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These kids really deliver

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

You can learn a lot working at the post office. Especially if you're a fourth- or fifth-grader, and that post office is set up to deliver mail to students and staffers at Gary D. Wright Elementary School in Hampshire. "This is a nice way for them to work on real-life skills," reading teacher Jen Breeze said.

AT&T helps fund U46's 10 Boys' Initiative

From Staff Reports — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

ELGIN -- AT&T Illinois recently announced School District U46 is the winner of an "AT&T Investing in Illinois Award" to support the district's 10 Boys' Initiative that matches at-risk students with a mentor.

Plank Road Panther(s) still a mystery

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

It was exactly a year ago that Elgin deer hunter Pat Crawford started looking through the photos recorded by a motion-activated camera in the back of a friend's tree nursery along Plank Road. Among the deer pictures he had hoped for, he discovered the blurry image of what seemed to him to be a leopard-like cat. That set off a series of news stories we ran last year

West Dundee eyes possible tax on utilities for new year

By J.J. Bailey For The Courier-News — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

WEST DUNDEE -- To open the new year, village residents here could be facing a utilities tax.

Police Blotter

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

A burning issue

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

EAST DUNDEE -- Village Trustee Lael Miller says he can't count all the trees on the two acres of property where he's lived for more than seven years in Lakewood Estates, bordering Carpentersville.

More sacrifices in fight vs. Hampshire budget woes

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

HAMPSHIRE -- Six months ago, Hampshire began the current May 1-April 30 fiscal year with a budget that included pay freezes, unfilled jobs, and even employees cleaning their own offices.

Bail set at $100,000 for dad charged with arson

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Bail was set at $100,000 on Saturday for an Elgin man whose 2-year-old son was rescued Thursday from an Elgin house fire that authorities believe the father set. James R. Beavers Jr., 31, of 517 Cumberland Trail, is charged with two counts of aggravated arson, a Class X felony, two more counts of arson, two counts of obstructing a firefighter and one count of aggravated obstructing a police officer.

No blue Christmas for some workers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

There's some good news for job seekers: Retail and a few other industries are hiring more workers this season compared to last year. The U.S. Department of Labor reported an increase of 17 percent in the number of job openings in the Midwest between August and September 2009.

Who's earning how much in our schools?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

If you're going to be a teacher or a school administrator in Illinois, you probably want to try to land a job on the North Shore. One reason is that the average high school district teacher salary on the North Shore is $94,000, according to the 2009 state report cards. The average high school district administrative salary there is $147,000.