Grafton Senior Bus Fare Increase A Mistake

Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore who Thursday refused to comment on a reported $1 senior bus fare increase to the Grafton Township Food Pantry said Friday there never was one.

"Everyone pays $1 each way except for another $1 to Randall Road or Woodstock Hospital," (sic. Actually the ride goes to Sherman Hospital.) she said, exiting the courtroom after Friday's status check on the lawsuits she and the rest of the Grafton Board are running against each other.

You didn't tell the bus driver to raise the fare to the Pantry?

"I didn't tell him that."

Just before Friday's status check, however,  FEN received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as Don Koerner, the Senior Bus driver.  He, too, said Moore hadn't raised the fare.

"There wasn't any $1 increase," he said.

That's not what you said yesterday.

"Rides to the Food Pantry are free," he said.

So you didn't say the ride to the Food Pantry was $1 extra?

"No, rides to the Food Pantry are free," he said.

That's not what the little old ladies told me.  They said they had to pay $1 extra.

"There was a lot of confusion that day," said the man identifying himself as Koerner.

Told of that conversation Moore replied,  "Don Koerner doesn't get paid enough to get in the middle of this mess."

So you didn't tell him to raise the fare?

"No," said Moore.

And you didn't tell him the fare was free?

"He's a bus driver," Moore said. "He's not a member of the Board."

So he got it wrong twice?

"The fare is $1 per ride," said Moore.

Teddy Bears Hold LITH Party

All the teddy bears in Lake in the Hills--well at least a lot--just couldn't wait for Christmas so they put out the word on the teddy bear telegraph they'd have a swell party a week ahead of time at LITH Village Hall Friday.

Big bears, little bears, in-between bears (and even a few stuffed pandas and kitties) came to the  Teddy Bear Christmas Party to show each other the children they owned.  They danced with the children and played learning games with them and then fed them cookies and some cocoa they'd cozened from the LITH Parks and Rec Department.

With the sugar boost the teddies were were having a gay old time but some of the smallest children were already getting tired so they responsibly called it an early night and took the kids back home and put them to bed.  Then the teddies climbed in, too, and everybody went to sleep.

Zzzzzz. (Teddies snore, you know, especially after a party, but you have to be very quiet to hear them.  See if you can hear yours tonight.)

Mostly Minutiae In Grafton Friday Court Conference

The crackle of a turning page sounded like a gunshot Friday as spectators strained to hear the exchange between McHenry County Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell and the attorneys in the struggle between Grafton Township's Supervisor and all its trustees.  Only stray phrases drifted through, though, during the 10-minute conference to fill in some of the blanks in the injunctions the judge handed down against both sides last week.

Based on previous comments, trustee's attorney Tom DiCianni asked for a specific schedule for Supervisor Linda Moore to make the Township's missing financial records available to trustees. According to Moore's attorney, John Nelson, Caldwell declined to do that but called for a progress a report Jan. 21.

DiCianni also asked the judge to order Moore to make the missing records available "without delay".  Caldwell had already said to do that, just not in the orders section of the opinion, so he OK'ed that one.

In what appeared to be a bit of damage control, DiCianni asked Caldwell to limit his firm's ban as regular Grafton Township Attorney to Moore's Supervisor's tenure. Caldwell said that was OK.  He wouldn't decide yet whether the ban applies to the whole law firm or just attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer who famously "wrote the book" on Illinois Township law but couldn't find a way to make it end the Grafton Township war.

By Nelson's account DiCianni asked Caldwell to order Moore to pay some of the Township bills she's impounded, like the $20,000 one for a computer expert to find how the Township's financial records disappeared.  According to Nelson Caldwell said he still isn't sure if those bills were good ones under the law so he wouldn't issue that order.

Nelson said Caldwell warned both sides not to cherry-pick lines from the opinion but pay attention to the whole thing.  "And he wasn't smiling and laughing," Nelson said.

In the pic: Now-deposed Grafton Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer and  the Supervisor's personal (but in her official capacity) attorney John Nelson at the last Township meeting before Judge Caldwell's decision.  Dubious Trustee Rob LaPorta is in the background.

Christmas Celebration Sunday At New Algonquin Church

Sunday Lifeline Christian Church will have a Community Christmas Celebration at 10 am at the Brunswick Zone XL in Algonquin for people who don’t have a church home to celebrate Christmas. There'll be music, stuff for the kids, and "some special surprises" and immediately afterwards,  a light lunch in the Fireside Lounge.

Lifeline Pastor Dave Rudin said it's not a completely secular Christmas celebration, though, assuming there is such a thing. "We’re planning to take a personal and practical look at the Bible’s message of hope for life," he said.

Lifeline is a new non-denominational Christian Church. Currently Lifeline gathers weekly on Sundays at 10 am at the Brunswick Zone XL.

Sun City Artists Present Gazebo Painting To Huntley

Sun City's Pencil and Palette Club presented a portrait of Huntley's iconic gazebo to the Village Board Thursday.  The work was what might best be called a gang painting by four different artists working in literal rotation against a timer.

That's not as bizarre as it sounds. Rembrandt and a lot of other masters worked that way. They did the hard stuff themselves leaving the rest to be filled in by apprentices. Art historians doubt there was an egg timer involved, though.

In the pic:  (left to right) Pen and Palette organizer Mary Blasko, Joe Nitti, President Carol Cohn, Angie Caner and Rob Dombro.  Nitti, Caner, Dombro and Paulette Adams (who couldn't attend the presentation) whipped off this depiction of the Huntley gazebo in 40 minutes flat.

Drendel's Gets Grant For Leggee Math, Science

The District 158 Board of Education accepted three donations and thanked the donors for their contributions at Thursday's meeting.  Two individuals gave donations totaling $75 for supplies at Chesak Elementary and Jim Drendel gave $750 for science and math education at Leggee via the Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance Program.

Drendel had to jump through a series of corporate hoops to get the grant but said it was worth it.  “(Leggee) Principal Scott Iddings works hard to make learning interesting and fun,” Drendel said.

In the pic:  Drendel (left), Iddings and the Exxon Mobil grant check.

Ed Unions Take Hard Line On Reform

Illinois Statehouse News
Teachers' unions in Illinois were clear Friday; they despise the newly proposed education reform plan in the Illinois House. The leaders of the state's major teachers' unions took a hard line on the proposed reforms being considered by a special legislative panel.

Ken Swanson, president of the Illinois Education Association, said key components of the law are aimed at weakening the unions and stripping them of their equal-footing with local schools boards. "The proposals, if enacted, will in fact create a relationship that will turn collective bargaining into collective begging," Swanson said.

Swanson, and the other union bosses, are upset with Performance Counts Act of 2010 proposed legislation that would change the rules for local unions and local schools about when teachers can walk away from the bargaining table.

The proposed legislation also aims to scale back teacher tenure and create a system that allows schools to measure how well a teacher is teaching.  The Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the Chicago Teachers' Union are not pleased with any of the proposals.  But they focused a joint and dogged attack on the strike provisions during Friday's hearing.

Dan Montgomery leads the Illinois Federation of Teachers and was quick to point to numbers that he said show that lawmakers are off-base  rewriting the law on teachers' strikes.
"There are 869 school districts in Illinois. Last year there were two strikes that consumed a total of five days," said Montgomery. "In other words the (current law) works."

Montgomery said the entire reform panel is just trying to scare teachers or find a way to show voters that the Legislature is really working.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, is a local superintendent himself.  He invited the teacher union leaders to present their own plan. "If you do have any suggestions other than a shredder … we'd appreciate it,"  Eddy said.

You can read the full version of this story at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4748/ed-unions-take-hard-line-on-reform/

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
December 17
0234 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & BLACKHAWK DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MARADIAGA, JOHNNY F., M/W 37 YEARS OF AGE, 3930 WILLOW VIEW DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding.  RELEASED ON BOND.
2100 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & S. ANNANDALE DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. ZAMBRANO, EDISON, M/W 56 YEARS OF AGE, 5493 DANBURY CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND
0013 HRS 208 N. RANDALL, (BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO). HIT AND RUN. Blue pick-up truck hit the building, and left.
0325 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. Two priors.
0903 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOWE SCHOOL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 11 years of age, with back injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1114 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two Vehicles. Property Damage Only.
1206 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. INFORMATION POLICE. FOR Contact with Registered Sex Offender.
1457 HRS 600 BLOCK OF GRACE DR. CRIMINAL SEXUAL. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2052 HRS 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK. VISITATION INTERFERENCE. Ex-husband would not give the children to his ex-wife for visitation.
1807 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2258 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. Six priors.
Algonquin
December 13
23:41pm Mitchell, Leonard, DOB: 06/27/89, of 3000 Bayside Drive, Palatine, was charged with DWLS.  He was taken into custody at 145 Arquilla Drive.  He was released after posting $150, with a court date of 01/19/11, in McHenry County.  Also taken into custody during the same incident was Winters, John D., DOB: 02/29/92, of 3400 Bayside Drive #1, Palatine, who was Wanted on a Warrant out of Palatine for Failure to Appear, on a Possession of Cannabis charge.  He was unable to post bond and was picked up by Palatine Police Department.
December 14
08:37am Munoz-Godinez, Ismael, DOB: 06/14/70, of 661 Ford Avenue, Elgin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Beach Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/22/10 in McHenry County.
08:45am Dziewior, Kara L., DOB: 04/26/91, of 749 Sycamore Lane, Sleepy Hollow, was charged with DWLS and Failure to Obey Stop Sign.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 and River Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/19/11 in McHenry County.
December 15
07:45am Hernandez, Regina G., DOB: 11/07/53, of 10606 Phillips Road, Huntley, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and Failure to Reduce Speed.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Talaga Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 01/19/11 in McHenry County.
10:23am Ortiz, Gloria, DOB: 07/10/65, of 1398 Grandview Court, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear on a DWLR charge.  She was taken into custody at 1398 Grandview.  She was released after posting $500 with a court date of 12/30/10 in McHenry County.
10:31am Chandrasekharan, David R., DOB: 09/30/68, of 514 N. Harrison Street #C, Algonquin, was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at 514 N. Harrison.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 01/19/11 in McHenry County.
19:18pm A 16 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road.  He was Station Adjusted and then released into the custody of his parents.
December 17
03:14am Denava, Juan C., DOB: 12/30/80, of 6134 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL was charged with DUI, DUI BAC over .08,Improper Lane Use, Failure to Drive on Right side of road, Improper Turn signal and No DL on Person. He was taken into custody at Amber and Matthew. He was released after posting $300 with a court date of 01/19/11 in McHenry County.

Moore Merry Christmas: Surprise Senior Bus Fare Increase

Six days after a McHenry County Judge tried to clarify the balance of power between the Grafton Township Supervisor and the rest of the Grafton Board, Linda Moore jacked up the price of a ride to the Grafton Township Food Pantry 100 percent.

Township trustees were outraged.  First, it was to the Pantry. Second it was nine days before Christmas. Third, only two months ago they'd voted, with just Moore dissenting, to crank the price back to $1 each way.

In a preliminary injunction handed down last Friday Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell ruled, "the township supervisor, as the chief executive officer of the township, has full power and authority over all of the day-to-day affairs of the township."  Now the question is does that extend to bus fares, a matter on which the rest of the Grafton Board has repeatedly rebuffed Moore?

The increase was revealed Thursday when the first Grafton Senior Bus arrived at the Food Pantry's annual Christmas Dinner Distribution.  Three little old ladies, one in a wheel chair, complained.  "They want another dollar each way," said one octogenarian widow.  "My husband was ill for ten years and I have no money left."

Driver Don Koerner told FEN, "Linda said that anybody going to the Food Pantry had to pay an extra dollar unless they'd filled out a (General Assistance to the indigent) form."

"What is she talking about?" howled Trustee Barb Murphy who happened to be helping hand out sacks of holiday groceries.  "The bus comes out of general funds.  It has nothing to do with (General Assistance)."

"I'm angry," said Trustee Betty Zirk, also helping at the Pantry Thursday.  "The bus is a service to seniors and handicapped," she said.

"It's not supposed to pay for itself," fumed Murphy.  "It's still cheaper for the Township to do this than the Village or somebody or, for God's sake, PACE."

Moore wouldn't explain herself  Thursday.  "I don't really want to comment on that," she said.

You're quite sure?

 " ' Got nothing to say." 

Special Counsel to trustees Tom DiCianni had planned to ask Judge Caldwell to clarify some parts of his opinion today, anyway, so he might ask about the bus, too.  But even that may be bollixed since the appearance, set weeks ago, somehow vanished from today's official court schedule.

"I just can't come (to the Pantry) anymore," said one senior rider.  "I guess I'll have to stay home and eat peanut butter and jelly."

In the pic: Grafton Trustee Barb Murphy gets details Thursday of Linda Moore's bus fare increase to the Grafton Township Food Pantry.  "Please don't use my name," said a rider. "She'll probably make my fare $5."

Huntley OK's Auto Repair For Shopping Center

The Huntley Board Thursday approved construction of a controversial simple car service facility in the Huntley Center shopping center.  Plans for a new Auto Tech Center at Route 47 and Joan Ave. were tabled three weeks ago to study concerns about noise and, especially, traffic.

Traffic worries centered on drivers trying to go south after Route 47 is widened; then only northbound turns out of the shopping center will be allowed.  Senior Planner Charlie Nordman told trustees a traffic study showed right now most cars traveling south exit the center onto Kenneth Avenue, then a lot zip over to Church Street and then down to Main.

Plans for the Auto Tech Center call for a new shopping center exit onto Church just below Joan Avenue so southbound drivers can access 47 from that street.  He said standard estimates place new Auto Tech-generated traffic at less than one tenth the amount from a generic fast-food restaurant.

Nearby resident Mary Tures said since most drivers already used Kenneth there wasn't any need for a new access to Church.  She also asked if the facility could be "turned around" so noise from service bays wouldn't broadcast toward residences.

It was Trustee Pam Fender who was turned around, though. Her concerns had prompted the study in the first place.  "I don't think this is going to be as bad as I originally though," she said.  "If this doesn't come, something much worse and more dangerous might," she said.

Trustee Niko Kanakaris suggested speed bumps on Church Street to slow southbound traffic.

"I like the idea of a policeman there," added Fender.

"We'll monitor it," said Mayor Chuck Sass just before the Board gave Auto Tech unanimous approval.

In the pic:  Huntley's Auto Tech Center will be larger and snazzier than others the company operates in the area.

Pantry Christmas Donation Helps Replace Subsidized Meals

Thursday was the Grafton Township Food Pantry's annual Christmas Dinner distribution.  Volunteers handed out 180 sacks of groceries and turkeys to feed a family of 8.  "We were doing more than a car a minute," said President John Rossi.

The distribution was more than a seasonal tradition, though.  Several hundred poor kids get subsidized breakfast and lunch at their schools in Districts 158 and 300, parts of both of which Grafton Township Food Pantry serves. However, when the schools shut down for Christmas vacation the meals programs shut down, too, according to district spokesmen.

"We're filling in the gaps in service," said Rossi. "But that also means we need even more support than usual."

In the pic: Chilly volunteers at the Grafton Township Food Pantry loaded Christmas dinner into 65 cars during the first hour Thursday.

158 Board OK's Levy, Bonds, Next School Calendar

The District 158 Board of Education Thursday passed its 2010 tax year levy but the measure was another inflated "balloon levy" that bore only passing relation to what the District thinks the law will allow it to actually get from property owners next year.

Chief Financial Officer Mark Altmayer said the theoretical levy is up a little over 5 percent from last year's. The real bite, he said, though, probably won't be up much more than the 2.7 percent cost of living increase allowed by law since new construction in the district was negligible. With an estimated 5.1 percent drop in collective property assessments, Altmayer said his best guess was D158 tax rates including bonds and interest would rise about $.36 to $4.48 per $100 for the coming tax year.

Board Member Aileen Seedorf voted against the imaginary levy worrying it might accidentally generate more taxes than the Board has already baked into the budget.  "There's no rebate back to the public," she said.

In a less conjectural financial move the Board OK'ed issuing $6.5 million in new bonds to pay principal and interest on some old construction bonds.  The new housing expected when they were issued four years ago never materialized so paying them with taxes on current real estate would require a tax increase.  The new bonds, in effect, postpone paying for the old ones until the housing market presumably begins to expand again.

"It's taking taxes that would have been levied and pushing them to a later year," said Board President Kevin Gentry.

The Board also approved the calendar for the next D158 school year.  Kids will go back to school Aug. 24 for the 2011-12 year and finish June 12, 2012.  Member Mike Skala voted against it saying, "I think we should be doing high school testing before Christmas the way we used to do."

The 2010 tax levy can be found here starting at page 191:
http://www.district158.org/weblinks/BOE%20Meetings/REG%202010-2011/REG%2012.16.10.pdf

The bond refunding starts at page 196 and the new calendar is at page 174.

Friday Night Family Fun At LITH Hall And Algonquin Colonial

There were two late releases on holiday events in Lake in the Hills and Algonquin tonight.  The LITH Parks and Recreation Department will be holding a Teddy Bear Christmas Party and Colonial Cafe has an evening with Santa scheduled.

The Teddy Party runs from 6 to 7 pm tonight at the LITH Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate.  PJs and a bear (at least one favorite plush dog attended last year) are in order for an old-fashioned sing along, games and cookies and cocoa.  You bring the cookies to share.  LITH will provide the cocoas.

Residents rate is $5 for the first child and $2 for each additional child. Non-residents can join in the fun for only $7 for the first child and $3 for each additional child.

Meanwhile Algonquin's Colonial Cafe & Ice Cream has a Friday Night Supper with Santa scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  We're talking supper with real tablecloths, candles and a visit from the merry old gentleman himself here.

Colonial spokesman Robert Meierhans said the event's a new one for Colonial.  He said it fits the restaurant's family mission.  "There are other opportunities to 'meet Santa' but they're usually in the daytime.  This is a chance for the whole family to be together."

Teachers Unions On Reform: Slow down

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois teachers’ unions went on the defensive Thursday during an Illinois House of Representatives special education reform committee in Aurora.The unions gave a failing grade to a proposed plan that expands on the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, which links teachers’ evaluations scores with student performance.The evaluations are currently set to come online throughout the entire state by 2016. Additional money would be provided to school districts to speed implementation of the teacher reviews under the plan.Tenure would no longer mean a life-long position, according to those in support of the proposed reforms.

Failing the evaluations would come with serious consequences, such as stripping teachers of state-granted certifications if they have poor evaluations three years in a row during a 10-year
eriod, according to the plan. Poor performances also would allow school boards, following a superintendent’s suggestion, to fire a teacher or return them to probationary status.Teachers would be able to plead their case before action is taken in both instances.

“Sadly, I can say that if this package of proposed legislation were passed as is, I could not in confidence counsel my students to become teachers in Illinois,” said Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, to some applause from the crowd. “I would urge them to go to another state where I think their voice as professionals would be far more respected.”

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4720/teachers-unions-on-reform-slow-down/

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
December 16
0836 HRS HALIGUS RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. KANE, MATTHEW M., M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 9225 SAWYER ST., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving while license suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1137 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). THEFT. HAMONTREE, STEPHEN A., M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 925 STERLING,  PALATINE. CHARGES: Retail theft and possession of hypodermic syringes. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
DEKONING, WILLEM S, M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 5744 N. KIMBALL, CHICAGO. CHARGES: Retail theft and possession of hypodermic syringes. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
COOL, KATHRYN G., F/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 925 STERLING, PALATINE. CHARGES: Retail theft and possession of hypodermic syringes.
TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1702 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKE DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SCHMITT, ERIC S., M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 12 BRIAN CT., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Possession of drug Paraphernalia. RELEASED ON BOND.
0705 HRS 300 BLOCK OF OAKLEAF RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 90 years of age, possible heart attack. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1110 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 24 years of age, having an asthma attack. No transport.
1545 HRS 10920 REED RD., (HANNAH MARTIN). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 65 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
2000 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted Department of Children and Family Services with the removal of a child.
2221 HRS 00 BLOCK OF DEERPATH. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 20 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported.
Algonquin
delayed--FEN scheduling problem

Sportsplex Opponents Rally As Funding Deadline Looms

More than  50 residents from the area where developers plan to locate the huge McHenry County Sportsplex rallied at American Community Bank, Huntley, Wednesday to organize opposition to the controversial facility.

Leader Al Stenstrom told the group they need to continue opposing developers because "This looks like a program that isn't going to succeed."  He meant after the proposed 160-acre sportsplex is built at Route 47 and Route 176 but  its very construction looked more doubtful  Wednesday's after U.S. Senate passage of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act.

A big chunk of Sportsplex funding depends on stimulus bonds that have to be issued by the very tight deadline of Dec. 31.  The Senate bill to continue the Bush income tax cuts originally included an extension of the bond deadline but that was knocked out of the measure in the past week according to reports.

The latest plan by the anti-Sportsplex group, Concerned Citizens Against Irresponsible Government Spending, is a phone campaign to residents in the Village of Lakewood which has promoted the Sportsplex for most of the past year.  Oranizers said they'd rather circulate petitions door to door but village ordinances don't allow it.

Stenstrom said his group also planned to try to gum up the issuance of Sportsplex bonds approved by the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority last week.  For instance, he thinks the notice of hearing for the bonds may never have been published.  "If it creates a cloud of questions the bonds are never going to be sold," he told the rally.

In the pic:  Residents off Route 47 on Pleasant Valley Road also discussed Lakewood plans to bail out of its commercial fire department contract and the parlous financial condition of the village's Red Tail golf course.  Lakewood intends to annex their area if the Sportsplex is built.

LITH Promotes Pond Hockey

Except for the Ice Fishing Derby there's not a lot that happens at LITH's Woods Creek Lake in the winter so the Village's Parks and Recreation Department came up with a plan to change that: Pond Hockey.

The plan for a 4 on 4 tourney next month would be a return to ice hockey's roots, not that they ever withered all that much. Pond Hockey's still a big deal in the Land of Sky Blue Waters, The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes and the Land of Maple Syrup and Bacon That's Really Ham.  Former SIU Edwardsville hockey star John Wright from Lake in the Hills plays regularly in a fierce national tournament up north which is how LITH Parks and Rec got interested.

The Village plans to clear a 75 by 150-foot spot on the lake where teams of five (adult--well 18 and up, anyway) players will face off in a pair of 15-minute (running clock) halves with a 2-minute halftime. The program needs at least 4 teams but can't handle more than 12.  Each team will be guaranteed two games. The registration deadline is Jan. 7 with a fee of $100 per team, resident or non-resident notwithstanding.

Questions?  Trevor Bosack at 847-960-7469 has the answers.

In the pic: The U.S. Pond Hockey championship last year at beautiful Lake Nokomis where the roof can't fall in on you 'cause pond hockey doesn't have one.

Route 47 Widening Goes Into Hibernation

In Huntley's Route 47 widening project what you see is pretty much what you get, at least until the Spring according to Village officials.No more lane switches, no more flaggers and all the temporary pavement and access points will be maintained by the contractor during the winter months, according to a village release. Coral Street access to Route 47 is closed now as part of the winter phasing for the project, however.

Even though road construction per se is suspended now,  as weather permits, work will continue on underground water and sanitary sewers.

In the pic:  Storm sewer work last week just before the snow and silly temperatures hit.

Press Releases We Never Finished Reading

"Yanni, whose music touches the world,  is returning to the USA...."

In the pic:  Gee, Yanni cut his hair and shaved--sort of.  It's official now; the 90's are over.

Teachers’ Tenure Challenged In New Plan

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Statewide school reform appears to be the New Year's resolution for some in Springfield.
Stakeholders will gather today in Aurora to discuss substantial changes to how schools in Illinois operate. One of those according to a draft plan obtained by Illinois Statehouse News shows that seniority in the education system could lose a lot of its clout.

Tenured teachers and principals would lose any state-granted certifications if they got poor grades on performance evaluations three years in a row during a 10-year period, according to the draft. Teachers and principals would be allowed to plead their case before the State Teacher Certification Board before revocation of their certification.  The change would pre-empt any previous collective bargaining agreement that protected tenured teachers and principals, according to the draft.

The current proposal is a follow-up to the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 that the General Assembly passed in the spring session. The act links teacher evaluations with students' performances on standardized tests. The push for linking the two came out of a plan to win federal "Race to the Top" money  which didn't happen.

"The fact is that all students can, and do, learn, and they learn more when paired with effective teachers. … If we care about closing our achievement gap, we have to care about developing and retaining effective teachers," said Amy Ballinger-Cole from reform group Advance Illinois.

The other sweeping change included in the plan would be a three-member fact-finding board to help with collective bargaining discussions that come to a standstill.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4715/teachers-tenure-being-challenged/

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
December 15
0815 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. ORTIZ, MIGUEL, M/W 38 YEARS OF AGE 5473 WHITMORE WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: No Valid Driver’s License. RELEASED ON BOND.
1834 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. ISCHAR, BRANDON A., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 460 WESTWOOD CT. APT A, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended and Driving without Headlights when needed. RELEASED ON BOND
0933 HRS 101 RANDALL RD., (DOMINICK’S). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 46 years of age, unconscious. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1305 HRS 300 N. RANDALL, (LOWES). THEFT Credit card fraud. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1733 HRS POLARIS DR. & HARVEST GATE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
Huntley
December 6
David J. Pease, age 32, of 98 Devonshire, Crystal Lake, was arrested for violation of an order of protection and an outstanding Algonquin Police Department warrant.  Mr. Pease was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
Sergio Calixto, age 22, of 112 Brink St, Harvard, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and cited for improper turn.  Mr. Calixto posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 21, 2011.
December 7
Russell Palermo, age 45, of 11313 Douglas, Huntley, was arrested on an outstanding McHenry County warrant.  Mr. Palermo posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 14, 2011.
December 8
Osvaldo M. Bolanos, age 22, of 8310 Maple St., Marengo, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle and loud muffler.  Mr. Osvaldo posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 7, 2011.
December 9
An identity theft report was taken in the 10400 block of Dutch Barn. The victim states unauthorized charges were made to his debit card.
December 10
An identity theft report was taken in the 11800 block of Mill St.  The victim states unauthorized charges were made to her debit card.
A theft report was taken at the High School.  The victim states that his cell phone was stolen from his unsecured gym bag.
December 11
Elizabeth M. Rullo, age 37, of 10418 Scott Dr., Huntley, was arrested for domestic battery.
Elizabeth A. Woods, age 50, of 13N305 Brindlewood Ln., Elgin, was arrested for driving with a suspended registration and was cited for improper use of registration and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Ms. Woods posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 21, 2011.

Setback For State's Attorney On First Assistant Plan

"This is going to cause serious, serious problems," raged McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi Tuesday when he thought the doors were closed.  He'd just been rebuffed in a request to up the First Assistant State's Attorney's salary so he could hire one again. What went wrong wasn't entirely clear, though.

The budgetary backstory is eye-glazingly complex but the upshot is Bianchi hasn't had a second-in-command for two years. Now his office needs someone who can ride herd on the rest of the Assistant SA's and who can pinch hit in the courtroom, too. There's a slew of complicated criminal cases coming up on court dockets early next year.

Bianchi wants to shuffle people and salaries around on paper so he can hire a First Assistant again but even at that he said he figured he'd need $119,000 for the spot,  $30,000 more than it would currently pay if anyone. were in it.

The County Board's Human Resources Committee had already signed off on the boost but some Finance and Audit Committee members resisted.  District Three's Mary Donner observed lawyers are about the last thing McHenry County has a shortage of.  "There are a lot of attorneys out there without jobs," she said.

Bianchi said he wanted more than just a warm body with a J.D. DuPage County pays in the $150,000 range Bianchi said.  Look where they are now was the response. Well, the salary's out of line with other McHenry County law enforcement supervisors.  "If you look at the Sheriff's Department it's embarrassing," he said.

District 4's John Hammerand finally offered an amendment to boost the First Assistant's salary to $110,000.  That passed.  But under the County's rules Bianchi figured he could have gotten $113,000 for the spot without a lot of rigamarole.  "We're being punished for coming before you," he said. So the Committee reconsidered and amended the boost to $113,000.  That failed.

The salary question will go before the full County Board next Monday with mixed recommendations and, apparently, mixed prospects, too.

In the pic:  Lou Bianchi and his Criminal Division chief Phil Hiscock arguing for more money to hire a second-in-command.

Hobby Lobby Store Planned For Algonquin Esplanade

The stores just keep on coming to Algonquin.  Tuesday the latest one before the Algonquin Board Committee of the Whole Tuesday was Hobby Lobby with plans for a 53,000 square-foot hobby and crafts center in the Esplanade on Randall Road south of Borders.

The Oklahoma-based chain already has stores in Crystal Lake and Elgin but spokesmen said both of those are already selling at capacity.  "These are corporate-owned stores, not franchises, so there's no cannibalism," said one.

"It'll give the Esplanade a boost and more energy to keep going," commented Trustee Bob Smith.

"I'm always very excited about seeing construction in Algonquin," added Villge President John Schmitt.

If the Board approves the final drawings construction could start in Spring.

In the pic:  Algonquin's Board suggested tweaks to plans for Hobby Lobby's south view.  One was awnings.  "The trucks'll tear them off," said the architect.  Another was raised corners.  "It'll look like a castle, trust me, you wouldn't like it," he said.

Still More New Sheriff Cars--Coming Sooner, Too

Three weeks after some budget jiggering so the McHenry County Sheriff's Office could buy 10 new squad cars next Spring the McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee did some more jiggering Tuesday so it could buy 16 of the things next month.

After last month's OK a Sheriff's spokesman told FEN there'd been no decision yet on what model pursuit vehicle to buy but now the the choice turns out to be the old-style Chevrolet. Never very popular with PD's, it's being replaced by what's hoped to be a muy mas macho version but that won't be available till late this year. If then really; reportedly only 1,000 are scheduled for production this year.

The original plan was to piggyback the replacement cars in a few months on the State's purchase contract but Sheriff's spokesmen said they can get a deal on the old-style cars from a Decatur dealer on Cook County's terms right now.

"This is about half a million dollars," said District One member Donna Kurtz.  "I'd feel better about this if the money stayed in McHenry County."

Chairman District One Member Marc Munaretto sympathized but replied it was sort of a moot point since there aren't any Chevy dealers left in the county who sell cop cars.

Sheriff's Office Business Manager Angela Woodzuzevich said the old-style Chev has two big things going for it.  First it's a lot cheaper than the coming new model.  Second, "We're able to take a lot of equipment off the old cars," she said.  Stuff like cages, light bars, docking stations, and video camera mounts is expensive and model specific. They probably won't fit the next round of cop cars but that's a problem for down the road.  So to speak.

In the pic:  Coming up at the Sheriff's Office--lots more front-wheel drive V6 squad cars. 

Food Pantry Asks Algonquin Board For Help

After almost a year of wrestling with plans to fix up the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry its President Dick Hoferle went before the Algonquin Board of Trustees to ask for help.
"We're good at running a food pantry but we don't have a lot of experience at fundraising," he said.

Eleven years ago the pantry opened in a Village of Lake in the Hills machine shed. It's still there only now the shed's 11 years leakier and draftier.  Two weeks ago the LITH board promised to spend $45,000 to fix the roof, paint the place and redo the parking lot.  But Hoferle said the inside needs a lot of work, too.  "We've encroached on space and corners and Lake in the Hills have been very good about that," Hoferle said. Even so the place is a rabbit warren that the temporary heaters can barely warm to 60 degrees in the winter.  "We're serving 150 to 200 families," he said.

The Pantry's got floor plans now, just not very much money to make them real.  Hoferle wondered if Algonquin could help the group apply for grant money the way it did a few years ago when the Pantry needed a commercial freezer.

"Is grant money available?" asked president John Schmitt.

"We've talked to some of the 'Big Boxes' and they've said we could apply," Hoferle replied.

Schmitt said Algonquin would try to help there.

Trustee Debbie Sosine said she knew some grant experts, too, and Trustee Jim Steigert said he was already beating the bushes for skilled volunteer labor in the trades.

Even if the labor was all no-cost, however, Hoferle said the Pantry'd still need money for materials.  "We need someone to knock on doors.  That's the needed element in a fundraising campaign," Said Hoferle.  "Someone to help us talk to churches, businesses, individuals and organizations."

And banks, Dick. You forgot banks. Friendly civic-minded local ones that need good PR.

In the pic: The Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry.

De-institutionalization Possible Under Medicaid Reform

By Mary Massingale, Illinois Statehouse News
Moving the developmentally disabled and the mentally ill from Illinois institutions to community-based settings could get a boost from the legislature’s push to reform the state's Medicaid system.

Illinois ranked first in the nation in institutionalization last year, outpacing other high-population states such as Texas, New Jersey and California, consultant John Stephen told State House and Senate Committees Tuesday “It’s all about rebalancing long-term care,” said Stephen, who served as New Hampshire’s commissioner of health and human services before joining the Boston-based Lucas Group.

Stephen also cited statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation showing that Illinois currently spends $18,387 annually on caring for disabled individuals, while the national average stands at $14,481.

The concept of community-based care – or “money following the person” – is popular among both federal and state lawmakers since it’s usually less expensive than institutional care. Additionally, disabled individuals are generally offered more freedom in community-based settings, in accordance with the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision calling for the disabled to live in the least restrictive setting.

But the “rebalancing” is easier said than done. Families of disabled individuals often resist moving them, Stephens said, because of the influence of caretakers who don’t want to lose their jobs.

Standing in the way, Gov. Pat Quinn has agreed to no layoffs and no state facility closures through June 30, 2012, in return for $100 million in state budget savings offered by AFSCME.

You can read Mary's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4707/de-institutionalization-of-disabled-possible-under-states-medicaid-reform/

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
December 14
0908 HRS PYOTT RD. & RAKOW RD. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. SOTELO, SEGURA JAEL, F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 2430 STANTON CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: No Valid Driver’s License, Driving While License Suspended, Wanted on Warrant, Kane Co., Failure to Appear, Traffic Violation, $2000 full cash. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1523 HRS ROUTE 31 & VIRGINIA RD. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. LIMA, JENNIFER L., F/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 1407 BEACH RD., MCHENRY CHARGES: No Valid Illinois Driver’s License and Registration Suspended for Safety and Financial. RELEASED ON BOND.
0508 HRS 4400 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR DR. HIT & RUN. Mailbox was hit by a vehicle that left.
0836 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 56 years of age, abdominal distress. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1132 HRS 00 BLOCK OF PROSPER CT. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1244 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1423 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOWE). ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 14 years of age, injured to the neck. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1424 HRS 00 BLOCK OF DANBURY CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 78 years of age, has a headache. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1441 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD., (MARLOWE). ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 13 years of age, injury to his shoulder. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1800 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1936 HRS 200 BLOCK OF CLEAR SKY TRAIL. THEFT Jewelry was removed from the residence. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2046 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD., (DOMINICKS). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2157 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2158 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. DOMESTIC. Father vs. wife and son. Verbal only. Two priors.

Next D300 Cuts: Half Either Teachers' Pay Or Teachers

The District 300 Board of Education Monday approved a largely imaginary 2010 tax year levy and then started work on what promises to be an agonizing 2011-2012 District budget.

Finance Director Cheryl Crates said the District is probably going to have to lose $8.3 million in expenses somewhere next year.  The first-draft hitlist included cutting back high school clubs,  foreign language instruction, guidance counseling, career counseling, nursing, maintenance, media, buses, English education, and admin slots. The plan also calls for pummeling savings out of insurance companies and the District's bus company.

More than half the proposed reductions depend on winning wage and benefit concessions from teachers, though.  The alternative would be cutting 73 more teachers and 22 more teachers' aides, according to the draft.

The draft reductions list is here at page 144:  
http://www.d300.org/files/Board%20of%20Education%20Meeting%20Packet%2012.13.2010.pdf

In a mostly pro-forma exercise, the Board approved a 36 percent-increased tax levy for the 2010 tax year.  That, of course, exceeds the 5 percent max levy cap and Crates explained it was mostly a legal ritual left over because the legislature never junked or changed the old Truth in Taxation Act.  The law says the levy has to be adopted now but the District won't have the assessment and tax rate figures from the four counties it covers until May.  Crates said the District intentionally overestimates the levy because, "If we don't we'll not only receive less money than we're due this year but every year from now on, forever and ever." Crates said her best guess right now is the District's tax rate will actually drop.

In the pic: D300's best guesstimate is rates will be down for the 2010 tax year.

D300 Board Honors Students' "Good Deeds"

District 300 Board members Monday applauded a group of students who went above and beyond the call to help others.

The students were winners of Algonquin Commons' Good Deeds Dollars contest to reward, (and encourage further) "exceptional good deeds.  The six middle and high school winners received Commons Gift cards ranging from $1,000 to $500 and Board of Education plaudits. Their nominators received $250 cards and the rest of the more than 100 kids whose names were put up will received $25 cards.

Second-place high school winner Monica Orjuela from Jacobs spontaneously paid for a homeless family's meal at a Chicago store recently even though she had to skip her own. That won her $750.  "Ill probably use some of it for college," she said.  "And do some Christmas shopping.  Borders is high on the list."

Second place middle school winner McKenna Leahy from Algonquin Middle School subs for the ailing daughter of an elderly couple nearby taking care of day chores like yardwork, garbage and recycling.  She won a $750 gift card, too. "I think I'll buy gifts for (the elderly couple)," she said "and give some to charity."

Kyle Shropshire, Algonquin student from Dundee-Crown, was a third-place winner for having his family and friends skip presents for his birthday and give the money to a clean water program in Haiti.

The Commons is donating $25,000 in gift cards through the Good Deeds contest, a D300 coat drive and gift cards for the District's roughly 300 homeless students.

In the pic:  Good Deed winners included McKenna Leahy (front, third from left), Monica Orjuela (back, third from right) and Kyle Shropshire (back, second from right).

Local Filings Begin For April Election

Monday was the first day for candidates to file petitions for spots on the April 5 Consolidated Election Ballot.  There were some familiar names, some new ones and in one instance, none at all.

At Algonquin Village Hall incumbent Debbie Sosine, ex-firefighter Mike Stratejcruk and realtor Ken Fishleigh were all at the door when clerk Jerry Kautz arrived.  That means he'll have to have a lottery next Tuesday (  Monday's the last day for filing)  to see who gets the top spot on the ticket for the three seats open there. Stratejcruk already has his campaign website up.

In Lake in the Hills incumbents Ray Bogdanowski and Paul Mulcahy and Planning and Zoning Commission Member Russ Ruzanski and realtor/businessman Bill Dustin were all in a dead heat so they'll have to have a lottery, too.  Joe Wright who failed to win a seat on the Board two years ago filed later.  Three seats are open in LITH.

Harry Leopold was first to file Monday in Huntley so he gets the top ballot spot.  Incumbents Jay Kadakia and Niko Kanakaris also tendered their petitions as did Jaycees President J.R. Westberg. Westberg already has his candidacy posted to his LinkedIn listing. There are three seats open in Huntley.

At the school districts, D300 Board President Joe Stevens, Algonquin, filed his petition Monday. So did Hampshire's Susie Kopacz.  No one filed a petition for the D158 Board of Ed Monday, though.

Ex-Township Administrator Files For Unemployment

Ex-Grafton Township Administrator Pam Fender sat at her kitchen table and applied online for unemployment benefits Monday. Fender and Township Attorney firm Ancel-Glink were canned by a court decision Friday in the court battle between Grafton Township's Supervisor and the rest of the Board.

Fender said she wasn't going back to her office to pick up anything.  "That big old desk doesn't have a lock so I didn't keep anything there," she said.  "I'm pretty sure someone was going through it."

Grafton Township's next Board meeting will be Monday. It's a special meeting on  the 2010 tax year levy and most places that would be largely formulaic.  As the first meeting since Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell tried to sort out the balance of power on the Board, there's a good chance it won't be.

Jobs Program Part-Timers Likely To Lose Jobs

By Benjamin Yount,  Illinois Statehouse News
Three-quarters of the people who found work under Gov. Pat Quinn's Put Illinois to Work program will be out of work once again next month. The governor announced this week that he is ending the program that was supposed to help low-income workers get work experience and skills, with the hope of finding them a full-time unsubsidized one.

About 26,000 Illinoisans found subsidized, part-time work through Put Illinois to Work. A spokesman with the Illinois Department of Human Services said close to 6,000 people found permanent jobs because of the program.  But 20,000 others will be out of a job when the program ends Jan 15. "All of the people who are working will understand that the program does come to an end on Jan 15.  At that time, of course, the employers have the option of retaining the employees. … However, the subsidized program will end on that date," said DHS spokesman Tom Green.

Put Illinois to Work used federal stimulus money to pay the costs of hiring the workers when it launched in April. Quinn twice extended the program using state dollars.  In September the governor ordered a $75 million "bridge."  Quinn extended Put Illinois to Work again in late November, this time using $47 million in tobacco bond sale money to keep the program running through the holidays, said Green.

But because Put Illinois to Work is viewed as a training program, and not a jobs program, the 20,000 workers who did not find full-time jobs will not be getting unemployment when their jobs disappear in mid-January. The 20,000 workers whose jobs disappear in mid-January, however, will be counted in Illinois' unemployment rate.

Greg Rivara with the state's unemployment office said the jobless rate is based on the number of people looking for work, not just those collecting unemployment checks. "As long as these folks are looking for employment, they will be counted in the January jobless report," said Rivara.  Rivara said the January jobless report usually doesn't come out until sometime in March, though.

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4705/few-workers-from-put-illinois-to-work-will-have-jobs/

Obituaries

Carl A. Scianna, 65, of Rock Falls, formerly of Schiller Park, died peacefully at his home.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 pm at Jones Funeral Home, Amboy. A second visitation will be  Friday 4 to 9 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. A funeral service will be held 11 am Saturday at DeFiore Jorgensen.  Burial will be at Huntley Cemetery.

Scianna was born October 2, 1945, in Chicago, the son of Carl and Mary Ann (Zaccone) Scianna.  He married Barbara Sue Smerling on July 29, 1967. He is survived by his wife; his children, Mary (Ron) Pettit of Angier,NC, Carl “Butch” Scianna of Lisle, Tina (Nick) Hanson of Huntley and Natalie (Jim) Cutler of McHenry; his grandchildren, Amanda, Joel “J.C.”, Samantha, Michael, and Mackenzie and his brother and sister,  Michael (Jean) Scianna of Chicago and Mary “Chickie” Scianna of Franklin Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to KSB Hospice, Dixon.

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
December 13
0556 HRS 2400 BLOCK OF STANTON CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 49 years of age, with low blood sugar. No transport.
0739 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 26 years of age, needed evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0900 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Four vehicles. Property damage only.
1211 HRS 00 BLOCK OF TENNYSON CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 41 years of age, back pain. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1353 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1453 HRS HILLTOP DR. & ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Car vs. school bus. No transport.
1525 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANCERY WAY. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1722 HRS 280 N. RANDALL RD., (ATHLETICO). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 39 years of age, seizures. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1814 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1856 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF JEFFERSON ST. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. No priors. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2106 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2204 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. 57 priors.

Bianchi Case: $1 Million Baby?

"If this (case) goes to trial, it's going to cost $1 million," said defense attorney Terry Ekl last week after information leaked that the Special Prosecutor in Lou Bianchi's official misconduct case may have expanded his investigation again.

Judge Gordon Graham appointed Henry "Skip" Tonigan last September to look into charges McHenry County States Attorney Lou Bianchi had his first secretary do political work for him on County time.  About three months later, it turns out, Graham OK'ed expanding the investigation to look at the same thing involving his current secretary.  With last week's Grand Jury leak it appears that, one way or another, Tonigan is looking into possible political favoritism in Bianchi prosecutions, too.

So far Tonigan's submitted more than $100,000 in legal bills to McHenry County but they're not all in yet. The County Board boosted its accounting allowance for the case to $200,000 a few months ago but, "I'm sure it's up to $300,000 now," said Ekl who's defended several high-profile Chicago area criminal cases.

No one will say it for the record but several McHenry County Board members are worried the cost of the investigation has gone far beyond whatever Bianchi may have cost the County, assuming he  cost the County anything at all.  How far?  FEN tried to find out.

The whole thing began during the 2007 Republican Primary with a Daily Herald column that Bianchi was charging stuff like candy for parades against the County's coffers.  After a lot of sturm and drang that story died but not before County Auditor Pam Palmer sent a report to the Finance and Audit Committee.  According to the report Bianchi submitted $26,000 in personal expenditures and $30,000 in charges against Petty Cash for reimbursement during his first term.  Palmer said she hadn't rechecked them to see if any were funny-looking, so assume the entire $56,000 paid for campaign workers' jelly donuts.

The expense story eventually turned out to trace from records Bianchi's first secretary, Amy Dalby, had siphoned from her County computer and given to supporters of his Primary opponent Dan Regna. After months of legal jockeying Tonigan was appointed to look into whether Bianchi'd made her do campaign work for him in the State's Attorney's office, and then, whether he'd made his present secretary, Joyce Synek, do it, too.

According to records from the County Human Resources Department Amy Dalby, drew about $47,000 in salary before she quit to go to school. Joyce Synek, drew about $96,000 from then until her indictment three months ago until Bianchi's indictment.  Between the two, that's around $143,000. Counting taxes and benefits at 50 percent for simplicity's sake, that's $214,000 total secretarial labor cost.

Tonigan's indictments didn't say how much time he thinks Dalby spent on political work.  However, they say Synek did more of it than Dalby, as much as 10 hours a week.  Again, for simplicity's, say both secretaries spent 1/4 of their time doing campaign work.  That would be about $54,000.

Add all the reimbursements and the estimate for campaign work together and, assuming Bianchi's guilty in the first place, the financial harm to McHenry County works out to something in the neighborhood of $110,000.  As of August Tonigan's charges amounted to $109,000.

In the pic: Defense Attorney Terry Ekl.

Coffee Houses Lead Local Business Resurgence

There are signs of economic recovery around McHenry County.  Two new coffee shops in the past two weeks in Algonquin and Huntley are on the leading edge.

One is Cafe Firefly which opened a couple of weeks ago in Downtown Algonquin.  That one was almost accidental.  Owner Allie Gilbert said she'd been looking for a business that would let her spend more time with her children.  She was also looking for a real professional espresso machine and Saif Asadi happened to have one. It just came attached to the short-lived Crescent Moon Coffee shop.  One thing led to another and, "Let's just say I got a good deal," said Gilbert.

The trick now is to promote Cafe Firefly's coffee, soups and sandwiches Gilbert said.  "We're on Facebook and Twitter and we have our own website," she said.  "It's by a 15 year-old kid who works here.  The kid's a genius."

Also on tap Saturday, Cafe Firefly will hold an open house with games, prizes and a dog and pony show all about coffee by the shop's custom coffee roasting company.

The other new coffee shop isn't completely new. It's more reincarnated.  Higher Grounds coffee shop at Dundee and Haligus roads in Huntley began a "soft-open" late last week.  It's soft because Manager Tiffany Greer doesn't have all the furniture in yet.  "We're figuring on a full opening by the end of the year," she said.

Higher Grounds opening brings the shop almost full circle to Huntley.  It started as Country Coffees on Route 47 back in 1998 and then moved to a better location in Lake in the Hills as Higher Grounds.  The location on Square Barn Road turned out to be too good as commercial rentals rose during the property bubble. "They were outrageous," said Greer, so Higher Grounds went into what's turned out to be a three-year hibernation.

Coming soon is a full line of deli sandwiches, Greer said, and later when the weather gets warmer 16 flavors of hand-packed ice cream and soft serve ice-cream, too.

In the pic: (above) Julie Kukreja celebrates the second anniversary of her Pen and Mouse design company with Emily Kaplan Leanne Busco and Rick Lazier at Allie Gilbert's Cafe Firefly in Algonquin.  (below)  Tiffany Greer has coffee and tea right now as Higher Grounds prepares for its full opening in Huntley.

Skating Rinks Mostly Ready In Villages

Area skating rinks will need some clearing and maybe some touchup reflooding, too, after the weekend's snow and earlier too-warm weather.

Algonquin Recreation Superintendent Sarah Stefan O'Donnel said the rinks at Willoughby Farms and Holder Park opened last week but the Cornish Park one wouldn't be ready until just before Christmas.

In Lake in the Hills the Sunset Park rink opened last week to skaters only.  No hockey, please.  A red flag will mark when the Parks and Recreation Department thinks it's too warm or cold for skating.

In Huntley the Park District had Deicke Pond ready for skaters last week.  The District measures the ice regularly to make sure there's a minimum of 4 inches of the stuff since the pond's about 10 feet deep.

In the pic:  Conor Durkin (foreground) Matt Mosur and Cory Hyman worked on their hockey skills at Algonquin's Willoughby Farms rink Saturday.

Commission Wants To Cut Poverty By 2015

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Illinois can help to raise some of its most vulnerable residents out of crushing poverty by 2015, according to a new plan released last week.

The Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty released recommendations for the state to cut the number of those living in extreme poverty — those earning up to half or the federal poverty level — in half by 2015.

According to the group's report, about 1.6 million Illinoisans live below the poverty line, which is an income of $22,050 or less for a family of four, and almost 760,000 fit the category of extreme poverty, an income of $11,025 or less for a family of four. About half of those living in extreme poverty belong to groups that are unable to work, such as children, the elderly and the disabled.

The commission was charged with finding ways to help people in need find affordable housing, health care and childcare. They also addressed accessibility to nutritious foods, reliable transportation and adequate education and training.

The group suggested jobs programs, exempting some groups from the minimum wage, more rental subsidies, more scholarships and preventing employers from asking applicants about criminal histories.

Maywood Democratic Rep. Karen Yarbrough, who sponsored the legislation that created the commission, said the state can no longer ignore its growing poverty numbers. “While there will be a cost to provide this help, the cost of doing nothing is so expensive that it could bankrupt society as we know it,” she said at a Chicago news conference.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/commission-wants-to-cut-poverty-by-2015

Obituaries

Jon  Robert Sapsford, 62, of Huntley, formerly of St. Charles, died Saturday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am Friday  at St. Mary Catholic Church.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen  Funeral  Home, Huntley.  Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.

Sapsford was born June 3, 1948, in Detroit the son of Robert O. and Kathleen (Davis) Sapsford.  He married Lyla Jane Schwartzenberger August 2, 1969. He is survived by his wife; his children, Sarah (Craig) Friebus of Huntley, Allison (Trevor) Torrence of Oak Park and Jon Paul (Kate) Sapsford of Geneva; his mother of Roanoke, VA; his sister, Pamela Sapsford of Roanoke; his brother, Thomas Sapsford of Daytona Beach, FL, and his grandchildren, Zacharey, Jacob, Ashley, Gina and Joseph. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Harriet P. Endler, 87, of Crystal Lake formerly of Elkhart, IN, died peacefully last week just before her 88th birthday.

A memorial service will be held 1 pm Saturday at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  Burial will be in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Elkhart.

Endler was born December 12, 1922, in Chicago, the daughter of Harry and Eva (Adams) Bakner.  She married Henry Endler on May 6, 1967. She is survived by her children, Patricia (Philip) Carlino of Huntley, Robert (Lynn) Borge of Villa Park, Joanne (Sam) Scurtol of Schaumuerg, and Bill (Lou) Endler of Florida, and grandchildren, Kelly (Kevin) Snyder, Kyle Young, Robert (Paula) Moore, Thomas (Jennifer) Moore, Lisa Borge and Erica Borge.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Shriners Hospitals for Children International Headquarters

James R. Rakow, 81, of Algonquin died peacefully Friday at Valley High Nursing Home, Woodstock. Visitation will be this afternoon from 2 to 8 pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home,  Crystal Lake. The visitation will continue Tuesday from 10 am until the time of the services at 11 at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow at Algonquin Cemetery.

Rakow was born December 15, 1928 in Elgin, the son of Waldemar Alvin and Jeanette (Taylor) Rakow. For more than 24 years he was McHenry County Superintendent of Roads and County Engineer, Rakow Road being named in his honor.

Rakow is survived by his wife, County Recorder Phyllis K. Walters; his children, Diane (Charles) Griffin, Ansley Webster, Andrea Walters, and Anthony (Sheri) Walters; grandchildren, Luke, Jessica and Rebecca Grossman, Jennifer (Michael) Tramantana, April Molenda, Laurin Adeniran, Abigail Lindahl, and Ashley, Benjamin and Cole Walters, and his sister Ruth Ann Rakow Crandall. He was preceded in death by his his son, Steven Rakow, and his grandson, Alex Grossman.

Memorials in Rakow’s name may be made to Valley Hi Nursing Home or the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

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
December 12
0035 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0227 HRS 800 BLOCK OF BRANDT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 72 years of age, having chest pains & vomiting. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0325 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). BATTERY. Female vs. Male. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
0946 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. 15 priors.
1515 HRS 289 N. RANDALL RD., (EINSTEIN BROS). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1604 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. Delayed from 121110. HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck and the offender left.
1608 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT, Car vs. pole. Property damage only.
1815 HRS 20 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 83 years of age, difficulty walking and slurred speech. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2111 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 43 years of age, took too much prescribed medication. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2134 HRS 9541 ACKMAN RD., (LA TRATTORIA). HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck and the offender left.
Algonquin
December 11
01:23am McConnell, Sean, DOB: 06/17/78,  of 0N627 Courtney Lane, Winfield, was charged with DUI, DUI Over and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Route 25 & Route 62.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
11:56am Lezama, Mauricio, DOB: 03/13/68, of 7 S. Main Street, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Cook County for Failure to Appear, on a DUI charge.  He was taken into custody at Chipotle Grill, 412 S Randall Road.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
15:28pm Derma, Shashoune M., DOB: 05/27/89,  of 517 Maple Avenue #1, Carpentersville, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/19/11 in McHenry County.
December 12
21:35pm Curtin, Joseph M. Jr.,  DOB: 10/13/71, of 14 Margaret Terrace, Cary, was charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and Obstructing Peace Officer.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Wilbrandt.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 01/26/11 in Algonquin.

Grafton Decision Rebuke To Both Sides

McHenry County Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell's decision Friday will probably disappoint residents hoping for an end to the war between Supervisor Linda Moore and the rest of the Township Board.  Caldwell's injunctions are only preliminary and one sets up what could be the next Township battle royal. Neither do they undo roughly a year's wrangling that's decimated  Township finances.

Caldwell rendered his rulings Friday in a "mail decision" which wasn't available even to the case participants until Saturday afternoon.

At the outset the judge admitted he was powerless to rectify the "toxic relationship" at Grafton Township.  "For the most part, the deleterious relationship between the Board and the Supervisor does not infringe upon, affect or injure any right," he wrote, saying the best he could do was clarify the balance of powers between the two sides.

Caldwell ruled Supervisor Linda Moore could fire both Township Administrator Pam Fender and Township Attorney Firm Ancel-Glink without an OK from Trustees.  However, he also said Moore can't remove Township financial records from the Grafton Offices, prevent trustees from examining records or hold back bills and invoices. Although not an order, Caldwell also found that in the case of dueling meeting agendas the first thing the Board should do vote on which one to follow.  In practice, that would usually be the trustees' version. He likewise found the Supervisor isn't the only one who can enter a contact for the Township, finding the Board itself can do so.  Again, in practice, that would mean the trustees can do it voting as a group.

In immediate terms, Township Administrator Pam Fender is out on her ear. Caldwell accepted Moore's argument that the Administrator's position the Board created early this year was superior to the Supervisor's and so, unlawful, since the Supervisor is supposed to be the Township's "head, leader, the chief."  The Board approved the position in January in an attempt to outflank Moore but in April it added a proviso that Fender would get three months severance if she was fired for no cause.  Caldwell's decision said Moore could have fired Fender for "insubordination" several times. Although not explicitly, it seems to say she did so but doesn't say when. All of that probably leaves plenty of room for argument and recrimination at the next Grafton Board meeting.

The Administrator's spot was the brainchild of Keri-Lyn Krafthefer whose firm, Ancel-Glink, is also out on its ear as Township Attorney.  Caldwell found the Supervisor can hire one only with the advice and consent of the rest of the Board but can fire it unilaterally since the Legislature didn't say otherwise and would have done if it meant to.  Moore spent three months in late 2009 jamming the firm through as Township Attorney but by early this year was clearly disenchanted with Krafthefer's counsel.

Even though Moore fired Ancel-Glink, however, the judge decided the firm doesn't have to give back well over $225,000 in fees so far since a lot of it stemmed from work it did defending the trustees against Moore's original suit.  Indeed, although the firm is no longer the Township Attorney, Caldwell ruled it will remain as "special counsel" to the trustees for the remainder of Moore's suit against them and their countersuit against her. He also ruled the Board has to pay the fees of John Nelson, Moore's attorney, too.  Those are thought to amount to around $30,000 at this point.

Caldwell's orders are only preliminary so both sides can still try to convince the judge he was wrong if they want to before he enters permanent injunctions.  Except for all the money spent, Caldwell's rulings return the Township to about where it was 15 months ago when Moore and Trustees were already screaming at each other.  Caldwell said he couldn't do anything about that except suggest they act like "rational and reasonable adults".

Judge Caldwell's full 37-page opinion can be read here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/45139886/GraftonRuling

The bulk of the opinion after page 2 is mostly Caldwell's summary of testimony and evidence which he found "on the whole...immaterial and irrelevant," albeit "interesting, even entertaining for some." There's also a lot of recitation of statutes. The meat of the thing starts at page 29.

Heritage Woods Hosts 18th Remembrance Tree Ceremony

Shepherd of the Prairie Church Pastor Mark Boster read the names of 25 more deceased at this year's Remembrance Tree ceremony Saturday at Huntley's Heritage Woods assisted living center.

It was the first year the ceremony was held at the center.  For the last 17 years the tree which bears ornaments in memory of family and friends has been located at the Park District Center. This year, however,  it moved to Heritage Woods because there wasn't enough room for the event which now calls to mind more than 250 people.

There were at least 50 in attendance this year,  not counting Girl Scout Troops 308 and 43 from Huntley and Lake in the Hills who helped serve cookies and refreshments.

In the pic: Boster closed the recitation of Remembrance Tree names with a verse from Isaiah: "I will remember you forever and bring you home to me."

Huntley Church Holds Night In Bethlehem

Faith Community Church, Huntley, held its third annual Night In Bethlehem Saturday, although it was actually in the afternoon.  The event, featuring Biblical costumes, foodstuffs and animals, attempts to suggest what it was really like in a small town in central Israel 2,000 years ago.

What did frankincense and myrrh smell like?  What kind of a fruit is a quince, anyway? How was corn ground, especially since Columbus wouldn't bring that grain back to the Old World for another 1492 (give or take) years?  The answers to those questions and others were available to attendees.

The church also hosted a preschool Advent Fair with games and crafts for small fry.

In the pic:  J.D. Sadler feeds  some hay to a donkey, one of the Biblical animals Saturday at Faith Community Church's Night in Bethlehem. 

No Festivus For The Rest Of Us?

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
What do a Hanukkah menorah, nativity scene and American Civil Liberties Union poster have in common? All can be seen in the Illinois Capitol rotunda around the winter holidays.

This year, however, two notorious displays – a sign from an atheist group and a Festivus Pole celebrating the fictional holiday from the television show Seinfeld – have yet to appear, though that could soon change. "It's finals week for me right now, so that's why it's not up," said Michael Tennenhouse, who has been responsible for the Festivus Pole for the past two years.

Anyone can put nearly anything in the rotunda, according to Henry Haupt, spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State. The proper paperwork is all it takes to get permission to put up a display in the Capitol. “Because the first floor of the Capitol rotunda is a public space, state officials cannot legally censor the content of free speech,” states a sign in the rotunda.

The mix of displays celebrates more than just the winter holidays; it celebrates the First Amendment, according to ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka. “We all hear a lot this time of the year how religion has been driven from the public square … but here you have in the state Capitol, where laws are made, a menorah and Christmas tree,” Yohnka said.

Yohnka said the displays promote tolerance because each show that while you are free to express your viewpoints, you have to allow others that right as well.

Haupt said there are only two reasons why a display might be nixed – it is obscene or it blocks foot traffic. And “you can’t have live animals," he said. "Believe it or not, we’ve had requests."

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4697/no-festivus-for-the-rest-of-us/

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.

SAMANTHA J. LEONE, DOB:  08/18/86, 37W467 RALEIGH COURT, ELGIN. UNLAWFUL USE OF CREDIT CARD(2CTS).--Algonquin PD

JESSICA A. HEATH, DOB:  01/05/87, 501 W. 28TH PLACE, CHICAGO. FORGERY(6CTS).--Algonquin PD
   
ERIC R. LORD, DOB:  08/04/86, 695 SAVANNAH LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE. FORGERY(4CTS).--Crystal Lake PD

SHAWN M. ALLEN, DOB:  09/12/86,    465 DAMON STREET, MARENGO. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, THEFT, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Marengo PD
   
EDUARDO VILLASENOR, DOB:  10/26/91, 615 W. SHERIDAN ROAD, LAKEMOOR. HARASSMENT OF A WITNESS.--McHenry PD
   
WILLIAM C. STEFKA, DOB:  11/29/64, 821 W. RAND ROAD, LAKEMOOR. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE(2CTS)--Lakemoore PD
   
MOISES BENITEZ, DOB:  05/25/75,    145 ARQUILLA DRIVE, ALGONQUIN. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED (SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE).--Lakewood PD
   
CHARLES DEAN KOUTAS, DOB:  08/15/66, 45 ERNEST DRIVE  APT 117, FOX LAKE. FORGERY(4CTS)--US Postal Inspection Service
       
CHRISTOPHER J. WALLEN, DOB:  07/21/88, 1224 N. GREEN STREET, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--McHenry PD

KYLE R. HAY, DOB:  07/28/87, 513 VENICE DRIVE, LAKEMOOR. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
       
NORMA L. URBINA, DOB:  12/13/80, 439 BERKSHIRE DRIVE  APT 25, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--North Central Narcotics Task Force

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
December 11
0409 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). BATTERY VAZQUEZ, GLENN A., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 1912 PARK LANE, MCHENRY. CHARGES: Battery. RELEASED ON BOND.
1747 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). RETAIL THEFT FRANKS, FELICIA F., F/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 8718 LAKEVIEW AVE., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Retail Theft. RELEASED ON BOND.
2014 HRS 300 BLOCK OF POCAHONTAS TRAIL. DOMESTIC BATTERY. GONZALEZ, JOHN FRANK, M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 313 POCAHONTAS TRAIL, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery, two counts. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0244 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD., (MORETTIS). BATTERY. Female vs. Female. FAIL TO FILE.
0907 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF SWEETWATER RIDGE. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance.
1037 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Male, 5 years of age, has neck pain. Male, 8 years of age, has neck pain. No transport.
1218 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted the Crystal Lake Police Department with an arrest.
1658 HRS 343 N. RANDALL RD., (STARBUCK’S).  ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1713 HRS 200 BLOCK OF PLUM ST. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. No priors.
1810 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEAVENS GATE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Father vs. daughter. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2122 HRS 10920 REED RD., (HANNAH MARTIN SCHOOL). ACCIDENT. Vehicle struck a handicap sign.
2233 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HANSON RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Female, 17 years of age, with a mouth injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2358 HRS 30 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 55 years of age, not feeling well.  Transported to Sherman Hospital.