MCC Trustee Resigns So Replacement Can Be On Ballot

Newly-elected District Two County Board Member Donna Kurtz announced Friday she'd sent a letter of resignation from the McHenry County College Board so there'd be time for candidates for the rest of her term to get on the April ballot.

Kurtz will be seated on the McHenry County Board next month but still had two years left to go on the MCC Board.  Generally Illinois law prohibits one person from holding two offices in the same county.

The timing is tricky.  The remaining MCC trustees are supposed to appoint a replacement for Kurtz but since she resigned more than four months before the April 5 Consolidated Election, the replacement will only be temporary with her permanent replacement chosen in the election.  The period for petitioning to get on that ballot began two weeks ago, though, and the filing deadline is Dec. 20.

Kurtz said if she'd waited to be seated on the County Board her appointed replacement would have served all the rest of her term and she thought voters ought to make the choice instead.  "It's huge to me because that's the democratic process," she said.  "That allows the community to have the say on who is going to be on the MCC College Board."

Kurtz's resignation was not unexpected and Board President Mary Miller said Friday they'd talked about what to do if Kurtz won a County Board seat.  Miller said she expected the MCC Board to pick a temporary trustee the same way it chose Bob Dewitt as a permanent replacement for the rest of Scott Summers' term when he resigned last year.  That involved candidates submitting resumes and interviewing with the Board.

Kurtz's resignation means almost half the seats on MCC's bumpy Board will be in play in April.  DeWitt's term as Summers' replacment will end next year and so will George Lowe's full term. Summers quit as Board Chairman and eventually abandoned his seat. Later Lowe was ousted as Board Chairman but he didn't quit his Trustee's spot.

Candidate packets for the April Consolidated election are available at the MCC President's office.  For more information, call 815-455-8726.

In the pic:  Kurtz pedaling her County Board candidacy at the Summer Sunset Parade.

Possible Prison For Conviction In Birthday Party Beating

Sentencing is set for Dec. 15 in the case of a 39 year-old former Elmwood Park resident convicted Thursday of destroying a man's eye during a fight at a Huntley child's birthday party two years ago.

Boguslaw "Bob" Czapla was found guilty of aggravated battery and mob action after a four-day trial. The trial testimony revealed that during an argument towards the end of the party Czapla kicked his victim in the face causing the loss of his right eye.

Czapla faces either probation or two to five years in prison for the more serious charge of aggravated battery.

Huntley Organizing For Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Huntley community leaders are trying to round up volunteers to help with the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign for the holiday season.

They're organizing a "Take A Day" program to find people to work two- to four-hour shifts with a Salvation Army kettle and bell, to remind passersby to donate to the less fortunate. The Red Kettle Campaign starts Friday Nov. 19 and runs through Christmas Eve. Shifts can run any hours of the day, depending on the active times of the kettle location. The Kettle's aren't rung on Sundays or on Thanksgiving, though.

Organizers also looking for places to ring the bells--health clubs, grocery stores, Downtown Huntley--somewhere with lots of foot traffic.  Wal-Mart and Walgreens are already on the list with shifts scheduled from 9 am to 8 pm.

All Kettle campaign monies collected in Huntley will be used to help McHenry County residents. The Army's local headquarters is in Crystal Lake but it has satellite locations and programs all around McHenry County.

Individual and group volunteers or businesses who'd like to help can contact Pam Fender at
847-302-6772/

Lunch With A (LITH) Cop Set Friday, Friday Next

Friday and next Friday the Lake in the Hills PD will again be hosting their Lunch with a Cop program at the Department’s Safety Educational Center, 1109 Crystal Lake Rd.

Both editions run from 11am to 1 pm and include a pizza lunch, a puppet show and safety tips. The lunch, pizza and pop, will be served to the children (and parents) by members of the Lake in the Hills Police Department who will then join them.  The point of the program is to help young children realize that the police are their friends and someone that they should come to for help.

Lunch with a Cop spaces fill quickly, though, according to Sgt. Teri Volmer.  To make reservations or for more information call LITH PD at 847-658-5676.

In the pic:  Pizza and running the siren.  Are cops great or what?

Brady Concedes Governor’s Race

By Mary Massingale and Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady Friday conceded the race to Gov. Pat Quinn, a day after he pledged to wait for a total vote count and after the media declared Quinn the victor after scrutinizing the potential of absentee and other ballots.

The race was too close to call on election night, but Quinn’s lead had mounted to about 19,400 votes Thursday. Public opinion polls and political observers had predicted a Brady victory going into Election Day, and the loss left Brady wondering what went wrong.

“We’ll leave it to the pundits to decide what happened,” he said. “We remained loyal and consistent to our message, and we’ll continue to do that. So, I really don’t have an answer for you.”

Quinn later held a press conference to formally accept Brady’s concession, although he had already claimed victory Thursday.

Brady has run as a GOP candidate for governor before but never made it out of the primary. However, the long, bitter campaign for the state’s top office apparently hasn’t dampened his desire for the governorship – although his wife Nancy seemed to disagree.

“Life’s too short to rule anything out,” Brady said at the same time Nancy said, “We’re not going to answer that question right now.”

You can read the full report on this story at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4486/brady-concedes-governors-race-quinn-officially-claims-victory/

McHenry County Indictments

A McHenry County Grand Jury returned indictments this week against the following individuals:
The charges against these defendants are merely allegations against them.  The defendants are presumed innocent of any crime until proven guilty in court.

JOHN J. PAUL, DOB:  06/29/64,12475 COPPER LANE, HUNTLEY. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED.--LITH PD

PAUL S. GRZYB, DOB:  06/16/71, 2208 MILLS POND ROAD, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS, CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO MOTOR VEHICLE, CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO REAL PROPERTY.--McHenry PD
  
PAUL S. GRZYB.    THEFT(OVER $300.)(4CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
FRANCISCO J. ESCOBAR, DOB:  02/02/69, 346 DEAN STREET  #2S, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FICTITIOUS DRIVERS LICENSE, NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE.--Woodstock PD
  
SPENCER C. GORDON, DOB:  08/01/90, 927 WHEELER STREET, WOODSTOCK. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT, CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE.--Woodstock PD
  
RYAN W. LUTTRELL, DOB:  02/28/76, 10302 ARABIAN TRAIL, WOODSTOCK. STALKING.--Woodstock PD
  
JASMINE R. BATES, DOB:  02/26/92, 1413 MONROE STREET, LAKE IN THE HILLS. AGGRAVATED FLEEING AND ELUDING A PEACE OFFICER, AGGRAVATED BATTERY.--Crystal Lake PD
  
ELIAS SOSA-RUMILA, DOB:  07/20/70, 144 W. WOODSTOCK STREET, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE(2CTS).--Crystal Lake PD

RICHARD S. MOORE, DOB:  05/05/83, 210 BROADWAY STREET, MCHENRY. VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, VIOLATION OF BAIL BOND.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

MARK D. FERRARA, DOB:  09/07/72, 806 STEWART AVENUE, WOODSTOCK. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO RESIDENCE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
ANTONIO MACILLAS SOTO, AKA ROGELIO CARDENAS-AGUIRRE, DOB:  01/24/54, 202 MARENGO ROAD, HARVARD. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.--Harvard PD
  
JEREMY B. BROWN, DOB:  05/26/92, 9518 REESE ROAD, HARVARD. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Harvard PD
  
JACOB A. LIZZIO, DOB:  03/03/86, 145 LINCOLN PARKWAY, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Crystal Lake PD
  
RALPH J. NARDI, DOB:  09/26/93,    3209 REMINGTON DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
MARILYN M. PICCOLO, DOB:  09/20/53, 1215 LAKE AVENUE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
DAVID P. KITTO, DOB:  04/06/71,    4315 SHAMROCK LANE  APT 1A, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--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
November 05
0145 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). FOUND ARTICLE. Red and gray 18-speed mountain bicycle.
0657 HRS ANDERSON DR. & WILLOW ST. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. light pole. Property damage only.
0902 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF CHERRY ST. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1118 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH DR. DOMESTIC. Roommate vs. roommate. Verbal only. No priors.
1155 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WHITMORE WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 40 years of age, swollen tongue. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1448 HRS 10 BLOCK OF MARGATE CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 68 years of age, found unconscious. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1547 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 38 years of age, fell in the parking lot. No transport.
2248 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

District 158 Floats Plan To Prevent Tax Bill Increase

The District 158 Board of Education Thursday approved exploring a plan to keep school property taxes from skyrocketing.  If the numbers work, the District will, in essence, issue $6 million in new bonds to help pay the interest on the bonds it's already issued. Naturally, things are more complicated than that.

D158 faces a problem looming for some other school districts and, perhaps, for some municipalities as well.  It did a lot of building and bonding when times were good on the assumption they'd stay that way.  In the District's case it put a lot of new schools online in 2005, just before housing expansion slowed in 2006 and collapsed in 2007.

Payment on all those bonds was structured to start low to match the existing taxable real estate base and then rise as new construction added to it.  Only now there's a mismatch since there hasn't been much of that.  Worse, the value of the existing base is expected to shrink for the 2010 tax year since the price of housing has plummeted.  The short version: there's more to pay and less to pay it with.

"No one saw the trainwreck coming," said Member Mike Skala.

Eric Anderson, Managing Director at underwriter BMO Capital Markets, estimated that even though taxpayers' individual assessments will go down for the 2010 tax year their bills would go up anywhere from 3.6 to 4.1 percent unless something's done.

The plan is to issue new bonds to be paid off later and (skipping some intermediate steps here) use the new money to make up the shortfall looming on the current bond payments.

Borrowing to pay a loan isn't usually a good thing but Members figured a tax increase would be worse. "It's going to cost more but cost more over time when there are more taxpayers to share the burden," Member Tony Quagliano summed up.

"You ask somebody what their tax rate is," said Anderson, " and they have no idea.  You ask them what their tax bill was and they know it to the dollar."

Anderson estimated the right-now-cost for the new bonds would be in the $50,000 to $60,000 range.

The Board will explore the plan further at its full session next Thursday.

In the pic:  Square Barn Road Campus was part of the frenzy of construction paid for by D158 bonds. Thanks to the recession, now there aren't enough new residents to help pay them off.

Speed Limit Drops 5 MPH On Northernmost Randall

McHenry County Division of Transportation officials weren't sure if workers would have new speed limit signs up Thursday on Randall Road between Miller Road and McHenry Avenue.  Certainly they'd be up by this morning, they said after the McHenry County Board voted to drop the limit on the stretch to 50 mph.

Motorists probably won't be aware of the change for a while so maybe LITH and Crystal Lake PD's will cut them a little slack?  "That's not up to us," said Assistant County Engineer Jeff Young.

In the pic:  Due for replacement were the speed limit signs on North Randall Thursday.

County Board Passes $18.5 Million Sportsplex Buck

The McHenry County Board Thursday voted to hand a regional development agency its $18.5 million stimulus bond authority for the proposed giant sportsplex on Route 47 between Huntley and Woodstock.  The measure was a complicated move in the complex financial plan for the controversial facility and the Board's 15 to 7 vote wasn't a ringing endorsement.

"We're not approving the project," said District Five Member Virginia Peschke, one of several members who appeared to want to wash their hands of the contentious sportsplex.  "This is a Village of Lakewood project."

Maybe too much of a Lakewood Project, said District Five Member Paula Yensen.  "Both Mr. (Blake) Hobson's being a (Lakewood) Trustee and being on the board of (the new bond-issuing agency) are rather troublesome."

McHenry County Sportsplex 11 months ago asked the County Board for $18.5 million in federal stimulus bonds, bonds that would bear the County's name but not commit it to paying them off if the project failed.  Now the company says that's not enough money, wants more bond money from the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority, and asked for the stimulus bonds to be issued by UIRVDA, too, since paperwork costs would be cheaper that way.

"It's not as if we want to be in the development bond business," said District Five Member Tina Hill.  "That's why UIRVDA was created.  That's why we should give it some someone who knows what to do with it."

District Six Member Mary McCann demurred. "This project's problems are not doing their homework well.  Another $16 million is not a minor change."

Fellow District Six Member Ersel Schuster agreed. "If we don't do our due diligence it will come back to haunt us," she warned. "Let it die."

That last referred to a rapidly-approaching and increasingly doubtful end of year deadline to issue the stimulus bonds.  The UIRVDA Board isn't scheduled to meet to consider the Sportsplex's new application until next Tuesday.

Holiday Gift, Crafts For Sale Sat. At Faith Community

Local craftspeople and vendors will offer "one-stop-shopping" at Huntley's Faith Community Church annual  Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Available at the event will be jewelry, purses, baskets, candles,? makeup and home decor items. In addition, there'll be baked goods for sale and even a masseuse.

A portion of the proceeds from the Holiday Gift & Craft Bazaar will benefit Faith Community's ministries, including The Faith Community Food Pantry, Coats for Kids and Feed My Lambs an interfaith program that helps provide meals for the area's homeless.

Brady Not Conceding Yet In Governor’s Race

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
After a close election that leaves him 20,000 votes behind,  Bill Brady still will not admit defeat in the race for Illinois governor. The GOP gubernatorial hopeful said Thursday he wants to count all of the votes, and still wants to wait up to 30 days for local and state election authorities to certify that vote.

This morning, however, Brady's people announced an important press conference this afternoon. No one knows if Brady plans to throw in the towel, vow to dig in deeper or talk about something else entirely. That last seems unlikely, however.

"We're still collecting data," said Brady Thursday. "We're still waiting for results to come in.  There are a number of votes that yet have to be counted, military, absentee, and others."

But there is a growing sense that even after all of the ballots are counted, Brady will continue to  trail Gov. Pat Quinn.  Quinn said in Chicago that he doesn't need a formal concession to celebrate his victory.

"I think the people of Illinois know who won the election," said Quinn.

The final vote count could take a month – 20 days for local election offices to certify their ballots and another 10 for the Illinois State Board but on Thursday he'd only say that he doesn't expect to change that timeline.

"Some of this has more to do with how Brady will be remembered that it does with winning the election," said Ron Michaelson, the former director of the Illinois State Board of Elections and a professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4481/brady-not-conceding-yet-in-governors-race/

Senators Deadlocked On Pension Borrowing

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
A controversial $4.1 billion pension borrowing proposal is still on hold even after the Illinois Senate returned to Springfield Thursday. A Senate committee heard discussion on the borrowing proposal, but Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, withdrew the proposal before a committee vote.

The current proposal would allow state government to sell up to $4.1 billion in bonds that would have to be paid off with interest in eight years. The state would likely borrow less money as a result of changes to pension benefits for new state employees that Gov. Pat Quinn inked earlier this year.

In May, the Illinois House passed the proposal by just one vote. Since then, Senate President John Cullerton has repeatedly said his chamber lacks the votes to pass the proposal, despite the extraordinary majority Democrats currently have in the Illinois Senate.

State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said Illinois Senate Democrats, most of whom support pension borrowing, are ignoring their own campaign messages from this week’s election.
“They obviously haven’t learned from even their own campaigns, in which they kept campaigning on fiscal responsibility, and the very first measure after the election is to do record amounts of borrowing  and no possible means to pay that money back,” he said.

State government has struggled in years past to meet its scheduled yearly payment to the state’s five public employee pension systems. The borrowed money would allow state government to make this year’s contribution, but would become “hard debt” that state government would owe to lenders with interest.

State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, a supporter of the borrowing plan, said borrowing would help avoid dipping into funds that pay schools and state vendors. “Our options are not like they’re ‘good’ and ‘bad.’ It’s ‘bad’ and ‘worse.’ And so what we’re trying to do is free up some money that we can pay…the businesses and entities that are doing business with the state,” he said.

You can read Kevin's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4483/senators-deadlocked-on-pension-borrowing/

Obituaries

Susan M. Brosnan, 63 of Sun City, Huntley, formerly of Glenview, died Saturday morning,  in Elgin following a sudden illness. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am Saturday, Dec. 4, at St. Mary Catholic Church with visitation after 9:30 am at the church. Burial will be in St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles. 

Brosnan was born May 28, 1947, in Chicago, the daughter of Patrick J. and Eleanor L. (Zujewski) Brosnan.  She worked for the Social Security Administration for 39 years.
She survived by her son, Scott Patrick Brosnan of Wheeling; her sister, Judith J. Brosnan of Huntley and her brothers,  Daniel (Eileen) Brosnan of Glen Ellen and Daryl S. (Mary Jo) Brosnan of St. Petersburg, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials in her name may be made to a local animal shelter.

Leonard J. Borkowski, 81, of Huntley, formerly of Niles, died, Wednesday in Elgin. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Monday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley, with visitation one hour before the service.  Visitation will also be Sunday from 3 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home,Huntley.  Burial will be in Maryhill Cemetery, Niles, IL.

Borkowski was born October 27, 1929, in Chicago.  He married Haline Ostojski on January 11, 1953.  He is survived by his wife, Haline “Holly” Borkowski of Huntley;  his children, Susan (Robert) Lueger of Shorewood, WI, Jeffrey (Deborah) Borkowski of Westford, MA, Steven (Kay) Borkowski of Niles, Beth Borkowski and Juan Carlos Gallego of Laguna Beach, CA, and by his grandchildren, Michael and Emma Lueger, Anne, Daniel and Susan Borkowski and Hana and Maya Gallego.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church.

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
November 04
0248 HRS 6900 RAKOW RD., (RAKOW CURVES). DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. RANDALL-SWAN, ADAM J., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 715 MILL ST APT 2B, MCHENRY. Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND
1727 HRS 10 BLOCK OF TWELVE LAKES CT. WANTED ON WARRANT. ESBROOK, RANDALL W., M/W 60 YEARS OF AGE, 16 TWELVE LAKES CT, LAKE IN THE HILLS. Charge: Wanted on In-State Warrant, McHenry County, Contempt of Court. $100 Full Cash. RELEASED ON BOND.
1848 HRS 300 BLOCK OF ANNANADALE DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. NAGAMINE, MICHAEL J., M/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 416 CLAY ST., WOODSTOCK.
CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear for Traffic Offense, bond set at $5,000/10% apply. RELEASED ON BOND.
0934 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. FOLLOW-UP ARREST: HARRASMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. JUVENILE, M/W 12 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. Charge: Harassment through Electronic Communications. RELEASED TO PARENT.
0701 HRS SCOTTY AVE. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. deer. Property damage only.
0719 HRS 8425 PYOTT RD., (APPROVED COMFORT). THEFT A tailgate and a spare wheel were taken.
0834 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1101 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF WILLOW VIEW DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 37 years of age, back pain. Transported to Woodstock Memorial
1108 HRS 250 RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1136 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. son. Verbal only. No priors.
1354 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF GENEVA LN. IDENTITY THEFT. Possible fraudulent activity on subject’s closed account.
1522 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
November 03
2056 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. LEON, ALFREDO, M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 181 POLARIS DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS.
CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant out of McHenry County for traffic Offenses, bond set at $4,000/10% apply. RELEASED ON BOND.
2106 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BALDERAS, PONCE OSCAR, M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 877 OAK ST WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended and Improper Left Hand Turn. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
2133 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. ORTIZ-MENDEZ, JOHNY, M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE,  633 JEFFERSON AVE., ELGIN. CHARGES: No valid Drivers License. Immigration Custom Enforcement placed a hold on subject. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0002 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF ASH ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 77 year of age, injury to her head. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
0934 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. HARASSMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. Complainant’s son receiving harassing text messages.
1029 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 76 years of age, not feeling well. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1045 HRS 600 HARVEST GATE, (VILLAGE HALL). FOUND ARTICLE. Chase Debit Card.
1528 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. CONTACT WITH REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER. Contact with a Registered Sex Offender on a traffic stop.
1727 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted other agency with citizen assist.
1740 HRS 900 BLOCK OF BRITTANY BEND. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 42 years of age having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial.
1903 HRS 200 BLOCK OF BRIDALWOOD CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 41 years of age possibly having a heart attack. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2140 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 89 years of age with shortness of breath. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2328 HRS 5000 BLOCK OF HIGHWOOD LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. Two priors. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
November 2
01:15am Dziadkowiec, Mateusz, DOB: 05/08/91, of 1411 Dawson Lane, Algonquin; Sieminski, Peter J., DOB: 06/11/92, of 5302 Hayes Road, Algonquin; Eiermann, Joseph R., DOB: 12/24/91, of 389 Hiawatha Trail, Lake in the Hills and a 17 year-old male from Lake in the Hills were all charged with Criminal Damage to Property.  They were all taken into custody at Stonegate Road and White Oak Drive.  They were all released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 12/29/10 in Algonquin.
17:16pm Rogers, Monty D., DOB: 08/14/64, of 9242 S. Merrill Ave., Chicago, was charged with DWLS and Improper Display of Plates.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Harrison Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/08/10 in Algonquin.
20:08pm Two 17 year-old females from Algonquin were charged with Retail Theft.  They were taken into custody at Meijer's, 400 S. Randall Road.  They were released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 12/29/10 in Algonquin.
November 4
1848pm a 15 year-old and a 17 year-old female, both from St. Charles, were charged with Retail Theft.  They were taken into custody at TJ Maxx, 832 S. Randall Road.  They were both referred to the Tri Area Court for Teens and then released into the custody of their parents.
20:40pm Damptz, Joseph M., DOB: 10/25/73, of 2020 Cumberland Parkway, Algonquin, was charged with two counts of Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 2020 Cumberland Parkway.  He was transferred to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
Huntley
October 26
A 15 year-old female from Huntley was arrested at the High School for battery. The juvenile was released to her father and will be petitioned into McHenry County Juvenile CourtOctober 27
Two 14 year-old juveniles from Lake in the Hills were cited for possession of tobacco by a minor at the High School. Both juveniles were assigned a December 3, 2010 court date and were released to their parents.
Leonel Torres, age 34, of 4852 N. Kenneth, Chicago, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for improper display of registration and driving with no proof of insurance. Mr. Torres posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 10, 2010.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at Weiss Park. A soap dispenser was damaged.
October 28
A theft report was taken in the 13200 block of Essex Ln. A credit card was stolen and used to make unauthorized charges.
October 29
Robert T. McHugh, age 47, of 112 S. Prater, Stone Park, was arrested for aggravated driving while license revoked and an outstanding DuPage county warrant for theft and cited for expired registration, unlawful use of registration sticker and driving with no insurance. Mr. McHugh was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
A theft report was taken in the 11600 block of Bernice Ave. Cash was stolen from the residence.
October 31
Stephen J. Miller, age 41, of 11517 Fredrick Way, Huntley,was arrested for 2 counts of domestic battery.  Mr. Miller was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
Robin M. Wilson, age 55, of 1268 52nd Ave, Kenosha, was arrested for driving while license suspended and an outstanding Wheaton Police Department warrant and cited for loud exhaust. Mr. Wilson was unable to post bond and was transported to McHenry County jail.
Twelve forgery reports were taken at the Prime Outlet Mall. Several stores received counterfeit $100 bills.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10800 block of Greywall.  A pumpkin was damaged.

Sheriff Special Prosecutor Request Continued Again

The day after Keith Nygren won a fourth term as McHenry County Sheriff a McHenry County judge Wednesday refused to toss out an ex-deputy's request to investigate Nygren for misconduct.

Assistant State's Attorney Don Leist continued to maintain since his office could conduct an investigation there's no need for a Special Prosecutor's to look into Zane Seipler's charge that Nygren has been using County resources and personnel for campaigning.

That's a turnaround from 11 months ago when Seipler first made some of them.  Then a spokesman told FEN the State's Attorney couldn't investigate because he was the Sheriff's official defense attorney for civil complaints.

When Blake Horwitz, Seipler's counsel, began citing recent court decisions in his favor Judge Thomas Meyer told him to put them in writing and submit an amended complaint next week.  Then he set December 8 for the next check date.

Besides a confusing argument over how many points the official Sheriff's star has and how many Nygren's campaign star has, Seipler's turned up a sheaf of overtime authorizations for Sheriff's personnel to drive Nygren around in what the former deputy says were campaign appearances.  "If I were working I wouldn't have time for this," Seipler told FEN Wednesday.

That was a reference to Nygren's decision last week to appeal a Circuit Court order to reinstate Seipler, itself the result of an appeal from a federal arbitrator's decision saying the same thing.

Nygren canned Seipler about two years ago for writing a pair of traffic tickets to people he said didn't deserve them.  Seipler claims it was really punishment for complaining that the Sheriff's Office was targeting Hispanics for arrest.

In the pic:  McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

Algonquin Works To Complete Unfinished Subdivisions

Work to complete sewers and grading at Algonquin's unfinished Grand Reserve subdivision is about 60 percent done now, according to Public Works Director Bob Mitchard. The Village has been doing the work with money left over from a letter of credit purchased by Grande Pointe, the subdivision's developer, before it fell into bankruptcy.

"A lot of villages don't like to tap a letter of credit," said Village Manager Bill Ganek Tuesday.  "I guess that makes sense if a developer's still hanging on but after they've gone belly up, I don't understand it."

At Grand Reserve Algonquin used the funds to finish street paving last year and now contractors are completing water and sewer work and grading.  Work to spruce up the village's failed Creeks Crossing subdivision is also underway now after Algonquin battled in court for almost a year to use money from a $1.8 million letter of credit on file there.

"If they look nicer then maybe someone will buy them," said Ganek who reported that when Algonquin began to use the letter of credit for Grand Reserve a new developer did, indeed, purchase the subdivision recently.

In the pic:  Workers laid sewers Tuesday to complete some of the unfinished work at Algonquin's Grand Reserve subdivision.

Coat Donations And Good Deed Contest At Algonquin Commons

School District 300 and Algonquin Commons have three programs through mid-December in which people can help the less fortunate and earn a reward at the same time.

The most immediate one is a Community Coat Drive to benefit D300 homeless students.  Through Dec. 15,  new and gently-used coats are being collected at the Algonquin Commons Mall Office. Besides helping a cold kid, Anyone donating a coat will receive one entry per coat into a drawing for an Algonquin Commons gift card worth $50 or $100.

The Commons is also working with D300 to offer a little holiday cheer to the district’s almost 300 homeless students by giving each one $50 gift cards. The school district’s Pupil Personnel Services Department will distribute the gift cards to eligible children , whose names will remain confidential.

Meanwhile the Commons is also sponsoring a good deed contest. Students have until Dec. 8 to nominate a fellow student’s good deed. Winners will receive gift cards worth up to $1,000, the students who nominated them cards up to $250.

“This holiday season, we want to recognize District 300 students for some of the good things they’ve done throughout the year,” said Beth Hicks, assistant vice president and director of marketing for Inland CommercialProperty Management, the Commons' owner. “This contest is a way to give a little something back to those kids who have made a significant effort to help others.”

Nominations can be in the form of a letter (no more than 300 words) or a video (no more than 3 minutes) describing the good deed and what happened as a result. Nominating letters
go to the mall office, too, or by mail to Algonquin Commons Mall Office, RE: Good Deed Dollars, 1900 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, IL, 60102.  Both the nominees and nominators must be District 300 students.

You can download a submission form and guidelines here:
http://www.inlandrealestate.com/images/ac_insider_eblast/gooddeed_form.pdf

In the pic: Algonquin Commons Secretary Marge Buss shows off one of the coats already  stacking up Wednesday in the D300/Algonquin Commons Community Coat Drive.  You can drop off coats at the Commons office (the little door in the corner next to the Aeropostale store).

Sponsors Needed For LITH Festival Of Trees

Lake in the Hills' Ninth Annual Festival of Trees and Santa Ride In is still a month off but time's already running out to sponsor a tree this year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, will roar in at LITH Village Hall December 3 for the tree-lighting ceremony at 6 pm. After that, spectators can "vote" for their favorite tree by placing non-perishable household items under it.  All items collected will be donated to the Lake in the Hills/Algonquin Food Pantry and the Grafton Township Food Pantry and the trees will remain on display through Dec. 25 to allow for ample time to "vote".

The thing is, the Village needs business and organizations to sponsor the trees and there's only a couple of weeks left to do that.  Here's an information registration form to sponsor a tree:
http://www.lith.org/pdf/Recreation/FestivalofTreesForm.pdf

The deadline is Nov. 19.  Spnsorships are $75 including the cost of each tree and lights.  For more info, call Trudy Wakeman at 847-960-7460 or email her at twakeman@lith.org .

Bill Brady: 30-Day Wait Likely

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Republican candidate Bill Brady wants to count each vote in Illinois before he gives up his bid to become governor. Even if that takes a month or more.

“The people of Illinois have cast over 3.6 million votes in this election," Brady said. "Right now the difference is less than one vote per precinct. We must allow the election authorities to do their job and wait for the official results.”

Brady is trailing Quinn by just over 8,000 votes. There are scattered reports of some precincts that have yet to count their ballots and there is much talk about overseas and military ballots. But it is unclear if there are enough uncounted votes for Brady to overtake Quinn.

“The State Board allows a minimum of 20 days for local officials to certify (the vote total) and a minimum of ten days for them to certify…Realistically we’re think we’re looking at a 30 day process," Brady said.

The Quinn campaign said in a written statement that the governor also wants every vote counted.

“The ballots left to be counted appear mostly to come from Cook County, where the governor held a large margin over Sen. Brady.” said Mica Matsoff, campaign spokeswoman. “We expect to hold our lead and increase it. We do not see a path to victory for Bill Brady.”

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4461/bill-brady-30-day-wait-likely-to-get-total-vote-count-for-govs-race/

In the pic:  Brady at his news conference Wednesday

After Election Shakeup, Dems Still In Control

By Kevin Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
The so-called Republican wave was supposed to crash over the entire nation, but Illinois Democrats managed to anchor themselves and weather the Election Day storm.

Republicans made headway into a couple of the state’s Constitutional positions and nabbed some seats in the Illinois General Assembly. But overall, Democrats will still have strong majorities in the Illinois House and Senate when the new slate of lawmakers are sworn in come January.

“Democratic leaders know they dodged a bullet,” said Kent Redfield, a political science professor with the University of Illinois at Springfield. “Two years from now, every seat (in the House) is going to be up (for election) again. So it’ll be up to them to turn this around.”

Democrats will likely no longer have a majority in the Illinois Senate that is capable of overriding a governor’s veto. Democrats will lose two seats in the Illinois Senate, maintaining a majority of 35 to 23.

Republicans gained seven seats but will lose one seat in the Illinois House. Illinois Republicans were hoping to take control of the Illinois House but would have needed to get twelve seats to win a majority. As things stand now, Democrats will have a slimmer majority of 64 to 54.

State Rep. Bob Prtichard, R-Sycamore, doesn’t think the Republican seats picked up in the Illinois House will change how Democrats control the legislative agenda.

“I don’t look for it to make a lot of difference,” Pritchard said. “They’ve still got a majority and (Illinois House Speaker Michael) Madigan is a consummate politician. He’ll do what he wants to do.”

You can read Kevin's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4464/after-election-hubub-dems-still-in-control/

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
delayed--FEN scheduling conflict

Anti-Democrat Wind And Surprises In McHenry County Elections

Lake in the Hills Democrat Jim Kennedy's loss of his District Five seat on the County Board may be one key to interpreting Tuesday's elections in McHenry County.

The first Democrat on the Board since the Civil War (not counting a couple of GOP turncoats during the Carter era who repented) fell to former Board Member and top vote-getter John Jung, Jr., and incumbent Tina Hill Tuesday. Kennedy spent as much shoe leather going door-to-door this election as four years ago and even marched in some parades but this time he may have been walking into the face of a national "we're mad at Democrats" headwind.  With 3,000 more votes cast in the district Kennedy's total this year was 1,000 short of his 2006 number.

The headwind blowing against Kennedy should have been a tailwind for McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren but if it was there at all it was only a zephyr.  Lake in the Hills Democratic challenger Mike Mahon pulled 36 percent of the vote while another 5 percent of what was probably a protest vote went to Woodstock blogger and Green candidate Gus Philpott. Neither challenger ran a very effectual campaign but the long-term Republican incumbent still only won 58 percent of the vote. By contrast, even longer-term but non-controversial Republican incumbent County Clerk Kathie Schultz drew 70 percent of the vote against Democratic challenger Mark Freund's weak campaign.

McHenry County's big surprise came in what should have been a pushover race, the spot as  McHenry County's newest Circuit Judge. Independent candidate Sally Wiggins drew 35 percent of the vote against her Republican opponent Associate Judge Gordon Graham. The next best "alternative" candidate in McHenry County was Green candidate Frank Wedig who pulled a remarkably strong 8.5 percent of the vote in the District Five County Board Race.  The outsized vote for Wiggins looked like a slap at Graham for authorizing the controversial investigation of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi which led to his recent indictment.

Besides Kennedy's District Five loss the other big surprise in County Board races was candidate Donna Kurtz's outpolling County Board Chairman Ken Koehler in District Two.  Both Republicans won seats against Democrat Mark Booras but newbie Kurtz drew almost 25 percent more support than incumbent Koehler.

District 63 State Rep. Mike Tryon once again trounced Democratic challenger Bob Kaempfe 69 to 31 percent. The race was a rematch from the 2008 election only Kaempfe drew 39 percent of the vote then when the Obama wind was blowing for Dems.

The exception to local Democratic woe was Marengo State Rep. Jack Franks who represents most of the rest of McHenry County in District 64. The County's most prominent Democrat  won another term in Springfield.  Franks has made sort of a career recently of beating up his own party's Governors and voters approved his constitutional amendment to allow a gubernatorial recall Tuesday by about a two to one margin. Opposition to the measure was higher in McHenry County than statewide but only by a couple of percent.

In County Board District One Anna May Miller won another term in her seat and Robert Nowak confirmed his claim to Yvonne Barnes' seat after knocking her off in the primary. In fact Nowak slightly edged Miller in total votes. Both were unopposed.

In District 6 Mary McCann returned to her seat and Diane Evertson won the seat of Huntley Member Dan Ryan whom she bounced off the ballot in February. Democratic challenger Dennis Palys only drew 25 percent of the vote there.

The vote on the largely-symbolic Grafton Township Offices referendum was a resounding five to one "No" on spending "in excess of $3 million" for new headquarters.  The Township's annual meeting earlier this year directed the Board to undo a court-forbidden plan for new Offices but Tuesday's 85 percent negative vote sent Trustees a pretty clear message not to try anything like it again.

In the 16th Congressional District incumbent Republican Don Manzullo won another term in Washington defeating Democratic challenger George Gaulrapp by a 65 to 31 percent result.

In other races, incumbent Republican McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew won another term running unopposed.  Huntley resident Joe Williams won the County Regional Superintendant of Schools spot also without opposition. He'll replace Huntley's retiring Gene Goeglein.

On the other side of County Line Road Algonquin attorney Maggie Auger defeated Democrat Linda Nuneman for the Kane County Board's 23rd District seat.

You can find the vote totals except for a few that might still be in the mail for all the area races here:

For McHenry County:
http://www.mcvote.org/

For Kane County:
http://www.kanecountyelections.org/ElectionResults/2010-11-02/Contests.asp

In the pic:  Judges early Tuesday afternoon said they expected about a 40 percent turnout at Algonquin's Faith Community Church where three precincts voted together.  In fact County Clerk Kathie Schultz said 41 percent of McHenry County's registered voters turned up at the polls Tuesday.

Algonquin's Riverside Square To Auction: $1.25 Million Start

Algonquin's failed Riverside Square luxury condo and retail complex will go on a bankruptcy court-ordered auction block in three months according to Village officials Tuesday.  The minimum bid on the tattered complex will be $1.25 million Village Manager Bill Ganek told the Algonquin Board.

The auction's scheduled for Jan. 28 Ganek said.  That's the same day as the next McHenry County Circuit Court check date in the Village's suit to tear down Riverside Square. Algonquin President John Schmitt said until someone fixes the half-completed structure it's still a safety hazard and the suit will continue.

"If there's a bid," as Ganek put it, of $1.25 million that would be considerably less than a recent offer mentioned in a semi-credible rumor. The bankruptcy case, however, has probably made marketing the project difficult. It's what legal scholars like to call "a hairball".

Rockford-based Amcore bank pulled the plug on the project two years ago tipping Riverside Square and the rest of Algonquin developer Bruce Hawkins' empire into bankruptcy. Amcore ended up with the deed to the project but then Amcore  went under, purchased by Chicago's Harris Bank. Harris, it turns out, handed over management of Amcore's real estate portfolio to a loan servicing company in Florida. Meanwhile, over two dozen contractors on the project put in claims with the court and last week one of the largest went into bankruptcy itself.

The auction after more than two years of little more than physical deterioration at Riverside Square would cut the Gordian tangle. "The person buys it clear of all claims," according to Village Attorney Kelly Cahill.  "The $1.2 million goes into a pot and it's up to the lienholders to fight over that."

What Algonquin wants, though, isn't Riverside Square bought and warehoused by someone else.  What the Village wants is Riverside Square finished in some acceptable fashion.  Otherwise the village wants it gone.

"A lot of things will be happening in January," said Ganek, "but it's going to take several months (even) after that," before something really happens.

In the pic:  An artist's rendering of how a completed Riverside Square would look with a lot of artistic license.

Algonquin Approves Rosen Auto Expansion

Algonquin's Village Board gave a final OK Tuesday for Rosen Hyundai to put in a sister operation for the Korean carmaker's new upscale Equus nameplate. The plan is for Rosen to put in a temporary showroom next-door to the present Hyundai dealership in July and build a new showroom and service facilities by the end of 2012.

The new Equus line will be to the resurgent Hyundai brand as Cadillac is to GM's Chevrolet or, perhaps more aptly since they were the first Asian carmaker to try it, like Honda's Acura to the rest of the Honda lineup. Although the luxury car sells for as much as $96,000 in foreign markets, last week Hyundai announced it will sell in the U.S. for $58,900 for the base model, $65,400 with all the trimmings.

Part of the deal for Rosen to expand is for the Village to continue a complicated sales tax rebate on regular Hyundais to the new Equus line.  Village President John Schmitt said it was a case of not killing the goose that lays the golden egg.  "It has generated $220,000 (in tax revenue) per year," he said.  "This is going back to what we originally hoped for that," said Schmitt.

Besides, the Rosen dealership's contributed a lot of money to local civic and charitable groups.  "They haven't only been a good business," said Schmitt.  "They've been a good neighbor, too."

In the pic:  In Latin Equus (horse) would be pronounced EK-woos.  How it's pronounced in Korean is anybody's guess.  Trustees had fits trying to say it in English Tuesday.

Grafton Seeks Applicants For Senior Bus Committee

The Grafton Township Board is reconstituting its citizens' Senior Transportation Committee to make the Senior bus more desirable and efficient and better able to to keep area Seniors active and independent.

The Board disbanded the old Transportation Committee last month since they didn't do much and now they're looking for new members.  The job's non-paying but it's not awfully onerous, either. According to a news release the Committee will meet on an “as needed” basis,  never more than once a month.  The Committee's supposed to make its own schedule and report to the Board periodically.

Committee members must live in Grafton Township.  They'll serve a one year term which can be renewed or eliminated at any time.

Apparently the Township's in a hurry on this since they'd like applications submitted by
Friday. You can download a form at: http://cid-358b376a1537d34f.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=download&resid=358B376A1537D34F!169&type=6&Bpub=SDX.Docs&Bsrc=Docmail&authkey=xJHwJtTFQGI%24

For info, call Township Administrator Pam Fender at 847-669-1171

Quinn-Brady: Maybe Another Dead Heat

By Kevin Lee and Mary Massingale, Illinois Statehouse News
After a prolonged election battle lasting the better part of a year, Illinois voters still aren't sure this morning who will serve as their next governor.  At 6:30 am Governor Pat Quinn led Republican challenger Bill Brady by about 8,000 votes but 75 precincts still hadn't been counted and a huge trove of Cook County absentee ballots hadn't been tallied.

The Republican state senator Brady thanked his supporters at midnight, and joked about the similarity to the primary, when it took several days to decide his 193 vote win over state Sen. Kirk Dillard. Then said the words that none of his supporters wanted to hear after a long, bitter campaign. “With over 3.5 million votes cast, this isn’t  going to be decided tonight.”

Quinn then took the podium at his headquarters and told his supporters that he concurred with his opponent’s call to have all votes counted.  "But I think when all is said, we’ll end up on top with the most votes,” Quinn said.

You can read Kevin and Mary's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4446/no-winner-yet-in-ill-governors-race/

Kirk Edges Giannoulias For Obama’s Old Senate Seat

By Bill McMorris and Nicole Wilson, Illinois Statehouse News
The Illinois battle between GOP Congressman Mark Kirk and Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias lived up to its designation as the nation's most competitive race.

Late Tuesday Kirk declared himself the winner by about 80,000 votes. Giannoulias led much of the night, amassing a 25 point lead as ballots from the greater Chicago area poured in. But Kirk steadily climbed, surpassing his opponent for the first time about three hours after the polls closed in Illinois.

Kirk can credit his late evening surge with a steady flow of precincts reporting from heavily Republican downstate and collar county areas. A top aide with the Kirk campaign said he trounced Giannoulias in southern Illinois by a two-to-one margin.

"It was a vote to fix the economy, to reduce the deficit…and a vote to support our allies overseas," the Senator-elect said. "We saw dark days for this Senate seat…but tonight the sun set for a one-party corrupt state." His victory represents a major symbolic win for the party, as Kirk is set to take the seat that served as the springboard for a Barack Obama presidency.

The seat attracted national interest from both parties, culminating in major fundraising boosts for Kirk and Giannoulias from out-of-state groups.  Kirk also won a special election to replace Roland Burris immediately, adding another Republican to the current Senate  who can block many initiatives that Democrats could enact before losing their large majorities in the House and Senate.

Kirk dubbed Giannoulias a "mob banker" after a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed his family bank loaned millions to two felons with connections to organized crime. The Democrat responded in kind, assailing Kirk for embellishing his military record.

Giannoulias showed uncommon grace conceding, though, when chants of disdain broke out from his crowd of dedicated supporters -"(Kirk's) a liar" one man yelled out.

"No!" Giannoulias said, "he is our Senator."

You can read Bill and Nicole's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4442/kirk-edges-out-giannoulias-for-obamas-old-u-s-senate-seat/

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
November 2
0314 HRS SPRINGLAKE DR. & DOGWOOD LN. ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. EVANS, BRADLEY J., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 10783 CONCORD LANE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
JUVENILE, M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, UNION. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol. RELEASED TO PARENT.
0032 HRS PINGREE RD. & RAKOW RD. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Deer. Property damage only.
0327 HRS 2600 BLOCK OF CADBURY CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 59 years of age, bleeding from his arm. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
0957 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Male, 50 years of age, in need of an evaluation. Transported to Alexian Brothers Medical Center.
1101 HRS PYOTT RD. & IMHOFF DR. FOUND ARTICLE. Package found in roadway.
1436 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF IMHOFF DR. THEFT. Theft of a dolly trailer.
1609 HRS VIRGINIA RD. & RAKOW RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1619 HRS VIRGINIA RD. & RAKOW RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Three-vehicle injury accident. A male, 70 years of age, was transported to Sherman Hospital after feeling dizzy and experiencing blurred vision.
2113 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF DANBURY CIRCLE. ASSIST TO AMBULANCE. Male, six years of age, fell and hit his head. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
2122 HRS 231 N. RANDALL RD., (TACO BELL). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2152 HRS 2300 BLOCK OF WEXFORD LN. FOUND PROPERTY. A mongoose bicycle. Bike entered into evidence.
2209 HRS WANDER WAY & PHEASANT TRAIL. BATTERY. Male, 12 years of age, was battered by another male on a bus. PENDING INVESTIGATION.

The Worst System Of Government--Except All The Others

It's Election Day.  Time to vote for the candidate of your choice, or, this being Illinois 2010, perhaps the one you least don't like. 

If you don't know where to vote or want to look at your ballot first, here's where to go:

For McHenry County:
http://mchenry-il.connect.clarityelections.com/

In Kane County:
http://www.kanecountyelections.org/VoterInfo/Search.aspx#b

Local election results (the same ones the new orgs use) will be here this evening:

For McHenry County:
http://www.mcvote.org/

In Kane County:
http://www.kanecountyelections.org/ElectionResults/2010-11-02/Contests.asp


McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz said Monday afternoon her latest report showed 12,585 people had already submitted an early ballot of one sort or another.  They'll all be shown in the uncertified total. Schultz said only a handful of ballots presumed to be somewhere in the mail won't be included in Wednesday morning's counts.

In the pic:  A lot of Democratic lawn signs along Huntington Drive in Algonquin.

Local High Schools Fail No Child Test

A State Board of Education computer problem Friday meant no context for the announcement that Jacobs, Dundee-Crown and Huntley high schools all failed to make "adequate yearly progress" in No Child Left Behind testing this year.  In fact only 50 of the state's roughly 400 high schools passed the test, and most of of those were in tiny downstate districts or were "magnet schools" according to an analysis by District 158 Chief Academic Officer Mary Olson Monday.

According to the latest ISBE School Report Cards, only 59.7 percent of Jacobs Juniors read at or above grade level, and only 57.1 could do math there.  At Dundee-Crown the numbers were 44.1 and 42.0.  At Huntley High the results were 59.8 and 62.5.  The scores reflect each school's results on the State's Prairie State Achievement Test, a complicated combo of tests for college and workplace readiness. It's what the State Board picked to show compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act only it hasn't done that.

"Not a high school in McHenry County showed AYP," said Olson. That stands for Adequate Yearly Progress, a measure of how close each school is to the ultimate goal of 95 percent of students reading and cyphering at grade level.  This year the bar was set at 77.5 percent. Next year it'll be even higher even for schools that failed to reach this year's mark.

District 300 Assessment Officer Carole Cooper said Monday the gross numbers weren't a surprise although she's still waiting to get some detailed statistical info the State Board was supposed to send.  Meanwhile her district already has plans to help ratchet up the test scores.

"We're not seeing enough rigor in the classrooms," she said.  "We need to make sure that all of the teachers are teaching to the college level," said Cooper.

"Two, they're not taking consecutive courses," said Cooper.  The bottom line there is kids won't be able to rig their schedules the easy way.  "Rather than give kids so much choice we're going to actually enroll them (in what they need)," she said.

Olson planned to ramp up D158's efforts, too, but was pondering the point of it all. "Any test for which the vast majority of kids in Illinois are not meeting the standards--what is the actual meaning?" she asked.

You can check every school in every district in the state starting here:
http://webprod.isbe.net/ereportcard/publicsite/getsearchcriteria.aspx

Troubling Slogans Mark LITH On Weekend

Lake in the Hills Police would like to talk to someone who spent his Halloween with a rattle can.  Someone spray-painted slogans including some very bad words at eight different locations in the village Saturday night and Sunday morning.

That in itself was troubling but the content might have been even more so.  "@#$% You Pigs", "Wake Up USA" and a kind of "United Nations Prohibited" sign seem like sort of peculiar choices for a kid out on a Halloween spree.

The spraying was all in the area from Randall east to Crystal Lake Avenue. Hit were parks, streets, sidewalks, a bank wall, and utility boxes

LITH PD would like anyone with info about it, or maybe just about someone with a black index fingertip Sunday, to call Detective Matt Mannino at 847-658-5676.

IDOT To Bid Algonquin Roadhouse Demolition Later

An Illinois Department of Transportation notice said they didn't have to but close to a dozen contractors appeared at Algonquin's Toastmaster site Monday morning for an on-the-ground inspection before bidding to haul away the rubble from the burned and demolished factory and dig up the contaminated soil underneath.

The contract which also includes knocking down the Prairie Oasis property on Railroad Street will make way for Algonquin's long-awaited Route 31 Western Bypass.  IDOT officials confirmed a contract to demolish another structure in the path, the Algonquin Roadhouse on Algonquin Road, will be let later.  It had originally been part of a demo contract along with Toastmaster and the Oasis but the Toastmaster fire made that set of bids irrelevant.

Election Day: Close Races, Big Spenders, Unhappy Voters

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
As the candidates at the top of the ticket fly throughout the state trying to energize voters the day before the election, polls show Republicans have a slight edge in two close races.

A poll of likely Illinois voters released today by Public Policy Polling has U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk leading the race for U.S. Senate with 46 points to Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ 42 points. The same poll shows Gov. Pat Quinn, with 40 points, trailing Republican Sen. Bill Brady, who has 45 points. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 3.4 percent.

Meanwhile, legislative leaders are pouring money into General Assembly races. The Illinois Campaign for Political reform released a list today of 14 legislative races — seven from each chamber — where both candidates combined reported more than $1 million in campaign funds.

“Republicans are seeing opportunity. Democrats are playing defense,” said Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Springfield and director of the Sunshine Project, a nonprofit campaign contribution database connected to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Redfield estimated the number of races with more than $1 million in spending will likely be closer to 16 when all reports are in.


As for the possibility of a Republican-controlled Illinois House, Redfield said: “I would be surprised, but I wouldn’t be shocked. … If the Democrats stay home, and the Republicans go to the polls, you could get something like 1994 [when Republicans took control of the House.]”

The economic downturn and a campaign season of negative ads and divisive rhetoric highlighting the state’s and the country’s ills will do little to inspire voters, according to Redfield. “If people were depressed before about the economy after this election cycle, they are even more depressed. … Where are you going to cast a positive vote...?”


You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/election-day-close-races-big-spenders.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
November 1
2218 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED. PAUL, MATTHEW W., M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 938B CONGDON APT 23, ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving while License Revoked, Registration Suspended Mandatory Insurance Violation, No Insurance, Improper Use of Registration. RELEASED ON BOND.
0119 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF FAIRFAX LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 48 years of age, having chest pains. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0733 HRS 1203 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (CHILDWORKS PRESCHOOL). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on a shed.
1131 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Male, 55 years of age, having chest pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1233 HRS 5200 MILLER RD., (SUNSET PARK). FOUND ARTICLE. An 18-speed Dr. Pepper mountain bike was found.
1501 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. CHECK ON WELL BEING. Check on the well-being of a juvenile and her mother.
1510 HRS 10910 REED RD., (CHESAK SCHOOL). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Information passed on with reference to a residence in Lake in the Hills.
1657 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LISA CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 36 years of age, having abdominal pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1811 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF MONROE ST. BATTERY. Female neighbor struck male neighbor. FAIL TO FILE.
1808 HRS 600 BLOCK OF LORREE LN. THEFT. Gym shoes were stolen off the school bus. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1900 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF WILLOW VIEW DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 64 years of age, not breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Algonquin Bypass Demo Contract Bids Due Friday

Illinois Department of Transportation officials will open Algonquin's charred Toastmaster factory site for contractors' inspection this morning so they can bid Friday on carting away the rubble.

That and demolition of the Prairie Oasis property on Railroad Street have both been folded into the contract to dig up and replace the soil contaminated with industrial pollutants underneath them, according to an IDOT spokesman.

Knocking down Toastmaster, the Oasis and the Algonquin Roadhouse were all part of a contract let at the end of July but when Toastmaster burned down two weeks ago that was rendered irrelevant.

An IDOT contract to remediate the soil below the Toastmaster/Oasis area was already coming up so officials added removing the Toastmaster debris and demolishing the Oasis buildings to it a week ago.  Both were listed as non-asbestos-contaminated projects but Wednesday IDOT changed that, too, and now the Oasis part of the job will involve asbestos removal first.  There doesn't appear to be much.  Samples at 60 different spots found about 1,500 feet of vinyl-asbestos floor tile, a couple of feet of asbestos insulation wrap and 60 feet of window caulking with some asbestos in it.

The soil removal will be the big job.  Engineers estimate it'll involve 58,000 cubic yards of rubble and 50,000 gals of contaminated groundwater. The contract estimates the project will take six months to finish.  FEN was unable to reach IDOT spokesmen Friday to see when it would actually begin and what's to be done about the Roadhouse.

In the pic:  Contractors will bid on removing Toastmaster debris and digging up the contaminated soil beneath it Friday.

Tots Throng LITH Safetytown For Halloween

Lake in the Hills' Safetytown was swamped with tiny dinosaurs and (strangely a lot of) big bees Sunday for the Village's seventh annual Safe Halloween Celebration. 

Parents brought their little ones to the event to Trick 'R Treat but some were so little they sometimes were confused.  "What do you say?" asked one Mom after her little bunny had fished out a little Hershey bar.  "You're welcome," he replied.  There was nothing else left for the volunteer to do except play along and say, "Thank you."

Events Outmode Grafton Referendum

Grafton Township voters will face a referendum question on their ballots Tuesday about building a new township hall.  Grafton Township is such a legal and financial shambles, though, it probably doesn't matter how voters come down on the question.

The proposition placed on the ballot more than a year ago reads,"Shall Grafton Township borrow in excess of Three Million ($3,000,000.00) Dollars to build a township hall and issue bonds for the building?"  It was supposed to decide once and for all how people felt in the wake of a divisive plan for a new Township headquarters after a Circuit Court judge nixed it.

However, in April the electors at the annual Township Meeting directed the Township to sell the Haligus Road property on which the headquarters was to be built.  The Township still owns it but if the commercial property market ever recovers it's still supposed to be sold.

Electors also directed the Township to unwind the complicated sale of the present offices to the Grafton Road District that was supposed to help finance the new offices.  That's stuck in some kind of limbo now, however.  The township attorney reported recently the bank that financed the deal isn't interested in talking about it anymore because they keep getting different answers from different people.

There's supposed to be around $700,000 from the deal somewhere but the Township's burned up so much money in legal fees this year Trustees are afraid they'll go in the hole if the bank would let them pay off the Road District's loan in the first place.  The plan is for the Township to, in effect, assume the loan via intergovernmental agreement but nothing's actually been signed yet.

Meanwhile, the township's financial records haven't been audited in almost a year which would probably discourage most bond underwriters.  Trustees claim the Township's books disappeared from office computers early this year.  Supervisor Linda Moore said she's got them at home and they can see them any time.  So far they haven't.

Last month the Grafton Township Board discussed sending a letter to residents perhaps explaining some of this but decided they didn't want to argue about about what to say that night. Then they never came back to it.

Circuit Judge Race Simmers

Judicial elections are usually pretty pro-forma but the one between McHenry County Associate Judge Gordon Graham and attorney Sally Oeffling Wiggins appears to generating some competition as the election looms to pick a new Circuit Judge for the 22nd Circuit.

Graham is the Republican candidate, Wiggins an Independent.  There've been lots of rumors and counter-rumors for months but Graham didn't respond to an FEN request for an interview recently. He's stepped up his advertising in the last couple of weeks, though, including a largish ad Sunday in the Northwest Herald.

The ad lists a lot of attorneys who like Graham but it's not the same group as the list of 60 supporters shown on his website. ( http://www.electjudgegraham.com/endorsements.html ) That one's more remarkable. It includes two dead men, two people who longer hold the offices listed for them and two people whose names are misspelled.

On the rumors, Terry Ekl, defense attorney for State's Attorney Lou Bianchi indicted by a Graham-appointed Special Prosecutor, told FEN he'd never worked with Wiggins and had never heard of her.  Wiggins told FEN she's never worked with Ekl, either, adding, "I certainly never went fishing with him."

More Lane Switching At Huntley Route 47 Widening

The weather's starting to close in but work on Huntley's Route 47 widening is still roaring along.  This week watch for lane switchovers on 47 South of Deicke Park.

Also expect slowdowns on the west side of Route 47 between Algonquin Road and Reed Road.  Crews are supposed to be pouring concrete today and Tuesday.

Meanwhile take it easy at Main Street west of Route 47. Traffic is supposed to be on the south side of Main Street now. The east Main Street traffic configuration is supposed to stay the same for the time being.

The most current information from IDOT to the Village of Huntley is located here:
http://www.huntley.il.us/Route47Widening.asp

Kirk Gets Mixed Support From Base

By Bill McMorris, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk is just one of several Republicans running in down-to-the-wire races, but unlike his compatriots is enjoying mixed support from his party's fundraising arms.

The North Shore congressman has pulled into a narrow lead over Democratic Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in the campaign's final week, according to the latest poll from the Chicago Tribune. But Kirk's three point lead falls within the poll's margin of error.

Kirk's been left out in many fundraising conservative circles, though. For example, the Senate Conservatives Fund has raised more than $5.4 million for candidates in the nation's most competitive senate races, but not Illinois. Matt Hoskins, a spokesman for the fund, would not comment, but the organization's website lists candidate requirements some of which the pro-choice, pro-gun control Kirk does not meet. "Kirk is not as much a conservative as they may like," said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. "It can help him because this is, on the margins, a Democratic state and he doesn't need to be carrying the baggage that some of these groups bring."

Kirk has highlighted his credentials as an independent almost as much as his pro-business, low tax agenda on the campaign trail, in an effort to win over suburban voters, generally considered more socially liberal. The strategy has been successful for Republicans in the past, according to Kent Redfield, director of the Institute for Legislative Studies at University of Illinois at Springfield. "Kirk fits more in to the mold of (former Governors) Jim Edgar, Jim Thompson and George Ryan," he said. "(Gov. Pat) Quinn is demonizing (GOP candidate Bill) Brady for his social positions and Giannoulias can't do that."

The Giannoulias campaign, for its part, has done its best to try and discredit Kirk as a moderate candidate, associating the congressman with former President George W. Bush–a picture of the two arm-in-arm has been a mainstay of the Democrat's commercials. He has mocked Kirk for seeking the endorsement of Tea Party heavyweight and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The Kirk campaign is not wanting for money, enjoying support from traditional party sources and other conservative backers. He has led Giannoulias in fundraising since the start of the campaign and received $2 million in advertising from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Crossroads GPS, a group founded by former Bush advisor Karl Rove. "Kirk has more than enough money and most of the polling show that he's having less trouble with his base than Giannoulias is, so losing (the fund support) is not too big an issue," Redfield said.

You can read Bill's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4396/kirk-gets-mixed-support-from-base/

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
October 31
0350 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTI’S). BATTERY SANCHEZ, EULICES, M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 992 VIEWPOINT DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS CHARGES: Battery, Criminal Trespass to Property. RELEASED ON BOND.
0451 HRS ANNANDALE DR. & STEEPLECHASE WAY. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. ABDULLAI, SELIM, M/B 20 YEARS OF AGE, 11810 NORTH CORAL ST., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol over .08, Improper Lane Use, Too Fast for Conditions, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. RELEASED ON BOND.
RUSSO, THOMAS M, M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 5478 WHITMORE WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
2310 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF WILDSPRING DR. MOB ACTION. OLBERDING, JOSEPH PAUL, M/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 309 N. STATE STREET, MARENGO.
CHARGES: Mob Action, Battery, Possession of Cannabis under 2.5 Grams. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
KEARNS, JACOB AARON, M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 9007 COYNE STATION, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Mob Action, Battery, Unlawful Use of a Weapon. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0216 HRS POLARIS DR & HARVEST GATE. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on the street.
0223 HRS 61 POLARIS DR., (RANDALL VIEW COURT). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on the sidewalk.
0224 HRS 310 N. RANDALL RD., (CHASE BANK). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on the building.
0418 HRS ALGONQUIN RD & FAIRWAY VIEW DRIVE. HIT & RUN. Comcast box was struck by an unknown vehicle.
0852 HRS 1200 HEARTLAND GATE., (KEN CARPENTER PARK). DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on SBC & AT&T electrical boxes, CERT box, and along the bike path.
1017 HRS CRYSTAL LAKE RD. & LEE AVE. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on an AT&T box.
1029 HRS 1107 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (TAYLOR SKATE PARK). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on the fence and walking path.
1743 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HICKORY RD. FOUND PROPERTY. A 26 inch Silver bike was found.
1827 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOLSTONE BEND. DOMESTI. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Two priors.
2001 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 43 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
October 28
13:53pm Two 16 year-old females from Algonquin were charged with Aggravated battery.  They were taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  They were both formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of their parents.
October 29
17:47pm Vazquez, Christopher R., DOB: 08/17/81, of 6 Wexford Court, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS.  He was taken into custody at County Line Road and Randall Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 12/01/10 in McHenry County.
October 31
13:43pm Ohlson, Melissa R., DOB: 12/02/77, of 639 Virginia Road Apt #220, Crystal Lake, was charged with DWLS.  She was taken into custody at Edgewood Road and West End Drive.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/22/10 in McHenry County.
17:11pm Kramer, Joseph M., DOB: 10/23/91. of 507 Heron Trail, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody in the 400 block of W. Algonquin Road.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 12/29/10 in Algonquin.

Practically Painless Guide To Where To Vote

Voters are still on their own figuring which candidates and what propositions to choose Tuesday but thanks to the voodoo of ActiveX scripting and a lot of work by the McHenry County Clerk's Office it's pretty easy to find out where to vote and what your ballot looks like.

Here's where to find your precinct by typing in your address:
http://mchenry-il.connect.clarityelections.com/precinctfinder.aspx

A click takes you to your precinct page.  Clicking on the third line underneath the name of the precinct opens a sample ballot for that precinct.

Clicking on the fourth line opens a page with the address of the precinct polling place.  There's a link underneath to click for a map of the area to figure out how to get there.

On the other hand, a personal interactive search bypasses the old-fashioned district and precincts map.  Take a look at the current squiggles to see why when the census figures come in next year redistricting is going to be the Gunfight At The OK Corral (Hit the "+" button on your toolbar to make it bigger):

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/pdfDocs/precincts%20and%20districts/County%20Board.pdf

Dem Lt. Gov. Candidate Makes Algonquin Whistle Stop

Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sheila Simon appeared at the McHenry County Democrats' Campaign Headquarters in Algonquin Saturday.  Her stopover hilighted some of the second-ring acts in the wild circus of Illinois politics this year.

Simon, the daughter of the Paul Simon who wasn't Art Garfunkle's singing partner, became the Democratic State Central Committee's choice for Governor Pat Quinn's running mate after primary winner pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen dropped out in the face of allegations about hookers and 'roid rage beatings. Cohen later changed his mind and decided to run again, only this time for Governor but as an Independent.

Meanwhile Simon is campaigning for the office that is only a heartbeat away from the Governor's chair, itself currently occupied by a man who turned out to be only an indictment away from it.  "I'm encouraging (Quinn) to keep shooting hoops," she said.

Her opposite number on the Republican side of the ballot is Jason Plummer a 28 year-old vice president in his daddy's downstate lumber company.  Plummer's youth prompted Simon's acerbic observation that, "It's not often a woman can say to her advantage that she's 49."

On a serious note, Simon said she's campaigned in every Illlinois County and heard a lot of hardluck stories that make her "want to do the job right" if she's ever called upon.

In the pic: Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sheila Simon talks with campaign worker Mary Erlenborn and County Chairman Mike Bissett.  Confusingly, Simon's husband, Perry Knop, is the guy wearing the bowtie. 

Algonquin Borders Hosts Tales Of The Unexpected

Little fairies, felons and Bobba Fetts converged on Algonquin's Border's bookstore Saturday to hear Halloween tales from Huntley Reading Lady Lynda Mogilner.  The store's children's section was filled with kindergarten and pre-K kids listening to the story of "The Very Best Pumpkin".  Borders' Spooktacular event also included games and a short parade.

Algonquin Hosts Tails Of The Unexpected

Half the fun of Halloween is dressing up kids as spacemen and cowboys but putting a dog in a tutu?  There were two at Algonquin's (presumably) First Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog parade from Village Hall to High Hill Park Saturday.

"People treat their dogs like people so why shouldn't the dogs have Halloween?" was Recreation Superintendent Sarah Stefan's reasoning.

More than two dozen canines and their owners lined up (sort of) for the parade and a best-dressed competition with categories for the dogs themselves and doggy/owner teams.  The Scotty in a tartan made sense but the O'Cedar dressed as a banana split (we're not making this up) was a puzzler.

Republicans: Quinn Misleads With Early Release Ad

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Republicans are crying foul over the early release of some prisoners after Gov. Pat Quinn said he suspended the controversial Meritorious Good Time program. However, a report issued late last week says their claims are unfounded.

Quinn drew heat after the Department of Corrections suspended a longstanding policy requiring prisoners to wait 60 days before they received any “good time” credits to shorten their sentences. The new policy allowed some prisoners to be released after only serving weeks of their sentences.

Once the policy became a public scandal, Quinn terminated the waiver and suspended the program. Since that time more than 2,000 prisoners have been released with “good time” credits, and Republicans say Quinn’s claims that the programs have stopped are misleading.

However, a report issued by the Northwestern University School of Law says Quinn followed the law by releasing those prisoners, who received their credits before the program was stopped. The report calls the Republicans claims “trumped up allegations.”

Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Republican from Hinsdale, said the real problem is that Quinn is not being up front with the public by running a campaign ad claiming he stopped the program “cold,” which Dillard said “lets people think that early release is no longer taking place in any fashion.”

Sharyn Elman, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections said the Republicans are the ones warping public perception by implying the “MGT Push” program is still active. She said the state has to honor credits awarded under the standard “good time” program before its suspension and calls the Republican complaints “fear mongering.”

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/republicans-quinn-misleads-with-early.html