Briefs: Elgin High Auditorium dedicated

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, the recently renovated auditorium at Elgin High School will be dedicated in honor of Chester C. Alexander, a former principal of the school. Alexander first started teaching physical education at Elgin High in 1943, then left to serve as a naval gunnery officer in World War II. Upon returning he taught American History and coached track, basketball and football. He was appointed principal of the new Larsen Junior High in 1951 and was later named principal of Elgin High in 1955 where he served until his retirement in 1974. The Elgin High Class of 1960 spearheaded the effort to name the renovated auditorium after Alexander. The U-46 school board approved the naming last year.

Learn about Constitutional Convention

Sen. Pamela Althoff and State Reps. Jack Franks and Mike Tryon are holding a Constitution Convention debate on the merit of whether voters should form the group that would rewrite the state constitution. The debate will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at McHenry County College. Every 20 years, voters decide whether to hold a constitutional convention. For details, call Althoff's office at (815) 455-6330.

Put that candy to good use

A Crystal Lake dentist is paying people to give them leftover Halloween candy that he can then send off to soldiers fighting in Iraq. On Saturday, Nov. 1, trick or treaters can get back $1 for every pound of candy they donate. Dr. Philip Neal will then send the morsels to Iraq. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held in Crystal Lake at 280-B Memorial Court. For details, visit drneal.com, send an e-mail to spneal99@aol.com or call (815) 459-2200.

Algonquin gets AA+

Standard & Poor's, a municipal bond insurer, has given Algonquin the town's highest bond rating yet, thanks to its strong tax base growth, revenue diversification and a strengthening financial position, according to a news release. The village's grade was raised to AA+ from AA. This rating is significant, as governments with higher ratings pay lower interest rates on bond insurance premiums.