Lake County briefs

District 207 hires administrators:

Maine Township High School District 207 hired Mary Kalou as assistant superintendent for business. Kalou will start her new job on July 1, succeeding Pamela Schau, who is retiring. Kalou has served as assistant superintendent for business and operations since 2007 with Lake Zurich Unit District 95. She also served as director of accounting for District 207 from 1993 to 1998. Kalou previously worked as assistant superintendent for business at Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 for eight years. She also ran the day-to-day operations of a mortgage brokerage firm and worked as a senior accountant responsible for preparing financial reports and supervising audit teams.

Nurses honored:

Advocate Condell Medical Center's Nursing Excellence Award winners were announced Wednesday at a ceremony to recognize and honor nurses who have made outstanding contributions to the practice of nursing. Nursing candidates were nominated by Advocate Condell patients, associates and physicians for demonstrating exemplary performance in Advocate's core values. The following five nurses were selected by their peers: Hospice nurse Nancy Tracy of Mundelein; Emergency Department nurse Sarah Davis of Wauconda; Emergency Department nurse Amy Spaid of Grayslake; Trauma Coordinator Wendy Callan of Libertyville; and Oncology nurse Sharon Kilbride of Hawthorn Woods. Each award winner received tuition to attend a nursing continuing education seminar. Their names will appear on a permanent plaque displayed in the hospital.

Restrictions lifted on Fox River, Chain O' Lakes:

Officials from the Fox Waterway Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have lifted some boating restrictions on the Fox River and Chain O' Lakes, officials announced Wednesday. The Chain from the mouth of Pistakee Lake to the Wisconsin border is open to all boating, as is the Fox River from the Stratton-Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry north. The lower river, between the Algonquin Dam and the dam in McHenry, is open to boating, but boaters must observe no-wake speeds of less than 5 mph, officials said. Due to rain in late April and early May, officials restricted the Chain to no-wake speeds and closed the entire Fox River due to dangerous conditions. But, as water has run through the system, the water levels have fallen and the currents have slowed, officials said. For information about restrictions, check out the Fox Waterway Agency Internet Web site at www.foxwaterway.org.

First Fire Protection District seeking board member:

The Antioch Township Board will make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the First Fire Protection District Board. This is for a three-year term retroactive to May 1, 2009. Candidates must be legal residents of unincorporated Antioch Township. They must not be employees of the village of Antioch or Antioch Township. Interested persons should send their resume by June 5. Send them to Antioch Township Board, attention Steve Smouse at P.O. Box 658, Antioch, IL 60002. For details call (847) 395-3378.

Millennium trail link inked:

The Fourth Lake Forest Preserve near Lindenhurst grew by more than 92 acres with the closing Tuesday of a $1.6 million land purchase approved by the Lake County Forest Preserve District board in February. The property is on the north side of Rollins Road just west of Route 45. The purchase provides a corridor for the future extension of the Millennium Trail from the north through Fourth Lake Forest Preserve to Rollins Road, eventually connecting with the trail system at Rollins Savanna. The addition also enhances wetland, stream and savanna restoration opportunities at Fourth Lake Forest Preserve.

Nanotech info session:

Harper College, the only community college in Illinois to offer an associate degree in Nanoscience Technology, hosts an open house at 6 p.m. Monday, May 18, in Room X250, on the second floor of the college's Avanté Center. The session will introduce the field of nanoscience and related careers, showcase Harper's state-of-the-art laboratory and allow visitors to experiment with the kind of high-resolution microscope used in the profession. Harper launched its Nanoscience Technology degree last fall. Since then, the program has expanded, and Harper has partnered with the College of Lake County to offer the degree to Lake County residents for in-district tuition rates. To RSVP call (847) 925-6940 or visit harpercollege.edu.