Dist. 57 bus driver gets trial change

A change of venue has been granted to Betty Burden, the former Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 bus driver charged with aggravated DUI in March after police say she drove 50 schoolchildren while she was intoxicated.

Burden's bond and preliminary hearings were initially held at the Rolling Meadows courthouse. But court records show that the Mount Prospect woman's arraignment took place earlier this month at Markham's courthouse. Burden, 54, pleaded not guilty to the charge and remains free on a $10,000 bond.

Responding to a report of suspected intoxication from Burden's supervisor, police stopped the bus she was driving the afternoon of March 9. Her blood-alcohol content registered .230 at the scene, police said. A little more than a week later, the school board fired her and the supervisor.

Attempts to contact Burden's attorney Ernie Blomquist were unsuccessful.