Briefs: Barrington views church plans

Village views church plans

Barrington village trustees reviewed initial plans Monday for a roughly 30,000-square-foot expansion planned for the Barrington Atonement Lutheran Church. Pastor Don Wink said the church is proposing the expansion as a way to better serve the needs of its parishioners. The expansion would include a large multi-purpose area, as well as additional classroom and administrative space. "At our day school, we are turning kids away every year," Wink said on why more space is needed. The project, Wink said, will be conducted in two different phases. The first would take place as soon as a final approval is given and the necessary funds are raised. Wink said the second phase would likely start about three years later. The project must still get approval from the village's plan commission, as well as final approval from village trustees. The church is located at 909 E. Main St. in Barrington.

Fire sends 2 to hospital

An unidentified person and a firefighter were taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center after a fire Monday in Elk Grove Village. Firefighters responded to the 0-100 block of Lonsdale Road around 4 p.m. and found a garage containing a motorcycle and vehicle fully involved with fire, Elk Grove Battalion Chief James Denna said. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the house, Denna said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

S. Barrington chief retires

South Barrington Police Chief Charles A. Gruber has announced he will retire on Jan. 23. Gruber informed the village of his intentions, citing a need to focus on his law enforcement consulting business. He was formerly the Elgin police chief until 1998 and started in 1999 with South Barrington. Gruber's replacement will come from within the department. Senior Sgt. Michael Deegan was promoted to chief, South Barrington announced Monday. Deegan has been with the department for 25 years. In addition, Sgt. Raymond Cordell will be elevated to deputy chief. After retirement, Gruber will continue to work with the village as a consultant until the end of the year.

Two charged with robbery

Two 17-year-olds were charged with armed robbery after a botched drug deal, said Penny Mateck, a spokesman with the Cook County sheriff's office. Martell Warren, 17, of Palatine, and Isaac Mahone, 17, of Palatine Township, were arrested Friday night, accused of stealing $1,000 from two people. Mateck said Warren and Mahone met the two people in the laundry room of an apartment complex in the 2200 block of West Nicholas Road in Palatine Township. Warren and Mahone brought a bat and an assault rifle with them to buy some marijuana but ended up stealing $1,000 in cash from the two people, Mateck said.