Gotta love that Northwest Herald

If you live in McHenry County (and under a rock somewhere along the Fox River), you just have to love the Northwest Herald for its love affair with Sheriff Keith Nygren. Be sure to read the front-page article today, titled "Attorney shuffle sparks dispute." (I haven't gotten to the editorial yet; that'll be the next article.)

The reporter says that Sheriff Nygren is "questioning" why Assistant State's Attorney Don Leist (called "Least" one day in court - no slip, I'm sure (sorry, Don)) is off the case (i.e., the side arguing against appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Nygren) and State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler want Leist replaced with Attorney Bill Caldwell as a special prosecutor.

OK, I'll pause why you figure out who wants whom on First.

When Keith Nygren likes somebody or wants somebody on his side, you'd better grab your magnifying glass and start reading between the lines. One of the days I'll quote Bill Oncken and what he had to say about what's written between the lines.

Nygren praised Leist. I've got to admit - Leist did a pretty fair job of trying to defend an indefensible position. And for that he deserves praise. Somehow, I don't see Don telling Keith that he doesn't have a leg to stand on in this case.

Right out of the box the reporter slammed Zane Seipler, labeling him a "political enemy" of Keith Nygren. Where'd she get that? Just because Seipler had the guts (and one-third of the Republican vote in the last primary for Sheriff), what makes him a political "enemy"?

The reporter mentioned Zane's termination lawsuit and said he "has been winning". Perhaps she should re-read the recent decision by the Appellate Court - 2nd District. Even the Northwest Herald reported that Seipler, in effect, WON that case. The only way that he "has been winning" is if the reporter knows that Nygren will waste more taxpayer money and carry the case to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Board Chairman Ken Koehler is absolutely WRONG to say that the current case, seeking a special prosecutor to investigate Nygren, is a "bunch of baloney." If this case had been malicious, Judge Meyer would have tossed it months ago and would have sanctioned Seipler's attorney.

Koehler is right, though, that the same thing that happened in the case of the special persecutors of Lou Bianchi and his secretary should not happen again. And it won't.

The editors of the Northwest Herald should read the original and amended petitions filed by Seipler in this case. Then they would understand that it's not just about the number of points on a badge. Come on, guys and gals over at the Northwest Herald, pull your heads out of the sand and start doing some real investigative reporting.

Now for today's editorial in the Northwest Herald...