Joliet 12-18-14

DECEMBER 17, 2014 VOL. 7 ISSUE 15

neWS

COUnCIL dISCUSSeS PrOPOSed 2015 BUdGeT More police officers, other employees, to go to work see page 4

community news

neWS

Wreaths across america Hundreds attend Dec. 13 event at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

see page 5

oPinion What do you want out of Christmas?

Be happy with what you have, and be happier to share it with others

see page 7

SPoRtS Plese 2nd at Strikefest Joliet West, Lockport and Minooka finish in top four

see page 11

Local legend Earl D’Amico dies at 85 restaurateur, raconteur, friend to stars and presidents, community servant. charming, bow-tied earl d’amico just about did it all during his 85 years in the Joliet area. d’amico, born in Joliet on the day the great depression began, oct. 29, 1929, passed away dec. 11 after battling heart issues.

“Joliet has lost a great friend; i have lost a great friend,” said Joe shetina, former Joliet councilman who was among di’amico’s closest friends for some 40 years. “he never met a stranger. you met him, and he would talk to you for 20 minutes. we’ll all miss him a lot.” see the full story oN Page 3

PHoto coURteSy tHe city oF joliet

earl D’amico , born in joliet on the day the great Depression began, oct. 29, 1929, passed away Dec. 11 after battling heart issues.

“HE NEVER MET A stranger.

YOU MET HIM, AND HE WOULD TALK TO YOU FOR 20 MINUTES. WE’LL ALL miss him A LOT.“

W ednesday, Decem ber 17, 2014 | joli etbug le.com

Weekend Weather SCHOOLS

WILL COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

Friday • december 19

partly cloudy High: 34° Low: 26° Walsh hoping for great things in 2015 Governor Quinn Announces Illinois Wins $80 Million federal investment for Early Childhood Education Illinois will receive $20 million annually for four years through the Preschool Development Grants competition.

News.....................................3 Police blotter..............................6 opinion................................7 take 5...................................10

This past year was a great one for Will County, Larry Walsh told a Joliet Chamber crowd at his 2014 State of the County address Dec. 10.

Home in Bolingbrook lost to fire

Bolingbrook Police and Fire units responded to a fully engulfed house fire at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 13 at 1015 Churchill.

Woman dies in crash near Route 126

A multi-vehicle crash took the life of a woman traveling through Plainfield Dec. 11.

sports.................................11 social spotlight..........18 business & real estate..................19

business & professional..................20 classifieds.......................21 seniors...............................23

saturday • december 20

pm snow High: 32° Low: 26° sunday • december 21

mostly sunny High: 33° Low: 23° event of the week: Joliet Area Christian Women are having their “Chocolate Discoveries!” breakfast from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Joliet Country Club, 1009 Spencer Road, Joliet.

local

Morris man killed in singlevehicle crash State police said it appeared Smith wasn’t wearing his seatbelt at time A 19-year-old Morris man was killed Wednesday evening when his Ford pickup rolled off the road on northbound Interstate 55 just south of U.S. 6.

District 5 State Police said they don’t know yet why Ryan Smith’s vehicle drove off the roadway, into the median and then into the southbound lanes.

They said he was ejected from the pickup and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

State police said it appeared Smith was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

There were no passengers.

Wedn esday, decem ber 17, 2014 | joli etbug le.com

cover story

local legend, restaurateur earl d’amico dies at 85 D’Amico, was born in Joliet on day Great Depression began

by Nick reiher

ManaGInG edItoR

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Restaurateur, raconteur, friend to stars and presidents, community servant. Charming, bow-tied Earl D’Amico just about did it all during his 85 years in the Joliet area.

D’Amico, born in Joliet on the day the Great Depression began, Oct. 29, 1929, passed away Dec. 11 after battling heart issues.

“Joliet has lost a great friend; I have lost a great friend,” said Joe Shetina, former Joliet councilman who was among Di’Amico’s closest friends for some 40 years. “He never met a stranger. You met him, and he would talk to you for 20 minutes. We’ll all miss him a lot.”

He was a member of Joliet’s Hall of Fame, and according to that website, D’Amico attended Park School and F.E. Marsh grade schools and then Joliet Township High School where he was an all-state wrestler. Following high school, Earl enrolled at Purdue University and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.

After college, D’Amico enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a Counter Intelligence Corps special agent for two years while stationed in New York City.

Following his stint in the Army, D’Amico married, and he and his wife Nora lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he worked as a civilian in the U.S. Army. In 1955, he answered a call from his parents to come home and help out with D’Amico’s, the growing family restaurant business.

That’s where Shetina said he first met D’Amico, a family restaurant on U.S. 52 in Shorewood that was along the river. The experience resulted in a lifelong friendship, as well as a lifelong interest in the restaurant business.

D’Amico took over the old Harwood Post American Legion building in Downtown Joliet, and with his brother Anthony, turned it into D’Amico’s 214, (now the Renaissance Center).

“That was the beehive of Joliet,” said former councilman Bob Hacker, also a lifelong friend of D’Amico’s. “Whenever there was a big dinner, that’s where it was. That was the only place back then.”

But back then, D’Amico’s 214 became the place to be, especially after he expanded to include live concerts and theatre productions in the grand ballroom. Through local entertainer John Yonely, D’Amico learned of the New Yorkbased Associated Booking Corp., which helped him bring in top national talent, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tina Turner and Liberace.

“We used to go down to the shows,” Hacker remembered. “We

MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WERE JUST LISTENING TO EARL TELL HIS STORIES ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE MANY STARS HE BROUGHT TO JOLIET OVER THE YEARS . . liked to go see Stiller and Meara.”

“I asked him one time how many entertainers and other famous people he had met,” Shetina said chuckling. “And he started writing and writing and writing. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him.”

That list and all the pictures of the famous celebrities led to D’Amico being honored in October by the Joliet Area Historical Society.

Mayor Tom Giarrante presented the guest of honor with a T-shirt that read “Earl for Mayor.”

“My favorite memories were just listening to Earl tell his stories about his experiences with the many stars he brought to Joliet over the years,” Giarrante said Friday. “I am proud to be able call him my friend, and I thank him for all he did to promote the City of Joliet. Our condolences go out to his family. He will be missed.”

D’Amico also produced live theatre in the ballroom under the name Piccolo Playhouse, where he also attracted top-name talent, including Tab Hunter, Louis Nye, Forrest Tucker, Imogene Coca and Phyllis Diller. The famous visitors and those who traveled to see

them led D’Amico to build the 122room Sheraton Hotel connected to D’Amico’s 214.

When the city’s population and business started moving west in 1978, D’Amico decided to move with them, opening Earl’s Café on Jefferson and Hammes, which he ran until April 2001.

D’Amico also served on the Joliet City Council from 1970 to 1974. He was there when Hacker was elected to the council, but they knew each other before that. Turns out Hacker’s brother-in-law served with D’Amico in the Army.

He, Shetina, Hacker and Jack Weber, the late county treasurer who also served as a councilman, forged a breakfast club that lasted for 40 years. They would meet at 214, of course, Shetina remembered, as well as the old Iron Skillet across from Sears on Chicago Street (now the Will County building), owned by fellow restaurateur George Dimas.

“That was on Sunday mornings,” Hacker said. “He would tell us stories about the shows at his place the night before.”

Councilman Mike Turk said he got to know D’Amico mostly after he opened the West Side restaurant.

“He was always such a positive supporter of Joliet,” Turk said.

After he retired, D’Amico told Turk he was the luckiest guy in the world. He got to have breakfast with a bunch of friends and lunch with a bunch of friends. But then the guy who usually was busier at night, “Didn’t know what to do with himself.”

So Turk would tell him about a fundraiser or other event going on that night. A few times, Turk took him to the Slammer’s games. “He was always so appreciative of what you did for him.”

After D’Amico retired, Hacker said they still had breakfast around town several days a week. One day, he and Shetina were waiting for him at a restaurant. They called D’Amico, who told him he was in the parking lot at a hospital, not feeling well.

“And that was kind of the beginning of it,” Hacker said. He and Shetina said D’Amico had rallied for a while, but then went downhill.

“He was a large part of Joliet,” Hacker said. “We’ll miss him.”

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Joliet City Council

Council discusses proposed 2015 budget More police officers, other employees, to go to work

By Stewart Warren staff reporter

stewartwarren509@yahoo.com @stewartwarren

There probably will be 14 Neighborhood-Oriented Policing Team officers patrolling the city next year.

That’s three more than there are now in NOPT. It’s likely that there also will be a new

voted on the budget. police sergeant who will But the members coordinate training for all seem ready to add of the officers. personnel.

They’re some of the new City staff also will employees who should be keep eight firefighters added to the city payroll as who already are part of the new spending among the rank plan. and file. In the past, The City Council held a their positions were special meeting on Dec. jim hock joliet city funded by a federal 8 to discuss next year’s manager grant that now has $279 million balanced expired. budget. After four years And there are a few of holding the line on new hires and other cut backs, Joliet other new positions: Four maintenance workers seems ready to add more staff to the payroll. It’s not a done deal in the roadway division of the yet, of course; the Council hasn’t public works department. They

will trim trees and plow snow.

Two water department workers. They will comprise a third crew that will repair broken water mains.

Two part-time shuttle drivers.

They will pick up vehicles from the various city facilities and drive them to the mechanics to be repaired. In the past, the mechanics had done that chore.

In the version of the budget released on Dec. 2, there was just one new police officer, the sergeant charge of training. As City Manager Jim Hock began explaining the budget during the Dec. 8 meeting, he was quick to

say that there actually would be more police officers added to the force. Although the NOPT officer who patrols the Cunningham neighborhood was about to retire, he would be replaced, Hock said. A new NOPT officer will also patrol the city’s East side, the Far West side and the Louis Joliet Mall.

The city was able to add officers because it cut the fire department’s overtime budget by $600,000, Hock said. Despite that change, the ambulance at fire station No. 9, 2300 Michas Drive, Plainfield, will now go back into service.

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community

(From left, going clockwise) Naycli Villavincacio lays a wreath on a veteran’s grave during the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Lincoln National Cemetery.; Col. Dan Chakus and Lincoln-Way Central ROTC member Melanie Skinner lay a wreath honoring the Army Veterans at Lincoln National Cemetery.; Roman Okrei pauses by a grave before placing a wreath at Lincoln National Cemetery.

Event sponsored locally by Jolietbased Operation Care Package to honor veterans Hundreds turned out on a cloudy, unseasonably warm Dec. 13 to honor fallen veterans by placing wreaths on graves at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Sponsored locally by Jolietbased Operation Care Package, people bought wreaths for $15 each to place on graves themselves, or to have them placed to honor one more of the over 30,000 veterans and their family members buried at the cemetery in Elwood.

The program also included a flag line with some 150 American flags will be mounted on 10-foot poles held by veterans, military, ROTC, fire and police. A lunch at Stone City VFW Post followed the cemetery.

Volunteers pick up wreaths to place on the graves at Lincoln National Cemetery during the Wreaths Across America ceremony.

www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org • 800.323.734 Wedn es day, Decem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

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1 2 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 Jeffrey A. Otte, 36, of 24803 Jensen St., Shorewood, charged with domestic battery on Dec. 4 in the 24800 block of Jensen St.

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David A. Bergklint, 49, of 21133 S. Kenmare Drive, charged with domestic battery on Dec. 4 in the 21100 block of Kenmare Drive.

Steven T. Dimmick, 26, of 600 Margaret, Joliet, charged with driving under the influence and improper lane usage on Dec. 6 at 312 E. Jefferson St.

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Timothy D. Grimes, 31, of 414 N. Monroe St., Gardner, charged with driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and improper lane usage on Dec. 6 at Black Road and Brookforest Avenue.

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JOLIET

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David A. Swan Jr., 23, of 521 Harwood, Joliet, charged with driving while license suspended on Dec. 7 at Route 59 and Sunrise Drive.

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Jorge Aguirre, 21, of 1019 Lois Place, Joliet, charged with unlawful use of a weapon, driving under the influence, illegal transportation of alcohol, no insurance, speeding and improper lane usage.

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Rebeka L. Marko, 26, of 1725 Pinewood Lane, Joliet, charged with driving under the influence and a headlight violation on Dec. 5 at Brookforest Avenue and Jefferson Street.

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Malik S. Neal, 19, 213 S. Raynor Ave., was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Dec. 5 at 2424 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

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A juvenile, 17, was arrested at 9:25 a.m. Dec. 5 at 201 E. Jefferson for aggravated battery.

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A juvenile, 17, was arrested at 4:55 p.m. Dec. 5 at 3340 Mall Loop for retail theft and aggravated battery.

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Calvin L. James, 23, 611 E. Cass, was arrested at 8:33 p.m. Dec. 5 at 350 E. Washington for criminal damage to property.

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Veronica Jeronimo, 33, 607 Grant Ave., was arrested at noon Dec. 6 at 150 W. Washington for theft.

Omar Meija, 25, 207 S. Reed, was arrested at 8:59 p.m. Dec. 7 at 950 Collins for criminal trespass to real property.

Melvin J. Henderson, 45, 907 Kelly Ave., was arrested at midnight Dec. 5 at Raynor and Plainfield for DUI — alcohol and DUI — BAC over .08.

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Alexa A. Palomino, 19, 418 E. Benton St., Aurora, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Dec. 6 at 2510 Route 59 for retail theft.

Melissa S. Burgie, 30, 1333 Steven Smith St., was arrested at 3: 46 p.m. Dec. 7 at 2510 Route 59 for theft.

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Gabrielle A. Vallejo, 24, 109 Earl Ave., was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Dec. 6 at 150 W. Washington for forgery.

Raquel M. Arteaga, 41, 3802 Juniper Ave., was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Dec. 7 at 1401 Route 59 for theft.

Jennifer P. Jordan, 35, 405 Bellarmine Drive West, was arrested at 12:41 a.m. Dec. 6 at 2200 Oneida for possession of controlled substance.

George T. Bonds, 52, 1302 Richmond, was arrested at 12:28 p.m. Dec. 8 at 3340 Mall Loop for aggravated DUI.

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Christopher A. Bailey, 24, 720 W. Marion, was arrested at 8:19 a.m. Dec. 6 at 710 E. Cass for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to real property.

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Collin M. Coon, 30, 2702 Richmond, was arrested at 8:19 a.m. Dec. 6 at 710 E. Cass for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to real property.

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Tertius L. McClain, 35, 1404 Liberty Meadow Drive, was arrested at 9:14 a.m. Dec. 6 at 1404 Liberty Meadow for domestic battery and resisting a peace officer.

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John T. Aversa, 21, 712 Campbell, was arrested at 10:44 p.m. Dec. 5 at 741 Collins for possession of cannabis.

Aloysius A. Alexander, 29, 300 N. Bluff, was arrested at 2:34 p.m. Dec. 6 at 150 W. Washington for homicide and aggravated battery with a firearm.

Julie A. McLellan, 45, 1823 Parkside Drive, Shorewood, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. Dec. 5 at 1801 W. Jefferson for retail theft.

Miles N. Dawson, 22, 541 N. Bluff, was arrested at 8:36 p.m. Dec. 6 at 308 S. Joliet for obstructing a peace officer.

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Juan Diaz, 53, 1311 New Lenox Road, was arrested at 4:56 a.m. Dec. 7 at Collins and Columbia for disorderly conduct and resisting a peace officer.

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Deangelo B. Grocesley, 18, 317 Richards, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Dec. 7 on the 300 block of Second Avenue for criminal trespass to real property and disorderly conduct.

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A juvenile, 16, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Dec. 7 on the 300 block of Second Avenue for burglary, obstructing a peace officer, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to real property.

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Alfonso E. Crespo, 51, 309 Stryker Ave., was arrested at 12:05 p.m. Dec. 8 at 1418 W. Jefferson for theft.

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A juvenile, 15, was arrested at 5:21 p.m. Dec. 8 at 4 N. Nicholson for domestic battery.

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Faye I. Coleman, 46, 316 N. Bluff, was arrested at 1:37 p.m. Dec. 8 at 316 Bluff for aggravated domestic battery and resisting and obstructing a peace officer.

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

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Wedn esday, de cem ber 17, 2014 | bug leneW spapers.com

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column

what do you want out of Christmas?

EDITORIAL

Be happy with what you have, and be happier to share it with others

by Nick reiher

ManaGInG edItoR

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

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So. Here we are a week away from Christmas.

Are you ready?

OUCH! You don’t have to yell! Yeah, I know, there still is a lot of shopping to do, cleaning, running the kids or grandkids around. Maybe you’re getting a head start on baking holiday goodies.

Maybe you’re finishing up work before you set out on a trip for the holidays.

And we still gotta get those lights up!

Maybe all of the above.

The fact that the sun seemed to have disappeared for the holidays doesn’t help, either.

My guess, though, is that if you’re anywhere north of 8 years old, you haven’t been as happily anxious about this season for a loooooong time. And you know what I mean about that.

Once you know, as I first wrote years ago, you’re out of the garden, and you can’t go back.

I think that’s why slogging through the snow in my boots, corduroy pants and bulky winter coat with my Mom and Dad, shopping with all the lights in downtown Chicago or around our still-

busy neighborhood business sector is a really good memory. I knew that in a few weeks, this all would be worth it.

I wonder what Mom and Dad were thinking, though. Were they thinking, “Man, I wish this snow would stop.” Or, “I don’t know how we’re going to pay for all this.” Or were they thinking, “In a few weeks, this all will be worth it.”

This can be a tough time of year.

Already, two good friends of mine have lost a husband at 58 and a brother at 65, way too early for that to happen. I lost my Mom 26 years ago on Dec. 18.

It took a long time not to associate the Christmas season with her passing. But once the pain goes, there’s mostly the good memories, no matter what the season.

I have two other friends who wonder if this will be their last Christmas. I am fortunate to have to imagine if they yearn for the days when it was just baking, cleaning, traveling and worrying about money. I really hope I get to write about them in the present tense for many Christmases to come.

So … what’s the message, Nick? Are you trying to bring us down? Or just saying, “There but for the grace of God …”

My message, I guess, is this: Be happy with what you have, and be happier to share it with others. It doesn’t have to be money, and no matter what it is, it doesn’t have to be a lot.

I enjoy bell-ringing for the Salvation Army during the holidays, whether it was while I was with the HeraldNews, or as an Exchange Club of Joliet

MY MESSAGE, I GUESS, IS THIS: BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND BE HAPPIER TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS. IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE MONEY, AND NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE A LOT. member. An hour or two on a cold, windy day isn’t too bad, especially when you see children reaching up over their heads to proudly drop a few coins into the pot. The looks on their faces …

And then there was that time – I know I have written about it before, but you’ll likely hear it from me every year at this time – when I was bell-ringing outside the Walmart in Morris against a seemingly unrelenting cold, west wind.

A mom came out of the store with her tyke, bundled to look like a miniMichelin Man. As they passed me, the mom said, “We have something for you.”

With that, the tyke handed me a cup of hot chocolate. And let me tell you, that was one great cup of hot chocolate.

Nearly 10 years later, it’s still warming me, especially when my thoughts start to get cold.

Warm somebody this holiday season.

I bet it does the same for you.

Happy holidays.

letter to the eDitor

‘Lights of Love’ at rialto a community success ‘Lights of Love’ was held at the Rialto Theatre with the backdrop of the Festival of Trees Congratulations to the staff, volunteers and ambassadors of Joliet Area Community Hospice for the outstanding program, “Lights of Love,” presented to the community on Thanksgiving Eve. The program offers an outpouring of remembrance and respect for those of our loved ones and friends that we miss due to their passing.

“Lights of Love” was held at the Rialto Theatre with the backdrop of

the Festival of Trees. It commenced with the Joliet Township Central High School Concert Ensemble, followed by motivational readings. After the readings, most of the 800 people in attendance were privileged, after preregistration, to go on stage and place an ornament with their loved one’s name on a plain Christmas tree while the names were read. Following the tree trimming, a video presentation of special photos was shown, concluding

with a presentation from the City of Joliet Firefighters Pipes & Drums.

As a Board member of Joliet Area Community Hospice, I continually witness the staff not only offering outstanding care and compassion for the individuals and families in their care, but also presenting programming for the general public, helping them cope with life’s many difficulties.

These caring individuals deserve our continued praise, respect, and support. A big thank you for all they do from all of us.

Mark turk Joliet

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will county forest preserve

Hart becomes first female president in 30 years By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Although she was the odds-on favorite to be named President of the Will County Forest Preserve District Board Dec. 8, Commissioner Suzanne Hart of Naperville held her breath as the vote was taken at the reorganizational meeting.

After Board Secretary Judy Ogalla read the vote – 21-0 with five missing – Hart just about sprinted

to take her seat up front like the marathoner she is.

Following a few emotional “thank-yous,” Hart began her twoyear tenure as president by leading the rest of the agenda that included a vote for Commissioner Ragan Freitag as vice-president, Ogalla returning as secretary and Jim Moustis as treasurer.

After the meeting, Hart still was pumped, something unusual for a Forest Preserve Board president.

Generally, Forest Preserve

elected to the Naperville commissioners are more Park District Board in excited about their “other” 2007, reelected in 2009 jobs as Will County Board and served a term as Members. They vie for president. And those leadership positions were not easy times. and seats on the various She and new Executive committees.

Director Ray McGury, If someone is excited Suzanne Hart former Bolingbrook about being a Forest naperville Police Chief, had to Preserve Board president, Commissioner, forest preserve navigate dozens of irate often it may be because president senior citizens when that person has had wide the park district moved discretion in hiring Forest Preserve employees. But for the past its community garden plots, as few years, that hasn’t been the case, well as a clean-up of lead shot as the district began spending the from a shooting range the district last of its referendum money and operated.

“We will not be having garden recently approved a hiring freeze and a plan to reduce personnel plots,” Hart said tongue-in-cheek about her upcoming tenure as through attrition.

That doesn’t bother Hart at all. Forest Preserve Board president.

She is honored to be president of And when she resigned her seat on the board, something only one the Naperville Park Board before other female – the late Nora Wipfler running for Will County Board, Hart of Bolingbrook – accomplished had a special eye on the co-terminus before her from 1978-82. And, she Will County Forest Preserve District says proudly, she is the first person Board.

“Parks have been my passion,” from the Will County portion of Naperville to take the helm of the said Hart, appointed in 2012 as president of the Illinois Association Forest Preserve District Board.

Hart said she’s always been of Conservation and Forest interested in the outdoors and Preserve Districts, as well as a board a runner, cross-country skiing, member of the Illinois Association snow-shoeing, whatever. She was of Park Districts’ Joint Legislative

Committee.

As a runner who uses trails daily, she said she is especially concerned about making sure the Aug. 9 accident on Hickory Creek Trail that claimed the life of a Mokena cyclist attempting to avoid a jogger does not happen again. Same with the attacks on two female joggers on Old Plank Road Trail. A suspect was arrested.

“I run by myself,” Hart said. “And I also don’t want to get run over by a cyclist. … We have to make sure our trails are safe.”

Hart knows not all of her fellow commissioners are as invested in forest preserves and nature the way she is. She got two of them – Don Moran and fellow Napervillian Chuck Maher – to go with her snowshoeing after a committee meeting last winter. She’s also very happy Annette Parker, a former Lockport Park District commissioner, is joining her on the board. She said Freitag, Don Gould, Joe Babich and Denise Winfrey also are her trail partners. And she’s not done yet.

“As God as my witness,” Hart said channeling Scarlett O’Hara, “I will get half of my board members to go snow-shoeing with me by the time my term is up.”

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will county

Residents protest Rialto marquee Some residents don’t like the design of the LED screens for the new marquee

PHOTOS BY JOHN PATSCH

P1: Joliet Junior College Board Chair Andy Mihelich holds a petition to keep the Rialto Square Theatre marquee for Judy Studer as she signs it during a protest Dec. 14.

Some residents don’t like the design of the LED screens for the new marquee as well as the prominence of the dedication to his parents by Ed Czerkies, who donated $350,000 for the marquee.

P2: Michael Morgan holds a role of duct tape as part of a protest to replace the Rialto marquee. Rialto officials said the current marquee I held together by duct tape, but some don’t like the design of the new sign.

P3:.Trish Stoner from the Rialto Square Theater invites the protesters to come in and hear the Joliet Legion Band Concert.

For more updates on the Rialto marquee, go to

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FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF Wedn es day, decem ber 17, 2014 | bug leneW spapers.com

Aries

MARch 21 TO APRIL 20

Networking can rope in golden opportunities in the week ahead. You may feel pressured to perform at a high level or to adapt to new technologies. New contacts and reliable advisors will help you make progress.

gemini

M AY 2 2 T O J U n E 2 1

Your initiative and willpower give you an advantage in the week ahead. This can be an excellent time to make promises and commitments, or to make definitive decisions about a business partner or romantic relationship.

leo

J U LY 2 3 T O A U G U S T 2 1

Your theme song might be “getting to know you” as the week unfolds. Other people may be glad to meet you and emulate your attitudes. Since you have more influence than usual, this is a good week to ask for support.

Across 1 TUcKED-In PART Of A DRESS ShIRT 4 cOcOOn cOnTEnTS 9 GLARInGLY VIVID 14 “__ YOU KIDDInG ME?” 15 WORDS AfTER MAKE OR cLOSE 16 cARnE __: ROASTED MExIcAn DISh 17 fORD MODEL T, cOLLOqUIALLY 19 SIESTA TAKER 20 EIGhT-ARMED cEPhALOPOD 21 SPEED DEMOn 23 OPEn-__ ShOES 26 TV PRODUcER nORMAn 27 OnLInE “YIKES!” 30 chInESE LEADER 33 BUS DEPOT: ABBR. 36 MATURE MALE GORILLA 38 PURIM OBSERVERS 39 ESSAYIST DE BOTTOn 40 MATch fOR A POcKET hAnDKERchIEf 41 WEST POInTER 42 MIDEAST STRIP 43 OnE OnLY In IT fOR ThE MOnEY 45 BATOn ROUGE-TOMOnTGOMERY DIR. 46 TWISTInG fORcE 47 WWII VEnUE 48 LATIn GOD 50 “__ A LIfT?” 52 JAPAnESE cOOKInG ShOW 56 SchEMER chARLES 60 GALLIVAnTS 61 cERTAIn ROcK MUSIc fAn, AnD WhAT 17-, 21-, 36-, 43- AnD 52-AcROSS EAch hAS 64 LAST OLDS Off ThE LInE 65 MEnTAL PIcTURE 66 nBc SKIT ShOW 67 ZAc Of “ThE LORAx” 68 GLOVE MATERIAL 69 GAME GADGET, OR ThE AREA WhERE

IT’S USED

Down

1 BOATERS AnD BOWLERS 2 AcTOR LA SALLE 3 IT MAY DROP DOWn OR POP UP 4 MADE VULnERABLE 5 AxLIKE ShAPInG TOOL 6 TRIBAL LAnD, InfORMALLY, WITh “ThE” 7 cOLORADO RESORT 8 OUT Of ThE WInD 9 fIRE TRUcK fEATURE 10 LADY LIBERTY’S LAnD, fAMILIARLY 11 SOMERSET MAUGhAM nOVEL, WITh “ThE” 12 PREfIx WITh LOGIcAL 13 PUB MISSILE 18 On fIRE 22 SOUTh SUDAnESE SUPERMODEL WEK 24 GOOf 25 ShORT PERSOn? 27 MISSOURI RIVER 28 LA ScALA’S cITY 29 LIKE EYES ShOWInG BOREDOM 31 DROPS In A SLOT 32 STRAnDED AT 7-DOWn, PERhAPS

34 35 37 38 41

chIRP JETSOn DOG

BY WAY Of SPREE MULTI-ScREEn ThEATER 43 “GEE WhIZ” 44 IT GOES fOR A BUcK 46 SEcOnD-MOST POPULOUS ARIZOnA cITY 49 WARM ARGEnTInA MOnTh 51 “STUPID ME!” 52 “DIES __” 53 MASSAGE DEEPLY 54 AcTOR JAnnInGS 55 EARThqUAKE RESPOnSE GP. 57 cOZY hOME 58 WRITER GREY 59 InAcTIVE 62 ART On ThE REALITY ShOW “InK MASTER” 63 SInGLE-MALT DATUM

librA

SEPTEMBER 24 TO OcTOBER 23

Implement prettier philosophical principles. This is a good time to reassess your goals and develop more admirable ideals. A wise advisor might give you an inspiring idea that you can use for your benefit in the week ahead.

sAgittArius

nOVEMBER 23 TO DEcEMBER 22

New friends may figure in your future. Your dissatisfaction with certain situations in the week ahead can be assuaged with a little help from your friends. Use financial problems as a catalyst of change.

AquArius

JAnUARY 21 TO fEBRUARY 19

Join in as a team member. Someone might take his or her cues from Tom Sawyer in the week ahead and show you that painting a fence can be fun. You’ll find great companions during a work-related project.

Sudoku

tAurus

A P R I L 2 1 T O M AY 2 1

Clear planning may help you to focus your energies. A proposal about joint finances or possessions can move forward during the week to come. Those who care about you the most are willing to wait for the best.

cAncer

J U n E 2 2 T O J U LY 2 2

You may strive to attain material things in the week to come, but a compassionate act can alter the results. This is a great time to make a favorable impression on a new friend or to participate in group activities.

virgo

AUGUST 22 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Let your friendliness shine like a beacon. If you show yourself to be an eager participant in interactive activities, you could get invited to the best places. Make crucial family decisions in the week ahead.

scorpio

OcTOBER 24 TO nOVEMBER 22

If you expect the best, you set the stage so that you’ll surely get it. Keep your mind trained on attaining your most spectacular dreams in the week ahead. You’re wiser than usual about money and possessions.

cApricorn

DEcEMBER 23 TO JAnUARY 20

You’ll find you have extra drive and determination to put your dreams into action this week. At the same time, you may find it necessary to compromise and participate as a member of a team in order to get ahead.

pisces

fEBRUARY 20 TO MARch 20

You should have all your favorite ducks lined up in a row.

You’ll receive appreciation for your talent for organization.

Concentrate on keeping your promises in the week ahead and you will get ahead.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency 2014

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• MILKY • BRAVO • JESTER • UPWARD

Answer:

WhAT ThE DIREcTOR SAID WhEn hIS WIfE KnITTED hIM A SWEATER -- IT’S A “WRAP”

WedneSdaY, deCemBer 17, 2014

page 11

>> inside: sloW start proVes costly For joliet West page 13

Girls bowlinG

Plese 2nd

aT STrIkeFeST Joliet West, Lockport and Minooka finish in top four

by scott taylor spoRts edItoR

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @taylor_Sports

It was another strong showing at Plainfield North’s Strikefest for the locals Saturday at Town and Country Lanes in Joliet.

Lockport finished second with a 5,711, Joliet West was third with a 5,700 and Minooka was fourth with a 5,696.

Harlem won with a 5,791.

Joliet West’s Gracie Plese had the best day individually, placing second with a 1,324 in the 44team tournament. Metea Valley’s Jordan Newham won with a 1,347.

“I’m pretty happy,” Plese said.

“I didn’t know where I was at. I was just bowling for my team and hoping that I placed individually.

I’m really happy with myself. I’ve been placing every tournament.

I’m just trying to help me team and if I place, awesome.”

Taylor Bailey finished 14th overall for the Tigers with a 1,204.

“I was hoping for better, but there is always room for improvement,” Bailey said. “I was

3

local teamS FiniSHing in top 4 of StRiKeFeSt

in 18th until the last game, so the team helped me get up and gain confidence.”

So far this year the Tigers have first, second and third-place finishes and finished second at Strikefest last year.

“I told the team we stay together as a team,” Plese said. “The fourth game was pretty bad, but we stayed together as a team and stuck together. I’m really looking forward to see what we can do this season.”

“I’m impressed because we were in fifth and we came together and we moved up to third and I’m really happy with that,” Bailey said. “It had to be a lot of pressure for the girls and some of them didn’t know college coaches would be here. The team came back though and pulled it together and that is all that matters.”

Melissa March had a 1,096 and Kayla Kurowski shot a 1,095 for West.

Lockport was paced by Nikki

See stRIkefest | pAge 16

6

local BoWleRS WHo meDaleD at StRiKeFeSt

PHoto By Scott tayloR

gracie plese of Joliet west finished in second place saturday at strikefest with a 1,324 six-game series.

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12

Wedn es day, Decem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

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13

boys hoops

Slow start proves costly for Joliet West

By Mark Gregory

sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

Joliet West got down 12-0 out of the gate to Bolingbrook last week, thanks in part to its sister school on the other side of town.

A week earlier, Joliet Central defeated the Raiders, forcing Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost to get after his team for three straight days in practice.

“I really got after them in practice because we didn’t go hard last Friday,” Brost said.

“They were maybe the three

PHOTO BY Mark Gregory

Michael Ruwoldt looks for a teammate in Joliet West’s loss to Bolingbrook.

toughest practices we have had in five or six years and we showed it with the start tonight.”

West felt that, as that 12-0 run to begin the game that paced the Raiders (3-2, 1-1) to a 63-52 win at Joliet West.

“Obviously we have to clean some things up and do some things better in the fourth quarter, but all I was worried about tonight was playing hard,” Brost said. “I am really proud of them because I was really, really hard on them because they

see start | page 17

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14

Wedn es day, Decem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

boys hoops

JCA falls to red-hot Benet Redwings drain 12 three-pointers

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

PHOTO BY mark gregory

Harold Davis scored seven points in JCA’s loss to Benet Friday.

A season ago the face of the Benet boys basketball team was big man Sean O’Mara working his magic around the rim and in the paint.

Because of that, the fact that the Redwings had several sharpshooters on the team was masked.

Well, Joliet Catholic Academy saw that first hand last week as the Redwings shot 12 of 27 from behind the arc and claimed a 6334 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference opener for both teams.

Benet (3-2, 1-0) shot well from the 3-point line the whole game.

The Redwings hit 4 of 8 in the first quarter as they pushed to a 15-10 lead over the Hilltoppers (5-5, 0-1).

“They can shoot a little bit,” JCA coach Joe Gura said. “They were harder to guard this year than they were last year because with the big guy, I knew what to do.

We wanted to play zone and slow the game down and instead, they shot tremendously well and then they made five or six threes in a row and we took the same shots

see JCA | page 17

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Wedn esday, Decem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

boys hoops Points Per Game Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North 21.8 Robbie Brooks, Plainfield Central 15.9 Taquan Sims, Joliet Central 15.2 John Rebellato, Westmont 13.8 Kevin Krieger, Plainfield North 13.2 Trevian Bell, Joliet West 12.7 Jerry Gillespie, Joliet Central 11.6 Logan Ivy, Plainfield Central 11.3 Jeff Washington, Joliet West 10.3 Justin Windt, Plainfield Central 9.0 Malcohm Hill, Joliet West 7.7 Rebounds Per Game Trevian Bell, Joliet West 8.7 Malik Fuller, Joliet Central 7.8 Jeff Washington, Joliet West 6.3 Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North 6.3 Justin Windt, Plainfield Central 6.2 Logan Ivy, Plainfield Central 5.4 Kewon Ware, Joliet Central 5.3 Quintin Brown, Westmont 5.0 Kevin Krieger, Plainfield North 5.0 Nick Thomaston, Plainfield Central 4.9 Assists Adam Doll, Westmont 32 Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North 25 John Paul Leagogo, Westmont 24 Da’Von Foster, Joliet West 18 Brandon Smeets, Plainfield North 17 Theyvion Kirk, Joliet West 16 Robbie Brooks, Plainfield Central 16 Taquan Sims, Joliet Central 15 Sean Alexander, Westmont 14

Ternell Jordan, Joliet Central 12 Johnny Kostelz, Plainfield Central 12 Logan Ivy, Plainfield Central 12 Steals Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North 17 Adam Doll, Westmont 13 Richie Elias, Plainfield North 13 Brandon Smeets, Plainfield North 11 Kevin Krieger, Plainfield North 11 John Rebellato, Westmont 7 Malcohm Hill, Joliet West 7 Jeff Washington, Joliet West 6 Da’Von Foster, Joliet West 6 Robbie Brooks, Plainfield Central 6 Sean Alexander, Westmont 6 Field Goal % Jamal Harmon, Plainfield Central .650 Kenyon Woodfork, Joliet Central .636 Jeff Washington, Joliet West .570 Logan Ivy, Plainfield Central .550 Trevian Bell, Joliet West .545 Free Throw % Jacob Klima, Joliet Central .818 Trevian Bell, Joliet West .740 Jerry Gillespie, Joliet Central .736 Sean Alexander, Westmont .714 3-pointers John Rebellato, Westmont 21 Nick Thomaston, Plainfield Central 11 Taquan Sims, Joliet Central 9 Scott Gustafson, Plainfield Central 7 Johnny Kostelz, Plainfield Central 6 Tom Carney, Joliet West 6 Da’Von Foster, Joliet West 6

girls hoops Points Per Game Jaida Green, Downers North Emily Schramek, Benet Emily Eshoo, Benet Monica Barefield, Joliet Central Chantell Mack, Joliet Central Kathleen Doyle, Benet Sydney Arlis, Minooka Jamari McAfee, Lockport Peyton Winters, Downers North Monica Nunez, Resurrection Ashley Hare, Joliet Central Tia Parrinello, Lockport Mikaela Manson, Plainfield East Maddie Larsen, Resurrection Morgan Jones, Joliet Central Raven Reed, Joliet West Taylor Farrell, Resurrection Sam Fagenholz, Maine South Jessica Pawula, Resurrection Kelly Carnagio, Minooka Nina Anderson, Maine South Kianna Campbell, Lockport Brooklyn Bachmann, Minooka Lauren Porcelli, Downers North Rebounds Per Game Chantell Mack, Joliet Central Morgan Jones, Joliet Central Mikaela Manson, Plainfield East Sydney Arlis, Minooka Lotanna Onua, Plainfield East Jessica Pawula, Resurrection Raven Reed, Joliet West

19.5 17.9 17.9 17.3 14.8 14.4 13.7 13.5 12.8 12.6 12.0 11.2 10.4 10.4 10.3 10.2 9.9 9.4 8.6 8.6 8.4 8.2 8 7.7 15 10 7.3 7.0 6.7 6.6 6.6

Jaida Green, Downers North Kathleen Doyle, Benet Katherine Jaseckas, Benet Kelly Carnagio, Minooka Peyton Winters, Downers North Emily Schramek, Benet Monica Nunez, Resurrection Maddie Larsen, Resurrection Lauren Kucharski, Lockport Assists Kathleen Doyle, Benet Monica Barefield, Joliet Central Jaida Green, Downers North Sam Fagenholz, Maine South Nina Anderson, Maine South Brooklyn Bachmann, Minooka Sydney Arlis, Minooka Emily Eshoo, Benet Lauren Porcelli, Downers North Monica Nunez, Resurrection Elise Stout, Benet Emma Hlavin, Benet Julia Sirvinskas, Maine South Jamari McAfee, Lockport Gabriella Galassini, Resurrection Steals Kathleen Doyle, Benet Kennedy Collins, Plainfield East Jaida Green, Downers North Kianna Campbell, Lockport Monica Nunez, Resurrection Elise Stout, Benet Chantell Mack, Joliet Central Nina Anderson, Maine South

6.6 6.3 6.3 6.0 5.8 4.9 4.9 4.4 4.3 40 40 32 29 29 28 21 20 20 19 16 15 15 14 14 23 20 19 18 17 16 16 15

15

Mikaela Manson, Plainfield East Madi Mulder, Joliet Central Jamari McAfee, Lockport Lauren Porcelli, Downers North Sam Fagenholz, Maine South Lotanna Onua, Plainfield East McKenna Carson, Joliet Central Gabriella Galassini, Resurrection Maddie Larsen, Resurrection Field Goal % Elise Stout, Benet Peyton Winters, Downers North Chizua Onua, Plainfield East Raven Reed, Joliet West Katherine Jaseckas, Benet Kathleen Doyle, Benet Tia Parrinello, Lockport Emily Eshoo, Benet Jamari McAfee, Lockport Free Throw % Emily Eshoo, Benet Jaida Green, Downers North Taylor Farrell, Resurrection Emily Schramek, Benet Tia Parrinello, Lockport Monica Barefield, Joliet Central Monica Nunez, Resurrection Sam Fagenholz, Maine South Elise Stout, Benet Peyton Winters, Downers North 3-pointers Sam Fagenholz, Maine South Jaida Green, Downers North Nina Anderson, Maine South

14 13 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 .600 .580 .556 .550 .520 .510 .500 .500 .493 .960 .860 .860 .840 .833 .780 .780 .750 .733 .710 19 17 13

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16

Wedn es day, Decem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com strikefest | from page 11 Mendez, who took sixth overall with a 1,268. She had an afternoon series of 717, the best score of the afternoon.

“It was really exciting,” Mendez said of her finish. “The team really picked me up. I didn’t even realize I had so many strikes going. We knew we were close and had to pull together and we did. It’s a great feeling to finish this high because there are so many great teams here.”

Sarah Martin shot a 1,132 and Danielle Mensik had a 1,107.

Competing in just the afternoon, Kierstin Vandenburg rolled a 685.

The Porters now have three second-place finishes to open the season.

“It’s really exciting,” Mendez said. “Last year we took sixth here.

Coming back and doing better

than before is a good experience.

All of our teammates fit really well together, it is like we are all sisters when we get on the lanes.”

Minooka was the lone team with three medalists (top 25).

Nora Russell finished 16th with a 1,195, Heather McCubbin was 21st with a 1,182 and Kortney Sickler was 22nd with a 1,172.

“It’s a new feeling,” Russell said.

“This is the first time I have placed in a varsity tournament. It is very encouraging for me, especially for the rest of the season. The morning was kind of rough. In the afternoon I stayed down and long and it worked for me.”

Carmella Russell (1,082) and Lexi Jones (1,065) also scored for the Indians, who have finished first, third and fourth now on the year.

“We were in 11th after the morning and moved up to fourth,”

Nora Russell said. “Our goal is to stay pumped the entire time. It is really encouraging for us as a team. It was really awesome. It shows how balanced we are.”

BOYS Minooka finished in third place Saturday at the Lincoln-Way East Invite at Thunder Bowl.

The Indians finished with a 6,336 total. Andrew won with a 6,612.

Ryan Koesema finished in sixth place with a 1,343. Alex Guglielmucci was eighth with a 1,340, Jack Russell was 10th with a 1,330 and Kai Devine had a 1,291.

Joliet West was seventh with a 6,113 total. Josh Pesavento fired a 1,325 and Matt Pesavento added a 1,301.

Lockport was eighth with a 5,994 and was paced by Michael Pruchnik’s 1,263.

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Wedn esday, De cem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com JCA | from page 14 and missed them all and when they got ahead and we had to go to man, I knew the more man minutes we had to play would be a struggle because we don’t match up with them. But when they hit all those threes, you just can’t sit back in zone. They are very athletic and that made it difficult for us going in to try and figure out how to guard them and then you have the nightmarish scenario when they hit all those threes.”

Colin Bonnett and Dan Sobolewski each tallied four threes for Benet.

“We weren’t just chucking threes out there,” Sobolewski said. “We were making the extra

start | from page 13 deserved it, but they responded.

Anytime you can come in to a team that is 5-1 and win at their place, it’s a good sign.”

Despite the lead the Raiders had, Joliet West did not go away easily.

The Tigers, who had 12 first half turnovers, gave the ball away only six times in the second half.

“They applied pressure early and when they did that, we didn’t have any answer for it,” said Joliet West coach Nick DiForti.

“When we finally figured out what to do, we toughened up a little bit and took it to them.

They are a good team and that is what good teams do, they try and keep you down as long as possible and they utilized their size to our lack of at times

pass and getting a lot of catchand-shoot threes, which we will shoot a high percentage at.

Coach says to play inside out and we were doing that tonight.”

Using the inside to set up the shot is what Benet coach Gene Heidekamp wants from this season’s team.

“I thought we moved the ball very well,” he said. “I thought we shared the ball well and our shot selection was very good. Part of who we are is we shoot threes because that is the makeup of our team. So, we are OK with that when they are good shots.

We will shoot a lot of threes because that is the make-up of our team, when we are sharing the ball and making good shot selection, we feel we can make

a high percentage then. We still have to play inside out and work the rim.”

For Benet, the ESCC opener was its first game in two weeks.

“We had two good weeks of practice,” Heidekamp said. “We got better. We weren’t satisfied with how we played in the Thanksgiving tournament. It’s been a long two weeks for them, but it paid off tonight. I think Joliet is a very good team, every time we play them. I am more and more impressed with how athletic they are and how they play. For us to come out and play how we did on the road against what I feel is a really solid team is a good mark for our kids.”

Bonnett led all scorers with 25 points, while Sobolewski added

and their guard play is stellar.

Against that when you have the turnovers we did in the first half and dig yourself a hole, it’s not easy.”

West used a 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to get the lead down to 56-43.

“Give them credit, we had them down 24 at one point and they hit some shots and did some things,” Brost said of Joliet West.

“Nick does a great job with his group and they are going to be a team to be reckoned with. Not in a year from now, but this year.

Right now, they are going to beat some really good teams.”

The Tigers also saw something else the Steelmen didn’t see and that was 6-foot, 9-inch center Julian Torres back in the middle after missing the Central game with illness.

“That kid is big,” DiForti said. “It makes a difference, it really does. He is a big boy and he doesn’t move when you hit him.”

Torres tallied 17 points in the game, while senior Brodric Thomas posted 12. Bolingbrook’s Prentiss Nixon led all scorers with 27.

“We are not hanging our heads,” DiForti said. “We did do good things. We were down 20 something and it could have been a blood bath and it turned out to be OK. This was our biggest test so far and I would not say we failed.

“We have been blown out, we have blown teams out, we have had close games, we had an overtime, so we are learning on the job.”

14.

Junior guards Jalen Jackson and Harold Davis each scored seven points to lead the Hilltoppers.

A day later, JCA saw a late 16-point lead disappear and lost 49-45 in a nonconference tilt with Minooka.

17

Minooka (4-4) connected on 21 of 25 free throws in the fourth quarter alone to help ice the win.

Jon Butler paced the Indians with 12 points.

The Hilltoppers were without Davis and Jackson down the stretch after both fouled out.

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18

Wedn es day, decem ber 17, 2014 | bug leneW spapers.com romeoville

q & a with local athletes

FeaTUrInG

cherish smith Basketball

what do you use social media for the most? i have two twitter accounts, i use one for basketball only and one for everything else. who is your favorite person to follow? trey Burke and maya moore because they are my role models. what do you like most about social media? you get to meet professional athletes or see inspirational quotes or if you miss a game, you can see what happens.

andreW mccutcHen

have you ever tried to tweet a celebrity and did they respond? i tweeted to trey Burke and he did not reply.

which basketball team will remain unbeaten the longest?

joliet maine soutH central boys boys

37.5% 25% benet girls

plainField nortH boys

edGytIM.CoM @edGytIM

12.5% 25% Who will lead the area in scoring?

aaron jordan, plainField east treVor stumpe, plainField nortH prentiss niXon, bolingbrooK joe mooney, notre dame

@taylor_Sports: joliet West’s gracie Plese placed second at the Plainfield north Strikefest.

“joliet High Schools to Southwest Prairie is announced let the South suburbs great conference land grab begin?”

BoIse state Men’s BB @BRonCospoRtsMBB “Derrick marks now leads the mountain West in scoring at 17.0 points per game.”

MInooka spoRts @MInookaspoRts “an all around incReDiBle day to be an indian! congrats to all winter sport teams on crazy good starts to their seasons.”

News about local businesses in your community Wedn esday, De cem ber 17, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

19

transportation

ICC: Close Walter Strawn Drive due to an ‘immediate safety concern’ The order would not take effect until sometime early next year By nick reiher

managing editor

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

Due to an “immediate safety concern,” a preliminary order by the Illinois Commerce Commission recommends closing Walter Strawn Drive until the state can look at ways to alleviate hazards on that stretch of Illinois 53 due to heavy truck traffic from intermodal

shipping facilities.

The order would not take effect until sometime early next year. At the same time, ICC Administrative Law Judge Latrice Kirkland-Montague also recommended the Illinois Department of Transportation study a grade separation near Walter Strawn Drive and Illinois 53.

Kirkland-Montague also recommended IDOT do another study of the Illinois 53 corridor, from U.S. 52 south to West Arsenal Road, which includes Walter Strawn Drive.

The local farm community said trucks coming from east of Illinois 53 would have to go a longer way if Walter Strawn Drive were closed.

That would add time, and cost, to

the shipments, they said.

“We had hoped for a period of time to allow for alternate roads to be developed” said Mark Schneidewind, Will county Farm Bureau Manager. “This will place many grain elevators at a disadvantage if they have to haul a further distance to get to BNSF or Union Pacific railroads so those become options that are no longer as attractive.

“Local farmers use this road as well to haul into Cargill and DeLong and Gavilon, and also as short cut for hauling to the river because of price differences during the year.

This will no longer be an option.

“We understand the safety issues and will work hard at finding alternatives. “I am confident we will find another new way to make this work for everyone.”

Walter Strawn Drive was built some 12 years ago as the eastern access off Illinois 53 for trucks entering and leaving Elwood’s BNSF intermodal facility. The new road crosses a Union Pacific rail track about 120 feet west of Illinois 53.

Also included just to the south of Walter Strawn Drive is he entrance to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. She noted heavy truck use on Illinois 53 due to the intermodal yards has caused hazardous traffic conditions with funeral processions.

In one case, she noted, a truck was stuck on the Walter Strawn tracks as a funeral procession blocked the intersection.

Kirkland-Montague also ordered that IDOT hold quarterly meetings, beginning in January, with the Union Pacific Railroad, CenterPoint, ICC and Elwood to coordinate long-term solutions to the traffic problems at the Walter Strawn Crossing. The preliminary order, issued Dec. 9. Is less surprising

considering the ICC and the Union Pacific reversed their positions in October and said they supported closing Walter Strawn Drive.

Initially, when the Village of Elwood tried to close Walter Strawn Drive at Baseline Road, which connects the two intermodal yards, the Union Pacific joined CenterPoint and other entities to reopen the road. Those entities were able to secure a temporary restraining order to reopen the road, and the Elwood Village Board later voluntarily rescinded the ordinance closing it.

Initially, it was estimated some 6,000 vehicles, 26 percent of them trucks, would use the new road by 2020. Last year, a traffic count found that 12,000 vehicles a day used Walter Strawn Drive, 67 percent of them trucks.

One reason for the faster increase was the construction of another intermodal facility – where containers from trucks are lifted onto rail cars, and vice versa – by the Union Pacific a few miles to the north in Joliet. Those two intermodals share property owned by Oak Brook-based CenterPoint Inc. Another reason for the accelerated traffic was the use of containers just emptied into trucks at the intermodals by local and regional farmers shipping their grain and grain products by rail to the West Coast and eventually to China. Local economic development leaders tout the two intermodals, as well as several others in the vicinity, as contributing to making Will County the “largest inland port in North America.”

“We fully expected this,” said John Greuling, president and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development. “No question the design of the railroad crossings at Walter Strawn and Hoff

Road are inadequate for the freight and passenger vehicle traffic in the area.

“The unfortunate thing is the parties involved could not find a suitable solution for a local problem. The CED will work with the businesses impacted by this to minimize the disruption of commerce.”

In an interview last summer, Eric Gilbert, CenterPoint’s Senior Vice President of Infrastructure and Logistics, acknowledged they were surprised how much traffic increased following the opening of Joliet’s UP intermodal facility. So no traffic studies were done before the Union Pacific yard opened or since.

Truck traffic going to and from the intermodals also increased when IDOT began renovating the Des Plaines River Bridge on Interstate 55 several years ago. Drivers in a hurry did not want to get stuck in traffic there, so they would use Illinois 53 to go to and from the intermodals instead of using the new interchange at Arsenal Road.

The bridge construction was done this past summer, but not before six people died in two separate truck-related accidents in that area. Dozens had been injured in other accidents related to the construction.

In her ruling, Kirkland-Montague said groups opposed to closing Walter Strawn Drive offered no suitable alternatives to remedy safety concerns.

Local officials hope the state will take a good look at building a bridge from Interstate 80 south along Houbolt Road into the northern entrance to CenterPoint’s intermodal yards.

Gilbert said there needs to be a point entity to coordinate that plan before private interests would consider investing as well.

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transportation

Feds Approve record of decision for Illiana tollway The next phase of the Illiana Tollway project may include land acquisition will be selected in 2015 to finalize design engineering, complete the nreiher@buglenewspapers.com financing package and build and @JolietILNews operate the Illiana. Each state is working with several The next phase of the groups to determine the Illiana Tollway project, private partner. which may include State officials repeatedly land acquisition for the have told residents in the nearly 50-mile road, path of the Illiana that land now can begin. acquisition can begin after State and local the Record of Decision is officials were notified John Greuling issued. But Will County the Federal Highway president and Board Member Judy Administration issued CEO of the Will County Center Ogalla, R-Monee, a staunch the Illiana Corridor Tier for Economic opponent of the Illiana, Two Record of Decision Development hopes the state waits until marking the conclusion of the environmental planning funding is more firm.

Not only has a private partner phase.

With the issuance of the ROD, not been identified, she said, the FHWA has identified building but a new governor, Republican a new 50-mile highway facility Bruce Rauner, will be sworn in that will connect Interstate 55 next month. He will replace Gov. near Wilmington with Interstate Pat Quinn, who has been a major supporter of the Illiana, as well 65 near Lowell, Ind. John Greuling, president and as the South Suburban Airport CEO of the Will County Center for planned near Monee.

“I see the Illiana as more Economic Development, said the issuance of the ROD is a major politically driven than need milestone for the Illiana, “one driven,” she said. Ogalla added that allows the states of Illinois the Record of Decision is just a and Indiana to move forward with procedural document showing construction of this much-needed the planners “crossed all their I’s and dotted all their T’s. highway.”

“The real question is, is this Greuling said they anticipated that a private partner or partners project really needed?” she said.

By nick reiher

managing editor

“And what about the people who lose their land? Will they not know like those who lost it to the airport?”

Ogalla and other opponents also say taxpayers would be on the hook for much of the estimated $1.5 billion cost if the private investors cannot make back their costs.

Proponents say the Tollway will help alleviate congestion on Interstate 80 by diverting truck local, regional and nationwide truck traffic. Local officials say the road is especially crucial because of all the trucks going in and out of the CenterPoint Intermodal facilities in Joliet and Elwood.

Greuling said the CED has been working on the project for years and credited teamwork among the Will County private and public sector leaders and labor officials for moving the project forward so quickly.

“From the first public meeting convened in June of 2011 through today, the project has received priority status from both Illinois and Indiana and the federal government resulting in the completion of the environmental review in just over three years,” he said. “Amazing what positive team work can accomplish.”

The Tier Two Record of Decision and other information about the project can be viewed at www.

IllianaCorridor.org.

Send us your feedback at sweditor@buglenewspapers.com Wedn esday, decem ber 17, 2014 | joli etbug le.com

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mayo clinic

Resistant hypertension has several causes Treatment for resistant hypertension without drugs may be an option in the future dear Mayo cliNic: I was recently told I have resistant hypertension. What exactly is it, and what could cause it? How can I treat my high blood pressure, since medications haven’t worked? aNswer: Hypertension (high blood pressure) is considered resistant when a person is taking a diuretic plus two other blood pressure medications, and their blood pressure is still too high. Diuretics lower blood pressure by helping your kidneys get rid of extra salt and water in your body. Resistant hypertension has several possible causes, including another underlying medical condition.

Treatment typically involves a change in your medications.

A variety of drugs are available to treat high blood pressure. If you are taking a diuretic and your blood pressure remains high, your doctor may recommend adding additional medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or others that can help lower blood pressure.

When resistant hypertension is discovered, the first step is usually a thorough review of all your current medications, including those for blood pressure control and any other medications you take. In many cases, a change in the amount of blood pressure medication a person is taking - often an increase in the diuretic - can effectively treat resistant hypertension. For blood pressure medications to work

resistaNt hyPerteNsioN

When resistant hypertension is discovered, the first step is usually a thorough review of all your current medications, including those for blood pressure control and any other medications you take

best, the directions for taking them should be carefully followed.

If medication adjustments don’t work, doctors usually start looking for other medical problems that could be contributing to high blood pressure. Those may include an abnormality in the hormones that control blood pressure, or a narrowing in one or more of the arteries leading to your kidneys.

If another problem is uncovered, treating that condition in addition

to treating the high blood pressure usually works to bring blood pressure down.

Certainsleepproblems,including sleep apnea, may also contribute to resistant hypertension. Some people with high blood pressure, particularly those who are overweight, can have disturbed breathing during sleep, and that may lead to resistant hypertension.

If you’re exceptionally tired during the day and you snore while sleeping, tell your doctor.

In the future, treatment for resistant hypertension without drugs may be an option. For example, the kidneys play a key role in controlling blood pressure, and blood flow to the kidneys is an important part of the process.

Researchers are examining whether making changes in how kidney arteries function - for example, by destroying certain nerves that serve the arteries- can help control blood pressure. This research is

still in the early stages, but it holds promise.

Also important to remember is that lifestyle choices you make can significantly affect your blood pressure. Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and limits salt can often help control blood pressure. Staying at a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink are important self-care steps for people with high blood pressure.

Make an appointment to talk to your doctor about controlling your high blood pressure.

(Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to medicaledge(AT SIGN) mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.) (c) 2014 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

state news

Illinois mourns loss of ‘trailblazer’ Judy Baar Topinka Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka passed away early Dec. 10 as a result of complications from a stroke

by Nick reiher

ManaGInG edItoR

nreiher@buglenewspapers.com @JolietILNews

State and local officials were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who passed away early Dec. 10 as a result of complications from a stroke.

“She was genuine,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

“She was a real person. And she ran for office for the right reasons, to serve the people.

Walsh said he got to know her when he was a state senator and she was state treasurer.

He said her door always was open, and he could count on a hug and a kiss on the cheek whenever she greeted him. “A bright light has gone out in Illinois,” said state Sen. Pat McGuire. “Judy Baar Topinka was fair, she was responsible, and she was fun. I will miss her. I extend

NEVER WITHOUT HER SIGNATURE SENSE OF HUMOR, JUDY WAS A FORCE OF NATURE. SHE LEFT HER MARK ON THE STATE SHE HAS CALLED HOME HER ENTIRE LIFE. HER LEADERSHIP IMPROVED ILLINOIS AND PAVED THE WAY FOR COUNTLESS WOMEN IN POLITICS. my condolences to her family, friends and staff members.”

Some likely didn’t know Topinka started out as a newspaper reporter nearly 50 years ago.

Larry Randa, former newspaper publisher and now Valley View School District spokesman, said he was a fledgling reporter when she also worked for the CiceroBerwyn LIFE in a chain owned by the Randa and Kubik families.

“She held her community close

to her heart. Whether it was the people who lived in the towns she covered as a newspaper reporter almost 50 years ago, the people she served as a state legislator or the people of the State of Illinois she ultimately represented in recent years, she always treated everyone with kindness, respect

and a big smile. -30- JBT,” Randa said, using the newspaper lingo “-30-“ for “end of story.”

Gov. Pat Quinn said Topinka “will be terribly missed. “Today is a sad day in the state of Illinois. I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of my friend, Judy Baar Topinka.

As the first female Treasurer of

Illinois and a longtime public servant, Judy was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. “Never without her signature sense of humor, Judy was a force of nature.

She left her mark on the state she has called home her entire life.

Her leadership improved Illinois and paved the way for countless women in politics.

“My deepest sympathies go out to Judy’s son, Joe, daughterin-law Christina, granddaughter Alexandra, her family, friends and devoted staff.”

Governor-elect Bruce Rauner issued the following statement: “Early this morning, Illinois lost one of its all-time greats.

Comptroller Topinka’s magnetic, one-of-a-kind personality brought a smile to everyone she met, and she had a servant’s heart, always only caring about what was best for the people of our state.

“Judy was a tremendous friend, and Diana and I will miss her deeply. We offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers to her family, including son Joseph, as well as her talented and loyal team in the Comptroller’s office.”

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