ExpandA photo shows the potential site of a townhouse development in Lake in the Hills (Photo provided by Village of Lake in the Hills) Almost 20 years after a similar plan was first proposed, a townhouse complex could be coming to Lake in the Hills The Village Board on Thursday evening had a “sketch plan review” of the complex which would be located off Miller Road near Exner Marsh and close to another subdivision with duplexes named Nature Edge and located at 9103 Miller Road would have one main road running north-south that would connect the residences The homes would be arranged in a courtyard facing each other in the front with garages in the back Lake in the Hills entered into an annexation agreement for the property and there was a proposal for a 24-unit townhouse development named Bentley Place Community Development Director John Svalenka said The Village Board was generally supportive Thursday of the new preliminary plans to develop the land but Svalenka noted that whether to move ahead is up to the developer Developer Derek Lewicki said Friday that he is hoping to have approvals completed and building started at the end of July although he acknowledged that might be a tight turnaround The developer previously submitted the plans to the village and other taxing bodies including the fire department and school districts Lewicki noted that the entry road was widened to three lanes; the police department had raised concerns about it Plans included in Lake in the Hills material show there would be a left-turn lane off Miller Road into the development and a left-turn and right-turn lane onto Miller from the development Police Chief Matt Mannino said the department had a chance to review the plans and was concerned with the original driveway being a “chokepoint,” but the new plans alleviate those worries Trustee Stephen Harlfinger said developments along that corridor should consider the Blanding’s turtle and other species in the area The public didn’t weigh in on the plans Thursday but the village Planning and Zoning Commission took them up March 17 The commission specifically wanted to see the Miller Road bike path connected to existing trails in Exner Marsh He said that also was part of the 2006 plan Trustee Bob Huckins said he liked the concept and that it was “nice and clean,” he but asked about traffic studies said the developer hasn’t done a full traffic study but part of the ordinance requires builders to show what improvements Gottemoller, who also is on the McHenry County Board, said prices in the subdivision would start at $15,000 higher than an existing subdivision next door. Each unit would have a two-car garage and space for two more cars in the driveway. Units would have three levels, with the garage and so-called bonus room on the ground floor, three bedrooms and 2⅓ bathrooms. Harlfinger said he thought the plans would look good in the village. “I think this would be a better use of the property rather than trying to do anything else there,” Harlfinger said. Gottemoller said he was involved in the annexation in 2006, adding it “would be nice” to see the development come to fruition. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Firefighters rescued multiple pets from a house fire in Lake in the Hills Tuesday evening that left the home uninhabitable Huntley Fire Protection District firefighters were called to the home on the 300 block of Stickley Lane just after 6:20 p.m Residents of the home were able to safely escape the house but reported their pets were still inside when firefighters arrived Firefighters were able to locate two cats and a dog inside the home The pets were given oxygen treatments and were reported to be in “good health,” fire officials said The interior of the home sustained significant damage No damage estimate was immediately available The cause of the fire remains under investigation 2025 at 3:18 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The home sustained heavy damage inside and is considered uninhabitable until repairs can be made and the cause of the fire remains under investigation (Huntley Fire Protection District )LAKE IN THE HILLS IL — Firefighters rescued three pets from a house fire in Lake in the Hills Tuesday evening The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to the blaze in the 300 block of Stickley Lane at about 6:20 p.m according to a news release from the fire protection district All residents living inside the home were able to get out safely they found heavy black smoke coming from the two-story home The fire was quickly extinguished and firefighters were able to get all the pets out of the home The home sustained heavy damage inside and is considered uninhabitable until repairs can be made Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Lake and McHenry County Scanner Firefighters rescued three pets, who are in good condition, from a fire that left a house uninhabitable in Lake in the Hills Tuesday evening, fire officials said. The Huntley Fire Protection District and Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 6:21 p.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills for a report of a structure fire. Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said it was reported that all occupants had exited the home but several pets remained inside. Firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes and found heavy black smoke coming from the two-story residence. The incident was upgraded to a working fire, bringing in additional resources to assist and neighboring departments to cover Huntley fire stations, Bentley said. Firefighters initiated an interior attack on the fire, which was located in the kitchen area. Bentley said the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving. Fire crews searched the home and located three pets — one dog and two cats — inside the residence. Firefighters administered oxygen to the animals and they were reported to be in good health. The home sustained heavy damage and is considered uninhabitable until repairs can be made, Bentley said. Two residents were displaced and are seeking temporary shelter. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and Carpentersville Fire Department assisted. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Huntley Fire Protection District. No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner. To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens. 2025 at 3:52 pm CDTExpandCarmel quarterback Trae Taylor runs with the ball during practice a few years ago at the school in Mundelein (Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com/Gregory Shaver - gshaver@shawmedia.com) Carmel sophomore quarterback Trae Taylor announced his commitment to Nebraska during an announcement on a 247Sports YouTube stream Thursday. Taylor chose the Cornhuskers over his other final three teams, Illinois, LSU and Texas A&M. Taylor, a Lake in the Hills resident, was one of Illinois’ most recruited quarterbacks since J.J. McCarthy. Maryland offered Taylor his first scholarship in seventh grade, and nearly every major program followed suit over the years. Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Auburn and Oklahoma all offered Taylor. “I really believe that they can get me to the next level, which is the NFL, that I want to be at,” Taylor said during the stream. “So I feel like Nebraska will be the best place for me. We’ve got the best fans in the nation.” Recruiting sites ranked Taylor as a consensus four-star quarterback. 247Sports listed him as the fourth-best prospect in Illinois’ Class of 2027 and the seventh-best quarterback, while Rivals ranked him Illinois’ top prospect and fourth-best quarterback. Taylor impressed in his first season as the Corsairs’ starter last fall. He threw for 3,061 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions and added 437 more yards on the ground as well as five touchdowns. Taylor earned All-CCL/ESCC honors and led Carmel to a 3-6 record during the regular season. Carmel opens the season against Grayslake Central on Aug. 29. Lake in the Hills is trying to help some of the businesses that will be hit hard by the Randall Road construction Randall Road widening work between McHenry Avenue in Crystal Lake and Acorn Lane/Polaris Drive in Lake in the Hills has been underway for the past several weeks Some businesses could be affected by the closure of Miller Road because there’s going to be a six-month closure of the western leg of Miller and a three-month Miller Road’s west leg detour is expected to run from June to November Both the western and eastern legs for Miller Road will be right-in The village board Tuesday evening agreed to waive liquor license and video gaming fees for two entities east of the intersection: Dino’s Pizza and Property Owner’s Association The move would give the entities “the ability to maintain funds for operating capital in the short term and provide relief” for upcoming economic challenges Village Administrator Shannon Andrews told the board before the vote The total value of the waivers is $2,300 for the liquor licenses and $3,700 for the video game licensing will be affected by the construction as well Lake in the Hills has considered working with the county to provide signage to businesses too Randall Road and Alexandra Boulevard in Crystal Lake will have a temporary traffic signal be activated The signal will be permanent once Randall Road work has been completed Officials also plan to host a Randall Road roadwork open house later this month to provide information on plans Construction on Randall Road formally began last month and is expected to run through 2027. Work on the southern leg of Randall Road in the county was completed in 2021 A Crystal Lake man allegedly fled at a high rate of speed from police officers and drove into oncoming traffic endangering the safety of numerous traveling motorists was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver driving the wrong way on a divided highway obstructing driver’s view and improper turn signal A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Defily fled from a marked police squad around 6 p.m Defily drove his vehicle over 62 mph in a posted 40 mph zone while attempting to flee and elude officers Defily drove his vehicle with a “willful and wanton disregard” for the safety of others when he drove eastbound in the westbound lane into oncoming traffic where at least five other vehicles were traveling fully tinted taillight covers and both of his front and rear license plates were removed Court documents said Defily prompted the response of at least three different agencies to respond Court records show Defily was on pre-trial release for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen vehicle in two separate incidents in Crystal Lake that happened days apart in January Defily was on electronic home monitoring with a daily curfew from 6 p.m at the time he allegedly committed the new offense The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Defily pending trial in the new case and petitions to revoke his pre-trial release in his other cases McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petitions and said that Defily poses a real and present threat and put the lives of at least five other drivers at risk Lamb said the man has shown a “total disregard for the safety of others” and no conditions of release could mitigate the threat Court documents also said that Defily had violated his curfew in the prior case at least six times in four weeks He remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 2 No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens A car plowed into a house in Lake in the Hills Wednesday afternoon and while the residents were home at the time The single-vehicle crash occurred in the 400 block of Ridge Court A grey Infiniti sedan drove off the roadway and struck the rear side of a home in the court a public information officer for Lake in the Hills police The cause of the crash is believed to have been a medical emergency no drugs and/or alcohol are suspected to be a contributing factor Citations are pending the crash investigation The Huntley Fire Protection District responded at 2:22 p.m Firefighters found a car that had crashed into the side of the brick home The driver of the Infiniti was taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries Crews remained at the home to oversee the removal of the car working in coordination with Lake in the Hills police the village’s building and zoning department and a tow company A board-up company was requested to secure the damaged area of the home until permanent repairs can be made A driver was transported to the hospital after being found unconscious following a crash with another car in a neighborhood in Lake in the Hills The Lake in the Hills Police Department and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded around 4:10 p.m Friday to the 400 block of Harvest Gate Road for a report of a vehicle crash A 911 caller reported a driver was unconscious and had agonal breathing according to fire department radio traffic Lake in the Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Johnson said on Wednesday that a Toyota Tacoma struck an unoccupied parked vehicle The driver of the Toyota was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley There was no one else inside the Toyota besides the driver and no other injuries were reported Johnson said the 62-year-old man driving the Toyota was believed to have been experiencing a medical emergency when he crashed into the parked car Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be contributing factors The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the crash A former Lake in the Hills woman charged last year with obstructing police who were searching for a couple accused of abducting their daughter pleaded to a lesser offense Friday and was sentenced to supervision Cook was sentenced to 18 months supervision Should she successfully complete the terms of supervision she could have the charge expunged from her record Cook was accused of hiding Jeffrey S. Cook, 58, and Jessica L. Walsh, 29, on May 28, 2024, after they were accused of abducting their 5-year-old girl from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Nathalia Cook was accused of “knowingly” provided false information to police regarding the couple’s whereabouts according to the original criminal complaint Cook also was charged with obstructing justice (Photo Provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) Nathalia Cook had allegedly told police the couple were not inside her home She instead directed officers to another home nearby saying Jeffrey Cook was there “despite having active knowledge that he was inside her residence at the time of the incident,” the original complaint alleged The couple, formerly of Lake in the Hills and the child’s biological parents, was charged with child abduction Jeffrey Cook also was charged with obstructing justice Those cases are still pending and the couple have pleaded not guilty Prosecutors said on May 23, 2024, caseworkers from DCFS went to Jeffrey Cook and Walsh’s home in response to a report of abuse and neglect According to the criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court an “investigation was underway” and DCFS “intended to take protective custody” of the child the couple did not let caseworkers see or take the child into custody the couple was informed that the child welfare agency had a warrant for the child the couple left town with the girl and drove to southern Illinois McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Marin said during a detention hearing following their arrest On May 28, the couple took the child to the DCFS office in Woodstock where caseworkers wanted to interview her without her parents present The couple “became uncooperative” and fled This prompted a statewide alert for the child Woodstock police responded to the DCFS office and learned the courts recently had appointed custody of the child to DCFS according to a news release from the Woodstock Police Department Police said the couple “took the child upon learning about the custody and fled Woodstock in a vehicle.” Woodstock detectives were able to contact Jeffrey Cook who “was uncooperative in returning the child,” police said The couple was suspected of taking the child to the Lake in the Hills and the vehicle the couple was driving was found near the home The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges and an arrest warrant was issued A search warrant was obtained for the Lake in the Hills house where Cook and Walsh were eventually located hiding in the residence with the child Jeffrey Cook is due in court April 24. Jessica Walsh is due in court May 14. Both share a home address in Elmhurst and are out of the county jail pretrial, records show. Lake in the Hills plans to issue $15 million in bonds to build a new police facility The village approved the plan for funding the new station in 2022 with about half the $27 million project cost coming from reserves and about half from the bond sale Lake in the Hills officials have long said that paying for the new police station will not raise residents’ taxes The project broke ground last year behind the Costco store and next door to village hall While Lake in the Hills is taking on debt for the project Stefan said the village paid off its police pension debt While there will be a tax levy for the bonds each year With current projections and current interest rates which are “changing drastically every day,” Stefan said and the annual payment would be $1,039,000 below the $1.1 million approved in the plan Trustees approved the bond sale unanimously Tuesday with little discussion Though the village has until October to sell the bonds Stefan said the village plans to sell the bonds online next month Lake in the Hills Police Public Information Officer Amanda Johnson said the anticipated completion and move-in date for the new police department is winter 2025 excitement and anticipation grow for the station as the space will not only be a building for officers and staff but also be a place of safety and pride for the entire community,” Johnson said in an email ExpandThe Huntley Fire Protection District saves three pets during a house fire on Tuesday 2025 at the 300 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills (Photo provided by Huntley Fire Protection District) Residents of a single-family home were displaced and three pets were saved after a fire broke out in the kitchen of a Lake in the Hills home Tuesday evening The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a call at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills for a reported residential fire. All occupants safely exited the home before firefighters arrived, but “several pets remained inside,” according to a Huntley Fire Protection District news release. First responders arrived within four minutes to “heavy black smoke coming from the two-story residence,” according to the release. Firefighters upgraded the call to a working fire to bring in more resources and personnel. “Crews initiated an aggressive interior attack and located the bulk of the fire in the kitchen area,” Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said in the release. “The fire was quickly extinguished within 10 minutes.” The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a house fire Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in the 300 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills. (Photo provided by Huntley Fire Protection District) Firefighters rescued one dog and two cats from the home and administered oxygen to the animals. They are reportedly in “good health,” according to the release. The home sustained “heavy interior damage” and is deemed uninhabitable until repairs are made, according to the release. The residents are displaced and seeking temporary shelter. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Huntley Fire Protection District. Firefighting crews from Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Carpentersville assisted at the scene. Two dozen new houses could be coming to Lake in the Hills — a project conceived almost two decades ago plans for a proposed development of 24 single-family homes called Cheswick Meadows near the intersection of Haligus and Ackman roads Two streets in existing developments would be extended: Savoy Drive would be lengthened to the east and Windhill Lane to the north with a T-shaped intersection for the two streets There would be a cul-de-sac east of the intersection which feature a similar street but adjusted lot lines to fit current products weren’t a big deviation from the original plans He noted the project was dormant for nearly two decades and it was a “natural continuation” of the nearby development Work said the biggest “departure” from the zoning code was the narrower lots Lot widths are similar to those in the neighboring subdivision But the development is constrained because of utilities in the area Lake in the Hills Director of Community Development John Svalenka said The lots vary in shape a little bit due to the curvature of Windhill Drive There also was initial concern about stormwater requirements but Svalenka said the issue has been addressed and the project should be able to move forward Homes are built to order for most customers and starting prices would be $440,000 and $650,000 The homes reflect current homebuyers’ wants with three-car garages The development also would back up to the right of way for a future Ackman Road extension and McHenry County officials have expressed an interest in having Ackman end at Route 47 a project that appears in the county’s 2050 transportation plan Svalenka said the housing development plans were shared with the McHenry County Division of Transportation The village board generally liked the idea of the development Trustee Bill Dustin said it would be nice for the streets to connect Village President Ray Bogdanowski said there were “a lot of plusses.” Village trustees were open to the idea of working with the developer on reducing some of the fees Lake in the Hills’ planning and zoning commission also was generally positive about the subdivision The plan commission also asked that any bike trails be installed to connect to the regional trail system Lake in the Hills entered an annexation agreement in 2004 to facilitate development at the property Original plans were for a 20-lot development named Meadowbrook Unit 25 It’s the second housing development the village board has reviewed in recent weeks Trustees last month expressed support for a development off Miller Road near Boulder Ridge that would comprise 40 townhomes the townhouse development Nature Edge had an annexation agreement in 2006 but a proposed 24-unit development named Bentley Place was never built said the company is excited about the project and “optimistic” about moving forward ExpandWoods Creek Lake in Lake in the Hills is photographed July 23 The village is getting rid of special service areas Lake in the Hills is getting rid of special service areas. But in exchange, it will impose a higher property tax levy on local real estate owners. Special service areas are set up to levy a property tax just on owners within the area to provide specialized services within it. In Lake in the Hills, several were put in place when the village was experiencing residential growth in the 1990s and 2000s, according to village records. But now the special service areas will be “dormant,” officials said. Village Administrator Shannon Andrews said during a Village Board meeting Tuesday that there has been recent discussion locally about the “continued value” of the special service areas. Benefits of getting rid of them include streamlining their financial and operational management and having more equitable taxation among Lake in the Hills residents, Andrews said. The village board gave the thumbs-up Tuesday evening to a nine-year plan to end the special service areas. They have different levies, with taxes per parcel ranging from $1.27 to $178.26, according to village records. “This disparity is based on a number of variables, such as: the size of each SSA, the quantity of households, and the services being provided,” according to village material. The plan would involve eliminating the levies for the SSAs this year and budgeting expenses until the levies are depleted, officials said. The expenditures would then be absorbed into the village’s general fund, but the village would need to raise its corporate levy “commensurate with the new burden of expense,” Andrews said. Lake in the Hills would need raise its overall property tax levy by about $490,000. Lake in the Hills staff proposed increasing it incrementally over the next three years, with the levy increasing $163,420 each year. This year’s $163,420 increase would be about 3%, and would equate to about $5.40 more in taxes for every $100,000 of home value, Andrews said. A formal levy vote will come in December, but Andrews said whatever the board chose Tuesday would set the course for what happens then. Lake in the Hills’ property tax levy has been flat for the past 15 years. No other annual increases to the levy are planned, so the village can keep the increase at 3%, according to village records. The village board didn’t discuss the proposal before voting on the item, which passed unanimously. About 6,770 local households are in a SSA, according to village records. There are about 10,000 households in Lake in the Hills, according to U.S. Census data. Lake in the Hills mulled the idea of opening up its beaches to nonresidents for a fee but the proposal got a lukewarm response from the village board people who don’t live in Lake in the Hills can access its beaches only if they’re accompanied by someone who lives in town And that is anticipated to remain the case despite village staff suggesting a fee for nonresidents The Parks and Recreation Department commissioned a report about operations during the 2024 beach season Allowing nonresidents to pay for access is one way the village is considering to generate revenue to cover the potential extra staffing costs While the 2024 season was considered successful and keeping up end-of-season staffing after seasonal employees returned to school The village staff’s report focused on two beaches on Woods Creek Lake — Butch Hagele Beach and Indian Trail Beach Officials provided three options for the village board to consider One option would be to maintain the status quo with some adjustments Another option would keep Butch Hagele Beach resident-only while nonresidents could pay a fee to access Indian Trail Beach Almost 700 nonresidents were turned away at Indian Trail Beach this season and opening the beaches to nonresidents could generate about $3,500 to $6,000 in revenue Fees could also offset additional staff costs and village documents indicate there would be costs relating to safety equipment and staffing Some residents oppose nonresidents at the beaches Most of their concerns revolve around respecting Lake in the Hills’ property and ordinances The Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Board took up the issue earlier this month and supported the nonresident fee It also felt that keeping Butch Hagele Beach to residents only eliminated parking concerns Lake in the Hills trustees recommended last week during a meeting that the status quo be maintained Among the concerns of the village board was implementing technology and staffing costs and some on the board were reluctant to move forward with any changes A garage and two vehicles were damaged in a fire Saturday afternoon in Lake in the Hills. The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to the 3000 block of Brisbane Drive in Lake in the Hills about 3 p.m. Saturday on a report of a vehicle on fire in a driveway, according to a news release from the fire district. The first fire crew to arrive reported that a vehicle fire in the driveway had extended into the structure. More crews arrived, and the fire was quickly brought under control. The damage was confined to two vehicles and the attached garage, according to the release. The home remained habitable, and crews turned it back over to the owners. The cause of fire is under investigation and initial damage estimates weren’t available. ExpandThe Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a call Wednesday to the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood roads in Lake in the Hills for a three-vehicle crash with injuries Three people were injured in a three-vehicle crash that resulted in an engine fire Wednesday afternoon in Lake in the Hills The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a call at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday to the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood roads in Lake in the Hills for a reported crash with injuries. First responders arrived to find a three-vehicle crash with “moderate damage to the vehicles,” district Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said in a news release. “A bystander used a fire extinguisher prior to our arrival to extinguish a small engine fire,” Bentley said in the release. Three adults were treated at the scene and taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, Bentley said. The crash is under investigation by the Lake in the Hills Police Department. “We would like to remind motorists to move over for emergency vehicles,” Bentley said in the release. ExpandThree people suffer serious injuries in a single vehicle crash on Monday 2025 along Haligus Road just north of Geneva Lane in Lake in the Hills Three people suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash Monday night along Haligus Road in Lake in the Hills The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a call at 9:44 p.m. Monday to Haligus Road just north of Geneva Lane in Lake in the Hills for a car crash with injuries. First responders arrived to a “single vehicle with heavy damage,” according to a Huntley Fire Protection District news release. Three people were inside the car, and all suffered “serious injuries,” according to the release. All three occupants were treated and taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. The Lake in the Hills Police Department is investigating the crash. “We would like to remind motorists that seat belts save lives,” Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said in the release. It is unknown whether the occupants were wearing seat belts, Bentley said. ExpandThe Lake in the Hills electoral board listens during a hearing on Nov over whether a challenger for village president can remain on the ballot A candidate for village president in Lake in the Hills was tossed from the ballot Friday Abhishek (Jay) Gulati filed to run against incumbent Village President Ray Bogdanowski Bogdanowski was elected village president in 2021 and was unopposed in that campaign Bogdanowski is poised to stand for another election without opposition Lake in the Hills resident Maureen Huff filed an objection to Gulati’s candidacy this week Huff had challenged several things in Gulati’s nominating papers including the lack of an election date on the statement of candidacy incorrect or missing election dates on most petition forms and the description of office sought written as “president” and not “village president.” The electoral board upheld the objections relating to the dates but not the president The biggest issue raised in the challenge, however, was how many valid signatures Gulati obtained. Some of the signatures were from residents outside Lake in the Hills, including Algonquin and Cary. Several other signatures were challenged on the grounds that they did not belong to registered voters or came from addresses that don’t exist in Lake in the Hills. Gulati collected 103 signatures, a little more than the 95 required. Officials said the number came to be 95 because in the April 2023 election, there were 1,551 votes and 332 under votes for a total of 1,883 voters in the election; 5% of that number is 95. In the end, the electoral board rejected 14 signatures, leaving Gulati with 89 valid signatures and six short of what he needed to stay on the ballot. The electoral board ruled on seven different objections and upheld five of them. The ones it upheld included his name being listed differently on most of the petitions than on the statement of candidacy, and an incorrect or incomplete address in some of the nominating petitions, in addition to the date and signature objections. The board disagreed with two of the objections, the “president” candidacy and that Gulati didn’t list the state he lives in on a petition page. The electoral board comprised Clerk Shannon DuBeau and Trustees Stephen Harlfinger and Bill Huckins. All of them are on the ballot in the April 1 local election. Gulati described the issues with his nominating documents as an honest mistake and said nothing was misleading. He asked whether he could have the opportunity to rectify it, but officials noted that under the election code, candidates cannot amend their paperwork once it’s submitted. During a short deliberation, the board noted the multiple errors and inconsistencies in Gulati’s paperwork. Harlfinger said there were “way too many inconsistencies” with information such as dates, names and addresses, and that “pretty much almost every sheet has some sort of an error.” Huff said she’d called village hall to see if anyone was running for village president and asked for the candidates’ petitions. She said she didn’t see anything in Bogdanowski’s but noticed the Cary and Algonquin signatures in Gulati’s. She said she reached out to Eric Hendricks, a Lake in the Hills resident and McHenry County Board member. Hendricks is an attorney and represented Huff in the hearing. Gulati said he put his name in the hat for village president to stand up for the community. Some of the issues he mentioned include taxes and school district boundaries. Gulati had previously served on the McHenry County Board of Health. After the hearing, Gulati said it was a fair process. When asked whether he would appeal, he said he would have to speak with his attorney. ExpandLinda Keyes of Lake in the Hills appears on a episode of "Wheel of Fortune" airing Feb (Photo provided by Sony Pictures Television; Photographer: Eric McCandless ) Linda Keyes recalls her mother spending a half-hour after dinner riding her stationary bike while watching “Wheel of Fortune.” The Lake in the Hills woman also remembers when the game show aired during the daytime and contestants would “shop” for prizes with their earnings Keyes has added another spoke to her “Wheel” connection: She appeared on Tuesday night’s episode So Keyes’ appearance is “homage to her,“ Keyes said including $40,000 in the bonus round by guessing the phrase said she first auditioned a couple of years ago when Sony Pictures Television was looking for contestants for an episode featuring educators but she then last year she received an email offering her another chance to audition She prepared a video and auditioned over Zoom Then she learned she had been accepted as a contestant for a show taping in two weeks learn the ropes and rules and book her travel to Los Angeles – at her own expense Keyes couldn’t say how things went, of course, but planned a watch party Tuesday evening with friends and colleagues in Carpentersville She thinks the personality and confidence she showed in her audition video helped her nab her spot in the spotlight But the familiarity of the music and the set and having her people in the live audience settled her nerves Coincidentally, another person with local ties appeared on the show Monday. Krystal Adams of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who attended Johnsburg High School not only won almost $18,000 but saw Vanna White give a shout-out to Adams' dog ABC7 Chicago also reports that “Wheel of Fortune” will have a contestant search during the Chicago Auto Show this weekend. Authorities say three adults were seriously injured after a single-vehicle crash that left the car heavily damaged in Lake in the Hills Monday evening The Huntley Fire Protection District and Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 9:44 p.m Monday to the area of Haligus Road and Geneva Lane in Lake in the Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said the crash occurred just north of Geneva Lane on Haligus Road Firefighters found a single-vehicle crash with heavy damage to the vehicle Bentley said the car appeared to have left the roadway and struck a tree No one was trapped in the car and there were three occupants inside at the time of the crash two fire department companies and a chief responded to the scene which consisted of two adult males and an adult female The three were transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley for treatment “We would like to remind motorists that seat belts save lives,” Bentley said He added that it does not appear the victims were ejected from the car The Lake in the Hills Police Department is investigating the crash Three people were transported to the hospital after a three-vehicle crash resulted in one car catching fire in Lake in the Hills Wednesday afternoon The Huntley Fire Protection District and the Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 2:50 p.m Wednesday to Algonquin Road and Lakewood Road in Lake in the Hills for a report of a vehicle crash Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Bentley said the crash occurred in the intersection Fire crews arrived to find a three-vehicle collision with the vehicles sustaining moderate damage Bentley said a small engine fire occurred in one of the cars but a bystander used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived All vehicles were upright and remained in the roadway following the crash Two of the cars sustained front-end damage and the third sustained rear-end damage Three adults from the vehicles were transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley They suffered non-life-threatening injuries Bentley said the fire district reminds motorists to move over for emergency vehicles The Lake in the Hills Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash 2025 at 10:17 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Construction drawings for the building at 320 North Randall Road in Lake in the Hills have been approved director of community development for the village of Lake in the Hills IL — Construction has yet to start on a former Arby's location which will be transformed into a Jack in the Box in Lake in the Hills Construction drawings for the building at 320 North Randall Road in Lake in the Hills have been approved But the company has not yet submitted a building permit to the village "We’ll be able to issue the required building permits after the general contractor and subcontractors are identified and registered with the village," Svalenka said this past week Jack in the Box has earmarked Lake in the Hills among the suburban locales for a new restaurant as the chain returns to Illinois for the first time in 40 to 50 years the company said in a news release last summer the company hopes to open 125 stores in the Chicago market and will start with locations in Lake in the Hills with an additional Chicago location near Midway "This strategic expansion into Chicago allows us to not only satisfy long-standing customer demand for our brand but also to become a key member in the region’s thriving restaurant scene," said Darin Harris "We’re excited to bring our unique menu where customers can order any item at any time—day or night and we’re confident Jack in the Box will quickly become a favorite local destination." communications manager for Jack in the Box said the company does not have "concrete updates to share" on the Lake in the Hills opening as of mid-January More information will be shared as the opening draws closer and mobile ordering options and will be open 24 hours per day "We’ve spearheaded conveniences that would become industry standards like the drive-thru, breakfast sandwiches and portable salads," the company said on its website "Now we feature one of the largest and most distinctive menus in the quick-serve restaurant space Everything from burgers to tacos to egg rolls The chain currently has 2,100 locations across 21 states ExpandLake in the Hills Village President Raymond Bogdanowski speaks at the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce annual breakfast New businesses, park restorations and the completion of a new police station are in store for Algonquin and Lake in the Hills residents next year while the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce announced the revival of its nonprofit foundation Lake in the Hills Village President Raymond Bogdanowski and Algonquin Village President Debby Sosine spoke about the accomplishments and goals in the villages at the Chamber’s annual membership breakfast on Friday One of the biggest projects Lake in the Hills is working on is the new police station next to Village Hall at 600 Harvest Gate, scheduled to open in late 2025, possibly early October or late September. Announced at last year’s Chamber breakfast the village broke ground on the project in April and is expected to be completed in the fall of next year “The state-of-the-art facility will complement our Village Hall in a campus that is focused on service delivering and servicing our community,” he said the village officials hope it can use the area to develop a centralized hub “Maybe that’s our opportunity to have that downtown area that we’ve always envisioned in Lake in the Hills,” Bogdanowski said Both villages touted new businesses coming in the next year including an additional Starbucks on Algonquin Road and Jack in the Box replacing the shuttered Arby’s on Randall Road First Watch and Chipotle are expected to open early next year in Algonquin and more businesses are coming to Algonquin Commons Renovations to Algonquin’s Presidential and Towne parks are expected to be completed by spring, Sosine said. The village plans to bring back its popular summer concerts to Towne Park with the new bandshell and work on Woodscreek restoration to prevent flooding and restore wildlife. Both village presidents are up for reelection and Bogdanowski and Sosine plan to run again. Candidate filing for the positions opens Tuesday. The Chamber also announced the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation was brought back last month after being defunct for about seven years, Chamber Executive Director Greg Urban said. Starting with almost $10,000 in the account, the nonprofit organization aims to support local businesses through education, financial assistance and community engagement. “That was one of my goals when I came in is having a charitable foundation that is in partnership with the Chamber, can do so much for the community and I felt like it was a very valuable thing to bring back,” he said. The foundation launched the Alert Fund with hopes to keep businesses open and back on their feet after emergencies. The program can provide up to $1,000 within one day for local businesses that experience disasters including vandalism, burglary, fire and other natural disaster damage. Any local business in the 60102 and 60156 ZIP codes can apply, even those that are not Chamber members, Urban said. The Entrepreneur Academy will provide scholarships to business owners and employees for retraining, attending conferences and expanding skills. ExpandA car ended up almost completely inside a house following a crash Wednesday on the 400 block of Ridge Court in Lake in the Hills (Photo provided by the Huntley Fire Protection District) The driver of a car that slammed into a Lake in the Hills house on Wednesday – leaving just the back back bumper sticking out the exterior wall and the rest of the car in the basement – may have been having a medical emergency Firefighters and police were called about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday to the 400 block of Ridge Court for the report of a crash. There, they found the vehicle sticking out of the brick home’s wall, according to a Huntley Fire Protection District media release A car ended up almost completely inside a house following a crash Wednesday While residents were home at the time of the crash, no one was injured inside the house, she said. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as contributing to the crash, Johnson said, adding that any citations against the driver are pending the crash investigation. A man escaped uninjured after he reversed from a parking spot and crashed into a tree leaving his SUV suspended in the air against the tree in Lake in the Hills The Lake in the Hills Police Department and Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 9:15 p.m Saturday to the area of Algonquin Road and Lakewood Road in Lake in the Hills for a vehicle crash Firefighters arrived to find a vehicle up in the air against a tree with airbag deployment Lake in the Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Johnson said a 44-year-old man was operating a Hyundai Santa Fe The Hyundai had been parked in the parking lot at CVS proceeded to reverse the car over the parking lot’s curb and the Hyundai’s bumper and underbody made contact with the tree Johnson said the driver continued reversing which caused the rear of the Hyundai to become wedged on the tree The Hyundai came to rest on its front end with the rear end of the car in the air up against the tree The man was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was uninjured No citations were issued and a tow truck was called to remove the vehicle 2025 at 6:49 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Three adults were taken to Northwestern Hospital in Huntley with injuries that are not considered life-threatening The cause of the crash remains under investigation IL — Three people were injured in a three-car crash in Lake in the Hills Wednesday afternoon Police and paramedics responded to the collision at the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood roads in Lake in the Hills at about 2:50 p.m. according to a news release from the Huntley Fire Protection District they found a three-vehicle accident with moderate damage to the vehicles Abystander used a fire extinguisher to put out a small engine fire before emergency personnel arrived at the scene Three adults were taken to Northwestern Hospital in Huntley with injuries that are not considered life-threatening No injuries were reported Saturday a car parked outside a Lake in the Hills home caught fire Firefighters from the Huntley Fire Protection District were dispatched to the 3000 block of Brisbane Drive at 2:58 p.m for a report of a vehicle on fire in the driveway They arrived to find flames from the vehicle fire had spread to the attached garage of the home They were able to quickly bring the fire under control with damage contained to two vehicles and the garage The home was deemed habitable and turned back over to the homeowner Initial damage estimates were not available and the cause of the fire remains under investigation A person was flown to a hospital and three others also hospitalized after a crash Saturday afternoon in Lake in the Hills Huntley Fire Protection District first responders were called to the scene of the crash at the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood roads at about 2:30 p.m and two additional Huntley ambulances responded to the scene One person suffered serious injuries and was transported to the Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital helipad and then flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville Three others also were transported to area hospitals Crews were on the scene for about an hour to assist with patient care and help with cleanup and the Lake in the Hills Police Department is investigating the crash Jack in the Box soon will be serving up fast food along the Randall Road corridor in Lake in the Hills The California-based burger chain, also known for tacos and late-night food, announced in July that it had plans to expand to Lake in the Hills, but it did not give the exact location at the time. Village officials said they had not heard from the company at that point. Lake in the Hills Director of Community Development John Svalenka said Friday that the village received a building permit from the eatery last week, and the plans are currently under review. Svalenka said the restaurant plans to remodel the former Arby’s at 320 N. Randall Road. That restaurant is located near the Lowe’s and Costco. The Lake in the Hills location is one of several planned for the Jack in the Box chain’s return to the Chicago area next year. It won’t be the first location in the state for Jack in the Box; the company has existing locations in and around the St. Louis area. The company’s website also indicates it has two locations in Chicago. A Jack in the Box representative said over the summer that the company is planning to open 125 restaurants in the Chicago area. A representative for the company was not immediately available for comment Friday. Three people suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash Monday night in Lake in the Hills Huntley Fire Protection District officials said none of the three needed to be extricated from the four-door sedan before they were transported to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital near the intersection of Haligus Road and Geneva Lane Lake in the Hills police are still investigating the cause of the crash 2025 at 5:32 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;} A man inside the car was taken to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley with minor injuries Residents inside the home at the time of the crash were not injured (Huntley Fire Protection District )LAKE IN THE HILLS IL — No one was injured when a car crashed through a home in Lake in the Hills Wednesday afternoon Wednesday in the 400 block of Ridge Court when the car crashed into the side of a brick home A man inside the car was taken to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley with minor injuries Huntley Fire Protection District crews remained on scene to oversee the prolonged extrication of the vehicle from the home working in coordination with the Lake in the Hills Police Department the village’s building and zoning department and the tow company A company was requested to secure the damaged area of the home until permanent repairs can be made ExpandThe Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce recognized over half a dozen businesses Saturday Karen Moses got some encouragement that she was on the right business path when she won an award Saturday evening at the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Chamber Royale awards won the Retail Business award during the chamber’s annual awards ceremony held at Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills Moses said it was “very exciting” to be so welcome in the community which offers women’s clothing and accessories opened its doors in the Algonquin Commons mall last spring Moses said she wanted the boutique to be more community-focused She felt the recognition told her she was on the right path and it showed people responded to the boutique Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Greg Urban speaks during the chamber's awards ceremony Saturday The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce and business leaders celebrated and reflected on local enterprises' successes and achievements the chamber recognized over half a dozen other enterprises in several awards categories Shaw Media/The Northwest Herald was a nominee in the Large Business category Michelle Baldowsky of Sugar & Spice Custom Creations also expressed her excitement over her win sells a variety of candles and other bath and body products The store’s first anniversary is coming up March 4 Attendees at Chamber Royale were able to listen to live music from the Sam Schatz Organ Trio, try their luck at a variety of casino games and enter into a raffle for a variety of goodies like a charcuterie basket or the chance to win a McHenry County Fair-opoly game and other swag The Sam Schatz Organ Trio performs during the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony Saturday Chamber officials also reflected on their achievements including launching an Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber foundation that offers businesses in the 60102 and 60156 ZIP codes immediate support following disasters such as floods or fires The ZIP codes cover Algonquin and Lake in the Hills which stands for Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Emergency Recovery Team is designed to offer assistance for incidents not covered by insurance situations where a business is underinsured or when the cost of damages is less than the deductible The program will award grants of up to $1,000, according to the chamber foundation website. Although some were in the house at the time, no residents of a Lake in the Hills home were injured when a car crashed into it leaving the vehicle mostly inside the home [ UPDATE: Medical emergency might have caused car to slam into house in Lake in the Hills ] The driver of the car was taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with minor injuries, according to a news release from the Huntley Fire Protection District. A car ended up almost completely inside a house after a crash Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in the 400 block of Ridge Court in Lake in the Hills. (Photo provided by the Huntley Fire Protection District) Firefighters were called about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday to the 400 block of Ridge Court for the report of a crash and found the vehicle sticking out of the brick home’s wall. The male driver already had extricated himself from the car, according to the release. Crews remained at the scene to oversee the car’s extrication from the house, according to the release. That work was coordinated with the Lake in the Hills Police Department, the village’s building and zoning department and a tow company. A board-up service was called in to secure the home until repairs can be made, officials said. Lake in the Hills police are investigating the crash. Lake in the Hills could ring in the new year by levying a user tax on self-storage facilities Village officials first brought up the idea in September but the board questioned how the tax would be collected and whether the tax would apply to the Lake in the Hills airport Self-storage facilities do not create a lot of sales tax revenue and they don’t generate as much property tax as industrial or retail uses because their assessed value tends to be lower The village staff is proposing an additional 5% sales tax for the self-storage facilities similar to the ones levied in McHenry and Carpentersville The Lake in the Hills tax would apply to traditional self-storage and outdoor vehicle storage facilities The village gave an example of a storage unit that goes for $84 a month Director of Community Development John Svalenka in September said that was the cheapest one officials could find in town The example unit would pay $4.20 per month under the proposed tax Lake in the Hills also proposes allowing the business owners to keep a portion of the tax to offset their costs in collecting it; in the example the business owner would get to keep 21 cents of the tax and send the remaining $3.99 to the village Vehicles and airplanes are not defined similarly in the Lake in the Hills code and officials said that was why aircraft were not included Village documents indicate there is an existing $18.73 storage fee for an aircraft stored at the airport Officials also confirmed that there is no non-airplane storage at the airport; Lake in the Hills officials said in response to a question from Trustee Bill Dustin that they used to allow non-airplane storage but no longer do after the Federal Aviation Administration said they could not do that the tax is expected to raise an estimated $120,000 in revenue each year Village officials said in September that the tax is not designed to generate revenue but rather offset costs and make up revenue lost on other uses The village board said in late October that it was interested in moving forward with the self-storage tax Svalenka on Friday said the village mailed out notices to all the self-storage businesses on Oct Svalenka said the mailing wasn’t required but was done in the spirit of transparent government The village board is expected to take up the issue on Nov Village documents indicate that if the tax is approved If that is the timeline the village board chooses Lake in the Hills would send out another notice to the businesses Svalenka said officials think the six-week timeline outlined is enough time He said the businesses already have procedures in place to bill tenants and would have to make edits to that ExpandFirefighters quickly extinguish a front porch fire that broke out at a Lake in the Hills home Sunday evening (Photo provided by Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District) No injuries were reported after a front porch of a Lake in the Hills home was completely engulfed in flames Sunday evening The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded to a call Sunday evening in the 600 block of Willow Street in Lake in the Hills for a reported structure fire Firefighters arrived to a one-story home with a “fully engulfed front porch,” according to a news release from the fire district The fire was “quickly extinguished” after crews used two hose lines and began an aggressive exterior attack The cause of the fire is being investigated and no injuries to residents or firefighters were reported Fire protection districts from Barrington Countryside, Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove and Huntley along with the Lake in the Hills Police Department aided at the scene. Rodriguez of Lake in the Hills (Photo provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) A Lake in the Hills man has been charged with disseminating photographs of child sex abuse and engaging in a lewd act with a dog Police allege that on Oct. 2 and Dec. 23, Rodriguez disseminated photographs of children he knew or should have known were younger than 13 engaged in sexual conduct, according to the complaint. Police also allege that on Feb. 1, Rodriguez engaged in sexual conduct with a dog, according to the complaint. ExpandA car fire started in an attached garage of a Lake in the Hills home was quickly extinguished before it spread to the home Tuesday morning A car fire that started in the attached garage of a Lake in the Hills home was quickly extinguished before it spread to the home Tuesday morning The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded to a call at 7:37 a.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Wander Way in Lake in the Hills for a reported structure fire. First responders arrived within four minutes to car on fire in the attached garage of the home, according to a fire district news release. Firefighters “were able to rapidly extinguish the fire” and prevented the fire from spreading to the home, according to the release. All residents were able to safely leave the home before first responders arrived. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District. Fire departments from Huntley and Carpentersville assisted at the scene, according to the release. No charges were filed after a student at a middle school in Lake in the Hills searched on a school computer about “how to shoot up a school.” The Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 4:40 p.m A call was received by dispatch from Principal Dana Halper reporting a student had made concerning searches on their school laptop according to a police report obtained this week through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request The school resource officer spoke with Halper who advised the parents of the student were informed of the situation The report said the male juvenile had searched “How to shoot up a school?” Officers later spoke with the student and parents Assistant Principal Jillian Pearce told officers that the student would be called to the office as soon as he arrived at the school The report said the assistant principal and a social worker conducted a safety risk assessment which indicated he was not a risk The student was given school consequences for his inappropriate search history Police did not arrest or charge the child and closed the case 2024 at 10:05 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call the Lake in the Hills Police Department at 847-658-5676 You can also anonymously text TIP LITHPD to 888777 IL — Several people wearing masks stole money from an ATM at Lake in the Hills bank in Lake in the Hills Several suspects wearing all black and ski masks approached the ATM at the Bank of America which is located in the 200 block of Randall Road while it was being serviced by a technician and stole from the machine at about 6 p.m according to a news release from the Lake in the Hills Police Department They then fled in a dark-colored sedan on Randall Road in an unknown direction No one was injured and authorities are continuing to investigate the robbery Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake in the Hills Police Department at 847-658-5676 of Chicago (Photo Provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) A man was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to delivering a fatal dose of fentanyl to a man who died in his father’s Lake in the Hills home Mitch D. Crawford, 38, of Chicago pleaded guilty to one count of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony that can carry a sentence of six to 30 years in prison, McHenry County court records show Crawford is required to serve 75% of his prison term and will receive credit for 811 days he’s spent in the county jail meaning he has about two years and three months left to serve he must serve 18 months of mandatory supervised release according to a judgement order signed by Judge Tiffany Davis By entering the plea, Crawford admitted to delivering fentanyl to Richard “Alex” Faul, 28, on or about July 13, 2021. Faul ingested the drug and was found dead the next day in the bathroom of his father’s home, according to the criminal complaint and a motion filed by prosecutors. Crawford’s defense attorney, Brian Stevens, said Crawford is “truly remorseful and extends his sympathy to the Faul family.” “I believe the sentence Mitch received was a product of his taking responsibility and his relative lack of criminal background,” Stevens said. Near Faul’s body were five empty baggies with a powdery residue, according to the motion. About 36 baggies “of suspected heroin/fentanyl were recovered near his body and the substance ultimately tested positive for fentanyl,” prosecutors said in the motion. Phone records and other evidence allegedly showed that Faul bought heroin and fentanyl from Crawford before his death, the motion states. Before Tuesday’s plea, Stevens filed a motion to suppress statements and identification evidence related to a police lineup from 2022. A witness who allegedly was with Faul when the pair bought drugs from Crawford identified Crawford as the dealer, Stevens said in the motion. However, Stevens argued “procedures employed in the electronic photographic lineup were not followed correctly and were impermissibly suggestive and unfair, and led to the improper identification of the defendant.” The motion further asserted that just before the photo lineup, the witness was approached by police who “detailed many facts about the pending investigation ... that were unknown to the general public.” That motion had been set to be argued Tuesday. Stevens said he appreciated that the judge recommended Crawford participate in “drug addiction treatment while Mitch is serving his sentence, which will help him overcome many of the issues that brought him into the court system.” 2025 at 4:35 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Construction drawings for the building at 320 North Randall Road in Lake in the Hills were approved in recent months IL — Jack in the Box will be returning to Illinois this summer with the opening of 10 new restaurants in the coming months Construction drawings for the building at 320 North Randall Road in Lake in the Hills were approved in recent months It's unclear at this point when exactly the Randall Road Jack in the Box will open "The village has reviewed and approved the construction drawings and we’ll be able to issue the required building permits after the general contractor and subcontractors are identified and registered with the village," Svalenka said "Our understanding is that Jack in the Box is close to completing the process of accepting bids and hiring contractors but they have not provided any details about specific dates.: Jack in the Box earmarked Lake in the Hills among the suburban locales for a new restaurant as the chain Jack in the Box officials said they'd completed development agreements for two new franchisees to expand in Chicago as well as eight company-owned restaurants The restaurants will begin opening this summer said the company did not have "concrete updates to share" on the Lake in the Hills opening Police say a driver suffered a medical emergency before crashing his car completely into a house in Lake in the Hills Wednesday afternoon The Huntley Fire Protection District and Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 2:22 p.m Wednesday to the 400 block of Ridge Court in Lake in the Hills for a report of a vehicle crash Firefighters arrived to find a single passenger vehicle that had crashed into the side of a brick residence had exited the vehicle before firefighters arrived Paramedics assessed the man and transported him to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with minor injuries The residents were home at the time of the crash but were uninjured Lake in the Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Johnson said the gray Infiniti sedan drove off the roadway and struck the rear side of the home Johnson said the driver’s injuries were non-life-threatening and he is believed to have suffered a medical emergency Firefighters remained on the scene to oversee the prolonged removal of the vehicle from the home Crews worked in coordination with the Lake in the Hills Police Department A board-up company was requested to secure the damaged area of the home until permanent repairs could be made Johnson said that drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be contributing factors in the crash The Lake in the Hills Police Department invites residents to the annual National Night Out Community Cookout event from 11 a.m There is no cost to attend the event which is open to the community see the K-9 demonstration presented by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office followed by the Chicago Highlanders Pipes and Drums show at noon Depending on the weather and emergency calls the LifeNet helicopter landing will be arriving at 12:45 p.m for a meet-and-greet with the medical crew and a chance to see the helicopter up close There also will be a Touch-a-Truck with fire trucks Lake in the Hills police and McHenry County Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT team trucks Kids can also handprint paint a squad car or ride the mini peddle cars around Tiny Town's streets Lowe's-Lake in the Hills will be offering crafts for the kids Visit with the Parks and Recreations and the Rec2U crew who will have games and activities and fun planned inside of the “Tiny Town” area The Algonquin Area Public Library has cool surprises in store for the kids Talk to the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District and see their firetruck and ambulance or learn what you need to do to become a firefighter Crumbl Cookie Algonquin will be visiting; stop over to see what goodness is in store (while the treats last) Meet your local 911 operators from the Southeast Emergency Communications Bring the kids by to learn about calling 9-1-1 and family/home safety Edge Fitness will be available to talk about options for wellness Options and Advocacy for McHenry County will have sensory play activities for kids and information about the ways they support the community with neuro inclusive counseling America’s premier public service organization for carrying out emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide CAP’s vigilant citizen volunteers are there to search for and find the lost Refuge for Women can arm you with information if you know of women in need of assistance The Pioneer Center can help improve the lives of individuals challenged by developmental disabilities Come see how they might be able to help you or someone you know The Child Advocacy Center advocates for McHenry County children in crisis Meet the Lake in the Hills Police Chaplin Mark Wood A police chaplain offers confidential support to not just members of the police department but also the community He is active in officer wellness and support Chaplin Wood is also a pastor at the New Life Baptist Church who offer additional community support Looking for senior adult resource information older adults and aging network professionals work together to prevent older adults from becoming the victim of fraud/scams and raising awareness There is also always activities going on in the senior community as well as support and services available Lake in the Hills Public Works and Community Development will be out with information and to talk to you about your questions Lake in the Hills Police Department's Social Services team will be out to answer questions and to held provide community resources that extend outside the walls of the police department Do you like shows like CSI or true crime stories Visit the police department's evidence technician table and learn about crime scene investigation Bring the kids and see fingerprint lifting Learn more about DUIs and DUI enforcement at the police department's DUI table While you're there try the “fatal vision” impairment goggles At the police department's recruitment table a police recruiter can answer all your questions about getting into the law enforcement profession At the police department’s Community Relations Table learn about what programs and resources the police department offers Huntley Unit District 158 School Resource Officer Tycjan Sieradzki will be on hand to welcome students and provide tips for parents at the police department's SRO table Who is ready to name the next public works snowplow? Help Public Works Director McDillion and the incredible crew say goodbye to the “Big Leplowski” and name the 2024-2025 snowplow. Learn more at www.lith.org A Lake in the Hills man was arrested after police say he engaged in a sexual act with a dog and was found disseminating child sexual abuse material was charged with two counts of child pornography A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges that Rodriguez disseminated a photograph of children The complaint said Rodriguez also disseminated a photograph of a child Rodriguez engaged in an act of sexual conduct with a dog on February 1 by enticing the animal to lick him inappropriately using whipped cream The case was investigated by the Lake in the Hills Police Department The police department said they began investigating after receiving a complaint that originated from a cybertip made to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force A Lake in the Hills police detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force began an investigation Rodriguez was transported to the McHenry County Jail and appeared for an initial appearance court hearing on Friday The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Rodriguez pending trial McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb denied the petition and released Rodriguez with pre-trial conditions He is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday for a status of preliminary hearing IL — Three people were seriously injured in a crash on Haligus Road Monday night in Lake in the Hills All three people were taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital following the collision at Haligus Road and Geneva Lane, which happened just before 9:45 p.m This is a developing story - check back for details 2025 at 12:00 pm CDTExpandFILE - Runners take off from the starting line during a previous Bob Blazier Run for the Arts in Crystal Lake Would you like your event highlighted in this weekly feature? The first step is submitting your events to the Northwest Herald’s community calendar at shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/local-events. Police say masked suspects approached a technician who was servicing an ATM and robbed the ATM of cash in Lake in the Hills Tuesday evening The Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 6 p.m Police officials said several suspects in all black wearing ski masks approached an ATM outside the bank The ATM was being serviced by a technician The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the ATM The suspects fled in a dark-colored sedan on Randall Road in an unknown direction No one was injured and police said there does not appear to be an “additional or immediate ongoing” threat A request for additional details from the police department including whether the suspects displayed firearms Bank of America was set to permanently shut down the branch effective January 28 Police said the investigation is active and ongoing and more information would be released when available Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 847-658-5676 and ask to speak to a supervisor Anonymous tips can also be sent by texting TIP LITHPD to 888777 The sender will receive a confirmation message to let them know they are connected to the Lake in the Hills Police Department and that their tip was received Three people were taken to the hospital after a car crash in Lake in the Hills on Wednesday The crash happened at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Lakewood Road just before 3 p.m. and a bystander used a fire extinguisher to put out a small engine fire before fire crews arrived The three people were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening The cause of the crash is still under investigation ExpandButcher on the Block owner Tom Yucuis assists a customer in Lake in the Hills 2013 Tom Yucuis started Butcher on the Block Meat and Deli in Lake in the Hills 25 years ago with his wife and built it into a well-known and successful family business through “his dedication but also a friend and mentor to many” who “shaped the foundation of this business and his memory will forever be a part of our journey.” [ Tributes pour in for business owner, 'local legend' Tom Yucuis ] According to a separate online obituary shared in the post Yucuis’ “vision was to create a small family business where he could share his expertise and passion for great food Over the course of his 25 years in business his daughters and many grandchildren have worked at Butcher on the Block He loved interacting with his loyal customers who supported Butcher on the Block and made it the success that is today.” He lived by “two core principles: God and family,” according to the obituary The Facebook post requested “patience and understanding” as the business adjusts to the loss “We understand that some of you may be choosing to give Butcher on the Block some space for grieving and privacy reasons but please know that Tom would not want that,” according to the post “He would love for you to continue stopping by even if it’s just to say hello without making a purchase as he wouldn’t want his butcher shop to feel empty during this challenging time We know that Tom cherished every single relationship he built with each of you and we are honored to continue that legacy.” He worked for 50 years as a butcher/meat cutter He was well known in the community not just as a business owner but as someone who supported local charities and organizations Yucuis' survivors include daughters Dana Yucuis To allow employees to attend the visitation and funeral for Yucuis Headshots Photography Butcher on the Block butcher shop in Lake in the Hills receives an award from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce in January 2025 From left are owner Jill Yucuis; employee Brandon Northcutt; Brynn Zimmerman daughter of Tom and Jill Yucuis and general manager; Tom Yucuis; and Greg Urban (Photo provided by Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce/DeAnda Photography) in Luther Hall at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 310 E start of a funeral service for family and friends memorials can be made to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church or Northwestern Memorial Hospital Breast Cancer Research Project Kane County authorities continue to investigate the crash that occurred Route 31. Officials have said they believe three vehicle struck Yucuis when he was out on foot early Monday morning. The drivers stopped and attempted to render aid, and no charges or citations have been announced.