Red definitely means stop at Huntley, Randall intersection

Whoa! No right turn on red at Randall Road for you westbound Huntley Road drivers. Stop that!

Carpentersville police Cmdr. Michael Kilbourne asked me to let you know of the new rules at the troubled intersection of Huntley Road and Randall Road. Turns out one reason that intersection has one of the highest accident rates in the region was sudden stops by drivers making right turns, then trying to merge northbound onto Randall. You know who you are.

Kane County Division of Transportation folks felt the best solution was to eliminate those right turns on red, and they did just that just more than a week ago. Some of you, however, apparently are such creatures of habit, you're still turning right on red.

Police have been giving out warnings and are now issuing tickets.

"The overall intent is to try to decrease the amount of accidents at that intersection," the commander said. Makes sense.

Road rally

If Bill Dwyer is Mr. Roads, then Algonquin Village President John Schmitt most certainly is Mayor Roads. Both gentlemen have been hard at work, along with many others, helping to build a group of people to push for more money for roads in McHenry and northern Kane counties.

They need your help.

The McHenry County Better Roads Coalition invites us all to join them at a rally for road money at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cornish Park, on the corner of Route 62 and Harrison Street along the Fox River in downtown Algonquin. They're hoping the governor and other state officials hear their plea and give this region its fair share of road dollars

Without you, the combined force of legislative and business leaders is missing a vital ingredient to effect change in the current policy: Voters.

"Voters coming out Friday and writing letters to their representatives is the only way to get this accomplished," Schmitt said. "Many decisions are politically motivated. The voters have got to be the voices that say: 'If you want my vote, you've got to do this.'

"If the people in this region expect to see any kind of project initiated, we have to work together. We can't do this alone," he added.

That's for sure. What's truly hopeful this time around is the coalition of people joining together across county and municipal lines. If you've ever been stuck in traffic at Route 31 and Route 62, you know the need. Stop by Friday and speak up!

Yummmm

Phyllis Connelly of the Dundee Township Lions Club invites us all to the annual fundraiser featuring Faye's Pork Chops BBQ from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Dundee Freeman Park in East Dundee. You can enjoy two pork chops or a half chicken, or a quarter chicken with one chop, cole slaw and a roll.

It's $9 for advance tickets and $10 at the gate. You can buy tickets from any Lions Club member or at the gate.

Ka-boom!

How about all this stormy weather? Who needs an alarm clock when you've got Ma Nature rattling the rooftop?

Thursday's theatrics had plenty of people talking as they got their morning coffee. But were you like me wondering what the heck hit your yard Sunday morning? If you were, it seems we're full-fledged members of the Sound Sleepers club. Apparently a fairly fierce storm blew through the region early Sunday. One trained McHenry County spotter reported a wind gust of 62 mph and weather spotters and law enforcement reported trees, power lines and debris across the area from Winnebago to Kane to Lake counties as well. Who knew?

Bark Park

If your dog loves to romp, consider stopping by the Lake in the Hills Bark Park. They're offering a new prorated membership discount. It's $30 for residents and $45 for nonresidents through the end of the year . You'll need a certificate of valid rabies and distemper vaccinations and a note from your veterinarian proving your pup is at least six months old. Stop by the parks and recreation office to register.

I'll bet some of you are wishing there was a place to park your kids -- or your parents -- right about now. School starts when?!