Patch Roundup: Fire Scorches Westmont Park, $3 Million Lottery Ticket Sold

Smokey the Bear is not particularly thrilled with some teens in Westmont this week. The numbskulls managed to set a public park ablaze by toying around with a lighter. Police won't be pressing charges, but the kids may still have to answer to Smokey!

A theme this week is school troubles, with budget cuts, a principal resigning over a scandal and teachers on the verge of a strike. Plus, some election stuff from earlier in the week: Mitt Romney dropped by Wheaton, and if you need some laughs after a long campaign, we have some "snarky" commentary from Geneva.

Check out any or all of the following:

Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills——The grass fire burned a 800-square-foot area of Ty Warner Park; no one was hurt and no criminal charges are planned.

Batavia——A Batavia man with unpaid medical bills buys a lottery ticket at on St. Patrick's Day, and wins $3 million.

Glen Ellyn——An unknown man dialed 911 Thursday afternoon and told dispatchers he was near Glen Ellyn and wanted to throw himself on the train tracks, according to the Wheaton Police Department.

St. Charles——Kane County prosecutors want to try two men, whom authorities say tied up their victims with electrical cord and stole iPhones, as one trial because of identical evidence in both cases.

Elmhurst——While state funding for schools in Elmhurst is at a minimum, the teachers' union contract is at an impasse and residents are fed up with high taxes, it's the students who hang in the balance. Cuts are "tragic," board member says.

Burr Ridge——The teachers of District 180 have been without a contract since September and attempts at mediation have been unsuccessful so far.

Oak Park/River Forest——Horace Mann Elementary School principal Nimisha Kumar has resigned after allegations surfaced that school staffers may have altered Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) forms.

Wheaton—
—Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney attends a reception in his honor in Wheaton Tuesday night. 

Geneva——We're blaming Jack Klugman for Bob Tiballi's narrow loss in the race for Kane County coroner.

Western Springs——The executive chef of Western Springs’ renowned and Michelin-starred Vie discusses techniques for seasonal cooking in his “Preservation Kitchen.”

Lisle——Next month Lisle village trustees will review a preliminary request for a 163-home single family development next to Benedictine University. 

La Grange/La Grange Park——Tate's Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shop in La Grange is giving away free scoops of ice cream, but you'll need to do some searching to get one.

Downers Grove——Check out our match-ups in Darien, Downers Grove, Lemont and Woodridge!