ADDITIONS MARKED ***
THURSDAY’S MEETINGS AND EVENTS*
9 a.m. — (CHICAGO) Illinois State Police troopers will participate in a holiday party for schoolchildren sponsored by Walmart and the ISP Heritage Foundation, including a parade featuring Santa, games and gift bags. Until 3 p.m. Drake Elementary School, 2710 S. Dearborn. Contact: (217) 782-6637 or PIO@isp.state.il.us.
9:30 a.m. – (BATAVIA) Red Oak Nature Center hosts “Red Oak Winter Camp,” with participants exploring the woods and celebrating the start of winter. 2343 S. River St., Batavia. Contact: jlong@fvpd.net.
9:45 a.m. — (CHICAGO) Chicago Fire Department members honor 21 firefighters who were killed in a wall collapse at a stockyard fire on Dec. 22, 1910, in the largest loss of firemen in a single event before 9-11. Halsted Street and Exchange Avenue. Contact: Lawrence.Langford@cityofchicago.org.
10 a.m. — (LISLE) Morton Arboretum hosts Breakfast with Santa. Through Dec. 23. 4100 Rte. 53, Lisle. Contact: Patti MacMillan, pmacmillan@mortonarb.org or (630) 719-5768.
3 p.m. — (CHICAGO) Brighton Park Neighborhood Council holds a community meeting and vigil following a shooting last week that killed two people and wounded two more. 4300 S. Rockwell. Contact: Marcos Ceniceros, (773) 386-7495 or mceniceros@bpncchicago.org.
3 p.m. — (ELGIN) Elgin firefighters hand out smoke detectors after four people were rescued from a house fire Tuesday. 318 Division St., Elgin. Contact: Battalion Chief Robb Cagann, (630) 624-4006 or Cagann_R@cityofelgin.org.
3 p.m. — (NORRIDGE) Visitation for Park Ridge Ald. Daniel Knight, who died at 58. Until 9 p.m. Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. Contact: (847) 318-5200.
3:30 p.m. — (CHICAGO) Youth “coding camp” for the city’s “Code60+ Challenge” that has encouraged teens to complete more than 12,000 hours of computer coding in three weeks. Jane Addams Digital Resource Center, 1254 S. Loomis. Contact: Rachel Lenke, (847) 436-1708, (312) 822-0505 or agency@mkcpr.com.
3:30 p.m. — (CHICAGO) Swedish Covenant Hospital accepts delivery of more than 400 toys to be distributed to children being treated in the Emergency Department. 2739 W. Foster Ave. Contact: Bill Ligas, bligas@SwedishCovenant.org or (773) 293-8889. (Note: Media should RSVP.)
*** 3:45 p.m. — (CHICAGO) Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins students in a coding event, as part of the City’s Code 60+ Challenge to engage students in computer science. Jane Addams Digital Learning Center, 1254 S. Loomis St. Contact: (312) 744-3334 or press@cityofchicago.org. (Note: There will be no media availability following.)
7:30 p.m. – (PALOS PARK) The Center hosts Yule Log Service, featuring carols, scripture, stories and other Christmas traditions, including the lighting of a huge log to symbolize a fresh start for the new year. 12700 Southwest Hwy., Palos Park. Contact: Mark Walker, (708) 361-3650 or the.center@mac.com.
THURSDAY’S COURT DOCKET*
9 a.m. call — (MARKHAM) Brandon Griffin, charged with Darryl Lloyd and Dejuan Crockett, each charged murder and attempted murder; Accused in a triple murder in Harvey in 2010. Status. Markham Courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy., Markham. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9 a.m. call — (MARKHAM) Shanell Terrell, charged with first-degree murder: Accused of leading police on a chase that ended in a crash, killing a Chicago Police officer. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Simeon Barrientas, charged failure to report an accident causing a death; Driver accused of killing a Chicago firefighter in a hit-and-run crash in Rogers Park on 6-12-16. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
10 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Orlando Dominguez, charged with first-degree murder; Accused of fatally shooting a Chicago White Sox vendor after a West Town car chase on 4-19-2014. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Julian Garcia, charged with first-degree murder; A man already in prison on a gun charge now accused in a fatal gang-related shooting 2-3-2014 in Little Village. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) James Harris IV, charged with first-degree murder; Accused of killing his girlfriend’s 19-month-old daughter found slain in Riverdale on 3-16-14. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Jason Hooks, charged with aggravated sexual assault; Accused of sexually assaulting a 31-year-old woman in the South Loop in Nov. 2015. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Kenyon Jones and Paris Jones, both charged with first-degree murder; Two men accused of fatally shooting a teen in Austin on 12-3-2014. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Jose Ortiz, charged with two counts of first-degree murder; Accused of fatally shooting two 19-year-old men in Austin on 6-7-15. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423. (Note: Also listed as Jose ‘Oritz’ in court records.)
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Geno Paget, charged with murder and robbery; Accused in a fatal shooting during a drug deal-turned-robbery on 5-27-2014. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Kristopher Pitts, charged with murder and robbery; Accused of shooting a North Side man during a robbery in Lake View on 5-30-2015. Status. County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Roosevelt Shaffer, charged with first-degree murder: Accused of fatally stabbing his friend in their retirement home in an argument over a jacket in Feb. 2014. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Christian Williams, charged with murder; A man free on parole for a 1993 slaying now charged in a Pullman stabbing death on 10-29-2014. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Marc Winner, charged with sexual assault; Former owner of the Soleil tanning salon in the West Loop accused of sexual assault. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
9:30 a.m. call — (CHICAGO) Brandon Young, charged with first-degree murder; Accused of fatally stabbing a friend after they smoked crack cocaine together on 10-31-15. Status. Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave. Contact: Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, (312) 603-3423.
*NOTE: The Sun-Times Wire staff will verify all Daybook listings in advance, but last-minute changes or cancellations can occur. We strongly recommend that media outlets call to confirm events before assigning.