McHenry County Blog

The Sunday before, the Tribune syndicated Dick Tracy comic strip’s current creators Joe Staton and Mike Curtis honored Dick Locher for his time as chief cartoonist.

This is how the Dick Tracy comic strip started the day it honored Dick Locher.

Locher has retired and been honored with a statue of Dick Tracy in his hometown of Naperville.  I looked for it briefly a couple of weeks ago, but couldn’t find it.

A summary of Dick Locher's Dick Tracy accomplishments.

The text says that Locher was an assistant to originator Chester Gould, starting in 1957.  When Michael Kilian, who wrote the story, died in 2005, Locher took over those duties, too.  His relationship to the strip is longer than anyone but Gould, the description reads.

When Gould’s assistant Rick Fletcher, who took over when Gould retired, died in 1983, Locher stepped in to save the strip.

I believe it was 1999 in which Woodstock honored Locher at its Dick Tracy Days Parade, which seem to have gone by the wayside, as did the VJ (Victory over Japan) it replaced.

I remember being surprised that day at the boldness with which newly-elected Democratic Party State Representative Jack Franks approached Woodstock Firemen for their votes before the parade.   He reminded those on duty of all the money he had gotten them.  (That was in the days of the big checks and photos of them, Franks and recipients in the Northwest Herald.)

Locher was better known for being the editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune.

One of my favorites was a pitch against higher income taxes run in June of 2009.

It didn’t pass until the Tribune denied him his platform.

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I first became aware of Bull Valley’s Rick Fletcher at a Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission.  Sometime in the late 1960′s when I was County Treasurer NIPC held a hearing at the Opera House about its obviously failed finger plan.  A proposal to limit growth along rail lines under what I guess was the mistaken prediction that most people would commute to and from Chicago by rail.

“Where’s your American Flag?” he shouted at the beginning of the meeting.

Fletcher, whose daughter worked for me during the summer, would have really been in tune with the Tea Party sentiments expressed at the Lake County League of Women Voters’ debate between Joe Walsh, Melissa Bean and Bill Scheurer. The demand for the Pledge of Allegiance hit national cable news shows and may have made the difference in Walsh’s narrow defeat of Bean.

From

Report released by U.S. Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain yesterday.

Summertime Blues

100 Projects to Give Taxpayers the Blues

Senator Tom Coburn speaking at last year's Family PAC Cruise.

Senator John McCain at his 2008 pre-primary rally in Addison.

Today, United States Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain released “Summertime Blues,” a compilation of

“100 Stimulus Projects that Give Taxpayers the Blues during the Summer of Recovery.”

The introduction of this third in a series of publications starts like this:

“When Congress passed the $862 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, otherwise known as the stimulus bill, it passed with assurances that it would stem the loss of American jobs and keep the economy from floundering. As most can see, it hasn’t.”

McHenry County’s SportsPlex made number 67 on the list.

67. If Government Builds it, They Will Come . . .We Hope

(Lakewood, IL) – $18 million

Local officials in Lakewood Village (pop. 3,050) recently approved plans for a $40 million sports complex by a unanimous vote in the hopes of bringing in up to $500,000 in annual tax revenue from hosting local, national, and even international sports events. FN425 The complex, spanning over 165 acres will feature 17 lighted baseball fields, seven soccer fields, an indoor soccer dome, an arena for basketball, an extreme sports park for skating and BMX competitions, a gas station, and a 125,000 square foot building for a restaurant and retail facilities – all of this using $18 million of bonding authority granted to McHenry County from the stimulus bill. FN426 That portion of the money has been described as both “only a start-up mechanism” and a “bridge loan.” FN427

McHenry County Blog's photo is in the report, but there isn't a credit line.

Not so fast, say the neighboring residents whose lives will be affected by the proposed facility. The most recent public meeting of the Lakewood Village trustees drew enough attendees to fill the room, the standing-room behind the chairs, and standing room into the hallway. FN428 A local blogger who attended observed that “besides the consultants, village officials and staff, most in attendance were people objecting from the neighborhood.” FN429

Concerns raised included traffic, light pollution, noise, water quality, and utility bills. Following the meeting, Village Trustee Ken Santowski wrote an e-mail to residents justifying his vote, arguing that “…the village would only lose face if the project fails…” FN430 He went on to say “This project is far from a done deal.” FN431 Perhaps Mr.
Santowski is the only one who sees it that way – the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (which calls itself “the greatest show on dirt”) is already trying to attract teams with a video “flyover” of the planned facility, calling it the “new CABA complex.” FN432

Several residents came away from the recent meeting frustrated. Tom Balboney of a nearby subdivision said “we feel all of this was done behind our backs,”FN433 and Larry Larson, long time resident, summed it up for the local newspaper: “It stinks…if they had to use their own money, they wouldn’t do it.” FN434

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The footnotes follow:

425 Bustos, Joseph. “Lakewood village board OKs special use permit, preliminary plan for sports complex.” Northwest Herald. July 28, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2010.
426 Resolution allocating Recovery Zone Volume Cap and approving a project for McHenry County Sportsplex LLC for the purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment tax Act of 2009. McHenry County, IL, Finance and Audit Committee Agenda, April 13, 2010. Accessed July 30,2010.
427 McHenry County Blog. “Lakewood Approves McHenry County Sportsplex.” July 28, 2010.
Accessed July 30,
2010.
428 Bustos, Joseph. “Lakewood village board OKs special use permit, preliminary plan for sports complex.” Northwest Herald. July 28, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2010.
429 McHenry County Blog. “Lakewood Approves McHenry County Sportsplex.” July 28, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2010.
430 McHenry County Blog. “Lakewood Village Trustee Gives View of Sportsplex Meeting.” July 29, 2010.  Accessed July 30, 2010.
431 McHenry County Blog. “Lakewood Village Trustee Gives View of Sportsplex Meeting.” July 29, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2010.
432 CABA website.  Accessed July 30, 2010.
433 McHenry County Blog. “Lakewood Approves McHenry County Sportsplex.” July 28, 2010.
434 Sroka, Diana. “Residents near planned $40 million sports complex not happy.” Northwest Herald. July 29. 2010.  Accessed July 30, 2010.

While his senior colleague United States Senate Dick Durbin ignored McHenry County in his requests for appropriations’ earmarks, Roland Burris did not.

Here’s what Burris requested:

$500,000 for McHenry County, Illinois Drinking Water Quality Initiative McHenry County, Illinois McHenry County Government Center 2200 North Seminary Avenue Woodstock, IL 60098

Why this is a good use of taxpayer funds: McHenry County would use the federal funds to assess the short-term and long-term viability of the drinking water supply.

It is important for folks to realize that just asking for money does not mean that a request from a very junior Senator not running for election will be included in the final appropriations bill.

The page from which one can access the six letters requesting Federal appropriation earmarks.

I’ve looked at all six letters asking for member initiatives from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and can’t find anything for McHenry County.

The following press release has been received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Whether it was hurried along by the horrific gang fight murder at Fenger Academy High School is anyone’s guess, but not an entirely illogical one.

Perhaps today’s announcement can be explained by the worldwide furor over the video of the killing coming just before the International Olympic Committee is about to pass judgment on Chicago has more to do with the timing.

I note that under the logo for the Chicago Olympic bid is the phase, “Let friendship shine.”

Wouldn’t it more accurate for the slogan to be, “Roll out the (pork) barrel?”

“CORONA” AUGUSTIN ZAMBRANO AMONG 18 ALLEGED LATIN KINGS GANG LEADERS IN LITTLE VILLAGE REGION INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES

CHICAGO – A Chicago man alleged to be a “Corona” of the Latin Kings, making him the highest-ranking leader outside of prison and responsible for overseeing the illegal activities of all factions of the powerful Chicago street gang, is among 18 defendants charged in a sweeping new federal indictment against the gang’s alleged hierarchy. Augustin Zambrano, the alleged leader of the Almighty Latin King Nation in the Chicago area and particularly on the city’s south side, and 14 other alleged leaders of the 26th Street Region of the Latin Kings were charged with racketeering conspiracy for allegedly running a criminal enterprise to enrich themselves and others through drug-trafficking and preserving and protecting their power, territory and revenue through acts of murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, extortion, and other acts of violence. All 18 defendants — six newly charged and 12 who were initially indicted a year ago — were charged in a 48-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury yesterday.

Among the new charges, the indictment alleges that Zambrano and co-defendants Vicente Garcia, Fernando King, Samuel Gutierrez and Felipe Zamora conspired to demand and receive payment from an organization illegally selling fraudulent immigration documents in the “Little Village” area of Chicago by threatening and actually engaging in the use of force and violence against members of that organization unless the defendants received regular cash payments. This is the first time that federal charges have alleged that Latin Kings leaders extorted “street tax” from non-gang members, referred to as “miqueros,” who sold false identification documents.

To enforce the Latin Kings’ grip on the community and control over its members and associates, defendants charged in the racketeering conspiracy (RICO) count allegedly kept victims in fear of the gang and its leaders by enforcing what it referred to as an “SOS” — or shoot on sight — order against Latin King members who cooperated with law enforcement.

Zambrano, 49, also known as “Big Tino,” “Tino,” “Old Man,” and “Viejo,” was arrested Monday night on a charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute tablets containing hydrocodone that was lodged in a criminal complaint. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys on Tuesday and was ordered held pending a detention hearing at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Three other new defendants — Ruben Caquias, Ernesto Grimaldo and Felipe Zamora — were arrested early today or were being sought and those arrested were scheduled to appear this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez. Other defendants who were charged previously are scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle in U.S. District Court.

The arrests and charges were announced by Gary S. Shapiro, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Andrew L. Traver, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Gary Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago, and Jody P. Weis, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The investigation was conducted with the assistance of the federal High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force and under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

Today’s indictment replaces the charges that were brought in September 2008 against 25 alleged Latin Kings leaders, including Garcia, then the Regional Officer or top leader of the 26th Street Region, a regional enforcer and 18 Incas (section leaders), who were charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in United States v. Vicente Garcia, et al., 08 CR 746. Since then, 13 of those defendants have pleaded guilty and all are named as co-conspirators in the new indictment. The remaining 12 defendants are facing the same and, in some cases, additional charges in the new indictment. They are:

Vicente Garcia,Valentin Baez, Alphonso Chavez, Juan DeJesus, Danny Dominguez, Luis Garcia, Samuel Gutierrez, Jose Guzman, Polin Lopez, Javier Ramirez, Wilfredo Rivera, Jr., and Fernando Vazquez. Of these defendants, Vicente Garcia, Chavez, DeJesus, Luis Garcia, Guzman and Rivera are in federal custody; Gutierrez, Lopez and Ramirez are on bond; and Baez, Dominguez and Vazquez are fugitives.

The new defendants are Zambrano, Fernando King, 39, of Chicago, alleged to be the gang’s “Supreme Regional Officer” who reported only to Zambrano, and Ruben Caquias, Ernesto Grimaldo, Nedal Issa and Felipe Zamora. King and Issa are also in federal custody.

The indictment includes the previous charges alleging that the 12 remaining original defendants, many of them leaders of the 24 sections that comprised the 26th Street Region, conspired in late 2007 to sell a quarter-ounce of powder cocaine twice a month to fund the “Nation Box,” a kitty that the regional hierarchy used to purchase weapons, narcotics, and pay for funeral and attorney fees for fellow gang members. Located along 26th Street, a main east-west thoroughfare, the region is bounded roughly by Fairfield Avenue (east) to Millard Avenue (west), and 21st Street (north) to 33rd Street (south). The region’s 24 sections are typically named after a street or intersection, with each section having its own leadership and “soldiers,” ranging between approximately 12 to 80 individuals, according to the indictment.

The racketeering conspiracy count charges 15 of the defendants with engaging in pattern of illegal activity since 2000, including drug trafficking, extortion, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, murder, attempted murder, and solicitation to commit murder, and intimidation. No specific murders are alleged in the indictment but it does allege assault with a dangerous weapon or attempted murder of at least five unnamed victims. As part of the racketeering conspiracy, defendants and their associates allegedly:

• conducted the gang’s affairs through a series of laws and policies, some of which were codified in a constitution and a series of laws. The rules included a three-page list of 25 rules establishing procedures for homicides, “security,” and the sale of counterfeit identification documents;
• attended regular meetings, known as “demos” – or, when held by Nation officers, “Nation demos” – at which they discussed, planned, and otherwise engaged in criminal activity, including murder, attempted murder, narcotics distribution, and obstruction of justice;
• initiated members by causing them to endure physical assaults conducted by other members at various gang-related gatherings;
• engaged in a system of “violations” in which they and others enforced discipline and the rules by attempting murder, conspiring to murder, physically beating and threatening those members who violated rules, questioned authority, or posed a threat to the leaders or purposes of the gang;
• committed illegal acts known as “burns,” including murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, intimidation, and assault against individuals who posed a threat to the gang or jeopardized its operations, including rival gang members and witnesses to illegal activities. Latin Kings members and associates were required to participate in such “burns,” received standing orders to shoot rival gang members, and were instructed to retaliate for gang-related attacks upon fellow members and associates;
• managed the procurement, transfer, use, concealment, and disposal of firearms and dangerous weapons to protect gang-related territory, personnel, and operations, and to deter, eliminate, and retaliate against competitors and other rival gangs and individuals;
• monitored law enforcement radio frequencies to detect and avoid law enforcement inquiry into their activities, including during gang-related missions;
• acquired automobiles, which were known by several names, including “rammers,” to use them during missions against rival gangs;
• earned money for their members and regularly financed their activities through funds obtained in the illegal trafficking of narcotics, including the possession and distribution of cocaine and marijuana; and
• operated a “Box” system in which section and region leaders and others controlled and maintained a stash of money for the gang. Gang members and associates paid required monthly dues into the Box which, in turn, the gang used to bail its members out of jail, to send money to incarcerated members, and to purchase and sell firearms and controlled substances. Members their associates at times paid money into the “Box” by selling narcotics supplied by Nation-level members of the gang.

The charges result from a sustained, coordinated investigation by multiple federal law enforcement agencies, working together with the Chicago Police Department and other state and local partners, to dismantle the hierarchy of the Latin Kings and other highly-organized, often violent, drug-trafficking Chicago street gangs. In late 2006, ATF agents led an investigation that resulted in federal drug trafficking and firearms charges against 38 Latin Kings members and associates. Last year, the FBI led an investigation that resulted in state and federal charges against 40 Latin Kings members and associates, including the 12 who were charged in the new superseding indictment. The six new defendants brings the total charged to more than 80 in the last three years, and approximately 50 of the 60-plus defendants charged federally have been convicted.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Porter, Nancy DePodesta and Tinos Diamantatos.

If convicted, the counts and maximum penalties for each in the indictment are as follows: racketeering conspiracy (Count One) — 20 years in prison; assault with a dangerous weapon (Counts Two, Four, Six and Nine) — 20 years in prison; carrying a firearm during a violent crime (Counts Three, Five and Eight) — mandatory minimum 5 years in prison to a maximum of life; attempted murder (Count Seven) — 10 years in prison; extortion (Count 10) — 20 years in prison; conspiracy to possess and distribute 500 grams of more of powder cocaine (Count 11) — mandatory minimum 5 years to a maximum of 40 years and a $2 million fine; conspiracy to possess and distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine (Count 12) — mandatory minimum 10 years in prison to a maximum of life and a $4 million fine; distribution of 5 or more grams of crack (Count 13) — mandatory minimum 5 years in prison to a maximum of 40 years and a $2 million fine; and distribution of powder cocaine (Counts 14-48) — 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 unless otherwise noted. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

An indictment contains only charges and is 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 list of all 18 defendants, their alleged rank in the Latin Kings and their arrest status is attached.

United States v. Zambrano, et al., (08 CR 746)   Note: All defendants reside in Chicago unless otherwise listed …

• Augustin Zambrano, 49, aka “Big Tino,” “Tino,” “Old Man,” and “Viejo,” Corona, in custody;
• Vicente Garcia, 31, of Bolingbrook, aka, “DK,” Supreme Regional Officer, in custody;
• Valentin Baez, 23, aka “Baby 24,” “Valentin Biez,” Casique, fugitive;
• Ruben Caquias, 28, aka “Flaco,” Regional Enforcer, arrested today;
• Alphonso Chavez, 24, aka “Ponch,” Inca, in custody;
• Juan DeJesus, 25, aka “Baby 28,” Inca, in custody;
• Danny Dominguez, 24, aka “Baby Trigger,” “Baby T,” Inca, fugitive;
• Luis Garcia, 33, aka “Wild,” “Jose Campos,” Inca, in custody;
• Ernesto Grimaldo, aka “Travisio,” arrested today;
• Samuel Gutierrez, 25, aka “Wedo,” Inca, on bond;
• Jose Guzman, 32, aka “Boo Boo,” Regional Enforcer, in custody;
• Nedal Issa, 32, aka “Lucky,” Inca, in custody;
• Fernando King, 39, aka “Ace,” “Pops,” Supreme Regional Officer, in custody;
• Polin Lopez, 24, aka “Baby 23,” Inca, on bond;
• Javier Ramirez, 28, aka “Convict,” Inca, on bond;
• Wilfredo Rivera, Jr., 34, of Romeoville, aka “Boy,” Inca, in custody;
• Fernando Vazquez, 26, aka “Pac Man,” Inca, fugitive;
• Felipe Zamora, 27, aka “Dough Boy,” Regional Officer, arrest warrant issued;

June 27th McHenry County Blog ran a story about Chicago State’s University got $40 million from state government to build a new campus on Chicago’s West Side.

It was a travesty then and it still is now that the Chicago Tribune has put it on its front page today.

Here’s the title I put on the story:

The Tribune’s title?

Score a big one for the Illinois Black Caucus.

While all Illinois state universities seem more interested in creating and keeping jobs than in educating students, the 16% six-year graduation rate is just too low to justify spending $40 million more, plus employee salaries to fill the classrooms.

The Tribune reports, unsurprisingly, that Chicago State did not request money for the new campus. Its officials and local politicians had discussed the idea and $10 million was appropriated last year, but not released, the Tribune says.

The university has 700 students on the West Side, the article reports. $40 million divided by 700 equals about $57,000 per student, right? I wonder how much it would work out to be per new job created.

If that kind of money is going to going to be spent on higher education, perhaps a more successful state university could be selected to do the outreach.

Your beer, wine and liquor taxes will be going up tomorrow to help pay for this boondoggle, thanks locally to State Senator Pam Althoff, State Rep. Mark Beaubien and State Rep. Mike Tryon.

The Tribune, of course, was more interested in covering the University of Illinois’ influence peddling student placement story, which cost $400,000 so far.

Now, that the appropriation bill has been signed, I guess it’s safe to run the other story.

Congressmen call it “earmarks.”

Illinois legislators call it “member initiatives.”

If it’s in someone else’s part of the country or state, people commonly call it “pork.”

Whatever you call it, here is what Crystal Lake State Rep. Mike Tryon got inserted into the infrastructure or capital budget this year. The bill has not yet been signed.

• Grafton Township – road improvements, $125,000
• Lakewood – road improvements, $200,000
• Crystal Lake – water and sewer, $100,000
• Nunda Township – non-dedicated road program, $175,000
• Algonquin Township – non-dedicated road program, $250,000



• Lake in the Hills – park improvements, $100,000
• Cary Park District – park improvements, $75,000
• Lakeside Legacy – restoration and improvements, $75,000
• Fox River Grove – infrastructure, $50,000

So, Tryon was not the legislator to allocate $75,000 to every township road commissioner.

Since it includes all 17 townships and State Senator Pam Althoff represents all of part of each township in McHenry County, my guess is that it is she, but Althoff declined to specify what she inserted into the budget. She said she would once the bill was signed.

Jack Franks, who has made a career of handing out big checks, has not publicized 2009 state grants public.

The bill in question has major financing coming from neighborhood slot machines where liquor is sold.

sshjIt doesn’t seem that long ago that I was writing about Washington Pork.

In fact, it was last March.

Let’s look at what the two congressional representatives from McHenry County are requesting in the Commerce, Justice and Science budget. (Hat tip to Respublica down Collinsville way.)

Don Manzullo is requesting the following:

• $250,000 – Rockford Crimefighting Technology Initiative
• $250,000 – Communications Equipment for Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department

Melissa Bean wants the following:

• $675,00 – along with Peter Roskam – Atmospheric Detection Equipment For the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System at the Glencoe Department of Public Safety
• $300,000 – Turning Point

666 is the mark of the beast.

In my Wednesday article on township pork, I missed

I did wonder why Nunda Township, the fourth largest township in McHenry County, got only $75,000 of legislative pork from the not yet signed capital bill financed largely by neighborhood slot machines, while Algonquin received $495,000, McHenry $250,000 and Grafton $200,000.

When I read the First Electric Newspaper, a new venture of Columbia Journalism School graduate Pete Gonigam, I saw that he was reporting Nunda’s share as $285,000.

Then I got a project list from Rep. Mike Tryon’s office which listed $175,000 for Nunda Townshp. Let’s see, $75,000 plus $175,000 is $285,000.

Too much of a coincidence.

So I looked at House Bill 313 again and found

It contained the $175,000 I missed on Wednesday night.

So, here’s an article of correction.

Nunda didn’t get a mere $75,000, the same amount the littlest townships got. It is scheduled to get $285,000, the rest compliments to Rep. Tryon.

So, the township total in McHenry County is not the $1.9 million I reported Wednesday.

It’s $2.05 million.

Besides the township road commissioner pork amounting to $1.9 million, cities and villages in McHenry County got some pork, too.

Hebron is going to get $150,000 for “public safety construction and road
infrastructure.”

Pretty broadly defined, wouldn’t you say?

I figure the village board can spend the money on virtually anything they want.

There’s $475,000 for the widening of Miller Road in McHenry and $575,000 for widening Rakow Road in Crystal Lake. Both are county highways.

There’s $700,000 for “all costs associated with Huntersville Sewer Project” in McHenry.

McHenry Township will receive $75,000 for the “construction of a food pantry building.” (Grafton Township got nothing for its food pantry.)

Crystal Lake is getting

• $700,00 for “all costs associated with road infrastructure improvements.”
• $482,000 for “all costs associated with the North Shore Flooding Improvement Project”
• $100,000 for “all costs associated with water and sewer improvements”

Algonquin will receive $100,000 for “all 10 costs associated with roadway, sanitary, sewer, storm sewer, and water main improvements.”

Cary is getting $450,000 for the “Route 14 and Jandus Road intersection 17 improvements.”

The Cary Park District is getting $150,000 for “all costs associated with park improvements.”

The Fox Waterway Agency will be waiting for $1,000,000 for costs associated with capital upgrades to waterway, plus another $500,000 for “reconstruction and shoreline stabilization (Trinski Island).”

$200,000 is earmarked for Fox River Grove for “infrastructure improvements” and $200,000 for “reconstruction and public utility extension project.”

Fox Lake is getting $185,000 for “the construction of a de-icing storage and containment facility.”

And the Fox Lake American Legion Post 703 will get $50,000 for “costs associated with capital improvements to the facility.”

Lake in the Hills is getting three grants:

• 300,000 for “costs associated with park development and improvements”
• $100,000 for “capital improvements for Sunset Park” (In 2007, State Rep. Mike Tryon earmarked $45,000 for the park.)
• $300,000 for park development and improvements”

Huntley’s share is $150,000 for “all costs associated with road and other capital improvements.”

$500,000 is in the bill for Johnsburg for “water and/or wastewater infrastructure improvements.”

Woodstock comes in with $300,000 in the pork sweepstakes. It’s for “road infrastructure improvements.”

And, my home town of Lakewood is even getting $200,000 for “all costs associated with road improvements.”

And, while not a municipality, the Richmond Fire Protection District will get $150,000 for “public safety improvements and construction of a parking lot”

Maybe you can find more McHenry County pork in House Bill 313.

If you do, please let me know so I can share the information more broadly.