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Minooka OK with existing plant Kendall Energy gets compared to Oakwood Hills proposal By ALLISON GOODRICH agoodrich@shawmedia.com MINOOKA – While opposition continues to flare over a proposed $450 million natural gas power plant in Oakwood Hills, the 13-year presence of a similar plant in Minooka has had little effect on nearby residents. Oakwood Hills residents have raised issues such as potential air pollution, effects on groundwater, noise levels and property values in protest to the project.
“They’re both combined cycle plants … but the one in Minooka is much bigger,” said For video of the Oakwood Hills Anderson, adding in terms of Zoning Committee meetings, visit output that the Minooka plant NWHerald.com. is roughly 1,200 megawatts while the proposed Oakwood Hills plant is 430 megawatts. Conrad Anderson, proj- “Noise levels should be roughect engineer for the proposed ly comparable.” plant, has said the Minooka Standing no more than plant, Kendall Energy, locat- a couple hundred feet away, ed at 1401 County Line Road, the Minooka plant produces a is comparable to the Oak- light “whir,” but it was almost wood Hills project. Minooka inaudible Wednesday under is about 14 miles southwest of the sound of blowing wind. Joliet. Built in 2001, the Minoo-
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Man gets 38 years for ‘brutal’ stabbing
ka plant has been a nonissue for the most part, said Steve Thornton, building and zoning officer for the village of Minooka. “It’s so isolated,” Thornton said. “I’ve never heard any complaints, and I’m sure I would’ve because a lot of that stuff winds up coming to me.” Its nondisturbing nature in terms of effects on residents may be attributed to its isolation, though, he said. “It’s out there, and you
See POWER PLANT, page A4
Allison Goodrich – agoodrich@shawmedia.com
The natural gas fired 1,200-megawatt Kendall Energy power plant, owned by Dynegy Inc., stands in Minooka. Built in 2001, the Minooka plant has been a nonissue for the most part, said Steve Thornton, building and zoning officer for the village of Minooka.
Harvard library hosting Lincoln exhibit
By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
See STABBING, page A4
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Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Karen Sutera, director of the Harvard Diggins Library, helps set up an exhibit focused on President Abraham Lincoln, the Constitution and the Civil War at the Harvard library Wednesday. The traveling exhibit will open Saturday and run through Sept. 5. The library also will host an “Abraham Lincoln in Song” event Saturday and August 13.
Traveling display makes local rounds in its fifth year By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com HARVARD – If the box office circa 2012 wasn’t proof enough, a traveling Abraham Lincoln library exhibit – perched in Harvard for the next six weeks – is reaffirming the country’s deep interest in the top-hatted historical figure. “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” is in the fifth year of an extended six-year tour across 250 sites. This week, it landed at Harvard Diggins Library,
900 E. McKinley “I think Lincoln has And I think this exSt., its only stop hibit ... tries to obalways been a figure jectively examine in McHenry County, where it will of great interest to how he approached remain through all the really imAmericans.” Sept. 5. portant issues that “I think Lincoln he faced during his Susan Brandehoff has always been presidency.” Project director at American a figure of great Originally sent interest to Amerion the road in Library Association’s Public cans,” said Susan 2009 for a 50-site Programs Office Brandehoff, projtour, the exhibit ect director at the was backed by the American Library Association’s National Endowment for the HuPublic Programs Office. “People manities for another 200 sites in feel different ways about him. 2011, based on the response from
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Still going strong
Lunch benefits Special Olympics
MCYSA Summer International baseball championship tournament returns to Crystal Lake for its 22nd season / C1
Algonquin and Crystal Lake police officers take lunch orders at event to support Special Olympics Illinois / A3
libraries and patrons. “We’ve had high attendance figures,” Brandehoff said. “All the libraries are doing programs, and we’ve had really good attendance at programs. It’s been a very successful exhibit.” The American Library Association worked with NEH and the National Constitution Center to make the exhibit happen. Harvard Diggins library staff applied to bring the exhibit to town in 2011, after the relaunch.
See LINCOLN EXHIBIT, page A4
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WOODSTOCK – Although Kelly Krause and Jim McGill lived through a brutal attack and survived 23 knife wounds, part of them died the night Jimmy Bell broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and stabbed the sleeping couple, prosecutors said. Injuries from the attack on July 2, 2013, required surgery and left them both with permanent reminders. Krause has a deep scar on her cheek from lip to ear. “Time does not heal wounds like this. They are permanent,” Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Johnston said. He asked the judge to sentence Bell to 60 years in prison on attempted murder and armed violence charges. “This defendant sentenced these families to a lifetime, carrying with them the permanent physical scars.” Instead, McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather sentenced the Elgin man Jimmy Bell to 38 years in prison. Bell, 31, must serve 85 percent of that sentence, or about 32 years, before he’s eligible for release. Supporters of Krause and McGill openly wept after the judge handed down Bell’s sentence but declined comment after the hearing. Bell – appearing before the judge meek and soft spoken – asked the families for forgiveness. He avoided eye contact with them throughout the hearing. “I wasn’t raised that way,” he said. “I was raised to help people not hurt them. I can’t explain the pain I caused. I do deserve punishment. I can’t justify any of this.” Speaking on her younger brother’s behalf, his sister Keeshia Barnes said Bell was a provider for his family. “God has forgiven you, and prayer is