Aurora resident Barbara Zegiel, second from left, presents a ceremonial house key to new Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity homeowner Rubi Mata on Dec. 2. The presentation took place at 1555 Solfisburg Ave. in Aurora after a dedication service at First Baptist Church in Aurora. The Mata home–Faith Build 2017 by volunteers from 30 churches–is Habitat’s 58th in Aurora, N. Aurora and Montgomery since the volunteer group’s founding in 1989. (Al Benson photo)

ELGIN

Driver safe after car crashes into retention pond

A 19-year-old driver is safe after her vehicle plunged into a retention pond near the intersection of Randall Road and College Green last week, according to police, fire and media reports.

According to the Elgin Fire Department, emergency response personnel were dispatched at around 5:30 a.m. last Thursday to a vehicle accident with a car in the water at Randall Road and College Green.

On arrival, crews found a vehicle half submerged in a retention pond. The driver of the vehicle had gotten out and stated that a passenger was missing. This information was passed on to the incident commander, who called for a Mutual Aid Dive Response.

Divers from nearby fire departments responded and began searching the pond for a possible victim. It was later determined that there was no other person in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The reported passenger was located at a friend’s home a couple of blocks from the accident, fire officials said. There were no patients transported from the scene.

One southbound lane of Randall Road was closed while a dive team searched for the passenger. The blocked southbound lane at Randall and College Green was opened as of 7:19 a.m., according to the Elgin Police Department Facebook page.

GENEVA

Lalli named new manager of Cougars

The Arizona Diamondbacks have named Blake Lalli as Kane County Cougars manager for the 2018 season.

Lalli, spent the last five seasons playing in the Major Leagues with the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and most recently the Atlanta Braves. He is no stranger to the D-backs affiliate system as he previously spent time with the organization’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno from 2014-15.

Lalli’s staff will include pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Rick Short, coach Jorge Cortes, athletic trainer Kelly Boyce along with strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Shipman.

Sauveur returns to Kane County for his third year with the D-backs and is the only returning member of the Cougars staff for the upcoming season. Short comes to the Cougars for his first season as a hitting coach after spending the last eight years as a scout for the D-backs. A native of Elgin, he spent three years as a member of the Western Illinois University baseball team before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1994. Cortes begins his third season in the D-backs organization after spending the 2017 season at Short-Season A Hillsboro. 

SOUTH ELGIN

Electronics drop-off site to permanently close

One of three Kane County electronics recycling locations will close this month.

The Electronics Recycling Drop-off location at 735 Martin Drive in South Elgin at the old Public Works building is scheduled to permanently close on Friday, Dec. 29.

The County and their electronics recycling contractor, eWorks Electronics Services, had partnered with the Village of South Elgin since September of 2016, who hosted the site. Because South Elgin Public Works staff are now located at another building, they are not able to continue to provide assistance with forklifting the materials into the trucks and so the site has to be closed. 

Kane County’s other two locations will remain open. They are in West Dundee (900 Angle Tarn) and Batavia (517 E. Fabyan Parkway), open 40 hours a week.

For more information contact Jennifer Jarland, Kane County Recycling Coordinator, at (630) 208-3841 or email  recycle@countyofkane.org.

AURORA

16-year-old charged in mid-October shooting

Aurora Police have secured charges on a 16-year old Aurora youth who has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the shooting of a 15-year-old boy on Oct. 14.

The shooting occurred around 11:40 p.m. inside a home in the 400 block of Echo Lane in the DuPage County Section of Aurora. The 16-year-old walked into the home where a small party was taking place, produced a handgun, shot the younger boy, and then fled the scene.

The shooting appears to have been over a girl who was also at the party and the 16-year-old used to date. He apparently did not know the boy who he shot.

The 15-year-old was taken to an Aurora hospital and then transferred to a suburban hospital where he was treated for critical injuries.

The 16-year-old was taken into custody without incident on Nov. 29 after a lengthy investigation by Aurora Police detectives. He is currently in the Kane County Youth Home.

ELGIN

Parks and Recreation hosts Dec. 19 job fair

Elgin Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a job fair at The Centre of Elgin from 4 – 6 pm. on Dec. 19.

Potential applicants for part-time and seasonal jobs will meet hiring managers and schedule interviews.

Interested candidates should submit a City of Elgin employment application starting on Dec. 12. All applications are filled out and submitted online. Just click on Jobs Center at the bottom of the web page. Computers will also be available for applicants to apply onsite if needed.

SUGAR GROVE

Winkle named to WCC Foundation board

The Waubonsee Community College Foundation welcomed Matt Winkle of Aurora to its board of directors on Dec. 5.

Winkle is the president and co-owner of Weldstar, a distributor of welding equipment and industrial and specialty gases. Before joining Weldstar in 1993, Winkle worked for Sonoco Products Company for four years.

Winkle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Materials Logistics Management from Michigan State University in 1989. He also completed coursework at Farleigh Dickinson University and at Indiana University.

Winkle has served on various boards and committees, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, the Aurora Economic Development Commission – Workforce Development Committee and the Valley Industrial Association.

The Waubonsee Community College Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to obtain funding for scholarships, educational opportunities and services to students and residents of Waubonsee’s district.

SUGAR GROVE

Nominations now open for WCC athletic hall

Waubonsee Community College is accepting applications for the Chiefs’ Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees will be honored at the school’s year-ending Athletic Banquet on May 3, 2018.

Individuals or groups can be nominated for induction. Nomination forms are available online by going to www.waubonsee.edu/athletics or through Waubonsee’s Athletic Office on the college’s Sugar Grove Campus. Nominations can be submitted until Feb. 2, 2018.

Inductees will then be determined by a selection committee representing Waubonsee’s staff, administration and former Waubonsee student-athletes. Nominated athletes must be five years removed from competing for Waubonsee. Nominees will fall into one of five categories: administrators, faculty and staff; athletes; coaches; community supporters; and specific teams.

–Kane County News Briefs–