Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

 

Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:32 Editor

Rob Carroll photo. Belvidere Police are seeking information on an alleged armed robbery that occurred at Aldi, 1021 North State St., on May 21.

BELVIDERE - The Belvidere Police Department is seeking information on an alleged armed robbery that occurred May 21.

At approximately 8 p.m., Belvidere Police officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Aldi grocery store, 1021 North State St.

According to witnesses, a subject entered the store at closing time, approximately 7 p.m., and displayed a handgun. The subject tied up two employees and demanded money. The subject then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Neither employee was injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as a black male, 5’8”, 180 pounds, short black hair and wore a black cap. 

Belvidere police detectives responded to the scene and are investigating the case.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Belvidere Police Department 815-544-2135 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-2135 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Crime Stoppers 815-547-7867 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-547-7867 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

Wisconsin Judge Voids Walker’s Public-Employee Union Law - Businessweek

 

A Wisconsin judge voided a law that would limit public employees’ collective-bargaining rights because the legislation was passed in violation of state open- meetings requirements.

Click on the following for more details:  Wisconsin Judge Voids Walker’s Public-Employee Union Law - Businessweek

Change in County Redistricting Map

By Bob Balgemann

The face of Boone County Board District #2 will change
somewhat to reflect its population growth since 2000. But
beyond that few if any revisions are expected as the county
ponders redistricting, which happens after each census.

District #2 now has 19,378 residents, compared
with 18,474 in District #1 and 16,313 in District #3. A
preliminary revision calls for District #2 to be reduced to
18,036 residents, while District #1 would increase to 18,064
and District 3 to 18,065.

To make that happen there would be shifts in voting
precincts as follows:

Every voter north of Illinois Route 173 would vote in
District #1. This change would move 141 voters out of
District #2.

The area east of Caledonia Road would become part
of District #2, moving 551 voters out of District #1. Both
of those proposed revisions would affect Precinct #1 in
Caledonia.
Precinct #13 in Belvidere would become part of District
#3, taking 829 voters out of District #2.
And Precinct #14 in Belvidere would become part of
District #3, moving 923 voters out of District #2.
Number of Board Members to Stay the Same
District #1 County Board Chairman Bob Walberg at the
board’s May 18 meeting polled his colleagues on a number
of issues relating to redistricting. “I’m just trying to get
consensus from the commission,’’ he said.
Seven of the 11 in attendance favored keeping board
membership at 12 members, four from each district. District
#3 board member Terri Glass preferred the number to be
reduced to nine, saying, “There would never be any tie
votes and it would save money.’’
The number of member districts will remain at three, with
seven voting in favor of continuing to appoint the chairman,
rather than having county voters make that decision.
Members will continue to be paid $75 for each meeting
they attend. District #3 member Ken Freeman asked if the
per diem would remain in effect for another 10 years.
“No,” Walberg replied, “that (change) can happen
anytime.’’
Now that there is consensus on those issues, redistricting
will continue to be discussed at the committee level, before
returning to the board for final action.

EPA Raises Questions about Leachate System

County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said the leachate
in reducing the elevation of the leachate in the landfill.’’
Leachate is water that percolates through a landfill and
helps with the decomposition of waste. It may contain
toxics and if not collected properly could contaminate
groundwater.
RMT, Inc., out of Madison, Wis., will “perform the
landfill gas sampling, analysis and reporting as required
by IEPA,’’ according to a proposal letter submitted by the
company. “Emissions testing last was conducted in 1998
and more recent data is needed to complete the IEPA annual
emissions report.’’
Cost of the work would be approximately $10,700, but
that figure could increase because of potential health risks to
RMT employees, the letter stated. Workers will be provided
with coveralls, safety shoes, hard hats and eye protection.
“If additional protection is required … RMT will advise the
county/city (of Belvidere) of the needed protection and any
associated increase in compensation before proceeding with
the work.’’
Terrinoni said purpose of the testing is to see if the system
is working properly “and then convince EPA that it is working
properly. We need the help of these professionals.’’

Catholic Charities of Rockford ends foster care, adoption services - chicagotribune.com

Appears Bishop of Rockford is making a bigger deal of the law than anyone else.

In addition to Catholic Charities in five regions, Lutheran Child and Family Services and the Evangelical Child and Family Agency have policies that exclude prospective parents who are not married.

There is no word on whether Catholic Charities in Peoria, Joliet, Springfield or Belleville will make a decision similar to Rockford's. Ken Withrow, executive director of the Evangelical agency, said it was too early to make a decision. Gene Svebakken, president and chief executive officer of Lutheran Child and Family Services, said the agency may change parts of its policy if required to by the state.

Right now, lawyers for the agency believe state laws already exempt religious agencies and any amendment would be irrelevant, Svebakken said.

"It's our Christian vocation and calling to serve children," he said. "It's sad to see organizations give up."

Benjamin Wolf, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois who represents juvenile state wards as part of a court-monitored consent decree with DCFS, said the decision was troubling, especially in Rockford where there is a high turnover of child welfare workers and racial and economic tensions.

"Rockford would not be the place I would've chosen to start these transitions," Wolf said. "I am very sorry that they would give a greater priority to their commitment to continue discriminating than the health and welfare of Illinois children."

Wolf said that when Catholic Charities in Chicago ended its foster care services in 2007 because the agency's insurer dropped its coverage, many caseworkers and foster care homes agreed to transfer to other agencies without disrupting the children's placements. He hopes families in the 11 counties served by Rockford Catholic Charities will be similarly amenable.

Officials from Catholic Charities and DCFS will meet next week to begin the transition process.

Click on the following for more details:  Catholic Charities of Rockford ends foster care, adoption services - chicagotribune.com

Ill. diocese ends adoptions over gay rights law - Forbes.com

Is this a case of the arch-conservatism of Bishop Doran or a consensus of catholic dioceses across the state and country?

Catholic diocese in northern Illinois said Thursday that it will end its state-funded adoption and foster-care program rather than comply with a new law that would require it to place children with gay or unmarried couples, and officials said other dioceses would decide quickly whether to follow suit.

Officials from the Rockford Diocese said they were forced to terminate state contracts worth $7.5 million after lawmakers failed to pass an amendment exempting religious groups from provisions of the state's new civil unions law, which will let gay and lesbian couples form civil unions, a rough equivalent to marriage. The law takes effect June 1.

Catholic Charities wanted to be allowed to refer unmarried or gay couples to other agencies, as it has for years.

Click on the following for more details:  Ill. diocese ends adoptions over gay rights law - Forbes.com

Boone, Winnebago see lowest unemployment rate since 2008 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

unemployment rate in Boone and Winnebago counties was 11.9 percent in April, or 20,094 people, according to data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Unemployment Security. That’s down 1.4 percentage points from March and 3.8 percentage points from April 2010.

Companies added 1,500 jobs from March to April and 1,800 jobs from April 2010 to April 2011. The biggest gains over the past year were in manufacturing, where 900 employees were added, professional and business services (up 700 employees) and trade, transportation and utilities (up 600).

Click on the following for more details:  Boone, Winnebago see lowest unemployment rate since 2008 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star