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Bethany Zornow
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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eye health • planit style, d1
Hawks’ streak at 19 after OT comeback over Oilers
Loss of vision could be sign of health problems
Parolee in fatal crash faces DUI Walter Depner was convicted in 1999 Lakemoor-area wreck that killed 4 By SARAH SUTSCHEK ssutschek@shawmedia.com McHENRY – Still on parole after serving more than a decade behind bars for a drunken crash that left a woman
and her three children dead, Walter Depner was arrested Sunday evening and charged with DUI. At 6:17 p.m., members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched
for a well-being check on a person who reportedly drove off the road in the area of 905 W. Rand Road/Route 120 near Lakemoor. While deputies were en route, a second call was re-
ceived about a man in a nearby home in the 500 block of North Boulevard. The homeowner said that Depner, 61, now of Mount Prospect, pulled his vehicle into the driveway, walked into the house, and
then sat on the couch. The homeowner recognized Depner as someone who used to live in the neighborhood.
Walter Depner was arrested Sunday and charged with DUI.
See DUI, page A5
Leader: Gun carry law needed
Illinois’ bills may hit $22B by 2018 By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
McHenry County Right to Carry Association president Michael Schuch spoke Monday at an open meeting of the association to give residents an update on firearms legislation at the Woodstock VFW.
Training important for weapons owners, county group advocate says By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Frances Colon was named after her grandmother. The 18-year-old Chicago woman was shot in Humboldt Park about a week and a half ago, the president of the McHenry County Right To Carry Association said.
Michael Schuch introduced the elder Frances Colon, a longtime family friend, to a group of about 50 who gathered at the Woodstock Veterans of Foreign Wars post Monday evening for an update on what’s happening with concealed carry in Illinois. “That young girl, perhaps she could have had a chance to defend herself, but
by the laws of Chicago, by the laws of Illinois, she was naked on the street against a grown man,” Schuch said. Colon, who lives about two blocks from where her granddaughter was fatally shot in the back, was visiting the family and wanted to come hear Schuch speak, she
See GUNS, page A5
inIide Rich Miller makes the case for why passing concealed carry won’t be easy. page a2
CHICAGO – Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills will reach nearly $22 billion within five years if lawmakers don’t take action to fix the state’s worstin-the-nation pension crisis, according to an analysis released Monday by a Chicagobased watchdog group. The report from the Civic Federation notes some improvement since last year, when it was forecasting a $35 billion backlog in overdue bills. The improved outlook is largely because of $1.6 billion in Medicaid cuts Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law last year. But the overall financial picture remains dire, with annual payments toward Illinois’ $97 billion unfunded pension liability threatening to “swamp all of state government,” Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said. This year, the state’s annual pension payment is about $5.1 billion, or roughly 22.1 percent of the state’s general fund. The payment will grow to $7 billion – or nearly 31 percent of all general funds – by 2018 without pension reform, the analysis found. That would mean even less money would be available for the state to pay its bills. Currently, the backlog is $7.8 billion. An increase to $21.7 billion by 2018 could mean health care providers, nursing homes and other
See BILLS, page A5
lOCally speaKing
MchenRy COunty
CRITICS HIT CANDIDATE OVER PAYROLL Some residents in four McHenry County townships will head to the polls today to vote in Republican primary contests in Nunda, Algonquin, Dorr and Grafton townships, where Grafton Township Assessor Bill Oattley has come under criticism for using his public office to employ family members. The general election is April 9. for more, Iee page B1.
Jim Dallke – jdallke@shawmedia.com
It’s not too late to change your career! No thru Now th Feb. Feb 28th. 28th Register Regist for f winter inte classes and receive up to $9250.00! Join our beautiful recession-proof industry.
WOOdstOCK: County residents gather at state Rep. Jack Franks’ district office to rally against gay marriage. Local, B1 700 E. Terra Cotta Ave. • Crystal Lake Salon: 815-455-5900
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