The Huntley Farmside

              Inside Upcoming holiday events • Huntley Penguin news
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Thursday, December 10,1998
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Volume 38 Issue 35
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Cops arrest bar owners after long investigation
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications
The owners of P.R. Parrot's bar are scheduled to appear before the Huntley Liquor Commission Thursday night, a week after being charged with allowing gambling to take place in their popular night spot.
Authorities allege that cus¬ tomers illegally used gambling devices, such as dice and video poker machines with cash pay¬ outs, in the bar and one cus¬ tomer lost $3,000.
"It took quite a while to put the investigation together. The officers involved did an out¬ standing job," said Sgt. Michael Hewitt.
On Dec. 3, police entered the bar at 11012 Route 47 with a search warrant and arrested Randy Zimmerman, 47, of 11741 Woodcreek Drive, and his wife Patricia Zimmerman, 34, of the same address. Both the Zimmermans were charged with keeping a gambling place, a misdemeanor.
They are scheduled to appear before a McHenry County judge at 9 a.m. Jan. 7.
Police also confiscated receipts, currency, betting pools and gambling devices, including
"It comes up every so often. About a year ago, there was a case in Johnsburg involving electronic gaming machines."
Terry Nader
McHenry County assistant state's attorney
electronic gambling devices and dice.
Subsequent to tonight's appearance before the Liquor Commission, Village President James Dhamer, who serves as liquor commissioner, is expect¬ ed to suspend the Zimmerman's liquor license.
McHenry County Assistant State's Attomey Terry Nader, who issued the search warrant, said the allegations don't appear related to sports gambling or part of a wider gambling opera¬ tion.
"It comes up every so often," Nader said. "About a year ago, there was a case in Johnsburg involving electronic gaming machines."
Photo by Steve Brosinski
Police arrested the owners of P.R. Parrot's bar, on Route 47, following a complaint that a customer lost $3,000 playing a video slot machine. Randy Zimmerman, the bar owner, is scheduled to appear before the Huntley Liquor Commission tonight, when his liquor license may be suspended.
Video poker and video slot machines are legal so long as there are no cash payouts. The Zimmermans are accused of offering coupons redeemable for cash.
Ken Martin, manager of American   Family   Insurance,
which is across from the bar, said he saw police squad cars out front Thursday.
"There's always cars parked there on the weekend," he said.
Another businessman said he heard customers were ordered out of the bar when police start¬
ed questioning the owners.
Police said the investigation began in March, based on a cus¬ tomer's complaint of allegedly losing $3,000 while playing video poker. Hewitt said there may be more arrests, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Motorcycle shop oM^ner celebrates 3rd anniversary
Steve Brosinslci
Press Pubiications In the past three years since Randy Weaver opened his motorcycle shop, sales have cHmbed—and so has his con¬ cems with traffic.
Randy's Cycle Shop, at 11010 Route 47, celebrated its third anniversary in town on Dec. 1, less than a block from the busy
intersection of Route 47 and Main Street.
"Business has been pretty good," Weaver said. "But the traffic is too heavy and you can't even get in here."
Weaver said the recent warm weather helped boost sales.
'This is unusually busy for December," said Weaver, adding that he was looking forward to
'^Business has been pretty good."
Randy Weaver
Owner, Randy's Cycle Shop
last Saturday's "Toys for Tots Ride" in Chicago.
Sales of motorcycles remain
high, at about 110 a year, even with the high price tags. Bikes range in price from $1,000 for a used motorcycle to $20,000 for a fully dressed Harley.
"It's amazing how many they sell at that price," Weaver said as he stood next to a $15,000 1999 Harley Fat Boy. "The emphasis for new models are on the high-end expensive bikes."
Quoting Weaver's motto, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride," manager Rod Oates said the store sells and services all makes and models.
Besides Harley Davidson, Randy's offers every other top brand: Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha.
Oates said street bikes are
see Shop—page 2