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Page 1 - February 6, 2020 / McHenry County News

www.McHenryCountyNewspaper.com

McHenry County News DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS: 815-877-4044 • CIRCULATION: 815-877-4044 • E-MAIL: McHenryNews@RVPublishing.com

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 7

7124 WINDSOR LAKE PARKWAY, SUITE 5 • LOVES PARK, IL 61111

Volunteers recognized

THURSDAY, FEB. 6, 2020

COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News

More than 100 attendees of the McHenry County University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners’ annual recognition banquet in Huntley in December honored volunteers’ achievements. In 2019, 131 Extension Master Gardener volunteers logged more than 8,700 hours serving more than 2,000 clients providing research-based, unbiased information about home gardening and other botanical topics. The monetary value of these collective volunteer hours would amount to more than $222,000 in salary costs. Century Club members are (left to right) Mary Hubert, Jackie Fichter, Sue Sydlo, Linda Popp, MaryBeth Yuk,

Jan Jetel, Betty Snyders, Suzie Morrissey, Joan Jensema, Caro Lyn Whaples, Doug Moore, Karen Liston, Dale Nelmes, Chris English, Judy Gallagher, Peggy Lackman, Karen Hattan, Jerry Gudauskas, Ann Huetter, Agnes Burkus, Mary L. Uccello and Ray Thornton. This winter, the McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners will be available for walk-in clients in their office at 1102 McConnell Road in Woodstock on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. You can also ask garden-related questions by calling 815-338-3737 or emailing uiemg-mchenry@ illinois.edu.

Helicopter in crash that killed Kobe Bryant previously owned by state of Illinois Sold in 2015 to save costs

By Ben Orner CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The luxury helicopter that crashed January 26 in California, killing all nine people on board including former NBA star Kobe Bryant, was once owned by the state of Illinois.

The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter was built in 1991, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s aircraft registry. The state of Illinois used it from 2007 to 2015, according to helicopter information database Helis. Under the direction of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state sold the helicopter along with four other surplus aircraft in 2015 for $2.5 million. Rauner said selling the aircraft “also

School districts receive library grants Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded over $1.2 million in FY 2020 School District Library Grant Program awards to 684 public school districts. More than 1.5 million Illinois students served by school library programs will benefit from the grants. “As a former public school teacher and administrator, I know our school libraries are very important in helping students learn and prepare themselves for the future,” White said. “Illinois was the first state to implement a school district grant program, and I’m pleased that we can continue to provide school libraries with some of the financial resources they need to produce well-educated students.” From FY 2020 appropriations approved by the General Assembly and the governor, school library grants were awarded based on a formula of $.75 per student, with a minimum grant award of $750. School libraries can use the funds to acquire fiction and/or nonfiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library sub-

scriptions to electronic resources, as well as to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity. Among the districts receiving the grants are Huntley Community School District 158, Community Unit District 300, Cary CCSD 26, Prairie Grove CCSD 46, Crystal Lake CCSD 47, Crystal Lake Community High School District 155, Fox River Grove CCSD 3, Harvard CUSD 50, Alden-Hebron CCU 19, Johnsburg CUSD 12, Riley CCSD 18, Marengo Community High School District 154, Marengo Union Elementary Community School District 165, McHenry CCSD 165, McHenry Community High School District 156, Nippersink School District 2, Richmond Burton CHSD 157, Fox Lake School District 114, Harrison School District 36 and Woodstock CUSD 200. Information about the grant program can be found at: www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/schoolpercapgrant.html.

avoided an additional $1 million in inspections and repairs,” according to an Associated Press story after the sales. The winning bid for the helicopter was $515,161, placed by user “Jimbagge1,” according to a listing on the state’s online auction website, iBid. Both the aircraft and its two engines had just under 4,000 hours of airframe time when the copter was sold. At the time of the crash, the registered owner of the helicopter was Island Express Holding Corp of Van Nuys, Calif., which registered it a month after it was won at auction.

The state of Illinois previously attempted to sell the helicopter in 2014, but receive zero bids, according to that auction’s iBid listing. A public information officer at the Illinois Department of Transportation, which maintains state aircraft, did not have any available information regarding the helicopter or its uses for the state. The copter’s information page on Helis, however, labels it as “VIP Governor.” A public information officer for the governor’s office also did not have available information. A PIO for the

Solar lighting for trails

Illinois Department of Central Management Services, which operates iBid, did not immediately respond to a request for more information. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, an American defense contractor. Bryant, 41, played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016. He won five NBA championships, the Most Valuable Player award in 2008 and appeared in 18 all-star games. One of his four daughters, Gianna, 13, was also killed in Sunday’s crash. Bryant also leaves behind his wife of 18 years, Vanessa.

COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News

Hike or ski now through March 8, at Pleasant Valley, 13315 Pleasant Valley Road, Woodstock. This half-mile looped trail located on the east side of the entrance drive is fairly flat terrain, perfect for beginners or shorter outings. Or, visit Hickory Grove Highlands, 500 Hickory Nut Grove Lane, Cary. The .75 mile looped trail travels through a restored savanna, suitable for intermediate skiers. Trails close at 9 p.m. Sign in at trail head. Hikers walk on the outside of any ski tracks.


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