From John Pletz comes this video of We the People, McHenry County, leader Bruce Johnson speaking to the McHenry County Board Tuesday night concerning opposition to the gun control legislation being considered in SpringfieldL
45
Lake in the Hills has been a low civic-engagement town since the late 1960’s when a Justice of the Peace named Jere Dodge ran unsucessfully for State Representative.
This year, in spite of Lake in the Hills having McHenry County’s most visible local issue–the Uprising Bakery’s kid-friendly drag queen shows–no one filed to run against the three incumbent Village Trustees up for election.
So,
- Suzette Bojarski – Village Trustee
- Diane Murphy – Village Trustee
- Wendy Anderson – Village Trustee
will run unopposed and, as a result, be re-elected.
Also running unopposed is the current Village Clerk, Shannon DuBeau.
From Commenter Bob Wire comes this photo of Starbucks doing business as usual in Cary:
This Friend of McHenry County Blog notes,
“Day 3 of 3 Day Starbucks Unionized Stores which Cary store is (estimated to be about 100 Union Stores of 9600 total Stores)
“Again, no sign of strikers, full house of customers inside and long line in drive up.
“Would assume the Unionized employees stayed home, work covered by managers and non union workers from other stores.
“Day 1 of the Strike the Cary Starbucks was closed and Union Picketers noticeable outside.”
the congressional earmarks for all Illinois members of Congress can be found here.
The only one I can find with a McHenry County connection follows:
| Environmental Protection Agency | Northern Moraine Water Reclamation District for Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency Power Upgrades | $250,000 | Durbin |
That’s all I could find.
Here they are:
- Nancy Zettler Dundee Township
- Olutola “Tola” Makinde Rutland Township
- Randi Gauthier Rutland Township
- Steven J Fiorentino Algonquin Township
- Laurie Parman Dundee Township
- Robert Reining Algonquin Township
- Connie Cain Dundee Township
- Kristina Konstanty Rutland Township
The best known is probably former State Rep. Suzanne Ness’ 2022 Republican opponent Connie Cain.
Nancy Zettler ran for State Representative and Senator as a Democrat and, while heading Dundee Township’s Democratic Central Committee, won control of the D300 School Board.
Parent Randi Gauthier, who is a member of a recently formed LGBTQIA+ parent advisory council, said she is seeking a spot on the board to further equity and inclusivity measures. She is endorsed by the teachers union, the Daily Herald says.
In a social media post, candidate Kristina Konstanty said she opposes tax increases and supports parental rights and involvement.
Bob Reining ran for the McHenry County Board earlier this year in District 3 and lost in the GOP primary to Bob Nowak and Eric Hendricks.
From Rutland Township, Olutola “Tola” Makinde, Laurie Parman and Connie Cain are vying for one of the 4-year terms on the District 300 board.
Last week Crystal Lake looked like this in a Mackenzie Walter photo:
Congressman Sean Casten announced this congressional earmark at the ribbon cutting of the Randall/Algonquin Road expansion project reported by Open the Books.
| Representative Sean Casten | D | IL-6 | $2,000,000 | McHenry County | Randall Road from Alexandra Blvd to Polaris Dr./Acorn Ln |
Of addition possible impact in McHenry County is the following:
| Representative Sean Casten | D | IL-6 | $245,964 | Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township | Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township Pandemic Remedial Academic and SEL Program |
That’s because the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township is planning to expand its services to Crystal Lake. See
Boys & Girls Clubs Coming to Crystal Lake, But Forget the Traditional Model
Although Algonquin Village Trustee positions are non-partisan, there are three people who have voted in Democratic Party pri\mary elections running for the three vacancies.
They are
- Brian Dianis
- Deniz Namik
- George Nwogu
Two incumbent Trustees, both of whom have voted in Republican primaries, are also on the ballot:
- Margaret “Maggie” Auger (appointed)
- John Spella (elected)
Auger is a former Kane County Board member.
Nwogu is a member of the McHenry County Communty Development & Housing Grant Commission.
Found on Center for Illinois Politics are these comments by McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kristina Zahorik:
Here is what was in the article from her:
“Women in the suburbs are more engaged in the political process over the last eight years than they were ever before,” said Illinois Democratic County Chair Association President Kristina Zahorik. “I feel like a lot of times in the past, suburban voters, in general, didn’t need to pay attention, because they were going to be ok.
“That changed dramatically with the election of Trump. And that concern and need to have more consistent voters was underscored and highlighted by the Dobbs decision,” she said…
Zahorik, of Oakwood Hills, noted many stories have been told across the state about mothers casting votes with their young daughters in tow, and middle-aged and older women making sure their mothers and grandmothers could get to the polls...
“At the IDCCA [Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association], we invested in a pretty heavy recruitment effort, focusing not on just gender, but age, ethnicity, and race. Not just running for office but engaging at the local county organizational (level),” Zahorik said. “We know that if a woman is going to run for office, it often takes someone asking her two to three times. It takes the infrastructure because those challenges are sometimes different from what men have traditionally faced.”
Here is the list of those who have filed for school board in MvHenry County:
Johnsburg Unit School Dist #12, Vote for 3
- Valerie Klos
- Meghan Michel
- Corrie Eastland
Alden-Hebron Unit School Dist #19, Vote for 3
- Kenneth Winkelman
- Kate Johnson
- Steven W. Fritsch
Harvard Comm Unit School Dist #50, Vote for 3
- Sandra J. Theriault
- Jennifer A. Garafol
- Sharon L. McMillan
Harvard Comm Unit School Dist #50, 2 yr Term Vote for 1
- Caren S. MacKenzie
- Sharon L. McMillan
Huntley Comm Unit School Dist #158, Vote for 3
- Katherine (Kate) Policheri
- Jonathan Dailey
- Melissa M. Maiorino
- Stephen G. Buchs
- William Geheren
- Laura Murray
- Andrew Bittman
- Gina Galligar
- Paula Yensen
Huntley Comm Unit School Dist #158, Four-Year, Vote for 1
- Andrew Fekete
- Kevin Gentry
- Michael Thompson
Woodstock Comm Unit School Dist #200, Two-Year, Vote for 3
- Jerry Theodore Miceli
- Olutola “Tola” Makinde
- Michelle Bidwell
- Gina M Willard
Algonquin Community Unit School District #300, Vote for 4
- Nancy Zettler Dundee Township
- Olutola “Tola” Makinde Rutland Township
- Randi Gauthier Rutland Township
- Steven J Fiorentino Algonquin Township
- Laurie Parman Dundee Township
- Robert Reining Algonquin Township
- Connie Cain Dundee Township
- Kristina Konstanty Rutland Township
Marengo Comm High School Dist. #154, 2-Yr Term Vote for 1
- Shane M Spring
- Candice Samuelson
- Farrah Ranzino
Crystal Lake Comm High School District #155, Vote for 3
- Amy Blazier
- Stephanie O’Neill Macro
- Steve Kieffer
- Kathy Goerges
McHenry High School District #156, Vote for 3
- Timothy R. Hying
- Dawn L. Bremer
- Nicole Morrow
- Colleen Galvicius
- Steve Bellmore
Richmond-Burton High School District #157, Vote for1
- Jennifer Read
- Jeremy Miller
Richmond-Burton High School District #157, Vote for 3
- Steven Holtz
- Dawn Holian
- Elizabeth Furlan
Nippersink Grade School District #2, Vote for 1
- Mary Shufelt
Nippersink Grade School District #2, Vote for 3
- Marcy Garrison
- Alie Stansbury
- Ryan R Andrus
- Joe Quinn
- Tom Schwartz
- Natalie Mailfald
Fox River Grove Grade School Dist #3, Vote for 3
- Thomas Mollet
- Laura Vanderploeg
- Katie Koll
- Alex Johnson
- Jonathan Meshes
- Melissa Brennan
McHenry Comm Consol School Dist #15, Vote for 3
- Matthew Stauner
- Arne Waltmire
- Emily Jay M
- Patrick J. DeGeorge
Riley Comm Consol School Dist #18, Vote for 3
- Victoria Kaczkos
- Adam Borhart
- John Arthur Bindner
Cary Comm Consol School Dist #26, Vote for 3
- Deanna “Dee” Darling
- Jason Janczak
- Kathryn Potter
- Loraine Perry
- Cortney Fowles
- Nancy Swart
Harrison School District #36, Vote for 3
- Karen Parks
- Mark Nothdorf
- Laurie Alsot
Prairie Grove Comm Consol Dist #46, Vote for 3
- Josie Shattuck
- Stephanie Housh
- Jennifer Rogulic
- Thomas Dillon
Prairie Grove Comm Consol Dist #46, 2 yr term Vote for 2
- Gwen Bialek
- Khushali Z Shah
Crystal Lake School District #47, Vote for 3
- Emily Smith
- Devon Hubbard Tessmer
- Kerri Johnson
- Lisa Messinger
- Kathy Goerges
- PaTrice “Reese” Dewey
- Will Schroeder
- Laura LW Stanton
Marengo-Union Elementary School Dist #165, Vote for 3
- Andrea Deserto
- Matthew A. Erbstoesser
- Amanda Weiss
- Lesley Pace
From the U.S. Attorney:
Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Gun and Drugs in Chicago
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded semiautomatic handgun and cocaine at a Chicago gas station.
JEREMY INGRAM, 30, of Chicago, illegally possessed the gun and drugs on July 11, 2019, in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side.
The firearm had a 16-round magazine attached to it, while the cocaine was packaged in multiple clear baggies.
When Chicago Police officers approached Ingram, he attempted to flee in his car.
Ingram continued to physically resist the officers as they apprehended and arrested him.
Ingram had previously been convicted of multiple felonies in state court and was not legally allowed to possess a firearm. He was on parole for his most recent felony conviction at the time of the federal offenses.
Ingram pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm and drug charges. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman on Dec. 14, 2022, imposed a prison sentence of 12 years and seven months.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey L. Matthews, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic represented the government.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
From Bob Wire, a Friend of McHenry County Blog:
No picketers seen outside at noon, full line of cars seen in drive up, and folks entering into the building for sit down service.
Would guess the Union employees are not at work, but managers and employees from other Starbuck locations might be covering the work for the next 2 days of the 3 day strike.
Looks to be business as usual whereas Day One no one was getting coffee inside or from drive up.
Thirty-nine were in attendance at the We the People, McHenry County, event at Cary’s Galati’s Monday night.
There were two calls to action caught by the Friend of McHenry County Blog whose camera was clicking:
Locally, the Democrats gun control bill was emphasized with folks urged to attend the McHenry County Board meeting Tuesday night.
Found on the MCC web site:
Six-Year Term (two seats)
- Kirk Donald, Johnsburg, IL
- Suzanne Hoban, Woodstock, IL
- Alyssa Kueffner, Woodstock, IL
Two-Year Term (one seat)
- Mark Daniel, Crystal Lake, IL
- Tess Reinhard, Crystal Lake, IL
Hobab is an incumbent.
Donald and Daniel are Republican Precinct Committeepersons.
The Chicago Tribune jumps the gun by two weeks and reports 2022 Chicago murders in its December 16, 2022, edition.
Hey, it’s less than last year and since a real cold spell is coming, the gangbangers will probably be staying inside.
BUT
“The homicide figures do not include killings that occurred in self-defense or in other circumstances not measured in Chicago police statistics. Homicide data from Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s response, found in the Chicago Sun-Times:
Last week when I read that the old Chrysler plant in Belvidere was closing, I predicted a new round (at least the third) of subsidy,
Old Belvidere Chrysler Plant Shutting Down, Expect Another Bailout Request
Now comes Governor JB Pritzker to fulfill my prediction:
Pritzker eyes big EV opportunity for Stellantis – Crain’s*
As he works with the Legislature for additional tools to lure and retain automotive jobs, including a new “deal closing” fund and tax credits, Pritzker hinted he’s trying to land an auto-assembly plant and a battery factory in Belvidere. Pritzker is seeking more flexibility with incentives to preserve or create jobs associated with the transition from conventional automobile manufacturing to electric vehicles. When Pritzker first floated the idea of a closing fund to Crain’s in October, he suggested $1 billion would put Illinois on a level playing field with peers.
Remember, this is a political blog.
Found on Legal Insurrection.
The company making the wrapping paper is Freedom Speaks Up.
From the State’s Attorney:
TRAVIOUS O. BROWN-UTLEY SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Patrick D. Kenneally, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that on December 15, 2022, Travious O. Brown-Utley, 25, of Streamwood, Illinois, was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Judge Michael Coppedge.
Brown-Utley plead guilty to one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, a Class 2 Felony.
On April 10, 2021, officers from the Lake in the Hills Police Department responded to reports of a gunshot in a residential neighborhood.
Witnesses reported hearing loud noises outside their homes and observed Brown-Utley retrieve a gun from his car and fire one round into the air.
Based on the description of the shooter and his car, responding officers were able to locate and stop Brown-Utley near the scene.
Officers retrieved a handgun from the center console of the car
Investigating officers were also able to obtain home security camera video which captured Brown-Utley firing the gun.
Under Illinois law, he was not permitted to possess a weapon, having previously been convicted of a felony – a residential burglary in DuPage County in 2016.
This case was investigated by officers of the Lake in the Hills Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ashur Y. Youash.
From the State’s Attorney:
FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ-RAMOS SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Patrick D. Kenneally, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that on December 14, 2022, Francisco Hernandez-Ramos, 47, of Harvard, Illinois, was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Judge Michael Coppedge.
Hernandez-Ramos plead guilty to one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 Felony, and one count of Attempt Possession of Child Pornography, a Class 3 Felony.
On August 6, 2021, the victim, a 17-year-old girl, reported to the Harvard Police Department that the Defendant had sexually assaulted her beginning when she was ten years old, with the most recent time having occurred the day prior in Harvard.
The investigation uncovered that the assaults occurred in multiple states over the seven-year period.
Hernandez-Ramos admitted committing the sexual assaults to the investigating officers.
A search of Hernandez-Ramos’s cell phone revealed he also attempted to possess images of child pornography.
Truth-In-Sentencing requires that Hernandez-Ramos serve a minimum of 85% of the four-year Department of Corrections sentence on the Class 1 Felony charge.
The remaining two years will be served consecutively at a minimum of 50%.
This case was investigated by officers of the Harvard Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ashur Y. Youash.
The Chicago Tribune reports on supporters of Drag Queens reading and performing in front of children, including a “them/then” Northwestern faculty member, but failed to seek comment from anyone opposing such actions.
The part about the Lake in the Hills Drag Queen shows where children were welcomed:
“In late July, UpRising Bakery and Cafe in suburban Lake in the Hills was vandalized ahead of its highly anticipated drag show set to take place later that same day. The ‘Starry Night Brunch Drag’ at the bakery was sold out and advertised as a family-friendly evening filled with food and entertainment.”
No mention is made of the cancellation of a show, reportedly because of a national “terror alert.”
The story was on page 2:
