Holiday Hills Man Found Guilty Of Multple Counts Including Attempted First Degree Murder

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Scott Peters, 52, of Holiday Hills was found guilty of seven counts of attempt first degree murder of a peace officer, three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to a peace officer and five counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm to a peace officer.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on October 16, 2014 Deputies Maness, Satkiewicz and Luna of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to 1313 West Northeast Shore Drive in Holiday Hills for a welfare check. Upon arrival Deputies Maness and Satkiewicz spoke to the homeowner, Peters, who refused to allow them in the residence and then fired 12 rounds from an AR-15 assault rifle through his front door. Deputy Satkiewicz was shot in the chest and the round lodged in her ballistic vest. Deputy Maness was shot in the lower back. As the deputies retreated for cover the defendant followed them out of the home and shot both deputies a second time each in the leg. Deputy Luna, who had gone to the rear of the residence to cover the back door, ran to aid his fellow officers and returned fire. The defendant fled the scene on foot and was apprehended 16 hours later after over 250 officers participated in a county wide manhunt.

This case was prosecuted by Michael Combs, Robert Zalud and Dan Wilbrandt of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Saturday -- Date For Annual Residential Electronics Recycling

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages residents to save the date for the annual Residential Electronics and Recycling Extravaganza set for 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday May 2, 2015 at the McHenry County Administration Building (north parking lot) located at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock.

 MCDH has partnered with several businesses and community organizations to collect and recycle residential electronics and a variety of other recyclable materials.  Items that will be accepted include:    

·Residential electronics – televisions, computers, VCRs, video game                      consoles,  printers (a limit of ten devices per participant);

·Latex paint (recycling fees apply);

·Onsite shredding of documents;

·Fluorescent lamps and CFLs (recycling fees apply);

·Clean clothing (slightly stained or torn accepted);

·Styrofoam, packing peanuts and bubble wrap;

·Eyeglasses;

·Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt only); clear, taped button cell      batteries prior to drop off); and

·Rechargeable batteries (no more than 11 pounds each). 

 Recycling fees will apply to fluorescent lamps, CFLs and latex paint. Recycling fees include:

·         Fluorescent lamps and CFLs range from 50 cents to $3.00.

·         Latex paint: $2.00 per quart, $3.50 per gallon, $5.50 per two gallon container and                  $10.00 per five gallon container.

Latex paint must be in sealed, leak-proof containers. Smaller containers of latex paints may be combined into larger containers prior to drop off. No other types of paint or household hazardous waste will be accepted. No commercial or business waste will be accepted.

Participating recyclers include Accurate Document Destruction, Battery Solutions, Chicago Textile Recycling, Earth Paints Collection Systems, Elgin Recycling, Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Harvard Lions Club, Home of the Sparrow, McHenry County Department of Health, and Ken Santowski with Chicago Logistics Service.

For a complete list of accepted items, visit www.mcdh.info or contact Kristy Hecke, Solid Waste Manager at 815-334-4585 or email KLHecke@co.mchenry.il.us.

Donations Sought For Spring Garage Sale

In preparation for their annual spring garage sale, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will be taking donations of gently used items on Saturday, May 9th, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 11-13, from 10 am until 3 pm, at the Algonquin Township Road District garage, 3702 U.S. Route 14, between Crystal Lake and Cary (drive back to the last beige garage on the right).

What type of things will be accepted? Just about anything that is re-sellable, with a few exceptions: small appliances & electronics must be in working order, no monitors or TVs, no clothes, no baby carriers or cribs, no large appliances or upholstered furniture. Not sure if they’ll take it? Email mcdef@owc.net or call 815-338-0393.

“The Defenders have been involved with diverting things from the landfills for 45 years, and doing a garage sale is a form of recycling. Buying second hand items instead of new ones keeps things out of the landfills, saves you money, and supports a McHenry County non-profit,” said EDMC’s fund raising committee.

Sale dates for the garage sale are Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16 from 9am until 4pm. 

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The group is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment, and provides the community with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. For more information, visit their website www.mcdef.org, or their FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalDefenders, or call 815-338-0393.

Greater Efficiency For County And Local Governments Proposed

State Representatives Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor), Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), and Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) have joined with other elected officials from Lake and McHenry Counties to sponsor and pass legislation in the Illinois House to bring greater efficiency to county and local governments. Illinois has more layers of government than any other state in the United States, creating one of the most burdensome property tax scenarios nationwide. House Bill 229, which passed the House. allows for duplicative bodies of government to be dissolved. This initiative has already been utilized in DuPage County to great effect.

“County officials and residents in both Lake and McHenry Counties have been frustrated by so many overlapping units of government for a long time,” said Wheeler. “We’ve seen how helpful this efficiency initiative has been in DuPage County and I’m very pleased we will now be able to benefit from it in Lake and McHenry Counties as well.”

HB 229 grants authority to Lake and McHenry Counties to pass ordinances, which may be ratified by referendum, to remove certain units of local government that perform the same duties as other units of local government, or lack appropriate accountability. The purpose of this is to increase efficiency in local government and help lessen the heavy tax burden already on the backs of families in Lake and McHenry Counties. In addition to being supported by a number of local leaders in both counties, it is also supported by the Better Government Association, Illinois Association of County Board Members, the Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

“Efficiency in government has been a punch line in Illinois for a long time now,” said Sullivan. “The reality is that efficiency isn’t just a problem in Springfield, but throughout Illinois. While we still need to do much more, this effort has been working in DuPage County and now we have the chance to benefit from it as well. I want to thank Lake County Board Chairman, Aaron Lawlor, for encouraging our support on this measure, and also my colleagues who helped pass it.”

“I would like to echo the comments of my colleagues; residents have been asking for some relief from the heavy tax burden that is causing so many of our families and business to leave Illinois,” said Jesiel. “We have a lot of work to do in state government to help solve this problem, but if we can empower our county government and voters to directly help make government operate more efficiently, I’m happy to support it.” DuPage County was a pilot for this effort beginning in 2013, where a review of some 400 taxing bodies found that most suffered from some form of unaccountability or duplicative service. That assessment found issues with local units failing to meet county standards for issues such as ethics policies, sharing of essential service information, access of records to the public, and that many local units had duplicate services and contracts leading to increased costs.

“I want to thank the Representatives for supporting this legislation,” said Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Chairman. “House Bill 229 gives Lake County the ability to continue our efforts to make county and local government more efficient by finding new opportunities for consolidation of shared services.”

For further information, and to track the progress of House Bill 229 in the Senate, please visit www.ilga.gov.

Scholarships Offered At MCC

The Friends of McHenry County College Foundation is offering 62 scholarships for current and incoming MCC students who will enroll for the Fall 2015 semester.

The scholarships vary in amount and type of award and include those based on need, merit and/or program of study. In addition to several general scholarships available, several other specialized scholarships are available in accounting, culinary, education, horticulture, nursing, special needs, first generation and women’s scholarships.

The largest women’s scholarship, Education to Empowerment, awards up to $4,000 that is distributed throughout the recipient’s sophomore year at MCC as academic expenses are incurred and up to $4,000 given in the fall semester of the recipient’s junior year at an accredited four-year college or university. Priority will be given to applicants with two semesters remaining at MCC. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.25 GPA at the completion of their freshman year at MCC and maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA through sophomore year at MCC. Applicant must also submit a 300-word essay outlining their personal and career goals.

Also available is the Forge Ahead scholarship, a full-tuition award for the Fall 2015 Semester for any incoming student or current student pursuing an associate degree or certificate at MCC. Applicant must provide proof of a 2.5 GPA from their high school in MCC District 528 if an incoming freshman or a 2.75 GPA in college if a current student. Applicants must provide evidence of financial need and present two letters of recommendation and complete a two-page essay.

The application deadline is Monday, May 29 at 4:30 p.m. Scholarship applications and a complete listing of all the scholarships are also available at www.mchenry.edu/scholarships.

Applicants must print the application and return or mail it to the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation Office, Room A209 at MCC, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake, 60012. Forms may not be submitted online. For any questions regarding the 2015 fall scholarships, call the Friends of MCC Foundation Office at (815) 455-8556 or by email at foundation@mchenry.edu

Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting Today

MEETING NOTICE

McHenry County Solid Waste Advisory Committee

McHenry County Animal Control & Adoption Center

100 N Virginia Street, Community Room, Crystal Lake IL

April 29, 2015 – 1:30pm

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes – February 26, 2015
3. Old Business

·   2014 McHenry County Green Awards recognition

·   Food scrap forum discussion

·   McHenry County Residential Electronics & Recycling Extravaganza, May 2

4. New Business

·   Prioritize recommendations of 2015 plan

·   Solid waste legislation updates

·   July meeting reminder

5. Adjournment

Train For Career In Manual And Computer-Controlled Machines

College students and working adults can train for a high-skilled, in-demand career in such fields as manufacturing, medical, automotive and the military or upgrade their existing job skills -- in two years or less -- with two popular certificate programs offered in Summer 2015 Semester at McHenry County College -- Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Machining and Industrial Maintenance.

Both the CNC Machining Certificate program and the Industrial Maintenance Certificate program are ideal for those who are unemployed, underemployed, recent high school graduates or graduating seniors, ages 18 and older.

Students in the CNC Machining one-year certificate program will learn skills that are directly applicable in the operation of both manual and computer-controlled machines performing one or more machine functions on metal or plastic work pieces. In addition, students will become familiar with CNC programming using G and M codes. Students may apply all their credits from the CNC Machining certificate toward an Advanced Manufacturing Certificate and use those credits toward an Associate in Applied Science degree in Engineering Technology. 

 

Summer evening CNC classes include Introduction to Manufacturing at 5:30 p.m. beginning May 18 and Blueprint Reading at 5:30 p.m. beginning May 19.

Those who are problem solvers, like to work with their hands and repair machinery may consider the Industrial Maintenance program. Students can get started this summer in Industrial Maintenance with a Technical Mathematics II (MAT 106) that meets from 5:30-9:20 p.m. on either Wednesday, May 20 through July 8 or Thursday, May 21 through July 9.

Registration for Summer 2015 semester is underway. For more information on MCC’s CNC Machining or Industrial Maintenance programs, visit www.mchenry.edu/calling or contact Lori Smyth at (815) 479-7831 for CNC-related questions or Stephen O’Connor at (815) 479-7563 for Industrial

Pavement Management Program Info

McHenry County College’s Workforce Training Department will host a Pavement Management Program Information Session from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 in Room A103

.

The information session will feature an overview of a series of courses in Pavement Management, focusing on pavement preservation that will begin in fall 2015 and continuing into spring 2016.

The pavement management classes will meet on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at McHenry County College, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The new pavement preservation methods are effective means of retrofitting by saving cost and time and are a greener alternative than the current reconstruction methods.

The information session is free of charge. To register, call (815) 455-8588 and refer to course ID: QPM C01-001. For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at rkormanak@mchenry.edu or (815) 479-7879.

Area State Legislators Collaborate For Greater Efficiency

State Representatives Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor), Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), and Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) have joined with other elected officials from Lake and McHenry Counties to sponsor and pass legislation in the Illinois House to bring greater efficiency to county and local governments. Illinois has more layers of government than any other state in the United States, creating one of the most burdensome property tax scenarios nationwide. House Bill 229, which passed the House, allows for duplicative bodies of government to be dissolved. This initiative has already been utilized in DuPage County to great effect.

“County officials and residents in both Lake and McHenry Counties have been frustrated by so many overlapping units of government for a long time,” said Wheeler. “We’ve seen how helpful this efficiency initiative has been in DuPage County and I’m very pleased we will now be able to benefit from it in Lake and McHenry Counties as well.”

 HB 229 grants authority to Lake and McHenry Counties to pass ordinances, which may be ratified by referendum, to remove certain units of local government that perform the same duties as other units of local government, or lack appropriate accountability. The purpose of this is to increase efficiency in local government and help lessen the heavy tax burden already on the backs of families in Lake and McHenry Counties. In addition to being spported by a number of local leaders in both counties, it is also supported by the Better Government Association, Illinois Association of County Board Members, the Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

 “Efficiency in government has been a punch line in Illinois for a long time now,” said Sullivan. “The reality is that efficiency isn’t just a problem in Springfield, but throughout Illinois. While we still need to do much more, this effort has been working in DuPage County and now we have the chance to benefit from it as well. I want to thank Lake County Board Chairman, Aaron Lawlor, for encouraging our support on this measure, and also my colleagues who helped pass it.”

 “I would like to echo the comments of my colleagues; residents have been asking for some relief from the heavy tax burden that is causing so many of our families and business to leave Illinois,” said Jesiel. “We have a lot of work to do in state government to help solve this problem, but if we can empower our county government and voters to directly help make government operate more efficiently, I’m happy to support it.”

 DuPage County was a pilot for this effort beginning in 2013, where a review of some 400 taxing bodies found that most suffered from some form of unaccountability or duplicative service. That assessment found issues with local units failing to meet county standards for issues such as ethics policies, sharing of essential service information, access of records to the public, and that many local units had duplicate services and contracts leading to increased costs.

 “I want to thank the Representatives for supporting this legislation,” said Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Chairman. “House Bill 229 gives Lake County the ability to continue our efforts to make county and local government more efficient by finding new opportunities for consolidation of shared services.”

 For further information, and to track the progress of House Bill 229 in the Senate, please visit www.ilga.gov<http://www.ilga.gov>.

Take Back The Night At MCC Thursday

The Student Peace Action Network of McHenry County College will sponsor its fifth annual Take Back the Night event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday April 30 in the Luecht Conference Center, in adjacent hallways and B 167.

The event begins with a Resource Fair and a presentation of the Clothesline Project, featuring a collection of t-shirts decorated by sexual assault and abuse survivors to express that they have endured. In addition, guest speakers will talk on a variety of topics, including Title IX, sexual violence, sex trafficking, legal options for victims, healing and building healthy relationships. This will be followed by a march outside around the campus. The event will conclude with a vigil around a fire pit by the peace pole on the patio outside of the cafeteria.

MCC was selected by the national organization of Take Back the Night to be one of the 10 Points of Light, which features 10 schools throughout the U.S. who will host individual vigils at the same time. The vigils aim to show support of survivors and unite efforts to end sexual violence of all types.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pat Gaughan at pgaughan@mchenry.edu.

Legislation In Works To Bring Greater Efficiency To Local Governments

State Representatives Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor), Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), and Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) have joined with other elected officials from Lake and McHenry Counties to sponsor and pass legislation in the Illinois House to bring greater efficiency to county and local governments.

Illinois has more layers of government than any other state in the United States, creating one of the most burdensome property tax scenarios nationwide. House Bill 229, which passed the House today, allows for duplicative bodies of government to be dissolved. This initiative has already been utilized in DuPage County to great effect.

“County officials and residents in both Lake and McHenry Counties have been frustrated by so many overlapping units of government for a long time,” said Wheeler. “We’ve seen how helpful this efficiency initiative has been in DuPage County and I’m very pleased we will now be able to benefit from it in Lake and McHenry Counties as well.”

HB 229 grants authority to Lake and McHenry Counties to pass ordinances, which may be ratified by referendum, to remove certain units of local government that perform the same duties as other units of local government, or lack appropriate accountability. The purpose of this is to increase efficiency in local government and help lessen the heavy tax burden already on the backs of families in Lake and McHenry Counties. In addition to being supported by a number of local leaders in both counties, it is also supported by the Better Government Association, Illinois Association of County Board Members, the Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

“Efficiency in government has been a punch line in Illinois for a long time now,” said Sullivan. “The reality is that efficiency isn’t just a problem in Springfield, but throughout Illinois. While we still need to do much more, this effort has been working in DuPage County and now we have the chance to benefit from it as well. I want to thank Lake County Board Chairman, Aaron Lawlor, for encouraging our support on this measure, and also my colleagues who helped pass it.”

“I would like to echo the comments of my colleagues; residents have been asking for some relief from the heavy tax burden that is causing so many of our families and business to leave Illinois,” said Jesiel. “We have a lot of work to do in state government to help solve this problem, but if we can empower our county government and voters to directly help make government operate more efficiently, I’m happy to support it.”

DuPage County was a pilot for this effort beginning in 2013, where a review of some 400 taxing bodies found that most suffered from some form of unaccountability or duplicative service. That assessment found issues with local units failing to meet county standards for issues such as ethics policies, sharing of essential service information, access of records to the public, and that many local units had duplicate services and contracts leading to increased costs.

“I want to thank the Representatives for supporting this legislation,” said Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Chairman. “House Bill 229 gives Lake County the ability to continue our efforts to make county and local government more efficient by finding new opportunities for consolidation of shared services.”

For further information, and to track the progress of House Bill 229 in the Senate, please visit www.ilga.gov<http://www.ilga.gov>.