Judge Orders Bianchi Prosecutors To Stay Put

The Special Prosecutors in the Lou Bianchi investigation continued batting .000 Friday as presiding Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw refused both of their motions to withdraw from it.

Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen said a letter from Bianchi defense attorney Terry Ekl implying he might slap him with a civil suit could cause people to think he wasn't trying hard enough to put Bianchi in jail.  "I can't perform publicly with these questions about my judgement," he told McGraw.  McQueen said he'd work with Lead Special Prosecutor Henry "Skip" Tonigan to find another assistant, but Tonigan wanted out to investigation, too, to care for his ailing father.  "I'm doing what I have to do to take care of Dad," he told McGraw.

McGraw was clearly sceptical of McQueen's argument since there's always the chance a prosecutor will be sued for supposed misconduct.  "How does this put you on a different footing from questions in any other case?" he asked.  McQueen answered the threat doesn't usually come this early.

Ekl, charging both prosecutors had really filed "Motions to Abandon a Sinking Ship", claimed his letter to McQueen was a standard bit of legal boilerplate and argued Tonigan's father was a pretext since the retired judge had plenty of time to conduct a new ethics investigation in Grayslake.

Tonigan told McGraw he was just going to be a hearing officer in the Grayslake matter involving "a few emails."

McGraw ruled both prosecutors had to say put.  Letting McQueen off, he said, would set a bad precedent so "a clever defendant" could write a nasty letter to scare off a prosecutor, wait for a new one to be appointed and repeat the process "ad infinitum".  He said he "sympathized with" Tonigan's family problems but would only let him skip court appearances, not leave things entirely.

So far McGraw's handed out acquittals or dismissals in every case Tonigan and McQueen have brought in their investigation of Bianchi and his employees.  All that are left are three charges against Bianchi himself for alleged favoritism, due for bench trial Aug. 1.

Grayslake District 46 School Board records indicate members appointed Tonigan as an "investigator" June 21 into the use of school resources in the last Board election. A fast review of two meeting tapes indicate emails are the apparent source of the dispute.

Huntley Chamber Moves To Old Village Hall

The Huntley Chamber of Commerce took up new residence earlier than expected Friday in Huntley's Old Village Hall.  The switch from an office in Deicke Park has been in the works for several months but hadn't been expected to take place until later this month while repairs, especially to the roof,  were completed.

"The started moving Thursday," said Village Clerk Rita McMahon.  "(Chamber President) Rita (Sliwek) said they'd already had people come in," she said.

The Chamber's relocation gives new purpose to Huntley's Old Village Hall on Dhamer Square, a vernacular Art-Deco structure that dates from 1939.  The Village's $1,000 per month lease to the Chamber includes a proviso that restrooms will still be available for events on the Square like the Village's Farmers' Market and others.

Start For Huntley Fire Station Four Moved To Tuesday

Plans for Huntley Fire Protection District's new Algonquin Road Station 4 to go online Friday were postponed a few days according to Deputy Chief Keith Mellegni.  "There's still a few odds and ends to take care of," he said adding that the new date startup date is Tuesday.

The $3 million station was planned to drop crew response times to under six minutes for at least 85 percent of the district that covers Huntley, parts of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills, Hampshire and a lot of unincorporated Kane the McHenry counties.

Budget Was Chamber vs. Chamber Battle

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
After Democratic and Republican leaders in the House aligned early on, the budgeting process for the new fiscal year that began Friday became a chamber-versus-chamber showdown for once less about party allegiance and more about spending.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and House Minority Leader Tom Cross came together in March to offer testimony on a fairly simple budget plan. First, pay all the bills the state has to pay, then, dole out the rest of the money for operations and hope a conservative revenue estimate would leave some extra cash to pay down the state’s billions of dollars in overdue bills to.

 The House’s projection for how much the state could spend this fiscal year undercut the legislature’s own bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s numbers and was about $1 billion less than the Senate’s projection. “This setting up of really very different spending plans and revenue estimates was essentially House versus Senate,” said Kent Redfield, an emeritus political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Madigan fired the first shot in the battle of the chambers the day he and Cross publicly joined forces, saying that if Senate Democrats wanted to spend more, House Democrats and Republicans from both chambers could prevail on lower spending numbers by holding the majority in a conference committee. President John Cullerton said the two chambers could work out their differences, and a conference committee would not be needed.

As the House began creating its budget based on “conservative numbers,” the potential for deep cuts loomed in the higher chamber, and Senate Democrats passed their budget proposal in a just few days without taking committee votes on their bills. The two chambers ended up approving plans that were about $1 billion apart.

However, in the end the House plan prevailed. Senate Democrats tried to tack on a measly — when compared with the $33.2 billion overall spending plan — $430 million in additional spending for education and human services and were shot down when Quinn, Senate Republicans and the House all roundly rejected the move. “One chamber ended up, because of (Democratic) alliances with Republicans, dominating the other,” Redfield said.

So why the showdown? Redfield thinks it is because Democratic leaders from both chambers had different goals for the budgeting process.

“I think Madigan believes and he’s selling to his members that they need to run (as) ‘new Democrats’--'post-Blagojevich, balance-the-budget, we-can-govern new Democrats,’” he said.
Redfield said because the House got their work off the ground quickly and the members fell in line with the idea of a lower revenue estimate right out of the gate, the chamber was able to keep a generally unified front and push their agenda. “They had both a plan and an implementation that they got up and running more quickly, and they seemed to have more of a buy in (from members.)”

However, he said the House Democrats’ truce with Republicans might not last once they can gauge how they fared in elections under the new legislative map. “I think it’s going to look very similar next year. The question is what does it look like for 2013?”

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/budget-was-chamber-vs-chamber-battle.html

Obituaries

Greg E. Doscher, 61, of Union died Thursday at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois in Woodstock. A visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 pm with a service at 4 at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home Huntley.

Doscher was born February 22, 1950, in Chicago, the son of George Edward and Gladys (Hill) Doscher. On November 10, 1973 he married Mary Laws. He is survived by his wife of Union; daughter April (Peter) Guajardo of Elk Grove Village; sons, Brian and Kevin Doscher both of Union; his mother, Gladys Doscher; his sister, Nancy (Keith) Huffaker, and his brother, George (Joellyn) Doscher. He was preceded in death by his father.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed in Doscher's name, in care of Mary Doscher.

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.

MARY JO DEVITO, DOB:  08/23/82, LKA:  230 CUNAT BOULEVARD  #2A, RICHMOND. DECEPTIVE PRACTICE, THEFT (BY DECEPTION).--McHenry PD               
   
KITT LECHNER, DOB:  01/04/84, 4003 MAIN STREET  #100, MCHENRY. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY(5CTS), THEFT (OVER $300.)(5CTS), CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO RESIDENCE(5CTS), CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY(3CTS)
GRACE A. WRIGHT, DOB:  12/25/85, 4003 MAIN STREET  #100, MCHENRY. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY(5CTS), THEFT (OVER $300.)(5CTS), CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO RESIDENCE(4CTS), CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY(2CTS)--McHenry PD

AMY L. STOWELL, DOB:  10/24/65, 216 S. JEFFERSON STREET  APT 2N, WOODSTOCK. AGGRAVATED BATTERY.--Woodstock PD

ERICH F. WILFINGER, DOB:  02/25/82, 5306 MAPLE HILL ROAD, MCCULLOM LAKE. AGGRAVATED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.--Illinois Attorney General's Office

RYAN M. JOHNSON, DOB:  10/26/90, 1399 LOCH LOMOND DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO RESIDENCE, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, ATTEMPT (ESCAPE), DISORDERLY CONDUCT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
JUAN L. CARBAJAL, DOB:  09/08/75, 1000 W. ROOSEVELT  #6, HARVARD. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
CAROL DE LAO, DOB:  06/06/72, 421 BUCKINGHAM DRIVE  #7, CRYSTAL LAKE. RETAIL THEFT.--Crystal Lake PD
   
JOHN K. GUENTHER, DOB:  07/19/66, 3703 W. JAMES STREET  #1C, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry PD
   
JAMES A. BAARTZ, DOB:  06/09/73, 524 FREEMONT STREET, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Woodstock PD

PAUL KOROLUK, DOB:  11/28/78, 2103 SWEETWATER DRIVE, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ARMED HABITUAL CRIMINAL, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM AMMUNITION, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(5CTS).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
KENNETH ARTHUR SABAJ, DOB:  04/07/82, 1115 HILLTOP BOULEVARD, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, OBSTRUCTING IDENTIFICATION.--Prairie Grove 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
July 01
0204 HRS ANNANDALE DR. & HASTINGS CT. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. LINK, THOMAS W., M/W 50 YEARS OF AGE, 10419 DUTCH BARN ST., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Failure to Dim Headlights, Expired Registration, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
2118 HRS RANDALL ROAD & MILLER ROAD. ACCIDENT 2 Vehicles. Property Damage Only.
2217 HRS AVALON LANE & GENEVA LANE. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2345 HRS 900 BLOCK OF MESA DR. REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Car fire.
Algonquin
June 28
00:47am Herman, Joseph F., DOB: 05/25/76, of 4052 N. Keystone 2 South, Chicago, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Cook County for DWLS/DWLR.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Virginia.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
09:18am Campbell, Kenneth R., DOB: 06/06/91, of 100 Hayes Road, Algonquin, was charged with Speeding & DWLS.  He was taken into custody at Cardinal Drive and Edgewood Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 08/03/11 in McHenry County.
June 29
11:10am Stanko, Sean M., DOB: 07/25/91, of 2004 Clematis Drive, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Burglary to Motor Vehicle.  He was taken into custody at 2004 Clematis.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
23:33pm A 16 year-old female from Algonquin was charged with Curfew Violation, Child Endangerment and Resisting a Peace Officer.  She was taken into custody in the 200 block of South Main Street.  She was Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of her parents.
June 30
20:47pm Garcia-Bautista, Jose, DOB: 06/27/69, of 7 Fir Street, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, Speeding and No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and County Line Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 08/03/11 in McHenry County.

Area Solon Calls For Property Tax Freeze

Rural McHenry State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) announced Thursday he'd dropped a new bill in the hopper during last week's one-day legislative session to freeze real estate taxes in a down housing market like the current one.  It still wouldn't freeze individual tax bills, though.

"When everyone else is losing money the government should not get more," said Franks whose legislation would set taxing districts' total tax bite increases to zero if the assessed value of all the property in them fell.  Right now the extension can increase.  This year, for example, even as the tax base shrank, most districts took a 2.7 percent boost.

The devil's in the details, of course, and a freeze on the tax extension wouldn't be the same as a freeze on tax bills.  Grafton Deputy Assessor Chad Schmidt pointed to LITH's Sumner Glen and Huntley's adjacent Northbridge neighborhoods where sales prices cratered and, as a consequence, so did assessments.  "It's 25 to 30 percent," he said.  So even if the collective tax bill had stayed the same, homeowners in other neighborhoods would still have had to take up the part those taxpayers used to carry.  "I can't solve that problem," said Franks.

Eliminating inflation from the tax equation would be hard on government budgets, though. Harking to this year's 2.7 percent inflation figure, School District 158 Board Member and CPA Tony Quagliano estimated it was worth roughly $1 million in a budget that saw, among other charges, drastically increased fuel costs.  Quagliano said he'd rather settle for the status quo which features a 5 percent cap on any increase even when prices go through the roof.  "On the upside (of rising home values) it protects the taxpayers and on the downside (when they fall) it protects the taxing districts from calamity," he said.

Pitting taxpayers against tax leviers, Franks' bill promises an interesting session in Springfield come October.  "We could see this pass by the first week of November," he said.  That would mean if it passed, the new proposed cap would cover taxes due next year.

In the pic: Sixtythird District Rep. Jack Franks.

Audience Pleased, Anglers Not So, At Algonquin Concert

About 150 music lovers lined Riverfront Park Thursday for the first of Algonquin's Summer Concert Series.  Even half a dozen boats anchored offshore to hear "Die Musikmeisters" oompah their way though German favorites like The Happy Wanderer.  Some nearby fisherman weren't in the mood to sing Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, however.

"I've got a thirty-foot line here.  If I can drop it in your boat, you're too damn close," said one who asked not to be identified.

State law says boaters are supposed to stay 150 feet away from marked launch, swimming and fishing areas but since the signs point away from the shore it wasn't clear Thursday if that applies to Riverfront Park. Since the Sheriff's boat police didn't show up during the concert, the matter was pretty theoretical, anyway.

Next up in the Concert Series is Irish music with a group called the Dooley Brothers next Thursday at 7:30 pm.

Antiques Auction At Historical Society 25th Fair

The McHenry County Historical Society 25th annual Heritage Fair at its museum in Union July 10 will include the auction of a wide variety of pre-1950’s can’t-live-without antiques and collectibles. On the block will be everything from furniture and quilts to clocks, local atlases and toys, all donated  to raise funds for the nonprofit Society.

The auction's set for 1 pm.  The Fair, themed “glorious Quilts” starts at 10 am.  The quilts are part of the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest through September when the museum will feature a quilt show with Depression Era, Political, Crazy, and Red and White quilts from the museum’s own vast collection.  From 2 to 4 pm the Fair will feature magicians for the kids including LITH's man of mystery, Freddy Fredericks.  There'll be a pie contest, too.

In the pic:  Checking out antiques at last year's McHenry County Historical Society Auction.

Quinn Signs Budget He Calls "Lacking"

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
As he warned, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn changed the 2012 budget. Quinn waited until late Thursday night, the last day of the fiscal year, to sign 23 pieces of legislation that make up the new spending plan. But the governor did not sign the budget sent to him by lawmakers. Instead, he used his amendatory veto powers to change it.

Quinn said in a statement that he "reprioritized" the budget. "I discovered and eliminated double-appropriations by more than $336 million. Next, I reduced bureaucracy costs by more than $11 million," Quinn said in a statement.

Most of the Quinn's $336 million in cuts come from trimming of $276 million from Medicaid.
Lawmakers said they wanted to avoid cutting the amount the state's Medicaid providers would be paid. Instead, the General Assembly stretched out the payment cycle to more than 100 days.

School districts also are taking a hit in the budget Quinn signed. The governor ordered a nearly $90 million trim for school buses statewide and eliminated another $11 million cut for regional superintendents. The governor had targeted superintendents, but the General Assembly tried to spare them.

Illinois' Constitution gives the governor strong power to shape the state budget, but he cannot increase it. He can only cut or amend. Quinn has said for weeks that he would like to spend more on education and human services. That may require more money but legislators won't be back in Springfield until the veto session in October.

Illinois' new fiscal year begins today. Quinn signed the 2012 budget to avoid a state government shutdown.


You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6548/gov-quinn-signs-budget-he-says-is-lacking/

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 30
0240 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. KINERT, MATTHEW F., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 293 WILDMEADOW LANE, WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
1355 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF HERON DR. IDENTITY THEFT. Unauthorized purchases made on a credit card. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1810 HRS 10 BLOCK OF LARKSPUR CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 14 years of age, needing of an evaluation. No transport.
Algonquin
delayed--FEN schedule conflict

Chief Bianchi Prosecutor Wants Out, Judge Tosses Another Case

The Lou Bianchi prosecutions continued to collapse as a Rockford Judge dismissed a sideshow misconduct charge against a McHenry County State's Attorney's investigator and the lead Special Prosecutor asked to withdraw from the investigation.

Late Wednesday Winnebago Circuit Judge Joseph McGraw who's hearing all the cases ordered dismissal of a charge that McHenry County investigator Mike McCleary used his County-supplied car improperly for personal purposes.

Earlier Wednesday Special Prosector Henry "Skip" Tonigan asked McGraw to let him withdraw from what's left of his investigation of Bianchi, three charges of State's Attorney favoritism in prosecutions.  Tonigan's motion said he needed time to care of his elderly father. The excuse was at odds, however, with a June 21 Grayslake School District decision to hire the retired judge to conduct an investigation in an ethics dispute there.  Tonigan's request for withdrawal follows that of fellow-Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen Tuesday who asked to leave the case because Bianchi defense lawyer Terry Ekl  intimated he might sue the prosecutors.

In April Ekl acting for a group of tax-paying Bianchi supporters wanted to have the pair fired for incompetence.  However, Wednesday Ekl said now he'd rather have Judge McGraw keep at least one of the Prosecutors on the case just to get it over with.  "Bianchi has a speedy trial demand on file and his case must be tried prior to the end of August," he said in an email.

Neither prosecutor asked to withdraw from the McCleary case before McGraw dismissed it.  The order giving prosecutors 14 days to refile didn't include an explanation for the dismissal and defense attorney Chris DeRango said he doubted there'd be one. Observers guessed, however, it had something to do with McQueen's telling McGraw last week, first, that McCleary's official car use would actually have been OK with the right paperwork, then blurting out it wasn't McCleary's job to submit it.

McGraw's already acquitted Bianchi and his secretary of two dozen charges of misconduct and conspiracy and tossed out another misconduct charge against Bianchi's chief investigator. He' scheduled to hear arguments on the Special Prosecutors' withdrawal motions in Rockford Friday.

In the pic:  Thomas McQueen (left) and Henry "Skip" Tonigan announcing the second round of Bianchi indictments earlier this year.

Algonquin Water Status Shifts For Summer

Summer weather has arrived; violators will be ticketed. At least in Algonquin if they use too much water. That's the message of an announcement that starting today the Village goes to “yellow” water status to hold down the load on the village water supply.

Yellow status means even/odd days for watering the landscape before 9 am and after 6 pm. Even-numbered addresses may water on even calendar days, odd addresses the odd ones.  Village officials say they aren't kidding, either. They'll be out checking for sprinkler scofflaws.

All water classifications (green, yellow, orange, and red) prohibit watering lawn or landscaping between 9 am and 6 pm. To check the water system status, look for signs posted on main streets in the Village, on the Village website (www.algonquin.org) or call Algonquin Village Hall (847-658-2700).

ALITH Pantry To Collect At Ribfest , Other Summer Events

Volunteers for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry collected more than $2,800 over the past weekend at Algonquin's Randall Road Jewel to push the group's Building Relocation Fund past the $30,000 mark.

That only leaves a nominal $205,000 to go so the Pantry can move from its Oak Street machine shed location to new digs at LITH's Larsen Farm on Pyott Road.  Volunteers will be at LITH's  Rockin Ribfest at Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills next Friday and Saturday, the Algonquin Chamber's Cruise Night in front of Sonic in Algonquin July 12th and the Heartland Blood Donation drive at Snap Fitness in Algonquin July 20th.

In the pic:  While the ALITH Food Pantry's raising money for new facilities, volunteers are also looking for non-perishable food donations for the local needy, too.

Magical Night Set At LITH BeachThursday

The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department has a a Magical Night at the Beach set Thursday at Indian Trail Beach.  Magician Randy Bernstein will perform improvisational magic, demonstrations and maybe even offer a look at how magic tricks, "trick", if everyone behaves himself.

A picnic dinner and a blanket are de rigueur for the show beginning at 7 p.m. In case of rain, the show will be held in the Village Hall Multipurpose Room. This event is part of the Summer Button Program, so don’t forget to bring your lanyard and collect your button.

Audit: Lotto Manager Choosing "Flawed"

By Benjamin Yount,  Illinois Statehouse News
Some of the dates don’t add up for how the state chose the Northstar Group to run Illinois’ Lottery, according to a report released this week by the Illinois Auditor General.

The state’s Department of Revenue gave Northstar, a consortium of companies that handles lottery machines in Illinois, the nod in September to take over day-to-day operations of the $2-billion-a-year lottery. The company is set to take over the lottery July 1 and has promised to generate more lotto sales, $1 billion in five years. In return Northstar could get $313 million. But those dates are not the ones that caught the eye of Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland.  Holland Tuesday released an audit that focuses on how the state chose Northstar.

Among the findings, the Illinois Department of Revenue hired an assistant to facilitate the selection of a new lottery manager on May 29, 2010. But the audit states the assistant started working on May 12, 2010, 17 days prior to signing a contract. And the deadline for potential lottery managers to submit their proposals was due on May 27, 2010, two days prior to the contract being awarded. This report “documents a process that is flawed,” said Holland in an interview with Illinois Statehouse News.

“What I find (in the audit) is a lot of speculation and what if’s,” said Mike Klemens, a spokesman for the Department of Revenue. “There is not a statement that ‘Hey, you did something wrong.’”

Holland angrily rejected any notion of speculation. “We clearly document that the Department of Revenue paid an adviser nearly $5 million without any clarity about what he did, or when he did it,” said Holland. “We clearly document that scoring sheets were late. There is no speculation about it.”

Byron Boothe, vice president of government relations with Intralot, which also bid for the lottery contract, said the report confirms what he saw firsthand. “The Department of Revenue has been playing hide the ball,” said Boothe. “This audit shows it’s not just hide the ball from us, but from the auditors, and the people of Illinois.”

McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, said the state needs to stop the transfer of the lottery to Northstar before the group takes over Friday. “At the very least (the Department of Revenue) should not go forward until we have answered these very serious questions.” said Franks.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6544/audit-lotto-manager-chosing-flawed/

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 29
0852 HRS HEAVENS GATE & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Delayed accident report.
1154 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. HIT & RUN. Hit and run delayed report. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1758 HRS MILLER RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Male, 49 years of age, complaining of neck pain. No transport.
1925 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.

State Board Rejects New Hospitals for Huntley And Crystal Lake

Faced with a choice between virtually identical hospitals proposed for Huntley and Crystal Lake, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board in Joliet Tuesday gave a thumbs down to both concluding the area already has plenty of hospital beds.  The CEO of Centegra Health System promised to come back "as soon as we can" for another try at the Huntley hospital.

Board members largely accepted an Illinois Department of Public Health report two weeks ago that either hospital proposed by Centegra and Mercy Health System would create too many new surgical beds in McHenry County. IDPH Deputy Director for statistics David Carvalho Tuesday rammed the point home further explaining IDPH's estimate of an 83-bed shortfall by 2015 was out of date based on old area growth projections that last year's census showed were already off 9 percent.  "We'll be working to adjust for this later this year," he said.

Mercy's 128-bed Crystal Lake hospital proposal was first on the agenda.  It was almost 12:30 pm when the Board shot it down 8 to 1 for being too big and hurting existing hospitals like Advocate Good Shepherd in Barrington and Sherman in Elgin. The sole supporting vote came from Appellate Judge Alan Greiman who said, "You don't tell McDonald's not to build because there's a Taco Bell nearby."

That, however, is essentially what the Health Facilities Board is all about, so Greiman's was likewise the only vote at about 4:30 pm in favor of Centegra's 128-bed hospital. The rest were unpersuaded by Centegra's claim the law allows special treatment if an area like the one around Huntley has rapid population growth that's expected to continue.  "There's more to McHenry County than Crystal Lake," observed Bob Lauer, Lake in the Hills Dad of a Parkinson's patient.

CEO Michael Eesley said Centegra would come back before the Board as early as its next meeting with more figures on growth in southeastern McHenry County and numbers on allegedly unserved patients in northeastern Kane.  That would be Aug. 16 but Board Administrator Courtney Avery said she wasn't sure there'd be enough time to add it to the next agenda.

In the pic:  There were a lot of people at Tuesday's meeting of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board but most of them worked for hospitals that had an iron in the fire one way or another. 

Second Bianchi Prosecutor Asks Out

If Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen prevails in court Friday there could be no one left to finish up what remains of the Lou Bianchi misconduct cases.  McQueen Tuesday Tuesday asked to withdraw from prosecuting the three charges left against the McHenry County State's Attorney because Bianchi's defense lawyer sent him a letter he found "personally and financially" threatening.

Henry "Skip" Tonigan, lead Special Prosecutor, has already asked appointing Judge Gordon Graham to excuse him from what's left of the so-far failed Bianchi investigation to take care of his ailing father.  McQueen's petition to presiding Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw asks to be excused because, thanks to the letter from Terry Ekl, someone might think he wasn't trying hard enough to convict Bianchi.

Acquitted without mounting a defense on a raft of earlier charges, Bianchi still faces three alleging he gave special treatment to cases involving an alleged relative, an alleged relative of a staffer and an alleged political supporter.

Ekl's letter to McQueen dated June 17 put him on notice to take good care of electronic records in case Bianchi decides to go after McQueen and Tonigan for their own supposed misconduct.  "I have repeatedly expressed my opinion that the investigation and prosecution were baseless and improper," reads one passage.

McQueen's request only asks to withdraw from the cases against Bianchi.  It doesn't mention withdrawing from an allied case against Bianchi investigator Mike McCleary for purported improper use of his County vehicle.

Tonigan's request to withdraw is still up in the air while another motion about how much the McHenry County has to pay the Special Prosecutors makes its way through the Appellate Court. Tonigan said in April he wouldn't have time to work on the Bianchi investigation anymore but the Arlington Heights Daily Herald coincidentally reported Tuesday that the former judge just agreed to investigate an ethics complaint against the Grayslake school district.

In the pic:  Thomas McQueen.

Tower Company Sues Huntley Over Nixed Monopole

Village of Huntley officials finally received their own copy Tuesday of a complaint against the Village in Federal Court by a frustrated cell-tower company.

The suit filed in Chicago Friday wasn't exactly a surprise since the attorney from SBA Towers had a stenotypist in Village Hall late last month when the Board turned down a zoning variance to let the company build a 175-foot cell tower near the Dean's plant. Besides, a reporter for the regional Daily Herald newspaper had already picked up the filing Monday before the Village was served with its own.

In some ways the suit's similar to one SBA's had going through the Indiana court system for the last three years.  This one's Federal, though, claiming the U.S. Telecommunications Act trumps Huntley's local zoning regs. It claims the 1996 law's fine print requires a rejection "in writing" and "shall not have the effect of prohibiting" cell service.  That last part may be tricky for SBA since the company admitted at Huntley's Board meeting that there were technical alternatives to the tower it wanted to build.

In the pic:  The steno SBA Towers brought to last month's Huntley Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Garbage And Ordinance Edits At Algonquin Board Tuesday

The Algonquin Village Board talked trash Tuesday, literally, as the Committee of the Whole gave an initial OK to some changes in waste collection.  Member also did a little editing work on rules about pools and parking RV's.

Up for renewal soon is the Village's pact with contractor waste management.  Changes include adding service for multi-family dwellings (only about 10 buildings) and a mild increase in sticker prices.  Manager's Assistant Mike Kumbera said next year's $2.20 fee was "still pretty reasonable for the Chicago market."

Members also gave preliminary approval to regulating garbage companies that haul off waste from the village's commercial establishments.  Licenses will be $1,000 per company and they'll have to post a bond.

The Board also gave initial OK's to adding ordinance requirements for an 18-inch rail on above-ground pools and banning on-street RV parking.  The ordinances used to include both of those but Building Commissioner Craig Arps said they were accidentally dropped in the last round of revisions so right now the village can't do anything about complaints about them.

Police Chief Russ Laine asked for another revision to bring the Village's ordinances in line with new state laws on how much money it takes to keep theft just a misdemeanor.  If Algonquin's number is the same as the state's, prosecutions can go to the village's administrative court instead of Circuit Court in Woodstock.  The magic numbers are $300 for retail theft and $500 for general theft.

Kane Board Chairman Announces For "New" State Senate Seat

Kane County's Board Chairman Kane McConnaughay was first out of the blocks in a press releaseTuesday announcing she's running for the State Senate in 2012 in the more or less new 33rd District. Under the State's new radical legislative map the 33rd will drift from suburban Cook County over to Kane and the part of McHenry including Algonquin, LITH and Huntley.

Republican McConnaughay is still in the middle of her second term as Kane County Board chairman after first winning it in 2004. Lately she's been involved in budget battles with Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez and Kane Circuit Clerk Deborah Seyller.

Quinn Signs Workers Comp, Critics Unimpressed

By Benjamin Yount,  Illinois Statehouse News
Even before Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn could finish his statewide victory lap, critics were predicting problems from the state's new workers' compensation reforms. The Governor at stops in Chicago, Rockford, Champaign and southern Illinois said the new reforms could save employers $500 million or more.

The reforms create an entirely new system for handling workers’ compensation cases. The governor will appoint new arbitrators, state employees who hear workers’ compensation cases, for no more than three years. Employers now can send injured workers to one doctor instead of two. Doctor’s fees are slashed by 30 percent, and the number of weeks workers can collect compensation for certain injuries is reduced.

But critics, including workers' compensation attorney Jim Nawrocki, said the arbitration process could be filled with "political appointees and hacks," who will not be able to handle the complexities of workers' compensation cases.
 "I know that the whole purpose of (these reforms) was to make things easier, cheaper and faster," said Nawrocki.  "But I think what's going to end up happening is there is going to be a lot more litigation" when workers appeal their arbitration decisions in circuit court.
 
Lower workers’ compensation insurance rates are supposed to result from a 30-percent cut in doctor’s fees, but that could undermine medical care for injured workers, said Dr. Wayne Polek, president of Illinois State Medical Society. "We predict injured workers will wait longer for care, thus triggering higher medical care costs and delays in their return to work," said Polek.

The new reforms go into effect July 1, but some aspects of the new law make take a few months to implement, such as finding and confirming new arbitrators.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6536/quinn-inks-workers-comp-critics-still-unimpressed/

Obituaries

James Lee Kleckner, 71, of West Dundee, died Sunday after a four-year battle with cancer.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Wednesday at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley, and at Christ United Methodist Church, Algonquin, from 11 am until the time of the service Thursday. The funeral service will be held at the church at 1 pm. Burial will be at Huntley Cemetery.

Kleckner was born April 4, 1940 in Sublette, the son of LeRoy and Anna Katherine (Miller) Kleckner. He is survived by: his wife, Janet Faye Kleckner of West Dundee; his daughter, Debra Sue Masek of Huntley; his son, Derek Lee Kleckner and daughter-in-law Hershey of Bartlett; grandchildren, Allison, Michael and Nichola and by his brother, Wayne Kleckner He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Christ United Methodist Church or The American Cancer Society.

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 28
1045 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF THORNBERRY WAY. WANTED ON WARRANT. TREECE, SCOTT M., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 3885 THORNBERRY WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Illinois Department of Corrections, Parole Violation, No Bond, McHenry County, Domestic Battery, No Bond, McHenry County, Mob Action and Armed Violence, No Bond. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1326 HRS 2450 ALGONQUIN RD. (BANK OF AMERICA) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MOORE, JOANN, F/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 508 DALHART AVE., ROMEOVILLE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Disobeyed Traffic Control Device. RELEASED ON BOND.
2154 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. GARCIA, FILBERTO FLORES, M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 11711 KENNETH AVE., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License and Registration Suspended for Mandatory insurance Violation. RELEASED ON BOND.
1100 HRS 8711 PYOTT RD. (REDI-WELD) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Puncture holes found on a pontoon boat. Report for Insurance.
1538 HRS 9027 HALIGUS RD. (BARK PARK) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Juvenile was located at the Park.
1657 HRS 300 BLOCK OF STARWOOD PASS. MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 15 years of age, left the residence on 062211. Juvenile located.
1758 HRS 700 BLOCK OF PARC CT. THEFT. Of a leather jacket. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
June 27
062611@2324 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF DANBURY CIRCLE. FOLLOW-UP ARREST. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY/CURFEW VIOLATION. JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property, Curfew Violation. Petitioned to Tri Area Court For Teens. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1453 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 66 years of age had taken too many prescribed pills while intoxicated. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1721 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. CREDIT CARD FRAUD. Complainants’ credit card was utilized along with his driver's license.  FAIL TO FILE.
1814 HRS 100 BLOCK OF E. ACORN LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Uncle vs. nephew. No priors.  FAIL TO FILE.

Sheriff's Memo Says Milliman Claimed "FBI Had Us"

The Illinois Attorney General's Office Monday denied a McHenry County Sheriff's request to withhold part of a memo detailing why a whistleblowing deputy was suspended from active duty.
Received this morning, the part of the memo that was removed says Scott Milliman claimed to be an FBI informant.

The excised portion of a report from Lieut. John Miller to Undersheriff Andy Zinke on Dec. 23 reads in part:

"(Milliman) then pointed to the sweatshirt I was wearing (It was an F.B.I sweatshirt) and stated those guys were the guys that called me to meet with them in Crystal Lake at the Colonial Cafe in 2007 or 2008.  Deputy Milliman repeatedly said, "John they had us, wiretaps, photos, everything.  I wasn't going to do federal time for something that I didn't do."

The Sheriff's Office asked the Attorney General's Public Access Counselor to withhold the passage from a response to an FEN Freedom of Information Act request claiming it was exempt  because it contained information about Milliman's medical condition and would constitute "an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy".  Assistant Attorney General Matthew Rogina in a decision dated June 23 said he'd read that part finding "nothing in the memorandum that reveals information about the medical condition of Mr. Milliman or any other information that, if disclosed, would be highly personal or objectionable to a reasonable person."

Milliman who reportedly has sworn the Sheriff is involved in corruption is now on medical leave that he says he didn't ask for. FEN is appealing the Sheriff's refusal to provide information about that.

You can read the unredacted memo at:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/58890849/Sheriff-RecPDF-0628071130-001

Tax Mess: Did Review Board Change Assessment Standards?

Something was missing from the meeting at Sun City two weeks ago about how local tax bills got so high so fast.  Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong told the audience it traced back to the Grafton Township Assessor's sending 9,000 assessments to the McHenry County Board of Review for "correction" downward.   Armstrong skipped an important step, though: the Board approved them. The question no one explored is "why?"

Grafton Assessor Bill Ottley maintains he did it out of fairness because the McHenry County Board of Review that handles assessment appeals began handing out reductions last year based on the most recent depressed housing sales prices instead of a three-year average. That's supported by Algonquin Assessor Bob Kunz who sent a letter to the Board last year complaining about the same thing.  Kunz says the Board's response was, "Nothing."

Further supporting the thesis the Board changed its assessment standards is the multiplier the Illinois Department of Revenue slapped on all of McHenry County's assessments.  IDOR said the County's 2010 assessments were collectively 3.5 percent low compared with the rest of the counties in Illinois.

"(The Board of Review) got a letter from PTAB telling them to use recent sales," says Ottley.  PTAB stands for the Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board, the next step up if a homeowner isn't satisfied with relief at County Board of Review. Former Chairman of the Board of Review Robin Brunschon, now DeKalb County's Supervisor of Assessments, denies the Board changed its standards on appeals, and told FEN there's no such letter.

She did, however, admit she had a series of discussions with PTAB hearing officer Steve Bullock on what his agency looks at when it reviews Board decisions.

Bullock says he didn't tell Brunschon to change Board standards. "We don't have that authority," said Bullock. "That's none of our business."  Bullock said he and Brunschon discussed all of the types of evidence PTAB uses when it looks over the Board's shoulder, though, including appraisals and recent sales. Bullock said there really isn't any bright line standard for making assessments.  "The Illinois Constitution only requires that they be 'fair and uniform'," he said.

what about that three-year average?

There's a popular misconception about that, Bullock said.  That's required for collective assessments, not individual ones, he said.

Brunschon agreed. "When you get your tax bill it says it's based on the property's value on January 1."

There's a big difference, between the two.  In a down housing market like this one, Kunz said using current sales results in a 12 percent reduction.

Pols: Verdict Allows State To Move Past Blagojevich

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
There were few kind or sad words from Illinois' political leaders for Rod Blagojevich after a federal jury convicted the former governor on 17 of 20 corruption charges Monday. The feeling from leaders in Springfield and Washington, D.C., was that Illinois can move on now.

Gov. Pat Quinn said the jury made its decision based on the evidence — and the facts. "Rod Blagojevich deceived and misled lots and lots of people in Illinois, the voters included,"  Quinn said. "And the facts that came out in this trial, and the conviction by the jury, speak for themselves."

Blagojevich was found guilty Monday of most of the corruption charges he was facing. The former governor was convicted of fraud and extortion for trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, as well as a scheme to shake down an Illinois horse track owner. The jury found Blagojevich not guilty of trying to corrupt a Chicago school with ties to Ari Emanuel, the brother of now-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

FBI agents arrested Blagojevich in December, 2008, and he was indicted a few months later. Illinois lawmakers voted to remove Blagojevich from office between his arrest and indictment.  Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said the jury's verdict backs up the impeachment that lawmakers undertook after the arrest. "Today is another sad event for Illinois." Cullerton said in a statement. Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, echoed that sentiment. "I am as anxious as everyone to now put this sordid chapter in our state’s history behind us."

McHenry County State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) said, “From attempting to sell the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President Obama for personal gain, to trying to trade his signature on legislation for campaign contributions, corruption by this Democrat Governor was unlike anything we have ever seen in Illinois.”

McHenry County's other State Rep., Jack Franks (D-Marengo) was a foremost critic of the now-convicted governor.  His comment on the Blagojevich verdict was, “The truth has always been Blagojevich’s arch enemy."

David Morrison, associate director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, or ICPR, had the harshest words for the former governor. "The jury today has ratified the sense of millions of Illinoisans, that Rod Blagojevich was a pox on Illinois' political system."

The jury in his first trial convicted Blagojevich of only one charge--lying to the FBI. The jury was deadlocked on all the rest of the charges.   With the new convictions, Blagojevich faces a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced, though the judge did not say when the sentencing would be.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6506/pols-verdict-allows-state-to-move-past-blagojevich/

In the pic: Blagojevich after the verdict.

Blagojevich Verdicts May Spark More Reforms

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Another of Illinois’ past governors faces potential years behind bars after being convicted on the majority of the corruption charges he was facing. But some Illinois officials warn it is not yet time to close the book on the state’s history of corruption.

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno called on Illinois lawmakers to approve more reforms. In the wake of Blagojevich’s arrest, the General Assembly approved a campaign finance reform law that for the first time in Illinois caps the contributions politicians can accept. Lawmakers also enacted new ethics rules for state employees, as well as a new process for the way the state enters into contracts with vendors. However, Republicans have pushed for laws to lower campaign contribution caps and limit party contributions, with no gains over the last few years.

Some will want to use this verdict to close the door on reform," said Radogno. "Instead, it is our job as elected officials to make sure the public has confidence in the integrity of their government."

Gov. Pat Quinn agreed. He said Blagojevich’s conviction, along with the previous conviction of former Gov. George Ryan on corruption charges, “underlines … for every person in Illinois the importance of reforming our government on a daily basis from top to bottom.”

Quinn said legislators should consider allowing open primaries in the state, imposing a mandatory “conflict of interest” requirement on themselves and extending the recall power to all elected offices. Quinn pushed a constitutional amendment approved last November, which allows Illinois voters to recall governors. “I also think that looking at campaign finance again is something worth trying,” he said.

Quinn renewed a call to allow citizens to present ethics laws through a voter initiative system. He tried to tack such a provision onto a bill through an amendatory veto last year, but lawmakers did not take up the veto for a vote. This time, Quinn is calling for a constitutional amendment. “There’s a lot to be done. I’m sure there are many people with many ideas,” he said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/blagojevich-verdicts-may-be-impetus-for.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
delayed--FEN scheduling problem

Seipler, Nygren Attorneys Point Accusatory Fingers

Lawyers on both sides of ex-McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler's federal case against Sheriff Keith Nygren both claim sealed documents posted to an anonymous blog must have come from the other guys.

The documents which appeared earlier this month on an anti-Nygren blog were investigation reports detailing some bad, mostly drunken, off-duty behavior by Sheriff's deputies, some now supervisors, between 1997 and 2007.  They were posted to a blog called "The Real MCSD Exposed" which has since gone dark.

Nygren Attorney James Sotos Friday charged the documents were those he provided Seipler attorney Blake Horowitz as part of an evidence process in Seipler's complaint he was fired for blowing the whistle on racial profiling by deputies.  "My assistant noticed it," said Sotos.  "She said, 'Wait a minute, these are the redacted (selectively blacked out) copies.'"  Sotos said they couldn't have been obtained from the Sheriff's Office because he never sent the redacted versions to the Sheriff.

Horowitz Saturday said, they must have come from there because, "It's not Zane and it's not me." Horowitz pointed to yet another anonymous blog, Shadow MCSD, apparently by a disaffected deputy, which has posted other documents that do look to have come from Sheriff's records.  "It's obvious the Sheriff doesn't have control of his own people," said Horowitz.

Sotos hopes to settle the matter with a subpoena he filed against blog host Google to find out who ran Real MCSD Exposed.  However, Reputation Defense Online, a cyber detective agency that claims expertise in the area, reports on its website "Google’s typical response is to ignore or resist subpoena requests that come from any state other than California."

Besides figuring in Seipler's federal case, the leaky records could bleed over to his Circuit Court request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate wrongdoing in the Sheriff's Office.  That one's 15 months old now and due for a hearing on a State's Attorney request for dismissal July 8.

In the pic:  Sheriff's attorney James Sotos claims the blacked out parts of documents posted to an anonymous blog prove they came from ex-deputy Zane Seipler's side of a federal case against McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

Offsite Gardens Thrive At LITH Kreutzer Farm

Sunday was just about perfect as the Steve Mikulay family of Algonquin worked over their garden plot at Lake in the Hills' Kreutzer Farm.  It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold and "We've had lots of rain," said Carol Mikulay.

It's the first year for the Mikulay's garden.  "We had one when we lived in Huntley but when we moved to Algonquin there wasn't room," said Steve Mikulay.  It's the second year, though, that LITH's Parks & Rec. Department has rented out 20 plots on the Kreutzer Farm to urban--technically, suburban--gardeners.  "We got the last one," Mikulay said.

Add in the drive time and tending an offsite garden's a lot more labor intensive than for one in the backyard.  Mikulay's offset that with groundcloth to keep the weeds down around the family's peppers, cukes and tomatoes.  Lots of tomatoes.  "You're supposed to thin them out but after all the work raising them from seed it's kind of hard."

Even so, Mikulay said the commute to LITH's time-consuming.  "I wish Algonquin had something like this," he said.

In the pic:  Offsite gardeners Steve and Carol Mikulay and daughter Morgan tend the family's veggie plot at LITH's Kreutzer Farm.

Massages Ease Runners After Hard Race

Centegra's Health Bridge Fitness Center's RoadRunners 11th annual 5K Run Sunday saw more than 309 athletes gallop through Huntley's Northbridge neighborhood to support heart health.  Health Bridge had massage therapists on hand at the finish for weekend athletes who may have been a little out of practice.

Huntley High cross-country runner Kyle Ward was on one of the massage tables after the race.  "The team doesn't have a massage therapist," Ward mumbled into the upholstery as therapist Steve Kalter worked out some of his kinks.

Think it would be a good idea?

"Oh, yeeaaah," moaned Ward.

Confidence Crisis Could Bankrupt State Prepaid Tuition

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois’ prepaid tuition program is facing a crisis of confidence that threatens to push it toward insolvency. During the past three months, families have withdrawn more than $12 million from College Illinois!, according to documents obtained by Illinois Statehouse News. Families pulled out about $2 million during the same period last year.

The huge increase in refunds comes after scathing articles in the media, an Illinois auditor general’s report, an Illinois Secretary of State investigation and an Illinois attorney general inquiry into possible mismanagement of the program.  Panicked parents who have asked for their money back make up a small percentage of the total contract holders, but more now are debating whether to follow suit. “Do you want to be the last one holding the bag? " Chicago Mom and College Illinois investor Ginnie Flynn asked.

Created 12 years ago, College Illinois! allows people to pay for tuition and mandatory fees at universities and community colleges years in advance at a lower cost. The money people contribute to the program is invested and the return is supposed to cover tuition and fees and inflation over the next several years or decades. That is a defined benefits program in which a person who pays in now is guaranteed a certain payout. The program went from being 7 percent unfunded for future and current contracts in 2007 to 18 percent as of May. 

“I don’t think there’s going to be very many people who are willing to now subscribe to this program anymore, because it’s like investing in a bankrupt company,” George Pennacchi, professor of finance at University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign.

While the global financial crisis has obvious ties to College Illinois! struggles, an equally big culprit is the state’s ballooning tuition costs. During the past decade, tuition and mandatory fees at public universities have jumped by about 10 percent each year. “We have to match tuition, but we don’t know what that tuition is going to be, because the Legislature and governor … have let the schools here do what they need to do in terms of funding themselves,” said Andrew Davis, executive director for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, ISAC.

Pennacchi said the program was flawed from the start because of the trend in rising tuition costs. “It is ill-designed,” Pennacchi said. “There is probably no good investment strategy that will, with a high probability, allow you to invest at a rate that will cover tuition inflation.”

Gov. Pat Quinn replaced the head of ISAC’s board, Don McNeil with Kym Hubbard, former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, which provides financing for businesses, shortly after news of College Illinois! troubles surfaced. Parents like Dan and Ginnie Flynn, meanwhile, are left to wait and worry about their money in the program. “Worst case scenario, we withdraw it,” Dan Flynn said.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6488/lack-of-confidence-could-bankrupt-prepaid-tuition/

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 26
0055 HRS HILLTOP DR. & BERNICE DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. KUZNETZOW, SOPHIA M., F/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 7210 S. AVERS, CHICAGO. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Over .08, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
2324 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF DANBURY CIRCLE. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY/CURFEW VIOLATION. JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY.CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property, Curfew Violation. Petitioned to Tri Area Court For Teens. RELEASED TO PARENTS.
JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Curfew Violation. Petitioned to Tri Area Court For Teens. RELEASED TO PARENTS.
0329 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Female, 15 years of age, in need of an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0614 HRS 2100 BLOCK OF DAYBREAK DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1201 HRS 900 BLOCK OF BRANDT DR. FOUND ARTICLE. Lawn ornaments found in front yard.
1215 HRS 1109 PYOTT RD. (LARSEN ISLAND) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 3 years of age, bleeding from her finger. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1234 HRS 00 BLOCK OF MARGATE CT. FOUND ARTICLE. Bicycle found at residence. Entered into evidence.
1351 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2146 HRS LAKE DR & PHEASANT TRAIL. BATTERY. Several juveniles involved. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
June 24
18:18pm Alfaro, Sandro, DOB: 04/16/74, of 51 Alameda Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLR, Speeding & No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Webster Court and Ridge Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 08/03/11 in McHenry County.
June 25
16:45pm Roth, Shawn M., DOB: 09/15/91, Homeless, was Wanted on a Probation Violation out of McHenry County for DWLR.  He was taken into custody at Berg Street and Armstrong Street.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
16:54pm Cochenour, Joshua D., DOB: 10/22/91, of 409 South River Road, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at Berg Street and Armstrong Street.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 07/27/11 in Algonquin.
June 26
08:37am Butler, David A., DOB: 07/26/77, of 1550 Matthew Drive, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear, on a DWLS charge.  He was taken into custody at 1550 Matthew Drive.  He was released after posting $575 with a court date of 07/11/11 in McHenry County.
08:53am Alajoki, Kristine L., DOB: 10/28/66, of 3 Tiverton Court, Algonquin, was charged with DUI, Improper Lane Usage and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at W. Algonquin Road and Frank Road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 08/03/11 in McHenry County.

"Little Ravinia" Concept Adds To LITH Summer Concerts

Saturday's first of this year's Lake in the Hills Summer Concert Series was billed as "Little Ravinia" suggesting Highland Park's venerable musical venue, just on a smaller scale.  With the addition of food and drink this year, so it turned out to be.

Jazz group Bopology plays a lot of Chicagoland concerts but leader and tenor saxophonist Steve Ragusi said few offer edibles and beverages.  "I think it's a great idea," he said.

So did LITH Parks & Rec. Director Trudy Wakeman although the idea turned out to be more easily said than done.  "I had to Chicago to get the dratted liquor license," she said.

While the real Ravinia leans more toward a glass of merlot or chardonay, the People for Parks Foundation's drink menu included Miller Lite, Sam Adams, Mike's Hard Lemonade and soda pop.

LITH's Papa Severio's did the lion's share of the food business since driver Keith Ammer had to park his truck at the entrance to the LITH amphitheater.  "I sold a lot of pizza," he said.

Gary and Sue Davis from LITH's Jersey Mike's subs were tucked farther inside. Davis said it was a worthwhile evening for him, too.  Besides peddling some more sandwiches, "I get a free concert and I got a hot date with my wife," he said.

The next LITH Summer Concert's July 23.

Radio Operators Practice For Local Disaster

With bulldozers still clearing the rubble from the Joplin tornado,  this weekend's 24-hour Field Day annual exercise at the McHenry County Government Center in Woodstock seemed a little less theoretical than usual. Part of a practice sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the national event gives federally licensed radio amateurs a chance to test themselves and their equipment under less-than-ideal conditions.

McHenry County Emergency Management has a garage full of mobile radio gear and portable masts on hand in the event of disaster, tornadoes and earthquakes being kind of hard on regular antennas. But Director Dave Christensen says ham operators get kind of cranky if you keep them in a box too long.  That's what the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services division and This weekend's practice is all about.

Huntley resident Pat Ryan's been a radio amateur "off and on for 25 years," he said.  "This the first Field Day I've been to," he said.  "I want to get involved with the other guys."

You can't write a script, of course, on what to expect when the unexpected happens, but Murphy's Law usually makes at least one appearance even when disaster isn't looming.  It did Saturday when an emergency generator conked out with (maybe) a clogged fuel line.  In a disaster there wouldn't be time to sit around and think about it all.  "We're running off my car," said Doug Phelps, an operator from Cary.

In the pic:  Emergency ham radio even involves satellites these days.  This antenna tracks one of four shortwave satellites in 150 mile-orbit to reliably bounce shortwave messages clear across the country.

Huntley Car Show Raises Funds For Special Olympics

The Tom Peck carlot was wall-to-wall automaniacs Saturday at Huntley PD's 11th Annual Classic, Hot Rod and Collectors Car Show for the Law Enforcement Torch Run support the Special Olympics.

The event's come a long way from it's start, according to Huntley Sgt. Amy Williams.  At the first one in 2001 the event raised $442.  Donations still hadn't been added up Saturday but last year they totaled $2,587, she said.

Williams especially singled out Peck Ford for supporting the Torch Run. "Since 2001 they've donated $8,400," she said giving Tom, Jr., a police medal.

Illinois’ Data Site: Lots Of Numbers, Few Answers

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
On Illinois’ new data website, people can learn that the beach at the Conservation Club 100 in Marion County is a private beach on a lake. Or that in the second quarter of 2010, Rock Island County saw $449 million in retail sales. Or that two neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side and one on the west side lead the state in lottery ticket sales this year. But users of Data.Illinois.gov cannot find out Gov. Pat Quinn’s salary, companies to which the state owes money or the business resurfacing Interstate 39.

Data.Illinois.gov, launched this week, gives people access to raw data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, or IDOT, state Department of Revenue, state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and state Environmental Protection Agency. Kayce Ataiyero, a spokeswoman for Quinn’s office said that if anyone wants information on state salaries and contracts, they can file a Freedom of Information Act request.

Quinn’s Innovation Council, which has been tasked with new ways to create jobs and spur economic growth, came up with the idea for the new website. Ataiyero said IDOT, which already was planning a data website, paid Sorcata, a Seattle-based web company, $33,395 to develop it. The state’s threshold for bids begins at $33,500.

David Morrison, associate director of the nonprofit watchdog group, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said the new website has potential despite the minimal information currently posted. “The file cabinets that the government maintains are massive, and the more of that stuff that becomes public, the better,” said Morrison.

Ataiyero said the state is hoping smartphone application developers will pick up the information and run with it. She said an app that highlights the amenities at rest stops on Illinois’ interstates is one example.

“The more you make this stuff public, the more you’re going to find people who say, ‘Well I find these two data sets intriguing,’” Morrison said.  “And that’s where the value comes from.”

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6484/illinois-data-website-lots-of-numbers-few-answers/

Obituaries

Jennifer L. Lewerenz, 33, of West Dundee died from cancer Saturday at her father’s home in Huntley. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 pm Tuesday at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley, and from 9 am Wednesday until procession to St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am. Burial will be in Algonquin Cemetery.

Lewerenz was born November 18, 1977, in Elgin, the daughter of George M. and Dorothy D. (Hall) Lewerenz.  She is survived by her father and step-mother, Renee Lewerenz, and her brother, Brian (Heather) Lewerenz, all of Huntley; her step-brothers, Jonah (Brandi) Peters of Rockford and Jason Peters of Pecatonica, and her step-grandparents, LeRoy and Margaret Guy of Marengo. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy, her maternal grandparents, Everett and Florine Hall, and her paternal grandparents, George and Virginia Lewerenz.

Memorials may be made to the Jennifer L. Lewerenz Memorial Fund c/o Castle Bank, Huntley.

McHenry County Indictments

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

JOHN A. DEFABIO, DOB:  05/25/64, 11891 COVEY, HUNTLEY. AGGRAVATED FLEEING OR ATTEMPT TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER, AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.--Huntley PD

KRISTEN J. THOMPSON, DOB:  01/26/74, 1113 MAY AVENUE, MCHENRY. THEFT(OVER $10,000).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

EDWARD J. WARREN, DOB:  06/22/80, 14411 KISHWAUKEE VALLEY ROAD, WOODSTOCK. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Woodstock PD
  
SCOTT A. JOYNER, DOB:  12/30/74, TRANSIENT. UNLAWFUL FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER.--Woodstock PD

JODY L. NAVE, DOB:  06/16/78, 20 S. COUNTY STREET, WAUKEGAN. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
GENARO PENA, DOB: 11/04/82, 805 W. THOMPSON STREET, HARVARD. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
KYLE R. HOWARD, DOB:  05/16/84, 1151 GREENWOOD CIRCLE, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Crystal Lake PD

JEREMIAH B. PEDERSEN, DOB:  04/21/83, 842 QUEEN ANNE STREET, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
   
LUIS E. MERLOS-GARCIA, DOB: 06/23/92, 350 LEAH LANE #1A, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FRAUDULENT DRIVER’S LICENSE.--McHenry County Sheriff' Office


TIMOTHY S. SMITH, DOB:  07/21/84, 4320 DOTY ROAD, WOODSTOCK. FIRST DEGREE MURDER, PANDERING, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, PIMPING.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

KIMBERLY A. SMITH, DOB:  07/14/82, 4320 DOTY ROAD, WOODSTOCK. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE(2CTS), DISORDERLY CONDUCT, PROSTITUTION.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
June 25
0025 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/DRUGS. RUSSELL, DAVID D., M/B 32 YEARS OF AGE, 5562 COURT F, HANOVER PARK. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs, Driving While License Suspended, and Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
0158 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SCHULTZ, MICHAEL E., M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 931 SHEFFIELD DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Improper Lane Change, and Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.