Local News – Page 6 –

Dressed as witches, members of the Batavia Woman's Club get ready to perform Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, during the annual BatFest celebration in downtown Batavia. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

Batavia fest offers parade, pumpkin roll and other ways to celebrate Halloween

By David Sharos

October 27, 2026 at 9:02 a.m.

The Batavia MainStreet group organizes BatFest, a free holiday event that has become a fall...

A conceptual rendering of the proposed new recreation center at Skokie's Sports Park East, which plans to include multi-sports courts, golf simulators and flexible programming space. (Skokie Park District)

Skokie Park District Nov. 3 referendum would create a park, improve another, hike property taxes

By Andis Robeznieks

October 27, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Skokie Park District Nov. 3 referendum would create park near North Shore Channel, improve another,...

Brother Rice's Kameron McGee (5) reacts after a penalty against Lincoln-Way East during a nonconference game in Frankfort on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Sean King / Daily Southtown)

Steve Millar’s high school football rankings and opening round players of the week for the Southland

By Steve Millar

October 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Joliet Catholic's Da'Sani Smart and Lemont's Jullian Lowe are the Southland players of the week...

West Aurora's Travis Brown Jr. (9) looks for an opening against Leyden during the opening round of the playoffs in Aurora on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Mark Black / for the Beacon-News)

IHSA football playoffs: How Chicagoland high school teams fared in the opening round

By baiduhai

October 25, 2026 at 12:08 a.m.

Here's how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in the opening round of the IHSA...

Residents petting horses during Horsin' Around Day at the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, where the horses sport costumes and children trick or treat. This year’s event is Oct. 31. (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County)

Community news: Danada Equestrian Center offers Halloween fun, and more

By Melinda Moore

October 24, 2026 at 5:04 a.m.

News from the community includes items from DuPage County, La Grange, North Riverside, Hinsdale, Oak...

West Aurora's Travis Brown (9) looks for a hole against Leyden during a Class 8A opening-round playoff game in Aurora on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

IHSA football playoffs: West Aurora basketball star Travis Brown catches Leyden off guard to ‘finish it out’

By Rick Armstrong

October 24, 2026 at 1:56 a.m.

Travis Brown's 68-yard TD catch in fourth quarter lifts West Aurora to 40-21 win over...

Burlington Central's Reece Beemer (2) reacts against Rockford East in the second quarter of a Class 6A opening-round playoff game in Burlington on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon News)

IHSA football playoffs: Reece Beemer, ‘not trying to do anything flashy,’ rolls along for Burlington Central

By Paul Johnson

October 24, 2026 at 12:41 p.m.

Reece Beemer completes 6 of 7 passes for 105 yards in Burlington Central's 41-10 win...

Naperville Central's Landen Goebel, right, pressures Warren quarterback Xavier Vinson during a game in the opening round of the Class playoffs in Naperville on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Sean King / Naperville Sun)

IHSA football playoffs: Led by ‘incredible’ Landen Goebel, Naperville Central clamps down to rally past Warren

By Matt Le Cren

October 24, 2026 at 1:15 a.m.

Naperville Central holds Warren scoreless on its final seven possessions to win in the opening...

IHSA football playoffs: 5-foot-4 QB Jordan Lewis stands tall as Zion-Benton routs Glenbrook North for rare win

By Steve Reaven

October 24, 2026 at 1:35 a.m.

Jordan Lewis throws a touchdown pass in his fourth start at any level as Zion-Benton...

Marist’s Conor Hunt (24) celebrates after a TD against Neuqua Valley during a Class 8A opening- round game in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

IHSA football playoffs: Conor Hunt runs ‘as tough as you can’ for 3 TDs in Marist’s win over Neuqua Valley

By Patrick Z. McGavin

October 24, 2026 at 3:23 p.m.

Conor Hunt runs for 142 yards and three TDs in Marist's 49-28 victory over Neuqua...

Indiana football playoffs: Dylan Gore throws for career-high 309 yards to lead Andrean past Griffith

By Michael Osipoff

October 24, 2026 at 2:01 a.m.

Dylan Gore also tosses two touchdown passes as Andrean, which won the Class 2A state...

Lincoln-Way West's Maximus Silic (9) works through the block from Mundelein's Daniel Felli (7) during a Class 7A opening-round game in New Lenox on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

IHSA football playoffs: Maximus Silic figures out ‘just do my job’ as Lincoln-Way West eases past Mundelein

By Steve Millar

October 24, 2026 at 12:08 a.m.

Maximus Silic leads dominant defensive effort for Lincoln-Way West in 42-14 win over Mundelein in...

IHSA football playoffs: Johnny Solano scores 3 TDs to lead well-tested St. Charles East past Elk Grove

By Dave Oberhelman

October 23, 2026 at 11:24 p.m.

Johnny Solano also rushes for 158 yards as St. Charles East ends a five-game losing...