Animal Cruelty Treatment Charges Against Mt. Prospect Woman

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Jamie Koy, 41, of Mt. Prospect was found guilty of four counts of cruel treatment of an animal and eight counts of neglection of owner’s duties.

At the time of her arrest, Koy was on probation after a 2011 McHenry County jury found her guilty of the same set of animal cruelty charges.  A term of Koy’s probation allowed McHenry County animal control officers to monitor Koy’s horses.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 25, 2013, a McHenry County animal control officer conducted an unannounced wellness check on Koy’s horses.  The officer found four extremely malnourished horses under Koy’s care.  On May 1, 2013 the horses were seized and taken up to Madison, Wisconsin for 24 hour emergency care. Less than two weeks later, the horses continued their rehabilitation under the care at the Hoofed Animal Humane Society in Woodstock, Illinois. The State’s Attorney’s Office called multiple expert veterinary witnesses.  The expert witness testimony established that the horses were starved to near death.  The horses eventually made full recoveries under the care of the Hoofed Animal Humane Society.  Koy is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2015. 

This case was prosecuted by David Johnston and David Metnick of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.  The case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and McHenry County Animal Control.

Four Crystal Lake High Schools Named To Most Challenging List

The Washington Post named each of District 155’s four high schools to the national list of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools.”  Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge High Schools placed in the top 10 percent, out of about 22,000 school districts across the country.

Rankings were based on the number of students, number of Advanced Placement tests given, the percent of students who qualify for subsidized lunches and graduating seniors’ AP test scores.

“Every day our teachers and staff challenge our students to achieve higher standards.  Our talented staff is focused on preparing our students for a successful future,” said Dr. Johnnie Thomas, District 155 superintendent.

All four high schools also ranked among the most challenging schools in the state of Illinois.

School	2014 State Rank	2015 State Rank
Cary-Grove	64	60
Crystal Lake Central	69	66
Crystal Lake South	Not Ranked	63
Prairie Ridge	62	41

In November, the College Board also named District 155 to the 5^th Annual AP District Honor Roll. This is the third year in a row that District 155 has been named to the AP District Honor Roll.  The honor roll recognizes districts for participation and performance on the Advanced Placement exams over the past three years. The prestigious list includes only 547 school districts from the U.S. and Canada.

MCC Student Music Recital Sunday

McHenry County College will present its annual Spring Student Music Recital at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 10 in the Luecht Conference Center at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

A variety of student performances will include instrumentalists and vocalists performing pieces in a range of styles. Soloists and small ensembles will be featured. Several music faculty members will also perform. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814.

It's Tick Bite Time

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is reminding residents to take precautions against tick bites to prevent contracting the diseases they carry, in particular Lyme disease.  Ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush and are typically active April through November. Although the American Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick can spread disease, the Black-legged or Deer Tick is the most common disease carrier in Illinois and surrounding states and is largely responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. 

In 2014, 33 cases of Lyme disease were reported in McHenry County as well as three other tick-borne illnesses (Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever).  This is a slight drop from the 37 cases reported in 2013.

Lyme disease typically occurs 3 to 30 days after exposure to an infected tick. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes and skin rash (often with a “bull’s eye” appearance).  In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted so it’s important to check yourself after being outside.  Many cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.  If you experience these symptoms, and have had possible exposure to ticks, contact your physician for reporting to MCDH. If physicians have questions regarding testing, please call MCDH’s Communicable Disease program.

The best way to protect against tick-borne illness includes –

•  Educate yourself, family about tick identification, removal and symptom awareness.
• Walk in the center of trails.  Avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and  leaf litter (including vacant lots in residential areas).
• Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET (20% or more) to exposed skin.  Follow    label instructions. 
• Conduct full-body tick checks on family members (including underarms, in/around ears, inside belly button, behind knees, between legs, around waists, and especially in the hair). Also check any gear taken on outings.  
• Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect.  Keep pets out of tick habitats like tall grass/brush. Always examine pets before bringing them inside.  Ask your vet to recommend an over-the-counter tick repellent. 
• The CDC recommends bathing or showering as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks.

Staff in the Division of Environmental Health can assist residents with the identification of ticks. Additional information on identification and testing of ticks is available on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info, select Environmental Health, Nuisance, and follow the link to ticks and Lyme disease. 

For more information on Lyme disease, contact MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program 815-334-4500, visit www.mcdh.info, select Environmental Health, link to Nuisance, or go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/.

Time To Take Precautions Against Tick Bites

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is reminding residents to take precautions against tick bites to prevent contracting the diseases they carry, in particular Lyme disease.  Ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush and are typically active April through November. Although the American Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick can spread disease, the Black-legged or Deer Tick is the most common disease carrier in Illinois and surrounding states and is largely responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. 

In 2014, 33 cases of Lyme disease were reported in McHenry County as well as three other tick-borne illnesses (Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever).  This is a slight drop from the 37 cases reported in 2013.

Lyme disease typically occurs 3 to 30 days after exposure to an infected tick. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes and skin rash (often with a “bull’s eye” appearance).  In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted so it’s important to check yourself after being outside.  Many cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.  If you experience these symptoms, and have had possible exposure to ticks, contact your physician for reporting to MCDH. If physicians have questions regarding testing, please call MCDH’s Communicable Disease program.

The best way to protect against tick-borne illness includes –

• · Educate yourself, family about tick identification, removal and symptom awareness.
•   Walk in the center of trails.  Avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter (including vacant lots in residential areas).
• Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET (20% or more) to exposed skin. Follow label instructions. 
• Conduct full-body tick checks on family members (including underarms, in/around ears, inside belly button, behind knees, between legs, around waists, and especially in the hair). Also check any gear taken on outings. 
• Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect.  Keep pets out of tick habitats like tall grass/brush. Always examine pets before bringing them inside.  Ask your vet to recommend an over-the-counter tick repellent. 
• The CDC recommends bathing or showering as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks 
• Staff in the Division of Environmental Health can assist residents with the identification of ticks. 
• Additional information on identification and testing of ticks is available on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info, select Environmental Health, Nuisance, and follow the link to ticks and Lyme disease. 

 For more information on Lyme disease, contact MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program 815-334-4500, visit www.mcdh.info, select Environmental Health, link to Nuisance, or go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/.

Proposed Legislation -- Turn Lawn Waste Into Something Useful

Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) recently passed House Bill 437 with the full support of the Illinois House. The bill allows for municipalities and counties to set up composting days, much like yard sale days, and also creates permanent compost collection sites so yard waste can be converted into useful materials.

“A number of communities have banned the burning of leaves and lawn waste, making it very difficult for homeowners to deal with the excess waste,” said Wheeler. “This bill makes it easy for residents to dispose of the waste at drop-off locations or on special collection days. It also provides the added benefit of ensuring lawn garbage can actually be turned into something useful.”

HB 437 will authorize municipalities and counties to approve one-day compostable waste collection events. Creation of these one-day events, which will be operated in a manner similar to one-day yard sale events, will encourage homeowners to work with compostable waste collectors to turn their yard waste and compostable household garbage into useful materials.

As more and more communities ban the burning of lawn waste, homeowners have been left with few options to dispose of the waste. In some cases, the anaerobic bacteria active in the final stage of a compost pile can create odors, and the compost pile is not acceptable to neighbors. A neighborhood compostable collection program can move the final stage of the composting process into a low-density residential area and help create a compost chain that will be acceptable. HB 437 was unanimously approved by the House on April 17 and is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee before it will be considered before the full Senate and sent to Gov. Rauner.

Quit Smoking Classes For Adults -- May 13

Reserve your seat for the next quit smoking classes for adults sponsored by McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) and Centegra Health System. Space is still available for the seven-week class. Classes will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., beginning Wednesday, May 13, at Centegra’s Health Bridge Fitness Center, located at 200 East Congress Parkway in Crystal Lake.  A $25 course fee is refunded if all sessions are attended. Class members will also receive a free 3-day pass to the Health Bridge Fitness Center. To register, call MCDH at 815-334-4525 or 1-877-CENTEGRA.

 

Classes will teach practical ways to end nicotine addiction through group support and behavior modification.  It will also review nicotine replacement products that are currently on the market. Instruction is provided by MCDH staff that is trained in the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking® program. This program is considered the “gold standard” and has helped tens of thousands of smokers quit over the last 30 years. 

Evaluation studies have shown that individuals who participate in Freedom From Smoking® experience immediate health benefits, learn to address the physical, mental, and social aspects of their addiction, and are six times more likely to be smoke free one year later than those who quit on their own.  Call 815-334-4525 today.

Help Available For Treating STD Infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there are about 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections each year in the U.S. with almost half of them among young people 15 to 24 years of age. STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Most infections have no symptoms and often go undiagnosed and untreated leading to severe health consequences and infertility, especially for women.

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported communicable disease in McHenry County, with 590 cases in 2013 and 484 cases in 2012. Thirty-two (32) cases of gonorrhea and five (5) cases of syphilis were also reported in 2013. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the County had 131 people living with HIV as of December, 2014, with 73 who have advanced to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Despite this news, there are effective ways to diagnose and treat STD infections. McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) offers affordable comprehensive STD testing by appointment (815-334-4500). The test consists of a urine sample and a blood draw. Clients also receive free confidential or anonymous rapid HIV testing for those at high risk for infection. Consulting and education are included with all HIV and STD testing.

The CDC recommends annual testing for:

• sexually active women under 25 years of age for chlamydia and gonorrhea;
• older women who have a new or multiple sex partners or a partner infected with   an     STD infection;
• gay and bisexual men or other men who have sex with men for chlamydia, gonorrhea,   HIV and syphilis;
• anyone who has unsafe sex or shares needles to inject drugs for HIV.

Call MCDH at 815-334-4500 for more information or to schedule an appointment.  To learn more about STDs, visit CDC www.cdc.gov/std.

Crystal Lake Park District Board Forgoes Negotiations on Ackman Road Property

At this time, The Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners has decided forgo continued contract negotiations in regards to 27 acres of property at 8917 Ackman Road, Lake in the Hills.

The Crystal Lake Park District had been in negotiations to purchase this property for future development of a Community Recreation Center and an outdoor aquatic facility.  The purchase was to be made without the need of additional tax dollars from Park District residents.  Negotiations on the property broke down due to one condition in the contract that the property owner was unable to meet, due to an existing lease with a current tenant on the property. 

While the Park Board felt the location was ideal for the residents of the Park District, the Board of Commissioners has directed Park District staff to continue to review other potential locations.

Forklift Training At McHenry County College

The McHenry County College Workforce Community and Business Programs partners with forklift manufacturer, UniCarriers Americas Corp. to offer hands-on Forklift Training. The Forklift Operator and Train the Trainer programs provide a quality and affordable solution for companies and business to comply with the OSHA standards.

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178 requires employers to establish and implement a forklift training and certification program. Failure to provide adequate training and certification as required by OSHA regulations can result in fines up to $7,000 per employee.

Forklift Operator is offered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15 (course ID: NTE S54 008) and again on Friday, June 19 (course ID: NTE S54 009). Forklift Operator provides participants with knowledge in Powered Industrial Truck (Forklift) operation, along with the skills required to operate a lift truck in a correct and professional manner. Trucks covered are, ITA (Industrial Truck Association) Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The proper training of a forklift operator is not only critical for safety and production, it is also mandated by OSHA regulations. Cost for Forklift Operator is $195 and includes lunch.

Does your facility require a forklift trainer on staff?  Train the Trainer: Forklift is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, May 20 and 21 and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 22. (course ID: NTE S55 003). This comprehensive 2 ½ day class will prepare your company’s trainer, safety department staff, human resource department, or supervisors to present the one-day Powered Industrial Truck (Forklift) training class.

Cost for Train the Trainer  is $1,100, which includes materials to provide training at their workplace and lunch.

Both courses are held at the UniCarriers Americas Corp. facility in Marengo.  UniCarriers Americas presents participants with a certificate of completion at the end of the course. 

To register, call (815) 455-8588 or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC. For more information, contact the Shah Center at (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu.