Lake County briefs

Scholarships available in Lake Villa:The Lake Villa Township Republican Club is announcing a $1,000 scholarship opportunity for students who live in Lake Villa Township. Applications are available now at the Lake Villa Republican Club web site, lakevillarepublicans.org or by emailing Jean Smuda at jean07@comcast.net. Students need to show acceptance to the college of their choice. Those who are involved in extra curricular activities or social service are encouraged to apply.District 46 meets tonight:Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members will gather at 7 p.m. today for a meeting that will include discussion and likely action regarding a proposed online check register so those who are interested can see where the money is going. Tonight's session will be at Avon School, 1617 N. Route 83, Round Lake Beach. A bipartisan government watchdog group, Americans for Prosperity, has been pushing for listing the checks in an easy-to-find area of District 46's Web site. Public comment is accepted toward the start of the meeting. Americans for Prosperity approached the district about the online check register late last year as part of an effort to become more active in Lake County government.Scouting for members:The Vernon Hills area is looking for girls interested in joining a Girl Scout troop. An information night will be 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Girl Scout Council Building, 650 N. Lakeview Parkway (across from the Glacier Ice Arena), Vernon Hills. Parents will learn about Scouting, while your daughter enjoys a Hawaiian-themed evening and meets other Girl Scouts in the area. Call Kiesha Mull at (847) 573-0500 ext. 2515.Deer Park mulls hotel tax use:Deer Park Village President Bob Kellermann is planning to appoint a committee to review potential uses for the village's new hotel tax, most likely to attract visitors to Deer Park in some fashion. The committee will consist of Village Trustee Dale Sands as well as a representative each from the Deer Park Town Center shopping center and the Hampton Inn, which is the sole source of the village's hotel taxes currently. Village Administrator Jim Connors and Village Attorney Jim Bateman will be the village's employee representatives at meetings. The committee plans to meet shortly to provide some direction to upcoming budget talks. Trustees informally consented to the committee Monday, but will officially ratify it at their next meeting.