im Hamad, Aurora University athletic director; Ruth Bedrosian Matteson, Nancy Bedrosian Pollard; and Hillary Brennan, AU trustee, unveil plaque at Samuel Bedrosian Softball Stadium dedication at AU last Saturday. Bedrosian (1932-2015), coached baseball, basketball, tennis and golf and served as athletic director, intramural director, professor of physical education and chair of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences during a 31-year career at the school. (Photo by Sylvia Springer / Aurora University)

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

10th person diagnosed with polio-like condition

The Illinois Department of Public Health has received information of another individual who has been clinically diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, bringing the total number of suspected cases in Illinois to 10.

All 10 suspected cases are among children in northern Illinois. IDPH continues to work with health care providers to collect necessary information to send to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC will review the information to confirm if the case will be classified as AFM.

The underlying cause of AMF is not known. CDC has been actively investigating AFM and continues to receive information about suspected AFM cases.

More information about AFM, its causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment can be found on the the IDPH website (dph.illinois.gov).

Any further updates on the number of suspected cases will be posted on the IDPH website.

COUNTY

INDR lifts restrictions on Fox River usage

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources lifted the recreational boating restriction on the Fox River in Kane County last last week.

The Fox River at the Algonquin Tailwater gauge is indicating the river had dropped below flood stage.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources had announced Oct. 7 that the Fox River in Kane County was closed for recreational boating until further notice due to high water levels.

According to INDR,  the closure ran from the mouth of Pistakee Lake to Montgomery Dam.

The river was expected to continue to fall  below flood stage although some rain was expected over the weekend, according to the NWS Chicago.

AURORA

Halloween safety tips offered by police

The Aurora Police Department is offering tips to keep children safe as they head out trick-or-treating. Make sure to check your local trick-or-treating hours and follow these tips for a fun night.

• Make sure costumes, wigs and accessories are flame resistant.
• Be sure to carry a flashlight; and costumes should be bright or reflective so children can see and be seen. Putting reflective tape on costumes is another option.
• Masks, costumes and shoes should be well-fitting to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
• Children should stay on sidewalks, look both ways before crossing streets and use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Props like swords, knives and other objects should be made of soft or flexible material.
• Only visit homes with a front porch light on; and kids should only enter homes if they’re with a trusted adult. Otherwise, Trick-or-Treaters should stay outside.
• Bring a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.
• Only factory-wrapped treats should be eaten; homemade treats should be avoided unless the cook is well-known to the trick-or-treater or their family.

Don’t forget to verify addresses of sex offenders living in your neighborhoods by visiting http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=55129

AURORA

Police participate Oct. 27 prescription drug takeback

Aurora police are once again collecting expired, unused and unwanted prescription medicines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Aurora Police Department during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Takeback Day.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are extremely high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, disposing of unused medicines like flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Bring your pills or patches for disposal to the Aurora Police Dept., 1200 E. Indian Trail.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Police cannot accept liquids, needles, inhalers or sharps — only pills or patches. Also, drugs dropped off before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. cannot be accepted.

Last April, Americans turned in 475 tons (nearly one million pounds) of prescription drugs at over 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,600 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 15 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in just under ten million pounds—more than 4,982 tons—of pills.

Exhibit manager Mary Amici-Kozi makes last minute adjustments on a 10-foot-tall brick-built character that will greet visitors at the Gail Borden Public Library, just one of the LEGO exhibits on display. (Gail Borden Library photo)

ELGIN

A 10-foot-tall brick-built character is ready to greet visitors at the Gail Borden Public Library.

The library exhibit, “Build It! With LEGO® Bricks,” now running at the library through December.

To celebrate, the popular Northern Illinois Lego Train Club Exhibit will be at the library on Nov. 3 and 4, and a kids showcase complete with ice cream will take place on Dec. 4.

This exhibit is offered at no charge and it is open when the library is open.

Another intriguing part of the exhibit is world famous buildings depicted in LEGOs that were constructed by a 12-year-old Riley Wygant.

When Library Exhibit Manager Mary Amici-Kozi learned that Library Director Carole Medal’s grand nephew was an award-winning LEGO builder, she asked to see pictures and decided to add Riley’s creations to the exhibit.

Riley’s LEGO buildings include Trans America Pyramid, CN Tower, the Mackinac Bridge and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.

Along with other young builders, Riley will be attending the LEGO® Architecture Showcase for Kids and Ice Cream Social at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the main library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin

BATAVIA

Residents urged to mulch leaves this fall

The Batavia Environmental Commission encourages Batavia Residents to mulch leaves this fall.

The latest information is that lawns will be healthier by mulching instead of raking. Benefits of mulching include: 

• Reduces the volume of leaves dramatically and prevents leaf piles from clogging drains and causing floods.
• Feeds soil as leaves decompose and soak into the ground.
• Shredded leaves go to work keeping soil and roots warmer, retaining moisture, and preventing many weeds from germinating.
• Makes lawns better able to soak up rainwater runoff.
• Reduces pollutants from the trucks required to haul them to composting facilities. • Mulching leaves also reduces back and neck injuries that come with the bending, twisting and reaching motions that raking requires.

ALGONQUIN

Woman attacked in grocery story lot

A 58-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and her vehicle stolen after two men stole liquor late last week from a Jewel-Osco, located at 1501 E. Algonquin Road.

According to the Algonquin Police Department, patrol units responded at around 12:05 p.m. last Thursday to a report of a vehicular hijacking and retail theft that had just occurred at the Jewel-Osco store.

The investigation into the incident revealed that two suspects had fled from the store parking lot after having committed a theft of liquor.

Police said the first suspect — described as a black male, 18 to 25 years old, with an average build and of average height and wearing a Chicago Blackhawks hooded sweatshirt — approached a 58 year-old Algonquin woman, who was standing outside of her vehicle.

The man pushed the woman to the ground, implied that he was in possession of a weapon and fled in the victim’s vehicle.

A second suspect — described as a black male of about the same age and build, wearing a white jacket with a red stripe running across the chest — fled on foot toward Sandbloom Road, according to police.

The female victim did not suffer any injuries, and her vehicle was recovered in a neighboring town shortly after the incident.

Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Algonquin Police Department at 847-658-4531.

NAPERVILLE

Symphony orchestra to express Halloween spookiness in music

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra promises some spine-chilling music to set the mood for Halloween.

The 150-piece symphony orchestra will perform its Halloween Spooktacular family concerts at 2 and 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

The program will include spooky vibes with the “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars” by John Williams, “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod, “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “Peer Gynt” by Edvard Grieg, as well as “Baba Yaga” and “The Great Gate of Kiev” from “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky, to name a few works.

The Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra also will appear, performing Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and will join the DuPage Symphony for two selections from Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Audience members are invited to join the orchestra and come dressed in costume.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 for adults and $5 for students.

–Kane County News Briefs–