Turn in unused prescription drugs in Kane County Saturday
This coming Saturday is a chance to remove a hidden hazard from your home.
The next biannual National Prescription Drug Take-back Day is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at law enforcement agencies in Kane County and across the country.
Authorities say access to unused or unwanted prescription drugs can act as a gateway for teen drug users to experiment and get hooked on harder drugs.
The drugs will be disposed of safely; officials say flushing them down the toilet can contaminate the water supply.
The drop-off event is for prescription drugs, not illegal drugs or dirty needles or syringes.
Last fall, 324 tons (or 648,000 pounds) of prescription drugs were turned in across the country at more than 5,600 sites operated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies.
To locate a drop-off site near you, call (800) 882-9539.
8 years for Elgin shooting
A 34-year-old Elgin man was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty this month to firing three shots near a school in October 2013, according to Kane County court records.
IV Oneal Preston II, of the 1500 block of Todd Farm Drive, faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
He also must pay a $500 fine and gets credit for about 11 months served at the Kane County jail while his case was pending.
Kane County Judge Karen Simpson accepted the plea, in which prosecutors dismissed less serious charges, according to court records.
Police said Preston approached a person seated in a vehicle on the 1400 block of Todd Farm, threatened the victim and left, then returned and opened fire.
The shots missed the victim, who police said did not know Preston, but had a mutual friendship with another person.
As Preston was running away, he dropped a .40-caliber handgun that was later recovered by police, authorities said.
The shooting occurred near the Century Oaks Elementary School, 1235 Braeburn Drive, Elgin, although classes were not in session at the time.
This is not Preston's first time in prison. He was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a February 2008 arrest in Elgin, according to court records.
Sheriff seeks nominations
Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez is seeking nominations for the 2014 Roscoe Ebey Award, which is the office's equivalent of person of the year.
The award was named after Ebey, an 83-year-old World War II veteran who was killed when someone broke into his Aurora Township home in May 2007.
Ebey's neighbor, Leslie Fleming, won the first award. He caught and detained Ebey's killer until authorities arrived. For more information, visit kanesheriff.com or call (630) 232-6840.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com