Arkush: Expectations for Jon Bostic already unfair
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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CLC clinches at least share of FVC Fox title
Grills take apples out of their comfort zone
Flesh-eating drug could be in county
A long journey Homeless family close to having permanent housing in Marengo
Centegra may be treating first case of ‘krokodil’ use By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com A nasty flesh-eating street drug may have made its way to McHenry County, experts warn. Centegra Health System advised Tuesday that it may be treating someone who injected themselves with “krokodil,” a heroin substitute of Russian origin. The drug is a toxic cocktail of opiates like codeine and substances such as gasoline and lighter fluid. The drug causes users’ skin to turn scaly and green, hence the name, which is the Russian word for crocodile. The skin subsequently rots and falls off. Centegra said in a statement that it is treating an intravenous drug user who has large skin lesions. Because the drug is cheaper than heroin, and heroin use is on the rise in McHenry County, officials fear local hospitals could see more krokodil victims.
At a glance “Krokodil,” a heroin substitute of Russian origin, is a toxic cocktail of opiates like codeine and substances such as gasoline and lighter fluid. The drug causes users’ skin to turn scaly and green, hence the name, which is the Russian word for crocodile. The skin subsequently rots and falls off.
See KROKODIL, page A7 Photos by H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Irl VanPool, a 63-year-old homeless veteran, and his granddaughter, Eileen Waicosky, measure one of the rooms for furniture in the rehabbed Marengo house purchased with assistance from the Aging and Disability Foundation. VanPool and his family plan to move into the home later this month. TOP: VanPool sorts through business cards of people and organizations that have assisted him in the purchase of the Marengo home. By LAWERENCE SYNETT • lsynett@shawmedia.com
T
he fat stack of business cards inside Irl VanPool’s wallet makes the old, tattered piece of fabric nearly impossible to close. Each card is significant to the 63-year-old homeless veteran – a helpful step toward permanent housing as he and his wife reside in Woodstock through McHenry County PADS, a division of Pioneer Center for Human Services. “It’s been a long journey, but it’s going to be well worth it,” VanPool said. “It’s not quite over yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our family is going to be together again soon.” The journey is expected to end in Marengo later this month, when the married couple of more than 17 years moves out of the transitional shelter into a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home donated to the Aging and Disability Foundation. “I had never even heard of
Marengo,” said Charlotte VanPool, who grew up on the North Side of Chicago. “This is our dream house and will finally give us stability. Christmas is coming early.” The couple last year couldn’t afford to renew a lease at the two-bedroom apartment in Cicero they shared with their six young grandchildren and a seventh sibling they are responsible for, Charlotte VanPool said. Now homeless, the grandchildren were turned over to the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services. They had been caring for the six grandchildren since their daughter and son-in-law had been incarcerated, Charlotte VanPool said. The duo took custody of the 10-year-old sibling when she was 3 years old for unrelated reasons. The Vietnam War veteran, his wife and the young sibling proceeded to live out of a truck for some time after that, spending
See JOURNEY, page A7
READ MORE: Lend a Hand Day, hosted by the Leadership of Greater McHenry County, to give back to veterans. PAGE B1
“It’s been a long journey, but it’s going to be well worth it. It’s not quite over yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our family is going to be together again soon.” Irl VanPool
House plan fails; now Senate’s turn By DAVID ESPO The Associated Press WASHINGTON – Time growing desperately short, Senate leaders took command of efforts to avert a Treasury default and end the partial government shutdown Tuesday night after a last big attempt by House Republicans abruptly collapsed. Aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, expressed optimism about chances for an agreement – by Wednesday at the latest – that could pass both houses. Their efforts toward a bipartisan resolution had seemed likely to bear fruit a day earlier before House conservative were given a last-minute chance for their version.
See PLAN, page A7
LOCALLY SPEAKING
CRYSTAL LAKE
WALKUP WALL WON’T BE IMPROVED Crystal Lake City Council members could not strike a deal with McHenry County officials to share maintenance costs for the concrete wall on Walkup Road. City and county officials had been swapping financial deals for months to figure out which body should have primary responsibility for maintaining the wall. For more, see page B1.
DundeeCrown’s Jason Horcher
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
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CARPENTERSVILLE: Dundee-Crown boys soccer finishes FVC Valley undefeated. Sports, C1 Vol. 28, Issue 289
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Read more Shutdown alters trip to D.C. for students from Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills and Heineman Middle School in Algonquin. PAGE B1