Driver ticketed - given next-day court date

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
June 13, 2012

Remember the traffic crash I've been writing about that hasn't shown up in the paper yet?

The one that happened last Friday, June 8, about 11:30am on Route 176 near Franklinville Road and P&O Rd.?

The one that totaled a 1973 Ford Ranchero and put at least one driver in the hospital?

The one that no one in our sheriff's department has told the Public Information Officer to create a media release for?

That one?

Add this to the mix. The driver was ticketed for following too closely. He was charged as of Friday, June 8, the date of the crash. The ticket was filed on Monday, June 11.

When was his first court date? Tuesday, June 12, 8:30AM. A little fast, wouldn't you say? Where are we, Tuscaloosa? Biloxi?

Judge Joel Berg re-scheduled it to June 26 at 8:30AM. The man won't be there, but his attorney will. Injuries in the crash will keep him off his feet for at least 90 days.

Why do you suppose that the McHenry County Sheriff's Department has chosen not to issue a media release about the crash? Maybe the Department was keeping the PIO too busy with the media release for the re-designed website.

Now, there was a waste of money! County money was spent to put Undersheriff Andy Zinke in the spotlight, since he has already announced his candidacy for sheriff in 2014. The 2012 elections are not even out of the way, and Zinke is already beating his drum for 2014.

Even money says Nygren will be bailing out shortly after the July window opens and gives the County Board the power to appoint Nygren's successor. Word is that a lot of employees would like to see Zinke follow Nygren right out the door, immediately followed by a bunch of people at the top of the command pile.