Joliet 03-11-15

March 11, 2015 vol. 7 issue 27

News

City Council approves new Pilot Travel Center New station would be second at Route 53 and Laraway

see page 2

news New scoreboard for Silver Cross Field approved Two councilmen want to explore selling the stadium

see page 3

community Mayor Giarrante touts Joliet’s economy and improvements Notes Joliet has far less debt than similar cities

see page 5

opinion It’s Smoke and Mirror Time Again

Will County Model Railroad Club hosts open house The Will County Model Railroad Association showed off its new home at 9 W. Cass St. in Downtown Joliet last weekend with an open house.

Members and non-members alike were drawn to the HO scale modular club. Regular club hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 1 to 5 p.m.

Sundays. Monthly meetings and modeling clinics are on the first Tuesdays of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, contact Chris Herzog at chris.herzog@gmail.com or at wcmrra.org.

Nastiness in politics has been around for a long time

see page 7

sports Remembering Gordie

Former players, coaches remember the iconic coach

photos by John Patsch • for the bugle Len Seivert places an engine of the tracks to run during the Will County Model Railroad Club.

see page 9

business ‘A circus wagon on our building’ But consultant says proposed Rialto marquee meets preservation standards

see page 16

Members and visitors watch trains run at the open house.

W ednesday, M arch 11, 2015 | joli etbug le.com

City Council approves Pilot Travel Center New station would be second at Route 53 and Laraway

By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Despite concerns from the owner of an existing truck plaza about hurting business and traffic issues, the City Council on March 3 voted unanimously to approve a Pilot Travel Center on the southeast corner of Route 53 and Laraway Road.

As he did at the Feb. 19 Joliet Plan Commission meeting, Len McEnery, the owner of Route 66 Food and Fuel said a second fuel stop would hurt his business at the southwest corner of the same intersection, there wasn’t enough truck traffic to support two gas stations and the roads weren’t built to handle all the traffic.

Since the Illinois Commerce Commission closed Walter Strawn Drive a few miles south on Jan. 28, McEnery said, truck traffic on Illinois 53 south of Laraway Road is down about 30 percent as many of the truck drivers are using the Arsenal Road interchange off Interstate 55.

There is much more on Laraway Road, but that can cause issues with the nearby Laraway School and fire stations, he and his attorney Lyman Tieman told the council.

McEnery said his business is down about 20 percent, and sending half of his business to another gas station

across the street wouldn’t help.

“The corner isn’t ready for what you want to do there,” he said.

Represented by prominent local real estate attorney Mike Hansen, the owners of Pilot Travel Center had asked the Plan Commission to waive conditions dating to 2006, the year the property was brought into the city of Joliet. As part of the annexation agreement, the city had required that future development be subject to a planned unit development, a term that’s often shortened to the acronym PUD. When land is controlled by a planned unit development, the city has the right to make final decisions about every aspect of any project, including picking and choosing landscaping and shrubs. But staff had decided that a PUD wasn’t necessary for that corner anymore.

Community and Economic Development Director Jim Haller explained during the Feb. 19 meeting that in 2006, the city expected warehouses to be built on that corner, not a gas station. If a warehouse had gone in, the city would have wanted setbacks – a specified buffer zone of space – between the buildings and the roads.

“The current site plan meets all (our) requirements,” Haller said. He did oppose an 11th-hour request by Hansen to reduce the right-of-way along Laraway to 10 feet from 30 feet, as the neighboring gas station has. But the council approved that request along with the change in the annexation agreement.

Wednesday, M arch 11, 2015 | joli etbug le.com

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government > city council

New scoreboard for Silver Cross Field approved Two councilmen want to explore selling the stadium By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

A new scoreboard proposed for Silver Cross Field wasn’t supposed to come with fireworks, but it did.

So riled were councilmen Jim McFarland and Larry Hug at having to spend more than double what was budgeted for the new, larger sign that each brought up exploring selling Silver Cross Field, either to the Joliet Slammers or to another private group.

City Manager Jim Hock told the council they approved a budget that included $150,000 for a new scoreboard at the stadium, which the city owns. But that was with the idea they could split up the rest of the payments or delay them until next year.

But upon further review, Hock

said he learned the bank would charge interest that would add even more cost to the proposed $360,833.44 cost of a new 877-square-foot video board to replace the current 13-year-old, 374-square-foot scoreboard. That still would be much smaller than scoreboards at other fields.

Even then, Hock said, the price had to be negotiated down from $442,882.83 with the company, Daktronics, approved by a committee composed of city officials and Slammers representatives.

There was some thought given to the city borrowing $150,000 at 2.5 percent interest. But in the end, a majority of the council voted to pay the entire amount this year, using reserves to make up the difference.

Mayor Tom Giarrante and councilmen Jan Quillman, Terry Morris, John Gerl, Bettye Gavin and Mike Turk voted for the purchase.

Quillman and the other five said the city is the landlord, and they have to be responsible. And that means living up to the contract which says they are responsible

A new scoreboard proposed for Silver Cross Field wasn’t supposed to come with fireworks, but it did.

(Bugle File Photo) for replacing items at the stadium when they need to be.

On the other end were councilmen Hug, McFarland and Bob O’Dekirk, who said the city could not afford such an expenditure right now.

Hug said the city should ask the Slammers to split the cost.

McFarland said a new scoreboard isn’t a priority considering the city

needs more police officers and more public works employees to help clear snow, and is facing a potential loss of $6 million due to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts to counties and municipalities.

Quillman said the new scoreboard may not be a top priority, but it’s important for the city to meet its contract obligations. She noted

Silver Cross Field also has been the site of other events, such as movie nights and IHSA baseball playoff games.

Having an old scoreboard go out just before, or during, the season – when it takes weeks to get another one – wouldn’t be a good situation.

And if that did happen, she added, it’s likely the city would have to reimburse advertisers who paid for their messages to be displayed.

Gerl said allowing Silver Cross Field to go to seed would send a wrong message also considering they are working hard to keep the Will County Courthouse downtown.

In his closing comments before adjournment, McFarland said he wanted to have a vote soon on an idea brought up earlier by Hug: selling Silver Cross Field.

“It might be good to get the facility off the backs of the taxpayers, if that’s possible,” Hug said.

McFarland demanded the council consider such a vote soon to see if there is interest. Giarrante said they could do that.

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column

Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs Some Joliet councilmembers balked big time when they heard they would have to come up with more than $360,000 for a new scoreboard at Silver Cross Field instead of the $150,000 they budgeted.

They talked about a lot of different options, from letting it go another year to lending themselves the remainder and paying themselves back with interest next year.

Councilman Terry Morris had the most interesting thought: “Maybe we should call Mr. (Ed) Czerkies and see if he wants to donate another sign,” Morris said of the donor of the controversial marquee with the prominent memorial to his parents.

Czerkies subsequently pulled his donation after all the hue and cry.

Morris later said he was serious, but added that maybe Czerkies would want a sponsorship that would clash with the Silver Cross Field sponsorship.

And please do the dishes, Sweetie Speaker of Silver Cross Field, councilmen Larry Hug and Jim

McFarland said during their comments at the end of the March 3 meeting they want the city to look into selling the facility to get it “off the backs of taxpayers.”

Councilwoman Bettye Gavin’s parting remarks were more fitting for a message on the Silver Cross scoreboard: “Today is my 31st wedding anniversary,” Gavin said. After thanking her husband for that many years of love and devotion, she also thanked him for understanding when council meetings fall on important dates.

“He’s probably sitting home eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” she said.

Stepping up to the plate Even if spring isn’t quite in the air, you can tell the return of professional baseball – or what the Chicago area has -- is just around the corner.

County Board Member Ray Tuminello, R-New Lenox, was decked out in his White Sox tie at the March 5 Executive Committee

meeting, while colleague Mark Ferry, D-Plainfield, wore his Cubs shirt.

“Better stay away from Mark,” Democratic Caucus Chair Herb Brooks warned Tuminello.

Just before the meeting, a half dozen or so board members huddled up around Board Speaker Jim Moustis at the dais, whispering.

When they finally broke, Coach Moustis said they were just talking about how the Cubs and Sox will do this year.

“They’ll both have pretty good teams,” Moustis said.

Guess the media will have to be better at stealing signs.

On a mission The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and industry wants to become the largest chamber in Illinois other than Chicago, the No. 1 that can’t be beat.

“I believe we need to pass Naperville up,” said Don Fisher, the chamber’s chairman.

So the group will be recruiting new members between June and

see hot air | page 7

government > city Council

City Council unanimously denies Infantry Drive cell tower Nothing against the Knights of Columbus, council doesn’t like the location By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Although the City Council lauded the works of the Knights of Columbus – including Mayor Tom Giarrante, a 3rd Degree Knight – members said the 115-foot Verizon cell phone tower that would provide the group needed revenue is not appropriate for the 129th Infantry Drive location.

The Knights wanted to enter into a 50-year lease for a cell tower on a 75-by-75-foot square of land on their property at 100 S. 129th Infantry Drive, just south of Jefferson Street.

That would allow them to continue good works for disabled children.

But residents of the nearby Golf View Estates and Inwood Terrace are against the tower, saying it would be unsightly and would hurt their property values.

While the Joliet Zoning Board

of Appeals disagreed with their position and voted at its Feb. 19 meeting to recommend the project, City Manager Jim Hock said at the City Council’s March 2 pre-council meeting staff was recommending denial.

Hock said they talked with Joliet Park District representatives, who told them they would welcome the cell tower on their Memorial Stadium property across Infantry Drive. Councilman John Gerl and others said the same thing.

An official with the company

see tower | page 16

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government > state of the city

Mayor Giarrante touts Joliet’s economy and improvements Notes Joliet has far less debt than similar cities

By Stewart Warren staff reporter

stewartwarren509@yahoo.com @stewartwarren

Joliet residents should be proud of their hometown, Mayor Tom Giarrante said Tuesday morning.

It’s a great place that’s always getting better.

There have been important changes to the downtown, and there are more to come, Giarrante said during his third annual state of the city presentation. The breakfast event was held at City Hall and sponsored by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and the Joliet Kiwanis Club.

New restaurants have been added to the downtown, the University of St. Francis and Joliet Junior College are expanding their facilities and the city and county are working together on a major project.

Mayor Tom Giarrante chats with the crowd Tuesday morning after his address at City Hall. (Photo by STEWART WARREN) “I pledge to do whatever it takes to keep the county seat in downtown Joliet,” Giarrante said. “”Despite what you have heard, the city of Joliet and Will County have a great relationship.”

Additionally, there are terrific events happening every year in downtown, including the Joliet Public Library’s Star Wars Days and the City Center Partnership’s Race Fan Rally.

“Every one of those events attracts hundreds, if not thousands of people to our downtown,”

Giarrante said, speaking to the large crowd.

Last year, the city finished the first phase of its fight to change the troubled Evergreen Terrace public housing project, 350 N. Broadway, earning the right in court to buy the property. Now the city must go to trial to determine the price. It’s been an important cause to pursue, he said. Last year, the Joliet police had more calls for serve at Evergreen Terrace than any other location in the city, he said.

see city | page 7

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www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org • 800.323.734 Wednesday, M arch 11, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com

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The following items were compiled from the official reports of the Joliet Police Department. Appearing in the police blotter does not constitute a finding of guilt, only a court of law can make that determination.

SHOREWOOD Jennifer L. Clarke, 35, 2716 Old Woods Trail, Plainfield, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Feb. 26 at 950 Brookforest Ave. for obstructing justice and retail theft.

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Thomas J. Green, 23, 104 Westshore Drive, Shorewood, was arrested at 1:23 a.m. Feb. 28 in the 100 block of Westshore Drive for domestic battery.

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Erica L. Austin, 26, 1226 Glen Mor Drive, Shorewood, was arrested at 3:36 p.m. Feb. 28 at Interstate 55 and Jefferson Street for Driving while license suspended and Improper Lane Usage.

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unlawful restraint and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Karla Susan Jones, 56, 404 Herkimer, was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at 150 W. Washington for Illinois murderer and violent offender against youth registrant, failure to register.

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Christopher C. Rice, 44, 201 S. Center, was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Feb. 27 at 22 W. Cass for assault and theft of services.

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Jeremy J. Nondorff, 36, 350 E. Washington, was arrested at 3:16 p.m. Feb. 27 at 400 E. Cass for criminal trespass to real property.

Richard Lawson, 56, 659 River, Aurora, was arrested at 6:40 p.m. Feb. 27 at 375 Briarcliff for aggravated domestic battery,

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Jeremy N. Dillard, 28, 2620 Essington, was arrested at 8:16 p.m. Feb. 28 at Riverwalk and Caton Farm for retail theft and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

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Anthony J. Williams, 31, 1110 Heron Circle, was arrested at 9:13 p.m. Feb. 28 at Sable Ridge and John D. Paige drives for driving under the influence/alcohol and improper lane usage.

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Trent P. Koss, 51, 347 Carter Road, Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Feb. 28 at 777 Hollywood for aggravated battery to a police officer, disorderly conduct and aggravated battery.

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Verenice Martinez, 21, 609 Hamrick, Romeoville, was arrested at 6:34 p.m. March 1 at 3340 Mall Loop Drive for theft.

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Erin R. Manicki, 34, 313 Clare Lane, Utica, was arrested at 4:31 a.m. March 1 at 777 Hollywood for domestic battery or resisting/ obstructing a peace officer.

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Lakeshia L. Wade, 24, 316 N. Hickory, was arrested at 8:19 a.m. March 1 at 614 Mills for DUI – alcohol and DUI – BAC over .08.

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at 9:48 p.m. March 1 at 2424 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

Navier Vasquez, 41, 2350 Caton Farm, Crest Hill, was arrested at 12:26 a.m. March 1 at Ingalls and Elizabeth for DUI – alcohol.

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Dianna I. Solorzano, 35, 213 Herkimer, was arrested at 1:20 a.m. March 1 at Center and Marion for DUI – alcohol and DUI – BAC over .08.

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Timothy Jones, 49, 304 S. Desplaines, was arrested at 11:42 a.m. March 1 at Des Plaines and DeKalb for domestic battery.

Christopher M. Vogen, 37, 1016 Theodore, Crest Hill, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. March 2 at 150 W. Washington for aggravated assault.

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Martin A. Apolinar-Belazquez, 43, 522 Strong, was arrested at 9:59 p.m. Feb. 28 at 1515 W. Jefferson for domestic battery.

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Duntell L. Neal, 42, 916 Magnolia, was arrested at 11:54 a.m. March 1 at 912 Magnolia for domestic battery.

Jonathan M. Collazo, 20, 21461 Prestwick, Crest Hill, was arrested at 3:45 p.m. March 2 at 3340 Mall Loop Drive for theft.

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Joseph A. Holland, 18, 2213 Maple Ridge Drive, Plainfield, was arrested at 7:33 p.m. Feb. 28 at 3340 Mall Loop for retail theft.

Richard D. Bailey, 36, 3220 Karen, was arrested at 3:09 a.m. Feb. 28 at that address for criminal trespass to residence and criminal damage to governmentsupported land.

Thien P. Nguyen, 30, 4602 Clare Road, was arrested at 2:43 p.m. March 1 at 777 Hollywood for criminal trespass to property.

Gustavo Pintor, 24, 1050 Monteray Drive, Romeoville, was arrested at 1:43 a.m. March 2 at 777 Hollywood for disorderly conduct.

Michael F. Curran, 33, 21722 W. Joplin Court, Plainfield, was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Feb. 28 at Riverwalk and Caton Farm for retail theft and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

Rodney L. Love, 52, 307 Willard, was arrested at 3:27 a.m. Feb. 28 at 2nd and Sherman for DUI – aggravated (no driver’s license), DUI – blood alcohol content over .08 and DUI – alcohol.

Anthony Howse, 43, 116 Algonquin, Park Forest, was arrested at 7:26 p.m. March 1 at Western and Clement on an out of town warrant and for retail theft.

Larry P. McPolin, 46, 17517 Mayher Drive, Orland Park, was arrested at 2:37 a.m. March 2 at 777 Hollywood for battery.

Gigi Marie Leiva, 25, 1850 Asbury Circle, was arrested

For more Joliet Police Blotter, visit www. buglenewspapers.com/policeblotter

Phyllis Hatten-Miller, 51, 1510 Fairview, was arrested at 6:20 p.m. Feb. 28 at 2424 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

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Melvin A. Howard, 21, 1005 Quail Drive, Morris, was arrested at 7:01 p.m. Feb. 28 at 2205 Rossiter Parkway for domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

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send us your feedback at sweditor@buglenewspapers.com

Wedn esday, M arch 11, 2015 | bug leneW spapers.coM

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column

It’s Smoke and Mirror Time Again

editorial

Nastiness in politics has been around for a long time

production

Laura KatausKas stewart warren • Mark GreGory • Mike Sandrolini

That was before social media. Now, the truth still would be looking for its shoes.

Nastiness in politics has been around for a long time. Pharaohs had to be careful of the writing on the walls. Julius Caesar had a hard time watching his back. A lot of French kings and their families knew By niCk reiher managing editor their way around the blocks. nreiher@buglenewspapers.com Speaking of the term “nastiness,” @JolietILNews where do you think that came from?

If it weren’t for the fact that Old French and Dutch people. the alternative is dictatorship Thought I was going to say and chaos, I would say let’s Thomas Nast the political skip all this election stuff. cartoonist, didn’t you? I almost But enough about Chicago. did, until a stepped over the pile Seriously, if you are ever of urban legend. But the guy who feeling too good about brought us caricatures of Uncle yourself or aren’t sure what niCk reiher Sam, political elephants and your missteps and foibles are, MANAGING EDITOR donkeys, and even good ol’ Santa run for election. You will find out stuff about yourself even you didn’t Claus, likely contributed to the term “nasty” with his political cartoons in the know.

I don’t know why people run. I don’t 1800s.

For a time, and this seems like 100 know why people subject themselves – and their families – to scrutiny from their years ago to me, there was an air of opponents. The media? Who needs us to respect given to candidates, at least do anything now? All you need to do is by the public and the press, if not their find something nasty about a person, opponents. But while opponents got that may or may not have one iota of down and dirty, they rarely got personal. truth to it, put it out on Facebook or Maybe because they were afraid of what people might find rattling around in Twitter, and off it goes.

More than a century ago, Mark Twain their closets.

I don’t expect most candidates to tone said, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its down the hyperbole and borderline slander during the campaigns, but they shoes.”

should know sometimes people pay more attention to a whisper of truth than a bellowing lie.

While most people may not know whether a candidate is lying, or at least stretching the truth, they do know what their streets look like. They do know, or should, how good their schools are or where they are lacking. They know who they can call in their towns or school districts if they need something, or should. It’s usually all on a website … if you haven’t met your particular representative personally.

But see, that’s part of the problem. By the time we get to the elections, many voters who haven’t paid attention for the past two, four or six years have to cram for the test. Those who feel disenfranchised will be looking for messages from candidates or opponents that say “tax hike,” “Increased spending,” “Bad snow removal,” etc., without knowing the whole story.

It’s like the “Family Guy” episode where Lois wins an election by just repeating “Nine Eleven” even though her race had nothing to do with the tragedy.

Really. Are we that gullible? Some candidates think so. Others hope we aren’t watching at all.

For years and years, I asked you – implored you—to vote. And I still do.

But for Pete’s sake, ask some questions.

Joliet has less debt than similar Illinois towns. As part of his accompanying PowerPoint presentation, Giarrante showed a slide illustrating the issue.

The city of Bolingbrook, for example, has more than $213 million in general obligation debt, Giarrante said. Rockford, for example, has more than $137 million, and Aurora has more than $69 million.

By comparison, Joliet has a little more than $10.3 million in general obligation debt.

General obligation debt is the amount of money a city has borrowed to finance

capital projects, explained Jim Ghedotte, Joliet finance Director, speaking after the presentation.

“Throughout the years, the city of Joliet has paid cash for capital purposes,” Ghedotte explained. Because the city has kept that figure low, it has more money to pay for operating expenses such as the staff’s salaries and removing snow, he added.

In the end, the thing that really makes Joliet great is its residents, Giarrante said.

“Joliet does not need to be great again. It already is.”

is going to be missed by so many people.

heroin crisis.

“We have to decide what we want to be … a Park District, or a Forest Preserve.”

– suzanne hart, president of the Forest Preserve District of Will County during an Operations Committee meeting where staff recommended cutting some popular events that sap their resources.

“That piggy needs to wear underwear!

– A fourth-grader visiting the Will county farM bureau’s ag eXpo March 3 when he noticed an obviously male pig.

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facebook.com/thebuglenewspapers twitter.com/buglenewspapers instagram.com/buglenewspapers EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed in guest columns, editorial cartoons and letters to the editor belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the The Bugle or its staff.

“I still think it is the right thing to do because the residents deserve better,” Giarrante said.

After the city acquires the buildings, the Holsten Real Estate and Management Company of Chicago, Joliet’s partner in the project, will hold a series of meetings to determine the future of the property.

“This will be an open, transparent process, and I encourage everyone to participate,” Giarrante said.

The mayor also stressed the city of

hot air | fRom page 4 September.

“We’re the city of champions,” Fisher said. “We’re a strong business community, and we want to show Joliet what we are all about.”

CondolenCes To the family of toM giganti, 78, who passed away March 1. An active member of the community, including work with the citizens police acadeMy aluMni of Romeoville and as the crossing guard at Irene King Elementary School, he was a wonderful man with a beautiful soul who

Congrats To Romeoville Police Chief “Magic” Mark turvey, MVP of the annual TriCounty Special Recreation Association basketball game. Turvey played great, even though he was taken down twice, said Village Manager steve gulden.

they said …

“You can’t arrest your way out of this.” – dr. kathleen burke of Strategic Prevention, telling theWill County Board’s Public Health and Safety Committee prevention is crucial in addressing the

Reporters Stewart Warren and Laura Katauskas, and Managing Editor Nick Reiher contributed to this week’s column.

FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF Wednesday, M arch 11, 2015 | bug leneW spapers.coM

Aries

mARCh 21 TO APRiL 20

Exercise is excellent if you don’t go to extremes. Find ways to burn off extra energy in the week ahead. Plan to participate in sports or take educational trips that will prevent you from going stir crazy.

gemini

m Ay 2 2 T O j U n E 2 1

Once the love bug has bitten, you may be as helpless as a kitten. In the week to come, you might be more attractive than usual and your social life could take a positive turn. Play the field.

leo

j U Ly 2 3 T O A U g U s T 2 1

Focus on energetically pursuing goals that hold great promise or opportunity. You may be luckier than usual when teamed up with others this week. You have the energy to meet high expectations with ease.

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sEPTEmbER 24 TO OCTObER 23

It’s far better to work than to worry. Busy hands keep the mind from going around in endless circles. Don’t make major changes in your routines or try to hedge your bets in the week ahead.

sAgittArius

nOvEmbER 23 TO DECEmbER 22

Make sure your budget and financial plan for the coming week is rock solid. Passing whims and distractions could drain your piggy bank. Insurance, taxes and shared pleasures are in the spotlight.

AquArius

jAnUARy 21 TO FEbRUARy 19

Friends may make your social life more satisfying in the week ahead. Remain objective about your longterm goals. You may need to abandon one treasured dream to pursue another.

Sudoku

tAurus

A P R i L 2 1 T O m Ay 2 1

You’re capable of coping with any contingency. Pay important bills early so you aren’t caught napping later in the week. Tackle projects that require tenacity and unflagging concentration.

cAncer

j U n E 2 2 T O j U Ly 2 2

Your closest partner might have good ideas, but putting them into motion might disrupt your life this week. Guard against a tendency to be extravagant with money.

virgo

AUgUsT 22 TO sEPTEmbER 23

Not many people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Since you must work for a living, buckle down in the week ahead and make the most of your talents and opportunities at the office.

scorpio

OCTObER 24 TO nOvEmbER 22

Be grateful if you get a second chance. Utilize any and every opportunity to start over or correct past mistakes. You may spend more time than usual in the public eye this week.

cApricorn

DECEmbER 23 TO jAnUARy 20

A rebel without a cause might show up at your door.

You might worry that changes will drain your control.

In the week ahead, accept with good grace the things that can’t be changed.

pisces

FEbRUARy 20 TO mARCh 20

Plan ahead and work hard in the week ahead. Make sure that your bank account can withstand unexpected demands.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 2015

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• AWARD • POKER • FUTURE • OCELOT

Answer:

WhAT hAPPEnED WhEn shE WORE hER nEW OUTFiT TO ThE gym? -- iT “WORKED” OUT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

page 9

>> inside: steelMen Fall in close battle With ‘brooK page 14

gorDie gillespie

remembering

GORDIE Former players, coaches reflect on the life of the iconic coach

By Mark gregory SportS reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

With the death of coaching icon Gordie Gillespie brought many stories of his style and dedication to the many sports he coached.

No matter who you talk to or what sport they played one general theme existed – Gillespie cared more for the athlete than the victory.

That philosophy, however, turned into more than 2,000 wins in his illustrious career.

“I had a chance to play for Gordie and then had a chance to assist with him for 14 years, seven at Joliet Catholic and seven at St. Francis,” said JCA football coach Dan Sharp.

“The best memory I have of him is that he always made everyone better people. He always saw the best in everyone and was able to bring that out of them.”

“He would make you feel good,” said Roger Hewlett, a linebacker on Gillespie’s first state championship team at Joliet Catholic. “He was a great motivator. That was why we were so good. You never had to

try and get yourself ready to play, you just had to listen to him for five minutes before the game. He brought out the best in you.”

Mark Parker, the quarterback on that 1975 state title team, agreed.

“It didn’t matter the sport, it didn’t matter the gender and didn’t matter the level, he could get the most out of every athlete he coached,” he said. “You always felt like you did not want to let him down, in a game or in a simple drill in practice. It was never about him, he was all about the kids. He really wanted to see you do well, it was not all about getting the win. It didn’t matter what sport he coached or the high school level or college level – he was the same guy. He made every player feel like they were part of something special, no matter if you were the all state player or a reserve.”

Not only was Gillespie a motivator, he was an innovator as well.

“He was very creative,” Parker said. “He was always thinking and trying to create something different offensively and defensively. He

see gordie | page 11

pHoto courtesy oF uniVersity oF st. FrAncis

gordie gillespie coached in the area for five decades.

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Wedn esday, M arch 11, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com gordie | from page 9 was always looking for that new wrinkle.”

One of those wrinkles, was outlawed for a while.

“Today everyone has this fast paced offense to see how many plays you can run. Well, back then, you always sent someone in with the plays,” said Pat Mudron, a 1967 graduate. “Gordie had a stick that he would hold and depending on how he hold it was the play. He was going back to his baseball thinking of signaling in the play. Well, that is normal now, but it was innovative then and someone called him out on it and he wasn’t able to do it because they said it was illegal.”

Mudron also said Gillespie had a strategy that helped his teams win close games late.

He said instead of scheming to run plays away from the team’s best defensive player, Gillespie would run right at them and make that player make play after play after play and, especially if they were a two-way player, they would be tired in the fourth quarter.

“When you had that linebacker and running back two-way player, he would run right at him every play,” Mudron said. “So in the fourth quarter, when he got the ball, he was tired. He made sure those

stars played hard for 48 minutes. If that coach left that kid on the field, Gordie was going to run at him.”

Not only was Gillespie a great coach for players to while they played for him, but he was that same guy after.

“He was always there for me after high school,” Hewlett said.

“Whenever I needed advice or whatever, he was always there for me.”

“He would always know you and knew who you were and would remember everyone’s name,” said Jim Trizna, an offensive lineman on the 1975 team. “He was the best coach I ever had and he had a great run.”

And, while Gillespie died, his legacy will live on through those who coached under him.

“When people talk about that coaching tree, like in the NFL, with the Bill Walsh coaching tree or whoever, that was the biggest influence I had from Gordie,” said JCA baseball coach Jared Voss. “All the guys I was coached by and the guys I was around were all influenced by Gordie. They either were coached by him or coached with him.”

It is that coaching tree that will keep Gillespie’s memory alive forever.

11

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boys hoops

Steelmen hang tough, fall in close battle with ‘Brook

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

For the better part of three quarters, Joliet Central did what it needed to on the defensive end to hold Bolingbrook down in the final game of the Class 4A Romeoville Regional.

However, Bolingbrook came back in the fourth quarter and forced an overtime period and eventually won the game 48-42 – eliminating the Steelmen.

“To the kids’ credit, they fought and played hard,” said Joliet Central coach Jeff Corcoran. “We had the score where we wanted. We knew we couldn’t get out and run with them.”

The Steelmen had a six-point advantage at the break and held a five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, despite missing early shots and free throws.

“If we had one more shot, one more free throw, one more stop, we could have left with that plaque,” Corcoran said.

Central went into the contest with the plans to slow the pace and not let Bolingbrook get out and run, but also try and neutralize the Raider big men, which they did early, forcing University of Wisconsin-Green-Bay recruit Julian Torres into early foul trouble.

“We have a great staff and they prepare the kids for the game,” Corcoran said. “We don’t have 6-foot9 and then two other D-I kids on the photo by mark gregory

see battle | page 14

Taquan Sims led the Steelmen in scoring in both playoff games.

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boys hoops

13

Minooka defeats Joliet West in playoff opener

By Scott Taylor sports editor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @Taylor_Sports

When Minooka and Joliet West met at West in a regional semifinal game March 3, it provided a preview of what looks to be a good rivalry in the Southwest Prairie Conference when West joins in a couple years.

With good student turnouts on both sides, the two teams battled it out, but a fast start was enough for Minooka in a 61-45 win.

“It’s nice when you work on things all season and in the postseason it all comes together,” Minooka coach Scott Tanaka said.

“I thought we did a great job with

everything coming together. It is nice to see when kids buy into a system and work hard, that they are able to reap those rewards.”

“We had no answer for them,” West coach Nick DiForti said.

“They played the way I thought they would. We missed a lot of layups in the first quarter. We couldn’t convert and got in a hole.

We didn’t get to the line as much as I had hoped.”

After a 12-6 lead after one, the Indians broke open the game in the second quarter, taking a 28-8 lead and led 30-15 at the half.

“It was nice. We wanted to come out tough and hard,” Minooka junior Joe Butler said. “We wanted to show them we weren’t going

to lay down in their house and we wanted to take it to them. We played good team ball.”

The Tigers trimmed the lead to 11 in the third quarter after ramping up their full-court pressure, but Minooka responded after a timeout and put the game away.

“We knew we were going to have our run, we just wish we had a little more in the tank to make a couple more runs,” DiForti said. “When we cut it to 11, they answered and executed.”

“We got a little timid out there for a short amount in the third quarter,” Butler said. “We wanted to get composed in the timeout and coach did a good job of

settling us down and getting into our offense.”

Butler finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds.

“Joe is the best player in the conference,” Tanaka said. “I’ve said it so many times but people don’t want to believe me. He showed tonight why his is one of the top players in the state.

Larry Roberts added 17 points for the Indians.

“Larry has done it all year, knocking down big shot after

big shot,” Tanaka said. “We had a freshman point guard come in late in the season and he has done a great job of running the offense and taking care of the ball. We have a big man who rebounds every 50-50 ball. We did a great job of knowing our roles.”

It was an impressive performance for a young team with no seniors, but a full year of experience and good chemistry

see opener | page 14

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photo by scott taylor

Jon Butler drives to the basket in MInooka’s win over Joliet West.

opener | from page 13 helped them through the year.

“Most of us have played with each other since fourth or fifth grade,” Butler said. “We have really good chemistry, so that helps a lot. It is a big jump t the

battle | from page 12 floor. What we have are scrappy kids.

Sure, we get pushed around, but when we do, we push back and that is a credit to the kids we have. It will never be pretty for us, what we are is very scrappy.”

Central split with Bolingbrook during the season, beating the Raiders in the opener of the SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue Division.

That was one of the few league games where Joliet Central had its full complement of players.

“Credit to our kids, they want to prove themselves. Other teams may be bigger or stronger than us, but these kids are resilient,” Corcoran said.

“They practice hard and play hard.”

Against Bolingbrook, Central junior

varsity level and they are doing a great job out there.”

Minooka faced the sectional’s top seed, Neuqua Valley, Friday, but fell, 41-33, ending its season.

For West, the lost marked the end of the season. It was an up-

and-down season with an influx of younger players and a core group of seniors.

“We were playing young guys all year,” DiForti said. “But at the same time, we had a nice group of seniors who were the glue for us.”

Taquan Sims tallied 16 points, while Malik Fuller scored eight. Kenyon Woodfork added seven points and Darius Stokes hit a pair of 3-pointers for six points.

To get to the regional final game, the Steelmen defeated another SWSC foe in Sandburg. It was the first time in three matchups this season Central defeated the Eagles 45-42.

Central tallied the first basket of the game until Sandburg’s 6-foot-7 senior Tommy Demogerontas went off.

He tallied 17 points in the first three quarters, but was held scoreless the final period.

“We knew they were going to make a run, but we stuck with it,” Corcoran said. “TQ missed that layup at the end of the third that would have tied it and

I just shook his hand and told him to stay with it, we were going to have our run.”

Stokes gave Central its first lead since the opening basket on a designed play for a 3-pointer with 6:50 remaining in the fourth.

“That was a big three for us,” Corcoran said.

“We designed that play for him and he hit it for us,” Sims said.

Sims again paced Central scoring 17 points in the game.

Sims missed a large chunk of the season with an ankle injury.

“Ihavebeenworkingtowardthis,”he said. “The fourth quarter is where great player become great. My teammates have confidence in me and I try and get the job done.”

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15

notre Dame

q & a with local athletes

FEATURING

joe Mooney

Basketball, senior guard

hoW Many folloWers do you have on tWitter?

About 400 What, in particular, do you like to do on tWitter?

I like to get caught up with high school basketball and see what’s going on with everything. have you ever received a tWeet froM anyone faMous?

No one famous. My brother (Matt Mooney, a former Notre Dame basketball player) is always giving me shout-outs after games and we have fun.

will derrick rose play again this year?

yes

no

71% 29% plainfield eaSt hS @pehSathleticS Who will win the Voyager Media All-Star girls game?

MarK’s teaM scott’s teaM Note: To view rosters, go to www.buglenewspapers.com/ all-stargame/

“east 56 north 44 regionAl cHAmps!!!!!”

@LadyVol_Hoops: congratulations to @ Aye_mass05 for tallying 1,000 points and 500 assists! she and lea Henry took 116 games to do so.

bhS athleticS @bhSraiderS “in an extremely tough game, the raiders #surviveAndAdvance beating the extremely savvy Jt steelmen team 48-42 in ot!!!”#theBrook notre dame @nddonS “congrats to the Varsity B-Ball Dons! they beat Deerfield 49- 47 and are now niles (notre Dame) regional champs!”

News about local businesses in your community

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community > rialto square theatre

‘A circus wagon on our building’ But consultant says proposed Rialto marquee meets preservation standards

By Pat Schager

for the enterprise

news@enterprisepublications.com @PlainfieldNews

The first meeting of the Rialto Marquee Advisory Committee March 4 brought out a handful of interested citizens to downtown Joliet’s University of St. Francis St. Bonaventure Campus.

The ad hoc committee was formed as a response to the continuing community uproar over the pending replacement of the Rialto Square Theatre marquee.

Objections to the marquee have ranged from “too large” to “too Las Vagasy,” “not in keeping with the historical marquee” familiar to so many theater-goers and residents.

The members of the committee were announced at a January 28 meeting when Rialto board president James Smith said he was trying for objectivity and transparency after two donors each offered donations of $350,000 at different times to cover costs of replacing the marquee.

The donors asked that their gifts be returned when groups of residents and theatre patrons cried foul over the handling of the future looks and wordage of the sign above the theatre entrance as well as the structure size.

At the inaugural committee meeting, Architect and Preservation Consultant Doug Gilbert of Oak Park gave an overview of the

tower | from page 4 that would build the tower said they would not be able to simply put the cell receiver on one of the existing light towers on the Park District’s parking lot. He said they would have to take down one of the 60-foot-high lights and put up the tower, which would be nearly twice as high.

And since it would be taller than the light standards, he said the Federal Aviation Administration may not allow anything higher than 90 feet or so. And already they have come down from the original, optimal 140-foot height.

Yet in voting against the tower March 3, Gerl mentioned the same possibility. Councilwoman Jan Quillman hoped the Knights and

National Register of Historic Places and practices and examples of preservation of historic buildings.

The public was given a chance to submit written questions and comments after the presentation.

Committee chairman Chris Clott of USF reminded those present that this was an introductory advisory committee meeting and asked the public to hold their questions about the marquee for the next meeting on March 18.

“This committee is charged with compiling facts which will then be presented to the Rialto Board in April,” he said.

Gilbert has 20 years preserving and restoring historic homes and buildings in Illinois, assessing buildings, and National Register nominations for the State of Illinois.

He styled himself as an expert witness and explained Historic Preservation commission rules.

Gilbert said the Rialto listed on the National Register in 1978, which is an honorary listing of historic sites. He explained there are no restrictions on private properties and there are tax credit incentives for rehabilitation work.

He presented photos of Rialto marquees starting with the original 1926 structure which had panels that were interchangeable for different shows, the art deco flavor 1930’s marquee, the 1950’s marquee that featured larger end panels and large letters spelling out RIALTO above a smaller sized marquee

and the current marquee from 1980, which he called “close to the original 1926 version.” Gilbert said in his opinion, the “marquee is not historic, but the design is.”

Gilbert went on to explain that the replacement (marquee) should be in character with the historic building and complement its historic design.

“New technologies can be incorporated into a new marquee.”

His presentation points were that new technologies are typically utilities, fire sprinklers, and the like, and functional buildings must be kept up to date or they become museums. “The key is to blend new with historic character,” he said.

Gilbert said the rendering of the new, controversial marquee, in his opinion, meets the criteria, and he would approve it from a design standpoint.

At this point Mike Morgan, one of the committee members, referred to the new marquee as “putting a circus wagon on our building.”

Clott reiterated that the ad hoc committee’s job was to fact-find and present the facts to the Rialto Board.

The only light moment during the evening came when Rialto Foundation Member Jeff Hettrick said, “we want to hear what people have to say before coming to any conclusions.”

That’s when someone from the audience asked, “Do you really want us to say what we think of the proposed marquee.”

The March 18 meeting’s agenda will be everything relating to the marquee.

the homeowners might be able to work out a compromise.

Knights of Columbus representative Bob Schmitt said at the March 2 meeting moving the tower on Park District property would lose them the revenue they need not only to continue their good works, but to survive at all.

He said they would be forced to go to “Plan A,” which the Knights put on the shelf several years ago: selling the southern portion of its property, which abuts both Inwood Terrace and Golf View Estates. He noted the property is zoned B3, which allows quite a few types of businesses. And with a business, Schmitt added, comes a parking lot, and with a parking lot comes lights.

Schmitt also was upset a couple of

councilman said they would oppose the tower there after meeting with representatives of the homeowners associations.

“You never met with us,” he said, adding that staff never told the Knights of their recommendation of denial.

If the Knights don’t get to lease the property, Schmitt said, “Plan A” would go into effect.

“When the ground thaws, there will be a sign on the corner advertising 2.5 acres of prime property for sale or lease.

“It’s not a scare tactic. It’s what we need to do to survive.”

Quillman said residents who called her in opposition to the tower said they would prefer a strip mall there.

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Forest Preserve officials discussing cutting popular events to save money, wear on trails By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Popular annual forest preservebased events such as “Ride the Rock” family bicycle ride and the “Howloween Hoopla” could disappear in 2016 under a budgetcutting plan offered by staff of the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Staff and some of the commissioners also would like to limit the number of non-district special events held in the preserves by non-profit groups because the number and size of the events is beginning to sap district resources.

Ralph Schultz, the district’s director of Planning and Operations, and John Gerl, director of Administration and Finance,

presented specifics of the plan to members of the district board’s Operations Committee March 4.

During its capital expansion programs starting in the late 1990s, the district often had events to herald a new trail or facility. Those were thought to be one-time events, Schultz and Gerl said, but in some cases, staff was asked to repeat and expand them.

They explained at the February meeting the district can no longer afford such large-scale events because of planned employee retirements during the next few years and a lean, no-frills budget approved by commissioners last fall to address a projected $432,000 loss of revenue this year and beyond due to holding the line on expenses during the recession.

This year, Schultz said, they are

recommending cutting only the “Cruise the Creek” event scheduled for fall. The “Music at McKinley” event could continue, they said, if the fireworks were eliminated and the number of cars for the car show were reduced and capped.

In 2016, they recommended eliminating Ride the Rock, the 16-mile family bike ride that was designed to promote the 16-mile loop trail formed by the Rock Run, Joliet Junction and I&M Canal trails.

Initially, the event drew 400 to 500 participants eight or nine years ago, but now, there are around 2,000.

The event requires 27 police officers to handle traffic control throughout Joliet, Rockdale and Crest Hill, they said. And since the District doesn’t have that many, they have to ask for police help from those towns.

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