CL mayor highlights city’s success, looks to future
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013
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SNOWMOBILING SAFETY
‘WEIRDEST YEAR FOR ICE’
Wheeler’s deal: Be prudent Pension reform, taxes first, says rep in 64th By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com
NOTE TO READERS: This article is part of an ongoing series about McHenry County’s new representation in Springfield and Washington after the 2012 election and post-census redistricting.
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Deputy John Miller prepares a snowmobile for use Friday at the McHenry County sheriff’s substation in Crystal Lake.
Best bet is just to stay off the water, experts say By LAWERENCE SYNETT
Voice your opinion
lsynett@shawmedia.com
I
t happens every winter: Snowmobilers brave what they believe is a frozen waterway in McHenry County and plunge through the ice. Before the latest snowfall, area police and fire departments had reported more than a dozen instances where snowmobilers tried and failed to cross or ride the icy waters. Mild weather combined
Is snowmobiling one of your winter activities? Vote online at NWHerald.com. with a slow start to measurable snowfall has prevented most bodies of water from completely freezing, local snowmobile experts said, making conditions risky at best for riders. “Unless you know it’s safe,
you just shouldn’t be out there because the waters just aren’t what they used to be,” said Dick Arseneau, trail master for the McHenry County Snowmobile Association. “We all make mistakes, but safety has to be the top priority.” As much as 6 inches of snow fell in some areas of the county this week, creating prime snowmobiling conditions on the more than 200 miles of trails in the county. Riding the trails requires
at least 4 inches of snow if the ground is frozen and 6 inches if it’s not. For waterways, at least 6 to 8 inches of ice is recommended. Determining whether water is frozen enough for snowmobiling is an ever changing process, said Dave Rudolph, president of the snowmobile association. “This is the weirdest year
See SNOWMOBILING, page A10
FOX LAKE – Newly elected Republican state Rep. Barbara Wheeler’s office was easy to miss on a snowy Monday. She had just received the occupancy permit for her small, downtown district office, and the office sign would be coming later in the week. Most of her stuff was packed in cardboard boxes stacked on top of furniture handed down from the office of former Republican Rep. Sid Mathias, who lost his re-election bid in a separate race. “Wouldn’t you be mad if you walked into a state representative’s office that was lush, plush and paid for by the taxpayers’ dollars?” Wheeler said. Wheeler, a former McHenry County Board member who ran unopposed for the new 64th House District, said she hopes to bring similar austerity – spending less than you make and being frugal with what you do spend – to a General Assembly drowning in red ink. Under post-census redistricting, the 64th district
How to contact Contact 64th House District Rep. Barbara Wheeler at the following: n District office: 37 E. Grand Ave., Suite 101, Fox Lake, IL 60020; 847973-0064 n Springfield office: 214-N Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706; 217782-1664 n Email: Repwheeler64@ gmail.com
See WHEELER, page A10
Ill. official’s letter, not law, key to road work By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration said that when it comes to a boost in road construction this spring, follow the letter, not the law. A new law signed by the governor allows as much as $176 million to be taken out of a road construction fund. But in a letter to a top Senate Democrat, Transportation Secre-
tary Ann Schneider promises not to divert that much money from a $675 million plan for highway and bridge construction projects this year. On Thursday, Quinn approved a $ 1 . 5 b i l l i o n Gov. Pat s p e n d i n g p l a n Quinn that includes the construction projects – but it relies on taking millions from the
locallY SpeaKinG
state’s road fund to cover health insurance costs for state road workers. Schneider concedes in her letter that taking the full amount allowed by the law “would have a significant impact” on how much patching and replacement could be done, but she promises that no more than $125 million would be diverted. The Illinois Department of Transportation determined it didn’t need the higher amount to cover the health care costs,
Quinn budget spokesman Abdon Pallasch added. Rekindling a decades-old debate about road-fund “diversions,” Republicans argued against the $1.5 billion spending plan before it was approved by the Senate. Republicans complained that it was flawed and rushed through without proper notification to taxpayers because
See ROAD WORK, page A10
McHENRY COUNTY
STORM’S SPEED SURPRISES SOME Snowplow and salt truck drivers worked hours past midnight Thursday to clear the county’s roads and thoroughfares of a major snowfall. The storm brought 4 to 6 inches of snow to much of the area, the National Weather Service said. The storm came sooner and faster than some expected, including meteorologists . For more, see page B1.
Cary-Grove’s Joslyn Nicholson Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
HiGH
LOW
35 28 Complete forecast on A12
CARY: Cary-Grove girls win against Grayslake North in unofficial Fox Valley Conference title game. Sports, C1 Vol. 28, Issue 40
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Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
District 64 freshman state Rep. Barbara Wheeler, RCrystal Lake, was sworn in to the newly drawn district Jan. 9. District 64 covers towns from Crystal Lake to Antioch.