Friday Night Live: McHenry at Jacobs, 7:15 p.m.
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WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE • LOCAL, B1
Cary-Grove overcomes game 1 loss to beat Jacobs
Efforts aim to restore building to its 1890 look Cary-Grove’s Maddy Katchen
Bill targets property tax appeals
SIMULATING THE BUSINESS WORLD
Official says assessments aren’t reason for rising bills By JOSEPH BUSTOS jbustos@shawmedia.com Hoping to give property taxpayers more of a say in the property-tax appeals process, state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, has introduced a bill he calls a “property taxpayer’s bill of rights.” If passed, the proposed legislation would require property assessors to justify any property assessment increase greater than 5 percent, compared with the previous year’s assessed value, during an appeals process. “Every day I hear from constituents who are concerned that their property taxes continually go up without any connection to what’s going on in the outside world,” Franks said. The proposed change, which was introduced Thursday, puts the burden
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, introduced a bill that would require assessors to prove why an increased property value is warranted. of proof on the assessor to prove why an increased property value is warranted. Currently, during a property value appeals process, when property owners try to have their assessments lowered, it is up to the homeowner to supply recent sales data of comparable homes showing that their house has been overassessed. The comparable properties have to be of similar size, story height, quality of construction and style.
Photos by Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Crystal Lake South seniors Jennifer Dielman, 17, (left) and Malgorzata Was, 17, work on their resumes Thursday during their Virtual Enterprises International class. The class operates in a simulated business world with other classrooms around the world. Each class that participates has a CEO, HR person, marketing person, accountant and other positions a business would require.
TEENAGE EXECUTIVES Virtual jobs teach real-life skills to Crystal Lake South students By JEFF ENGELHARDT
See FRANKS, page A8
jengelhardt@shawmedia.com rystal Lake South High School senior Phil Magnelli hopes to be the chief financial officer of UnderWrapz within a week. It could seem like a large responsibility for a high school senior to handle, but at least the commute will be manageable. His “office” is in Jim Krol’s second-period classroom. Magnelli and 26 of his classmates will operate a Virtual Enterprises International firm this school year by taking roles including executive officers, accountants, marketers, human resource positions and many more as they try to sell their product in a simulated marketplace with more than 5,000 other classroom “firms” across the globe. While the products and money are fake, the lessons and skills needed are as real as what the students will find in the real business world. It is why Magnelli has cut
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Illinois poverty rate remains near 15 percent By JIM SUHR The Associated Press ST. LOUIS – New U.S. census figures show that Illinois’ poverty rate held stubbornly at nearly 15 percent last year, signaling what anti-poverty activists say is worrisome proof that any economic recovery has not reached those struggling with low income. The latest federal data show that 14.7 percent of Illinoisans – 1.85 million people or one in seven residents of the state – were in poverty last year, down slightly from the 15 percent, or 1.88 million, in 2011. The national rate also remained discouragingly stuck at 15 percent – affecting 46.5 million Americans and marking the sixth year in a row
“I think what it shows is that poverty still is at nearly unprecedented levels. Ultimately, I think it shows that the recovery has not trickled down to the people at the bottom of the economic ladder.” Amy Terpstra Heartland Alliance’s Social Impact Research Center the U.S. rate failed to improve. For the past year, the official poverty line was an
Crystal Lake South teacher Jim Krol (left) talks with student Joseph Kirshenbaum, 18, during his Virtual Enterprises International class Thursday. no corners – wearing a suit and tie to school each day – as he prepares to interview in front of a panel of local business owners, accountants and sales managers next week. “I really am hoping to be chief financial officer or head
See POVERTY, page A5
LOCALLY SPEAKING
HUNTLEY
CONCERNS OVER RENOVATION COSTS Village trustees voiced concerns Thursday about Huntley’s financial commitment toward renovating a historic downtown property called “Hackett House,” a two-story former hotel from the early 1900s that architects have estimated could cost up to $300,000 to repair. For more, see page B1.
Lathan Goumas – lgoumas@shawmedia.com
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the accounting department,” Magnelli said. “It really feels more like a business than a class.” Krol, who teaches the class, saw how serious and professional students became running the simulated business last year when the
program first started at Crystal Lake South. The group of 15 students started UnderWrapz, a company that produces custom vinyl wraps for phones, laptops, tablets, vehicles and other products.
See BUSINESS, page A8