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Weekly REPORTER Volume 2 Number 35

Civil Rights Champion Senator Ted Kennedy Passes Away

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August 27 thru September 2, 2009

Lockport Pool Seller Arrested On Friday August 21st Mark Watson, the man accused of fraud by Ron Graf of Manhattan, was arrested and held in the Will County jail.

Watson was unable to post the $100,000 bond that a judge established for his release.

The story began when The Weekly Reporter published a story of how Ron Graf signed a contract with Mark Watson, to install an in-the-ground swimming pool at his home. The contract called for a pool heater, lights, and a deck constructed of stamped colored concrete.

Graf agreed to pay $46,000 in four payments of $11, 500 each that he would put on a credit card. Mark Watson owns and operates M. Watson, Inc. also known as Watson Landscaping, located at 16725 West 140th Street in Lockport.

Mr. Graf originally discussed the swimming pool purchase with a different firm but after Mark Watson told him the other company used illegal aliens to do the work and that he himself only employed union workers Graf changed his mind and agreed to sign a contract with Watson.

The proposed pool was to be 17 feet wide and 37 feet in length.

When Graf signed the contract Watson requested $11,500 which he

Senator Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy February 22, 1932 to August 25, 2009

“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.”

Senator Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy an American hero for millions of people who might otherwise not have had a voice in government has succumbed to brain cancer. Senator Kennedy was a man admired by those who favored liberal civil rights but was often a whipping boy for others who saw civil rights as an impediment to the goals of corporate or specific interest groups.

The Kennedy family itself has long championed personal civil liberties and it was upon that very basis that President John F. Kennedy was voted into the Presidency.

Senator Ted Kennedy has been a looming target for very conservative voices across the nation, voices that frequently

Hole left by Mark Watson when he refused to finish work

Weekly REPORTER

NEWS Mark Watson - from page 1

The Weekly Reporter is a free newspaper published weekly in Joliet, Illinois. The business office is located at 9 East Jefferson Street in downtown Joliet, 60432. Our main telephone number is (815) 726-6500 and the fax number is (815) 726-6549. General emails should be sent to

said he needed to purchase materials. He was given that payment with some reluctance on the part of Ron Graf.

Graf became concerned when he did not hear from Watson after paying the $11,500. He waited, and he waited and then Watson arrived one day

editor@theweeklyreporter.com.

John Gabriel, Editor jgabriel@theweeklyreporter.com Shirley Sciarratti artdepot@theweeklyreporter.com Ralph LaPorte rlaporte@theweeklyreporter.com Mark Goodson mgoodson@theweeklyreporter.com Kenny Holmes Kenny@theweeklyreporter.com Lindsey Lindsey@theweeklyreporter.com Information – info@theweeklyreporter.com Guest writers – guests@theweeklyreporter.com

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Senator from page 1

have viewed the has an obstacle in their road toward compelling the nation to abide by a set of conservative rules and values that have often been at odds with personal rights and civil liberty.

Senator Kennedy viewed the election of President Barack Obama as a step forward in America’s drive for equality among the nation’s widely diverse population.

The senator viewed the preservation personal freedom as the key issue in preserving the promises of the United States Constitution. He voted consistently in favor of issues that provide more freedom and liberty to every American regardless of his race, gender, religion or politics, or national origin.

Senator Ted Kennedy provided a challenging voice in support of the Constitution and even those who opposed his strongly liberal views have

with two men to assist him. Together they dug up Mr. Graf’s existing patio and dug a huge hole in the yard. reason to mourn his passing for when Senator Kennedy worked to preserve personal liberties he was protecting their freedom along with the millions of others who freedom is constantly under attack by special interest groups.

America has suffered a tremendous loss with the death of Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy who devoted his life to serving the people and protecting the rights in which he so firmly believed.

The Senator was elected to a full six year term in 1964 and was re-elected seven times after that.

He became known as "The Lion of the Senate" because of his long tenure and his ability to work with his opponents to achieve what he viewed as worthwhile goals.

Americans everywhere will miss his presence in Washington, his years of experience and his dedication to assuring that every American get his share of the pie.

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 2 After ripping out the patio and digging the massive hole, Watson requested another $11,500. Mr. Graf, wondered why he did not have a permit to display on his premises so he contacted the Village of Manhattan and was told that Mr. Watson never came to obtain a permit.

The Weekly Reporter contacted Mr. Watson and in a telephone interview asked him why he had not obtained the necessary permit to do the work. Watson responded, “Oh the permit was there, I just had to pick it up. We always start without the permit actually on the premises.”

The Village of Manhattan sent a letter to Ron Graf in response to his concern over the permit. The letter said in part, “This permit was never paid for and picked up.” Further on the letter states, “…this permit has been deemed abandoned and has been cancelled.”

Watson dug a large hole for the pool but left a large piece of equipment behind.

After some time the homeowners association insisted that it be removed from Graf’s property.

When Watson did come for the machine he told Mr. Graf he would not be returning. He said he was not going to complete the job and he would not be returning the $23,000 he was paid.

Watson claimed Mr. Graf’s soil could not support the proposed pool; however, Graf hired Pioneer

Engineering & Environmental Services of Chicago to analyze the soil.

Pioneer filed a subsequent report with Graf in which it said, “Based on laboratory and field-testing results and anticipated pool design, it is Pioneer’s opinion that the tough clay sub grade is suitable to support the proposed pool.”

Mr. Watson disputed the engineering company’s findings. He said he has no degrees to support him but his many years of experience tell him their test is “worthless.”

Mr. Graf sought help from the law enforcement community but was rebuffed and advised that it was a civil not a criminal matter.

That is when he sought help from The Weekly Reporter. After investigating the matter a series of articles were written and Mr. Graf sought assistance from the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. After that things began to look up for him.

Mark Watson was in court on Monday August 24th on a motion to reduce his bond. He appeared before Judge Richard C. Schoenstedt. Handcuffed and wearing a blue jailhouse jumpsuit Watson stood beside his attorney who formally asked the judge to reduce Watson’s bond. He told the judge Watson is not a flight risk, resides in the community and owns a business in the area.

The State opposed the bond reduction but in the end the judge satisfied both sides by reducing the bond to $80,000.

Mr. Graf was there, obviously happy to see Watson in custody.

Two of the three additional complainants against Watson were in court; they are Attorney Jeffery M. McCarthy with a law office in Lockport, and Joe Rubino who alleges that Watson also took $23,000 from him. Rubio alleges that Watson dug a large hole in his yard and subsequently abandoned the project. A fourth alleged victim was not present.

Watson, looking tired, continuously shook his head negatively as the assistant state’s attorney rattled off the allegations against him.

Continued on page 14

Weekly REPORTER

NEWS

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 3

Operation Safe Childhood Snares Two Placer County Man Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography SACRAMENTO, CA—United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that Senior United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia sentenced Brian Raymond Woodin, 41, of Lincoln, today to 30 years in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for producing, transporting, and possessing child pornography. In addition, Woodin was ordered to pay $152,902 in restitution to victims.

This case was the product of an extensive investigation by the Savannah Georgia and the Sacramento offices of the FBI. According to Assistant United States Attorney Laurel D. White, who prosecuted the case, Woodin pleaded guilty in April of this year to charges that he produced images of his then nine-year-old stepdaughter and transported those images to another person in Georgia. A search warrant had been obtained for Woodin’s Placer County residence and work place, and law enforcement officers seized numerous computers that were found to contain thousands of images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

U.S. Attorney Brown stated, “Today’s severe sentence sends a clear message to those who exploit children—they do so at their own peril.”

The investigation was undertaken as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a United States Department of Justice initiative established to increase federal prosecutions of violent sexual predators of children and to reduce the number of Internet crimes against children including child pornography trafficking. As a part of PSC, the United States Attorney’s Office has teamed with state and local agencies and organizations to increase law enforcement presence on the Internet, and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators. For additional information on the PSC initiative, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and ask to speak with the PSC coordinator.

Assistance sought in locating Booker T. Terry; $2 million bail set for charge of aggravated battery of a child Joliet – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow joined Beecher Police Chief Jeffrey Weissgerber in seeking the public’s assistance in locating Booker T. Terry, who has been charged with aggravated battery of a child.

Terry, 40, of 1174 Cherry Lane , Beecher , was charged on Aug. 18, 2009, and a warrant was issued

State’s Attorney James Glasgow

for his arrest. Bail for Terry was set by a judge at $2 million.

The charge alleges that Terry, on or about Aug. 14, 2009, caused great bodily harm to a child by

Charlotte Man Indicted on Production / Possession of Child Pornography CHARLOTTE, NC—David Gerard Smith, 56 years old, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was criminally charged today by the federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte, in a federal bill of indictment alleging in two separate counts that he did knowingly produce child pornography. A third count alleges that David Gerard Smith knowingly possessed child pornography.

Today’s announcement is made by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan, Owen D. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Operations in North Carolina, and Chief Rodney Monroe of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

“Producing and possessing child pornography are serious federal crimes, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan. Defendant Smith is currently in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Corrections and will be brought into federal custody at a future date to face the current charges. A date for his initial appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been set.

If convicted, David Gerard Smith faces no less than 15 years in federal prison (commonly known as a “mandatory minimum” sentence) on each of the two counts alleging production of child pornography (counts one and two). Count three (possession of child pornography) carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

Defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence under the law, and the government has the burden of proving every element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

This prosecution is brought as part of the Justice Department’s Operation Safe Childhood. Launched in 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. striking the minor about the head and body. The charge is a Class X felony that carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison upon conviction.

The child, a 9-year-old girl, suffered critical head injuries. She was transported to the hospital after an ambulance was called to her house in Beecher on Aug. 14.

The girl remains at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn .Beecher Police received critical assistance in the investigation of this case by the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force under the direction of Task Force Commander William Carlisle.

Beecher Police also have sought assistance in locating Terry from the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Police believe Terry is still in the area and may be on Chicago ’s South Side. Anyone with information regarding Terry’s whereabouts is asked to call the Beecher Police Department at (708) 946-2341.

The Will County State 's Attorney's Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Weekly REPORTER

Stimulus Helps Homeowners Save Money (ARA) - "What's in it for me?"

Homeowners will love the answer to that question as they learn more about the new federal economic stimulus bill. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, generally known as the stimulus package, offers special tax credit incentives to homeowners to encourage energy efficiency the best part is it's easy.

Homeowners can get up to $1,500 maximum tax credit for energy efficient home improvement product expenditures. The tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of eligible products up to $5,000 total through 2010. The tax credit applies to products that make improvements to the building envelope, like adding insulation to attics, basements, crawl spaces, exterior walls and properly insulated HVAC systems, since those changes significantly impact energy efficiency.

While the tax incentive within the stimulus package may seem complex and daunting, one company, Owens Corning, has made it simple and painless to claim the insulation tax credit.

Homeowners can check out InsulationTaxCredit.com to: * Find insulation products that are eligible. * Download the Manufacturer's Certificate needed to claim the credit. * Learn how much insulation should be added to areas of a home, see videos on how to install and get an estimate on how much can be saved in heating and cooling energy-related bills. * Find local stores to find eligible products and a local professional to do the installation. * Additional products that are eligible include windows and roofs that meet Enegry Star requirements.

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 4

There are approximately 80 million under-insulated homes in the United States and despite major strides in increasing energy efficiency; homes continue to be one of the largest users of energy, consuming more energy than industry or transportation. It is estimated that properly insulating homes can help owners save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling related energy bills. Tax credits aside, insulation pays for itself over time in energy not used.

"The expansion of federal income tax credits for homeowners will enable more consumers to afford energy efficiency upgrades that will lower their home energy bills -- which we project to reach about $2,200 per U.S. household this year -while increasing the comfort and lowering the carbon footprint of their homes," says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy.

According to a report from the researches at the McKinsey Global Institute, almost a quarter of possible greenhouse gas reductions would result from measures such as better insulation in buildings that carry no net life cycle cost -- in effect, they pay for themselves.

That means homeowners can lower their energy costs and qualify for federal tax credits while helping the environment, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"Homeowners can save twice with insulation -- with up to 20 percent savings on their heating and cooling energy bills and a 30 percent tax credit," says Gale Tedhams, director of sustainability, Owens Corning.

"Thanks to the stimulus bill, homeowners have never had a better opportunity to make an immediate difference in the comfort and affordability of their home and help save the planet -and it is easy!"

Quit Smoking Program Scheduled In Joliet

JOLIET -- The Will County Health Department’s Tobacco Control & Prevention initiative is offering the Freedom From Smoking program beginning Wednesday, September 23 at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center (333 N. Madison St., Joliet).

Based on the latest research on addiction and behavioral change, the newly up-dated quit smoking program addresses many of the difficulties of quitting and provides the education and support to ensure that remaining smoke-free will become a permanent lifestyle choice. Quit smoking program participants have the option of receiving either the nicotine patch or the nicotine lozenge for free. The program meets every Wednesday for seven weeks from 6-7:30 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required to attend. The cost of the quit smoking program is $20 per person, which covers program materials. For more information or to register, visit www.willcountyhealth.org or phone 815-727-8769.

Freedom From Smoking uses a positive behavioral change approach, which teaches participants how to become a nonsmoker for good.

Participants receive special attention to help develop their

own quitting plan. They also learn how to handle withdrawal symptoms, control weight, manage stress through relaxation techniques, and fight those smoking urges. For many smokers, especially those who have tried to quit, group support can make the difference in helping to stay smoke-free.

For Life

For Love

Weekly REPORTER

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 5

Man Required to Register as Sex Offender Charged with Production of Child Pornography

Signs | Banners |T-Shirts Posters | Magnetic Signs Vehicle Lettering Window Lettering Business Cards Stationary | All Printing It’s not easy to be patriotic.

It means ya have to love your fellow man like yerself and even though lots of us say we do few of us pass the test when it comes ta doin’ it. Being American can be hard.

MUTTONHEAD

INDIANAPOLIS—Rickie L. Rarey, 49, Bloomington, Indiana, was indicted today by a federal grand jury sitting in Indianapolis with six counts of Production of Child Pornography and one count of Committing a Child Exploitation Felony While Required to Register as a Sex Offender announced Timothy M. Morrison, United States Attorney, Southern District of Indiana, following an investigation by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana State Police, with the cooperation with the Bartholomew County Prosecuting Attorney. Rarey is currently being held on state charges based on some of the conduct alleged in the federal indictment.

The Indictment alleges that Rarey used two minor females to produce lewd and lascivious images of them in a state of nudity. Rarey produced this child pornography on five separate dates. At the time he allegedly produced the images, Rarey was required to register as a sex offender under Indiana law, having been convicted of three counts of Child Molesting in Bartholomew County, Indiana in 1994.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Brant Cook, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Rarey, if convicted, faces a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of six production of child pornography counts. If convicted of committing a child exploitation felony while required to register as a sex offender, Rarey would be subject to an additional ten year prison term to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. An initial hearing will be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

© Copyright 2009 John's Weekly Reporter

"Lord, what fools these mortals be", Puck.

Weekly REPORTER

NATIONAL NEWS

WASHINGTON—Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that the Special Task Force on Interrogations and Transfer Policies, which was created pursuant to Executive Order 13491 on Jan. 22, 2009, has proposed that the Obama Administration establish a specialized interrogation group to bring together officials from law enforcement, the U.S. Intelligence Community, and the Department of Defense to conduct interrogations in a manner that will strengthen national security consistent with the rule of law.

The Task Force also made policy recommendations with respect to scenarios in which the United States moves or facilitates the movement of a person from one country to another or from U.S. custody to the custody of another country to ensure that U.S. practices in such transfers comply with U.S. law, policy and international obligations and do not result in the transfer of individuals to face torture.

“The new policies proposed by the Task Force will allow us to draw the best personnel from across the government to conduct interrogations that will yield valuable intelligence and strengthen our national security,” said Attorney General Holder. “There is no tension between strengthening our national security and meeting our commitment to the rule of law, and these new policies will accomplish both.”

Interrogations After extensively consulting with representatives of the Armed Forces, the relevant agencies in the Intelligence Community, and some of the nation’s most experienced and skilled interrogators, the Task Force concluded that the Army Field Manual provides appropriate guidance on interrogation for military interrogators and that no additional or different guidance was

The Task Force recommended that the specialized interrogation group be administratively housed within the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with its principal function being intelligence gathering, rather than law enforcement.

Moreover, the Task Force recommended that the group be subject to policy guidance and oversight coordinated by the National Security Council.

The Task Force also recommended that this specialized interrogation group develop a set of best practices and disseminate these for training purposes among agencies that conduct interrogations. In addition, the Task Force recommended that a scientific research program for interrogation be established to study the comparative effectiveness of interrogation approaches and techniques, with the goal of identifying the existing techniques that are most effective and

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 6

necessary for other agencies. These conclusions rested on the Task Force’s unanimous assessment, including that of the Intelligence Community, that the practices and techniques identified by the Army Field Manual or currently used by law enforcement provide adequate and effective means of conducting interrogations.

The Task Force concluded, however, that the United States could improve its ability to interrogate the most dangerous terrorists by forming a specialized interrogation group, or High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG), that would bring together the most effective and experienced interrogators and support personnel from across the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense and law enforcement. The creation of the HIG would build upon a proposal developed by the Intelligence Science Board.

To accomplish that goal, the Task Force recommended that the HIG should coordinate the deployment of mobile teams of experienced interrogators, analysts, subject matter experts and linguists to conduct interrogations of high-value terrorists if the United States obtains the ability to interrogate them. The primary goal of this elite interrogation group would be gathering intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks and otherwise to protect national security. Advance planning and interagency coordination prior to interrogations would also allow the United States, where appropriate, to preserve the option of gathering information to be used in potential criminal investigations and prosecutions.

transfers pursuant to intelligence authorities.

When the United States transfers individuals to other countries, it may rely on assurances from the receiving country. The Task Force made several recommendations aimed at clarifying and strengthening U.S. procedures for obtaining and evaluating those assurances. These included a developing new lawful techniques to recommendation that the State improve intelligence interrogations. Department be involved in evaluating Transfers assurances in all cases and a The Task Force also made policy recommendation that the Inspector recommendations with respect to Generals of the Departments of State, scenarios in which the United States moves or facilitates the movement of a person from one country to another or from U.S. custody to the custody of another country to ensure that U.S. practices in such transfers comply with U.S. law, policy and international obligations and do not result in the transfer of individuals to face torture. In keeping with the broad language of the Executive Order, the Task Force considered seven types of transfers conducted by the U.S. government: extradition, transfers pursuant to immigration proceedings, transfers pursuant to the Geneva Conventions, transfers from Defense, and Homeland Security Guantanamo Bay, military transfers prepare annually a coordinated report within or from Afghanistan, military on transfers conducted by each of transfers within or from Iraq, and their agencies in reliance on assurances.

The Task Force also made several recommendations aimed at improving the United States’ ability to monitor the treatment of individuals transferred to other countries. These include a recommendation that agencies obtaining assurances from foreign countries insist on a monitoring mechanism, or otherwise establish a monitoring mechanism, to ensure consistent, private access to the individual who has been transferred, with minimal advance notice to the detaining government.

The Task Force also made a series of

recommendations that are specific to immigration proceedings and military

transfer scenarios. In addition, the Task Force made classified recommendations that are designed to Congtinued on 14

All About You

Weekly REPORTER

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 7

ers t t a nM o i t a Educ

Classroom Fun For Little Ones At Home (ARA) - As your older children board the bus to go back to school, it can be difficult for the younger ones.

They're not only losing a play companion, but may feel they're missing out on an exciting new world.

But never fear, there are plenty of ways you can bring the wonderment of the classroom into your house so your younger children won't feel left behind. * Create the right atmosphere.

By having a desk, craft items and maybe even a backpack of his own, your child can easily imagine he's in a classroom setting. Plus, as younger children age, you can reuse the space by transforming the school-play area into a homework and study zone. * Find toys that offer "teachable moments."

There are many toys you can purchase that help develop math skills, creativity and body coordination as part of the fun. For example, take the TRIO building set of bricks, sticks and panels from Fisher-Price. Building sets improve hand-eye coordination, help children develop spatial relationships, determine shapes and classifications, and encourage creativity.

"You will often see toddlers enjoying the process of stacking things up; as they get a little older, they move outward, building bridges and walling things in. As children get close to 5 years, they use more complex patterns with greater symmetry, creating more representational structures like a building, tree or animal," says Cynthia Lynn-Garbe, a senior child researcher at Fisher-Price. "The bricks, sticks and panels of the TRIO building system let children experiment with how things fit together, then advance to creating more complex structures."

And would you guess that building sets not only encourage creativity and fine motor skill development but also encourage language skills? Lynn-Garbe suggests having your child build something without telling you what it is. You can then ask about the creation, what it's used for and who lives there, making guesses as you continue to encourage your child to use her imagination as she tells a story about what she built.

"Building can offer family fun as well as touch on some really important skill development that may just spark that engineer or architect of the future," Lynn-Garbe says. * Turn household chores into a learning opportunity.

Having children help with household chores not only teaches them responsibility, but it also gives you an excellent chance to be a teacher. For example, if you're doing laundry, have your child help you sort the clothes by color. Sure, it will take longer, but your child will soon be able to recognize different colors and understand the concepts of sorting and organizing. Or if you're cooking, let your child help measure so they can grasp simple fractions - without even knowing it. * Play with music.

There are lots of creative ways you can introduce your child to the world of music. For example, play music on the TV or stereo and let children keep the rhythm while dancing around, playing a toy drum or clapping their hands. You can even help your child make colorful streamer ribbons to dance with, adding more fun to the activity. As they get older, introduce your child to reading music and playing a small keyboard or other easy instruments.

By having their own school at home, your younger children will not only have fun, but be better prepared when it's their turn to get on the bus in the morning.

Hope is in the cards (ARA) - If each person in America mailed just one positive note, or wrote the word "hope" on the back of one envelope before dropping it into the mail for a friend, relative, co-worker or acquaintance, more than 300 million positive messages would be arriving in mailboxes nationwide.

Having Americans work together to send out positive messages across the country when times are tough is the goal of Hope is in the Cards, a grassroots idea started when one business owner was struggling to keep his company running.

Eight out of 10 people polled in October said that the economy is a significant cause of stress, up from 66 percent six months earlier, according to the American Psychological Association. The main causes for stress and worry

for both men and women were money, the economy, job stability, housing costs and health problems affecting the family.

As an individual, you can easily help change the negative energy caused by stress through the Hope is in the Cards campaign.

All you need to do is write the word "hope" on the back of the next envelope for a bill you pay or a card you're sending to a family member or friend before you drop it in the mail.

Other ways this idea can be put into practice: Community clubs can create handmade cards or postcards with a positive message and distribute them to hospital patients, nursing home residents or at a community gathering.

Business owners might be interested in including a positive message on corporate greeting cards, in a promotional mailing or even on a statement. By keeping the card's envelope blank, the recipient can then forward it on to a loved one or friend.

And those are just a few of the ideas for spreading the message of hope.

"If every adult in America sends one card of thanks or encouragement -- about anything to anyone -- consider the impact of that one action," says Russ Haan

Weekly REPORTER

NEWS

Decatur to Host Neighborhood Conference The Joliet Connection DECATUR - The City of Decatur in conjunction with several communitybased organizations will host the 2009 Regional Neighborhood Network Conference Sept. 17-19 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel.

The Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations and Dove Community Services of Decatur are both also heavily involved in putting on the conference.

Decatur will serve as conference host for the first time since its inception more than 20 years ago and the theme, “Hats of to the Neighborhoods,” salutes the hard work of our neighborhood leaders while giving a subtle nod to Decatur’s Lincoln history. As you may know, Decatur has a wealth of Abraham Lincoln history and America’s 16th president is known for having worn the type of top hat featured prominently in the Decatur RNNC logo.

Between 400 and 500 people from several area states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee are expected to attend the conference in Decatur. The conference is open to the public and will feature a series of traditional and mobile workshops, tours and speakers over the course of three days designed to empower residents in conjunction with government to build better, stronger, safer neighborhoods.

Registration is $100 and includes three days of meals, workshops, transportation and keynote speakers. Registration forms are now available in the Economic Development Department on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center or online at decaturrnnc.com, the official conference web site.

A video of highlights from the 2008 conference in Lima, Ohio can be seen under the “video” section of the web site.

“Our neighborhoods give our cities character,” said City Manager Ryan McCrady. “And it is our job to do what we can to make sure that the neighborhoods have the tools and assistance they need to be the best that they can be.

“This conference will help provide a lot of those tools while giving us an opportunity to showcase our great city.” R. Dale Evans, Sr. from Joliet, Illinois will present the opening session keynote address “Our Community-Our Responsibility.”

For more information contact Billy Tyus at (217) 424-2753.

New Emergency Drill Booklet helps prepare VVSD principals Practice makes habit. That’s the theme of Valley View School Distrrict 365U when it comes to preparing for potential emergency situations.

But Valley View is taking things one step further by providing every principal in the district with a loose leaf Emergency Drill Booklet that will allow for close scrutiny and

analysis of every drill conducted in each school.

“With this new binder, which has never been used before in our district, we will be able to look at how the drill was conducted and make any adjustments, if necessary, in each school’s emergency plans,” said Leroy Brown, school safety coordinator for Valley View.

The booklet includes forms for required bus evacuation drills, shelterin-place (bad weather) drills, fire drills, general evacuation drills and law enforcement (lockdown) drills.

In addition, principals received a bomb threat checklist and a summary of quick reference emergency response procedures.

“We hope none of our students will ever have to experience the real thing,” Brown said. “But we feel this booklet will help our administrators be as prepared as possible should something unexpected occur.”

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 8

Drew Rudy Whiteshield Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on August 24, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, Drew Rudy Whiteshield, a 23-year-old resident of Lame Deer, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. Sentencing is set for November 24, 2009. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following: During the summer of 2006, the victim was staying with Whiteshield's mother in Lame Deer. At the time, the victim was 13 years old and Whiteshield was 20. After the summer, the victim returned to Oregon and, in December of 2006, she disclosed that she had been raped

by Whiteshield. She said that she was in a downstairs bedroom, Whiteshield turned off the light, pushed her down on the bed and forced her to engage in sexual intercourse.

During the investigation, Whiteshield was interviewed and admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the victim at his mother's house. He claims that the sexual intercourse with the victim was consensual.

Whiteshield faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

Be Alert!

School’s Open

Weekly REPORTER

NEWS

Argonne Receives $29 Million Recovery Act Funding ARGONNE, Ill. (Aug. 25, 2009) — The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has received an additional $29.1 million in DOE Office of Science (SC) funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a range of improvements and upgrades to major scientific facilities and other projects.

The new funds come in addition to an earlier $15.1 million in Recovery Act funds provided for laboratory infrastructure modernization and $99 million in Recovery Act money provided by

DOE's Office of Environmental Management for clean-up and remediation of legacy nuclear waste and facilities. The new funds bring Argonne’s total Recovery Act funding to date to more than $140 million.

"These new initiatives will help to create new jobs while allowing the U.S. to maintain its scientific leadership and economic competitiveness," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The projects provide vital funding and new tools for research aimed at strengthening America’s energy security and tackling some of science’s toughest challenges."

Indiana Man Indicted for Cross Burning WASHINGTON—The Justice Department announced that Bruce Mikulyuk, of Mishawaka, Indiana, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for charges stemming from a cross burning in September 2007.

Mikulyuk made his first court appearance today in South Bend, Indiana. A trial has been scheduled for November 3, 2009.

Mikulyuk was charged with one count of interfering with the housing rights of another and one count of using fire in the commission of a felony.

According to the indictment, Mikulyuk burned a cross at the home of an African-American man and white woman and returned later with a knife and made threats.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

FBI Special Agents Rick Miller and Arthur Grist investigated this case.

The case will be prosecuted by Trial Attorney Betsy Biffl from the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department.

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 9

Approximately $7.9 million will be used to upgrade equipment and acquire and install new detectors at the Advanced Photon Source (APS).

The APS is a national synchrotron X-ray research facility supported by SC’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The APS provides the brightest X-ray beams in the western hemisphere and is used annually by nearly 3,500 scientists conducting advanced research in energy, materials science and other fields.

Argonne ARRA funding – add one About $8.9 million of the Recovery Act funds will be used for upgrades at Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS), a national user facility supported by the SC’s Office of Nuclear Physics (NP). ATLAS is a superconducting linear accelerator for heavy ions used by scientists to study the atomic nucleus and to understand the processes by which heavier elements (those with an atomic number greater than iron) are formed within stars.

In addition, the new Recovery Act funding includes the following: $3.8 million for equipment upgrades at Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials, one of five Nanoscale Science Research Centers supported by SC’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and located at national laboratories around the nation; $3.8 million for advanced research on particle detector technology, supported by SC’s Office of High Energy Physics; $220,000 for NP’s U.S. Nuclear Data Program to enhance the program’s efforts to compile, evaluate and disseminate experimental nuclear data for use in basic research and as a resource for a variety of applied programs such as reactor technology and national security.

Finally, Argonne has been allocated $4.5 million in Recovery Act funds from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), part of $60 million provided to PNNL to upgrade equipment for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility (ACRF). The funds will be used to improve observational capabilities related to cloud and aerosol properties to study the critical role that clouds and aerosols play in regional climate and atmospheric circulation changes. The ACRF, supported by SC’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research, is a collaboration among nine national laboratories, including Argonne.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.

The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Myrtle Beach Man Gets 25 Months For Movie Piracy Columbia, SC—United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Michael Lamont Chaplin, age 37, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced in federal court for trafficking in counterfeit labels, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2318(a) and 2318(c)(3). United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence sentenced Chaplin to 25 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay restitution of $4,485.00.

Chaplin sold counterfeit DVDs from a business called S & S Fashions located at 1406 Mill Pond Road in Conway. On February 21, 2006, Conway officers responding to a burglary complaint discovered pirated movies on DVDs containing counterfeit labels. Chaplin has a prior conviction for selling DVDs containing pirated motion pictures.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.

Somethin’s Cookin’

Weekly REPORTER

Discover the great taste of whole grains

Somethin’s Cookin’

Mmmm Mom made apaghetti healthy but also taste great," says Greene. He provides the following tips for healthy living: * As with anything else, eating well and feeling good doesn't happen overnight. Sticking with a healthy routine even after slip-ups is key. * Physical activity and proper nutrition go hand in hand. Regular exercise and eating lots of fruits, vegetables and foods rich in whole grains are a great way to boost your overall wellness.

"I recommend three to five servings of whole grains daily. To reach this goal, try substituting some of the refined products you eat with versions that contain whole grains. For instance, this is easy when you enjoy foods that taste delicious like Barilla Whole Grain pasta that you can use in place of regular pasta. Eating a

(ARA) - For many, finding a simple way to get good nutrition without sacrificing taste can be a challenge - a daily dilemma between flavorful foods and products that promote a wholesome diet. Great solutions can easily be found thanks to the introduction of new betterfor-you foods and beverages that are surprisingly delicious.

The benefits of whole grains, for example, have been widely documented. Consuming foods rich in whole grains as part of a healthy

fiber-rich diet can be actually very easy and tasty," Greene says.

As part of his quest to encourage Americans to rediscover whole grains, Greene encourages people to take the Barilla "That's Whole Grain?"

Taste Challenge which guarantees that anyone who tries Barilla Whole Grain will enjoy its taste.

People who are not completely satisfied with the product can receive a box of their favorite regular Barilla pasta. To participate or learn more visit www.TryBarillaWholeGrain.com.

If you're ready for the challenge of eating healthy, try this mouth-watering, easy-to-make recipe:

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 10 diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and help protect against stroke, certain types of cancers and also assists with weight control. The great news is that these days it's easy to seamlessly integrate whole grains into traditional recipes for a delicious meal. For example, a versatile food like whole grain pasta pairs very well with fresh seasonal vegetables, cheeses and aromatic herbs, making it a great dish for any season.

Bob Greene, celebrity fitness guru and author of the New York Times bestseller "The Best Life Diet," believes healthy eating can be a culinary experience. "As part of the 'Best Life Diet,' I try to share foods that are not only

Cook time: Eight minutes Servings: 6

Add cherry tomatoes and saute 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and remove from heat.

Ingredients: Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of 1 box Barilla Whole Grain the cooking liquid. Toss pasta with Spaghetti cherry tomatoes, garlic and half 1 clove garlic, minced the basil. Add reserved cooking 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive liquid to skillet and toss pasta oil again. Top with Parmigiano, black 1 pint cherry tomatoes, pepper and remaining basil. halved 1/4 teaspoon salt Per serving, about: Freshly ground black pepper to taste 5 to 6 leaves basil, sliced into thin strips 1/2 cup Parmigiano, grated

Directions: Cook pasta according to Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti package directions. Meanwhile, in with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil a large skillet, saute minced garlic Prep Time: Four minutes in olive oil until slightly yellow.

Calories: 284 Protein: 12 g Carbohydrate: 49 g Dietary Fiber: 7 g Total Sugars: 2 g Total Fat: 6 g Saturated Fat: 1.7 g Cholesterol: 7 mg Calcium: 96 mg Sodium: 229 mg

Great Mexican Dishes Take a Food Tip From Granny Summer is quickly slipping away from us. That means it is time for you to think of buying those special foods that will be priced higher when they are scarce. Do what granny did, can your favorites such as fruits, tomatoes and other items that are not locally grown during winter. You’ll have greats tastes all winter long.

Served by A Warm, Friendly Staff

Weekly REPORTER

Family Living

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 11

Find Comfort Outdoors

hair. For example, if you have a multi-colored pet, opt for a small pattern that closely matches your pet's coloring. If you have a white poodle or feline, skip the allblack sofa and choose a lighter fabric color. If your heart is still set on black, accessorize with black pillows or a throw blanket.

The same holds true if you own a pet with darker fur -- the darker your fabric choices, the easier it will be to hide pet fur.

Create A Home Fit For Humans And FourLegged Friends (ARA) - Americans love their pets and there are certainly lots of them to love. Sixty three percent of U.S. households own a pet and the most popular animals -- dogs and cats -- make up 82 percent of all pets, according to the American Pet Products Association.

With all those furry friends, it's no surprise that pet-friendly design is one of the fastest growing interior decorating trends. From high-end home items to the basics, decorating is literally going to the dogs ... and cats. Beyond petproofing a home for safety, petfriendly decorating has an increasing number of animal lovers choosing and incorporating pet-friendly fabrics and building materials into their homes' decor.

A number of cost-effective ways to maintain a fabulouslooking home are also practical and comfortable for both you and your pet. Here are five tricks of the trade: Common sense color.

It's one of the simplest interior design tricks -- matching your furniture fabric to your pet's fur color to help conceal dog and cat

Fitting floors.

Flooring options for pet owners can be tricky because carpet holds stains and odors, and hardwood scratches easily. If you're looking at replacing your carpeting, there are choices specifically designed for pet owners. One of them, Pet Agree Carpet, claims that it withstands any damage made by a pet. It's made from a material that traps liquids, such as pet urine, and Skip the slipcover. stops them from soaking through Thanks to recent advances to the carpet padding and floor made in the manufacturing of below. furniture fabric, there's no need to hide your couch under an If you prefer hardwood floors, unsightly slipcover in order to but don't want to deal with protect it from the wear-and-tear scratches that can be made by of your pet. Look into purchasing your four-legged friends, think furniture made with Crypton, a laminate. Today's laminate synthetic textile that's easy to flooring, like the new North clean and highly resistant to stains, American collection from Tarkett water and even bacteria. A less Residential, is far more durable, expensive option is ultrasuede and scratch- and indentationmicrofiber. If either of these resistant than softer real wood choices is still out of your price flooring. These surfaces also range, make sure your furniture is install faster, are about half the protected with Scotchgard. price and still offer a vast choice However, if you go this route, in unique wood finishes. know that there are still some fabrics to avoid, such as denim, Less is more. flannel, corduroy and velvet. Each Another smart design tip: keep of them has a tendency to hold pet knickknacks and accent pieces to fur. a minimum. Today's trend in creating clean, streamlined spaces Pet-friendly paint. is not only aesthetically appealing, Keeping your walls clean and but is ideal for pet owners. A free of dirt marks can be a feat if well-thought-out design means you have a pet. Choosing a high- you'll enjoy the benefits of a quality, durable paint really does clutter-free environment while make a difference. Dutch Boy's keeping unnecessary, decorative Refresh paint, a new paint items out of reach of pets' formulated with exclusive Arm & sweeping tails and curious jaws.

Hammer odor-eliminating technology, is ideal for pet Ensuring you, Fido and Fluffy owners. It provides a beautiful live harmoniously doesn't mean finish that's also extremely you need to spend a bundle, or durable, so cleanup of dirt and sacrifice your sense of style. By marks is easy. Plus, it actually doing your research, formulating removes odors, including pet a decorating plan and choosing smells, from the air. You'll not your materials carefully, you can only have great-looking walls, but easily create a home that's fit for a fresh-smelling home, too. man and beast.

(ARA) - Between conference calls, cooking dinner and clipping coupons, women are escaping to the outdoors this summer for an everyday oasis from stress.In fact, nearly nine in 10 women say they

are likely to spend more time outdoors this year compared to last year, with gardening as one of the most popular stress solutions, according to the OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent Survey.

Continued in next column

"More and more women tell me that they need to step back from their daily routine and recharge," says Jennifer Louden, life guide and author of "The Woman's Comfort Book." "A quiet spot outdoors is the ideal place to get refreshed. You'll be amazed how energized you feel just spending a

little time in nature without any interruptions."

Louden provides the following tips to create small breaks to find daily peace: * Start the day right.

Take a few moments for yourself in the morning and think about your goals for the day. Set your alarm clock for five minutes earlier so that you can consider what you want your day to be like instead of letting your mind chatter with a list of tasks. * Claim an outdoor space.

Find a personal nook, in a park, public garden, beach, sculpture garden or even your own backyard.

"To ensure my outdoor breaks aren't spoiled by mosquitoes, I use OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent, a personal, odorless bug repellent device that clips on to your belt, purse or chair and offers head-totoe protection from mosquitoes without spraying anything on your skin," says Louden. * Let nature relax your mind.

Put petty annoyances aside and focus on the beauty of the natural world, the feeling of the breeze against your skin and the warm sun Continued on 14

Weekly REPORTER

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 12

From The Lips Of John Cappas

More on Warden Ragen and Joliet Prisons

By now, I’m beginning to collect a lot of paperwork and I’m carrying it with me—yeah—you got it, sort of like when I was in Marist High. All of a sudden I’m finding myself in a whole new world. I realize I’m so caught up in what I’m doing that I really sort of have my own world. A private place where my brain is working overtime thinking, doing something productive.

I don’t know it then but all of a sudden I’m putting all that good sense I have inside me to use. All of a sudden the real John Cappas is beginning to show his head.

What do I mean? Well let’s be straight with each other. Yeah when I was on the street I was one real badass—no doubt about it. Guaranteed no one messed with me and no one wanted to. But, remember, even though I was fooling myself about myself, deep down inside me I was still paying back my father for making go to Marist.

Crazy huh? Yeah, I guess your mind is a really weird piece of equipment when you get right down to it. So here I was the notorious John Cappas, so caught up in wanting out, so captivated by this urge I have to be free, the real me was beginning to seep out of wherever the hell it was hiding for all those years. I started noticing that I was even feeling different.

The lawyer is still telling me I’m nuts for wanting to file a motion in court on my slant of the law but I keep insisting that I’m right.

Now keep in mind one thing. When I was in school I was probably pretty much like you are. I figured I had all the answers and somehow I just never realized there could be payback for some of the things I was doing. I was John Cappas and no one in the world was like me and that was that.

But the f---king walls I have to see every day, those lousy f---king walls that are too high to go over and too deep to dig under are suffocating me. Their robbing me of my life.

So now I find myself walking faster at the end of the day so I can get into the law library sooner. I got to hit the books. It seemed like every day that I went in there I had a new I idea. Every day I was thinking clearer and every day I was feeling closer to the outside.

But—everyday there were the threats, there were the stabbings, there was a new rumor about someone else getting raped and turned-out. The reality was there, but now it was a good thing because it made me realize that I shouldn’t be there. I began to understand that I was not the person I allowed myself to become outside in the world of drugs and stupidity.

Did it ever occur to you that you really are a very smart person even smarter and able to do more things than anyone else realizes? Well that’s what finally struck me like a ton of bricks. I was getting smart for the first time in my life.

You know what was getting to me? Those books! Yeah those books. The more I read the more powerful my mind got and the more I was able to see.

It’s really crazy but I’m telling you just like it happened.

Finally I figure that I have all the support I need for what I am convinced will get me back into court. I searched every damn book I could find that had anything to do with sentences like mine. I learned enough about law to know I was right. Now I had to convince a United States District Judge of it.

Now just getting my lawyer to file the proper papers for me doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. No matter how right I am and no matter what the law says there are people out there who don’t like me, people who hate my guts for selling drugs.

There are people out there who want me to rot in prison, die there if possible. They have no use for the John Cappas they put away and they sure don’t want him back. But maybe I have some surprises for them.

Edward “Eddie” Darlak was captured as were Touchy and Banghart. Upon their return to prison they were punished by Warden Ragen in addition to the sentences they were given for escaping.

Darlak learned to accept his lot in prison and because of his reputation that rivaled that of Roger “The Terrible” Touhy inside the prison, he was able to fare without serious threats to his safety.

But, despite his escape and despite the harsh treatment he suffered as a result of it, Darlak showed a great deal of respect for Joliet Warden Joseph E. Ragen. He seemed to enjoy reflecting on his visits with the warden after he was released from prison. Mind you, Darlak was considered a “solid” con, someone who would never betray another con. Still, like many others similar to himself he did respect Ragen. Darlak told of one man who returned to ask Ragen for a loaf of the prison bread he really missed after his release.

But prison changed as more men were sentenced for drug trafficking.

Warden Ragen, often referred to as America’s most capable penologist during his time, ran his prisons strictly albeit in a fashion he considered fair to those who were his prisoners.

He instituted a system that permitted the men to write letters to preapproved persons. To make certain nothing reached beyond the walls that he did not want released to the public he controlled the letter writing quite strictly.

The prisoners were issued one letterhead per week. Ragen had a special form printed in the prison print shop that was lined and contained appropriate places for the names of the sender and of the recipient. He issued one letter head per prison on Friday nights along with one short pencil. The officer in charge of the cell house would assign certain inmates to walk the galleries with a hand operated pencil sharpener to the prisoners could sharpen the pencils.

Ragen clearly thought of even the smallest details in running “his prisons.”

On Sunday evenings the letters were picked up by guards.

Joe Ragen realized that if the letters were able to be mailed freely without censorship he would lose control of the information that reached the outside world including, of course, the press. He was always faced with a tight budget and so he could not afford a separate staff to read the thousands of letters that were written each week. But he came up with an idea.

The correctional officers who were assigned to guard duty in the towers had nothing to occupy their time and thus spend long, idle hours alone locked inside those tall structures. It may be true and it may not be, but credit for assigning the tower guards to read and censor the inmates’ letters is given to Nathan Leopold convicted killer of Bobby Franks.

Leopold and Ragen had a trusting relationship between them and because of Leopold’s high intelligence and good prison behavior Ragen often confided in him and was said to have frequently invited Leopold to Ragen’s private apartment on the top floor of the prison administration building.

On Sunday evenings when the letters were collected guards accompanied inmates who gathered them. The pencils were also retrieved and counted.

Ragen did not permit pencils or papers inside his prison unless they were authorized for educational purposes. Then one of his captains would issue a permit for those items that the inmate had to keep in his cell. Ragen did not want inmates to communicate with the courts as to conditions within the prison.

Eventually he would lose that battle entirely and the federal courts would mandate that he cease prohibiting such communications. Eventually he was forced to allow law books, and other items necessary for inmates to use in pursuit of exercising their right to free access to the courts.

Ralph LaPorte - rlaporte@theweeklyreporter.com

Weekly REPORTER

Your Life

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 13

The Summer Adventure Part 12

Dear Lindsey: My friend’s mother asked her to go to a store to buy 3 12-packs of pop and a few other things. Some of them were snacks for us and so on. We got the soda pop and snacks and then some vegetables and we went to check out. When we get to the check out the girl asked for her card for the store and my friend Mary gave it to her. In the meantime I was putting things on the checkout. When I put the pop on the I did what they always do, I only put one of the 12-packs up and I said we have three of those. I didn’t pay any more attention and I waited for Mary to pay so we could leave. Then I pushed the cart and when we got a little distance from the checkout counter Mary says, “I don’t think she charged us for the pop.” So I says let me see the receipt and sure enough the girl only rang up one of the 12-packs. I told Mary we had to go back and tell the checkout girl and Mary gets kind of mad and tells me, “Are you some kind of crazy? It was her mistake not mine.” I said I thought that was stealing and she says I must be nuts that if the girl made a mistake that’s tough. I say it was stealing no matter how you look at it and its wrong. So what do you think?

Dear What Do You Thnk: This is a slam-dunk. You win hands down. Your friend Mary is wrong.

One hundred percent wrong. When someone makes a mistake like the checkout girl made with Mary’s groceries you have a moral responsibility to call the mistake to her attention. You might even have a legal responsibility to do it. I know that in the case of a bank you can be charged with bank fraud if you fail to call a mistake to the attention of a teller. It is never too late to correct a wrong. I suggest that you tell your friend to return to the store and tell them you discovered the error and want to pay for the other two 12-packs. You cannot keep something that is not yours just because the other person made a mistake. You are to be commended for your own integrity.

Dear Lindsey: My grandmother used to always have a sweet potato plant somewhere in her house. She died a short time ago and I thought growing one of them would be a nice way to remember her. I know she used to start the plants and give them away to her friends and people she knew. I never realized that it was such a nice thing to do until she passed away.

I know this is not the kind of stuff you usually write about but I thought maybe you could help me out because you have answers to everything.

Dear Everything: Well I must admit your request is different but it still deserves attention.

There are step by step instructions for starting a sweet potato plant on line if you go to www.ehow.com. Check it out there is really nothing difficult about it. Sweet potato plants (vines) are easy to grow and they do not require any special care. I asked my grandfather about, as usual, and he said when he was a boy in school everyone in his 4th grade class grew one as a project. Oh, he mentioned that all of the 6 rows of seats in the room had a student in it except for the last seat in the sixth row.

That meant there were 47 kids in his class! Wow. I guess they all learned too because he’s awfully smart.

Please include your telephone number with all Lindsey letters.

John Gabriel Award Winning writer Jgabriel@theweeklyreporter.com

Andy and Hank were both feeling good when Andy’s parents discovered them. There was still the problem of getting out of the mine safely and father was very aware of that as he prepared the ropes to be lowered to the Andy and his newfound friend.

He was not sure how far below ground level they were and he did not dare walk to the edge of the hole without having something to prevent him from falling into the hole should the ground cave-in beneath him.

Grandfather was standing nearby next to a tall stout oak tree and he called out, “Al toss the end of that rope over here and I’ll tie it around this tree.”

Father quickly threw the end of the rope to him. They were heavy duty nylon ropes and were a bright yellow color.

“Al I wouldn’t trust that ground . I suggest you cut a piece of rope to tie around yourself so you can tie yourself to something before you go anywhere inside that back entrance. It looks to me like the whole bottom of the shaft caved-in and that’s where Andy and that fellow Hank are standing.”

“You’re right Dad.” Father followed the instructions. He had planned to do exactly what Grandfather suggested but out of respect he said no more.

When he was ready Father called loudly to Andy. “Okay Andy! I going to try to toss this rope down to you. See if you can catch it.”

“Okay Father. Go ahead and throw it.”

Father walked as close as They did not notice the gathering clouds he safely could and then hurled the rope directly into the hole. “Tell me if you can see the rope Andy,” he called.

“No I can’t see it,” Andy answered.

Then Hank shouted up, “Mr. Aston Sir, I believe the rope is caught up there on a root or something growing out of the side of the hole.” He paused and then continued, “Yep, sure as anything that’s exactly where it’s hung up. Can you pull it up and try again?”

Father did as Hank had suggested and pulled the rope up. Just as he had the end in his hands again there was a soft rumbling sound and a large section of the ground just inside the entrance fell inward and plunged down to where Andy and Hank were standing and looking up to where Father was. Luck for them they heard the rumbling begin and quickly moved out of the way of the path of the falling earth.

“You sure called that one right Dad,” Al called to Grandfather. If I had walked inside there I would have fallen in myself. The question now is how do we get them out of there without risking another cave-in.”

“Let’s use as trick I learned in my old army days Al,” Grandfather suggested. “Let’s cut down a couple young trees and make an A-frame. We can drop the rope down to them from the top of the A-frame and it will act like a hoist.”

“Oh sure, why didn’t I think of that.”

While the two men trekked off in search of trees Mother, who was standing nearby, shouted down to Andy. “Andy are you hungry? Do you have water to drink?”

“Hank and I have water Mom, but I sure am hungry.”

“Okay you both watch out now because I’m going to throw a couple sandwiches down to you in a brown bag. Ready?”

“Go ahead Mom, toss it down.”

With that Mother placed two sandwiches in a bag and whirling her arm in a circle like a softball pitcher she threw the bag into the entrance and directly down the hole.”

“Well can believe that now lad?” Hank shouted gleefully. “That mum of yours certainly has a good arm fer a woman now don’t she?” Hank chuckled as he made his way toward the bag which had fallen about twenty feet or so from where they were taking shelter from the falling earth.

ITEMS

Weekly REPORTER Connections Continued from 11 on your face. Step outside and let nature quiet your mind. Take the time to stop and truly smell the roses. * Avoid multi-tasking.

Listening to music, walking the dog and taking the kids to the park are things that can prevent you from experiencing real relaxation because you're doing something rather than simply being. * Focus on your accomplishments.

At the end of the day, instead of dwelling on what you didn't get done, acknowledge what you accomplished.

For more information about how to protect quiet outdoor moments from mosquitoes, visit www.offprotects.com.

Hope Cards - from page 7 of Phoenix, founder of Hope is in the Cards. "Then multiply that by 300 million people. What would happen if there were that many messages of hope and support circulating around the country right now?"

While this grassroots campaign is relatively new -- Haan created the concept just after the presidential inauguration -- it has grown to include partnerships with corporations that are designing hope cards and stamps for individual use, and a Hope Wall tour of eight cities is planned this summer. On the tour, a large wall filled with donated greeting will be available for individuals who want to choose one and add a personal message. Once they fill out the card and address the envelope, the postage will be complimentary.

The campaign's Web site, www.hopeisinthecards.org, is interactive with links to blogs, a Twitter account and ways for people to record their personal testimonials and efforts to spread the message of hope.

"When you send hope, you create hope -- it's what our country needs right now," Haan says. "The point is to try and communicate.

This can be huge and this is something that everyone can do."

Continued from page 6

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 14

2-22.3, when employed by departments and agencies outside the military, provide an appropriate means of acquiring the intelligence necessary to protect the Nation, and, if warranted, to recommend any additional or different guidance for other departments or agencies.”

The Task Force was also directed to study and evaluate “the practices of transferring individuals to other nations in order to ensure that such practices comply with the domestic laws, international obligations, and policies of the United States and do not result in the transfer of individuals to other nations to face torture or otherwise for the purpose, or with the effect, of undermining or circumventing the commitments or obligations of the United States to ensure the humane treatment of individuals in its custody and control.”

ensure that, should the Intelligence Community participate in or otherwise support a transfer, any affected individuals are subjected to proper treatment.

Background Information The Task Force on Interrogations and Transfer Policies is chaired by the Attorney General, with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense serving as CoVice-Chairs. Other members of the Task Force are the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Each of these officials appointed senior-level representatives to serve on a working-level task force to complete the work of the Executive Order.

The Executive Order directed the There will be additional detail Task Force to study and evaluate as they are released .from the “whether the interrogation practices government. and techniques in Army Field Manual

Mark Watson Continued From Page 2

Graf said Watson tore up his patio and left This mess behind

Attorney Jeffery M. McCarthy said at one point he represented Mr. Watson. In a case in which his former wife alleged that he owes her $80,000, Mr. Watson accused his wife of writing “fraudulent” checks and said the State of Oregon was searching for her. Mr. Watson denied any wrong doing and said he earned the $23,000 he refused to refund to Ron Graf. He said he worked about four hours on the job and that is his rightful compensation for his work.

The judge has scheduled the next hearing for Mr. Watson on September 15th at 9:00 am in room 405 of the Will County Courthouse.

The Better Business Bureau rates Mr. Watson’s business practices as “unsatisfactory”.

Lawyer Indicted for Accepting Cash in Exchange for Promise of Tampering with Grand Jury Witness Testimony An attorney arrested earlier this month after accepting $50,000 in cash as part of a payment made in exchange for the lawyer's promise to tamper with a federal grand jury investigation was indicted this afternoon by another federal grand jury.

Alfred Nash Villalobos, 44, a South Lake Tahoe resident who recently relocated from West Hills, was indicted on charges of endeavoring to obstruct a grand jury investigation and interfering with interstate commerce by extortion.

The indictment alleges that Villalobos solicited cash payments totaling $100,000, as

How Are You Driving?

Drivers too often forget about the areas they cannot see—the so-called blind spots to your right rear and to your left rear. Those are areas where a car along side you can become invisible because it is out of the range of your mirror.

That’s why it is so important to be alert and to know what vehicles are alongside yours, ahead and behind it. A driver may position himself close to the your right rear fender and you will only be able to see that vehicle by turning your head to look back to that area. You cannot see it with your mirror positioned for normal driving.

Avoid an accident pay attention. The life you save may be your own. well as other compensation in the form of payments and a fraudulent charitable donation receipt, from the target of a pending federal grand jury investigation. The indictment alleges that, in exchange for the payments, Villalobos agreed to cause his client, a witness in the grand jury investigation, to make specific false statements to the Assistant United States Attorney and grand jury conducting that investigation.

According to court documents previously filed in this case, Villalobos agreed to an August 4 meeting at a Century City law firm to accept $50,000 in cash, which was the first installment of a $107,000 bribe from an attorney who was cooperating with the FBI. Villalobos will be arraigned on the indictment on August 31.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The charge of obstruction of a grand jury proceeding carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charge of extortion by blackmail carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the (FBI) Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Weekly REPORTER

COMMUNITY

August 27 - September 2, 2009 - 15

WILL COUNTY CIRCUIT CLERK COLLECTS MORE THAN $5 MILLION IN PAST-DUE FINES, FEES Significant funding recouped for county, municipal budgets JOLIET - Pamela McGuire, Will County Circuit Clerk, announced today have paid in the first place. Collecting these past-due debts is assisting county, her office has recouped more than $5 million in past-due court fines and fees municipal and state officials as they grapple with tight budgets. since it went live with its collection efforts in May of 2007.

“Sixty-nine percent of the $5 million has been collected through the The Circuit Clerk and the State’s Attorney entered Circuit Clerk’s Office, something we are very proud of,” into a contract two years ago with Harris and Harris Ltd. continued McGuire. “I recommend anyone who owes and the law offices of Arnold Scott Harris to collect fines or fees to pay them on time and avoid being turned past-due court debts. Harris and Harris is a highly over to collections. If an individual wants to check for respected Chicago-based collections business and legal an outstanding balance or review their records on our firm with a proven track record in other Illinois counties. public access terminals they can visit one of the three “This collection project has the continued support Circuit Clerk locations: Will County Courthouse, 14 W. of Jim Glasgow, Will County State’s Attorney and Larry Jefferson St., 2nd Floor, Joliet; River Valley Juvenile Walsh, Will County Executive. Along with Harris and Justice Center, 3210 W. McDonough Street, 2nd Floor, Harris Ltd., we are very pleased to report on its Joliet; or Will County Court Annex Building, 57 N. impressive success,” stated Circuit Clerk McGuire.

Ottawa Street, 2nd Floor, Joliet,” said McGuire.

She commended her staff for its tenacious work She continued, “If your case is in collections, then I efforts. “The Finance team as well as the clerks and urge you to comply so further court action with the computer staff continue to show outstanding patience in possibility of garnishment of wages will not be taken. order to make this collection project work. They have This office takes very seriously nonpayment of these done a great job.” court monies.”

County Executive Walsh said: “I compliment Pam Payments can be made at any of the above addresses McGuire on these significant efforts. In times of such Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. In tough budgetary challenges at all levels of our addition, payments may be made through the Internet government, finding ways to bring in additional revenue at www.willcountycircuitcourt.com by selecting “Onwithout tax increases is critical. Working together with Circuit Court Clerk Pam McGuire Line Payments” or by calling 888-604-7888. Please the State’s Attorney and my Finance Director, the Circuit At 2008 Swearing-In Ceremony note, the vendor(s) for this service will charge a Clerk has proved that we can achieve great things by convenience fee. partnering together.”

“Being able to return revenues to Will County as well as its municipalities State’s Attorney Glasgow said: “The Harris and Harris collection program is a proven success. Under Pam McGuire’s stewardship, the program has is a positive venture our office is proud to accomplish, especially with the captured significant funding for Will County and its municipalities. In addition nature of the existing economy,” said McGuire.

The Circuit Clerk’s office has returned over $1.5 million dollars to the to recouping past-due revenues, this program sends the clear message that various cities, villages, townships and law enforcement agencies in Will defendants no longer can simply turn their backs on paying court-ordered fines County.

Of that, $183,692.00 has been returned to the Village of and fees without consequences.”

Bolingbrook, $131,525.00 to the Village of Romeoville, $103,220.00 to the When the collection effort began in 2007, there were millions of dollars in past-due debt dating back several decades. The Circuit Clerk has taken a Village of Plainfield and $512,353.00 to the City of Joliet. significant step toward recouping court fines and fees that offenders should

Vancouver Man Pleads Guilty to Production and Receipt of Child Pornography Defendant Admits Making Pornographic Videos of Young Relatives Michael Joseph Gilbert, 56, of Vancouver, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to Production of Child Pornography and Receipt of Child Pornography. In his plea agreement Gilbert admits he made sexually explicit videos of two young girls when the children were as young as 5 and 6 years old.

Production of child pornography

is punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Gilbert is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton on November 19, 2009.

According to the plea agreement, Gilbert admits to making sexually explicit videos of the young girls on multiple occasions over the last five years.

When law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gilbert’s home they seized three video tapes made

by Gilbert, as well as child pornography he had obtained from the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing programs. Gilbert was originally identified as someone trading child pornography over the internet during an FBI undercover investigation of peer-to-peer file sharing. A forensic review of Gilbert’s computer revealed that he possessed more than 6,000 images

of child pornography, including the images of his young relatives.

Gilbert has agreed to a complete psycho-sexual evaluation before sentencing.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, when released from prison Gilbert must register as a sex offender and be on supervised release for the rest of his life. Both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence between 14 and 16-anda-half years in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted

by Assistant United States Attorney Aravind Swaminathan.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.