Morrissey: Has age sapped the spirit from Bode Miller?
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
Sports, B1
75 CENTS
Marengo group gets access to FM radio
FIRE AND ICE Firefighters’ winter work becomes a frozen job
FCC grants license to run community radio By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com MARENGO – The volunteers who run the online Marengo Community Radio station will need support from residents to start broadcasting on their local FM dial. After a near decade-long hiatus, the Federal Communications Commission recently granted the Marengo community station and others across the country construction permits to build the necessary equipment to start low-power FM stations. The federal government’s approval means the all-volunteer station in Marengo needs to raise $30,000 within the next 18 months to cover and construct the audio equipment necessary to start broadcasting locally at 94.3 FM. “It’s legitimacy,” said Executive Director Steve Sandman about the FCC permit. “We have to meet people where they consume their information. The FM station was the last part of the puzzle.” Marengo resident Brian Kelly, who is president of the community radio nonprofit, started putting together that puzzle six years ago when he wanted to create a news outlet exclusively focused on the Marengo area. The group worked with officials from Marengo District 154 on a location for the radio
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Firefighters roll up their fire hoses in the cold weather Feb. 3 after responding to a fire at a vacant home in Crystal Lake. By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO
Voice your opinion
sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com
W
oodstock firefighter and paramedic Scott Baumgartner accepts that freezing water, lingering smoke, frostbite and ice all become a part of his job when fires erupt during the winter.
Which is the worst job during the winter? Vote online at NWHerald. com.
Firefighters go into situations that usually drive away other people, since the threat of flames and burning structures alone make for danger. The winter – with its wind chills, cold air and snow – merely make those situations more challenging, said Baumgartner, who recently helped fight a nighttime barn fire in Harvard at a frosty minus 3 degrees. Throughout it all, a firefighter’s job is to extinguish the blaze. He can’t dwell on the cold or the fact that the mist coming off a high-pressure hose can freeze his equipment
and clothes, Baumgartner said. “I’m thinking about the job I have to do and getting it done,” he said. “It’s during the down time, when you realize, ‘Man, I’m getting cold.’ ” The preparation before the fire truck leaves the station for the scene is key to fighting a fire in the cold. Baumgartner and his colleagues at Woodstock Fire Rescue typically bring an extra pair of dry clothes, socks, gloves and hats to switch out of clothes wet from sweat and equipment. They also have to be mindful
See FIREFIGHTERS, page A8
What’s next? The license means the radio station needs to raise $30,000 in the next 18 months to buy and build all the necessary equipment to start broadcasting locally at 94.3 FM. Interested donors can visit the station’s website, www.marengoradio.info, and click on its PayPal account.
See RADIO, page A8
U.S. economy may be stuck in slow lane By JOSH BOAK The Associated Press WASHINGTON – In the 4½ years since the Great Recession ended, millions of Americans who have gone without jobs or raises have found themselves wondering something about the economic recovery: Is this as good as it gets? It increasingly looks that way. Two straight weak job reports have raised doubts about economists’ predictions of breakout growth in 2014. The global economy is showing signs of slowing – again. Manufacturing has
slumped. Fewer people are signing contracts to buy homes. Global stock markets have sunk as anxiety has gripped developing nations. Some long-term trends are equally dispiriting. The Congressional Budget Office foresees growth picking up through 2016, only to weaken starting in 2017. By the CBO’s reckoning, the economy will soon slam into a demographic wall: The vast baby boom generation will retire. Their exodus will shrink the share of Americans who are working, which will hamper the economy’s ability to accelerate.
LOCALLY SPEAKING
At the same time, the government may have to borrow more, raise taxes or cut spending to support Social Security and Medicare for those retirees. Only a few weeks ago, at least the short-term view looked brighter. Entering 2014, many economists predicted growth would top 3 percent for the first time since 2005. That pace would bring the U.S. economy near its average post-World War II annual growth rate. Some of the expected improvement would come from the government exerting less drag on the economy this year after having slashed spending and
raised taxes in 2013. In addition, steady job gains dating back to 2010 should unleash more consumer spending. Each of the 7.8 million jobs that have been added provided income to someone who previously had little or none. It amounts to “adrenaline” for the economy, said Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist for Northern Trust. And since 70 percent of the economy flows from consumers, their increased spending would be expected to drive stronger hiring and growth.
See ECONOMY, page A8
BOYS HOOPS
R-B TEAM USES NEW SCORING SYSTEM Richmond-Burton Rockets coach Brandon Creason has devised another way to judge how players are contributing to the team. The plus/minus system adds points for actions that benefit the team and deducts points for actions that hurt it. For now, Creason enjoys how the Rockets (16-5) have embraced the scoring system. For more, see page B1.
Marisa Merkel Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
HIGH
LOW
10 -11 Complete forecast on A10
McHENRY: Former Miss McHenry talks about her beauty pageant days, job with Southwest Airlines. Local, A3
Where to find it Advice Classified Comics
B10 C1-4 B9
AP photo
Rosi Pozzi, 73, of Davie, Fla. (right), listens during a job search workshop Thursday at WorkForce One in Davie, Fla. Two straight weak job reports have raised doubts about economists’ predictions of breakout growth in 2014. The global economy is showing signs of slowing again.
Call Us Today!
Beat the Winter Blues ORTHODONTICS • IMPLANTS • ROOT C OR CANALS ANALS AN
New Patient Child Special
$49 Children’s Exam, X-rays, Cleaning, Fluoride and ORTHODONTIC SCREENING expires 3/18/14 • must present coupon • new patients only cannot be combined with any other offer • valid on children up to age 16
Vol. 29, Issue 41 Local&Region Lottery Obituaries
A3 A2 A4
Opinion Puzzles Sports
A9 C4 B1-8
601 Ridgeview Drive in McHenry 815.322.7679 • www.bullvalleydentistry.com