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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 42
7124 WINDSOR LAKE PARKWAY, SUITE 5 • LOVES PARK, IL 61111
McHenry County woman with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma files suit over chemical pollution A woman who developed NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma after living near metal processing plants in the Village of Union, Illinois in McHenry County filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking damages against the plant owners for knowingly polluting the surrounding communities with cancer-causing chemicals for decades. The victim, Dana Harper, a 44year old woman, lived with wire and alloy manufacturing plants across the street for almost three decades. During that time, a plant managed by Central Wire, Inc./ Techalloy Company Inc, and another factory managed by Phibro-Tech and Southern California Chemical Company, was emitting, and improperly disposing of, a blend of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including, but not limited to, the established carcinogens trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and ammonia into the surrounding air, soil and water. These plants were also located mere feet from Evergreen Academy, a magnet school for 6th-12th grade students. TCE is used for a number of industrial tasks, such as degreasing metal parts, but has been shown to have such dangerous effects that the Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed a ban on the use of the chemical as a degreaser, as well as in industrial drycleaning facilities. “The toxic nature of these chemicals is no secret to anyone. To release them into the world is to cause someone’s death sentence,” said Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, one of the attorneys representing Ms. Harper. “These companies need to be held
responsible for their actions.” The four defendants are well aware of the consequences that years of improper disposal of TCE and other VOCs has had on the communities surrounding their facilities. As the lawsuit details, multiple tests throughout the 1990s found unsafe levels of contaminants in groundwater beneath the plant, in soil, and in groundwater wells of nearby residential homes. In addition, TCE was federally recognized as an air pollutant as early as 1970, and added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous substance list in 1976. “Central Wire put me into the direct zone of danger through improper handling of ultrahazardous material. The company should have exercised reasonable care to protect my health and the health of my community,” said Ms. Harper. “They can never give me back my health, but these dangerous actors must clean up their mess and to operate with human compassion and respect going forward.” Several companies are named as defendants in the lawsuit including Phibro-Tech, Southern California Chemical Company, Inc, Central Wire, Inc., and Techalloy Company, Inc., who collectively ran two factories which did metal production work at 17415 Jefferson Street and 6509 Olson Road in Union, both down the street from the residence where Ms. Harper lived for 26 years. “The defendants in this case did nothing to prevent the spread of or treat the toxic TCE and PCE waste they emitted, and Ms. Harper has suffered serious harm because of continued exposure to these chemi-
cals,” said Michael Grieco, the other attorney representing Ms. Harper for Romanucci & Blandin, LLC. All of the companies named as defendants have faced scrutiny for negligent, reckless, and repeated violations of Illinois and United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations, as well as state and federal statutes. All defendants have faced investigation from the EPA for their conduct, including Southern California Chemical Company, Inc. who had a facility shut down by the EPA. Facilities operated by Techalloy and Central Wire, Inc. have also been placed under a consent decree due to reckless management of toxic chemicals. About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC Romanucci & Blandin has been rated as a leading civil trial practice law firm in Chicago concentering in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, police misconduct, and abuse and sexual misconduct cases. The attorneys at the Chicago law firm represent individuals and their families in catastrophic personal injury matters, wrongful death and workers’ compensation cases. The cases that are referred to Romanucci & Blandin involve accidents or injuries which occurred due to negligence and carelessness on the part of individuals, governmental bodies and corporations of all sizes. Since its inception over 20 years ago, Romanucci & Blandin has secured more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of their clients across the country. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call 312-4581000.
COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News
CLPD testing is being conducted to fill current full-time Police Officer vacancies and to establish an Eligibility List for future available positions.
Crystal Lake Police Dept. now hiring The Crystal Lake Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Officer – Lateral Entry. Testing is being conducted to fill current full-time Police Officer vacancies and to establish a Lateral Entry Eligibility List for future available positions. Applications are available
at https://www.crystallake.org/your-government/ departments/human-resources/employmentopportunities. There is no application deadline, however, applications with be reviewed every 30 days and the first application review will be Oct. 18. Crystal Lake is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019
HUNTLEY PD PHOTO McHenry County News
The Annual Trick or Treat Trot 5K raises money for Special Olympics Illinois.
Trick or Treat Trot for Special Olympics Get your costumes and running shoes on and join us for a fun run, trot, or stroll around downtown Huntley to raise money and awareness for the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on Sunday, Oct. 20. Registration begins at 9 am. It will begin the event with a special Torch Lighting Ceremony featuring many of our local athletes from Special Olympics Illinois. The run will begin at 11 am. Stick around after the run for Village of Huntley’s Fall Harvest Fest in the Town Square. All participants registered by Oct.
11 will receive a treat bag and event t-shirt at registration. Chocolate medals will be presented by Special Olympic Athletes at the finish line. To learn more and complete the registration form, please see: www. huntley.il.us/departments/police/ read_more_about_letr_events.php To register or donate online, visit: soill.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive. event&eventID=741 Thank you to Adams Collision Service and 1st Choice Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers for their generous sponsorship of this event.
Jesse White announces driver records now available online Illinoisans no longer need to visit Driver Services facilities to obtain their driving record Illinoisans no longer need to visit Driver Services facilities to purchase their driving records due to a new program launched by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Motorists may now purchase a copy of their driving record online by visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com. This new program will allow customers to immediately print their driving record at the end of the transaction. The program is accessible 24/7 at www.cyberdriveillinois. com through the “Online Services” section under the “Driving Record Abstract” category. The purpose of a driving record is to document whether a person has a valid driver’s license, and to track a motorist’s history of traffic violations as well as any sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State. Driving records are often required by employers for employees who drive during the course of their workday. Records may also be needed to obtain a new driver’s license for those who have moved to another state. In addition, some individuals like to monitor their driving record and may use them to receive auto insurance discounts or for other purposes. “I am pleased to offer this new online service that uses technology to better serve the public,” said White. “On average, more than 18,000 driv-
ing records are purchased monthly at Driver Services facilities statewide. This new program now allows Illinois license holders the opportunity to purchase their own driving record from the convenience of their homes.” To use this service, customers will be required to enter personal information for security purposes, as well as information from the hard copy of their driver’s license, such as driver’s license number, issuance date on driver’s license, etc. They may purchase their driving record once the required identification has been entered. The fee is $12 per record, plus a $1 credit card processing fee. The $12 fee to purchase driving records is set by the state legislature and is the same whether the record is purchased online or at a Driver Services facility. Once payment has been accepted, customers will have immediate access to their driving record in a PDF file. The records are the same certified record a motorist would obtain at a Driver Services facility. In addition, customers will be emailed a link to the PDF, which will be available to view for five calendar days. Customers may save the record to their computer or smart phone, and email or text it to a third party, such as their employer or attorney. The electronic link is only available through the online service and is one of the advantages of obtaining the record electronically.