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Mayor Lora Vitek, acting as Liquor Control Commissioner, enforced local ordinances for violations by Alley 64, Inc., 212 W. Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174. The citations were considered at the March 20, 2023, meeting of the St. Charles Liquor Control Commission. The Commission considers alcohol, tobacco, and massage license issues.

The licensee was cited for an incident on February 4, 2023, for unauthorized and dangerous fireworks display activity and making a false statement. Licensee is required to submit $2,000 in fines and $1,500 in court costs.

The St. Charles Police Department today announced extra patrols will be deployed during the week before and including St. Patrick’s Day. Illinois law enforcement will be working around the clock to make sure drivers are buckled up and driving safely during the campaign. From March 10 through March 19, additional officers will be assigned to DUI enforcement. St. Charles Officers will be participating in this state-wide initiative.

Police remind drivers that if you’ll be celebrating with alcohol or other impairing substances, please remember:

On Monday March 6, 2023, at 5:26 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Walnut Drive for the report of a suspicious person seen making entry to parked vehicles in the area. Officers immediately responded to the area and subsequently located an individual, Charley Soto (22 years-of-age) of St. Charles, going through a vehicle which did not belong to him. Officers consulted with the vehicle owner and learned that the owner did not know Soto and had not given Soto permission to be in the vehicle.

The St. Charles Police Department is hosting the 2023 Citizen’s Police Academy from April 17 to May 17, 2023. There is no charge for the five-week class, which will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the St. Charles Police Station, 1515 W. Main Street.

As we head into spring, we will start to see severe storms--thunderstorms, tornadoes--in St. Charles. Already there have been reports of tornadoes touching down in our area. It’s a good idea to know what to do before the weather turns bad. A couple of terms that are important to know:

Watch – Severe weather is possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued.

Beginning Feb. 28, 2023, the intersection of South Kirk Road and Illinois Avenue is closed, and northbound Kirk Road is reduced to one lane. The closures are needed to repair a broken water main and restore the road. A posted detour to access Illinois Avenue will route traffic to 38th and Ohio avenues. Work is expected to be complete in early March.

Drivers should expect traffic delays and are encouraged to take alternate routes. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The St. Charles 708 Community Mental Health Board will consider requests for funding for fiscal year 2023-2024 at its annual
meeting April 19, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the St. Charles Municipal Center, 2 E. Main Street. 

The Mental Health Board allotted approximately $612,000 in funding to organizations that serve the residents of St. Charles by
providing services related to mental disorders, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and drug abuse in fiscal year 2022-2023.

Are you a fan of HGTV's House Hunters? (Who isn't?!) In an episode that originally aired Jan. 31, 2023 at 9 p.m., St. Charles is the
featured destination for a couple moving from Chicago. Besides seeing the three homes they toured in St. Charles, the program
really showcased our beautiful downtown and scenic river.