McHenry County College Trustee Karen Tirio is pushing to re-designate art gallery space for veterans. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Cary

Village approves part-time social worker

The Village Board approved a contract with Turning Point, Inc. for a one-day-a-week social worker. According to Police Chief Patrick Finlon, a high volume of the department’s calls are related to domestic violence or mental health. The cost is $15,000 per year, and either party, with 30 days notice, may terminate the contract. Finlon will provide monthly reports on the number of people using the service so the Board can assess its usefulness.

Crystal Lake

18-year-old charged with killing kitten

Axel J. Salemi, 18, was charged with animal cruelty and damage to property after allegedly killing a newborn kitten in a fit of rage during an argument with family member. The kitten was under the care of Saving Our Angels Animal Rescue, owned by Donna Salemi, who contacted the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The state agency is responsible for regulating foster and rescue organizations, and they are investigating the case.

College Trustee finds artwork “borderline pornographic”

McHenry County College Trustee Karen Tirio of Woodstock wishes to re-designate art gallery space for veterans. As part of her argument, she characterized 20-year-old Skylar Butow’s artwork on display in one of the galleries as “borderline pornographic.” Butow explained that her paintings are meant to depict how women feel enslaved by what their bodies are supposed to look like.

Holiday Hills

Memorial proposed for fallen deputy.

Holiday Hills Police Chief Tony Colatorti and village Trustee Lou French hope to include a memorial to McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Maness as part of a plan to revamp the park at Tower Drive and Hickory Road. Maness died due to complication of a wound suffered while responding to a domestic dispute. The memorial, including a stone with a plaque at the base of the flagpole, will be funded privately.

Harvard

McHenry County Conservation District returns trail grant

More than a decade ago, MCCD received a grant to build a trail from Harvard to the Boone County line. Although they completed part of the trail, the remaining has challenges, including floodplain, wetlands, and a 1,000-foot ditch. The project was put on hold after staff concluded it was too expensive. About $49,000 in grant money will be returned.

Candidates file for primary

About two dozen Republican candidates lined up at 8 a.m. Nov. 23 to submit their petition for candidacy in the March primary. All six McHenry County Board GOP primaries, the County Board chairman, and county recorder races require lotteries to determine ballot order. Many of the potential candidates are newcomers.

Snow socks in County

More than a foot of snow fell Nov. 21 and 22. The snow began to fall early evening Friday and continued until early afternoon Saturday. McHenry County Division of Transportation Maintenance had 23 snowplows covering 19 routes in order to keep the roads cleared. Snow fell as much as two inches an hour at times.

McHenry

Fabrik Industries, Inc. receives EDGE tax credits

The Illinois Department of Commerce last week announced that Fabrik Industries, Inc. based in McHenry, was approved to receive EDGE tax credits for committing to create 25 new full-time jobs and make capital investments of $5 million, including expansion to a new facility and the purchase of equipment. Fabrik currently employs 264 individuals in full-time jobs. Fabrik Industries molds components for automotive, industrial, medical and consumer goods. It was one of three approved companies.

Under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s recent decision to reinstate EDGE tax credit approvals, approved companies can begin working to fulfill the hiring and investment goals under the EDGE agreement. Companies will be eligible for tax credits following the approval of a FY16 budget and once their commitments have been made. Companies will not receive credit for retained jobs, only actual net new jobs created under the EDGE agreement. All EDGE agreements are valid for a period of 10 years.

–McHenry County Area News Briefs–