Cook County briefs

Fremd senior wins EPA award:

Fremd High School senior Sahana Rao is the regional second-place winner in the Environmental Protection Agency President's Environmental Youth Award. Rao, of Hoffman Estates, created an amendment to the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act that would require every primary and secondary public school to use recycled paper for their daily needs. The bill was signed into law last July. Five middle school students from Chesterland, Ohio, won first place in Region 5. The annual EPA-sponsored competition celebrates innovative environmental projects.

Paramedic pension bill stalled:

A state bill that would retroactively allow eight Barrington paramedics to make their pre-1995 years eligible for a state firefighter pension fund is unlikely to be called to a vote this year, Republican state Rep. Mark Beaubien of Barrington Hills said. The bill, which passed in the Senate, is currently being held in the House rules committee, where it will likely stay, Beaubien said. House Democrats, in particular, are critical of the bill's targeting of one community, he added. Barrington officials believe the bill would cost the village as much as $1.8 million if passed. The paramedics are also pursuing the issue by appealing a lawsuit they originally lost.

Park commissioner retires:

The Palatine Park District board of commissioners has designated the recreational area adjacent to Palatine Hills Golf Course as the Robert "Dutch" Schultz Recreation Area. He chose not to run for re-election this year and on May 12 retired from the board after 25 years of service. Known as the board's "green" commissioner, Schultz established and led the district's environmental committee, on which he'll continue to serve.

Wheeling library chief retiring:

Indian Trails Public Library District Director Tamiye Meehan has announced her retirement, effective June 26. Library officials said that in her 12 years as director, circulation and the number of library programs doubled, the collection grew to include four additional languages, use increased to more than 40,000 people monthly and the staff was reorganized to handle the growth. Meehan also helped establish and promote the Bookmobile five years ago. She's worked for libraries in the Chicago area more than 30 years and has also been active in the Buffalo Grove and Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, Prospect Heights Dollars for Scholars, and Rotary Club of Wheeling, where she served a term as president. She also was treasurer and served a one-year term as president for Illinois Library Association. The Indian Trails library board will set the criteria for the new director and hope to have the position filled in the coming months. Meehan will remain interim director until the position is filled.