MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
Megan Roller
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BEARS INSIDER • SPORTS, B1
Interest in science drives Algonquin teen Local, A3
Arkush: New QB means team may keep three
Stabbing trial set to begin today Wonder Lake man charged with first-degree murder in death of roommate’s boyfriend By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday for the trial of a Wonder Lake man accused of murdering his roommate’s boyfriend. Richard G. Nielsen, 53, was charged in February 2012 with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 34-year-old
Big GOP donors leaning to Rauner
Jeremy Lechner. McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer will preside over the trial. According to police and family members, Richard G. an argument began Nielsen over some missing medication and ended badly for Lechner. Autopsy reports revealed he had
a single stab wound to his chest that hit his heart. Lechner had occasionally been staying at the home, at 7607 Orchard Road in Wonder Lake, with a woman he had been dating, Becky Meyers. On his application for a public defender, Nielsen indicated that he had been living at the house for about four months. Meyers, her brother and Lechner
confronted Nielsen over the medication and asked him to leave, at which time an argument ensued. Nielsen’s defense attorney, Special Public Defender Bill Bligh, intends to argue that his client acted in self-defense. The defense is allowed to introduce limited evidence that Lechner had a previous history of “aggressive and violent” behavior. Nielsen initially had been charged
with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery, but prosecutors upgraded the charges to first-degree murder shortly after his arrest. Prosecutors have asked that the defense be prohibited from mentioning Nielsen’s initial charges, saying in court documents that they are “irrelevant.” The trial is expected to last less than a week.
Team’s ‘magic moment’ ahead
Republicans look to avoid divisive primary By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press CHICAGO – Anxious to clear a path back to the governor’s office, some of the Illinois Republican party’s deepest-pocketed donors are abandoning candidates they previously supported with five- and six-figure donations and directing their money to the only political newcomer in the race – venture capitalist Bruce Rauner. Rauner is a billionaire who – at least financially speaking – doesn’t need the help, and money doesn’t always decide Illinois primary races. But if the pattern holds, it could make it difficult for his opponents – state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard and Treasurer Dan Rutherford – to fight back with television advertising, mailers or fly-around events, particularly in crucial weeks before the March primary election. “That’s going to be their problem, I believe,” said Ron Gidwitz, a former Illinois Republican party chairman and gubernatorial candidate who’s serving as Rauner’s finance chairman. Four years ago, Gidwitz held the same position for the Dillard campaign and contributed more than $300,000 to Dillard in donations and loans. The wealthy businessman is among a handful of heavy-hitting GOP fundraisers who say they grew frustrated after a razor-thin loss in the 2010 governor’s race and a thumping at the polls in 2012 and decided it was time to try something different. They wanted a pro-business candidate who could win statewide and who hadn’t been part of the Springfield establishment. And they wanted the other
Photos by Lathan Goumas – lgoumas@shawmedia.com
Jacob Donahue (center left), 10, plays first base with Trevor Berggren (far left), 12, while Cameron Yelle (far right), 11, and Kyle Trusty (center right), 15, run the bases during a practice and send-off party Sunday for the Illinois Challenger Little League District 13 baseball team at Randall Oaks Recreation Center in West Dundee.
Challenger players ready for Little League World Series trip By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
Jordan Harris, 8, bats during a practice and send-off party for the Illinois Challenger Little League District 13 baseball team.
WEST DUNDEE – Ryan Santiago hit a baseball without the assistance of a tee for the first time in his life last week. Now, the 10-year-old Lake in the Hills resident is ready for his time to shine at the Little League World Series on ESPN. Santiago and 14 of his teammates from local Challenger Little League teams are headed to South
Williamsport, Penn., this week to play a special showcase game at the Little League World Series the day before the championship game. Challenger is a division of Little League geared toward children with mental or physical disabilities. Illinois’ District 13 – comprised of Challenger leagues in Woodstock, Bartlett and Tri-Cities – was one of only two of the 900
See BASEBALL, page A10
See CANDIDATES, page A10
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THURSDAY
WOODSTOCK JAZZ FESTIVAL BEGINS The Woodstock Jazz Festival will be Thursday through Saturday at Stage Left Café, 125 W. Van Buren St., on the Woodstock Square. For information and a schedule of artists, visit www.jazzonthesquare.com or call 847-340-8319.
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The week’s happenings in news, sports and more. Page A2
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Vol. 28, Issue 231 Local&Region Lottery Obituaries
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