County home sales were up in 2012, but prices fell
wedNesday, JaNuary 23, 2013
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WINtEr COmFOrt FOOd The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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Nygren: Undersheriff broke no rules
Sheriff says allegations against Zinke were politically motivated By SARAH SUTSCHEK
ssutschek@shawmedia.com
WOODSTOCK – An internal investigation of Undersheriff Andrew Zinke found that he did not violate any McHenry County
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation into the transportation of thousands of pounds of marijuana. That owner, Brian Goode, is Andrew a close friend of Zinke Zinke, as well as a contributor to Zinke’s campaign for sheriff in 2014.
Sheriff’s Office general orders when he spoke to a friend about a federal drug investigation. Sgt. John Koziol alleged in court documents that Zinke tipped off the owner of a Crystal Lake business that was part of a
“It has been determined that ... the complaints are without merit,” Sheriff Keith Nygren said Tuesday. “There’s nothing criminal here. There hasn’t been any violation of any departmental rule or regulation and the entire episode is not sustained.” Instead, Nygren said, the allegations against Zinke were orchestrated by a political opponent. In October, Koziol requested a
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special prosecutor be appointed to investigate Zinke. That request was denied by a judge a few weeks later. Then late last month, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi announced that an investigation by his office determined Zinke broke no laws. Bianchi said Koziol’s allegations that Zinke broke departmental
Read Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s full statement on the results of the investigation at nWHerald. com.
See UnDERSHERiFF, page A6
McDOT celebrates centennial Former cop admits theft from evidence
While a McHenry officer, he stole seized drug money By SARAH SUTSCHEK
ssutschek@shawmedia.com
Josh Peckler – jpeckler@shawmedia.com
Andy Rose prepares construction signs Jan. 15 at the McHenry County Division of Transportation in Woodstock. The agency will celebrate its 100th anniversary later this year. By CHELSEA McDOUGALL
cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
W
OODSTOCK – Those at the McHenry County Division of Transportation know better than anyone that as far as roads are concerned, we’ve come a long way. From the county’s first humble wagon routes and dusty trails to today’s 217 center-line miles, the landscape of the county-controlled roadways has changed dramatically in the agency’s 100 years.
County’s transportation agency was started in 1913 McDOT will mark its centennial anniversary this year with a series of newspaper columns and discussion of where the agency is headed. But first, a look back.
Early days
Before 1913, there were many attempts to improve the state’s roadways. But it was the Tice Law, approved
in Springfield that year, that designated a superintendent of engineers in each Illinois county. Charles Tryon was the first to fill that role in McHenry County, and there have been six after him. Tryon’s post was new – and not clearly defined. “Nobody knew what to do. Nobody had any docu-
Charles Tryon was McHenry County’s first superintendent of engineers.
ments, nothing to start on,” said Ernie Varga, McDOT’s resident historian and project manager. Added Assistant County Engineer Jeff Young: “So much was done by the the seat of your pants back then.”
See McDOT, page A6
more inside: Ernie Varga, McDOT project manager, writes the first in a series of columns on McDOT’s history. pAGE A7
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Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
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Dale A. Hojnacki, 36, pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft and official misconduct. He faces up to five years in prison but also is eligible for probation. He will be sentenced March 8.
See THEFT, page A5
CrYStAL LAKE
City officials made sweeping changes to economic incentives offered to retailers, expanding one program’s thresholds and eliminating another. The City Council last week changed parameters in its Enhanced Sales Tax and Matching Grant incentive programs, and did away with the Façade and Commercial Tenant Improvement grant. For more, see page B1.
WOODSTOCK – A former McHenry police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft and official misconduct, admitting that he took seized drug money. Dale A. Hojnacki, 36, was charged in April after a routine department audit discovered the money was missing. Hojnacki initially was charged with two counts of theft under $10,000 and later indicted on an additional five counts of official misconduct. He pleaded guilty to one count of each charge, both Class 3 felonies, with the remaining counts dismissed. Hojnacki entered a blind plea, meaning there is no agreement with prosecutors as to his sentence. He faces up to five years in prison but also is eligible for probation. As part of the plea, there will be no other charges against Hojnacki stemming from his employment by the McHenry Police Department. Sentencing in front of McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather is scheduled for March 8. An 11-year veteran of the department, Hojnacki resigned after being charged.
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