Third D300 Relay For Life An Indoor Event

Over 100 teams including more than 700 area students, parents, faculty, staff and community members trudged around the Dundee Crown gymnasium Friday night and Saturday morning
in District 300's 3rd Annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  Unseasonable temperatures and an uncertain forecast drove the event inside this year.

As dawn broke this morning active walkers urged each other on while those who'd finished their shifts began gathering up their bedrolls and tents for a trip home to a morning nap. Funds raised by the event are used to support cancer research, cancer education and those fighting cancer as well as their caregivers.

Algonquin, Land Of Water Conservation

Algonquin's Village Board room was full of empty barrels and composters Friday awaiting resident pickup in a joint effort with the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.  The idea was to order the recycling (and themselves recycled) containers online at the Conservancy website but pick them up locally so shipping on the bulky things wouldn't be prohibitive.

Resident Greg Haluczak stuffing a 55-gallon rain barrel into the back seat of his car said he bought it so his wife could water her patio plantings.  He paid pious service to recycling and environmental protection, but then added, "Truth be told, I'm just tired of the red signs going up saying we're short of water."

The village sold around 60 barrels and a dozen composters before the May 2 order deadline. Algonquin sales coordinator Katie Parkhurst said although cramming rain barrels into subcompact sedans was a little challenging, "So far everybody's been able to get them in."

There's no word yet on whether the Conservancy plans a second offering.

In the pic:  Greg Haluczak thought he got a good deal on a Land Conservancy/Village of Algonquin rain barrel.  "I checked the prices online before I ordered," he said.

Did Someone Mention Redistricting?

Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel may go down in history for adjuring politicians to "never let a crisis go to waste.  Even though he's a Democrat, a couple of area Republican Congressmen seem to be following the advice.

Congressman Joe Walsh who, at least until new district maps shake out, represents the northeastern section of McHenry County has a chat with drivers scheduled at a Shell gas station in Woodstock Sunday.  "I wanted to take this opportunity to hear firsthand from my constituents what they have to say about how the rising price of gas is affecting their daily lives and what they’d like to see me do about it in Washington," he said.

Meanwhile, Congressman Don Manzullo who, same redistricting caution, represents the rest of McHenry County sent out a release half an hour later Friday announcing legislation that's part of a GOP package to wind down quasi-governmental mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. At the height of the housing bubble the pair were buying about 90 percent of residential mortgages including sub-primes.  The Treasury pumped $200 billion into the two agencies for stock paying 10 percent dividends.

Manzullo's bill would ensure Tim Geithner can't let them off the hook for that.  “Fannie and Freddie must continue to pay their debts back to taxpayers," said Manzullo so the "ringleaders" of the housing crisis won't walk off without taking a bath like everyone else.

Registrations Open For HYSO Run Thru The Sun

It's signup time for the Huntley Youth Sports Organization's annual Run Thru the Sun 5k,10k and kids 1 mile Fun Run June 12.  The event starts and finishes at Regency Parkway and Farm Hill
Drive taking runners through the Del Webb Sun City neighborhoods of beautiful landscape, wide streets, good pavement and minimal traffic.

Here's where to sign up for the 7:30 am races and 9:15 am Fun Run:

http://www.active.com/running/huntley-il/huntley-youth-sports-organization-run-thru-the-sun-2011

In the past 12 years HYSO's donated over $120,000 to local youth sports organizations and the Huntley Parks Foundation.

Hospitals: Late Medicaid Payments Better Than Cuts

By Mary J. Cristobal, Illinois Statehouse News
Better late than never – that’s what Illinois hospitals are saying when it comes to their Medicaid reimbursement payments. The Illinois House Human Services Appropriations Committee is proposing a $463 million payment reduction of Medicaid to hospitals for next year’s budget. But the Illinois Hospital Association is offering an alternative – why not delay reimbursement payments than making deeper cuts?

“The state could extend the payment cycle rather than do cuts across the board,” said Howard Peters, executive vice president of Illinois Hospital Association. “Hospitals would rather be paid timely payments, (and it’s) better to be paid late than taking inadequate payment, because the Medicaid program is already paying less than the cost to deliver Medicaid care.”

Hospitals are familiar with delayed Medicaid reimbursements. Illinois’ Medicaid backlog bill is $448.6 million with the oldest bill dating back to Jan. 3, said Brad Hahn, spokesman for the state’s comptroller’s office. Illinois' total backlog of unpaid bills is hovering around $4.5 billion for the same period.

Because of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government matched Illinois' Medicaid payments by 59 cents on every dollar until March but then the match dropped to 57 cents per dollar. In June, the federal match falls to 50 cents. The "enhanced" match has brought an additional $2.6 billion to the state within two years.

“That’s why we have to try to make up for that, and that’s why we have to come in and have to come up with such steep cuts,” State Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Westmont. “It was wonderful to have that money in the last couple of years, but now it’s like falling off the edge of the cliff."

Bob Rosenberger, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Centegra Health System for the McHenry and Woodstock hospitals, said he won’t need to close programs if the additional cuts are implemented. Rosenberger was not able to provide the dollar amount the state still owes his hospital, but he said the state is behind on its Medicaid payment by 60 days. Because the McHenry and Woodstock hospitals do not rely on Medicaid payments as much as some other hospitals in the state, Rosenberger said a delayed payment would not be an inconvenience.

The state’s backlog of bills are expected to balloon up to $8 billion by the time a new state budget goes into effect in July, according to the comptroller’s office.

Kent Redfield, professor of political studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said delaying Medicaid payments is not a good idea given the state is in so much debt already and that the state needs to make significant cuts for next year’s budget. “You can’t avoid the pain. It’s better to get it over it now,” he said.

You can read Mary's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6004/hospitals-late-medicaid-payments-are-better-than-cuts/

Obituaries

Carole G. Coltman, 70, of Huntley died at home Wednesday following a  short illness. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 am Saturday, May 21, at St. Mary Catholic Church,  Huntley, with visitation after 9 am at the church.

Coltman was born May 6, 1941, in Chicago, the daughter of Walter and Genevieve (Nykiel) Cebelin.   She married Jim E. Coltman December 22, 1962.  She is survived by her husband  of Huntley; her children, Cindy (Martin Groenescheij) Coltman of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Corinne (Dave) Rapp of DeKalb, Brad (Rona) Coltman of Lake Geneva and Brian Coltman of Chicago; her grandchildren, Maggie, Ben, Michael, Emma, Isabel, Esther, Atalie and Ella, and her sister, Marilyn Cebelin of Florida.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or WomenWin.org

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
May 13
1106 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (Lake in the Hills PD). WANTED ON WARRANT. SPAIN, ERIC R., M/B 33 YEARS OF AGE, 9865 THORNTON WAY, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County, for Failure to Appear Domestic Battery, Bond $5,000 10% Applies.
Wanted on Warrant, McHenry County, for Failure to Appear Domestic Battery, Bond $20,000 10% Applies. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1152 HRS 90 BLOCK OF POLARIS DRIVE. TRESPASS. VENEGAS, JAVIER, M/W 40 YEARS OF AGE,  249 S. OLD RAND RD., LAKE ZURICH. CHARGES: Trespassing. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
2055 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD., (DOMINICK’S). RETAIL THEFT. JUVENILE, F/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGE: Retail Theft RELEASED TO RELATIVE.
0953 HRS 4100 BLOCK OF GREENFIELD LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 41 years of age, feeling faint. No transport.
1236 HRS FERRYVILLE DR & WINDGATE WAY. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti on sidewalk.
1331 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. VIOLATION ORDER OF PROTECTION. Possible Offense Occurred. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1501 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. THEFT. Paddle boat stolen. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1630 HRS 1300 BLOCK CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 51 years of age, needing evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1835 HRS 2500 BLOCK FAIRFAX LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 73 years of age, not feeling well. No Transport.

Production Note

FEN's host was blocked for 22 hours until Noon Friday.  Apologies to readers, but for once it's not my fault.

County Board Committee Draws Its Own Redistricting Map

The McHenry County Board's Legislative Committee basically threw out all three redistricting maps proposed by a consultant Thursday and in about an hour drew one of their own they liked a lot better.

NIU professor, particle physics researcher and Illinois State Rep. Michael Fortner late last week had churned out three new possible layouts for McHenry County Board Districts.  District One Member Marc Munaretto, Algonquin, got the Committee's collective ball rolling Thursday saying, "I don't like any of them very much." Neither, it soon became apparent, did anyone else.

The County Board has to come up with a new district map this year since 2010 census figures show McHenry County's population grew by almost 50,000 people since the last remap some districts gained a lot more new residents than others.  State law says the districts have to be within 10 percent of the same size.

One Fortner map tried to organize the County following township boundaries as much as possible. A second one tried to organize it around municipal boundaries.  A third map was a revision of the present setup.  Each had its own problems but all sliced and diced Lake in the Hills like a suburban zucchini.  "Lake in the Hills already has some of the most overlapping (governmental district) borders in the County," complained District 5 Member Paula Yensen, LITH.

"Because of its (east/west) geography it's going to be a victim," agreed Munaretto.

The way the group solved that problem simply moved it from where it was and shfted it west.  The map they came up with still paired half of  LITH with Crystal Lake and half with Woodstock but it also managed to chop Huntley in two wedding half  to Woodstock, the rest to the part of the County where the cornfields still haven't been paved yet. Even a perfect remap wouldn't truly solve the representation in southeastern McHenry County since big chunks of Algonquin and Huntley actually lie over in Kane County, anyway.

Even so, District 3 Member Nick Provenzano, McHenry, may have given the game away when he observed the starting point, Fortner's status quo map, had "the least impact to most of the residents". The impact he meant was making voters figure out if they had a new guy representing them.

The map the Committee came up with has two official virtues.  The districts are fairly compact and they're all almost identical in terms of population.  Unofficially, it also preserves the dominance of Crystal Lake in District 2, Woodstock in District 5 and probably manages not to add too many suburbanites to the County's rural and politically powerful District 6.

You can view the proposed map here:
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyboard/Documents/McHenry%20County%20Board%20Districts%20Proposed%20Map%20-%205-12-11.pdf

Plans are to solicit public comments on the proposed map (send 'em to your Board Members here: http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyboard/members/Pages/index.aspx), hold an informal hearing before Tuesday's County Board meeting at 6 pm and bring the thing back for a Legislative Committee fine-tuning May 26.

More Audit Delay, More Maneuvers At Grafton Township

The Grafton Township Board Thursday bickered over this year's budget, refused to consider a plan Supervisor Linda Moore's  announced that day to pay off the loan to buy back Township headquarters and finished the evening delaying a long-overdue audit again.

The bulk of the budget bickering centered on Assessor Bill Ottley's continuing quest to cool down his areas of the headquarters when the weather gets warm.  Heat is a major enemy of stable computers and Ottley claimed in the Summer the Assessor's part of Grafton's ramshackle headquarters gets way too hot.  "I come in in the morning and the fans are screaming on the computers and the power backup," said Ottley. "We're going to have to get some heating and cooling people to come in," he said but in the meantime he wanted $25,000 penciled into this year's budget against the hope they can find a solution.

Ottley also asked for more money to fill two currently empty Assessor's positions so he can handle an expected increase in property tax appeals this year.  "There's going to be a lot of them," he said.

Supervisor Linda Moore made fun of Ottley's total $70,000 requested budget increases comparing them to a $60,000 payment for an assessment program approved last year that she thinks was a waste of money. Tempers started to flare but Trustee Rob LaPorta cut it short saying, "Bill, just don't listen to her."

Adjourning the budget meeting and reopening in regular session, the Board rejected a Moore agenda item for a lump sum payoff of the Road District's loan for the infamously failed  new Grafton Township Offices.  Moore had sent out a press release Thursday afternoon announcing "she had negotiated a repayment arrangement with Harris Bank" but only with a May 31 deadline.

The rest of the Board had repeatedly rejected such a scheme and so had voters at a Special Town Meeting last month so  Trustee Barb Murphy was the only one willing to even talk about it.  "What's the point of it, Barb?" asked Trustee Gerry McMahon.  "It's a done deal.  Do you want to go back again?"

Trustee's had approved a plan to spread out buying the Township complex back from the Road District over three years. However, while auditing the latest bills they discovered Moore had already paid the District $400,000 of the roughly $600,000 outstanding.  Trustees were outraged but Moore pointed to March and April meeting minutes in which she said they told her to do it.

"We told you to pay it in April because you didn't do it when we said to in March," shouted LaPorta.

"I'm not a mind reader," Moore replied.

Trustees had rejected Moore's one-payment plan claiming the Township's finances are such a shambles that, in the absence of an audit of last year's books, they're not sure there's enough money to do it.  Moore has opposed the trustees' choice of auditor and Thursday Murphy finally appeared willing to OK Moore's preference just to get the process moving.  This time LaPorta torpedoed the audit demanding to interview the firm, Evans, Marshall & Pease. 

Moore pointed out the company's the same one that audits the vastly greater finances at School District 158.  LaPorta said, even so, he wanted to make sure the firm understood what they were undertaking.  The problem was, he said he wouldn't be able to talk to them very soon.  "Next week is out.  I'm totally booked," said LaPorta.

Since the Board didn't put Moore's plan to pay off the Road District on the agenda they couldn't ask how there came to be such a plan in the first place.  Trustee Betty Zirk hadn't even heard of it, anyway.  However,  FEN questioned Moore afterwards since it sounded like the LaPorta "fait accompli's" that have so troubled Judge Michael Caldwell in Moore's Circuit Court suit against the rest of the Board.

"I'm the (Chief Executive Officer)," replied Moore.

But not of the Road District.  Are you saying you're CEO of the Road District?

"No Comment," said Moore.

Did you personally negotiate with Harris Bank?

"Read the release," said Moore.

It seems to say you personally negotiated with them. Did  you do that?

"No comment," said Moore.

In the pic: Poring through  the bills Thursday revealed a $100,000 "carryover" of unspent General Assistance funds.  That's roughly 10 percent of Grafton Township's tax levy this year.

Pre-Founders' Carnival In Algonquin Next Week

Algonquin's Pre-Founders' Days Carnival's coming to Algonquin's Great Escape parking lot on South Randall Road Wednesday through next weekend. 

That may be a little confusing to residents into whom the slogan "always the last full weekend in July" has been drummed for 51 years but this is Founders' Days Carnival, not Founders' Days.
The idea is that a separate carnival will spread the weather risk around a little bit since for the past two years the dice have been against Founders' Days rainwise. Founders' Days and its regular carnival will be July 28-31 this year.

The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Jaycees are kicking off 2011 evetns with the Founders' Fun Bowl
at Algonquin's Brunswick Zone on Algonquin Road Saturday from 7 to 10 pm.

This evening will include a buffet dinner, three games of bowling, raffles and 50/50 for $25.00 per person. Tickets are available at Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce or by contacting Sue at 847-274-5491 or mombaz@sbcglobal.net .

Here's the schedule and prices for the Pre-Founders' Days Carnival:

Day/Date            Hours       Promotion Hours    Price
Wednesday May 18    6-10pm      POP* 6-10pm        $20
Thursday  May 19    6-10pm      POP* 6-10pm        $20
Friday    May 20    6-11pm    
Saturday  May 21    1-11pm      POP* 1-6pm         $20
Sunday    May 22    1-9pm       POP* 1-9pm         $20
 
Ticket Prices
1 Coupon $1.25
22 Coupons $25 ($1.13 each)
Rides accept 2-4 coupons
 
*POP--Pay One Price for unlimited ride wristbands

Rebranding District 300--"Voters" To Pick New Logo

In the midst of ramping a new Superintendent up to speed, trying to cut $8.3 million from its foundering budget, figuring out how to completely revamp middle and high school curricula and upgrading its Special Ed programs, District 300's Administration decided in March it needed a new logo "to represent the future of Community Unit School District 300". "Brand" was used a verb here.  In any case, the District released the top candidates  Thursday.  Here they are along with the one the District's using now.

Sixty-two students, parents and staff members submitted 87 designs from which these 10 semifinalists were winnowed by "a team of D300 leaders".  Now the public can choose a favorite here (kids vote at school):

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CUSD300logo

Voting runs through June 1 and the selfsame D300 leaders previously mentioned will pick the  winner from among the top 3 vote-getters.  The new logo will be unveiled in August, then it'll have a gradual phase-in over the next couple of years, according to a release.

In the pic: Click  for a larger version.

Illinois Education Reform Goes To Quinn

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn's desk is the next destination for the state's education reform measure, but the governor may not be the last stop. Illinois lawmakers and education advocates say the reforms, which passed the Illinois House, 112-1, Thursday, could become a national model.

Robin Steans, executive director for Advance Illinois, whose website bills the group as an independent, voice to promote the public education system in Illinois, said she watched the vote in Springfield, but knows top officials in Washington, D.C., were watching too. Steans said she's been answering calls for weeks from education advocates in other states as to how they can copy Illinois' path to education reform.

The reforms make it tougher for teachers' unions to strike. Especially in Chicago where 75 percent of teachers would have to vote to go out on the picket line. The plan also would make it easier to fire teachers by streamlining the process. Supporters say the two-year process to fire a teacher would be condensed to three to four months.

Additionally,  Chicago schools likely will see a longer school day, and longer school year because of the new measure. Chicago's public school day runs from 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., one of the shortest in the country. Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has said he wants to add at least an hour to that.

Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, said Illinois should get credit for coming to an agreement without protests and runaway lawmakers. "You have Wisconsin, the drastic one end," Chapa LaVia said. "And Illinois where we got it together as Democrats."

The only "no" vote came from State Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago. "I'm not going to be a union buster," Davis said. "Especially starting in my own city."

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6005/illinois-education-reform-getting-president-obamas-attention/

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
May 12
1656 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MUSNICKI, DEREK, M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 1930 BEACHVIEW ST., PINGREE GROVE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Expired Registration. RELEASED ON BOND.
1016 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF POPLAR ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 81 years of age, with a swollen leg. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
1116 HRS 2600 BLOCK OF CROFTON CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 93 years of age, possible stroke. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
2103 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PRIDES RUN. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2227 HRS 0 BLOCK OF NEWBURY CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 35 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
May 11
0054 HRS RANDALL RD. & ROOSEVELT RD. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. GONZALEZ-MENDOZA, SANTA, F/W 54 YEARS OF AGE, 5414 W. WINDING CREEK DR., MCHENRY. CHARGES: No Valid Driver’s License, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Driving with only one headlight. RELEASED ON BOND.
0811 HRS MILLER RD. & HALIGUS RD. DRIVNG WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SPAIN, ERIC R., M/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 580 WINDERMERE WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0358 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF CADBURY CIRCLE. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Unknown subject looking into vehicles.
0903 HRS 10 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR CT. DOG BITE. Male, 34 years of age, was bitten by a dog. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
1152 HRS 0 BLOCK OF GLASCOW CT. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. son. Verbal only. No priors.
1241 HRS 800 BLOCK OF MENOMINEE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 76 years of age, weak and in pain. Transported to Good Shepherd Hospital.
1528 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF HILLSBORO LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Trespass notice given to male, 16 years of age.
1745 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 56 years of age, passed out. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2142 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PINE ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 27 years of age, possibly overdosed. Transported to Sherman Hospital
Algonquin
May 9
22:00pm Woods, Shelly M., DOB: 01/02/62, of 675 Congress Street, Elgin, was charged with No Proof of Insurance and Unsafe Tires.  She was also Wanted on a Warrant out of DuPage County for Failure to Appear on a Traffic Offense.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 and High Point Ridge.  She was released after posting $100 on the DuPage Warrant with a court date of 06/10/11 in DuPage County.
22:51pm Gilard, Andrew G., DOB: 12/23/81, of 635 Red Coach Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Burglary to Motor Vehicle and Theft Under $300.  He was taken into custody in the 700 block of Chelsea Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
23:01pm Teuerle, Ashley M., DOB: 07/07/90, of 305 Pyott Road Apt #202, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Retail Theft.  Also taken into custody was a 14-year-old female from Lake in the Hills who was charged with Retail Theft.  Both subjects were taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  Both subjects were released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/29/11 in Algonquin.
May 10
11:49am Sanchez, Perla J., DOB: 09/05/76, of 334 Tulsa Avenue, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Washington Street and Main Street.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 06/15/11 in McHenry County.
May 12
09:00am Gramarossa, Deborah A., DOB: 07/14/65, of 980 Countryside Dr., Palatine, was charged with Domestic Battery and Assault. She was taken into custody at 40 Kelsey Ct. She was transported to the McHenry County Jail to await bond court.
09:09am Rodriguez, Abner A., DOB: 10/06/87, of 3918 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, was charged with DWLS and No Seatbelt. He was taken into custody at Washington St. and Rt. 31. He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 6/22/11 in McHenry County.
13:28pm Pesek, Katelynn C., DOB: 2/12/90, of 401 First St., Cary, was charged with DWLS. She was taken into custody at Main St and Jayne St. She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 6/22/11 in McHenry County.
15:05pm Money, Shane M., DOB: 08/19/89, of 241 Riversview Dr., Carpentersville, was charged with No Insurance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken into custody at Stonegate Rd. and Huntington Dr. He was released after posting $300 with a court date of 6/15/11 in McHenry County.
17:48pm Vales-Lopez, Gibran, DOB: 04/12/92, of 156 Golfview, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS. He was taken into custody at Algonquin Rd and Harrison St. He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 6/15/11 in McHenry County.
May 13
00:12am Riggio, Steven, DOB: 03/07/54, of 10450 River Rd.,, Barrington, was charged with DUI and Improper Lane Use. He was taken into custody at River Rd. and Echo Woods. He was released after posting his Driver’s License and $100 with a court date of 6/8/11 in McHenry County.
01:34am Licastro, Lynn V., DOB:03/03/50, of 1721 Lehman Ave., was charged with Domestic Battery. She was taken into custody at her residence and transported to  the McHenry county Jail for bond court.

Heavy Rain But Worst Localized, More On The Way

Storms Wednesday afternoon and evening brought a lot of rain to the area, in some places way too much.  National Weather Service radar estimates showed rain the storms were highly concentrated with areas around Bull Valley/McHenry and Spring Grove in McHenry County and the north part of Elgin in Kane receiving four or more inches of rain.  Localized hail was also reported in some areas.

Anecdotally, runoff  subsided overnight but there are still some locations with a lot of standing water.

An unusually warm and unstable atmosphere will remain in place across the region today, according to the Weather Service. This will set the stage for another round or two of thunderstorms later today and tonight as a storm system across the plains approaches the area. NWS predicts about .75 inch accumulation. Much cooler air will arrive for the weekend as a cold front passes Friday. Periods of rain showers can also be expected over the weekend, say forecasters.

Jacobs Supporters Hungry For A Win Tonight

Turn off the crockpot.  Toss that PBJ.  Here's what's on today's menu:  Buffalo wings, Buffalo wings on the side and Buffalo wings a al mode for desert.  If Jacobs High School supporters can eat enough lunch, dinner or carryout wings (or whatever, the menu's actually more extensive) at Algonquin's Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant,  the high school will win $3,000.

In its annual "Spirit Night Challenge" promotion, Algonquin's Buffalo Wild Wings on Randall Road will donate 15 percent of its lunch, dinner and carryout food sales today to Jacobs as long as they're made with this coupon:

http://www.d300.org/files/Jacobs%20High%20School%20Spirit%20Night%20Flyer%20Finals.pdf

Beyond that, though, it's the culminating eatoff among a group of Fox Valley Conference high schools that last year saw Crystal Lake Central High School carry off the $3,000 prize.  It's down to the Tigers again this year against the Eagles for the top prize.  Wild Wings people report Central supporters chowed down bigtime Monday....

Algonquin Senior Named Among Top State Young Entrepreneurs

An Algonquin youth is one of 10 Illinois winners of the National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation's scholarships for 2011.  Jacobs senior Dave Van Vlierbergen has an Internet golfball business he operates will fellow senior Matt Ehrhardt.

Ehrhardt's grandfather probably sparked the enterprise with his habit of toting suitcases full of golfballs for his grandson on quarterly visits from Arizona.  (He lives on a golf course.)  The balls kept accumulating until Van Vlierbergen came up with the idea of cleaning them for sale on Ebay. Sales took off, the pair found mysterious "'local sources'" for more golfballs, then for baseballs and tennisballs, too.

"We sell about 10 (lots) each week," said Van Vlierbergen, "a lot of baseballs and 9 sets, about 1,000, golfballs."

Profits from the venture are going toward the pair's college expenses.  Van Vlierbergen's going to U of I, Champaign, this Fall and Erhardt to SiU Edwardsville.  Van Vlierbergen, of course, will also be carrying $1,000 from the scholarship supported by Sam's Club in his pocket.

"We've got our own website. It's http://www.mddiscountgolfballs.com/ ," said Van Vlierbergen.

"Maybe you could mention we're having a big sale starting Sunday on PRO V1's," he added, possibly demonstrating why he won the Young Entrepreneur award in the first place.

In the pic:  Algonquin Seniors Dave Van Vlierbergen (left) and Matt Erhardt used some of the early profits from their used golfball business to buy an old commercial ball cleaner.  "At first we did it with a brush," said Ehrhardt.  "It took a long time."

Algonquin Historic Walking Tour, Slideshow Set Next Week

The Algonquin Historic Commission Wednesday worked over last-minute details for its new Old Town Algonquin Walking Tour set to begin next week.  It's going to be a 90-minute saunter through the Village's historic Old Town district, both geographically and historically.

The event's set for next Saturday, May 21 at 10 am at Historic Village
Hall, and last about 90 minutes (weather permitting). It's free, no registration's necessary and parking will be available in the public lot behind the hall.

The Commission will be offering something of a preview of the tour Tuesday in a slideshow presentation, “Footsteps through our History,”  at 7:00 p.m. at the Eastgate Branch of the Algonquin Area Public Library District (115 Eastgate Drive). The slideshow's free, too, but  advance registration is required. Call Library Adult Services at 847-458-6060 x143, or go to www.aapld.org ,  Events Calendar to register.

All attendees at thelibrary program and on the walking tour will receive a copy of the new 15-page Old Town Algonquin Walking Tour booklet/map to keep. For more info on the tour, the slideshow or the booklet/map call Ben Mason at 847-658-4184.

Lawmakers Add Millions Back In Budget

By Benjamin Yount Illinois Statehouse News
What Gov. Pat Quinn took away, the Illinois Legislature is giving back. Lawmakers restored millions of dollars in their final drafts of the education and human services budgets that the governor had cut from the 2012 spending plan. But they also trimmed hundreds of millions of dollars from the budget that Quinn presented earlier this year.

Quinn made headlines and raised eyebrows in February when he suggested that the state stop paying for regional school superintendents, which totaled $12.6 million this year. The governor zeroed out that portion of the budget for next year, but lawmakers returned $11.3 million in their draft. State Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, who helped craft the education budget, said lawmakers feared that doing away with regional superintendents would cost the state more than the governor's cut would save.

Lawmakers also returned millions of dollars that Quinn wanted trimmed from schools' transportation budgets. The governor wanted to spend $175 million on school buses, but lawmakers increased that to slightly less than $295 million.But Alene Reuschel, superintendent of Macomb Community Unit School District 185, said "It doesn't matter what the total dollars are if the state can't pay us what they owe us."

State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, said she heard plenty of people say they wanted more from the state. In response, she restored 27 different pieces of the human services budget that Quinn zeroed out in the final draft she helped craft. "He chose to take pharmaceuticals away from senior citizens; we put it back. He chose to take relief away through the Circuit Breaker (program); we put it back," Feigenholtz said. "We want services and dollars and assistance to get to the people who have earned it, paid for it and worked for it their whole lives."

The Senate is meanwhile is working on a different budget and Quinn has a third set of numbers. The State budget deadline is the end of this month.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5993/lawmakers-ignore-quinn-add-millions-back-to-budget/

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
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D300 Teachers' Union Says It's Ready For Salary Concessions

Thursday's bargaining session between District 300 negotiators and teachers' union reps should forecast whether the two sides will reach an early agreement or settle in for a summer's worth of trench warfare.  Union President Kathleen Hanetho said Tuesday the union's prepared to make all the financial concessions the District's asking for.  Algonquin Board Member and negotiator Joe Stevens said that's at the cost of 23 pages of "language changes".

Hanetho said she believes, based on questions from members and supporters, that "someone" is circulating information that her union, LEAD 300, is being intransigent.  "That's not true," she said, claiming the group's already put generous concessions on the table worth "between $3 million and $7 million".

The 2011-12 budget approved by the Board in March calls for $5 million in "savings" by essentially freezing teacher salaries at this year's levels even though teachers will have earned credit for another year's service, some of them credit for taking more teaching courses, too.

What the teachers want in return isn't so clear.  Hanetho said the rules wouldn't allow her to be too specific about what sort of changes teachers want in a new contract. Generally, however, said Hanetho, "what the District proposed was language so broad it could cover anything they wanted."

She claimed one passage, "would allow 63 students in a classroom."

"I can't allow that," said Hanetho.  "Our working conditions are students learning conditions," she said.

FEN was unable to contact Board President and negotiator Anne Miller.

Stevens said he, like Hanetho, was constrained from being too specific about what's going on.  Besides, he said, "I don't want to negotiate this contract in the newspapers."

In fact, Stevens said, so far there really haven't been any negotiations, just an exchange of proposals, albeit a cordial one.  "I would say on Thursday we're going to get into the meat of it," Stevens said.

LITH Civil Air Patrol Tops Great Lakes Region

Group Commander Brian Pokuta presented the Great Lakes Region 2010 Squadron of Distinction award Tuesday to Lake in the Hills' Civil Air Patrol unit.  It was the top honor for the six-state group so local commander Capt. John-Paul Kilanski was pretty proud of his cadets.  "We're number one out of 600," he said.

CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force supporting cadet programs like the one based at LITH Airport, emergency services and aerospace education.

GLR-IL-282, LITH CAP's official designation, beat everyone else at recruitment, retention and piling up points in a complicated (it's military, after all) system of training and testing.

"The purpose of CAP is for the cadets to teach cadets," said Kilanski.  "It helps develop future leadership."

In the pic:  LITH CAP earned a Group streamer to add to the squadron flag Tuesday along with a Wing streamer won in 2003.  Way cool in parades.  Sir.

LITH Larsen House To Remain A Residence

The Lake in the Hills Board Tuesday gave initial approval to renting out the Village's newly-acquired Larsen residence as just that, a residence.  Village staff said they found it would cost too much to turn into a commercial facility.

The home and outbuildings on the Village's Larsen Farm reverted to the Village with the death late last year of Joan Larsen, widow of LITH businessman Gordon Larsen.  The pole barn at the rear of the site's scheduled to become the new home of the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry but planners weren't sure what to do with the residence itself. 

Assistant Village Administrator Shannon Andrews told the Board they'd looked at the idea of renting it out as a commercial location but, "bringing it up to (Americans With Disabilities Act) code involved prohibitive expense."  The only alternative left was renting the house as a residence.

Andrews said rental on the Pyott Road farmhouse would run $2,040 per month and the Village would start advertising it next month.  However, she told FEN if anyone would like to spare LITH that expense, she'd be happy to do a showing before that.  Her number's 847-960-7410.

In other business, the Board said they were fine with LITH Rotary's 2011 edition of the Rockin' Ribfest, even with Trustee Paul Mulcahey's new band making an appearance in public.

Village President Ed Plaza fulminated about Springfield legislators' priorities in passing regulations for hair braiding salons and banning transfats from restaurants while the Governor's threatening to confiscate municipalities' share of State income tax revenue.  Thursday the LITH Board (among others) is expected to approve a letter of outrage about the possible moneygrab. 

In the pic:  For Rent--This Historic Farmhouse Set In the Midst of  Woodland Splendor Is Close To All The Urban Amenities, Etc., Etc.  Inquire At LITH Village Hall.

Algonquin E-Waste Event Set For Sat.

Saturday's the date for the Village of Algonquin's ever-popular e-waste Recycling Event to get rid of all those hi-tech doodads that made our lives things of constant joy and peace until they quit working or became embarrassingly obsolete.

From 9 am to 1 pm, "rain or shine", Algonquin residents only (proof of residency may be required) can come to the Public Works Facility on Meyer Drive to dispose of computer and entertainment stuff that really oughtn't to go into a landfill, even microwaves and toasters and rechargeable batteries.

It's easier to list what you can't bring:  refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, air conditioners, medical waste products and wet-cell batteries.

In the pic: E-waste sure adds up.  In the past two events in 2009 and 2010 Algonquin residents dropped off more than 50 tons of digital detritus for recovery and recycling.

House Human Service Budget Unveiled

By Melissa Leu, Illinois Statehouse News
Lawmakers in the Illinois House have released a proposed budget for human services, but some say discussions should not end until it’s passed and on the governor’s desk. Amended late Tuesday, the budget bill laid out numbers for the Department of Human Services, Department of Aging, Department of Children and Family Services and Department of Human Rights.

State Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-DuPage, said the total came just under the $12 billion the House’s Human Services Budget Committee was tasked with divvying.

Rosemary Mulligan, R-Park Ridge, said the process is still in motion, and to take any proposals with a grain of salt. “We're not done yet, so we don't have total agreement. Until we bring the bill out in committee, I don't think anything is agreed upon.”
Before the proposed budget measure heads to Gov. Pat Quinn, it must first pass the House and be agreed on by the Senate.

Adam Andrzejewski, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican gubernatorial primary, said lawmakers shouldn’t be balancing the state budget on the backs of those most in need, but a balanced budget was necessary. “We don't have a tax revenue problem. We have near record levels. We have a spending problem,” Andrzejewski said. “The spending side of the budget needs to be honed. It needs to become efficient. We can't tolerate the culture of corruption in Springfield any longer.”

Balancing the budget, however, means slashing spending in areas that require the most money, said Charlie Wheeler, a public affairs reporting professor at the University of Springfield in Illinois. “(Human services) does not spend as much as Medicaid, but human services as a (whole) does indeed spend a lot of money,” said Wheeler. “If you want to save big bucks, you have to cut programs that cost big bucks. That's sort of elementary.”

Human services accounts for about 36 percent of the entire House budget.

You can read Meliassa's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5984/house-human-service-budget-unveiled-2/

House Education Budget Would Delay Cuts

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
An Illinois House committee found a compromise on education cuts that members from both parties could back: Put off potential reductions in general state aid until the end of next fiscal year. The Illinois House committee  tasked with producing the chamber's education budget set the goal of trimming Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed education spending from about $7.6 billion to about $6.9 billion, though members acknowledge that after input from the Senate, the final spending number could be more than their proposal.

The House budget, which the committee approved Tuesday, does restore Quinn’s controversial proposed cut to transportation funding and even increases transportation spending levels over the current fiscal year. Rep. Roger Eddy, the minority spokesperson on the committee, noted that transportation funding was cut from $335 million in fiscal year 2010 to $270 million in the current fiscal year. Quinn called for another reduction next fiscal year, which would put transportation spending at $175 million. The House is proposing $295 million to get children to school.

The committee also approved a 3 percent reduction to general state aid to schools. Quinn called for an increase to general state aid of about $260 million The House’s plan would result in about a $152 million reduction from current funding levels, but Eddy said it could be pushed to the end of the next fiscal year.  “If there’s not supplemental funding, at some point or another next year, [Fiscal Year] 12, toward the end of the year, districts would get less money in general state aid,” Eddy said.

Eddy said a possible silver lining for school districts planning their budgets is that the plan doesn’t promise money the state doesn’t have. “We can all take a little bit of solace in the fact that these are real dollars that are likely to be available, as compared to past budgets, where there were appropriation increases and school districts just didn’t see the money.”

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/house-education-budget-would-delay-some.html

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
May 10
1535 HRS PYOTT RD. & RAKOW RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MADDEN, MARGARET B., F/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 255 BLUFF ST., BARRINGTON. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Registration Suspended for Mandatory Insurance Violation and No Proof
Of Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
2038 HRS CRYSTAL LAKE RD. & OAK ST. NO VALID ILLINOIS LICENSE. ESQUIVEL-FUNTES, MARIO, M/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 26 1/2 N. AVER ST. APT 3, HARVARD. CHARGES: No Valid Illinois License and No Safety Sticker on Trailer.
2054 HRS 2126 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (CONVENIENT). NO VALID ILLINOIS LICENSE. CASE, WILLIAM J., M/W 38 YEARS OF AGE, 2301 CLAREMONT, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: No Valid Illinois License (Expired more than a Year). RELEASED ON BOND.
0242 HRS 300 BLOCK OF PYOTT RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1449 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WHITMORE WAY. UNLAWFUL USE OF A CREDIT CARD. Unknown subject utilized complainant’s credit card. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1604 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 18 years of age, fell off his skate board. No transport.
2055 HRS 300 BLOCK OF POCAHONTAS TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. 2 priors.
2220 HRS 10 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
2233 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MASON LN. DOMESTIC. Father vs. daughter. Verbal only. No priors.

D300 Cutback Plan Due For Decision In Two Weeks

In a three hour session Monday that may have set a record for informational density, the District 300 Board of Education began to sort out plans to reorganize middle and high school curricula, revamp Special Education, confront a tax threat from retailer Sears and pick a new health plan for teachers and staff.  The curriculum change was the biggest hurdle. A decision on that may come within two weeks.

In earlier meetings Principal-Elect Michael Bregy's "Leadership Team" outlined three options to change middle schools and four for the high schools but most of them, for the moment, don't appear to count.  Bregy said he's already got staff working on two different sets of student schedules for the 2011-12 year.  One is the current regime, the other's a new scheme that would see classroom time and the number of teachers fall.  "We know the (revised plan) is not what's best for our students," said Bregy.  "I don't want to start my (administrative) career $29 million in debt," he added in a reference to the District's financial position when outgoing Superintendent Ken Arndt took over 10 years ago.

Although the District's balance sheet is in the black right now, the possibility of massive debt isn't farfetched as legislators and the Governor wrestle with how much aid to education they think the State can afford.  "That hits us square in the face," said Bregy.  If everything works right, he said, "We are $5 million in the hole for next year."  If it doesn't, "We could be as much as $18 million," Bregy said.

The plans being considered call for both middle and high schools call for fewer classes conducted for longer periods.  That means fewer teachers, too.  Savings estimates range up to $2.3 million for sixth to eighth grades and up to $4.5 million in the high schools.  Against the money is how many teachers could return next year.  Last month the Board preemptively laid off about 360 teachers.  According to estimates Monday, staying with the current curriculum might leave as many as 90 teachers looking for new jobs next year.  Under the new regime Bregy favored, as few as about 50 might be left out in the cold.

Estimates of money saved and teachers called back were expressed in ranges because, "There are, seriously, options within options," Bregy told the Board.

Be that as it may, if the District's going to make changes, said Bregy, they'll have to be made soon, probably at the Board's May 23 meeting. Otherwise, he said, "They just won't get done."

Bregy's favored middle and high school reorganization would be something of a stopgap measure.
Three more years out the State will put a new student testing plan in place that will probably require another reorganization, he said.

Looking immediately ahead, Member Joe Stevens reminded the rest of the Board that even with curriculum revisions, getting through the coming year even $5 million in the red assumes the District's teachers will agree to what amounts to a salary freeze.  Stevens said Board and teachers' union negotiators have three meetings set this month to try to negotiate a new contract.

Union President Kolleen Hanetho said there was a lot of information to evaluate in all the reorganization options but her people hoped to work with the Board to come up with something they could all live with.

Financial details of the various reorganization plans are supposed to be posted here at some point: http://www.d300.org/board-/-superintendent/board-education/presentations-board

Operating details of the plan presented to the Board two weeks ago are posted here:
http://www.d300.org/files/April%2025%202011%20Secondary%20Reorganization%20Options%20Part%202%20v11.pdf

Sears Relocation Would Threaten D300 Stability

Monday's public announcement that Sears Holdings is thinking about leaving Hoffmann Estates for someplace else stirred up the District 300 Board like a swarm of bees defending their hive.  "You absolutely know Sears is going to make a run not to pay these tax dollars," warned Member Joe Stevens.

The tax dollars he meant were the ones District 300 would receive when an economic development scheme meant to lure Sears to Hoffmann Estates more than 20 years ago expires next year. D300 CFO Cheryl Crates said it's cost the District $105 million in lost taxes over the period and the Board's been counting on starting to collect them soon to offset  what Crates otherwise projects will be lean years without end.

Crates last week warned she'd discovered a bill in the Legislature to extend the plan which funnels real estate taxes back to Sears and Hoffman Estates itself.  Monday in an apparent bid to ratchet up the pressure, Sears confirmed it's thinking of carrying off its 6,200-person headquarters to a business-friendly low-wage state like Georgia or Texas or (really) New Jersey.

The threat came less than a week after Sears's new CEO announced yet another tumble in sales at Sears and Kmart chains. Lou D’Ambrosio said then they'd make it up "reinventing" clothing lines and "leveraging" appliances.  However, Monday's announcement sounded like a Sears attempt to stifle rising costs by trying to get the kind of subsidy the State's recently handed out to Caterpillar and Motorola  to keep those companies from folding their Illinois tents.

Stevens said, "I think we need to mobilize (local legislators) soon to protect our tax dollars."

Crates said she had a meeting scheduled with Sears' execs Thursday. "I'll tell you Friday if we need to let the dogs out."

In the pic:  Sears HQ

Special Education Changes Revealed For D300

Postponed from last week as the D300 Board and Admin wrestled with overhauling secondary schools, a plan to revamp the District's Special Education programs announced Monday wasn't the wholesale measure everyone expected.

Two months ago public presentations by consultants said D300's Special Ed programs weren't good enough and the kids in them didn't do as well as regular students. Superintendent-elect Michael Bregy mooted big changes mainstreaming Special Ed students into normal classrooms.  "They were expecting us to change everything right from the get-go," said Associate-Superintendent to-be for Special Ed Shelley Nacke.

The actual report, however, seemed to say the kids were doing about as well right now as anywhere else in Illinois, indeed, in the rest of the U.S.  Special Education Administrator Don Wesemann observed Monday that almost 95 percent of the District's Special Ed kids graduate high school.

What Nacke announced involved a lot of backstage scenery shuffling parents and kids will never see and one major revision they will. Special Ed "facilitators", the teachers who decide with parents how to write each child's Individual Education Program, will be replaced with Special Ed Administrators.

"We are asking our facilitators to be experts in all 23 areas (of disabilities and handicaps)," said Nacke arguing that just didn't make sense.  Especially since the facilitators kept changing as kids moved their way up through the grades.

The District's 10 facilitators were among those let go in the last round of layoffs, according to Nacke.  They'll be replaced with 10 administrators specializing in one or more Special Ed area.  The new Special Ed admins won't necessarily meet with parents to work out each IEP but each one will follow each child's progress as he works his way from start to graduation.

Nacke said there'd actually be a small ($30,000) budget savings under the new plan.

Revamping Special Ed was earmarked to save the District $400,000 in the new 2011-12 budget but afterwards Bregy said that figure wasn't really "savings", it was money  D300 just doesn't have anymore from one-time grants and state aid.

The new Special Education plan can be found here starting at page 119: http://www.d300.org/files/Board%20of%20Education%20Meeting%20Packet%2005.09.11.pdf

D300 Health Plan To Save $1.4 Million

Another measure to hold District 300's deficit to $5 million in next year's budget was a plan to change healthcare insurance for teachers and administrators.  Savings were budgeted at $1 million but Insurance Consultant Debbie Lorsch said Monday a new HSA (Health Savings Account) plan for the district would save $1.4 million over the current FSA (Flexible Spending Account).

Mixing healthcare, insurance and IRS regulations is the sort of thing that leaves consumers muttering over spreadsheets and reaching for the bottle of non-aspirin but Lorsch said she'd run the new plan backwards against what D300 people actually used in the way of medical care and medicine last year and "92 percent of employees would have had savings (then)" she said.

On the other hand, "We had 70 employees who would pay more," Lorsch said, as much as $500 more.

Naturally, it's not that simple since the new plan involves not only a payment from the District but also contributions from employees if they want to make them.  In that way it would be a little like a 401k except limited to medical expenses.  Money not spent in the year it goes in would just roll over and accumulate, a nice feature since, like a 401k it would be portable in case of a new job somewhere else.

District 300's proposed Health Savings Account plan is outlined here starting at page 105:
http://www.d300.org/files/Board%20of%20Education%20Meeting%20Packet%2005.09.11.pdf  

Tattletale Deputy On "Medical Leave", Sheriff Won't Say Why

McHenry County Deputy Sheriff Scott Milliman who reportedly has very bad things to say about Sheriff Keith Nygren has been placed on Family Medical Leave according to a response Monday to a FEN Freedom of Information of Act request.  The Sheriff's Office won't say when or why, though.

A previous FEN FOIA request revealed Milliman was placed on Administrative Leave just before Christmas, the day after McHenry County Blog publisher Cal Skinner revealed contents of a court transcript in which attorneys and a federal judge discussed a  Milliman depositon accusing the Sheriff of telling him to kill two people, running an illegal immigrant railroad  and taking bribes from attorneys to fix criminal cases.

Nygren's Office refused to say why he was orginally put on leave, even when the Illinois Attorney General's Office asked for details.  FEN's appeal on that one still isn't settled.

FEN will file an appeal with the AG today seeking the date Milliman's administrative leave was changed to  medical leave.  According to one informed source it was March 3, a month after a legal brief in Rockford said Nygren sent him to see a psychiatrist.

A Sheriff's Office response to an FEN followup inquiry Monday said "including the reasons and dates involved would be a violation of (federal health privacy) Law and Deputy Milliman’s privacy."
Milliman still wouldn't talk Monday about what's going on for the record but said that might change soon.

In the pic: Still a McHenry County Deputy, Scott Milliman  

Business Owner Ups Algonquin Lions Scholarship

Algonquin Lions proved Monday that when you cast your bread upon the waters sometimes you do end up with more than a soggy crust.

Lions Monday awarded their annual $2,000 Ted Spella Scholarship to Dundee-Crown Senior Delaney Notbusch. Since Buffalo Wild Wings owner John Weiler had done so much to help the club raise the money in the first place, though, they decided to award it in the name of Weiler's daughter, Katy, who died in a car crash several years ago.  Weiler and wife Barbara were so overcome they added another $1,000 to Delaney's college fund.

In the pic:  Algonquin Lions VP Mike Hecht presents this year's Spella Scholarship to Delaney Notabusch who'll be studying for a healthcare career at Parkland College in Champaign next year.

Quinn Promises Veto For Smart Grid

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Monday once again promised to veto controversial legislation headed for a vote in Springfield. Quinn said he would not sign the Smart Grid legislation, which promises newer technology from Illinois electric companies.

Smart Grid would give ComEd and downstate Ameren automatic rate increases. Ameren's customers would pay an extra $5 a year. ComEd's customers would pay an extra $36 a year. But the companies would be required to spend millions on a new power grid, new meters, and new automatic technology.

Lawmakers, the Illinois Attorney General's office, the Illinois Commerce Commission and consumer advocates have been meeting for months as they try to reach an agreement before the end of the spring legislative session.  But Monday's at a news conference Quinn said he now wants everyone to go back to the bargaining table

Smart Grid's legislative sponsor, state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, said the governor didn't need to wait for a news conference to take a position. "This is pretty late in the session. And many times in the past I've seen (proposals) get weighed down so heavy that they collapse from the own weight," said McCarthy.

McCarthy said he's been saying for months that lawmakers, advocates or anyone else who has problem with the Smart Grid plan should call him and let him know. McCarthy said he'd only heard rumors from Quinn's office before Monday's news conference.

Quinn said he now hopes to start work on a new version of Smart Grid. "We have time, this month, really to negotiate something that is in their interest, the consumer's interest, and the workers' interest in Illinois," said Quinn.

McCarthy said the plan is still a work in progress, but added that the final version may not be what the governor wants. And McCarthy said Quinn's veto might not change that. "I think if these last few things come together, in an agreeable manner, I think we'll get a vote that is over the 71 that'll be needed (to override a veto)," said McCarthy.

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5969/quinn-promises-veto-of-smart-grid/

In the pic: A Com Ed pilot program "smarty meter".

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
May 09
1540 HRS PYOTT RD. & JESSIE RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. VICTORIA, JUAN C., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 300 S. CLIFFTON AVE., ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Improper Use of Registration and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0533 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF GENEVA LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 69 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
0825 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0858 HRS 10 BLOCK OF LINCOLN ST. DOMESTIC. Sister vs. sister. Verbal only. Two priors.
0930 HRS 310 N. RANDALL (CHASE BANK). THEFT. Taken from the front of the building was the magnetic door opener.
1309 HRS HALIGUS RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1432 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 18 years of age, took an unknown amount of drugs. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
1551 HRS 0 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only.  One prior.
1633 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 86 years of age, with blood in her stool. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2303 HRS 0 BLOCK OF SIERRA CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 31 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Huntley
May 2
Evette Perez, age 18, of 606 Second Ave, Joliet, was arrested for driving while license suspended and possession of a suspended drivers license and was cited for display of expired registration and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.
May 3
Five criminal damage to vehicle reports were taken at a business parking lot in the 11800 block of Rt. 47.  A pellet gun was used to damage the vehicles.
May 4
A criminal damage to vehicle report was taken in the 10500 block of Oxford Dr.  The lock on the vehicle was damaged.
May 5
Frenando Leyva, age 43, of 25 Arrowhead #62, Algonquin, was arrested for driving while license revoked and was cited for driving with no insurance and driving with an expired registration.  Mr. Leyva posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of  May 27, 2011.
An identity theft report was taken in the 10000 block of Cummings St.  The victim states that fraudulent charges were made to her credit card.
Two criminal damage to vehicle reports were taken in the 14000 block of Red Hills Rd.  The tires were slashed on two vehicles.
Ryan M. Beckard, age 32, of 11007 Rt. 47, Huntley, was arrested on and outstanding warrant for domestic battery.  Mr. Beckard was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
May 6
Timothy J. Reincke, age 38, of 11445 Lansdale Dr., Huntley, was arrested for domestic battery.  Mr. Reincke was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
May 7
A 16 year-old male from Huntley, was arrested for 2 counts of domestic battery. The juvenile was released to his parents and will be petitioned into McHenry County Juvenile Court.
May 8
James Davidge, age 18, of 4891 Highwood, Lake in the Hills, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis.  Mr. Davidge posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 27, 2011.

Complaints Already Growing Over 2010 Tax Bills

District 158 Board Members report they're already taking flak from Kane County residents, many of whom saw big increases in the tax bills they just received.  They may get more when McHenry County taxpayers get their bills due to hit the mail Thursday.  "It's just a massive tax burden shift," said Member Tony Quagliano at last week's Board meeting.

The question is why and the short answer is no one, in Illinois legislative circles, anyway, ever imagined housing prices would fall.  At least not this much and certainly not the way they have in Grafton Township.  "We have more people that are 'upside down' (owing more on a mortgage than a home is worth) than anywhere else," said Township Assessor Bill Ottley.

To a considerable degree, during the housing boom Grafton Township was where the action was at in local homebuilding. Between 1998 and 2008 Huntley alone added 8,913 residential housing units, according to Village permit figures.  Half of those permits were issued at the top of the bubble between 2003 and 2007.  In 2008 the sky collapsed, though, and housing prices have been on a downward trend ever since.  By McHenry County Economic Development figures for last year, only 72 percent of homes in a one-mile radius of Huntley's center were owner-occupied.  Seventeen percent were being rented out.  Starkly, more than 11 percent were vacant. "No one foresaw the housing market ceiling falling out," said Ottley.

"Distressed sales dominate the market," said McHenry County Assessor Bob Ross.  That hurts two ways.  Even though short sales and foreclosures aren't supposed to count for much in the official assessment process, the low prices do eventually drag down the prices of "arm's-length" transactions, too.  Furthermore, with the market as thin as it is, sometimes distressed properties are the only comparables available at all.

That also plays to a Grafton weakness, according to Ottley, since the newly-built housing stock still has an element of cookie-cutter similarity.  "If a Maxwell (model) house down the street just sold for 30 percent less than five years ago, it's pretty hard for me to argue your Maxwell (model) is still worth the same as it was," he said.

It's not just Grafton Township, of course.  Housing values have been falling McHenry County-wide.  For instance, Assessor Bob Kunz reported he reassessed 22,000 homes in Algonquin Township for 2010.  But Grafton seems to have fallen the most and in the patchiest fashion, too, some neighborhoods more than others.  "Northbridge was really hit hard," said Ottley.

Where the tax bill crunch comes is in taxing district levies, how much money the districts asked to receive.  Mostly that went up 2.7 the officially certified measure of inflation. Oversimplifying, no matter what happened to assessments, if it happened equally, everyone's tax bill would be expected to increase by that amount.  Since some owners' assessments went down more than others, though, the increase fell unevenly.  Since everyone in a taxing district pays the same tax rate, the bill depends on what happens to each individual property assessment.  The collective tax increase leaves some people carrying more of the proportionate burden than they did before.

"We tried to get the word out," said District 158 Treasurer Mark Altmayer, especially since assessments in Rutland Township turned out not to have fallen as much as those in Grafton. New Board president Mike Skala said some of the problem came from poor communication.  "We were led to believe assessments were going to drop about 9 percent in McHenry County," he said.  Collectively the McHenry County fall turned out to be about 14 percent.

In the pic:  Assessments in Huntley's Northbridge subdivision led the way in adjustments, according to Grafton Assessor Bill Ottley, generally falling about 25 percent.

Water Shutoffs Expected In Huntley This Week For 47 Construction

This week's work widening Route 47 in Huntley won't only tie up traffic.  For some residents it'll also shut off the water. Tuesday IDOT crews will be working on watermains on East Mill Street, and on Wednesday they'll be working on West Mill Street mains.

Residents and businesses affected by water shutoffs are supposed to be notified in advance. Here's the village's link on boil orders:  http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health/pdfDocs/ENV/food/FAQBoilOrder.pdf . Even though the water will be shut off, traffic will remain open at Route 47 and Mill Street.

Wednesday Dean Street will be closed for the day between Route 47 and Wood Creek Drive. Dean Street traffic will be detoured to Mill Street.

Throughout the week, crews will continue working on sanitary sewers and watermains on the East side of 47 between Main and Kenneth and will be placing base aggregate between Kreutzer Road and Main Street. Watch for flaggers and truck traffic. This week also, new street lights ae suppposed to go in on the west side of 47 between Algonquin and Reed Road. Watch for flaggers there, too.

As construction continues, the Route 47 project will continue to create large traffic back-ups. Village spokesmen ask drivers to obey the rules of the road and refrain from blocking side streets into which other poor souls may wish to turn.

Algonquin Dancers Prepare For Local Competition, China Trip

Dancers at Algonquin's Pro Dance Elite Studio practiced their routines this weekend getting ready for competitions this weekend in Geneva and the following one in Aurora.  They're Midwestern prelims leading to a National event in July.

What the girls really have their eyes on, though, according to Director Kim Brancamp, is a China tour in September.  They'll appear at the 22nd Annual Shanghai and the 4th Annual Luo Yang (nearby as Chinese distances go) tourism festivals.  Event organizers say they'll be performing for an audience of between 20 and 30 million.

In the pic:  Instructor Marissa Nemec, shows dancers at Algonquin's Pro Dance Elite studio how to throw a hip shot.

Biology Breaks Out of Shell At Mackeben School

When Old McDonald had a farm "a chick, chick here and a chick,chick there" wasn't much for kids to think about them.  It was, after all, "here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick."  But that was a simpler age and these days there's no obvious connection between chickens, eggs, or even a 10-piece order of McNuggets.  Hence, the sound of chirping chicks filling D158's Mackeben Elementary right now.l

Each year after Spring Break, kindergarten classrooms become mini chick-hatching labs to teach  science, language arts, writing, technology, math, and career education.  And which came first, of course, the chicken or the egg.

Mackeben teacher Jennifer Wilkinson brought the learning experience to her kindergarten classroom nearly 13 years ago after attending a chick hatching class at the McHenry County Farm Bureau in Woodstock. Financial support for the chick unit is provided by the District 158 Education Foundation, Fruin Farms and Schroeder Asphalt.

The chicks, incidentally, aren't permanent residents at Mackeben.  Eventually they mature and, like the rest of us, have to learn how to get by on chickenfeed.

In the pic:  MacKeben Kindergarteners Matthew Caridei, Hudson Fisher, Katherine Patel, and Nathan Brown demonstrate how the chick unit is a hands-on educational experience.

Illinois House Takes Budget Behind Closed Doors

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois' budget process has retired into the metaphorical smoke-filled room. That's making some people suspicious.  

Five appropriation committees in the Illinois House of Representatives have moved to closed-door meetings to hash out the details of the state budget, especially where and how to cut state spending. “The committees are meeting in closed session to hammer out and to talk about some issues that they don’t feel comfortable doing in the public,” State Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, said.

“Public confidence is so low in Illinois lawmakers that it is not helped at all when things are done behind closed doors,” said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Lawmakers said they are hesitant to float some needed but politically dangerous cuts in public because of the potential repercussions.  That seems to be happening in "working committees" before an appropriations committee, but in a few cases the public has been kicked out of a hearing so the legislators could move the talks about the budget out of the public's earshot.

“What are they so afraid of?” asked Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. “We have a right as taxpayers and voters in this state to understand what the real issues are, what the real pressures are, if we need to cut, if we need to raise revenue.”

Long-time statehouse observer Kent Redfield said the return to the practice of lawmakers controlling the budget is a step in the right direction for Illinois, even though it’s not what everyone may want. “It’s much more participatory from the members’ standpoint than what’s been in recent history, but it’s not transparent in terms of a situation where all the decisions and agreements are made in public,” said Redfield.

Steve Schnorf, who was budget director under former Republican governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan in the 1990s and through 2002, said, “That way a legislator can say freely, ‘look, I hate to even suggest this, but maybe we need to cut home services and aging by $200 million.’”

Jennifer Fuller, president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, said the proof will be in the final outcome. "What we'll have to watch is when the final budget, or even a tentative budget, comes out, how well does that match what happened in those open hearings?"

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5953/illinois-house-takes-budget-behind-closed-doors/

Downstate School Districts Shrug Off Chicago Union Protests

By Melissa Leu, Illinois Statehouse News
Chicago lawmakers, teachers’ unions and education reformers may be pulling hairs over union objections to recently passed education reforms, but "downstate" local school districts aren't feeling the stress.

A statement in opposition by the Chicago Teacher’s Union surprised many who were part of a coalition of education reformers. "I don't know that their aggression is to this legislation more so as to their ongoing fight they have with CPS (Chicago Public Schools) and the ongoing misunderstanding with their board,” said state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Chicago, who led the negotiations.

A new reform bill creates different collective bargaining rules for Chicago and downstate teachers. Chicago teachers needed three-fourths of their members to vote to strike, while teachers downstate would need only a majority. CTU’s complaints stem from wording that requires all “union members” in that three-fourths count, instead of all “eligible” voting union members. The union is divided into voting and non-voting members.

La Salle School Board President James Quesse said it doesn’t make much difference to him. “For downstate educators and downstate board members, the Chicago Public School system is in a state all itself,” Quesse said. “Not too much that happens up there affects us, but I understand it’s a different dynamic up there and it tends to be that way.”

Despite union opposition, the plan is expected to go on, House education expert Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, said. “We have a real opportunity here to implement some long-awaited substantial reforms in education that for the first time implement the performance of teachers into the decision-making that concerns employment. I would really hate to see all that lost,” Eddy said.


ISN Reporters Mary J. Cristobal and Diane Lee contributed to this report. You can read the full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5962/school-districts-not-phased-by-union-protests-to-education-reform-2/

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
May 08
1430 HRS HALIGUS RD. & GRAFTON FARM DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 53 years of age, fell off his bicycle. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1506 HRS 200 BLOCK OF RAINMAKER RUN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 72 years of age, possibly having a stroke. Transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
1918 HRS 1127 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (TOWN LIQUORS). ASSIST OTHER POLICE AGENCY.  Reporting Officer assisted McHenry County Sheriff’s Department with an intoxicated subject. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
Algonquin
May 6
18:08pm  Ozaniec, Laura K., DOB: 08/08/71, of 1021 Neudearborn Lane, Naperville, was charged with DWLS.  She was also Wanted on a Warrant out of DuPage County for Failure to Appear on a DUI charge.  She was taken into custody at Boyer Road and Corporate Parkway.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond on the Algonquin charge with a court date of 06/15/11 in McHenry County and after posting $800 on the DuPage Warrant with a court date of 06/07/11, in DuPage County.
May 7
13:18pm Gonzalez-Morales, Diego G., DOB: 06/10/90, of 267 Gertrude Street E, Elgin, was charged with DWLS and No Front Plate. He was taken into custody at Washington Street and Jefferson Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/22/11 in McHenry County.
May 8
15:42pm Popnick, Katie L., DOB: 06/29/91, of 938 Cambridge Lane, Crystal Lake, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear on a DWLS charge.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 and Route 25.  She was released after posting $500 with a court date of 06/06/11 in McHenry County.

Two More Baseball Fields Dedicated At Tomaso Park

Tommy John, ex-Dodger (Yankees, White Sox, Indians, Angels, A's--it was an awfully long career) great, helped dedicate two new fields and snazzy scoreboards Saturday at Huntley Park District's Tomaso Sports Park.

Huntley Culvers and Chiro One Wellness Center provided support for the new facilities which John thought was a very good thing.  "Soccer, Lacrosse--there's a lot of sports taking players now," said the surprisingly unaged lefty hurler.  "At one time baseball was all there was to do."

Despite that, baseball's still America's dominant kids sport in the 8 to 15 age group, said John, who believes the more fields the better.  "If you build it they will come," he said.  "If there are no facilities they'll do something else but if you do they'll have a good time and come again."

In the pic:  Culvers' Bill Lock (above) and Chiro One's Dr. Chris Fierro both put up $10,000 for baseball fields B and D and the scoreboards at Tomaso Park.

HYBLL Honors Sedaris For Support

Huntley Youth Baseball Little League is planning a little fundraising of its own.  The group plans various field improvements including storage sheds for the field equipment, a more permanent concessions stand and possibly lights for the fields but needs some financial help for that.  The kind of help Kosta's Restaurant's Bill Sideris has been providing HYBLL.  Thursday Fundraising Coordinator Vince Ottaviano presented Sideris with a framed collage of all the team pictures in this year’s league as a thank you for his support.

HYBLL still needs pool players.  You can sign 'em up here:  http://www.huntleybaseball.com

Algonquin Garden Club Plant Sale Mobbed Saturday

The Algonquin Garden Club hoped to sell at least $3,000 worth of flowers at their annual plant sale at Town Center Saturday.  That's how much money the 82 year-old group will be handing out in college scholarships this month.

The Club's plant sale is a little different from some of the others in the area since the plants are pre-adapted to thrive locally.  How?  "They're from our own gardens, terrible soil and all," said Diane Connelly.

In the pic:  Algonquin Garden Club Sale Chairman Cathy Zange (hat) gives a few gardening tips to (left to right) Tami and Jordan Gerhke and Kelli Davis at the club's annual plant sale Saturday.

LITH Bicycle Rodeos Set Next Four Weeks

LITH PD and Law Enforcement Explorer Scouts held the first bicycle rodeo of the season Saturday at Lake in the Hills Elementary with four more to follow in the next four weeks.

The course follows the specific guidelines set forth by the Illinois Secretary of State for safe and proper bicycle riding. The course tests good bicycle handing, riding and safety procedures. The participants are scored and receive a ribbon based on their final score. Each bike is given a safety inspection by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and can be (registered) at the same time.  This program is open to children of all ages, is free of charge and requires no pre-registration.

All the rodeos run from noon to 2 pm. Next Saturday's will be at Ken Carpenter Park.  The one May 21 will be at Lynn Dillow.  May 28's will be at Leroy Guy and the final on June 4 will be at Sunset Park.

In the pic:  LITH's bike rodeos also feature hot dogs, chips and a soda.