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Solid baseball season keeps getting better

The vast majority of the Huntley baseball games have resulted in victories, leading to state-wide recognition and a lead in the Fox Valley Conference. With 21 games in the books, the Red Raiders' record stood at 18-2, 11-1 FVC. The Crystal Lake South Gators shocked Huntley, winning 3-1 on April 24 but HHS bounced back with a 9-3 victory April 25.

Elgin man charged with murdering his wife pleads guilty

Back on July 12, 2021, at approximately 6:40 p.m., police officers were dispatched to the area of Lawrence Avenue and North Aldine Street for a report of a 4-year-old boy found walking alone. Upon further investigation, authorities determined the boy’s address as being in the 300 block of Heine Avenue in Elgin. Officers proceeded to go to that location where they found a 3-year-old boy in the home. Deeper within the residence, law enforcement discovered the lifeless body of 33-year-old Wendy Ayllon. She was the mother of both the 4-year-old and 3-year-old.

Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Expo

Emma Alvarez enjoys meeting mascots of Huntley D158 elementary schools. A mascot parade was one of the attractions at Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce's Expo on April 20. About 80 exhibitors participated in the event at Huntley Park District's rec center. Mascots were the Legee Leopard, Mackeben Mountain Lion, Conley Coyote and the Martin Husky.

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Evtimov to take track skills north

HUNTLEY — Vicky Evtimov has achieved nine state track and field meet qualifications and has been part of three IHSA Class 3A State Championships in her four-year career, which will continue in college.

Evtimov has a commitment to attend Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for 2024-25, where she will continue her track and field journey.

HHS girls track and field head coach Jason Monson commented about her college selection.

“I'm super excited about Evtimov's choice to run at UW-M, especially since it is close and we might get to go watch her run throughout her career,” Monson said.

Village Board to discuss brightening up iconic Town Square gazebo

HUNTLEY — At the upcoming April 25 Village Board meeting, trustees will discuss finally refreshing the Town Square gazebo with a new paint job and floor resurfacing to protect the structure from weathering and continued wear, according to the meeting agenda packet.

The project will involve pressure washing and sealing the tongue and groove pine on the ceiling. All other wood components will be primed and painted after all loose paint is removed and any rotted wood is replaced.

Village staff state that the gazebo’s concrete floor and steps are beginning to wear with cracking and pitting in certain locations.

McHenry County State’s Attorney drops out of reelection for 2024

MCHENRY COUNTY—In a sudden turn of events, on April 23, current McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, announced in a press release statement that he has decided to remove himself from running for reelection for the November 2024 General Election race.

“I will leave the office at the end of my term, Nov. 30, 2024,” stated Kenneally. “I love the job and will carry with me an abiding sense of gratitude for having had the opportunity to represent the wonderful people of McHenry County.”

Five move on to State Special Olympics

Five Hurricanes D158 Special Olympics team members are have advanced to the Illinois Special Olympics State Competition.

Girls soccer keeps up pace in FVC

HUNTLEY - Strong play on both sides of the pitch led Huntley to a three-match win streak in Fox Valley Conference contests.

Huntley gained a shutout win over Prairie Ridge 2-0 for a 3-1 FVC record as of April 18. This victory followed a 5-1 triumph over McHenry and a 4-0 victory at Jacobs. The Red Raiders had a 1-2 record at the Prospect Invite April 19-20 for an 8-4-2 mark.

The Red Raiders are at Hampshire April 23 in a key FVC clash.

D158 welcomes new Huntley High School athletic director

HUNTLEY — At the April 18 Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) Board of Education (BOE) meeting, BOE members unanimously approved the hiring of Rita Castans as Huntley High School’s next athletic director.

According to the district’s Director of Communications and Public Engagement Denise Barr, Castans has an extensive background in athletics, coaching, and educational leadership. Additionally, she brings along a wealth of experience and a passion for students that will help her succeed in her new position.

Castans has spent her entire career at D158, starting as a physical education teacher at Marlowe Middle School in 2009 until 2017.

Baseball squad’s pitching depth proves key

HUNTLEY — Huntley's pitching staff has been one of the reasons the Red Raiders baseball team has one all but one game in the season's first half.

The Red Raiders were 14-1 overall, 8-0 Fox Valley Conference and the pitchers have limited opponents' hitters with a 1.43 ERA and chalked up more than 100 strikeouts.

“We are deeper as a pitching staff than in the past few years,” Huntley head coach Andy Jakubowski said. “We have gone 11 deep this year when we usually go eight or nine deep.

High times on the menu: Jimmy John’s celebrates 4/20 with special meal deal

HUNTLEY — In honor of 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty), the unofficial cannabis-oriented holiday that is celebrated across the country on April 20, Jimmy John’s decided to roll out a meal deal called the “Deliciously Dope Dime Bag,” available at participating locations.

The two Jimmy John’s restaurants in Huntley (9704 Route 47 and 12260 Princeton Drive) are currently offering this limited-time promotion that includes a hand-sliced smoked ham and provolone cheese sandwich topped with jalapeño ranch, crispy jalapeños, pickles, oregano-basil seasoning, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

Amin poised for big comeback track season

HUNTLEY — Huntley girls track and field coach Jason Monson received some good news before the start of the indoor season.

About five months after suffering an ankle injury at the Huntley Class 3A sectional, senior Sophie Amin returned for a full season.

“Amin approached her recovery in the same way she approaches so many things, with a tenacity and focus that is unmatched,” Monson said. “We knew she would do all that she needed to do, but the fact that she was able to go full bore at the start of the indoor season was incredible, though not surprising given Amin's character.”

Waiting for the sun

I’m nestled cozily in my chair, still wearing my pajamas, socks, and slippers. Hat and gloves ward off the damp chill of the early morning. My husband hands me a cup of coffee, and I take it gratefully, watching the steam rise, curl, and dissipate into the morning air.

The sky has that expectant pink hue to it. We are also expectant, having risen early from our little camping trailer to greet the sunrise. This was a planned thing, involving Google searches of when the sun would rise, earlier bedtime the night before, and several alarms set.

A long-awaited dinner date with a bug

If history is any measure, I’ll be eating a big bug sometime soon. Maybe several of them.

That’s because the long-awaited 17-year cicadas are clearing their throats underground just beneath the trees right now, and soon the branches above will ring with their robust songs. And every other time in my life that they’ve come to visit—four times in total before this time — they somehow found a way into my mouth.

My first encounter with the gigantic periodic bugs was in 1956, when I was eight years old.

Sun City’s Schwan returns with Pickleball Gold

NAPLES, FL - John Schwan, a Sun City Pickleball Charter Club member, is a national champion after winning his age bracket gold medal at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championship April 14 in Naples, Fla.

Schwan, 75, beat four opponents to earn the gold medal. He edged Randy Scott of Griffin, Georgia (who lives at a Del Webb community) for the senior singles skill 4.0 crown in the finals as thousands looked on. Schwan won the first game, 11-3, then the second, 11-8.

Elgin man arrested for involvement in gunfire events released from custody

ELGIN — On April 13, officers from the Special Investigations Group were investigating gunfire events that had occurred that same day in the 300 block of Adams Street at approximately 12:24 a.m., the 300 block of Ryerson Avenue at 12:49 a.m., and in the 800 block of N Lyle Avenue at 1:00 a.m.

Not long after, authorities made contact with Diego Sandoval, 25, who was driving a vehicle that matched the description of a car that was said to have been involved in the gunfire events.

Defending track champs set for solid season

HUNTLEY — With the indoor meet season in the books, it is time to begin the outdoor meets for the Huntley girls track and field team.

Prior to the start of the outdoor season, Huntley seniors Sophie Amin selected University of South Dakota and Vicky Evitmov picked the University of South Dakota, both D-1 schools, for 2024-25.

The Red Raiders traveled to Crystal Lake South and won a quad meet April 8. HHS had 80 points and beat McHenry, Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South.

Baseball squad plays steady with 9-1 start

HUNTLEY — It has been so far, so good for the Huntley baseball team, both overall and in Fox Valley Conference games.

Huntley has defeated McHenry twice and Crystal Lake Central once as it aims to defend its league crown.

“We're getting off to a good start in the FVC,” HHS head coach Andy Jakubowski said. “Our situational hitting is coming. We know each player has strengths and weaknesses and we try to play to their strengths.”

The triumphs over McHenry both featured late-game rallies, for 5-2 and 8-3 triumphs, April 5 and 8.

Communities brace for the deafening buzz of the 2024 cicada invasion

HUNTLEY — Back in 2021, My Huntley News reported on the 17-year cicada Brood X that made its noisy debut in western Illinois, which fortunately didn’t impact Kane and McHenry counties.

This year, however, northern Illinois can expect to see the emergence of Brood XIII, the brood with the reputation for being the largest emergence for periodical cicadas in the state. Additionally, Brood XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of Illinois at the same time.

According to Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension program, the emergence of two periodical cicada broods will be the first time this has happened since 1803, and will not happen again until 2245.

What’s the deal with Huntley-opoly?

HUNTLEY — Residents shopping at the Walmart Supercenter located at 12300 Route 47 may have taken notice of a particular board game on store shelves that centers around the village.

The game called Huntley-opoly is a monopoly-style game that features well-known Huntley properties and landmarks making the game a much more personal experience for those residing in the village. However, most will be surprised to know that Hasbro, the company behind the official Monopoly board game, is not involved in creating Huntley-opoly.

Event for Special Olympics inspiring

HUNTLEY — Many inspirational stories could be told among the more than 100 participants in the “Don't Be Fooled - by a Disability” 5K run held April 6. The effort benefits the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois.

Huntley Deputy Police Chief Amy Williams praised the progress that has been made in not focusing on people's disabilities but abilities with the focus of the movement on more inclusion. She said there has been great support for the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Huntley.

Youngest Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital patients celebrate the solar eclipse in style

HUNTLEY — April 8 marked a momentous occasion for Illinois residents as many gathered to witness the rare celestial event known as the 2024 total solar eclipse. What makes this particular eclipse so noteworthy is the path of totality, which covered a wide area of the U.S. spanning from Texas across the Midwest and up into Canada.

The next total solar eclipse across the United States won’t occur until 2045. Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital made sure to make this day extra special for some of its youngest patients by providing a pair of sunglasses for all babies currently at the hospital.

Many enjoy Education Foundation chili cook-off

HUNTLEY — On a dreary early April afternoon, enjoying a small cup of chili, made by a total of 12 teams, was a good idea.

The Second Annual First Responders Chili Cook-off at Sew Hop'd Brewery and Tap Room in Huntley supported future endeavors of the Huntley Community School District 158 Education Foundation. About 250 people attended, according to organizers.

“It was definitely a success as we had the place packed and were able to raise funds for scholarships,” D158 Education Foundation event organizer Steve Lulofs said.

Relax, Reset, Recharge

Coming home to an empty house is eerie, even in broad daylight. There are strange creaks and clicks. Whistling drafts reveal themselves through cracks and doorways when there is no one else in the house.

I am accustomed to a house filled with voices and noise: laughter, instruments being practiced, “What’s for dinner?” being shouted, or the shower running for far too long. I’m used to hearing footsteps overhead, before they recede across the ceiling the way a shooting star appears in the corner of our eye, then disappear just as suddenly, leaving us to wonder if we only imagined it.

Hoops tourney backs American Diabetes Association

HUNTLEY — A day of fun basketball games in a 3-on-3 format will benefit a cause near to many at the Huntley Park District and the area.

The Inaugural Chris Pacana Memorial 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament for boys and girls first through eighth graders will be held on April 6. It will benefit American Diabetes Association (ADA). Pacana was a long-time park district employee who passed away Jan. 1, 2023 at age 61.

The games will get started at 9 a.m.,

THE DOORWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY