January 24, 2012 8:20PM
Updated: January 25, 2012 2:29AM
Huntley
Blaze guts former farmhouse: Investigators were trying Tuesday to determine what started a Monday night fire that gutted a century-old former farmhouse used as a home and veterinarian’s office in rural Huntley. The address, at 39W596 Huntley Road, is listed as that of veterinarian Dr. David C. Hucek. Deputy Chief Keith Mallegni of the Huntley Fire Protection District said flames were seen at about 6:12 p.m. on the second floor of the building. Mallegni said two people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries — one person who lives in the home and breathed in too much smoke, and a firefighter who cut himself while fighting the blaze. Mallegni said 22 other fire departments sent mutual-aid personnel or trucks. He said many of those were needed to carry water to the scene because there was no village water supply in the area. At one point, he said, the flames became so intense that firefighters went into “defensive” mode, limiting their efforts to keeping the fire from spreading. The last emergency personnel didn’t leave the scene until 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Elgin
Another A/C: Another air conditioner theft was reported in Highland Woods subdivision this week. Police said a salesperson noticed Monday that someone had taken an air conditioner from outside the model home owned by Overstreet Builders at 635 Slate Run. Several other outdoor A/C units have been taken from vacant houses and houses under construction in the far-west subdivision.
Battery charges: Police said a couple is accused of assaulting a neighbor in the 1200 block of Fairwood Court Monday morning. Grant S. Lenkawski, 36, and his wife, 32-year-old Jennifer M. Buckley, both were charged with battery in the incident. The victim, a 32-year-old neighbor, said he and Buckley got into a verbal argument about 8 a.m. outside Century Oaks Elementary School, 1235 Braeburn Drive. Lenkawski is accused of knocking the neighbor to the ground and Buckley of discharging a can of pepper spray at him. Police said the victim had a wound on his head but didn’t want to be taken to a hospital. Lenkawski and Buckley were released on $150 bond each pending a Feb. 17 hearing.