Randall proposal blamed for lost potential LITH tenant
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
WWW.NWHERALD.COM
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
Local, B1
75 CENTS
BREAKFAST DEFICIT
GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS
Locally made bagels hard to find Business, E1
Huntley knocked out of playoffs by Boylan Sports, C1
Huntley’s Kayla Barreto
Tuition raised at MCC
Driving dilemma for seniors
Some students voice support for increase By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College students will have to dig a bit deeper into their wallets to enroll next school year, but many voiced they would do so gladly. The McHenry County College Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a 2.9 percent increase in tuition – a $3 per credit hour jump, raising the per-credit-hour cost from $102 to $105 starting this summer session. The increase is expected to generate $16.6 million along with class fees during the coming fiscal year. Even with the increase, the college remains well below the community college state average of $112.75 per credit hour. A parade of students addressed the board for nearly an hour, offering support for a tuition increase and a plan to increase space, which the board is considering in the form of a significant $20-million-plus expansion. Student trustee Natalie Diversiev later showed a video of students supporting the tuition increase as well. Students said while they knew the tuition increase would not go directly to student services they said were vital to the college experience,
Photos by John Konstantaras for Shaw Media
Esther Vadnais, 79, of Woodstock gets in her car Tuesday at the Kraus Senior Center in Cary. Vadnais is one of the 1.3 million drivers in Illinois age 65 and older, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. BELOW: Malinda Bacchi (left), 71, of Cary and Vadnais talk Tuesday at the Kraus Senior Center in Cary. In Illinois, drivers age 75 to 80 must take road and written tests every four years.
Giving up the keys a difficult choice for some
Voice your opinion How old is too old to drive? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
By JOSEPH BUSTOS jbustos@shawmedia.com
E
very three years, Esther Vadnais, 79, of Woodstock, takes a safe driving course through AARP to review the rules of the road. The instructors help seniors review and learn how to compensate for changes to vision, hearing and reaction time, how to handle blind spots, how to use anti-lock brakes and how to assess their own driving abilities, among other things. For going through the
65 and older, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Making the decision to give up that license is difficult, as it means giving up independence.
course, she and her husband, Robert, received a discount on their insurance, Esther Vadnais said. Vadnais is one of the 1.3 million drivers in Illinois age
In Illinois, people age 75 to 80 must take road and written tests every four years. People 81 to 86 years old must take them every two years. People 87 and older have to retest each year. Written tests in all instances are waived if the person has a good record with no infractions. Even though Vadnais passed her most recent driving test, she has discussed with her four grown children about if and when she and her husband would give up the privilege.
“I was adamantly opposed to increasing tuition … I have changed my position on that. I think we need to be ultrasensitive in the future to cutting these [student services] activities.” Ron Parrish Chairman of the McHenry County College Board of Trustees
See DRIVING, page A8 See TUITION, page A7
GOP governor candidates take on feisty tone at debate Early voting starts Monday for primary By KERRY LESTER and SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – Personal jabs and controversies dominated Thursday’s televised Illinois guber-
natorial debate where the four Republican candidates tried to distinguish themselves – including two state senators who lag behind in polling and fundraising – days before the start of early voting for the primary. From the opening minutes, Sen. Kirk Dillard was particularly aggressive at making personal digs at the other three: Sen. Bill Brady on losing the GOP prima-
LOCALLY SPEAKING
ry in 2006 and governor’s race in 2010, Treasurer Dan Rutherford on recent allegations of misconduct, and businessman Bruce Rauner for his massive fundraising, television ads that have dominated the airwaves, and even his inexpensive wristwatch. The three weren’t shy about shooting back, with Brady accusing Dillard of being an unre-
liable Republican. But all four took aim at each other, from links to high-profile Chicago Democrats to time as “career politicians,” making the tone of the hour-long debate the most fiery yet ahead of the March 18 primary. Early voting starts Monday. “My friend Bill Brady has
See DEBATE, page A7
Follow the local, state and national races at NWHerald.com/election. The primary election is March 18.
Inside The Illinois AFL-CIO is seeking to stop Bruce Rauner’s self-funding of his campaign. The union filed a complaint to the state’s executive inspector general. PAGE A3
McHenry County’s
PREP SPORTS
STATE SWIMMING STARTS FRIDAY Friday marks the first day of the two-day IHSA Boys Swimming State Finals, and five local swimmers from three teams will make the trip to Evanston. Jacobs co-op and McHenry will each send two swimmers, while Cary-Grove co-op will send one. The top 12 swimmers in each event will advance to Saturday’s finals. For more, see page C3.
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Election Central
HIGHEST RATED ATTORNEYS by Leadings Lawyers Network and AVVO.
CRYSTAL LAKE: Hundreds of area women attend 8th annual Centegra health event. Local&Region, B1 Herb Franks
HIGH
LOW
24 16 Complete forecast on A10
Where to find it Advice Business Buzz Classified
C8 E1-2 C10 E3-10
Peggy Gerkin
Terry McKenna
Vol. 29, Issue 59 Comics C7 Local&Region B1-6 Lottery A2 Movies C9
Obituaries Opinion Puzzles Sports
B5 A9 E2, 9 C1-6
815.923.2107 www.fgmlaw.com