McHeNrY coUNtY SPrING THEATER PreVIeW Plus... • Broadway actress comes to CL • ‘Top Gear’ host visits Volo • Seth MacFarlane talks Oscars • Nick Cave’s new album In today’s Pl@Y
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013
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The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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PreP football • SPortS, c1
ProPertY • local, b1
Coaches against bill limiting football contact
Missing money? State may have it
A winter safety crash course New plea
option for DUIs
‘Careless driving’ added to charges prosecutors can offer in bargaining By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Sales Associate Cory Wolf checks and sets the pressure on the tires of a customer’s car Thursday at Goodyear Auto Tech Center in Crystal Lake on Thursday. It is important to regularly monitor the pressure in your tires and set the pressure high for colder weather.
Winter weather advisory • A mix of snow and freezing rain is expected to fall on McHenry County beginning tonight and into Friday. • A winter weather advisory is scheduled to be in effect from 9 p.m. today to 6 p.m. Friday. • A period of heavy snow with snowfall rates of an inch per hour is expected during the late evening into the overnight hours, the weather service said. Three to 5 inches of snow is expected.
Source: National Weather Service
Prepare your car Start with a checkup that includes: • Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts. • Changing and adjusting spark plugs. • Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve. • Inspecting the distributor. • Checking the battery. • Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth. • Checking antifreeze level and the freeze line. • A tune-up (check the owner’s manual for the recommended interval) to ensure better gas mileage, quicker starts and faster pickup and passing power.
Unpredictable weather means drivers should be ready for anything By JANE HUH jhuh@shawmedia.com For area residents, driving in harsh winter conditions is a simply a part of life. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a winter driving checklist and review defensive driving tips. Earlier this month, motorists throughout McHenry County received a one-two punch of a snowstorm. Between 4 to 6 inches of snow blanketed much of the area Feb. 7, a day that began with freezing rain. The wintry mix brought hazardous driving conditions, causing several traffic accidents throughout the evening commute. The Crystal Lake Police Department responded to several calls from motorists who skidded into ditches, Officer Kimberley Shipbaugh said. “People are not giving enough space, not enough room to stop,” she said. “ ... They’re driving like it’s dry and sunny out.” A mix of snow and freezing rain is expected to fall on McHenry County beginning tonight and into Friday. When it’s done, 3 to 5 inches of
Source: Crystal Lake Police Department
Driving in snow and ice If you don’t have to drive, don’t. But if you must, drive defensively and be smart. • Before beginning a trip, know the road conditions. • Be alert for hazards including downed branches, trees or electric lines and icy areas such as shady spots and bridges. • Leave a few minutes early. • Slow down and triple the usual distance between your car and the one ahead. • Stay in the plowed lane; avoid driving over the ridges between the plowed areas. If you must switch lanes, slow down, signal and move over slowly. • Don’t pass a snowplow or spreader unless absolutely necessary. • Don’t park along the street. Snowplows can’t fully clear a road with cars on it. • If you skid, steer into the skid. If the back of your car is skidding to the left, for example, turn the steering wheel to the left. • Don’t pump your brakes, and avoid locking them up. If your brakes lock, take your foot off the brake pedal for a moment. If your car has an antilock braking system and you must brake, be sure to press the brake pedal and hold. • If you’re involved in a fender-bender, move the cars out of the lanes of travel. • Keep your headlights on, and keep snow and ice off mirrors, windows and lights.
Ordinances appearing in several McHenry County municipalities might change the way driving under the influence charges are negotiated in court. Some DUI cases have a lack of evidence, leaving prosecutors wary of failing to get convictions at trial. Like most criminal cases, most DUI cases are resolved via pleas, and defendants and defense attorneys are hesitant to plead guilty to driving under the influence when the case is weak because of long-term consequences. Prosecutors and defendants often settle on a reckless driving conviction during those negotiations, but that disposition is going out of vogue.
Pension proposal calls for tax hikes By REGINA GARCIA CANO The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – A twoyear-old temporary Illinois income tax increase should become permanent to pay an increasing state portion of employee pension costs through 2019, a top House Democrat said Wednesday. Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang’s proposal to shrink a $96 billion deficit in five state retirement systems also would increase the retirement age to 67 and increase employee
See PENSIONS, page A4
locallY SPeaKING
HUNtleY
D-158 MOVES FORWARD WITH TURF District 158 is moving toward installing artificial turf for its football field, which would make Huntley the first school in the county to have a synthetic turf. Such a surface, which is costly to buy, would provide numerous advantages regarding usage and be relatively inexpensive to maintain. for more, see page c1.
Recycler g2 revolution co-owner Billy Waterson (left) and Chief Executive Officer John Graham H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawnews.com
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A new “careless driving” violation carries lesser consequences than the Class B misdemeanor reckless driving charge, often reached during plea agreements for DUI cases. The violation has been added in at least four McHenry County municipalities.
See DUI, page A4
Source: Crystal Lake Police Department
See WINTER, page A4
What it means
Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, wants to increase the retirement age to 67 and increase employee contributions by 3 percenttage points.