Huntley Construction Crawl Combats Business Slump

The skirl of saw blades accompanied Huntley's Construction Crawl local shopping promotion Friday evening as crews cut expansion joints by lamplight into the last major pavement slab for Route 47 widening.

Construction did slow traffic to a crawl Friday as the pour ran past the "before rush hour" deadline everyone had been hoping for.  That was the point of the Construction Crawl promotion according to Huntley Trustee Pam Fender who sparked the idea.  "The businesses on Route 47 are suffering terribly," she said.  "They're small businesses and they can't afford a lot of marketing to get people to come to them.

Fender said her original idea was for a ladies' shopping night but that expanded when the Huntley Chamber became involved.  "Then someone came up with 'Construction Crawl' and that was a stroke of genius," she said. Twenty seven businesses, all north of Main Street, took part in the crawl involving special shopping hours, special deals, prizes and raffles.

Huntley's iconic Dairy Mart was smack in the middle of them and owner Steve Grechis put a number on the business impact of two year's worth Route 47 widening. "We're down about 15 percent," he said.  Looking for a bright side he added,  "That's not bad for road construction."

Even with the final slab pour and a lot of overtime work the past few weeks,  a lot of curb and connecting work remains to be done before Winter shuts down construction.  Then business will bounce back, right?

"I hope so," said Grechis.  "I hope so."

In the pics:  (above) Friday's construction crawl.  (below) Friday's Construction Crawl, with music yet, at School Street Station Bistro.

Huntley, Crystal Lake Hospital Decisions Again In December

It was deja vu all over again Friday when the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board held another hearing on Mercy Health Systems' proposal for a new hospital in Crystal Lake.

The Board in June turned down Mercy's plan for a 128-bed hospital and a competing one from Centegra Health System for a nearly identical facility in Huntley.  The Board members decided both plans involved too many new beds so Mercy scaled its proposal back to only 70 new ones.

Friday's hearing had a formulaic tone with speakers mostly reading prepared statements they'd already submitted to the Board.  Even at a 70-bed level, spokesmen for nearby hospitals said there wasn't any need for a hospital in Crystal Lake and all it would do is take business from them.  Besides, the Board's own requirements call for any new hospital have a minimum 100 new beds. Mercy Vice President Dan Colby said Friday, however, "One hundred beds is a guideline, not a rule."

The Mercy hearing Friday bumped one for Centegra's appeal to reconsider its original 128-bed Huntley proposal.  Centegra hopes to convince the Board its own projections are out of date and, even if they aren't, don't really fit the way things are shaping up medically in southern McHenry and northern Kane County.  With the latest Mercy hearing is out of the way, the Crystal Lake and Huntley hospital proposals are both scheduled for consideration again at the Board's next meeting Dec. 6 and 7.

In the pic:  There was plenty of room Friday at the latest hearing in Crystal Lake over who, if anyone, gets to build a new area hospital.

Stranger Danger? New Political Faces Appearing In McHenry County

Look to see some strangers in McHenry County in the next five months.  The 2012 Illinois Primary is March 20 and, thanks to census changes, writhing district boundaries are luring previously unknown candidates to unfamiliar environs.

For instance, Winfield (over by Wheaton) Congressman Randy Hultgren spent Friday evening at McHenry County Republican headquarters in Crystal Lake passing out pizza and pressing new flesh as he campaigned to retain his seat in the 14th District.  Right now the district runs from Kane County over to Iowa.  For 2012 Primary purposes the western half gets lopped off and replaced with most of McHenry and a chunk of Lake County, Terra Incognita for Hultgren who faces a challenge from fellow-freshman Congressman Joe Walsh currently representing the peripatetic 8th District.

On a lesser scale, newly-appointed 52nd District State Rep. Ken Gaffney was at Algonquin Township Monday putting on a Seniors' ID Theft presentation.  He said it was for constituent services but while the 52nd currently includes a little bit of Algonquin Township right now,  in the Primary it'll include an awful lot more.

In the pic:  D158 Board of Ed Member Don DrzalHultgren Hultgren Friday on the Congressman's expedition into the unexplored heart of McHenry County. meets Randy

Fall Cleanup And Recycling Drop Off In Algonquin Monday

The Village of Algonquin will hold it's first (presumably) annual Fall Cleanup and Recycling Drop-Off Event Monday from 9 am to 7 pm at Presidential Park on the Village's East Side.  It's part of the Village's new contract with refuse company Waste Management.

What makes the event special is for this one time only the company will accept stuff it won't in normal curbside pickups--electronics including PC's and, especially, monitors and TV's, for instance.  Also OK are large cardboard boxes, alkaline batteries, cellphones, clean metals and wood.

Also OK are toys, old clothes, couches, beds, dressers, mattresses, grills, patio furniture.  Village Manager Bill Ganek said Tuesday, "They'll take just about anything people can get there."  That doesn't include white goods (major appliances), landscape and construction waste, though.

There'll be a truck from Purple Heart Veterans onsite, too, to collect clothing and household items in good condition.

Double-Dipping In Teachers’ Pension System

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Michael Johnson didn’t wait until he retired as executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards to start cashing in on his public pension. Johnson earned $324,785 in compensation from the Illinois Association of School Boards, while simultaneously collecting $209,379.43 from the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System. The totals were between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, according to documents obtained by Illinois Statehouse News.

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, or TRS, discovered that Johnson hadn’t stepped down from his position with IASB, an organization that helps school boards with professional development and is indirectly funded by taxpayers, and suspended his payments, said Dave Urbanek, TRS spokesman. “This is a situation that TRS would look to aggressively correct to maintain the integrity of the state laws and the pension system and taxpayer funds,” Urbanek said.

Johnson repaid the $209,379.43 to TRS and agreed to retire as a full-time executive director to avoid the matter getting resolved in the courts. He officially retired in the summer of 2008 before coming back to work as executive director emeritus a month later. He said the initial payout was the result of a misunderstanding between him and TRS that was corrected. “They had different expectations,” Johnson said.

To date, Johnson has collected $1.1 million from his pension on top of earning an average of $198,105 in annual compensation by working part time for the school board association. He is one of 119 people in TRS who doesn’t work for a school in any capacity. Under Illinois statute, anyone working for a statewide teachers’ union or IASB can pay into and collect a public pension.

State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said he is working on legislation that would kick out of the TRS employees of teachers’ unions and the IASB. Former employees’ pensions and what current employees have paid in so far wouldn’t be affected, said Murphy.
 

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6937/double-dipping-in-the-teachers-pension-system/

Obituaries

Anne M. Jelinek, 86, of Sun City, Huntley, died Thursday at her home following a lengthy illness. A private family memorial is scheduled for a later date.

Jelinek was born June 17, 1925, in Chicago, the daughter of Anton and Clara (Bertram) Zindrick.  On December 10, 1943, married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Jelinek. She is survived by her husband of Huntley; her daughters, Linda (David) Goss of Crystal Lake, and Susan (Andy) Pasilis of Orting, WA; her sons, John (Elizabeth) Jelinek of Belvidere and Bruce (Celeste) Jelinek of Rockford; her grandchildren, James, William, Dustin, Sara, Amy, Emily, Jennifer, John, Amanda and Carrie, and, her sister, Ruth Williams of Berwyn.


Adriana S. Caramelli, 89, of Huntley, Sun City, died peacefully, Friday at her home. Visitation will be Tuesday from 9 until 10 am at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am Tuesday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.  Entombment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Caramelli was born January 18, 1922 in Italy.  In 1949 she married, Renzo Caramelli who preceded her in death two months ago. She is survived by her daughter Rosita (Don) Marcheschi of Huntley.

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
October 7
0922 HRS 9200 HALIGUS RD. (PUBLIC WORKS) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. JUVENILE, M/W 13 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property. RELEASED TO PARENT.
JUVENILE, M/W 12 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Criminal Damage to Property. RELEASED TO PARENT.
0133 HRS 541 JENNINGS DR. B4 (CAR SAVERS) FOUND ARTICLE. Keys. Returned to owner.
1341 HRS RAKOW RD. & PINGREE RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1808 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1850 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2002 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GENEVA CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife, daughter and son. FAIL TO FILE.
2111 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF SWEETWATER RIDGE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2225 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICKS) RETAIL THEFT. Juvenile was caught stealing. FAIL TO FILE.

Speed Zone Coming On Haligus For Marlowe Middle School

 group of Marlowe Middle School moms and kids urged Huntley trustees to make adjacent Haligus Road safer but the Village Board already had a vote on their agenda to put in a new school speed zone for the area either side of Scott Drive.  They gave the measure initial approval.

Traffic on Haligus north of Reed Road in the vicinity of the school is heavy, fast and confusing Jen Yuchasz told the Board.  "We would really like to do something about this before there's an accident or, God forbid, a child's death certificate," she said.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said the Village officials have been studying the area for two years.  "When (police) officers have been out there, there haven't been any problems.  Perhaps because they were out there," he said.

Trustee Niko Kanakaris thought that might be the solution.  "Why can't we put an officer there for a half hour every day?  What's the big deal?" he asked.  There's the entire rest of the village to patrol reminded Mayor Chuck Sass.

Trustees gave initial approval for a roughly 1/8-mile 20 mph school day speed zone centered on Scott Drive.  The area's posted for 35 mph right now.  Johnson said he intended to talk with D158 officials about the possibility of posting crossing guards, too.

In other matters, the Huntley Board gave first approval for a non-profit low-power radio station to set up operation in the Deicke Park Building.  It's the latest version of a 100-watt radio station proposed a while ago by a group of Sun City residents.  "We wanted to expand it to serve the whole community," said Allen Pollack, Executive Director.

The Village would be involved because the station will need a nearby 100-foot transmitting tower, not currently allowed by the zoning ordinance.  The tower's somewhat conjectural, however, since the station doesn't have a license yet and isn't likely to get one very soon. The FCC's bogged down trying to figure out how to allocate FM broadcast spectrum around big cities like Chicago.

The Board also gave another OK to legal documents to begin construction on the Route 47/I-90 full interchange next year.  With nearly $70 million in the project and 5 different government agencies paying for it, there's a blizzard of the things.

In the pic: (above) Middle School Mom Jen Yuchasz told Huntley trustees Haligus Road and Scott Drive is "just a really hairy place."  Students Emily Vandy and Mirana Host brought along posterboard graphics to illustrate.

LITH Dedicates Newly-Named Linda K. Fischer Park

When more than 30 people turn out at sunset to dedicate a mostly undeveloped and peripheral park it's a pretty remarkable event.  That's what happened Thursday in Lake in the Hills, however.  It was the formal ceremony to name the Village's new Linda K. Fischer Park on Grafton Farm Drive off Miller Road.

The park's designation is to honor the late LITH dynamo who for 32 years supported village  organizations including the LITH Women’s League, Boy Scout Troop 369, the LITH Historical Society, the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association and the LITH Citizen’s Police Academy. After receiving a heart transplant, Fischer added volunteering for the Gift of Hope organ donation organization, too.

In the pic:  Harold Fischer helped unveil the new park sign honoring his late wife for her work supporting Lake in the Hills.

D158 Board Ponders Advanced Placement Course Expansion

The D158 Board of Education listened Thursday to plans to increase Advanced Placement classes at Huntley High School.  AP classes are sort of a hybrid of super-honors high school classes and actual college-level courses. Students, parents, teachers and administrators generally want more of them since they help kids get into college more easily and get out again faster and cheaper.

"We have many kids who have two, three, four AP courses under their belt," said HHS Principal Dave Johnson.  "That saves money (in college) because they have credit for those courses already."

"We have kids go to Loyola and Purdue with a full year of credit," said AP leader Steve  Styers. "They enter as sophomores. The trick is to have the right courses at HHS and teachers qualified to teach them, he said.

"We want to provide the opportunity for students who want to make the commitment," he said.  There seem to be a lot of them.  Just short of one third of all HHS students took at least one AP course last year, Styers said.

In the pic:  HHs Principal Dave Johnson (right) and Advanced Placement leader Steve Styers urged the D158 Board to increase college-level courses.  "These higher-tier colleges want to see AP courses," said Johnson.

Lamb, Chickpeas, Felafel--Mediterranean Cuisine Comes To LITH

Three weeks after opening Pita Kabobs Mediterranean Grill on Randall Road in Lake in the Hills, owner Faz Rahman said one priority item on his "to do" list is get village permission for a bigger Now Open sign.  He said he's hopeful because, "They've been very helpful."

"Word of mouth's been very good," however, he said.  "People come in and tell their friends and family."

Rahman said he and co-owner, brother, Faisal, saw an empty opportunity in the area's dining terrain. There are plenty of Italian restaurants. (They own the Little Caesar's shop north of Acorn on Randall.) There's Chinese, too. (They're in the former Chen's location since that restaurant moved across the road.) There are even a few Mexican restaurants but, "You guys don't have (Mediterranean) here," said Rahman.

Pita Kabobs' menu includes Morrocan, Turkish and Egyptian dishes featuring lamb, beef and chicken, said Rahman, with optional vegetarian and vegan food as well. "We prepare everything here ourselves," he said.

LITH customer Jason Natali was waiting for a takeout order. "I stopped in a couple of days ago and the lamb kabobs were really good," he said.  "My grandmother used to make that type of food for me.  She was Turkish," said Natali.

In the pic:  Lamb kabobs broiling on the grill at the new Pita Kabobs restaurant on Randall Road in LITH.

Quinn Looks To Public To Fight Smart Grid Plan

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Gov. Pat Quinn is gearing up for a battle with legislators over smart grid legislation.  Quinn toured the state Thursday pushing back against supporters of the plan he vetoed last month.

Proponents say the measure would help the state’s two largest utilities upgrade infrastructure and add new technologies to make power delivery more reliable. Quinn — who is joined in his opposition by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, AARP, the Illinois Commerce Commission, which oversees utilities and signs off on rate increases, and others — says the legislation would lock in “automatic rate hikes” for consumers and loosen oversight of utility companies.

“[Commonwealth Edison and Ameren] have a lot of campaign money. They have a lot of lobbyists," said Quinn. "As a matter of fact, I think they may have hired a lobbyist for each member of the General Assembly. … They’re putting every ounce of their power and money behind this bill. They want to override my veto."

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, an East Moline Democrat. is confident that the three-fifths majority needed to override Quinn’s veto will materialize by the legislature's veto session, in two weeks. He said Quinn's repeated use of the bully pulpit on Smart Grid, capped off with a campaign-like tour of the state, may alienate some lawmakers from his cause.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/quinn-looks-to-public-to-fight-smart.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
October 06
0857 HRS 90 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. TRESPASS. VENEGAS, JAVIER, M/W 41 YEARS OF AGE, 249 S. OLD RAND RD., LAKE ZURICH. CHARGES: Trespass to land. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1731 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD. (WALGREENS) DOMESTIC BATTERY. RIFF, THOMAS J., M/W 40 YEARS OF AGE, 10725 RUSHMORE LN., HUNTLEY.TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL
0107 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 24 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.
1146 HRS 200 BLOCK OF STICKLEY LN. CHECK FOR WELL BEING. Check on the well being of family members.
1402 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS PD) HARASSMENT BY PHONE. Complainant being harassed by telephone.
1531 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH DR. INFORMATON FOR POLICE. Contact with a Registered Sex Offender.
1907 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2202 HRS 300 BLOCK OF E OAK ST. DOMESTIC. Sister vs. Sister. Verbal only. One Prior.
Algonquin
October 3
07:00am Liuzzi, Thomas L., DOB: 07/14/90, of 205 S. Main Street, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at 205 S. Main.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 11/09/11 in McHenry County.
14:39pm A 15 year-old male from West Dundee was charged with Theft under $300.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of his mother.
October 4
06:15am A 16 year-old female from Carpentersville was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody at Springbrook Court & Brookside Avenue.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 11/09/11 in McHenry County.
17:15pm Storto, Sherry L., DOB: 08/10/61, of 303 Silverstone Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Butera Foods, 1400 E. Algonquin Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 11/30/11 in Algonquin.
October 5
16:25pm Two 17 year-old females from Crystal Lake were charged with Retail Theft.  Both were taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  Both were released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 11/30/11 in Algonquin.
October 6
12:31pm Roewer, Randy S., DOB: 03/09/81, of 231 E. Prairie Street Apt #A, Cary, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Commerce Drive and County Line Road.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.

McHenry County Assessment Appeals Headed Toward Record

McHenry County Chief Assessment Officer Bob Ross Wednesday said appeals from 2011 property tax assessments look headed for a new record.  Monday was the deadline for Grafton Township homeowners.  Ross said he was still counting them but estimated there'll be about 2,000 this year, a monumental increase from last year's 200.

"Grafton's the only big township that's in yet," said Ross, "but I'm pretty sure we're going to have more than 5,885 (appeals last year.)"

Algonquin Township Assessor Bob Kunz said it looked as if he'd have assessments ready to go out there in late November.  A Kane County Assessor spokesman said assessments for Rutland and Dundee Townships probably wouldn't be ready until late this month or early November.

"Spreading Around" Food Donations

LITH Trustee and ALITH Food Pantry volunteer Russ Ruzanski scored so much soon-to-be-outdated coffee and tea at the Papanicholas warehouse in Batavia this week that he took a few cases over to the Grafton Food Pantry, too. "(Ex-LITH Trustee) Paula Yensen's part of that so I wanted to share it," said Ruzanski.  "There's plenty of food. It's just a matter of spreading it around."

That's the point of the food pantries said Grafton Manager Mary Hardy who was pleased at Ruzanski's generosity.  "We were OK this morning but the shelves are pretty bare now," she said. "We had 26 families (Wednesday)."  Hardy said pleas for help vary from day to day but overall they've risen by about one third in the past month.

Here are the three food pantries that primarily serve the Algonquin, LITH and Huntley areas and their hours for making food donations:

http://www.alith-foodpantry.org/

http://www.graftonfoodpantry.org/

https://sites.google.com/site/faithcommunityfoodpantry/home

In the pic:  ALITH Food Pantry supporter Russ Ruzanski said "if somebody needs food, it's up to us to make sure everybody has food."

Last Main Paving Pour Set For Friday On 47 In Huntley

Workers are getting things ready the final mainline sprint to pave Route 47 southbound lanes between Algonquin Road and Main Street in Huntley Friday. The work's supposed to start at Algonquin Road in the morning moving south towards Main. Village officials said Wednesday the pour's supposed to be completed before rush hour.

Looking ahead, on Monday North Street, Fourth Street and Borden Street will be closed at Route 47 for paving. Access to all of them will be through the Union Special parking lot. They're supposed to reopen next Thursday, October 13th.

In the pic:  Laying down an earlier segment in the Route 47 widening project.

Perfect Weather Warms Walk To School Day

Wednesday was International Walk To School Day (it started in the U.K.) with four Algonquin and Lake in the Hills schools taking part in the event to promote health, safety, the environment and "fun" as defined by kids.

D300 bus driver Gale Pearsall said his morning route was short about one third of his normal riders although he suspected a few Moms drove the kids partway to school so they could hoof it the rest of the way.

In the pic:  Autumn leaves decorated the way home Wednesday from Lake in the Hills Elementary on International Walk To School Day.  Mom Deia Calabrese and son Anthony said they walk to school every day, anyway.

Sears Confirms Talks With Two Headquarters Suitors

Sears Holdings said Wednesday that company officials have toured two unnamed cities as possible sites for new company headquarters.  An Associated Press source claimed they were  Austin, TX, and Columbus, OH, that the visits came last month and that incentive packages were offered at both locations.

The revelation came a day after School District 300 got a lot of press attention for complaints that renewal of property tax rebates on Sears' Hoffman Estates headquarters would cost the struggling school system $14 million per year.  Earlier this year Sears said it might move somewhere else if the rebate plan that expires next year isn't extended.

Renewal "is absolutely necessary for Illinois to be competitive," the company said in a statement Wednesday. "Sears plays an important role in our state's economy, which is why the governor and his administration are continuing extensive talks with the company," Governor Pat Quinn's office said in a separate statement.

Sears stock Wednesday broke briefly out of the depressed range it's occupied since it reported losing $146 million in the second quarter of this year.  Sears Holdings, including the KMart chain, has been pummeled for the last three years by competitors like Target and Walmart.

Quinn: Illinois Economy Not As bad As "Complainers" Charge

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Gov. Pat Quinn Said Wednesday "complainers" about the Illinois economy need to look past the state's recent income tax increases and focus on good news about the state's jobs picture. Quinn defended the State while announcing a federal program to make tens of millions of dollars of investment capital available to companies like startup battery manufacturer AllCell on Chicago's South Side.

"The reason, I think, why we're a strong state is our work ethic and our hardworking, well-qualified, well-skilled men and women in our workforce," said Quinn. "They are the heart and soul of the Illinois  economy."

Quinn's comments were his first public statements since he returned last week from a weeklong trip to China and Japan. There he signed agreements that will send Illinois soybeans to China, and help a Chinese company take a more active role in building a wind farm near Dixon. While Quinn was overseas, however, one of Chicago's most well-known companies, the CME Group, announced plans to leave the state. Craig Donohue, CEO of the parent company of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, told Reuters news service in August that Illinois’ high tax burden is prompting him to relocate the business to Texas, Florida or Tennessee.

Quinn blasted anyone who suggested that Illinois' increased income taxes are driving jobs out of the state. "For those who are … complainers, naysayers, I'd say look at the record," Quinn said. "Last year, our state led the Midwest in job creation. I hope we do it again."

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6927/quinn-illinois-economy-not-as-bad-as-complainers-say/

Obituaries

Jessie M. Ocasio, 82, of Huntley died Monday, at Centegra Hospital in Woodstock following a sudden illness. Visitation will be  from 11 am until the time of the service at 1 pm Saturday at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  Burial will be in Huntley Cemetery.

Ocasio was born October 21, 1928, in Salts, KY, the daughter of Jesse and Cora (Blair) Walden. She is survived by her husband, Juan, of Huntley;  her children, Juan (Dana) Ocasio Jr.,  of Huntley, Wanda (Cliff) Colpitts of Canada and Patricia (James) Riner of Rockford, and grandchildren, Robert (Anna) Castillo, Juan Quinones, Geraldo (Mary) Quinones, Tamica Quinones and Nicholas and Ryan Colpitts.

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
October 5
1747 HRS 100 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. WANTED ON WARRANT. EVERTSEN, WILLIAM S., M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 120 WOODY WAY LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Wanted on Warrant out of McHenry County for Damage to Property. Bond Amount: $2,000.00 at 10 %. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0608 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. One prior.
1131 HRS 200 BLOCK OF STICKLEY LN. DOMESTIC Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1400 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 7 months old, was vomiting. No transport.
1523 HRS 9341 PYOTT RD. (BARBARA KEY PARK) DISORDERLY CONDUCT. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1530 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & BLACKHAWK DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only. No transport.
1633 HRS 500 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Female, 33 years of age, attempted suicide. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1638 HRS 2700 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE LN. BURGLARY. Skateboard was stolen from the garage. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1430 HRS 500 BLOCK OF MASON LN. FOLLOW-UP REPORT: ACCIDENT Car vs. Mailbox.

D300, Algonquin Pass Resolutions On Sears EDA

The District 300 Board of Education in a special meeting Tuesday passed a resolution opposing an extension of the Sears EDA so they'd have something official to send to legislators.  The Algonquin Village Board an hour later passed a resolution that said D300, indeed, all tax districts affected, ought to have some input in the matter.

Monday West Dundee passed a resolution against the EDA extension and at two other villages are reported contemplating similar opposition to 15 more years of property tax rebates for Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates.

D300's been planning a forum to detail the $14 million a year tax loss for the District but announced Tuesday it wouldn't be at Algonquin's Westfield School after all.  To allow a bigger crowd than first expected, now it's set for Jacobs High School next Thursday at 6:30 pm.

Superintendent Michael Bregy said Tuesday he was encouraged that Hoffman Estates officials said they'd attend the meeting.  Board President Anne Miller threw some cold water on that later:  "They said they'd send someone, was what they actually said."

The District also posted a fact sheet about the EDA Tuesday.  It's at:

http://www.d300.org/files/Summary%20Sheet%20-%20Updated%20October%201%202011_0.pdf

In the pic:  D300 Board President Anne Miller and Superintendent Michael Bregy pitched the Algonquin Village Board Tuesday to support District efforts to defeat a measure to extend the Sears EDA.

MCDOT Shows Latest Plans For Algonquin Road Extension

McHenry Division of Transportation officials Tuesday unveiled the latest plans to extend Algonquin Road west from Route 47 at Huntley to Brier Hill Road.  The latest map drops the proposed route south before the UP tracks and connects with Main Street earlier than in the 2009 plans, then drops again to Harmony Road.

Planners at the public hearing at Leggee School said the idea is to link up Algonquin and Harmony to make one good east-west route in Southern McHenry County if money ever becomes available to do it. So far, only the planning's funded.

In the pic:  The latest revision to plans to hook up Algonquin Road and Harmony Road.

Tomaso Run Ready For Saturday In Huntley

Huntley's Fourth Annual Coach Tomaso Celebration Walk, 5k Fun Run and Kids' 50-Yard Dash at the Sports Complex in the Talamore Subdivision is set for Saturday. Registration and check-in for the event in honor of Huntley's late Village Manager and Sports Guy starts at 7 am.  The races start at 8.

A $10 Donation to participate ($5 for children under 12) will go to Huntley's Shop with a Cop Program. There's no registration for the kids' dash.  Adult registrants will get a free T-shirt while supplies last.

There's a map of course here:  http://www.huntley.il.us/documents/20115krunRoute.pdf

In the pic:  Huntley's Carl Tomaso was a terrific sports fan.

Bowl For Paws In Algonquin Sunday For Animal House

Huntley's Animal House no-kill pet shelter will hold its second annual Bowl For Paws at Algonquin's east side Brunswick Zone Sunday from Noon to 3 pm.  The $20 per person entry fee includes 2.5 hours of "cosmic bowling", shoe rental and a pitcher of soda and one-topping pizza per lane, all to support the shelter.

There's a50/50 Raffle and Silent Auction on tap, too, with Shelter Gear for sale. Call Leslie Preucil at  847-961-5541 to reserve a lane or email her at  lesliepreucil@sbcglobal.net.

Parents Worry About Future Of College Tuition Plan

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Jeanne Corrigan should be having fun this year helping her 17-year old-daughter prepare for college. Instead, Corrigan, a Springfield mother of two has been pressing lawmakers for answers about the future of the State's College Illinois! tuition plan and the $22,000 she put into it. “We fulfilled our part," said Corrigan said during a House Republican task force hearing. "Every month we paid. Our daughter is fulfilling her part of the bargain; she’s working hard in school and preparing herself for college and a career.”

Now, Corrigan said she wants the state to live up to its end of the bargain — College Illinois! must pay out for the parents who bought in. Starting in 1998, she paid $185 a month for 10 years — $22,000 — to guarantee eight semesters at whichever state public university her daughter would attend. A single year at the University of Illinois now costs about $30,000. Documents reviewed by Illinois Statehouse News in May showed that College Illinois! was nearly 20 percent underfunded, however.  “Frankly, I can’t imagine why anyone would enroll in (College Illinois!) today knowing what we now know,” Corrigan said.

More than 54,000 families are enrolled in the program, said Kym Hubbard, chairwoman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, or ISAC, which oversees the College Illinois! Program. Lawmakers expected Hubbard to deliver a report on College Illinois! at the hearing, but she said details about the program will not be available until at least November.

ISAC expected College Illinois! investments to earn an 8.75 percent return. However, the program has earned closer to 3 percent since it was created in 1998, according to ISAC’s annual reports. The Illinois Auditor General, the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Attorney General all have launched inquiries into the program.


You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6905/parents-worry-about-future-of-college-illinois/

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
October 4
1050 HRS RAKOW RD. & VIRGINIA RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. COLLIER, ANDREA S., F/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 1426 CARY RD., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving while License Suspended, No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1815 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & CRYSTAL LAKE RD. INJURY ACCIDENT Four vehicles. Female, 19 years of age, difficulty breathing.Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1949 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEARTLAND GATE. DOMESTIC BATTERY Father-in-law vs. Son-in-law. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1949 HRS 100 BLOCK OF NORTHLIGHT PASS. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Son. Verbal only. Four priors.
Huntley
September 26
A 14 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful delivery of cannabis at the High School.  The juvenile was released to his mother and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.
A theft report was taken in the 9500 block of Rainsford.  Jewelry was reported stolen.
September 27
A 17 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with disorderly conduct at the High School.  The juvenile was released to his father and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.
September 28
Marek P. Grzech, age 29, of 3025 Long, Chicago, was arrested for driving with no valid drivers license and was cited for driving a vehicle with no valid safety test.  Mr. Grzech posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of October 14, 2011.
Daniel H. Evans, age 51, of 5106 W. Belden Ave., Chicago, was arrested for retail theft and two outstanding warrants.  Mr. Evans was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
September 30
James M. Foster, age 37, of 10828 Allegheny, Huntley, was arrested for battery.  Mr. Foster posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of November 4, 2011.
A ruse burglary report was taken in the 11600 block of Mill St.  Three men posed as utility workers and entered an elderly person’s home.  Nothing reported stolen.
October 1
Frank J. Hall, age 23, of 425 Starwood Pass, Lake in the Hills, was arrested on an outstanding McHenry County warrant.  Mr. Hall posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of October 17, 2011. 
Jacqueline I Monteil, age 33, of 5334 22nd Place, Cicero, was arrested for driving with no valid driver’s license and was cited for speeding and driving with no insurance.  Ms. Monteil posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of November 4, 2011.
October 2
Two 16 year-old males and one 15 year-old male, all from Huntley, were charged with burglary to a motor vehicle.  The juveniles were released to their parents and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.
A Theft report was taken in the 9800 block of Aberdeen Ln.  A wallet was stolen and later recovered.  Cash was missing from the wallet.

 

D300 Confronts, Conciliates Hoffman Estates Board

School District 300 officials, parents and students staged a lightning raid in the heart of the enemy camp Monday to stop an extension of the  controversial Sears tax rebate area.  Members of the Hoffman Estates Village Board probably had a little warning, though, from all the T-shirts and fluorescent red and orange signs and press photographers lurking in corners.

District 300, operating in the red, is trying to save its claim to $14 million per year in property taxes that would come its way with the expiration of the Sears Economic Development Area in Hoffman Estates.  Its supposed to end next year but there's a bill in the Legislature to renew it.

“For the last several months,” Superintendent Michael Bregy said, “we have been treated like we are small and insignificant by some of the state’s highest powers — and by the leaders of Hoffman Estates.”  He was just getting to the part about how a 15-year EDA extension slipped into a bill "within hours of its being a deal without the public getting wind of it," when Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod shut him off.

"Your two minutes are up," McLeod told the Superintendent.  "The rules apply to everybody."

D300 Board President Anne Miller didn't consume her full two minutes.  Less combative, more conciliatory, she told the Board,  "I ask that we get together and enter into a conversation and develop a way to find a solution for District 300 and Hoffman Estates," she said.

Algonquin Dad of three D300 daughters Robert Massion offered some advice about the overt reason for continuing the rebate district.  "My daughter's in a class of 40," he said. "If Sears wants to move (company headquarters) to another state, let 'em."

Hoffman Estates Corporation Counsel Arthur Janura rebutted criticism that his Village profits from the taxes D300 was trying to protect.  "The Legislature gave us that," he said, back when the Sears campus was cornfields.

The State Senate will likely vote on the EDA extension in the six-day veto session that starts in three weeks.

After the Hoffman Estates Board closed public comment some of the two dozen D300 contingent moved on to a meeting of the West Dundee Board who were supposed to discuss a resolution about the EDA.  Gilberts is reported to touch on the matter tonight and Algonquin's scheduled to approve a resolution they discussed last week.

In the pic:  District 300 Superintendent Michael Bregy bearding the Hoffman Estates Board Monday.

No Closing For Huntley Centegra Pool

Huntley's Centegra Healthbridge swimming pool won't shut down soon even though it appeared on a list last week of 500 the Illinois Department of Public Health said were in danger of closure because they didn't meet new federal safety regs.

The list created a lot of confusion when reporters around the state checked its entries only to find many had already ceased operation, some years ago.  "It's more like 400," said IDPH spokesman Sabrina Miller.

Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center sales and marketing manager, Kim Piraino said, "Three of our four indoor and outdoor pools are already compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act. The type of grates required by the Illinois Department of Public Health will be installed in the Huntley indoor pool beginning Dec. 19. The outdoor pools in Huntley and Crystal Lake as well as the indoor pool in Crystal Lake are already compliant."

Compliance on the outdoor pools is momentarily moot, anyway, since they're closed for the winter.  Future compliance probably depends on what the federal CPSC comes up with next.  It took three years for the grates mandate to work its way down to the local level but last week the agency reversed itself deciding they weren't good enough to prevent kids drowning and pools really ought to have an automatic drain pump cutoff.

In the pic:  Centegra's Huntley Pool will remain open until new grates are installed just before Christmas.

Remap Brings New Faces To GOP Fundraiser

McHenry County Republican Central Committee held its annual fundraiser at Algonquin's Port Edward restaurant Monday but this year saw a lot of new faces in attendance.  The State's new Democratic-drawn Legislative map scrambled the boundaries of the last 10 years when it was adopted this summer.

For instance, Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay used to have enough on her plate down in Geneva but now she's running for the  33rd District seat in the State Senate. Pretty soon that will include southern McHenry County, too.

Ken Gaffney, on the other hand, might have an even tougher challenge.  Appointed to run out the late Mark Beubien's unexpired term, he has to make friends in the Cary/Fox River Grove area which he's supposed to represent as part of the 52nd District.  Eastern LITH and Algonquin which will become part of it for Primary purposes in March, though, so he needs to make new friends there, too.

There were plenty of the usual crowd at the event, however. About one third of the GOP-dominated McHenry County Board showed up.  So did McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren who spent a lot of time circulating even though he's not up for election.  State's Attorney Lou Bianchi put in a brief appearance, too. He's thought to represent the other side of whatever Nygren's thought to represent in the McHenry County GOP and his name will be on the March ballot.

In the pic:  Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller and Crystal Lake attorney Jim Kelly exchange notes while Woodstock District 5 Board Member John Jung tries to get slide past in the crush at Monday's GOP fundraiser.

Arbitrator: Closure Plan Violates Agreement With Unions

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
The same arbitrator who ruled that Gov. Pat Quinn owes state employees the raises he has refused to pay, found today that if Quinn closes state facilities, Illinois may end up owing some state employees even more. Arbitrator Edwin Benn’s ruling issued Monday said Quinn must stick to the deal he made with a public employee union.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had agreed to cost saving measures that included a reduction in the raises in their contracts in exchange for a promise of no facility closures or layoffs. Benn said if the state does not hold up its end of the deal, it would be required to pay back wages and medical costs for employees who are put out of work by Quinn’s plan.

Union officials said Quinn should halt his plans and avoid the risk of having to pay costly settlements to workers. “This order is unequivocal. Governor Quinn should rescind all threatened layoffs and closures,” Henry Bayer, AFSCME Council 31 executive director, said in a written statement. “Failure to do so will not only harm the vital public services state employees provide, it will expose the state to significant damages for lost wages, benefits and other costs incurred as a result of the governor’s irresponsible actions.”

Anders Lindall, spokesperson for AFSCME Council 31, said elected officials should avoid creating more jobless Illinoisans. He points to recent incentives Quinn has offered corporations such as Motorola to keep jobs in the state. “If you imagine a plant closure or a business or corporation threatening to leave the state and take 2,000 jobs with them, you would hope that the governor and every other elected official would be there to save those jobs,”  Lindall said. “But what we are facing right now is just that situation — state government threatening to throw 2,000 women and men out of work across the state.”

Quinn, who has previously defended the no layoffs deal with AFSCME, has said he has no other options based on the budget that lawmakers approved. He said that under that budget, if he does not skip pay raises, close the facilities and institute layoffs, the state will run out of money before the end of the current fiscal year.
Benn said Quinn’s argument is outside of his realm of consideration.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/arbitrator-closure-plan-voilates.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
October 03
1032 HRS 500 BLOCK OF BLACKHAWK DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance.
1406 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) HIT & RUN. Offending vehicle left the scene. Property damage only.
1836 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Editors Note:  FEN posted late again this morning due to technical problems.  Comcast insists they must be FEN's.

D300 Ratchets Up Opposition To Tax Rebate Plan

School District 300 issued "A call to Action" Friday over a bill that "would rob our schools of more than $200 million" in "a couple of weeks".  The Illinois Senate won't actually meet for three and a half weeks but even so, time is short.  The question is why?  Sears has said it might move its headquarters if the so-called Sears Economic Development Area tax rebate runs out but that doesn't happen until the end of next year.

Time's already up, though, for Hoffman Estates which actually runs the Sears EDA.  This year the Village is charged with starting to pay off $88 million in bonds on Sears Centre.  That's what makes another provision in the extension bill  so interesting.  It adds "costs of...acquisition, and operation" of "publicly-owned buildings" to the things that the EDA can pay for. The map of the Sears EDA, the only one in Illinois, shows only two publicly owned buildings. They're Hoffman Estate's old Fire Station 24 and Sears Centre.

The Village inherited Sears Centre last year when the developer walked away from the struggling arena that turned into a money pit as soon as it was built.  The Village hired a new operator and predicts losses will only be about $400,000 this year.  But that's with a subsidy from all the food and beverage taxes collected in the entire Village, the tax rate itself doubled last year.

Where the rest of the money to make this year's $2.9 million bond payment comes from isn't clear in the Village's published budget. Hoffman Estates will pay itself about $4 million of EDA money this year to provide police and fire protection for the EDA and to keep its books.

Meanwhile District 300 is trying to rally support to let the EDA expire on schedule.  It estimates that would be worth about $14 million in taxes that now go to Sears and Hoffman Estates.  There's an online petition against the extension for residents to sign here: http://www.change.org/petitions/end-sears-corporate-tax-breaks-and-fund-our-schools-not-hoffman-estates ; there's a Special School Board Work Session scheduled Tuesday at 6 pm to pass a resolution against the EDA extension and there's a public forum next Thursday at 6:30 pm to explain why the District thinks it's such a bad thing.

In the pic: (above)  Now there's T-shirts about it.  (below)  The two publicly owned buildings in the Sears EDA.

Record Runner Turnout For Algonquin Run For The Bear

Sunday's 17th annual Bear Necessities Run for the Bear 5K run/walk and 10K run saw a record-setting 685 participants thunder through Algonquin's East Side supporting the Chicago area's largest nonprofit pediatric cancer organization. The races started and ended at Eastview Elementary where Barrett “Bear” Krupa was a student before he was taken by Wilm's Tumor in 1993.

Times in the 10k race looked to be record-setting, too, until organizers figured out a volunteer marshal had accidentally lopped half a mile off the course.  Runners had only done 5.7 miles but the times and order were valid for the run even though it wasn't actually 6.2 miles (10k).

In the truncated 10k, Algonquin runners Gary Kanner and Robert Allison came in fourth and fifth overall. Helena O'Callaghan and Sarah Mason, both from Algonquin, were fourth and fifth fastest females, eighteenth and nineteenth overall.

In the 5k race, Lake in the Hills' Mark Ripley and Huntley's Bernie Kotera were sixth and seventh overall among local runners.  Algonquin's Kristen Guerrieri was the second-fastest female, eighteenth overall.

Full results for both races can be found here: http://results.active.com/pages/page.jsp?eventLinkageID=104530

In the pic:  Mark Ripley and Bernie Kotera at the finish of Sunday's 17th Annual Run For The Bear.

Open House Tuesday On Algonquin Road Western Extension

The McHenry County Division of Transportation this morning announced an open house on the Algonquin Road extension from Route 47 to Brier Hill Road. It's set for tomorrow from 4 to 7 pm at Leggee Elementary School Cafeteria in Huntley.

The Public Open House will provide the public with a project update and allow the opportunity to express suggestions, ideas and concerns as the McHenry County Division of Transportation moves forward with finalizing the proposed alignment of the Algonquin Road Extension over the Union Pacific railroad tracks.

The extension is planned to provide connectivity for east-west regional travel across the southern half of McHenry County. The need for the project is based upon high travel times, low operating speeds, and crash frequency along the existing east-west corridor. To address this purpose and need, two existing County arterials, Algonquin Road and Harmony Road, will be realigned with roadway improvements that meet modern design standards. The proposed improvement will increase capacity, increase operating speeds, lower travel times, and improve safety.

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
October 2
0404 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACKMAN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SJOBLOM, NICHOLAS J., M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 3604 ANNE ST., MCHENRY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, No Insurance, and Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0022 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKEWOOD RD. FOLLOW-UP ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. ARCARI, HEATHER A., F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 10865 WHEATLANDS, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Failure to Reduce Speed, Improper Lane Usage, and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0109 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PRIDES RUN. DOMESTIC BATTERY Husband vs. wife. No priors. UNFOUNDED.
0112 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1057 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. DOMESTIC Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. Two priors.
1135 HRS 500 BLOCK OF BLACKHAWK DR. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. Air compressor, miter saw and two roofing guns taken from back of residence.
1631 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Possible violation of bail bond. UNFOUNDED.
1715 HRS 400 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. DOMESTIC Father vs son. Verbal only. No priors. Male, 21 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1718 HRS 00 BLOCK OF W. ACORN LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance for a broken sliding door.
1824 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HARVEST GATE. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Female, 29 years of age, back injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2226 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (Lake in the Hills PD) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female came to Police Department with abdominal pain.Transported to Sherman Hospital.
Algonquin
September 30
08:03am Rivera-Rendon, Juan C., DOB: 03/06/85, of 77 Wren Street, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Washington Street  and LaFox River Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 11/09/11 in McHenry County.
October 1
02:46am Caraballo, Claribell, DOB: 09/11/79, of 574 Darlington Lane, Crystal Lake, was charged  with DWLS and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Meyer  Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 11/02/11 in  McHenry County.
19:26pm Pittman, Sheila A., DOB: 12/27/75, of 521 Burbank Avenue Apt #2, Woodstock, was charged with Retail Theft and Felony DWLR.  Also taken into custody was Vargas, Sherice M., DOB: 09/28/71, of 503 Eastwood Court Apt #1, Woodstock, who was charged with Retail Theft and  Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Both were taken into custody at Randall Road and Harnish Drive.  Both were transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
October 2
18:29pm Benfield, Tyler C., DOB: 09/06/89, of 989 Sutherland, Crystal Lake, was charged with  Illegal Possession of Cannabis and Expired Registration.  He was taken into custody at Randall  Road and Longmeadow Parkway.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of  10/27/11 in Kane County.
18:39pm Lesniak, Joseph J., DOB: 06/15/89, of 1 Saginaw Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged  with Illegal Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Longmeadow Parkway.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 10/27/11 in Kane County.

100 At Huntley Sun City Cancer Walk

Huntley's Sun City ninth annual You’re Not Alone 5K Cancer Walk saw about 100 participants marched through the crisp Autumn air Saturday morning to raise awareness about cancer and money for associated charities and local cancer patients.

A Huntley Fire Protection District ambulance was standing by just in case of marcher distress.  Both EMT's in it were wearing pink breast cancer awareness T-shirts.

The Walk was sponsored by the Breast Cancer Support Hour, a special interest group at Sun City started 11 years ago.  Spokesman Lorel Kelson said between registrations, raffles and donations,  Saturday's walk would probably raise about $7,000 to support cancer relief.

Popcorn Fundraising Time For Huntley Scouts

Time for Fall is time for popcorn so Scouts from Pack 267 were peddling it at Huntley's Farmer's Market Saturday.  Popcorn's a major fundraiser for the Cubs to they'll be selling the stuff at Caputo's, Wisteds and Huntley Walgreens (south) weekends from now until Oct. 21 and door-to-door, too.

In the pic:  Connor Wackerlin favored a big can of chocolate-covered popcorn to sell at Huntley's Farmers' Market. Zachary Vavra had a can of popcorn unadorned.

More Trees Go In At Hannah Martin

Scouts were very busy Saturday planting new trees at Hannah Martin School, LITH.  Boys from Huntley Troop 167 did a lot of mulching at the Martin/Chesak Butterfly Sanctuary, too.  The trees and mulching were part of Mukhil Murugasamy's Life Service Project to advance to the penultimate rank in Scouting.

In the pic:  The trees Scouts planted at Martin Elementary Saturday were purchased with funds raised at this Spring's PTA flower sale.

Dogtoberfest Brings Canine Happiness To Huntley

"Who's a good doggy?  HE's a good doggy.  Hey, stop that!"  That's a conjectural quote from the first dog owner 30,000 years ago since, while dogs have changed shape since the Aurignacian, their natures probably haven't.  Dogtoberfest Saturday at Huntley Park District's Deicke Park certainly saw a lot tugging on leashes--both by canines and by their owners.

More than 50 vendors took part in this year's third annual event including grooming salons, pet food suppliers, pet photographers and other dog-related service providers.  Dogtoberfest regrettably featured a lot of dog shelters and rescue organizations, too, but on the brighter side there were two pet blessings by former Huntley pastor  Michelle McNamara from St. John's United Church of Christ in Marengo.

Professional Regulation

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced the following disciplinary orders in the month of August:

James Rainbolt, Algonquin – massage therapist license indefinitely suspended for failure to comply with the conditions of probation regarding repayment of an educational loan.

Donna Dowell, Crystal Lake – pharmacy technician license placed in refuse to renew status after admitted in writing to misappropriating a sum of more than $10,000 from her former pharmacy employer and related to said conduct, plead guilty to Theft, a Class 3 Felony.

Mentor Toska, Gilberts – loan originator license revoked for being convicted of a type of felony which falls within the lifetime ban.

Paul Echevarria, West Dundee –  permanent employee registration card issued and placed on probation for one year due to criminal conviction.

Gerald Mravik, Elgin – permanent employee registration card issued and placed on probation for two years for failure to disclose criminal conviction.

Jeffery Knapp, Elgin – registered nurse license permanently revoked due to conviction of a criminal act that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

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
October 01
0322 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. CARABALLO, FELIPE, M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 574 DARLINGTON LN. APT 17, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Headlight Violation, and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
1303 HRS 10450 ALGONQUIN RD. (CENTEGRA) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SINACORE, ANDREA,  M/W 51 YEARS OF AGE, 340 SPRINGHILL DR. 111,  ROSELLE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2122 HRS MILLER RD. & PATTON AVE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. MCCOLLUM, EDWARD M., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 1125 DENVER DR., CARPENTERSVILLE.  CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Speeding, and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1449 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. BURGLARY. Theft of a mini bike and a mountain bicycle from detached garage. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1535 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF WILLOW VIEW DR. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. Forced entry to residence and items removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
2102 HRS 2700 BLOCK OF FAIRFAX LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Complainant receiving threats from an ex-boyfriend.