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Jan u a r y 3 1, 2015 • $1 .0 0
FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE Prairie Ridge gets it done in the 4th quarter, beats Woodstock, 40-26 / C1
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McHENRY COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS STRIVE FOR FITNESS
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No-show man gets 24-year sentence Had pleaded guilty to sex acts with child By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Woodstock firefighter Tyler Webster exercises Thursday on a newly purchased machine at Fire District Station 1 in Woodstock. According to an American Journal of Preventative Medicine study, police and firefighters are among the most obese professions. A heart attack is the most common cause of death in firefighters who die on the job. Chief Ralph Webster has instituted a mandatory morning workout for men and women with the fire department. The Woodstock Fire Rescue District was awarded a $100,000 grant to update its exercise equipment at its three locations.
Data: High risk for obesity among police, firefighters Webster said it’s critical that firefighters remain active and in shape, not just for their own safeWOODSTOCK – Chief Ralph ty, but for the safety of their fellow Webster has one message for the firefighters and everyone else. men and women at his fire depart“If we don’t take it seriously, ment. we are putting our fellow firefight“You want to work for me, ers at greater risk and the commuyou’ve got to work out,” the veter- nity at greater risk,” Webster said. an Woodstock chief said. Many area police and fire de-
By CHELSEA McDOUGALL
cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
partments put an emphasis on health and wellness. A recent study by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that those in “protective services” – or police, firefighters and security guards – had the highest prevalence of obesity. They were followed by social workers, clergy and counselors.
The fittest professions, according to the study, are economists, scientists and psychologists, followed by artists, actors, athletes and reporters. While area departments are putting a focus on staying fit, none have made exercise mandatory
WOODSTOCK – A no-bond warrant was issued for a McHenry man who, if apprehended, will spend the next 20 years in prison for sex acts committed with a young girl. After previously pleading guilty to predatory sexual assault of a child, 48-year-old Jose Ruiz was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing, which was set for Friday. Ruiz failed to appear for the sentencing hearing, and over the objections of his attorneys BriJose Ruiz an Erwin and Denise Ambroziak, it continued in his absence. McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather sentenced Ruiz to 24 years, without allowing his attorneys to present evidence in mitigation. The judge also issued a no-bond warrant for his arrest. His passport is in the custody of Woodstock police, who arrested Ruiz in June 2013. Ruiz’s prison sentence must be served at 85 percent, meaning he could be released in about 20 years. In December, Ruiz admitted to having sex with the child. At the time of his plea, prosecutors presented a letter, written by the 9-year-old victim, who was not related but was otherwise known to Ruiz. The letter, uncovered by the girl’s mother, read: “Dear mommy, [Ruiz] had sex with me. Don’t send him to jail, don’t make me talk to anybody. Just talk to him about it. Please,
See OBESITY, page A4 See NO-SHOW, page A4
Gov. Rauner defends paying top staffers more than Quinn The Associated Press CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner defended paying his top staff members significantly more than his predecessor, explaining Friday that he will pay what is necessary for talent. The Republican has blasted Illinois’ spending and state worker salaries as excessive. However, a review by The Associated Press found annual salaries of 10 top employees in his administration far exceed those of comparable aides to former Gov. Pat Quinn by roughly $380,000 – or 36 percent. The increases ranged from 11 percent to 94 percent.
“The people we’re bringing into our administration, most of them are taking significant cuts compared to what they were making on the outside,” Rauner said ahead of the groundbreaking of a charter school in Chicago. “I pay what it needs to for the talent that we’ve got.” Rauner vowed spending out of the governor’s office would be lower under his administration than Quinn’s. He didn’t offer further details, and his office didn’t respond to repeated questions on the issue. It’s still too early to compare spending between the two administrations. Quinn’s office employed 96 people last year with a total payroll of $4.5 million. Not all of Rauner’s
LOCAL NEWS
new hires have been paid yet, and some Quinn employees still were being paid in January. The Illinois comptroller’s website began posting the paychecks of workers in Rauner’s administration this week. The AP verified the amounts against state records of the staffers’ monthly salaries. Among those receiving more is Rauner’s deputy governor, Olin “Trey” Childress III, a former chief operating officer for the state of Georgia. He’s earning $198,000 annually, a 24 percent increase over Quinn’s deputy governor’s $150,000 salary. Rauner’s chief of staff and former deputy campaign manager Mike Zolnierowicz will receive $180,000 yearly, a 38
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Miss Illinois U.S. International Taylor Larsen, a former Consolidated School District 158 student, visits Leggee Elementary / A3
See RAUNER, page A4
NATION
After 3 weeks of flirting with a 3rd run for the presidency, Mitt Romney bows out / A8
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percent increase over his predecessor’s salary under Quinn. Zolnierowicz is a former deputy chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk. Aaron Winters, Rauner’s deputy chief of staff for policy, is being paid $138,000, 53 percent more than his predecessor in Quinn’s office, who was paid $90,000. And Rauner’s longtime executive assistant, Holly Griff, is earning an annual salary of $135,000. That’s 94 percent more than the salary of a Quinn aide who performed similar duties and sometimes handled scheduling for the entire administration. Rauner stressed a theme of
“The people we’re bringing into our administration, most of them are taking significant cuts compared to what they were making on the outside. I pay what it needs to for the talent that we’ve got.” Gov. Bruce Rauner Defending need to pay staff more than former Gov. Pat Quinn paid his staff
‘State of the League’ Hub Arkush: At annual address, Commissioner Roger Goodell under fire, but he’s still boss / C1
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