Judge offers frank talk for parents

Lake County Associate Judge Daniel Shanes will lead a panel discussion on the impact of teen drug and alcohol abuse on children and their parents on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Highland Middle School in Libertyville.

Shanes, a Lake County prosecutor for 12 years before his appointment to the bench in 2007, is currently assigned to hear felony cases at the Waukegan courthouse.

The discussion "Partying? My Kid? My House?" will include social hosting issues, guiding and communicating with children, and the personal and legal consequences of underage use of alcohol and drugs on children and parents.

Parents and concerned community members are encouraged to attend the discussion, which will be from 7 to 8 p.m. at the school at 310 W. Rockland Road.

For more information, contact Mara Battaglia at Highland Middle School at (847) 362-9020, ext. 4124, or at mbattaglia@d70schools.org.

Enforcement grantThe Lake County sheriff's office will check tobacco retailers for compliance with the ban on underage sales for at least another year.The office recently announced the state Liquor Control Commission is providing $9,130 in grant money to support the program through next summer.The money will be spent on overtime pay for deputies who will escort minors to businesses targeted for checks, and to pay the minors to go in to the businesses to attempt to buy tobacco products.Those businesses that sell tobacco to the minors face fines of up to $200 and can lose their licenses to sell tobacco for repeated violations.Heard in the hallwayCongratulations to Waukegan attorney Matthew Hoffman and his wife, Kimberly, on the Sept. 19 birth of their son, Matthew Corrigan Hoffman.