Briefs: Special ballot set

As the last to file Monday, Democrat Jotham Stein of St. Charles rounded out the list of candidates competing to fill the remaining months of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's congressional term. Stein joins John Laesch, a Newark carpenter, and scientist Bill Foster of Geneva in seeking the Democratic nomination in the special primary Feb. 5. On the Republican side are state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora and dairy magnate Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove. The five also are seeking a 2-year term in the regular primary, also Feb. 5. Hastert's early retirement prompted two primaries.

3 hurt in Carpentersville

A boy and two women were hospitalized following a two-vehicle wreck Monday night in Carpentersville. Paramedics drove the three to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, but their injuries didn't appear serious, according to the Carpentersville and Countryside Fire Protection District. The wreck happened around 7 p.m. on John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive near Golf View Lane. A van carrying the boy and woman somehow crashed with a sport-utility vehicle carrying a woman, fire officials said. Both vehicles appeared to be traveling north, officials added.

Eight new jail officers

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez announced late last week the addition of eight new corrections officers. They are the first group of officers hired to help with the transition into the new jail, scheduled to open in late 2008 in St. Charles Township. The new officers will attend a five week basic correctional officer academy training in Sangamon County. Upon graduation, they will be assigned to work in the current jail in Geneva until the new jail opens. The officers are Ryan Salisbury, 24, of DeKalb; Marisa Pavone, 21, of Carol Stream; John Bredlau, 34, of Sycamore; Bret Heinz, 23, of Aurora; Bradley Larry, 30, of Plainfield; Rosendo Meza, 30, of Cortland; Steven Shaff, 22, of North Aurora; and Phillip Miller, 23, of Aurora.

School joins nature reserve

Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, noted for its environmental science program, is one of the newest members of Chicago Wilderness, a regional nature reserve with more than 300,000 acres of protected natural land. Dundee-Crown, the City of Elgin Parks and Recreation Department and eleven other organizations in the Chicago area join more than 200 members from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The group works to protect, restore, study and manage land in the Chicago region.

Chorus seeks women

Ladies, do you like to sing? Village Vocal Chords is seeking women who are eager and able to perform. The suburban chorus performs at a championship level but needs a little help with finding singing women. The group sings four-part a cappella harmony in barbershop style. Members travel from all over Northeast Illinois and Indiana for Tuesday evening rehearsals, which resume Jan. 8. For details, call Ms. Mike Bogert at (708) 275-8329 or visit www.villagevocalchords.com.

Sign up for ECC classes

New and continuing Elgin Community College students can register online for spring classes at www.elgin.edu/accessecc. Students without an ID number and those who prefer to register in person can do so at the Registration Center at the Main Campus located on the first floor of the Student Resource Center, SRC 165, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays. The Center also will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 5 and 12.