McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Governor Signs Tryon Bill to Bring Illinois Livestock Farmers into Compliance with Federal Regulations

SPRINGFIELD…..A bipartisan bill sponsored by State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) that brings Illinois livestock producers into compliance with federal Clean Water Act regulations has been signed into law.

In 2010 I found this poster against a Jo Daviess County mega dairy farm in the front window of a politically inclined antique dealer.

Under the provisions of House Bill 5642, owners of large livestock farms known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) will have to pay an annual fee for permits involving the amount of pollution a farm’s animals produce.

“The legislation is the result of a federal EPA investigation which concluded that Illinois CAFOs were not in compliance with the Clean Water Act because many of the farms did not have the required permits,” said Tryon.

“The non-compliance could have resulted in stiff penalties, including an EPA takeover of the permit system which currently is controlled by Illinois industries.”

The bill was signed into law as Public Act 97-962, and it was widely supported by individuals from both the environmental community and by the producers of America’s pork, beef, and specialty meats

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The fees imposed run from $150 to $750.

The Senate vote was 42-15 with Pam Althoff voting in favor and Dan Duffy against.

The House passed the bill 91-14-1 with Kent Gaffney and Tryon voting for the bill, while Jack Franks did not vote having an “E” next to his name.

The McHenry Moose was the site of the McHenry Township Republican Pig Roast.

Saturday afternoon, McHenry Township Republicans gathered at the McHenry Moose for a pig roast and to hear candidates make their pitches.

McHenry County Blog prevailed upon attendee Becky Kress to share her photos.

Barb Wheeler presents her request for support.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, who has announced her intentions to run for State Representative in the 64th District whose southern tip is my precinct in Crystal Lake and Lakewood and goes north to Antioch, was one of the speakers.

Congressman Joe Walsh makes his pitch, while Crystal Lake's Bryan Javor and band member Tim Stewart listen.

8th District Congressman Joe Walsh made a pitch for re-election, even though he doesn’t know who his potential future constituents will be. (He made a second appearance in Aurora at State Senator Chris Lauzen’s Porky Picnic later in the day. Lauzen announced he would give up his Senate seat to run for Kane County Board Chairman.)

Joe Walsh mixed with those in attendance as well as speaking. The women to his immediate left as Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Trustee Cheryl Hammerand. On the right is Barbara Klasen, Greenwood Township Supervisor.

A photo of State Senator Dan Duffy was captured.

State Senator Dan Duffy talks to Barb Wheeler and her husband Joe.

Steven Rooney, recently elected to the Johnsburg School Board is caught with a John O’Neill for County Board tee shirt.

Johnsburg School Board member Steve Rooney

McHenry County Board members Tina Hill and Mary Donner were seen chatting at one table.

Tina Hill and Mary Donner sat at the same table.

The star of the day may have been the pig.

The roasted pig seemed to have no opinion regarding the candidates.

State Senator Dan Duffy got a turn at the microphone.

Dan Duffy speaks.

Both State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon were enjoying the roast pig.

Pam Althoff and Mike Tryon confer. Greenwood Township Supervisor Barbara Klasen (standing) talks to MaryDonner in the center. Kathy Kutcha is on the right.

Newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney spoke to the gathering, but the photo with his son was really fuzzy.

Kent Gaffney (on the right) attends to some paperwork, as does McHenry Township Road Commissioner Leon Van Every.

The event had at least one McHenry Alderman in attendance–Andy Glab.

Pam Althoff converses with Helen and Andy Glab.

Tina Hill posed with McHenry Township GOP work horse Kathy Kuchta.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer was campaigning for re-election.

Former McHenry County Auditor and GOP Chairman and his wife Carrie are greeting by current Auditor Pam Palmer.

There were many others at the successful fund raiser.

McHenry Township Clerk Bruce Novak chows down.

A two-elected official family, McHenry County Board member John Hammerand and Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Board member Cheryl (seen with Joe Walsh above) were enjoying themselves.

John Hammerand has a discussion with Jim Kelly.

A press release issued by the Fox River Grove Police Department.

Saturday February 19, 2011 7:29 PM CST

Fox River Grove Police Department investigating Armed Robbery

L.A. Tan, 724 Northwest Highway

On 02/19/11 at approximately 5:50 P.M., Fox River Grove Police Department responded to L.A. Tan 724 Northwest Highway for an armed robbery.

The offender, armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, entered the business and ordered the attendant to open the cash drawer.

She then told the attendant to go in to one of the tanning rooms.

After the attendant heard the door chime, she emerged from the tanning room and discovered the cash in the register had been removed.

The offender had fled in an unknown direction. Approximately $160.00 was taken.

The offender was described as a female/white, 5’00″-5’02″ tall, very slim build, wearing a pig mask, a short black hair wig and a camouflage jacket. Her voice was raspy.

Anyone who can assist the police department with the identity of these two individuals is asked to contact Crime Stoppers 1-800-762-7867 or the Fox River Police Department at 847-639-2411.

The turkey has a suggestion.

“This year, try ham.”

Guess I should have run this earlier.

I was taking photos of animals at the McHenry County Fair in August and one of my favorite movies came to mind.

It’s about Babe, the sheep herding pig.

This little one seemed to be auditioning for the part in the next movie.

Actors need more than one photo, so he (she) posed for another publicity shot.

There was, of course, competition.

These lambs wanted walk-on parts.

"We work as a team. Hire us both or we skip the gig."

And, then there were this sister act.

I don’t know if “Babe 3, Pig in the Suburbs” will ever be filmed, but there’s plenty of local talent.

Oops.  There’s another critter who wants a bit part.

"Instead of a duck, how about a turkey this time around?"

This morning looked like a washout for the McHenry County Fair, but it certainly has turned into a beautiful day.

So, if you haven’t taken your kids to see the animals, how about it driving to Woodstock?

The Wilke Boys raised these cattle, the sign says, on Holiday Farm.

You don’t have to look hard to see cattle.

A little one was bold with some pigs.

Some pigs might touch their noses to small fingers.

This lamb seemed used to human touch.

Petting lambs doesn’t require a petting zoo.

They call them "milk cows" for a reason.

Get there at the right time and you might see a Holstein getting milked.

"You looking at me?"

Turkeys were at the outside of the poultry tent.

This is the fuzziest chicken I have ever seen.

And, there was chicken that was so fuzzy that only its beak was visible.

Keely might win the "Fuzziest Cat" award at the County Fair, if there were one.

It reminded me of our cat Keely.

This demure Christmas Pig was found at the Pro-Life Pig Roast six months ago.

It seems like an appropriate item to post on what has become the biggest shopping day of the year.

This demure Christmas Pig was found at the Pro-Life Pig Roast six months ago.

It seems like an appropriate item to post on what has become the biggest shopping day of the year.

The day after Barack Obama used the phrase “Lipstick on a Pig,” three liberal writers for the Chicago Sun-Times covered the subject. Two jumped to his defense.

I can’t remember the time when

wrote about the same topic with pretty much the same twist.

Political writer Lynn Sweet wrote a balanced news story.

First in the paper was Mark Brown.

“Palin cornered the market on lipstick”

He advises the Obama campaign to “leave her alone.”

Next was Lynn Sweet’s

“Lipstick flap leaves McCain sitting pretty”

“What Obama knew or should have known was that Palin has appropriated as a signature expression the word ‘lipstick…’

“Obama had his political radar turned off on this one when it should have been on.”

On the facing page was Richard Roeper’s column:

“McCain outrage fake, but Obama knows better”

So, if a party’s candidate is not swift enough to figure out that some women might take offense at his intimating that the opposite party’s good looking female vice presidential candidate was a pig, is he up to being president?

That’s a pretty big lapse in judgment, it seems to me.

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Thanks to Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter for putting lipstick on one of my pig pictures. You can get a closer look at the pig with lipstick by clicking on its touched up photograph.

If you want to eat some good pig, although probably without lipstick, Crystal Lake’s Second Chance House is holding a pig roast at the Dole Mansion from 1-5 Sunday. $10 for those 12 and over; free for those younger.

And, an update on the pig parts shown on poster:

Thanks for the continued interest in our charity.

I was going to attempt to cook the pig again this year (sans Italian sausage) but the Board of Directors felt that my energy would be of better use by networking with the attendees!

At least that’s what they told me.

I think it might have been just a nice way of telling me they were afraid of me burning the Last Chance House down.

So they’ve decided to have the pig roasted by professionals this time!

The picture you saw on the flyer was just something our web coordinator got off the web. Hope to see you at the Dole Mansion on Sunday. I think we’ll be inside if it rains.

Gerry Winkelman

The day after Barack Obama used the phrase “Lipstick on a Pig,” three liberal writers for the Chicago Sun-Times covered the subject. Two jumped to his defense.

I can’t remember the time when

wrote about the same topic with pretty much the same twist.

Political writer Lynn Sweet wrote a balanced news story.

First in the paper was Mark Brown.

“Palin cornered the market on lipstick”

He advises the Obama campaign to “leave her alone.”

Next was Lynn Sweet’s

“Lipstick flap leaves McCain sitting pretty”

“What Obama knew or should have known was that Palin has appropriated as a signature expression the word ‘lipstick…’

“Obama had his political radar turned off on this one when it should have been on.”

On the facing page was Richard Roeper’s column:

“McCain outrage fake, but Obama knows better”

So, if a party’s candidate is not swift enough to figure out that some women might take offense at his intimating that the opposite party’s good looking female vice presidential candidate was a pig, is he up to being president?

That’s a pretty big lapse in judgment, it seems to me.

= = = = =
Thanks to Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter for putting lipstick on one of my pig pictures. You can get a closer look at the pig with lipstick by clicking on its touched up photograph.

If you want to eat some good pig, although probably without lipstick, Crystal Lake’s Second Chance House is holding a pig roast at the Dole Mansion from 1-5 Sunday. $10 for those 12 and over; free for those younger.

And, an update on the pig parts shown on poster:

Thanks for the continued interest in our charity.

I was going to attempt to cook the pig again this year (sans Italian sausage) but the Board of Directors felt that my energy would be of better use by networking with the attendees!

At least that’s what they told me.

I think it might have been just a nice way of telling me they were afraid of me burning the Last Chance House down.

So they’ve decided to have the pig roasted by professionals this time!

The picture you saw on the flyer was just something our web coordinator got off the web. Hope to see you at the Dole Mansion on Sunday. I think we’ll be inside if it rains.

Gerry Winkelman