The Face Of Local Hunger: One Truck, One Hour

It only took about five minutes over an hour for members of 100 needy families to empty the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club's Mobile Food Pantry during Friday's distribution.  That wasn't the full measure of local hunger, though.  More people kept appearing at LITH Village Hall long after the Pantry truck had pulled away.

At least a dozen Rotarians and 18 volunteers from the club's newly-formed Interact youth community organization passed out boxes of meat, veg, potatoes and bread as the sun went down and temps fell to near-freezing.  Money to sponsor the third annual visit of the Mobile Food Pantry came from profits Rotary earned earlier this year at the club's Rockin' Ribfest.

"I don't like to do this," said one recipient loading food into the trunk of her car, "but we're probably going to lose our home next week.  I don't know what we're going to do."

"Please thank the Rotary for us," she said.

LITH Women's League Readies Thanksgiving Baskets

Inside LITH Village Hall Friday students from the Jacobs High School Interact youth group sorted food donations to help get ready for the Lake In The Hills Women's League's annual Thanksgiving Food Basket project this weekend.  It'll be the 25th year the LITH ladies have provided full fixings to the area's needy families for a Thanksgiving meal.

In the pic: Helping prepare Women's League Thanksgiving baskets Friday were Allison Dianis, Michelle Lamblin, Emily Skrzypczynski, Heather Ruiz, Allison Wiggins and Courtney Cotugno.

McHenry County Now State Hot Spot For Whooping Cough

Confirmed whooping cough cases rose to 110 in McHenry County Friday, according to a spokesman for the McHenry County Department of Health.  From only a handful of cases three weeks ago, the outbreak in McHenry County now accounts for about 15 percent of all the pertussis diagnoses in the entire state.

Deborah Quackenbush at MCDH said the bulk of the infection remains concentrated in the Fox River Grove/Cary area with a lesser cluster recently in Woodstock but the disease is continueing to spread not only in those areas but to others as well.  Confirmed cases now stand at 10 in Lake in the Hills with 4 others in Huntley and 3 in Algonquin.  "It's growing and will continue to do so until we get children vaccinated," she said. 

Vaccination for pertussis, more familiarly whooping cough, is one of that round of shots doctors give babies but it only confers immunity about 85 percent of the time and recently doctors have learned that wears off around puberty, anyway. That leaves a lot of kids vulnerable now to the outbreak.  "We've offered the vaccine at clinics but haven't had a lot of response," said Quackenbush who added booster shots are also readily available from physicians and through a cooperative program at all Dominicks pharmacies.

Quackenbush said another factor in the spread of the disease is parents sending kids back to school too early.  "So far people are sending the kids back to school after two days," said Quackenbush.  "It takes five days," even with antibiotic treatment, she warned. "I know that's not people want to hear."

Whooping cough isn't the childhood scourge it once was but it still holds the potential to be a life-threatening disease.  "We have no one hospitalized yet," said Quackbush, "but that can change in a heartbeat."

Unit Streamer Adds To LITH CAP Honors

Colonel Robert M. Karton, Civil Air Patrol Commander, Great Lakes Region awarded a Squadron of Distinction streamer this week for the LITH CAP unit flag.  Representing the top honor among 600 units in a six-state Midwest area it's a pretty big deal according to LITH CAP Captain John-Paul Kilanski.

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

In the pic: Karton on the left, Kilanski on the right, who, among his other burdens of command, now is obligated to buy ice cream for his (day job) fellow firefighters because his pic was in the paper.

AG Opposes Robocalls To Cell Phones

Attorneys General from 12 states are teaming up to oppose federal legislation to allow robo-calls to cell phones. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan recently joined Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller to warn consumers about the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011.

"Consumers everywhere should know there is a federal proposal that would drive unwanted, costly robo-calls to their cell phones,” Zoeller said. "Congress should be working to strengthen constituents’ protections against unsolicited automated messages, not weakening them.”

If passed, the proposal would amend the Communications Act of 1934 and allow for robo-calling to all cell phones, leaving consumers to foot the bill, Zoeller said. State attorneys general would not be able to enforce state laws against junk faxes, prerecorded calls or text messages.

“This bill would allow for robo-calls to consumers’ cell phones without their explicit consent,” Madigan said. “It would open up the floodgates to telemarketers and debt collectors to call at all hours of the day, and prevent my office and other state attorneys general from enforcing strong laws that have previously banned this practice of robo-calling.”

State attorneys general in Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon and Tennessee are also opposed to preemption.

The robo-call bill is only in the first step in the legislative process. Most bills and resolutions at this stage never make it out of committee.

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
November 18
1334 HRS 2200 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (SUPER WASH) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. RIVARD, RAYMOND J., M/W 51 YEARS OF AGE, 8205 ACKMAN RD., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGE: Driving while License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2301 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER. WNEK, ANTHONY J., M/W 47 YEARS OF AGE, 922 MCPHEE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Impersonating a Police Officer, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Two Counts of Disorderly Conduct, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Two Counts of Disobeying a Traffic Control Device, Improper Lane Use, Speeding. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
2347 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALEXANDRA BLVD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. HALL, HAROLD C., M/W 48 YEARS OF AGE, 20080 HERZOG DR., ROCKWOOD, MI. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with Breath Alcohol Content over .08, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device, Illegal Transportation Of Alcohol. RELEASED ON BOND.
0249 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) BATTERY. Male subject struck in the face. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
0249 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. HIT AND RUN. Telephone pole lying on the side of the roadway. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1447 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1633 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. Deceptive practice occurred at the Costco. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1950 HRS 5700 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. DOMESTIC. Daughter vs. Step-dad. Verbal only. No Priors.

Huntley Adds Trustee, Moves To Freeze 2012 Levy

Without any fuss the Huntley Board approved appointing long-time Plan Commission Chairman Ron Hahn to fill out term of resigned Trustee Paul Mercer.  Then they gave initial assent to freezing next year's Village tax levy the same as this year's level.

In contrast to Mayor Chuck Sass's failed attempt three weeks ago to appoint former Trustee Jay Kadakia to the vacancy, there were no dissenting votes to Hahn's nomination. Trustees said the Plan Commission head and member for over 30 years was a hard-working guy and an asset to the community.  They said that about Kadakia, too, but some members felt his failing to win a seat in the last election meant voters had rejected him for the Board.

Finance Director Jennifer Chernak gave the Board two 2012 levies from which to choose, one the same as this year's, $3.8 million, or another, on paper, $100,000 higher although, in fact, it would probably only bring in about $50,000 more after abstruse adjustments to property taxes are finished in April. Trustees generally agreed to go with the lower number.

"We've never left anything on the table (before)," commented Sass, "but I think now is the time."

The Board will meet on the budget and levy Dec. 1 and hold a hearing on the levy before a vote Dec. 8.

In the pic:  Village Clerk Rita McMahon swears in Huntley's newest Trustee, Ron Hahn, Thursday. 

Sidewalks For Riverside Plaza May Be Ready By Year's End

One section of the latest amendment to Algonquin's Settlement Agreement with Riverside Plaza developers says work on sidewalks and curbs and shrubbery is supposed to begin "immediately". But another section approved by the Algonquin Village Board Tuesday pushed completion times to make the project look finished back again.

Now they're set at the end of the year for the Algonquin Road/Harrison sides if the weather holds and next Spring for the Main and Front Street ones. The work's been in a sort of limbo since August with the Village ultimately responsible for paying for it, maybe even constructing it, unless the developers wanted to do it themselves. The new agreement specifically assigns the job to the developers with the Village paying no more than $350,000 for the work after it's done.

Tuesday's amendment doesn't cover the last landmark in salvaging the former failed residential/retail condominium construction project in the middle of the Village's Downtown.  There's still a nominal Dec. 1 deadline for Riverside Plaza Developers of North Barrington to prove to the Algonquin Board they've lined up financing to finish the inside of the building.

More Negotiations Today For D300 On Sears EDA

District 300 Superintendent Michael Bregy said Thursday he'll continue negotiations in Springfield today on a compromise to extend the Sears Economic Development Area but get the school district more revenue out of the property tax rebate scheme than it gets now.  Bregy said in a release Thursday morning that everyone had agreed on broad terms at a meeting Wednesday but nothing had been put to paper.

"The fight is not over," said Bregy in the release, but we're much closer today than we have been in weeks." A review of the Legislature's website this morning still indicates no changes to any of the bills that would extend the EDA, however.  A hearing before the House Finance Committee is scheduled this afternoon on what appears to be the surviving one.

Sears big stick threat to move out of Illinois if the EDA isn't renewed and it doesn't get other incentives was probably whittled down a little Thursday as the struggling retailer announced another loss for the third quarter,  $421 million, compared to a loss of $218 million during the same period last year.  Sears said sales were hurt by a huge shopping dropoff at stores in Canada.

Sears execs are probably also smarting from a caustic story that topped Thursday's Wall Street Journal B-Section reporting some Sears stores are dowdy and increasingly empty.

State Treasurer Touts Treasure Hunt In Algonquin

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford barnstormed Algonquin, Carpentersville and Elgin Thursday promoting his office's Cash Dash program to return $1.5 billion in unclaimed money to state residents.

If you've forgotten about an old whole life insurance policy but or neglected to close out an ancient checking account or didn't find Dad's passbook at the S&L after he went to his reward, the institutions don't get to just keep the money.  That would be wrong.  Instead the money escheats to the State. It gets to keep it, clearly a better result. However, Rutherford's online Cash Dash (https://www.treasurer.il.gov/programs/up/up_search.asp ) search gives folks a chance to reclaim that old lost money before it finally disappears.

An elderly Algonquin couple found 10 different unclaimed chunks of money with the help of Treasurer's Office marketer/educator Thursday. Rutherford said his office has paid out about $72 million this year through September.

In the pic: Algonquin Trustee Debby Sosine (left) volunteered herself as a local guinea pig to test Treasurer (right) Dan Rutherford's Cash Dash search system Thursday.  It turned up three hits for her.

Cities Caught In Tax Break Conundrum

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
A tax break package could mean new jobs for Illinois' cities still reeling from the financial fallout of the Great Recession, or it could cost them a collective $55 million drop in tax revenue by 2014.

The Legislature is working on a tax incentive package to give the business community a booster shot after it was bruised by the Great Recession and a 47-percent business income tax hike in January. The package also includes a tripling of the earned income tax credit, a tax break for low-income families. If that plan fails to create more jobs, however, the state would lose $848 million in tax revenue, 6 percent, or $55 million, of which would have gone to local municipalities.

Supporters of the tax breaks said that in theory, the tax breaks would create more jobs by fostering a business-friendly economic environment. The more jobs, the more income tax the state collects. The unemployment rate in Illinois has almost doubled since December 2007, rising from 5.5 percent to the current rate of 10 percent. Nationally, the rate has gone from 5.1 percent to 9.1 percent during the same period.

Cities have seen the Legislature cut into tax revenue by using money from the personal property replacement tax, a state income tax levied against businesses then distributed to municipalities, to fund the state's 44 regional offices of education for one year. Lawmakers’ action came after Quinn vetoed $13 million from the state budget originally designated to pay the officials holding the offices.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7199/cities-caught-in-tax-break-conundrum-2/

Obituaries

Robert E. “Bob” Jelonek, 76, of Sun City, Huntley,  died peacefully Wednesday at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois in Woodstock. A memorial service will be at 4 pm, Sunday at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home.

Jelonek was born December 17, 1934, in Chicago, the son of Edward and Elizabeth Jelonek.  On October 6, 1962, he married Rose Marie Scaletta. He is survived by his wife of Huntley, and his sister, Rosemary (Steve) Zook. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
November 17
0407 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. PHILLIPPI, JENNIFER L., F/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 4444 HIGHLAND AVE., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence the Influence of Alcohol and Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
0822 HRS PYOTT RD. & RAKOW RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. WELCH, KATHRYN A., F/W 33 YEARS OF AGE, 603 STONEBRIDGE LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Operating a Motor Vehicle with Suspended Registration, Operating a Motor Vehicle with No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0042 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. DOMESTIC. Son vs. parents. Verbal only. No priors. Male, 18 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
1400 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1917 HRS 800 BLOCK OF TARALON TRAIL. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Unlawful use of a credit card.
1946 HRS 4700 BLOCK OF COYOTE LAKES CIRCLE. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE. Criminal Sexual Abuse Investigation. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
Algonquin
November 14
16:34pm A 15 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Aggravated Battery: Public Place.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
November 15
09:25am Schackelton, Mitchell P., DOB: 11/13/86, of 206 Scenic Drive, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear, on a DUI charge.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $750 with a court date of 12/07/11 in McHenry County.
15:31pm Mauerman, Brittany N., DOB: 11/10/89, of 4905 Linden Road Apt #412, Rockford, was charged with DWLS and No Seat Belt. She was taken into custody at County Line Road and Stonegate Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/21/11 in McHenry County.
November 16
01:40am Rangel, Oscar, DOB: 01/31/91 of 169, S. Dubois Avenue, Elgin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, Improper Lane Usage, Texting While Driving and No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Hayes Street and Main Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/21/11 in McHenry County.
15:39pm Felix, Ana G., DOB: 12/07/73m of 3486 Sonoma Circle, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS and Child Safety Seat Violation.  She was taken into custody at Rolls Drive and Huntington Drive.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/21/11 in McHenry County.
November 17
07:05am A 15 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Battery.  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.

District 300 Meets With Sears, Hoffman Estates On EDA

The District 300 Finance Committee's meeting Wednesday was a rump session since Chairman Chris Stanton was still in Springfield and District CFO Cheryl Crates was en route back after a day of hearings and meetings about an incentive package to keep Sears Holdings from leaving Illinois and, not coincidentally, the boundaries of D300.

Board and Committee member Dave Alessio said D300 officials didn't actually testify before the Illinois House Finance Committee Wednesday.  They did finally meet jointly with Sears and host-village Hoffman Estates officials, he said, to talk about a compromise to renew the Sears Economic Development area's property tax rebate plan.  The School District estimates it will lose $14 million per year if there isn't some sort of accord.

"We've been talking to Sears and to Hoffman Estates," said Alessio, "but never all at the same time before."

A Chicago Tribune story Tuesday evening claimed a meeting with House Speaker Mike Madigan hammered out a framework deal to extend the EDA until Sears has recouped $125 million company officials claim they're due. If such an agreement was reached, it didn't filter down to D300's Committee, however.

In a somewhat related matter, Finance Director MariAnn Besonen revealed the first version of the District's budget for coming school year.  With lots of qualifying asterisks, the outlook for 2012-13 is for outlays to exceed income by $2.7 million.  District officials guesstimate they could tap reserves to squeak by for a year if they were sure they'd get more money out of the EDA aft er that.  "If they can settle something, then we can plan," said Alessio.

Besonen put it more starkly.  "If we don't get the money, over the next five years we're going to have to cut something," she said.  "What that something is...." Besonen apparently couldn't imagine what was left to cut.

More hearings on retaining Sears and trading giant CME in Illinois are scheduled Friday.  Meanwhile, Sears is due to release its report on third quarter financial performance today.

MCC Jobs Fair Brings Employers, Job Seekers Together

McHenry County College's three-hour Jobs Fair saw 200 hopefuls troop through the doors in the first two hours Wednesday vying for 162 spots listed.  A close examination, however, indicated many of jobs on offer were either part-time sports or sales positions.

Eighteen companies were on hand for the Job Fair.  The one seeking the most workers was Joe Walsh for Congress hoping to recruit 18 "field staff".  Home Instead Senior Care was looking for 17 "recruitment and retention coordinators".  We Care Senior Caregiver Services was looking for 15 full and part time Certified Nurse Associates while Centegra sought 16 people for positions ranging from RN's to a security officer.

In the pic:  CNA Linda Palmisano from McHenry filled out a job application Wednesday at McHenry County College's Jobs Fair.  Three of 18 companies at the Fair were looking for CNA's.

Prescribed Burns Aid LITH Natural Areas

Crews from Applied Ecological Services set a prescribed burn Wednesday at LITH's South Annandale Wetland between Steeplechase Way and Crossview Lane.  It was one of three planned this season to help keep the Village's 800 acres of natural areas "natural".

The burns were actually supposed to happen almost a month ago but every time areas have dried out enough, the weatherman's come along with enough rain to cancel things. Burns are also planned at Ken Carpenter Park Wetland and Normandy Wetland northwest of Reed Road and Normandy Lane.  The burns discourage invasive species without the use of herbicides and promote native ones, some of which actually need fires to help them germinate.

Leggee PTA Holiday Craft Fair Set For Sat

Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm will see Leggee Elementary PTA's annual Holiday Craft Fair at the school in Huntley.  The free Fair with crafts, direct sales, baked goods and a 50/50 raffle is a big fundraiser for the PTA, clearing about $1,500 last year to support Leggee and school programs.

PTA organizers have the less fortunate in mind, this holiday, too.  They'll be happy to donate any non-perishable food items and/or paper products Craft Fair patrons bring along for the Grafton Food Pantry. Cash or Check donations. too.

Cost Of Tax Breaks Rise As Support Waivers

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
A tax break package meant to boost a business community hit by the Great Recession could cost the state $848 million in just three years. But a change to the Illinois tax code to fund it would bring in $571 million next year and $354 million in 2013 before running dry.

But that’s assuming no significant jobs are added or businesses expanded, the opposite of the intent of the package, state Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, said at a joint Illinois Senate and House Revenue Committee hearing Wednesday. “If we’re stagnant, and don’t succeed, then we’re looking at that. But we’re anticipating this creating an economic climate to spur growth,” Sullivan said.

The heart of the tax break package is intended to keep two huge tax-paying businesses — the CME Group, which operates the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and Sears Corp. — from leaving the state after the income tax on corporations was increased by 47 percent. The tax hike is touted as "temporary" and is scheduled to expire in four years.

The tax incentives include CME Group and other mercantile exchanges, which deal in the financial markets, in Illinois getting a total of $85 million in tax breaks every year; Sears Corp. getting a tax credit of $15 million annually for the next decade; and about $40 million annually in research and development tax credits and other incentives for other businesses.

Wednesday’s hearing was the first after the Legislature failed to hammer out some form of business tax break deal during its regularly scheduled veto session. State Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, started by introducing a tax break for just CME Group. But Republicans said they wanted to see a broader tax-relief policy, saying anything else is the state picking winners and losers in the business world.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7190/cost-of-tax-breaks-up-as-support-wanes/

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
November 16
2316 HRS HARVEST GATE & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. FLOREK, JERZY, M/W 52 YEARS OF AGE, 1731 DRIFTWOOD LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
1324 HRS FRANK ROAD & COYOTE LAKES CIRCLE. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Damage to the speed trailer. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1326 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. No priors.
1654 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 15 years of age, left the residence. Juvenile returned home at 1848 hrs.

LITH Board Works Over Budget

The Lake in the Hills Board plowed through hundreds of pages of the Village's FY 12 budget Tuesday in the first of two workshops on the $24 million document which includes a 1.2 percent collective cut in property taxes.

Administrators projected a total budget about $150,000 in the red next year but the current budget is working out better than planned so the year will end with an expected $1.5 million surplus. That's enough to cover next year's shortfall and still put money in the bank.  Notably, sales tax receipts have bounced back from recession levels said Village Administrator Jerry Sagona, up 10 percent this year, and expected to remain there.

Nickle and dime savings like subbing regular laptops with an extended warranty for expensive police Panasonic Toughbooks were common throughout the budget.  So, too, however, were increased costs. Some, like more for gas and diesel fuel were predictable. Others, like a bevy of small electronic replacements, weren't unexpected.  Some, like price hikes on snowplow blades came from left field.

Tuesday's workshop concentrated on LITH's day-to-day operation.  A similar one Thursday will work over the bricks and mortar side of the budget before the package goes to the Board for approval next month.

Scam Victimizes Two Residents In Region

The Crystal Lake PD sent out a scam alert Tuesday warning of a con that's bilked two of that community's residents of $800 each already.  It's called the ‘Secret Shopper’ or ‘Mystery Shopper’ scam.

The victims, looking for work, received unsolicited e-mails from a company promising employment  or ways to make more money by rating  shopping experiences at businesses. The first business to be rated turned out to be Western Union. The marks were sent counterfeit  Postal Money Orders to deposit in their personal accounts with instructions to keep some as payment and wire the rest to other specified people. The victims didn't discover the money orders were fake until after they'd already sent real money out of their own accounts and by that time, of course, the wired money had already been diverted elsewhere.

"Be leery of any employment opportunities which require you to pay for the privilege of working," said a CLPD spokesman. "And as always, remember the axiom, 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.'"

State's Attorney Office Bulks Up Again

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi announced the appointment of four new Assistant States Attorneys Tuesday.

The wholesale hiring had a lot to do with the State Bar exam being given only twice a year.  The State's Attorney's office has been running short-handed most of the summer with four defections to higher-paying jobs, according to Bianchi.  The four new Assistants passed the July exam and were sworn to the Bar last week, he said.

Cary native Stephanie Andriola is assigned to the Criminal Division and Crystal Laker Jana Blake will work the Civil side. Robert Ladd is assigned to juvenile court in the Criminal Division and Alexander Geocaris will also work the Criminal Division. 

Catholic Charities To End Fight Over Adoption, Foster Care

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Catholic Charities has given up its fight to administer foster care and adoption services in the state of Illinois. The Thomas More Society announced Tuesday that it plans to drop its lawsuit against the state. The organization argued that the state did not have the right to end contracts with Catholic Charities to provide adoption and foster care services.

The dispute was over placing children in the homes of couples who have a civil union. Church representatives said it went against the organization’s belief system to place children with unmarried couples. Kendall Marlowe, a spokesperson for the Department of Children and Family Services, said the agency did not renew the contracts because representatives of Catholic Charities voiced the organization’s intention not to comply with the state’s new civil unions law.

“The Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act only passed after specific assurances that the law would not impact the work of religious social service agencies," said Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society,in a written statement.  "Specific protections for these agencies were written into the law, but unfortunately, Illinois officials refused to abide by those protections."

“When a private organization — even a private religiously affiliated organization — performs what is really quintessentially a government function, such as screening foster homes for licensure or caring for the wards of the state, it must abide by the laws that bind the government," said Mary Dixon, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois."

The Thomas More Society has filed an injunction trying to halt the end of contracts with Catholic Charities affiliates of the dioceses of Springfield, Joliet, Belleville and Peoria. But the group said it now plans to end its legal battle.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/catholic-charities-to-end-fight-over.html

Obituaries

Joseph V. Pizzillo, 85, of Sun City, Huntley, died at his home on Tuesday following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 pm Thursday and from 9:30 until 10:15 am Friday at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.  Burial will be in All Saints Catholic Cemetery, Des Plaines.

Pizzillo was born November 11, 1926, on Taylor Street in Chicago to James Vincent and Judith Marie (Pagano) Pizzillo. He is survived by his wife, Doris Haerr-Pizzillo of Huntley; children, Judy (Terry) Jacobs of Bonita Springs, FL, Ellen Blue of Bridgeville, CA, Jim (Cara) Pizzillo of Chicago and Mary (Gregg) Peterson of Geneva; step-children, Cindy (Dominic) Giancaspro of Hoffman Estates, Doreen (Michael) Brangenberg of Sycamore, Dale (Kathy) Haerr of Elgin and George (Esther) Haerr of Schaumburg; grandchildren Jennifer Geiger, Alyson Kubik, Leigh, Kate and Jake Peterson; step-grandchildren, Brandon (Amber) Capacccio, Vinny Giancaspro, Sean (Katie) Bobrow, Bradley and Nikole Brangenberg, Bridget and Erin Haerr and Tim and Grace Haerr, and sisters Catherine (Jack) La Spina and Ann (Chuck) Malchaski.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Mary (the late Cal) Drake and Camille (Richard) Steber and grandson, Aaron Blue.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation or Advocate Hospice.

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
November 15
0758 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PINE ST. WANTED ON WARRANT. HARTWIG, KRISTEN BRIANNE, F/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 1625 N. RIVERSIDE DR., MCHENRY.  CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Failure to Appear Traffic Offense $5,000 @ 10%. RELEASED ON BOND.
1121 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS PD) ASSIST POLICE. Assisted McHenry County Sheriff Department.
1549 HRS 339 N. RANDALL RD. (COLD STONE CREAMERY) UNLAWFUL USE OF A CREDIT CARD. Theft of a mislaid wallet. Complainant now has fraudulent charges on his debit card. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
Huntley
November 7
A theft of cash report was taken in the 11800 block of Factory Shops Blvd.  A coin operated machine was broken into.
A 17 year-old female from Huntley was arrested for domestic battery.  The juvenile was released to her parents and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.
November 8
Joshua B. Waterman, age 30, of 419 Willow St, Elburn, was arrested on an outstanding Kane County warrant for shoplifting and was cited for expired registration, driving with no insurance, failure to notify Secretary of State of an address change.  Mr. Waterman was transported to Kane County Jail to await bond.
Eleanor Workman, age 80, of 13406 Dakota Fields, Huntley, was arrested for DUI and was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane use.  Ms. Workman posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date.
November 10
Sonia Aranda, age 26, of W7955 Creek Rd. Trail 621, Delavan, WI, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for speeding in a construction zone.  Ms. Aranda posted bond and was released with a McHenry County  court date of December 23, 2011.
November 11
Davis T. Bryne, age 19, of 850 Taralon Trail., Lake in the Hills, was arrested on an outstanding McHenry County warrant for criminal trespass to a vehicle and driving while license suspended and was cited for loud muffler, no proof of insurance and disobeying a traffic control device.  Mr. Bryne was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond.
November 12
Kyle R. Wrightman, age 21, of 10710 Pebble Dr, Huntley, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.  Mr. Wrightman posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 16, 2011.
An identity theft report was taken in the 11800 block of Cape Cod Ln.  Unauthorized charges were made to the victim’s credit card.

D300 Board Goes Through Levy Motions

The District 300 Board of Education Monday tentatively approved a ritual $195 million property tax levy for the coming year, then they ritually complained about what on paper looks like a 22.5 percent tax increase.

The real District levy's probably going to be capped at around $160 million which budgeteers said they estimate would call for a nine-cent rate increase to $4.54 per $100 assessed home valuation next year.  It depends on what all of the property in the District turns out to have been collectively worth this year and, "We won't know (that) until April when the (total Equalized Assessed Value) comes in," said District CFO Cheryl Crates. However, an old law demands the new levy be set in December so the District "balloons" what's expected to be the actual number.

"This is a game we have to play," said Member Joe Stevens.  "All we do is estimate high so we don't get caught short."

"Every year we put on an unbelievably high number and later we calculate it sensibly," added Member Dave Alessio.

Even so, the imaginary number will be published in two weeks and considered at a public hearing Dec. 14.

In other action, District Superintendent Michael Bregy said he'll probably testify again Wednesday and possibly Friday before the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee trying to put together a package to keep retailer Sears and trading giant CME from leaving Illinois.  D300 believes it has $14 million per year in property taxes at stake in the Sears part of the deal.

"We will not be a school district that just takes anything handed down from the State," said Bregy defending last week's Springfield lobbying effort by officials, parents and students.

Teachers, too, added LEAD 300 union President Kolleen Hanetho later.  "We had 160 teachers there," she said.  "(The union) paid $14,000 for the substitute (teachers)."

Crates told FEN the State finally made the final payment to the District for the 2010-11 year ended in June so it only owes the District $4.3 million for this year's Summer quarter right now.

In the pic:  D300 Superintendent Michael Bregy briefs the Board on lobbying in Springfield.  "They (all) know we wear red," he said.

Festival Of Trees Sponsorships Still Open In LITH

Lake in the Hills' tenth annual Festival of Trees and Santa Ride In is still a couple of weeks away but there's still time to sponsor one of 25 trees to be displayed at Village Hall.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, will drive up in an ALFPD fire engine December 2 to light the trees at 6 pm. After that, spectators can "vote" for their favorite tree by placing non-perishable household items under it.  All items collected will be donated to the Lake in the Hills/Algonquin Food Pantry and the Grafton Township Food Pantry and the trees will remain on display through Dec. 25 to allow for ample time to "vote".

It's local businesses and organizations that sponsor and decorate the trees in the first place, though, and the deadline to do that is coming up pretty soon. Businesses and community groups who would like to participate can contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 847-960-7460. 

96 Year-Old Volunteer Celebrates Birthday At Huntley Library

At age 96, Sun City resident Kay Harlow still volunteers twice a week to help out in the Huntley Library Circulation Department. “I love coming here,” said Harlow last week sharing some birthday cake.  “I look forward to this”.

“Kay has been volunteering at the library since she turned 91," said Pamela Kampwerth, the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. "She always brings a smile to everyone with her enthusiasm and sense of humor.”

In the pic: About the tiara--"Her family calls her ‘the Queen Mum’ as she’s originally from England.  She is our Queen Volunteer,” said Marilyn Riordan, Circulation Manager.  

Unemployment Insurance Deal To Save State Millions

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
When Governor Pat Quinn signs a bill passed last week it  may save Illinois taxpayers $240 million and businesses $1.6 billion in federal taxes and fines over the course of the next decade.

The Legislature last week approved allowing the Illinois Department of Employment Security to sell bonds to pay off about $2.4 billion borrowed from the Federal Unemployment Account to keep unemployed Illinoisans’ benefits flowing during the Great Recession “It’s probably one of the biggest bills that passed (during the fall veto session),” said state Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, one of the lead architects.

The State took out a $2.8 billion interest-free loan from the federal government to pay for unemployment benefits after it exhausted its unemployment trust fund. It's only paid $400 million back toward the debt so far. If Illinois doesn’t pay back the remaining $2.4 billion by Jan. 1, it faces $82 million in interest alone for 2012.

In a sort of reverse arbitrage, Mautino says the State can sell bonds with an interest rate of about 1 percent as opposed to the 4 percent the federal government would charge on the remaining debt, saving the state $240 million. The deal also rewards the 46 percent of businesses in Illinois that have avoided layoffs by lowering their unemployment insurance tax rate by 16 percent on average. What a business pays in unemployment insurance tax varies depending on the business' history of layoffs.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7184/unemployment-insurance-deal-to-save-state-millions-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
November 14
0212 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Watch, wallet, U.S. currency, and cell phone taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0257 HRS 100 BLOCK OF CAPELLA CT. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE iPod and CDs taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0345 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. iPod and jewelry taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0346 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
0419 HRS 300 BLOCK OF RAMBLE RD. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Window on vehicle broken and cigarettes taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0630 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF W. ALGONQUIN RD. BATTERY. Male vs. male. FAIL TO FILE.
0837 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOL STONE BEND. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Backpack taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0929 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION. Female receiving phone calls. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1203 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Change and a flashlight taken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
2150 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPONT DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Father vs. son. No Priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2205 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF WILLOW VIEW DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY Mother vs. daughter. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.

Local Home Prices Up But Market Segments May Be Diverging

McHenry County home prices rose in September according to the latest report from the McHenry County Association of Realtors this weekend but the number of homes sold fell marginally.  The price of an average home sold in October was $170,000.  That was a 3 percent increase from September but 16 percent less than the average price a year ago.

McHenry County saw 263 homes close in October, down a little from September's 287. Only 218 homes sold in October 2010.

So far this year McHenry County home sales have tended to match regional reports from S&P's Case Shiller home index.  In fact, they've tended to prefigure the report since the Case Shiller runs two months behind.

“The Midwest is one region that really stands out in terms of recent relative strength," said David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Indices, commenting on the August report.  "Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis have all posted very sharp monthly increases going back to May."

Blitzer said the market averages are somewhat misleading, however, since there's a significant divergence between price segments. In Chicago, for instance, over the past 12 months the low-tiered market fell by 18.2 percent; whereas the high-tiered market fell by only 4.0 percent and the aggregate market was down 5.8 percent. From their peak, Chicago low-tiered home prices are down 48.7 percent, the high-tiered market is down 24.1 percent, and the aggregate market is down 29.2 percent.

The latest MCHAR report found it still takes, on average, six months to sell a McHenry County home.

Algonquin Fundraiser Benefits Young Marengo Cancer Victim

Algonquin's Thirsty Whale Bar and Grill was crammed with raffle prizes and jumped to the beat of a couple of rock bands Sunday to raise funds to treat the son of Huntley native Valerie Keller.
Three year-old Sean Keller is battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, very successfully so far, but the bills are fierce.

On the surface, Valerie and husband Mike of Marengo ought to be better off than parents in similar situations since they both work for Centegra.  That doesn't do much for the bills, though, since little Sean is being treated at the University of Chicago. In fact, there's a double whammy there since, between Sean's treatment and caring for his three siblings, the couple have had to cut back their workload.

Folks who are interested but missed the fundraiser can still help with a donation to:

Make it Semple Foundation
P.O. Box 214
Huntley, IL 60142-0214

In the memo line put: Sean Keller 

LITH Rotary Schedules Mobile Food Pantry Friday

For the third year in a row the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club will host a Community Mobile Food Pantry distribution for the area's less fortunate.  The club, in partnership with the newly-forming Lake in the Hills Interact youth group, will host the Northern Illinois Food Bank's mobile pantry Friday from 5 to 6:30 pm at the Lake in the Hills Village Hall for anyone in need of food.

It will be the first year the LITH Interact club will help the Rotarians, mostly since the service club for youth ages 12 to 18 is just getting going. Several area youth groups helped LITH Rotary with this year's Ribfest and Bob Huckins and Jim Wales volunteered to help start a community-wide (as opposed to school-based) chapter of the teen organization.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Crystal Lake will sponsor another area mobile food pantry Dec. 2.  That one will be at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Crystal Lake.

In the pic:  LITH Rotarians and their helpers had to dress warm for last year's Mobile Food Pantry distribution.     

Turkey Trot Fun Run To Mark Eighth Year In Algonquin

Algonquin's LifeTime Fitness Run Club will host its eighth annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk again on Thanksgiving morning. Registration begins at 7:15 am and the race will start at 8 from LifeTime Fitness off Randall Road in Algonquin.

All proceeds go to benefit the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry. A donation of $10 or equal value of non-perishable food items is requested to enter the event.  Runners don’t need to be members of LifeTime to participate.  It's more about the Pantry than the fitness center.

In the pic:  The Turkey Trot's a Fun Run.  Hence, all the smiling, as in last year's start.

Three Days, Three Top Bills In Veto Session

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
While Illinois lawmakers punted some issues to additional session days scheduled later this month, they did pass a few substantial pieces of legislation.

The wait for paychecks will end for regional superintendents after Gov. Pat Quinn signs a new bill Legislators aren't happy about. Quinn vetoed the funds for the administrators’ salaries, and while many have remained on the job, they have not been paid since summer. The measure draws from local revenues to compensate superintendents for one year. Lawmakers expressed frustration with Quinn for cutting the funding for the superintendents' pay without a plan for who would take over their legally required duties, including school inspection and teacher certification. “We should be ashamed of the position that the governor’s veto has put us in,” said sponsor Spring Valley Democratic Rep. Frank Mautino.

The city of Chicago could install cameras to catch speeders around parks and schools if Quinn signs another bill. The cameras would take a picture of the license plates of speeders who then would be mailed a ticket. They would not be charged with a moving violation. The offense would be on par with a parking ticket. And, like a parking ticket, the owner of the car, who may or may not have been driving at the time of the violation, would be responsible for the ticket.

Legislators also approved a plan to address the state’s growing obligation to the federal government for unemployment benefits. The state has been borrowing money for the feds to keep pace with unemployment benefits paid out during the recession. Under a new bill, business will have to pay up to make the trust fund that pays benefits solvent. Companies that have not had any layoffs, nearly half of businesses in Illinois, would pay less. “Many of us have campaigned that we want to help business out. … Well, here is your bill,” said Sen. Kyle McCarter during floor debate.

House Speaker Michael Madigan said the House plans to return for session on November 29. Senate President Cullerton said his chamber would return before the end of the year to take up issues that were not resolved during the veto session.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/veto-session-roundup.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
November 13
0343 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. BOUDRIE, DEBRA A., F/W 51 YEARS OF AGE, 718 NASHUA CT., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGE: Aggravated Assault and Criminal Damage to State Supported Property. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0016 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 15 years of age, not feeling well. No Transport.
1009 HRS 100 BLOCK OF NORTHLIGHT PASS. DOMESTIC. Parents vs. Son. Verbal only. Five priors.
1245 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF WHITMORE WAY. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Driver’s side window of vehicle broken. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1414 HRS LAKEWOOD RD & SULLIVAN PASS. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Deer. Property damage only.
1828 HRS HILLTOP RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1847 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Deer. Property damage only.
Algonquin
November 11
08:13am A 15 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
November 12
23:59pm Tovar, Jaime, DOB: 01/28/67, of 5504 Windgate Way, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DUI, No Proof of Insurance and Failure to Reduce Speed.  He was taken into custody in the 3500 block of Bunker Hill Drive.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 12/21/11 in McHenry County.
November 13
06:20am Gumecindo, Francisco J., DOB: 01/31/86, of 77 Berkshire Drive, Crystal Lake, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and No Valid Registration.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Lake Cook Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/14/11 in McHenry County.

Walsh Blasts Remap At Huntley Meet

Eighth District Republican Representative Joe Walsh told supporters Saturday there's a good chance a federal court will throw out the state's Democrat-drawn Congressional remap in a couple of weeks.  Sharing pie and coffee in Huntley's Village Inn argued otherwise, though.  Right now the 8th District ends up by Route 176, Huntley's in the 16th and Walsh is running for a seat in the new 14th.

Walsh spent the first part of the session defusing criticism of a YouTube rant at a similar meeting in Gurnee a week ago.  "Yeah, I lost my temper," said Walsh.  "I've done it before.  I'll probably do it again." Walsh told the Sun City-heavy crowd he apologized for being angry but, in a Barry Goldwaterish vein, he said he had a lot to be angry about.  Walsh said his small-government message isn't getting through to the Administration.  "I've met the President once," he said.  "He's tall."

Despite the Congressional delegation's pending remap lawsuit, Walsh will add another Eighth District office Monday to the one already in Fox Lake.  The second one will be in Woodstock. That's on the periphery of the current 8th but it's somewhat more central to the new 14th which starts in Waukegan, then picks up some of Algonquin and LITH and all of Huntley, before meandering back down and over to Naperville.

The three local villages are mostly represented right now by Congressman Don Manzullo who's supposed to announce a run for his 11th term in the 16th District in Rockford today. Unless things change, Manzullo's out of the picture locally, though. The new map reroutes the 16th from a 50-year westward orientation ending at Iowa to a new southeasterly one that bypasses any of McHenry County to terminate at Indiana.

In the pic:  Congressman Joe Walsh on Illinois' remap being challenged in Federal Court:  "They're trying to rewrite the (last) election."

Harvest Winding Up In McHenry County

Two weeks before Thanksgiving the 2011 harvest is still going on in McHenry County, even in the built-up eastern half where Dan Fruin was combining corn Saturday near Huntley Road and Krueutzer. " (The crop's) OK but it's not as good as last year," Fruin said.

That's a pretty good summary for corn in general this year.  With about 90 percent of the harvest in now, USDA statisticians Wednesday lowered their estimate of the national harvest foreshadowing continued high food prices. Analysts predicted 2011 will see the nation's fourth-largest corn crop ever, but still down about one percent from last year. Prices are down from all-time highs in June but domestic stockpiles are headed toward a 16-year low by the end of next summer so they're still expected to remain elevated.  That's already forced poultry companies to curb production and beef and pork producers are expected to follow soon. That should push up meat prices for consumers.

That probably doesn't mean boom times for McHenry County's more than 1,000 farmers (per the last ag census in 2007). though.   Yield in Illinois and locally is expected to be down because a cold, wet Spring forced later planting than usual and July's heat wave damaged the crop in its critical pollination phase.

In the pic:  Heading toward sundown Dan Fruin was still hard at work harvesting Saturday.

MCC Sets Fall Job Fair Wednesday

McHenry County College has a Fall Job Fair scheduled Wednesday from Noon to 3 pm in the college's  Building A gym. Sponsored by MCC’s Career Services Department, the job fair will feature more than 15 employers from healthcare, industrial, marketing/sales and communication industries.

The fair is open to both MCC students and community residents. Job seekers are encouraged to bring their resumes and "dress to impress", according to a spokesman. Opportunities for both full-time and part-time positions ranging from entry level to professional abilities will be available.

A preliminary list of employers includes: Metro America Radio, Volt Workforce Solutions, The Springs at Crystal Lake, The Fountains at Crystal Lake, Centegra Health Care Systems, and the Chicago Tribune.

For more information, contact Lee Willis at MCC, at (815) 479-7829 or email her at lwillis@mchenry.edu .

In the pic: One of MCC's jobs fairs last year.

Small Business Left Out Of Tax Break Discussion

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Mark Bohart opened Bo’s Hardware in 1987. “I built it from scratch,” Bohart said. Despite an income tax hike in January and the proliferation of franchised hardware stores in the area, Bohart said his Alton business is still holding up. But asked about his thoughts on a plan to give CME Group, and Sears Holding Corp. millions of dollars in annual tax breaks to stay in Illinois and he gets angry.

 “The state government has absolutely no reason to be giving any tax money away. I just don’t think it’s right that they give corporations tax breaks and other tax incentives,” Bohart said. It’s a matter of survival for the hardeware retailer. Just two miles from Bohart’s shop there’s a Sears department store that he competes with.

Legislators are working to give trading giant CME and Sears tax breaks to keep the companies'  in the state. Both companies have said other states are offering them incentives to move, which would be bruising to state government’s bottom line. CME’s $108 million in income taxes alone accounted for 6 percent of the state’s corporate income tax last year. Without $85 million in proposed yearly tax breaks, CME will pay an estimated $158 million in income taxes this year. Sears would get tax breaks of $15 million for the next decade. Sears would also be allowed to continue getting a break on its local property taxes for fifteen more years.

The cost of the measure has increased to more than $500 million annually by tacking on research and development tax breaks for companies and tripling the earned income tax credit in hopes of getting more legislators' support. The earned income tax credit is a tax break for low-income and working class families.  To pay for all of this lawmakers are looking at decoupling the state from a federal tax code that allows businesses to get deductions on capital investments all at once instead of over a series of years.

That move, however, would only generate $570 million in the first year and $354 million in the second year before disappearing. At the same time, the second year cost of all the tax changes outlined in the plan would go up to $700 million. David Vaught, Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget director, said economic growth in the state created by package would cover costs in the future.

But if it doesn't, the burden of covering the costs of the program will fall to the taxpayers of the state, including Bohart and his business. “I resent that, I resent that a lot,” he said.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7162/small-business-left-out-of-tax-break-discussion/

Obituaries

June J. Daniels, 63, of Algonquin died peacefully Thursday at her home with her. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 am, Thursday, Nov. 17, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 9 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  Burial will be at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery. 

Daniels was born June 26, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of Charles and Josephine (Macaluso) McGill.  On July 17, 1971 she married Timothy H. Daniels. She is survived by her husband of Algonquin; her daughter Kim (Jim) Adams of Algonquin; her grandchildren, Jack and Jessica Adams; her mother, Josephine McLane of Hoffman Estates, and by her sisters, Dawn Hajicek, Cyndi (Michael) Calhoun and Jill Palmer. She was preceded in death by her father; sister, Grace, and by one brother, Charles.

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.

TODD J. BEDGOOD, DOB: 03/27/68, 22 DELLWOOD COURT, ALGONQUIN. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (2 COUNTS), DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED (SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE), DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED.--Algonquin PD

BRYAN G. STRANG, DOB:  07/04/74, 10510 SEEMAN ROAD, HUNTLEY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

GENARO HERBERT, DOB:  04/05/85, 57 ROBIN ROAD, CARPENTERSVILLE. UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT, BATTERY.--Algonquin PD

JAMES P. RIECHERS, DOB:  12/27/83, 296 HICKORY DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC BATTERY, DOMESTIC BATTERY, UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH THE REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.--Crystal Lake PD

JAMES R. HENSON, DOB:  07/06/67, 5010 W. BROMLEY DRIVE, MCHENRY. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO REAL PROPERTY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO REAL PROPERTY, BURGLARY.--Crystal Lake PD

JAMES R. HENSON, DOB:  07/06/67, 5010 W. BROMLEY DRIVE, MCHENRY. BURGLARY, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY, ESCAPE, THEFT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

NICKOLAS J. MILLER, DOB:  12/05/89, 220 HICKORY DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC BATTERY, UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH THE REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
MICHAEL J. MUELLER, DOB:  01/08/75, 608 N. STATE STREET. MARENGO. AGGRAVATED UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT, DOMESTIC BATTERY(2CTS), AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH THE REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.--Marengo PD

DENNIS G. CAROL, DOB:  07/31/77, 104 GROVE STREET, FOX RIVER GROVE. AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC BATTERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF A CHILD, OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--Fox River Grove PD

JANET L. KRAUSE, DOB:  12/14/76, 888 BENNINGTON DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
STEPHANIE T. KUHL, DOB:  07/08/58, 3711 WAUKEGAN ROAD  UNIT #2, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry PD
      
CHASE D. CHAMBERS, DOB:  07/03/92, LKA:  3706 W. LEE STREET, MCHENRY. MATTHEW J. MOORE, DOB:  07/29/75. LKA:  3308 W. ELM STREET  #216, MCHENRY. DYLAN C. BORNE, DOB:  05/03/93, 2903 N. VILLA LANE, MCHENRY. BURGLARY, THEFT.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
DYLAN C. BORNE. CHASE D. CHAMBERS. BURGLARY(2CTS), THEFT(2CTS).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
November 12
0137 HRS 100 BLOCK OF S. ANNANDALE DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. ALVAREZ, ERIC, M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 131 S. ANNANDALE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Kane County Sheriff’s Department for a Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $500 Full Cash.
TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0341 HRS 224 S. RANDALL RD., (BURGER KING) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SOUKUP, RACHAEL A., F/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 1126 S 10TH ST., ST. CHARLES. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
0342 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICK’S) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. STEWART, MADALENA LEE, F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 7215 SADDLE OAKS DR., CARY. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving without Headlights. RELEASED ON BOND.
1209 HRS 700 BLOCK OF PARC CT. THEFT. JUVENILE, F/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Theft. RELEASED TO PARENT.
2051 HRS 5700 BLOCK OF WILDSPRING DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. KILLIAN, DERRICK S., M/W 43 YEARS OF AGE, 5732 WILDSPRING DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Wanted on Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear for Traffic Violation. Bond set at $3,000.00 10% applies. RELEASED ON BOND.
0556 HRS 10 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 15 years of age, returned home.
1220 HRS 9235 S. ROUTE 31. (DIAMOND CARPET & FLOORING) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1254 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF THORNBERRY WAY. FRAUD. Unauthorized use of a debit card.
1842 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.