Briefs: Apartment fire in Palatine
A fire in Palatine Tuesday afternoon sent one man to the hospital with smoke inhalation. Palatine firefighters said that around 3 p.m., a fire broke out in an apartment on the second floor of a two-story garage at 123 W. Robertson St. The blaze was controlled within 10 minutes. Officials said the apartment was left uninhabitable by significant fire, heat and smoke damage. A man had fled his apartment prior to the arrival of firefighters and was treated on the scene, then sent to Northwest Community Hospital in stable condition. A damage estimate was not available; the fire is under investigation.
Des Plaines OKs deal
Des Plaines aldermen late Monday approved a redevelopment agreement with a developer building hotels on Mannheim Road. After a closed-door meeting, aldermen voted 7-1 on an agreement with the Mannheim Higgins Redevelopment Team, a Chicago-based company created for the project. Terms of the agreement weren't immediately available. Des Plaines officials have bought the five acres where the group will add two hotels and restaurants. Construction is expected to begin this summer.
Free ultrasounds at Harper
Do you want a free ultrasound of your baby? The Harper College Ultrasound Program is currently seeking pregnant moms interested in having ultrasound students practice on them during supervised lab classes. Women must be at least 18 weeks pregnant. All studies are performed on state-of-the-art equipment under the direct supervision of a registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, officials said. Volunteers are needed starting through May 1. Contact Deb Sipola at (847) 925-6104 to schedule an appointment.
Dist. 54 school lauded
Three schools in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 have received Academic Improvement Awards from the Illinois State Board of Education in recognition of progress made from 2005 to 2007. Fairview Elementary in Hoffman Estates, Fox Elementary in Hanover Park and Eisenhower Junior High in Hoffman Estates were among the 607 schools chosen for showing substantial gains on the state tests given to Illinois third- through eighth-grade students each March. Not all the Illinois schools receiving awards made Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Act, but the awards mark improvements made toward that goal.
CN comments until Feb. 15
The deadline for public comment on the Canadian National's intended purchases of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern line has been extended to Feb. 15, according to the Surface Transportation Board's Section of Environmental Analysis. The bureau has published a statement Draft Scope of Study, which is available on the board's Web site (www.stb.dot.gov) under "Environmental Matters," "Key Cases" and "Canadian National Railway-EJ&E Railway" and is also available in English and Spanish by calling (800) 347-0689. Comments can be submitted via mail, to Surface Transportation Board, Attn. Phillis Johnson-Ball, Environmental Filing STB Finance Docket No. 35087, 395 E St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20423; by Internet at www.stb.dot.gov, click on "e-filing" link and then "environmental comments", type in "FD 35087" and select "Phillis Johnson-Ball" in the drop down list under "Attention Of." Or call (800) 347-0689.