ST. CHARLES
Man exposed himself in library, police say
A St. Charles man has been charged with exposing himself in the city’s public library, police said Wednesday.
Gerald Fries, 52, of the 7N000 block of Watseka Avenue in unincorporated St. Charles was seen by library staff, who called police about 4 p.m. Tuesday, said police spokesman Paul McCurtain. No patrons witnessed the incident, he said.
Police arrested Fries at the library and charged him with misdemeanor public indecency. Fries, who was released on $1,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in Kane County court on Aug. 28.
— Joe Sjostrom
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WEST SUBURBS
Public buildings offer shelter from the heat
As the area experiences its first real summer heat wave, residents searching for relief are reminded there are places to go and keep cool.
Officials urge people to take advantage of public buildings — such as libraries, municipal centers and park district facilities — during business hours.
The Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and Woodridge Police Departments have their lobbies open 24 hours a day to serve as cooling centers. Other police departments will provide referrals when called via their non-emergency phone numbers.
In Naperville, each of the city’s nine fire stations is designated a cooling site after hours and on weekends.
The Lombard Fire Department offers wellness checks to residents who request them. Visits can be scheduled by calling 630-620-5738. In Aurora, Senior Services Inc. will assist elderly residents who are unable to use the public cooling sites available in the city. Call 630-897-4035.
A complete list of cooling centers in DuPage County can be found on the county’s Web site, www.co.dupage.il.us/index.cfm.
— Greg Canfield
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ELBURN
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Village Board considers bank zoning ordinance
The Village Board could put a bank zoning ordinance in place before its moratorium on bank construction expires Aug. 26, trustees agreed this week.
“We’re comfortable with this ordinance as it stands,” said Community Development Director Erin Willrett on Monday, after outlining changes proposed by the Plan Commission.
Commissioners advised that the ordinance not apply to financial planning firms or to automatic teller machines in non-banking businesses such as restaurants and groceries.
“A lot of businesses have ATMs in their establishments. The Plan Commission doesn’t want the same rules [regulating how far apart bank branches must be] to apply to them because otherwise, if you have one restaurant with an ATM inside, another restaurant two doors down couldn’t have one,” Willrett said.
The Village Board is expected to vote on the proposed ordinance Monday.
— Denise Linke