Top Fox Valley news stories of 2014

The year 2014 has been momentous for many Fox Valley area towns, from the settlement of Elgin Area School District U-46's discrimination lawsuit to a celebrity wedding in St. Charles.

Here's a recap of some key events this past year.

U-46 settles lawsuit, overhauls gifted program

Elgin Area School District U-46 settled a nine-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit for $2.5 million and overhauled its gifted program.

On July 11, 2013, a federal judge ruled in favor of U-46 on two of the three main issues in the 2005 case. Latino and black students filed the class-action discrimination lawsuit against the district for treating them differently and putting Latino students in segregated classrooms.

The district spent $18.3 million in litigation costs. As a result of the settlement, U-46 is eliminating separate Spanish-English Transition gifted classrooms at the three elementary schools that have them starting with fourth grade in the 2014-15 school year. This year, there are about 189 students overall in fourth-grade gifted classrooms. Fifth and sixth-grade gifted classrooms remain segregated this year. Segregated classrooms for Latino students eventually will be phased out as those fourth-graders move up the grades.

Starting this year, U-46 also is establishing a talent development program for all students in first through third grades to identify gifted students earlier. The talent development program is being implemented in third grade this year, and will be expanded to first and second grades the following year.

Elgin charter school proposal fails

In October, a state commission denied the Elgin Charter School Initiative's appeal of its charter application, upholding an earlier rejection by the Elgin Area School District U-46 school board. Illinois State Charter School Commission members said they were impressed with aspects of the application and urged group leaders to take more time to address concerns raised about finances and how the school would cater to its target audience of at-risk students. If approved, the Elgin Math and Science Academy would have opened in August 2015 offering classes from kindergarten through second grade in its first year.

Developer drops plans for Oakwood Hills power plant

Plans for a massive power plant in the tiny McHenry County community of Oakwood Hills died amid controversy. The developer withdrew the petition to build the 430-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at 5110 Valley View Road. Controversy over the proposal resulted in the resignations of Village President Melanie Funk, Village Attorney John Cowlin and trustee Beth Gorr. Village hall also was closed for nearly a month after police said village leaders feared for their safety because people were outraged by the possibility of the plant coming to town. The $500 million Oakwood Hills Energy Center was targeted for roughly 13 acres behind village hall.

McHenry County deputies shot

Scott B. Peters faces charges in the Oct. 16 shooting of two McHenry County deputies in Holiday Hills. The injured deputies, Dwight Maness, 46, and Khalia Satkiewicz, 39, were responding to a domestic disturbance call at Peters' home. Peters fled during the commotion but was captured after a 16-hour manhunt. The two deputies received purple heart medals from the sheriff's office for their bravery. A third deputy, Eric Luna, who was on the scene, received an award of valor for providing cover fire and keeping the shooter at bay while two Island Lake officers pulled Satkiewicz and Maness from the line of fire.

Weber building global distribution headquarters in Huntley

Weber-Stephen Products began work on a global distribution headquarters in Huntley that would more than double the size of the grill manufacturer's current facility on Oak Creek Parkway. The 757,120-square-foot global distribution center is being built on a nearby 131-acre site fronting the Jane Addams Tollway and Freeman Road, just east of the Huntley Outlet Center. The project is expected to add 500 jobs, including 75 distribution and 250 construction jobs, and generate more than $1 million in new tax revenue for area taxing bodies.

Condoleezza Rice visits Judson

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was the keynote speaker at Judson University's fourth annual World Leaders Forum March 19 in Elgin. Rice, 59, the first black woman to serve as secretary of state, spoke about her love for education, global leadership, the ongoing turmoil in Russia, and empowering young girls to become leaders, among other topics. Rice, who teaches political science at Stanford University in California, joined a list of prominent heads of state who headlined the World Leaders Forum in its first three years ­- former President George W. Bush, former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The event was sold out with visitors packing the 600-seat Herrick Chapel.

Elgin cabbie helps end manhunt

Cabdriver Aaron Dunbar helped to end an almost eight-hour manhunt July 17 after a prisoner escaped from the custody of Elgin Mental Health Center security personnel. Jesse Vega jumped out of a stopped vehicle on Elgin's northeast side while being transported to court in Lake County, leading police to search for him extensively - including using armored vehicles - until Vega got into Dunbar's cab. Dunbar, suspecting Vega was the escapee, parked in a visible location and stalled for time while a nearby witness called 911. Vega was taken into custody without a struggle, still wearing handcuffs on one wrist.

Elgin police Facebook scandal

Elgin police officer Jason A. Lentz, a 17-year veteran of the department, was fired Sept. 29 in the wake of Facebook posts he made that appeared to have racial connotations, including one about the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown in August in Ferguson, Missouri. Lentz was found guilty of engaging in "conduct that would undermine the credibility of the city or employees" and in violation of the department's social media policy. He is fighting his termination.

Fox River Grove gets first grocery store in decades

Jewel-Osco opened a new store in Fox River Grove in June.

The Itasca-based grocery chain acquired the store from the defunct Dominick's Finer Foods.

The new store - at 800 Northwest Highway, Fox River Grove - offers a variety of fresh produce, including quality meats and seafood, and has a Starbucks inside. It features a soup and salad bar, hot food bar, sushi, improved lighting and new decor.

Jenny McCarthy, Danny Wahlberg wed in St. Charles

Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg got married Aug. 31 at Hotel Baker in St. Charles with hundreds of fans lining Main Street hoping to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds. It's the second marriage for McCarthy, 41, who recently left "The View" and now hosts a radio show on SiriusXM, and "Blue Bloods" actor Wahlberg, 45. And while Wahlberg still performs with his boy band New Kids on the Block, he also appears in an A&E reality show about a family restaurant called Wahlburgers that's run by his brother Paul.

Camp Algonquin placed on endangered list

Camp Algonquin, one of the few "fresh air" camps in the nation, was designated by Landmarks Illinois as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. The 116-acre camp at 1889 Cary-Algonquin Road in unincorporated McHenry County closed in 2011. It is one of only four camps built during the "Fresh Air in the Country" movement started in the late 1800s - fueled by the belief that spending time in a rural environment would alleviate the problems caused by inner-city living. Camp Algonquin was established in 1907 on 20 acres along the Fox River.

McHenry County rejects controversial intersection plan

McHenry County officials dropped a controversial idea to build a new kind of intersection at Algonquin and Randall roads for improved traffic flow after businesses and residents complained. The proposed continuous-flow intersection, or CFI, would have allowed through traffic to move unimpeded through the intersection while simultaneously allowing left turns from a crossover lane regulated by a separate light. McHenry County officials now are considering a more conventional intersection improvement proposal that includes adding through and turn lanes and limiting access points.

Algonquin Route 31 bypass opens

The Route 31 western bypass in Algonquin was completed and opened in mid-August. The $33.3 million project includes construction of more than two miles of a four-lane highway allowing traffic to bypass the downtown area at routes 31 and 62. The bypass begins at Route 31 and Huntington Drive just south of the downtown, swings west and goes over Route 62 west of Route 31 before reconnecting with Route 31 at the north end of town.

Robert Sauceda resigns as animal control administrator

Sauceda resigned as interim Kane County Animal Control administrator following a suspension and an investigation into "personnel matters" involving a subordinate female employee. Sauceda's controversial tenure began when county board Chairman Chris Lauzen created a billing manager position for Sauceda. Lauzen and Sauceda campaigned together on the same ticket prior to the job. Sauceda then became interim animal control director. Following his resignation, the Kane County state's attorney's office announced a criminal investigation regarding Sauceda. The status of that investigation is unknown.

Kane County chairman, coroner at odds

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen and Coroner Rob Russell battled throughout the year about expenses and the proper operation of Russell's elected office. Lauzen took Russell to task for what he deemed wasteful expenses. Those included a range of costs from the number of autopsies performed to the purchase of Silly Putty trinkets for visitors to the office. Russell maintained the budget increases in his office related to a need to improve the operations as they existed under former Coroner Chuck West. West was indicted while in office but died before trial.

New owners take over former Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles

The Krausz Companies, Inc. purchased St. Charles' troubled Charlestowne Mall and inked a deal with city officials for up to $20 million in sales tax rebates to help attract new tenants. The rebate only occurs as new sales taxes are generated. Mall ownership announced the property would be called The Quad and broke ground on exterior improvements that will include the construction of multiple outlots designed to attract restaurants and increase visibility of the property from Route 64. Work on the actual mall building is set to begin in 2015.

Good year for Burlington Central girls basketball

It was a historic season for the Burlington Central girls basketball team. After losing in the supersectional round the year before, the Rockets were able to take the next step in 2014, becoming the school's first basketball team to advance to a state final tournament. Central defeated Mundelein Carmel 41-29 to win the supersectional game at Hoffman Estates High School. Downstate, the treading was a bit rougher as the Rockets lost to Montini and Quincy Notre Dame to finish in fourth place in Class 3A. But with its top seven players returning this season, expectations are high again for a return trip to Redbird Arena and the state finals in March.

Elgin animal abuse shocks town

An Elgin woman drew the ire of many after Kane County authorities charged her with animal abuse and neglect in March, in a case that involved the death of at least 10 animals and the health of 80 more. Stacy Fiebelkorn, who owned the Mini Zoo Crew petting zoo, is accused of not providing adequate food, water, shelter and care to her horses, ponies, goats, rabbits, fowl, llamas, alpacas and donkeys, at farms she rented in Maple Park and Hampshire. Fiebelkorn challenged the removal of her animals from her ownership; she ultimately agreed to forfeit them. Her criminal misdemeanor case is still pending.

Batavia electricity cost sparks lawsuit

In March, Batavia raised its sales tax to help pay for the electricity it is buying, generated by the controversial Prairie State Energy Campus coal mine and generation plant. The city invested in the plant via its involvement in the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency cooperative. In August, resident and businessman Joe Marconi, plus eight other residents, started a class-action lawsuit against three entities that had advised Batavia and NIMPA about the decision to invest in Prairie State, saying they had misled city officials. The suit also named the cities of Batavia, Geneva and Rochelle; NIMPA; Prairie State; and other investors as respondents in discovery, so confidential documents about the matter would be released.

Voters reject Batavia schools' request

In November, Batavia voters were asked whether the school district should borrow up to $15 million for buildings-and-grounds work, including spending about half the money on sports field work at Batavia High School that would have included installing two artificial turf fields. Voters yelled "no."

Kaneland gets new superintendent

In December, the Kaneland school district picked a new superintendent, Todd Leden, to replace Jeff Schuler, who had quit at the end of August to take over at Wheaton Warrenville District 200. It took two tries to pick an interim person to serve during the vacancy, as the first choice quit the morning after he was hired, citing the behavior of one board member at the previous night's meeting.

Three sentenced for 2013 Aurora hammer murder

A 20-year-old Aurora man pleaded guilty to murdering a 18-year-old West Aurora High School student and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Juan Garnica struck Abigail Villalpando with a hammer Feb. 1, 2013, and had his friends help burn her car and dispose of her body. Enrique Prado, 21, of Aurora, was sentenced to two years in prison and Jose Becerra, 22, of Oswego, spent 10 months in jail before pleading guilty and getting two years probation. Villalpando's murder was the first in Aurora since late 2011; 2012 was the first time since 1946 in which the city did not have a homicide.

Craigslist rapist convicted, imprisoned

A 46-year-old Crystal Lake man was convicted of sexually assaulting a Chicago college student who posted an ad on Craigslist offering sex for money. Charles Oliver was accused of terrorizing the woman and seven others in a room in his basement, along with videotaping them and keeping their driver's licenses to intimidate them. Oliver was convicted in February and later sentenced to 36 years in prison after he admitted to other assaults.

​Geneva doctor charged with rape

A doctor who practiced out of Geneva had his license suspended over the summer by state officials because of accusations of inappropriate relationships with patients. Mark G. Lewis, 55, formerly of St. Charles and now of Geneva, also was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a woman and patient he knew in November 2012. The woman sued in 2013 for damages and it was settled out of court in spring 2013. State authorities also suspended Lewis' license because of "inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances to numerous individuals."

First Geneva murder since 1975

A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with suffocating his wife in their home on the 800 block of Oak Street and dumping her body along the Union Pacific railroad tracks on July 6 in Geneva's first homicide since 1975. Shadwick R. King is being held on $1.5 million bail and faces up to 60 years in prison.

East Dundee grandmother killed

A 41-year-old man was arrested and accused of stabbing his 85-year-old grandmother to death in her East Dundee home in July to gain part of her $1 million estate. Richard Schmeltzer, 41, of Frisco, a Dallas suburb, is accused of killing Mildred "Dodie" Darrington. Authorities say Schmeltzer drove a car that was rented to his friend to the suburbs while he was supposed to be at a work conference and they have a tollway violation and records from a prepaid cellphone to prove Schmeltzer was in the area.

​Six years for repeat DUI driver who killed 4 in 1999

A 46-year-old Mount Prospect man who served 12 years in prison for killing four people in 1999 DUI was sentenced to six years in prison in August after admitting to driving under the influence in February. Walter Depner killed Eva Burleson and her three children, ages 7 to 14, and severely injured her husband, Tom, in a head-on crash along Route 120 near Lakemoor in Lake County as the family headed home from Great America.