The top stories for DuPage Co. in 2007

Storms create disaster in DuPage

Gov. Rod Blagojevich declared DuPage County a state disaster area in August following severe storms. The aftermath saw the county activate its public works mutual aid system for the first time since it was created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

District 200 seeks OK for new Hubble

After more than five years of discussion and debate, District 200 school board members unanimously voted to ask residents for permission and money to build a new Hubble Middle School in Warrenville. A price tag of nearly $58 million and the moving of the school out of Wheaton are both contentious points for the February referendum. The school board already has promised to ask voters a second time in November if the February question fails.

Wood Dale eyes new intersection fixes

After years of working toward an approximately $50 million reconfiguration of the Irving Park and Wood Dale roads intersection and rail crossings, aldermen have now changed their focus toward more modest safety measures. They hope to use the $11 million in federal funding, which has already been secured, to pay for a less expensive alternative, such as larger crossing gates and improving the "Cop in a Box" program.

Thorium testing in West Chicago

Federal Environmental Protection Agency officials acknowledged early this year that residual thorium contamination may remain buried on as many as 100 West Chicago properties. After doing research, the agency reduced that number to 41 residential sites, some of which had been officially cleared as clean. Some properties may need to be dug up for the third time.

Minor fire closes Glenbard West

Glenbard West High School was shuttered for a few days after a transformer fire outside the building.

Retired teachers challenge contract

Glenbard High School District 87 school board members approved a new 5-year contract with teachers, but soon afterward 91 retired teachers filed suit saying the contract altered their previously-guaranteed insurance benefits.

Central DuPage plans expansion

Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield's largest landowner, announced in May plans to build a 202-bed expansion wing on its sprawling Winfield campus. The five-story, $257-million bed tower will include all private rooms and would replace two wings built in the 1970s. In the summer, hospital officials also announced plans to bring a proton therapy cancer treatment center to town. The project, which depends on state approval, is the second such proposal in the Western suburbs. Northern Illinois University hopes to build a similar facility in West Chicago.

March Microburst displaces residents

A March wind storm ripped the roof of a building in the Covered Bridges Apartments complex in Carol Stream, sending debris flying into the rear of the nearby Wheaton Christian Center Church. The storm caused about $4 million in damage to the church, 610 E. North Ave., and forced parishioners to meet at a nearby local hotel and the College of DuPage for weekly services. After six months of rebuilding, worshipers finally came home, helping to christen the refurbished sanctuary Sept. 23, the sixth anniversary of the first opening of the church.

Glen Ellyn skate park closes early

Newton Park's skate park in Glen Ellyn was shut down early this year due to repeated vandalism. Traditionally, the skate park opens in April and closes after the first snowfall of the season, but because of multiple incidents, park officials installed surveillance cameras and closed the park in October. It will reopen in spring.

Judge clears Bensenville officials

A three-year legal battle between Bensenville, its former fire department's pension board and a state agency ended. A DuPage County judge stipulated that Bensenville officials didn't violate any state law or department regulation by maintaining a consolidated cash account to keep funds from a variety of sources, including the pension fund.

Changes in works at Indian Lakes

A deal between Bloomingdale and Hilton Hotels will bring changes to Indian Lakes Resort. In a deal brokered during the summer, Bloomingdale purchased the resort's southernmost 35 acres for $4.9 million. The 276-acre Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired resort then made more than $10 million in Hilton-required upgrades and became the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort. The resort is now converting its two 18-hole golf courses to three nine-hole courses and a golf school. The village has agreed to turn the 35 acres of golf course into a passive recreation park between Meadowlark Road to the west and Cardinal Drive to the east.

District 13 schools celebrate award

In 2007 Bloomingdale District 13 won the SchoolSearch Bright Red Apple Award for the third year in row, earning the district a spot in the top 9 percent of Illinois schools based on the award criteria. The district also received a Financial Recognition Award from the state board of education for the fifth consecutive year.

"We've done some great things this year to help boost our student achievement and meet our financial obligations," said Superintendent Kim Perkins. "It's been a really nice year for us."

Other Bright Red Apple Award winners include Benjamin District 25, Butler District 53, Carol Stream District 93, Wheaton Warrenville District 200, Glen Ellyn District 89, Glen Ellyn District 41, Itasca District 10, Lisle District 202, Lombard District 44 and Winfield District 34.

Bloomingdale has big plans for park

The park district broke ground at the southeast corner of Springfield Drive and Lake Street for what they hope will soon be one of the area's premier recreation points.

More than $2.7 million was spent to improve Springfield Park North. Highlights include the installation of four new soccer fields, two of which will be lighted; a nine-hole disc golf course; bocce ball courts; and trail and path improvements.

The new soccer fields are expected to allow all soccer programs to be held at Springfield Park by spring 2009. The fields will be complete in time for Family Fest in June 2008, but the grass needs to grow until 2009 to be sturdy enough to stand up to multiple soccer games.

Carol Stream says no to library

Residents voted overwhelmingly in April to reject a referendum by the Carol Stream Library to build a new two-story, $26-million facility along Kuhn Road. It was the agency's third attempt in three years to convince local taxpayers to fund the construction project. In the fall, library officials decided to scrap plans to seek another referendum for at least the next four years.

High-tech fitness in Carol Stream

In June, the Carol Stream Park District opened a new one-room virtual fitness center at the Simkus Recreation Center. Hoping to lure kids more prone to sit home playing video games, among the new equipment included in the fitness room is a gaming unit in which a player controls a character on a TV screen through his own movements, which are tracked by a motion-sensor belt. Another game tests a player's reaction time by having the player slap lights on several surrounding posts with a Q-tip shaped stick.

Work continues at College of DuPage

College of DuPage made significant progress on its nearly $300 million Facility Master Plan this year, but it was not without challenges. A new program manager hired by trustees started early in the year, about the time Trustee Jane Herron resigned after questioning the way the board was operating. The new Early Childhood Center opened in the summer, the first major building to be completed. Crews started work on both the Health Careers and Natural Sciences building and the Technology Education Center, but both buildings have run over budget and faced cuts.

District 89 opts to seek tax increase

Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 officials agreed in September to seek a tax increase on the February 2008 ballot to improve six facilities, add air conditioning in all buildings and upgrade technology. Residents should expect to vote on whether the district should borrow $24.8 million to replace loans that are set to expire. If approved, the owner of a $300,000 house will pay an additional $200 in property taxes the first year.

New director joins Glen Ellyn Library

Dawn Bussey, former director of the River Forest Public Library, took over Glen Ellyn's facility in April. She replaced former library director Gordon Welles, who abruptly resigned.

Dogs banned from Glen Ellyn events

Glen Ellyn Park District board members in August decided to specify on fliers of major events that residents aren't allowed to bring dogs, even if they are on a leash. The four-legged animals, regardless of size, will not be allowed at events like the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta, the Freedom Four Run and recreational games at public parks like soccer, football and baseball.

Independent joins Glen Ellyn board

Independent candidate Pete Ladesic put a dent in the Civic Betterment Party's long tradition in April after voters chose him to serve as a trustee on the Glen Ellyn village board. It's been about 30 years since a candidate independent of the party was elected a trustee, and throughout the party's 76-year history, only a few independents have been elected.

Differences prompt leader's departure

After about one year of being on the job, Robin Weaver resigned from the position of Glen Ellyn village manager in June. She said she resigned because of "philosophical differences in management style." Currently, Assistant Village Manager Curt Barrett is serving as the acting village manager until an appointment is made.

Voters reject District 41 tax hike

Voters soundly rejected a request from the district to borrow money to expand Hadley Junior High School and convert it to a fifth-through eighth-grade center. The district planned to move all fifth-graders out of the elementary schools and into Hadley at a cost of $36 million, then make $4 million in changes, as needed, at the elementary schools. The measure was rejected by 77 percent of those who voted.

Widening snarls Army Trail traffic

A $14.8-million project to widen and resurface a 1.6-mile stretch of Army Trail Road between Regency Drive and Schmale Road is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The majority of the project is being funded by DuPage County. Bloomingdale is paying $889,000 for water main replacement, and Glendale Heights is paying $70,000 for a new traffic signal and sanitary sewer work.

Vacant store gets new grocery tenant

Valli Produce signed a lease agreement with Concorde Green shopping center in Glendale Heights. The international fresh market is expected to open in March at 151 E. North Ave. The store will take up a 65,000-square-foot space at the shopping center located at the southwest corner of Bloomingdale Road and North Avenue. Valli Produce will take the place of the former Dominick's, which its doors in May 2001.

Itasca announces plan for riverwalk

Itasca village officials committed to building a riverwalk to connect the downtown area to other local amenities like the park district's new water park and Spring Brook Nature Center. Trustees hope the path, once it is completed, will increase foot traffic in the downtown area, which some trustees have labeled as "boring."

District 10 feud spurs resignations

A political feud erupted within the district, leading to the surprise resignation of Superintendent Ken Cull and resignation of Jim McCann, the district's longest-serving school board member. The district is currently searching for Cull's replacement.

Itasca opens its new water park

The Itasca Park District opened its new $3.7 million water park this year. In 2006 voters approved a tax increase to pay for a major renovation at the water park after its 35-year-old pool was found to be leaking.

Franzen Park doubles in size

Franzen Play for All Community Park in Itasca doubled its size this year and received roughly $660,000 worth of improvements. It has an improved soccer field and new playground equipment, backstops, picnic shelter, half-court basketball courts and a new quarter-mile walking path. The 30-year-old tennis courts have been relocated from the corner of Bryn Mawr and Catalpa avenues north of Franzen Intermediate School.

Kindergarten goes all-day in Lombard

Students in Lombard Elementary District 44 schools got the chance to have their first opportunity at full-day kindergarten. The program started this fall after two years of study by a district committee.

Lake Park gets gold in Winter Guard

For the first time since 1998, Lake Park High School's Winter Guard brought home a gold medal after competing in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Scholastic Championship in LaPorte, Ind. Last year, the Lancers tied for third place in the competition and received a bronze medal.

Dist. 12 welcomes its superintendent

Roselle Elementary District 12 hired its first female superintendent this year. Lori Bein, formerly an assistant superintendent at Skokie Elementary District 69, replaced Superintendent Steve Epperson. Bein lives in Wheaton.

Cruise nights rev up summer in Roselle

A group of residents and business leaders organized a new Roselle Main Street Cruise Nights classic car show to liven up downtown Roselle. The inaugural event kicked off in May and continued through October.

Dogs get play place at Odlum Park

Roselle's four-legged residents finally got their own park this year. A new 5,000-square-foot dog park was constructed at Odlum Park in Roselle. The canine wonderland gave local pooches the opportunity to mingle and sniff each other without being constricted by a leash.

Big development lands in Roselle

The Park Street Crossing development at Park and Main streets in downtown Roselle was completed this year. That includes 62 new condominium units, new town houses and first-floor retail space.

Cenacle retreat goes up for sale

Resident nuns announced this summer that Warrenville's 70-year-old Cenacle Retreat House would be put up for sale. With 42 acres, the site is one of the largest areas of open space in the city, and Warrenville officials would like to keep it that way. As of the end of the year, city leaders supported a bid for the land by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

West Chicago parks gets a new director

After leading the West Chicago Park District for decades, Executive Director Dave Thomas and Recreation Director Peggy Krauch retired and handed the reins over to newcomer Gary Major and Leslie DeMoss, respectively.

High school adopts different schedule

Over the pleas and formal protests of teachers, early this year the West Chicago Community High School District 94 board approved a new eight-period school day schedule, which adds the new "advisory period." The new class is supposed to give students time to be mentored by a specific teacher. This summer, after a lengthy battle, the administration also settled on a new two-year contract with teachers, the first multi-year contract in two years.

Wheaton OKs downtown project

Wheaton officials approved the Block 316 downtown redevelopment project in hopes of bringing more parking and hundreds of jobs and potential customers to local shops. The city pledged $5.8 million of tax money to help the project, fostering an ongoing debate about the use of tax dollars to help private businesses and development.

Wheaton beats state to ban smoking

Wheaton instituted a wide-ranging smoking ban, which is set to be pre-empted by a statewide smoking ban in 2008.

Park district sees lots of changes

Wheaton residents elected four brand-new park commissioners in 2007, and yet another executive director. Breakthroughs in the district's efforts to revitalize Northside Park and solve flood problems in the area soon followed after 30 years of stagnation.

District 34 still wants state grant

School board members in the tiny two-school district were fuming in August over why the district wasn't able to access long-promised state school construction grant money this year. District 34 is one of 23 school districts throughout the state waiting for the state money. The school district was first awarded a $2.3 million state construction grant in 2003, but has yet to see a penny of it. The state budget signed earlier this year included $150 million that should have, in theory, funded the state construction grants. But a spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget office claimed a technicality will keep those school districts from obtaining the money once again.

Budget woes haunt DuPage County

The county started off the year with budget problems and ended in the same fashion. Numerous workers were laid off at the start of 2007 after

County reviews status of jail

DuPage County commissioned a $112,000 jail study that will review the inmate population and operations and make recommendations on whether the current facility should be replaced.