Monday, February 25, 2013
State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst) wants to disband the Forest Commission, while Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Elmhurst) wants to get rid of commissioners' pay.
State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-45th) of Elmhurst last week sponsored HB 2481, which would dissolve the DuPage County Forest Preserve District Board and transfer the responsibilities of the Forest District to the DuPage County Board in 2016. In response late Friday, the DuPage Legislative Committee scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 26, to discuss the bill. "Before legislation of this magnitude is voted on in Springfield, I think it is important that all sides of the issue are explored," said Legislative Committee Chairman JR McBride in a prepared statement. "While I am open to the idea of a study to analyze a possible merger, I do not believe this bill has any merit until due diligence has been given on the subject." Reboletti …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Mark McDonald and David Tepper deny charges they planned to bilk the DuPage County Forest Preserve of $150,000.
Mark McDonald and David Tepper, two former administrators at the DuPage County Forest Preserve, pleaded not guilty to charges they schemed to steal $150,000 from the forest preserve, the Daily Herald reported Tuesday. McDonald, 52, of Wheaton and Tepper, 49, of River Forest were arraigned Tuesday on 140 charges each of theft, accepting kickbacks and official misconduct. Keep up with Wheaton news: sign up for our free daily newsletter. Then like us on Facebook for a slightly different take. Authorities say the men planned to bilk the forest preserve of about $150,000. In the first plan, involving McDonald's and Tepper's company Integrated Design Solutions, the two former employees billed and received more than $90,000 from the forest …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Arif Mahmood, a former contractor charged with stealing more than $10,000 from the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, pleads not guilty to 37 felony counts including theft, accepting kickbacks and official misconduct.
One of three men charged in a scandal at the DuPage County Forest Preserve District pleaded not guilty Monday to 37 felony counts, the Daily Herald reported. He was indicted earlier this month on counts including theft by deception, accepting kickbacks and official misconduct. Keep up with Wheaton news: sign up for our free daily newsletter. Then like us on Facebook for a slightly different take. Mahmood, 37, of Glendale Heights, allegedly worked as a contractor with the forest preserve and worked with former forest preserve employees Mark McDonald, 53, of the 1000 block of Childs Street in Wheaton, and David Tepper, 49, of the 300 block of Franklin Avenue in River Forest, in a scheme to steal from the government agency, according to the …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
During autumn, when deer are breeding, it is the time when the risk of accidents with deer are most common.
- PUBLIC SAFETY
-
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
From the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Drivers are urged to slow down and stay alert to avoid deer-vehicle collisions. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, collisions involving deer during 2011 caused injuries to 613 individuals and killed six people in the state. While these figures reflect the continuing overall decline of such accidents in recent years, they illustrate the ongoing dangers that motorists face. Accidents can occur at any time of the year, but autumn — when deer are breeding, or “in rut” — is the most dangerous. As deer search for mates, their activity levels increase, and they move more frequently. Collisions usually occur as deer cross roadways to reach other habitat. Drivers should watch …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
DuPage County voters elected eight newcomers to the county board, along with the the first Democratic forest preserve commissioner in a decade.
DuPage County voters rejected a proposition Tuesday that asked whether elected officials should be able to hold more than one office at a time. With all 748 precincts reporting, unofficial results show that a resounding 90 percent (332,657) of DuPage County voters rejected the proposal. Only 36,571 voted "yes." The question was placed on the general election ballot after Elmhurst Mayor Peter DiCianni and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso announced their plans to run for DuPage County Board seats in Districts 2 and 3, respectively. Both DiCianni and Grasso were declared winners Tuesday. DiCianni plans to resign his current position to serve the county board. Grasso has said he wants to hold both offices. Winner: Chris Kachiroubas (R) Republican …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Patch will keep you up to date Tuesday with all the major state and local races—from the hotly contested congressional districts to the DuPage County Board.
- ELECTIONS
-
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day is finally here. Patch will keep you up to date Tuesday with all the major state and local races—from the hotly contested congressional districts to the DuPage County Board. Everything you need to know to make a decision about how to cast your vote can be found on Patch. The links that follow will lead you to candidate profiles and positions, news coverage and candidate blogs. Find your polling place: LOCAL RACES Because of redistricting required after the 2010 census, all 18 seats on the DuPage County Board are up for grabs this election. There are 29 candidates running in six districts, 18 of which are Republicans and 11 Democrats. Because of redistricting, winners will not immediately know the length of their terms. A …
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Kirchenberg has what it takes to protect open space, says Jeff Gimm of Lisle.
- OPINION
-
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Downers Grove Patch accepts letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site weekly. The following was submitted by Lisle resident Jeff Gimm in DuPage County Forest Preserve District 2 candidate Don Kirchenberg. If you're interested in submitting a letter, e-mail Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am supporting Don Kirchenberg for DuPage Forest Preserve Commissioner in District 2 because he has worked hard for decades to help protect our open space including the forest preserves and trails. He has served as a volunteer as president of the Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation for over seven years. Don is also the ongoing voluntary chairman of the Friends of the …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Downers Grove Patch welcomes letters to the editor. Letters may be submitted to Local Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com.
- OPINION
-
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Downers Grove Patch accepts letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site weekly. The following was submitted by Downers Grove resident Mark Garrity. If you're interested in submitting a letter, e-mail Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dear Editor, I am supporting Don Kirchenberg for DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner in District 2 because he has been working hard as a volunteer for many years to help protect our open spaces, including many of the county-owned properties most of us take for granted. For example, he led the fight for the preservation of a unique forest in unincorporated Lombard, which is now the Glacial Ridge Forest Preserve of DuPage County. …
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Lisle resident Steven Leopoldo writes on charges for former employees of the Forest amanda@patch.com.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Downers Grove Patch accepts letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site weekly. The following was submitted by Lisle resident Steven Leopoldo. If you're interesting in submitting a letter, e-mail Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To the editor: Former DuPage Forest Preserve employees were charged yesterday with official misconduct, theft, taking kickbacks and unlawful participation in a scheme that allegedly defrauded taxpayers of over a hundred thousand dollars. A scheme that developed over the course of six years at the government agency, DuPage taxpayers are left today without official answers as to how payments for services unperformed and goods not delivered were…
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Two former DuPage County Forest Preserve District employees are charged with plans to bilk a government entity of more than $100,000.
Two former DuPage Forest Preserve District employees face charges of stealing more than $100,000 from a government entity with two "elaborate" schemes over a six-year period, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced Wednesday. Mark McDonald, 53, of the 1000 block of Childs Street in Wheaton, and David Tepper, 49, of the 300 block of Franklin Avenue in River Forest, worked in the Forest Preserve's IT department. McDonald was the director and Tepper was a manager, according to a press release from the State's Attorney's office. Arif Mahmood, 37, of Glendale Heights, a former contractor with the forest preserve, also faces charges of stealing more than $10,000. Authorities say the men planned to bilk the forest preserve of about…
J D McNugent
10:20 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Its a worthy conversation to have. We have too many layers of government. If the Dems wont cut waste and shrink the size of government the Republicans must! more ›