CHICAGO, July 1, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Working overnight and throughout the day, ComEd crews have restored power to virtually all 145,000 customers affected by the powerful storm that hit northern Illinois on June 30.

ComEd mobilized more than 374 crews to repair downed power lines and damaged equipment and expects to have the remaining isolated outages in heavily damaged areas restored by Saturday morning. Full staffing of crews will continue around the clock until remaining outages are restored.

“We recognize that power outages disrupt the lives and businesses of our customers,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer, ComEd. “ComEd crews are working hard to restore service to customers affected by the storm as quickly and safely as possible.”

Hardest hit areas include Waukegan, Zion, Beach Park, and Winthrop Harbor in the northern suburbs, as well as Alsip, Crestwood and Harvey in the southern suburbs.

Most damaging were the hurricane-force winds, hail and lightning. Sustained winds were clocked with gusts in excess of 95 miles per hour.

ComEd prioritizes outage restoration to ensure public safety first such as police and fire, then hospitals and other critical customers. Next, ComEd restores feeders, which allows us to return power to large numbers of customers at one time, followed by smaller service restorations and individual outages.

Public safety is paramount.

• Customers should be aware that ComEd may not know that they are without power and should call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661) and report the outage. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
• Anyone encountering a downed power line is urged to immediately call ComEd and report the location.
• Never approach a downed power line. Always presume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
• Check on elderly and other sensitive family members and neighbors to ensure their safety and make alternate arrangements, as it may be some time before their power is restored.

ComEd also offers the following suggestions for customers experiencing a prolonged outage:

• Turn off all appliances including your furnace, water heater, and water pump.
• Leave a lamp on so you can know when power has been restored.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and open them only when necessary.

Customers who are on medical support equipment are strongly encouraged to evacuate to a place where they can be comfortable and safe.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.

SOURCE ComEd

ComEd: 95 Percent of Customers Restored After June 30 Storm | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

As the 112th Congress begins, Robert Siegel checks in with two representatives we first met four years ago — Republican Peter Roskam from the Chicago suburbs, and Democrat Gabrielle Giffords from Tucson. Each talks about what they see as their party’s agenda in the new Congress, in particular on the subject of health care.

Originally reported by National Public Radio. Read the original story here.

What Lies Ahead For The 112th Congress? | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

WINFIELD, Ill. and GENEVA, Ill., Dec. 17, 2010 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Delnor Health System (Delnor) and Central DuPage Health (CDH) today announced they have signed a definitive agreement to merge. This follows the October 5th announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding developed by the Delnor and CDH Boards of Directors. A merger of the two organizations remains subject to regulatory review and approval which is expected to occur in the coming months.

“This is the next important step in achieving our vision to create a single, integrated health system,” explained Thomas L. Wright, president and CEO of Delnor. “We are excited to bring together two top quality health systems to deliver the best in medical care for the patients and communities we serve.”

“By signing today, we anticipate being able to implement our shared vision in the spring of 2011,” said CDH CEO Luke McGuinness. “We are thrilled to be so close to realizing the benefit our patients and communities will receive once this integrated health system is fully functioning.”

The goal of the proposed new entity is to expand exceptional healthcare in the western suburbs of Chicago by elevating the caliber and breadth of healthcare services available in the region, extending local access to care and creating a level of scale that will deliver even higher quality at a lower cost. Working in close collaboration with physicians on their respective medical staffs, the two management teams will create new opportunities for continued improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes. Patients will continue to have the same access to the physicians and hospitals they have come to trust, and will gain increased access to a broader range of clinical services.

Delnor and CDH will also carry on their essential roles in serving the healthcare needs of the communities they serve, including their strong commitments to charity care, wellness and prevention programs, and continued collaboration with community organizations and agencies.

As part of the regulatory review process, the hospitals will file with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the Illinois Attorney General. Until then, the two health systems will continue to function independently and engage in continued planning for the new health system.

About Delnor Health System

Delnor is a 159-bed hospital located in Geneva, Illinois, that has earned national recognition in patient, employee and physician satisfaction. It is designated a Magnet® hospital, the ANCC’s highest honor for nursing excellence, and is also the first hospital in Illinois designated by the Planetree organization for patient-centered care. Delnor is a recipient of the HealthGrades 2010/2011 Outstanding Patient Experience Award and is recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as a mentor hospital for Board leadership in quality.

The Delnor Health System offers a variety of health and medical services for residents of the Central Fox Valley, including a Health and Wellness Center, Delnor Glen Senior Living, the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, Express Care immediate care centers, Home Health Services and Occupational Health Services. For more information or a physician referral, please call the Physician Finder and Information Service at (630) 208-3993 or visit www.delnor.com.  

About Central DuPage Health

Central DuPage Health is the parent company of Central DuPage Hospital (CDH). CDH is a nationally recognized 313-bed facility located in Winfield, Ill., a suburb west of Chicago. CDH is a leading center for medical technology, one of the busiest surgical hospitals in Illinois and has achieved Magnet® recognition for excellence in nursing services.

For the last four consecutive years, Thomson Reuters has listed CDH as a 100 Top Hospital in the U.S. CDH is affiliated with other healthcare leaders, including regionally known Children’s Memorial Hospital for pediatric care and, most recently, nationally known Cleveland Clinic for cardiac surgery.

Central DuPage Health is an interdependent network of healthcare organizations and services, including convenient care centers, occupational health services, home health and hospice care. For more information or to find a doctor on the medical staff of CDH, visit www.cdh.org or call 630-933-4234/ TTY 630-933-4833 for the hearing impaired.

SOURCE Central DuPage Hospital

http://www.cdh.org/
http://www.delnor.com/

Delnor Health System and Central DuPage Health Sign Definitive Merger Agreement; Seek Regulatory Approvals | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

With home resale values generally falling across Chicago and Cook County, property owners were expecting to see lower real estate tax bills earlier this month.

Despite the general decline in Cook County property values, some Chicago property owners in neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Lakeview, North Center and Hyde Park were hit with hefty increases, while others appealed their assessments and received reductions.

Experts say the total tax burden faced by both homeowners and business in Chicago will rise less than four-tenths of 1 percent, and suburban tax hikes will average around 2.5 percent.

Even though most home resale values generally are lower because of the recession and the foreclosure crisis, some Cook County homeowners were hit with assessment increases in the 2009 reassessment, noted Michael Griffin, a real estate tax appeal attorney. The lucky ones saw their assessments staying flat.

A record 430,000 property owners filed an appeal with the Board of Review and many received a reduction in their assessment. Those who won will pay a lower second installment 2009 tax bill on December 13.

Everyone wants to blame former Cook County Assessor James Houlihan for the increases, but he was just doing his job. Effective December 6, the job will belong to new Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, who recently won election in November.

The assessors office reassesses the value of each of the 1.5 million parcels of property in Cook County every three years. The reassessment is done on a rotating basis among three regions of Cook County north suburbs, south suburbs, and the city of Chicago. For 2009 and this tax bill, it was the citys turn.

For residential properties, the Assessor has determined the assessment by comparing each property to similar properties in a given area. Increased real estate tax reassessment generally means higher property taxes, but the relationship, or ratio, is not one to one. An assessment increase does not equal the same percentage increase in taxes, experts say.

For 2009, Assessor Houlihan lowered the residential assessment level to 10 percent from 16 percent. Assessment levels of commercial and industrial properties also were lowered to 25 percent from 36 percent or 38 percent.

Chicago-area real estate appraisers and some Realtors estimated that real estate values actually have depreciated to pre-2000 levels a decrease in value of more than 40 percent.

What can a property owner do to control real estate assessment increases and tax hikes? First check how your propertys assessed valuation compares with similar properties in your neighborhood. Visit www.cookcountyassessor.com or call 312-443-7550.

Also check to see if the assessor has listed any exemptions for which you are eligible, such as the Homeowners Exemption, Senior Citizen Exemption, and Senior Assessment Freeze Exemption. These exemptions can save you hundreds of dollars in taxes.

If you feel you have grounds for a reduction, file an appeal with the Assessor or the Board of Review. The appeals can be filed at either office or at the offices website. Or, call Michael Griffin, a professional tax assessment lawyer, at 312-943-1789. Griffin says there are three key grounds for an assessment reduction:

Assessors error. If you can prove the assessor made an error in the description of your property, you can win a reduction. However, the error must have an impact on the estimated market value of your home.

A uniformity complaint. This means your homes assessment is not in line with the assessed valuation of other similar homes in your neighborhood. A homeowner should find at least three examples of similar homes with lower assessments than theirs.

Evaluations approach. Homeowners file an appeal and submit a recent closing statement for their home and/or purchase prices of homes similar to yours to show that the assessed value is greater than 10 percent of the purchase price.

If an initial appeal at the Assessors office doesnt lower the assessed value, there are two other appeal options: the Cook County Board of Review (312-603-5542), and the Property Tax Appeals Board (217-785-6076).

Griffin advises homeowners in recently assessed neighborhoods to carefully look at the assessors estimate of your propertys market value. Ask yourself, Is it fair? Griffin said.

Don DeBats weekly real estate column is syndicated by DeBat Media Services. For more home-buying information visit his website at: www.dondebat.net.

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Originally reported by Chicago Journal. Read the original story here.

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The New Health System Will Enhance Depth, Breadth and Affordability of Region’s Healthcare Services

WINFIELD, Ill., and GENEVA, Ill., Oct. 5 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Delnor Health System (Delnor) and Central DuPage Health (CDH) today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding expressing their mutual desire to come together and create a single, integrated health system. The goal of the proposed combination is to expand exceptional healthcare to the western suburbs of Chicago by elevating the caliber and breadth of healthcare services available in the region, extending local access to care and creating a level of scale that will deliver even higher quality at a lower cost.

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Over the next several months, Delnor and CDH will complete a due diligence process to further define their vision and agreement which will be subject to governmental review and approval.

The proposed combination will bring together two financially sound organizations, both recognized for their outstanding service to patients. Working in close collaboration with physicians on the respective medical staffs, the two management teams will create new opportunities for continued improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes for all patients, while continuing the healthcare investments in the communities served. Patients will still have the same access to the physicians and hospitals they have come to trust, but will also gain increased access to a broader range of clinical services.

“This relationship holds such great potential for making healthcare even better for our patients, physicians and staff at a time of unprecedented change in the industry,” said Thomas L. Wright, president and CEO of Delnor Hospital. “The two hospitals have a deep respect for one another’s teams of highly talented professionals, dedication to innovation and track records in providing high quality care. Further collaboration will strengthen our ability to provide exceptional levels of clinical care and become more responsive to the new requirements of healthcare reform, while also delivering an extraordinary patient experience.”

“Our mutual goal is to build on the momentum of our respective investments in primary care, specialty care and advancement of the destination service lines at both campuses,” said Luke McGuinness, president and CEO of CDH. “Together, Delnor and CDH will build a health system synonymous with efficient, high quality, advanced care in the communities we serve.”

Wright and McGuinness will continue to oversee their respective hospitals throughout the due diligence process. The memorandum of understanding provides that the new health system would be governed by a board of directors with equal representation from Delnor’s and CDH’s current Boards. Furthermore the memorandum of understanding names McGuinness CEO of the new health system. Wright will continue as both President of Delnor and as an executive leader of the new health system.

“Delnor and CDH will be a compelling combination for all involved, reinforcing each hospital’s respective commitments to its patients, medical staff, employees and communities,” adds McGuinness. “The new entity will continue to respect and celebrate the contributions of individual organizations and their employees as part of this collaborative process.”

Delnor and CDH will also carry on their essential roles in serving the healthcare needs of the communities they serve, including their strong commitments to charity care, wellness and prevention programs, and continued collaboration with community organizations and agencies.

About Delnor Health System

Delnor is a 159-bed hospital located in Geneva, Illinois, that has earned national recognition in patient, employee and physician satisfaction. It is designated a Magnet^® hospital, the American Nursing Association’s highest honor for nursing excellence, and is also the first hospital in Illinois designated by the Planetree organization for patient-centered care. Delnor is a recipient of the HealthGrades 2010/2011 Outstanding Patient Experience Award and is recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as a mentor hospital for Board leadership in quality.

The Delnor Health System offers a variety of health and medical services for residents of the Central Fox Valley, including a Health and Wellness Center, Delnor Glen Senior Living, the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, Express Care immediate care centers, Home Health Services and Occupational Health Services. For more information or a physician referral, please call the Physician Finder and Information Service at (630) 208-3993 or visit www.delnor.com.

About Central DuPage Health

Central DuPage Health is the parent company of Central DuPage Hospital (CDH). CDH is a nationally recognized 313-bed facility located in Winfield, Ill., a suburb west of Chicago. CDH is a leading center for medical technology, one of the busiest surgical hospitals in Illinois and has achieved Magnet^® recognition for excellence in nursing services.

For the last four consecutive years, Thomson Reuters has listed CDH as a 100 Top Hospital in the U.S. CDH has affiliated with other healthcare leaders, including regionally known Children’s Memorial Hospital for pediatric care and, most recently, nationally known Cleveland Clinic for cardiac surgery.

Central DuPage Health is an interdependent network of healthcare organizations and services, including convenient care centers, occupational health services, home health and hospice care. For more information or to find a doctor on the medical staff of CDH, visit www.cdh.org or call 630-933-4234/ TTY 630-933-4833 for the hearing impaired.

SOURCE Central DuPage Hospital

http://www.cdh.org/

Delnor Health System and Central DuPage Health Announce Intent to Combine | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Live Music, Wait Staff Service, Computerized Scoring Attract Pros and Duffers Alike to TopGolf

Wood Dale, IL (August 23, 2010) — How does an already one-of-a-kind entertainment complex add more moxie to its game?

They open the only 3rd story rooftop beer garden in the western suburbs of Chicago.

TopGolf, a live ball driving range with computerized scoring and tee table food and drink service, will officially open its newest amenity on Tuesday, August 31st—a sudsy refuge from the last dog days of summer and a refreshing head-start on early autumn.

The beer garden at TopGolf will feature weekly specials, live music, an outdoor fire pit, and 26 open-air hitting bays of TopGolf’s signature range-style golf games.

“We’re fortunate to have such ardent fans,” says TopGolf Chicago General Manager, Brett Hintz. “And yet both our longtime patrons and those still just discovering us say the same thing about the rooftop terrace: it’s an oasis. Which is exactly what we wanted. There’s a kind of vibe up there that I don’t think can be found anywhere else in Chicago. It’s very chill, but frankly exhilarating too.”

Since opening in October of 2007, the innovative entertainment complex has been gradually attracting more and more fans, mostly by word-of-mouth. “The TopGolf experience can be a bit hard to explain, you really have to try it to get it,” says Susan Murphy, the company’s Director of Marketing.

“It’s golf meets bowling, meets darts. But really the experience is mostly about hanging out with friends for some carefree competition.” Computerized chips embedded in the regulation golf balls automatically record and score every hit toward various targets, giving serious players detailed feedback to improve their game, and novices a simple and automatic scoring system to challenge friends and family.

The rooftop beer garden will feature weekly tap and bottle specials, as well as signature cocktails including “Spiked” Arnold Palmer’s, Island Oasis Mai Tais and three varieties of sangria. TopGolf has also become known for its food featuring seasonal daily specials, gourmet steak burgers, and “Gus’s” Famous Guacamole Salsa with homemade chips.

“Most of our patrons are not golfers,” says Hintz. “They just want to have some fun, but because you can play a few games over lunch, or while waiting for rush hour traffic to subside, our facility also appeals to serious golfers who can’t or don’t want to be on the course for 4 hours in 90-degree heat. And because we’re open until 2AM on Friday and Saturday, the rooftop is a great late night destination too.”

About TopGolf

TopGolf opened its first U.S. location in Alexandria, Virginia in 2005, adding Chicago and Dallas in 2007. The innovative entertainment facility uses computer microchips embedded in regulation golf balls to create aninteractive game for both the hard-core and first-time golfers.

The state-of-the-art software includes several computer-assisted golf games in which players get points by hitting targets.

The TopGolf entertainment complex is open year round includes a restaurant, bar, miniature golf course and, first class fitting experience.

For more information on TopGolf, please visit TopGolf.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dakota Shultz, 312.371.4104
dakota@agencythreesixty.com

Ben Pavlovic, 312.961.3919
ben@agencythreesixty.com

Suburban rooftop beer garden scores hole-in-one | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Officials from Rich Township High School District 227 claim they’ll lose more than $7 million a year because of the charter school.

Dr. Blondean Davis is the CEO of Southland. She says the charter school isn’t a slap in the face to the pre-existing high school.

DAVIS: I don’t think it’s about necessarily the existing high school. It’s about creating a choice. And many times in the suburban area, there is not a choice, and there should be.

Davis says 125 students are enrolled at Southland College Prep.

A spokeswoman for Rich Tonwnship High School says the district can’t comment because it’s still pursuing legal action against the school.

Originally reported by Chicago Public Radio. Read the original article here.

First Public Charter High School in Chicago Suburbs Opens | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

A flash flood warning was issued for Cook, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Will and Lake counties at 5:58 a.m., according to an alert on the National Weather Service’s website. The warning will remain in effect until at least 11 a.m.

A flash flood warning means flooding is imminent or occurring, the weather service website said. People near creeks and streams should take immediate action to protect themselves and should not drive across flooded areas.

National Weather Service radar estimates between one and three inches of rain have fallen overnight from portions of Kendall County through Chicago’s south suburbs, the weather service said. Rainfall rates are expected to taper off after 7 a.m.

Viaduct flooding has also been reported in southern Cook County at South Archer Road and West 63rd Street, according to the weather service. Flash flooding was also reported in southwest suburban Romeoville near the intersection of Illinois Route 53 and Murphy Drive, with six to eight inches of rapidly moving water flowing over the roadway.

You can stay on top of the weather with FOX Chicago News’ live radar .

Originally reported by FOX News Chicago. Read the original article here.

Chicago Under Flash Flood Warning | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

GREAT FALLS, Va. – Gilbert Arenas arrived home from a halfway house Friday morning, having completed one part of his punishment for bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room.

Arenas drove up to his house in the Virginia suburbs of Washington in a tan Mercedes SUV at about 8:30 a.m.

He tried several times to punch the combination on the keypad to enter his gated driveway. After several failed attempts, he muttered “Alrighty,” got out of his car and yelled toward the house for help. A woman inside the house yelled out the code. Arenas punched it in and drove into his driveway.

Arenas was asked several times for comment about his stay at the halfway house. Each time he shrugged and indicated he had nothing to say.

A few minutes later, he re-emerged in a long-sleeve black T-shirt with a hood pulled low over his forehead. He hopped into a white Range Rover and drove off.

Arenas pleaded guilty to felony gun possession in the District of Columbia in January and was sentenced in March to a month in the halfway house. His sentence also includes two years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 400 hours of community service that can’t be performed at basketball clinics.

His sentence started April 9 with two days in jail before he was moved to the halfway house in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. He was allowed to leave the facility during the day. A fan tweeted about seeing him at a local grocery store and posted a picture of him posing near the bottled tea.

Arenas’ sentence called for 30 days at the facility, but he was released slightly early because the Federal Bureau of Prisons doesn’t release offenders from halfway houses on weekends.

The 28-year-old point guard is now free to resume his basketball career. His NBA suspension expired at the end of the season, and he has four years remaining on a six-year, $111 million contract he signed with the Wizards in the summer of 2008.

The Wizards could have attempted to trade Arenas or void the remainder of his contract, but president Ernie Grunfeld has said definitively that the team’s marquee player will be welcome back next season. It’s possible that approach will change after Ted Leonsis completes his purchase of the team in the coming weeks, but the size of the contract would make a trade difficult, and the players’ union would vigorously fight any attempt to void it.

Arenas will now be transferred to the supervision of the Virginia Department of Corrections because he is a Virginia resident. Department spokesman Larry Traylor said Arenas will have to report to the Fairfax County Office of Probation and Parole.

Offenders on probation must report any arrests, including traffic tickets, and need permission to travel outside Virginia, according to information on the county website. Arenas is also prohibited from owning or carrying firearms during his sentence.

Arenas began his 400 hours of community service while at the halfway house. His second year of probation may be unsupervised if he abides by all of its conditions.

Arenas got into trouble when he brought four guns to the Verizon Center locker room in December in what he said was an attempt to play a prank on teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two players had argued over a card game on the team plane two days earlier.

Crittenton also had a gun in the locker room that day. He eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor firearms possession and received one year of unsupervised probation.

Arenas’ sudden downfall derailed the Wizards’ season. The team finished 26-56 and traded longtime regulars Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Arenas will have to rebuild his image as Washington rebuilds its team — the player long known as “Agent Zero” has already said he’s changing his jersey number from zero to six next season.

Even while in the halfway house, Arenas found himself with more gun problems. A Beverly Hills company is suing him for more than $70,000, saying it has been storing five Beretta pistols he bought in 2006 and never picked up.

Wizards’ Arenas out of halfway house in gun case (AP) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

HAROLD BECK, 57 years of age, 6525 Stanley, Berwyn, was arrested yesterday afternoon. According to the complaint, BECK entered the TCF Bank branch at around 11:03 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010, handed the teller a note announcing a robbery, and threatened harm if his demands for cash were not met.

BECK implied he had a weapon, although none was observed. After receiving approximately $3,269 in cash, the robber fled the bank on foot.

One of the tellers observed BECK get into a green, older-model Dodge minivan,and leave the bank parking lot. Within 15 minutes of the robbery, an officer of the Elmhurst Police Department received a radio dispatch describing the getaway vehicle and soon after spotted a minivan matching the description. The officer stopped the vehicle.

A person later identified as BECK was observed driving the green Dodge minivan and was later arrested.

Subsequent investigation by the Chicago FBI and the Elmhurst Police developed additional evidence linking BECK to the robbery and the filing of charges today. Though not charged, BECK is also the suspect in 12 other bank robberies in Chicago and the western suburbs dating back to December 2007.

BECK appeared before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole earlier today, at which time he was formerly charged. BECK was ordered held without bond pending his next court appearance and will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, Illinois. If convicted of the charge filed against him, BECK faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration.

Additional information about this and other recent Chicago-area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker Web site, bandittrackerchicago.com.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.

TCF Bank robbery suspect arrested | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“It was a matter of time,” said Michael Marchi, director of village services.

“They were southeast of the village in the unincorporated Swift Road area and in Carol Stream and other nearby towns, so we were somewhat surrounded.”

The pest – deadly to ask trees – was found last week in about 20 trees on village property along Springfield Drive, between Army Trail and Schick Road.

Marchi said it is unknown how many private trees may be affected and village workers are spending this week trying to discover the extent of the damage and finalize the Bloomingdale’s response plan.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Emerald ash borer moves into Bloomingdale | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Addison detective Gregg Garofalo said the unidentified man affixes an electronic skimming device on automated teller machines to secretly snatch account information, then later makes withdrawals with the fraudulent cards he created.

So far, police suspect the criminal made unauthorized withdrawals at banks in Addison, Crystal Lake and Elk Grove Village. Similar crimes were reported last year in Buffalo Grove and Mount Prospect.

Garofalo released bank surveillance photos this week to try to identify his suspect, who made off with thousands since at least October, when detectives first began tracking him.

The skimming gadgets are tough to spot, experts warn, as they are designed to duplicate the actual ATM card reader and are installed in a matter of seconds right on top of the real thing. It’s attached by either a magnet or double-stick tape, but easily comes off if a customer checks before using the machine.

The device electronically records a customer’s debit-card number, and a small camera – which the thief posts nearby – records the ATM keyboard as the patron enters his password. The thief often is not far away, waiting to retrieve the data and transfer it to a fraudulent card.

Garofalo said the unidentified man recently made 17 fraudulent transactions within 14 minutes in Elk Grove Village.

“The victim usually finds out after they check their bank statement and notice the unauthorized withdrawal,” Garofalo said. “The victim never loses their debit card and does not know how this person got their information.”

Though Garofalo’s suspect hits banks, similar skimming scams are more typically carried out in obscure locations such as airports, convenience stores, gas stations, parking garages and other isolated spots where free-standing ATMs are installed.

“(Skimming devices) are hard to get a hold of and usually are expensive,” said Todd Carroll, a supervisory special agent for the FBI’s cyber squad in Chicago.

“Because they want to retrieve it, they’re going to put it someplace where they can make a good getaway. That’s more likely (in nonbank settings) where there’s less traffic and no surveillance cameras.”

Other recent examples of similar scams also are under investigation.

On Nov. 14, police said more than $70,000 was stolen from a bank ATM in Buffalo Grove. The bank’s security video recorded two suspects placing a camera and recording device on the ATM inside the lobby of the bank.

The same suspects returned two days later to retrieve the device, police said.

In Mount Prospect, thieves made off with nearly $21,000 from 316 debit card accounts after installing a skimmer last fall on a drive-up ATM at Bank of America.

Addison police, meanwhile, described their suspect as a black man, approximately 30 to 35 years old, who is always photographed wearing a white hat and sunglasses.

Anyone with information is urged to call Garofalo at (630) 543-3080, ext. 7361.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Police warn of ATM scam in suburbs | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“We hope to create more headlines and public awareness,” said Brent Fagel, of Buffalo Grove, who is the Illinois safety advocate for the National Motorists Association and, as a self-proclaimed “traffic researcher,” is also leading the fight against red-light cameras in his own community.

The Nationwide Red Light Camera Protest, called for Sunday, is being organized on the Internet through the Facebook social-networking site. So far, 10 protests have been organized across the nation.

Scott Tucker, a Republican candidate for state representative on Chicago’s North Side, seized on the issue and organized a protest from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Western Avenue and Addison Street. It’s the only one scheduled in Illinois.

“It’s a safety rally, not a protest,” Fagel said. “It’s safety that we’re after.”

Fagel and Tucker are among the growing chorus insisting red-light cameras are “political cash cows” that are more about civic revenues than road safety.

“We call them ATMs – automatic ticketing machines,” Fagel said.

Fagel and Tucker claim Chicago typically cuts the timing of its yellow lights from the federally mandated three seconds to two and a half seconds or less, in part to increase violations at camera-ticketing intersections.

They state that actually makes the intersections more dangerous as drivers race to get into them before a yellow light turns red. Fagel said Chicago raised $45 million on automated red-light tickets in 2008.

“We are the camera capital of the United States,” he said.

Tucker is running on a platform calling for the General Assembly to pass a ban on automated ticketing.

The cameras have come under increased scrutiny and criticism in the suburbs, as in the recent Daily Herald series and in the removal of such cameras around Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg after a public outcry.

“They start dissuading people from shopping there,” Fagel said.

Fagel has been fighting red-light cameras in Buffalo Grove, which is set to take up the issue again Feb. 22. He said he hopes the Chicago “safety rally” causes enough of a stir to help such protests spread to the suburbs.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

National red-light-camera protest comes to area | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The circular boulevard is planned for the intersection of Riverwoods and Everett roads in Lincolnshire.

It will be designed differently than the notorious traffic circle at Wolf and Golf roads in Des Plaines that has frustrated motorists for years, said Marty Buehler, Lake County’s transportation director.

For example, motorists face stop signs at the Des Plaines circle, but only will have to yield for oncoming cars in Lincolnshire’s roundabout, Buehler said. Additionally, traffic approaching the circle will be limited to 20 mph.

When it’s done, people are going to love it, Buehler insisted. The roundabout will move drivers through the area more effectively than traffic lights would, he said.

Lincolnshire Mayor Brett Blomberg is aware of the infamous Des Plaines traffic circle’s reputation but backed the county’s plan.

“It will be interesting to see how it works,” Blomberg said.

The project will be driven by the county transportation department. The county board on Tuesday is expected to approve an agreement with the village board to build the roundabout.

Village officials already have greenlit the partnership with the county. A construction firm has not yet been hired.

The effort is expected to cost $2.9 million, Buehler said. Eighty percent of the cost – roughly $2.3 million – will be covered by federal funds reserved for air-quality improvement projects, Buehler said.

About 16,000 vehicles drive through the intersection every day, Buehler said. The work is needed, he said, because vehicles regularly stack up at the intersection, which now has stop signs at all corners.

The lines are so long, people sometimes have trouble getting to popular North Park, which is on the intersection’s southeast corner, Blomberg said.

“If you’ve got a practice or a game (there), you could be late just because of that northbound traffic backed up on Riverwoods Road,” Blomberg said.

The work could begin this summer and wrap up in the fall, Buehler said.

County transportation officials are planning four additional roundabouts at:

• Hunt Club and Wadsworth roads in Old Mill Creek.
• Hunt Club and Millburn roads in Old Mill Creek.
• Cedar Lake and Monaville roads in Lake Villa.
• Roberts and River roads in Lake Barrington.

Tuesday’s county board meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the county government center in Waukegan.

It is open to the public and also is viewable live online at lakecountyil.gov/iwantto/watch.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Roundabout planned for Lincolnshire intersection | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Surface Transportation Board will survey all 33 suburbs along the rail line, now owned by the Canadian National Railway, to ask them whether they feel the CN is accurately and completely reporting problems along the line.

The chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, Daniel Elliott III , ordered the action after making two recent tours of the suburbs on the rail line with local officials.

The transportation board is sending out questionnaires to officials in the 33 communities in Illinois and Indiana affected by CN’s controversial acquisition last year of the 198-mile EJ&E line, which runs in an arc from Waukegan to Joliet to Gary.

The board is asking about train noise and vibration, train volumes and street blockages, vehicle delays and traffic congestion at selected rail/highway at-grade crossings, operational accidents, and identification signs at crossings.

– Richard Wronski

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Feds to take closer look at suburban railway | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CAYETANO E. WILLIAMS, age 50, whose last known address was 25 West 019 Argyle in Roselle, was arrested late Sunday, without incident, by officers from the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department, who were assisting in the investigation of a convenience store robbery.

CAYETANO was charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense.

According to the complaint, CAYETANO entered the Chase Bank branch around noon, approached a teller, and handed her a note announcing a robbery.

This was followed by an oral demand for money and a threat of physical harm if his demands were not met.

CAYETANO claimed to be armed with a handgun, although no weapon was displayed and no injuries were reported during the robbery.

After receiving over $25,000.00 in bank funds, CAYETANO fled the bank on foot.

He was seen by witnesses entering a compact-sized automobile that was parked nearby, in which he fled the area. This vehicle was not further described and the robbery remained unsolved, despite investigative efforts by the FBI and HPPD.

On Dec. 30, 2009, the Roselle Bank and Trust, located at 1350 West Lake Street in Roselle, was robbed by an individual matching the description of the man who robbed the Hanover Park bank two weeks earlier. The RPD then joined the FBI and HPPD in the investigation.

On the evening of January 3, RPD officers responded to an armed robbery report at a convenience store. After obtaining a description of the robber, who was believed to have fled the scene on foot, officers from neighboring communities joined in the search.

An individual who matched the description of the robber, and who was later identified as CAYETANO, was stopped nearby and eventually arrested. He was charged in state court with armed robbery.

Subsequent investigation by the Chicago FBI and Detectives from the Hanover Park and Roselle Police Departments developed additional evidence linking CAYETANO to the robbery and the filing of the charges announced today.

Though not charged, CAYETANO is also a suspect in the robbery of the Roselle Bank and Trust, located at 1350 West Lake Street in Roselle.

CAYETANO appeared before Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown late yesterday, at which time he was formally charged. CAYETANO was ordered held without bond, pending his next court appearance, which is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Until then, CAYETANO will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago. If convicted of the charge filed against him, CAYETANO faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ incarceration.

In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant commended the officers of the Hanover Park and Roselle Police Departments for their efforts in helping to solve this robbery. Said Mr. Grant

“The dedication and cooperation exhibited by these officers led to the safe arrest of a potentially dangerous serial robber and the solution of multiple criminal acts. This coordination of efforts is essential to effective law enforcement in the 21st century.”

Chief Kruger added “On behalf of the Roselle Police Department, I would like to thank all of our neighboring agencies and the FBI for collaborating on a successful investigation. This collaborative effort culminated with the arrest of a possibly dangerous offender before he could strike again or cause injury to innocent victims.”

Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker Web site, bandittrackerchicago.com.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Special Agent Ross Rice, 312-829-1199
FBI Chicago

Man Arrested for Hanover Park Bank Robbery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Up until now there has been a problem when parents or other family members have tried to find Santa in the Chicago area. While the man in the red suit is appearing in hundreds of different  local venues, except for a few well publicized area events, it has been hard to actually find the old guy.

A new online resource, santainchicago.com, tracks all events where you can find Santa throughout the Chicago area.

A new Internet company, santainchicago.com, thinks they have solved this problem.

SantainChicago.com has pinpointed all of the various Santa events in cities and towns throughout the Chicagoland area and nearby Northern Illinois suburbs.

The Web site lists over 375 different places and events in the Chicago area where you can find Santa during the 2009 Christmas season.

To make it easy to find out exactly what kind of Santa events are available, they have listed each event by location and type.

For example, many area cities and towns have Santa offerings that include parades, tree lightings, children’s activities and more.

You’ll find just about every place that Santa is appearing in cities from Addison through Zion.

Events are broken down into different categories.

There are separate listings for area malls, organizations offering breakfasts, lunches and dinners with Santa, train trips with the “jolly old elf,” where to find Santa houses, where to go for pet pictures, plus  offbeat and unusual Santa events.

You’ll also find organizations that  host “Santa from times past” evoking a nostalgic yearning for Christmases of long ago. Free Santa events are highlighted so they are easy to find, you’ll learn where to go for story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus and you can even locate places offering pet pictures with Santa.

Want to cut your own tree?

One of the listings includes Christmas tree farms where you not only get your own tree, but let the children visit with Santa. There are events for special needs children—little ones with physical and developmental disabilities—where they can see Santa without having to wait in line.

An interesting addition to the web site is the “top ten Santa events in Chicagoland and Northern Illinois”, which makes it a breeze to discover some of the best and most popular Santa happenings at a glance.

Other resources you’ll find on the site are where you can hire a Santa and some free things available from Santa—for example recipes for his favorite Christmas cookies.

For more information, or to find Santa anywhere in the Chicago area, please visit santainchicago.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Sullivan, 630-837-9241
Jsul272@wowway.com

Find Santa in Chicago: New Web Site Tracks Santa Throughout Chicago and Suburbs This Holiday Season | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.