Cook County briefs
Library retreat rescheduled
The Schaumburg Township District Library board has rescheduled the retreat that was canceled last week. The retreat is now set for 5:30 p.m. on March 30 at the Wingate Hotel in Schaumburg. The retreat was canceled when it was discovered that it had not been posted for the public, which would have made the event a violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Library Trustee Robert Lyons said it was an unfortunate oversight, caused by miscommunication with the new library director, who hadn't been told that posting the meeting was among her responsibilities. The Wingate did not charge the board the $200 its use of a meeting room would have cost Saturday, Lyons said.
D. 211 vacancy to be filled
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 has received 15 applications from people interested in the vacant school board seat left by Susan Kenley-Rupnow's death. Board President Robert LeFevre said the board spent three hours Monday night interviewing about half the applicants and was to continue the interviews Tuesday evening. The board hopes to vote in a new member at its Thursday meeting. The district wouldn't divulge the names of the applicants. Kenley-Rupnow was elected to the school board in 2007. The former longtime Hoffman Estates village trustee known for her dedication to the community died Feb. 14 after a long bout with breast cancer. Her successor will serve the remainder of her four-year term, which expires in April 2011. If the board fails to fill the seat by the end of March, a regional superintendent would appoint a new board member. Three other board seats are up for election April 7 in an uncontested race. LeFevre and Anna Klimkowicz are running for re-election, while Bill Lloyd chose not to run. Edward Yung of Inverness is also running.
Assistant principal returns
A Maine East assistant principal charged with misdemeanor public indecency is back on the job after a brief hiatus, officials said. Michael Pressler, 48, of the 1700 block of North Halsted Street, was assigned to work from home for a few days during winter break after his arrest on Dec. 29. He was later assigned to work at the district administrative offices in Park Ridge for a month. Maine Township High School District 207 Superintendent Joel Morris recently released this statement: "While the administration and board of education continue to monitor and review the situation as the case moves through the courts, on the basis of the current status of the case and based upon a review with legal counsel, administrators have now assigned Mr. Pressler to Maine East." He has been performing his assistant principal duties for three weeks, officials said.
Tollway crash under investigation
Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused Tuesday's three-truck crash on the northbound Tri-State Tollway. A two-axle delivery truck was sandwiched between two semitrailers at about 11:46 a.m. near the Dempster Street exit ramp. The truck was rear-ended by one of the semis that landed on top of it, said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Glenn DeVries. The delivery truck driver and the two passengers of that vehicle suffered serious injuries and were being treated at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Northbound lanes were briefly closed off to traffic but reopened before rush hour. Investigators are inspecting the trucks to determine whether mechanical or equipment violations contributed to the crash, DeVries said. Citations have not been issued, but are possible.