Weekend in Review: Man says ride offer to girls misunderstood; NCAA brackets
Arlington Hts. man says ride offer to young girls misunderstood
In retrospect, Rodney T. Peterson says he shouldn't have stopped his car in a snowstorm March 2 and offered a ride to two teenage girls he didn't know. But the Arlington Heights man also believes Barrington police overreacted in charging him with disorderly conduct, then issuing a news release using his arrest to further drive home the Stranger Danger message. Full story.
Service learning helps elementary students see ‘big picture'
A new way of teaching that initially started at universities and caught on with high schools is now trickling down to elementary schools, too. Service learning, which combines formal for-credit instruction with related community service, is coming to all classes at Wood Dale Junior High School. They are the rare elementary district to do this schoolwide. Full story.
Arlington Hts. man rides to the rescue
Eric Puetz was pedaling home from his bicycle shop in Logan Square on Thursday when he heard a scream and saw some “knucklehead” tussling on the ground with an elderly woman. That's when the Arlington Heights man sprang into action, riding after the suspect and eventually tackling him. “Anyone who has a grandma and is put in that situation would react the same,” Puetz, 51, said. Full story.
Poms in bikinis save puppies from axes — true or false
One of 10 finalists in “The 43rd Annual Chicago's Biggest Liar Contest,” Wood Dale native Sheri Reda has what it takes to lie with the big dogs. In fact, I'd bet my 13 Pulitzer Prizes that she is going to be named the best liar in the world-as soon as the primary election campaigns are finished, columnist Burt Constable writes. Full story.
Wildfire sweeps through Palatine forest preserve
More than 50 firefighters from nine suburban departments battled a wind-powered brush fire Saturday that scorched about 10 acres of grass and marshland in Palatine's Deer Grove Forest Preserve. Authorities Sunday said the blaze started accidentally, apparently by improper disposal of smoking materials. Full story.
Elgin Easter Seals gets new space
Veronica Martinez, of Elgin, started bringing her daughter Cassandra to therapy at Easter Seals shortly after she was born with cerebral palsy and more limited use of her right side. Those therapy sessions are now in a newer, brighter space in the Easter Seals Elgin office, which also offers bilingual social work. Full story.
Norovirus hits Algonquin school's student body
An outbreak of norovirus is the suspected culprit behind hundreds of illnesses at Westfield Community School in Algonquin. More than half of the school's elementary students and about one-fifth of the middle schoolers were absent on Friday. Full story.
Price too high for Arlington parks rehab, some taxpayers say
Taxpayers suggested ways to reduce the $48 million price tag for remodeling and rebuilding centers at four of the five major Arlington Heights parks Saturday during the final information session before the March 20 election. Full story.
Hanover Park woman charged with skimming $100,000 in Bloomingdale
In three years working at a Bloomingdale gas station, Susan Verhaar brought home an extra $100,000 by skimming from bank deposits, police said. Now the Hanover Park woman is facing a felony theft charge in DuPage County after a two-month investigation. Full story.
McHenry man killed in motorcycle crash
A 41-year-old McHenry man died Saturday from injuries sustained when his motorcycle collided with a car near his hometown, authorities said. Edward A. Wald was driving his Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound in the 5700 block of Fox Lake Road shortly after 2:30 p.m. when it drifted into the southbound lane, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, and struck a 2012 Audi A4. Full story.
World & Nation
U.S. soldier kills 16 in Afghanistan villages. Full story.
States finding tough climate for gas tax proposals. Full story.
Government can't keep up with information requests. Full story.
Japan marks 1 year since quake, tsunami. Full story.
Double sacrifice: Family loses sons in Afghanistan. Full story.
YouTube phenomenon has girls asking: Am I pretty? Full story.
Sports
Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse and Michigan State get top seeds. Full story.
Fire releases Prospect's Pantazopoulos. Full story.
Michigan State beats Ohio State for Big Ten title. Full story.
Lin's in town, so expect Rose to be ready. Full story.
Worth the wait for Sox. Full story.
Byrd's toughness keeps Cubs prospect waiting. Full story.
Northwestern headed to NIT. Full story.
Toews' return gets closer. Full story.