Grassroots effort tries to get word to governor

Are you tired of traffic, sick of politics and absolutely convinced that brake-light red is McHenry County's theme color?

Did you cheer that recent road rally near the corner of Route 31 and Route 62 in Algonquin but feared it likely was just a lot of hot air that wouldn't change a thing?

Never fear. It seems the McHenry County Roads Coalition is just getting warmed up.

The grassroots group that includes plenty of frustrated local political and business leaders fired another salvo at Springfield on Tuesday with the installation of three "Tell the Governor" billboards on some of the county's most traffic-worn roads.

"We're not going to give up on this," said Bill Dwyer, who is heading the effort to get the state to release funding for the troubled intersection at the McHenry County crossroads. "We've got all these state and federal people supporting us. Now we need the governor."

He hopes the billboards will prompt motorists to go to McHenryBetterRoads.com and sign the online petition that the group plans to present to Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a quest to get McHenry County's fair share of road money.

Not that you can tell this governor anything about our needs. He doesn't seem to know we exist.

Salute

Like many military kin, Huntley grandmother Sharon Hoffman is anxiously waiting for her granddaughter's return from Iraq. Among the war stories family and friends will ask Lance Cpl. Ashley Hoffman of Crystal Lake to share will be about the day she shook President Bush's hand on his surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base in the Anwar province in Iraq earlier this month.

Ashley, 20, is a military photographer who should be coming home next month. It's been no easy time. Her unit recently suffered three casualties. "Some of the things you want to hear … but you don't," her grandmother said.

Sharon contacted me because her Bunco group wants to send care packages for the holidays, and they're looking for soldier addresses. If you have a loved one in combat who can share those goodies with his or her fellow soldiers, send an e-mail with the address to me at amack@dailyherald.com and I'll forward to Sharon.

Purring along

East Dundee's new village administrator, Frank Koehler -- who says he's "having a ball" in his new gig -- called after Sunday's column item about no East Dundee in this year's Heritage Fest.

He said there is no "falling out between the two towns," but said budget issues kept East Dundee from formally participating in this weekend's Heritage Fest. The village will, instead, hold a one-day art fair Sunday.

"Nothing along those lines," he said to my jest that perhaps the headliner band Catfight's name told the real story. And he said he looks forward to his Heritage Fest visit this weekend.

Tax time

Have you paid the second half of your property tax bill? If you're a McHenry County resident, the second installment is due today.

McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew says don't panic. You can pay in person at the treasurer's office in Woodstock, at the drop box outside, online with a credit card, at any McHenry County bank, or just make sure the payment is postmarked by midnight tonight.

If you live in Kane County, you can panic. You're late. Those payments were due Sept. 1.

Yummmmm

Taking my own advice, I checked out the new Lou Malnati's restaurant in Lakewood on Sunday evening. I'm pretty sure most of you were there, too. Giving new meaning to "if you build it, they will come," the somewhat hidden restaurant was packing 'em in. We got ours to go and can tell you it's worth the wait. Helped wash the bad taste of that Chicago Bears game away.