Oh no this scares me.

Me too.

YEP I tried to save money ordering PRESCRIPTION medicine from over boarder, Misdemeanor TERMINATED on completion of SUPERVISION.

One correction; HORMONE not Steroid.. HORMONE that is prescribed, at any Hormone therapy medical facility. (as noted in title)

I found I could get a minimum order of the treatment from over the border at one minimum order of meds quantity for the price of ONE Doctor visit treatment.

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

Yep , you got another senior red-handed trying to save money on prescription meds

I apologize to any perhaps offended that I tried to save some money on

Pat thanks for being honest. It's really sad that some people resorted to such behavior exposing a senior and exaggerating your offense for simply trying to save money. You can count on my vote!!!

Well, if you have the right amount of money a felony like yours could get reduced. Please address the intent to distribute charge linked to your felony. Here's an idea, next time save the lawyer money for your prescription needs.

He didn't have a lawyer! It was the officer that searched his business.... and really when the officer realized it was a senior he left, then went to court to explain that to the judge. So no he's not some billionaire or even a Kennedy, just a senior trying to save money.

I would also like to hear comment on the intent to distribute charge as stated in the court docket.

Why would someone plead guilty and pay $1000 if they had a prescription for the medication? He WAS charged with possession of anabolic steriods (50 vials to be correct). Why the correction from Markham? If you have a prescription then what is the problem- why would you plea bargain? A senior trying to save a buck by buying overseas? Prosecutors do not negotiate plea deals just because of costs. If there was no evidence to back it up, they can dismiss the case- happens all the time. Even if it went down like he claims and he made such a HUGE, costly mistake trying to save a buck and almost ended up in jail, what could he do to our school district? If we are to portray him as a poor, old senior citizen trying to save a buck then let's portray him as a board candidate that can be very careless in his decision-making.

I go away to do some work for a while and look what happens, the delinquints take over.

"Thoughtful' - You disappoint me...I thoght you always took the 'high' road. You asked your questions, you got your answers time to stop taking the focus off of where it belongs - The inept BOARD and the unwaaranted REFERENDUM.

"Not Happy", "ROCCO", & 'Seriously' - Well seeing as you couldn't support your pro-ref arguments with any acumen, I'd say its a good idea for you to stay on this thread - most 'reassonable' people with see this attack as what it is and move on. Plus if clowns stay here, than we won't have to waste any bandwith om your inane postings on the other important threads.
BLAST AWAT IDIOTS!!

"Cheryl" - Since I haven't seen any of your posts before, I'll assume that you are on the level and give you the benefit of the doubt. Mr. Markham has psoted what happened both in this story and on other threads. It is a very minor incident (even the arresting COP thought so). He made a mistake, he paid his dues incident over. The Pro-ref 'attack lemmings' have seized upon this occurance as thier last chance to make a difference in this race - thier 'Rally' was a bust, thier arguments are few and with little merit or audience, and the opposition to the referendum was mounting. So the Pro-refs have decided to go with 'muck-raking' - VERY CLASSY - If Mr. Markham were to fall down in the street, they would accuse him of blocking traffic. I hope you are not like them.

But it is ok to question the character of Zakula right?...The people on this page seem to only respond to certain comments, when it doesn't suit their opinion.
Let me just pose a question.... Since most of you seem to be coming from the business world...What type of people head up boards of large companies? The answer is people that have experience in that particular business. So what is the problem with carrie zekula? She has the experience as a teacher, she knows how the union works, will bring experience and knowledge of how a school system really works.. That is what I want in a school board member. Not someone who has no idea how the system works...or for that matter someone who does "whatever it takes" to save a few bucks!

Hey just a thought leave me out of your comments. I am not into this bickering back and forth and trying to prove my case. I feel that on these posts it is a losing battle because everyone has there opinions. At Dee, I know exactly what diabetes is my mom has it and I had a relative that had an amputee because of it and passed away.

When the state of Illinois is not providing the funding that is it should...what is a a school district to do? Pull money out of a hat? Not going to happen... You cannot run a school without money. You can appoint any board member you want, you can close MIS, you can eliminate programs(that while, not necessary, will enrich our children), you can cut teachers...but it is only a bandaide that will eventually fall off.... Then what...try again...after our children have suffered for a couple years...To me those couple of years can make a big difference in my child's life

JAT - I am relatively certain that I am still on the high road... that is why I call this behavior into question. Many on this site and others have argued that we must argue the facts. Well, now we have a fact to argue and debate that causes many of us to take pause before dismissing. I don't know about many of you, but I have never been arrested and the only thing close to an arrest I have ever had was a speeding ticket thirty years ago that I would be happy to admit to in public.
Illegal is illegal. If the officer thought it was no big deal then why did he even arrest Mr. Markham? If the State's Attorney felt it was nothing, why did he not dismiss the charge? It makes one wonder if a person is willing to knowingly break the law to save money in his personal life, then what will he do with the greater responsibility of other people's money and the public life of our school district. I know that some will blast me for this post, but I have to say that Mr. Markham has lost my vote.

Kipper first of all I never said that I wasn't going to vote for Markham but with your rude comments you can totally change peoples minds. You are right we should be fighting for kids and that is what I am doing. My mom has to pay for all of her medicine and yes I know the cost because she lives with me and I pick up her medicine on a monthly basis. Mr. Markham has stated his case and yes he was honest so that is all clear. I think you should totally change your attitude because you are really going to sway people away from voting for Mr. Markham. I am not a person to judge until I walked a mile in his shoes.

I would like for all of the candidates to hold a public meeting so that they can have a question answer session and state what their plans are in public instead of on websites. I have many neighbors and family that do not use the computer regularly. Hearing someone in person and getting your questions answered would be helpful in deciding who to vote for. People that run for public office should be able address the public in some sort of forum. Let me know the date and I will secure the Mokena VFW or a larger building if necessary

That is a great idea Katie.

Great Idea. I agree.

I also agree, I have many interested neighbors that are relying on word of mouth for most of their information. I'd like to see the candidates get together and organize a date.

Maybe a dumb question but is Markham & Ford against or for the referendum. Im voting NO to the schools , so I want to make sure I make the right vote for the school board too.

A public Meet the Candidate Forum, moderated by an unbiased party, is a GREAT idea! Where and when Mokena voters?

... Meet the Candidates - All of them. Would the Park District Board allow use of the gym at the Oaks to hold such a thing?

Make sure their is crowd control, cuz some these people might just bring their anger. Although, I'm sure most of the people on here that are posting horrible mean comments, couldn't look half of you in the eyes and say what is being said on these boards. I understand now what cyber bullying is. In the good old days, we would meet behind the school face to face and take care of our indifference, until of course the principal came running out. Too bad you are all grown ups................ I think. (I'm talking to the apparent bullies on here)

This Friday from 5:30 – 7:00 I plan to be at the 3 on 3 tournament at MJHS please feel free to stop by to meet me and ask me any questions you may have. I also understand Carrie Zakula will be in attendance as well.

Who doesn't go online and shop around for the best deals. More than half of your items in your homes are made in China. You better watch what you buy online, look at and post, this is a good lesson to all. You are being watched! Mokena, we are being scammed out of our children's education. I hope Pat Markham and Mike Ford get on this board, it is apparent that some people involved in scamming us are shaking in their boots! What are you all so afraid of? The truth being revealed? If the TAX INCREASE does get passed, I trust Pat and Mike will be the CHANGE we need! PAT please don't let all of this deter you and Mike send your kids to any school you want! Teachers rarely send their own children to the schools they teach at. All children learn differently, so if your children need a different type of environment for learning, I applaud you for going the extra mile to send them to a school that fits their needs. I am so disappointed at the mismanaging of educational money in our district. Our community is Awesome and I know so many parents would step it up a notch to volunteer more in our schools to help lessen costs. Why not have these administrators earn their top notch pay and start cleaning up after themselves? That would cut costs in the janitorial department. Mom's and Dad's could voluntarily drive the buses. Kids could use the beautiful Mokena library and cut librarian positions. Give kids more Recess and have mom's and dad's voluntarily be recess & lunch monitors.

etc. etc. etc. think outside of the lunch box....... Did anyone else stand outside the school buildings this last year while three alleged murderers were on the loose? I Sure DID, with my younger children. Did anyone else wonder why we were not welcomed into the school Gym or lunchroom or anywhere safe? If it was so immediately threatening to our children that they were to be picked up from school, why were us parents all left to stand in harms way with our little children, outside of these school buildings that we are paying for?

I can't believe the comments supporting this story. This is a man running for our school board people. A man who is supposed to represent us. The fact is Mr. Markham, by his own admittance, was found guilty of this crime. Fact: He has stated his reason for breaking the law was to save himself money. Put the whole hormone/diabetes debate out of the picture. Focus on what needs to be done for our schools. Our schools need money, the state isn't going to help, we need money to fund programs and keep our district running. Mr. Markham needed money to help pay for his prescription and felt in necessary to break the law to get it. I'm sorry Mr. Markham, but there are many, many laws that a school district has to follow in order to fund their operations. We have to ask ourselves, are we to trust somebody in a board position who has already shown a weakness for breaking the law to get what they need? I could not risk the district or having to pay for legal ramifications of a decision by a board member that feels it's ok to do what you have to because it's too costly to do it the legal way. Yes we should be scared that there are supporters who find it perfectly acceptable to break the law for your own personal gain because you are a senior and on a budget.

I agree Jim Daniels.

Jim, That is why there are several people on a board and everything has to be voted on. You may come up with stupid ideas and the rest of us on this board, will use our own common sense to say "YAY" or "NAY" LOL When the State fails to provide funding to our school, look at what people are doing: Making BAD CHOICES! People under pressure with no sense of direction or know how are running around crying POOR and firing guns! We are not poor! We just have mishandling of MONEY! STOP CRYING POOR! VOTE for PAT MARKHAM AND MIKE FORD. Everyone I talk to face to face surely is! They love these guys!

I want someone who WILL go against the GRAIN! SWIM UPSTREAM! Not fall into people's OPINIONS and definitely, I want someone who is not worried about always being politically Correct! You people on here starting this stuff, won't and are not making or breaking this election! Being politically correct means having no Voice. We want a VOICE a LOUD VOICE for our Children!! GO MARKHAM & FORD!!!

PS. I REMEMBER WARNINGS ON THE NEWS, ABOUT ORDERING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ONLINE, I'm sorry Pat that you fell victim to this.
When you order from websites online, they never have DISCLAIMERS that say: OH BY THE WAY, IF YOU ORDER THROUGH OUR COMPANY, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED! THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY AND ORDER!

Lets stop bashing FORD AND MARKHAM. Everyone of us make mistakes in our lives and no one is perfect except GOD. This whole post should be about our children and what is best for the kids. We need to worry about our children as they come first. Vote for whoever you feel is going to be best for the position. Enough about MARKHAM and what he did or what he didn't do lets get back on the subject of our children. GOD is a forgiving GOD and what happened is over and done with. Lets stop bashing each other as well. We are seriously all adults and lets start to act like them. Vote which ever way you want to vote and quit cutting down people for the way that they want to vote. LETS JUST PUT THE KIDS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FIRST. You have the choice to either vote for MARKHAM or vote for someone else. I think everyone should start saying prayers for our district and lets hope and pray for the best.

JIM DANIELS, YOU KNOW SO MUCH, YOU MUST BE A TEACHER.

YOU ALSO UNDERESTIMATE US PARENTS. THIS IS THE TYPICAL ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

The tax payers, pay taxes and that money goes to paying all of those government, community service salaries you listed. Yes we do pay teachers, firemen, and police officers. Homeowners, Employees and Business Owners PAY tax after tax after tax FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, SALES, TOLLS what other taxes am I forgetting??. Where did you think the money comes from? Giving people tickets for speeding?

Too bad this administration is firing the teachers. Also, it is easy to run background checks on volunteers and very inexpensive.
It is easy to jump to erroneous conclusions isn't it? Just as so many are doing on these boards. So, I wonder how many people think you are a teacher now? Just as someone called Pat Markham a convicted Felon... SO ERRONEOUS!

Sorry if I offended you for calling you a teacher. It is crazy how easy it is to jump to conclusions based on half information and others just go along with what is being said.

Jim,
When this is all said and done, I may request an appointment with your brother Jack! LOL

Has anyone stopped to think about this? Why is it if you have a prescription from a medical doctor, you can't go out of the country to buy it?, Why is it illegal? It be one thing if your filling prescriptions you have no medical need or script for, but if you had one why?, Why is it parents volunteering is such a liability? Assuming background checks are done on these parents and school conduct rules are fallowed. I know, I have an idea because Pharmaceutical companies and teacher unions give huge donations every year to politicians. These politicians turn around make laws. Laws that protect these two from us the consumer. They don't need to be competitive in todays world no one can demand it. The ways around these companies and unions is either unethical or illegal! Some times we need to stop and think of the hole picture, morality is something you can not govern. Someday whenever you have time look at what some countries deem illegal. I'm sure there would be many of us that would stop and say really?

Sadly, I don't think I will post any more to this site. I have always thought that honest discourse is the way things should be debated. These posts have become nothing short of dispicable. The name calling and attacks one those who post have not been beneficial to anyone. This is an example of the worst Mokena has to offer and we should all be ashamed of those who have been so venemous with our neighbors. This is an example of why Mokena is becoming the laughing stock of the area. My parting comment is simply that each person who has posted or reads this thread consider how we would act if our children acted this way. I think most of us would be appalled with this behavior out of our children and I think our children would be just as appalled with us if they understood what was going on.

To My fellow posters at the Patch ;
In the past weeks (months?), There has been a constant battle between the Pro-referendum residents and the Anti-referendum residents. There has been a lot of nastiness and bad blood. I have had a big part in this. I have said (typed) some truly nasty comments to a lot of you, and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for my words. I am not apologizing for my stance or for my support of Mr. Markham and Mr. Ford, they are both very good men, but I am apologizing for the way that I went about supporting them. I have no explanation other than I got caught up in the heat of the battle - I lost sight of doing the right thing while trying to prove that my point was right. Some posters tried to tell me (Thoughtful Citizen – with his ‘high-road’ post, others as well), but I was too caught up too listen. My self-revelation came when my wife finally told me that she was ashamed of me for how I was writing.
She reminded me that when this is over, we are all going to have to live together, and it will not be possible if this continues. She is/was right. She was not the first person to tell me this, but she is the one that made it stick. I thank her for this.

Another very enlightening article on Patrick Markham. http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/4508271-418/candidate-hgh-was-for-diabetes.html

HGH is classified as a controlled substance because of its known abuses. Buying HGH on-line illegally proliferates and supports an industry which preys on our children and young adults, making its profit off the illegal abuses of HGH and steroids. Simply put: Illegal use of HGH/Steroids is wrong. Illegal possession of HGH/Steroids is wrong. Illegal purchase of HGH/Steroids is wrong. Mr. Markham, please do not try to rationalize it by portraying yourself as a poor uninformed senior, you have proven yourself to be a seasoned politician. Your son Rory is a professional ultimate fighter. A profession wherein the abuse of steroids is well documented. I find it inconceivable that you were unaware of the laws given that your professional son advised you to obtain the drugs. HGH is predominately prescribed to children with stunted growth from pituitary disorders. What do you say to those families whose cost to legally obtain this needed drug for their child is increased because persons like yourself support this illegal industry? What happened to the Marine motto “ Protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

How many email addresses does the same person have to make up to keep changing their names and post all the crud that they do?
Here is some reading material.
http://www.thegrowthhormone.com/diabetes-hgh.html
Read up on it, it is not unheard of!
This is just ridiculous, grow up and stop trying to degrade this man!

Pat Markham this is not a trivial thing, it is not jaywalking or a traffic ticket as you indicated. Your continued attempts to rationalize this is abhorent. HGH is legally synonmous with steroids. Can you not realize that what you did supports an illegal industry that screws up kids? You illegally purchased drugs, an expellable offense for our children.

Sec. 402. Except as otherwise authorized by this Act, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to possess a controlled or counterfeit substance or controlled substance analog. A violation of this Act with respect to each of the controlled substances listed herein constitutes a single and separate violation of this Act. For purposes of this Section, "controlled substance analog" or "analog" means a substance which is intended for human consumption, other than a controlled substance, that has a chemical structure substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II, or that was specifically designed to produce an effect substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II. ….. For purposes of this Act, a controlled substance analog shall be treated in the same manner as the controlled substance to which it is substantially similar. (d) Any person who violates this Section with regard to any amount of anabolic steroid is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class B misdemeanor for a subsequent offense committed within 2 years of a prior conviction.

Dismayed-- did you find all that information on the pamphlet that came with your xanax perscription you just picked up or what? Drop it already! Your personal attacks against this man are getting you no where!

I quoted the exact law under which Mr. Markham was convicted. I don't care what he was using the stuff for, its irrelevant. Its an illegal on-line industry that preys on children and young adults. HGH/Steroid abuse is a huge problem in this country; law enforcement bans its illegal use, all major sports are banning it, high schools ban it, colleges ban it. His son Rory is in an industry, ultimate fighting, wherein the abuses are rampant. Nate Diaz, Rory’s former opponent, responded in an interview recently about UFC fighter Chael Sonnen’s recent failed Performance Enhancing Drug test.

Nate Diaz:
“Not a surprise. It’s not that he’s on steroids but all these guys are on steroids. So can’t be a surprise when somebody pops up on steroids. It usually is surprising when someone doesn’t pop up on steroids.” .

Even those in his son’s profession are abusing this drug. How can Mr. Markam be so darn cavalier about his illegal procurement of this drug? This is a serious, serious offense, based upon his comments here and in the Southtown blog Mr. Markham is in denial. This is my last comment. I remain dismayed.