Watch Those Rail Crossings

Woodstock installed warning signs at many of our railroad crossings earlier this year, alerting motorists and pedestrians to a $250 fine for crossing while the gates, lights and/or bells were in operation. Trains have been kind of hard on cars during the past two weeks in Illinois, and perhaps a reminder will help some who are tempted to make a run for it.

Thursday I watched a driver "gun" it as the gates started down, passing under the gate just before it reached the roof of his SUV. He wasn't in immediate danger of getting hit by the train, because gates go down before the train crosses the roadway. Had a police officer been stopped on the roadway beyond, that dumb trick would have cost him $250.

In Fox River Grove they are even more serious about railroad crossings. A similar sign at railroad crossings there warns drivers of a $500 fine. (Click on photo to enlarge it; then hit the Back button on your browser.)

An additional word of caution. After the train passes, wait for the gates to go all the way up and the lights and bells to stop. Sometimes a train coming in the opposite direction will trigger the gates to go back down. The law is - don't cross when the signals are operating.

It won't be just the fine. If you go to McHenry County Traffic Court, you can probably count on about $200 for court costs, in addition to the fine.

Diva's Attic - Do Drop In

At a recent City Council meeting I met owners of the new Diva's Attic, located at 216 Main St. - on the Square in the former Ray Wolfe Jewelers space. This new store opened on the night of the Square lighting.

Be sure to drop in and take a good look around. Lots of clever merchandise and great buys. They offer new merchandise, consignment items and re-sale items.

A Lucille Ball purse (no, I wasn't shopping for a purse) reminded me of a classic Lucille Ball movie, The Long, Long Trailer. I was reminded of a scene where Desi, towing a l-o-n-g house trailer, asks Lucy which way to turn. She looks at the map and says, "Turn right." And he does, right down a narrow, tree-lined drive with no place to turn around. She explained by saying, "I meant, 'Turn right here - left'." How come certain movies stick with me for 50 years???

Diva's Attic is located across Main Street from the movie theater. Be sure to stop in soon. For store information and hours, call Ginny, Stephanie or Mary at (815) 338-DIVA

May 11, 2009 - Gauger Trial Starts

The Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/) reports today that Gary Gauger's trial (he is the plaintiff!!!) will commence on May 11, 2009. Mark this date on your calendars.

I've never met Gary, but I became acquainted with his case shortly after moving to Woodstock from Virginia in 1996. I was particularly interested in it, because the people I met, who were close to Gary, were absolutely convinced that he was innocent. Yet there he was in prison, convicted and sentenced to die.

Gary's case hinges on a coerced confession, according to the article. He re-filed his case in McHenry County Circuit Court five years ago (FIVE years ago?) against three former Sheriff's Department detectives, Beverly Hendle, Gene Lowery and Christopher Pandre.

Gene Lowery is Undersheriff today.

I urge you to read Gary's book. Search on this site for "Gauger" to find the title. You can purchase it at Read Between the Lynes in Woodstock, where Gary recently held an author's signing event.

If you think this is how crimes ought to be solved, you'll probably be happier in Iran or Afghanistan or Russia. This type of crime-solving is not wanted in McHenry County!

Rush to Judgment?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped1212crimedec12,0,7874931.story

Maureen Martin of the Chicago Tribune has written an insightful column or article for today's paper. I'm no fan of Gov. Ramrod and believe he doesn't belong as top dog in Illinois, but the law is the law, and I commend this article to you.

Every time I drive on the Illinois Tollway (which I try to do as little as possible), I am reminded that the Tollway blew away $15,000 on EACH sign proclaiming the Open Road Tolling with Blago's name prominently displayed. For the 30 or so signs, that was almost half a MILLION dollars just to keep his name out in front of us.

I always thought some investigative reporter ought to dig into that deal...

Driver Safety Lesson

As a former instructor and trainer of the AARP Driver Safety Program and a former deputy sheriff, I was saddened to read this morning of yesterday's fatal accident involving two high school students en route to a Kane County high school.

From the article in the Chicago Tribune, it is logical to assume that they were running late. If they were five miles from the school and nine minutes from the class start time, they weren't going to make it on time - even on dry roads, no ice, no wind, no traffic, no red lights. By the time they parked and hoofed it to class, they were going to be late.

Being late to school, work, a date, or home after a date is not the end of the world. Most of us have cell phones. Just call and notify the person expecting you that you'll be a little late. If you get chewed out or are tardy, so what? Needless to say, don't let the use of your cell phone endanger you. If you need to pull over to call , do it.

As a pilot, I learned to multi-task and keep the plane flying straight and level. My instructor (a retired USAF pilot) barked at me often not to get so engrossed in reading a chart or using the radio that I let the plane wander away from the heading, altitude or speed he had ordered. I learned that course could change if I just turned my head to look out the window! Those reminders (and skills) have stayed with me. While I might think that I can use my phone or glance at a map while I am driving, I am, first and foremost, aware that, when I distract myself from the primary obligation to operate my vehicle safely, I increase the risk of driving less than safely. And so my awareness and attention go up, if I am doing anything except driving the car.

The lesson in this accident? When you are running late, be late.

Parents - discuss fatal accidents with your young drivers. It's not to "scare" them. Help them learn what they will need to know for years of safe driving. They will not learn it all in Drivers Education.

Republic Windows Workers - right or wrong?

Workers at Republic Windows & Doors in Chicago have ended their sit-in over unpaid wages and benefits, after the company shut down on three days' notice. Were they right to take over the premises?

The story has been widely covered and reported elsewhere. My question is, why were the lawlessness and trespassing permitted?

One phone call to the Chicago Police Department should have been all that was necessary. After that, the police should have begun removing the trespassers, one at a time and as peacefully as possible. Did Republic Windows officials call the Chicago Police Department and request that trespassers be removed?

Bank of America threw some money at the deal, but what possible tie-in was there just because B of A sucked up money in the Federal bail-out. Any bank money should have been loaned only to a credit-worthy borrower providing strong payback guarantees. Who will really pay for the $1.75 million deal for the Republic Windows' workers? Owners of the company? Of the bank? The bank's shareholders? The FDIC?

Would angry workers have burned or destroyed the plant?

The workers (and unions) feel emboldened by their success. Businesses everywhere must now be on high alert for similar action by workers facing lay-off or termination. Unless we are headed down the slippery slope to lawlessness in the workplace and in society in general, business owners and lenders must be ready to protect what's left of their investments.

I don't know, or care, about the reasons that Republic Windows & Doors closed. We're in a recession, folks. Many are already being affected. Many will be affected. It's going to be a long winter, and you'd better be saving up your nuts.

Will Recession turn to Depression?

"The outcome also may be a warning to companies to obey federal law on giving workers at least two months' notice before closing large plants. Workers at Republic said they were given only three days' warning." (Chicago Tribune, (December 12, 2008))

With credit extension the way it is right now, what is Republic Windows officials didn't know two months ago that they would have to close? Will every company in the U.S. now have to issue a warning that it may have to close in two months? That ought to be good for the economy. NOT!

Jack Franks' Website

It had been a while since I viewed the website of McHenry County Rep. Jack Franks (that's Representative, not Republican).

I wrote below about Jack's promotion of the (illegal) scheme related to importation of prescription drugs that was the premier content on his website (www.jackfranks.org) for many months. I complained several times to Jack's office about that, and the response from his aides was that Jack believed it was a State's Right's issue and not under the authority of the U.S. Government.

And then someone told me about the Office of the Legislative Inspector General. It has been a while, but I think it was within 2-3 days of my contact with the L.I.G. that the imported prescription drug information disappeared from Jack's website.

In fact, for quite a while, the entire website disappeared.

When I checked there tonight (still waiting for Jack to return my pre-Election Day call for his position on concealed carry in Illinois), I found the website exists again, and the only item on it is an invitation to a fundraiser held last night in the Chicago Loop. As it reads, "prominent members of the Illinois Bar" were to host a reception for Jack at a bar in the Loop.

To quote the notice on the website, "Our good friend Jack has had a long career of bipartisanship in the Illinois General Assembly. He has worked many years for openness and accountability in government as Chairman of the powerful State Government Administration Committee. "

On www.illinois.gov one can read that Jack has served as a State Representative since 1999. That's nine years -only nine years. Indeed, he is the Chairman of the Committee mentioned, but I doubt that he was elected Chairman in his first year in the House. So, let's say less than nine years; maybe seven? six? Is that "many" years that he has worked for openness and accountability in government?

Don't you just love how words can be used to pump up one's involvement in some activity? From reading the above glowing statement, one might think that Jack had worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents for 10-15-20-30 years. Is nine years really a "long career of bipartisanship in the Illinois General Assembly"? Maybe in Illinois it is.

Aren't things being stretched a little too far?