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*Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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LAWMAKERS, SHOPPERS BLAST PROPOSALS
STATE TAX ON SODA CRITICIZED
Expert was OK with Schmidt driving Medical testimony dominates 3rd day of trial in fatal accident By ANDREA AZZO
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aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The neurologist for a 49-year-old Sycamore woman accused of reckless homicide testified Tuesday that he had no concerns about her driving six months after he diagnosed her with a seiPatricia zure condition. Schmidt Andrew Ta, a board-certified neurologist at Midwest Neurology in DeKalb, diagnosed Patricia Schmidt with a seizure condition April 17, 2007. Schmidt called Ta’s office and reported feeling strange the morning of Feb. 21, 2011, hours before police said she ran a red light traveling about 78 mph and collided with a car carrying a local couple who died “I can’t really tell a person to spend time at home the rest of the day just because they feel strange,” Ta said. Tuesday was the third day of the bench trial for Schmidt, 49, of the 28500 block of Brickville Road in Sycamore, who
Photo illustration by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would add an excise tax to soda. The state would use the revenue to create an “obesity fund” that would help to “diminish the human and economic costs of obesity,” according to the proposed amendment. By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com Area lawmakers and consumers alike blasted two proposals to impose a tax on sugary beverages. Twin bills introduced in February in both legislative houses in Springfield call for a penny-perounce tax – or $2.88 per 24-can case of soda – that would raise an estimated $600 million for prevention and health care, according to the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity. Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, and Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, introduced the bills, which are aimed at curbing obesity in the state. “I think this is a reasonable approach to a serious problem,” Gabel said. “It’s a good way to bring awareness and, ultimately, the reduction of obesity and diabetes.” State Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, made light of the proposal. “Everybody knows the No. 1 cause of obesity is the spoon and fork,” Bivins said. “Maybe we should ban them or tax them or register them.”
“I think this is a reasonable approach to a serious problem.” Rep. Robyn Gabel D-Evanston
Voice your opinion Do you support taxing sugary beverages in Illinois to fund programs encouraging good health and Illinois Medicaid? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com. The proposed tax places half of the new revenue into a wellness fund, which would support initiatives that promote nutrition, physical activity, school health and wellness, and obesity prevention. The other half would support the Illinois Medicaid program. State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said he doesn’t view the proposal as altruistic.
“This is more about revenue than about really dealing with the health care or individual health and obesity problems we’re facing,” Syverson said. “The idea that a few cents added to the cost of a soft drink will change behavior is not borne out by any real data.” Syverson said the more productive route, if health issues truly are the impetus for the proposal, would be to start by making changes in the products purchased with food stamps. “People should have the right to purchase junk food, but not with government dollars,” Syverson said. Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said he’s received several emails from constituents who are opposed to the bill. “I’m all for making healthy choices, but I don’t think a tax is the right thing to do right now,” Demmer said. Meanwhile, shoppers at Hy-Vee in Sycamore called the proposal
See TAX, page A6
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faces charges of reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving in connection to a crash that killed Tim Getzelman, 21, a Sycamore High School graduate, and his girlfriend, Alexis Weber, 21, a Kaneland High School graduate. The crash happened at the intersection of Route 23 and Peace Road in Sycamore. If convicted of the more serious charge, reckless homicide, Schmidt could face probation or up to five years in prison.
See SCHMIDT, page A6
Waste Management to cover medical costs By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Waste Management will pay more than $70,000 for the medical bills and other expenses stemming from the Jan. 14 incident where a foul odor from the company’s landfill sickened students and staff at Cortland Elementary School. During their meeting Tuesday, the DeKalb-based District 428 school board unanimously approved an agreement that holds Waste Management responsible for some of the costs incurred during the Jan. 14 incident, in which 71 students and staff from Cortland Elementary received medical treatment after a strong, sour odor traveled from the landfill to the school after a contractor unearthed a pocket of decomposing garbage. Waste Management signed the agreement in late February. The agreement specifies Waste Management will pay medical and ambulance charges that amount to $67,555 for the services rendered by
KishHealth System to students and $1,980 to Reddy Medical Associates. The agreement does not detail the remaining costs Waste Management expects to absorb, although it says the company will pay for emergency services at the rate of $125 an hour a vehicle and $35 an hour a firefighter. Emergency personnel reported equipment on the scene included nine ambulances, three fire engines and one rescue squad, and they carried more than 30 emergency personnel. It took four hours to clear the scene. If all the reported equipment and personnel were on the scene for four hours, the bill would be a little more than $10,000. Waste Management also agreed to pay as much as $10,000 for expenses incurred by the school district, but those expenses have yet to be tallied. Waste Management spokeswoman Lisa Disbrow
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