County warns of bats with rabies
The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," might be filming in Chicago, but Kane County residents should be aware of bats living much closer to home. A rabid bat was found in Elgin in June, the county's animal control administrator told the county board's public health committee this week. Less than a year ago, a bat found in an East Dundee home tested positive for the disease.
Prior to 2006, Kane County hadn't seen a positive case of animal rabies for 17 years, according to the Kane County Health Department.
Animal control administrator Pat Sikorski urged pet owners to keep an eye on their animals while outside and make sure dogs and cats are up to date on their vaccinations.
"We need to realize rabies is serious and life-threatening," Sikorski told the committee.
On Friday, the McHenry County Department of Health announced that a seventh bat tested positive for rabies. The latest was discovered in Marengo; previous discoveries were reported in McHenry, Woodstock and Crystal Lake.
Bats, which are most active in August and September, are the primary carriers of the disease in Illinois. Statewide, 37 bats have tested positive for rabies this year and 46 tested positive last year.
Over the past 15 years, bats have tested positive for rabies more often than any other animals, wild or domestic, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
If you find a bat or other wild animal in your home or on your property, experts warn to stay away from it and call animal control or police. Erratic behavior, such as wild animals acting tame or domestic animals acting hostile, can be a sign an animal is infected with rabies.
'Porky Picnic' coming: State Sen. Chris Lauzen's 13th annual "Porky Picnic" is a week from today. The event is scheduled 4 to 8 p.m. at Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, and will feature Fay's pork chops and chicken barbecue and bingo, raffles and inflatable games for kids. Lauzen represents the 25th District.
The 54-year-old Aurora Republican, who has served in the state Senate for 15 years, is one of three Republicans considering a run for Congress if U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert retires. The others are Sugar Grove millionaire Jim Oberweis and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns.
Tickets are $25 per person, $40 per couple or $60 per family. Sponsorships are available. For information or to purchase tickets, call (630) 264-2419.
West wants third term: Kane County Coroner Chuck West will seek a third term, the Elgin Republican announced this week. West said he wants to see several projects through to fruition, including his office's possible move from its tight quarters in Building E to another building on the county government center campus in Geneva.
The 64-year-old earned almost 60 percent of the vote in 2004 to beat Democratic challenger Robert Moore. Prior to winning his first term as coroner in 2000, West served as a deputy coroner in the office for seven years and also as a paramedic and grief counselor.