AUGUST 5-6, 2026 • VOL. 65 ISSUE 40
LOCAL NEWS SIU Carbondale Plainfield East HS Science researchers name Olympiad students achieve new microbe after record-breaking state the university performance ...see page 3. See Page 3:
Contractor Found Dead More Than 24 Hours After Going Missing in Downers Grove Storm A contractor was swept into the underground system during Monday’s severe storms; rescue crews recovered his body Tuesday evening. A contractor was found dead Tuesday evening, more than 24 hours after he and another worker were swept into a storm sewer during severe storms in Downers Grove, officials said. The two workers, both employed by Vortex Lining Systems, were working Monday on a storm sewer pipe rehabilitation project beneath downtown Downers Grove when rapidly rising water carried them into the underground system. The Village of Downers Grove had hired Vortex Lining Systems for the rehabilitation project. The workers were in the 800 block of Curtiss Street when the storm hit. A Vortex employee alerted Downers Grove police shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, reporting that the contractors had become trapped in the pipe. The severe weather caused widespread damage across DuPage County, including flooding and
(Continued on page 3 see ‘MISSING’)
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AUGUST 5-6, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 3
LOCAL NEWS
SIU Carbondale researchers name new microbe after the university
FROM THE COVER ’MISSING’
The heat-loving microbe, discovered deep underground, could help scientists better understand life in extreme environments
Scott Hamilton-Brehm, an associate professor in SIU Carbondale’s biological sciences program, holds a bottle containing SIUC-1 cells. The novel microbe is a representative of a phylum called Atribacterota. (Below) A glimpse of SIUC-1 shown in microscopic view. (Photo by Brooke Keltner courtesy of SIU Carbondale)
By Brooke Keltner Courtesy of SIU Carbondale CARBONDALE, Ill. — A little giant has been found deep in an underground community where thriving means living in hot, dark spaces with no oxygen. This might sound like the movie trailer for the latest fantasy meets sci-fi blockbuster, but it’s the description of a new microbe named after Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Scott Hamilton-Brehm, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, discovered a novel microbe and named it Caldatribacterium inferamans strain SIUC-1. This translates to “the mysterious hot-living bacterium that loves the underworld.” And it has the potential to unlock mysteries about life beyond Earth. The microbe Hamilton-Brehm was working in Nevada’s Desert Research Institute on a NASA-funded project called Life Underground when he discovered the microbe. He plunged a fishing line nearly 2,500 feet into the Earth’s harsh environment via a borehole, collecting water samples where microbes could colonize a sponge. “There we are with a fishing pole, a saltwater fishing rig, and reeling back sponges in the middle of the desert,” he said about conducting the experiment. “If anyone saw us, they would have thought it was pretty comical.” In all seriousness, the project centered around learning about Earth’s early history as well as life on other planets. NASA’s position is that “if
life exists, or ever existed, on Mars or another planetary body in our solar system, it would be found in the subsurface.” “We are so biased to sunlight-driven life forms, and we just don’t know too much about the ones that don’t depend upon sunlight,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “These life forms are very primitive, but they could be found on other planets. It doesn’t have to be Earth.” In the lab Soon after the NASA project, Hamilton-Brehm accepted a position at SIU and brought the water samples with him. This is when the next phase of research began. One of his first students, Amanda Blocker, joined the lab in 2017. At the time, Blocker was an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in microbiology. This research provided her with an opportunity to learn more about different life forms and to narrow down her future education and career path interests. “This project specifically started out very exploratory, so we didn’t really know what to expect,” Blocker said. “The endless possibilities for discovery were very exciting.” Together, Blocker and Hamilton-Brehm first worked to grow any microbes in the water samples by feeding them diverse types of sugars. Only the sample given xylitol seemingly had one microbe that grew. Those who like to chew gum have something in common with this microbe. Xylitol is a sugar found in citrus plants that’s often used in chewing gum because it kills bad-breath
(Continued on page 4 see ‘SIU’)
The area near Washington and Curtiss streets in Downers Grove on Tuesday, a day after two contractors were swept into a storm sewer during severe weather. (Bugle Newspaper photo | Andrew Samaan)
downed and splintered trees. Downers Grove firefighters reached one of the workers at about 3:15 p.m. Monday, rescuing him roughly 200 feet from the point where the crew had entered the sewer. He was taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and was reported to be in good condition. Rescue crews continued searching for the second worker, but deteriorating conditions inside the sewer forced officials to halt the operation Monday evening. At about 8:30 p.m., the effort shifted from a rescue operation to a recovery mission. Crews continued working through the night and into Tuesday. Emergency personnel were staged in the area of Gilbert and Curtiss for much of Tuesday before relocating to Washington and Curtiss streets.
The missing contractor was found dead in the storm sewer near Washington Street at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to Downers Grove fire officials. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office will determine the man’s cause and manner of death. His name had not been released as of Tuesday evening. The recovery effort drew police, firefighters and other emergency personnel to the area throughout the day. Representatives of Vortex Lining Systems also remained at the scene, along with representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is investigating the incident. A nearby resident, Alexis Merfeld, said a neighbor reported hearing someone shouting from the sewer Monday.
“It’s really sad because, first of all, we did see yesterday that something was going on right before the storm came,” Merfeld said. “And the neighbor, actually the one that lives on the same street, she also heard someone, like someone shouting. So we’re not sure if that was the same person or not.” Vortex Companies, the parent company of Vortex Lining Systems, expressed condolences in a statement. “We are devastated by the loss of our team member following an unexpected major rain event, and are doing everything we can to support his family during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said. “We thank rescue crew members and first responders for their tremendous efforts.” The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
AUGUST 5-6, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 4
LOCAL NEWS (Continued from page 3 see ‘SIU’) germs.
the question, what are we dealing with here? It began the mystery.” Internal Support
“This microbe from deep underground, who has not seen sunlight and probably has never seen sugar from plants, is eating it,” Brehm-Hamilton said. “That begged
To support the lab, Blocker applied for an internal REACH award through SIU’s Vice Chancellor for Research office. This grant funded the purchase of reagents to begin full
characterization of the microbe, including determining optimal growth conditions by testing temperature, pH, and nutrients. A microscopic view of novel microbiome SIUC-1.“Microbes can be very finicky sometimes, so it’s important to know what makes them happy or
upset so we can effectively do our research,” said Blocker who is pursuing a doctorate in microbiology at the University of Chicago. “Careful hands, sterile technique, attention to tiny details, and patience are the cornerstones of microbiology research.” During sequencing of its genome, Blocker and Hamilton-Brehm realized they had found something rare and special. The microbe’s genetics did not match with any of the major clades known to science. It was a representative of a phylum called Atribacterota, previously known as OP9, cementing Blocker and Hamilton-Brehm among the few researchers in the world who have grown and studied an Atribacterota. Scientists classify living organisms by their genetics from generalized to specific; it goes phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. “Our microorganism had a place in the tree of life,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “While this phylum had been detected ubiquitously before by sequencing, at that time, no one had a cultured representative of this group. It was brand new and we knew nothing about it.” Collaboration with other research universities One of the first characteristics that Hamilton-Brehm and Blocker learned about SIUC-1 is that it’s not an isolate, meaning a microbe on its own. This novel microbe had a partner associated with it, making SIUC-1 difficult to isolate for further research. The duo decided to collaborate with two other Carnegie classified research universities: Brian Hedlund, distinguished professor in life sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Jeremy Dodsworth, department chair of biology at California State University, San Bernardino.
Those universities also found a microbe like SIUC-1 but in a hot spring in northern Nevada called The Great Boiling Spring. This surface microbe, Caldatribacterium saccharofermentans, also had a partner. Together, the researchers concluded that Caldatribacterium could not make folate (vitamin B9) for themselves. Instead, they receive this vitamin from the partner, and in return, feed their partners acetate (vinegar) and hydrogen. Essentially, these microbes live in a community together, helping each other survive. “They don’t have eyes, they don’t have arms, they are not people,” Hamilton-Brehm said about the microbes having a partner. “But, on a chemical level, they are very specific with who they strike up these relationships with.” Now, knowing that Caldatribacterium need folate to thrive independently, the collaborative team isolated their microorganisms from their folate providing partners. Changing scientific procedure This love of folate could change a long-standing microbiology procedure. Scientists feed microbes vitamin mixes, and the standard method is to include folate. Even when Hamilton-Brehm and Blocker fed SIUC-1 their commercial vitamin mix, containing folate, it would not grow on its own. It needed its partner — another puzzling mystery for the team to solve. “Questioning the vitamin mix is like questioning gravity,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “Scientists rely on these mixes to be what they should be. To now say that scientists have been doing this 63-year-old procedure wrong is a bit controversial.” Blocker graduated from SIU by this time, leaving Hamilton-Brehm and
(Continued on page 6 see ‘SIU’)
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AUGUST 5-6, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 5
BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE
Renovations with the biggest bang for your buck
Home improvement projects can boost both a property’s appeal and its value.
Home renovations are a significant part of homeownership. Naturally, people want to make their own personal marks on the homes they buy and ensure that their properties fit their needs and wants. While many renovations add value to a home, some offer more value than others. When allocating dollars to renovations, particularly when finances are tight, homeowners may want to direct their efforts to those projects that will offer the highest rate of return on investment. Each year Zonda Home, in conjunction with Remodeling magazine, puts together a list of high-return projects. Exterior projects drive the most value for owners who are selling their homes, and they consistently top the list of high-ROI improvements. Here are five projects offering a strong ROI that homeowners may want to consider. 1. Garage door replacement: A garage door replacement is part of the curb appeal improvements homeowners can consider. At an average cost of $4,672, it offers a recouped cost of 267.7 percent according to the 2025 Zonda report. 2. Steel door replacement: Also boasting an ROI north of 200 percent, a steel door installation is a wise choice for homeowners who want to drive up the value of their homes.
Here are five projects offering a strong ROI that homeowners may want to consider.
3. Manufactured stone veneer: Manufactured stone veneer is a manmade masonry product that looks like natural stone but is lightweight and easier to install. It can offer a recouped cost of 207.9 percent on the $11,702 investment. 4. Fiber-cement siding replacement: Homeowners in the market for new siding can consider fiber-cement sid-
ing, which will see the investment recoup slightly more than 100 percent of its cost. 5. Minor kitchen remodel: Kitchens are the heart of a home, and a minor remodel offers a 113 percent return. Inside the home the golden rule is to keep things simple. Minor remodels tend to offer a better rate of return than major ones.
Buyers will pay for move-in ready and updated, but sellers likely will not recoup the costs for luxury upgrades or over-the-top renovations. It’s important to note that 2025 was the first time a practical backup generator made the list of top improvements. Falling into the number seven spot,
the generator averaged a return of 95.3 percent, which underscores how homeowners are gearing improvements toward the changing climate and unpredictable weather. Those remodeling primarily to increase equity for future sales may want to consider exterior projects and basic kitchen improvements.
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AUGUST 5-6, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 6
LEGAL NOTICES
(Continued from page 4 see ‘SIU’) The findings
LEGAL NOTICE WILL COUNTY PROBATE NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS - IN PROBATE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF
)
JAMES E. BESLAN,
)
) CASE NO. 26 PR 341
) DECEASED.
) CLAIM NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICES Notice is hereby given of the death of JAMES E. BESLAN, of LOCKPORT, State of Illinois. Letters of office were issued on July 13, 2026, to MICHAEL A. BESLAN, of Lemont, State of Illinois, whose attorney is T. Andrew Coyle of 131 East 9th Street, Lockport, IL 60441. Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at Court Annex, 3208 McDonough Street, Joliet, Illinois 60431, or with the representative, or both, on or before January 29, 2027, which date is not less than 6 months from the date of the first publication of this notice and any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of any claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed. JAMES E. BESLAN, DECEASED /s/ T. Andrew Coyle The Coyle Law Office 131 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441 (815) 838-6199 Published 7/29/26, 8/5/26 & 8/12/26
LEGAL NOTICE WILL COUNTY PROBATE NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS - IN PROBATE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF
)
ROBERT L. YOUNG,
)
) CASE NO. 26 PR 326
) DECEASED.
) CLAIM NOTICE
Notice is hereby given of the death of ROBERT L. YOUNG, of LOCKPORT, State of Illinois. Letters of office were issued on June 29, 2026, to JANET KOGER, of Lockport, State of Illinois, whose attorney is T. Andrew Coyle of 131 East 9th Street,
other undergraduate students over the years to carry the torch to determine how to grow SIUC-1. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas and California State University, San Bernadino determined that how a vitamin mixture is prepared can remove or diminish the vitamin. For example, scientists heat glassware and solutions to sterilize them, but conventional wisdom says these hot temperatures break down vitamins’ potency. Meanwhile, other scientists use filters to sterilize their solutions. “These different processes affect the composition and the concentration of the vitamins,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “Everyone’s doing things a little differently, so it means not all vitamin mixes are created equal.” Instead, collaborators Hedlund and Dodsworth made their own vitamin mix, adding each individual vitamin — as Hamilton-Brehm likes to say, “identifying the secret to the sauce.” The collaborative team found that the most common methodologies accidentally remove folate, which contributes to the difficulty that scientists have growing microbes in labs throughout history. “On a good day, around 95% of microbes cannot be grown by the scientific community,” said Hamilton-Brehm. “While the vast majority of microbes are ‘good guys’ and not harmful to humans, to have such a high number of microbes unable to be grown in the lab really means there is something fundamental we don’t understand.”
Lockport, IL 60441. Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at Court Annex, 3208 McDonough Street, Joliet, Illinois 60431, or with the representative, or both, on or before January 29, 2027, which date is not less than 6 months from the barred. Copies of any claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.
/s/ T. Andrew Coyle The Coyle Law Office 131 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441 (815) 838-6199 Published 7/29/26, 8/5/26 & 8/12/26
“This microbe has two normal cell membranes and then an extra layer,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “Meaning that there are an outer, middle, and inner lipid-like membrane layers. It’s an extra feature, unlike other bacteria. We don’t know what it is, or why it’s there.” All three research universities and government agencies worked together to publish their findings: “Isolation of Genome-Predicted Caldatribacterium (Atribacterota) Reveals Pervasive Microbial Cultivation Problem Due to Folate Precipitation,” in the Nature Communications journal. “This is the type of research you would expect at an R1 university,” Hamilton-Brehm added. “Microbes are little giants that can do fantastical things, and we don’t give them enough credit. We should be leaning into them. They help against disease, help plants grow, survive the depths of the Earth, and are the true engineers of this planet.” This microbe has already been deposited into two international culture collections. This means researchers worldwide can order and use this microorganism with the strain name SIUC-1 in their own labs to study it further.
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ROBERT L. YOUNG, DECEASED
SIUC-1 is a rare representative of its group because it can be grown in the lab. It is a thermophile, a microorganism that thrives at 150 degrees Fahrenheit — a temperature that would kill other microbes. In addition, the novel microbe has three lipid membrane-like layers compared to other microbes, which typically have one or two.
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AUGUST 5-6, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 7
SENIORS
What seniors should know about anxiety Discussions surrounding older adults and health often focus on seniors’ physical health. That’s understandable, as age-related issues affecting the body can add up over time, making it vital that seniors emphasize a physically active lifestyle that can reduce their risk for an assortment of medical conditions. But mental health also is an important consideration for older adults, many of whom may be struggling. Anxiety is one mental health issue that affects a significant percentage of older adults. A 2024 study published in the Journal of General and Family Medicine noted that the global prevalence of anxiety symptoms among older adults is 28 percent. That means nearly one in three older adults is experiencing symptoms of anxiety. With so many seniors potentially confronting anxiety, it can be helpful to older adults and their loved ones to learn about the condition, its causes and its signs and symptoms. Defining anxiety The National Council on Aging notes that anxiety is a natural response to many life stressors. But when anxious feelings overwhelm an individual and make daily life more difficult, a person may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. According to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP),
anxiety disorders cause feelings of fear, worry, apprehension, or dread.
can contribute to an anxiety disorder, including:
What distinguishes anxiety from an anxiety disorder? The American Psychiatric Association notes occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. But occasional anxiety comes and goes rather quickly, whereas an anxiety disorder is marked by a more persistent level of anxiety that’s harder to control. In addition, an anxiety disorder can affect how people interact with others, how they work, and even their overall well-being.
• Extreme stress or trauma • Bereavement and complicated or chronic grief, which may be of particular concern for older adults dealing with the death of a spouse or a longtime friend • Consumption of alcohol, caffeine or drugs, including prescription or overthe-counter medication • A separate medical condition or illness • Neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia
Are there different types of anxiety? Yes. The AAGP notes that anxiety may be a specific phobia in which a person harbors an intense and irrational fear of a place, thing or event. Social anxiety is another type of disorder that occurs when an individual feels overwhelmingly anxious and self-conscious in the typical social situations people encounter each day. Generalized anxiety disorder is marked by constant worry even when there is little or nothing to cause concern. These are just some of the various types of anxiety. What causes an anxiety disorder? The AAGP notes a number of factors
How do I know if I or a loved one is experiencing an anxiety disorder? Seniors are urged to speak to a health care professional if they feel they are overwhelmed by anxiety. Family members also can learn to look for signs of anxiety disorder, which the AAGP notes include: • Excessive worry or fear • Refusing to engage in routine activities or being overly preoccupied with routine • Avoiding social situations • Excessive concern about safety • Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shallow breathing, trembling, nausea, and/or sweating • Difficulty sleeping or poor sleep • Muscle tension, feeling weak and shaky
With so many seniors potentially confronting anxiety, it can be helpful to older adults and their loved ones to learn about the condition, its causes and its signs and symptoms.
• Hoarding, which the Cleveland Clinic notes is a distinct mental health condition but also a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder • Depression • Self-medication with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates
There are many ways to treat anxiety disorders in older adults, so seniors should not hesitate to open a dialogue with a health care professional if they feel they are dealing with excessive anxiety. More information can be found at aagponline.org.
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