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Three-run sixth inning lifts Indians to supersectional win over Wauconda / C1 NWHerald.com
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Ruling: Board did not violate act Vote to allow member to participate in meetings by phone is OK, AG’s office says By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Allowing a McHenry County Board member who spends winters in Florida for medical reasons to participate in meetings by phone does not violate the Open Meetings Act, the Attorney General’s Office has ruled. In a four-page opinion, its Public Access Bureau ruled the Coun-
ty Board is within its rights to allow member John Hammerand, R-Wonder Lake, to participate remotely during the winter months. Questions about whether Hammerand’s annual absence is more of a vacation than for legitimate illness created a confusing situation in which board members allowed him to participate in one meeting, but voted against it the next.
But while the ruling reassures those who voted no because they worried about violating the act, it does not state that board members violated the act on the occasions they denied Hammerand attendance. The law allows a public body that has established remote attendance rules to vote to allow it in the event of personal illness or disability, a family or other emer-
gency, or for employment reasons or being away on the public body’s business. That body must have a set of rules governing voting to allow it, which the County Board does – the rules in effect at the time allowed remote participation if a member had a disability recognized by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Hammerand, one of the board’s longest-serving members, has
spent winters in warmer climates because his doctor said he is susceptible to respiratory illnesses with prolonged exposure to cold, but this winter was the first time in years that he attempted to phone in to attend meetings. Board members declined permission for him to attend remotely Jan. 6, allowed him to attend the
John Hammerand R-Wonder Lake
See RULING, page A5
Residents weigh in on D-200 field turf project
County dealing with dog flu
Proposal on agenda for board’s June 16 meeting BY HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com
Photos by Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
Alden Kennels manager Laura Nelson leads Lucy, a client’s basset hound, out of the kennels for a walk around the property Thursday in Ringwood. The kennel will remain open during this vacation season despite others closing down because of the H3N2 Asian dog flu that has been a concern in the Chicago area.
Officials promote awareness to halt spread of canine illnesses By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com RINGWOOD – Jeannette Everett knew as soon as a dog started coughing that there was a chance the canine influenza had hit her kennel. Everett, the owner of Lucky-E Kennel, 4915 Ringwood Road, Ringwood, said about 30 dogs that live primarily at the kennel have come down with some sort of illness since May. Although she said she hasn’t had her suspicions of the dog flu confirmed through a veterinarian, she’s nearly ceased her boarding operation. “Whether it’s the flu, kennel cough, whatever it is, you’ve got to take care of it,” Everett said. As more pet owners head for vacation, McHenry County and northern Illinois remain in the grip of a deadly canine flu virus. The timing leaves veterinary officials to stress that pet owners should question staff at the facilities they might use to house or groom their dogs and to avoid situations where an infected dog could be present. The recent outbreak stems from the H3N2 virus, a strain of canine influenza that until this year had only been seen in Asia,
Alden Kennels owner Alden Domraise (left) and manager Laura Nelson keep an excited wire hair fox terrier named Willy calm Thursday as they put him on a leash for a walk around the property in Ringwood. according to Schaumburg-based American Veterinary Medicine Association. Officials warned the virus spreads easily, regardless of the breed, through dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated items. It causes a respira-
tory infection, lethargy, fever and discharge from the nose and eyes. Most dogs recover in two to three weeks with treatment, and less than 10 percent of cases are fatal, the Schaumburg agency reported. There have been seven con-
firmed cases of canine influenza, including one fatality, in McHenry County this year, McHenry County Department of Health spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush said. Since the first three cases were reported in late April, four more dogs have caught the virus, she said. Of those dogs, three are recovering while an older dog is more sickly, she said. She said she would not disclose where the cases have been reported. “Canine influenza is widespread in the county, not just at one kennel or in any specific town,” Quackenbush wrote in an emailed statement. She encouraged dog owners to have conversations about prevention methods in place at their vet’s offices, kennels, groomers, boarders and other public places they will take their pets. Everett said she’s kept the 30-or-so sick dogs at her kennel confined. Most of the dogs there belong to her and her staff. But she said a handful of boarders disregarded her warning and continue to board their dogs. To keep the infection confined, staff disinfect the
WOODSTOCK – The Woodstock School District 200 Board and community members continued discussion Tuesday on the Larry Dale Field Turf Project, which proposes to install a $950,000 artificial turf field at Woodstock High School. The board held a special meeting More online Tuesday night to discuss the project To see video started by Wood- from the meeting, stock High School visit NWHerald. Athletic Director com. Glen Wilson and other residents. So far, $802,850 has been pledged for the project, according to a presentation given by the Renaissance Committee at the meeting. At the April 21 Woodstock City Council meeting, members approved the 2015-16 budget, which included a proposed $100,000 contribution to the turf project. Wilson previously said the new field would help the school “be more effective with the limited space they have and keep as many kids on campus as possible.” The fundraising group also has discussed renovating the stadium track and expanding seating at the field. The low-maintenance playing surface would provide a field for various athletic teams and extracurricular activities, the district has previously said. About 50 community members attended the meeting at the Clay Professional Development Center, 112 Grove St. Current and former students of Woodstock High School, parents of students, and the current football coach and soccer coach spoke in favor of installing the artificial turf field. Woodstock senior Annie Kamps, who is the co-captain of the varsity dance team, said there is not enough space for her team to practice at Woodstock High School. “I want everyone to have an equal chance, and I know that having this turf field will let us practice more, get better and cheer our team on,” Kamps said. Some concerns from residents and board members included the amount of money being spent on the field, the safety of the field, the field’s size and the timeline of the project.
See DOG FLU, page A5 See D-200, page A5
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