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HISTORIC TASTE • PLANIT PLAY, 10
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL • SPORTS, C1
Prohibition-era beer brewed in McHenry
PR pitching leads way in win over Huntley
Prairie Ridge’s Jack Myers
Man gets 25 years in CVS robbery CL resident brandished gun while demanding pills from pharmacist in 2012 incident By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – The defense attorney for a Crystal Lake man convicted of armed robbery said Eric Sorenson had mental health issues and an addiction to pills at the time he went into a CVS pharmacy and robbed it at gun-
point. When sentencing Sorenson to 25 years in prison, McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather on Wednesday didn’t disagree, but added that “mental health issues and a drug addiction only make Mr. Sorenson more dangerous to the community when he’s out.” Sorenson has been in custody
since his late October 2012 arrest that stemmed from an armed robbery of a CVS pharmacy in Crystal Lake a month earlier. Sorenson brandished a gun when he demanded oxycodone pills from the pharmacist. Testimony at the sentencing hearing revealed that when Crystal Lake Police stopped his car
Lawmakers up scrutiny of veterans hospitals
Oct. 21, 2012, he was driving with three loaded guns – an AR-15, a Glock and a sawed-off shotgun – along with a cache of ammunition. He eventually was tied to the Sept. 2, 2012, armed robbery at the CVS. When asking for a 35-year prison sentence, Assistant
State’s Attorney Robert Zalud detailed Sorenson’s prior criminal history that dated back to 1999, when he was a juvenile – arrests included aggravated battery, theft, fraud and burglary. The prosecutor also noted Sorenson’s supportive family.
Eric Sorenson
See ROBBERY, page A4
GREEN ALTERNATIVE TO GAS
Some planning visits to facilities in Illinois By JASON KEYSER The Associated Press CHICAGO – Illinois members of Congress are increasing their scrutiny of veterans hospitals in the state after an internal review showing several dozen patients waited more than three months for appointments at two facilities. Letters from Veterans Affairs officials to some U.S. senators – including Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Kansas’ U.S. Sen. two senators – last Mark Kirk week disclosed R-Ill. that problems with delayed care and unauthorized wait lists existed at several facilities throughout the Midwest. Among them were two hospitals serving veterans from southwestern Illinois, in Marion and St. Louis. Just days ago, officials at both facilities assured U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville there were no such problems at either facility, the Republican told The Associated Press on Wednesday, adding that he was surprised to learn otherwise this week. “That’s news to me which was not divulged in previous conversations with these administrators,” he said. “And so that may cause me to have to circle back to make sure I understood what they were telling me. That raises more questions.” Representatives for the two hospitals could not be reached for comment. A regional spokesman, Shaun Shenk, responded with a VA statement acknowledging problems in reporting accurate wait times and referring to system wide efforts to accelerate care.
See VETERANS, page A4
PROPANE POWERED Local gov’t entities take advantage of state grants for conversion costs By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com CARY – The idea of propane running some of the Cary Park District trucks took a little getting used to, but once the first trucks were converted, maintenance department foreman Jaime Arreola couldn’t tell the difference. The park district is one of a few local entities that has converted parts of its fleet to propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas. Many of the entities are taking advantage of state grants that will offset most or all of the conversion cost.
LOCALLY SPEAKING Sam McCloud
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Cary Park District employees Frank Castronovo (from left), Taylor Nowak and Jaime Arreola fill up propane tanks Friday for several of their lawn mowers in Cary. The Cary Park District is one of the area government agencies that has been making the shift to propane.
McHenry County Conservation District’s estimated impact of switching to propane
10 cents 100,000 $10,000
per mile savings with propane over gasoline
The Cary Park District converted three trucks to dual fuel systems, which allow the trucks to switch to gasoline when the propane runs out, in the fall of 2012 and has plans to convert an additional two this year, said Ben Rea, the superintendent of park maintenance. It also has two propane-powered mowers. The park district receives a $4,000 rebate for each truck converted, which covers about two-thirds of the $6,000 to $7,000 cost, Rea said. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, which is looking to convert 20 of its squad cars by the end of
"We have had great success with propane fuel. It is cleaner coming off the tailpipe, you don't lose on miles per gallon, it's readily available, typically cheaper, there's no difference in power and engines last longer."
See PROPANE, page A4
Steve Grover, Illinois Green Fleet mechanic
ISLAND LAKE
McHENRY
INVESTIGATION INTO HOMICIDE CONTINUES
JACOBS TAKES 7-1 WIN AGAINST HONONEGAH
The authorities investigating the homicide Monday of an Island Lake woman have made no arrests, while a person of interest remains under police watch at a Lake County hospital. Karen M. Scavelli, 48, of Island Lake, was found dead after police were called to her home at 735 Dartmouth Drive to check on her well-being. For more, see page B1.
Jacobs pitcher Reilly Peltier’s solid outing helped the Golden Eagles defeat Hononegah, 7-1, in their Class 4A McHenry Sectional baseball semifinal game Wednesday night at Petersen Park. The victory puts Jacobs (25-13) into Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship game against Prairie Ridge (22-16). For more, see page C1.
HARVARD: Residents compete in annual Bed Race to celebrate beginning of Milk Days. Local, B1
miles a typical vehicle will average in its lifetime estimated savings for each vehicle’s lifetime
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