Lake County in 60 seconds
Students named Golden Apple Scholars:
Two Lake County students were among 100 outstanding Illinois high school and college students named Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois. Eliana Goldsmith of Stevenson High School and Jose Vega of Round Lake High School were among students identified by the Golden Apple Foundation to receive financial aid to attend college in exchange for a promise to teach for five years in schools that serve low-income students or have below par test scores. The students will be inducted May 2 at DePaul University Student Center, Chicago. The 100 Scholars include 39 from Chicago, 33 from Chicago suburbs, and 28 from downstate Illinois.
Air violation settled:
A Grayslake company will pay a $100,000 penalty and do four projects at a cost of $260,000 as part of a settlement announced Tuesday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agreement with GFX International Inc., 333 Barron Blvd., resolves allegations the company operated the plant without permits that would have required controls on toluene, a hazardous air pollutant contained. The company was notified by EPA of violations in January 2008 after an odor complaint from a citizen. GFX has been using a blend of nonhazardous chemicals as a wash-up solvent since last June, according to the EPA. The projects are designed to reduce plant emissions. Breathing high levels of toluene affects the brain and can cause headaches, confusion, dizziness, sleepiness and memory loss.
Butterfield principal named:
Candice Kehoe, assistant principal at Butterfield School in Libertyville, will assume the top spot this summer. The Libertyville Elementary District 70 board on Monday unanimously approved Kehoe as the replacement for Principal Guy Schumacher, who will be promoted to superintendent in July. Kehoe taught fifth grade at Adler Park School for six years and was director of the district's summer school before becoming an administrator at Butterfield in the 2005-06 school year. She is a DePaul University graduate.
Choir wins big:
Mundelein High School's Mundelein Sound show choir was named grand champions of the Grand National Show and Concert Choir Invitational this past weekend in Wisconsin. Sound was honored for its outstanding show design, and the Mundelein Sound Combo was chosen as the best instrumental ensemble, school officials said. The Mundelein High Master Singers, Mundelein Lights and SoundFX were honored at the event, too.
Rental inspections debated:
A half-dozen landlords on Monday night spoke out against a plan for Mundelein officials to start licensing and inspecting rental homes and apartments. The proposal is designed to reduce crime and improve living conditions for residents, officials said, but foes of the plan say it's too intrusive and too costly. The plan includes annual license fees ranging from $45 to $95 and, inspection fees that would be assessed every three years of $45 to $110. The village board took no action on the plan Monday night. It could vote on the matter April 27.
Waukegan arrest:
Waukegan police have arrested a 29-year-old man on attempted murder charges for his role in a March 17 shooting. James F. Linder, of the 2000 block of Greenfield in North Chicago, also was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge in the shooting on the 300 block of McKinley Avenue, Police Cmdr. Wayne Walles said. Linder was arrested at the Days Inn, 3000 Route 41, North Chicago. He is held in Lake County jail in lieu of a $750,000 bond. Walles said Linder was in a verbal argument with two other subjects about 6 p.m. when he pulled out a revolver and fired two to five shots. One bullet grazed the back of a victim. The victim fled the scene and checked himself into a hospital, was treated and released the same day.