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McHenry County News DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS: 815-654-4850 • CIRCULATION: 815-654-4854 • E-MAIL: McHenryNews@RVPublishing.com
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 37
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115
THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 2018
NATIONAL GUARD PHOTOS McHenry County News
Cpl. Nathan Jennings, of Machesney Park, pictured, pulled an unconscious woman out of a submerged overturned vehicle and carried the woman to the side of the
pond where other rescuers performed CPR after a single car accident on Aug. 3 in Huntley, Ill.
Illinois National Guard Soldier helps save woman from submerged vehicle Cpl. Nathan Jennings said ‘a weird calmness’ helped him react
Cpl. Nathan Jennings
An Illinois Army National Guard corporal helped save a woman’s life by diving into the murky water of a retention pond and pulling her from the overturned submerged vehicle, according to the Illinois State Police. Nathan Pratt Jennings, 26, of Machesney Park, was one of about 10 people who helped after the Aug. 3 single-vehicle accident off Interstate 90, the police said. Jennings was driving home from work on Interstate 90 at around 3 p.m. Friday (Aug. 3) when he spotted a “big splash” in a retention pond from the corner of his eye, he said. “I hunt geese, so I knew whatever made that splash had to be big.” He stopped, put his car in reverse, and ran to the pond where he saw a car on its roof sinking into the water. There were a couple of other men
there who had also stopped. “I asked them if they saw anyone come out. They indicated that they hadn’t, it was then that I realized that someone had to be in the car.” So he ripped off his suit jacket and went into the murky dark water. “The water was up to my chest, and I’m six (feet), two (inches). You couldn’t see anything in the water, but I managed to get the passenger side door open.” Another guy got into the water, and Jennings asked him to hold his feet while he entered the car. “I groped around looking for a seat belt thinking maybe they were strapped in. I couldn’t see anything. It was like swimming in a big bowl of gravy. There wasn’t anyone on the passenger side. Then my hands grazed something, and I realized it
was someone floating in the car.” He managed to get his hands on the driver, 26-year-old Joanna Girmschied, by the ankle and, with some difficulty, pull the unconscious woman out of the car and then with help from others get her to the side of the pond. Other people had stopped and as soon as Jennings got Girmschied out of the pond, they started CPR on her. “I thought she was dead,” Jennings said. “It seemed like she was underwater for about five minutes.” As some people were taking turns performing CPR, others went back into the water to ensure no one else was in the car. After a little while, Jennings said Girmschied started to moan and move. When paramedics arrived they took over the emergency care of the
accident victim. “One of the EMTs, opened the door to the ambulance before they took off and yelled that she was conscious and knew who she was. I couldn’t believe it,” Jennings said. Jennings credited his military training with his ability to react in a stressful situation. “This weird calmness took over. One of the other guys there even said, ‘Man, you were so calm.’ I think the military training does help you keep your head in emergencies.” Jennings is an intelligence expert in the military and is part of the Bloomington-based 176th Cyber Protection Team under the 65th Troop Command, Illinois Army National Guard. In his civilian life, he is a broker for U.S. Energy Company in Itasca, Ill.
Environmental Defenders Recycling Drive set for Sept. 8 in Harvard The Environmental Defenders will hold its next drive on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon (or until truck is filled to capacity) at Harvard City Hall, 201 W. Diggins St., Harvard. For information please go to www.mcdef.org/recycling. Donations offset the costs of transportation and fees charged to Environmental Defenders of McHenry County by recyclers who separate materials and forward those materials to companies who prepare them for future use. Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a local non-profit and receives no government funding to offer this service to the community. Please consider making a donation when you visit our drives and/or take the opportunity to join our organization. These items are accepted at no charge: • Desktop computers, servers, and related equipment • Laptops, iPads and tablets • Printers, scanners, copiers and typewriters
• All Peripherals such as cables cords, mice, keyboards • Ethernet and Internet switches, telephones (residential and commercial) • Vacuums, floor cleaners, electric brooms • Power tools, electric garden tools • Kitchen counter appliances, bathroom gadgets • Home stereo equipment including speakers, cabling, antennas • VCR, DVD, cassette, laser players • Cameras, cell phones, any handheld device • Game boys, electronic toys, electric cars • Humidifiers, small refrigerators, fans (all kinds) • Microwaves The following items require a fee of $.50 per pound with a maximum charge of $50 per item • All Televisions (any size) and • Computer Monitors Each will be weighed to determine the fee, up to $50 per item. The following items are also collected at the drives at no charge:
• Styrofoam, all colors, shapes and sizes--must be clean • Packing peanuts--only if securely enclosed in bag or box • Bubble wrap, packing pillows, foam sheets, etc. • DVDs, CDs, VHS and cassette tapes, floppy disks • Clothing/shoes/blankets/towels We accept the following for an additional fee: • Batteries; all types, $.50 per pound (No charge for car/motorcycle or sump pump batteries) • Florescent light bulbs $.50 per 4 ft. bulb or compact fluorescent light (CFL); $1.00 per 8 ft. bulbs (Regular incandescent bulbs can be put in your curbside trash. In addition, there are two permanent Styrofoam recycling sites set up in partnership with the Village of Algonquin – 110 Meyer Dr., open 24-7 and Algonquin Township Highway Department, 3702 US HWY 14, Crystal Lake, open 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday Special electronics recycling drive is also sched-
uled for those who live in McHenry Township. Please check our website for further details and for locations of future recycling dates Founded in 1970, The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides the community with educational programs and volunteer action through committees, including Waste
Reduction, Transportation, Water & Natural Resource Protection, SingleUse Plastic Reduction, Education, Fundraising and Membership. Donations and membership are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. For more information and benefits of membership, visit www.mcdef.org or through Facebook at facebook. com/Environmental Defenders or call 815-338-0393, Monday-Friday, 10am-4:30pm.
Algonquin-Lake In The Hills firefighter to retire The community is invited to celebrate the retirement of Lt. Rick Kempe after 40+ years of service to the residents of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills. On Thursday, Sept. 13 from noon to 3 p.m., friends, family, and co-workers are invited to celebrate at a luncheon in his honor at Bulldog Ale House in Algonquin. There is a $10 donation at the door requested, and appetizers and food will be provided. We hope to see you there!