Hearing On Sanctions Coming In Suit Against Sheriff

After a year's logjam, a Federal District Court Judge in Rockford appeared ready to clear the underbrush in former McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler's civil rights case against Sheriff Keith Nygren.  Judge Frederick Kapala Friday set Jan. 27 for a hearing on both sides' motions to punish the other for releasing secret court records to the public.

Nygren fired Seipler three years ago for falsifying a pair of minor traffic citations.  Seipler, who's been ordered reinstated by  a federal arbitrator, Circuit Court Judge and Appellate Court panel, filed the Federal suit claiming Nygren really fired him for challenging racial profiling of Hispanics at the Sheriff's Office.

The next hearing isn't about Seipler's firing, though.  A lot of the supporting documents in the case are under court seal but bits have been leaking out all year.  Seipler lawyer Blake Horwitz has accused Nygren or a confederate of releasing a deposition by subsequently-fired Deputy Scott Milliman charging the Sheriff's involved in illegal alien trafficking; the same for a report of an old domestic dispute between Seipler and his wife.  Nygren attorney Jim Sotos has charged Seipler personally posted to an anonymous blog old Sheriff's investigations of possibly drunken off-duty deputies speeding around the county beating each other up.

Kapala's order hasn't been posted to electronic file yet so it's unclear how much of the mutual recrimination he plans to listen to later this month.  Contacted Friday, Sotos seemed to want to argue the latest claims.  Horwitz, on the other hand, was reticent to speak and mostly off the record even about that.

Meanwhile, there's still no word on whether the Illinois Supreme Court has accepted Nygren's final appeal against putting Seipler back in uniform.

In the pic: Seipler at a political rally when he ran against the Sheriff in the last Primary.

Rakow Shutdown Set For Wednesday For Bicycle Bridge Placement

The snow hasn't halted Rakow Road reconstruction.  In fact, next week Rakow will be slower than ever as workers erect a bridge just east of Pyott road so bicyclists and hikers can cross Rakow without taking out extra life insurance.

The bridge is a prefab affair in three sections. The south end will be set in place Tuesday, the north one Wednesday.  Both of those will probably involve some flagging.  It's the center section, also scheduled Wednesday that'll shut the road down for about 15 minutes while it's lifted into position.  That's expected between 10 and 11 am. Weather permitting, of course.

Huntley Honors Bequest From Late Resident

The Huntley Village Board meeting opened Thursday with the formal acceptance of a what amounted to a $185,000 donation to the Village from native daughter, the late Florence Schaffeneger.

Nephew Tom Conley reminisced about his aunt, born Jan. 16, 1917, to Huntley residents Enos and Margaret (Weidner) Conley, later married to Chicago attorney John Schaffenegger.  He said between her husband's law practice and the farm at Route 47 and Reed Road, the family was pretty well off but lived a low-profile life. "When she died (two years ago) she still had her 1958 kitchen in the house," he said.

The Schaffeneger Trust donated $45,000 to the village after her death to spruce up Dhamer Square and another $140,000 just before this Christmas without any strings.  Village Manager Dave Johnson said the latest money's going into a fund to fix up the Downtown.

"I'm glad to see the money coming back to Huntley," Conley told the Board. "The town's been good to my family."

In the pic:  Florence Conley Schaffeneger with husband John in 1945. Nephew Tom Conley laughed that John had angled to avoid German U-boats with "safe" Pacific duty only to find himself aboard the battleship Nevada during Pearl Harbor.

New Law Clogs Shopping Lanes In Illinois

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
Cynthia Colletti headed to her local hardware store this week after the handle on her toilet broke.  While shopping she noticed signs in the plumbing aisle that read “Illinois Caustic/Corrosive Substances Act: Effective January 1st  2012” along with a description of the information customers would have to provide before purchasing caustic materials.

“I just think it’s an overreaction on the part of the Legislature. That if someone wants to make something a weapon, they’ll make it a weapon, and we can’t legislate that out of existence. It’s unfortunate, but people do bad things,” said Colletti, who lives in Springfield.  “… And as a consumer this just makes my life a little more difficult,” she added.

Anyone buying corrosive drain cleaners and other caustic materials must provide photo identification and sign a log, under the new law. The legislation was passed after Drano was used as a weapon in an attack against two Chicago women. The two separate attacks, which occurred more than five years ago, left both women with permanent scars across their faces as well as other bodily disfigurements.

The new law requires those who purchase drain cleaners and other caustic materials to sign a log with their name, address and signature; the date and time of the transaction; and the brand, product name and net weight of each item. Robert Chellios, general manager at an Ace Hardware in Springfield, said the logs won’t be collected regularly, but rather businesses will need to have them readily available at any given time for the state police to inspect.

Calls to the Chicago Women’s Foundation and the Battered Women’s Network in Chicago were not returned for their reaction to the consumers and retailers' comments on the implementation of the law. Former state Rep. Susana Mendoza, D-Chicago, and sponsor of this legislation, explained during a debate in the Legislature this spring how the products placed on this list can burn a hole through the skin and cause permanent disfigurement. Calls to Mendoza were not returned, either.
 
You can read Stepanie's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7473/new-laws-log-clogs-up-hardware-store-shopping-lanes-in-illinois/

McHenry County Indictments

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

DANIEL V. DEFRANCISCO, DOB:  02/02/86, 2881 MELBOURNE LANE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC BATTERY(2CTS), DOMESTIC BATTERY, ARMED VIOLENCE.--LITH PD

DARWIN L. BAKER, DOB:  04/09/67, 205 SANDBLOOM ROAD  #1, ALGONQUIN. UNLAWFUL RESIDENCE OF A CHILD SEX OFFENDER.--Algonquin PD

PATRICK D. BENNING, DOB:  08/04/92, 5060 HIGHWOOD LANE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

JESSICA L. PRIEST, DOB: 04/14/78, 1136 CARY ROAD, ALGONQUIN. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE (2 COUNTS), DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED.--Harvard PD

JOHN P. BOLGER, DOB: 07/02/77, 3816 HILLCREST PLACE, JOHNSBURG. AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO A POLICE OFFICER (4 COUNTS), RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER (3 COUNTS).
NATHAN E. LIVINGSTON, DOB: 02/18/87, 108 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, CARY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO A POLICE OFFICER (2 COUNTS), RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER (3 COUNTS).
HANNAH F. CARLSON, DOB: 09/12/87, 332 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE, ADDISON. RESISTING A POLICE OFFICER AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO A POLICE OFFICER (3 COUNTS), RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.--LITH PD

STEVEN R. HANSON, DOB:  08/11/88, 24830 KENNEDY AVENUE, KASASVILLE, WI. THEFT (OVER $500.)(3CTS), BURGLARY(3CTS), CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--Spring Grove PD

WILLIAM N. STEPHANSEN, DOB:  12/15/92, 40904 GRIDLEY DRIVE, ANTIOCH. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, UNLAWFUL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL.--Spring Grove PD
  
LUIS E. SARABIA, DOB:  01/01/94, 101 SUNSET DRIVE  1W3, CARY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY(2CTS).--Cary PD
  
JESSE A. WILLIAMS, DOB:  04/01/81, 4013 LILLIAN STREET, MCHENRY. LEAVING THE SCENE OF A PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENT.--McHenry PD
  
JOSEPH A. KRYC, DOB:  01/09/76,  4911 PYNDALE DRIVE, MCHENRY. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY(2CTS).--McHenry PD
  
WILLIAM A. WILLE, DOB:  04/21/89, LKA:  2200 N. SEMINARY AVENUE, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL USE OF A DEBIT CARD.--Woodstock PD
  
WILLIAM A. WILLE, DOB:  04/21/89, UNLAWFUL USE OF A DEBIT CARD(2CTS), THEFT (UNDER $500).--Crystal Lake PD
  
SHAWN E. DONNELLY, DOB:  07/02/72, 907 N. JEFFERSON STREET, HARVARD. DISORDERLY CONDUCT.--Harvard PD
  
CASSANDRA A. WELCH, DOB:  09/01/86, 503 EMERALD DRIVE, MCHENRY. THEFT (OVER $10,000).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

JACOB D. WAGNER, DOB:  08/05/92, 118 N. ROSE FARM ROAD, WOODSTOCK. THEFT (OVER $500).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
DOUGLAS M. SCHNEIDER, DOB:  07/01/87, 7920 RIDGEFIELD ROAD, CRYSTAL LAKE. DISORDERLY CONDUCT, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

DANIEL J. MCGRAW, DOB:  04/08/92, 2612 MARTIN DRIVE, SPRING GROVE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Spring Grove PD

JENNIFER P. SHERWOOD, DOB:  09/12/73, 4453 N. TROY STREET, CHICAGO. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--Spring Grove PD

CHARLES T. HURKLEY, DOB:  06/21/88, 2203 FAIRVIEW, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS.--McHenry PD
  
KRISTOFER G. KLEIN, DOB:  07/30/91, 631 PRAIRIE AVENUE, LOMBARD. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
JONATHAN P. SOTOS, DOB:  07/09/93, 439 MARY LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.--Island Lake PD

ASHLEY M. RZEPKA, DOB:  04/05/88, 818 ROUTE 176, ISLAND LAKE. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

  
ROSEMARY ZINK, DOB:  01/19/53, 2814 E. CHESTNUT DRIVE, WONDER LAKE. TIMOTHY W. ZINK, DOB:  12/28/51, 2814 E. CHESTNUT DRIVEWONDER LAKE. UNLAWFUL FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF AN ELDERLY PERSON, THEFT.--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
January 13
0742 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. DEATH INVESTIGATION. Female, 74 years of age, found unresponsive. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER.
1149 HRS 5000 BLOCK OF HIGHWOOD LN. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1818 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1909 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1912 HRS 8415 S. ROUTE 31. (BERQUIST MARINE) ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Deer. Property damage only.
1928 HRS 5000 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. DOMESTIC. Step-father vs. Step-daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
2030 HRS 400 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. BATTERY. Female vs. Female. FAIL TO FILE.

Huntley Board Approves Prep For New Tollway Interchange

The Huntley Village Board Thursday OK'ed measures to get ready for construction of Route 47's full interchange at I-90 and to extend Reed Road over to Coyne Station Road.

The Board approved selling a couple of "slivers" of Village property in the interchange footprint to the Tollway Commission so all the legal ducks will be in a row for construction this summer.  The village won't actually receive $193,000 from the Commission for the land.  Village Manager Dave Johnson told Trustee's there'll be a credit against the Village's share of the project's cost.

Johnson said final plans for the interchange are scheduled to go to the Commission and IDOT Monday with a call for bids likely in February followed by a contract in March.  He said construction would probably begin in mid-June.  In the interim, the plan is for Nicor and ComEd to get their lines relocated.  Based on the experience widening Route 47, said Johnson, "getting those utilities out of the way is absolutely crucial."

Trustee Pam Fender said constituents have been worried about how the interchange project will jibe with the Tollway's plans to widen I-90.  Johnson said the original plans for the interchange have been modified to accomodate the other project and that the interchange would go up before the widening starts.

The Board also approved a preliminary engineering study for an extension of Reed Road through the Talamore subdivision to connect to Coyne Station Road.  That project's not in the cards this year, not least because the precise route still hasn't been selected.

The Board OK'ed an agreement for Algonquin's Building Commissioner to serve as Huntley's on-call Chief Building Official.  Johnson said it just doesn't make financial sense right now to replace Keith Rooney who retired last year.  He said salary and benefits for a full-timer would run to six figures while using Algonquin's Craig Arps wouldn't likely come close to that kind of money.

In the pic: Details of the Route 47/I-90 interchange plans are here: http://www.huntley.il.us/economic_development/documents/FullInterchangeHuntley1-11-12.pdf

Special Prosecutors' Bills Topped $600,000 In Bianchi Case

McHenry County taxpayers learned the total bill Thursday for the failed prosecution of State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, $604,500.  The question remains how much of it they're going to have to pay.  The County's lawyer in the matter, Charles Colburn told Judge Gordon Graham Thursday it ought to be $249,831, tops.

Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen argued Graham set a fair hourly rate of $250 per hour when he appointed him and Henry "Skip" Tonigan to investigate charges Bianchi had ordered his secretary to do campaign work on County time.  In fact, he said, it was cheap since the Special Prosecutor who'd been appointed to investigate secretary Amy Dalby got $300 an hour.

That was a different case, said Colburn, but the real problem was that Illinois law says Special Prosecutors can't bill more in 12 months than the State's Attorney's yearly salary.  Colburn claimed on that basis all Tonigan and McQueen were due was $91.50 per hour.  "Circuit Judges make $95 per hour," he told  Judge Graham.

McQueen claimed he and Tonigan hadn't hit the wall since Graham had OK'ed their looking into charges of Bianchi prosecutorial favoritism, too. There were really two different cases, he argued.

Colburn responded that there was only one case number for everything.

Colburn also disputed the costs for Private Investigator Quest Consultants' forensic computer expert, Daniel Jerger.  Colburn said Jerger billed over $100,000 for work that was "virtually worthless from an evidentiary standpoint."

Graham set next Friday for a possible decision about how much the County's going to have to pay.

After the session County Administrator Peter Austin said if Graham chooses Colburn's number, the County would only have to pony up another $7,000 beyond what it's already paid the Prosecutors and their investigator.  However, McQueen had told the judge there are still some bills in the pipeline.  He said, for instance, he'd briefed but not billed an argument for the State Supreme Court to keep records sealed on how the Special Prosecutors went so far beyond their original mandate.

That brief apparently worked since the Court last week issued a one-line ruling upholding Graham's decision to keep the records closed.

In the pic:  Special Prosecutors Thomas McQueen and "Skip" Tonigan.

Editior's note:  An earlier version of this story referred to Judge Graham as an Associate Judge.  He, of course, was elected Circuit Judge in 2010.

No Audit, No Attorney Yet But Back To Court At Grafton

A Huntley police officer stood over Thursday's Grafton Township Board meeting where little was accomplished beyond paying some bills.  There was nothing notably controversial on the agenda and Supervisor Linda Moore refused to say why she'd asked for a police monitor.

On the bills, Road Commissioner Jack Freund complained Moore hadn't paid a $27,000 semi-annual payment due last month for the District to Harris Bank.  "I'm sure (the District) has the money," said Fruend.  Trustee Rob LaPorta wanted to know why the payment was late but Moore said the Board had already voted to approve Freund's bills so discussion about them was closed.

Moving on to the 2009-10 and 10-11 audits of the Township books, Moore said they still weren't done but would be "shortly".  That turned out to be, maybe, next week, at least for the first audit which was reported all but finished in August.  "We'll have to have a Special Meeting," fretted Trustee Betty Zirk.  "We're going back to court Jan. 20.  Judge Caldwell is going to be very unhappy if we don't have the audit done."

Zirk was referring to the interminable Moore lawsuit/Trustees' countersuit over who's usurping who's authority in Grafton Township.

In a sideshow to that conflict Moore fired the Township attorney but  Trustees rejected approving her personal attorney as a replacement. Thursday Moore again refused to appoint anyone else.  "Right now the Township has four attorneys," she claimed.  Trustee Rob LaPorta said Moore couldn't count her attorney John Nelson because if he sends bills for defending her in lawsuits brought by Assessor Bill Ottley and Freund, "He won't be paid."

That probably comes down to what Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell decides, though.  Last month Nelson argued Ottley's complaint that Moore won't pay his bills is really just another piece of the original Moore/Trustees dispute.  Caldwell will hold a hearing on that and on whether Ottley can have a different judge Jan. 24.

In the pic:  Grafton Trustee Barb Murphy was absent at Thursday's Board Meeting.

Players Far Apart On Illinois Pension Changes

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
As lawmakers prepare to return for session this year, Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders all count changes to the public employee pension system as a top priority, However, beyond that, agreement seems, for now, in short supply.

Quinn’s budget director, David Vaught, said many ideas to change the system are on the table. Both Quinn and Vaught have noted that the bulk of pension costs come from the Teacher’s Retirement System. “More than half of the money that we contribute every year is for teachers who are outside of the city of Chicago,” Quinn said. Senate President John Cullerton has pitched the idea of asking local school districts to pay teachers’ pension costs, and Quinn seems to be warming to that concept. Vaught said that cost-of-living increases given to retirees could be a target, too. “Some people say the (cost of living adjustment) is not protected constitutionally.”

House Minority Leader Tom Cross said that asking school districts and universities to pay would not solve the problem. “We’ve talked about pension reform in the state until we’re blue in the face. We know what needs to be done,” Cross said. He has a plan in which workers would keep all the benefits they have earned to date. But going forward, they could opt to either pay more for the same benefits that have now, take a cut in benefits and retire later or join what is called a defined contribution plan similar to a 401k. Cross has yet to bring his bill for a vote in the House, though.

“It hasn’t even been called," said Cullerton, "so apparently they don’t have enough votes for it.” He thinks the Cross plan is unconstitutional, anyway. “Politically, it would be real, for some people, just easy I guess to pass a bill, claim you did something, have it (blocked by the courts), spend millions of dollars in legal fees and then two years later find out it is unconstitutional." Cullerton said reform should be achieved through negotiations with unions.

Union officials argue that the pensions systems are facing problems because they have been underfunded by legislators. “The problem is not the cost of the modest benefits earned by teachers, police, caregivers and other public employees. The problem is the failure of politicians over decades to make adequate employer contributions,” said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees in a written statement.

Quinn has called for the creation of a working group to address the pension issue. It will be made up of lawmakers appointed by the legislative leaders and led by longtime Quinn adviser Jerry Stermer. Quinn said he wants to use the same collaborative model for negotiations that produced education reforms and workers’ compensation reform laws.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/push-for-pension-changes-grows-but.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
January 12
1021 HRS ANNANDALE DR. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. light pole. Property damage only.
1306 HRS ACORN LN. & MEADOW LN. HIT & RUN. Vehicle vs. street sign. Property damage only.
1518 HRS PYOTT RD. & IMHOFF DR. ACCIDENT. Vehicle slid into the ditch. Property damage only.
1531 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1902 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF CADBURY CIRCLE. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1945 HRS 300 BLOCK OF RAMBLE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 69 years of age, fell. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1949 HRS FRANK RD. & BOULDER DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2216 HRS 700 BLOCK OF MAYBERRY CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. Son. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
January 6
16:36pm McCombs, Korbyn R., DOB: 09/10/93, of 3N423 Laura Ingalls Wilder Road, St. Charles, was charged with DWLS.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 01/24/12 in McHenry County.
18:06pm Spiker, Nadine A., DOB: 05/28/68, of 6501 Silver Lake Road, Cary, was charged with Hit and Run.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 02/01/12 in McHenry County.
January 7
20:25pm Szwaja, Jozef, DOB: 04/04/73, of 3670 Grayhawk Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 02/29/12 in Algonquin.
23:11pm A 15 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at Westfield Elementary School, 2100 Sleepy Hollow Road.  He was formally Station Adjusted and then released into the custody of his mother.
January 9
01:38am Moore, Essie S., DOB: 11/19/54, of 1900 Elm Court Apt #2A, Hanover Park, was charged with DWLS and Expired Registration.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 02/15/12 in McHenry County.
14:20pm Williams, Tonya A., DOB: 11/05/89, of 360 Congdon Avenue, Elgin, was charged with Obstructing a Peace officer.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 02/09/12 in Kane County.
16:39pm Woelfel, James R., DOB: 04/02/61, of 1458 Bearflag Drive, Hanover Park and Hagestedt, Casey R., DOB: 07/14/90, of 107 Long Avenue, Schaumburg, were both charged with Felony Theft.  They were taken into custody at 1600 E. Algonquin Road.  They were both transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
January 10
14:29pm Perry, Sean Jason, DOB: 07/05/74, of 1431 W. 56th Avenue, Merrillville, IN, was charged with DWLS and Improper Display of Registration. He was also Wanted on a Warrant by the Illinois State Police for Failure to Appear on a DWLS charge. He was taken into custody at Route 62 and Ryan Parkway.  He posted $150 on the Algonquin charges with a court date of 02/15/12, in McHenry County.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await pick up by the Illinois State Police when unable to post bond on their warrant.
18:06pm Christiansen, Barton J., DOB: 08/22/49, of 11510 Algonquin Road #F, Huntley, was charged with DUI, DUI Over, No Proof of Insurance and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Square Barn Road and Bunker Hill Drive.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 02/15/12 in McHenry County.
January 11
14:44pm Patel, Priteshkumar R., DOB: 09/13/77, of 195 S. Oakleaf, Algonquin, 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 02/29/12 in Algonquin.
15:14pm McGinnis, Cara A., DOB: 04/25/92, of 1421 Blue Heron Drive, Crystal Lake, was charged with 2 counts of Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at TJ Maxx, 823 S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 02/15/12 in McHenry County.
16:10pm A 15 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.
January 12
14:53pm Alanis, Maria, DOB: 03/24/76, of 5506 Chancery Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Square Barn Road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 02/08/12 in McHenry County
17:42pm Solis-Hernandez, Sonia V., DOB: 05/16/73, of 9932 Chetwood Drive, Huntley, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License and Obstructed Windows.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and County Line Road.  She was released after posting $150 with a court date of 02/15/12 in McHenry County.

Don't Forget Your Boots, Honey. Aw, Mom....

The long-anticipated first snowstorm of 2012's still coming today, just slowly, according to area weather forecasters.  The night shift at the National Weather Service center in Romeoville predicts a mid to late-morning start for the storm for our area, still with a two to four-inch accumulation.

Buried in the technical analysis, however, is this comment: "It would not be at all hard to envision a band of snowfall totals in the 8 to 12-inch range."  Forecasters had no idea where that might occur,  if it occurs, however.  There's still a forecast of brisk winds, too, implying a good bit of drifting, especially if it's fluffy snow which the weathermen sort of expect.

The outlook is for the snow to start winding down after midnight tonight, ending everywhere by mid to late morning Friday.

Econ 101 Meets The Real World

Wednesday proved it's hard to have a gas price war in Algonquin when international oil buyers are freaked over the chance Iran might start a real one.

Somebody blew up the fourth Iranian nuclear scientist in a row Wednesday (there was rioting in Nigeria, too) pushing oil, hence, gasoline prices higher.  It was bad timing for the reopened Mobil Mart at Route 31 and Huntington which took a late morning gas delivery boosting the posted price to $3.54. According to a semi-secret price site for Chicago gasoline, that was about break-even for the day.

"Oh, yes," said nearby competitor Adel who uses no last name.  "I could tell when they raised their prices.  Everyone started coming here."  Adel's retail was still $3.49 since he was sitting on a load of gas he bought a few days ago when wholesale prices were lower.  "I don't play tricks with prices," he said.

"We're trying to keep our prices low," said Mobil Manager Maria Fisher, "but you have to make some money."  Be that as it may, by evening the Mobil Mart price was back down to $3.44.

"They can't keep that up," said Adel.

In the pic:  Five cents a gallon lower on a 20-gallon tank of gas is $1. That's enough to buy what used to be a 15-cent hamburger.

Veteran Area Educator Dies

For the first time in the 55 years of the Robert E. Hart District 300 Science Fair, its namesake and founder won't be present at the event next month. Robert "Bob" Hart, 86, of Algonquin died  peacefully Monday.  A 24-year D300 physics and chemistry teacher, Hart began the Illinois Junior Academy of Science in 1957 which eventually became the annual D300 Science Fair.

A memorial service and lunch will be held at 11 am Saturday, Feb. 4, at Christ Church of Oak Brook. A private burial at a later date will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood. Hart was born June 3, 1925, in Lafayette, IN, to Earl and Martha Hart. He is survived his children, Ellen (David) Caravella, Paul, Ann (Ben) Elliott and Kathy (Vinny) Camera; grandchildren, Allison, Eric and Rachel Hart, Will and Mary Elliott, Joy (Danny) Weaver, Nathan, Jesse, and Daniel Camera, and his brother,Dick (Christel), and sister, Marilyn (Saral) Malik. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Alice.

This year's Science Fair, Feb. 23 at Hampshire High, still needs judges, by the way.  The Fair represents the work of students from D300's three high schools, Jacobs, Dundee-Crown and Hampshire as well as the winning projects from the middle school science fairs at Algonquin, Westfield, Dundee and Hampshire.  Judges don't need to be science experts, just interested in talking with the students.  Info and signup forms are here: http://www.d300.org/news/30595

In the pic:  Long-time D300 science teacher, the late Bob Hart.

Almost Fireworks At Algonquin Township

The Algonquin Township Board wrangled over an intergovernmental agreement with Fox River Grove to store some computer and commo supplies just in case FRG ever had an emergency so bad it had to go somewhere else.  "We've been operating on a handshake but (Supervisor Diane Klemm) thought we ought to formalize it," said Highway Commissioner Bob Miller.

Trustees kicked the gong around for half an hour wondering if "equipment" might include a bulldozer, whether they were setting an inadvertent precedent and whether they might end up becoming a "bailee" to FRG if something (unspecified) ever happened to the Village's stuff in the Township closet.  Following a whirlwind of amendments, motions and recanted votes they finally approved a document pending proof of insurance from FRG.

"We just took a very simple thing...." said Trustee Dan Shea so dumbfounded he couldn't finish the thought.

"Yeah, but, you notice," said Trustee Joe Pawalowski, "it wasn't personal."

Separately, Miller reported if there isn't a lot more snow this winter, the contract the Road District had to sign last May's going to require it to buy more salt than he has anywhere to put it.  "We're just waiting," he said.

Funding Squabble Could Kill Illinois Coal-To-Gas Plant

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
It could be lights out for a proposed $3 billion coal-to-gas plant on the south side of Chicago. The Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utility companies in the state, Tuesday in favor of utility companies  Nicor Inc. and Ameren  buying 84 percent of the plant’s output and paying for 84 percent of the plant’s maintenance.

Chicago Clean Energy LLC, the plant's builder, has said that if the utility companies do not pay for all the plant’s maintenance and buy its entire  output, it would back away from the project because it would be financially unfeasible.

State Sen. Donnie Trotter, D-Chicago, who supports the project, said, “It is not the role of the commission to decide the terms of this project. It is definitely not the role of this commission to terminate this project by inserting uncalled for fatal provisions.”

Legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Pat Quinn last year created the legal pathway for the plant, which would convert coal into synthetic natural gas. Tuesday’s vote stems from Chicago-area gas utilities Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas making the surprise announcement late last year that they would not to do any business with the plant, resulting in the project not being fully funded. But the legislation said no single utility would have to buy more than 42 percent of the plant’s output.

The plant would burn Illinois coal and is touted as being 100 times cleaner than conventional coal power plants. The carbon dioxide from the conversation of coal to synthetic natural gas would be stored underground.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7448/funding-squabble-could-kill-coal-to-gas-plant-in-il/

In the pic:  Another Leucadia (owner of Chicago Clean Engergy) coal to gas plant.

Obituaries

Jeff W. Lebus, 63, of Dundee died at his home on Tuesday evening. Visitation will be Saturday from 9 am. until the time of Mass at 10:30 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley.

Lebus was born Oct. 30, 1948, in Chicago. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughters, Michelle (Alfredo) Caceres of Dundee, Kim (Tim) Carone of Cary; his grandson, Matias Caceres and his sister, Mary Ann Clancy of Grayslake

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Maryville Academy, Des Plaines.

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
January 11
0131 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & RUTH RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. BURNS, PATRICK J., M/W 35 YEARS OF AGE, 4303 BAYVIEW DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1625 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & FRANK RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BALABUSZKO, SABRINA, F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 18N732 WESTHILL RD., DUNDEE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
1110 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD., (LITH POLICE). INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Information for police. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1435 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MCPHEE DR. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Ordinance violations.
1516 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

LITH Board Assails CFI Plan--Again

The Lake in the Hills Village Board fired another blast Tuesday at a proposed plan to revamp the Randall/Algonquin Road intersection.  "Look at the businesses on the east side of Randall Road," said Village President Ed Plaza.  "We're going to have a ghost town there."

The Board gave initial approval for a new resolution saying they meant it back in 2008 when trustees said just adding more left turn lanes was the best way to improve the intersection.  McHenry County Division of Transportation would rather build a novel solution called a Continuous Flow Intersection which one local planner groused really means "You stop and then you stop again."

The stops would be for left turners in a stacking lane to the left of oncoming traffic and it's that lane that's giving the LITH Board fits.  Trustees maintain it would wall off direct access to Randall businesses near the intersection and require what Village Administrator Jerry Sagona drily called "a somewhat complicated frontage road system" for alternate access.

Plaza said he was afraid the CFI would kill the goose that lays LITH's golden sales tax revenue egg  charging no one's ever tried to retrofit a CFI to a built-up business area.  In the handful of other CFI's in the U.S. he said,  "First they built it, then they had the development."

Trustee Paul Mulcahy was still worried about traffic safety, too.  "When we've talked to the County they've downplayed the issue of driver confusion," he said. He predicted "increased accident rates," from drivers trying to navigate the unfamiliar style of intersection.

The Board's expected to give final approval Thursday to send the resolution to  McHenry County, MCDOT and members of the County Board Transportation Committee. Several of the latter were at Tuesday's meeting, anyway, though.

The Board's, likewise, expected to give final approval Thursday to negotiate an agreement to annex a former bit of the Village of Cary near Route 31 and Virginia Road where a Bartlett company wants to build an asphalt recycling plant.  The Cary Board sliced it off over worries about possible contamination from cancer-causing chemicals. Southwind RAS attorney Rich Geurard said Cary just scared itself, however.  "We submitted two studies," he said.  "They took theirs from the Internet."

Guerard said all Southwind plans to do is grind up asphalt shingles, "the shingles that are on your roof", and sell the asphalt-rich sand to paving contractors.  Guerard showed a video claiming the stuff's in the mix on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.

Assuming an annexation agreement's reached, it would still have to go past another public hearing, then a final vote by the LITH Board.

In the pic:  A closeup of changes planned near the Randall/Algonquin intersection.  The impacts would actually run from as far north as Acorn Lane to as far south as the Bunker Hill/Stonegate intersection.  Click for the big picture.

Algonquin To Approve Another Moneymaker Agreement

The Algonquin Village Board gave first approval Tuesday to another "Village for Hire" agreement, this time with Huntley to provide Chief Building Official and plan review services for residential and small business projects.

Algonquin Village Manager Bill Ganek said the measure for as-needed, as-available services is similar to others Algonquin's already made with nearby villages and agencies.  The Village already provides fleet maintenance for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District and the Pingree Grove PD, IT services for ALFPD and Huntley PD and building inspection services for Carpentersville.

Under the intergovernmental agreement, Huntley would use Algonquin officials to complete plan reviews for small projects and tenant build-outs of existing buildings. It would still call in a private contractor to review plans for larger projects. Algonquin would also provide the services of a Chief Building Official to explain, interpret,and provide oversight on Huntley codes and policies to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, residents, and other interested parties. Supervision  Huntley building inspectors would stay with Huntley.

Huntley's Board will take the matter up Thursday and Algonquin's is expected to give final approval next week.

Area Preps For Snow Thursday

"Mother Nature is poised to close the books on Spring Part One," said National Weather Service forecaster Gino Izzi at area headquarters in Romeoville this morning. He was talking about snow  and colder temperatures headed toward northeastern Illinois due Thursday morning.

Area road crews began preparing Tuesday for what NWS forecasters hesitantly predicted would be a 4 to 6 inch snowfall.  Weathermen were more sure whatever fell was going to blow around a lot with fairly high winds and MCDOT began spraying Supermix pre-treatment Tuesday on major County roads to make plowing faster.

Thursday's snowfall will end an unseasonably warm early Winter that at least saved area taxpayers money on salaries and salt.  Against that, however, LITH Public Works Director Fred Mullard observed the past few weeks' daily cycle of warm daytime temps followed by freezing nights may actually have been rougher on roads than usual.  "If it would have stayed at 20 or 30 degrees, then we would have minimum potholes," he said.

How bad's it been?  "Ask me in March or April," said Mullard.

In the pic:  First a cold front this evening, then an extended period of light to moderate snow Thursday into Friday is what NWS forecasters call for this morning.

Quinn Signs Tax Breaks, Calls For Pension Changes

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Gov. Pat Quinn Tuesday signed a tax break for low-income workers and said changes to the public employee pension systems are a top priority for him in 2012. Quinn signed a new measure to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit from 5 to 10 percent of the federal credit over two years but not 2011 whose taxes will be due in April.

Supporters of the increase argue that it will help to spur local economies. Quinn said. “There are some who think that the Earned Income Tax Credit and tax relief for working families is not part of job creation, and they’re just plain wrong.”

But opponents of the credit, part of a package that also offered tax breaks to businesses threatening to leave the state, said Illinois cannot afford to hand out tax cuts.  “Where will the money come from when we have $8 billion in unpaid bills, we have debt, our credit score is going down the tubes, we’re listed as the 48th worst-run state in the union?” asked Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican.

Quinn said now he wants to address growing pension costs to free up revenue for spending on education, public safety and health care. “This is a major mountain to climb this year, and I’m willing to lead the expedition,” Quinn said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/quinn-signs-tax-breaks-says-he-is-ready.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
January 10
0555 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD CT. FOLLOW UP ARRESTS: CURFEW. JUVENILE, F/W 15 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Curfew. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1910 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WILLOW ST. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
2011 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 7 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

D300 OK's Early 2012 Start, Argues Over Red Ink Budget Projections

The District 300 Board of Education Monday opted for another early start for the next school year but decided it was it a little too early to throw in the towel on deficit financing for next year's budget.

The schedule choice was whether to start in the middle of the week in the middle of August or even earlier so high school students could put in five straight days of getting up to speed.  Administrators favored the latter and so did the Board, even though a Monday, Aug. 13, start would jam first semester finals up against Christmas Break.  Superintendent Bregy said that was tight but observed that when finals come after the break, despite the best intentions to study over the holidays, most kids don't.

A lot of parents told  Board members to start school later.  Several said they'd received a blizzard of emails and phone calls from families who didn't want Summer cut short for grade-schoolers.  Member Suzie Kopacz said neither schedule would make everyone happy explaining, "I will make a choice for academic reasons, not for vacation reasons."

Turning from calendar to pocketbook issues, Member Joe Stevens set off a squabble after Financial Officer Cheryl Crates ran through "version 2" of next year's draft budget which currently dips into the district's scanty savings to blot up red ink.  "I don't want to lave the impression we're willing to eat a $2.5 million deficit," Stevens said.

Finance Committee Board Member, Dave Alessio said a lot of the numbers were mostly conjectural at this point.  "Every year we finish three, four or five million (dollars) ahead of projections," he said.  "They're just estimates."

"This is kind of worst case scenario," added Committee Chairman Board Member Chris Stanton.

Whether the projections are really the worst case won't be known for a while, though.  For instance, teachers took what amounted to a pay freeze this year but the contract was only for 12 months.  Crates said the draft budget assumes they'll settle in the next contract for a two percent seniority raise and a one-percent increase for taking more education courses.

The other big question mark is the cost of health insurance, said Crates.  How much that's going to rise won't be known for a while, either, she said.

In the pic:  Dundee Crown fashion student Senior Whitney Potts (right) presented Superintendent Michael Bregy  with a quilt Monday.  It was made from nine years' worth of his old D300 boosterwear.  DC fashion instructor Jackie Paver advised on the project.

State Rep. Passes On Legislative Scholarships

State Rep. Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) Monday announced he's turning down General Assembly Scholarships for consituents' kids because of the State's budgetary troubles.  The General Assembly Scholarship Program allows legislators to award up to eight scholarships each year to cover tuition at State universities.

“Illinois just had its ninth bond downgrade in the past four years and the State is facing billions of dollars of unpaid bills," said Gaffney whose 52nd district will cover the eastish parts of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills in the March Primary.  "We need to look at every option available to save taxpayer dollars. This not the time to be awarding Legislative Scholarships," he said.

Gaffney's decision by itself is largely symbolic, forgoing about $115,000, max, in expenditures.  If the whole program were axed it would save $13.5 million, though, according to Gaffney's figures.

In the pic:  Gaffney at a LITH town meeting a few months ago.

LITH Youth Group Meets With Adult Sponsors

Lake in the Hills Rotary held its first joint meeting Monday with its Interact youth service club.
The new group of teens has already helped out at LITH Rotary's recent Mobile Food Pantry food distribution and assisted at McHenry County's PADS shelter.

Most Interact clubs are organized by school like the one based at Jacobs High school but the LITH one's geographic.  "With four different school districts in Lake in the Hills it's almost tailor-made for our community," said Rotary President Jim Wales.

LITH Interact has 15 members including students from Huntley, Marian Central, Hampshire and Prairie Ridge high schools but they'd like to add more.  "It's free," reminded club Secy Erika Huckins.

Eastgate Site For AAYO Walk-In Registration Saturday

The Algonquin Area Youth Organization has a new walk-in site Saturday for 2012 registrations.  Algonquin's Eastgate Branch Library's the place for in-person signups from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm in the downstairs meeting room.

AAYO has instructional and league softball and baseball programs for kids 5 to 17.  Walk-in newbies will need a birth certificate and cash or check.  Online registration takes credit cards, though.  It's at: http://www.active.com/baseball-league/algonquin-il/aayo-2012

In the pic:  AAYO Commissoner Dan Black gives the 2011 Baseball Coach of the Year award to Kerry Williams.  Sam Halpin won the Softball Coach of the Year Award.

Failed Security Program Brings Criminal Accusations

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Missing and unused equipment and lack of training is what more than $45 million of taxpayers’ money got Cook County residents. A report released last week by the state Office of the Inspector General outlined the failings of Project Shield, a state program to create a network of video cameras and other devices so municipal first responders in Cook County could move faster in major emergencies.

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-5th District and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to launch a criminal probe into how contractors made decisions and how Cook County spent grant money for the program called Project Shield. “We may have more than just a problem of lackadaisical management. This program may have been looted by Cook County officials and the primary and secondary contractors involved,” Kirk said.

Kirk pointed to 168 changes made to contracts during the project’s first four years. The changes all increased the cost of the project — one change alone increased the cost by $413,555 — but there was no documentation of what specifically the extra cost went toward, according to the report. “Money was paid to contractors and subcontractors for additional or different work and yet we have no idea what they did or how it was accounted for,” Kirk said.

Cook County originally was awarded $58.7 million for the project through Urban Areas Security Initiative grants, which were funneled through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, but only spent $45 million before the program was nixed last June.  “Project Shield expenditures were not adequately authorized, supported, and verified. The weaknesses can be attributed to Cook County’s inadequate management of the project, as well as the ineffective monitoring by FEMA and the State of Illinois,” the Inspector General's report said.

Quigley said he was dismayed by the possibility of a taxpayer boondoggle so significant, not only because of the money wasted. “There is a deficiency of trust that we are facing when things like this happen. We can calculate the loss to taxpayers, but I will assure you the greatest cost is the deficiency of trust,” Quigley said.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7441/failed-security-program-prompts-criminal-accusations-in-illinois/

In the pic: Police departments were given new equipment but complained no one told them how to use it in Project Shield.

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
January 9
1501 HRS MILLER RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Delayed from 010612. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1929 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF HORIZON RIDGE. IDENTITY THEFT. Fraudulent activity on complainant’s credit card.

Investigation Continues Into Deputy's Child Sex Charges

A nine-year McHenry County Sheriff's Office veteran and Internet crimes against children specialist will appear in Circuit Court Jan. 27 for arraignment on 10 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13.

Sgt. Gregory Pyle, 36, of Crystal Lake surrendered at McHenry County Jail at 11:35 pm Saturday and was released 45 minutes later after posting $20,000 of a $200,000 bond.  Pyle had been placed on administrative leave Friday evening in connection with a "domestic issue", according to an MCSO news release at the time.

A Jail spokesman Sunday referred all questions to the Illinois State Police who, in turn, referred inquiries to Public Information Officer Monique Bond.

Bond Sunday said the McHenry County Sheriff's Office received a complaint about Pyle at 7:10 pm Friday and immediately handed it off to the State Police.  She said investigators at her agency settled on charges against Pyle and secured a warrant for his arrest Saturday, although she didn't know at what time.  Bond said she also didn't know whether the charges against Pyle involved only one child.

"This is very early in an ongoing investigation," she said.

FEN was unable to contact Sheriff Keith Nygren Sunday although both a man and a woman hung up the phone listed for Nygren's residence in Wisconsin when FEN called.  A news release sent to traditional newspapers Sunday quoted Nygren saying, “We are deeply concerned any time a department member has violated the honor of this organization.”

FEN was likewise unable to contact the State's Attorney's Office.  The Chicago Tribune, however, reported newly-appointed Criminal Division chief Michael Combs told a reporter Pyle's alleged assaults spanned a period from 2006 to 2010.

Pyle was one of only four Illinois law enforcement officers awarded an Illinois Attorney General's scholarship in 2007 for training at the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force national meeting to prevent sexual exploitation of children.

In the pic:  McHenry County Sheriff's Sergeant Greg Pyle at a S.W.A.T. exercise several years ago.

Student-Organized Music Group Attracts Big Names

A Huntley student-ran music group “Project Two” will perform a “JERSEY BOYS” tribute
concert Tuesday with John Michael Coppola, a member of the Broadway hit's Chicago cast.

The group was founded by vocalist Dylan Ladd and includes eight singers and eight instrumentalists from Huntley High School. The show will feature songs from the Tony award-winning musical based on the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The concerts Tuesday, 7pm in Sun City Huntley’s Drendel Ballroom and is presented by the Sun City Community Association of Huntley. Tickets for the event cost $8 for Sun City residents and $13 for the public, with a $5 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Sun City CAM Desk inside of Drendel Hall, or at (847) 515-7650.

In the pic:  "Project Two" appeared at Huntley's Fall Fest a few months ago, too.

MCC Offers Free Seminars For College Adults

Adults who are interested in earning a college degree or certificate but are hesitant about returning to college, can allay their fears with a free “Getting Started” seminar at McHenry County College Friday from 10 to 11:30 am. The event gives returning adults--out of high school and out in the world for a while--a chance to meet other students like themselves.

Helen Jost, adult recruitment coordinator at McHenry County College, specializes in helping returning adults get started at MCC. “Many adult students have jobs and families and worry about getting back into the swing of attending classes, studying and taking tests and being in a classroom with younger students,” Jost said. “These worries can be put to rest by the first day of class,"  she said.

Attendees will learn about degree and certificate requirements, start the financial aid process and tour the MCC campus. MCC also offers free tutoring and academic advising to students.

“Getting Started” seminars are free of charge and are offered each month. To reserve a seat, call (815) 455-8914 or e-mail hjost@mchenry.edu.

Illinois Puts Self At Front Of Payment Line

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois owes a lot of money to a lot of people, including itself, and thanks to legislation passed in 2010, the state is in the front of the line to get repaid. Under the emergency budget act, the state was able to borrow $500 million from hundreds of funds, including the Illinois Animal Abuse Fund and Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, to balance its budget.

While the funds were being depleted, the state was putting off paying the money it owed to businesses, health-care providers and schools. The inter-fund borrowing stopped June 30, 2011, and according to the same legislation that authorized the borrowing, that money must be paid back within 18 months, or by Jan. 1, 2013.

But there’s no similar deadline for tackling the ever-present $4.4 billion backlog of bills the state owes to the vendors and companies with whom it does business. Both sets of bills will be paid off with money from the general fund, the state’s main checking account that’s refilled by revenue from taxes, fees and other sources.

“Do the vendors get squeezed by this? Sure,” said Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed borrowing to pay off the old bills. He reasons that the state essentially has borrowed from the vendors without their permission, and the state could get a lower interest rate on bonds than what it pays vendors on overdue bills. That plan has so far fallen flat in the General Assembly.

 The lion’s share of the state’s inter-fund borrowing will be paid off by June, according to Quinn’s three year budget plan. The remaining debt would be paid by the start of 2013. “This money is repaid with interest, the same interest it would collect if it was sitting in the (general) fund, so no loss of money,” said Kelly Kraft, Quinn’s budget spokeswoman.

The inter-fund borrowing is in no way the same as the practice of Quinn’s predecessor, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said Kraft. Blagojevich would empty funds to pay for expenses without any intention of ever repaying the money.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7431/llinois-puts-self-at-front-of-payment-line/

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
January 8
0616 HRS HARVEST GATE & COOL STONE BEND. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. EUBANKS, WESLEY, M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 25 PERSHING AVE., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. RELEASED ON BOND.
L12-000358 1103 HRS 4500 W. ALGONQUIN. (7-ELEVEN) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. REGUL, JACOB A., M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 5521 CHANCERY WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Suspended Registration. RELEASED ON BOND.
2324 HRS ANDERSON DR. & JOSEPH CT. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS. BALLENO, RUBEN ADOLFO, M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 1300 PARKVIEW TERRACE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Unlawful Possession of Cannabis. RELEASED ON BOND.
0000 HRS 100 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0348 HRS 400 BLOCK OF THUNDER RIDGE. BATTERY. Male vs. Male. FAIL TO FILE.
1303 HRS 600 BLOCK OF DAVID ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother and father vs. daughter. No priors. Female, 16 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital for an evaluation. FAIL TO FILE.
1322 HRS 700 BLOCK OF GRANITE CT. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1432 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1636 HRS 200 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. Wife. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1700 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. Daughter. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
moretocome

Sheriff's Sergeant Released On Bond

McHenry County Sheriff's Sergeant Greg Pyle posted $20,000 against a $200,000 bond and was released this morning on charges a McHenry County Jail Sergeant said he was not allowed to disclose.  All inquiries were directed to the Illinois State Police but a District 2 officer in Elgin said this morning they could only be answered by an ISP spokesman who did not answer her phone and whose voicemail was full.

According to a knowledgeable source, Pyle, a member of the Sheriff's S.W.A.T Team, was the subject of a police search Friday and Saturday before he turned himself in late Saturday night.  According to the same source, confirmed by another, Pyle was charged with 10 counts of criminal sexual assault, some of which specified a victim under the age of 13.

A Sheriff's press release Saturday, withheld from FEN, said an unidentified sheriff's officer had been placed on administrative leave Friday night following a "domestic issue" in Crystal Lake Friday.

FEN was unable to contact Sheriff Keith Nygren or Undersheriff Andrew Zinke this morning.

Planning Survey Online To Seek D300 Feedback

District 300 8th Grade students and high school seniors will take a student survey Monday and parents will start to receive mail questionnaires the same day as the District begins to gather feedback from "stakeholders".  One interactive version is already posted online for the survey to be conducted until the end of the month.

The survey's are supposed to help guide district planning and asks for perceptions on a variety of issues related to the D300 school system including the quality of education, the School Board, teachers and administrators, finances and communications.

The online anonymous survey, including some open-ended questions to which respondents can actually write their own answers is at: https://survey-admin.ecragroup.com/index.php?sid=28137&newtest=Y&lang=en

IL Residents Take Smart Meters To Court

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
A debate over the usefulness of smart meters versus potential security and privacy in the Illinois city of Naperville has spilled into the courts. A Naperville group is asking that the city’s planned installation of smart meters be halted until residents can vote on a nonbinding referendum about them in March.

Smart meters allow consumers and utility companies to monitor electricity usage more closely. The meters report usage to the company throughout the day via wireless transmitters, while at the same time, the utility company can “talk” to the meters, adjusting power usage and distribution. Opponents say the technology has been developed and deployed so quickly that it is vulnerable to security breaches. They say information intended only for utility companies and their customers could be hacked and stolen.

Last year the Legislature passed a Smart Grid law allowing automatic rate hikes over the next decade to pay for upgrade to the utility infrastructure operated by Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison Co. The utility companies say electric rates will decrease over the long term thanks to grid improvements. Naperville purchases its electricity from a wholesale utility company not covered by the smart grid legislation.

“Everything that happens there is particular to the city of Naperville. The smart grid legislation was not the trigger,” said Phillip Mueller, vice president of government affairs for Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, which sells electricity to Naperville. McNamara said a federal court ruling if it's adversse in the Naperville case, however, could be used in a case against Ameren or Commonwealth Edison.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7421/il-residents-take-battle-against-smart-meters-to-court/

Professional Regulation

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

Andrew Carr, Lake in the Hills – chiropractic license indefinitely suspended for failure to file and/or pay Illinois state income taxes.

Kelly Walker, Algonquin – nail technician license issued and placed on non-reporting probation for one year due to his felony conviction.

Jeffrey Flagg, Crystal Lake – funeral director and embalmer license restored to indefinite probation effective upon payment of fees and filing of forms.

John Michon, South Barrington – physician and surgeon license reprimanded and fined $5,000 for negligently violating the confidentiality between physician and patient.

Lesley White, McHenry – nursing home administrator license suspended for one year for a failure to report an incident of abuse.

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
January 7
1827 HRS 200 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. DOMESTIC. Husband vs Wife. Verbal only. No priors