Irony Intrudes On Grafton Legal Maneuvers

Grafton Assessor Bill Ottley was late Friday to Circuit Court where he's suing Supervisor Linda Moore for not paying his bills.  He said he was late because there was a flat on one of the Assessor's van's worn out tires, tires he says he can't replace because the tire shop wants cash up front.

Thursday evening Ottley'd asked the Grafton Board for to tell Moore to write a check for $285 so he could put new tires on the vehicle, complaining that his vendors won't extend credit anymore because of Moore's alleged erratic bill payment.  Moore said she'd go to the tire shop with him to pay for the tires with the Township's credit card.

Ottley was disappointed at Friday's appearance.  Moore attorney John Nelson didn't show up but sent another attorney to ask judge Thomas Meyer for another 30 days to answer Ottley's request for a judgement against Moore without a hearing.  Meyer gave Nelson seven, instead.

Moore declined comment Friday before FEN could start a question.

Boarding 4 Breast Cancer Event Coming To Algonquin

Raging Buffalo Snowboard Ski Park and Team Ta Tas are holding a “Board for Breast Cancer” fundraiser next Saturday, Feb. 18 at the park in Algonquin from 9 am to 3 pm.  Proceeds from the event will benefit Team Ta Tas, a group which participates in the Woodstock Care4 Breast Cancer 5K run/walk each year.

The team, led by Algonquin businesswoman Tina Hueppe, raises money for uninsured women who are patients at Family Health Partnership Clinic and in need of breast cancer screenings, prevention and educational services.  Board for Breast Cancer is free to attend and includes raffles (dinners, massage packages, salon services, etc.) and a bake sale.  There is a cost if you plan to snowboard. For more information try  www.ragingbuffalo.com/b4bc or email Tina Hueppe at chueppe@comcast.net.

Franks Heads Commission To Cut Government Bodies

Members of the Illinois Local Government Consolidation Commission chose rural McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) as their head at the groups first meeting this week.  It was Franks' legislation that create the Commission to review the effectiveness and impact of local units of government.

“Illinois has over 7,000 units of local government, thousands more than the next closest state,” continued Franks. “As we find ways to reduce the size of state government, we can also save hundreds of millions of dollars by identifying opportunities for collaboration and consolidation in local levels of government.”

The Commission consists of representatives from county, municipal and township levels of local government. In addition to legislators of both parties, public libraries and park districts also have representation on the committee. A final report is due to the General Assembly by the end of the year.

Probably the first order of business will be to identify government bodies that only exist on paper anymore, for example, drainage districts that disappeared decades ago.  Send them to   Franks via email at Jack@jackfranks.org, by mail at 1193 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock, IL 60098 or by phone at (815) 334-0063.


In the pic:  In 1885 the Legislature decided Drainage Districts where construction was finished could get by with only one commissioner.  But if he died, who'd notice the annual financial reports to the county or circuit court weren't being filed anymore?

Warm Winter Heats Up Illinois Tourism

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
This winter is Illinois’s sixth warmest on record and the unseasonable temperatures have  contributed to an increase in tourism for December and January in Illinois, according to the most recent data from tourism offices statewide. Statistics from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity show that winter tourism is up in Illinois by an estimated 5 percent.

Directors from tourism bureaus in southern, central and northern western Illinois are reporting higher numbers of visitors this season. Records from Springfield's director of tourism, Kim Rosendahl, show that Springfield saw a 24 percent increase this December over last. Visits to the majority of historical sites also were up this December, said Dave Blanchette, spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which monitors historical sites and memorials throughout Illinois. Of the 50 operated by his agency, Blanchette said only five didn’t see an increase of visitors.

Outside attractions like the Abraham Lincoln’s New Salem residence saw an increase of nearly 7,000 visitors from December 2010 to this past December.  “This December was extremely mild. And when people don’t have ice and snow to tend with, they want to get out more,” Blanchette said. These numbers come at a crucial time for historic sites in Illinois. As a whole for 2011, the number of visitors was down from 2 million in 2010 to 1.9 million.

So far, this year’s increase of winter tourism brought the state roughly $2 million for December and January through hotel taxes. The amount doesn’t include any money that tourists may have spent on food, souvenirs, or gasoline. That number won’t be available until June. “It has a tremendous ripple effect in those communities. The smaller the community the bigger the ripple effect. And in some communities these historic sites are the only economic engine that they might have,” Blanchette said.

You can read Stephanie's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7633/warmer-winter-brings-more-than-an-increase-in-temperatures-to-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
February 10
1850 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING WITH NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. MARTINEZ, MARIA L., F/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 560 SOMERSET #6, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving with No Valid Drivers License, Disregarding A Traffic Control Devise. RELEASED ON BOND.
1146 HRS 400 BLOCK OF OAK ST. SEXUAL ASSAULT. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1348 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. median. Property damage only.
1421 HRS 300 RANDALL RD. (LOWES) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1898 VIRGINIA RD. & ROUTE 31. INJURY ACCIDENT. 3 vehicles. Female, 15 years of age, hand injury. Transported to Woodstock Hospital. Male, 54 years of age, neck injury. Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
1625 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. One vehicle. Property damage only.
1844 HRS ROUTE 31 & VIRGINIA RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1920 HRS 311 N. RANDALL RD. (AMC SHOWPLACE) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2045 HRS 400 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2302 HRS 211 N. RANDALL RD. (STEAK & SHAKE) DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Received threatening phone call.
Algonquin
February 6
09:06am A 16 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Battery.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his father.
16:04pm Franco, Jose G., DOB: 05/15/65, of 253 Riversview Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS and Disregarding a Stop Sign.  He was taken into custody in the 1500 block of S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 03/14/12 in McHenry County.
17:55pm Mulroe, William E., DOB: 02/12/69, of 1625 Teri Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 1625 Teri Lane.  He was transported to Kane County Jail to await a bond hearing.
February 7
00:46am A 17 year-old female from Elgin was charged with Retail Theft and Resisting a Peace Officer.  She was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  She was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of her mother.
12:22pm Moreno, Juan C., DOB: 07/29/66, of 115 College Street, Elgin, was charged with DWLR, No Proof of Insurance, Improper Bumpers and No Valid Safety Certification.  He was taken into custody at Edgewood and Route 31.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 03/21/12 in McHenry County.
15:31pm A 15 year-old male from Huntley 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 03/28/12 in Algonquin.
17:14pm Patel, Rita, DOB: 03/05/74, of 12206 Bartelt Lane, Huntley, was Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Endangering the Life of a Child.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was released after posting $200 with a court date of 03/14/12 in McHenry County.
February 8
20:35pm A 17 year-old female from Algonquin and a 17 year-old female from Carpentersville were both charged with Retail Theft.  They were both taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  They were both referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of their parents.
February 9
00:56am Arjmand, Michael P., DOB: 04/05/92, of 18 Ascot Lane, Barrington, was charged with DWLS.  He was taken into custody in the 2100 block of Lake Cook Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 03/14/12 in McHenry County.

IRS Recants "Taxable Income" Dinners Says Attorney

In a rebuke to Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore, an attorney for Assessor Bill Ottley told the Township Board Thursday that an IRS agent had recanted a ruling that in-kind benefits were taxable income for officials and employees.  Later an attorney for the Road Commissioner Jack Freund said because of that and alleged errors in a financial audit, the Road District would hire a CPA to review its books and make sure it's properly represented to the IRS.

Moore last week had sent trustees an Internal Revenue Service tax audit finding that insignia clothing for Ottley's assessors, dinners at McHenry County Council of Governments meetings for trustees and Freund's taking a truck home for road inspections when it's going to snow were all taxable income to them.  Ottley attorney Michael Poper said the agent who conducted the audit told Huntley and another village this week that MCCoG dinners weren't taxable, after all, and he said the rest were dubious. "We've asked for another (audit)" said Poper.  "We've asked the for the State of Illinois to come in," he added.  "We don't want to fight it but our employees are being penalized."

Ottley, Freund and the rest of the Board have three separate lawsuits pending against Moore and Trustee Gerry McMahon charged the tax audit was simple harassment.  "I'm not the Internal Revenue Service," said Moore.  "You're the one who called the IRS," McMahon shouted back.

Moore had already had withholding adjustments made based on the original IRS notification so trustees voted to have her restore everything to the way it was and said they wouldn't pay the bill for the company she hired to make the changes.

Trustees also declined to pay an $18,000 bill for the long-delayed audit of the Township and Road District 2009 and 2010 financial records because they still aren't done or, (a five-way shouting match including audience members had broken out here) if they are, they haven't been presented to the Board.  Trustee Rob LaPorta said the auditor refused to explain why he hasn't presented the reports, claiming Moore told him not to say. LaPorta read a letter to the firm from the Trustee's attorney asserting that the auditor's fiduciary responsibility is to the entire Board.  "The Township Supervisor has no independent authority," he read.

Freund told the Board the auditor bungled a draft report on his books, anyway, citing three pages worth of what he said were errors. That's when Freund's attorney Pat Coen said the Road District, for whom Moore functions as treasurer, would hire its own CPA from now on.

Further developments are expected today when Ottley will be in court against Moore.  He told the Board the vendor for his website where residents can research their property assessments has threatened to pull it down because Moore hasn't paid its bills properly.

In the pic:  Michael Poper, attorney for Assessor Bill Ottley (second from left) told Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore Thursday "If you want to play the game, we'll play the game."  Attorney Pat Coen and his client, Road Commissioner Jack Freund (middle and right) are suing Moore, too.

Snow For Return Rush Hour, Cold And Wind After

Snow is likely this afternoon into the early evening over northeast Illinois, according to National Weather Service forecasters this morning.  Meteorologists said they weren't  expecting this to be a big snow event with generally an inch or two expected most areas. "Locally 3 inches is not out of the question," one said, however.

"Snowfall this afternoon could hit rather suddenly," said Gino Izzi at the Chicago NWS center in Romeoville. "Most...in the short period of time right before Friday afternoon rush hour," he said.

Wind chills will drop below zero tonight over northern Illinois with subzero wind chills likely Saturday morning and again Saturday night into Sunday morning. There's a chance of light snow Monday into Tuesday of next week, according to the latest forecast.

Second Annual Snowflake Festival In Huntley Sunday

The weather forecast this weekend means Huntley Park District's Second Annual Snowflake Festival,  will probably actually have some Sunday despite a heretofore unseasonably warm Winter,

The Festival which last year drew a crowd of about 500 to Deicke Park will feature new activities and games along with the return of the "Mechanical Reindeer" ride.  Also featured will be a visit from the Yellow Jackets hockey team running skills tests and a raffle for tickets to Chicago Express, Chicago Wolves and grand prize Chicago Blackhawk tickets.

The Snowflake Festival, sponsored by the Huntley Jaycees, Crystal Ice House, Fire Wagon Hockey Inc. "Yellowjackets", Chicago Wolves, CMIT Solutions of Fox Valley North, Huntley Senior Citizens Club, Chiro One, BMO Harris Bank and Costco, will run from 1 to 3 pm Sunday at the Park, South Parking Lot, and REC Center Gym.  Tickets are 25 cents and activities vary in cost.

In the pic:  Dashing through the snow at the first Snowflake Festival last year.

Illinois To Get $1 Billion In Foreclosure Settlement

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Under a national settlement reached by states and five of the nation’s largest banks, Illinois would get $1 billion in relief for borrowers whose homes are in danger of foreclosure.

The $26 billion settlement announced Thursday came in response to the nation’s largest lenders engaging in sloppy and sometimes fraudulent foreclosure practices including signing off on documents without verifying information, a practice known as robo-signing. Sketchy and sometimes nonexistent paperwork led to errors, miscommunication and cases of mistaken identity.

“Many companies that handled these foreclosures didn’t give people a fighting chance to hold onto their homes,” President Barack Obama said at a Washington, D.C., news conference. “Some of the people they hired to process foreclosures used fake signatures on fake documents to speed up the foreclosure process. Some of them didn’t read what they were signing at all.”

The settlement was reached between federal regulators, many of the states' attorneys general and Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank and Ally Bank, formerly GMAC. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan was a key player in the negotiations. “It provides timely help for struggling homeowners, and it establishes new rules for mortgage servicing that will protect homeowners in the future,” Madigan said in a prepared statement.

Most of the money will go toward efforts to keep borrowers in their homes. Those who cannot make their payments may be eligible to refinance their homes at better interest rates than their original loans. Homeowners whose houses are “under water,” could be eligible to have the amount they owe reduced.

Dawn Dannenbring, an organizer for the Bloomington-based community advocacy group Illinois People’s Action, said some important details of the plan remain unclear. “Who decides who gets the money?”  Dannenbring said her group opposes allowing the banks to make such choices.

Madigan urged those who have questions or are interested in seeking relief from the settlement to  visit her website, www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/bankforeclosuresettlement.html, or the federal site,  www.nationalforeclosuresettlement.com.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/illinois-to-get-1-billion-in.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
February 9
1431 HRS 600 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY. SETTPANI, SARA T., F/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 620 WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
1402 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance.
1617 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Roommate vs. Roommate. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
2028 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF GENEVA LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. Wife. No Priors. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
delayed--FEN scheduling conflict

Algonquin Township Reviews Abolition, Tax Appeals

Legislation introduced Monday by a Highwood State Rep. raised hackles Wednesday at the Algonquin Township Board meeting.  The measure would turn over property tax assessments to the county supervisor of assessments and roads to the county engineer if a township was abolished.  Said Road Commissioner Bob Miller, "You hear so many times, 'If townships are abolished, what happens to them?'  Well, this is Round Two."

The last time voters got rid of a township in Illinois was 80 years ago, so it's a little unclear about how to do it these days.  However, the question's gaining some urgency since Evanston Township residents will face a referendum to eliminate it in March.  On its face,  it sounds like a no-brainer since Evanston City and Township boundaries are congruent and the City aldermen are also the Township trustees. Even so, eliminating Evanston Township might be trickier than it looks.  Although State law says it's possible, the only procedure to actually do it requires voting to eliminate all of the townships in a county all at once and with a 75 percent majority to boot.  The upcoming Evanston referendum's only advisory.

The bill pending in Springfield would turn the rest of Township duties over the the County Board after aboliton.  "It's short on what happens to the rest of you," Miller observed drily to Supervisor Dianne Klemm and trustees.

On a less sublime plane, Assessor Bob Kunz told the Board Algonquin Township property tax appeals to the County Board of Review this year are running at about an 11 percent average reduction.  "We fully expect the state to step in and raise (the EAV)," he said.  Good news for peope who appealed, bad for the ones who didn't. "Those of us who didn't complain will make up the loss."

Kunz blamed the State Property Tax Appeals Board for that.  "They're on Mars," charged Kunz.  "As far as they're concerned there hasn't been any economic downturn."

In the pic: One of Algonquin Township's popular Summer recycling Saturdays.

First Electronic Waste Sighted On Local Road

It took only about a month for the first electronic waste to turn up along a local roadside after Illinois raised to 17 the number of mostly electronic devices banned from State landfills without providing an alternative method of disposal.

A Jan. 1 amendment to the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act prohibited a host of electronic material from potentially entering the environment but it only included $2,000 per county to inform residents not to put TV's, monitors and computers in the garbage, anymore.

"We haven't found any yet," said Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller but he said that might be because his township runs the most extensive recycling operation in McHenry County.  "We had 1,400 TV's, 1,100 monitors and 650 computers last year," said Miller.  "I don't even know how much of the other stuff there was," he said.

The new e-waste laws create recycling "goals" and penalties for electronics manufacturers but don't add anything to help consumers get rid of defunct electronics. Road Commissioner Jack Freund said his men haven't found any electronics along Grafton roads yet and he hopes he won't.  "I don't have anywhere to take this stuff, either," he said.

Actually Grafton Township's planning another e-waste event this year and the Village of Algonquin's planning to have two again.  Otherwise the solution lies with taking duff electronics to one of the sites certified by the Illinois EPA here:

http://epadata.epa.state.il.us/land/eWaste/collection-sites.asp

There are only seven in McHenry County and they're all in Crystal Lake, McHenry or Marengo.

Miller said electronics might become a problem like tires, also banned from landfills.  "We find lots of tires along the road," he said.

In the pic:  Someone solved his e-waste problem the easy way with a quick trip to the cornfields along Kreutzer road in Huntley last week.

Signups Ongoing For Algonquin Art On The Fox

Applications are open for the Village of Algonquin and the Algonquin Public Arts Commission's fifth annual Art on the Fox celebration.

The village's fine art show in Riverfront Park is set for June 30 and July 1 this year.  The event's open to all artists but the work must be original, designed and executed by the accepted artist. Work done by a production studio is not acceptable. No kits, imports, crafts, manufactured items, resale goods, or product line reps are allowed.  Ars Gratia Artis.

All the details and an application form are located here: http://209.43.47.78/egov/docs/1328044003_501403.pdf

In the pic:  Originally a one-day event, Algonquin's Art On The Fox Extends to two days now.

Bill Would Legalize Recording Cops

By Andrew Thomason,Illinois Statehouse News
Lawmakers are working to erase a state prohibition on recording police in public that carries the same penalties as trafficking in drugs. State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, has introduced legislation that makes it legal to record audio of on-duty police in public places.

The 1994 eavesdropping law prohibiting the recording of on-duty police officers hasn’t changed to keep pace with advancements in technology, Nekritz said. “Citizens are being charged under the current law for (doing nothing) more than what thousands of citizens do every day in Illinois, and what we all do, which is to pull out our cell phone, open up the camera and start recording,” Nekritz said Wednesday during an Illinois House Judiciary Committee hearing.

It's legal to record video of on-duty police, in Illinois but if audio is introduced, the act becomes a Class 1 felony. Only Massachusetts and Oregon have similar state statutes. “we’re making felons, serious felons, out of ordinary citizens,” said Robert Loeb, a Chicago-based lawyer and member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

“This is going to be akin to the gonzo-type of news reporting … and they would be literally in your face,” countered Dan Nelson, director of governmental affairs for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, a police union.

Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Coughlin worried about safety. “There’s going to be an increased danger in stops. You’re going to have situations where people are reaching into their pocket and pulling out a black object and pointing it at the officers,” he said.

The Nekritz' bill comes since the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office is pushing to prosecute people  despite a request from lawmakers to pause the cases until rulings come down in two appealss that might overturn the current Illinois recording law.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7618/measure-would-make-it-legal-to-record-il-cops-in-public/

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
February 8
1303 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 11 years of age, injured his back. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1525 HRS OAKLEAF RD & PHEASANT TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. Two priors.
1528 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH DR. DOMESTIC Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1738 HRS 00 BLOCK OF HUNTERS PATH. VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION Threatening texts and e-mails.
1808 HRS 6000 BLOCK OF LUCERNE LN. IDENTITY THEFT. Money taken from complainant’s bank account.
2254 HRS 5300 BLOCK OF BRIARFIELD LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. 61 Priors.

Algonquin PD Calls For Neighborhood Watch In Child Approaches

"Can you tell me what's going on?  Can you tell me how to protect our kids?" Algonquin Mom Sheila Henneman asked the Village Board.  She and a handful of Copper Oaks neighborhood mothers were worried Tuesday about an outbreak of east side "Stranger Approaches" reported in the past five weeks.

"We had another meeting with local law enforcement agencies this morning," reported Chief Russ Laine who said his department's working as hard as it can but the information available is "sketchy".  He said there are two different descriptions of the white cargo van involved and three different descriptions of suspects who ordered school children  to get into it.

"They all did the right thing," said Laine.  "They ran."

"We had a partial license plate but when we checked it with the Secretary of State it didn't come up with anything," Laine reported.  So far neither have tips from the public.  "We've been receiving a lot of tips," he said.

Laine said police are trying to balance pushing the kids who range from 10 to 13 years old for information against frightening them even more about the incidents.

On what parents can do, Laine's advice was simple: "Don't have the kids out alone." He suggested organizing Neighborhood Watches would be a good idea.

Trustee Bob Smith told Henneman to let him know if Copper Oaks parents wanted to do that.  "That's where I live," he said.

In the pic:  Algonquin mother Sheila Henneman appealed to the Algonquin Board for help Tuesday protecting her neighborhood's children.

Sheriff's Deputies Seize Meth After Suspects Flee In Algonquin

McHenry County Sheriff's Deputies are still searching for a pair of suspects who abandoned about a pound and a half of methamphetamines in an Algonquin shopping center parking lot last week.

In a news release Tuesday the Sheriff's Office reported two men pulled into a lot at Randall and County Line Roads bailed out of a suspicious vehicle last Thursday and ran away after the Sheriff's K-9 unit began following their vehicle.  The unit's dog indicated to his deputy that there were drugs inside, though, and after investigators impounded the vehicle they said they found a bag of speed with  a street value of about $25,000.

Deputies said if anyone had any information about it 815-338-2144 was the number to call.

Bianchi To Defend Self In Case Of Ex-Assistant's Firing

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi withdrew a request Tuesday to seal the records of his failed Special Prosecutor official misconduct trials while Judge Sharon Prather allowed a former Assistant State's Attorney to legally join the case in case the records will help in a $500,000 federal suit charging Bianchi fired him for helping the Special Prosecutors.

Bianchi filed a petition to expunge or remove the records from public inspection at the end of November. According to an informed source, however, the State's Attorney changed his mind in case that would complicate efforts to unseal administrative records about how the Special Prosecutors went from investigating a charge Bianchi's Secretary did campaign work on County time to 30 corruption charges, all failed at a cost of $600,000.

Even though the trials are over, Prather allowed ex-Assisant State's Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski to be a legal party to the Bianchi cases to to help him prove Bianchi fired him for providing information to the Special Prosecutors. Chrzanowski filed a civil rights suit in U.S. District Court Jan. 17 claiming Bianchi fired him in December for testifying his Chief Investigator tried to get him to cut a special deal in a case against his nephew.

At trial the "nephew" turned out to be the investigator's wife's sister's husband's first wife's grandson by a previous marriage and the judge decided the investigator wasn't in the chain of command for sentencing recommendations, anyway. Nevertheless, Chrzanowski's suit claims, Bianchi asked for his resignation Dec. 2 and when he wouldn't give it told him, "You're terminated. Get out of here," and had him escorted out of the courthouse.

Chrzanowski's suit claims former Assistant State's Attorneys Tom Carroll and Jeff Bora were fired for crossing Bianchi the same way. Carroll clashed with Bianchi over which records to take with him to answer a Grand Jury subpoena. Bora told Special Prosecutors Bianchi rigged sweetheart treatment in the case of his "nephew", a man who turned out later to be unrelated.

Chrzanowski claims Bianchi's firing violated his free speech rights and the State Whistleblower Act. Bianchi told FEN Tuesday he'll defend the case in-house. "We'll handle this as we would a case against any other elected official," he said.

Chrzanowski's represented by Woodstock law firm Gummerson Rausch Wand Lee Wombacher.

In the pic: State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Hours of Wrangling Follow State Of County Report

The state of McHenry County's good, according to Chairman Ken Koehler's summary speech to the McHenry County Board Tuesday.  However, the state of the State's miserable, he said, so it could be a rough year.  "Now that there is no road to kick (the financial can) on, the plan is to shift it to local governments,” he said.

Otherwise McHenry County's in fine financial shape, said Koehler, even though, implicitly because, it's scraping along with 50 fewer employees than three years ago.

What started as a sunny Board session turned stormy, however, as members raked the McHenry County Division of Transportation over the coals for a new stoplight at Fleming Road and Route 120 near Woodstock.  They peppered County Engineer Joe Korpalski and each other for over an hour with questions about who knew what when about the $200,000 light and some new turn lanes.  Korpalski said it wasn't the County's idea, anyway.  "This is an IDOT project,"  he said.

"Why can they tell us we owe them?" demanded District Four member John Hammerand. 

Because that's the way it works in Illinois, was the answer Koehler provided.

The Board spent another hour bickering over a McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks' bill requiring direct election of the County Board Chairman.  Franks more or less leads the County's Democrats while current Board Chairman Koehler, elected by the members of the Board, heads Republicans.  It fell to one of the Board's only two Democrats, District Three's Kathleen Bergan Schmidt, to finally observe that even if Franks' bill passes it won't make much difference in the November election.  "You can't get it on the ballot this year," she said.

In the pic: McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler reported Tuesday the state of McHenry County's fine as long as Springfield doesn't do something awful.

New McHenry Regional Schools Candidate Possible Today

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said he may have the OK on another Regional Superintendent of Schools candidate as early as today.  The County Board was scheduled to vote Tuesday on another appointee Tuesday but Elgin school principal Jeffrey Schleff pulled his application Monday.

Schleff was the only one of 11 original candidates who met all the requirements to fill the long-vacant County School's Superintendent spot but sent a letter withdrawing his candidacy after the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office notified Koehler he had a record including a driving while intoxicated supervision and a complicated record in a domestic violence case.

Even before that Koehler had to get a legal ruling on whether Schleff's Island Lake residence in a Wauconda school district would be a bar to appointing him, however, and while he was waiting on that three more applications for the Regional Super's position came in.  Koehler said one looked promising and Lake County's Regional Superintendent's been checking it against the lengthy list of statutory requirements since the problems with Schleff came up last week.

McHenry County's been without a Regional Schools Superintendent since Governor Pat Quinn last June defunded all 44 of the offices in the State without eliminating the positions themselves.  "You wouldn't believe how much time this has taken," commented Koehler.

In the pic: Jeffrey Schleff withdrew his candidacy for McHenry County Regional Superintendent

Director: College Illinois! To Stay But Might Need Taxpayer Bailout

By Andrew Thomason,  Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois’ prepaid college tuition fund on which some 54,000 families are relying is vowing to find some way to make up a $559.9-million deficit. That may mean asking for a taxpayer-funded bailout, though, said John Sinsheimer, executive director for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, or ISAC, which administers College Illinois!.

“There are a variety of solutions out there. They range from seeking a full-faith guarantee from the General Assembly, to closing the program out to all new contracts and having the General Assembly make up the shortfall, to what we call benefit cost sharing where the universities would help,” Sinsheimer said during a hearing Tuesday of the Legislative Audit Commission, a joint committee of the Illinois House and Illinois Senate.

Sinsheimer said he did not know if the fund’s $1.1 billion in assets could cover a complete refund of everyone’s initial investment plus the additional 2 percent return usually paid out when people withdraw their investment. Sinsheimer said the fund could pay for current contracts through 2020 before running out of cash. Current contracts cover students through 2029.

Illinois Auditor General William Holland said his office is investigating the investments made and the management of College Illinois!. He said the investigation should be completed later in the year and will be made public.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7605/director-college-illinois-to-stay-afloat-even-if-that-means-taxpayer-bailout/

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
February 7
1737 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 13 years of age, with an arm injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1822 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COOLSTONE BEND. DOMESTIC. Ex-husband vs. Ex-wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1907 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF HILLSBORO LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, two years of age, not feeling well. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2139 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF BALDWIN LN. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Male, 15 years of age, in need of an evaluation. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.

State's Attorney Appoints New Second-In-Command

In an unexpected move McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi Monday appointed a Crystal Lake lawyer as First Assistant State's Attorney.  The post's been empty for three years, initially in a cost-saving move.

Bianchi said Norman D. Vinton, a 20-year litigator from the Woodstock law firm Michling Hofmann Vinton Plaza & Wick would assume the position. Bianchi said his peers had rated him the highest of all applicants in the McHenry County Bar Association poll of candidates to become an associate judge last year.

Vinton will be the State's Attorney's Office second-in-command supervising the rest of the ASA's and himself making occasional court appearances.  The spot was originally eliminated to help balance the County budget three years ago but a little over a year ago Bianchi asked to have it back because the caseload was getting heavier.  At the time Bianchi was the subject of Special Prosecution for alleged official misconduct and the County Board's Finance Committee rejected the request, then the full Board postponed making a decision on it twice.

Bianchi's Special Prosecution failed on all counts last year and County Administrator Peter Austin said funding for the First Assistant's spot was included in this year's County Budget.

In the pic: Norman Vinton

D300 Committee Foresees "No Problems" With Randall CFI

The District 300 Board Construction and Facility Oversight Committee gave a preliminary thumbs up to plans to upgrade Randall Road in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills.  Committee Chairman Karen Roeckner said, "Jacobs (High School) has the worst traffic flow there is," but  Supervisor of Construction Keith Heinz reported he saw no especial problems during MCDOT's public hearing two weeks ago to install a continuous flow intersection in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills.

The controversial CFI almost half a mile north wouldn't have any direct effect on Jacobs access but MCDOT engineers' plans call for follow-on changes including new turn lanes at Bunker Hill and Randall to make it work.  "(Randall and Algonquin) used to be a stop sign when we moved here," reminisced Roeckner.

In the pic:  Effects of a Continuous Flow Intersection would cascade in all directions from the Randall and Algonquin Roads.

LITH Lincoln Prairie Celebrates Anniversary With Food Drive

LITH's Lincoln Prairie Elementary School is winding up a food drive Friday for the ALITH Food Pantry as the first in a series of events this year to mark the school's tenth anniversary. Each classroom was challenged to collect at least 10 pounds of food, 230 in total so if anyone would care to help, dropoffs at the school are welcome through the end of the week.

Besides the food drive, in months ahead special activities include book purchases for the school's media center and plantings to beautify the building grounds.  The climax will come May 10 with a community celebration of the school's decennial.

IL Centers' Closure Prelude To Union Battles

By Andrew Thomason,  Illinois Statehouse News
A debate over the future of developmental disability and mental health care in Illinois is paving the way for a behind-the-scenes brawl between unions in the state.  With a budget address two weeks away, Quinn has announced closing at least one developmental disabled facility and a state-run mental health facility, the Jacksonville Developmental Center and Tinley Park Mental Health Center, respectively.

The two centers employ 546 people, most members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.  If the facilities close, their residents will be moved to smaller, community-care facilities, staffed by employees who are likely members of the Service Employees International Union. “You could end up with unions on both sides” of the fight, said David Morrison, president of the government watchdog group, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Anders Lindall, AFSCME spokesman, said the union's resistance to closing the facilities is more about getting the residents the best care possible than about jobs or feuding with other unions.
 Calls to SEIU by Illinois Statehouse News were not returned.

Lindall said AFSCME represents about 5,000 people in the nonprofit health-care sector. But that number is small compared with the almost 40,000 members SEIU represents in the private health-care industry.

However, Quinn and AFSCME are on the outs, despite an influx of cash during the gubernatorial election in 2010 from the public union. Quinn has refused to give state employees a contracted cost-of-living increase this year. AFSCME gave Quinn nothing between Oct. 1, 2011, and Jan. 27, 2012, while SEIU dropped $50,000 into his campaign war chest during that time period.

Closing Jacksonville and Tinley Park would save the state about $20 million annually.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7590/struggle-for-developmentally-disabled-care-jobs/

In the pic:  Tinley Park Mental Health Center

Obituaries

Raymond John Harms, 94, of Arlington Heights died peacefully Sunday at Autumn Leaves Of Crystal Lake. Burial will be private.

Harms was born on January 2, 1918, in Braidwood. He is survived his daughters, Donna, Judy (John) Stahl of Marengo; sons, Steven of Rockford and Jeff of Spartansburg, SC; sister, Rita Renville, and brother, Don Harms. He was preceded in death by his youngest son. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is requested.

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
February 6
0042 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/ACCIDENT. TAYLOR, NATHAN M., M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 957 GOLF COURSE RD., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Improper Backing, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with Breath Alcohol Over .08. RELEASED ON BOND.
0156 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTIS) WANTED ON WARRANTS. TERRAZAS, EDGAR, M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 883 DOVER ST., PINGREE GROVE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant Failure to Appear for Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle out of Stephenson County, Bond Amount $259.40 Full Cash. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL. TERRAZAS, FRANCISCO J., M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 883 DOVER ST., PINGREE GROVE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant Failure to Appear for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Bond $3000 10 %; Driving on a Suspended License Bond $350 Full Cash; Failure to Appear for Driving on a Suspended License Bond $1000 10%
TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0121 HRS 200 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 4 years of age, had a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1709 HRS 0 BLOCK OF NEWBURY CT. IDENTITY THEFT. Complainant’s social security card was utilized by an unauthorized user. TURNED OVER TO INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

Franks, Gaffney Bill Could Freeze Tax Levies

Politics famously makes strange bedfellows but it's even stranger when no one notices an odd couple adjusting the counterpane.  Appointed 52nd District GOP State Rep. Kent Gaffney Friday signed on as co-sponsor to a bill by McHenry County's premiere Democrat to freeze levies next year for every taxing district in the county.  So far, no one's reported either the pairing or the measure.

Lake Barrington resident Gaffney's locked in a battle for the reconfigured district which includes eastern LITH and Algonquin with challenger David McSweeney, Barrington Hills.  McSweeney has more money and, so far, more endorsements from organizations that like to make them.  Gaffney, however, actually holds the seat in the Legislature.

Enter rural McHenry County 63rd District Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo last week with a new version of a bill he introduced last summer to freeze levies if a tax district's collective real estate values decline from the previous year.  His first bill failed at vote but now Franks has tweaked it.  The new version would only apply to counties with between 300,000 and 400,000 residents.  There's only one of those in Illinois.  McHenry County.

“During debate on my previous property tax measure, another legislator suggested in jest that I should develop a pilot program for my home county,” said Franks in a release. “Consider the challenge accepted.”

So far, Gaffney's official forays have been limited to calls to abolish legislative scholarships and ground State airplanes. Franks' bill includes a much hotter-button issue now and a McHenry County one. “With the housing market struggling and many homeowners seeing their largest asset decline in value, we need to update the tax code to reflect economic reality," said Gaffney explaining his co-sponsorship.

Under the current law, tax levies could rise as much as three percent next year.

In the pics:  Gaffney and Franks.

Grafton Township Offers Food Co-op Purchasing

Supervisor Linda Moore announced a new food service for residents at the Town Hall in Huntley The Vine Street location is now a pick-up site for SHARE food, a buying co-op.

SHARE is a non-profit food buying club from Butler, WI, that offers good, nutritious products at a reduced cost through a volunteer-run, community based distribution system.  There are no membership fees or eligibility requirements.

Detailed fliers are available at the Township or at www.sharewi.org . Orders can be placed online or by dropping off check or cash with an order form at the Township office by Tuesday for pickup Feb. 25 at 10 am.

In the pic:  One package of foodstuffs available from the SHARE co-op.

Algonquin Extends Styrofoam Recycling Effort

The Village of Algonquin has extended a new Styrofoam recycling effort.  Originally intended as a one-shot effort to end Jan. 31, it's been extended indefinitely.  The program solves the problem of what to do with all those custom-fit white block Styrofoam packing containers and loose peanuts, even cleaned carryout food containers.

The Village has dropoff bins for Styrofoam or other foam plastic products for recycling at the public works facility, 110 Meyer Drive. They're located to the right of the building, near the fence.

The program's thanks to Lakewood businessman Ken Santowski who owns Elgin's Chicago Logistic Service.  He's been helping McHenry County's Environmental Defenders with recycling events in Woodstock but the Algonquin location eliminates a lot of driving for everyone.

Dec/Jan Sixth Warmest For Illinois

It's official: State Climatologist Jim Angel confirmed that January was the 13th warmest on record for Illinois. For January 2012, the statewide average temperature  was 31.4 degrees, 6.6 degrees above normal. The warmest reading for the month was 69 degrees at Belleville and Kaskaskia on January 6 and at Cairo on January 18. The coldest reading for the month was -6 degrees at Elizabeth and Galena on January 12.

The warm December and January is somewhat unusual, according to Angel.  The average temperature for December/January was 33.4 degrees, making it at the 6th warmest December/January period on record.

The statewide records go back to 1895.

The statewide average precipitation for January was 1.87 inches. That's 97 percent of normal but with the warm temps it was more rain than snow.  The heaviest rains were in southern Illinois, though. Flora reported a monthly total of 4. 21 inches. Meanwhile, western Illinois was dry. See figures below

The National Weather Service reports weather will turn more winterlike this week, though.  A cold front will cross the area tonight with high temps dropping into the mid-teens by Wednesday.

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
February 5
2321 HRS 3219 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (EVERGREEN) UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER. RODRIGUEZ, FERNANDO, M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 613 N. LYLE AVE., ELGIN. CHARGES: Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, Speeding and Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. RELEASED ON BOND.
1642 HRS 0 BLOCK OF BIRCHWOOD CT. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. son. Verbal only. No priors.
1646 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Male, 31 years of age, neck pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1729 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WHITE PINES CIRCLE. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. 7 priors.
1737 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF FAIRFAX LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 23 years of age had taken too many prescribed pain medications. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
Algonquin
February 3
09:33am Wahlstedt, Felipe E., DOB: 01/01/93, of 11860 Cape Cod lane, Huntley, was charged with Theft.  He was taken into custody at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 412 S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 03/07/12 in McHenry County.
21:00pm A 14 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Battery.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of his parents.
February 4
21:43pm A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody at Barrett Drive and Longmeadow Parkway.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of  03/28/12 in Algonquin.

Rural Board Candidates Agree They Don't Disagree Much

Saturday's McHenry County Young Republicans County Board forum at McHenry County College found little disagreement among candidates in the county's two western districts, at least among those who were actually there.

Saturday was supposed to feature GOP hopefuls from District Five, including western Lake in the Hills and eastern Huntley, and District Six, Huntley west of 47.  However, District Five incumbents John Jung and Tina Hill, both of Woodstock, and Virginia Peschke, Bull Valley, were no-shows.  So, too, were District Six incumbent Mary McCann, Woodstock, and challengers Michele Aavang and J. Vincent Ranzino, both of Marengo.

The nine who did appear were unanimous in having opposed or saying they would have opposed McHenry County's 1.5 percent increased 2012 property tax levy. No one mentioned the possible 3 percent increase  for 2013.  The group, likewise, was united in varying degrees of antipathy toward the McHenry County Division of Transportation.  Woodstock's Michael Stanard was most succinct saying, "The Division of Transportation wants to fix things that aren't broken and they want to do it over the wishes of the citizens."

In two and a half hours of questions and answers only two candidates stood out. It was Wonder Lake challenger Rachel Smith's misfortune to be the first to field a question about Board support for the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation. With considerable aplomb she admitted she wasn't familiar with the agency which the rest of panel said was in their financial crosshairs.  A little later, Marengo's David Lague voluntarily separated himself from the rest of the pack who said they opposed abortion.  Lague said, "I don't believe the question is germane to the office," and refused to answer it.  His non-response drew the evening's only round of applause.

Even allowing for off-the wall questions ("Would you support relocating people from Chicago to McHenry County with federal housing vouchers?") a farmer's bandana probably would have covered all the differences candidates espoused. Coral Township's Shawn Green summed up the problem saying, "We all have a lot of similarities," making choices difficult for voters next month.  Except in his case, of course.  "I've got natural leadership abilities," said Green.

Benefit Set For Huntley Grandma Fighting Cancer

Huntley Jaycees are sponsoring a "Fight Like Lin" benefit dinner at Pinecrest Golf Club Restaurant Feb. 18 to help long-time area resident and Huntley Chamber of Commerce member Linda Palma.  Palma's been diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer and given six months to live.  So far she's beaten the prognosis by ten months and hopes to do even better.

The fundraiser's set for 5 to 11 pm Feb. 18 with tickets at the door $15 per person or $25 per couple.  The event will include a cash bar, dinner, auction, raffles, door prizes and live music. For more information call the Huntley Jaycees at 847-802-9280, Tracy at 224-232-9551 or Tammy at 847-401-3095 for more information.

In the pic:  Huntley's Linda Palma beating the odds in her fight against cancer.

Drill Tuesday Marks Big Earthquake Anniversary

Tuesday will be the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake that struck the region in 1812 and would have done a lot of damage if anyone had been around here yet.  That's why the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation are sponsoring the] Great Central U.S. ShakeOut to practice for another one.

It's a multi-state earthquake drill at 10:15am Tuesday when more than one million participants will simultaneously practice the recommended action during an earthquake, "Drop, Cover, and Hold On". Experts say those three simple actions can save lives and reduce the risk of death or injury.  During an earthquake, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table and hold on to it firmly until the shaking stops.

Lake in the Hills officials reminded last week that scientists estimate there's a 25-40% probability of a damaging earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within the next 50 years. For more information, visit  http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/ .

In the pic:  Based on contemporary accounts, the 1811 quake probably caused "strong shaking" of three to six inches per second in McHenry County.

ISN Fact Checks Quinn’s State of the State

By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois Statehouse News spoke with lawmakers, a university president and people outside of the state Capitol to go between the lines of Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State address.

Quinn challenged lawmakers to increase the amount of money available to students from low-income families as part of the Monetary Awards Program, or MAP, Grant program. “While nearly 150,000 Illinois students received state MAP scholarships last year..., just as many qualified applicants were denied because of a lack of funding,” Quinn said. In fiscal 2012, the current state budget, Illinois is on pace to spend $420 million. Last year, Illinois spent $390 million.

The governor touted his job creation history and asked for a tax credit, worth between $5 million and $10 million annually, to help veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars find work. Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said the State already has a $1,200 tax credit for businesses that hire veterans, but it is underused.

Illinois' two biggest expenses, Medicaid and pensions, were eyed for reform in Quinn’s speech, but he did not elaborate on how that would be accomplished. Quinn's budget spokesman, Kelly Kraft said those details will come in three weeks when the governor delivers his budget address. Kent Redfield, political science professor at University of Illinois at Springfield, was not persuaded. Redfield said that Medicaid spending may be the biggest problem for Illinois this year, adding that Medicaid is “almost insolvable.”

You can read Benjamin's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7563/isn-fact-checks-quinns-state-of-the-state/

Professional Regulation

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issued the following disciplinary orders in the month of December:

Sachidananda Shastri, Huntley--physician and surgeon license reprimanded for prescribing a contraindicated medication to patient already on Lithium and failing to monitor Lithium levels after said prescription.

John Voelz, Huntley--ordered to cease and desist unlicensed practice of physical therapy and assessed a $3,000 civil penalty

Woodstock Jewelry & Pawn, Woodstock--assessed a $400 civil penalty for failure to file their 2011 renewal application in a timely manner.

Amerifinancial Home Mortgage, Inc., Barrington--fined $500 for failure to file Loan Servicer Report online during filing period.

Joseph Fredericks, Wonder Lake--massage therapist license issued with reprimand due to 2005 Retail Theft Criminal Misdemeanor Conviction and Alcohol Abuse.

Lihua Xu, McHenry--ordered to cease and desist unlicensed practice of massage therapy and assessed a $2,000 civil penalty.

Gary Churchill, Barrington--physician and surgeon license reprimanded and fined $500 for his failure to obtain a patient's specific written consent prior to treating the patient with a compound that had not been approved by FDA.

Zohar Mor, Richmond--chiropractic license permanently revoked due to conviction of a criminal act that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Nicole Zottman, Lakemoor--registered nurse license automatically indefinitely suspended for a minimum of 12 months for violating the terms of her probation.

Terry Pounds, Johnsburg--real estate broker license issued and placed on probation for two years due to a 1987 conviction for delivery of a controlled substance and a 1992 conviction for attempted theft.

Marty's Alpine Construction, Woodstock--roofing contractor license placed in refuse to renew status for engaging in dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.

Susan Klouda, Woodstock--clinical social worker license fined $500 for false advertising.

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
February 4
1908 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GUTIERREZ-CHAVEZ, RAUL, M/W 40 YEARS OF AGE, 362 WOODVIEW CIRCLE, ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence with Breath Alcohol Over .08, No Valid Illinois License, Expired Registration and No Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0337 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTI’S) FOLLOW UP ARREST: BATTERY. HERNANDEZ, FABIOLA, F/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 386 TEE LN., CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGE: Battery. RELEASED ON BOND.
0818 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION. Possible violation of an order of protection. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
1634 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1712 HRS INDIAN TRAIL & WANDER WAY. FOUND ARTICLE. Detachable faceplate from compact disc player was found.
1749 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.