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Archive for the ‘McHenry’ Category
McHenry County approves resolution denouncing new state gun ban
Posted in County, Elections, McHenry, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest on February 22, 2023| 2 Comments »
People listen to speakers on Tuesday during the public comment period at the McHenry County Board meeting about the proposed resolution opposing the Illinois gun ban and supporting its repeal in the Illinois State Legislature. (Gregory Shaver/Shaw Local News Network)
During an at-times contentious meeting filled with public comment and back-and-forth questions about civil liberties, safety and morality, the McHenry County Board passed a resolution opposing Illinois’ recent gun ban.
The resolution argues that the legislation violates citizens’ Second Amendment rights but did not create a gun sanctuary — a move some, including the McHenry County Republican Party, had pushed for.
The resolution denounces the new law and calls for its repeal, arguing it could harm local businesses and make “felons out of law-abiding citizens.”
The final vote was 11-6, with the board’s five Democrats and Michael Skala, a Huntley Republican, voting against it.
The state law, passed in January, bans the sale of more than 100 types of guns, most of which are semi-automatic rifles, and various attachments. It also creates ammunition caps for certain weapons. In addition, those who already own guns listed in the legislation must register them with the Illinois State Police by 2024.
On Tuesday, roughly 40 people spoke at the McHenry County Board meeting about the resolution, with support and opposition split almost evenly. Throughout, comments were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers.
Read more here.
The Land Conservancy’s summer internship program is open for applications
Posted in County, McHenry, Topics Of Interest, Uncategorized on January 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Students are invited to apply for The Land Conservancy of McHenry County’s CLIP program for the summer of 2023. The program gives underserved high school and college students the skills to navigate the conservation field as a professional. (Courtesy of Kim Elsenbroek, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County)
Submitted by The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County has opened its Conservation Leadership Internship Program (CLIP) to applicants for the summer of 2023, which will be the third year of the program.
The application period is open now through Feb. 27. Students can learn more and apply at conservemc.org/clip/.
CLIP is a paid, hands-on learning experience designed to give students the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the conservation field as a professional.
No experience is needed to apply for CLIP, and it is open to high school juniors, seniors and college students. Participants must be able to work in extreme weather conditions and on adverse terrain.
The program takes place 40 hours per week from June-August 2023, and the pay is $15 per hour, or college credit.
The internship provides underserved communities such as women, BIPOC, first generation and LGBTQIA+ students/youth with hands-on professional training in the field of conservation.
Participants will gain experience areas such as: plant identification, land management, GIS/GPS training, prescribed fire training, herbicide use, rare plant monitoring, wildlife/stream surveys, sustainable farming techniques, land preservation techniques, field safety, scientific research/experimental design, art in the natural world, career development and professional networking.
Two young eagles spotted at ‘In Search of Eagles’ program along the Fox River, along with a few dozen ducks
Posted in Animal Welfare, County, Entertainment, Kane, McHenry, Topics Of Interest on January 22, 2023| 1 Comment »
For the second time in as many years, Cathy Thurston of Crystal Lake found herself behind a spotting scope in search of eagles.
This year she only saw about 30 golden eye ducks scooting about the Fox River just south of the Algonquin dam.
Earlier in the morning two immature eagles glided up and down the river and then disappeared over the trees.
Thurston was with a small group of people braving the cold at Cornish Park during an “In Search of Eagles” program this Saturday.
The program, which happens every year at this time, took place at the McHenry, Algonquin and Carpentersville dams on the Fox River, and at the Williams Bay boat launch on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin.
Read more here.
Sheriffs in 80 counties in Illinois say they will not enforce state’s ‘assault weapons’ ban
Posted in County, McHenry, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield on January 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Sheriffs in approximately 80 Illinois counties say they will not enforce the state’s “assault weapons” ban, to which Governor Pritzker has responded by saying the sheriffs are guilty of “political grandstanding.”
It is now illegal to buy or sell more than 170 semi-automatic firearms in Illinois.
Those who owned such guns before the ban went into effect Tuesday — when the governor signed the measure — must register them with Illinois State Police by January 1, 2024.
There is also a ban on long gun magazines of more than 10 rounds and handgun magazines of more than 15 rounds.
Sheriffs and state’s attorneys from across the state say they will not enforce the ban and registry.
“The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people,” said Iroquois County Sheriff Clinton Perzee.
“I, among many others, believe that [House Bill 5471] is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution,” Perzee said.
Perzee said he will not use his jail to detain individuals exercising their civil rights.
“[N]either myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of this Act,” Perzee said.
Read more here.
Judge allows case to remove Algonquin Twp. trustee to move forward
Posted in County, Illinois State Board of Elections, McHenry, Politics on January 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Algonquin Township Trustee Ed Zimel, left, then a candidate, talks with a Fox River Grove resident during a 2021 meet-and-greet event at Cary Ale House. (Matthew Apgar/Shaw Local News Network)
A case that will decide whether an Algonquin Township trustee with a 30-year-old felony can stay in his role will move forward after a McHenry County judge denied a request to dismiss the suit on Thursday.
Judge Joel D. Berg on Thursday said while state election code does not state that the specific crime Trustee Ed Zimel committed in 1990 precludes him from holding office, Illinois township code is more wide-ranging than the election statutes, meriting a deeper look into the case.
“What a magnificent issue. I mean, it’s a very complex issue,” Berg said. “The township code is different than the election code. And it’s clearly different.”
Zimel was convicted in 1990 of felony intimidation in Cook County and sentenced to three months of home confinement and 30 months of court supervision.
State election code holds that a person becomes ineligible for office if they have been convicted of an “infamous crime,” which both sides on Thursday agreed did not include intimidation.
However, an Illinois township code provision states that a person is ineligible to hold office if they have “been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury or other felony.”
Read more here.
McHenry County sheriff calls ‘assault weapons’ ban unconstitutional, says his office will not enforce it
Posted in County, McHenry, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order on January 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
File Photo – McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman | Photo: McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
The McHenry County sheriff announced his deputies will not be arresting those who violate Illinois’ new “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazine ban after calling the law unconstitutional.
McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman issued a statement Wednesday afternoon after House Bill 5471 was signed into law Tuesday evening.
“As your duly elected Sheriff my job and my office are sworn, in fact, to protect the citizens of McHenry County. This is a job and responsibility that I take with the utmost seriousness,” Tadelman said.
The sheriff said part of his duties when being sworn into office was to protect the rights in the Constitution.
“The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people,” Tadelman said.
“I, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution,” he said.
Tadelman said that the sheriff’s office would not be checking to ensure gun owners register their weapons are registered with the state.
More here. Meanwhile, Pritzker says, “They will do their job or won’t be in their job.”
Related: “Pritzker signs assault weapon sales, manufacturing ban”
Eight candidates running for School Board seats in District 300
Posted in 300, Board of Education, County, Elections, McHenry, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions on December 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Laurie Parman, who is running for a seat on Algonquin-based Community Community Unit District 300’s school board, delivers her candidate paperwork on Dec. 12 at the McHenry County Administration Building in Woodstock. (Ryan Rayburn/Shaw Local News Network)
In Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300, eight candidates filed for four 4-year terms.
Nancy Zettler is seeking her second term, and Stephen Fiorentino is seeking his fourth term on the board.
Like other suburban school districts, District 300 has had its share of criticism regarding masking mandates, curriculum, taxes and other issues. Most recently, an LGBTQIA+ student group came under scrutiny by some parents.
Parent Randi Gauthier, who is a member of a recently formed LGBTQIA+ parent advisory council, said she is seeking a spot on the board to further equity and inclusivity measures.
In a social media post, candidate Kristina Konstanty said she opposes tax increases and supports parental rights and involvement.
Olutola “Tola” Makinde, Laurie Parman, Robert Reining and Connie Cain also are vying for one of the 4-year terms on the District 300 board.
Read more here.
General Election early voting expands tomorrow, October 24
Posted in Cook, County, Elections, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Politics on October 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Three (3) Barrington Hills Park District Board positions up for election in April 2023
Posted in Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, BraveHearts, Cook, Countryside Elementary School, County, Deception, Elections, Equestrian Commission, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Kane, Lake, Land Use, McHenry, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, The Other Half, Unions, Well Water Quality on October 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District posted the following yesterday:
“PUBLIC NOTICE
To The Residents Of The Barrington Hills Park District Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties, Illinois
Elections will be held to fill the following offices at the:
Consolidated election to be held April 4, 2023.
Park District Commissioner: Number of positions (3); 4-year term.
Signature Requirements: Petition must be signed by not less than 2% of the number of ballots cast at the last election for Park District Commissioner.
Petition Circulation: September 20, 2022: First day to circulate nomination papers.
Consolidated Election Candidate Filing: Monday, December 12, 2022*: First day for candidates to file the original nominating petitions (must include original sheets signed by voters and circulators) with the Barrington Hills Park District representative at the Barrington Hills Riding Center, Meeting Room, 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills IL 60010.
General Filing Information: Petitions may be filed in person by the candidate or a representative, or by mail. Barrington Hills Park District c/o Kim Keper, 364 Bateman Road, Barrington, IL 60010.
Please note: Nomination papers received in the mail before the first day of filing period will be returned to the sender as not filed.
Filing Period: Mon, Dec 12: 9:00 AM* to 1:00 PM
Wed, Dec 14: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Fri, Dec 16: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mon, Dec 19: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
*Ballot Placement Lottery: If two or more petitions are received simultaneously for the same office (a) as of the opening hour of the filing period, December 12, 2022; and/or (b) within the last hour of the filing period, Dec 19 2023.
Ballot Placement Lottery, if needed, is scheduled for Wednesday, December 22, 2022, noon at 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills, IL 60010.
Candidate document and filing information is available on the web: www.elections.il.gov“
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