NIXLE alert by Marengo P.D.

Activity and "noise" by residents may have contributed to the decision of the Marengo P.D. to issue the following NIXLE alert yesterday:


"To The Citizens of Marengo:

"Recently there has been some information being promulgated via various social media outlets regarding burglaries occurring in or around Marengo. I want to take this opportunity to dispel some misinformation and provide accurate facts for your perusal.

"The Marengo Police Department is actively investigating several (5) burglaries which occurred at residences within the City of Marengo. Three (3) of these acts occurred on East I West Grant Highway while two (2) took place in the avenues. The time frame for these incidents has been varied as well. There could be some connection between these events, but at this point we are looking at several possibilities. Some residences have been forced into, some have been unlocked, some have been empty and in foreclosure.

"Items being taken include property which is usually targeted by such criminals; electronics, weapons, tools and jewelry. There has not been any contact between the residents and the burglars reported to us.

"As always, we caution anyone to contact this department (9-1-1) if some situation or activity appears suspicious and is ongoing or to report information to us at 815-568-7231 if you have been victimized. We appreciate any and all assistance you can provide this department in solving these particular crimes.

"If you need further clarification I may be reached at 815-568-7231 or jhallman@cityofmarengo.com Please feel free to contact me any time.

Joseph M. Hallman
Acting Chief of Police
Marengo Police Department"

It's a little defense in nature, because the Marengo P.D. reports only burglaries within its jurisdiction. If the burglary occurs outside the town limits of Marengo (i.e., in McHenry County near (the town of) Marengo), then it will be generally reported as having occurred in Marengo, because media seems not to be always careful in distinguishing between "in" Marengo and "in the Marengo area."

I'm way behind the times. I had thought Martin Podosek was Chief of Police, but he left the Marengo Police Department on February 7, 2011.

When I telephoned the Marengo P.D. at 11:07AM, there was no answer. The phone rang 8-10 times; I hung up and dialed back. Same thing. Maybe they closed early for the week-end.

West Nile virus - Woodstock?

The following information was sent to members of a soccer club in the area, and forwarded to me, about the possibility of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the Woodstock area. The email included a reference to the finding of WNV in a pond in the Sweetwater area in northeast Woodstock. That information is actually may be  incorrect.

WNV was found in one mosquito found in one testing trap in this area and also in one in Crystal Lake. That's one mosquito that was caught in a trap and tested. Obviously, if there is one, there is probably more than one.

The description of WNV that follows was included in that email and purportedly came from the Mayo Clinic. That source has not been confirmed.


"West Nile virus is an infection transmitted by mosquitoes. If you become infected with West Nile virus, you may not experience any signs or symptoms or you may experience only minor ones, such as fever and mild headache. However, some people who become infected with West Nile virus develop a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the brain.
"Mild signs and symptoms of a West Nile virus infection generally go away on their own. But severe signs and symptoms - such as a severe headache, disorientation or sudden weakness - require immediate attention.

"Exposure to mosquitoes where West Nile virus exists increases your risk of getting West Nile virus. Protect yourself from mosquitoes by using mosquito repellent and wearing clothing that covers your skin to reduce your risk."
The email continued, "Please make sure you take the proper precautionary mesures (sic) to protect yourself and your family, this includes your players as well as the family and friends we have out to enjoy our games and practices. (recommended by Mayo Clinic) Apply mosquito repellent with DEET to your skin and clothing. Choose the concentration based on the hours of protection you need - the higher the percentage (concentration) of the active ingredient, the longer the repellent will work. Avoid using DEET on the hands of young children, in case they put their hands in their mouths, or on infants under 2 months of age. When outside, cover your infant's stroller or playpen with mosquito netting."  

WHERE YOU CAN GET LOCAL INFORMATION:

Go to the website of the McHenry County Health Department

Click on "Environmental Health"

Scroll down to and click on "Nuisance Program"

Scroll down to and click on "Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus"

Click on link for "McHenry County WNV Data"

Within that section you can examine the "pool data" (mosquito pools). Click through to the last page, where you will find one Positive finding in 60098. That was on August 22, 2011.

Lawsuit against Nygren goes forward

In a case that had fallen off the radar screen of many watchers, Judge Michael T. Caldwell held a hearing today in the case of Robert Schlenkert v. Sheriff Keith Nygren et al. Schlenkert is a deputy with the McHenry County Sheriff's Department who was forced to jump through a lot of hoops to get his job back. He did finally get his job back after beating Nygren in the Appellate Court in Elgin in a lightning-fast decision by the three judges. Then he had to fight and fight to get Nygren to cut the check for his back wages.

This case was filed on February 23, 2009. That's - let's see - 2 1/2 years ago. The defendant's in the case are Sheriff Keith Nygren, the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, the County of McHenry, and the five members of the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission: Janelle Crowley, Gloria Urch, William Mack, Brian Goode, Patrick J. McAndrews. The Merit Commission, as a public body, was apparently discharged as a defendant. The law firm for the defendants is Ottesen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert & DiNolfo, Ltd., of Naperville. (The Sheriff's Department sure likes mailing legal fees out of the County.)

Today was the 17th court date in this case. The next court date is September 22, 9:00AM in Courtroom 204.

If you'd like to know more about the five appointed members of the Merit Commission, go to www.mchenrysheriff.org and scroll down to Merit Commission. There you can read a long bio about Janelle Crowley, who is the HR Director for the City of Woodstock and chairperson of the Merit Commission. You can also read bios for Gloria Urch and Patrick McAndrews.

Like to know all about Brian Goode and William Mack? Nothing is disclosed about them, except that they were appointed to the Merit Commission on August 20, 2002. Now what could be the reason that Sheriff Nygren doesn't want voters or residents to know anything about Goode or Mack?

Who are Mr. Goode and Mr. Mack?

Calling all investors...

Hey, folks!

How about investing some of your money? OK? You know that puny return you get at the bank? What is the interest on savings accounts now? 1%? 2% 3%

How about 10-12% in the first year, with an 18-20% return by the fifth year and a five-year internal rate of return of 28-30%? Too good to be true?

More risk? How much more? A little? A lot? Can you handle it?

Read: what Mark Houser and EquityOne Sports have to say about what they can do with your money.

Who was it (Mark Twain? Will Rogers?) who said, "It's not return on my money that concerns me. It's the return of my money!" And I heard that one back in 1966!

Neighborhood watches are forming

Marengo, Union and Belvidere families are not waiting for the sheriff's department or their police departments to start protecting their properties.

Many residents are concerned about the lack of publicity about the burglaries that are occurring. Naturally, if the police agencies don't provide information to the media, then there won't be stories in the papers. But, if residents call reporters directly, then the stories ought to start appearing. One resident mentioned to me that the Huntley patch.com may carry a story.

A resident told me that her calls to the sheriff's department are not being returned. I told her to go up the ladder or, better yet, start at the top and let it filter down.

And, with all these burglaries, where is the wonderful NIXLE system???

Tollway rate hike decision?

I tuned in late to the webcast from the Tollway's website, just as a speaker was asking that Tollway employees ought to pay tolls when commuting. 

Well, duh.... Of course, they should! Why should they get free tolls?

The speaker then asked for the toll hike not to be approved, if tollway employees will not be required to pay tolls.

Then the meeting adjourned at 11:47AM. Did they approve the hike? The Chicago Tribune reports it did; "The vote was 7-1, with Bill Morris of Grayslake the lone no vote. The increase will go into effect Jan. 1." Thanks, Mr. Morris!

Just imagine... only eight people to decide on spending $12,000,000,000. Welcome to Illinois!

Bentley case - now more than Missing Person?

Is the Beth Bentley missing person case really more than a Missing Person case?

Recently I filed a FOIA request to inspect the files at the Woodstock Police Department. After all, if it's "just" a missing person case (and not a criminal case) and since over a year has passed, it seems logical and reasonable to me that the police files ought to be open to public inspection.

The City, on behalf of the police department, denied my request, claiming that making the records available would interfere with pending or contemplated law enforcement proceedings.

Upon that denial I filed a Request for Review with the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

The result? The PAC upheld the City's denial.

The exemption claimed by the City of Woodstock (for the Woodstock Police Department) is that release of this information would "interfere with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency that is the recipient of this request."

OK, so what are "law enforcement proceedings"? They are related to crimes.

The City of Woodstock states that it "...reasonably contemplates law enforcement proceedings arising from this matter." The City further stated that "its investigation of the matter is ongoing, and disclosure of the requested information would hamper the investigation and any resultant law enforcement proceedings."

So it seems to me that this is not "merely" a missing-person case.

The Public Access Counselor's opinion states, in part, "The City's contemplation of law enforcement proceedings is reasonable under the circumstances, where a person has been missing for more than 14 months, and the disappearance is unexplained. We also agree with the City that disclosure of the information would impair the investigation and any contemplated law enforcement proceedings. If a crime has been committed, disclosure could alert the perpetrator about the status of the investigation and whether the authorities are closing in. Furthermore, withholding details from the public about a crime can enable law enforcement to determine whether potential witnesses are telling the truth or whether they have valid information."

You be the judge. Is the Woodstock Police Department reasonably contemplating law enforcement proceedings? We all certainly hope so.

How soon will they announce persons-of-interest, suspects or an arrest (or arrests) in this case?

They should know that one key witness is now out-of-state. Will that person return for a September 2nd court date in a civil matter? Or will another state scoop up that person and deal with the issue on its home territory? It seems that the State's dealing with this civil case as an interstate case in Illinois hasn't worked very well, since the usual continuances month after month have resulted in no conclusion since late 2010.