Saturday, November 5, 2011

Marengo-area resident speaks out

At least one Marengo-area resident is incensed at the tone of an article in a County Board newsletter about efforts of residents there recently to increase awareness of County residents to the crime threat.

Kristin Ottolino, a self-employed woman, almost single-handedly spearheaded (or maybe speared or skewered) officials into action, after numerous thefts in the County. She believed she had found crimes under-reported and minimized in importance.

Read her recent email...

"To All Concerned McHenry County Citizens,

"You are NOT going to believe this: I am writing to you to inform you of the recent bashing of our "Citizens Awareness Network" created by me with the full cooperation and help from McHenry County Board Member Mary McCann. I am writing particular email on my own and only carbon-copying in the McHenry County Board Member Mary McCann. She is in no way a part of this letter and will receive this when you do.

"In the October 26th McHenry County Board Newsletter, because the other board members were not a part of this social media network we've created, and in my opinion, jealous they didn't think of it first, both County Board members Diane Evertson and Ersel Schuster are quoted in saying the following:

"Know the Facts" ~ "Misleading information has been circulating in our community regarding the break-ins and burglaries... While the intentions may have been good...the end result is that friends and neighbors are being frightened into thinking we have a major "crime wave" occuring in western McHenry County. It's been further suggested that information relative to this "crime wave" is deliberately being withheld from us. Please be assured, 1) there is no crime wave in western McHenry County; 2) local police and the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. records support that fact; and 3) much of the information being sent out via e-mail has been exaggerated based not just on McHenry County...but, incidents reported in several surrounding counties. Our county Sheriff's Department, along with several other county and municipal law enforcement agencies in the area, have been working together to apprehend suspects they have had under surveillance. As of this time, the suspects are now in custody."

"I find this particularly humorous, especially since McHenry County Undersheriff Andrew Zinke alongside of Chief of Marengo Police Department Joseph Hallman were clearly concerned enough about this to invite both Mary McCann and I to the McDonalds in Marengo to help inform the seniors group there of the "crime wave" that according to Diane Evertson and Ersel Schuster, did not occur...yeah that's right, nothing to see here people, just move along. Give me a break. And for them to say "the suspects are now in custody" is one of the most ridiculous things I've read here. That frightens me to be honest, that they would make a false statement and put it inside a County Board newsletter. Yes, there were arrests, but after that happened, there were still barns being broken into and they never did catch the gypsies. Also, thankfully, the Sheriff's office was concerned about this enough to make sure there was finally something about this put into the newspaper. Maybe Diane and Ersel didn't get a copy of that paper...and I'm sure nobody told them about it either....and they're Board Members? Good grief. Also, there were very few inaccuracies in all the emails we've sent out, and all inaccuracies were immediately corrected.

"Keep in mind this was written October 26th. "Frightened into thinking we have a major crime wave"....now we are apparently "frightening"???????? UGH. Apparently, they don't feel the need for our citizens to stay informed.

"Now I'm not telling anyone how to vote, I'm just informing you of what is going on politically here. You decide when you go to the polls, but I know who I'm voting for and voting against.  And no, I'm not a campaign manager or in any way affiliated with any campaigns. (Perhaps I should be)"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Crime wave... what crime wave? Rest assured, I PAY dearly for ever 40 ouncer and bottle of MD 20/20 I buy at the local liquor store. I may be unsavory, but I dont steal.
I think there's allot more white-collar crime going on in McHenry County than anything else. Too many public officials pilfering the publics' funds. Dough.