Let's make a deal on this DUI

How long can a DUI case take? Sometimes, years...

And sometimes, a month? I think a record must have been set in the McHenry County Court system on the DUI charge against Noe Rodriguez, 22, who crashed his car into the former business location of Rock Star Music Academy during the early morning hours on Saturday, July 30.

Rodriguez was represented by the McHenry County Public Defenders office and must have pled guilty on the DUI charge yesterday, because he was fined $3,210, including fees and costs. He'll be paying that off at the rate of $322.00 monthly, starting in October. He also must attend DUI school and meet terms of his supervision.

Who knows what he had to drink that night, but it was very expensive for him. Of course, there is also the damage to his vehicle and the repairs to the building. Presumably, he had insurance, since he wasn't ticketed for no insurance. He also has to deal with a Summary Suspension of his driving privileges.

Court records also indicate a fine of $652.00 for driving on a suspended driver's license and credit for time served of 76 days. Not sure about that entry, since there are only 38 days between July 30 and September 6.

A charge for driving on canceled, revoked or suspended registration (license plates) was nolle prossed. A charge for possession of alcohol (open container?) by driver was nolle prossed. A charge of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident also was nolle prossed.

The building, on the northwest corner of Route 47 and East Judd Street, is boarded up. If Rodriguez had insurance and carried the state minimum, it probably won't cover repairs.

Grafton Township Recycling and Free Shredding

On September 24, 2011 from 9 am to noon, you can take your electronic waste and documents for on-site shredding to Grafton Township, 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, Illinois. No early or late drop offs, please.   

An on-site document shredding truck will be available at no cost to participants, including non-residents.  Please take your paper in a paper bag. All electronic items that do not have a compressor will be accepted

Residency is not required to take advantage of Grafton Township's semi-annual event. Questions about acceptable items for recycling should be directed to Com2 by calling 1-815-254-3535.   

Please call Linda Moore, Grafton Township Supervisor, at (847) 669-3328 or visit www.graftontownship.net if you have any other questions or would like volunteer to assist with unloading the electronics from the cars as the items are dropped off.  

Donations of non-perishable food items for the Food Pantry at Grafton Township would be greatly appreciated at the time items are dropped off.

Get the message?

This truck was parked in the parking lot of the new Colonial Cafe in Crystal Lake this morning. I was reminded of the bumper sticker that read, "If you can read this, you are too close."

This driver, however, announces his warning in large, bold lettering. Tailgaters be warned. What else might that driver have in mind for you?

Dr. Majewski announces for Coroner

The following press release was received from Dr. Anne Majewski, candidate for McHenry County Coroner in the November 2012 election.

PRESS RELEASE

Dr.  Anne L Majewski has announced her intent to run for McHenry County Coroner.   A lifelong resident of McHenry County, Dr. Majewski is a licensed physician in the State of Illinois since 1984.  She practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.  Her medical expertise, compassion and communications skills enabled her to attract an extensive patient base and, within a year, became a full partner in a very busy medical practice.  Currently, she is a private medical consultant.  She also provides medical advocacy services on a pro bono basis

“I believe that a Coroner’s Office consisting of a physician and a well-trained investigative staff, who perform their duties with a caring and humanitarian approach, would best serve our county.  I will work closely with law enforcement agencies, the State’s Attorneys Office, consulting medical examiners and experts, private physicians, and funeral directors throughout the county to ensure that the highest quality of service is rendered.  My medical training, analytical skills, practice experience, and continuing medical education will enable me to be an excellent Coroner.”

“As a physician, I have had to share very sad news with patients and their families.  I would approach my duties as Coroner with the same care and compassion to which my former patients, fellow medical and hospital staff and community could attest.”

“As an elected official, it is my duty to effectively manage taxpayer dollars.  I will review the half million dollar budget, as well as all operating procedures and investigatory costs, to determine where we can save money while at the same time maintain the highest quality medical and statutory standards.”  

“It is also my duty to help bring awareness to the community.  In view of the number of suicides in our county over the recent past,  I want to work with mental health agencies, schools and community groups to help identify trends and risk factors, and to assist in education and prevention.  I also plan to work closely with nursing homes and hospice organizations to ensure prompt and thorough reporting.”     

Estate appraisal - very fast

On the evening of Tuesday, June 7, 2011, John and Audrey Feldkamp were stabbed in their Marengo-area home. Doran Bloom died there, after being shot by Scott Feldkamp.

A news article placed Scott Feldkamp still in Sherman Hospital, Elgin, on Friday, June 10.

Only five days later, on June 15, the probate was opened on Mrs. Feldkamp's estate. By that time Scott had apparently dealt with Schmitt & Filler and arranged for them to represent him as the Executor of his mother's estate. The value of her estate was estimated at personal property of $100,000 and real property of $400,000.

The very next day, June 16, an estate appraisal firm, Transitions of Illinois, was hard at work at 7:30AM to inventory the personal property. They spent 4 1/2 hours at it and then researched the values of items and wrote their report. Transitions was asked to expedite the appraisal, for which they would charge a 25% premium. Its bill was $1,031.25 for the appraisal, plus the Expedite Fee of $257.81, bringing its total bill to $1,289.06.

Some would probably ask, "What was the hurry?"

Was personal property to be immediately liquidated? And was it, in fact, liquidated? And, if so, what happened to the money? Was 100% of it deposited into a banking account of the Estate?

Transition of Illinois hasn't been paid yet. You'd sort of think, if they were asked to expedite an appraisal and conduct it on the 9th day after the deaths, then they might reasonably expect to get paid promptly. They haven't been paid, and they have filed as a Claimant against the Estate.

Did Mr. and Mrs. Feldkamp have cash accounts anywhere? Most likely they did. They probably had checking and savings accounts, maybe CDs, and perhaps at more than one bank. What happened to those accounts? Was the titling of the accounts merely changed to Estate of the (accountholder), or were the accounts closed? If they were closed, was the money transferred only to accounts in the names of the Estates? Or was some, most or all of it "distributed"?

Were there investments? Stocks? Bonds? Were they liquidated? What happened to the money? Did it go into bank accounts of the Estates?

On July 13th the probate for Mr. Feldkamp's estate was opened. His estate was estimated at personal property of $150,000 and real property of $250,000.

These would be the types of things that a lawyer for the Executor would advise him on. If an Executor doesn't take his lawyer's advice, what does the lawyer do?

Schmitt & Filler withdrew from representing the Executor of both estates. The only reason given was "lack of communication and cooperation on the part of Scott A. Feldkamp making it impossible for the Law Office of Thomas W. Schmitt and Jay K. Filler, Jr. to properly represent him."

So far as court records indicate, the Executor does not have an attorney. Will he try to fly without one?

Stickin' it to kids

See the picture on the front page of this morning's Northwest Herald? Anyone think, "Child abuse"? OK, so I'm kidding. Sort of.

See the grip that mother has on her kid? Will the 5-year-old be traumatized for life? Not so much by the needle as maybe by her mother's holding down tightly for the injection?

It's an emotional fear that kid has about needles. Holding her down will only intensify the fear. Why not dispel the fear of needles, once and for all?

Cal Thomas hammers the nail in

I had to laugh this morning, when I read Cal Thomas' column in the Northwest Herald. Has he been reading the Woodstock Advocate? Remember last week, when I sounded off about Supt. Bregy in District 300, who apparently still thinks that Sears Holdings Corp. is going to "play nice" in the tax game?

Cal wrote, in part, referring to the professors and academics who have found nests in President Obama's tree, "Few, if any, have held real jobs in the private sector. They are mostly theorists, whose theories are often proved wrong, but in academia, as well as in government, being wrong rarely disqualifies one from a leadership post. Intentions are all that matter."

What has happened to the crowd for whom results matter? I'm in that crowd. Talking is one thing; doing and accomplishing are something else.

When people tell me they will "try", I know nothing is going to happen. I'll try to be there. I'll try to repay you. I'll try to do better.

What did Yoda say? "Try not. Do."