Beacon News

A year after Claim Street fire, family still struggling

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:11:31 -0500

AURORA — On Tuesday afternoon, 14-year-old Gabriela Ramirez asked her parents if they knew what today was. “Martes,” her father Manuel Ramirez responded in Spanish — Tuesday. But Gabriela’s mother paused. “It’s the day that the people died,” she said. “The fire.” One year ago yesterday, in the early morning hours of May 15, a blaze destroyed the three-story apartment building at 760 Claim St. in Aurora, killing six people and leaving nine families homeless. The Ramirezes — Manuel, Manuela, now 14-year-old Gabriela, 10-year-old Roberto and 8-year-old Antonio — were one of those families. In July 2011, the family moved …

Man convicted in 2005 beating death

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:12:33 -0500

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP — Just one of man is left to stand trial for the September 2005 beating death of Jorge Caro. On Tuesday, a Kane County jury took less than two hours convict Juan Vargas of first degree murder for his role in the slaying. Caro, 21, was found beaten to death in the yard of a home on 600 block of North Lincoln Avenue after a resident called 911, saying there was a male lying outside of the home who appeared to be unconscious and not breathing. According to testimony given Tuesday, Caro had said he was in …

Severe thunderstorm, 60 mph winds headed to west, northwest suburbs

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:58:00 -0500

A thunderstorm bringing winds up to 60 miles per hour will blow through parts of the northwest and west suburban Chicago area Tuesday night.

Police: Girl, 11, dies after being pulled from Bolingbrook pond

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:19:06 -0500

BOLINGBROOK -- An 11-year-old girl pulled from a pond behind an elementary school Tuesday evening in Bolingbrook has died, police said. Bolingbrook police and fire crews first responded to the 1400 block of Raven Avenue near Pioneer Elementary School about 5:30 p.m. on reports that she went under the water near a bridge and did not surface, Bolingbrook police Lt. Mike Rompa said. Dive teams from Bolingbrook and nearby Naperville found the girl and pulled her from the water about 6:30 p.m., Rompa said. Crews immediately began CPR and took her to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, where she was pronounced dead …

Max Torres’ family begs hit and run driver to come forward

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:11:40 -0500

The family of Max Torres is not looking for revenge. In fact, they want to offer forgiveness to whoever was behind the wheel of the white Chevrolet Traverse SUV that hit his motorcycle Friday afternoon, then left the scene of the accident. Police say 23-year-old Torres was driving a 1990 Honda GT 64 north on Hill Avenue around 1 p.m. when the SUV, heading east on Benton Street, pulled in front of him. “We just want them to come forward and say you’re sorry and to tell the story of what happened,” said Max’s aunt, Debbie Spence. “We understand they …

Kendall considers starting bike trail fund

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:13:24 -0500

YORKVILLE — The Kendall County Highway Department wants to put aside money each year for bike trail construction along county and state roads. Fran Klaas, highway department director, and members of the County Board’s Highway Committee have proposed setting aside $50,000 each year to put toward the bike and hiking paths. The money would be a little more than 1 percent of the about $4.8 million the county gets each year from the transportation sales tax. “This is really breaking new ground,” said Klaas, discussing the proposal last week with the County Board’s Committee of the Whole. “Few counties even …

Police: Pedestrians need to stay off River Road Bridge

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:12:37 -0500

YORKVILLE — The River Road Bridge over Blackberry Creek has been closed to drivers since last year and on Tuesday, Yorkville police issued a release urging pedestrians to also stay away. Police said recent inspections of the bridge show signs of possible collapse. The bridge is scheduled to be removed next month. It will remain closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until the project is completed in October. River Road is a major entryway to Yorkville from northwest Kendall County and beyond, and also a key thoroughfare within town. The state closed the bridge last year when it found …