Save Abandoned Babies

The village was honored by the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation for being one of the first 100 communities in the state to be in compliance with the recently passed state law where an unwanted infant can be relinquished to personnel at any fire station, police station, or hospital with no questions asked.

Since this bill originally passed (in 2001) there have been 44 safe and legal relinquishments and during that same there have been 49 unsafe abandonments with 24 of those babies found dead. Clearly there is a need for more awareness.

Summer Safety Alert

Methamphetamine cooks are buying propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart, Kroger, and emptying them of the propane gas. Then they fill the propane tanks with anhydrous ammonia, which they now have a recipe to cook Methamphetamine. After they are finished with the propane tanks, they return them to the store. The stores refill the tanks with propane gas, unknowing to them the improper substance that was inserted in the tanks and sell them to their consumers. Anhydrous ammonia is very corrosive and weakens the structure of the tank. It can be very dangerous when mixed with propane gas and hooked up to a grill, recreation vehicle, etc.

You should inspect the propane tank for any blue or greenish residue around the valve areas. If there are evidences of these substances, do not purchase the propane tank and advise the vendor of your findings.

The information was researched, and you should check out the following website for more details. They also have pictures for you to view.

National Safety Month: Natural Gas Safety in the Workplace

Natural gas is a clean, efficient, reliable, and safe fuel used in a wide variety of comrcial and industrial operations for heating, cooling, cooking, and processing. As with any flammable substance, however, natural gas can be hazardous if treated improperly. By following a few simple guidelines, you can help to ensure that your facility and employees are safe while working in and around natural gas equipment and appliances.

What is Natural Gas?
Natural gas is methane, a substance formed deep below the earth's surface. Natural gas is odorless, colorless, and non-toxic. When used properly, natural gas is a safe, clean, and reliable source of energy. Natural gas can be used to heat and cool your business, cook food, provide hot water, and is the fuel choice for industry.

Natural Gas Safety Tips

• Make sure that all natural gas equipment and appliances are inspected by qualified personnel at least once per year.
• Keep all combustible material (chemicals, papers, boxes, solvents, etc.) at a safe distance from natural gas equipment and appliances.
• Follow all manufacturers' recommendations related to cleaning and maintenance for all natural gas equipment and appliances.
• Make sure that all areas of your facility are adequately vented, and that all pipes and flues are in good condition.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in all areas of your facility.
• Never hang tools or other devices on gas pipes and meters.
• Check pilot lights on natural gas appliances, and make sure that they are burning mostly blue. Appliances with yellow-burning flames should be serviced by a qualified professional immediately.

Dealing with Natural Gas Emergencies
Knowing how to recognize and properly react to potential natural gas emergencies can help to ensure the safety of you and your employees, and minimize any damage to your facility.

Natural gas is colorless and odorless. In order to make it easier to detect, a chemical called mercaptan that smells like rotten eggs is added. This distinct odor may indicate a gas leak in the vicinity. Other signs include a hissing sound, or dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground.

If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak…

• Vacate the building immediately and contact your local gas utility representative.
• Do not attempt to locate the source of the leak yourself.
• Do not use any electrical devices, such as light switches, appliances, telephones, or even door openers. They could ignite a spark and cause a fire or explosion.
• Don't use matches or lighters in the area.
• Do not start any vehicles in the area, and do not try to shut off any gas valves or equipment.
• Do not reenter your building until it has been inspected and cleared by a natural gas utility representative.

Watch out for Deer!

I was driving last night along Fairfield and saw some deer bounding along in the dusk and decided that I would look up some statistics and some safety tips. More than 50,000 drivers will crash into a deer on Illinois highways this year, according to statewide figures from State Farm Insurance claims. That foreshadows chances of a crash occurring among one in 187 drivers. The incidence of car vs. deer encounters is far higher in Michigan at 1 in 86, and Wisconsin clocks in with chances at 1 in 99.

• Deliberately watch for deer, particularly when driving during peak collision times.
• Highest-risk periods are from sunset to midnight and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.
• When driving at night, use high-beam headlights when there is no opposing traffic. The high beams will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway. Watch for the reflection of deer eyes and for deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road. High-beam headlights will not necessarily frighten a deer, so do not rely on the high beams to deter deer, but rather rely on the lights to better illuminate the animal.
• Deer are often unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. Sometimes they stop in the middle of the road when crossing or cross quickly and come back. Sometimes they move toward an approaching vehicle. Assume nothing, slow down and blow your horn to urge the deer to leave the road. If the deer stays on the road, stop, put on your hazard lights and wait for the deer to leave the roadway; do not try to go around the deer while it is on the road.
• Deer frequently travel in groups and in single file. If you see one deer on or near the road, expect that others may follow.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• If you do strike a deer, and are uncertain whether or not the deer is dead, then keep your distance, as this is an injured, wild animal with sharp hooves that can inflict injuries. If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should report the incident to the Game Commission or a local law enforcement agency.

Is this too Early?

NOTE: This is a post I did last year and I thought it was an excellent post, and a reminder to everyone about the rules and regulations about snow, even though its in the 70's!

I have gotten a ton of emails and comments on neighbors not cleaning the sidewalks off after a snow storm. So I decided to go to the village code and find exactly what it says. However the Valley Lake HOA already had an excellent flier and I asked John Gutknecht to send it to me.

Frequently Asked Questions and Reminders

Question: Who’s supposed to clear the sidewalks?
Answer: It is the responsibility of each property owner to remove the snow from ALL PUBLIC SIDEWALKS adjacent to their property.

Question: But can’t I be held liable if someone falls on a sidewalk that I cleared?
Answer: Individuals who shovel snow or ice from sidewalks are NOT liable for personal injuries allegedly caused by the snowy or icy condition of the sidewalk resulting from their shoveling unless their conduct is willful or wanton. (Willful or wanton conduct means with an actual intent to cause an injury or with a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 745, Section 75/2.

The Village Code even weighs in on the subject as well.

12.04.070 Snow on Sidewalks.
The person occupying the ground floor of any building, the user of any lot without a structure thereon, and the owner of any vacant building or other premises shall remove the snow and ice accumulating on the abutting sidewalks within twenty-four (24) hours after any snowfall has ceased. If snow or ice cannot be removed the surface shall be sanded or otherwise treated to lessen the hazard for pedestrians until the climate permits removal.

If you see an address in which the owner is not removing the snow, please contact the Round Lake Police Dept. at 847-546-8112 and file a complaint. Our first priority however will always be the roads during a snow event.

Wind Chill Advisory for the Round Lake Area

Wind Chill Advisory--Lake (Illinois)

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
333 PM CST SAT FEB 3 2007
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...
.BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO POUR INTO THE MIDWEST
THIS WEEKEND ON BLUSTERY WINDS. THE COMBINATION OF BITTER COLD AIR
TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND
CHILL TEMPERATURES LOWER THAN 20 BELOW ZERO OVER THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST TUESDAY...
BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL DROP BELOW ZERO OVERNIGHT...AND
WILL STRUGGLE TO RISE BACK TO ZERO ON SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH GUSTY WEST
WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH THIS EVENING...THE
COMBINATION OF SUBFREEZING AND BLUSTERY WINDS WILL RESULT IN
FRIGID WIND CHILL VALUES OF 25 BELOW TO 30 BELOW ZERO RANGE
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. BITTERLY COLD AIR TEMPERATURES AND BLUSTERY
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP WIND CHILLS IN THIS RANGE THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE WIND CHILLS AT OR LESS THEN 20 BELOW
ZERO. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF
PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...DRESS
IN LAYERS AND COVER ALL SKIN. MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES. LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE...AS
FROSTBITE CAN OCCUR IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS.
PETS ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EXTREME COLD AS MUCH AS YOU ARE.
KEEP PETS INDOORS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE...
MAKE SURE OUTDOOR PETS HAVE WARM DRY SHELTER. PROVIDE SUFFICIENT
FOOD AND FRESH UNFROZEN WATER.

Happy New Year with a Reminder!

Welcome to 2007! Lets hope everyone has a successful and healthy one!
Today being the first of January lots of laws go into effect. Once of the major ones is the CO detector requirement for all houses. Here is a link to the Daily Herald article that is more relevant then anything I could write. Last year Trustee Brian Brubaker had a incident where a CO detector alerted his family to high levels. So it can happen to you. Brian wrote about it on his blog here.

Snow on Sidewalks!

I have gotten a ton of emails and comments on neighbors not cleaning the sidewalks off after a snow storm. So I decided to go to the village code and find exactly what it says. However the Valley Lake HOA already had an excellent flier and I asked John Gutknecht to send it to me.

Frequently Asked Questions and Reminders

Question: Who’s supposed to clear the sidewalks?
Answer: It is the responsibility of each property owner to remove the snow from ALL PUBLIC SIDEWALKS adjacent to their property.

Question: But can’t I be held liable if someone falls on a sidewalk that I cleared?
Answer: Individuals who shovel snow or ice from sidewalks are NOT liable for personal injuries allegedly caused by the snowy or icy condition of the sidewalk resulting from their shoveling unless their conduct is willful or wanton. (Willful or wanton conduct means with an actual intent to cause an injury or with a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 745, Section 75/2.

The Village Code even weighs in on the subject as well.

12.04.070 Snow on Sidewalks.
The person occupying the ground floor of any building, the user of any lot without a structure thereon, and the owner of any vacant building or other premises shall remove the snow and ice accumulating on the abutting sidewalks within twenty-four (24) hours after any snowfall has ceased. If snow or ice cannot be removed the surface shall be sanded or otherwise treated to lessen the hazard for pedestrians until the climate permits removal.

If you see an address in which the owner is not removing the snow, please contact the Round Lake Police Dept. at 847-546-8112 and file a complaint. Our first priority however will always be the roads during a snow event.

Tornado Warning Sirens Mean the Following!

This was a post I wrote in March of this year, but a resident of Round Lake Terence May emailed asked this question and it can't hurt to post it again!

Right after I was elected back in 2001 there was a tornado alert with the sirens going off. The next day a neighbor kid asked me what the sirens noises meant! I did not know sad to say! So I found out. I also told the kid as well.

Long time reader Kurt Rodwald tipped me off to the idea about this post and told me that this week is the start of National Severe Weather Awareness Week sponsored by the National Weather Service. Follow that link for some great tips and safety ideas, I must say I learned quite a bit just now when I was on the web page.

So here are the sounds you will hear and what they mean.

Tornado Alert:
Long, steady tone that warns of weather conditions that are favorable for severe weather or a tornado.
Take Cover Alert:
Oscillating tone that warns of a tornado sighting. Residents should take immediate shelter.