Sentinel 12-31-14

DECEMBER 31, 2014 VOL. 20 ISS UE 3

News Quinn recognizes program to help veterans at JJC Program set to launch in March 2015 offers veterans with relevant experience better way to get practical nursing license see page 3

opiNioN lots to do around here in 2015 Updates to courthouse and station, traffic improvement need to be addressed in new year

see page 7

sports A look back at the year in sports 2014 had many good moments for local athletes, teams

see page 9 eNtertaiNMeNt

The Show Must Go On Area theaters will be showing controversial film ‘The Interview’ through the New Year

see page 19

Toy drive goes on nine years after Mark Staehely’s passing All Mark Staehely ever wanted to do was touch the lives of others, and nine years after his death of neroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, he is still doing just that.

The first Christmas Mark spent in the hospital, he received a stuffed teddy bear with an insurance logo on the front; many children got nothing.

From that day on Mark wanted to make sure that every child on the oncology floor received a gift.

SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 15

(PHOTOS COURTeSY OF JAN TeRRY) Sue Staehely presents a gift to a young patient on the oncology floor at Ann and Robert H. lurie Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) in Chicago.

Wedn esday, decem ber 31, 2014 | shoreW oodsenti nel.com

BUSINESS

WILL COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

FRIDAY • JAN. 2 PARTLY CLOUDY

high: 33° loW: 28° athletic boosters 10th annual scotch doubles bowling night

presence regional ceo named to becker’s hospital review

Beth Hughes, President and CEO, Presence Health South Suburban Region, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of “130 women hospital and health system leaders to know.”

NEWS .................................................... 3 POLICE BLOTTER ............................ 6 OPINION............................................... 7

The 10th annual JTHS Booster Scotch Doubles Bowling Night will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at Town & Country Lanes, Joliet.

silver cross encore shop holds antique and collectible sale Encore Shop, will hold its annual Antique and Collectibles Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6.

radon Kits available at 3 health department locations

Will County Health Department urges area homeowners to be aware of radon dangers and test their homes for the presence of radon.

SPORTS ................................................ 9 SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT ......................... 14 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE .......... 16

CLASSIFIEDS ...................................... 18 MONTHLY FEATURE ....................... 19

SATURDAY • JAN. 3 SNOW SHOWERS

high: 33° loW: 21°

SUNDAY • JAN. 4 MOSTLY CLOUDY

high: 24° loW: 17°

correction: IN lAST Week’S WeekeND WeATHeR SeCTION, THe BUgle INCORReCTlY lISTeD FRIDAY AS CHRISTMAS DAY. We APOlOgIZe FOR THe eRROR.

Wedn esday, dec em ber 31, 2014 | shoreW oodsenti nel.com

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county news

Quinn recognizes program to help veterans at JJC Program set to launch in March 2015 offers veterans with relevant experience better way to get practical nursing license Gov. Pat Quinn congratulated Illinois education leaders at Joliet Junior College on establishing the first “bridge program” in the state to help veterans turn their military training into a high-demand career.

The bridge program, set to launch at the college in March 2015, offers veterans with relevant healthcare experience a quicker, more affordable way to get a practical nursing license. This is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to support veterans and service members by ensuring they have access to training, education, and opportunities that help them thrive during their transition to civilian life.

“We have a duty on the home front to take care of our veterans when it comes to education,” Quinn said.

“A good education leads to a good job, and we know that employment

is key to a veteran’s successful transition home. Veterans come home with a variety of specialized skills – military medics, for instance – and it’s important to harness their talent and apply it toward existing demands for skilled labor.

It’s critically important that we give veterans this opportunity.”

Joliet Junior College, College of DuPage and Illinois Central College will each offer the eightweek, six-credit bridge program, which addresses differences in competencies between the Basic Medical Technician Corpsman program and those of a practical nursing program.

Upon completion, student veterans will be awarded a Practical Nursing Certificate and be eligible to sit for the Practical Nurse Licensing Exam. Training requirements will be reduced from approximately

1,600 hours to 250 hours, or from 42 to six credit hours, which will save eligible veterans more than $12,000 in tuition and fees.

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, there will be a 9 percent demand increase for LPNs and Vocational Nurses in Illinois through 2020, representing an estimated 2,115 additional jobs, and the bridge program is designed to help veterans fill these evolving workforce needs.

In February 2013, Quinn issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to identify overlaps and gaps between military training and state licenses, and to propose ways to allow military training and education to be considered for state licensure requirements.

The recent event announcing the first of many military bridge programs is the result of that Executive Order, and features cooperation between the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the National Governor’s Association, U.S. Department of Defense,

Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education, state licensing agencies, and participating schools.

“As the nation’s first public community college, I think it is fitting that Joliet Junior College be the first in the state to offer this program” said Mary Beth Luna, JJC interim dean of health professions and emergency services.

“The collaboration between the other colleges involved, the Board of Nursing, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education was instrumental in making this a reality. We were able to acknowledge the rigorous training these medics received in the military and tailor the program to fill in the gaps.”

“We are very excited that these programs are coming on-line and being offered to qualified veterans,” Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Acting Director Rodrigo Garcia said.“The challenge of getting these bridge programs created was

an interesting and dynamic process, and we are grateful to all the parties involved. We thank them for their cooperation, diligence, and focus on helping our veterans.”

In October 2013, Quinn announced that Illinois had been selected for a special program to help those leaving military service attain certification for in-demand civilian careers.

The Veterans Licensing and Certification Demonstration Policy Academy, formed by the National Governors Association (NGA), assisted six states, including Illinois, to create clear pathways for veterans to obtain state-level credentials for certain law enforcement and health care careers. Part of the NGA special program included a $46,500 grant, as well as a state-level system to learn best practices and capitalize on the success of others.

For more information on the bridge program and other accelerated credentialing opportunities for veterans, visit: www.veterans.illinois.gov/ statelicenses.

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Wedn es day, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

state news > in-depth

The state’s Toll Highway system in Chicago will be brought up to the same 70 mph speed limit at the rest of the state, unless the Toll Highway Authority can prove that speed is unsafe on those roadways.

Transportation & Safety On Jan. 1, more than 200 new laws will take effect in Illinois touching many areas of state government from education and public safety, to transportation and wildlife.

Following are a few of the local measures taking effect when the New Year begins: New Will County Board Fee

Vehicle Speed Limits

(HB 5889/PA 981085): Allows the Will County Board to impose a new fee of up to $30 per party in a civil case and $30 for a defendant in a criminal or traffic case. The proceeds are to be used to build new judicial facilities.

(SB 930/PA 98-1126): Sets a 60 mph speed limit for second division vehicles on interstates in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. Second division vehicles are those weighing over 8,001 pounds. This is to allow large trucks to travel at a speed closer to the 70 mph speed limit allowed for passenger vehicles.

Proponents have raised concerns that the 15 mph differential between a 55 mph speed limit for trucks and a 70 mph speed limit for cars can be dangerous.

Chicagoland Speedway (SB 3290/PA 98-0847): Allows the Chicagoland Motor Speedway to bring in concerts and additional auto racing schools and functions.

Currently, off-road riding facilities such as the Speedway are immune from liability for noise under “normal” facility usage. This would expand the exemption to cover other events.

Code of Conduct (SB 3552/PA 98-0779): Permits Lake, Kane, Will and DuPage counties to establish a code of conduct by ordinance for appointees appointed by the county board chairman or county executive.

Permits removal of appointees for violating the code of conduct with a 2/3 majority approval of the county board at a hearing. Exempts the county superintendent of highways or county engineers due to provisions already in existence for removal due to neglect, malfeasance, or incompetence.

Liability for Underage Drinking (HB 4745/PA 98-1017): Expands current law that makes it illegal for parents or guardians to allow underage drinking at a residence or other private property, so that it will include vehicles, conveyances, or watercraft under their control.

A “conveyance” would include trailers, mobile homes, campers, etc.

Kratom (HB 5526/PA 98-0981): Prohibits a person under 18 from knowingly possessing kratom or using a fake ID to attempt to obtain a product containing kratom. Prohibits any person from knowingly selling or distributing a product containing kratom to a person under 18. Kratom has been sold for medicinal purposes; however, teens are showing up in the ER after using it to try and get high.

Controlled Substances (SB 3275/PA 98-0987): Adds “25I-NBOMe,” “25B-NBOMe” and “25CNBOMe” to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. This is in response to a powerful new hallucinogenic synthetic d r u g which has caused overdoses and fatalities in youth. It has been marketed as an LSD substitute as it targets the same serotonin receptor as many other hallucinogens including LSD. Small amounts can cause seizures, cardiac and respiratory arrest, and death.

According to the DEA, reports from medical examiners link at least 19 deaths of people aged 15-29 years in the U.S. between March 2012 and August 2013.

Domestic Violence Penalty Enhancements (HB 4653/PA 98-0994): Ensures that prior convictions for domestic battery, or for any offense which is substantially similar, that occurs in another jurisdiction will trigger penalty enhancements.

Notable laws taking effect on Jan. 1 include several that will affect Illinois motorists. SB 2015/PA 98-1128, sponsored by State Sen. Jim Oberweis, brings the state’s Toll Highway system in Chicago up to the same 70 mph speed limit as the rest of the state, unless the Toll Highway Authority can prove that speed is unsafe on those roadways. The legislation is a follow-up measure to legislation that took effect in 2014 raising Illinois’ speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph.

Senate Bill 2015 had been vetoed by Governor Quinn, but the General Assembly voted to override that veto during the fall veto session.

Legislation reinstating “sign and drive” will also take effect on Jan. 1. HB 2583/PA 98-0870 prohibits law enforcement from taking a driver’s license as bail following a traffic law or ordinance violation.

Currently, Illinois is one of only six states that confiscates a driver’s license for a minor traffic offense.

Ticket Quotas (SB 3411/PA 98-0650): Prohibits counties, municipalities, conservation police and state police from implementing ticket quotas.

New Technologies Inspire New Laws Surveillance drones, online communication platforms now under scrutiny of the law New technologies, like surveillance drones and online communication platforms, continue to develop, inspiring a number of new laws taking effect on Jan. 1. HB 4594/PA 98-0905, sponsored by State Sen. Dale Righter, allows for electronic search warrants to utilize services like Skype, which provide simultaneous audio and video transmission, as a way to request search warrants.

A number of laws have been introduced in recent years to regulate the use of drones and mitigate any potential violations of privacy that may result. One such law taking effect Jan. 1 is SB 2937/PA 98-0831, which prohibits a law enforcement agency from using a drone owned by a third party to acquire information.

HB 5623/PA 98-0930, sponsored by State Senator Michael Connelly, requires

that a unit of local government or a school district that maintains a website (other than a social media or networking website), to post an email address that members of the public can use to communicate with elected officials of that unit of local government or school district.

In recent years, social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, have become increasingly popular. Unfortunately, so has the practice of “cyber bullying.” In what some argued was an overreach of a school’s authority, HB 4207/PA 98-0801 requires schools to address electronic bullying under certain circumstances, even if the bullying occurred off-campus and was conducted by using private computers, cell phones, etc.

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Agriculture, Animals and Hunting Pesticides (HB 5464/PA 980923): Streamlines the application process for licensing agricultural pesticide applicators.

Dairy Products (SB 3157/PA 980958): Brings Illinois into line with federal U.S. Department of Agriculture standards by modifying definitions in the Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act, making enforcing agencies responsible to prevent the distribution of adulterated milk and milk products, and revising testing rules.

Wolves, Bears, Cougars (SB 3049/PA 98-1033): Adds the Gray Wolf, American Black Bear and Cougar to the list of protected species

in Illinois, while spelling out conditions that allow landowners to kill the animals if they are causing an immediate threat of physical harm or death to a person, livestock, domestic animals, or harm to structures or other property. In recent years, all three have started to return to Illinois in very limited numbers and this is an effort to manage that reintroduction.

Protecting Aquatic Life (HB 5869/PA 981044): Provides that releasing any aquatic life into the wild in Illinois without first securing permission of the Department of Natural Resources is a Class B misdemeanor. This bill seeks to target potentially invasive species

being imported into the state, as has happened with Asian Carp and zebra mussels.

Industrial Hemp Studies (HB 5085/PA 981072): Establishes the “Industrial Hemp Pilot Program” and allows higher education institutions or the Department of Agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp if used for research purposes that specifically studies the growth, cultivation, or marketing of industrial hemp.

“Industrial Hemp” means cannabis sativa L., having no more than 0.3% total THC content. Current law does not allow any person to possess cannabis.

Law Enforcement & Civilian Restrictions Bulletproof Vests

(HB 5688/PA 98-0743): Requires law enforcement agencies to provide bulletproof vests for officers. Outlines requirements that the law enforcement agency, the state and local governments must pursue to provide funding for the cost of these vests. Since 1999, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program has reimbursed more than 13,000 jurisdictions, a total of $288

million in federal funds for the purchase of over one million vests (1,146,909 as of December, 2013).

Based on data collected and recorded

by BJA staff, in FY 2012, protective vests were directly attributable to saving the lives of at least 33 law enforcement and corrections officers, in 20 different states, an increase 13.7 percent over FY 2011. At least 14 of those life-saving vests had been purchased, in part, with BVP funds.

Drones

Aggravated Meth Manufacturing

(SB 2937/PA 98-0831): Prohibits a law enforcement agency from using a drone owned by a private third party to acquire information (with certain exceptions).

Allows the use of a drone without a search warrant, if law enforcement is using a drone during a disaster or public health emergency (flood, tornado, earth quake). It does not require an official declaration of a disaster or public health emergency prior to use.

(HB 4093/PA 98-0980): Includes in the offense of aggravated participation in the manufacture of methamphetamine, methamphetamine manufacturing that occurs within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school.

The purpose is to create consistency with other drug statutes, which provide enhanced penalties for manufacture or distribution that occurs within 1,000 feet of a school.

Grooming (HB 5290/PA 98-0919): Adds a new provision to the “grooming” statute, in which someone uses the Internet to seduce or entice a child to commit a sex offense, to stipulate that the crime would also include the distribution of photographs depicting the sex organs of a child.

“Skype” Search Warrants (HB 4594/PA 980905): Allows for electronic search warrants that utilize simultaneous audio and video transmission between the person requesting the search warrant and the judge. The Chief Judge or Presiding Judge in the issuing jurisdiction is to determine standards and best practices policies for filing and retaining the transmissions.

Photo Lineups (HB 802/PA 98-1014): Creates a new lineup procedure that requires all lineups be conducted by 1) a n independent administrator (unless it is impractical); 2) an automated c o m p u t e r program; 3) a random folder photo lineup method; or 4) any other procedure that does not allow the lineup administrator to know the identity of the suspect. Allows a lineup of persons or a photo spread lineup to be presented to witnesses sequentially, with each presented separately and then removed before the next person or photo is viewed or presented to witnesses. Requires each law enforcement agency to establish written guidelines on when an officer should present persons or photographs to an eyewitness simultaneously or sequentially.

Prohibits the presence during a lineup of any person who knows the suspected perpetrator’s identity, except the eyewitness and defense counsel. Provides instructions to the eyewitness to whom the identification procedure is presented. Provides remedies for failure to comply with lineup identification procedures.

Requires a lineup to be video recorded, if practical, unless the eyewitness refuses to consent to the recording.

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Sex Trafficking One measure, co-sponsored by a number of Senate Republican legislators, was introduced in response to the growing sex trafficking industry in Illinois. SB 3558/PA 98-1013 provides that solicitation of a sexual act does not apply to a person younger than 18. The law will ensure that minors who have been forced into the sex trafficking industry aren’t erroneously charged and convicted of prostitution.

Marijuana and Epilepsy Another measure that gained attention during the spring legislative session and will take effect on Jan. 1 is SB 2636/PA 98-0775, which allows seizures, like those common among epilepsy patients, to be treated with medical marijuana under the state’s medical cannabis pilot program. The legislation also extends the state’s medical marijuana program to children who suffer from seizures.

In 2013, CNN highlighted the story of a little girl in Colorado who, before using medical cannabis oil, suffered up to 300 seizures a week. Since starting treatment, her seizures have essentially stopped. Since the report, a number of states have taken steps to allow minors to use medical cannabis in the form of an oil to treat seizures.

Education Cyber Bullying (HB 4207/PA 980801): Requires schools to address electronic bullying under certain circumstances even when it occurs off-campus and uses private computers, cell phones, etc. Applies if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. Applies when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that this type of bullying has occurred and does not require school district staff to monitor non-school related activities. Requires school bullying policies or implementing procedures to include a process to investigate if the reported act of bullying is within the school or district’s jurisdiction. Opponents argued that expecting schools to regulate speech that occurs outside of the school day and school property breaks new grounds, places an unrealistic burden on schools, sets a dangerous precedent and is unconstitutional.

Juvenile Records (SB 978/PA 98-0637): Requires the Department of State Police to automatically expunge all records pertaining to the arrest of a minor if the arrest did not result in a delinquency petition being filed.

The State would have to expunge arrests automatically when the minor turns 18 and only if the minor was not arrested within six months of the minor’s most recent arrest.

Business & Employment ‘Ban the Box’ HB 5701/PA 98-0774 gives job applicants the opportunity to address questions about a past criminal record in person, during an interview. The new law prohibits private employers with 15 or more employees from asking a job applicant about their criminal history until the applicant has been selected for an interview or, if there is not an interview, until after a conditional offer of employment is made.

Pregnancy Accommodations (HB 8/PA 981050): Requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” for all working pregnant women unless the accommodation would impose an “undue hardship” on the business.

Equal Pay Act Jurisdiction (HB 5563/PA 981051): Gives the Illinois Department of Human Rights jurisdiction to enforce the state Equal Pay Act. This duty is concurrent with the responsibilities of the Illinois Department of Labor. Allows the Department of Labor to refer a pay discrimination case back to the Department of Human Rights as long as the referral also includes potential Human Rights Act violations.

www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org • 800.323.734 Wedn esday, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

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

JOLIET David A. Mayes, 21, 1003 Ann, was arrested at 1:20 p.m. Dec. 19 at 150 W. Washington for murder and aggravated battery.

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Dajuan M. Brown, 30, 419 N. Bluff, Apt. 47, was arrested at 1:18 p.m. Dec. 19 at Van Buren and Chicago for liquor on public way.

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David A. Christian, 41, 20416 S. Kedzie, Olympia Fields, was arrested at 9:07 a.m. Dec. 19 at 151 N. Joliet for criminal trespass to land.

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A juvenile, 16, was arrested at 11:20 a.m. Dec. 19 at 168 N. Ottawa for domestic battery.

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Emily C. Buckley, 21, 5 Margaret, was arrested at 11:39 a.m. Dec. 19 at 1415 W. Jefferson for DUI, illegal transport of alcohol, and resisting and obstructing a peace officer.

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Daniel H. Howe, 21, 3503 September, was arrested at 11:39 a.m. Dec. 19 at 1415 W. Jefferson for resisting and obstructing a peace officer.

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Liazandra MendezEchevarria, 23, 823 Moen, Rockdale, was arrested at 1:12 p.m.

Dec. 19 at 2701 Plainfield for retail theft.

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Aletto S. Barton, Jr., 24, 411 Grant, was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Dec. 19 at 6 McDonough for criminal trespass to real property.

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Djuan K. Mays, 33, 711 W. 82nd St., Chicago, was arrested at 9:12 p.m. Dec. 19 at 316 N. Bluff for criminal trespass to real property, violation of order of protection and a warrant.

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Jerome K. Smith, 64, 205 N. Raynor, Apt. 7, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Dec. 19 at 1210 Plainfield for illegal dumping on real property.

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Charda N. Pruitte, 26, 604 Elmwood, was arrested at 10:23 p.m. Dec. 19 at 150 W. Washington for unlawful use of a weapon.

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Lawanda M. Finley, 36, 466 Water, Apt. 1R, was arrested at 12:10 a.m. Dec. 19 at McDonough and Joliet for possession of cannabis.

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Benjamin Carrescia, 24, 22818 S. Kathey, Channahon, was arrested at 11:11 p.m. Dec. 19 at NicholsonandOneidaforpossession

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of cannabis and possession of drug equipment.

Brian A. Brezinski, 34, 203 Earl Ave., was arrested at 10:50 p.m. Dec. 19 at 125 S. Larkin for DUI.

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Anthony D. Price, 23, 10 E. Zarley Blvd., was arrested at 3:26 a.m. Dec. 19 at Jefferson and Hammes for unlawful use of a weapon by felon and unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.

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Jeffery J. Tucci, 34, 120 Inwood, was arrested at 4:58 a.m. Dec. 19 at 2600 Fairway for obstructing a peace officer.

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Ryan J. Reynolds, 31, 120 Inwood, was arrested at 4:58 a.m. Dec. 19 at 2600 Fairway for aggravated DUI.

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Steven R. Tate, 54, 22 Clairmont, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. Dec. 20 at 2524 W. Jefferson for theft.

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Thomas Vasilakis, 34, 708 Woodstock, Bourbonnais, was arrested at 5:03 a.m. Dec. 20 at 151 N. Joliet for criminal trespass.

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Samuel Bowman, 33, 209 Sherman, was arrested at 5:39 a.m. Dec. 20 at 209 Sherman for aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint.

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and Lois Place for possession of cannabis.

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James Edwards, 75, 222 Lincoln, was arrested at 12:54 p.m. Dec. 20 at 23525 W. Eames for DUI — drugs.

Lovada L. Evans, 41, 903 Lois, was arrested at 1:45 a.m.

Dec. 20 at 1009 Lois for domestic battery, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to real property.

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Tony D. Harris, 24, 1515 Fairmount, was arrested at 4:43 p.m. Dec. 20 at 1515 Fairmount for domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Nicholas D. PratschWoolworth, 29, 15835 S. Howard, Plainfield, was arrested at 2:08 a.m. Dec. 20 at 103 E. Jefferson for theft of labor, services, or use of property.

Alejandro Jimenez, 39, 707 Taylor, was arrested at 8:27 p.m. Dec. 20 at Plainfield and Connecticut for aggravated DUI — driving while license suspended.

Anthony D. Price, 23, 10 E. Zarley Blvd., was arrested at 3:26 a.m. Dec. 20 at North Hammes Avenue and West Jefferson for unlawful use or possession of weapon by a felon and unlawful use or possession of ammunition by a felon.

Dawson A. Abbitt, 21, 611 E. Cass, was arrested at 8:08 a.m. Dec. 20 at 508 E. Cass for battery.

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Gary M. Smith, 24, 90009 11th St., Kenosha, Wisconsin, was arrested at 10:03 p.m. Dec. 20 at 22 W. Cass for possession of controlled substance, delivery or possession with intent to deliver, possession of cannabis and possession of drug equipment.

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Jason R. Peterson, 39, 611 E. Cass, was arrested at 12:51 p.m. Dec. 21 at 400 E. Cass for domestic battery and theft.

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Loyal D. Lofton, 27, 1160 S. Desmond, Chicago, was arrested at 5:35 a.m. Dec. 21 at 2219 1/2 Jefferson for battery.

Denzel A. Leslie, 20, 2211 Cottonwood, was arrested at 11:44 p.m. Dec. 20 at Black Road

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

Daniel Marroquin, 49, 1021 N. Center, was arrested at 11:04 p.m. Dec. 20 at 1021 N. Center for domestic battery.

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EDITORIAL

illustrated opinions

ALEX HERNANDEZ • LAURA KATAUSKAS STEWART WARREN • MARK GREGORY • MIKE SANDROLINI

column

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Lots to do around here in 2015 Updates to courthouse and station, traffic improvement need to be addressed in new year By nick reiher

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The date on this newspaper says December 31, 2014. There’s a whole new year ahead of us, and there is a lot of work to do around here.

In Will County, we have to get moving on this courthouse plan. Every weekday I go by there, people are lined up at both major entrances waiting to get in. Once they do, they are treated to a crowded, musty, smelly building not befitting Will County. Heck, ANY county.

The Will County Courthouse is an embarrassment. But relatively few people realize how bad it is because only the regulars – attorneys, deputies and other officials – usually are the only ones who have to deal with it unless someone gets tabbed for speeding or something more serious.

The same goes for the sheriff’s Laraway Station. Most of you have no idea where it is, other than it’s on Laraway Road, if you know where that is. And most of you who know where it is likely haven’t been in there. Let me try to describe it for you: It’s a pit. I imagine Hitler and Eva Braun had honeymoon conditions in their death bunker compared to the Laraway station. It’s like the courthouse: smelly, crowded, musty … only smaller.

And the other buildings are no better.

Except the Will County Jail, which led one Will County Board member after

a tour of all the facilities to note the arrestees have better conditions than the officials.

Another issue that needs to be dealt with may be settled by the state: the traffic on Illinois 53. The Illinois Commerce Commission likely will order state transportation officials to do something they should already have done, a thorough traffic study on Illinois 53 from U.S. 52 (just south of I-80) to Arsenal Road.

It would seem like a no-brainer that if you were putting in a major truck-train facility that will draw a lot of trucks to do a traffic study. And if you add to that several years later by putting in another truck-train facility, wouldn’t you think maybe now’s the time to catch up on all that traffic?

Yet it took village officials with a penchant for petulance and a hired public relations firm who can outspin Bill O’Reilly to ultimately get the state to move on the issue. (Boy, they are gonna be even more fun to deal with now).

Walter Strawn Drive probably will be closed until the state transportation officials get the study done, inconveniencing a lot of Ag business coming from east of 53. We can only hope the Houbolt Road Bridge from I-80 to the intermodal yards can make it from parlor talk to serious planning.

A lot depends on the state. And there is a new governor coming in, along with a new transportation secretary. Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn certainly had his issues,

A lot depends on the state.

And there is a new governor coming in, along with a new transportation secretary.

Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn certainly had his issues, as did the politically sacrificed IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider, but they got a lot done in Will County. as did the politically sacrificed IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider, but they got a lot done in Will County.

Meanwhile, incoming Gov. Bruce Rauner has been non-committal on the Illiana Tollway and not too supportive of the South Suburban Airport, two projects put on the front burner by the previous administration.

I have no idea what’s going to happen with either, but I would guess the Illiana is far enough along and has enough support – both public and private – to keep moving forward.

The airport? Well, the state is a major landowner out in the Peotone-Monee area, especially after spending $34 million and change to buy Bult Field to give the SSA a running start. Now they just need a private investor to go in with them on the deal.

I hope Gov.-elect Rauner can interest some of his business friends to get involved in the airport. Or at least he should have an idea how to attract some partners.

Well, that’s my list for 2015. I suppose they’ll also have to figure out something on the pension mess and the state income tax issue. Should be fun.

FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF Wedn es day, decem ber 31, 2014 | bug leneW spapers.com

Aries

mARCh 21 tO APRIl 20

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Enchantments wear off quickly. A physical attraction may knock you off your feet, but after a little probing you may find there isn’t much below the surface. Enthusiasm for a new project may fade after more details are revealed.

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Get to the point. Skirting around an issue or trying too hard to impress may compound a problem. For the best results, be honest and forthright and let the other party know exactly what your intentions are.

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dECEmBER 23 tO JANUARy 20

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fEBRUARy 20 tO mARCh 20

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Tribune Content Agency 2014

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

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Answer:

Why JUNIOR dIdN’t SNEAk A PEEk At hIS PRESENtS - “PEER” PRESSURE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

page 9

>> inside: West grad koran tabbed as harVard captain page 11

year in reView

A look back

AT 2014 IN SPORTS Some of the top area stories from a great year for locals

The year 2014 had a lot of memorable moments in local sports. Here are a few of what we thought were the year’s best.

Jca girlS HooPS Despite the tears and heartbreak of a 57-44 loss to Montini in the IHSA Class 3A state championship game, JCA senior Jasmine Lumpkin did something high school players often fail to do after an emotional loss – she understood the importance of what the Angels accomplished instead of lamenting on what they didn’t.

That team was the lone Angels (28-3) basketball team to make it to the state final four.

Previously, only two Joliet teams have ever reached the IHSA girls final four, as Joliet West won the first-ever girls state title in 1977-78 and Joliet East was third in 1979-80. When the Angels won the sectional championship, they became the first girls basketball program to reach a supersectional since St. Francis Academy and Joliet Catholic merged in 1990.

As St. Francis Academy, the Angels fell 52-44 to East Aurora in 1983-84. The following year, the two met again and the Angels defeated East Aurora 62-59 to advance to the state quarterfinals. A 65-58 loss that year to Richwoods stopped that run in the final eight, the best finish ever for an Angel team.

Jca BoyS HooPS Given the recent history of

Joliet area boys basketball teams, if a fan was asked to guess which team would be the lone regional champion this season, the answer would be easy, right?

Bolingbrook? Plainfield North?

Joliet Central? Any of those or a host of others would have been a legit prediction, but very few, if any, would have got the answer correct.

With a 68-55 win over Plano in the Class 3A Plano Regional, Joliet Catholic Academy became the lone area team to advance to a sectional semifinal.

The Hilltoppers were led by 18 points each from Harold Davis and Colton Kolowski. The win was the first regional title for the Hillmen since the 1988 season.

The playoff run is something that doesn’t necessarily surprise the coaches and players, because they know the season losses were more on the talent of the East Suburban Catholic Conference teams and not on JCA’s lack of ability.

Eight of the nine ESCC teams played for a regional title, with six of those eight coming out victorious.

TWo-Time Poy A year ago, as a junior, Joliet Catholic Academy’s Jasmine Lumpkin earned several individual awards and recognitions and there are sure to be more headed her way this season.

The Michigan State-bound

See 2014 | page 13

PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR

Jasmine lumpkin helped JcA to a second-place finish in state and was a two-time player of the year.

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

10

Wedn es day, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

COLUMN

Voyager Media writers tell you our favorites of 2014 Favorite event covered: Scott Taylor: My favorite event this past year was one I competed in. It doesn’t get any better than 63 holes of golf in a day.

That is, unless it is free and you are on the clock. That was the case when Mark Gregory and I took a trip up to Gaylord, MI to review the Man vs. Golf Challenge at Treetops Resort. We played 63 holes of golf in beautiful weather on gorgeous courses. It was one of those days that you will always remember, and I certainly will, despite the company.

Mark Gregory: It has to be the Class 4A state final basketball game between Whitney Young and Benet.

There is nothing better than IHSA state basketball Final Four in Peoria.

If you haven’t been to one and you are a sports fan – it is a MUST GO. This game in particular had a couple of good story lines. First off, no one gave Benet a chance against Young and Duke recruit Jahlil Okafor. Well, they were wrong, as Benet and Sean O’Mara hung with the highly hyped Young, losing by two.

Mike Sandrolini: Voyager Media co-sponsored an Ultimate Tailgate Party with Famous Dave’s in Bolingbrook the Sunday before the Chicago Bears kicked off their 2014 season. The featured guest that afternoon was Bears Hall of Fame defensive lineman Dan Hampton, who met with fans, signed autographs and also talked to your’s truly about the upcoming season. I vividly recall Hampton’s evaluation of Jay Cutler: He has top-five ability, but he needs to beat some people this season. No excuses. Needless to say, Bears fans know all too well that Cutler didn’t live up to No. 99’s expectations.

Greatest game covered: Scott: This also wasn’t a high school event, but it is one of the perks of the job. I traveled for the second year in a row to Dayton, OH for the NCAA First Four. This year we had a pair of area athletes there as Plainfield’s Brian Bennett played for Cal-Poly and Quinton Chievous was with Tennessee. The Vols are my favorite college team and watching their thrilling overtime comeback from press row will be a game I will never forget.

Mark: Well, if my favorite event covered was the Class 4A boys

hoops game – and it was, see above, then I guess that is also my favorite game covered. Like I said in the last item, that Benet team was written off by so many people and then to compete the way they did on the biggest stage made it a game I will never forget.

Mike: It had to be this season’s West Suburban Silver boys basketball opener between Downers North and Proviso West played earlier this month. It was drama personified.

The Trojans held a large lead, lost that lead in the fourth quarter, and then apparently sewed up the victory when senior Devin Blake hit a three-pointer from the top of the key as time was running out.

However, the Proviso West coach called timeout. The officials put 2 second back on the clock, which gave West enough time to inbound the ball to Khalil Walker, who turned and heaved up a shot near midcourt to win the game.

Best team covered: Scott: Benet basketball. While I didn’t cover them at state, I saw them play a couple of times in the regular season as well as at the sectional and supersectional. This team had a perfect blend of inside and outside basketball with an unselfish team.

They weren’t the second most talented team in the state, but their teamwork was unmatched and was fun for a basketball fan to watch.

Mark: Benet volleyball. This team just dominated. The Redwings held their foe in the state final match to only 20 total points in the two matches combined. After beating Mother McCauley in the supersectional, it was smooth sailing as Benet claimed its third title in four years.

Mike: Maine East girls basketball team. Coach Karol Hanusiak’s club had been a perennial doormat, but turned the corner in 2012-13 by posting a .500 record. With a number of senior veterans returning for the 2013-14 season, I thought they would be good, but not as good as they ended up. Maine East set a girls basketball school record for victories in a single season (20) and became the first girls cage team in school history to win the CSL North title.

Most surprising performance: Scott: Plainfield Central boys

volleyball. The program had never won a regional title, let alone a sectional game. However, the Wildcats peaked in the tournament and became the first District 202 boys volleyball team to win a sectional match when it beat Plainfield North.

Mark: Joliet Catholic Academy boys basketball. The Hilltoppers entered the Class 3A playoffs with a 9-20 record and won the team’s first regional title since 1988. It really should not be a surprising feat for me to have witnessed, as I have watched a lot of team’s coached by Joe Gura go on to big things.

Mike: Maine East girls basketball team. Coach Karol Hanusiak’s club had been a perennial doormat, but turned the corner in 2012-13 by posting a .500 record. With a number of senior veterans returning for the 2013-14 season, I thought they would be good, but not as good as they ended up. Maine East set a girls basketball school record for victories in a single season (20) and became the first girls cage team in school history to win the CSL North title.

Favorite athlete covered: Scott: Trevor Stumpe (Plainfield North) and Aaron Jordan (Plainfield East). I will co this one as the two players bring different dimensions that I love to watch. Stumpe is a shooter who can score from just about anywhere on the court.

Jordan can shoot and take the ball to the rack and make some great dunks and passes.

Mark: I didn’t have to think very hard about this one. Anyone who knows me and knows my taste in football knows that I am an old soul – a really old soul, like back before the forward pass. I like running the football and playing great defense.

So because of that, I was thrilled to be able to watch Bolingbrook linebacker Tuf Borland. He seemed to be everywhere on the field on every play. And the really good thing for me is, he is a junior and will be back next season.

Mike: After Barrington ousted Maine South’s football team from the postseason, coach David Inserra heaped praise on senior two-way standout Justin Fahey, and for good reason. Pound-for-pound,

see column | page 12

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11

D-I Athletes

Koran tabbed as 142nd captain at Harvard

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

Every season at the annual football awards banquet, after the awards are given for the current season, there is one more honor presented to a Crimson player – the captain for the next season.

The honor is voted on by the team and this season, that honor went to Joliet West graduate Matt Koran, who became the 142nd captain of Harvard football for the 2015 season.

“It was really exciting to accept the honor,” Koran said. “It means the world to me. My teammates are my brothers and the fact that they see me as the guy that can lead us to another championship and lead them to good things means so much to me. To have that respect from my brothers is just awesome. It means that they hold me at a different standard and they think highly of me and all of that is phenomenal and really cool to think about.

“I love and respect all of my teammates and for them to give me this honor is cool.”

A senior to be, Koran ranked third on the Crimson with 60 tackles this fall, helping the defense guard against the run and the pass. He was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 22 after finishing with 10 tackles and adding a forced fumble and fumble recovering in the victory over Holy Cross

Sept. 19.

Harvard went 10-0 overall for the first time since 2004 and earned its 16th Ivy League title and eighth under coach Tim Murphy.

“The football is unreal,” Koran said. “We are having a great run of success here. We have won two Ivy League championships in the last three years and going 10-0 this season, it is just getting better. I love this out here and I am so blessed to have this opportunity.”

While in Boston, Koran did keep an eye back on Joliet West and watched the Tigers success this season.

“We were never able to put up a playoff season and to see Joliet West do it for the first time was amazing,” Koran said. “I think they have great things going on there. The only direction that is going is up. I don’t think they will digress and will only get better.”

•Joliet Catholic Academy graduate Josh Ferguson was the top rusher this season for the University of Illinois. He posted 685 yards and eight touchdowns on 139 carries. He added 44 catches for 373 yards and a pair of scores through the air.

•A pair of former JCA volleyball players are on the Loyola University volleyball team.

Sophomore Morgan Reardon was named to the Missouri Valley Conference released its 2014 Volleyball All-Academic Teams Reardon, who is enrolled in

the School of Business, had a terrific year as the catalyst of Loyola’s offense. She had two matches with 30 or more kills, including a career-high 32 putaways at Drake which puts her in a tie for third on Loyola’s alltime, single-match list. Among the conference leaders in kills and points per set all season, she wrapped up the campaign with 392 kills (3.77 kills per set) and finished second on the team with 270 digs (2.60 dps).

Reardon closed the season strong, recording 16 kills and a career-best 27 digs in a home win over Drake last weekend and led the team with eight doubledoubles.

Junior Kelly Feigh had five kills and 22 digs this season for the Ramblers.

•Former Lockport quarterback Billy Reed is a wide receiver for Southern Illinois University. He caught 11 passes this season for 118 yards and had one punt return.

•Minooka graduate Stacey Perinar tallied 366 kills and 46 assists for Eastern Michigan University.

She earned alltournament team honors at the 2014 Northern Kentucky Volleyball Invitational and was Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Aug. 31.

•Former JCA soccer star Rachel Zampa played in 10 games for the Northwestern University soccer team, scoring a pair of goals.

photo courtesy of harvard athletics

Harvard coach Tim Murphy announced Joliet West grad Matt Koran as the next captain of the Crimson football team.

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

12

Wedn es day, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com column | from page 10 Fahey—listed at 5-8, but that may have been a generous listing—was arguably the best all-around player in the CSL last fall. He left everything on the field game in and game out.

Not only did he lead the Hawks in rushing, but he was named CSL South Defensive Player of the Year.

Best athlete covered: Scott: Janile Rogers, Minooka.

The senior scored 25 points at state for the Indians, leading them to a fifth-place finish in state. She took home the state title in the long jump, finished fourth in the 100-meter dash and was a part of fifth and sixth-place finishes in state. It was the most impressive individual performance I have covered in my six years at state girls track and field.

Mark: There were some really good ones last year from the likes of Sean O’Mara and Jasmine Lumpkin, but there was one athlete that stood out from the rest and that was Plainfield Central sprinter Kahmari Montgomery. The then-junior not only became Illinois’ fastest man, winning the 100 meter dash, he doubled up, winning the 200 dash as well.

Most disappointing moment covered: Scott: Normal West Supersectional volleyball. Plainfield North relinquished big leads in both sets to Normal Community to fall in straight sets. The Tigers were looking to become the first volleyball team since 1989 to make it to state from Plainfield. There’s no doubt in my mind if the two teams played 10 times, the Tigers would win eight times.

Mark: I will have to say the IHSA Class 4A basketball state semifinals when Stevenson superstar Jalen Brunson capped off an amazing 56-point performance by flipping off the Whitney Young fans with both hands. I was not at the game, but thanks to the wonderful world

of social media was able to chime in and react to the event as it unfolded.

There have been many different opinions on what happened, but my opinion is that he did it out of frustration and then his coaching staff and school bullied the IHSA into removing a suspension they had handed down for the thirdplace game. Overall, the whole incident was a disappointment.

Mike: For Bolingbrook softball team, its 7-1 victory over Benet to win its first regional title in school history was sheer elation. But for Benet, the loss was a major disappointment.

The Redwings entered the game as the No. 1 seed in their sectional and sported a 30-2 record. Their lineup, 1-9, was as formidable as any in the state last spring, yet an anticipated deep postseason run was shortcircuited by the Raiders.

Most impressive performance covered (individual or team): Scott: The day Tom Poznanski of Plainfield Central had against rival Plainfield North in a Bolingbrook Sectional semifinal was one for the ages. Poznanski slammed home 24 balls as the Wildcats took down the Tigers to advance to the sectional championship. Everyone knew who was getting the ball and it didn’t stop Poznanski from delivering in clutch moments.

Mark: I am going to head back to the state track and field meet for this one and say my most impressive cover this year was watching Plainfield Central’s Luke Winder win his second-straight state pole vault state championship, while breaking the IHSA outdoor record by clearing 17-feet, 3-inches.

Mike: When it comes to track and field, I’m all about the sprints.

John Hader of Maine South darted to Class 3A sectional crowns in both the 100- and 200-yard dashes, and then made school history by becoming the first Hawk to earn state medals in both events.

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Wedn esday, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com 2014 | from page 9 senior averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 rebounds this season and led the Angels to their best program finish ever, taking second in the Class 3A state tournament.

Her success this year has made Lumpkin the Voyager Media Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

She was the first player to win the Voyager Media Player of the Year award in any sport two years in a row.

Over her four years of combined varsity play, Lumpkin tallied 1,253 points and grabbed 749 rebounds for career averages of 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

NORTH WINS SHOOTOUT After not winning a game for the first four years of the Voyager Media Prep Shootout, the North boys team made it back-to-back wins with a 98-83 victory over the South squad at the Sullivan Center on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

The North was paced by a pair of Bolingbrook players, as Gage Davis led the scoring with 24 points and Shakur Triplett added 23. Triplett dominated the first half with 20 points before intermission, while Davis tallied 20 after the break including four three-pointers.

Bolingbrook players now own four of the top five highest scoring games in the Prep Shootout, as they join Moore (27) and Antoine Cox (21, 2010) on the list. Plainfield North’s Ryan Crowe still holds the top spot with 42 in 2009.

The South team was paced by 16 points from Lockport’s Grover Anderson.

In the girls game, the North allstar team to 64-38 victory over the South.

The North led from the outset and never relinquished its lead the entire evening, save for a 4-4 tie early in the game on a free throw by the South’s Jenae Rowe of Joliet West. The North increased its margin to 7-4 on Kate Moriarty’s (Chicago Resurrection) three-point play and a basket by Bolingbrook’s Ashley Drain.

Bolingbrook center Ryaen Johnson scored eight points, but it was her dominant defensive performance that enabled her to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Johnson blocked eight shots.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD Joliet Central senior Ryan Connor placed sixth in the discus with a throw of 162-feet, 2-inches and he was eighth in the shot put

with a put of 54-6.50.

He is the first Joliet Central athlete to ever earn two state medals in the same year and is the first Joliet track and field athlete from any school, public or private, to ever double medal in the shot put and discus in the same season since Bob Stephen did it in 1932.

While Connor earned both of his state medals in one meet and became one of only four Steelmen to have more than one medal, his teammate, Favio Nunez placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 161-11 to earn his second discus medal in as many years and place his name in that quartet.

With the medals this year, Connor and Nunez are the lone Joliet athletes, public or private, to ever both earn medals in the same event in the same season. They are the first Central teammates to both earn medals in any event since Mike Poloskey (shot put) and Phil Whitehead (110-meter high hurdles) each medaled in 1986.

•Minooka had the local who finished highest on the podium this season, as Indian sprinter Chris Wilson placed second in the 400 dash with a time of 47.40.

He finished behind Plainfield Central’s Kahmari Montgomery (46.82), who he raced all season in the Southwest Prairie Conference.

Wilson also anchored the Minooka 4x400-meter relay team that also included Devin Ingram, Kyle Shelton and Jake Smith. The quartet placed sixth in 3:18.60.

Wilson earned his third medal of the day as a member of the 4x100 team, which placed sixth in 42:12. On that team, he was joined by Ingram, Mitch Miller

and Chris Hopkins.

Ingram was also a three-event medalist, competing in all three Minooka relays.

He was joined by Miller, Victor Turpin and Matt Dlugopolski in the 4x200, in which the Indians placed sixth in 1:27.78.

Individually, Minooka’s Shabari Bailey was seventh in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.73.

•Finishing one spot behind Bailey in the 110 hurdles was Lockport’s Cody Andrus, who placed ninth in 14.95.

COVER BOY WINS RACE After talking to the Bugle the previous week about his early success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Chase Elliott led 85 of 200 of the EnjoyIllinois. com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway to claim his third win of the season.

The win ties Kyle Busch for most wins in the series so far this season, each with three visits to victory Elliott took the lead for the fourth and final time on Lap 177 and held on for the final 23 laps, winning by 1.7 seconds over Trevor Bayne.

Sprint Cup regulars Kyle Larson and Kasey Kahne were third and fourth, respectively, while Ty Dillon was fifth.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD Minooka’s Janile Rogers had a great weekend at Eastern Illinois University.

The senior helped the Indians tie for fifth in the state with 25 points. She contributed to all 25 of those points.

Rogers started her day with

a bang, taking home the state championship in the long jump with a jump of 18-feet, 10.75-inches.

Next, Rogers took fourth place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.01, just .14 out of first.

She also had the anchor leg in both the 800 and 1,600 relays.

The 1,600 relay of Rogers, Ashleigh Wilson, Moira McAsey and Emma Tonelli placed fifth with a time of 3:58.65.

The 800 relay of Rogers, Latricia Dean, Megan Caldwell and Tonelli placed sixth with a time of 1:42.02.

Ashley Tutt was in the fast heat of the 3,200, finishing 13th with a time of 11:18.54.

Also competing at state for the Indians but not making finals were Wilson in the 400 (58.30), Mackenzie Callahan in the 1,600 (5:12.52), McAsey in the 800 (2:17.94) and Alexis Pease in the discus (100-0).

•Lockport brought home a quartet of medalists as the 3,200 relay squad of Haley Beaumont, Aubrey Elwood, Emmie Hahn and Morgan Bollinger placed fifth with a time of 9:16.47.

GIRLS TENNIS “In honor of my grandma.”

Those were the last words from Joliet freshman Eileen Carney after she beat the top two seeds to take home the Plainfield East Sectional championship.

Carney, playing with the extra motivation, rolled through her opening rounds Friday to qualify for state and then beat No. 1 seed Nina Bertino of JCA in the semifinals and No. 2 seed Gabby Ochalik of Plainfield North in the finals to win the title.

13

The JCA duo of Maddie Bauer and McCoy Hutchison won the doubles championship at Plainfield East.

The Angels took home their first sectional title since 2009, edging out Plainfield North 25-23.

JCA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL For the past nine seasons, the Joliet Catholic Academy and Wheaton St. Francis volleyball teams have played each other with one or both team’s season guaranteed to be over.

In 2006, the teams played for the Class AA state title and since the inception of the three-class volleyball playoffs in 2007, the two have been on a collision course to play somewhere in the state tournament prior to the final four at Redbird arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

This year was different.

Joliet Catholic Academy was sent a different route through the IHSA playoffs and met St. Francis for the Class 3A state title, with the Spartans winning JCA 25-18, 25-23.

After the Angels opened with a 9-12 record and were struggling to find their rhythm, JCA started got a breath of fresh air when the Class 3A playoff pairings were announced.

In the title match, Mary Murphy led the team with seven kills and 12 assists, while Maddie Naal posted seven and Madeline Grimm added four kills. Megan Melone tallied 11 assists.

-compiled by Mark Gregory

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

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Wedn es day, decem ber 31, 2014 | bug leneW spapers.com romeoVille

q & a with local athletes

FEATURING

lexi marin

Basketball

favorite social media outlet that you use? i use instagram the most.

What do you use it for the most?

Me and my dad put up basketball videos of me.

andreW mccutchen

how good is it to have that outlet? it is great because people who may not have seen you play otherwise can see you play.

What is the best holiday tournament?

pontiac boys

proViso West boys

75% 25%

montini girls state Farm classic

LEE dIcKLITch @fuELLEEd

10% 0%

Who will win NCAA football championship? alabama oregon Florida state ohio state

“tragic loss of nate fox from this world. He was a good man & will not be forgotten.”

@#cofc Athletics mourns the loss of chad Cooke

Rob bRoST @bRooKhoopS “lost a former player last night-way too soon!

Love my players (current and former) more than they even know!” oNE-bId WoNdERS @ToNEbIdWoNdERS “Friends, former teammates, and foes alike will miss Nate Fox forever. ”

INSTAGRAM: Readers, Send us a #selfie of you reading @Buglenewspapers & you could be featured in an upcoming issue!

Wedn esday, De cem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

15

county news

Mark Staehely still helping others in community Toy drive goes on nine years after teen’s death

By Kris Stadalsky for the bugle

sweditor@buglenewspapers.com @BugleNewspapers

All Mark Staehely ever wanted to do was touch the lives of others, and nine years after his death of neroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, he is still doing just that.

The first Christmas Mark spent in the hospital, he received a stuffed teddy bear with an insurance logo on the front; many children got nothing. From that day on Mark wanted to make sure that every child on the oncology floor received a gift.

This year’s toy drive is the 14th annual, the ninth since Mark passed away at the age of 18.

Mark’s mom, Sue Staehely, and her small band of elves, continue to hand out toys at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) where Mark called home for seven years.

Every child in the hospital gets a gift for Christmas thanks to this toy drive, but it’s the oncology floor that really tugs at the hearts of everyone involved in making it happen.

“It’s like old home week for me.

I get to see Mark’s doctors, some of his nurses are still there,” said Sue. “Being at the hospital is like bringing a part of Mark back to me.

This toy drive meant everything to Mark.”

While the brand new Lurie hospital might be different from the old Children’s, the cause is still the same.

“Bricks and mortar will change,

see Staehely | page 16

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAN TERRY

Sue Staehely presents a gift to a young patient on the oncology floor at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) in Chicago.

News about local businesses in your community

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Wedn es day, Decem ber 31, 2014 | bug lenewspapers.com

community

Silver Cross awards Quality of Life grant to Warren-Sharpe The Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission awarded the Warren-Sharpe Community Center of Joliet with a $15,000 grant to help fund their Quality of Life programs.

The Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission’s grant will help the Warren-Sharpe Community Center continue to provide the residents with a variety of programs and services including, cooking and nutrition class for kids and their parents, food pantry, community garden and educational after-school programs.

“We are delighted to work together with Warren-Sharpe Community Center to help increase access to education and further success in our community,” said Margie Woods, Chair of the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission.

“The Warren-Sharpe Community Center is grateful to the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission for the grant,” said Kay Bolden,

staehely | from page 15 but the need is never going to change,” said Sue. “The kids are always children in the hospital at Christmas time.”

It’s no easy feat for this small group to pull off collecting, sorting, bagging and delivering hundreds and hundreds of gifts. In fact, the day after Thanksgiving Sue was in panic mode when local toy drop off points were coming up empty.

But thanks to some very great people, businesses, schools and organizations, the Mark Staehely toy drive was a resounding success not only for Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, but for children at U of I Comer Children’s Hospital and Presence St. Joseph in Joliet, where Sue and the elves deliver toys as well.

Left over toys then went to children at Forest Park Community Center, Morning Star Mission and Joliet Community Pediatric Hospice.

“When they say it takes a village, it really does take a village to pull this off,” Sue said.

She can’t possibly thank every person who makes a monetary donation or drops of one or more toys, but it’s the people from Shorewood and surrounding areas who make the drive a success.

Without any corporate

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Pictured are Margie Woods, Chair of the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission; Kay Bolden, Executive Director of the Warren-Sharpe Community Center; and Hon. Raymond A. Bolden, Vice President of the Warren-Sharpe Community Center Executive Director of the WarrenSharpe Community Center. “This grant allows area residents to improve their lives through the programs offered which enables them to eventually give back to the community.”

Since 2008, the Silver Cross

Healthy Community Commission has provided over $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to create a stronger, healthier future for the residents of the eastside of Joliet. To learn more about the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission, visit http://www.silvercross.org/.

sponsorships or grants, the Mark Staehely Toy Drive relies strictly on the goodness of people’s hearts, Staehely said.

All the Troy schools make a huge effort to collect toys and ended up with two packed school buses.

Lockport Township High School delivered a bus load. Plainfield Middle School and High School hold a cheerleading exhibition each year and the admission cost is a toy for the drive. Walsh School in Lockport has been collecting toys for 13 years for it.

Tow Trucks for Tots, a nine-mile procession of 200-plus trucks all decorated in lights heading to Hollywood Casino began donating half their toys to the Mark Staehely Toy Drive last year. And Laborer’s Union Local 2 contacted Staehely this year and started collecting from their membership - they brought four truckloads.

Property owner Dave Gregory stepped in and offered a vacant building for the group to work in for the six weeks it takes to make this happen. Two Men and a Truck donated 300 packing boxes, two trucks and manpower to deliver to the hospitals.

Cracker Barrel Restaurant donated all the gift bags for the second year in a row and Terry D’Arcy of D’Arcy Motors provides a

cargo van to get the stuffed gift bags to the hospitals.

These are all things that Staehely would never be able to pay for herself.

Then there are the nurses at the hospitals who receive, organize and help make sure the children are taken care of. This list goes on and on, said Staehely.

Up at the hospitals, when Staehely and her elves are delivering gifts, the smiles from the children, teenagers and their families make giving up most of their own Christmas worthwhile.

There are so many special moments, like small, sick children smiling for the first time in weeks when they receive their presents, teenagers who glow at the sight of their own Target gift cards or parents who break down in tears at the generosity of it all.

Sometimes just before the toy drive each year, Staehely wonders how she is going to do it all again.

But then she remembers the promise she made to Mark to continue his mission and not let a child at Children’s Memorial spend a Christmas without a gift.

“Then I go up (to the hospital) and see those kids’ faces. A lot of them remind me of Mark,” she said.

“And I think to myself, ‘How could I ever stop?’”

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014 | buglenewspapers.com

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19

county news

Seth Rogen and James Franco star in “The Interview.” (Image courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Hollywood Blvd. will be showing controversial film ‘The Interview’ through the New Year It’s the talk of the entertainment world, and on Christmas Day, The Interview opened nationally in a limited release.

The film that has caused a stir around the country, and in known parts of the world, saw a Dec. 25 release in a select group of Chicago theaters. One local theater pushing the controversial film was Hollywood Blvd, located in Woodridge. If the theater had any reservations about showing the politically charged comedy, the crowd that arrived that night quickly put them to rest. No security issues were in sight, and faces of joy littered the theater.

“It’s been a phenomenal reaction; people are coming out and they’re enjoying the movie,” Manager Mike Moore commented on the throng of bodies in the lobby. Throughout the evening, a continuous stream of eager movie goers flowed through the front doors.

Seemingly, each of them was looking for the movie causing a hubbub among fans, critics, and everyone in between. Unfortunately, unless they had previously purchased their ticket, they were most likely going out empty handed.

“For pre-sales, it was almost 800 tickets we had sold, as of 6:00 am yesterday,” Moore informed. “That’s the most pre-sales we’ve ever moved in a single day.” The lobby floor at the Hollywood Blvd proved that the pre-sale tickets were going to use. A mass of warm bodies lined themselves from the opening of theaters to the doors. Some eager audience members even waited in the frigid Christmas air outside the building, looking for any hope of seeing a 9:00 pm showing (already sold out hours before).

If anything, the turnout for The Interview proved something more profound about the American spirit. At least for a few audience members, and the management at Hollywood Blvd, the mere act of attending the opening night showing was a statement. While being interviewed, Moore was interrupted by one citizen who wanted to say, “Thank you.”

Moore politely took the cordial greeting with a smile of pride on his face.

“I’m actually very happy to see all these people because they’re making a statement.

You told us we couldn’t do something,” Moore explained, referencing an underlying theme of the evening. Since the initial uproar arose over a week ago, stemming from threats made by internet hackers, a grand debate has surrounded the release of the film. Sony (distributor for the film) decided it had no option, but to pull the film, citing security concerns. Quickly, freedom of speech supporters came out in droves in favor of continuing to screen the film as planned.

“I’m a musician, the whole freedom of artistic expression and freedom of speech is really important to me,” audience member David Paige said.

“I actually bought my ticket as soon as they announced it here…it’s the act of going that’s kind of like my non-violent protest.”

The spirit behind the film has changed into a mirror of this sentiment. Suddenly, a film that began as a goofy romp in buddycomedy has turned itself into a focal point for freedom: artistically, nationally, and individually. It’s hard to say that The Interview will leave a legacy past these few months, but for now it doesn’t seem important to audience members. What’s important to viewers is that the film they were promised is available. The values they hold dear are seemingly being honored, as well.

page designed by shelley holmgren

Photos By Ryan Tackitt • For The Bugle Audience members line up 45 minutes before ‘The Interview’, hoping to view the movie that has become a national focal point. Eager fans of ‘The Interview’ spilled out of Hollywood Blvd.

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