I knew I wanted to be a writer at a young age, and never dreamed of doing anything else. My love of writing was born when a grade-school teacher encouraged me to try my hand at fiction. I took her advice, but quickly gave up make-believe stories for the real thing.
I got involved with my high school newspaper before double majoring in journalism and English.
I graduated in 2002 and landed my first newspaper job within six months. I spent eight years at The Enterprise newspaper in Plainfield, where I developed my passion for community journalism.
When a coworker pointed me in the direction of Patch.com, I jumped at the chance to be part of the future of local news.
Arrest left woman in coma: Lawsuit | Man assaulted teen he met on Snapchat, cops say | Famous skateboarder arrested in skateboard beating
Bomb squad, death probe on I-290 | Shooter at large after Amazon employee killed | Charges announced for teen in school shooting plot
Shafia Murad, 32, was reported missing after she was last seen Thursday at Chicago Premium Outlets.
Cocaine a factor in crash that killed 95-year-old | Brush fire burns outside hospital | 2 kids hurt in crash, woman gets DUI
Hate crime machete attack | Man sexually abused child in bathroom: cops | "Suspicious tubes" contain child porn
'Unruly passenger' tries to breach cockpit | Supernatural pizzeria | Man accused in student's murder caught with shank: cops
The "suspicious gold-colored tubes" were found at two separate businesses, according to police.
Boy found dead | Teen charged with murder | Man accused of drugging, assaulting woman he met at concert
Plus: Reckless homicide in police chief's death | Child luring | Fired corrections officer faces child porn charges |
Retired chief Steven Cornett was working with a road crew when authorities say he was struck and killed this week.
Missing woman's murder case solved 23 years later | 'Teen gathering' prompts police presence | 18-year-old charged with child porn
Plus: Toddler who fatally shot himself was looking for juice | Voter fraud allegations against alderwoman | Sexual assault in preserve
Plus: Tree falls on children, 7th grader heads to national spelling bee, teen accused of plowing into cops.
Ex-volleyball coach accused of child sexual abuse | Charges dropped against ICE protesters | Teen bicyclist dies after being hit by car
Plus: Fake jewelry heist, "A final thank you" for WWII vet, rabid bat found, more.
Child airlifted after playground traumatic injury | Uber passenger killed, man detained in aggravated DUI | Truck hit by train
Gary the cat, owner reunited after 3 years | Body in pond solves 25-year mystery | Parents of boy killed in crash accused of stalking
2 dead, 1 hurt in crash | Preschool director saves ducklings | Man trapped in rototiller | Memorial Day Masses, more
Longtime firefighter dies | Church retaliates against employee | Christian school board member accused of grooming, sex abuse
Plus: Mystery involves iconic TV car | World's largest teddy bear | "I'm wasted," says man on 6th DUI | Gender transition lawsuit
