The Crystal Lake Police Department, along with members of Safe Kids McHenry County, will host Seat Check Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 at Pauly Toyota, 1035 S. Route 31. (Crystal Lake Police Department photo)

McHenry County

State’s Atty. Kenneally earns MADD Heroes Award

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally recently received the 2018 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Heroes Award for his efforts in outstanding impaired driving enforcement. MADD recognized Kenneally for the many initiatives launched by the State’s Attorney’s Office in 2018 to combat drunk driving and make roads safer. One of the initiatives is the No Refusal Policy. The new policy ensures that a warrant for a blood draw is obtained for any DUI suspect that refuses breathalyzer testing so that prosecutors have evidence of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in order to hold drunk drivers fully accountable. In addition, the State’s Attorney’s Office has been monitoring DUI misdemeanor cases handled by municipal attorneys to ensure those cases are not being unnecessarily plead to a reduced charge or dismissed. Lastly, the State’s Attorney’s Office has conducted dozens of training sessions for law enforcement on the topic of DUI so that officers county-wide are prepared to conduct the best possible investigations and testify convincingly in court. For more information, call 815-334-4159 or visit www.mchenrycountyil.gov.

Barrington Hills

Village to host The Hills Are Alive Fall Festival

The village announced that the 6th Annual The Hills Are Alive Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 (rain or shine) at the Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center, 361 Bateman Road. The event includes the Scales and Tales Interactive Animal Show (11:30 a.m.), a dunk tank fundraiser (12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m.), a petting zoo, balloon creations, bubble fun with Glowy the Bubbler, caricature artists, mini therapy horses, an equestrian drill team, barrel racing and blacksmithing demos, make-your-own-ice-cream, hayrides and a rock climbing wall, as well as live music by the Dave Murley Band. In addition, a selection of beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, food (pork, brats, hot dogs and sides) and sweet treats will be available for purchase. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.vbhil.gov/hills-alive.

Fox River Grove

Annual Fox Chase 5K & Youth Mile to aid Rec Council

The village announced that the 25th Annual Fox Chase 5K & Youth Mile will be held Sept. 30, beginning and ending at Stanger Park, adjacent to Algonquin Road Middle School, 975 Algonquin Road. The 5K run will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the Youth Mile at 10 a.m. Race-day registration is available from 7:45-8:45 a.m. The event is professionally timed and the course is USATF-certified. Pre- and post-race stretching will be provided by Centegra Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Clinic. Cash awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers, and medals will awarded to the top runners in each age bracket. The fee to participate is $30 (5K) and $15 (Youth Mile), and includes a Sport-Tek shirt and goody bag. Proceeds will benefit the Fox River Grove Recreation Council Scholarship Fund. To register online, visit www.frgrc.org/foxchase. For more information, call 847-639-3170 or visit www.foxrivergrove.org.   

Fox Lake

Annual Town Hall meeting to be held at high school

The village announced that the Annual Town Hall Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Grant High School Auditorium, 285 E. Grand Ave. The meeting is hosted by Mayor Donny Schmit, the Village of Fox Lake Board of Trustees and staff representatives from each village department. Attendees will learn about completed, upcoming and ongoing projects, and the state of the village. Attendees also will have an opportunity to ask questions of elected officials and village staff. For more information, call Village Hall at 847-587-2151 or visit www.foxlake.org.

Crystal Lake

Police Dept. offers child safety seat check-ups

The Crystal Lake Police Department, along with members of Safe Kids McHenry County, will host Seat Check Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 at Pauly Toyota, 1035 S. Route 31. The event provides residents an opportunity to have child safety seats checked and/or installed in their vehicles by a certified child passenger safety seat technician. No appointment is necessary. Participants are encouraged to bring a child’s safety seat with the vehicle it will be installed in, and the owner’s manual for both the vehicle and child safety seat. For more information, call Officer Ed Pluviose at 815-356-3620 or visit www.crystallake.org.

McHenry

City offers one-time fall brush pick-up service

The city announced that its fall brush pick-up program will begin Oct. 1. All residents interested in participating must have brush placed on the parkway parallel to the street (not in the street) no later than 7 a.m. Oct. 1. The program is for residential properties only, and is intended for large tree branches resulting from trimming or storm damage. All branches must be as long as possible, and no more than 5 inches in diameter. No stumps or roots will be taken. Crews will visit each street once and continue until they have gone through the entire city. No callbacks will be made. Residents can also bundle branches and put them with regular yard waste for pick-up, with a pre-paid yard waste sticker. Branches must be bundled to a maximum of 5 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter, with a maximum of 50 pounds per bundle. This program will end the first full week of December. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 815-363-2186 or visit www.ci.mchenry.il.us.

–McHenry County News Briefs–