Herald staff pick Cook Co.'s top stories of 2009

The year 2009 brought its share of tragedy, worry and financial hardship; but it also proved to be a year of some progress. As judged by the Daily Herald staff, here are the top 10 stories we'll remember 2009 for.

Economy takes toll on towns

If hard economic times tapped at the doors of suburban governments in 2008, they crashed through in 2009.

Across Cook County municipal governments and school boards resorted to layoffs, tax increases and service cuts, although a few were able to carry on under the strength of their reserves.

The story was the same for governments as for businesses and individuals. Income dependent on the economy, such as sales and income taxes, took a nose drive.

Hanover Park was one of the communities that received more money from red-light camera fines. And in neighboring Streamwood positions have been left vacant but layoffs avoided.

Hoffman Estates will lay off four police officers next year in an example of cuts, as police departments are among the largest expenses in many municipalities. Personnel is where many governments put their money, and that's where they must cut when times are tough.

Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights both raised taxes and cut what might be considered showcase social services. Rolling Meadows killed the Police Neighborhood Resource Center at East Park Apartments, while Arlington Heights has said it will quit funding the Teen Center and anti-drug programs in schools.

Buffalo Grove is one of the villages instituting utility taxes to keep the budget in balance. Cuts others towns are making include fun events such as the Wheeling Fourth of July parade.

School districts were also hit.

In Barrington Unit School District 220, teachers got raises with a new three-year contract in the fall after layoffs in the spring, while teachers in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 and Northwest Suburban High School District 214 agreed to contracts that froze salaries in the first year.

Meanwhile, Maine Township High School District 207 is set to lay off seven administrators as well as up to 75 teachers because that district expects a $17 million budget shortfall.

End of the Brown's trials brings closure

Justice for the seven lives lost in the Brown's Chicken & Pasta in Palatine took 16 years - as long as the youngest victim lived.

The jury deliberated less than two hours on Sept. 29 before convicting James Degorski of one of the most notorious crimes in suburban history. Two jurors later voted to spare the former Hoffman Estates man from the death penalty, resulting in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ever since Degorski and accomplice Juan Luna walked into the fast-food restaurant on Jan. 8, 1993, with what prosecutors said were pockets full of bullets and a desire to do "something big," Palatine has struggled to move past the horrific slayings.

The village was relieved in 2002 with the pair's arrest, and again in 2007 with Luna's conviction. But it wasn't until the court clerk read aloud seven guilty verdicts in Degorski's seven-week trial that police, prosecutors, officials and residents said they felt closure.

Throughout the years when there were no answers, the victims' families became a family of their own. They clasped each others' hands in the courtroom and openly wept for their loved ones: restaurant owners Richard and Lynn Ehlenfeldt and employees Michael Castro, Guadalupe Maldonado, Thomas Mennes, Marcus Nellsen and Rico Solis.

"Those nine years of trying to find the person and not knowing ... those were the tough years," Palatine Police Chief John Koziol said after the trial. "The human suffering caused by those two is beyond comprehension."

The community continues to move forward. During the trial, Palatine officials approved plans to build a bank at the former restaurant site at Northwest Highway and Smith Street.

They agreed it was likely the only business that could thrive at the location, which was reduced to a parking lot after a dry cleaner failed and the building was razed.

First property tax makes Schaumburg history

Diminishing sales tax revenues were a problem for Schaumburg throughout 2009 - and for years before.

But it's only since Nov. 17 - when the possibility of the village's first property tax was announced - that they've made 2009 a distinct point in the village's 56-year history.

Only hours after the news broke on the Daily Herald's Web site, angry residents packed into village hall to hear Village Manager Ken Fritz's financial recommendation for themselves.

The voices of longtime residents, particularly seniors anxious about how a further tax might break their own limited budgets, were joined by those of the Schaumburg Business Association in December.

Trustee Jack Sullivan, sharing the initial shock of his fellow residents, cast his first vote on the issue against Fritz's recommendation.

But by the next time the village board met, Sullivan said he'd become convinced the proposed $23.7 million levy was the only option there was time to consider before the end of the year.

A spillover crowd returned to village hall for a Dec. 15 public hearing, demonstrating an increase in anger from the original announcement.

Nevertheless, none of the reactions - including the SBA's - presented trustees with what they would consider a viable alternative, and they made the property tax official with their final vote on Dec. 22.

Hoffman takes over Sears Centre management

The Sears Centre was supposed be the centerpiece of Hoffman Estates' entertainment district at its mostly barren business park. But drawing events to the 11,000-seat arena has been difficult since it opened in 2006.

Now the original owner has departed, transferring ownership and responsibility for the $55 million construction loan to the village. That could cost the village $88.4 million over 20 years, and the village may look to raise property taxes if it can't get the center to perform better financially.

Poor management is one reason given for the failure, as the previous owner Ryan Companies lacked prior arena experience. A fluttering economy is also to blame, with fewer dollars to spend on entertainment keeping fans at home. The village hopes the new management company, Global Spectrum, can use its resources to attract big-name performers. Global is a division of Comcast Spectacor, and has a larger network than Ryan had to use as leverage to draw acts.

But no one expects an instant turnaround. Global and the village estimate the arena to incur $1.2 million in operating losses in 2010. Village officials have asked the public for time to find a revenue stream to fund the arena.

But the clock is ticking on elected officials headed toward the next election. They were given a free pass earlier this year, as Mayor William McLeod and his trustee slate ran unopposed.

Randhurst rebuild moves ahead, but time capsule lost

Despite increasing costs and a tough economy, the construction equipment never stopped moving at Randhurst mall this year.

The costs to rebuild the mall climbed from $150 million to almost $200 million and the new mall's grand opening was pushed back a year to spring 2011.

But according to Mount Prospect and mall officials, Randhurst Village will open and it will include a new theater, hotel, restaurant, and retail and office spaces.

Almost a year ago, crews ripped down the outer portion of the mall after working for months gutting the inside, which once housed about 80 shops. The main anchor stores remain and are currently open.

The redevelopment plan calls also for a number of restaurants and 25 smaller buildings to be scattered around the site. The plan allows for rental dwelling units to be built some time in the future if the developer chooses. In addition, Hampton Inn is planning a 120-room hotel complete with a pool on the site.

Meanwhile, the site hosted a bit of drama this fall when a time capsule went missing.

The copper time capsule was hoisted atop the grand dome at the center of the new mall in March 1962 when construction was completed, according to reports published at the time. It was to be recovered and unveiled last month at a Mount Prospect Historical Society fundraiser.

Yet, when construction crews tore the 64-foot-wide dome down to make way for the new shopping center, the capsule was nowhere to be found.

Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Mount Prospect Historical Society, refuses to lose hope of the capsule's recovery, though his enthusiasm is waning.

"So far, everyone I've talked to has kind of given me their theories and no one really knows what the fate of it was," Peerbolte said.

Local leadership changes hands in 2009 elections

Perhaps the November 2008 presidential election served as a catalyst, as suburban voters made it abundantly clear they wanted change in local government in last spring's municipal election.

Voters toppled 15 mayors and village presidents representing a combined 317,740 residents across the West, Northwest and North suburbs, changing the landscape of suburban politics for reasons as wide-ranging as the larger economic problems to potholes.

Some of the top issues debated included water quality, red-light cameras, unrest over job losses, foreclosures, taxes and business closures.

One notable upset in Cook County was the election of political novice and former Chicago Bear Jim Schwantz, who unseated 20-year veteran Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins. Schwantz, 39, focused his campaign on criticizing the incumbent's handling of downtown development and an increase in vacant office space.

Mullins, 63, who sought her sixth term in office, finished a close third in the four-way race with 23 percent of the vote.

Change didn't come just at the top, but instead a ripple effect altered the makeup of various boards.

The race for Buffalo Grove village board proved exceptionally nasty and contentious with six candidates running for three seats.

The divisiveness of the election campaign has spilled over into village business and created an ongoing rift between trustees who supported Joanne Johnson, who did not get elected, and Lisa Stone, who did.

Stone's key campaign issue was whether the village was doing enough to tackle the local drug problem.

A peaceful changing of the guard in Des Plaines also was momentous. Term limits brought the nine-year reign of Mayor Tony Arredia to an end with the election of 2nd Ward Alderman Marty Moylan. Arredia's support likely gave a leg up to Moylan.

Much like President Barack Obama, these new mayors and boards are just getting their feet wet and may soon begin to feel pressure from taxpayers expecting results promised during their ambitious campaigns.

Community stands by Engelhardt family

D'Andre Howard sits in Cook County jail eight months after being charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend's father, grandmother and younger sister inside the family's Hoffman Estates home.

Shelly Engelhardt was wounded but survived the brutal attack, and her son, Jeff, rushed home from college after hearing the horrific news. Police said in the early morning hours of April 17, Howard attacked the family, sparing his ex-girlfriend Amanda and the couple's infant daughter.

Shelly's youngest daughter, Laura, heroically took the the knife away from Howard, but police said he regained control. The 17-year-old Conant High School senior later died from wounds at the hospital. She planned on studying to be a veterinarian in college and had a soft spot for watching "American Idol" on television.

After Shelly Engelhardt returned from the hospital, she moved back into her family's home, but the memories still haunt her. She's said little about what happened that night as she copes with the losses of Laura, her husband Alan, 57, and grandmother Marlene Gacek, 73.

The community rallied around the Engelhardts. They raised money for the family through the sale of green rubber wristbands, trying to raise awareness about domestic violence. St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Schaumburg opened its doors and arms to support the family.

At Laura's memorial, her siblings remembered imitating pro wrestling moves with her, while Alan was remembered as a great cook and father and Gacek as the family counselor who always had time to listen to her family's problems.

Howard, 20, was portrayed by his attorneys as living a harsh childhood as a ward of the state. No date has been set for his trial.

Elk Grove's settles its fight over O'Hare expansion

Forty years and roughly $6 million later, Elk Grove Village finally ended a protracted fight over Chicago's plan to expand O'Hare International Airport, making 2009 a momentous year in village history.

Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson said it was money well spent to keep the Illinois Department of Transportation from widening Route 83 through the town's business park.

"I think this is a very good day for all of us," said Johnson, who was 9-years-old when the airport controversy first began in 1969.

In April, the village declared victory, dropping its legal opposition to O'Hare expansion once IDOT dropped the Route 83 widening option, leaving the town intact.

For years, Johnson maintained the village is not for sale, refusing to strike a deal with Chicago and give up any of the village's rights.

Meanwhile Bensenville, an anti-O'Hare expansion ally with $55 million in debt, settled with Chicago for $16 million in exchange for dropping litigation against Chicago's plans to redesign O'Hare by building six parallel runways.

With a peace treaty in place, it's time now for Elk Grove to mend fences with onetime rival Chicago.

Now, the work begins to secure funding for a proposed western bypass around O'Hare linking I-90 and I-294 to a completed Elgin O'Hare Expressway, Johnson said.

IDOT will build the south leg of the bypass connecting to I-294 east of the Union Pacific Railway tracks in Franklin Park. The north leg of the bypass will be constructed mainly on the west side of O'Hare and then head north to connect with I-90 at the Des Plaines oasis.

One family's tragedy touches entire community

On June 2, Patricia and Kevin Finnerty, and their 11-year-old son, Garrett, died after a suicidal Kevin Finnerty intentionally set their Arlington Heights house on fire.

But the couple's other children, Bridgit and Pierce, escaped with no major injuries. Bridgit got herself and her little brother out of the house onto the roof over the front door, jumped down 10 feet and ran for help.

Since the tragedy, the community has rallied around the Finnerty children by hosting several fundraisers for the children's college funds.

In early December, Bridgit and Pierce Finnerty and their aunt and uncle, Jennifer and Jerry Cazares, threw the switch to turn on 80,000 lights at North School Park in Arlington Heights for the town's annual tree lighting ceremony.

Jennifer Murphy Cazares said the family participated because it was a big deal that the mayor invited them.

"We grew up here and have been here every year," she said at the time. "The mayor felt the way everyone came together for us represents the community of good neighbors. It's incredible what the whole town has done for us."

Plans are also in the works to remodel the house's interior and exterior to look totally different, and then put it up for sale with the proceeds benefiting the two surviving Finnerty children.

The house is in a highly visible location on Park Street, a main thoroughfare to South Middle School, Our Lady of the Wayside Church and Pioneer Park and pool. It also can be seen by northbound traffic on Arlington Heights Road.

Massive manhunt ends without serious injury

It all ended relatively well, but escaped bank robber Robert Maday kept the suburbs on edge for two days in September.

Maday overpowered two officers of the Cook County state's attorney who were transporting him in a car from the Kankakee County jail to a court appearance in Rolling Meadows. He was on the loose in Rolling Meadows, and he was armed with their guns.

During his 26 hours of freedom, Maday stole two cars at gunpoint, robbed a Bloomingdale bank he had robbed a year earlier and bought some clothes. Dozens of schools in three counties went on soft lockdown so no one could enter or leave - an example of how nervous authorities and residents were.

A huge swat team assembled from suburban and federal departments spent hours surrounding and searching an Arlington Heights apartment complex near where he abandoned the first car but did not find Maday.

The next day Maday stole a second car in Hoffman Estates, and eventually a police officer in West Chicago recognized him and pulled him over. Maday sped away with police in pursuit. He clipped another car and crashed into a light pole, allowing authorities to capture him without serious injury to anyone.

Maday faces state and federal charges in connection with the escape. The transport that fateful day was to a sentencing for 2008 bank robberies he had already admitted to. Eventually he received a 13-year sentence for them. The two officers were fired for not following prisoner transportation rules.

Daily Herald Staff Writers Deborah Donovan, Sheila Ahernm, Kimberly Pohl, Eric Peterson, Ashok Selvam and Madhu Krishnamurthy contributed.