The Huntley Farmside

              Volume 40 No. 1
Your hometown newspaper
Thursday, February 24,2000
© 2000 Press-Republican Newspapers
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Firefighter Dave Russell (top) plays the part of the rescuer and Firefighter Scott Ravagnie plays the victim dur¬ ing the Huntley Fire Department's aquatic rescue drill Thursday at Bal<ley Quarry.
The firefighters are using a new piece of equipment called the "rescue alive platform," which allows them to make ice rescues easier.
Press-Republican photo by Mark Busch
Park District looking for $9 million from residents
Money could help fund acquatic center
by Donna Kupris Kelley
Huntley city editor
The Huntley Park District is asking area residents for $9.35 million to build a family aquatic center, purchase the old high school, 27 acres surrounding it and the bus garage.
The referndum, going before the voters March 21, comes after the park district polled res¬ idents via two surveys and received resounding support.
The overwhelming response, according to the park district staff, was that 87 percent of the residents want a swimming pool, 49 percent want a water park and 54 percent want a communi¬ ty center, while 52 percent want an open park space.
"Other towns who've had the kind of growth we're experienc¬ ing would kill to have this kind of opportunity," said Betsey Warrington, Huntley Park District recreation director.
The swimming pool is espe¬ cially important, Warrington said. Currently, swimming stu¬ dents are bused into Elgin for lessons.
The new swimming pool will begin at zero depth and get deep¬ er as it continues, providing a
See Parks Page 4
Introducing Donna Kelley, our new city editor
Donna Kelley city editor
With this week's newspaper, we introduce Donna Kelley, city editor of the Huntley Farmside and Marengo Press newspapers.
In this newly created position, Donna will be in charge of writing stories, editing stories submitted by correspondents and community members and designing the pages that go into these two newspapers.
Kelley is an award-winning journalist who received specialized training in the U.S. Air
Force for the office of communication, journal¬ ism and public relations. She has won three major journalism awards and played a key role in the office that won the "1998 Best Public Affairs Office in the Air Force" and the "1997 Best Newspaper in the Air Force."
"Donna is a 'people person' who will work with the residents of Huntley and Marengo to create truly first-rate local newspapers," said
Rick Nagel, executive editor for Liberty Suburban Chicago, which publishes the Huntley Farmside, Marengo Press and more than SO community newspapers in the west and southwest suburbs.
Kelley will work out of our Huntley office, 11801 Main St., Huntley, IL 60142. She can be reached by telephone at (847) 669-5621, by fax at (847) 669-5623 or by e-mail at Huntley__Marengonews@hotmail.com.