Denise Crosby: Hit-run puts focus on FV motorcycle deaths

I have to think that whoever hit Max Torres on his motorcycle a week ago has been following the news. I hope that driver of the white Chevrolet Traverse SUV now knows the 23-year-old man — who had been on life support at University of …

No matter how you define extraordinary, Vasquez case ‘once in a blue moon’

There were a couple of things that surprised the Second Appellate Court security officer when he showed up for work Monday morning.

The size of the crowd that gathered in Elgin to hear oral arguments for the sentencing portion of the Sandra Vasquez case was …

A father’s good name sullied by a son’s crimes

His late father is heralded as a legend. The son is now a convicted felon. And one can only wonder what William Chesbrough Sr., longtime boys basketball coach at Elgin High, must have thought as he peered down from heaven Wednesday into the courtroom at …

Tragedy puts America’s game in poignant light

I’ve got two pint-size tykes in my life — one a grandson, the other a step-grandson — who run around in diapers just about every waking minute of their lives with a bat and a ball in their hands. It’s pretty amazing to watch: Like …

One of area’s last Pearl Harbor attack survivors dies at age 94

I’m grateful we were able to share his story with all of you. On Sunday, George Hettinger, one of the Fox Valley’s last remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor, died at his home in North Aurora at the age of 94. For seven …

3 awards dinners, 2 appearances, 1 hungry man

When it comes to awards dinners, Thursday night in Kane County had to be the trifecta. Within half an hour of each other, three separate banquet rooms — one in St. Charles, two in Aurora — were filled with hundreds of people honoring those who …

Derby gala coming up roses for Hesed House

Mary Ensor knows a thing or two about throwing a party. I met her years ago when she was pulling together a huge fundraising gala for Mutual Ground: an organization close to her heart because she served as board president for the Aurora domestic violence …

Recovering heroin addict: ‘I fight it every day’

Back in December, there was a small news article about a 26-year-old Boulder Hill woman — wife and mother of two small children, including a newborn — who was found dead in her home by Kendall County sheriff’s deputies. There was no follow-up story, however, …

Denise Crosby: Schools earn high marks in fight against heroin

On first glance it was like any other of the myriad messages that go home to parents from the schools. But this one, trust me, was a big deal.

“We are writing a joint message to you once again to let you know about two …

Crisis calls take personal toll on 911 dispatchers

For 10 years Heather Pierce was the steady voice on the other end of a 911 call. Throughout that decade — five years with Ken-Com Public Safety Center in Yorkville; another five with Tri-Com Central Dispatch now in St. Charles — she calmed the hysterical, …

Denise Crosby: Crisis calls take personal toll on 911 dispatchers

For 10 years Heather Pierce was the steady voice on the other end of a 911 call.

Throughout that decade — five years with Ken-Com Public Safety Center in Yorkville; another five with Tri-Com Central Dispatch now in St. Charles — she calmed the hysterical, …

Denise Crosby: Until facts are all in, local hoodie march is out of step

I have no doubt Kelly Ingram is a nice lady. And I also believe her intentions are good. In fact, we should all have her passion and courage to do more in life than sit along the sidelines and yap our flaps about all the …

Hit-and-run victim: Getaway car got away with more than clothes

The hit and run occurred the first week of November while she was Christmas shopping at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora. But Naperville resident Melissa Sandve still has $4,000 in damage to her car and a beef with the Aurora Police Department, neither of which …

Denise Crosby: March madness has nothing to do with basketball

E-gads! Gas — climbing faster than a chimp on amphetamines — is predicted to hit five bucks a gallon! It’s only the third week of March and we’ve got air conditioners on high! Trees in full bloom! Allergies and pelicans showing up way too early! …

Denise Crosby: March madness has nothing to do with basketball

E-gads! Gas — climbing faster than a chimp on amphetamines — is predicted to hit five bucks a gallon! It’s only the third week of March and we’ve got air conditioners on high! Trees in full bloom! Allergies and pelicans showing up way too early! …