THURSDAY
Jan u a r y 8, 2015 • $1 .0 0
COLD WEATHER ATTRACTIONS 5 things to see and do in McHenry County and beyond this winter /
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Planit Play 6-7
Complete forecast on page A8
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Hopefuls differ on economic future
Wind chill lingers
5 vying for 3 spots on Huntley Village Board By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com HUNTLEY – As Huntley sees heightened investment from developers, the new and familiar faces vying for Village Board seats all have the village’s economic future in mind. But each of the five candidates’ ideas for economic development differ, as they jockey for position and votes leading into the April municipal election. Overall, five candidates, including two incumbents, two newcomers and a former trustee, are campaigning for three trustee spots on the board.
The newcomers Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Village of Algonquin employee Kris Spenk of Carpentersville sprays water Wednesday on the area of Cornish Park to be used for ice skating. Once complete, the artificial rink will be open from 6 a.m. to dusk.
Frigid temperatures close schools and cause crashes By EMILY K. COLEMAN and ALLIE GOODRICH editorial@nwherald.com A frigid combination of snow, low temperatures and an added wind chill factor that will make it feel much colder has swept McHenry County, causing vehicles to crash and schools to close. Temperatures Thursday are expected to hit a high of 17 degrees and a low of 6 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service, which also warns that wind chills will make it feel more like 25 to 30 degrees below zero. A clipper system also may bring a brief shot of light snow, as much as 2 inches near the Wisconsin border, Thursday afternoon and evening, the agency warned.
The frosty weather is reminding some of last year’s polar vortex when wind chills caused temperatures to feel as low as 30 to 40 degrees below zero. On this day last year, the high was 17 degrees, the low was 6 degrees below zero and there was 10 inches of snow on the ground, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s records for the O’Hare International Airport weather station. By early Wednesday evening, all the public school districts had canceled school for the second day in a row, citing the extreme weather. A smattering of private schools,
See CHILL, page A6
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
All bundled up, Jason Zganjer of Wonder Lake watches Wednesday as children sled down the hill at Veteran Acres Park in Crystal Lake. Thursday’s forecast includes patchy blowing snow and a slight chance of snow between 9 a.m. and noon, with a high near 17 and wind chill values as low as minus 35.
On the Web: Visit NWHerald.com for a complete list of school closings and
A dark-horse candidate relatively unknown in the community, resident Darci Chandler, 41, who works as an engineer for Honeywell, said she sees greater opportunity for sustainable job growth in Huntley. Chandler moved to Huntley from Texas in 2004 but has limited involvement with the village’s community groups. She said she was an active member with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Elgin, which includes numerous Huntley residents. Village officials deserve credit for major job-producing projects like Centegra Health System’s new hospital and the maker of Weber Grills’ facilities expansion, she said. But she often sees the current board tackle restaurants and shop projects that bring unstable jobs. “Like other places in Illinois, we have a lot of unemployed people. I want to help bring corporate businesses into Huntley,” Chandler said. “We brought Centegra and Weber Grills, and we are bringing in a lot of shops and restaurants, which is nice. But it doesn’t bring in sustainable jobs.” A 30-year Huntley resident, Tim Hoeft owns a small excavating firm
more photos of the weather’s effect on McHenry County. See HUNTLEY, page A6
Casciaro’s attorneys waiting on DNA results in murder case ty, he is asking that his conviction be overturned. His attorney Kathleen Zellner WOODSTOCK – Attorneys believes another man – Robert for Mario Casciaro are expecting Render – was responsible for the DNA results on never-before test- 2002 murder of missing Johnsburg ed evidence to return from a crime teen Brian Carrick. lab next week. Zellner has asked that clothCasciaro is fighting his 2013 ing recovered from Render’s garfirst-degree murder conviction. In bage cans in 2002 be DNA tested. a petition filed in McHenry Coun- McHenry County prosecutors
By CHELSEA McDOUGALL
cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
SPORTS
agreed. On Wednesday, Nicholas Curran, one of the attorneys representing Casciaro, told Judge Sharon Prather that the DNA results should be returned by Jan. 16. They then have 30 days to file an amended post-conviction petition. Prosecutors said that in 2002, Casciaro sent Shane Lamb to col-
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WHERE IT’S AT
Gov.-elect in opposition
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Democrats plan to convene to vote on holding a special election for state comptroller / B3 LOCAL
Success on O-line Woodstock grad Liedtke hopes to play beyond Saturday’s Football Championship Subdivision title game / C1
lect on a drug debt from 17-year-old Carrick. At two trials, Lamb has testified that he punched Carrick, and that likely killed the teen. Lamb now says his testimony was a lie and that he was coached on what to say by Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs. Combs has vehemently rejected that claim. Lamb’s recantation is at the
center of Casciaro’s post-conviction petition filed in McHenry County court, in which his attorneys are asking for an evidentiary hearing to review the matter. The judge has not ruled on whether or not she will grant a hearing until after she considers the amended petition. Casciaro’s next court date is Feb. 26.
Mario Casciaro
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