Briefs: Not guilty plea in crash

A Darien man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges in a wreck near Huntley that killed a brother and sister, Kane County prosecutors said. Gustavo Gomez, 45, is accused of reckless homicide in the Jan. 24 crash on Route 47 near Oak Creek Parkway. Sergio Espinoza, 52, and Rosalina Rodriguez, 58, both of Elgin, died when their car was hit by a box truck driven by Gomez. Police have said Gomez was speeding to beat a changing traffic light when he hit a 2004 Hyundai broadside in the intersection. Gomez, who is free on bail, is due in court again July 17.

Drive safely this weekend

With the cooperation of the state police, the Elgin Police Department will be staging roadside safety checks over the Memorial Day weekend. While police will be primarily looking for drunk drivers and those occupants of vehicles who aren't wearing seatbelts in the Click-It-Or-Ticket campaign, police will also be checking for other offenses such as outstanding warrants, no insurance and unsafe vehicles. The Elgin Police Department hasn't announced when or where the safety checks will be conducted, but it is expected they will take place at different times and different locations over the weekend.

Kids earn science awards

More than 30 students in Community Unit District 300 were recognized this month at the Illinois State Science Fair. Algonquin Middle School won three gold medals, three silvers and a bronze; Dundee Middle School won two silvers; Westfield Community School won 10 golds, eight silvers and a bronze; and Jacobs High School won seven golds and three silvers. Jacobs freshman Emily Moser earned Best in Category for Consumer Science, while Jacobs freshman David Van Vlierbergen was elected to the Student State Board and Jacobs senior Jessica Slovak received a $1,000 scholarship.