Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Woman Sentenced In Starvation, Torture Case; Child, 7, Weighed 14 Pounds: Prosecutors
Coming up on the Elgin Patch calendar: Free Holiday Gift Wrapping at Algonquin Commons
Hello Elgin! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Elgin caretaker gets 20 years in horrific child starvation case
- Why Elgin’s latest council meeting erupted over immigration enforcement
- Why Advocate Sherman Hospital just made Illinois’ top maternity list
Also on today's calendar: Free Holiday Gift Wrapping at Algonquin Commons and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Elginfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Elginfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Some sun; windy, much colder, with a high of 25 and low of 23 degrees.
- Saturday: Breezy, temps: high: 41, low: 13. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Colder; breezy in the morning, with a high of 31 and low of 25 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Woman Sentenced In Starvation, Torture Case; Child, 7, Weighed 14 Pounds: Prosecutors (patch.com) — Elgin residents are learning more about a harrowing child abuse case after a live-in caretaker was sentenced to 20 years in prison for starving and torturing a 7-year-old who weighed only 14 pounds when hospitalized in March 2024. Prosecutors say the Elgin child endured years of severe neglect and abuse, and while the child survived, officials warn of lasting medical and psychological impacts as a co-defendant’s case continues. 
2. Elgin council meeting paused twice following interruptions from residents frustrated with federal immigration enforcement tactics (dailyherald.com) — Tensions over recent federal immigration enforcement in Elgin spilled into Wednesday’s city council meeting, which was halted twice and briefly cleared after emotional public comments. Residents described injuries and fear after a Dec. 6 ICE action, while city leaders defended Elgin police and announced a January town hall on immigration enforcement in the community.
3. These 23 IL Hospitals Are Ranked Among Best For Maternity Care (patch.com) — Expecting parents in Elgin may be glad to know Advocate Sherman Hospital has been named one of Illinois’ top maternity hospitals in U.S. News’ 2026 rankings. The list highlights hospitals with strong outcomes for uncomplicated births, using data like C-section and newborn complication rates to help families choose where to deliver.
4. Dog transported to Huntley animal shelter after becoming submerged in freezing pond, rescued by firefighters (lakemchenryscanner.com) — A hypothermic husky named Flash was rushed to Dundee Animal Hospital in Elgin after falling through ice in a St. Charles-area pond, where firefighters and vets helped him recover. Now at Animal House Shelter in Huntley, staff are using his microchip and public tips to track down his owners while he remains on stray hold.
5. Carpentersville police chief retires Friday; deputy chief to be acting replacement (chicagotribune.com) — Carpentersville’s longtime police chief Todd Shaver is retiring Friday, and Deputy Chief Kevin Stankowitz will step in as acting chief with no outside search planned for now. Shaver, who holds a master’s from Judson University in Elgin, spent more than 26 years with the department after earlier roles in Sleepy Hollow and East Dundee.
📸 Around Elgin
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Elgin
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Free Holiday Gift Wrapping at Algonquin Commons
Algonquin Commons, 1900 S Randall Rd, Algonquin
9:00 am
Friday December 19
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Dinosaur Explorer Exhibit
Main Library -
9:00 am - Private Event ~ Main Stage Theatre
Elgin Calendar Elgin, IL 60120-5570
10:00 am - Saturday Drop Ins for Grades K-12
Side Street Studio Arts , 15 Ziegler Ct , Elgin
10:30 am - It's A Canadian Tuxedo Christmas Party — Plank Road Tap Room
Plank Road Tap Room , 39W149 Plank Rd , Elgin
12:00 pm - Teen Pride Squad (Grades 6-12)
Main Library - Story Room
12:30 pm - Fiesta Cultural - Parranda Puertorriqueña - en español
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
2:00 pm - Fiesta Cultural
Gail Borden Public Library District: Main Library , 270 N Grove Ave , Elgin
2:00 pm - Grinchmas Dinner Party at Danny’s on Douglas
Danny's Pizza , 231 Douglas Ave , Elgin
5:00 pm
Saturday December 20
📣 Elgin Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- 12 Days of Winter Countdown to Winter Break
Lakewood School Carpentersville, IL 60110
8:00 am - Merry Grinchmas Brunch
Eastside Café - Coffee & Wine Bar , 311 Barrington Ave Unit A , East Dundee
10:00 am - Pullman Setup
Valley Model Railroad , 11141 S Cottage Grove Ave , Chicago
11:00 am - Winfield Santa's Trolley Express
Fox River Trolley Museum , 365 S La Fox St , South Elgin
12:00 pm
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Elgin Community College’s Fire Science Program to Implement Electric Vehicle Teaching —Elgin Community College Read on Patch
- The intersection of Butterfield and Wolf in Hillside was shut down due to a serious crash involving several vehicles, but has since reopened.
1:36PM on Dec 17: Accident closes Butterfield Rd (Route 56) eastbound/westbound between Elm St and Wolf Rd. (Nextdoor ) - Chicago police are searching for a third suspect following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash near 69th and Kedvale, with two suspects in custody.
11:39AM on Dec 17: Multiple suspects bailed from a vehicle that crashed following a Chicago Police Department chase. (Nextdoor )
- Kentucky Fried Chicken posted a job opening for Team Member in Elgin. Apply here.
- Federal Signal Corporation posted a job opening for Material Handler - 2nd Shift in Elgin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elgin here.
Ok Elgin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
