Elgin High School esports team wins state championship Elgin High School’s esports varsity Mario Kart 8 Deluxe team was the winner of the Illinois High School Esports Association’s State Championship. Its team, which included senior Tony Ortega, juniors Luke Balmeo and Morgan LaFleur, and sophom ore Timothy Vejar, went undefeated at the November event, which was held at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, according to the School District U-46’s “Engage” newsletter Additionally, Elgin High School’s entire esports team received the association’s Level-Up Award, which honors schools that demonstrate growth in key areas, including student leadership, school and community impact and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment. The award came with a $400 grant to benefit the program. GameStop stores in South Elgin, Geneva on closing list GameStop locations in South Elgin and Geneva are among 17 in Illinois that have closed or will be closing for good in January. The two Fox Valley GameStops shut their doors on Jan. 7, according to the Game Stop Closing blog, gsclosing.blogspot.com. Calls placed to the two stores went unanswered. The South Elgin store was at 478 Randall Road and the Geneva location at 1492 N. Randall Road. In its third-quarter earnings report in early December, GameStop noted it had already closed 590 stores in the United States during the previous fiscal year, according to Fast Company magazine. In a December filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the retailer said it planned to shut down a significant number of additional stores by the end of its 2025 fiscal year on Jan. 31, according to Fast Company. NAMI to offer free family mental health course in Elgin The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Kane County North will offer a free, eight-session family course from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 24 through March 14 at New Life Community Church, 1580 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Sessions will provide information on anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other disorders, according to a news release. Topics covered will include communication, medication, treatment and recovery. The evidence-based program is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping caregivers maintain their own well-being. The class can be taken by parents, spouses, adult siblings, adult children, partners or significant others of those with mental health conditions For more information, or to register, call NAMI at 847-410-9719 or email [email protected]. State Toll Authority to be at Elgin library Saturday, next month Illinois State Toll Highway Authority will be offering an array of services from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17,  and 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Services available will include free I-Pass sticker tags to replace plastic transponders, account services for people who use the tollway, and an I-Pass education and enrollment program for income-qualifying Illinois residents, social media information said. For information, call 847-742-2411or email [email protected]. ...read more read less