McHenry County Blog

Yesterday, you saw the turnout of volunteers for Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks, who was in Cuba, plus Republican State Senator Pam Althoff.

Today we look at the other politicians who showed up–all Republicans.

Right after the joint Franks-Althoff entry was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

A year ago Johnsburg’s Saufen und Spiel Parade occurred immediately after Bianchi was indicted for a second time by the Special Prosecutors appointed by then-Associated Judge Gordon Graham (running for Circuit Court Judge).

Bianchi was walking, determined not to be run out of the courthouse by the charges (which were found to be so without merit that the Judge dismissed them without requiring Bianchi to put on any evidence).

This year he and his wife Jean were riding in a yellow convertible.

The parade was moving much faster than while the Jack Franks-Pam Althoff contingent was passing where I was standing, so I didn’t get lots of photos of the people walking in support of Bianchi, who has announced his candidacy for a third term. There were plenty of them, however.

You can see one handing out either booklets or candy in front of Congressman Joe Walsh’s banner.

No competing entry from Melissa Bean this year.

The owner of the little red car allowed Joe Walsh bumper stickers on its paint.

Men carrying flags were next.

Followed by people carrying signs

Then, Congressman Joe Walsh burst into my viewfinder.

Supports were walking behind him.

As I turned to watch Walsh, he was greeting parade officials.

Almost bringing up the rear was a pickup truck filled with American Flags.

And bringing up the rear was a little girl and her mother handing out candy.

So, who had the most walkers?

I don’t know if it was Jack Franks (see yesterday’s article) or Joe Walsh.

Since the two might end up facing off against one another if Walsh runs in the 14th District and is victorious over Congressman Randy Hultgren, some might want to compare photos of the two candidates’ entries.

= = = = =
McHenry County Board candidates tomorrow.

The Saufen und Speil Parade was in Johnsburg last Saturday, but I didn’t get around to sharing with you most of what I saw about the politicians on display.

In my post last weekend, which concentrated on 9-11 connections, I mentioned that Sheriff Keith Nygren was not present. The last I attended was Crystal Lake’s 4th of July Parade. There, the Sheriff was driving a regular squad car with no indication he was inside if one did not see him.

In Johnsburg, there also was a single squad car, but a deputy was at the wheel.

The local village officials were on display.

Village President Ed Hettermann’s was first, walking this year.  (Last year he was driving a wonderful antique blue car.)

There were village trustees waving to the crowd  from two dump trucks, but I didn’t get any long shots.

Next came the Johnsburg High School Band.  I made the mistake of shooting into the sun, but did get flag waving girls.

Right behind was the first political entry.

It was a joint one, bi-partisan in nature.   The banner was not weighted on its bottom, though, so it was hard for people to read.

There were walkers next to the people lining the road.

There was a convertible with an empty back seat, but with Jack Franks signs.  Couldn’t have been meant for the legislator, because he walks or runs in parades when he is in danger of being left behind.

There was a second vehicle, a white pickup truck and more volunteers for Jack Franks walking on the edges of the street.

There was a sign on the pickup saying, “Thank you for your support.  Jack & Debbie.”

The yard signs did not indicate what office Franks is seeking.

But, there were still more people wearing Jack Franks tee shirts.

Finally I spotted something other than the banner with Althoff’s name on it.

It was a black SUV with a young man wearing a Jack Franks tee shirt in front of it.

After that there were still more people with Jack Franks tee shirts passing out candy.

But, where were Althoff and Franks?

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s yellow convertible was coming up and no sight of either.

She walked over and I asked her where Jack was.

“He’s in Cuba,” she said.

= = = = =

Tomorrow we’ll see what other Republicans were doing at the parade.

The next the last parade this year in McHenry County was in the Saufen und Spiel one in Johnsburg on Sunday, 9-11.

As usual police and fire vehicles were in front.

Next were Johnsburg Police Chief and I’m assuming an official of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

A squad car from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department followed the Johnsburg Police squad car.

Unlike in Crystal Lake, Sheriff Keith Nygren was not driving it.  Just as in Lake in the Hills, the Sheriff was not in the parade.

The Color Guard came next.

The Johnsburg Rescue Squad–oldest in McHenry County and founded in 1952–had what I’m guessing was its original vehicle.

Equipment from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District came next.

Parade Marshal Ron Rich and his wife Mary Ann were in the first car behind the fire trucks.

Rich served the Boy Scouts for 25 years as the Kishwaukee District Boy Scout Commissioner and local Boy Scout leader.

He chaired the Saufen und Spiel and parade for three years. An active member of the Knights of Columbus #9167, he worked fund raisers, among other activities.

Rich was also on the board that was responsible for Johnsburg becoming a village.

Besides being associated with the Johnsburg Boys Baseball League, he served fifteen years on the chain gang for Johnsburg High School’s football teams.

Rich was also chairman for the Johnsburg Club’s Building and Grounds Committee and cut the grass.

A trailer of Veterans came next.

Village President Ed Hetterman followed the Veterans. I talked with his driver, whom I assume is his wife.

She told me that he had the opportunity to ride in a Bentley, but didn’t want to upstage the Police and Fire personnel, whom he though should be being honored on the anniversary of 9-11.

There were intervening entries of politicians, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.  Then I spotted this Gary Lang vehicle pulling a decorated boat.

Gymnasts, the Johnsburg State Bank, Girl Scouts, some commercial floats came before the next entry referencing the significance of the day.

It was the St. John the Baptist Catholic School float.  Young students not alive when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon  were hit waved below the sign.

Right behind was a van from the Johnsburg Library.  The announcer said Sunday library hours were to resume soon.

Advertising a September 17 and 18 Stade’s Farm Market exhibit of antique tractors, truck and construction equipment was a billboard and lots of tractors.

A 1941 Farmall tractor had a flag with a 9-11 theme.

The message on the flag was

In Remembrance of

The Fallen

9/11/01-9/11/11

Ten Years Gone.

Never Forgotten

The flag had a bald eagle’s head superimposed on a field of stars in the upper left hand corner. To the right was the New York City skyline.

The text was superimposed on the white stripes.

And that was all I saw concerning the evil 9-11 attacks in the parade.

While chatting with folks in the food and entertainment tent area, I noticed Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Trustee Cheryl Hammerand was wearing a distinctive 9-11 tee shirt.

You see it below:

Here’s the schedule for Saufen und Spiel from an email from Johnsburg:

Johnsburg beginning tonight (September 9th) with the 5th Annual Black Light Bean Bag Tournament.

Get your Saturday morning off to a great start with the Johnsburg Police Department’s first ever Hometown with Spirit 5k Fun Run/Walk to raise proceeds for Illinois Special Olympics.

Then join us in dedicating the Francis M. Schmitt Park Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Beginning Saturday evening, join your neighbors and friends for some fun at the 15th Annual Banjo Beer Night followed by the 12:30 Saufen und Spiel Parade and Festivities on Sunday.

Don’t forget to attend the 9-11 Remembrance Services on Sunday too.

After Johnsburg’s Saufen und Spiel Parade, I saw a youth with lots of stickers on his shirt.

I figured that he had all of them that had been passed out, so asked if I could take a picture.

Take a look at them and tell me with one you think is most effective.

I’ve seen this sign before in Johnsburg in front of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church but never run a story on it.

It’s a “No Parking” sign with a humorous twist.

Thou

Shalt

Not

Park

Here

I walked past the church on the way to the main intersection in Johnsburg for the Saufen und Spiel Parade.

First among the politicians at the Johnsburg parade was McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

Unlike other parades, there were not four motorcycles accompanying him.  Usually there are two from the Sheriff’s Department and two from the McHenry County Conservation District.

As in Lake in the Hills, there didn’t see any rules against throwing candy.

The only vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department I saw besides the motorcycle were the snowmobile trailer and van pulling it.

I wonder if the fewer employees on overtime was a result of county board members having asked for an overtime report for all departments when County Administrator was telling them that the county had budget problems.

Johnsburg village officials came after the Sheriff.

First was President Ed Hettermann.

Village Trustees Bruce Bennett and Mary Lou Hutchinson were in the next convertible.

The car for Trustees Harold May, Rick Quinn and John Huemann was next.

Rounding out the village board members was a car carrying Karl Nitz and Ron Zanko.

As an intermission among the politicians, the Johnsburg Marching Skyhawks appeared.

The next politician was 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

These folks were coming so fast I didn’t have time to change from my long to my short lens, but I did get a shot of Melissa Bean reaching out to shake hands.

Right behind was State Rep. Jack Franks’ contingent.

There appeared to be two dogs for Franks.

I paying so much attention to Franks that I almost missed the Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate group.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his supporters were next.

Although not up for election this year, Bianchi had the largest contingent of marchers.

With Sunday newspapers headlining people reacting to whether he should step down after his indictment for campaigning using county resources, he received applause from some folks I was standing near.

I didn’t hear anyone shouting, “Resign!”

Those supporting Sheriff Keith Nygren came next.  You see leader Brent Smith, who was putting campaign stickers on bystanders.  Behind him you see Associate Judge Gordon Graham and McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz in a convertible.

McHenry County Board member Sue Draffkorn was in the next convertible, waving to the crowd.

Next was McHenry County Board member John Hammerand in a little red convertible.

Democratic Party challenger Jeff Thirtyacre was driving a pick-up truck and waving to the crowd.

Right behind his red truck was the truck carrying the Republican County Board members Thirtyacre hopes to unseat.

Pete Merkel and Sandy Salgado rode in the rear.

Right behind was the contingent supporting Democratic Party challenger to Sheriff Keith Nygren, Mike Mahon.

It sported a big sign on the side saying, “Mike Mahon for Full-Time Sheriff.”

Mike Mahon walked the parade route.

Behind Mahon was Independent candidate for Circuit Court Judge in McHenry County, Sally Wiggins.

Was she wearing high heels?  I can’t tell you because I didn’t get a photo from far enough back.

Her supporters were carrying her yard sign touting her independence and maiden name, Oeffling.

The Joe Walsh for Congress marchers were next.

The always enthusiastic Walsh even greeted the parade judges.

After the Joe Walsh entry, came a banner for Republican candidate for Governor, Bill Brady.

The next group was Jack Franks’ challenger, McHenry Grade School and Library District member John O’Neill.

For each parade entry the announcers seemed to read whatever the entrant had written it wanted said about it.  O’Neill’s pointed out that he was the first Republican candidate in six years.

That was the end of the politicians.  Next came Cub Scouts.

First was Johnsburg’s Pack 916.

Next was Cub Scout Pack 455.

Behind Pack 455 marched Boy Scout Troop 455.

After the parade, I saw Sheriff Nygren mingling with Saufen und Spiel attendees on the way back to where I parked my car.

You know I go to parades mainly to see if there are political indicators that you might find interesting.

Before I got to the parade route, I found two volunteers for John O’Neill for State Representative seeking the end of the parade.  One was pulling her son in red wagon.

Next I saw two men near the Grand Marshall’s car.

Turns out they were both Grand Marshalls.  Wally Marciniak and Jerry Turn.  Marciniak said that Turner was running for mayor.

“Of Johnsburg?” I asked.

“No, of Chicago,” he replied.

I suggested if Tom Hanahan had moved out from Chicago to run for State Representative that there was no reason someone from Johnsburg couldn’t move to Chicago to run for mayor.

I was standing in the shade on the south side of the main intersection in Johnsburg.  Before the first parade vehicle appeared, one of the John O’Neill volunteers I had seen near the church was passing me as she handed out palm cards.

People with a better sense of timing than I were still arriving.

The parade had not yet arrived, but the O’Neill volunteer, who started at the end of the parade route was already across the street.

And, finally, the parade was in sight.

More soon.