All signs point toward new criminal courts building

The need for new courtrooms for the Waukegan courthouse may lead to construction of a new building on some of the last vacant ground in the downtown area.

The stars seem to be aligning behind a plan for a criminal courts building to be constructed at the southwest corner of County and Washington streets, immediately north of the Babcox Center.

Both Chief Judge David Hall and Fredric Bryan Lesser, president of the Lake County Bar Association, have recently endorsed the plan.

Population growth has spawned an increase in litigation in the county, and there are more than 25,000 civil law cases and close to 14,000 criminal cases filed each year.

Hall says that we now have three more judges than courtrooms, and constructing a separate building for criminal courts would add another 12 courtrooms for civil cases in the existing courthouse.

Look for court officials to be huddling with county officials, who also recognize the need for more space for the courts, in the months to come.

Copper thefts: The skyrocketing price of copper at scrap yards made for a busy year for Lake County sheriff's detectives.

Chief of Investigations Kevin Parker said recently there were 36 reports of copper materials being stolen from building sites throughout the county.

Cable, wire, gutters, pipes, fittings and flashing have all disappeared and headed for scrap yards where the stuff can fetch as much as $3 a pound or more.

Parker said some help arrives Jan. 1 in the form of legislation that will require scrap yard owners to do more to identify who is selling them what and to keep more detailed transaction records.

Gossman on board:ŒLake County Public Defender Joy Gossman was recently named to the board of directors of Nicasa, the Round Lake substance abuse counseling and treatment agency.

Gossman's appointment brings the number of board members to 33.

She was appointed chief public defender in July and started her career in the office in 1989.

"I am thrilled to be a member of Nicasa's board," Gossman said. "I hope my membership will continue to strengthen the relationship Nicasa has in serving the indigent in this community."