Briefs: An Almost Winter Day

An Almost Winter Day will run from 3 to 5 p.m. today at County Park in South Elgin. The annual event will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, horse drawn sleigh rides, a coffee bar, a cookie decorating station, a craft station and a bonfire to keep everyone warm. Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m. to light the Christmas tree.

Elgin forms anti-gang panel

Elgin City Council members this week agreed to set up a new street gang prevention and intervention committee in response to seven gang-related shootings over the summer that killed two and injured seven. The group will have 13 members: two from the council, two from the clergy, three from community groups and one each from the city manager's office, the police department, a parent group, a neighborhood group, the United Way of Elgin and Elgin Area School District U-46. The committee likely will put together a report on existing programs to prevent gang violence and review practices in other cities and then make a presentation to the city council sometime next year. The meetings will be open to the public.

Capital funding questions

Huntley Unit District 158 school board member Larry Snow has asked the administration to find out how close the district is to receiving capital project money from the state. The district could receive about $20 million in money to build more classroom space, Snow said. But District 158 will not get the money if state lawmakers don't pass a $25.4 billion capital bill that would be financed largely by gambling expansion. The state hasn't passed a capital bill in eight years.

Wind power study OK'd

The Community Unit District 300 school board this week approved a one-year, $55,500 study that will determine whether a wind turbine at the district's Ketchum Road campus is feasible. District energy consultants estimate the turbine could generate enough power to run Wright Elementary School and the new Hampshire High School. The study will see if there is enough wind at the site to make a turbine cost-effective and identify the best location for the turbine and possible funding sources. District officials said they hope to offset the study cost with a $25,000 grant.