Patch Roundup: $8.75 Million Lottery Winner, Restaurant Owner Faces Arson Charges

OAK PARK—Oak Park Man Wins $8.75M Lotto Jackpot—Oak Parker thanks his uncle, who gave him the opportunity to move to the United States over 10 years ago, with half of his $8.75 million jackpot from the Illinois Lottery.

OAK PARK—Former Restaurant Owner Faces Arson Charges for 2012 Fire—The former owner of an Oak Park bar and restaurant that was destroyed by a fire last year has been charged with arson and insurance fraud for a June 2012 fire at the Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge.

ELMHURST—Feds: Elmhurst Man Indicted in $12 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme—Each count carries a maximum $250,000 fine and between five and 10 years in prison.

RIVER FOREST—Concordia Student Sent ‘Alarming’ Gun Photos to Students: Police—An 18-year-old Concordia University student is charged with felony disorderly conduct after he sent "alarming" emails containing a photo of a semi-automatic pistol to other students, who worried he was planning violence at the school.

LA GRANGE—Police Ask Sex Offender to Move Away From La Grange Schools—La Grange police last week ask a man who was convicted in 1989 of having sex with a 13-year-old girl to move because he was living within 500 feet of two schools in La Grange.

ELMHURST—Chicago Man Gets 19 Years for Armed Robbery at Elmhurst Shop—Charles Watkins and another man allegedly tried to make off with nearly $40,000 worth of cigarettes back in May 2012.

OAK BROOK—Fifth Third Bank Branch in Oak Brook Robbed—Police ask for help identifying this suspect.

DARIEN—Tri-State Fire District's 'Questionable Expenditures' Examined in Watchdog Report—In an ongoing investigation into the Darien-based Tri-State Fire Protection District, the Better Government Association looks at the "less than thrifty" spending habits of the district, including steak and lobster dinners.

GENEVA—’Out of Control’ Skunk Problem Plagues Neighborhood—A neighborhood that’s part of Geneva schools but within the city of Batavia’s boundaries can’t find a government entity to help a skunk problem. "We are at wits end here," one resident says.

BATAVIA—Vandals Destroy Gravestone of Bullied Batavia Teen—Three years after teen’s suicide, relatives return to find her gravestone in pieces. Now, a friend is raising funds to have it restored.

ELMHURST—Thieves Make Off With Sign Advertising Veterans’ Fund-raiser—The $600 sign for the annual Turkey Testicle Festival had only been up for a few days before it was stolen.

HINSDALE—Hinsdale Dog Rescued After Being Swept Away By Stream—The dog traveled through a 1,000-foot underground pipe before being located by Hinsdale police officers.

WESTERN SPRINGS—Western Springs Among Best Trick-or-Treat Towns in U.S.—ZipRealty rated the best trick-or-treat zip codes in the U.S. based on several real-estate stats.

ST. CHARLES—Traffic Stop Yields Heroin in Syringe But No Drug Charge—The driver was charged with driving on a suspended license, but prosecutors would authorize no drug charge against him or his passenger without a confession.

ST. CHARLES—$1 Million Bail for Wredling Teacher in Child Porn Case—Jerome B. McCauley must post at least 10 percent — or $100,000 — to secure his release from jail.

WHEATON — Crowds Rush to Mariano’s Wheaton Opening—Samples to taste, selections, size wow visitors to new South Main Street business.

WHEATON—City Says Wheaton’s North Main Street to Reopen in November—Weather cited for delay in expected reopening of roadway in October.