KCC-4-21-2014

Kane County

CHRONICLE

KAYAK TRIP TURNS FATAL MAN DROWNS AFTER KAYAK FALLS FROM GENEVA DAM. PAGE 2

Charles Menchaca – cmenchaca@shawmedia.com

Fire crews search an area of the Fox River near the Geneva dam after two men were carried over the dam Saturday. One of the men died, the Geneva Fire Department said.

LOOKING FORWARD Coroner’s office plans open house GENEVA – The Kane County Coroner’s Office will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3. It is located on the Kane County Government Center at 719 S. Batavia Ave. in Geneva. Tours will be available of the coroner’s office and morgue and will be age-appropriate and sensitive to all who enter.

Free study night at Baker Community Center ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Park District has planned a free study night event, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. May 6 at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. After studying, there will be pizza and drinks provided by the St. Charles Noon Kiwanis Club. It is for ages 11 to 19. Advance registration is required at www.stcparks.org.

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, April 21, 2014

| LOCAL NEWS

2

OUT AND ABOUT

GENEVA

Fox Trot 5K and 10K races set in Batavia

Kayaker dies after fall from dam

BATAVIA – The Batavia Mothers’ Club Foundation will host its 14th annual Fox Trot 5K and 10K race Saturday at the Batavia Riverwalk, Island Avenue and Houston Street in Batavia. The race features a new 10K route. Both races feature courses along the Fox River in downtown Batavia.

Participants can register online before the event or at the event on race day. The start time for both the 5K and 10K is 8 a.m. There are awards for the winners of both races in all age groups following the race. The Fox Trot also features a noncompetitive Kids’ Fun Run. There are two races designed especially for children. Preschoolers and children through first grade are encouraged to try the Junior Jog. Second- through fifth-graders are encouraged to try the Youth Mile event. The kids’ events begin at approximately 8:45 a.m. Advance registration for all events is encouraged. The advance registration cost for the 5K is $25 a runner, and the advance registration cost for the 10K is $35 a runner. There is no charge for either Kids’ Fun Run, but a donation of $10 a child is suggested. Funds raised through this event will support Batavia schools and other educational opportunities for local families. The first 350 registered participants are guaranteed a T-shirt and goodie bag. Participants may register online at www.signmeup. com/98137. In-person registration will be accepted on race day from 6:30 to 7:40 a.m. at the event. For information, visit www.bataviamothersclub.org.

Spring work day at Conley Farm KANEVILLE TOWNSHIP – A spring work day event is set from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Conley Farm, 47W085 Main Street Road in Kaneville Township. Each spring, volunteers from across the Kaneland area and beyond meet at the Conley Farm to ready the property for Conley Outreach Community Services’ grief events, including its children’s Good Grief Day Camp. It was Bruce Conley’s vision, more than a decade ago, to develop the farm into a place of reflection, healing and celebration for this community. Tasks this year include raking, mulching, trimming trees, scrubbing furniture and the pavilion, and cleaning debris out of the creek. A light lunch will be provided, and the annual Angel Awards presented at noon. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their work gloves and gardening tools, including clippers, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows and small chain saws if possible. Waterproof boots are needed for anyone working near the creek. Future spring and summer projects include building a pergola behind the horse barn and some painting. Call Conley Outreach at 630-365-2880 to volunteer.

STC Underground plans Dodgeball Day ST. CHARLES – The STC Underground has planned its Dodgeball Day event for 6 to 9 p.m. May 2 at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. There will be several different variations of dodgeball including classic, jailbreak, free-for-all, and three lives. After the event, enjoy pizza and refreshments. Awards and prizes will be handed out throughout the night. It is for ages 11 to 19. The fee is $10 a person. Advance registration is required at www.stcparks.org.

Have news to share?

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

By CHARLES MENCHACA cmenchaca@shawmedia.com GENEVA – A 26-year-old man riding in a kayak died Saturday after getting caught in the boil at the Geneva dam, Geneva Fire Lt. Todd Loomis said.

The man was in a two-person kayak riding with another man of similar age on the Fox River near the dam, Loomis said.

The Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles fire departments were dispatched at 4:27 p.m. Saturday to a report of someone in the dam, Loomis said.

Bystanders said that two people lost control of their two-person kayak shortly after launching it into the Fox River.

The strong current carried the kayak and the two boaters over a low head dam, according to a Saturday Geneva Fire Department news release.

The man who survived was thrown out of the boil in front of the dam, Loomis said. He was found unconscious floating downriver from the dam and was rescued by Kevin O’Conner of Ottawa, Mark Stankus of West Chicago and responding Geneva firefighters, according to the release.

The unconscious man was transported by Geneva Fire Department paramedics to Delnor Hospital and was reported Saturday night to be recovering, the news release said.

“The two men who went over the dam were from a group of six friends from the Bloomington, Ill., area and who had rented three two-person kayaks for a trip on the river,” the news release said.

Charles Menchaca – cmenchaca@shawmedia.com

Fire crews search an area of the Fox River near the Geneva dam after two men were carried over the dam Saturday. One of the men died, the Geneva Fire Department said.

The news release did not name the men, and Loomis declined to reveal their identities.

The fire department continued to withhold their names Sunday.

“Unfortunately, the next of kin have not been notified, and we cannot release patient information under HIPAA,” Fire Chief Steve Olson said in an email Sunday morning.

The four other friends were not injured and remained on the scene during recovery operations. They were provided assistance by staff members from the American Red Cross, according to the release.

Fire crews were able to get the deceased man from the boil at about 6 p.m., Loomis said. He

was pronounced dead by paramedics after consultation with Delnor’s emergency room staff, the release said.

“It’s a very dangerous operation to retrieve someone from the boil,” he said.

A large group of people watched from the bridge and the east and west sides as boats swept the river between the dam and the Route 38 bridge. Among those observing the fire crews was Jackie Goti of Winfield.

Goti said she was on the bridge at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday when she saw two males in a red kayak on the river near the top of the dam.

“They were trying to go the other way, but the dam just pulled them over,” Goti said.

PLATO TOWNSHIP

Geneva woman dies in motorcycle crash KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE editorial@kcchronicle.com PLATO TOWNSHIP – A 54-year-old Geneva woman died Saturday when the motorcycle she was driving went off the road and struck a guardrail on eastbound Route 20, west of Switzer Road, according to a news release from the Kane

County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the release, Sharon Schultz, of the 700 block of Lancaster Lane in Geneva, was driving a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle, when, at 3:10 p.m. Saturday, the vehicle left the road.

Police said it’s still unknown why Schultz’s motorcycle left the road.

According to the release, Schultz was taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, where she was pronounced deceased. Police said Schultz was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and that the motorcycle was the only vehicle involved in the incident. Schultz was the only one on the motorcycle, police added.

Letter carriers aren’t asking people to do much on May 10 – only to help Stamp Out Hunger.

Since 1992, the National Association of Letter Carriers has designated the second Saturday in May as the date for its annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Nationwide, letter carriers collected more than 74.4 million pounds of food

“This has been a tough year. With people losing their By the numbers jobs, it is essential that we help people in time of The amount of food collected naneed. Making a food donation will enhance the lives tionally through the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive in recent years. of many people.”

• 74.4 million pounds in 2013 John Parenti, Food coordinator for the St. Charles Post Ofice in 2013, the second-highest amount in the program’s history, according to the association.

Those wanting to contribute this year should place nonperishable items – including personal care items and pet food – next to their mailbox by 9 a.m. May 10.

“It’s a painless gift,” said Paula Yensen, the executive

director of United Way of Central Kane County. “They’ll come and do the work.”

The United Way of Central Kane County, which works with the local postal workers to promote the food drive, funds programs that receive the food, Yensen said.

“We’re seeing very much of an increased need for food,” she said, noting the

• 70.7 million pounds in 2012 • 70.6 million pounds in 2011 Source: National Association of Letter Carriers Salvation Army is providing food for people who were once provided donations.

This year, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will benefit the Salvation Army in St. Charles, which distributes the food to the Hosanna Food

Pantry, and St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva, according to the United Way. “This has been a tough year,” John Parenti, food drive coordinator for the St. Charles Post Office, said in a written statement. “With people losing their jobs, it is essential that we help people in time of need. Making a food donation will enhance the lives of many people.”

To volunteer with the food drive, contact Parenti at 630584-2318.

For information, visit www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger or follow the drive at www.twitter.com/ StampOutHunger.

By ASHLEY SLOBODA asloboda@shawmedia.com ELBURN – A three-story apartment building for seniors was evacuated Sunday in Elburn after a kitchen fire activated an automatic fire alarm, an official said.

Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Craig Hanson said a small stove fire activated the alarm at Meadows Apartments, 318 Dempsey St., at about noon.

A sprinkler head in the apartment controlled and extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived,

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ABOVE: Kids hurry to gather Easter eggs during an Easter egg hunt at the Batavia Egg Hop’s on Saturday.

LEFT: Addison Bakker, 19 months old, of Batavia runs with her Easter egg during the Batavia Egg Hop on Saturday. The egg hop was sponsored by Batavia MainStreet and River City Church and held in downtown Batavia. Other events included face painting, balloons animals, games, activities, storytime with River City Church, a dance performance and a raffle.

Hanson said.

He said firefighters remained on the scene to verify the fire was completely out and to check the residents’ health.

No injuries were reported, he said.

Hanson did not yet know the extent of the damage and the number of units affected. He said there are about 50 apartments in the building.

The fire district received additional assistance from its part-time personnel, Hanson said, noting the help was appreciated on a holiday.

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LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Postal workers seek to Stamp Out Hunger

3

KANELAND 3-8, GENEVA 0-9

| SPORTS

No-hitter, walk-off winner part of split

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, April 21, 2014

4

By JAY SCHWAB jschwab@shawmedia.com GENEVA – After the Kaneland softball team won Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader via an Angie Morrow no-hitter, Geneva was going to be hardpressed to match those kind of style points in the second game.

The Vikings waited until the late innings, but ultimately held up their end of the bargain in the drama department, storming back from a six-run deficit to split the doubleheader with a 9-8 win in Game 2, capped by junior outfielder Madison Keith’s walk-off, three-run home run.

The storyline was all the sweeter for Keith considering she transferred from Kaneland to Geneva after her freshman year and knows most of the Knights well.

Kaneland won the morning matchup, 3-0, thanks to Morrow’s second career no-hitter – her first at Kaneland – and the Knights were in superb position for a sweep in Game 2, leading, 7-1, going into the bottom of the sixth.

But Geneva scored four in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 7-5, chasing Kaneland starting pitcher Courtney Davis and bringing in Shannon Herra.

A solo home run by Kaneland second baseman Morgan Weber puffed the Knights’ lead to 8-5 in the top of the seventh, but the Vikings had inched back within two runs with a pair of runners aboard and none out by the time Keith came to bat in the bottom of the seventh.

A home track meet unfolded near the softball field, and Keith said she heard one of her friends on Geneva’s boys track and field team, Grant Henderson, predict game-ending heroics from Keith.

“He’s one of the throwers, so he was just sitting back there,” Keith said.

“He called it, I heard him say it. It was kind of already in my mind, and then it happened, so that was kind of cool. …

It was an awesome game, an awesome play right there. Felt good. First walkoff home run.”

Keith spent a chunk of her time between games reconnecting with some of her former Kaneland classmates, but there was little question her strongest connection of the day came in the clutch on what Keith called a pitch that “was middle-outside, and it was a little bit higher, which I like.”

Until her three-run blast to left-center, Keith was hitless on the day and said she was putting too much pressure on herself against her former school.

Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media

Geneva’s Madison Keith receives a hug from teammate Sarah Baurer after hitting a walkoff three-run homer against Kaneland in Game 2 of a doubleheader Saturday in Geneva.

The teams split their games.

“She was certainly among the leaders of those that were struggling, but that was a great adjustment,” Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. “She got ahead on the count and she got a pitch to hit, and that was just a great swing.

“We lost to Waubonsie, 6-5, on Wednesday, and we had the tying run on second base at the end of the game after the two-out rally, and she missed by a hair of putting it out to put us ahead. It was really almost the identical situation. She just got it a little bit better on this one. That was gone by a longshot.”

Consecutive singles by catcher Rylie Porretto and shortstop Kaitlyn Plocinski and an RBI double from cleanup hitter Molly Wrenn set up Geneva (6-4) for Keith’s memorable home run.

Both teams benefited from sizzling offensive performances from a freshman in Game 2. Weber homered, doubled, singled, walked and laid down a

sacrifice bunt in her five at-bats for Kaneland (7-7), while the Vikings’ Wrenn went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles and, like Weber, drove in three runs.

“She has really hit the ball well,” Dierks said of Wrenn. “The majority of her hits, I’d say the first five games or so, were singles, but the extra base hits are starting to show up now. She has the ability to drive the ball hard in the gap like she was today.”

There were far fewer offensive theatrics in the opener as Kaneland rode a splendid pitching performance from the hard-throwing Morrow. Morrow, a Burlington Central transfer who missed last year with a shoulder injury, said her other high school no-hitter came against Hampshire as a freshman.

“It means a lot to me for here at Kaneland because I really want to prove myself and show them that I’m

here to do that, get ground balls and just get the outs for the girls,” Morrow said.

Morrow struck out six, walked one and hit two batters. The walk and hit batsmen all came in the bottom of the second, when Morrow worked out of a based loaded, two-out jam on a lineout from Sarah Baurer to Knights third baseman Meg Cohrs, who had a busy and productive defensive day at the hot corner.

“I just had to take a deep breath,” Morrow said. “That was my biggest thing. I think I was rushing and getting a little too into the game. I needed to take a deep breath and I needed to hit my spots.”

The Vikings didn’t hit the ball out of the infield against Morrow, grounding out 13 times in the game as Morrow’s drop-ball did its job.

Morrow admitted to being perplexed when Knights coach Brian Willis visited the pitcher’s circle with two outs and nobody on in the top of the seventh.

“We were just having a little fun with her,” Willis said. “She had a no-hitter going, and I told her I was taking her out. It was nothing. I wasn’t conveying anything except having a little bit of fun and lightening the moment in case she was feeling any pressure to get the last batter.”

Kaneland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first of Game 1 on an RBI double from Cohrs off Vikings starting pitcher Emily Plocinski.

That was the only earned run Plocinski allowed. Kaneland’s final two runs scored in the top of the seventh when Geneva committed an error on leadoff hitter Lexi Roach’s bunt up the first-base line with runners at second and third and two outs.

All three of Roach’s hits for the day came in Game 2, while teammate Morgan Sikon notched a pair of hits in both games for the visitors.

Wrenn, Geneva’s third baseman, picked up the Game 2 pitching win with minimal effort required. She relieved starting pitcher Rachel Fanella and walked the only batter she faced in the top of the seventh – Lanie Callaghan – who was then caught stealing

by Porretto on a close play at second to end the inning.

Vikings center fielder Anna Geary recorded an outfield assist in the top of the sixth, throwing out Sikon at home plate to keep the Vikings’ deficit at 7-1.

Geary’s throw might not have seemed like a big deal at the time.

Keith’s clout a half hour later made it so.

BASEBALL: KANELAND 7, GENEVA 6 (9 INN.)

Knights nip Vikings in extras

By JARED BIRCHFIELD editorial@kcchronicle.com

Coverage of Tuesday night’s Tri-Cities girls soccer showdown between rivals St. Charles East and St. Charles North.

Host North is trying to get off to a fast Upstate Eight Conference River Division start in its bid to repeat as conference champions.

really let us down today – that was the difference,” Hahn said.

“I think I counted six, maybe more, errors.”

Geneva (8-2) took a 4-0 lead in the third on two walks, two singles and a double off Kaneland starting pitcher Nate Hopkins.

Davis, who was Geneva’s starting pitcher, cruised through the first three innings. After giving up a leadoff single in the first, the junior southpaw retired 10 Knight batters in a row. With one out in the fourth, Kaneland reached Davis for four straight singles to cut the Vikings’ lead to 4-2.

Kaneland took the lead, 5-4, in the next inning when a Danny Hammermeister grounder was misplayed and allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to cross the plate.

Geneva pulled back ahead, 6-5, in the sixth. Ben Chally scored the tying run on Nate Montgomery’s double to left.

After Nick Stahl replaced Hopkins on the mound, Montgomery scored when Kaneland could not handle Nick Porretto’s infield grounder.

The Knights knotted the game back up in the seventh.

Laudont scored on Hammermeister’s misplayed grounder.

Friday Coverage of Thursday’s series finales in a pair of marquee UEC River baseball series, Batavia against St. Charles East and Geneva against St. Charles North.

The teams are slated to square off against each other Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the first week of intra-divisional play unfolds.

Saturday Log on to KCChronicle.com/preps for coverage of Kaneland’s Peterson Prep track and field invitational, Geneva’s softball game against South Elgin and more of this weekend’s prep action.

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Baseball: Kaneland at DeKalb, 4:30 p.m.; Marmion at Marian Central, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Central Catholic at St. Edward, 4:30 p.m.; Harvard at Burlington Central, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Christian at Montini, 4:30 p.m.; St. Francis at Wheaton Academy, 4:30 p.m.

Softball: Marian Central at St. Francis, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Central Catholic at Montini, 4:30 p.m.; Burlington Central at North Boone, 4:30 p.m.; Wheaton Academy at Rosary, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Christian at St. Edward, 4:30 p.m.

Girls soccer: Kaneland at Yorkville, 4:30 p.m.; St. Francis at Wheaton Academy, 4:30 p.m.; Benet at Wheaton Academy, 6:30 p.m.

Boys track: Elgin at St. Charles North, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Central Catholic at St. Francis, 4:30 p.m.

Girls track: Aurora Central Catholic at St. Francis, 4:30 p.m.

Boys volleyball: Montini at Wheaton Academy, 5:30 p.m.; St. Francis at St. Charles North, 6 p.m.

Girls water polo: Morton at St. Charles East, 6 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS: GENEVA INVITATIONAL

Marmion finishes as runner-up at invite GENEVA – The Geneva Boys Tennis Invitational came down to the last doubles match of the day Saturday, featuring Marmion and Lincoln-Way East.

After three tightly contested sets, Lincoln-Way East prevailed over the Cadets with scores of 6-1, 3-6 and 7-5 to seal the tournament win for Lincoln-Way East.

Marmion took second overall, and coach John Tsang was pleased with his team’s effort.

“I was very encouraged of what I saw today,” Tsang said. “You know [there is]

still a lot of room for improvement, but I think we had a very strong showing today.”

The Cadets’ John King finished third in No. 1 singles and Dave Demoll took the title at No. 2 singles.

St. Charles East finished third overall behind the efforts of senior standout Jasper Koenen.

Koenen cruised through the bracket and took first in No. 1 singles. He reached win No. 94 in his career and is eyeing a round number.

“My first goal of the season is get to 100 wins,” Koenen said, “I got my eyes on 100 wins for East and then conference, sectionals then on to state. So, yeah, I am excited

for the rest of the season.”

The Saints’ Connor Anderson and Colin Jones placed second in No. 2 doubles.

Coach Rob Livermore was looking forward to the upcoming challenges.

The host of the tournament, Geneva, took fourth overall and had both its No. 1 (John Potts, Ryan Doeckel) and No. 2 (Brad Burgess, Nick Simone) doubles teams finish third. Oswego, Crystal Lake Central and DeKalb took fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

The tournament was split between two locations. Singles play was held at Geneva High School, while the doubles was at St. Charles East.

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• Monday, April 21, 2014

MAPLE PARK – Credit Joe Laudont’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for Kaneland’s 7-6 win over Geneva on Saturday afternoon.

Give an assist to a reversed balk call in the top half of the inning, which also had a major impact on the outcome of the nonconference game.

With no outs and Viking runners on second and third, Kaneland reliever Nick Henne started to throw a pitch to Geneva batter Jason Croci. Instead of throwing the ball to the plate, Henne faked a pickoff to unoccupied first base.

The move was called a balk and Brandon Evert was waved home from third base with what would have been Geneva’s go-ahead run. Alex Lobrillo advanced from second to third.

Kaneland coach Brian Aversa appealed the call. After the three-man umpiring crew discussed the play, they reversed the call and ordered Evert back to third and Lobrillo to second. The officials decided that Henne had taken a step backward off the pitching rubber so the pick-off attempt was not a balk.

“If he had jumped and straddled the rubber then that’s a balk, but he stepped off,” Aversa said. “I’m going to battle for my kids and [Geneva coach Matt Hahn is] going to battle for his.”

“I have no comment on that,” Hahn said when asked about the umpire’s decision to reverse the call.

Henne got out of the inning.

The senior right-hander stuck out Croci and Garrett Davis.

Sophomore Nick Derr ended the inning with a flyout to deep center field.

Kaneland (7-3) quickly ended the game in its half of the ninth. Joe Panico led off the inning with a double and scored when Laudont, the next batter, laced his single to center.

“I was surprised coach didn’t call for a bunt, but Joe had a great hit and [Aversa] wanted to keep the momentum going,” Laudont said. “Coach said to swing aggressive, get my pitch and hit it up the middle. Do something good with it.”

The appealed balk was not the only play that aided Kaneland. The Knights capitalized on Geneva fielding miscues to score three of their runs.

“Brian’s teams always put the ball in play. Our defense

Wednesday

5

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

LOOKING FORWARD: THE WEEK AHEAD IN KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE SPORTS

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 â&#x20AC;˘ Monday, April 21, 2014

| COMICS

6

Beetle Bailey

Blondie

Pearls Before Swine

Real Life Adventures

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips together with him. I just find it hard because I’m not sure how to survive this weird situation I’m in. Is it a good idea to keep living together? – Remaining Civil In Canada Dear Remaining Civil: It depends upon how high your tolerance is for pain.

If seeing your ex with others hurts to the extent that you shed tears on your pillow, or obsess about who he’s with and where he’s going, then it’s not a good idea. However, if the situation can’t be changed, then it’s important that you fill your time with activities and opportunities that allow you to meet new people and make new friends.

Dear Abby: My new husband’s family informed him they were coming to visit us for seven to 10 days. This was eight relatives, and I was not asked whether this was convenient or not.

They were so noisy that our neighbors finally asked, “When are they leaving?”

How can I prevent this from happening again in the future without offending anyone? My husband said after they had left, “You don’t handle chaos and confusion well, do you?” – Needs To Be Consulted In Georgia

Dear Needs To Be Consulted: Revisit the question your husband asked you.

And when you do, tell him the answer is not only do you NOT handle chaos, confusion and eight surprise houseguests well, neither do your neighbors.

Then set some boundaries for the next time they say they are coming.

His first response should always be, “I’ll check with my wife to see if it’s convenient.”

• Write Dear Abby at www.dearabby.com.

• Monday, April 21, 2014

The Argyle Sweater

Dear Abby: My 83-yearold mother has decided she wants to die. She says she’s miserable, but I think she’s causing her own misery.

She has medications to address her physical ailments – none of which are critical. My siblings live in other states. Mom feels it’s a “burden” for them to travel to see her, and she refuses to travel.

Mom is in assisted living and is now refusing to bathe, trying not to eat and doesn’t want to talk to anyone or have visitors. She’s obviously depressed, but refuses counseling. If she continues being uncooperative, I’m afraid she’ll have to go to a nursing home where they might let her starve herself to death.

One sister says I should force Mom to do fun things, but I don’t know what she wants. We used to go out to eat, but she no longer wants to do that. I have tried to honor Mom’s wishes, but I’m at a loss about what to do for her. Do you have any suggestions? – Almost At Wits’ End Dear Almost: I have one.

You and your siblings should have your mother evaluated by a geriatrician IMMEDIATELY. It’s apparent that she is depressed, but the question is whether she also has something physically wrong with her that is affecting her mental state. Then let the doctor be your guide.

Dear Abby: I dated my ex for six years, but we broke up recently. The problem is, we signed a lease on our apartment that won’t be up until next year. He still lives here, and I don’t have the heart to kick him out.

Financially, our living together makes sense, and I’d rather live with him than with a stranger.

Abby, this living arrangement has made it tough to get over him.

Our breakup was amicable – somewhat – and we remain civil to each other.

I have no desire to get back

COMICS AND ADVICE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Older mom who wants to die may find relief

7

CROSSWORD

BRIDGE by Phillip Alder

SUDOKU

Answers to Puzzle

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, April 21, 2014

| PUZZLES

8

It is easy to get careless

SOLUTION

CELEBRITY CIPHER

Harry Vardon, a top English golfer who died in 1937, said, “More matches are lost through carelessness at the beginning than by any other cause.”

More bridge contracts are lost through carelessness early in the play than by any other cause.

So, do not mess up early in today’s deal. South is in four hearts. West leads the spade eight. East wins with his ace and returns the spade four. How should South proceed?

The South hand is definitely worth a one-heart opening. The North hand would have been a perfect game-forcing two-notrump response in the days of yore, but this modern pair was using the Jacoby Forcing Raise, showing four-card or better heart support. Some pairs would respond three no-trump to show a balanced 13-15 without four hearts, but I like this to promise 3-3-3-4 or 3-3-4-3 distribution and a soft, no-trumpy hand.

An impulsive declarer would take the second trick on the board and run the heart jack (the percentage play for only one loser). But West would win with his queen and give his partner a spade ruff. Then the heart ace would defeat the contract.

Harry Vardon, if he had been a bridge player, would have realized that this was the one risk to the contract. And the way to keep the ball in play, not flying out of bounds, is first to cash dummy’s two top diamonds and discard declarer’s remaining spade. Then there is no risk of an opposing spade ruff and South can play on trumps, here losing one spade and two hearts.

Always pause to consider potential dangers.