Larkin High School in running for $2 million stadium upgrade
Larkin High School is in the running for a $2 million stadium upgrade.
The Elgin-based school recently received $5,000 for winning the first round of T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes, according to a post on the School District U-46 Facebook page.
More than 1,700 high schools entered, according to the contest’s website, and 16 will be chosen to receive $25,000 each. On Oct. 10, T-Mobile will announce those finalists that will be competing for the upgrade to their football field.
A panel of judges will pick the finalists based on the applicants’ stories as to why their high school needs the grand prize tech upgrade, the potential impact the improved football field would have and how the school has shown school spirit during the application window by encouraging online social engagement.
The finalist that can show the most spirit and garner the most likes on Instagram will be the grand prize winner.
For more information on the contest, go to www.fridaynight5glights.com.
LWV holding candidate forums Monday and Tuesday
The Leagues of Women Voters for the Aurora area, Elgin area and Central Kane County will be cohosting two candidate forums at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave.
For the Monday forum, candidates in contested races for Kane County Board chair, Kane County auditor, Kane County coroner and Kane County Board districts 2, 10, 12, 14 and 18 have been invited to participate, according to a news release.
The Tuesday forum will feature candidates in contested races for the offices of Kane County recorder, Kane County circuit clerk, Kane County state’s attorney and Illinois State House districts 65 and 70.
Each forum will be moderated by League members. Residents can join the live in-person audience, watch the live-stream on BATV (where available) and view the recording later on the BATV YouTube Channel. Anyone wanting to submit questions for the candidates may do so in writing during the live events, the release said.
Recordings of both forums may be posted on the websites of the hosting Leagues and will be available for viewing on the Illinois Voter Guide website, illinoisvoterguide.org.
Elgin High School news team receives $3,000 in grants
Elgin High School’s Maroon Buzz Weekly News Team was one of 16 recipients to receive a 2024 High School Journalism Grant.
The $1,500 grant from the Illinois Press Foundation and Illinois Farm Bureau was matched by Elgin High School, providing the Buzz Team $3,000, according to a post on the School District U-46 Facebook page.
The news team will put the money toward the purchase of a video recorder, lavalier mics, a handheld mic, a tripod and a teleprompter for use by the student journalists, as well as a 3-point lighting kit and an editing program, the post said.
CASA Kane County holding live virtual meetings to recruit volunteers
CASA Kane County will be holding five virtual, online informational meetings to recruit volunteers.
The organization is seeking 50 additional volunteers to meet the increasing demand for its services, according to a news release.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. It is a network of trained community volunteers, supervised by professional staff and appointed by the juvenile court judge, who serve as the voice for children in foster care.
In 2023, CASA Kane County advocated for 663 children, the largest number in its 35-year history.
Informational sessions are scheduled to be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3; 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16; 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7; noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10; and 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5.
For more information on how to become a volunteer and to sign up to attend one of the upcoming general information meetings, go to casakanecounty.org/volunteer-information-meetings.
Hanover Township Emergency Services Department, members of which are seen at a training session in Bartlett in 2023, have been recertified through 2027 by the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security. (Hanover Township Emergency Services Department)
Hanover Township Emergency Services receives recertification
The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security presented the Hanover Township Emergency Services Department with formal Emergency Agency Certification at the Sept. 17 Hanover Township Board of Trustees meeting.
The certification recognizes the department’s training program, disaster planning and emergency response capabilities, according to a news release.The volunteer department is trained and equipped to assist public safety agencies serving township residents on emergency scenes and can operate independently.
First certified in 2013, the department has been recertified in 2016 and 2019. The new certification is valid through 2027.
During severe weather and emergency incidents, the unit is often requested to assist one or more of the township’s six municipalities and unincorporated areas. Since April 2024, volunteers have logged more 12,330 hours and responded to 127 emergency incidents, a news release said.
For more information on joining the unit, call 630-837-0301 or email htes@hanover-township.org.
