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CL to review annexes
KIDS IN TOYLAND
2 proposals to come before council Dec. 16 By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com
Photos by Michelle LaVigne for Shaw Media
Patrol officer Sandra Rogers with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office helps a young girl she has been partnered with dig through a bin of DVDs as they look for a Christmas gift for one of her relatives during the annual Police Charities Shop with a Cop program Sunday morning at the Wal-Mart in Johnsburg. Several children ranging in age from 5 to 15 and referred to the program through law enforcement or social service agencies participated in the event where they are paired with different police officers from the county and then assisted in completing their Christmas shopping.
Annual McHenry County Police Charities event helps kids in need Voice your opinion
By SARAH STRZALKA editorial@nwherald.com JOHNSBURG – With the winter coat, snow pants, hat and gloves out of the way, it was onto the good stuff for 7-year-old Ke’anna. She really, really wanted a tablet for Christmas. So the officer standing next to her at the Johnsburg Wal-Mart directed the shopping cart to the electronics section and made it happen. Officers from police agencies around the county, including the McHenry County Conservation District and as well as the Illinois State Police, paired up with kids Sunday for Shop with a Cop. For this single event, McHenry County Police Charities aims to raise $40,000 each year, budgeting $200 a child. Of that, about $50 is slated to go toward winter clothing, and the other $150 is for the kids to decide. “If they want cookies, candy, toys
Have you made any toy donations for Christmas? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
Referrals are accepted from schools and area social service agencies. Although most of the children are in financial need, that isn’t the only qualifier. A family whose house burned down shortly before Christmas and a child whose father had cancer have benefited in the past, Adams said. Each year, there’s at least one child who doesn’t buy for him- or herself, instead spending the money Wonder Lake police officer Kelly Given looks over some items chosen by the sisters on Mom, Dad or a sibling. One year, children staying with a foster family she is assisting during the annual Police Charities Shop with a Cop program. insisted on buying for the foster par… we’re not going to tell them what tive interaction with police. ents, Adams said. “They get to see that we’re huthey can get,” board member and Back in the electronics section, city of McHenry police officer John man, too,” Adams said. “We’re not Ke’anna was picking from tablets just hard guys who take people to Adams said. “It’s their day.” The event also provides a posi- jail.” See COP, page A7
CRYSTAL LAKE – About 5 acres off Huntley Road and another 5 acres off Sands Road might be annexed into the city of Crystal Lake. The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission recommended both annexation proposals at a meeting last week. The Crystal Lake City Council is set to consider them at its next meeting. One property is being rented out as a residence, but the property would be annexed with a commercial zoning, according to commission documents. The other site is occupied by a petroleum and freight transportation company and is a county island, meaning it is surrounded by the city. The owners of the residential property, Joseph and Elaine Lapetina of Palatine, don’t have a timeline or set plan for the development of the property, which is at 8611 Huntley Road, Planning and Economic Development Manager James Richter said. In the meantime, the annexation agreement would allow them to continue the current uses, which include the rental of one house; two cell towers; cold storage rental space; the outdoor storage of campers, boats and trailers; and the sale of landscape products, including boulders, stone, sand, dirt and sod. The Lapetinas also would like to eventually add another cell tower, which would be considered at a later date. They had approached the city in 2005 about annexing the property, but the City Council rejected the proposal. While one of the concerns raised at the time – the lack of a plan – remains, others have been addressed, including the annexation of the entire property, instead of just a portion, and the inclusion of a landscaping plan that will provide some screening to the surrounding residential properties, Richter said. The surrounding residences raised concerns for Commissioner David Goss, who cast the only no vote against the recommendation.
See COUNCIL, page A7
If you go The Crystal Lake City Council will consider both annexations at its meeting Dec. 16, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St.
Chlorine gas sickens 19 at hotel By DON BABWIN The Associated Press ROSEMONT – Chlorine gas sickened several people and forced the evacuation of thousands of guests from a suburban Chicago hotel early Sunday, including many dressed in cartoonish animal costumes for an annual furries convention who were ushered across the street to a convention center hosting a dog show. Nineteen people who became nauseous or dizzy were treated at local hospitals, and at least 18 were released shortly thereafter. Within hours, emergency workers decontaminated the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and allowed people back inside.
Six-foot-tall rabbits, foxes and dragons poured into the lobby, chatting and giving each other high paws. “I think we’ll recover from this,” said Kit McCreedy, a 28-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin, his fox tail swinging behind him as he headed back inside for the last day of the Midwest FurFest. “People are tired, but they’re still full of energy.” The source of the gas was apparently chlorine powder left in a ninthfloor stairwell at the hotel, according to the Rosemont Public Safety Department. Investigators believe the gas was created intentionally and are treating it as a criminal matter. McCreedy was one of a few thousand attendees for the Furfest, also
called “Anthrocon,” in which attendees celebrate animals that are anthropomorphic – meaning they’ve been given human characteristics – through art, literature and performance. Many of the attendees, who refer to themselves as “furries,” wore cartoonish animal outfits. While authorities conducted their investigation, organizers tried to assure the participants that the evacuation would not overshadow the convention. But attendees seemed to think the evacuation was part of the AP photo fun – particularly those who recalled being herded into the Donald E. Ste- Frederic Cesbron (right) and Maxim Durand walk on the street outside the Hyatt phens Convention Center as it was Regency O’Hare hotel on Sunday in Rosemont. Thousands of people were evacuated from chlorine gas at the hotel hosting the 2014 Midwest FurFest convention, hosting a dog show.
See CHLORINE, page A7
where attendees dress as animals to celebrate art, literature and performance, in Rosemont.
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