McHenry County Leads State In Rabid Bats

Mchenry County seems bound to hold on to the title of rabid bat capital of Illinois with confirmation this week of the 17th one so far this year.  A Woodstock couple woke to find the creature in their bedroom and are now beginning preventive rabies treatment.

The strange part is that McHenry County has accounted for fully 25 percent of all the rabid bats reported in Illinois this year and no one knows quite why.  Some experts have speculated urban sprawl is displacing bats and other animals from their natural habitats so they have more human encounters.  Against that idea, new housing came to a screeching halt in 2007 but rabid bat reports around the state have continued to rise.

McHenry County Department of Health spokesman Debra Quackenbush has suggested part of the increase in reports may just be better public bat awareness thanks to her agency and others.

The good news is that despite the increase in rabid bat reports Illinois Department of Public Health reports show there hasn't been a case of human rabies in the state in 56 years.

Bats are protected species in Illinois so it's illegal to kill them. Trap and release doesn't work, either, since there's research showing the things are almost as good as homing pigeons at finding their way back to a roost.
More than you want to know about bats in Illinois can be found here: http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcbats.htm

In the pic:  Not the way it works when there's a bat in your bedroom.

Attendance Up Friday At Algonquin Founders' Days Carnival

Friday saw increased crowds at Algonquin's Founders' Days Carnival.  The event through Sunday is a makeup for last months' Towne Park flooding that cut many Founders' Days events short by two days.

"It's better than I expected," said one concessionaire

The Founders' Days Carnival is in Algonquin's The Great Escape parking lot on South Randall Road and Broadsmore Drive. 

Three Blood Drives Set In Huntley For Sept.

Three Heartland Blood Center drives are set in the area for September, all in Huntley this time.  Heartland which provides blood to hospitals in Northeastern Illinois and Northwest Indiana added three more to its client list this month bringing the total to 38.

The first drive will be Sept. 11 from 8 am to 12:30 pm at Saint Mary's Catholic Church. Please call Ernie at 815-356-5245 to schedule your donation or sign up online at www.heartlandbc.org  . Walk-ins are Welcome.

The next drive will be Sept. 23 from 9 am to 1 pm at Meadow View Lodge, Sun City. Call the Wellness Center at 847-515-2078 to schedule a donation or sign up www.heartlandbc.org  . Walk-ins are Welcome.

The last drive of the month is Sept. 26 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Springbrook Community Church. Call the church office, 224-569-3300, to schedule a donation. Walk-ins are Welcome here, too.

To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health.

Statie Acting Director Waiting For Confirmation

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
After 19 months on the job, Jonathon Monken is still the “acting” director of the Illinois State Police. But turning his job into an official head of a state agency is a question of both politics and bureaucracy.

Gov. Pat Quinn appointed Monken, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, in March, 2009, to serve as the head of the state’s police force. Monken’s initial appointment caused a stir among lawmakers because he lacked a background in law enforcement. Patterson noted that Monken has since completed police training courses.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, a current member of the Executive Appointments committee, said the Illinois Senate did not officially receive Quinn’s appointment of Monken until this January, even though Quinn had announced the appointment in March 2009. “This is not the way to confirm people, (to) let them learn on the job, he said."

When asked about the delay, the Governor’s office did not provide definite causes.
"The Governor continues to look forward to Acting Director Monken being confirmed by the Senate as soon as possible,” Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said in an e-mailed statement.

Monken said the belated confirmation vote was not affecting his ability to act as ISP director. "We’ve got a lot of things that need a lot of attention and need a lot of work. And it just seems like it’s not really necessary to have one more thing on that plate,” he said.

You can read Kevin's full report at:   http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4043/isp-acting-director-waiting-for-confirmation/

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.

GEORGE J. HANGES, DOB:  04/28/72, 404 RIVER BLUFF DRIVE, CARPENTERSVILLE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Algonquin PD

DANIEL A. HUNT, DOB:  01/26/59, 3905 JACOBSON, WONDER LAKE. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--Wonder Lake PD

SHEILA L. BENBENNICK, DOB:  01/04/88, 540 DEVONSHIRE LANE  #6, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, DOMESTIC BATTERY(2CTS).--Crystal Lake PD
  
JOHN T. KUCHYNKA, DOB:  03/11/92, 3210 HYACINTH TERRACE, ISLAND LAKE,  TYLER Z. KEY, DOB:  04/13/93, 505 AUTUMN BOULEVARD  #304, LAKEMOOR. THEFT (OVER $300.)--Island Lake PD
      
OMAR MANRIQUEZ-CAZARES, DOB:  04/11/89,    2003 ASPEN DRIVE, WOODSTOCK. ARMED VIOLENCE(2CTS), AGGRAVATED BATTERY(5CTS).--Woodstock PD
  
JAMES H. DURKEE, DOB:  12/11/64, LKA:  BOB’S MOTEL, 930 LAKE AVENUE, WOODSTOCK. AGGRAVATED ARSON, ARSON, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY.--Woodstock PD
  
RICHARD W. KELCH, DOB:  02/10/76, 7610 CENTER DRIVE, WONDER LAKE. UNLAWFUL PRODUCTION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
VICTOR E. VELASCO, DOB:  08/19/76, 32778 INNETOWNE ROAD, LAKEMOOR, ABEL VEGA, DOB:  07/28/76, 3579 PLYMOUTH LANE. ISLAND LAKE. ATTEMPT (UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER), ATTEMPT (UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS), UNLAWFUL CALCULATED CRIMINAL CANNABIS CONSPIRACY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
KEVIN D. GITCHEL, DOB:  02/28/90, 3011 RINGWOOD, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--McHenry PD
      
KRISTIN E. BUZINSKI, DOB:  09/25/79, 3009 E. CHESTNUT, WONDER LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry PD
  
CHRISTOPHER M. HAYES, DOB:  11/29/84, 100 SEMINARY AVENUE  APT 3G, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
TONYA M. KRICH, DOB:  08/03/84, 2204 EDGEWOOD DRIVE, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry 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
August 27
0220 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. ENYART, MARK E., M/B 42 YEARS OF AGE,  703 N MILL STREET 2B, MCHENRY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Following too Closely. RELEASED ON BOND.
2226 HRS PYOTT RD. & OAK ST. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. LUCHT, MICHAEL P., M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 351 LLOYD ST., CARY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Improper Lane Usage, Driving too Fast for Conditions. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
2251 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE).FOLLOW UP ARREST: CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Criminal Defacement. TURNED OVER TO PARENTS.
0805 HRS 300 BLOCK OF PHEASANT TRAIL. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
0948 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 24 years of age, pounding heart and light headed. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1019 HRS 100 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 51 years of age, in need of an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital. 1557 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1839 HRS PINGREE RD. & RAKOW RD. ACCIDENT. Five vehicles. Property damage only.
1857 HRS 211 N. RANDALL RD., (STEAK N SHAKE). BATTERY. Subject pushed cashier. FAIL TO FILE.
1926 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Driver of unit 2 transported to Sherman Hospital.
2241 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 49 years of age, with a rapid heart rate. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2250 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 89 years of age, not feeling well. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2311 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. Wife. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2331 HRS 0 BLOCK OF W. ACORN LN. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
Huntley
August 16
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10600 block of  Braemar Parkway.  Gang graffiti was painted on the sidewalk.
August 17
A theft report was taken at a business in the 11400 block of Smith Dr.  A lock was broken and three propane tanks were stolen.
An identity theft report was taken in the 10700 block of Greywall.  The victim states that an unknown person used his identity to open several credit accounts.
August 19
A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was arrested for criminal trespass to residence and theft.  In the same incident a 17 year old male from Crystal Lake was arrested for theft.  Both juveniles were released to their parents and will be petitioned to McHenry County Juvenile Court.
Paige N. Cook, age 19, of 11602 E Main St., Huntley, was arrested on an outstanding Kane County warrant for felony retail theft.  Ms. Cook posted bond and was released with a Kane County court date of September 10, 2010.
A fraud report was taken in the 10600 block of Painted Desert Ct.
A juvenile nuisance report was taken at a business in the 12100 block of Rt. 47.

McHenry County Unemployment Rate Improves For July

Unemployment fell in McHenry County in July according to the latest report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security released Thursday.  The county unemployment rate fell to 9.6 percent from a revised 9.8 percent rate in June, down from an original 9.9 percent estimate.

Statewide the unemployment rate remained unchanged. IDES Communications Manager Greg Rivara said, "through June, Illinois has added jobs for six consecutive months for the first time since April 2006."  Rivara's analysis of July job increases works out to be sort of an asterisk trying to take into account both the start and finish of the construction strike last month in the Chicago area.

Illinois’ Manufacturing sector added 3,800 jobs in July, the fifth consecutive monthly gain, though. Rivara said it was the sector’s best showing since April 1995.

Locally, Algonquin's unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent from June's revised 8.9 percent figure.  The change appeared to come not from job losses but from more people looking for work either again or for the first time.

Lake in the Hills' unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent from a revised 9.2 percent June number.  The change came from a drop in the number of people listed as unemployed.

Crystal Lake unemployment matched the county average at 9.6 percent and even with a .5 percent drop from June the village of McHenry maintained the county's highest unemployment rate, 9.9 percent.

                           UNEMPLOYMENT (unadjusted)             
               REVISED June 2010       PRELIMINARY July 2010               
               LABOR    UNEMPLOYED      LABOR   UNEMPLOYED      July 
               FORCE    NUMBER  RATE    FORCE   NUMBER    RATE  2009   
U.S. (X1000)   154,767  14,885   9.6    155,270   15,137   9.7   9.7    
ILLINOIS     6,697,614 707,483  10.6  6,716,526  715,082  10.6  10.7    

MCHENRY COUNTY 180,495  17,773   9.8    180,886   17,303   9.6  10.1    
KANE COUNTY    271,205  29,266  10.8    271,723   28,503  10.5  11.0    
LAKE COUNTY    369,684  38,207  10.3    368,997   39,521  10.7   9.6
DUPAGE COUNTY  528,583  47,416   9.0    530,885   47,171   8.9   9.2

ALGONQUIN       16,818   1,505   8.9     16,947    1,552   9.2   8.6    
LITH            17,123   1,580   9.2     17,140    1,515   8.8   9.6    
CRYSTAL LAKE    22,431   2,190   9.8     22,517    2,169   9.6  10.2    
MCHENRY         15,229   1,581  10.4     15,234    1,513   9.9  10.5    

Shutdowns, Lane Changes Continue For Route 47 Widening

Huntley's construction frenzy continues according to the latest update from the Village. Mill Street west of Route 47 will be shut down today, according to the latest report.

Tuesday will see lane changes on Main Street, according to the latest schedule. They're supposed to be made Church Street to just east of Janice Drive.  On top of that some Main Street parking is supposed to be eliminated between Route 47 and Church Street. Public parking lots will remain open on Main Street at the railroad tracks and the one next to Old Village Hall on Coral Street.

The week following underground  work is scheduled to begin at Main Street and Route 47. That work is supposed to be performed within the paved street. Temporary pavement that has been recently placed at the intersection will provide a detour for vehicles through the work zone but material delivery and staging will be be going on the whole time. That's expected to cause "substantial traffic delays".

Storm sewer work is still inching north from the south end of the project area and crews are still working on the box culvert at Kishwaukee Creek to expand it to four lane size.

In the pic:  Workers used a concrete pump Thursday to help lay the footing for a retaining wall at Deicke Park.

Founders' Days Carnival Hopes For Weekend Crowd

Crowds were sparse for the opening evening Thursday of Algonquin Founders' Days Carnival at the village's Great Escape Parking lot on South Randall. Carnies said they weren't surprised about that but hoped for wall-to-wall humanity this evening. 

The glare from all the rides and concession stands overpowers the ordinary lighting in the parking area so drivers  should be careful pulling in, especially since pedestrians may be wearing dark clothing against the evening temps.

Exit from the parking area can be a little tricky, too.  When leaving, drivers need to remember there's a center berm between incoming and outgoing traffic.  (Cough, cough.--ed.)

Huntley Parks and Rec Hearing Fills Out Wish List

Huntley residents listed a bulletin board full of Parks and Recreation District strengths and weaknesses at the first public hearing to develop a new Master Plan Thursday.

Strengths?  Thirteen parks sites covering 321 acres, for starters.  Weaknesses?  Schedules that don't match those of commuters very well.  On the Wish List?  How about water and sewer service to Tomaso Sports Park, a rose garden somewhere and maybe an indoor pool?  There was even mention of a bridle path.

Parks Planner Richard Twitchell of Bonestroo consultants coaxed concepts out of Thursday's audience well past the expected hours' Q and A Thursday and planned another session at the Rec Center Saturday at 10 am.  What he's really waiting for, he said, is the info from a mail survey to 2,000 Park District households in a couple of weeks.

"Please, please, please fill it out," he said.  "It's very important."

Blagojevich Retrial Set For January

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is looking at a new trial in January, but the courtroom will be less crowded, as prosecutors Thursday dismissed charges against his brother and the judge cut his legal team to two.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys met in open court with federal Judge James Zagel for the first time since the jury convicted Blagojevich of lying to federal authorities two weeks ago. What was supposed to be a standard procedural matter took a quick twist, as lead prosecutor Reid Schar asked to speak.

“The government went back and considered the substantial disparity in the role (in the brother’s alleged criminal activity),” he said, “and we have decided not to proceed against Robert Blagojevich…in the interest of justice.”

The 19-month ordeal may be over for Robert, who served as Blagojevich’s chief fund-raiser in 2008, but round two of the ex-governor’s corruption trial is just beginning. He must now confront two looming realities that will make this case an uphill climb.

His first concern is money, perhaps fitting for a defendant who obsessed over campaign contributions and allegedly strong-armed political figures for donations. Blagojevich spent the remaining $2 million in his campaign fund on his eight-lawyer defense team. The ex- governor will not have that luxury this time around. Facing hundreds of thousands in debt from his lavish lifestyle, he will rely on taxpayer dollars to pay for two lawyers and a paralegal.

Zagel dismissed defense arguments for allowing additional lawyers, saying his hands were tied. But the judge also took aim at “the most lawyers” he’d ever seen in court. “You talked about David versus Goliath in the media,” he said to the defense. “But from the looks of the courtroom, the number of lawyers at the government’s table and yours, you looked like Goliath.”

The task will be nearly impossible with only three representatives, according to Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Sr. “We had millions of documents to go over, we had 5,500 hours of tapes to go over, we had 20 people working full time on this case,” he said. “The idea that this is…just an ordinary case is just not true.”

Zagel will allow attorneys to work on the case pro-bono, and said he could permit a legal team financed by a benefactor, if the defense disclosed the source of funds. Defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky introduced both concepts to the judge, though he admitted he had “no idea” who would be willing to do either.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4044/blagojevich-retrial-set-for-january-charges-dropped-against-brother/

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 262350 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANTILLY CIRCLE.FOLLOW UP ARREST: CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. JUVENILE, M/W 16 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Criminal Defacement. TURNED OVER TO PARENT.
0015 HRS 100 BLOCK OF OAKLEAF AVE. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0726 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF SYCAMORE ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1053 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1107 HRS 100 E. BLOCK OF ACORN LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 82 years of age, with chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1506 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF SAVOY DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. Three priors.
1524 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1647 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF BIRCH ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 37 years of age, was stung by a bee. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1714 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MAPLE ST. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. Residence was entered and a computer was removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
O2012 HRS 300 BLOCK OF APACHE TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 63 years of age, having chest pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2329 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF ADAMS ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 3 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
August 23
15:35pm Giacchetti, Angela A., DOB: 12/03/79, of 1905 Cobblestone, Carpentersville, was charged with Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure To Appear.  She was taken into custody at 1501 E. Algonquin Road.  She was released after posting $500, with a court date of 09/01/10, in McHenry County.
20:57pm Alvarado, Jesus, DOB: 05/13/87, of 1033 Deercreek, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Failure To Reduce Speed.  He was taken into custody at 503 E. Algonquin Road.  He was released after posting $100, with a court date of 09/29/10, in McHenry County.
August 25
23:28pm Loleng, Albert R., DOB: 11/21/61, of 8 Lake Gillilan Court, Algonquin, was charged with Unlawful Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor to a Minor and Endangering the Life/Health of a Child.  He was taken into custody at 8 Lake Gillilan Court.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.
August 26
16:39pm A sixteen-year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Residential Burglary.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was formally petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his father.

Algonquin Contamination Not "Slight"

Illinois Environmental Protection agency tests found chemical contamination near Algonquin's soon-to-be-demolished Toastmaster factory higher than "slightly over the calculated screening level" reported to residents in a letter last week.   According to the full report investigators also found evidence suggesting there may be more contamination that hasn't been located yet.

Earlier tests have shown that soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the Toastmaster plant are contaminated with industrial chemicals.  The dirt is scheduled to be dug up and trucked off to make way for Algonquin's Route 31 Western Bypass and nobody uses the groundwater.  In late December last year, however, IEPA conducted tests to find out if vapors from the contaminated water were a hazard seeping into neighborhood basements .

The report was expected in February but when FEN inquired in early May spokeswoman Tammy Marshall said the report had been delayed.  She said, however, only two homes had been found with vapor "slightly above" the test level.  The full report was released two weeks later, sent to an "information repository" at the Algonquin Library and to the Village of Algonquin.

The full report which FEN examined this week said not two but three samples showed levels of trichloroethylene contamination higher than IEPA wanted to see and the levels were above that level more than a little.  Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an industrial solvent and “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” by experts.  Two samples taken near residential sites were 30 percent and 60 percent above the 1000 microgram per cubic meter screening level.  A third taken in the middle of a parking lot was 80 percent above that point.

Whether that's important is subject to a lot of interpretation.  Illinois Department of Public Health environmental toxicologist Ken Runkle said "there is no enforceable standard for TCE" anywhere in the nation.  There aren't even many non-enforceable ones, he said.  Furthermore, even if there were a standard it would be hard to see if it was exceeded in a home because common household chemicals produce "too many false positives", according to spokesman Mitchell.  What investigators in Algonquin did, according to IEPA environmental toxicologist Kathy Marshall, was take the highest non-enforceable standard they could find (New York's) and adjust it backwards to account for the barrier of a basement slab and then the barrier of the soil between the slab and the contaminated water.

The inside standard was 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air so the outside soil standard worked out to be 1000 micrograms.  "We took the most conservative value and we used a very conservative (gas permeation) model," said Marshall.

Two other samples unmentioned in the summary sent to residents showed elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene, another solvent thought to be "probably carcinogenic" according to experts.  Investigators set no screening level for that chemical but most of the samples found levels from about 50 to around 100 micrograms.  The two high samples showed 1,600 and 1,800 microgram concentrations, though.

Investigators said in the report the soil vapor samples they found didn't match the plume of contaminated water the way they expected, some showing high levels beyond where they think the water is.  The report speculated that might be because there's another contamination source no one knows about somewhere to the northeast. Algonquin Village Manager Bill Ganek said IEPA  advised the village to wait and see.  "Once you clean up the source, the contamination goes away," said Ganek.  If it doesn't then it would be time to look for another source.  "We'll be watching it," said Ganek.

Another contaminant for which there's no standard is toluene, yet another solvent, this one an intoxicant believed able to cause birth defects.  IEPA's report found toluene at three sample locations in levels ranging from 9,600 to 21,000 micrograms per cubic meter.  The report says those are a pretty clear indication that there either was or still is a leaking underground storage tank "next to St. John's Lutheran School".

IEPA Sites Manager Joe Dombrowski said the agency  notified St. John's about that in March and offered the use of a machine that can help locate a tank if one is still there. FEN attempts over four days to speak with either the school's principal or St. John's pastor were unsuccessful.

In the pics:  (above) Investigators said the blob of TCE vapor to the northeast of the main one wasn't expected to be there.  (below) The highest levels of toluene vapor center just south of St. John's School.

Owner Charges Revitalization Would Kill Huntley Business

Huntley's Downtown Revitalization Plan nearing completion ran into its first opposition Wednesday at a hearing before the village Plan Commission.  Cathy Wozniak, owner, charged, "If you change (downtown) to parallel parking Strode's furniture will go under."

One part of the draft plan calls for widening the sidewalks in Huntley's core downtown area along Main Street.  That would require eliminating diagonal parking in favor of parallel spaces and Wozniak said that would mean fewer spaces for customers.

"We've seen what happened in Elgin and Dundee," said Wozniak. "It kills the businesses."

Not least of all would be Strode's. "I see that as a great deterrent to our Del Webb customers who can't walk that far," said Wozniak.  "(They) have kept us alive in the recession."

Planners said some Main Street parking spaces would be lost to parallel parking but those and more would be made up with a new parking scheme on Coral Street and nearby municipal lots sited to serve the core downtown.

Village Manager Dave Johnson told Wazniak the village would work to ensure her business and others near it wouldn't be hurt by changes to upgrade the downtown.  He also said the plan was sort of theoretical at this point since the village doesn't have any money to, for example, widen downtown sidewalks right now, anyway.

Chairman Ron Hahn said, "We've got to go forward with some kind of plan or we'll never get anything done," and the Plan Commission voted unanimously to send the measure on to the the Board of Trustees.

In the pic:  Resident Don Balbain asked planners when Huntley's downtown redevelopment was going to start. None of it's mandatory said John Houseal and most of it depends on developers.  "When someone wants it to," was his reply.

Founders' Carnival Encore Opens Today In Algonquin

Workers were busy tightening the last bolts on rides and stashing away bags of green wigs and stuffed monkey game prizes Wednesday getting ready for today's open of the Algonquin Founders' Days Carnival in the Great Escape parking lot on South Randall Road and Broadsmore Drive.

The Carnival is an encore event to help make up for flooding that forced cancellation of two day's worth of many Founders' Days events in Algonquin's Towne Park last month and depressed attendance at the ones still open.  "We got killed there," said one carnival worker Wednesday.

Founders' Carnival hours will be:
today--6 pm. to Close
Friday--6 to 11 pm
Saturday--1 to 11 pm
Sunday--1 pm to Close

Prices will be $1.25 per single ticket, 22 tickets for $25.00. Most rides are two to four tickets.

Wristbands will cost $20.  They'll be good all hours today, Saturday from 1 to 5 pm and all day Sunday.

Quinn: Tie Income Tax Hike to Property Tax Cut

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Governor Pat Quinn added a new wrinkle to his long-sought “surcharge for education” on Wednesday. The governor said at an agricultural candidates' forum Wednesday that if lawmakers approve his 33 percent income tax hike this Fall or next year, he’ll push to tie the $3 billion dollars it’s supposed to raise to local property taxes.

“I think it’s very simple to pass a law that says to local schools districts if we give you more money from the state for education…part of the bargain is that you have to cut your local property tax.”

Quinn didn’t say how much local districts would have to trim from their tax levy, or what would happen if districts either don’t do it or can’t do it.. But the governor said he thinks the income tax hike and property tax cut need to be linked.

“I think it should be mandatory,” Quinn said. ”I think that when the state helps local schools with more money from the state of Illinois, it also means cutting local property taxes.”

Quinn’s opponent, State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, was caught off guard by the governor’s new plan. But he said he has his doubts.

“It sounds like a bunch of smoke and mirrors,” Brady said. ”This is the first time I’ve heard it, but it doesn’t seem to make sense to me what he’s talking about.”

Quinn spent a lot of time Wednesday bashing Brady for pitching a cut to education. But the governor didn’t say if he expects to actually see his planned tax increase passed by the legislature anytime soon. Lawmakers could not find the votes for the tax hike last spring.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4018/quinn-tie-income-tax-hike-for-schools-to-property-tax-cut/

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 25
2334 HRS 100 BLOCK OF OAKLEAF DR. ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. RAYFIELD, NICHOLAS K., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 8 E. PHEASANT TRAIL, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED. Female, 47 years of age, lost consciousness. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0930 HRS 400 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 20 years of age, breathing but unresponsive. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1313 HRS 1531 IMHOFF DRIVE., (CORY PROPERTIES). REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Concrete pad damaged by contractor working next door.
1657 HRS BORDEAUX DR. & LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1714 HRS INDIAN TRAIL & LOCUST DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 67 years of age, injury to her mouth. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2140 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). BATTERY. Male vs Male. FAIL TO FILE.
2333 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF WILLOW VIEW DR. DOMESTIC. Ex-boyfriend vs. ex-girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.

Developer Proposes Big Senior Complex For LITH

A Lake Forest developer floated a $12 million senior living and complex for an area near Randall and Algonquin Roads at Tuesday's Lake in the Hills Committee of the Whole Board meeting.  Blithfield Development CEO Rick Swanson said his company thought it looked like a good idea but he wasn't going to spend $35,000 on a market feasibility study unless the Board thought so, too.

The proposed project called Centre Place of Lake in the Hills would cover a five-acre field between Dominicks and Lake in the Hills Theatre on the frontage road east of Randall.  Concept plans call for a multi-story 86-unit apartment complex with concierge and security service for residents 65 and older and 12,400 feet of associated retail space.

Investor Sandy Aaron told the Board his original plan had been to build some sort of all-retail development on the site but that won't fly right now and meanwhile his group is paying interest and taxes on the block.  "It's really hard to find financing for pure retail and commercial development," he said.  "About all the banks are lending on right now is hospitals and assisted living facilities," he said and Centre Place is pretty close to that idea.

"We can't go any further unless the community is comfortable with this," said Swanson.

The Board was mostly receptive to the concept.  "I'd want to move in myself when it's ready," said Trustee Paul Mulcahy.

"I think it's a good fit for the area," said Trustee Steve Harlfinger.

Village President Ed Plaza said he was pleased someone was interested in the empty tract. "This piece of property sat vacant since one of my predecessors built Lake in the Hills," he said but indicated the project would draw close scrutiny.

"We're landlocked," he said.  "We don't have a lot of developable land left."

Swanson said it would probably take a couple of months to conduct the feasibility study.  "That study will tell us if this is real or not," he said.  If it is he said it would probably be about a year before construction begins.

In the pic:  An Architect's sketch of what a new senior living/retail complex in Lake in the Hills would look like if a study shows it's a good idea.  

County May Give Sportsplex, Stadium More Time

McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee meetings rarely draw more than a handful of spectators and those usually staffers but Tuesday's was jam-packed with residents in the area of the proposed McHenry County Sportsplex.  They were against the project but the committee voted to give it and two others extra time until the end of the year to issue stimulus bonds to finance them.

Indeed, Chairman Marc Munaretto, District One, Algonquin, announced he'd finagled additional stimulus bonding authority from another unnamed Illinois county to breathe new life into a controversial sub-minor league baseball stadium to be built in Woodstock.

When the County Board gave all three projects the greenlight earlier this year it set a Sept. 30 deadline to issue federally tax-subsidized revenue bonds for the supposedly shovel-ready projects.  A $3.5 plan to dredge part of Wonder Lake was delayed while a pair of competing property owner associations battled it out over which one legally represented the people who'd have to pay off the bonds. Last week a Circuit Court Judge ended that case picking the group that wants to dredge.

The latest incarnation of MCC's failed baseball stadium only now in nearby Woodstock went nowhere because the County didn't have enough stimulus bonding authority for developers to build all of it. It stayed stalled they couldn't find the money anywhere else.  That's the project for which Munaretto found another $11.5 million stimulus authority to add to the $3.5 million authority the County had left.

It was the proposed $40 million sportsplex newly-annexed to Lakewood at route 47 and 176 that drew Tuesday's crowd.  It's been delayed while developers try to raise private investor money its underwriter demands before committing to the bonds.  Some opponents argued the whole thing was a financial house of cards that would never work.  Others feared it might work and then local roads would be jammed.  Lakewood Trustee Blake Hobson said his village still backed the project.  He said if a "benign" sportsplex didn't go there something nasty might.  "Like a peaker plant or a garbage transfer station," he warned.

At the vote only Member John Hammerand, District 4, Wonder Lake, voted against more time to issue the revenue bonds.  "I don't believe any of these projects meets the long-term employment standards for (the stimulus program)," he said.

Meanwhile Munaretto said he planned to go back to his secret well ("I'm not going to give away my sources") to see if he can get some more bonding authority for a manufacturer interested in locating in McHenry County. "We've been approached by a couple of companies," he said, "but they never applied because we didn't have any authority left to assign."

The full County Board will still have to OK the time extension.

In the pic:  Extra chairs had to be put out twice for about 75 spectators when the Finance and Audit Committee considered giving the big McHenry County Sportsplex more time to issue stimulus bonds.

FEN Quantifies Mosquito Misery

Mosquitoes are an inevitable summer nuisance in the Midwest but this summer's been ridiculous.  Walk out the door and you won't just be bitten, the little so-and-so's will mug you.  How bad are the mosquitoes this year?  It took a little FEN digging to put a number on it.

The McHenry County Health Department wasn't sure. MCDH traps mosquitoes to check for West Nile Virus but they don't count them.  "Our traps are full," however, said Director Patrick McNulty.

The Illinois Department of Public Health doesn't count them, either.  It, too, just monitor the things.  Spokesmen report the mosquito mix is a little different this year with more floodwater mosquitoes than usual because there's been so much rain this summer. 
"A vicious biter, this mosquito will commonly fly 10 or more miles from where they hatch," according to IDPH's helpful website. (http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmosquito.htm)

Doesn't anyone count these things?  How can we be miserable if we can't put precisely quantify how miserable we are? Enter George Balis, Control Consultant for Clarke International, Roselle.  Clarke does mosquito control for a lot of McHenry County municipalities and it actually counts mosquitoes. 

Balis reports: "Mosquito populations in SE McHenry County this year through August 23, 2010…are up 300 percent versue  mosquito populations through Aug. 23, 2008. (They) are up 260 percent versus mosquito populations through Aug. 23, 2009."

So there you are.  We're three times more miserable than usual, mosquitowise.  At least for the time being.  Balis said Clarke will be out spraying in Lake in the Hills and Huntley next week.

Huntley Park District Sets Plan Hearings

The Huntley Park District will hold hearings on its new Comprehensive Master Plan this week. The plan is supposed to help guide the District over the next 5 to 10 years and the District wants community input.

One meeting is set tomorrow 7:00 pm and there's another scheduled Saturday at 10:00 am. Both will be at the REC Center, Huntley.. The meetings will run for about 45 to 60 and Light refreshments will be served.

Discussions will include parks and facilities, programs, communications and community wish list. For more information contact Thom Palmer, Executive Director at 847-669-3180 ext. 350.

Illinois Falls Short In Race To The Top

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
The U.S. Department of Education announced this week the second-round winners of education grants in its Race to the Top competition, but Illinois did not make the cut.

The 10 winners — 9 states and the District of Columbia –  will split more than $3 billion in grant money to go towards creating new assessment standards for students and teachers, and other educational reforms. Delaware and Tennessee were first-round winners.

Illinois State Superintendent Chris Koch said the state still benefited form its pursuit of Race to the Top dollars.

“Of course it’s disappointing for us, but I do have confidence that we’re on the right track here with this agenda. The laws that we passed were the right laws. It’s going to take us down a road that we need to do and to go,” he said.

Robin Steans, executive director of the education advocacy group Advance Illinois, said Race to the Top provided an incentive to state lawmakers to make some changes.

“The adoption of ‘Common Core Standards’ is a big step forward, the fact that we’ve got a blueprint for stronger principal preparation plans, the fact that we’ve got a plan for more substantive teacher and principal evaluations, the fact that we’ve lifted the cap on the number of charter schools that can operate in the state,” she said.

Illinois could have earned up to $400 million to go towards implementing reforms if its application had been successful, but Koch said they’ll have to scale back some reforms and push back the timeline on others.

You can read Kevin's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4009/illinois-falls-short-in-race-to-the-top/

Quinn Taps DHS Head For Chief Of Staff Job

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn replaced his chief of staff just two days after the aide resigned amid an ethics violation controversy.

Jerry Stermer, Quinn’s former chief of staff, resigned Sunday after an ethics probe by the Executive Inspector General’s office reported he had used his state email account for campaign purposes. The governor dismissed the three emails at the heart of the probe as errant keystrokes, but the timing of the Executive Inspector General’s subsequent dismissal and Quinn’s handling of it have been called into question.

“He was out of bounds on three emails out of 38,000 some odd emails,” Quinn said. “He did not want that particular matter that he self-reported…to distract from our mission.”

Executive Inspector General James Wright presented the report to the governor’s office on Aug. 12 — and was fired the next morning. Quinn, however, says he did not see the report until the afternoon of Aug. 13 and insists the report had nothing to do with the dismissal.

Republicans were quick to criticize Quinn’s handling of the ethics violation and subsequent firing. The governor has touted his ethics credentials throughout his tough election campaign against Republican Bloomington Sen. Bill Brady. State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, who narrowly lost the Republican nomination, said Quinn should embrace transparency in the Executive Inspector General’s office.

“(Stermer’s) resignation and the firing of the inspector general’s timing perpetuates the myth that the Quinn administration bungles every task that they take,” Dillard said. “I’ve always argued for…more transparency in the inspector general’s process–the reports are hidden from public view.”

Quinn tapped Department of Human Services head Michelle Saddler to replace Stermer. Saddler worked with Quinn when he was state Treasurer. The governor says her economic know-how will help put people back to work.


You can read Bill's full story at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4015/quinn-back-pedals-from-stermer-taps-dhs-head-for-chief-of-staff-job/

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 24
1515 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD., (WALGREENS). THEFT OVER $300. JUVENILE, M/W 15 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Theft Over $300, Possession of cannabis. TURNED OVER TO PARENT.
0451HRS 1000 BLOCK OF BURR ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 63 years of age, trouble breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0807 HRS 300 BLOCK OF N. ANNANDALE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 42 years of age, having a seizure. No transport.
0934 HRS 1480 IMHOFF DR., (M&A PRECISION TRUCK). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Glendale Heights PD, in custody of male subject in possession of vehicle keys belonging to this company. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0941 HRS PHEASANT TRAIL & OAKLEAF RD. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Gang graffiti on the stop sign.
1135 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & ANNANDALE DR. ACCIDENT. One vehicle vs. fence & shed.
1841 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD., (WALGREENS). DOMESTIC Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. One prior.
2241 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANTILLY CIRCLE. MISSING JUVENILE. Male, 16 years of age, left residence. Entered into LEADS.

District 300 Ends Year In Red--New Year Looks Worse

The auditors won't be in for a final number until next month but Finance Director Cheryl Crates told the District 300 Board of Education Monday they spent $2.8 more than they'd planned in the 2009-10 school year and were facing a $6.3 million deficit in the year underway.

Both of those were iffy numbers, however, and could prove to be a lot worse depending on whether the State Treasurer comes through with $6.5 million owed the District for last year or simply reneges on it, according to Crates.  Crates said even if the State comes through with what it already owes the District it would just shift the red ink to this year.  "They'll have spent all the money they have," said Crates.

Even so, it was statutorilly time to post a budget for this year, so the Board approved one that shows that State making good on this school year's much-reduced promises.  A hearing on it's set for Sept. 27.

The proposed budget is here: http://www.d300.org/files/2010%2008%2023%20Proposed%20Budget%2010-11_5.pdf

A more comprehensible Powerpoint presentation is here: http://www.d300.org/files/2010%2008%2023%20BOE%20Budget%20Presentation.pdf

Shifting from high finance to nitty gritty, the Board heard a group of about 20 residents from the Cambridge Lakes subdivision in Pingree Grove protesting  new consolidated bus routes in the Cambridge Lakes Subdivision vehemently and at length.  Parents complained new bus stops weren't safe and brought along their police chief to back them up.  One mother warned direly of "multi-million dollar lawsuits" when a child is injured due to "gross negligence".

After the contingent decamped Superintendant Ken Arndt said while last year's routes in the subdivision were probably more convenient they had to be revamped because the buses  were constantly late for school.  "They're landlocked," by a single-entrance loop littered with cul-de-sacs said Member Karen Roeckner. "They bought into it."

Arndt said administrators would look at the problem again, though.

In other action the Board decided to put the District's snow removal contract up for bid instead of renewing it for a third year.  Huntley snow-removal contractor Jim Greeves claimed terms of the current contract with Tovar Snow Professionals, Elgin, would cost the District $100,000 to $200,000 more than it should.  Neighboring District 158 heard similar claims from Greeves last week and ignored them.  The District 300 Board members decided since there was plenty of time they might as well see what new snow removal bids looked like.

In the pic: Angry residents protesting new schoolbus routes in their Pingree Grove subdivision even brought a big map of alternate routes they thought would work better.

Huntley Tea Party Meets Candidates But Not Many

The Huntley Tea Party met at the Huntley Park District Rec Center Monday to hear from candidates for office in the state but they didn't hear from very many of them.  Only four of ten showed up and one was late, as usual.

The Huntley Tea Party might better be called the Sun City Tea Party.  Most of the 120 people who showed up appeared to belong to the geriatric cohort and organizers admitted they all lived in Sun City.

State Sen. (R-48) Randy Hultgren pitched his candidacy for the District 14 U.S. House seat now held by Bill Foster.  He said things have reached a point that, "People no longer ask what's the government going to do for me, they're asking what's the government going to do to me?"

State Sen. (R-25) Chris Lauzen said Illinois finances are a wreck and the State's pension systems are even worse.  "There is no rational process where revenue can go down and spending can go up," he said.

Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp once again had trouble estimating travel time to Huntley but was only a few minutes late this time.  He admitted he was a Democrat but said he was a conservative one.  "Please don't stereotype me," he said.  Gaulrapp said he was all for balanced budgets but "there has to be a safety net."

The hit of the meet was Robert Zadek, Independent write-in candidate for U.S. Senate.  Zadek claimed he'd been chief accountant at multi-million dollar firms like Rocketdyne which may have gone over big since most of the audience was old enough to remember the company, a major space-player in the 70's.

Zadek punched all the right buttons.  Stop Obamacare.  (Applause.)  Stop illegal immigration.  (Applause.)  Stop abortions. (Cheers.)  Balance the budget.  (Applause.)  Get rid of the IRS.  (That one drew big cheers.)

In the pic:  Chris Lauzen, Bob Zadek, Randy Hultgren and a space later occupied by George Gaulrapp as Huntley Tea Party moderator Greg DiLaura introduced them.

New MCC President Meets Movers and Shakers

McHenry County College's new President Vicky Smith mingled at an open house at the college Monday, meeting and greeting multitudes of educators and stakeholders with whom she'll be working to try to bring some stability.  The college has been without a permanent head for more than a year since the apparent ouster of former President Walt Packard.

Smith told FEN she'd promised the MCC Board she'd stay on board for "five to seven years." 

"I still have a lot to contribute to the profession," said Smith explaining why she's taking over a new school at a stage of life when most of her compatriots are looking forward to retirement.  "Working with students is what keeps you young," she said. "Who wouldn't want to do that?"

Smith will hold another meeting at the college Wednesday to outline five areas she thinks will be important to get the school back on track again.

In the pic:  Just-hired MCC President Vicky Smith explains some new ideas to, among others, Board Member Carole Larson, left.

Quinn Takes Hits On Top Staffer's Exit

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
State Sen. Bill Brady, the Republican candidate for governor, took a shot MOnday at Gov. Pat Quinn over the exit of one of his top staff members. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Quinn’s chief of staff, Jerry Stermer, resigned after the newspaper posed questions about Stermer sending campaign-related emails from his government email account.

It is illegal for public employees in Illinois to handle political tasks on the job or use state resources for campaigning.

Stermer, the former president of the advocacy group Voices for Illinois Children, said in a written statement: “Last year, I inadvertently used my state email account to send three emails that the Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) later found to be prohibited under the state's Ethics Act."

According to the Sun-Times, the governor removed Inspector General James Wright August 13, the same day he was briefed on a report from Wright recommending that Attorney General Lisa Madigan file a complaint against Stermer.

Brady responded with a statement today. "Pat Quinn put his political interests before citizens yet again and fired the Inspector General himself.

But the Quinn administration claims the report and the replacement of Wright were not linked. “Ricardo Meza was appointed by Governor Quinn to head the Office of the Executive Inspector General on August 15, 2010 after a lengthy search process, which began in the Summer of 2009. The replacement was not in response to this or any other specific OEIG report, and these events are in no way connected,” a statement from the governor’s office said.

Kent Redfield,an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Springfield said Stermer's departure was “just one more thing that the governor doesn’t need at this point. At some point, people are going to ask whether this is a rats-deserting-the-sinking-ship sort of thing.”

Quinn's expected to announce Stermer's replacement today.

You can read Jamey's full report here: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/quinn-takes-hits-on-exit-of-top-staff.html

In the pic:  Stermer and Quinn earlier this year.

Civil Unions On Illinois Horizon?

By Mary Massingale Illinois, Statehouse News
Civil unions for same-sex partners in Illinois may be on the agenda for the November legislative veto session. A leading gay-rights activist a Senate bill has enough votes among lawmakers now to pass both Democratic-controlled chambers.

“Whenever the legislature is back in session, we can do it,” said Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

But the sponsor of the legislation said Garcia may be too optimistic. “I would like to do this as soon as possible,” said Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago. “But every member of the General Assembly has two priorities on their mind right now: jobs and the economy, and the terrible state the budget is in.”

Harris is one of two openly homosexual members of the legislature.

The prospect of a vote comes on the heels of a federal ruling earlier this month declaring California’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and calling for ceremonies to resume last week. But a panel of appellate judges kept the ban in place pending a December hearing.

“We’re nowhere near equal marriage rights, but a civil union bill would pass,” Garcia said. “This issue is not a big deal.”

Not so fast, say some conservative activists. “It’s counterfeit marriage by another name,” said David Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute. “It’s a stepping stone to full same-sex marriage.”

If the bill comes up for consideration, it would mark the first major attempt at expanding gay rights in Illinois since lawmakers banned certain types of discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2005.


You can read Mary's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/3993/civil-unions-on-the-horizon-in-illinois-2/

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 23
0100 HRS 500 BLOCK OF DELAWARE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY Ex-boyfriend vs. ex-girlfriend. No Priors. FAIL TO FILE.
0744 HRS 600 BLOCK OF GRACE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 59 years of age, sweating and left leg numbness. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0854 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF BRISBANE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 64 years of age, malfunctioning medical equipment. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0944 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & REED RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Both drivers had wrist injuries. No transport.
HRS 400 BLOCK OF WINSLOW WAY. SUICIDE ATTEMPT. Male, 48 years of age, attempted suicide. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1415 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1338 HRS 100 BLOCK OF LAKE DR. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted McHenry County Sheriff’s Department with serving an order of protection.
1607 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 41 years of age, having chest pains & difficulty breathing.Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1810 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 80 years of age, fell and could not get up. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2118 HRS 471 N. RANDALL RD., (PAPA SAVERIO’S PIZZA). DOMESTIC Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
Algonquin
August 20
19:34pm Parvinmehnr, Omeed S., DOB:04/30/90, of 919 Cortney Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with Violating a Median, Improper Lane Usage, Driving While License Suspended and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle.  He was taken into custody at 621 Eastgate.  He was released after posting $100 with a court date of 9/22/10 in McHenry County.
91:35pm Ndagire, Sarah, DOB:03/30/86 of 46 Kelsey Court, Algonquin, was charged with Driving While License Suspended and Improper Registration.  She was taken into custody at 1800 S. Randall Road.  She was released after being issued a personal recognizance bond with a court date of 09/22/10 in Mchenry County.
August 21
13:15pm A thirteen year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody at Harnish Drive and Eagle Ridge Lane.  He was referred to the Tri Area Court for Teens and then released into the custody of his father.
August 22
04:58am  Manzella, Joseph, DOB: 08/13/86, of 1 West Acorn, Lake in the Hills, was charged with two counts of Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear and Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Broadsmore Drive.  He was released after posting $800 with a court date of 09/01/10 in McHenry County
17:21pm Jara, Fabian, DOB: 09/21/87, of 166 Golfview Apt. F, Carpentersville, was charged with Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Fraudulent Identification.  He was taken into custody at 1591 S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $500 with a court date of 09/15/10 in Kane County.
20:26pm Carrillo-Gonzalez, Juan Carlos, DOB: 05/11/86, of 1835 Evergreen, Hanover Park, was charged with No Valid Driver's License and Disregard Traffic Control Light.  He was taken into Custody at Algonquin Road and Sandbloom Road.  He was released after posting $100 with a court date of 10/13/10 in McHenry County.
20:47pm Zonyk, Tiffany L., DOB: 05/19/83, of 2070 Hassell Road, Hoffman Estates, was charged with Driving While License Suspended and Wanted on a Warrant out of Lake County for Contempt of Court.  She was taken into custody at Stonegate Road and Dawson Lane.  She was released after posting $1,100 with a court date of 09/29/10 in McHenry County.
23:41pm Valiho, Ronald M., DOB: 06/22/74, of 3524 Antoine, St. Charles, was charged with DUI, DUI Over and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Longmeadow Parkway.  He was released after posting his Illinois Driver's License and $100 with a court date of 09/29/10 in McHenry County.

D158 Test Scores Stalled

Kids will flock back to District 158 Schools Wednesday but while educators try to sort out first-day student snafus some will be trying to figure out how to lift the District's latest ACT scores.  The latest round just released remained stuck about the same place as last year's.

"Everybody (in Illinois) kind of hit a plateau," said D158 Curriculum Director Mary Olsen.
"Our trend has gone up for the last five years," she said.  "We can sustain it," said Olsen who added the question now is to find ways to keep improving.

ACT is an achievement test for 11th graders to measure how ready they are for college.  Illinois law requires it for all students whether they plan on college or not.

Huntley High School's Composite Score actually fell a smidgen in tests this Spring.  The 2010 score was 22.3 while last years was 22.4. English and Reading scores also fell but the overall result was buoyed by an increase in math achievement.

"We've had a double challenge," said Olsen.  "We've had to work to increase scores and also deal with increased enrollment.  The number of students taking the ACT test has jumped from 258 to 409 in the past five years and Olsen said she expected Huntley High's student load to keep going up.  Even though the number of families in the district isn't expanding much anymore, "Most of them moved in when their kids were still very young," she said.

Huntley High and State ACT Scores

               Composite    English    Math    Reading    Science
2010           22.3         22.4       22.0     21.9      22.3
2009           22.4         22.8       21.8     22.2      22.3
IL Avg.'10     21.0         21.3       21.0     20.5      21.0

In the pic:  Illinois Average ACT Scores for high school juniors were stagnant this year but so were scores nationwide. Illinois is the red line.

LITH Restaurant Picked For Larsen Business Award

Lake in the Hills’ Business Relations Committee has chosen  La Trattoria Italian Restaurant, Ackman Road, as the next Gordon Larsen Business Achievement Award winner. The restaurant's owners, Lake in the Hills residents, relocated it to the village from another suburb eary last year.

The Committee unanimously voted for La Trattoria feeling the restaurant captured the  the message the Committee has been promoting over the past year–- Shop Lake in the Hills.  Committee Member Laura Jozwiak said in the nomination, “The benefit is not only to their growing and loyal customers that are hooked on their freshly made Italian food, but our community also benefits by the additional sales tax and employment opportunities.”

La Trattoria will be featured at the Summer Sunset Festival and will be presented the Larsen award Sept. 9.

Gordon Larsen establishmed Larsen Industrial Park, donated Dome Hill, was a charter member of the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Rotary Club and served on the Economic Development Commission. LITH's Business Achievement Award was established in his name six years ago.

Algonquin Calls For Business Nominations

The Village of Algonquin is accepting nominations for its business awards program though September. The Business Awards Program highlights the accomplishments businesses and commercial property owners have made to improve the quality of life in the Village of Algonquin through physical improvements to their property or contributions to the community.

Algonquin has three business award categories.  There's the Rehabilitation/Improvement Award for improvements made to an existing structures. It's for improvements which enhance the exterior of the building consistent with the zoning district in which it is located, for instance the Old Town District, the Algonquin Road Corridor or the Randall Road Corridor.

Another is the Community Service Award presented to a business that makes significant contributions to the community via volunteer services or monetary contributions.

Finally, there's the Community Economic Impact Award. That one goes to a business that positively impacts the community with jobs or other economic stimuli.

Nominations including the business, address, contact person, person making the nomination, and the reason for the nomination shoud go to katieparkhurst@algonquin.org.

Introductory Welding Offered At MCC

One complaint among manufacturers these days is that when they actually have jobs to offer applicants don't have the skills to fill them. McHenry County College’s Continuing Education Department addresses that. For example, the department will offer Welding Boot Camp in September.

The introductory welding program is a 40-hour course to provide a basic understanding of and hands-on experience in the welding profession.  Training includes instruction in  welding technology and terminology, blueprint reading, basic math used in the welding trade, basic welding skills and plant safety.

All classes are held at the Woodstock Center at 912 Trakk Lane in Woodstock.

Three separate introductory level courses are available. They are 6 to 9:20 pm Mondays and Wednesdays, Sept. 13 through Oct. 20 ; 6 to 9:20 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 14 through Oct. 21,  and 8 am to 1 pm Saturdays, Sept. 11 through Oct. 30.

Cost is $1,000 per course. To register, call the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588.  For more information, call Dori Smith at (815) 455-8559 or Tracy Berry at (815) 455-8758.

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 22
0311 HRS RANDALL RD. & ANGELA LN. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GRANT, KAMIL V., M/W 36 YEARS OF AGE, 1311 B S.  PLYMOUTH CT., CHICAGO. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater than .16, Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
0318 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. HARROLD, COLLEEN M., F/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 592 MONTEGO DR., ELK GROVE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Failure to Signal When Required. RELEASED ON BOND.
1216 HRS CUNAT CT. & OAK ST. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SMITH, KATHLEEN ANNE, F/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 145 LILL AVE.,  CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0405 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 21 years of age, intoxicated, lost consciousness.  Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
0924 HRS 100 BLOCK OF LAKE DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. One prior.
0959 HRS 400 BLOCK OF PRIDES RUN. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. Three priors.
1440 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1441 HRS 700 BLOCK OF PARC CT. HIT & RUN. Vehicle was hit by an unknown vehicle that left between 0500hrs & 1430hrs.
1823 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 1 year old having a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2142 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Male, 43 years of age attempt suicide. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

McHenry County Sheriff's Race Has Weird Week

The campaign for McHenry County Sheriff took a turn toward the Twilight Zone this week with the revelation that the Sheriff's campaign bought a bunch of gift wine from a Galena winery.  The week also saw the release of an account of a challenger's campaign fundraiser that might have been written by Edward ("It was a dark and stormy night") Bulwer-Lytton.

Former deputy Zane Seipler announced he'd uncovered records that Sheriff Keith Nygren's campaign had bought about $1,000 worth of Galena wine. The wine (according to one online review, a good accompaniment to cheese curds) bore a private label featuring the Sheriff's name and his campaign star. Or maybe the plonk featured Nygren's name and  his official star.  

Seipler maintains Nygren uses both seven-pointed and five-pointed stars pretty much interchangeably and one of them must be the official one sometimes being misused.   It's just another example, according to  Seipler,  of  Nygren's cavalier disregard for the difference between Sheriffing and campaigning to stay Sheriff.

Seipler's Circuit Court request for a Special Prosecutor to look into Nygren's alleged campaign abuses was postponed again this week so the ex-Sheriff's candidate could tweak up his complaint.

Meanwhile the camp of Democratic Sheriff's challenger Mike Mahon sent out a press release describing what sounded like a meeting of the French Resistance, McHenry County Chapter. "Thunder and lightning in the background didn’t dampen the attendees’ spirits," it said, recounting a semi-clandestine Mahon fundraiser featuring "community leaders and Chief of Police (sic) from several communities in McHenry County."

Despite a claim that 50 people gathered, none was named except for a Lakewood housewife. She, however was quoted bravely vowing, "I will be voting for a Democrat for the first time in my life."

In the pic: Zut alors! Hard to tell which was more surprising--that someone makes wine in Galena or that the Sheriff's campaign bought about eight cases of it.

Lions Beanbag Tourney Draws Full Roster

The Algonquin Lions aspirationally First Annual Bean Bag Tournament at Buffalo Wild Wings Saturday was a sellout event even though a visit from the national Lions' hearing screening unit had to be canceled.

All 32 slots were filled in the service groups' first-ever double elimination tourney.  The national Lions' hearing bus, however, was reported stuck in Indianapolis with a blown tranny.

The event supporting local Lions' scholarships and the ALITH Food Pantry was sponsored by host Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy's Charhouse, ITS Communications, A.N.D. Staffing, Snowpushers, Inc., Rosen Hyundai, Algonquin State Bank, Teson Automotive, The Dental Shoppe and Algonquin Trust and Savings.

Hundreds Attend Algonquin Township Truck Event

Touch A Truck events are becoming fairly commonplace but Saturday's edition at the Algonquin Township complex on Route 14 is the only one FEN can recall recently featuring a Dixieland b
and.

A crowd of several hundred descended for a hands-on examination of an awful lot of heavy-duty rolling stock while the  Sinful Saints band played well-remembered classics.  FEN's resident music critic, Billy, (12 next month), was a little blase about the trucks but said, "I really liked that New Orleans jazz, Dad."

World Microcar Meet Amazes/Amuses McHenry County

Crystal Lake was the location of the Micro/Mini Car World Meet Saturday featuring, among other things, more Nash Metroplitans than were probably sold in McHenry County during the car's nine-year production run in the 1950's.

There were likewise an unlikely number of Citroen deux chevaux's (Kurt's car in "American Graffiti"), not to mention some Isetta's (the "bubblecar" with one door--in the front),  Messerschmitt's (a two-seater, one behind the other) and Velorex's (essentially a motorycle with a vinyl body).  There was some weird stuff, too.

Aside from a glimpse at a rivulet off the automotive mainstream what Saturday's show demonstrated is how easy it is to break an addiction to imported oil.  Blow 90 percent of your industrial base to flinders in a war and then slap a 400 percent tax on gasoline and you'll get cars that return amazing mileage, albeit with a few quirks.

In the pic:  Tim Carlson was down from Sauk Rapids, MN, with his 1959 Gogomobil. (Really; they made them in Dingolfing.)  Half the weight of a Harley Dresser motorcycle with an engine one third the size.

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 21
0952 HRS 8709 PYOTT RD., (GREAT LAKES ELECTRICAL). DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. ROBINSON, MARK G., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE,
6308 MCCUE RD., UNION. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1625 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. HUEBNER, JEFFREY M., M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 754 DARLINGTON LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Violation of Motor Cycle Permit, Violation of Driver’s License Classification, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0241 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. Fifty-Four Priors.
0337 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WHITMORE WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 41 years of age, having a hard time breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0643 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF FAIRFAX LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 71 years of age, having hard time breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0746 HRS MARBLE CT. & MASON LN. FOUND ARTICLE. Delayed. A cell phone was found in the roadway last night. Returned to owner.
1028 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 9 years of age, injuries from a bike fall. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1236 HRS TENNEYSON CT. & ANNANDALE DR. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti found on the sidewalk.
1337 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD., (WALGREENS). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 2 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1430 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1523 HRS 108 N. RANDALL RD., (O’REILLY AUTO PARTS). THEFT. An iPod was stolen from the business. Entered into LEADS. Item located, removed from LEADS.
1747 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK FOOTBALL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 13 years of age, lost consciousness. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2314 HRS 5600 BLOCK OF WILDSPRING DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.