Northwest Herald - let's be honest

The view of the editors of the Northwest Herald about Zane Seipler was once again stated in its Our View editorial in the paper this morning.

The headline? "Taxpayers win, for once"

The editors are pleased that Judge Meyer denied Seipler's request for a special prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren for wrong-doing.

They wrote that they "are certain most taxpayers are pleased, as well."

How did they arrive at that?

They are so sure of their belief that the Reader Poll for today is "What did you think of the Bears' first round pick?"

Why didn't they ask readers for opinions and put the poll up at the top of the page, where readers will find it?

The Northwest Herald continues to mis-report the Petition in which Seipler asked for a special prosecutor. The editors deflect readers' attention away from the real reason for the Petition - that Nygren is alleged to have committed 1) theft; 2) official misconduct; and 3) misappropriation of funds.

Why wouldn't the big daily newspaper of McHenry County want any sheriff investigated for those suspected crimes?

Judge Meyer made the right decision. Under the circumstances, legally he cannot appoint a special prosecutor in this case.

Now, about Lou Bianchi's reason for not even looking at the merits of the allegations. In court, he testified that he cannot "ethically" investigate, indict and prosecute Nygren, because he defends him (in civil cases).

Neither attorney, Bill Caldwell or Blake Horwitz, asked Bianchi if legally he could investigate, indict and prosecute Nygren. The question was hanging out there in the air. Why didn't either ask it? I can understand Caldwell's not asking it. They both must have known the answer. The answer is "Yes".

Why is the Northwest Herald snuggled up so closely with Nygren? Has the paper ever taken a stand against Nygren?

Many people say Nygren is too powerful to fight. This is, of course, patently untrue.

Zane Seipler stood up to him and won. Seipler got his job back and is now entitled to four years' back pay. Nygren lost in front of the arbitrator, in front of Judge Meyer, in front of the Appellate Court and at the Illinois Supreme Court level.

In the Federal case, Seipler claims that Nygren fired him for complaining about racial profiling. Nygren's own attorney even told Federal Judge Mahoney in April 2011 that was true.

I stood up to him when he tried to intimidate me in the Jewel-Osco parking lot in September 2009. There is a report on file with the Woodstock Police Department about that. I filed information with the Woodstock PD and insisted on a Report Number from the officer, so that it couldn't be swept under the rug later.

And I stood up to Nygren when he subpoenaed 27 months' worth of documents related to my blog in Seipler's federal lawsuit. I wrote my own motion to quash the subpoena. When it was argued before Federal Judge Mahoney, he told Nygren's attorney that she was on a fishing expedition and that she was asking for documents that didn't pertain to that case. The result? Philpott 1, Nygren 0.

Scott Milliman is standing up to Nygren.

Maybe the Northwest Herald should investigate the cost to McHenry County taxpayers for Nygren's legal fees in all these cases.