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Jacobs celebrates with fans after 6 rounds of penalty kicks result in win / C1 NWHerald.com
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Court rules on CLS bleacher case Structure to be taken down eventually; weekend events not expected to be affected By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – The Illinois Supreme Court has sided with the city of Crystal Lake and three property owners in the case surrounding the controversial bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School by deciding that Community High School District 155 must comply with the city’s zoning process. In a ruling issued Thurs-
Voice your opinion Do you agree with the Illinois Supreme Court’s bleacher case ruling? Vote online at NWHerald. com. day, the court affirmed that a school district is subject to and must adhere to local government zoning and stormwater regulations. “As a home rule municipality, the City has the power to
regulate land use within its jurisdiction through zoning. There is no statute which exempts school district property from the exercise of the City’s zoning laws,” according to the ruling written by Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke. Kim Maselbas-Gurba, one of the homeowners whose properties back up to the expanded bleachers, said she is relieved in the wake of the decision. “For us, personally, it’s
Witnesses testify on third day at trial
been kind of a nightmare,” she said Thursday morning. “We’ve had threats, bullying, online bullying. We’re just bringing our daughter home now from school because she’s getting harassed over the decision.” The case dates back to August 2013, when the Gurbas, along with McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, the owner of another Amberwood Drive property that backs up to the Crystal Lake
South football field and the then-still-in-progress bleacher expansion, sued the school district. They argued the district bypassed the city’s zoning process and asked the courts to stop the work, although the district has countered that it followed the required Illinois School Code process, obtaining the required permits from the McHenry County regional superintendent for the construction of the bleachers.
Since then, the case has wound its way through the court system – with the city of Crystal Lake added to the suit as a counter-defendant and the school district ordered by a McHenry County judge to go through the city’s zoning process. The Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case in May. Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley decried the district in
See BLEACHERS, page A4
CASCIARO LOOKS AHEAD TO FUTURE
Video of officials, Romano talking shown to jurors By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Video of a calm and matter-of-fact Michael W. Romano talking to investigators hours after he found his parents shot to death in 2006 capped the third day of testimony in his murder trial. The video, which jurors will continue to watch Friday, Michael W. ended a day Romano filled with witnesses who prosecutors hope will convince jurors that Romano, 56, killed father Nick Sr. and stepmother Gloria Romano because he needed an inheritance to dig himself out of a $135,000 debt. Michael Romano, formerly of Algonquin, was arrested last year in Las Vegas and was indicted on four counts of first-degree murder. His attorneys argue no forensic evidence links him to the crime, and the house was filled with money and valuables that were left alone. Nick Sr., 71, and Gloria Romano, 65, were found dead in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2006, in their home between Crystal Lake and Cary. Both had been shot in the back of the head – Gloria once and Nick Sr. twice. Besides his calm demeanor, Michael Romano during the first hour called Nick Sr. “coldhearted” and a man who talks
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Mario Casciaro (center) is surrounded by his mother, Maria, and father, Jerry, while he speaks Thursday with Northwest Herald reporter Hannah Prokop at his attorney’s office in Downers Grove. Casciaro was released Wednesday from Menard Correctional Center after Illinois’ 2nd District Appellate Court overturned his conviction this month, saying prosecutors failed to prove Casciaro’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Casciaro embraces new freedom After release from prison, man lays out 5-year plan including law school By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com DOWNERS GROVE – Mario Casciaro said he was sitting in a concrete box when his family called to tell him the ruling in a murder case he was convicted in had been overturned. When Casciaro, 32, stepped out of Menard Correctional Center on Wednesday after having
been there for two years, it finally sunk in that he was free. “When you can’t see the outside world, it doesn’t really sink in until you’re actually breathing fresh air,” Casciaro said Thursday as he sat in his attorney Kathleen Zellner’s office, surrounded by family. “When you’re walking out of the prison, that’s when it hits you.” The first thing Casciaro did
when he walked out was hug his parents, Maria and Jerry Casciaro. “The greatest thing was to have known that he came out and to hug him,” Jerry said. “And I wanted to keep him that way for an hour.” After two jury trials, Casciaro was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2013, to 26 years in prison for being convicted of first-degree
murder by intimidation in the disappearance of 17-year-old Brian Carrick. Carrick last was seen Dec. 20, 2002, at the Johnsburg grocery store where he worked, which also was owned by Casciaro’s parents. His body was never found. Casciaro said he would tell
See FREEDOM, page A4
On the Web To read the Supreme Court ruling documents, visit NWHerald. com.
See ROMANO, page A4
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District 156 teachers union closer to strike after failing to establish contract deal / A3 SPORTS
Spiritual healing Pope Francis continued his first visit to the U.S. by addressing Congress, passing through crowds in New York City / B3
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‘A team we want to beat’ Cary-Grove remains Huntley’s biggest hurdle as the 2 undefeated teams meet Friday / C1
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