Briefs: New fitness center planned
Stevenson High School will get a bit larger next year, thanks to a $3.7 million fitness center planned for the Lincolnshire school. It'll be built near the swimming pool and field house. Work could begin in March, officials said, and the center should be ready for next school year. Workout equipment for the new area already has been purchased and is used in a multipurpose room at the school. The school board is borrowing money for the project.
New court dates set
A Round Lake Beach man accused of attacks on two women was ordered Wednesday to stand trial Feb. 25 in Lake County circuit court. Robert Evans, 28, faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted of attacks on women Oct. 15 and 31. Circuit Judge George Bridges also told Evans, who is held on $1 million bond, that he must appear in court Jan. 15. Bridges was assigned the Evans' case after defense attorneys moved it from Judge Fred Foreman's docket. Foreman presided at the 2006 trial of Evans' half-brother, Christopher Hanson, who was sentenced to life in prison after his fourth conviction for attacking a woman. Evans is charged with attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault and has served a prison sentence for a prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Race now uncontested
The pool of Democratic candidates running for the Lake County Board District 11 seat in the Feb. 5 primary has shrunk to one after contenders Sharyn Elman of Gurnee and Michael Wagner of Grayslake withdrew from the ballot. Veteran politician Pat Carey of Grayslake is running uncontested for the Democratic nomination. She will face Republican incumbent Terese Douglass in the November general election. Carey serves as the economic development director for the village of Arlington Heights. She served 12 years in local government and has 20 years experience in the private sector.
CLC contract settled
The College of Lake County board approved a three-year contract with the college's custodial employees this week. The contract calls for a 4.9 percent increase in base salaries in the first year, a 4.5 percent increase in the second year and a 4.25 percent increase in the third year. Custodial employees are represented by the College of Lake County Staff Council, Lake County Federation of Teachers, Local 504, IFT-AFT/AFL-CIO. Employees ratified the contract Nov. 29. The agreement, which is retroactive to July 1 continues to June 30, 2010.