Driver in Deadly Dec. 1 Campton Hills Crash Was Drunk

Toxicology reports show Jennifer Liston’s blood-alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit, and she had other controlled substances in her system as well.

The driver of a car stolen in Wheaton that plowed head-on into a vehicle in Campton Hills on Dec. 1, killing a Maple Park man, had a blood-alcohol content that was nearly three times greater than the limit for driving under the influence, authorities said Friday. The toxicology report on Jennifer Liston, 30, of Madison Wis., showed she had a blood-alcohol level of .229, well above the .08 legal limit, as well as other controlled substances in her system, the Campton Hills Police Department said in a release. “Though Liston’s blood-alcohol content was not ruled the cause of death, I can, with a reasonable amount of surety, say that it was a major contributing factor in the cause of the accident,” said Chief Dan Hoffman. The Kane County …

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'Jeans and a Cute Top' to Open Downtown in September

Women's clothing store to open its third location in downtown Downers Grove.

Sometimes, all you need is a little truth in advertising. Jeans and a Cute Top, a new women's clothing store expecting to open on Main Street in Downers Grove in September, tells you up-front what you should expect when you walk through its doors. Owned by Winfield resident Jill Card and her husband Richard, the Downers Grove location will be the store's third location since 2009, following the flagship Wheaton store and the St. Charles location that opened in 2010. As for the shop's name, its origin dates back 20 years ago when Jill asked her eventual husband what she should wear on their first date. When Jill decided she wanted to open a shop in 2009, their inside joke fit the store's ethos, and it stuck. “Our edge is what we do,” Jill …

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Patch Roundup: Accused Killer To Be Own Counsel, Geneva Mom Fights Privacy Invasion

Another Batavia police officer suspension and a controversial St. Charles development gets approval from P&D committee.

The Batavia Police Department might want to consider requiring their officers to  take a driver’s ed class, as a second officer is suspended for involvement in a car crash.  And one Geneva mom gets national attention from MSNBC with her blog criticizing her daughter’s school for forcing her to expose her Facebook page. What follow is a lot of discussion on just how far school officials should go and are legally entitled to go in questioning kids and checking cell phones.  More news from around the ‘burbs this week:  Batavia —Second Batavia Police Officer Suspended for Separate Crash — An officer was suspended for two days following his collision with a police vehicle in April. Another officer received a suspension for an unrelated crash on…

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Moms Talk Poll: What's Your No. 1 Fear When You Host Thanksgiving?

We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and a lot to do, with all those relatives coming over the river and through the woods. What could go wrong? Take our Patch poll.

Let's face it, moms get the brunt of Thanksgiving. While the men folk watch football and await their annual, carefully prepared sumptuous feast, moms are—still too often—the ones stuck with the cooking and cleaning and happy hosting. Yes, there are men folk, lumpier than your worst mashed potatoes. Yes, there are noisy children. Yes, there are siblings and in-laws. They are company—and with company, there is angst. What could possibly go wrong? Right? Take our Patch poll or share your pet peeves, anecdotes and legendary family tales in the comments field.

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Sandy Kaczmarski

2:53 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I was thinking more along the lines of "will my gravy turn out right?" Although politics and religion do sometimes come up often revealing a surprising side of someone with a full belly and some wine. Maybe it's a good thing Jeff won't be here!   more ›

Jeff Ward: Notes on West Suburban Civilization

Jeff Ward: Patchland! Rise Up and Throw Off Those Red-Light-Camera Shackles!

George Orwell was right!

All that whooping and hollering you just heard was me! I couldn’t help but get a little excited over Houston, TX, removing every last one of its 70 red-light cameras. Despite a despicable legal attack and being outspent 10-to-1, a citizen’s group started by two brothers got the removal measure on the ballot and then prevailed. Not one to admit defeat, the camera company tried a last-ditch legal end run and, when the city council wouldn’t buckle, sued Houston for $25 million. It’s all about safety, isn’t it! That second round of loud applause you heard was also me. After calling every single West Suburban Patch police department, I was astonished to find that only four cities—Geneva, St. Charles, Lisle and Western Springs—employ the heinous…

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Rachel Abata

12:05 pm on Friday, December 23, 2011

That guy that panhandles by the Walmart is harmless, if you've known he's been there for 2 years you should know he NEVER approaches vehicles unless someone rolls down their window to help this man. I understand that maybe your mother didn't know that, but don't blame the man that panhandles for your mothers ticket...the law is the law, look at you blaming everyone for her ticket...what the hell …   more ›