Hi-Liter Illinois 3/8/2023

MARCH 8, 2023

MCCD awarded grants for improvements, updates at The Hollows Conservation Area

McHenry County Conservation District was awarded a $200,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program (OSLAD) grant toward ADA improvements and trail enhancements at The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary. The award was a part of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement last week where 118 park and recreation agencies throughout Illinois will receive nearly $60 Million in OSLAD grants.

The Hollows Conservation Area opened to the public in 1987 and is one of the Conservation District’s most popular sites, featuring hiking, camping, paddling, picnicking and fishing amenities. Details of the outdoor recreation improvements include replacing a 1 mile woodchip and gravel path with an accessible paved trail around the 22-acre Lake Atwood, as well as adding a second fishing pier, interpretive signage, solar lights to facilitate evening cross country ski events, and replacing the main entrance sign.

Additionally, complementing these improvements is the installation of a new ADA canoe/kayak launch on Lake Atwood made possible by an $80,000 Boat Access

Area Development grant recently awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

“These grants provide a tremendous opportunity to allow access for all residents to enjoy the site, attract new visitors, and enhance the area with minimal impact on the natural resources,” said William Cook McHenry County Conservation District Board President.

Design of the improvements has begun and both grant projects are expected to be completed by Spring of 2025.

McHenry County Conservation District is grateful to local legislators Senators Dan McConchie, Donald DeWitte, Craig Wilcox and Dave Syversen, in addition to State Representatives Tom Weber, Steven Reick, Joe Sosnoski, Suzanne Ness, Martin McLaughlin and Jeff Keicher for their role in making these projects happen. The OSLAD grants represent the largest round awarded in the 36-year history of the program, which was designed to help communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. In addition, 100% of eligible projects received OSLAD grants.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hi-Liter/MCN

As part of recent funds awarded to the McHenry County Conservation District, the installation of a new ADA canoe/kayak launch on Lake Atwood will be made possible.

Pritzker launches children’s behavioral health initiative

Goal is to expand services to address youth mental health crisis

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Citing what he called a nationwide crisis in children’s mental health, Gov. JB Pritzker recently unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul and expand the availability of children’s behavioral health services in Illinois.

“Long before COVID-19 turned our world upside down, our nation was facing a mental health crisis,” Pritzker said at an event at the West40 Regional Safe School in the west Chicago suburb of Maywood. “Nearly one in five children experienced a mental health disorder, from depression to anxiety to ADHD. But only 20 percent of them received the behavioral health care that they needed.”

In March of last year, Pritzker launched what was called the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, a project that involved six state agencies and other outside entities that deal with children’s mental health. Its task was to build a coordinated, interagency approach to ensuring young people with significant behavioral health needs receive the community and residential services they need.

The results of that effort were released in a recent report that examined data from multiple state agencies to assess the need for services, determine which populations are most affect-

ed by the crisis and come up with a plan for coordinating state resources to meet those needs.

“It’s a blueprint for transformation of the behavioral health system for Illinois’ youth,” Pritzker said. “This is an unprecedented interagency effort that will provide more and better treatment and save lives.”

Although a recent study by Mental Health America found Illinois ranks 13thbest overall on a set of factors related to youth mental health care, the Transformation Initiative analysis found that 40 percent of young people in Illinois who experienced major depressive episodes were unable to receive mental health care.

Youth in care of the Department of Children and Family Services who need inpatient residential treatment for their condition are disproportionately Black, the report found. As well, the report found a quarter of all the beds at residential treatment facilities are unavailable due to understaffing.

It also found that the state has a fragmented system of delivering mental and behavioral health services, with different state agencies providing services under different standards and often paying different reimbursement rates for similar services.

“Multiple state agencies operate programs that pro-

vide services to support children’s behavioral health, but there is minimal systematic coordination and no holistic, developmentally informed approach to meeting youth needs,” the report stated.

“With no central point of entry to help families navigate, children and families must access services differently across agencies, meet agency-specific eligibility requirements, and maintain access to services with minimal supports.”

To address that issue, Pritzker said, the Transformation Initiative developed and pilot tested a new online portal where people seeking assistance for youth could connect with the services they need. He described it as “a kind of a front door for stakeholders seeking assistance for youth with the greatest needs.”

As of Jan. 30, after only a few months of operation, Pritzker said, 41 percent of the cases that came through that portal had already been connected with interventions, placements and services.

“So with a successful pilot underway and under our belt, we are now going to build out this more robust care portal for children and families seeking behavioral health services,” he said.

“And we’re adding to it a hotline for assistance and specialized guidance for those beginning the process

Reduced well water testing rates offered through March 17

of accessing care.”

The Transformation Initiative report also spells several other recommendations for improving services. Those include standardizing reimbursement rates for services so providers are compensated consistently; offering universal screening in schools and health care settings for behavioral health problems so they are detected early; and expanding eligibility for current programs and developing new service types.

“Our ability to provide the behavioral health support that we desperately need for our kids and adults hinges on growing our behavioral healthcare workforce. We have to do it,” state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, a former social worker, said during the event. As part of his budget proposal, Pritzker asked for $22.8 million to begin to fund and implement the Transformation Initiative’s recommendations.

Pritzker also signed an executive order establishing a new office of Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative Chief to lead the interagency effort to implement that plan. At the event in Maywood, he announced that Dana Weiner, a child welfare expert at the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall who chaired the Transformation Initiative, would fill that role.

In Observance of National Groundwater Awareness Week, the Lake County Health Department is offering a reduced well water testing fee for homeowners who use well water as their primary source of drinking water. Between March 6 and 17, the normal $18.00 fee for testing for bacteria and nitrates will be reduced to $15.00.

“Water is an essential resource for drinking, cleaning, and bathing, but it can also make you sick if it is contaminated,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department. “We encourage private well owners to do annual water testing and well maintenance.”

Sterile test bottles and sampling instructions are available at the Lake County Central Permit Facility at 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, the Health Department’s headquarters at 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, and 19 township or municipal offices located throughout Lake County. To find a location nearest you, call (847) 377-8020 or visit lakecountyil.gov/726/ water-wells. Water sampling kits can also be mailed to residents for an additional postage fee.

All collected water samples must be brought to the Lake County Central Permit Facility between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Results of the water samples are ready for homeowners in approximately three business days. Residents also have the option for a Health Department staff member to visit their home to collect the sample, inspect the well, and provide the lab analysis for bacteria and nitrates for a $65.00 fee.

For further information on water testing, contact the Health Department at (847) 377-8020, or send an email to HealthEHS@lakecountyil.gov.

McHenry County to undertake grant-funded historic structure survey

A state grant is funding a detailed cataloguing of rural historic structures in southeastern McHenry County.

McHenry County recently was awarded a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to conduct a Rural Intensive Survey of unincorporated Algonquin, Grafton, Nunda and McHenry townships. Such surveys are used by the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission to plan preservation projects and to catalog historic resources that may otherwise be lost through neglect or demolition.

The IDNR awarded the county $35,000, or 70 percent of the 70/30 matching grant, and the county has hired the Evanston architectural firm of McGuire Igleski & Associates to perform the work. The professional survey will replace a volunteer survey conducted 25 years ago.

Surveyors will not be going onto private property, but will be photographing properties from the public right-of-way, and may drive slowly through some areas as part of their work. The survey is expected to start soon, and should be complete by the end of May.

The Historic Preservation Commission has the goal of completing professional historical surveys for all county townships; the first professional survey was completed in 2015 of northwestern McHenry County (Alden, Chemung, Dunham, Hartland, Hebron, Marengo, Riley and Seneca townships). This survey, and older surveys undertaken by local volunteers, can be found on https:// www.mchenrycountyil.gov/ county-government/departments-j-z/planning-development/commissions-committees-boards/historic-preservation-commission.

Michelle, is about 2 years old, spayed, up-todate on routine shots (incl. rabies), tested negative for FIV, feline leukemia and heartworm and microchipped. She is a very chill cat looking for her new loving family.

While walk-ins are welcome, adoptions are by appointments only to ensure we have the staff available to help adopters. For information and/ or to complete an online application, please visit www.saveapetil.org/adopt.

House Dems’ cannabis working group will engage industry, equity advocates

By Nika Schoonover CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Illinois House Democrats have announced the formation of a cannabis working group that will aim to steer the burgeoning industry’s expansion in a business-friendly way while still satisfying the equity goals of the landmark 2019 legalization law.

The group is led by Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, who has sponsored numerous cannabis-related bills and is an outspoken advocate for racial equity.

The working group’s main priority, according to Ford, is to make sure individuals who have invested in the newly-created industry are successful. A part of that is to address the disproportionate impact the war on drugs had on communities of color, particularly when it comes to cannabis-related arrests.

According to the ACLU, Black people in Illinois were 7.5 times more likely than white people to be arrested for cannabis-related offenses prior to the state’s decriminalization of the drug in 2016.

The same law that legal-

ized recreational cannabis use in 2019 also made individuals previously charged with minor cannabis offenses eligible to have their records expunged. At the end of 2020, Gov. Pritzker announced 492,129 cannabis-related convictions had been expunged and 9,219 low-level cannabis convictions had been pardoned.

The recreational cannabis law was also designed to give “social equity” applicants—or those whose ownership consists of minorities, people with drug convictions or individuals hailing from disproportionately impacted areas—easier access to new dispensary licenses.

“Our goal was to make sure that those communities that were hardest hit by the war on drugs actually were able to benefit from this industry by having the ability to open up in those communities and hire people from those communities,” Ford said in an interview.

Ford was the sponsor of House Bill 1443 in the previous General Assembly, a measure that created 110 addition-

al “social equity” dispensary licenses beyond the initial 75 created by the original legalization law.

Over 30 cannabis-related bills have already been filed in the current General Assembly which began in January, addressing areas including licensing, distribution of cannabis tax revenue and the expungement of past offenses. The working group will comb through these measures to more effectively address the industry’s most pertinent issues.

Illinois recorded a record-high $1.5 billion of recreational cannabis sales in Fiscal Year 2022, generating about $445 million in tax revenue. Under law, 25 percent of the taxes collected from recreational cannabis sales are to go to economically distressed communities or those impacted by the war on drugs. In Fiscal Year 2022, about $115 million in tax revenue went to the state’s General Revenue Fund.

Beyond an equity focus, Ford said the working group will also aim to make state policy more accommodating

to the industry from a business perspective.

“We have to make sure that we legislate with the industry because they are the investors,” Ford said. “If we could empower the businesses, it’s going to mean more revenue, and we’re going to realize what we intended for the [cannabis legalization] law to do. And that is increase employment, develop communities, reduce crime in the state.”

Ford is joined on the working group by Assistant Majority Leader Marcus Evans, D-Chicago; Assistant Majority Leader Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora; Assistant Majority Leader Bob Rita, D-Blue Island; Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview; Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago; and Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield.

They’ll work with other lawmakers, state agencies, businesses and associations that work directly with the cannabis industry.

One of the involved organizations is the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, a statewide trade association for cannabis businesses.

The association’s legislative priorities include re-implementing curbside pickup and drive-thru services after pandemic-era measures expired, decoupling Illinois’ cannabis tax code from the federal tax code, and extending the right to work in the medical cannabis industry for those who have previous cannabis-related convictions.

“Currently, the recreational statute allows individuals with previous drug convictions to gain access to the cannabis industry,” Pamela Althoff, executive director at the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, said in an interview. “That is prohibited in the compassionate and medical statute. We’d like to see both of them mirrored.”

The Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition, a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for cannabis-related reform, has their own priorities for the legislative session, including expanding support for the craft grow industry, creating a singular cannabis oversight commission to streamline cannabis programs, and cre-

ating licenses for clubs and lounges so people other than homeowners are able to legally consume cannabis.

“The goal is moving away from having 13-plus state agencies who are not talking to each other,” Peter Contos, deputy director of the coalition, said in an interview. “We need one cannabis body who just does all the work, similar to what the state did with the liquor commission.”

Evans and Ford have both introduced bills—House Bills 1436 and 1498—to create a cannabis oversight commission. Contos said the coalition is currently trying to work with both lawmakers to reach an agreement on the legislation.

Contos added they’re excited to be involved with the working group because it shows there’s a concerted effort to continue cannabis-related reforms.

“We have a long way to go in Illinois to get back to the goals we set a few years ago when we legalized [cannabis] but this is definitely the first step we need to take,” Contos said.

Pritzker announces $60 million in park grants, declines to endorse Chicago mayor candidate

Grant allotments put added emphasis on ‘distressed’ communities

By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois

Gov. JB Pritzker last week announced the release of nearly $60 million in grant funding to help local governments develop public parks and open spaces, over 20 percent of which will go to “distressed” communities.

The money through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants was distributed to 118 projects, all but one ranging from $102,800 to $600,000 per grant, per a news release. The allotment to “distressed” communities— which are determined by an area’s poverty level and land value—is a roughly five-fold increase from the previous fiscal year.

The governor made the announcement at a park in Springfield that will receive $600,000 through the Springfield Park District to demolish an outdoor pool and build a modern splash pad and pool facility.

Pritzker noted that the current fiscal year marks the first time that 100 percent of costs in distressed communities will be covered, as lawmakers waived the cost-sharing requirement for projects in those communities that would normally apply to grantees.

“This means that places needing renewal and restoration like the city of Cairo, which is a recipient of their first ever OSLAD grant will be able to improve their parks and their green space,” Pritzker said.

Cairo was slated to receive $599,500 in grant funding. Approximately 59 percent of the grants are directed to the Chicagoland area, including Cook and its five surrounding counties. A total of 46 counties will see new projects.

At least $12.5 million of the more than $59 million in funding will go to distressed communities.

Among the other projects, the city of Benld in Macoupin County will receive $600,000 at the site of its former elementary school that was destroyed by underground mine subsidence in 2009. Peoria Park District will receive $255,000 to acquire 40 acres along the Illinois River Bluff to extend a hiking trail and conduct conservation work. It will also receive $600,000 to replace an outdoor swimming pool at its Lakeview Park with a modern splash pad and pool facility. Another $600,000 would go to the Chicago Heights Park District to build three soccer fields, new lighting and spectator seating at Commissioners Park.

This year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the grants, contracted with the Northern Illinois University Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability and Energy. Through that partnership, 15 undergraduate and graduate NIU students served as supervised grant reviewers.

“One of our students shared that she and her family had enjoyed access to a brand-new neighborhood

park, in her small village in Illinois,” said Thomas Skuzinski, director of the institute at NIU. “And knowing that she had played a role in helping to bring that kind of opportunity to families and communities statewide, was in her words, truly life changing, and easily the most important thing that she had ever done in her life.”

The OSLAD grant program has been in place in Illinois since 1986, and the Fiscal Year 2023 allotment is the largest in its history. Pritzker’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 includes $56 million for OSLAD grants.

Chicago mayor race

The governor ’s announcement came one day after a mayoral election in Chicago that saw incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot fail to earn a spot in the April runoff election.

Instead, former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas will face Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson in the April 4 runoff. Vallas had success in more conservative areas of the city and garnered 34 percent of the vote, while Johnson was more successful with liberal voters and carried 20 per-

cent. Lightfoot came in third with just 17 percent, failing to make the runoff.

Pritzker said he would not be endorsing a candidate in the runoff—at least not yet.

“Primaries are messy,” Pritzker said. “And they don’t usually illustrate the candidates’ positions on the issues all that well. And so, I think it’ll be important for the candidates that made it through that primary process and now in the runoff, to articulate their positions and the contrast between their views.”

As a Chicago voter, Pritzker said, he’d be “listening

and watching intently,” although he would not say who he voted for on Tuesday. He also said he had not spoken to Vallas, Johnson or Lightfoot since election night.

“The governor and the mayor of the city of Chicago have to be able to work together,” Pritzker said when asked about potential endorsements. “We saw for years, I think, under (Democratic Chicago Mayor) Rahm Emanuel and (Republican Gov.) Bruce Rauner, where they didn’t, and that wasn’t good for the state or for the city of Chicago.”

He added, “I keep that in

mind every day when I think about what I say, what I do, who I endorse—how is that relationship affected by the things that I do? And I hope they’ll keep that in mind as well.”

Park grants in McHenry County

• McHenry County Conservation District - $200,000

• City of Woodstock$600,000

• Crystal Lake Park District - $600,000

• Village of Richmond$137,390

• Village of Algonquin –$600,000

Lake County to eliminate one million single-use plastics from its operations

Approximately one million single-use plastics will be eliminated from Lake County government operations this year as part of a new policy promoting sustainability and supporting the environment.

The policy went into effect at the start of 2023, ceasing single-use plastics from being purchased, sold, or distributed within county government operations, including the cafeteria, coffee kiosk, and vending machines. This consists of single-use plastics associated with service ware for eating and drinking, such as cutlery, coated paper plates, beverage bottles, to-go containers, lids, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, shopping or storage bags, and plastic wrap.

The new policy applies only to what Lake County government can purchase and sell and does not apply to Lake County businesses and residents. Plastics can still be brought to Lake County government facilities by the public and employees.

“It is shocking how many single-use plastics we use each day without even thinking about it, said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “We are preventing one million plastic items per year from being sent to landfills that could take hundreds of years

to break down. And all it took was one policy.”

In some Lake County government buildings, aluminum cans have replaced single-use plastic bottles in vending machines. Multiple vending machines containing single use plastic-wrapped items also have been removed from some facilities.

To provide the public who come to county facilities more sustainable food options, the County has entered into a trial contract with a company that will install refrigerated selfserve vending machines. The machines will provide fresh, healthy meal options in reusable, recyclable containers.

County departments also are encouraged to make every effort to reduce purchasing single-use and multi-use plastic in all forms, including packaging and utilize reasonable alternatives when available.

“The County Board, staff, and vendors all worked together toward this instrumental change,” said Jessica Vealitzek, chair of the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee. “This program is a testament to what is possible and serves as a model to encourage other communities to follow Lake County’s lead.”

Forest Preserve continues maple syrup programs through March 19

For more than 40 years, educators and volunteers at the Lake County Forest Preserves have led wildly popular Maple Syrup Hikes through Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods. Each March, families, school groups and scout troops learn about the process of converting sap from the preserve’s towering sugar maple trees into sweet syrup.

In-person, public Maple Syrup Hikes are offered Saturdays and Sundays, through March 19, at Ryerson Welcome Center. Led by Lake County Forest Preserves educators, the one-hour hikes run every half-hour from noon to 2 pm and are open to all ages.

The temperature dictates what visitors will see along the trails, said Environmental Educator Jen Berlinghof. “The timing for tapping maple trees comes down to temperature–above freezing during the day but still below freezing at night–plus precipitation and the hours of sunlight in a day,” she said. Changing temperature is what causes the sap to surge upward from the roots toward the branches, where it helps the leaves grow and the buds bloom. Then in the summer, the leaves will produce more sap, which will settle back down in the roots come winter, Berlinghof said.

“Visitors are able to witness the wonder of turning sap from sugar maple trees into sweet maple syrup. All registered participants can have a taste,” Berlinghof

Forest Preserves offers programs in Spanish

The Forest Preserves recently hired a bi-lingual environmental educator as one strategy toward our objective to reach a broader audience. Requests from local schools and community members for programs delivered in Spanish emphasized the need for multilingual programming.

“We are proud to offer all of our environmental education programs in Spanish,” said Education Manager Alyssa Firkus. “Our goal is to reach out to the Spanishspeaking community and encourage them to visit and enjoy the forest preserves.”

said. Ryerson Conservation Area has many maple trees and good soil. Syrup production only happens in late winter and early spring.

Tickets for Maple Syrup Hikes are required. Hikes fill up quickly, so register early. Cost is $6 per person. Children ages 3 and under are free. Purchase tickets online at lcfpd.org or call 847-9683321. Special sessions designed for scouts or other large groups are also available. Call 847-968-3321 to register a group.

Throughout March, teachers and scout leaders are encouraged to reserve in-person field trips. The experience includes learning where we use the maple syruping process to address Illinois learning standards, Berlinghof said. Learn more about maple syruping school programsonline or email AskAnEducator@ LCFPD.org to begin the registration process.

“If your family is ready to hit the trails, there are free self-guided Maple Syrup Hikes from March 20–31. Through informational signs, you’ll learn the science behind how trees make sap and how we turn that sap into real maple syrup as you walk along the designated trail at your own pace,” Berlinghof said.

Browse all education programs and register online at LCFPD.org/calendar, or call 847-968-3321. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @LCFPD for more educational resources, webinars and videos.

Beginning this spring, the educator will offer a series of guided forest preserve walks in Spanish. “She will educate participants about plants, animals, nature and history of the preserves,” Firkus said. The walks are meant to expand our reach into new communities and make our programming more welcoming to all residents. Upcoming walks include:

• 9–10 a.m., Monday, March 27 at Greenbelt (North Chicago).

• 9–10 a.m., Thursday, April 27 at Nippersink (Round Lake).

• 9–10 a.m., Saturday, May 13 at Buffalo Creek (Long Grove). View the complete 100-Year Vision and Strategic Plan, and Road Map to 2025 objectives and tactics at LCFPD.org/vision.

walks in Spanish.

Friends of Volo Bog holding native shrub and tree sale

The Friends of Volo Bog are taking orders for their Native Shrub and Tree Sale until Friday, May 5 at 3 p.m. Pick-up will be May 13

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volo Bog SNA parking lot behind the visitor center. Plants will be tagged for your convenience to pick up.

Volo

www.FriendsofVoloBog.org.

Stolen vehicle spotted by detective, driver refuses to stop

On March 1, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Mundelein

Police Department issued a regional police broadcast of a vehicle that was just stolen in their village. The broadcast indicated the stolen 2020 Cadillac XT5 was last seen traveling eastbound on Route 120 from Route 45, Grayslake.

Around the same time, a sheriff’s detective was traveling eastbound on Route 120 in the area of Route 21 (which is east of Route 45). The sheriff’s detective began searching for the stolen vehicle, when he was passed by the Cadillac and a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder at an extremely high rate of speed, in excess of 100 mph.

The sheriff’s detective activated his emergency lights and siren, however both vehicles continued at their excessively fast speed. The sheriff’s detective lost sight of both vehicles as they continued traveling eastbound. As the sheriff’s detective approached Route 120 and the offramp to Greenleaf Street, he saw the Nissan was involved in a crash with a 2008 BMW X5. The sheriff’s detective went directly to the occupants of the BMW, to check their wellbeing.

Four individuals fled from the Nissan. A sheriff’s canine responded in an attempt to track the individuals who

fled, however, the track ended in a parking lot just south of the crash scene, where the offenders likely got into a different vehicle.

The driver and passenger of the BMW, both of whom are adults, were transported to Lake Forest Hospital with minor injuries.

It is believed the Nissan Pathfinder, which was previously reported stolen out of Waukegan, was involved in the theft of the Cadillac. The Cadillac was subsequently recovered abandoned in the 1700 block of McAree Drive, Waukegan, by a sheriff’s detective. Mundelein Police Department Evidence Technicians are processing the Cadillac for evidence.

The entire incident remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Waukegan Police Department, and Mundelein Police Department.

Guilty verdicts for sexual assault and sexual abuse of a child

On February 24, a Lake County jury trial concluded with guilty verdicts on all counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.

Jorge Hernandez-Chiri-

nos, 45, was convicted of two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, a class X felony, and three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, a class 2 felony. Hernandez-Chirinos was first charged in July 2022, after the Waukegan Police Department, along with the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, responded to and investigated a report of a sexual assault involving a child.

Jorge HernandezChirinos

“Our outstanding investigators, victim advocates, and prosecutors strive daily to protect children. We appreciate the jury’s work last week on a heart-wrenching case. Without our strong partnership with law enforcement and the bravery of this survivor, this offender may have harmed others. We will continue to ensure that the survivor receives the support she needs,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.

The jury trial began on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, lasting four days. Jurors heard from multiple witness-

es, including the victim’s relatives and friends. They explained how the victim’s testimony of the sexual assault that took place from the time she was eight years old until she was 12 years old, aligned with statements she had previously made to them and to officers during the investigation.

The defense brought no witnesses, and the defendant made the choice not to testify.

Hernandez-Chirinos was held on a $1,000,000 bond in the Lake County Jail from the time of his arrest until the trial. After the verdict, Judge George Strickland revoked the ability to post bond. A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered by the court and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 6.

Each Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child count carries a sentencing range of 6 to 60 and the charge of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse carries a sentencing range of 3 to 7 years. Because he was convicted of all counts, Hernandez-Chirinos is facing 15 to 127 years in the Department of Corrections.

Subject fleeing theft causes serious crash;

passenger in vehicle impaled

On March 6, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a traffic crash with injuries in the intersection of Route 60 and Saint Marys Road, Mettawa.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found three vehicles involved in the crash.

Preliminary investigation shows a 2018 Kia Optima was traveling eastbound on Route 60. The occupants of the Kia, who crash investigators are still working to identify, were involved in a retail theft in Vernon Hills. Following the retail theft, the driver of the Kia fled eastbound on Route 60, recklessly, at a high rate of speed.

As the Kia approached Saint Marys Road, the stop light was red for Route 60 traffic. The driver of the Kia ran the red light and was struck by a southbound 2012 GMC Sierra. The Kia then left the roadway on the southeast corner of the intersection and drove into a wooden fence.

Following the collision with the Kia, the GMC collided with a 2016 Toyota 4-Runner, which was facing northbound, in the turn lane to turn left onto westbound Route 60.

Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group has another successful year

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, continue to set records year after year.

In 2022, the team opened 112 criminal cases, arresting 67, and seizing nearly $7,000,000.00 worth of Illegal drugs in Lake County. Additionally, they seized 120 illegally possessed firearms, many of which were possessed by convicted felons.

In 2022, SIG seizures included:

You ought to be in pictures!

t Just shoot and

t We need you to ID everyone in the photo first and last names required

t Tell us what’s happening in the photo

t Please do NOT crop your photos.

t Tell us who took the photo and we will give them a photo credit

• Over 72 pounds of powder cocaine

• Nearly 10,000 grams of fentanyl (enough to kill thousands)

• Four pounds of heroin

• Over 61 pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis

• Over 14,000 illegally trafficked prescription pills

SIG is a partner with the Lake County Coalition Against Human Trafficking and in 2022, SIG conducted multiple presentations throughout Lake County on the warning signs of human trafficking. Additionally, members of SIG conducted a number of presentations to school educators, students, community organizations, and neighborhood groups to keep the community closely informed of drug trends, warning signs, and resources available.

SIG is the only HIDTA funded initiative in Lake

The driver of the GMC, a 34-year-old man of Round Lake Beach, was transported to Lake Forest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota, a 60-year-old man of Watervliet, Michigan, and his passenger, a 23-year-old man of Riverwoods, were uninjured.

The driver of the Kia was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with non-life-threatening injuries. A front-seat passenger in the Kia was impaled by a wooden fence post and transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with critical, life-threatening injuries. A back-seat passenger in the Kia was transported to Lake Forest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Vernon Hills Police Officers who arrived on the scene along with responding sheriff’s deputies performed first aid and utilized an automated external defibrillator on the front-seat passenger of the Kia, prior to the arrival of paramedics.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit. The retail theft remains under investigation by Vernon Hills Police Department.

County. With this funding, they are able to allocate substantial resources toward drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and criminal enterprises.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “We have been placing a major emphasis on arresting drug traffickers, seizing illegally possessed firearms, all while holding those accountable who possess or sell them, and rescuing victims from human trafficking.

The amazing partnership we have developed with federal and local law enforcement is a significant reason SIG is so successful.

Congratulations to our Special Investigations Group for keeping seven million dollars’ worth of drugs out of our community and seizing over 100 illegally possessed firearms.”

Participating Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group agencies are: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Park City Police Department, Round Lake Beach Police Department, Round Lake Park Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, Winthrop Harbor Police Department and Zion Police Department.

Lake County Sheriff’s arrest bulletin

The Lake County Sheriff’s Dept. reported the following arrests in Lake County. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Feb. 8

Lori J. Mentado, 27, Union Grove, WI, was cited for DUI – alcohol, and no insurance;

Feb. 9

William H. Morris, 67, Antioch, was cited for violating an order of protection;

Feb. 10

William J. Lichon, Jr., 45, Volo, was cited for aggravated domestic battery and criminal trespass to residence;

Allen Besander, 67, Ingleside, was cited for DUI – alcohol;

Roloando Martinez, 30, Mundelein, was cited for domestic battery;

Jerome Francis, 50, Waukegan, was cited for no driver’s license;

Feb. 11

Sara J. Bessert, 41, Volo, was cited for domestic battery;

George A. Guerra-Quinteros, 25, Waukegan, was cited for aggravated speeding (82 mph in 35 mph zone);

Dekeya D. Mason, 43, Zion, was cited for aggravated DUI, obstructing identification, and no insurance;

Feb. 12

Michael A. Davidson, 49, Waukegan, was cited for DUI – alcohol;

Dylan R. Bouvia, 23, McHenry, was cited for driving while license suspended.

Feb. 13

Juvenile, was cited for no driver ’s license;

Feb. 14

Kamila K. Henley, 40, Barrington, was cited for theft.

McHenry County Sheriff’s arrest bulletin

The following arrests in McHenry County were reported by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jan. 31

Robert L. Mason, 67, McHenry, was cited for A2A possess 15<100 grams cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Feb. 1

Nicholas J. Strand, 41, Lindenhurst, was cited for possession of controlled substance and driving while license suspended or revoked;

Jeffrey J. Corbeil, 27, McHenry, was cited for A2A possess 15<100 grams cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Dylan P. Wetzel-Connor, 24, Hebron, was cited for aggravated battery – peace officer – great bodily harm/ permanent disability/disfigurement, possess with intent to manufacture/deliver controlled substance, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended or revoked, fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, reckless driving, improper turn at an intersection, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage, obstruct justice/destroy evidence, 3 counts of posses-

sion of a controlled substance, obstructing identification;

Raymond F. Schordie, 61, Wonder Lake, was cited for A2A 15<100 grams cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Shallay D. Zerin, 34, McHenry, was cited for A2A possess 15<100 grams cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Dawn V. Castagne, 42, McHenry, was cited for possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Austin M. Wetzel-Connor, 29, Hebron, was cited for possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing identification; Feb. 2

Jessica A. Elliott, 45, Crystal Lake, was cited for A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm; Feb. 3

Jeffery M. Gniech, 50, Johnsburg, was cited for residential burglary;

Richard S. Harley, 34, Cary, was cited for A-2 domestic battery/physical contact, and A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm;

Jessica M. Diamond, 35, Crystal Lake, was cited for A-2 domestic battery/physical contact and A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm;

Feb. 5

Rafael Alarcon Laiz, 30,

Crystal Lake, was cited for contributing to the delinquency of a minor (family related); Eric B. Henricksen, 42, Chicago, was cited for operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration and DUI – alcohol;

Feb. 6

Victor O. Diaz, 27, Woodstock, was cited for obstructing justice, DUI – alcohol, failure to remain at the scene of vehicle damage accident, aggravated DUI, unlawful restraint, 2 counts of resisting or obstructing police officer, 2 counts of A-2 domestic battery/physical contact, 2 counts of A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm, and interference with reporting of domestic violence;

Brianna M. Liebgott, 22, Rockford, was cited for criminal damage to property, and battery;

Nicholas R. Hallberg, 30, Belvidere, was cited for fraud;

Anna L. Perez, 49, Woodstock, was cited for retail theft – taking merchandise from retail establishment with intent to deprive merchant without paying.

Feb. 7

Joseph L. Keeling, 32, Fox Lake, was cited for contempt of court;

RJ T. Marinas, 33, Rockford, was cited for drug induced homicide;

Feb. 8

Jonathan C. Coulman, 41,

Man crushed by car he was working on

On February 28, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence in the 33800 block of North Oak Street, Unincorporated Grayslake, for a report of a man stuck underneath a vehicle.

A neighbor of the victim heard a loud crash. He went outside to inspect and found the victim, a 52-year-old man, underneath a 2002 Chevro-

Bicycles

JEEP COMANCHE MOUNTAIN BIKE Paperwork for authenticity.

Text to (262) 989-4112

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Man intentionally drives into tree while arguing with passenger

On March 1, at approximately 7:45 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of 29th Street and Lone Oak Road, Beach Park, for a traffic crash with injuries. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a Nissan Murano that struck a tree. There was significant damage to the Nissan.

The driver of the Nissan, a 68-yearold man, of the 800 block of Greenview Street, Gurnee, and his passenger, a 38-year-old woman of Zion, were entrapped and had to be extricated by the fire department from the vehicle. Both the driver and the passenger were transported to area hospitals with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

let Tahoe, unresponsive. The neighbor called 911.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived and began CPR on the man, who was not breathing, until paramedics arrived. The man was transported via ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical, life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary investigation shows the man was changing

a transmission filter on his Chevrolet. He likely raised the front end of his car by driving onto a decorative rock, ordinarily used in retaining walls. While working underneath the car, the vehicle came off the rocks and crushed the victim.

The incident remains under investigation, however, foul play does not appear to be a factor.

Preliminary investigation shows the driver and the victim, who have a relationship, were arguing with one another. During the argument, the driver indicated he was going to end their lives. The driver, as he traveled eastbound on 29th Street, accelerated, veered off the roadway, and drove the Nissan directly into a tree.

Both the driver and the passenger remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

After reviewing the facts and

circumstances of the case, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office have approved the following charges for the driver: Aggravated Domestic Battery (Class 2 Felony) and Reckless Conduct (Class 4 Felony). Additional charges are possible.

The driver ’s name was being withheld pending his discharge from the hospital.

UPDATE: Driver to appear in court

On March 6, Domingo J. Rogel, 68, (updated address of 2600 block of Horeb Avenue, Zion), was discharged from the hospital. He was placed into custody by sheriff’s deputies and transported to the Lake County Jail. He was due to appear at an initial court hearing Tuesday morning for his charges. An additional charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm (class 3 felony) was added following the issuance of the first media release.

HELP WANTED TRANSPORTATION

Motorcycles

1979 HONDA TWINSTAR 200 5,000 miles, $300.00 Call 608295-1545.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

Agriculture

SHOW QUALITY BABY CHICKS Assorted varieties. $5. each. 262-537-4434 or text 262945-8675.

Other Real Estate

Snowmobiles

2015 YAMAHA VUNTURE GT $4,000. 2009 Arctic Cat 570 $3,000. 1998 Yamaha 700 $3000. 847-347-8640.

Produce/Feed

HAY & STRAW FOR SALE

Good quality, big bales, round & small squares. 262-949-4495.

Sports/Classic Cars

1990 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE, triple black, 49,000 miles, automatic, no winters. $11,500. (630) 886-6667.

Wanted to Buy

Help Wanted

LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUAL W/ HANDYMAN SKILLS TO HELP IN OUR SHOPS IN SALEM,WI and BURLINGTON, WI. Must be self starter, work independently & carry out projects. Responsibilities include keeping shop clean, routine lawn care, basic truck maintenance, driving small truck with trailer, using hand tools. Skills include welding, planting small trees, cutting down small trees, repairing small equipment. Call 262-206-6733 for more information.

PART TIME DRIVER/MAIL ROOM HELPER 1-2 Days per week. Delavan, WI location. Call to inquire 262-725-7704. BUSY MAIL ROOM NEEDS WORKERS Part Time or Seasonal! Hours can be flexible 2-3 days per week. Delavan Location. Call to inquire 262-725-7704.

Skilled Trades

FATHER NEEDS HELP

Siding, drywall and flooring. Call 847-826-0987. By Antioch, IL.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familiar/ status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-900-669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hi-Liter/MCN

A 68-year-old man intentionally drove into a tree during an argument with the passenger in his vehicle.

Domingo J. Rogel