Briefs: Land deals being weighed
The Lake County Forest Preserve District board's land preservation and acquisition committee will meet Thursday morning to discuss possible additions to existing preserves. The Fourth Lake, Lakewood and Pine Dunes preserves all stand to grow a bit larger under proposals being considered. The land - about 38 acres in all - would cost the district about $1.4 million. The meeting is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the district headquarters, 2000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
Grayslake kudos
Two local institutions were announced Tuesday as recipients of the 2008 Friends of the Park Award in Grayslake. Grayslake village government and the Grayslake Youth Baseball Association were lauded. The village and baseball association were selected because they donated a combined $125,000 for the Grayslake Park District's field lighting project at the new Allegheny Park. Park District Executive Director Bob Lashbrook said the contribution allowed installation of lights on two baseball-softball diamonds. He said the lights wouldn't have been possible without the $125,000 donation. The recipients will be honored at a park board meeting at 7 p.m. July 16 at the recreation center, 240 Commerce Drive.Big money in 10th: The major party candidates in the 10th Congressional District race have both reported fundraising milestones. Republican incumbent Mark Kirk, who is seeking a fifth term, reported raising a record $900,000 in the second quarter of 2008. Kirk said he has raised nearly $3.9 million in this election cycle and has more than $2.8 million in the bank. Kirk reported having already raised $700,000 more than he did in the entire 2006 race. Democratic challenger Dan Seals, who narrowly lost to Kirk in 2006, said he raised more than $635,000 in the second quarter and said he also has raised more during this cycle than during his entire 2006 campaign for Congress. Seals has rasided about $2.1 nillion from about 4,500 contributors. The Kirk campaign reported receiving contributions from more than 1,900 individual donors.
Wheeling man sentenced
A Wheeling man plead guilty to possession of a firearm Monday at the Rolling Meadows courthouse and was sentenced to three years, according to court records. Robert Sanchez, 26, was arrested Jan. 9 at 84 Strong St. in Wheeling after a search warrant was issued for that address. He was charged with multiple counts of possession of a firearm, defacing firearm marking, possesion of a stolen firearm and possession of an expired FOID card, court records said.