Error Slows Work To Complete Renamed Riverside Plaza

Rain obviously interrupted resumption of work on Algonquin's recently rechristened Riverside Plaza this week but a technical mistake slowed things, too.

Sharp-eyed observers probably noticed the eponymous building wrap at the so-called Tyvek Towers condominium/retail complex is being replaced with a different type.  Workers had attach the new stuff all over again when Village of Algonquin inspectors found they weren't using the right fasteners.

"It has to be cap-nailed. Our inspectors are there daily," said Community Development Director Russ Farnum.  "When they aren't on-site the contractors can call us for consultations," too, he said.

Tyvek wrap is a spun polyethylene barrier that serves as a barrier to wind and, especially, water penetration.  Typar is the same thing only different made from spun polypropylene.  Ironically, among its claimed advantages over Tyvek is that it lasts about half again as long in sunlight before it becomes useless.

In the pic:  Scaffolding adds a lot of visual interest to Riverside Plaza but rental over the nominal 50-year life of the building would probably be prohibitive.

Del Webb Homeowners Grill Grafton Assessors

Sun City homeowners activists, the Property Tax Analysis Group, met with Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley at his office Friday to get more answers about what made taxes in the Kane County part of Del Webb shoot through the roof.  Ottley said there were lots of reasons but the main one was, in effect, one tax district but two different assessment systems within it.

Sun City straddles the Mchenry/Kane county line.  So does School District 158 with one tax rate that applies to homes on both sides.  Oversimplifying a lot, the problem is that the taxable value of homes in Grafton Township on the McHenry side fell a bunch while the taxable value of the virtually identical homes in Rutland Township on the Kane side only fell a little.  Oversimplifying again, that meant tax bills in Rutland went up while the bills in Grafton didn't.

Ottley freely admitted the disparity came from, in effect, two completely different ways of figuring assessments.  "(Rutland Assessor) Janet (Siers) used three years" of home values said Ottley. "I only used 2009."

But why?

"I know that's what the Review Board's going to use," he said, referring to the McHenry County group that decides on tax assessment appeals.

Expanding his answer later, Ottley momentarily channeled a rich property owner with his arm around an attorney:  "'Heh, heh.  Me and my lawyer got a 20 percent reduction.'  (Back to being Ottley.)  The poor guy down the street doesn't have a lawyer, probably can't afford a lawyer, doesn't even know he can appeal the assessment.  Assessments are supposed to be equitable," said Ottley, fair for everyone.  "The Review Board only looks at one year so that's what I looked at."

If it's supposed to look at the last three years' values, why's the McHenry County Review Board  only looking at the last one?

"I don't know," said Ottley.

Ottley's explanation might sound like a weak attempt to pass the buck but last year Algonquin Township Assessor Bob Kunz made a similar complaint that the Review Board wasn't playing by the rules.

"Isn't there a way to co-ordinate this?" asked one of the PTAG people?

"That's something you'll have to ask (Kane County officials)," said Ottley.

Which, indeed, PTAG plans to do.  The group has a meeting set with them June 22.   Ottley was asked to be there, too, but he'll be out of town that day so he offered Thursday's meeting instead.

In the pic:  Ray Precin (left) headed a group of Sun City residents questioning Grafton assessors Bill Ottley (right) and Chad Schmidt Friday.

Students Win Bikes Eating School Lunch

In a recent contest, each time a student in one of D158’s schools purchased a school lunch he  received a coupon to fill out to place in the building prize jar for a chance to win  prizes.  The idea was to encourage eating healthful school lunches instead of some of the stuff they sell for kids at the supermarket.

Ten elementary students won new bicycles and half a dozen middle schoolers won gift cards:

Chesak Elementary – Allison Engels and Grant Griebel
Conley Elementary – Tali Garcia and Juan Lopez
Leggee Elementary – Tatianna Menconi and Benjamin Berman
Mackeben Elementary – Karina Burch and Shane Soderwall
Martin Elementary – Katrina Perry and Sean Ramirez

Heineman Middle School--Robin Liffelman, Dillon Gacjnor and Jake Salerno
Marlowe Middle School--Ashlyn Schlapia, Noah Prerost, and Alex King

In the pic: Karina Burch and Shane Soderwall show off the new bikes they won for good eating at Mackeben.

McHenry County Man Arrested For Kid Porn

Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced this week that a McHenry County man and one from Madison County became the 21st and 22nd arrests in her crackdown on the most active traffickers who download and trade child pornography over the Internet.

“Child pornography destroys the lives of these young victims. My office will continue to work with our local partners to find these offenders and arrest them.” Attorney General Madigan said.

In an operation Thursday, McCullom Lake Police assisted Attorney General's investigators in the arrest of Erich Wilfinger, 29. Two computers were seized which contained evidence of alleged child pornography. Wilfinger was jailed one count each of Aggravated Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. “I want the community to know that there is no immediate risk to our children,” said McCullom Lake Police Chief Zachary Beatty. “At this time, the evidence points to the defendant dealing pornography over the Internet.”

Wednesday, Attorney General investigators also arrested Brandon Charles Seymour, 29, of East Alton,  Three computers, a DVD and other evidence were seized during the execution of a search warrant at Seymour’s residence. The initial investigation revealed more than 1,000 video files containing alleged child pornography were on the equipment seized.

Since Madigan announced the initiative, dubbed Operation Glass House, last August, nearly 4,700 Illinois IP addresses were seen trading child pornography images and videos across the state by the Attorney General’s office investigators.

Studies have shown that users of child pornography are more likely to be sexual abusers of children. There are 21,320 sex offenders listed on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, of which 85 percent committed a crime against a child. The Illinois Sex Offender Registry is located at www.isp.state.il.us.

Obituaries

Frank A. Weeks, 99, of Huntley Thursday at Heritage Woods in Huntley. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 pm next Friday at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home,Huntley.  Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery.

Weeks was born February 2, 1912 in Auburn, NY.  the son of Frank A. and  Rosette Weeks.  He married Gertrude M. Roe. He is survived by his children, Sharon Crum of Huntley and Frank “Chip” Weeks of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Kimberley Klein, Jeffrey Crum, and Molly Roch;    sister, Jane Young and brother, Andrew Weeks.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Hospice Foundation of Northeastern Illinois.

McHenry County Indictments

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

BENJAMIN E. FLAVIN, DOB:  08/23/90, 1118 VIEWPOINT DRIVE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE.--Crystal Lake PD
   
BRANDON L. MCBRYDE, DOB:  09/05/89, 12181 SINNETT STREET, HUNTLEY. AGGRAVATED ROBBERY.--LITH PD
   
MICHELLE SEAWOOD, DOB:  05/10/85, 5614 S. WINCHESTER AVENUE, CHICAGO. BURGLARY.
JAMEIL D. HOUSER, DOB:  03/03/86, 6754 S. LOOMIS, CHICAGO. BURGLARY(3CTS), POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS
XAVIER S. OAKS, DOB:  07/01/88, 7923 S. LOOMIS, CHICAGO. BURGLARY.--HUntley PD

CODY S. DIDIER, DOB:  08/22/93, 10501 CINDY JO, HUNTLEY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Huntley PD

ANDREW L. SMITH, DOB:  09/06/79, 7808 MCHENRY AVENUE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL PRODUCTION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--North Central Narcotics Task Force
   
DANIEL J. MELLE, DOB:  03/20/91, 1121 BOXWOOD COURT, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--North Central Narcotics Task Force

JACOB D. WAGNER, DOB:  08/05/92, 118 ROSE FARM ROAD, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--Woodstock PD

CAROL DELAO, DOB:  06/06/72, 421 BUCKINGHAM, CRYSTAL LAKE. RETAIL THEFT.--Crystal Lake PD

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
delayed--FEN scheduling

Audience Asks Tough Questions At Grafton Board Meet

Thursday's Regular Meeting of the Grafton Township Board featured the usual ruckuses but, for a change, it wasn't Board members causing them.  For the first time in more than two years audience members didn't denigrate or declaim.  Two of them asked pertinent questions.

Huntley resident Al Jordi asked Supervisor Linda Moore a question trustees have avoided:  "Why have you set up another food pantry?"

Since perhaps as early as December when she refused to tell FEN what bags in her office including food were all about, Moore has operated something she's called the General Assistance Food Pantry.  Moore previously told the Board it's to give immediate food aid to the Township's General Assistance indigent.  She publicly announced the new pantry last month even though she's repeatedly pointed out that, besides the now non-affiliated Grafton Township Food Pantry,  Faith Community Church has a food pantry serving Grafton Township and she counts the nutrition part of aid program by the St. Vincent De Paul Society at St. Mary's Church as yet another pantry.  The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry also serves parts of Grafton.

Jordi's inquiry prompted Trustee Barb Murphy to ask how Moore was handling accounts for her General Assistance Food Pantry.

"It's not a General Assistance Food Pantry," said Moore.

"You said it was," charged Murphy.

"Now I'm saying it's a general food pantry," said Moore.

"How are you accounting for the money for this?" asked Murphy.

"It's donation-based," replied Moore.

"Where are you putting the money?" Murphy persisted.

"This is run by the Supervisor," said Moore.

"If you're getting money for your food pantry, where is it going, your purse?" Murphy persisted.

When Moore still wouldn't answer Trustee Rob LaPorta said, "When the auditor comes they'll tell us where she's putting the money." That won't be soon, though. The much-delayed audit of the Township's 2009-10 financial records still hasn't actually begun yet.  Moore told trustees Thursday "field work", interviews with her and her assistant, won't start until June 20.

FEN asked later how many General Assistance clients the Township has for the new food pantry to help, but Moore said she couldn't remember.  Her report in the meeting's Board Packet, however, put the number at none for the month of April.

Moore and trustees squabbled as usual over which bills to pay for the past month, especially one from Moore attorney John Nelson. Moore handed out a comparison sheet she claimed showed Nelson's recent bills totaled less than $3,000 while ones from former Township law-firm Ancel-Glink now defending trustees in her lawsuit against them added up to more than $13,000. That was a lopsided one-to-four ratio.

LaPorta complained it wasn't a fair comparison. "Ancel-Glink represents all four of us. Nelson only represents--you."

Meanwhile audience member Maggie Darr had been poring over the comparison sheet and charged even if Moore was making an apples to oranges comparison she still hadn't counted the fruit right.  Darr said the Ancel-Glink total included a month's more billing than the one for Nelson. Month to month, by Moore's own numbers she said Nelson's billing amounted to 31 percent of the Township's recent legal bills.

Trustees refused to approve Nelson's charges for negotiating an early payoff plan for the Road District's loan on the Township Complex. Their premise was that's something that should have been done by the Township Attorney and Nelson doesn't hold that post yet even though he wants to.

Trustee Jerry McMahon announced in what was a strangely quite voice for him that he'd enough of Grafton Township.  "I'm not going to run again," he said.  "This Board has been an utter failure.  It's a shame to be so non-workable to the taxpayers of this township," McMahon complained.  In the next election he said none of the Board should be re-elected.  "Don't even elect 'em to Dogcatcher," McMahon advised.

In the pic:  Supervisor Linda Moore didn't want to talk about her new Food Pantry.  Trustee Barb Murphy did.

Two-Wheeled Adventure Invades LITH Village Hall

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY
LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE
AND WHAT EVER COMES OUR WAY

Thursday's meeting of the Lake in the Hills Village Board got a little racy as local scooter dealership Flat Squirrel Scooters donated a zoomy CFMoto SF250 T3 motorcycle to LITH PD.

YEAH I GOT TO GO MAKE IT HAPPEN
TAKE THE WORLD IN A LOVE EMBRACE
FIRE ALL OF YOUR GUNS AT ONCE AND
EXPLODE INTO SPACE

New Board member Russ Ruzanski said he was in the right place at the right time when he called on Flat Squirrel's Bruce Erbeck to raise money for the ALITH Food Pantry. Erbeck had a $6,000 MSRP scooter to give away.  "It's our way of saying thank you that in a flat economy the people of Lake in the Hills have supported us," said Erbeck.

I LIKE SMOKING LIGHTNING
HEAVY METAL THUNDER
RACING WITH THE WIND
AND THE FEELING THAT I'M UNDER

The PD used to have a couple of full-sized bikes but had to get rid of them as the department budget got tight.  "(The scooter) saves us a lot of money," said Director of Public Safety and Police Jim Wales.  "It enhances our law enforcement (public relations) presence and we'll use it for limited patrol functions," he said.

BORN TO BE WILD
BORN TO BE WILD

In the pic: Village President Ed Plaza scopes out LITH's new scoot for cops with Flat Squirrel owner/donor Bruce Erbeck.
(Lyrics: Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf; they just don't write songs like this anymore.)

Redistricting Fight May Have Prompted Open Meetings Violation

Debate's been strained over a new map to redistrict the McHenry County Board but Thursday it became acrimonious with a charge that some members of the Board's Legislative Committee held an illegal meeting to help draw a different one from the favored version.

Board members have been whispering among themselves for more than a week after a memo May 31 from District 1 Member Marc Munaretto which said an "alternate map" came out of a meeting last month that included three of the Legislative Committee.  Under the state's Open Meetings law that was enough members to trigger a requirement of two day's public notice only there wasn't one.

The meeting, two hours before an official Legislative Committee meeting, was supposed to help Munaretto draw a map to glue Algonquin and especially Huntley back together after the favored map revising boundaries  chopped the villages to bits.

"There's no way on God's green Earth I would vote for a map that came out of a meeting that violated the Open Meetings Act," charged District 3 Member Kathy Bergen-Schmidt, Crystal Lake, at Thursday's Legislative Committee meeting.  She said that even though she's a Democrat and Munaretto's alternate map would consolidate the southeast corner of McHenry County where Dems are strongest.

Munaretto said the meeting wasn't a secret and as soon as District 5 Member John Jung, Woodstock, showed up he asked District 3 Member Nick Provenzano, McHenry, to leave the room since he recognized a possible Open Meetings violation.  Munaretto said the pair kept trading places to avoid having all three Committee members together.  He said it wasn't his fault, anyway, since he hadn't known who was going to attend. Board Chairman Ken Koehler sent out the invitations, according to Munaretto.

Koehler reached later Thursday said the meeting didn't violate the Open Meetings law because, "There was no business conducted," and also because of the revolving door attendance. 

"You want me to believe the Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman of the Board (Jung) and everyone else--'This just sort of happened, we didn't mean it to happen and we didn't do it?'" said Bergen-Schmidt. "I'm sceptical."

"I'm not going to go around with an Open Meetings lawyer with me all the time," Koehler told FEN.

Whether the dispute turns out to be a Board tempest in a teapot or something bigger probably depends on someone making an official complaint about it.  Thursday a spokesman for the Illinois Attorney General's Office said to date no one has.  A spokesman for the McHenry County State's Attorney's  Office, the other appropriate agency, said this morning there's been no complaint there, either.

Koehler claimed he was on solid ground even if someone does ask for an investigation. "Let them make a complaint," he said. "They'll just be wasting taxpayer money."

In the pic:  Kathy Bergen-Schmidt made public a possible McHenry County Open Meetings Violation but other Board Members  had been talking about it privately.  John Jung (left) was at the questionable meeting.  Bergen-Schmidt and Legislative Committee Chairman Jim Heisler (right) weren't.

Treats For Troops At Huntley Lib And Farmers' Market

There's kind of a double whammy about to happen in the local Treats For Troops program.  First, Huntley Area Public Library through June 26 is collecting the kind of supplies soldiers value so much 'cause they're so hard to come by in the boonies.  Pogey bait, personal care products, stuff like that.

It also includes coffee, though, and starting at the Huntley Farmers' Market Saturday (also the ones on June 18 and 25) local coffee distributor O.G. Kewl Beans will collect cash donations for Treats For Troops that they'll match even-money so grunts can enjoy a cup of Joe.

Suggested treats to drop off at the Library include: lip balm, sunscreen, lotion, razors, nail files, blank greeting cards, gum, Q-tips, sewing kits, drink mixes, teas, coffee, cookies and hard candy. (No chocolate; it melts in most of the places the boys and girls are in harm's way these days.)

The Library collections and the the Kewl Beans Farmers Market coffee donations will ship to troops overseas in time for the 4th of July, according to organizers.

Quinn Moves Schoolbus Funding To Back Of Line

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn is withholding $52 million in transportation payments for Illinois’ cash-strapped schools so he can use that money instead to get the most out of federal Medicaid stimulus funds. “We have to manage our resources right now in order to get that match. That’s worth maybe $100 (million) to $200 million to our state,” Quinn said at a news conference earlier this month. “I have to do everything necessary to get the most money that we can.”

“After the buses are in the garage and the students are home for the summer, how’s a school district supposed to make a cut?” asked state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, and Hutsonville School District superintendent. “Those expenses have been incurred. There is no way that we can do that. This is the most ridiculous proposal I’ve ever heard.”

As part of the 2009 stimulus plan, the federal government offered states more Medicaid money if they didn’t decrease Medicaid eligibility and followed certain guidelines. Illinois receives 60 cents from the federal government for every dollar it spends, but that will drop to the pre-stimulus amount of 50 cents for every dollar spent starting next month. So far, the state has received $3.6 billion from the federal government's stimulus plan. 

Quinn said he is using school transportation funding, because the school districts have flexibility in how they spend their general state aid, or GSA. Schools can dip into their GSA to cover the lack of bus money over the summer and fall months, Quinn's office said, until they are reimbursed for their transportation outlays.

Paying for school buses hasn’t been a priority for Quinn. He initially proposed cutting transportation funding for the next school year in half, or by $92 million. After outcries from schools and legislators, that idea died.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6372/quinn-moves-school-bus-funding-to-back-of-the-line/

Obituaries

Thedodore W. Grzeskowiak, 70, of Huntley died  Wednesday at his home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 pm Saturday at  St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.  Visitation will be Friday from 3 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  Visitation will also be at St. Mary’s from 12:30 pm until the time of Mass .  Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery.

Grzeskowiak was born December 14, 1940, the son of Thaddeus and Dorothy (Hying) Grzeskowiak.  On August 17, 1963 he married Mary Obermaier. He is survived by his wife of Huntley; his children, Mary (Steve) Petros of Poplar Grove, Cindy (Ron) Lejman of Blue Bell, PA, and Ted (Lura) Grzeskowiak of Rockford; grandchildren, Alex, Richard, Christopher, Anthony, Tadd, Noah, Tabbitha and Cala and his brother, Thomas (Phyllis) Grzeskowiak. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society or Hospice of Northeastern Illinois.

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
June 9
0051 HRS 400 BLOCK TERRAMERE LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 13 years of age, not feeling well. Transported to Centegra Hospital in Woodstock.
0217 HRS 400 BLOCK PRIDES RUN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 26 years of age, possible diabetic reaction. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1723 HRS 1112 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (TRANSFER STATION) REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Tree fell on a Village building.
1740 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WILDSPRING DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 65 years of age, having a stroke.  Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1852 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. FOUND ARTICLE. Tony Hawk bicycle. Entered into evidence.
2050 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 45 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
June 6
09:37am Burl, Jamonte L., DOB: 07/22/91, of 1366 Grandview Court, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Washington Street and S. Harrison Street.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 07/20/11 in McHenry County.
June 8
13:21pm Browder, Heidi M., DOB/12/23/88, of 1612 Seminole, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, No Insurance and Plate Display. She was taken into custody at Route 25 and Route 62. She was released on a Personal Recognizance bond with a court date of 06/29/11 in McHenry County.
June 9
4:52am Lastovich, Sarah E., DOB/06/27/91, of 452 N. Austin, Oak Park, was arrested on a warrant out of Aurora for FTA/DWLS. She was taken into custody at 2390 E. Algonquin Rd. She was released after posting $575 with a court date of 07/11/11 in Aurora.
17:52 pm Montenegro-Diaz, David DOB/02/07/90, of 602 Ivarene Ct #2D, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, No Insurance, Disregarding a Traffic Control Device and 2 warrants for FTA/No DL, one from South Barrington PD and one from Carpentersville PD. He was taken into custody at Main St. and Edward St. He was released after posting $150.00 for the traffic charges with a court date of 07/19/11 in McHenry County and $250.00 for the warrant from South Barrington with a court date of 07/29/11 in Rolling Meadows. On the South Barrington warrant he posted $300.00 with a court date of 06/30/11 in Elgin.
Huntley
May 23
Benjamin J. Chruscinski, age 21, of 17501 Harvest Hill, Orland Park, was arrested for two counts of domestic battery, two counts of battery, criminal damage to property and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Mr. Chruscinski was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
Kevin C. Prokop, age 29, of 501 Coventry Lane, Crystal Lake, was arrested for driving while license suspended and an outstanding Boone County warrant and was cited for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle and speeding.  Mr. Prokop posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 17, 2011, and a Boone County court date of June 17, 2011.
A burglary report was taken in the 10600 block of Carl Dr.  Items were stolen from a shed on the property.
A 15 year-old female from Huntley was charged with theft at the High School.  The juvenile was released to her family and will be petitioned to juvenile court.
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken in a parking lot the 11800 block of Main St.  A firearm, camera and cash were stolen from the vehicle.
John C. Huebner Jr., age 31, of 306 Rand Rd., Lakemoor, was arrested for driving while license suspended and use of a wireless phone in a construction zone.  Mr. Huebner posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 17, 2011.
May 25
A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  The juvenile posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 24, 2011.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at the High School.  A door was damaged.
May 26
A theft report was taken at the High School.  An iPod Touch was stolen.
May 27
A criminal trespass to property report was taken in the 10800 block of Allegheny Pass.  Unknown subjects entered an open garage.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at Ruth Park.  The inside of the portable toilets were spray painted.
Nicole E. Villarreal, age 25, of 2630 Cadburry Ln., Lake in the Hills, was arrested for driving while license suspended and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Ms. Villarreal posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 17, 2011.
Helen A. Wisniewski, age 74, of 10539 Lansdale, Huntley, was arrested for DUI and was cited for improper lane use and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  Ms. Wisniewski posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 24, 2011.
May 28
Thomas A. Hammerschmitt, age 53, of 150 Yost, Park Ridge, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Hammerschmitt posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of  June 17, 2011.
May 29
Martin Comacho, age 39, of 5 Times Square, Elgindriving with no head lights when required.  Mr. Comacho posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 24, 2011.
Jerry Campos, age 32, of 190 Ash, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license revoked.  Mr. Campos posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 15, 2011.
May 30
Ricky R. Carter, age 45, of 404 72nd St, Chicago, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for improper lane use and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Carter posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 17, 2011.
James M. Foster, age 37, of 10828 Allegheny Pass, Huntley, was arrested for domestic battery and violation of an order of protection.  Mr. James was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken in the 10900 block of Cape Cod Ln.  Several items were stolen from the interior of the vehicle and the dash board was damaged.
May 31
Derek H. Maass, age 28, of 15916 Lewood Dr., Plainfield, was arrested for DUI, DUI blood alcohol over .08 and was cited for improper turn signal, and improper lane use.   Mr. Maass posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 1, 2011.
A 15 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia at the High School.  The juvenile was released to his mother and will attend peer jury.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at a business in 11100 block of Church St.  Windows were broken and items inside the building were destroyed.
Noe Rodriguez, age 22, of 118 Douglas St., Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Rodriguez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 24, 2011.
Richard P. Basiak, age 26, of 11891 Covey Ln., Huntley, was arrested for DUI, DUI blood alcohol over .08, resisting a peace officer, and aggravated battery to a peace officer and was cited for a turn signal violation.  Mr. Basiak was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
June 1
Michael P. Gundlach, age 34, 8641 W. Brodman, Chicago, was arrested for driving while license suspended, improper use of registration, possession of a suspended drivers license and was cited for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Gundlach posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 24, 2011.
Thomas E. Ring Jr., age 27, of 429 Barrington Ave, Dundee, was arrested on an outstanding Carpentersville Police Department warrant for Domestic Battery.  Mr. Ring was released to the custody of Carpentersville Police Department.
June 2
Luis H. Barron, age 38, of 7411 S. Rt. 23, Marengo, was arrested for displaying a false insurance card and was cited for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to signal when required.  Mr. Barron posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 17, 2011.
A theft report was taken near the intersection of Del Webb Blvd. and Cold Springs Drive.  A pedestrian crossing sign was stolen.
A 16 year-old female from Lake in the Hills was arrested for battery at the High School.  The juvenile was released to her parents and will attend peer jury.
June 3
Matthew R. Ides, age 26, of 303 ½ E. Main St, Maple Park, was arrested on an outstanding DeKalb County warrant.  Mr. Ides posted bond and was released with a DeKalb County court date of June 30, 2011.
A 17 year-old male from Huntley was charged with retail theft.  The juvenile issued a notice to appear in McHenry County court on July 11, 2011.
June 4
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken in the 11600 block of Woodcreek Dr.  A flashlight and 2 box cutters were stolen from the vehicle.
Jason B. Sirt, age 22, of 11612 Daniel #A, Huntley, was arrested for leaving the scene of a property damage accident and was cited for improper lane use and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Sirt posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 1, 2011.
June 5
Wesley J. Eubanks, age 19, of 25 Pershing Ave., Lake in the Hills, was arrested for DUI, and was cited for improper signal.  Mr. Eubanks posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 1, 2011.
A 16 year-old female from Huntley was arrested for domestic battery.  The juvenile was released to her parents and will be petitioned to McHenry County Juvenile Court.

Algonquin Gordmans Store Taking Applications For 100 Jobs

Workers at the former Wickes Furniture store in Algonquin commons were still working on trim details Tuesday in a race to extensively remodel the building in time to open a new Gordmans
apparel and home fashions retailer July 21.

The store in Algonquin and another to open the same day in Naperville are the first two in the Chicago area of what the Omaha-based retailer plans to be a 10-store presence in Illinois.  Gordmans currently operates 70 stores in 16 other states.

Spokesman Kara Schweiss said the Algonquin Gordmans will open with about 100 full and part-time employees and is currently accepting applications here (go to "locations" on the lower left and click "Algonquin"):

http://careerlink.com/employer/jobs/3153

Even though the local unemployment rates been falling, the competition for the new Gordmans jobs will probably be fierce.  A construction worker from McHenry  Wednesday said, "I was going to have my son apply but (a store manager) said they've already had 900 applications."

In the pic:  Workers put metal trim Tuesday on the extensively remodeled former Wickes Furniture store in Algonquin.  There's a lot of work going on inside the new Gordmans retail store to accommodate a children’s theater and a sports-themed television viewing area. 

Grafton Attorney Appointment Stayed For Appeal

McHenry County Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell Wednesday extended the stay on his order for the Grafton Board to name John Nelson Township Attorney until Appellate Court judges can rule on whether he could have or should have done it.

Caldwell affirmed last year that Supervisor Linda Moore could fire former Township Attorney firm Ancel-Glink without an OK from the rest of the Grafton Board. Last month he ordered trustees to confirm Nelson as the new Township Attorney even though he's Moore's personal lawyer, the one who's suing them for her.

Ancel-Glink's still special counsel for Trustees in the case and attorney Thomas DiCianni seemed surprised when Nelson opposed his request to extend the stay based on a Supreme Court rule. So did Caldwell and all three spent a couple of minutes pawing through the rule book before the judge decided it didn't apply.

The trustees  filed their appeal to the Second Appellate Court Tuesday charging Caldwell's order "changes the township form of government to one where the supervisor can
simply seek to impose her will, bypassing the legislative function." Besides that, it claims, Caldwell "judicially usurped the powers of the legislative body."

According to the appeal, case law hinges on whether a board withholds its consent "unreasonably". Ancel- Glink claims in previous cases found that means rejecting a whole string of candidates just to be a dog in a manger. The appeal claims that didn't happen in Grafton since Moore put up only one attorney, hers.

DiCianni said the appeal will receive "expedited" treatment but that only means the timetable for exchanging written arguments is accelerated. He refused to speculate on how long it'll take for the judges to reach their decision although he did say, "a lot of times they'll make their decision and write an opinion later."

You can read the Trustee's appeal (and a lot of testimony) here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/57440449/Scan-1

Sorry, Junk Boats, RV's Not "Motor Vehicles" In Algonquin Twp.

The Algonquin Township Board reviewed the rules on garbage, weeds and "certain motor vehicles" Wednesday with an emphasis on what by Township Ordinance isn't a motor vehicle.  The problem, according to Supervisor Dianne Klemm is, "(Residents) call the office to have a boat removed and we can't do it."

Same thing for derelict Winnebagos or old farm tractors, said Klemm.  The ordinance only applies to defunct cars and trucks and then only if they can be seen from the street.  "If they're rotting away in the back yard, we can't touch it," she said.

Klemm said the Township's relevant ordinance isn't really very good any more but its original passage came via an Annual Township Meeting so the only way to amend it would be at another Annual Township Meeting.  Klemm didn't comment on the feasibility of that idea.  She just raised her eyes to Heaven.

Road Commissioner Bob Miller said his crews try to haul off things like defunct sofas shoved off back porches. "Even that's kind of dicey," he said.

LITH Sportsmans Club Fishing Derby Saturday

The Lake in the Hills Sportsmans Club will hold it annual Bass Fishing Derby at Woodscreek Lake at the LaBahn-Hain House/Nockels Park off  Hilltop Drive.  Signups start at 6am and the tourney runs until Noon, the cutoff for registering a catch. All participants must register at the Hain House launch before entering the lake. (All lake use fees have been waived for the event.) It's a simple contest: largest bass caught wins the event. It's catch and release, however, so if anglers want a bite of the briney they'll have to go to a drivethru to buy a McFlounder. 

Sheriff Calls Marengo Triple Deaths "Random Violence"

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren called an attack in a Marengo home Tuesday night that left three people dead and another badly wounded "random violence".  At a news conference in Woodstock Wednesday Nygren said the attacker, himself shot to death, had a history of mental illness adding, "There is no reason to believe there is anything further to this incident."

Nygren said he wasn't sure how 27 year-old Doran Bloom entered the home of John and Audrey Feldkamp before he stabbed them to death.  Nygren said Bloom also repeatedly stabbed the Feldkamp's visiting son, Scott, who managed to find a pistol and shot Bloom to death.

"We can find no motive in this," said Nygren.

In the pic:  Nygren briefing accredited reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

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
June 8
1545 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ROCHELLE CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. AUDINO, APRIL L., F/W 41 YEARS OF AGE, 1 ROCHELLE CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS.
CHARGES: Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0149 HRS 4800 BLOCK OF PRINCETON LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Male, 22 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
0729 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF ROLLING HILLS DR. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. Wallet taken from vehicle. FAIL TO FILE.
1015 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. THEFT. Black Diamond Ring. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1434 HRS 6900 RAKOW RD. (RAKOW CURVE) ACCIDENT Two. vehicles. Property damage only.
1550 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF BURR ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Ex-husband vs. ex-wife. No priors.  FAIL TO FILE.
1808 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WALNUT DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1922 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD. VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION. Female receiving text messages.
1945 HRS 00 BLOCK WALNUT DR. DOMESTIC. Husband and wife. One prior. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1948 HRS 201 LAKEWOOD RD. (LEROY GUY PARK) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles property damage only.
2040 HRS 2265 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (THORNTON’S) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 19 years of age reaction to medication. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

McHenry County Board Nixes Non-Union Raises

The McHenry County Board turned down a pay increase for 900 non-union employees Tuesday even though financial projections showed there was enough money for, effectively, a two percent hike.  It would have been an "emergency appropriation" requiring 16 votes in favor but the final tally was 12 to 8 against.

Non-union raises were tossed out of the County's budget late last year to match declining revenue projections.  The financial facts haven't been quite as bad as expected this year, though,  and administrators told the Board there's enough money now, about $250,000, to give "pay for performance adjustments" for the  rest of the year if members wanted to.  Most didn't.

District 5 Member Paula Yensen, Lake in the Hills, probably summed up the problem for most of the Board.  "I initially voted yes (last year) on having raises," she said.  "But I've had a lot of calls and I've met a lot of people at the supermarket.  And they're against it."

District 3 Member Nick Provanzano, McHenry, said he'd Googled the state of the economy. "There are 35 new articles today on the second dip of the recession," he said.

Nevertheless, observed District 3's Mary Donner, Crystal Lake, a two percent salary increase would only be offset by a 9 percent increase in the cost of workers' health insurance.  "They're still going to be eking it out," she said. By one analysis, about two thirds of County non-union workers make less than $30,000 per year.

District 3's Barb Wheeler, Crystal Lake, rebutted Provanzano earlier.  "It's exactly because it's a bad economy they deserve the raise," she said.  "They're people making very low wages." 

Hanging over the Board was fear that if they didn't give workers something now, later on they'll join a union and then there'll be real hell to pay.  District 4 Member Peter Merkel, McHenry, called for a hard line. Otherwise, in a couple of years, "We'll be looking for concessions or layoffs," he said.

District 2's Scott Breeden, Lakewood, put the issue simply.  "Do you represent the employees or the people paying for the employees?" he asked.  "We may have unallocated funds but we don't have 'extra' funds."

State's Attorney Stalwart Resigns, No Reason Given

In a development that left McHenry County politicians scratching their heads Tuesday, Assistant State's Attorney and former Lou Bianchi right-hand man Tom Carroll said he'd resigned.  The nonplussed part came from Carroll's refusing to say why and Bianchi's similar silence Tuesday afternoon.

There's one clue Carroll's resignation wasn't voluntary.  Monday between 5 and 5:30 pm Carroll was observed apparently being escorted from the Courthouse by two State's Attorney's  investigators.  The only thing Carroll would confirm Tuesday was that 5 pm was, indeed, about  the time he resigned.

FEN couldn't reach Bianchi Tuesday but Crystal Lake newspaper Northwest Herald did.  Bianchi reportedly wouldn't say anything about the resignation to them, either.

Carroll was one of the first hires when Bianchi took over as State's Attorney in 2004 and was named First Assistant within about a year.  With a notable lack of fanfare he was demoted back to Chief of the Civil Division late last year although he seemed to continue to operate as de facto First Assistant.  Officially the change was a cost-saving measure to help the County meet stringent budget targets.  Unofficially, it was also about the time that Bianchi Special Prosecutors ordered Carroll to appear before their Grand Jury with files that might indicate Bianchi was using office staff for campaign work.  Testimony at Bianchi's subsequent trial showed Carroll and Bianchi argued over what he ought to take along. "It was not a pleasant afternoon," Carroll said in testimony.

Bianchi was acquitted of multiple counts of Official Misconduct in the subsequent trial in March without even mounting a defense.

Other than Carroll's resignation the only other clear information Tuesday was a Bianchi memo late in the day that Assistant State's Attorney Christina Webb would handle McHenry County's Civil Division for the time being.

In the pic: Tom Carroll.

Huntley Centegra Foes Comb Through Legal Fine Print

A trio of regional hospitals that oppose a new Centegra Hospital in Huntley and another proposed for Crystal Lake found a new reason the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board shouldn't approve either one at the end of the month.  In a letter filed with the Board Tuesday, Chicago lawyer Joe Oerth argued no decision should be made until Illinois' Center For Comprehensive Health Planning issues a report.  Even though the Center doesn't exist yet.

"Clearly, the decision to approve a new hospital is, and should be, undertaken by the Board only after the Board has available to it the most comprehensive data and professional guidance available," wrote Ourth.  That's supposed to come from the Center, theoretically created in 2009 by the same legislation that revamped the State's rickety Health Facilities Planning Board into the new and improved Health Facilities and Services Review Board.  When the new Board looks at plans for a hospital it's supposed to look at the findings and recommendations in a Comprehensive Health Plan created by the Center. However, the Illinois Department of Public Health's never established the Center that's supposed to write the plan.

Representing Sherman Hospital, Advocate Good Shepherd and St. Alexius Medical Center, Oerth said that population growth, already done and still to come, is the key to whether the area "needs" a new 128 bed hospital in Huntley or Crystal Lake and the Center if it existed would be just the place to get that kind of info.

"The Review Board best honors its own governing act and the desire of the legislature by deferring considering of the new hospital applications until the Comprehensive Planning function of the Planning Act is fulfilled," wrote Ourth.

A search of published news accounts finds no mention of Illinois' Center For Comprehensive Health Planning since the reform legislation was enacted two years ago.

In the pic:  Centegra Huntley as would be.

No Angry Birds For Board At LITH

The Lake in the Hills Village Board  rejected new-fangled replacements for their old-fangled laptop computers. By concensus Tuesday they decided iPad replacements probably wouldn't do much more than a Dell, maybe less.

Assistant Village Administrator Shannon Andrews said she took a look at iPads and even Kindles and Nooks as possible replacements for some of the members' aging laptops due for replacement this year. Her verdict: six to one and half a dozen of the other as far as purchase and operating cost but trustees wouldn't, for instance, be able to write documents in Microsoft Office on the iPad and they'd have to download anything they wanted at Board meetings at home since there's no wireless connection at Village Hall.

None of the trustees could remember ever writing a .doc on their laptops but the the rest of it didn't sound very attractive. "The Algonquin Library Board has been using iPads and they've been finding them limiting," reported Trustee Paul Mulcahy. "I thought they were great for that shooting the birds thing, though."

That was the trouble for Board President Ed Plaza. "I think the perception is that it's a new toy," he said. "If someone wants an iPad let them get it themselves."

"Concensus?" he asked. "Dell, Dell, Dell, etc." was the response down the line of trustees.

In the pic:  Apparently this game is addictive to iPad owners.

Sweat Today, Rehydrate Tonight--Maybe Too Much

With temps convincingly topping 100 Tuesday and more beastly heat on the way today, weather forecasters held out no relief until this evening.  Even that wasn't good news, though, since cooler temperatures will bring showers and storms and some of them could be severe.

Highs today were expected to reach about 95 with a temperature-humidity index making it feel like over 100 again.  A cold front's due this evening bringing an overnight low around 60 but that sets up conditions for storms, some of which  the Weather Service said in a warning this morning, could include winds in excess of 60 mph, quarter-sized hail and locally heavy rainfall over an inch.

Even without that kind of storm cell, there's an 80 percent chance of rain between one quarter and one half inch tonight with winds up to 20 mph.

In the pic:  The National Weather Service Forecast at 5 am.

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
June 7
1657 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED. DIMMICK, JOHN T., M/W 50 YEARS OF AGE, 10806 BALLARD RD., WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving on a Revoked License, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
2216 HRS 311 N, RANDALL RD. (AMC THEATRES) ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR. JUVENILE F/W, 17 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY.
CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. RELEASED TO PARENT.
0013 HRS 100 BLOCK OF NORTHLIGHT PASS. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal Only. No Priors.
0934 HRS 3100 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Vehicle in driveway with expired registration. Notice to appear issued.
0945 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF DEER CREEK LN. ORDINANCE VIOLATION. Abandoned Boat and Trailer.
1432 HRS 201 LAKEWOOD RD. (LEROY GUY PARK) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Damage done to vending machine.
1544 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICKS) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 72 years of age, not conscious and not breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2046 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. FAIL TO FILE. Female, 45 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
2039 HRS 3600 BLOCK OF CHADWICK LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 41 years of age, having difficulty breathing. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
June 6
1115 HRS 5200 MILLER RD, (SUNSET PARK) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Vending machine door damaged.
1541 HRS 500 BLOCK OF WINDERMERE WAY. DEATH INVESTIGATION. Male. 54 years of age, found unresponsive. TURNED OVER TO CORONER.
1858 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

AG To Sheriff: Release The Information

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office should tell FEN why a deputy who made sworn allegations of corruption was placed on administrative leave according to a ruling by the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Office Monday.  Assistant Attorney General Matthew Sebek said the information should be provided "immediately".

The Sheriff's Office would only provide the initial date Deputy Scott Milliman was placed on administrative leave, Dec. 23.  That was one day before Cal Skinner's McHenry County Blog began printing Federal Court transcripts referring to Milliman's testimony Sheriff Keith Nygren had told him to kill people, ran an illegal alien ring and was involved in bribery.

Nygren's office denied the part of FEN's Freedom of Information Act request asking the reason claiming that was part of an investigation and exempt.  FEN immediately appealed and the PAO asked the Sheriff's Office to explain how telling FEN the reason would interfere with the investigation. It didn't, so Monday Sebek told the Sheriff's Office to turn it over.

Meanwhile, Milliman's duty status has changed to medical leave. FEN asked for the dates and reason for that, too, but the Sheriff's Office claimed their release would violate federal law and Milliman's privacy.  "That would depend on who requested the medical leave, wouldn't it?" observed FEN's attorney.   FEN's appealing the medical leave denial since a Federal Court filing claims Nygren sent Milliman to see a psychiatrist.

Milliman still won't talk on the record about what's going on but says he intends to later.

Separately Monday, an anonymous blog, Real MSCO Exposed  posted more internal Sheriff's Office reports of McHenry County deputies behaving badly off-duty.  The postings began Thursday with incidents in 1996 and 1997 but one Monday occurred in 2007 involving one of the same deputies as before, now a supervisor.  Absent exegesis it's not clear what  the reports are supposed to prove.  One possibility might be simply that there's another disaffected deputy somewhere at the Sheriff's Office.

Algonquin Restaurant To Aid Tornado Victims

Collection boxes for Joplin tornado victims are filling up at Mandile's Restaraunt and Banquets on Algonquin's East Side.  "It's really sweet to see people coming with their bags of clothing and food," said Mama Maria Mandile Monday.

The Mandile family who two years ago held a free Christmas dinner for the unfortunate at the bottom of the recession decided to help people in Joplin this time.  "We'd been looking around for something," said Mandile and when a killer tornado struck Joplin, the choice seemed obvious even though they don't know anyone in the city.  "It's terrible there," she said.  "Some people have nothing."

Mandile's will hold a fundraiser for tornado victims featuring a buffet, raffle and musical entertainment Saturday from 6:30 pm.  Tickets at $30 are by reservation only at 847-458-4000.

Mandile said one of more of the family will help truck this week's food and clothing donations ("and diapers, they need diapers") down to Joplin Monday.

In the pic:  Maria Mandile, matriarch at Algonquin's Mandile's Restaurant, says her family's set Saturday for a big fundraiser to help Joplin Tornado victims.

D300 Foundation Awards Innovation Grants To Area Teachers

The District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence awarded 16 Innovation Grants to 11 different schools at its Annual Golf & Gala at Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills Monday.  Outgoing District Superintendent Ken Arndt, a founding member of the Foundation, got this year's Distinguished Educator of the year award.  Algonquin member Debby Sosine who's retiring from the group got a small cake.  Blue.

The Innovation Grants of up to $500 are for unique and never done before ideas to help meet State Education Standards.  The Foundation also awarded almost $25,000 in Large Project Grants last month for a Healthy Living and Learning summer camp, specialized scientific measuring equipment for high school students and iPads to use in Speech Therapy.

In the pic:  District 300 Innovation Grant Winners, not in order, Carol Anderson and Luc Miron, NeubertMcNees, Dundee-Crown; Kari Brandstedt and Megan Pankau, Algonquin Lakes; Michelle Soland, Westfield; Pierre Thorsen,Jacobs, and Katie Hoving, Nicole Thompson, Sharon Ignoffo, Michael Kasper, Barbara Malinger, Debra LaRue, Rebecca Meyer, Karen Savittieri and Nikki Zolotar at other schools in the district. Elementary; Michael Block and Scott

Quinn Calls For Special Construction Session

By Benjamin Yount,  Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois lawmakers said Monday they're happy to return to the Capitol and give Gov. Pat Quinn the approval to spend more on road, bridge and school construction, but not the $431 million he wants. At a news conference Quinn said he will call for a special session to address Illlinois' statewide construction plan — $31 billion in new building projects approved two years ago — but he has not set a date.

"The bottom line is the House didn't act; the Senate didn't act. When they don't act, it's time for the governor to act," Quinn said. The governor said unless lawmakers vote for more spending, this summer's work will grind to a halt. Quinn wants some action from the Legislature before the new budget year begins July 1.

Legislators left Springfield this past week after sending Quinn a state budget. But the money for this summer's roadwork was tied to a separate measure that would have added $431 million to the trimmed-down state budget. The Illinois Senate, with the backing of only Democrats, approved the additional funding, but the plan was never called for a vote in the House.

State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said he warned Senate Democrats not to add more spending, in part because no one has any idea from where the extra money would come.
"For them to tack on almost a half a billion dollars of more spending that the state doesn't have onto that capital plan, we warned what the end result would be. And here we are," said Syverson about the newly called special session.

Several lawmakers have said roadwork will not come to a halt, because the General Assembly gave the governor an extra three months to pay late state bills, extending lapse-period spending until Dec. 31.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6351/quinn-wants-special-session-for-roadwork-mum-on-extra-spending/

In the pic:  Algonquin's Route 31 Bypass is among the projects funded by the Capital Bill.  The construction signs that popped up there Monday appear to relate to preparation at the Toastmaster site rather than roadwork per se.

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

Last Area One Room School In Danger Of Demolition

Local history buffs are scrambling to save the last one-room school in the area from a looming wrecker's ball but they're running into the same problem most people have these days.  "Nobody has any money," said Nancy Fike, Administrator at the McHenry County Historical Museum.

At risk is Lake in the Hills' Ford School, confusingly, in Algonquin.  That's another part of he problem.  When the schoolhouse was built in 1886 it was located at what is now LITH's Ford School Park just off Algonquin Road, according to LITH Historic Society organizer Arden Spooner.  Eventually abandoned for more modern facilities, she said, it was purchased and moved across the road in 1946 for workers' housing at the then-Stonegate Nursery.

Skipping ahead 65 years, there's only about 10 undeveloped acres left of the nursery property.  Considering the state of real estate right now, those don't seem in imminent danger of purchase.  The problem, according to Spooner, is that despite being locked and boarded up, vandals have penetrated Ford School repeatedly.  The current owner, she said, is worried about legal liability if one of the little Visigoths manages to hurt himself while trespassing.

Algonquin's Historic Commission is concerned but since their budget's down to $2,000 this year lacks the resources to do anything themselves.  "We need to cut down on using the copy machine," said Chairman Jeff Jolitz at the Commission's meeting last month.  Spooner's envious since the LITH Historic Society doesn't have a budget at all.  The LITH Board was sympathetic after a Society presentation last month but made no commitments.  The school can't just be dropped back on its original foundation since that was rooted out as a tripping hazard over a decade ago.

The heiress to Stonegate's last owner told FEN even though she's worried about marauders and their lawyers she's willing to hold off razing the school if someone can come up with a credible plan soon to rescue it.

That's the key, according to Fike.  "People have to have some sweat equity in the community," she said. "(The McHenry County Historic Society) has saved three one-room schools but you can't make museums out of all of them."

In the pic:  Overgrown and neglected LITH's (or Algonquin's) Ford School is now the target of vandals and, eventually, the wrecker's ball if no one can figure out how to save it.

Area Cops Pound Pavement To Support Special Olympics

Algonquin and Lake in the Hills police and supporters were among 10 groups who chugged their way from Barrington Hills to McHenry Sunday for the 25th Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run to support the Special Olympics.

Police and supporters from Huntley ran another leg of the Torch Run down in Kane County.

In the past 22 years McHenry County-based police agencies have raised more than $750,000 for Special Olympics according to Algonquin spokesman Chris Filippini.  This year Algonquin alone's raised more than $12,000 according to Illinois Torch Run organizers.

In the pic:  Approaching Virginia Road on Route 31, roughly the eight mile point, Sunday's Torch Run participants still looked fresh and perky.

Huntley High Graduates Biggest Class Yet

Almost 500 seniors trooped into the gym for Huntley High School's graduation exercise Sunday. It was the largest graduating class the school's ever seen.

Valedictorian Umangi Patel and Salutatorian Aidnel Geister Navarro led the ceremony addressing their enrobed and mortar boarded classmates.

District 158 Superintendent John Burkey noted most of the kids graduating were born in 1993, a simpler time when Jurassic Park (the original) was wildly popular and George Bush (the original) wasn't.  He skipped mention of NAFTA, the World Trade Center bombing and, mercifully, Lorena and Wayne Bobbit. 

Blood Drives Only In Algonquin In June

As the blood supply in northern Illinois and Indiana begins to dwindle, only two blood drives are scheduled in the area this month.  Both are in Algonquin at the end of the month.

June, July and August are the lowest collection months of the year for blood centers.  Schools are closed for summer break, holidays and vacations take donors out of the area for awhile. “Over 20 percent of the blood collected annually by Heartland Blood Centers comes from high school and college students," said said Ann McKanna, Heartland Blood Centers Vice President of Marketing and New Business Development.

McKanna said blood centers can't just "stock up" blood against the seasonal drought. “Due to the very limited shelf life of donated blood of 42 days for red cell products, donors of all blood types are needed daily to facilitate blood transfusions during surgery and in the treatment and care of our patients."

This month there's a Lifesource blood center drive sponsored by the St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus at the church's Ministry Center in Algonquin June 26 from 7:30 am to 1 pm.

Two days later Heartland Blood Center will hold a drive at Diamond Physical Therapy, Algonquin.  That's June 28 from 2:30 to 6 pm.  Every donor will receive a giftcard for a quart of free Oberweis Ice Cream!

Donations can also be made by appointment at Heartland and Lifesource offices in Crystal Lake.
Thos can be scheduled at http://www.heartlandbc.org/donating_online_appt.html or https://donateblood.lifesource.org/itxm/login.php?id=002 .

Springfield: Stasis Broken But Problems Not All Mended

By Benjamin Yount and Melissa Leu, Illinois Statehouse News
The first six months of 2011 have been some of the busiest and most productive in the Illinois General Assembly’s recent history. Lawmakers in Springfield, in the waning days of the 96th General Assembly and the first days of the 97th General Assembly, approved measures and reforms that once had been considered politically impossible.

Illinois legislators approved an income tax increase hike as well as workers’ compensation and education reforms, and took the first steps toward reforming Illinois’ massively underfunded pension system. But 2011 began with the tax increase.

Less than a day before the 97th General Assembly was sworn in, the 96th General Assembly passed the 67-percent personal income tax increase — from a flat rate of 3 percent to 5 percent — the largest tax hike in Illinois’ history. The state’s corporate income tax rate also jumped from 4.8 percent to 7 percent.

Suburban Republican State Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, said the tax increase gave lawmakers a starting point on the budget, of which the Illinois House took advantage by basing the 2012 spending plan on revenue estimates. “Whether we like it or not, the Legislature passed a significant tax increase in the lame duck session,” said Harris.

Democrats argued that the tax increase was needed to “stabilize” Illinois’ financial position and put the state on course to eliminate an $ 8 billion deficit. “The argument that people have made in the past, ‘Well, we just need more money.’ No, we got more money and there’s not enough, and there’s not ever going to be enough to run a government that’s been bloated,” said state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion.

With that in mind, Bradley and others in the Illinois House focused on cutting the next state budget. Instead of granting the governor a lump sum to spend as it had in previous years, the Legislature allocated the funds to programs and line items.

Harris said lawmakers also paid some of the state’s obligations — the pension payment and health-care costs for state employees — for the first time in many years. “What we did with that new money is (make this year’s) pension payment, “said Harris. “And we made out spending less that it was in previous years.

Mike Lawrence, who is the former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said the action at the beginning of 2011 brought in a revived era of productivity. “You have the same major players, but they’re acting differently because I think they realize that the people of Illinois are unhappy about the state of finances,” said Lawrence. “Those were all substantial moves on the eve of this regular session and in some ways that flurry of action provided a flame for the current session.”

While the elections of 2012 certainly will be part of the 2011 legacy, so will unfinished business. Illinois lawmakers could not or did not make changes to how state employees pay for their retirement benefits.

Illinois’ $130-billion unfunded pension liability is becoming an ever-increasing weight on the state’s finances. Leaders in the House tried to push a reform package that would raise costs for state employees and hopefully lessen costs for taxpayers. But it will be the fall, or even next year, until lawmakers could act on that.

“We teach our children, don’t put off until the last day to do your homework or get that special project done. Start doing it right away. Well, government should learn the same lesson,” said state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford.

You can read the full report on this story at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6295/a-look-back-at-the-97th-general-assembly/

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
June 5
0126 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/ACCIDENT. ARNOLD, RONALD F., M/W 39 YEARS OF AGE, 3113 IMPRESSIONS DRIVE LAKE IN THE HILLS, CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0344 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/INJURY ACCIDENT. PARROTT, THOMAS G., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 301 APACHE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Improper Lane Use, Too Fast For Conditions, No Valid Insurance, Failure to Give Aid or Information. RELEASED ON BOND.
1911 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF DEER CREEK LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. FLODIN, KEVIN T., M/W 39 YEARS OF AGE, 1453 DEER CREEK LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two counts of Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0007 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF THORNBERRY WAY. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. Wife. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
0853 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF MONROE ST. SUICIDE ATTEMPT. Female, 64 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
1204 HRS 2200 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (THE CAR WASH) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for Insurance. Vehicle damaged by car wash equipment.
1432 HRS 900 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1519 HRS 300 N. RANDALL RD. (LOWES) FOUND ARTICLE. A bicycle in the parking lot. Entered into evidence.
1743 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF HILLSBORO LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 55 years of age, fell down the stairs. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2122 HRS 4443 ROLLING HILLS DR. (ROLLING HILLS PARK) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 17 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
2346 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 41 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
May 31
08:22am Wojciechowski, Denise, DOB: 03/09/67, of 1113 St. Andrews, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS and Speeding.  She was taken into cutody in the 700 block of N. River Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 07/06/11 in McHenry County.
June 2
10:21am A 17 year-old fmaile from Harwood Heights was charged with Theft Under $300.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department. She was formall Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of her mother.
16:00pm Cussen, Debra J., DOB: 11/22/55, of 1610 Hartley Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery.  She was taken into custody at 1610 Hartley Drive.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
June 3
12:53pm Demann, Fredrick C., DOB: 02/07/64, of 382 South Avenue, Hampshire, was Wanted on a Warrant out of DeKalb County for Failure to Appear, on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge.  He was taken into custody at Huntley Road and Randall Road.  He was released after posting $500 with a court date of 06/21/11 in DeKalb County.
June 4
01:41am Muscia, Michael A., DOB: 04/07/63, of 821 Southwick Drive, Algonquin and Pittas, Timothy D., DOB: 07/04/85, of 4105 Larkspur Lane, Lake in the Hills, were both charged with Criminal Damage to Property and Theft Under $500.  Both were taken into custody at 1024 E. Algonquin Road.  Also taken into custody during the same incident was Wedekind, Richard M., DOB: 05/16/85, of 6315 Hillcrest Road, Cary, who was charged with Criminal Damage to Property.  All were released after posting $150 with a court date of 07/06/11 in McHenry County.
12:26pm Dionicio, Silvana, DOB: 02/20/74, of 2017 Cherokee Road, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and Disobeying a Traffic Control Device.  She was taken into custody at Becky Lynn Lane and Randall Road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 07/13/11 in McHenry County.
June 5
02:56am Zuniga, Alexander D., DOB: 05/21/90, of 4521 S. Home Avenue, Forrest View, was charged with DWLS and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Harrison Street.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 07/06/11 in McHenry County.
June 6
01:26am Rivera, Isaac J., DOB: 12/07/92, of 5 Oxford Court, Carpentersville, was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Failure to Give Aid or Information and Failure to Give Notice of an Accident.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 07/06/11 in McHenry County.

No Major Injuries In LITH Airport Landing Incident

A Palatine pilot and his instructor suffered only minor injuries after a botched landing at Lake in the Hills Airport Saturday.

Lake in the Hills police and Crystal Lake firemen were called to the scene when a small aircraft piloted by Dr. Michael Higgins of Palatine with his instructor Krzysztof Mariusz of Chicago ran off the runway when the aircraft lost power.

LITH Airport was briefly closed for inspection following the incident and the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct an investigation.


In the pic:  A single-engine Mooney like this one veered off the runway coming in to Lake in the Hills Airport Saturday.

Kids Find "Treasure" At LITH Beach

Sand literally flew and over 100 kids would happily have dug to China Saturday in search of treasure at Indian Trail Beach.  LITH Sperintendant of Recreation Andrew Gemmel channeling a combo of Captain Kangaroo and the Pied Piper led the kids a merry chase in search of buried booty his grandpa'd once told him about.  Gemmel's recollection wasn't the best and it took a long time to find the treasure which, fortunately,  turned out to be right under some traffic cones. Real old ones, though. Possibly from the Carribean, even. 

Chamber Sets Cruise Nights In Algonquin

The Algonquin Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce will sponsor series of Summer Cruise Nights again this year in front of Algonquin's Sonic Drive-In.  The emphasis on the way- cool rides and rods we all wished we had back when we were stuck driving Mom's Rambler.  (Two-tone pink and cream automatic.  "The horror, the horror.")

The first Cruise Night will be June 14 with two more to follow July 12 and Aug. 9, all from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.  There'll be a DJ playing atmospheric "golden oldies" and raffle prizes throughout each evening, too.

The events are free but if folks bring along a non-perishable food item for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry Sonic will reward the largess with a free icy treat.

In the pic: Refreshing beverages were easily obtainable at last year's Cruise Nights and speedily, too, since in the golden age of automobiles even carhops came with wheels.

Algonquin Rain Garden Taking Root

Algonquin's latest environmental amenity's taking root now.  It a rain garden at Water Treatment Plant 3 on Square Barn Road at the entrance to D158's school's complex on Academic Drive.

The village put in the rain garden to show how they work thanks to a $6,000 grant from the McHenry County Conservation District.  Assistant Public Works Director Michelle Zimmerman said the garden takes half the rain discharge from the water plant's roof and runs it through an area of native plants.  "There's no runoff," said Zimmerman since the plants suck up the water and, incidentally, break down any pollutants.

There's not a lot of parking at Plant 3 but enough it probably won't be overloaded if residents stop to inspect the rain garden, Zimmerman said.

In the pic:  Algonquin's newly-planted rain garden at Square Barn and Academic Drive adds some visual interest to the water treatment plant there, too.

Quinn Murky On Plans For Gaming Expansion

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
As legislators trickled out of Springfield this week following the end to the spring session, Governor Pat Quinn all but said he would use his amendatory veto powers of a bill allowing five more casinos in the state and video gaming at horse-race tracks and Illinois’ state fairground in Springfield, calling it “top heavy.”

“I think that’s way too excessive, and I think most people in Illinois, average people, when they take a look at the size of this, would say it’s excessive, it’s top heavy, it’s too much,” Quinn said during a news conference. As it stands, the legislation puts new casinos in Chicago, Danville, Park City, Rockford and a to-be-determined location in Chicago’s south suburbs. Quinn said he could support a casino in Chicago if it was done properly. The governor did not say which proposed casinos he may cut.

Illinois has nine riverboat casinos, which also would be allowed to expand under the bill. The gaming expansion passed both chambers, but not with the votes needed to override a veto.
If Quinn does use his amendatory veto pen and the Legislature doesn’t take up the changes during the fall veto session, the entire bill, not just the sections Quinn alters, would die.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6289/quinn-murky-on-plans-for-gaming-expansion/

Obituaries

William J. “Bill” Kochinski, 82, of Huntley died Saturday morning at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Visitation will be  from 4 to 8 pm Monday at DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley and from 9:30 am Tuesday until Mass at 10:30 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.  Burial will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the National Kidney Foundation, 215 W. Illinois Street, #1C, Chicago, Illinois 60654-7163.

Kochinski is survived by his wife, Elsie, of Huntley; his children. Carol (John) Steinmeyer of South Carolina, John (Robin) Kochinski of Georgia, Janet (Steve) Brown and Sharon (Mark) Gornik both of Illinois, Jim (Marianne) Kochinski of Minnesota; grandchildren, John, Kelly, Brandon, Renae, Kristin, Matt & Mitch, and by his sister, Joan Shoevlin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
June 4
0133 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 5 years of age, having difficulty breathing. No transport.
0714 HRS 241 N. RANDALL RD. (WHITE CASTLE). ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 24 years of age, disoriented. No transport.
1015 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANCERY WAY. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1042 HRS 8407 PYOTT RD. (LITH AIRPORT). ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assist to FAA with an airplane that had malfunctioning landing gear. Property damage only.
1251 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF ALGONQUIN RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. 18 priors.
1321 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 6 years of age, hit head on equipment. No transport.
1615 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 45 years of age, had a seizure and broke her nose. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1946 HRS MILLER RD. & SPRINGLAKE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 17 years of age, with a head injury from a fall. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2015 HRS 0 BLOCK OF HUNTERS PATH. HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck by unknown vehicle.
2043 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF HARVARD LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 75 years of age, collapsed on the floor. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
2051 HRS 1107 PATTON AVE. (SKATE PARK). FOUND ARTICLE. Pair of rollerblades. Entered into evidence.