Joliet 3-18-15

March 18, 2015 vol. 7 issue 28

News

JJC Culinary Arts students cook special dinner for governor Hosted by House Leader Jim Durkin, state Sen. Pat McGuire at Executive Mansion

see page 9

news Community mourns loss of supporter George Kosack Longtime community supporter founded menswear business see page 3

hot air Flood … of calls … on Kankakee River Wisps of general knowledge culled from many areas of Will County

Plungers take on icy water for Special Olympics It was a great day at the beach early Saturday, even if the temperature was barely 50 degrees and the wind was a bit nippy. The icy March lake temperature didn’t stop 319 people from plunging into the water in costumes, See the full story on page 2

see page 4

police Officers shoot armed suspect Second such incident in past month

see page 5

sports End of and era Lockport’s Thompson retires after 16 seasons as head coach

see page 11

The Frankfort Cheetahs take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. ((PHOTOS BY JOHN PATSCH))

The first of over 300 people get ready to take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics at Leisure Lakes in Shorewood.

(PHOTOS BY JOHN PATSCH)

W ednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | joli etbug le.com

The Co Op Chillers run out of the water during the Polar Plunge at Leisure Lakes. (PHOTOS BY JOHN PATSCH)

Plungers take on icy water for Special Olympics 319 plungers, dry supporters raise money for torch run

By Kris Stadalsky for the bugle

sweditor@buglenewspapers.com @BugleNewspapers

It was a great day at the beach early Saturday, even if the temperature was barely 50 degrees and the wind was a bit nippy.

The icy March lake temperature didn’t stop 319 people from plunging into the water in costumes, all in the name of the Special Olympics Torch Run during the Polar Plunge at Leisure Lake Resort in Shorewood.

There were groups of yellow Minions and Olaf snowmen from the movie “Frozen.” There were teams in pink tutus, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and some baring almost all in bikinis or shorts.

The very first group in was the team from Cornerstone Services.

While Alex Kaluza said the water was “definitely cold,” Mike Roed felt more confident than during last year’s plunge when it was 10 degrees and chunks of ice floated in the lake.

“It’s for a good cause,” Roed said.

The money raised on Saturday will go to the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run, the single largest year-round fund raising vehicle benefitting Special Olympics.

More than 3,000 officers across the state run a 1,500-plus mile relay carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their home towns.

The destination for the flame is the Special Olympic summer games is downstate in Normal in June.

Cami Bryant, 13, of Joliet, was one of 16 team members who took the plunge with team “Ice-A-Topes for Cami.”

The Troy Middle School student is a Special Olympian and competes in multiple events, including the 100 meter dash, long jump, baseball throw and basketball during the

Olympics. Her favorite event is track, she said, because she loves to run.

She agreed her running skill came in handy when she had to make a mad dash in and out of the water.

This June will be the fifth year Cami has competed in Special Olympics. She also plays baseball with the Miracle League in Joliet.

Her grandfather Jim Aguiar is team captain, and Margie Justic is the co-captain.

“Our team has raised over $25,000 over the last three years for Special Olympics,” Aguiar said.

The first plungers went into the water at 12 sharp. While they were drying off, others waited in the long line for their turn.

The Bolingbrook Police Department had a team of 12 members, said Officer Jenna Swendsen.While some of the officers were seasoned plungers, Swendsen was a first-timer in the group. The anticipation of the icy water and watching others take the dip wasn’t going to deter Swendsen.

“I’m excited, I like the cold water,” she said. “Although some of my teammates aren’t (excited).”

Once dried off and changed into their 2015 Polar Plunge sweatshirts, team members headed over to the recreation center for a warm lunch of hot dogs, burgers, baked beans, chips and cookies. Hopping around to music played by New Sensation DJ Service helped warm everyone up. There were more participants in this year’s plunge than last year, said Polar Plunge volunteer Amy Bandstra.

“The weather really helped,” she said. While it’s not a requirement for volunteers, Bandstra took the plunge herself, as many of the volunteers do. Even though the lake didn’t have floating ice this year, the courage of everyone who took the plunge was a fitting testament to Special Olympics whose motto is “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | joli etbug le.com

county news

Community mourns loss of supporter George Kosack Longtime community supporter founded menswear business

Formalwear in 1948 in a room of his parents’ home. Kosack married Margaret “Midge” Maurer on November 19, 1955.

A member of the Exchange Club of Joliet for over 60 years, Kosack George Kosack, community supporter and founder of the Joliet served as State President, District Governor of the Exchange menswear rental business Club and recipient of the bearing his name, died Distinguished Service March 11 at Sunny Hill Award. Until his illness, Nursing Home in Joliet.

Kosack attended many of He was 88. Kosack has the club’s Tuesday lunches, been recovering at Sunny regaling newer members Hill after surgery to repair with talks of Old Joliet and a broken hip in January.

Several days ago, he had George Kosack the origins of the Exchange Club and meetings at the a feeding tube installed community supporter and former Woodruff Hotel. to help him gain some founder of the Joliet menswear Kosack also was a weight, according to rental business member of the Downtown family. He was walking bearing his name Development Council with a walker.

He was born in Joliet to George and Joliet Region Chamber of and Catherine Kosack, who Commerce. Volunteer of the Red preceded him in death. He was a U.S. Cross Disaster Crew. Recipient of the Navy veteran of WWII, participating Black Tie Award from International in Operation Bikini Atoll. He served Formalwear Association as an on the U.S.S. Reclaimer. When outstanding formalwear dealer.

He is survived by his wife, four he returned, he founded Kosack

children, George (Kathy) Kosack, Jr. of Crest Hill; Lisa Gerrettie of Joliet; Lynne (Gary) Voightsberger of Redondo Beach, California; and Gregg Kosack of Joliet; six grandchildren, Gary Kosack, Jr., Cali Kosack, Ryan (Stephanie) Kosack, Andy Kosack, Devon Voightsberger and Mallory Gerrettie; one greatgrandson, Tucker Kosack; one sister, Vernie Cartelli of Joliet; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his son, Gary Kosack, Sr. in 1985.

Funeral services will be held at 9:15 am. Monday, March 16, from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington roads, Joliet, to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Memorials in his name to Joliet Area Community Hospice or Wish Upon A Star Foundation of Joliet would be appreciated.

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transportation

ICC board allows IDOT to study effect of Walter Strawn closure Road will remain closed despite request by state By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

The full Illinois Commerce Commission Board agreed on March 9 to allow state transportation officials to study the effects on surrounding roads of closing Walter Strawn Drive.

The also ICC denied a request by an Illinois Department of Transportation official to reopen the west entry road into the CenterPoint Intermodal Center off Route 53 while the study was being done.

The ICC administrative hearing judge assigned to the case, Latrice Kirkland-Montague, now likely will set another hearing to

set the hearing schedule for the study, and possibly allow some additional evidence to be entered, said attorney Michael Scotti III, representing CenterPoint.

CenterPoint always has been opposed to closing Walter Strawn Drive, which was built specifically to handle traffic into Elwood’s BNSF Intermodal Yard. The road started to take on thousands of trucks more daily than anticipated after Joliet’s Union Pacific yard to the north opened, and work began on rebuilding the DesPlaines River Bridge on Interstate 55.

IDOT officials have done a 360 within the past six months, initially opposed to the closure, then supporting it last fall, before John Fortmann, Deputy Director of Highways, submitted a letter to the ICC Dec. 23 urging the commission to perform a traffic study before closing the crossing.

see idot | page 18

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column

Flood … of calls … on Kankakee River Sometimes, National Weather Service alerts work a little too well.

Harold Damron, Will County’s Emergency Management Agency director, said he got a call last week from a Chicago TV station saying its helicopter was on the way down here. Turns out they had received a NWS flood advisory for the Kankakee River when levels got a little more than a foot over flood stage due to some ice floe jamming on the river.

“I told them if they’re coming out to see water in people’s basements, they can save their jet fuel,” Damron said. Not that Phelan Acres residents on the river didn’t get a little antsy one day last week after the river started inching toward their front yards. But Damron said the warmer weather and a couple weeks of using water from the Dresden cooling lake broke up the big chunks, and the river was flowing just fine.

“We’re in the clear,” Damron said.

A Seat at the Table Brent Hassert, former Will County Board member and legislator-turned lobbyist, said he was proud to watch Joliet Junior College Culinary Arts students serve dinner to Gov. Bruce Rauner,

and a handful of legislators and JJC trustees March 10 at the Executive Mansion in Springfield.

“The meal was as good as anything you could get a Tallgrass,” boasted the JJC alum, referring to the highclass restaurant in Lockport.

Hassert said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, who helped set up the dinner, had the laugh of the night: “He asked the JCC students if their wine cellar was as good as the one at the College of DuPage.”

Hassert, who had been working on this or a similar event for several years, said he was glad the students got to do it, and that it turned out to be Rauner’s first formal dinner at the Executive Mansion.

Calling Ed Czerkies Will County Board members still are having trouble with the name of the former Social Security Administration Building on Scott Street they bought and spruced up for new digs for the coroner and recorder of deeds. Moving them in their saves a bundle in rent each year. They don’t want to keep calling it the former Social Security Administration building, or by its address, 158 N. Scott St. Board Member Mike Fricilone had a thought: “Can we sell the naming

rights?” The Rialto Board might have some insights on that.

Condolences To the family and many friends of George Kosack, founder of the Joliet men’s formal wear shop that bears the family name nearly 70 years later. George, who passed March 11 at age 88, was a proud and active member of the Exchange Club of Joliet, which he joined only two years after it was founded.

He is missed, and will be for a long time. Old-timers scanning local obituaries also may have noticed a familiar name: Shirley Eichholzer.

Shirley, a retired Will County Sheriff’s officer, was the smiling face who greeted the press when they came to the old county jail in the basement of the courthouse to inquire about new lodgers.

Meeting Shirley was a rite of passage for new reporters; getting to be her friend was an honor.

Finally …

Best wishes to Bugle reporter Stewart Warren who took a job recently with Joliet Job Corps. She will be missed.

This week’s column was compiled by Managing Editor Nick Reiher.

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5

police > joliet

police

shoot armed domestic abuse suspect Time to rate Joliet Police Officers 2nd such incident in Accreditation Assessment Team invites public comments

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton announced that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., will arrive on March 29, to examine all aspects of the Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services.

Benton noted that verification by the team that the Joliet Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

The Joliet Police Department attained its original accreditation in 2003.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone.

The public may call 815-7243215 on Monday, March 30, between 1 and 3 p.m.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to ten minutes and must address the Police Department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.

A copy of the standards is available at the Joliet Police Department, 150 W. Washington St., Joliet.

Local contact is Officer Franklin Coleman, the Department’s Accreditation Manager, at 815-724-3221.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Joliet Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation

more info

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 6 p.m.

Monday, March 30, in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.

may send them directly to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.

The Joliet Police Department must comply with 484 standards in order to gain reaccredited status.

“Maintaining CALEA accreditation results in greater accountability within our agency, improved efficiency overall and helps to reduce our agency’s risk and liability exposure,” Benton said.

According to Deputy Chief Tab Jensen, the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, outof-state agencies.

The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

The CALEA assessors are: retired Chief Jack O’Donnell, West Des Moines Police Department, West Des Moines, Iowa; and Lieutenant Virgil Hubbard, Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency will be granted re-accredited status at its July 22-25, 2015 conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Accreditation is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The Joliet Police Department first became accredited in 2003 and was reaccredited in 2006, 2009 and 2012.

the past month

For the second time in a month, a Joliet police officer was involved in shooting a suspect.

Chief Brian Benton said the shooting occurred after officers responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 2400 block of Rockwood Drive just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, officers were flagged down around the corner from the residence by a woman who said she was the victim of a domestic violence incident. She told officers the offender was still inside the residence and that he was heavily armed.

Officers approached the residence at which time they saw the offender emerge carrying two

semi-automatic assault rifles. The offender pointed the rifle at each of the officers while they told him to drop the weapons.

When the offender refused to drop the rifle, Benton said, the officers fired, striking the offender multiple times. The offender was taken into custody where additional weapons were recovered from his person.

Emergency medical services were rendered at the scene and the offender was initially transported to Silver Cross Hospital, and subsequently airlifted to Loyola, where he is currently in critical condition.

The officers also sought treatment at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Neither the name of the offender nor officers involved are being released publicly at this time. Charges are pending

review by the Will County States Attorney’s Office. Benton said as is standard in all officer-involved shootings, there will be two investigations of this incident. First, a criminal investigation into the shooting will take place to ensure that the actions taken by the officers were in accordance with Illinois law. After which an administrative investigation will take place to ensure that the officers were in compliance with police department policy. At this time the officers will be placed on administrative leave pending review.

This is the second officer-involved shooting in Joliet this month. A Joliet officer shot a burglary suspect he said was reaching for a weapon March 2 at First and Richards.

The suspect ultimately died after surgery.

www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org • 800.323.734 Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com

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Shorewood Eric A. Gurnitz, 38, 4202 Bunratty Lane, Plainfield, was arrested at 10:27 p.m. March 5 at 950 Brookforest for driving under the influence, no valid driver’s license, improper lane usage and illegal use of cell phone.

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Joliet Mallory E. Keck, 21, 23960 S. Countryside Drive, Channahon, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. March 6 at 2424 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

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Tina A. Olbera, 42, 425 S. Hebbard, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. March 6 at 1401 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

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Alejandro Villareal Jr., 48, 109 Webster, Apt. 1, was arrested at 5:23 p.m. March 6 at that address for domestic battery.

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Luis M. Hides, 33, 1127 Heron Circle, was arrested at 11:20 p.m. March 6 at that address for sex offender-failure to register.

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Sharnise L. Moody, 32, 7 Edison Road, was arrested at 12:36 a.m. March 6 at 1601 E. Cass for battery.

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AlyssaJ.Ohlau,19,108Colonial, Yorkville, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. March 6 at 737 Plainfield possession of drug equipment and possession of cannabis.

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Jamie M. Taylor, 40, 1115 Helen, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. March 6 1401 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

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Jefferson J. Davis, 21, 927 Lois Place, was arrested at 2:24 a.m. was arrested at 2:24 a.m. March 7 at Larkin and Vernon for driving under the influence of alcohol and blood alcohol content over .08.

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Rachel R. Martin, 18, 24212 S. Burr Road, Channahon, was arrested at 6:36 p.m. March 7 at 3340 Mall Loop Drive retail theft.

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Erin E. Johnson, 21, 941 Lois Place, was arrested at 11 a.m. March 7 at 150 W. Washington on an out of town warrant and for domestic battery.

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Stephen W. Thomas, 29, 8309 N. Parkside, Morton Grove, was arrested at 4:58 a.m. March 7 at 550 E. Jackson for criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to real property. He later was charged

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with obstructing justice and criminal trespass to real property.

Brandon Foster, 21, 1311 Gilray Drive, was arrested at noon March 7 at that address for criminal damage to property.

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William H. Lee, 54, 362 N. Broadway, was arrested at 12:15 p.m. March 7 at 150 W. Washington for battery and criminal trespass to real property.

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Shanta R. Evans, 34, 1302 W. Marion, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. March 7 at that address for domestic battery.

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Tammaka L. Frazier, 36, 112 S. Joliet,was arrested at 1153 a.m. arch 7 at Washington and Eastern for DUI – aggravated, possession of a controlled substance w/intent to deliver and endangering the life/ health of child.

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Kyle T. Creal, 34, 1102 N. Charlesworth, was arrested at 12:26 a.m. March 7 at 422 Willow for domestic battery.

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Sency B. Summers, 39, 210 5th Ave. was arrested at 7:52 p.m.

March 8 at that address obstructing a peace officer.

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Anthony M. Caldwell, 29, 110 St. Jude Ave., was arrested at 5:57 a.m. March 8 at 333 Madison

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for aggravated battery. Angel F. Mancera, 25, 712 Williamson Ave., also was arrested for battery.

Lorenzo Puga, 26, 513 N. Bluff, was arrested at 12:04 p.m.

March 8 at 508 E. Cass for criminal trespass to real property.

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William H. Lee, 54, 362 N. Broadway, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. March 8 at 611 E. Cass for battery, disorderly conduct and violation of bail bond.

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A 17-year-old was arrested at 6:07 p.m. March 8 at 3340 Mall Loop Drive for disorderly conduct, resisting/obstructing a peace officer and criminal damage to property. Another was arrested for criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

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Kevin R. Braxton, 35, 907 Marion, was arrested at 3 p.m. March 8 at 2900 Hennepin for battery.

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Stephanie M. Johnson, 19, 859 Ewing, was arrested at 4:14 p.m. March 8 at 2424 W. Jefferson for theft.

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Brian J. Amelse, 18, 23702 S. Vetter was arrested at 12:17 p.m. March 8 in the 1300 block of Black Road for possession of cannabis.

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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.

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Shawn M. Miller, 21, 112 Mississippi, was arrested at 6:59 p.m. March 9 at 119 Mississippi for obstructing justice, theft and assault.

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Jasmine Gonzalez, 18, 614 Chase, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. March 9 at 150 W. Washington for criminal damage to property.

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Mister L. Tanzy, 22, 601 Water, was arrested at 4:29 p.m.

March 9 in the 300 block of South Desplaines for criminal trespass to state supported land.

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Damiel N. Lopez-Hernandez, 36, 19 Mississippi Ave., was arrested at 8:21 p.m. March 9 in the 400 block of Williamson for DUI – alcohol.

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Demarco M. Jeffries, 34, 605 Pasadena, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. March 9 at 301 N. Bluff for criminal trespass to real property and possession of cannabis and on a Will County warrant.

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Vincent C. Dixon, 19, 2114 Cumberland Drive, Plainfield, was arrested at 8:56 p.m. at Midland and Oneida for possession of cannabis.

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

send us your feedback at sweditor@buglenewspapers.com

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7

guest column

Greuling addresses Gov. Rauner

editorial

On March 5, John Greuling, President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development, sent the following letter to Governor Rauner addressing the CED support of the Illiana Expressway:

production

Laura KatausKas stewart warren • Mark GreGory • Mike Sandrolini

business growth by constructing dear governor rauner: the 1-355 extension, widening The Will County Center for 1-80 and investing in a new Economic Development (CED) freight interchange at 1-55 is a private, nonprofit economic and Arsenal Rd. The Illiana development corporation Expressway represents the next whose mission is to assist in strategic investment to catapult the expansion and attraction Illinois as a global center of of business and industry to Will County Illinois. To that John greuling logistics and trade.

AND The CED and the leadership end, we believe investment in PRESIDENT CEO OF THE WILL of Will County are requesting infrastructure is key to business COuNTY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC that the state move forward growth and development.

DEVELOPMENT with the Illiana project. With Over the last ten years, Will the Tier II Record of Decision County has become the largest inland container port in North America. (ROD) being issued last December, it is This is due to our ideal location at the important that both Illinois and Indiana nexus of six Class I railroads and five complete the P3 RFP process. Our interstate highways. It is also the result concerns: Failure to proceed sends the of the investment of over $1.5 billion of wrong message to the private investment private funding in infrastructure and teams that have worked side by side with the state on developing a P3 plan that new facilities.

The State of Illinois and the Illinois works; It would send the wrong message State Toll Authority have supported this to U.S. DOT and the Federal Highway

Administration that have expedited the review process to accommodate the needs of the market place; If the state would decide to vacate the ROD, all of the work to date would be wiped out. The millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours spent by the state would be wasted. The project would go back to square one.

The last point is most important: If the current P3 model is unacceptable to the state due to potential taxpayer exposure, that is not a reason to vacate the ROD. There are alternate financing solutions that can be pursued. If the ROD is vacated, the opportunity to explore these alternatives will be lost.

Attached is a support document for the project. Governor, Will County wants to be a partner with you in revitalizing the Illinois economy. We believe continued investment in critical infrastructure like the Illiana Expressway will help bring Illinois back. sincerely, John e. greuling

guest column

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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.

Last year, the House Bipartisan Heroin Crisis Task Force met several times throughout the state to discuss the ever growing issue of heroin and the impact it has on the residents of our state.

The members heard from state agencies, doctors, coroners, pharmacists, judges, prosecutors, police officers, educators,

rep. natalie Manley

counselors, treatment centers, policy organizations, affected family members, and addicts. This testimony was aimed to support the task force’s purpose of obtaining pertinent information, so that we could take action from a fully informed point of view. As a result of all these

meetings, the House of Representatives developed a comprehensive bill that would address and combat the heroin crisis we are facing.

As we listened to testimony, we learned that heroin is “cheap,” which likely lends to its popularity. In addition, this inexpensive drug affects people in a variety of ways, is typically highly addictive (using once leads to a lifetime of dependency) and, last but not least… deadly. Not all people who use heroin die from it (though many first-time users have and over time, the drug is known to be lethal).

see manley | page 19

letter to the editor

To snub Israel or any other ally is a bad social and/or political exercise Israel is our only truly free ally in the Mediterranean/Middle East area

The fact that the President, his Cabinet and many Democratic members of Congress deliberately, not only snubbed, but also boycotted the Israeli Prime Minister appearances and

speeches is pathetic and the height of disrespect.

No matter what your religious acceptance is or isn’t, to snub Israel or any other ally is a bad social and/or political exercise.

Israel is our only truly free ally in the Mediterranean/Middle East area.

They are due the respect and decency of that position. I can only wonder what the rest of the countries in the world think of our rudeness and lack

of appreciation of the benefit of this ally. Is this the manner in which we want others to know how we treat our friends?

I find it difficult to imagine how any self-respecting American supporter of Israel and its right to live in peace could vote for a member of the Democratic Party, for any office in the future.

I know I won’t!

Mark turk Joliet

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education > Troy Middle School

‘Peter Pan’ set to fly in Troy Middle School production Actors will be using flying system where students will be hooked up to harnesses Troy Middle School will present their Spring musical, Piers Chater Robinson’s “Peter Pan,” March 19 through 22 in the Troy Middle School auditorium, 5800 W. Theodore St., Plainfield.

With all the youthful energy of J.M. Barrie’s original novel, Piers Chater Robinson’s British version adds 13 new up-temps songs not found in the Disney or American versions.

The British version stays true to the J. M Barrie script of the story of Wendy, John and Michael Darling and their adventure in Neverland with Peter Pan, and the boy who never grows up.

The Darlings and Peter meet up with Captain Hook and his band of Pirates and Tiger Lilly

ticket info Tickets are now on sale for all four performances: 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 19; Friday, March 20; Saturday, March 21; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22. Order tickets at $8 in advance at www. troymusical.com, $10 at the door.

and her tribe of Indians for some added excitement.

The play will be directed

by Wayne Barry with musical direction by Mark Epling and choreography by Nikki Bennett Boudreau and Derrick Miller as technical director.

The talented cast features Aliah Teclaw as Peter Pan,

Hannah Babyak as Wendy, Noah Marvo as John, William Stevens as Michael, Diego Mateo as Mr. Darling and Captain James Hook, Zoe Manning as Mrs. Darling, and Casey Snow as Tinkerbell plus a talented cast of Lost Boys, Indians, and Pirates.

Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael and Tink will be flying across the Troy auditorium stage as we will be using a flying system where the students will be hooked up to harnesses and a pulley system that will allow them to fly in the production.

Tickets are now on sale for all four performances: 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 19; Friday, March 20; Saturday, March 21; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22.

Order tickets at $8 in advance at www.troymusical.com, $10 at the door.

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county news

JJC Culinary Arts students cook special dinner for governor Hosted by House Leader Jim Durkin, state Sen. Pat McGuire at Executive Mansion Joliet Junior College culinary arts students got the chance of a lifetime on March 10 when they were invited to cook a four-course meal for Governor Bruce Rauner and state legislators at the Executive Mansion in Springfield.

Hosted by House Leader Jim Durkin and state Sen. Pat McGuire, 12 students and two professors highlighted their culinary chops in a meal featuring poached flounder and saffron herb mousseline, steamed mussels, braised fennel, honey brined pork tenderloin sous vide, and creamed rutabaga, among other gourmet entrees.

Dessert included chocolate mousse, strawberry-vanilla bean anglaise, and crispy toasted meringue.

Besides the Governor, guests included JJC trustees, JJC President Debra Daniels, and JJC district legislators. Rauner said this is the first event he has hosted in the mansion dining room.

“We are so proud of our students, our faculty, and our renowned culinary arts program,” Daniels said. “At JJC, our students receive the best training to prepare them for careers locally and across the globe. We thank Governor Rauner for his support of community colleges and for recognizing the important work they do in career training and ultimately their value in higher education in the state of Illinois.”

JJC students participating included Patrick Elens of Plainfield; Andrew Fisher of Homer Glen; Chloe Franscona of Woodridge; Jarvis Jones of Minooka; Katlyn Kelty of Coal City; Laci Lanclos of Peotone; Rose (Catherine) Mertens of Yorkville; Brian McPherson of Bartlett; Hannah Moeller of Millbrook; Rachel Pauley of Plainfield; Javier Reyes of Shorewood; and Jennifer Troccoli of Ottawa. Culinary arts professors included Chef Paul D. Bringas of Joliet and Chef Mark Muszynski of Plainfield.

State Rep. Emily McAsey, D-Lockport, discusses one of the courses with a JJC Culinary Arts student.

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE)

JJC’s culinary arts students chat with Gov. Bruce Rauner as they prepare dinner for him and special guests at the Executive Mansion March 10. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE)

All of the students are second-year students; many operate the Saveur Restaurant class at the college while some participate in the college’s popular Friday Night Dinner Series course. A few are members of the culinary hot food competition team and a few are members of our culinary knowledge bowl team.

“We continually strive to make our students’ time in the JJC Culinary Arts Program memorable and engaging,” Culinary Arts Department Chair Michael McGreal said. “Having the opportunity to prepare a gourmet dinner for the new Governor of our state is not only an honor, but an experience that our students and chefs will remember for a lifetime.”

Legislators representing seven counties within the JJC Community College District 525 were in attendance including McGuire, Durkin, state representatives Larry Walsh, Jr., Emily McAsey; Dan Brady , Margo McDermed, John Anthony, Natalie Manley and Mark Batinick.

State senators were Michael Hastings and Sue Rezin.

JJC trustees included Board Chair Andy Mihelich, Vice Chair Jeff

May, Secretary Susan Klen, trustees Barbara K. Adams, Tina Markley, and Mike O’Connell, and Student Trustee Brian Herrera.

“Joliet Junior College is the culinary arts training capitol of Illinois, so it’s fitting that JJC culinary arts professors and students will be displaying their award-winning skills at the Executive Mansion in Springfield,” McGuire said. “This is one occasion when my hometown pride might be even greater than my appetite.”

Joliet Junior College, established in 1901, is the first community college in the nation. In 1969, the college instituted a culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum to meet the needs of a fast-growing industry becoming only the fifth American institution to offer professional training in the culinary arts.

Now with just over 3,800 culinary training schools in the United States, JJC is still ranked among the best. The faculty is composed of all full- time, multi-certified chef and hospitality instructors with a combined total of over 140 years of industry experience.

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FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug leneW spapers.coM

Aries

mARcH 21 To ApRIL 20

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015

page 11

>> inside: Four locals on all-area teaM page 13

boys hoops

end of AN ERA Lockport’s Thompson retires after 16 years as head coach

By Mark gregory SportS reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

When anyone who is a local sports fan and especially anyone who has walked the halls of Lockport Central High School or ever watched a game in ‘The Pit,’ there are a few words that come to mind when thinking of the Porter boys basketball program.

For nearly six decades, the first word that has come to mind has been stability.

In the first 49 years of Lockport basketball, starting in 1907, there were 21 coaching changes within the Porter program.

In the last 57 years, since Bill Connors took over the program in 1963, there have been only five men to lead the Porter basketball team and one of them – Rollie Bolattino (1987-88) – was only there one year.

For more than half of that time – there has been one constant and that was coach Lawrence Thompson, Jr. Thompson started at Lockport in 1982 and coached under the Porters’ longest tenured coach in Bill Basarich. He served under

5

lockport coaches in the lAst 57 yeArs

Bolattino for a season and then was the top assistant under Joe Gura, who handed the program over to Thompson in 1999.

Thompson’s 16 years as head coach are second only to Basarich’s 28.

“A lot of times now, these young guys don’t see themselves doing the same thing for 20 or 25 or 30 years.

Just as society has gone microwave so have a lot of things,” Thompson said. “Continuity means something.

If the same person is there, some people may not like it because it gets stale and old, but others like it because it is consistent.”

Thompson is retiring as dean at Lockport after 33 years and was informed just weeks before the end of the regular season that he would be unable to coach while not working in the building.

“There is no one who knows Larry Thompson better that I do,” said Gura, now coach at Joliet Catholic Academy. “He was my trusted assistant for so many years and took over the program when I chose to leave. There is not a finer coach,

see era | page 12

4

losing seAsons in 16 years as heaD coach

photo By Mark gregory

lockport’s lawrence thompson, Jr. is retiring after 16 seasons as head coach of the porters.

TWITTER: For up -to-the-minute coverage of upcoming local sport events going on in your area, follow @VoyagerSport

12 era | from page 11 gentleman or role model than Larry Thompson. He was a true educator.

He was a role model because of his high character and he always did things the right way. He cared about

Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com kids on and off the floor and he always did it the right way. Class and integrity are the things he should be remembered for and how a good of a coach he was – but that is second only to his character.

“When I left, I knew the program

was being taken over by my best friend and a guy who I thought was one of the best coaches anywhere.

How awesome was that. I had zero worries about Lockport’s program, I could move ahead and go through the challenges of rebuilding the

programs I did and I knew the hard work everyone had put in was being left in great hands.”

Under Thompson, the Porters claimed six regional titles, three sectional titles, qualified for state twice and placed fourth in 2007.

Thompson posted a career record of 231-186, netting only four losing seasons. While the wins came, he was focused more on teaching the game.

“I have tried to do what’s right in teaching the game of basketball the way I was taught, first by my father then by my coaches in high school and college and then working for Basarich, Bolanttino and Gura,” Thompson said. “I think I have learned a lot and tried to pass it on.

Having kids that believed at any time that we could get things done was a pleasure to have. Talent helps, but belief is the biggest thing. You can be talented and not believe in what your coach is putting out there. You can’t win on talent alone.”

The Porters, however, did have talent.

While head coach, Thompson coached some of the most productive Porters in terms of moving on to the college game.

He coached probably Lockport’s most successful collegiate athlete in Alando Tucker, who was an AllState selection his senior season at

Lockport and went on to play at the University of Wisconsin, where he ended his career as the Badgers’ alltime scoring leader.

Two more recent grads include Karrington Ward and Richaun Holmes, both who are having successful seasons in the MidAmerican Conference.

Ward is averaging 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for Eastern Michigan, while Holmes is averaging 14.5 points per game, eight rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game was awarded the 2015 MAC Defensive Player of the Year award.

While Thompson’s last game was a 51-27 loss to Providence in the semifinals of the Class 4A Yorkville Regional, his final regular season game on the sidelines for the Porters was at Joliet Central.

The final game being at Central was apropos for Thompson, a Joliet East graduate.

“There were a lot of great games on this floor during my tenure,” Thompson said of Central. “It is a great place to play. There were great games against Joliet Central and Joliet Township.”

Many of Thompson’s favorite memories involved the Steelmen.

“My first year, the senior night triple overtime game against

see era | page 14

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13

All-Area girls basketball

Benet’s Doyle is Voyager Player of the Year

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

photo by mark gregory

Benet junior Kathleen Doyle is Voyager Media Player of the Year.

While Benet Academy made its run to the state tournament this season, it had several standout players, three of which averaged double-digit points this season.

Of all those players, however, one was at the center of all that made the Redwings tick – that player was junior point guard Kathleen Doyle.

Doyle paced the Redwings to the Class 4A state championship this year, averaging 17.5 points, six rebounds and six assists per game in the two-game run at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena.

This season, Doyle averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game and for that was named as the Voyager Media Player of the Year.

“She works so hard and creates the whole tempo for us,” said Benet coach Joe Kilbride.

“Everything runs off of the way she plays for us. She has been so good at facilitating and getting good looks for other people. She is special.”

Doyle knows how special

All-Area girls basketball

Four locals on 2015 team Here is the Voyager Media All-Area girls basketball team for the 2014-15 season.

First Team KATHLEEN DOYLE The Voyager Media Player of the Year from Benet tallied 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 182 assists and 98 steals.

As the leader of the Redwings full court press and fast break offense, this 5-9 junior point guard is highly recruited, with multiple offers from most of the major conferences. A versatile do-it-all point guard, she jumps center for the Redwings, leads her team in assists and steals, and is second in blocks and rebounds.

During the state tourney she led the Wings in scoring, rebounds, and assists and was second in blocks and steals, converting on 46 percent of her 2FGs and 40 percent of threepoint field goals.

NICOLE EKHOMU JCA junior tallied 18.2 points per game, while grabbing 3.4 rebounds, dishing out 5.5 assists and averaging 4.1 steals per game.

Ekhomu shot 60 percent from the field.

“Nicole is the top junior in the state,” said JCA coach Kenny Battle.

“She is a big-time scorer and she can rebound with the best. She is a team player, a good defender, a good passer and a good shooter.”

EMILY ESHOO Benet senior averaged 16.4 points per game, while having 79 assists, 55 three-pointers and 44 steals for the state champs. Shot 59 percent from

two, 37 percent from three and 88 percent from the line.

Eshoo is a triple threat who can shoot from distance, make the midrange pull up, or finish at the rim.

Also a solid defender, Eshoo was second on the team in assists and first in FT attempts.

In three year varsity career tallied 1,383 points, 326 rebounds, 136 assists, while converting 85% of her FTs.

JAIDA GREEN At 6-2, the Downers North junior possesses the height of a forward, yet she’s a point guard and gives foes fits because she can either beat defenders off the dribble or pull up for a three-pointer. Green, a threeyear starter who verbally committed to Penn State earlier this year, led the Trojans in scoring at 17.4 points per

see ALL-AREA | page 15

Benet is when all the parts are working as one.

“Our offense can be really dangerous when we all play together,” she said.

Although Doyle can light up a scoreboard at any moment, Kilbride said she knows she is at her best when she is playing her complete game.

“We talk about it and she understands that we are at our best when she is our third leading scorer and she is fine with that, she doesn’t care” Kilbride said. “All Kathleen cares about is winning the game and when you have players who

can score like that, but only care about winning the game, you will win a lot of games.”

Kilbride said that not only is Doyle a top player, she is also a great teammate.

“She is an outstanding player and a great kid, too,” Kilbride said. “The other kids like her.”

Doyle not only gets the respect of her coach and teammates, but of those she plays against as well.

“Benet is a great team and Kathleen is what makes that team go,” said Bolingbrook coach Chris Smith. “She is an outstanding player.”

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Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com era | from page 12 Joliet Township,” he said. “Then in Alando’s senior year, we lost a sectional game to the Joliet team that lost in supersectional game to Thornwood. That same year, we made the Pontiac finals against Joliet.”

In the historic Pontiac Holiday Tournament, Lockport was 29-27 under Thompson. The Porters won the consolation championship in Thompson’s first year, as well as in 2003 and 2011. The Porters placed second in 2001.

“Larry was always a class act here,” said tournament director Jim Drengwitz. “Larry was always very positive at the tournament.”

The team Thompson said he will remember the most is the 2005 Porters, who started the playoffs 1213 and won the sectional title.

“The team that was under .500 in 2005 and we brought some sophomores and got things rolling,” Thompson said. “We ended up losing in the Sweet 16 to West Aurora at Allstate Arena.”

Like all good coaches do,

Thompson has inspired his own share of young coaches, like James Foster, a 1993 Lockport grad who played when Thomson was an assistant under Gura. Foster is now serving in that same assistant role at Romeoville under Marc Howard.

“Larry was one of the best coaches I ever played for,” Foster said. “He is a very humble guy and he taught me a lot. I learned the about the teaching side. They taught kids a lot. Larry made his kids smart kids, thinking kids. They taught me how to be a man and be a productive

part of society. Larry and Joe Gura taught me a lot about how to be a coach. They taught me patience, the structure and discipline. They taught me determination and focus and how to take a team with less talent and win.”

While he won’t be on the sidelines for Lockport in his signature maroon and gold suits anymore, his mentor seems to think Thompson’s days of teaching the game are not over yet.

“He has a more left,” Gura said. “If he wants to, he will be on a bench somewhere helping some team.”

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Wedn esday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com all-area | from page 13 game and averaged 6.6 rebounds.

She was sidelined late in the year with a shin fracture and missed the postseason.

“She only continues to get better,” said Downers North coach Stephan Bolt. “I know she will be looking forward to stepping on the floor, confident to have success as a team for her senior year.”

EMILY SCHRAMEK The senior from Benet recorded 15 points and 5 rebounds per game. She also had 44 assists, 28 steals and 72 three-pointers for the state champs.

The six foot senior forward with unlimited range led both the ESCC and the high-scoring Redwings in three pointers made. Four-year varsity player is co-captain of the winningest team in Benet’s history.

Schramek is committed to Northern Michigan University.

Second Team NINA ANDERSON Maine South coach Mark Smith described the senior guard—a threeyear varsity player—as the heart and soul of the team. She was the Hawks’ leader in scoring (309 points; nearly 10 per game), rebounding (140), steals (77) and assists (92).

“That speaks to what she does every night: filling up stat sheet,” Smith said. “She’s humble and just worked tirelessly to become who she is.”

MONICA BAREFIELD Junior point guard from Joliet Central averaged 17 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

She was AllSouthWest

Suburban Conference all conference and all-tournament at Romeoville “Monica has been a great addition to our team, she is still learning the game and should have a better season next year,” said

TY BATTLE Sophomore from JCA averaged 12 points per game, shooting 60 percent from the floor. She grabbed eight rebounds per game, while averaging 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game.

“She is the best big in the state and she is only a sophomore,” said coach Kenny Battle. “She is a team player and coach’s dream. She is a force on the glass, a shot blocker, a passer, a scorer and a game-changer.”

JORDAN HEBERG Plainfield North junior averaged 17 points per game in the season and 25 during regional play.

“She led us to the regional championship game for the first time in school history,” North coach Reggie Lemon said.

AVA PORLIER The senior and four-year varsity player led Downers South in scoring at 13.3 points per game and also helped a young Mustangs’ squad secure second place in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division.

Third Team JANELLE ALBA-GARNER The lone returning starter from the 2013-14 Maine East team that won the CSL North title, Alba-Garner tallied 12.6 points per game, and

15

averaged 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 steals.

A three-year starter, Alba-Garner and her sister, Lauryn—who started as a sophomore and, like Janelle, was an All-CSL North selection—should give the Demons one of the most potent backcourt combos in the division next season.

SYDNEY ARLIS Minooka junior averaged 12 points per game, shooting 59 percent from the field. Arlis grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game and had 107 assists this season. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the Southwest Prairie Conference.

“Sydney Arlis was the MVP of our

see all-area | page 16

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16

Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com all-area | from page 15 conference because of all the positive things she does on the basketball court,” said coach Ray Liberatore.

“Her defense and her decision making on the court are better than anyone I’ve ever coached. She’s a tremendous leader and because she’s such a hard worker, she will continue to get better.”

TYLER EVERETT Plainfield South senior had 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 76 assists and 74 steals while leading Cougars to program record for wins. She set school records in career scoring, season scoring, points in a game, career assists and career steals.

“Tyler was a significant player for our team this year,” South coach Leah Carter said. “We were able to break many team and individual records because of her. She is a great defender and she is good at getting to the basket.”

LEXI MARIN Romeoville sophomore point guard led the team with 10.5 points per game, 45 three-pointers and 111 assists. She also had 52 steals.

“This young lady really pushed herself this past off-season and the efforts paid off,” Romeoville coach Julio Carrasco said. “She developed into a true point guard seeing the floor and getting her teammates involved, leading the team in assists.

Defensively she worked hard to get better and came in third in steals.

The upside for this young lady is tremendous.”

BRITTANY PATRICK

JAHARI SMITH

Junior transferred in from DeKalb and averaged 10.2 points a game for Bolingbrook.

“She was our Energizer bunny,” said Bolingbrook coach Chris Smith.

“She provided the spark both on the offensive and defensive standpoint and she handled the primary ball handling duties for us.”

A freshman from Romeoville, Smith was second on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game and led the team in rebounds at 9.4. She added 48 steals and 27 blocks.

“This young lady impressed me this season,” Carrasco said.

“Her attitude and work ethic is not freshman-like. She watches more film than any player I have ever coached. Her winning attitude and hard work helped contribute to the success the team had.

Her competitive nature will be a driving force for the future of RHS basketball.”

Fourth Team HENNESSEY HANDY Handy, a junior from Plainfield Central, is a three-year starter for the Wildcats. She finished the year with 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

“She was our leading scorer as well as leading the team in rebounds,” Central coach Jennifer Murphy said.

“She is an amazing student-athlete who offers so much versatility to any team she plays on. She is definitely a Division I prospect as we are already receiving inquiries about her. I’m excited to see how her game will progress throughout the off-season as I know she will be at the top beginning her senior year.”

ELISE STOUT Benet junior was key defensively for Benet during state-title run. She finished with 7.4 points, 82 assists and 77 steals for the Redwings.

During the tourney, she shot 63% FGs and 80% from the FT line, notching a career high 19 points in the regional championship, 13 in the sectional championship and 11 points and 9 rebounds in the state semifinal.

HILMA MEDEDOVIC

PEYTON WINTERS

The senior guard, a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, made the most of her one and only season playing at Niles West and for coach Tony Konsewicz. She averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds while reaching double figures in 20 games for the Wolves, shooting 45 percent from the field and nearly 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Opponents drove inside the paint on the Trojans’ senior forward at their own risk. She swatted away 423 shots during her three-year varsity career, and averaged a whopping 5.6 blocks per game this season to go along with averages of 7.3 rebounds and nearly 10 points a game.

-compiled by Voyager Media sports staff

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Wedn esday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug leneW spapers.coM

17

maine east

q & a with local athletes

FEATURING

HOw OFten aRe yOu On twitteR? i’m on there every day.

i have around 452 followers.

iS tHeRe anyOne in PaRticulaR yOu liKe tO FOllOw? i follow Dwight Howard; he’s my favorite (nBA) player because we both play the same position. i’ve been watching him since he’s been with the magic.

HOw many FOllOweRS dO yOu HaVe?

ezeka omeke Basketball

wHat dO yOu liKe tO dO wHile yOu’Re On twitteR? i just like to look at stuff. any Funny OR inteReStinG twitteR StORieS? one friend of my goes on twitter and he re-tweets a bunch of weird stuff. we (he and some friends) were going through his page one day and we saw it and we just started busting him.

who will win the voyager Media all-star girls game?

MarK

scott

50% 50% Who will win the NCAA Men’s National Championship?

KentucKy duKe Wisconsin other

bhSathletiCS @bhSraiderS

@SMuMuSTANGS: Everything you need to know about Thursday’s match-up! #DeclareSMu

“AnD tHen tHere were 8, BHs is still aliVe!!!! sectional chaMps!!!! #surviveandAdvance notre dame @nd donS “congrats to Jimmy gallardo ‘15 who wrestled in the illinois vs indiana All-star classic 3/15. illinois won by 33-21.” benet redWingS @benetredWingS “Benet Volleyball coach, Brad Baker, named national coach of the year. #benetvolleyball ”

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Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com idot | from page 3 The ICC closed Walter Strawn Drive Jan. 28. Elwood officials, who have been trying to close Walter Strawn Drive for two years due to safety concerns, were unhappy with the ICC board’s March 9 decision.

“The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) today voted to grant additional hearings requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to re-open the state’s most dangerous rail crossing, despite the fact that the scandal-plagued agency has failed to present any new evidence,” village officials said in a press release through their public relations firm.

“The 3-1 vote was accompanied by no discussion, and the only objection came from reformminded Commissioner Miguel Del Valle, who asserted that the petition was baseless as there was no new

concrete evidence presented and therefore, the requirements for additional hearings had not been met. The safety of the residents of the Village and the commuters, Del Valle continued, merits the closure of the crossing. “’“I smell a rat,’ said Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes following the abrupt three-minute hearing, noting that ICC staff and Administrative Law Judge Latrice Kirkland-Montague recommended closing the rail crossing, which had been the site of more than 50 smashed rail gates in 2013 and several near misses with Amtrak commuter trains. “’This is just a backdoor attempt to re-open the crossing. IDOT officials noted at a February meeting that the closing of this crossing has had no negative effects on the area. The closing of the crossing

has only made the residents of the village safer.” Elwood officials called Fortmann’s Dec. 23 request to the ICC a “rogue letter” submitted by an “IDOT engineer.” They charged he was acting “solely as a ‘citizen,’ and not as an IDOT representative, (who) … had no legal standing to submit a letter to the ICC on behalf of his employer.”

In a statement of verification submitted Feb. 13 to the ICC, swore to his earlier statements and that he was authorized by IDOT to represent the department.

Will County officials also are hoping the state will take over the nearly 2-mile stretch of Arsenal Road from I-55 to Baseline Road in the intermodal center. The county initially had to issue more than 7,000 daily overweight permits at $20 each since Walter Strawn Drive was closed.

News about local businesses in your community Wedn esday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com manley | from page 7 Many heroin users experience overdoses but luckily are able to receive lifesaving medical treatment. Currently, the majority of information we’ve had access to has been derived through coroner reporting, but this only tells part of the story. We need to know more.

We need the details from those who are living with the addiction, somehow surviving its effects, so that we can intervene before the coroner must be called in. The House heroin legislation would require all coroners and hospitals to report how many heroin and opioid overdoses they encounter and this additional information will reveal just how widespread this issue really is.

To decrease the number of unnecessary deaths from heroin overdoses,thisbillalsorequiresevery state and local government agency that employs law enforcement officers or firefighters, to possess the opioid antidote, Narcan (aka Naloxone). This is something we here in Will County have taken the lead on. Armed with this powerful antidote, first responders can immediately administer the medicine and save lives. The most important component of the House heroin crisis legislation to me is the preventative nature of the bill. While attending the many heroin forums held all over the state, I noticed that the conversation was often times centered around treatment and the devastating effects of this drug on the user and his or her family.

We talk a lot about what happens after the fact, and although that is extremely important, I want to put a greater emphasis on prevention, through education. Knowing about what happens to addicts and the programs that we have to help them

recover is vital information, but we should be also focus on finding the most effective way to prevent people from using heroin in the first place. It’s less costly both in dollars and lives to stop the problem before it starts.

I think we can all agree that the best method of prevention is education. We must, not need, to teach our children, at a younger age what the consequences will be if they experiment with heroin, opioids, and drugs in general. At some point over the years our young people were warned less about the dangers of drug use. In the 1970s, there were many aggressive antidrug campaigns and commercials.

I was very young but still remember them to this day, very vividly; safe to say, they were effective. At some point those efforts were scaled back. The legislation that I’ve been referring to would require the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education

to get involved and develop a threeyear plan to fully educate our young people on the seriousness of this drug. The system we have in place doesn’t seem to be working, and I look forward to the plan that the educators develop.

I hope this bill passes the House and that my colleagues in the Senate will support it as well. The heroin problem our state is facing is not a partisan issue, not a socioeconomic, race, gender or even age issue. This affects everyone.

Unfortunately, we have lost many lives to heroin overdoses; therefore, it is our responsibility as a state to come together to pass this legislation in memory of those we weren’t able to help.

I look forward to the discussions that will emerge from this legislative action, and, as always, I encourage all of my constituents to contact my fulltime constituent service office at 815725-2741 or e-mail repmanley@gmail. com with questions, concerns, or ideas on how was can combat this serious issue.

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community

Dudek earns top honor for customer service American Family agent recognized for providing outstanding customer experience

Debbie Dudek, an American Family Insurance agent in Shorewood, has been recognized for providingoutstanding customer experience under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification

Program.

“At American Family, the customer is at the center of all we do, and these agents have proven they are committed to consistently providing the best experience,” said Bill Westrate, American Family Insurance’s chief operating officer. “The agents who earn the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification are those who have been given Debbie Dudek the highest marks from American Family Insurance agent in their customers for Shorewood outstanding service.”

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | buglenewspapers.com

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Wednesday, M arch 18, 2015 | bug lenewspapers.com

Mile run organized by Troy math teachers celebrates unique math date By jeannE millsap For the bugle

sweditor@buglenewspapers.com @BugleNewspapers

When the crowd of more than 500 runners and walkers at Troy Middle School for the Pi Mile Run was asked to recite as many digits of the mathematical number pi as they could, TMS student Hunter Phillips started yelling out numbers.

By the time he was through, he had made it up to 60 digits.

No one else even tried after that, said Hunter’s former teacher Ashley Fisher, who teaches sixth grade math at William B. Orenic Intermediate School and was one of the organizers of the run. The other organizers were WBO fifth grade math teacher Adam Pusateri and

Troy District 30-C Character First teacher Allison Acevedo.

Fisher said she was awed by the 517 runners and volunteers who participated in the first Pi Mile Run. “This is more than words can say,” she said at the start of the race, while wearing a pi T-shirt and pi earrings, and with fingernails painted with the first digits of the number.

“I’m very happy with the turnout,” Pusateri said. “These are good conditions, with most of the ice gone. I’ve run courses where the whole course was ice, and it’s not safe.”

The date was a big one for mathematics aficionados, and one that won’t occur again for another century. The date of Pi Day is March 14, which is the first three numbers

of pi (3.14), and the year makes up the following two numbers of the constant (15). The time of the run was set exactly at 9:26 a.m., which is the next set off numbers for making this type of pi: 3.1415926.

Pi is defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

Math lovers all over the world make merry on Pi Day each year, but this year was a kind of super Pi Day and a cause for celebration for Troy’s teachers. The length of the run itself also incorporated the constant. The Pi Mile Run was a 3.14-mile run/ walk for charity through Shorewood neighborhoods, with the proceeds going to the United Way of Will County and the Troy Educational Foundation.

First through the finish line was Jordan Freese, a Minooka Junior High School 8th grader who came in at 18 minutes, 20 seconds. Jordan is on the cross country and track teams. “It’s just year-round training and pushing myself,” he said of how he did so well. Second place male was Kyle Bell, an 8th grade Troy Middle School student, and third place was earned by Jason Hoffman, a 7th grade TMS student, both of whom are on the cross country team and have run against Jordan

The fastest in the female division were, from left, Joslyn Prosek, of William B. Orenic Intermediate School; Lindsay Freese, of Minooka Community High School; and Kristin Andruch, a Lincoln-Way East math teacher, who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. (PHOTOS BY JEANNE MILLSAP) at school competitions. The three congratulated each other at the finish line. First place female was Joslyn Prosek, a WBO 5th grader; followed by MCHS sophomore Lindsay Freese, who is Jordan’s sister; then Kristin Andruch, a math teacher at Lincoln-Way East.

“I ran it because I like running, and I need to practice more,” Joslyn said. “I had a steady pace, and I sprinted at the end.”

Joslyn said she didn’t know much about pi except that it was a number in math. Lindsay knew pi and said math was one of her better subjects, and Andruch said that as a math teacher, this was a run she had to

The fastest in the male runners division were, from left, Jordan Freese, of Minooka Junior High School; Kyle Bell, of Troy Middle School; and Jason Hoffman, also from TMS, who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. (PHOTOS BY JEANNE MILLSAP) do. “I wanted to forever remember where I was on this Pi Day of the century,” she said. “And I wanted a pi shirt.”

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