A family dog was killed Monday morning in a house fire in Round Lake Park Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District officials said they reported to the home at 300 block of Clifton Drive around 9:20 a.m The fire could be seen coming from two windows of the house They searched the home as they combated the fire No residents or first responders were injured It took firefighters approximately 30 minutes to extinguish the flames The cause of the fire is being investigated Lake and McHenry County Scanner A dog was found dead by firefighters after a fire that broke out and caused significant damage to a house in Round Lake Park Monday morning The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 9:30 a.m Monday to the 300 block of Clifton Drive in Round Lake Park for a report of a structure fire Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Jay VandeBerg said multiple people who saw smoke and flames coming from a home called 911 to report the incident Firefighters arrived and found flames showing from the rear of the single-family Firefighters pulled a hose line and had water on the fire within a couple of minutes Crews conducted a search of the house and found no one was home at the time of the fire firefighters found a dog that was pronounced dead The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes Wauconda and Gurnee fire departments assisted at the scene The McHenry and Antioch fire departments covered Round Lake fire stations during the incident A damage estimate was not immediately available VandeBerg said the American Red Cross is assisting the family that was displaced after the home was deemed uninhabitable No other homes were damaged and crews remained at the scene for approximately an hour and a half The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and other area fire investigators 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 new rain garden at Round Lake Park will help manage rainwater runoff and prevent erosion while blending seamlessly into the natural environment Created as an Eagle project by Maxwell Amundson, an Eden Prairie High School junior and member of BSA Scout Troop 479 the rain garden is located on a slope below the ice hockey rinks The plant-edged rain garden will catch and temporarily hold rainwater filtering out pollutants that would otherwise end up in the lake Because rain gardens are designed to drain quickly and are they are not expected to attract mosquitoes Amundson approached the City of Eden Prairie to seek a collaboration for his Eagle project the last step required in the journey to become an Eagle Scout Amundson said his troop has a tradition of creating projects that are outdoors or provide environmental benefits the city’s forestry and natural resources supervisor helped him decide the project’s scope and process Amundson worked in partnership with Wittner and other city staff and Bennett Wimmer worked hard on the project with him Amundson said the site had already been sloped by an excavator when the new Round Lake Park building was constructed the city provided Amundson’s team with augers to further hollow out the rain garden space The city also provided native plants for the project as the rain garden doubles as a prairie restoration initiative Well-chosen plants can prevent soil erosion and attract wildlife “All of the water runoff from the new building and parking lot will get funneled down into the rain garden pond and the plant roots will help channel the water into the ground,” Amundson said the runoff will go down further into the groundwater Amundson said he hopes the project will help improve the water quality at Round Lake which in recent years has been troubled by low water levels and high levels of bacteria the city did not officially open the beach or provide lifeguards for swimming due to expected poor water quality Amundson explained that Eagle projects aim to provide service to a religious institution “They can’t benefit the Boy Scouts in any way Eagle projects are also the last major requirement needed to become an Eagle Scout Although most of the work is done on the rain garden except for plant maintenance Amundson is currently working to raise $2,500 to cover the cost of an educational sign to be installed nearby He said that the sign will explain what the rain garden is and include instructions on how to build one at home Once the project is finished, regional scout leaders at the Northern Star Council will evaluate Amundson’s results Amundson said his Scouting experience has been incredibly valuable allowing him not only to make friends and participate in fun activities like camping and adventure trips “The outings are really nice and we have a lot of fun but those are also designed to help people get used to responsibility and really prepare you for life.” Eden Prairie’s BSA Troop 479 welcomes new members from any race, ethnic background, gender, or orientation, according to the troop’s website Membership is open to youth ages 11 to 18 willing to accept Scouting’s values and meet membership requirements Prior experience as a Cub Scout is not necessary and people can join at any time during the year The Round Lake Police Department announced Wednesday the arrest of two suspects in a homicide case that involved the shooting death Chad Greenwald of Fox Lake Round Lake Police Officers responded to a homicide that occurred in the 500 block of Sycamore Drive later identified as 17-year-old Chad Greenenwald was shot while in a parked vehicle during an altercation with multiple individuals who had approached on foot Greenenwald was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later died The initial police response included members of the Round Lake Police Department and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force Round Lake Detectives led an exhaustive investigation with assistance from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office The thoroughness and dedication of the Round Lake Detectives Detectives identified 20-year-old Demarion R Gibert and 17-year-old Damone Gibert of Round Lake Beach The case was reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney Arrest warrants were issued for both suspects on charges of First-Degree Murder and Armed Robbery Damone Gibert is a juvenile and is being charged as an adult Round Lake Detectives and members of the FBI’s Violent Crime/Fugitive Task Force located both individuals in the 800 block of Richard Brown Boulevard Both suspects were taken into custody and are due to appear in Lake County First Appearance Court Police in the Round Lake area are investigating two crime scenes late Wednesday night and firefighters and paramedics from Round Lake Greater Fire Protection District responded about 8:29 p.m to a report of a shooting victim that was not breathing at the Citgo Gas Station The victim arrived at the gas station at the southeast corner of Rollins Road (Cty A20) and Cedar Lake Road in a black Mercedes sedan with a large bullet hole in the right The gunshot victim was transported to Level 1 Trauma Center Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville Round Lake Park police are also at a very dark crime scene at Sycamore Drive just north of Midland Drive in a residential neighborhood in Round Lake Park just south of the Alpine Country Club and the south beach of Round Lake Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators were on the scene by midnight Wednesday/Thursday The crime scene is along the west edge of Diamond Jubilee Park and is possibly the location where the victim was shot before arriving at the Citgo gas station The Citgo gas station is northwest of the possible shooting crime scene at Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake Park Initially there was no information available regarding who was driving the black Mercedes sedan Chicago Resident Charged with Reckless Homicide After Rear-Ending Smart Car While on Cellphone in Wheeling Says She Was Left Alone in KinderCare Bus 3 Hours “Someday soon we’ll stop to ponder what on earth’s this spell we’re under.” so don’t waste it living someone else’s life Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” A woman allegedly committed a residential burglary in Round Lake Park where she stole a gun while the resident was sleeping in his bedroom The Round Lake Park Police Department responded on the morning of January 26 to a theft report for a missing firearm Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said the victim told officers that he believed Barr He said that Barr had repeatedly asked for the gun for protection but he refused to allow her to have it Officers also learned from a friend of the victim that Barr had repeatedly asked him for the firearm McConnell said Barr still had keys to the man’s residence despite being kicked out The Taurus model 66 revolver was entered as stolen by law enforcement Investigators learned that Barr told someone she wanted to shoot herself and shoot her child’s father Officers initially spoke with Barr and she told them that her keys to the victim’s house were taken and she did not have the stolen firearm The Round Lake Park Police Department later responded on February 10 to a home in the 500 block of Grandview Drive for a well-being check on Barr The caller reported that Barr had threatened to harm herself and he knew that she was in possession of a gun Officers obtained an emergency firearm restraining order and searched the residence where they located the stolen revolver Barr was arrested and spoke with the police She admitted to stealing the gun from the victim’s home to protect herself McConnell said that Bar told police she stole the gun from the victim’s safe in his bedroom while he was sleeping using the keys she had to his home Barr does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card and was also barred from possessing a firearm because she was on probation The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Barr pending trial and it was granted by Lake County Judge Ari Fisz Barr remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on March 12 for a preliminary hearing The City of Eden Prairie has rescheduled its July 4 fireworks Dubbed the “Best. Make-up Party. Ever!,” the event will take place at Round Lake Park and feature a lakeside concert by Free & Easy Band at 7 p.m. The celebration will also include food trucks and beverages.  Parking will be available at the Eden Prairie Community Center with a free shuttle service from the Community Center entrance to Round Lake Park Disability parking for vehicles displaying a valid permit will be accessible near the tennis courts Previous offices held: Police Pension Board 2002-03 Is there a particular issue that motivates you what makes you the best candidate for the position I plan on putting Round Lake Park on the map to progress What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it Finish projects left incomplete and attract businesses to our town even though we have limited commercial growth potential How would you describe the state of your community's finances What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed I believe our financial status is unstable Having a mayor's assistant with a town population of 7,600 What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address what project(s) can be put on the back burner stop putting band aids on structures that need to be rebuilt We need to apply for federal grants to install speed cameras at the entrances of our town Round Lake Park needs a new police station located in town Mano a Mano Family Resource Center needs a larger facility I have a vision for Main Street that has been left on the back burner for more than 20 years with no vision of growth Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council Round Lake Park has always been a can-do town but the mayors never got involved with the people to do so It's easy to waste money when it’s not your own As I go through town there's people today who still don't know who the mayor is after 12-plus years in this position First of all to have a strong village board What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet Merge our North and South corridors together (Saddlebrook and the town of Round Lake Park) develop the southwest corridor of Saddlebrook Farms to bring in commercial business Right now many Saddlebrook residents have never been in the our main town since moving into the private community and yet they write the town’s destiny when it comes to voting A Lake County Sheriff’s Office canine and a good Samaritan are both being credited with locating a missing elderly man considered endangered in Round Lake Park The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called on Friday afternoon to assist the Round Lake Park Police Department with a missing person Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Harris and Canine Zeus responded to the scene A man in his 70s who has memory challenges had been missing for approximately an hour The duo began tracking from the area where the man was last seen Zeus followed the man’s scent and their track led them to a nearby business where a good Samaritan had just located the man “Thanks to the teamwork of law enforcement the man was found safe,” the sheriff’s office said Zeus graduated from training in late 2022 and was sworn in as one of the sheriff’s office’s numerous canine officers in February 2023 Lake County youth enrolled in kindergarten through their senior year of high school were invited to participate in a naming contest that ultimately led to Zeus’ name being chosen Eden Prairie residents have plenty of opportunities to cool off and enjoy the season The city’s three splash pads at Miller and Round Lake parks are now open daily from 9 a.m offering families a refreshing escape from the heat Both city-run beaches at Riley Lake and Round Lake parks are currently open and unguarded so visitors are advised to swim at their own risk Riley Lake Beach will have lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m while Round Lake Beach will remain unguarded throughout the summer For those looking to explore beyond city facilities, swimming Bryant Lake Regional Park located at 6800 Rowland Road in Eden Prairie and operated by the Three Rivers Park District daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day so swimmers should take appropriate precautions To ensure a safe swimming experience, Hennepin County Public Health regularly samples and analyzes water quality at 31 public beaches across the county The department has the authority to close any beaches that are found to be contaminated Office sought: Round Lake Park village board Previous offices held: Village Trustee since 2021 What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it You could say something like this: The most pressing issue facing our village in the coming years is the need for a new police department with holding cells neighboring communities that have holding cells are unwilling to take on the liability of housing our detainees and we must begin planning and budgeting for a solution It’s critical that we address this now to ensure the safety and efficiency of our law enforcement operations we should prioritize projects that directly benefit our residents One key focus should be beautifying our beach area we should continue investing in road resurfacing to maintain and improve our village’s infrastructure What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address One of the most critical infrastructure projects for our village is building a new police department that properly meets the needs of our community our officers are working out of a building that originally served as a pet shop when I was growing up here additions have been made in a piecemeal fashion but it’s not a sustainable or efficient solution We need to invest in a properly designed facility that ensures our law enforcement has the resources and space necessary to serve our community effectively Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board With over 35 years of experience in human resources I have worked extensively in both setting and administering policies where I take the time to listen to everyone’s ideas and collaborate to reach a consensus Whether in my HR role or in my involvement with the village my goal is always to develop policies that best serve the people they impact — be it employees or community members What makes you the best candidate for the job What makes me the best candidate for this role is my deep-rooted commitment to our community I have lived in Round Lake Park for nearly my entire life and still reside in my childhood home My family has strong ties here — my grandparents were among the founding members of Round Lake Park I genuinely care about our residents and believe in serving with honesty and integrity My focus is always on what benefits the community ensuring that every decision is made with the best interests of our residents I want to explore ways to bring retail opportunities to the Saddlebrook area to better serve its residents Having more retail options closer to home would enhance convenience and improve the overall quality of life for the community I believe we should look into potential partnerships and incentives that could attract businesses to the area while ensuring sustainable growth One person was evaluated by paramedics after a fire that caused damage to a house in Round Lake early Tuesday morning The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 4:30 a.m Tuesday to the 300 block of Applegate Court in Round Lake for a report of a structure fire Firefighters arrived in less than five minutes to find a fire on the rear deck of the single-family home according to Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Jay VandeBerg VandeBerg said the deck fire began spreading to the siding of the house Firefighters extinguished the fire and began checking the house to see if the fire extended further Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was accidental in nature The home sustained approximately $7,500 in damage but remains habitable for the residents No injuries were reported to residents or firefighters but one resident was evaluated for medical reasons Grayslake and Wauconda fire departments assisted at the scene The fire was the second house fire in less than 24 hours that the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded to The fire district responded around 9:30 a.m VandeBerg said multiple people who saw smoke and flames coming from a home called 911 to report the incident Crews conducted a search of the house and found a dog that was pronounced dead The family was not home at the time and the home was deemed uninhabitable This Saturday, Aug. 3, Round Lake Park will transform into a corn lover’s paradise as the Eden Prairie Lions Club hosts its annual Corn Feed the air will be filled with the aroma of steaming sweet corn luring locals to this time-honored tradition where 4,000 ears await the crowd the event chair who has been orchestrating this buttery affair for the past 20 years and the temperature is gonna be up there a little bit,” he said “It’s a lot compacted in one day You see a lot of the same people every year and part of the day they plan around coming to the Corn Feed.’ So that’s kind of nice.” adults can indulge in all-you-can-eat corn along with a choice of a sloppy joe or hot dog Children under 12 can enjoy the same for $8 unlimited servings are $10 for adults and $7 for kids and a dozen uncooked ears in a bag are available for $12 freshly picked from Untiedt’s Vegetable Farms in Waverly and slathered in butter – ready for eager attendees This year marks nearly 60 years of the Corn Feed a cornerstone of the Lions Club’s fundraising efforts alongside events like Schooner Days and scholarships for local high school seniors Occupation: Retired administrative assistant Previous offices held: Mayor since 2013; formerly village trustee and village clerk My dedication and experience to continue to support the residents helping with programs such as health I implemented a facade program for our small businesses to improve their store fronts and bring in new customers which also promotes our Main Street Beautification Program Educating our diverse community where to go for help if they are in need Many outside agencies closing due to lack of funding I will need to partner with many of the outside agencies that will be still open in order to assist my residents Fund balances have been carefully maintained and are at a strong level This level is for unforeseen contingencies and considered responsible stewardship The village will continue to offer the same services without increases Some of our special events will be reviewed and may have to be trimmed while continue working with partners to host our special events Completion of updating the old sewer lines in our old part of town (grant applied and received); Street Renovation Program in 2021 completely renewed over 30 streets (paid for by motor fuel tax funds) Back burner item — repainting the water tower Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board My leadership style is to continue to work closely with my department heads and village trustees keeping them well-informed and working as a team to promote effective action and decisions by the board members Department heads attend board meetings coming prepared with updates from their respective departments My good idea is partnering with local landscapers to maintain our Main Street (Route 134) increase plants and flower beds in our beautification program Also we continue to look for property to build a new police station Office sought: Round Lake Park village board (Vote for 3) Improving ongoing communication with residents An excellent and well balanced budget; top priorities ongoing infrastructure improvements budget items with supporters for community events Continue the street improvements with the help of state and federal grants Many of the projects must have 2 to 3 bids before any work can begin and this process takes time and effort to coordinate I am a team player and I will review and read information presented to me by various departments in order to proceed with decisions With the information from various departments and agencies I will be able to discuss and approve or disapprove decisions concerning my vote I have 45 years administrative background in the business world I have been serving in the nonprofit community areas as part of a board to approve or disapprove recommendations I have been involved with the elderly community support and the homeless groups I am willing to help with the website improvements and also spend the time to volunteer when necessary to assist the village with various programs Office Sought: Round Lake Park village board Helping residents finding resources they need as we see reductions in funding by the U.S The village board will be active in rooting out those resources and will aggressively pursue grants that addresses our residents needs Our finances are solid as we have fully caught up on our pension obligations we are building reserves to handle any unexpected expenses Our spending priorities include updating sewer lines and repaving streets The painting of the water tower will be on the back burner for now as well as investing in our downtown businesses facade program to attract more people to shop local Festival spending will be reviewed and cut back if needed During my business career I was very involved in developing policies and procedures as a part of the management group I believe strongly in a collaborative approach to issues and opportunities in government ensuring high quality decisions that address the needs of Round Lake Park residents I will be totally transparent in how I reach my decisions which will bring the best possible outcomes for Round Lake Park I have extensive experience in business for over 45 years I will use that experience to help make Round Lake Park a great place to live I am community focused as I work with the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless and as a foster parent with Catholic Charities I have organized food trucks to come into our neighborhood I look forward to doing the same thing as a trustee We need to update the website to make it easier for residents to find the information they need such as when a building permit is required or the cost of a building permit The website hasn't been updated for over four years Lake County sheriff’s authorities used a police dog and drone unit to help track down a Round Lake Park man charged with aggravated DUI after a Friday crash also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after the Mitsubishi Outlander he was driving veered into oncoming traffic at about 3:30 p.m The Outlander was traveling south on North Avenue and hit a northbound Nissan Versa a back door flew open and a 43-year-old male passenger from Zion fell out of the car Both he and the female driver suffered serious injuries and were taken to area hospitals Four out of five people in the Outlander fled Lake County sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter around the area of North Avenue and West Mawman Avenue to search for the driver A Waukegan Police Department K9 team and Libertyville police drone operator assisted and Santiago Jr “appeared heavily intoxicated” and was taken to Lake County jail Lake County prosecutors also approved charges of driving with a revoked license and unlawful possession of a controlled substance What began as a night of summer joy and celebration at Round Lake Park on Thursday some of the fireworks detonated near the ground and veered off course with one reportedly shooting into a small crowd gathered near homes on the west side of Round Lake away from the main gathering at the pavilion was among those on the west side with her husband and friends. They were on the opposite side of the lake from the beach and came in through the neighborhood off Hames Way. Although she doesn’t live in that area Zepeda has attended four previous Eden Prairie Fourth of July shows from this spot we noticed that part of one of the sets of fireworks didn’t actually go into the air,” Zepeda said you could see an explosion that remained closer to the ground ‘That wasn’t right.’ The next thing I knew almost like white sparkler ones fell just a foot from my children’s blanket It was within a foot of my kids’ blanket which is why they ran screaming faster than we did “We abandoned our entire setup – our chairs everything – and started running,” she said “A kind woman invited us into her house Eden Prairie’s parks and recreation director posted a statement on the city’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon “Last night during the city’s fireworks event at Round Lake Park causing the mortar to launch at an angle pointed toward the crowd,” Markle said “We are very fortunate no one was injured during this accident and we understand the unexpected event caused significant concern and alarm.” CEO and president of Belle Plaine-based RES Pyro the company responsible for Thursday’s fireworks display responded Friday to inquiries via email while traveling Wallus shared the same information he had provided earlier to Markle “A few minutes into the fireworks show there were two devices that went off at ground level,” he said the techs monitored the show and realized there was a further concern and it was determined that with a simple adjustment There were no additional incidents throughout the rest of the display and at no time was the crew notified by City of Eden Prairie fire or police personnel that there were any concerns with spectators of the fireworks display.” a resident of Eden Prairie who was watching the display from his home said he was notified immediately of the issue and was present for the post-display inspection “I determined all company safety protocols were followed,” he said was watching the fireworks from the west side of the lake with his wife when the incident occurred He later posted videos of the event on X (formerly Twitter) Ryan described the experience as traumatizing “There was an explosion right at the site where they were launching the fireworks,” he said “It looked like maybe that knocked one of the cannons off or something Eden prairie fireworks blew up on top of us! pic.twitter.com/mpAmhICROw Ryan recalled a particularly frightening moment when one firework shot into a crowd of children nearby “All these sparks were just encompassing the kids and we thought they were on fire – it really looked like they were on fire and one of the moms shielded the kids with it then grabbed them and got out of there,” he said but the fireworks remained dangerously low “We were still getting some of the embers and stuff coming off of them we just hightailed it out of there – we ran,” Ryan said a photographer covering the event for Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) observed the chaos from the park on the east side of the lake “Some of the fireworks shot off towards a crowd of people gathered on the far side of the lake from the pavilion near the footbridge from the high school,” Haynes said “I could hear people yelling and screaming but I was too far away to see what was actually happening Haynes checked the Eden Prairie Moms Facebook group and saw that parents were discussing how close some of the fireworks had landed Haynes noted that the rest of the event “was a pretty typical fireworks show but with fewer people and the weather was perfect.” who was one of the people who posted about her experience on the Eden Prairie Moms Facebook page felt the city’s response downplayed the severity of what happened “I am happy that they acknowledged it and I’m happy that they are looking into and investigating it,” Zepeda said “I think that the word choices were lightened I don’t think that they truly understand and have talked to enough people to realize that it wasn’t concern and alarm that it was actually fear and trauma that happened to these kids and families that were there.” Markle assured residents that the city is conducting a thorough review of safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future “We take this matter very seriously and will implement the necessary steps to restore your confidence,” she said As the city works to address the concerns raised by the malfunction residents like Zepeda are left to process the fear and uncertainty that marred what should have been a joyful community gathering “I’m not someone who’s going to vilify anyone but I just want to understand what happened – where the lines crossed and something went wrong in terms of safety for the citizens who were there,” Zepeda said and C for the future to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again Community gatherings are what make a community and I would love to continue participating in celebrations But I just don’t know if fireworks will be at the top of the list for my family and me in the future.” The FBI and detectives arrested two brothers on Wednesday and charged them with murder in connection with the fatal shooting and robbery of a 17-year-old boy in Round Lake were both charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery The two suspects were arrested Wednesday morning after law enforcement converged on a residence in the 800 block of Richard Brown Boulevard in Volo Members of the FBI’s Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force along with the Round Lake Police Department made the arrests Round Lake Police Chief Dave Prus said Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both brothers The 17-year-old is being charged as an adult The two previously resided in Round Lake Beach and recently moved to the home on Richard Brown Boulevard in Volo where they were arrested The charges against the two stem from a shooting and armed robbery that occurred on the evening of October 4 Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said at the time that officers in the Round Lake area began a search around 8:20 p.m that evening after receiving a 911 call from a cellphone A Round Lake Beach police officer located a black Mercedes at the Citgo gas station on the corner of Cedar Lake Road and Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach Officers saw the Mercedes had been damaged by gunfire and found Chad Greenenwald The boy was not breathing and officers began performing CPR after calling for the fire department Greenenwald was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was pronounced dead An autopsy showed Greenenwald died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek Covelli said a further investigation showed Greenenwald was a passenger in the vehicle that sustained the gunshot damage It was determined the shooting occurred in the area of Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake along with Greenenwald and a third occupant approached the group in the parked Mercedes Prus said indications pointed to the meetup being drug-related Multiple shots were fired at the car and Greenenwald was struck by the gunfire The suspects stole personal property from the victims and fled the scene The driver of the Mercedes drove to the Round Lake Beach gas station where officers located the vehicle and Greenenwald The Round Lake Police Department and Lake County Major Crime Task Force began the more than one-year investigation into the homicide The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office FBI and Round Lake Park Police Department assisted “The thoroughness and dedication of the Round Lake Detectives led to the development of two suspects,” Prus said Wednesday Greenenwald’s aunt Toni Barycki said at the time of the boy’s death that the family’s hearts “literally feel broken.” From the tiny baby who couldn’t wait to be born and came to his own baby shower to the amazing young man who spent his last summer working so hard,” Barycki said “You will always be the big hearted young man who loves deeply and didn’t have enough time to do all the amazing things I know you would have done,” Barycki said “The tragic and sudden loss of Chad has left us with no words to express our sorrow,” she added Arrest warrants charging the Gibert brothers were obtained before the two were taken into custody on Wednesday Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both set to make initial court appearances on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning A judge denied pre-trial release to two brothers charged after prosecutors say multiple gunmen surrounded a car robbed the occupants and fatally shot a 17-year-old boy in Round Lake Round Lake Police Chief David Prus said Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both brothers Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said Chad Greenenwald and two others went to the area of Diamond Jubilee Park near Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake on the evening of October 4 The three were in a black Mercedes and had arranged a pre-planned meetup with others approached the car on foot and surrounded the Mercedes Facklam said at least three suspects were armed with guns and immediately demanded money and property from the victims At least two gunmen opened fire and one of the suspects shot Greenenwald leaving him with a gunshot wound to the chest The Mercedes and the suspects both fled the area after approximately five shots were fired Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers in the Round Lake area began a search around 8:20 p.m A Round Lake Beach police officer located the black Mercedes at the Citgo gas station on the corner of Cedar Lake Road and Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach Officers saw the Mercedes had been damaged by gunfire and they found Greenenwald critically injured The Round Lake Police Department and Lake County Major Crime Task Force began a more than one-year investigation into the incident Facklam said one of the victims of the Mercedes was interviewed and recognized the Gibert brothers as being involved The victim only knew of them from school but did not know their names The victim provided police with their social media accounts Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert were with two others in June when they led the Skokie Police Department on a multi-jurisdiction chase The four fled from the stolen car and Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert were both arrested Facklam said both brothers had backpacks in their possession and the backpacks each had two guns in them One of the guns from Demarion Gibert’s backpack and one of the guns from Damone Gibert’s backpack were linked to the Round Lake homicide and robbery Investigators also found messages with a significant other of Demarion Gibert where he mentioned committing a robbery with his brother Demarion Gibert also told the female he loves her in case he goes to jail Facklam said Demarion Gibert also had messages on his phone about what was stolen from the Round Lake homicide and robbery for an unlawful possession of a firearm case out of Schaumburg Arrest warrants charging the Gibert brothers were obtained in December and the two were taken into custody on Wednesday Facklam said Damone Gibert admitted following his arrest that he was in the park at the time of the Round Lake homicide and robbery He also admitted there was a robbery to investigators but he minimized his role in the incident Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert appeared on Friday afternoon for detention hearings after the state’s attorney’s office filed petitions to detain them Lake County Judge James Newman granted both of the petitions and remanded the Gibert brothers held in custody pending trial Damone Gibert is being held in Hulse Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills and Demarion Gibert is being held in the Lake County Jail in Waukegan Greenenwald’s aunt Toni Barycki said at the time of Greenenwald’s death that the family’s hearts “literally feel broken.” The Gibert brothers are scheduled to appear in court again on February 5 for a preliminary hearing The mother of a 15-year-old girl described her daughter as “sweet and loving” after she was killed by a stray bullet that entered the family’s Round Lake Beach home The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 9:10 p.m Wednesday to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach Multiple 911 callers initially reported hearing some type of explosion sound It was also reported that a person was injured Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers arrived and found a 15-year-old girl who had suffered a gunshot wound inside a residence There was no evidence of an explosion and the “explosion” sound was the gunshot A preliminary investigation shows a person fired a gun outside near the home A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered the girl’s home and struck her Covelli said the victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the girl Thursday afternoon as Valeria Rodriguez The family of Rodriguez told WGN that the girl was sitting down to eat dinner when she was shot “It does not appear the victim was the intended target of the shooting,” Covelli said said that her daughter was “sweet” and “loving.” loving daughter who did not deserve to lose her life in this way,” Gallardo said The mother created a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for her family and said both she and her husband are not working The account has already raised over $7,500 Covelli said in an update Friday morning that the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Round Lake Beach police detectives continue to make progress in the homicide investigation Investigators developed several leads and a person of interest was identified “Enough evidence was gathered to support a search warrant at the home of the person of interest a firearm was located and seized,” Covelli said The suspect remains in custody as investigators continue to conduct follow-up investigation The facts and circumstances of the case are expected to be reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office A neighbor who spoke to Lake and McHenry County Scanner said they heard an explosion or bang and then the mother of the girl screaming and yelling because her daughter had been injured Multiple neighbors described the gunshot as being similar to a firework Police investigators scoured the area near the home and repeatedly expanded the crime scene during their investigation which is directly across the street from the victim’s home Investigators were also seen going door-to-door interviewing neighbors An autopsy performed showed Rodriguez died as a result of a gunshot wound to the torso Round Lake Park Police Department and other agencies were present at the scene called the incident “absolutely devastating news.” “My heart goes out to the victim’s loved ones reeling from this terrible loss We have got to get this senseless gun violence out of our communities,” Schneider said Anyone with information is asked to call the Round Lake Beach Police Department at 847-546-2127 The Eden Prairie Lions Club’s annual Schooner Days festival rolls into Round Lake Park, 16691 Valley View Road, for a three-day stay starting this Friday, commemorating its 60th anniversary the event will feature longtime favorites such as bingo High-stakes cover-all bingo games take place Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m there will be a pickleball tournament at Staring Lake Park from 8 a.m event organizers are expanding the family-friendly vendor marketplace This year’s market fair will feature more than 50 vendors cribbage boards and other timber creations henna body art and kids’ face painting Culinary offerings include Polish pierogies Terry Eggan and his wife, Nancy Vest, who met at Schooner Days as teenagers are volunteers on the Schooner Days committee while Vest serves as marketing-communications co-manager with Nancy Sward They began implementing marketing and website improvements last year “Schooner Days has really never had a good website,” Eggan said helped increase attendance from 3,000 or 4,000 in previous years to 14,000 last year.” Eggan hopes to surpass last year’s 14,000 attendees over the event’s three days we focused a lot on arts and crafts vendors,” Eggan said but we have a real variety that people will enjoy.” Eggan hopes people will be excited about the variety of activities “That’s what we’re trying to do – create excitement and interest for everybody so they have a great time and spend a lot of money,” he said Lions KidSight USA will also offer free eye screenings for children ages 6 months to 16 years at Schooner Days “Last year, we screened 89 children and referred seven to their eye care professional for further examination,” said Lions Club member Therese Johnson. For more information, contact Johnson at contactus@eplions.com or visit Lions KidSight USA Admission to Schooner Days and parking are free General parking is across Valley View Road in the community center and high school parking lots Golf carts will shuttle people to and from the lots Handicapped parking and the drop-off area are at the Round Lake Park tennis courts A 15-year-old girl died after she was struck by a stray bullet fired by a gunman outside her home in Round Lake Beach Wednesday evening A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered the girl’s home and struck the victim The Round Lake Beach Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force A neighbor who spoke to Lake and McHenry County Scanner said they heard an explosion or bang and then the mother of the victim screaming and yelling because her daughter had been injured The Lake County Coroner’s Office is scheduling an autopsy on the girl whose identity is being withheld pending the autopsy Covelli said Major Crime Task Force investigators and Round Lake Beach police detectives continue to actively investigate the homicide This article was developed using publicly available information The new $3 million park building at Round Lake isn’t the kind of park shelter your grandparents would remember from their youth and an expansive outdoor patio are all a part of the multi-purpose building that has replaced a 40-year-old Also a part of the new building is a warming room – equipped with Wi-Fi and flooring durable enough for ice skates – that serves skaters using nearby outdoor rinks It is definitely not the old trailer with dilapidated stair steps and an ailing heater in the corner as Parks Director Amy Markle recalls from her childhood ice-skating days But the topper is the new building’s 80-person community room with a huge wall of windows allowing one to enjoy scenic Round Lake from indoors makes Round Lake Park conducive for weather-protected graduation and birthday parties “I’m guessing it’s going to be fairly popular,” Markle said about the new facility while seated in its community room there’s a beautiful walking trail – there’s a lot for people to do aside from being in this room.” We really wanted something that could accommodate use year-round The other building was used primarily in the winter for a warming house The modern design results from taking a list of city needs and ideas – including functional ideas that have proved popular at the city’s next-oldest park-building project, the building at Staring Lake Park – and handing the list to ISG Architects, which touts the project on its website. The city went the extra mile to add sustainability features to the building and the aforementioned solar panels and rooftop plants Things that raise the project price initially “But you’ll make (the additional cost) back with savings on energy,” added Markle “We’ll also be using the building as a teaching tool so we can talk about some of the unique building features,” she said guided tours that tout the building’s sustainability are expected to be part of an Arbor Day event on April 27 The building also has numerous features to make it accessible to people with disabilities and has tables designed for wheelchair use Easy access to new changing rooms is expected to benefit users of the beach and “splash pad.” The new building is the latest in a long list of improvements to Round Lake Park over recent decades including this year’s renovation of tennis courts Funding for the project was split between the city’s capital maintenance and reinvestment fund which includes some proceeds from the EP Liquor operation Round Lake Park is one of four large community parks operated by the city but Round Lake Park is notable for the large events held there including the Schooner Days and Corn Feed events held by the Eden Prairie Lions Club and the city’s Fourth of July Celebration More information about renting the new building and other City of Eden Prairie park facilities is on the city’s website A detention hearing has been delayed for a man charged Monday with the murder of a child who was fatally shot by a stray bullet in Round Lake Beach was initially charged on July 26 with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon Poole was additionally charged on Monday with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm the Lake County Major Crime Task Force announced The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the latest charges and an arrest warrant was signed by a Lake County judge Monday morning “The Round Lake Beach Police Department would like to thank the men and women of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force for their dedication and countless hours investigating this tragic incident we appreciate the coordination with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office throughout the course of the investigation Our condolences to the family of Valeria Rodriguez for their loss,” Round Lake Beach Chief of Police Wayne Wilde Jr and Mayor Scott Nickles said in a joint statement Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office continues to “express our deep condolences and sympathies to the family of Valeria Rodriguez over their unimaginable loss.” “Our victim specialists have been working closely with the family since this crime occurred and our cyber forensic team have been working around the clock and have done an incredible job to secure justice for this senseless shooting,” Rinehart said Poole appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing on Monday afternoon and the case was set for a detention hearing and status of attorney hearing for Tuesday afternoon Poole appeared for the hearings Tuesday afternoon and informed Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak that he was still working to hire a private attorney in his cases The judge discharged the Lake County Public Defender’s Office from Poole’s first case The attorney that Poole and his family are working to hire is out of town for the next two weeks so the judge continued the detention hearing and status of attorney hearing to 1:30 p.m Poole remains held in the Lake County Jail following his arrest which occurred on July 26 when investigators conducted a search warrant at his home in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive in Round Lake Beach An article search was conducted by Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Drako who located a pistol in the backyard of the residence hidden in a pile of brush Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said the firearm was collected and sent to the crime lab for analysis A preliminary analysis of the pistol showed it was consistent with discharging the shell casing located outside of the home of Valeria Rodriguez Investigators determined that Poole possessed the firearm that was used in the homicide The murder charges were filed after additional forensic information from the crime lab was recently received Round Lake Beach police detectives and Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of Rodriguez’s murder which led to the search warrant and them identifying Poole as a suspect Rodriguez was shot while inside her residence in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach around 9:10 p.m Poole is accused of firing a gun outside near the home A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered Rodriguez’s home and struck her as she was sitting down to eat dinner Covelli said Rodriguez was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead Poole was also placed in the area using data from his electronic monitoring bracelet which he had been placed on months prior for a separate criminal case Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said that investigators recovered one 9mm spent shell casing near the park across the street from Rodriguez’s home Poole was observed walking in the area where the spent shell casing was later recovered Poole is a convicted felon from an armed robbery case out of Lake County adding that he is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition Court records show Poole was charged in July 2023 with armed robbery with a firearm theft by threatening and multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for an incident in Round Lake Beach Poole pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery in exchange for his other charges being dismissed in that case A negotiated plea agreement resulted in Poole being sentenced in February to three years of electronic home monitoring and 300 hours of public service He was also ordered not to possess any weapons and not consume alcohol or illegal drugs Poole faced up to 45 years in prison if he was convicted of the most serious charge of robbery while armed with a firearm Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sara Avalos told Lake and McHenry County Scanner last week that the state’s attorney’s office continues to review the nature and circumstances of how Rodriguez was killed Avalos said there is no evidence to suggest the girl or her house was targeted There is also no evidence that there were any other intended victims suggesting that the person who fired the gun may have done so at random Covelli on Monday declined to say whether the Major Crime Task Force believes the shooting was random or not “We continue to express our deep condolences and sympathies to the family of Valeria Rodriguez over this senseless shooting and their unimaginable loss We will hold accountable any offender for any actions that caused her death,” Avalos said Construction of inclusive playgrounds designed to break down barriers and allow kids with or without disabilities to play together with their peers and families is set to begin in Mundelein and already is underway in Round Lake Beach Both projects have been envisioned for some time and will replace existing playgrounds and include other amenities work began last week on Hero Park after the old playground at North Shore Park The new facility is across from the Round Lake Area Park District's special recreation building “The project showcases our commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all children and adults can play learn and grow together,” said Katie Gamroth Hero Park will be one of the largest inclusive playgrounds in Lake County The Mundelein Park & Recreation District is pursuing a $1.6 million “inclusive space” at Kracklauer Park the future park site will include boccia courts and pollinator garden as accessible amenities the tennis court will be renovated to include pickleball lines The decision was made to replace the more than 20-year-old playground with an inclusive facility after local families asked if that was a consideration given the park’s central location about two blocks from the Special Recreation Association of Lake County “We had an outpouring of support from within the community,” Salski said last week during a groundbreaking event Funding was settled after a matching $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development was confirmed Two other state grants totaling $550,000 were secured with assistance from state Sen “What makes this project especially moving and meaningful is that it is a community initiative,” Johnson said at the event “We were all in from Day 1 in making this happen because we recognized right away how important this project was” for the area the space is designed to break down physical and social barriers so children of different abilities It also is designed to be intergenerational It will be accessible to adults in the community www.epschoonerdays.com Eden Prairie Schooner Days has been the highest-attended event in Eden Prairie for the past 60 years and enjoys a loyal following Visit our Vendor Marketplace showcasing delicious specialty foods (including a not-to-be-missed ice cream vendor that will surely be part of your social media posts that day) Grab your friends for some grown-up fun or bring the whole family Don’t miss this incredible event held in beautiful Eden Prairie (Round Lake Park) Courtesy shuttle from parking at Community Center & High School Handicap Parking & Drop-off area at Tennis Courts General Parking at the Community Center and High School; Courtesy Parking Shuttle Golf Carts will be running 2024 at 12:24 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Early voting began across Lake County on Monday Grace period registration remains available until Election Day IL — As the clock ticks toward Election Day opening the doors to polling sites and offering voters a chance to skip the Election Day rush But for those who still need to register or update their address in the final fortnight of election season grace period registration will remain available for the next two weeks Since early voting began at the Waukegan Courthouse on Sept 3,507 voters have already cast their ballots according to the Lake County Clerk's Office This year, extended voting hours will be added at three more early voting locations — Avon Township offices, the Ela Area Public Library and the Highwood Library and Community Center. (Scroll down for a full list of early voting locations and hours.) The clerk’s office has also begun processing vote-by-mail ballots 77,889 vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to voters and 27,723 of those ballots have already been returned Ballot status can be tracked through BallotTrax a system that allows voters to follow their ballots from printing to acceptance Online voter registration for the Nov. 5 election ended on Sunday. However, grace period registration remains open for those who missed the regular registration deadline. (Find a full list of grace period locations below.) Grace period registration allows eligible voters to register or update their information in person through Election Day at designated sites Voters who register during this period must vote at the same time they register or change their address Personalized ballot tracking and registration status information is available online at LakeVoterPower.Info Related: What You Need To Know About The 3 Advisory Questions On Your Ballot Mundelein High School West District Office - Permanent Early VotingVote Center on Election Day with Grace Registration - Permanent Early VotingGrace Period on Election Day Location Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The coroner has identified a 15-year-old girl who died after she was struck by a stray bullet fired outside her Round Lake Beach home as she sat down for dinner Wednesday The father of the victim is seeking justice and asking for people to come forward with information on the suspect Round Lake Park Beach is closed until Wednesday while the city does its annual treatment for algae submerged plant growth and the tiny invertebrates that can cause an allergic reaction known as “swimmer’s itch.”  Eden Prairie officials say the treatment aims to make the water clearer and more pleasant for swimming The Round Lake splash pad and Riley Lake beach will remain open “This is more about the amount of vegetation and the type that makes it uncomfortable for people than it is with the condition of the water,” said Jay Lotthammer the city’s parks and recreation director “They’re not like the larger wasp,” he said describing the kind of wasps that burrow into the sand there It’s not like there is this big nest situation By us working up the beach sand area a couple of different times that helps get rid of them or drastically reduce them.” Lotthammer said the county’s Round Lake water quality tests have been steadily good this summer. Hennepin County Public Health Department samples waters from all public beaches throughout the summer to check for water-borne illnesses it’s typically later in the summer that the city has seen the lake’s water exceed state water standard levels dry stretch is the catalyst for a spike in fecal coliform bacteria numbers in those instances “Usually it’s a day or two that it could be closed again,” he said “But we’ve had a really good run of water quality so far this year and we’ll continue to monitor it.” Lotthammer said a spike in fecal coliform in the lake is primarily due to a buildup of lawn fertilizer.  “The theory of what happens is when we’ve had that long dry period things kind of accumulate upstream,” he said a whole kind of wash-in happens and spikes it it takes a day or two and those are diluted out washed out and we’re in good condition to swim.” Canada geese were the lake’s main culprit of high fecal coliform numbers “That would end up spiking the numbers and closing it down far more often but luckily that has been taken mostly out of the equation,” he said “It doesn’t have the same impact that it used to.” What made a difference with the geese at Round Lake Lottenhammer said there were several years when the geese were netted and removed from the area at a time when they couldn’t fly “Since geese usually return to where they were born this has made a lasting impact,” he said “The improvements at Round Lake Park have also made this a busier location which also helps discourage new geese from congregating.” For more on beaches in Eden Prairie, visit the city’s website.  crews will be using a small geotechnical drill near the maintenance-road bridge at Lacamas Regional Park This work is part of the preliminary design process for replacing the bridge Drilling at the bridge is expected is last half the day The work zone will be marked by cones and tape Park users are reminded to stay clear of equipment and crews performing this work bluegill and perch in the waters of Round Lake There also are excellent bird-watching areas around the park and the upland forests support a variety of wildlife The park has numerous opportunities for photographers especially when the Camas Lilies are in bloom in mid-April An additional area of interest is the series rock formations located in the potholes The park contains a network of scenic hiking trails that connects to the Lacamas Heritage Trail along the south shore of Lacamas Lake Nearby hikes - Fallen Leaf Lake Park (PDF)  中国人 English 한국어 Pусский Español Українська Tiếng Việt Cities are apparently facing inflation like the rest of us and it’s evident in the construction of a new building at Round Lake Park approved a bid of $3,001,990 for the construction of a 4,293-square-foot building that will replace the smaller 40-year-old structure that now exists and serves as restrooms and an ice-rink warming house That’s higher than estimates of $2.1 million and $2.725 million that have been cited by city staff over the past year or so although there have also been some changes to the building plan along the way The growing cost isn’t a surprise to city officials and the fact that the three lowest bids were within $106,100 of each other indicates the costs are real and the bidding competitive It’s a common tale in the building industry There was a sharp increase in construction costs in the Twin Cities between 2020 and 2021 The rate of increase has slowed to about 8.7% in the last year which regularly publishes a construction-cost index for the area put the increase in Minneapolis-area construction costs at 10.5% over the last five years A little over $1.8 million of the building’s final construction cost will come from the city’s capital investment fund which it taps to replace old playground equipment and for similar projects The other $1.2 million will come from the city’s park improvement fund which includes parks and recreation fees paid by developers whose projects are approved Lotthammer said the city would continue to work with the winning bidder on any ideas that would lower the cost of the building but not the quality more usable space that not only includes modern bathrooms but also a community room able to be rented for graduation parties It will be big enough to accommodate 60 to 80 persons The new building will also have a number of sustainability features: solar panels atop part of the building; a low-maintenance “green” roof with 6-inch plants on another portion; and a rain garden and other stormwater-management features nearby Because the existing building is used as a warming house for nearby outdoor ice skating The new building will be complete in October Mayor Ron Case on Tuesday noted the “difficult building environment” that cities he said residents seem to appreciate the building upgrades that have been done at Staring Lake Park and elsewhere “I think this is really exciting for Round Lake Park,” he said Lake County lies about 40 miles north of Chicago’s congested urban landscape With more than 100 lakes within county lines the place is aptly named and offers a stark contrast to the nearby city looking over one of those lakes – Round Lake – still admires it more than four decades after moving to the area Round Lake is a good depiction of the entire county: It feels rural but is complemented by retail and commuters to and from Chicago And it is more diverse than might be assumed “It really is an amazing little place,” Kauffman says about the Round Lake area parks and trails hug the shoreline of the lake Residents’ backyards touch the lake’s northwest channel The beauty and quaint feeling of Round Lake communities – of which all between 2,000 and 30,000 in population – are still attracting people to the area who operates a small business out of her home in Round Lake Beach moved to the area in 2000 from Mississippi and as she began looking for a neighborhood to call home she fell in love with Round Lake the miles of lakes and a small-town community feel McCarthy and her neighbors pay a lot each year for their homes the median Lake County property tax bill is almost $7,000 each year the highest in the state and one of the highest in the country This is a problem for the Round Lake area – nearly 25 percent of homes in the greater Round Lake area are “seriously underwater,” according to a 2017 RealtyTrac report While the greater Round Lake area – encompassing Round Lake proper Round Lake Heights and Round Lake Park – exemplifies Lake County’s character these areas also highlight a noxious problem many Illinois communities face: waste The Round Lake community is carved up along jurisdictional lines with four relatively small villages of similar makeup and four different mayors and village boards don’t see much difference among themselves “Where one village ends and another one begins is very blurred owner of Lovin Oven Cakery in Round Lake Beach Slove sees customers from every Round Lake community His bakery is a popular local spot for cakes and donuts among residents of each village as they are all within less than 3 miles of each other who feels a connection to the community through his small business Residents of those communities over the years have come together in several ways and faced challenges from crime and violence to improving local schools surrounding one of Lake County’s many bodies of water Where those dividing lines fall can appear arbitrary McCarthy has a fire department in her subdivision she said that’s not the fire department that would respond – Lake Villa would due to where her house falls along the boundary lines that separate each unit of government It’s been easier for citizens to come together than it has for those in power locally And those jurisdictional and administrative divisions that still remain have a cost The Round Lake area began to really develop in the 1940s Round Lake proper was incorporated in the early part of the 20th century as servicemen began coming back from the second world war affordable homes were developed in the unincorporated areas around the lake Residents in those areas began needing municipal services and new neighborhoods called Round Lake Beach Round Lake Park and Indian Hill – now called Round Lake Heights – began to develop Kauffman moved to Round Lake Park in August 1969 after growing up in Arlington Heights and Wheaton He worked on two consolidation boards in the 1970s But though he hasn’t seen movement on that front who serves as both police and fire chaplain for the area has seen quite a bit of change in nearly 50 years as a Round Laker “I’ve seen some incredible change,” Kauffman said “I’m just as proud as I can be of our communities.” Over the four-plus decades Kauffman has called the greater Round Lake area home he’s seen demographic changes as the area has become more diverse and he’s observed residents overcome a host of challenges A nine-week teachers strike in 1994 left students and parents in a bind and set the district back the district had become severely financially distressed and had declined educationally This prompted the state of Illinois to take over the district which was then only the second time the state had taken control of a school district The Chicago Tribune reported at the time that the district had been “spending beyond its means” for years and was facing $14 million in short-term debt at the time of the state takeover speaking of the teachers strike in the ‘90s and the ensuing events But in life sometimes you have to pass through some really really complicated times in order to go forward “I still believe adversity breeds a fiber that can make a community stronger In his time as what he calls a “greater Round Lake person,” Kauffman has also seen considerable changes in the makeup of the Round Lake community more than 25 percent of Round Lake is Hispanic 48 percent of Round Lake Beach is Hispanic and 38 percent of Round Lake Park is Hispanic Terri Kelly has been living in the Round Lake area for 34 years All four of her sons are black; Kelly is white When she was first raising her children more than two decades ago a social worker advised Kelly to move – Round Lake wasn’t very diverse with a very small black population,” Kelly said “The town has grown and changed dramatically.” Hispanic-owned businesses are common on many of the streets in the communities has seen those demographic changes from multiple perspectives in his 18 years in the area – both as a Hispanic resident and a public employee working to keep the community safe he was the only Hispanic member of the force But now Rivera wants the police force to reflect the diversity of the community “There are always people that are less accepting and not understanding The village is very unified in that regard.” Round Lake residents worked toward that unification – which transcends the political borders the Round Lake communities – none of which are that large – are still divided by governmental borders Round Lake Beach – they’re all one big conglomerate of Round Lake but they don’t want to form into one Round Lake because three of the mayors and three of the village boards and three of the chief of police would lose their job,” Slove said they would rather take taxpayer dollars and pay themselves.” The highest-paid municipal employee in Round Lake Beach is the village administrator The chief of police makes more than $130,000 and the deputy chiefs both make more than $120,000 Compensation isn’t much lower in less populous Round Lake where the village administrator makes more than $130,000 and the police chief and three police sergeants all make between $114,000 and $120,000 private sector median earnings in Round Lake Beach have fallen 8 percent between 2009 and 2015 reaching $26,000 at the end of that time period Just by consolidating duplicative jobs between Round Lake and Round Lake Beach taxpayers could save up to $3 million each year That bill stalled and did not pass the General Assembly before the spring session ended May 31 Given the evident struggles of several different past consolidation committees at the local level that structure is difficult enough to break without state government roadblocks “I don’t know what it’s going to take [to consolidate],” McCarthy said “I know all of the mayors in all of the little villages in our little area have enough of an ego that none of them are going to say let’s consolidate,’ because who is going to end up being the mayor The Daily Herald story in 1955 said the consolidation of the four villages would result in one town of about 15,000 it would be more than three times the size The community has changed demographically and increased in size while confronting challenges and adapting to changing times But local politicians are slow to catch up politicians generally have to listen or are forced to listen,” Slove said “But obviously there doesn’t appear to be enough outcry and maybe enough people don’t think like that or don’t realize [that consolidation would help] “I don’t even know if people consider [consolidation] They’re too busy making their own ends meet that I don’t think they even think about that Even after years of profound change and growth in the Round Lake community Kauffman still worries about making sure Round Lake residents are able to survive financially That tops a list – along with consolidating the communities – of what he and many other residents hope for moving forward “I’d like to see us as one,” Kauffman said still looking over the lakeshore that touches multiple villages with a shared name A convicted felon and gang member was arrested after investigators found him in possession of guns ammunition and drugs during a warrant in Round Lake Park The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) concluded a long-term investigation on Wednesday into Joshua A who is a documented street gang member and was distributing narcotics according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli Members of the Special Investigations Group conducted a search warrant at Jackson’s home in the 500 block of Grandview Drive in Round Lake Park Covelli said SIG detectives recovered three firearms which are designed to reduce the sound of gunfire capable of holding approximately 50 rounds of ammunition numerous additional firearm magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were also recovered Investigators found over 70 grams of package cocaine along with parts and tools used to assemble “ghost guns,” Covelli said The Round Lake Park Police Department assisted in the investigation The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute unlawful possession of a controlled substance three counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a suppressor “I am grateful our Special Investigations Group investigated and arrested this convicted felon before he had an opportunity to use or sell these firearms,” Sheriff John D “We will continue our efforts to apprehend violent offenders and those who traffic drugs in Lake County,” Idleburg said Welcome Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutRound Lake Park police officer arrested charged with beating 5-year-old girl with paddleMonday 2019Round Lake Park police charged with beating 5-year-old girlLAKE COUNTY (WLS) -- A Round Lake Park police officer is accused of striking his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter numerous times with a paddle 55 of the 21600 block of West Grass Lake Rd in unincorporated Antioch was arrested 9 a.m Saturday by the Lake County Sheriff's Department Police say the child was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and evaluation Vela has been charged with one count of domestic battery and is being held in the Lake County Jail on $10,000 bail A 29-year-old man was found dead in a Round Lake Park home from a suspected self-inflicted wound following a domestic disturbance that prompted the response of a SWAT team The Round Lake Park Police Department responded to a 911 call around 8:40 p.m Tuesday in the 300 block of Brierhill Drive Police officials said it was reported to be a domestic disturbance with a suicidal subject present Officers arrived and heard what sounded like a single gunshot come from the home The area was secured and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Services Team (NIPAS EST) was requested Police officials said the SWAT team was requested to assist with checking on the well-being of the sole occupant NIPAS EST responded and eventually conducted a search of the home which resulted in them finding a person deceased inside “This is believed to be an isolated incident and the public is not at risk,” police officials said The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified just after 1:15 a.m Wednesday following the discovery of the body The coroner’s office said the subject suffered a fatal gunshot wound prior to the SWAT team entering the home An autopsy was performed Wednesday and the death is believed to be a suicide The investigation is ongoing and the Round Lake Park Police Department said they are working in conjunction with the coroner’s office The Round Lake Park Police Department announced that Gunny is joining the department thanks to a donation from a downstate business Round Lake Park Police Chief Daniel Burch said Gunny is a 10-month-old AKC German Shepherd that was donated to the police department by Ellis and Ellis Consultants LLC through their “Project Safe and Secure” program Burch was the department’s first canine handler in 1999 when he was an officer The department has had three other canines “We have been interested in obtaining another K9 to serve Round Lake Park The biggest challenge initially has been finding an officer that was interested in becoming a handler to work with a police dog,” Burch said “It takes a huge amount of time and commitment on the part of a handler We now have two highly qualified and experienced officers that are eager to work with Gunny that are currently going through a selection process,” he said Gunny will be evaluated by TOPS Kennels in Grayslake to help determine which officer will be the better handler Burch first learned of the possibility of a canine donation in February when he and other Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police members were told that a purebred German Shepherd canine was available for donation “We immediately expressed our interested in being considered for the donation as we had just started the process for getting a K9 this fall Burch and six other law enforcement agencies waited almost two months before hearing from Ellis and Ellis Consultants saying they had three canines they were donating to law enforcement agencies across Illinois Burch met with Ron Ellis and Sandra Ellis in Mount Pulaski to meet the three canines but ultimately we felt Gunny would be the best choice for Round Lake Park,” Burch said which means the Village of Round Lake Park will be saving money “We are grateful for to Ron and Sandra for their very generous donation This is a wonderful example of public-private partnerships as part of an Illinois safe community initiative,” Burch said Gunny will be attending training at TOPS Kennels starting in June The first eight weeks of his training will teach him the basics of being a police canine Gunny and his handler will complete the 400-hour state certification course Gunny will initially be trained in tracking area searches and illicit narcotics detection The police department said they are applying for canine-specific grant funding to support the ongoing expenses of the canine program They are also publicly accepting monetary donations to cover the purchase of canine equipment Burch said donations have already been received from Dr Koryn Swearingen and the Village Veterinary Clinic team in Grayslake who have committed to providing care for Gunny Those interested in donating to the canine program can find more information on the Round Lake Park Police Department’s Facebook page or by visiting the police station The Round Rock Police Department is investigating after a woman was reportedly found dead at a park on Monday Police say they responded to a reports of a female who was found deceased at Meadow Lake Park located on Settlement Drive RRPD believes this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public The investigation is ongoing and the next of kin has been notified RRPD says if you or someone you knowis in crisis and needs mental health support please reach out to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 To contact the city of Round Rock's Crisis Response Unit One man is dead and three others injured after gunfire erupted early Sunday morning during a family gathering in Round Lake Park Two of men shot are hospitalized in critical condition Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said Another is being treated for a nonlife-threatening wound but Round Lake Park police and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force are pursuing several leads The identity of the man fatally shot has not be disclosed The Lake County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy Monday at a home in the 500 block of Fairlawn Avenue a family was hosting a party when people the hosts did not know arrived and were turned away a man opened fire outside from the home's driveway "The man then entered the home through a back entrance into a kitchen area where the shootings (of the four men) took place," Filenko said The shooting sent several others inside the home scrambling for cover A former school employee attending the party ushered guests into a closet for safety as if she were leading a school shooting drill Authorities have not released a description of the suspected shooter Police had no prior complaints about the home or its residents before Sunday morning's shooting Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko has faced off against killers hardened gang members and drug dealers linked to notorious Mexican cartels he and his officers have had to contend with a band of particularly foul foes: skunks that have made a home under their police station The department set a trap and captured a skunk the next day They released it in a nearby forest preserve The village's next step was hiring a professional trapper an officer bravely went under the station and found the source of the stink - a dead skunk With the stink that's infected the station for the past 10 days starting to waft away Filenko and his staff are looking forward to not having to choose between working with windows open in 30-degree weather or enduring the terrible smell "We've been dealing with this for two weeks," he said Filenko points out the combination of the skunks and a large amount of marijuana held near the front of the station for an upcoming trial has created an interesting aromatic experience for those in the station A group of skunks is called a "surfeit," which quite fittingly is defined as "an overabundant supply," according to Merriam-Webster Kenneth Spaeth last week admitted to illegally using the Kendall County Community Food Pantry's credit card for more than $14,000 in personal expenses his purchases included rounds of miniature golf an orthodontics bill and three purchases at a tattoo shop according to Yorkville Police Department documents a former Yorkville resident who served as the pantry's treasurer She also was suspected of stealing from the pantry but died several weeks into the criminal investigation Kenneth Spaeth started repaying the money March 19 under the terms of his sentence which also includes two years of probation also is charged with stealing from the food pantry A lawsuit is seeking reimbursement for about $25,000 in credit-card charges Congratulations to Buffalo Grove Deputy Police Chief Scott Eisenmenger who last week graduated from the FBI's National Academy complete undergraduate- and graduate-level courses pertaining to law There's also a series of fitness challenges including the "Yellow Brick Road," a 6.1-mile run over a hilly trail built by the U.S Eisenmenger joins Buffalo Grove Chief Steve Casstevens and Deputy Chief Michael Szos as alumni of the academy Also deserving of kudos this week is Aurora police officer Steve Pacenti who on Wednesday was named his department's Employee of the Year an eight-year department veteran who works as a third-shift patrol officer earned praise for several important collars in 2017 including multiple arrests that took illegally possessed guns off the streets To see a video of the award ceremony, and learn about some of the other finalists, check out the department's Facebook page Lake in the Hills police and the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition are teaming for their fourth annual Teen Safety Series a three-week program kicking off Wednesday Topics will include alcohol and drug effects peer pressure and social media safety and more It's open to anyone 12 to 16 years old but limited to 25 participants or call (847) 658-5676 for more information Send an email to copsandcrime@dailyherald.com or call (847) 427-4483 A judge ordered a Round Lake Park man held on a $1 million bond after prosecutors say he sexually assaulted and abused three children in Round Lake Park was charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault of a child and five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child Officers were dispatched to a report of a sexual abuse on Thursday Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said A minor victim reported that Martinez-Heredia has come into her room and pressed his genitals against her body He also digitally penetrated her multiple times A second minor victim reported that Martinez-Heredia would touch her over her clothing Smoler said a third minor victim reported that Martinez-Heredia would tell her to “play a game” where he would inappropriately touch her over her clothes admitted to the allegations when interviewed by investigators Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Martinez-Heredia held on a $1 million bond Potkonjak barred him from having any contact with the victims or anyone under the age of 18 Martinez-Heredia remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $100,000 cash in order to be released A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 6 Trails on the west side of Round Lake will be temporarily closed beginning Jan according to a posting on the city’s website Crews will be removing ash trees infected with emerald ash borer The popular trail is expected to reopen the following week The tree removals are part of the Round Lake Park Ash Tree Replacement Project Each removed tree will be replaced with one of a variety of tree species New trees are scheduled to be planted later this year The project is funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The project’s goals is to remove the threat of falling trees and to avoid deforestation.  Work has begun on a Round Lake Area Park District project to provide new recreational facilities outside the Sports Center Sports Center Park improvements will include a new and a relocated full- size soccer field with natural grass surface The project is expected to be completed in October 2021 The park district was notified in late 2020 by the Office of Gov Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that the district would receive a $400,000 matching grant for the renovation of Sports Center Park These funds are part of the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant Program which provides matching dollars for outdoor recreation space projects throughout Illinois The park district will be matching that amount with funds from the capital development budget "OSLAD grants and all state grants allow the park district to stretch tax dollars to improve our parks and our community and accomplish so much more than we otherwise could," park district Executive Director Bob Newport said upon receiving notification of the grant award "Grant monies from the state of Illinois have made a significant impact on the quality of life in our community We are grateful for the recreation opportunities they afford the residents of Round Lake." Input for park improvements was gathered through a community input process in 2019-2020 A park site plan is required for an OSLAD grant application "Investments in local park projects are good for families and recreation enthusiasts helping them enjoy outdoor activities and making Illinois communities better places to live and work," Gov Pritzker said in announcing the grant awards "Parks projects also boost local economic development efforts and spur additional investment throughout the state."