The Wheaton North softball team is clicking on all cylinders. Coach Allie Ravanesi’s squad started the week 14-2 and 3-0 in the brutally tough DuKane Conference. A recent 5-game tear included wins over Barrington, St. Charles East and St. Charles North by a combined 7 runs. Reagan Crosthwaite (.500 hitting, 25 hits, 9 homers, 27 RBI), Moriah Herr (.389, 14 hits), Makayla Grantz (.389 hitting, 21 hits) and pitcher Hannah Wulf (1.40 ERA, 78 strikeouts, 15 walks, opponents hitting .172) all have contributed to the Falcons’ success. Ravanesi also lauded Grantz’s defensive abilities. South Elgin update: Coach Brad Reynard’s team scored key Upstate Eight wins over West Chicago (3-2, Chloe Ricard walk-off double) and Riverside-Brookfield (10-0) to move to 7-0 in league play at week’s start (14-4 overall). Addison Trail update: Erin Parker (.524 hitting, 21 steals), Nina Matthews (5 homers) and Marisa Lloveras (18 RBI) have been offensive constants for coach Mark Olson’s Blazers (8-8, 1-1 West Suburban Gold). Burlington Central update: Isabelle Reed has 82 strikeouts after fanning 14 in a 2-0 win over Cary-Grove, while Mei Shirokawa and Kelsey Covey lead coach Bill Morrow’s team in average and on-base percentage. Sophomore Addison Beltran had 2 homers, 2 doubles and 9 singles during a recent 10-game run at first or designated player. Junior Kendall Glonek has caught the Fox Valley Conference games and has thrown out 8 of 15 base-runners and has a .977 fielding percentage for the Rockets (10-12, 7-3). Elgin update: Grace Tetrev (.500 hitting) and Abby Mutolo (.410 hitting) are the offensive leaders for the Maroons (3-13, 2-6 Upstate Eight), who recently downed Streamwood 11-1. Downers Grove North update: Senior pitcher Ashlynn Durkin has struck out 88 in 40 innings (2.62 ERA), while the Trojans (7-9, 2-1 West Suburban Silver) also have been bolstered by Ella Bonk (.436 hitting, .532 on-base ,5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 11 RBI) and Sam Lehnherr (.324 batting, .405 on-base, 2 triples). Downers Grove South update: Freshman outfielder Jordan Balsavich (.556 hitting, .600 on-base, 4 doubles, 1 homer, 12 RBI, 16 runs), junior shortstop Addison Yurchak (.429 hitting, .473 on-base, 3 doubles, 3 homers, 17 RBI, 15 runs) and senior second baseman Gabby Ruchniewicz (.590 hitting, 4 doubles, 1 homer, 10 runs) lead the way for the Trojans (7-7, 2-0 West Suburban Gold to start the week). Glenbard North update: Tru Medina (.564 hitting, 8 homers, 3 triples, 7 doubles, 20 runs, 21 RBI, 8 steals), Alyssa Abderhalden (.400 hitting, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 6 RBI, 9 runs) and Avery Miller (7-2 pitching) lead the way for the Panthers (12-2, 2-2 DuKane), who have also received key help from Kylee Sisco at third base and catcher Sam Gonzalez. Harvest Christian Academy update: Freshman Haley Miller (.625 hitting, 27 runs) and sophomore Makayla Richards (.581 hitting, 11 extra-base hits, 16 RBI), senior Kenzie Weidman (.500 hitting, 5 homers, 27 RBI), senior Emily Pfister (.500 hitting), sophomore Alayna Booras (.500 hitting, 16 runs), senior Mackenzie Richards (.585 on-base) and senior Alyssa Burke (4-4, 44 K in 37 innings) power the Lions (6-8, 2-2 Northeastern Athletic). Hinsdale Central update: Offensive leaders for the Red Devils (6-5, 0-3 West Suburban Silver) include junior Lauren Koschik (.436 hitting) and sophomores Emersyn Willits (.444), Kaleigh Kozlowski (.433) and Malia Kuo (.393). Hinsdale South update: Kayla Buckels-Meen is hitting .476 with 6 home runs and combined with Lauren Bishop to hit back-to-back home runs in a recent West Suburban Gold win against Morton. Buckels-Meen and Bishop hit 3 and 4 in the lineup for the Hornets (3-15-1, 1-2 WSC Gold). Huntley update: Isabella Boskey (.481 hitting, 4 homers and 21 RBI) has been an offensive power for the Red Raiders (11-8, 6-2 Fox Valley to start the week). IC Catholic Prep update: Maddy Dinino recorded her 200th career strikeout in the circle in a recent win against St. Viator. Ari Zito (.551 hitting, .614 on-base), Sofia Bucaro (31 steals), Lexi Russ (38 RBI) and Kelly Cahill (8 doubles, 3 triples) also have been key for the Knights (12-9, 4-3 Girls Catholic Athletic White). Lake Park update: The Lancers (12-2, 3-0 DuKane to start the week) recently downed Glenbard North 3-1 behind Gianna Furlano’s 11-strikeout complete-game performance. Furlano and Alex Kiefer also homered in the North win. Ava Arenz (.475 hitting) and Ari O’Connell (.460, 7 homers, 20 runs, 22 RBI) are additional notables for Lake Park along with defensive player Kaylee Fritzler, coach Lynsey Gunnells noted. Larkin update: The Royals scored a big 4-3 win over West Aurora where Ali Herrick homered to tie the game in the seventh and freshman Alexia Alonzo’s hit won it. Mya Bermudez had 3 hits in the game, while Mackenzie Wemken earned the complete-game win in the circle for Megan Johnson’s Royals (8-10, 4-5 Upstate Eight), who also have received key contributions from Julissa Aguinaga (.471 hitting, 24 RBI), Kenya Ventura (.360 hitting, 18 RBI) and Herrick (.349 hitting, 13 RBI). Metea Valley update: Charlie Benesh (.450 hitting, 5 homers, 21 RBI, 89 K in 65 innings pitched) has been a dual threat for the Mustangs (5-11, 2-4 DuPage Valley), while Maielle Emser (.509 hitting, 28 hits, 6 doubles, 9 RBI) has been key with the bat. Naperville North update: Gabi Chmiel hit .444 with 3 RBI in a recent 5-game stretch, while Sara Rossi (.397 hitting, .462 on-base, 15 runs, 20 steals) continues to play well for the Huskies (3-14, 2-4 DuPage Valley). Rossi also was cited for strong center-field defense by coach Jerry Kedziora, while Chmiel also went 2-0 (3 earned runs allowed) with 21 strikeouts against 3 walks in 3 recent conference games. Neuqua Valley update: Tegan Spellerberg (.357 hitting, 3 triples) hit 3 homers in a recent 3-game run, while Krista Waldusky (.438 hitting, 13 RBI, 21 hits), Nalia Clifford (.426 hitting, 16 RBI, 7 doubles), Ashley Pape (.373, 3 triples, 5 doubles, 12 RBI), Cora Dickson (15 RBI) and Ava Drehs (130 strikeouts, 6-2, 1.61 ERA) continue to star for the Wildcats (8-8) who sat atop the DuPage Valley Conference at 5-0 to start the week with an 11-inning win over Naperville North. St. Charles East update: During a recent 5-game losing streak, East lost contests by scores of 4-3, 5-3, 6-4 and 2-1 (all against quality teams) after recording a pair of 2-1 wins earlier in the year. Hayden Sujack (.462 hitting, 24 hits, 8 homers, 27 RBI, 11 walks), Addison Wolf (.448 hitting, 26 hits, 6 homers, 23 RBI) and Makayla Van Dinther (100 K, 19 walks, 2.71 ERA, opponents hitting .190) lead the way for coach Jarod Guetsha’s Saints (10-9, 1-3 DuKane). Streamwood update: Pitcher Zanilla Jackson struck out 14 in the Sabres’ come-from-behind 20-14 Upstate Eight win over East Aurora. Catcher Haily Dworak homered over the left-field fence in the fourth inning to break up a no-hitter against Bartlett. Timothy Christian update: Sophia Mook is hitting a torrid .690 with 4 homers for the Trojans (8-2, 4-2 Chicagoland Christian to start the week), while Maci Woerner has been a constant in the circle for coach Lindsay Slovey’s squad. Wheaton Warrenville South update: Presley Wright (9-2, 1.30 ERA, 81 K in 70 innings, 7 walks) shut out heavy-hitting Glenbard North (limited to 3 hits) 4-0, while Abby Mease (.487 hitting), 19 hits), shortstop Becca Chaney (.415, 10 RBI, 4 doubles), Nelia Kirchun (.393, 7 RBI) and catcher Allison Hubsky (.379, 4 doubles, 8 RBI) have been notable for the Tigers (10-3, 2-1 DuKane). Waubonsie Valley update: Molly Quinn walked none and earned her first complete-game win against Metea Valley recently. Other leaders for the Warriors (5-10, 2-4 DuPage Valley) include Aislee Morgan (.563 hitting, 12 RBI) and Dezirae Kelly (.326 hitting, 14 runs). York update: Sophomore outfielder Kayla Winters hit two homers against Oak Park-River Forest and now has 3 on the season, while junior third baseman Gia Valentin leads the Dukes (11-6, 1-2 West Suburban Silver to start the week) with a .441 batting average. Protesters hold up protest signs along Randall Road in South Elgin, IL to protest their issues with President Donald J. Trump and his administration and Elon Musk involvement in US government affairs on Saturday April 19, 2025. Hundreds of protesters participated in the latest Hands Off protest occurring in the Chicagoland area and the rest of the country. (Raj Chavda for Shaw Local News Network) Using small ball to take the lead in the fourth inning and more conventional scoring methods in the seventh to put the game away South Elgin handed West Aurora its third loss of the season with an 8-1 Upstate Eight West Division Conference decision Tuesday A well-executed bunted and aggressive base running plated three Storm runs in the top of the fourth eight-batter rally during South Elgin’s half of the seventh Storm junior Zach Barkho pitched five and two-thirds innings to notch the win West Aurora’s Jake Niedzwiedz spoiled Barkho’s shutout bid with a sacrifice fly in the fifth that scored Mason Atkins “We're still finding out how we need to go about winning games and (small ball) is one thing that we have in our toolbox,” said South Elgin coach Jim Kating We had to put pressure on the other team to be able to do what we needed to do.” 9-2) starter Zach Toma faced only 10 batters in the first three innings with only Storm backstop Nathan Robertson reaching base on a Blackhawks infield error Junior Jake Sparacino opened South Elgin’s half of the fourth by lacing a single to left center field Jacob Roberston came to the plate with the bases loaded The junior laid down a sacrifice bunt to the left side of the infield allowing Sparacino to score “I told myself that I’ve got to do my job,” said Robertson “I haven't been hitting the ball too much lately so I just wanted to contribute anyway I could.” a pickoff throw to third base went into left field The senior made the turn at first base and continued to second drawing a throw from West Aurora catcher Brayden Jones that allowed Justin Pold to cross the plate for the final Storm run of the inning We had a few moments where we panicked a little bit and you know gave them a little more than they had earned,” said West Aurora coach John Reeves “I feel like we all were on the same page coming in We knew we needed to play small ball in order to win this game,” said Barkho we knew the big shots weren't going to work.” West Aurora had runners in scoring position with only one out Barkho ended the threats by retiring the next two batters and early on that we had some opportunities to drive in some runs and unfortunately we didn't.,” Reeves said “Our starting pitchers did a great job today our defense also made some real good plays behind him.” “My off-speed was working a lot today and my fastball was there when I needed it,” Barkho said “We were starting out with a lot of off-speed trying to get West Aurora off-balance.” Someone who bought a lottery ticket in South Elgin is starting the new year a lot richer. A winning Illinois Lottery ticket worth $10 million was bought at the Speedway gas station at 1775 North La Fox St., the lottery announced Saturday. The Speedway receives a 1% selling bonus of $100,000. The scratch-off game had three prizes of $10 million each; the first was won in Alton last May, the second was bought at Jewel-Osco in November in Countryside. The lottery reports that more than 64 million winning scratch-off tickets, worth a total of more than $1.6 billion in prizes, were sold last year. The Illinois Lottery currently offers a range of Instant Ticket games priced from $1 to $50, available at about 7,000 retail locations across Illinois. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network A downstate Illinois man was arrested this week in South Elgin after forcing his way into a home harming an animal and then barricading himself in the basement According to the South Elgin Police Department was barricaded in the basement when police arrived The South Elgin officers requested the help of Kane County sheriff’s deputies and SWAT who managed to de-escalate the situation and take Jenkinson into custody who was out on parole for aggravated battery to a peace officer out of Kane County was charged with two felony counts of violating an order of protection and felony aggravated cruelty to an animal as well as misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and damage to property The Illinois Department of Corrections subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Jenkinson for violating parole who was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation after his arrest remains in custody at a secure medical facility pending his next court appearance Officials say the investigation is ongoing Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire early Saturday that damaged a large machine at South Elgin business to an aluminum manufacturing facility on the 600 block of Division Street found the facility filled with smoke and a large machine on fire according to a news release from the South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District The fire was extinguished with fire resistant foam and contained to the machine with no significant damage to the 34,000 square foot facility reported Two employees were on the scene at the time of the fire but no injuries were reported A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System mobile ventilation unit was requested to help clear the building of smoke Elk Grove and Fox River Fire Protection District and Hanover Township emergency services assisted Burlington and Batavia fire protection districts provided change of quarters coverage The South Elgin Police Department is asking for the community’s help after gunshots were fired near Fox Meadow Elementary School on Monday evening Police officials said in a press release that they responded to the school at 1275 Jenna Drive at about 5:45 p.m 24 after getting reports of armed individuals in the area the police received more calls that shots had been fired and the group had fled and there were no reports of staff or students at the school police were called to a nearby residence for a report of a home being struck by a bullet which they suspect is connected to the shooting outside the school SEPD put out a request through the Ring community network for any Ring camera video and is asking anyone with other video footage that may be related to call the department at (847) 741-2151 A home in South Elgin was left uninhabitable Wednesday morning after a fire officials believe may have been sparked by a mini-fridge The South Elgin and Countryside Fire District responded just before noon and discovered a fire in a second-floor bedroom according to a news release from the district crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire but officials said they believe it was sparked by a mini-fridge One person was home at the time of the fire and they evacuated safely; no injuries were reported The fire caused roughly $250,000 in damage and left the home uninhabitable due to extensive fire and smoke damage Good pitching typically means positive results in the world of high school softball 4-0 UEC West) started the week with a team ERA of 0.71 33 K against 2 walks) and Jenna Sheehan (3-0 while Chloe Ricard has been key behind the plate handling the pitchers and at the plate (.464 Addison Trail update: Erin Parker (.571 hitting 2.45 ERA pitching) and Emma Caniglia (strong defense in left field) lead the way for the Blazers (5-6 to start the week) Aurora Central Catholic update: During a recent 6-game run 21 RBI) hit .500 — the two combining for 20 hits in those games for the Chargers (12-5 Corina Miller is 7-1 with 58 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA while Charlotte Brummel is 3-2 with a 1.45 ERA and is hitting .358 with 12 runs scored Jessica Pieckham is hitting .383 with 18 hits and 11 runs scored Benet Academy update: Sophie Rosner (.500 hitting Sophie Rosner also recently threw a no-hitter against Fenwick and has 43 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA for the Redwings (4-7 Alaina Rosner went 3-for-4 against Yorkville Downers Grove North update: Florida Atlantic commit Ashlynn Durkin has a 0.41 ERA in 17 innings of work with only 5 hits allowed and 41 strikeouts 5 RBI) also have been key for the Trojans (4-3) Dundee-Crown update: Casi Attapit (.480 hitting 4 homers) are off to hot starts for the Chargers (4-5 Attapit also has been strong behind the plate throwing out 2 runners trying to steal and picking another off a base Elgin update: Abby Mutolo is 24 innings away from catching 200 at the varsity level Mutolo has not made an error this season and is hitting .571 for the Maroons (2-4 Coach Monica Stockman also has been pleased with Hailey Rea’s defense in the outfield while Sofia Dekarske was lauded for stepping up in the circle for the first time as a varsity player after an injury to another player Fenton update: Sophomore Sophia Hollis (.556 hitting senior Lauren Koch (.643 on-base) and senior Izzy Delgado (6 RBI) have been strong offensively for the Bison (2-7 Hollis hit .615 during a recent 5-game span while sophomore Kailey Bernero hit .300 during the same timeframe Glenbard East update: Lilly Carver (.571 hitting 7 RBI) have provided the firepower at the plate for the Rams (5-1 51 strikeouts) continues to excel in the circle throwing a 5-inning perfect game against Glenbard South recently Glenbard North update: Senior shortstop standout Tru Medina is hitting .647 with 3 doubles She has a homer in each of North’s first 5 games game-ender in the bottom of the eighth against Benet Senior left fielder Alyssa Aberhalden (.500 hitting 4 RBI) and junior pitcher Avery Miller (4-0) also have been difference-makers who had a recent 3-game hitting streak and has been excellent at third base 10 RBI) are off to fast starts at the plate for the Hilltoppers (4-2) while Ellie Adduci threw a no-hitter against Hoffman Estates and Olivia Salerno a 1-hitter against Willowbrook Coach Mary McGrane also has been pleased with the progress of outfielder Shelby Bobroff (.357 4 walks) and versatile catcher-first baseman Cece Atkinson Hampshire update: Melissa Johnson (.600 hitting strong defense) are excelling for the Whips (7-2 Coach Mark Petryniec’s squad has been powered of late by Aubrina Adamik (.419 IC Catholic Prep update: A recent 5-game ICCP winning streak included a key Girls Catholic Athletic White win over Aurora Central Catholic 3-0) in hitting with Kelly Cahill right behind her Maddy Dinino has excelled at the plate and in the circle while Sofia Bucaro has played “amazing defense” in center field and leads the team in steals Jacobs update: Olivia Fillipp (.550 hitting) sets the tone at the top of the Golden Eagles’ lineup She helps set the table for Molly Hoch (.455 Jacobs started the week 7-4 and 0-1 in Fox Valley play 38 K in 37 1/3 innings) has been strong in the circle for the Lancers who started 9-0 and lost recent games to Chicago Marist and Glenbard West Larkin update: Mackenzie Wemken (38 K in 31-plus innings Mya Bermudez (.389 hitting) and Kaitlyn Neubert (.333 9 RBI) have been bright spots for the Royals (3-5 Metea Valley update: Charlie Benesh has been a dual threat for the Mustangs (3-9 15 runs scored and 18 RBI and also has 69 strikeouts in 51 innings in the circle while Grace Feeley is at .458 with 2 doubles 2-0 DuPage Valley) are led offensively by Nalia Clifford (.455 hitting Charles North update: Pitching depth with the likes of seniors Paige Murray (2 wins juniors Abby Zawadzki (Ole Miss pledge) and Carrigan Rich (South Dakota commit) and freshman Autumn Busleta has contributed to the North Stars’ 4-1 start 5 RBI) are off to hot starts at the plate for North which beat 2 Top-10 Indiana teams in Evansville recently which erased a 7-0 deficit to beat Meta Valley recently has received contributions from the likes of Aislee Morgan (.625 hitting 5 putouts against Metea) and Alyssa Tucker (7 RBI strong defense in outfield and behind the plate West Aurora update: Sarah Tarr (.600 hitting 6 steals) are contributing in multiple ways for the Blackhawks (6-4 Del Toro’s 2-out soft slap single in the seventh drove in the winning runs against Neuqua Valley West started the week 23-for-23 in stolen-base attempts West Chicago update: The Wildcats (7-5 overall) were off to a 4-0 start in Upstate Eight East play Jasmyn Trigueros has 57 strikeouts in 49 innings of work while Sophia Ptak is hitting .457 with 4 homers Tessa Banasiak is hitting .357 with 3 homers and 16 RBI Finn Gallagher has 5 RBI in her last 4 games 7 runs) had 5 hits and scored 4 runs during that same span Westmont update: Freshman Gwyneth Jindra (.643 hitting .733 on-base 10 runs) and junior Reagan Kelly (.385 5 steals) have been big for the Sentinels (3-2 1-2 Chicagoland Christian) downed Chicago Christian 18-5 to record their first win Emma From (.417) and Reese Dryfhout (.417) are pacing the offense Wheaton North update: Reagan Crosthwaite is off to a torrid start (.485 hitting Both also were cited for excellent defense by coach Allie Ravanesi Wheaton Warrenville South update: Senior pitcher Presley Wright (5-1 junior shortstop and cleanup hitter Becca Chaney (.357 junior Nelia Kirichun (.429) and junior Caroline Schulz (.375) have been notable for the Tigers (6-2) York update: The 9-4 Dukes have been bolstered at the plate by the junior tandem of Gia Valentin (.522 hitting Tufts University-bound Avery Kanouse has fanned 60 batters and also is hitting .306 (11 hits) while sophomore catcher Milo Folsom is hitting .306 (11 hits) from the left side of the plate 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 Parkin of South Elgin created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories After starts and stops and openings and closings with several different concepts, a restaurateur is going back to his roots and his first loves with Legit Dogs & Ice in South Elgin street food and video games,” Matthew Habib said while describing the resurrected restaurant he owns with wife Jennifer Polit which opened this week in a strip mall at 322 Randall Road “I wanted every day to come to work and it be the happiest place in the world with everything that I like to do.” burger and Hawaiian shaved ice restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by their more austere concept Red Poppy Bistro A drastic redesign reflects the new sensibility The walls of the one-time Panera are now splayed with colorful graffiti done by local skaters and artists An elevated stage can hold tables by day and concerts by night The back corner of the restaurant features eight classic video game stations with multiple retro games you can play for free as well as several pay-to-play pinball machines Polit said the punk rock aesthetic permeates beyond the restaurant’s appearance because it’s not what you would normally expect but it’s a celebration of food and anarchy in the most positive way possible.” fries and shaved ice might not seem to be the things of anarchy but none of these are run-of-the-mill offerings of their respective genres The artisan hot dog creations start with proprietary is covered in homemade mac and cheese and then topped with bacon As much as it may be a blow to your Midwestern hot dog sensibilities I had to take a fork to it when trying it recently Many of the hot dog concepts date back to the circa 2016 Legit Dogs & Ice food truck menu The Bad Hombre is a jalepeno cheese dog topped with papaya and mango their creamy Hombre sauce and crunchy fried corn and cilantro Habib bills it on the menu as “The perfect balance of love Polit said people can order a plain hot dog but it might come with a side of mockery from her husband or some gentle counseling from her but we’re going to find something you like The burgers are all double smash patties served on brioche buns The Legit Burger is their take on a classic with standard toppings while others like the Gouts of Flame take a more extreme approach with grilled jalepenos and onions gochujang barbecue sauce and red hot ghost pepper sauce After a soft launch period to get their bearings the menu will be expanded with street tacos and more The Hawaiian shaved ice offerings will go beyond the usual family-friendly fruity choices with a unique adult beverage lineup made with the finely shaved snow-like ice Habib and Polit started Legit as a food truck in 2016 They closed a couple of years later before opening Red Poppy Bistro including moving from Elgin to South Elgin last year Red Poppy was shuttered abruptly last year with only a cryptic social media post to explain the closure Polit and Habib blamed a contentious partnership gone very awry for the awkward episode that saw them close just a few months after opening “We really thought that was it,” Habib said But Habib had always been drawn back to the Legit concept which he originally conceived as a “tapas on hot dogs” mash up A trip to Hawaii had the couple hooked on shaved ice which he saw as a perfect complement to the dogs trusted partners and a whole lot of spray paint later Legit Dogs & Ice has him excited again “This is the first time I've made my food where I am saying I wouldn’t change anything,” Habib said The couple hopes fans of the original concept and loyal customers of Red Poppy who might have felt jilted by the closure can appreciate what they’ve been through to get to their new happy place “Everything has led us to this point,” Polit said “It’s been really stressful and hard in a lot of ways but if you don’t embrace the journey and take the lessons 2025 at 4:30 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Erbach teaches civil engineering and architecture precision manufacturing and advanced precision manufacturing IL — A South Elgin High School teacher was named a finalist for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching Matthew Erbach is among 30 teachers in Illinois who were named finalists for the prestigious award from the nonprofit Golden Apple Foundation honor and mentor educators who advance educational opportunities for students Erbach teaches civil engineering and architecture Erbach is an "accomplished and innovative educator in the field of precision manufacturing," according to a news release He has nearly two decades of experience and has been awarded the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence and an ISBE Award of Meritorious Service One of his colleague says Erbach's passion and expertise along with the positive impact and support he extends to students surpassing many other manufacturing programs in the state.” More than 470 high school teachers nominated for the award were narrowed down to 30 finalists The award recipients will be named in the spring they'll receive a $5,000 cash reward and a sabbatical provided by Northwestern University Winners also become fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators a community that plays "an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs — initiatives dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois." These finalists exemplify the dedication and passion that define exceptional teaching," Alan Mather "Their commitment to fostering student growth and inspiring a love for learning enriches not only their classrooms but also the entire educational community We are honored to recognize their invaluable contributions." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. the globally renowned retail chain known for offering affordable and unique products is excited to announce the grand opening of its first two stores in Illinois The new stores will open on January 18th and January 25th marking a milestone in the brand's expansion The first Illinois location will open in Willowbrook "We are beyond excited to bring Daiso to Illinois for the first time," said Jack Williams Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA "Both Willowbrook and South Elgin are fantastic communities and we've seen growing demand for our distinctive and value-driven offerings We can't wait to introduce our brand to these new customers." Each store will feature Daiso's signature fun offering a wide range of products including home decor Daiso has become a favorite among savvy shoppers "We've been receiving tremendous interest from customers in Illinois and we're eager to offer them the Daiso experience," said John Clarke "These two locations are just the beginning of our expansion in 2025 We're excited to introduce more customers to our special and budget-friendly items." The first 100 customers at each location on both Saturday and Sunday who make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a special Daiso goodie bag as a thank-you for their support The Willowbrook store will open on January 18th and the South Elgin store will follow on January 25th Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m About Daiso: Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan market in 2005 and has since expanded across the country the globally recognized retail chain known for offering affordable and unique products is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest .. Retail Do not sell or share my personal information: Fresh from a Class 8A state semifinal appearance a year ago Barrington’s football team picked up where it left off on Friday night the Broncos (1-0) built a commanding 57-14 halftime lead on the way to a 64-21 season-opening nonconference triumph over host South Elgin (0-1) “It’s just a credit to the boys and the coaches,” said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez whose team scored a pair of touchdowns in the first 4-plus minutes thanks in part to a shaky start by the Storm “The guys from last year’s group — they set the standard in terms of what and how it needs to be done,” said Sanchez “These guys have taken off and put their own spin on it.” After a 3-and-out defensive series and 4-yard South Elgin punt Broncos tailback Calvin Jackson scored the first of his 3 touchdowns on a 24-yard run to give Barrington a 7-0 lead Another special teams miscue by the Storm on the next possession allowed the Broncos to take the ball inside the 5-yard line tossed the first of his 4-first-half touchdown passes — a 39-yard strike to Ian Tepas for a 22-0 lead Peipert connected with Tepas for a 30-yard TD pass to make it 29-0 “We’ve got to go be physical and ready to hit right off the bus.” South Elgin capped a wild opening quarter with a touchdown of its own an 80-yard pass from quarterback Jack Ginnan to senior receiver Ishmael George (5 catches Barrington scored 4 of the next 5 touchdowns highlighted by Peipert’s 83-yard scoring pass to Matt Kania “We wanted to play fast and catch the defense off guard,” said Kania “It was great play calling,” added Peipert Peipert’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Austin Munson capped the first-half scoring barrage and set off a running clock the rest of the way “Things were just going our way tonight,” said Sanchez “They’re (the Storm) a good football team that is going win a lot of games Backup quarterback Carter McDonald threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to George in the second quarter before Darrion Thurman’s 25-yard TD run closed out the scoring for the Storm “Coach Sanchez does an amazing job,” Storm coach Pat Pistorio said “They were really prepared — explosive offensively and tough up top on defense Our nerves got a little bit of us early on “This is something we needed to have in place for our program to take the next step IL – Police officers from the South Elgin Police Department responded about 1:00 a.m 2025 for a report of a male subject who had forced entry into the home in the block of 600 Juli Drive in South Elgin The subject was armed and was known to the residents The residents immediately transported the injured animal to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment Soon after arrival and assessment of the scene South Elgin police officers requested assistance from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County SWAT The de-escalation tactics that were employed allowed the SWAT officers to enter the residence in order to take the subject into custody and allowed police to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution The subject was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation homeless on parole from Big Muddy Correctional Center Illinois — about 140 miles south of Champaign near I-57 Jenkinson is currently on parole for Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer out of Kane County 2025 after being incarcerated at the Big Muddy Correctional Center since April 17 He also had three previous sentences involving … Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer/Firefighter/ER Worker in Cook County (sentenced 1 year from February 28 Obstructing Involving an Injury in Cook County (sentenced 2 years from May 9 Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer in Cook County (sentenced 3 years from November 12 the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized the following charges against Jenkinson … Violation of an Order of Protection (2 Counts) (with Prior Convictions) (Class 4 Felony) – 720 ILCS 5/12-3.4(a)(1) Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal (Class 4 Felony) – 510 ILCS 70/3.02(a) Criminal Trespass to Residence (Class A Misdemeanor) – 720 ILCS 5/21-4(a)(1) Criminal Damage to Property (Class A Misdemeanor) – 720 ILCS 5/21-1(a) (1) the Illinois Department of Corrections has issued an arrest warrant for Jenkinson for Violation of Parole Jenkinson has been formally arrested and remains in custody at a secure medical facility pending his next court appearance On court records Daniel Jenkinson is detained without bond at the Kane County Adult Justice Center “The South Elgin Police Department would like to thank the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County SWAT for their assistance in safely resolving this incident The public is reminded that the filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in a court of law where the court has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Cook County State’s Attorney Announces New Policy to Crack Down on Machine Gun Device ‘Switches’ and Other Illegally Modified Guns Then One of Three Suspects Captured After Pursuit and Crash “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.” The ninth annual Barrington-Vernon Hills Invitational had some dramatic finishes for area boys volleyball teams Saturday afternoon at Vernon Hills Brother Rice (8-1) won the championship of the 12-team tournament with an exciting 25-22 victory over Sandburg (6-1) in the third set to take home the team title 12-ranked South Elgin (6-3) fell to No.19 Lane Tech (8-2) 25-15 25-21 as the Storm held a 7-1 lead early in the third set Senior Luka Jovanovic was named to the all-tournament team after recording 12 kills and 12 digs against Lane Tech South Elgin got 10 kills from Emilio Martinez Jadian Arias added 10 assists for the Storm while Brady Melvin had 8 digs "He (Jovanovic) worked hard in the off-season and you can see the difference in him this year," said South Elgin coach Karen Rodriguez but lost to Brother Rice in two sets in the semifinals "I'm still trying to find out my combinations and today we struggled shutting down the middles on both sides." Barrington (5-1) defeated Glenbrook North 25-21 Senior all-tournament team selection Sam Grozdic and senior Matt Louis had 9 kills each for the Broncos against the Spartans Sophomore Matt Kravstov had 6 kills in that match Teammates Aidan Gilmore and Oliver Halvey had 7 and 5 digs and when we dig the ball well we're strong offensively," said Barrington coach Charlie Spry whose team went 3-1 in the tourney (only loss was to Lane Tech on Friday) "I'm really proud of our sophomore Matt (Kravstov) and Sam Grozdic played really well with Matt Louis." Warren (3-3) beat the host Cougars (1-4) 25-20 Warren's Joel Paasch and Vernon Hills' Liam Boehme were named to the all-tourney team "We tried a different lineup in that last set and we have a very deep team," said Warren coach Kim Paasch "Wesley Cowell led us on a big serve run to come back in that second set and it's a really good start to our season." Boehme had 33 kills in the tourney followed by teammates Julian Rodriguez (24 kills) "Everyone knows he (Boehme) is our best attack option and he has our best hitting percentage," said Vernon Hills coach Chris Curry and I think that is our biggest struggle when teams are on a big run it is hard to get the momentum back." Fremd (3-3) beat crosstown rival Palatine (1-5) 26-24 Senior Ethan Garst led the Vikings with 12 kills and 8 digs while teammate Alex Ma had 8 kills Fremd's Aarav Parikh had 11 assists while Martin Hristov had 9 digs and you have to work so hard to put the ball down on them," said Fremd coach Tracy Harding "We're a young team with only one returning starter so it's a big learning curve for us right now." Police officers from South Elgin and firefighters and paramedics from South Elgin Fire and Countryside Fire District responded about 11:52 a.m 2025 to a report of a house fire in the block of 600 Kateland Way in South Elgin South Elgin and Elgin Fire companies arrived on scene and a primary search on each level of the residence Firefighters discovered the fire was located in a second-floor bedroom which had vented through a window and extended into the attic of the home One resident was at home at the time of the house fire and was able to evacuate safely after discovering the fire Fire companies were able to bring the fire under control within 17 minutes of initial dispatch The cause of the fire is currently being investigated but believed to have been caused by a mini refrigerator There was significant fire and smoke damage to the second floor of the structure which left the home uninhabitable The estimated dollar loss is approximately $250,000 There were no civilian or firefighter injuries as a result of this fire The home had functioning smoke detectors which alerted the homeowner to the fire The South Elgin Fire and Countryside Fire District was assisted by Elgin FD Additional fire agencies provided mutual to the South Elgin Fire and Countryside Fire District with change of quarters coverage paramedics and/or command officers from Hoffman Estates Fire Department and Carol Stream Fire Protection District were assigned change quarters Extra Alarm Apartment Fire at Country Glen on Nichols Rd in Arlington Heights Wauconda Police Arrest Resident Following Public Indecency and Narcotics Investigation; Accused of Exposing Himself to Children Residents of a 4-unit condominium building in South Elgin were left displaced after an electrical fire Tuesday The South Elgin and Countryside Fire District as well as the Elgin and Fox River Fire Departments responded to the structure fire just before 4 p.m and found the back of the building on fire according to a press release from the district Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it spread to other parts of the building Two residents were in their units at the time of the fire and needed assistance being removed; one resident was evaluated but not taken to the hospital the cause of the fire was determined to be electrical service meters The fire caused approximately $25,000 in damage and the residents of all four units were temporarily displaced The South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District responded about 4:48 p.m 2025 to a report of a fire in a condominium building the block of 1000 Manchester Court The first arriving crew encountered a 4-unit condominium residence with smoke and flames on the back of the building The fire originated from the electric service meters Due to the quick action of the firefighters they were able to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the rest of the units The fire was brought under control within minutes; however Two residents were in their respective units at the time of the fire and required assistance in removal One of the residents received medical evaluation but did not require transportation to a hospital Residents in all four units have been temporarily displaced Damage was estimated to be approximately $25,000 to the structure and contents Fire investigators determined the cause to be electrical in nature working smoke detectors and exit plans are very important safety factors that cannot be emphasized enough and were key factors in mitigating this incident according to the South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District firefighters were provided mutual aid assistance by the Elgin Fire Department and the Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District as well as supports services from the Hanover Township Emergency Services Buffalo Grove Police Department Launches New Transparency Web Section with Crime Blotter Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group Arrests Alleged Beach Park Cocaine Trafficker One person died in a single-vehicle crash at Stearns Road and McLean Boulevard in South Elgin Tuesday night, January 28, 2025 (ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ IL – South Elgin Police Department and the South Elgin Fire District responded about 5:20 p.m 2025 to a report of a single-vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of Stearns Road and South McLean Boulevard The driver of the vehicle crash into a large metal traffic standard that supports traffic signals that overhang westbound Stearns Road The Kane County Coroner’s Office is conducting a death investigation The preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of a silver 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe was traveling westbound on Stearns Road at a high rate of speed when crossed a crosswalk/bike path at the northwest corner of the intersection struck a large traffic signal pole (standard) The vehicle sustained extensive damage upon impact The South Elgin Police Department was assisted at the crash scene by the South Elgin Fire District Kane County Office of Emergency Management and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Road closures in the area lasted for just over three hours while the South Elgin Police Department conducted its on-scene crash investigation The area of the crash scene re-opened to traffic after 8:30 pm Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the South Elgin Police Department at 847-741-2151 according to Google Maps Street View images captured October 2022 Westbound Stearns Road before the intersection with McLean Boulevard involves a long straight strait-away 4-lane highway with a curbed grass boulevard diving the highway At the intersection there are two additional left turn lanes from westbound Stearns Road to southbound McLean Boulevard and one additional right turn lane to northbound McLean Boulevard There is also an additional left turn lane from eastbound Stearns Road to northbound McLean Boulevard The crash scene was located in southern South Elgin in St Charles Township near the border with the City of St Charles The location is also across the street from Ozinga Concrete Weather was clear with no precipitation for at least 10 hours prior to the crash The air temperature was falling from 46.9°F to 45°F around the time of the crash from 4:52 p.m Wind was from the southwest 18 MPH and gusting 26 to 30 MPH The Village of South Elgin and the South Elgin Police Department extend their condolences to those involved The identity of the victim was not initially released Burns Pole on Rand Rd; Interrupts Power to Only a Few Businesses in Arlington Heights DuPage Court Orders Detention of Alleged Robber Accused of Serial Robberies of 2 Lombard 7-Eleven Stores A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house tours were held on the afternoon of Nov 23 at South Elgin’s new Public Safety Center at 50 S The public received the first look of South Elgin’s new $20 million Public Safety Center alongside a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours before the police force transferring into a state-of-the-art facility “We had to relocate from a small 6,000-square-foot building to a 30,000-square-foot one We’re excited about that all together," said Brian Polkinghorn and Police Chief Jerry Krawczyk joined the event to cut the ribbon on their new Veterans Memorial Wall The construction of this cutting-edge facility is a significant investment in the growth and development of their municipality which was designed by Kluber Architects and its engineers Planning started in the summer of 2022 and involved staff in addition to excursions to observe 12 newer police stations in the Chicago suburbs It takes the place of the existing police station which is housed in village hall and was built to accommodate a police force of 20 officers Even though the town’s population has doubled to over 24,000 persons and the number of police officers has increased by more than 30% the square footage has remained unchanged since 1997 there are currently 35 sworn officers in the department They still intend to add a few more police officers to the force South Elgin police officers will have separate workspaces for each of the six sergeants which is also available to village employees is what officers are most looking forward to Additional facilities include a command center for emergency operations a special location for social workers to help residents a "Scully Room," which serves as a drop-off location for inmates was made to be big enough to fit an ambulance Up to six police cars can fit in the nearby carport There is a plaza outside the center dedicated to local honoring veterans The public could purchase and install paver bricks with the names of veterans etched on them in time for Memorial Day or Armed Forces Day in the spring "I want to make sure that every South Elgin resident is recognized Participation in the community is essential like welcoming our neighbor and helping a small local business contributes to making South Elgin stronger and more cohesive The open house included tours of the stations and opportunities to talk to police officers anyone can engage with the department’s dogs A man accused of breaking into a South Elgin home harming an animal there and then barricading himself in the basement Thursday remains in custody at a medical facility pending an upcoming court appearance is charged with violating an order of protection with prior convictions criminal trespass to a residence and criminal damage to property Authorities say Jenkinson forced his way into a home in the 600 block of Juli Drive at approximately 1 a.m South Elgin police officers called to the scene received assistance from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s SWAT team Police said de-escalation tactics enabled SWAT officers to enter the home and take Jenkinson into custody peacefully who police said is on parole for aggravated battery to a peace officer in Kane County was taken to a local hospital for evaluation Residents took the injured animal to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment the Illinois Department of Corrections has issued an arrest warrant for Jenkinson alleging a parole violation Friday’s game against South Elgin was supposed to be a learning game for Batavia quarterback Bodi Anderson After a self-described tough showing in the opening game against Glenbard West the junior quarterback was taking the Week 2 matchup to work on reading the defense But after finding Isaiah Brown for a 57-yard touchdown in the first quarter Anderson said he definitely learned something “It made me a lot more comfortable with him and made me realize I can throw it up to him and I can trust he’ll get it,” Anderson said “The confidence just really kicked in for me.” The confidence helped Anderson end the first half completing 9 of 14 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Bulldogs to a 42-14 victory over the Storm in their home opener “I feel like things just started clicking for us in the passing game tonight,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said “He just needed to get a rhythm and get used to guys We haven’t gotten a good chance to get anybody together so we’re hoping that this will get it going.” Batavia heads into conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2021 where they finished regular season play a perfect 9-0 And after having a ton of their new starters survive the likes of Glenbard West and South Elgin “We’re playing teams that don’t typically lose more than a couple games a year,” Piron said “And those new starters aren’t new starters now after two weeks so it’s good that we’re getting this experience heading into conference play.” Brown finished the game with five receptions with his second score coming from 12 yards out at the end of the first half It’s just the second time that the senior has put up over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns with both coming in last season’s state quarterfinal game against Hononegah “It felt great coming out here and doing what I need to do like running my routes and going out and giving my everything every play,” Brown said “And it just all fell to where it was supposed to And coming out here and translating it to the game felt great.” The Bulldogs managed to get on the board on fourth down on two separate occasions Nathan Whitwell got Batavia’s first points of the game after getting the ball on fourth-and-1 and running 61 yards for the score He also added a 35-yard score in the second quarter and finished with 116 yards The second came at the start of the second quarter With a fourth-and-4 situation on South Elgin’s 15-yard line Anderson found offensive and defensive lineman Gavin Pecor “There was a lot of trust to catch that for a big lineman,” Anderson said Brett Berggren also added a score in the game on a 52-yard punt return South Elgin got both its touchdowns in the second half Ishmael George caught an 18-yard touchdown and Darrion Thurman had a 1-yard rushing touchdown against the Bulldogs’ second team The 2024 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area captain is up to her old tricks 2-run homer in the last of the eighth in a win against Benet Medina already has 4 homers in North’s first 4 games Junior pitcher Avery Miller is 3-0 with and 26 strikeouts in 19 innings for the 4-0 Panthers pitcher Marisa Lloveras went 2-0 with 20 strikeouts in 14 innings (2 earned runs) while Nina Matthews had a streak of hitting 3 homers in a 3-game stretch Cary-Grove update: Addy Green struck out six walked none and gave up no earned runs in a win against Lakes Megan Koski and Aubrey Lonergan each had 2 hits Elgin update: Grace Tetrev robbed a West Chicago player of a home run while the Maroons started the season against the Wildcats with a 1-2-3 first inning on defense Fenton update: Freshman Isabella Delagdo threw a complete game allowing only 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out seven in a 3-2 loss to Elk Grove hitting .714 with a homer in 3 games for Fenton (1-2 Freshman Ryleigh Mitchell is hitting .400 and was lauded for her work behind the plate by coach Dave Mello who also tipped his cap to longtime Elk Grove coach Ken Grams for breaking the IHSA all-time softball wins record in the game against Fenton "What a great experience it was for our team to be there when Ken picked up the record-setting win," he said Ken was my teacher at Elk Grove and has been my mentor when it comes to coaching." 2-0 UEC) have been powered by strong performances from sophomores Claire Bolda (14 innings Glenbard South update: Evangeline Dupuis is hitting .462 for the Raiders (1-3 while pitcher Brooke Lange has 24 strikeouts in 21 innings and a 2.33 ERA Glenbard West update: Pitcher Olivia Salerno has fanned 28 in 18 innings while posting a 1.17 ERA for the Hilltoppers (2-1) who also have been boosted by the play of versatile Alexa Trybus (.500 2 doubles,) and second baseman Ainslie Bobroff (2 homers) Harvest Christian update: Harvest had 13 hits while senior Mackenzie Richards is at .357 with 7 runs scored Huntley update: The Red Raiders lost to state-ranked Andrew and Wheaton North by a combined 2 runs and beat state-ranked Bradley Bourbonnais 7-5 Lyla Ginczycki is hitting .535 with 2 doubles and a triple Lake Park update: Gianna Furlano pitched a complete game and hit a homer in a win against Naperville Central Ari O’Connell homered in each of the Lancers’ first 2 games and is hitting .429 Larkin update: Pitcher Mackenzie Wemken has 21 strikeouts (11 looking) in 18 innings of work 2 homers) have been key at the plate for the Royals (1-3 Lisle update: Erin Bradley has been an RBI machine with 12 in her first 13 plate appearances for the Lions (3-0) Lake Forest commit Maddie Cole is hitting .727 from the leadoff spot with 1 homer Megan Bradley also is hitting .727 with 3 triples and has struck out 18 in 7 innings Lisle hit .516 as a team in its first 3 games Naperville North update: Sarah Rossi is hitting .429 with 7 steals in 5 games while freshman Fae Bretag is hitting .357 and playing great defense Ava Matthews (win) and Gabi Chimiel (save) starred in a win against Glenbard West Maddie Larsen had a hit in each of North’s first 5 games Charles East update: Hayden Sujack has 10 hits in her first 18 at-bats The Saints (3-2) also have been boosted by pitcher Makayla Van Dinther who is 2-1 with 28 strikeouts against 4 walks and a 2.58 ERA Charles North update: Paige Murray struck out 13 in a win against West Chicago Francis update: Freshman Alyssa Freeman had a 4-hit Alyssa Freeman and Tenley Glock have hit home runs for the Spartans who went 4-2 in Myrtle Beach South Elgin update: Pitcher Anna Kiel threw a 1-hit 2 walks in 15 innings) threw a no-hitter and fanned nine against George Washington (West Virginia) while Chloe Ricard is hitting .471 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI Timothy Christian update: The Trojans (3-0 2-0 Chicagoland Christian) have received big performances thus far from Sophia Mook (.667 batting average) Lauren Kottke (.625) and Chloe Granger (.600) Maci Woerner and Grace Hoffman were cited for strong pitching by coach Lindsay Slovey Waubonsie Valley update: Shortstop Aislee Morgan is hitting .750 with 2 doubles 2 triples and 9 RBI for the Warriors (2-2) Dezirae Kelly is at .462 with 7 runs scored while Addison Powell is at .357 with 5 RBI while pitcher Molly Quinn has 14 strikeouts in 14 innings 1-1 UEC) are a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases thus far Ohio State commit Sara Tarr is hitting .524 (11 hits) with 3 homers Louis commit Keira Hayton is hitting .421 (8 hits) with a homer 2-0 UEC) have been paced thus far by Jasmyn Trigueros (12 strikeouts in win against Plainfield East) Westmont update: Gwyneth Jindra (.571 batting 10 RBI; 9 strikeouts pitching) and Alice O’Connor (.500 batting 6 runs) got off to hot starts for the Sentinels (1-1) Wheaton Warrenville South update: Contributors to the 4-0 Wildcats’ hot start include freshman Lily Bobor (.600 batting Willowbrook update: The Warriors (4-3) got off to a 2-1 start at the Grand Strand Classic in North Myrtle Beach Senior pitcher Isabel Bates threw a 7-inning complete-game shutout (5 hits junior Allie Coppersmith hit 2 homers (5 RBI) and senior Sonia Ruchala also belted a home run in a season-opening win against Eisenhower York update: The Dukes got off to a quick 4-1 start Myka Matykiewicz is hitting .500 and pitcher Avery Kanouse has 35 strikeouts Sara Steinecker and Maggie Demopoulos each have hit a home run A man was killed Monday afternoon when the SUV he was driving hit a traffic signal pole in South Elgin who was driving a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe at a high speed was headed west on Stearns Road around 5:20 p.m when for unknown reasons he hit the signal pole at the intersection with South McLean Boulevard was the only vehicle occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene The accident remains under investigation by the South Elgin Police Department; the Kane County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy Anyone with information is asked to call police at (847) 741-2151.