Briefs: Teen faces more charges
An 18-year-old Lisle teen accused of striking a Naperville bicyclist while driving under the influence of drugs is facing new criminal charges, according to court records released Wednesday. Prosecutors already had charged Brian R. Melbye with aggravated DUI for a June 1 crash that injured a 52-year-old woman in Naperville. A DuPage County grand jury also indicted him this week on felony theft charges alleging Melbye stole a BlackBerry cellular phone the same day as the crash.
Aurora police academy opens
Aurora police are accepting applications for the fall session of their Citizen Police Academy, which runs for 10 consecutive Tuesdays beginning Sept. 2. Classes meet from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the department's Area Two facility, 157 N. Root St., with the exception of the first class which meets at the main headquarters, 350 N. River St. Interested applicants must submit to a background check. Participants must be at least 21 years old and live or work in Aurora or own property within the city limits. Applications are available at both police buildings and online at www.aurora-il.org/policedepartment/citizen_police_academy/citizenpoliceacademy.php. For details, call Tina Bohman at (630) 264-8101. The deadline to register is Aug. 27.
Beware of bats
The DuPage County Health Department is warning residents to avoid contact with bats. The flying mammals are the primary carrier of rabies and it's approaching their most active time of the year. So far, 40 bats in 13 counties have tested positive for rabies this year. Last year, there were 113 cases of bats with rabies in the state. Pet owners should make sure their animals are vaccinated. Rabies is a disease of the central nervous system and can be fatal to humans if untreated. For details, go to www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcbats.htm.
Submit your plant photos:
Photos are needed from residents who have plants in their yards purchased at Wheaton's Native Plant Sale. The person who submits the best photo will win a certificate for free plants at the next sale on April 25. All the photos will be showcased on that date. To submit a photo, e-mail the image to Steve Hinchee of the Wheaton Park District at shinchee@wheatonparks.org. Include the type of plant shown along with your name, address and phone number. For details, visit www.wheaton.il.us.
Women's art exhibits:
People's Resource Center's Women's Wisdom art classes will unveil two exhibits next month. "Women's Wisdom Unleashed: Animals and Abstracts" will be on display Sept. 4 through 24 at Wheaton Community Center, 1777 Blanchard Road. The opening reception will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 7. "Women's Wisdom" also will be on display throughout September at Gallery 200, 200 Main St., West Chicago. The opening reception is 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 5. For details, visit www.peoplesrc.org.