Help For Victims Of Phone Scammers

Attorney General Lisa Madigan today reported Illinois residents are being targeted by phone scammers who pose as representatives of Microsoft or related technology support service providers, claiming to have detected viruses or malware on targets’ computers to trick them into providing remote computer access or convincing targets to pay for unnecessary software fixes. Madigan’s office has received several complaints from Central Illinois residents who have received these calls.

As part of this scam, cybercriminals use publicly available phone directories to ascertain computer users’ names and other personal information when they call, according to Microsoft. The scammers might even guess what operating system users have on their computers. Once the scammers gain the target's trust, they typically ask for a user name and password or ask the target to install software that will let them access the target computer to “fix” the supposed problem. But instead of providing any service, they trick the target into installing malware that could steal sensitive data.

“If you receive a call like this, hang up the phone immediately,” Attorney General Madigan said. “Legitimate companies will not initiate a call to you and ask you for personal information. This is an outright scam.”

Madigan also offered the following tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:  

• Never give your password out on the phone, and never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from a technical support service.
• Do not expect caller ID will verify a legitimate caller. Scammers “spoof” phone numbers, meaning they use technology to appear to be calling from a legitimate source.
• If a caller pressures you to buy software or requests any other upfront payment, immediately hang up. If you’re worried about your computer’s security, call your security software company directly for more information.
• Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, and report illegal calls made to your phone number.
• If you think you might have been a victim of this scam, Attorney General Madigan suggested Illinois residents:
• Update or download legitimate security software applications to scan your computer. Delete anything identified as a problem.
• Change your passwords.

If you paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider using the toll-free number on the back of your card and report the unauthorized charges.

Review your banking statements for other unauthorized charges.

Call Attorney General Madigan’s Identity Theft Hotline (1-866-999-5630), which is staffed by a team of experts who provide one-on-one assistance to help consumers report identity thefts to law enforcement and financial institutions, repair their credit, and prevent future problems.

Well Testing Available At McHenry County Health Department

In honor of Safe Drinking Water Month, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) will offer reduced fee water testing for individual well water users during the month of August.  Residents can have their well water sampled for coliform bacteria and nitrate for $18. 

Testing your well regularly is the only way to determine whether well water is safe to drink as many contaminants are colorless and odorless.  Water from a public or municipal water system is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards. 

Bacteria and chemicals can get into well water and contaminate it in different ways. Some bacteria and chemicals occur naturally.  Contaminants such as nitrate can come from animal waste, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted storm water runoff, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, or decaying plants.  High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause illness in young children and pregnant women.  Coliform bacteria are microbes found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, in soil, on plants, and in surface water.   

MCDH will test water from private wells for nuisance chemicals resulting in water hardness, iron, discoloration and odor.  Additional charges will apply. Sampling kits can be picked up at MCDH locations in Woodstock, Crystal Lake or at one of eight drop-off centers.  Samples can be dropped off for testing on Tuesday mornings between 9:00am and 12:00pm at the following sites: 

• Algonquin Townships Office, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, (847) 639-2329
• Dorr Township Office, 1039 Lake Avenue, Woodstock  (815) 338-0125
• MCDH, 100 N Virginia Street, Crystal Lake IL (815) 459-5151
• McHenry Township Office, 3703 Richmond Road, McHenry  (815) 385-5605
• Nunda Township Office, 3510 Bay Road, Crystal Lake (815) 459-4011
•  City of Marengo, City Hall, 134 E. Prairie Street, Marengo  (815) 568-7112
• City of Harvard, Police Department, 201 W Front Street, Harvard (815) 943-4431
• Richmond Township Office, 7812 South Route 31, Richmond (815) 678-0077
• Grafton Township Office, 10109 Vine Street, Huntley (847) 669-3328

 For more information, contact MCDH’s Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585 or visit www.mcdh.info.

Assistant State's Attorney Metnick Nominated MADD's Heroes Award

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Assistant State’s Attorney David Metnick has been nominated and selected as part of an elite group of individuals to receive MADD’s 2014 Heroes Award based upon his accomplishments in helping to eliminate drunk driving.

Metnick has successfully prosecuted numerous DUI cases throughout his career with the State’s Attorney’s office. The Heroes Award is in part due to Metnick’s successes in several high profile felony DUI cases over this past year.

Scott Hirschey, 50, of Crystal Lake was sentenced to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Aggravated DUI charges stemming from his 2012 arrest.

William Depner, 62, formerly of McHenry, is awaiting sentencing for his February 2013 Aggravated DUI. Depner faces between five and ten years in prison.

Hirschey and Depner both had previous convictions for DUIs causing fatal traffic crashes.

In addition, Metnick successfully prosecuted DUI charges against Joshua Hachmeister, 34, of Wonder Lake resulting in a sentence of 5 1/2 years in prison following a jury trial in May of this year.

Most recently, Metnick sent Jason Bowling, 33, of Harvard to the Illinois Department of Corrections for 26 months. Bowling was operating a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol while his nine year old son was a passenger. 

The 2014 MADD Heroes Banquet will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Hilton Garden in Springfield, Illinois.

Crystal Lake Beach Tests

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) conducted beach water samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Thursday, August 14.  All beaches are open. 

Residents should visit the MCDH webpage (www.mcdh.info) for the latest information.

To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licensed beaches on the 12 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 or call 815-334-4585

Research In Ceramics

McHenry County College (MCC) art students Molly Tait of McHenry and Shelby Page of Crystal Lake are passionate about art and when their ceramics instructor Tom Vician suggested they both pursue individualized research projects beyond the classroom, both eagerly accepted the challenge. Both students chose a topic in ceramics as part of MCC’s Undergraduate Research Scholar program (URSP)
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Undergraduate Research Scholar Program Growing 

Tait and Page are among 14 students who flexed their brains and pushed the envelope by participating in the Undergraduate Research Scholar Program since it launched in 2012. The program allows students to research subjects they are interested in and work closely with a faculty member who mentors them. Past student projects have included the fields of biology, English, sociology, anthropology and applied technology. The program follows MCC’s primary mission to focus on learning and student success.

Students Gain Valuable Research Experience Toward Future Education, Careers

Both Tait and Page conducted their own research by delving into books and/or the internet and worked in MCC’s ceramics studio from May through July to create unique pieces that reflected their research.

Tait chose to focus on the Mayan hieroglyphics and symbols because of the playful forms and fluidity and the detailed carved surface, which she said resembled her personal style in clay. After six weeks, Tait had created three complex ceramic sculptures with meticulously carved surfaces influenced by Mayan hieroglyphics and symbols. The sculptures were carefully painted with a variety of glazes that Tait developed herself and then fired at MCC in the college’s new soda kiln.

“It was nice to get started on the project right after spring semester ended, when no one was in the studio,” said Tait, who enrolled in her first ceramics class three years ago. “It was nice to have a quiet space to work.  This program gave me more freedom to study something I was interested in.”

“I learned not only more about my artistic style, but about my learning style and how to motivate myself,” Tait said. “I have grown to be more self-driven. When I’m away at college, I will be motivating myself to make art.”

Influenced by the Korean technique, Page made her own carving tools and her own glazes. She spent six weeks creating matching porcelain and stoneware plates, bowls and vases influenced by ceramics made by the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Page said she became fascinated with Korean ceramic methods when Vician introduced carving techniques in the classroom that he learned during his trip to South Korea two years ago.

“Shelby not only learned how history can influence her artistic style, but she also realized how to independently pursue ideas to create meaningful artwork,” Vician said.

“I’m happy and proud of my accomplishment,” Page said. “This project allowed me to dive deeper into the ceramic processes and helped me understand what I’m doing in the future. I also learned I could buckle down and do a lot of work really fast.”

Both students learned how to take professional images of their work, adding to their portfolios they will bring with them as they transfer to their respective four-year universities this fall. Tait will attend Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi to study art and pursue a possible career as a professional artist. Page will attend the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee to major in art with a minor in communications with plans to pursue a career combining both fields.

Student Artists Build on Past Successes 

Tait and Page have shown their artistic prowess at past exhibits. Last April, both displayed their work at the 2014 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Juried Art Exhibit at MCC, where Tait won Best of Show for her Chinese bronze vessel-inspired ceramics and Page won Award of Excellence for her untitled ceramics.

Mentoring Faculty Member Proud of Students’ Success 

Vician not only recruited, but worked closely with both Tait and Page as their mentor.

“I thought they had what it took to handle a rigorous research project,” Vician said, referring to recruiting these two ceramics students. “Their dedication was obvious and their commitment exceeded my expectations. Their schedules were paced and well-planned.”

 “Both Molly and Shelby exhibited confidence and professionalism throughout the program that will prepare them well for a successful future in the arts,” Vician said.

In this situation, Vician said, both students had the opportunity to develop an idea and create an individualized body of work specific to their own area of interest.

Students Earn Credit Upon Project Completion 

The URSP program requires original research topics that must be completed within one semester and culminates with a final presentation to the MCC community that includes administrators, faculty, students, and staff.  In addition, the program provides funding that supports the students’ research. Students earn one credit hour after completing the project.

Coordinator of Career Services at MCC Evette Thompson said the program helps with the development of critical thinking skills by encouraging students to work with faculty members beyond the classroom.

“This program provides students an added tool for their college education because they gain deeper knowledge and experience doing research in their field,” Thompson said.

General Electric Code Class At MCC

McHenry County College will offer a General Electric Code class that covers commercial sites, and one- and two-family residences, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning on Thursday, Sept. 11 through Dec. 11.  This course will take place at the Woodstock Center, 912 Trakk Lane in Woodstock.

Information learned in this combination residential/commercial electrical class will help students develop a strong understanding of the NEC Electrical Code, make more accurate, thorough, and safe installations or inspections relating to residential and commercial sites. It also prepares students to sit for the International Code Council’s (ICC) Electrical Exam.

Participants should bring a calculator and a copy of the NEC Code Book to class. The textbook is included in the $295 cost of the course. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be issued for this training.

For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at (815) 479-7879 or rkormanak@mchenry.edu. To register, call (815) 455-8588 and give them course ID: USV U40-001.

General Electric Code Classes At MCC

McHenry County College will offer a General Electric Code class that covers commercial sites, and one- and two-family residences, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning on Thursday, Sept. 11 through Dec. 11.  This course will take place at the Woodstock Center, 912 Trakk Lane in Woodstock.

Information learned in this combination residential/commercial electrical class will help students develop a strong understanding of the NEC Electrical Code, make more accurate, thorough, and safe installations or inspections relating to residential and commercial sites. It also prepares students to sit for the International Code Council’s (ICC) Electrical Exam.

Participants should bring a calculator and a copy of the NEC Code Book to class. The textbook is included in the $295 cost of the course. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be issued for this training.

For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at (815) 479-7879 or rkormanak@mchenry.edu. To register, call (815) 455-8588 and give them course ID: USV U40-001