KCC-1-6-2014

Kane County

CHRONICLE MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2014 | KCCHRONICLE.COM

DRAMATIC FINISH GENEVA BOYS BASKETBALL DEFEATS KANELAND AT UNITED CENTER. PAGE 4

Sean King for Shaw Media

Kaneland and Geneva take the court Saturday during the third quarter of play at The Preps with Pros basketball game at the United Center.

LOOKING FORWARD Elburn Lions Club plans free spaghetti dinner ELBURN – The next Elburn Lions Club Community Spaghetti Dinner is set from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at the clubhouse, 500 S. Filmore St., Elburn. The dinner will be free, but donations will be accepted. Donations will go toward Elburn Lions Club charities. For information, visit www.elburnlions.com or call 630-365-6315.

Free public star party at Peck Farm Park GENEVA – The Fox Valley Astronomical Society will host a free public star party at 7 p.m. Saturday at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. A presentation in the Orientation Barn titled “The Life and Times of Galileo” is planned before the viewing outside. Visit www.fvastro.org for information.

THE WEATHER High -15 Low -19 Today Breezy. Partly sunny and very cold.

High -1 Low -6 Tuesday Mostly sunny and very cold, cloudy at night.

New Years Sale • Furniture • Area Rugs • Accessories • Floral

ENTIRE STORE SALE

210 W. STATE STREET GENEVA, IL 630.232.7141 www.strawflowershop.com

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, January 6, 2014

| NEWS

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OUT AND ABOUT ‘Babe the Sheep Pig’ auditions at Steel Beam ST. CHARLES – Steel Beam Children’s Theatre, 111 W. Main St. in downtown St. Charles, will hold auditions for its next children’s show, “Babe the Sheep Pig,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the theater. Children ages 9 through 16 are invited to audition. This play is directed by Daina Geisler and produced by Lori Holm. No preparation is needed. Children will read from the script and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Rehearsals will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (occasional Sunday), starting Jan. 11. The performances will be on Saturdays and Sundays, Feb 22 through March 16. Tuition if cast is $295, with scholarships available to families in need. Contact Lori Holm with questions at 630-887-7269, or via email at LoriHolm1@gmail.com.

Geneva faculty recital at Methodist church GENEVA – A Geneva faculty recital is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Geneva United Methodist Church, 211 S. Hamilton St., Geneva. Faculty performers will include Kevin Henrickson from Geneva Middle School North, featuring voice and guitar, and William Alles on the euphonium, coming from Geneva Middle School South. Teaching at both GMS North and South, Helen Bogda will perform violin, Linda Duneske on the cello, and Jason Flaks with his trumpet. Leah Kamm, teaching at Williamsburg Elementary School, will sing, and Sue Kautz, who teaches at Western Avenue and Fabyan elementary schools, will perform the accordion. There will be Keith Pitner from Harrison Street and Heartland elementary schools on his trombone, Andrew Barrett from the district office on his guitar, and Julie Lawrence from Geneva High School on her cello. The cost is $5 a person or $15 a family.

There will be a spread of sweets after the performance.

All proceeds are donated to the Geneva Music Boosters Scholarship Fund. For information, call Kristen Severson at 630-262-9212 or Bonnie Eich at 630-232-4663.

Super Shuffle 5K registration underway GENEVA – Registration is now open for Geneva Park District’s fourth annual Super Shuffle 5k on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, at Geneva Middle School South, 1415 Viking Drive, Geneva. This race around Peck Farm Park begins at 10 a.m. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. Immediately following the race, there will be a game day party until 1 p.m. at the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Road, Geneva. This post-race celebration includes food, drinks, football tosses, cotton candy and more.

All runners receive a participation medal and a free beverage voucher. Top male and female finishers will receive awards. Register online at www.signmeup.com/95666 or call 630-232-4542. Register by Jan. 22 to guarantee a hooded sweatshirt.

Early registration ends at 4 p.m. Jan. 29. Advance registration cost is $34. Day-of registration cost is $39. Pre-race packet pickup will be from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center. For information, call 630-232-4542 or visit www.genevaparks.org.

Have news to share?

To submit news to the Kane County Chronicle, send a news release to editorial@kcchronicle.com.

Be sure to include the time, the date and the place, as well as contact information.

Fire significantly damages building in St. Charles KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE editorial@kcchronicle.com ST. CHARLES – A fire early Sunday morning caused significant damage, but no injuries, at a building at 828 S. Third St. in St. Charles, according to a news release issued by the St. Charles Fire Department.

Damage is estimated at $350,000 to the structure and $100,000 to the contents, according to the release. There were no injuries reported to firefighters or occupants, but fire officials reported difficulty “due to the size of the fire and

the inclement weather conditions.”

Fire officials said the building housed two businesses and one apartment above.

The release stated that the fire department responded to the call at 5:38 a.m. Sunday, after a report of an odor of smoke at the building. Firefighters arrived at 5:43 a.m. and found heavy fire in the basement, which was found to have spread rapidly to the first floor.

The fire was extinguished in three hours, but firefighters remained at the scene long after that conducting an investi-

gation, the release stated. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The release stated that there were three occupants were in a rental unit at the time of the fire, but they were able to escape and call 911.

The St. Charles Fire Department was assisted by the Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, West Chicago, South Elgin, Bartlett, FermiLab and Fox River Fire Departments. The Elgin, Burlington and Wheaton Fire Departments provided coverage while St. Charles units were committed to the fire.

Teen center seeks students’ input

By ASHLEY SLOBODA asloboda@shawmedia.com BATAVIA – For the first time since the Batavia Teen Center was launched in the mid-1990s, the Batavia Park District is seeking feedback from those who use it.

“We’ve been doing the same thing for a while,” Recreation Supervisor Kristin Bykowski said, noting attendance has been declining in recent years.

“We really need to pick their brains.”

Middle and high school students are invited to share their ideas during focus group meetings this week and next at the Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave., Batavia.

Meetings for high school students are set for 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Jan. 15.

Middle school students can share feedback from 7 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday and Jan. 14.

Refreshments will be served, and all ideas are welcome.

“We want it to be a relaxed atmosphere,” Bykowski said.

“We want them to feel like they can speak up without having parents around.”

Park district officials want to learn about the activities the students are interested in and what programs, clubs or special-interest groups they would like the teen center to offer, Bykowski said. The goal, she said, is to offer programming

Ashley Sloboda – asloboda@shawmedia.com

The Batavia Park District is seeking input from middle and high school students about what they would like the Batavia Teen Center to offer. not available elsewhere in the community.

“We do not want to duplicate what’s already out there,” she said.

Current programming includes trips in the summer and Friday night activities that, on average, attract 35 to 60 kids, Bykowski said. She said low attendance forced the center to drop an after-school program.

While most of the activities are held at the Batavia Teen Center, 27 N. Prairie St., Batavia, those that require additional space are held at the Eastside Community Center on nearby North Van Buren Street, Bykowski said.

Teens can also submit feedback on the Batavia Teen Center’s Facebook page, on the Batavia Park District’s Facebook page and through forms available at the park district office, 327 W. Wilson St., Batavia, Bykowski said.

Later, Bykowski said, the park district will seek input from parents and community organizations.

The park district hopes to preview some of the ideas in its summer book with the goal of implementing programming by the start of the school year, Bykowski said.

For information, call Bykowski at 630-406-5282, ext. 2162.

By AL LAGATTOLLA alagattolla@shawmedia.com

be closed. In Maple Park, village offices will be closed, but no decision has yet been made about the board meeting set for 7 p.m. Tuesday.

In Sugar Grove, officials issued a news release stating that village offices would be closed Monday.

“The decision to close was not made lightly, and we apologize for any inconvenience,” the Sugar Grove release stated. “However, the safety of our residents and our staff is extremely important to us. We remind you again to stay home if at all possible on Monday.”

The statement from District 302 stated that the Fox Valley Career Center also would be closed, and all school activities would be canceled.

“At this time, no decision has been made regarding school on Tuesday,” the statement read, adding a plea to “please stay warm and careful outside.”

Resourceful sledders find fun on snowy day at Johnson’s Mound

By NATALIE WICKMAN editorial@kcchronicle.com ELBURN – At Johnson’s Mound in Elburn, sledding ranges from traditional to adventurous in order to satisfy each sledder’s creativity.

On Saturday, sledders came equipped with a wide variety of sleds – anything from disks and snowboards to an air mattress and kiddie pool.

Groups of sledders were taking advantage of ideal sledding conditions, with a fresh layer of snow on the ground.

The mound is split into two sledding hills, separated by a strip of trees. One hill is shorter and padded with a thick layer of snow while the other features a long, steep drop and clusters of icy bumps.

Hay bales are used to indicate walk-up paths.

“This year it’s nice because

there’s ice and it’s not muddy so it makes (us) go faster,” said Elizabeth Bettag, 19, a Maple Park resident. “(We) get a lot of air.”

After their snowboards broke, Bettag and her four siblings were left with three sleds. They decided to challenge themselves and fit all five siblings by holding each other’s legs and sitting close enough to take up the sleds.

“The best is the look on (people’s) faces when they realize that you’re coming, and they jump out of the way,” Bettag said.

While sledding, individuals noticed that an increased amount of hay bales could be used to ensure safer rides.

“I’ve seen little kids smash into trees (and) break their noses; these hay bales need to extend further,” said Michael Hammond, 14, a Sugar Grove

resident. “And people take (the hay bales) and ride them down the hill.”

In addition, Sugar Grove resident Jacob Urban, 15, said he thinks taller stacks of hay bales would be beneficial to sledders.

“I don’t think the one hay bale in front of the one tree is going to help – I think that’s just going to make it worse because you’re going to plant (into the hay bale) and then hit the tree,” Urban said.

Elgin resident Dean Ashton, 47, visited Johnson’s Mound with his wife and two children. “(We) put (our kids) in the front of the sled so we kind of cradle them while sledding down,” Ashton said.

The Ashtons said they went sledding to beat cabin fever before the winter temperatures drop to frigid lows.

• Monday, January 6, 2014

Severe winter weather has led to the cancellation of classes Monday at all public schools in the Tri-Cities area and Kaneland.

A statement issued Sunday by the Kaneland School District stated that officials are monitoring the situation about whether the district’s schools would be closed for Tuesday as well.

Classes also are off at Faith Christian School in Geneva, as well as Marmion Academy in Aurora. Elgin Community College also canceled classes.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a high temperature of 16 below zero for Monday, with wind chills as low as 48 below zero. Monday’s low temperature is forecast to be 19 below zero. Tuesday’s forecast calls for a high of 1 below zero.

At Batavia, a statement posted on the school district’s website, signed by Superintendent Lisa Hichens, stated the district’s schools would be closed “due to the hazardous conditions created by extreme temperatures.”

“We were looking forward to welcoming back the students and staff after the winter break, but we made this decision with student safety in mind,” Hichens said.

At St. Charles, a statement posted on the school district’s website stated that schools will be closed “due to weather conditions.” All after-school activities also are closed.

The Batavia Park District said it has canceled programs set for Monday “due to the dangerous weather predicted.” Also, offices will be closed.

The Elburn Village Board meeting set for Monday night has been postponed until 6:45 p.m. Jan. 13. Village hall will

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NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

School’s out: Bitter cold prompts closures

Saturday at the pond

Photos by Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media

ABOVE: Batavia native Bob Perkins plays hockey with his 11-yearold son, Tyler, on Saturday at Batavia Depot Pond. BELOW: Saturday at Batavia Depot Pond.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, January 6, 2014

| SPORTS

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Sean King for Shaw Media

Geneva’s Justin Durante (20) rejects a layup attempt by Kaneland’s Tyler Carlson (23) Saturday at The Preps with Pros basketball game at the United Center.

Geneva sinks Kaneland in dramatic finish at United Center found Navigato on the right wing. The junior forward unleashed the game-winning shot from the NBA 3-point arc.

CHICAGO – Nobody will accuse Nate “We went to a 1-3-1,” Kaneland coach Navigato of basketball stage fright.

Brian Johnson said. “I was hoping they After scoring 41 points on the Univerwere maybe drawing something up for sity of Illinois’ home floor in a Geneva [man-to-man defense]. I thought it was comeback win last month, Navigato contested. Unfortunately, I think our again rose to the occasion in a glitzy contest was a 5-10 kid and another 5-10 setting, drilling a decisive 3-pointer with 3 kid against a 6-5 kid. Nate can shoot over seconds to go at the United Center on Sat- that. He made a big shot. He’s a Division urday as the Vikings defeated Kaneland, I player. Big-time players rise in big-time 54-51. moments, and that’s what he did.”

Navigato scored 12 of his 20 points in After a timeout, the Knights had only the fourth quarter. His hesitance to de3.3 seconds with which to work. The clare which marquee game is the season’s Vikings elected to foul Kaneland’s Drew highlight to date was in stark contrast to David with 2.3 seconds left rather than let the decisiveness with which he played the Knights (7-4) shoot a potentially tying when the Vikings needed their star to bail 3-pointer. them out of fourth quarter trouble.

David missed both free throws – the “Just to play on this floor was second intentionally – and Kaneland awesome, especially with this group of senior John Pruett slapped the rebound guys,” Navigato said. “It was amazing. I’ll toward Connor Fedderly in the corner, remember this forever.” but Fedderly’s desperation 3-point try Kaneland senior Ty Carlson expressed was off line, sealing the fifth win in a row similar sentiments after his own latefor the Vikings (13-3). game dagger. Carlson did his best to bring Navigato’s late surge distracted from jersey No. 23 back in style at the United the big-time performance by Carlson, Center, sinking a dramatic 3-pointer to who scored a game-high 21 points. In tie the score at 51 with 15 seconds to go in addition to his tying 3-pointer with 15 the game. seconds left, Carlson made 3-pointers to After a timeout, Geneva had possesbring Kaneland within 20-19 at the end sion with 9.4 seconds to play. Senior point of the first half and to within 37-33 on a guard Cam Cook dribble upcourt and bizarre buzzer-beater to end the third

By JAY SCHWAB

jschwab@shawmedia.com

quarter.

Carlson tracked down a long rebound and heaved an off-balance, wild shot that hit the heel of the rim with a thud, then dropped in. Carlson said the shot was “a brick,” but oh, well.

“I just always try to get offensive rebounds. When I saw it go up, I went for it.

I didn’t know where I was but I just put it up, and luckily it went in,” said Carlson, as members of the Luvabulls waited to take over the Kaneland locker room.

Carlson had plenty of help from fellow senior John Pruett, especially in the fourth quarter. Pruett attacked the rim with newfound fervor early in the fourth as the Knights went on a 9-0 run to take a 42-39 lead with 4:53 to play. Pruett scored the final seven points of the run and added two more free throws moments later to put the Knights ahead, 44-41.

Pruett scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve always thought very highly of John,” Johnson said. “I’ve thought he’s one of the better players in our area, I just think sometimes he shies away from it. I think today he showed that he can get to the bucket. … And I thought he did a good job for three quarters against a Division I kid. He played as hard as he could on the defensive end of the floor.”

The Knights lost ground in the third quarter when David – a four-year starter

at point guard – took an inadvertent elbow to the mouth and was tended to for a chunk of the quarter after spilling blood on the United Center floor.

The Vikings led, 37-27, late in the third quarter before Kaneland scored the final six points of the quarter.

Geneva junior guard Pace Temple scored 11 points off the bench as the Vikings’ reserves outscored Kaneland’s, 15-0.

The Vikings have faced their former conference rivals at the United Center three times since since the 2008-09 season, winning all three. Saturday’s was the closest of those matchups.

“I never felt like we really attacked them on the inside,” Geneva coach Phil Ralston said. “I felt like we were content enough to not really be patient, take some shots that might have been a little uncharacteristic for us. Obviously when Kaneland put the pressure on us, it was nice to see that our kids had the poise and composure to be down three and be able to still pull it out.”

Once the varsity game concluded, the programs played a short JV matchup before gearing up to watch the main event at the United Center on Saturday night.

After a goosebump-inducing final minutes between the Vikings and Knights, the Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks had lots to live up to.

By JARED BIRCHFIELD editorial@kcchronicle.com

good enough to disrupt what they were trying to do.”

The Bulldogs kept pace with the Storm in the third quarter and managed to pull within 10 points, 45-35, late in the period on a Tucker Knox basket. However, on South Elgin’s next possession, the senior forward was called for his fourth foul as Darius Wells (13 points) scored. Wells sank the free throw to return his team’s lead to 13.

“It was a frustrating game,” Knox said. “We would get so close and then make some mental mistakes that would push us farther and farther away.”

Knox scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

South Elgin’s Matthew Smith led all scorers with 15 points.

Both Danny Pieczynski and Micah Coffey scored 13 points for Batavia. South Elgin’s Matt McClure also notched 13.

A feature story on St. Charles North forward Nichole Davidson.

The versatile Davidson has been a bright spot offensively and arguably the most improved player this season for the North Stars girls basketball team.

Wednesday Coverage from Tuesday’s boys basketball game at the United Center between Mooseheart and Gage Park.

The Ramblers become the third area team to play at the United Center in a four-day span after Geneva and Kaneland squared off at the UC on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday Coverage of Friday night’s girls-boys basketball doubleheader between Geneva and St. Charles North.

The boys game looms large in the Upstate Eight Conference River race as both teams try to stay within a close distance of first-place Larkin. Both the boys and girls games will be the first meetings this season between the host Vikings and the North Stars.

Recovery is everywhere.

East girls basketball wins long-awaited home opener

By JAKE POWERS jpowers@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES – After playing 15 consecutive games away from home, the St. Charles East girls basketball team took advantage of finally returning to its homecourt Saturday night.

East beat Evanston, 49-44, in front of what senior guard Amanda Hilton called a very welcoming home crowd.

“It was amazing. We had a great crowd tonight which kept us going obviously, and we knew it was going to be a tough game,” Hilton said. “I thought we held our own and it is great to be 1-0 on our home court now, and we’ll move from there.”

Hilton led the Saints with 19 points and providing the spark

to beat a formidable Evanston team.

Evanston (13-4) and East (8-8) ended the first half in a near stalemate, with the Saints heading in to the third quarter up, 18-17.

East’s Katelyn Claussner opened up the third period with a layup on the Saints’ first possession. After forward Chloe John Split a pair of free throws, Claussner hit a wideopen jump shot from the elbow to extend East’s lead to 23-17.

Evanston did not let East pull away, however. The Wildkits’ Dashae Shumate hit a 3-pointer with two minutes to go in the third quarter to tie the game at 28. Hilton then hit a pair of free throws to put East up by two going in to the final period.

East quickly took over in

the fourth quarter, launching a 7-0 run to begin the quarter that put Evanston away for good.

The Saints’ Kyra Washington opened up the run with a strong post move to the basket that yielded an easy basket.

Keyana Williams then converted on a put-back after she grabbed an offensive rebound, and Hilton hit a 3-pointer on the Saints’ ensuing possession to extend the lead to 37-28.

Evanston made a late push in the fourth quarter led by Sierra Clayborn, who had four points in the final period.

Clayborn hit a pair of free throws to cut the Saints’ lead to 47-44 with 7 seconds left in the game, but Washington made two free throws on the following possession to seal the win for East.

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• Monday, January 6, 2014

BATAVIA – The Batavia boys basketball team’s fourth quarter rally fell short Saturday in a 69-58 loss to South Elgin.

The Bulldogs trailed by 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter of the Upstate Eight Conference crossover game, 54-38.

A Micah Coffey layup 40 seconds into the last quarter ignited a 15-6 Batavia run that put the team within seven points of the Storm, 60-53, with 3 minutes to play. But that was as close as the Bulldogs would come.

Batavia was only able to connect on two more baskets the rest of the way and was forced to foul the Storm to regain possession.

As a result, South Elgin went to the charity stripe eight times in the last 2:30 and sank nine free throws to salt away the game.

“It the same thing that we struggle with at points all year,” said South Elgin coach Matt Petersen about Batavia’s rally. “We are not at a point yet where we can put teams away.”

After keeping even within the Storm (9-6) in the first eight minutes of play, 14-14, Batavia suffered through a disastrous second quarter.

The Bulldogs (5-9) managed only 10 points in the quarter.

South Elgin, controlling the glass and capitalizing on Batavia turnovers, scorched the net for 25 points and held a 39-24 lead at halftime.

“We gave up far too many possessions on [turnovers] or offensive rebounds,” said Batavia coach Jim Nazos. “It’s hard to be successfully when you give up so many extra possessions as we did, and they capitalized on them.”

“They came out with a ton energy to start,” Petersen said.

“It was really good we got that separation to start the game.

I thought our athleticism was

Tuesday

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Batavia boys basketball falls to visiting South Elgin

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WHAT TO WATCH

Arlo & Janis

Garfield

Big Nate

Frank & Earnest

Crankshaft

Soup to Nutz

Stone Soup

The Born Loser

Dilbert

Rose Is Rose

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, January 6, 2014

| COMICS

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Blondie

Pearls Before Swine

Real Life Adventures

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips meeting, I’m pretty sure it will also be the last meeting.

At the same time, I don’t want it to appear that I was hiding it from them.

I might add, this is the only time I have ever been in trouble with the law. I’d appreciate your advice on how to deal with this. – Online Dating In Texas Dear Dating: The time to tell someone about your conviction is when the relationship stops being casual. At that point, you should disclose that there is a chapter from your past that you think the person should know about – and it’s one that will never be repeated.

Dear Abby: After 25 years, I have finally admitted to myself that I’m married to a workaholic, alcoholic womanizer. I have devoted my entire adult life, my time, effort and energy to my family. Now I feel used, abused and disrespected. I’m grateful to be a member of Al-Anon. It has helped me to understand that I cannot change anyone but me.

I have raised three great, successful grown kids. I have yet to make a decision for myself. I married for life. Must I continue to suffer in silence?

Or do I hope that there is love, kindness and respect out there to be had? – Stalling In Iowa Dear Stalling: Let me remind you what you’ve already learned in Al-Anon: You cannot change anyone but yourself. The same is true of your circumstances.

You are entitled to receive the same love and respect that you offer to others. I cannot guarantee that you’ll find love. Because your workaholic, alcoholic, womanizing husband hasn’t changed in a quarter of a century, it’s obvious he has no intention of doing so.

• Write Dear Abby at www. dearabby.com.

• Monday, January 6, 2014

The Argyle Sweater

Dear Abby: I’m a 28-year-old woman with a fantastic job, a wonderful boyfriend and many friends whom I love dearly. I’m the only one without a child.

Maybe I don’t understand because I’m not a parent myself, but all my friends can talk about is children. Whereas before we were interested in each other’s lives, I feel like my concerns and accomplishments are being brushed off.

An example: I was excited to meet up with a pal to talk about my promotion, but the hour-long dinner was spent mostly teaching her child how to walk between the tables of the restaurant.

I enjoy hearing about my friends and their families, but I feel they are no longer interested in me. Am I expecting too much because we’re at different points in our lives, or am I a bad friend? I’m growing resentful, and I don’t like it.

Any words of wisdom? – Still Relevant In Massachusetts Dear Still Relevant: You and your friends ARE at different stages of life. When you were in your teens, you and your friends would talk about dating. Then, as you grew older, the conversations revolved around college, jobs and marriage. As people experience the later stages of life, they talk about other things that are going on in their lives – children, grandkids, aging parents and, finally, their own health concerns.

You’ll maintain and enjoy these friendships longer if you understand that. In the meantime, try to set some “adult time only” with your friends.

Dear Abby: I have been divorced for 14 years and have dated some, but not a lot. I recently signed up for an online dating service, and here is my dilemma: I have a felony conviction from 25-plus years ago. It did not involve violence, drugs, sex, stealing, etc. It was for a white-collar crime. I received four years of probation, which I served without a hitch.

My question is not if I should tell someone about my conviction, but WHEN. If I say anything at our first

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COMICS AND ADVICE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Woman loses touch with friends with kids

Beetle Bailey

CROSSWORD

BRIDGE by Phillip Alder

SUDOKU

ANSWERS TO PUZZLE

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, January 6, 2014

| PUZZLES

8

The declarer missed a tough chance

SOLUTION

CELEBRITY CIPHER

This was the deal in last week’s final column. Chen Yuechen from China won the 2013 Richard Freeman Junior Deal of the Year from the International Bridge Press Association for his defense against six no-trump.

Chen (West) had guessed to lead his club three. South had taken East’s nine with his ace, played a diamond to dummy’s jack, and run the heart jack.

West had won and found the killing return of his remaining diamond. South won in his hand, cashed his club king, and led a spade, planning to finesse dummy’s 10. He needed two dummy entries: one to repeat the heart finesse and the second to cash the 13th heart. But Chen put up his spade jack, a textbook entry-killing play that defeated the contract.

I wonder how many readers noticed that South missed an interesting chance to make his contract. Before playing a diamond to dummy’s jack, declarer should have cashed his diamond ace. This looks pointless, but not when West started with only two diamonds. When he got in with his heart ace, he would have been endplayed.

If West returned a club, South could get four tricks in the suit by playing low from the dummy to collect three spades, one heart, four diamonds and four clubs. Or, if West shifted to a low spade, declarer would win with dummy’s 10 and have his second dummy entry. He would win three spades, three hearts, four diamonds and two clubs.

This is called a Dentist’s Coup – extracting the safe exit card(s) from a defender’s hand.