Cary

Cary-Grove High School student contracts bacterial meningitis

MCHD and D-155 is contacting people who came in contact with the student. About 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported each year, with 500 resulting in death, according to the CDC. The disease is usually severe. Complications include brain damage, learning disabilities, or hearing loss. However, the disease is not as contagious as the cold or flu. The bacteria cannot be passed through casual contact. The major route of infection is through an exchange of respiratory and throat secretions through kissing, and sometimes by close or lengthy contact with the sick person.

Crystal Lake

MCC gears up for changing GED requirements

The GED Testing Service aligned with Common Core curriculum standards so it’s more rigorous than in the past. The test is now administered digitally, which poses a problem for many of the students working toward a diploma. The vast majority of students at MCC taking the test are 25-44 years old, says Tome Pierce, the department’s executive director. These students sometimes lack the computer skills. To help, the department purchased a laptop cart, which serves as a mobile computer lab. The faculty also revised the curriculum for adult basic and adult secondary programs.

Huntley

D-158 goes through re-branding

In order to create a stronger image, district administrators unveiled new district logos.  A black and red H, dissected by a white path, represents students’ “pathway to the future,” says district spokesman Dan Armstrong. The administrators want to re-label the district “Huntley Community School District 158” to create a stronger identity with those who live outside of the Huntley area. Re-branding efforts cost the school district $1,500.

Marengo

Official grapples with potential state funding cuts

City officials believe they can pull from reserves and keep the budget balanced if Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed cuts are approved and are temporary. The proposed cuts reduced state funds for the city from $741,000 to $370,500. If cuts last for more than a year, the city may need to slash spending.

Ringwood

Neighbors tend crops for deceased farmer’s family

Neighboring farmers met to mourn the death of Thomas R. King, 66, who was killed by a motorcycle May 7. To help King’s family, the surrounding farmers plan to get his crops in the ground, harvested, and to market. Authorities believe King was struck while checking his mailbox.

Volo

Route 12 closed for six hours on Mother’s Day.

At 11:40 p.m. May 9, Andrew Schneider, 36 of McCullom Lake drove his tanker filled with gasoline into a ditch and rolled the cab onto its roof. Route 12 from Case Road to Route 120 closed while crews emptied 8,300 gallons of gasoline from the tanker. Schneider was uninjured.

Woodstock

Valley Hi Nursing Home state funds cut.

The state imposed a 12.6 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursement for May and June. The cut means more than $100,000 lost to the taxpayer-funded nursing home west of Woodstock. Eighty of the home’s 128 beds are set aside for Medicaid patients. Valley Hi operated at a small profit since 2011 following a many reforms. It is subsidized on top of its per-bed revenues by a property tax levy approved by voters who wanted a home to help care for the county’s seniors.

Redlight Boutique meets resistance

According to Scott Bialas, owner of Redlight boutique, residents misunderstand the classy, upscale nature of his shop. Located just off Woodstock Square, Redlight Boutique sells lingerie, incenses, lubricants, and adult toys.