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McHenry County News DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS: 815-654-4850 • CIRCULATION: 815-654-4854 • E-MAIL: McHenryNews@RVPublishing.com
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 20
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115
Officers graduate
MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF PHOTO McHenry County News
McHenry County Deputies Tello, Riedel, Garcia, and Matijevic recently graduated from the Police Training Institute. They all are currently hard at work in our in-house academy and we look forward to them hitting the road shortly.
Conservation District invites community to ‘Paddle in the Park’
Test the waters, dip a paddle in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Atwood and discover the joy of canoeing, kayaking, and standup paddle boarding at Paddle in the Park, Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Hollows Conservation Area, 3804 US Highway 14 in Cary. Hosted by McHenry County Conservation District, this event is a great opportunity for beginners to get introduced to the sport or for experienced paddlers to pick up information on local outings and outfitters. “Not only is canoeing or kayaking fun, but a great opportunity to get closer to to wildlife than any other form of transportation,” said Event Coordinator Andy Talley. “McHenry County residents have access to many nearby waterways and our hope is that we can get individuals and families to take their next outdoor adventure on the water.”
Entry to the event is free and for a onetime workshop fee of $5 visitors can test paddle a variety of water vessels and participate in a beginning canoe paddling clinic offered at Noon and 1 p.m., a beginning kayak paddling clinic at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., solo canoe paddling clinic at 11 a.m., stand up paddleboard clinics will be ongoing throughout the day. Outfitting your kayak for fishing clinic at 12:30 p.m. A demonstration of canoe rescue techniques will be offered at 3 p.m. NEW THIS YEAR: The fee includes entry to win door prizes from our vendors. Visitors will also discover the importance of the canoe in early American settlement, exploration, and the fur trade industry. The Southwest Brigade, historical interpreters, will demonstrate a voyageur canoe. Representatives from the American Canoe Association will be present to teach solo canoeing, canoes rescue techniques, and workshops: “How to Be a Well-Dressed Paddler” and/or “Assessing Risk: Live to Paddle Another Day.” Local vendors will be on hand to discuss the different types of watercrafts available and which type might best suit you or your family’s needs. A number of canoeing resources will be available such as information on where to paddle, where to get lessons, clubs to join, local outfitters and rentals, and details on local river trips and Midwest excursions. We will also feature music by award winning singer/songwriter/canoe enthusiast, Jerry Vandiver. Jerry has song credits on over 15 million records and two of his titles are hanging in the Country Music Hall of Fame. There will also be food for sale by MJ’s Coffee Bar.
Participants: Adaptive Adventures, American Canoe Association, Illinois Paddling council; Clubs: Prairie State Canoeists, St. Charles Canoe Club, Southwest Brigade with their voyageur canoe; Vendors: Alpine Accessories, LL Bean, Myka Canoe Loaders. Registration is not required. For more information, call Prairieview Education Center, (815) 479-5779 or visit www.MCCDistrict.org.
Suburban physician indicted for allegedly pocketing nearly $1 million A suburban physician has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly pocketing nearly $1 million in payments from Medicare and a private insurer for nonexistent treatment. Dr. Pranav Patel owned and operated Palos Medical Care, S.C., in Palos Heights. The 12-count indictment alleges that Dr. Patel submitted fraudulent claims for purported medical tests and examinations that were never performed. He allegedly used some of his patients’ names without their knowledge to submit fraudulent claims. From 2008 to 2013, Dr. Patel fraudulently obtained, or caused his clinic to obtain, at least $950,000 in payments from Medicare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the indictment states. The indictment was returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It charges Dr. Patel, 51, of Burr Ridge, with seven counts of health care fraud, three counts of making false statements in relation to a health care matter, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Arraignment is set for May 15, 2018, at 8:45 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve. The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of
Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment describes several instances in which Dr. Patel submitted a claim to BCBS or Medicare for a non-invasive “duplex scan” purportedly performed on a patient, when, in fact, no such test was actually completed. On at least one occasion, according to the charges, Dr. Patel prepared a seven-page electronic medical record indicating that a patient had come to the office for a follow-up visit and examination, when the patient had actually come to the office to re-fill a prescription. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. Health care fraud is punishable by up to ten years, while false statements carry a maximum of five years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Chahn Lee and Kaarina Salovaara.