A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to setting a vehicle on fire inside a garage of the Woodstock Post Office. James Durkee, 55, of Woodstock, was found guilty of arson, a Class 2 felony, following a negotiated plea before McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge. The Woodstock Fire […]

Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Libertyville, Illinois. His focus is reporting on local news covering crime, government, traffic and more around Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois. Sam founded Lake and McHenry County Scanner in January 2012 and has extensive experience covering news. His reporting has garnered coverage by major national and international outlets. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. You can get in touch with Sam by emailing [email protected].
Firefighters rescue unconscious dog from house fire in Woodstock
One dog was rescued and another dog remains missing following a house fire in Woodstock Saturday evening that caused heavy fire, smoke and water damage. The Woodstock Fire and Rescue District responded around 7:22 p.m. Saturday to the 100 block of North Street for a report of a structure fire. Two residents who were home […]
2 firefighters suffer exhaustion while battling fire that caused ‘significant’ damage to Zion home
A fire caused significant damage to a Zion home early Saturday morning and left two firefighters with exhaustion related conditions, according to fire officials. The Zion Fire and Rescue Department and Zion Police Department responded around 12:35 a.m. Saturday to the 3000 block of Elim Avenue for a report of a structure fire. Police officers […]
Fugitive who escaped from squad car in Lake Villa captured
The handcuffed fugitive who escaped from the back of a squad car near Lake Villa has been captured Friday evening, sheriff’s officials said. Nicholas A. Valentino, 26, who has no permanent address, escaped from custody around 1:35 p.m. Friday in the 37400 block of North Cremona Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa. Sheriff’s deputies were initially […]
Fight leaves 1 student stabbed, another injured at Waukegan High School Brookside Campus
A fight involving at least three students in a classroom at Waukegan High School Brookside Campus left two students hospitalized, including one that was stabbed with scissors. Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles confirmed that the incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at the school, located at 2325 Brookside Avenue. “At this time there are no […]
Student performs CPR on man, saving his life at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake
A junior at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake is being recognized after she successfully performed CPR on a man and saved his life, officials said. Calista Pollack, a junior at Prairie Ridge High School, relied on her CPR training from health class to save a man’s life, school officials said. “She dropped her […]
Search underway for handcuffed fugitive who escaped sheriff’s squad car near Lake Villa
Police and canines are actively searching for a handcuffed fugitive who escaped from the back of a squad car near Lake Villa Friday afternoon. Nicholas A. Valentino, 26, who has no permanent address, escaped from custody around 1:35 p.m. Friday in the 37400 block of North Cremona Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa. Sheriff’s deputies were […]
Lockdown at Naval State Great Lakes lifted after ‘gate runner’ breached security checkpoint
Naval Station Great Lakes was placed on lockdown Friday while local, state and federal law enforcement searched the area for a vehicle, driven by a base employee, who did not provide credentials at a security gate. “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT! ALL PERSONNEL, LOCKDOWN. TAKE COVER IN NEAREST BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. AWAIT INSTRUCTION. ALL GATES ARE CLOSED,” […]
Round Lake home day care owner pleads not guilty in death of 3-month-old baby
The Round Lake woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 3-month-old baby boy at her home day care has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Jane Korzun, 52, of the 300 block of West Savoy Drive in Round Lake, was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, four counts of endangering the […]