Briefs: Coat drive commences

State Rep. Ruth Munson is working with Carpentersville, East Dundee and Elgin to urge residents to donate their new or gently used coats to the needy this winter. The coat drive runs from now until Dec. 14. You can drop off the coats at Munson's district office, 1146 Dundee Ave., Elgin; Elgin city hall, 150 Dexter Court; Carpentersville village hall, 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive; or the Dundee Township Park District Senior Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville. The coats will be donated to the Elgin Public Action to Deliver Shelter and the Community Crisis Center.

Huntley joins cable group

The Huntley village board has voted to join the Fox Valley Regional Cable Commission, a group that includes Algonquin, Carpentersville, West Dundee and other area towns. Village Manager Carl Tomaso said the village will save on consultant fees and may obtain better rates. Villages in the group pay from $500 to $1,800 a year, compared with the $20,000 to $25,000 cost of hiring a consultant, according to village estimates. The village board also extended its franchise agreement with Comcast until March 15, so that Huntley's agreement ends on the same date as other towns' agreements. Huntley was a member of the group between 1993 and 1997.

MCC avoids major crime

McHenry County College reports that no major crimes were committed on the main campus in Crystal Lake from 2004 to 2006. No murders, manslaughters, robberies or sex offenses were committed on campus. In addition, no major crime was reported for the two satellite facilities, including the University Center in Crystal Lake and the Shah Center in McHenry. Burglaries showed the largest decrease from nine incidents in 2005 to two in 2006, reflecting a 77 percent decrease. Theft from vehicles dropped from three to no occurrences in the same time period. Harriet Johnson, campus security director, credits her staff of 12, along with college faculty, staff and students for such improvements. "It takes all of us to do this. People are really helping us out by being alert, locking their car doors and by not leaving (computer) passwords in plain view. Everyone helps us make this institution a safer college," she said.