Crystal Lake South High School custodian saves a student’s life

CRYSTAL LAKE — Mike Cruz, a custodian who is employed at Crystal Lake South High School (1200 S McHenry Avenue), was recently recognized for being “at the right place at the right time,” according to a statement from school officials.

On the morning of Feb. 18, during fifth-hour lunch, Cruz was making his rounds and cleaning tables in the cafeteria.

Crystal Lake South High School student Alexis Bennett was eating her lunch at a table by herself after attending her P.E.

Various police departments across the state donate ballistic vests to Ukraine freedom fighters

McHenry County — Recently, the McHenry Police Department announced that they had received notice from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) regarding a need for ballistic vests to help Ukrainians stay safe while defending their country.

“We are proud to answer this call for vests! On March 14, 2022, the McHenry Police Department shipped 77 retired ballistic vests to Ukraine to help keep their citizens safe as they defend their country and homes,” said the McHenry Police Department in a statement.

Two men face attempted murder and gun charges after an Elgin shooting incident

ELGIN – Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced that she has officially charged Demarques D. Enochs, 25, of the 2900 block of Flournoy Avenue in Chicago, and Taviris D. Paul, 29, of the 400 block of Sherman Avenue in Elgin, each with the following offenses:

Attempt first-degree murder, a Class X felony; aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony; and armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony.

According to the Elgin Police Department, on March 3, at approximately 11:57 a.m.,

Huntley Park District’s director of parks and facilities to retire after 33 years of service

HUNTLEY—At the March 10 Village of Huntley Board meeting, Mayor Tim Hoeft announced that the board and staff would be recognizing Paul Ostrander, the Huntley Park District’s director of parks and facilities, who was set to retire after 33 years of working at the park district.

“Paul began his career with the park district as a landscaper, maintenance worker, planner, and most of all, as a get it done without question master of all projects,” said Hoeft. “Paul was promoted to the title of director of parks and facilities and guided his team to maintain the growing network of buildings and parks throughout Huntley.”

Kane County Sheriff’s Office honors man who saved a woman from a vicious dog attack

Chris Shanahan of St. Charles was recently recognized by Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain with the “Heroic Citizen Award” during the March 8 Kane County Board meeting. According to Hain, on the morning of Dec. 13, 2021, Shanahan was driving through his neighborhood on Windsor Drive in St. Charles when he spotted a woman lying on the ground.

Two Elgin brothers plead guilty to felony offenses relating to a 2019 fatal shooting

ELGIN – Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser recently announced that 28-year-old Xavier L. Butler of the 200 block of Windsor Court in Elgin has agreed to a sentence of 30 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of armed violence, a Class X felony, in the August 2019 shooting death of Joshua Tyler Bey, 24, of Elgin.

Additionally, Xavier’s brother, 26-year-old Isaiah Y. Butler of the 200 block of Locust Street in Elgin, agreed to a sentence of 15 years in the IDOC in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony.

Johnson gives leadership, aims to defend title

HUNTLEY – Each day when Huntley High School students walk by the school’s east gym, they see banners which highlight recent Red Raiders’ successes.

Among those banners is one for junior Red Raider Alex Johnson. Last season she won the state Class 3A long jump championship with a PR of 5.92 meters.

Johnson brings much leadership to the 70-member squad this season, head coach Jason Monson said.

“She works at it the whole off-season because track is her specialty,” Monson said.

REGENCY SQUARE REVISITED

HUNTLEY – A lengthy portion of the February 24 Huntley Village Board meeting was a presentation by Lynd Living and the proposed development of Regency Square. Before the presentation could begin, Village Trustee Niko Kanakaris announced his partial ownership of BO2 Investments, the present owners of the property, and recused himself from any discussion or votes regarding the property. Kanakaris left the meeting.

Regency Square is the 45-acre property bordered on the north by Charles Sass Parkway (formerly Kreutzer Road) on the east by Princeton Drive and the Deerpath Supportive Living facility on the south.

Crystal Lake man charged with the attempted murder of his estranged wife

CRYSTAL LAKE – On March 5, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Crystal Lake Police officers responded to the 1300 block of Skyridge Drive for a report of a domestic incident involving a stabbing.

While en route to the location, officers received information that the offender had left the scene of the crime.

Once officers arrived at the residence, they discovered an adult female victim who was suffering from significant injuries to her head, which were caused by a hatchet and hammer.

A friend of the victim later confirmed that the female discovered at the scene was the estranged wife of the offender who was later identified as Mark Alex, 57, of Crystal Lake.

Algonquin woman found not guilty of a June 2020 drug-induced homicide of a 48-year-old man

ALGONQUIN – McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally announced that Heather L. Vasil, 29, of the 1000 block of Oak Lane in Algonquin has pleaded guilty to “Delivery of a Controlled Substance,” a Class 2 felony.

Vasil appeared before McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Robert Wilbrandt on March 3, where she was found not guilty of drug-induced homicide, the original Class X felony she was charged with on June 4, 2020.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Prosecutors Ken Hudson and Brett Dunbar negotiated a plea deal with Vasil in which she pleaded guilty to an added Class 2 felony she was also charged with, in 2020, and would subsequently have to serve six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

High-tech X-ray equipment purchase aids Kane County Coroner in death investigations

KANE COUNTY – A new high-tech X-ray device has recently been purchased by the Kane County Coroner’s Office to reduce costs and, in certain cases, offset the need for a full post mortem exam.

According to the Kane County Coroner’s Office, 330 autopsies were completed in the county last year alone.

In the past, if an X-ray was necessary, the office had to transport the body to the local hospital, had to pay a fee to use the X-ray equipment, and pay an additional fee for a certified technician to operate it.

Ukraine invasion hits close to home for one Sun City couple

HUNTLEY – Sun City residents Joseph and Mila Kacher are watching the unbelievable footage of an invasion of their birth country. The Kachers immigrated to the United States in 1978, and although they left their country 44 years ago, the Russian invasion deeply affects them.

Mila said, “We decided to come to the United States in 1978 when the USA opened the borders. We were lucky. Seven of us left. My husband and I with our 3-year-old daughter, my mother, his parents, and my sister-in-law.

Wonder Lake man arrested for possession of child pornography

WONDER LAKE – The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office recently teamed up with members of the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate reports of child pornography—or what is also referred to as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

On March 1, law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant in the 5000 block of Willow Drive in Wonder Lake.

“In November 2021, an electronic service provider reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cyber Tip Line that a user has possessed multiple files containing CSAM,” stated the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office in a March 3 press release.

Lake in the Hills woman convicted of two counts of aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol

MCHENRY COUNTY – McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally announced that on March 3, Tammy J. Newsome, 58, of Lake in the Hills was convicted of two counts of “Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol,” a Class X felony, and one count of “Aggravated Driving While License is Revoked (Subsequent Offense),” a Class 4 felony.

An arrest warrant for Newsome was granted by a grand jury to the Lake in the Hills Police Department back in June 2018, according to McHenry County court records.

McHenry County Moving Forward to Expand Broadband

WOODSTOCK – McHenry County is taking the next step in its goal to ensure that residents and businesses countywide have access to high-speed broadband Internet.

The McHenry County Connects initiative seeks to expand the county’s existing fiber network, especially to rural and underserved areas lacking access to reliable service.

“The COVID-19 lockdowns laid bare the need for everyone to have fast and dependable internet – however, this turned out to be a big problem for far too many families and
businesses, especially in the rural parts of McHenry County,” County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, said.

73-year-old man responsible for two McHenry County murders in 1970 denied parole once again: ‘I lead a charmed life,’ was a response he gave when asked why he killed.

MCHENRY COUNTY – As residents may be aware, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally announced that Phillip Soper, 73, was once again denied parole on Feb. 24 via a decision that was unanimously made by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

Soper is currently incarcerated at the Sheridan Correctional Center located in LaSalle County, where he is serving two consecutive 150–200-year sentences for the first-degree murders of Marlene Ahrens of Woodstock and Guenther Dolenske of McHenry.

On Dec. 17, 1970, Soper armed himself with a .22 caliber handgun and attempted to rob what he thought was a McHenry tavern.

Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital welcomes palindrome ‘Twosday’ baby

HUNTLEY – February may be the shortest month of the year, but the 2022 year made this month a little bit more special than just having Valentine’s Day to celebrate.

For those unaware, Feb. 21-28 of this year (2022) are considered palindrome dates.

The definition of a palindrome according to the Farmer’s Almanac, is a word, phrase, or numerical sequence that reads the same from left-to-right or right-to-left.

Palindromes can include words such as mom, dad, and civic to name a few examples.

Huntley’s Fire Station One redevelopment project raises some concerns about parking

HUNTLEY – As reported on in the in-print edition of My Huntley News, Village of Huntley staff have been in negotiation efforts with the Huntley Fire Protection District for the purchase of the former Fire Station One property located at 11801 Coral Street.

During a presentation given by Village Manager Dave Johnson at the Feb. 10 Village Board meeting, it was detailed that the intent of the purchase is to acquire the property, then subject to the terms and conditions of a separate purchasing sale agreement and a redevelopment agreement, convey a portion of that property to current petitioner Billitteri Enterprises, LLC for a mixed-use development.

UPDATE: Two Elgin men identified as the suspects responsible for a Walgreens robbery in Cary

As previously reported in My Huntley News, the Cary Police Department was asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two male suspects that had broken into a Walgreens located at 500 W Northwest Highway in the early hours of Feb. 16.

Cary Police Deputy Chief Scott Naydenoff recently was able to release an update regarding the incident.

Naydenoff stated that on Feb. 19, investigators from the Cary Police Department were alerted of two individuals that were taken into custody by the Elgin Police Department who just so happened to match the description of the offenders involved in the Walgreens robbery.

Matt Szytz honored with Illinois Park and Recreation Association Vision Award

HUNTLEY – The Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) annually recognizes one individual from throughout the state with the Vision Award. The Vision Award recognizes notable involvement and participation within the IPRA Marketing and Communication Division and is granted to a hard worker who truly cares about their community. The award is voted on by peers of the nominated candidate.

This year, the winner of the Vision Award was Matt Szytz, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Huntley Park District.

Potential new shopping location in downtown Huntley sparks community interest

HUNTLEY – Lisa Armour, Huntley’s Deputy Village Manager, gave My Huntley News a preview of things to come to downtown Huntley.
Included in the Village’s 2022 Work Plan Action Items, presented at the January 20 Village Board meeting, were plans for a Shops on Main small business incubator just off Main Street in the First Congregational Church parking lot. The Village would lease the space from the church.

According to Armour, “the proposed ten building area will have retail shops that might offer seasonal merchandise.”

Elgin Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in identifying a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident

ELGIN – On Sunday, Feb. 13, Elgin Police officers responded to an accident that occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. in the area of Varsity and Maroon Drive in Elgin.

The Elgin Police Department’s Traffic Division has been asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a black-colored vehicle that was allegedly responsible for striking an elderly man while he was on his afternoon walk.

The news was publicly shared by the victim’s grandson Sebastian Philip, who has also updated that his grandfather was in stable condition as of Feb.

Lake in the Hills Village Board recognizes 2021 Gordon Larsen Award winners

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Elected Village of Lake in the Hills (LITH) officials and staff honored the winning local businesses of the 2021 Gordon Larsen Business Achievement Awards at the Feb. 10 LITH Village Board meeting.

The winners included Butcher on the Block (4660 W Algonquin Road) for Best Customer Service, The Lakehouse Tattoo (2120 W Algonquin Road) for Best Community Service, Marie Charles Salon & Spa (4610 W Algonquin Road) for being the Employer of Choice, and UpRising Bakery & Café (2104 W Algonquin Road) for Best New Business.

Relative of Sun City resident takes the ice for hockey Team USA in Beijing

HUNTLEY – The winter Olympics season comes with a lot of exciting events, and opportunities to cheer for the USA. But the cheering gets passionate when you have a relative in the game. Jo Geary, Sun City resident, is rooting for Savannah Harmon, a cousin once removed. Harmon is #15, and plays defense on the Women’s Hockey Team in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Harmon is from Downers Grove, Illinois, and Geary joined family and friends by texting and calling late at night to root for their favorite Olympian.

Recognizing American Diversity initiative at Huntley High School to celebrate black stories in honor of Black History Month

HUNTLEY – Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) announced that its Recognizing American Diversity (RAD) Committee will be returning to Huntley High School for a free community event called “Celebrating Black Stories: Narratives on Identity, Belonging and Community.”

The event will take place on Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Huntley 158’s RAD Committee represents a district-wide initiative based out of Huntley High School that seeks to recognize diversity in our schools and community through collaborative events and celebrations,” said Alex LeMoine, D158’s director of communications and public relations.

THE DOORWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY