Top 7 Libertyville News Stories From 2021

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — The year is coming to a close so its time to look back on some of the stories that made headlines over the past year.

Here is a look at seven the stories that caught reader's attention this past year:

2 Found Dead, Infant Found Alive, In Libertyville Motel Room

Last month, two people were found dead in a motel room in Libertyville, while their infant was found alive and unharmed in the same room. Authorities say the deaths appear to be drug-related. The infant, who was not harmed, was placed in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Woman Takes Pre-Schoolers Power Wheels Car: Police

This past summer, the Libertyville Police Department asked for the public's help in solving a crime involving a woman who was caught on video staling a Power Wheels car parked outside Butterfield School. The vehicle belonged to two 4-year-old Libertyville residents who were at the playground with a babysitter when the dune racer was taken. The woman who took the toy later endedup contacting police and making arrangements to return the Power Wheels vehicle.

Libertyville's Phillipa Soo Gets Emmy Nod

Libertyville's Phillipa Soo was nominated for an Emmy award for her role as Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway hit Hamilton . She was among the nominees picked for outstanding supporting actresses in a limited or anthology series or movie. Soo expressed her gratitude for the Emmy nod via Twitter.

Wowowow what a day! Thank you for the love everybody! Thank you @TelevisionAcad for this honor. I am so grateful. ❤️

— Phillipa Soo (@Phillipasoo) July" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/Phillipaso... 13, 2021

Libertyville Schools See High Rankings

Several elementary and middle schools in Libertyville were picked as some of the best in Illinois, according to new rankings released in October by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report placed Copeland Elementary School as the 19th best elementary school in the state. Four other elementary schools in town ranked among the top 100 best in the U.S. and one middle school ranked among the top 100.

U.S. News & World Report also ranked Libertyville High among the best high schools in the state. The high school was picked as the 11th best in Illinois, according to the rankings.

Nurse Faces Reckless Conduct Charges After Patient Dies: Police

In October, an Advocate Condell Medical Center nurse accused of not properly caring for a patient, who has since died, was charged with reckless conduct. The "criminal conduct" of the 32-year-old Grayslake woman did not cause the patient's death, but it appears she may have "inserted her own agenda into the solemn end-of-life decision making process," Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said following Geneva Wright's arrest.

COVID Survivor Gets Shot From Doc Who Helped Save Him

Nearly a year after her emotional Facebook post about fighting to keep a patient alive went viral, an Advocate Condell Medical Center doctor gave that same patient his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this past March. Dr. Halleh Akbarnia met Michael Catania of Green Oaks when he was admitted to the emergency room at Advocate Condell Center at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

She visited him every day in the hospital's COVID-19 intensive care unit. As he fought for his life, Catania had to be intubated and resuscitated several times.

Fifteen days later, he was discharged. Since then, Akbarnia and Catania have stayed in touch. You can read the full story here.

A Brew And A Walk: Beer Garden Opens At Forest Preserve

The Lake County Forest Preserve offered a unique ooption starting this past summer when it opened a beer garden at Independence Grove. The beer garden served up beers from several local brewers this past summer. Forest Preserve officials decided to close the beach at the popular forest preserve due to declining interest and revenue and open the beer garden in its place.

Thanks for reading Libertyville Patch in 2021. We look forward to providing you with more updates and news in 2022.