Lake Co. soap box

Welcome

Jody Ware, an educator from northwest Illinois, was named Mundelein High School's new superintendent this week. She'll start in July 2008, at a time when administrators and board members have been working -- apparently successfully -- to right the district's long-floundering financial ship and plan for the future. Board members are genuinely excited to have Ware aboard. We hope brighter days lie ahead for Ware, the school and its 2,000-plus students.

Good no-decision

Sounds like cooler heads are prevailing in Hainesville over the issue of creating a municipal police department. Village President Ted Mueller had vowed to have a new department up and running by February after pulling out of a police coverage deal with neighboring Round Lake Park over a financial dispute. However, he softened his position during a public hearing this week after a presentation by Lake County sheriff's officials about providing coverage. Mueller said the offer is worth careful consideration. He's right. Starting a police department from scratch shouldn't be rushed into, given a host of critical issues -- not the least of which is cost -- that must be addressed. Residents who attended the hearing are nervous about the cost and urging transparency in the decision-making. Contracting with the sheriff's department may be an option to at least buy time for the village to fully study whether creating its own police department is the best course of action.

Make the call

When Marine Lance Cpl. James Hulse made the final leg of his journey to Vernon Hills from Iraq Saturday, he was escorted by five police cars, two fire trucks and two ambulances, and cheered by community members lining the streets. This show of thanks was organized by Operation Welcome Home, an extension of Blue Line for the Front Line, a joint effort of the Vernon Hills and Libertyville police departments over the past few years to provide supplies to specific military units overseas. Organizers want to celebrate as many soldiers as possible, and they stress that the only way they find out about returning war heroes is from the public. So, if you know a Vernon Hills or Libertyville service member coming home, call (847) 247-4888 to make sure they get the warm welcome they deserve.

Roulette Road?

Now that the state is moving toward using gambling money to fix up and build roads, will there be a Blackjack Byway, a Hold 'Em Highway, a Let It Ride Lane?

No Santas in summer

All those holiday lights on homes and decorations in the yards are real pretty to look at. But they are a real eyesore if they are left on the lawns and hanging from the gutters well after the Christmas season is over. So be a good neighbor and take the decorations down in a timely fashion. Nothing quite as silly looking as a plastic Santa still on the lawn on the Fourth of July.

How about a grain of road salt

The outlook is for greater than normal snowfall. So get ready, or not. ABC 7 meteorologist Jerry Taft recently told us to take those long-term forecasts with a grain of salt. Science isn't there to accurately predict beyond seven days. Now, there's a refreshingly honest forecast.

Good work

Speaking of salt, kudos to the road crews for staying on top of a slick situation and keeping the highways from turning into hockey rinks during the recent ice storms.