Manzullo Opposes Tax Breaks Out of TARP Funds

16th Congressional District U.S. Representative Don Manzullo (R-Egan) was asked to comment on President’s Barack Obama’s most recent proposal to rev up the economy.

“We’ve got to stop this crazy spending going on,” Manzullo told the Fox business channel.

Manzullo’s press release follows:

Concerns with Administration’s Plan to Continue Deficit Spending in Latest Stimulus Proposal

[WASHINGTON]  Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) appeared on the Fox Business channel this afternoon with his colleague Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to discuss the President’s latest stimulus plan.

Manzullo supports tax relief to help small employers put Americans back to work, which is a part of the President’s plan, but he expressed serious concerns that the Administration will continue to dig America deeper into debt to pay for its proposal. The plan should be offset with spending cuts, he said. The federal deficit stands at an alarming $1.4 trillion, the national debt is beyond $12 trillion, and Americans are paying hundreds of billions of dollars annually in interest on the debt. Furthermore, Moody’s announced today it is considering downgrading the U.S. credit rating.

Here’s his appearance on Fox Business:

New County Ethics Commission Members Proposed

The current McHenry County Ethics Commission has three members whose terms are expiring:

  • Walter J. Packard, former McHenry County College President, who is now retired with a golden parachute
  • Robert Blaizer, recently retired Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Exec and former District 47 Grad School Superintendend
  • Rev. Karen Stunkel, former Home of the Sparrow administrator

Replacements being recommended at Tuesday’s 8:30 AM meeting of the Management Services Committee are

  • Deborah Nier – Administrator, City of Marengo
  • Major John Price – Salvation Army, Crystal Lake
  • Robert Martens – Director, Family Service & Community Mental Health Center

It appears that the original members, appointed Feb. 1, 2005, were

  • Walter J. Packard, President McHenry County College
  • Art Osten, Jr., Village Administrator Fox River Grove
  • Robert Blaizer, President Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce
  • Timothy J. Clifton, City Manager City of Woodstock
  • Karen Stunkel, Executive Director Home of the Sparrow

Althoff and Tryon Holding Town Hall Meetings Wednesday and Thursday

Want to give some input to your local state legislators?

Wednesday and Thursday night is the time for those living close to Huntley and Crystal Lake, according to the following press release:

Althoff and Tryon Seek Public Input at Town Hall Meetings

Springfield, IL… State Senator Pamela J. Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and State Representative Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) are hosting two Town Hall meetings in early December to gather input from those they represent on a variety of issues.   The meetings are free and open to the public.

“Listening to constituents about their concerns is very important to us.  Knowing where our constituents stand on issues is vital to helping us to make the right decisions when faced with tough choices down in Springfield,” said Rep. Tryon.  “I hope area residents will take the time to attend.”

Rep. Tryon and Sen. Althoff will present a brief legislative update, but will primarily be seeking opinions and questions from members of their community.

“I am pleased to host these town hall meetings with Representative Tryon,” said Sen. Althoff.  “These meetings have been very productive in the past and are an excellent opportunity for us to meet with constituents and address their questions and concerns.”

The public should feel free to attend either of the following dates/locations:

7 – 9 p.m., Wednesday, December 9
Huntley Village Hall
10987 Main Street
Huntley City Council Chambers

7 -9 p.m., Thursday, December 10
100 Municipal Complex
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014
Crystal Lake City Hall

Danish Cartoonist Death Plot and Mumbai, India, Terrorist Attack Participant Cooperating with Chicago’s U.S. Attorney

McHenry County Blog doesn’t usually look at terrorist plots unless they are in Illinois.

In this case, for the Skinner family, it’s a two-for.

Taj Mahal smoke CNNWe were in Disney World for Thanksgiving week when the western hotel in Mumbai, India (know as Bombay to those of us out of school a long time ago) was attacked. That’s pretty much all that was on CNN.

Now, a U.S. citizen from Chicago, a participant in the plots, is cooperating with Federal authorities, according to the press release from the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is below.

Now named David Headley, until February 15, 2008, he was known as Daood Gilani. He changed his name in order to present himself in India, where he scoped out the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels and other potential targets, as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani. He was a member of Lashkar, the “Army of the Good.”

CHICAGOAN DAVID HEADLEY CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY IN 2008 MUMBAI ATTACKS IN ADDITION TO FOREIGN TERROR PLOT IN DENMARK

Additional charges unsealed alleging retired Pakistani major conspired in Danish plot

CHICAGO — New federal charges filed today allege that a Chicago man, who was arrested in October for planning terrorist attacks against a Danish newspaper and two of its employees, also conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbai for more than two years preceding the November 2008 terrorist attack on India’s largest city that killed approximately 170 people, including six Americans, and injured hundreds more.

The defendant, David Coleman Headley, a U.S. citizen, earlier this decade allegedly attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan maintained by Lashkar e Tayyiba (Lashkar), and conspired with its members and others in planning and executing the attacks in both Denmark and India, federal law enforcement officials announced today.

Also today, a criminal complaint was unsealed in Federal Court in Chicago charging Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (Abdur Rehman), a retired major in the Pakistani military, with conspiracy in planning to attack the Danish newspaper and its employees.

Another Chicago man, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, was arrested in October on federal charges filed in Chicago relating to the Danish terrorism plot.

Through his attorneys, Headley has authorized the Justice Department to disclose that he is cooperating in the ongoing investigation of both the Danish and Indian terror plots. He has remained in federal custody without bond since he was arrested in Chicago on Oct. 3, 2009. No date has been set yet for his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Headley, 49, was charged in a 12-count criminal information with six counts of conspiracy to bomb public places in India, to murder and maim persons in India and Denmark, to provide material support to foreign terrorist plots, and to provide material support to Lashkar, and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India.

The charges were announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the FBI’s offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., are also participating in the case.

“This investigation remains active and ongoing. The team of prosecutors and agents will continue to seek charges against the other persons responsible for these attacks. I continue to express my deep appreciation to the FBI agents and other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force for their extremely hard work on this matter,” said Mr. Fitzgerald.

“This case serves as a reminder that the terrorist threat is global in nature and requires constant vigilance at home and abroad,” said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “We continue to share leads developed in this investigation with our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners as we work together on this important matter.”

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, said: “This case illustrates the importance of continued global cooperation to combat terrorism around the world. The FBI continues to strengthen relationships and to foster collaboration with our international partners to best ensure our collective ability to identify and disrupt international terror networks.”

Mumbai Terror Attacks

According to the charges, after learning from members of Lashkar in late 2005 that he would be traveling to India to perform surveillance for Lashkar, Headley changed his name from Daood Gilani on Feb. 15, 2006, in Philadelphia, in order to present himself in India as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani. He later made five extended trips to Mumbai — in September 2006, February and September 2007, and April and July 2008 — each time taking pictures and making videotapes of various targets, including those attacked in November 2008.

Taj Mahal fire from 2 windowsStarting Nov. 26, 2008, and continuing through Nov. 28, 2008, 10 attackers trained by Lashkar carried out multiple assaults with firearms, grenades and improvised explosive devices against multiple targets in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, the Leopold Café, the Nariman House and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station, each of which Headley allegedly had scouted in advance, killing approximately 170 victims.

The six Americans killed during the three-day siege are identified in the charges as Ben Zion Chroman, Gavriel Holtzberg, Sandeep Jeswani, Alan Scherr, his daughter Naomi Scherr, and Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum.

Lashkar (the “Army of the Good”) operated in Pakistan for the principal purpose of fighting to separate from India portions of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization on Dec. 26, 2001. Headley allegedly attended Lashkar training camps in Pakistan that began in February and August 2002 and August and December 2003.

After being tasked in late 2005 with gathering surveillance in Mumbai and changing his name in early 2006, the charges allege that Headley traveled to Chicago in June 2006 and advised a person identified in the charges as Individual A of his assignment. Headley obtained Individual A’s approval to open an office of First World Immigration Services in Mumbai in 2006 as cover for his surveillance activities, the charges allege.

Headley allegedly misrepresented his birth name, father’s true name and the purpose of his travel in his visa application.
After each trip that Headley took to India between September 2006 and July 2008, he allegedly returned to Pakistan, met with other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs, videos and oral descriptions of various locations.

In March 2008, Headley and his co-conspirators discussed potential landing sites for a team of attackers who would arrive by sea in Mumbai, and he was instructed to take boat trips in and around the Mumbai harbor and take surveillance video, which he did during his visit to India starting in April 2008, the charges allege.

At various times, Headley allegedly conducted surveillance of other locations in Mumbai and elsewhere in India of facilities and locations that were not attacked in November 2008, including the National Defense College in Delhi, India.

Denmark Terror Plot

Regarding the Denmark terror plot, Headley allegedly conspired between October 2008 and Oct. 3, 2009, with Ilyas Kashmiri, as well as a person identified as Individual A, members of Lashkar and others to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, including murder and maiming, against the facilities of the Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper, and two of its employees, Editor A and Cartoonist A. In 2005, the newspaper published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, to which many Muslims took great offense.

Mirroring the initial charges filed against Headley in October, today’s charges allege that he met with co-conspirators while he was in Pakistan in late 2008 and discussed planning for the attack, including extensive surveillance work that he would perform.

In late December and early January 2008, after advising Individual A of the planned attack and his intended travel to Denmark to perform surveillance of the newspaper’s facilities, Headley obtained Individual A’s approval and assistance to identify himself as a representative of First World and gain access to the newspaper by falsely  expressing interest in advertising the business in the newspaper.  At the same time, while in Chicago, Headley exchanged emails with co-conspirators to continue planning for the attack and coordinate his travel to Denmark to conduct surveillance.  Before departing Chicago, Headley obtained business cards that identified him as a representative of First World, according to the charges.

Headley allegedly traveled in January 2009 from Chicago to Copenhagen, Denmark, to conduct surveillance of the Jyllands Posten newspaper offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus and videotaped the surrounding areas.

From January through May 2009, Headley met with co-conspirators, including Kashmiri, on multiple occasions in Pakistan to review his surveillance and discuss plans for the attack, the charges allege, adding that Headley traveled in August 2009 from Chicago to Copenhagen to conduct additional surveillance and made approximately 13 videos.

On Oct. 3, 2009, Headley was arrested at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, intending ultimately to travel to Pakistan to meet with, and deliver, the approximately 13 surveillance videos to co-conspirators, including Kashmiri.

The charges identify Kashmiri as an influential leader of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI), an  organization that trained terrorists and executed attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir under Indian control and other areas.  Kashmiri based his operations from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of western Pakistan, and area which served as a haven for terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda and the Taliban.  Headley allegedly was introduced to Kashmiri as early as February 2009, and understood that Kashmiri was in regular communication with the senior leadership of al Qaeda.

Abdur Rehman complaint.

The two-count complaint unsealed against Abdur Rehman, which was filed on Oct. 20, 2009,  charges him with conspiracy to murder and maim persons in a foreign country, and providing material support to that foreign terrorism conspiracy.  Abdur Rehman allegedly participated in the planning of a terrorist attack in Denmark, coordinated surveillance of the intended targets, and facilitated communications regarding the surveillance and planning with a member of Lashkar and Kashmiri.

Abdur Rehman, who was not named previously but whose alleged participation was described in the initial charges against Headley and Rana, allegedly played the central role in communicating with Headley and facilitating contacts with other co-conspirators in Pakistan, including members of Lashkar.  During Headley’s trip to Pakistan in January 2009, Abdur Rehman took him to the FATA region of Pakistan to meet with Kashmiri and solicit the participation of Kashmiri and his organization in the planned attack on the Danish newspaper, according to the complaint against Abdur Rehman.  A search of Headley’s luggage when he was arrested revealed a list of phone numbers, including a Pakistani number that he allegedly had used to contact Abdur Rehman.

The count against Headley charging conspiracy to bomb public places in India that resulted in deaths carries a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment or death.  All of the other counts  against Headley carry a maximum of life imprisonment, except providing material support to the Denmark terror plot, which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years.

The conspiracy to murder or maim persons in a foreign country charge against Abdur Rehman carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and the count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The prosecution of Headley and Abdur Rehman is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Collins and Victoria J. Peters from the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.  The investigation into the Mumbai attacks is continuing with the active participation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain mere allegations that 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.

Route 14 Businesses Honoring Honoring Sgt. Jason A. McLeod

My friend Pete Castillo and I were at Keith and Route 14 when the funeral procession of Sgt. Jason A. McLeod was driving to the cemetery.

Police cars, fire engines, ambulances, the hearse, the limo with the family, motor cyclists with flags, with lots of people driving behind.  There were people on the Coventry side of Virginia Street with signs and flags.

My son said Mrs. Braun’s sixth grade Bernotas Middle School class was standing outside with a flag and that she knew the family.

In addition to those standing in the cold along the route throughout Crystal Lake, there were businesses who forewent the holiday advertising opportunity to post various messages on signs.

I drove Route 14 from Pingree Road to Flowerwood and found the following. (There may have been more which have already had their messages changed, but these were the ones I saw still there Sunday after church. Others may have been elsewhere and, if you know where, drop me an email with a photo. My car is in Mike’s Service Center Monday, but, if you can’t send one, let me know and I’ll try to get it on Tuesday.)

I saw the most confusing sign at Cassidy Tire. It said,

Cassidy Tire plea for donations to the family of Sgt. Jason A. McLeod.

Cassidy Tire plea for donations to the family of Sgt. Jason A. McLeod.

DONATIONS
CALL
815-477-5050
MARIE DAVIS

I saw this on the way west and didn’t connect it to McLeod until I returned. That’s when I saw,

McCloed Cassidy Thank YouTHANK YOU
JASON A
MCLEOD

After seeing both panels, the message made sense. I had to wait in the parking lot what seemed five minutes for the panels to switch. Must be a Crystal Lake City Council effort to protect residents from seeing too much information. (I was there when the modern moving message boards were discussed. You may be pleased that the councilmen and women made sure that your eyes would not be overly distracted while driving or you may think such protection is an example of the Nanny State coming to Crystal Lake.)

In any event, as I was sitting in Cassidy’s parking lot, I multiplied Crystal Lake’s population of about 40,000 by 10 and was astounded that the family left behind would have $400,000, if every one just family wrote a check for $10 per member.

As my ministers at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake have noted the last two weeks,

“It’s not your birthday,”

referring to Christmas. Surely this now-single parent family will need a tremendous amount of help, not only emotionally, but financially.

Just east of Cassidy was the sign below on Total Car Total Care’s sign:

McCloed Total Car Care God BlessGOD BLESS
SGT JASON A
MCLEOD

Across from the Jewel and Hobby Lobby shopping centers was a sign on Northwest Properties:

McCloed NW Center Ultimate SacrificeTHE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE
SGT JASON A MCLEOD
REST IN PEACE

Next door was Don Devine’s State Farm Insurance sign:

McCloed Cassidy Don Devine State FarmGOD BLESS
SGT MCLEOD
& FAMILY

Mama Rini’s Resturant, at the intersection of Route 14 and Virginia Street Road, had the next sign:

McCloed Mama Rini's Our Prayers AreOUR PRAYERS ARE WITH
THE MCLEOD FAMILY

The sign at Merlin of muffler fame stated,

McCloed Merlin Sgt Jason A McCloedSGT
JASON A
MCLEOD

At Burger King, I found a sign saying,

McCloed Burger King God BlessGOD BLESS
SGT JASON
MCLEOD
AND FAMILY

This is the new pick up site for the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission bus to North Chicago. So much better than the parking lot for the old Crystal Lake Public Safety complex.

The Lions Club sign in McCormick Park in front of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce building was the next sign I sighted. It’s big enough for a longer message:

McCloed Lions God Bless Forever Our  HeroGOD BLESS
SGT. JASON A. MCLEOD
FOREVER OUR HERO
BECAUSE OF YOU
WE ARE FREE

At Integrated Health, S.C., at the corner of Route 14 and West Crystal Lake Avenue, was this sign:

McCloed Integrated Halth IN LOVING MEMORYIN LOVING MEMORY OF
SGT JASON A MCLEOD

The Westlane Bowling Center said,

McCloed Westlane WE SALUTE YOU SGTWE SALUTE YOU
SGT JASON A MCLEOD

Proposed Potential Conflict of Interest Forms for Candidates, Officials, Appointees and Consultants

Want to know how comprehensive the ethics ordinance proposed by ALAW, the Alliance for Law, Agriculture and Water is?

Read what candidates, appointed and elected officials and consultants would have to file with the McHenry County Clerk:

Disclosure of Economic Interest

(a) All elected or appointed County public officials and consultants, including members of County regulatory boards, and petitioners or applicants for said positions, shall file with the County Clerk, a verified economic disclosure statement responding in detail to the following questions:

1. Other than your principal residence, do you or any members of your immediate family own any interest in real property located within the County? If your answer is affirmative, state the following information for each such interest owned:

a. The nature of your interest in the real property and your instrument of ownership as defined in 5 ILCS 420-/1-115 (deeds, common or preferred stock certificates, rights, warrants, options, bills of sale, contracts, interests in proprietorships, partnerships and joint ventures, and beneficial interests in trusts or land trusts).

b. The location of the real property (for improved property, provide the street address; for unimproved property, state its location in relation to existing streets);

c. The property’s permanent real estate tax identification number.

2. Do you or members of your immediate family own an interest in any business entity doing business with the County? Are you or any members of your immediate family an officer or director of such business entity? If your answer to either of the foregoing questions is in the affirmative, state the following:

  • the name of the business entity,
  • the nature of your relationship to the business entity;
  • the type of product produced or service rendered by the business entity and the extent of the interest.

3. Other than a debt to secure a mortgage upon your principal residence or business loan are you or members of your immediate family indebted to any person or business entity doing business with the County? If so list each such person or business entity to which you or members of your immediate family are indebted and the amount of each debt.

4. If you or members of your immediate family have given any gifts within the last County fiscal year of a market value in excess of one hundred dollars to any person or business entity doing business with the County, list the name of the donee of each such gift, the donee’s address, the market value of the gift, and the date on which it was made.

5. If you or members of your immediate family have received any gifts within the last County fiscal year of a market value singly or in the aggregate in excess of one hundred dollars from any person or business doing business with the County, list the name and address of the donor of each such gift, the date on which it was received and its approximate market value.

6.(a) If you or members of your immediate family have been released from any indebtedness from any person or business entity doing business with the County exceeding in its principal amount of two hundred dollars within the last year without repaying the total balance due on such indebtedness, list the name of the creditor providing the release, the nature and the amount of the indebtedness, and describe the circumstances surrounding the release.
(b) Each Public Official shall file revised disclosure statements within thirty days following any event that would require a change in any information or disclaimers contained in the statement or disclaimer on file with the County Clerk.

Chances of passage?

Not good.

Results if passed?

Extraordinary step toward openness in government.

McHenry County Blog Ranked Pretty High Among Illinois Political Blogs

The Illinois Observer has taken a look at 52 independent Illinois-based political blogs and ranked them according to a tool developed by Alexa, as of November 2nd,

Here’s the top eleven in the list:

1. Chicagoist 9,871
2. Windy Citizen 18,983
3. Progress Illinois 26,981
4. Gapers Block 30,159
5. Capitol Fax/Rich Miller 49,942
6. The Illinois Observer/David Ormsby 79,404
7. Beachwood Reporter 90,510
8. Illinois Review 90,287
9. Chicago Daily Observer 147,031
10. Marathon Pundit 162,282
(Note: The Top 10 List Updated on November 11, 2009)
Here are how the other 42 Illinois blogs stack up:
11. McHenry County Blog 151,027

It appears to be about the time I was having great trouble with Google’s Blogger hosting site.  The ranking shows other regional blogs father down.

Rutherford Fund Raising Breakfast Thursday at 1776

Rutherford, Dan looking left Lauzen Pig RoastThanks to the Illinois Observer, you now know the following:

“Next week, State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Michael Tryon help Rutherford bring in some dough by headlining a fund raising breakfast in Crystal Lake on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 a.m.

“The early political birds will gather for a some red meat-and-eggs at the 1776 Restaurant located at 397 Virginia Street.”

Rutherford reports it was a success.

He also attended a Town Hall meeting with Senator Althoff in Woodstock the night before.

This is not the first time Rutherford has been to McHenry County. He was here in April for drinks with County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, State Senator Pam Althoff and Chuck Ruth.

On September 22nd, a morning reception was held for Rutherford at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake.

ALAW-Suggested Ethics/Conflict of Interest Ordinance in Management Services Committee Tuesday Morning at 8:30

Thursday, McHenry County Blog told of the conflict of interest and economic interest ordinance proposed by the reform group ALAW.

Short for the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water, the group ALAWproposed wide-ranging conflict of interest notification for McHenry County’s elected and appointed officials.

Think about knowing what real estate planning and zoning people have an interest in.

And, who owns land near what highway improvement.

Information like that might begin to explain otherwise really hard to understand county government decisions.

What was it that Deep Throat advised Woodward and Bernstein advised?

“Follow the money.”

I believe I told you last night that the Management Services Committee of the CB was meeting on Thursday morning and the ordinance is on that agenda for discussion.  I need to correct myself, the meeting is Tuesday morning, 8:30 am, and yes the ordinance is on the agenda.

Here are the committee members:

Ersel Schuster, Chairman
Pete Merkel, Vice Chairman
Yvonne M. Barnes
Paula Yensen
Kathleen Bergan Schmidt
Tina Hill
Lyn Orphal

The organization has called for passage before the primary election in the first week of February.

Althoff Endorses Matt Murphy for Lt. Governor

Matt Murphy met with local supporters at Nick's Pizza on July 9.

Matt Murphy met with local supporters at Nick's Pizza on July 9.

I guess I’ve slipped off State Senator Pam Althoff’s press release list, but, fortunately, I discovered on < that one of McHenry County’s legislators is endorsing her colleague Matt Murphy for Lieutenant Governor.

Murphy started off running for governor, then hooked up with former GOP state party chairman Andy McKenna and switched to the second spot.

His first campaign appearance in McHenry County, as far as I know, was on July 9th at Nick’s Pizza in Crystal Lake.

He was a national convention delegate candidate for Fred Thompson in 2008.

He favors a structural change in the General Assembly that I promoted in my 2002 Libertarian Party gubernatorial campaign—Term Limits for Legislative Leaders.

In the debate when Illinois Senate Democrats passed a 67% income tax hike, Murphy was a true star.

Murphy is from Palatine.

Misinformation from Huntley Neighbors

Huntley Neighbors MastheadI see that Huntley Neighbors “Senior Member” Kim thinks I am posting as “Cadman” on the Northwest Herald.

I’m not.

Unlike those without the courage to identify themselves fully, which seems to be everyone commenting on this section of Huntley Neighbors, I have never posted in any newspaper comment section except under my real name.

Great Quilt Gifts at the Crystal Lake Methodist Church This Weekend

This weekend the Scrappy Quilters of the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake will offer the results of their efforts after all four services.

For those of you who just want a chance to buy quilts priced from $15 to about $65, come to the church at the corner of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues 5:30 to 6ish Saturday night or from 9 to 12:30 on Sunday.

The quilts will be displayed on the second floor above the narthex outside the main sanctuary toward the back of the church.

Here are some from last year’s sale.

First take a look at some of the table runners:



Below are some square ones that could become wall hangings:


Finally, there’s the one that Mitten liked the best. It has jungle animals. It could be given to a baby.

The one below could be put on a natural wooden table:

Donna Kurtz Holds Fund Raiser

Kurtz Fund Raiser Crowd

In one of the first county board fund raisers of the year, McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz gathered supporters at The Cottage at the corner of Crystal Lake Avenue and Brink Street Thursday night.

Kurtz is running to replace either incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler or member Lyn Orphal in the early February Republican primary election.

Kurtz Fund Raiser Thorsen Introducing Donna

Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen introduced the candidate.

“I am very, very, very enthusiastic supporter of Donna Kurtz,” he said. “We need someone with her honesty and integrity in county board government.”

Kurtz said she was inspired by her mother former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz’ concern for environmental protection and former State Rep. Cal Skinner’s fiscal conservativeness. Rep. Kurtz defeated Rep. Skinner in the 2000 GOP primary election.

Former State Reps. Rosemary Kurtz and Cal Skinner, plus McHenry County College Board member and County Board candidate Donna Kurtz.  (Jeff Thorsen sommented that this should be sent to Ripley's Believe It or Not.)

Former State Reps. Rosemary Kurtz and Cal Skinner, plus McHenry County College Board member and County Board candidate Donna Kurtz. (Jeff Thorsen commented that this should be sent to Ripley's Believe It or Not.)

“As many of you know, the world goes full circle.”

Kurtz said she running for the board of directors of a $260 million organization, McHenry County government.

Reflecting on her service on the McHenry County College Board, Kurtz said it had taught her this lesson:

“You gotta do your own research. Everyone’s got their own agenda.”

She didn’t say she was reflecting on her support of building a minor league baseball stadium on college property and, then, changing her mind with the announcement being at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting the night re-zoning was being discussed, but that might be a good guess.

“My courage was driven by my thought I couldn’t stand not to do the right thing,” she stated.

Kurtz Fund Raiser - Thorsen, Schofield, Marhoefer + Walkup

Besides Thorsen, City Council members Carolyn Schofield and Brett Hopkins were in attendance, as were park board members Mike Walkup and Richard Sexton.

Kurtz posterMcHenry County Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters, who actually lives in District 2 in the tiny bit of Algonquin in the district was also in attendance, as was Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Members of A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water were in attendance. The group recently proposed strict potential conflict disclosure rules for county elected and appointed officials.  The Alden Road Alliance was also represented. District 3 county board candidate Craig Steagall, who actively opposes the location of the proposed Ridgefield Metra station on Country Club Road, also was present.

Touchdown Sponsor

  • Tamara Kurtz

Field Goal Sponsors

  • Erv & Louise Lecoque
  • Dr. Robert & Carol Minkus

Safety Sponsors

  • Jeannine Thoms
  • Connie Zukowski
  • Scott Summers
  • Jewel Hahn
  • Jill Hartman

Extra Point Sponsors

  • Keith & Marge Nygren
  • Phyllis Walters
  • Bill & Alice Howenstine
  • James & Diane Gesler
  • Lou Ann & Jerome Majewski
  • Jean Plews
  • Patricia Floeter
  • Brett & Tina Hopkins

Reform Group Calls for Ethics Ordinance Passage Before February Primary Election

ALAW FaucetLooks like my raking leaves instead of attending the McHenry County Board meeting Tuesday resulted in not only missing the debate on whether or not to ban video slot machines (“video poker” to proponents of gambling expansion), but also a proposal for conflicts of interest disclosure.

The talented group of people grouped under the A-LAW banner have been kind enough to issue the following press release about their proposal:

McHenry County Economic Interests and Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Ordinance presented to County Board by ALAW,
Adoption Urged Before Primaries!

In an effort to restore the public trust in McHenry County officials, attorney members of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) presented the county board with a proposed ordinance entitled

“McHenry County Economic Interests
and Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Ordinance.”

The perception that public officials commonly violate the public trust by placing personal gain over their duty to their constituents is insidious and has recently gained momentum here in McHenry County. This creates a climate of distrust, dissatisfaction and speculation that is harmful to all county residents and unfair to those public officials who are brought under suspicion simply by virtue of their office.

Drafted from similar existing local and state laws, the purpose of the ordinance is to restore the confidence of McHenry County residents in their elected and appointed officials.

The ordinance imposes stricter requirements for up-front disclosure of economic interests that might result in conflicts, including real estate interests, than currently in effect.

All elected and appointed county public officials and consultants, including members of county regulatory boards, and petitioners or applicants for said positions will be subject to the requirements of the ordinance, if it is adopted.

ALAW has urged the County Board to direct the ordinance to the proper reviewing committee and expedite it for adoption before the February 2nd Primary election.

Copies of the proposed ordinance will be viewable on the ALAW web site at https://sites.google.com/site/landagricultureandwater/home

Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water
PO Box 1021, Woodstock, IL 60098  alaw.mail@gmail.com

= = = = =

ALAW had a questionnaire for county board candidates two years ago and ended up endorsing three candidates.  Besides pushing unsuccessfully for the creation of a Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, A-LAW testified against building a baseball stadium at McHenry County College on Crystal Lake’s watershed.

Huntley School Administrators are No Shows at Community Outreach Meeting

Huntley district 158 posted a five-year financial plan on its web site as part of its board packet.

It was up in advance of the meeting last night of the board’s Financial Advisory Committee.

When advisory committee member and former school administrator Lucinda Nelson wanted to ask questions about it (it was put on the agenda) there was one problem:

No school administrators were there to answer any questions.

When the question was asked by former school administrator Lucinda Nelson about the ARRA Federal Stimulus Funds, there was one problem:

No school administrators were there to answer any questions.

When Nelson asked if the administration was going to stay within budget this year, there was one problem:

No school administrators were there to answer any questions.

Can Huntley school administrators and Superintendent John Burkey make it more obvious they don’t want to make themselves available to answer questions even from board committees and board committee members?

Perhaps the most bizarre excuse for the administrators’ absence, including Controller Mark Altmayer’s, was given by committee member Michael Andre.

Andre explained to committee members how administrators work during the day.

Lucinda Nelson replied,

“Do you think other people on this committee don’t work during the day?”

Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore is a District 158 Financial Advisory Committee member. Grafton trustees haven’t bothered to show up for four meetings so far. Perhaps Superintendent Burkey is allowing school administrators to do the same.

Or, perhaps the Financial Advisory Committee means nothing to the administration and the school board.

It may be normal in most school districts for first-year administrators, such as Altmayer, to show up to meetings for which they are the school administrator.

However, this was not the first time Altmayer was a no show for a Financial Advisory Committee.

How often does the committee meet?

Once a quarter.

For “community outreach” to have meaning, it would seem someone from the administration or school board would have to be present to meet with community members.

Having members of the community show up and talk among themselves reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live skit, “Coffee Talk with Linda Richman,” featuring Mike Meyers.

In the District 158 context, who would say,

Mike Meyers, Madonna and Roseanne Barr in a Saturday Night Live skit.

Mike Meyers, Madonna and Roseanne Barr in a Saturday Night Live skit.

“I’m all verklempt.”

Would that be before or after someone said,

“Talk amongst yourselves.”

Maybe Huntley administrators will show up for meetings when they want more money to spend.

Manzullo Supportive of Obama Afghan Proposal

The following press release arrived last night after I had moved onto other things:

Manzullo Responds to President’s Address on Afghanistan

[WASHINGTON]  Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s address to the nation on the War in Afghanistan:

“President Obama tonight gave Americans a frank assessment of our challenges in Afghanistan. His plan to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan comes at a critical time in America’s war against the terrorists. 

“We cannot let Afghanistan become a haven for terrorists again.

“I look forward to hearing more in detail from the Administration about this new strategy. As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will be briefed in more detail tomorrow by Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen, who will all testify in front of our committee.

“As always, my first concern is with our brave fighting men and women who are overseas risking their lives each day to protect our families and our freedoms back home. Our prayers are with them and their families – as well as those heroes who paid the ultimate price – as they carry on their mission to defend the United States of America.  I will review the President’s plan with them in mind.”

McHenry County Board Bans Video Slot Machines 13-10-1

OK. I was wrong.

I predicted last night that the McHenry County Board would approved what proponents insist on calling video poker.

But, this morning social conservatives on the board pulled off a 13-10-1 victory.

That was with the help of all three Democrats on the county board. (Counting only Republicans, the vote would have been tied 10-10.)

Lake in the Hills member Paula Yensen has personal knowledge of how devastating gambling can be to a family.

PU Panel Gambling Pro and Con

Patriots United video slot machine debate panels, ban proponents on the right, opponents on the left.

Perhaps also influencing the vote was the leadership that Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks has taken on the issue. He attended a Patriots United debate on the subject after returning from one of this fall’s veto sessions.

All Republicans representing McHenry County in the Illinois General Assembly except State Senator Dan Duffy, that is, State Representatives Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien, plus State Senator Pam Althoff, voted supported video slot machines.

Voting in favor of a ban of the video gambling machines in unincorporated areas were the following, who are grouped by county board district (those up for election this year are show in bold face type):

District 1

  • Yvonne Barnes

District 2

  • Jim Heisler

District 3

  • Ed Dvorak (retiring)
  • Kathy Bergan Schmidt
  • Barbara Wheeler

District 4

  • Sue Draffkorn
  • John Hammerand
  • Sandy Salgado

District 5

  • Paula Yensen
  • Jim Kennedy
  • Virginia Peschke

District 6

  • Mary McCann
  • Ersel Schuster

Voting against the ban, thus in favor of expanding gambling were the following:

District 1

  • Anna May Miller
  • Bob Bless
  • Marc Munaretto

Video Poker Time Cover McHenry CountyDistrict 2

  • Scott Breeden
  • Ken Koehler
  • Lyn Orphal

District 3

  • Mary Donner

District 4

  • Pete Merkel

District 5

  • Tina Hill

District 6

  • Dan Ryan

Abstaining from the vote was District 6 Republican Randy Donley.

A month ago the board voted against holding an advisory referendum on the issue. The vote was 13-11-1.

The thirteen board members who voted against allowing their constituents to vote on the issue follow:

  • Yvonne Barnes (R-Cary)

  • Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake)

  • Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills)

  • Ed Dvorak (R-Crystal Lake)

  • Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake)

  • Ken Koehler (R-Crystal Lake)

  • Mary McCann (R-Woodstock)

  • Pete Merkel (R-McHenry)

  • Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley)

  • Sandy Salgado (R-McHenry)

  • Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake)

  • Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)

Voting in favor of an advisory referendum were

  • Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove)

  • Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood)

  • Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake)

  • John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake)

  • Tina Hill (R-Woodstock)

  • Jim Kennedy (D-Lake in the Hills)

  • Anna May Miller (R-Cary)

  • Marc Munaretto (R-Algonquin)

  • Lyn Orphal (R-Crystal Lake)

  • Dan Ryan (R-Huntley)

Members of the Operating Engineers Local 150 lobbied vigorously against the gambling ban, arguing for the jobs its proceeds would finance.

Third Manzullo Earmark for Rakow Road

The following press release from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) announces three quarters of a million dollars for the Rakow Road expansion project.

Manzullo Secures Another $750,000 for Rakow Road Widening Project in McHenry County

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today announced he has secured another $750,000 to help fund the vital Rakow Road widening project that will help reduce severe traffic congestion for tens of thousands of motorists in southeast McHenry County.

The funding is included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which Congress is scheduled to approve in the next two weeks before sending it to the President for his signature.
This is the third time Manzullo has secured federal funds for the major project. In 2005, Manzullo secured $5.72 million in the long-range federal transportation bill for the Rakow Road widening project. He secured another $570,000 in last year’s Transportation Appropriations bill for Rakow Road.

“Rakow Road is a significant regional arterial road that carries tens of thousands of McHenry County residents to work and school each day,” Manzullo said. “The widening project will double capacity on Rakow Road and reduce the significant congestion motorists experience each day. Reducing traffic congestion continues to be my number one priority for the people of McHenry County.”

The 3-mile-long widening project calls for widening the two-lane Rakow Road to six lanes from Ackman Road to Pyott Road and to four lanes from Pyott Road to Route 31. Up to 40,000 motorists currently travel Rakow Road each day and up to 60,000 are expected to travel the road by 2030.

McHenry County transportation officials are proceeding with Phase II engineering, which involves acquiring needed land and drawing contract plans for the project, and are hoping to begin construction in 2010.

In addition to Rakow Road, Manzullo has secured significant federal funding for the Western Bypass of Algonquin ($19 million) and the Route 47 widening project through Huntley ($6.7 million). Construction on both of those projects is scheduled to begin within the next year or two.

Video Slot Machine Vote Tuesday

Leaves are still waiting to be raked this last week that my Village of Lakewood picks them up, so I won’t be in Woodstock for the McHenry County Board meeting vote on video slot machines.

Little casino next to Wisconsin's Happy Trails Restaurant

Little casino next to Wisconsin's Happy Trails Restaurant

Proponents, of course, will describe the devices as video poker machines.

With all the poker tournaments on TV, it sounds more like a game of skill, rather than a carefully devised program to induce one to gamble more and more.

In any event, only the final vote counts.

If you want my prediction, it’s that the resolution which would ban video slot machines in unincorporated areas will fail.

That, even though a Chicago Tribune poll showed suburban residents in opposition.

After all, all three Republican state legislators—State Senator Pam Althoff, State Representative Mike Tryon and State Representative Mark Beaubien—voted for this massive expansion of gambling.

Tryon has been particularly active in promoting approval of video slot machines, but Althoff also made a pitch for approval at last month’s county board meeting when a resolution. (Articles about that meeting: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.)

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, a close ally of Tryon, has consistently supported the gambling devices.

The Teacher Sex/Physical Abuse Roll Call Nobody Every Used in a Political Campaign

Eight years after bringing too many boxes home my legislative office, I was doing some throwing away this past month.

I found a roll call on an amendment I offered on June 7, 1994. It was my second year of the second half of my 16-year legislative career.

The bill was about education, so I filed an amendment that would require the DCFS to

  • “maintain a central registry of all cases in which the Director of Children and Family Services, following an investigation and hearing as provided in this Act or the Department’s rules, determines that a person who is certified as a school teacher or administrator in Illinois is a perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a child,
  • “the Department shall send the name of such person, by mail, to the chief administrator and president of the school board of each school district in this state and to the chief education officer of each state, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States.

“The Department shall make available to members of the public, upon request and without charge, copies of any information contained in the register maintained under this Section.”

I think the amendment was inspired by a former principal of Lundahl Junior High School in Crystal Lake named Virgil Lauglin, who led one of my honorary pages into a life of homosexuality, even molesting him in his Lundahl office, but it may have been a teacher there whom DCFS found had abused a student either sexually or physically or both.

When the “problem” with the principal was discovered, he was allowed to quietly resign and move to Iowa.

Exporting such “problems” or covering them up since then would have been a lot more difficult had my amendment be adopted in 1994.

Needless to say, the teachers unions killed the bill.  (Click to enlarge the roll call.)

Only two besides myself were brave enough to vote for it: Bernie Pedersen and Al Salvi. Two, Terry Parke and future Congressman Jerry Weller, voted “Present.”

One of the best pieces of legislation I ever lost.