Arlington

A man died in an Arlington house fire on Christmas morning after he was instrumental in making sure the occupants were evacuated, Arlington fire officials reported. Crews arrived about 4:20 a.m. at a home in the 5300 block of Carpenter Drive in south Arlington, where they found flames coming from the front of the house. A resident alerted them to someone lying outside who needed assistance, officials said. The 36-year-old man, whom authorities declined to identify, was treated at the site and taken to a nearby hospital, where he died after numerous attempts to resuscitate him, officials said. … [Read more...] about Man died after helping evacuate residents from Christmas fire in Arlington

A lightning strike caused $10,000 in damage to a townhouse on the north side of Arlington Heights as a strong line of thunderstorms moved through the area Friday, authorities said. Fire department investigators believe the lightning may have hit an antenna or cable satellite on top of the four-unit townhouse building on the 1600 block of West Hawkes Street, then traveled along a cable line to the interior of the building. That's where firefighters found some drywall and insulation damaged in an attic and common hallway on the building's second floor, according to Battalion Chief John Carpenter. Firefighters saw smoke when they got to the building just after 11 a.m., but once inside, they found the small fire already self-extinguished, Carpenter said. Fire crews investigated to make sure there were no hot spots and that the fire had not extended to other parts of the building, he said. No individual units were damaged, and no injuries were reported. … [Read more...] about Lightning strikes townhouse on north side of Arlington Heights

Via Arenella, an Italian eatery in Arlington Heights, is closing its doors this weekend after three years in business, the restaurant announced Friday. In an email to customers Friday afternoon, the owners said the restaurant's last day at its 1609 W. Campbell St. location will be Sunday, Sept. 29. But they also said they are looking for another location, and invited customers to subscribe to their email list for updates. "We thank you all for the memories and for supporting us these last three years," owners wrote. "We are forever grateful." The restaurant is located in a strip mall shopping center that also includes Fitness 19, Sherwin Ace, Arlington Cake Box Bakery and Walgreens. … [Read more...] about Via Arenella restaurant in Arlington Heights plans to close

Police are investigating six recent reports of arson to porta-potties at parks and schools in Arlington Heights, officials said Friday. The portable toilets were damaged between Aug. 1 and Sept. 23, predominantly in an area bounded by Dundee Road, Arlington Heights Road, Northwest Highway and Wilke Road, police wrote in a Friday bulletin. All of the incidents took place during the overnight hours, police said. So far, police have limited information about suspects. During a Sept. 12 incident outside Greenbrier Elementary, security footage shows two people exiting a portable toilet shortly after it had been set on fire, police said. A porta-potty outside Greenbrier, located at 2330 N. Verde Drive, also targeted days earlier on Sept. 8. The other arsons were reported to have taken place Aug. 1 at Raven Park, 395 W. Burr Oak Drive; Aug. 4 at Virginia Terrace Park, 1503 W. Thomas St.; Sept. 15 at Carefree Park, 1231 S. Belmont Ave.; and Sept. 20 at Hasbrook Park, 333 W. Maude Ave. Anyone … [Read more...] about Six porta-potties set on fire in Arlington Heights since August, police say

The Army says it is ensuring that American heroes will continue to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery for the next 150 years by instituting stricter eligibility requirements for interment at the military graveyard. “Arlington National Cemetery is a national shrine for all Americans, but especially those who have served our great nation,” acting Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said Wednesday in a written statement. “We must ensure it can honor those we have lost for many years to come.” Mr. McCarthy announced a plan to restrict burial eligibility at Arlington to preserve the cemetery’s shrinking number of gravesites for future generations. The Army estimates the cemetery will run out of space in the 2050s if no changes are made. The plan calls for reserving burial sites for the remains of Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, personnel killed in action, recipients of awards for valor, veterans who matriculate to high-ranking government … [Read more...] about Arlington National Cemetery burial restriction plan hit by American Legion