A dramatic fire on Oakton Street turned out to be the last story of August — and the most read for the month among Evanston Now readers. Here’s a rundown of the top 10.
- Major fire at North Shore Towing — Aug. 31 — A major fire at the North Shore Towing yard on Oakton Street sent black smoke pouring over Evanston this afternoon.
- City hopes to be pot shop’s landlord — Aug. 2 — Evanston city officials hope to cash in on the state’s new medical marijuana law by becoming the landlord for the only cannabis dispensary in the area.
- Gun mishap leaves Evanston man dead — Aug. 4 — Evanston police say a 31-year-old man accidentally killed himself Sunday night when he put a shotgun he thought was unloaded to his head and pulled the trigger.
- Gigio’s Pizzeria gets new owner — Aug. 27 — Julio Andino, who’s owned Gigio’s Pizzeria at 1001 Davis St. for the past 34 years, has sold the business to local bakery owners Dennis and Franny Clarkson.
- Rat reports soar in some spots — Aug. 12 — Evanston’s health director told aldermen Monday night that there’s been an upsurge in citizen complaints about rats this year.
- Police seek to ID assailants in shooting — Aug. 18 — Evanston police say they’re seeking the public’s help to identify two suspects involved in the apparently gang-related shooting of a 17-year-old youth in the 1800 block of Hartrey Avenue earlier this month.
- Library cancels speech by Palestinian author — Aug. 4 — The Evanston Public Library has cancelled a scheduled Aug. 11 speech by a Chicago-based Palestinian-American author.
- Shots fired into home on Oakton — Aug. 7 — Shots were fired into a home on Oakton Street late yesterday evening.
- Police: Guns, gangs, beefs lead to shootings — Aug. 18 — Evanston police say a combination of readily available guns, disputes among gang members and longstanding conflicts among members of extended families are major factors in gun violence in the city.
- Teen shot on west side — Aug. 10 — An Evanston teenager suffered a grazing wound to the leg when he was shot about 5:15 this evening near Emerson Street on the city’s west side.
