"Ranch" Residences Latest In Herd Of Huntley Historic Homes

The Huntley Historic Preservation Commission broke this year from the popular fixation on "painted ladies" to honor well-maintained historic homes in another idiom, "ranch" houses. "We sort of stepped out of the old Victorian houses," Commission Chairman Donna Britton told the Huntley Board this week. Huntley's earliest ranch homes she said "are 50 to 60 years old."

In fact, the oldest of the seven homes chosen this year to display "Pride In Preservation" signs from the Commission was built in 1938, 37 years after the official close of the Victorian era.  Thanks to a range of social and economic changes, not to mention changes in taste, the trend in homes had moved to lower, longer and, particularly, smaller domiciles than the stately edifices popular a couple of generations before.

Britton said it didn't make any difference from a preservation standpoint.  "Whether you have a 150 year-old home or a newly historic one, they're all wonderful additions to our community," she said.

Selected for preservation awards this year were the following homes:
Horner Residence, built in 1960 at 12119 West Main Street
Christie Residence, built in 1950 at 12011 West Main Street
Rasmussen Residence, built in 1953 at 12007 West Main Street
Doty Residence, built in 1958 at 11619 Mill Street
Enstrom Residence, built in 1945 at 11613 Mill Street
Kanakaris Property, built in 1950 at 11705 Third Street
Dwyer Residence, built in 1940 at 11820 Woodstock Street

In the pic:  Take a few licks from the Prairie School and Craftsman movements, mix in 10 years of the Great Depression, and the 74-year old Doty house was an exemplar of the "modern" Huntley home.

Huntley PD Hunts For Friday Peeper

Huntley police are still searching for a Friday peeper reported in the 10100 block of Bennington Drive.  A female resident watching TV shortly after midnight told police she saw a man looking through her front window while fondling himself.

She described the perp or perv as a tall, six foot or more, white man in his twenties or early thirties, probably clean shaven, wearing a black zip up jacket with white shirt underneath and a black hat or cap.  Anyone with information should contact the Huntley Police Department Criminal Investigations Division or the department's anonymous tip line at 847-515-5333.

LITH Public Works Event Coming Next Saturday

Next Saturday will see the annual Lake in the Hills Public Works Open House from
11:00 am to 2:00 pm as a part of National Public Works Week. The event gives residents an
opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes in the daily tasks of maintaining the
infrastructure of the Village.  It also gives kids a chance to climb all over real Bob the Builder machinery, honk the horns and scare themselves witless.

If that's not enough, Public Works staff will also serve a  hot dog lunch at the Public Works Department on Haligus Road about one block south of the intersection with Miller Road.

Instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association in 1960, National Public Works Week calls attention to the importance of public works in community life.

Quinn Says He'll Sign Retiree Healthcare Cut

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Gov. Pat Quinn said he plans to sign legislation that would make many state retirees pay more for their health care. Quinn said in a written statement that he would sign the bill requiring retired state workers to assume some of the premiums for their healthcare but he did not say when. If he signs it soon, the measure would go into effect July 1.

“I am encouraged that legislators have taken this step towards restoring fiscal stability to Illinois," said Quinn's statement. "This legislation will help ensure that our retirees continue to have access to quality health care, while also lowering the cost to taxpayers.”

Currently, most retired state workers do not pay premiums for their health care, and supporters of the measure passed this week by both houses say it is a benefit that the state can no longer afford. “If we don’t act now, current retires and those who will be retiring in the future will be unquestionably faced with higher health payments and a severe reduction of benefits,” said Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, an Evanston Democrat.

Under the new bill the Department of Central Management Systems would instead set the amount that the state proposes to pay, and the rest of the cost would be made up by retirees through premiums. The state is expected to pay more than $800 million for the benefits this fiscal year. Quinn said the premiums would be means tested and determined by a number of factors, including how much each retiree receives in pension benefits and how long he or she worked for the state. Once retirees become eligible for Medicare, their premiums would decrease.

But union officials say the plan impedes the collective bargaining process and allows CMS to arbitrarily set the amount the state would pay. John Cameron, director of political and community relations for AFSCME argued that while working, retirees gave up other things through collective bargaining, such as raises, as a trade off for their paid health care. “The health insurance is a benefit that was earned. It’s not a perk, it’s not a privilege, it's not a giveaway,” he said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/quinn-says-hell-sign-cut-to-state.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
May 11
0827 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. SHAW, LUKE K., M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 1649 CARLEMONT #C, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
2332 HRS PYOTT RD. & OAK ST. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. APPELHANS, KEITH A., M/W 50 YEARS OF AGE, 5479 WHITMORE WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. RELEASED ON BOND.
0727 HRS OAK ST. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0852 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF MAPLE ST. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Window broken on construction equipment.
1626 HRS APACHE TRAIL & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2030 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF LITCHFIELD LN. MISSING JUVENILE. Male, 16 years of age, left the residence after school. Entered into LEADS.
2131 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Grafton Mulls Another Loan To Buy Back Its Offices

The Grafton Board tabled work on this year's budget Thursday after deciding there may not be enough money to finish buying back the Township headquarters by the end of the fiscal year.  "Maybe you won't spend so much on lawyers this year," suggested Road Commissioner Jack Freund, whose lawsuit against Supervisor Linda Moore has already prompted $18,000 in defense bills.

The Board had made extensive revisions to Moore's proposed budget at a special meeting two weeks ago but decided to wait until Thursday to approve it.  Moore revised the revisions, however, "so it would balance". That upset the rest of the Board. "You took $100,000 and made it zero," raged Trustee Rob LaPorta pointing at one line item.

Trustee Betty Zirk said a bigger problem, however, was that she'd concluded the draft budget only balanced based on the premise that the Township could manage to sell its now-unneeded Haligus Road office site this year.  Without that, she said, the Township wouldn't have $300,000 on hand to pay the final installment of the headquarters repurchase plan.

"You're not going to pay the Road District as the Annual Meeting directed?" asked Moore.

"There isn't enough money. Not now," said Zerk.

"We've got to get a loan," said Trustee Barb Murphy.  "(The repurchase agreement)'s got to be paid off."

Trustees voted to have another Special Meeting in two weeks to figure out what to do.

In other action, the Board voted to strip Moore of the Township's credit card for "excessive and abusive" charges.  However, they'd already done that last month to no effect.  "Just don't pay (the bill)," roared Trustee Jerry McMahon.  "When it becomes delinquent, then it's cut off."

The Board, likewise, voted to start using a voucher system for Township purchases.  However, they'd done that over a year ago but failed to enforce it.

The Board also demanded Moore provide check records and stubs so trustees could try to track where the Township's money's been going.  "Is this a Dixon problem?" shouted Moore foe Pam Fender from the audience referring to last month's discovery of a giant embezzlement in that Lee County community.  "That's a good question," replied LaPorta.

Zirk tried to minimize the cost of constant conflicts in Grafton Township.  "I got my tax bill this week," she said.  "My general fund tax only went up 12 cents and the Road and Bridge only went up 9 cents," she said.

In the pic:  The Grafton Township Board's draft budget pencils in $150,000 for legal fees this year, more than 10 percent of total expenses.

Algonquin Women's Retailer Opens At New Location

Salesmen at Algonquin Commons' new Maurices women's clothing store pronounced first-day sales Thursday as "awesome" at the store's new location.  At least the first hour was; the store didn't open until 5 pm.

Maurice's, part of the Ascena Retail Group that also owns the Dress Barn and Justice chains, isn't a newcomer to the village.  Store Manager Adam Burkell said the local outlet for the Duluth-based women's retailer's been in Woods Creek Commons for the past nine years so the move to Algonquin Commons counts as a business retention for the village rather than a new acquisition.

Fike Honored, Parade OK'ed At Huntley

The Huntley Village Board Thursday honored McHenry County Historical Society Administrator Nancy Fike for 31 years of conserving and promoting the area's colorful past and approved this year's annual American Legion Memorial Day Parade.

Fike, a former school teacher's presided over two thirds of the Society's life including the preservation of the 1843 Gannon log cabin, the 1867 Pringle School, 1886 Seneca Town Hall, the 1895 West Harmony School and a 1950 Modern Tourist Cabin. Most recently it acquired the 1898 Riley Methodist Church part of the Society’s museum at Union consists of the 1870 native limestone Union School.

The Memorial Day Parade will be May 28 at 11 pm starting at the Huntley Municipal Complex west on Main to Woodstock Street.  There will be spots for floats, cars, trucks, old cars and trucks, golf cars, motorcycles, bicycles and just folks walking and handing out (but not throwing) candy.

Registration forms for the parade are here: http://www.huntley.il.us/documents/2012ParadeRegistrationForm-2.pdf

In the pic:  McHenry County Historical Society head Nancy Fike, honored by the Huntley Board for 31 years' work.

Indicted State Rep. Uses Blago Defense: Put Out All Facts

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Call it the Rod Blagojevich defense. Indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, refused to answer questions Thursday from the Illinois House committee tasked with recommending whether he should be impeached. Instead, he read from a statement — “I intended to fight this charge and clear my name” — and then punted to his attorney, Victor Henderson, who didn’t confirm or deny accusations Smith accepted a $7,000 bribe to steer a $50,000 state grant to a day care center.

Henderson ducked direct answers to questions posed by the committee members and House attorney David Ellis and recycled the strategy used by now-federal-inmate Blagojevich’s law team. “We want all of the facts out,” said Henderson, a partner in Henderson Adam LLC, the same law firm that represented Blagojevich, during the House Special Investigative Committee hearing. “We want everything to see the light of day,” Henderson said later.

Also like Blagojevich, Smith entered a plea of not guilty in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. But the threshold for impeachment in the General Assembly is much lower than the one for conviction in a criminal case. In the House, a member may be impeached and kicked out of office for any reason members deem appropriate. In fact, Smith’s refusal to answer the committee’s questions can be held against him according to House rules.

State Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, who is on the investigative committee, said the FBI complaint against Smith and the representative’s refusal to either confirm or deny what is in the complaint are enough to take action. “That is enough for this committee to … suggest that we move forward with, and that the House move forward with, punishment,” Reboletti said.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8455/indicted-il-politico-uses-blago-defense-put-all-facts-out-there/

In the pic:  Smith testifying before  the House committee Thursday.

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
May 10
0943 HRS 300 BLOCK OF HIAWATHA DR. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Assisted public works.
1229 HRS 2600 BLOCK OF VILLAGE HALL DR. LOST ARTICLE. Wallet and keys were lost in the lobby area.
1420 HRS 700 BLOCK OF NORMANDY LN. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. House entered and items removed. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1830 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1917 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF WASHINGTON ST. DEATH INVESTIGATION. PENDING INVESTIGATION.
2044 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HICKORY RD. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Husband vs. wife. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
2104 HRS ROUTE 47. & ACKMAN RD. INJURY ACCIDENT. Motorcycle vs. vehicle. Male, 36 years of age, with head injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2137 HRS 3000 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1857 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. FOLLOW UP REPORT: THEFT BY DECEPTION. Complainant’s friend had taken money from tax return. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
Algonquin
May 7
22:51pm Putman, Thomas G., DOB: 11/20/62, of 8 Woodview Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery and Interfering with  911.  He was taken into custody at 8 Woodview Lane.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail, to await a bond hearing.
May 8
19:13pm A 15 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  He was formally Station Adjusted and then released into the custody of his parents.
19:21pm Chonko, James W., DOB: 06/26/89, of 424 South Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/13/12 in McHenry County.
19:52pm Witt, Tuyen M., DOB: 08/18/68, of 1354 Cunat Court, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Domestic Battery.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Prestwicke Boulevard.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
May 9
18:09pm Bedgood, Todd J., DOB: 03/27/68, of 22 Dellwood Court, Algonquin, was charged with Disorderly Conduct. He was taken into custody at 22 Dellwood Court. He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 5/30/12 in Algonquin.
May 10
00:10am Conrad, Jimmy D., DOB: 04/25/86, of 630 Regal Lane, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant from the Illinois Department of  Corrections for a Parole Violation. He was taken in to custody at 2 N. Main Street. He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await pick up by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
14:31pm Schulten, Zachary, DOB: 07/17/93, of 316 Tecumseh Trail #410, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  Also taken into custody during the same incident was McMillin, Tyler B., DOB: 11/09/92, of 325 Tecumseh Trail #110, Lake in the Hills.  McMillin was also charged with Retail Theft.  Both were released on Notices to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
Huntley
April 30
Barton J. Christiansen, age 62, of 11510 Algonquin Rd. #F, Huntley, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for driving with open alcohol.  Mr. Barton posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 25, 2012.
A delayed trespass to vehicle report was taken in the 11200 block of Grove St.  The victim states that an unknown person entered her vehicle between April 28 and 29.
May 1
A criminal defacement report was taken at a park in the 9600 block of Abbey Rd.  Graffiti was painted on a port-a-potty door.
May 2
Ronald R. Herrera, age 27, of 11967 Brunschon Lane, Huntley, was arrested for possession of drug  paraphernalia.  Mr. Herrera posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 1, 2012.
May 4
An identity theft report was taken in the 10800 block of Concord Ln.  Several credit cards had been opened in  the victim’s name.
A residential burglary report was taken in the 10400 block of Sunbury.  Three cases of beer were stolen from the garage.
May 5
David A. Mcahren, age 43, of 749 S Summit, Barrington, was arrested for criminal damage to property.  In the same incident
Jason M. Scarpino, age 28, of 823 Vaughn Harbor, Sycamore, was arrested for aggravated assault.  Both subjects posted bond and were released with a Kane County court date of May 28, 2012.
Michael W. Clark, age 21, of 5390 Sullivan, Lake in the Hills, was arrested for driving while license suspended, an outstanding Kane County warrant, an outstanding DuPage county warrant, and was cited for driving with an expired registration. Mr. Clark posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 8, 2012, a Kane County court date of May 29, 2012, and a DuPage county court date of June 1, 2012.
May 6
Brian Dakota Eisenhauer, age 19, of 10727 Midwest Ave, Huntley, was arrested for criminal damage to property and domestic battery. Mr. Eisenhauer was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
A 14 year-old juvenile was arrested for domestic battery.  The juvenile was released to his father and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.

Creaky Computers Another Problem For District 300

Already wrestling with a projected $1.2 million budget deficit for the next school year, the District 300 Board of Education Finance Committee encountered another hurdle Wednesday. The District's computers herd's so old that about 25 percent of it needs to be replaced.

According to a recent computer census, of the nearly 7,000 district computers more than 900 Windows machines are five years old or older and another 500 machines are elderly Mac's.  "We're losing two to five a week," said Tech Support head Robert Chavez.  Just to complicate things, Windows XP support ends in two years and only handful of the old machines are upgradeable.

The Tech department's initial estimate to replace the old machines, probably with laptops or tablets was $1.4 million.  Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Crates had a simple question.  "Where would be get this?"

One answer was a grant the District's hoping for from the State Board of Education's Capital Development Board.  D300's at the top of the list for the next batch but considering the State's finances, prospects are iffy.  The District just received its second quarter payment for buses and Special Ed for the fiscal year that ends in seven weeks.

Tech Head Eric Willard returning from a conference admitted on the phone that the cost estimate was tentative. The actual figure would depend on what teachers said they needed and where they needed it.  Crates suggested one way to stretch the District's money would be a lease to purchase deal for the new equipment, likely spreading the cost over three years.

Chavez said without new gear, student to computer ratios would fall from 4 to 1 to 6 to 1. That's about where the district was four years ago.  "Plan B is easy," said Crates.  "We need a plan A."

List At Six To Replace Resigned Algonquin Township Trustee

The Algonquin Township Board will interview six candidates next week to pick someone to fill out the term of a Trustee who resigned last month.  Seven candidates put their names in the hat for the job but Supervisor Dianne Klemm said Wednesday one had withdrawn again.  "Well, he said he couldn't attend the interviews," she said, prompting Road Commissioner Bob Miller to observe that he'd consider that a withdrawal.

There's still no word on what caused Joe Powalowski to abruptly quit his post with almost a year still left.  Only three volunteers stepped forward more than a year ago to replace the late Niels Sorensen.  The six this time, however, include three candidates from Algonquin and Lake in the Hills besides the expected ones from Crystal Lake and Cary.

Separately, Miller asked permission to pay a Township property tax bill that came in too late to be included in this month's bill list.

Property tax on Township property??

Well, yes, explained Miller.  The Road District owns half a dozen slivers of land it's acquired over the years for flood control.  Unfortunately, that's not one of the uses that qualifies government-owned property as tax-exempt.  "We've worked it down to less than $50 a year," he told trustees Wednesday, " but that's still not zero."  Miller said there might be a loophole to jump through to achieve that.  But not 'till next year.

LITH Triathlon Registration Begins

Online registration's open for the Village of Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department's 6th Annual Triathlon in one month. Only 350 entrants will be allowed so the cutoff is either June 8th or whenever. No race-day registrations will be accepted.

The event June 10 starting at 6:30 am features a half-mile open water swim, 15.5-mile bike ride, and a 4-mile run. The goal is to provide a “big city event with a small town atmosphere,” according to a LITH Parks and Rec. spokesman. Registration is $60 per participant. Online signup is at https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/79515/SMUCalendar or  an application can be downloaded at http://www.lith.org/pdf/Forms/TriathlonRegistration.pdf

In the pic:  A couple of contestants on the bike leg of last year's Triathlon

IL House Votes To End State Retirees' Free Healthcare

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
The Illinois House voted Wednesday to eliminate a premium-free insurance perk for retired state workers, including university employees, judges and lawmakers. The pricey perk costs Illinois more than $800 million a year. The new measure would require retirees to pay for their health insurance, regardless of how long they worked for the state.

State employees with 20 years of service now qualify for premium-free health insurance. The years of service are even lower for judges and General Assembly members, who receive the perk after serving six and four years, respectively. "Not only are these benefits unaffordable, given today's fiscal situation, but they are far more generous than those provided by other governments to their employees and those provided by the private sector," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who sponsored the proposal.

So far its unknown how much retirees would pay under the new measure. One possibility is having premiums set on a sliding scale based on income. The legislation places the price-setting power in the hands of the state Department of Central Management Services. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules would have veto power on any recommendations from the department.

House lawmakers debated the bill for about an hour. Opponents argued it breaks a promise to retirees. Retirees last week in Springfield pointed out that free doesn’t always mean free, and many still have to pay the cost of prescriptions and co-pays.

You can read Stephanie's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8451/il-house-votes-to-end-free-health-care-for-state-retirees/

Audit Finds More College Savings Plan Problems

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
A state audit released Wednesday shows that problems with a state prepaid tuition program went deeper than initially thought. A previous audit showed that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, which administers College Illinois!, had not followed procurement rules hiring financial advisers which helped lead to $12.78 million in lost investments. Wednesday's probe found former employees involved in choosing firms had personal investments tied up with them.

The commission also did not have documentation from the procurement process. Items that were missing included vendor interviews and presentations as well as evaluations of vendors. In some cases, ISAC changed the criteria for vendors after beginning the procurement process, according to auditors. Auditors also found that ISAC had used misleading advertisements that could make investors think that the program was backed by the faith and credit of the state. It is not. If ISAC were to run out of money, lawmakers could vote to bail it out, but there is no guarantee that this would happen.

“The fast and loose operations of ISAC prior to last summer are more pervasive than we thought,” said Rep. Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican. “It’s important to note that most of the recommendations pertain to policies, practices and procedures undertaken by former agency and program leadership.” said a written statement addressed to contract holders and posted on ISAC’s website.

The audit found that the cost of doing business for the program has spiked as well. “Program costs nearly tripled from $6.4 million in fiscal year 2006 to $18.1 million in fiscal year 2011 due to a substantial increase in investment management fees and increases in both direct and shared payroll expenses," said the report.

Durkin said he was “alarmed” at the increased costs of the program. “I think [ISAC] needs to go back and renegotiate the fees and the contracts with these money managers,” he said. “They’re not hitting home runs in the market, but they are being paid quite handsomely out of the fund.”

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/audit-finds-more-problems-with-college.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
May 9
1252 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Male passenger experiencing neck pain.
1224 HRS 9114 VIRGINIA RD. (COLLISION EQUIPMENT) THEFT. Of business checks. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1526 HRS 00 BLOCK OF CROFTON CT. SUICIDAL SUBJECT. Female, 39 years of age, made suicidal statements. Transported to Woodstock Hospital.

Algonquin Board OK To Save Trees, Keep Downtown Parade

After two weeks of poring over complaint letters and staff reports, the Algonquin Board Tuesday gave initial assent to a plan for $2 million worth of sewer, water and road work in the Village's leafy East Side Indian Grove subdivision. If everything works right, the latest compromise would only require cutting down between 22 and 30 trees instead of 70 under an original proposal.

For more than a month the 60 or so residents in the pre-War neighborhood have complained they haven't asked to have anything fixed and that the work would destroy the semi-country atmosphere of their neighborhood.  Village planners have answered that upcoming EPA pollution regs and deteriorating water mains demand the work.  Proposed sidewalks that would take 23 trees were really the only optional part of the project, they said.

Tuesday the sidewalks were abandoned and Village Manager Bill Ganek said the Village would use specialized drilling for new water mains to save as many trees as the budget would allow. That still left a question of how wide new streets ought to be, 24 feet with a curb or 27 feet with a flat gutter.  Homeowners Association President Mike Amster said his group hadn't polled residents about that since they didn't know they had a choice.  He was topped, however, by one resident who claimed she hadn't heard about the project at all until Tuesday morning.

Trustees all favored the wider but lower option street and passed the whole package along for final approval next week.

Separately, the Board wrestled with a request from the Algonquin Founders' Days Committee to pick a route for this year's Founders' Days parade, preferably that very evening. Edgewood Road reconstruction this year will preclude the usual Route 31 traffic detour during the July parade.

Planners saw only two choices: One favored by Police to transplant the parade onto Huntington Drive from Harnish to Circle Drive; The other to run the normal parade route but send detour traffic, including giant semi's, up Huntington while turning most of the Downtown into a parking desert for parade watchers.

Even with a truncated 50-unit parade, neither choice was very attractive but the Board, led by trustee Bob Smith, favored keeping the Downtown route.  "Having it up on the hill doesn't give it the jumpstart it needs," he said.

"How are you going to tell people tonight the State is going to give us permission (later on)?" asked Village President John Schmitt.

There seemed to be a feeling IDOT would be reasonable about an hour's possible delay for, at most, half a dozen semi's so the Board sent the Downtown parade route along for final approval next week.

In the pic:  Only about two thirds of Indian Grove subdivision residents appeared at Tuesday's meeting of the Algonquin Board. 

Route 31 Resurfacing Begins From Elgin to Algonquin

Southbound traffic on Route 31 was backed up Tuesday morning from Main Street/Huntley Road in Elgin almost to Crescent Drive in Algonquin.  It was the actual start of a 4.2-mile resurfacing job that was scheduled to begin three weeks ago.  The $1.6 million project which will neck 31 down to a single lane with flaggers is expected to take at least two months to complete according to published Illinois Department of Transportation schedules.  With the start of the project, all three main north/south routes in southeastern Mchenry/northeastern Kane counties are now involved in major construction at one or more points.

Judge Appoints Attorneys In Latest Grafton Legal Mess

McHenry County Circuit Judge Thomas Meyer Tuesday officially appointed three attorneys to represent various sides in Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley's lawsuit against Supervisor Linda Moore to allegedly not paying his bills.  The trio had to leave the courtroom twice for presumable horse-trading before they could come up with a mutually-agreed order for the judge to sign.

The central point of the dispute was confirming Rockford lawyer John Nelson as Moore's defense attorney.  The rest of the Grafton Board specifically rejected him last year as Township Attorney since he's the one conducting Moore's lawsuit claiming they've usurped her Supervisor's powers.  Nelson told Meyer he should be allowed to represent Moore, anyway, because "other attorneys have appeared and been refused," too. No one challenged his assertion.

For the rest of the Board to argue against Nelson's appointment, however, they had to be allowed to become parties to the case in the first place.  Law firm Ancel-Glink, their counsel in the separation of powers case, stepped in to do that, more or less at Meyer's invitation.

Meyer, likewise, ratified the role of Michael Poper, Ottley's attorney, which has been somewhat ambiguous since he filed the suit in November.  Assessors can hire outside counsel but usually in abstruse valuation disputes.  Ordinarily the Township Attorney might handle something like Ottley's complaint only Grafton doesn't have one.  "They can't agree on night and day," said Poper.

Meyer ordered Grafton to pay all three attorneys' bills whenever they're presented and than let the trio argue in his court about it if anyone doesn't like them.

Ottley claims he's worried he might have to shut down his office because Moore won't pay bills the Board's authorized but there's still no hearing scheduled for that, although a status check is set in two weeks.

Welfare Recipients May Be Cut From Benefits

By Ashley Griffin, Illinois Issues
As lawmakers look to cut billions from the state’s Medicaid liability, other programs geared at helping Illinoisans in poverty may also see substantial reductions. Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget would cap lifetime eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family Program, formerly known as welfare, at three years.

TANF provides cash assistance to pregnant women or families with children, and lifetime benefits are currently capped at five years. Quinn has also proposed reductions to job training and placement programs offered through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. However, Quinn’s plan does not call for cuts to food stamps, which are paid for with federal funds.

In recent years, income assistance programs have all seen increases, and the Department of Human Services says it cannot afford to keep pace. Increased demand for the TANF program is squeezing out other programs that rely on the same funds.

Advocates say that families who are kicked off TANF under the proposed eligibility change would likely have nowhere else to turn. “I mean, that’s more of a hardship because you’ve got families that this is the last safety net,” said Dan Lesser, director of economic justice at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.

According to Lesser, shifting TANF eligibility from five years to three years would instantly affect 3,000 Illinois families and more families every month after. “This is the worst possible time, with the state of the economy [and] the long period of times people are going between jobs, to shorten the time limit,” Lesser said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/tanf-recipients-may-be-cut-off-from.html

Obituaries

Flora I. Beltz, 85, of Huntley died Monday at Apostolic Christian Resthaven in Elgin. A visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at DeFiore - Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. Burial will be at 9 am Saturday at Plato Center Cemetery.  A memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday at First Congregational Church, Huntley. 

Beltz was born June 25, 1926, in Richmond, the daughter of Ira and Minnie (Carter) Stuart. She and her first husband, Harry Lever, farmed and raised their children in Algonquin. She is survived by her children, Linda (Dale) Huffstutler of Ft. Atkinson, WI, Lory (David) Schrieber of Bradenton, FL, Lee (Terri) Lever of Austin, TX, and Holly (Jeff) Lawyer of East Dundee; ten grandchildren and her sisters, Eva Brown (Melvin, d.) of South Elgin and Virginia “Pat” (Walter) Houston of Richland Center, WI. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Beltz, her brother Nelson Stuart (Flo), and three sisters, Dorothy (Harry) Miller of Princeton, WI, Leona (Claude) Barry of Richland Center, and Arlene (Charlie) Butt of Virgil.

Memorials may be directed to Apostolic Christian Resthaven, Elgin, 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
May 8
0756 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BRIGGS, CHRISTIAN M., M/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 21 E. OAK ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
0945 HRS CEDAR RIDGE DR. & ALGONQUIN RD. POSSESSION OF CANNABIS. JASNOW, ALAN E., M/W 37 YEARS OF AGE, 1201 E. PRAIRIE BROOK DR. A2, PALATINE. CHARGES: Possession of Cannabis Over 3.5 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Expired Registration, No Valid Insurance. RELEASED ON BOND.
1230 HRS 5600 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. FOLLOW UP ARREST: DOMESTIC BATTERY. THOMPSON, RANDY E., M/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 5657 MCKENZIE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0730 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE SCHOOL) ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY. Assisted the Illinois Attorney General with a possible phishing fraud.
0850 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. Wedding ring taken from a locked vehicle. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1126 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1230 HRS 5600 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Delayed from 05/07/12. Father vs. son. No priors. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1249 HRS 600 HARVEST GATE (VILLAGE HALL). ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 84 years of age, fell from a standing position. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1348 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF ADAMS ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Brother vs. Sister. No priors. Female, 31 years of age, leg injury. Transported to Sherman Hospital. FAIL TO FILE.
1354 HRS 3700 BLOCK OF BLACKBERRY CT. IDENTITY THEFT. Unauthorized use of complainant’s credit card. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1750 HRS 300 BLOCK OF LOCUST DR. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT. Criminal Sexual Assault. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1839 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF MAPLE ST. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. Garage. Property damage only.

Sheriff's Office Provides Details On Friday Huntley Drug Raid

McHenry County Sheriff's deputies released details this afternoon about Friday's raid on a rural Huntley indoor marijuana farm.  A news release said two Huntley residents and a Streamwood man were arrested and about 100 marijuana plants were confiscated along with growing equipment.

Sheriff's Office Narcotics investigators visited the home at 12509 Hensel Road on a tip and, while there, found enough evidence to ask for a search warrant.  Between 1 and 2 pm Friday, 13 police cars converged on the home, according to an eyewitness.

Arrested were 40 year-old Danny W. Depew whose home was listed at the growhouse address and 32 year old Kristine M. Depew, also of that address.  Both were charged with manufacture of cannabis, production of cannabis plants, possession of cannabis, destruction of evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kristine Depew was also charged with resisting a peace officer. Mike A. Mason, 39, of Streamwood was also arrested, charged with obstructing a peace officer.

Bond was set a $40,000 for Danny Depew, $30,000 of Kristine Depew and $15,000 for Mason.  All are scheduled to appear in McHenry County Circuit Court May 23 to answer the charges.

McHenry County Undersheriff Andrew Zinke said the Sheriff's Office didn't report the raid for four days because, "The case was still under investigation until today."

McHenry County Home Prices Start To Increase

The McHenry County Association of Realtors announced Monday it's changed its name.  Now the 60+ year-old ogranization will become the Heartland Realtor Organization.  The group continues to issue its monthly report of McHenry County home sales, however, and the latest reports show prices on the rise again.

Both March and April posted 304 unit home sales, both up from February's record low average price of $149,000 for a home in McHenry County.  March bounced back to an almost $157,000 average and April saw another rise to more than $165,000 per home on average. Compared to a year ago those volumes were up 50 and 30 percent respectively but average prices remained depressed about $20,000 from year-previous levels.

The change might help bring out new sellers and buyers. One Algonquin resident said last week before heading out to Arizona on a house-shopping expedition, "We had 10 buyers through last week.  That's more than we had in three months when we had the house listed in 2010."

On the name change, Kim Keefe, the Organization’s President explained, "For years we have been serving real estate professionals throughout all of northern IL and our name simply no longer described our membership. The Heartland Realtor Organization will continue to run its operations from its Crystal Lake headquarters serving nearly 700 realtors and 90 other real estate industry members.

The latest stats cover sales  including Alden, Algonquin, Cary, Oakwood Hills, Chemung, Harvard, Lawrence, Crystal Lake, Lakewood, Prairie Grove, Fox River Grove, Bull Valley, Greenwood, Woodstock, Harmony, Marengo, Hebron, Huntley, Holiday Hills, Johnsburg, McHenry, Lakemoor, McCullom Lake, Sunnyside, Ringwood, Lake In The Hills, Richmond, Solon Mills, Spring Grove, Union, and Wonder Lake.

Algonquin Garden Club Sale Saturday

The Algonquin Garden Club will hold its annual sale of plants from members' own gardens from 8 am to Noon Saturday at the East Side's Town Center Shopping Plaza near the Butera. The Club's plant sale is a little different from some of the others in the area.  The plants for sale aren't just acclimated to Northern Illinois like the ones from Rockford.  They're not specifically adapted to McHenry County like the ones from Marengo.  They're the survivors of years of gardening in Algonquin which is supposed to make them most likely to thrive in the village's microclimate.  Proceeds from the sale support the club's scholarship program for local students.

In the pic:  Algonquin Garden Club plants sold fast last year.

Bill To Limit State U Spending On Executive Searches

By Anthony Brino, Illinois Statehouse News
Some Illinois lawmakers want public universities to stop paying so much to find top leaders. The Senate Higher Education Committee today is expected to consider a proposal to bar publicly funded universities from using tax or tuition money to pay for outside firms to hire executives, such as coaches and top administrators.

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, is spearheading the bill, which passed the House with a 91-9 vote in March. Rose said university spending on executive search firms is unfair when tuition costs keep rising and staff members face layoffs. "It's a complete and utter disregard for any fiduciary obligation to tax dollars and students," Rose said.

The University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana — the state's largest university and Rose's alma mater — paid an executive search firm $150,000 to find a new president in 2010, and another $150,000 on an in-house search committee, said Tom Hardy, a university spokesman. Hardy said that $300,000 came from revenue generated through research grants called "Indirect Cost Recovery Funds," not tax or tuition dollars, and that searches for coaches are paid with money from athletic programs.

Jay Groves, spokesman for Illinois State University in Normal, said the school has used search firms occasionally for administrators, and those costs are typically paid for with state and tuition money.

Glenn Poshard, president of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, said the university has used in-house committees and executive search firms to find top leaders. "We'll get the job done one way or the other, if that's what the Legislature wants," Poshard said. "I just don't know how much you're going to save."

You can read Anthony's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8406/bill-limits-university-spending-on-executive-searches/

In the pic:  It took $300,000 to find Ex-U of I President Michael Hogan--in and out in 20 months.

Obituaries

Carol J. Hardt, 69, of  Huntley and formerly of Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove, died  suddenly Sunday at Sherman Hospital. A visitation  will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  A private graveside service will be held.

Hardt was born Feb. 4, 1943, in Chicago, the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Wilgotski) Mendel.  On November 10, 1962 she married Craig A. Hardt. She is survived by her husband, of Huntley; her children, Brett (Susan) Hardt, Sr., of Scottsdale, AZ, Corrine “Corky” (Brian) Caldwell of Mundelein, and her grandsons, Patrick McGrath, Jr. and Brett Hardt, Jr.  She is also survived by her brother Phillip (Carol Marie) Mendel. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Gloria Ramano.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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
May 7
1106 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF ROSEMARY ST. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BUCCIERI, BLAKE T., M/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 623 ANDERSON DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2115 HRS 200 BLOCK OF PLUM ST. POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. SCHULZ, ROBERT W., M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 1213 SYCAMORE ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. RELEASED ON BOND. ROWLAND, MATTHEW, M/W 18 YEARS OF AGE, 11952 DEVONSHIRE ST., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. RELEASED ON BOND.
0135 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF MAGNOLIA LN. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
0435 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF CROSSVIEW LN. BATTERY. Friend vs. friend. Male, 21 hears of age, transported to Sherman Hospital. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1617 HRS 00 BLOCK OF JUNIPER CT. HARASSMENT. Telephone harassment. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.

Attorney Blasts Kane Circuit Clerk For Camera Copy Ban

While a committee of judges and lawyers tries to figure out how to allow cameras in 16th Circuit courtrooms in Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties, a battle is brewing over cameras in the Kane County Circuit Clerk's office.  Attorney Craig S. Mielke, Chairman of the Kane County Bar Association's Civil Practice Committee blasted Circuit Clerk Deb Seyller last week for a rule forbidding lawyers from copying court files with their smartphones.

"Obviously, with the advent of Blackberrys, Androids and IPhones (sic), it would be extremely convenient for attorneys and the general public to utilize such devices to make their own personal copies of court records maintained by the Circuit Clerk, " said Mielke in an open letter to Seyller, Kane County States Attorney Joseph McMahon and Chief Judge Robert Spence.  "I was unable to find anything in the criminal code or civil statutes which prohibit photographing public records."

Seyller said Friday State statutes clearly mandate she's supposed to charge for copies of court records. Period.  "He's just trying to avoid paying a fee," she said.

The Kane Circuit Clerk's Office charges $2 for a copy of the first page of a legal document, $.50  each for the next 19 pages and .25 for those that follow.

Mielke's letter said an Appellate Court decision upheld the right to use "personal scanners" to copy records.  Seyller said there was such a decision, alright, but it only applied in Chicago's Appellate District.

Mielke didn't return a call for comment.

In the pic:  A notice at the Kane County Circuit Clerk's Office.

600 In County Walk Against Multiple Sclerosis

About 600 walkers trekked through Lake in the Hills' Sunset Park Sunday to combat multiple sclerosis in McHenry County's annual Walk to Create a World Free of MS.  The turnout for the event, one of 11 in Illinois Sunday, probably pushed donations close to the $98,000 goal for McHenry County.  Fifty two teams had pledged $91,000 before the walk.

The National MS Society, Greater Illinois Chapter, estimates 20,000 people and their families live with multiple sclerosis in Illinois.

Blood Donations Asked As Warm Weather Damps Collections

Illinois' early Spring may have given a boost to retailers but it's slowed blood donations, according to Heartland Blood Centers one of the two major suppliers to blood to northern Illinois hospitals. “Uncharacteristically warm temperatures this spring have kept many of our regular blood donors from giving blood and has caused inventories of all blood types to drop below desirable levels,” said Marketing VP Ann McKanna.

That's worrying since a single patient can use large amounts of blood.  Car accident and trauma victims need as many as 50 or more red cell transfusions, and burn victims can use up to 50 platelet transfusions to aid clotting. 

Heartland the Lifesource Blood Centers, the other Chicago area blood bank have three blood drives scheduled in southeastern McHenry County this month.

May 13 Light of Christ Lutheran Church on Hanson Road in Algonquin will sponsor a blood drive from 8 am to 1 pm.

May 17 Huntley Public Library will sponsor a drive from 4 pm to 7 pm. Call the circulation desk at 847-669-5386 EXT 21 to schedule a donation but Walk-ins are welcome,too. All donors here will receive an $11 dollar Oberweis Gift Card

May 19 Snap Fitness,Huntley, will sponsor a blood drive from 9 am to 1 pm at : 10743 Dundee Road.  Donors here, too, will receive an $11 dollar Oberweis Gift Card and there'll be a 50/50 raffle and t-shirt fundraiser to benefit Snap Fitness owner Carolyn Chesta’s niece and leukemia victim, Piper Novak, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Special Olympics Players To Feature In Battle Of The Badges

Tickets will be on sale at the door for the second annual Battle of the Badges pitting Algonquin police officers against Lake in the Hills police officers in a charity basketball game at Jacobs High School Saturday, May 12 at 10 am.  The battle will be a little different from last year, though, because both teams this year will include Special Olympics players, too, appropriate since the game's in support of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Algonquin Police Chief Russ Laine joked last week that Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association athletes James Williams and Spencer Deacon were probably in better shape than the cops but LITH has a pair of distance runners on the team who could probably beat I'll Have Another on a long track.

Admission at the game will be $5, kids 10 and under free.  There's a 50/50 raffle scheduled, too.

In the pic:  A little action at the net in last year's Battle of the Badges basketball game.

IDOT Releases New State Construction Plans

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s new multi-year construction plan is out seeking to assess the state's infrastructure across all modes of transportation. The proposal is for Fiscal Year 2013 through Fiscal Year 2018, and it considers not only roads and bridges but airports and rail routes, including transit and freight rail.

“It provides more balance and growth to an already vibrant transportation network in Illinois,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider. The plan calls for $9.2 billion in spending. The last of the capital bill funding, $1.2 billion would be pooled with $6.5 billion in federal funding, $2.2 billion in state funds and $454 million in local funds to pay for the program. In FY 2013, $1.8 billion would be spent. The plan calls for work to 2,302 miles of roads and replacement or repairs to 508 bridges. According to IDOT, the construction plant would create or sustain 120,000 jobs between FY 2013 and FY 2018.

There's not much scheduled for McHenry County, next year, though.  Several new projects are scheduled in the outyears, though.  The full report is located here:
http://www.dot.il.gov/hip1318/html/maintoc.htm

All the projects in District 1, including McHenry County, are here:
http://www.dot.il.gov/hip1318/html/dist1.htm

A map of planned McHenry County projects is here:
http://www.dot.il.gov/hip1318/html/district/mchenry.pdf

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/idot-releases-construction-plan.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
May 6
0419 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. JAIMES-SANCHEZ, HORACIO, M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 26 SILVER TREE CIRCLE, CARY. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and No Seatbelt. RELEASED ON BOND.
2208 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP RD. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. TORRES, KENNY, M/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 1307 WASHINGTON ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS.  CHARGES: No Valid Drivers License and Speeding. RELEASED ON BOND.
0202 HRS RAKOW RD. & MCHENRY AVE. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Contact with a Registered Sex Offender.
0423 HRS 100 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1102 HRS 0 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK CT. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Male, 16 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
1300 HRS 900 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. daughter. Verbal only. One prior.
1717 HRS 2500 BLOCK OF STANTON CIRCLE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1852 HRS COUNCIL TRAIL & JESSIE RD. DRIVING COMPLAINT. Complainant reported a vehicle driving erratically. Offender cited.
Algonquin
May 4
15:02pm Patel, Darshankumar K., DOB: 01/31/79, of 44 Bright Ridge, Schaumburg, was charged with Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody at 1502 County Line Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/06/12 in McHenry County.

Algonquin Reycling Event Collects Mountain Of E-Waste

More than 575 Algonquin residents toted about 35 tons of duff TV's, decrepit monitors, unbootable PC's, obsolete amps, recalcitrant high-tech vacuum cleaners and enough peripherals to fill a six foot-tall box to overflowing Saturday in this year's first e-waste recycling event in the village.  Last year's similar Algonquin recycling event saw about 450 residents appear.

Jerahmy Harkins, Business Development Manager at Vintage Tech Recyclers, Romeoville, said the load of electronic detritus was about par for the course for a village Algonquin's size these days. "I would say our collections have doubled, if not tripled," he said, since the start of the year when e-waste was banned from Illinois landfills.

Firefighter Suffers "Minor Injury" At Algonquin House Fire

One firefighter was injured but not badly extinguishing a blaze that broke out shortly before 8 am Saturday morning in an empty home at 379 Glenwood Court, Algonquin.  The fire in what dispatchers described as an abandoned home but put out within about 15 minutes but burned out the home's stairway area.

The firefighter was transported and released from the hospital with a minor, non-life-threatening injury while investigators combed the ashes looking for the cause of the fire.  None has been found so far.

Huntley, East Dundee and Crystal Lake Fire Departments helped Algonquin Lake in the Hills firefighters put out the blaze.

Huntley Kids Wet Their Lines At Annual Fishing Derby

Young Carter T. (no last names) was the "most fish caught" winner in the three to five age group at Saturday's Huntley Fishing Derby hosted by the Huntley Area Jaycees at Deicke Park. There were three age groups, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, and award for the biggest fish and the most fish, three deep.  Even the kids who didn't win got to keep the worms which is probably more than perennial fishing champ Kevin VanDam can claim.

Weather Dampens First Flower Fundraiser For Local Scouts

Temps in the mid-50's and a persistent mist were swell for the flowers at Saturday's Mother's Day  Sale for Alonguin Lake in the Hills Boy Scout Troop 369 Saturday at LITH's Ken Carpenter Park but the raw weather did little to encourage shoppers to check out the boys' first-time fundraising event.

Eileen Olsen, LITH, who bought some hanging baskets thought that was a shame.  "I love the popcorn but this is great," she said.  "Not nearly so many calories."

Girl Scouts Help Stock Algonquin Lake In The Hills Pantry

Girls from Girl Scout Troop 1066 sponsored a food drive for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry Saturday in a Cans for Cones event at Algonquin's Sonic Drive In. Sonic gave each donee a coupon good for a free ice cream cone for each food donation. Braving the weather to help stock the shelves at the Pantry's new Pyott location were Girl Scouts Jessica Carlson, Angelique Floress, Giania Cortelassi, Samanthat Langenstrass, Elle McKinney and Kaylee Hubbs.

Record-A-Cop Bill Resurfaces For Second Try

By Stephanie Fryer, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois lawmakers have another chance to allow people to record police officers in public places. “This would address some high-profile prosecutions that occurred under the existing  eavesdropping law of citizens who have done nothing more but take out their cell phones and record a police officer performing public duty,” said state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, the House sponsor of a new recording bill.

A similar bill failed in the House by 15 votes last month after police organizations opposed it. Law enforcement officials feared people could alter the recordings and use them to file complaints against officers.  Nekrtiz said the issue of tampered recordings is addressed in the new bill. The measure requires the state’s attorney to review any recordings in which an officer is considered to have acted illegally. Anyone caught tampering with recordings faces a felony charge.

Illinois law allows people to videotape officers in public places; however, audio recordings without the consent of both parties is currently a felony.

You can read Stephanie's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8369/rep-nekritz-re-introduce-eavesdropping-bill/

In the pic:  A frame from a videotape of Springfield police allegedly beating a suspect in 2009.

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.

PHILIP A. CLARK,  DOB:  04/23/1974, 1150 WHITE CHAPEL, ALGONQUIN. UNLAWFUL VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION(2CTS).--Algonquin PD
      
WILLIAM J. FARREL, DOB:  07/07/1974, LKA:  2154 SPRING STREET, EUREKA, CA  95501. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF STOLEN VEHICLE.--Algonquin PD
  
JAMIE DUENAS, DOB:  11/07/1973, LKA:  1705 WINDJAMMER LANE, HANOVER PARK. THEFT.--Lake in the Hills PD
  
ANGELICA F. RAVENNA, DOB:  11/15/1991, 38W109 HENRICKSON ROAD, ST CHARLES. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FICTITIOUS IDENTIFICATION CARD.--Lake in the Hills PD

ARNIE A. BLASS, DOB:  01/24/1994, 40 FRANCIS AVENUE, CRYSTAL LAKE. DISORDERLY CONDUCT, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.--Crystal Lake PD
  
WILLIAM P. LARSON, DOB:  07/30/1993, 5715 LANDCASTER CIRCLE, MCHENRY. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, THEFT(3CTS), BURGLARY(2CTS), UNLAWFUL USE OF A CREDIT CARD(2CTS).--McHenry PD
  
TERRENCE L. MCNULTY, DOB:  06/19/1989, 849 WOODLAND LANE, MARENGO. FORGERY.--McHenry PD

RICHARD J. SUSINKA, DOB:  06/12/1981, 601 SCHOOL DRIVE  #1C, FOX RIVER GROVE. RETAIL THEFT, CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO REAL PROPERTY, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE.--Fox River Grove PD
  
ALEK A. MONTEMAYOR, DOB:  09/13/1993, 1203 ORCHARD LANE, HARVARD. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, BURGLARY(3CTS), UNLAWFUL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR.--Harvard PD

MICHAEL J. DONOHUE, DOB:  03/02/1962, 7317 CHESTERFIELD, CRYSTAL LAKE. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED (SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE).--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
RILEY J. DALTON, DOB:  07/19/1989, 25 NORTH SEEBERT STREET, CARY. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Cary PD

ERIK M. HARVEY, DOB:  02/13/1992, 215 DELIA DRIVE, WAUCONDA. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--Island Lake PD

DANIEL F. GRIDLEY, DOB: 03/11/61, 237 WOODLAND PARK CIRCLE, GILBERTS. THEFT (OVER $10,000) (BY DECEPTION), (2 COUNTS)/ UNLAWFUL FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF AN ELDERLY PERSON (2 COUNTS).--Crystal Lake PD
  
JUAN MORALES, DOB: 05/19/91, 2702 BALDWIN ROAD, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL RESIDENCE OF A CHILD SEX OFFENDER.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office
  
SERVANDO AYALA, DOB: 05/13/92, 358 ALMA TERR., CARY. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (2 COUNTS).--Cary PD

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
May 5
2250 HRS WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE & ANNANDALE DR. UNLAWFUL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR. JUVENILE, M/W 16 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. Notice to Appear Issued. RELEASED TO PARENT. CARRIAGA, ANTHONY M., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 9 WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED. ZIEMER, JUSTIN W., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 370 STEEPLE CHASE WAY, LAKE IN THE HILLS, CHARGES: Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED. TYLER, CODY R., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 6 CROSSVIEW CT, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
0154 HRS 10 BLOCK OF WALNUT GROVE COURT. DOMESTIC. Mother vs. Son. Verbal only. No priors.
2336 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. HIT & RUN. Vehicle was struck and offender left.