Snowplows, snowblowers and good old-fashioned shovels were brought out of storage late last week as the Chicago area was hit with heavy snowfall that totaled a foot or more in spots. Schools closed and roads were snarled but kids (and lovers of winter) enjoyed the season’s significant accumulation. (Photo by Allan Benson)

REGION

Charges lodged in LaSalle, Kane for cocaine delivery

A 25-year-old Aurora man faces felony charges for delivery of “thousands of dollars worth of cocaine” in LaSalle and Kane counties, authorities announced today (Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018).

According to  the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team, Derek Aquino Jr. of Aurora is being held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center on $95,000 bond for drug charges he faces in Kane County and $2 million in bond for the Class X felony charges he faces in LaSalle County.

The charges stem from a four-month narcotics investigation conducted by TRIDENT, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release, law enforcers conducted a search on Feb. 3 at Aquino’s residence, 938 Garfield Ave. in Aurora. During the search, deputies located about 14 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,400.

Aquino Jr. was not present at the time of the search warrant but was taken into custody later that day. At that time, the Kane County States Attorney’s Office authorized charges including: possession of a controlled substance, also a Class 1 felony.

AURORA

Community named finalist in Smart Cities Competition

Smart Cities Council has named Aurora as among eight finalists for its 2018 Readiness Challenge Competition.

With an initial application pool of several dozen cities, counties and states throughout the country, the field will be reduced to five in early March to receive mentoring as well as tailored products and services to accelerate their smart city initiatives.

Other finalists include Albuquerque, New Mexico; Birmingham, Alabama; Cary, North Carolina; Fairfax County, Virginia;   Los Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky; and the State of Virginia.

The five winning jurisdictions will receive a full year of expert, vendor-neutral mentoring, plus an on-site Readiness Workshop custom-tailored to each community’s needs and priorities. They will also receive free products and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“We are excited to move forward in the process,”said Aurora Director of Data and Analytics Andrew Fuerborn. “Should Aurora be awarded the grant, we will collaborate with our neighboring communities to develop a broad smart city strategy, which will include an open data portal and data analytics tools.”

COUNTY

Farm Bureau celebrates annual chili cookout

The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation celebrates National Chili Day on Feb. 22 with a chili cook-off and cornbread competition.

The foundation fundraiser, held at KCFB offices at 2N 710 Randall Road,  will help provide nine different categories of scholarships and internships throughout the year.

A $5 donation entitles a visitor to six tickets, good for a cup of chili or piece of cornbread.

For contestents, chili entry fee is $20 for members or $30 for non-members.  Cornbread entries are free with chili entry or $5. 

For more information visit www.KaneCFB.com/Chili or call (630) 584-8660.

ST. CHARLES

Restaurant Week offers diners 20 percent off

From February 26 to March 2, visit participating St. Charles restaurants and receive a 20 percent discount off your a bill from more than 40 participating restaurants with a special coupon—either printed or on a phone.

“Restaurant week is a great way to get out and support your local restaurants and to experience the variety of cuisine that St. Charles has to offer,” says Matt O’Rourke, Economic Development Division Manager.

Only one bill per table is eligible for the discount, a minimum purchase of $20 is required. The 20 percent discount excludes tax, tip, and alcohol and the offer is not valid with other promotions the restaurants may be running and is for dine-in only, no carry-out.

For more information, contact the Economic Development Division at (630) 377-4443 or econdev@stcharlesil.gov. 

City and park district offer coyote management plan

To help residents discourage coyotes from settling in neighborhoods, the City of St. Charles and St. Charles Park District have developed a Coyote Management Plan. The Plan is available on the City’s website at www.stcharlesil.gov/coexisting-local-coyotes.

“The Coyote Management Plan was created to educate residents on normal coyote behaviors and activity,” said Laura Rudow, Superintendent of Parks and Planning. “Following the easy steps listed in the plan can help residents can deter coyotes from becoming habituated in neighborhoods.”

Coyotes are common across the state of Illinois, and are necessary in order to keep populations of smaller wild animals and vermin in check. An increase in coyote sightings between now and the spring is expected as young coyotes leave their parents in search of mates and territories to call their own.

For more information about the Coyote Management Plan, please contact the City of St. Charles at (630) 377-4400.

COUNTY

Sixth DUI conviction  leads to nine years in jail

An Aurora man is headed to prison for his sixth DUI offense.

Forty-five-year-old Roberto Patino Hernandez agreed to a sentence of nine years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to aggravated DUI, Class X felony.

Circuit Judge James C. Hallock accepted the plea earlier this month

On May 9, 2016, Aurora police witnessed Patino Hernandez driving 46 mph on northbound North Farnsworth Avenue in the vicinity of Sheffer Road where the posted speed limit is 30 mph. When stopped by police Patino Hernandez’s breath smelled of alcohol, and police saw an open case of Budweiser beer on the floor in front of the front passenger seat and several empty beer cans scattered in the passenger compartment. Patino Hernandez failed standardized field sobriety tests.

Patino Hernandez has five prior DUI violations, in 1999, 2010 and 2011 in DuPage County, in 2006 in Kane County and in 2000 in Washington state.

According to Illinois law, Patino Hernandez is eligible for day-for-day credit. He receives credit for 378 days served in the Kane County jail, where he has been held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

–Kane County News Briefs–