TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
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Probe into jail contract at issue Ex-county employee’s letter alleges misconduct, raises questions By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A letter from an upset former McHenry County employee has a County Board committee wanting answers from the state’s attorney’s office regarding its investigation into a sheriff’s office contract. The March 10 letter from retired
purchasing director Cathy Link asks the county to pay her $550 legal bill for her representation when she was interviewed by state’s attorney investigator Michael McCleary regarding whether the sheriff’s office entered a no-bid contract for jail medical services. The letter alleges that she should not have to pay for legal representation on a matter of county business, and that McCleary
acted intimidating toward her and her son. While the state’s attorney’s office maintains the County Board does not have the authority to pay the bill, the request raised concerns from the Law and Justice Committee that discussed the matter Monday morning. Several raised concerns over not only McCleary’s alleged conduct, but also whether the investigation has a
political motive tied into State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s support of sheriff’s candidate Bill Prim over Undersheriff Andrew Zinke in the March 18 primary. “To me, the timing appears questionable,” said County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill, R-Woodstock, who received the letter from Link. Bianchi on Monday afternoon declined comment on the investigation,
TACKLING SAFETY HEAD ON
but blasted the idea that it was politically motivated. Bianchi and retiring Sheriff Keith Nygren have been well-documented adversaries, whose squabbles have often resulted in taxpayer-funded legal battles. Prim, who narrowly won the primary by 97 votes, pledged if elected to repair the damage between the two offices.
See PROBE, page A4
MCC avoids strike Officials, faculty reach tentative deal on contract By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
Photos by H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Woodstock Harley-Davidson employee Codey Hamm of Wonder Lake prepares a customer’s bike that was in winter storage Monday in Woodstock. The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association joined forces to kick off the 2014 riding season’s “Gear Up-Ride Smart” motorcycle safety campaign.
Motorcycle owners urged to check bikes, get trained before hitting roads By JIM DALLKE jdallke@shawmedia.com While the snow and ice has melted from McHenry County streets, area motorcycle riders will begin to fire up their bikes and hit the open road for the first time all year. But spring is often a dangerous time for motorcycle riders who may have gotten a little rusty after months without riding, said Scott Haas, project coordinator for the Motorcycle Safety Project at Northern Illinois University. “In 2012, when we had an early
spring, motorcycle riders got out early and there was a spike in fatal crashes,” Haas said. “In some cases it’s people knocking the rust off. [For other motorists], they’re just not used to seeing motorcycles out on the road.” In an effort to reduce motorcycle fatalities, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association have partnered to kick off the 2014 “Gear Up-Ride Smart” campaign, which urges cyclists to safety-check their
See MOTORCYCLE, page A4
LOCALLY SPEAKING
Cary-Grove’s Emma Baker (left)
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
CRYSTAL LAKE – After roughly 19 months of negotiations, McHenry County College officials and the full-time faculty have come to a tentative agreement on a new contract. Details of the Breaking deal will not be made available news until both the Text the McHenry Counkeyword ty College Faculty Association NWHNEWS and the college’s to 74574 to board of trust- sign up for ees approve the breaking contract, said news text college spokes- alerts from woman Christi- the Northna Haggerty. west Herald. “The college Message and is very happy data rates to have reached apply. this agreement with our fulltime faculty,” Haggerty said. “We look forward to the ratification of the contract.” The agreement comes less than a month after the faculty association filed a notice of its intent to strike after negotiations broke down.
See MCC, page A4
“The college is very happy to have reached this agreement with our full-time faculty.” Christine Haggerty McHenry County College spokeswoman
Woodstock Harley-Davidson employee Kathy Barlow describes a two-shield motorcycle helmet.
McHENRY COUNTY
WOODSTOCK
BILL COULD AFFECT PROPERTY TAXES
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON BUDGET APRIL 15
A bill that could give the McHenry County Conservation District a way to bring in more property taxes passed the Illinois Senate unanimously Monday. The bill, which was sponsored by local state Sens. Pam Althoff and Karen McConnaughay, would allow the conservation district to ask voters whether it can raise its maximum levy limit. For more, see page B1.
Woodstock’s proposed budget of $29.5 million in expenditures includes roadway repairs, a potential partnership with the fire department to beef up code enforcement, and purchases including a leaf machine and a street sweeper. The city’s budget, which the City Council will vote on April 15, is balanced. For more, see page B1.
CARY: Cary-Grove girls soccer wins third straight, cruises past Johnsburg, 6-0. Sports, C1
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