Author: Fox Valley Magazine

If Labor Day weekend plans call for a “staycation,” Kane County offers plenty of activities to keep families busy while enjoying the great outdoors. For shopping and bargain hunters the Midwest’s largest flea market, the Kane County Flea Market is this weekend.  Established 56 years ago, the flea market is open Saturday from Noon- 5:00pm and Sunday from 7:00am – 4:00pm and features more than 600 dealers. Visit the website for additional information. Plan a visit to one of the 27 different forest preserves throughout Kane County.  Check out the Kane County Forest Preserve website for a complete list and locations for hiking trails, which also…

Update: Authorities have provided additional information related to the head-on collision on Route 47 Tuesday afternoon, including the names of the drivers involved. According to the update from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Kendic Hassan of St. Charles was driving a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter van traveling southbound on Illinois Route 47 when, for unknown reasons, he entered the northbound lane of traffic, making contact head-on with a 2019 Ford F550 Super Duty truck with a trailer and construction equipment driven by 33-year-old Matthew Smith of Elburn. It remains unknown if seatbelts were worn during the crash or if alcohol…

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin got some welcome news recently. Three initiatives proposed in his office’s 2023 legislative package have now been signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker. The initiatives, which were passed by the legislature in May, involve animal welfare and enhanced protection for personnel and residents at long-term health facilities. All three were signed by Pritzker in early August. The animal welfare initiative, now know as Public Act 103-0490, amends the Humane Care for Animals Act by mandating that upon a violation of certain sections of the Act, rather than a conviction, the court may order…

The Food Truck Food Court will return to Aurora’s First Fridays on September 1. A handful of local food vendors will set up at Water Street Square, located at 65 S. Water St., from 5 to 9 p.m. Food trucks include Strawberries BBQ, Harvey’s Fire Box, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Little Leilani, Snow Cone Sisters, and Polly Ann Cakes. On Water Street Mall, Roots Aurora will host its annual fundraiser celebrating the city’s many cultures. They will present cultural dance performances, music, live art, children’s activities, and more from 5 to 8 p.m. Throughout downtown, the First Fridays…

A 22-year-old Chicago man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a shooting during an attempted robbery in Elgin in 2020. Kayshaune T. Steele has agreed to a sentence of 15 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to the offenses of Aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony, and Aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony. Steele received an additional year for a previous charge of Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony. Judge David P. Kliment accepted the plea. In the late afternoon of…

Two people have been hospitalized with serious injuries after an apparent head-on collision this afternoon on Route 47 near Hughes Creek Gold Course. According to a press release from the Kane County Sheriff’s office, at approximately 1:44 PM, deputies were dispatched to a head-on crash on Illinois Route 47 at Kenmar Drive. Upon initial investigation it appears that the accident involved a white pickup truck and a gray Sprinter van. One of the drivers’ Injuries were severe enough to require a Medivac to Good Samaritan Hospital. The other driver is also being treated for serious injuries and will be sent…

Admit it. You probably think that “Jessie’s Girl” and “867-5309” were performed by the same artist. Frankly, if you recognize either one of those 80’s pop hits, you should head out to RiverEdge Park in Aurora Thursday for the “I Want My 80’s Back Tour,” featuring Rick Springfield, among others. With over four decades of hits under his belt, Springfield is a true icon of the music industry, and his live shows are nothing short of electrifying. From “Jessie’s Girl” (see above) to “Love Somebody,” he’s known for his catchy hooks, powerful vocals, and high-energy performances. Springfield will be joined…

Elgin police have announced that two men have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting on Elgin’s west side in June. At 1:04 a.m., June 25, Elgin police officers responded to the 200 block of South Aldine Street for a reported shooting. Upon arriving, officers located an adult male with gunshot wounds. The victim, 22-year-old Rayquan Smith of Elgin, was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. After an investigation of the incident, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged two Elgin men, 21 and 18, with two counts of First Degree Murder; armed…

An Aurora man faces a minimum of 12 years in prison after being found guilty of criminal sexual assault of a child, it was announced Monday. Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo, Jr. found 30-year-old David R. Arevalo Estrada guilty of the offenses of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony (2 counts), and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony (2 counts). Arevalo Estrada had waived his right to a jury trial. “I am grateful to this victim for her courage and perseverance, and for trusting us once she disclosed the sexual assaults,” Kane County Assistant State’s…

Naperville’s 2023 Last Fling will take place from Friday, September 1, through Monday, September 4, as an end-of-summer block party-style event along Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville. Mark your calendar to join the members, volunteers, and neighbors for the weekend’s live music, food and beverages, and carnival fun!  Musical Lineup Friday, September 1 will feature Hairbangers Ball at 8PM, an interactive hair band experience, named “Best Rock Band ” by the public in their hometown of Chicago. Mix Tape Junkies will kick-off the weekend’s musical line-up at 5PM; their songs will have your guests singing and dancing along to favorites…