Algonquin chief almost 100 percent
I saw Algonquin Police Chief Russ Laine last week at a board meeting in what was his first public appearance since returning to work after a bout of double pneumonia.
Village trustees were happy to see him as well.
"It is really good to say Chief Laine and it is really good to see you vertically, not horizontally," Village President John Schmitt said when he introduced Laine to speak at the meeting.
Algonquin's chief of 23 years was hospitalized for four months due to complications and spent nearly five weeks of his stay in a medically induced coma.
He said doctors weren't sure if he would live to see his 58th birthday, but he defied the odds and has been back on the beat since early August.
The Elgin man says he is now working between four and six hours a day at the station as his body allows - although his mind is operating at 110 percent, he says his body is just 60 percent strong.
Still, Laine says, "It's pretty awesome" to be back.
"I don't want to push it too hard, but I'm really enjoying it," he said.
Laine lost 70 pounds after his hospital stay and as a result, doesn't fit into his police uniform anymore - he attended Tuesday's meeting in a gray suit.
The self-proclaimed steak and potatoes man says he's added 15 pounds to his frame by noshing on barbecued bratwurst, chicken and hot dogs, as well as deep dish pizza topped with all sorts of meat.
He washes all of it down with diet soda.
With all this grubbing, it sounds like he might be on the fast track to gaining back the other 55 pounds.
But Laine told me there's no way he's putting the rest of that weight back on.
Just checking, chief!
Vroom, vroom, baby: Pingree Grove is planning its second annual car show and needs your help.
Organizers are looking for any sort of car; if you have a unique car, feel free to bring it.
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 at a location to be announced.
There's no fee to enter the contest, whose winner will be determined by votes from attendees. The top winner will receive a trophy.
The festivities also include food, beverages and a disc jockey. If you'd like to take part or need more information, contact Catie Vavra at cathiv@pingreegrove.org or call her at (224) 659-4747.
Required reading: Here's another update on Michael Geheren, the 13-year-old reporter from Huntley I wrote about last week.
As if school and his Scholastic News reporting activities weren't enough to keep him busy, he's now penning a book called "Down Home in Huntley: the Friendly Village with Country Charm."
The tome will detail the history of Huntley, starting from its first settlers, moving onto how the village was established, its recent growth spurt and what the future has in store for the town.
The book is expected to hit stores in 2009.
• Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College and weekend events. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com.