Environmental heroes safeguard the ocean
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013
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The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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MUSICK COLUMN
ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSE TO BE BUILT
Toews leads Hawks to division title Sports, C1
J’burg home destroyed for ‘green’ house Local, B1
Report details Jacobson’s arrest Hebron president-elect says he’s innocent, was coached by police By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com HEBRON – A tipster referenced in the police report from the arrest of John Jacobson claims the Hebron village president-elect was trading crack co-
caine to college students for sexual favors. The anonymous tip, which started an investigation that eventually led to Jacobson’s arrest Jan. 15, claimed Jacobson hosted house parties each weekend with “college-aged females
who attend McHenry County College,” according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department report. The Northwest Herald obtained the report through a Freedom of Information Act request. Jacobson, who also has a still-pending charge of driving
under the influence of alcohol, worked in the building maintenance department at MCC until he was fired after the arrest. Jacobson, 60, who was elected this week with 61 percent of the vote over incumbent Frank Beatty, is charged with unlawful de-
livery of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. About three grams of crack cocaine were found in the car, police said.
John Jacobson Hebron president-elect
See REPORT, page A10
GROWING CONCERN IN McHENRY COUNTY
Help for disabled adults lacking
Tax cap bill fails in House Franks calls defeat ‘temporary setback’ By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com House lawmakers soundly defeated a bill aimed at preventing property-tax increases in years that property values are depressed. The House voted Friday, 4365, against House Bill 89, sponsored by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. The bill sought to forbid governments subject to the tax cap from collecting inflationary increases in years their overall assessed value decreased, except by voter referendum. Local taxing bodies are entitled on this year’s property-tax bills to a 3 percent increase over what they collected last year. While some local governments voluntarily held their levies flat, many raised their levies to capture the increase. “I’m going to keep trying – I look at this as a temporary setback,” Franks said. “This is something worth fighting for for the taxpayers.”
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Sean Gohl, 27, sits in his sports-themed bedroom at the home of his parents, Trudie and Ronald Gohl in Wonder Lake. Sean Gohl, who has cerebral palsy, works at Meijer as a greeter. Sean is currently on waiting lists for multiple group homes for Misericordia and Pioneer. These group homes teach independence and provide work programs, a safe living environment and medical care.
Agencies are being asked to do more with less By LAWERENCE SYNETT lsynett@shawmedia.com
Most adults have their own place by the time they are 27 years old, and Sean Gohl wants nothing more than to move out of his parents’ Wonder Lake home. But there are two obstacles preventing his independence: He has cerebral palsy requiring daily assistance, and a lack of local group homes that could provide those services has forced him onto an ever-growing waiting list. Adding to the issue are his aging parents, Ronald and Trudie Gohl, who fear a time is approaching
LOCALLY SPEAKING
when they no longer will be able to care for their developmentally disabled son. “You never envision putting your child in a home, but when you get older, you realize you can’t keep doing it and it is no longer fair to them,” said Ronald Gohl, 75. “He wants to be on his own like his brothers and sisters, and has been waiting for that chance for more than five years.” The state continually ranks near
See HELP, page A10
CRYSTAL LAKE
CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY – AGAIN The contractor who offered a kickback in exchange for getting the contract to build a new hospital in Crystal Lake has pleaded guilty in an amended deal. Jacob Kiferbaum pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to attempted extortion. Kiferbaum could face slightly more than two years in prison when sentenced July 17. For more, see page B1.
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
HIGH
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46 32 Complete forecast on A12
CRYSTAL LAKE: ‘Speed dating’ event helps local business leaders connect with nearby companies. Business, E1 Vol. 28, Issue 101
Where to find it Advice Business Buzz Classified
B6 E1-2 B8 E3-10
Comics B7 Local&Region B1-4 Lottery A2 Movies B5
Obituaries Opinion Puzzles Sports
B4 A11 E9 C1-12
ON THE NET Ronald and Trudie Gohl, parents of a special needs adult, talk about their struggles and the help they need in a video at NWHerald.com.
See BILL, page A8
How they voted The Illinois House on Friday defeated House Bill 89, which would have prevented governments under the tax cap from collecting increases in years that their overall assessed value decreased. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, lost on a 4365 vote. All of McHenry County’s representatives in the House – Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake, Barbara Wheeler, R-Crystal Lake, David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia – voted in favor. Read the bill, and see how other lawmakers voted, at www.ilga.gov.