BELVIDERE — The Boone County Conservation District, 603 N. Appleton Road, will hold an 1800s Holiday Walk from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7.Visitors will walk along luminary lit paths while North Boone High School carolers sing holiday songs. District members will tell about Christmas past and show how people prepared for the holidays. A Civil War Santa will greet guests in his field tent.Gifts, snacks and crafts will be available. For information: 815-547-7935, bccdil.org.
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Teen pleads guilty, sentenced to 16 years
Nov. 27, 2013
BELVIDERE – An 18-year-old Belvidere resident pled guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm, Wednesday, related to charges from a shooting on June 26, 2011.
Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier announced that Pedro Sanchez pled guilty and was sentenced to 16 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. She said Sanchez is an admitted street gang member who fired a gun at rival gang members in the 500 block of Starr Street in Belvidere.
One person was struck once in the abdomen and the bullet traveled out of his body. The motivation for the shooting was gang-related, in retaliation for earlier harassment by the rival gang members. At the time of the shooting, Sanchez, then 16, was considered a juvenile but was charged and prosecuted as an adult.
Courier was pleased with the outcome of the case.
“We should not tolerate gang violence of any sort regardless of the age of the offender and will continue to prosecute juvenile gang members as adults in hopes of getting tough sentences,” she said. “This sentence will continue to send the message that Boone County will not tolerate gang violence.”
Belvidere tweaked for early sounding of warning siren
Nov. 27, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
BELVIDERE - Sunday's National Football League game between the Baltimore Ravens and host Chicago Bears was suspended for almost two hours because of the fierce thunderstorm that raced through northern Illinois.
Fans were evacuated from Soldier Field while the players found shelter. Everyone waited close to two hours before action resumed.
There was plenty of coverage of the storm on Rockford television, including Channel 23 where meteorologist Mark Henderson showed via radar where the most intense parts of the storm were at the moment and where they were heading.
He said the storm had wind gusts of 70-90 mph, with the most severe portions going east through southern Boone County and the northern side of DeKalb County.
Henderson made special mention that the city of Belvidere was not part of the affected area. With that he said Belvidere had a tendency to sound its warning siren early. He did say that if people heard the siren they would be wise to take cover, even though Belvidere was not under any storm warning at that time.
Actually, sounding the warning siren is the responsibility of radio dispatchers in the Boone County 911 center, situated in the public safety building off Main Street.
Sheriff's Lt. Perry Gay, who's also supervises the 911 center, said Nov. 20 that the siren was set off at 9:36 a.m. that day because the National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for east-central Boone County and northwest McHenry County.
At that time, he said a thunderstorm was located five miles northeast of Belvidere that was capable of producing tornadoes.
Concerning the Channel 23 report, he said, "I don't appreciate them labeling us that way." He added that he probably would give station officials a call just to "touch base with them."
He said the county does not always have to wait for an official warning to be issued. "There are other factors such as the totality of the circumstances, law enforcement or spotters."
Longtime residents of Belvidere are wary of severe storms as they remember April 21, 1967, when a tornado ripped through the city, killing 24 people, 17 of them children.
More recently tornadoes have come through north of Belvidere.
Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove was hit by a winter tornado in January 2008. In November 2010, a tornado caused damage to the village of Caledonia and was seen by witnesses spinning along the north side of Illinois 173 near 173 and Poplar Grove Road. No injuries were reported in either case.
The village of Caledonia dedicated its new alert siren Saturday morning, Nov. 23.
Fire District 3 coordinates relief trip to tornado-ravaged area
Nov. 27, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
POPLAR GROVE - It was something Joe Baraconi and Joe Satterlee had been wanting to do. On Nov. 17, the opportunity arose and they didn't waste any time getting to it.
The idea was to solicit donations of supplies to help those in downstate Washington, near Peoria, whose community was ravaged by a tornado on Nov. 17. After they received permission from chief Gail Worley to use the department's trailer, they set about publicizing their upcoming trip.
Using the fire district's Facebook page and making calls to friends and relatives, the men soon had donations coming in at all times of the day and night.
"This is the second day I've been here all day," Baraconi said the afternoon of Nov. 20.
They got a helping hand from the village of Poplar Grove, which put a link on its website to help people learn how they could get involved in the effort.
The wish to help others was spawned in January 2008, when a tornado ripped through northern Boone County and damaged Edwards' Apple Orchard on the north side of Poplar Grove. Another one, in November 2010, damaged homes and businesses in nearby Caledonia.
"People were dropping off all kinds of things here," Satterlee said. "We got a ton of stuff and they were hit a lot worse."
Among the donations being dropped off starting Nov. 18 were cleaning supplies, water, clothes, personal hygiene items, brooms, shovels, garbage bags, gloves, a chainsaw and a lot of totes. Even some gas cards and a phone card.
"They lost everything and won't be at work for a while," Baraconi said. "So they need all the help they can get."
He said he was driving his own vehicle, a full-size pickup truck, capable of hauling a trailer the size of the one provided by District 3.
Drop-off sites have been set up in various parts of Washington, he said, such as churches and the Red Cross. Washington is about two hours south of Poplar Grove and the men said they expected to be back the same day.
Wind farm, animal control bring speakers to county board
Nov. 26, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
BELVIDERE - The wind farm being proposed for northeastern Boone County continues to be in front of the zoning board of appeals (ZBA). And construction of a new animal control services building remains in process.
While those matters have yet to appear before the county board they brought an unusually high number of speakers to the monthly board meeting held Nov. 20.
The next ZBA meeting was scheduled for Nov. 26 and it was possible that cross-examination of associate planner Gina DelRose continued. But there were other cases to be heard as well.
Mainstream Renewable Power is proposing a project with up to 100 wind turbines for 8,000 acres bordered by North Boone School Board on the south, Grade School Road to the west, Wisconsin state line on the north and McHenry County line to the east.
Opponents presented each board member with a stack of petitions signed by 1,300 people who don't want the development.
Resident Meredith Williams passed out copies of a letter from the superintendent of Vermillion County schools that dealt with health issues experienced by children in classrooms near a wind turbine.
She said she was concerned a similar path would be followed in Boone County.
Talking about setback
Support for a 1,500-foot setback for turbines from residential property, as recommended by the county planning, zoning and building committee, came from another speaker. She did not agree with the 1,000-foot setback being recommended by the county planning staff. That setback was approved in 2006, when an earlier wind farm proposal was ultimately rejected by the county board.
At that point board Chairman Bob Walberg said it was pointed out to him that "this is becoming too much of a production." He asked that it stop.
Former county board member Marshall Newhouse said a view shed created in 2006 showed a 400-foot tall turbine would be visible throughout most of Boone County. The turbines proposed by Mainstream are 25 percent taller and likely would be visible as far away as Cherry Valley.
Resident Robert Christiansen talked about the possibility of a new building for animal control services. Referring to a letter to the editor that appeared in the Belvidere Daily Republican, he questioned "all of the delays that have been happening. There doesn't seem to be a direct commitment" to the project.
A firm commitment, he said, would include a deadline. "When are we going to get it?" he asked. "This year? Next year? That's not the way to get things done."
Speakers during the public comment portion of the meeting are allowed three minutes to state their case. Walberg told Christiansen his three minutes were up.
"I'm answering your letter," he told the chairman. "Will I not be able to do that?"
"Your three minutes are up," Walberg reiterated.
With that Christiansen returned to his seat in the audience.
Happy ending for dog running loose along Illinois 173
Nov. 26, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
CAPRON - A young border collie that recently got loose from its owner's house wound up running along Illinois 173, near Meyer Road, on the way to Capron.
That created quite a traffic jam as some motorists pulled off on the side of the road and tried to rescue the pup. Among the vehicles that stopped to help was one of three ambulances operated by Capron Rescue Squad.
But it got stuck.
One of the squad's assistant chiefs, Tony Stepansky, happened to be driving the rig that night and recounted what went on.
At one point the dog ran in front of the ambulance, so he said he pulled over to the side of the road to keep from possibly striking the animal. But while on the shoulder a rear tire slipped onto an unmarked culvert and the unit became stuck. A tow truck had to be called to free the ambulance, which was not damaged, and return it to the side of the road.
Stepansky related what happened at the Nov. 19 meeting of the rescue squad district board of trustees. "There is an incident report," he said. "There was no attempt to hide anything."
"I think you made a wise choice," Trustee Neeley Erickson told him.
Attempts to catch the dog caused traffic to back up along the sometimes busy highway. "There must have been 200 people standing around there," Stepansky reported.
"Was it caught?" Trustee Mike Petersen asked.
"Yes," the assistant chief replied.
"So there was a happy ending," Petersen observed.
Stepansky was relieved by that, saying, "Had we hit the dog there would have been headlines."
Roger Tresemer, supervisor of the county animal control services department, took the call. He said Nov. 21 the owners lived on Meyer Road and that it took a while to find them.
"He was a friendly dog," he reported. "The owner felt bad. She said he accidentally got out."
Still, she received a citation for allowing a dog to run loose.
Also at the rescue squad board meeting Nov. 19, trustees voted to donate $250 to the Capron Christmas festival, being planned for Dec. 1. There will be a variety of activities along with lighting of the Christmas tree on the south side of 173.
The contribution will be used to buy treats for children.
In addition, there will be an open house at the remodeled rescue squad station at the corner of 173 and Fourth Street.
The following house is for sale in the Capron area. 30 year fixed mortgage payment with 20% down is $319 per month. The taxes are $4,121.78 per year or $343.48 per month. See it at: http://www.homefinder.com/IL/Capron/155-Harvest-Moon-97678828d
Disgraced athlete O.J. Simpson has been denied a new trial on his 2008 convictions for robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, which sent him to prison for up to 33 years.
Clark County District Judge Linda Marie Bell ruled that the 66-year-old will have to remain behind bars for now. Simpson, who will be 70 before he is eligible for parole, had sought a new trial, saying he had incompetent legal counsel.
WILMINGTON, Del. — GateHouse Media Inc., owner of the Rockford Register Star, has emerged from prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.GateHouse filed for Chapter 11 on Sept. 27 with the unanimous support of its lenders to restructure $1.2 billion of debt that was scheduled to come due in August 2014. GateHouse is now owned by New Media Investment Group Inc. and is under common ownership with Local Media Group, the newspaper group that operates eight daily community newspapers and 13 weeklies.According to Michael Reed, director and chief executive officer of GateHouse, the bankruptcy filing was a strategic decision to facilitate this restructuring, and GateHouse was able to continue operations while in Chapter 11 without disruption.“GateHouse’s plan effected a ‘balance-sheet restructuring’ and allowed GateHouse to emerge from bankruptcy with much less debt on its balance sheet and with its business operations intact,” Reed said. “Joining with Local Media Group is an important step in growing the GateHouse business and will contribute to future success as the pre-eminent source for locally focused content, covering and serving our subscribers, advertisers and customers through print, online and other digital products, including mobile applications.”Pension, trade and all other unsecured creditors of GateHouse were not affected under the prepackaged plan. GateHouse’s secured lenders, whose debt was cancelled under the plan, received choice of shares in New Media or a 40 percent cash distribution. The publicly traded shares of GateHouse have been cancelled with shareholders receiving warrants for New Media stock.
Sons of American Revolution induct new members
Nov. 24, 2013
ROCKFORD – The Kishwaukee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.) held their annual meeting on Nov. 16 in Rockford.
The Chapter was honored to have the Illinois Society S.A. R. President, Bruce Talbot of Bolingbrook, Ill. present for the event, to conduct official ceremonies, and deliver the key-note address.
President Talbot inducted two new members, R. Nathan Bliss of Rockford, and Mark Kaletka of Batavia.
The primary purpose of the S.A. R. organization is declared to be patriotic, historical and educational. Membership is open to any man, at least 18 years of age, who is a lineal descendant of an ancestor who was loyal to, and rendered actual service, in the cause of American Independence during the Revolutionary War.
The Kishwaukee Chapter is headquartered in Belvidere, but includes several counties in north central and northwestern Illinois.
Boone County real estate transactions recorded Nov. 12
Nov. 24, 2013
BOONE COUNTY - Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during Nov. 12-15.
Recorded Nov. 12
1248 Candlewick Dr. NW, Poplar Grove, $245,000, Patrick C. Brady and Christine E. Brady to Robert Hayes and Kathryn Hayes.
7555 Garden Prairie Road, Garden Prairie, $550,000, LUSYD Acres, Inc. to 7555 Garden Prairie, LLC.
311 W. Perry St., Belvidere, $72,000, Louis R. Morrall, trustee, to Albert and Susan Williams.
12847 Prairie Meadow Way, Belvidere, $195,000, Andrew Dallas Hutchison to James T. and Evelyn A. Palek.
Recorded Nov. 13
1727 13th Ave., Belvidere, $60,100, Secretary of HUD to Jeannette Knutson.
114 King Henry Road SE, Poplar Grove, $90,500, Keith Kelly to James G. Origer and Mary C. Origer.
1132 Kishwaukee St., Belvidere, $81,851, Intercounty Judicial Sales to Secretary of HUD.
Recorded Nov. 14
302 Edson St., Poplar Grove, $130,500, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Rodney L. Wilken.
2329 Malmaison, Belvidere, $315,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Sergio and Heather Velazquez.
418 W. Perry St., Belvidere, $65,000, Marion J. Downey to Amy L. Ortiz.
Recorded Nov. 15
17 King Henry SE, Poplar Grove, $90,837, Bank of America, NA to Bank of America NA.
157 Hastings Way SW, Poplar Grove, $77,400, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Leonardo Oliveira.
824 Allen St., Belvidere, $47,000, Derby Run LLC to Pedro H. Banuelos.
414 Wren Lane, Caledonia, $370,000, Kimberly Mackenroth and Danny Cessop to Harneet S. Bath and Komaljit Bath.
Hearings on property assessments to start Dec. 2
Nov. 24, 2013
BELVIDERE - The Boone County Board of Review will begin hearings on the 2013 appeals of property assessments on Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. Hearings will continue on Dec. 5-6 at 9 a.m., and if further hearings are necessary, more dates will be scheduled.
The Boone County Board of Review has the responsibility to hear complaints from property owners concerning the valuation of their property based on the market value or the use of the property.
Residential appeal forms are available in the County Assessor’s office, 1208 Logan Ave., Belvidere or online at http://www.boonecountyil.org/content/bor-residential-appeal-form.
Phone 815-544-2958 with any questions.
Capron Rescue seeks new station in Candlewick Lake area
Nov. 24, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
BOONE COUNTY - Capron Rescue Squad District has a new station on Poplar Grove Road and is renovating what used to be the main office in Capron.
Now officials are looking at the possibility of a third station, to help serve the southern end of the sprawling, 144-square-mile district. Sites in and around Candlewick Lake and the village of Timberlane are among the possibilities.
Owen Costanza, president of the district board of trustees, said that before he was appointed to the board there had been talk with Candlewick Lake officials about having a station in that area.
"They offered us space along (Illinois 76), but that was before my time," he said. "In my view, there's too much traffic around there."
Beyond that, he said Candlewick Lake owns property off Dawson Lake Road, on the south side of that community, which connects Caledonia Road and Route 76. "That would be a good place for a building," he said.
Just under 50 percent of the rescue squad's calls come from within Candlewick Lake.
The squad has money in its budget to explore locating a third station.
Costanza said he has asked Tony Stepansky, assistant chief of the squad, to renew that search.
Capron Rescue is transitioning to a paid on premises service, in an effort to improve response time. That means paramedics and EMTs, when on duty, must be at or in close proximity to the station. Before, they just had to be somewhere in the district.
Personnel since earlier this year have been able to spend all of their shift in the new station, a two-story, former farmhouse on the west side of Poplar Grove Road, just south of Quail Trap Road. Soon, they will be able to sleep over at the Capron station, too.
Stepansky said he is doing the due diligence on the search for a third station. "We're looking at 2014 to build or do something like we did in Poplar Grove," he said. "We want to be sure it's in the right place to do the most good."
Investment policy
POPLAR GROVE - There was a time several years ago when the village was $500,000 in the red. Now it is showing a surplus and officials are talking about the possibility of investing some or all of it.
There is disagreement as to whether that should happen.
Trustee Jeff Goings said at the October village board meeting that he thinks the two loans on the books at Poplar Grove State Bank should be paid off before any investing is done.
But village treasurer Maria Forrest said those loans are water and sewer debt, which would require the general fund to loan the money to the water and sewer fund to retire the bonds.
Still another view came from Trustee Bob Fry, who's also chairman of the village's finance committee. He thought the village could make more money by paying off the bonds than leaving the extra money sit in the bank.
He added that the village has worked hard to reach the point that it has six months worth of operating capital in the bank. That means it has enough money to run the town for six months if its revenue streams were severed. "A lot of municipalities have gotten into trouble because they didn't have any savings," he said.
While nothing definite was decided, Trustee Ron Quimby observed, "It all goes back to building blocks. This (issue) is part of the foundation."
Read the current Featured Stories by clicking on the following: rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican
By Kevin Haas and Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star
Updated Nov. 25, 2013 @ 10:28 pm
Boone County Board:District 1: Republicans Sherry Giesecke and Raymond Larson. Giesecke filed first, so her name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open, each for a four-year term.District 2: Republicans Jeffrey Carlisle, Ron Wait and Karl Johnson. These three individuals filed their candidacy papers at the same time, so there will be a lottery drawing to determine whose name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open, each for a four-year term.District 3: Republicans Sherry Branson, Marion Thornberry and Chris Berner. Branson filed first, so her name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open for four-year terms, one for a two-year term.Boone County Sheriff: Republicans Phil Beu and Dave Ernest. Both filed their candidacy papers at the same time, so there will be a lottery drawing to determine whose name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.Boone County Treasurer: Republican Curt Newport. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.Boone County Clerk and Recorder: Republican Mary Steurer. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.
The above article and the article which follows are taken fro the November 22, 2013 Boone County Journal, which is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on-line at: http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2013/Boone-County-News-11-22-13.pdf#page=1
Final report blasts oversight by company, governments
Nov. 21, 2013
By Troy A. Bruzewski
Editor
BELVIDERE – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) concluded its investigation into the 2009 explosion at NDK Crystal and the recently-released findings underscore a total failures by plant’s parent company and government agencies obligated to protect the public, in monitoring the facility.
Even worse, the investigation confirmed that NDK was warned about potential danger to surrounding businesses and specifically referenced the Tollway Oasis gas station where a bystander was killed by debris launched by the explosion.
The plant – located at 701 Crystal Parkway – had eight 50-foot pressure vessels used to produce synthetic crystals. According to the CSB, corrosion in those vessels led to an explosion so powerful that building fragments were launched hundreds of feet. One section, weighing over 8,000 pounds, crashed through two concrete walls and traveled 435 feet, hitting an adjacent business office.
“The force of the impact pushed the wall inward, causing furniture to shift and ceiling tiles to fall (in the adjacent office),” the report stated.
The thrust from the escaping liquid, caused the base of the Bessel to violently shear from its foundation and send pieces of structural steel into the parking lot of the nearby gas station, which killed the bystander.
NDK had eight of these vessels that were designed and built for crystal-growing operations, meaning the vessels were to have the proper materials and thickness to withstand high-operating pressures. According to the CSB report, a number of the NDK vessels did not meet standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and lack of inspection allowed for corrosion to go unnoticed.
In 2002, NDK petitioned the State Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division for a special exemption allowing it to continue operations without adhering to code, which was approved. The vessel designer – Engineering Pressure Systems – advised NDK to have annual inspections performed. That advice, according to the CSB, was ignored.
“NDK, nor the state of Illinois, performed regular inspections,” the report stated. “Stress-corrosion cracking went uninspected and undetected, for years.”
It was also determined the coating used on the vessels to protect them from corrosion, did not provide the protection NDK promised it would.
“The CSB learned that NDK never actually tested, or verified, the effectiveness of the coating to prevent corroding,” the report stated.
After an incident in 2007 that led to an uncontrolled leak of caustic material, NDK’s insurer initiated an investigation that provided directives which could have avoided the 2009 incident and saved a life. The investigator in 2007 “had serious reservations” about the potential of “catastrophic scenarios” if the facility resumed operations with the vessels, determined to have “improper design, fabrication and material selection.” The investigation results also referred to potential danger to the plant’s surroundings, even mentioning the gas station where the bystander was killed.
“At every level, the risk of catastrophic vessel failure was overlooked and public safety, literally and figuratively, fell through the cracks,” CSB chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said.
Not only was NDK allowed to resume without addressing its code violations or following the recommendations of its insurer, but it did so with almost no oversight by the state.
“The state of Illinois performed only inspections of accessible external areas,” the report stated. “No certified inspector ever inspected the vessels.”
The CSB also determined the facility’s location was poorly selected, stating it was “unsafely sited in a light industrial area, near other businesses and the interstate” and that the city “has no additional requirements for examining the impact” of such an emergency situation. In fact, the installation and operation of the pressure vessels for the manufacturing process, was not included in the application or any documentation submitted to the city during the permitting process.
Several recommendations are listed at the conclusion of the CSB report, but the entity itself does not issue fines or citations. The agency’s board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with the objective of investigating industrial chemical accidents.
To read the recent BDR New Features click on the following: rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican
Current Job Openings :
Office Assistant Position
The Boone County Health Department has a full-time opening (37.5 hrs/week) for an office assistant position. Must be detail oriented and have good communication, organization, filing, and word processing computer skills. Previous office experience is necessary (Bilingual/Spanish is a plus but not required.).
Applications for employment (www.boonehealth.org) must be completed and submitted to Boone County Health Department, 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008; or emailed to info@boonehealth.org; or faxed to 815-544-2050, Attn: Chris. (Resume may accompany the application.
Boone County Administration Office
Program Compliance Oversight Monitor (PCOM)
The Boone County Administration Office is currently
hiring a part-time PCOM. This person
will be responsible for the oversight and administration
of the Section 5311 and Downstate Operating Assistance
Programs provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation
for public transportation in Boone County.
This person must work well independently and
have the ability to assemble and analyze data.
Grant writing and grant monitoring experience is helpful.Applicants must be well organized and have strong communication
skills. Computer knowledge is a must.
Associates or Bachelors degree preferred but could be
substituted with experience.The starting wage for this position is $14.00+ per hour DOQ.
Applications are available at the Boone County Administration Office,1212 Logan Avenue, Belvidere, IL 61008
or see below.
Please submit applications to:
Boone County Administration Office
1212 Logan Avenue Suite 102
Belvidere, IL 61008
Applications must be received by November 22, 2013.
EOE
Download the employment application here by going to the actual website (CLICK on the link below) and click on the “download the employment application here”--
Final report blasts oversight by company, governments
Nov. 21, 2013
By Troy A. Bruzewski
Editor
BELVIDERE – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) concluded its investigation into the 2009 explosion at NDK Crystal and the recently-released findings underscore a total failures by plant’s parent company and government agencies obligated to protect the public, in monitoring the facility.
Even worse, the investigation confirmed that NDK was warned about potential danger to surrounding businesses and specifically referenced the Tollway Oasis gas station where a bystander was killed by debris launched by the explosion.
The plant – located at 701 Crystal Parkway – had eight 50-foot pressure vessels used to produce synthetic crystals. According to the CSB, corrosion in those vessels led to an explosion so powerful that building fragments were launched hundreds of feet. One section, weighing over 8,000 pounds, crashed through two concrete walls and traveled 435 feet, hitting an adjacent business office.
“The force of the impact pushed the wall inward, causing furniture to shift and ceiling tiles to fall (in the adjacent office),” the report stated.
The thrust from the escaping liquid, caused the base of the Bessel to violently shear from its foundation and send pieces of structural steel into the parking lot of the nearby gas station, which killed the bystander.
NDK had eight of these vessels that were designed and built for crystal-growing operations, meaning the vessels were to have the proper materials and thickness to withstand high-operating pressures. According to the CSB report, a number of the NDK vessels did not meet standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and lack of inspection allowed for corrosion to go unnoticed.
In 2002, NDK petitioned the State Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division for a special exemption allowing it to continue operations without adhering to code, which was approved. The vessel designer – Engineering Pressure Systems – advised NDK to have annual inspections performed. That advice, according to the CSB, was ignored.
“NDK, nor the state of Illinois, performed regular inspections,” the report stated. “Stress-corrosion cracking went uninspected and undetected, for years.”
It was also determined the coating used on the vessels to protect them from corrosion, did not provide the protection NDK promised it would.
“The CSB learned that NDK never actually tested, or verified, the effectiveness of the coating to prevent corroding,” the report stated.
After an incident in 2007 that led to an uncontrolled leak of caustic material, NDK’s insurer initiated an investigation that provided directives which could have avoided the 2009 incident and saved a life. The investigator in 2007 “had serious reservations” about the potential of “catastrophic scenarios” if the facility resumed operations with the vessels, determined to have “improper design, fabrication and material selection.” The investigation results also referred to potential danger to the plant’s surroundings, even mentioning the gas station where the bystander was killed.
“At every level, the risk of catastrophic vessel failure was overlooked and public safety, literally and figuratively, fell through the cracks,” CSB chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said.
Not only was NDK allowed to resume without addressing its code violations or following the recommendations of its insurer, but it did so with almost no oversight by the state.
“The state of Illinois performed only inspections of accessible external areas,” the report stated. “No certified inspector ever inspected the vessels.”
The CSB also determined the facility’s location was poorly selected, stating it was “unsafely sited in a light industrial area, near other businesses and the interstate” and that the city “has no additional requirements for examining the impact” of such an emergency situation. In fact, the installation and operation of the pressure vessels for the manufacturing process, was not included in the application or any documentation submitted to the city during the permitting process.
Several recommendations are listed at the conclusion of the CSB report, but the entity itself does not issue fines or citations. The agency’s board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with the objective of investigating industrial chemical accidents.
City to rename street as memorial to Belvidere native
Nov. 21, 2013
By Troy A. Bruzewski
Editor
BELVIDERE – As of Saturday, Nov. 23, Farmington Way will be known by another name.
The city will rename it to honor Sgt. Anibal Santiago – a Belvidere native who died from injuries resulting from a high-altitude fall while conducting combat operations over mountainous terrain, on July 18, 2010.
Santiago – who enlisted in the Navy in 1991 – was employed as a police officer in Rockford from 1999-2005 after four years in the Navy and graduating from Elgin Community College. In 2007, he entered the U.S. Army, completing unit training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program before he was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was a sniper and sniper team leader, serving his third deployment overall and second in Afghanistan.
Santiago was recognized several times for his service; his list of honors include: the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the South West Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, and the Army Service Ribbon.
He also was posthumously recommended for the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Santiago is survived by his wife, Mandy Santiago of Fort Benning, Ga.; son Hannibal of Belvidere; stepsons Desmond and Darian, from Fort Benning; and his parents Anibal and Maria Santiago of Belvidere.
In a dedication ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, Farmington Way will become known as Sgt. Anibal Santiago Memorial Way.
Poplar Grove approves wind turbines for residents’ roof
Nov. 20, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
POPLAR GROVE - Patrick and Patricia Moss have received permission from the village board to have two wind turbines installed on the roof of their home at the intersection of Abbey Drive and Whiting Road.
One of the turbines would be a maximum of 25 feet tall with the other one being five feet from the peak of the roof.
The planning and zoning commission (P&Z) initially voted 6-0 at its October meeting to recommend approval of the request. The village's administration committee on Oct. 28 voted 2-0 with one absent to also recommend approval.
Finally, the village board approved issuing the special use permit at its Nov. 11 meeting.
Before the committee vote, member Don Bawden asked if there had been a public hearing on the proposal, if neighbors had been notified about the hearing by certified mail and whether anyone attended the hearing.
"Yes, yes and no," village administrator Mark Lynch replied, meaning there had been a public hearing, neighbors were notified by certified and that no one showed up to address the matter.
Village attorney Roxanne Sosnowski said the Boone County Planning Department, which serves the village, took care of the notifications. In addition, interim planning director Kathy Miller and associate planner Gina DelRose also were at the P&Z meeting.
"I just want to be sure there are no problems down the road," Bawden said. Beyond that, he wanted to know if the turbines would be professionally installed.
Patrick Moss said he had been in the construction business for 30 years, adding that he was a licensed mechanical contractor with the city of Rockford.
"Works for me," Bawden said, in response.
"Everything is by the book," Moss interjected.
Also before the vote Lynch asked about the cost of a building permit for the project? "Probably less than $200," answered Phil Long, the village's building inspector.
In supporting documents, Patrick Moss stated that for several years he had been intrigued by solar and wind options for producing power. In addition, he said that over the years he had been exposed to several successful installations.
Cost of materials and equipment has become more affordable, he said, and he'd like to install one while he can afford it - and before he retires.
The plan is to produce enough power for the home and sell any overage to a utility company "to lessen the load on the power grid," he explained. He termed the project "environmentally friendly and reduces fossil fuel use by me and by power plants."
No one had any questions of the applicant.
During their deliberation, P&Z members considered the six criteria that should be met in order to be granted a special use permit. The majority of them have to do with not creating a negative impact on neighbors or the surrounding area.
In each case, staff determined the proposal had complied with the requirements. That led P&Z to approve the findings of fact and issue its positive recommendation.
Is it Muslim or Moslem?
When Baby Boomers were children it was Moslem. The American Heritage Dictionary (1992) noted,"Moslem is the form predominantly preferred in journalism and popular usage. Muslim is preferred by scholars and by English-speaking adherents of Islam." No more. Now, almost everybody uses Muslim.
According to the Center for Nonproliferation Studies,"Moslem and Muslim are basically two different spellings for the same word." But the seemingly arbitrary choice of spellings is a sensitive subject for many followers of Islam. Whereas for most English speakers, the two words are synonymous in meaning, the Arabic roots of the two words are very different. A Muslim in Arabic means"one who gives himself to God," and is by definition, someone who adheres to Islam. By contrast, a Moslem in Arabic means"one who is evil and unjust" when the word is pronounced, as it is in English, Mozlem with a z.
For others, this spelling differentiation is merely a linguistic matter, with the two spellings a result of variation in transliteration methods. Both Moslem and Muslim are used as nouns. But some writers use Moslem when the word is employed as an adjective.
Journalists switched to Muslim from Moslem in recent years under pressure from Islamic groups. But the use of the word Moslem has not entirely ceased. Established institutions which used the older form of the name have been reluctant to change. The American Moslem Foundation is still the American Moslem Foundation (much as the NAACP is still the NAACP--the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). The journal The Moslem World--published by the Hartford Seminary in Connecticut--is still The Moslem World.
Sources
Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Religious Studies Program, University of Wyoming
Above is taken from: History News Network | Why Do People Say Muslim Now Instead of Moslem?
These are estimates only, so exact figures should be slightly different. And the expenditures are contingent upon a number of things occurring not merely the approval of the City of Belvidere.—Bill P
The Boone County Board voted 10-2 Wednesday night to spend up to $400,000, in partnership with the city of Belvidere, for the appraisal work, land purchase and environmental study needed to complete the northwest leg of the Interstate 90 and Irene Road interchange.Board members Kenny Freeman and Cathy Ward voted against the measure. Freeman said although he’s not against the project, his constituents do not want taxpayer dollars to foot the bill.The agreement passed by the county board is contingent on a positive vote from the Belvidere City Council, which will discuss the “purchase or sale of real property” in executive session during its Nov. 25 committee meeting, ….
By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star
Posted Nov. 15, 2013 @ 5:00 pmBELVIDERE — The lawsuit against Boone County, the former Boone County Board and the former county Zoning Board of Appeals for unjustifiably denying a permit to operate a junkyard was dismissed Friday, court records show.Steven Pierce sued county leaders in 2011 after they stopped him from turning his recycling operation at 720 U.S. 20 into a junkyard. His attorney, Jim Hursh, said in a 2011 interview that officials never gave Pierce a public health or safety reason explaining why the special use permit was denied.Judge Brenden Maher said his job was to not second-guess the county board’s vote nor reverse the decision, even if he would have voted to approve the permit. Rather, he was tasked with determining whether the officials established a rational basis for their decision.Ultimately, Maher said Pierce had not met his burden of proof in showing that the decision was arbitrarily or capriciously made.“It would not be irrational for individual ZBA, Zoning Committee or County Board members to take Pierce’s history of interactions with the County in connection with zoning issues into account when considering whether to grant his application on the expectation that he would comply with all of the recommended conditions,” Maher added,Hursh could not be reached Friday for comment on whether his client would appeal the decision.Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier said she was pleased with the outcome since the county’s board rational ruling will continue to protect residents’ health.Courier said the junkyard proposal was put forward without “any plan or competent evidence that the junkyard would be safe or best serve Boone County on a property that already had a history of environmental and other county code violations.”
Posted Nov. 19, 2013 @ 10:00 am
ROCKFORD — The Administrative Office of Illinois courts released the following list of candidates for associate judge in the 17th Circuit Court of Winnebago and Boone counties:Steven Balough, Lawrence Bauer, Frederick J. Brun, Jennifer Clifford, Susan Dillon, Michael Drella, Mary Gaziano, Patrick Hayes, James Hursh, Mark Karner, Stephen Langley, Rebecca Laue, Philip J. Nicolosi, Robert Schuman, Donald Shriver, James C. Thompson and Paul Vella.The judges of the 17th Circuit, who select associate judges, are inviting residents to provide written comments about the candidates for them to consider as they deliberate their choice.Comments must be in letter form and received by the circuit’s chief judge by 5 p.m. Dec. 6. Letters may be sent by U.S. mail or email to perickson@wincoil.us. Letters can be sent to Chief Judge Joseph McGraw, Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 W. State St., Room 215, Rockford, IL 61101.Anonymous letters will not be accepted. The letters will be placed in each candidate’s file.
By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star
Posted Nov. 20, 2013 @ 10:02 pm
How is this possible? Where are the increases?
See the statement from the county’s website/Board Doc’s as shown below[https://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/files/9DLTUC790A23/$file/Truth%20in%20Taxation%20Hearing_201311191557.pdf] explains it quite well.
Only 1.7% is an increase in the current tax revenue over last year’s, 3% is because of the Veterans Assistance Commission referendum and 3.6% is for additional property on the the tax rolls.
Your personal increase in tax for the county should reflect the 1.7% PTELL increase and the 3% VAC. The additional 3.6% increase in property will not effect you unless your property was not on the tax rolls in prior years.
Truck parking issue returns to county board
Nov. 19, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
BELVIDERE - The question of whether Mladenko Josipovic is allowed to park a semi-tractor and trailer on his 5.2 acres along Caledonia Road is up for reconsideration Wednesday night (Nov. 20) by the Boone County Board.
The issue has been on a roller coaster ride since the requested special use permit was first considered last summer.
Unanimous recommendations for approval came from the zoning board of appeals (ZBA) and planning, zoning and building committee (PZB), the latter a standing committee of the county board made up of five county board members. Planning staff recommended denial, primarily because of the proximity to so many homes.
The county board voted 10-1 to deny the special use at its Sept. 18 meeting.
But Josipovic appeared at the Oct. 2 PZB meeting and asked that his case and the county board vote be reconsidered. The committee agreed to forward the matter to the county board for discussion on Oct. 16.
County board members then voted 7-5 on Oct. 16 to reconsider their action of Sept. 18. County state's attorney Michelle Courier said a vote to reconsider automatically would table the issue until the November meeting.
Josipovic neighbors John and Christina Porto have been at all the meetings, steadfast in their request that the special use not be granted.
Points to remember
They plan to be at the Nov. 20 meeting with John Porto asking the board to consider the following points before making a decision:
At the Aug. 27 ZBA meeting Josipovic swore under oath that as soon as he applied for a special use permit on June 20. He reduced the number of trucks on his property to only his own and that he would park the semi-cab in his garage, with only the trailer parked outside.
Porto plans to ask the board to remember that photographs and letters of violation were sent out, showing that promise was not kept.
He also plans to remind the board that at the Sept. 18 meeting he and his wife submitted more photographs of the semi parked outside. They also complained that his tractor was still idling along the property line, near their home. And they expressed concern about Josipovic blocking both lanes of Caledonia Road while backing his tractor and trailer on to his property.
Interim planning director Kathy Miller, in an e-mail sent to county administrator Ken Terrinoni and county board chairman Bob Walberg, stated Josipovic said he was out of town Sept. 18 and unable to attend the board meeting.
Porto will ask the board to remember his submitting documents containing information that Josipovic returned home about 5 p.m. that night and also filed a police report the same evening.
It is Porto's opinion that the county board denied Josipovic's special use permit because of his continued noncompliance and absence from the Sept. 18 board meeting. In addition, he said no valid reason was given for reconsideration of the Sept. 18 vote.
The reasons for denial still hold, the Portos believe, and they are asking the board to uphold its Sept. 18 action.
Bliss said in a follow-up interview that he had visited the Josipovic property after Oct. 16, when he was in the Candlewick Lake area on other calls, and did not see either the tractor or trailer.
Growth Dimensions launches new website
Nov. 19, 2013
BELVIDERE – Growth Dimensions announced the launch of its new website: www.growthdimensions.org. The new site is designed to showcase the character of Boone County and its business community.
The website also includes the professionally produced video entitled Boone County Anthem.
Belvidere-Boone County is strategically located in relation to major expanding markets for goods, services and suppliers. The area is part of the budding I-39 and I-90 Logistics corridor, close to major employment centers and is served by interstates, rail and air service. Boone County is the heart of the Midwestern industrial belt and is only one hour from Chicago.
Major corporations in automotive, food processing, and manufacturing grow and prosper in Boone County, including Chrysler, General Mills, Dean Foods, Grupo Antolin, Franklin Display Group and others.
The new website, a virtual repository for economic development information for Boone County, offers a streamlined user experience. The new sleek and vivid site features pages covering topics of: Business Growth, Workforce Development, Community Living, as well as News and Events. Other important components include demographic, labor and educational statistics, maps, current images, featured sites and buildings, and information on incentives such as the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone. The site enables the user to easily access all of this useful and timely information in a clear-cut and organized format. The website was designed with the mobile visitors in mind, automatically adjusting itself to fit different screen widths to accommodate computers, tablets, and mobile phones.
Then Boone County Anthem video weaves together business, workforce, and the quality of life in Boone County to tell the story of why this is a great place to live, work, and play. We invite you to view and share the video.
Boone County real estate transactions recorded Nov 5-8
Nov. 15, 2013
BOONE COUNTY - Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during Nov. 5-8.
Recorded Nov. 5
135 Lamplighter Loop SE, Poplar Grove, $70,500, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Dustin Coursey.
4135 Chandan Blvd., Poplar Grove, $99,900, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Della Springer.
3000C Trillium Tr., Poplar Grove, $50,000, Edmund Der to Mariola E. Kordek.
8779 W. Ridge Dr., Belvidere, $162,900, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Thomas White and Beverly White.
Columbia St. lot, Belvidere, $29,919, Smith Investment Co, LLC to Central Commodities, Ltd.
Recorded Nov. 6
288 Edgewood Lane, Belvidere, $105,000, Mary Drexler Collins, trustee, to Adam M. Hodzic.
384 Prairie Knoll Dr., Poplar Grove, $134,900, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Melissa S. Behm and Linda A Hoving.
Recorded Nov. 7
1712 Foxfield Dr., Belvidere, $117,500, Dennis A. Paul to Claudia Vazquez.
13850 Beaverton Road, Poplar Grove, $164,900, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Emilio F. Vallez and Sarah J. Vallez.
501 Bounty Dr. NE, Poplar Grove, $74,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Cynthia Speer.
8785 Sheffield Dr., Belvidere, $81,500, Thomas Boettcher and Helen Boettcher to PMI Acquisitions, LLC.
669 Illinois Rt. 173, Caledonia, $44,000, Lyle R. Spencer to Tammie R. Marks.
Caledonia Road acreage, Caledonia, $105,000, Gordon D. Lucas, trustee, to Dennis Luckey.
Recorded Nov. 8
1407 Iles Ave., Belvidere, $124,900, Wells Fargo Bank NA, trustee, to Steven M. Riley and Lydia R. Riley.
200 Staffordshire Dr. NE, Poplar Grove, $69,701, Judicial Sales Corp. to American Homes 4 Rent Properties Five, LLC.
1015 Maple Ave., Belvidere, $40,000, Secretary of HUD to Andrew Anderson.
1621 Kirby Ct., Belvidere, $198,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to David E. Dunham and Lisa M. Dunham.
706 Tuneberg Ct., Belvidere, $80,000, Ron Davison to Rosa Maria Altamore.
The articles shown below appeared in the November 15, 2013 Boone County Journal which is available free at merchants across the county and on line at: http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2013/Boone-County-News-11-15-13.pdf#page=1
Editorial on Animal Service Building:
Rosecrance to celebrate new Belvidere location
Nov. 15, 2013
BELVIDERE – The community is invited to visit Rosecrance’s newly opened Belvidere office at 915 Alexandra Drive for a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting and Open House starting at 4 p.m. Dec. 4. The event goes until 6 p.m.
Behavioral health services were moved to the new location in October from a smaller site in the community. The move allows Rosecrance to serve more clients and offer new services, including an intensive outpatient program for adults in treatment for substance use.
The office provides a range of services for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, including mental health assessments, crisis intervention services, individual counseling, social skills groups and case management.
The Belvidere Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a ribbon cutting at the new location for 4 p.m. Staff will be available at the open house to provide information about Rosecrance programs, and refreshments will be served. Guests are asked to RSVP to Jo Lyttle at 815.387.5607 or jlyttle@rosecrance.org.
Resident encourages county officials to move more quickly on new building
Nov. 15, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
BELVIDERE - Boone County officials think they're moving along quite nicely toward construction of a new building for the animal control department.
Not so with resident Robert Christianson, who thinks the county should be further along at this point.
He and Paul Larson, chairman of the health and human services committee, agreed to disagree during the committee's Nov. 7 meeting on how much progress has been made so far.
While the meeting had moved past the public comments portion of the agenda, Larson recognized Christianson several times and allowed him to speak from the audience.
The first occasion came after the standing committee of the county board looked at available options for construction of a new building. One of them was lease/option that Christianson, who has a lengthy background in real estate, said should not be underestimated.
There was some discussion about whether the health department had inspected the existing animal control facility off Appleton Road. Had that been done an official inspection, committee member Marion Thornberry said the building would have had to be closed.
"I went out there last week and there were ants coming out of the fax machine," he said. "I asked the health department if they had gone out there and they said, 'no.' They're afraid to go out there and shut it down because they would be in more trouble."
Christianson spoke for a second time at that point, saying the animal control project "has been kicked around and nothing gets done. It's frustrating to me that this has happened."
Larson took exception to those comments, saying, "We have been pursuing it. We are making progress down that trail. But government does not move rapidly."
"This topic has been on the agenda for 20 years," Christianson countered. "There are some on the (county) board who don't think this is a priority."
Larson also took exception to that observation, saying the county board was behind the project.
It was his opinion that working through an architect or a lease/purchase arrangement should be pursued.
Committee supports consultant seeking higher jail per diem
Nov. 15, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
BELVIDERE - The Boone County Finance, Taxation and Salaries Committee has voted unanimously to recommend hiring a consultant to negotiate a new contract for housing federal prisoners in the county jail.
County board members are expected to consider the recommendation at their Nov. 20 meeting.
Joe Summerill, senior principal in The Summerill Group LLC, based in Washington, D.C., made a detailed presentation to the committee at its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12. He said he was confident he could negotiate a new per diem of $79.12, up from the current $65, for each U.S. Marshals Service inmate lodged at the jail.
He formerly was the chief contracts attorney for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In October there were 20 federal detainees among a total population of 85 in the Boone County jail. That number included 57 local inmates and eight from DeKalb County.
Summerill said there is a need in the region, within two hours of Chicago, for more beds to accommodate federal inmates. There only are three jails in this area that accept those prisoners - Boone, Ogle and McHenry - with the Ogle jail at capacity. Kankakee County, south of Chicago, also has federal inmates.
Boone County sheriff's Lt. John Hare, the jail commander, said the $65 per diem had been in effect since the county began housing federal detainees.
Boone has lower rate
That rate is lower than the $75 per diem charged by Ogle and the $85 charged by McHenry and Kankakee. Summerill said his company has contracted with McHenry County and expects its per diem to increase to $110.
He said he had taken a preliminary look at the Boone County Jail operation and came up with a new per diem of $79.12.
With the U.S. Marshals Service looking for more beds, he said it was realistic to believe Boone County could increase its average daily population of federal inmates to 28. That would increase the annual revenue from the current $427,050 to $808,600, he said.
A three-year contract, which he said he wanted to secure, would bring in $2.426 million compared with the current $1.281 million.
Before the vote was taken committee member Cathy Ward looked to County Administrator Ken Terrinoni for his thoughts.
He said he was undecided coming into the meeting. But after hearing Summerill's presentation, he said, "I'd say 'do it.' If we don't generate additional revenue it's going to be a tough three-to-five years. To me, it's all about the revenue."
Questions from members of the committee, he said, satisfied his concerns.
Committee member Karl Johnson had a number of questions. He asked Hare if he could handle 28 federal inmates without having to hire additional corrections officers?
"Today, yes," Hare answered, adding it would depend solely on how many local inmates and those provided by DeKalb County were in the jail. "I don't think I want to turn away any DeKalb prisoners," he said. With the number of detainees changing every day, he said, "I prefer to see it as fluid as possible."
Another five officers would be needed if the county opened up another 20 beds at the jail.
Part of the committee recommendation included paying $40,000 for Summerill's services, with $20,000 required up-front. The money would come out of the county's contingency fund.
"We do have the space" at the jail, committee Chairman Paul Larson said. "If we can utilize that it's a win-win for everyone."
For the BDR’s recent features click on the following: rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican
After more than 1,000 people heard brutal facts Thursday night about Rockford's poverty, crime and joblessness, Carla Towns couldn't hand out blue rubber bracelets fast enough to attendees with these words stamped on them: Transform Rockford."It's a great plan for all of us to come together to make this happen," said Towns, 26, a local bank employee and a member of Rockford Hip Hop Congress.She was referring to the Transform Rockford effort spearheaded by a group of businessmen and civic officials to turn Rockford from what Forbes calls a miserable city into an enviable one. Thursday's meeting at the Coronado Performing Arts Center was the group's first public meeting aimed at engaging the public.Tom Gendron, chairman and CEO of Woodward Inc. who is leading the effort, said he is "shocked by the level of dysfunctional behavior in the community. There is a negative vibe in the community, and I can feel it."Gendron, who lives in Colorado where Woodward is based, has dozens of family members who live in the area. And Woodward is building a $300 million factory in Loves Park to make airplane parts. He and a handful of local businessmen have pledged more than $3 million to get the Transform Rockford effort going.
Here are the slides from the presentation: http://transformrockford.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TRES11.14.13_Final.pdf
Transform Rockford’s website: http://transformrockford.org/
AGENDA
BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD
8200 Fairgrounds Road
November 19, 2013 – 5:00 P.M.
I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Public Input
IV. Discussion and potential action on approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes
V. Discussion and potential action on Transfers
VI. Reports
a. Supervisor’s Report
b. Highway Commissioner’s Report
c. Assessor’s Report
d. Clerk’s Report
e. Trustee’s Report
VII. Unfinished Business – Discussion and Potential Action May Occur on the following items:
VIII. Legal
a.
b.
IX. New Business
X. Discussion and Potential Action on Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills
XI. Closed Session
XII. Adjournment
Next Meeting: December 3, 2013 @ 5:00 P.M.
BELVIDERE — The 2009 fatal explosion at a synthetic quartz manufacturing plant in Belvidere was caused by corrosion in the walls of a pressure vessel that went uninspected for years, officials announced Thursday.The U.S. Chemical Safety Board determined that staff at NDK Crystal, 701 Crystal Parkway, ignored safety recommendations to inspect the interior walls of the vessels, even after a consultant warned the company about the dangers of the operation.The Illinois Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety did not adhere to state regulations by conducting internal vessel inspections, either, instead relying on NDK to complete the inspections. It didn’t verify that the inspections were taking place.If someone would have inspected the interior walls of the vessels, he would have learned that the material coating the steel vessel walls was not protecting them from corrosion.
The actual government report is on line at: http://www.csb.gov/csb-finds-fatal-2009-ndk-explosion-resulted-from-stress-corrosion-cracking-of-high-pressure-vessel-crystal-maker-failed-to-inspect-or-test-vessels-and-to-heed-earlier-warning-about-risk-to-public-/
