This Land is My Land

A moment of silence, please -- devote some time to remember that terrible day when a mechanized and belligerent constituency claimed ownership over its peaceful and agrarian neighbor to the west. And then initiated hostilities to do so.

Of course, your LakeCountyEye refers to the Waukegan Airport. And its campaign to annex the Waukegan Savannah Forest Preserve.

Plans are in the works to cede 53 acres of the Waukegan Savanna over to the Waukegan Airport:

Waukegan airport runway proposal clears hurdle despite opposition

The open-space will be converted to a 7000ft runway. What up with that?

One economic analyst told your LakeCountyEye: "No Russian oligarch is going to dock his billion dollar super-yacht in Waukegan Harbor -- not unless there is a airport nearby.  One with a 7000ft runway where he can beat it out of the country on short notice."

Rushing Roulette in Waukegan

To honor the Trump Taj Mahal, the new Waukegan Casino opened in time for Presidents Day:

A long-awaited casino expected to provide an economic boost to Waukegan and the area opened this past weekend to VIP fanfare and a big crowd. Thousands attended the grand opening Friday of The Temporary by American Place
Long-sought casino in Waukegan opens to VIP fanfare and thousands of visitors

The casino is being called The Temporary -- what up with that?

A pit boss told your LakeCountyEye: "We tried to call it The Permanent -- but people started asking for an appointment with a hairdresser. Then our application for a Illinois cosmetology license was denied. They said giving haircuts in a casino is way too obvious."

And speaking of temporary casinos, the Trump Taj Mahal filed for bankruptcy in 2014. Donald Trump's hairpiece was unavailable for comment.

They Paved Paradise

Now that Tyson the Bison has been released from captivity ...

The Continuing Story of Buffalo Billy

the Waukegan Savanna is being opened up for Tyson to roam free.

HaHa, j/k. The Waukegan Savanna is actually being sold to the Waukegan Airport to build a 7000ft runway.

HaHa, j/k again. The Waukegan Savanna is not being sold to the Waukegan Airport. No, the Waukegan Savanna -- a publicly owned Lake County Forest Preserve -- is being given away to the Waukegan Airport:

plans are afoot to make 52 acres of the 774-acre Waukegan Savanna available to allow for a longer runway at the Waukegan National Airport at the northwest edge of that city. Trees would be cut down for a safety zone.
Longer Waukegan Airport runway is not a good reason to take forest preserve land

What up with that?

Critics question the need for a longer runway at Waukegan's airport, saying the money could be better used to improve local schools and roads and to clean up Superfund sites. "The whole thing is bizarre," former Waukegan Mayor Bill Morris told us. "This is all about corporate interests wanting to fly nonstop to Asia."
Longer Waukegan Airport runway is not a good reason to take forest preserve land

A spokesman for Waukegan City Hall said: "How are the Russian oligarchs supposed to get to the new Waukegan Temporary casino, if there isn't a 7000ft runway waiting for them?"

The Forest Preserve Board is scheduled to vote on a Memorandum of Agreement. The meeting will be held at 1pm Tuesday February 21, at the LCFP offices at 1899 W Winchester Rd in Libertyville.

The Continuing Story of Buffalo Billy

It was Valentines Day earlier this week, so naturally the wild ungulates are back in the news.

Whereabouts has been Tyson the Bison, Lake County's runaway buffalo? The same place where all runaway buffalos end up, in court:

What may be the last word on an escaped bison that roamed Lake County for months before being captured last May played out in court Friday.
Citations over Tyson the bison's escape dismissed

Escaping from his owners, Tyson the Bison ranged the Lake County forest preserves for the better part of last year. The animal was eventually captured, at the cost of thousands of dollars. So of course, charges were filed.

Well, all charges were dismissed this week:

Judge Raymond D. Collins found the prosecutors did not make the case
Citations over Tyson the bison's escape dismissed

The Lake County GOP issued a strongly worded statement: "This is just the sort of thing we've come to expect now that Illinois has eliminated cash bail. Tyson the Bison has been allowed to walk, scot-free like nothing ever happened. We will be locking up our homes and keeping our wives and daughters inside. You never know if Mr Bison is in your neighborhood."

Cupid Is as Cupid Does

Feb 14 is this week. Which means it is high time to order that personalized card, pencil in some Xs and Os, and see it delivered to that one person who counts.

Your LakeCountyEye of course refers to your 2023 Election mail-in ballot.

HaHa. Lake County moneybags and the Mrs moneybags, Dick and Liz Uihlein, are one prominent Lake County couple. The Uihleins have a track record of giving large sums to right-wing causes. But like the battling Bickersons, the 2 Uihleins are not always on the same page:

The split between the Uihleins — the most powerful donor couple in the GOP, if not all of politics — has come to represent the rift cleaving the Republican Party writ large. While Liz has spent millions of dollars buttressing the party hierarchy, including candidates and super PACs backed by GOP leaders, Dick has invested even more heavily in tearing it down, pouring millions into far-right primary challengers and insurgent groups.
House divided: The megadonor couple battling in the GOP's civil war
Dick and Liz Uihlein have landed on opposite sides of some of the main fights illustrating the divides in the Republican Party.

It is unknown if the Uihleins dole out their largesse in festive wrappings:

However, one Lake County GOP spokesman said: "Gentlemen, there is plenty of money to go around for everyone. Please get in line. And let us know if you're in with the whackjobs. Or if you're one of their cynical enablers."

More Bang for the Buckeyes

The Lake County exploding bomb train failed to explode in Lake County again.

This time it exploded in Ohio:

A fireball and plumes of black smoke billowed above East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday afternoon as officials released toxic chemicals from multiple rail cars that derailed last week.
Ohio skyline lit up by fireball, black plumes of smoke as toxic chemicals are released from derailed train

One industry spokesman told your LakeCountyEye: "I can explain it so anyone can understand. Our exploding bomb trains go through Lake County Ohio. And your exploding bomb trains go through Lake County Illinois. Got it?"

Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error.

Affront Money

Lake County moneybags, Richard Uihlein, has been generous to a fault.

Literally so:

"Billionaires Dick and Liz Uihlein bankrolled groups that brought us the January 6th insurrection and funneled millions towards the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Then they doubled down on their investment, sending millions more to anti-democratic and extremist groups that fueled the election denialism movement just days after the deadly assault on our Capitol."
Richard Uihlein spent heavily around Jan. 6, report finds

In related news, on April 4 Illinois will hold a consolidated election.

A Lake County GOP spokesman said: "We categorically deny there will be an election on April 4. And be sure to send your six-figure donation payment to the Republican Party of Lake County."