SUGAR GROVE—The Rev. Steve Good, pastor at Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, first went to Haiti 28 years ago as a college student, to study and do missionary work for several months.

ELBURN—The annual number of reported domestic battery incidents in Elburn increased by 50 percent last year, from 10 in 2008 to 15 in 2009.

ELBURN—The village of Elburn will consider reinstatement of its utility tax rebate program for seniors this year, but with additional restrictions.

ELBURN—Elburn village officials already have begun budget planning for the next fiscal year, with the goal of minimizing an expected revenue shortfall.

ELBURN—For more than four decades, Fishermen's Inn in Elburn was a popular place for fine dining and receptions, attracting people from throughout the Chicago area with its fresh trout, scenic grounds and country atmosphere.

MAPLE PARK—Michael Acosta was sworn in as Maple Park's new police chief during Tuesday's Village Board meeting. The former Kane County Sheriff's Department officer is looking forward to building a positive relationship with village officials, police officers...

MAPLE PARK—Maple Park officials are aggressively pursuing alternative types of revenue for public works projects the village cannot afford with its limited, primary source of funds, property taxes.

ELBURN—Thanks to the Elburn Leos, Max Capes of Maple Park will have a new dog next summer, specially trained to assist this special-needs youth in daily living.

Kaneland—Former Kaneland High School journalism teacher Laurie Erdmann received a lifetime achievement award from the Journalism Educators Association (JEA), topping off a career that she found both challenging and gratifying.

ELBURN—Marklund residents are treated to musical entertainment two to four times a month, but volunteer Michael Kilberry has made it his mission to bring even more music to the facility.

LBURN—Al Lee was at the Elburn Food Pantry in November, dropping off a monetary donation from the Elburn Lions Club. The Thursday pantry's line was so long that people had to wait an hour to receive bags...

ELBURN—An Elburn police officer was disciplined this week for firing warning shots, which is prohibited by the police department.

ELBURN—Elburn will now allow large, hanging signs at downtown storefronts to attract more people to those businesses.

CORTLAND—Local resident Lee Newtson has built nearly 40 dollhouses since 1978, donating many of them to local organizations for fundraisers.

ELBURN—The Elburn Police Department is conducting an internal investigation of an incident during which one of its officers discharged his weapon in downtown Elburn the evening of Nov. 18.

MAPLE PARK—Lincoln Highway 4-H Club found an ideal place to raise money—the Elburn Co-Op in Maple Park.

ELBURN—After Elburn officials debated for years about what types of signs were appropriate for the village, they crafted a sign ordinance and approved it March 31.

Family-oriented event will showcase village offerings

MAPLE PARK—With help from a DeKalb County grant, Maple Park Public Library can put the finishing touches on a remodeling project that created a new computer lab for its patrons.

MAPLE PARK—Local municipalities are reviewing the new “sunshine laws” designed to improve access to public information, readying for compliance Jan. 1.

ELBURN—Sixty extra hands came in handy for the village on Nov. 22. That day, Cub Scout Pack 107 conducted a clean-up of the Metra station parking area, picking up trash that people had tossed on the ground...

Michael Acosta fills position vacant since 2008

KANEVILLE—Friends of Bruce Conley prayed for him Wednesday at Kaneville United Methodist Church during a day-long vigil ending with a service attended by nearly 100 people.

ELBURN—A new or revised comprehensive plan is a project that Elburn officials may tackle next year, to make the document reflect residents' current vision for village growth.

ELBURN—A recent village survey indicated that many Elburn residents want Mediacom and any other future cable provider to be more accountable for incidents of substandard service.

Kane County—“How you doin', friend?” is Darlene Marcusson's standard greeting to everyone she encounters at Lazarus House, the homeless shelter she directs in St. Charles.

Elburn—For many people, a friendly backyard football game is standard Thanksgiving Day fare, as much as a turkey with trimmings.

MAPLE PARK—A commercial development called The Maples has been proposed for the southwest corner of Route 38 and County Line Road in Maple Park, which would consist of several commercial lots of 30,000 square feet.

MAPLE PARK—Hiring a police chief, applying for grants and mitigating stormwater drainage problems still are the village officials' top goals, Maple Park Village President Kathy Curtis said.

MAPLE PARK—Two Maple Park churches want to make sure as many local people as possible can celebrate Thanksgiving, even those who cannot afford to put a turkey on the table this year.

ELBURN—The Elburn Village Board eliminated municipal utility tax rebates for seniors, less than two months ago. Since then, some residents have asked that the program be reinstated, village officials said.

KANE COUNTY—Two local towns, Elburn and Kaneville, have banned video gambling since the state enacted a law in July allowing the activity. Now, county officials are considering whether they want to allow it in unincorporated areas.