Briefs: No one injured in house fire
No one injured in house fire:
No injuries were reported after a fire broke out Wednesday in a Round Lake Park house second-floor bedroom, authorities said. Firefighters from the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District said they responded to 228 N. Bellevue Drive at about 4:45 p.m., two minutes after receiving the call. The family was home at the time, but no one was injured. Firefighters said the blaze was put out quickly and caused minimal damage. The Grayslake Fire Department also responded.
Resource officer to report to Dist. 73
A school resource officer is expected to be on duty at Hawthorn Elementary District 73 when school starts next week. "The officer will be there until we receive direction otherwise," Vernon Hills Police Chief Mark Fleischhauer said. How much the district is willing to pay toward the cost has been an ongoing issue that remains in negotiation. The village is requesting $55,000 and the district has offered to up its contribution from $30,000 to $36,000. The two sides are scheduled to meet Friday. A resolution is expected to be reached for village board action at its Sept. 6 meeting.
No charges against driver
No charges will be filed against one of the drivers in a July 24 accident that left a 15-year-old Deerfield girl dead, police announced Wednesday. Blood tests revealed that driver, 17-year-old Ryan Koplin, of Riverwoods, had trace amounts of a marijuana byproduct in his system, indicating drug use a day or two before the crash, Deerfield police said. But authorities opted not to file charges against Koplin after speaking with the state's attorney's office and the dead teen's family. Gina Bronge, a passenger in Koplin's Jeep Wrangler, was killed in the two-vehicle crash. The other driver, Matt Kaufman, 17, of 1440 Country Lane, Deerfield, was charged with failure to yield while turning left. In addition to Bronge, six teens were hurt in the crash.
Park board rescheduled
The Vernon Hills Park District board canceled the regularly scheduled board meeting today and rescheduled it for Aug. 30. The meeting will be at the Laschen Community Center, 294 Evergreen Drive, at 6 p.m. The agenda is posted in the Laschen Community Center at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date and time.
School update meeting
A second information meeting for parents, guardians and staff of May Whitney Elementary on the school population's relocation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the library of the Annex building, 100 Church St., Lake Zurich. The Annex is May Whitney school's new home. Lake Zurich Unit District 95 officials will provide an update on the progress and needed adjustments for such a large-scale relocation from the now-closed May Whitney School to the Annex. May Whitney serves roughly 436 students and 40 staff members. It was closed last week due to flooding, asbestos and mold problems. The start of classes is delayed until after Labor Day and possibly as late as Sept. 10. For more information, call the District 95 Office of Communications at (847) 540-5489, or e-mail keycom@lz95.org.
Wauconda summer bash
The Wauconda Park District hosts its end of summer beach bash, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Beach Park. Get ready for wacky games, prizes, raffles, entertainment by a DJ and more. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a 2008 beach pass. Food and beverages will be available to buy. Cost is $6 for residents and $8 for nonresidents. Beach pass holders pay $1. For information, call (847) 526-3610.
New water tower studied
Wheeling village staff will look at financing and land acquisition for a new water tower to serve the village's northwest corridor. Board member Dean Argiris said at a meeting this week the tower could cost about $9 million. Coming development will put pressure on the village to update its infrastructure, he said, calling the tower "a major capital improvement project for the future of our village."
Wheeling acquiring sites
The village of Wheeling is in the process of acquiring properties at 115 S. Milwaukee Ave. and 119 S. Milwaukee Ave. with $950,000 in Tax Increment Financing district funds, officials said. The plan is to rehabilitate the buildings to house Abbey Carpet & Tile Co., 52 S. Milwaukee Ave. In turn, this will allow developer Dean Svigos to redevelop the Fresh Farms Market property at the southwest corner of Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue, expanding the grocery store and building more retail. Director of Economic Development James Lang said the village board approved the purchase of 115 S. Milwaukee this week and is expected to do so the same on the latter yet this month.