Have some fun today and watch this 3-minute video. Plan to smile and laugh. Laughing is good for you.
www.thelaughtermovie.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-MO-_-9.06.10-_-LVACMovie
Enjoy!!!
Another Truck Driver Found Without a CDL
4 months ago
Monday, September 6, 2010
More on Al Jourdan's 9-1-1 call
A comment yesterday to my recent article on Al Jourdan's 9-1-1 call, after Phil Pagano told him he was going to commit suicide by stepping in front of a Metra train, indicated that Woodstock attorney Mark Gummerson may have accompanied Jourdan when he (Jourdan) talked to sheriff's deputies about his 9-1-1 call.
Did I miss previous reporting that Jourdan was accompanied by attorney Mark Gummerson when interviewed by sheriff's police?
Jourdan said on the tape that he had spoken with Pagano by phone about 10-12 minutes earlier and that he was going to brush his teeth (before talking to the deputies)? He sure wouldn't want to have "morning breath" and scare off any investigator!
Presumably he was at home when he made the 9-1-1 call about 7:00AM. It would have been a short night for him, if he was at Pagano's home in Crystal Lake until after 2:00AM. He would have driven to his Johnsburg home, assuming that's where he went after leaving Pagano's home.
When did he call Gummerson? Between leaving Pagano's home and the time of Pagano's call to him? After Pagano called, but before he called 9-1-1? Why would he have a lawyer present when he gave information? And a criminal defense lawyer, at that. Was there any point during the interview with deputies, when Gummerson stopped Jourdan and told him not to answer or respond?
Jourdan's 9-1-1 call was too planned, too practiced, too calm. Had he already talked to Gummerson, before he called 9-1-1? Why would he wait 10-12 minutes to call??? Why wouldn't he have called 9-1-1 immediately? While there probably wasn't time for the 9-1-1 operator to contact Metra and alert them to a possible suicide attempt at the Hillside Road crossing. Was any possibility of an intervention eliminated by his having waited 10-12 minutes before calling?
Observe how Jourdan referred to Pagano as a "gentlemen" who was going to walk in front of a train, but he referred to Sheriff's Dept. staff as "Keith, Andy and Howie"! Didn't he know Pagano for 25 years? And he refers to him as a "gentleman"? Why didn't he say, "a friend just called me and he intends to commit suicide"?
What is the procedure at the Sheriff's Department when it receives a call about an impending suicide? The 9-1-1 operator, although expected to be calm and professional, didn't seem fired up about any possibility of preventing a suicide. Do they have a procedure to immediate contact with Metra, so that an engineer could be alerted within a minute?
Can a 9-1-1 dispatcher hit one speed-dial button and reach an emergency operator at Metra, in order to say, "Metra, this is McHenry County Sheriff's Department. We have a report of a possible suicide attempt immediately on the McHenry line at Hillside." How long would that take? Eight seconds... plus 3-4 seconds connection time...
Obviously, the 9-1-1 dispatcher needs a refresher course in gathering information. Who the hell cared about the color of the minivan, when Jourdan was reporting a possible suicide by train???
Didn't Keith tell media that he had met Jourdan (or was it Pagano?) only one time? That ought to be tracked down, because Jourdan certainly sounded familiar with the "Keith, Andy and Howie" team. Does anyone remember where that comment appeared in the media?
Did I miss previous reporting that Jourdan was accompanied by attorney Mark Gummerson when interviewed by sheriff's police?
Jourdan said on the tape that he had spoken with Pagano by phone about 10-12 minutes earlier and that he was going to brush his teeth (before talking to the deputies)? He sure wouldn't want to have "morning breath" and scare off any investigator!
Presumably he was at home when he made the 9-1-1 call about 7:00AM. It would have been a short night for him, if he was at Pagano's home in Crystal Lake until after 2:00AM. He would have driven to his Johnsburg home, assuming that's where he went after leaving Pagano's home.
When did he call Gummerson? Between leaving Pagano's home and the time of Pagano's call to him? After Pagano called, but before he called 9-1-1? Why would he have a lawyer present when he gave information? And a criminal defense lawyer, at that. Was there any point during the interview with deputies, when Gummerson stopped Jourdan and told him not to answer or respond?
Jourdan's 9-1-1 call was too planned, too practiced, too calm. Had he already talked to Gummerson, before he called 9-1-1? Why would he wait 10-12 minutes to call??? Why wouldn't he have called 9-1-1 immediately? While there probably wasn't time for the 9-1-1 operator to contact Metra and alert them to a possible suicide attempt at the Hillside Road crossing. Was any possibility of an intervention eliminated by his having waited 10-12 minutes before calling?
Observe how Jourdan referred to Pagano as a "gentlemen" who was going to walk in front of a train, but he referred to Sheriff's Dept. staff as "Keith, Andy and Howie"! Didn't he know Pagano for 25 years? And he refers to him as a "gentleman"? Why didn't he say, "a friend just called me and he intends to commit suicide"?
What is the procedure at the Sheriff's Department when it receives a call about an impending suicide? The 9-1-1 operator, although expected to be calm and professional, didn't seem fired up about any possibility of preventing a suicide. Do they have a procedure to immediate contact with Metra, so that an engineer could be alerted within a minute?
Can a 9-1-1 dispatcher hit one speed-dial button and reach an emergency operator at Metra, in order to say, "Metra, this is McHenry County Sheriff's Department. We have a report of a possible suicide attempt immediately on the McHenry line at Hillside." How long would that take? Eight seconds... plus 3-4 seconds connection time...
Obviously, the 9-1-1 dispatcher needs a refresher course in gathering information. Who the hell cared about the color of the minivan, when Jourdan was reporting a possible suicide by train???
Didn't Keith tell media that he had met Jourdan (or was it Pagano?) only one time? That ought to be tracked down, because Jourdan certainly sounded familiar with the "Keith, Andy and Howie" team. Does anyone remember where that comment appeared in the media?
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Are you registered to vote?
Are you registered to vote in the November 2 General Election?
At your current address? Have you moved? Did you remember to register to vote at your new address?
The last day to register (or transfer your registration) is October 5, 2010.
And remember ... vote Green.
You've got Green Party candidates for Sheriff (that would be me!), District 5 of the McHenry County Board (Woodstock's own Frank Wedig), Governor (Rich Whitney), State Treasurer (Harvard's Scott Summers) and for other offices.
Do your homework. It's way, way past time to break the lock on political offices that the Republicans and the Democrats have held up until now. Look at the actual candidates and make your choice.
Don't judge a candidate by his website. Money will buy a lot. A lot of money will buy a lot of splash. Every time you see just one more sign or the website of Keith Nygren or Mike Mahon, think ...
... Gus 4 Sheriff!
At your current address? Have you moved? Did you remember to register to vote at your new address?
The last day to register (or transfer your registration) is October 5, 2010.
And remember ... vote Green.
You've got Green Party candidates for Sheriff (that would be me!), District 5 of the McHenry County Board (Woodstock's own Frank Wedig), Governor (Rich Whitney), State Treasurer (Harvard's Scott Summers) and for other offices.
Do your homework. It's way, way past time to break the lock on political offices that the Republicans and the Democrats have held up until now. Look at the actual candidates and make your choice.
Don't judge a candidate by his website. Money will buy a lot. A lot of money will buy a lot of splash. Every time you see just one more sign or the website of Keith Nygren or Mike Mahon, think ...
... Gus 4 Sheriff!
Friday, September 3, 2010
SPAN program at MCC
A couple of comments on last night's program at MCC, which was sponsored by the Student Peace Action Network (SPAN).
The program needed to start on time. The announced start time was 7:00PM, and 60+ were seated in the audience and ready for the program to begin.
To respect those who arrived on time, the program should have started on time. If the leaders wanted to buy a little time to allow for late-comers, they could have made introductions and announcements regarding future meetings to fill the time.
If programs start on time, late-comers will learn to arrive on time; or they miss the beginning. About the only thing that happens on time is the start of a movie, but not even that is on time, because theaters fill the first 10-12 minutes with commercials. Jack Franks proposed a bill a while back to require movie theaters to start shows at the advertised time. While I agree with the idea, I don't think a law is needed. Public pressure could make that happen.
I took issue with the extra security at last night's meeting. The College is super cautious, thanks to rabble-rousers at one-two meetings of SPAN last year. But last night's small crowd was peaceful, quiet and respectful. Was it really necessary to have Crystal Lake Police presence?
In my opinion, it was not necessary to have police there. Crystal Lake Police are close enough to arrive in a hurry, if needed. There is campus security to handle small, non-violent problems. And don't forget audience members, who will spring to the aid of anyone being threatened.
So I say, for future meetings no police presence, please.
BGA gets Jourdan 9-1-1 tape about Pagano
Today's Chicago Sun-Times carries an article about Al Jourdan's call to 9-1-1 about Pagano's imminent suicide on May 7. Jourdan told a dispatcher that he got a call from a "gentleman" who was threatening to walk in the railroad tracks. Who calls a friend of 25 years a "gentleman"? Jourdan said he knew where Pagano's car, house keys and suicide note were. Jourdan's words were so carefully chosen as to cause me to wonder if he had delayed calling 9-1-1 to get all his words lined up and ready for the dispatcher.
Sheriff Nygren had tried to withhold the 9-1-1 tape, when the Better Government Association (BGA) requested it. When it was finally released, Jourdan's home address and cell phone number were removed. Why cares about that information?
Jourdan told the dispatcher that she could check his qualifications with "Keith" (Sheriff Nygren), "Andy" (Undersheriff Zinke), and "Howie" (courthouse security chief Parth).
The dispatcher called him "Al", which seemed a little familiar (and strange).
Why didn't Jourdan call the Crisis Line when Pagano was depressed the night before? He said he sat with Pagano until 2:15AM, after which he thought Pagano was "OK". Maybe if he had called the Crisis Line, a trained social worker would have recognized the suicide risk and ordered Pagano hospitalized.
Pagano was very matter-of-fact in his phone call - very controlled, very deliberate. He sounded like he was giving orders at a meeting. Where was he when he called? It almost sounded like he was talking with someone else at the same time as he was talking with the dispatcher.
Why did he wait 10-12 minutes to call 9-1-1?
For the Sun-Times article go to www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/2669132,CST-NWS-pagano03.article
Sheriff Nygren had tried to withhold the 9-1-1 tape, when the Better Government Association (BGA) requested it. When it was finally released, Jourdan's home address and cell phone number were removed. Why cares about that information?
Jourdan told the dispatcher that she could check his qualifications with "Keith" (Sheriff Nygren), "Andy" (Undersheriff Zinke), and "Howie" (courthouse security chief Parth).
The dispatcher called him "Al", which seemed a little familiar (and strange).
Why didn't Jourdan call the Crisis Line when Pagano was depressed the night before? He said he sat with Pagano until 2:15AM, after which he thought Pagano was "OK". Maybe if he had called the Crisis Line, a trained social worker would have recognized the suicide risk and ordered Pagano hospitalized.
Pagano was very matter-of-fact in his phone call - very controlled, very deliberate. He sounded like he was giving orders at a meeting. Where was he when he called? It almost sounded like he was talking with someone else at the same time as he was talking with the dispatcher.
Why did he wait 10-12 minutes to call 9-1-1?
For the Sun-Times article go to www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/2669132,CST-NWS-pagano03.article
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Threat regarding C.L. South H.S.
A Crystal Lake student got himself (herself?) in hot water on Thursday, according to a press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department. From the release the student's gender cannot be ascertained.
"On Thursday, September 2, 2010 at approximately 9:45 am, Crystal Lake Police became aware that a juvenile student of Crystal Lake South High School had posted comments on a social networking site indicating the intent to bring a firearm to the school and harm staff and students. Police personnel, in cooperation with school officials, conducted an investigation that culminated in the arrest of the student without incident. The student was located off-campus and was found to not have any access to firearms. There appears to be no substance to the threat.
Charges of Disorderly Conduct were sought and approved by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. The student was petitioned to Juvenile court."
"On Thursday, September 2, 2010 at approximately 9:45 am, Crystal Lake Police became aware that a juvenile student of Crystal Lake South High School had posted comments on a social networking site indicating the intent to bring a firearm to the school and harm staff and students. Police personnel, in cooperation with school officials, conducted an investigation that culminated in the arrest of the student without incident. The student was located off-campus and was found to not have any access to firearms. There appears to be no substance to the threat.
Charges of Disorderly Conduct were sought and approved by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. The student was petitioned to Juvenile court."
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