Lake County briefs

Union ratifies contractThe Mundelein High School teachers union has approved a proposed new contract, school officials announced. It's now up to the school board to adopt the deal, the terms of which have not yet been released. The board is expected to vote on the plan on Tuesday, May 18. That meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 1350 W. Hawley St.Dist. 73 registration onlineVernon Hills-based Hawthorn District 73 has launched a new online registration system. This year, district families with current Hawthorn students will enroll their students for the 2010-11 school year by visiting hawthorn73.org/onlineregistration. Using a unique "Snapcode" password, parents can review and update student information and pay fees with a credit or debit card. More information is posted on the website. Families who don't have Internet access can use computers at the district office, 841 W. End Court, Vernon Hills, on regular school days from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The deadline is May 31.Rabid bat foundA bat found in a Beach Park basement on May 7 has tested positive for rabies, the first in the county this year, according to the Lake County Health Department. Last year, seven of 240 bats from Lake County submitted to the state laboratory tested positive. Rabies is an almost-always fatal disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, but it is fully preventable. Anyone who has direct contact with a bat or notices a bat acting in an unusual manner, such as flying in daylight or lying on the ground or in your home, should call the health department at (847) 949-9925.