The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 93

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 200G DAILY HERALD SF.CTJOX 1 PAGE 3 Local Ibeus Today's quote "I should have tried my luck on a lottery ticket" Cindy McCaminack, Carpentersville's community development director on the fact that the village was awarded two grants on the same day totaling $343,000 News you can use The Elgin Choral Union will inaugurate its 60th season with a special performance of Mozart's "Requiem," at 3 p.m. Sunday in Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets are $20.50 for adults, $17.50 seniors, and $14.50 students. Call (847) 622-0300 or visit www.elgin.edu/arts. Illinois residents can receive free credit reports from all three credit bureaus once a year.

The annual free reports are only available by calling (877)322-8228, online at www.annualcreditreport.com. F2M Contact us News tips: (847) 608-2733 Letters to the editor: Fax: (847) 608-0849 E-mail: Missed paper? Vacation stop? Write: AH subscription information: Paddock Publications Inc. 847 608-2720 385 Airport Road, Suite A more hone numbers, Elgin, IL 60123-9301 see Pa 9 2 of Neighbor. Outgoing Kane board members Drunken driver to serve prison time Standing ovations were the order of the day Tuesday when four outgoing county board members were recognized for their civic service. Myrna Molina, the Aurora Democrat from District 1, Ken Griffin, the Aurora Democrat from District 3, Caryl Van Overmeiren, the St.

Charles Republican from District 13, and Lee Lisa Smith Inside Kane County Barrett, the East Dundee Republican from District 21, were given certificates of appreciation at the county board meeting. Van Overmeiren, the longest- serving board member, of the group, has been on the board since 1992 and has served on every standing committee. St. Charles Republican John Hoscheit, her counterpart in District 12, called her "a woman with vision who does not see herself as a politician but as someone who wants to give back to her community." The retired nurse "has been a tireless advocate of health care for the county's residents, helping to advance prenatal care for women," Hoscheit said. Barrett, on the board since 1998, was recognized for using his engineering background to solve problems.

But Paul Greviskes, an Aurora Democrat from District 6, poked fun at Barrett's penchant for mumbling at the board table. "We can only hear him half the time," Greviskes said. Greviskes also teased Griffin, who did not seek a second 4- year term after seriously injuring himself in an all-terrain vehicle accident last year. Greviskes handed him an ATV user handbook that he said contained "instructioEis on how not to rum over." "Now you tell me," Griffin quipped. Molina, a political newcomer who was appointed to the board in August to fill a vacancy, thanked her colleagues.

Gerry Tones, an Aurora Democrat who represents District 7, said of Molina: "No one in so short a time has impressed so many people." Their replacements Democrats Sylvia Leonberger in District 1 and Arlene Shoemaker in District, and Republicans Phil Lewis in District 13 and John Fahy in District 21 take office Dec 1. Machines left out Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham is expected to come under fire from county board members Monday after eSlate electronic voting machines were left at Dundee Township polling places for five days following last week's election. Nine of the machines were found at St. Monica's Church hall in Carpentersville on Sunday and at least one other was found at Perry Elementary School in Carpentersville, according to Democratic Kane County Board candidate Joseph Haimann, who lost to Fahy in the election. Cunningham confirmed that several eSlates were left behind, but said the machines were sealed to prevent tampering and did not contain any of the paper printouts on which votes are recorded.

However, he acknowledged that the $3,500 machines could have been stolen. "It was supposed to be picked up and it wasn't," he said. Cunningham is scheduled to appear before the board's public service committee at 9 a.m. Monday. BY ADAM KOVAC Daily Herald Staff Writer A woman who caused a post- prom crash that killed a St.

Edward Catholic High School student will serve prison time for using drugs on probation and missing a court-ordered day in a Wisconsin jail, authorities said Friday. Kelly Simpson, 22, was sentenced on Wednesday to four years in prison and extra time on probation for the violations, said John Dipko, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. On June, 17, 2004, Simpson pleaded guilty to homicide by negligent driving in the May 4, 2003, crash near Poynette, that killed a passenger, Richard Denk, 17, a junior at St. Edward. Simpson served nine months in jail and was required to discuss the consequences of drunken driving at least once a year and spend the anniversary of the wreck in jaii.

Dipko said Simpson did not show for her scheduled day in jail this summer and also failed a drug test. Richard Denk's mother, Lisa, supported the decision by Wisconsin authorities to revoke Simpson's supervised release. "It's not going to bring my son back," Lisa Denk said. "But at least I know she's not out doing Richard Denk Kelly Simpson what she. wants and will really have to think about what she's done." The day of the crash, Simpson was driving to Elgin from a friend's parent's cottage, where a group of teenagers had been drinking and celebrating prom.

Police say Simpson, who had a blood-alcohol level of 0.09 percent, lost control of her car. which overturned and ejectec Denk, a backseat passenger who was not wearing a seat belt. Also Wednesday, Simpson hac five years added on to the probation she received in her 2004 sentence bringing the total to years, Dipko said. Simpson also faces a lawsui filed by Lisa Denk, who is seek ing damages from Lauren Miller a front-seat passenger in her car and Joseph and Sally Wied mann, who owned the cabin. Daily Herald staff writer Christine Byers contributed to this report.

RICK Tina Tuna (played by Alex Santoro, center) delights in startling brothers Joey (Tim Wiley, left) and Gino Caprese (Alex Bock) during Friday's much-publicized performance of the original play "Fuggedaboudrt" at Rotolo Middle School in Batavia. Play is a hit on opening night Wauconda man closer to murder trial BY MARK FOSTER Daily Heraltl Comsjtondent The audience cheered and gave Rotolo Middle School teacher Matt Myers a standing ovation Friday night in Batavia, and that was even before his controversial play was performed. Myers' "Fuggedaboudit A Little Mobster Comedy," drew the ire of Italian-Americans who charged that the play promoted hurtful stereotypes, but the parents and students who attended clearly enjoyed the show. The production played Friday and will have a second performance tonight, after a federal district court judge rejected a civil-rights lawsuit brought by Marina Amoroso-Lavato, with the backing of a coalition of Italian-American groups, seeking BY ADAM KOVAC Daily Herald Staff A Wauconda man accused of gunning down the winner of a dice game lost a bid Friday to have Illinois' death penalty law ruled unconstitutionaL Michael Calabrese is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the May 1, 2005, slaying of 25-year-old Edmund Edwards, who was shot outside Carpentersville's Fox View Apartments. Calabrese, 26, has pleaded not guilty and faces a lethal injection if convicted, in part because the killing took place during an armed robbery.

At a hearing Friday, defense attorney Paul De Luca argued flaws in the state's capital punishment system threatens to send innocent people to death row. "Things are not perfect to prevent the performance. "This is the world premiere," Myers told the 250 or so parents and students in the audience as he introduced the production. "It seems to me like it was a bit of a slow news week," he added, drawing laughter. Myers said the comedy's message is simple: "Don't judge a book by its cover.

When you judge a book by its cover, sometimes you're mistaken." Taking note of the controversy surrounding his play, Myers said: "Everybody's been talking about the script, talking about the script, talking about the script. Let's just do it!" The play was a typical middle school farce, with plenty of roles for students to play, and a plot and jokes that turned on mistaken identities, misunderstandings and over- the-top characters. The dispute over the play, which developed after parent Amoroso-Lavato read the script, generated attention in the news media across the country. But there were no protests at the play, and the area that school officials had cordoned off for the news media was largely empty, though three television news stations all sent mini-cams to cover the show. The play's plot revolved around the opening night for a new Italian restaurant.

Many of the characters are Italian-Americans with accents, and two of the characters are reformed mobsters. In addition to mobsters, the play featured other stereotypical roles. There was the ditzy blonde, and a food critic with an English accent Michael Calabrese people are still being exonerated in death penalty cases," De Luca said. Kane County Judge Philip DiMarzio denied the move, a standard motion filed in death penalty cases, and agreed with prosecutors who said diere are enough safeguards to keep the capital punishment law legal DiMarzio's ruling inched the case closer to trial, which could be scheduled when Calabrese is in court again Jan. 12.

Police said Calabrese lost his money to Edwards at the dice game, left and returned with a handgun. Edwards was shot in the back after he tried to run. He died at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Fox Valley in 60 seconds Gary man in big drug bust The North Central Narcotics Task Force arrested two men in Wauconda this week for selling cocaine to an undercover officer, authorities said. On Wednesday, officers arrested Pablo J.

Rivas, 55, of Gary, and Jaime Rodriguez, 46, of Island Lake, after a four-week investigation. During that time, an undercover agent met with Rivas to sell him cocaine, authorities say. Both men were charged with felony counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, along with other charges. Both are being held in the Lake County Jail. Rivas' bond was set at $2 million, and Rodriguez is held on $1.5 million.

Building plan advances: A five-year plan to undertake more than 11 million in Kane County building improvements is close to becoming official. The county board's administration committee this week the proposal, which will be reviewed by the finance committee next month. The finance committee is expected to develop a funding plan for some of the projects. The most expensive project on the list is the $5.1 million construction of a so- called shell space for a new sheriff's office headquarters at the Kane County jail being built in St. Charies Township.

Existing I fundsydll be used to pay for that project, which is axpected to be completed shortly after the jail opens in 2008. Building out the vacant half of the circuit clerk's building in St. Charles would cost an estimated S2 million. Early holiday closing: The Kane County Clerk's office will close early Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday but will offer extended hours the day before. Theofficewill close at 8 p.m.

Tuesday and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The office will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday. It will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Nov.

27, resuming regular hours. Call the office at (630) 232-5950. Drug prevention conference: The Illinois Drug Education Alliance announced its 24th annual drug prevention conference is scheduled Sunday and Monday at Pheasant Run in St. Charies. Conference registration is still open.

For a registration form visit the IDEA Web site at www.bestofidea.com. Area deaths Pamela S. Hodges, 45, of Elgin. Kenneth Ryan, 71, of Cary. Donna J.

Scott, 67, of Bgin. Please see Business for Obituaries 6664 vl 430 Ogden ft 1 'ratfor)purposes quantities last. For buyers. State poof.