Mettawa to Pay Lake Forest for Misreported Oasis Revenues

Some Lake Forest Oasis businesses inaccurately reported themselves as Mettawa businesses, which lead to Lake Forest being shortchanged in sales tax revenue.

Mettawa owes the City of Lake Forest $293,000 in sales tax revenues from the Lake Forest tollway oasis that were apparently misreported by the Illinois Department of Revenue, reported the Chicago Tribune. Per an intergovernmental agreement, each community is to receive half of the oasis tax revenue. The total is sent to Mettawa and is then remitted to Lake Forest, reported the Tribune. However, Lake Forest officials discovered that some merchants were reporting themselves as Mettawa businesses and not businesses of the oasis. The Lake Forest Oasis features Auntie Anne's, Kronos Gyros, McDonald's, Mobil gas, Panda Express, Subway, Taco Bell and other businesses.

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Illinois Tollway Prepared to Mobilize 182 Snowplows for Tuesday's Snow, Sleet

All temporary lane closures have been canceled from 9 a.m. today through 7 a.m. Thursday.

The Illinois Tollway is preparing to mobilize its full fleet of 182 snowplows in response to sleet and snow that has already started and is expected to continue overnight into Wednesday around the Chicagoland area, according to a press release. “Our Snow Operations team is monitoring this storm closely and is prepared to manage snowfall throughout the day,” Kristi Lafleur, executive director, Illinois Tollway, said in a statement.  “We ask our customers to be patient, drive safely and give our snowplows the room they need to clear the roads, especially during this evening’s rush hour.”  Northern Illinois is expected to get 3 to 6 inches of snow from noon until 9 p.m. Some areas could see totals greater than 6 inches should thundersnow …

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Plan to Extend Route 53/120 in Lake County Takes Step Forward

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors is expected to approve a new contract with TranSystem later this month.

The Illinois Tollway’s Finance Administration Operations and Strategic Planning Committees today recommended approval of a $4 million contract award to Schaumburg-based TranSystems Corp. to continue to plan for the proposed extension of Illinois Route 53/120 in Lake County. “This is an important step forward for the Illinois Route 53/120 Extension, which is expected to create thousands of jobs and drive economic development in Lake County and the region for decades to come,” said Governor Pat Quinn. “This project can also serve as a national model for how to design and build a roadway that preserves and protects the environment and local communities.” The new contract recommended for approval today will develop a detailed engineering …

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Illinois Tollway Offers Safe Travel Tips for Friday's Expected Snowfall

Check traffic condition live using tool.

  The Illinois Tollway will mobilize its full fleet of 183 snowplows in response to the snowfall expected to begin on Friday and continue into Saturday morning. the National Weather Service is predicting up to six inches of snow or more with the heaviest accumulation starting Friday afternoon into the evening. The Illinois Tollway's Snow Operations Center will open in the early hours on Friday morning (Jan. 20) and the Tollway will have a full complement of more than 200 staff and supervisors per shift to ensure that roadways are kept clear of snow and ice. To help with snow removal efforts, the Tollway has cancelled all temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. Friday (Jan. 20) to 7 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 21). For this weather event, the Tollway …

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Illinois Tollway Board Approves Toll Hike

Board approves 15-year, $12 billion capital plan funded by the first general toll increase since 1983.

Replenish your I-PASS, tolls are going up. Illinois Tollway Board members approved a 15-year, $12 billion capital plan during Thursday's board meeting in Downers Grove. Starting Jan. 1, most I-PASS drivers can expect to pay a 35-cent increase at the tolls to fund the project. Cash-paying toll users will see a 70-cent increase. While 50 percent of Illinois Toll Plazas will carry the 35-cent increase for I-Pass users, other plazas will see a greater increase, ranging from 45 to 90 cents, while cash-paying toll users will be hit with an increase ranging from 90 cents to $1.80. The board approved the capital plan with a vote of 7-1, with director William Morris casting the only no vote, largely because he felt the plan failed to make I-53 in …

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Patch Flash: Armed Robbers Tie Up Senior Couple in Glenview

Chicagoland news to talk about: Skimming device found at Chase Bank ATM.

Armed burglars tied up a couple in their 70s at a condominium complex in Glenview, Monday night, and proceeded to rob them of $60,000 in jewelry. According to police, the men posed as delivery men to enter the unit. No more free RTA rides for seniors due to budget cuts. Beginning Sept. 1, the Regional Transit Authority's "Seniors Ride Free" program will expire for all senior citizens except those defined as "low-income" using standards adopted from Illinois Department on Aging "Circuit Breaker" program. All other seniors will pay a discounted, half-price, fare. The RTA has filed a $100 million lawsuit against Channahon and Kankakee, alleging the communities have benefited from a sales tax loophole to the detriment of the RTA and other …

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Patch Flash: Porsche Driver Drove Wrong Way on Tollway, Charged in Deadly Crash

Chicagoland news to talk about: Crime Stoppers offers $5000 reward for hit-and-run information; Skunks swell in suburb.

  A Naperville man has been charged with reckless homicide in the deaths of two Elmhurst residents for  allegedly driving his Porsche at a high rate of speed into oncoming traffic on I-88, Aug. 6. Witnesses reported seeing William Howe, a dentist, drive erratically and throwing wads of cash out the window. Lake County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver that struck and killed 18-year-old Gabriella Drozdz, July 22, in Lake Zurich. Drozdz and two friends were on their way to Alpine Fest when the hit-and-run occurred.   An Arlington Heights woman faces criminal charges after fracturing the legs and skull of a 2-month old baby boy, according to Palatine Patch. Rubi Cabrera, 19, has been…

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7-Eleven Will Take Over Convenience Stores on Tollway

Transition should be complete by the end of March.

 7-Eleven® stores will replace ExxonMobil outlets in the remaining 17 years of the lease agreement for all seven Illinois Tollway Oases, including the Lake Forest Oasis. The new agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. of Dallas includes maintenance and operations responsibilities for Mobil fuel stations at the Tollway Oases located throughout Northern Illinoisand will ensure seamless continuation of services for Tollway customers. 7-Eleven will take responsibility for the Oases sites, including 13 Mobil fuel stations, convenience stores and car washes. By the end of March, the convenience stores will be rebranded as 7-Eleven operations. Fuel stations will retain the Mobil gasoline brand, allowing customers to continue to purchase Mobil-brand fuel …

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Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Briefly

Free Coffee at Lake Forest Oasis on New Year's Eve Night

Applications open for Art Fair on the Square.

Tollway Drivers Can Drink a Free Cup of Coffee at Lake Forest Oasis Motorists traveling back on the Illinois Tollway from New Year's Eve gatherings on Friday can stop at the Lake Forest Oasis and snag a free small cup of coffee courtesy of the Tollway folks. The coffee will be served for free from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. The Lake Forest Oasis is located between the exits for Illinois Routes 60 and 176.                                                                                     *** Applications open for Art Fair on the Square Applications are being taken for the 57th annual Art Fair on the Square, Sept. 4-5,  in Lake Forest's Market Square. The Art Fair on the Square is the Deer Path Art League's signature event. The art festival helps …

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