Forum to explain how media, rescuers work together in crisis

Three months after the Northern Illinois University tragedy stunned our region, the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District will host a forum to make sure you know exactly what's going on in the event we face a major incident.

They've invited Kane and McHenry county media, fire, police, health care, education and health workers to help us all work together should our region encounter a difficult scenario.

We and other area media recently met with Algonquin-Lake in the Hills firefighters and all walked away with a better understanding of what each needs to best do our jobs in difficult situations. Now they're expanding the effort.

Melanie Magara, NIU's vice president of public affairs, will share their experience handling their awful campus tragedy. We media types can tell you they did an outstanding job keeping us informed so we could share with you.

It is our hope and the hope of the emergency responders that the May 19 forum at McHenry County College will help all of us do our jobs better to help make sure our communities are safe no matter what's going on out there.

Pothole!

The Algonquin woman who asked me to help get better striping on area roads likely will be glad to know state crews were out this week brightening the lines on Route 31 near the Jane Adams Tollway.

We locals, of course, still call it THE tollway or I-90.

No matter what you call it, the road right below is sparkling yellow and white with nary a pothole thanks to the fixes from the Illinois Department of Transportation last year. We can't, unfortunately, say anything nice about many other local roads.

Need to lose a tooth? Take a ride on Huntley Road between Route 31 and Sleepy Hollow Road. Beware if you're traveling east. I'm pretty sure you could call that a crop of potholes in the southernmost lane near the mall.

Actually, that's not quite what I called it Tuesday morning, but it's close ...

How much?!

I'll bet you folks who live in Elgin Area School District 46 are very glad to know who your new superintendent will be.

I'll also bet your first question, given the still-galling lucrative departure deal given to former Superintendent Connie Neale, who resigned for medical reasons, was: How's his health?

The second question: What does his contract's fine print say?

And the third: What do you mean there's no signed contract?!!

So far, Jose Torres seems to know the challenges of his district featuring many unhappy taxpayers.

As my colleague Kerry Lester noted in her story introducing him to the community, one of the superintendent's first pledges is to instill "ganas" -- a Spanish term for heart, desire and will -- in the U-46 community.

As long as he's not also asking for "demasiado" or "too much" in that yet unsigned contract, it sounds like something we could all use these days.

Way to go, Rita!

Heart, desire and will are certainly qualities embraced by longtime Huntley employee Rita McMahon, who was recently honored for her 20 years of service to that community. Many know Rita can make things happen ... and does. Congratulations, Rita!

Around the world

Did you see the picture with today's column? No, that's not a new staff photo for our affiliate ABC7 Chicago. The Lake in the Hills Rotary Club recently hosted a visit by an International Rotary group from France, including a TV journalist from Paris. The Group Study Exchange program fosters an exchange of ideas and information to help boost international understanding.

That's just what happened, said Lake in the Hills Public Safety Director Jim Wales, switching to his Rotary hat. The visit showed it's a very small world, he said, "And we're one big pool of people." That's for sure.

Make mine with relish

My column suggesting embattled Carpentersville Trustee Paul Humpfer step down to focus on his personal woes after his domestic battery conviction spurred one resident to suggest I, instead, focus on hot dog stands around town.

I never mix politics and food. It's bad for the digestion.

Not that I haven't called more than one politician a hot dog.