Area Groups Prepare For Easter Egg Hunts Next Saturday

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Jaycees stuffed eggs Friday for the group's 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids with physical and mental disabilities next Saturday, March 31 from 10 am at Towne Park.  It's one of several of area hunts scheduled that day.

The Village of Algonquin's Easter Egg Hunt will also start at 10 am but over in Presidential Park for kids to 12 years old.  There'll be 10,000 eggs there.

The Easter Bunny at Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation's Easter Egg Hunt for kids 8 and under in conjunction with Jewel/Osco, Algonquin, will actually have the jump (so to speak) with an 8 am start at Sunset Park.  Sixty of the eggs there will contain a $1 coin to commemorate Lake in the Hills' 60th Anniversary.

For Dundee Township residents, the Park District will have an egg hunt and hayride at 9 am at Randall Oaks Park. Because of the limited space on the hay wagons, preregistration is required this year. Call 847-428-7131 for that.

Huntley Park District's Annual Egg Hunt will be a week later the rest, April 7 at 10 am at Deicke Park. There will be a special area set aside for children with special needs and one egg will hold a family pool pass to Stingray Bay Family Aquatic Center.

In the Pic: Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Jaycees found out the hard way that even plastic Easter Eggs have to be handled with care.

Sponsors Still Sought For Bloomin' Bunco Event For Pantry

Organizers said they could still use some prize sponsors for this year's second annual Bloomin' Bunco event to support the Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry.  The Event's April 13 at 6 pm at Neubert Elementary in Algonquin.  Last year's fundraiser hosted 180 bunco players and raised thousands of dollars to help fill shelves at the Pantry with food and personal care items.

This year's event will include three rounds of Bunco, complimentary desserts, raffles, Bunco prizes and gentlemen servers.  Admission is $25 per player and preregistration is required since space is limited.  Contact event coordinator Carol Platt at carol_platt@hotmail.com or  847-658-4105 for that or  for sponsor information or to make a donation.

In the pic: The Algonquin Lake In the Hills Food Pantry will probably need the help from Bloomin' Bunco even more than last year since it's due to move soon to its new location on Pyott Road.

McHenry County Board Honors Local Girl Scouts, Too

Not entirely coincidental with the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting, the McHenry County Board honored ten area Girl Scouts this week for earning Gold Awards, the highest recognition that a Girl Scout may earn.  Of the ten,  four were from Huntley, Algonquin or Lake in the Hills.  They were Tracey Keegan and Carrie Quinn of Huntley, Vanessa Mountain, Algonquin, and Connor Savage, LITH.

In the pic:  None of the Girl Scouts honored by the McHenry County Board could be at this week's meeting but former Girl Scouts, District Four Member Sue Draffkorn and District Three Member Kathy Bergan Schmidt stood in for them.  Counting District One Member Anna May Miller, a Girl Guide in Canada, a full one quarter of the Board's dozen female members were Girl Scouts.

State Lawmakers May End Controversial Scholarships

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
Despite opposition a bill to eliminate legislators' scholarships passed comfortably in the House this week.  Now it'll be up to State Senators to kill the college scholarship program that author  State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates claims legislators have used to reward friends and supporters.

The Illinois General Assembly Legislative Scholarship program allows each legislator to award up to eight one-year scholarships, or two four-year scholarships to students attending in-state public universities. “I was born in this state, and I’m proud of this state. But it makes me sick to see my colleagues misuse this program,” Crespo said.

For instance, A recent investigation done by the Better Government Association showed that since 1999, state Rep. Monique Davis gave at least 10 tuition waivers to residents living outside of her district. legislator's district. Davis, a Chicago Democrat, said she initially awarded the scholarships to people who lived in her district but then they moved away. She pointed out that Illinois has "two governors in jail at the same time for corruption, but we aren't doing away with the governor's seat."

Illinois universities must foot the bill for the tuition waivers. Crespo said it costs universities around $13.5 million annually to admit the scholarship recipients. The state owes more than $1 billion in unpaid debt to public universities and community colleges. “I applaud the members of the House for voting the end of the legislative scholarship program,” Quinn said in an written statement.

That encouragement may not be enough in the Senate, though, where similar bills have never made it out of committee. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago has said he would rather see the program reformed than abolished.

You can read Stephanie's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8027/il-lawmakers-may-kill-controversial-scholarship-program/

Obituaries

Elizabeth Haviland (Betsy) Zorn died peacefully at her home in Sun City, Huntley, Thursday. A memorial gathering will be held from 1 pm until the time of a service at 2 pm Tuesday at the Defiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.

Zorn was born in 1936 in Kingston, NY, the second daughter of LeGrand Haviland, Jr. and Rowena Pratt Haviland. She married Robert Zorn June 15, 1958.  She is survived by her husband; children, Alan (Kay) of Naperville, James (Lia) of Aurora and Mary Beth (Troy) of St. Paul, MN; five grandchildren; her sister, Rosalee Boissy of Lowville, NY, and her brother, Harcourt, of Bradenton, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Hospice Foundation of Northeastern Illinois.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
March 23
1917 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ELIZABETH CT. FOLLOW-UP ARREST: BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. BROEDERDORF, ANTHONY,  M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 1301 CARDINAL DR., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Two Counts of Theft. SUBJECT SERVED COMPLAINTS AT MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0836 HRS 0 BLOCK OF KURT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE, Female, 74 years of age, unconscious. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0955 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1026 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Contact made with a registered sex offender.
1528 HRS 4500 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (7-Eleven) ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Pole. Property Damage Only.
1918 HRS 3500 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 17 years of age, made suicidal statements. Transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital.
2207 HRS 10 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Daughter. Four priors. Verbal Only.
2311 HRS 30 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance for a car fire.

County Board Considers Savings On Old Jail Bonds

With interest rates still close to record lows, the McHenry County Board Thursday tried to figure out if it was better to refinance about $5 million in old high-rate Jail construction bonds or just pay the things off three years early with some of the County's walking-around money.

The Board's Finance and Audit Committee preference was refinancing.  Bond expert Eric Anderson's Powerpoint chart showed that would save about $429,000 in interest.  However, at Thursday's rates he said it would actually work out to about $419,000.  "This week's been volatile," Anderson said. Paying off the bonds entirely would save that much and about $75,000 more, according to Anderson but doing it would draw down the Board's working cash reserve, now plump enough to pay six months worth of the County's day-to-day bills.

"That's a snapshot," cautioned County Administrator Peter Austin.  "We were at four months at the end of February," added Finance Adminstrator Ralph Sarbaugh.

That, said Finance and Audit Chairman Scott Breeden, was why his committee recommended refinancing instead of payoff.  "Anyone who's been in business knows you have to have operating capital," he said.  "We need to have robust reserves for the next couple of years," said Breeden.

The Board's expected to make a choice April 3 and, if it's to refinance, do it April 19.  The County's not alone in eyeing low interest rates, though.  "Moody's investment services is backed up quite heavily," said Anderson.  "(It will be)Probably more like May 1," he said.

In more earthy matters, the Board squabbled over designating a Lake Barrington waste collection service for some unincorporated areas near Crystal Lake and Johnsburg.  "We're creating monopolies," griped District Six member Ersel Schuster.

"(The residents) can opt out (of the service), can't they?" asked District Five's Viginia Peschke.

Yes, indeed, said a Department of Health spokeswoman, but they wouldn't be allowed to hire anyone else.  That fine-print proviso brought gales of laughter from about half the members.

District Three's Mary Donner said that probably wasn't as bad as it sounded since neighbors were often willing to take household waste from singles.  "It helps create a sense of community," she said.

"I'm not sure sharing garbage is a very good way to build community spirit," observed Chairman Ken Koehler before the Board passed the measure.

In the pic:  Good news, according to bond experts--McHenry County's debt load will fall radically in three more years.

Algonquin Looks For Citizen Downtown Input With New Websites

Algonquin's begun fact-finding for plans to revamp the village's Downtown when the Route 31 Western Bypass is finished.  Added to the the Village website this week is an online resident survey. Soon to be linked to it are two other websites, one outlining Downtown possibilities and another that's a community bulletin board for Downtown dreams.

All three additions are part of a planning study being conducted with a $90,000 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning grant won earlier this year. It's supposed to figure out how to transform Algonquin's Downtown from a traffic snarl on the way to somewhere else into a walkable mixed-use destination.  "It's the first opportunity for people to provide input into the development plan," said Community Development Director Russ Farnum.

The 10-minute anonymous survey looking for demographic and marketing information is here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/downtownalgonquin

An outline of the range of Downtown possibilities is here:

http://www.landvision.com/algonquindowntownplan/

A site for residents to mark up a downtown map with their own comments and observations or even upload a picture of something that'd be a good idea is here:

http://www.communityremarks.com/Algonquin/

Farnum said the latter two sites will be linked to the Village Website main page soon.

Gaffney "Drano Law" Fix Passes House 110 To 0

Two days after area voters rejected his return to Springfield next year, 52nd District State Rep. Ken Gaffney's bill to allow people to buy toilet and drain cleaners again without having to show an ID passed the State House unanimously Thursday. “A lot of good causes turn into laws with unintended consequences,” said Gaffney in a statement.

In this case, the good cause was to prevent incidents like separate attacks in Chicago in 2006 and 2008 that left two women with scars when psychos threw acid in their faces.  A new law Jan. 1 sponsored by rural McHenry County State Rep. Jacks Franks was so broadly written that retailers thought they had to card housewives buying cans of Drano and bottles of Bathroom Duck.

The new law upset a lot of consumers and even Franks voted for Gaffney's fix-it bill that says, essentially, "that's not what we meant."  The measure which still calls for regulation of chemicals labeled "causes severe burns" goes to the State Senate today for a first reading.

Medicaid Expert Sees Few Options For Cuts

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
As lawmakers look to cut billions from the state’s Medicaid budget, one expert told them Thursday that the task will be difficult and their options are limited. Joy Johnson Wilson, health policy director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, had bad news for the Illinois Senate about Medicaid trends across the country. “It is very hard to get savings in the Medicaid program in real time. It just is,” she said.

Wilson pointed out that the federal law leaves only a few areas to look for substantial savings. Lawmakers can reduce the rates paid to health care providers, limit how often patients can access some services, go after fraud and reduce services offered that are not required by the federal government.

“It’s very important that you make sure that you don’t make cuts that actually cost money,’ she said. Wilson said many states that eliminated adult dental services, something that is under consideration in Illinois, put the services back in place after they found that hospitalizations were going up. “So it actually cost them more when they eliminated them than what they were actually paying for them.”

Sen. Heather Steans, who is a member of the working group looking to find $2.7 billion in cuts Govenor Quinn has called for, said she found Wilson's presentation ‘a little disheartening.” “There’s a lot of restriction being put on by the feds in terms of the flexibility the states have, so there’s only certain things we can really look at, and that makes it, I think, more challenging to achieve the kind of reductions in the short period of time in which we’re talking about.”

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/medicaid-expert-sees-few-options-for.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
March 22
0206 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. BURGLARY. BROEDERDORF, ANTHONY, M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 1301 CARDINAL DR., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Burglary (Felony), Theft, Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0206 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO VEHICLE. JUVENILE, M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two Counts Criminal Trespass to Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. RELEASED TO PARENT.
1454 HRS 100 N. RANDALL RD. (WALGREENS) REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Damage to door of Complainant’s vehicle.
1500 HRS 4511 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (CVS PHARMACY) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 7 weeks of age, unknown medical. No transport.
1528 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING SGT.
1622 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & TALAGA DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1723 HRS 9200 HALIGUS RD. (SUNSET SKATE PARK) ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 13 years of age, broke his arm. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
1917 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ELIZABETH CT. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. Vehicle was entered and items removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1938 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. Vehicle was entered and items removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
Huntley
March 19
16:09pm Pena, Jose L., DOB: 01/29/93, of 1600 Arquilla Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Battery.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 04/25/12 in McHenry County.
March 20
17:35pm A 17 year-old female from Huntley was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 04/25/12 in Algonquin.
March 22
02:49am Roxas, Kathleen M., DOB: 11/29/90, of 2020 Aspen Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Theft.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond with a court date of 04/25/12 in McHenry County.
13:15pm A 16 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Drug paraphernalia and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his mother.

Giant Hackmatack Refuge Study Released, Area Comment Sought

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set two open houses in two weeks  for public review and comment on its Environmental Assessment of the proposed giant Hackmatack Wildlife Refuge in McHenry and Walworth Counties.  The Service announced the Assessment's availability Wednesday. It's located here: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Hackmatack/EA/EAHackmatack-FINAL-06March2012.pdf

The McHenry County Board two years ago called for an assessment of the Hackmatack proposal, although, as it turned out, the Service had already decided to do it, anyway. Spanning as much as 11,000 acres including a big chunk of McHenry County as far south as Crystal Lake, the proposed refuge would link and expand existing conservation areas to help migratory birds and endangered species to become the biggest wildlife-dependent recreation area near Chicago.

The Assessment includes four alternatives but the one Midwest Region 3 Fish and Wildlife  staffers in Minnesota like best would include purchasing land from sellers, conservation easements, and private initiatives to create a big donut of contiguous natural habitat.  The Assessment says it hosts 109 species of concern and endangered species including 49 birds, 5 fish, 5 mussels, 1 amphibian, 2 reptiles, 47 plants and, apparently, at least 9 insects.

The first open house will be on Tuesday, April 3, from 5 to 8 pm at the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Ringwood. The second will be the next day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Genoa City, WI at the Brookwood Middle School.

The Service will accept comments on the Environment Assessment until April 27. Written comments can be submitted at the open house events or sent through the Service’s Planning website at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Hackmatack/index.html

In the pic:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's broad-brush outline of the proposed Hackmatack Wildlife Refuge including McHenry County.

Super Aggregator Awaits Final Vote Tallies

Spokesmen at McHenry County's electric super-aggregator NIGEAC said Wednesday they'd wait for late ballots before making final plans in the wake of Tuesday's voter rejection of  aggregation plans in several municipalities that had been expected to be part of the group.  "There's only, I think, a difference of nine votes in Algonquin," said McHenry County Council of Governments Director Anna Bicanic Moeller.

The strategy could cut either way, however.  For instance while Marengo voters nixed their plan by only eight votes, Island Lake voters only approved theirs by three.

"We had a conference call about it today," today said McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin Wednesday, "and we'll have another tomorrow."  The original plan was for Austin to head the Northern Illinois Governmental Electric Aggregation Consortium but, since unincorporated McHenry County voters gave their thumbs down to aggregation Tuesday, that seems unlikely.  "I don't think the State's Attorney has notified us yet that (the County) is out (of NIGEAC)," Austin said but that was his assumption.

Austin said even with County, Lake in the Hills and McHenry voters opting out of proposed opt-out municipal aggregation plans NIGEAC was still a viable proposition.  "We'd planned on 85,000 homes but even if it's 20,000 or 30,000 that's still pretty substantial," he said.

Moeller said all the time the County'd spent preparing paperwork to set up NIGEAC wouldn't be wasted.  "It's created already.  They've done a lot of homework on it," she said.

At least 240 Illinois communities had aggregation referenda Tuesday and, according to a Citizens Utlity Board survey Wednesday, eighty percent of them passed.  However, about 60 didn't, including big ones in Joliet, Bloomington and Waukegan.  CUB spokesman Jim Chilsen said McHenry County probably  had, proportionately, the most turndowns.

Who's going to lead NIGEAC and who's going to be in it are still open questions but Moeller said they'd both be settled while power contract negotiations were in process.  Bids are due April 9, she said, with NIGEAC aggregation startup still likely June 1.

County Invites Area Businesses To "Do Business"

McHenry County's planning to host a Business to Government Plug-In Event next Wednesday to help local businesses figure out how to make the most of sales opportunities to governments in McHenry County.

The idea probably ultimately stems from  a Board Finance and Audit Committee sidebar discussion a couple of years ago about keeping more County money actually in the county. The initial idea was to give local suppliers special preference but it turned out that's illegal. Members agreed, though, it'd still  be a good idea for the County to do whatever ti could to encourage local businesses to at least try to win some work. 

The event's March 28, 9:30 am to 5 pm at McHenry County College. During the morning session there'll be workshops focusing on issues to meet the requirements of doing business with government.  During the afternoon expo session McHenry County local government agencies will staff booths to provide information on the goods and services they need. In addition, government plan to draw up a new list of vendors who can address their procurement needs.

Plug In topics will include:
Become familiar with submitting Bids and Request for Proposals for County advertised solicitations.
Addressing the requirements such as "Prevailing Wage" and "Certified Payroll" so businesses understand how to bid for public works projects.
Understanding bonding, permits, and fee requirements for construction projects.
Understanding government contracts.

Registration fee for this event is $20 per person and includes morning education sessions, lunch, and the afternoon Expo Session. Signups are here: http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/news/Pages/MCBustoGovPE.aspx

FEMA Denies IL Disaster Relief--Again

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
The residents of tornado-ravaged Harrisburg got more bad news Wednesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, denied Illinois' appeal to an earlier denial of individual assistance following a Feb. 29 storm that unleashed a deadly tornado in the southern part of the state.

"I am very disappointed with this decision and do not believe it reflects the reality and devastation on the ground. I remain committed to obtaining any and all assistance available to help our Southern Illinois communities recover,” Gov. Pat Quinn said in a written statement.

FEMA agents will meet with officials from Illinois Emergency Management Agency, or IEMA, to discuss other options for individuals who suffered damage because of the tornado outbreak. “They still believe the damage was not of the severity as to be beyond the capability of local and state governments to” cover the costs of recovery, said Patti Thompson, IEMA spokeswoman.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7997/fema-denies-il-disaster-relief-again/

In the pic:  After the Harrisburg tornado.

Bosses, Legislators Ask Accused Lawmaker To Resign

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
Democratic and Republican lawmakers want state Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, to resign.  Hours after Smith’s colossal primary election win Tuesday — he brought in 77 percent of the votes — his biggest political backer, Secretary of State Jesse White called for Smith’s resignation.

“The allegations in the charge against him convey unacceptable conduct, making it extremely difficult to represent the citizens of the district,” White said in a written statement Wednesday, when lawmakers returned to work after a week off to campaign before the primary. Smith was absent from the state Capitol. Smith is accused of accepting a $7,000 bribe to steer a state grant of $50,000 to a daycare.

Gov. Pat Quinn also called for Smith to step down. “The governor thinks Rep. Smith should step down as soon as possible. He cannot be an effective representative for his constituents given his circumstances and the cloud hanging over his head,” Brook Anderson, a spokeswoman for Quinn, said.

Now a group of lawmakers including 49th District Rep. Tim Schmitz have initiated an Illinois House investigation into Smith’s charges. “It’s tremendously disappointing. For all of us to put the state through another corruption trial is maddening,” state Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, said.

The group will hold its first meeting Tuesday.

You can read Sephanie's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8001/lawmakers-call-for-il-politico-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges/

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
March 21
0833 HRS LEE AVE. & DECATUR AVE. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. SMITH, MICHAEL A., M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 1017 WHEATLAND DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License Expired over One Year, Expired Registration, Failure to Secure New Registration. RELEASED ON BOND.
1512 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RANDALL RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. RAUCH, AMY E., F/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 1447 MILBROOK DR., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Operating Uninsured Vehicle, Violation License Classification and Operating Motorcycle without Eye Protection. RELEASED ON BOND.
1142 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. FOLLOW UP ARRESTS: JUVENILE, M/W 14 YEARS OF AGE,
MCHENRY. CHARGES: Disorderly Conduct. REFERRED TO PEER JURY RELEASED TO PARENT. JUVENILE, M/W 13 YEARS OF AGE LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Disorderly Conduct. REFERRED TO PEER JURY. RELEASED TO PARENT. JUVENILE, F/W 13 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Disorderly Conduct. REFERRED TO PEER JURY. RELEASED TO PARENT.
0421 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CLAYTON MARSH DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 29 years of age, took too much medication. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1001 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WALTER CT. THEFT. Delayed. Theft of a digital camera, Global Positioning Unit and a microscope. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1927 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & OAKLEAF RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Motorcycle was cut off by unknown vehicle. No transport.
2017 HRS 3200 BLOCK OF RONAN DR. REPORT FOR INSURANCE. Door was damaged by fire department during entry for smoke in the residence.

McConnaughay, McSweeney Win Sharp Area State Races

The 2012 Primary Tuesday included two hotly contested area Republican contests in the wake of last year's Democrat-controlled legislative remap.  Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, as expected, beat Gilberts insurance company owner Cliff Surges to run for the State Sen. seat in the 33rd District.  Meanwhile Barringtown financial consultant Dave McSweeney won the GOP 52nd State Rep. ballot in a three-way heat with incumbent Kent Gaffney and businesswoman Danielle Rowe.

McConnaughay won 62 percent of the overall vote against Surges, 12,459 to 7,857.  However, the St. Charles resident only won 53 percent of the vote in her home territory of northeast Kane County where she's reigned as County Board head for eight years.  She found stronger support in southeastern McHenry County where she's less well-known garnering 67 percent of the total there. The 33rd includes western Algonquin, LITH and Huntley.

Surges had hurled diffuse charges of cronyism against McConnaughay but in a concession statement Tuesday night called on Republicans to "come together now, and fight for the hard-working citizens and taxpayers in this state."  No one ran for the 33rd on the Democratic side.

In the 52nd District race, McSweeney won the contest with 41 percent of the total polling 4,734 votes to Gaffney's 4,012 with Rowe trailing with 2,766.  "We did it together," said McSweeney in a release claiming his six-point win over Gaffney.  All three candidates, hailed from the Barringtons and Island Lake so were largely tabula rasa in McHenry County where the District's heaviest. Even so, the order of the outcome Tuesday was the same as McHenry's in Cook, Lake and Kane counties, too. The 52nd covers eastern LITH and Algonquin.

One way to read McSweeney's victory was that gobs of campaign money beat incumbency, at least appointed incumbency.  Gaffney's only had the job for eight months since Republican pols picked him to serve the remainder of the term of the late Mark Beubien. Another way was that negative campaigning wins.  McSweeney painted Gaffney as a spendthrift, most amusingly, assigning him blame for last year's 67 percent State income tax hike passed on a Democratic vote while Beubien still occupied the seat.  A third way to read the results was that the Tea Party's a wild card in elections this year.  Rowe, who's never held or even run for elected office, had its unabashed support and drew fully 25 percent of the GOP vote. No Democrats ran for the 52nd, either.

Incumbent Dan Duffy won the GOP race in the 26th State Senate District including eastern LITH and Algonquin where he ran unopposed. He'll face Amanda Howland on the Democratic side who also ran unopposed. State Rep. Mike Tryon took the GOP spot in the relocated 66th House District covering Algonquin, LITH and Huntley where he ran without opposition. No one was on the Democratic side. Tim Schmitz won the GOP spot in the 65th House District including Kane County Huntley and a little of the McHenry County, too. He, too, was unopposed. No Democrats ran there, either.

In the pic:  Republican Senate Candidate Karen McConnaughay kept checking the vote totals Tuesday evening with supporters at Emmets Tavern in West Dundee.

Super Electric Aggregation Plan Imperiled As Referenda Fail

Unincorporated McHenry County voters rejected a referendum promising cheaper electricity for residential customers Tuesday, probably wrecking the timetable for the Northern Illinois Governmental Electric Aggregation Consortium to pull the plan off since the County was supposed to lead a scheme to bundle all the aggregation plans of the County and 12 municipalities.

Indeed, not all of the municipalities OK'ed the plan. Sixty one percent of McHenry County's unincorporated voters nixed the idea of an opt-out plan to negotiate lower electric rates. Meanwhile voters in Algonquin narrowly rejected their plan by 9 votes while  Lake in the Hills voters gave the idea a thumbs down by a hearty 54 to 46 percent margin.  Voters in Marengo, McCullom Lake, McHenry, and Spring Grove, all also supposed to be part of NIGEAC, likewise turned their referenda down. Aggregation referenda also lost in Fox River Grove and Wonder Lake but those muncipalities hadn't signed up to be part of NIGEAC.

Locally, only Huntley went along with the program with almost 61 percent of voters giving approval.

Tuesday's referenda results leave only Huntley, Woodstock, Lakewood, Ringwood, Genoa in DeKalb County  and, conceivably, Algonquin and Marengo (where the referendum failed by one vote) in NIGEAC.   The consortium was conceived to bundle together something on the order of 200,000 residencts so  whether the ones in the few  municipalities left are enough to make the project worthwhile isn't clear yet.  And even if it is, it's uncertain who would actually head the super aggregation agency without McHenry County in the fore.

A Few Surprises In McHenry County Contests

No Democrats ran for any county offices and the Republicans didn't contest any among themselves in McHenry County so County Board contests was where the interest lay in Tuesday's Primary election.

In fact there wasn't really any GOP contest in District One including Algonquin and part of Lake in the Hills with only four candidates.  Incumbent Bob Nowak of Cary was the top vote-getter with 3,669 votes, 26 percent of the total.  He was followed by Incumbent Anna May Miller of Cary with 3,596 votes, not quite 26 percent.  Then came Yvonne Barnes of Cary bidding to return to the Board with 3,455 votes, not quite 25 percent, followed by Incumbent Bob Bless, Fox River Grove, with 3,294 votes, not quite 24 percent.  Democrat Nick Chirikos of Algonquin was the only Democrat to run for the Board in District One and will try to knock one of them off in November.


Once again, Crystal Lake's incumbent Donna Kurtz was the top Republican vote-getter in District two including most of Lake in the Hills with 3,398 votes, almost 25 percent of the total. Incumbent Jim Heisler, Crystal Lake, was number two with 2,888 votes, almost 21 percent  Board Chairman Ken Koehler, Crystal Lake, was number three with 2,752 votes, not quite 20 percent.  Newcomer Carolyn Schofield, Crystal Lake, took the fourth spot with 2,704 votes, almost 20 percent.  Hopeful Tom Wilbeck of Lakewood was the odd man out in the contest pulling 2,094 votes, only 15 percent of the total.

The four GOP candidates will face Democrats Jim Kennedy, LITH, who drew 655 votes, 53 percent of the Dem total, and Jim Roden, Lakewood, who pulled the other 570 Democratic votes, in November.

Long-serving incumbent Virginia Peschke, Bull Valley, may have fallen in the race in District Five including some of Lake in the Hills and lots of Huntley.  Apparent fourth-place finisher, newbie Michael Rein of Woodstock led her by 26 votes with provisional and absentee ballots still to be tallied.  Rein's total was 2,105 votes while Peschke's was 1,989.  Huntley's Mike Skala had District Five's highest vote number, 2,573, almost 23 percent, followed by incumbents John Jung, Woodstock, with 2,388, 21 percent, and Tina Hill, Woodstock, with 2,287, 20 percent.

Lake in the Hills' incumbent Paula Yensen was the only Democrat running for the Board in District 5.  She won her spot on the ballot with 617 votes.

District Six including western Huntley was where the GOP had a free-for-all in Tuesday's Primary. Inbumbent Diane Eversten, Harvard, garnered the most votes, 3,121, or 16 percent of the total.  She was followed by incumbent Mary McCann, Woodstock, with 2,820 not quite 15 percent. Third and fourth place could conceivably change with the final tally but incumbent Ersel Schuster, Woodstock, appeared to have edged newcomer Michelle Aavang, also of Woodstock, 2,411 to 2,372.  Both numbers were about 12 percent.

Marengo's Corey Brackmann and Union's Shawn Green didn't make the cut with 2,020 votes and 1,985 votes, respectively, both about 10 percent.  Neither did David LaGue, Marengo, 1,630 votes, eight percent; Michael Stanard, Woodstock, 1,109 votes, not quite 6 percent; Rachel Smith, Wonder Lake, 1,053 votes, a little over 5 percent, and J. Vincent Ranzino, Marengo, 789 votes, 4 percent.

The four District Six GOP will face three Democrats in Novemger.  Scott Summers, Harvard, polled 743 votes, about 36 percent of the Democrats' total.  Marengo's Ryan Heuser won 718 votes, about 34 percent.  Huntley's Jay Kadakia drew 625 votes, 30 percent.

Across the border in Kane County, Tom Hartwell defeated Catherine Hurlbut and Karin Herwick in the GOP contest for Circuit Clerk. Incumbent Sandy Wegman won the Republican nod for County Recorder. Joseph McMahon took the GOP nomination for State's Attorney. Rob Russell edged Bob Tiballi for GOP Coroner and Chris Lauzen won the Republican spot for County Board Chairman over Kevin Burns about two to one.  Russell with face Democrat Tao Martinez in November and Lauzen will duke it out with Democrat Sue Klinkhamer to defeated Carpentersville's Bill Sarto Tuesday.

For Kane County Board seats, Algonquin incumbent Maggie Auger won the GOP spot in District 23 including the south part of Algonquin.  Incumbent T.R. Smith, Maple Park, won his Republican Race in reconfigured District 9 including south Huntley.  Neither was opposed.

Illinois Primary Turnout May Have Set New All-Time Low

Illinois' Primary Election turnout probably wasn't very good Tuesday.  The Chicago Board of Elections called the vote there "extremely low".  That was believed to be in the low 20's and McHenry and Kane counties don't appear to have even pulled that much.

In McHenry County only 37,922 out of 199,027 registered voters cast a ballot, a 19.05 percent turnout. In Kane County 44,131 voters went to the polls.  That was only 20.26 percent of the 217, 854 who could have voted. This year's Primary vote was more in line with 2010's off-year Primary than the 2008 Presidential Primary and even that one was regarded as less than stellar.  Some observers said Tuesday's Illinois turnout could have been the worst in 50 years.

Some of the apathy might go to President Barack Obama whose approval rating, according to polls, stands at 50 percent or maybe less.  He's running unopposed, however, so there wasn't much reason for Illinois Democrats to get excited.

Voters didn't seem very enthusiastic about Republican Presidential contenders, either, though. With most of Illinois' votes in, Mitt Romney won about 47 percent of the popular vote against Rick Santorum's 34 percent. Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich tagged along at 9 and 8 percent respectively.

For the first time since 2000 there weren't any hot senate or gubernatorial contests in Illinois, either.  Probably the most interesting contest was the one between veteran GOP Congressmen Don Manzullo who'll represent McHenry County until January and freshman Tea Party Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger who found himself homeless after redistricting.  Kinzinger pulled about 56 percent of the vote Tuesday in the radically reconfigured 16th District where most voters had never heard of either him or Manzullo before this year's campaign.

LITH To Market Hangars, Start Sidewalk Replacement Program

The Lake in the Hills Village Board gave early approval Tuesday to plans to peddle more hangars at LITH Airport and let residents fix cracked sidewalks at their homes on the Village's dollar--up to a point.

Airport Manager Manny Gomez told trustees 11 of the Village's 20 T-hangars are empty at the airport now and proposed a new marketing plan to fill the $378 per month spaces.  One tactic would be to advertise them more on pilots' websites whose plus is they're mostly free.  More costly would be an incentive plan Gomez suggested offering a month's free rent to current tenants who recruit new ones with a three-month free rental offer and 10-cents-off avgas.  Gomez estimated even with the freebies and discounts the Village would be about $3,000 per year ahead on each additional hangar rented. "With the economy the way it is, what do you cut first?" asked Gomez later.  The answer, he said, was luxuries like private planes.  "We're not the only airport around with vacancies," he added.

Trustees also gave initial assent to a new sidewalk replacement program.  Public Works Director Fed Mullard said the LITH inspects all its sidewalks for safety every four years but some residents complain about aesthetic matters like cracks. Under the new program residents could contract on their own to replace village (not private) sidewalks and get back as much as $325.  "This pretty much models Huntley's program," said Village Administrator Jerry Sagona.  "They've had success with it," he said.

Both measures are expected to be formally approved Thursday.

Trustees also looked at maps of gardens volunteers plan to put in on the Village's Larsen Farm where the Food Pantry will relocate next month to, as  Sagona put it, "grow melons and things of that sort."  President Ed Plaza said neighbors had asked if they could put in some plots, too.  That quickly grew to the idea of even more garden plots for residents, even though the Village already has some available at two other locations.  Trustee Steve Harlfinger said, "I was looking to see if this was something we could put on our strategic planning agenda," and Plaza eventually said that was a good idea so all the trustees could brainstorm gardening.

Corruption Study Says Illinois Not So Bad

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
A watchdog project took a comprehensive look at the potential for corruption in state government, and the results were somewhat unexpected. For once, Illinois was not at the bottom of the class.

The State Integrity Project spent months looking into several areas of state government in all 50 states. The investigation — a joint project between the Center fro Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International — issued a report card and ranked the states this week on their potential for government corruption. No states received an “A” from the group and eight states earned a failing grade. Illinois, along with 18 other states, received a C.

A passing grade is little surprising for a state that has seen its two previous governors sent to federal prison for corruption convictions. And New Jersey, the state with the highest grade, has also been associated with corruption in recent years. New Jersey and five other states received a “B.” California, which ranked with Illinois in the top three states for corruption convictions in a recent report from the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs, also received a “B.”

Illinois scored well in the areas of internal auditing, public access to information and its procurement process. The state's procurement procedures and its public information laws were revamped in the wake of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment and removal from office.

The state earned "Ds" for civil service management and legislative accountability and its only "F" for its redistricting process.Public Radio and an Illinois researcher on the project.

David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said Illinois and other states with reputations for corruption likely got passing grades in the study because their legislatures have approved anticorruption laws in reaction to scandal. "If nobody killed anybody, you wouldn’t need laws to outlaw murder. But that doesn’t mean you are protected from being murdered," he said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/corruption-study-on-states-yields.html

Obituaries

Michael J. Calame, 45, of Huntley died suddenly Sunday. Visitation will be Friday, from 3 to 8 pm at the DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. A funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday at the home. Burial will be in Huntley Cemetery.

Calame was born April 7, 1966, the son of Ron and Sharon (Wallace) Calame. He is survived by his wife, Theresa, and daughter, Samantha, of Huntley; stepsons, Zollie Hawkins of Rockford and Jason Pearce of Oregon, IL; His father and mother and his sister, Michelle Vanis.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed his daughter Samantha’s education fund.

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
March 20
2341 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & FRANK RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. LEWIS, STANLEY K., M/W 58 YEARS OF AGE, 10670 PAINTED DESERT CT., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with Breath Alcohol Level over .08, Expired Drivers License, No Insurance and Improper Lane Use. RELEASED ON BOND.
0829 HRS 400 BLOCK OF E. OAK ST. DOG BITE. Male, 46 years of age, bitten by his own dog. No transport.
1056 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1238 HRS 3300 BLOCK OF SANDSTONE CT. FOUND ARTICLE. A purse in the yard.
1353 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE MIDDLE SCHOOL) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1415 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) LOST ARTICLE. Wallet.
1637 HRS 220 N RANDALL RD. (MORETTIS) HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck on 031712 and offender fled.
1828 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & REED RD. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2340 HRS ACORN LN. & CRYSTAL LAKE RD. DOMESTIC. Girlfriend vs. Boyfriend. Verbal only.
Huntley
March 12
Courtney M. Lupella, age 23, of 189 Red Hawk Path, Gilberts, was arrested for DUI and cited for parking on the roadway.  Ms. Lupella posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of April 20, 2012. 
March 13
Jenny V. Samson, age 32, of 10609 Brittany, Huntley, was arrested on two counts of Domestic Battery.  Ms. Samson was transported to McHenry County Jail to await bond call.
Alfredo Arriga, age 20, of 5523 Danbury Circle, Lake in the Hills, was charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor.  Mr. Arriga was released with a notice to appear in McHenry County court on April 20, 2012.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10900 block of Janice Dr.  The victim’s car window was shattered and eggs were thrown on his driveway.
March 14
Two criminal damage to vehicle reports were taken in the 10700 block of Dundee Rd. The vehicles were parked behind a business in a strip mall.
March 15
Nick Torina, age 53, of 10329 Brighton, Huntley, was arrested for two counts of domestic battery.  Mr. Torina was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 11100 block of Douglas Ave.  The front door of a residence was damaged.
March 16
Kurtis M. Norwood, age 23, of 619 Park St., Woodstock, was arrested on two counts of burglary to motor vehicle.  Mr. Norwood was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
March 17
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 10400 block of Sawgrass Ln.  Three window screens on the victim’s home were damaged.
March 18
Jeffery A. Schmidt, age 41, of 9913 Cummings, Huntley, was arrested on two counts of domestic battery and one count of interference with reporting domestic violence.  Mr. Schmidt was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call. 

Local Primary Voting Opens Slow

The 2012 Primary got off to a slow start in Algonquin Township Precincts 11 and 15 (both at the LITH Property Owners Association) this morning.  "The first (voter) didn't even come in until after 7," said Precinct 11 Judge Janet Maier.

By 7:30 Precinct 11 had seen 6 voters.  Across the room, Precinct 15 had hosted 10 voters.  Judge Bob Spooner thought that was "about average for a Primary. Actually I can't remember the last one."

"I'm just glad it's over," said LITH Resident Dennis Stoklosa exiting the poll to go to work.  "I don't know the number of phone calls I got this week (from candidates)," he added.

For a precinct finder and list of polling places in McHenry County go here: http://mchenry-il.connect.clarityelections.com/

The Kane County Clerk's election site is here: http://www.kanecountyelections.org/ but it seems overwhelmed this morning.

In the pic:  Algonquin Precincts 11 and 15 in Lake in the Hills at the start  of morning rush hour.

Second Annual Kids Run For The Bear Now Signing Up

About 440 students at Algonquin's Eastview Elementary School rallied Monday to support the Second
Kids Run for the Bear one mile fun run next month to fight pediatric cancer.

The Run's for kids 11 and under but Eastview Principal Jim Zursin and members of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District promised to run with the kids, too.  The firefighters will be somewhat impeded by making the run in their fire suits.  On the other hand, Zursin, is feeling sort of run down--by a car six weeks ago--so the odds in the sidebar competition may be more even than otherwise.

The Kids Run for the Bear event, a precursor to September's 18th Annual 5K Walk Run be at 8:30 am Saturday, April 21, starting and finishing at Eastview where Barrett "Bear" Krupa attended school before succumbing to kidney cancer. The cost per child to participate is $10 with medals awarded to the top boy and girl runners overall, as well as the top three boy and girl runners in each age category (4 and under, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).  Online signups are available here: http://www.bearnecessities.org/NewsEvent/RunfortheBear.aspx

In the pic:  Eastview students brought their personal teddy bears to a rally Monday to kick off the Second Kids Run for the BEAR.  (Also accompanying: a stuffed monkey, a stuffed panda, a stuffed leopard {!}, several plush puppies and something that might have been a bunny.)

Algonquin Knights Set Fish Fry Friday--Or Cheese Instead?

Algonquin's St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus will have an all you can eat fish fry Friday at McDonnell Hall in the church's Ministry Center.  From 5 to 8:30 pm the Knights will be serving baked cod, fried cod or fried perch dinners for $9 to $11 each, including a salad bar, french fries or dilled potatoes  and coffee.  For diners who've had enough fish for Lent lately, the Knights' menu also offers alternatives: grilled cheese sandwiches or mac ‘n cheese for $5.

State Ethanol Bill Would Offset Expired Federal Subsidy

By Anthony Brino, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois biofuel companies, like Marquis Energy, have been struggling to sell their ethanol in the United States since a federal tax credit on ethanol-blended gasoline expired in December, leaving the market glutted. So to help grow the U.S. ethanol market, some Illinois lawmakers want to bring Illinois drivers more ethanol pumping stations through a mix of tax code adjustments and grants.

The idea is to increase demand for ethanol by encouraging Illinois drivers to buy flex-fuel cars and to buy more flex-fuel, "gasoline" that can be up to 85 percent ethanol, called E85. The proposal would end a 20 percent sales tax credit for the now-standard 10 percent-blend, which would earn up to $150 million a year for the state’s general fund, said state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, one of the Senate sponsors.  The bill also would create a new 10 percent sales tax credit for a 20 percent-mix and offer $20 million a year in grants, with $15 million going to ethanol companies for research and $5 million a year to gas stations to set up flex-fuel pumps. "If you buy a flex-fuel car, there’ll be fuel available. And it supports our rural industry,”  said state Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Galesburg, one the co-sponsors in the House.

Today there are more than 8 million flex-fuel cars on U.S. roads, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, although it’s not clear how many are in Illinois. Out of some 3,600 gas stations in Illinois, only about 250 have flex-fuel pumps, said David Loos, technology and business development director at the Illinois Corn Growers Association, an industry trade group. Loos said the grants and tax credits under Sullivan and Moffitt’s proposal could encourage another 1,500 Illinois gas stations to install flex-fuel pumps.
 
You can read Anthony's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7984/ethanol-bill-earns-il-cash-boosts-struggling-market/

In the pic:  An ethanol plant in Hennepin.

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
March 19
1658 HRS RANDALL RD. & MCHENRY AVE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED.  ELDERS, TIMOTHY J., M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 23209 W. MOUND RD., JOLIET. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Operating a Vehicle While on a Cellular Phone in a Construction Zone, No Insurance and Unlawful Use of License. RELEASED ON BOND.
0602 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1306 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1417 HRS 250 N. RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2218 HRS 200 BLOCK OF TERRAMERE LN. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. One prior.

Reinstated Deputy Returns To Sheriff's Office After Firing

A McHenry County Deputy to work this morning in Woodstock for the first time in almost four years.  Zane Seipler's reinstatement marks another bitter blow to Sheriff Keith Nygren who fired Seipler over a pair of traffic tickets.

Seipler handed a warning for no seatbelts and an actual citation for no proof of insurance to the passengers in cars being driven by unlicensed drivers in 2008.  "They were stupid kids doing stupid things," said Seipler who admitted, considering the way things turned out, he wouldn't do it again.

Nygren fired Seipler claiming he'd falsified the tickets and lost his credibility as a peace officer.  However, an arbitrator, Circuit Judge, Appellate Court panel, and, ultimately in refusing to review the case, the Illinois Supreme Court, all ruled all Seipler rated was a short suspension, especially since the Sheriff had already given another deputy a bye in a somewhat similar situation.

Seipler charged in a Federal lawsuit still pending that his firing was really retaliation for complaints about racial profiling in arrests of Hispanics in the Sheriff's Department.  He's also still pushing for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Nygren's campaign practices, especially in the last Primary when Seipler ran against him for the Republican Sheriff's nomination.

Seipler said he didn't know when he'd be restored to full duty since he'll have to undergo retraining on new orders, procedures and laws added since he was fired.  How long will that take?  "Let's see if I make it through today, first," he laughed.

In the pic:  Zane Seipler, restored today as a deputy at the McHenry County Sheriff's Office after almost four years.

Early Voting Numbers Bode Low Primary Election Turnout

Early voting numbers in McHenry County in this year's Primary election are a little ahead of the one two years ago.  But they're way down from the numbers in 2008's Presidential Primary year.  "For some reason there doesn't seem to be as much interest," County Clerk Katherine Schultz said Friday.

The numbers late Friday afternoon showed 2,771 voters had cast early ballots and 852 more had requestd absentee ones.  In 2010 there were 2,509 early voters and 724 absentees.  However, two years before that in 2008, 4,720 voters turned out early and 1515 asked for absentee ballots so this year's voting prior to election day shapes up to be only about 52 percent of the number in the last big Primary.

On the other hand, 2008's Primary was a lot earlier than this year, Feb. 5, so the numbers aren't apples to apples.  Nevertheless, applying 2008's percentage to 2012's numbers suggests only about 34,000 total voters will turn out in McHenry County this year.  That would be about 18 percent of registered voters.

In the pic:  Another sign of election apathy is the comparative dearth of campaign signs.  A highly unscientific FEN survey of popular locations over the weekend found fewer than two years ago.

Huntley Streetlight Banners Unveiled

Huntley administrators late last week showed off a sample of new banners planned to decorate the 96 new streetlamps installed along the Village's main Route 47 thoroughfare.  Don't expect to see them up for a few weeks yet, though, since they haven't even been made yet, much yet delivered.  "It takes three or four weeks," said Administrative Assistant Barb Read.

In fact, there'll be another set of banners to follow.  "These are for Spring and Summer," she said.  "We'll have ones for Fall and Winter, too."

State Lawmakers Avoid Tough Calls Before Election

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Lawmakers have avoided making the tough calls on major reforms they confess are needed. Most spent last week in their home districts campaigning before Tuesday's primary election.

To date, the Illinois Senate has been in session 15 days and the Illinois House for 13 days. This time last year the House met on 27 days and the Senate on 18. Statehouse observers point to the election as a major factor in the lawmakers’ absenteeism.

Lawmakers have used their few days in the statehouse so far this year to take up topics such as registering exotic pets and preventing minors from using tanning beds, instead of tackling the more pressing issues of pension and Medicaid reform. “It’s an election year, and they don’t want to stick their necks out. Plus they’re busy running for re-election, ”Christopher Mooney, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said.

Steve Brown, spokesman for the House Democrats and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago,
Brown insisted lawmakers not being in the statehouse doesn’t mean business isn’t getting done.
“You could talk to any rank-and-file member you want. Probably more things get done in their district offices,” he said.

But reforms and budgets aren’t passed in district offices. The annual task of creating a budget has become more contentious, as the amount of discretionary spending has shrunk, forcing the Legislature into overtime during several years over the past decade. Beyond that, lawmakers have said they will tackle pension and Medicaid costs.

Legislators will return to Springfield for eight days Wednesday, before taking a two-week spring break in April.


You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7948/il-lawmakers-avoid-tough-calls-as-elections-approach/

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
March 18
0451 HRS 241 N. RANDALL RD. (WHITE CASTLE) PRIVATE PROPERTY DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.  WENZEL, JEFFREY D., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 2107 EDGEWOOD DR., WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Private Property Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. RELEASED ON BOND.
0457 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. HELLYER, PAUL M., M/W 34 YEARS OF AGE, 7 SOUTH MAIN, ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Over .08, Improper Lane Usage. RELEASED ON BOND.
1623 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF BRITTANY BEND. FOLLOW UP ARREST: BATTERY. GRODZKI, TYLER F., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 1011 BRITTANY BEND, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Battery, Trespass to Land and Disorderly Conduct. RELEASED ON BOND.
0056 HRS 700 BLOCK OF JUNIPER LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0329 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF MAPLE ST. DOMESTIC. Son vs. Mother’s Boyfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0346 HRS VILLAGE RD. & CARLEMONT DR. RESISTING OR OBSTRUCTING A POLICE OFFICER. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
.March 17
0820 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HICKORY RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 12 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1126 HRS ALGONQUIN RD & HILLTOP DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Male, 79 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital.
1342 HRS 3500 BLOCK OF CHADWICK LN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. Son. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
1614 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Mother vs. Son. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
1639 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1702 HRS 200 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. DOG BITE. Female, 10 years of age, bitten by a dog. No transport.
1757 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
2232 HRS 800 BLOCK OF PROVENCE PL. BATTERY. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
Algonquin
March 16
23:53pm Jimenez, Yunuen B., DOB: 05/05/67, of 113 Adobe Circle, Carpentersville, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Failure to Appear on a No Valid Driver’s License charge.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Route 62.  He was  released after posting $300 with a court date of 04/04/12 in McHenry County.
March 17
01:32am Harris, Fitzgerald C., DOB: 01/22/92, of 3400 Bayside Drive Apt #6, Palatine, was charged with Improper Lane Usage and Zero Tolerance.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  He was released after posting his Illinois  Driver’s License, with a court date of 04/17/12, in McHenry County.
03:39am Kasper, Michael S., DOB: 07/01/90, of 206 Hillcrest Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at 25 Arrowhead Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 04/18/12 in McHenry County.
23:27pm Garcia, Freddy, DOB: 12/01/81, of 2338 S. Trumbull Avenue, Chicago, was charged with DUI, Improper Lane Usage, Unsafe Backing and No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Stonegate Road.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 04/18/12 in McHenry County.
March 18
00:16am Garcia-Gomez, Martin, DOB: 08/16/66, of 105 Siesta Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at W. Algonquin Road and Meyer Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 04/18/12 in McHenry County.
15:13pm Mojarro, Juan L., DOB: 07/02/75, of 2134 Morningside Lane Apt #E, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, Suspended Registration and No Proof of Insurance.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and County Line Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 04/25/12 in McHenry County.
18:36pm Shaffer, Joseph D., DOB: 07/19/86, of W9086 County Road B, Sharon, WI, was charged with Retail Theft.  Also taken into custody during the same incident was Wilson, Brittanie L., DOB: 06/18/92, of 1503 Northfield Court Apt 2B,Harvard, who was also charged with Retail Theft.  Both were taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  Both were released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 04/25/12 in Algonquin.
March 19
00:24am Hale, Brenda L., DOB: 10/26/65, of 225 Granada Drive, Carpentersville, was charged with DUI and Speeding.  She was taken into custody at River Road and Route 62.  She was released after posting $100 and her Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 04/25/12 in McHenry County.

D300 Student Leaders Bring Late Fellow's Dream To Fruition

Over 100 students from District 300 high schools gathered at Hampshire High Saturday for a day of leadership lectures, seminars and training in the first of what's expected to become an annual event, the Christian Stilwell Building Bridges Leadership Conference.

The event to help develop community leaders was the concept of 17 year-old Dundee-Crown student leader Christian Stilwell of Algonquin who died unexpectedly one year ago from the effects of an undetected brain lesion.  D-C fellow student Ali Sanders decided to carry his plans through to completion.  "I sat next to him at (D-C's student production) of Les Miserables and we sang "Can You Hear The People Singing" together the night before," she said.  "That was the last time I saw him."

Stilwell's mother was pleased to see her son's plans become reality.  "Christian really worked hard on this, he spent a lot of his time on it," said Denise Velazquez Stilwell.

Sanders said she was sure the conference would become an annual D300 event.  "I can't (organize next year's event) because I'm a senior but I know other students will come forward to continue this," she said.

In the pic:  Lectures and seminars were sober features at D300's Christian Stilwell Leadership Conference Saturday but some of the training exercises like rolling marbles across the Hampshire High gym--in teams--with little sticks--included a certain element of fun.

Algonquin Budget To Rise Slightly But Prop Taxes To Fall

The Algonquin Board will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the Village's proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year.  The General Fund Budget's scheduled to increase about $200,000 from this year to $18,436 but Village Manager Bill Ganek told the Board this week, that, even though they'd voted to cut the Village property tax levy 1.1 percent this year, the budget's balanced.

Ganek said an anticipated 10 percent increase in sales tax receipts and a two percent revenue from the Village's share of the State income tax would cover the decrease in money from real estate taxes.  The obvious wild card in the budget is fuel expenses.  Ganek said higher costs than last year were already baked into the numbers and if prices got even higher than expected, well, "we'll deal with it somehow."

The Village's really big expense, as always, will be for personnel.  Salaries, health insurance, pensions, Social Security and unemployment will take up 68 percent of the general operating budget even with a reduction in police overtime and more empty or reduced support slots in other departments.

Village bricks and mortar projects, streets mostly, are scheduled to jump to about $9.5 million with big expenditures on reconstruction in the Indian Grove neighborhood, work on Edgewood drive and a big streets project in Spring Creek. Ganek said some of the capital expenses increase is a bookkeeping convention since it merely consists of money carried over from the past year on projects that didn't happen as fast as they were supposed to.  Non-illusory is an expected decrease in motor fuel tax revenue for the coming year.  Revenues there are likely to fall almost $100,000 according to projections as residents switch to driving gas sippers and not less of that, anyway.

Algonquin's budget hearing is set for 7:15 pm Tuesday at Village Hall.  An overview summary is here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/85828543/Algbudgetpresent2012

In the pic:  Algonquin's Budget presentation included this handy comparison of who gets how much of the local property tax dollar.

Honey, Where'd You Put The Sunscreen?

National Weather Service forecasters said this morning if you've enjoyed "the incredible warmth" for the past several days, you'll like the next few as well.  "Record highs will likely be shattered again today," read the region's forecast, "as high temperatures climb back into the lower 80's.

"At least two-thirds of the nation could wind up with above-normal temperatures (this spring)," according to Paul Pastelok, expert long-range meteorologist at AccuWeather.com. He's forecast what might be the warmest Spring since 2004. By Accuweather's count, more than 1,200 record high temperatures have been set over the past week across the U.S. and nearly 6,000 record highs have been recorded since the beginning of the year.

Forecasters at the NWS center in Romeoville said area warm temps would hold until the end of the week when an upper level low will bring in some cooler air.

In the pic:  In a normal mid-March these local crocuses are only starting to poke up through the melting snow.  This year the daffodils are already blooming.

Activists Challenge Chicago GOP Status Quo

By John Seiler, for Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois Republican activists are pushing party faithful to challenge the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on Cook County, and its largest city, Chicago. That will affect not only local political offices, but also the legislators that Chicagoland sends to the state Capitol in Springfield.

Unless at least some Republican lawmakers are elected from the area, the Legislature unlikely to be majority Republican any time soon. Democrats now hold a 35 to 24 majority in the Illinois Senate. The House also has a majority of Democrats, with 64 and only 54 Republicans.

Part of the problem for the GOP is Chicago's Ward system according to Republican activist, Deb Gordils. “The whole thing is a farce,” she said. “What you have (are) imposters posing as Republicans.” In some wards, she said, fewer than 50 people elect a local ward committeeman. So it’s easy for Democratic operatives to find enough Democratic voters, and “tell them to vote for the GOP candidate — who’s really a Democrat,” she said. “It’s a convenient way to manipulate the vote  — with no evidence."

Attorney Joe Morris, president of the Lincoln Legal Foundation agreed. “There are certainly a handful of ward committeemen who are flying a false flag,” he said. “But the bigger problem is that they’re completely ineffectual. We have only a handful, perhaps a dozen that have organizations and work on behalf of the party’s candidates.”

Morris claimed that although Republicans are the minority party in Cook County, there are more untapped GOP votes there than in any other county in Illinois. He observed that a shift of five votes in the Senate and six in the House would give the GOP majorities in both houses.

You can read John's full story at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7955/activists-challenging-gop-status-quo-in-illinois/

Obituaries

Vickie Gropp-Kerley, 61, of Joliet, formerly of Huntley, died Saturday at the Hospice Home in Joliet following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be Monday from 5 until 7 pm immediately followed by a Service of Remembrance at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.  Burial will take place at a later date.

Gropp-Kerley was born September 7, 1950, in Park Falls, WI, the daughter of Joseph and Donna (Morford) Gropp. She is survived by her husband, Edward, of Lockport; her son, Jamie (Denise) Kerley of Huntley; grandchildren, Taylor, Jakie and Madison; her mother of Park Falls, WI; her brother, Gary (Carolyn) Gropp in Minnesota and her sisters, Judy (Allen) Pritzl and Kathy White, both of Park Falls, WI, Debby(Jim) Lake of Lockport and Kelly (Ken) Gropp of Raleigh, NC.

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.

JOSEPH A. CANUP, DOB:  12/13/69, 785 IRVING PARK ROAD  APT B, ROSELLE. STALKING, CYBERSTALKING.--Lake in the Hills PD
  
MICHAEL A. REICHLEY, DOB:  06/18/69, 6813 SEMINOLE DRIVE, WONDER LAKE. RETAIL THEFT.--McHenry PD
  
CRYSTAL V. LEDESMA, DOB:  04/26/91, 4210 FLORIDA DRIVE  APT 223, ROCKFORD. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF A CHILD.--Harvard PD
  
WALLACE A. HENSHALL, DOB:  05/13/64, LKA: 1108 IDLEWILD DRIVE, ROUND LAKE BEACH.BURGLARY, THEFT, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS.--Crystal Lake PD

PATRYCJUSZ A. WYWIORKA, DOB:  01/29/83, 164 WILLOW LANE, ELK GROVE VILLAGE. UNLAWFUL POSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
AARON A. WAHL, DOB:  12/04/87, 356 S. TRYON STREET, WOODSTOCK. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE(3CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
March 16
0109 HRS FRANK RD. & WILLOW VIEW DR. NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. IBARRA, JUANITA, F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 4602 WINDSTAR CIRCLE, CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: No Valid Illinois Drivers License, Disregarding a Stop Sign and Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0630 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF ROSEWOOD CT. BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE. Two GPS units and a purse were taken from two unlocked vehicles. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
0914 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO A VEHICLE. Two vehicles were entered while parked in an open garage.
1001 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO A VEHICLE. An unlocked vehicle was entered.
1957 HRS 700 BLOCK OF MOHICAN TRAIL. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. Money and jewelry taken from residence.
2231 HRS 5500 BLOCK OF CHANCERY WAY. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 2 years of age, bleeding from the head. Transported to Sherman Hospital.