Briefs: Judge clears Birkett's son

The marijuana possession case against DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett's son Nicholas was dismissed Wednesday after a judge granted a motion to supress Nicholas Birkett's statements following the arrest, Naperville prosecutors said. Without the statements, prosecutors were unable to continue the case. The 22-year-old was arrested along with two other men in May at a Naperville apartment. One of the other men's case also has been dismissed.

Dog theft trial set

A DuPage County judge set a March 16 trial date for a woman accused of stealing a dog from a controversial animal shelter in Bloomingdale. Dorothy Redinger, 46, of Carol Stream, said she took the puppy from the shelter because she feared for the animal's safety after her adoption was denied. The shelter, Pet Rescue, is under investigation by the state and its operators have been charged with animal cruelty. Bloomingdale officials also are contemplating revoking the shelter's special-use permit in an effort to shut it down.

DuPage names prosecutors

Five DuPage County state's attorney office employees were given special awards at the office's annual holiday party Tuesday. The awards recognize achievements by administrators, prosecutors and investigators in DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett's department. Ken Tatarelis was named the year's top felony prosecutor. Tatarelis heads the public integrity/financial crimes division and has been with the office since 2001. Nancy Griffin was named the year's top civil prosecutor for her work in child support services. Kristin Johnston has been with Birkett's office since 2006 and was named the year's top misdemeanor prosecutor. Robin Bolton has worked with the state's attorney since 1997 as an administrative aide and won this year's administrative division employee honor. Cheryl York is a 14-year veteran and won the office's top investigator award.

Students for music festival

Nine Glenbard District 87 students have been selected for the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival to be held in January in Peoria. The group includes Marquis Mason, Jeremy Sison, Owen Carlos, Brenda Dratnol, Andrea Cebulski, Rachel Wendte, Peter Ilhardt, Sarah Grotto and Rebecca Tobin.

High school gets silver medal

Glenbard South High School earned a silver medal in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 listing of America's Best High Schools. The magazine analyzed more than 20,000 public high schools in 48 states using data from the 2006-2007 school year.