Reporters get really bugged by their mistakes

Last week when I was interviewing Algonquin Village Manager William Ganek about a story, he told me during the course of the interview that the premise of my story last week about emerald ash borers in the village was incorrect.

The village already has a policy in place telling homeowners to get rid of dangerous trees within 60 days of receiving a permit.

What was new is that the village is outlining a plan to deal specifically with ash-borer infested trees. That was something I reported on in the story, but I thought the 60-day tree removal policy was news, too. It is not, Ganek said.

Ganek raised these concerns two days after the initial story ran and I asked him why he didn't let me know sooner.

He said it wasn't a big deal and that he didn't want me to think he was chewing me out. He also said he'd be satisfied if I corrected it in the next story.

My editor and I agreed this would be the best course of action.

I thanked Ganek for pointing out this mistake but I still wanted to explain what happened in this space, in case reader compare the initial story with the last one and get confused.

I never have a problem admitting when I'm wrong, so if anyone sees an error, please let me know.

The last thing I want is for anyone to be mislead by one of my articles or to alienate readers and public officials.

Thanks for letting them lean on you: Gail Kowalski, organizer of the "Lean on me" fundraiser held in June for two Marian Central Catholic High School student kills and two others who were injured, says the event brought in about $35,000.

The event, held at the Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin, included a silent and live auction, a golf outing and a car wash.

Alexander Grys, 14, of Algonquin and Taylor Wozniak, 17, of Lake in the Hills, died in a car accident last fall when the car they rode in crashed into a dump truck on Haligus Road in Grafton Township.

Grys' sister Eva, a senior at the Catholic school, suffered multiple injuries and neighbor William Schlau, a freshman, was also hurt in the collision.

The fundraiser was organized by a group of neighbors in Algonquin's Tunbridge subdivision, where three of the four people involved in the crash lived.

The money will benefit all of the families whose children were in the crash.

Please keep us posted on any future fundraisers for these families.

Getting and staying healthy: It is almost time for the McHenry County Children's Health and Safety Fair. The free fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 6 at McHenry County College.

You'll have to pay for immunizations and dental screenings though.

They cost $12 and $10 respectively and are offered on a first come, first served basis. School physicals cost $15 and are available by appointment only.

Space is limited.

Besides that, there will be games, prizes and more than 50 exhibits. They'll also score free school supplies after turning in a stamped card showing they visiting certain booths and they also have a chance to win one of two bicycles and helmets. DJs from STAR 105.5 will be on-site to keep the party going. If you'd like to make a medical appointment for your child at the fair, call (815) 334-8987.

Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College and Sunday events in the Fox Valley. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com