Briefs: 4 schools locked down

Four schools in Community Unit District 300 were locked down Thursday morning after a student spotted a suspicious van outside Hampshire Elementary School, district officials said. Gary D. Wright, Gilberts and Hampshire elementary schools, as well as Hampshire Middle/High School, were placed under a "Code Red" for one hour. No one was permitted to enter or leave the school, and everyone inside was locked in the nearest classroom with the lights out. A student at Hampshire Elementary School said he saw someone in a red van parked by the school show a gun during recess. No arrests were made.

Firefighters open house

The Carpentersville Fire Department will host an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fire Station 1, 213 Spring St. Meet your local firefighters and see the tools and equipment they use. Tours of the fire station also will be available. Other activities planned for the day include live firefighting demonstrations at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., a medical helicopter landing at 10:30 a.m., and a technical rescue demonstration at 11 a.m. Children also are invited to visit Sparky the Fire Dog and Fire Pup.

High school stages comedy

Fifty-six years after Huntley High School first staged the comedy "Our Miss Brooks," the school again will perform the play. The show is a stage adaptation of the 1950s radio and television show starring Eve Arden. The performances are 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Huntley Unit District 158 Performing Arts Center, 13719 Harmony Road. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Call (847) 659-6515.

Campgrounds to close

This is the final weekend to camp at a Kane County Forest Preserve. Paul Wolff Campground at the Burnidge Forest Preserve, 38W235 Big Timber Road, Elgin, closes for the season Sunday. The forest preserve's other campground, Buffalo Park in Algonquin, closed earlier this year due to flooding. Camping resumes May 1. Call (630) 444-1200 or go online to www.kaneforest.com.