Algonquin

Area man joins lobby against bigger trucks

Retired Algonquin Chief of Police Russell Laine traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate for public safety. He spoke to staff member on Illinois congressional delegates about public safety concerns that come with larger trucks, which shipping companies want. Larger trucks mean more weight and length for drivers to control. Laine saw too many traffic fatalities with the current truck sizes. Trucking companies wish to increase the maximum weight limit to 91,000 pounds, and allow double 33-foot trailer trucks. That’s 11,000 additional pounds and 17 more feet in length from the standard 53-foot truck. Besides safety, Laine, points out the county’s bridges and roads are not built to withstand the additional weight of the larger trucks.

Crystal Lake

CASA celebrates 10 years of service to McHenry County

Court Appointed Special Advocate is a national organization that serves people from birth to 21 years old who have cases that are open in juvenile abuse and neglect court. McHenry County CASA began with 15 advocates ten years ago. Now they have 100. Advocates serve as the “eyes and ears for the judge and the voice for the child.” They provide details about a child’s life that a caseworker could not provide because he or she works with so many children. Many of the advocates are retired women. CASA is funded by individuals, businesses, the United Way, and fund-raising events.

Johnsburg

Basketball player to play in Australia

Melissa Dixon, a Johnsburg native and former Skyhawks basketball player, signed a professional contract with the Ringwood Hawks in Melbourne, Australia. Dixon had a record-setting career for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Dixon will move to Australia in January to begin training camp. Dixon broke almost every scoring record in Johnsburg history. At Iowa, she became the Hawkeyes’ record holder in career 3-pointers (334.) At the end of the 2014-15 season, Dixon ranked 26^th in NCAA history for career 3-pointers made.

Local Firefighter to gain skills in Antarctica

Johnsburg local Todd Robel, 28, is one of 54 firefighters chosen to fight fires for two months in Antarctica. Robel is a lieutenant with Spring Grove Fire Protection District and a firefight for the McHenry Township Fire Protection District. The Antarctica excursion provides a chance to learn firefighting techniques applicable to the cold weather in Illinois. It also helps Robel fulfill his desire to visit all seven continents. Robel will be without cell phone service and with limited Internet bandwidth until his return at Christmas time.

McHenry

District 156 ends teacher strike

After one week of a teachers’ strike, the District 156 teachers and school board signed a three-year agreement. The contract allows teachers to maintain their current salary schedule for two years, but it does not include a base salary increase. Salaries will increase an average of 3.6 percent for two years and 1.8 percent the third year. In the third year, a committee of union members, board members, and an independent resource will establish the new way the teachers will be paid. Teachers and the board will split increases in cost of health insurance.

Woodstock

City Council bans video gaming signs

In a unanimous vote, Woodstock’s City Council approved an amendment to the video gaming terminal section of the city code. The amendment bans video signage or advertising of any type or size from the exterior or that can be viewed from a window or door facing the public. The section allows for temporary exterior signage for a business within 60 days of getting an initial city video gaming license.

Colin Ahult holds a rocket from the 1970s that was built by his father. He attended the Fox Valley Rocketeers event on Oct. 11. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Fox Valley Rocketeers launch rockets

The Fox Valley Rocketeers (FVR) launched self-crafted model rockets on Oct. 11 at Hughes Seed Farm in Woodstock. Although new members are welcome, membership is not necessary in order to fly a model. Several members of the public came to join the fun. Hughes Seed Farm on Davis Road is a flat, unobstructed square mile. The venue allows the members to fly just about anything they want and requires FAA clearance. Among the rockets launched were tiny three-inch rockets that disappeared into the sunshine, large six-foot rockets carrying zero-G experiments, and a 12-inch rocket created in 1970 that got launched by the maker’s son.

–McHenry County News Briefs–