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It seems that McHenry County knows more than Kane County apparently does: When you strike someone with a baseball bat, it’s a felony (aggravated battery).
Some defenders of Trustee Paul Humpfer have been contending that if Mr. Humpfer actually hit his wife with a baseball bat, she would require medical treatment and hospitalization.
According to the report of an incident that happened in Algonquin last Wednesday, where a 19-year-old man was allegedly struck with a baseball bat, which resulted in a felony charge of aggravated battery…
The man was examined at the scene but not taken to a hospital.
Seems that it didn’t require a trip to the hospital in this case, and yet still warranted a felony charge.
This just raises more questions about why Trustee Paul Humpfer was not charged with aggravated domestic battery by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office. And, why has sentencing taken nearly 4 months and still not been completed? And, why isn’t the State’s Attorney’s office following up on other charges related to questionable behavior in office by Trustees Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt?
A Saturday article in the Daily Herald — Carpentersville Board to enforce rule, remove commissioner — is another example of the serious problems in Carpentersville Village government.
The article reports on the impending removal by the Board of Nathan “Nate” Spain from the Audit & Finance Commission. The removal is based on new rules created by the Board last month. The establishment of the rules was initiated by allies of Trustee (and A&F Commission Chairman) Paul Humpfer, who was found guilty in early March of four counts of domestic battery.
In the end, those members of the Board said that Paul Humpfer’s domestic battery conviction was not serious enough to merit removal from office.
So, Judy Sigwalt, Kay Teeter, Ed Ritter and Keith Hinz allow a convicted criminal to remain in his position. But, they — along with Paul Humpfer, will remove an exemplary resident from his position for objecting to such a serious problem.
How is this allowed to go on? Because they use their majority on the Board to further their own personal agendas.
Why do you think that Carpentersville has crumbled in the years before Sarto took the helm? Look at what Public Works Director Bob Cole had to say about the foot-dragging taking place over the new Public Works building and the continuation of streets and sewer improvement:
“I have been very patient for the past eight years,” Cole said. “I have seen departments take money from public works so they can do a remodel. I have seen another department receive $2.2 million so they can do a remodel. When is it my turn?”
A new Public Works building has been in the planning stages for at least 24 months already — so what the heck is the problem? (Note, Judy Sigwalt has been on the Board for a little more than 8 years).
The problem appears to be that Judy Sigwalt and Paul Humpfer, with the help of their friends on the Board, are using their majority position to slow things down so that they can use it to their advantage in the 2009 elections. Since Sarto came on board, things began moving … and it hasn’t been a good thing for Sigwalt and Co. whose prior lack of action has begun to stick out like a sore thumb (including failures related to the “pet issue”: illegal immigration, unless you count providing grounds for a discrimination lawsuit).
Pay attention to what’s going on … They will use their position to protect their friends; to try to remove anyone who opposes them; and to replace anyone they can with those who will help them acheive their personal agendas.
Ask around about whether people think crime is a problem that needs to be dealt with in Carpentersville and most people would probably say “yes”.
Carpentersville government officials have been trying to get more funding support from government for programs to assist in fighting and preventing crime.
Given those two things, it should be welcome news that the Village may be getting $400,000 to “help our Police department combat gang crime in Carpentersville.”
But, not everyone sees it that way. Others even see it as “buying support”.
Maybe someone needs to explain some things to U.S. Representative Bill Foster; explain that he can’t do these things for the people (and taxpayers) of the 14th Congressional District, or they are going to create problems in seeing that he is defeated in November.
I mean, who does this guy think he is?! Only in Washington, DC for a few months and he’s getting money for Carpentersville?! And, let’s not even start with the $2 million in grant money obtained for Kane and DeKalb Counties.
But, in the blog of Patrick Ruffini such directing of tax dollars toward fighting crime, helping homeowners and providing economic relief is frowned upon. Instead, that money should sit in Washington, so that Uncle George can get credit for giving our money back to us, while the state and local governments have to raise taxes to pay for these things, right?
Thanks, Rep. Foster … but, if taking this money means that more people are going to vote for you because you are getting funding to deal with concerns in your district … no thanks! Some would prefer that money not be returned and would rather pay higher local taxes, in addition to the federal and state taxes they are already paying.
The sentencing of Carpentersville Trustee Paul Humpfer was delayed yet again today.
Humpfer was originally charged in August 2007 of hitting his wife twice with a baseball bat in May 2007. He was found guilty of the crime on March 5, 2008, and faces up to a year in jail for the crime.
Today’s delay marks the third time since the conviction that the sentencing has been delayed.
Humpfer retained his elected position after fellow Board allies created an ordinance declaring that the domestic incident was not serious enough to warrant his resignation or removal from office.
Supporters have maintained that Humpfer was justified in threatening, attacking and striking his wife with a baseball bat because of alleged reports that his wife had cheated on him.
A 2005 domestic incident required Humpfer’s wife, Jacqueline, to seek medical treatment for a cracked rib and bruised tailbone, according to reports.
Not that anyone really cares (except maybe those involved in the case), but the ticket against Trustee Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski was dropped today by the Village (and dismissed by the Judge Susan Clancy Boles), through the special prosecutor — hired at taxpayer expense to avoid problems with conflict of interest.
Interesting that it took outside counsel to see that the ticket had huge issues on Constitutional grounds.
It is more evidence of the corruption and politics that are running rampant in Village government.
The issuance of this ticket was politcally motivated … as are other things that are being directed with whispered voices in the ears of department heads.
Could it be true, dispite all the anti-Hispanic rhetoric bandied about by Sigwalt and Co., that Trustee Judy Sigwalt was overheard speaking to Community Development Director Cindy McCammack, seeking that Director McCammack take more code enforcement action against Hispanics in the Village?
And, everyone is very aware of the violations of the Open Meetings Act that Trustees Judy Sigwalt and Paul Humpfer (among other former members of the Audit and Finance Commission) were involved in. So, where’s the statutory/civil charges to be brought by the State’s Attorney? Information swirling around is that a letter was sent out by S.A. John Barsanti saying that he didn’t find enough evidence to warrant a criminal investigation or charges.
Huh?
Why would he be looking at criminal charges for something that would warrant civil prosecution based on statutory violations? Is he turning the information over to the Attorney General’s office for that prosecution?
Does Barsanti understand the law? After all, this is a guy who opined that conviction doesn’t happen until the completion of sentencing, while the LAW says that — for the purposes of determining eligibility to hold public office — disqualification occurs upon the return of the verdict of guilty.
Seems like just more politicians sitting on their rump, so to that nothing happens to their fellow party politicians (the “gang of Five” are all Republicans, as is John Barsanti).
I just saw that Mayor Bill Sarto posted this notice about a fundraiser to be held this Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Ryanne Mace of Carpentersville was a victim of the shooting that occurred in a classroom on the campus of Northern Illinois University on February 14, 2008. This senseless tragedy surely left a void that will likely never be filled in the lives of family and friends.
In an effort to realize Ryanne’s goal of becoming a counselor for others, her family has established the Ryanne Mace Memorial Scholarship fund through the Northern Illinois University Foundation. The intent of this fund is to reward those who are pursuing a graduate level degree in clinical psychology. It is their hope that Ryanne’s desire to make the world a better place by helping others have good mental health can in a small way be achieved through their efforts.
To assist in efforts to establish the fund, Van’s Frozen Custard will be holding a fundraising event all-day this Saturday, June 14 (business hours are 11am – 10pm). All proceeds from the day’s sales (minus tax and salaries) will go directly to the Ryanne Mace Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Van’s Frozen Custard is a family owned and operated fresh ice cream parlor that hopes to become your family’s favorite place to join together to eat a meal, get a snack or to celebrate a special event. Conveniently located at 300 W. Main Street/Huntley Road in Carpentersville, IL, we are just north of Spring Hill Mall with easy access to Route 31 (1 ½ blocks east).
Alliance Defense Fund, “a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation”, has issued an “Alliance Alert” regarding the “invocations” approved for the Village Board meetings …
The ADF Alliance Alert reports results from ongoing efforts of ADF’s rapidly expanding legal alliance, while also guiding readers to the frontlines of the “culture war” on a daily basis. National leaders in law, policy, and culture rely on the Alert’s comprehensive coverage of issues important to social conservatives, including religious freedom, sanctity of life, marriage, family, and the judiciary.
It does not appear that any action is being considered or recommended against the Village for any abridgement of “religious freedoms” at this time.
The Board recently approved adding an invocation to the beginning of meetings in an attempt to bring some peace to the oft-contentious meetings by invoking the “higher power”.
The Daily Herald is reporting that Kane County Forest Preserve District purchased the 745-acre Brunner property, which was a major piece in the Village’s vision and comprehensive plan.
The buy has been a long-term goal for the forest preserve district, to both keep as open space and use for the Longmeadow Parkway bridge crossing over the Fox River.
Quite a steal at $40 million (or slightly less than $54,000 per acre)…
Carpentersville officials had been interested in annexing the property and encouraging development at the site, citing economic benefits.
A fundraiser will be held Saturday for Richard “Mac” McMillan, a 19-year veteran of the Carpentersville Fire Department, who is battling a rare form of leukemia.
The fundraiser will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Carpentersville Moose Lodge, 309 Lake Marian Road, Carpentersville. Tickets are $5 for children and seniors and $10 for adults.
There will be an auction and raffles. Roland Harper, a running back for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1982, is expected to attend.
For information, call Marla Shepley at 847-426-2131 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will be available at the door.
Interesting news over the weekend about the impound ordinance that was passed October 2, 2007 … a hearing process was never provided for or established, so the ordinance was unable to be enforced — potentially costing the Village $110,000, according to Daily Herald calculations.
Trustee Paul Humpfer, a co-sponsor of the measure with Trustee Judy Sigwalt, said he was unaware of the requirement.
It seems readily apparent that this was another ordinance that was put forth by Sigwalt and Humpfer without enough information, forethought or follow-up.
But, maybe we should cut Humpfer and Sigwalt some slack. After all, they’ve had a lot going on in the last 8-10 months.
Humpfer has had plenty of legal troubles in his personal life (and could be facing up to a year in jail), in addition to living out of state for the better part of a year. All this appears to have had an effect on his ability to be involved with Village business; even things he was responsible for enacting.
This is one very significant reason why Paul Humpfer needed to resign his position, or his position be declared vacant. Both his presence and his absence have affected business (as well as revenues and expenses) of the Village.
And, what about Judy Sigwalt?
Why didn’t she follow up on something she said was an important safety issue and part of enforcing the law? Perhaps she was too busy defending Paul Humpfer, or holding pseudo-Board meetings privately with a group of supporters, or consulting outside attorney’s to act on a vendetta against Village President Bill Sarto that began with actions that took place even before Sarto took office in 2005?
What was that about this being a “personal matter” that has no effect on the ability of these Trustees to conduct Village business?
Larissa Chinwah of the Daily Herald seems to be fighting for some air amidst the array of new sources for Carpentersville news and information that have popped up in the last year — the latest of which is by Mayor Bill Sarto.
Chinwah wrote a column in Sunday’s edition titled “Sarto’s blog on Carpentersville doesn’t tell both sides of story”. In the column she seeks to defend her employer while attacking Sarto, in addition to this blog, and “the other one”.
However, her column is not without its own spin, which makes it curious as to why it wasn’t posted on DailyHerald.com.
For instance, she says of both Carpentersville Action Network and Carpentersville’s Playhouse:
[Sarto's] blog should not turn into a situation found at the other blogs — like the the anonymously run Carpentersville Playhouse and Carpentersville Action Network–which constantly attack one another.
But, this blog has never (until now) even mentioned Carpentersville’s Playhouse, let alone attack it. (Although the sole purpose of their existence is to attack this blog and Sarto.) Furthermore, I believe this blog set itself apart from that other one long ago, by posting real information. In fact, Ms. Chinwah has used this blog as a source of information, and has used some of that information in her own stories.
It is unfortunate that Larissa has now sunk to the “dragging through the mud” level, while trying to convince us that she and the Daily Herald “strive for fair and balanced reporting” and “the newspaper exists to inform residents on issues like the happenings around town and the antics of village officials”.
The question then remains as to whether the Daily Herald does, indeed, have an “agenda”? Well, you decide…
In the last year, the paper has published numerous editorials that were disparaging of Village President Bill Sarto’s “antics” and actions against Trustees Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt. In that same time period, there has been one (and a half, if you count the one that also took a token shot at Sarto) written against Sigwalt and Humpfer — despite the fact that they have embroiled the Village in controversy, manipulated Village business, and even committed acts which violated state statutes or, in the case of Paul Humpfer, constituted a serious crime for which he was convicted.
Chinwah asks a question in her column …
When was the last time trustees Paul Humpfer or Judy Sigwalt posted to the Action Network?
While I understand the point she’s trying to make about telling both sides, I would have to say that neither Humpfer nor Sigwalt have to make comments on a blog, since they have the Daily Herald who is advocating on their behalf. However, it should be noted that my invitation to all the Trustees still stands, as it has since this blog’s inception nearly a year ago.
Perhaps folks should ask the Daily Herald and Ms. Chinwah why they do not take Sigwalt, Humpfer and others to task for the things they’ve done (which are arguably worse than anything Sarto has done). Word on the street is that the last time they called out the Trustees, for holding meetings outside the public view to discuss Village business, Sigwalt and Humpfer stopped returning their phone calls.
Maybe Sarto should do the same thing when the papers disparage him, but it seems that Sarto believes that he owes it to his constituents to provide them with information on what is really going on …
… which seems to be the reason why he started his own blog.
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