Patch Roundup: Man Charged With Kidnapping Himself, BNSF Metra Train Kills Driver
Also this week: charges in two cases of teachers sexually abusing students, updates on a bus crash on I-80 in late January and Geneva's own version of "Dancing With the Stars."
Truth is stranger than fiction. A man from unincorporated Willowbrook is now facing a felony charge for attempting to extract ransom money from a family for their kidnapped son: himself.
The other leading news story this week occurred in the afternoon Friday snows, when a passenger-free Metra train on the Burlington-Northern Santa-Fe line struck a car near the Stone Avenue Metra station in La Grange. The incident is under investigation and Patch will have more on the tragic accident over the course of the day.
Check out any or all of the following:
Burr Ridge—Willowbrook Man Arrested in Kidnapping for Ransom Scheme—The DuPage County Sheriff's Office has arrested Dorian Ford, 19, for allegedly staging his own kidnapping in order to collect a ransom.
La Grange/La Grange Park—Updated: Woman Killed in Metra Accident in La Grange—A woman was killed Friday night when a Chicago-bound Metra train struck a vehicle on the tracks near Stone Avenue Station in La Grange.
Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills—Teacher from Unincorporated Hinsdale Charged with Sexually Abusing Student—Steven E. Reynolds, a substitute teacher and basketball coach at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, was arrested by the DuPage County Sheriff's Office after friends of the victim told authorities about an incident at Reynolds' home.
Oak Park/River Forest—River Forest Foster Parent, Ex-Publisher Charged in Sex Abuse Case—River Forest foster parent and child welfare advocate Robert Gaskill remains jailed after molestation accusations surface.
Batavia—REPORT: Batavia Man Gets Ejected From Vehicle on I-80—A 44-year-old man, not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and then trapped on I-80 last Monday after a high-speed crash.
Geneva—"Dancing With Geneva Stars" Becomes THE Geneva Social Event of the Year—Like the "Dancing With the Stars" TV show, this local version is an authentic social phenomenon. Here's a column, a recap and a video.
Lisle—Friends, Classmates Travel to Wisconsin for Memorial Honoring Shaun Wild—No plans have been made yet for a local memorial service for Lisle resident and Naperville elementary school teacher Shaun Wild, though discussions are underway. Wild was stabbed to death in downtown Naperville last weekend.
Western Springs—Academic All-American Sewall Helps Sycamores Football from Zero to Winning—Named to the same All-American team as Andrew Luck, the former Lyons Township star has shone with the Indiana State football team, which climbed from winless to two straight plus-.500 seasons.
Elmhurst—OK Go's Ground-Breaking Style Gets Attention of the Grammys, Super Bowl, Chevrolet and Sesame Street—No end in sight for this offbeat, detail-oriented band, and we love that the drummer is from Elmhurst!
Downers Grove—Residents Resist Potential New Walgreens Store—Most of Tuesday night's village council meeting was focused on a discussion about annexation, lot consolidation, rezoning and a special use permit for a proposed Walgreens on 63rd Street.
St. Charles—Al Capone's Hideaway Closes Its Doors—The Roaring 20s-themed restaurant north of St. Charles has shut down after 38 years in business.
Glen Ellyn—COD and Glen Ellyn Reach Resolution—According to a statement from the village, the community college will remain incorporated in Glen Ellyn.
Wheaton—School Board Resistant to Private Funds for WWS Athletic Complex—Wheaton school board members expressed concern over a private fundraising proposal for improvements to the Wheaton Warrenville South High School athletic complex.
