Five people were taken to the hospital after a school bus crash in Pingree Grove on Tuesday, officials said. The crash happened on Kendall Road just before 4 pm, according to a press release from the Pingree Grove Fire Protection District. Seven people were injured, 5 of whom were taken to local hospitals. Crews from Pingree Grove and several nearby departments responded, including the Kane County sheriff’s office and officials from School District 301. The crash caused the closure of Kendall Road for over 2 hours. The conditions of the five people transported are unknown. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. ExpandPingree Grove police found a burglary suspect hiding in a tavern Saturday. (Shaw Local File Photo) Timing was everything for Pingree Grove police and a suspect arrested at a local tavern after the burglar alarm went off early Saturday. Pingree Grove officers responded to an alarm about 4:40 a.m. at the Outpost Tavern and Grill, 40W825 Oak St. They found someone had broken into the business, which was closed, vandalized the burglar alarm panel and tried to take apart an automated teller machine. Officers also found a man hiding there and “apprehended him without incident,” authorities said. The suspect’s vehicle was found nearby, police said. Angel Uriel Alvarez Cruz, 36, is charged with burglary to a commercial business, criminal damage to property and possession of burglary tools. “Currently, there is no evidence indicating that there was more than one suspect or that there is an ongoing threat to our community,” police said. Other charges are pending, officials said. Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call the Pingree Grove Police Department at 847-464-4600. https://www.dailyherald.com/20250426/crime/burglary-investigation-reveals-suspect-hid-in-pingree-grove-tavern/ Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network The Pingree Grove Police Department responded about 3:59 a.m 2025 to an activated burglar alarm at the Outpost Tavern and Grill While Pingree Grove police officers were responding to the business Kane County Sheriff’s deputies were near the business and spotted and pursued the driver of a white van fleeing from the scene eastbound on US Highway Route 20 Law enforcement officers located an injured suspect inside the van and learned that three individuals had been inside the white van when it crashed The injured suspect inside the van was apprehended at the scene The suspect was transported by paramedics to a local hospital with critical injuries Police officers from multiple jurisdictions were deployed to attempt to track the suspects using K-9 units and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones The two other suspects fled on foot south of the area The initial investigation indicated that three subjects gained entry to the Outpost Tavern and Grill by breaking a window damaged the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and stole one of the cash boxes from inside The subjects then fled to their van located southeast of the building observed the white van leaving the area and pursued the van which crashed somewhere in the area of US-20 Coombs Road is about 2.5 miles east of the Outpost Tavern and Grill The police release did not provide an exact crash location The stolen ATM cash box was recovered from the white van and the van was towed and impounded as evidence This investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the Elgin Police Department Kane County Office of Emergency Management “The Pingree Grove Police Department expresses gratitude to all agencies involved in apprehending the suspects We assure the public that we are diligently working to gather all necessary details Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Pingree Grove Police Department at 847-464-4600 The public is reminded that an arrest is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.” The identity of the suspect that was apprehended was not initially released and there was no information about any charges Taken into Custody by SWAT After Breaking Into Home Aurora Police Seeks Public’s Help Locating Parolee Homicide Suspect “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.” 2025 at 9:11 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Meanwhile a third alleged burglar has been hospitalized in critical condition IL — Police are searching for two burglars accused of stealing the cash box from the ATM of a Pingree Grove bar and restaurant over the weekend The trio is accused of breaking a window at the Outpost Tavern and Grill They then stole a cash box from inside the ATM and fled on foot The Pingree Grove Police Department responded to a burglary alarm at the business at 4 a.m who happened to be in the area at the same time saw a white van fleeing from the area and pursued the vehicle according to a news release from the police department The van crashed on Route 20 between Highland Woods Boulevard and Coombs Road Two suspects fled on foot south from the area A third suspect was apprehended and taken to the hospital with critical injuries Police said Sunday the two suspects were still on the lam and the burglary remained under investigation As of Monday morning it was unclear if that was still the case Patch.com has reached out to Pingree Grove Police Department for more information but has not heard back Anyone with information regarding the burglary should call the police department at 847-464-4600 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Timing was everything for Pingree Grove police and a suspect arrested at a local tavern after the burglar alarm went off early Saturday Pingree Grove officers responded to an alarm at the Outpost Tavern and Grill They found someone had broken into the business vandalized the burglar alarm panel and tried to take apart an automated teller machine Officers also found a man hiding there and “apprehended him without incident,” authorities said is charged with burglary to a commercial business there is no evidence indicating that there was more than one suspect or that there is an ongoing threat to our community,” police said Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call the police department at (847) 464-4600 Kane County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters and paramedics from Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District responded about 9:43 p.m 2025 to a reoprt of a multiple-vehicle crash near the address of 39W937 Plank Road in Plato Township south of Pingree Grove the call was upgraded to assign extra units for fire suppression and extrication Upon arrival Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District firefighters and paramedics discovered a four-vehicle crash with significant damage and occupants trapped in vehicles with multiple critically-injured victims and one vehicle on fire Firefighters advanced a fire hose attack line with foam to extinguish a gasoline fed fire Two additional ambulances were assigned to the scene and two medical helicopters were assigned to the scene — one from LifeNet Unit 1301 was Water Supply and 1401 and 1402 were Landing Zone officers — Pingree Grove Fire Protection District released or pronounced deceased at the scene Two patients were transported by helicopter to Level One Trauma Centers and two victims were pronounced dead at the scene The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash Plank Road was closed between Switzer Road and Russell Road (just west of US-20) for 12 hours The Kane County Sheriff’s Office announced at 9:25 a.m that Plank Road was re-opened in both directions Phone Scammer Asked Northbrook Woman to Send Back Her New Xfinity Mobile Phone Naperville Resident Arrested Immediately After Break-in at Smoke Shop on Ogden Ave An undetermined amount of livestock perished early Monday morning when a fire gutted “two large barns” and a shed near Pingree Grove Firefighters were called to the blaze just after 3 a.m and reported heavy smoke and flames showing from the property on the 42W800 block of Plank Road while en route Fire officials said it appears one barn caught fire and embers from that blaze ignited a nearby barn and shed on a neighboring property No injuries to residents or firefighters was reported The blaze was ultimately upgraded to a five-alarm fire with 16 water tender trucks hauling in resources to battle it Fire officials didn’t know what type of animals were being kept in the barns at the time of the fire The cause of the fire is still under investigation and fire officials are still trying to determine in which barn the fire ignited One suspect is in custody and two others at large after a burglary at a Pingree Grove tavern early Sunday The suspects led authorities on a car chase culminating in a crash that critically injured one suspect Pingree Grove police said officers were called at 3:59 a.m Authorities said three burglars broke a window to enter the business and stole an ATM cash box before fleeing in a white van A van believed to be the burglars’ was spotted by Kane County sheriff’s deputies The van crashed between Highland Woods Boulevard and Coombs Road and a suspect inside the vehicle was taken to a hospital with critical injuries The stolen cash box also was recovered from the vehicle The other suspects were tracked by police dogs and drones but have not been located https://www.dailyherald.com/20250202/news/pingree-grove-tavern-burglary-leads-to-chase-crash/ Firefighters and paramedics from Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District and Kane County Sheriff’s deputies initially responded about 3:05 a.m 2025 to a report of a structure fire in a barn at 42 W827 Plank Road in the Village of Hampshire firefighters observed a large header and fire visible from a distance Eventually the fire response was upgraded to a 5th Alarm for fully-involved fire involving two barns and a shed located at a setback distance of about 200 feet from Plank Road an additional three tenders were requested firefighters found two large barns and a shed well-involved with fire Hampshire Fire Protection District’s Photos on Facebook (use link if there is a blank space below) … and a MABAS Box Alarm was requested for mutual aid assistance Arriving Chiefs were assigned as follows: Two water drafting areas were set up at East and West driveways The burning buildings were over 200 feet from Plank Road in a southeast area of the Village of Hampshire Due to the large amounts of water needed in an area with no fire hydrants the fire incident was elevated to a MABAS Division 2 Box Alarm to the 5th Alarm for Tenders (water tankers) A MABAS Division 2 Box Alarm (#2-42) was activated at about 3:24 a.m A MABAS Division 2 Box Alarm (#2-42) was elevated to a 3rd Alarm for “tenders only” at about 3:48 a.m A MABAS Division 2 Box Alarm (#2-42) was elevated to a 5th Alarm for “tenders only” at about 4:10 a.m Mutual Aid Units were released by 9:00 a.m and Pingree Grove units returned to quarters after 10:00 a.m Livestock animals were lost in all three buildings Initially there was no information available regarding the number of livestock that were killed and the Office of the State Fire Marshal was assigned to the scene Plank Road was closed near the fire scene for seven hours Pingree Grove & Countryside Protection District’s Photos on Facebook (use link if there is a blank space below) … Property Damage Only on Adams Street in Elgin Pre-Trial Release Denied for Murder Suspect Accused of Attacking Mother with a Mini-Sledge Hammer in Burr Ridge Two people were killed and six others were injured in a four-vehicle crash Sunday night near Elgin Pingree Grove Countryside Fire Protection District firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the 39W900 block of Plank Road near Elgin just before 9:45 p.m Fire officials said multiple people were trapped in vehicles Two people were pronounced dead at the scene two others were transported to nearby trauma centers by helicopters and four others were transported by ambulance Two others were treated and released at the scene Investigators from the Kane County sheriff’s office closed Plank Road at Switzer Road for nearly 12 hours Investigators said the 18-year-old driver of a red Ford F150 headed west on Plank Road swerved to avoid striking a deer The driver struck the deer as he veered into oncoming traffic The F150 caught fire with the driver still trapped inside Rescuers broke out the driver’s side window of the F150 to remove the driver who sustained multiple fractures and serious burns according to a sheriff’s office press release was flown by helicopter to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood The driver of the Sierra was also flown to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. He was identified as 22-year-old Yahir Porcayo-Porcayo. Two passengers in the Sierra were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as 31-year-old Erick Garcia-Porcayo and 25-year-old Rosalio Porcayo-Porcayo. The drivers of the landscaping vehicle and Ram refused transport, authorities said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. https://www.dailyherald.com/20250310/news/two-dead-after-crash-sunday-night-near-elgin/ The Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District will ask voters in November to approve an expansion plan in response to a residential growth spurt The roughly 7,000-square-foot library now serves patrons from Hampshire and neighboring towns have been growing so rapidly that we really have too small a space now to meet the needs of this large and growing population,” Executive Director Stephen Bero said The Ella Johnson board spent years looking for a centrally located But those plans “never really came up with anything workable,” Bero said officials are taking a page from the Cook Memorial Library District up in Lake County and the Oswego Public Library District Both have library campuses in each of their major municipalities the Ella Johnson district has proposed new twin libraries — each about 20,000 square feet — one in Hampshire and the other in Pingree Grove the district would borrow $30 million by issuing bonds to fund the building project “So this still meets that need of sufficient space It meets the need of convenient access,” Bero said Officials estimate that library taxes would be approximately double what they are now The typical homeowner in the district pays roughly $120 per year in library taxes that homeowner would pay $240 per year in library taxes “I think there's a lot of pent-up energy about the library People are excited to … finally get those new services that they've been asking for all these years,” Bero said Pingree Grove has donated land to the district between the current municipal center and a community garden on Reinking Road The library district is also eyeing a portion of a future Hampshire municipal campus being planned north of downtown on State Street The village is building a new public works garage A combination village hall and police department is “in our plan but probably 10 years down the road,” Hampshire Village Manager Jay Hedges said “We had the architectural firm who's doing our public works garage give us a … site plan to see if we could put the library on our municipal campus as well And it fits very nicely there,” Hedges said The existing library building in Hampshire could be converted to a restaurant or any kind of business but it could also be used as a temporary facility for village board meetings “We want to pursue those options and look at what the possibilities are,” Hedges said the village has authorized a special census to be conducted this spring because “we think we’ve grown probably about” 3,000 to 4,000 people since the 2020 count Bero said it’s “past time that the library expand.” 2025 at 4:34 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A fatal four-car crash occurred Sunday night at the intersection of Plank Road and Switzer Road in Kane County IL — Two people were killed in a four-car crash Sunday night that occurred after a driver swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting a deer according to the Kane County Sheriff's Office were pronounced dead at the intersection of Plank Road and Switzer Road officials said in a news release Monday afternoon Detectives determined that a red Ford F150 was traveling west on Plank Road when the driver narrowly missing a passing landscape truck but crashing head-on into a white GMC Sierra The F150 was then hit by a red Dodge Ram and caught fire He sustained serious burns and fractures and was flown to Loyola Hospital which was hauling a trailer and skid steer identified as 22-year-old Yahir Porcayo-Porcayo sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove Officials did not say if the Ram's sole occupant The crash remains under investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office Editor's note: The Kane County State's Attorney issued an update Wednesday identifying one of the people who died as 18-year-old Eric Porcayo-Ramirez The man was previously wrongly identified as 31-year-old Erick Garcia-Porcayo Officials said the Kane County Coroner's Office corrected the identification Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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A 75-year-old Hampshire man is dead after his vehicle left the roadway on Route 20 and crashed into a tree Sunday afternoon the Kane County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of U.S east of Illinois Route 47 in Rutland Township The deputies arrived to find a 2017 black Dodge Journey facing eastbound in the ditch on U.S The vehicle had significant visible damage after leaving the roadway and striking a tree The single occupant of the vehicle was unconscious Preliminary investigation shows that the Dodge Journey driven by Robert Skarbonkiewicz of Hampshire Route 20 and left the roadway for unknown reasons Skarbonkiewicz sustaining life-threatening injuries The Pingree Grove Fire Department transported Mr Skarbonkiewicz to Advocate Sherman Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff a short time later Skarbonkiewicz wore a seatbelt during the crash and airbags were deployed within his vehicle the cause of the crash is still being investigated by the Kane County Investigations Division © Fox Valley Magazine 2023. All Rights Reserved. Site by SDTECHNOLOGIES a routine call turned into a lifesaving mission for the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District Responding to a head-on collision on Route 47 the team found Kane County Sheriff Deputy Brian Anderson critically injured and in desperate need of immediate assistance Thanks to their swift and skilled response In recognition of their extraordinary bravery and dedication the Fox Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution awarded members of the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District the esteemed SAR Life Saving Medal The presentation of the awards took place at the annual Pingree Grove and Countryside Awards banquet on May 31 where the heroic efforts of the first responders were celebrated Receiving the SAR Life Saving Medal were firefighters Robert Andre attended the awards ceremony to personally thank the members of the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District These teams worked together seamlessly to extricate Deputy Anderson from the wreckage and transport him to the hospital ensuring he received the critical care needed to save his life The significance of the event was marked by heartfelt gratitude and admiration highlighted the bravery and dedication of the first responders in his remarks “The courage and professionalism displayed by the members of the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District along with their colleagues from Hampshire and LifeNet Their actions on that day exemplify the highest standards of service and sacrifice It is an honor to present them with the SAR Life Saving Medal recognizing their unwavering commitment to saving lives.” The ceremony not only honored the heroic actions of the first responders but also underscored the vital role that fire protection districts and emergency services play in ensuring the safety and well-being of the community The collaborative efforts of the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District and LifeNet crew serve as a testament to the power of teamwork and dedication in the face of life-threatening situations As the community reflects on this lifesaving event the recognition bestowed upon these brave individuals serves as a reminder of the extraordinary courage and selflessness that define the spirit of our first responders The SAR Life Saving Medal stands as a symbol of gratitude and honor for those who go above and beyond to protect and save lives The Sons of the American Revolution is a patriotic organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the American Revolution the SAR honors the memory of those who fought for American independence by promoting historical research is an active branch committed to upholding the values of the national organization The chapter participates in local historical commemorations and honoring local individuals or organizations within the Fox Valley area To find out more about the SAR, visit www.foxsar.org or facebook.com/sonsoftheamericanrevolutionfoxvalley/. This facility received a Career 1 Notable award in the 2023 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here This new headquarters developed from the need to replace the aging Station 4 and to serve a growing community around the Plato Center The new headquarters station incorporates much-needed spaces for the district to operate efficiently such as new offices for administrative staff The design includes a community room that’s used for district board meetings and for classroom training of firefighters who not only work for the district but other surrounding firefighting agencies the headquarters station’s design accommodates future needs and growth It allows for expansion for the training of firefighters by positioning the community/training room future parking spaces and a planned prop burn pad in locations that are expandable easily as the department develops its training program service offerings The facility’s design also considers the effect of future pandemics via a forward-thinking approach to firefighter safety Similar to the modern fire station design approach to reduce the spread of carcinogens within the facility and limit exposure within apparatus bays this design expands that approach by including clean vestibules The clean vestibules incorporate handwashing stations at every door from the apparatus bay that leads to the administrative and the living sides of the building which reduces the spread of hazardous particulates and viruses from firefighter exposure to the rest of the facility Architect/Firm Name: Dewberry A Pingree Grove man may have kidnapped and killed a man in revenge for a purported attack on a relative a Kane County judge wrote in a letter we obtained from the case file Judge Julia Yetter made the note when she ordered that Douglas Ottesen remain in custody while awaiting trial for the killing of 57-year-old James Cromwell of Crystal Lake Authorities say Ottesen killed Cromwell on March 12 then stored the body for weeks in a Kane County barn Ottesen is charged with first-degree murder aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful restraint prosecutors and police allege that Ottesen believed that Cromwell had held a relative against her will and raped her We reached out to Crystal Lake police about those allegations Ottesen offered to drive Cromwell to a bus stop but instead took him to a pole barn on Route 72 in Pingree Grove computer data from Ottesen’s vehicle indicated Ottesen had been renting the barn at the time Cromwell later was found dead in the barn with a gunshot wound to the back of his head the victim’s body was covered in lime and placed in a large wooden box Lime has been used for centuries to preserve bodies according to a study presented to a conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences It has also been used to cover bodies in mass graves and by criminals to reduce the likelihood of a body being found whether Ottesen and Cromwell knew one another prior to the killing Yetter cited the facts and circumstances of the case and the “planning by defendant and execution and effort to avoid detection” as reasons for ordering him to remain behind bars while his case is pending She also wrote that she considered his conviction for a 1995 residential burglary as indication he might not follow court-imposed restrictions if released Ottesen has been in the Kane County jail since his arrest May 7 but was ill and was excused from attending court Got some work-related skeletons in your closet but worry that fessing up could mean potentially serious legal consequences Now’s your chance to come clean without the threat of arrest or prosecution Attorney’s Office in Chicago this week announced a pilot program that encourages people to step forward and admit to nonviolent offenses The six-month program is geared toward those who have participated in or have knowledge of criminal wrongdoing by virtue of their employment Federal authorities say those who make “timely and meaningful” disclosures won’t be prosecuted “We are implementing this pilot program to provide a road map for how to report individual and organizational misconduct,” Morris Pasqual the acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois “We hope the program will enhance our effectiveness by incentivizing individuals and their counsel to provide us with actionable and timely information.” The office will accept admissions on a preprinted intake form emailed to USAILN.WBP@usdoj.gov until March 15 and those already informed that they’re under investigation aren’t eligible The reporting individual also must agree to forfeit proceeds from criminal wrongdoing and pay full restitution to victims The program is not available to those whose crimes include violence terrorism or any sex offense involving force and the highest-ranking person in an organization also can’t take part For more on the program, visit https://tinyurl.com/2h2wz2md It’s established law that felons can be banned from owning a gun But what about those charged with a felony and awaiting trial The Illinois Supreme Court essentially punted on that question Thursday choosing instead to throw out a challenge on the basis that the plaintiffs didn’t have standing to sue Davis v. Yenchko stems from the case of two downstate men — Aaron and Charles Davis — charged in 2016 with reckless discharge of a firearm after neighbors complained they had been shooting guns in their yard Illinois State Police revoked their Firearm Owners Identification cards When the pair pleaded guilty to misdemeanors a year later arguing that ISP unlawfully denied them their rights before they had been convicted finding that it is unconstitutional to revoke a FOID based only on a charge and ordered state police to halt the practice The Illinois Supreme Court took up the case but rather than decide the substance of the issue justices instead ruled that because the plaintiffs had their FOID cards returned before initiating the case It also means the downstate judge’s order to state police is reversed we express no opinion on the merits of the parties’ other arguments,” Justice Mary K While writing this week about the dispute between Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain over a fatal officer-involved shooting in May 2023 Susan checked into why Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser hasn’t decided whether the shooting was justified Why is it taking so long? It turns out Mosser has the final investigation report from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, but is having it reviewed by an outside consultant named Force Science Mosser said it was a “complex case with a lot of evidence,” and noted that task force members have to fit their work in around their regular jobs He graduated from Waukesha Memorial High School and attended Marquette University he finished his career with many years at Tiger Drylac of St first as the warehouse foreman and operator and later in sales As long ago as high school he was a sharp dresser With a wonderfully sardonic sense of humor well-liked by those who knew him and a caring husband Dennis was a good athlete and played tennis at Catholic Memorial He was always up for a pick-up game of football or basketball and later in life fell totally in love with (or is it got hooked on?) golf He belonged to Blackstone Country Club where he played regularly until health concerns brought him up short He also enjoyed many rounds with his older brother whom he rarely beat according to the author He had three wonderful children from his first marriage Dennis married Barbara Kolwyck and the couple shared many happy years together and had attained over 30 wonderful years of sobriety as of his passing Dennis is survived by his brother Tom Dixon of Madison and sister Nancy Harlfinger of Waukesha and Dennis was preceded in death by his parents DeFiore Funeral Home has been trusted with arrangements. For further information, please contact the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com For Waukesha Obituary Pricing and Guidelines For Washington and Ozaukee Obituary Pricing and Guidelines For Waukesha obituaries earlier than 2020 For Washington and Ozaukee obituaries earlier than 2020 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Lake and McHenry County Scanner A crash involving a pickup truck and a semi-truck left one person injured and trapped and shut down part of Interstate 90 near Huntley Sunday morning Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District Hampshire Fire Protection District and Illinois State Police responded around 8:08 a.m Sunday to Interstate 90 near milepost 42.5 in Hampshire Township Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Chris Howell said it was reported that a car and a semi-truck were involved in a crash Fire crews were responding and notified that there was entrapment in one of the vehicles three ambulances and three fire chiefs were dispatched to the scene The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 east of Route 20 Firefighters extricated one victim from a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck Paramedics transported them to a local hospital for treatment Two lanes of eastbound Interstate 90 were shut down east of the Route 20 onramp for just under an hour Tow trucks were called to remove the Chevrolet as well as the Freightliner semi-trailer truck The Illinois State Police was investigating the cause of the crash 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 charged with murder in May 2024 in the death of Crystal Lake resident James Cromwell (Photo provided by Kane County Sheriff's Office) A Crystal Lake man has been found dead on a property in Hampshire Township and another man has been charged with murder in his death Authorities said Crystal Lake police initiated an investigation on April 4 into a man who had been reported missing from a local residence The probe “indicated that the circumstances surrounding the incident may by criminal in nature,” according to a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office that led to searches of two properties in Kane County one in Pingree Grove and one along Route 72 in Hampshire Township Crystal Lake police discovered the remains of James Cromwell according to the news release; an autopsy later determined he had died of a gunshot wound to the head who lives at the Pingree Grove address that police searched in the 600 block of North Falls Circle unlawful possession of a weapon and ammunition by a felon and concealment of a homicide citing Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser Crystal Lake police Chief James Black and Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain Crystal Lake police later said that they determined during their investigation that Cromwell was last seen on March 12 Deputy Chief of Administration Rick Neumann said authorities did not issue a public missing-persons alert because of the early indications that a criminal act could be behind Cromwell’s disappearance Neumann did not specify how or if Cromwell knew Ottesen Reached by phone Tuesday, Guido Ottesen, who identified himself as the defendant’s brother, called him “an awesome guy.” 2024 at 3:16 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ottesen (Kane County State's Attorney )KANE COUNTY IL — A Pingree Grove man is accused of kidnapping and killing a Crystal Lake man after police recently searched locations in Kane County and found the remains of the missing man of the 600 block of North Falls Circle in Pingree Grove unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon aggravated unlawful restraint and concealment of a homicidal death according to a news release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office Ottesen is accused of killing James Cromwell Police in Crystal Lake launched an investigation into Cromwell's whereabouts when he was reported missing from his home in Crystal Lake on April 4 Police obtained two search warrants for locations in Kane County including one for the 600 block of North Falls Circle in Pingree Grove and another for the 45W200 block of Route 72 in Hampshire Township Police found Cromwell's remains at the property on Route 72 according to preliminary results from autopsy completed by the Kane County Coroner's Office Kane County Coroner Rob Russell ruled the preliminary manner of death as homicide Ottesen will remain detained and behind bars as his case proceeds through court ExpandTwo people were taken to area hospitals by air ambulance following a crash Thursday evening at Route 72 and Reinking Road in Pingree Grove according to the Cook County Medical Examiner (Photo provided by the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District) A 16-year-old from Gilberts has died after a crash Thursday evening in Pingree Grove The teen was among two people who were flown to area hospitals after the crash The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday reported that Bryce Simon died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge According to a news release from the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District emergency responders were called about 7:25 p.m Thursday to Route 72 east of Reinking Road for a two-vehicle crash and another person was ejected from the second vehicle doors and “had to roll up the dashboard” to remove the victims from the first vehicle The drivers of both vehicles were flown via air ambulance and one passenger was taken with injuries not considered life-threatening according to a social media post from the Pingree Grove Police Department an initial investigation indicated that a pickup truck was traveling east on Route 72 at a high speed when the driver lost control and swerved into the westbound lanes and struck a sedan head-on The Pingree Grove Police Department asked that anyone with information regarding the crash call the department at 847-464-4600 and request to speak to an investigator The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting Pingree Grove police with the investigation First responders from Huntley, Burlington, Hampshire, Rutland Dundee, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management and LifeNet and React medical helicopters assisted. Skonieczny was charged with three counts of felony aggravated DUI (Photo provided by Kane County Sheriff’s Office) ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – A Pingree Grove man previously convicted seven times for drunken driving now faces a Class X felony for his eighth arrest April 9 A Kane County grand jury also indicted Daniel A on two additional felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence has a punishment of six to 30 years in prison if convicted Skonieczny was previously convicted of DUI on June 10 Skonieczny’s attorney could not be reached for comment According to a Hampshire police report, which was released after a Freedom of Information Act request, officers noticed a silver 2013 Toyota Highlander at 1:10 a.m., driven by Skonieczny, in the left turn lane of Route 20 to enter the Interstate 90 ramp. “The Toyota drove to the center of the intersection, turn[ed] around facing eastbound in the westbound lane,” according to the police report. “Then the Toyota made a left turn to the northbound I-90 access road to the Road Ranger, located at 19N681 U.S. Route 20, Hampshire, driving on the wrong side of the street, northbound in the southbound lane.” Road Ranger is a 24-hour gas station and convenience store. Skonieczny refused to submit to field sobriety tests or to give a breath sample, according to the report. Court records show that Skonieczny posted $7,500 bail, or 10% of the $75,000 bond that was set. He is scheduled to appear in court again July 13. ExpandTwo people were taken to area hospitals by air ambulance following a crash at Route 72 and Reinking Road in Pingree Grove Thursday evening PINGREE GROVE – The communities of Pingree Grove Hampshire and Gilberts are grieving the death of 16-year-old boy and severe injuries to two siblings following a crash Thursday evening in Pingree Grove Police Chief Chris Harris said “They are going through quite a time,” Harris said The two-vehicle crash occurred at 7:25 p.m. 300 feet east of the intersection of Illinois Route 72 and Reinking Road was flown to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he later died the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office on reported on Friday His funeral is scheduled on Saturday, according to an obituary notice at the DeFiore Funeral Home in Huntley. Simon was driving a pickup truck east on Route 72 at a high rate of speed when he lost control and swerved into oncoming westbound traffic, striking a sedan head-on, according to a news releases. The sedan driver was an 18-year-old and the passenger was her 11-year-old brother. Both were flown to hospitals outside the area, Harris said. The siblings, from Pingree Grove, were initially listed in critical condition, but now the 11-year-old has been upgraded to stable condition with internal injuries, Harris said. The speed limit in that area is 55 miles an hour, Harris said, but the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team is still investigating if speed was a factor in the crash, he said. “I don’t know if they can determine the speed. Someone at the intersection saw the truck go through the green light and then went out of control,” Harris said. “I do know the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District was on scene almost immediately.” Emergency responders had to remove the roof and doors of the sedan and use a hydraulic ram to lift the dashboard off the two in the sedan, Pingree Grove Deputy Fire Chief Chris Howell said. “When the dashboard is smashed out into somebody’s lap or on their legs – or the steering wheel is – we use special tools to make cuts and use the hydraulic ram to lift or roll the dash board off the person,” Howell said. “If it’s the steering wheel, we pull the whole column.” The brother and sister in the sedan both wore seat belts, Harris said. Simon, who was driving the pickup truck, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown 30 feet, Harris said. “It might have saved him, but it’s not a guarantee,” Harris said of a seat belt. Other factors – alcohol, drugs or texting – in connection to the crash are still under investigation, Harris said. The night of the crash was clear and the temperature was in the 40s, Harris said, whereas going into the winter season, roads can become slick and requires drivers to reduce their speed. Even if the pickup truck was being driven at the speed limit, “Two vehicles traveling at 55 miles an hour would have a 110-mile-an-hour collision,” Harris said. In his 11 years previously serving on the county’s accident reconstruction team, Harris said crashes were all speed-related. After a recent study, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to reduce the speed limit by five miles between Route 47 to Reinking Road to 50 miles an hour, Harris said. “That’s not going to do a whole lot, but it’s something,” Harris said. “With all the building in Pingree Grove, I’d like to see it lowered to 45, but no one does the speed limit anyway, or so it seems.” Multiple agencies responded to the crash to assist Pingree Grove: Burlington, Hampshire and Huntley Ambulance; Rutland Dundee Engine 51, Kane County Office of Emergency Management; LifeNet Medical Helicopter and React Medical Helicopter. Carpentersville, Huntley and South Elgin covered their stations while they were on-scene, according to a news release. 2023 at 12:47 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bryce Simon died in the Thursday collision at Route 72 and Reinking Road in Pingree Grove IL — More details have been released into a crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old Gilberts boy last week and left two brothers with serious injuries Thursday at Route 72 and Reinking Road in Pingree Grove when a pick-up truck headed east on Route 72 lost control and started swerving in and out of the eastbound lane of traffic before hitting a sedan head-on according to a news release from the Pingree Grove Police Department police clarified information released last week regarding the crash Authorities initially said one person involved in the collision fled the scene of the collision but later determined that information was not correct "The initial report of someone fleeing the scene was found to be inaccurate All parties involved in the crash have been accounted for which was posted to the Pingree Grove Police Department Facebook page A funeral for Simon has been scheduled for this Saturday starting at noon at St A visitation for Simon will run from 4 to 8 p.m and a second visitation will run from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m a GoFundMe has been set up to help Simon's family cover the cost of funeral expenses and has brought in more than $7,800 as of Tuesday afternoon Friends and family are remembering Simon as a kind and protective teen who could light up any room and who could "make anyone laugh." The Hampshire High School student is also being remembered as a hard worker with a "million dollar smile." You can donate to the GoFundMe here Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Emmanuel Delgado of Pingree Grove created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Pingree Grove is hiring a recruiting firm to look for a new village manager after Dean Frieders announced he's leaving for a job out of state as the village's first manager in six years at an annual salary of $182,000 He'd been the contracted village attorney for more than a decade Frieders said he was recruited for his new job and he's leaving the village on good terms "This transition for me is not in any way a transition away from the village They have a really talented staff and village board Village President Steve Wiedmeyer said the village board decided Monday night to keep Frieders on as a full-time consultant starting today through July 15 after which Frieders will be a part-time consultant to help with the new village manager's transition "Obviously it came as a shock to us," Wiedmeyer said "Obviously he has an opportunity that has presented itself in his life and Pingree Grove faces revenues losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic village officials say more funding is needed for the police department including having two police officers per shift rejected a proposed property tax increase in April; another referendum is planned honest-to-God truth that we cannot continue to operate at these levels with the tax rate we have Pingree Grove's population is estimated to have doubled since 2010 The village expects to receive more state and federal funds after the 2020 Census The village also will have to form a police pension fund at the 5,000-resident mark as required by law for towns with full-time police officers Frieders praised the village board's decision to contract with the Northbrook consulting firm GovHR USA to find someone with experience in local government "The village has a number of critical challenges and opportunities in the next few months," he said police sayByABC7 Chicago Digital Team Friday 2021Twin boys were seriously injured when they were hit by a car in unincorporated Elgin Monday evening (WLS) -- One of the twin boys seriously injured when they were hit by a car in unincorporated Elgin Monday evening died early Thursday Two 14-year-old brothers from Pingree Grove were skateboarding in the 39W200 block of Highland Avenue when they were struck by a vehicle around 5:30 p.m according to a statement from the Kane County Sheriff's Office where they are listed in serious condition One of the boys was released the night of the crash The other was taken to Comer Children's Hospital The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified him as Emmanuel Delgado RELATED: Teen killed after driver veers into oncoming traffic in Garfield Ridge; 4 others injured Authorities said the driver of the vehicle was transported to another area hospital It's not clear if the driver will face any charges A Cook County judge denied bail Wednesday to a Pingree Grove man charged in the murder of his one-time girlfriend and the kidnapping of her baby daughter made his initial court appearance after he was taken into custody Tuesday by Wheeling police He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Ja'nya Murphy and with the aggravated kidnapping of Murphy's 17-month-old daughter The baby was found dead in a retention pond in Hammond Indiana; her autopsy results are still pending Fowler was arrested last week in Springfield where he waived his right to an extradition hearing before being sent back to Illinois Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Glendon Runk said in court Wednesday that Fowler and Murphy had been in an on-again Fowler picked up Murphy and her child from her Wheeling apartment the evening of Nov and they drove to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg to purchase shoes for the baby Murphy spoke on the phone with her current boyfriend just before 11 p.m When Murphy didn't call her boyfriend the next morning as promised and all of his calls went to her voice mail The family filed a missing-person report with police after she didn't arrive for her 10 p.m Police discovered Murphy early the next morning unresponsive on her bedroom floor with signs of bruising on her chin and collarbone A preliminary autopsy determined the cause of death to be homicide by asphyxiation A bag belonging to Murphy with her cellphone and ID card were later found in the Indiana pond Runk said police investigators were able to track Fowler's movement through his phone showing he was at the Wheeling apartment at 4:30 p.m He traveled to the Indiana retention pond at 3:43 a.m. then returned to his parents' Pingree Grove home by 5:30 a.m. He left the next morning for his brother's apartment in Missouri A search of his vehicle yielded multiple bottles of bleach and bloodstained clothing saturated with bleach Authorities believe Fowler may have been attempting to harm himself at the Pingree Grove house During a phone call to his girlfriend while en route to Missouri he said he was suicidal and had something to tell her Video surveillance also shows Fowler and the victims shopping at various stores in the mall While the prosecutor said Fowler admitted to being with the victims and going to Pingree Grove and then to Missouri Fowler's public defender said there was no confession Prosecutors also said Wednesday there was a prior domestic violence incident in which Murphy had accused Fowler of choking her on Feb and Murphy's parents didn't know she continued to maintain contact with him Fowler also was convicted of felony unlawful restraint in a Jan case at a Northern Illinois University dorm room in DeKalb Authorities said he struck his then-girlfriend He was sentenced to 24 months of probation and community service ExpandMaple & Hash Churro Pancakes are dusted with cinnamon sugar I was looking for a new, tasty place with a fresh atmosphere to go for breakfast one recent Sunday, and a friend suggested Maple & Hash in Pingree Grove Our server Shelby had a great smile and energy The menu has an appealing selection of hearty omelettes ($13-$16) as well as flights of mimosas and other specialty adult beverages The first two ingredients are included in the base price of the omelette and extra ingredients are available for $1 each – Build Your Own Omelette – provides a choice of two ingredients with a side of potatoes biscuit or an upgrade of a specialty pancake you could upgrade to one of their specialty pancakes I ordered a side of one Churro Pancake dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar topped with warm whipped butter and vanilla anglaise filling and big enough to take home as leftovers and the Churro Pancake had just the right amount of sweetness S'mores Pancakes tempt with chocolate chips toasted marshmallows and graham cracker cookies My choices were the perfect balance of savory and sweet My friend selected a Denver skillet ($15) that comes with ham It was loaded with cheddar and Jack cheese topped off with crispy graham cracker cookies Maple & Hash is a destination for breakfast and lunch in Pingree Grove “It was delicious,” and more than enough food to start off her Sunday homemade chicken salad served with watermelon as well as a Power Bowl ($13) that includes layers of vanilla yogurt The lunch menu presents a wide variety of sandwiches and wraps ($14-$17) burgers ($13-$15) and specialty salads ($16) we stopped over at the cafe and pastry bar and picked up some sweet pastries to go • The Mystery Diner is an employee at the Northwest Herald The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment Seeking reader suggestions: We welcome readers to share their recommendations of places they would like the Mystery Diner to visit. Email ideas to tips@nwherald.com • INFORMATION: mapleandhash.com almost a dozen small communities in the Midwest — including Warrenville and Pingree Grove — are going to be counted again in hopes of more state funding to build roads The suburbs are among eleven small towns in Illinois and Iowa that are the only municipalities so far to have signed agreements with the U.S. Census Bureau for a second count of their residents in 2024 and 2025, in a repeat of what happened during the 2020 census The first year in which the special censuses can be conducted is 2024 city officials don't think the numbers from the original count were inaccurate It's just that their populations have grown so fast in three years that officials believe they are leaving state funding for roads and other items on the table by not adding the extra growth to their population totals “We’ve been the fastest-growing city in Illinois since 2010,” Pingree Grove Village President Amber Kubiak said Several residential developments have been built in Pingree Grove since 2000 including a Carillon at Cambridge Lakes senior-adult community Kubiak expects the special census will show another 2,000 to 3,000 people moved to town since the 2020 census The village will pay an estimated $373,333 for the census But it will recoup that by receiving an additional $1 million or so in population-based revenue from the state over the next several years Pingree Grove doubled from more than 4,500 residents in 2010 to more than 10,300 residents in 2020 “We have affordable housing in a really great atmosphere,” Kubiak said a suburb with more than 13,500 residents in 2020 believe they can get an extra $1.2 million annually in federal and state funding based on the calculation that they have added almost 1,000 new residents The city “did very conservative estimating,” Warrenville Mayor David Brummel said “We realized that there was an opportunity to capture some additional revenue that would not be available to us until the next census was taken,” Brummel said Officials estimate the city has gained 986 residents since the 2020 census The city will pay $427,424 for a special census to get an updated population count “We made an investment with a certain return,” the mayor said It seemed like a missed opportunity if we didn't do it.” The special census process is expected to begin at the end of April Residents will get a link from the city to complete a survey Field workers will go door-to-door in June and July to get responses from residents who did not fill out the census online the second counts won’t be used for redrawing political districts or determining how many congressional seats each state gets they will be used to determine how much the communities will get in state funding that often is calculated by population size Communities losing population in the past three years have nothing to worry about — their declining numbers won’t catch up with them until after the 2030 census state and tribal governments across the U.S have until May 2027 to ask for a special census from the Census Bureau While the tab for the 2020 head count was picked up by the federal government the local municipalities have to foot the bill for their special censuses The cost ranges from just over $370,000 to almost $500,000 Some communities have already forged ahead with their own do-it-yourself recounts. Others have challenged their numbers with the Census Bureau and gotten small wins The cities in Iowa paying for a Census Bureau-run second count — Altoona, Bondurant, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill and Waukee — are fast-growing suburbs of Des Moines The reason special censuses are so popular in Iowa is because the state uses the once-a-decade head count as the official population when it comes to funding based on population size coordinator for the State Data Center at the State Library of Iowa – Daily Herald staff writers Susan Sarkauskas and Katlyn Smith contributed to this report Willie Tunstall believes the children are our future He has made it his life's mission to make sure that teens - especially low-income youth - learn job skills and how to be a part of their community at large “I believe it is my God-given talent to work with kids,” Tunstall said The Pingree Grove resident said he realized his love for working with youth in his 20s when he had a job at a summer camp He then spent 14 years working with PLCCA in Maywood which serves low-income residents in Cook County by promoting community development with education and job training Tunstall led after-school work readiness programs and program curriculum Tunstall's next stint was as a lab manager “I loved learning how to manage people,” he said But Tunstall felt a pull to do something different I got a life coach to find out what I really enjoyed And it turned out I really wanted to work with youth,” he said so I prayed a lot about what the next step in my journey should be.” So Tunstall took all of his various work experiences and, in 2019, started the 501c3 organization Tailoring Youth to Succeed “I love waking up every day and loving what I am doing,” he said He works to mentor youth with job readiness programs partnering with schools and businesses to offer teens opportunities to build their life skills and reach their full potential Tunstall wants young people to feel supported “There are a lot of paths these kids can take after high school I mentor them and help them navigate that space.” He does that with his workforce readiness program “Kids today don't communicate very well,” Tunstall said “They don't know how to express themselves 'What does your perfect summer look like,' and many say jobs So Tunstall starts in the spring with workshops for the kids that teach communication The goal is to instill employable skills for future job security Tailoring Youth to Succeed has community partners, one of which is Brookfield Zoo which hires a number of kids for the summers Tunstall preps the kids for the job fair and interviews and continues to coach them throughout the summer if they need help “We teach them how to read their paycheck and how to ask for a day off but you can't just text your boss the day before you need a day off Tunstall aims to reach out to other community partners so kids can learn different aspects of the business and have more mentors “We are all rolling in the same place,” he said Experiences are important to our organization.” And that includes volunteering at a local church. Tailoring Youth to Succeed has been helping at First Congregational Church of Dundee's Hilltop Community Suppers on the second Friday of the month for the last three years “Volunteering is important,” Tunstall said Here they see that others don't have what they have.” He also thinks it is important that they kids give back to their own community That means the kids have a chance to chat with the older members of the congregation It enhances their interpersonal skills and gives them an opportunity to interact with someone they normally wouldn't talk to Tunstall said they also volunteer at community food banks “I always tell the kids to understand they are representing something other than just themselves,” Tunstall said Tunstall works mainly with youth in Carpentersville and Elgin, but he is in the process of building a partnership with Community Unit District 300 in Algonquin and hopes to add Elgin Area School District U-46 in the future He is always looking for community partners to help his organization Tailoring Youth to Succeed is in the middle of its giving campaign “Next we will want to double that,” Tunstall said “We are looking for dream donors who can commit to $50 a month for one year to help move our community youth forward.” To make a donation, visit tyslife.org/donate He is also looking for a grant writer for 2024 to connect with more donors They meet at local community centers to take part in his programs where he tries to create the mindset that they can do anything they put their mind to kids can go out into the real world and be a success.” What: A nonprofit organization that offers a workforce readiness program for low-income youth tyslife.org/ to:• Sign up for the program• Be a community partner• Make a monetary donation