McHenry County Blog

An email from Congressman Joe Walsh:

After spending the week in Washington, I am very pleased and excited to have a full weekend ahead of me.

As we continue to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, please consider joining me for a precinct walk and a Town Hall meeting on Saturday, and for a parade on Sunday.

Joe Walsh where the Marengo Settlers Days Parade turns toward the High School.

We will be participating in the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade, one of the largest parades in the state of Illinois, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. This also happens to be the last parade of the year.

Afterwards, join me for a Meet and Greet, organized by one of my wonderful supporters, at Cabana Charley’s Restaurant.

We are even renting a bus to make the ride easier and more fun. Meet at 10:30am at Casten Auto Body Shop
(26315 North Highway 12, Wauconda) and the bus will depart at 10:45am.

I will be riding the bus with everyone and it will depart Sycamore at 5 pm to return to Wauconda.

Of course you can simply meet us in Sycamore at our line-up location (#62), as well.

Saturday, October 29th

11am-2pm
McHenry Petition Walk
Meet at Lakeland Park Community Center
1717 North Sunset Avenue
McHenry, 60050
(Click here to view a map of the Lakeland Community Center.)

11am-2pm
Wauconda Petition Walk
Meet at Wauconda Park District
600 North Main Street
Wauconda, 60084
(Click here to view a map of the Wauconda Park District.)

3:30-5pm
Lake County Town Hall
Antioch Township Office
1625 Deep Lake Road
Lake Villa, 60002
(Click here to view a map of the Antioch Township Office.)

Sunday, October 30th

Noon – 3pm
Sycamore Pumpkin Parade
Line-up is at Noon, step-off is at 1PM
Position #62, Downtown Sycamore
(Click here to view a map of the parade route.)

3 – 4:30pm
Meet and Greet
Cabana Charley’s
1470 South Peace Road, Sycamore 60178
(Click here to view a map of Cabana Charley’s.)

To RSVP, please e-mail chasen@walshforcongress.com or call (310) 938-0564

If I don’t have the opportunity to see you over the weekend, I look forward to visiting with you soon.

Sincerely,

Joe Walsh
Congressman

Last Saturday Congressman Joe Walsh was rubbing shoulders with constituents in Antioch. Saturday morning he will be in Lake Zurich at the Coffee Cup.

Weekends newly-elected 8^th District Congressman Joe Walsh goes to a popular purveyor of coffee in his district and mingles with his constituents.

Joe Walsh poses with Fox Lake's Still Larry's owners Larry and Jennifer.

Last week it was in Antioch at Still Larry’s.

How often does one get to meet a Congressman in blue jeans?

This Saturday from 9-10:30, it will be at the Coffee Cup in Lake Zurich.

“Joe with Joe”

The Congressman with a family of Bears' fans.

That’s what he calls them.

Chuck Keeshan’s Daily Herald article about 53-year old Antioch Upper Grade School teacher Wes Owens, a resident of McHenry County’s far northeastern Solon Mills, has brought some pungent comments from those who think the punishment should be more that incarceration.

The sexual relationship started when a former student, who had become a babysitter, was 15 and lasted two years.

One seems to be looking forward to Owens’ being raped in prison.

Voiceofthepeople: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:24 PM +3

Believe me this guy is going to get whats comming to him in Prison….You know I dont really care much for convicted Felons, but I love the way they deal with Child molesters….

ihateidiots : Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:55 PM +2

Anyone for castration

Perhaps these folks should run for the state legislature, but, if I were still in Springfield, such proposals would have my active opposition.

Until they change current law, however, rape is not part of any sentence in Illinois.

Now called "Just Detention, International," the group started out as "Stop Prison Rape."

Kenneth L. Johnson is due for parole October 20, 2011. He was sentenced to 3 years, six months, for the possession of child pornography.

Perhaps those calling for such informal, but life-changing punishment by inmates might reflect upon the

“Fresh meat!”

cat calls when newly incarcerated young men from the area walk into prison.

Those young men get raped, too.

Maybe the neighborhood kid who stole something to support a drug habit. Maybe the neighborhood youth who sold marijuana to support his habit.

Besides never being able to teach again, former Antioch teacher Owens will have to register as a sex offender.

This is the second teacher from that system to face such charges. The first, Kenneth Lee Johnson, told police of Owens’ affair.

= = = = =

Added September 30, 2010.

The day this story went up, I filed a Freedom of Information request with the Antioch school district for photos and what the two men taught.

She wrote me, “Ken Johnson taught Social Studies at Antioch Upper Grade School and Wes Owens taught Language Arts and Social Studies at Antioch Upper Grade School,” but did not send their photos.  I asked her to reconsider before I filed an appeal with the Attorney General’s Public Access Division.

Today I received the following email from Principal Mary Ellen Casey:

Ken Johnson yearbook picture.

Yearbook photo of Wes Owens

The District continues to assert that the photographs you have requested are not “public records” merely because they are in the District’s possession.  However, the District is not interested in continuing to expend District resources to object to the disclosure of photographs of these two individuals.  Therefore, pictures of both individuals are attached.

Needless to say, I disagree and would have filed an appeal with the Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office had the district not provided the photos.  Fortunately for Antioch taxpayers, wise heads prevailed and legal fees were saved.

The Daily Herald is reporting that young folks (including a candidate’s son) campaigning door-to-door for Democratic Party State Rep. candidate Don Pollak were impeded by an Antioch policeman.

One would think a policeman would know that a solicitor’s permit is not required when one is exercising political speech, the highest right granted by First Amendment.

Pollak’s opponent, incumbent JoAnn Osmond, is from Antioch. That may explain the inappropriate behavior by the policeman.

The article explains that a confrontation between the candidate and Police Chief James Foerster has led to the chief’s suspension (paid administrative leave) and an investigation.