Libertyville, IL|News|
Show Us Your Spooky Pets: Share Your Halloween Photos With Patch
Got a costumed cat, festive pup or frightfully cute furry friend? Send us your Halloween pet photos for a chance to be featured.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
- Crystal Lake-Cary, IL
Amie is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of professional writing and editing experience. She has been an editor with Patch since the company launched in 2010, and she started Lake in the Hills Patch. Currently, she manages several news websites in the Chicago area, including Crystal Lake-Cary Patch, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch, Grayslake Patch and Libertyville Patch and works for the national breaking news team.
Before her time with Patch.com, she worked for daily newspapers, specializing in crime and court coverage as well as politics and local government.
You can reach Amie by e-mail at amie.schaenzer@patch.com.
Posting Activity
Grayslake, IL|News|
Lake County Voters To Decide On 1% School Sales Tax
Proposed tax would fund school building projects, bonds, security and mental health professionals
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Crystal Lake Man Arrested On Child Sex Abuse Material Charges
Police said the investigation began through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Driver Not Injured After Freight Train Hits Vehicle In McHenry County: Authorities
The vehicle and driver were found near Huntley after first responders could not locate them at the railroad crossing.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
St. Charles, IL|News|
Kane County Early Voting Starts Thursday: See Locations, Hours
More early-voting sites open Oct. 19, with expanded evening and weekend hours before the Nov. 3 election.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Grayslake, IL|News|
Lake County Early Voting Starts Thursday: See Locations, Hours
Countywide early voting begins Oct. 19, with evening and weekend hours available at several locations ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
McHenry County Early Voting Starts Thursday: See Locations, Hours
Voters can cast ballots early at the county's Election Center starting next week, with additional locations opening Oct. 19.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Barrington, IL|News|
Car Crash Preceded Fatal Metra Train Collision In Barrington: Coroner
A 77-year-old Carpentersville man died after his vehicle was struck by a train following a three-vehicle crash on Route 14.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Man Found Guilty Of First-Degree Murder in Son’s Shooting
A jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding James R. Piezonka guilty in the 2025 shooting death of his 31-year-old son.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Libertyville, IL|News|
Libertyville Rejects Proposed Car Wash Over Location Concerns
Village officials said the proposed car wash was too intensive for the site and did not fit the vision for the South Milwaukee Avenue.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Algonquin-Lake In The Hills, IL|News|
Algonquin Man Charged With Aggravated Battery After Stabbing
Police said a 57-year-old man suffered multiple lacerations in the Sept. 20 incident on Christie Drive.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Grayslake, IL|News|
CLC Grayslake Campus Briefly Placed In Soft Lockdown After Threat Report
The campus was placed under a soft lockdown for about 34 minutes Monday evening while police investigated a reported threat.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Worker Seriously Injured In Electrical Accident At Dollar General Construction Site
The man suffered an electrical injury and fell from a ladder Wednesday at the Woodstock store, officials said.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Barrington, IL|News|
Driver Dies After Vehicle Is Hit By Metra Train In Barrington
The driver was critically injured in a three-vehicle crash near Northwest Highway and Hart Road and later died, authorities said.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Elgin, IL|News|
Firefighters Rescue Man From Fox River In Elgin
Firefighters reached the man within a minute after he went underwater near the Chicago Street bridge Saturday afternoon, officials said.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
1 Killed In Crystal Lake-Area Crash
A single vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree Sunday morning on Butternut Drive, according to Crystal Lake Fire Rescue.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Woman Gets Prison In Nephew’s Murder | 6 Officers On Leave In Fatal Shooting | 12 Families Displaced By Fire
Plus, coroner IDs man killed i |n Fort Sheridan drowning | Woman dies in crash with police car | Woman accused of sexually assaulting teen.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Grayslake, IL|News|
Grayslake Apartment Fire Leaves 12 Families Without Homes
Crews evacuated all 25 apartments Thursday morning as the cause of the fire remains under investigation, fire officials said.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
Crystal Lake-Cary|News|
Driver Treated After SUV Crashes Into Lakewood Residence: Officials
Fire crews secured the scene after the vehicle entered the home’s attached two-car garage.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
St. Charles, IL|News|
150 Orbs Are Hidden Across Kane County: Can You Find One?
Handcrafted orbs are being tucked away daily at three local sites through Sept. 30, giving hunters new chances to find one.
Amie Schaenzer, Patch Staff
