Arlington Heights Fire Department responded to the Teen Center about 7:40 p.m. Thursday for an activated fire alarm that was caused by an overheated/smoking small motor attached to an unidentified mechanical unit in the basement. No fire occurring at the incident, and a public works official was called to the scene for repair.

Arlington Heights police received a report about 1:10 p.m. Thursday that a male/white solicitor attempted to get inside an apartment in the 1700 block of South Arlington Heights Road. The resident of the apartment reported that the male/white said he was from NICOR and that he needed to access the apartment. The resident refused to let the male in the apartment. The male was described as wearing a blue ski jacket.

Arlington Heights police were on the scene within a minute, found the male/white and investigated the subject. The male claimed he was working for Just Energy. No known arrests.

Research of the Better Business Bureau on December 31, 2009 shows that Just Energy has a BBB rating of ‘F’ on a scale of A+ to F.

The Better Business Bureau reports that the reason for the rating is the following:
562 complaints filed against business
Failure to respond to 77 complaints filed against business.
45 complaints filed against business that were not resolved.
Overall complaint history with BBB.
BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business.
Business has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints.
One serious complaint filed against business.

The BBB also reports that complainants allege they were subject to misleading sales practices, such as unauthorized enrollment in the program offered, and/or misrepresentation of contract length, and/or guarantees of savings, and/or ability to cancel the contract after the initial three day period.
Consumer complaints also allege that the sales representatives from US Energy Savings represented themselves as working on behalf of Nicor and/or People’s Gas, consequently misrepresenting their identities. Additional complaints allege that consumers who did not speak and/or understand English were likewise solicited and their signatures were obtained, enrolling them into US Energy’s five year contract, despite these individuals’ failure to fully understand what they were signing.

Other complaints allege that upon signing up with the company on the premise of savings on gas, consumers’ bills did not decrease, but instead increased substantially.

See the Better Business Bureau web page on ‘Just Energy’ for more information …
Just Energy BBB Review Chicago, IL

Julie Ann Kilgore (left) and Dennis Gene Cox.

UPDATE: Julie Ann Kilgore escaped from Dennis Gene Cox — after being held at gunpoint and kidnapped to a Laramie Ramada Inn. Kilgore had broken off her relationship with Cox two days before her disappearance. Cox fled when Kilgore escaped, and was shot by police in Fort Collins about 60 miles away, when he raised his gun as he was approached by police. Cox later died in the hospital.

Julie Ann Kilgore, a 48-year-old nurse, is missing under suspicious circumstances, from Brighton, Colorado since 4:30 p.m. Tuesday December 29, 2009.

Julie Ann Kilgore is described 5′ 5″ tall and weighs about 180 pounds. She has blond or light brown hair and blue eyes.

Julie Ann Kilgore left her home with her fiance, Dennis Gene Cox, 50, and said she would return in about 15 minutes. Her family has not seen her since, and she has not answered her cell phone.

“Several things about her absence are out of character for Kilgore,” according to a Brighton police press release. “It is unknown if she left voluntarily or was the victim of a kidnapping.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Paul White at 303-655-2324.

Recent information has been released that Dennis Gene Cox is a person of interest and that the couple may be traveling in a turquoise 1993 Ford Taurus with Colorado license plate number FFL 972.

Dennis Gene Cox is described as 5′ 11″ tall and weighs 190 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

File photo: Ford Taurus 1992 to 1995 model sedan.

Brighton, Colorado Police Department (official site)

Denver Post Kidnapped woman found safe in Laramie hotel …

Arlington Heights police received a report about 11:25 a.m. Thursday that an empty manger was found in the neighborhood of the 500 block of South Dwyer Avenue in Arlington Heights. Arlington Heights police are investigating.

Buffalo Grove firefighter/paramedics responded to a fully-involved car fire that nearly caught a house on fire on Aptakisic, just west of Weiland at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday. The house is located on the north side of Aptakisic in the 2000 West block, directly across from JCYS Northwest Family Center. Buffalo Grove’s first engine approaching the scene reported heavy smoke in the sky.

Lincolnshire-Riverwood Fire and Long Grove Fire assisted Buffalo Grove Fire Department. The fire was actually in Long Grove Fire Protection District.

Arlington Heights sent a fire engine to Long Grove’s fire station to cover the Village of Long Grove.

Here are the busiest articles for The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com for 2009. Each article contained breaking news that resulted in the highest number of viewers from all over the world for The Cardinal.

01 — Michael Jackson, 1958-2009: LAFD Paramedic Rescue Call, CPR for 50 Y/O Man
02 — California “Porsche Girl” Nikki Catsouras Accident Scene: Photo Conflict, Map Scene
03 — Glenn Beck ‘You Are Not Alone’ Special Reveals 912 PROJECT Website
04 — Chicago U2 360° Tour at Soldier Field Saturday September 12, 2009 Playlist
05 — WORLDWIDE HEALTH MAP | World Health Events including H1N1 Swine Flu Cases
06 — Anti-malware-scanner.com: Fake Malware Scanner Site Brings Popup to Mac and Windows
07 — Michael Lechner, 23, Identified as Victim in Fatal Buffalo Grove Motorcycle Crash
08 — Arson Investigation at Kevin Finnerty Home Where Wife, Son Died in House Fire
09 — Woman and Boy Killed in Arlington Heights House Fire on Park Street, Father Dies Next Day
10 — Anthony J. Peters Arrested for Beating Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett with Metal Pipe
11 — Video of LAFD Rescue Ambulance 71 with Michael Jackson Backing Out of 100 Carolwood Drive
12 — Carjack: Armed Robbery Suspect Disarms Two States Attorney Agents, Escapes with Weapons
13 — VIDEO: Oklahoma City Pharmacist Shooting Armed Robber #1
14 — Arlington Heights Fireworks, Frontier Days Festival, Carnival & Entertainment 2009
15 — Accident Northbound Route 53 Near Woodfield, I-90
16 — Sonya Sotomayor: Reverse Discrimination Ruling Against Firefighters
17 — Paul Koh Identified Victim in Homicide Case in Northbrook, Father Charged
18 — Three-Alarm Fire at Twelve Oaks at Woodfield Apartments in Rolling Meadows
19 — BOY FOUND! 6-Year-Old Boy Was Believed To Be in Runaway Balloon from Fort Collins, Colorado
20 — Warren Schor (Cornell University Class of 2011) Dies of H1N1 Complications
21 — Kevin Finnerty Suicide: Gas Can in Master Bedroom, Suicide Note Found, Police Say
22 — APB: Who Killed Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell’s Dog?
23 — Former Probation Officer, Kristi Cornwell of North Georgia, Missing, Abducted
24 — Arlington Heights Standoff: Armed Man Barricades Himself in His Home
25 — Charges Dropped After Oklahoma Highway Trooper and Paramedic Struggle Outside Ambulance