“‘Murder in McHenry” was told to Keith Bettinger by Paul Scharff.
Who will be first in your neighborhood to read “Murder in McHenry,” Paul Scharff’s story about his parents’ murders?
Here’s the back cover of “Murder in McHenry.”
The price is $14.95, plus shipping, from Amazon.com.
Readers might also find Scharff’s web site of interest.
In a post last night, I pointed out that Steve Cuda was trailing Sue Low in their contest for Mayor of McHenry.
The trend shown in early tallying was not reversed.
Low won by over 500 votes.
Almost final results show Sue Low with a commanding lead over challenger Steve Cuda.
In one of four hotly-contested mayoral contests in McHenry County, incumbent Mayor Sue Low is leading former Mayor Steve Cuda by what would be landslide proportions in a national election.
Sue Low leads Steve Cuda in early counting by 128 votes.
Here’s what I found in her full page Northwest Herald ad on Sunday, reprinted with the permission of Sue Low:
Low is being challenged for Mayor by former Mayor Steve Cuda.
The final mailing for McHenry mayoral candidate Steve Cuda, who is running against incumbent Mayor Sue Low, starts with this letter:
<blockquote
Steve Cuda
>Dear Friends and Neighbors:
From 1993 to 2001 I served the citizens of McHenry as your Mayor.
I am now running for election in next week’s mayoral election, and I am again asking for your support on April 9.
My primary goal is to retain the businesses which have made McHenry their home and to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.
We cannot afford to lose any more stores to Johnsburg.
My leadership style will not change from my earlier two terms.
I will be directly involved with the day to day operations of the City.
Direction to staff will be clear.
But responsibility will end at the mayor’s desk.
If elected, I will answer every phone call, meet with any constituent, and be a steadfast proponent for what is best for McHenry. I believe in strong leadership.
The citizens of McHenry will always know my position on issues which affect our city. For the safety of our children, I oppose METRA’s plan to run commuter trains through Peterson Park.
The new train station should be on the south side of town where our major employers, Centegra, Follett, and Medela are located.
I am a proponent of competitive bidding and believe there should be no favorites at city hall. Everyone will be treated equally during my administration.
If you are tired of the status quo, more tattoo parlors, vacant storefronts, and believe McHenry can once again become a strong and prosperous city, then vote for change on April 9. Together we can make McHenry a great place to live and raise our families.
Please remember to vote on April 9.
Very truly yours,
Steven J. Cuda
You can see what the piece looks like below:
Steve Cuda’s platform is on the back of the mailing.
Just in case the print is too small to read, here’s what it says:
To listen to your concerns and to respect the different viewpoints of McHenry’s citizenry; to be honest, fair and
open-minded; to protect your tax dollars and spend them wisely; to bid all projects; to promote commercial and
industrial development in order to lower real estate tax rates; to accept full responsibility for the course McHenry
follows over the next four years.
From a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
CHICAGO – Three tax return preparers, a salesman, and the owner of a psychic reading business are among seven Chicago and suburban defendants who are facing federal prosecution in separate cases for alleged federal income tax crimes. These cases, along with others recently charged, are typical of federal tax prosecutions that occur throughout the year, but they also serve as a reminder to taxpayers of the importance of voluntary compliance with their tax obligations as the April 15 filing deadline approaches, federal law enforcement officials announced today.
“The IRS Criminal Investigation Division is committed to ensuring that all taxpayers pay their fair share,” said James C. Lee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. “We are aggressively serving the American people by investigating criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax fraud does not know a season – IRS special agents pursue criminals year round, not only at tax time. Taxpayers who might be thinking about cheating with this month’s filing deadline looming should think twice or they will risk the consequences.”
Gary Shapiro
Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, noted that in addition to criminal penalties, including incarceration, fines, and the costs of prosecution, convicted defendants remain responsible for any taxes and interest due, as well as civil penalties of up to 75 percent of the tax owed. Those making false claims against the government may be required to pay restitution or may be sued civilly for an amount greater than the fraudulent claims.
[One of those listed in the press release is from McHenry. That information is seen below.]
TOWANA VIRAMONTES, 37, of McHenry, has pleaded not guilty after being indicted in January on 15 counts of making false claims for tax refunds in 2008 and 2009. Viramontes, who was the principal of a telemarketing business that operated under various names, including American Creative Solutions, Inc., Apple Leasing, Inc., and Leads 2 Guaranteed Loans, allegedly prepared false Forms W-2 that she provided to at least 15 individuals, some of whom worked for her business and some who did not.
The charges allege that Viramontes caused these individuals to file false claims for income tax refunds, typically a few thousand dollars each, using the false W-2s that she provided and then to pay her a substantial portion of the tax refunds they obtained. (AUSA Dylan Smith.)
Assisting in the preparation of false tax returns or filing a false tax return carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Making a false claim upon the United States carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Failing to file an income tax return, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and $100,000 fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A McHenry man named Jack Riley, who I’m told was seriously considering running for Mayor against incumbent Sue Low, has taken out an ad in the Northwest Herald.
He states he disagrees with the NWH’s endorsement of Low over former Mayor Steve Cuda.
You can see it below:
Jack Riley’s ad in the Northwest Herald.
In boldface type, Riley charges,
“Nepotism pervades city hall. She has awarded family members throughout her tenure; the appointments of the city engineer and city treasurer, were her cousin and son-in-law.”
Steve Cuda
And, here are the details:
It will be on Thursday, April 4, at 5-7 PM at Nicolino’s on Bully Valley Road.
Cuda, a former Mayor of McHenry, is trying to unseat incumbent Sue Low.
It is the first contested election for Mayor in 16 years.
This is from mayoral candidate Steve Cuda’s nephew, Andrew Cuda. It is addressed to McHenry Voters.
Steve Cuda answers a question, while Sue Low listens.
“I grew up in McHenry and my family lives in McHenry. For this reason, I have been following this year’s mayoral election from afar.
“I am concerned, however, with the direction the election is going. I know some might choose not to listen to me because I no longer live in McHenry. And others might cast this email aside as biased because my uncle is one of the candidates. But I urge you to please consider not the author of this email, but the arguments put forth.
“I am not going to urge anyone to vote for any specific candidate. I am instead going to urge voters to decide their vote based on arguments and issues—and not on anecdote or slander.
“I recently read an e-mail written by candidate Sue Low and her husband [read it here] regarding her campaign for re-election.
“Sadly, the email was full of the faulty reasoning and negative attacking that has become rampant in contemporary politics.
“Ms. Low begins by defending her family’s decision to file for bankruptcy. There is nothing wrong with that. She has a personal right and an obligation to her community to defend that decision.
“She goes wrong, however, in asserting that her personal financial decisions have nothing to do with her ability to be mayor.
“It’s common practice for political candidates to release information about their personal finances.
“That’s because some voters think candidates who do well managing their own finances will also do well managing the public’s finances.
“The extent to which this is true might be debatable.
“What is not debatable, however, is that they do not have ‘nothing to do with each other.’
“The most egregious aspect of the email, however, is the way Ms. Low quotes Alderman Andy Glab.
“She claims that Mr. Glab said some pretty unflattering things about her.
“And yet she gives no sources whatsoever.
“Are voters to simply trust her word?
“If Mr. Glab did indeed say those things, then both he and the readers of the email deserve the places, times, and contexts of the quotes in addition to any corroborations or recordings of them.
“Without them, they amount to nothing more than hearsay.
“Ms. Low’s hearsay claims would be thrown out at once in court.
“And it’s an insult to the voters of McHenry that she would think they would take them seriously.
“After claiming that Mr. Glab said the things specified in the e-mail, she goes on to attribute the quotes not just to Mr. Glab, but to ‘Alderman Glab and the candidate he represents.’
“Even if Mr. Glab did say those things, Ms. Low provides no evidence whatsoever that her opponent endorses those views.
“In any election, there will be supporters of all the candidates who say outrageous things.
“Should we automatically attribute those things to the candidates themselves?
“Of course not.
“Finally, Ms. Low ends her e-mail by stating that she loves the city of McHenry.
“I’m sure she does.
“But that’s not evidence that she would be a good mayor.
“I love the Chicago Blackhawks, but that doesn’t mean I’d do a good job running the team.
“I therefore urge the voters of McHenry to disregard all the rumors, hearsay, and slander they have heard.
“I urge them to disregard reputation and appeals to emotion.
“Instead, I urge voters to consider the positions of each candidate.
“A good place to start is the pair of interviews each has done with the Northwest Herald:
http://elections.nwherald.com/race/295/McHenry-Mayor/
“In addition, the two candidates will be debating each other at the Shah Center on March 21 [already held; see story here]. I encourage everyone who is able to attend. Remember that when you vote for a candidate, you’re voting not only for YOUR candidate, but for the candidate of your fellow citizens. Don’t you owe it to them to base your vote on arguments and positions and not rumors, hearsay, and appeals to emotion?
“I hope the tone of this campaign turns around soon. So many people have complained about the state of politics at the national level. The least we can do is clean things up at the local level.”
Sincerely,
Andrew Cuda
At the forum last Thursday for McHenry County Mayor, incumbent Sue Low and challenger Steve Cuda were asked the McHenry Shores water question.
Mayor Sue Low stands, answering a question, while former Mayor Steve Cuda listens.
“That’s a question that was asked in 1995 or 1996,” former Mayor Cuda replied. “It’s a problem that isn’t going to go away until the City provides water to the subdivision.>
He explained that Tom Matthews’ company had gone into bankruptcy.
“We don’t want to overpay,” he added, pointing out that “Folks out there are going to have to pay.”
“We are in negotiations. For as long as I’ve been mayor the issue has been on the table,” Mayor Low answered.
“We have come to agreement with regard to the Special Service Area.
“I can’t really say a lot more than that.”
The day after the candidates’ night, March 23rd, City Administrator Derik Morefield wrote McHenry Shores residents that the City had failed in its attempt to purchase the water company.
Despite 235-30 survey results that the residents wanted to be hooked up to the water that the rest of McHenry residents get.
The letter said it “has been sold to another entity.”
“…the City could not enter a “bidding war.’”
The letter concludes,
“Thank you for your interest during this process and please know the city will continue to support future efforts to connect the McHenry Shores Water Company to the City of McHenry water system, so long as it is in the best interests of McHenry Shores residents and the municipality.
“Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.”
You can read the full letter below:
Latest Posts
