Author: Fox Valley Magazine

An extraordinary Halloween display in West Chicago just won national glory. Lehman Manor, located at 2760 Lehman Drive in West Chicago, was one of four haunted houses across the country featured on ABC’s “Great Halloween Fright Fight” Sunday evening. The creators of Lehmsan Manor, the McCabe family, beat families in Michigan, Colorado and Nevada for the prize. Started eight years ago by now-17-year old Miles McCabe, Lehman manor has become a year-round labor of love for the entire family. The attraction features 150 animatronics and live actors. People have come from not only across Illinois but across the country to…

On Saturday, Elgin hosted its legendary Halloween celebration, Nightmare on Chicago Street. Fox Valley Magazine’s Kevin Ketchum braved the zombie uprising to grab some sights and sounds of the event. (Photo credit Kevin Ketchum) For some live video of the event, head over to our Fox Valley Magazine Facebook Page. And for a little background on Nightmare on Chicago Street, here are the guys from Justa Coupla Guys interviewing the head zombie herself, Alexandria Radovics from the City of Elgin.

A man police found shot on Elgin’s west side early Friday evening later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The identity of the victim has not been released. At 6:24pm Friday, officers responded to the 1200 block of Fleetwood Drive for a reported shooting. Upon arriving at the scene, officers located an adult male with injuries. The victim later succumbed to his injuries and the Kane County Coroner was contacted. As is the case with death investigations, the coroner will determine the cause and manner of death pending an autopsy. Detectives continue to investigate as this is an…

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois Utility customers throughout Illinois will likely see higher natural gas bills beginning in January after staff at the state’s utility regulatory agency recommended rate increases for four gas companies.  Those recommendations – made by administrative judges at the Illinois Commerce Commission – next go to the appointed five-member commission itself. Over the next two months, the ICC will weigh whether to approve rate hikes for the 4.1 million customers of Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. Estimates on the consumer cost of the rate increases, which go into effect in January,…

An Elgin man is in critical condition at Good Samaritan Hospital in Aurora after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing into a guardrail on Route 47 in Elburn. According to a police report, Alexander Esparza, 22, was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on Route 47 late Tuesday evening when he lost control while passing a vehicle at high speed, ultimately colliding with the guardrail. Esparza was treated at the scene and then transported to Northwestern Delnor Hospital in Geneva, after which he was flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Aurora, where he remains in critical condition. Investigators have…

Classic rock legend Tommy James and his Shondells come to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles this Saturday for one night only. Tommy James hit the rock scene in 1966 with the smash hit “Hanky Panky, which sold a million copies. James promptly followed up with two more million selling singles – “Say I Am (What I Am)” and “It’s Only Love” – and the Hanky Panky album went gold just four weeks after its release. With three hits under his belt, James brought in producers Bo Gentry and Ritchie Cordell, and the three produced seven back-to-back smash singles: “I Think We’re Alone…

In its fourth year, Sugar Skull City will turn downtown Aurora into a celebration of Day of the Dead now through November 5. The downtown will be rich with decorations and activities that surround the Mexican holiday. The annual event features a three week celebration honoring the beloved Mexican cultural tradition of Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, and culminates with events during the first week of November including First Fridays on November 3. Athziry Dia de los Muertos will host several activities throughout downtown at First Fridays on November 3. The nonprofit run by Jose Torres will…

21-year-old Jaylin Buckner of Oswego has been sentened to 3 years and 6 months in prison in the accidental death of Antonio Villarreal. In May, Buckner had pleaded guilty to one count of Reckless Homicide and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of an Electronic Communication Device. Reckless Homicide is a class 3 felony where the Court can impose a maximum sentence of 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Charges were filed after a tragic crash on July 1, 2021. Buckner was speeding eastbound on Mill Road towards Lynx Lane in Oswego and struck Villarreal, a 32-year-old combat…

In the early morning hours of June 25, 2023, 22-year-old Rayquan Smith of Elgin was shot and killed on Elgin’s west side. On Friday, a 16-year-old juvenile was taken into custody without incident, having been charged in the murder by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office with the following: According to Illinois law, the juvenile’s case was transferred to adult court and they appeared in front of a judge in Kane County Court on Saturday, October 14. The judge set a detention hearing for Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 311 at the Kane County Judicial Center.…

Old Republic Bar in Elgin will host the ultimate after party following the “Nightmare on Chicago Street” event this Saturday. The party starts at 10:30pm and promises an unforgettable night of music, entertainment, and non-stop dancing. A lineup of DJs – Don Parra, Brotinez, DJ AO and Umbertron – will provide a diverse range of musical styles, while live entertainment, courtesy of Black Circle Creative, will include spellbinding performances with Fire Breathers, Lollipop Girls, Grinders and Go-Go Dancers. It promises to be a sensory overload of sights and sounds. Guests can embrace the Halloween spirit and come dressed in their most…