Community Corner

Your Weekly Wrap-Up

The week's top stories from around the area.



Thomas J. Puchmelter, 42, of 169 Sunnyside Ave., Crystal Lake, remains in the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility Feb. 16 after Crystal Lake Police arrested him for domestic battery and two counts of aggravated battery Feb. 15.

According to police, Puchmelter’s 70-year-old mother fled the home she and her son shared after he allegedly struck her hand, leg and neck with a wooden baseball bat and holding that bat at her throat at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 15.



A former Crystal Lake South High School athletic director and varsity football coach accused of theft and computer fraud is still awaiting his day in court.

James K. Stuglis, 41, was arrested Oct. 14, 2010, on 10 counts of felony theft and three counts of felony computer fraud. He was released on $40,000 bond–a bond that was modified on Feb. 16 at the request of his attorneys to allow him to travel to Wisconsin for a vacation, according to court documents.



A trial date for Antwanette Atkins and Kari Knox, both accused of luring a 14-year-old girl into prostitution, was postponed Tuesday.

The two are being held on a $200,000 bond. Both are charged with seven counts of child pornography, one count of involuntary servitude and one count of juvenile pimping.



The Fire Bar & Grill has been forced to temporarily shut its doors after the popular bar and restaurant was vandalized Monday night.

There are currently no suspects in the vandalism, Crystal Lake Police said Thursday afternoon, and the bar's owners, brothers Sarge, Nino and James Hermes, are working to make the repairs needed for the business to re-open.



The Borders stores in Crystal Lake and McHenry will be among 200 Borders stores nationwide that will close at the end of April, said Mary Davis, a Borders corporate spokesperson.

The store closings are part of the bookstore chain’s reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Davis said Borders will close 30 percent of its total chain, which includes Waldenbooks and Borders Express. She said the Crystal Lake and McHenry stores were among stores chosen to close because they were underperforming.

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