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Community Corner

Patch Roundup: CTA Crash Injures 33; Murder Victim Found Buried in Park

Also this week: a teen sentenced in a 2011 rape case, a school is evacuated for its second bomb threat in a week and a local toy magnate pleads guilty to tax evasion.

By Darren McRoy


Here are some of the top stories from the past week in Patch's west Chicago region:

FOREST PARK—
Runaway CTA Train Crashes, Injures 33—NTSB officials are investigating the crash of an apparently un-manned CTA Blue Line train near Harlem Avenue Monday morning.

GLEN ELLYN—No Bond For Homeless Man Charged With Murdering Woman and Burying Her in Glen Ellyn Park—Myron Ester, 45, is accused of killing Linda Valez and burying her body in Panfish Park.

OAK PARK—Oak Park Teen Pleads Guilty of Rape—Oak Park teen charged with raping, beating and robbing a woman on New Year’s Eve in 2011 pleads guilty, sentenced to six years in prison.

LEMONT—Old Quarry Evacuated after Second Bomb Threat in a Week—The Cook County Bomb Squad and Lemont Police Department found no credible threats during a sweep of the building Tuesday afternoon, according to district officials.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

OAK BROOK—Beanie Babies Creator Ty Warner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion—The sole owner of TY, Inc., was emotional during a hearing in federal court Wednesday morning, the Chicago Tribune reports.

LA GRANGE—Kids Robbed in 2 Incidents in 1 Night—Two La Grange teens face charges in connection with two robberies of young teens reported in La Grange Sept. 6 and 27. Police believe the offenders were also involved in another robbery Sept. 27.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ST. CHARLES—Cop Impersonation Draws Anger From Parents—St. Charles Police Chief Jim Lamkin says the pat-down incident involved teenagers and that the school parking lot simply was a place where paths crossed.

DARIEN— Darien Native Wins National Country Music Contest—Andrew Salgado was named the first-ever Pepsi Southern Original winner, getting to open for Toby Keith and a development deal in Nashville.

LEMONT—Lemont Mayor Seeks Seat on Metra Board of Directors—Mayor Brian Reaves was one of about 20 candidates who interviewed with Cook County commissioners Tuesday to replace former Metra Chairman Brad O'Halloran and outgoing director William Widmer.

WOODRIDGE—Wilton Celebrates 85 Years of Baking Inspiration—The Wilton story began in 1929 with one man's passion and talent for making confectionery art, and resulted in a method of dessert decorating that today has benefited millions of people.

WESTERN SPRINGS—Watch LT's Katy Perry Lip Dub—Lyons Township High School students shoot "Roar" lip dub video for Good Morning America's "Roar With Katy Perry" contest, plan community-wide lip dub in celebration of LT's 125th anniversary.

BATAVIA—School District 101 Expands Chromebook Pilot Program to About 500 Sixth-Graders—The Batavia School District 101 Board of Education has approved the expansion of pilot program that will put Chromebooks in the hands of every sixth-grader at Rotolo Middle School.

GENEVA—Hultgren Furloughs Most Staffers During Partial Shutdown—Fourteenth District Congressman Randy Hultgren announces that he will give back his congressional salary and furlough most of his staff during the partial government shutdown.

ELMHURST—York Cross Country Ranked No. 1 in the Nation—Looks like the Dukes may be headed to their 29th State Championship!

LISLELisle Jr. High Wins Visit from Blackhawk Patrick Sharp in Goodwill Challenge—The school was a winner in the Pass It On Donation Challenge, donating nearly 75,000 items to Goodwill. Sharp will visit on Monday.
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