Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Over 200 birds die in a week from flu outbreak at forest preserve in Barrington

Posted: 16 Apr 2022 11:31 AM PDT

Over 200 birds have died from a bird flu outbreak at Baker’s Lake in Barrington, which is home to one of the biggest heron rookeries in the Midwest. | Photo: Forest Preserves of Cook County

Officials estimate over 200 birds have died from a flu outbreak at Baker’s Lake in Barrington last week.

According to laboratory results from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the large bird population at the Baker’s Lake forest preserve in Barrington is suffering from a presumed outbreak of H5 avian influenza, the Forest Preserves of Cook County said.

Forest preserve officials estimate more than 200 birds have died in the past week.

Federal officials are conducting additional testing.

Only the federal government can declare incidences of avian influenza, the forest preserves said.

Baker’s Lake houses one of the most significant heron rookeries in the Midwest and is popular among bird watchers, the forest preserves said.

Many native and migratory birds nest and feed at the lake, including an island rookery.

Wildlife biologists provided seven cormorants to state pathologists on April 7 for testing after numerous dead birds were seen at the lake the evening before.

Forest preserve staff are continuing to monitor other forest preserves’ locations for signs of avian influenza.

So far, officials have not found evidence of the flu at any other forest preserve sites.

“Because of the nature of the local bird population, the avian influenza impact to date has only been observed among waterfowl and water birds,” the forest preserves said.

“Because passerines—perching birds such as songbirds, sparrows and finches—have not been affected, the Forest Preserves does not recommend the removal of birdfeeders to limit the transmission of the disease,” they added.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the H5 avian influenza poses a low risk to the public.

Visitors should not touch or interact with a sick or dead animal at any forest preserve, officials say.

Anyone who observes more than one dead bird at a location should notify forest preserve officials by emailing resourcemanagement.fpcc@cookcountyil.gov.

Police say suspect or suspects forced open door of Antioch residence while residents were home

Posted: 16 Apr 2022 10:01 AM PDT

An attempted burglary occurred Friday evening in the Neuhaven subdivision in the 1700 block of Dana Court in Antioch, police said. | Photo: Google Street View

Police are investigating after a suspect or suspects forced open the front door of a residence in Antioch while the residents were home Friday evening.

The incident occurred in the 1700 block of Dana Court in Antioch late Friday evening, shortly before midnight.

The Antioch Police Department responded to a report of someone breaking into a residence.

The residents reported loud noises at their front door and discovered the front door had been forced open.

A police canine responded and officers checked the residence and surrounding area for the suspect or suspects without success.

“Our Officers have been in the area overnight and will continue to canvass throughout the morning,” the Antioch Police Department said.

Village of Antioch Communication Specialist Jim Moran said police do not have any additional information to release on the incident.

Anyone who lives in the Neuhaven subdivision is asked to check their exterior security cameras for suspicious activity.

Anyone with information or surveillance photos that could be useful should call the police dispatch center at 847-270-9111.

Antioch police continue investigating and officers will be conducting increased patrols, the department said.

Banquet hall destroyed by extra-alarm fire overnight in Crystal Lake

Posted: 16 Apr 2022 07:58 AM PDT

Firefighters respond to a second-alarm fire at the D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, Saturday morning. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

No injuries were reported after an extra-alarm fire ripped through a large banquet and conference center in Crystal Lake early Saturday morning, leaving it a total loss.

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 1:24 a.m. Saturday to an activated fire alarm at D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway.

Two minutes later, a McHenry County sheriff’s deputy reported smoke showing from the building, according to Crystal Lake Fire Chief Paul DeRaedt.

The alarm was quickly upgraded to a working structure fire, which brought additional fire crews to the scene.

Firefighters respond to a second-alarm fire at the D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, Saturday morning. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The first fire unit arrived on the scene at 1:32 a.m. and attempted to make entry into the building.

Firefighters had to back out due to an impending roof collapse, DeRaedt said. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Fire crews fought the fire from the exterior of the structure.

A request for mutual aid through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was initiated to the second alarm moments later.

Firefighters respond to a second-alarm fire at the D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, Saturday morning. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

DeRaedt said the fire had quickly spread through multiple areas within the wood-framed building.

Several ladder trucks with hose streams were established around the perimeter of the building to control the fire.

The fire was declared under control just before 5:15 a.m.

The building was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system, DeRaedt said. There were no injuries to any firefighters.

Firefighters respond to a second-alarm fire at the D'Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, Saturday morning. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The building is considered a total loss and the building's owners were at the scene and working with fire investigators.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Crystal Lake Fire Rescue investigators, other area fire investigators and Crystal Lake police investigators.

“Due to the collapse of portions of the roof, it will be some time before a cause can be determined,” DeRaedt said.

Lake Barrington man charged with damaging more than 100 cars at car dealerships in Cook County

Posted: 15 Apr 2022 05:03 PM PDT

Andrew M. McAuliff, 27, of Lake Barrington.

A Lake Barrington man has been charged with using a metal object to damage over 100 cars at three car dealerships in Cook County, police said.

Andrew M. McAuliff, 27, of the 300 block of Shoreline Road in Lake Barrington, was charged with two counts of criminal damage to property, a Class 3 felony.

The Schaumburg Police Department said that McAuliff was arrested around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday

McAuliff was arrested in the 700 block of East Golf Road in Schaumburg, according to Schaumburg Police Department Lt. Christy Lindhurst.

McAuliff damaged the rear windshields on numerous vehicles using a metal object in three separate dealership lots, Lindhurst said in a statement.

The businesses include Bob Rohrman Honda, Bob Rohrman Ford, and Patrick BMW of Schaumburg, which are all in the 700-800 block of Golf Road in Schaumburg.

The Daily Herald reported that the number of vehicles damaged was over 100.

The general manager at Bob Rohrman Honda said that approximately $250,000 in damage was caused at his dealership, WGN News reported.

The Cook County Assistant State's Attorney's Office approved the felony charges against McAuliff on Friday.

He is being held at the Schaumburg Police Department and will be transported to the 4th District Cook County Courthouse in Maywood for a bond hearing on Saturday.