Sunday, December 29, 2019

McHenry County Boggled

Has the McHenry County Blog gone vegan?

If not then why are they serving word salad?
What does that mean? No one knows.

Your LakeCountyEye does remember a time when tiredout tax fighters at the McHenry County Blog had nothing to dish out but red meat.

Note to Ops: Good nutrition is essential to cognitive fitness and goes beyond ordering off the senior menu at McDonald's.

Just Sayin!

Thursday, December 26, 2019

In the Days of Dole Lang Syne?

Hot off the presses! An actual unretouched screencap from the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 fakenews source:
This would not mark the first time that former Kansas Senator Bob Dole was on the ballot in Illinois.  Dole ran against and lost to Bill Clinton in 1996.

Another Republican candidate for President, Joe Walsh, was unavailable for comment. For that matter, the late Senator Dole did not return your LakeCountyEye's calls either.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Up Old Mill Creek

Don't bother checking the Old Mill Creek village website to see if your home has been seized by eminent domain for a highway project. That's because the Old Mill Creek village website has been seized by the cybersquatters:
WhoIs villageofoldmillcreek.org
On November 7 2019 the village of Old Mill Creek website looked like this:
The next day, the same website looked like this:

Village of Old Mill Creek
The takeaway from the village of Old Mill Creek couldn't be less than crystal clear:
Renew It Or Lose It
If your Internet domain is important to you then don't allow it to expire.

Note to Ops: When hiring a village clerk, you should look for qualities like competency and experience and computer literacy in a candidate. And not just being the family member of a crony.

Just Sayin!

Saturday, December 14, 2019

CNN Analyst Renato Mariotti to Keynote Tenth Dems Awards Dinner

The Tenth Congressional District Democrats will hold its Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at the Hyatt Regency Deerfield, 1750 Lake Cook Road, in Deerfield.

Keynote Speaker will be Renato Mariotti, CNN Legal Analyst, POLITICO Magazine Legal Affairs Columnist, former federal prosecutor, and host of "On Topic" podcast.

General admission is $50. There will be a buffet dinner. For more information, go to tenthdems.org/2019dinner, or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683)

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Q the Eye/12.11.19

Ὥρος Hōros
Dear LakeCountyEye,

Do you know how to drive traffic to your website?  What is the secret to achieving a #1 Google ranking? Where are your customers right now? Why have we succeeded where all other Search Engine Optimization Companies fail?

You Cannot Spell Opulense Without SEO
Dear In Search of the Golden Fleece,

Those are all excellent questions indeed. And they all have one excellent answer: Do as the The Village of Old Mill Creek does.

Once upon a time Old Mill Creek had a wheezy old village website that had nothing to show but meeting agendas and eminent domain proceedings. Here is what it looked like, courtesy the Internet Archive:

Internet Archive :: Village of Old Mill Creek

So Web 1.0! The Village of Old Mill Creek knew they had a problem and replaced their sclerotic website with this sleek new pimpass product:

Village of Old Mill Creek
Note to Ops: The Internet is a series of tubes. Don't let your village website go down the drain. Act today!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just under investigation by the Special Counsel, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Is Old Mill Creek Under Water?

If winter is here already, can spring floods be far behind?
With more annual rainfall predicted in Lake County's future and more flood events coming with it, the Lake County Board has budgeted more for stormwater projects that include improving water quality and buying flood-prone properties.
'The rain isn’t going away’: Lake County steps up funding to address flooding and water quality issues
The Village of Old Mill Creek no doubt must be getting a chunk of that money. What else would explain the brand new Old Mill Creek official village website?

Village of Old Mill Creek
If you plan to visit Old Mill Creek you better bring along your galoshes, if not hip-waders. The Old Mill Creek official village website has a link to emergency services -- a roto-rooter guy in Hamilton Ontario:

Village of Old Mill Creek
Note to Ops: The Lake County groundwater situation must be getting serious if you need to call Canada to get a plumber.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Old Mill Creek Down the Drain?

An actual unretouched screencap from the Village of Old Mill Creek official website:



The Old Mill Creek homepage contains a wealth of information about how drains clog and what you can do about it:
Reasons for Floor Drain Backups
A floor drain that is backing up can be confusing. It can be simple to think that there are issues with the floor drain itself whenever they occur. However, almost every time, that isn't the case. The truth is that typically, backups inside a basement floor drain are a sign of another issue in your plumbing system.
Village of Old Mill Creek
The Old Mill Creek homepage even recommends a plumber -- if you happen to be in Hamilton Ontario:

Village of Old Mill Creek
Note to Ops: Better check the books at the Old Mill Creek Village Hall. It looks as if someone monetized the Old Mill Creek website by selling ad-space to some roto-rooter outfit up in Canada.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Hong Kong – Redactie Radio Centraal

Derek Monroe filed this report from Hong Kong:

Hong Kong – Redactie Radio Centraal
Derek Monroe is a freelance journalist based in Lake County.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Thank God It's Thursday

It was in the middle of the Civil War that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be observed the last week of November, as an expression of gratitude for all that we are given, the freedoms we enjoy, and the loved ones who enrich our lives. And more importantly, as a reminder to file your ballot nomination petitions before the December deadline:
Two Lake County primary challenges set on first day of candidate filing
big bird
Holiday Life Hack: Looking for an old folks home for gramdma? Find one in Sangamon County. Then the next time you drive down to Springfield over Thanksgiving to file for your candidacy, you can kill two birds with one stone!

Friday, November 22, 2019

What We've Got Here is a Failure to Communicate

An actual unretouched screencap from the McHenryCountyBlog:

Portend to her general election campaign next year, Underwood uses fears and disinformation to district residents
Note to Ops: If the tiredout taxfighters at the McHenryCountyBlog haven't made themselves crystal clear, then this actual unretouched screencap is for you:

Message of the Day – A Car Sticker
Capisce?

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Isn't That Special

Capn, sensors detect histrionics.
There is no truth to the rumor that a Special Prosecutor will pursue battery charges against Mark Curan because Michael Nerheim would not be able to obtain a proper search warrant for wiretap evidence.

No, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim has declined to prosecute Lake County Ex Sheriff Mark Curran because of a "conflict of interest". Nerheim said ...
my office has already contacted the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Office. This is the organization that handles conflict prosecutions for my office. They have agreed to accept the case and are awaiting their appointment. There is a formal process that is required in order for a special prosecutor to be appointed. The process requires a judge to sign an order. I cannot present that order for signature, until I receive the complete investigation from the Grayslake Police Department.
Special Prosecutor to be Named in Mark Curran Battery Case
It is not known at this time if the order for a Special Prosecutor that Michael Nerheim will present to a judge will be thrown out by an appeals court.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Outlawyered

What comes after the Supreme Court?
Note to Ops: When submitting your petitions to the controlling authority for approval, make sure you followed the law down to the last letter when you present the paperwork. If not, your solicitation will likely be challenged and rejected.

Is your LakeCountyEye referring to election ballot nominating petitions? Haha, of course not. Your LakeCountyEye is referring to search warrants for wiretap evidence:
An Illinois appellate court has upheld a Lake County Circuit Court ruling that evidence from telephone wiretaps used in a large-scale street gang racketeering operation in Lake County cannot be used against the defendants.
'This destroys their case': Wiretap evidence banned in 2014 racketeering court proceedings, appeals panel rules
It goes without saying that every monumental screw up is just a fancy name for a learning experience. Even one produced by the Lake County State's Attorney office.

In response, one fake spokesman for lameduck State Rep David McSweeney said he is working on legislation that would: "add five years to the sentence of any case that was thrown out because Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim did not obtain a proper search warrant."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Meeting to Help Candidates Get on the Ballot

On Monday, November 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, area Democrats are invited to attend a meeting -- Notary Night, Legal Look-over, and Petition Collection -- for Democratic activists, candidates, and precinct committeepeople to bring in petitions to be notarized, checked and/or turned in. At the Lake County Federation of Teachers Hall, 248 Ambrogio Drive, Gurnee, Illinois, notaries public will be on hand, as well as lawyers who can check petitions. People can also turn in their notarized petitions that are ready for Democratic candidates.

Even if they don't have petitions, Democrats interested in taking a more active role in the 2020 elections are invited. It will be grassroots politics in action. They can chat with like-minded Democrats and hear a little bit about what it takes to be a precinct committeeperson or grassroots activist. Getting candidates on the ballot is crucial for electing more Democrats; having valid petitions is an important early step.

The Notary Night, Legal Look-over, and Petition Collection meeting is sponsored by Tenth Dems, Sixth Dems, Fourteenth Dems, and Lake County Democrats.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Why They Call It Practicing Law

legal beagle
It has come to your LakeCountyEye's attention that you cannot eavesdrop on someone's phone call without first obtaining a proper search warrant. Who knew?

Not the Lake County State's Attorney, apparently.

A 2014 Lake County RICO case that resulted in 27 gang arrests was effectively thrown out by an Illinois court. The Court ruled that State's Attorney Michael Nerheim improperly secured search warrants for wiretap evidence:
"We affirm the trial court's suppression of the evidence derived from the wiretaps on the ground that the (state's attorney's) office simply failed to comply with Article 108B of the Code of Criminal Procedure," the appellate court's written ruling states.
'This destroys their case': Wiretap evidence banned in 2014 racketeering court proceedings, appeals panel rules
One reasonable facsimile of a spokesman said:  "When Michael Nerheim ran in 2016 he said he would put end to all of the wrongful convictions coming out of the Lake County State's Attorney office.  Well Michael Nerheim is making good on that promise. By hook or by crook."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Domestic Violence in Our Back Yard


Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy
Pat Davenport, CEO and Executive Director of A Safe Place will discuss issues related to domestic violence and how her organization is working to address and end the problem.
  • Sunday
    November 17 2019
    2:00 pm
  • The Stevenson Center on Democracy
    25200 N St Mary's Rd
    Mettawa (Libertyville), IL 60048
    773-281-0378
  • $15
    (Students Free)

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Run On Sentences

Orange is the New Black
It's a good thing that ducks have no teeth because for lameduck State Rep David McSweeney the toothpaste is out of the tube.

Everybody knows that battery charges were filed this week against Lake County Ex-Sheriff Mark Curran:
Radio host William Kelly claims battery in confrontation with former Lake County sheriff Mark Curran at GOP U.S. Senate endorsement event
And David McSweeney -- who is expected to run for US Senate in 2022 -- no doubt is working on legislation that would bring back the death penalty for former elected officials who are convicted of battery.

One non-spokesman said: "And anyone acquitted of battery gets an automatic five years added to his sentence."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Fightin' Irish

Stop the Presses!
You don't need to be from Lake County to know that politics is a contact sport. But it doesn't hurt:
A criminal complaint for battery has been filed against former Lake County Sheriff and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran following an incident caught on video Saturday at the Lake County Republican office in Grayslake, involving Curran's U.S. Senate opponent, William Kelly.
William Kelly Files Battery Complaint Against Mark Curran: Video
Likely, the complaint will go to the Lake County State's Attorney Office for review. Where the State's Attorney Office is expected to file murder charges against William Kelly.

One ersatz spokesman said, "Illinois law allows the State's Attorney to file these charges. Anyone can be charged and convicted of first-degree murder even if he never pulled a trigger."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Push Pol

Now that Daylight Savings Time is a thing of the past, this would be a good time to charge your batteries.
2020 Primary Checklist
Does Your Battery Generate ...
Alternating Current?
Direct Current?
Mark Curran?
Haha, former Lake County Sheriff and current candidate for US Senate, Mark Curran, has been accused of battery. A fellow US Senate candidate, William Kelly, has filed criminal battery charges against Curran:
A criminal complaint for battery has been filed against former Lake County Sheriff and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran following an incident caught on video Saturday at the Lake County Republican office in Grayslake, involving Curran's U.S. Senate opponent, William Kelly.
William Kelly Files Battery Complaint Against Mark Curran: Video


The news release adds that an "unhinged Curran then grabs Kelly roughly by both shoulders and shoves him across the room to the door."

William Kelly Files Battery Complaint Against Mark Curran: Video
Note to Ops: Politics ain't beanbag.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Capitol Punishment

Trick or Treat!
If David "Red Meat" McSweeney had a middle name that would be Red Meat. The Lameduck Lake County State Rep cooked up some more red meat for his supporters.  McSweeney says his colleagues in the Statehouse should be sent to the Bighouse:
Suburban Republican proposes penalty enhancements for elected officials convicted of crimes
This comes on the heels of a copycat law floated by McSweeney to reinstate the death penalty:
McSweeney wants to bring back the death penalty
One erstwhile political expert said:  "If there is any surefire way to keep your enemies off the ballot, that would be capital punishment."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Beantown

Pew Pew
The village of Round Lake Park (pop 7,505) has a new cannon in their arsenal. By the time you read this, officers of the Round Lake Park police ...
will have been trained and certified on the use of shotguns that fire bean bags to be used in certain situations to stop rather than kill a person.
Bean bag shotguns provide alternative to lethal force for Round Lake Park police
One law enforcement spokesman impersonator said: "Absolutely, you could call these firearms para-military crowd-control weapons. But, no, I wouldn't call them beaners."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Don't hit your bean on the way out.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Message of the Day – A Tee Shirt

Today's inspirational chest-message comes courtesy of the McHenryCountyBlog:

[H/T] McHenryCountyBlog
Up next:

McHenry County Götterdämmerung ...


Join us at the Shores of Turtle Creek for a night of food, 25 + gun giveaways and camaraderie with like-minded people. Look forward to bonus door prizes, a designated cigar section, and a venue that is surrounded by the gorgeous nature of Spring Grove, IL.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Death and Tackiness

The Woodman
Note to Ops: Short your Instagram stock. The Illinois Supreme Court says revenge porn is not protected by the First Amendment:
Revenge porn isn't protected free speech, Illinois Supreme Court rules
Not soon after the ruling, Lameduck State Rep David McSweeney said the Illinois death penalty should be reinstated:
Lawmaker files legislation to reinstate death penalty in Illinois
Law Enforcement Officials warn that McSweeney's proposal is an overreaction: "Sure, who hasn't taken a nude selfie?  But we don't need a capital punishment law to keep these off the Internet."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Death and Traffics

Pew Pew
Your LakeCountyEye encourages Operatives to pass along this simple travel tip:
The safest way to livestream while driving is with red-light-cameras.
But if Lame Duck State Rep David McSweeney gets his way, all Lake County roads will be less safe.  McSweeney wants to eliminate red light cameras:
Leading in the push for a statewide ban on the devices is state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, who said the cameras do little more than generate money for local governments.
More call for statewide elimination of photo-enforced traffic lights
A deer-in-the-headlight would be no match for McSweeney, he also wants to reinstate the death penalty in Illinois:
McSweeney pitches plan to restore death penalty
When it was pointed out that death penalty incarcerations cost three times as much, one party spokesman denied that McSweeney's proposal will do little more than generate money for local governments: "Campaigning on the death penalty will generate for us three times the donation money from our MAGA voters."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

What's the Damage?

Now that cold weather has rolled in, Lake County will no longer be bugged by those opportunistic little bloodsuckers that buzz around under the cover of darkness. Your LakeCountyEye of course refers to the Clarke mosquito spray trucks.

Chlorpyrifos, an aerosol insecticide used by Clarke, has been banned in California:
State regulators have said chlorpyrifos has been linked to health defects in children, including brain impairment, and to illnesses in others with compromised immune systems.
Calif. bans pesticide linked to brain damage in children
The insecticide is still legal here, despite high-profile efforts to to get other airborne chemical toxins banned in Lake County.

One industry spokesman said: "We will continue to spray chlorpyrifos. As long as everyone has sustained brain damage, we don't think anyone will object."

Mosquitomist Two U.L.V.
Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Pot Head Tax

to put it bluntly
Good news for those who can't remember whether they voted for the Illinois Marijuana Referendum. Cannabis will be legal in Lake County as of the new year.

From a policy perspective, it's OK to love the sinner as long as you tax the sin:
How Lake County could end up voting on marijuana sales tax
Legal scholars agree that this type of legislative measure would have to be introduced as a joint resolution.

The Illinois Marijuana Rollers Association issued a statement: "We can support any revenue legislation provided the deal is hashed out in a smoke-filled room."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has.  Smoke'em if you got'em.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Impeach This!

Legitimate businessman and candidate for President of the United States, Donald J Trump has dared Congress to impeach him: Just from looking at the Tweet, it is hard to tell if Trump will be impeached in Illinois.

Never unwilling to face a challenge, your LakeCountyEye drafted a map of how Illinois voted in the 2016 Presidential election. So you don't have to:
It is apparent that Trump lost the vote in Chicago and the collar counties -- and that is where he will be impeached in Illinois. Make no mistake, Trump will be impeached where most of the people are. Trump will be impeached in Lake County.

There is one exception. McHenry County voted for Trump in 2016:
Trump will not be impeached in McHenry County.

It goes without saying that many McHenry County voters are ill-informed and disoriented. And like Donald Trump, they all spend their weekends golfing at their world-class, top-of-the-line resort in West Palm Beach.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

McHenry County Blockage

The sunshine bloggers at the McHenryCountyBlog have gone dark.

The McHenryCountyBlog broke news yesterday that State Senator Martin Sandoval was appointed to the Abraham Lincoln Museum Board of Trustees:

Pritzker Appoints Dem State Senator Whose Offices FBI Just Raided
As scandals go, they don't get any bigger.  But don't bother looking for any details -- you will be presented with a 404 Page Not Found Error on the McHenryCountyBlog:

Pritzker Appoints Dem State Senator Whose Offices FBI Just Raided
Fortunately, the real story is posted on the CapitolFaxBlog ...
Um, no
... where it will become painfully apparent that the appointee is a different Martin Sandoval. And that the McHenryCountyBlog got itself confused again.

One thing is crystal clear: It doesn't matter how ill-informed or disoriented the bloggers at the McHenryCountyBlog may have become. The Deep State Bureaucracy is blocking your access to the McHenryCountyBlog!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The Generational Impacts of Climate Change


Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy
Adele Simmons, President of Global Philanthropy Partnerships, will speak on the topic Climate Change: What it Means for Our Children.
  • Sunday
    October 6 2019
    2:00 pm
  • The Stevenson Center on Democracy
    25200 N St Mary's Rd
    Mettawa (Libertyville), IL 60048
    773-281-0378
  • $15
    (Students Free)

Monday, September 30, 2019

Meat Bundle

An actual unretouched web embed from State Senator Dan McConchie's Facebook:

MEAT BUNDLE
Note to Ops: Never pass up an opportunity to toss your base some red meat.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Sweetshop

Yes You're Canned
You don't have to be the Molly Maid to know someone is cleaning house in North Barrington.

Back in July this blog reported that ...
The Sweet Deal
North Barrington had a new Village President, Eleanor Sweet McDonnell; and that McDonnell would be firing village personnel.

Well, wait no more.  Eleanor Sweet McDonnell has been firing North Barrington village personnel:
North Barrington mayor replaces village administrator
Note to Ops:  If you happen to be looking for employment, new North Barrington Village President Eleanor Sweet McDonnell runs an executive search firm:
The Remington Group, LLC
Just Sayin!

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Over and Out

An actual unretouched screencap from the Old Gray Lady in the burbs, the Daily Herald:

Ex-legislator over nude photos he is accused of posting online
Note to Ops: It ain't over til it's over.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Delegate Information for 2020 Convention

You are invited to attend one of the several statewide delegate information sessions to learn more about how to become a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee next July.
  • Greenbelt Cultural Center
  • 1215 Green Bay Rd
  • North Chicago IL

  • September 25
  • 6:00pm to 7:30pm
2020 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATE INFORMATION SESSIONS

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Car Bomb

Call SpotHero Instead
It was predicted on this blog a scant four days back:
Fricassee Me in St Louis
The Lake County exploding oil train would be back and it would be loaded with crude:
A car on Route 83 in Grayslake was struck by a Canadian National freight train on Monday, Sept. 16, at 9:30 p.m.
Freight train wrecks vehicle stuck on crossing in Grayslake; driver escapes unharmed
One spokesman said the industry does not foresee any significant impact events in the near future. "We'll be aiming for passenger vehicles, deer, Metra coaches, nothing major.  We don't expect to be back up to full speed right away."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Fricassee Me in St Louis

It was a train wreck.
The exploding oil train failed to explode in Lake County this week. It exploded near St Louis instead:
Thick, black smoke can be seen for miles and evacuations have been ordered after a train derailed in an Illinois suburb of St. Louis.
Schools, homes evacuated after a train derails in Illinois suburb of St. Louis
One industry spokesman said engineers are working on the problem and you may expect to see the trains exploding again in Lake County at a later date.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Last in the Shuffle

A actual, unretouched screencap from the Lake County Gazette:

Sen. McConchie-sponsored law amending the State Treasurer Act goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020

Granted truth may be stranger than fiction, but that doesn't change the fact that the Lake County Gazette is your #1 source of fiction in Lake County.

With that in mind, how does any Republican State Senator ...
  1. Sponsor a Bill
  2. Get that Bill Passed
  3. See the Bill Signed into Law
  4. ... by a Democratic Governor?
Well, State Senator Dan McConchie proved it can be done. The trick is to do it in reverse order:
  1. Bill is Passed
  2. Bill is Signed into Law
  3. McConchie Sponsors the Bill

Bill Status of HB2237 :: 101st General Assembly
McConchie was added as a sponsor to HB2237 four days after it was signed into law!

That's how it is done, son.

In related news, State Senator Dan McConchie is predicting that ...
  • The Bears will lose their opening game.
  • Marijuana will be legal in Illinois by the end of the year.
  • Donald Trump will say something stupid.
Note to Ops: You heard it here first!

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Surf War

What happens under Crystal Lake doesn't stay in Crystal Lake.

As readers of this blog are aware ...
The Law of Remunerative Returns
Some residents were none too pleased when the Crystal Lake Park District passed an ordinance restricting access to their lake.

The ordinance was passed despite part of Crystal Lake being situated within the boundaries of the Village of Lakewood.

The Village of Lakewood was none too pleased enough to send the Crystal Lake Park District a letter:

Re: Ordinance 11.41.1 amending Parks and Property Owned or Controlled by the Crystal Lake Park District
Not exactly a cease and desist letter, the Village of Lakewood sent a NIMBY letter:
Note to Ops: When you're in Crystal lake, ask for bottled water. Just Sayin!

Thursday, September 5, 2019

McSweeney to Flee the Sceney

The picture in the attic.
Your LakeCountyEye won't have David McSweeney to kick around any more. Lame Duck Lake County politician McSweeney says he will not seek another term:
David McSweeney is out as a state representative but not out of politics. The Barrington Hills Republican announced Thursday he won't run for re-election next year and instead will pivot to a statewide bid in 2022. "I'll serve out the rest of my term and very likely will run for secretary of state (in 2022) if Jesse White doesn't run," McSweeney said referring to the popular Democrat incumbent, "or U.S. Senate depending on the circumstances."
McSweeney sets sights on statewide office, won't seek re-election
Highly observant observers say McSweeney had only one option: to quit while he's ahead: "What would he do if he lost his seat in 2020? Run for US Senate Governor Secretary of State two years later on a record of not being able to get re-elected?"

As things stand, McSweeney can tell his voters with a straight face:
"I think I can add value to the state's major problems," McSweeney said.
State Rep. McSweeney plans to run for new office in 2022
So true it is. So true.

Note to downstate Ops: Look for David McSweeney at rubber chicken Lincoln Day dinner near you real soon.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Barrington the Beautiful

This installment of Barrington the Beautiful® features the village of North Barrington.

Incorporated in 1959, North Barrington is located completely within Lake County. As its name suggests, North Barrington is north of its more famous namesake, the village of Barrington. North Barrington has a total area of about 5 square miles and a population of about 3,000.


This concludes your installment of Barrington the Beautiful®.

Each and every week Barrington the Beautiful® will present an opportunity to feast your eyes upon one the beautiful Barringtons in the Lake County area:
  • Barrington
  • Barrington Hills
  • Lake Barrington
  • North Barrington
  • Port Barrington
  • South Barrington

Monday, August 26, 2019

This is Not a Test

After testing the waters for more than ten days ...
Joe Walsh: Trump Needs a Primary Challenge

Ex-GOP rep calls Trump an 'unfit con man,' says he's sorry for helping elect him

Walsh says he is 'strongly, strongly considering' challenging Trump in Republican primary

Why is Joe Walsh threatening to run against Trump in 2020?

'THIS WEEK' EXCLUSIVE: Joe Walsh announces Republican primary challenge against Trump
Ex-Lake County Congressman Joe Walsh declared there is no time for testing the waters, and that he is running for President of the United States. Of America:

Joe Walsh 2020: Be Brave
The last time banty rooster Joe Walsh appeared on this blog was 2009, where he was observed testing the waters in the Eighth Congressional District:

A Fresh Face in the 8th Congressional District
Note to Ops: 2009 must've been a dry run.

Friday, August 23, 2019

The Law of Remunerative Returns

Your Lake County Eye remembers the good old days when the air was safe to breathe and the only outfit to be stinkin' up the place was the Lake County Fielders.

Haha, the Fielders came to an end with owner Richard Ehrenreich suing the City of Zion and Mayor Lane Harrison for breach of contract:
Another odd connection in this case concerns a lawyer named Scott Puma. He is paid as Zion's city attorney. But he has also been hired to defend the city and the mayor in the lawsuit filed by Ehrenreich. And according to disclosures filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, Puma is also treasurer for Mayor Harrison's campaign committee.
Abandoned Stadium Project Costs Taxpayers Millions
The Fielders may be gone but the attorney Scott Puma is not. Puma is legal counsel to the Crystal Lake Park District:

Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting Minutes
July 18, 2019
Last month, the Crystal Lake Park District voted on an ordinance limiting access to the lake:
only members of the homeowners' associations who have lakefront property and residents who live on the 230-acre lake – with property that includes a portion of the lake bed owned by the park district – have permission to place piers, moorings, swim rafts and boat lifts into the lake.
Crystal Lake Park District approves new lakebed ordinance with 6-1 vote
The ordinance was approved in spite of the Park District's questionable legal authority to do so. At least according to some of the comments made at the board meeting:
  • Crystal Lake is a private lake, as Shoreline Property Owners Association of Crystal Lake has been asserting all along. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources definitively confirmed that Crystal Lake is not a public lake.

  • Crystal Lake Park District has no authority to control or regulate the use of the water. Crystal Lake Park District has acknowledged and admitted that, although the first draft of this ordinance contained provisions that tried to exert some control over the use of the water/lake.

  • The Crystal Lake Park District ordinance does not pertain to the lakebed to which it does not have title. So it cannot be enforced on the entire lake.

  • The shoreline property owners that own property up to the shoreline, even where the park district property owns the lakebed, still have riparian rights. The ordinance, while stating that it respects riparian rights of those people, is in direct contradiction to that statement by seeking to direct how the shoreline owners can use their water adjacent to their property. Crystal Lake Park District is not the governmental body to determine whether those property owners' use of the lake access to the lake is "reasonable."

  • The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is not sure you have this authority, questions whether you really understand what you are trying to accomplish and more importantly it is outside their jurisdiction to decide that issue.

  • Questionable enforcement powers.

  • Likely lead to litigation. Suggested the Crystal Lake Park District keep all emails and correspondence.
Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting Minutes
July 18, 2019
If a suit is filed against the ordinance, Scott Puma presumably will be hired to defend the Crystal Lake Park District.

Note to Ops: Passing legislation is like getting a divorce. No one wins except the attorneys.

Monday, August 19, 2019

It was a Dark and Secluded Area

Snoop Dogg
Not to be outdone by the Lake County Gazette, your LakeCountyEye decided to take a stab at creative writing. Your LakeCountyEye can report that writing prize-winning prose is easier than it sounds, and there are plenty of prizes out there to be had:
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (BLFC) is a tongue-in-cheek contest, held annually and sponsored by the English Department of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Entrants are invited "to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels" – that is, deliberately bad.
Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Here is your LakeCountyEye's submission to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest:
On August 13, six defendants, most of whom have significant criminal histories, decided to come to Lake County with their sole intention to commit a series of residential and vehicle burglaries. In order to commit these crimes, they drove into the county in a stolen Lexus automobile, and armed themselves with a large 10-inch long hunting knife with a stainless-steel blade.

At 1:15 a.m. in the morning, they drove into a dark and secluded area on West Edwards Road, awakening a 75-year-old resident who saw headlights in the area of his driveway. When several people started to walk up his driveway towards a car parked near his home, the elderly resident armed himself with a gun and went outside. The elderly resident had a lawful Illinois Firearms Owner Identification card and was the lawful registered owner of the gun.

As the resident went outside of his own property, he saw multiple strangers approaching him. He ordered the strangers to get off his property and leave, but these strangers continued to advance on him. The resident saw that one of the strangers had something in his hand, and believing he was in danger of death or, at the very least, great bodily harm, he fired his gun several times to try and scare them away. One of the shots unfortunately struck one of the offenders, and the offenders all ran back to the stolen Lexus and drove away.

Lake County state's attorney statement on charges in Old Mill Creek shooting
According to the rules, the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest has ...
several subcategories, such as detective fiction, romance novels, Western novels, and purple prose.
Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Which genre would you go with?
Detective Fiction
Romance Novel
Western Novel
Purple Prose
Operatives are asked to vote for one of the above!

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Smoke and Minors

Destroy All Mosquitoes
Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim filed a lawsuit against a company deemed hazardous to children and which he likened to "dope dealers on a street corner". Nerheim filed the suit against the mosquito extermination company, Clarke. The suit seeks punitive damages against Clarke for spraying Lake County with chlorpyrifos, an insecticide that causes brain damage in children.

The suit alleges that those who are exposed to the chemical chlorpyrifos ...
have no idea they are ingesting "huge amounts of a highly addictive chemical and carcinogens," Nerheim said.
Lake County suing Juul over "predatory" marketing to teens
The suit calls the practice of spraying the chemical chlorpyrifos from pickup trucks and ...
other efforts a "smokescreen."
Lake County state’s attorney sues e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, accusing it of 'creating a public health crisis'
The suit exposes industry marketing and branding strategies that distract the public from the dangers of the indiscriminate use of outdoor insecticide foggers:
"You look at this new product, Mr Fog"
Lake County state’s attorney sues e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, accusing it of 'creating a public health crisis'
Regarding the true peril posed by insects, the suit says Clarke ...
"succeeded in creating a public health crisis in order to line their pockets with cash," Nerheim said a news conference Tuesday afternoon
Lake County state’s attorney sues e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, accusing it of 'creating a public health crisis'
Does a lawsuit against an extermination company with financial ties to Lake County expose the motives of a lone-wolf State's Attorney with ants in his pants to go to court in a big way? You decide:
Nerheim said he decided to move ahead without area counties because he didn't want to wait any longer.
Lake County state’s attorney sues e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, accusing it of 'creating a public health crisis'
Haha, j/k.

Michael Nerheim is not suing Clarke. The suit has been filed against e-cigarette manufacturer, Juul Labs.

2020 is an election year. 'Nuff Said!

Sunday, August 11, 2019

My Last Brain Cell

Lake County will not have to wait for recreational marijuana to find out if it has brain damage:
In a move environmentalists denounced as yet another case of the Trump administration putting industry profits over public health, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that it will not ban chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to brain damage in children.
'A Total Disgrace': Outrage as Trump EPA Says It Won't Ban Pesticide Linked to Brain Damage in Children
As you read this, Lake County is breathing chlorpyrifos:
Clarke Mosquitomist™ Adulticide
Clarke uses the insecticide to kill mosquitoes:

Mosquitomist Two U.L.V.
One industry honcho advised your LakeCountyEye to move along, there is nothing to see here: "If chlorpyrifos was toxic then the drivers would all have brain damage and they would be driving their trucks into trees. You don't see that happening, do you?"
Lake County Sheriff's Office said 75 gallons of a pesticide spilled onto the ground in North Barrington Tuesday after a mosquito abatement company vehicle hauling the liquid crashed into a tree.
Truck Crash Causes Pesticide Spill In North Barrington
Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

The Flipping Senate

A Woman's Place is in the House and Senate
Note to David McSweeney: Ex-Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran is seeking the Republican nomination for US Senate:
"The consensus is I would be a Tier One candidate," he said, noting his suburban background could help Republicans in a region that is shifting Democratic.
Days after giving up on a recount for reelection, former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran to seek GOP nomination for U.S. Senate
Additionally, the consensus is Curran will be elected the next GOP Senator from Illinois. And he will switch to the Democratic Party after two years.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

What's Your Poison?

The exploding Clarke mosquito truck failed to explode in Barrington this weekend. Instead, the village was exposed to a chlorine leak:
A "small" chlorine leak at a Barrington water treatment facility drew a large response over the weekend, with about 50 fire and police personnel from 24 agencies helping to find and fix the leak with no injuries to residents or fire personnel.
Barrington chlorine leak brings large hazardous materials response over weekend
Last month a Clarke mosquito truck hit a tree in North Barrington and dumped 75 gallons of insecticides. For the record, this insecticide spill failed to draw a large response, with about zero fire and police personnel from zero agencies helping to find and fix the leak.


ANVIL® 10+10 ULV

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Gasbag

An actual, unretouched screencap from the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 fakenews source:
Lake County District 3 Board member Dick Barr fears the doubling of the state's gas tax, making Illinois home to the second-highest overall gas tax burden in the country, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wisconsin thanks Illinois' gas tax, legislators for its business, laments Lake County Board's Barr
The news stories you see on the Lake County Gazette are all sourced from a Russian Troll Factory. And it should be no surprise that the facts presented in this particular story all diverge, to some degree, from reality.

Fact Check #1
Illinois does not have the second-highest gas tax burden in the country. Illinois ranks 7th in the nation, behind Pennsylvania, Washington, California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Ohio:

Fuel taxes in the United States
Fact Check #2
Wisconsin is not thanking the Illinois gas tax for business. Wisconsin's diesel tax is nearly 10 cents higher than Illinois.  If you average the gas and diesel taxes, Wisconsin fuel taxes are higher than Illinois:

Fuel taxes in the United States
Fact Check #3
Who is Lake County District 3 Board member Dick Barr? No one knows. No one can think of anyone serving on the Lake County Board that goes by the name Dick Barr. Doubtless, this is the kind of made-up prank name that gets paged at an airport.
Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.