Resources For Illinois Veterans And Families

In recognition of Memorial Day, Attorney General Lisa Madigan today reminded Illinois veterans, service members and their families about the resources her office provides to ensure they receive the federal and state benefits they have earned for their service and to ensure that their legal rights are upheld.

Attorney General Madigan's Military and Veterans' Rights Bureau contends with a wide variety of financial and legal concerns affecting the military community, such as financial scams connected to Veterans' Affairs (VA) benefits assistance, education benefits and housing issues. The Bureau also provides case advocacy to help service members exercise their due process rights in filing claims for compensation or pension benefits through the VA.

"Under the law, veterans and military service members are entitled to certain benefits and legal protections in recognition of their commitment to our country," Madigan said. "It is critical that we work to ensure they are awarded the full benefits and protections that they have earned for their honorable service."

In addition, the Bureau publishes a series of comprehensive resources that detail veterans' benefits and legal protections for service members. As a member of the U.S. Department of Justice's Financial Fraud Task Force, Attorney General Madigan's office led the development of a toolkit to assist state attorneys general and federal law enforcement partners in identifying common financial and legal protection issues facing the military community. The toolkit was designed to advance collaboration between state and federal agencies that enforce violations of veterans' and service members' rights. The Bureau also publishes specialized guides specifically for Illinois veterans and service members, including its regularly updated Benefits for Illinois Veterans and Legal Rights of Illinois Service Members.

As part of its effort to provide direct assistance to constituents, the Bureau also staffs the Military and Veterans' Rights Hotline (1-800-382-3000), which last year provided assistance to over 500 veterans, service members and their families, helping to obtain benefits and resolve financial and legal disputes. Direct assistance provided included:

Mediating landlord-tenant disputes for service members facing Permanent Change of Station orders that conflict with lease agreements;

Negotiating with VA medical centers to expand care for patients;

Assisting seniors with temporarily suspended VA pension payments due to bureaucratic oversight;

Obtaining assistance to secure short- and long-term care for disabled or terminally ill veterans;

Helping secure housing for veterans;

Providing guidance for service members seeking to appeal adverse insurance benefits decisions;

Mediating financial transaction disputes, such as helping to remove fraudulent credit report entries or cancel erroneous debts;

Obtaining compensation owed to veterans or for service members on military leave from their primary employer for annual guard training; and

Securing refunds over disputed charges and fees.

As part of Madigan's Consumer Protection Division, the Military and Veterans' Rights Bureau also works with the Division's attorneys to pursue enforcement actions involving cases of fraud that target members of the armed services. For example, Madigan announced a joint settlement in 2012 with a California-based company to shut down its website, www.GIBill.com, for deceptively steering service members and veterans to use their federal education benefits with the company's preferred clients in the for-profit schools industry. On the federal level, Madigan called on Congressional leaders in 2012 to close a loophole in the Higher Education Act that has allowed many for-profit schools to exploit education benefits available to American service members, veterans and their families. In 2013, Madigan urged U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to strengthen regulations under the federal Military Lending Act (MLA) to ensure service members are better protected from abusive lending practices.

For more information about Madigan's Military and Veterans' Rights Bureau, please visit: http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/rights/veterans.html

All McHenry County Beaches Open Memorial Day Weekend

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) conducted beach water samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Wednesday, May 21.  All beaches are open for the Memorial Day weekend.     

To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licensed beaches on the 13 lakes in McHenry County are tested every 2 weeks for E. coli throughout the summer to determine water quality.  Additional and more frequent sampling is done when elevated bacterial levels are found.    

Water sampling results are reported to the appropriate beach authorities. MCDH will post an advisory or closed signage for beaches with elevated E. coli results.  All beach water results and locations are readily available at the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (click Environmental Health, quick links, “beach testing results”) or call 815-334-4585.

OSHA General Industry Class At MCC

McHenry County College is accepting registrations for the OSHA 30-Hour in General Industry class that takes place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 16, 18, 23 and 25. The course is facilitated by Safety First NA, Inc. and is designed to provide detailed coverage of OSHA’s general industry standards, requirements and employer’s responsibility to provide employees a safe and healthful workplace.

According to osha.gov, every year, nearly five million workers experience an occupational injury or illness on the job. More than half of these injuries and illnesses are severe enough to cause the worker to spend time away from work. OSHA, along with safety and health professionals around the nation, is working with employers and employees to move toward zero injuries and illnesses in U.S. workplaces.

This course is suited to safety and health personnel, supervisors and those with safety and health responsibilities. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a course certificate and an OSHA general industry 30-Hour course completion card from the Department of Labor. The course fee is $429, which includes materials. Participants can register using course ID: NTE S68 004. 

Classes take place at the McHenry County College Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry. To register, call (815) 455-8588.  For more information, contact the Workforce Training Program at (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu.

McHenry County Weekend Beach Report

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) conducted beach water samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Wednesday, May 21.  All beaches are open for the Memorial Day weekend.     

To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licensed beaches on the 13 lakes in McHenry County are tested every 2 weeks for E. coli throughout the summer to determine water quality.  Additional and more frequent sampling is done when elevated bacterial levels are found.    

Water sampling results are reported to the appropriate beach authorities. MCDH will post an advisory or closed signage for beaches with elevated E. coli results.  All beach water results and locations are readily available at the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (click Environmental Health, quick links, “beach testing results”) or call 815-334-4585

MCC Scholarship Offering

The McHenry County College (MCC) Staff Council, Local 1642 is offering a $500 scholarship for currently enrolled MCC students for the fall semester.

To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must be enrolled at MCC with at least six credit hours for the fall 2014 semester and can show financial need. The applicant must also participate in extra-curricular activities, such as volunteering, school or community organizations. Priority will be given to students not receiving any other kind of financial aid. The scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, or academic supplies at MCC for the fall semester.

Students may apply for the scholarship through the MCC Financial Aid Office, Room A262, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake by returning a completed an application form and an unofficial MCC transcript and a 1-2 page essay no later than June 18. The awardee will be notified via phone by June 30.

For more information, contact the MCC Financial Aid Office at (815) 455-8761.

Solar For Schools Summer Workshop

McHenry County College wants to shed more light into area schools. To be specific, using sunlight in the form of solar energy.

To that end, the College will be hosting a free Solar for Schools Summer Workshop for middle and high school teachers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at MCC, 8900 U.S. Highway 14 in Crystal Lake.

Solar for Schools participants will convene to discuss how to effectively incorporate solar classroom kits and supporting lessons into their classrooms.

According MCC’s Sustainability Center director, Kim Hankins, the program aims to “engage teachers and students in energy education and demonstrate that solar energy offers an alternative energy source and an economic future for America.” Hankins said discussion topics will equip educators (and students) with knowledge of solar energy systems to provide the growing U.S. solar industry with interested and prepared solar energy professionals. 

The workshop will be led by the Illinois State University Center for Renewable Energy with assistance from their ISU colleagues, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), and MCC subject matter experts

Workshop topics will include: fundamentals of power and energy, energy consumption on a state and national level, principles of solar energy, curricula and lesson plans for integrating solar energy into existing curriculum, and methods to utilize the Solar for Schools program to meet Next Generation Science Standards. 

Hankins said there’ll also be information about ways schools can secure grant funding for solar panel installation.

Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. Hankins said current participants in the program should bring their solar classroom kits to the workshop for hands-on activities/practice, and they should be prepared to share any successes/struggles they’ve have had with curriculum implementation.

Maximum number of workshop participants is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Continuing Professional Development units (CPDUs) will be offered. Register by providing the name, title, school, email address and summer contact information of all persons attending to Pat Dieckhoff, MCC sustainability specialist, by Friday, June 13 at pdieckhoff@mchenry.edu or (815) 479-7765.

Legal Help For Medical Marijuana Law In Illinois

Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly are reported to have voted to expand the state’s medical marijuana law to include more suffering patients. Earlier today, the House voted 98 to 18 to allow both adults and minors with seizure disorder to qualify for medical cannabis.

Illinois medical marijuana law which was signed into law last August is one of the only three to leave behind seriously ill minors. The House amended SB 2636 to also allow the health department to develop rules allowing other seriously ill minors to qualify. The bill now heads to the Senate for concurrence.

Efforts are underway to urge Gov. Pat Quinn to sign the compassionate and modest improvement to the program when it reaches his desk.

Words Of Wisdom

"May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy."

--George Washington (1790)

Longtime Health Department Administrator Retires

After a 35 year career with the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH), Public Health Administrator Patrick J. McNulty will be retiring May 30, 2014. Mr. McNulty started with the Health Department in May of 1979 as an Environmental Health Practitioner and was promoted to Environmental Health Division Director in 1985.  He served as Interim Public Health Administrator in 1999 and 2001 when the Board of Health appointed him the fifth Public Health Administrator for the Department.

McNulty has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health and has taken additional graduate level classes in Public Health. Over the years, McNulty has been involved with local, state and national organizations that have addressed public health issues. He was a founding member of the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium when it formed in 2002. The consortium represents the public health interest of over 8.5 million people in the Northern Illinois Region. 

• Upon reflection of the Department’s accomplishments over his 35 year tenure, McNulty stated –
• Nnational recognition of the county’s public health systems as one of the healthiest in the state;
• ·Expansion of the Department’s staff, programs and locations to meet the needs of a growing population that includes a community-based obesity prevention program, a breast and cervical cancer program, a full time dental program and WIC programming offered in four locations;
• ·Receipt of numerous National Association of Counties Achievement Awards;
• The first extensive groundwater mapping and study of shallow aquifers in the County;
• A modern Animal Control and Adoption Center managed by a veterinarian;
• A comprehensive 24/7 communicable disease and public health emergency response program including the hire of an Epidemiologist;
• A community-based public health systems needs assessment;
• Expanded volunteer opportunities with the Medical Reserve Corps and Animal Control; and
• Franchising of solid waste services in several unincorporated areas that has resulted in improved recycling rates.

The Board of Health has appointed Joseph Gugle as Interim Public Health Administrator. Mr. Gugle has been an MCDH employee for 28 years and is currently the Manager for Planning, Personnel and Administration. The Department of Health will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016.

Government At Work

MONDAY MAY 19

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Natural and Environmental Resources—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room

Under new business the committee is to consider a draft amendment to the adopted 2006 International Residential Code to regulate the location of sump pump discharge and also groundwater program scientific studies status report.

Nuisance Ordinance Update is to be considered under Old Business.

6:00 p.m. – School District 47 Board-

Meeting in the Husmann Elementary School, 131 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake. 

This meeting is to take place in closed session for the purpose of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of Specific Employees, Litigation or Negotiations.

7:00 p.m. – School District 47 Board

Meeting in the same location but in open session, the board will consider approval of bills, district contracts, bids for paper, fund reviews, monthly payrolls and bills, and the 2014-2015 Board meeting schedule.

7:00 p.m. McHenry County Board of Health—

Meeting in the Board of Health Offices, 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock.

In addition to handling the necessary matters such as payment of bills, a presentation is slated regarding the recruitment of a public health administrator.

Modern Day Slavery

Springfield, IL… Despite slavery being illegal in every country, a modern day slavery is thriving.  In developed nations, this modern day slavery manifests itself primarily in sex slavery.  Human trafficking is highly-organized and lucrative business, generating close to $32 billion per year.  It is because of this, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) has decided to take action.  Rep. Wheeler signed on to Senate Bill 3558, a bill aiming to provide services to victims and increase punishments to those who violate human rights.

“Despite thousands of women falling victim to trafficking and prostitution every year, Illinois has no access to specialized services to help them,” said Wheeler.  “This legislation is a proactive step to provide community based programs to victims while training prosecutors and forcing people who commit these horrific crimes to pay for the harm they have caused.”

Senate Bill 3558 takes a three-pronged approach in attacking the human trafficking issues.  The bill proposes fines against pimps, traffickers, and people who buy sex.  It would also expand forfeiture to those convicted of promoting prostitution.  Lastly, the bill allows the Illinois Department of Human Services to issues special grants to support specialized services to victims.

Many community activists have come together to shine light on this trouble some issue.  Rep. Wheeler has been working with End Demand Illinois and PROMISE Chicago, a branch of the Salvation Army, to spread the word.  Wheeler will be hosting a breakfast in Springfield on Thursday, May 15 at the Stratton Office Building, 2nd Floor, Room M-1 at 8:00 am to educate citizens and legislators on this issue and the need for action.

“At tomorrow’s breakfast, legislators and citizens alike will have the opportunity to see presentations from End Demand Illinois and PROMISE Chicago, two premiere community activist groups targeting human sex trafficking,” said Wheeler.  “Through education and taking action we can help thousands of victims seek help and justice.”