Briefs: Police warn of suspicious man
Mount Prospect police urge parents and children living near park facilities to be extra vigilant after a man approached two 11-year-old boys. Police said that around 4 p.m. Saturday at Busse Park, 111 N. Owen St., the man told the boys he was a minor-league baseball player. He played catch, offered them tickets to a game and invited them to his house to play with his two sons. The boys told their parents the encounter made them feel uncomfortable. The man was described as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with a thin build, very tan skin, brown eyes and dark brown or black short hair. He had several days' growth of facial hair and was wearing a tan T-shirt and tan cargo pants. He might be driving a black crossover vehicle. People should call 911 if they see a man and/or vehicle matching the description. The department also asked parents to review safety rules with their children and to report any suspicious activity immediately.
Leak shuts I-294
A semi truck leaked corrosive material onto the Tri-State Tolway at Willow Road Wednesday morning, causing police to close down the northbound lanes for a time. Shortly after 7 a.m., the truck driver noticed his cargo was leaking, so he pulled to the side of the road, said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. William Aukstolis. Because the material was hazardous, police shut the entire road down until it was cleaned up, he said.
2 open houses Saturday
The Rolling Meadows Public Works Department and the Elk Grove Township Fire Department will each host open houses Saturday, Oct. 4. Rolling Meadows will showcase department services and their impact on the city's quality of life from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the public works facility at 3900 Berdnick St. Staff will offer guided tours, provide demonstrations and let residents ride in a dump truck. Other topics include rain gardens, recycling, water, sewer, vehicles services, refuse and forestry operations. Free food and prizes are included. Veolia Environmental Services has donated 200 spruce seedlings for attendees. Elk Grove Township's fire department open house runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes tours, fire safety information, auto extrication and technical rescue demonstrations and refreshments. Blood pressure checks will be offered and bicycle safety helmets available for sale. The fire station is at 1415 E. Algonquin Road.
Open committee spots
The Barrington Area Unit District 220 enrollment monitoring committee seeks to fill several openings. The committee needs representatives from the attendance areas of Barbara Rose School in South Barrington, Grove Avenue School in Barrington and Sunny Hill School in Carpentersville. The panel is responsible for reviewing enrollment data and recommending boundary changes when necessary. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 6, and can be found online at barrington220.org. All applications should be mailed to the respective school and marked to the attention of the principal.