Briefs: Another Aurora bat rabid
Another bat has tested positive for rabies in Kane County, the Kane County Health Department announced Friday. The animal, found in an Aurora home, is the fifth bat to test positive this year and the fourth found in Aurora. Only one bat tested positive for rabies in Kane County last year. Statewide, there have been 87 confirmed cases of rabies in animals this year -- all of them in bats. There were only 46 cases in the state last year. Besides Aurora, rabid bats have been found this year in Elgin, Crystal Lake, McHenry, Marengo and Woodstock. Illinois has not had a case of human rabies since 1954.
Helping small businesses
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership is launching a new program aimed at helping small businesses thrive. The partnership will host a monthly Business Development Breakfasts to tackle topics such as marketing and management. The first two sessions will focus on e-mail marketing. They are set for 8 a.m. Tuesday and Oct. 9 at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. Attendance is free for partnership members and $20 for the general public. Call (630) 513-5386.
Research historic homes
The St. Charles Heritage Center will host a free lecture Thursday on how to research historic homes. The event is part of the Thursday Evening Lecture Series and will be at 7 p.m. in the Carnegie Room at St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. Mary Turner, director for the Illinois Association of Museums, will be the presenter. For more information, call (630) 584-6967.
Apply for Kiwanis grants
The St. Charles Noon Kiwanis Club is accepting grant applications from organizations that serve children. Applicants should specify a program the grant would support, use the money to benefit local youths, and be based in the central Fox Valley. The club prefers programs that are unique. Applications should be submitted by Sept. 15 to be eligible for 2008 grant money. To apply, call Jeff Wallace (630) 584-9193 or send an e-mail to jswallace@comcast.net.
Fire panel needs members
The St. Charles Countryside Fire Protection District is seeking volunteers to fill out its citizens advisory panel. There currently are openings for one Wayne resident and four St. Charles Township residents on the 11-person committee. The group will make recommendations to the fire board, which oversees fire protection in parts of St. Charles, Campton Hills and Wayne. To apply, call (630) 762-3900 or mail a letter of interest to P.O. Box 4132, St. Charles, IL 60174.
Geneva class of '67 reunion
The Geneva High School Class of 1967 will have a reunion Sept. 28-30. The reunion committee can't find the following classmates: Muriel Carlson Dossett, Annette Clifford, Jeff Daum, Kathy DeClark Artabasy, Sue Dillon Krohn, Tom Dyman, MaryBeth Freeburg Lively, Jamie Papper Fruguglietti, Dawn Gunderson, Linnea Jonsson Koch, Laura Joshel, Terry Mueller, Jim Mulvey, Jim Pound, Rick Ramsey, Denny Rice, Jack Smalley, Virginia Swanson, Gary VanDyke and Jim VanTassel. To provide information or receive reunion plans, contact Kathy Parcell Peine at (630) 232-1609 or e-mail klpeine@aol.com. The reunion Web site is www.gecohi67.com.