Cook County briefs

Hoffman red-light camera law

Though Hoffman Estates still doesn't have red-light cameras on street corners, the village board has preliminarily approved how it will handle violators. The board approved the village's automate red-light enforcement ordinance Monday. The board approved the idea for the cameras last year, and police had expected them to be installed by last fall at six intersections. But village officials said they're still awaiting approvals from IDOT. Village President William McLeod said he hoped the cameras could be installed this spring but wasn't sure that would happen.

Fire investigation continues

Elk Grove Village police say they're still investigating the death of an 85-year-old local woman in a car fire last weekend. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Evelyn M. Dressel's death was an accident. Police are working with the Illinois state fire marshal to determine exactly what happened to Dressel, said Sgt. Michael Gaspari, adding authorities likely won't have any more information until next week at the earliest. At about 3 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a car fire on the 100 block of Northwest Point Boulevard. Upon arrival, they found the car, a 2004 Mercury Sable registered to Dressel, fully engulfed in flame. A memorial service for Dressel, who lived in the village for 48 years, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 150 Lions Blvd.

Police crackdown begins

Arlington Heights police will be focused on identifying motorists who choose to drive while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs from today through Saturday, Feb. 7. As part of the effort, they will be conduct roadside safety checks, where officers stop cars at predetermined intervals. One checkpoint will be between 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, and 3 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, along South Arlington Heights Road.

Townships plan referendums

Wheeling Township is the latest in Northwest suburban Cook County to place a nonbinding referendum on the April 7 ballot that will ask voters if they support Cook County's 1 percentage-point sales tax increase that took effect last July 1. The township board this week adopted a resolution for the advisory referendum question to be placed on the April ballot. The goal of the referendum is to gauge public opinion and send a message to Cook County elected officials, said Josephine Stellato, the township's director of finance and administrator. She added, the township's decision was prompted by a letter signed by local legislators asking area governmental bodies to put the advisory question to voters. Hanover Township will meet Saturday, Jan. 31, to vote on placing the sales tax question on its ballot, along with a second measure asking voters if they want the township to break away from Cook County. That is also a nonbinding question. The Hanover Township meeting takes place at 8 a.m. at the township hall, 250 S. Route 59, Bartlett.