NWH-3-14-2014

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Crystal Lake fighter Pat Curran beats depression

Sports, C1

Friday, March 14, 2014

www.NWHerald.com

75 cents

Valley Hi privatization not in plans Committee does not see need for county to cede control of nursing home By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Don’t expect to see a “For Sale” sign in front of Valley Hi Nursing Home anytime soon. The conventional wisdom of the

McHenry County Board committee that helps oversee the taxpayer-owned nursing home west of Woodstock is that ceding ownership to a private agency is a nonstarter for the foreseeable future. After a Wednesday discussion, the Public Health and Human Ser-

vices Committee decided there is no need for the county to divest itself of Valley Hi, Chairwoman Donna Kurtz said. The idea sprang from a goal in the latest version of the board’s threeyear strategic plan to seek potential privatization or partnerships

throughout county government, according to County Administrator Peter Austin. “If it’s not broken, do not fix it,” Kurtz said Thursday. “When we try and get ahead of ourselves to address problems that don’t exist, we create more problems.”

The committee is more amenable to determining whether some services can be outsourced. But they first want to hear ideas from the Operating Board that directly oversees the nursing home.

See PRIVATIZATION, page A7

Governor hopefuls make case in debate

ST. BALDRICK’S DAY FUNDRAISER

By SARA BURNETT and SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press

Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com

ABOVE: Ethan O’Rourke, 10, of McHenry reacts as he has his head shaved Thursday while participating in the McHenry Community Shave for St. Baldrick’s Day in McHenry. O’Rourke raised $435 dollars for the event. BELOW: Lynne Irving (left) of Markham, Ontario, kisses her granddaughter, Kristin Knudsen, 17, of Crystal Lake on Thursday after participating in the Crystal Lake South Kiwanis ‘KEY CLUB’ ShaveAthon for St. Baldrick’s Day in Crystal Lake.

Making a bald statement

See HOPEFULS, page A7

By JEFF ENGELHARDT CRYSTAL LAKE – Josh Brent was one of the few people immediately comfortable with the new haircuts that were given Thursday in the Crystal Lake South High School cafeteria. Brent, a senior at the school, was one of more than 40 people who shaved their heads for St. Baldrick’s Day to support research efforts aimed at finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Unlike most of the students participating, Brent has shaved his head bald all four years he has attended the Crystal Lake South event. Unlike even more students,

Election Central Follow the local, state and national races at NWHerald. com/election.

Inside Quinn keeps low profile ahead of state primary. A3

Photos online

Quinn defends anti-violence program record

To view additional photos from the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser event, visit NWHerald.com/lists.

Report: ‘Pervasive deficiencies’ in implementing the initiative

Dozens shave their heads to support cancer research jengelhardt@shawmedia.com

CHICAGO – The four Republican candidates for Illinois governor made their cases for becoming the party’s nominee Thursday in their final televised primary debate – an evening that lacked the fiery exchanges of their previous meetings but was packed with more personal moments. The debate between businessman Bruce Rauner, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford and

Brent is a brain cancer survivor. “I’m going on nine years with a clean bill of health,” Brent said. “It’s mind-blowing to see how things like St. Baldrick’s have grown in that time and brought awareness.” St. Baldrick’s participants get their heads shaved bald for donations to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a charity that raises money

By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press

Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com

Video online To view video from the St. Baldrick’s event, visit NWHerald.com/video.

See BALD, page A7

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn defended his record Thursday on a troubled 2010 anti-violence program he championed, saying he moved swiftly to correct problems years before a state auditor’s report raised questions about expenditures. The Chicago Democrat said he was the first to spot issues in 2012 with the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative and he moved

See PROGRAM, page A7

LOCALLY SPEAKING

McHenry County’s

McHENRY COUNTY

AREA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FALL McHenry County’s unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January, down from 9.9 percent last year, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The jobless rate in Crystal Lake was 7.9 percent last month, down from 9.4 percent last year, IDES spokesman Greg Rivara said. For more, see page E1.

Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com

HIGH

LOW

50 22 Complete forecast on A10

by Leadings Lawyers Network and AVVO.

ALGONQUIN: Friends of Algonquin library book sale brings out bargain hunters in the area. Local&Region, B1 Vol. 29, Issue 73

Where to find it Advice C7 Business E1-2 Buzz C10 Classified E3-12

HIGHEST RATED ATTORNEYS

Comics C9 Local&Region B1-5 Lottery A2 Movies C8

Obituaries B5 Opinion A8 Puzzles E2-3 Sports C1-5

Steven Greeley

Jack Franks

Joseph Ponitz

815.923.2107 www.fgmlaw.com


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