Aurora’s Betsy Wisdom and Peggy Brown, second and third from left, were among hundreds of cancer survivors, caregivers and friends who walked at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Kane County at Geneva’s Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Friday, June 12. Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora was the sponsor. A $20,020 donation was presented by St. Charles East and North high school drill teams. The replica check represented proceeds from an annual kick-a-thon held earlier. The relay ran to 6 a.m. Saturday, June 13. Teams and individuals camped at the ballpark and took turns walking or running around the warning track of the baseball field. (Al Benson Photo)

Kane County sheriff’s detectives seized 4.67 pounds of heroin last week at the Aurora Transportation Center and charged an Aurora man with three counts of heroin possession and trafficking.

According to a statement by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested Victor Lechuga, 26, sometime after 1 p.m. on June 7.

He was charged with three Class X felonies: controlled substance trafficking, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Kane County sheriff’s detectives were working a drug interdiction operation at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 North Broadway, when they intercepted a package that contained a large amount of heroin.

Detectives allowed Lechuga to pick up the package and take it to his residence at 743 Superior St. in Aurora. Detectives took Lechuga into custody at his residence and seized items in his possession, including 4.67 pounds of heroin, $7,600 in cash and a .22 caliber handgun.

The heroin had a reported street value of $2.1 million.

The St. Charles Police Department will host a bike rodeo for children from 8 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m., Thursday, June 25 at James O. Breen Park (corner of Campton Hills Rd. and Peck Rd.).

A bike rodeo allows children an opportunity to practice and develop bicycle skills that will help them become better cyclists and avoid crashes. The rodeo will introduce participants to bicycle and traffic laws in a fun, hands-on environment that will include different skills courses. Kids also will get to work directly with bike patrol officers! This free event is open to children who live within the corporate limits of St. Charles, and who are between seven and 12 years old. Riders must bring their own helmet to participate.

Applications are available through the city’s web site at www.stcharlesil.gov (located at the bottom of this page), or at the front desk of the police department, and must be returned either directly to the police department or via email to Crime Prevention Officer Bill Tynan at btynan@stcharlesil.gov by June 19. Contact Tynan at 630-443-3847 with any questions.

Downer Place will be closed between Lake Street and River Street for three weeks starting on Monday, June 15.  Detours will be posted using Benton Street as an alternate route.

The temporary closure is part of a larger sewer replacement project on Lake Street. During this project, crews have been replacing 2,400 feet of sewer with a separated sewer system designed to separate rainwater and sewage during storms and alleviate sewage backups in basements and pollution discharged into the Fox River.

The Downer Place closure is expected to last approximately three weeks. The entire Lake Street project is anticipated to be complete by the end of August.

North Central College celebrated its 150th Commencement on June 13 by conferring degrees on 836 students.

Of those students, a record 736 received bachelor’s degrees and 100 earned master’s degrees.

Some 147 students graduated cum laude, 53 earned magna cum laude, 27 achieved summa cum laude, and a record 41 students completed the College Scholars Honors Program with honors theses.