Dawn Patrol: 45 years in Aurora murder; Lake County official mourned
45 years in Aurora murder:
A Kane County judge Monday sentenced Aurora resident Delbert Cooper to 45 years in prison for strangling and stabbing death of his girlfriend - the mother of his two children - in a dispute over money for crack cocaine. Full story
CEO convicted of fraud:
The chief executive officer of the bankrupt Northbrook-based Sentinel Management Group Inc. was convicted Tuesday of defrauding more than 70 customers of more than $500 million before the firm collapsed. A federal jury convicted Eric A. Bloom, 49, of Northbrook, on 18 counts of wire fraud and one count of investment adviser fraud, for using customers' securities without their knowledge as collateral for loans taken to buy risky investments for a portfolio that benefited him, other Sentinel officers and Bloom's relatives. Full story.
Former Lake County coroner mourned:
About 700 people mourned the death and celebrated the life Tuesday of Artis Yancey, at his funeral in North Chicago. Yancey was one of Lake County's more recognizable public figures, first as a police officer, then as Waukegan's police chief, then as Lake County coroner and, most recently, as Waukegan city clerk. "This man held true to the model 'To Serve and Protect,'" Pastor Gerald Wilcoxon said. Full story.
Mill Race Inn sold:
A little more than three years after it closed and went in to foreclosure, Geneva's iconic Mill Race Inn restaurant has been bought by real estate development firm Shodeen Inc. Shodeen says it will keep, at minimum, the oldest part of the building, which was built in 1846. Full story.
Police fight Columbo parole:
For the 16th time, Lake County Undersheriff Ray Rose Tuesday pleaded with the Illinois parole board to turn down a request from convicted murderer Patty Columbo for parole. Rose was the lead investigator in the 1976 murders of her parents and brother in Elk Grove Village, committed by her and a boyfriend. Recalling "savage crimes against her family," Rose also asked that Columbo only be allowed to ask for parole every five years, instead of every three years. "I cannot, and will not, simply forgive, excuse or forget these crimes, and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board should not as well," said Rose. Full story.
Dryer fire ruins home:
A fire caused by built-up dryer lint caused $50,000 damage to a Hoffman Estate townhouse Tuesday morning, leaving it uninhabitable. Full story.
Hockey writer mourned:
Tim Sassone's colleagues saw him as a pro's pro in the journalism business, and readers who followed his coverage of the Blackhawks came to know him as "the Dean of Chicago Hockey Writers" who was passionate about the game he covered. Sassone, who spent 26 years covering the Blackhawks and the NHL for the Daily Herald, died Tuesday at the age of 58. "Tough news," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "The hockey world lost a great man." Full story.
Traffic
Still relatively smooth sailing on area roads this morning. Watch for accidents on the Edens Expressway at Touhy Avenue and at Old McHenry Road and Cuba Road as well as construction on Route 22 betwween Route 12 and Route 14 in western Lake County.<URL destination="http://here.com/traffic/usa/chicago-il"> Full story.
Weather
Clear but cold as you start the day with temperatures in the high teens. It will be partly sunny today and warming to 40 degrees. Breezy tonight with rain and possible thunderstorms Thursday. Full story.
Blackhawks fans get their first look at Teuvo Teravainen:
Blackhawks fans got their first look at Teuvo Teravainen Tuesday night during the team's win over the Dallas Stars, 4-2. The team also paid tribute to late Daily Herald Blackhawks beat writer Tim Sassone with a moment of silence before the game. Full story.
A speedy Sox prospect
Second basemen Micah Johnson, one of the White Sox' brightest prospects, is hoping to break camp with the big club. The team's farm system has been beefed up and has some promising prospects. See Scot Gregor's take on the improvement. Full story.