Year In Review: Top Algonquin, LITH Stories From 2019

ALGONQUIN, LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — As the end of the year nears, it is a good time to look back and reflect on the stories that show us what matters most to those living in our town. Some of those stories made us laugh, some made us cry and others made us shake our heads in disgust.

Either way, 2019 is nearly behind us and before we ring in another new year, let us provide you with a glimpse at the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch stories from 2019 that got the most attention from our readers.

• Man Planned To Kidnap Teen He'd Just Met: Authorities — A Sleepy Hollow man decided to break into the home of a neighbor Monday with plans to kidnap a 19-year-old woman. Fabian J. Torres allegedly did not carry out his kidnapping plans but is accused of sexually assaulting the 19-year-old woman and stabbing her and her teenage brother when he came to her aid during the attack.
• LITH Construction Worker Dies Following Excavator Incident — A construction worker who became pinned between an excavator and a concrete barrier while working on a bridge in downtown Algonquin died days after the May 21 incident. Fire officials said the man was hit by an excavator in a construction zone just south of the Main Street and Algonquin Road intersection at about 8:30 a.m.
• Grill Explosion at D300 Event Sends 3 to Hospital — Multiple people were treated at the scene and three were taken to the hospital after a propane grill exploded at a District 300 employee recognition event in July, fire officials said. The explosion is believed to have been caused by grease that overflowed from a grill drip pan and melted the propane gas lines that were connected to the propane gas tanks
• Woman Detained During Dog Park Protest: Police — A woman who apparently did not want people to park their vehicles at a village-owned dog park during the Rockin' Rotary Festival this past summer was detained after she refused to move her protest to a safer spot, authorities said. The Lake in the Hills Police Department was called to the Bark Park, 9027 Haligus Road, at about 4:44 p.m. July 11 for a report of a woman blocking access to the public parking area with her vehicle. She was standing on top of her car and protesting the use of a portion of the Bark Park as public parking for Ribfest attendees.
• Illinois Mom, Son With Special Needs Asked To Leave Movie Theater — An article involving a Lake in the Hills woman who was asked to leave the AMC Theater in Lake in the Hills due to a noise complaint involving her younger son, who is disabled, got plenty of attention when it was made public this past year. Jennifer Daly shared her family's story after she said she took her two sons to see Disney's new "Dumbo" film in April. Daly's 3-year-old son Jonathan has a rare form of dwarfism and needs to be taken around in a wheelchair with other medical equipment. Daly said her son "yelled out in his giggle" a couple of times because he was loving the movie. But 10 minutes later, Daly said a woman who she believes was a manager approached her family and mentioned a noise complaint of a baby crying.
• At Home In Lake in the Hills Is Open: Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch readers were excited to hear when a new At Home was coming to town and even more excited when it opened in February. The 83,835-square-foot home decor superstore is located at 101 Randall Road in Lake in the Hills.
• Former LITH Woman Guilty Of Stealing $30K From Sun City: A former finance manager for Del Webb Sun City Huntley pleaded guilty earlier this year to stealing nearly $30,000 from the retirement community, according to prosecutors. Jennifer F. Lupo, 41, entered the guilty plea to a felony charge of theft in August.

Thanks for following along with our coverage in 2019, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch readers. Happy New Year.