Grafton Trustees Appeal Permanent Injunction

In a press release to news media--but not FEN--Friday, Township Supervisor Linda Moore announced that Grafton trustees at their last meeting voted to appeal the permanent injunction she won against them in McHenry County Circuit Court. In fact, it was filed the following day.

Special Counsel for the trustees had said in February they intended to do that since Judge Michael Caldwell's earlier temporary injunction hadn't settled the conflict that's raged between Moore and the rest of the Board for the past three years.

The trustees' notice of appeal was filed in McHenry County Circuit Court May 11, the effective  deadline after Caldwell made his temporary injunction a permanent one last month. It didn't appear in the Second Appellate District's file system until Thursday, however.  No supporting documents have been filed yet.

Caldwell's injunction gave Moore authority over "day-to-day" operations at the Township but preserved the right of the full five-member Board including Moore to set policies.  Attorney Robert K. Bush in February said the appeal would ask a panel of judges to chart the difference between the two areas.

Moore's press release charged the rest of the Board has refused to pay disputed bills from the Township's auditor, a financial consultant, a printing company and the Huntley Police. “Because the money is in the budget and the bills are proper, it is their duty to pay these vendors," she said. 

Bianchi Willing To Investigate Other County Officers

The McHenry County Board wrangled this week over the ethics of a small U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to a company headed by the son of County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.  There was no discussion, however, about designating a new and different County Ethics Officer.

The Board voted about 3 to 1 to send the $13,000 grant request to HUD to see if it passed a smell test in Washington. It also approved designating the County's Human Resources Director as its new Ethics Officer instead of an Assistant State's Attorney.  In an April 4 letter to the Board State's Attorney Lou Bianchi had argued there'd be an obvious problem prosecuting "a County Officer or employee" for an ethics violation if his office had already explained what to do via the Ethics Officer.

Equally important in McHenry County where ethical questions are becoming awfully common, however, was Bianchi's implication  that he'd be willing to prosecute a County officeholder in the first place.  Last month in a request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate the Sheriff, Bianchi testified he couldn't do it because his office is the Sheriff's defense attorney.

In an interview Friday Bianchi said the ethical bar he perceives against investigating or prosecuting the Sheriff doesn't apply to other County officeholders, however.  Probably.  "It would depend on the time.  And the circumstances.  And the allegations," he said.

Bianchi said the difference was he's already defending the Sheriff's office in civil lawsuits so he can't ethically turn around and prosecute his existing client.  "There's a significant difference between that and (,for example,) the Auditor or the Treasurer." The State's Attorney's office is the nominal legal counsel for those offices, too, only, "No one's suing them," Bianchi said.

Still unresolved is what to do about the request to investigate the Sheriff.  Last month Judge Thomas Meyer ruled it wouldn't be a conflict of interest for Bianchi to investigate him but Bianchi said the judge was wrong. Another possibility would be to hand the matter off to the State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor or to the Attorney general.

Bianchi still wouldn't say if he was going to do that.  "I don't want to comment," he said.

Well, after a month in which he hadn't passed the matter along, might an observer reasonably conclude he didn't intend to?

"I don't want to comment on that, either," said Bianchi.

More Winners This Week For Algonquin Gold Leaf Award

The kids of Algonquin's Eastview Elementary School Earth Club were among three recipients this week of the Village's new Gold Leaf Award for protecting and preserving the natural environment.

Started four years ago to help clean up the school grounds, the club now has about 30 members who meet after school monthly who run recycling efforts, build blue bird houses, help with restoration of the school's prairie area and even plant trees.

Other recipients of the Gold Leaf Award were the Huntley Fire Protection District for its new Station Four, the first building in Algonquin to be approved for the  U.S. Green Building Council's stringent LEED certification and the Kanner family on Susan Court who've industriously grubbed out all the invasive species at their Susan Court home and replaced them with native plants.

Algonquin's Gold Leaf Awards are made on no set schedule.  According Planner Katie Parkhurst they're handed out whenever the Village's ECO (Engage, Conserve, Optimize) Committee thinks they're warranted. Guidelines and application forms are here: 

 http://www.algonquin.org/egov/docs/1317841115775.htm


In the pic:  Collective Algonquin Gold Leaf Award winners from Eastview School included Dylan and Brad Kanner, Jessica Zendjas, Haley Walker, Annnabel Moro, Avery Mason and Madeline and Michell Larinas.  The non-Eastview students in the pic include Principal Jim Zursin, Village President John Schmitt and the Kanner kids' Mom.

Senate Dems Call For Funds Sweep

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
With 13 days left in the regular Spring session  Illinois Senate Democrats rolled out a budget that relies on facility closures, layoffs and 4-percent spending cuts for most state agencies.  Still, the budget outlines about $600 million more spending than what the House is budgeting.

The budget proposal is contingent on Medicaid savings of $2.7 billion and a cigarette tax increase of a $1 per pack, which Gov. Pat Quinn asked for during his budget address in February.  State Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, said the Senate is close to agreeing on how to get the $2.7 billion in savings with a proposal as early as next week.

The only areas of state government the Democrats’ budget doesn’t cut to some degree are elementary and secondary education. That spending is held flat compared to last year.

Despite cuts to most areas of state government, the Democrats’ budget actually spends more than a projected income of $33.7 billion via a tactic called fund sweeps. Sweeps take unspent money in dedicated funds — such as the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund, which is supposed to support classes on motorcycle safety — and use it for general spending. “There’s $8 billion sitting in multiple piggy banks, 500 piggy banks, at one time. We’re hoarding money in these little banks,” state Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said at a news conference Friday.

State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, criticized the Democrats' budget for spending more than expected revenue. He said the Dems' budget doesn’t have enough cuts in spending to ensure the Legislature wouldn’t vote to extend the income tax increase of 2011. It's set to expire in 2014.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8547/il-senate-dems-come-out-with-budget-of-their-own/

Obituaries

Bert W. Schaefer, 87, of Sun City, Huntley, died on Thursday at his home following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm on Monday and funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday at DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.

Schaefer was born December 6, 1924, in Chicago, the son of Bert and Helen (Czaja) Schaefer.  He married Barbara J. Teigen on June 25, 1965, in Park Ridge. He is survived by his wife of Huntley; his daughter, Deborah (Thomas) Koziel of Streamwood; son, Kirk (Mary) Schaefer of Des Plaines, and grandchildren, Brian (Tressa) & Scott (Renee) Koziel and Nicole & Natalie Schaefer.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy; his sister, Phyllis, and two brothers, Raymond and Ernest.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to EMWQ Gift Fund c/o the Fire Pension 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 18
0854 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF ALGONQUIN RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. 20 priors.
1017 HRS 300 BLOCK OF WRIGHT DR. DOMESTIC. Ex-boyfriend vs. Ex-girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
1052 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. THEFT. Of jewelry. FAIL TO FILE/
1109 HRS 3700 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1301 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF ELM ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1444 HRS 5200 MILLER RD. (SUNSET PARK) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1658 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & ANNANDALE DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Car vs. Motorcycle. Male, 76 years of age, transported to Sherman Hospital.
1722 HRS PYOTT RD. & MENOMINEE DR. INJURY ACCIDENT. Car vs. Motorcycle. No transport.
1831 HRS 2600 BLOCK OF CROFTON CIRCLE. DOMESTIC BATTERY Father vs. Daughter. One prior. FAIL TO FILE.
1913 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICK’S) RETAIL THEFT. Juvenile attempted to steal alcohol. TURNED OVER TO PARENT.

D158 Gives Kids Kudos, OK's New Digital Reading Program

The District 158 Board of Education spent more than an hour and a half recognizing teacher and student achievements Thursday and gave their formal OK for a new all-digital reading program to begin rolling out in the District at the start of the next school year.

It was a tossup which student honor was most remarkable.  One possibility was Shawn Meyer's scoring a max-possible 36 on the ACT college admissions and placement exam.  He'll be going to NYU this Fall. Another was HHS's brand-new JV Speech team which placed second this year in its first outing in State competition.  Coach Tom George said the team was one-man short at State.  "If he'd been there and placed "last", "last" and "last" we'd have been first," said George.

The Board approved adopting a new K through 5 wireless computerized reading program revealed two weeks ago at its Committee of the Whole meeting.  Starting next year at Hannah Martin School the program will expand to include all the District's elementary schools by the 2014-15 school year.  First-year cost for the program will be just short of $1 million.

Board members once again reminded President Mike Skala who suffered a moment of brain fade a couple of months ago that Huntley High's graduation ceremony will be June 2 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates this year, not at the high school.  Graduating seniors will each receive four free tickets.  Extras can be purchased here: http://huntley.revtrak.net/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=110 by May 29.


In the pic: The D158 Board congratulated HHS's new Number-Two-In-the-State Speech Team. It included Megan Sover, Megan Wilson, Valerie Hartgraves, Parth Patel, Vitoria Reales, Harry Hochwarter, Jake Highley, Mark O'Meara, Emily Aldridge and Jacob Quirk although some were not present due to Thursday evening rehearsals.

Huntley Board OK's Continued Senior Bus Service For Rutland

In a brief session Thursday the Huntley Village Board approved a slight expansion of its agreement to use Village of Algonquin inspection services and voted to continue its agreement with Grafton Township for Senior Bus services for Rutland Township residents.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said the new intergovernmental agreement would allow Huntley to call on Algonquin building inspectors to fill in for Huntley inspectors mostly during vacations. "The rate we would pay Algonquin is less than we would pay private inspectors," he said.

Huntley's contribution for Grafton Senior Bus service to Rutland will continue at $10,000 for the 2012-13 year even though Rutland rides went up from 1,373 in 2010 to 2,000 in 2011.

First Algonquin Race Calls For Detours Saturday

Saturday's inaugural Algonquin Run for Recreation 10-mile will find unexpected street closures for the race. Algonquin officials asked motorists to use extra caution when driving in Algonquin Saturday morning even though course marshals will be stationed along the race route to assist runners and motorists before and during the race.

Traffic will be restricted on Jefferson, Washington and Railroad streets between 5 and 7 am. Saturday.  Huntington Drive will be closed from Main Street to Circle Drive between 6:45 and 11 am.  Algonquin Road is the designated detour route around the race.

State School Chief Warns Of State Aid Cuts

By Jayette Bolinski, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois’ school chief this week sounded the alarm on possible cuts to the amount of money the state will give local schools during the coming fiscal year. “We can’t shortchange our schools anymore,” said Gery Chico, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, noting that the state’s 868 school districts have seen a loss of $650 million during the past three years.

A House proposal would eliminate at least another $258 million as lawmakers try to address the state’s $5.5 billion backlog of bills. Chico said that could lead to cuts to school programs, staff and the length of the school day, or possible tax hikes. The House proposal is contingent upon how successful lawmakers are in achieving $2.7 billion in Medicaid cuts. That means the reduction in education spending could be higher — as much as $500 million or $750 million, state education officials project.

“We’re already having one of the most difficult financial conversations we’ve ever had," said Pete Sherman, spokesman for Springfield Public Schools in the capital city.  "Anything on top of that would make it really, really difficult,” he said.

You can read Jayette's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8530/il-school-chief-warns-of-possible-cuts-to-general-state-aid-for-schools/

Obituaries

Marian E. Zuccarelli, 83, of Huntley died peacefully Thursday at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. A visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley. A funeral service will be held Monday at 11 am at the funeral home.

Zuccarelli was born July 31, 1928, the daughter of Axel and Elsa (Nyman) Pearson.  She married Robert P. Zuccarelli, on June 11, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago. She is survived by her husband of Huntley; daughters, Carol (Dennis) Sporleder of Laguna Niguel, CA, and Janet (Martin) Bergerud of Hoffman Estates, and grandchildren, Beth (Lewis) Murdent, Scott Sporleder and Amy and Christine Bergerud. She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Center for Cancer Care at Sherman Health or Hospice and Palliative Care 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
May 17
2349 HRS 6900 RAKOW RD. (RAKOW CURVE) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. KRUTWIG, MARIE L., F/W 48 YEARS OF AGE, 1674 ROLLING HILLS DR., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding in a Construction Zone. RELEASED ON BOND.
2356 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & LAKE DR. WANTED ON WARRANT. VEGA, RAMON J., M/W 22 YEARS OF AGE, 150 OLD FARM LN., CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Carpentersville Police Department for Failure to Appear for a Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $4,000 at 10%. Written Warning for No Taillights. RELEASED ON BOND.
1104 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1438 HRS HARVEST GATE & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT/ Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1525 HRS 0 BLOCK OF SPYGLASS CT. OUTSIDE ASSIST TO OTHER AGENCY. Assist to the Okaloosa County Sheriffs office.
1719 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HICKORY RD. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. No priors.
2005 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. OUTSIDE ASSIST TO OTHER AGENCY. Assist to the Algonquin Police Department.
2329 HRS 700 BLOCK OF MOHICAN TRAIL. DOMESTIC. Brother vs. Sister. Verbal only. Two priors. 
Algonquin
May 14
10:17am Monzo, Ian B., DOB: 01/11/70, of 1900 Tanglewood Drive, Algonquin, was charged with two counts of Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 1900 Tanglewood Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
May 15
06:59am A 17 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his father.
10:40am Ollerenshaw, Joanne, DOB: 11/24/52, of 6503 Rowland Road, Huntley, was charged with Reckless Driving and Squealing Tires.  She was taken into custody in the 1900 block of S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting her Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 06/27/12 in McHenry County.
May 16
12:00pm A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was taken into custody at Holder Park, 1040 Timberwood Lane.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
15:59pm A 16 year-old male from Lake in the Hills was charged with Retail Theft.  He was taken into custody at Walmart, 1410 S. Randall Road.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
May 17
20:28pm Plushkis, Daniel R., DOB: 07/06/91, of 8 Hunters Path, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 521 N. Main Street.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.

Algonquin Contractor Pick For Algonquin Township Trustee

The Algonquin Township Board in closed session Wednesday spent almost an hour interviewing candidates to fill an empty seat, then well over an hour afterward in discussion before formally approving Algonquin carpenter contractor Russ Cardelli for the spot.  "I'm sorry it took so long," Supervisor Dianne Klemm explained.  "We had so many good candidates."

In fact, only five of seven original applicants turned up for the actual selection of a replacement for Joe Powalowski who resigned from the Board without explanation last month.  One man effectively dropped out claiming a prior engagement that evening.  A second just didn't show up.  Besides Cardelli, the candidates included Internet entrepreneur Robert Abraham, LITH; banker Kitty Nash, Algonquin;  ex-trustee Chuck Lutzow, Crystal Lake, and headhunter Tom McDermott, also of Crystal Lake.

Trustees didn't say on what basis they made their selection, just that the choice was "really hard to make," according to Trustee Linda Lance.  Statutes merely require residency and the same party affiliation as Powalowski's, Republican.  All but Nash were GOP committeemen.  Cardelli, in addition, is the brother-in-law of unopposed GOP McHenry County Coroner candidate Anne Majewski. 

In the pic:  Algonquin Township's newest trustee Russ Cardelli is sworn in Wednesday by acting clerk Judy Kreklow.

"Stranger Approach" Reported Near Algonquin's Neubert School

Algonquin Police laid on extra patrols near Algonquin's Neubert Elementary today after a reported "stranger approach" Wednesday morning only four blocks from the school.

Police said a bearded and bespectacled white man in a black sedan stepped out his car in the residential area Huntington Drive and Grandview and asked a nine-year old girl if she wanted a ride.  The child wasn't harmed when she fled to the school to report the approach.

Area police reported three child approaches early this year near the intersection of routes 25 and 62 but Wednesday's incident doesn't show an obvious connection.  "It's a different description," said Algonquin Deputy Chief Steve Kuzynowski.

In a notice Wednesday D300 advised parents to tell kids:

* Don't talk to strangers who try to talk to you on the way home.
* If the stranger continues trying to talk to you or stops the vehicle, run home or run to the nearest public    place and immediately tell an adult what has happened.
* NEVER walk up to a car of a stranger, and NEVER go with a stranger.
* It is best not to walk alone.  Walk with a friend or a group of students.
* If you have a cell phone, call 911 immediately.
* Try to remember as much as you can about the stranger and vehicle.

Kuzynowski this morning said he was encouraged by parental preparations. "Every child we've been involved with has taken the proper steps," he said.

Touch-A-Truck Fun Set At Algonquin Commons Sunday

Sunday will see a third annual Touch-A-Truck celebration at Algonquin Commons in conjunction with a Stuff-A-Truck event to collect food donations for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry.

Besides fire engines, police cars, tow trucks, semis, ambulances and construction vehicles, the free fest from 11 am to 3 pm at the Commons will include (weather permitting) firemen rappelling from 100 feet in the air and a touchdown and liftoff by the area's Flight For Life helicopter. 

Other events include children’s activities and retailer & restaurant booths along with raffles to win store prizes and gift cards.

Volunteers will also be present to accept non-perishable (canned or boxed) food items to help stock shelves in preparation for the high-demand/low donation Summer months coming up at the Food Pantry.

In the pic:  Algonquin Commons First Touch-A-Truck event.   

IL Senate Committee OK's Minimum Wage Hike Measure

By Jayette Bolinski, Illinois Statehouse News
A plan to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to more than $10 per hour passed a Senate committee Wednesday. Business owners said it would harm their ability to stay afloat in a tough economy. Proponents said it would more money in workers’ pockets stimulating Illinois businesses.

Illinois’ minimum wage now stands at $8.25. The measure would increase the wage by 50 cents a year until it matches the the inflation-adjusted equivalent of minimum wage in 1968. That would be $10.55 in 2015, after which yearly cost-of-living increases would occur. If the measure is enacted, Illinois could have the highest minimum wage in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Right now Washington state has the highest minimum wage, at $9.04 per hour.

Illinois last increased its minimum wage in 2010. State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, who said he has supported minimum wage hikes in the past, voted against the measure, saying, “The timing here is terrible,” economically.

You can read Jayette's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8507/il-senate-committee-votes-to-send-minimum-wage-hike-to-the-floor/

$33M To Set Up State Health Exchange Despite Uncertainty

By Anthony Brino, Illinois Statehouse News
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave Illinois $32.7 million Wednesday to set up a health insurance exchange — even as legislative efforts to do it were abandoned amid uncertainty about the national healthcare law’s future.

The grant was awarded as part of a $181 million package, split among six states, as seed money to establish the quasi-governmental online marketplaces selling health-care packages. “In 2014, consumers in every state will have access to a new marketplace where they will be able to easily purchase affordable insurance,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states can craft their own exchanges by Nov. 12 or accept a federal model.   Illinois lawmakers have suspended efforts to craft the exchange, though, as they await the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling expected next month on whether the law is unconstitutional.

While Illinois lawmakers wait for the court's decision, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn could create an exchange by executive order, as governors in New York and Rhode Island have done. Quinn's health care adviser told the Associated Press he’s open to the idea.

You can read Anthony's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8499/feds-give-il-32m-to-set-up-health-exchange-despite-laws-uncertainty/

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 16
1759 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF AVALON LN. BATTERY. KENOST, SEAN P., M/W 38 YEARS OF AGE, 5495 AVALON LN., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Battery.
0909 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PATTON AVE. FOLLOW-UP ARREST: DISORDERLY CONDUCT. SCILUFFO, JOSEPH W., M/W 56 YEARS OF AGE, 414 GOLFVIEW DR., CRYSTAL LAKE.  CHARGE: Disorderly Conduct. RELEASED ON BOND.
250 HRS ROUTE 31 & VIRGINIA RD., ACCIDENT, Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1938 HRS 900 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 1 month old, having difficulty breathing. No transport.
2000 HRS 285 N. RANDALL RD. (JERSEY MIKES SUBS) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2208 HRS RANDALL RD & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
Huntley
May 7
Two criminal trespass reports were taken at a business in the 11800 block of Rt. 47.  Seven school buses were entered and sprayed with fire extinguishers.
A 16 year-old male from Lake in the Hills and a 15 year-old male from Huntley were charged with disorderly conduct at Huntley High School.
A theft/criminal damage to property report was taken at a residence in the 11600 block of Second St.  The victims stated that they returned home to find their house was egged, a solar light destroyed and a hockey stick was stolen.
May 8
Jennifer A. Sinks, age 24, of 605 S. Jefferson St., Woodstock, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for no front registration plate.  Ms. Sinks posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of May 25, 2012.
May 9
Michael W. Todd, age 45, 188 Heather Dr., Crystal Lake, was arrested for driving while license suspended and was cited for possession of a suspended driver’s license.  Mr. Todd posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 22, 2012.
May 10
A theft report was taken at Huntley High School.  A student reported her iPhone4 was stolen.
A burglary from motor vehicle report was taken in the 11400 block of Bethel.  The victim states that a Chicago Bears baseball cap and an iPod were stolen from her unlocked vehicle while parked in her driveway.
May 12
Tyler Grodzki, age 19, of 1011 Brittany Bend, Lake in the Hills, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, consumption of alcohol by a minor, resisting a peace officer, and possession of cannabis.  Mr. Grodzki was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond.

Earthwork For Algonquin Bypass To Start Monday

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that work on Algonquin's long-awaited Route 31 Western Bypass will begin this coming Monday. Weather permitting.

Initial construction involves $4.9 million worth of knocking down the high spots and filling in the low ones along the bypass route from Edgewood Drive (itself currently being rebuilt) to roughly Virginia Road. The deadline for bids on the main part of the the project, earthmoving along Algonquin Road and construction of the bypass itself is set next month.

Algonquin Public Works Director Bob Mitchard said Tuesday, aside from bringing in the earthmovers, the initial grading isn't likely to have much effect on Algonquin's often-clogged Downtown. "The site is balanced. There won't be any material going in or going offsite," said Mitchard. "I don't think it will significantly impact traffic." IDOT spokesmen agreed adding, however, "motorists should be alert for slow-moving vehicles in the area."

In the pic: The projected finish date for Algonquin's Route 31 Bypass is July 31, 2014.

No Farmers' Market For Algonquin This Summer

There won't be a sixth year for Algonquin's struggling Farmers' Market in the Village's Old Town District.  Not this year, anyway.  Sponsoring merchant association, the Downtown Algonquin Partnership, announced the Farmers' Market won't happen this Summer because volunteers don't have enough time to manage it.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the economy," said Partnership member Jarid Brockman.  "People need the time to run their businesses." Brockman said the Farmers' Market has always been faced with a chicken-and-egg dilemma.  "Without a full-time manager it's hard to find enough vendors," he said.  "But without enough vendors it's hard to justify a manager."

In the past two years the Partnership experimented with ways to boost the Market.  Two years ago the weekly event was shifted to Thursdays to bypass the Saturday market frenzy in other suburbs and to try to latch on to the coattails of Algonquin's Summer Concert Series.  That was the same reasoning last year when the market relocated from the Village's South Harrison Parking Lot to Riverfront Park but neither effort boosted the project to critical mass.

Village Trustee Bob Smith said Tuesday he was disappointed at the outcome.  "The Farmers' Market was very enjoyable," he said. Brockman, meanwhile, said the Downtown Partnership hasn't given up on the idea, just on trying to put it on again this year.  He said the Group's Old Time County Harvest Festival in the Fall is still a go, though.

Meanwhile, shoppers in search of local and regional fruits and veggies will still have Huntley's Farmers' Market to visit each Saturday in the Village's Downtown. It's set to kick off a new season next Saturday, May 26.

In the pic:  Algonquin's Farmers' Market offered produce and crafts but what it really needed was a manager, according to sponsors.

Algonquin Board OK's Indian Grove Reconstruction But Next Year

The Algonquin Board Tuesday gave formal approval to plans for storm sewers, water main replacements and street rebuilding in the Village's woodsy East Side Indian Grove neighborhood. Changes to try to preserve trees, however, will push the $2 million project off until next year, though.

A Homeowner's Association spokesman said most of the area's 60 or so homeowners were ok with plans now although a few probably still wanted to secede from Algonquin.

The Board approved widening streets to 27 feet including depressed gutter/curbs to channel rain into the sewers but Public Works Director Bob Mitchard said engineers are now studying whether a slight realignment will allow more trees to be spared.  He said that will probably put off bidding on the project until January. That's likely to push most of the project's expense into the next fiscal year so Mitchard said the money that would have been spent this year in Indian Grove will go to accelerate reconstruction in the Village's Spring Creek subdivision instead.

In other action, the Board opted not to try to run this year's Founder's Days Parade on Huntington Drive and formally approved a request to IDOT to temporarily close Route 31/Main Street for the parade in its usual location.

More Potholes In Illinois’ Future?

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Money meant for maintaining state highways could be paying for some of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s day-to-day expenses. Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget diverts almost $250 million from the state’s road fund, fueled by the state's motor fuel tax and vehicle license fees, to pay IDOT’s health-care, workers’ compensation, and building rent and maintenance costs, according to remarks Tuesday from advocacy group Transportation for Illinois Coalition.

The diversion of road fund money would allow IDOT to make up for its shrinking operating budget. Quinn's proposed budget sets aside $19.2 million for IDOT's day-to-day operations, a decrease from its current operating budget of $21.8 million. Quinn’s office did not respond to requests for comment from Illinois Statehouse News.

State statute says road fund money must pay for transportation-related expenses. "Running a department of transportation is considered a transportation-related expense," IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said.

State Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, said the diversion should worry anyone who drives on state roads, because less money for roads means more potholes for drivers. “The money is supposed to be used for construction and when (IDOT) starts doing it for other things that dilutes down our ability to do those projects,” said Reis, a member of the Illinois House Public Safety Appropriations Committee, which handles budgeting for the road fund.

"Any discussions about real or perceived diversions from the road fund should include addressing the need to stabilize the pension and Medicaid systems … Without addressing those issues, the pension cost alone could reach $400 million for IDOT by 2018, thus anything done on any other front will quickly be subsumed by the growing pension contribution rates required from the road fund for IDOT employees," Tridgell said.

More than 2,500 miles of roads in the state are deemed unacceptable according to IDOT standards. That’s about 15 percent of all state-maintained roads. That number could double by 2018 if nothing is done, bringing the total number of miles of unacceptable state roads to more than 5,000.

You can read Andrew's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8482/more-potholes-in-illinois-future/

Obituaries

Jonas V. Masaitis, 46, of Lake In The Hills died unexpectedly Saturday. A memorial gathering will be held from 4 to  8 pm Thursday at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.

Masaitis was born May 6, 1966, in Berwyn, the son of Jonas and Dagmar (Suchanek) Masaitis. On June 23, 1990, he married Julie Marie Kanabay. In 2004 the couple moved to Lake In The Hills. 
He is survived by his wife and daughters, Amanda and Rebecca, both at home; his parents, Jonas and Dagmar Masaitis of Lecanto, FL, and his sister, Zita (Mark) Hopgood of Roselle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Amanda & Rebecca Masaitis 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
May 15
0145 HRS 7900 PYOTT RD. (JA FRATE INC.) DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. VILLARREAL, EFRAIN, M/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 2182 E. HICKORY DR., WONDER LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, Speeding in a Construction Zone, No Insurance, and Obstructing Identification. RELEASED ON BOND.
1645 HRS MILLER RD. & FRANK RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. BUTZ, LISA, F/W 21 YEARS OF AGE, 1557 E. CRANDON CT., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended and Failure to Yield. RELEASED ON BOND.
0538 HRS 2000 BLOCK OF BALDWIN LN. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. One prior.
0909 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF PATTON AVE. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
1051 HRS 900 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. IDENTITY THEFT. Unauthorized purchases online.
1154 HRS 5600 BLOCK OF MCKENZIE DR. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Guns turned in for safekeeping.
1346 HRS 2265 W. ALGONQUIN RD. (THORNTONS) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1645 HRS MILLER RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Three vehicles. Property damage only.
1842 HRS 400 BLOCK OF PRIDES RUN. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Two priors. FAIL TO FILE.
1916 HRS 4100 BLOCK OF LARKSPUR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. Two priors.
2303 HRS 00 BLOCK OF W. OAK ST. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Report for insurance. 
May 14
0749 HRS 0 BLOCK OF MARGATE CT. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Several bushes and garden lights damaged. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1424 HRS 250 RANDALL RD. (COSTCO) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

$1.2 Million In Red Ink Projected Next Year For D300

The District 300 Board of Education took a look at version 5 of next year's budget Monday but outgoing Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Crates said a projected $1.2 million deficit is still a speculative one.  It might be even worse.

"The Legislature has yet to do its basic allocation to schools," she said.  Nor has it decided how much of its teacher pension burden it plans to offload onto school districts.  "Each one percent (employer's contribution) is worth about $800,000," said Crates.  If lawmakers dumped the State's entire 7 percent contribution onto school districts, "that would cost us about $5.6 million," said Crates.  Whether fatalistically or optimistically or both, the latest budget draft assumes a pension "phase-in" of 1 percent.

Also open is how much teachers will cost.  Crates said negotiations on a new union contract are "ongoing" but union president Kolleen Hanetho and Board president Anne Miller both declined to tell FEN Monday how they were going.  The current contract coming to a close more or less froze salaries at last year's levels.

The one bit of good news Crates had to offer was that the this year's anticipated 10 percent leap in health insurance costs only came in as a 4.2 percent increase.  That means next year's expected 10 percent jump will start off from a lower level.

Board Member Joe Stevens corrected Crates who closed saying the Board had decided to find a way to live with the coming year's projected deficit.  "We decided not to vote on it yet," said Stevens.  "That's still an open book."

Administrators announced another move that might save some D300 money next year.  Human Resources Director John Light will leave at the end of the month for a spot in Michigan.  He'll be replaced by attorney Colleen O'Keefe who will be not only the Human Resources boss but also its Chief Legal Counsel, too.  O'Keefe's wearing two hats at once is expected to yield "significant savings in legal fees," according to administrators.

In the pic:  The D300 Board recognized a lot of kids and teachers Monday for their work this year.  Shaking hands with Board President Anne Miller is Jacobs math teacher Cynthia Schneider, the D300 Foundation's Distinguished Educator for 2012.

Huntley, Jacobs Students Win Congressional Art Contest

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) announced the winners Monday of the Illinois 16th Congressional District High School Art Competition. This year's first place winner is Tabitha Hein, a senior at Huntley High School. Second place went  Michael Anthony Abboreno, who attends Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

Students from high schools across northern Illinois submitted 16 pieces of art for this year’s competition  in which the winner receives two free airplane tickets to Washington, DC for the national reception next month. In addition, the winning artwork will be displayed in the halls of Congress with other winners for the next year. Winners may also qualify for a $3,000 scholarship to the prestigious Savannah Center for Art and Design.

In the pic: Tabitha Hein with her winning color pencil drawing, "French Quarter", winner of this year's 16th Congressional District High School Art Competition.

LITH Hires New Economic Development Coordinator (Salesman)

Lake in the Hills newest salesman began work Monday.  Economic Development Coordinator Gino DeVivo's job, essentially, is to sell Lake in the Hills to businesses looking for a place to set up shop. He said he's looking forward to that.

"I'm feeling very optimistic," said the former Crystal Lake Economic Development Coordinator.  "I know the vernacular.  I know the area.  I know Lake in the Hills is a community that can get things done."

"He's very much an entrepreneur for businesses," said Village Administrator Jerry Sagona which is basically what LITH was looking for since residential development has, as Sagona put it, "slowed drastically".  In a brave new post-bubble world, "What's needed is someone for recruitment and retention in the business community," he said. 

DeVivo's resume shows he's worked both sides of the counter in that field.  Besides Crystal Lake he was also a community economic developer in Rockford and Boone County. On the private side, however, he's done equity investment development and property development, too.

DeVivo will sell LITH's Economic Development about half the time.  Community Development Director Dan Olsen will continue his role as the village's project planner and reviewer.

In the pic:  "Spacious accomodations with scenic view. Easy terms."  Businesses, contact LITH's new Economic Development Coordinator.

Coal-To-Gas Too Costly Claim Enviro Groups

By Anthony Brino, Illinois Statehouse News
The controversial Tenaska coal-to-gas power plant in central Illinois is in limbo, as environmental groups point to costs as a way to kill both it and two similar projects. The three plants, two of which were approved last year, would require Illinois consumers to buy electricity and heating at above-market rates. The cost would be an extra $803 million a year or about $140 a year for the average family, according to a report by the consulting firm Martin, Cohen, Roth and Associates for the Illinois Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council.

“These three plants represent the first time that the Legislature has mandated that specific power plants be built and that consumers pay for them,” said report co-author Martin Cohen, a consultant and former head of the Illinois Citizens Utility Board.

The criticism comes amid uncertainty for the Tenaska project, a proposed $3.5 billion power plant that would serve Taylorville residents.The Senate approved it on the condition that consumers buy the energy at five times the current market rate for 30 years. The company, Nebraska-based Tenaska Inc., now says it wants to build a conventional natural gas power plant — with the option of building the coal-to-gas portions later, with legislative approval. David Lundy, a consultant from Aileron Inc. that represents Tenaska, said the revised plan would create rate hikes of about 60 cents per month.

The Tenaska bill is coming up for a hearing Wednesday in the House Public Utilities Committee, but Lundy doesn’t know if it’s going to be debated in the original form or with a new amendment outlining the new plan.

Representatives from the other two plants did not respond to email and telephone requests for comment.

You can read Anthony's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8477/enviro-groups-il-coal-to-gas-projects-too-costly-for-ratepayers/

Obituaries

Georgiana O’Beid, 66, of Hampshire died, Saturday at Provena St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin. A visitation will be held Wednesday, from 4 to 8 pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home, Huntley.  A funeral service will be held 11 am Thursday at the funeral home.
 
O’Beid was born March 20, 1946, in Chicago, the daughter of John and Lilyian (Hursa) Niemeyer. November 28, 1970, she married Henry A. O’Beid. She is survived by her husband of Hampshire; her children, Christopher O’Beid of Las Vegas and Katherine (Vincent) Scardina of Woodstock and grandchildren, Christian and Aiden. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Brent Neimeyer.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed American Cancer Society.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
delayed--FEN brainfade

Huntley Electric Aggregation "Opt Out" Letters Expected May 23

A Village of Huntley announcement Friday indicated McHenry County's umbrella municipal electrical aggregration program is falling behind its original aggressive rollout schedule.  Letters to decline buying electricity from Direct Energy, the Northern Illinois Governmental Electric Aggregation Consortium's supplier, are expected to be mailed out May 23, according to the Huntley notice.  May 4 had been the original target date.

Residents who don't want to join the program will have 21 days to say so. A new wrinkle's been added for residents who've already signed up with other alternative residential electricity suppliers, though.  Opt-In letters will also be sent so these consumers will have a chance to join Huntley's plan voluntarily. Huntley voters passed a referendum authorizing the aggregation plan in March.

The choice, in a way, will be a simple one.  Do nothing and Huntley residents will begin receiving power from Direct Energy at a price of $0.04169 per kWh through July of next year.  Or affirmatively opt out and stay with ComEd's power rates.  The Illinois Commerce Commission hasn't figure out what those are yet, though.  Currently they're an average $0.07733 per kwh but two weeks ago the Illinois Power Agency purchased new contracts for ComEd customers with prices ranging from $0.02173 to $0.04400 per kwh through early 2015.  The ICC price comparison website still hasn't figured out what that works out to in blended ComEd costs, however.  Even if it does it may not provide sure guidance.

Municipal aggregation plans have potentially pulled so many consumers out of ComEd's base customer base, as much as 30 percent, that the IPA didn't buy any new power contracts for this summer.  A Crain's Chicago Business report this morning quotes ComEd analysts saying, “Summer supply rates go down because of lower capacity prices. Non-summer rates (later this year) increase because of lower expected volume. The net effect on customers is neutral."

Complicating matters further is a Chicago City Council plan raised three weeks ago for a referendum as early as February that could pull the whole city out of ComEd's customer base.  One fear is that such a move would leave the IPA already contracted to buy more power than ComEd will actually need.

The only certainty at the moment is flux and the Citizen's Utility Board warns consumers to "read the fine print" in both municipal aggregation plans and voluntary alternative electricity offers, especially how long is the term and how easy is it to ditch a supplier?  CUB has a comparative list of ARES plans here:

http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/ciElectric_cubfacts_alternativesuppliers.html

Young Eagles Returns To LITH Airport Saturday

The first Young Eagles Rally of the year at Lake in the Hills Airport will be Saturday from 9 am to Noon.  The popular event of free rides for kids aged 8 to 17 in small aircraft piloted by local EAA Chapter 790 aircraft owners will repeat once each month this Summer through October.

"We're expecting a big turnout and we always have a good time," said EAA 790 President Elton Eisele.

There's an overview of the Young Eagles program and registration form here: http://www.790.eaachapter.org/youngeagles.htm

Other Young Eagles dates this year are include:
June 16, 2012
July 14, 2012
August 18, 2012
September 8, 2012
October 13, 2012

Question about the Young Eagles rallies?  call Mary Anne Basak at 847-960-7503.

Armed Forces Day Breakfast, Fish Fry Set For LITH Legion

Saturday is Armed Forces Day and Lake in the Hills American Legion has a breakfast laid on for vets and active duty personnel that day from 8 am to Noon at Post 1231 on Algonquin Road. The price is adults $7, seniors $6 and kids 12 and under $5.

It'll be a big weekend at the Post.  Friday evening Legionnaires have an all-you-can-eat Fish Fry set from 4 to 8 pm.  Admission to that is adults $9, Seniors $7 and kids under 10 $6.

Priorities For IL Women Voters: Jobs And Economy

By Jayette Bolinski, Illinois Statehouse News
As the country’s two main political parties continue to duke it out in the so-called “war on women,” women voters in Illinois say they believe the hubbub is merely a tool to distract from the bread-and-butter issues they care about. Jobs. The economy. College affordability. Education cuts. Those are the women’s issues of 2012, women on both sides of the political aisle say.

They describe recent proposals to regulate abortion rights and birth control as insulting, divisive, regressive and over the top. A survey in early April by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, a nonpartisan research organization, indicated the top issues for voters — women and men — are the economy, jobs, the budget deficit, health care and education. Issues identified as least important are gay marriage, birth control and abortion.

“I found it rather insulting that some believe reproductive rights and social issues are all that women care about," said Ginny Kronsted, 50, and a small-business owner in  Aurora. Kronsted has watched as her four children, ranging in age from 27 to 16, struggle with the job market. Her oldest graduated from college a few years ago with a radio broadcast degree and hasn’t found a job in the industry. Her younger children vie for summer jobs with adults who are searching for work. "For me, it’s secondary, and for any women I know it’s secondary. We want our children better off than we are,” she said.

Hannah Neukomm, of Cissna Park, a rural community of just more than 800 in east-central Illinois, is considered a “millenial voter” — between the ages 18 and 29. She is 21, has a son and is in a relationship with her child’s father. She is taking courses for an associate’s degree and works in a quilt shop in her hometow“I honestly don’t think some of the issues people campaigned on last year, such as jobs and the economy, were ever addressed. They try to mix it up and talk about something new, and they’ll make a big deal about that, and you forget whether or not the last subject was fixed,” Neukomm said.

Staff writer Stephanie Fryer contributed to this report. You can read Jayette's full report at: 
http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8473/priorities-for-il-women-voters-jobs-and-economy-not-abortion/

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 13
0216 HRS 900 BLOCK OF CYNTHIA LN. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. Wife. Verbal only. No priors.
1022 HRS 600 BLOCK OF LORREE LN. UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A CREDIT CARD. Unauthorized use of a Credit Card. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1456 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 26 years of age, needing an evaluation. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1628 HRS 1216 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (RYDER PARK) BATTERY. Male subject stuck another male. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
May 11
18:50pm Kendall, Thomas, DOB: 12/21/67, of 271 Riversview Drive, Carpentersville, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Cook County for Failure to Appear on a Possession of Cannabis charge.  He was taken into custody at LaFox River Drive and Main Street.  He was released after posting $500 with a court date of 06/01/12 in Cook County.
19:14pm Matula, Brian W., DOB: 04/19/73, of 790 Majestic Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Disorderly Conduct.  He was taken into custody at 790 Majestic Drive.  He was released after posting $75 with a court date of 06/06/12 in McHenry County.
21:39pm A 15 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at Hanson Road and Arquilla Drive.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
May 12
10:14am Matula, Brian W., DOB: 04/19/73, of 790 Majestic Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Violation of Bail Bond.  He was taken into custody in the 2600 block of Bunker Hill Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/20/12 in McHenry County.
May 13
04:25am Sorich, Matthew A., DOB: 05/22/93, of 3 Salford Court, Algonquin, was Wanted on a Warrant out of McHenry County for Criminal Sexual Assault.  He was taken into custody at 3 Salford Court.  He was released after posting $200 with a court date of 06/06/12 in McHenry County.
16:13pm A 17 year-old male from Carpentersville, was charged with Speeding 40 & Over.  He was taken into custody at Randall Road and Corporate Parkway.  He was released after posting his Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 06/13/12 in McHenry County.
May 14
00:10am Carey, Grant J., DOB: 03/10/89. of 1488 Blue Heron Drive, Crystal Lake, was charged with Possession of Cannabis.  He was taken into custody at Stonegate Road and Algonquin Road.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 06/20/12 in McHenry County.
00:29am Burress, Christopher J., DOB: 08/21/88, of 1930 Aspen Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Hit & Run, DUI and Failure to Drive on Right Side of Roadway.  He was taken into custody at 1930 Aspen Drive.  He was released after posting $100 and his  Illinois Driver’s License with a court date of 06/27/12 in McHenry County.

Algonquin PD Evens Score In Second Battle Of Badges With LITH

The rivalry in the annual charity basketball game between Algonquin PD and their Lake in the Hills counterparts evened up Saturday as Algonquin trounced LITH 38 to 29.  That reversed last year's outcome which went the other way by a similar margin.  The event raised more than $600 for the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

The game was marked by at least one attempted steal that degenerated into a wrestling match in which both players may have been groping for handcuffs they weren't carrying.

Special Olympics Illinois supports nearly 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 6,000 Young Athletes ages 2 to 7 with and without intellectual disabilities annually from communities throughout the state. Illinois was the second highest grossing Torch Run program in the world last year raising more than $2.97 million.

Garden Club Sales Support Scholarships In Algonquin

The Algonquin Garden Club sold hosts of hostas and rows of raspberries at the group's annual sale of plants from members gardens Saturday in Algonquin's Town Center.  The sale supports the 83 year-old club's $1,500 scholarships to students planning a career in horticulture, conservation, agriculture, or environmental studies.  One will be awarded this year, the winner to be announced shortly.

In the pic:  Algonquin Garden Club member Jeri Huckabay sold some home-started tomatoes Saturday to Bonnie Mueller for her son's garden.

Two More LITH Bike Rodeos Set This Month

LITH Police and Explorers conducted the second of four village Bike Rodeos at Carpenter Park Saturday.  Even free hot dogs and chips didn't bring induce many kids to venture out under lowering skies, though.

LITH PD has two more Bike Rodeos set next Saturday from Noon to 2 pm at Lynn Dillow Park and the same the following week at Leroy Guy Park.  The course follows Illinois Secretary of State guidelines for safe and proper bicycle riding. Each bike is given a safety inspection and can be registered in case it's ever stolen.

Editor's Note:  How bad can a kid get hurt on a bicycle?  Number two heir to the fabulous FEN fortune got tangled up in a stray shift cable a couple of weeks ago, landed on his head and literally couldn't see straight for several days.  Not wearing his helmet, of course.  (And this is supposed to be the smart one.)

Legislators Look Into State Hiring

By Ashley Griffin, Illinois Issues
A group of lawmakers is looking into state agencies’ polices on hiring people with criminal backgrounds, and some advocates would like to see more clarity. A task force created in 2009 is compiling a report with details, such as the number and percentage of individuals who underwent a background check, the number who were disqualified based on a criminal background and other details for hiring practices for state agencies.

Groups targeting poverty and recidivism have called upon the state to set an example by loosening its policies on hiring individuals with criminal backgrounds for some positions. They hope that such a change would encourage the private sector to follow suit. But since the creation of the task force, some advocates believe that it is still hard for convicted criminals to find employment with a state agency. They say it is unclear which positions might be restricted and what information the state is using to disqualify applicants.

“The big part of it is also you have people who have arrest records that have never been convicted and arrest records also are being used to discriminate, so what we are trying to do is get state government to step up and just do an inventory of the job titles,” said Anthony Lowery, director of policy and advocacy for the Safer Foundation, a group that helps ex-convicts find jobs. According to Lowery, nearly one-third of the Illinois’ population has some type of criminal record, including arrests.

Rep. Constance Howard, who is chairwoman of the task force, said she is unhappy with how slowly the work has been going. Howard said the group is having trouble getting information from various agencies. “Apparently, there has been no regard for the deadlines, I have been trying to catch up with this, and again, I have not been very pleased with the way it is going,” she said.

The group is scheduled to present a report to Gov. Pat Quinn in September.

You can read Ashley's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/legislators-look-into-state-hiring.html

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.

SOMPHITH PHACHANSIRI, DOB:  01/10/1978, 10810 CHURCH STREET, HUNTLEY. AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE (2CTS).--Huntley PD
  
JIMMY J. DILL, DOB:  10/21/1971, 10809 CAPE COD, HUNTLEY. AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE(2CTS), SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD, BATTERY.--Huntley PD

DAVID A. FISCHER-BADILLO, DOB:  03/31/1985, 9575 ILLINOIS ROUTE 31, ALGONQUIN. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (2CTS), UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE,  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG  PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

OLGA B. RIBARDO, DOB: 05/23/68, 906 N. HARRISION STREET, ALGOQUIN. AGGRAVATED BATTERY POLICE OFFICER, RESISTING A PEACEOFFICER (2 COUNTS).--Algonquin PD

DALE A. HOJNACKI, DOB:  11/18/1976, 1257 N. GREEN STREET  #2, MCHENRY. THEFT (2CTS), OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT (5CTS).--McHenry PD
  
ERIC M. BELL, DOB:  10/23/1978, 1069 WILLOBY LANE, ELGIN. AGGRAVATED FLEEING OR ATTEMPT TO ELUDE A PEACE OFFICER (2CTS).--McHenry PD
  
JAKE K. BENSON, DOB:  02/03/1991, 3113 STILL HILL DRIVE, MCHENRY. CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO RESIDENCE, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, THEFT.--Holiday Hills PD
  
RUSSELL R. SCHNEIDER, DOB:  03/30/1979, 3605 W. BULL VALLEY ROAD, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC BATTERY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

JACK A. DOBBS, DOB:  10/08/1993, 22886 GLENHURST ROAD, DEER PARK. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, DOMESTIC BATTERY (2CTS).--Fox River Grove PD
  
MARCELLA A. LABOLESTRA, DOB:  12/01/1989, 203 LINCOLN AVENUE, FOX RIVER GROVE. CHILD ABDUCTION.--Fox River Grove PD
  
LUIS A. HERNANDEZ-SANCHEZ, DOB:  01/01/1982, 1008 ARGYLE   #11A, BENSENVILLE. AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (2CTS), OBSTRUCTING IDENTIFICATION (2CTS).--Crystal Lake PD

JENNIFER A. WYATT-PAPLHAM, DOB:  11/20/1973, 641 ½ DEAN STREET, WOODSTOCK. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE (2CTS).--Woodstock PD
  
KYLE W. PASCALY, DOB:  06/18/1987, 5016 WESTWOOD DRIVE, JOHNSBURG. UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF A PRESCRIPTION FORM, ATTEMPT, UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Spring Grove PD
  
WILLIE C. DAVIS, DOB:  02/24/1956, 734 BROADWAY, NORTH CHICAGO. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.--Woodstock PD
  
NICHOLAS M. KOCZOR, DOB:  08/28/1985, 605 KENSINTON DRIVE, MCHENRY. UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--MCSP

PATRICK C. PRENDREGAST, DOB: 11/13/92, 180 GLEN AVENUE #1, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED BATTERY PEACE OFFICER (2 COUNTS).--Crystal Lake 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 12
0355 HRS MCHENRY AVE. & RAKOW RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. HERNANDEZ-CRUZ, URIEL, M/W 28 YEARS OF AGE, 144 WOODSTOCK APT A, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, No Valid Drivers License, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Disregarding a Traffic Control Device, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol. RELEASED ON BOND.
1109 HRS 0 BLOCK OF MARION CT. THEFT. Of a cellphone. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
2158 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2230 HRS 4600 BLOCK OF COURTNEY DR. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Numerous mailboxes taken off of posts. FAIL TO FILE.