James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Rob Robinson isn't executive director of the Wheaton Park District anymore. He doesn't live in free park district housing. Nor does he live in Illinois.
But he'll still get paid for another month as if he was, a sum totaling a little more than $10,000, according to a copy of Robinson's resignation agreement.
Robinson's Sept. 20 resignation took effect immediately. At that moment he lost all his park district privileges. He turned in his park district cell phone. He relinquished the 2003 Ford Explorer the park district gave him to use for business purposes. And he had until the end of the year to move out of the free housing the district provided for him and his family.
Robinson is already out of that house, but he'll still see some money related to the housing down the road.
The park district places the fair market value of the free housing it provided Robinson at $25,000 for the year. Robinson must now include that as gross income on his taxes. For that, the park district will reimburse him up to $2,222 for the taxes owed.
But Robinson will receive more money for temporary housing the district provided while fixing up the park district home used to house the director. From Jan. 1 to June 30, the park district shelled out $24,000 in rent for Robinson and his family to live in temporary housing at 821 N. Wheaton Ave. That comes out to $4,000 a month in rent.
"It was basically a supply and demand thing," park board President Paul Fullerton said. "It was the only house we could find."
Robinson must also include the temporary housing payment in his gross income. The park district will reimburse him up to $9,600 for doing so.
Robinson exhausted all his personal and sick time before he left, which supports his statement about resigning because of health concerns.
However, the park district did cut Robinson a check for $4,662 for 73 hours of unused vacation time.
Unless he gets a new job before then, Robinson keeps his health and dental benefits until Jan. 31. That's also the last day he'll receive a paycheck under the resignation agreement, for a total of four months of severance pay since September. Before taxes and retirement contributions, that's about $40,000.
The Daily Herald obtained Robinson's resignation agreement through a Freedom of Information request, a process some park commissioners indicated was costly and burdensome on park staff this week.
Fullerton agreed the public should know the details of Robinson's resignation agreement. However, because it is a "dicey" employment issue, the park board paid for a legal opinion on what it could and should release. Fullerton said it does the same for all Freedom of Information requests.
"I'm into full disclosure and openness," he said.
Robinson did not respond to an interview request.
Under the resignation agreement, he is not allowed to make disparaging comments about the park district.
Wednesday
News that went national: High school prank gets nasty
No STD worries in ranch salad dressing prank at high school Authorities say student got idea from popular movie
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Tests show no need for Wheaton North High School students to fear any illness from exposure to salad dressing tainted with a peer's semen, authorities said.
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 officials mailed a letter parents should have received Saturday saying there was no need for students to receive any medical testing stemming from the Dec. 6 prank.
That would indicate DuPage County Health Department testing on student Marco Castro turned up a clean bill of health in terms of transmissible diseases. Health department and school officials cited privacy laws in refusing to speak directly about Castro's tests.
Castro, 17, was charged with attempted aggravated battery and disorderly conduct after Wheaton police said he confessed to ejaculating into a container of ranch salad dressing in the junior and senior cafeteria.
Castro performed the act in a restroom, then placed the container back in the cafeteria, where it remained for up to seven lunch periods over two days, authorities said. District 200 spokeswoman Denie Young said at least two students reported eating the tainted dressing.
That may factor into upgrading the charges against Castro to a felony if those students go to the police.
Castro developed the prank after watching the movie "Jackass Number Two," which features a series of crude stunts, authorities said.
His antics have spawned several MySpace and Facebook discussion groups on the topic. Reactions from current and former Wheaton North students have varied from laughter to disgust.
Principal Jill Bullo clarified Castro's punishment at the school in her letter to parents.
"Please know that the student has been appropriately disciplined according to district policy and state requirements," Bullo wrote.
"In addition, he must earn the remaining credits he needs for graduation outside of the regular Wheaton North program."
Castro is due in court Jan. 24.
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Tests show no need for Wheaton North High School students to fear any illness from exposure to salad dressing tainted with a peer's semen, authorities said.
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 officials mailed a letter parents should have received Saturday saying there was no need for students to receive any medical testing stemming from the Dec. 6 prank.
That would indicate DuPage County Health Department testing on student Marco Castro turned up a clean bill of health in terms of transmissible diseases. Health department and school officials cited privacy laws in refusing to speak directly about Castro's tests.
Castro, 17, was charged with attempted aggravated battery and disorderly conduct after Wheaton police said he confessed to ejaculating into a container of ranch salad dressing in the junior and senior cafeteria.
Castro performed the act in a restroom, then placed the container back in the cafeteria, where it remained for up to seven lunch periods over two days, authorities said. District 200 spokeswoman Denie Young said at least two students reported eating the tainted dressing.
That may factor into upgrading the charges against Castro to a felony if those students go to the police.
Castro developed the prank after watching the movie "Jackass Number Two," which features a series of crude stunts, authorities said.
His antics have spawned several MySpace and Facebook discussion groups on the topic. Reactions from current and former Wheaton North students have varied from laughter to disgust.
Principal Jill Bullo clarified Castro's punishment at the school in her letter to parents.
"Please know that the student has been appropriately disciplined according to district policy and state requirements," Bullo wrote.
"In addition, he must earn the remaining credits he needs for graduation outside of the regular Wheaton North program."
Castro is due in court Jan. 24.
Friday
Crime: "They could've killed me"
Saturday October 21 2006
'They could've killed me' Wheaton shopkeeper, friend beaten, robbed
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Two signs taped to windows of a downtown Wheaton shop Friday afternoon spoke to traumatic events that have put two Wheaton senior citizens in the hospital.
"Closed due to a robbery & beating," the signs read.
The victims, embattled shopkeeper Robert Sandberg, 68, and his friend Robert Cooke, 86, said it all started when a man at least 6 feet tall and 300 pounds entered Sandberg's Store for Men & Boys just before 8 p.m. Thursday.
The shop at 101 W. Front St. is known mostly for discounted apparel and eccentric ties. The man was interested in leather Chicago Bulls coats.
Sandberg showed the man his stock of coats and went to check a price. That's when the situation turned violent. It was either a large fist or a pipe that delivered the first blow.
"That's when - wham -and I must've passed out," Sandberg recalled from his hospital bed Friday.
The assailant, or possibly an accomplice, then turned his attentions to Cooke.
"I remember waking up and Bob was down on the floor with his head being bashed in," Sandberg said.
Cooke sustained injuries to the left side of his head and lost consciousness. Sandberg tried to escape out the back, and took more punches for his efforts.
"They could've killed me," he said. "I think that's what they were trying to do."
"They" refers to the presence of as many as three other men who were spotted loading leather coats in the back of an older-model, white Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix before driving away.
Both Sandberg and Cooke regained consciousness and went for help separately. Sandberg, with his bloody face and shirt, crawled over to an adjacent space he'd recently rented out. A worker was there painting.
"I said, 'John! John! They're beating the heck out of me,' " Sandberg said.
Police were dispatched to the shop at about 8:20 p.m. When they arrived, they found several leather coats missing valued at an estimated $9,000.
Both men were taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, where they were still recovering from their injuries Friday afternoon.
Sandberg received at least five stitches and suffered cuts to his face, brow and one of his ears. He also has bruising on his jaw and nose. Cooke had bruising to the left side of his head. Both men expect to be released today.
Sandberg said he felt lucky to be alive but can't stop thinking about why someone picked his store to rob.
"Who do I have that don't like me?" Sandberg said. "I remember asking, 'Why are you doing this?' There were no answers to my questions, just a fist in my face."
Wheaton residents will recognize Sandberg's name for at least two reasons.
The first is that he's been in business for nearly 50 years. The second is his ongoing battle with city officials about his property.
Sandberg owns several storefronts downtown, all of which the city has been after him to fix up. Back in 1986, the city tried to force Sandberg to sell some of his property. Later, the city tried to take some of his buildings from him through eminent domain proceedings.
The legal battles have cost both sides thousands of dollars and appearances in courtrooms as high up as the Illinois Supreme Court.
Sandberg does not believe the city is behind the beating he received, but he does partially blame them for it happening.
"The city of Wheaton can spend (thousands of dollars) to take away my buildings, but they can't spend money for more police?" Sandberg said.
Police officials chose not to respond to Sandberg's comment, as they don't determine their own budget and staffing levels.
Wheaton police released partial descriptions of two of the suspects. The man who delivered the blows to Sandberg is described as being up to 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing 300 pounds and wearing a white T-shirt and gray pants. The second man, who possibly delivered the blows to Cooke, is described as about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 180 pounds.
Sandberg's and Cooke's descriptions of the suspects differ somewhat, but both agree there were four total. Sandberg believes the robbery might be related to a shoplifting incident a couple weeks ago.
Anyone with information should call detective DeDe Magnier at (630) 260-2061.
Sunshine: Fight for public document goes to court
Thursday November 23 2006
Man sues Dist. 200 to get chief's contract Propaganda fears one reason the district says it won't give resident info
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
A clash over information regarding how much money Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 Superintendent Gary Catalani earns is now headed to court.
Wheaton resident Mark Stern has sought a copy of Catalani's employment contract for the past 10 months. The contract includes information about Catalani's salary structure, his employment duties and how much money he'll take to the bank when he retires next year.
The district denied all of Sterns' requests and appeals as allowed under Illinois' Freedom of Information Act.
Stern then had two fellow members of his Educate 200 community group, Joseph Mahady and Michelle Senatore, make nearly identical information requests for the contract. The district denied those requests as well.
Educate 200 is most known for opposing the district's plans to relocate Hubble Middle School to Warrenville. The opposition has fueled emotional debate and animosity in the district.
Educate 200 members say they want Catalani's contract to serve as a reference point for when a new contract is developed for whomever is hired as his successor. In short, they believe Catalani gets paid more money than the local taxpayers can, or should, shoulder.
Catalani earned about $380,000 last year, making him Illinois' highest paid superintendent.
Hence the stage is set for another heated debate about pay when a new superintendent comes to town.
District officials say that fact played into their decisions to deny Educate 200 access to Catalani's contract. But in a broader sense, they don't believe the contract is a public document.
"Such records are personnel items not subject to the Freedom of Information Act," reads the response crafted by the district's attorney, John Relias.
A public document?
Relias' opinion says that the names, salaries, titles and employment dates of all public employees and officers are public records, but actual employment contracts aren't.
His opinion relies on an Illinois Appellate Court decision involving the Peoria Journal Star's request for performance evaluations of a Peoria school superintendent and a letter from school board members to that superintendent.
Initially, a judge ruled the newspaper had a right to that information. That was reversed on appeal because the letter and evaluations were located in the superintendent's personnel file. Employment contracts can also be part of a personnel file, according to the ruling.
Relias said there's also a privacy issue involved. For example, the district might be in violation of the law if it gave copies of a contract without the employee's consent.
The contents of someone's personnel file are justifiably private because it could contain things like disciplinary actions or reprimands, Relias said.
District 200 staff members further explained that if a separate file existed just for employment contracts, then they would be public. That file doesn't exist in District 200.
Attorney Shawn Collins, who's representing Stern, said the Peoria case Relias cites is irrelevant to this matter.
"First, we're not asking for the disciplinary records of any district employee," Collins said. "Second, that's too subject to manipulation. The district can keep secret any document that it wants to simply by putting it in a personnel file."
District officials have shown they are willing to give some members of the public copies of Catalani's contract.
The Daily Herald, in a blanket request for superintendent contracts in the area, asked the district for Catalani's in March and received it with no questions asked.
Catalani said the reason the Daily Herald got a copy of his contract and Stern didn't came down to trust.
Can trust be a factor?
Catalani said Stern and Educate 200 used information in the past to distribute propaganda about the proposed Hubble school relocation.
"They haven't used information they've had access to in a fair or honorable way," he said.
"They've misused it to promote their side of the story. So if my attorney says I don't have to give it to them, why allow them to have more information?"
In contrast, Catalani said he didn't hesitate to give the information to the Daily Herald because he believed it would be used fairly. Catalani said he would release the contract to Stern if it became a big issue in the news.
When the matter goes to court, Stern will likely have the support of the Illinois attorney general's office behind him.
Terry Mutchler, the agency's public access counselor, said the employment contracts of a public official are public record and should be given to anyone who wants to see them.
"It is clear that, consistent with prior case law, the General Assembly intended the public to have access to the specified types of information concerning public employees," Mutchler wrote in an opinion for the Daily Herald.
Stern provided a similar opinion from Mutchler he sent to the district in his appeals to the district, but to no avail.
Public pressure
The next tactic was to try and create public pressure for the release of the document. So Educate 200 used public comment time at a school board meeting a couple months ago to ask for Catalani's contract.
Catalani told the audience that the district had responded to the request. He didn't say the response was "no."
There is no court date scheduled for the case as yet. Collins said he expects the matter to be expedited.
"We filed a lawsuit because we were left with no other choice," he said. "This shouldn't be in court. If this all seems like a very big deal, unfortunately, that's because the district has made it this way."
For his part, Stern said he thinks Catalani has done a good job overall. But that's not what's now at issue, he said.
"It's not for the district to screen what public information the public will have or not have," Stern said. "It's to make public information publicly available and let the community decide what's relevant. If there's not something to hide, they ought to make it public."
Man sues Dist. 200 to get chief's contract Propaganda fears one reason the district says it won't give resident info
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
A clash over information regarding how much money Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 Superintendent Gary Catalani earns is now headed to court.
Wheaton resident Mark Stern has sought a copy of Catalani's employment contract for the past 10 months. The contract includes information about Catalani's salary structure, his employment duties and how much money he'll take to the bank when he retires next year.
The district denied all of Sterns' requests and appeals as allowed under Illinois' Freedom of Information Act.
Stern then had two fellow members of his Educate 200 community group, Joseph Mahady and Michelle Senatore, make nearly identical information requests for the contract. The district denied those requests as well.
Educate 200 is most known for opposing the district's plans to relocate Hubble Middle School to Warrenville. The opposition has fueled emotional debate and animosity in the district.
Educate 200 members say they want Catalani's contract to serve as a reference point for when a new contract is developed for whomever is hired as his successor. In short, they believe Catalani gets paid more money than the local taxpayers can, or should, shoulder.
Catalani earned about $380,000 last year, making him Illinois' highest paid superintendent.
Hence the stage is set for another heated debate about pay when a new superintendent comes to town.
District officials say that fact played into their decisions to deny Educate 200 access to Catalani's contract. But in a broader sense, they don't believe the contract is a public document.
"Such records are personnel items not subject to the Freedom of Information Act," reads the response crafted by the district's attorney, John Relias.
A public document?
Relias' opinion says that the names, salaries, titles and employment dates of all public employees and officers are public records, but actual employment contracts aren't.
His opinion relies on an Illinois Appellate Court decision involving the Peoria Journal Star's request for performance evaluations of a Peoria school superintendent and a letter from school board members to that superintendent.
Initially, a judge ruled the newspaper had a right to that information. That was reversed on appeal because the letter and evaluations were located in the superintendent's personnel file. Employment contracts can also be part of a personnel file, according to the ruling.
Relias said there's also a privacy issue involved. For example, the district might be in violation of the law if it gave copies of a contract without the employee's consent.
The contents of someone's personnel file are justifiably private because it could contain things like disciplinary actions or reprimands, Relias said.
District 200 staff members further explained that if a separate file existed just for employment contracts, then they would be public. That file doesn't exist in District 200.
Attorney Shawn Collins, who's representing Stern, said the Peoria case Relias cites is irrelevant to this matter.
"First, we're not asking for the disciplinary records of any district employee," Collins said. "Second, that's too subject to manipulation. The district can keep secret any document that it wants to simply by putting it in a personnel file."
District officials have shown they are willing to give some members of the public copies of Catalani's contract.
The Daily Herald, in a blanket request for superintendent contracts in the area, asked the district for Catalani's in March and received it with no questions asked.
Catalani said the reason the Daily Herald got a copy of his contract and Stern didn't came down to trust.
Can trust be a factor?
Catalani said Stern and Educate 200 used information in the past to distribute propaganda about the proposed Hubble school relocation.
"They haven't used information they've had access to in a fair or honorable way," he said.
"They've misused it to promote their side of the story. So if my attorney says I don't have to give it to them, why allow them to have more information?"
In contrast, Catalani said he didn't hesitate to give the information to the Daily Herald because he believed it would be used fairly. Catalani said he would release the contract to Stern if it became a big issue in the news.
When the matter goes to court, Stern will likely have the support of the Illinois attorney general's office behind him.
Terry Mutchler, the agency's public access counselor, said the employment contracts of a public official are public record and should be given to anyone who wants to see them.
"It is clear that, consistent with prior case law, the General Assembly intended the public to have access to the specified types of information concerning public employees," Mutchler wrote in an opinion for the Daily Herald.
Stern provided a similar opinion from Mutchler he sent to the district in his appeals to the district, but to no avail.
Public pressure
The next tactic was to try and create public pressure for the release of the document. So Educate 200 used public comment time at a school board meeting a couple months ago to ask for Catalani's contract.
Catalani told the audience that the district had responded to the request. He didn't say the response was "no."
There is no court date scheduled for the case as yet. Collins said he expects the matter to be expedited.
"We filed a lawsuit because we were left with no other choice," he said. "This shouldn't be in court. If this all seems like a very big deal, unfortunately, that's because the district has made it this way."
For his part, Stern said he thinks Catalani has done a good job overall. But that's not what's now at issue, he said.
"It's not for the district to screen what public information the public will have or not have," Stern said. "It's to make public information publicly available and let the community decide what's relevant. If there's not something to hide, they ought to make it public."
Thursday
Alternative story telling: Spectator parade participation
Sunday October 01 2006
Lisle parade scores high Kids, candy and floats make 50th anniversary event largest in village history
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's a common belief that everyone loves a parade, but perhaps no one more so than a child.
With that in mind, Nikki and Sammi Mass, ages 11 and 8, joined Kelsy Nilles, 11, Michelle Krausfeldt, 10, and Emily Schillerstrom, 11, Saturday afternoon on Lisle's Main Street for the community's 50th anniversary parade.
A 10-minute downpour didn't deter them from a prime curb spot at Main Street and Burlington Avenue. It would ensure a front-row spot for any candy thrown and a solid place in the historic group photo the community will publish to celebrate its 50-year history.
First, the parade: It was billed as the largest and longest in Lisle's history. That's a big billing to live up to. The girls decided they'd judge the parade by its entries, one at a time on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the coolest.
- The Lisle-Woodridge Fire Department comes first, featuring fire trucks, sirens blaring.
"They were a little loud," Emily said. "And they didn't have any candy." Score: 2.
- Next is Bea Malloy, honorary grand marshal, followed by the Midwest Grotto Association in convertible Chrysler Crossfires.
"I like the cars," Nikki said. "I don't like how they're not doing anything in the cars." Score: 3.
- Now the clowns are sent in, a mix of happy and hobo clowns. The girls decide they're good for a few laughs. Score: 4.
- Next are mini race cars doing circles, followed by mini-motorcycles, followed by mini-Corvette-style cars: Score (averaged): 8.
"They're pretty cool, but the first little cars are the best," Michelle said. "After awhile, it gets kind of boring. They copied each other."
At this point, the girls got a bit agitated. It was several minutes into the parade and the big bags they held were empty. Their parade goals started to become clear.
"This better be candy," they all agreed, eyeing the next group of entries.
Not quite.
- Mayor Joe Broda's and the trustees' float came next. No candy, but they did throw pins. A minor victory is won for empty bag holders.
"I got one thing," Sammi shrugged. Score: undecided.
- Lisle High School marching band is next. Good music, good outfits. Score: 8.
- Then the girls see it: The B. Gunther & Co. float is approaching, raining down candy. Not only that, the floats following them are throwing candy as well.
"This is going to be a 10," Nikki decides.
"Wait, it depends on what kind of candy it is," Sammi chimes in.
Soon Tootsie Rolls and suckers are bouncing off their heads as they try to get some to land in their bags. They finally have their candy. Score: 9.
- Next comes the Lisle Lionettes Dance Team. They do a routine in which Kelsy seems intensely interested in. She ranks them on her own. Score: 5.
"I'm going to be one of those people," she explains.
Then come various groups of Cub Scouts. They have what appears to be larger bags of candy as they approach.
"Yeah, more candy," the girls shout in unison. The candy flies and the girls sprawl out, hands and knees, gathering it fistfuls at a time. Score: 10.
"They gave out good candy," Emily reasons.
Now the parade winds down. Soon the girls look perplexed. It's a political entry, a county board candidate, apparently the only one in the parade.
"Boooo," said the girls softly, but in unison. Score: 2 (even with candy).
"I'm not even voting," Nikki explains.
With that, it becomes clear the candy collecting is over. The largest and longest parade in Lisle's history lasts about 40 minutes. What's the final, overall score?
"It was OK," Nikki said. "Want a piece of candy?"
Lisle parade scores high Kids, candy and floats make 50th anniversary event largest in village history
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's a common belief that everyone loves a parade, but perhaps no one more so than a child.
With that in mind, Nikki and Sammi Mass, ages 11 and 8, joined Kelsy Nilles, 11, Michelle Krausfeldt, 10, and Emily Schillerstrom, 11, Saturday afternoon on Lisle's Main Street for the community's 50th anniversary parade.
A 10-minute downpour didn't deter them from a prime curb spot at Main Street and Burlington Avenue. It would ensure a front-row spot for any candy thrown and a solid place in the historic group photo the community will publish to celebrate its 50-year history.
First, the parade: It was billed as the largest and longest in Lisle's history. That's a big billing to live up to. The girls decided they'd judge the parade by its entries, one at a time on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the coolest.
- The Lisle-Woodridge Fire Department comes first, featuring fire trucks, sirens blaring.
"They were a little loud," Emily said. "And they didn't have any candy." Score: 2.
- Next is Bea Malloy, honorary grand marshal, followed by the Midwest Grotto Association in convertible Chrysler Crossfires.
"I like the cars," Nikki said. "I don't like how they're not doing anything in the cars." Score: 3.
- Now the clowns are sent in, a mix of happy and hobo clowns. The girls decide they're good for a few laughs. Score: 4.
- Next are mini race cars doing circles, followed by mini-motorcycles, followed by mini-Corvette-style cars: Score (averaged): 8.
"They're pretty cool, but the first little cars are the best," Michelle said. "After awhile, it gets kind of boring. They copied each other."
At this point, the girls got a bit agitated. It was several minutes into the parade and the big bags they held were empty. Their parade goals started to become clear.
"This better be candy," they all agreed, eyeing the next group of entries.
Not quite.
- Mayor Joe Broda's and the trustees' float came next. No candy, but they did throw pins. A minor victory is won for empty bag holders.
"I got one thing," Sammi shrugged. Score: undecided.
- Lisle High School marching band is next. Good music, good outfits. Score: 8.
- Then the girls see it: The B. Gunther & Co. float is approaching, raining down candy. Not only that, the floats following them are throwing candy as well.
"This is going to be a 10," Nikki decides.
"Wait, it depends on what kind of candy it is," Sammi chimes in.
Soon Tootsie Rolls and suckers are bouncing off their heads as they try to get some to land in their bags. They finally have their candy. Score: 9.
- Next comes the Lisle Lionettes Dance Team. They do a routine in which Kelsy seems intensely interested in. She ranks them on her own. Score: 5.
"I'm going to be one of those people," she explains.
Then come various groups of Cub Scouts. They have what appears to be larger bags of candy as they approach.
"Yeah, more candy," the girls shout in unison. The candy flies and the girls sprawl out, hands and knees, gathering it fistfuls at a time. Score: 10.
"They gave out good candy," Emily reasons.
Now the parade winds down. Soon the girls look perplexed. It's a political entry, a county board candidate, apparently the only one in the parade.
"Boooo," said the girls softly, but in unison. Score: 2 (even with candy).
"I'm not even voting," Nikki explains.
With that, it becomes clear the candy collecting is over. The largest and longest parade in Lisle's history lasts about 40 minutes. What's the final, overall score?
"It was OK," Nikki said. "Want a piece of candy?"
Alternative story telling: Santa for dogs
December 10 2006
A doggone good party Santa brings treats for huskies
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
'Twas two weeks before Christmas, when DuPage County Forest Preserve District staff realized a plan. Dogs can enjoy Christmas festivities as well as people can.
Owners tied their dogs to Greene Valley Forest Preserve picnic tables on Saturday with care. They hoped St. Nicholas soon would be there.
Adopt A Husky dogs nestled snugly on piles of straw, while visions of joining families occupied them all.
The huskies were joined by other breeds that had homes already. The chance to make new doggie pals made them hard to keep steady.
Dog owners wore gloves, most donned a winter cap, and settled for 40-degree weather after temperatures much lower than that.
Then out in the dog park arose such a clatter, it was Santa with dog treats, the pets couldn't have been gladder.
Up to Santa the dogs ran with a flash, barking and howling like sled dogs they dashed.
Out the dogs frolicked on the white, cold snow, while their owners gathered round a fire's red glow.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear? The dogs pulling Santa's sleigh wore antlers like reindeer.
Ranger Annette McNeely said the sight was not weird, a club of 48 people began dog sledding in the park this year.
Most of the dogs were huskies that came, "Kodiak" and "Trinity" were among their names.
Over to other picnic tables some flew, for Petco was present to do some grooming on them, too.
And McNeely's eyes twinkled for the dogs were so merry. Their mouths held as many dog treats as they could carry.
"There's a lot of happy dogs here today," McNeely said and she'd know. She owns a husky herself that's fond of the snow.
It's not always a happy day for huskies with their ferocious teeth - they look like wolves McNeely said is a common belief.
Fear keeps people from adopting them, McNeely said. She described them as fun-loving, there's nothing to dread.
With Santa's bag of dog treats empty, it was the end of the day's Christmas work. All gathered their belongings and turned with a jerk.
One last sleigh ride through the park Santa whistled. Off his dog team flew like a missile.
Away from the forest preserve in Naperville Santa mushed out of sight, but not before saying, "Happy Christmas to all dogs, and to their owners a good night."
A doggone good party Santa brings treats for huskies
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
'Twas two weeks before Christmas, when DuPage County Forest Preserve District staff realized a plan. Dogs can enjoy Christmas festivities as well as people can.
Owners tied their dogs to Greene Valley Forest Preserve picnic tables on Saturday with care. They hoped St. Nicholas soon would be there.
Adopt A Husky dogs nestled snugly on piles of straw, while visions of joining families occupied them all.
The huskies were joined by other breeds that had homes already. The chance to make new doggie pals made them hard to keep steady.
Dog owners wore gloves, most donned a winter cap, and settled for 40-degree weather after temperatures much lower than that.
Then out in the dog park arose such a clatter, it was Santa with dog treats, the pets couldn't have been gladder.
Up to Santa the dogs ran with a flash, barking and howling like sled dogs they dashed.
Out the dogs frolicked on the white, cold snow, while their owners gathered round a fire's red glow.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear? The dogs pulling Santa's sleigh wore antlers like reindeer.
Ranger Annette McNeely said the sight was not weird, a club of 48 people began dog sledding in the park this year.
Most of the dogs were huskies that came, "Kodiak" and "Trinity" were among their names.
Over to other picnic tables some flew, for Petco was present to do some grooming on them, too.
And McNeely's eyes twinkled for the dogs were so merry. Their mouths held as many dog treats as they could carry.
"There's a lot of happy dogs here today," McNeely said and she'd know. She owns a husky herself that's fond of the snow.
It's not always a happy day for huskies with their ferocious teeth - they look like wolves McNeely said is a common belief.
Fear keeps people from adopting them, McNeely said. She described them as fun-loving, there's nothing to dread.
With Santa's bag of dog treats empty, it was the end of the day's Christmas work. All gathered their belongings and turned with a jerk.
One last sleigh ride through the park Santa whistled. Off his dog team flew like a missile.
Away from the forest preserve in Naperville Santa mushed out of sight, but not before saying, "Happy Christmas to all dogs, and to their owners a good night."
Alternative story telling: Half an hour in jail
October 01 2006
Half an hour in jail Tours of the jail are one part of DuPage County Safety Day
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's hard not to get a sinking feeling in your stomach when stepping onto a DuPage County sheriff's bus.
Outside, the signs at the DuPage County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning read "10th Annual Safety Saturday." Inside the bus, it was me and the rest of the criminals.
Alleged, that is.
I walked down the aisle looking for a friendly face, a would-be cellmate to endure the trip to the big house. I settled on a seat across the aisle from an unusually short and young looking guy toting a blue "Sheriff John Zaruba" balloon.
Talk about a criminal just asking to get arrested.
The bus was segmented into four compartments by black metal cages. The same cages adorned the windows, letting us know we weren't going anywhere but jail.
"Ready to go?" the sheriff's officer asked after yanking the bus doors closed.
"Yaaaaaaay," responded my fellow inmates. Clearly these were rookies to the criminal justice system.
Smiling officers awaited our arrival at the jail. For some reason, they took the time to show us their crime investigation facilities, perhaps mocking us for how easy we were to catch.
It was there I found my one glimmer of hope. Forensic Scientist Leroy Keith told us finding fingerprints and identifying matches is still mostly done by hand, and much more difficult than TV shows like "CSI" would have us believe.
"People really have unreal expectations on what we can do," Keith said. "We can't compete with some of the shows."
On to the lockup. Officers escorted us through the metal detectors. All the while we were conspicuously free of handcuffs or shackles. My potential 3-foot cellmate still grasped his balloon, smiling.
We were led into a small room dubbed "the mantrap" and the metal doors closed behind us.
"Now we're in trouble," said yet another unusually short criminal, holding the hand of someone named "Mom." It seemed to be an evil nickname.
An elevator ride later and we were all inside a small gym. One basketball hoop. One weight machine. One chin-up bar. We'd be able to use the facility about 10 people at a time, one hour a day.
Then came the visitation room. It's just like in the movies. No human contact. You can only stare through the glass and chat on a phone. If you're lucky, there's a bin your lawyer can pass documents to you for signatures.
Then came the dreaded cells. Two floors of rooms too small to lay on the floor width-wise and not have to scrunch your legs. The beds are green pads with thin blankets. There are rubber bins for your belongings, and an actual hole in the wall to store toilet paper. Perhaps that's where I could start digging for an escape.
The officers told us this room, and the commons area directly outside, would be where we'd spent our entire day. Checkers, chess, dominoes, Scrabble and one television are the entertainment.
Then, a miracle came. Maybe there was some legal glitch that let us fall through the cracks. We were all whisked back onto the elevator and led to an escape route out the back door.
I decide to high-tail it out of there before anyone changed their minds.
"That was cool," said the balloon-toting, short man. Apparently, he hasn't learned his lesson. I suspect a long life of crime may be ahead of him. There was even talk of going back to the fairgrounds to meet a particularly good, but dog-faced, detective named "McGruff."
Not me. Maybe the jail is nice for the 800 or so people living there, but I count myself lucky to not be one of them.
Half an hour in jail Tours of the jail are one part of DuPage County Safety Day
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's hard not to get a sinking feeling in your stomach when stepping onto a DuPage County sheriff's bus.
Outside, the signs at the DuPage County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning read "10th Annual Safety Saturday." Inside the bus, it was me and the rest of the criminals.
Alleged, that is.
I walked down the aisle looking for a friendly face, a would-be cellmate to endure the trip to the big house. I settled on a seat across the aisle from an unusually short and young looking guy toting a blue "Sheriff John Zaruba" balloon.
Talk about a criminal just asking to get arrested.
The bus was segmented into four compartments by black metal cages. The same cages adorned the windows, letting us know we weren't going anywhere but jail.
"Ready to go?" the sheriff's officer asked after yanking the bus doors closed.
"Yaaaaaaay," responded my fellow inmates. Clearly these were rookies to the criminal justice system.
Smiling officers awaited our arrival at the jail. For some reason, they took the time to show us their crime investigation facilities, perhaps mocking us for how easy we were to catch.
It was there I found my one glimmer of hope. Forensic Scientist Leroy Keith told us finding fingerprints and identifying matches is still mostly done by hand, and much more difficult than TV shows like "CSI" would have us believe.
"People really have unreal expectations on what we can do," Keith said. "We can't compete with some of the shows."
On to the lockup. Officers escorted us through the metal detectors. All the while we were conspicuously free of handcuffs or shackles. My potential 3-foot cellmate still grasped his balloon, smiling.
We were led into a small room dubbed "the mantrap" and the metal doors closed behind us.
"Now we're in trouble," said yet another unusually short criminal, holding the hand of someone named "Mom." It seemed to be an evil nickname.
An elevator ride later and we were all inside a small gym. One basketball hoop. One weight machine. One chin-up bar. We'd be able to use the facility about 10 people at a time, one hour a day.
Then came the visitation room. It's just like in the movies. No human contact. You can only stare through the glass and chat on a phone. If you're lucky, there's a bin your lawyer can pass documents to you for signatures.
Then came the dreaded cells. Two floors of rooms too small to lay on the floor width-wise and not have to scrunch your legs. The beds are green pads with thin blankets. There are rubber bins for your belongings, and an actual hole in the wall to store toilet paper. Perhaps that's where I could start digging for an escape.
The officers told us this room, and the commons area directly outside, would be where we'd spent our entire day. Checkers, chess, dominoes, Scrabble and one television are the entertainment.
Then, a miracle came. Maybe there was some legal glitch that let us fall through the cracks. We were all whisked back onto the elevator and led to an escape route out the back door.
I decide to high-tail it out of there before anyone changed their minds.
"That was cool," said the balloon-toting, short man. Apparently, he hasn't learned his lesson. I suspect a long life of crime may be ahead of him. There was even talk of going back to the fairgrounds to meet a particularly good, but dog-faced, detective named "McGruff."
Not me. Maybe the jail is nice for the 800 or so people living there, but I count myself lucky to not be one of them.
Watchdog fallout: Park director resigns, still gets paid
Here are two stories detailing the fallout from an investigation I did a few weeks earlier about the costs of remodeling the director's home being much more than the park district publicly reported.
September 21 2006
Wheaton Park District director calls it quits
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Friday December 22 2006
September 21 2006
Wheaton Park District director calls it quits
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Wheaton Park District Director Rob Robinson unexpectedly resigned Wednesday night following community backlash about taxpayer dollars pumped into his free housing at Arrowhead Golf Course.
The announcement at the start of the park board meeting fueled public comments laced with vitriol. The comments were based on two Daily Herald reports.
The first report put the cost of upgrades to Robinson's house at $83,000. The second report cited documents obtained by the Daily Herald putting the actual cost at about $180,000, resulting in an explanation from the district that no one actually looked at the hard numbers before reporting the $83,000 figure.
Labor costs and a new garage will eventually put the cost of the project at about $300,000.
Park commissioners explained they had no idea the house needed such extensive repairs because they hadn't seen the inside in many years.
Community members said Wednesday night the house isn't worth the cost or the repairs night.
"I just don't think that's the best use of the public's dollars," Aileen Haslett told the park board.
"I want to make sure we get the most for our money."
Overall, the community expressed support for Robinson's leadership. It was exactly the opposite when he came to the park board.
One resident, Don Immekus, went so far as to call for the resignation of all seven park commissioners.
"As elected officials you have all violated your fiduciary responsibility," Immekus said. "You, as a board, lied to (Robinson) to get him here. That house was (former Director) Bob Dunsmuir's dog kennel. How long have you been on the board? Not one of you was ever in that house?"
Park commissioners defended the remodeling of the house as a necessary action to attract a quality director, and as an investment in an asset.
Park Board President Paul Fullerton said it's not a major ongoing cost to taxpayers, and no park maintenance went unperformed as a result of staff time spent on the house.
"We were not constantly updating the house," Fullerton said. "The reason costs were incurred was because the home had not been updated for some time."
Robinson offered no public comment about his resignation. Fullerton read a statement that said Robinson was resigning to return to Colorado because of family issues.
In the weeks leading up to Wednesday night's resignation, Robinson expressed concern to the Daily Herald about how news reports on the housing issue were stressing out his family and causing some of his children to endure uncomfortable questioning by peers at school.
Robinson did not immediately respond to an interview request after Wednesday night's meeting.
Park commissioners met in closed session to discuss a date for Robinson's departure and any legal obligations about severance pay.
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Friday December 22 2006
Ex-Wheaton park director still being paid
James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Rob Robinson isn't executive director of the Wheaton Park District anymore. He doesn't live in free park district housing. Nor does he live in Illinois.
But he'll still get paid for another month as if he was, a sum totaling a little more than $10,000, according to a copy of Robinson's resignation agreement.
Robinson's Sept. 20 resignation took effect immediately. At that moment he lost all his park district privileges. He turned in his park district cell phone. He relinquished the 2003 Ford Explorer the park district gave him to use for business purposes. And he had until the end of the year to move out of the free housing the district provided for him and his family.
Robinson is already out of that house, but he'll still see some money related to the housing down the road.
The park district places the fair market value of the free housing it provided Robinson at $25,000 for the year. Robinson must now include that as gross income on his taxes. For that, the park district will reimburse him up to $2,222 for the taxes owed.
But Robinson will receive more money for temporary housing the district provided while fixing up the park district home used to house the director. From Jan. 1 to June 30, the park district shelled out $24,000 in rent for Robinson and his family to live in temporary housing at 821 N. Wheaton Ave. That comes out to $4,000 a month in rent.
"It was basically a supply and demand thing," park board President Paul Fullerton said. "It was the only house we could find."
Robinson must also include the temporary housing payment in his gross income. The park district will reimburse him up to $9,600 for doing so.
Robinson exhausted all his personal and sick time before he left, which supports his statement about resigning because of health concerns. However, the park district did cut Robinson a check for $4,662 for 73 hours of unused vacation time.
Unless he gets a new job before then, Robinson keeps his health and dental benefits until Jan. 31. That's also the last day he'll receive a paycheck under the resignation agreement, for a total of four months of severance pay since September. Before taxes and retirement contributions, that's about $40,000.
The Daily Herald obtained Robinson's resignation agreement through a Freedom of Information request, a process some park commissioners indicated was costly and burdensome on park staff this week.
Fullerton agreed the public should know the details of Robinson's resignation agreement. However, because it is a "dicey" employment issue, the park board paid for a legal opinion on what it could and should release.
Fullerton said it does the same for all Freedom of Information requests.
"I'm into full disclosure and openness," he said.
Robinson did not respond to an interview request.
Under the resignation agreement, he is not allowed to make disparaging comments about the park district.
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