Author: Fox Valley Magazine

Tonka the cougar, beloved resident of Phillips Park Zoo, has died. The 18-year-old cougar succumbed to complications associated with his advanced age, according to a statement from the City of Aurora. Receiving treatment for arthritis for some time, Tonka was monitored closely by the Phillips Park Zoo veterinarian and staff. Recently, his escalating condition caused a quick decline in his comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life. Tonka came to the Phillips Park Zoo in the spring of 2005 and his littermate, Macha, as young cubs and quickly became favorites of both staff and visitors. Tonka could often be seen…

Update: Evan Asher, the son of St. Charles’ TV star Jenny McCarthy, is set to release his first music video this Friday, February 3, on YouTube. Asher’s father is McCarthy’s former husband, actor, director and screenwriter John Mallory Asher. The 20-year-old Asher graduated from Saint Charles East High School in May 2021 and has become something of a social media star in his own right. His autism sparked McCarthy to engage in controversial public activism that suggested certain common vaccinations are contributing factors to development of the affliction, accusations that are aggressively denied by the medical community. Here’s the trailer…

On Sunday, February 12, Onesti Entertainment will host “Mongo Bowl” at the Arcada Theatre to raise money for beloved former Chicago Bear Steve “Mongo” McMichael, who suffers from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a debilitating neurological disease that leads to progressive weakness and disability. McMichael’s wife Misty will appear as a Special Guest. Participants will be able to watch the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl victory followed by Super Bowl LVII on a 40′ video wall. The event will also include raffles and silent auctions. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Doors will open at 11am, with…

Exactly one year since he assaulted a woman in a Geneva bar, David Hietschold of Morris has been sentenced in absentia to 3½ years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. A Kane County jury had convicted the 43-year-old Hietschold of the offense of aggravated battery, Class 3 felony, two counts, on October 4, 2022. On February 2, 2021, at about 9 p.m., Hietschold was at Third Street Station, a bar in the 300 block of Crescent Place, Geneva. Unprovoked, he approached the victim from behind and blindsided her with a closed-fist punch to the head that knocked her…

The St. Charles Business Alliance recently relaunched the popular Brew Tour Challenge which can be found on the Travel St. Charles app. Guests who complete the challenge will now receive a new, redesigned t-shirt, along with being entered in a giveaway, for a limited time.  To participate in the St. Charles Brew Tour, download the Travel St. Charles app and create an account. To download the app, please visit stcalliance.org/travelstcharlesil. Once an account has been created, locate the Brew Tour Challenge under the “Challenges Tab”, and click “Check-In” while visiting one of the breweries. When a visitor has “Checked-Into” all…

A Naperville man is dead after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Martin Avenue and Brom Drive yesterday afternoon. On Wednesday at approximately 12:50 p.m., the Naperville Police and Fire Departments responded to a crash involving injuries at the intersection of Martin Avenue and Brom Drive. The crash involved a single vehicle and a pedestrian. The initial investigation indicates that the pedestrian, a 77-year-old man from Naperville, was attempting to cross Brom Drive at Martin Avenue when he was struck by a Chevrolet SUV driven by a 48-year-old man from Romeoville. The driver of the Chevrolet was…

A Batavia man wielding scissors and threatening to kill himself was subdued by Kane County Sheriff’s officers at the Kane County Public Defender’s Office at the Kane County Judicial Center Wednesday morning. At approximately 9:21am, the KCSO was dispatched to the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles Township for a man armed with a weapon. Upon arrival, officers found the man had a pair of scissors to his throat, threatening to harm himself. After de-escalation tactics were unsuccessfully employed, several commands were given for the male to drop the scissors. He did not comply. Ultimately, to ensure the safety…

At Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, winter weather hardly means it’s time to hibernate. Nature programs and every day offerings keep kids and families active and engaged even when temperatures dip. “Winter is the perfect time to come out for a program or visit Hickory Knolls,” said Emily Shanahan, nature programs supervisor for the facility operated by the St. Charles Park District. “Our programs can help you and your family beat cabin fever. Come and visit the animals, play at our nature nook, and take a hike on our trails.” The brand-new Wintry Wednesdays is geared to kids ages 2 to…

An Aurora man is dead after he reportedly lost control of his Toyota sedan near the intersection of South Eola Road and Autumn Grove Circle this morning and was submerged underwater in a nearby frozen pond. As detailed in a press conference held this afternoon by Aurora police Chief Keith Cross, five Aurora police officers on the scene performed a successful water extraction in the freezing water in temperatures estimated to be below 5 degrees Celsius, removing the man from his overturned, submerged vehicle and getting him to shore in a matter of a few minutes. After attempting life-sustaining treatment,…

Evan Asher, the son of St. Charles’ TV star Jenny McCarthy, is set to release his first music video this Friday, February 3, on YouTube. Asher’s father is McCarthy’s former husband, actor, director and screenwriter John Mallory Asher. The 20-year-old Asher graduated from Saint Charles East High School in May 2021 and has become something of a social media star in his own right. His autism sparked McCarthy to engage in controversial public activism that suggested certain common vaccinations are contributing factors to development of the affliction, accusations that are aggressively denied by the medical community. Here’s the trailer for…