Loaded

Note to Ops:

Come for the libations ...

Mundelein approves beer, wine sales for gas stations in town

Come for the cannabis ...

Marijuana smokers celebrate 420 holiday at new Mundelein cannabis lounge

Stay for the guns ...

Plan for gun range and store gets good reviews in Mundelein

HaHa, by all appearances, the Village of Mundelein is a local hub for recreational marijuana, alcohol and firearms.

A tourism and hospitality spokesman issued a statement: "Enjoy your visit. If you see someone waving a pistol in your direction, please do not be alarmed.  No one here is sober enough to shoot straight."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Make love not war.

Here Come the Judge

Lake County favorite son and future Supreme Court Justice Mark Curran is back in the saddle.

Curran, who had been kicked off the ballot for IL Supreme Court Justice, yesterday was kicked back on:

A Cook County judge ruled Thursday that three candidates who were removed in April from the race for Illinois Supreme Court judge will be reinstated for the June 28 primary election.
Three Illinois Supreme Court candidates back on the ballot in 2nd District

Curran's opponents are expected to appeal the ruling.

Proceedings like these sometimes take years to wind their way through the courts. This raises a legal question: How will Justice Mark Curran rule when his own case finally gets up to the Illinois Supreme Court?

Stay tuned!

LWV Judicial Virtual Candidate Forum

League of Women Voters of Lake County, Illinois

LWV Primary Candidate Forum

League of Women Voters of Lake County, Illinois

Curran Liabilities

OK people listen up. Everyone whose nominating petitions were challenged, but the challenge was rejected by your hearing officer, and you are now a candidate for the IL Supreme Court, please take one step forward.

Not so fast there, Mark Currran. And Susan Hutchinson. And Nancy Rotering.

HaHa, that recommendation from your hearing officer was ignored ISBE board, who voted 8-0 to remove you from the ballot:

Lake County’s June 28 primary ballot almost set; judge to decide fate of 3 state Supreme Court candidates

The Illinois State Board of Elections unanimously voted to remove these candidates from the ballot because none met a minimum ballot requirement of 791 signatures. This in spite of the fact that the ISBE's own candidate guide said only 334 signatures would be required:

State of Illinois 2022 CANDIDATE'S GUIDE

... which all three candidates exceeded.

What's the reason behind the bum's rush from the ISBE? One knowledgeable political scientist told your LakeCountyEye: "It all boils down to five words: Supreme Court Justice Mark Curran."

Note to Ops: This is why you can't have nice things.

Party Line Vote

That giant ka-ching sound you heard came from the direction of Lake County moneybags, Richard Uihlein:

Late Wednesday, conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein, founder of the privately held Uline office supply business, gave $2.5 million to state Sen. Darren Bailey's effort for the GOP governor nomination. That's on top of $1 million Uihlein already contributed to Bailey's campaign.
Another billionaire throws major cash into the race for Illinois governor

For the record, Darren Bailey lost last week in a Lake County Republican straw poll. As readers of this blog are aware, Bailey's opponent "bussed in a bunch of Indian voters" in order to stuff the ballot box:

Too Many Chuffs and Not Enough Indians

Note to GOP Ops: Are you tired of seeing your elections stolen by better organized opponents? Then equip all of your polling locations with a Corrugated Floor Standing Ballot Box:

These ballot boxes are corrugated, stand at 50", and include a plain removable header. Best of all, these boxes are available at ULINE now!

Too Many Chuffs and Not Enough Indians

The Lake County Republican Party held a straw poll last week. And of course there was voter fraud.

The fraudsters "bussed in a bunch of Indian voters":

Another picture. @chicagotribune @ThinkerChicago @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/cFD2xGKTN3

— Gabe F. Guidarini (@GabeGuidarini) April 23, 2022

One GOP spokesman said: "You're damn sure this would never happen if John Wayne was alive now."

100% Mark Off

The Mark Curran spoof website has been removed from the ballot:

Mark Curran For Judge?

This follows in a the wake of a State Board of Elections ruling, where it was determined that Lake County favorite son Mark Curran is not eligible to be a candidate for Supreme Court Justice:

Candidate List - GENERAL PRIMARY - 6/28/2022

One veteran poll watcher told your LakeCountyEye: "I expect an appeal will be filed. Don't count the Mark Curran spoof website out just yet."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

We Didn't Start the Fire

Note to Ops in McHenry County: When you hear someone shout FIRE! do not automatically assume it is a signal to discharge your weapons.

No, the building might be on fire:

Fire spread quickly through D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center in Crystal Lake, leaving parts of the roof collapsed and the building a total loss, fire officials said.
D'Andrea Banquets in Crystal Lake 'total loss' following fire

The hall was a favorite haunt of McHenry County Republicans.  It was where they held their annual Lincoln dinner:

One veteran fire investigator told your LakeCountyEye: "This was clearly an Act of God. Anyone who dances with the devil that many times is going to get burned."

Take the Trains ... Please

The Easter Bunny hopped by and he left you this pop quiz:

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road in Lake County?

A: The chicken was a freight train in a chicken costume.

HaHa. When the Kansas City Southern gets bought by the Canadian Pacific Railway, Lake County will be on track to see even more commercial rail traffic:

Should the merger be approved, freight traffic will increase 380% on just the tracks owned Metra, according to an objection the commuter railway filed with the Transportation Safety Board in March. It will also further block traffic at grade crossings in Grayslake, Barrington and locations not part of Metra's network.
Lake County Board opposes proposed train merger; ‘Ambulances and police will not be able to get where they need to go’

A spokesman for the competing Canadian National Railway said: "We vehemently oppose the merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. How are we supposed to move our exploding bomb trains through Lake County, if the tracks are all clogged up with Canadian Pacific freight?"

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Burn Baby Burn

Did you know that there is a carcinogenic pollutant that may be in the air you are breathing right now? The County, to its credit, is taking steps to mitigate the spread of this airborne toxin. At the same time, some elected officials continue to oppose these safety measures.

Is your LakeCountyEye is referring to ethylene oxide gas emissions?  No.  The carcinogen is smoke from burning leaves.

Indiscriminate leaf burning has been proscribed in unincorporated Lake County:

The measure, described as a step toward protecting public health, replaced a temporary ban enacted more than two years ago due to potential respiratory impacts from the coronavirus. Woody materials can be burned in small fires all year and in larger ones from Nov. 1 to March 31 under the new rules. But leaf burning will be prohibited.
Leaf disposal, cost an issue for some as burning ban nears in Lake County

County Board members Linda Pedersen and J Kevin Hunter, for instance, remain critical of efforts to reduce the amount of smoke particles in Lake County air.

What up with that? One Republican Party spokesman said: "Nothing to see here. Cough. Cough Cough."

Risk to Limb and Limb

The first McHenry County gun owner to shoot himself in the foot this week, failed to also shoot someone else in the foot. He was only able to shoot the other guy in the arm:

A McHenry man in his 50s who works for a Waukegan gun range injured himself and another man when he accidentally fired a weapon Friday afternoon, authorities said.
McHenry man accidentally fires pistol, injuring himself and another man at Waukegan gun range

One McHenry County expert trigger man told your LakeCountyEye: "When going for a two-pointer, always shoot the other dude's foot first. That way you get the element of surprise."

Buffalo Clips

Do you desire a home where the buffalo roam? Well, look no farther than Hawthorn Woods:

It looks like a famous bison on the run is making a new appearance in Lake County, Illinois. A woman took video of the large trespasser in the northern suburb of Hawthorn Woods Friday. Runaway buffalo 'Tyson the Bison' makes new appearance, caught on video in Hawthorn Woods

A spokesman welcomed the Village's newest celebrity ungulate: "Please enjoy Hawthorn Woods's 18 park sites that provide a variety of amenities including walking trails. In deference to Mr Bison's stay, shoes are mandated."

The Village of Buffalo Grove sent a cease and desist letter. "Any partnership between the Village of Hawthorn Woods and Mr Bison will be viewed as an infringement upon the Village of Buffalo Grove's trademark claims upon the word Buffalo."

Uncowed, a Village of Hawthorn Woods spokesman said: "And don't forget to visit the Village's Aquatic Park. Be sure to sample the Buffalo Water Wings at the concession stand."

From Russia with Love

An actual unretouched screencap from the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 fakenews source:

What is a ocv.im/6UBRUFC?

To find out, your LakeCountyEye asked Google Translate:

The Russian Troll Farms that supply the Lake County Gazette with exclusive content were unavailable for comment.

Bum Steers

Open prairies, no doubt, are a good thing. But this is ridiculous:

Four of the Texas longhorns spotted around Johnsburg and Spring Grove are still at large, Johnsburg police said late Friday morning.
Texas longhorns still on the loose around Johnsburg, police say

One school got a new enrollee:

A roaming calf was spotted outside Johnsburg Junior High School Thursday morning, which officials at the school said was one of a few stops it made through town that day.
Texas longhorns still on the loose around Johnsburg, police say

According to experts, the Texas Longhorn is a breed with horns that can extend to over 8 feet.

A spokesman for Tyson the Bison issued a statement: "Texas is sending its rapists and drug dealers into Lake County. We need to build a wall along the McHenry County border to stop them."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Git along little dogies.