HRS 9341 PYOTT RD., (BARBARA KEY PARK). FOUND ARTICLE A boat trailer. Towed away by All Star Towing.
1852 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1954 HRS 200 S ANNANDALE DR. (LEROY GUY PARK). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Red graffiti was found on the sidewalk.
2048 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF PATTON AVE. SEXUAL ASSAULT. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
2203 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HAWTHORNE RD. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. Two Priors.

Snags Appear In Windfarm Proposal

This evening the District 300 Board of Education will vote on whether to form a consortium with two smaller school districts to build a $50 million windfarm in little Stark County.  However, an FEN examination indicates one third of the money the district's counting on for the project may not receive approval.

About halfway between Rockford and Quincy, there isn't much to Stark County, just four villages and half a dozen wide spots in the road.  County Economic Development Coordinator Denny Rewarts told FEN most residents were aware of the proposed windfarm and were for it.  "With 6,000 residents, I think Stark County would like to have anything here," he said.

As far as District 300's proposal goes Stark County has two things going for it.  First, there's already a windfarm nearby, the giant 100-generator complex at Camp Grove owned by Orion Energy, a division of BP (yep, that BP).  It's about 10 miles from the spot north of Toulon that District 300 seems to have its eye on so it's a reasonable bet the wind blows there, too.

Stark County Board Chairman Mike Biggers told FEN he's only met twice and spoken on the phone a few times with D300's wind consultant Kirk Heston.  He said whenever the project is submitted to his Board, "I would say it would be 60 to 90 days or so to approve if they've done their homework.

The second appealing thing about Stark County is that it's officially classed as a Low Income Community within the U.S. Treasury's New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) program.  That's a complex income tax credit that's supposed to return a juicy 39 percent of investors' money over a seven-year period.  District CFO and designated consortium representative Cheryl Crates has told the D300 Board NMTC investors would pay for about one third of the proposed Stark County windfarm.

The problem, according to Treasury's application materials, is that NMTC's are only available to groups whose primary purpose is helping Low Income Communities and that's not the case for the wind consortium.  The interagency agreement to create it says its all about electricity and for the benefit of the member school districts, not Stark County.

Even if the nominal purpose were changed Biggers said, based on the Camp Grove windfarm D300's project would probably only create "two or three" new maintenance jobs after it was built. "Of course, that's a significant number in Stark County," he said.

Another problem is that Treasury rules on NMTC's require someone from Stark County to sit on the Consortium's Board wielding at least 20 percent voting power.  That isn't in the proposal before the Board tonight, either,  nor is any obvious mechanism to add that.

All of this assumes the area to be served is Stark County.  It's not clear from material presented what area the windfarm is  supposed to serve in terms of the NMTC program.

Treasury spokesman Bill Leucht told FEN he wasn't about to rule on the merits of an application for NMTC approval that hadn't been made yet but did say that if an application does come in it would probably take "about three months" to process.

The proposal before the District 300 Board calls for spending $150,000 on attorney and bond counsel fees to set up the windfarm. That's supposed to be paid out of bond proceeds if the project goes ahead. If it doesn't, District 300 would be on the hook for 80 percent of it, according to info in the Board's packets.

In the pic: (above) The D300 Board of Education will vote on whether to try to build a windfarm of giant windmills like this one. (below) The proposed windfarm would be a little north of tiny Toulon in Stark County.

McHenry County Housing Prices Increase For July

McHenry County housing prices took another leap upward in July according to the latest figures released Friday  by the McHenry County Association of Realtors.  While prices were up, though, the number of sales tumbled back to early Spring levels.

The average July price of a McHenry County residence rose about 4.5 percent from June to almost $208,000.  However the number of homes sold dropped by over one third to only 214 units.  That pullback mirrored national trends this summer which saw sales fall with the end of "first time buyer" tax incentives.

Time on market for the average McHenry County home sale increased by two weeks in July.  It's been jittering around the six-month level since February.

Second Juried Art Fair Set In Algonquin Saturday, Sunday

The District 300 Foundation For Educational Excellence will hold its second annual Juried Art Fair at Algonquin Commons Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

The event featuring artists in a surprising range of media is a fundraiser for the Foundation which provides grants to all the District 300 schools.

Besides their entry fees, artists will donate $25 cash or an item with a $50 value to be raffled off during the event.

There'll be face painting and a special art project for children, too, while Mom and Dad peruse the Salon.

In the pic:  Nope, not FEN's usually unfocused camera. This is a picture by Gurnee fiber artist Susan Schneider, one of many exhibitors at the District 300 Foundation's Juried Art Fair.

Kids' Lemonade Stand Benefits Huntley Library

Last week a group of sub-second graders donated $31.75 to the Huntley Area Public Library, money they raised selling lemonade at a dime a glass.

For the past three years Victoria, Elizabeth and Brady Hassles and Jack and William Laughlin have set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the Library. They're the kids of Stacey Hassels and Laura Laughlin who like the Library a lot, too.

“This is a heartwarming tradition," said Library Director Patrick McDonald. "They make our day every year”.

In the pic:  Elizabeth Hassels, Jack Laughlin and Victoria Hassels, William Laughlin and Brady Hassels, lemonade magnates and Huntley Library philanthropists.

Marty Milner And Kent McCord Would Have Loved It

Old squad cars from the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show (CVES) from North Aurora flashed and whooped their way the Lake in the Hills Car Show Sunday, reminders of simpler days when all the electronic gear in a squad car was a  Motorola Motrac/Motran radio and a whip antenna.

The caravan was the yearly end to Lake in the Hills' National Night Out celebration.  Just as the cop cars rolled in, though, it began to rain which rather discouraged attendance.

Recession Adds $2.2 Billion To Illinois’ Debt

By Mary Massingale, Illinois Statehouse News
As Illinois faces a $13 billion budget deficit, a separate $2.2 billion debt has quietly accumulated during the recession – and because of the recession.

Illinois started borrowing from the Federal Unemployment Account last summer to bolster the state’s dwindling unemployment trust fund. The federal account serves as a line of credit for states across the nation so that unemployment benefits can continue to be paid to eligible out-of-work residents.

“It is continuously something that we monitor on a daily basis,” said Greg Rivara, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Rivara said borrowing from the federal account is simply a necessary evil during a lingering recession that has left more than a half-million residents dependent on unemployment checks while the state grapples with an unemployment rate of 10.4 percent for June. The national unemployment rate for June stood at 9.5 percent.

“If we were not borrowing money, we’d have to take a higher contribution from the business community or decrease benefits, or a combination of both,” he said.

However, the $2.2 billion still needs to be repaid, and a likely 4 percent interest rate will be tacked on come Jan. 1, if Congress doesn’t vote to extend the waiver of interest on the loans granted by the federal stimulus program.

Rivara noted the $2.2 billion is separate from the $13 billion budget deficit since the budget relies on General Revenue Fund dollars. GRF dollars cannot be used to repay the unemployment loan, which is repaid partially through a portion of the business contribution.

An economist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said the pace of Illinois’ recovery is “painfully slow.”

J. Fred Giertz has the numbers to prove it in his just-released “Flash Index,” showing the Index rose to 91.6 in July, up three-tenths of a point from its June level. A Flash Index level below 100 indicates the economy is in contraction, while readings above 100 indicate economic growth. “Recessions always end, but this time it’s not going to be in six months,” Giertz said. “It’s going to be in one or two years.”

You can read Mary's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3879/recession-adds-2-2-billion-to-illinois-debt/

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
August 08
0107 HRS VILLAGE RD. & CARLEMONT DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. FINN, BARRY R., M/W 56 YEARS OF AGE, 1619 CARLEMONT UNIT B, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, One Headlight. RELEASED ON BOND.
0327 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & ELLIS RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.  BARDEN, CHELSEE NICOLE, F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 10880 ALLEGHENY PASS, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
1238 HRS 100 BLOCK OF DEERPATH. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. JAHNKE, KAREN A., F/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 833 N. PRATER AVE., MELROSE PARK. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Expired Registration, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, Failure to Yield for an Emergency Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
2352 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MC ELROY, RONALD C., M/W 62 YEARS OF AGE, 643 RAVINE RD., EAST DUNDEE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Fail to Yield to Emergency Vehicle, Improper Lane Use, Driving Without Headlights as Required. RELEASED ON BOND.
0005 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Ex-boyfriend vs. ex-girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1133 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. FOUND ARTICLE. A digital camera and a set of keys were found in the common parking area.
1326 HRS 300 N. RANDALL RD., (LOWE’S). HIT & RUN. Rear driver’s side door was hit by a vehicle that left.
1712 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). BATTERY. A male hit another male in the face. FAIL TO FILE.
2243 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF BURR ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 40 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
August 6
20:24pm Kuschmirz, Jaclynn, DOB: 02/18/55, of 100 Highway 100, Superior, AZ, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 09/29/10, in Algonquin.
August 8
03:42am Hanges, George J., DOB: 04/28/72, of 404 River Bluff, Carpentersville, was charged with DUI, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Improper Turning.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
04:54am Ionascu, Ovidiu, DOB: 07/08/89, of 7 Hickory Street, Algonquin, was charged with Aggravated Battery.  He was taken into custody at Town Center Shopping Center, 1450 E. Algonquin.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
12:01pm Zamudio, Arelys, DOB: 09/21/91, of 164 Tay River Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 09/29/10, in Algonquin.
12:02pm Anderson, Matthew P., DOB: 08/19/69, of 117 S. Main Street #H, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
14:08pm Cadena, Benjamin U., DOB: 07/25/85, of 2120 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Meyer Drive.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 09/15/10, in McHenry County.
14:59pm Rosete, Maria, DOB: 10/09/79, of 1 Times Square #107, Elgin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody in the 800 block of S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 09/15/10, in McHenry County.

McHenry County Sheriff's Race Simmers

There was a lot of sniping by candidates for McHenry County Sheriff this week but it was hard to tell if anyone was hitting his target.

The week's turkeyshoot opened with an announcement by Sheriff Keith Nygren that he'd invited the Governor-elect of the Mexican state of Zacatecas to come to McHenry County.  Sheriff's deputies and police used to go down there but they haven't for the past couple of years since presumed drug cartel gunmen attacked a police station and the federales ran away. Nygren was quoted as saying those visits were still alive and well, but not at the moment since "it's just not wise right now."

A local Latino business leader involved the the trips wants them to resume, though, and was quoted saying maybe it'd be a good idea to send high school band students, too.

Next day Nygren's Democratic opponent, Cook County Deputy Mike Mahon from Lake in the Hills, went off like a rocket calling that idea "the height of irresponsibility."  He called the visit by Zacatecas pols "a politically-motivated throwaway".

A couple of days later gadfly Cal Skinner revealed some of his McHenry County Blog photos including off-duty deputies at a Mahon fundraiser had been posted in the MCSO roll call room. One of the deputies called it "a tactic of harassment and intimidation," according to Skinner.

Gus Philpott, Green candidate for Sheriff, picked that up saying, "the current Sheriff should knock some heads at the department". Philpott's been using his Woodstock Advocate blog to depict sheriff's deputies as drunks, bullies and really bad drivers to whose antics Nygren has turned a blind eye.  He closed out the week calling for a Civilian Police Review Board for the Sheriff's Office.

In the pic:  Green Party Sheriff's candidate Gus Philpott said if he's elected Sheriff he won't intimidate deputies.

McHenry County Refining Water Level Estimates

Concerned citizens from around McHenry County converged on McHenry County College Saturday for Imagine McHenry County's Water Forum and Resource Fair.

An exhaustive study five years ago predicted municipal wells in the southeastern corner of McHenry County might start sucking air by 2020.  That was in the midst of a forced-draft building boom, however, and based on best guesstimates, anyway.

County Water Resources Manager Cassandra McKinney said, "The recent decrease in building gives us some breathing space that wasn't there before."  The County's using it to try to get a better handle on how much water it has left, said McKinney.

"We've got 40 monitoring wells now thanks to an earmark from Congressman (Don) Manzullo," she said.  "We added telemetry (of data) with another earmark," McKinney said adding that it all ought to draw a picture of the current water levels in the county within a few months.

McKinney warned the present hiatus in development isn't cause for complacency.  "It could all come back in a year or two and the water problems that were projected could still be very real by 2020."

In the pic:  McHenry County Water Resources intern Nikki Mohapp and Manager Cassandra McKinney setting up an information station at Imagine McHenry County's Water Forum and Resource Fair at MCC Saturday.

Summer Sunset 5k Run Registrations Open

There's over three weeks left to sign up for Lake in the Hills' Summer Sunset 5k run.  At least if you sign up at one online site.  If you sign up at another, there's almost four weeks remaining.

The deadline at https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx fid=Z72V1K7&Source=Calendar29 is Sept. 1.  However, the deadline at https://jobs.lith.org/webtrac/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbar0220.html?search-name=1360 is Sept. 3.

In either case, if runners register before Aug. 31 the entry fee is only $23.  After that it's $28.00.

The race starts at 7 pm Sept. 3 and all paid participants will receive a limited-print short sleeve technical shirt, fruit, beverages, and a festival food voucher. Awards will be given to the overall winner and are 3 deep in each age category for the 5K participants.  (There's a two-mile walk, too.)

In the pic:  Runners coming out of the chute, so to speak, at last year's Summer Sunset 5k Run.

Fair Marches On Despite State Budget Problems

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
The show is going to go on, even though the state budget is billions of dollars out of whack. The Illinois State Fair, a late-summer mainstay in Springfield, will take place from Fri., Aug. 13 to Sun., Aug. 22.

Amy Bliefnick, the fair’s manager, said she’s had to make some adjustments because of the state’s ongoing fiscal troubles, which include a record $13 billion budget deficit.

“We have less staff than we’ve used, we use less summer help than we’ve used, doing more with less,” she said.

Earlier this week, Gov. Pat Quinn announced a cumulative $1.4 billion in cuts across state agencies. The state Department of Agriculture, the agency that helps oversee the state fair, will lose more than $6.4 million or about 17.6 percent of last year’s budget.

There were concerns that budget problems would force Fair planners to eliminate harness racing for this year’s festivities. The state was months late in paying the purses for victorious harness racers from last year’s state fair because of the state’s lack of cash. John Cisna with the Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders Association said last year’s purses have now been paid in full and that harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering will play their part in this year’s State Fair.

The State Fair is known for food and festivities, but with just a few months before November’s general election, it will also serve as a prime campaigning event for public officials and political hopefuls.

Quinn and Democrats will shake hands on Governor’s Day on Wed., Aug. 18, while state Republican leaders will congregate at the fairgrounds for Republican Day on Thurs., Aug. 19.

You can read Kevin's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3880/fair-marches-on-despite-state-budget-problems/

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
August 07
0319 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. Fifty-three Priors.
0945 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, Driver’s side window broken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1031 HRS 250 RANDALL RD., (COSTCO) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 69 years of age, numbness to her face. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1137 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 85 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1247 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 21 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1843 HRS 0 BLOCK OF ANNANDALE CT. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.