Briefs: Ruling on officer delayed
A Des Plaines police officer that a panel found guilty of verbally and physically abusing anti-abortion protesters will have to wait to hear his fate. Dick V. Lalowski faces termination due to the allegations of protesters who were outside a Des Plaines women's clinic in May 2006. The board of fire and police commissioners on Wednesday continued the hearing to Oct. 2, officials said. In June, the board found him guilty. He is accused of prodding a female protester in the shoulder with his index fingers and calling her a "fat (expletive) cow." Lalowski has said that he was exercising his First Amendment rights as an off-duty officer. He denied physically harming the protesters.
New park member named
The Wheeling Park District board of commissioners has filled its vacant board seat with resident Vivian Smith. The seat was vacated by former member Paul Philipp, who resigned when he moved out of the park district's boundaries. Smith will serve the remainder of Philipp's term, which expires in 2009.
Memorial to be dedicated
The long-awaited Inverness Veterans Memorial is completed and will be dedicated Saturday. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. near the village hall on Baldwin Road. Congressmen Mark Kirk and Melissa Bean will be at the event, along with the Marine Corps color guard and rifle team. The memorial honors men and women in all military branches, but is dedicated to Marine Cpl. Peter J. Giannopoulos, who died in Iraq in 2004. His family lives in Inverness.
Motorist hits girl on bike
A 7-year-old girl was struck by a car Wednesday afternoon while riding her bike on Foster Avenue in Bartlett, police said. The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at Foster and Gardenia Lane. Police said the girl was taken to St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Police cited Bartlett resident Anthony Winarski, 19, of 1185 Pointsetta Lane, with failure to yield while turning at an intersection.
Tax seminar tonight
State Reps. Suzie Bassi and Sidney Mathias, along with state Sen. Matt Murphy will host a property tax seminar at 7 p.m. tonight to show homeowners how to appeal their assessments and to update residents on the status in Springfield of the 7 percent tax cap. Even if you've missed the deadline to appeal to the county, there is still time to make a free appeal to the Cook County Board of Review. The event is at the Rolling Meadows Senior Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive.
Roadside checks coming
The Arlington Heights Police Department will conduct roadside safety checks on Friday along West Dundee Road and on Saturday along South Arlington Heights Road. The checkpoints will begin shortly after 10 p.m., and continue until 3 a.m. on Sunday. Police will be looking for drivers with defective equipment, licensing and insurance; as well as anyone driving under the influence. During the checks officers will slow traffic, and stop cars at intervals.
Youth league collects food
Palatine Amateur Football Association will hold a food drive to benefit the Palatine Township Food Pantry. The PAFA "Get a Pound -- Give a Pound Food Drive" will be held Saturday. There will be collection bins at all Palatine Football field which include Ost Field, Community Park and Palatine High School. PAFA is also collecting non-perishable food and toiletries.
Crossing guards protected
A new state law that increases the penalty for drivers who disregard crossing guards will take effect next June. State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, and state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, pushed for the change in law after hearing from Des Plaines crossing guard Andy Samborski. The law bumps up penalties for drivers who injure crossing guards or children in the presence of crossing guards performing their duties, and increases the minimum penalty to a Class 3 felony, up one penalty class. If an injury results in a death or multiple deaths, the penalty would increase to a Class 3 felony from a Class 2 felony.
Expo on Saturday
The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce will host its 13th annual Business Under the Big Top Consumer Expo, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Barrington Square Shopping Center on Higgins Road, just east of Barrington Road. A classic car show, dance demonstration and exotic animal show are just part of the day's events. Call (847) 781-9100 for more info.