NWH-8-22-3013

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Arkush: Wide receiver, tight end battles wide open

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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TownSquare Players hosts fest to reboot company

C-G grad expects to be at best in shot put Sports, C1

Jimmy Nick

Josh Freeman

Man guilty of first-degree murder Nielsen faces between 20 and 60 years in prison in stabbing death of 34-year-old By CHELSEA MCDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com

and JOSEPH BUSTOS jbustos@shawmedia.com

Richard G. Nielsen

WOODSTOCK – After deliberating for about two-and-a-half hours Wednesday, a jury convicted Richard G. Nielsen of first-degree murder in the stab-

bing death of 34-year-old Jeremy Lechner. “We were confident we were going to prevail,” Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs said. “We felt the evidence was strong, and I think justice was done.” Nielsen, 53, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 14. He faces be-

tween 20 and 60 years in prison. The incident on Feb. 6, 2012, began with an argument after Nielsen was asked to move out of the home at 7607 Orchard Road in Wonder Lake. Nielsen rented a room from Lechner’s girlfriend, Becky Meyers, who also lived there with her brother. Lechner stayed at the home on occasion.

Nielsen was told earlier that day he was no longer welcome at the home, Meyers testified. But the man believed he had a few more days at the home to gather his things, defense attorney Bill Bligh said during closing arguments.

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See GUILTY, page A6

Day in the sun for hospitalized veterans

Pay hikes, union deal get county approval By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com

Photos by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com

Army veteran Jim Llewellyn enjoys the day by the Fox River on Wednesday during the Cary-Grove AMVETS Pearl Harbor Memorial Post 245 annual picnic for hospitalized veterans. BELOW: Veterans Erick Alton (left) and Artis Smith play a game of bags at the picnic.

More than 300 bused in for 26th annual picnic By LAWERENCE SYNETT lsynett@shawmedia.com FOX RIVER GROVE – The outdoor setting at Lions Park was the perfect backdrop Wednesday for the annual Chris Chigas Hospitalized Veterans Picnic. More than 300 veterans were bused in from Chicago area hospitals for the 26th annual event hosted by Cary-Grove AMVETS Pearl Harbor Memorial Post 245. “It’s a nice day for veterans to get

away from the hospital and have some fun in the sun,” said Gary Foster, commander of the Cary-Grove AMVETS. “This is an event we all look forward to with familiar and new faces every year.” Local volunteers served hamburgers and hot dogs while the former military members fished, listened to music and shared war stories, among other things. This was Jerry Nixon’s fifth year participating in the annual picnic, which

See PICNIC, page A6

ON THE NET: View more photos from the veterans picnic at NWHerald.com.

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board approved performance-based raises for its nonunion staff and a first contract with the latest group of county employees to unionize. Members voted, 17-6, to approve merit-based increases for fiscal 2014 of up to 2.75 percent. They also voted, 16-7, to approve the county’s first contract with about 100 nonmanagerial staff of Valley Hi Nursing Home, excluding registered nurses. Opponents briefly commented before the pay-for-performance raise vote, but not before the vote to approve the contract with the new unit of Service Employees International Union Local 73. County Board members who voted “yes” to both did not comment before the votes were taken. Members Nick Provenzano, R-McHenry, and Diane Evertsen, R-Harvard, said raising wages for public-sector employees sends the wrong message to taxpayers. “[I’m voting ‘no’] not because I think our employees don’t deserve to make good wages,” Evertsen said. “I just don’t feel that it’s fair to raise wages for employees on the backs of those who are unemployed.” Evertsen noted the state unemployment rate in July ticked up to 9.2 percent. Illinois’ unemployment rate is second only to Nevada’s, according to U.S. Labor Department of Labor data. Provenzano also questioned giving out raises when the county is preparing for a second year

See DEAL, page A6

LOCALLY SPEAKING

JOHNSBURG

CASCIARO DECISION DELAYED A McHenry County judge said she needs more time before ruling on whether Mario Casciaro should be granted a retrial for the murder of 17-year-old Brian Carrick. Judge Sharon Prather said Wednesday she wants to review transcripts from the trial and review the law before making a decision. Prather said she will make her decision at a Sept. 24 hearing. For more, see page B1.

Dianne Feight of McHenry

Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com

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CRYSTAL LAKE: A cable wakeboard park at Three Oaks Recreation Area gains support. Local&Region, B1

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