Mount Prospect officers lauded for outstanding work

Hello there: I'm the new reporter for Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights.

Steve Zalusky, who used to cover the towns, recently took a job at the American Library Association in Chicago.

I have been covering Elk Grove Village for the past three years for the paper. Before that, I covered Bartlett, Hanover Park and Streamwood.

Steve has filled me in on all the happenings in your towns. I look forward to writing about you.

Good job: Mount Prospect Police Officer Joseph Ziolkowski and Tactical Officer Cheryl Specht recently received the Cook County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Award of Merit.

Ziolkowski regularly leads his shift in arrests and received two commendations over the past six months for outstanding police work.

"Joe is the go-to guy on his shift for any complicated or unusual situation," said Mount Prospect Police Chief John Dahlberg.

Specht has been involved in 13 felony arrests, eight misdemeanor arrests and two search warrants leading to cash seizures in excess of $43,000.

Additionally, she is routinely called upon to assist other law enforcement agencies to make undercover drug buys resulting in numerous arrests from Lake to Will counties.

Specht was also the recipient of the department's 2006 "Officer of the Year" award.

"Tactical Officer Specht sets a work ethic example that all other officers should emulate," Dahlberg said.

Climate control: The Prospect Heights Library presents "Climate Change … The Crisis" at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 12 N. Elm St.

Nebraska Senator James Inhofe calls it "a hoax … repudiated by the nation's top scientists," yet Al Gore calls it the most significant threat facing the world today.

The International Panel on Climate Change says it's real, it's a major threat and it's largely human-caused.

What's the real story? Jim Kenney, co-director of Common Ground, will present a cutting edge account of what may be the most significant challenge of the future.

For more information, call (847) 259-3500.