Special Presents For Kids At Huntley Lib Open House

Huntley Area Public Library's annual holiday Open House is Friday featured chats with Santa and Christmas Carols but maybe the coolest part was each child received a present.  Not, surprisingly, it was a book, no batteries required.

The books were among those donated to the Libary's Friends Foundation, fesively wrapped by Friends volunteers.  "Without them we couldn't do anything," said Library Assistant Karyn Petersen.

 Friends President Genevieve Hochwarter was manning (so to speak) the Friends' Holiday Basket raffle table at the Open House.  "Local businesses were very generous with their donations this year," she said.  Chances on the baskets are $1 each or 6 for $5 available at the library's Information Desk through Dec. 15.  Winners will be notified on the 16th.

In the pic: (above) Taylor Horner with mom, Ilana, was one of many kids who received a present at the Huntley Area Public Library's annual holiday Open House.  (below)  Dan Nichols was one of the visitors who bought raffle tickets for Friends Foundation Holiday baskets.

Time Running Out On Clothing Drive For D300 Homeless

There are five days left to donate to Algonquin Commons Winter Clothing Drive to collect winterwear for District 300's homeless students.  The drive runs through Thursday and each donation of gently-used coats, pants and boots includes a chance to win a $100 or $50 gift card.

"We've already taken over eight bags of donations," said Commons Secretary Marge Buss. The Drive collection point is the Commons Guest Office toward the south end of the center next to the Aeropostale store. Winter clothes, especially pants and new boots, for all ages, infant to adults, in all colors and styles are sought.

Guest Service office hours are Monday through Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday  11 am to 6 pm.

In the pic:  (above) Tierney Venezia shows off one of the kids' coats collected for D300's homeless students at Algonquin Commons Guest Services Friday.  (below) It's also a collection point for the Marine Reserve's Toys For Tots collection with donations accepted through next Friday.  

Madigan Sues Internet Car Parts Firm For Local Fraud

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed suit against a central Illinois company for selling online consumers aftermarket auto parts that were damaged, wrong or simply never shipped.

Madigan filed the lawsuit in Macon County Circuit Court against Pershing Auto Body Parts and its Warrensburg owners.  Alleged victims were scattered throughout the state, however, including McHenry, Cook, Cumberland, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Kankakee, Kane, Macon, and Rock Island counties. In addition, the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois has received 92 Pershing complaints. Consumers reported losing more than $14,000, Madigan said, but that's only what officials know about so far.

“Anyone can set up shop on the Internet,” Madigan said. “That’s why it’s so important to ensure you’re working with a reputable company." Madigan said Pershing sold car parts on third-party bidding sites like eBay for prices ranging from $50 to $1,000. Madigan is asking the court to ban the defendants from the business of selling auto parts online. The suit also seeks to cancel pending contracts with consumers, obtain restitution for affected consumers and impose civil penalties.

Sheriff’s Office Arrests Huntley Man For Vehicle Burglaries

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced the arrest Thursday of Kyle R. Wightman, 21, of Huntley, for theft, unlawful use of a stolen credit card, and two counts of burglary. The charges culminated a three-month investigation of vehicle burglaries occurred in and around unincorporated Huntley and Marengo.

The break came when a stolen credit card from one of the vehicle burglaries was used at a business located in Lake in the Hills. Investigators said they linked Wrightman to the card. Likewise, they said, an Apple iPad stolen in another vehicle burglary turned up in Streamwood with Wrightman fingered as the seller.

Deputies arrested Wrightman Wednesday. He's currently being held in McHenry County Jail pending $50,000 bond with a court appearance on the charges set Tuesday.

Editors Note:  The McHenry County Sheriff's Office sends releases in timely fashion to news outlets including an Internet news aggregator but requires FEN to wait until they are posted to the Sheriff's website several days later.

Feds Sharpen Fraud Rules For Food Stamps

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
The federal government is trying to crack down on abuse of food stamp benefits, as the cost of the nationwide program continues to climb toward record heights. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new rules this week to stop food stamp recipients from using the Internet to trade their government aid for cash.

Food stamps must be used according to rules set out by the federal government. Selling them is specifically prohibited. When people started using social media to set up deals, states weren't whether they could act when someone simply posted intent on Twitter or if officials had to wait until the actual sale took place. Under USDA's new rules, a for sale notice is punishable the same as completed transaction.  Depending on the amount of money involved, punishment ranges from suspension of benefits to a prison sentence.

Nationally, for every $100 of food stamp assistance provided, about $1 is fraudulent, according to the USDA. “To keep up with the latest trafficking strategies, we’re using state-of-the-art technology to identify new threats,” said Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services division of the USDA in a written statement. There were only 1,715 cases of fraud in Illinois this year, said Januari Smith, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Human Services. Lawmakers tried passing a law last Spring that would require photo IDs on Illinois food stamp LINK cards but the legislation was watered down to only a study of the costs and even that stalled out in the Senate.

The USDA’s announcement comes at the same time as the number of people receiving food stamps nationwide hits more than 46 million people, a record high. In Illinois the number of participants has increased from 1.3 million in 2008 to 1.7 million in 2010, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Food stamp recipients in Illinois received $2.8 billion in benefits in fiscal 2010 compared with $1.7 billion in 2008, according to a foundation report. The cost of the program nationally has gone from $34.6 billion in 2008 to $64.7 billion in 2010.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7306/fed-crackdown-on-online-food-stamp-fraud-empowers-il/

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
December 9
1418 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) RETAIL THEFT. JENNINGS, SHANAZ K., F/W 56 YEARS OF AGE, 2971 DARTMOUTH LN., WEST DUNDEE. CHARGE: Retail Theft. RELEASED ON BOND.
0941 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1456 HRS 500 BLOCK OF SEMINOLE TRAIL. THEFT. Theft of a Play Station 3. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1637 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICK’S) THEFT. Of Alcohol. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS POLICE DEPT.) UNLAWFUL VISITATION INTERFERENCE. Interference with Court Ordered Visitation. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1947 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICK’S) THEFT. Of Alcohol. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2327 HRS 500 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal Only. No Priors.
December 8
0334 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SOSNOWSKI, KEITH G., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 1268 THORNWOOD LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater Than .08, Failure to Use Headlights. RELEASED ON BOND.
1614 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & SULLIVAN PASS. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. KLINE, JUSTIN N., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 328 LOCUST ST., MARENGO. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0820 HRS 1391 INDUSTRIAL DR. (PLATINUM AUTO) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Rock thrown through front window. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0908 HRS 100 BLOCK OF NORTHLIGHT PASS. THEFT. Currency, amount over $300, taken from the residence. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1450 HRS 4100 BLOCK OF LARKSPUR LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. Delayed from 112811. FAIL TO FILE.
1827 HRS 4511 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (CVS PHARMACY) UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. PENDING INVESTIGATIONS BY DETECTIVES.
1947 HRS 100 BLOCK OF QUAIL RUN. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. House was entered and items removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2246 HRS 200 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.

Grafton Fights Over Attorney, OK's Increased Tax Levy

With two new lawsuits pending against Supervisor Linda Moore the Grafton Township Board Thursday crashed into the obvious question of who's going to defend her since Grafton doesn't have a Township Attorney.

Moore fired former Attorney legal firm Ancel-Glink when she didn't like its advice and a judge confirmed her right to do it.  But an appellate court overturned the judge's order for Trustees to approve Moore's personal attorney in its stead. "I'm not going to be appointing an attorney when there's so much litigation," Moore told the Board Thursday.

Moore didn't say she intended to have the attorney in her suit against the rest of the Board, Rockford lawyer John Nelson, represent her in new lawsuits filed this month by the Township Assessor and the Highway Commissioner.  However, that's the conclusion the rest of the Board immediately reached.

"Mr. Nelson is not the Township Attorney," adjured Trustee Barb Murphy.

"No, wait," said Trustee Jerry McMahon.  "She'll show up in court without an attorney and she'll lose by default."

"This is not a concern for the trustees," replied Moore.  "You are not involved," she told them.

They probably are, though, at least financially. The suits are against Moore as Supervisor so, one way or another, the Township's likely to end up paying for her defense.

The Board spent 20 minutes wrangling over old bills Trustees want paid but Moore doesn't, including almost $20,000 for an investigation of where the Township's financial records went when they disappeared and more than $50,000 to the Road District in back rent.  Trustees struck off some bills Moore said were paid and told her, again, to pay the rest.

The Board also approved a $1 million and change property tax levy for 2012, up 1.5 percent from this year.  Trustee Rob LaPorta feared the way Moore presented the levy was incorrect and complained about not seeing it until that evening.  He tried to rally support to postpone approval until, in the absence of a Township Attorney (see above), someone could check if it was OK. That brought a Moore charge that, "You just want $100 for another Special Meeting."

Heated words followed before Trustees finally agreed to pass the levy but with a provision to strike out anything in it to which the County Clerk might take exception and with an apparent hope that doing that would work.

In the pic: Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore passed out annotated copies of a judge's decision she said authorized her refusal to pay some Township bills.

Huntley Approves Flat Tax Levy, Reduced Budget

The Huntley Village Board Thursday approved a 2012 tax levy the same as this year and passed a $20 million Operating and Capital budget down almost 28 percent from the current one.

The property tax levy will be $3.8 million, a freeze on the Village's collective tax bite, as trustees promised. The combined budget, balanced, will mark a $7.7 million cutback from this year.  A lot of the reduction, however, is actually the technical sort that makes perfect sense to accountants but only leaves ordinary folk with glazed expressions.

The levy and budgets can be read here (start at page 5 unless you live in an SSA):

http://www.huntley.il.us/gov/documents/12.8.11VBPacketBinder.pdf

Joe Walsh On 14th District Run: Never Mind

In time for the 10 o'clock news and in a neutral but readily news crew accessible Chicago bar, Tea Party rock star Congressman Joe Walsh announced Thursday he's not going to run for the U.S. House next year in the 14th District including most of McHenry County after all.  Rather, he'll run in his current district, the 8th which will include none of it.

Walsh's problem is that the 8th won't really be his old district anymore, moving in this year's Democrat-drawn Congressional remap 20 miles southeast to where the Dems are more dominant. “The idea of ceding this seat to the Democrats just felt wrong and someone needed to step up to the challenge,” Walsh said in an accompanying statement.

Two and a half months ago the McHenry resident said he'd stay put in what will become the 14th.  That would had pitted him in the March Primary against fellow GOP House freshman Randy Hultgren of Aurora, though, guaranteeing Dems one or the other wouldn't return to Washington. “While I was encouraged by the enthusiasm I received from folks all across the 14th district, I felt at this time, with this unjust map, I had to stand up and fight," was another Walsh comment.

What really figured in Walsh's decision no one knows but it hasn't stopped commentators from talking about it.  The consensus seems to be that Walsh, a darling on the TV talk-show circuit for beating up both Democrats and mainstream Republicans, too, wouldn't have had any support in the 14th from GOP leaders who control campaign purse strings.  In the 8th he might.  Barrington businessman Jack Roeser, for example, is reported to have promised Walsh $50,000 which might be indicative.

Meanwhile the GOP lawsuit against the new Congressional districts map is still unresolved. A panel of federal judges heard arguments last month but it's unclear when they'll rule on them. For the time being, filing for U.S. House districts will be Dec. 23 and 27.

In the pic:  Congressman Joe Walsh at the Cubby Bear Thursday night.

State House Reaches Deal On Stay Put Incentives, Tax Breaks

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Members of the Illinois House working on a plan geared toward keeping businesses in the state say they have reached a deal. A Senate plan last last week failed when the House rejected it but Wednesday John Bradley (D-Marion), sponsor of a separate House plan, said problems have been worked out.

“After days of carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible proposals, (House Minority Leader Tom) Cross and I crafted a bipartisan package of tax relief that will keep jobs in Illinois, spur further investment in new products by our manufacturers and provide tax relief for families and small businesses,” Bradley said in a written statement.

The Senate bill included tax breaks for Sears and the CME Group, which owns the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade, so they won't move out of state.  Where it foundered was on the size of tax breaks low-income individuals would receive. A House plan would have increased the Earned Income Tax Credit from 5 percent of the federal credit to 7.5 percent, but the Senate version would have increased the credit to 10 percent over two years.

The “deal” is very similar to the plan that passed in the Senate, but this time the plan is split into two bills. Some Republicans in the House did not support the tax cuts for individuals in the plan, and some House Democrats were unwilling to settle for the smaller individual tax breaks contained in the House proposal. Bifurcating them will allow lawmakers to vote for what they support without having to vote for the rest.

Even if both measures pass, though, it seems unlikely that Governor Quinn would sign the business tax breaks bill unless the measure including the individual tax cuts also makes in to his desk. “The governor is very encouraged with the bipartisan agreement reached in the House,” Brooke Anderson, a spokesperson for Quinn, said in a written statement.

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Still joined at the hip with all the State tax breaks is renewal of the Sears Economic Development Area, something School District 300 has been struggling with to save a portion of the estimated $14 million dollars per year it would get if the plan expires on schedule.  A new Bradley amendment Thursday appears to preserve an agreement to double D300's current share of property taxes from the EDA. However, the wording about audits of the rest of the EDA money, something the school district wants a lot, has changed.  District Superintendent Michael Bregy getting wind of the latest compromise said Wednesday he intended to "actively monitor the situation" to make sure it matched the plan the District, Sears, Hoffman Estates and legislators thought they'd hammered out last week.

---------

The House is scheduled to return to Springfield Monday, and the Senate plans to be back in session Tuesday.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/house-reaches-deal-on-tax-breaks.html

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
delayed
Algonquin
December 5
16:30pm Two 15 year-old males from Lake in the Hills and a 16 year-old male from Algonquin were all charged with Criminal Trespass to Residence.  They were taken into custody at 400 Tenby Way.  The 16 year-olds were referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of their parents.  The 16 year-old was Formally Stationed Adjusted and then released into the custody of his parents.
19:36pm Krawiec, Ian A., DOB: 07/30/92, of 96 Birch Street, Carpentersville, was charged with Retail Theft and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 01/25/12 in Algonquin.
December 6
00:35am Krause, Alexandria M., DOB: 10/05/89, of 1248 Sandalwood Lane, Crystal Lake, was charged with DUI and Improper Turn.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  She was released after posting $100 and her Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 01/11/12 in McHenry County.
December 7
00:27am Bolger, Timothy J., DOB: 10/28/61 of 503 Summit Drive Apt #2, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Eastgate Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/11/12 in McHenry County.
15:35pm Raciborski, Rachel A., DOB: unlisted, 10036 Thornton Way, Huntley, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 01/25/12 in Algonquin.
17:31pm Schwartz, Scott R., DOB: 03/29/83, of 1752 Winaki Trail, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Battery.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $500 with a court date of 01/10/12 in Kane County.
18:56pm Sinde, John A., DOB: 07/06/61, of 610 Huntington Court, Algonquin, was charged with DWLR and Following Too Closely.  He was taken into custody at 610 Huntington Court.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
December 8
00:05am Strong, Theresa L., DOB: 12/26/85, of 1321 Cunat Court Apt #1B, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Hit and Run, Failure to Give Information and Improper Lane Usage.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/25/12 in McHenry County.
17:10pm Ruffino, Ryan A. DOB: 12/09/92 of 331 E. Fullerton Apt #11, Addison, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 01/11/12 in McHenry County.

State Board Rejects Huntley Centegra And Mercy Hospitals

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board Wednesday again rejected proposals for a Centegra Health System hospital in Huntley and a Mercy Health Systems hospital in Crystal Lake. Supporters of the $230 million Huntley facility were especially crushed since the Board vote was a tie with one member absent.

The results preserved the state central planning agency's near-perfect record of turning down new hospital proposals.  The major exception in 25 years, ironically, stood only four miles from Bolingbrook Golf Club where the Review Board met Wednesday.  Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, OK'ed seven years ago, operates at about 40 percent capacity as speakers both for and against the Centegra and Mercy proposals kept reminding the board.

The nearby white elephant may have helped Board members think outside the box of both hospitals' planning area, essentially, McHenry County.  That cut against Mercy's plan for a 70-bed (slimmed down from 128 in June) proposal for a new hospital in Crystal Lake.  "If the border were 4,200 feet east there would be no bed need in McHenry County," said one executive from Advocate St. Joseph's hospital in Barrington who opposed the nearby Mercy Crystal Lake facility

Less adroit was the CEO of Elgin's Sherman Hospital where about 65 percent of Huntley Fire Protection District ambulance runs currently end.  "How many of us have heard of (Huntley) before the hospital (proposal)," asked Linda Deering charging much larger communities deserved hospitals more.

Even so, Centegra and Huntley officials convinced three more members--in addition to the one who voted for the proposal in June--that southeast McHenry County--and northeast Kane--was a special case.  Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson pointed out that even though Huntley's supercharged growth has ended,  it's still, by new building permits, anyway, the second-fastest growing community in Northern Illinois after Naperville.

HFPD Chief Jim Saletta said Huntley's Sun City community of 9,000 "active" but nonetheless aging seniors was an important consideration, too. "Forty percent of ambulance runs originated in Sun City this year," he said.

Board Administrator Courtney Avery told FEN Member David Penn, a Bloomington Laborer's Union manager, was absent from the nine-person panel Wednesday taking care of contract negotiations.  That raised the odds against either Centegra or Mercy gaining approval. With the fourth Huntley "no" vote most onlookers still didn't seem to realize Centegra's proposal had failed until Board Chairman Dale Galassie explained, "The matter dies for lack of a fifth vote."

In essence, the turndown was a TKO, not a knockout. Centegra Legal VP Aaron Shepley asked Galassie if there was anything further Centegra could do.  The Chairman told him to consult with Board staff.  Shepley said later he didn't expect to have an answer either way until later today.

In the pic:  About 200 people packed Wednesday's hearing on Huntley and Crystal Lake Hospital proposals.  Most were hospital execs, staff or consultants, though.  Only about 40 were civilians.

In June the Review Board approved a small hospital in downstate Shiloh, near Belleville.

Still Another Grafton Township Lawsuit

With the latest filing in McHenry County Circuit Court Wednesday, every elected official in Grafton Township now has a lawsuit pending against Supervisor Linda Moore except for the Township Clerk.

Highway Commissioner Jack Freund's new suit claims Moore's stopped paying rent on the Grafton Township offices, owned by the Road District; stopped paying for approved health insurance for his wife; stopped paying a number of other Road District bills and won't even let him look at the District's financial records.

Last month Township Assessor Bill Ottley filed suit against Moore for not paying his bills and the Supervisor and the rest of the Board are still embroiled in long-standing mutual lawsuits against each other over almost everything else in the Township.

Freund also charges Moore won't let him have the Grafton Township office he intends to use in place of his current cubbyhole in the next-door District garage.  His suit claims it was specifically excluded from the lease with the Township.

Moore's using the office to store canned goods and cereal for what in the past month she has begun to call the Grafton Township Food Pantry.  That's the same name as the 2006 state-registered charitable organization now headquartered on Smith Drive in Huntley.

Freund's suit asks a court to make Moore pay all the bills he says she hasn't and remove her from office.  It's set for initial hearing next April.

Ottley's suit asking for the same things  is scheduled in March.  It had originally been assigned to Judge Michael Caldwell, the one in the Moore/Trustees' lawsuits, but Ottley's requested it be given to someone else. The Moore/Trustees case is scheduled next in January.

The Grafton Board will meet this evening at 7:30 pm at the Huntley Rec Center.   Elderly bills, some dating back  more than two years, are among he agenda items.

In the pic: Grafton Highway Commissioner Jack Freund and his attorney, Pat Coen.

ECC Mock Trial Team Beats Yale At Tourney

The Elgin Community College Mock Trial Team continued to impress its competitors after a tournament held at Yale University in Connecticut recently. The team, the only community college  in the tournament, ended with a 5-6-1 record.

For perspective, that was better than Yale,  University of Pennsylvania, the University of Florida,former American Mock Trial Association national champion Northwood University of Michigan, Wellesley College, and the University of Miami (Florida). It was the same record as Boston University and Cornell College.

“This is quite an impressive result in a field with such intense competition,” says Rebecca Koper, the team’s coach and a former member.  The ECC Mock Trial Team is one of only six known active community college mock trial teams in the United States that compete nationally. The team will compete in two more tournaments—including one at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—in January before the regional tournament in February.

In the pic: ECC Mock Trialers, Captain Judie Spence, St. Charles; Carol Gehrke, South Elgin; Kristy Pearson, Hampshire; Anthony Leon, Streamwood; Angel Williams, Kathy Cruse, and Daniel Villagomez, Elgin; Glenda Rogus, Dundee; Miroslava Hanouskova and Elizabeth Neuman, Bartlett; Carleton Craig, Carpentersville; and Jennifer Osterberg, Algonquin.

Will Blagojevich Sentence Deter Corruption?

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Almost three years after his arrest on corruption charges, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years behind bars Wednesday. “The long Blagojevich nightmare is over,” Andy Shaw, director of the Better Government Association, said in Chicago after the sentence came down but some say the work to clean up “pay to play politics” in the state is not done.

While the sentence was shorter than the 15 to 20 years that prosecutors requested for Blagojevich's 18 felony convictions, it is the longest prison term ever doled out for corruption in the state. Blagojevich was reportedly contrite  when he addressed U.S. District Judge James Zagel, saying he was sorry and that he had no one to blame but himself.

However, after the sentencing, Blagojevich vowed to fight on. “We’re going to keep fighting on though this adversity, and we’ll see you soon,”  he told reporters in Chicago.

“It’s profoundly sad that we are here for the second time in five years to discuss the conviction and sentencing of a governor of Illinois.” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in Chicago. He said the sentence should deter future corruption and that it “sends a strong message that the public has had enough and judges have had enough. This needs to stop.”

Lt. Gov. Shelia Simon said Blagojevich’s sentence does not ensure an end to political malfeasance in the state.  "It's time we expose conflicts of interest before they cost taxpayers, and clear the way for true public servants to rebuild trust with the public," she said.  Simon, who served on an ethics commission that made recommendations to the General Assembly in the wake of Blagojevich’s impeachment and removal from office, said the former governor’s conviction and sentencing provide an opportunity to have “public conversation again” about ethics in the state.

Dick Simpson, a professor and head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Chicago, agreed with Simon. “I don’t think that the sentence will be enough to deter corruption in the future.” He said that more recommendations from the ethics commission should be enacted.

Gov. Pat Quinn called his predecessor’s sentence “stiff” but “necessary.” When asked about being Blagojevich’s running mate twice, Quinn said, “I think he let me down like he let down the people of Illinois.”

Under federal guidelines, Blagojevitch is required to serve 85 percent, almost 12 years, of his sentence. He was also hit with almost $22,000 in fines and penalties.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/is-blagojevichs-sentence-enough-to.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
December 7
0006 HRS VIRGINIA RD. & MAIN ST. WANTED ON WARRANT. CECERE, JAMES ALAN, M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 855 DEERPATH CT., HOFFMAN ESTATES. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant Wheaton Police Department For Hit and Run. Bond Amount $1,500, 10% Applies. RELEASED ON BOND.
0800 HRS PYOTT RD. & MENOMINEE DR. DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE. SWIRNIAK, MICHAEL J., M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 211 HAWTHORNE LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving on a Suspended License. RELEASED ON BOND.
1201 HRS HILLTOP DR. & WILLOW ST. DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE. COHN, JULIA L., F/W 43 YEARS OF AGE, 3940 WISTERIA CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving on a Suspended License, Operating a Motor Vehicle with Suspended Registration, Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
1947 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HARVEST GATE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. GOERLITZ, NATALIE T., F/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 5386 LANSBURY CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1111 HRS 4300 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR DR. DOMESTIC. Father vs. Son. Verbal Only. Six Priors.  Juvenile male transported to Centegra Woodstock.
1154 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HICKORY RD. IDENTITY THEFT. Identity Theft. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1558 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & CRYSTAL LAKE AVE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1705 HRS 4500 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (7-ELEVEN) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Information on possible drug activity.
2158 HRS 3300 BLOCK OF BANFORD CIRCLE. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Ex-husband made threats to his ex-wife.
Huntley
November 28
Jason P. Benjamin, age 37, of 325 Hill St, Wauconda, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was charged with no valid safety sticker and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Benjamin posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 13, 2012.
A deceptive practice report was taken in the 12200 block of Wildflower Ln.  The victim provided financial information to a fraudulent bank web site.
November 29
A residential burglary report was taken in the 13000 block of Eakin Creek.  The victims reported that cash, jewelry and a purse were stolen.
A 16 year-old male from Huntley was charged with disorderly conduct at the High School.  The juvenile was released to his guardian and will attend peer jury.
November 30
David J. Timmons, age 60, of 14715 Church Rd, Huntley, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for driving with one tail light and improper display of plates.
James N. Faubl, age 42, of 12207 Hideaway, Huntley, was arrested for DUI, and was cited for improper lane use and failure to signal when required.  Mr. Faubl posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of January 20, 2012.
December 1
Christopher J. Corr, age 20, 278 Moders Ave., Cary,was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis, and was cited for driving with no insurance and speeding.  Mr. Corr posted bond and was released  with a McHenry County court date of December 23, 2011.
A 16 year-old male from Huntley was arrested for two counts of resisting a peace officer, attempted obstruction of justice, and possession of alcohol by a minor.  The juvenile was released to a family member and will be petitioned to juvenile court.
Butch C. Moore, age 21, of 717 Irving #103, Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for driving with no insurance.  Mr. Moore posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of December 23, 2011.
December 2
Michael J. Novak, age 28, of 16531 Rt. 173, Harvard, was arrested for driving with a suspended license and was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and improper lane use.  Mr. Novak was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond.
December 3
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 11600 block of
Becky Lee Trace.  A fence was damaged.
A theft and criminal damage to property report were taken in the 11600 block of Gayle Ct.  Yard decorations were stolen and a fence was damaged.
A theft report was taken in the 11600 block of Lori Lane.  Yard decorations were stolen.
A theft report was taken in the 10600 block of Wheatlands Way.  Yard decorations were stolen.
A criminal defacement report was taken in the 10400 block of Evandale Lane.  Eggs were thrown at a residence.

Anti- Synthetic Marijuana Activists Rebuffed At LITH

An ad hoc citizens' group against local synthetic marijuana sales stalked out of the Lake in the Hills Board meeting Tuesday after Director of Police and Public Safety Jim Wales told them the problem couldn't be solved at the village level.

Spokesmen Joe and Lauri Watson, LITH, asked the Village Board to do something about artificial marijuana, plant material doctored with a laboratory version of the active ingredient in pot, sold as "incense" in tobacco and head shops in Lake in the Hills and other villages.  "Kids are buying this stuff," charged Lauri Watson.  "Nobody's doing anything about it," she complained.

The appeal was similar to one the couple made to the Algonquin Village Board last month.  There, Algonquin President John Schmitt said the Village was working to draft an ordinance about it "soon."  Tuesday LITH President Ed Plaza had a different answer, though.  "We're well aware of the problem," said Plaza. He said they just couldn't fix it.

"Back in April there were three instances of selling K2 (a "brand" of synthetic pot)," said Wales.  "We sent specimens to the (crime) lab.  None of them was in violation of current law," he said.

The problem, one frustrating even the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is that bootleg chemists can brew up variations on tetrahydrocannabinol and other psychoactive chemicals faster than law enforcement officials can identify and outlaw them.  "This can't be effectively addressed at the local level," said Wales.

That wasn't what the Watson group wanted to hear.  "I hope to God it doesn't happen to you," cried Lauri Watson as she angrily left the Board Room.  Wales followed and spoke with the group in the Village Hall lobby for another 20 minutes of sometimes heated exchanges.  Neither side reported a meeting of the minds.

Joe Watson said later if LITH won't outlaw synthetic marijuana, his group might try picketing the stores that sell the stuff.

In the pic: LITH Police and Public Safety director Jim Wales (center) told a group of citizens complaining about synthetic marijuana Tuesday that State legislators are going to have to come up with a law to deal with the problem.

LITH Pres Scores Cary Over Shingle Plant, MCDOT Over Intersection

Lake in the Hills Village President Ed Plaza fired a couple of salvos Tuesday in running battles between LITH and the Village of Cary and the McHenry County Department of Transportation.

The first blast was a reaction to a Cary resolution expected to be approved Tuesday opposing an asphalt recycling plant west of Route 31 about half a mile north of Trinity Drive.  Cary disconnected the 19-acre residentially zoned parcel this Spring when a Bartlett recycling company proposed the plant. That turned it into unincorporated County agricultural property.  Monday LITH will hold a hearing on the owner's request to annex the land into LITH as a limited manufacturing area.

Plaza observed LITH hasn't even taken action on the request yet but griped Cary wanted to unilaterally "tell us how we should run our village."

"Why is is that not one person (in Cary) has picked up the phone and called me or the Board or Staff?"  he asked. Cary's resolution cites concerns about possible water contamination but Plaza dismissed that saying the site's .75 miles away from Cary's nearest well and the land drains the other way, anyhow.

Plaza also asked the Board to officially enlighten MCDOT about its position on a proposed revamp of the Randall/Algonquin intersection.  Plaza cited an FEN story quoting MCDOT as unsure of LITH's view of a controversial Continuous Flow Intersection since the Board had never voted on it.  Plaza said the intersection's limited access would cripple or kill nearby LITH businesses and the Village has made that pretty clear in talks with MCDOT.   Even so, he asked for a resolution about the CFI for a Board vote.  "Say, 'we don't like it'," he instructed administrators who'll draft the document.

In the pic:  LITH's Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a hearing Monday at 7:30 pm on plans for an asphalt shingle reycling plant north of Trinity Drive.  

Riverside Plaza Still Unresolved

The Algonquin Village Board Tuesday approved a dog daycare, grooming and training facility on North Main (Starbarks) and a March referendum question on whether to start a Village electricity aggregation program.  Then they retired into closed session for over half an hour to discuss "pending litigation".

Board members refused, as usual, to even identify the litigation but, given the timing, it was probably the lawsuit to tear down Riverside Plaza.  Dec. 1 was the latest deadline for developers to provide proof they'd lined up enough money to build the inside of the residential/retail condominium in the Village's Downtown.  Owner John Breugelmann told FEN last week he's close to getting the money but needs more time.

All Board members would say when they returned to open session Tuesday was, "We will take no action (tonight)." 

New Walsh Announcement Day: Thursday

Thursday's the new day for Congressman Joe Walsh to announce whether he'll run for another term in the House of Representatives in Illinois' 14th District or its 8th.  Monday was supposed to be the day but it wasn't.  Tuesday Walsh dodged Occupy Chicago activists at his Washington office but sent out a press release saying he'd tell a Tea Party gathering at Chicago's Cubby Bear which way he plans to jump.

The 8th District McHenry legislator was moved into the 14th District in this year's Democratic remap potentially pitting him against fellow Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren in the March Primary. Walsh seemed ready to do that during Summer but two weeks ago he started telling people he wasn't sure about it after all. Tuesday's announcement provided no clues.

Quinn, Rutherford Spar Over Borrowing

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
State Treasurer Dan Rutherford said this week he will not keep quiet about his thoughts on state borrowing or Illinois’ dire financial situation. Rutherford's called Illinois the “most bankrupt state in the nation” and has publicly warned Wall Street investors not to buy more of the state's debt.

Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn voiced frustration over Rutherford’s recent comments on the state’s debt and financial standing.  “I used to be state treasurer, and I know you can work with a governor,” Quinn said. “I’m a little disappointed in Treasurer Rutherford.”

When asked if Rutherford’s public negative comments created fears that could lead to a credit rating downgrade for the state, Quinn recalled an old security slogan.  "Loose lips sink ships, and I think maybe Treasurer Rutherford should commit that to memory.”

“The governor has got to understand that this is not a secret," said Rutherford. The Treasurer said Monday that Quinn and others cannot hide from the reality of the budget — especially new information from Moody’s Investor Services that the state’s required pension payment next fiscal year, estimated to be about $5.3 billion, will be more than $1 billion higher than the payment for the current fiscal year.

He said that when lawmakers passed a tax increase in January, they should have leveraged the prospect of new revenue to force cuts and pensions reform as part of an overall plan. “They didn’t put together the rest of the deal. … They blew it here in Springfield,” said Rutherford.

Rutherford said he is willing to work with Quinn on short term borrowing — to be repaid within a year — to address cash-flow issues. But he said he would continue to be a vocal opponent of any other new borrowing. “Don’t loan my state any more money," he said. "They are addicted to debt.”

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/quinn-and-rutherford-spar-over.html

Obituaries

Salomon V. Valena, 87, of Carpentersville, died Saturday St. Alexius Medical Center following a short illness. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 pm each day Thursday and Friday at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2 pm Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.

Valena was born July 16, 1924, in the Philippines, the son of Hipolito E. and Tecla (Villapando) Valena. He married Filomena Valencia May 31, 1951. He is survived by his wife of Carpentersville; his children, Jesus Valena of The Philippines, Pablito Valena of Schaumburg, Corazon Tungol of Bolingbrook, Irma Valena, Edilberto Valena, Maria Fabi, Rosario Valena and Dina Gahol, all of Carpentersville, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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
December 6
1034 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. FOUND ARTICLE. Large wooden pier.
1410 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS PD) UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Unlawful acquisition of a controlled substance. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1643 HRS OAK ST. & POPLAR ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1731 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1752 HRS HEAVENS GATE & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1835 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF BURR ST. ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY. Subject detained for Hanover Park Police Department. TURNED OVER TO HANOVER PARK POLICE.

Let The Games Begin

Monday was the final day for McHenry County Board and County Officers candidates to file nominating petitions for the March Primary.  Nobody new popped up seeking a County Office, (even for a guaranteed win as Regional School Superintendent)  but a lot of new candidates and some old ones filed for Board seats. Most of the action was on the Republican side but Dems are running at least one candidate in all six districts.

Notably absent was District 1's Mark Munaretto, Algonquin, who announced Monday that after six terms he didn't want to make the Board "a career".  Munaretto's also Algonquin Township Secretary but holding both posts will be prohibited next year since the County passed 300,000 population.  Munaretto said that had nothing to do with his decision, though.

In District 1, incumbent Bob Nowak, Cary, added his name to those of incumbents Anna May Miller, Cary, and Bob Bless, Fox River Grove, who with former Board Member Yvonne M. Barnes,Cary, will make a full GOP slate.  Bless still faces a complaint before the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission but the hearing may not happen before the Primary, according to an ARDC spokesman.  Democrats will field Algonquin construction company owner Nick Chirikos.

In District 2, incumbent Donna Kurtz, Crystal Lake, Monday joined incumbents Jim Heisler and Ken Koehler,also of Crystal Lake, against challengers Carolyn Schofield, another Crystal Laker, and Tom Wilbeck, Lakewood, who added his name.  Democrats will field former Board Member Jim Kennedy, Lake in the Hills and Jim Roden, Lakewood.

In District 5, incumbent Virginia Peschke, Woodstock, signed up for another run Monday joining John Jung, Jr. and Tina R. Hill, also both of Woodstock.  But Woodstock chiropractor Michael Rein also joined the field Monday as did Huntley's D158 Board President Mike Skala to challenge them.  Incumbent Democrat Paula Yensen, LITH,  put her name in the hopper Monday, too.  Frank Wedig, Woodstock, still hews to the Green party.

Not quite everybody who lives in District 6 is running for a Board seat  but an awful lot of them are.  Incumbent Randy Donley, Union, filed his petitions Monday even though he'd earlier said he wasn't going to run. He joined incumbents Diane Evertsen, Harvard; Mary McCann, Woodstock, and Ersel Schuster, Woodstock, as well as challengers, former D158 President Shawn Green, Union; David LaGue, Marengo; Rachel Elizabeth Smith, Wonder Lake, and Michele Aavang, Woodstock who'd already filed. J. Vincent Ranzino, Marengo filed last week and Michael Stanard., Woodstock,  and Corey Brackmann, Marengo, slipped in under the wire Monday. Former Green Party State Treasurer candidate Scott Summers, Harvard, decided he's a Democrat this time and filed his petitions Monday.  Former Huntley Trustee Jay Kadakia also filed on the Democratic side Monday along with Ryan Heuser, Marengo.

Missing Monday was an anticipated Board filing from Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore, Huntley.  She did file petitions but only for Committeeman which may have been whence the rumors of her candidacy arose.

In McHenry County's northern District 3, Mary Alger, Mary Donner, JoeGottemoller, Mary McClellan, Lyn Orphal, Nick Provenzano, Jim Schlader and Michael Walkup will be on the GOP ballot. Kathleen Bergan Schmidt and Lori McConville will be on the Democratic one.  In northern District 4, John Hammerand, Sandy Salgado, Edward Varga, Robert Martens Sr., Sue Draffkorn and Linda Kvidera Murphy will be on the Republican ballot.  Mary Margaret Maule will be the sole entry on the Democratic one.

Over on the Kane County side, Theresa Wrzala, Hampshire, filed to run against incumbent Thomas “T.R.” Smith for Kane District 9.  No Dems filed there.  However, Algonquin incumbent Maggie Auger will have a Democratic challenger, Kevin S. Smith, Carpentersville, in District 23.

In State races, Danielle Rowe joined David McSweeney to challenge appointed incumbent Kent Gaffney in a three-way Republican contest for the 52nd House District. No one arose to challenge State Rep. Mike Tryon for the new 66th.  Barb Wheeler got a by to run for the newly-reconfigured 64th District since no one filed to oppose her. In the 26th District no one will oppose incumbent Dan Duffy for the GOP nomination but Amanda Howland is running for Dem's nomination.

In the rejiggered 33rd Senate District Craig Powers filed to run against former Kane Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay and businessman Cliff Surges.  No one filed on the Democratic side.

Bianchi Attorney Goes To Top Court On "Ridiculous" Ruling

Calling part of McHenry County Circuit Judge Gordon Graham's decision "ridiculous" to keep secret the records of Lou Bianchi Special Prosecutors, defense attorney Terry Ekl Monday asked the Illinois Supreme Court to either open them up or let a group of taxpayers appeal seal.

In October Graham refused to allow the group--who cheerfully admit to being Bianchi supporters--to look at the files that might explain how Special Prosecutors under Graham's supervision spent an estimated $500,000 on a case that began with a charge the State's Attorney had his secretary type campaign letters.  Bianchi and some associates won not guilty verdicts without a defense on more than two dozen charges that never involved the secretary. Several more charges were thrown out before they even came to trial.

Graham ruled that most of what anyone could get from the files had come out in the trials.  "So anything else that is contained in this...that case being over...these cases being over...I don't see any particular reason," he said.

That "flipped Illinois law on its head", said Ekl in his Supreme Court filing which argued case records are supposed to be open unless there's a "compelling" reason to keep them closed, not the other way around.  "Very little is known about the contents of the court file since it was sealed within days of the Special State's Attorney's appointment," Ekl wrote. He said that included why the file was sealed at all.

When Graham ordered the files to remain sealed in October, he barred Ekl's taxpayers from even entering the case. That meant they couldn't ask the Court of Appeals to oveturn him so now the State Supreme Court Justices will have to make the decision.

In the pic: Attorney Terry Ekl.

The Not Heard 'Round The World

Eighth District Republican Congressman Joe Walsh was uncharacteristically silent Monday, especially since that was the day he told a St. Charles Town Hall meeting he'd announce whether he'd run for the House again in the Fourteenth District which will include a lot of McHenry County in the Primary or his incumbent Eighth District, instead, which used to.

Either is possible since a Democratic remap whisked the 8th out from under Walsh's McHenry feet and replaced it with the 14th currently represented by fellow-GOP freshman Randy Hultgren.  The Tea Party firebrand for months seemed poised for a fratricidal battle with Hultgren for the nomination but about a week ago started sounding more like Hamlet than Henry V.

Pundits have speculated Walsh wants a big pot of national campaign money to try to hold the 8th, one which mainstream GOP leaders might be reluctant to give since Walsh has castigated them almost as much as Democrats. In an case, even the grapevine was silent Monday about Walsh's plans.

Fire Badly Damages Algonquin Home

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District investigators are still trying to determine what started a fire that badly damaged a home at 1065 N. Harrison, Algonquin, Monday afternoon.

No one was injured in the blaze discovered at about 3:30 pm. Residents weren't home and neither was a remodeling contractor who'd been working on the house earlier.  Firemen and a passing McHenry County Animal Control officer broke down a basement door to rescue the family dog.

The ranch-style home suffered extensive first-floor and basement damage in the fire which took nearly half an hour to put out, but firefighters were unable to put a dollar value to it.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District received assistance from Carpentersville, Huntley, Fox River Grove and Cary fire departments.

Illinois Comptroller To Hold Employment Expo At ECC

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka will sponsor an Employment Expo from 11 am to 2 pm Thursday at Elgin Community College's Spartan Events Center.

The free expo, co-sponsored by ECC, is the second of a series of statewide events sponsored by the Illinois Comptroller’s Office to target unemployment and the financial stresses facing residents. The on hand will be dozens of employers, including representatives from Comcast, MetLife, Peacock Engineering, World Financial Group, and Farmers’ Insurance.

The event will also offer free resources for job seekers such as professional development workshops on interviewing, networking and the WorkKeys Assessment System . Resume critiques will also be offered.  In addition, Workshops will be available for people interested in managing budgets and credit, and how to start a business.

For more information about the expo, visit: www.illinoiscomptroller.com.

In the pic:  An ECC job fair last year.

Illinois Eyes Less Federal Money

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Still dealing with the fallout created by years of budgets when spending outpaced revenue, Illinois now faces uncertainty about another major revenue source — the federal government.  The federal Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, commonly referred to as the supercommittee, failed to reach an agreement last month triggering automatic cuts of $1.2 trillion overall.

“For states, the name of the game is uncertainty,” said Jeff Hurley, a policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization that provides research and technical assistance to all of the states’ Legislatures.

Illinois received $23 billion in federal aid in fiscal 2010, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. State-federal programs as a whole would see a reduction of 8.8 percent in fiscal 2013 under the current scenario, Hurley said.

There’s very little Illinois’ state government can do in regards to the cuts. Only $15 billion of the $23 billion in federal aid the state received in fiscal 2010 went through the General Assembly. Congress earmarked the overwhelming majority of that $15 billion for specific programs like Medicaid. “We don’t have a lot of leverage or latitude of how we move things around. They have to be spent in a way the federal government has said,” state Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, said.

Harris, who helps prepare state budgets for the Illinois House Republicans, said with the state facing an increased pension system payment of $1 billion next year and swelling health-care costs, those facing cuts shouldn't look Illinois to make up the difference in any reduction to federal spending. “There’s going to be such pressures on (the budget) this coming year that we’re not going to have any excess. If the feds cut, I don’t see us having any excess to make up any reductions,” Harris said.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7266/illinois-eyes-less-money-from-feds-in-future/

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
December 5
0229 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) BATTERY. WAITE, JACQUE E., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 19N081 FELSMITH DR., HAMPSHIRE, CHARGES: Battery, Criminal Trespass to Property, Resisting Arrest. RELEASED ON BOND.
0012 HRS 400 BLOCK OF CEDAR ST. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Checked on the well-being of a female subject.
0350 HRS FRANK RD. & BOULDER DR. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0945 HRS 200 S. ANNANDALE. (LEROY GUY PARK) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. An overhead door on a shed and a bulletin board on the concession stand were damaged. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1209 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) LOST PROPERTY. Delayed. Lost purse. LEADS entry made.
1402 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1504 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEAVENS GATE. IDENTITY THEFT. Complainant had an unknown subject(s) open a loan in her name.
1901 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1918 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COBBLESTONE CT. DOMESTIC. Father vs. son. Verbal only. No priors.

Whooping Cough Still On Increase In McHenry County, Locally

The McHenry County Department of Health reported last week the number of pertussis or whooping cough cases in the county had risen to 154.  McHenry County remains an Illinois hot spot for the disease, accounting for over 15 percent of all the whooping cough cases in the while state.

Cary and, more recently, Woodstock continue to be most heavily affected villages but Lake in the Hills now reports 15 cases with another 8 reported in Huntley and 5 more in Algonquin.

Until immunization was introduced in the 1930s, whooping cough was one of the most frequent and severe diseases of infants and children in the United States killing 5,000 to 10,000 each year.  Spikes in 1908 and 1919 killed about 17,000 each. With shots, by 1949 the number of deaths was below 1,000 and by 1955 below it was 100.  The most recent low was 4 deaths in 1996 but whooping cough's been on the rise since then and last year when ten infants in California died, health officials declared it an epidemic.

McHenry County's outbreak hasn't seen any deaths.  Indeed, it hasn't seen any hospitalizations yet but County Department of Health officials continue to urge residents to get whooping cough booster shots.  "Some people say we ring the siren too early, that it's too soon," said spokesman Debra Quackenbush.  "With an illness like this that can be fatal, I don't think you can do it too soon," she said.

In the graph:  Whooping cough is spreading in McHenry County.

Algonquin Knights Tree Sales Strong

Christmas tree sales were brisk Sunday at the St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus lot off Algonquin road on Algonquin's East Side.  "We're doing good," said Paul O'Rourke who reported Saturday went well, too, once the rain stopped.  "We sold a lot of trees," he said.

The K of C lot's open from 9 am to 9 pm weekends and 5 pm to 9 pm weekdays.

In the pic:  Decisions, decisions.  The Dave Beck family had a tough time deciding on which tree to take home at from the St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus lot Sunday.

Huntley Library Open House Friday

Huntley Area Public Library's annual holiday Open House is Friday from 6 to 8 pm. The evening will feature musical entertainment by Dave Gutshall and Andy Huber, refreshments, activities and prizes. There will also be a special guest from the North Pole.  Probably not Admiral Peary.

Overflow parking for the heavily-attended event will be available at the Municipal Complex parking lot. Ironically, regular library services won't be available during this event but each visitor, young and old, will receive a free book to keep.

Attendeees might eyeball the Friends Foundation Holiday Raffle Baskets.  They'll be on display through Dec. 15.  Tickets are  $1 each or 6 for $5. Baskets include:  Gift cards for Moretti’s, Yumz, Panda Express, BuddyZ pizza, Noodles & Company, Olive Garden, Chili’s, Red Lobster, Applebee’s and more. One will include a Kindle eReader. Also look for baskets from Golf Club of Illinois, Tastefully Simple, Trader Joe’s, Huntley Park District, Weber Grill, Wisted’s and See’s Candy.

In the pic:  Carols at last year's Huntley Libary Open House

Public Campaign Financing For Illinois Unlikely Soon

By Jamey Dunn, Illlinois issues
Illinois lawmakers apparently are a long way off from shelling out state dollars to finance political races. A task force created under the law that set campaign donation limits in Illinois is delving into other potential campaign finance reforms but during a recent legislative hearing largely panned  public funding of campaigns.

The federal government offers public funding for presidential races, and at least a dozen states have some sort of public funding system for elected offices. Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, told the task force that during the current budget crisis, money is probably too tight for the state to offer public funds to political candidates.

However, Kent Redfield, an emeritus political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, said any plan to publicly fund governor or General Assembly races would not find enough support to become a reality, anyway. “You’d be spending so much money to affect a very small number of races, and the rest of it would be going to people who were either going to lose or win regardless of how much money was there.

Redfield said that instead,  Illinois should offer smaller grants to candidates who raise money from small contributions, which often come from private citizens. Redfield said such grants would “encourage candidates to raise money in small amounts and provide resources for people who otherwise would not be able to run.”

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/lawmakers-look-at-public-campaign.html

Obituaries

Robert E. Hischke, 85, of Sun City, Huntley, died Wednesday at Sunrise of Schaumburg, following a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be held at 3pm  Sunday, December 11th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Huntley.  Visitation will be from 2 pm until service time Sunday at the church.

Hischke was born February 12, 1926, in Tipton, IN, the son of A.J. & Elnora (Montel) Hischke.  He married Maxine Rebber on September 2, 1951. He is survived by his wife of Huntley, his daughters, Nancy (Dave) Wojtkiewicz of Elgin, Marcia Hischke of Mundelein  and Pamela (Claudio) DeGrassi of Elk Grove, and his grandchildren, Carissa, Rossana & David. He was preceded in death by his brother, John.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.  

Raymond J. Adolfson, Sr., 71, of Sun City, Huntley, died Sunday at Sherman Hospital in Elgin following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4 to 9 pm at the DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley with a funeral service at 11 am Thursday at the funeral home.

Adolfson was born December 14, 1939, in Chicago the son of Ernest Gunnar and Elsie (Riebschlager) Adolfson.  He married Margaret M. Kilzer on August 27, 1960. He is survived by his wife of Huntley; his children, Richard J. (Cindy) Adolfson of Franklin Park, Kristine M. (David) Hager of Bensenville and Raymond J. Adolfson, Jr., of Wisconsin;  his grandchildren, Nicole, Jacob, Joseph, Robyn, Raymond Mark and Selena, and his sisters, Betty Kania of Arkansas and Rosemary Miczak of Tennessee.  He was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents and his brother, Ernest.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart or Lung Association. 

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
December 4
0235 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) HIT AND RUN/DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SIEWERTH, SARA M., F/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 426 STARWOOD PASS, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater Than .08, Leaving the Scene of Property Damage Accident, Failure to Give Aid or Information. RELEASED ON BOND.
2054 HRS 5200 BLOCK OF BANFORD CIRCLE. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. CAMPBELL, KEVIN R., M/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 3281 BANFORD CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Greater Than .08. RELEASED ON BOND.
2256 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. SMITH, DONNATELLA C., F/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 926 MANCHESTER ST., CARY. CHARGE: Criminal Damage to Property. RELEASED ON BOND.
2102 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) FOLLOW UP ARREST: RETAIL THEFT. STEVENS, RYAN E., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 115 ANTHONY PKWY. LOT 3, WAUCONDA. CHARGE: Retail Theft. RELEASED ON BOND.
0525 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ABANDONED VEHICLE. Vehicle left on roadway. Towed. Entered into LEADS.
Algonquin
December 2
11:56am A 14 year-old male from Carpentersville was charged with Possession of Drug  Paraphernalia and Possession of Cannabis.  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.
21:21pm Francisco-Salazar, Ricardo N., DOB: 01/04/93, of 52 Wren Road, Carpentersville, was charged  with No Valid Driver’s License and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Main Street  and Washington Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/17/12 in McHenry County.
22:58pm Jerzyk, Zachary S., DOB: 10/14/92, of 1018 Burr Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with  Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  He was released on a  Notice to Appear with a court date of 01/25/12 in Algonquin.
December 3
14:15pm McClendon, Ronald L., DOB: 02/22/66, of 11517 Edgemere Terrace, Roscoe, was charged with  Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 01/25/12 in Algonquin.
23:29pm  Ochoa, Leobardo, DOB: 05/28/90, of 471 Edison, Elgin, was charged with No Valid Driver’s  License, No Proof of Insurance and No Headlights.  He was taken into custody at Main Street and  Washington Street.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 12/21/11 in McHenry County.

Weatherman Gives Huntley Parade Perfect Break

The Weatherman brought the gift of a perfectly-timed break in the rain Saturday as a 35-girl troop from Huntley's Dance Force Studio and 11 other groups helped kick off the village's first presumably annual Holiday Lights Parade. It was a brand new addition to Huntley's Christmas on the Square.

"I'm excited," said celebration organizer Barb Read.  "We had so many vendors for the Kris Kringle Market this year some of them overflowed to the Legion Hall."

After a couple of impromptu rounds of "Jingle Bells" by the waiting crowd Santa lit up Dhamer Square, then held court for a very long line of kids with Christmas wishes.

Santa Rocks On Fox At Algonquin

Unseasonable temps were a mixed blessing at Algonquin's Rock on the Fox seasonal event Saturday.  It wasn't so cold that any of several hundred froze their toes.  However, it was so warm the abundant precip ran off in the gutters instead of accumulating to provide a handy matrix for the objects of the Village's second annual Candy Cane Hunt which had to be strewn across the grass.

Dickens-dressed Merry Maskers from Chicago--including a Huntley baritone--sang carols as kids and parents lined up to chat with Santa Claus.  The cookies and hot chocolate were pretty popular, too.

Deadline For Holiday Lighting Contests Fast Approaching

Today, the morning, anyway, will probably be the last chance to comfortably put up those outside Christmas decorations.  Time's running out to do that and to enter this year's decoration contests in Lake in the Hills and Algonquin.

December 15 is the judging date for LITH's Holiday Lights Contest.  Judges will evaluate houses for The Clark Griswold Award (see Christmas Vacation; over and over and over) and Best Overall Display. Winners will receive a gift certificate to a local restaurant. To enter, please call LITH Parks & Recreation Department at 847-960-7460.

To enter Algonquin's Holiday Lights Contest, download and submit the form here by Dec. 12:

http://www.algonquin.org/egov/docs/1320088227_717285.pdf

Algonquin's judging will be Dec. 18, likewise in two divisions: Most Spectacular and Green.  That last includes the use of natural or recycled materials, or energy-efficient ones.  The winning home from each category gets an annual family membership to the Algonquin Swimming Pool & Splashpad.

Sputnik Christmas Trees Return to Historical Society Museum

The McHenry County Historical Society Museum's bringing back Union businessman Dave Harms' homage to Christmas of bygone days when life was simpler.  F'rinstance the only colors on TV were black and white and, to hear Senator Joe McCarthy tell it, Red all over.

Saturday, the Museum in Union opened the show of aluminum Christmas trees, holiday advertising pieces, Santa displays and seasonal surprises dating back over 50 years. The museum will remain open free to the public during the week throughout December, starting Monday from 1 to 4 pm, weather permitting. It'll be closed Dec.23, 26 and 30, though.

Closing Illinois Institutions: Cost savings Or Cost Shifting?

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Closing mental health and developmental institutions in Illinois will save at least $50 million a year — eventually.  Lawmakers last week ensured that the Tinley Park, Singer and Chester mental health centers and the Mabely and Jacksonville developmental centers will stay open by shifting nearly $300 million in the state budget. Nevertheless,  Gov. Pat Quinn's administration is making plans to close some of those institutions within two and a half years.

The governor's office has proposed closing two mental health centers and up to four developmental centers, however, the names of those centers were not known. As many as 600 patients will be moved from state run facilities to community care settings.

The savings potential from closing half of the state's eight developmental centers is huge, Illinois could save more than $50 million. The savings from closing two mental health centers will be much harder to track, though, and may be more of a cost shift than an actual savings.

Mental health advocates and lawmakers are concerned that some patients, who are being treated in state hospitals, will end up in local jails or state prisons because they have no other place to go.  "The state may think it's going to save money, but they will not," said Marianne Bithos, president of the mental health advocate group, National Alliance on Mental Illness of the South Suburbs. "How can you save money when these people sit in an (emergency room) for three days or in jail for months?"

You can read Ben's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7261/closing-illinois-institutions-cost-savings-or-cost-shifting/

Professional Regulation

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

Frank's Sealcoating, Inc., Algonquin – ordered to cease and desist the unlicensed practice as a roofing contractor.

Mentor Toska, Gilberts – Loan Originator License  revoked after being convicted of a type of felony which falls within the lifetime ban.

Catherine Keinz, Wonderlake – licensed practical nurse license placed on indefinite probation for a minimum of two years for practicing outside the scope of practice.

Pharmacy technician license indefinitely suspended due to failure to file and/or pay Illinois state income taxes:Brett Skinner, Elgin

Real estate broker licenses indefinitely suspended due to failure to file and/or pay Illinois state income taxes: Scott Roy, Wauconda

Real estate salesperson licenses were indefinitely suspended due to failure to file and/or pay Illinois state income taxes: Israel Ballesteros, Pingree Grove; James Boehmer, Elgin; Jack Bogun, Barrington; Jillian Cirko, Crystal Lake; Elizabeth Martinez, Elgin.

Elizabeth Martinez, Elgin – real estate salesperson license revoked and fined $5,000 for making false promises of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or induce.

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.

PATRICK R. HUEBNER, DOB:  03/17/94, 1221 LOWE DRIVE, ALGONQUIN. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Algonquin PD

DEBBRA A. BOUDRIE, DOB: 11/03/60, 329 LAKE STREET #4, WOODSTOCK. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROPERTY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.--LITH PD

RAYMOND M. KASPER, DOB: 06/24/63, 1230 OLD MILL LANE, ALGONQUIN. PREDATORY CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD.--Algonquin PD

KYRIACOULLA SOLOMOU, DOB: 05/30/86, 881 TARALON TRAIL, LAKE IN THE HILLS. UNLAWFUL USE OF A CREDIT CARD.--Algonquin PD

STEVEN P. SCHULTZ, DOB: 12/06/89, 1731 WYNNFIELD DRIVE, ALGONQUIN. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2 COUNTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Algonquin PD

RYAN S. HAGER, DOB:  02/23/86, 515 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, MCHENRY. THEFT (2CTS)--Woodstock PD
  
CHRISTINA E. SUTTER, DOB:  09/25/84, 1040 BRIDEN DRIVE  APT 3, MARENGO. AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE.--Marengo PD
  
CLARK R. KELLY, DOB:  06/30/61, 1710 ROUTE 173, SPRING GROVE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2CTS).--McHenry PD

SHERMAN FREDRICK J. BLAIR, AKA: FREDRICK J. BLAIR, DOB:  08/11/73, 142 E. WOODSTOCK STREET OR 7215 BARD ROAD, CRYSTAL LAKE.  UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2CTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2CTS), UNLAWFUL  DISTRIBUTION OF A LOOK-ALIKE SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A LOOK-ALIKE SUBSTANCE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

JOHN A. NEVEITT, DOB:  09/29/88, 1007 PLYMOUTH LANE, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF  CANNABIS.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

DANIEL G. ZEPEDA, DOB:  07/04/60, 715 E. MAIN STREET, CARY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL  POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--Crystal Lake PD

STEVEN M. MANSON, DOB: 06/15/90, MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL, WOODSTOCK. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, THEFT (OVER $500), CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Woodstock PD

JAMES R. SOMMERFIELD, DOB: 07/21/81, 1619 BRENTWOOD DRIVE, ROUND LAKE BEACH. DISORDERLY CONDUCT.--Crystal Lake PD

SAUL A. ESCOBAR-RAMIREZ,  DOB: 06/27/92, 109 S. AYER STREET, HARVARD. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FRAUDULENT IDENTIFICATION  CARD.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

LORENZO J. HERNANDEZ, DOB: 10/19/93, 717 TOMAHAWK TRAIL, ROUND LAKE HEIGHTS. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, DOMESTIC BATTERY, UNLAWFUL  POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--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
December 3
0158 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & SCOTTY DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. CROCKET II, HAYDEN G., M/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 4161 BUNKER HILL, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving With a BAC Over 0.08, and Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0914 HRS INDUSTRIAL RD. & PYOTT RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. 33 year-old male driver transported to Sherman Hospital.
1225 HRS 3400 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Vehicle was damaged by a golf ball.
1326 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Three priors. Female, 15 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1549 HRS 250 N. RANDALL (C0STCO) RETAIL THEFT. Male suspect took multiple items without making payment. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1811 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Three vehicles.
1930 ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
December 2
0308 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) HIT AND RUN/DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. MARTINEZ, CONCEPCION G., F/W 23 YEARS OF AGE, 425 BERKSHIRE DR #25, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving with a BAC Over .08, No Valid Driver’s License, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Failure to Give Aid or Information, and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0716 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. One prior.
1454 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HOLLYHOCK CT. DOG BITE. Female, 80 years of age, bitten by a dog. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1634 HRS 10 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Juvenile female did not want to return home.
1705 HRS 500 BLOCK OF PAWNEE DR. BURGLARY TO A MOTOR VEHICLE. LED Flashlight, $15in change, and a Bluetooth headset were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.