Elgin man found guilty of sexually assaulting young girl
An Elgin man has been convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl by a Kane County jury.
Luis Alberto Najera Ayala, 48, of the 700 block of Jay Street, was found guilty of six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a class X felony, and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a class 2 felony
Prosecutors said the attacks occurred between January 2017 and February 2020. When the victim heard a presentation at school about personal body safety, she told her mother about the assaults and Ayala was charged, a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release said.
Ayala faces a minimum sentence of 36 years in prison when sentenced. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 13.
West Dundee asking residents to adopt planters
West Dundee is seeking participants for its adopt-a-planter program.
Volunteers would donate and plant flowering annuals in planters throughout the village’s downtown area and along the riverwalk. Once planted, the public works department will be responsible for watering the flowers throughout the growing season.
To participate or for more information, call 847-551-3800 or email villagehall@wdundee.org.
Bike repair stations placed at Festival Park, library
Elgin’s Sustainability Commission has installed bike repair stations at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., and behind the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave.
The stations have secured tools and equipment that allow users to make minor bicycle repairs and inflate tires. Cost for the two stations, which were unveiled Monday, was $4,168.
For more information, go to www.facebook.com/elginsustainability.
Fallen police officers to be honored with flags, events
A Flags of Honor display featuring 1,555 U.S. flags honoring Illinois police officers who have died in the line of duty will be set up in South Elgin’s Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., from Thursday through Sunday, May 19-22.
As part of the True Patriots Care display, there will be a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Friday; a 5K walk and run at 8 a.m. Saturday; a tribute motorcycle ride from Woodstock to Panton Mill Park beginning at 10:45 a.m. Sunday; and a touch-a-truck event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
To register for the walk/run or the motorcycle ride or for more information, go to truepatriotscare.com/events.
St. Charles art show set for Memorial Day weekend
The St. Charles Fine Art Show will return on Memorial Day weekend for its 24th year at Riverside Avenue and Main Street in downtown St. Charles.
More than 90 artists will exhibit original, juried art in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, mixed media and glass from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 29.
Art is available for sale during the free outdoor event, which will also feature live music.
For more information, go to www.stcharlesfineartshow.com.
U-46 holding community discussion May 25
School District U-46 will hold its final Unite U-46 (Moving Forward Together) community discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at the U-46 Welcome Center, 1019 E. Chicago St. Elgin.
The focus of the town hall-style meeting will be the expansion of the district’s early childhood programs and the planned shift to a grade 6-8 middle school system.
This will be the last meeting of its kind for this school year, with the sessions resuming in the fall.
To register to attend or for more information, go to www.u-46.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=15447.
