Judge Rejects Call To Withdraw From Bianchi Cases

Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw declined Friday to withdraw from hearing the rest of the McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi prosecutions.  He ruled his connections to the Illinois State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor's office don't create an appearance of impropriety in the mind of  "a reasonable person".

Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen earlier this week filed a motion asking McGraw to withdraw because ILSAAP had paid him to conduct lawyer training sessions and Bianchi and his attorney, their publicist, the Appellate Prosecutor protecting the County's pocketbook and the Special Prosecutor in the Amy Dalby case that sort of led to Bianchi's indictment all had a connection of one sort or another to the agency.

After McQueen amended this motion to excise a section demanding an automatic removal ("I made a mistake") he recited the list of connections he'd taken from an anonymous blog that popped up couple of weeks ago.  When he was done McGraw queried simply, "What does that have to do with us?"

"Well, Judge, it is the perception," McQueen replied.

Bianchi defense atttorney Terry Ekl sneered McQueen was just trying to get rid of a judge who'd thrown out his entire case in the first round of Bianchi prosecutions.  "If they're so concerned, why did they wait until after the first case?" he asked.

McGraw found Bianchi and his secretary not guilty of Conspiracy and Official Misconduct last month before they even put on a defense.  Three more trials, two for alleged Bianchi prosecutorial favoritism and one for an investigator's alleged personal use of a County car, are still to come.

Phil Prossnitz, attorney for Bianchi chief investigator Ron Salgado, said it was unlikely McGraw was prejudiced in favor of anyone since, "The Court by its questions seems unaware of some of the connections."

Chris DeRango, attorney for Bianchi investigator Mike McCleary, added, "I would say the motive of the Prosecutor is transparent."

McGraw admitted he'd conducted the ILSAAP training, probably starting even earlier than McQueen claimed.  So had a dozen other prominent jurists, said McGraw. He recited their names observing they'd all be barred from hearing cases, too, if he bought McQueen's thesis.

"At no time has anything been requested of this Court," said McGraw.  "The accusations don't create even the appearance of impropriety," he said.

After Ekl said Bianchi would waive his right to a jury, McGraw and the herd of attorneys settled on Aug. 1 for a joint trial of Bianchi and Salgado. It's expected to last about a week.  No date was set for McCleary, the car case. That might come May 27 when everyone's supposed to appear mostly for a case check.

Separately, Ekl and Prossnitz filed a motion Friday to dismiss the favoritism indictments against Bianchi and Salgado claiming they stem from a complaint by former Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Bora. The motion charges Bianchi fired him last August and he didn't really know anything about the cases in the indictment in the first place.  According to the filing, Special Prosecutors began to investigate them before Judge Gordon Graham gave official permission in October so the indictments aren't legal.

In the pic:  Bianchi on parade.

LITH Dedicates Arbor Day Oak

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow holds an old saying.  And it takes a while to do it, too, a newer saying might add.  The six-incher dedicated Friday at Lake in the Hills Village Hall for Arbor Day took 20 years to reach just that size.

Each year Village Forester Rob Caldwell picks a new tree species for the event.  He told kids from nearby Lincoln Prairie School the red oak planted Friday might live to be 500 years old although the oldest verified one left in the US is a mere stripling of 350 or so.

In the pic:  Lincoln Prairie Fourth Graders Kathleen Neruda and Nathan Romano read a proclamation as Superintendent of Public Properties Scott Parchutz made sure LITH's Arbor Day tree was planted good and deep. 

Algonquin, LITH Cops To Hit The Boards For Special Olympics

May 14th the Algonquin and LITH police departments will be playing each other in a charity  basketball game to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. The event's at Jacobs High School at 10 am.

There's a $5 entry fee for kids 10 years and over and a 50/50 raffle at the event.  Special Olympic Torch Run hats and shirts will be on sale, not to mention raffle tickets (Win a Harley)  also available to purchase on site.  All proceeds go to the Illinois Special Olympics which provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 6,000 young athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities now train and compete throughout Illinois via the program.

For more info contact Ofc. Chris Miller at cmiller@lith.org .

In the pic:  This year's D300 Special Olympics basketball State Qualifiers honored at a Board meeting last month.  The team included Jim Blaseck, Coach, Special Olympics Alex and Anthoney Bohman, Spencer Deacon, David Gould, Scott Kelley, Melissa Kunschke, Eric Lane, Kaylin Leopold, Nathan Lewendowski, Daniel Marquis, Favian Romerio, Jesica Serio, Andreas Yanez and Angela Zoellner.

Cairo Residents’ Ire Flares At Quinn As Waters Rise

Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
The Ohio and Mississippi rivers continue to rise around this southern Illinois town, but anger at politicians is rising just as quickly. Residents of the town, which sits on a strip of land just north of where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet, say Gov. Pat Quinn and others were too slow in their response to the emergency.

Janice Osgood lives in a fifth-floor apartment in a building bordering the Ohio River. She said she’s not angry at Missouri politicians for trying to prevent a levee along the Mississippi River from being breached by the Army Corps of Engineers.
 Missouri sued the Corps of Engineers to prevent it from blowing the dam, which would relieve pressure on Cairo by flooding some Missouri farmland. A federal judge ruled in favor of the Corps Friday morning, but the state of Missouri is appealing that decision “I mean, I understand Missouri’s side,” Osgood said.

What she is angry about is what she sees as a lack of interest by the people that represent her. Quinn on Thursday visited the flooded areas and made a stop in Marion, which sits about 50 miles north of Cairo.  Osgood said she wished Quinn would have come to her hometown instead. “We’re where the rivers are. We’re the ones talking about the levees holding and so forth,” Osgood said. “I realize Marion is worth a lot more to the state, but my feeling is that Cairo is worth something too.”

Marion, located about an hour north of Cairo, has a much larger population than the small river town, and was the scene Thursday of a gathering of state officials who were commenting on conditions in the flood zone. The southern Illinois emergency command center is located in Marion.

James Wilson is another lifelong resident of the river town, as well as a former mayor. As he drove around town Friday morning listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival, he pulled up to a diner for a cup of coffee with friends. They traded jabs with each other, but the conversation revolved around the flooding, especially the Corps of Engineers and the levee. “Everyday right across the river we saw the congresswoman and the governor of Missouri taking up for a bunch of farmers over there, and we have nobody over here speaking up for us. We started raising hell,” he said.

 Quinn's office reiterated Friday that he is engaged in the situation. "He surveyed a very large areas southern Illinois affected by the flooding" from a helicopter, Quinn spokesman George Sweeney said.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and Illinois U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-12th District, visited Cairo Friday for a tour of the soaked city. Cairo is in Costello's district. But the gesture was too little, too late for Osgood and Wilson. “They should have been here a week ago,” Wilson said.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5890/cairo-residents-ire-at-quinn-flares-as-floodwaters-rise/

In the pic:  The confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi when there's not so much water as now.

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
April 29
0742 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. WANTED ON WARRANT. ZAVASNIK, NATALIE S., F/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 2081 NOELLE BEND, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Wanted on In-State Warrant, McHenry County, Failure to Appear, Dangerous Drugs, $5,000 @ 10%. RELEASED ON BOND
2154 HRS MILLER RD. & HERON DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. QUIROZ, PAULA S. F/W 40 YEARS OF AGE, 410 WRIGHT DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance and No Headlamps when Required. RELEASED ON BOND.
0051 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S). BATTERY Female vs. female. FAIL TO FILE.
0351 HRS 600 BLOCK OF GRACE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 20 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0551 HRS 00 BLOCK OF SUGAR CREEK CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 44 years of age, passed out and vomiting. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0724 HRS ALGONQUIN RD & CEDAR RIDGE DR. ASSIST OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT. Assisted Huntley Police with locating a hit & run suspect.
0758 HRS CHERRY ST. & PLUM ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0804 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1142 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1400 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1731 HRS 400 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 92 years of age with abdominal pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1822 HRS 9500 BLOCK OF HALIGUS RD. ASSIST TO OTHER AGENCY. Officer assisted McHenry County Sheriffs Department. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF.

McHenry County Tax Rates Released, Bills Coming In Two Weeks

McHenry County released rates Thursday for 2010 property taxes due this year.  Generally they were up but that's mostly academic since individual tax bills are the result of all the applicable rates together (there are about 450 different combinations) times the equalized assessed valuation of a particular property. Some residents in Algonquin and Huntley probably already know how much this year's bite is since Kane County bills were supposed to go out this week.  McHenry County homeowners will see theirs in about two weeks.

Chief Deputy Treasurer Glenda Miller said McHenry County bills will hit the mail May 13.  "I can't create the bills until the (County) Clerk certifies the rates," she said. That was Tuesday but Miller added that even then it takes a little while to get the physical bills checked, proofed, printed and ready to mail.

McHenry County tax rates are here if you own a green eyeshade and can remember all the taxing districts you live in:

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/Pages/TaxRates.aspx

More interesting are McHenry County tax reports here:

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/Pages/PropertyTax.aspx

McHenry County's tax base fell from $10.4 billion in 2009 to $9.6 billion in 2010. The base in Algonquin Township fell from $3.3 billion to $3 billion and the base in Grafton dropped from $1.7 billion to $1.4 billion.

More disturbing, in 2010 with the recession officially over, new construction in McHenry County amounted to a paltry $106 million. Algonquin Township only saw $10.9 million in new construction. Grafton's was only $8.4 million.

First Bianchi Trial Battle Halted, Second Round Still On

All the legal maneuvering to clean up the wreckage of the first McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi trial ground to a halt Thursday.  Circuit Judge Gordon Graham ruled a County appeal of his refusal to chop Special Prosecutors' bills bars him from ruling on anything else.  Meanwhile Bianchi's defense attorney blasted the Prosecutors for trying to get the judge who decided against them in the first trial removed before he can hear the second one

Graham two weeks ago rejected a motion from Illinois States Attorney Appellate Prosecutor Charles Colburn to reconsider how much the County has to pay Special Prosecutors Henry "Skip" Tonigan and Thomas McQueen for their so-far failed Bianchi investigation and prosecution. Monday Colburn asked the Second District Appellate Court to overturn that and Thursday Graham told attorneys until that's settled his hands are tied on anything else.  "Once the motion was filed, I've lost jurisdiction," said Graham.

Ironically that meant Graham not only wouldn't listen to arguments the County ought to pay the latest $90,000 round of Tonigan and McQueen bills but neither would he hear about another $15,000 McQueen said he should have been paid earlier but wasn't "due to a clerical error".

Graham also refused to hear Tonigan's sudden request to withdraw from the case to care for his elderly father and wouldn't rule on defense attorney Terry Ekl's request to have a group of Bianchi supporters enter the case so they can have Tonigan and McQueen fired for "incompetence".

Afterwards Colburn said he wasn't sure how long it would take for a decision on his billing appeal.  Ekl said he didn't know either but guessed nothing's really going to change before the upcoming trials of Bianchi and his chief investigator for alleged favoritism to family members and political supporters afoul of the law.

Ekl also blasted a McQueen motion asking Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw to remove himself from hearing those cases.  MQueen Wednesday said a blind blog revealed McGraw conducted training sessions for the Illinois States Attorney Appellate Prosecutor's Office. Then it drew connections between ILSAAP and Bianchi, Ekl and their mutual PR guy. Ekl was contemptuous.  "They want to remove a judge based on an anonymous blog?" he said.

In a written response to be filed today Ekl said even if the ILSAAP connections meant anything, it doesn't matter since the agency's not actually involved in the Bianchi prosecutions, anyway.  Graham limited ILSAAP Prosecutor Colburn to just arguing how much the County ought to pay for them.

The squabbling before Graham is technically a backstage affair so the standstill there doesn't have any effect on the Bianchi cases set for trial in June.  Check-ins on those are set this afternoon and McGraw may hear argument then about whether he should hand things over to another judge.

In the pic:  McHenry County Circuit Judge Gordon Graham.

Westfield Veggie Garden Unveiled For Earth Week, Pantry

Led by Third Grade teacher Michelle Soland, Algonquin Westfield School students, staff and parents   sort of planted a community vegetable garden Thursday for Earth Week and the Lake in the Hills Algonquin Food Pantry.  The sort of part was because if the kids had actually planted beans, tomatoes, carrots and so forth the seedlings might as well have gone straight into the frozen food section. They hope to actually plant a series of 4x8 organic raised beds next to the school when it gets a little warmer and drier.

The idea behind the project is to connect students to the environment, raise nutrition al awareness, help the kids learn how food is really grown, and make them aware of hunger issues in their own communities. When the veggies mature later on they'll all go to the ALITH Pantry.

Besides Soland, Teles Landscaping, Bernardi Landscape,  Platt Hill Nursery, the Algonquin Home Depot, Home State Bank and the Algonquin Garden Club are all behind the garden.

Huntley OK's Latest Municipal Outsourcing Deal

The Huntley Village Board OK'ed the latest local outbreak of municipal outsourcing (or in as the case may be) to save money. Trustees approved a plan to swap plumbing inspectors as needed with Lake in the Hills so the villages don't have to hire private inspectors.

According to an agreement already approved by the LITH Board, Huntley and LITH can call in one of the other village's inspectors at $40 per hour instead of going to a commercial inspector on an $80 clock.  Village Manager Dave Johnson said the plan's mostly to cover vacations and probably won't save either community a bundle but it will save some something.

The measure was another instance of local municipalities trying to squeeze more out of what they've got to work with. LITH, for example, will take over Marengo's Police dispatching Monday. Meanwhile, Algonquin's taken over fleet service for Gilberts PD and the Algonguin Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District.

Who Pays When Flood Waters Rise?

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
The price tag for the floods in southern Illinois is expected to eventually rise to the millions.  But who is paying for the day-to-day cost of fighting the rising waters? The simplest answer: taxpayers. But most of the tax money for the relief efforts has been paid already, either to the state of Illinois or the federal government.

In any disaster, including the flooding taking place in southern Illinois, local cities or towns are the first to see the costs. Once the costs or additional needs get to be too much, cities and towns can then ask their counties for help.

When the counties hit their financial limit, they go to the state. And then the state of Illinois asks the federal government to issue a disaster declaration. Once that happens, Illinois can be reimbursed for 75 percent of the clean-up costs.

Patti Thompson, spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said Illinois does all that it can. "The state offers a lot of help," she said.  "We can send sandbags, dump trucks, and the National Guard. All of that is provided without a cost to local communities and counties."

Illinois already has thrown a couple hundred thousand sandbags at the rising Ohio, Mississippi, Cash, and Big Muddy rivers. Thompson said the state bought the bags with money already budgeted for disasters. State prison inmate crews filled them with sand, and trucks from the Illinois Department of Transportation delivered the sandbags to the flood zone.

Thompson said there's usually not much talk about paying for the clean-up until after the threat has faded. By then, the federal government may have stepped in.

Marty Nicholson with Alexander County's emergency management office, said she hopes that feds show up soon.  "There are so many costs right now. I just hope (we get) a federal disaster declaration to help pay for all of this," she said. Alexander County can't even pay for meals for the emergency workers. Nicholson said volunteers are bringing in food. "Ladies from the local churches down here are doing a fantastic job of feeding and taking care of us," she said.

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5885/who-pays-when-flood-waters-rise/

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
April 28
0403 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BOYD JR, JOE F/. M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 660 W. KATHLEEN DR., DES PLAINES. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, Driving without Headlights when Required. RELEASED ON BOND.
1739 HRS PYOTT RD. & E. OAK ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1915 HRS 3700 BLOCK OF CHADWICK LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 77 years of age with a headache. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2345 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF HORIZON RIDGE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 37 years of age fell down the stairs and has severe back pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
April 27
0201 HRS VILLAGE CREEK DR. & ACORN LN. DOMESTIC. Girlfriend vs. boyfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0911 HRS 4500 ALGONQUIN RD. (SEVEN ELEVEN). FOUND ARTICLE. Boy's Huffy bicycle found outside of business.
1034 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANTILLY CIRCLE. ASSIST TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. Assist the fire department with an outdoor light fixture on the garage that caught fire.
1505 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 38 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1630 HRS 10 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR CT. DOMESTIC. Ex-wife vs. ex-husband. Verbal only. No priors.
1702 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only. 
Algonquin
April 25
15:43pm A 17 year-old female from Huntley was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 05/25/11 in Algonquin.
21:10pm Caisman, Benjamin R., DOB: 06/30/92, of 1240 Fairmont Court, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 05/25/11 in Algonquin.
April 26
13:35pm Issleb, Forrest A., DOB: 01/27/93, of 490 Flora Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Cannabis and Failure to Obey Stop Sign.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 05/25/11 in Algonquin.
April 27
10:29am Parcheta, Marek P., DOB: 03/28/88, of 5754 W. Cornelia, Chicago, was charged with DWLS and No Seat Belt.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Lake Cook Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/01/11 in McHenry County.
April 28
11:09am Plumb, Emily A., DOB: 07/28/88, of 3 Lisa Court, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS and Suspended Registration. She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Bunker Hill Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 06/01/11 in McHenry County.
15:43pm A 14 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Resisting a Peace Officer.  He was taken into custody at Office Depot, 175 S. Randall Road.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
18:29pm Two 17 byear-old females from Crystal Lake were charged with Retail Theft.  They were taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  They were both Stationed Adjusted and released into the custody of their parents.
21:31pm Downey, Michael D., DOB: 05/02/71, of 3831 Wexford Drive, Springfield, was charged with Battery.  He was taken into custody at The Thirsty Whale, 1700 S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/02/11 in Kane County.
Huntley
April 18
A theft report was taken at the High School.  A student reported that his Nook book reader was stolen from his locker.
A theft report was taken n the 12300 block of Fox Run Ct.  A piece of jewelry was reported stolen.
A retail theft was reported at the high school.  A 15 year-old male from Huntley was charged with retail theft after stealing an item from the school cafeteria.
A theft report was taken in the 9900 block of Chetwood Dr.  A bottle filled with change was stolen from an open garage.
A theft report was taken near the intersection of Wheatlands Way and Allegheny Pass.  A backpack was stolen.
April 19
Johnny D. Lynch, age 35, of 12608 Oak Grove, Huntley, was arrested on an outstanding Cook County warrant.  Mr. Lynch was turned over to Hanover Park Police for transport to Cook County bond court.
April 20
Armando Ramirez, age 28, of 3101 S. Scoville Ave., Cicero, was arrested for driving with no valid driver’s license and was cited for display of an expired registration.  Mr. Ramirez was issued a McHenry County Court date of May 20, 2011 and was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond.
A residential burglary/criminal damage to property report was taken in the 11300 block of Fleetwood.  A basement window was damaged and a weight lifting set was reported stolen.
April 21
A burglary to business report was taken in the 10400 block of Rt. 47.  Electronics and cash were stolen.
An attempted residential burglary report was taken in the 13200 block of Bittersweet Lane.  Unknown subjects damaged the front door of the residence while attempting to pry the door open.
A theft report was taken in the 9800 block of Aberdeen.  A custom made skateboard rail was stolen from the driveway between April 19 and April 21.
April 22
A fraud report was taken in the 10000 block of Thornton Way.  Unauthorized
online purchases were charged to the victim’s credit card.
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken at a business in the 10400 block of Algonquin Rd.  The front passenger side window was broken and a purse was stolen from the vehicle.
April 23
Charles S. Scheck, age 36, of 5048 Main St., Skokie, was arrested for driving with no valid driver’s license and was cited for loud muffler.  Mr. Scheck posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 20, 2011.
A theft report was taken at a business in the 12400 block of Princeton Dr.  A donation container was stolen from the front counter of the business.
Robert F. Garcelon, age 47, of 11981 Oakcrest, Huntley,  was arrested for DUI and was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Garcelon posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 27, 2011.
April 24
Jeremiah D. Geishert, age 25, of 1235 Pond Point, Woodstock, was arrested for DUI, DUI blood alcohol over .08 and 2 counts of  endangering the life/health of a child and was cited for improper turn, disregarding a traffic control light, improper lane use, driving an uninsured motor vehicle, and 2 counts of failure to notify the Secretary of State of an address change.  Mr. Geishert posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 20, 2011.

More D300 Secondary Reorganization Info But No Cost Yet

Administrators either refined or further complicated the choices for reorganizing District 300's  high schools and middle schools Wednesday in a plan that might save the district $2.5 million next year.

Three new middle school plans would actually increase total "core" instruction time from 225 minutes up to as many as 270 but two would scale back optional classes and a program to encourage college prep. A third would limit the range of choices.

Four new high school plans would either lengthen or shorten instruction per day including one plan in which there'd be two different class schedules alternating day by day. Some of the variation would depend on lunch periods which might range from the current 30 minutes up to almost an hour and more might come from eliminating "advisory minutes" except for kids identified as actually needing some sort of help or counseling.

"Each of the versions has so many scenarios it's hard to pin it down for each student," said Ben Churchill who will shortly become Assistant Superintendent for High Schools.

Superintendent-elect Michael Bregy said administrators would help cost out the different choices at the Board's next meeting May 9 but said Wednesday that, "The first option (in each case) certainly offers the cost savings."

That might prove to narrow the choices down to no choice at all. In reports, Wednesday Finance Committee Member Dave Alessio said hopes of getting all the money the State's supposed to pay the District this school year are looking dimmer and dimmer.  If the money doesn't show up, he said, the District might have to draw down cash reserves and it would bode ill for the new school year, too.

Wednesday's reorganization presentation is supposed to be posted here later this morning:

http://www.d300.org/board-/-superintendent/board-education/presentations-board

In the pic:  A comparison of high school reorganization choices at District 300.--click to enlarge

New Jacobs Principal Named And D300 President Picked

District 300 Superintendent Elect Michael Bregy announced the new Principal for Jacobs High School at the District's Board of Education meeting Wednesday.  Jacobs Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ami Engel will take the reins when current principal Shelley Nacke moves up to District Assistant Superintendent for Special Education July 1.

Bregy said Engel and two other new principals were selected from 115 candidates in a grueling process that culminated in a pop-quiz email of raw school data from which each had to derive a detailed analysis within 24 hours.

Two new board members and a returnee were offically sworn in Wednesday.  Steve Fiorentino and former board member Susie Kopacz won the seats of Karen Plaza and Monica Clark in the April 5 election.  Joe Stevens held on to his.

When long-time Secretary Anne Miller was nominated to be the new Board President, Stevens quickly moved to close the nominations in case anyone tried to draft him into the spot again.  Miller, as the only candidate, won the vote and Stevens seemed very happy to leave the post.  "I'll have a lot more freedom now," said the Algonquin resident.

In the pic:  Jacobs Principal for 2011-12 Ami Engel did a ceremonial round of handshakes with the newest edition of the D300 Board including new President Anne Miller.  Superintendent-elect Michael Bregy's in the background.

Prosecutor Wants Judge Off Bianchi Case

The probably sole-remaining Special Prosecutor in the Lou Bianchi case is asking to have the judge who ruled against him last month barred from hearing the remaining charges against the McHenry County State's Attorney.  In a motion made public Wednesday Thomas McQueen claimed Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw suffers "the appearance of impropriety."

Based on postings by an anonymous blogger McQueen claims McGraw earned $3,125 last year conducting training programs offered the the Illinois States Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor's Office and has another program like it scheduled later this year.  From that fact McQueen draws connections between ILSAAP and Bianchi as part of ILSAAP's theoretical governing structure; David O'Conner, once the Special Prosecutor in the Amy Dalby case that eventually led to McQueen's own appointment and now ILSAAP's training director; ILSAAP and Dan Curry, once a publicist for the agency and now for Bianchi and his defense attorney Terry Ekl; ILSAAP and its attorney Charles Colburn who represents McHenry County's pocketbook in the Bianchi investigation and prosecution and ILSAAP Director Pat Delfino who called Ekl to ask if he knew whether Colburn was still supposed to do that when McQueen's then-fellow Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan "noticed" him about a hearing in the case.

McQueen doesn't claim any of that's wrong but concludes that since McGraw received "significant compensation" from ILSAAP it looks like something might be wrong.  His motion asks the judge to disqualify himself from hearing two charges of official favoritism McQueen and Tonigan brought against Bianchi and his chief investigator and a third against another investigator for allegedly using a County car for personal errands.

Last month McGraw found Bianchi and his secretary not guilty of more than two dozen Tonigan and McQueen charges of Conspiracy and Official Misconduct before they even put on a defense.

Separately, Tonigan will ask to withdraw from the Bianchi case today to care for his ailing father and Ekl will try to get half a dozen Bianchi-supporting taxpayers added to it so they can ask Judge Gordon Graham to fire Tonigan and McQueen for botching things so far and scale back their bills for doing it.

The anonymous blog on which McQueen based his motion, McHenry Leaks,  is published by a DuPage County resident.

Women's Retailer Newest Addition To Randall Resurgence

A women's affordable fashion accessories and handbags retailer with trendy jewelry, earrings, bracelets, handbags and scarves is the latest addition to Algonquin's Randall Road recovery. Charming Charlie opened in Algonquin Commons Wednesday.

"You can call us a women's candy store," said co-manager Sarah Tjaden.

Charming Charlie's a Houston-based private chain with about 100 stores in the Southwest, South and Midwest. One of the store's hooks is that it's organized by "color family" for quick and easy accessorizing.

(Shopping must be a different experience for women than for men.  Your reporter usually buys clothing and accessories at war surplus emporia where everything is just green.)

Huntley Scouts Heat Griddles For Annual Pancake Breakfast

Huntley Boy Scout Troop 167's annual Pancake Breakfast is scheduled Sunday at the Huntley American Legion. Breakfast will be served from 8 am to 12:30 pm. "Treat mom or Grandma to an early Mother’s Day breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, juice, milk, and coffee," urges a Scout site posting.

Mom or Granny might even win a door prize. Area businesses have contributed a lot.

Tickets are available from any Troop 167 Boy Scout or at the door. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for kids 3 to 10.  More info: email  Jim Kostecki, at jimkostecki@sbcglobal.net .

Dump Old Drugs: Takeback Set Saturday In Algonquin, Huntley

Last year the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collected over 121 tons of prescription drugs nationwide so the group called another for this year.  It's this Saturday and the Algonquin and Huntley PD's are part of it.  Residents can drop off their dusty Dilaudids and expired Erythromycins at both department headquarters from 10 am to 2 pm.

Lake in the Hills residents are welcome to stop at either Algonquin or Huntley PD's.  The cops won't card you. In fact, the only reason the police are involved at all is in case anyone drops off "controlled substances" which include prescription drugs that are supposed to be--controlled.

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Apart from that, if the stuff's lying around there's always the danger of accidents and some people worry about water contamination if folks just flush the drugs down the toity.  DEA will incinerate the drugs collected Saturday.

Illinois’ Unpaid Backlog Could Hit $8 Billion

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Unless Illinois lawmakers make drastic budget cuts, or find a pile of money, the state's backlog of unpaid bills could almost double by July. Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka is warning lawmakers that Illinois' current $4.5 billion backlog could balloon to $8 billion by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

"We’ve had to pay back pension costs that we did not last year, and that takes up some slack.  We’ve had to pay back a Medicaid match that we missed … we’ve got employee health insurance that has to be paid.  We’ve got lapse-period spending which will come in after the normal payment cycle," Topinka said. "It all adds up.”

Topinka, a Republican, estimates the health insurance payment for state workers will total $1.2 billion, corporate tax returns will cost $800 million, and lapse-period bills will top $1.2 billion. Lapse-period bills are those bills that are received after the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, but are for services rendered or purchases made in the current fiscal year.

In January, Illinois lawmakers passed and Quinn signed into law a 67 percent personal income tax increase and a 45.9 percent corporate income tax increase.

Topinka said the tax hike money, close to $7 billion, is being spent on state pensions and Medicaid costs. But she said she understands why voters may have thought the income tax increase was going to get Illinois back in the black.

"How can you not assume the single biggest tax increase to hit this state … you would think it would go to paying off back bills and getting us intact," she said.

Quinn has said for months he wants to borrow money to pay off Illinois' past due bills. Lawmakers would not go along with that idea in January, and don't appear eager to do so now.
They are in the process of crafting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year before the scheduled legislative adjournment date of May 31.


You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5871/illinois-unpaid-backlog-could-soon-hit-8-billion/

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 schedule conflict

New Location For D300 Windmill Farm: Downstate Edgar County

District 300 plans for a $50 million downstate windfarm continue to evolve but Tuesday's meeting of The School Wind Consortium Board Tuesday marked out an end-of-July deadline to come up with one that can win approval from all three boards of education involved. The Consortium hopes to offset school bills for electricity by generating some of their own.

The latest scheme still hinges on federal money to build windmills but it's stimulus money that runs out at the end of the year.  That sets the limit on issuing bonds for the project and advisor Liz Hennessey of bond house William Blair and Company said all the paperwork involved  requires a July commitment.  Meeting dates for the boards of the three school districts in the Consortium work out to July 28 to pull the trigger on the windfarm project or put the gun away.

Plans to locate the consortium's windfarm in western Stark County had to be abandoned since there wasn't enough time to find out how much it would cost to hook a farm there into the power grid.  "It would have taken nine months," said CEO Cheryl Crates.  Instead the group's hoping to join up with an as-yet unidentified windfarm that's farther along in the development process.  "They do have confirmation that they can get it hooked to the grid," she said.

The Consortium Board's retired behind closed doors in its last two sessions but reluctantly admitted Tuesday its new target is "in Edgar County", southeast of Champaign.

Published reports indicate at least three different windfarm companies have been prowling around Edgar and southern Vermillion counties since 2009.  Edgar County Board Chairman Jim Keller told FEN the one most active is headed by "a rich fella from Wheeling named Gerry Forsythe."

Gerald Forsythe is CEO of Indeck Energy Services, Buffalo Grove, one of two partners in a company called Donica Creek, LLC, that hopes to build a windfarm in Edgar County's Kansas Township sort of near Charleston. Two years ago an Indeck spokesman said it wasn't the best place to catch the wind but it was really handy to a couple of transmission lines and an Ameren substation.

Chairman Keller said he wasn't sure what stage Indek or any of the other companies had reached in development but revealed another complication that could affect Consortium plans. Indeck's said its windmills will be really big ones with rotor tips nearly 500 feet in the air.  "Nobody's going to build anything in Edgar County," said Keller, "until they prove to my County Engineer they won't bust up our roads."

"We learned that the hard way with the pipeline a few years ago," Keller said.

In the pic:  Edgar County's actually closer to Terre Haute than anywhere worth mentioning in Illinois.

Senior Housing, Flea Market, New Food Pantry On Tap For LITH

The Lake in the Hills Village Board Tuesday gave preliminary approval to plans for a senior residents' complex, a summer flea market on Route 31 and relocation of the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry.

The flea market proposal for a spot owned by Plote Homes about one quarter mile south of the Crystal Lake Wal-Mart drew opposition from nearby businessman Emmet Stains.  He charged its site lacked good access, water, sewer and garbage service and police protection.  Community Development Director Dan Olson said there's already a curb cut for the location and entrepreneur Tony Sarillo said he'd have portable potties and hand washing stations for the flea market as well as workers to help keep things orderly and organized.

Sarillo said he hopes to open the flea market in about a month with 100 vendors to start.

The 92-unit Residences of Lake in the Hills senior complex between Village Hall Drive and Algonquin Road has been in the planning stages for about six months.  The streets in the area were originally built with something like it in mind and it'll use up one of the few remaining undeveloped locations in the village.

Pantry Director Dick Hoferle said relocating his facility to a pole barn on the newly-secured Larsen Farm on Pyott Road would "create a real positive impact for anyone who visits there."  Village Administrator Jerry Sagona said there'd still be plenty of room for Village equipment storage. Hoferle wasn't sure when the Pantry could move.  First, he said, the group has to raise about $200,000 to remodel the structure although that would include the cost of materials for which it already has some tentative donations.

The LITH Board's expected to give final approval to all three projects at its regular meeting Thursday.

In the pic:  (above) The planned flea market would be west of Route 31 and south of Rakow.  (below)  An artist's concept of the Larsen pole barn remodeled for the ALITH Food Pantry.

158 Foundation Presents ‘Ravinia Fest 2011’

The District 158 Education Foundation will hold ‘Ravinia Fest 2011’ at Culver’s of Huntley next Tuesday featuring the District 158 Faculty Jazz Band. As at Ravinia, blankets or lawn chairs will be in order only it'll be a lot easier to get a Butterburger and a Scoopy than in Highland Park. Not as far to drive, either, come to think of it.

The event's from  4:30 to 8 pm at the Huntley Culvers where  10 percent of all pre-tax dine-in, carry-out, or drive-thru orders to the District 158 Education Foundation. All funds raised benefit the children of  District 158.

The Faculty Jazz Band features Brian Faulkner, Pam Jorgensen, Jenny Karl, Rick Rohde, Chris Skrzypchak, Ingrid Mullane, Nick Konwerski, Emily Moore, Brent Mullane, Anthony Camarda, Jenny Charles, Britt Crowe, and Dan Schraub.

In case of rain or whatnot, ‘Ravinia Fest 2011’ will be held in the Culver’s restaurant dining room.

"One Act Festival" Set Friday, Sat. At Jacobs

The Jacobs High School Drama Club will put on its annual “One Act Festival” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm at the high school. The festival consists of six different half hour plays under different directors, three  per night.

The notice doesn't list the titles and neither are they listed on the Club's Facebook page.
Shakespeare?  Shaw? Simon? How lucky do ya feel?  Tickets are $4 for one night, $6 for both evenings. Call 847-658-2500 to order them.

Obituaries

Mary Elizabeth Massy, 90, of Huntley formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, died peacefully Saturday,  at her daughter's home. Funeral services for Massy  will all take place in Oakmont, PA.  Entombment will take place at Calvary Cemtery in Pittsburgh.

Massy was born October 25, 1920, the daughter of Frank and Catherine (Murphy) Hammill.

Marcelina Unto, 78. of Huntley died peacefully, April 18. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary Catholic Church and burial was in Huntley Cemetery.

Unto was born June 18, 1932 in the Philippines, the daughter of Benigno and Felisa Panday.
She is survived by her children:  Ma Mercedita Sarsaba, Reynaldo Unto, Ricardo Unto, Imelda Unto, Melinda Unto, Ferdinand Unto, Perlita Castro and Melani Unto and by 13 grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband and two children, Elpidio Unto, Jr., and Lorena Unto.


Bert Jr. Huff, 90, of Huntley, died Monday at Heritage Woods in Huntley following a lengthy illness. Graveside services with military honors will be held on Friday at the Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington.

Huff is survived by his daughter, Amelia Judd Sharp of Huntley, his son, Bert (Debbie) Huff of Ramona, CA, and five grandchildren   He was preceded in death by his wife, Imogene, his sister, and four brothers.

$8 Billion Service Tax Hike Unlikely

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
A new report says Illinois is ignoring as much as $8 billion in potential tax revenue, but there is little support from either political party in Springfield for a grab at the money. The report states that Illinois does not tax many services — only 17 — and that other states tax many more, 56 on average.

The legislature's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability analysis estimates that the state could generate between $4 billion and $8 billion if lawmakers were to expand the service tax base. McHenry County State Rep. Mike Tryon said that's not going to happen.

Tryon said he doesn't know many Democrats in Springfield, and even fewer Republicans, who would vote for another tax increase. He said passing the 67-percent personal income tax hike earlier this year has left a bad taste with many lawmakers. "Are we the highest in sales tax, are we the highest in property tax, now we're midway in income tax, and then be the highest in services taxes?" Tryon asked. "We're building a government we can't afford."

But it's not just the GOP that is reluctant to talk taxes again. State Rep Elaine Nekritz said few Democrats want to fight that fight again. "I think that another tax discussion has almost a zero likelihood of happening," she said. "That being said, the only scenario which I could see (a service tax hike) is if we were to roll back part of the income tax increase and move to a broader sales tax base."

Ralph Martire with the Center for Tax and Accountability said many states have already looked at service taxes, and Illinois will likely have to do the same. "We tax the sale of products .. .back in 1965 the sale of products was 32 percent of all economic activity in Illinois," he said. "Today that has declined to 12 percent." In the same period, services in Illinois have jumped from 35 percent of the economy to more than 60 percent.

"Obviously there are many considerations to take into account when contemplating taxing services, and we will continue to hear arguments for and against the idea," said Kelly Kraft with Gov. Pat Quinn's budget office.

The report from COGFA does not argue for or against a service tax increase or expansion. But the report does highlight issues that lawmakers may face if they choose to take on service taxes.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5840/lawmakers-service-tax-hike-unlikely-despite-8-billion-to-be-had/

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
April 26
0459 HRS 2118 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (CEDAR RIDGE PLAZA). CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti found on the northwest fence line.
0811 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1101 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1310 HRS 0 BLOCK OF HAWTHORNE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 80 years of age, disoriented. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1604 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1609 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD.. (MORETTI’S). THEFT. A jacket and cell phone were reported missing. Report for insurance.
1910 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF GALWAY DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Male subject attempting to steal metal from inside a house under construction. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.

Grafton Audit: No Apparent Progress

It was unclear Monday if Grafton moved any closer to beginning a long-delayed audit of the Township's 2009-2010 financial books after a special Board meeting ended in the usual disarray.

The meeting was supposed to have been called to interview two CPA firms but Supervisor Linda Moore said one neither one could actually attend Monday evening although one out of Rockford had agreed to appear via speakerphone. Former Winnebago County Auditor Don Elliott said his company had lots of experience conducting governmental audits.

Questioned by Trustee Rob LaPorta, Elliott admitted he knew Grafton Township has "issues".  "These two audit firms I think don't understand the scope of the audit that needs to be done," said LaPorta who started to list some of them.  Moore cut him off saying, "This isn't an information session."

Changing tack, LaPorta cross-examined Elliott to find that he, himself, wouldn't conduct the audit but would delegate it to two associates, one with lots of experience, one without so much as far as government ones were concerned. LaPorta charged that wasn't good enough.  Elliott said, in that case, he wasn't sure he wanted to do the audit.  "These are two very experienced persons who know how to do audits for governments," he said.

No action was taken and Elliot eventually hung up.

During public comment Crystal Lake CPA's Mary Miller and John Verchota said they'd like to make a presentation.  Moore asked why they were there. LaPorta said he'd invited them.  Moore charged LaPorta was treading a line that might violate Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell's order that she's the one who's supposed to make Township contracts.  "I don't want you to have to deal with the consequences," she said.  "I'm trying to protect you."

Trustee Barb Murphy argued, "This is not negotiating a contract," and since Trustees and Moore deadlocked over whether to even listen to Miller and Verchota she was probably right.  Having reached another impasse the meeting adjourned.

Afterwards Miller, current Chairman of the McHenry County College Board, told FEN what she and Verchotta wanted to talk about was a pre-audit to organize the Township's working papers.  Verchota said if records are too disorganized, whoever's hired to audit them might simply give up and abort the process.

Moore and the trustees were supposed to be in Circuit Court again this morning to see if, among other things, trustees could block Moore from appointing her personal lawyer as Township Attorney.  However, after the meeting LaPorta and Murphy said they'd been notified that had been pushed back a week because of Judge Caldwell's case schedule.

In the pic: (below) CPA's Mary Miller and John Verchota said it was a good idea for an auditing firm supervisor to be onsite "in a situation like this where there's a lot of controversy." (above) More comic relief as Trustee Gerry McMahon chastises the Supervisor's husband for getting too close with his Flip video recorder. 

Algonquin Bypass Demolition May Start Today

Demolition to make way for Algonquin's Route 31 Bypass didn't begin Monday but the delay manifestly wasn't weather-related.  The project contractor just didn't have the paperwork done.
"We got the permit today," owner Ken Copenhaver said Monday afternoon, adding that work would start this morning--weather permitting.

Copenhaver's firm is supposed to pull down six buildings in the bypass right of way along Algonquin Road, dig up the foundations, backfill the holes and seed the area. There isn't any actual work scheduled on Algonquin Road itself but IDOT officials said motorists should keep an eye out for "slow-moving vehicles in the area."  Given the proximity of the demolition spectacle, some of them might even belong to gawking fellow-motorists.

Construction of the bypass itself and interchange with Algonquin Road isn't expected to start until next year. It won't be done until late 2013, according to an IDOT spokesman.

In the pic:  Algonquin Bypass work will begin on the north Side of Algonquin Road while workers remove asbestos from two commercial buildings on the south, according to Gilberts contractor Ken Copenhaver.

Bianchi Prosecutor To Resign From Case

Lead Special Prosecutor Henry "Skip" Tonigan Monday notified all the other lawyers in what's left of the State's Attorney Lou Bianchi case that he'll ask to withdraw from it Friday due to an illness in his family.  The move came less than a week after the McHenry County Board refused to OK the latest round of Prosecutors' bills in the case and four days before Bianchi's defense attorney hopes to argue Tonigan and fellow-prosecutor Thomas McQueen should be thrown off the case for "incompetence".

A copy of his motion to withdraw says that Tonigan's ailing 86 year-old father has taken a turn for the worse and there's no one left to help Tonigan care for him.  The motion says McQueen's "capable and able to serve" in Tonigan's stead in the Bianchi prosecutions.

So far all they've yielded is $312,000 in bills to the County and a "not guilty" verdict without a defense on all charges of Conspiracy and Official Misconduct.  Bianchi lawyer Terry Ekl is due in court Thursday to see if Judge Gordon Graham will let him argue for some Bianchi-supporting taxpayers that the bills should be cut back and McQueen should be removed from the case, too.

Three additional Special Prosecutors' charges, two against Bianchi and his chief investigator for alleged favoritism, and a third against another investigator, apparently for using his County car for private errands, are set for trial in June.

In the pic:  Henry "Skip" Tonigan

D300 Board Seating Postponed To Cross T's, Dot I's

Monday's scheduled swearing in of new members to the District 300 Board of Education had to be canceled since the district still hasn't received the official election results from the Kane County Clerk. There isn't any doubt that incumbents Joe Stevens and Chris Stanton and newcomers Steve Fiorentino and Susie Kopacz won their seats but there are legal proprieties that have to be observed before they can actually occupy them.

One of them is receiving the certified vote totals and D300 spokesman Allison Strupek said the official canvass results are expected by Wednesday. The swearing in and a few odds and ends of Board work afterward have been reset for Wednesday at 5 pm at Algonquin's Westfield School.

House Redistricting Hearings End

By Melissa Leu, Illinois Statehouse News
 It's all over but putting pen to paper for planning Illinois' next political map. The Illinois House Monday finished the last of 15 meetings that accepted public input on redistricting, a process to determine how political boundaries will be drawn for the next decade.

“What we're doing is gathering information from community groups, organizations, ethnic and racial groups — anyone who wants to come forward and speak his or her mind," said State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, of the hearings.

But not everyone was satisfied with the conclusion of the hearings. Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Charleston said the committee needs to hold more meetings to be geographically equitable. "We completely ignored the bottom third of the state of Illinois. There were no hearings in downstate Illinois," Chapin said.

Minority and special interest groups agreed with Rose, with most asking for a two-week period to review any map put out by the Legislature. “We deserve an opportunity to view and comment on the proposed maps before they're voted upon,” said Martin Torres, a policy analyst for the Latino Policy Forum. “Absent of the opportunity to view and comment on proposed legislative districts, the Latino Policy Forum is unconvinced that incumbent legislators will keep the best interest of the Latino community in mind.”

Currie, who heads the redistricting committee, said it's too early to know exactly where the lines will be yet. She hasn’t ruled out the idea of more hearings after the maps have been released, but called it a matter of time. “People always think they are going to get done early, and people being people, we often run up against the deadline,” Currie said. “Given that, I'm not going to make any firm commitments.”

The new map must be passed by majority of the Legislature and signed by Gov. Pat Quinn by June 30 or the decision will be put to a bi-partisan redistricting commission.

You can read Melissa's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5829/house-redistricting-efforts-wrap-up-2/

In the pic:  McHenry County's current regime.

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
April 25
0941 HRS PYOTT RD. & JENNINGS DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. RUSSELL, CASSANDRA E., F/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 11 S. ALFRED ST., ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1035 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD., (COSTCO). RETAIL THEFT. KOWALCZUH, RADOSLAW, M/W 37 YEARS OF AGE, 2611 FAIRFAX LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Retail Theft under $300. RELEASED ON BOND.
1333 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. WANTED ON WARRANT. OCASIO, JENNIFER A., F/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 10519 CHARLES RD., WOODSTOCK. CHARGE: Wanted on Warrant, Boone County for Fraud. Bond Amount: $3500 at 10%. RELEASED ON BOND.
1921 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. MORO, MASON L., M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 1913 EDGEWWOD DR., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a minor. Notice to Appear Issued. RELEASED ON BOND.
JUVENILE, M/W 15 YEARS OF AGE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, Illegal Possession of Tobacco by a Minor. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1204 HRS 343 N. RANDALL. (STARBUCK’S). Delayed. HIT & RUN. Guard-rail hit by a vehicle that left.
1509 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF WATERFORD LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1611 HRS 500 HARVEST GATE. (LINCOLN PRAIRIE). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 9 years of age, with a laceration to his head. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Easter Opening For MegaChurch Branch, Huntley

Hundreds flocked to the first service at Willow Creek Community Church's newest branch in Huntley Easter Sunday. Hundreds more attended the second Easter service a little later. It was the grand opening of the megachurch's latest thrust into McHenry County but only one of several currently underway.

The new Huntley congregation's actually been meeting at Huntley High's Performing Arts Center all month to "fine tune our weekend experience" but Sunday marked the start.  The South Barrington-based church, the third or fourth-largest in the country, reported earlier it had budgeted $500,000 to launch  its Huntley daughter, itself an offshoot from its Crystal Lake branch established 7 years ago.

Willow planners said they picked Huntley to expand because their Crystal Lake satellite "is bursting at the seams" and because, "a large percentage of the population in the Huntley region is unchurched."  They said they hoped to serve Sun City retirees in particular but also "younger families" recently moved to the area.

Indeed, Willow Creek isn't the only church interested in local expansion.  Earlier this year Lifeline Christian Church began holding services in Algonquin, Crystal Lake's The Well opened in Lake in the HIlls' former Joy Community Church building and a Naperville church is reported planning to start a new congregation in Huntley later this year.

Suburban Bus Service: Scanty And Likely To Stay So

McHenry County's half-cent RTA bailout sales tax churns out about $2 million per year for the agency's Pace suburban bus service but Pace only spends about $1.8 million on service to the county, according to Deputy Executive Director Rocky Donahue.  "Yes, you're a donor county," said Donahue at an overview briefing for County officials last week.

If that's the case, though, what does that make the County's southeast corner where Pace's dial-a-ride program spent $138,000 last year?  Pace delivered a grand total of 7,000 rides and those were pretty much limited to the Cary/Fox River Grove area.

Rural McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks hosted the briefing by Donahue and fellow Deputy Director Mike Bolton to see if there wasn't some way to get more more Pace bus service for the area.  The answer, in essence, was probably not a lot.

"There are 62 separate Federal programs to provide transportation funding," said Bolton.  "They're supposed to coordinate," he said.  "We've had very little collaboration and very little (local) coordination," observed Franks.  Bolton replied Pace hopes to use rider cellphones and modern computers to knit together a transit service so riders could take use any bus in the area whatever program was supposed to be "theirs".  He didn't have a timeline for that, though.

Neither did Donahue hold out much hope for new routes even though Pace knows there's a service mismatch these days.  "We formed to take people in to the central business district in Chicago," he said.  "What we have now is people living and working in the suburbs.  Now we need that suburban-to-suburban commute."  The problem is Pace is using all its money to operate present service with none left over for new.

In the pic:  Pace's latest transit area transit effort is McHenry County's Pilot Program.  It's an attempt to create a "circulator" route between Crystal Lake, McHenry and Woodstock so buses there don't have to make empty return trips. 

Franks Calls For Dismissal Of Metra Board

McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks had other things to say about public transit last week.  He called for removal of the entire Board of Directors of the RTA's Metra rail service.

"If Metra spending over $1 million on Springfield and Washington lobbyists is not bad enough, its failure to properly report that activity certainly is,” said Franks.

Metra's has agreed to pay the federal government $90,000 in fines for neglecting to file disclosure reports required by federal lobbying law. Reports were not filed by the Carmen Group Inc., Metra’s previous Washington-based lobbying firm.  McHenry County Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano maintined Carmen's work was "advisory" and then threw himself under one of his own trains last year ahead of an investigation for bilking the agency of $500,000.

Franks, the County's pre-eminent Democrat claimed the fine was really the fault of McHenry County's Metra Board member, prominent Republican Jack Schaffer. “As Treasurer, responsibilities for compliance fall upon Schaffer’s shoulders," said Franks. "Metra directors are supposed to be independent watchdogs appointed by their respective county board chairmen. Instead we have political cronies who allowed an executive director to loot the system."

Metra's having a bad Spring.  Board Chairman Carol Doris announced a couple of weeks ago she was stepping down less than a year after the Pagana scandal .  That was a day after a report broke that Metra investigators suspected a former official tried to shake down a movie company that needed a railcar for a location shoot.

Franks isn't very happy with any of the region's mass transit agencies.  He's introduced legislation to remove the salaries and benefits for all transit agency board members and to consolidate the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace Suburban Bus Service into a single agency.

Freshman Lawmakers’ Plans For Change Swept Aside

By Melissa Leu, Illinois Statehouse News
The winds of change ushered in with the November election of new lawmakers apparently have quieted down to a subtle spring breeze. In their first 100 days in office, freshman Senate and House members saw low passage rates on measures in which they were the sole sponsor, 17 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, who had two out of 10 proposals passed out of the House, said he’s accomplished his goals thus far, despite his low batting average. "We were given a choice, either focus on all of our bills or focus on priority bills. So I had to focus on bills that were a priority for my district,” said Jones, who concentrated on economic development and education.

“I don't kid myself. I have the same vote as everyone else, but I am a freshman. I am the first Republican elected in our district under this single-representative system, I'm in the minority and it's redistricting year. So that's not exactly a big recipe for legislative potency,” Rep. Richard Morthland, R-Cordova, said.

Morthland, who had the third-highest success rate of any freshman this session, said he’s faced roadblocks. In January, he called for a 10 percent legislative pay cut. His proposal died in committee, but the issue resurfaced in legislation sponsored by Democratic freshman Michelle Mussman, of Schaumburg. Mussman’s House bill passed 85-14.

Jones, who calls his first few months a “learning experience,” was one of many freshman members who were "hazed" by their colleagues during the debate of their first proposed legislation. Experienced lawmakers pepper the first-timers with sometimes brutal questioning, and this year forced the freshmen to wear a red jacket when defending their first bill.

Although he’s enjoyed his initial months as a lawmaker, freshman Rep. Dwight Kay, a Republican from Glen Carbon, doesn’t see himself as a career politician.

“If I can't do what I think is best for people and get that accomplished for my district and this state, I don't intend to run for office (again),” Kay said.


You can read Melissa's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5821/freshman-lawmakers-plans-for-change-swept-aside/

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
April 24
0144 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO). DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. FARLEY, BRIAN J., M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 1716 GRANDVIEW DR., MCHENRY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving with a Blood Alcohol Content over .08. RELEASED ON BOND.
1144 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED MOLINA-CERVANTES, IBIS, M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 431 BRANDY APT B, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1718 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. JOHNSON, CHARRIE, M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 1800 HUNTINGTON BLVD., HOFFMAN ESTATES. CHARGES: Two counts of Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1608 HRS OAKLEAF RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Female, 64 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital for general evaluation.
1658 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PINE ST. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Son. Verbal only. No priors.
Algonquin
April 22
21:07pm Fitzgerald, Kevin R., DOB: 01/22/88, of 30 Witt Road, South Barrington, was charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and DUI.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 06/01/11 in McHenry County.
23:37pm Lahman, Matthew F., DOB: 06/06/68 of 1310 Cherrywood Court, Algonquin, was charged with DUI and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.  He was taken into custody at 1310 Cherrywood.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 05/25/11 in McHenry County.
April 23
18:00pm Wollam, Michael C., DOB: 12/13/64, of 1615 Mansfield Court, Roselle, was charged with DUI, DUI Over, Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Following Too Closely.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Lincoln Street.  He was released after posting $250 and his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 06/01/11, in McHenry County.
April 24
03:14am Kenaston, Ronald A., DOB: 07/19/78, of 26 N. River Road Apt #2, Algonquin, was charged with Battery.  He was taken into custody at 26 N. River Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 05/25/11 in McHenry County.
09:00am Medina, Victor R., DOB: 11/28/81, of 1120 Portsmouth, Island Lake, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Harrison Street and Route 62. He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 05/25/11 in McHenry County.
18:34pm Smith, Omesha N., DOB: 04/22/88, of 4527 N. 84th Street Apt #4, Milwaukee, was charged with DWLS, No Proof of Insurance and Suspended Registration.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Route 31.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 05/25/11 in McHenry County.
21:58pm Eaves, Elizabeth M., DOB: 10/24/78, of 271 Country Commons Road Apt 2, Trout Valley, was charged with DWLS.  She was taken into custody at Route 31 and Cary Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 05/25/11 in McHenry County.

McHenry County Employment Advances

McHenry County's unemployment rate fell in March in the face of hiring according to the latest report from the Illinois Department of Employment services.  The county's labor force returned to a pre-recession level of 180,000 workers while the number of job-seekers dropped to 16,000 yielding an 8.9 percent unemployment rate, down .2 from February's revised figure.

"The three-month moving average of payroll employment gain of 15,400 for January through March is more indicative of the current job market," said IDES Communications Director Greg Rivara. "The three-month context better depicts trends in the labor market as evidenced by improvements in other measures such as increasing on-line job advertising and falling initial unemployment claims."

Since January, 2010, when Illinois employment began to recover, the state has added 89,500 jobs according to IDES data. Leading sectors have been Professional and Business Services (+38,900); Educational and Health Services (+24,800); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+21,800); and Manufacturing (+9,900). That represents a 1.6 percent job growth, compared to the nation’s 1.2 percent.

The March figures show local recovery still has a long road ahead, though.  In March, 2008, four months after the recession began, McHenry County's labor force stood at 182,429 and only 10,165 were out of work.  That meant an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent at the time.

                           UNEMPLOYMENT (unadjusted)             
               REVISED    Feb 2011          PRELIMINARY Mar 2011               
               LABOR    UNEMPLOYED      LABOR   UNEMPLOYED      Mar 
               FORCE    NUMBER  RATE    FORCE   NUMBER    RATE  2010   
U.S. (X1000)   152,635  14,542   9.5    153,022   14,060   9.2  10.2    
ILLINOIS     6,532,580 615,878   9.4  6,573,126  599,003   9.1  11.4   

MCHENRY COUNTY 179,801  16,410   9.1    180,407   16,045   8.9  11.2    
KANE COUNTY    269,619  26,391   9.8    270,687   26,013   9.6  12.1    
LAKE COUNTY    353,103  37,975  10.8    357,281   37,398  10.5  12.5
DUPAGE COUNTY  517,310  36,619   7.1    519,401   35,853   6.9   9.0

ALGONQUIN       16,531   1,268   7.7     16,614    1,261   7.6   9.5   
LITH            16,855   1,357   8.1     16,908    1,318   7.8  10.1    
CRYSTAL LAKE    22,269   1,907   8.6     22,341    1,858   8.3  10.4    
MCHENRY         15,228   1,469   9.6     15,287    1,446   9.5  11.5   

Clement Weather Graces Easter Egg Hunt

There were two remarkable occurrences Saturday at Algonquin's Light of Christ Lutheran Church's annual Easter Egg Hunt. The sun was actually shining and the singing crowd literally hadn't missed a beat when a tripped-over PA extension cord was finally plugged back in to the inverter.

Kids from about 450 families scrambled after thousands of eggs hidden in the grass at the church's future home at Sleepy Hollow Road and Longmeadow Parkway.

Just when construction for the new church starts depends on how long it takes to sell the old one, according to Pastor Kendall Koenig. In the meantime the church plans to begin holding additional services at Westfield School this Fall.  "We're sort of waiting on God's timing," said Koenig.

Volunteers Clean Up LITH Parks

Saturday was Park Cleanup Day at Lake in the Hills but the truth was Village workers had done a pretty good job keeping them spruce over the winter.  Even so four Girl Scout troops and one Boy Scout pack did some fine-toothed grooming at Sunset, Leroy Guy, Ken Carpenter and Stoneybrook parks and the Kreutzer Farmstead.

In the pic: Individual local residents were also among the volunteers for LITH's Park Cleanup Day. Mike Parra and young Jerrod Sadler helped gather up the small amount of trash accumulated at Carpenter Park. 

Still Another Reason Not To Do Drugs

By Diane S.W. Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
Even a trace of illegal drugs in a driver's body can trigger a prison sentence according to an Illinois Supreme Court decision last week.

The court upheld Peoria motorist Aaron Martin’s original conviction and six-year prison sentence because he was driving with methamphetamine in his body when his car crashed into an oncoming vehicle killing two on Christmas night 2004.

The six other state justices concurred with Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis’ 10-page opinion, which overturned an appellate court decision that ruled there was no “causal connection” to prove the drug had caused the crash, since the effects of the drug had likely worn off.

“In this case, it was shown that defendant driver caused the accident," according to the high court's opinion. "Thus, there was no need to prove that he suffered from any degree of impairment which caused the accidental fatalities.”

Ronald Smith, professor at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, said the law has harsh consequences for those who are unaware. “It sends a message: If you do methamphetamine or some of these other drugs and you drive,” Smith said. “Regardless, if it has any impact on the way you drive — you have committed a felony, and you can go to prison.”

You can read Diane's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5823/driving-under-influence-of-drugs-watch-out/

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
April 23
0218 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.
DI BENEDETTO, NICHOLAS J., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 1400 PARK RIDGE DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
0254 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKE DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. DURKEE, VALERIE JEAN, F/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 631 ORCHARD CT., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0413 HRS RANDALL RD. & MCHENRY AVE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED. HERRERA, ANTHONY JUAN, M/W 32 YEARS OF AGE, 6099 HOLLORAN LN., HOFFMAN ESTATES. CHARGES: Driving while License Revoked, Improper Lane Use.RELEASED ON BOND.
0017 HRS 300 BLOCK OF BOULDER DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 30 years of age, fell and hit her head. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0310 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTIS). ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0740 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0849 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. FOUND ARTICLE. Floating diving platform found.
1210 HRS OAKLEAF RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Female, 31 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital for back pain. Male, 17 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital for a general evaluation.
1514 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LARKSPUR CT. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1602 HRS 3 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (AUTO ZONE). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Glass front door broken. Restitution agreement made.  FAIL TO FILE.