Dawn Patrol: Aurora bird hoarder’s deadline; Larkin teacher attacked
Aurora bird hoarder must clean up home by Friday
An Aurora man who admits he’s spent years hoarding hundreds of birds and mounds of garbage now faces a Friday deadline to clean up the mess. Aurora officials last night attempted to serve a court order to Dave Skeberdis, 57, saying they will arrive Friday to remove the birds and clear all pathways of his home on the 200 block of Shadybrook Lane, which is cluttered with bird feed, bird feces and garbage. Skeberdis said Wednesday he hopes to avoid a bill from a city-hired cleaning crew that could top $13,000. Full story
Larkin student charged with attacking teacher
A Larkin High School student was arrested yesterday after attacking a teacher, police said. The 15-year-old Elgin boy slammed the teacher to the floor of a classroom and punched him four or five times after exchanging words with the man, Elgin police Cmdr. Glenn Theriault said. The teacher was taken to the hospital with facial injuries. Full story
Metea Valley student remembered at prayer service
It’s common for students at Metea Valley High School in Aurora to show their school spirit by dressing in white T-shirts for football games. Yesterday, students dressed in white to honor one of their own — Devin Meadows, a 15-year-old Metea sophomore, who was killed in a car crash early Tuesday; police say he and three friends were in a fast-moving car that struck a curb and crashed into a house’s attached garage. Two of the teens who survived the crash spoke Wednesday during an off-campus prayer service at Faith Lutheran Church in Aurora organized by Metea Valley students. Full story.
South Barrington cop facing drug charges
A South Barrington patrol officer is on paid administrative leave after his arrest on charges of forgery and official misconduct, both felonies, and possession of a controlled substance, also a felony. Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan on Wednesday set bail at $10,000 for Keith Baker, 30, who served with the Hoffman Estates Police Department before joining South Barrington in 2010. Full story
Taxes, immigration highlight final 11th Congressional debate
In their final televised debate, Republican Judy Biggert and Democrat Bill Foster drew dividing lines on several key positions in the 11th Congressional District. The political rivals squared off on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program last night. Full story
Baker won’t testify in Vernon Hills murder case
Despite repeatedly expressing his desire to give his version of what happened the night Marina Aksman was bludgeoned to death in April 2010, Daniel Baker ultimately followed his defense attorney’s advice and stayed off the witness stand yesterday. Prosecutors say Baker, 24, murdered Aksman in her Vernon Hills home because she wanted to end his relationship with her daughter, Kristina Aksman. “I have my rights intact unlike in Montana,” Baker said Wednesday. “That’s why I plead the Fifth.” The trial doesn’t resume until Nov. 2. Full story
Guilty plea in Vernon Hills fraud case
A Vernon Hills accountant pleaded guilty this week to a scheme to defraud U.S. Bancorp and five clients of more than $1.8 million, authorities announced yesterday. Jeffrey B. Travis pleaded guilty to bank fraud Tuesday in federal court in Chicago, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI. Full story
Defense wants new prosecutors in Chain O’ Lakes boating death case
Attorneys for a man accused of being intoxicated when he struck and killed a 10-year-old Libertyville boy on the Chain O’ Lakes has asked that Lake County prosecutors be removed from the case due to a conflict of interest. Attorneys for David Hatyina, 50, of Bartlett, said new prosecutors should be brought in to ensure a fair trial because the victim, Tony Borcia, is related to Lake County Judge Raymond Collins, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Fred Day said yesterday. Day also said one of Borcia’s uncles once worked as a prosecutor with the state’s attorney’s office. Full story
Weather
Breezy mild conditions to start the morning, with a high of about 65 degrees. But, the rain is expected to move in at around noon, then temperatures will plummet this evening. Temperatures will climb to about 78 degrees when the rain hits, but then drop to 39 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Construction continues at Diehl Road between IL Route 59 and Raymond Drive in Naperville. People should avoid that area through November. More traffic.
Full NHL season not likely, commissioner says
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says it looks like a full-82 game schedule “is not going to be a reality,” as the lockout nears its seventh week. Speaking at a news conference yesterday announcing the New York Islanders’ move from Nassau Coliseum to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2015, Bettman seemed resigned to looking at a shortened season with the NHL and the players’ association still at odds after months of negotiations. Full story
Iowa’s Vandenberg to start at QB against Northwestern
Struggling Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg will start against Northwestern on Saturday in Evanston. Many wondered if Iowa might go in another direction after Vandenberg and the Hawkeyes were dismantled by Penn State 38-14. But Coach Kirk Ferentz was adamant — as he’s been all season — that Vandenberg will be his quarterback until his eligibility is up. Full story.
Giants’ Sandoval hits 3 homers in World Series opener
Pablo Sandoval became just the fourth player to hit three home runs in a World Series game, connecting twice against Justin Verlander and once off Al Alburquerque to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Detroit Tigers 8-3 in last night’s opener. He joined Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928), Reggie Jackson (1977) and Albert Pujols (2011) as the only players with three-homer games in the Series. Full story