FOI Reply To Threat Documents Finally Arrives, No Threats Documented

The Friday before last (August 1st) after the close of business I filed a Freedom of Information request with the Village of Oakwood Hills for documents that showed that there had been threats against village officials. It should have been … Continue reading

The First Electric Newspaper’s Case for Making Sheriff’s Department’s Report on Andy Zinke’s Rita Corp. Actions Public

Here’s something to chew on for the weekend. It’s attorney Mary Gardner’s memo on behalf of The First Electric Newspaper‘s attempt to enforce a Freedom of Information request filed for the investigative report by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department’s exonerating … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Department Freedom of Information Games

It was the discovery of more marijuana growing in the Hebron area in a press release issued by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department that reminded me of the August 2008 and August 2009 discoveries of three pot fields, some of … Continue reading

One Reason the Teachers Retirement System Is in Trouble

I filed a Freedom of Information request with Illinois’ Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund. I came up dry and got a reply through an email. But, TRS also sent me a letter by Certified Mail I talked to them about it, … Continue reading

Spring Grove Refuses to Turn Over Andy Zinke’s Emailed Campaign Pitch

On night last week, I shot off 20-30 Freedom of Information requests for emails from announced McHenry County Sheriff candidate Andy Zinke. I’ve gotten a lot of replies. Today I received my first rejection. It was from the Village of … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Office Says Release of 911 Call in Kurt Milliman Murder Case “Affect Jury Pool”

Two days after Kurt Milliman was murdered at a house on Woodstock Doty Road, I filed a Freedom of Information request with the Sheriff’s Department for various information. Although testimony which I assume duplicates what I requested was given at … Continue reading

Metra Must Provide Barbara Pagano Benefits Correspondence

Metra has adamantly refused to release information to McHenry County Blog regarding efforts to reimburse the taxpayers for the money that former Executive Director Phil Pagano took without authorization. I’ve been trying to obtain such documents since September, 2010, and … Continue reading

Attorney General Asks Sheriff to Come Up with Another Reason for Denial of Pagano’s Signature

You may remember that I’ve been trying to get information about the suicide notes that Phil Pagano’s suicide notes. I requested that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren send me a copy of Pagano’s signature on one of the notes that … Continue reading

Sheriff Tom Dart Targets “Johns”

Going after the family vote, I suppose, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is conducting a highly publicized campaign against “Johns,” the customers of prostitutes. It must be a bigger problem than in McHenry County. And, anyway the Illinois State Police … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Department Wins Effort to Keep Pagano Suicide Notes Secret

Eight media requests were apparently made to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department for copies of the suicide notes that Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano wrote to members of his family.  Another was made by the Better Government Association. The one … Continue reading

McHenry County College Continues Stonewalling on Release of Walt Packard’s Performance Evaluations

Why should I be surprised that the local government that has been least transparent—even to the point of ejecting press and taxpayers from its building during a secret meeting, being sued by the McHenry County State’s Attorney and being admonished … Continue reading