Local&Region News editor: Kevin Lyons • kelyons@shawmedia.com
8COMMUNITY NEWS
FOUR INJURED IN WL BUS ACCIDENT WONDER LAKE – An accident involving a school bus sent two adults and two children to the hospital Tuesday afternoon, a fire official said. A car rear-ended a Harrison School District 36 bus about 3:05 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of East Wonder Lake Road and Spaatz Avenue, said Capt. Chris Weber of the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District. There were 31 students plus the driver on the bus, he said. The driver of the car had no passengers. Two of the students, about 10 to 12 years old, and both drivers were taken to Centegra Hospital – McHenry with minor injuries, Weber said. The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District also received assistance from the Richmond Township and McHenry Township fire protection districts and the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District covered Wonder Lake’s district while it responded to the call.
SECTION B Friday, January 24, 2014 Northwest Herald
Breaking news @ www.NWHerald.com
Alleged rapist takes stand Claims Woodstock police threatened him during his arrest By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A McHenry County prosecutor says Charles Oliver locked the women he met on Craigslist in a room or basement, choked some, threatened and raped them. Oliver, 45, is awaiting trial on multiple charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and unlawful restraint. One alleged victim – there are six
in all – called the basement of Oliver’s Woodstock home a “sex dungeon,” Assistant State’s Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein said. Many of the women were escorts or prostitutes. “[The alleged victims] agreed to sex for Charles money, but once they Oliver got back to his house, the defendant operated by another set of rules – his rules,” Eisenstein said.
Attorneys on Thursday argued various motions that outlined what evidence and testimony jurors can hear at Oliver’s upcoming trial. Oliver took the stand, testifying about the events the night of his January 2013 arrest. His defense attorney, Mark Facchini, previously sought to ban from trial incriminating statements Oliver made to officers that night. On the stand, Oliver said a Woodstock police detective had threatened him, saying police told him they
“owned his life.” “[Detectives said they] would come back with more charges, and more charges, and raise your bond so high you wouldn’t be able to get out,” Oliver said. McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather did not rule Thursday on whether statements he made that night – including those in which he told officers his arrest was all about money – would be admissible.
See OLIVER, page B4
‘Nightmare’ almost over for landlord
– Northwest Herald
TEEN STRUCK BY CAR IN MARENGO MARENGO – A 13-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after being hit by a car Thursday afternoon, a fire official said. The boy was crossing Grant Highway at East Street about 5 p.m. when he was hit, said Capt. John Kimmel of the Marengo Fire Protection District. He was flown by Flight for Life to Rockford with unknown injuries, Kimmel said, adding that he didn’t believe the injuries were life-threatening. The driver, who stopped, wasn’t injured, he said. Additional details weren’t available Thursday evening. A call made to the Marengo police chief wasn’t returned Thursday evening. The chief is the only member of the department authorized to speak to the media.
– Emily K. Coleman
8LOCAL BEST BET
LITH PLANS NIGHT BASKETBALL GAMES LAKE IN THE HILLS – The village’s parks and recreation department is holding weekly adult drop-in basketball games on Monday nights. Teams are made nightly for full-court games, depending on the number of players, according to a news release. Winners stay for two games. The cost is $3 a person. Games are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at Chesak Elementary at 10910 Reed Road, Lake in the Hills. There will be no basketball games on Feb. 17 and March 24, or if the school is closed because of weather. For information, call the Lake in the Hills parks and recreation department at 847-9607460.
8LOCAL DEATHS Michelle Ericson 51, Crystal Lake Mary C. Eveland 64, Woodstock Ruth A. Grabbe 79, McHenry Josef Kryklywec 87, McHenry David Stadfeld 61, Crystal Lake OBITUARIES on page B5
Photos by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Marion Berntsen is seen Thursday walking to her room in Anja Hertel’s home in McHenry. Berntsen has been living in Hertel’s McHenry home for the last six months. The two are embroiled in a legal battle in which Berntsen, 73, said Hertel stole items from her, including personal mementos. Last week, a judge gave Berntsen a week to move out, and that week expired Tuesday. Berntsen is expected to move out by Friday morning.
‘Sovereign citizen’ has until 9 a.m. Friday to vacate McHenry home By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com McHENRY – The nightmare that has consumed Anja Hertel’s life for the past six months is almost over. Her tenant, 73-year-old Marion Berntsen, has until 9 a.m. Friday to move out of Hertel’s McHenry home where she has been renting a room for the past six months. Hertel filed a petition to evict Berntsen after Berntsen called the police more than 10 times, accused Hertel of stealing her belongings and filed an order of protection
as well as a civil lawsuit claiming $15,000 in damages for stolen items. Berntsen removed most of her belongings from the home Thursday, but she returned later that afternoon, Hertel said. “I don’t know if she’s waiting for the sheriff’s department to come and kick her out or if she’s waiting for someone to pick her up,” Hertel said. “The last six months have been nerve-racking to say the least. Right now, I’m feeling relieved that the sheriff[’s
See NIGHTMARE, page B4
Hertel points to a sign Thursday reading “1-23-14, Please leave: 1. ATT box, 2. Keys to the house, 3. Keys to the room. God Help You!!!” on the door of Berntsen’s room in McHenry.
LITH OKs off-road vehicle rules Fundraiser to help Use prohibited where sound can be heard from near property lines By JOSEPH BUSTOS jbustos@shawmedia.com LAKE IN THE HILLS – A new ordinance aims to help keep the amount of noise down from off-road motor vehicles. The Lake in the Hills Village Board on Thursday approved new rules for off-road motor vehicles in town. Under the new rules, the village prohibited the use of off-road motor vehicles, such as mini-bikes, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, where sound can be heard from 100 feet from the property line and the noise disturbs the peace and comfort of a neighbor-
ing property. For about a year, the police department has had complaints from residents for continuous operation of off-road vehicles in residential areas around the community. Many of the incidents have occurred during the daytime on weekends, especially during the summer when people have their windows down. The department tried to resolve the issue with voluntary compliance, but it did not have a long-lasting effect, according to a staff memo written by Director of Police and Public Safety James Wales. The ordinance is meant
to be enforced when a resident complains about the noise. If an officer sees someone operating an off-road vehicle in a residential area, the person won’t be stopped, police officials have said. However, if there is a complaint about the noise, then the officer will investigate and give a warning or a citation. The ordinance excludes agricultural vehicles being used for agricultural work, or work being done by public agencies in response to weather emergencies. Those who violate the ordinance would face a fine of at least $100.
See RULES, page B4
displaced residents Twenty-six people still without homes after McHenry fire By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com McHENRY – Residents of a fire-damaged apartment building won’t be able to move back in for at least another eight weeks. The McHenry County Housing Authority has been sheltering 26 of 33 people who were displaced following a fire nearly two weeks ago at Riverside Hotel, a
three-story, 40-unit apartment building at 3308 W. Elm St. in McHenry. The owner of the building, Dick Buchert, did not return a call for comment. The maximum assistance provided by the housing authority is about four weeks, and there may not be enough money in the budget to continue housing the displaced residents, Community Service Director Sue Rose said. The affected residents might have other fire-related expenses, she added. To help, Corkscrew
See RESIDENTS, page B4