Of Weasels, Chickens and County Government

These comments were made to the McHenry County Board on Tuesday night by Pat Kennedy on behalf of Diane Evertsen, who is running for the McHenry County College Board with David Schenk  and who was attending a candidates’ night:

Pat Kennedy

It seems to me that sometimes we can get our point across more readily by incorporating it into a story … similar to Aesop’s fables.

Or, possibly, our own version of a Prairie Home Companion and Lake Woebegone.

Conversely, we can look at this the same way we looked at the grade school math problems that started out,

“If a train leaves Boston westbound at 7:00 am, traveling 80 miles per hour, and another train leaves San Francisco eastbound at 9:30 am, traveling 65 miles per hour, at what point and at what time will they pass?”

Didn’t all of us just love those kinds of questions?

Diane Evertsen

Well, so get ready to do the math.

As some of you know, we have chickens.

Our hens are relatively quiet, well-behaved and mild-mannered chickens, and certainly not well traveled or cosmopolitan.

There’s no doubt, of course, that all of them think they’re pretty smart – – – but some of us know better.

So, the other morning it was unusual to hear quite a commotion coming from the chicken coop and we had to go out to investigate.

Well, quite a surprise to find 3 dead chickens, several maimed, and one small weasel wreaking havoc.

Didn’t take us long to take care of the weasel problem, but it was notable that one weasel terrorized 80 chickens.

So, here’s the math problem:

If we could resolve our problem with one weasel within 24-hours, how long should it take 23 chickens to resolve their problem with two weasels?

When you get the answer, give me a call!


Comments

Of Weasels, Chickens and County Government — 36 Comments

  1. 48hrs. I’d say if each weasel is a 24 hr. bug… or…call lizabeth (from swamp people) & schoot’em would be faster quick and easy for all.

  2. Apparently she holds 1 of 24 board members in high esteem.

    So there are two weasels.

    Or maybe a weasel and a hawk.

  3. Or is one of the 24 board members a weasel.

    I’m probably missing something.

  4. I hate word problems. If a train leaves Chicago… brain shuts off right there.

  5. The trains don’t pass.

    Someone misses a switch and they collide in Chicago.

    Kaboom.

  6. I love a good story and so enjoyed reading the article here by Pat Kennedy.

    One good story deserves another and so:

    The Lone Ranger And Tonto

    The Lone Ranger and Tonto go camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep.

    Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, ‘Kemosabe, look toward sky, what you see?

    ‘The Lone Ranger replies, ‘I see millions of stars.’

    ‘What that tell you?’ asked Tonto.

    The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says: ‘Astronomically speaking,
    it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

    Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.

    Theologically, it tells me the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.

    Meteorologically, it seems we’ll have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Tonto?’

    “You dumber than an Lying Jack Franks voter. It mean someone stole our tent.”

  7. I understand the reluctance to tackle word problems; it requires reading and thinking…tic tock, tic tock…

  8. For those who aren’t close enough to the political landscape here are the fabled characters within the masterfully composed story problem by former County Board Treasure Diane Evertsen and her farmers’ wisdom:

    CHICKENS = County Board members (chicken to stand up against Madigans man-boy & represent taxpayers in their district ! )

    WEASELS = Jack Franks and Peter Austin (the two responsible for the illegal hirings of patronage workers by Franks)

    You do realize that Franks and Austin’s action resulted in TRIPLING the cost of the elected office of “County Board Chairman?That’s no typo. THREE TIMES THE COST to the County!!! and if Franks gets away with this, he won’t stop there ) I’m seriously thinking law suits against remiss county board members refusing to do their jobs!

    The hirings ARE going to go away, and Austin is probably not long for his job.
    Shouldn’t this be a Given, with this county board?
    The fact that it isn’t, just means we need to find candidates to run against all the ones ‘working in Franks’ best interest. PERIOD!

    Yeah, so Lying Jack Franks, how’s that ‘Cut 10’ promise working out for the taxpayers when you pull that kind of $h!t?

    Blunt enough?

  9. Mark, don’t you mean the ‘public school teacher’ on the govt. dime that isn’t teaching at 1:04 in the afternoon on a school day that we’re all helping to pay for?

    I think someone should show his school district what he’s really doing when he supposed to be teaching. (and show what a sick individual he is) ….Tick Tock Tick Tock for HIM!

  10. The Maine West High School school day is 7:25 – 3:15.

    The Department Chair of the Maine West ESL & Bilingual Education program is Alan Matan.

    “There are currently 70 students from sixteen countries enrolled in the ESL Program at Maine West High School.”

    Staff in the program:

    – Jyotsna Dave, ESL/Bilingual Teacher Assistant

    – Angel Llavona, ESL Teacher

    – Linda Lord, Secretary, Foreign Language / ESL, Math & Science Depts

    – Anna Marchionna, ESL Teacher Aid, Warriorettes Dance Team Coach

    – Alan Matan, ESL/BE and Foreign Language Department Chair

    – Mary Rolla, ESL Teacher

    – Krystyna Srutwa, ESL / Bilingual Education Teacher

  11. And I thought this Angel gadfly, was just another one of the miserable miscreants on the dole, spewing his drivel on these threads.

    Makes me want to wipe my rear with the school portion of my property tax bills and send them to that Department head listed.

    ESL? I’m actually paying for this garbage? Geez!

  12. D J you would be shocked if you knew what was going on in the Class Rooms across America, Angel is only a sample of their manipulations.

  13. So what you are saying Billy Bob, is that he has been a huge pain in the rear pampered princess for more than ten years already.

  14. THERE IS 23 CHICKENS AND ONE GAS BAG GASSER WHO IS A SNEAKY SNAKE! WHEN HAS GASBAG GASSER DONE ANYTHING? GAS BAG GASSER IS RUNNING AROUND THE MEDIA GETTING ALL SORTS OF PRAISE FOR CUTTING TAXES! NO ONE CAN POINT TO ONE TIME GASSER HAS CUT TAXES!

    HOW CAN GASBAG GASSER MAKE THE FRONT OF THE TRIBUNE FOR A LYING CHEATING CAMPAIGNG?!!?

    HE IS A DIRTY USED TEA BAGGER!

  15. State revenues attritubale to Maine Twp HSD include:

    – the state pension payment to the TRS pension fund on behalf ofMaine Twp HSD,

    – General State Aid

    – Categorical payments such as bus Transportation.

    – Local Government Distributive Fund,

    – more.

    The major source of state revenues is state income taxes.

    The Grand Bargain negotiations for a state budget includes a state incone tax hike.

    So anyone paying state income taxes anywhere in the state is funding big pensions resulting from school boards who grant big salaries, irregardless if the taxpayers local school board is fiscally responsible or not.

    Maine Twp HSD is an extremely well paying HSD.

  16. I’m guess 23 refers to the fact that Mary McCann was not at the meeting.

    It’s unfortunate she was not in attendance, because Mary is one of the Board Members who have been going along and rationalizing Franks’ improper patronage hirings.

    I do hope Kay Bates, Jung and Kopsell were also listening to what Kelly and Diane had to say.

    Following budgeting processees are crucial to keeping good credit and bond ratings.

    How do you think Illinois got into the mess they are in? By doing exactly what Franks is doing and trying to do.

  17. Dear Pat Kennedy:

    I know a fellow who specializes in terminating weasels of all kinds.

    His prices are very reasonable. $5,000 each.

    If you need it to look like an accident $10,000 each.

    Let me know on this blog.

  18. Sunshine blogger, get to the bottom of this…tic tock, tic tock…

  19. Another glorious spring morning in beautiful McHenry county! Let’s have another enlightening conversation with my compassionate conservative friends in this, our very own sunshine blog. This is, after all, an outlet of free discussion of ideas about issues related to local, state, and national affairs where nobody is intimidated or bullied for daring to express a dissenting opinion…I look forward to educated reasoning from my fellow county neighbors to convince me that caring only for myself and my tax dollars will make for a better county, a better state, a better country, and a better planet. Tic tock, tic tock…

  20. Says the bully. Trying to intimidste with your nonsensical ticking?

  21. I think it’s safe to say that the “dirty Gasser” commenter must be Andrew’s failed political opponent?

    Or his wife, or his son, or his son-in-law, or his daughter that was banking on that recycling specialist job.

  22. Or may be a Class Action suit from TAX PAYERS!

    against these law breakers…

  23. Good gracious.

    I read this for Diane Evertsen, as I said right at the beginning on Tuesday evening.

    An excellent article, well thought out, and effective.

    Diane could not be there and so I read it for her – As I Said That Evening.

    She had committed to being at the League of Women Voters Candidates night.

  24. McHenry County Blog

    Jack Franks Threatens McHenry County Blog

    June 22, 2012

    http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2012/06/22/jack-franks-threatens-mchenry-county-blog

    +++++++++++++

    McHenry County

    Regular Board Meeting

    March 21, 2017

    Video Outline (includes audio, agenda, agenda packet, minutes, & minute packet)

    The weasel story begins around 34:20

    https://mchenrycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=4234&MinutesID=3537&FileFOrmat=pdf&Format=Minutes

    +++++++++++++

    McHenry County Blog

    Of Weasels, Chickens and County Government

    March 23, 2017

    That’s this article.

    +++++++++++++++++++++

    Northwest Herald

    April 7, 2017

    McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks Says Life Threatened on Blog Post Comments

    No reporter or editor is credited with writing the story.

    http://www.nwherald.com/2017/04/07/mchenry-county-board-chairman-jack-franks-says-life-threatened-on-blog-post-comments/ay0bmx6

    ++++++++++

    McHenry County Blog

    Jack Franks Threatens Effective County Board Opponent, Chuck Wheeler – Part 1

    April 12, 2017

    http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/04/12/jack-franks-threatens-effective-county-board-opponent-chuck-wheeler-part-1

    +++++++++++++

    McHenry County Blog

    McHenry County Government Bans McHenry County Blog From Free WiFi Internet Access

    April 27, 2012

    http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/04/27/mchenry-county-government-bans-mchenry-county-blog-from-free-wifi

    +++++++++++++++++

    Daily Herald

    Lester: Jack Franks Getting Police Protection After Comments On Blog

    May 4, 2017

    by Kerry Lester

    “Franks, a Marengo Democrat who chairs the majority-Republican McHenry County Board, tells me a McHenry County Sheriff’s patrol car has been watching his house as well as county board meetings after a March 23 exchange on the McHenry County Blog.”

    “McHenry County sheriff’s officials say they’ve turned the investigation over to Illinois State Police.”

    http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170504/news/170509445

  25. NBC 5 Ward Room

    McHenry County Board Chief Says He Received Death Threats

    by Phil Rogers

    “Franks did contact law enforcement, and the matter is being investigated by the Lakewood Police Department.

    The chief there confirmed the investigation, but declined to elaborate on its status.

    ‘Until we identify a person from the anonymous comments, I really can’t comment on our investigation,’ he said.”

    http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/McHenry-County-Board-Chief-Says-He-Received-Death-Threats-421347634.html

  26. No timeline on that piece. So, has he seen his kids yet? (Since that March board meeting where he concluded he was a weasel.)

  27. The NBC article was published May 4, 2017, in which Jack Franks said he had not seen his kids since this has occurred.

    Not sure what date Mr. Franks was referring to in that comment.

    Certainly by the date of the Northwest Herald article breaking the story, which was April 7, 2017.

    Or was he referring to March 23, 2017, which is the date of the comments.

    Or was he referring to the date he became aware of the comments.

  28. Still want to know if he is still hiding from his kids. This is three months later.

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