Dawn Patrol: 2008 hazing at Maine West; 150 sing for choir director

mwilson@dailyherald.com

District 207: Earlier hazing incident similar to recent allegations

A 2008 hazing incident involving the Maine West High School freshman baseball team is now being considered “similar in pattern” — and involves the same coach — as events that a lawsuit alleges occurred on the school’s boys varsity soccer team this fall, officials said Sunday. According to a statement released Sunday night, Maine Township High School District 207 became aware of the 2008 incident just this month on Nov. 16, although school-level officials knew about and disciplined the involved parties soon after the incident took place. This revelation comes after a lawsuit was filed against the school last week in an alleged case of hazing involving the soccer team. Full story.

Decades of alumni sing thanks to retired choir director

More than three decades of alumni came together for a reunion concert yesterday to pay tribute and give thanks to the choir director who they said made such a difference in their lives. At least 150 singers who graduated from Forest View High School or Elk Grove High School between 1972 and 2005 gathered for two hours of singing led by retired director Jerry Swanson. With more than 1,500 tickets sold, one of the concert’s organizers, Susan Miller of the Class of 1985 at Forest View, said the concert far surpassed her expectations. “It was his life’s work right in front of him,” she said. Full story.

Powerball jackpot goes to record $425 million

Buy your Powerball tickets before Wednesday, lottery madness is here again. After a weekend without a winner, Illinois Lottery officials say the Powerball jackpot will now increase to about $425 million for the next drawing, the largest jackpot ever for the game. Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer says the jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing could go even higher than the estimated $425 million because sales pick up in the days before record drawings. Full story.

Bears bounce back big beating Vikes in “must” game

For a week, the Bears did everything they could to avoid calling it a “must” game. That’s because losing a “must” game leaves you nowhere to go the following week. But after the Bears easily handled the Vikings at Soldier Field yesterday, some players were considerably more honest about how a three-game losing streak might have intensified what was a growing crisis of confidence. “It was huge for so many reasons,” said safety Chris Conte. Full story by Bob LeGere.

There’s no disputing Cutler’s effect on Bears

If you are what your record says you are, Jay Cutler must be a pretty good quarterback after all. Last week the Bears were hammered at San Francisco without him. This week he returned from a concussion and the Bears hammered the Vikings 28-10 in Soldier Field. With Cutler the Bears win somehow, some way. Full column by Mike Imrem.

‘Twilight,’ Bond, ‘Lincoln’ bulk up box office

Bella Swan, James Bond and Abe Lincoln have combined to lift Hollywood to record Thanksgiving revenue at the box office. Kristen Stewart’s finale as Bella in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2” was No. 1 again with $64 million during the five-day holiday stretch that began Wednesday, according to studio estimates Sunday. Daniel Craig’s Bond adventure “Skyfall” came in at No. 2 with $51 million, while Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg’s Civil War saga “Lincoln” finished third with $34.1 million. Full story.

Weather

The area is heading for a noticeably colder 35-degree high today, starting at 28 degrees for the morning commute. Skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day Monday. Tonight’s low temperature is predicted to hit 19 degrees. Full Story.

Traffic

Travel has slowed on I-90 and I-290 heading into and out of Chicago as this morning’s rush hour has progressed. Veterans Memorial Tollway also slows northbound between North Avenue and the I-290 merge. I-90 inbound begins slowing just east of O’Hare and I-90 outbound is slow from the Edens split to Nagle Avenue. Inbound I-290 slows from Mannheim Road to Damen Avenue, and the outbound side hits a slow patch through Oak Park. Watch for accidents in Gurnee on eastbound Grand Avenue east of Hunt Club Road and in Lakemoor on Route 12 northbound north of IL-120. Full story.