THURSDAY
July 17, 2014 • $ 1 .0 0
STEEPED IN HISTORY Folk Fest draws artists and fans to the Woodstock Square PLUS: A review of ‘Suds’ at the Raue Center
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Andrew Calhoun
NWHerald.com
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School on Square suggested Nontraditional learning proposed as possible use for Old Courthouse students “who desire to have a positive impact on [their] community, WOODSTOCK – A whether it be local, state, team of educators from national or global.” the area wants to put a “Basically, all of the service learning-based work that students do private school in Wood- benefits the communistock’s historic Old ty,” said founder StephaCourthouse. nie Helfand, a Woodstock The proposal to mod- resident and the current ify the building to fit the assistant director of ednontraditional school ucational technology at – which would be free Gurnee-based Warren to its students Township High – came in this News sent to School. week, in time to H e l f a n d become a foot- your phone said the school note at Tueswould be one Text the day night’s disof just a handcussion at the keyword NWHful across the Woodstock City WOODSTOCK country to offer Council meeting to 74574 to sign a free private edabout the other up for WOODucation. Cobbletwo proposals on STOCK news stone, like the text alerts from others, would the table. But the coun- the Northwest operate through cil – which will Herald. Message fundraising and decide the fate of and data rates donations from the courthouse apply. philanthropists. and the attached “I just think Sheriff’s House that where – hasn’t thoroughly re- there’s a will, there’s viewed the new propos- a way,” she said. “We al. It will first go before have seen schools do this the RFP Review Adviso- throughout the counry Committee. try.” Under the plan, “CobThe proposal’s renoblestone Community vation timeline calls for Prep” would open in the school to raise $9 milthe 2017-18 school year lion from 2014 to 2017. to middle school students and high school See SCHOOL, page A5
By SHAWN SHINNEMAN
sshinneman@shawmedia.com
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Kyle Kelly, with Renaissance Restoration, works on painting the outside of the dome at the Old Courthouse in Woodstock last month. Restoration on the 157-year-old courthouse is expected to be done in September.
CAN EX-CONS FIND A JOB? Those convicted of a crime may have a tough time finding employment Story by CHELSEA McDOUGALL - cmcdougall@shawmedia.com u Illustration by R. SCOTT HELMCHEN - shelmchen@shawmedia.com
T
here’s a little box on every job application that fills Heidi Webster with dread. The box reads: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” And checking it, she says, has cost her countless job opportunities. Because the truth is, Webster does have a background. Drug charges. Retail thefts – stealing to feed a drug habit. An attempted forgery that she called a misunderstanding. (She says her roommate at the time allowed her to sign a blank check for the rent. Her criminal background says the case ended in a conviction and a year of probation.) “There’s never a space [on a job application] that asks what you’ve done for your sentence, what you’ve done to be rehabilitated,” Webster said. “You don’t have a chance to explain it.”
Webster has been sober nearly two years and is set to graduate from the county’s Drug Court probation program in November. She’s got a new apartment and is working on her GED. Now she wants a steady job. She’s applied for a number of serving jobs – an industry in which she’s logged more than 20 years of experience. But she can’t outrun the black marks on her criminal background that dog her every attempt at stable employment. “I think it’s just because of my [criminal] background, they run it after they interview me,” Webster said. “There’s a lot of people who are looking for jobs right now. If [employers] have a choice between someone with all these felonies on their record and six to 10 other people
“
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
“There’s never a space [on a job application] that asks what you’ve done for your sentence, what you’ve done to be rehabilitated. You don’t have a chance to explain it.” Heidi Webster Woodstock ex-convict who has been looking for a stable job for two years without any luck. She’s a participant in the county’s Drug Court probation program while she works on getting her GED.
See CONVICTS, page A5
Marengo aldermen wait on ‘chronic nuisance’ proposal Ordinance aimed at problem landlords, tenants needs more research, they decide By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com MARENGO – A proposal that would give Marengo officials an added tool in dealing with landlords with properties frequented by police and building inspectors needs more research, aldermen recently decided. After hearing from a constituent about a similar ordinance passed in Harvard, Ward Three alderwoman
Gretchen Samuelson on Monday proposed a “chronic nuisance” ordinance that would require landlords and their tenants to work with a new housing board on stopping repeat violations. But a few aldermen questioned the need for the ordinance and whether it would mean too much government intrusion on conflicts between owners and tenants. The city’s public works director also doubted that his
department has the manpower to enforce the tool. “The chronic nuisance ordinance could potentially enhance our current ordinances by facilitating additional security and the quality of life for the neighborhoods,” Samuelson said. Under the proposal, landlords or tenants who cause at least three nuisances within a 120-day period could be called to a housing board to create an “abatement plan,” a variety of remedies designed to stop the issues. Numerous zoning and property maintenance violations, disorderly conduct citations, and any felony or Class A misdemeanor crimes at a
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property would qualify as a nuisance under the proposal. Remedies could include the city assisting with evicting tenants, requiring owners to do repairs and banning individuals who are not tenants from a particular property. Any person or owner who fails to comply could face at least a $500 fine, the pro-
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posal states. Property owners or managers would be able to contest alleged violations during a hearing overseen by the housing board, which would include the mayor, police chief and public works director. Inside City Hall on Monday, many aldermen had mixed reactions to the proposal. Both City Council members from Ward Two questioned if Marengo even had a chronic problem with property owners and managers. City staff determined that three to four properties a year on average could
See NUISANCE, page A5
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