A 54-year-old Chicago man is charged with first-degree murder after authorities said he spat on a Glendale Heights woman and stabbed her in the back Thursday near a CTA green line stop in Chicago Willie Holmes was denied pretrial release at a detention hearing Sunday officials from the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said 25-year-old Emily Carlson was sitting on the outside exit steps at the Central Avenue green line station at 350 N Thursday when Holmes reportedly walked past and spat on her then Holmes pulled out a knife with a locking blade and chased after the boyfriend Authorities said the boyfriend used a bicycle to shield himself from Holmes who then turned his attention back to Carlson but Holmes plunged the knife into her back but several unarmed witnesses chased after him and cornered him in a nearby convenience until officers arrived Carlson was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at about 7 p.m Prosecutors said the stab wound punctured her aorta Authorities said Carlson had recently given birth as well Officers recovered the knife at the convenience store and took evidence from Holmes that indicated blood from Carlson was present The attack and chase were all captured on multiple surveillance cameras and Holmes was identified in photo arrays as the attacker by multiple witnesses Holmes is due back in court Tuesday for a status hearing on his case A Glendale Heights woman has been charged with driving under the influence of cannabis in a 2024 crash in Addison that killed a truck driver Melynna Ramirez, 23, of the 1000 block of Bloomingdale Road, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination — causing death, and aggravated driving under the influence of drugs — first or second offense, according to DuPage County court records. The charges accuse her of failing to yield while pulling out of a private driveway to turn left on the 500 block of Rohlwing Road in Addison at 2:26 p.m. on July 26, 2024. The Honda Accord she was driving hit a dump truck loaded with gravel, causing it to turn onto its side. According to a prosecutor’s petition to detain Ramirez pretrial, she told police that she consumed cannabis earlier in the day. A blood test after the crash showed she had 25 nanograms per milliliter of blood, five times more than the legal standard for intoxication, according to the petition. The truck’s driver, Pedro Alvarez-Arroyo, died the next day. Ramirez was granted pretrial release on Saturday and ordered to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation and testing. Ramirez was sentenced to two years of court supervision in February 2024 on a misdemeanor battery charge. One of the conditions of her sentence was that she not violate any criminal laws during her supervision. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network 2025 at 4:25 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Glendale Heights woman faces federal charges after prosecutors say she did not test the temperature of water before showering a patient She is also accused of failing to tell the medical staff at Ray Graham Association about the severity of the burns IL — A Glendale Heights woman faces several felony charges after authorities say an older woman in her care sustained second-degree burns because she failed to test the temperature of water before giving her a bath was charged with abuse of a long-term care facility resident criminal neglect of a long-term care facility resident and reckless conduct in connection with the June 2024 incident at Ray Graham Association (RGA) in Bensenville which resulted in second-degree burns on most of her lower body Conner is further accused of failing to tell medical staff at the facility about how badly the woman had been hurt "This successful indictment could not have taken place without the hard work and collaboration of DuPage County Patrol Deputies Investigations and the State of Illinois Attorney General Office Investigators,” DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said in a statement “The case brought before the Grand Jury was the result of hours of investigation and interagency cooperation between the Sheriff’s Department and Attorney General’s Office and well-being of all the residents of DuPage County seriously It was especially disturbing to find a caregiver of The Ray Graham Association (RGA) cause bodily harm to one of its residents because of willful abuse and neglect." “Residents of long-term care facilities and community-based group homes rely on caretakers for their health and wellness All Illinois residents deserve to be safe in their homes and it is appalling that any caretaker would cause serious harm to an elderly or vulnerable patient in their care,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said “I will continue to partner with local law enforcement to protect Illinois seniors and people with disabilities and hold individuals who abuse them accountable Conner is set to appear in court again March 10 RGA did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment Wednesday afternoon Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. helped secure the guilty verdict in this case This case was Crew’s first career felony jury trial “WHILE A GUILTY VERDICT CANNOT BRING MAREK BACK TO THOSE WHO LOVED HIM PERHAPS MAREK’S SURVIVING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES MAY FIND SOME MEASURE OF JUSTICE KNOWING THAT THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS MURDER WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE,” BOB BERLIN DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that a jury found Richard Goodwin guilty of the 2021 murder of Hanover Park resident Marek Krywko The jury returned their verdict after deliberating for approximately sixteen hours following a four-day-long trial the jury found Goodwin guilty of one count of First-Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Battery Goodwin appeared in Bond Court where his bond was set at $500,000 full cash in accordance with a previously issued arrest warrant He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time Hanover Park police officers responded to a residence on Pebblebeach Drive for a gunshot victim a second call came for another gunshot victim officers located the initial victim outside the residence with a gunshot wound to her left thigh officers found Marek Krywko with a gunshot wound to his left thigh striking his femoral artery First aid was administered to both victims but Krywko remained unresponsive and was transported to a local hospital for medical attention He was pronounced deceased a short time later authorities learned that Goodwin and two females were at the residence to purchase marijuana from Krywko The investigation further found that when the female victim gave Goodwin a bottle of water Goodwin then shot Krywko before fleeing the scene with the two females after being presented with all the evidence a jury found Richard Goodwin guilty of the senseless murder of Marek Krywko,” Berlin said “I thank the jury for their service and for seeing through Mr I also thank Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh for ensuring a fair trial for both sides While a guilty verdict cannot bring Marek back to those who loved him perhaps Marek’s surviving friends and relatives may find some measure of justice knowing that the man responsible for his murder will be held accountable I thank the Hanover Park Police Department for their efforts on this case as well as the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office the Naperville and Carol Stream Police Departments and investigators from the DuPage M.E.R.I.T I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Louisa Nuckolls Alyssa Rabulinski and Daniel Orescanin for their efforts in securing a guilty verdict against Mr Goodwin’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 4 for post-trial motions and return of the pre-sentence report one of the State’s Attorney’s Office’s newest members Crew is a facility dog specially trained and placed according to his natural abilities to work with trained handlers within the Office for the benefit of vulnerable populations served by the State’s Attorney’s Office Crew’s tie was cut and will be preserved to memorialize his first trial victory.  A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections Contributions or gifts to the organization are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes Powered by Squarespace Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner are reporting a 25-year-old Glendale Heights woman died after being stabbed Thursday afternoon in Chicago near a CTA green line stop Chicago police said Emily Carlson and an adult male victim were arguing and fighting with a 54-year-old man at 1 p.m Thursday on the 300 block of North Central Avenue when the 54-year-old man stabbed Carlson in the back before fleeing on foot Carlson was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at about 7 p.m. according to the medical examiner’s office Police were able to find the suspect and take him into custody Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Retired UPS worker who also had a second career as a custodian and Glendale Public Library in Glendale Heights A memorial service will be planned at a later date/time Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options in Schiller Park This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar lost his bid Thursday to have his name appear on the April 1 consolidated election ballot DuPage County Judge Bryan Chapman ruled that Khokhar’s judicial petition for review had to be dismissed because his attorney did not serve the petition on time to the other parties in the case, missing the deadline by about eight minutes. Khokhar said after the hearing that the case “was not decided on the merits.” But he added he has not decided whether to appeal the ruling. He also said he could run as a write-in. “I’m a little disappointed, but it is not the end of the world,” Khokhar said. The village’s electoral board removed him from the ballot on Dec. 23. It agreed with objector Matthew Corbin, who contended that Khokhar had shown a pattern of fraud in collecting signatures on his candidate petition. They believed he allowed people to sign for other people. Khokhar then appealed the decision in DuPage County Circuit Court. He had until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 30 to file the judicial request with the circuit court clerk and mail copies of the petition to the electoral board, Corbin, and the DuPage County clerk. Chapman said Khokhar’s attorney, Frank Avila, had not provided sufficient evidence the copies were mailed on time. Avila argued that he and an assistant handed the envelopes to a clerk at the main Chicago post office at least 10 minutes before midnight. He said it was not their fault if postal workers did not stamp them until after midnight. Chapman said Avila had not provided any documentation to support his contention nor an affidavit from himself or his assistant. Corbin’s attorney submitted documents to the court showing the notice to Corbin had a postage stamp printed on Dec. 31 and a certified mail tracking report indicating the post office was “in possession” of the notice at 12:08 a.m. Dec. 31. Michael Ontiveroz, Rebecca Giannelli, James F. Sullivan and Michael J. Light are running for village president. Light is currently a village trustee. After the hearing on Thursday, an investigator from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office interviewed Khokhar about his election petitions. The state’s attorney has previously declined to say whether it is investigating Khokhar. Khokhar has a disorderly conduct case pending. The next date for that is Feb. 27. https://www.dailyherald.com/20250213/local-politics/glendale-heights-village-president-loses-bid-to-be-put-back-on-the-ballot/ Little Caesars is celebrating the official grand opening of its new Glendale Heights location on Saturday with free pizza for a year for the first 100 guests in line The restaurant at 1161 Bloomingdale Road will hold a ribbon cutting on March 22 for the location that opened on Feb the first 100 people in line will receive a promo card for one free large classic pizza per week for 52 consecutive weeks It’s limited to one per family or household and official rules will be posted at the store The noon ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a $500 donation to Glenbard West High School A Glendale Heights attorney has been sentenced to six years in prison for using his girlfriend’s personal identifying information to defraud banks out of more than $82,000 over an approximately 18-month period appeared at his sentencing hearing Friday in front of Judge Mia McPherson On May 31, 2024, DeFranco entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of identity theft – more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. DeFranco was charged with 13 counts of identity theft, 26 counts of forgery, four counts of financial institution fraud, one count of continuing a financial crimes enterprise and two counts of obstruction of justice, all felonies ranging from Class 1 to Class 4, according to the release. Today’s sentence stems from allegations that between Dec. 2, 2015, and June 8, 2017, DeFranco, without authorization, used the personal identifying information of his then-girlfriend to obtain four loans totaling $82,700. DeFranco’s scheme was uncovered when the victim ran her credit report and discovered the loans. Once she uncovered the fraudulent loans, she contacted law enforcement and the financial institutions that provided the loans. Following an investigation into the thefts, authorities learned that in one instance, DeFranco used his victim’s personal identifying information to secure a loan in her name for the purchase of a $43,500 Audi A8. At the sentencing hearing, the state proved in aggravation that DeFranco, through various schemes, had stolen a total of $845,831 from a dozen victims including his former girlfriend, five individuals and six financial institutions, according to the release. “White collar financial crimes always leave a paper trail,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “This afternoon, Mr. DeFranco learned that the paper trail in this case is leading him to a six-year sentence in the penitentiary. His scheming and deception brought dishonor to the legal profession and a slap in the face to his former girlfriend, to whom he undoubtedly caused a financial hardship.” The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission disbarred DeFranco effective March 19, 2024. Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar was removed from the spring ballot on Monday during a contentious hearing before the village’s electoral board The board ruled 3-0 that all of the signature sheets that Khokhar submitted with his nominating petition should be declared invalid because the paperwork exhibited a pattern of fraud The panel consisted of Trustee Chester Pojack Trustee Mary Schroeder and Village Clerk Marie Schmidt yelled at the electoral board members before and after the ruling Why Glendale Heights village president could be thrown off ballot The objector, Matthew Corbin, argued that on at least 12 sheets, people signed for other people. Some signatures had been ruled invalid by the DuPage County clerk’s office. Corbin submitted an affidavit from one man who swore he did not sign the petition. Khokhar, who represented himself, testified that he circulated all 24 petition sheets himself. “I did not let anybody sign on behalf of another person,” he said. Khokhar accused the electoral board of violating his constitutional rights by not letting him question Corbin, who did not attend the meeting. But the electoral board’s attorney said there was no right to do so because it was a civil — not a criminal — procedure. He also said objectors are not required to attend hearings. Corbin was represented by lawyer Tiffany Nelson Jaworski. “Why are there so many discrepancies?” Pojack asked Khokhar, at which point Khokhar pointed at Schmidt and accused her of being corrupt. Khokhar yelled at Jaworski, accusing her of testifying and falsely accusing him of intimidating potential witnesses. He called her shameful and said he was going to file a complaint against her with the state’s attorney registration and discipline commission. During his summation, Khokhar told the board last Friday that he asked DuPage County Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton to remove the electoral board members. He claims they have long been biased against him. “This is a racist board. I am tired of it,” resident Tony Andrade exclaimed from the gallery. Andrade’s signature for Khokhar was challenged but upheld. Khokhar also wanted to have testimony regarding bias by the board. However, the board’s attorney, Michael Kasper, said that was not relevant. As Andrade was interjecting, Kasper threatened to have two police officers clear the room. “We will have decorum,” Kasper said. The yelling continued after the hearing, with Khokhar and Pojack coming nearly nose-to-nose as Pojack left the room. The board also removed mayoral candidate Edward Pope, who had one fewer signature than needed. He needed 102 signatures to be on the ballot and collected 121. However, the county clerk ruled that 19 signatures were invalid for various reasons. The board then ruled the signatures of a married couple invalid because they had previously signed a petition for another village president candidate, Mike Ontiveroz. Under state law, you can only sign a petition for one candidate seeking a position. Ontiveroz, James Sullivan, Trustee Mike Light and Rebecca Giannelli are the remaining candidates running for village president. A DuPage County judge has denied Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar’s request to have the county clerk stop preparing the April 1 consolidated election ballot while the court considers whether his name should appear on the ballot Judge Bryan Chapman handed down the decision on Friday Court records do not indicate why the judge denied the request But the DuPage County clerk’s office said in a motion and exhibit it filed that it needs an answer on or before Feb proof and set the ballot in time to send them to military and overseas voters and for early voting The village’s Municipal Officers Election Board decided on Dec It agreed with objector Matthew Corbin’s allegation that Khokhar’s election petitions exhibited a pattern of fraud Corbin alleged that people signed others’ names on at least 12 of the 24 sheets in Khokhar’s petition and filed an affidavit from one man swearing that he did not sign Khokhar’s petition The county clerk’s office also ruled some signatures were invalid Khokhar said that he circulated all the sheets himself and that he did not allow anybody to sign on behalf of somebody else Khokhar said the electoral board members are not experts on signatures and have no qualifications to review signatures he argues the electoral board was biased against him because its three members — Trustee Chester Pojack Trustee Mary Schroeder and Village Clerk Marie Schmidt — are supporting another mayoral candidate He also accused Pojack of making a racist statement about a person who testified on Khokhar’s behalf at the electoral board hearing Khokhar was elected village president in 2021 Khokhar was in a criminal courtroom on Monday for a case where he is accused of threatening a village trustee and pushing the village’s police chief Felony disorderly conduct charges were filed against Khokhar in August 2023 A misdemeanor battery charge was added in October 2023 Khokhar is accused of reporting to two police officers in April and May 2023 that Trustee Mohammad Siddiqi had threatened to bite him He filed the reports knowing there were “no reasonable grounds for believing that the offense had been committed,” according to the grand jury indictment The misdemeanor charge alleges Khokhar pushed Chief George Pappas with two hands on Oct Glendale Heights officials could decide next week whether Village President Chodri Khokhar gets to remain on the spring ballot in his bid for a second term A Monday hearing on a petition challenge was continued for a week so the Glendale Heights Municipal Officers Electoral Board could get a report from the DuPage County clerk about the validity of some contested signatures on Khokhar’s nominating petition The same is true for a challenge to the petition of Ed Pope The hearings for Khokhar and Pope started on Dec Trustees Chester Pojack and Mary Schroeder are on the electoral board for the mayoral cases Resident Matthew Corbin objected to the paperwork filed by Pope and Khokhar Corbin contends that village presidential candidates need a minimum of 102 valid signatures to appear on the ballot Khokhar submitted sheets with 187 signatures Trustee Mike Light and Rebecca Giannelli are the other candidates running for village president Corbin alleges Khokhar’s sheets show a pattern of fraud including Khokhar saying he circulated all 24 of the sheets when at least one was circulated by another person Corbin contends that some signatures are from people not registered to vote at the addresses listed Corbin claims there are duplicate signatures and that some of the signatures were done by people other than the voter He also contends Khokhar violated several other requirements about circulating petitions Corbin wants 23 of the petition sheets thrown out Corbin alleges at least 34 of the 121 signatures collected are invalid for various reasons including duplication and not being registered at the address given Corbin objected to the signatures of two people because they first signed the petition of another village president candidate Corbin objected to the petitions of Khokhar Pope and then-Village President Linda Jackson when they ran for the village president seat the electoral board ruled to keep Khokhar and Pope on the ballot Corbin then asked DuPage County judges to remove them One judge ruled that Jackson and Pope could stay on the ballot and the Illinois Supreme Court removed both from the ballot just a few days before the election A different DuPage judge ruled that Khokhar should be removed and Illinois 2nd District Appellate Court judges put him back on the ballot Office Sought: Glendale Heights village president Is there a particular issue that motivates you what makes you the best candidate for the position I am running for village president of Glendale Heights because our community deserves leadership that prioritizes transparency I am committed to ensuring that our local government reflects the needs and aspirations of all residents by enhancing infrastructure and fostering a culture of professionalism and respect What motivates me the most is the need for real change we have seen troubling issues including two felony charges against the current village president multiple lawsuits resulting in over $500,000 in settlements and a toxic workplace culture that led to the resignation of three key department heads and my willingness to think outside the box I will work closely with trustees to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency always putting the interest of the residents first What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it In addition to restoring citizens' trust in village government shattered by years of scandal and negative media attention I believe we must ensure the Glendale Heights Senior Center is on solid financial footing so it can continue serving residents for decades to come Leaders should respond by prioritizing transparency rather than placing additional burdens on seniors How would you describe the state of your community's finances What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed Glendale Heights is in a strong financial position with a healthy General Operating Fund with almost $37 million and was recently given a solid Aa3 credit rating by Moody's Maintaining this financial stability should remain a top priority ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively the top priorities for spending over the next few years should focus on: • Infrastructure Upgrades — Continuing investments in water and sewer lines are essential to prevent costly emergency repairs in the future and emergency services have the resources to keep the community safe • Senior Services — Keeping the Senior Center accessible and affordable as well as exploring funding alternatives to avoid placing financial burden on the senior residents • Economic Development — Encouraging business growth and revitalization efforts As for areas that may need to be curtailed it would be wise to review discretionary spending and ensure that all programs are delivering tangible benefits to residents What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address what project(s) can be put on the back burner Prioritizing water and sewer infrastructure is crucial The village has a long-term infrastructure plan that outlines phased improvements over multiple years to ensure budgeted funds are used effectively while seeking additional grants from county I am not aware of any projects that would hamper our financial outlook both short-term or long-term Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board I feel this is exactly what our village government needs in order to turn the corner from the divisive politics of the past I will emphasize teamwork and open communications with trustees My style will be particularly helpful in attracting new business to Glendale Heights quite frankly afraid to open up in Glendale Heights because of the relentlessly negative media coverage of scandal in village government I will be Glendale Heights' top cheerleader in bringing desirable retail businesses back in town I will personally meet with any business considering relocation to Glendale Heights to educate them on what makes our town attractive I will turn the page by treating every elected official with respect and courtesy My leadership will create a culture of professionalism and respect ensuring Glendale Heights moves forward with unity and purpose What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet The Glendale Heights Fest is one of the most iconic events held each year at Camera Park Camera Park is the largest park in Glendale Heights and is located in the center of town attracting thousands from all over Cook and DuPage counties I propose to expand the Glendale Heights Fest to five days that would boost community engagement and economic activity It would give families more flexibility to attend provide vendors with an extra day of business and help mitigate the impact of bad weather a longer festival could allow more diverse programming such as a community appreciation night or special events for seniors and veterans Office Sought: Glendale Heights Village Board District 6 Previous offices held: No government offices held What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it We have to collaborate in unity to move the village forward We have to work together for the best interests of our residents Our village finances been stable with the current administration however there is always improvement that is needed We can do more and as a trustee I will do everything I can to make sure funds are spent wisely to ensure our village progress What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address With the water main line break in my neighborhood we should do a comprehensive assessment on all the water mains Each project needs full review and needs prioritizing We can discuss this as a community and decide which to put on a back burner Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board I have collaborated in implementing patient care policy and goals Collaboration requires efforts from all parties involved It is important to find common ground and respect to other opinions and ideas then a revision is required in order to progress the goal What makes you the best candidate for the job I grew up in Glendale Heights and have seen the progress of the village I am raising my 3 daughters where I was raised My experience with dealing with the local residents within my districts is the reason why I am running for the office my organization skills and attention to details will help me serve the people I prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to lead the village It has been a long time since we had a parade in Glendale Heights I would like to see my children see parade with all the diverse people from our town Previous offices held: Glendale Heights District 3 Trustee since 2011 I am running for village president to continue my efforts in making Glendale Heights the best it can be I believe my residency of the past 58 years and my current connection with the community puts me above my opponents I have served as District 3 Trustee for the past 14 years and I have the proven leadership skills knowledge and passion to lead Glendale Heights into the future I enjoy listening to and helping residents resolve concerns and issues they may have I strive to continue to bring new exciting programs services and family friendly events to truly make our community stronger I am genuinely committed to the residents and my motivation is driven by my dedication to make a significant positive impact on the residents The future holds many different unknown challenges and we as leaders must adapt to those challenges as they appear or arise One of the biggest issues we face right now is economic growth Strong economic development will ensure a financially stable village is to bring new and exciting businesses to Glendale Heights shopping and entertainment into Glendale Heights will increase economic growth by cultivating a lively local economy and enhance the quality of life These establishments will encourage residents to utilize local businesses while attracting neighboring communities to visit Glendale Heights which will ultimately increase foot traffic and contribute to local tax revenue The village’s General Fund Balance Reserves remain strong and exceed the level recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Improving infrastructure remains a top priority for me the village has received over $6.8 million in grants for improvements to facilities Securing grants is crucial to maintain a proactive and strategic approach to expand on these improvements Curtailing of spending is an ongoing priority The constant evaluation of village finances is important My goal is to keep taxes as low as possible without jeopardizing services and the quality of life spend wisely and to seek out our best options Flooding and stormwater management is another top priority Effective stormwater improvements will help control the flow and quality of runoff Properly budgeting for projects is crucial and it is imperative that we search Project bidding is a strategic approach to ensure competitive pricing and quality service This process not only encourages fair competition among contractors but also provides transparency and accountability The village’s finances remain strong and at this point in time I don’t see the need to put a hold on any budgeted projects All projects are assessed and properly budgeted for My leadership style is a collaborative effort with residents researching and understanding the needs of the community is important in the decision-making processes board members and staff should be valued and heard This approach builds trust and encourages innovative solutions where we can collectively address multifaceted challenges I have actively pursued economic development Some of my ideas include expanding the footprint of Glendale Heights The village may have the opportunity to obtain additional land off North Avenue which would increase revenue generating properties Another goal of mine is to re-envision and encourage the growth of new businesses by redeveloping existing properties on Army Trail Road These improvements will unlock new revenue streams and opens the door to unexplored opportunities Previous offices held: Bloomingdale Township Committeeman I have followed the politics in this community for a long time and this in my opinion is the worst I've seen it we have the same people running and taking to the podium in the public meetings that created the environment we are now in I want to be an integral part of the solution The issue that motivates me is the public perception to both resident and the employees that this was the best we could do for them for the past few years I feel my 30 years of experience working on the inside as a municipal public servant actually doing the work dictated by multiple administrations gives me insight no other candidate has I have been a resident of Glendale Heights for over 50 years My wife and I grew up here at the same time the community did and raised our 4 children in the same schools and programs We were also volunteers in most every activity they took part in all the way through Glenbard East where I was the boys gymnastics booster Rep programs and responsible management of village resources that all members of the community expect With a community that was established in the late ’50s the aging infrastructure has to be kept at the top of the list along with the continually changing technology that controls our systems and day to day operations The implementation of environmental regulations also require extensive and expensive changes like what just took place at the sewage treatment plant We need to stay informed and evolve as it does not wait for it to be forced on us This is not accomplished with vacancies in critical positions in staff or members on the board without the knowledge or experience in making those decisions According to the midyear budget and finance report the village is in better shape than others There are more funds in reserve exceeding the worst-case operations scenario recommendation Top priorities for spending should be for the immediate need of failing or outdated village owned infrastructure and utilities Accelerate those where maintenance/labor costs have increased and caused inconvenience or loss of service to our taxpayers Some of our parks are not taken care of as well as they should Continue to look at cost reducing equipment and services to benefit all of us There is spending that needs to be addressed but it's not one specific area but a method of organization that's not efficient in my opinion All infrastructure is important because the health safety and welfare of the community depend on them Continuing to target the most problematic in conjunction with the road/MFT programs is the most cost effective state and county funded are very beneficial is offsetting the village’s burdens This is common practice among government entities A residential drainage program is also needed affecting private property and easements adjacent to them Possibly a shared program similar to the Sanitary lateral one adopted with the parkway tree issues of the past A project I would consider putting on hold is the renovation of the Armitage drainage ditch from Glen Ellyn Road Cleaning of the box culverts routinely continue but we need to coordinate with the county and township to address the connecting part through Glen Ellyn Countryside from Bloomingdale Road to Glen Ellyn to ensure the ensure that the engineering we are using will accommodate the flow characteristics if that is improved That carries a large amount of stormwater from the west side of Bloomingdale Road My years of service dealing with the public contractors and the makeup of two very different municipalities give me an advantage I have always considered myself a great mediator along with a problem solver who’s dealt with a wide spectrum of situations over the years Actions and decisions made at board level have to be done using best information and explanations to the how and why on both sides of the issue My experience is with some effort and civility everyone can come to terms for or against the topic at hand The process that needs to take place prior to the public one at the board meeting is just as important and gets things done respectfully which is what I strive for I would like to make some changes to how we do Glendale Heights Fest and bring back the parade Great way to showcase the all the different groups and diversity of our community Since Chodri Ma Khokhar was elected village president of Glendale Heights in 2021 There have been shouting matches at board meetings confrontations between elected officials and a list of employees who have quit But Khokhar’s name will not appear on the April ballot after the village electoral board decided to remove it And all of them say they are committed to bringing peace and civility to the village government says he’s running again because the village needs leaders who prioritize transparency In addition to working to restore residents’ trust in the village government he said officials must fill vacant positions in several village departments who is the president of the Marquardt District 15 school board says the village deserves strong leadership that listens to residents and prioritizes their needs She describes her leadership style as collaborative She said a key priority is to make village operations more efficient and spur economic development Sullivan is a retired municipal employee who has lived in Glendale Heights for over 50 years He describes himself as a mediator and problem solver who has dealt with various situations over the years He said improving infrastructure and promoting business growth should be a priority for the village Light has lived in the village for 58 years and has served as the District 3 trustee for 14 years He said he is running for the village president position to continue his efforts to make Glendale Heights the best it can be he will focus on economic growth and bringing new businesses to the town Glendale Heights residents cannot go wrong voting for any of the candidates They all express genuine care for what happens in the village His experience on the village board and extensive knowledge about the community should help him get things done Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar wants to represent himself on charges he filed a false police report Attorney Scott Marquardt was allowed to quit Wednesday after telling Judge Daniel Guerin there was “fundamental disagreement about how to proceed” between him and Khokhar Khokhar told Guerin he wanted to represent himself but Guerin urged him to consider hiring another attorney Khokhar is charged with felony disorderly conduct He is accused of falsely reporting to police that a village trustee Marquardt told the judge that he and prosecutors were working on a plea agreement Khokhar told Guerin that the case is based on corruption He also said that other village officials and a political rival have filed false police reports about him but police and prosecutors have not filed charges against them He called several officials corrupt and said they are biased against him and other village residents because of their ethnicities Khokhar said he is running for re-election He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of battery in which he is accused of pushing Glendale Heights Police Chief George Pappas said he was an attorney when he lived in Pakistan and also studied at John Marshall Law School in Chicago Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar is asking a DuPage County judge to put him back on the April 1 ballot Khokhar filed a petition Monday seeking judicial review of the village electoral board’s Dec 23 decision to remove him from the ballot and keep him from seeking a second term Listed as defendants are objector Matthew Corbin and the three members of the board — village trustees Chester Pojack and Mary Schroeder Khokhar argues the board had a “conflict of interest” because it members are biased against him “The Electoral Board members are supporting a different candidate,” the petition states The petition also alleges that an unnamed member of the board “did not provide a fair and open hearing that was honest and fair.” Khokhar accuses Pojack of making a racist statement against a person who testified on the village president’s behalf at the electoral board hearing The petition does not state when the alleged remark was made The petition states Khokhar will provide exhibits supporting his allegations at a court hearing The first hearing is scheduled for March 31 petitioners ask to have the judge move up the hearing The electoral board ruled 3-0 that Khokhar’s signature sheets exhibited a pattern of fraud The objection alleged that people signed others’ names on at least 12 sheets of petitions The DuPage County clerk’s office ruled that some signatures were invalid and one man submitted an affidavit swearing that he did not sign Khokhar’s petition Khokhar argued that he circulated all the sheets himself and that he did not allow anybody to sign on behalf of somebody else Khokhar argues the members of the electoral board are not experts on signatures and have no qualifications to review signatures Office sought: Glendale Heights Village Board District 2 Previous offices held: Village of Glendale Heights Trustee One of the key challenges our community faces is the rigorous nature of home inspections and rental inspections which can sometimes create unnecessary hurdles for contractors and residents seeking to maintain or improve their properties While maintaining high standards for safety and quality is essential overly strict regulations can slow down renovations and discourage investment in our housing market we have already implemented some reforms to streamline the inspection process making it more efficient while still ensuring compliance with safety and zoning regulations more work needs to be done to strike the right balance between protecting residents and allowing for responsible property improvements I will continue to advocate for practical reforms that make inspections more transparent and accessible for both homeowners and contractors we can create a more efficient system that supports housing development while maintaining the integrity of our community which allows us to continue investing in essential services and infrastructure improvements without imposing unnecessary financial burdens on residents our spending priorities should focus on upgrading water pipelines we will also look for opportunities to secure state and federal funding as well as public-private partnerships to maximize resources We will continue reviewing expenditures to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently while maintaining high-quality services The most important infrastructure project for our community is the replacement and maintenance of aging water pipelines Water line breaks not only cause inconvenience to residents but can also lead to costly emergency repairs and potential health concerns By investing in a long-term infrastructure improvement plan we can prevent these disruptions and ensure that our water system remains safe Funding for this project can come from a combination of budget allocations we can prevent more costly emergency repairs and ensure that residents have reliable access to clean water I have worked collaboratively with other board members and community stakeholders to develop and support key policies particularly in infrastructure improvements and public services and active listening to ensure that all perspectives are considered I strive to create policies that are effective I believe in finding common ground and working toward consensus while always keeping the best interests of our residents at the forefront I am deeply committed to serving the residents of Glendale Heights and ensuring that our community remains a great place to live and work and fiscal management allows me to make informed decisions that benefit the entire community and I am always open to hearing residents’ concerns and ideas By prioritizing essential infrastructure projects I will continue working to enhance the quality of life for all residents This initiative that could greatly benefit our community is the creation of a local Farmers Market and Community Garden Committee This initiative would allow residents to grow their own produce in a shared community garden fostering a sense of community while promoting sustainability and healthy living By designating plots of land for community gardening residents could grow fresh fruits and vegetables and build stronger neighborhood connections This initiative could also be expanded into a seasonal farmers market allowing local growers and small businesses to sell their goods and strengthen the local economy This initiative would provide both economic and environmental benefits while creating a more engaged and vibrant community Previous offices held: Elected school board member Marquardt District 15 2021-present; appointed president of the board Glendale Heights deserves strong leadership that listens to residents prioritizes their needs and keeps them at the center I’ve spent years serving our community — as a school board president and a working mom who understands our families' challenges A key priority is driving efficiency in village operations to promote economic growth and ease financial burdens Costly and complex permitting creates unnecessary barriers for homeowners while outdated processes waste time and money we can create a more efficient government that attracts investment and keeps Glendale Heights affordable and thriving a collaborative problem solver and organizational leader has prepared me to navigate complex issues I lead with transparency and fiscal responsibility to strengthen Glendale Heights I’m not just running for office — I’m running to make a difference for the community I love Economic growth and affordability are major challenges Glendale Heights will face in the coming years While our village has hardworking residents and great potential we lag behind neighboring communities in attracting businesses and investment the cost of living — including permit fees and local services — remains a burden on families our leaders must take a strategic approach: • Business Development: We need policies that attract businesses to invest here providing jobs and increasing our tax base Streamlining permit processes and offering incentives for businesses can help • Fairer Fees & Services: Residents shouldn’t pay more than those in wealthier communities We must reassess our fee structures and ensure fairness • Community Investment: Economic growth isn’t just about businesses — it’s about people and community spaces makes Glendale Heights a more attractive place to live and work Strong leadership means making smart financial decisions and ensuring that economic growth benefits everyone Glendale Heights’ finances are stable but could be managed more effectively our fee structures and spending priorities need adjustment to ensure fairness and long-term sustainability • Public Safety: Our police and fire departments must have the resources and technology to protect our community and water systems need upgrades to maintain quality of life and attract investment • Youth & Community Programs: Investing in athletic programs and public spaces strengthens our village and fosters pride • Permit & Fee Structures: We must ensure residents and businesses aren’t overburdened compared to neighboring communities • Operational Efficiencies: Streamlining services and eliminating redundancies can free up funds for essential projects The goal isn’t just to balance the budget — it’s to ensure every dollar spent improves the lives of Glendale Heights residents A critical infrastructure project for Glendale Heights is upgrading our roads and water systems and aging water mains are becoming increasingly costly to repair — creating a significant financial burden for taxpayers and leading to disruptive and potentially dangerous service interruptions for residents Investing in well-maintained infrastructure enhances our residents’ quality of life and makes our community more attractive to businesses and homeowners Investing in preventative maintenance now saves money in the long run by avoiding emergency repairs large-scale beautification projects that don’t directly impact safety or economic growth can be delayed our primary focus should be infrastructure that keeps our community running efficiently and safely Throughout my tenure as school board president — and in leading large teams through layered organizations and complex projects — I’ve worked with diverse stakeholders to make informed decisions that benefit the community always remembering who I work for — our residents — and holding myself and the team accountable from day one: • I will engage with residents with regular town halls and listening sessions that will ensure decisions reflect community needs • I will work across the board and foster open communication with trustees • I will focus on solutions because my leadership isn’t about personal agendas — it’s about delivering real results for Glendale Heights and keeping our residents at the center of all we do and staying accountable to the people who put their trust in me I’ll drive meaningful change that benefits everyone We need neighborhood-based action groups to give residents a voice in local government and create community champion networks Concerns often get lost in bureaucracy or shuffled between departments We can gather real-time input on economic development and community programs by establishing small these teams will lead and implement small-scale high-impact projects — such as youth mentorship programs Each group could have a small discretionary budget (via grants or reallocated funds) to implement tangible improvements A great example would be a “Community Concierge” program developed by these action groups It would be a one-stop resource center — virtual and in-person — where residents get personalized help navigating local services DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Friday 2025 that a Chicago resident on federal probation has been sentenced to twenty-two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for robbing a Glendale Heights Business in April 2023 formerly of the block of 1400 South Pulaski Road where the Court ordered he be detained pre-trial a jury found Wright guilty of one count of Aggravated Robbery Today’s sentence was handed down by Judge Daniel Guerin Glendale Heights Police Department responded about 1:54 p.m 2023 to a call of a robbery at Stella’s Place located at 2190 Bloomingdale Road in Glendale Heights Following an investigation into the matter authorities learned that Wright entered the establishment shortly after 12:00 p.m Wright approached an employee at the front counter indicated he had a firearm and ordered the employee to open the cash register and give him the money in the register After the employee complied with Wright’s orders Wright was taken into custody without incident Wright was on federal probation at the time of his arrest Judge Guerin’s twenty-two-year sentence sends the unmistakable message that if you commit this type of brazen crime in DuPage County While I am sure this was a very traumatic event for the employee at Stella’s I thank the Glendale Heights Police Department for their outstanding work in the identification and apprehension Mr Wright in this case and for their continued efforts in keeping our business establishments safe I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Alyssa Rabulinski and Jaclyn McAndrew for their work securing charges against Mr — DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B Pritzker Vows to Fight US Department of Justice Lawsuit vs Illinois Chicago and Cook County Regarding Migrant Policies Early Morning Extra Alarm Fire at Large Home on Nanak Court in Naperville “Someday soon we’ll stop to ponder what on earth’s this spell we’re under.” so don’t waste it living someone else’s life Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” A former secretary to Glendale Heights Village President Chodri Khokhar is suing him, contending he violated her civil rights by asking her to do tasks she contends were unethical and illegal. Jasjeet Sangha is also suing the village, saying it should have done something to protect her when she complained she was being harassed by village trustees and discriminated against because of her race. The suit was filed last Aug. 8 in federal court. Khokhar said Tuesday he would not comment about the lawsuit until he consults with his attorney. The suit says Sangha was subjected to hostile behavior by trustees Mohammed Siddiqi and Chester Pojack, who oppose Khokhar. She says Siddiqi “vilified” her by repeatedly saying she was hired because she was related to Khokhar when she was not. The suit also said that when Siddiqi learned that she spoke Punjabi, which Khokhar also speaks, Siddiqi told her it was “a language of the uneducated.” The suit does not name Siddiqi or Pojack as defendants. Trustee Siddiqi says he is American. The lawsuit says he and Khokhar are of Pakistani descent. Sangha is of Indian descent, according to the lawsuit. Siddiqi said, in an email Tuesday night, that Sangha falsely accused him and Pojack. He said the village hired an independent investigator to look in to her allegations, and that the investigator determined he and Pojack were “not guilty.” The lawsuit said Khokhar asked her to make campaign fliers and other materials for trustee candidates he supported in the 2023 election on village time, and that she refused. It also said he asked her to suspend the business license of political rival Mike Ontiveros, who had run against Khokhar for president and is a vocal critic. When she refused, Khokhar turned on her, telling the acting village administrator to fire her. He berated her, the lawsuit said, and began removing her job duties and not giving her information needed for her job after he learned she had spoken to investigators after Khokhar was indicted in 2023 on felony charges of disorderly conduct. Khokhar was elected in 2021. He and Siddiqi have clashed ever since. DuPage County prosecutors say Khokhar filed false police reports saying that Siddiqi had threatened to bite him during an encounter in spring 2023 at the village hall. Sangha’s suit said she was a witness to the incident, and he became upset with her after learning investigators had interviewed her. It also says that Khokhar told her in October 2023 to illegally delay responding to a records request from Siddiqi. Sangha refused. Then, she transferred to a lower-paying job with the police department, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages, including lost back and front pay. https://www.dailyherald.com/20240813/news/ex-secretary-sues-glendale-heights-village-president/ 2025 at 9:10 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Richard Goodwin was convicted of first degree murder and aggravated battery (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office )GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL — A Glendale Heights man was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the fatal shooting of Marek Krywko in Hanover Park in 2021 was convicted by a jury following a four-day trial and 16 hours of deliberation Goodwin was arrested in August 2021 on murder charges related to the Aug Police had been called to a home on Pebblebeach Drive in Hanover Park around 7:47 p.m officers found a woman outside with a gunshot wound on her left thigh Police went inside the home and found Krywko with a gunshot wound that had hit his femoral artery Goodwin came to the home with two women to buy marijuana from Krywko When another woman at the scene offered Goodwin a bottle of water a jury found Richard Goodwin guilty of the senseless murder of Marek Krywko,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release “I thank the jury for their service and for seeing through Mr I also thank Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh for ensuring a fair trial for both sides While a guilty verdict cannot bring Marek back to those who loved him perhaps Marek’s surviving friends and relatives may find some measure of justice knowing that the man responsible for his murder will be held accountable." a leading manufacturer of power transmission and motion control solutions announced today that it will hold a grand opening ceremony for its expanded facility in Glendale Heights 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sumitomo Drive Technologies managed by its trusted construction partner PREMIER Design + Build Group has significantly increased the facility's total footprint to over 82,000 square feet - more than doubling its previous space "Expanding our production capabilities is a key part of our strategy to invest in U.S manufacturing and better serve our customers" The expanded Glendale Heights location now features 28-foot clear ceilings providing ample space and flexibility to accommodate the company's evolving manufacturing and warehousing needs The larger facility will allow Sumitomo Drive Technologies to increase inventory space and offer a broader product line from its Midwest location further improving lead times and operational efficiencies "Expanding our production capabilities is a key part of our strategy to invest in U.S manufacturing and better serve our customers," said Jim Solomon "Our decision to expand our operations in Glendale Heights is a testament to the area's business-friendly environment and strong workforce." Other key improvements implemented by PREMIER Design + Build Group include expanded on-site parking a fully modular crane to seamlessly integrate assembly and distribution operations These strategic enhancements demonstrate continued investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure to better serve its customers by assisting the company with more efficient operations and positioning the company for continued future growth "The completion of this new facility is a testament to the vision This successful expansion not only represents a significant step forward for Sumitomo's future but also reflects our dedication to creating spaces that exceed our client's operational needs," said Michael Pacini "We are proud to have partnered with Sumitomo on this project which enhances their ability to serve their customers and supports their long-term growth in the region." The grand opening event will be held at the expanded facility Lake Drive within the Glendale Lakes Business Park The event will feature facility tours and remarks from Sumitomo Drive Technologies executives and representatives from PREMIER Design + Build Group Sumitomo Drive Technologies is a brand of Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America one of the most respected names in the power transmission industry As an industrial manufacturer of premium quality gearboxes we operate two prominent facilities – our Headquarters in Chesapeake and the Large Industrial Gear Unit Manufacturing and Assembly Facility in Verona and comprehensive solutions makes us an industry leader in power transmission PREMIER Design + Build Group is a leading national design-build construction firm with regional offices strategically located in Illinois With a strong track record spanning 20 years PREMIER specializes in providing comprehensive solutions for industrial PREMIER has an unwavering commitment to quality and customer service that has earned it a reputation as a trusted partner in the industry If you would like more information on this event or about Sumitomo Drive Technologies, please contact Brittany McCall, International Marketing Manager, at [email protected] Brion Humphrey, Sumitomo Drive Technologies, 1 7573181533, [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: 2025 at 8:56 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Odell Wright was convicted of robbing Stella's Place in Glendale Heights in April 2023 IL — A man has been sentenced to 22 years in connection with robbing Stella's Place in Glendale Heights in April 2023 was convicted of aggravated robbery in December 2024 Police had been called to Stella's at 2190 Bloomingdale Rd Employees said Wright was at a slot machine at Stella's since 12 p.m. and then used a gun to demand cash from the register has no place in civilized society,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement “Judge Guerin’s twenty-two-year sentence sends the unmistakable message that if you commit this type of brazen crime in DuPage County Wright in this case and for their continued efforts in keeping our business establishments safe." An official website of the United States government Watch Live at 11:30 a.m. ET: Results of Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort Press Conference View the latest ICE guidance on COVID-19 Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here Reportándose con ICE: Obtenga información sobre cómo reportarse a su oficina local de ICE aquí View in other languages Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime Learn More About ICE ICE's ERO officers uphold United States immigration laws by focusing on individuals who present the greatest risk to national security View the annual report Media Inquiries the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated This information is archived and not reflective of current practice For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov A Chicago man on federal probation was sentenced to 22 years in prison for robbing a Glendale Heights gambling cafe in April 2023 Odell Wright, 49, formerly of the 1400 block of South Pulaski Road, appeared in court Oct. 14, 2023, where he was ordered detained pre-trial. On Dec. 5, 2024, following a three-day-long trial, Wright was found guilty of one count of aggravated robbery, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. About 1:54 p.m. April 26, 2023, Glendale Heights police responded to a robbery at Stella’s Place, 2190 Bloomingdale Road. Authorities later learned that Wright entered the establishment shortly after 12 p.m. and began playing a slot machine. About 1:40 p.m., Wright approached an employee at the front counter, indicated he had a gun and ordered the employee to open the cash register and give him the money in the register, according to the release. After the employee complied with Wright’s orders, Wright fled the cafe. On Oct. 13, 2023, Wright was arrested. He was on federal probation at the time of his arrest. “Violence, such as we saw in this case, has no place in civilized society,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “[The] 22-year sentence sends the unmistakable message that if you commit this type of brazen crime in DuPage County, the penalty will be significant. While I am sure this was a very traumatic event for the employee at Stella’s, we are all thankful no one was injured.” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Tom Wirsing announced today 2024 that Judge Demetrios Panoushis has ordered that a Glendale Heights juvenile accused of bringing a loaded gun to a Lombard high school will be held in custody until at least his next court appearance is charged with one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in a School (Class 3 Felony) and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Minor (Class 4 Felony) a student at Glenbard East High School notified a security officer that he found a loaded 9 mm handgun in a boys’ bathroom Through the course of their investigation into the matter Lombard police officers traced the gun to an address in Glendale Heights later determined to be the juvenile’s home The juvenile was interviewed and taken into custody a short time later “I would like to commend the student who did the right thing and brought this matter to the attention of authorities school personnel and our residents have zero tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in this case I thank the Lombard Police Department as well as the Glendale Heights Police Department the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office as well as authorities at Glenbard East High School for bringing this matter to our attention for prosecution I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Irsuto and Katharine Walker for their efforts on this case and her continued work in keeping our schools safe.” “The Lombard Police Department would like to thank the Glendale Heights Police Department the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for their assistance in this investigation A quick and thorough response from school administrators and law enforcement led to an apprehension and subsequent charges of the student I would like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for their assistance.” — Lombard Chief of Police Tom Wirsing The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 16 Husband Charged with Murder of Wife at Home on Mulberry Ct Warrenville Boeing 747 Go-Around Procedure at O’Hare Hundreds of Pakistani Americans gathered in Glendale Heights to honor Pakistan’s 77th anniversary of independence The flag-hoisting ceremony took place on Sunday Approximately 4,000 people attended the historic ceremony and Pakistani communities as well as various American journalists and local and government authorities Ismael Siddiqui recited the Holy Quran while providing translation the national anthems of both Pakistan and the United States were performed and the green crescent and star flag was raised by Pakistani consul general Tariq Kareem in the company of Glendale Heights Mayor Chodri Ma Khokhar Many people took part in the historic event Streamwood Park District Park Board President Raees Yawer Pakistani American Police Commissioner Talat Rasheed and numerous members of the DuPage County Board and municipal officials from the Chicago North suburbs were present The organizers acknowledged the majority of dignitaries and local leaders who was the chief guest of the Glendale Heights Pakistan Day event complimented the Pakistani Americans for achieving 77 years of freedom on this historic day “Our community has stood strong in the face of multiple challenges but we are the main partner of the American political system.” also spoke at the event and congratulated the Pakistani community on Independence Day “Our country Pakistan is making every effort to realize the Quaid’s vision of a modern and prosperous Pakistan,” remarked consul general Tariq Karim local singers performed live renditions of Pakistani national periodic songs for the benefit of the Pakistani community which included several popular national songs performed by well-known worldwide singer and candle dancer Amjad Rana invited families to participate in the celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day a well-known Ghazal classical and playback singer has given several performances in the mala She is well known for being the legendary vocalist Noor Jahan’s niece She entertained the audience with sporadic performances of national tunes Local companies set up shop and lined the aisles with kiosks selling everything from colorful clothes and scarves to meals from the neighborhood restaurants 2025 at 4:29 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Leonard DeFranco was convicted in a string of financial fraud crimes that took place between 2015 and 2017 (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL — An ex-attorney from Glendale Heights was sentenced to six years in prison in connection with a two-year scheme in which he stole his girlfriend's information to commit more than $82,000 in bank fraud The incidents took place between 2015 and 2017 along with a string of other fraud incidents totaling $845,831.58 pleaded guilty to financial institution fraud obstruction of justice and continuing financial crimes During the time between December 2015 and June 2017 DeFranco used the woman's information to get four bank loans that totaled $82,700 Police say the woman alerted authorities after she noticed the activity on her credit report Prosecutors say it was later discovered that DeFranco used the woman's information to buy an Audi A8 for $43,500 An ongoing investigation revealed DeFranco stole the identity of five other people to defraud six financial institutions in the amount of $845,831.58 “White collar financial crimes always leave a paper trail,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement DeFranco learned that the paper trail in this case is leading him to a six-year sentence in the penitentiary His scheming and deception brought dishonor to the legal profession and a slap in the face to his former girlfriend to whom he undoubtedly caused a financial hardship ExpandJim Burket was elected as the new Glen Ellyn village president in a contest over a sitting trustee (John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald./John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.) Several new mayors and village presidents were elected across DuPage counties last week — some by defeating established incumbents Here’s a look at how some won over voters and what they hope to accomplish Daniel Bovey, who earned 52% of the mayoral vote in West Chicago to unseat longtime incumbent Ruben Pineda saw his victory and the election of new city council members as a “mandate.” “There was a pretty clearly communicated choice between continuing to do the same things that we have been doing and a hard restart,” said Bovey he’d like to form a coalition to begin the “revitalization” of the city Bovey believes his administration will distinctly differ from the past in dealing with constituents “We are going to be open and transparent,” he said We are going to work proactively to listen to all of the people of West Chicago.” Newly elected Lisle Mayor Mary Jo Mullen heard a common refrain from voters while knocking on doors: “Fix downtown.” “I think a lot of it is people were frustrated with the lack of movement and development that they’ve seen in the last eight years,” said Mullen who soundly defeated two-term incumbent Chris Pecak One of her first goals is to appoint a new police chief — the department has been without a full-time leader for months Her first 100 days will be “all about getting everything righted with the police department getting a chief in who will really take command and make sure that they are properly resourced and staffed and structured,” Mullen said She also sees a need to “change how we approach and work with developers.” “We need better ways to recruit and market to them and to just businesses in general,” she said and other members of her slate retained or won seats on the board In Glen Ellyn voters chose Jim Burket as their next village president over a sitting village trustee “I represented change from what’s been going on even when I ran the Civic Betterment Party I wasn’t one of those people who was upset if somebody ran against us And we need to get to a point in this town where more people have a say that an independent candidate won the village president job without the Civic Betterment’s backing Burket has said the nominating system is one way to get on the ballot If “you’ve moved here in the last five years you probably don’t know what Civic Betterment is and the numbers kind of justify my thinking,” he said Burket wants to get younger voices and people in the disability community more involved in village government through its commissions With a number of projects on the village’s to-do list Burket puts lead water pipe replacement at the top “We have some aging fire stations that either need replacement or significant updating I don’t mean like for five to 10 years,” he said “If we’re going to put money into those things I’d like to see them pick up another 30 to 40 years of usability.” Andrew Johnson, Warrenville’s first new mayor since 2005 says he believes his campaign resonated with voters because of momentum that Warrenville is a well-managed community moving forward and wanted to see that trajectory continue,” Johnson said “And they embraced our positive message and desire to see good development happen in town.” Johnson earned more than 70% of the vote in his race against Michael Hoffmann to replace five-term Mayor David Brummel who won his bid to become a Winfield Township trustee Johnson would like to quickly “get into the rhythm” of the job and lay the groundwork for “some exciting commercial development in town,” maintained by conservative fiscal policy He brings the same “half-full” mentality as Brummel more on commercial development than perhaps recently but that’s just because of the timing of when I came into office,” Johnson said Addison Mayor-elect Tom Hundley believes his experience helped him earn nearly 73% of the vote in his campaign against Eddie Castillo Hundley has served as a trustee for 25 years “People have gotten to know me and respect me,” he said “One of the things I ran on was establishing a consultant for community development,” Hundley said “We have some properties in the village that are undeveloped and I’d like to bring in a professional to tell us what we could develop those into.” Kevin Patrick, the incoming village president of Villa Park says voters appreciated his positive campaign “We wanted to stick to the facts and wanted to stick to the subjects that mattered to Villa Park,” Patrick said Patrick believes those subjects include transparency and residents having a voice in issues before the village board Villa Park’s 17 miles of bike paths and park land as positives In Glendale Heights Rebecca Giannelli beat three other candidates to become the next village president Lombard Trustee Anthony Puccio ran unopposed for village president. Daily Herald staff writers Susan Sarkauskas and Rick West contributed to this report. https://www.dailyherald.com/20250406/news/a-time-for-change-meet-the-class-of-new-mayors-in-dupage-kane-suburbs/ a two-day immersive and transportive sensory experience will be presented by Immigrant Solidarity DuPage from 2 to 11 p.m It will showcase the creative fire of the growing local Mexican community’s culture the high stepping of Mexican “jinete” horsemen history and community fuse with modern folk Salsa and rock music to create a fiery festival experience peppered with both history and forward-facing ingenuity “True culture must raise the fist of the soul against the often banal status-quo of suburban life subordination to technology and suburban alienation The DuPage Monarch Festival with its radical community approach counters this banality very much,” Cristobal Cavazos said “Beyond entertainment and ‘taco art’ — kitschy art made to sell tacos and or commodities — the Monarch Festival seeks to overthrow the suburban invest in the arts and break racial divides,” Cavazos said “Maybe it's as easy as the dance — this is the festival where people get up out of their seats and move!” we celebrate the local Mexican community’s culture with love traditions and customs in unison with the singing of our hearts We nourish our roots with this festival — roots that allow us to grow and bloom and share with everyone in our community We celebrate our culture so as not to disappear in history because culture — even after death — is our continuity in life Our culture is the sum of all forms of art of unity in our people by tearing down walls and building bridges.” The concept of the Monarch Butterfly Festival is imaging the monarch opening its wings and revealing its fiery display of children revolutionizing the west burbs in the fields of: • Culinary delights including deep cuts into Mexican food There will be food vendors surrounding the park to provide fuel and sustenance for a day’s worth of dancing and singing • Dance and music including an array of Indigenous dance Festival organizers also will introduce guests to DuPage County's “rocking” Rock en Español scene • Showmanship including — new to the festival this year — dancing Mexican “jinete” horsemen • Mexican artistry featuring vendors in a large area of colorful clothing and crafts sold by the artists personally (no middlemen here) Local nonprofits who empower the local Mexican community economically environmentally and socially will have a presence at the festival one of the most active worker centers in Illinois; OSHA and The DuPage Monarch Project with whom Immigrant Solidarity DuPage has worked creating Monarch Waystation Gardens around DuPage the festival schedule includes: Iza de Bandera Mexican songs with Maricela Suarez; Cuadra el Fierro dancing “jinete” horses; Aztec Dance Calpulli Ocelot-Chihuacoatl; Mexican Folkloric Ballet; and Banda Super Ranchera Headliner Sones de México Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m the festival continues with TOXI-KA Rock Band and Rock Band The Circus-Tribute to the Damned Neighborhood For information, visit www.immigrantsolidaritydupage.net/es/events of Glendale Heights and formerly of Humboldt Park and Abiline Beloved husband of the late Charlotte (2022) Loving father of David (Trish) and Frank Jr Retired Compliance Officer for US Department of Labor Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park 2024 at 3:17 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Elexei Garcia has been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer IL — Police say a Glendale Heights man fired a gun into the air and led officers on a high-speed chase following a domestic incident early Monday has been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer in connection with the incident Police were called to the 1700 block of Gilberto Street around 12:15 a.m Prosecutors say Garcia and his wife had been arguing and that she tried to leave in her car Police say Garcia's wife got out of her vehicle and he followed her and fired a gun into the air while he was 15 to 20 feet from her Garcia is accused of fleeing the scene and ignoring police who tried to stop his car near Gilberto Street and Altgeld Avenue Police say Garcia sped up to 88 mph in a 35 mph zone and drove onto the parkway as he fled He was taken into custody around 12:40 a.m in a residential neighborhood potentially putting hundreds of people at risk will not be tolerated in DuPage County,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release “Equally upsetting are the allegations that Mr Garcia reached speeds approaching ninety m.p.h in a residential neighborhood and even drove on a parkway at one point in an attempt to avoid capture This type of behavior that puts the public at risk will not be tolerated in DuPage County no innocent motorists or bystanders were injured or worse as a result of Mr if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you If you attempt to flee you will be caught and make matters worse for yourself." 2025 at 4:07 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Leonard DeFranco was given six years in prison on a felony identity theft charge (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)ELMHURST IL – A Glendale Heights lawyer was sentenced last week for defrauding banks out of $82,000 used the personal information of his then-girlfriend to obtain four loans totaling $82,000 according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office DeFranco's scheme was uncovered when the woman ran her credit report and discovered the loans stole a total of $845,000 from a dozen victims five other individuals and six financial institutions State's Attorney Robert Berlin credited Elmhurst police for "their outstanding work on this complicated case." "White-collar financial crimes always leave a paper trail," Berlin said "(DeFranco's) scheming and deception brought dishonor to the legal profession and a slap in the face to his former girlfriend to whom he undoubtedly caused a financial hardship." the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission disbarred DeFranco Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. By Debra Cassens Weiss A disbarred Illinois lawyer has been sentenced to six years in prison for using his then-girlfriend’s identifying information to obtain four bank loans totaling $82,700 Former Glendale Heights, Illinois, lawyer Leonard Samuel DeFranco, 71, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of identity theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, according to a March 28 press release by the DuPage County Prosecutors said the sentence stems from conduct that happened over an 18-month period ending in June 2017 The victim discovered the loans when she ran a credit report Publications with coverage include WGN-TV, Fox 32 Chicago, Patch and the Daily Herald The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred DeFranco in March 2024 based on a recommendation by a review board The review board affirmed findings that DeFranco misappropriated $161,608 in client funds from the sale of a business He used the money to pay for personal expenses He also used the money to cover expenses for his law firm and a company that he owned DeFranco then obtained a $180,000 loan from a client to repay the client money without complying with required safeguards DeFranco had claimed that the money was a gift The client who loaned him the money sued and obtained a judgment for the amount of the loan plus legal fees DeFranco discharged the debt in a bankruptcy proceeding DeFranco was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1978 He was also suspended for 30 days in 2011 for charging an excessive fee “Although we recognize that disbarment is an extremely harsh sanction,” the review board said “the record contains almost no evidence demonstrating that [DeFranco] is likely to practice law in an ethical manner in the future.” A man has pleaded guilty to killing a Glendale Heights man by supplying him with a mixture of fentanyl and heroin of the 500 block of Gregory Avenue in Glendale Heights Boatman was accused of selling the drugs to Eric Schoenwolf in his bedroom in the 1200 block of Raleigh Court Police found small plastic baggies with a multicolored mushroom design on a bedside table The bags contained a powdered mix of fentanyl and heroin Schoenwolf’s cellphone was found near one of his hands Texts showed Schoenwolf arranging to buy drugs from Boatman police found black baggies with the mushroom design Schoenwolf died of a combination of heroin Boatman must serve 75% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole 2025 at 2:29 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Darnitia Conner pleaded not guilty to felony charges in connection with an incident at a community-based home in Bensenville IL – A Glendale Heights woman was arrested in an incident at a community-based home in Bensenville that resulted in an older woman's suffering burns according to a news release from Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office The office alleged Conner was a caregiver at the Ray Graham Association home in Bensenville in June when she failed to test the water temperature before placing a resident in a hot shower the hot water caused second-degree burns to a majority of the woman's lower body Conner is accused of trying to conceal the incident failing to notify staff and medical personnel of the severity of the injuries Residents of Ray Graham homes may have disabilities or healthcare needs that require 24-hour support from trained staff Conner was charged with three counts of abuse of a long-term care facility resident two counts of neglect of a long-term care facility resident and one count of reckless conduct The DuPage County Sheriff's Office helped with the investigation Over a dozen musical groups will be taking the stage during the four-day Glendale Heights Fest on July 11-14 as well as the popular fireworks show on the final night Admission is free to the festival grounds at Camera Park the tribute band Bad Enough will open the festival stage They will be followed by the Scorpions cover band Big City Nights at 6 p.m will take the stage with their Led Zeppelin tribute at 8:30 p.m will be Prairie Station playing covers of today’s hit country music as well as the classics They will be followed by Chicago Rockhouse mixing some classic rock gems along with some more interesting deep cuts at 6:30 p.m The Keith Semple Band will headline Friday featuring Dina Bach on keyboard/vocals and Mike Charbonneau on electronic drums/percussion Guitarra Azul will combine Latin percussion and fiery Spanish guitars a suburban teen band that plays everything from indie rock to grunge followed by the festival favorite Hi Infidelity at 8:30 p.m The Moods will bring their smooth sound to open the final day of the festival at 3 p.m Before Hillbilly Rockstarz take the stage at 5 p.m. the popular rock band 7th heaven will take the stage at 7:30 p.m With crowds over 15,000 expected to head to Camera Park for the display parking lots fill up fast starting early in the day so arrive early to grab a good seat Fullerton Avenue will be closed between President Street and Bloomingdale Road on Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m Vehicles in the parking lots along Fullerton Avenue will not be allowed to exit until the roadways are clear of pedestrian traffic Patrons at this year’s Glendale Heights Fest will experience a big change when it comes to purchasing ride tickets located just inside of the main entrance on Fullerton Avenue with a second kiosk positioned on the opposite side of the festival grounds Buy credits which will be loaded onto a ride card You can reload your card at any time the carnival is open Patrons also can get instructions for using the kiosk in either Spanish or English Purchase a carnival wristband before opening day for $25 or $30 during the fest Advanced daily presale wristband vouchers are available at Glendale Heights Village Hall 300 Civic Centre Plaza; Linda Jackson Center for Senior Citizens The Mega Pass for $75 is only available at the Sports Hub Food vendors include: Antojitos Mexicanas Landa; Blackhawk BBQ & Seafood; Daisy's Ice Cream; Dark Horse Grill; Doggie Diner Concessions; Gaby's Funnel Cakes; Genoa Italian Concession; Kona Ice; Mr Tacomex Grill; My Cocina; Norma's Tacos; Panchos Taqueria; Papa Frescos; Suzie's Fun Foods; Taco Gyro; and Windsor Ice Cream Shoppe Admission: Entrance to the fest area is free Parking is available on-site every day for a free but plan ahead as the parking lot tends to fill up quickly Additional parking is available around town and only a short walk to Camera Park Info: www.glendaleheightsfest.com or facebook.com/ghfest TrendingCommercialChicagoARick Wise snags Glendale Heights apartments for $53M in rare FPA saleFPA Multifamily has been a big-time buyer in multiple markets while also offloading a couple of its smaller assets in suburban Chicago Rick Wise is the second investor to recently turn FPA Multifamily — one the nation’s foremost buyers of apartments — into a seller of suburban Chicago property Wise’s Deerfield-based firm Oak Residential bought a 296-unit housing complex called The Mark in Glendale Heights from San Francisco-based FPA for $53 million this month and Oak used a nearly $38.3 million mortgage loan from Walker & Dunlop to fund the acquisition for $40.5 million ($136,000 per unit) in 2018 underscoring the growth in suburban Chicago prices and rents over the past few years even as interest rate hikes since 2022 have eaten into property values “Despite the challenges that arise in the real estate market our team remains dedicated to identifying and capitalizing on opportunities that deliver strong returns for our investors and superior living conditions for our residents,” Wise said in a statement SIGN UPInvestor interest isn’t likely to subside any time soon in the suburban multifamily market after the Chicago area led the nation in rent growth for the first time in 20 years last year with rents on track to keep rising as developers stay cautious and the development pipeline shrinks Year-over-year rents increased by 4 percent across suburban Chicago’s approximately 110,000-unit inventory so far this year Integra Realty Resources found earlier this month And the annual average addition of 2,500 new units of supply in the suburbs since 2015 is threatening to push the current 95 percent occupancy rate even higher The next wave of apartment deliveries isn’t expected to grow supply meaningfully until at least 2026, as developers remain in a holding pattern until financial markets shake loose on the heels of expected federal interest rate cuts vacancy could reach historic lows in the Chicago multifamily market in 2025 Wise’s Oak Residential now controls two adjacent apartment complexes after paying nearly $63 million ($187,500 per unit) for the adjacent 336-unit Monroe Apartments property at 1400 Oakmont in Glendale Heights Both properties were completed in the late 1980s Oak plans to upgrade both unit interiors as well as common areas at The Mark including by installing stainless steel appliances plank flooring and new energy-efficient lighting packages New outdoor spaces and an expansion of the property’s fitness center are also planned Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh has sentenced Anthony Lane 6/6/1968) formerly of Glendale Heights to fifty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for breaking into an elderly woman’s home and sexually assaulting her in November 2021 SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN ALONE IN HER HOME RANKS AMONG ONE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS CRIMES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR,” BERLIN SAID LANE INFLICTED ON THIS WOMAN IS BEYOND REPREHENSIBLE AND EXTREMELY ALARMING TODAY’S FIFTY-EIGHT-YEAR SENTENCE NOT ONLY TAKES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MAN OFF THE STREETS FOR WHAT ESSENTIALLY AMOUNTS TO THE REST OF HIS LIFE BUT ALSO SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT IN DUPAGE COUNTY WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS TYPE OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.” GLENDALE HEIGHTS - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh has sentenced Anthony Lane following a three-day-long trial and approximately two hours of deliberations a jury found Lane guilt of one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony) and three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault (Class X Felony) Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh set bond at $5 million with 10% to apply Lane has been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time the ninety-two-year-old victim entered her attached garage after returning home from her dialysis appointment As the victim turned to close the garage door When the victim tried to close the door to her home Lane forced the door open and pushed her into the residence Lane then bound the victim’s hands with duct tape placed her on a bed in her bedroom and sexually assaulted her Lane fled the home at which time the victim called 911 and was transported to a local hospital for medical attention authorities identified Lane as a suspect in the case He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time sexual assault of an elderly woman alone in her home ranks among one of the most egregious crimes I have encountered in more than thirty-six years as a prosecutor,” Berlin said Lane inflicted on this woman is beyond reprehensible and extremely alarming Today’s fifty-eight-year sentence not only takes an extremely dangerous man off the streets for what essentially amounts to the rest of his life but also sends the message that in DuPage County we will not tolerate this type of violent behavior I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Cathy Nusgart and Nick Catizone for their work in holding Mr Lane responsible for his horrific actions in this very upsetting case.” Lane will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole He will receive credit for time spent in custody at the DuPage County Jail