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Tragedy, controversy, politics 2003 brought it all to Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows.

Article Excerpt
January

- Rolling Meadows OKs condo/retail development on Kirchoff Road: 154 condos in four buildings plus 27,000 square feet of retail space

- District 59 votes to retain full-day kindergarten.

- Rolling Meadows declares war on what Mayor Tom Menzel said were "slum" conditions at the Evergreen Meadows apartment complex, where tenants pay high rents for dirty units that do not meet code and utilities often don't work.

- Ben Affleck and Christina Applegate pull out of filming "Surviving Christmas" in Arlington Heights; turns out it's too cold here.

- Richard Duchossois honored as Arlington Heights chamber's business leader of the year.

- District 211 elevates Fremd Principal Shirley Mertz to assistant superintendent.

- Outgoing Gov. George Ryan names state Sen. Doris Karpiel to $99,414-a-year job on Illinois Pollution Control Board. State Rep. Kay Wojcik takes her place in state Senate seat.

- Harper College radio station goes on air; previously it couldn't be heard beyond the cafeteria.

- Metra proposes Northwest, West train link that would connect O'Hare up the NW tollway to HE/Barrington; then along the EJ&E to Joliet. It wins support of local mayors.

- Retired District 211 Superintendent Gerald Chapman, who toyed with running for school board, drops out.

February

- Arlington Place apartments sold to OwnACondo.com, which plans on turning them into the Briar Trace Condominiums.

- Anthony Mertz found guilty of murder of Rolling Meadows native and Eastern Illinois University student Shannon McNamara. He becomes the first person sentenced to death in Illinois since Gov. Ryan commuted all death sentences.

- District 15 hires Robert McKanna to replace retiring superintendent John Conyers.

- District 21 school board votes to spare orchestra program.

- Paul Froelich sworn in as state representative in the 46th district, replacing Kay Wojcik.

- Prospect High School wins regional Science Olympiad.

March

- Anti-war protesters hit the streets in downtown Arlington Heights, silently picketing on a weekly basis at the Metra station in the run-up to the Iraq war.

- After years of budget surpluses, Arlington Heights trustees slash $7.8 million to close a deficit caused by lost tax revenue, and put the finishing touches on the $121.5 million budget for 2003-04.

- St. Viator High School Principal Patrice Johannes announced as new principal of Buffalo Grove High School.

- Prospect High School finishes second at Chicagoland Showcase competition.

- District 59 cuts 13 teacher positions

- Rolling Meadows takes out $4.2 million loan to create tax increment financing district at Kirchoff strip mall. City tears down doughnut shop to herald redevelopment. One resident...