Hawks must play with smarts, skill to best Blues
Sports, B1
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014
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Woodstock waits for Old Courthouse suitor One proposal received so far as May 1 deadline looms
Front view of the Old Courthouse. A review committee is considering developer proposals before the May 1 deadline.
By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A review committee assembled last week will have at least one proposal to consider from a developer looking to take over the Old Courthouse, one of the
Northwest Herald file photo
U.S. Sen. Durbin not taking GOP challenger lightly
city’s most historic, but decrepit, assets. With the deadline now looming 10 days in the distance, officials have organized a committee to take a first look at any proposals the city receives by May 1. So far, the city has received just one,
The technically-termed Old Courthouse RFP Review Advisory Committee draws membership from several city bodies. Its five members are Councilwoman Larson and Councilman RB Thompson,
although other potential owners have inquired about the building, City Planner Nancy Baker said. “One great proposal would absolutely do the trick,” said Maureen Larson, one of two City Council members who will serve on the committee.
See COURTHOUSE, page A6
WINTER’S IMPACT ON AQUATIC LIFE
Longtime senator ramps up for campaign against Oberweis By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
“I’m not going to have anybody at the end of this campaign say, ‘He didn’t take it seriously.’ ” Sen. Dick Durbin on his campaign against Jim Oberweis
“People are fed up with career politicians. I think I have as good a chance as anyone.” Jim Oberweis GOP state senator
CHICAGO – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he’s taking his opponent in the November election more seriously than any challenger since he first was elected to the Senate nearly two decades ago. Durbin’s rival, dairy magnate and GOP state Sen. Jim Oberweis, is considered a longshot to unseat the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat. Yet Durbin has been staffing up statewide field offices, bringing on social media-savvy campaign veterans and banking more than $6 million. Durbin says he doesn’t want to underestimate Oberweis, who enters the race with personal wealth, statewide name recognition from a chain of family dairies and ice cream shops and half dozen bids for public office. He’s also facing a midterm election climate that’s historically tough on the sitting president’s party. “I’m not going to have anybody at the end of this campaign say, ‘He didn’t take it seriously,’ ” said Durbin, who’s seeking his fourth U.S. Senate term. But there may be more to the decision than Durbin playing it safe. For all that Oberweis may have going for him, he also has a history of gaffes on issues such as abortion and immigration that has turned off voters in such a blue state. Democrats could draw attention to him in an attempt to paint Republicans up and down the ticket as out of touch. That could be particularly important as Democrats seek to hold on to the governor’s office. Gov. Pat Quinn faces Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner, a multimillionaire who has said he’s focused on turning around the state’s struggling economy, in a race
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Several deceased largemouth bass lie along the shore of Lily Lake on Tuesday in Lakemoor. Long periods of snow and ice may kill fish in some Illinois lakes and ponds. There are many causes of fish kills, but oxygen depletion is the most common. Restocking a pond or lake is rarely necessary because enough fish usually survive to repopulate the body of water in a couple of years.
Fish kill aftermath Shallow ponds, lakes tend to be affected more by harsh cold By JIM DALLKE jdallke@shawmedia.com Although winters with heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures might be good for snowmobiling and ice fishing, it can be deadly for life beneath the ice. Reports of fish kills are up in McHenry County after one of the coldest and snowiest winters the area has seen in years, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. When ice and snow cover the water, light cannot penetrate, which slows the growth of algae and plants that produce oxygen for fish. The dissolved oxygen levels are too low for many fish to survive. Shallow bodies of water, such as Lily Lake in Lakemoor, have been especially affected as deeper ponds or lakes have a greater volume of oxygen and can better sustain fish.
Lily Lake has seen between 200 to 300 dead fish wash ashore this month, according to Lakemoor Village Administrator David Alarcon. “It’s been the worst winter cold-wise and snow-wise,” Alarcon said of his five-year tenure at the village. “In the past, we’ve had significant snowfall, but it wasn’t this frequent. This year there was basically one snowstorm every weekend.” Alarcon called the fish kill a “moderate loss,” and he said the village is considering restocking the lake in the future. “The mayor has been considering possibly doing a restocking program, but it would need approval with the IDNR,” he said. “It hasn’t been restocked in many years.” Restocking bodies of water is one answer to fish kill, but a more permanent solution
See FISH, page A6
“Just about every year we get phone calls about fish kills. It's natural. The weaker fish die off. But this year we did see species that are typically tolerant of low dissolved oxygen levels die.” Andy Plauck IDNR district fisheries biologist for McHenry, Kane and DuPage counties
By the numbers
200 to 300 dead fish have washed ashore near Lily Lake this month, according to Lakemoor Village Administrator David Alarcon
See ELECTION, page A6
LOCALLY SPEAKING
CRYSTAL LAKE
‘BOSTON BABES’ BACK FOR MARATHON
HAVE YOU CALLED US YET??
Crystal Lake residents Sherri Knupp, Cheryl Naughton and Angela Dampier are a threesome known in local running circles as “The Boston Babes.” Each of the women will carry their own memories into Monday’s Boston Marathon. For more, see page B1. adno=0265939
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
CRYSTAL LAKE: Aida Frey talks about being a junior park ranger and her travels to historic parks. Local, A3
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