Local Heroes, Tragedy, Developments, Demolition: 2018 In Review

WINNETKA, IL — As we approach the end of an eventful year, it's time to take a look back at some of the most memorable stories of 2018 on Chicago's North Shore. The most-read stories of the year have included coverage of politics, business, government, education, real estate, law and crime.

Take a look back at some of people and events that made news in the biggest local stories of the year from the Winnetka-Glencoe and Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch:

Revised One Winnetka Plans Receive Preliminary Approval

WINNETKA, IL — The One Winnetka mixed-use development passed a key hurdle this week,... Read more

Wilmette Adopts Higher Minimum Wage, Reversing Last Year's Vote

WILMETTE, IL — It was after midnight Tuesday night when the Wilmette Village Board voted to adopt Cook County's higher minimum wage, so the vote came precisely a year to the day after village trustees... Read more

13-Year-Old Wilmette Boy Charged Over 3 Guns In Bedroom: Police

WILMETTE, IL — The 13-year-old Wilmette boy who prompted a precautionary search of his middle school earlier this month was charged with four firearm offenses Thursday, police said. One of the parents... Read more

Body Of Missing New Trier Grad, Kayaker Discovered

FORT SHERIDAN, IL — The body of a 20-year-old Glenview man was found on the shores of Lake Michigan, nearly two weeks after he and a friend took off in kayaks from Highland Park, authorities said.... Read more

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Wilmette's 1933 Worlds Fair 'House Of Tomorrow' Being Dismantled

WILMETTE, IL — Real estate developers who unwittingly purchased a Wilmette plot containing the last surviving demonstration home from Chicago's Century of Progress exhibition have begun the process... Read more

Corpse Flower 'Spike' Nails Second Chance At Blooming

GLENCOE, IL — It didn't work out as planned the first time for Spike, one of the Chicago Botanic Garden's seven corpse flowers. But nearly three years after it had to be forced open by scientists... Read more

Sexually Inappropriate Comments 'Commonplace' From Coach: Reports

WILMETTE, IL — Police records show the investigation that led to the firing of longtime North Shore girls soccer coach Craig Snower from his positions with Loyola Academy and another suburban club... Read more

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Winnetka Names New Police Chief

WINNETKA, IL — Marc Hornstein has been appointed chief of the Winnetka Police Department on a permanent basis. He had been acting as interim chief since the departure of former chief Patrick Kreis... Read more

MWRD Votes To Allow Easement For Road Through Canal Shores

WILMETTE, IL — A Glencoe real estate developer scored his first significant victory in his years-long effort to build a road to a landlocked parcel of land his family purchased close to 30 years ago,... Read more

Winnetka Trader Admits Bringing Down Company With Fraud Scheme

WINNETKA, IL — A local futures trader pleaded guilty to wire fraud Tuesday in in federal court, admitting he misrepresented profits in a fraud scheme that racked up with more than $13 million in losses... Read more

Wilmette Lawyer Found Not Guilty Of Fraud, Forgery In Bench Trial

WHEATON, IL — A Wilmette lawyer and former financial adviser was found not guilty of defrauding investors out of millions of dollars by a DuPage County court. Prosecutors from the office of Illinois... Read more

New Trier Sets World Record For Number Of Twins, Multiples

WINNETKA, IL — New Trier High School celebrated achieving a pair of Guinness World Records this week. The sophomore class was certified to have the most twins and the most multiples in a single academic... Read more

Wilmette Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award

WILMETTE, IL — A Wilmette elementary school teacher and graduate of New Trier High School and Northwestern University has won a 2018 Golden Apple Award. Gwen Faulkner, a second grade teacher at McKenzie... Read more

'Big Guy' Must Be Gone Or New Laws Are Coming, Company Warned

WINNETKA, IL — A piece of art placed on public property without permission by local real estate investors must be removed voluntarily or the Winnetka will be forced to create new sidewalk regulations... Read more

Wilmette Mom Investigated For Letting Daughter, 8, Walk Dog Alone

WILMETTE, IL — A Wilmette woman was investigated by police and state child welfare officials after allowing her 8-year-old daughter to walk the family dog around her block earlier this month, the... Read more

Missed Email Sends Tennis Pro To Winnetka Instead Of Wimbledon

WINNETKA, IL — The top-ranked tennis player competing at the Nielson Pro Tennis Championship this week had planned on competing at Wimbeldon instead. But because of a missed email, Tim Smyczek, ranked... Read more

Edens Plaza Pediatric Care Center Approved By Wilmette Board

WILMETTE, IL — The Wilmette Village Board voted Tuesday to approve a special use permit and zoning ordinance allowing a pediatric medical center at the Edens Plaza shopping center. The planned facility... Read more

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Real Estate:

Vacuum Magnate's Glencoe Estate Listed For $15.9 Million
The Hoover family's longtime home is the most expensive listing in the suburbs and the largest privately held residence in the county... Read more

Broadcasting Couple Lists Wilmette French Manor
The married former television anchors put their Indian Hills home on the market for $1.8 million this week...Read more

Lakefront Mansion Sold For $5.8 Million Relisted For $8.9 Million
The local luxury homebuilders who bought the most expensive Kenilworth home to change hands in years want to sell it for significantly more...Read more

Khalil Mack Snags Recently Completed Glencoe Mansion
The Chicago Bears' All-Pro linebacker dropped $3.75 million for a new construction six-bedroom built earlier this year... Read more

Historic Modernist Winnetka Brick Mansion Sold, Will Be Preserved
The buyers of this Howard Fisher-designed home on Fisher Lane will reportedly spend at least $1 million rehabbing the "machine a habiter"... Read more

New Owners Of Landmark Glencoe Home Seek Demolition Permit
Designed by Water Tower Place architect Ed Dart, this 1965 all-brick mid-century modern mansion home could be demolished within months... Read more

Demolition Begins On $10 Million, 114-Year-Old Lakefront Mansion
The former Sheridan Road home of an oil magnate, jailed Democratic gubernatorial candidate and a pair of corporate heirs is being razed... Read more

Politics:

Madigan's Shadow Looms Over North Shore State Rep Race
The party-backed candidate in the 17th District says her opponents are "upset now because I received the support that they didn't"... Read more

'Lifelong Democrat' In New Ad Is Paid Rauner Consultant, Neighbor
A Winnetka trustee supporting the governor in a new TV ad voted in Republican primaries in 4 of the last 10 elections... Read more

Gov. Rauner Says He Tried To Drop Out Of Race, Handpick Successor
The outgoing governor said he tried to recruit four Republicans to replace him on the ballot but they all rejected him. Read more

Major Crimes:

Winnetka Man Murdered Lawyer, Tried To Kill Sister: Prosecutors

WINNETKA, IL — A Winnetka man is accused of trying to murder his sister after killing his brother-in-law at their Northfield home. John Gately pointed a gun at his sister Joan after shooting her husband... Read more

Former Loyola Teacher Raped Student, Uploaded It To Internet: Prosecutor

SKOKIE, IL — A former teacher and scholastic bowl coach at two North Shore schools was ordered held without bond Wednesday on charges of possession of child pornography and the sexual assault of a... Read more