Auroran Ruby Bonnell, 2, modeled a toy firefighter’s helmet after a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday to open rebuilt Aurora Fire Station No. 7. The four-year, $4 million project at 824 Kenilworth Place culminated with the ceremony, refreshments and self-guided tours and an open house Saturday. The 60-year-old former station will be razed for a parking lot. (Al Benson photo)

COUNTY

Flu cases show slight decline

Flu-related emergency room visits appear to on the decline, according to the Kane County Health Department.

According to the Kane County Health Department, flu-related cases dropped to 14.1 percent of emergency room visits to five reporting hospital emergency rooms.

The absenteeism rate for Kane County public schools was 1.26 percent.

No public school was closed for increased influenze-like illness activity.

As of the week ending Feb. 10, there have been 50 cases of influenza-related ICU admission reported to the health department. No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.

To date, 17 outbreaks of influenza have been reported in Long- Term Care/Assisted Living facilities in Kane County.

AURORA

Police say no threat of West High shooting

The Aurora Police Department posted on Facebook last Thursday that social-media posts threatening a shooting at “West High” did not appear to be related to the West Aurora High School campus at 1201 W. New York St.

“We have been investigating its veracity, and it appears this is NOT West High in Aurora,” said Dan Ferrelli, Aurora Police Department spokesperson on the APD Facebook page. “Please be assured that we will continue to look into it and have extra resources assigned to West Aurora High School.”

The social media posts follow a pattern of copycat threats around the country following the massacre at a South Florida high school.

Niles North High School in Skokie was evacuated last Wednesday following a bomb threat. Students were bused to nearby Niles West to end the school day, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad was on the scene with Skokie police at Niles North late Wednesday afternoon.

BATAVIA

Police investigate report of Steak ’n Shake shooting

Batavia police are investigating shooting incident in the parking lot of the popular Steak ‘n Shake restaurant at 1901 McKee St., just off Randall Road.

According to a news release, officers were dispatched at 6:35 p.m. last Tuesday by medical staff who were treating a male patient for an apparent gunshot wound.

Following a preliminary crime-scene investigation, police said there had been an apparent verbal altercation between the victim, who had been in his car and parked in the drive-through lane, and the driver and occupant or occupants of a red sedan.

The victim told police that one of the occupants of the red sedan “fired numerous shots at him, striking him once.”

The driver of the red sedan then attempted to leave the parking lot, but lost control. The sedan struck another vehicle that was parked and unoccupied in the lot, then exited.

Police said the sedan is believed to have sustained moderate damage to the front passenger bumper and fender.

The defender is described as black, of unknown age, possibly with a beard. “It is unclear if there were other occupants” in the red sedan, police said.

Batavia Police Chief Daniel Eul said the investigation is ongoing and updates will be forthcoming as they are available.

AURORA

Council committee gives okay for June Pride Parade

A City of Aurora committee has approved the city’s first-ever gay pride parade, set for 1 p.m. June 17 in downtown Aurora.

The city’s Government Operations Committee voted 2-0 to OK the permit. Aldermen Rick Mervine and Judd Lofchie voted in favor of the permit while Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns abstained, according to media reports.

Organizers told the committee that the event would be “G-Rated” and Indivisible Aurora will cover the full cost, estimated at between $5,000 and $6,000.

The date of the event, which takes place on Father’s Day, was chosen by the city. Organizers had sought a June date because it is Pride Month and asked officials not to chose June 24, the date of the Chicago Pride Parade, according to media reports.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin issued a statement in support:

“I am proud to live in a community that has moved beyond the selfish ‘I’ and ‘Me’ mentality to the collective ‘We’ and ‘Us’ mindset as we strive to build Aurora together,” he said. “As I have been saying for more than a dozen years and certainly since I became mayor: We are one Aurora — and that includes all of us.”

SUGAR GROVE

WCC, Delnor partner to assist disabled adults

Waubonsee Community College’s Workforce Development Division has partnered with Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital on Project SEARCH, a program to assist adults with disabilities in the development of job skills leading to an increased level of independence.

Project SEARCH provides education and training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is done through an innovative workforce and career development model that benefits the individual, workplace and the community.

The program follows a 32-week schedule during which each participant completes three, 10-week internships and two 1-week workshops. The goal of Project SEARCH is to prepare each participant for competitive employment upon completion of the skill-building program.

Northwestern Medicine Delnor has found that the most successful young adult programs like this in the nation are associated with an education partner. In this partnership, Waubonsee will review the program’s curriculum and educational guidelines, provide noncredit course enrollment, as well as certificates of completion. Northwestern Medicine Delnor will provide classroom space, business liaisons, internship development, and uniforms for participants.

COUNTY

Forest Preserve district offers guided hikes

Get your daily 10,000 steps in, during guided hikes with Forest Preserve District of Kane County naturalists.

Each month, the district will offer a  two-hour hike at a forest preserve. “Trek with a Naturalist” programs are designed for those who like active hiking. The hikes will be led by a naturalist, who will interpret the ecology of the preserve along the way.

The first will take place on March 15, from 5-7 p.m. at Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve, 5N753 IL Rte. 31, St. Charles.

The next comes on April 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve (East), 10N630 Nesler Rd., Elgin.

The final hike is May 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve, 41W600 Hughes Rd., Elburn.

These free programs are for ages 18 and above. Advance registration is required. Call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register.

For more information, visit www.kaneforest.com, or find us on social media by searching @forestpreserve.

–Kane County News Briefs–