NU Officer Charged with Independence Day Gunshot Celebration

The officer was reportedly off duty when he allegedly fired a gun in the air.

A 30-year-old Northwestern University police officer has been charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm after he allegedly fired his gun in the air while celebrating the Fourth of July, according to a Chicago Tribune article. Prosecutors reportedly allege that Wesley Jackson was in East Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side, when he fired shots across Lake Shore Drive into Lake Michigan. Read the full article here.

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Photo Gallery: Politicians Parade on July 4th

Incumbents, challengers and open-seat aspirants greet the crowds on the Fourth of July.

Along with marching bands, floats and civic organizations, elected officials and those who aspire to be public servants flock to participate on Fourth of July parades throughout the area. Deerfield’s parade was no exception. Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) walked with a large group of supporters a number of spaces behind his challenger for the 10th District Seat, Brad Schneider of Deerfield. Dold needed a spot toward the end of Deerfield’s noontime event because he was coming from Glenview, which started its parade at 11:30 a.m., before heading to Northbrook, as did Schneider, at 2 p.m. In addition to Deerfield and Northbrook, Schneider and Dold crossed paths in Vernon Hills. Dold also walked in Lake Bluff and Des Plaines while Schneider …

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Sprinkling Station Keeps Parade-Goers Cool (And Wet)

With a high of 102 degrees, this year's Fourth of July was the hottest on record in Evanston since 1911.

By Debbie Mosley Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute   One-man watering station Mike Hasanov shoots a burst of water toward a group of children in the street. Soaked, they dance in the cloud of cool droplets before thanking Hasanov and moving onward. The children were from one of many organizations with floats in Evanston’s 91st annual Fourth of July parade. “Do you want to get wet?” Firefighter Hasanov asks the next group of performers. The dancers give him the affirmative, then yelp as he blasts them with cool water. His gleeful smile echoes the dancers’ as they prance away. Hasanov turns his head to give his colleagues a knowing look. Although he was not in uniform and was technically on vacation, he showed that he takes his job …

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What's the Secret to Evanston's Musical Fireworks?

Volunteer lakefront and fireworks director Dave Sniader, who has helped coordinate the city’s pyrotechnics since the ’80s, explains what makes a good fireworks song and how he sets the sound system up.

If you’re going to set off fireworks to music—as Evanston has for more than 30 years—you’ll need a song list with just the right ingredients. Good “fireworks shooting music” must be popular, have some patriotic element, a varying score and “a terrific beat,” according to Dave Sniader, volunteer lakefront and fireworks director for the Evanston 4th of July Association. Though he's a Winnetka resident, Sniader has helped coordinate the music for Evanston's fireworks display for the past three decades.    The 18 songs in this year’s set will offer a little something for everybody, he says, from old favorites like the 1812 Overture to pop songs from 2012. Many of the selections will commemorate anniversaries—like the 50th anniversary of …

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Stan Golovchuk

1:16 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Awesome story!   more ›

July 4th Celebrations, Fireworks in Evanston

Evanston's annual fireworks display will be set off from Clark Street Beach in 2012. Other festivities include a parade, band concert, pie-eating contest and three-legged races.

Swiming Safety Tips For Fourth of July

According to analysis of media reports by USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming, in 2011, there were 25 drowning incidents involving children younger than 15 reported over the week of the Fourth of July.

From the community - As the Independence Day holiday approaches and families enjoy time together in pools across the country, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is sharing some sobering statistics on the number of drownings during previous July 4th holidays. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum is reminding parents and caregivers to pool safely during upcoming pool parties and celebrations with family and friends. “Along with fireworks, spending time in the pool is a traditional July 4th activity for many families,” Chairman Tenenbaum said. “Child drownings are a preventable tragedy, so we encourage all families who are planning to spend time in pools and spas over the Independence Day holiday and all summer to adopt as many safety…

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Mostly Dry Weekend, Isolated Thunderstorms Possible July 4th

Are you prepared to have holiday festivities indoors?

While it will still be rather hot this weekend, there will be lake breezes along the North Shore providing some relief from the heat for a few days with the highest temperatures expected over the west and southwest suburbs. A frontal boundary will provide just a slight chance of showers/t-storms this weekend with the best chances to our south and away from the lake influence. Overall, the majority of the weekend will remain on the dry side. Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 25 percent chance of isolated showers/t-storms from 4 p.m. to midnight.       Rain Amounts late at night: 0.05 to 0.25 inches       Low temp: 68 degrees Fahrenheit.        High temp: 89 degrees Fahrenheit.       Wind: Southeast at 6-13 mph Sunday: Partly cloudy with a 30 …

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