McHenry County Blog

To All Concerned McHenry County Citizens,

Yesterday I received an email from Michael Musgrave, one of the members in our network.

Two teens tried to break into Michael’s house (after midnight) Saturday night (April 27th).

Fortunately, Michael was home in the yard at the time.

This attempted burglary happened on Seeman Road in Huntley. I left Michael’s letter to me attached below for you to read.

I am happy to report that because of Michael’s alarm system and surveillance cameras, the teens were not successful, and Michaels cameras picked up two photos of one of the teen boys.

If you know this teen, please contact the McHenry County Sheriff’s office as this attempted burglary occurred in the unincorporated area of Huntley.

Stay safe, stay vigilant,
Kristin Ottolino

Below is the letter from the resident of the home:

Kristin: last night we had some kids try to gain entry to the house a little after midnight.

We had friends over and were in the back yard around the bon fire, the kids snuck up from the road and we have them on camera looking in all the cars (presumably for anything sitting out they could grab and dash with).

At one point one of them brazenly walked up to the front door (picture attached).

They did get into the garage because the side door was unlocked, and we think they got spooked and ran off when they tried to open the interior door and the alarm system chimed.

My partner saw them when they were running off, and was able to chase after them, but couldn’t catch up with them.

This afternoon two 15-ish year old boys were hanging around at the end of our driveway checking out our place and our neighbor across the road, they took off when they realized we saw them.

One was shaggy dirty blonde, the other was short red head.

The deputy thinks it was the same kids from last night, and probably the same kids involved in other area thefts.

When we were out looking for them last night, we think they were in a car that turned unto Ridge Lane off of Church Road (just west of Seeman Rd).

The kids on bikes today also turned onto Ridge Ln. today (we followed them at a distance).

Michael Musgrave

Holocaust survivor, Lisl Bogart, will present her story of survival and courage to World History and World Geography students at Huntley High School on Wednesday, April 3 in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

Two 60-minute presentations, including time for questions and discussion, will be held at 9:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and will include an introduction from Lisl’s family friend and HHS social worker, Katie Szarzynski.

The public is invited to attend either presentation.

A press release from the Huntley Police Department:

Bomb Threat Arrest

On November 3, 2012 at approximately 1:56 pm the Huntley Police Department responded to a bomb threat report at the Huntley High School, located at 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley.

A caller had made threats to a cellular service provider and stated that he had a bomb in his back pack at the Huntley High School.

The caller had given the cellular service provider a description of himself and his vehicle.

Huntley Police Officers responded to the Huntley High School and found a vehicle matching the description, parked isolated in the southeast section of the school’s parking lot.

As officers approached the vehicle, the occupant exited the vehicle.

Officers spoke with the occupant, who later admitted to make the threats and was taken into custody.

Occupants of the school were evacuated and residents adjacent to the parked vehicle were asked to leave their homes.

The school property was sealed off until an investigation could be completed to determine if there was a legitimate threat. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Unit was contacted and responded to the scene.

The vehicle and other areas of the school property were examined and later found to be safe.

The vehicle and the bag were removed from the property. At approximately 8:53 pm the investigation was concluded and the school property was reopened.

Effected residents were then allowed to return to their homes.

Charged with Disorderly Conduct – Class 3 Felony was:

Derek M. Habbley, age 25, of 10215 Ridge Lane, Union, IL

Mr. Habbley has been transported to the McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.

All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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A bit more information here.

See post arrest press release from the Huntley Police Department here

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From the Huntley Police Department:

At 9:30, the following message arrived:

The Huntley Police Department has concluded its investigation at the Huntley High School. The area has been found to be safe.

The Huntley Police Department has concluded its investigation of a suspicious package and vehicle at the Huntley High School with the assistance of the Kane County Explosives Unit.

The vehicle and packages have been removed from the property.

Normal activities on the property and surrounding area may now continue.

Alert: Police activity at Huntley High School. Avoid area.

The Huntley Police Department is currently investigating a suspicious package in the parking lot of the Huntley High School in conjunction with the Kane County Explosives Unit.

School activities have been cancelled for the evening. Please avoid this area for the next several hours.

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Huntley residents have told me this police action started about 2:30.

A bus driver was not allowed to drop off students at the back of the school, where their cars were parked. The teens were driven to their homes.

I have been told by unofficial sources that a suspect has been arrested.

Sitting in a doctor’s office, I picked up the Monday Northwest Herald and read the profile of Michael Gyetvan.

Reporter Di Benedetto selected Gyetvan because of the extraordinary number of hours of college credit he has earned since graduating from Huntley High School.

What caught my attention, however, was that he was considered a troublemaker in high school.

Read why:

Di Benedetto: Did you get in trouble while in high school? Where did that label come from?

Gyetvan: I actually went to the library, and they didn’t allow that. That was the best way for me to study, and they won’t let you go during an advisory period. I kept going, and they kept calling my parents, so they were actually distracting me from learning and studying. I wanted to show them that I was not the problem.

This reminds me of a first impression when I got to Oberlin College in the fall of 1960.

I realized students really wanted to learn.

How different from Crystal Lake Community High School, I thought.

A press release from Huntley High School:

Huntley High School journalism students win nation’s top award

Huntley High School’s The Voice is proud to announce that in its first year on the Internet, the site was awarded the National Scholastic Press Association’s Pacemaker award in Seattle on Saturday.

The award, unofficially known as “the Pulitzer Prize of high school journalism,” is the highest award in the country for setting the pace in the high school journalism world.

The Voice Online is headed by Michael Geheren, Editor in Chief, Joe Cristo, Managing Editor and Associate Editors: Holly Baldacci, Yazmin Dominguez and Kierra Renwick.

Geheren and Journalism Advisor, Dennis Brown C.J.E. flew Friday evening to Seattle for the NSPA Spring Conference to attend the award ceremony.

“I’m so proud of the work that Michael, the editors and the staff have done,” said Brown. “Truly an amazing achievement for all of them.”

Since its launch this year, The Voice has covered the death of a former student, presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s campaign stop in Lake in the Hills, homecoming and many other community and district events.

“The staff members are the ones who made this happen,” said Geheren. “I just created an empty shell, they fill it in with compelling stories, major news, photos and other elements that make people want to read the site and made us a top contender for the Pacemaker.”

During the Blizzard in 2011, Geheren started creating a website without the authorization of Brown to prove that the staff could do it. The goals were to advance the journalism program at the high school in to the modern age to adicutly train students about the wave of journalism.

Throughout the summer, Brown developed a curriculum change and negotiated with the administration as to what was allowed in this uncharted territory.

In October the website launched with a full week of coverage devoted to homecoming. Once winter break hit Brown and Geheren restructured the class, adding a new editorial board for the website and a full redesign.

“It feels really good to be a part of a Pacemaker winning site,” said Dominguez.

“It feels like all your hard work and dedication paid off. Especially those nights when you spent all night trying to post an article and edit.”

Geheren and Brown fly back to Chicago with the plaques on Sunday.

“[The Pacemaker is] something that could not have happened without the support of principal Dave Johnson, the district and the Board of Education,” said Brown. “It’s truly an award that should be shared by District 158 as a whole.”

In addition, The Voice’s print edition and the Chieftain yearbook both received Golden Eagles on Friday at the Northern Illinois School Press Association annual conference at College of DuPage.

Huntley High School is located at 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley, IL 60142. For additional information, please contact Michael Geheren at michael.geheren@huntleyvoice.com or Dennis Brown at dbrown@district158.org or at (847) 659-6600.

Huntley is  in mourning the death of 19-year old Jennifer Kearns.

She was thrown from a car on the way to Donley’s Banquet Hall south of Union last night.

Kearns was not wearing a seat belt.

Neither were any of the other recently-graduated high school students.

All I could think of was how this could have been prevented by Huntley adults.

Remember that rash of teen car crash deaths during the nineties?

Well, Crystal Lake Police’s Community Service Officer Sean McGrath and community volunteers took notice and did something about it.

They created an organization designed to use incentives to convince high schoolers to buckle their seat belts.

It’s now called “Operation Click.”

It works like this.

Teens are asked to sign a contract which includes seat belt use.

Several times a year, police check seat belt use.

If students at a high school reach the 90% seat belt compliance level, one of the teen contract signers get a chance to win a car.

Above the 95% level and two students get a chance at getting transportation.

In more prosperous times, it was a new car, but a good used car is certainly enough incentive.

Is someone in Huntley or Marengo willing to donate such a car to help make it less likely that someone in the current generation of Huntley or Marengo High School students don’t end up being killed in a car crash next year?

I’m told the kids can really get into it.

That’s because besides the “grand” prize, there are little rewards for good behavior.

One Crystal Lake teen who was being driven to school by his mother was stopped by the police.

She couldn’t figure out what she was doing wrong.

Her son was overjoyed as the police officer approached the car.

‘Mom, I’m going to get something,” was the gist of his comment.

And, because he was wearing his seat belt he was given a $5 coupon to McDonald’s or The Freeze or some other fast food restaurant supporting Operation Click.

AAA is the major sponsor of Operation Click, which makes me believe that the organization will go nationwide.

School who participate get $2,000, just as in a competing program sponsored by another insurance company.

The difference is that Operation Click comes with performance measures.

Peer pressure and the incentives drive seat belt use up.

I remember the reaction of House Republican Leader Tom Cross when the horrendous crash occurred in Kendall County.  He did what legislators do.

He introduced a bill.

Oh, that he had encouraged Yorkville and Oswego High School parents to start an Operation Click chapter.

That would have attacked the problem in a way where progress could be measured.

No high school in Kendall County belongs to Operation Click.

All of the participating schools were above the 95% compliance level in 2011.

Can Huntley or Marengo High School parents and community members believe that is the case in their towns?

How about those living in other non-participating areas?

You can see the progress over the years by clicking here.

You can read more about the program in these articles:

• 4-22-11 Peyton Freund, McHenry East Student, Wins Operation Click Car
• 4-21-11 Operation Click Scores AAA as National Sponsor, Poised for Exponential Growth
• 4-21-11 Cary-Grove’s Roxanne Neubaum Wins Operation Click Car
• 4-21-11 Harvard High School’s Abby Heck Wins Operation Click Car
• 9-5-8 Operation Click Spark Plug Sean McGrath Wins International Award for Preventing Teen Car Crashes

This press release from Huntley School District 158 reminds me to the good time we had in the same venue in Huntley High School. We attended “Under the Streetlamp” last January and really enjoyed the concert.

District 158 Education Foundation Hosts BritBeat Concert – Tribute Band to the Beatles

ALGONQUIN, IL – The District 158 Education Foundation invites you to a ‘British Invasion’ featuring a live concert by BritBeat – America’s Premier Tribute to the Beatles on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Huntley High School, 13719 Harmony Road in Huntley.

Displaying the same youthful excitement and boyish charm as the original “Fab Four” complete with mop tops, English cut suits, vintage instruments and harmonizing vocals, you’ll be taken back to 1964!

See and hear the complete Beatles Anthology including highlights from Ed Sullivan, Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road eras and a special BritBeat Fantasy Reunion Tour.

Tickets are only $25 each and can be purchased online at www.district158.org/education-foundation.

The District 158 Education Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Funds raised benefit the Education Foundation which provides grants to enhance educational opportunities for the children of Consolidated School District 158.

Please contact Education Foundation Vice-President, Emily McMahon, via email at emcmahon@district158.org with questions.

A press release from Huntley High School:

Huntley High’s School House Rock
Will Take You Back to the ‘70’s & ‘80’s

Huntley, IL – The cast at Huntley High School will perform School House Rock for four nights at the school’s Performing Arts Center located at 13719 Harmony Road in Huntley.

If you grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s, surely you remember School House Rock as a part of your Saturday mornings! The animated educational short films filled with memorable songs such as “Conjunction Junction”, “I’m Just a Bill,” or “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here”, made learning about grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics fun.

Created by George Newall and Tom Yohe, School House Rock, will be directed by Tom George, Nancy Cross, and Heather Simek.

Performances will take place on Saturday, September 10, Thursday, September 15, Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and students and may be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to each performance.

For more information, please contact Tom George at (847) 659-6535. Huntley High School is located at 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley, IL 60142.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog published the percentage of incoming freshmen at McHenry County College require remedial math classes.

The best high school district was Huntley’s at 46% needing help to be able to take a college course.

Today, we look at the situation with regard to English.

It’s much better.

The average is only 11%.

So, take a look at the figures for each of the high school districts in McHenry County College District 528:
Previously, I typed out the results math results so people could find them with an internet search engine.  Today, we’ll do the same for preparation for college English, except going from best to worst.

• Alden-Hebron – 0%
• Richmond-Burton – 6%
• Marengo – 8%
• Johnsburg – 9%
• McHenry – 11%
• Crystal Lake, Cary-Grove – 11%
• Woodstock – 14%
• Huntley – 20%
• Harvard – 38%

Again, explanations are welcomed in the comment section.