The Intersection Will Not Be Signalized

Like an unstoppable force against an immovable object, Lake County drivers encounter a fundamental paradox every time they get in their cars. There are not enough roads to get to where they want to go. And yet, in Lake County, there is nowhere to go.

Haha.

The News-Sun this week published a story about an upcoming LCDOT public meeting. The story betrayed some deadpan Lake County highway humor:

Scheduled for Nov. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center, 94 Midlothian Road, the informal meeting will give all interested parties an "opportunity to provide comments on the preferred alternative, which includes a signalized intersection, a five-lane roadway section, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities," according to an invite from Lake County DOT.

Technically, Gilmer and Midlothian is already signalized and has left- and even right-turn lanes
Where Lake County's rural heritage collides with progress

Note to Ops: A joke is only a joke. But a good headline is clickbait.

Bad Paper

There is not a shred of evidence to support the rumor that Peter Roskam will portray Jack the Ripper this Halloween ...

But your LakeCountyEye has learned that Roskam -- Lake County's vestigial Congressman -- will host a document shredding openhouse this weekend. Operatives who are drowning in paper are invited to dispose of those old documents -- including but not limited to ...

• Bank Withdrawal Slips (Under $10,000)
• Unreleased Tax Returns
• Classified State Department Communiques
• Federal Subpoenas
• The Affordable Health Care Act
• "Surplus" Yardsigns from in Back of the Van
• Rogaine Prescriptions
• Scott Walker for President Petitions
• Union Contracts
• Illinois No-Firearms Signs

Congressman Roskam will be on-hand to demonstrate the "you're-doing-it-wrong" approach to document shredding ...

GOP Rep. Explodes At IRS Chief, Dramatically Crumples Redacted Report: ‘This Is Junk!’

... as well as the appropriate way to dispose of that potentially embarrassing paper-trail:

A Republican lawmaker dramatically ripped up some paper during Hillary Clinton's Benghazi hearing

Note to Ops: Time is limited. Professional cut-ups have been asked not to attend.

You Gotta Know When to Fold'em

Operatives may need pencil and paper to solve this story problem: Take one career Washington politician. Combine the politician with one high-profile Congressional investigation into misdeeds committed in the far-east.  What do you get? Ops who answered the Benghazi Investigation are wrong. The correct answer is the House Ethics Committee probe of Peter Roskam's 2011 trip to Taiwan.

Haha, readers of this blog may recall that Lake County vestigial Congressman Peter Roskam got into some hot water a few years ago:

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it was probing Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) without detailing what was at issue. Roskam's office disclosed that at issue was a trip he took with his wife to Taiwan in October, 2011 -– at a time his daughter was living in Taiwan. At issue is whether the $25,652 costs for the trip were paid for by the Chinese Culture University -– a permitted funder -— or as the independent Office of Congressional Ethics asserts, the Roskam visit was "organized and conducted by the government of Taiwan, with little to no involvement by the University," which would make it an impermissible funding source.
House ethics panel probing Rep. Peter Roskam over Taiwan trip

Roskam would have gotten off with a slap-on-the-wrist. But since the government of Taiwan did not return calls from the Ethics Committee, he got off scott-free instead.

As if to show that he hadn't only benefited from an expenses-paid vacation on Taiwan's dime, Roskam has been showcasing a recently-acquired mastery of origami -- the oriental art of paper folding.

Here, Roskam constructs a not-to-scale fetal tissue donation for a gathering of values-voters:

GOP Rep. Explodes At IRS Chief, Dramatically Crumples Redacted Report: ‘This Is Junk!’

And meeting with faith-based constituents, Roskam demonstrates undivided support for Israel -- with a depiction, in origami, of Moses parting the Red Sea:

A Republican lawmaker dramatically ripped up some paper during Hillary Clinton's Benghazi hearing

What's next for Peter Roskam, the Edward Scissorhands of Capitol Hill? NRA members will learn how to fold an Illinois No-Firearms sign into a 100% civilian-legal semi-automatic weapon.

Paper Tiger

Not to be confused with the Ebola virus, Lake County has Benghazi fever. Peter Roskam got some media attention for himself during the Benghazi hearing this week in Washington. Roskam -- Lake County's vestigial Congressman -- woke everyone up during the 11 hour marathon slog when he dramatically ripped up a piece of paper:

A Republican lawmaker dramatically ripped up some paper during Hillary Clinton's Benghazi hearing

Roskam also had it in mind to teach Hillary Clinton some manners:

In a testy exchange at the start of Thursday's hearing, Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois appeared concerned that he did not have Clinton's full attention. During a lengthy question about a 2011 memo that described her as "the public face of the U.S. effort in Libya," the former secretary of state began flipping through her notes, prompting an irritated reaction from Roskam. "I can pause while you're reading your notes from your staff," he said in a somewhat patronizing suggestion that Clinton was relying heavily on rehearsed talking points.
Did that just happen? Five odd moments from the Benghazi hearing

This was not a first-time performance for Peter Roskam. In 2013 he taught acting IRS chief Daniel Werfel some manners:

During his time questioning Werfel, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) began berating Werfel over the heavily redacted documents members of Congress received, at one point dramatically crumpling the paper in his hand and exclaiming, "this is junk!" GOP Rep. Explodes At IRS Chief, Dramatically Crumples Redacted Report: 'This Is Junk!'

Word on the street is that Roskam is rehearsing a new setpiece, where he dramatically pushes the US Affordable Health Care Act through a wood chipper.

Women's Libya?

The bar is admittedly low, but Lake County's ladies-man in Washington would have to be Peter Roskam. The ladies love to cast their votes for Congressman Roskam. They vote for him despite the fact that Roskam would levy restrictions on a women's fundamental reproductive rights:

Roskam Praises Today's Court Ruling Against Obamacare Contraception Mandate

... and despite the fact that Roskam supports legislation that would deny many women access to basic health care services:

Roskam Helps Introduce Bill to Fully Defund Planned Parenthood

One source told your LakeCountyEye that Roskam's secret is that he knows what the ladies really like: "Congressman Roskam understands that women want to be told who is boss. Hillary Clinton got the Peter Roskam treatment this week, and she loved every minute of it!"

ROSKAM: Well, you just recited the Clinton doctrine to us, and let me tell you what I think the Clinton doctrine is. I think it's where an opportunity is seized to turn progress in Libya into a political win for Hillary Rodham Clinton, and at the precise moment when things look good, take a victory lap, like on all the Sunday shows three times that year before Gadhafi was killed, and then turn your attention to other things. I yield back.

CLINTON: Well, Congressman, that is only a political statement which you well understand, and I don't understand why that has anything to do with what we are supposed to be talking about today.
Clinton testifies before House committee on Benghazi

The same source told your LakeCountyEye that the ladies have an eye for upper body strength in their representatives. "Just look at how Roskam ripped apart that piece of paper for Hillary. Too bad he didn't have one of his phone books handy!"

A Republican lawmaker dramatically ripped up some paper during Hillary Clinton's Benghazi hearing

The source also said that every woman is encouraged to vote for Peter Roskam, however "they must be at least 18 to participate."

Surface Tension

Surprising all the pundits, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran did not announce that he will run for Clerk of the Circuit Court in 2016. Instead, the Daily Herald noted that ...

Lake County Circuit Court Clerk Keith Brin on Tuesday announced plans to seek re-election in 2016. Brin, a Republican from Highland Park, was elected to the post in 2012. A Democratic candidate hasn't yet surfaced.
Brin to run agin for court clerk

One observer told your LakeCountyEye, "There is still six feet of water in the Circuit Court basement. It's anybody's guess what is swimming around down there, below the surface."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Unarmed Robbery

As of June of this year, 3142 active concealed carry licenses were granted to McHenry County firearm owners:

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTY HAVE CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES?

Another indication that McHenry County has been targeted by fastbuck artists comes from the McHenryCountyBlog:

On 10-07-15 at 1501 hrs, a Harvard Resident (f-37 yoa) reported they received a message about winning a large amount of money. The resident sent $250 via a wire transfer to Nigeria as well as personal identifiers to claim the winnings. The resident later learned it was a scam.
Nigerian Internet Scam

Willie Sutton once said he robbed banks because that's where the money is. But one criminal observer recently told your LakeCountyEye they target McHenry County because "that's where people from McHenry County live".

Operatives are asked to observe sensible precautions when visiting McHenry County.

Reductio ad Referendum

There is a old saying in Lake County: "If the Route 53 Extension did not exist, it would be necessary to invent one."

Haha, the News-Sun noted that ...

Opponents of the proposed Route 53 extension lined up before the Lake County Board on Tuesday to criticize what they described as a lack of transparency and public input on the issue, with one speaker calling on the county to conduct an advisory referendum in 2016 to get an updated take on support for the long-debated concept.
Route 53 opponents take fight to Lake County Board

The Lake County Board was urged to slate a new Route 53 Referendum. Only this time they needed to spell out how much it will cost, both in dollars and against the environment. Also, to ask the voters during a high-turnout, Presidential election -- and not during an April, off-year election.

Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor was overheard to say ...

"I don't want to get into a debate about Route 53."
Route 53 opponents take fight to Lake County Board

Note to Ops: Nothing to see here. Move along please.

Speaker Softly and Carry a Big Stick

Is Peter Roskam the next Denny Hastert? The National Review thinks so. Roskam, Lake County's vestigial Congressman, does not hide the fact that his radar is trained on the leadership of the US House of Representatives. And now that the Speaker of the House's seat is up for grabs, Roskam may have the opening he wants. The National Review said ...

A senior aide to another House Republican who has worked with Roskam thinks he might replicate the ascent of former House speaker Dennis Hastert, known as "the accidental speaker" because of how he took advantage of an unexpected vacancy in 1998. "Hastert's path to leadership must be on his mind," the aide says.
Peter Roskam: The Next-Next Speaker?

The Chicago Tribune Creepy Cartoonist has drawn a toon symbolizing the catch-ass-catch-can freeforall transpiring under the Capitol dome in Washington:

The battle for the Speaker's gavel

One guy in the cartoon is the spittin' image of Peter Roskam:

You don't think this is another hilarious LakeCountyEye Double Vision™? Then bite me!

The identity of the other fellow, in the polkadot shorts, and getting his rear-end bit, is unknown. One thing is certain, someone is openly bending the Hastert Rule. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Kuwait and See

Other than having been liberated by coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm, Lake County has little else in common with the constitutional monarchy of Kuwait. Nonetheless a delegation of Kuwaitis are here to see how traffic is managed in Lake County.

According to the News-Sun ...

About two dozen Kuwait National Police and Traffic Engineers visited Lake County Monday as part of a United Nations program run through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.
Kuwaiti police, engineers visit Lake County to learn about traffic safety

One source with his nose under the tent told your LakeCountyEye, "After we get a down payment on the Route 53 Extension, we got a bridge to show them in Brooklyn."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. مواصلة التحرك لا يوجد شيء أن نرى هنا.

Ambassador Thomas Pickering: the US, the UN and the Future

Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy

Thomas Pickering, Ambassador to the United Nations under President George H.W. Bush (1989 - 1992) will speak about the wide ranging mission of the United Nations and its relevance in today's dynamic, interdependent, nuclear world. He will also present ideas for strengthening the U.N. as it moves forward.

• Saturday
  October 10, 2015
  2:00 pm
• The Stevenson Center on Democracy
  25200 N St Mary's Rd
  Mettawa (Libertyville), IL 60048
  773- 281-0378
• Coffee and conversation will follow the presentation
• $15
• No Charge for Students

The Doldy Herald?

Veterans Day may be November 11, but the Daily Herald is already in the tank for Congressman Robert Dold.

Haha, Illinois congressional lawmakers have voted this year to kill ObamaCare, defund Planned Parenthood and to shut down the US government. This is what the Sun-Times said:

Roskam, Hultgren, LaHood vote against stopgap funding measure: Illinois delegation roll call

While the Daily Herald spun the stories thus:

Dold one of three Republicans to oppose Obamacare repeal

Dold breaks with Republicans on Planned Parenthood vote

Dold breaks with GOP on shutdown vote

Word on the street is that Robert Dold wants to be remembered as Lake County's disruptive legislator. A source at the Daily Herald explained it this way: "Dog bites man is not news. Dold bites Boehner is news." Your LakeCountyEye is hardpressed to disagree.

With an election coming, the Herald is developing more stories about Dold.  Your LakeCountyEye has seen galleys for ten of them -- so you don't have to:

Ten Future Daily Herald Stories About Congressman Robert Dold

Dold Gives Republicans the Cold Shoulder, Says Global Warming is Real Dold Breaks with GOP Colleagues, Performs Gay Marriage Dold Blasts GOP, Discards All His Firearms in Lake Michigan Dold Surprises Everyone, Nominates Nancy Pelosi for Speaker Dold One of Three Republicans to have Abortion Dold Says: "It's True, We Put Together a Special Benghazi Committee and Hillary Clinton's Numbers are Dropping!" Bernie Sanders Asks Dold to be Running Mate Dold Breaks the Faith, Converts to Islam Dold Favors Tax-and-Spend Big Government Programs Like Route 53 Extension Daily Herald Completely Drops Pretense of Journalistic Objectivity

Look for your LakeCountyEye, disrupting the rabblement near you.

Speaker for Yourself

There is no truth to the rumor that Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran resigned last week as Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Point in fact, it was Speaker of the House John Boehner who resigned.

Haha, as readers of this blog are unexpectedly aware ...

The Schock of the New

the last time the US Congress was sucked into a galeforce power vacuum, Peter Roskam, Lake County's vestigial Congressman, got swept out of his Majority Whip leadership post.

The stakes are higher this time, by an order of magnitude. For his part, Roskam says picking a Speaker of the House should be more like choosing a mate and less like booking an Uber ride:

I'm going to work hard to make sure we get the leadership we need, not just settle on the fastest, easiest choice.
Roskam: Don't settle on 'fastest, easiest' speaker choice

Roskam, a old fixture in the US House leadership pool, wants to school his less experienced colleagues on the do's and don'ts of picking their first Speaker.  The Sun-Times observed ...

Before electing a replacement for House Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Illinois, gained the support of enough colleagues Saturday to force a meeting to "confront the underlying issues" that led to Boehner's resignation. Though Roskam wasn't announcing a bid for a leadership spot, the move by the Wheaton lawmaker sets the stage for a possible run in the wake of the shuffle triggered by Boehner's surprise announcement Friday he'll leave Congress at the end of October.
Rep. Peter Roskam setting stage to move up after Boehner departure

Your LakeCountyEye obtained a copy of the memo:

Attn Colleague: It is not every day a sitting speaker of the House of Representatives steps down because of divisions within a deeply conflicted Republican majority. If we launch headfirst into leadership elections like this is a typical succession, without ever taking the time to diagnose our current ailments, we won't heal the fractures in a conference that has thus far proved unleadable. Meeting with a new leader candidate can be difficult, I know. Here are some commonsense Do's and Don'ts that have guided me throughout my tenure in the House: Do make eye contact. Do clean up; make hygiene a priority. Do smile. Don't talk about your Ex-Speaker. Don't get drunk. Do be on time. Do not be judgmental if he has bad hair. Don't tell political jokes. Don't overdo the cologne. Do offer to pay the bill. Finally, there are plenty of fish in the sea, I know. If the choices are overwhelming, my door is always open. I'm here to help you. Peter Roskam

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Goof of the Week

As readers of this blog are as likely as not aware ...

Up Against the Walsh

last week the Daily Herald reported that Congressman-emeritus Joe Walsh will be challenging Randy Hultgren in the 2016 GOP Primary.

Well, nothing could be further from the truth. The Illinois Review straight-out asked Walsh ...

"Are you, or someone on your behalf, circulating petitions to challenge Hultgren in the 14th CD?" Walsh's response via text was four letters: "Nope."
WALSH UNDECIDED ABOUT CHALLENGING HULTGREN

Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error, and in the future will refrain from repeating unsubstantiated campaign rumors.

In related news, fresh on the heels of dropping out of the race for Lake County State's Attorney, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran announced that he will be suspending his campaign to challenge Randy Hultgren the 14th Congressional District.

A Legal Vacuum?

Fresh on the heels of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker dropping out of the race for Lake County State's Attorney, Mark Curran announced he would do the same. The Daily Herald said ...

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran has ended his run for state's attorney, just weeks after announcing plans to challenge incumbent Mike Nerheim in the 2016 Republican primary.
Curran drops out of state's attorney race

Curran's announcement, for one, came as a surprise. As readers of this blog are aware, Sheriff Curran launched his hail-mary-pass campaign for State's Attorney only six weeks ago, declaring in a press release that ...

Mike Nerheim has done nothing to raise the caliber of the office. Today I made an opening statement, but I will be presenting evidence throughout the campaign that change is needed.
Throwing Good Money After Bad?

Those readers overcome by a sense of deja-vu may recall that Curran performed a similar flip-flop in 2013, on a decision to run for Illinois Attorney General:

Flippertigibbets

With Mark Curran now the last man out, there is no one left running for Lake County State's Attorney. One keen observer noted this could benefit the County in the long run: "If we quitclaim the State's Attorney office, Lake County will see considerably fewer wrongful conviction suits in the future."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Melissa Flynn and Elizabeth Richter: Chicago's Green City Market

Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy

Chicago's Green City Market has been honored as one of America's Top 10 Farmers' Markets by USA Today. Located in Lincoln Park, the independent nonprofit market was founded in 1998 by the late chef, author, and entrepreneur Abby Mandel to encourage local, sustainable agriculture. Board member Elizabeth Richter and Executive Director Melissa Flynn will share the story and mission of the market, and the contribution the market and its vendor-farmers make to ensure Chicagoans access to locally produced, healthy food. The market is dedicated to connect local farmers and producers to chefs, restaurateurs, food organizations and the public.

• Sunday
  September 27, 2015
  2:00 pm
• The Stevenson Center on Democracy
  25200 N St Mary's Rd
  Mettawa (Libertyville), IL 60048
  773- 281-0378
• Coffee and conversation will follow the presentation
• $15

Monkey Out of Whack?

If your spider-sense is tingling that may be because you have been randomly selected by Lake County. The News-Sun says ...

The Live Well Lake County Steering Committee and Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center are sending invitations for a health status survey to 5,000 households in the county during the first week of September. These randomly selected Lake County residents will provide vital health information that will help guide the Department's and partners' community health improvement plans, supporting better health outcomes for all in Lake County.
New Survey Launched to Collect Data on Lake County Health Conditions and Challenges

Of course if your spider-sense is tingling, that could also be a sign of an underlying health problem. Those who did not receive an invitation from the Lake County Health Department can take heart -- your LakeCountyEye has obtained a copy and you can participate in the program anyways:

This postcard from the Lake County Health Department arrived in the mail on Saturday, Sep 19 -- and was paid for by the Lake County taxpayer.  So if you live in Lake County, just go over to Survey Monkey ...

www.SurveyMonkey.com/LakeHealthSurvey

... and answer all the questions:

www.SurveyMonkey.com/LakeHealthSurvey

Note to Ops: Your results may vary.

A Force to Reckon

Did you know that Illinois has two Springfields? There is the State Capital down somewhere in southern Illinois. And there is unincorporated Springfield up here in Lake County.

Few people know about Lake County's Springfield. Too small to appear on the map, its population is even dwarfed by its police force. To prove it, your LakeCountyEye met for donuts with Clancy Wiggum, Chief of Police in unincorporated Springfield.

"Ya." said Chief Wiggum. "There aren't any taxpayers here in Springfield. Our Department is totally self-funded. By the way, do you know how fast you were going?"

Your LakeCountyEye checked the Fitbit to find out.

"The entire force is now equipped with body cameras." boasted Chief Wiggum. "Those little badboys aren't cheap, but they're worth every nickel. Next time we get sued, we'll have our own video to show the jury!"

Aren't most lawsuits against Lake County law enforcement a result of DNA evidence?

"Got that covered." chuckled Chief Wiggum. "Our state-of-the-art mobile crimelab has a 12-month stockpile of DNA evidence."

State-of-the Art?

"Got the lab at a fire-sale with a six-to-one matching grant -- thankyou Homeland Security." beamed Chief Wiggum. "We also got body armor, assault weapons, night vision goggles, mine-resistant-ambush-protected vehicles, helicopters."

Quite an arsenal.

"Washington provides the tools. We provide the security." deadpanned Chief Wiggum. "I have a message for everyone. Badguys: you are not welcome in Springfield. Break the law here, and in one heartbeat we will come down on you harder than Custer on the Indians."

Word to the wise. Did Chief Wiggum have any parting advice?

"Be a good guy and remind your operatives that it is fall color season in Springfield. Why not make it into a long weekend? Springfield B&Bs honor all major credit cards!"

Up Against the Walsh

The only Republican not running for Lake County State's Attorney may be Joe Walsh.

Haha, as readers of this blog should know ...

Walshed Up?

Joe Walsh, Lake County Congressman of yore, shot the Illinois GOP a male-ego sized head-fake with declarations to run against Mark Kirk for US Senate. Now he is making moves to challenge, instead, Lake County's boreal Congressman, Randy Hultgren. The Daily Herald says ...

Hultgren's staff is actively preparing for the scenario, and campaign workers for both Walsh and Hultgren were reportedly collecting petition signatures at a McHenry County Republican Party fundraiser last week.
The rundown on Joe Walsh's potential bid for Congress

No incumbent wants a Primary.  Threats of this nature are usually made to coerce concessions out of Party bigshots and donors -- in return the Primary challenge is quietly dropped.

Sources tell your LakeCountyEye, however, that Walsh has read the tea-leaves and they are Donald Trump orange pekoe.  2016 promises to be the year of the Trump, and Joe Walsh wins big if he can compel voters to fire the low-energy Randy Hultgren.

Hultgren's Congressional district overlaps the corner of Lake County that borders Wisconsin and McHenry County -- a naturally occurring sink for Walsh voters.

Your LakeCountyEye will be watching the 14th Congressional District. This one is undeniably huge.

Q the Eye/09.14.15

Dear LakeCountyEye,

I'm a J-School grad who just flew up from Metropolis. How do you get your scoops?

Clark Kent

Dear Man of Steel,

Super question. The answer, in a nutgraf, is your LakeCountyEye steals the stories published on this blog. If someone else has already done the research, why reinvent the wheel?

This is all you need to do:

First go to Patch.com -- a good source of local stories, plus no one ever reads the Patch. Find something more than a few months old to cadge. And look for a byline of someone you never heard of. Like Tim Moran for instance.

This one looks to be low-hanging fruit:

Rauner's Racing Board Appointment Has Ties to Corrupt Loan Firm
By TIM MORAN (Patch Staff)
June 7, 2015

Extract this paragraph ...

A Lake Forest man recently appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner as chair of the Illinois Racing Board has close ties to a car loan firm that cost investors some $2 billion in the 1990s.
Rauner's Racing Board Appointment Has Ties to Corrupt Loan Firm

And rework it into this LakeCountyEye story ...

Gov Rauner Names Payday Loan CEO to Chair Racing Board
LakeCountyEye
Sunday, March 8, 2015

Then extract this paragraph ...

In the 1990s, Brincat served as a vice president of administration and assistant vice president for Mercury Finance Co., a Lake Forest-based subprime car loan firm in which leaders have admitted to manipulating earnings, failing to charge off unprofitable loans and creating phony financial figures for years, according to a 2007 article in the Chicago Tribune.
Rauner's Racing Board Appointment Has Ties to Corrupt Loan Firm

And turn that one into this LakeCountyEye story ...

Loan Shark Hosts Dold Funder
LakeCountyEye
Sunday, June 20, 2010

Last but not least, extract this image from the Patch ...

And use it to illustrate this LakeCountyEye story ...

Jumping the Shark
LakeCountyEye
Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Finally, don't forget to backdate your stories. That way it looks like Mr Moran lifted his story from this blog -- not the other way around.

And that's how it is done, son.

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

Duffy: Gone in a Huff?

Your LakeCountyEye won't have Dan Duffy to kick around any more. The Daily Herald says ...

State Sen. Dan Duffy isn't running for re-election in 2016, ending the Lake Barrington Republican's tenure in Springfield after two terms.
State Sen. Dan Duffy won't run in 2016

Minutes after Duffy's surprise announcement, Dan McConchie announced that he would run for Duffy's seat. According to the Daily Herald ...

Minutes after Duffy made his announcement, Republican Dan McConchie announced he'd run for the seat. Previously, McConchie had announced he'd run for the seat Ed Sullivan is vacating against Lake County Board member Nick Sauer.
State Sen. Dan Duffy won't run in 2016

Informed sources say "quick-draw" McConchie will be keeping a close watch on Michael Nerheim -- and has not ruled out a run for Lake County State's Attorney instead. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Don't Leave it to Clancy

Having subsisted for years on a blogger's diet of Cheetos and Mountain Dew, your LakeCountyEye took a close look at Chief Wiggum's Wiki ...

Clancy Wiggum -- Simpsons Wiki

Scared straight!

Walshed Up?

His rise was meteoric and brief. When he spoke people turned to listen. And he parlayed his 15 minutes of fame into a lucrative radio job.

Does your LakeCountyEye mean Joe Walsh?

Haha, nope -- it's Ted Williams, that homeless guy with the golden voice:

Haha, j/k. Your LakeCountyEye, of course, refers to Lake County's Ex-Congressman Joe Walsh:

The McHenryCountyBlog observed that Walsh is endorsing conservative Don McConchie over Republican party insider Ed Sullivan Jr in State Rep District 51:

Don McConchie spekes to Saturday afternoon crowd at Joe Walsh's barn.
McConchie Rally at Walsh Barn

Does this signal that Joe Walsh has taken the role of king-maker -- or would he rather be king? Your LakeCountyEye asked Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Éminence Grise Professor at the College of Lake County.

"Ya," said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi "our Joe Walsh is the Donald Trump of Illinois politics. The man everyone loves to hate."

Mr Trump isn't doing too poorly this election cycle.

"Have you noticed?" chuckled Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "I'll bet Mr Walsh has noticed. He would be a shoo-in if he ran in the Primary alongside Trump. Who's next after President on the Primary ballot ... Senator?"

Joe Walsh will run for US Senate?

"Just imagine Trump and Walsh topping the ballot in 2016." smiled Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "There's your exploding oil-train wreck. They can't do anything about Trump -- but the Illinois GOP can keep Walsh off the ballot if Mark Kirk runs for re-election."

But what if US Senator Mark Kirk has plans to retire?

"Not a problem." replied Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Kirk gets re-nominated to the Senate, and then a month or two after the Primary he resigns. Says he wants to spend more time with his family. Or something to that effect."

If Kirk resigns from the ballot, does the GOP appoint a replacement?

"Exactly." grinned Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "And don't expect him to be Joe Walsh."

Who -- Robert Dold?

"Not likely." grimaced Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The word on Dold is he can't win in a Presidential year."

Then Randy Hultgren?

"Ha ha." laughed Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi.

Your LakeCountyEye couldn't resist that joke.

"Mark Kirk always wins because the women vote for him." confided Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The GOP needs someone good with the ladies, like Kirk."

Congressman Peter Roskam?

"Bingo!" shouted Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Despite being the face of the Party at war against women, women love to vote for Roskam. He hasn't had a close election since he ran against Tammy Duckworth."

Does that mean a Duckworth v Roskam rematch in 2016?  Too crazy!  Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your operatives that the Illinois GOP is looking for someone to take-over for Peter Roskam in Congress. Be sure to send a photo!"

Q the Eye/09.04.15

Dear LakeCountyEye,

I've read your site lakecountyeye.com and saw you've written about art in the past. I thought you might be interested in writing about a really cool exhibit that's popping up in our office.

We've turned one of our a meeting rooms at the Soho-based Fueled Collective into a twisted, dystopian version of an Apple Store. On first blush, it looks like a place where you'd buy an iPhone: it has all the same furniture and style, but the strangest and most fascinating objects for sale. The exhibit is a stinging commentary on how we're all addicted to gadgets, tech, and startup culture.

If you're in New York, feel free to drop by our office to check it out. If you can't make it to the office, we'd still love for you to write about it! Below are some links with information about both the artist and Fueled Collective. We've recently had a photoshoot, so if you are interested I'd be happy to send some pictures your way.

Artist Creates A Fake Apple Store Filled With Crazy, Dystopian Tech
Artist Evan Desmond Yee's Website
Business Insider: "Take A Tour Of The Coolest NYC Office We've Ever Seen"
Forbes: "Fine Clothes, Killer Apps; An Office That's Cooler Than Yours: The Rise Of Fueled Collective"
Fueled Blog: A Twisted Apple Store Comes to the Collective

Best,
Dane Kragness
Content
Fueled
568 Broadway, 11th Fl | NYC
800.962.4587 | fueled.com

Dear Dane Kragness,

Thank you for your submission. After careful consideration, your proposal does not suit the current needs of this publication.

You may wish to note that Lake County currently has it's own twisted, dystopian version of an Apple Store:

iTunes : Lake County, IL: County Board Meeting Video Audio Podcast

You are encouraged to submit more story ideas for future consideration.

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

Comic Relief

Your LakeCountyEye was at the annual Lake County Comic Con. Judging from the number of sculpted superhero physiques in attendance, it could have been an afternoon in the Lake County Board weightlifting room.

Haha, the News-Sun says ...

They came from Lake and Cook counties as well as Michigan and other states to engage in board and video games, watch Cosmic Family Feud played by their favorite superheroes, compete in costume contests, pose for photographs with wild-looking creatures, browse through comic books, get their faces painted like vampires and purchase games, posters, buttons, jewelry — anything related to the print and video world of fictional characters, both the good and the evil ones. They were attending the second annual Lake Count-I-Con, a convention held Saturday and Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.
Superheroes join forces for Lake Count-I-Con at Grayslake fairgrounds

Comic Con is an opportunity to dress up in public as your favorite fantasy character. Without getting arrested. The convention this year did not disappoint. Your LakeCountyEye has not seen this much repurposed vinyl since they dredged Waukegan Harbor.

Your LakeCountyEye naturally was in costume -- and was a fly on the wall. Ant-Man sends his regards.

Operatives are challenged to ID your LakeCountyEye from this photo of convention participants:

Hint: pictures often show more than meets the eye. Only Residents are eligible to participate.

Legally Employed

Lake County has a new official motto:

Come for the schools.
Stay for the Wisconsin jobs.

Haha, your LakeCountyEye jests. The News-Sun says the jobs are in Waukegan:

The unemployment rate in Waukegan dropped below the state average of 5.9 percent this summer, with Lake County Partners reporting that more than 1,000 jobs were added to the local rolls between May and June, the highest spike in summer hiring on record.
1,000 new jobs: Waukegan unemployment drops below state average

One source told your LakeCountyEye not to break out the champagne and caviar just yet: "999 of those jobs are candidates for Lake County State's Attorney."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Get a job.

Sullivan's Travelling

Your LakeCountyEye won't have Ed Sullivan Jr to kick around any more. The Daily Herald says ...

State Rep. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein won't seek re-election in 2016, he announced today, making him the second suburban Republican incumbent to decide to end his Illinois House career with this term.
State Rep. Sullivan won't run; another Republican leaps in

Hours before Sullivan's surprise announcement, Dan McConchie announced that he would challenge Sullivan in the Republican Primary. According to the Chicago Tribune ...

The current officeholder is Ed Sullivan, Jr., a seven-term incumbent who also holds the position of Fremont Township assessor, a full-time job. "The incumbent has had both fists in the taxpayer's pocket for too long," McConchie said.
Dan McConchie to Seek Republican Nomination in Illinois House District 51

The two-fisted McConchie, according to the Illinois Review, is ...

currently a member of Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran's Human Trafficking Task Force.
MCCONCHIE TO CHALLENGE SULLIVAN IN 51ST STATE HOUSE GOP PRIMARY

It is unknown if Sullivan plans to run for Lake County State's Attorney instead. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

The Road to Perfidy

It's a well known quirk of the English language: every sentence uttered by Aaron Lawlor contains a noun, a verb, and the Route 53 Extension. Haha, this may explain why Lawlor, the Lake County Board Chair, was uncharacteristically tight-lipped after a Hawthorn Woods town meeting -- one critical of the $3 billion highway project. Lawlor told the Chicago Tribune:

"There were a number of valid concerns, and a number of inaccuracies, that we're going to address," Lawlor said. "I'm going to leave it at that."
Hawthorn Woods mayor on Route 53: 'Basically, we have an issue with everything'

Note to Operatives: On this blog, valid concerns are numbered few and far between. But if it's inaccuracies that you are looking for, you've come to the right place. Your LakeCountyEye knows at least 10 widely believed misbeliefs about the Route 53 Extension:

Ten Common Misconceptions About the Route 53 Extension

Paved with Gold Will be the Only Man-Made Object Visible from the Moon Filed a Wrongful Conviction Suit Against the County Phase #1: Build It Over the Long Grove Sinkhole Phase #2: FEMA Pays for It For Twice as Many Lanes at Half the Cost, It's Shaped Like a Moebius Strip Plans to Run for Lake County State's Attorney STD Stands for Special Taxing District To be Constructed Out of Lumber Left Over from the Goliath Rollercoaster Will Pay for Itself, After the Oil Fields Along the Right-of-Way are Seized One Royal Clusterf*ck

Look for your LakeCountyEye busting myths near you.

Travel Incentives

One corporate gravy train has exploded in Lake County. Organizations looking for tax incentives from the County may want to think twice, because, according to the Daily Herald ...

The county board on Tuesday unanimously approved an incentive policy that outlines several conditions, including a measurable return on investment, that must be met before county officials would consider rebating sales or property taxes for a project.
Lake County puts conditions on tax incentives for businesses

Every law has unexpected consequences. This one has the Route 53 Extension Blue Ribbon Panel crying foul. To find out why, your LakeCountyEye asked Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi -- Professor of Corporate Extortion at the College of Lake County.

"Ya," chuckled Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, "that asphalt albatross will never get built if Lake County demands an ROI out of the Route 53 Extension. The Toll Authority will have to slap a $20 surcharge on their Oasis burritos, before they would offset those sweetheart tax-breaks that the County Board promised."

That would not sit well with the Lake County motorists?

Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi produced a calculator. "If you figure the average automobile toll at $5, and figure ten million cars every year -- at a cost of $3 billion, it will take 60 years to pay for the Route 53 Extension!"

That's a lot of rubber on the road.

"Not to mention leaky crankcases." grimaced Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The Toll Authority is studying how the airline industry makes its profit. Motorists on the Route 53 Extension will be hit with extra fees -- like a finder's fee. Anyone who breaks down and wants a tow-truck to find them, pays a fee."

Wouldn't public transportation be better?

"Lake County's public transportation system is called Uber." said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Studies prove that a small fleet of Uber drivers could move more people through the Route 53 corridor -- and quicker -- than any 45mpg limited access parkway. And at a fraction of the cost."

How much of a fraction?

What fraction is $3000 of $3 billion?

That would add up to an enviable ROI, to be sure.  Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your operatives my Uber ID is #LikeaBhatschidtkhrazziOuttaHell. Ping me any time 24/7/365."

Throwing Good Money After Bad?

A new bumpersticker observed today in Lake County:

HONK IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR STATE'S ATTORNEY

Haha, as readers of this blog already know ...

Wall of Silence

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran surprised some people and said he will run against Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim for the office of Lake County State's Attorney.

This surprised your LakeCountyEye -- who noted that Curran's political PAC ...

Friends of Mark Curran

has benefited from more than $1000 in donations from Michael Nerheim (or a family member):

Contributions List: Nerheim

In related news, Peoria Congressman Aaron Schock, who resigned in March, is being sued by a campaign donor:

A Chicago lawyer filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against former Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock on Wednesday, saying he was tricked into believing the young congressman was "a breath of fresh air" in a corruption-prone state but who instead intended to collect campaign money for personal use.
Donor sues ex-U.S. congressman Aaron Schock seeking reimbursement

It is unknown whether Nerheim plans to follow, erm, suit, and sue Curran to get his money back. If not, your LakeCountyEye does not think it would be from lack of legal resources.

Sources say the Curran election campaign remains unapologetic. "Sure they can get some guilty verdicts," one source told your LakeCountyEye. "But we'll get the money back when we file a counter-suit for wrongful conviction. Bring it on."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Wall of Silence

Note to Ops: If you need to dig up some dirt, the place to go these days is Waukegan. An underground tunnel is being dug in Waukegan, and will connect the County Jail with the County Courthouse. And as readers of this blog should know, construction mishaps have already resulted in the Long Grove sinkhole ...

Notes from the Underground

... as well as a ruptured sewage pipe & flooded county building basements:

Sticky Notes from the Underground

Well, OK, the second story is true.

Perhaps flush with success, your LakeCountyEye has learned that the excavators have now accidentally punctured the wall of silence -- the same wall of silence that isolates Lake County's divisions of government.

The first person observed taking advantage of the breach in the wall was Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran -- who announced today that he will challenge Michael Nerheim in 2016 for Lake County State's Attorney. According to the Daily Herald, Curran said ...

"Mike Nerheim has done nothing to raise the caliber of the office," Curran said in a news release. "Today I made an opening statement, but I will be presenting evidence throughout the campaign that change is needed." Curran said the Lake County state's attorney's office has been responsible for six wrongful convictions since 2010. Those cases include overturned convictions involving Juan Rivera, Jerry Hobbs, James Edwards and Benny Starks, Curran said, and noted the Rivera case resulted in the single largest wrongful conviction settlement in U.S. history at $20 million.
Curran says he'll run for Lake County state's attorney

Informed sources say the State's Attorney office has no plans to press charges against the construction workers who ruptured the wall. Or against Mark Curran. "Sure we can get some guilty verdicts," one source told your LakeCountyEye. "But this is Lake County. In the long run they will be suing us for wrongful conviction. Why bother?"

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

A Boat Anchor

If Lake County's villages were engaged in an arms race for your tourist dollars, then the Village of Fox Lake just got a $15,000 shipment of guns. Haha, the Daily Herald said that ...

Fox Lake officials hope a new marketing campaign focusing on the future while remembering the past will bring tourists to the former resort town on the shores of the Chain O' Lakes. Using the tagline "Anchoring Traditions ... Linking the Future," the new initiative is designed not only to strengthen the community and connect with residents, but also to appeal to tourists with the goal of becoming a destination for Illinois and Wisconsin residents, Mayor Donnie Schmit said Wednesday.
Fox Lake unveils new marketing campaign, logo

Fox Lake retained a marketing firm at $2,200/mo to manage the campaign. The village also budgeted $15,000 for a new logo.

This was the old Fox Lake logo:

In case you ever wondered what happened to Chief Illiniwek, he retired to a waterfront cottage on Fox Lake.

This is the new Fox Lake logo:

One goal of the rebranding campaign is to call attention to Fox Lake's festivals: Venetian Night, Cardboard Boat Race, Mayor's Challenge Pasta Dinner and 5K Race, Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony, Annual Polar Plunge.

It is unknown if Talk Like a Pirate Day will be included.

Operatives who crave a cool personal logo of their own, are directed to any of these clipart websites:

Bing Images

Yarrr, we be pirates.

Sticky Notes from the Underground

Trees may be down and buildings may be damaged, but at least the culprit this time was an EF-1 tornado (that touched down Sunday in Grayslake). And not from excavation work under the Lake County Courthouse.

Haha, as readers of this blog no doubt recall ...

Notes from the Underground

An underground tunnel is being dug in Waukegan to transfer prisoners from the County Jail to the County Courthouse. Worries that a large-scale underground excavation like this can lead to widespread damage may not be totally groundless.

Your LakeCountyEye has learned the below-ground excavators broke a sewage pipe that flooded basements under the County Sheriff and Court Buildings. Informed sources say stored paper files were submerged and that County employees were ordered to retrieve the records. And without the safety of protective scuba gear!

It is unknown whether Lake County Chairman Aaron Lawlor, who was seen earlier this year cleaning sludge at a County water reclamation plant ...

Lake County's Dirty Jobs - Vernon Hills Water Reclamation Facility

rolled up his pant-legs and pitched in to help.

Note to Ops: If the County has not been responding to your requests for vital paper documents, you now know why. On second thought, you may want to reassess your need for those documents.

EPA investigators with hazmat gear were seen. Do not be surprised if you see yellow EPA-Superfund-Site tape around County buildings.

OSHA however is not expected to file suit against County officials. One OSHA source told your LakeCountyEye, "Sure we can get some guilty verdicts, the law is cut and dry. But this is Lake County. In the long run they will be suing us for wrongful conviction. Why bother?"

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

We Don't Need No Stinkin Amstutz

If the Amstutz Expressway were a 36 inch pizza then the long knives would be out for it. A News-Sun op-ed published last week was really a thinly veiled call for the Amstutz's demise:

There's nothing about the 2.9-mile abomination and its social, financial, aesthetic or cultural contribution to Waukegan that could not be improved by unleashing jackhammers to destroy it.
Rutter: Waukegan's Amstutz Expressway is a 'massive purple wart'

Is the Amstutz on the road to oblivion? Your LakeCountyEye asked Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi -- the Travelling Professor at the College of Lake County.

"Ya," sighed Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi "they want to bulldoze the Amstutz into Lake Michigan like it was some empty beach and turn it into high-value lakefront property."

Too sad. Who exactly would feel the burden?

"No one ever uses the road, so exactly no one." said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "And that's exactly why the Amstutz is America's highway. Every movie chase scene since Ben-Hur has been filmed on the Amstutz."

Ben-Hur?

"Bullitt, The French Connection, Smokey and the Bandit, Thelma & Louise, Mad Max, Death Race 2000, Driving Miss Daisy ... these were all filmed on the Amstutz. It's the most recognizable 2.9 mile stretch of highway in the lower 48!"

Too cool. Are there plans to save the Amstutz?

"Bet on it." replied Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Do you remember the Route 53 Extension?"

Who can forget?

"The Route 53 Extension," continued Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi "is a $3 billion, unbuilt highway that everybody wants but nobody wants to pay for. Compare it with the Amstutz -- a highway that is built and paid-for, but nobody wants. Now combine the two and what do you get?"

One of those venn diagram jokes?

Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi pulled up close: "The Route 53 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council has a top-secret fail-safe doomsday-scenario contingency plan prepared, in case the taxpayers don't give them those 3 billion smackers. Just suppose one moonless night the Lake County Division of Transportation shuts down the Amstutz -- and removes all of the highway signs. And replaces them with Route 53 Extension highway signs. What will everyone think the next morning?"

Your LakeCountyEye, being no Carnac the Magnificent, did not know.

"The commuters," chuckled Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, "will think the Amstutz had been demolished. And that the Route 53 Extension had finally been built! The County gets rid of the Amstutz, and produces a Route 53 Extension -- all for the price of a couple dozen traffic signs. It's a win-win for everyone."

Too crazy. Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Don't be surprised if the Amstutz turns, one day, into a $5 toll-road. Tell your Operatives to hold on to their pennies."

Location Location Location

Question of the day: Name the one thing in Lake County seen by more people on the planet than anything else. If you said a settlement check for a wrongful conviction, give yourself a judge's citation. The correct answer is the Amstutz Expressway.

The Amstutz Expressway in Waukegan has been an outdoor location for hit movies seen by millions. The seldom used freeway is a favorite with moviemakers, ever since scenes in The Blues Brothers were shot there in 1980. The Chicago Tribune said (in 1998) ...

The Amstutz makes a perfect location because it looks like a full-blown expressway and can be closed off for days at a time without causing any real problems for commuters. "The people at the Illinois Film Office call me and ask if the Amstutz is still the road to nowhere," said David Motley, Waukegan's director of public relations and special events. "It's very popular because it looks right and it's easy to close off. We don't charge a rental fee either. Just what it costs for public works and police to close it. What I want to do, though, is show producers some of our other locations when they're in town using the Amstutz."
The Road To Nowhere
If Traffic Were Meant To Fly, All Roads Would Be Like The Amstutz Expressway

However, while the Illinois Film Office features a gallery of top movie locations ...

Location Gallery

... the Amstutz is conspicuous in its absence.

Note to Ops: The Illinois Film Office wants to know about your film location and provides a handy web form ...

Submit a Location

So if you happen to own the Amstutz, please waste no time in correcting this regrettable bureaucratic oversight. If you don't act quickly this offer can expire at any time and without notice.