LITH Woman Wins Miss Huntley Pageant

A Lake in the Hills woman won this year's Miss Huntley Pageant Friday.  Seventeen year-old Hailey Andersson who will graduate from Huntley High School this afternoon was the judges' choice among 10 contestants in the 64 year-old competition.  "She lives in Lake in the Hills but she goes to Huntley High," said Pageant Director Lovena Hunter and that makes all the difference since the rules say Miss Huntley has to either be a village resident or go to school in D158.

Indeed, those rules had already been bent to accommodate 17 year-old contestant Samantha Bolet. She's the daughter of Jose and Maria Bolet who live in LITH but Samantha attends school in Crystal Lake.  The Miss Crystal Lake pageant's open to Crystal Lake residents only and LITH doesn't have a pageant of its own so Hunter, with the assent of the other contestants, allowed Samantha to join Huntley's pageant.  She didn't win it but the volunteer group decided to award her the title of Miss Lake in the Hills, instead.

Andersson won a $1,500 scholarship and the right to compete for the Miss McHenry County title later this Summer. She's the daughter of David and Jeanette Anderson, LITH.  She'll attend the U of I this Fall on a full scholarship according to her proud father.  First Runner up Friday was 18 year-old Adrian Fait, daughter of David and Linda Fait, Huntley.  Mistress of Ceremonies as 2011 Winner Irina Toluca turned over the crown was Miss Illinois, Hanna Smith.  She was Miss Huntley in 2009.

In the pic:  Miss Huntley, 2012, Hailey Andersson.

Algonquin Youth Charged With Criminal Sex Assault

A 16 year-old Algonquin youth was charged Friday with Criminal Sexual Assault after an 18 year-old Crystal Lake woman complained Thursday he sexually attacked her at her home. Police said the boy was a family acquaintance and, indeed, still at the residence when they arrived there.

A report from the Crystal Lake PD said investigators questioned the youth and consulted with the State's Attorney's Office before charging him with the felony sexual assault charge.  They also charged him with misdemeanor battery of an insulting and provoking nature.  Police said they transported the boy to to the Kane County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Lifeguards Return To LITH Beaches Today

A series of LITH Parks and Rec beach events begins this afternoon at Indian Trail Beach at 1 pm with a Treasure Hunt for kids.  The premise is a geographically-challenged buccaneer buried his booty at the beach and the youngsters get to keep what they dig up.

Today's the start for Red Cross-certified lifeguards to be on duty at LITH's beaches.  Guarded hours are from 10 am to 6 pm at Indian Trail through Sept. 3 and 11 am to 5 pm at Butch Hagele through Aug. 12.

Other Beach events include June 15, 8:45 pm, Movie Night at the Beach; July 10, 7 pm, Magical Night at the Beach; July 31, 7 pm, Barefoot Hawaiians Beach Show and August 9, 6:30 pm, Beach Blanket Bingo.

In the pic:  Hunting for pirate plunder last year at Indian Trail Beach.

Quinn Still Wants Pension Reform

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
After lawmakers failed to approve a pension reform plan during their regular session, Gov. Pat Quinn said Friday that he plans to meet with legislative leaders next week to hammer out a plan that can pass in both chambers.

"I think it's important that everyone know that we're racing the clock, that we must get this done as soon as possible. The [bond] rating agencies are poised to decide upon our work, and we must get to work," Quinn said. "What's clear from the legislative action yesterday, there's not a majority in either [chamber] yet for a comprehensive solution." Quinn said.

Democrats proposed that the schools assume the cost of the pension systems gradually over multiple years.The state would be responsible for the more than $80 billion unfunded liability, but schools would pick up any future liability that might occur. Republicans said the move would result in property tax increases across the state. House Minority Leader Tom Cross had proposed that districts instead cover the retirement costs incurred from raises given to employees in the last years of work. "They can't be able to negotiate the contracts and then hand the bill off to someone else," the governor said.

Quinn said he now needs to review the state budget that passed Thursday. He said he is moving forward on facility closures, even though lawmakers put money in the budget to keep facilities open. "I've already made my position clear on that," he said.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/quinn-continues-to-push-for-pension.html

Obituaries

Roland W. Racette, 71, of Lake in The Hills, died suddenly Thursday at Centegra Hospital, Woodstock. A memorial visitation will be held from 1 to 4 pm Sunday with a Service of Remembrance at 4 pm, all at DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.

Racette was born May 21, 1941, in Chicago, the son of Roland and Caroline (Matuga) Racette. He married  Barbara Wolf on April 16, 1965. Following her death,  he married Susan W. Gage on June 13, 1998, in Elgin. Racette is survived by his wife of Lake In The Hills; his daughters, Christine (Tony) Johnson of Prairie Grove and Cindy (Brad) Johnson of Algonquin; his step-daughter, Whitney (Eric) Nims of Burtons Bridge, and his grandchildren, Stephanie, Connor and  Austin. He is also survived by his sister, Caroline Garceau of Worth. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife. Memorials may be made to Roland Racette Memorial 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
delayed

Senate OK's House Budget, Adds Education Spending

By Jamey Dunn and Ashley Griffin, Illinois Issues
The Illinois Senate approved the House's budget legislation Thursday after some Democrats demanded additional education spending. The Senate signed off on the House budget after the House ignored budget bills passed by Senate Democrats. Senate Republicans objected to the spending levels in both bills.

Some Senate Democrats refused to vote for the House's K-12 education budget the first time the legislation was called for a vote, and it failed. After adding some more money, the measure passed on a second floor vote.  The Senate budget still cuts state aid to schools and money for pre-school and free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs even though not as much as the House so the extra education spending still has to be approved there.

Senate President John Cullerton proposed some ways to find new revenue for education spending, a tax on satellite TV providers and closing some income tax loopholes. “It is just another tax increase. Pass it on to the people who have been nickeled and dimed to death,” said Sen. Dale Righter, Republican from Mattoon.

Republicans said the budget would set the state up for financial peril when the recently enacted income tax increase starts to roll back in 2015, and they said the spending could prompt a vote to stop the increase from phasing out. “This is yet another brick in the wall of the permanent tax increase,” said Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican.

You can read the full report on this story at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/senate-approves-house-budget-along-with.html

State Pension Reform Stalls

Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Backers of state-employee pension reform couldn’t get the support they needed to pass a bill before the General Assembly's spring session was scheduled to adjourn before midnight Thursday.

The process started to show cracks Wednesday when House Republicans refused to support a bill shifting pension costs to school districts, universities and community colleges over the course of several years. Minority Leader Tom Cross said it would result in statewide property tax increases. The Senate approved a version Thursday that would reduce benefits only for state employees and members of the General Assembly without the controversial cost shift.

While the Senate vote was more of a gesture than a genuine effort at change, it still upset public employee unions. “We are disappointed that the Illinois Senate voted in favor of legislation that attempts to shift the lion’s share of the burden for Illinois pension debt onto employees and retirees, who have faithfully contributed their share over their working lives,"  Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan said in a prepared statement on behalf of a union coalition.

Cross said Governor Quinn plans to call a special legislative session to take up pension reform after lawmakers regroup and negotiate some changes. “It got really ugly the last couple days,” he said. But he warned that Quinn should not wait too long to call lawmakers back to session. Quinn said that he plans to meet with the leaders next week.

You can read Jamey's full report at:  http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/pension-reform-postponed.html

Local Police Raise Funds For Special Olympics

Local Police will be manning (and womaning) the rooftops of local Dunkin Donut shops until 2 pm this afternoon in this year's annual Cop On Rooftop event to support the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Last year's event raised more than $216,000 at 114 locations throughout the state.  This year there are 130. Everyone who visits a Cop on Rooftop store and makes a donation to the Torch Run  receives a free donut. People who donate at least $10 will also receive a Law Enforcement Torch Run travel mug and coupon for free coffee.

In the pic: LITH PD officers Chris Miller (the cop on top) and Jason Draftz and a bunch of LITH Explorers hoped to raise more than $2,100 in donations today at LITH's Cop On Rooftop event.

Huntley Gardeners Donate "Spares" To Green Trees Project

Sigrid Bushman and Kellie Reed donated two pickup truckloads of perennials to the Green Trees Apartments beautification project in Huntley Thursday.  The plants are "leftovers" from the pair's annual sale of plants thinned from their Wing Pointe gardens.

"The Housing Authority's just about out of money (for the beautification)," said organizer Pam Fender, "so this is a good donation."  However, the perennials won't plant themselves, so gardeners with a little spare time can call Fender at 847-302-6772.

In the pic:  Sig Bushman with some of the plants she and and Kellie Reed donated to help spruce up Green Trees Apartments in Huntley.  

Only Four Local Blood Drives Set For June

Summer's come early for blood donations.  It's when they usually plummet. “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 Ann McKanna, VP for Heartland Blood Centers.

Only four blood drives have been scheduled locally this month.

St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus Council 11091 have the first one set for Sunday at the Ministry Center in Algonquin from 7:30 am to 1 pm.

Tuesday another blood drive's scheduled from 4 to 9:30 pm at Lifetime Fitness in Algonquin.

Huntley's Faith Community Church has a blood drive scheduled at the church  June 10 from 8 am to Noon but the next one isn't until June 26 back in Algonquin from 2:30 to 6 pm at Diamond Physical Therapy.

Almost any church, business or organization can sponsor a blood drive with either Heartland or Lifesource Blood Centers, the two that supply most of the hospitals in northern Illinois and Indiana.  Start pages are here:

http://www.heartlandbc.org/hold.html

http://www.lifesource.org/host-gettingstarted.asp

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 31
2127 HRS 300 BLOCK OF VILLAGE CREEK DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. GLASPER, JOHN A., M/B 32 YEARS OF AGE, 336 VILLAGE CREEK DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Two counts of Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0954 HRS PYOTT RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1510 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LAKE IN THE HILLS PD) INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Tobacco compliance checks.
1929 HRS 4200 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. THEFT. Stolen license plate and IPass. Entered into LEADS.
1955 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
2154 HRS 100 BLOCK OF POLARIS DR. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. No priors.
Algonquin
May 28
13:04pm Berg, John R., DOB: 03/07/53, of 1114 Pine Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm without a Valid FOID Card and Possession of Ammunition without a Valid FOID Card.  He was taken into at Route 31 and Beach Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 07/11/12 in McHenry County.
16:54pm A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Domestic Battery and Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody in the 4000 block of Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his parents.
21:25pm Smith, Bryant W., DOB: 05/11/65, of 11 Woodland Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Violation of Order of Protection.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail when unable to post bond.
May 29
11:50am Hernandez, Marcos S., DOB: 01/14/73, of 790 Circle Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Unlawful Sale of Alcohol to a Minor.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
May 30
13:20pm Casale, Philip J., DOB: 12/18/57, of 700 Gardenia Lane, Bartlett, was Wanted on a Warrant out of Kane County for Deceptive Practice.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was released after posting $1,500 with a court date of 06/22/12 in Kane County.
23:12pm Lucchesi, Nello J., DOB:  02/11/57, of 502 Greensview Drive, Algonquin, was charged with Domestic Battery.  He was taken into custody at 502 Greensview Drive.  He was transported to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.

Mental Health Board Hopes To Preserve Family Service Core

"The doors are closing in 31 days," a Family Service & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County patient named Nicole complained to the McHenry County Mental Health Board Wednesday.  "Then where do we go?"  That was what the emergency meeting was all about and Executive Director Sandy Lewis said there wasn't an answer yet.  "I don't know the full capacity of our agencies and how fast they can ramp up," she said.

The Mental Health Board called Thursday's special session after word began to leak out Friday that a plan for downstate North Central Behavioral Health System to take over the financially troubled Family Service Center had fallen through.  County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, one of eight County Board members at the meeting, called it a crisis |Thursday and worried that other agencies might be "on the edge" of similar collapse.

Family Service, helping an average 6,000 McHenry County residents a year, operated largely on loans from the Mental Health Board for more than a year while the State's Department of Human Services fell further and further behind on service payments.  Family Service Executive Director Lori Nelson told FEN Thursday she'd received verbal and written assurances from the State divisions of Mental Health and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse that the agency's State contracts would be transferred to LaSalle-based North Central but last week someone somewhere at Human Services reneged and the group withdrew.

Lewis said the immediate goal was to find a way to continue treatment for Family Service's 2,000 current patients.  The Mental Health Board OK'ed a vague plan for other agencies and the Mental Health Board itself to hire Family Service's core professional and semi-professional staff before they're lost to pink slips in the next four weeks.  They left it to Lewis to find out who can do what and who's willing to do it.

Meanwhile, Lewis also called for a full-court press on local legislators to make sure over $1 million in State funding earmarked for Family Services doesn't go somewhere while the Mental Health Board tries to cobble together something from the wreckage.  "We need to advocate for that to remain here," she said.

District 6 County Member Ersel Schuster complained the County Board had been "blindsided" by Family Service's collapse and called for lots better information.  Koehler said he'd appoint a task force to examine all the county's public mental health providers' prospects for the next three years.  He said the panel probably won't be able to begin for at least a month, though.

In the pic:  About 120 people jammed McHenry County's Mental Health Board chambers Wednesday to hear what it planned to do about the collapse of the Family Service agency.   

One Algonquin Bakery Closes, Another Thrives

While one Algonquin bakery pulled down its sign this month a second erected a brand new one to help mark continued expansion.  St. Roger Abbey Gourmet French Patisserie closed its Algonquin Commons doors when its lease ran out but Sugar Hills Bakery on South Main Street plans to open a third store in Chicago later this year.

St. Roger Abbey was a funds-raising venture at the Commons for eight years operated by the self-described Traditional Catholic religious order Fraternite Notre Dame in Chicago.  FEN was unable to contact store manager Sister Marie of the Gospel.  St. Roger Abbey's website only offers French pasties by mail and lists no retail stores.

Sugar Hills President Anna Majewski said her new storefront upgrade marks a four-year expansion of her Algonquin operation, a second store in Wheeling and a wholesale European baked goods business.  "We make everything from scratch on premises," she said, which is why she intends to open a shop in Chicago.  Wedding cakes are an important line at Sugar Hills and, according to Majewski, "The brides in Chicago don't want to come all the way to Algonquin."

In the pic:  Sugar Hills Bakery dressed up its Algonquin storefront a few days ago.  Not long after St. Roger Abbey Patisserie shut down its Algonquin store.

Conley Students Make A Little Green By Going Green

Conley Elementary School students didn't win the $50,000 top prize in a national ‘One Bottle and One Can’ recycling contest but they netted the Algonquin school a $4,000 prize from PepsiCo to be used to further their recycling efforts. Conley ranked  number 40 in the nation with an average of over 212 containers collected per student. All together in the past 9 months the kids ‘rescued’ 194,990 bottles and cans that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill.

In the pic: LITH fifth-grader Taylor Hallam throws a pie at teachers Edie Gogny and Jill Adams to celebrate a $4,000 school win in the Waste Management and PepsiCo Dream Machine Recycle Rally.

Republicans May Block Teachers' Pension Shift

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Republicans pulled their support from House budget bills Wednesday after pension negotiations fell apart, but it appears that House Republican leadership will get another shot at passing pension reform this morning.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross said Republicans made it clear that their bipartisan efforts on the budget were contingent on several things, especially pension reform. Cross said that once it became clear that Democrats would not back off a portion of the reform that would shift pension costs to schools, community colleges and universities, Republicans pulled back from budget negotiations. Republicans say the measure, which would shift the responsibility of paying for pensions to schools gradually over years, would result in spikes in local property taxes as schools struggled to cover the cost. “It made it very difficult for us to continue down the road of working on the budget,” Cross said.

After the budget passed, House Speaker Mike Madigan announced that he would transfer sponsorship of the House pension reform legislation to Cross and let him take a shot at running the bill without the cost shift provisions. Madigan said Governor Pat Quinn told him Wednesday that the cost shift should be pulled from the bill. “I disagree with the governor,” Madigan said. “But he is the governor. This is his request.”

Quinn has voiced support for the shift multiple times, and it was included in his own pension reform proposal. However, a spokeswoman for the governor said that it became clear the issue was sending reform into a deadlock. “The governor has kept his eye on the prize here, and that’s the achieving the big [pension] savings … and putting Illinois on the path to fiscal stability,” said Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson.

The bill, with amendments from Cross that would strip out the cost shift, is scheduled for a hearing this morning in a House pension committee.

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/bipartisan-budget-efforts-dissolve-in.html


In the pic:  Minority Leader Tom Cross argued against shifting teacher's pensions to school districts Wednesday.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
May 30
0152 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PYOTT RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/INJURY ACCIDENT. JACOBSON, SARA J., F/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 902 NEVIN AVE., ALGONQUIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Off of the Roadway, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. Vehicle vs. tree. Transported to Sherman Hospital. RELEASED ON BOND.
1115 HRS 81 N. RANDALL RD. (CHAZIO’S HAIR SALON) THEFT. DUNKLEBERGER, CODY J., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 11721 WOODCREEK DR., HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Theft Under. RELEASED ON BOND. JUVENILE, M/W 17 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY, CHARGES: Theft Under. RELEASED TO PARENT. JUVENILE, M/W 16 YEARS OF AGE, HUNTLEY. CHARGES: Theft Under. RELEASED TO PARENT.
2359 HRS 40 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. DOMESTIC BATTERY. HANKS, VANESSA L., F/W 27 YEARS OF AGE, 431 LEAH LN. APT 3G, WOODSTOCK.
CHARGES: Two Counts of Domestic Battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0837 HRS 5400 BLOCK OF CROSSVIEW LN. CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Graffiti found on the sidewalks in the area.
1654 HRS RAKOW RD. & VIRGINIA RD. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1728 HRS 2900 BLOCK OF IMPRESSIONS DR. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE. IPod taken from unlocked vehicle.
2020 HRS 0 BLOCK OF RONAN CT. BATTERY Male vs. Multiple subjects. FAIL TO FILE.

Sheriff Special Prosecutor Case Still Not Over

Circuit Clerk's records show no date yet to hear a McHenry County motion to recover the money spent opposing failed Sheriff's candidate Zane Seipler's request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren.  County Board Chairman Ken Koehler told FEN Tuesday he ordered the request without consulting other Board members.

Special Assistant State's Attorney Bill Caldwell filed the motion for sanctions against Seipler and his attorney Thursday charging Seipler's request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Nygren's 2010 GOP Primary campaign against him wasn't a good-faith case, rather, it was harassment.

After losing to Nygren in the Primary Seipler tried to get the McHenry County State's Attorney, the Illinois Attorney General and the State Board of Elections to look into his charges Nygren used the Sheriff's official logo in his campaign and had on-duty deputies campaign for him. State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office turned the request down claiming of a conflict of interest while the others said it was outside their purview.  Seipler petitioned for appointment of a Special Prosecutor.

McHenry County Judge Thomas Meyer steadfastly refused to look at the substance of Seipler's charges but six weeks ago he finally ruled there was no need for a Special Prosecutor since Bianchi didn't have a conflict of interest and could investigate the Sheriff if he wanted to. To date, he hasn't.

Caldwell's motion claims "the FBI, The Attorney General's Office, the State Board of Elections (and two Assistant State's Attorneys)...have indicated that there is no prosecutorial merit to their allegations."

Koehler said he told Caldwell, appointed by Meyer to represent McHenry County's financial interests in Seipler's  request, to try to claw back the money the County spent fighting it because, "(County Board members) are tired of seeing County money wasted."  Koehler said it reminded him and other Board members of the failed Special Prosecutions of State's Attorney Bianchi last year which ended up achieving nothing at a cost of about $600,000.

Koehler said he didn't talk to anyone else before he told Caldwell to file the motion.  "I'm given the authority to use my best judgement," he said.

Seipler attorney Blake Horwitz couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

In the pic:  McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

District 300 Hires New Finance Chief

The District 300 Board of Education approved hiring Crystal Lake Elementary District Chief Financial Officer Susan Harkin Tuesday to replace retiring CFO Cheryl Crates.  When Harkin takes over riding herd on the District's finances this summer she'll face a draft budget that's already shaping up to be $1 million in the red for the next year even if the Legislature doesn't shed teacher pension payments onto school districts (see story below).

Taking the District's financial reins this Summer will actually mark a return to D300 for Harkin who was the District's Business Office Manage 2000 to 2006. Superintendent Michael Bregy said, "Susan facilitates rather than dominates, and she will be a refreshingly positive part of our new team."  Crates, meanwhile, said she plans to continue teaching School Finance and Business Management at NIU, "and work off the 15 pounds I've gained since I started working here."

In other action, the Board began to examine joining a Workers' Compensation co-op to help cut the District's costs in that area.  Crates said costs skyrocketed seven years ago because claims, mostly from bus drivers, "were not being adjudicated in a timely manner or even contested at all."  She said claims have gone down since, for one thing, bus drivers' claims now go to the bus company instead of the District but also because it hired a new claims administrator.  Crates said joining the co-op would probably save the District another $134,000 per year.

The Board also approved a new five-year contract for the District's Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove.  The State Board of Education still has to approve it before it becomes official.

In the pic:  (above) D300 Superintendent Michael Bregy and incoming CFO Susan Harkin. (below) D300 Workers' Compensation claims are down about two thirds from a 2005 peak.

LITH Restaurant Opens New Doors In Algonquin

A popular Lake in the Hills restaurant reopened in Algonquin Tuesday.  The former La Trattoria at Lakewood and Ackman is now La Trattoria Marianos in Algonquin Commons.  Mariano and Theresa Scandurra said they probably could have started Friday but decided to catch their breaths over the weekend after a month-long sprint to get the location ready.

Theresa Scandura said the LITH location was a good one but the Algonquin one was better, even though there are already nine restaurants or diners nearby with at least two more on the way.  In fact, she said, that was the point.  "We're all going to support each other," she said.  "One time you might want Mexican, another Italian, another just a burger.  Our hope is the Commons will become a Restaurant Row, a destination for dining."

La Trattoria Marianos proved to be a destination by itself Tuesday.  The restaurant was full two hours after opening since the Scandurra's had sent out emails to their old customers announcing it was finally ready.

Republicans Balk At Pension Cost Shift

By Jamey Dunn, Illinois Issues
Supporters of pension reform legislation approved by a House committee Tuesday said they want to see the bill called for floor vote. However, some Republicans said that they cannot support a bill that would push costs onto local school districts that have been coping with state budget cuts.

Under the latest plan, state employees and others would have to choose between trading their current cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for less generous increases that would not kick in for five years after retirement or until age 67, or keeping their current COLAs but losing access to state health insurance. Union officials said the bill violates a constitutional protection of pension benefits.  Another part of the measure, however, would require school districts outside of Chicago to pick up the state’s portion of pension costs moving forward with the change phased in gradually.

Minority Leader Tom Cross accused House Speaker Michael Madigan of inserting the “poison pill” of the cost shift in the bill to kill it because he says Madigan wants to stall on scaling pensions back for teachers until after the November election. “The biggest issue of the day, the biggest liability the state’s ever seen — we’re on the verge of getting it done, and he says: ‘No more. I’ve got a different idea. Take it or leave it.’”

Republicans tried to remove the pension shift but Democrats used House rules to block them. Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, said that reducing the amount the state must spend on pensions would ease pressure on Illinois’ strained budget and free up money to spend in other areas, such as education and human services. “With this change, we can move away from being a financial laughing stock,”

You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/republicans-balk-at-pension-cost-shift.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 29
0145 HRS 00 BLOCK OF W. OAK ST. DOMESTIC/ Mother vs. Daughter. Verbal only. Four priors.
1526 HRS 600 BLOCK OF ANDERSON DR. THEFT. Wedding ring stolen from residence. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.
1551 HRS 9625 HALIGUS RD. (MARLOWE SCHOOL) BATTERY. Male vs. Female. FAIL TO FILE.
1627 HRS MASON LN. & MILLER RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1843 HRS LAKEWOOD RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Area Mental, Psychological Services Plan Collapses

No one knows what will happen to 6,000 mentally and psychologically troubled McHenry County residents with the collapse, according to a memo leaked this weekend, of a plan to merge the county's Family Service & Community Mental Health Center with a financially stronger provider.

North Central Behavioral Health System, LaSalle, took over McHenry County's Family Service agency May 1 after more than a year of life-support loans from the McHenry County Mental Health Board to make up for massive late State payments for services.  However, a confidential memo to Family Service employees Friday said North Central would suspend McHenry County operations June 30.

The notice to staff from North Central head Don Miskowiec said the deal was off because, while McHenry County's Mental Health Board and United Way OK'ed the change, "we were unable to receive guarantees on funding from other required sources of approximately $1.1 million."  The notice didn't specify which sources but one person with knowledge said they were likely Family Service's State contracts whose transfer to North Central may have been nixed by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

A report from Mental Health Board Director Sandy Lewis this morning said that the merger depended on use of the Family Service building and equipment, the transfer of State contracts and local funding and the whole operation reaching at least a break-even point.  "Recent events affecting these conditions in all three areas (contracts/licensure assignments; facility and revenue targets) make it impossible for North Central to continue moving forward on the agreement," said Lewis's report.

The online calendar for what is left of Family Services doesn't show any Board meetings this week.  A Special Meeting of the McHenry County Mental Health Board is scheduled Wednesday.

In the pic:  McHenry County's Family Services headquarters in McHenry.

Grafton Computer Report Withheld Because Of Short Check

More legal conflict seems likely over Judge Michael Caldwell's permanent injunction against the Grafton Township Board and Supervisor Linda Moore.  In an add-on to his temporary injunction last year the judge told Moore to pay the bill for an investigating firm that examined the Township's computers.  However, the company's attorney told FEN Friday she didn't pay enough.

Chicago computer investigator Forensicon, hired by the Board to find out what happened when the Township's digital financial records disappeared two years ago, never provided a report about what it found claiming Moore refused to pay the firm's $19,880.31 invoice.  After Caldwell's order, Moore gave Trustees a check for the bill but Forensicon attorney Christine Svenson said it was for the wrong amount, $300 short.

"Stupid me," said Trustee Barb Murphy Monday.  "I went to the Post Office and mailed the check to Svenson.  I knew (the bill) was about $19,000 but I didn't check the actual (check) amount."

Svenson said even though Forensicon's invoice hadn't been fully paid, the firm setn a draft report of its findings to trustees' attorney firm Ancel-Glink.  A spokesman there couldn't be reached Friday.

The report is to some extent moot since Moore eventually admitted in court that she, herself, had removed the records from Grafton computers. Murphy said, however, Forensicon's draft report showed an eraser program had been installed on the Grafton server.  "But it doesn't say who pushed the button," Murphy said.

Svenson said Grafton wouldn't get the final report until the bill was fully paid.  She said besides the $300 that Moore's check was short, there were additional charges she'll seek, as well.

Meanwhile, even Forensicon's draft report will remain secret unless the Board votes to release it.  Under Illinois' Freedom of Information Act draft reports are exempt from public examination.

In the pic:  A court-ordered check to pay for an investigation into Grafton Township's missing financial records two years ago was $300 short.

Memorial Day Parades Honor Fallen In Algonquin, Huntley

There were few spectators at Algonquin's Memorial Day parade Monday down Route 31 following a brief ceremony at Algonquin Cemetery to honor local armed forces members fallen since the Civil War.

 There might have been more but of the newspapers and Internet aggregators that claim to cover Algonquin only FEN reported there would be a parade. "I wasn't sure," said one woman watching the parade with her mother and daughter, "but they had it last year so I figured they'd do it again this year."

Algonquin's parade was a short one including American Legionnaires from Post 1231, vets, firefighters from the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, the Jacobs High School Marching Band and Algonquin and Lake in the Hills Scout troops.  Route 31 was closed to traffic for about 15 minutes.

Huntley's Memorial Day parade down Main Street an hour later was a larger and better-attended affair.  It included Huntley Post 673 Legionnaires, cars full of vets, Huntley and Sun City Lions, local pols, the HHS Marching Band, a karate dojo, scads of Scouts of both the boy and girl persuasion and lots of residents who just wanted to march in the parade.  After the half-hour parade there were speeches at Dhamer square to remember and honor Huntley's war dead. 

In the pics: (above) Algonquin.  (below) Huntley.

Clock Ticking For Springfield Spring Session

Legislators worked over the long Memorial Day weekend claiming progress on major legislation pending before the Spring session ends in three days.  However, a measure to make it illegal to talk on a cellphone near an active accident scene was  the high point of Monday evening's action.

There's plenty still to do.  Last week legislators made deep spending cuts in health services for the poor and the House approved a cigarette tax increase to bring more money into Medicaid.  Neither chamber, however, has taken a vote to  prevent the State from pushing Medicaid bills off into future fiscal years, however.

The Senate Democrats approved a budget plan without Republican support in their chamber and some predict that it will likely be ignored by the House, much like the Democrats budget was last year. The Senate Democrats’ budget bills are all currently scheduled for a hearing in the House Executive committee but not until Thursday, the last day of the scheduled session.

A proposal to reduce retirement benefits for state workers may emerge in the coming days. House Speaker Michael Madigan said Friday the bill would likely eliminate compounding interest cost-of-living adjustments and replace them with an adjustment of 3 percent or half the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

However another part of the plan would shift State pension payments over to local school districts, community colleges and universities for their employees.  There was major opposition to that Monday, though, and even Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang of Skokie broke ranks to call the idea "craziness".

Obituaries

Connie Emelia Akagi, 69, of Sun City, Huntley, died peacefully Saturday at Manor Care in Elgin. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7pm at the DeFiore-Jorgensen Funeral & Cremation Service, Huntley.  Visitation will continue Thursday from 9:30 am until Mass is celebrated at 10:30 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley. 

Akagi is survived by her husband, Mikio, of Huntley and her mother, Minnie Amelia Golebeski of Winnipeg, Canada.  She was preceded in death by her father, Rufus Golebeski, and her brother, Lou.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Rockford, IL 61112 or the Animal House Shelter, Huntley.

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 28
0352 HRS RANDALL RD. & MILLER RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. PACHECO, FRANCISCO M., M/W 20 YEARS OF AGE, 1329 TEAKWOOD LN., CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
0357 HRS 300 BLOCK OF COUNCIL TRAIL. UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR. SLAWEK, SHANE V., M/W 19 YEARS OF AGE, 1541 FOSTER CIRCLE, ALGONQUIN. CHARGE: Underage Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. NOTICE TO APPEAR ISSUED.
1643 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1816 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF PINE ST. CHECK FOR WELL-BEING. Complainant wanted a check for well-being on his father.
2003 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WOODY WAY. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs girlfriend. No priors. FAIL TO FILE.
Algonquin
May 26
00:59am Brown, Richard V., DOB: 01/09/56, of 2881 Brisbane Drive, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DUI, DUI Over and Failure to Dim Headlights.  He was taken into custody at Route 31 and Beach Drive.  He was released after posting $300 with a court date of 06/27/12 in McHenry County.
14:41pm Manski, James M., DOB: 11/08/85, of 611 Hackberry Lane, Algonquin, was charged with Unlawful Sale of Alcohol to a Minor.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive.  He was released on a Notice to Appear with a court date of 06/27/12 in Algonquin.
15:37pm A 16 year-old female from Woodstock was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Kohl’s, 734 S. Randall Road.  She was referred to the Tri Area Court For Teens and then released into the custody of her parents.
May 28
13:04pm Berg, John R., DOB: 03/07/53, of 1114 Pine Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm without a Valid FOID Card and Possession of Ammunition without a Valid FOID Card.  He was taken into at Route 31 and Beach Drive.  He was released after posting $150 with a court date of 07/11/12 in McHenry County.
16:54pm A 17 year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Domestic Battery and Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody in the 4000 block of Bunker Hill Drive.  He was formally Petitioned into Juvenile Court and then released into the custody of his parents.

Local Churches Gather Food For Area Hungry

Volunteers from five Huntley churches and half a dozen more from Crystal Lake filled a semi-trailer with food donations for the Northern Illinois Food Bank Sunday at Huntley's Faith Community Church.  FCC operates its own food pantry to help area families but stevedore-for-a-day David Bieber said, "This is the first time we've (had a food drive) as a community of churches."

Sunday's collection was one in which about 30 McHenry County churches banded together this month under the rubric Christ Together to collect food and financial donations for the area's hungry.  The donations at FCC will be trucked to Aurora this morning where NIFB will distributed them to area food banks.  "Some of it might be coming back here," FCC volunteer Geoff Gentry observed ironically.

Area churches contributing to Sunday's drive included:

Faith Community Church, Huntley
Springbrook Community, Huntley 
Willow Creek, Huntley
The Well, Huntley
Westlake Community Church, Huntley
Immanuel Lutheran, Crystal Lake
Willow Creek Community Church, Crystal Lake
Harvest Bible Chapel, Crystal Lake
Trinity Baptist Community Church, Crystal Lake
Vineyard Christian Church, Crystal Lake
Christian Fellowship, Crystal Lake
Crosspoint Lutheran Church, Lakewood

Faith Community Church Food Pantry helps about 200 members and non-members on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

In the pic:  Huntley's Faith Community Church and Springbrook Community Church contributed six pallets of non-perishable food all by themselves in Sunday's drive for the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Local Parades To Mark Memorial Day

Both Algonquin and Huntley will hold Memorial Day Parades today.

Algonquin's parade will begin after a brief ceremony at 10 am to honor the military dead at Algonquin Cemetery at Route 31 and Cary-Algonquin Rd. The parade will march down Route 31 to the gazebo in Riverfront Park on North Harrison where a Remembrance Ceremony will be held.

Huntley's parade will depart from the Municipal Complex at 11 am marching west on Main Street to Woodstock Street to end at Dhamer Square where the Village's Memorial Day Ceremony will take place.

Bad Weather Hampers LITH Street Market

The Lake in the Hills Street Market on Route 31 this Summer with construction both above at Rakow Road and below at Virginia Road but weather, rain in particular, is proving to be a bigger problem according to Manager Nick Sarillo. "It's been horrible," he said. "Saturday (when it rained) we had 14 vendor cancellations."  Bad weather's marred all three weekends the Street Market's been open this season, according to Sarillo.

Still Sarillo said, "We're not unhappy."  That he said was because there aren't many flea markets nearby to compete--McHenry, Woodstock and Dundee.  The Lake in the Hills Street Market operates on the second and fourth weekends of every month.  The next dates will be June 9 and 10.  Check the weather forecast.  

Medicaid Provider Charged With $6.7M Fraud

By Jayette Bolinski, Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois and federal authorities are seeking millions of dollars from a Chicago-area company that allegedly filed nearly 60,000 false Medicaid claims since late 2004. Authorities say Universal Transportation II LLC, which does business as Med Star Medicar, is liable for $6.7 million, which includes the loss from the false claims, as well as damages and penalties.

The complaint originally was filed in August in U.S. District Court in Springfield. On May 9, U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore entered a default order against Universal after it failed to respond to the lawsuit. Representatives of Universal Transportation could not be reached Friday.

Universal provides non-emergency transportation of indigent Medicaid patients to doctors’ visits, medical treatments and other needs covered under Medicaid. Universal submitted 6,294 claims for services it already was reimbursed for, was paid $11,420 for excessive mileage, and filed 52,763 claims for transporting people to medical treatment that never occurred, according to the complaint.

According to the Illinois Office of Inspector General's 2010 report for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services — the most recent report available — Medicaid fraud involving “non-emergency transportation” providers like Universal Transportation is common. In 2010, the inspector general documented four such cases involving a total of $1.71 million in fraudulent claims.

Staff writer Anthony Brino contributed to this report.

You can read Jayette's full report at:  http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8644/il-medicaid-provider-on-hook-for-6-7m-for-alleged-fraud/

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 27
0321 HRS 211 N. RANDALL RD. (STEAK N SHAKE) WANTED ON WARRANT. RAY, MICHAEL JASON, M/W 29 YEARS OF AGE, 515 KIOWA DR. APT. 201, NAPERVILLE. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, ISP District of Chicago, for Failure to Appear for a Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $2,500 at 10%. Driving While License Suspended, Disregarding a Traffic Control Device. RELEASED ON BOND. ZIMBELMAN, DEMETRIE M., M/B 23 YEARS OF AGE, 318 N. WALNUT ST., ITASCA. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant, Dupage County, for Failure to Appear for a Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $3,000 at 10%. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0353 HRS RANDALL RD. & ALEXANDRA BLVD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GONZALEZ, FELIPE, M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 918 BERKLEY, CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol; Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Breath Alcohol Content Over .08; Improper Lane Use; No Valid Drivers License; Obstructing Identification; No Insurance; Wanted on Warrant, Carpentersville Police Department, Failure to Appear Driving While License Suspended, $3000 @ 10 %, No Valid Drivers License, $750 full cash; Wanted on Warrant, Dupage County, for Failure to Appear, Driving While License Suspended, Suspended Registration, No Insurance, $3000 @ 10% plus $75 Failure to Appear Fee. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0410 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Windows on a vehicle were damaged.
0710 HRS 0 BLOCK OF LINDEN CT. MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 17 years of age, left residence. Entered into LEADS. Subject located. Removed from Leads.
0821 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF W. ALGONQUIN RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. Twenty-one priors.
1138 HRS 61 OAKLEAF RD. (JAYCEE PARK) FOUND ARTICLE. Bicycle at the park. Entered into evidence.
1222 HRS 900 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. CONTACT WITH REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER. Contact with Registered Sex Offender.
1528 HRS 0 BLOCK OF ELIZABETH CT. THEFT OF A REGISTRATION STICKER/ Complainant’s registration sticker was stolen off his vehicle. Entered into LEADS.
1632 HRS 4000 BLOCK OF PEARTREE DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.

Huntley Farmer's Market Springs Back From Wet Start

Huntley's first Farmers' Market of the season featured dewy-fresh produce, not least thanks to intermittent morning sprinkles.  But then, "The sun came out and the people came out," said Market honcho Barb Read.

Not too remarkably since Spring came early to northern Illinois this year, the market had a fair amount of fresh produce including rhubarb, onions and lettuce.  "And there's some awesome flowers," said Read. "We'll have over 20 vendors when the produce starts really coming in,"  she said.

A display of artifacts by the Huntley Historical Society in Old Village Hall drew a lot of attendees Saturday, too.  In fact, vigilant member Jake Marino found some 80-year old assessment records in a dank corner of the Hall's basement.  They were a trifle "foxed," of course.

"These aren't foxed," laughed Marino.  "They're mildewed and stuck together.  We can't display them but we'll keep them.  They're another record of what things were like in Huntley in 1935." 

HHS Student Honors Listed

More than 615 scholarships and awards were presented this week at Huntley High School’s 2012 Senior Awards Night.  Here are many of them:

Cumulative 4.0 Grade Point Average: Lauren Adamick, Christian Aldridge, Kristen Allen, Jordan Anderson, Elena Auchstetter, Madeline Bartot, David Bayley, Brandon Bencko, Melissa Charron, Pierce Cordle, Samantha Czarnota, Joseph Grap, Jane Han, Shawn Meyer, Troy Miller, Hailey Molaski, Mollie Murk, Andrew Nichols, Brynn O’Donnell, Gabby Park, Alyssa Perez, Bradden Pesce, Sara Scarbro, Nicole Schmitt, Mariola Szwaja, Irina Tuluca, Natasha Tynczuk and Michael Varrige.

Illinois State Scholars: Lauren Adamick, Christian Aldridge, Julius Alfaro, Kristen Allen, Jordan Anderson, Hailey Andersson, Vittoria Andolino, Amy Antonsen, Elena Auchstetter, Yesenia Avelar, Madeline Bartot, David Bayley, Brandon Bencko, Nichole Best, Jon Boster, Joseph Burkland, Rachel Bushnell, Melissa Charron, Pierce Cordle, Samantha Czarnota, Priyanka Damarla, Jeff Davis, Tyler Davis, Ariana DeLosada, Kemdi Egekeze, Justin Frederick, Alexander Gargano, Jenna Gaudio, Stephanie Gavert, Katie Girard, Joseph Grap, Jane Han, Taylor Harrison, Alyssa Hendrix, Jeff Husak, Taylor Jacobs, Amy Kahl, Joe Kostecki, Tamara Kylloe, Andrea Leiras, Kayla Linthicum, Dylan Magness, Alexis Mamparo, Jennifer Mayo, Tiffany Mazur, Shawn Meyer, Todd Meyer, Troy Miller, Hailey Molaski, Mollie Murk, Andrew Nichols, Brynn O’Donnell, Allison Oliver, Christian O’Meara, Trevor Orton, Gabby Park, Alyssa Perez, Bradden Pesce, Zachary Polentini, Kareem Rassas, Amanda Rosso, Teresa Russo, Sara Scarbro, Nicole Schmitt, Hunter Stewart, Taylor Szczurek, Mariola Szwaja, Irina Tuluca, Natasha Tynczuk, Richard Vanoverloop, Michael Varrige, Alex Vo, Caleb Walker, Craig Walsh and Brittany Wendt.

Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) Awards: Lauren Adamick, Nick Adams, Christian Aldridge, Kristen Allen, Jordan Anderson, Hailey Andersson, Amy Antonsen, Elena Auchstetter, Charles Ayemoba, Max Barron, Madeline Bartot, David Bayley, Brandon Bencko, Jake Benz, Nichole Best, Joseph Burkland, Rachel Bushnell, Erin Byrne, Kyle Calder, Alex Carpenter, Melissa Charron, Jordan Chuipek, Jack Creager, Priyanka Damarla, Kate Darby, Ryan Davenport, Jeff Davis, Tyler Davis, Ariana DeLosada, Nikul Desai, Alex Doran, Katherine Enciso, Mohammed Faizal, Nick Fangman, Evan Flynn, Justin Frederick, Alexander Gargano, Stephanie Gavert, Katie Girard, Jessica Glass, Cody Gliot, Joseph Grap, Taylor Harrison, Tabitha Hein, Alyssa Hendrix, Christian Heustis, Ryan Himebaugh, Jeff Husak, Lauren Jemilo, Richard Kim, Allison Korn, Tamara Kylloe, Andrea Leiras, Kayla Linthicum, Daniel Lowry, Dylan Magness, Alexis Mamparo, Tiffany Mazur, Shawn Meyer, Todd Meyer, Troy Miller, Hailey Molaski, Trey Morris, Morgan Mueller, Mollie Murk, Andrew Nichols, Lucas Niedbalec, Brynn O’Donnell, Allison Oliver, Christian O Meara, Jacob O’Neal, Trevor Orton, Cameron Peckham, Bradden Pesce, Zachary Polentini, Myra Popenfoose, Mathias Pupinik, Kareem Rassas, Tory Ream, Frank Recchia, Christian Regul, Angelica Rosinski, Amanda Rosso, Teresa Russo, Juliana Rutz, Caitlin Salerno, Megan Sances, Sara Scarbro, Ronald Scerbicke, Kristen Schneider, Ashley Schorr, Heather Seiler, Marisa Seymour, Devon Shafer, Ryan Sheehan, Tim Sloma, Hunter Stewart, Alexa Swanson, Joshua Symbal, Taylor Szczurek, Mariola Szwaja, Erik Tegel, Irina Tuluca, Natasha Tynczuk, Mitch Urban, Richard Vanoverloop, Michael Varrige, Alex Vo, Caleb Walker, Craig Walsh, Jeff Webber, Brittany Wendt, Mason Wicks, Keith Wiedenfeld, Charles Wojcik, Nick Ybarra and Lauren York.

President’s Award for Educational Excellence: Hailey Andersson, Amy Antonsen, Elena Auchstetter, Charles Ayemoba, Madeline Bartot, David Bayley, Brandon Bencko, Joseph Burkland, Alex Carpenter, Melissa Charron, Jordan Chuipek, Kate Darby, Jeff Davis, Tyler Davis, Nikul Desai, Mohammed Faizal, Evan Flynn, Justin Frederick, Stephanie Gavert, Katie Girard, Jessica Glass, Joseph Grap, Taylor Harrison, Alyssa Hendrix, Jeff Husak, Nichole Komorida, Allison Korn, Tamara Kylloe, Andrea Leiras, Kayla Linthicum, Alexis Mamparo, Tiffany Mazur, Shawn Meyer, Hailey Molaski, Mollie Murk, Andrew Nichols, Brynn O’Donnell, Allison Oliver, Christian O’Meara, Trevor Orton, Bradden Pesce, Zachary Polentini, Myra Popenfoose, Kareem Rassas, Frank Recchia, Amanda Rosso, Teresa Russo, Sara Scarbro, Kristen Schneider, Devon Shafer, Tim Sloma, Hunter Stewart, Joshua Symbal, Taylor Szczurek, Mariola Szwaja, Irina Tuluca, Natasha Tynczuk, Michael Varrige, Alex Vo and Mason Wicks.

Scholarships:

D158 Education Foundation     HHS Athletic Boosters     HHS Business Department
Brandon Bencko - $1,000       Brody Burkart - $1,000    Joe Burkland - $1,000
Melissa Charron - $1,00          Justin Frederick - $500     Maria Farfan - $1,000
Pierce Cordle - $1,000            Kyle Goettelman - $500    Karle Benthuysen - $500                   
Kate Darby - $1,000               Sara Scarbro - $500        Larry Watt - $500   
Jenna Gaudio - $1,000

HHS Dean’s Scholarship       HHS Fine Arts Boosters    HHS Student Council
Nicky Busano - $500           Pierce Cordle                     Brandon Bencko - $500
Jasmine Morales - $500       Marta Makowski                Rachel Bushnell - $500
Lauren Ziemer - $500           Todd Meyer

Huntley Education Assoc.     American Legion             Landmark Contractors
Karlye Benthuysen - $500    Brighton Ferris - $500    Tiffany Mazur - $200
Rebecca Daleiden - $500     Amanda Rosso - $500
Jenna Gaudio - $500
Katie Girard - $500             American Legion Auxiliary
Emily Kahl - $500               Nicky Busano - $500
Hailey Molaski - $500

Huntley Lions Club              Huntley Rotary Club         Huntley Veterinary School
Amy Kahl - $1,000            Karlye Benthuysen - $750  Elena Auchstetter - $500
Emily Kahl - $1,000           Jenna Gaudio - $750         Pierce Cordle - $500
Ashley Schorr - $500         Anam Hussain - $750
Ryan Sheehan - $500          Ryan Palmer - $750

Kishwaukee Trail Chapter   Kishwaukee Trail Chapter  State Rep. Michael Tryon
Carolyn Cox Humanitarian   NSDAR Good Citizen         Illinois General Assembly
Marta Makowski - $100       Marta Makowski - $100     Brandon Bencko - $17,000

Barney Manning Memorial       Grant Fruin Memorial         Jennifer Kearns Memorial
Jasmine Morales - $500           Amy Kahl - $1,000          Sara Scarbro - $500

Jeremy Hooper Memorial       Schaffenegger Memorial
Kemdi Egekeze - $500           Jasmine Morales - $500
                                                    Ryan Sheehan - $500
                                                    Natasha Tynczuk - $500
                                                    Nichole Vilcek - $500

Top D300 Students Listed

The District 300 Board of Education honored its high school's top students at a meeting this month.  Here are the ones from Jacobs and Dundee-Crown.
 
ACT college readiness 30+ Scores – DCHS
Nathan Auch, Carolina Bieri, Lauren Clark, Carolyn Clarton, Lisa Fasone, Morgan Fitzgerald, Kimberly Gasiciel, Allison Griffith, Amanda Groch, Allison Kolar, Michal Ruopp, Ryan Saunders, Steven Kidera, Jacob Miller, Megan Randby and David Nellessen.

ACT college readiness 30+ Scores – Jacobs
Isra Ahmad, Suraj Ajjampur, Michael Banwart, Alexandra Bell, Connor Booker, Emma Ciavarella, Tyler Cummings, Brittany Daley, Allison Dianis, Adam Dietrich, William Ericsson, Austin Faul, Lisa Gerlach, Scott Germanetti, Alexander Glover, Autumn Hackett, Kelly Halpin, Kristen Hector, William Hennessy, Madison Henry, Michael Hubner, Amanda Jackson, Shane Kathe, Kathryn Kembitzky, Rebecca Kim, Kevin Kunzen, Mackenzie Moy, Luke Moyta, Sairaghav Nissankula, Marcela Orjuela, Anthony Ott, Logan Peterson, Daniel Piombino, Daniel Pulscher, Ryne Quinlan, Alyssa Roeckner, Jan Szmanda, Jeff Teuber, Trevor Tschosik, Elisah VandenBussche, Aubrey Waddick, Kaitlyn Weber, Jessica Wolf, Rosa Wu and Abigail Yonke

DCHS AP Scholars (Score of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams)
Erik Brewer, Leticia Cortes, Caitlin Emerson, Morgan Fitzgerald, Steven Kidera, Thomas Kidera, William Kidera, Adam Lazo, Maksym Levchenko, Denise Majka, Robert Medina, Alexander Noreen, Shane Rakow and Ryan Saunders

DCHS AP Scholars with Honor (Score of 3.25 or better on all AP Exams, 4 or more exams)
Mary Ahern, Olivia Lehrman, David Nellessen and Cody Stevens.

DCHS AP Scholar for Distinction (Score of 3.5 on all AP Exams, 5 or more exams)
Kevin Brandstatter, Nicholas Demetriou, Allison Kolar, Cole Moriarty, Nikolai Morse and Lauren Mosher

JHS AP Scholars (Score of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams)
Michael Ademe, Kara Arceneaux, Adam Bogdan, Jonathon Brenner, Alexandra Buettner, Pauline Chitambo, David Choi, Emma Ciavarella, Maciej Czyz, Rukang Fan, Zeba Hasan, Alex Kogan, Christine Kwak, Alaina Maurice, Aimee Miller, Emily Moser, Lindsey Pankau, Emily Pierski, Amanda Podczerwinski, Brian Quach, Cameron Rathjen andSamuel Rider

JHS AP Scholars with Honor (Score of 3.25 or better on all AP Exams, 4 or more exams)
Collin Anderson, Thomas Bieneman, Allison Dianis, Robert Janus, Kinchit Joshi, Megan Kern, Stephen Lenzini, Monica Orjuela, Jacob Surges and Rosa Wu

JHS AP Scholar for Distinction (Score of 3.5 on all AP Exams, 5 or more exams)
Erik Hansen, David Lee, Sonia Modi, Sairaghav Nissankula, Parth Patel, Alana Rung, Patricia Thomas, Elisah Vandenbussche, Kelsey Woloszyk, Katie Wroten and Michael Rice

Springfield Committee Chairmen Rake In Campaign Bucks

By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
Chairing a committee in the Illinois Legislature can be a boon or a bust to lawmakers’ campaign war chests, depending on the committee and the chamber, according to a new book by the interim director for the Institute for Legislative Studies at the U of I.

In the Illinois House, those heading the appropriation, judiciary or revenue committees usually are leading their colleagues in the campaign contributions arms race, according to “Money Counts: How Dollars Dominate Illinois Politics and What We Can Do About It,” by Kent Redfield. Leaders of the fundraising pack in the Illinois Senate are chairing the judiciary, executive appointments and revenue committees. They determine “who gets taxed and who doesn’t get taxed, who gets funded and who doesn’t get funded,” he said.

Redfield's findings: Each chairman of the five House appropriations committees brought in $29,757.83 more than the average representative for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06, according to the campaign contribution database maintained by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a government watchdog. That’s a fundraising advantage of 25 percent. Each chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2005-06 brought in an average of $147,161.36 more than the average senator for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06. That’s a fundraising advantage of 15 percent.

Redfield said the donations probably aren't a quid pro quo. “It’s about access to power, getting meetings set up, getting a heads up on legislation, getting phone calls returned, all the things interest groups want,” Redfield said.

Redfield said that while committee chairmen tend to be more prodigious fundraisers than their colleagues, Illinois actually has a weak committee system compared with other states and the federal government. Chairmen have “limited resources. It’s a much more (party) leader dominated General Assembly and therefore committee chairmen probably attract less money than (chairmen) in other states,” Redfield said.

“Generally, it’s about protecting the status quo,” said Redfield.

You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/8647/exclusive-il-committee-chairmen-rake-in-campaign-contributions/

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.

BRIAN D. EISENHAUER, DOB: 12/24/92, 10727 MIDWEST AVENUE, HUNTLEY. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, DOMESTIC BATTERY (SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE) (2 COUNTS).--Huntley PD

STEVEN D. JOYNER, DOB:  03/15/1985, 9575 S. ROUTE 31, ALGONQUIN. DOMESTIC BATTERY (2CTS), AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (2CTS).--Algonquin PD

ALEXANDER R. FARINA, DOB:  07/13/1991, 1475 LOCH LOMOND DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE. AGGRAVATED FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A PEACE OFFICER.--Algonquin PD

LUIS A. RUIZ, DOB:  10/25/1984, LKA:  1507 WASHINGTON STREET, LAKE IN THE HILLS. ARSON, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

KRISTINE M. DEPEW, DOB:  10/07/1979, 12509 HENSEL ROAD, HUNTLEY. MANUFACTURING OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL  POSSESSION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER.  MIKE A. MASON, DOB:  05/15/1972, 439 PARK STREET  #1A, BENSENVILLE. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE. DANNY W. DEPEW, DOB:  01/11/1972, 12509 HENSEL ROAD, HUNTLEY. MANUFACTURING OF CANNABIS, UNLAWFUL  POSSESSION OF CANNABIS SATIVA PLANTS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

SCOTT R. STOCHL, DOB: 09/17/93, 24 NORTH LAKE AVENUE, FOX LAKE. BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE, UNLAWFUL USE OF A DEBIT, (3 COUNTS), CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO MOTOR VEHICLE.--Woodstock PD
  
JUAN C. MORALES-AGUILAR, DOB: 09/21/90, 4970 ALGONQUIN PKWAY A, ROLLING MEADOWS. CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT (2 COUNTS), AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE, CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE.--Crystal Lake PD

ERIC P. NETT, DOB:  11/21/1987, 2615 APACHE TRAIL, MCHENRY. AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RESISTING A PEACE OFFICER, BATTERY.--McHenry County Sheriff's Office

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
May 25
0351 HRS RANDALL RD. & POLARIS DR. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/ACCIDENT. GONZALEZ, ORLANDO, M/W 31 YEARS OF AGE, 571 DARLINGTON LN APT# 9, CRYSTAL LAKE. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While License Suspended, No Insurance, and Driving Off of Roadway. RELEASED ON BOND.
2052 HRS 1301 PYOTT RD. (ILLINOIS STATE BANK) WANTED ON WARRANT. MEADOWS, BLAKE S., M/W 23 YEARS OF AGE 1022 MCPHEE DR., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant out of Kane County for Contempt of Court, bond set at $400.00 full cash. RELEASED ON BOND.
1005 HRS 900 BLOCK OF VIEWPOINT DR. LOST ARTICLE. Wallet containing three forms of identification, a bank card, and currency.  IDENTIFICATIONS ENTERED INTO LEADS.
1228 HRS ACORN CT. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1232 HRS 2126 ALGONQUIN RD. (CONVENIENT) PRIVATE PROPERTY ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1614 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ROYAL OAK CT. CHECK FOR WELL-BEING. Complainant wanted his daughters checked.
1641 HRS 162 N. RANDALL RD. (CIGARETTES DEPOT) DRUG INVESTIGATION. PENDING INVESTIGATION BY REPORTING OFFICER.
2347 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF W. ALGONQUIN RD. DOMESTIC. Boyfriend vs. Girlfriend. Verbal only. Three priors.
May 26
0437 HRS 101 N. RANDALL RD. (DOMINICK’S) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. GARLAND, SEBASTIAN G., M/W 25 YEARS OF AGE, 265 COVENTRY COURT, ELGIN. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Squealing Tires. RELEASED ON BOND.
1844 HRS OAKLEAF RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. RAMIREZ, HIRAM G., M/W 30 YEARS OF AGE, 3541 W. 38TH PL., CHICAGO. CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2011 HRS RAKOW RD. & VIRGINIA RD. SPEEDING, GLOVER, KEVIN S., M/W 44 YEARS OF AGE, 1228 NAVAJO DR., CARPENTERSVILLE. CHARGE: Speeding 40 Miles per Hour Over the Speed Limit in a Construction zone. RELEASED ON BOND.
2230 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. WANTED ON WARRANT. ALONZO, TINA L., F/W 42 YEARS OF AGE, 1675 MULBERRY LN #2, ELGIN. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant out of Elgin for Traffic Offense. Bond Amount: $3,500 at 10%. RELEASED ON BOND.
0340 HRS 200 BLOCK OF E. ACORN LN. DEATH INVESTIGATION. Male, 58 years of age, unresponsive and not breathing. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER.
1258 HRS 220 N. RANDALL RD. (MORETTIS) ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1820 HRS 9200 HALIGUS RD. (SKATE PARK) CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT. Orange spray paint used to paint a question mark on the north ramp.
Huntley
May 14
A burglary to motor vehicle report was taken at Huntley High School.  The victim states that stereo equipment was stolen from his unlocked trunk.
A theft report was taken at a business in the 10700 block of Wolf Dr.  The victim states part of a boat motor was stolen between April 20 and 24.
Feliciano Reyes-Jimenez, age 31, of 4750 S. Lawrence, Chicago, was arrested for driving with no valid driver’s license and was cited for a tail light violation.  Mr. Reyes-Jimenz posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 8, 2012.
May 15
A theft report was taken at Huntley High School.  A 16 year-old boy from Huntley was charged with stealing cash.  The boy was released to his mother and will be petitioned into McHenry County Juvenile court.
A retail theft report was taken at a business in the 12300 block of Rt. 47.  A cellphone was reported stolen.
May 16
Terrell A. Watson, Jr., age 18, of 2641 Fallbrook Dr., Hampshire, was arrested for battery, mob action and disorderly conduct.,  Mr. Watson posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 6, 2012.  A 17 year-old male from Hampshire was arrested for battery and mob action. The juvenile was released to his mother and will be petitioned into McHenry County juvenile court.  The charges stem from an incident that occurred at Huntley High School on May 16.
A criminal damage to property report was taken in the 12400 block of Copper Lane.  A golf ball was thrown through a window.
Engine parts were reported stolen at a business in the 11500 block of Smith Dr.
A theft report was taken in the 12400 block of Black Oak Trail.  The victim states that two awnings are missing.
May 17
A theft report was taken in 12800 block of Del Webb Blvd.  Several landscaping plants were reported stolen.
May 18
A 17 year-old male from Union was arrested for battery.  The juvenile was released to his mother and will attend peer jury.
Richard G. Drummond, age 51, of 1958 Norfolk, Westchester, was arrested for DUI and was cited for improper lane use and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.  Mr. Drummond posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 8, 2012.
May 19
Gladis Jazmin Blancas-Rios, age 37, of 20 Peachtree #D, Elgin, IL was arrested for driving while license suspended and an outstanding Kane County warrant.  Ms. Blancas-Rios posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of July 13,  2012 and a Kane County court date of June 8, 2012.
Rabab Q. Nesheiwat, age 39, of 5451 Sullivan Pass, Lake in the Hills, was arrested for driving while license suspended and possession of a suspended license and was cited for speeding.  Mr. Nesheiwat posted bond and was released with a McHenry County court date of June 15, 2012.
May 20
David Gonzalez, age 47, of 10434 Somerset, Huntley, was arrested on two counts of domestic battery.  Mr. Gonzalez was transported to McHenry County jail to await bond call.
James J. Connolly, age 25, of 128 Hickory Dr., Carpentersville, was arrested for DUI, DUI blood alcohol content over .08 and was cited for improper turn signal and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.