Sentinel 9-5-18

S E P T E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 8 V O L . 1 0 I S S U E 38 SHOREWOODSENTINEL.COM

ILLINOIS’ LEGACY Ft. Armstrong, Rock Island Arsenal have defended nation since 1816

SEE PAGE 6

COUNTY

Spay/Neuter County offers spay/ neuter discount for residents SEE PAGE 4

SPORTS

Labor of Love Local man taking startup to new heights SEE PAGE 7

BUSINESS Dave Says Paying off credit cards

SEE PAGE 11

FORUM SPOTLIGHT

#shorewoodsentinel

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | SHOREWOODSENTINEL.COM

CHICAGOLAND

Local kid serves as batboy for Cubs Payton Ptak survived early birth thanks to Advocate

BY RYAN OSTRY Bugle Staff @RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com

At 12-years-old Payton Ptak plays for the Downers Grove Longshots baseball team, when he was born, it was his life that was the longshot.

Payton was thrown a curveball at birth, but in the dozen years since, he has stepped up to the plate and made sure he did not strike out.

Ptak, who is a middle school student at Churchville Middle School in Elmhurst, has not had what you would call and easy life.

The fun-loving baseball and guitar connoisseur was born after only 25 weeks and five days at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove and weighed onepound, six-inches.

“Our other son T.J was born at two pounds five ounces, so we’ve gone through that journey before,” Payton’s mom Kim Ptak said. “It was really challenging because we went through a lot of testing and the doctors concluded that it just sometimes happens, its probably why they were four years apart because I was scared to death to try this all over again.”

Payton, a die-hard Cubs fan, got the chance of a lifetime on Aug. 14 to be the honorary batboy thanks to the partnership of Advocate and the Cubs.

“I got to watch batting practice from the dugout which was really cool,” Payton said. “[The Cub players] are really tall athletes too, I was really excited when I met all of those players.”

Because of the situation Kim went through before, for the first 12 weeks of her pregnancy with Payton, she saw a specialist at Northwestern Hospital where she was later discharged.

Seven weeks later however, Kim noticed something was not right, and ended up in the emergency room.

“At 19 weeks they told me I was losing Payton, they told me [I was] basically having a miscarriage,” Kim said. “[The doctors] wanted to take me to surgery to have this procedure done, and I said absolutely

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Payton Ptak (right) and his brother T.J. meet Kris Bryant when Payton served as honorary batboy for the Cubs. not.”

The persistent mother, who was on bedrest for six weeks, knew that once her water broke at week 23 there could be more issues with the birthing process.

“If your child is born at 24 weeks or more [the doctors] will try and save the child’s life,” Kim said. “If its less than 24 weeks they wont interfere, so I knew at 23 weeks it wasn’t enough time, and then they gave me steroids to boost Payton’s lungs.”

Even though Payton successfully made it out alive, the trepidation for his life did not stop there.

Kim said that Payton was born at 3 a.m., but he would have to make it to the morning to have a 50-50 chance of survival.

With Payton born early, Kim also said his eyesight was at risk after “his eyes were filling up with blood after his surgery” and had the potential for him to lose his sight.

An eye surgery when Payton was about three months old at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge helped with his vision, and now he has 20/20 eyesight.

“Besides the eye problems, Payton had a lot of early intervention with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical thera-

pists and in the end, the goal was to help him mitigate some of his physical difficulties.” Kim said.

Payton and his older brother T.J. had the opportunity to sit in the dugout and watch batting practice because every year an 11-year-old or 12-year-old former patient at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is chosen to participate in being the honorary batboy for a game.

Payton, who plays baseball for the Downers Grove Longshots, had the chance to meet some of his favorite players including Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Hendricks.

Even though Payton lives a happy and healthy life as a kid now, Kim knows that Good Samaritan Hospital is much deserving of the credit that helped save her boys life.

“I don’t even have the words to describe how great the care was at the hospital, it was truly unbelievable,” she said. “I never thought I would say this but I’m fortunate I had the opportunity for my second son to be in the care at that hospital because I already built this relationship with nurses and physicians. I never questioned what they were telling me, they always had the best interest of Payton, they

took care of our family in a holistic way and to this very day we are still

good friends and stay in touch with the people there.”

COUNTY

NEWS

FROM THE SURROUNDING COUNTY AREA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.

3

VILLAGE NEWS >> SHOREWOOD

Shorewood sees positive financial year Revenues exceed spending in FY18

BY MARNEY SIMON Enterprise Staff @PlainfieldNews news@enterprisepublications.com

The village of Shorewood finished its last fiscal year in a strong financial position.

On Aug. 28, board members viewed the village financial statements and independent auditor’s report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 (FY18).

The audit was conducted by Sikich LLP, of Naperville.

Sikich issued an unmodified opinion on the village’s financial statements for the fiscal year.

The FY18 General Fund revenues total $13.6 million, including $1.5 million from property taxes, $6.1 million from other taxes, $984,682 from licenses, permits and fines,

and $2 million in charges for service. Those revenues represent a 6 percent increase in revenues from the previous fiscal year.

Sales tax represents the most significant revenue stream in the general fund, taking up 63 percent of the total income filed under “other taxes.”

Charges for service include refuse charges, park program revenue, penalties on refuse and recycling revenue, and mobile antenna rental on village property.

On the expenditure side, the village spent $12.6 million out of the General Fund, including $4.1 million for general government activities, $4.6 million in public safety, and $2 million in public works.

The village collected more than $1 million in revenues over what

was originally budgeted in the General Fund, taking in significantly more money in licenses, permits and fees, grant income, and miscellaneous income.

The village also came in under budget in spending, with total expenditures $363,659 below the final operating budget for FY18.

The General Fund is the village’s main operational fund, which finances operations in administration, parks and recreation, and the police department.

Total operating and non-operating revenues in the Water and Sewer Fund was $11.5 million, and total expenses were $6.6 million.

The village’s net capital assets total $107.3 million.

The village’s long-term debt stands at $18.2 million, a decrease from the previous year. None of the village’s debt is funded directly

from property taxes. Funding for debt comes from utility tax revenue, home rule sales tax revenue, and water and sewer tap on fees.

The village had no new debt in the FY18.

Per the report, there were no significant difficulties encountered in dealing with the management during the audit. The auditors commended the village’s financial staff for the hard and detailed work involved with keeping the books.

“We had zero adjusting journal entries during the course of the audit for this year,” said Anthony M. Cervini, CPA, CFE with Sikich. “The magnitude and volume of transactions that you process, to have zero entries is certainly reflective of a job well done.”

Included in the report were statistics on Shorewood’s residential growth over the past fiscal year.

Single family home construction rose in the last fiscal year, with 77 total new home permits issued and 80 new homes completed.

Shorewood occupies seven square miles, with potential planning area of 20 square miles. The 2017 special census listed the population at 17,495, an increase of 12 percent from the 2010 census.

The village of Shorewood was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for Comprehensive Annual Financial Audits each year from 2007 through 2017. The most recent audit will also be submitted for consideration for another certificate.

The comprehensive annual financial report can be viewed on the village’s website, at vil.shorewood. il.us.

COMMUNITY

Joliet Hospice hosts Star Wars-themed golf outing The Joliet Area Community Hospice (JACH) 16th Annual Golf Classic took place at a golf course not too far away on Tuesday, August 16.

Hometown National Bank was the host of this year’s themed scramble at Inwood Golf Course in Joliet.

Participants were enjoying pastry from Orland Bakery when three special visitors rode in on a golf cart. They were none other than a Storm Trooper, Boba Fett and a Shadow trooper.

Each of these characters were from The Midwest Garrison, the Illinois chapter of The 501st Legion, a Star Wars Imperial costuming club.

The 501st is dedicated to the movie-quality costumes of characters from the Star Wars universe and donate their time to not-forprofits.

“I knew once we decided on the Star Wars theme that we had to have characters join us on the course. After confirming with Ray “Rex” Bosques from the 501st, I couldn’t wait until the outing,” said Laureen Crotteau, JACH Events and Media Specialist.

The characters took photos

with golfers, staff and volunteers at the event.

“I told my kids I could check hanging out with a Storm Trooper and Boba Fett off my bucket list,” said Bob Smith, JACH volunteer.

In addition to golfing, a steak dinner and beverages, a new oral auction included a threesome to Medinah No. 3, dress circle tickets to see Hamilton, tickets to the symphony, and tickets to a Cubs game.

More than 65 raffle items were won by participants thanks to

the generosity of more than 80 businesses and individuals in the community.

This successful outing raised more than $40,000 for Joliet Area Community Hospice.

All proceeds benefit the hospice, palliative care, and community bereavement services provided to adults and children in the eight counties served.

The sponsors of the 16th annual Golf Classic included The Horton Group, Kurtz Ambulance, Busey Bank, D’Arcy Buick GMC, Daley’s

Ambulance, Lindblad Construction, Silver Cross Hospital, Lindsey and Don Peterik, Mary and John Sheehan, Edwards JonesEd Dollinger and Mark Karner, Financial Advisors, Old Second

Bank-Mark Griglione, Mark Streitz Dental, Orland Park Bakery and Sheffield Safety and Loss Control.

There were numerous hole and memorial sponsors and in-kind donors.

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4 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.

14th Will Co. Rabid Bat Discovered in Joliet

Found Deceased in 600 Block of North Reed St.

On August 28th, a bat was picked up by Will County Animal Control in the 600 block of North Reed Street in Joliet.

The bat was found dead, and tested positive for rabies at the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory later on the 28th.

The homeowners had no exposure to the bat. Two cats in the household do have access to the outdoors and may have had exposure. However, both are currently up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.

Bats discovered in Will County need to be immediately reported to Will County Animal Control at 815-462-5633. The Will County Animal Control program maintains a 24-hour answering and emergency pick-up service for confined stray animals, injured animals, and stray biters.

In addition to reporting any discovered bats immediately, Will County residents are reminded to remove any people and animals from the area where the bat is, close off the vicinity where the bat is located if possible, and look over all present residents and pets that were around the bat for any small puncture or bite marks.

Please also remember to have your pets currently vaccinated against Rabies.

For more on dealing with bats, please go to recommended websites from the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention or Will County.

WILL COUNTY

County offers spay/neuter discount for residents Discount applies for up to (2) animals per household and is exclusively for pet owners who live in Will County

Will County residents who have their pets spayed or neutered at participating veterinary offices in September can receive a $40 county-sponsored discount.

The discount applies for up to two animals per household and is exclusively for pet owners who live in Will County.

More than 18,000 pets have been treated since the program originated in 2007.

“This continued partnership between our Animal Control de-

partment and the many veterinarians in Will County is the key to protecting the health of our residents’ pets,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “This is an important service I encourage all eligible residents to utilize.”

To be eligible for the $40 discount on a pet’s spay or neuter: • Pet owners must show proof of residency in Will County • Pets must be registered with Will County Animal Control and reside with

the owner Proof of current rabies vaccination and Will County registration tag must be provided on the day of surgery • Rabies vaccination can be administered on the day of surgery, as well as registration tag purchase • Surgery must take place in September Pet owners should call their veterinary office and confirm that the facility is participating.

Will County Animal Control is under the County Executive’s office and is led by Dr. L.P Schild.

For additional information about this program, call (815) 724-1521.

•

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NEWS

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COUNTY NEWS

County expands Narcan training New bystander training available to any organization or individual in the county

As the opioid epidemic continues to affect the entire nation, Will County is working to expand its harm reduction efforts by providing naloxone training to any organization or individual. Naloxone is a powerful antidote that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“A dose of naloxone can save the life of someone who has overdosed on opiates,” said Dr. Kath-

MORE INFO Burke will be providing a training session at the New Lenox International Overdose Awareness Day event at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 30 at the New Lenox Village Hall, 1 Veterans Parkway in New Lenox. The public is invited to participate in this training.

For more information, contact Burke at (815) 774-7486.

leen Burke, director of the Office of Substance Use Initiatives, in the office of Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “In my training, I teach people to recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose and how to properly administer naloxone.”

Recently, Burke trained more

than 30 taxi drivers and dispatchers at the Telecab Taxi service after being contacted by a representative of the company. According to John Buchanan, general manager with Telecab, offering this training to their drivers was a ‘practical idea’.

“I have read about the opioid epidemic and realize it touches every community,” Buchanan said. “We have operated in Joliet for 20 years and we are dedicated to this community. Our drivers are responsible for our customers’ safety while they are in our vehicles. The drivers are trained in CPR so it makes sense for them to be trained on this life saving method as well.

WORKFORCE SERVICES DIVISION OF WILL COUNTY

Sept. Mobile Workshop Center schedule includes workshops Mobile unit travels throughout county to help residents with job, interview skills The Plainfield and Mokena libraries will host workshops geared toward job seekers during Mobile Workforce Center visits in September.

The Workforce Services Division of Will County will offer workshops presented monthly at the Workforce Center of Will County at the stops.

Susan Flessner, administrative manager of the Workforce Services Division, said, “We’re offering these workshops on the Mobile Workshop Center in order to make it easier for people in other parts of the county to have access to them.”

The Standout Resume workshop will be offered at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, when the mobile unit is at the Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield.

Making the Most of a Job Fair will be offered at 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 28, at the Mokena

MORE INFO For additional information about the Workforce Services Division of Will County or the Mobile Workforce Center, go to www.jobs4people.org.

Community Public Library District, 11327 W. 195th St., Mokena. Both will be held on the Mobile Workforce Center.

The mobile unit travels throughout Will County to help residents with resume development, cover letters and job applications.

The workforce center contains 11 computer stations, internet access, and offers keyboarding lessons, as well as resume and job search assistance using online listings including jobs4people.org and Illinois workNet. The Mobile Workforce Center will be at Fountaindale Public Library, 300 W. Briarcliff, Bolingbrook, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, except Labor Day, Sept. 3.

The unit will be at University Park Village Hall, 698 Burnham Drive, in University Park, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tues-

days. Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield, will host the Mobile Workforce Center from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

MWC can be found at the Wilmington Public Library District, 201 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

It will be at Frankfort Public Library District, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and at Mokena Community Public Library, 11327 W. 195th St., Mokena, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh encourages job seekers to take advantage of the service, which is offered at no cost to County residents.

For additional information about the Workforce Services Division of Will County or the Mobile Workforce Center, go to www.jobs4people.org.

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Ft. Armstrong, Rock Island Arsenal have defended nation since 1816

BY GEORGE EATON In summer 1814, skirmishes between the U.S. and British-backed warriors under the leadership of Black Hawk flared up and down river from Rock Island.

Since 1803 the U.S. had owned both banks of the Mississippi River. Lt. Zebulon Pike had reached the Rock Island in 1805 and immediately recognized its strategic and tactical importance.

The Rock Island Rapids raced for 12 miles upriver. From Rock Island, the Army could control the entire Upper Mississippi River Valley by controlling the rapids.

Locally, the Sauk and Meskwaki, led

by Black Hawk, opposed a disputed 1804 treaty that transferred over 50 million acres of land to the U.S. An Army post on the island could also keep an eye on Black Hawk and his followers.

The battles of 1814 confirmed to the Army that it needed a presence on Rock Island. In May 1816, Fort Armstrong was built on the downriver end of the island. The small Army contingent there was tasked to control the Upper Mississippi River Valley by monitoring the Rock Island Rapids; maintaining observation of assumed anti-American Sauk Indians in the area; maintaining peaceful relations between the local Native American tribes; and, later, providing security as settlers moved into the area.

Resistance from the Sauk culminated in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Fort Armstrong served as an administrative and logistic center for the war. Treaties after the Black Hawk War pushed Native Americans west of the Mississippi and, as a result, Fort Armstrong’s security role was transformed into a logistics mission as a supply depot. That role ended in 1845 after supplies were issued for the Mexican War. Important meetings were held in George Davenport’s home in 1845. Not a single bridge crossed the Mississippi River and Rock Island was the only location where engineering of the day could build a commercially viable railroad bridge.

The bridge could jump from the Illinois mainland to the island and then over the shallow rapids to Iowa. After 11 years of wrangling and overcoming

resistance from the federal government, the first rail bridge over the Mississippi River opened in April 1856 spurring industrial and settlement growth in the area. Rock Island, using water and rail, became the transportation hub of the United States. Eventually, the Transcontinental Railroad crossed the island.

In the late 1850s the Army was looking for a depot to supply the Army on the frontier.

The bridge and rail distribution network, coupled with steamboat traffic and federal ownership of the Rock Island, influenced the decision to create the Rock Island Arsenal.

President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation creating the Arsenal as a maintenance and storage facility on July 11, 1862. In 1863, construction started on a warehouse that is now called the Clock Tower.

That building was not completed until 1867 and by then the mission had changed to manufacturing. With the end of the Civil War, plans were drawn up by Brevet Brigadier Gen. Thomas Rodman for a much larger complex.

Construction began in 1866.

That construction was an economic driver as Rock Island Arsenal became the largest federal public works project of the 19th century. The Arsenal produced artillery carriages and caissons, saddles, eating utensils, canvas products, bayonets, and, after 1903, rifles.

It manufactured, repaired and stored everything a soldier needed.

The Arsenal’s first major support to an American war was in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Rock Island Arsenal became known for both speed and quality. As a result, it became the artillery development center for the Army.

During World War I, the Arsenal’s employment mushroomed from 2,000 to almost 15,000. After World War I, the Arsenal became the Army’s tank development center as well.

During World War II, the Arsenal saw its greatest employment with almost 19,000 people on the island. A huge repair parts operation utilized the rail links east and west to the coasts. In addition, machine guns, artillery, tanks, aircraft engines and other goods were produced and sent to the fighting fronts.

The Arsenal was also critical to support in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

As the size of the Army and the requirement for manufacturing declined, other higher commands were located on the island. Today 1st Army, Army Sustainment Command, Joint Munitions Command and the Arsenal itself operate on the island.

Today, the Arsenal more quietly continues to support the Army. In 1990-91 critical parts were made and shipped to support Operation Desert Storm.

In 2003, when opposing forces began to ambush U.S. vehicles with roadside bombs, the Arsenal produced the first professional armor kits for Humvees in just weeks. Rock Island Arsenal has one of only two foundries in the Department of Defense and with modern technology can make one or 1 million of any item needed by the armed forces.

While known and respected across the armed forces for its products, in the neighboring community the Rock Island Arsenal remains an economic engine and premier employer. Also on the island today are a national cemetery and a Confederate Cemetery holding the remains of Confederate prisoners held on island between 1863-1865.

A monument to the First Bridge is on the island, along with George Davenport’s house which hosted the meetings that planned that bridge. In addition to that modest home, the island is also home to Quarters One, the largest house in the Army and second in size only to the White House in the federal inventory.

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum, the second oldest museum in the Army system, tells the history of the Arsenal and has over 1,200 weapons on display. The Lock and Dam Visitor Center tells the story of the first completed Mississippi River navigation lock and dam that, when completed in 1933, removed the obstacle of the Rock Island Rapids noted by Zebulon Pike in 125 years earlier.

George Eaton is Interim Director of Strategic Communications and Army Sustainment Command Historian, U.S. Army. Editor’s note: The weekly Illinois Bicentennial series is brought to you by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors and Illinois Press Association. More than 20 newspapers are creating stories about the state’s history, places and key moments in advance of the Bicentennial on Dec. 3, 2018.

Stories published up to this date can be found at 200illinois.com.

PAGE 7

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

FEATURE

LABOR OF

L

VE

Lockport man has his designs being sold at some of baseball’s most hallowed grounds

BY MARK GREGORY Editorial Director @Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

In 2012 Tim Kuncis lost his job at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Since then, the Lockport resident has searched for the perfect job and it looks like he may have hit a home run.

Kuncis started Barnwood Sports Design — a company in which he creates handmade wooden American flags and flags in the shape of home plate and marries pure Americana with the great American pastime.

The company not only allows Kuncis to be his own boss, it allows him to get back to using the art degree he earned from Northern Illinois University in 1996.

“I have a degree in art, but

I haven’t done art since college,” Kuncis said. “I worked at the Board of Trade right out of college and I got let go in 2012 and I jumped around job to job and I worked a little bit with Jim Bartuch of Garden Architecture, that does amazing woodworking and that is kind of where I got into this and I learned a lot from him, but there is nothing like working for yourself.”

The idea first started when Kuncis saw other woodworkers making American Flags on Facebook and knew he could replicate, if not improve, what was being offered.

Basic American flags turned into Chicago flags as well as military and first responderinspired designs as well as the company’s signature home SEE LABOR PAGE 9

PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY

Tim Kuncis works in his Lockport garage — for now — building his brand, Barnwood Sports Designs.

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8 SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

ST. FRANCIS

Saints rally back, fall in home opener The University of St. Francis volleyball team clawed its way back from a set down twice in its matchup against Clarke University, but could not complete its fifth-set comeback in a 25-23, 2325, 25-16, 21-25, 15-13 loss to the Pride.

The Saints (1-4) found themselves in a deep hole after losing the first six points of the final set.

Kills by Taylor Valant (St. Anne, Ill./Bishop McNamara), Brooklyn Withey (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer) and Kendra Bullard (Random Lake, Wis./Random Lake) sparked an 11-4 run that gave St. Francis the lead 11-10.

Clarke (5-1) recorded kills on five of the next seven points to

take the match 15-13 in the fifth.

USF hit .126 for the contest, while the Pride finished at .184.

The Saints led in aces (7-1) and total blocks (13-8). JoAnna Nowicki (Morris, Ill./Morris) paced St. Francis with 12 kills, while Valant joined her in double-figures with 10.

Katie Szakacs (Munster, Ind./ Munster) totaled a careerhigh 43 digs and Alexis Engst (Bloomington, Ill./University) dished out a team-high 28 assists.

The teams split the first two sets, both of which came down to the wire.

Neither team led by four for the entirety of the second frame. Tied a 23, a pair of Clarke attack errors

helped USF level the match at one set apiece.

After the Pride’s offense powered the visitors to a 25-16 third set, the Saints forced a decider by taking the fourth.

USF jumped ahead by winning the first four points and eventually extended a 20-12 lead. Clarke made things interesting late, but kills by Withey, Valant and Stephanie Woods (Westchester, Ill./Marquette Manor) sealed the frame for the Saints.

Clarke’s Kasey Davis and Lindsey Steger combined for 10 of Clarke’s 12 kills in the final set, helping the Pride clinch the match. Steger (18 kills, 10 digs) and Davis (15 kills, 18 digs) both posted double-doubles.

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SPORTS

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9

VOLLEYBALL

Lockport looks for consistency

BY RANDY WHALEN For the Bugle www.buglenewspapers.com

When the Lockport Township traveled to face Plainfield East in an early season girls volleyball matchup on Thursday, Aug. 23 in Plainfield, it as a matchup of two teams looking to find a consistent stride this season.

A week after Lockport’s 2518, 21-25, 25-20 victory over the host Bengals, the Porters hope to be taking steps toward that consistency. While Plainfield East is still struggling to establish its.

“When it was 18-18 [in the third set against East], I told the girls we have to want it, we have to learn how to win,” Lockport coach Nick Mraz said.

The Porters, however, went 2-3 overall after making the Silver Division of the Plainfield North Invite that following weekend, Aug. 24 and 25. All three of the losses were in three

LABOR FROM PAGE 7 plate design.

“The home plate thing has taken off,” he said. “It is totally customizable.”

The transition was easy for Kuncis who played baseball collegiately at South Suburban, TCU and Northern Illinois University, while taking time off for shoulder reconstruction.

While his injury may have solidified the fact that Kuncis would never be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame — his design got him in.

His home plate design is sold online through the Hall of Fame, is in store at the Louisville Slugger Museum and hangs behind former Boston Red Sox player Kevin Millar in his studio office on the MLB Network show Intentional Talk.

“I still pinch myself. I am in the Hall of Fame,” Kuncis said.

“It helps to know people. You can have all the help in the world, but if they are not the highest quality, the Hall of Fame is not going to accept them.”

While at the 2018 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, NY, he had a booth set up that was visited by

sets. But Mraz said “their focus on Monday [Aug. 27] definitely translated into the next match.”

That was a 25-18, 25-18 victory on Tuesday, Aug. 28. over host Joliet West.

In that match Lockport (44) was led by junior outside hitters Taylor Morgan (8 Kills, Block) and Morgan Schmutzler (6 Kills, 2 Aces) and setter Hannah Pacheco (14 Assists, 6 Digs), who is one of only two seniors on the team. Libero Jill Hook is the other.

Something the Porters have working for them this season is height. They have seven players who are 5-foot-10 and taller. Included in those are a pair of varsity newcomers, Nadia Goich, a 6-foot-1 sophomore middle blocker and Becca Oldendorf, a 6-foot-2 junior opposite side hitter.

“It [being tall] helps if there’s a short set, you can get more shots on it,” Oldendorf said. “Also be-

a couple of names well known

by Chicago baseball fans. “(White Sox Executive Vice President) Kenny Williams was out running and he walked by and stopped in his tracks, he was as nice as can be,” Kuncis said. “He liked my stuff. Paul Konerko also stopped by.”

“It is exciting meeting all the players,” he said. “I played college ball with guys that have made it to the big leagues and I have met some Hall of Famers and they are just regular guys.”

He has not only created items for baseball players, he also made items for Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan, who stopped by his garage shop, as well as the rock band Tesla.

Right now Kuncis is doing his business online through barnwoodsports.com and via social media.

“I really have to market it and a lot of it right now is word of mouth,” he said. “A lot of the business has been through Facebook and the good thing is, I get business from it. The bad part is, people can steal your ideas. There are about seven or eight people copying it right now. I have a patent pending on [the home plate design].”

ing in the front row, we can help close on blocks. I expect a lot of hard work and a lot of wins from us this season.”

Goich agreed.

“It’s a big advantage,” Goich said of her and Oldendorf’s height. “Especially when we’re closing blocks together. We’ve been working hard and bonding as a team so much. Everyone is family. [After the opening 25-15, 26-24 loss at Lemont on Aug. 21] We worked so hard in practice and put that behind us.”

With a pair of 5-foot-11 juniors in middle hitter Leena Ajibola and opposite side hitter Hannah Knippenberg also joining the offensive attack, Lockport looks to equal or improve on last seasons 24-12 record.

A year ago the Bengals finished 14-17. They also hoped for a better record this season, but were also hampered by a lot of 3-set losses.

“We’ve looking for some im-

provement,” Plainfield East coach Alex Rodriquez said following the Lockport loss. “We have a lot of depth, a lot of juniors but also a lot of returners.”

Three of those senior returners did well against Lockport.

They were right side hitter Samantha Rendon (11 Kills, Block), outside hitter Kenzie Duggan (6 Kills, 10 digs), and middle hitter Emma Korp (7 Kills, 4 Blocks).

The Bengals were also at the Plainfield North Invite. There they went 1-4, and also lost a trio of 3-set matches there.

Three days later, on Tuesday, Aug. 28, Plainfield East returned to Plainfield North for what was deemed a nonconference match. There the Bengals lost 25-23, 25-18.

“We couldn’t get anything going offensively down the stretch in both first and second set,” Rodriquez said of the loss to the host Tigers. “Then in the second set our serve receive broke down

and North capitalized on that.”

Duggan (6 Kills, 8 digs) led Plainfield East (1-6) in the match. The official Southwest Prairie Conference opener was on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Oswego East. On Saturday, Sept. 1, the Bengals traveled to the West Aurora Tournament. They aren’t back home until Thursday, Sept.

13, for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Plainfield Central.

“We have a great deal of talent this year and right now have not even come close to reaching that potential,” Rodriquez said following the Plainfield North loss. “We have lost three thirdset matches and the others have been close as well.

“I am more than grateful for the work ethic these girls possess and their commitment to one another and this program.

The day is coming soon when we will be firing on all cylinders and, when that happens, we will be a force to be dealt with.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Former Chicago White Sox slugger Paul Konerko (left) stopped by to see Barnwood Sports Designs at the Hall of Fame induction weekend.

As he waits for the patent to come through, Kuncis says what sets his work apart from the competition is the craftsmanship and durability of his prod-

uct. His are easy to tell apart from the rest because of the unique brand he burns into the back of every piece.

“I am getting established

pretty fast,” he said. “It has been surreal. My goal is to be in every major league park and I think it can happen — I am going to make it.”

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

ST. FRANCIS

Cross country teams ranked in top 15 University of St. Francis men’s cross country opens its 2018 campaign as the No. 5 team in the NAIA. This is the Saints’ sixth consecutive top-5 preseason ranking. Last season, USF won the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference title and took ninth at the NAIA Championships.

St. Francis returns a pair of all-CCAC runners, Andrew Martinez (Salinas, Calif./Hartnell College) and Zachary Hoover (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point).

Sophomore Matt Wilson (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) also competed with the Saints at the NAIA Championships.

• The University of St. Francis women’s cross country team checks in at No. 14 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll.

The Saints are the two-time reigning Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions. USF finished 23rd at the NAIA Championships last season and returns five of the seven runners who competed in the event, including

All-CCAC performers Taylor Conroy (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) and Bre Rodriguez (Dwight, Ill./Dwight).

GOLF The University of St. Francis men’s golf team had four top10 performances on its way to a second-place finish at the CCAC Cup. Jake Hulbert (Morris, Ill./ Morris) led the way for the Saints, firing a tournamentbest 68 on Tuesday to finish as the runner-up.

Brandon Brodzinski (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) came in next for USF in a tie for fifth (72-74) and Rafe Lawson (St. Cloud, Fla./Osceola) wrapped up the tournament one stroke back of Brodzinski in a tie for seventh (74-73).

In his first collegiate tournament, EJ Charles (Mokena, Ill./ Lincoln-Way Central) shot a 72 on Tuesday to match Lawson’s two-day total of 147 (75-72).

Kyle Sheppard (Minooka, Ill./ Minooka) and Nick McPherson (Morris, Ill./Morris) rounded

out USF’s participants, taking 17th and 18th respectively.

• Sarah Maddox (Braidwood, Ill./Reed-Custer) finished as the individual runner-up, helping the University of St. Francis women’s golf team to a secondplace showing at the CCAC Cup. Maddox posted a two-day total of 183, just one shot back of the individual champion, Abby Clark from Holy Cross.

St. Ambrose won the team title, edging St. Francis by 11 strokes.

Madeline Karlson (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) and Taylor Prieboy (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) joined Maddox in the top-10.

Karlson shot an 82 on day two to jump into a tie for fifth, while Prieboy followed up Monday’s 84 with an 89 on Tuesday that helped her to an eighth-place finish.

Erica Long (Lockport, Ill./ Lockport) and Danielle Harris (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) took 16th and 19th (tie) respectively to round out USF’s competitors.

SOCCER After scoring a pair of secondhalf equalizers on Sunday, University of St. Francis forward Kelli Pietrowski (Wheeling, Ill./ Wheeling) has been named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.

With the Saints (0-1-1) trailing 2-1, their first deficit during Sunday’s 3-3 draw against Harris-Stowe State, Pietrowski knotted the game at two with her first goal of the season. In the 70th minute, Hannah Reiker (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka) sent a low cross that Pietrowski chipped over the keeper.

After the Saints fell behind again late in the contest, Pietrowski found the back of the net with less than six minutes remaining.

The sophomore collected a rebound and buried a line-drive shot from 15 yards out that tied the score at three.

Pietrowski’s two goals on Sunday matched her total from last season when she played in 19 games and started 11.

BUSINESS + REAL ESTATE

NEWS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

COLUMN >> DAVE SAYS

Paying off credit cards DEAR DAVE, How do you feel about taking money out of savings to pay off credit cards?

PEGGY DEAR PEGGY, I’m okay with this under two conditions. One is that you cut up the credit cards, close the accounts, and never use those things again.

The second is that you don’t wipe out your savings in the process.

Leave something in there, so you’re covered in the event of an emergency. Then, rebuild your savings as fast as possible once the debt is out of your way.

You have to understand, too, that credit cards aren’t the problem. The credit card debt isn’t the problem, either. They are just symptoms of buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t have, in order to impress people.

Take a long look in the mirror, Peggy, because the person who’s looking back at you is the problem.

Overspending, disorganization, not earning enough … whatever label you want to slap on this situation, you are the reason for the problem. Once you understand and accept that, and you start living on a budget and staying away from debt, you’ll have taken your first real steps toward financial peace!

—DAVE

Need life insurance with no dependents?

DEAR DAVE, I’m 35, single, and I have no dependents. Do I need a life insurance policy?

LARRY DEAR LARRY, In your situation, if you have enough cash saved up to pay your final expenses — and you don’t have any debt — there’s no reason for you to carry a life insurance policy. No one will be harmed financially by your death, and no one would be deprived of the income that would be lost if something unexpected happened to you. Even if you have a mortgage on a home, the house will normally sell for enough to pay off the mortgage.

However, if you have debt, or if you don’t have some money stashed away in savings, you might want to consider an inexpensive term life insurance policy. At your

age, if you’re healthy, you can get $100,000 worth of coverage for just $10 to $15 a month.

Remember, you don’t buy insurance to leave an inheritance. You buy life insurance is to make sure there’s enough money to take care of your family and final expenses.

You wouldn’t want your parents or someone else having to foot the bill!

—DAVE Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 14 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @ DaveRamsey.

SHERIFF’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE of 1213 Elgin Avenue, Joliet, IL 60432 (Residential).

On the 27th day of September, 2018 to be held at 12:00 noon, at the Will County Courthouse Annex, 57 N. Ottawa Street, Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432, under Case Title: Bank of America, N.A Plaintiff V. Denise Steinlicht; et. al. Defendant.

Case No. 17 CH 0731 in the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, Illinois.

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the time of sale and the balance within twenty-four (24) hours. No judicial sale fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. All payments shall be made in cash or certified funds payable to the Sheriff of Will County.

In the event the property is a condominium, in accordance with 735 ILCS 5/15-1507(c)(1) (H-1) and (H-2), 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified that the purchaser of the unit, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 and the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act. Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J) if there is a surplus following application of the proceeds of sale, then the plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties to the proceeding advising them of the amount of the surplus and that the surplus will be held until a party obtains a court order for its distribution or, in the absence of an order, until the surplus is forfeited to the State.

For Information Please Contact: Codilis & Associates, P.C. 15W030 N. Frontage Road Suite 100 Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527 P: 630-794-5300 F: 630-794-9090 PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS LAW FIRM IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Published 9/5, 9/12, 9/19

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PHONE: 815.436.2431 >> Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. FAX: 815.439.2548 EMAIL: classifieds@enterprisepublications.com IN PERSON: Enterprise Publications >> 23856 Andrew Rd. >> Plainfield, IL

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