Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and now Indiana and Wisconsin, are looking to the U.S. Supreme Court to keep the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes from the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
Click on the following for more details: City Room™ - Metro - Asian Carp Fight Continues
could be due to the state's flagging economy and to the first full year of operation of a new clinic offering abortion services in Aurora, abortion-rights advocates and opponents alike say.
In 2008, the most recent year for which data are available, figures from the Illinois Public Health Department show that 47,717 abortions were performed statewide. That represents a 5 percent increase from 2007. And it's the most abortions in Illinois in a year since 1998,
the age group with the largest increase in abortions from 2007 to 2008 was those 14 and under. In 2008, 299 girls in that group obtained abortions, up 16 percent from 2007, state records show.
Click on the following for more details: Abortions at 10-year high in Illinois :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State
In Illinois, the number of companies from which the state sought to "recapture" incentive money has steadily climbed, from six in 2005 to a total of 37 by 2008.
St. Louis County, officials have told Pfizer Inc. that if it cuts 600 jobs, as planned, they'll rethink the $7 million in tax breaks they promised to give the drugmaker for the next 10 years.
Cities, counties take back tax breaks they gave companies that broke promises to create jobs - WXIN
President of NKD America passes away 12-13-2009.
Michael Stephen Walczak 63, Huntley, IL.
Michael Stephen Walczak 63, formerly of Noblesville, IN. passed away Sunday December 13, 2009 after a short but agonizing and cruel battle with cancer.
He was born October 13, 1946 in Buffalo, NY. the son of Stephen and Sophia Walczak.
Michael served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Vietnam War where he received a Purple Heart.
Michael was the President of NDK America in Belvidere, IL. and will be greatly missed by all those who worked alongside him as friends and coworkers. Michael positively impacted so many lives and lived an exemplary life. Words can not express how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. A devoted son, brother, husband, dad "Bacca", uncle, friend, mentor and Marine, Michael lived his life with style, grace, dignity, sense of humor and above all, an enormous amount of love.
Michael is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Cecelia; daughters, Tara (Jonathan Wayne) Walczak Daege and Tracie Marie (Pankaj Kashiram) Shere, grandchildren and the light of his life Noah Michael Daege, Norah Cecelia Daege, Tehya Ainsley Shere, Lila Grace Shere and Kennedy Cecelia Shere, a sister, Patricia Krzykowski and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ronald R. Walczak.
Visitation for Michael will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the [[ James A. O,Connor Funeral Home ]] 11603 E. Main St. Huntley, IL. He will ile in state Friday from 12:30 until the 1:30 Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated at St Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Huntley/Dundee Rd., Huntley.
Michael's final resting place will be in Hamilton Memorial Park, 4180 Westfield Rd. Noblesville, Indiana. A. visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, until the 1:00 p.m. committal service at the Hamilton Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 143 First St., Batavia, IL. 60150, St. Jude Research Hospital Tribute Program, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN. 38148 or at
www.stjude.org/tribute
or Riverview Hospital Memorial Foundation 395 Westfield Rd., Noblesville, IN. 46060.
Click on the following for more details: Michael Stephen Walczak 63, Huntley, IL. - Yellow Foot Prints Forums Obituary also available at the Northwest Herald: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwherald/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=137356588
Sparked by a key tax credit for first-time homebuyers, the real estate business showed signs of a strong turnaround in the second half of the year. Stephenson County home sales in November 2009 outpaced sales from November 2008 by more than $1 million and, through the first 11 months of the year, home sales in the Freeport region had fallen by only 3 percent compared to 2008 figures.
The outlook was not as bright in the Galena region, where home sales dipped by approximately 40 percent in 2009. The precipitous decline was likely caused by Chicago residents’ reluctance to buy secondary homes in the Northwest Illinois market.
2009 IN REVIEW: Real estate battles the recession - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
a report Tuesday showed that Chicago tied for second in month-to-month home-price declines among 20 major metropolitan areas.
The turnaround in home prices seen in the spring and summer has faded, with only seven of the 20 cities seeing month-to-month gains," said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at Standard & Poor's in New York.
Click on the following for more details: Chicago home prices drop :: The Courier News :: Business
The following is taken from the website of Engineering Pressure Systems, Inc., the designer of the Crystal Growing system at the NDK building which exploded on December 7.
EPSInc, 165 Ferry Road Haverhill, MA 01835 U.S.A, Tel (1) 978-469-8280 • EPSI NV, Walgoedstraat, 19 B-9140 Temse Belgium, Tel +32 (0) 3 711 24 64
Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels
EPSI, a world leader in custom-engineered high-pressure solutions, offers complete systems for hydrothermal growth of synthetic quartz. EPSI’s Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels are ideal for crystal growers that provide quartz components for a wide range of high-tech applications, including oscillators, frequency filters, telecommunications systems, microprocessors, color television, and time pieces. EPSI’s Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels are available for both high and medium pressure processes.
EPSI’s hydrothermal Quartz Crystal Growing takes place under constantly controlled temperature and pressure within EPSI’s forged Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels. Average cycle time is 24 to 36 days, depending on the size and quality of the crystals required. EPSI’s Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels are divided into a lower dissolving section and an upper growing section and each contains its own temperature control system. The total growth process is microprocessor controlled and may be entirely controlled by a central computer.
EPSI’s Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels are available for laboratory-study or pilot processes. In addition, EPSI’s specialized engineers are available to provide advice and expertise on plant design, equipment, installation and start-up.Synthetic Piezoelectric Quartz
- EPSI supplies complete sets of synthetic quartz growth units.
- Quartz devices are used in a wide range of high-tech products such as oscillators and frequency filters for telecommunication and other electronic systems like TV and time pieces.
Crystal Growth
- Hydrothermally crystal growth takes place under conditions of constantly controlled temperature and pressure, typically in the range of 380 to 400°C (720 to 750°F) and 15,000 to 30,000 psi (100 to 200 MPa).
- The entire process takes place within a forged high-pressure vessel. Production cycles can take from 3 weeks to more than 4 months, depending upon the quality and the size of crystals required.
- At present, two types of processes are used, high and medium pressure. EPSI supplies the special equipment for both. The total growth process is microprocessor controlled.
- An entire production plant can be controlled by a central computer of PC type.
- EPSI's specialized engineers are available to provide advice and expertise on plant design, equipment, installation and start up.
Click on the following for more information on ESPI’s website: Quartz Crystal Growing Vessels - EPSI Inc.
This old press release from the building dedication indicates the builder and designer of the factory. ESPI’s website is: http://www.epsi-highpressure.com/
Press Release - [Cached Version]
Published on: 9/17/2003 Last Visited: 8/8/2008
Mike Walczak, President: 815-544-7900
NDK America, Inc.
...
The program included an invocation from Reverend Westlund, speeches by Belvidere Mayor Brereton, NDK Chairman, Mr. T. Takeuchi, and NDK Crystal and NDK America President Mike Walczak.
...
Mike Walczak presented awards to Kajima Construction Services, for the building of the facility,
Kajima Associates, Inc. for the excellent design of the facility, and EPSI (Engineering Pressure System, inc.) who were instrumental in the design of the autoclaves and their control systems.
" Having so many of our friends join us to mark the inauguration of this great new facility, made today truly special," said Mike Walczak, NDK President.
Ribbon ceremony cutting at NDK America and NDK Crystal's new Belvidere, IL U.S.A. facility.L. to R.: NDK President, Mike Walczak, Kajima Construction Services President, Kenji Hara , NDK Chairman MR. T. Takeuchi, Belvidere Mayor Brereton, and Kajima Associates Inc.
Rockford’s Channel 23 WIFR made the explosion of NDK one of the top local stories of the decade.
This year is all about the economy, with job losses and high foreclosure rates. A train derailed and exploded this summer. killing two. A fatal police shooting sparked community outrage that lingers today. And most recently a truck driver died at the Belvidere Oasis, after the NDK plant blew up.
The strange thing here is the historical connection which the newspaper is drawing.
The Illinois city where Barnes & Noble can trace it's origins no longer is home to one of its bookstores. Though the store had been in the community just 18 years, its history stretches back much further. According to Wheaton author Mary Ann Phemister, Charles M. Barnes started a bookselling business from his home a short distance away from the college
Batavia is a village of 25,242 (2002, special census) located in both Kane and DuPage counties.
proposal to hire an outside firm, at a cost of up to $19,500…include interviews ahead of time with the mayor and 14 aldermen; a three-hour Friday-evening session over dinner; an eight-hour session in a room donated by the Batavia school district; preparation of a report, based on what is determined in the sessions; and a follow-up meeting six months later to determine how the council is progressing on its plans.
expects making the 2011 budget will be even more difficult than the 2010 budget, as the assessed property value in town may decrease, sales tax may not increase or even continue to decrease, and permit fee revenue may remain stagnant
Click on the following for more details: Daily Herald | Should Batavia council pay $20,000 for planning retreat?
"careless in their course of action with the stop of (Linda) Knotts," who was ticketed -- but then let go -- by a Kane County deputy just 15 minutes before her sport utility vehicle struck and killed William McKenzie, 54, on Route 47 in Elburn on March 20, 2009.
The accident occurred approximately eight miles from Knotts' initial traffic stop.Police issued tickets accusing Knotts of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving the wrong way and improper passing. To date, no felony charges have been filed against Knotts resulting from the crash. Rodriguez, who has interviewed Knotts three times, said he still has not been able to determine why she was driving recklessly. McKenzie's death was ruled a homicide.
Click on the following for more details: Widow sues Kane sheriff over Rt. 47 crash :: Beacon News :: Local News
