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CL bleachers loom over election 11 vie for 3 seats on Community High School D-155 Board; only 1 incumbent running Whitman, will be Eleven candidates filed their nomseeking another inating petitions with the McHenry term. School board County Clerk last month – a number CRYSTAL LAKE – The crowded in stark contrast to the four, all inmembers Jim Nelfield vying for the three open seats on cumbents, who ran in the last school son and Barbara the Community High School District board election; and the three, again Slusin will not be 155 Board has been caused, at least in all incumbents, who ran in the elec- running this April. part, by the legal battle engulfing the tion before that. Whitman did not return multiple expanded bleachers at Crystal Lake This time around, only one incum- calls for comment on her decision to South High School. bent, school board member Karen run again.
By EMILY K. COLEMAN
ecoleman@shawmedia.com
Gov. Quinn pardons 3 abolitionists from Illinois Granted 99 more recent requests, denied 208 By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – Three Illinois abolitionists who were convicted for anti-slavery efforts in the 1800s were posthumously pardoned Wednesday by Gov. Pat Quinn, their names among 102 people granted New Year’s Eve clemency by the outgoing Chicago Democrat. Efforts to pardon the three were spearheaded by Quincy historians and Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who filed petitions on their behalf last year as part of a special project. Among them was an Underground Gov. Pat Railroad conductor Quinn – Dr. Richard Eells – whose Quincy home was declared by the U.S. National Park Service as one of the nation’s most important sites on the covert network that Lt. Gov. Sheila led escaped slaves to freedom and safety. Simon “These early warriors for freedom put everything on the line to help their fellow man, and their civil disobedience paved the way for civil rights,” Quinn said in a statement. “Clearing their criminal records 171 years later shows how far we have come, but reminds us all that we should fight injustice wherever we find it.” Simon also sought clemency for two abolitionists from Jacksonville, Julius Willard and his son, Samuel. They were convicted in 1843 of secreting and harboring a fugitive slave, among the same charges against Eells. Illinois residents voted to abolish slavery in 1824. However, state and federal law prohibited the harboring or assisting of runaway slaves in free states.
“It’s like a horse race,” said Crystal Lake’s Rosemary Kurtz, one of the 11 that will appear on the ballot in April. No objections were filed by the Dec. 31 deadline. Kurtz and Whitman will be joined by Daniel Marks of Cary and Gerald Gross, Amy Blazier, Brian Pelz, Adam Guss, Edward Clark, Brennan Markee, Brett Siegmeier and Titus
Illinois state Sen. Julie Morrison is the sponsor of a new law that goes into effect Thursday that requires boaters towing a person to display an orange flag. The bill was inspired by Morrison’s nephew, Tony Borcia, a 10-year-old from Libertyville who died after a crash along the Chain O’ Lakes in 2012.
Mielke, all of Crystal Lake. Kurtz is one of the candidates who pointed to the bleacher debacle for spurring her to action. A lawsuit filed by the owners of neighboring properties – and of which the city of Crystal Lake also is a party – revolves around the
See ELECTION, page A4
NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS Speed limits, medical marijuana, boating among changes
AP file photo
Illinois lawmakers passed more than 200 new laws that will go into effect Thursday, including legislation making parents and guardians of underage teens who consume alcohol in their homes more accountable. By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com People eager to rest after a night spent ringing in 2015 can travel home faster along the interstates around Chicago, starting New Year’s Day. But if a boater along the Fox River parties too much and op-
erates under the influence, their boat can be impounded for the first time. Likewise, if underage kids are caught drinking inside cars, motor homes, campers and private planes, their parents now can be charged with a crime. As Illinoisans begin a new year, they face 220 new laws that take
effect Jan. 1, approved by lawmak- ea interstates under the Illinois ers and Gov. Pat Quinn. The high- Tollway Authority’s control. lights cover various issues, from Another bill, sponsored by state transportation to wild animals. Sen. Mike Noland, D-Elgin, now prohibits police from taking a perNEW TRANSPORTATION LAWS son’s driver’s license as bond after After lawmakers raised the pulling them over for a minor trafspeed limit to 70 mph on downstate fic violation such as speeding. interstates in 2014, they decided to do the same in 2015 for Chicago-arSee LAWS, page A4
See PARDONS, page A4
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Winter Classic sharing New Year’s Day with college football bowl games / B1 LOCAL NEWS
‘The Bachelor’ Algonquin, Lake in the Hills natives two of 30 contestants set to appear on newest season of the reality show / Planit Play 6-7
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