4 LOCAL NEWS • Saturday, February 28, 2015 • Section A • Northwest Herald / NWHerald.com LOCAL BRIEFS Police: Man failed to register as sex offender RICHMOND – A Richmond man was charged Friday with failure to register as a sex offender and obstructing a peace officer. Kevin D. Kellison, 50, of 8002 Route 31 in Richmond, was charged with two counts of failure to register as a sex offender – a Class 3 felony – and a misdemeanor obstruction charge. Kellison, who is believed to have been in violation of registration requirements for 15 years, could face up to five years in prison. According to a McHenry County sheriff’s press release, officers at the department obtained information indicating Kellison was living at the Route 31 address in Richmond. Sheriff’s officers, along with the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, made the arrest Friday. Kellison is a noncompliant sex offender in Wisconsin.
– Northwest Herald
Man suffers burns in Island Lake fire ISLAND LAKE – A man suffered burns to his lower extremities on Thursday after a fire in an Island Lake home, fire officials said. The Wauconda Fire District responded about 9 p.m. to the 800 block of Plymouth Lane for reports of a fire, Battalion Chief Ed Dagdick said. The reported fire was already extinguished before responders’ arrival, but firefighters found one man that had suffered burns that were not life-threatening. Dagdick said the blaze had been confined to a chair inside the home. The man was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington and is in stable condition, Dagdick added. He said it didn’t take long for firefighters to clear the scene, but the fire remains under investigation.
– Allison Goodrich
Fundraisers set for Saturday in area The Salvation Army Golden Diners will host a “Soup, Soap and Salvation” fundraiser for its Senior Nutrition Program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at three area locations: Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell, 10 W. Main St,, Cary; Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell, 451 Coventry Lane, Crystal Lake; and the Dream Kitchen, 1544 Fleetwood Drive, Elgin. Cost is a $10 donation (cash or checks accepted). Drive up, grab some warm soup, a roll, soap and a copy “The War Cry” publication, and help area seniors get daily nutritious meals. A raffle also will take place, with prizes including two tickets to see the Chicago Wolves or a signed Chicago Bulls pennant. To learn more, call 630-2326676.
– Shaw Media
Get your business connected Business retention is a cornerstone of economic development. More than 80 percent of business growth comes from existing businesses, and our goal is to keep these businesses in McHenry County and help them grow. In 2014, your McHenry County Economic Development Corp. staff and board members conducted 100 individual one-on-one business visitations. Why? First, we want to let our businesses know they are valued and appreciated for their effect on our economy. Secondly, through these meetings, we can see trends, issues and concerns that need to be communicated and addressed. A recurrent theme we heard during the visitations in 2012, 2013 and 2014 was a concern for developing a skilled workforce since our employment base was aging. To act on this issue, MCEDC has been partnering with McHenry County College and others to provide skills training and to establish a youth outreach program on the value of, and need for, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. From intern programs to facility tours, we are trying to engage our youth and encourage the development of skills needed in our workplace today and tomorrow.
MCEDC NEWS Pamela Cumpata Through the insights gained in the business visitations, MCEDC can provide customized assistance by either connecting companies to resources they might need, advocating for solutions to any challenges they are facing or finding solutions to obstacles they are experiencing. Communicating the pulse of the business community to our municipalities also is important to our mission of fostering a positive business environment for growth. We host quarterly educational forums for municipal staff and conduct economic development presentations before municipal elected officials. (In 2014, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, McHenry and Woodstock, with others planned in 2015.) These presentations provide information on basic economic development practices as well as current trends, highlight the collaboration that occurs between their municipal staff and MCEDC through partnering for business visitations, and provide research and proprietary reports (more than 500 in 2014), as well as sharing information
on regional initiatives and programs that could support their municipality. Of great interest is the IMPLAN data we share. It traces output, employment and employment compensation. This data assists in the comparison of overall economic growth or decline by industry sectors and is only one of several subscription-based data resources we make available to our municipalities at no cost. For example, McHenry County’s data for model year 2013 (the latest available data) shows our output is $18,833,612, 279. (Output represents the value of industry production.) Our largest sector is manufacturing at $5,585,256,664. We create similar data for our municipalities, providing statistics that will help them more fully understand the importance of the businesses they have and their economic impact, as well as highlight attraction benefits of various sectors. MCEDC is the go-to organization for McHenry County businesses and municipalities. Give us a call so we can get you connected.
• Pamela Cumpata is president of the McHenry County Economic Development Corp. Reach her at 815-893-0895 or pcumpata@mchenrycountyedc.com.
Marlene Lantz can petition County Board to pay for her legal defense • LANTZ Continued from page A1 Office] indict her on this?” Gummerson said. “It’s just so obvious what is going on. “We truly believe that she is innocent and we will zealously defend these charges.” Because the alleged crime occurred while Lantz was coroner, she can petition the County Board to pay for her legal defense. The County Board has bad, and expensive, memories of the last time a county elected official was indicted. On top of the substantial bills racked up by the special prosecutors appointed to investigate Bianchi, he asked the board after his exoneration to reimburse him for his legal fees incurred in defending himself and his former secretary. The County Board agreed to pay $275,000. The county under its agreement with Bianchi recouped $105,000 of that cost from a settlement that Bianchi reached in a federal civil-rights lawsuit he filed against the special prosecu-
tors. There was no special prosecutor in Lantz’s case. It was brought before a grand jury by Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs, who also will prosecute. Combs, who also is chief of the criminal division, declined to comment on the case. Police remained equally as tight-lipped on the investigation. Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen confirmed that his department was called by the Coroner’s and State’s Attorney’s offices Jan. 26 to investigate the discovery of the remains. The coroner’s annex falls under the auspices of the Woodstock Police Department. Like Combs and Bianchi, Lowen also wouldn’t discuss details. McHenry County Coroner Dr. Anne Majewski also wouldn’t comment when reached through email correspondence. Majewski took office on Dec. 1, 2012. It remains unclear exactly where in the coroner’s annex the remains were found, the circumstances of their discovery, where they are now, and what condition they’re in.
“I wish I could disclose to you, but we’re getting into the facts of the case before the trial,” Bianchi said. The coroner’s office is located behind the county courthouse, and its 15 rooms including office space, autopsy and viewing rooms, and a large freezer, total 4,900-square feet, according to its floor plans. Lantz’s case has been assigned to McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather. Her next court date is March 11, Gummerson said. If convicted of a Class 3 felony, Lantz could not only be looking at between two and five years in prison, but also will stand to lose her pension. Under state law, her Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension will be terminated if she is convicted of a felony in connection with her former job. She is collecting a $65,858 annual pension, according to IMRF records obtained under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
• Senior reporter Kevin P. Craver contributed to this report.
‘On the Case’ will air at 9 p.m. Sunday • MURDER CASE Continued from page A3 But there still was not enough evidence to arrest Kauke, a 39-year-old volunteer firefighter who lived in a house near Bosworth’s. Kauke, as it turned out, had developed a fascination for Bosworth. Police first uncovered Kauke’s bloody fingerprint
at the crime scene, then after his arrest, found writings in which he indicated he wanted a romantic relationship with the girl, Wagner said. The night of the attack and fire, Kauke had been drinking with neighbors, and at some point went to Bosworth’s home, cut the screen door to gain entry and attacked the girl. There were no signs of a sexual assault, but Bosworth
had about 30 stab and other defensive wounds. Bosworth eventually barricaded herself in the bathroom, where she died. Kauke pleaded guilty to the crime and avoided a possible death sentence. A McHenry County judge sentenced him to life in prison. “On the Case” will air at 9 p.m. Sunday on Investigation Discovery.
Schock in his 4th term representing Peoria, Springfield areas • DECOR Continued from page A1 believed it appropriate to pay these costs himself.” Schock, 33, is in his fourth term representing the Peoria and Springfield areas. This week, Schock brought on board a team of campaign finance lawyers and public relations experts to address the controversy about his expenses. His financial charges – including the use of his donors’ private aircraft and concert tickets – were detailed by the AP and other news organizations since news of the decoration work became public. An AP review this week identified at least a dozen flights worth more than $40,000
on contributors’ planes since mid-2011, tracking Schock’s reliance on the aircraft partly through the congressman’s pictures uploaded to his Instagram account. The AP extracted hidden location data associated with each image; it then correlated it with flight records showing airport stopovers and expenses later billed for air travel against Schock’s office and campaign records. Lawmakers can use office funds for private flights as long as payments cover their share of the costs. But most of the flights Schock covered with office funds occurred before the House changed its rules in January 2013. Those earlier rules prohibited lawmakers from using those accounts to pay for
flights on private aircraft, allowing payments only for federally licensed charter and commercial flights. Schock previously told the AP he travels frequently throughout his Peoria-area district “to stay connected with my constituents,” and that he takes compliance with congressional funding rules seriously. Schock also spent thousands more on tickets for concerts, car mileage reimbursements – among the highest in Congress – and took his interns to a sold-out Katy Perry concert last June. His office still is reviewing those transportation and entertainment charges. The Post first reported that Brahler donated her services
as she decorated Schock’s Washington office with red carpet and red walls accented with antique-looking frames and sconces reminiscent of “Downton Abbey.” The popular PBS show depicts the lives of aristocratic families and their servants in 1920s England. Brahler refunded to the U.S. government $35,000 paid to her from Schock’s congressional office expense account, records show, within days of the Post’s report. A liberal-leaning group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, had requested an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics, an outside panel that reviews ethics complaints against House members.
McHENRY
Pioneer Center expands walk-in registration hours NORTHWEST HERALD McHENRY – The Pioneer Center for Human Services is expanding walk-in registration for residents seeking behavioral health services after a successful trial run. After a month of offering walk-in registration from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, the center will expand hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the same days to meet increasing demands. “Since the start of CareNow, 23 individuals have utilized our new walk-in hours. The concept has provided much needed flexibility for
people and we are very excited to be able to expand the hours even more,” said Danielle La Ha, admissions manager for the center located at 4100 Veterans Parkway in McHenry. To register for services, individuals must bring their state identification card or driver’s license, social security card, proof of Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance and proof of household income. Admission forms can be filled out ahead of time at www.pioneercenter.org/ needhelp and brought to the office during the walk-in visit.
McHENRY COUNTY
Deadline Sunday to apply for scholarship SHAW MEDIA The Norwegian National League of Chicago is offering scholarships and cash prizes to deserving students who are of Norwegian heritage residing in the counties of McHenry, Kane, Lake, Cook, DuPage, Kendall and Will. The scholarship for $1,000 will be awarded to a high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA who has been accepted by a college or university. Also, a $100 cash prize will be awarded to a high school student in ninth
through 11th grade, and a $50 cash prize will be awarded to a student in fifth through eighth grade. Finally, a $25 cash prize will be awarded to a student in first through fourth grades. To qualify, older students must submit an original essay on a Norwegian topic and the students in first through fourth grades must submit an original drawing depicting a Norwegian topic. Entries must be postmarked by Sunday. For scholarship information and applications, visit www.nnleague.org or call 847-297-1656.
PUBLIC ACCESS MONDAY, MARCH 2
Where: Richmond Village Hall, 5600 Hunter Drive
District 156 school board When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2 Richmond Finance Committee Where: District office board room, When: 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 4716 W. Crystal Lake Road, Where: Richmond Village Hall, McHenry 5600 Hunter Drive McHenry County Board Law and THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Justice Committee When: 8:15 a.m. Monday, March 2 Crystal Lake Public Library Where: Administration Building, Facilities Committee 667 Ware Road, Woodstock When: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5 McHenry County Board Liquor Where: Crystal Lake Public and License Committee Library, 126 Paddock St. When: 10 a.m. Monday, March 2 Where: Administration Building, Richmond Village Board 667 Ware Road, Woodstock When: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5 Where: Richmond Village Hall, TUESDAY, MARCH 3 5600 Hunter Drive Richmond Community DevelopTUESDAY, MARCH 10 ment Committee When: 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 District 46 school board Where: Richmond Village Hall, When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 5600 Hunter Drive Where: Prairie Grove Junior High School library, 3225 Route 176, Richmond Finance Committee When: 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 Crystal Lake
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