Briefs: Stroger coming June 16

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is scheduled to attend a community meeting at 7 p.m. June 16 at Harper College -- with or without representatives from the Palatine Chamber of Commerce or village in attendance. Chamber Director Mindy Phillips said the chamber was contacted about facilitating an event shortly after Stroger backed out of the village-sponsored meeting where he was to discuss the recent 1 percent tax increase. But the chamber has been in the dark since then, Phillips said, uninvolved in the planning of the new meeting date. Commissioner Gregg Goslin, who acted as the go-between for the chamber and Stroger, said none of the dates Stroger's office had presented worked for the chamber. The meeting will be run like a public hearing in which Stroger makes opening remarks and answers questions from the audience.

Mysterious sirens heard

A few people in Palatine reported hearing some unusual sounds Tuesday morning around the time monthly tests are conducted on emergency sirens in the area. After Palatine's 10 a.m. test was completed, some say they heard a more distant siren lasting several minutes. Tom Smith, the village's emergency management coordinator, said towns don't necessarily begin their tests simultaneously. He also said lightning detectors were activated at Twin Lakes near Palatine Road and Northwest Highway around the same time. The lightning system sounds different than the tornado warning sirens and are meant to be heard up to 10 miles.

Semi skids into ditch

A hazardous-materials crew spent hours cleaning up Tuesday in Arlington Heights after a semitrailer truck skidded off the road and into a ditch around 10:15 a.m. on Palatine Road east of Route 53. The truck remained upright and did not leak the flammable oxidizer chemical it carried, so no one was in danger. The driver wasn't injured in the incident and no other vehicles were involved, police said. A major traffic jam formed in the eastbound lanes, which closed for a brief period.

Trail race this Saturday

The Xterra X-Country Trail Run 8K will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday at Deer Grove West Forest Preserve, Quentin and Dundee roads in Palatine. Runners will navigate roots, rocks, fallen trees, hills, creeks and ravines. Participation is limited to 300 people, and awards will be given to the top three male and female runners in each age group. The fee is $30 until midnight tonight and increases to $35. The Xterra Trail Run Series puts on 50 events in 16 states. Register at chicagotrailseries.com.