FRIDAY
Febru a r y 13, 2 015 • $ 1 .0 0
GIRLS HOOPS Woodstock North’s defense overwhelms Crystal Lake Central, propels Thunder to 52-25 FVC Fox win / C1 NWHerald.com
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN McHENRY COUNTY
HIGH
LOW
22 13 Complete forecast on page A10
Facebook.com/NWHerald
@NWHerald
D-156 union letter at issue
Watchful on measles
League says it didn’t authorize question list for candidates By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Carol Balanza-Garcia of Elgin holds her daughter Mina, 4, while she receives her typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccinations Thursday from registered nurse Andrea O’Brien (left) of Marengo and medical assistant Kaylie Nouvong of Pingree Grove at the Children & Teens Medical Center in Lake in the HIlls.
Voice your opinion Should pediatricians be allowed to refuse to treat children who have not been vaccinated? Vote online at NWHerald. com.
On the Net To learn more about measles, visit http:// www.cdc.gov/ measles/index. html.
Local pediatricians concerned about outbreak By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com McHenry County pediatrician Dr. Laura Buthod has never seen a case of measles in her more than 20 years of practice. Neither have Dr. Celina Miller nor Dr. Michael Fell, local pediatricians who have practiced almost as long. Just 15 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the dangerous disease eliminated in the U.S., meaning it was no longer considered a consistent threat. In 2004, only 37 cases were diagnosed nationwide. But that number has been surging upward in recent years, blamed in significant part on people who choose
“Every time you say no to a vaccination, you are putting that child at risk of death.” Dr. Celina Miller Pediatrician not to vaccinate their children. Thirty-four measles outbreaks were reported in the previous two years alone, totaling about 200 in 2013 and a preliminary 644 in 2014. The U.S. is now gripped by a significant multi-state measles outbreak, with at least 120 cases in 17 states as of last week, when the CDC last updated its data. With a cluster of 10 cases confirmed
in the Chicago area, nine of them tied to a KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, local pediatricians are hoping they don’t see any cases themselves, and are urging parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children to change their minds and not rely on inaccurate data linking vaccines to autism and other disorders. “Now it’s a public health concern, because you’re putting other people’s lives at risk,” Miller said. Illinois allows residents to opt their children out of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine for either medical or religious reasons. While the percentage of vaccinated students in McHenry County schools
McHENRY – The League of Women Voters of McHenry County said a March 3 forum for District 156 school board candidates is in no way a joint event with the district’s teachers’ union despite a letter from the union to candidates suggesting otherwise. Union representatives sent a letter to school board candidates with more than 20 questions, asking candidates to answer the questions and send it back to the union co-president by Feb. 13. The letter stated “the League of Women Voters along with the [union] is interested in understand- If you go ing your beliefs and views on the issues The League outlined in the ques- of Women tionnaire.” Voters will host Paula Ekstrom, the candidate p r e s i d e n t o f t h e forum at 7 p.m. League of Women March 3 at Voters, said the let- McHenry High ter was not authoSchool – East rized by the league Campus at and she had no idea 1012 N. Green the organization’s name was attached St. to it. She added she did not see a single question on the form and the league had no interest in asking questions – which will come from the audience – until the forum on March 3. “That was sent out in error by the teachers’ union without our knowledge or without our say-so,” Ekstrom said. “If [candidates] wish to fill them out and send them back to the union, that’s fine, but we will not be using them. We are the sole sponsor of this forum.”
See VACCINATION, page A8 See UNION, page A8
Boehner: Obama military force proposal needs toughening divide between the two parties more than Obama’s request to bar “enduring offensive combat operations” The Associated Press from the struggle against terrorists WASHINGTON – Congressional who have seized territory in Syria Republicans vowed Thursday to and Iraq and beheaded hostages. toughen President Barack Obama’s House Speaker John Boehner, day-old legislation to authorize mili- R-Ohio, said disapprovingly that John Boehner Barack Obama tary force against Islamic State fight- Obama’s proposal would “tie his ers, and House Democratic leader hands even further” than current law. Nancy Pelosi warned, “It’s going to But Pelosi, recalling the long, dif- ing to limit his own power. be hard” to find common ground. Obama is seeking a three-year ficult war in Iraq, said the president Nothing underscored the yawning “has to be commended” for propos- authorization for the use of force
By DAVID ESPO and MATTHEW DALY
STATE
LOCAL NEWS
WHERE IT’S AT
Heated discussion
Advice ..................................C6 Buzz...................................... C8 Classified.......................... E1-5 Comics .................................C7 Community ......................... B1 Local News...................... A2-8 Lottery..................................A2 Movies................................. C5 Nation&World.................B3-4 Obituaries ...........................A9 Opinions ............................. B2 Wheels ............................D1-10 Puzzles ............................. E5-6 Sports...............................C1-4 State .................................... B3 Stocks...................................A9 Weather .............................A10
Marengo mayor, alderman clash after City Council approves monthly bills / A3 SPORTS
Chris Christie in Illinois The New Jersey governor’s visit to Rolling Meadows comes as he’s building support for a possible 2016 presidential run / B3
against the Islamic State militants or any successor groups, without regard to international boundaries. His proposal would leave in place 2001 legislation approving military action against al-Qaida following the terror attacks of 9/11. At the same time, the president would repeal legislation passed in 2002 in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. As for ground combat operations, Obama says he does want flexibility allowing rescue missions,
Recent struggles behind team? Derrick Rose scores 30 points as Bulls hand Cavs their second loss in 16 games / C2
intelligence collection and the use of special operations forces in possible military action against Islamic State leaders. Failure to pass any legislation would mark a significant political defeat for Obama, with unpredictable consequences overseas at a time of expansive terrorist threats, a confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine and international
See PROPOSAL, page A2
Great treats for happy couples!
SPECIAL MENU FOR TWO FRIDAY
Crystal Lake and McHenry
2/13/15
Crystal Lake • 815-455-4130
SATURDAY 2/14/15
McHenry • 815-385-0900