Arkush: Bears season to be all about the kids
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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Rosh Hashana comes early with sweet treats
CLC’s Dvoracek gets 5 kills in win over PR
County Board nixes rule changes Some rejected proposals were aimed at limiting the power of the chairmanship By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board gutted the changes to its rules developed over six months by one of its committees. After four hours and more than two dozen votes rejecting recommended changes, the County Board voted, 13-7, to
adopt its rules after a six-month post-election review by its Management Services Committee. All but two of the “no” votes came from committee members. Among the many rejected proposals were those aimed at the powers of the County Board chairman’s seat, which has been held since December by Chairwoman Tina Hill, R-Woodstock.
Board members eliminated a controversial change limiting the chairman to three consecutive two-year terms on a 15-9 vote. Besides questioning the constitutionality of the measure – state law does not explicitly empower counties to impose term limits – Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, said the idea was not a term limit, but forcing a chairman “to
take a two-year sabbatical.” “This rule, in my personal opinion, is political pandering at its worst,” Gottemoller said. That drew a swift reply from Ersel Schuster, R-Woodstock, who has fought for years for substantial changes to County Board rules, alleging that they concentrate too much power into too few hands.
“I have to snicker when I hear that we’re pandering to the public,” Schuster said. “I don’t know who we represent if it’s not the public.” Management Services is tasked with reviewing the County Board’s rules after the new board is seated after each
Chairwoman Tina Hill, R-Woodstock
See BOARD, page A6
ANKLE BRACELETS AMONG COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS
Rauner calls for Ill. term limits GOP hopeful also seeks Senate cuts By KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
TRACKING HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Intensive probation officer Mark Skiles demonstrates how radio frequency monitoring devices are fitted on Lori Danczyk, supervisor of special units, at the McHenry County Courthouse. Electronic monitoring devices can be used for offenders and defendants to protect and oversee cases involving orders of protection, probation, domestic violence and home confinement. By LAWERENCE SYNETT lsynett@shawmedia.com
S
ome convicted adults and juveniles are monitored after incarceration or as an alternative to spending time behind bars. McHenry and Kane counties use electronic monitoring programs to keep a watchful eye on people considered a threat to offend again, youth on house arrest or those barred from someone by an order of protection. The common ankle bracelet tracks the whereabouts of an
Electronic monitoring devices a useful tool for court system individual through the use of radio frequency or a designated area through GPS satellites. McHenry County has the ability to monitor 30 people but has never had all units deployed at once, said Roger Bacon, chief managing probation officer. The Intensive Probation Supervision program started in 1990 and requires at
least 90 days of radio frequency monitoring for high-risk felony offenders in lieu of jail time. The county uses GPS tracking for serious domestic violence cases. There are currently four people being tracked through the use of radio frequency monitoring, and since 2010, only three people have
been monitored with GPS. “It enhances community safety,” Bacon said. Both tracking programs are offender paid – $8.50 a day for radio frequency and $10.50 a day for GPS. An officer oversees those being monitored daily. “Electronic monitoring has paid for itself,” Bacon said. “We are a small county, and we utilize technology very appropriately.” As an alternative to sending juveniles to detention centers
See MONITORING, page A6
SPRINGFIELD – Declaring the moment ripe to address “failure in Springfield,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner unveiled a proposal Tuesday to impose eight-year term limits on Illinois lawmakers while also shrinking the size of the state Senate and giving the governor more power to override leg- Bruce islators’ vetoes. Rauner Rauner, a Winnetka venture capitalist and newcomer to state politics, rolled out details of a proposed petition drive for the legislative overhaul on the first day campaign hopefuls began circulating petitions for the 2014 race. It was quickly criticized as a gimmick by a rival in the four-way GOP primary race, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, who spent the day promoting his choice of running mate in the lieutenant governor’s race. Rauner’s petition drive is being run separate from his bid for governor, although he’s seeking to put the question to voters on the same November 2014 ballot where his name would appear if he’s successful in the GOP primary. The proposal would ask voters to impose the term limits
See TERM LIMITS, page A5
LOCALLY SPEAKING Adrienne Ostrowski and Saffron
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
McHENRY COUNTY
BOYS SOCCER
COUNTY CLERK NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK FROM HUNTLEY
McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz is calling it quits after more than two decades in office. Schultz, 71, was first elected county clerk in 1990, but her time in the office long precedes that – former County Clerk Vernon Kays hired her in 1959. She cited her age and desire to travel as the main reasons behind the decision. For more, see page B1.
In his first game of the season, Niko Mihalopoulos delivered a clutch performance Thursday against Lake Park to keep the Red Raiders undefeated. Also, a look at local teams’ different approaches when it comes to playing nonconference games, and a listing of this week’s can’tmiss boys soccer games. For more, see page C2.
CARY: Class at Northwest Obedience Club teaches dogs to search for scents. Local&Region, B1
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