McHenry County's fireworks shows will go on

From the Monday, June 30, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

McHenry County's fireworks shows will go on
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Despite reports that other cities are canceling or scaling back their holiday fireworks shows, that won’t be the case in McHenry County.

Local fireworks displays planned for Independence Day festivities will be just as spectacular as in years past, officials say, in spite of rising fuel costs and other economic factors.

“We had feared early on in March that donations and sponsorships would be down significantly,” said Howard Doughman, president of the Spring Grove 4th of July Committee. “However, what we are finding is we’re pretty good.”

In Spring Grove, the July 4 fireworks show is funded by donations from local businesses and residents. More than $18,000 has been donated so far, Doughman said, down only slightly from last year.

“[Being] $4,000 down is not bad,” he said.

Woodstock also relies on donations for its fireworks show, as well as $5 parking fees for residents who watch the show from Emricson Park, 898 W. South St.

Part of the reason that local shows won’t be affected is because fireworks orders are placed about a year in advance by the pyrotechnic firms that put on community displays.

“We get 75 percent of products for next year by the end of this year,” said Andy James, president of Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions.

Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions puts on Spring Grove and Woodstock’s shows, as well as others in the area. James said many American fireworks companies experienced inventory shortages due to tightened restrictions on overseas shipments, but Mad Bomber was not one of them.

“The Chicago market has enough good-sized companies that I don’t think this was a big issue for them,” James said. “But it will be an issue next year.”

Wisconsin-based Spectrum Pyrotechnics, which handles Marengo’s June 28 fireworks and the Algonquin Founders’ Days show July 27, makes about half of the fireworks that it uses.

But even so, the company has felt the effects of rising costs.

“Labor’s gone up, we have to pay out a lot of expenses ... [shipments] can only go to certain ports in the country, and it’s hard to bring material in,” said Larry Marchetti, Illinois Manager for Spectrum Pyrotechnics.

The company hopes to produce all of the fireworks it uses in the next few years.

“We’re going that way because things are getting harder and harder,” Marchetti said.

Chicago pol touts health bill

From the Sunday, June 29, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Chicago pol touts health bill
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

McHENRY – An opportunity for residents to voice their opinion of the health care system turned into a lively debate Saturday over a universal health care bill proposed in Illinois.

A mixture of about 45 local political figures, bill proponents and residents attended the hearing led by the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Mary E. Flowers, D-Chicago.

The bill would provide publicly funded health care to anyone who lives in Illinois – including illegal immigrants, Flowers said.

“It would not deny health care access to undocumented immigrants,” Flowers said. “Who are we to choose who should live or die?”

But that won’t go over well with Illinois residents, said State Rep. Michael Tryon, R-Crystal Lake.

“It would probably be a magnet for illegal immigrants to come to Illinois,” said Tryon, a verbal opponent of the bill.

While the crowd at the hearing was mostly comprised of proponents of the bill, some residents came with questions for Flowers.

Harvard resident Sal LiVolsi said even though he would likely spend less money under the proposed system, he suspected that it would run inefficiently, like other government agencies.

“When you say the quality of care will be better, I have a doubt,” said LiVolsi, who sits on the board of the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois.

However, Flowers emphasized throughout the hearings that Illinoisians already experienced an inefficient system.

“I don’t know how long the lines are going to get but I know we have long lines now,” Flowers said.

Flowers also said during the hearing that she had seen people lying on gurneys – not waiting for care but for their insurance companies to let their doctors know whether their treatments would be covered.

“We should be mad as hell and say we won’t take it anymore,” Flowers said.

She lamented the profits that insurance companies reap and insisted government-run health care systems were more efficient than the private sector.

But for some, it wasn’t a matter of efficiency but of the constitutionality of the bill.

“By instituting a single payer system, you’re limiting my right to choose,” said Don Chinlund of Oakwood Hills, after quoting a passage from the Declaration of Independence. “What we don’t seem to realize is the government is the problem.”

Tryon praised Flowers’ efforts at the hearing but said he didn’t foresee the bill succeeding.

“Illinois would be the only state in the country to attempt something like this – government takeover of health care.”

In spite of the vocal opposition of some of the hearing’s attendants, Flowers considered the event a success.

“Hopefully we cleared up a lot of misinformation,” she said. “There’s a difference in reading about single payer and having a discussion.”

Weekend fundraiser to aid vets

From the edition of the Northwest Herald:

Weekend fundraiser to aid vets
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG – The McHenry County Marine Corps League and Auxiliary will seek donations in Johnsburg this weekend.

Members of the Marine Corps League will be visible from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Chapel Hill and Johnsburg roads, near the Sweetwater Café.

Donations will benefit the Heart of a Marine Foundation, Toys for Tots and other foundations that benefit military and veterans.

“We hope that people roll down their windows and can give at least a little something,” said Barbara Klapperich, league auxiliary president. “The need is great and every little bit helps.”

Each contributor will receive a Marine Corps rose or American flag.

The league and auxiliary are active raising funds for troops and veterans throughout the year, Kapperich said. Beyond fundraising, members send care packages to troops overseas and work to aid homeless veterans.

“There’s so much that people can’t do ... this is their chance,” Klapperich said. “Let our troops know that we do care about them.”

Meet Miss McHenry

From the Thursday, June 25, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Meet Miss McHenry
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

On stage, the new Miss McHenry is polished and proper.

But offstage, Hailee Pecoraro says she's OK with being a little sloppy.

"I don't mind getting dirty," said Pecoraro, 16, of McHenry. "If we're petting cows in the dirt, I don't mind getting messy."

Her high tolerance for messiness will bode well for her career choice, too.

Although only a junior at McHenry High School East Campus, she already knows that she wants to become a nurse who helps deliver babies.

"I think that's fascinating," she said, adding that she plans to attend Winona State University in Minnesota when she graduates.

Pecoraro placed first among eight contestants at the June 21 Miss McHenry pageant.

The runner-up was Kasi Pauletto, 17.

Miss Congeniality was Sarah Hodge, 16, and Miss Photogenic was Ashley Redmond, 17.

"When they announced my name, it was so unexpected," Pecoraro said.

Before the pageant, the contestants completed seven weeks of charm class, learned about stage turns and stage presence, and performed volunteer work in the area.

Pecoraro said one of the things that she enjoyed the most was volunteering to wrap Mother's Day presents at a Border's bookstore.

"The little girls who came in with books for their moms had smiles on their faces," she said.

Pecoraro's first appearance as Miss McHenry will be at tonight's City Band Concert at Veterans Memorial Park in McHenry. She will be helping kids with arts and crafts during the concert.

Pecoraro also will be at Petersen Farm during festivities there Sunday and greeting fireworks watchers at Petersen Park on July 5. The farm and the park are off opposite sides of McCullom Lake Road west of Route 31 in McHenry.

Pecoraro will compete July 30 in the Miss McHenry County pageant during the McHenry County Fair.

D-2 to require drug tests

From the Wednesday, June 25, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

D-2 to require drug tests
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

RICHMOND – All new hires in Nippersink District 2 must pass a mandatory drug test as part of pre-employment screening, the school board decided Tuesday night.

The new policy comes less than three months after the school board fired former Spring Grove Elementary School Principal Daniel Markofski, whom police allegedly found watching pornography with two teenage girls in various states of undress while investigating a marijuana odor at a Wisconsin motel.

According to the new policy, all new hires must test “negative” for drugs during pre-employment screening before the first day of employment. The school board will choose the screening provider and pay for the screening.

“This is a measure to hold future employment applicants a little more accountable,” School District Superintendent Dan Oest said after the meeting. Oest said the policy was something that the board had considered since the incident involving Markofski, 47.

“[We want to] assure the public we’re taking these measures,” Oest said.

The board voted unanimously with board member Sharon Bianchini absent from the meeting.

There was no debate surrounding the policy at Tuesday’s meeting. The only discussion surrounding the policy was a question asked by Board Vice President Sue Maurer about how much time applicants have to take the test.

After the meeting, Maurer described the policy as ”a great new step.”

The policy was first introduced last month, Oest said.

District 2 includes Richmond Grade School, Spring Grove Grade School, and Nippersink Middle School. The policy will apply to all schools in the district, Oest said.

Markofski’s final pre-trial is July 17 in Milwaukee County Court. His jury trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 6. He faces two felony counts of exposing a child to harmful material and one misdemeanor count of committing a sex act on a child age 16 or older.

Spring Grove incident highlights new underage drinking rules

From the Monday, June 23, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Spring Grove incident highlights new underage drinking rules
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Too bad it wasn't a Christmas party.

If the teens who pleaded guilty to underage drinking at a February barn party in Spring Grove had committed the same actions before January 2008, they would not be facing three-month driver's license suspensions.

Spring Grove police took 58 teens into custody in February after they discovered a barn party at 7119 S. Solon Road. Of the 58 teens, 22 were charged with underage drinking. At least 11 of those teens pleaded guilty to underage drinking charges.

Before 2008, only vehicle-related underage drinking offenses were reported to the Secretary of State's office - which meant those were the only offenses that resulted in driver's license suspensions.

Non-driving offenses were only reported if the underage drinker failed to complete court supervision, said Rick Winkel, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Law.

But Illinois law changed in January 2008, and now every underage drinking conviction is reported to the Secretary of State's office - which means any underage drinking guilty plea or conviction results in driver's license suspensions, Winkel said.

Whether the offense is vehicle related and when the driver received their license does not matter under the new law.

"If there is any alcohol, there is a suspension for underage drivers," said Dave Druker, spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State's office.

Druker said, however, the suspensions disappear from the teens' public driving records - the record that insurance companies access - when the suspension ends.

"That makes it easier to swallow," said Heidi Parsons of Johnsburg, 50.

But Parsons said she believed local police were too rigorous about enforcing underage drinking laws.

"It's almost like they're trying to put us back in the prohibition," she said. "There's not a lot of stuff for kids to do around here."

For Jenny Majewski, mother of a 16-year-old driver's permit holder, the law is not too much to ask.

"There's too much [underage drinking] going on here," she said. "We certainly don't need that on the streets."

Majewski grew up in Spring Grove and lives in neighboring Johnsburg.

Her 16-year-old son, Tom, did not feel as strongly.

"It depends on the circumstances," he said. If the teens had intended to drive home that night, he said he would support the suspensions.

Hebron Fest rolls on with parade

From the Sunday, June 22, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Hebron Fest rolls on with parade
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Logan O’Donnell is 2 years old, but his mother already knows what his favorite part of Hebron Fest is.

“We’re here to eat and play on the bouncy houses,” said his mother, Ivy O’Donnell of Wonder Lake.

The fifth annual Hebron Fest kicked off Friday night at Hebron Community Park at Route 47 and Price Road.

Festivities will continue through today.

For many, the festival has become an item on the summer to-do list.

“We try to make it every year,” said Dana Appner, who watched the parade with her husband, Matt, and their neighbor Brooke Hilton, 15.

The Appners live within blocks of Main Street, where the Hebron Fest parade was held Saturday.

They were some of the many residents who lined the street to watch the parade, which included performers from the Jesse White Tumbling Team and tractors that had competed in Friday night’s tractor pull.

After the parade, many residents headed to the festival grounds for food, live music and other entertainment.

“It’s always nice to see the whole community get together,” said Michele Bannwolf of Harvard, who was part of the Harvard Milk Days float in the parade.

Waterways remain closed

From the Saturday, June 21, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Waterways remain closed
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

While boaters and waterway officials are eager for the Chain O' Lakes and Fox River to reopen, meteorologists say not so fast.

The weekend forecast includes a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms through Sunday night, said Tim Halbach, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The good news: The rainfall isn't expected to severely slow the rate of flood recession. The bad news: Officials don't know whether waterways will reopen by the Fourth of July.

"If we can keep dry weather and keep rainfall light, it'll give the system a chance to recover," said Ingrid Ruttendjie, executive director of the Fox Waterway Agency. "Everyone that's dealing with this is fully aware that the Fourth of July is coming up."

In the meantime, cleanup operations continue, but the county won't receive any federal funding because Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not declared the county a disaster area.

Barry Valentine, director of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, said the county had not experienced the amount of damage required to be declared a disaster area. The flooding last August qualified, but the damage was three or four times as bad, he said.

"We not only had it on the river, we had it in Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Union, Marengo, and all these other places that we didn't have this time around," Valentine said.

It's not that people are not suffering because of flooding; it's that the threshold just hasn't been met, he said. And even though the county was declared a disaster area last August, federal funding didn't come through, he said.

Instead, residents can expect to see recovery activity on the local level.

Fox Waterway Agency crews on the water will spend the weekend securing debris to the shoreline to create wildlife habitat or transporting it to agency headquarters to be ground into mulch, Ruttendjie said.

The villages of Antioch and Fox Lake will provide free disinfectant kits to residents starting Monday, and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency is planning a mosquito abatement program. Algonquin, Dorr, Greenwood, McHenry and Nunda townships also will have mosquito abatement programs, according to the McHenry County Department of Health.

Blagojevich has ordered a 60-day moratorium on insurance cancellations for policyholders who were impacted by the recent storms and flooding. However, the moratorium applies only to families and businesses in the counties declared disaster areas since June 10 – which does not include McHenry County.

The Harvard State Bank also is aiding in flood relief by raising funds to benefit the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross, which includes McHenry County.

Donations will be accepted in Harvard at the bank headquarters, 35 N. Ayer St., and Sullivan's Foods, 1299 Division St. Donations also will be accepted at the Hebron Community Financial Center, 9605 Main St., in Hebron.

• Northwest Herald reporter Sarah Sutschek contributed to this report.

RiverWalk Center building breaks ground

From the Friday, June 20 edition of the Northwest Herald:

RiverWalk Center building breaks ground
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

McHENRY – Algonquin-based pizzeria Buddyz already has committed to a corner, creek-facing spot in the new RiverWalk Center under construction in downtown McHenry.

Several other businesses also are interested, sales manager Donna Basset said at a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by development, city and business leaders Thursday.

RiverWalk Center is the latest step in the city’s efforts to revitalize the downtown area and combat a fierce economic climate.

“[Businesses] will view McHenry very positively and settle in this area because of the beauty of the downtown area,” said Kay Bates, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce president. “The heart of any community is its downtown.”

The building will be four stories high, with three floors of luxury condominiums and street level merchants.

The condominiums are priced from the mid-$200,000s and are targeted at empty-nesters who enjoy the area, don’t want the hassle of home maintenance, and want to be near the Fox River and Chain O’ Lakes, managing member Marck Alberts said.

The mix of commercial and residential in one structure will “bring an urban Chicago feel to McHenry,” Alberts said.

The developers, Curtis Commercial, received about $2.3 million in financial incentives from the city to build the project on the site of the former Medical Arts building, along Boone Creek at the northeast corner of Green Street and Waukegan Road.

Bates said the project was both a risk and a financial commitment, but insisted it was a high priority for residents.

“The riverwalk has been on the hearts and minds of the people probably dating back to the 1950s,” Bates said.

Grading on the RiverWalk Center site started this spring, and the project is expected to be completed by fall 2009.

It is the second large project to be completed along McHenry’s riverwalk, the first phase of which is built along Boone between Green Street and Riverside Drive, along the south bank. A second and third phase would extend the walk from the Route 120 bridge near Sullivan Foods to Weber’s Park along Riverside Drive.

The first big development along the riverwalk was Riverwalk Place Townhomes, farther east along the creek

McHenry established a tax-increment financing district to support riverwalk efforts and downtown redevelopment.

Under tax-increment financing, tax revenue from increasing property values within the district is funneled toward projects city leaders think will help revitalize the district.

City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said $550,000 in revenue was generated in 2007.

Spring Grove teens try to avert license penalty

From the Thursday, June 19, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Spring Grove teens try to avert license penalty
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

SPRING GROVE - At least three teens who pleaded guilty to underage drinking at a February barn party in Spring Grove are attempting to avoid drivers' license suspensions by rescinding their guilty pleas.

The teens appeared Wednesday in McHenry Branch Court with their attorneys. Because the teens were "not aware of the consequences" of pleading guilty - namely license suspension - the teens' attorneys have filed motions for them to vacate their March guilty pleas.

When asked how many of the 22 originally charged are involved in current efforts to reverse the license suspensions, Spring Grove village prosecutor Mary Spiegel declined to comment.

The teens' surprise at the suspensions were echoed by Spring Grove Police Chief Tom Sanders, who said last week "that was not my understanding of what was going on and not at all what I proposed to have happen."

The Spring Grove Police Department now has seven days to determine whether it will agree to let the teens vacate their pleas.

In court Wednesday, Judge James S. Cowlin asked Spiegel about the motions.

Spiegel said she "did not agree but did not reject" the motions - a response that Cowlin said was "inconsistent."

The teens originally were forced to pay $215 and have 100 days of court supervision.

Cowlin said he had given the teens the "most lenient" sentences possible and emphasized the importance of punishment: "Kids won't drink if they lose their license," he said in court.

If the teens are allowed to vacate their pleas, they might be able to avoid drivers' license suspensions if the underage drinking charges are dismissed, they are tried and found not guilty, or the charges are amended to not be alcohol-related, said Ed Donahue, a McHenry lawyer who has worked with similar cases for more than 16 years.

Sanders said that when the teens were charged, his goal was to "send a strong message" about underage drinking and that he was "a little unsure" why the Secretary of State's office was notified of the teens' charges.

Illinois law regarding underage drinking changed in January. Before 2008, the Secretary of State's office was not notified of underage drinkers who pleaded guilty or were convicted of underage drinking if they successfully completed court supervision, said David Dring, a spokesman for Illinois Rep. Tom Cross, who was at the helm at the change in legislation.

Since January, the Secretary of State's office suspends the drivers' licenses of all underage drinkers regardless of the completion of supervision.

The teens will reappear in McHenry Branch Court July 2.

The teens older than 16 whose licenses face pending three-month suspensions starting June 29 are: Misaque A. Ducy, 17, of 7103 Johnsburg Road, Spring Grove; Corey Passage, 17, of 1731 Lehman Ave., Algonquin; Jessica A. Jensen, 17, of 49 Marvin St., Fox Lake; Michelle A. Weber, 17, of 5215 Nippersink Drive, Richmond; Michael J. Sheets, 17, of 7417 Keystone Road, Richmond; Gregory J. Lancaster, 17, of 2502 Elk Drive, Spring Grove; Samuel M. Towne, 17, of 7208 Hillside Drive, Spring Grove; and Patrick N. O'Brien, 17, of 221 Pheasant Trail, Lake in the Hills.

Towne, Ducy and a juvenile were in court Wednesday.

Spring Grove police say teens' driver's licenses shouldn't be suspended

From the Wednesday, June 18, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Spring Grove police say teens' driver's licenses shouldn't be suspended
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

SPRING GROVE - The driver's licenses of at least six of the 22 teenagers charged with underage drinking at a February barn party in Spring Grove are to be suspended.

The Spring Grove police chief, however, thinks that the suspensions are too harsh a penalty for the underage drinkers, and an attorney is working on altering the outcome.

"We were very clear we didn't want anybody's license suspended," Spring Grove Police Chief Tom Sanders said. "Our intention was never to get their licenses suspended."

The teens who have received notices that their licenses would be suspended either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of the underage drinking charges. At least six were forced to pay $215 and got 100 days of court supervision.

Spring Grove police took 58 teens into custody in February after they discovered a barn party at 7119 S. Solon Road. Of the 58 teens, 22 were charged with underage drinking.

In Illinois, whether the charge is filed under local ordinance, an underage drinking conviction means automatic license suspension.

Since 1995, Illinois law has stated that drivers younger than 21 who "are caught with any trace of alcohol in their systems will lose their driving privileges," according to the Illinois Secretary of State Web site, cyberdriveillinois.com.

The attorney handling the case for the Spring Grove Police Department, Mary Spiegel of the Ancel Glink law firm, called the suspensions "unfortunate."

"We are looking into ways to take care of it," Spiegel said late last week.

However, the secretary of state's office said such efforts might be futile.

"The problem is it's a zero-tolerance situation," said Dave Druker, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office.

Druker said the secretary of state can't make any "arbitrary choice" about whose licenses are suspended or not suspended.

"We follow what the law says," Druker said.

Soap box racers take to 4th annual event

From the Sunday, June, 15, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Soap box racers take to 4th annual event
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

If Emily Woo ever races professionally, she’ll have no problem building a fan base.

About 20 of her relatives came to see her race Saturday in the sixth annual All-American Soap Box Derby, hosted by the McHenry Kiwanis Club.

“Her great-uncle lives on the street, so she decided to try it,” said Woo’s uncle, Bob Hurckes, who wore a red polo shirt with “Emily Woo Racing #11” embroidered on the back. “I think she’ll race again.”

Woo, of McHenry, was one of 32 area children who raced Kiwanis stock cars down Waukegan Road from Third Street just past Green Street.

“The competition is great; kids really enjoy it,” event organizer Jim Marinangel said.

Marinangel, a Kiwanian for 34 years, said he liked “everything” about the derby.

“It’s boys versus girls, 8-year-olds versus 13-year-olds,” he said.

“Everybody drives identical cars,” Marinangel said. “It comes down to who can prepare the car the best and who can drive the best.”

Each driver raced twice down the track, and the driver who was recorded as driving fastest during the two combined trials advanced to the next round. By the end of the day, the racers had driven down the street 128 times, Jim Marinangel said.

“It’s a real Americana,” Marinangel said.

Brandon Johnson, the first place winner, will receive $1000 cash prize to travel to the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship next month in Akron, Ohio.

Dave and Mel Tomei of Spring Grove came to the derby to spend the day with their 10-year-old daughter, Molly, and one of her friends.

“It’s fun to watch,” Mel Tomei said.

The Tomeis said they watch the derby almost every year, and are hoping Molly will race next year.

“It’s really a sport made for girls,” Dave Tomei said.

For 8-year-old racer Dalton Hoefke of Rock Falls, the best part of racing was going down the hill.

“I feel excited,” Hoefke said. “I thought it’d be fun and it is.”

Community celebrates cancer survivors, honors lost loved ones

From the Saturday, June, 14, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Community celebrates cancer survivors, honors lost loved ones
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG - Five-year-old Mercedes Wega lost her battle with leukemia several weeks ago.

Her mother, Jody, said she wouldn't be able to make it through this tough time without the encouragement of the local cancer-support community.

Friday night, that community widened to about 700 who flooded Albert A. Adams Park in Johnsburg at the annual Relay for Life of North McHenry County.

The event kicked off with a tribute to Mercedes: Eight different colored balloons were released in Mercedes' name, each representing a different characteristic of the young girl's personality.

Wega, of Woodstock, tearfully released the final balloon - a white balloon, representing purity.

"It's rough," Wega said. "I can't tell you that it's not. But this is where she would have wanted me to be."

The event kicked off at 6 p.m. and was scheduled to continue for 12 hours, until this morning.

More than $40,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society.

For Debbie Hansen, a breast-cancer survivor, the event was a chance to reflect and celebrate life.

"I think it's really important to remind us that we're survivors," Hansen said.

Hansen, 50, also attended the Relay for Life in Crystal Lake last weekend.

She was joined by her friend Sue Bailey, who recently completed her treatment for multiple myeloma.

For others, the event was a chance to express solidarity with those suffering from cancer or whose family members have the disease.

"It's a great way to give back to the community," said Lindsey Ahrens, McHenry West High School's student council parliamentarian. "We all know at least one person in our life who has had cancer."

Event attendants kept busy throughout the night by participating in a number of other activities, including Jazzercise, a silent auction and a pizza party.

Authorities: Be wary of fake award checks

From the Thursday, June, 12, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Authorities: Be wary of fake award checks
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

When Kathleen Porter opened her mail, she thought the letter claiming that she had won $57,000 and the enclosed check for nearly $4,000 might be real.

But the Ringwood woman’s intuition told her it probably wasn’t.

“Nothing good ever happens to me,” she joked.

After notifying authorities, Porter learned that she was the latest target of a mail scam, this one claiming to be an award from Del Monte Foods.

Porter said she also called Del Monte after receiving the letter last week.

“I grabbed a can of fruit cocktail and called Del Monte Foods,” she said.

The person who answered confirmed that the check was not real and added that the company had received a number of similar queries.

“It’s a very organized scam,” said Sgt. Michael Cisner, a detective with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department.

The mail scams often claim that residents won a significant amount of money, as Porter’s did, and that there are “administrative and processing” fees for receiving the money.

The recipient then is instructed to cash a check using their bank account information and then send the rest of the money to an address.

Cisner said the mail scams often are random and based on addresses from magazine subscriptions or mailing databases.

Cisner encouraged recipients of suspicious mail not to ignore or throw away the mail but to notify authorities to aid in tracking down the senders.

He also warned residents to be wary of mailings that do not appear to originate from one location – such as mailing addresses, phone numbers and company information that do not appear to be coming from the same geographic area.

As a rule of thumb, Cisner said, “Be very suspicious when somebody is trying to give you free money, especially when you didn’t fill out an entry form or enter a contest.”

McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Detective Sgt. Michael Cisner offered tips for recipients of suspicious mail:

• Check to see whether the phone number, address and location from which the materials were mailed match.

• Notify your municipality or your local CrimeStoppers.

• Notify the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department by calling 815-338-2144.

• Do not cash the check.

McHenry senior wins bee for 2nd time

From the Thursday, June, 12, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

McHenry senior wins bee for 2nd time
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

She came, she spelled, she won. Then she won again.

For the second consecutive year, McHenry resident Jean McGrew took first place in the McHenry Township Senior Spelling Bee, held Wednesday at the township recreation center.

“I like to spell, and it’s a challenge,” said McGrew, 75. “It keeps my mind going.”

McGrew and second-place speller Cheryl Hammerand of Wonder Lake battled back and forth during the final rounds – tackling words such as “monticle,” “biblioklept” and “scaphoid” – until McGrew finally triumphed.

McGrew properly spelled “misdemeanant,” on which Hammerand had stumbled, and then, to take the title, McGrew spelled “prerogative.”

Three other seniors competed at the bee: 85-year-old Wayne Heiser of McHenry, 80-year-old Madelyn Duel of McHenry and 75-year-old Ruth Enyart of McHenry, who took second place in the bee last year.

All participants received a certificate of participation and a gift certificate. To be eligible, participants had to be township residents age 50 or older. Hammerand, whose mother came to see her compete in the bee, was thrilled with her second-place finish.

“I’ve been doing this for five years and I finally got somewhere,” said Hammerand, 55.

McGrew and Hammerand will compete in the regional bee in July, to be hosted by Maine Township in Park Ridge.

“In this age of spell check, [spelling] is a skill that may be diminishing,” McHenry Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer said, adding that the bee is an important part of township programming for seniors.

“Seniors aren’t just bingo anymore,” she said. “Seniors are productive, involved individuals in our community and having something like that demonstrates that they still have a lot to offer.”

Residents cope with floodwaters

From the Wednesday, June, 11, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Residents cope with floodwaters
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Richard DuBois spent Tuesday building a 30-panel wooden fence around the back perimeter of his McHenry area home.

When the fence was up, he lined it with plastic sheeting. Then he began piling what will become hundreds of sandbags along the fence to protect his home from the rising water south of the Stratton-Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry.

“I’ll do whatever it takes not to lose my house,” DuBois said.

It’s the fourth time in 12 months that DuBois’ property has flooded.

“Once a year, I could handle it,” DuBois said. “But not four times in 12 months.”

The weekend’s storms might be over, but residents such as DuBois now must deal with the effects.

Rita Lee, a hydraulic engineer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, predicted that the Chain O’ Lakes will continue rising through Friday.

However, as of Tuesday afternoon, inflows at the Nippersink Creek gauge near Spring Grove were starting to crest, she said.

In the Fox River north of the McHenry dam and in the Chain O’ Lakes, a no-wake restriction remained in effect Tuesday. The boating restrictions are in place until further notice, said Ingrid Ruttendjie, executive director of the Fox Waterway Agency.

“The state is trying to move the water so quickly that it’s hazardous,” Ruttendjie said.

She added that she wasn’t sure how long restrictions would be in place south of the dam, where the river is closed to boating, but that the water levels are dangerous.

As for DuBois’ neighborhood, Ruttendjie said, it’s susceptible to flooding because it’s south of the lakes and in the drainage area.

“The people on the river are the neck of the funnel,” Ruttendjie said. “The Chain O’ Lakes is kind of like the top of the funnel, and all that water has to get through the neck of the funnel.”

For DuBois, any explanation for why his property is flooding for the fourth time in a year is unacceptable.

“They should be able to control it better,” he said.

Others cope with the flood risks by flood-proofing their homes year-round.

Bill Kirchner of Holiday Hills has had between 700 and 800 sandbags lining his home since April, as well as several sump pumps and a generator in his yard.

“I knew there had been flooding,” he said.

Residents near the Fox Lake area are in a wait-and-see mode, preparing for the worst.

“We’re ready to go [in case of floods],” Grant Township Highway Commissioner Kim Kiesgen said. “Mother Nature hasn’t been very good to us lately.”

The McHenry County Department of Health warns homeowners in flooded areas that their private water wells could be contaminated. Free testing is offered. Sample bottles are available at the following township offices: Algonquin, Dorr, McHenry, Nunda, Richmond and Grafton. They also are available at Marengo and Harvard city halls. For information, visit www.mcdh.info.

For up-to-date water levels, visit http://solon.er.usgs.gov and go to data and mapping tools

Pols eye fests to stump

From the Sunday, June, 8, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Pols eye fests to stump
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Harvard's Milk Days isn't just the first summer festival in McHenry County.

It's also the first opportunity for local Republicans and Democrats to stump for their presumptive nominees now that the primary season is over and it's almost certain that Americans will be choosing between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain in November.

"It's good to have the question of the nominee settled," said Kathleen Bergan Schmidt, chairwoman of the McHenry County Democratic Party. "I think we're pretty excited."

Bergan Schmidt also is running for a spot on McHenry County Board.

Local Republicans and Democrats plan to use the festival season as an opportunity for grassroots campaigning.

For area Democrats, the emphasis will be on local candidates, Bergan Schmidt said.

"We're not going to be getting 30 seconds on the 10 o'clock news, so it's up to us to get out and let people know about the rest of the Democratic candidates," she said.

Bergan Schmidt said local candidates hoped that the momentum of the presidential election – and a popular candidate – would propel local Democratic candidates.

Republicans, however, are skeptical of the value of Obama's national "star power" in the county.

"We're still a conservative county that believes in empowering people and the rights of individuals over the rights of government," said state Rep. Michael Tryon, chairman of the McHenry County Republican Party. "Obviously Barack is from Illinois, but he's not from McHenry County."

Tryon said local Republicans already had mobilized a McCain campaign committee and had planned rigorous campaign events in the coming months, including a McCain fundraiser in August.

John McCrory, campaign coordinator for the McHenry County Republican Party, said the group's grassroots campaign included approaches as simple as being a vocal neighbor.

"A lot of campaigning is talking to neighbors, being present at parades," McCrory said.

While McHenry County is traditionally a Republican stronghold, more Democratic ballots were cast in the February primary election than Republican ballots.

The county also has experienced a significant increase in voter registration this year.

Before the February primary election, 188,449 McHenry County residents were registered to vote, McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz said. Since then, the number has risen to 190,632.

"Anytime you have a presidential election, you're going to see it in registration," Schultz said.

She said she expected that number to increase even more before the November election.

McCrory said the primary results and the county's conservative reputation posed a challenge for this year's candidates.

"You can't assume a Republican is going to carry the county in a presidential election," McCrory said. "I think Republicans need to get up and get out to vote."

As for area Democrats?

"Perhaps [the county's] conservative nature is becoming historical fact but [not] present reality," Bergan Schmidt said.

Principal sends graduates out to make their marks on the world

From Sunday, June 8, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Principal sends graduates out to make their marks on the world
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

HOFFMAN ESTATES - As Dundee-Crown High School seniors celebrated the end of high school, one of their own assigned them a steep challenge at the school’s graduation ceremony Saturday.

“I have high expectations for you,” class valedictorian Kurt Scheeffrahn said.

He told the audience gathered at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates that he expected members of the graduating class to become artists, professors and engineers, or to someday develop energy-saving techniques.

“We all have the potential to make this community safe... and this world a better place,” he said, donning a blue cap and gown.

Principal Lynn McCarthy echoed Scheffrahn’s message and described the class as one that did “not let anyone tell you that you cannot succeed.”

She described a camaraderie among students as they went through life experiences during high school.

She also praised the graduating class’s achievement in Carpentersville school’s Advanced Placement classes and music, culinary arts and vocational programs, expressing confidence in the future.

“I see an entire group of young adults ready to make their mark on the world,” she said.

McCarthy said a number of students would be going on to professional careers or community college and more than 54 members of the 500-plus graduating class would be attending four-year colleges.

As graduates received their diplomas, they were congratulated by members of the District 300 Board of Education.

When the ceremony ended, the graduates threw their caps into the air, perhaps taking note from the final line of Scheeffrahn’s speech: “So let’s go crazy!”

Seniors to exercise to show tunes, '40s music

From Thursday, June 5, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Seniors to show tunes, '40s music
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

McHENRY – The McHenry Parks and Recreation Department will host a third session of “Forever Young Exercise” classes for residents age 50 and older.

The class will focus on strength and flexibility. Students will learn to exercise with hand weights and resistance bands to the music of the 1940s and show tunes.

The classes will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, June 18 to Aug. 27, at the McHenry Municipal Center, 333 S. Green St. The cost is $33, and the class size limit is 10 students.

To register, visit the municipal center before June 18.

– Diana Sroka

Seniors study up for spelling superiority

From Thursday, June 5, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Seniors study up for spelling superiority
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Ruth Enyart isn’t taking any chances.

After taking second place in last year’s McHenry Township Senior Spelling Bee, she wants to be as prepared as possible for the competition this year.

“I have a coach,” the 75-year-old McHenry resident said. “A lady from my church reads the words and I respond.”

She said she also practices with a word list and by “taking words from the dictionary that look difficult.”

Enyart is one of a handful of local seniors who will participate Wednesday in McHenry Township’s fourth annual Senior Spelling Bee.

The bee, co-sponsored by Senior Services Associates, will start at 10 a.m. at the township recreation center, 3519 N. Richmond Road.

Richmond-area seniors are invited to take part in Richmond Township’s third annual Spelling Bee later this month.

The Richmond Township bee will be June 24 at Nippersink District Library, 5418 Hill Road.

Residents age 50 and older are encouraged to participate in the bees. Gift certificates will be awarded to spellers who place first, second and third.

The first- and second-place spellers in both bees will advance to a regional competition in July, to be hosted by Maine Township in Park Ridge.

“The words are extremely difficult and intimidating,” said Candie Hitchins, activity director at the McHenry Township Senior Center.

She cited “quarantine” as among the easier words a speller might receive, and “odontoloxia” – an irregularity of the teeth – as among the more difficult.

Hitchins encouraged those who don’t want to be spellers to be audience members.

To register for the McHenry bee, call 815-344-3555 by Tuesday. To register for the Richmond bee, call 815-678-0077 by June 23.

If you go

What: McHenry and Richmond township senior spelling bees.

When: 10 a.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. June 24, respectively.

Where: McHenry Township Recreation Center, 3519 N. Richmond Road, Johnsburg; Nippersink District Library, 5418 Hill Road, Richmond.

For information or to register: Call 815-344-3555 in McHenry Township; 815-678-0077 in Richmond Township.

Crash in McHenry hospitalizes 2

From Wednesday, June 4, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Crash in McHenry hospitalizes 2

McHENRY – A McHenry resident and her passenger were transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center on Tuesday evening after a collision at 3705 W. Elm St. in McHenry.

Jacqueline D. Meyer, 46, was headed west on Route 120 in a Ford Escort when she tried to turn left into the Sullivan Foods parking lot just before 5 p.m. The Escort was struck by a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Eric W. Kanter, also of McHenry. Kanter was eastbound on Route 120 in the right lane.

A 9-year-old girl who was in the backseat of Meyer’s car suffered head injuries, and Meyer suffered a neck injury, police said. A McHenry Township Fire Protection District crew took both to the McHenry hospital. Kanter, 43, was not injured. The condition of Meyer and the passenger were not available from the hospital Tuesday night.

McHenry police Sgt. Robert Lumber said Meyer would be charged with failure to yield while turning left.

– Diana Sroka