Community ‘finally’ cares about heroin

The woman and I got out of our cars at about the same time. As we rushed toward the 95th Street Library in Naperville — both running late because of traffic congestion and moving at a fast clip — she became noticeably emotional as we …

Victim’s father lashes out during sentencing for fatal DUI driver

ST. CHARLES TWP. — An outburst by a grief-stricken parent and an angry rebuke by a Kane County judge overshadowed Thursday’s re-sentencing hearing for a Wayne man convicted in a fatal 2009 crash. Onofrio Lorusso was back before Judge Timothy Sheldon because of an underage …

Penn State saga: “It sent me to a deep, dark place”

It was about a decade ago when King Howard first walked into my office and told me his story of being sexually abused as a young boy by an Aurora teacher who was also a church leader.

We’ve spoken several times since then, and I …

Denise Crosby: Music sets the tone of farewell to fallen soldier

Christopher Patterson spent most of his young life walking around with a song in his heart and red in his hair. Both will be celebrated this week when the community says goodbye to the 20-year-old North Aurora man, who was a member of the Indiana …

Denise Crosby: Winter’s arrival frosts fair-weather fans

Seriously, I wondered. What is this stuff? It fell from the sky on Thursday, covering our Good Brownish-Green Earth with a pale and shimmery blanket that seemed as foreign as Ron Paul’s surprising poll numbers. “The white fluffy stuff? That’s snow,” explained my eldest son …

Holiday generosity jump-starts new year for Aurora mom

There are plenty of things that got me riled during the Blago dog and pony show that occupied so many headlines this year. But one of the most annoying came toward the end, when we were informed once the former gov checks into his new …

Oswego Marine receives two Purple Hearts

Witnesses said there was no mistaking the pride in Kyle Moser’s face when the second-highest commanding officer in the Marine Corps pinned the Purple Heart on him. Nor was there any denying the 19-year-old lieutenant corporal’s surprise. Not only did Asst. Commandant Joseph Dunford award …

Quiet disbelief: Fox Valley memories of Pearl Harbor attack still vivid

Seventy years is a lifetime. It is also the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack on this country that we here in the Fox Valley will commemorate this week. Dec. 7, 1941, announced Franklin Delano Roosevelt the following day, is “a date which will live …

South Elgin restaurant owners deliver priceless holiday meal to disabled Elgin seniors

The photo, as you’ve probably already noticed, doesn’t say a whole lot: “Three People and a Floral Centerpiece” could be the title. But while the picture may not be worth a thousand words, the story behind it sure is — and guaranteed to warm your …

Denise Crosby: War waged on backyard intruder

Let me preface this by saying I’m a tree person. Would rather reside in a little house in the woods than on oceanfront property. It’s why, whenever I went missing as a kid, Mom always knew to look in the big cottonwood first. It’s why, …

A survivor’s story ... again

Meet Gail Williams the Survivor. Proud. Strong. Independent. She relishes that three-word description because it’s the new improved version of the woman she was a little more than a year ago. That was Gail Williams the Victim. Beaten. Helpless. Hopeless. She and her husband were …

Denise Crosby: Dog-gone sick stray proving elusive for two communities

If the poor stray has a name, no one has shared it. And so, the light brown mutt is known far and wife simply as “The Dog With the Tumor.” But despite the gargantuan growth hanging from its underside, the animal — lab-like in height …

It’s a crime Elgin still fighting image problem

Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas’ quote in last week’s column struck me as compelling: Comparing neighborhood meetings in 2002, where residents were outraged at the crime and violence, he said “the main concerns” of those same groups he now attends are “loud music and parking.” …

Community outrage a catalyst for change in earlier shootings

The cases are tragically similar. In August 2002, two brothers — ages 3 and 6 — were in the family car in the driveway of their Aurora home when someone shot into the vehicle, hitting the boys who had just returned from a run to …

Suicide by train: What can community do?

The headlines, appearing so frequently, almost blur together. Man killed by train Naperville teen killed by train Man dies after being hit by train Man killed by Metra train Although investigations are not concluded on the last three deaths, police say it appears that four …