Algonquin Attorney Arrested In Murder Plot

An Algonquin attorney specializing in matrimonial and family law is in federal custody charged with trying to hire someone to kill his girlfriend's ex-husband.  Federal agents filed a criminal complaint in Rockford Federal Court Friday against Jason W. Smiekel, 29, after he allegedly gave an undercover agent in Elgin $7,000 Thursday to kill the man.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said an informant tipped them last week that Smiekel was trying to find a contract killer to get rid of the ex-husband who had information "that could ruin Smiekel's career."  An agent posed as a hitman, according to the complaint, told Smiekel he'd do the job for $20,000.  The money he allegedly handed over was a down payment.

The case is a federal one because Smiekel arranged meetings with the agent via cellphones. According to authorities the intended victim "was never in harm's way" since Smiekel had bungled a previous plot in which he paid two men $8,000 to kill the girlfiend's ex but the supposed hitters just took the money and disappeared.

A bond hearing for Smiekel is scheduled in Rockford Wednesday.

In the pic: Jason W. Smiekel.

Donations Still Needed For School Supplies

The Salvation Army of McHenry County and Grafton Township distributed 27 backpacks full of school supplies to needy families in the area Friday.  D158 classes resume Aug. 24.

More backpack requests are expected and the collection box at the Township Offices was almost bare Friday.  There's a list of supplies needed here: http://graftontownshipsupervisor.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/salvation-army.jpg

In the pic:  Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore helped sort out the mountain of school supply backpacks distributed Friday.

Department Of Health Warns Of Deer Ticks

See the does and fawns wandering McHenry County in a woodland idyll straight out of Disney?  The cockles of your heart might not be so warm after a McHenry County Department of Health  report this week there've been 13 cases of Lyme Disease reported this year. The malady's carried by deer ticks and the total to date's more than double last year's.

Deer ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush--Bambi country.  Especially in Wisconsin.  More than half the Lyme victims in McHenry County so far actually picked it up across the border, according to MCDH spokesman Debora Quackenbush.

The infection the ticks carry, Lyme Disease, typically occurs 3 to 30 days after a bite. Symptoms may include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes and skin rash, often with a “bull’s eye” appearance.  Fortunately most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

MCDH's recommendations include DEET insect repellant and checking for ticks after a trek.  The critters generally need to be attached for a day or two before they can transmit the disease, according to Quackenbush.

In the pic:  One problem is deer ticks are smaller than wood ticks and dog ticks so it's harder to find one latched on sucking the very life's blood from your veins. (Aack or Iick.)

Deadline Coming For LITH Larsen Business Nominations

There's a week left for LITH's  Gordon Larsen Business Achievement Award Nominations. The Village’s Business Relations Committee will consider applications for the next Gordon Larsen Business Achievement Award at the Aug. 16 meeting.

The awards program was established by the Committee to recognize Lake in the Hills’ businesses for their contributions to the community. The winner gets a plaque,  a spot in the Summer Sunset parade and a lot of exposure in Village publications.

FEN, offhand, can think of at least half a dozen businesses that ought to be nominated.  Readers with actual incomes can probably come up with a lot more.  The form to do it is here:  http://www.lith.org/pdf/Forms/LarsenAward.pdf

Illinois Housing Market Still In Slump

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
As Illinois’ housing market continues to struggle, it weighs down the state’s economy and exacerbates a high unemployment rate, according to the July 2011 Monthly Briefing report released this week by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, or COGFA, a bipartisan research arm of the Legislature.

The number of new, single-family housing permits for June — 680 — saw a 14.9 percent decline, or 120 fewer, compared with June 2010, according to the report. Single-family housing permits have seen minuscule fluctuations during the past three years, but have been stagnant more or less since dropping dramatically after the housing bubble burst in 2008. “Builders are not building because of this oversupply of not only new homes that are on the market but all these foreclosures and short-sales banks are doing and et cetera,” said Edward Boss Jr., COGFA’s chief economist and author of the report.

The housing market affects the state’s economy by adding construction jobs that lower the unemployment rate and increasing sales in ancillary consumer goods associated with houses, said Geoffrey Hewings, a professor of economics and urban and regional planning at University of Illinois at Urbana.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority, a self-sustaining entity that runs off tax-exempt bonds, announced this week that it will offer up to $200 million in low-interest rate mortgages to about 1,300 low- to moderate-income homebuyers. The homebuyers’ payments on these mortgages are used to pay for the bonds.

Hewings said no matter what, risks are associated with this and other similar programs. “These folks may not have the capacity even with these incentives  … to sustain their payments,” Hewings said.
 

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6670/housing-market-still-slumping-in-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.

JUDITH A. KLEIN, DOB: 10/26/58,    1265 SIOUX AVENUE, CARPENTERSVILLE. THEFT (OVER $10,000), THEFT (OVER $500), UNLAWFUL USE CREDIT CARD (4 COUNTS).--Algonquin PD

VANESSA M. PIRRONE, DOB; 02/13/83, 947 E. GOLF #4, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Algonquin PD

TREVOR J. ALWIN, DOB: 05/29/92,    208 DARIN COURT, SLEEPY HOLLOW.
KYLE R. WRIGHTMAN, 10710 PEBBLE DRIVE, HUNTLEY. BURGLARY (2 COUNTS).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
ROBERT R. TURCO, DOB: 12/08/89, 5102 WOOD DUCK LANE, RICHMOND. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER (2 COUNTS),
DOMESTIC BATTERY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY (OVER $300).--Richmond PD
  
PATRICIA A. SPYRKA, DOB: 01/14/62, 1410 COMMONS DRIVE APT. 3D. WOODSTOCK.
BRAD J. BURGER, DOB: 01/06/64, TRANSIENT. FORGERY (2 COUNTS).--Woodstock PD

CHARLES E. LAWRENCE, DOB: 01/10/84, 11106 LUCAS ROAD, WOODSTOCK. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY.--Woodstock PD

MICHAEL J. PILAT, DOB: 11/30/91, 3309 PLEASURE DRIVE, WONDER LAKE.
SHANE R. GOERLITZ, DOB: 05/07/92, 604 INDIAN TRACE, WOODSTOCK. BURGLARY (2 COUNTS), RETAIL THEFT (OVER $300) (2 COUNTS).--Woodstock PD
      
PATRICIA L. CAYWOOD, DOB: 03/13/55, 7607 NORTH DRIVE. WONDER LAKE. THEFT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
      
LORENZO ZARATE, DOB: 08/22/78, 142 WOODSTOCK STREET #B, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Crystal Lake PD

JUAN A. VILLAGRANA, DOB: 05/15/85, 496 SPRING DRIVE, MARENGO. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--Marengo PD

Professional Regulation

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced the following disciplinary orders in the month of June.

Cosmetology licenses were placed in refuse to renew status after defaulting on an Illinois Educational Loan:
Krystal Schmidtlein, Lake in the Hills.

Universal Mortgage Services, LLC, Carpentersville – residential mortgage license fined $10,000 for providing inadequate supervision and disclosures for residential loan transaction.

Michael Castrogiovanni, Elgin – certified residential real estate appraiser license placed in refuse to renew status for failure to cooperate with the Department's investigation.

David Williams, Sleepy Hollow – certified residential real estate broker license indefinitely suspended for having performed an appraisal report replete with errors and inconsistencies.

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
August 5
0242 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICKS) NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. BALBUENA, CAROLINA, F/W 53 YEARS OF AGE, 524 DELAWARE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
0802 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MAPLE ST. WANTED ON WARRANT. WINIARSKI, MONICA L., F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 1121 MAPLE ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant McHenry County, Possession of Cannabis, $1500 @ 10%. RELEASED ON BOND.
1304 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. ENGEBRETSON, MITCHELL RYAN, M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 7061 CAMEBACK POTOSI, WI. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant Winnebago County, Failure to Appear, Driving After Suspension, $3000 @ 10%. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1047 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1117 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF HERON DR. IDENTITY THEFT. Complainant's information was used out of state without consent.
1743 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1811 HRS 1200 HEARTLAND GATE. (KEN CARPENTER PARK) ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2048 HRS HILLTOP RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.

Weekend Respite Likely From Huntley Paving Tieups

Eight tenths of a mile of pavement in two days is hustling for a 17-ton slip paver but that's what was laid down Wednesday and Thursday on Route 47 through Huntley.  The next stage of the sprint, from Algonquin Road to Reed Road, didn't look as if it was in the cards today, even though crews worked into the evening Thursday to prep the stretch. IDOT spokesmen said it ought to be ready next week but couldn't say exactly when.

The work until dusk was unusual but Huntley Manager Dave Johnson said the Village didn't push for it.  "I think they're just trying to make the most of the good weather," he said.

In the pic:  Work to prep Route 47 for paving north of Algonquin Road was still underway at 7 pm Thursday.

Tollway Announces Snarls For 31, Higgins And Hearing At Huntley

The Illinois Tollway issued a headsup for local commuters Thursday. The eastbound entrance ramp from southbound Route 31 and the eastbound exit ramp from I-90 to northbound 31 will close starting Sunday for ramp reconstruction work.

As lagniappe, starting Monday morning, traffic on Higgins Road over I-90 will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the end of the month for deck patching work.

For eastbound I-90 traffic exiting to northbound IL Route 31, traffic will be directed to continue east and exit at the IL Route 25 interchange, north on IL Route 25 to Higgins Road, then west to reach IL Route 31.  Southbound IL Route 31 traffic entering eastbound I-90 will be directed east on Higgins Road and south on IL Route 25 to reach the eastbound entrance ramp to I-90.

Separately, the Tollway added more public hearings on its new $12 billion,15-year capital plan to be funded by a whacking great increase in tolls announced last week. The one for McHenry County will be at Huntley Village Hall  August 19, from 7 to 9 pm.  The one for Kane County's down in Geneva at the Government Center from 4 to 6 pm the day before.

Details about the capital plan are here: http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_pageid=133,2980078&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL .  There's a button to submit e-comments about it located at the middle of the page on the right.

Gas Prices Pinch Huntley Budget

The good news at Thursday's Huntley Board Committee of the Whole meeting was that the State of Illinois just got caught up with last year's income tax payments to the Village.  The bad news was that still leaves the State  in arrears over $570,000.

Another Huntley Village government problem is fuel costs.  Fuel expense through June had already eaten up about two thirds of the gas money in the budget for the year, according to Village Manager Dave Johnson. On the other hand, housing permits are ahead of expectations.
Overall, Johnson said everything's under control.

The Board Thursday began what Johnson called "housecleaning" to update the Village's Comprehensive Plan.  That dates from 2005 and since then "we've done a lot of specialized planning", he said.  The idea was to plug all that into the master map.  "A couple of years ago we had a developer who wanted to put in multi-family homes (where one-acre lots had been the norm)," said Johnson.  "When we see significant changes like that we have to decide if we have the ability to serve the area."


In the pic:  Care to predict next week's price on a gallon of gas?  The last six months from Bloomberg Reports.

Donna Kurtz Announces Re-election Run

District 2 County Board Member Donna Kurtz, Crystal Lake announced Thursday she wants another term on the Board. For the 2012 election District 2's new configuration will include most of Lake in the Hills. Kurtz claimed she led efforts to protect the Crystal Lake Watershed, tried to put term limits on the Board Chairman and pushed for county-wide cell tower zoning standards.

In the pic:  Kurtz cruising in Algonquin's Founders' Days Parade.

IL GOP Reveals Their Idea Of Congressional Remap

The Illinois Republican Congressional Delegation filed their version Thursday of what the State's remap ought to look like. It's part of their federal case to throw out the one Democrats drafted they claim disenfranchises minorities and the GOP. "This map stands in stark contrast to the contorted map passed by the Democrats, which is so gerrymandered that it can have no goal but to maximize partisan advantage," the group said in a release.

The GOP said their version includes a second district "for the state’s growing Latino population" and doesn't buzz saw through communities as much as the Dem's map does.

“The Fair Map specifically addresses the problems with the Democrats’ map by providing a second district , creating district lines that satisfy the tests for compactness, and protecting communities of interest by keeping them wholly within individual districts.

You can see a side-by-side comparison of the two maps here: http://www.myvoteshouldcount.com/pdf/side_by_side-map.PDF

New Quinn Plan To Pay Regional School Superintendents

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Illinois regional superintendents could start seeing paychecks in November if the legislature approves a deal they are working on with Gov. Pat Quinn.  The Governor wants to make local government pay them.

Quinn used his veto pen to take money for the administrators’ salaries out of the budget approved by lawmakers. Since then, regional superintendents, who are locally elected have been going without pay. They are responsible for school safety inspections, teacher certification, background checks and fingerprinting potential employees, as well as running alternative schools and other duties.

Bob Daiber, Madison County regional superintendent and president of the superintendents' association, said Thursday that if a deal is not worked out by August 11 — the date funding would have to be found to get checks out on the August 16 payday — many superintendents may leave. “Missing a paycheck, everybody can do it right? Missing three gets to be difficult,” he said.

Quinn is hoping to tap into local tax dollars to pay the superintendents, specifically the personal property replacement tax, a corporate income tax kicked back to local governments. "(The tax) funds local elected official stipends, and we feel (superintendents), which are locally elected, should be funded in the same manner to relieve pressure from the general revenue fund,” Quinn budget spokesperson Kelly Kraft said in a written statement.

Quinn said the mess wasn't his fault: “No. Not at all. No. They knew from our budget this year what our proposal was.” Quinn told reporters in Chicago.  Lawmakers could  override Quinn's veto but they won't be back in Springfield October.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/quinn-working-with-regional.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
August 4
1323 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. WANTED ON WARRANT. ROSENBERG, JEFFREY B., M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 1218 WESTPORT RIDGE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant DuPage County Sheriff, Failure to Appear, Driving Under the Influence, Bond $3000 @ 10%.
RELEASED ON BOND.
1741 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WILDSPRING DR. VIOLATION OF CZASKA, ROBERT J., M/W 44 YEARS OF AGE, BAIL BOND 3513 SONOMA CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Violation of Bail Bond. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0205 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH POLICE) FOLLOW UP ARREST: VIOLATION OF BAIL BOND. MURRAY, MARISSA D., F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 420 S ANNANDALE DR LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Violation of Bail Bond. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0844 HRS 5600 BLOCK OF DANBURY CT. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Vehicle was damaged with a key. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0950 HRS 500 BLOCK OF MASON LN. THEFT A black wallet containing money, credit cards, and Driver License was taken from the residence. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1516 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE) THEFT. An item was bought on the Internet but never received. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1649 HRS 200 BLOCK OF RAINMAKER RUN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 3 years of age allergic reaction to insect bite. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2236 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF POPLAR ST. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Vehicle damaged by a block of wood. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER. 
Algonquin
August 2
00:14am A 17 year-old female from Algonquin was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  She was taken into custody at Majestic Drive and Hartley Drive.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 09/20/11 in McHenry County.
03:34am Two 17 year-old males from Elgin and one 17 year-old male from Algonquin were charged with Obstructing a Peace Officer and Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  All were taken into custody at Roaring Brook Drive and Westbury Lane.  They were all Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of a guardian.
18:25pm Mittelbrun, Eric C., DOB: 09/19/89, of 902 Brandt Street, Lake in the Hills, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and High Point Ridge.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await pick up by Kane County.
August 3
18:02pm Giustino, Jennifer E., DOB: 11/20/69, of 1680 Stone Ridge Lane, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear on a Suspended Registration charge.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $300 with a court date of 09/07/11 in McHenry County.
18:31pm Billuni, Brian A., DOB: 06/30/91, of 1169 Sawmill Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Kohl’s 734 S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 09/14/11 in McHenry County.
August 4
10:35am Chandler, Jilayne B, DOB: 04/11/80, of 1650 Mulberry Lane Apt #D, Elgin, was charged with Expired Driver’s License and Expired Registration.  She was taken into custody in the 1200 block of S. Main Street.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 09/07/11 in McHenry County.
11:31am Broederdorf, Branden J., DOB: 04/05/93, of 1301 Cardinal Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Obstructing a Peace Officer.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 09/14/11 in McHenry County.
18:59pm A 17 year-old female from Elgin was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of her mother.
Huntley
July 25
Michael Lopez, age 18, of 1845 Wilden Circle, Aurora, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Lopez posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 2, 2011.
Erin K. Cummings, age 25, of 1269 Bakely, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for improper plate display and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Cummings posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 2, 2011.
July 26
Robert P. Arata, age 63, of 775 Springhill, Elgin, was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct.  Mr. Arata posted bond and was released with a Kane County court date of August 16, 2011.
Rene J. Ortiz, age 22, of 2552 Hearthstone, Hampshire, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for failure to notify Secretary of State of address change.  Ms. Ortiz posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of August 26, 2011.
Christian E. Claussen, age 36, of 8 Sonoma Ct., Lake in the Hills, was arrested for driving while license suspended.  Mr. Claussen posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of August 19, 2011.
July 27
Mark J. Thomas, age 34, of 510A W. Hydraulic Ave, Yorkville, was arrested for unlawful display of registration sticker and was cited for display of an expired registration. 
Mr. Thomas posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 16, 2011.
July 28
Rodolfo Ramirez-Ordaz, age 29, 4924 W. 24th Place, Cicero, was arrested for driving while license revoked and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Ramirez-Ordaz posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 16, 2011.
Bryce Edward Curran, age 21, of 111 W. Burnett, Island Lake, was arrested for driving while license suspended and possession of a suspended drivers license and was cited for failure to wear seatbelt and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Curran posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of September 16, 2011.
Three burglaries to motor vehicles were reported in the 10000 block of Ruth Rd. and two burglary to motor vehicles were reported in the 10600 block of Wolf Dr.
July 29
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken in the 10400 block of Algonquin Rd.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 11100 block of Church St.  Windows on the building were damaged.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10700 block of Timer Dr. E.  A window was damaged by a BB gun.
July 30
A burglary was reported at a construction site in the 13200 block of Fhy Dr.  Construction equipment was stolen.
A criminal damage to property report was taken at a business the 12300 block of Rt. 47.  A window was shattered.
July 31
Amy J. Lee, age 38, of 10022 Marvin, Huntley, was arrested for battery.  Ms. Lee posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of August 26, 2011. 

Bianchi Bills Top $400,000 With More To Come

The day after McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's acquittal on a second round of charges of Official Misconduct his defense attorney released records of another $94,000 worth of Special Prosecutors' bills for the investigation.  The total known Wednesday stands at $406,000.

Appointing Judge Gordon Graham has so far ordered McHenry County to pay $312,000 in bills from Special Prosecutors Henry "Skip" Tonigan and Thomas McQueen and private investigator company Quest Consultants, International, for work on the Bianchi cases through November, 2010.  The bills revealed Wednesday by defense attorney Terry Ekl are only from Quest and only run to the middle of last month.  "I can't subpoena the Special Prosecutors' bills," he said.

The McHenry County Board became restive early this year as bills for the Bianchi case mounted, especially when FEN revealed Graham could have appointed other prosecutors who would have cost the County nothing.  Resistance increased more after Bianchi and his secretary were acquitted of two dozen counts of misconduct and conspiracy without even putting on a defense.

Nevertheless, the County's been paying Quest's bills without demur on the premise that the company's just doing what the Special Prosecutors hired it to do.  The Prosecutor's bills, on the other hand, are now in limbo while the Illinois State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor representing the County's pocketbook appeals a Graham ruling it's too late to talk about them.

The County doesn't know how much Special Prosecutors intend to ask for their work since last November.  "We're awaiting a much larger bill," said Law and Justice Committee head Nick Provenzano Wednesday.

Quest's latest Bianchi bills are located here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61589588/Quest-Billing-Since-March-2010-2

In the pic:  Special Prosecutors Thomas McQueen, Henry Tonigan and Quest boss Bob Scigalski announcing the second bunch of Bianchi indictments.

Recycled Styrofoam Makes Huntley Plant Greener

It doesn't show from the outside but the new 20,000 square-foot addition to the H.S. Crocker plant on Smith Drive is one of the "greenest" buildings in Huntley.  The walls aren't only superinsulated to save energy, the insulation itself is recycled.

Crocker makes about half the packages in the U.S. for the popular Keurig single-serve coffee brewers. Material for the packages come to Huntley in Styrofoam packing and getting rid of it's sort of a problem. Fortunately Styrofoam's the stuff Energy Efficient Building Systems in Union uses as the core of a rebar and shotcrete wall system called Solaracete.  Jeff Purtell says the walls are more efficient than ordinary prefab tipup walls.  "They usually only really work out to about R-25," he said.  "The Solarcrete walls at Crocker are insulated to R-35."

Owner Ron Giordano strives for efficiency.  He just upgraded Crocker's lighting and AC to lessen energy use so he's happy about the insulation in the plant's new addition. He said, though, he's especially pleased to recycle the styrofoam.  "Otherwise it'd have to go to a landfill."

In the pic:  Spraying concrete over a Styrofoam and rebar core to build the walls of Huntley's new H.S. Crocker plant addition. 

Huntley Pet Reunion/Adoption Saturday

Huntley's Animal House Shelter will hod its Fourth Annual Pet Reunion Saturday from Noon to 4 pm at the pet shelter on Ernesti Road. It's the start of the Shelter's ASPCA $100,000 Challenge to adopt 905 animals, canine and feline, from August through October.  The challenge is if Animal House can do it, they're in the running for a grant to ...well, that's still supposed to be a secret.  More anon.

Planned festivities include new shelter gear, dog and pet-themed jewelry, kids' games, temporary tattoos, a dunk tank, bouncy castle and food and beverages, not to mention a lot of dogs and cats who need homes and visiting inmates who found them. There'll be a K-9 demonstration by McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, too, and low-cost vaccines and micro-chipping and a lot of pet-related vendors.

Sunday AHS has another adoption event scheduled at the Algonquin Petco store on South Randall with another one set there Aug. 28.

In the pic:  A couple of Animal House alumni reminiscing at least year's reunion.

LITH Sets Kids & Baby Resale For Sat.

Creative is what the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department is.  Case in point, Saturday's first-ever Back to School Kids & Baby Resale at LITH Village Hall from 9 am to 1 pm.

Short of buying clothes for babies and growing youngsters, the only faster way to get rid of money is to shovel it straight into the furnace. Hence the Kids & Baby Resale event turning Village Hall into a personal mall for a day. Questions? Call Parks & Rec at 847-960-7460.

Illinois’ Productivity Ahead Of Neighbors

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois’ economic growth may be sluggish, but its overall productivity is well ahead of its neighboring states, according to a quarterly report just released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The report ranks the growth in real gross domestic product, or GDP, among the states. The numbers for 2011 are not in yet, but the 2010 figures tell an interesting tale. The GDP is the sum of all goods and services produced within given borders, in this case, per state.  Indiana saw the biggest growth at 4.6 percent between 2009 and 2010, while Illinois’ GDP grew at 1.9 percent.

But both states added about $11 billion to their state’s economy. The Hoosier’s GDP jumped from $234 billion in 2009 to $245 billion in 2010. GDP in Illinois jumped from $570 billion to $581 billion in the same time period. Illinois’ other neighbors saw far less growth. Wisconsin’s real GDP rose 2.5 percent, from  $215 billion in 2009 to $221 billion in 2010. Iowa saw $4 billion in GDP growth, from $123 billion to $127 billion, a 3.1 percent jump. Kentucky also saw $4 billion in GDP growth, from $140 billion to $144 billion, which amounts to 3.2 percent.

Jim Nelson, spokesman for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, which represents the thousands of manufacturers in the state, said Illinois has ignored the needs of manufacturing, and manufacturers have left. “Indiana’s manufacturing sector represents 23 percent of their total state GDP,” said Nelson. “Illinois’ manufacturing sector used to be that large, but we’ve now contracted to just under 13 percent.”

Sujit CanagaRetna, senior fiscal analyst for the Center for State Governments warned against looking at percentages. “Illinois ranks among the top five most complex, largest states in our country,” said CanagaRetna. “To make a quick comparison with a smaller state that doesn’t have the depth of complications (as Illinois) loses the overall goal," he said.

You can read Ben's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6662/illinois-productivity-is-ahead-of-its-neighbors/

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
August 3
0211 HRS 3500 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. CZASKA, ROBERT J., M/W 44 YEARS OF AGE. 3513 SONOMA CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1047 HRS WANDER WAY & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BUCCIERI, BLAKE T., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 623 ANDERSON DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0039 HRS 2100 BLOCK OF CLAREMONT LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 30 years of age, needing medical attention. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
0203 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK) FOUND ARTICLE. Girl's bicycle found by the playground equipment.
1049 HRS 400 BLOCK OF S. ANNANDALE DR. VIOLATION OF BAIL BOND. Subject violated conditions of bail bond. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1511 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1641 HRS 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Six priors.
1948 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. A Wii gaming console and jewelry were taken from a residence. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2158 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. LOST ARTICLE. A license plate.

Second Bianchi Trial Second Failure For Special Prosecutors

Saying Special Prosecutors got both the law and the facts wrong, Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw Tuesday acquitted McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi of the last two charges of official misconduct against him without putting on a defense.  It was the same verdict he'd rendered on earlier charges against Bianchi marking a total strikeout for the Prosecutors' nearly two-year investigation and prosecutions.

Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen seemed stunned Tuesday by the testimony of his final eyewitness against Bianchi, Tiffany Albrecht, the mother of a small-time Crystal Lake drug dealer supposedly given a reduced sentence because Bianchi Chief Investigator Ron Salgado was her "step-mother's brother-in-law."

"Did Mr. Salgado say 'Mr. Bianchi pulled some punches for you'?" he asked.

"He did not," she replied.

Pressed by the judge to explain exactly what Bianchi did wrong McQueen finally fell back to arguing that he should have withdrawn from and turned over to a Special Prosecutor the case involving Salgado and another involving a man whose wife and siblings had contributed to Bianchi's re-election campaign.  "If he'd done that we wouldn't be here," said McQueen.

Defense attorney Terry Ekl said McQueen hadn't proved anything and the indictments were so badly written he had to prove every single thing at once or give up.  "It's like a kindergartner with a crayon went through the statutes," he said.

McGraw called a recess at 11 am to reach a verdict and spent the next hour with law books scattered around his borrowed chambers open to various passages.

Returning, he said he hadn't changed his mind that criminals aren't a protected class under the Illinois Constitution so it didn't count even if Bianchi did give someone a special break. Nor, he decided, did an Attorney's Registration Commission rule about conflicts of interests between two clients apply.

The judge did allow that the two cases might have looked a little funny at first glance but said there wasn't any law that said Bianchi had to hand them over to someone else. "Whether they were wise decisions--That's for the electorate to decide," said McGraw.

At a news conference afterward, Bianchi said he was glad it was all over so he could go back to his "business of doing justice."  However, Ekl indicated the fiasco is probably far from finished charging, "This was not a good-faith prosecution," and warning that whatever he and Bianchi decide to do about it, "We will go 110 percent."

In the pic: (above)  A jubilant Lou Bianchi with his wife and defense attorney Terry Ekl after he was found not guilty Tuesday. (Below) An older pic of visiting Judge Joseph McGraw who reached that conclusion.

LITH Man Pleads Guilty In Puffer Poison Plot

Businessman Edward F. Bachner who's been in federal custody since agents raided his Lake in the Hills home more than three years ago finally pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of possession of a neurotoxin poison with the intent to use it as a weapon, wire fraud and filing a false tax claim.

Helicopters and men in hazmat suits invaded the Meadowbrook neighborhood June 30, 2008, after Bachner accepted what he thought was box full of tetrodotoxin, a fast-acting poison concentrated in Japanese Pufferfish organs.

Illinois Northern District State's Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Bachner, the scion of a pioneering Chicago plastics family, now 38, was going to poison his wife to collect on a $20 million insurance policy she didn't know about.  FBI agents said he got the puffer poison mail-order by impersonating a research physician.

At the time he was arrested Bachner was running a financial consulting firm and the tax charges are for filing for false income tax refunds.

Bachner's sentencing is set for Dec. 8 and could include up to life in prison.


In the pic: Bachner

Route 47 East Lanes Pours To Begin Today In Huntley

All the rebar assemblies were set and the giant paving machines were poised this morning to begin mainline concrete pours starting today on Route 47 between Mill St. and Algonquin Road in Huntley. IDOT and Village officials warned motorists to expect lengthy traffic delays  likely to last at least into Thursday, perhaps longer.

Crews hope to lay the new east lanes of Huntley's Route 47 expansion to north of Reed Road and IDOT engineers said the stretch north of Algonquin Road would probably start Friday or Monday.

North Street east of Route 47 is expected to be will be closed for four days starting today. Meanwhile, the Route 47 direct entrance to Centegra's wound facility and Castle Bank just north of Dean Street will remains closed.  Signs are posted directing traffic to the Dean Street entrance.

In the pic:  The earlier concrete pour from Kreutzer to Mill St.

Rain Damps National Night Out Meets Tuesday

A storm cell moving through the area at about 7 pm put a damper on neighborhood National Night Out meetings Tuesday in LITH and Huntley.

Nadine Konieczny had to move her Terramere Lane celebration into the garage when the rain started.  "We had a canopy, we had tablecloths, we had decorations and we took them all down," she said. "Now we'll put them back up."

It wasn't so much the rain as the thunder that slowed down the neighborhood meet at Oakland Court in Huntley. "I think the lightning probably discouraged some people," said host Charles Lamb.  Later the added humidity might have been a factor.  Trustee John Piwko's glasses fogged up the second he he got out of his car to visit.

In the pic:  (above) The National Night Out celebrations moved indoors Tuesday evening as rain moved through Lake in the Hills. (below)  There wasn't as much rain in Huntley but celebrations there wilted a bit, too.

Illinois Pols In Both Parties Vote Against Debt Deal

By Andrew Thomason,  Illinois Statehouse News
Despite the threat of the federal government debt defaulting, a handful of Illinois congressmen on both sides of the aisle voted against the plan to raise the national debt ceiling and cut trillions of dollars in spending over the next decade.

Their votes came in spite of wide bipartisan support for the last-minute deal OK'ed in the U.S. House late Monday night and Senate Tuesday before President Barack Obama signed the legislation almost immediately.

Tea party-backed U.S. Reps. Joe Walsh, R-McHenry, and Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, were two of the 161 votes in the House against the measure that increases the amount the federal government can borrow by $2.1 trillion through 2013.

Both said the legislation doesn’t address the country’s deficit sufficiently. Hultgren and Walsh said that in addition to the $2.4 trillion in cuts, a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution was needed for their ‘aye’ vote.

“It spends too much and cuts too little … Democrats still don’t get it and refuse to make the spending cuts necessary,” said the a news release from freshman Walsh whose district was remapped out from under him last month.

Two of the state’s more liberal Democrats joined the Illinois Republicans in voting against the proposal. However, U.S. Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, and Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, said the legislation cut too deep into the social safety net provided by the federal government. “This is the wrong medicine for a sick economy,” said Schakowsky in a news release.

Five Illinois representatives voted against the agreement, but the other 13 Illinois representatives — both Democrats and Republicans — were part of the chorus of 269 House members voting yes.  Don Manzullo  R-Egan whose 16th District was remapped away from his past decade's base said in a release he voted for the deal even though it wasn't what he wanted. "I think we could have cut spending much more deeply, "said Manzullo. "But it does go far enough to preserve our strong AAA credit rating," he added.

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., both said they voted in favor of it to avoid the federal government going into default.


You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6661/illinois-pols-in-both-parties-vote-against-debt-ceiling-deal/

Obituaries

Jacquelyn R. Gauger, 68, of Huntley died Monday at Sherman Hospital. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 am Thursday at DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley, followed immediately by a funeral service at the home. Burial will be in Ridgewood Cemetery, Des Plaines.

Gauger was born February 28, 1943, in Chicago, the daughter of Esther Vaupel and Oran Anthony. She married Kenneth W. Gauger on September 9, 1989. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband.

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
August 2
1204 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. DOMESTIC BATTERY. WILSON, ASHLEY M., F/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 1201 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1319 HRS 400 BLOCK OF S. ANNANDALE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. MURRAY, MARISSA D., F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 420 S. ANNANDALE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS, CHARGE: Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1851 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL) FOLLOW-UP REPORT: ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 13 years of age, hurt his back while playing football. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1909 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL) FOLLOW-UP REPORT: ASSIST AMBULANCE Male, 13 years of age, hurt his back while playing football. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
0249 HRS 10 BLOCK OF WALNUT GROVE CT. SEX OFFENSE. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
0601 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. FOUND ARTICLE Black. mountain bicycle.
0626 HRS 519 WILLOW ST. (LITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Spray paint was found on a dumpster.
1143 HRS MILLER RD. & LITCHFIELD LN. FOUND ARTICLE. Blue mountain bicycle.
1746 HRS 4500 BLOCK OF ROLLING HILLS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 11 years of age, incoherent. No Transport.
1817 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Suspicion of a subject residing in a foreclosed unit.
400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Five priors
August 1
0821 HRS 2265 W ALGONQUIN RD. (THORNTONS) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. ARRIGO, TIMOTHY F., M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 1401 GINNY LN., WOODSTOCK. CHARGE: Driving while License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2352 HRS 0 BLOCK OF WALNUT GROVE CT. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. NEWSOME, TAMMY JEAN, F/W 47 YEARS OF AGE, 12 WALNUT GROVE CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Disorderly Conduct. RELEASED ON BOND.
1244 HRS 10 BLOCK OF WALNUT DR. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted McHenry County Sheriff’s department with a criminal damage to property.
1518 HRS 200 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. LOST PROPERTY. Temporary license plate was lost somewhere in the village.
2011 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 12 years of age, dehydrated. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2046 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. INFORMATION FOR POLICE Neighbor dispute.
Algonquin
July 29
22:15pm Kasper, Matthew W., DOB: 01/08/93, of 206 Hillcrest, Algonquin, was charged with Failure to Disperse.  He was taken into custody at Towne Park, 100 Jefferson Street.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 08/31/11 in Algonquin.
July 30
00:05am Rios-Rodriguez, Magdelena, DOB: 08/13/90. of 421 Park Street, Elgin, was charged with DWLS.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Grandview Drive.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 08/31/11 in McHenry County.
04:47am Biggins, Ryan P., DOB: 08/17/89. of 2442 Smalley Court, West Dundee, was charged with Criminal Trespass to Vehicle and  Obstructing a Peace Officer.  He was taken into custody at White Chapel Lane and Bloomsbury Court.  He was released after  posting $150 with a court date of 08/25/11 in Kane County.
06:17am Neilson, Christopher P., DOB: 06/02/89, of 1290 Tunbridge Trail, Algonquin, was charged with Resisting a Peace Officer  and Criminal Trespass to Vehicle.  He was taken into custody at 1451 Nottinghill Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County  Jail to await a bond hearing.
09:47am Alcala, Delia M., DOB: 12/30/70, of 751 Dunmore Lane, Bartlett, was charged with Possession of a Fictitious Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody in the 1000 block of S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 08/31/11 in McHenry County.
16:44pm Lopez, Maria D., DOB: 12/16/70, of 3011 Noelle Bend, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 08/31/11 in Algonquin.
July 31
07:52am Beasley, Brenda, DOB: 05/31/56, of 14 Oxford Court #9, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS.  She was also Wanted on  a Warrant out of Carpentersville for Failure to Appear on a Retail Theft charge.  She was taken into custody at 14 Sunrise  Lane.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 09/07/11 in McHenry County.  She was then  turned over to Carpentersville Police Department for their warrant.
11:11am A 16 year-old female from Algonquin was charged with Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 09/13/11 in McHenry County.

Another Charge Dropped As Bianchi Misconduct Trial Opens

Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen began the second misconduct trial of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi by dropping yet another charge against him so that only two remain now. The judge had already booted two charges against secondary figures in the investigation.

McQueen didn't tell Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw why he was declining to prosecute Bianchi for special treatment of his alleged nephew's criminal case, nor would he tell reporters why later.  Both Bianchi and the "nephew" have told reporters that, not only aren't they related, they don't even know each other.

The Special Prosecutor called seven witnesses trying to establish special treatment in the  disorderly conduct charge against a politically-connected Crystal Lake physician accused last year of asking a chance-encountered woman if she'd mind watching while he took off his clothes. Collectively they outlined a case attorneys on both sides thought was probably weak on the law and which the victim initially wasn't sure she wanted prosecuted, anyway.

"I asked her what she wanted to do with it, basically," said Assistant State's Attorney Dimitri Tsimiligras.  Basically the woman, who by that time had her own attorney, opted for a letter of apology and, later on, according to Pat Salvi, brother and attorney to the physician, a private settlement whose details he didn't disclose.

McQueen argued the real reason the charge was dropped--and dropped with the condition that it couldn't be brought again--was that Pat Salvi and physican Tom Salvi's wife, Gwen, had contributed money to Bianchi's reelection campaign in 2005, 2006 and 2007. 

Defense Attorney Tracy Stanker objected that McQueen had told the judge he wasn't going to claim Bianchi took an indirect payoff for letting Tom Salvi off the hook.  McQueen said that wasn't what he was arguing, rather, that Bianchi gave Salvi the kid glove treatment in the hope of getting more contributions.

The other charge McQueen had left involved a 19 year-old Crystal Laker who sold some cocaine too near a Crystal Lake high school.  McQueen claimed Bianchi knocked a year off his recommended sentence because he was a relative of Bianchi's Chief Investigator, Ron Salgado.

Assistant State's Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski began to recount a meeting he said Salgado initiated but Stanker objected and McGraw cut that off.  Chrzanowski said the Public Defender told him if he could get a four-year sentence, "We can close the file."  Chrzanowski said "Mr. Bianchi said that was acceptable.  (Criminal Division Chief Phil) Hiscock nodded his head."

McQueen ran out of witnesses on hand for the day but told McGraw he had two more to call today.  After adjournment Bianchi defense attorney Terry Ekl said he planned, once again, to ask McGraw to find Bianchi not guilty because McQueen hadn't come close to making his cases.  McGraw did that in Bianchi's first trial on two dozen charges of misconduct earlier this year.

Second Chance For Centegra Huntley, Mercy Crystal Lake

Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board Administrator Courtney Avery Monday confirmed the agency will once again look at competing applications for a proposed Centegra Hospital in Huntley and a Mercy Hospital in Crystal Lake at its next meeting Oct. 12 and 13.

The two applications will no longer be identical, however.  Mercy Health Systems last week scaled down its request from a hospital with 128 beds, the same as that proposed by Centegra, to one with only 70 beds.  The Review Board in June rejected both applications because they were too big and would suck patients away from existing hospitals.

Mercy's amended application for a smaller hospital is something of a gamble, though, since Review Board rules require asking for no fewer than 100 beds.  Avery said the Board could ignore the rules if they wanted to, however.  "It's within their authority to accept the application if they choose to," she said, but declined to speculate on whether they would.

Meanwhile the Board, at least its staff, may be having second thoughts about the application rejections in the first place.  Deputy Director David Carvalho had warned at the hearing that the agency's need projections were so old they don't match current conditions, much less what's really likely four years from now. Two weeks ago Project Review Head Mike Constantino asked both Centegra and Mercy for more info on "how the decrease in population (sic) in McHenry County will affect the size and viability of the proposed hospital."  Centegra immediately sent back a 37-page study that more or less matches the hospital the company originally proposed.

In the pic:  The nine-member Health Facilities Review Board in the middle of a sea of healthcare providers in June.

Two More New Stores Coming On Randall Corridor

Off-price apparel and home fashion retailer Ross Dress for Less finally revealed Monday why the company wouldn't admit it was remodeling the old Circuit City site in Algonquin Commons.
The company with stores in 26 states--and Guam--will open a dozen locations in the Chicago area all at once in October.

A release from the company reports the new stores in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Bloomingdale, Crystal Lake, Matteson, Naperville, Niles, Orland Park, Rockford, Schaumburg, Skokie and South Elgin will as a group employ about 600 people and will start accepting job apps Aug. 15 here: http://www.rossstores.com./job_search.aspx .

Meanwhile, over the weekend workers finished putting up the sign for a new retailer to open Aug. 19 in Oakridge Court.  Teen and pre-teen "trend-right" store fiVe BELoW (sic) will sell an eclectic verging on random assortment of stuff the company thinks kids want, all priced between $1 and $5. It's the latest venture by the guys who invented the Zany Brainy educational store chain that flew high, but then hit the ground hard about 10 years ago.

Lake In The Hills Aviation Expo Set

Lake in the Hills Airport will host an Aviation Expo on Saturday, August 20. The event's not a revival of the old LITH Airshow but it is a chance to sky buffs to fly, drive and walk in to see what's going on in private aviation these days.

The expo will run from 9 am to 1 pm featuring vendors specializing in aircraft sales, maintenance, repairs, charter, fuel and insurance services. Aircraft on display will include planes from Cessna, Cirrus, Piper and a Citation 2 jet.

Also on display will be Manny Gomez, Lake in the Hills's new Deputy Public Works Director who also happens to hold the LITH Airport Manager portfolio, too. He'll be there to talk about about improvements underway and new ones planned for the airport.

The Aviation Expo will include food for purchase with coffee and donuts in the morning, followed by lunch that includes hamburgers, brats and fries as well as a selection of sodas and water.

Quinn Signs Illinois DREAM Act

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Monday known as the Illinois DREAM Act, which will provide undocumented students opportunities for financial support for their college education. “We want to leave no talent behind. We want to make sure that everyone who has the ability to do college work gets that opportunity,” Gov. Pat Quinn said at the bill signing in Chicago.

The Illinois Dream Act will allow undocumented students to invest money into the state’s prepaid tuition program. It also calls for the creation of a privately supported tuition fund, called the DREAM fund, administered by a board of volunteers. “Until this moment, a large segment of our society has been cut off from the opportunity for accurate information on attending colleges. They have been denied the opportunity to take part in programs that help save for higher education, and denied the opportunity to apply for scholarships to (further) their education. These denials were all permitted because these students are undocumented,” said Rep. Edward Acevedo, a Chicago Democrat.

The Illinois DREAM Act passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly. However, Republican supporters in the Senate met some backlash for their “yes” votes from a suburban Tea Party organization. “The Illinois Republican Senators who voted 'Yes' to DREAM Act SB 2185 are part of the problem in Illinois. Instead of focusing on issues like jobs, taxes and our economy, they are more interested in getting votes,” said a news release sent out by the Palatine Tea Party after the vote. However, Acevedo claimed that the measure will create “no cost to the taxpayers.”

Acevedo called education a “civil right” that should be extended to all . “If you live here, if you came here for a better life, if you dedicate yourself to the American dream, you are American,”  he said.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/quinn-signs-illinois-dream-act.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 again by FEN schedule conflict
Algonquin
moretocome

Weather Favors Algonquin Founders' Days This Time

Algonquin's Founders' Days President Jeff Krajewski said the 51st edition of the festival was the best one in years.  "Everybody had more fun because they got to come this year," he said Sunday, in contrast to 2009 and 2010 when rain marred the celebrations.  "(Attendance) was on par with what we expect when it's dry," said Krajewski.

That was good news for the Founders' Committee and Jaycees who sponsor the festival.  Jaycee's profits support the group's community activities throughout the year and the Founders' share gets plowed back into improvements for next year.  "We've already started on next year," said Krajewski, "figuring out new events and layouts."

More than 150 runners kicked off Sunday's celebration with the annual Founders' Run.  Local runners from Algonquin and Lake in the Hills made up more than 80 percent of the participants with the remainder almost exclusively from nearby communities.

Algonquin resident Nick Demetriou took second overall and among men in the 10k race. LITH runner Tracy Kilvinger was 20th overall and third among women in the 10k.  In the 5k Alex Johnson was 2nd overall and among men and Krista Olenek was eighth overall, second among women.  Both are from Algonquin.

Full results for the 2011 Founders' Run are located here: http://www.racetime.info/new_page_1.htm

In the pic:  Fireworks Sunday evening closed out Algonquin's 51st Founders' Days Celebration.

East Main Sidewalk Work Scheduled For Huntley

Contractors were scheduled to begin replacing the sidewalk on the north side of East Main between 47 and Church Street today, a follow-on to work on the Route 47 widening project.
Village Manager Dave Johnson noted that the businesses on the block have entrances onto Coral St., too, and suggested shoppers use those.

In the pic: The block as she was before the widening project began.

LITH Park Parties Wind Up Friday

Friday ends this year's Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department  Park Party series. Chicago Singer/Songwriter/Mom Jeanie B. will bring folk, rock and country fun (and a some learning, too, shhhh....) to LITH Village Hall at 11 a.m.

Blankets and picnic fixin's are recommended for the Park Party. Ib case of rainingg it'll be inside in the Multipurpose Room.

In the pic:  Rockin' Mom Jeanie B.

Illinois 50 out of 50 For State Deficit

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois ended fiscal 2010 as the most strapped state in the nation. Illinois owed $37.9 billion more than all of its assets combined, according to a recent statewide financial audit by the Illinois Auditor General William Holland and Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

Illinois even shorted taxpayers due refunds. An examination of the Income Tax Refund Fund by auditors revealed a $1.4 billion deficit because the state didn’t put enough revenue into the fund causing a delay in getting the taxes returned to individuals and businesses.

Illinois was one of four states with a deficit when comparing all its debts to assets in fiscal 2010, and of those four, it was in a hole of about $10 billion more than the next worst, New Jersey. The deficit would have been worse without a $3 billion cash infusion of federal stimulus money.

“We had a period, maybe three, four or five years, from 2004 to 2007, where we could have, not solved all our problems, but gotten things under control. But we wasted those years and got deeper and deeper in the hole just because of a lack of discipline,” Fred Giertz, an economist with the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Another reason for Illinois' financial misery is how it keeps its books, according to the audit. Ralf Seiffe is the director of research at the Institute for Truth in Accounting, a nonprofit that works to make governments provide accurate financial reports, according to its website. "Bad accounting policies and bad budgeting policies are the means and manner by which legislators and the governor get away with essentially spending more than they should," Seiffe said.

Most people agree that the state needs to reduce spending, said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. When presented with the programs that eat up the majority of the budget, however, people are hard pressed to point to areas where they would take the blade. “It’s no wonder that politicians have got us to this point, because they reflect what the sentiments are of a lot of people. A lot of people want something for nothing,” Yepsen said.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6646/illinois-50-out-of-50-in-2010-for-state-deficit-2/

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
July 31
1851 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA/INJURY ACCIDENT. PETERSON, DANIEL A., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 888 COVENTRY LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Cannabis. RELEASED ON BOND.
Two vehicles. Male, 24 years of age, with neck injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0141 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH POLICE) FOLLOW UP ARRESTS: CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. LUBRANO, MARK J., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 122 ELMTREE CT., ST CHARLES. Charges: Criminal Damage to Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
0858 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. DOMESTIC. Delayed. Father vs. Son. Verbal only. No priors.
1251 HRS FRANK RD. & BOULDER DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Bicyclist. Female, 14 years of age, transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
1846 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1935 HRS 2250 W ALGONQUIN RD. (MED CENTER) CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Black spray paint on the brick wall of the building.
Algonquin
delayed--FEN scheduling problem

National Night Out Begins Early in LITH--Elsewhere It's Tuesday

Hot dogs and a TOPS Kennels police dog headlined the first evening Sunday of Lake in the Hills' multi-night National Night Out.  The national community-building event is officially  Tuesday but LITH has events scheduled all the way through a car show at Sunset Park next Sunday (8 am to 3 pm).

Neighborhood parties Tuesday in LITH are schedule from 7 to 10 pm at the following locations:

320 Terramere Lane
1157 Starwood Pass
14 Deer Path
437 Big Cloud Pass
117 Pheasant Trail
603 Mohican Trail

Over in Huntley the following neighborhood Night Out parties are scheduled:

Georgian Place (Parisek Park) 5:45 to 8 pm
Huntley Meadows (Preston and Main) 6 to 8 pm
Joan St. (from Cindy Jo to Church) 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Margaret St. 6 pm to dusk
Michael St. 6 to 9 pm
Northbridge (Ruth Park) 6 to 8 pm
Oakcrest (Oakland to Oakleaf) 7 to 9 pm
Talamore (the Clubhouse) 7 pm

In Algonquin, the Police Department will be at Towne Park today with a Founders' Days squad car display to help Village Neighborhood Watch Programs organize local National Night Out events Tuesday.

Algonquin Marches In 51st Founders' Parade

 
Algonquin's 51st Founders' Days Parade Saturday included 115 units, about the same as last year's event, but temperatures were a lot hotter this time which might have had something to do with the procession's herky-jerky progress.

Lions carried Old Glory in the Parade's van

Founders' Honoree Jerry Glogowski usually hoofs the parade but said riding was nice for a change.

 Tootsie Pops held up the heat best Saturday.  Taffy didn't and let's not even talk about what happened to chocolate bars.

 
Even with wall-to-wall people, Public Works cleanup crews said spectators were remarkably conscientious this year about using trash containers.

Custom Yogurt Key To Customers At New LITH Store

Saturday was the second day for Lake in the Hills' new Yumz gourmet frozen yogurt store on North Randall and the place was packed.  The LITH location is the second site for the local chain and Co-owner John Barnes said it and the first location in Crystal Lake are doing so well the company may begin franchising next month.

"We've had a lot of interest," he said.  "When (investors) see how many people are in the stores and having a good time they say 'How do I get involved?'"

The key to Yumz' appeal is self-service combined with lots of choices.  "We have 10 different flavors to choose from," Barnes said, "and 65 toppings.  You can make it any way you want it."

LITH was was the choice for Yumz' second store because, "It seemed to be a good bunch of people interested in getting out and being entertained," Barnes said.

Unpaid Regional Superintendents Threaten School Starts

By Benjamin Yount,Illinois Statehouse News
Many Illinois school districts may be in danger of missing the first day of school because of the ongoing political fight over paychecks for regional superintendents in Illinois. Governor Pat Quinn zeroed-out the $11 million state budget line  intended to pay for Illinois' 44 regional offices of education. Some Superintendents are becoming restive.


"We have held things together, and we will hold things together until Aug. 3," said Madison County Regional Superintendent Bob Daiber, president of Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents. "We have a meeting Aug. 3 in Springfield. At that meeting, I'm not sure what decision will be made about continuing services."

Without regional superintendents, Daiber said, no one can legally sign off on new school building occupancy permits, new teacher certification, new bus driver training, GED testing and truancy enforcement, among several other things.

The repercussions are evident for students at the new $80 million DeKalb High School. DeKalb County Regional Superintendent Gill Morrison said he has not given his approval for everyone to move into the new building. "We have four buildings on line right now that are waiting for an occupancy permit from my office," said Morrison. "If, God forbid, there was no regional superintendent, those permits would not be able to be signed off on. And those schools wouldn't be able to be functioning."

Matt Donkin, regional superintendent for Franklin and Williamson counties in southern Illinois, said that most regional superintendents are dedicated to local schools and local students, but they are also realists, and many have families and financial needs. "As we get into the end of July, first of August, any jobs that might be available, regional superintendents are going to take," said Donkin.

McHenry County, meanwhile, doesn't even have a regional superintendent to work for free. Superintendent-Elect Joe Williams, Huntley, bailed out of actually assuming the office in the face of the uncertainty that he'd ever be paid.

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6644/lack-of-pay-for-regional-superintendents-threatens-start-of-school/

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 30
0013 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF FAIRHAVEN LN. ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. JUVENILE, F/W 14 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Illegal Consumption of Alcohol, Curfew.  RELEASED TO PARENTS.
1618 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HUNTERS PATH. DOMESTIC BATTERY. WILLIAMS, RAYMOND I., MW 21 YEARS OF AGE, 406 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0249 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTIS) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Vehicle mirror damaged.
0919 HRS PYOTT RD. & JENNINGS DR. ASSIST TO CRYSTAL LAKE POLICE. Assisted Crystal Lake Police with an accident report.
1229 HRS 600 BLOCK OF ANDERSON DR. IDENTITY THEFT. Social Security Number used.
1252 HRS 2200 BLOCK OF DAYBREAK DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Contact with a registered sex offender.
1447 HRS 250 RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) HIT & RUN. Vehicle hit in parking lot.
2206 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINE CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 59 years of age, evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.