Author: Fox Valley Magazine

By Kane County Board Member Ron Ford(First published on kanecountyconnects.com) It’s Black History month and I’ve been asked to answer the question “What it’s like to be the only African American on the Kane County Board”. First understand that I wasn’t elected to be the Black board member. I was elected to represent the voters of the 6th district on the west side of Aurora. It is a highly diverse community which I have had the honor of serving for years. I, like all board members, bring to the job life experience that shapes our view of the world. I’m…

A seventeen-year-old male juvenile from Gilberts is accused of leading Naperville police on a high-speed chase early Saturday morning. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced yesterday that Judge James McCluskey granted the State’s motion to detain the juvenile until at least his next court appearance. On Saturday at approximately 1:11am, after Naperville police officers had boxed-in the juvenile’s vehicle with theirs, he repeatedly crashed his car into the squad cars parked in front of and behind him until one of the squad cars was pushed out of the way and he was…

An evening of magic, mystery and ravioli awaits this Saturday as Rock ‘n Ravioli, located in the Arcade Theatre complex in St. Charles, present Magic & Mystery with the Amazing Bibik. Jeff Bibik has been a student of mystery for many years, performing his first magic show at age 9. Jeff has performed across the country at resorts, comedy clubs and amusement parks. He was proud to circle the globe for the USO, performing at US Navy bases in Singapore, the Indian Ocean, and in Bahrain in the Middle East, returning through London.  Dinner is served buffet style beginning at…

February and beer fests aren’t usually thought of together here in Illinois. But Naperville is made of sterner stuff, it would seem. The 2024 Naperville Ale Fest – Winter Edition will take place this Saturday, February 24th. Situated on the frozen tundra of Naperville’s Frontier Park, Winter Edition is Illinois’ largest outdoor winter beer fest. The 2024 gathering will feature over 150 unique craft beers and 10 food trucks. For a list of participants, visit here. Gates open at 11:30, and the festival runs from 12pm – 4pm. Tickets are $70 and are available here. For more information, visit napervillealefest.com.

Funeral arrangements for Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Ruchaj, who unexpecctedly passed away last week, have been finalized. Visitation will take place on Friday, February 23rd, 2024 from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at Harter Middle School Gymnasium, 1601 Esker Drive in Sugar Grove. There will be a Special Law Enforcement walk through line-up at 6:45pm. A full honor police funeral will be held on Saturday, February 24th, also at Harter Middle School Gymnasium. Doors open at 10:00am and the service begins at 11:00am. A police procession will provide an escort after the funeral service. Squads will be staged with assistance from…

(Photo credit Andrew Adams) By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois The state and Cook County announced Thursday a roughly $250 million plan to provide shelter, health care and other services for recently arrived migrants. But according to their own plan, there’s still a roughly $70 million funding gap for the rest of 2024.  That missing money could come from Chicago, although a proposal for additional funding has not been brought to Chicago’s city council. At a Thursday news conference, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson did not indicate any plans for the city to fill the remaining budget gap, noting that a…

The Geneva Wedding Walk will take place on February 25 from 11am-4pm in Geneva. The Walk features an amazing selection of wedding professionals ready to help you find the perfect gown, reception venue, photographer, music, honeymoon destination, and much more. After check-in at The Herrington Inn & Spa at 15 S River Lane, the Geneva Wedding Walk will begin throught downtown Geneva and attendees will visit all participating store fronts from 10am-1pm. From 1pm-4pm attendees will head over to Riverside Reception to visit all other participating vendors, enjoy cocktails, appetizers and view some of the latest upcoming wedding trends and…

“With their hands and feet bound and their eyes and mouths covered with duct tape, I cannot even begin to imagine the terror these innocent employees must have felt.” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced last week that a former Calumet City man has been sentenced to twenty-three years in prison for robbing at gunpoint approximately $40,000 worth of merchandise from a Wheaton Sprint store in late 2019. Denzel Furance, 25, appeared at his sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon in front of Judge Michael Reidy, who handed down the sentence. Furance entered a plea of guilty to one count of…

A jury has found an Elgin man guilt of sexually assaulting a woman he knew after threatening her with a knife. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced yesterday that a jury has found 45-year-old Zanzibah T. Stewart guilty of Aggravated criminal sexual assault, class X felony (3 counts); Criminal sexual assault, class 1 felony (3 counts); and Aggravated unlawful restraint, class 3 felony. The jury found that on November 8, 2020, Stewart threatened the victim, a woman Stewart knew at the time, with a knife and then sexually assaulted her. “The defendant is finally being held accountable for…

A Naperville man is in custody after being arrested for allegedly selling meth in Naperville. After a four-month investigation, on Tuesday evening Naperville Police arrested the suspect in a parking lot in the 1600 block of Country Lakes Drive. Following the arrest, Naperville Police executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence, also in the 1600 block of Country Lakes Drive. Several items were recovered from the residence, which the suspect shares with his minor child, including drugs, cash, a firearm and ammunition. The 32-year-old suspect is charged with four counts of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance (one Class Super…