Patch Roundup: Accused Killer To Be Own Counsel, Geneva Mom Fights Privacy Invasion

The Batavia Police Department might want to consider requiring their officers to  take a driver’s ed class, as a second officer is suspended for involvement in a car crash. 

And one Geneva mom gets national attention from MSNBC with her blog criticizing her daughter’s school for forcing her to expose her Facebook page. What follow is a lot of discussion on just how far school officials should go and are legally entitled to go in questioning kids and checking cell phones. 

More news from around the ‘burbs this week: 

Batavia — — An officer was suspended for two days following his collision with a police vehicle in April. Another officer received a suspension for an unrelated crash on March 30. 

Western Springs — Sticky Fingers, Tee-many Martoonis, and Crossing the Line — A Lockport woman was charged with retail theft after a follow-up investigation confirmed she had taken some items from a local Dominick’s store last month. A Western Springs man was charged with DUI, and a man from Summit was arrested after it was found he had violated an order of protection during an incident on May 9.

Hinsdale —  — Numerous parked trailers in Hinsdale and surrounding towns have been burglarized during normal work hours in recent weeks.

St. Charles — — Developers of the proposed Lexington Club neighborhood reduced the number of units in the planned project in revised plans presented to city leaders, but numerous residents opposed to the project were not swayed. Those residents were further dismayed when the Planning and Development Committee voted 7-2 to approve the proposed design changes to . Aldermen Jo Krieger and Maureen Lewis cast the dissenting votes.

Geneva — — Geneva Public Works Assistent Director Pam Broviak says on a blog that Geneva Middle School South administrators drove her 13-year-old daughter to tears by interrogating her about her sexual activity and demanding to see her Facebook page. When an MSNBC blogger picks up the story, the issue gains national attention.

Burr Ridge  — — John L. Wilson, charged with stabbing 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin to death after she walked in on him burglarizing her home, has fired his attorneys and requested to represent himself. Wilson has been found mentally fit to stand trial, where he faces life in prison and a 31-count felony indictment.