The former executive director of a public agency that manages garbage collection for more than 20 north and northwest suburbs has been charged with stealing more than $900,000 in funds from the agency over a four-year period, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced on Friday, March 11th. Christopher Brooke Beal, 47, of Chicago, served as executive director of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) since 1993. He has been charged with Theft of Government Property, a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

Bond has been set at $100,000 for a Chicago man accused of perjuring himself in court, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Thursday. Mikhail Malyshev, 41, of the 100 block of Garrison Avenue in Wilmette was indicted on two counts of perjury, a class 3 felony, and appeared in bond court on Wednesday. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police Financial Crimes Unit began an investigation into Malyshev after his former employer, Citadel Investment Group, filed a lawsuit in July 2009 alleging he stole trade secrets and violated a covenant not to compete.

A member of two U.S. Olympic teams, two former teachers, a retired fire lieutenant and 14 college graduates were among the 45 cadets to graduate from the Cook County Sheriff’s Training Academy, marking the beginning of their law enforcement careers as correctional officers based at the Cook County Jail. Sheriff Thomas J. Dart presided over the ceremonies on 3/9 at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Heights. The graduates bring diverse backgrounds and career paths to their new positions.

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that the District is launching a new, wide-ranging effort to increase youth outreach. Beginning this summer, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County will facilitate new programming and send up to 2,000 Cook County young people on visits to its six nature centers. The outreach initiative will be funded in part by the District’s new “Greens for Teens” Annual Golf Tournament. President Preckwinkle said the goal is to provide young people from Chicago’s neighborhoods with an introduction to the forest

Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins (1st) along with Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios’ office is sponsoring assistance days to help Cook County seniors living in the First District complete the applications for the senior property tax exemption and senior property tax freeze. The deadline was extended by Assessor Berrios until March 22nd so that all eligible seniors may take advantage of these important money-saving opportunities. Commissioner Collins is sponsoring 2 assistance days in order to help as many First District seniors as possible make the deadline.

Cook County has entered into a pro bono partnership with ComEd, the state’s largest energy provider, an effort that is designed to save energy and taxpayer dollars. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined today with ComEd chairman and CEO Frank M. Clark to announce an energy-efficiency initiative that is expected to produce $850,000 in annual cost savings. ComEd will also be conducting regular site visits to implement best practices for energy savings.

On Monday, March 14th at 6:30 pm at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center located at 6140 Dempster Street in Morton Grove, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael M. Cabonargi will hold a seminar with Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and Niles Township Assessor Scott Bagnall on how homeowners may appeal their property assessment and lower their property tax bills. In response to historical lows in the housing market, Commissioner Cabonargi is organizing taxpayer appeal seminars throughout Cook County.

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced today that he has extended the deadline for the Senior Citizen Exemption until March 22nd so that all eligible seniors may take advantage of this important money saving exemption. “We mailed applications to nearly 300,000 taxpayers who received the Senior Exemption last year but still have not heard back from many of the eligible seniors,” Berrios explained.

A dozen high school students were honored by the Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart on Friday for their work in promoting safe driving among their peers. Winners of the first-ever “Heads Up Video Challenge” were named during an event at the Daley Center. Anders Gustafson, Adrian Paladin, Jack Schalke, Luis Gonzalez and Sarah Brooks of Maine West High School were honored with the winning entry for their video “Xtreme Distracted Driving.”

2,100 candidates will be running for municipal, school, park, library and fire district offices in suburban Cook County on April 5, 2011, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr. Voter participation in local elections is crucial if residents want to influence issues affecting their communities, Orr said. Unfortunately, less than a third of registered voters typically cast ballots in the consolidated election. (See turnout history below.) VOTER REGISTRATION You have until March 8th to register to vote in the April 5th election.