Articles filed under Blackberry Township

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  No injuries in house fire near Elburn Dec 23, 2011 10:16 PM
  By Christopher Placek A total of 17 fire departments worked to extinguish a fire at a single family home near Elburn Friday evening. The blaze broke out about 5 p.m. at a home on the 2S200 block of Willow Creek Drive, in a subdivision located south of the intersection of Route 47 and Main Street in Blackberry Township.
  

   
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  Plano man gets 3 years for crash that killed St. Charles man Nov 15, 2011 6:34 PM
  By Harry Hitzeman A judge Tuesday sentenced a former youth jail guard to three years in prison for causing a crash that killed Craig Smith, a 53-year-old St. Charles man, in October 2008. Reginald Hearon, 51, of Plano, must serve 85 percent of the sentence issued by Kane County Judge Karen Simpson. Hearon pleaded guilty last year to reckless homicide and faced up to 14 years in prison for causing Smith’s death on Oct. 2, 2008, in which Hearon’s 1997 Ford Econoline van collided head-on with Smith’s 2005 Chevy Blazer on a two-lane stretch of Fabyan Parkway in Blackberry Township. Hearon, a former guard at the St. Charles Youth Center, was late for work that morning. Witnesses said he was speeding, blew a stop sign and was weaving in and out of traffic. Steve Sims, the lead Kane County prosecutor on the case, argued for a seven- to 10-year sentence, and said that while Hearon’s sons eventually will see him again, Smith’s wife and four grown kids have lost a loved one forever. “I’m at peace with (the sentence),” Smith’s widow, Tina, said afterward. “(Hearon’s) suffering. We’re all suffering. Both families are suffering. This is as fair as can be. The hurting needs to come to an end for my family — both families. It’s just awful for everybody.” Defense attorney Richard Irvin argued for a term of four years probation during which Hearon would serve on DUI victim impact panels. Irvin said his client’s blood alcohol content of .069 was under the legal threshold, and he had vodka and Nyquil the night before to treat a cold. Hearon pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and DUI to take responsibility for his actions. “He was deeply sorry for taking the life of Mr. Smith. He wishes it was him,” Irvin said. “He could not in good conscience put the family through a long drawn out trial. He accepted responsibility knowing there was a strong possibility he’d go to prison.” Hearon had been free on $7,000 bond; it was revoked and he began serving his sentence. Hearon had been scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 27, but it was moved up because Simpson will be changing courtrooms early next month.
  

   

• Lower speed limit on Green Road Nov 6, 2011 6:00 AM
  Letter to the Editor: The speed limit on Green Road in Blackberry Township is 50 mph. It should be 45 mph, but the Kane County Department of Transportation does not listen to residents on this. Instead it insists its studies determine what should be the speed limit.
  

   

• Sentencing for former St. Charles youth guard pushed to Dec. 27 Oct 20, 2011 10:55 PM
  By Harry Hitzeman An emotional sentencing hearing for Reginald Hearon, a former guard at the St. Charles youth prison who pleaded guilty to DUI and reckless homicide, is continued to Dec. 27. Hearon was speeding a killed Craig Smith, a 53-year-old St. Charles man, on Oct. 2, 2008 and faces up to 14 years in prison.
  

   

• Kane forest preserve targets next land purchase Oct 11, 2011 7:37 PM
  By James Fuller Kane County Forest Preserve officials will work with a homeowners' association on Seavey Road in North Aurora to buy property that will allow for a trail connection between the Dick Young and Lake Run Forest Preserves.
  

   

• Kane forest board pursuing Seavey Road land buy Oct 11, 2011 6:05 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas The Kane County Forest Preserve Commission Tuesday decided to buy 134 acres off Seavey Road in Blackberry Township, to connect the Dick Young and Lake Run forest preserves.
  

   
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  Despite lack of funds, dance goes on without a hitch Aug 12, 2011 3:47 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas An Elburn collegian organizes a dance for people with special needs, Tri-Cities area residents take their political wishes to the streets, and Batavia is going nuts for those bulldog statues throughout the downtown, columnist Susan Sarkauskas writes.
  

   

• Winfield Township road chief makes $45,866 to take care of 4 miles of road Jun 1, 2011 5:08 PM
  By Jake Griffin | Suburban Tax Watchdog Some township highway commissioners are getting paid substantial salaries despite caring for only a small number of miles of roads.
  

   

• Perk proves townships need scrutiny Apr 10, 2011 10:01 PM
  A Daily Herald editorial calls on voters and residents to pay more attention to township governments in the wake of an On Guard report that suburban townships have collectively spent more than $1 million of taxpayer dollars on free health care for elected officials.
  

   
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  Elected officials in some suburban townships receive health care coverage fully supported by taxpayer dollar Apr 10, 2011 9:54 AM
  By Jake Griffin Taxpayers spent more than $1 million last year to cover health care benefits for 77 elected leaders in suburban townships. Those same officials paid nothing for their insurance coverage. An investigation of insurance costs for 50 suburban townships showed 29 offered health care coverage at no charge to elected officers who held full-time positions like supervisor, assessor and highway commissioner.
  

   

• Campton Hills clerk race now contested Feb 8, 2011 4:22 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas The race for Campton Hills village clerk became a contested one, as one person has declared a write-in candidacy.
  

   

• Tri-Cities roads in fair shape Feb 3, 2011 5:28 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas For the most part, roads in the Tri-Cities were in good shape by late Thursday afternoon, according to town and county officials.
  

   

• Tri-Cities police blotter Nov 3, 2010 5:41 PM
  The police blotter for Kane County
  

   
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  Batavians Against Debt ... who are you? Oct 14, 2010 3:38 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas Who are the people putting out the signs urging a “No vote against the Batavia Park District recreation center? Batavians Against Debt. Determining the identity of the group’s leadership has been difficult.
  

   
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  Batavia mayor supports downtown rec center proposal Oct 14, 2010 7:30 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas Count Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke among supporters of a plan to build a combined recreation center, stores and parking garage at Wilson Street, Houston Street and Island Avenue downtown.
  

   

• Route 47 in Sugar Grove targeted for traffic safety Oct 13, 2010 3:05 PM
  By Susan Sarkauskas A special traffic safety enforcement and education campaign conducted in September on Route 47 in Sugar Grove resulted in 425 citations including 182 for speeding and 269 written warnings, according to police officials.
  

   
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  Plano man pleads guilty to fatal 2008 crash Feb 8, 2011 2:26 PM
  By Josh Stockinger A former youth corrections officer faces up to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to charges stemming from an October 2008 crash that killed a St. Charles man.
  

   

• Tri-Cities briefs Mar 1, 2011 5:14 PM
  There is an open house at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 to discuss the design of the new playground equipment for the Batavia Riverwalk, The meeting is at the Batavia Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St.
  

   

• Tri-Cities briefs Mar 1, 2011 5:40 PM
  The City of Geneva is preparing a downtown master plan and is hosting a public workshop at 7 tonight at the public works department, 1800 South St.
  

   

• Crackdown coming on dangerous stretch of Route 47 Mar 3, 2011 5:07 PM
  By Josh Stockinger Three Fox Valley police agencies are joining forces to get people driving more sensibly on one of Kane County's deadliest thoroughfares.