McHenry County Blog

From the McHenry County Cororner:

Motorcyclist Dies after Being Rear-ended by Drunk Driver

McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on July 15, 2021 to investigate the death of Kenneth Jackson, age 27 of Antioch, involved in a motorcycle accident at Rt. 120 and Chapel Hill Rd.

Mr. Jackson was transported to Northwestern McHenry where he was pronounced deceased.

An autopsy was performed on July 16, 2021. Preliminary findings show blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Toxicology is currently pending.

The Coroner’s Office is continuing to work collaboratively with the Antioch PD during this investigation.

Crystal Lake Man Found Lying on Grass Identifed

McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on July 18, 2021 regarding a subject lying face down in a grassy area near the intersection of N. Oak St. and Shipland Dr. in Crystal Lake.

Local police and EMS responded pronouncing the subject deceased at the scene.

The subject was not identified right away because of no ID or cell phone on the decedent.

After further investigation it was determined that the person has been identified as Jeremy Ochal, age 34 of Crystal Lake.

An autopsy was performed today, July 19, 2021.

Toxicology is currently pending.

The Coroner’s Office is continuing to work collaboratively with Crystal Lake PD during this investigation.

Jiffy Lube Death

McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on July 16, 2021 by McHenry PD to investigate the death of Joseph Majko, age 29, of Crystal Lake.

Mr. Majko was struck by a vehicle at his place of employment, Jiffy Lube on N. Richmond Rd. in McHenry.

He was transported to Northwestern Hospital McHenry where he was pronounced deceased.

An autopsy was performed today, July 19, 2021. Preliminary findings show blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Toxicology is currently pending.

The Coroner’s Office is continuing to work collaboratively with McHenry PD during this investigation.

Since this is a political blog, it ought to pass on the news that Governor JB Pritzker is running for re-election.

The announcement’s newsworthiness is reflected in its being placed on page 3 of the Chicago Tribune:

Gary Rabine’s Reaction:

Gary Rabine: Illinois can’t afford four more years of JB Pritzker

Woodstock, IL – Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, is issuing the following statement on JB Pritzker’s announcement that he is running for re-election.

“The last two and a half years have been a disaster for Illinois on JB Pritzker’s watch. Governor Pritzker has raised taxes, increased spending, and signed into law some of the most radical, far-left legislation in the nation. When Pritzker didn’t get his income tax increase, he raised taxes and regulations at a record pace to dominate the highest taxed citizens in America. All this isn’t enough as Pritzker threatens to pursue higher income tax again if elected to a second term.

JB Pritzker doesn’t mention in his announcement his leadership in outmigration or that Illinois has the worst credit rating of all 50 states, even with the billions in federal bailouts.

Under Pritzker, our state has become one of the most violent in America with 385 homicides and 1,897 shootings midway through 2021. A great leader would not sleep until this tragic environment was changed.

The people of Illinois cannot afford four more years of JB Pritzker. I am confident, that in 2022, we will reject him and his radical agenda that is driving our state into unacceptable insolvency and violence.”

Maybe it was because the liberals gathered closer to Shaw Media’s Northwest Herald building.

Maybe it was because Congressman Sean Casten showed up.

Maybe it was because the left wing group calling itself “Indivisible NWIL” told the Northwest Herald of its event and the conservatives didn’t tell the NWH of its impromptu (one day notice) demonstration.

In any event, a Shaw publication called “The Citizen” had an article with no byline (but with the name NWH reporter “Cassie Buchman/Woodstock” at the event), as you can see from the screen shot below (no link could be found to the article):

Claiming thirty showed up at the event organized by Woodstock’s Eveej Malone, the event promoted the Democrats’ nationalization of voting rules.

Prior to the night “vigil,” near Target, conservatives gathered near the intersection or Route 176 and Valley View Road in Prairie Grove to protest a $200 fine for Gianelli’s Drive Thru restaurant.

Freewill donations garnered $200 to pay the fine.

Here is the final (with Democrat Marsha Williams data added) tote board for the candidates who filed Federal Election Commission (FEC) campaign disclosure reports for Q2

Update: Late Friday night, Democrat IL-16 candidate Marsha Williams posted her FEC Q2 report. Her numbers added to the tote board.

Of Williams’ total receipts, $5,100 was from contributions (not loans) from herself.

Per comment in previous article, the Q2 Burn Rate column was added. The metric is simply the Q2 Expenses column divided by Q2 Receipts.

In-Kind Contributions

Please note, Jack Lombardi’s Q2 numbers for receipts and expenses are inflated because he counted “in-kind” contribution of $10K from himself, and two in-kind contributions totaling $5.8K, bringing the total to $15.8K. The entire $15.8K were offset by in-kind expenses of $10K to Lombardi himself, plus $2.9K of in-kind expenses to two volunteers.

The in-kind receipts and expenses should be subtracted from the receipts and expenses columns to show the total cash receipts and cash expenses.

Applying the math, Lombardi’s cash numbers are:

• Receipts: $25,357.06
• Expenses: $13,752.69
• Cash on hand remains the same at $11,605.37

Both Lombardi and Catalina Lauf (in Q1) had significant amounts of in-kinds. Lombardi’s $10K candidate in-kind, while legal, is a head-scratcher, since he could have simply expensed whatever the spend was for and the name of the vendor would have been fully disclosed.

For the Kinzinger challengers, I will be doing a separate cash receipts/expenditures spreadsheet, excluding all in-kinds. Lauf’s Q1 in-kind totaled just under $18K, and no candidate in-kinds.

Williams’ in-kind totaled $300.

As usual, I parked myself in front of Perry Moy’s Plum Garden restaurant for McHenry’s Fiesta Days Parade.

And, as usual, I went looking for local politicians.

I found Republican aspirant for Sheriff Robb Tadelman and asked where I could find the Republican contingent.

He told me that the $450 entrance fee had led to the decision not to participate.

I did find some McHenry Aldermen and women.

Representing Ward 7 is Sue Miller.

Ward 3’s Alderman Frank McClatchey was also in the parade.

The first official elected as a partisan was State Rep. Tom Weber.

Weber played music aimed at a younger audience than me and used his loud speaker to address the crowd.

The only other partisan politician to make himself known was gubernatorial hopeful Gary Rabine, until recently from Johnsburg.

And that was it for politics.

Nothing from the Democrats.

Precious little from Republicans.

From State Senator Craig Wilcox:

Wilcox attends McHenry County Farm Bureau meeting

Last week it was a pleasure to meet with my friends at the McHenry County Farm Bureau. I provided a brief legislative update, including a detailed discussion of my agritourism bill, Senate Bill 458.

As you may recall, this bill would remove liability from agritourism businesses when visitors choose to participate in on-site activities.

The bill did not get called for a final vote this spring, but I will be pushing for consideration of this important measure when the legislature reconvenes.

After the update, I listened intently as local farmers discussed challenges, including this summer’s drought, a possible fertilizer shortage, and issues that may arise during the upcoming fall harvest.

Legislation helps generational farmers

Recently signed legislation, which received bipartisan support in the General Assembly, will help farms and other family businesses navigate the often complicated process of estate planning. I was proud to support this bill.

Senate Bill 47 expands the use of the TODI (Transfer on Death Instrument), which allows for ownership of property to transfer upon the death of the owner.

Under current Illinois law, the use of a TODI is only allowed for residential real estate including at least one residential dwelling, but no more than four dwellings, and containing 40 acres or less of farm ground.

SB 47, however, allows a TODI to be used for all real estate, including farm ground.

The legislation was proposed as a way to help farmers who frequently face challenges when it comes to passing on their operations to the next generation.

From the Illinois Education Association:

IEA members attend President Joe Biden’s speech at McHenry County College

CRYSTAL LAKE – Two IEA members were special guests of President Joe Biden when he made his appearance at McHenry County College last week.

Karen Shuman, president of the McHenry County College Adjunct Faculty Association, and Mike Sayre, a member of the High School District 155 Education Association, were able to meet the President during his visit to Crystal Lake.

Sayre was invited by the President to attend after he wrote a letter to President Biden about how hard it is to find affordable childcare. President Biden addressed Sayre directly during his comments at the college. Shuman was a guest of IEA.

Biden visited the community college to promote his “Build Back Better” plan, which offers free community college for first-time students, increases Pell Grants, builds an apprenticeship program, ensures access to free preschool, builds wraparound supports such as child care at community colleges, as well as other programs Biden has called an investment in the American people.

Sayre, a single father and high school teacher, wrote a three-sentence letter to the President on Sun., July 4, noting how difficult it is to find before-school care for his 9-year-old twins.

The White House reached out to him on Monday and asked him to attend President Biden’s appearance. Sayre and his twins were able to meet the President and speak with him briefly.

“He told me his story about being a single parent of young kids and said he really wants to help with childcare costs,” Sayre said.

“I’m going into my second year of being a single parent and doing this and it occurs to me how much this affects my students – how many don’t come to school because they are taking care of their siblings, making lunches, or holding their baby brother during Zoom calls and trying to do Math.”

Sayre said he thinks Biden truly believes in his plan and that he was encouraged about Biden’s plan to invest more money in school infrastructure, free community college and more dual credit classes.

“As an educator, I liked what he had to say,” Sayre said.

“My kids are only nine now, but they’ll be college age one day and to get that springboard into the workforce would be amazing!”

For Shuman, an adjunct faculty member, she was able to make connections with politicians to help them understand some of the unique issues that adjuncts face, as well as meet the President.

“It was such an exciting experience. For me, it was like meeting the ultimate TV or movie star, I’m a political junkie,” Shuman said. “He was very sharp and very kind.”

She said she was touched by the fact that he mentioned years ago, people were blown away by the idea that students would one day have access to 12 years of free public education.

“Now, it’s the norm. So, expanding it to 14 by offering two years of free community college seems the logical next step.

“Civilization and cultures stop when they stop learning.

“Education is the cornerstone of strong economics, lower poverty, lower additions, lower self-harm, lower emotional distress, and he recognizes that and he highlighted it in his speech and all the contextual things around it – making sure people can get to school, afford child care as they return to school as adults.

“And, that’s how you build a great society,” Shuman said.

And, a key to that learning are adjunct faculty, who often have to string multiple jobs together to make the bare minimum salary.

“Not going to change anything for adjunction faculty in higher education until we can talk to politicians and help them understand.

“Adjuncts are treated unfairly in the culture of their schools and in the understanding of their community.” Shuman hopes connections made at the event will help their plight.

Most people only know about the Pro-Life Action League other than the pictured of aborted babies he displays on busy streets.

Eric Scheidler was in Rockford last weekend and subsequently posted this video.

It provides a milder version of him than some might have.

From State Senator Craig Wilcox:

Legislative Inspector General announces resignation

Citing a lack of “true ethics reform,” Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Carol Pope offered her resignation to members of the Legislative Ethics Commission on July 14.

She offered her resignation immediately, until a replacement is chosen, or until her term ends in December.

I have been vocal about the ongoing issues of corruption and misconduct within state government, and this is just further evidence of the need to pass substantive ethics reforms in the legislature.

Earlier this year, lawmakers came together in a bipartisan effort to pass an ethics reform package that included a component to empower the LIG to investigate corruption allegations.

While it was a good step forward to begin addressing the ongoing ethical concerns in state government, there is still a lot to be done to ensure elected officials are held accountable for their actions and to address the longstanding history of legislator misconduct. 

Senate Republican lawmakers sponsored several additional reforms proposed by the LIG that were never called before the Ethics Committee for a hearing. They include:

• SB 551 (Tracy):Amends the law to include more disclosure on Quarterly Reports filed by the Legislative Inspector General. Adds that the reports will include the total number of founded reports (currently complaints) forwarded to the Attorney General. 
• SB 1870 (Barickman):Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to allow the Legislative Inspector General to conduct investigations and issue subpoenas without the prior advance approval of the Legislative Ethics Commission.
• SB 2529 (Plummer):Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act so that the Legislative Inspector General shall not initiate any investigation without giving notice of the allegations involved to each member of the Legislative Ethics Commission. The Legislative Inspector General does not require the advance approval of the Commission to initiate any investigation, but the Legislative Inspector General shall not investigate matters that are beyond the scope of, or are unrelated to, the initial complaint upon which the investigation was founded, without the advance approval of the Commission. 
• SB 1350 (Curran): Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to: 

• Allowing the Attorney General to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate, indict and prosecute bribery and misconduct by members of the General Assembly;
• Authorizing state’s attorneys to use wiretaps to investigate crimes of public corruption;
• Granting the Legislative Inspector General the ability to investigate members of the General Assembly without first receiving approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission;
• Banning legislators from lobbying other branches of state government or units of local government for compensation;
• Requiring legislators to wait one year after leaving office, or until the end of the current term (whichever is longer) before they can become a lobbyist;
• Prohibiting a legislator from leaving office and continuing to use their campaign fund to support lobbying activities; and
• Updating the Statement of Economic Interests to enhance the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.

From State Senator Craig Wilcox:

Republicans push for state offices to resume operations

With the State of Illinois solidly in Phase 5 of the reopening plan, Senate Republicans continue their calls to have all state offices reopen, especially the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), which continues to remain closed.

These state agencies, especially IDES, provide critical services, and the prolonged closure of these agencies is becoming increasingly frustrating to Illinoisans.

This week I joined several of my Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Governor Pritzker, urging the reopening of all state offices.

While some state offices, such as the Illinois Secretary of State, have resumed full operations, others such as IDES remain inexplicably shuttered. This is creating confusion for residents and is adding unnecessary barriers to receiving state services.

IDES, which handles issues with unemployment benefits for employees throughout the state, has been closed for almost 500 days and continues to be criticized for fraud issues, the slow response time, and the backlog of unaddressed claims.

The entire private sector is back open for business. There is no excuse for state offices to not be fully opened and operational.

Wilcox hosts successful events, looks ahead to future events in 32^nd District

I want to thank everyone who participated in my community outreach events last week.

We had a fabulous turnout for the blood drive I hosted at Skyline Cruise Night on Monday in McHenry, and about two dozen people participated in a webinar I co-hosted on Tuesday, that included information on the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s rental assistance program.

On Saturday, we had a good turnout area-wide for the annual DamYak challenge in McHenry, with more than 150 kayaks in the water and additional event supporters cheering from land.

The event raises awareness and funds for Kids In Need McHenry County, a non-profit organization created to identify and provide kids in need with important recourses to help them have a happy and healthy childhood.

Great fun was had by all at this annual event.