The chickens finally came home to roost today in the Edgar County Watchdogs’ (publisher of Illinois Leaks) Freedom of Information suit against the Algonquin Township Road District. It is costing taxpayers $55,000, $15,000 more than if the Algonquin Township Board … Continue reading
Here’s the headline and first paragraph of the article that The First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigam wrote about publishing the document that reported on the investigation of Chief Deputy Sheriff Andy Zinke’s involvement in a DEA probe. The report was … Continue reading
What started in the late 1960’s as an agency to take card of what were then called “the retarded” has grown to absorb at least the not-for-profit homeless shelter PADS. It inow has apparently run into financial trouble. That was … Continue reading
And here’s the settlement document: On the last page there are signature places for Mary Gardner, Gonigam’s attorney, the McHenry County Sheriff and one for the County of McHenry. … Continue reading
Pete Gonigam, Publisher of the First Electric Newspaper, sued McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nyrgen when the former top cop refused to release the report about an investigation of his Chief Deputy and chosen replacement Andy Zinke. Mary Gardner was Gonigam’s … Continue reading
According to Pete Gonigam’s article on Thursday’s Freedom of Information Act hearing on attorney’s fees, there was an additional $5,000 fine ordered by Judge Thomas Meyer. It was levied “against the Sheriff’s Office last month for ‘willfully’ withholding the report,” Gonigam … Continue reading
$78,299.96 to be exact. That’s what it will cost taxpayers because former McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren refused to provide information that a decision of the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Division said he should make available under the Freedom … Continue reading
When former Sheriff Keith Nygren refused to release his report exonerating his Undersheriff Andy Zinke in his dealings with an executive of Rita Corporation, First Electric Newspaper Publisher Pete Gonigam took him to court. Gonigam had an Illinois Attorney General’s … Continue reading
As I pointed out earlier, First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigam’s article of Judge Thomas Meyer’s ruling in his Freedom of Information Suit against Keith Nygren’s Sheriff’s Office is a must read. Gonigam is in line for a $5,000 check from … Continue reading
The Republican primary election for McHenry County Sheriff took place over a year ago, but a blatantly political act by former Sheriff Keith Nygren to protect his chosen successor, Undersheriff Andy Zinke, has resulted in Judge Thomas Meyer’s handing out … Continue reading
The First Electric Newspaper’s Editor, Pete Gonigam, got half a loaf in response to this Freedom of Information request and suit yesterday. Gonigam sought a report prepared by Donald Leist about an “investigation clearing former Undersheriff Andy Zinke of violating … Continue reading
The reporting on Thursday’s court hearing before Judge Thomas Meyer by The First Electric Newspaper Editor and Publisher Pete Gonigam is worth reading. You can find his comments on the Freedom of Information Act case about the former Sheriff Keith … Continue reading
Because the sound system is so bad, I can’t be sure what was said in the courtroom of Thomas Meyer Thursday morning. But I think he ruled that the Sheriff’s Office had waived its right to use an excuse in … Continue reading
The First Electric Newspaper was in Judge Thomas Meyer’s courtroom again Friday trying to pry the Andy Zinke exoneration report out of McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren’s hands. Quoting himself, Publisher Pet Gonigan says, “In November the paper editorialized that … Continue reading
According to Pete Gonigan’s First Electric Newspaper and other sources, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren was exuding confidence after the latest hearing on the paper’s Freedom of Information suit. He and others apparently think Judge Thomas Meyer will protect Nygrn’s … Continue reading
Here’s something to chew on for the weekend. It’s attorney Mary Gardner’s memo on behalf of The First Electric Newspaper‘s attempt to enforce a Freedom of Information request filed for the investigative report by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department’s exonerating … Continue reading
That was my takeaway from the hearing in Judge Thomas Meyer’s courtroom today. To put it in terms contained in the law book and an Illinois Supreme Court ruling, the lawyer for the Sheriff’s Department is the State’s Attorney. The … Continue reading
Judge Thomas Meyer ruled Friday morning that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren and his legal affairs officer Don Leist will have an appointed attorney to represent them in The First Electric Newspaper‘s suit to make public an over 100-page investigatory … Continue reading
Algonquin Township Trustee and Republican Precinct Committeeman Larry Emery attended Congressman Randy Hultgren’s Common Core Summit Wednesday and jotted down his thoughts on his blog. “Common Core: Let the Debate begin (a few years late)!” is the title of his … Continue reading
On Tuesday, Pete Gonigam and his First Electric Newspaper were in court again in the question to gain access to the 100+ page investigation of Undersheriff Andy Zinke’s involvement in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s investigation concerning RTIA Corporation. Of most interest … Continue reading
