Fox Valley briefs

Judge says no to citizenship probe:A Fox River Grove-based blogger questioning the citizenship of President Barack Obama lost her bid Wednesday to have a special grand jury empaneled to investigate her claims. McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather rejected the petition for a grand jury filed by Sharon Ann Meroni, founder of Patriot's Heart Media Network, saying there is no lawful justification for it. "There is no legal basis for you to do what you're asking to do," Prather told Meroni in court. "The law does not allow it. There are no facts pled in your petition which would require what you're seeking."Fishing on the ice: The Lake in the Hills Sportsman's Club will hold its 25th annual ice fishing derby from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, at Indian Trail Beach on Woods Creek Lake. The children's derby runs from noon to 1 p.m. A raffle follows at 2 p.m. at the Lake in the Hills Property Owners' Association, 1212 Crystal Lake Road. For details, visit lithsportsmansclub.com.Rickert to be honored at GOP dinner:The Dundee Township Republican Central Committee in conjunction with the Dundee Township Republican Organization, is holding its 17th annual Lincoln Award Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Milk Pail Restaurant on Route 25 in East Dundee. The program features Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady as keynote speaker. A social hour will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the program at begins at 5 p.m. This year's Lincoln Award recipient is Kane County Treasurer David J. Rickert. For details, call Margaret Scalfaro at (847) 428-1875.