Wasco Sanitary District says Madigan wrong about pollution

The Wasco Sanitary District says a pollution complaint filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is based on "incorrect allegations."

The rural taxing body responded to the suit last week with a written statement calling Madigan's claims "unjustifiable" and contending it has done nothing wrong.

The complaint, filed March 23 in Kane County, accuses the district of polluting Mill Creek with treated wastewater since at least May 2007 - the result of oversaturating a drainage ditch and irrigation fields that spill into the Fox River tributary.

District President Raul Brizuela declined to comment in detail, but issued a statement through the district's attorney, Charles F. Helsten.

"Over the last several weeks, the attorney general's office has been meeting with us. We have welcomed those discussions because WSD has not violated any laws, regulations or permit conditions which apply to its facility. ... Despite those meetings, the attorney general has now filed a lawsuit, based upon incorrect allegations."

The statement goes on to say the district is "open to a mutually acceptable, practical resolution ... but we will vigorously defend the lawsuit if the attorney general moves forward with its unjustifiable claims."

Madigan is seeking an injunction to stop the district from emptying "contaminants" into the creek, as well as fines of $50,000 for violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and $10,000 for each day of violation.

Madigan's office has declined to comment on the case, which goes to a judge July 13.

Prison or probation: It'll be interesting to see what happens May 13 when a 19-year-old Wayne man goes before a judge for his sentence in a reckless homicide case.

Onofrio J. Lorusso is looking at prison or probation for his role in a June 14, 2009, crash that killed his best friend, Cameron Godee, of West Chicago, just days after they both graduated from St. Charles East High School.

Attorneys for both sides say a prison sentence of three to 14 years is preferred under Illinois law, unless the defense can prove "extenuating circumstances."

Lorusso pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence last week with no guarantees about what sentence he might receive. His team of three attorneys figure Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon will see it their way.

"We are confident Mr. Lorusso will receive probation," defense attorney Gary Johnson told the judge last week.

Lorusso's attorneys said they will argue their client's age, lack of criminal history, open admission of guilt, supportive family and successes as an "athlete-scholar" are circumstances special enough to keep him out of prison.

Prosecutors wouldn't get into their arguments, but are almost certain to mention Lorusso's blood-alcohol level of 0.227 after the crash and his estimated speed of 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, in addition to the tragic outcome.

Lorusso will spend at least a couple weeks in jail. He's been ordered to turn himself in April 30, 13 days before the decision.