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Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

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ON THE COVER The Pipkin family holds signs honoring Oswego booster Archie Pipkin, who is in the hospital battling cancer. Family members including granddaughter Janella (left), daughter-in-law Victoria, daughter Shera and son Greg (left) hold up the signs along with the rest of the crowd during a ceremony between a Hoops for Hope basketball doubleheader Jan. 28 at Oswego High School. Archie’s grandson Elliot Pipkin is a starting senior on the Panther boys basketball team.

See more photos on page 7.

Photo by Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Slaying under investigation Oswego man found shot to death in car in Naperville school parking lot OSWEGO LEDGER Police are continuing their investigation into the killing of an Oswego man in the parking lot of a Naperville school Friday evening.

According to a news release from Naperville police, officers were called at 7:19 p.m. after Matthew Lange, 37, was found in a vehicle with the windows broken out at Thomas Scullen Middle School, 2815 Mistflower Lane, Naperville.

Lange was taken to Edward Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office reported Lange died of multiple gun-

shot wounds.

According to the police news release, the incident did not involve Scullen Middle School.

Scullen Principal Jim Seput said in a statement that two outside organizations had rented building space for activities Friday evening and one after-school club had activities that afternoon.

Lange was an assistant psychology professor at Lewis University’s main campus in Romeoville. According to the school’s website, Lange attended Aurora and Benedictine universities before receiving his doctorate from Northern Illinois University in 2015.

Submit tips Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 630420-6666 or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 630-420-6006. Crime Stoppers offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

“On behalf of Lewis University, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy and prayerful consolation to the family and friends of Matthew Lange,” University President David Livingston stated Sunday on Twitter.

The investigation is ongoing and does not appear to be a random act, according to Naperville police, meaning there is no apparent threat to the public.

Hultgren: Refugee order ‘overly broad’ SHAW MEDIA U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, released a statement Monday afternoon regarding President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order issued Friday.

The order suspended entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely, and blocked entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries: Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Green card holders from those countries were also prohibited from re-entering the United States.

The order set off a wave of protests at airports across the country, including at Chicago’s O’Hare international airport.

In his statement, Hultgren said of the Trump order: “Our nation has a strong and principled tradition as a

beacon of hope for the vulnerable and oppressed. Given the nature of the threats we face in the 21st century, I believe it is prudent to once again review and strengthen our visa screening processes to ensure those we let into our country have American interests at heart. I believe we can and must continue to strive for that balance of compasRandy sion and security.

Hultgren “I have consistently fought for strengthening our security policies. I believe that the vetting within the refugee program is already extensive and thorough – it is currently the most difficult and lengthy process to get into the United States, typically taking 18 months or more for a vulnerable family to survive while they wait approval to enter our country. I expect the rigor of the vetting process to be confirmed during the 120-day review

of our current visa policies regarding refugees. I also urge recommendations that will increase collaboration and the sharing of information between our international partners, federal law enforcement agencies and local communities.

“Unfortunately, the president’s executive order is overly broad and its interpretation has been inconsistent and confused. This has led to unintended consequences, like the barring of legal permanent residents and the rejection of Syrian Christians at the airport, a religious minority that was supposed to be protected by the executive order.

“Keeping America first means keeping our principles first – both compassion and security. To remain the world’s shining city on a hill and beacon of hope to many, we should have our arms open to those who are fleeing oppression and seeking safety, not turning them away at the door.”

Building, Yorkville.

Tuesday, 6 p.m.: Oswego Village Board Committee of the Whole, Oswego Village Hall.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Oswego Village Board,

Oswego Village Hall.

Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Montgomery Beautification Committee, Montgomery Village Hall.

Thursday, 7 p.m.: Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission, Oswego Village Hall.

CIVIC MEETINGS WEEK OF FEB. 6-10 Tuesday, 6 p.m.: Kendall County Board, County Office Building, Yorkville.

Tuesday, 6 p.m.: Kendall County Board Forest Preserve Commission, County Office

WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW: Get local news sent right to you. Sign up for KendallCountyNow.com text alerts at shawurl.com/kcntexts. Message and data rates may apply.

Wintery mix Tues day coul impact K d en http://sh dall County: awurl.com /2ft1

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com Residents will get a chance next Tuesday to see Kendall County’s plans to extend Collins Road from Grove Road to Route 71 in Oswego, although the project may not be constructed for years.

A public open house is set for 5 to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Oswego High School cafeteria, 4250 Route 71 in Oswego, to discuss the proposed improvements and project schedule, and to get public comments on the project.

The meeting is part of the phase one engineering study for the Collins Road project, which would extend the road from Grove Road to Minkler Road and on to Route 71.

The meeting will be an informal, open house meeting including exhibits on display and representatives from the Kendall County Highway Department and its consultants answering questions.

Written comments on the project can be completed at the public meeting or mailed to the highway department no later than Tuesday, Feb. 21. The comments can be mailed to Fran Klaas, P.E., Kendall County Engineer, Kendall County Highway Department, 6780 Ill. Route 47, Yorkville, IL 60560.

Klaas said funds have been programmed for both the first and second phases of the project, but not for construction.

“It’s a long-term project,” he said. “We are in the middle of phase one engineering right now, which is being paid for by the county. And we do have phase

two engineering monies programmed in our fiveyear plan, and we have zero construction dollars programmed in our five-year plan. So I think we’re a few years out.”

Klaas said the County Board chairman believes it’s a “high priority project” but said it’s an expensive project and the county “just can’t fit the dollars into our five-year plan right now.”

“There are also some land acquisition issues,” he said. “We are hoping that the village [of Oswego] will assist in acquiring necessary rights-of-way, because they’re dealing with developers and property owners that will be in the village at some point.”

Klaas said there will also be “unique challenges” to the project, including constructing a bridge over Morgan Creek.

Sex assault, social media use discussed at forum

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com

Kristyn Chmielewski Oswego East High School liaison officer “So what we don’t talk a whole lot about is stranger danger,” she said.

“What we do talk about is the fact that, most of the time when a child is sexually assaulted, they can name the offender. About 40 percent of the time, the person who has hurt the child sexually is actually a family member. We know that most offenders are male, most of them are or have been married, and most of them identify as heterosexual, even those who [assault] young boys.”

Mutual Ground prevention educator Jennifer King said sexual harassment is discussed in the education programs of middle school students, and that such harassment is “not about attraction, it’s about power, and it’s similar to bullying.”

As students get older, King said they talk more about the sexual assault laws

ings can impact their future. Potential employers may investigate their social media presence, she said.

She said parents should keep an eye on their kids’ social media presence, and let them know that they are protecting them as parents. London said parents should also model good behavior when they are online.

Oswego High School Liaison Officer Keith Wilson and Oswego East High School Liaison Officer Kristyn Chmielewski presented information about what they see in the schools.

Wilson said the officers deal with truancy, fighting, social media threats, and other issues.

“We have an open door policy with the students,” he said.

He said they meet with the students regularly, talk to them during classes and let them know they are there: “We want to get to know the students that we’re going to see on a daily basis. We see them in the hallways, and we try to establish a rapport with them.”

Chmielewski said parents need to keep a close eye on their kids’ social media accounts.

“Just watch the social media accounts, watch to see what your kids are posting, see what their friends are posting,” she said. “If you see some stuff that’s a little hinky, talk to your kids about it.”

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in various states. She said parents and students need to investigate sex assault reporting policies when they look at colleges. King said a lot of colleges “aren’t doing a great job of protecting their students.”

“So it’s a good idea when you’re going on those visits just to kind of find out, how do they handle things,” she said. “What are the laws? Because the laws are different in each state as far as how colleges have to handle sexual assault.”

Dr. Lorna London, a psychologist based in Naperville, discussed the use of social media by youth and how it impacts their lives.

“They’re doing so much that we can’t always see,” she said.

London said kids “are not miniature adults.” Their brains are not yet fully formed, and they don’t always consider the consequences of their actions.

“They’re very much in the moment, and it’s very much about ‘me,’” she said.

London said that social media isn’t all bad, as it has been shown to help introverted teens, for example, socialize with others or be more bold with a screen as a safety net. Social media can also provide tools for learning, she said.

However, London said parents should remind their kids that, for example, Facebook posts aren’t always private, and that their social media post-

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Sexual assault and social media use by teens were just two of the topics at a presentation at Oswego High School Monday evening.

The presentation included information from Mutual Ground, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the district’s two high school resource officers from the Oswego Police Department.

A state law known as Emily’s Law requires school districts to provide sex abuse prevention education curriculum and requires educators to be trained on the prevention of child sexual abuse.

Rhonda Annala, Mutual Ground’s prevention education coordinator, said educators from Mutual Ground give age-appropriate prevention education to the district’s students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Annala said Mutual Ground has been a partner with District 308 for about 25 years.

She said sexual abuse crosses all demographic boundaries.

“It doesn’t matter how much money you make, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, where you go to church,” she said. “None of that matters. It crosses every single solitary boundary.”

Annala explained that 93 percent of sex assault victims under the age of 18 can name their accuser.

“Just watch the social media accounts, watch to see what your kids are posting, see what their friends are posting. If you see some stuff that’s a little hinky, talk to your kids about it.”

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LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Open house set on Collins Road extension

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

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OPINIONS OUR VIEW

Singing same old tune on school funding This past week School District 308 announced that it is facing a $7.4 million deficit, which will increase to more than $13 million next year without spending cuts or debt relief of some kind. Financial projections also show District 308 revenues staying flat in the future due to inequities in the state funding formula.

The district currently receives about 39 percent of its revenues from the state, with almost all of the rest coming from local property taxpayers.

In a press release, School Board President Matt Bauman cautioned parents and other district residents that the district’s financial condition may not be resolved with budget cuts alone. He said, “... together with the board, the district, and the community, we’re going to have to decide: Is it all going to be reductions, or is the option going to be to have an operating tax rate referendum?”

If the district’s precarious financial position sounds familiar to longtime area residents, it should.

Beginning in the late 1970s, the district found itself in almost exactly the same financial position. Due to

rising operational costs and the state’s failure to take on the “primary responsibility” of paying for local schools as required in the state constitution, school administrators and the board of education sought passage of a referendum in 1981 to boost the property tax levy rate for the district’s education fund.

When that referendum failed by a narrow margin, administrators and the board imposed a series of controversial program and staff cuts. After a series of failures at the ballot box, the district was finally able to pass its referendum in 1985.

While school officials and concerned parents worked in the early 1980s to pass their referendum, many also joined with representatives from other school districts across the state in lobbying lawmakers in Springfield to change the state’s school funding formula. The goal then was to persuade lawmakers to revise the state’s school funding formula so that the state and not local property taxpayers would pick up the majority of the cost of paying for local schools.

Very unfortunately for today’s property taxpay-

ers, those efforts and others put forward in the 1980s and 1990s to shift the primary source of school funding away from the property tax went nowhere. As a result, school districts across the state have continued to rely on property taxes as their chief source of funding. That is why property taxes in high growth communities like School District 308 have grown to the point where they are now among the very highest in the nation.

Meanwhile, the pols in Springfield remain unable and/or unwilling to reach any kind of consensus on how to change or reform school funding. That leaves today’s School District 308 Board members and administrators – just like their predecessors more than three decades ago – staring at a budget deficit and pondering the possibility of asking district residents to pass a referendum to further increase their already astronomically high property taxes.

When it comes to school funding reform in Illinois, the old song remains sadly the same thanks to three decades of political inertia in Springfield.

Exploring I&M Canal’s brief, but important, career From the earliest times, farmers worried about getting their crops to market. But during most of man’s history, it wasn’t all that big a worry, since the average farmer grew just about enough to feed his own family.

But in the 19th century, agriculture began to quickly advance. Farmers were finally able to grow enough food to feed several people besides their own families, thanks to improved varieties of grain and livestock, using more scientific ways of approaching farming itself, and mechanization.

By the time the first permanent American settlers arrived in the Fox Valley, American farming was well on its way to becoming the world leader it is today. But there was still that nagging problem: How to get crops to market. In some areas, it was solved by turning corn, barley and other grain into whiskey and other such products.

Several bushels of grain could thus be compressed into a single keg of a valuable, easily transportable product.

But people could only drink so much – man does not live by whiskey alone (even single malt). Besides, there was a growing market for crops like wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley and all the other grains grown on the Illinois prairie, along with the pork, beef and other meats local farmers produced.

At first, farmers took their produce to Chicago, where it was loaded on sail and steam ships for transport east, or hauled it south to Ottawa, where it could be loaded aboard steamboats,

REFLECTIONS Roger Matile flatboats and barges for transport down the Mississippi. Cattle and hog drives from the Fox Valley into Chicago were common until railroads were built west of the city in the mid-1800s.

But overland transport was both labor and time intensive.

In the East, a canal-building frenzy had swept the nation in the early 1800s.

When New York State’s Erie Canal opened in 1825, it became an immediate financial success. In 1829, Illinois officials decided a canal connecting Lake Michigan with the headwaters of navigation on the Illinois River would fuel a similar economic boom.

It was not a new idea. Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette both suggested in their accounts of their epic 1673 voyage of discovery through the heart of today’s Midwest that Lake Michigan could easily be connected to the Illinois-Mississippi river system and the Gulf of Mexico.

While it did not prove quite as easy as Jolliet and Marquette believed, a canal was entirely feasible. The idea had received official U.S. blessing when an article was inserted in the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, formalizing the first cession of land by local Indian tribes with an aim towards building a canal.

In the subsequent Treaty of 1816, the

aqueducts were built to carry the canal tribes ceded a strip of land six miles across streams whose beds were too wide on either side of a line running low to cross at grade level. The longest down the middle of the Chicago, Des aqueduct still stands (in fact it was Plaines and Illinois rivers. recently restored) in Ottawa, where a After a survey was completed in 400-foot span carries the canal across 1824, it wasn’t until 1832 the map of the Fox River on its way to Lock 15 on the route was published. And it took the Illinois River at LaSalle. several more years before construction began. The Panic of 1837 halted The canal finally opened in 1848, construction, bankrupted thousands of and became a mighty engine that lifted canal speculators, destroyed the state’s the Midwest’s economy for the next decade. Unfortunately for the I&M, financial system, and, tangentially, railroads were developing at the same resulted in the formation of Kendall time, with the first rail line laid paralCounty in 1841. But that’s a story for leling the canal route in 1854, just six another time.

As originally planned, the canal was years after the I&M opened.

The canal opened the Illinois grain to have been dug at lake level from the and livestock market to the rest of the Chicago River through the 8-foot-high world. But it was a two-way street, and ridge that divides the Lake Michigan northbound cotton from southern planand Illinois–Mississippi river watersheds. However, it was quickly detertations passed southbound shipments mined the ridge was composed of hard of white pine from Michigan and limestone, so an unplanned lock and Wisconsin, assuring Chicago would pumping station – the Santa Fe Slip – become the center of Midwestern commerce even before the railroad era. had to be built just seven miles from The easy transport of crops to the canal’s start on the Chicago River. distant markets meant the price of From the slip, the canal crossed 30 corn and wheat in Eastern markets miles of prairie at a slight gradient dropped, encouraging more farmers to Lock Number I at Lockport, where to plant more crops. Technology was a 150-foot drop to the Illinois River refined, and land grant colleges began began. In all, 16 “pound” locks (so named because they impounded water to make agriculture ever more efficient and productive. Today, the I&M is between two lock gates) were built. largely deserted, but as a reminder of Since lake water could not be used how our region was built, it is a historto feed the canal, dams were built on ic monument of the first order. the Fox River and AuSable Creek to provide feeders for the canal.

• Looking for more local history?

Finally, in one of the most interesting engineering solutions, four Visit historyonthefox.wordpress.com.

FORUM

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It’s time to prepare the 2017/18 budget for the village of Oswego. Each year the board and staff work diligently to reduce costs while maintaining high levels of service for our residents. One of the most successful approaches is to pool resources and share services with other government and non-governmental organizations. This type of cooperation eliminates service area duplication while allocating our resources wisely and effectively.

Oswego is leading the way in resource sharing and we’re spreading the savings on to our residents and neighboring communities, as well. This year we will be entering into two unique agreements with the city of Yorkville.

Both communities were searching for an information technology provider and our leaders decided to tackle this together. A second opportunity quickly followed, and we are about to hire a shared staff position for purchasing.

We anticipate this staff addition will actually save us money by finding the best prices for purchases and completing time-consuming paperwork, thus freeing up department head time currently spent on these tasks. Both

VIEWS Gail Johnson communities are gaining services, recognizing efficiencies and saving money on a variety of levels.

Earlier this year the village of Montgomery partnered with us for road de-icing. Oswego produces the liquids for Montgomery to put on their roads for deicing; in return Montgomery applies the liquids to select Oswego roads. We have an agreement with Oswego Township to maintain certain segments of each other’s roads to improve efficiencies and ultimately, safety. Additionally, Oswego, Montgomery, and Yorkville vehicle managers meet regularly to share ideas about standardizing equipment and vehicles for future sharing.

These are not new concepts. We share resources and services with other governmental agencies, as well. Our police department partners with others for tactical response, critical incident and firearms training. When com-

bined training takes place, we not only realize cost savings, more importantly, we have the opportunity to learn from others – something that is invaluable at this level. Our new police facility will have a training center that will allow for joint use by outside agencies – making us all better equipped to handle emergencies and keep residents safe.

Last year we partnered with Illinois Department of Transportation to construct bike paths and sidewalks along Route 71 as part of the state’s project so that they were completed simultaneously with the road project – saving dollars, time and construction frustration.

The Oswegoland Park District and School District 308 officials participated in a committee to establish a traffic calming policy for the village. We have long supported the Oswego Senior Center and Kendall Area Transit, both valuable service providers to our community. These agencies use our dollars to provide extensive, essential, and otherwise absent amenities to our residents.

And this is only a portion of our total list. At last count, there were more

than 30 such projects. We will continue to explore future opportunities for resource sharing. The largest and most complex initiative will undoubtedly be a joint drinking water facility to serve Oswego, Montgomery and Yorkville residents in the future. As I’ve said before, infrastructure isn’t sexy, but it’s the most important planning we do in municipal government. A sustainable water supply is crucial to our way of life.

I specifically thank Montgomery Village President Brolley and Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski and their board/ councils for the commitment to share services across our municipalities. We all recognize that together our impact is greater and outcomes are smarter; yet our individual identities as Montgomery, Oswego and Yorkville remain vital and treasured.

Why do we do all of this? To improve services, find efficiencies, and stretch resources; allowing us to do more with what we have to serve our residents at an amazing level.

• Gail Johnson is the Oswego village president.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ‘Alternative facts’

Kendall County Community Food Pantry that allowed us the use of their space and all of the volunteers that helped this year.

A special thank you to the schools, churches and businesses that collected toys, and for the groups of people that helped on our distribution day. Thank you to the Record and the Ledger for helping spread the word. The Yorkville Congregational Church, Advanced Physical Medicine, Trinity United Methodist Church, Club 47, Bristol Grade School, Yorkville Middle School, Heartland George Hayner School, Grande Reserve, Autumn Creek, Montgomery Yorkville Intermediate School, Bristol Bay, all in Yorkville. Keith’s Car Care, Jr. Women’s Club sends thanks South Point, Prairie Point, Little White To the Editor: On behalf of the Yorkville Junior Wom- School Museum, Civic Center, Boulder Point, St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Prairie en’s Club, I would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who participated Point School, District 308, all of Oswego.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Plano, Cub in some way with our Club’s 24th year Scout Pack 350, St. Patrick’s Religious of Operation Santa Toy Drive. We were Education and Parish families, YPAC, YHS able to provide just over 1,100 children RHO KAPPA, YHS Cross Country Team, in need in Kendall County with toys for Christmas who may have otherwise gone YHS Boys and Girls Soccer Teams and all of their coaches, Wheatland Title, Amerwithout. ican Legion Post 489, Char Madura and The YJWC relies on the help and conthe Bunco girls, The “Golden Girls and tributions of our community every year to pull this program off. Thank you to the Guys,” 7-11 of Yorkville, Dana Wood and To the Editor: Once again we’ve been reminded (by President Trump) that there was massive voter fraud in the recent presidential election. Using the new catch phrase coined by the Trump administration, “alternative facts,” maybe the voter fraud was done by Trump voters and not Clinton’s. It’s something to think about.

By the way, the Russian government has been using “alternative facts” for decades. Just check recent history books.

family, Rosie Ralston, Lula Roe, Brendan and Josh Reifsteck, and to anyone that dropped a toy off to the Food Pantry or any of the drop off locations. And to any of the Junior members past or present that came and helped.

Thank you to all – I know that this is a busy time for students and families and we appreciate the time you took out of your busy schedule to help with this.

If I have missed anyone, I am sorry for the oversight, we really do rely on many people to help us with this program and we could not do it without any of you.

Thank you.

Chicago they play catch and release just like a conscientious fisherman releases a fish to strike again another day.

It is illegal for protest demonstrators to damage property or assault someone.

Too often, however, liberal demonstrations turn violent. What good is a law if it is not enforced? What good is a law if it only applies to conservatives? One half of the country follows the law while the other half exploits it. What happens if/ when the conservatives stop playing that game?

The current law that the liberals find objectionable has to do with immigration. So, they set up Sanctuary Cities, an Teresa Wedeen and Kayla Shick idea right out of the Bible that they misinOperation Santa Co-Chairs terpret to suit their agenda. Americans Yorkville are not against immigration. They are against unfair, dishonest and out-ofLiberals vs. law control immigration. Should the feds To the Editor: What is it with liberals and the law? On withhold funding for Sanctuary Cites? Of course they should. It is a no-brainer. The the one hand, they push for additional laws to solve problems. Take gun control, liberals ought to understand this. That’s what they did to force their liberal ideas for instance. The liberals can’t get into our schools and across our society. enough gun control laws on the books.

How much better to withhold funding to It is already illegal for a felon to own a gun. It is illegal to misuse a gun ... like for help gain control of our border. instance to shoot someone or commit an Rod Beary armed robbery. But what do they do? In Oswego

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

Oswego leads way in sharing resources with neighbors

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

| LOCAL NEWS

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Economic development Reward increased for any director says library is tips on memorial vandalism selling point for Oswego OSWEGO LEDGER

By LYLE R. ROLFE news@kendallcountynow.com Corinna J. Cole, economic development director for the village of Oswego since October, recently met with Oswego Public Library District Board members to tell them what her new job entails.

Cole said she met first with library director Sarah Skilton to discuss collaboration between the two public bodies.

Cole said she became aware that there is a huge focus on Oswego’s downtown along with bringing more vitality and offerings to the village and surrounding area. She referred to the downtown as a “real gem” for the area.

“I’m looking at this as part of my job to see what assets are here. And one of them that just stood out right away was the library,” she said. “With me being economic development director, I am focused on business and economic opportunity for the businesses and people here in Oswego.”

“There’s a lot of exciting potential about how we can work together to offer the community and the downtown in terms of support,” she said.

She said she met with Terry Tamblyn, a library board member, at a recent luncheon at the Naperville Public Library. The library is a co-working site for entrepreneurs, she said.

Cole noted that Skilton has been doing research on other entrepreneurship and small businesses and the programs offered by various public libraries in the Chicago area.

She said they are looking to see what’s right for Oswego which might include different programs and databases that can help the business

community, retailers and other service-based industries find their customer markets. She said her plans also include bringing officials of businesses and entrepreneurs to speak at economic development meetings.

Cole said that before she was hired, she had to show her prospective bosses how she would sell Oswego.

“So I walked around the downtown and felt that the library is a hugely important anchor to the downtown Corinna and a pillar to the comJ. Cole munity. It’s free, it’s beautiful and people are always going there,” she added.

She noted that Hudson Crossing Park also is an anchor, but usually only during warmer months.

Cole said her travels also have taken her to Aurora to attend a meeting at the Women’s Business Center, where she learned they offer business-based training at no cost for area residents.

When asked what she knew about Oswego before she was hired, she said, “I knew the name Oswego and I was familiar with the Sandwich Fair.”

Cole said her family lived in Northern California until she finished high school, at which time her parents moved to St. Charles. She then attended Knox College in Galesburg and moved to New York City in 2006 and lived there until she applied for the Oswego job. After being hired, she purchased a home in Geneva.

When library board members asked what she plans to do next, she said she is working on a project plan for the area and hopes to have it complete within the next month.

Oswego police are continuing to seek tips and information regarding several incidents of vandalism in the downtown area that occurred in late December and early January.

Police said a larger reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest of those responsible for the vandalism that occurred at the Veterans Memorial, located at Main and Jefferson streets in front of the Oswego Public Library.

Police said on Jan. 3 they received a report that the back wall of the Veterans Memorial had been spray-painted. Similar reports were received

from several area businesses. Police have been following up on leads and information, but are still asking anyone who may have information to come forward.

Kendall County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward from $1,000 to $2,000 specifically for information leading to the person or persons responsible for the Veterans Memorial defacement. The increase was made possible by donations to a fund started by local residents.

If you have any information, call the Oswego Police Department at 630551-7300 or report it anonymously to Kendall County Crime Stoppers at 630-553-5999.

BRIEF Montgomery ‘Mayor on the Move’ gathering Saturday

Montgomery Village President Matt Brolley will host a “Mayor on the Move” gathering from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Grandma’s Table, 1700 Douglas Road. Coffee and donuts for this event will be provided by Grand-

ma’s Table.

Residents are invited to drop by to meet the village president on an informal basis and discuss items of concern with him. Everyone is encouraged to bring their comments, questions and ideas to the session.

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Fans of the Oswego and Yorkville high school girls and boys basketball games gathered in the Oswego High School gym Saturday evening to watch their teams compete against each other, but they were also there to help fight cancer. The games between the OHS and YHS sophomore and varsity teams were held as part of the annual Communities vs. Cancer Hoops for Hope fundraiser. Fans held up signs honoring their loved ones and cancer survivors and their families were invited to participate in a ceremony at center court in between the varsity games (pictured above). The event also featured games for kids, contests and a raffle.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

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MONTGOMERY POLICE REPORTS Fire put out on Mayfield Montgomery police responded to a large grass fire in the 2000 block of Mayfield Drive Jan. 30 at 4:20 p.m. Police said area residents reported hearing a loud noise and then observing the fire. The residents also told police they saw two male subjects running away from the blaze. The subjects had left the scene prior to the arrival of police. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, police said.

Theft arrest Montgomery police arrested Wendell Glover, no age given, of the 800 block of Victoria Drive, Montgomery, Jan. 27 at 1:38 a.m. on a charge of theft. Police said Glover allegedly took cash that was laying on a countertop at the business.

Aurora man arrested Montgomery police arrested Kalvin Greene, no age given, of the 300 block of Grant Place, Aurora, Jan. 27 at 12:26 a.m. on Mulberry Drive at Countryside Drive on a Kane County warrant for failure to appear in court on a prior home invasion charge. Police said Greene was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

DUI arrest Montgomery police arrested Evette Plant, 42, of the 2100 block of Gallant Fox Circle, Montgomery, Jan. 25 at 6:55 a.m. at Route 30 and Orchard Road. Police said they were summoned to the area on a report of a vehicle stopped in the lane of traffic with the driver slumped over the steering wheel. Police said Plant was charged with driving under the influence and cited for improper parking in the roadway.

2200 block of Rebecca Drive in Montgomery police reported.

Hit-and-run reported Montgomery police are investigating a hitand-run crash that occurred in a store parking lot in the 2000 block of Orchard Road Jan. 24 at 1:16 p.m. Police said a small red sedan struck a white Toyota and then left the scene.

Railroad Street damage Someone spray-painted several pieces of construction equipment and broke out the windows on a construction trailer in the 100 block of Railroad Street, Montgomery police were notified Jan. 25.

Orchard Road vehicle fire Montgomery police reported that the engine compartment of a white Chevy Trailblazer caught fire due to a mechanical issue Jan. 23 at 8:50 a.m. on Orchard Road at Galena Road.

Police said firefighters were summoned and put out the blaze and no one was hurt in the incident.

Mailbox damaged An unknown vehicle struck and damaged a mailbox located in the 100 block of Autumn Ridge Drive Jan. 25, Montgomery police reported.

Locks damaged A set of locks that were secured on the rear of a semi-truck parked in the 1300 block of Orchard Road were found damaged Jan. 23, village police reported.

Trespass arrest Montgomery police arrested Don Cox, 59, of the 600 block of South River Street, Aurora, on a charge of criminal trespass to property in the 1500 block of Douglas Road Jan. 24 at 7:21 p.m.

Vehicle damaged Someone broke the windows on a Jeep Cherokee while it was parked at a business in the 1500 block of Douglas Road Jan. 22, village police reported.

Vehicle stolen A 2013 Hyundai Genesis was reported stolen off the street in the 0-100 block of Red Fox Run Keys stolen in Montgomery sometime after midnight Jan. A set of keys was stolen Jan. 24 from a ve27, according to village police. hicle that was parked and left unlocked in the

Minor injuries in crash Montgomery police responded to a traffic accident at Orchard Road and Route 30 Jan.

23 at 8:29 a.m. Police said the occupants of the vehicles received minor injuries but did not require transport to the hospital. No citations were issued, according to police.

Domestic battery arrest Montgomery arrested John Rothfuss, 33, of Montgomery in the 100 block of Sherman Avenue Jan. 23 at 9:22 p.m. after he struck another member of the household. Police said Rothfuss has been charged with two counts of domestic battery.

Medications stolen Montgomery police took a report of prescription medications being stolen from a residence in the 800 block of Victoria Drive Jan. 22.

Police said the victim provided them with suspect information and they are investigating.

Hits deer on Route 31 A motorist driving a Ford Escort struck a deer while driving on Aucutt Road at Route 31 Jan. 23 at 5:38 p.m. Police said the driver and the occupants in the vehicle were not hurt and no citations were issued.

Motorist arrested Montgomery police arrested Essence Horton, no age given, of the 200 block of South Adams Street, Oswego, after stopping her vehicle on Route 30 at Goodwin Drive Jan. 28 at 9:27 p.m.

Police said Horton was charged with driving on a suspended license and ticketed for speeding.

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OSWEGO POLICE REPORTS attempted to leave the store without paying for merchandise valued at $44.97.

Retail theft arrest Oswego police arrested Jennifer M. Molitor, 27 of the 600 block of Main Street, Yorkville, on a charge of retail theft at a store in the 3000 block of Route 34 Jan. 18 at 1:45 p.m.

Police said the theft was reported to them Warrant arrest Jan. 27. Molitor was arrested in connection Oswego police arrested Bradley A. Beach, with the theft of merchandise valued at 22, of the 4000 block of Douglas Road, Oswe- $335.21 from the store. go, on an in-state warrant at the village police station Jan. 30 at noon. Police said Beach Hits deer on Route 34 later posted bond and was released pending a An Aurora resident told Oswego police that court appearance later this month. he struck a deer while driving on Route 34 near O’Brien Way Jan. 28 at 6:05 p.m. Police Warrant arrest said damage to the vehicle was estimated at Oswego police arrested Leonardo Gavena, $1,500.

41, of the 500 block of Liberty Street, Aurora, after stopping his vehicle on Route 30 and Vehicle burglary Douglas Road Jan. 27 at 12:14 a.m. Police said Property worth $700 was reported stolen Gavena was wanted on an outstanding warfrom a motor vehicle parked in the 700 block rant and charged with driving on a revoked of Norway Place in Oswego Jan. 28 at 11 p.m., license. village police reported.

Hit-and-run investigated Oswego police investigated a hit-and-run crash that occurred Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the 2800 block of Route 34. Police said damage to the victim’s vehicle was estimated in excess of $1,500.

Retail theft reported Oswego police are investigating a reported ID theft at a store in the 3000 block of Route 34 at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28.

Bogus credit card used Oswego police are investigating an incident in which someone used a fraudulent credit card to purchase numerous gift cards at a restaurant in the 1500 block of Douglas Road in the village Jan. 10. Police said the theft was discovered and reported to them Jan. 24. The total loss in the incident was $400, according to police.

Retail theft reported Oswego police are investigating a retail theft that occurred at a store in the 2300 block of Route 34 in the village Jan. 25.

Warrant arrest Oswego police arrested Ashley M. Rodriquez, 23, of the 600 block of Second Street, Aurora, Jan. 26 at 12:45 p.m on Douglas Road at Route 30 on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a prior charge.

Theft investigation Oswego police are investigating the theft of a remote control device that was left on a piece of construction equipment in the 100 block of Chapin Way overnight Jan. 24-25.

Police said the device is valued at $858.

Parked car damaged Oswego police took a report of an accident involving a car parked in the 800 bock of Preston Lane in the village Jan. 24 at 7:20 p.m. Police said damage to the vehicle was estimated at over $1,500.

Warrant arrest Oswego police arrested Nickolas A. Stanley, 30, of the 100 block of Monroe Street, North Aurora, Nov. 26 at 3:15 p.m. in the 2500 block of Route 34 on a warrant for retail theft.

Traffic violations • Devonta D. Sanders, 23, of the 100 block of North Calhoun Street, Aurora, driving on a suspended license.

• Fabian Trejo, 33, of the 200 block of North Smith Street, Aurora, driving on a suspended license, expired registration sticker and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

• Margaret J. Martin, 22, of the 500 block of Chestnut Drive, Oswego, driving on a suspended license, no insurance and disobeying a traffic control device.

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS ‘Open air sniff’ leads to arrest Kendall County sheriff’s deputies were aided by their K-9, Luke, in making an arrest in Oswego Jan. 30. Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Tabitha Kay White, 34, of the 1900 block of Garden Hills Drive, Champaign, for a speeding violation at Rt. 31 and Mill Road at 11:52 p.m. Police said a deputy had Luke conduct what they described as an “open air sniff” on White’s vehicle. Luke subsequently alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and recovered cocaine and cocaine paraphernalia. Police said they charged White with possession of a controlled substance.

Tax scam reported A Boulder Hill resident told county sheriff’s deputies Jan. 29 that she received a 2016 W2 tax form in the mail that contained her personal information from an employer she did not work for during the year. Police said an attempt to reach the business was unsuccessful.

Vehicle found damaged County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident in which someone broke the windshield and slashed all four tires on a vehicle parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Light Road in Oswego Township Jan. 24.

Juvenile suspect arrested County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 15-yearold in 100 block of Harbor Drive in Oswego Township Jan. 23 in connection with the theft

More online For more Kendall County sheriff’s reports, visit KendallCountyNow.com. of a motor vehicle stolen in Henry County.

Police said the Henry County Sheriff’s Office supplied them with suspect information and they located both the suspect and the vehicle on Harbor Drive. Police said the investigation is continuing.

Respond to domestic County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 0-100 block of Boulder Hill Pass in Boulder Hill Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. Police said a juvenile damaged a door inside the residence during the incident.

Investigate threats County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident in which an intoxicated male threatened a female employee at a business in the 1300 block of Route 30 in Oswego Township Jan. 29 at 1:19 a.m.

Boulder Hill hit-and-run County sheriff’s deputies took a report of a hit-and-run crash that occurred Jan. 29 between 6 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. in the 0-20 block of Codorus Road in Boulder Hill. Police said the victim’s vehicle was legally parked in the street at the time of the crash.

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Retail theft charge Oswego police arrested Sunday O. Ogunjimi, 30, of the 1600 block of Montgomery Road, Aurora, on a charge of retail theft at a store in the 2300 block of Route 34 in the village Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Police said Ogunjimi

Cardinal Avenue damage Someone broke out the window on a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Cardinal Avenue in Oswego, village police were notified Jan. 29.

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Arrest two in theft Oswego police arrested Michael R. Marina, 21, of Plainfield and Justin H. Rosado, 18, of Joliet on charges of retail theft at a store in the 2300 block of Route 34 in the village Jan. 28 at 9:42 a.m. Police said the suspects attempted to leave the store without paying for merchandise valued at $92.63.

Suicide prevention, depression topic at middle school

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com A group of parents gathered at Yorkville Middle School last Thursday evening for an important conversation, as one school district official put it.

The school hosted a program on youth suicide and depression presented by Northbrook-based Elyssa’s Mission. The organization was founded in 2006 by the uncle and mother of Elyssa Meyers, a New Trier sophomore who took her own life after suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in 2004.

The program was especially important because of the loss of a Yorkville Middle School student to suicide last October, organization officials said.

Elyssa’s Mission states on its website that it provides “hands-on support to area public and private schools in order to educate students, staff and parents on how to recognize and assist those teens most at-risk” of suicide.

The organization states that it has helped educate more than 100,000 students since it was founded, and conducts prevention programs in 120 Illinois middle schools and high schools.

Katie Baker, program director with Elyssa’s Mission, said the organization uses the S.O.S. or “Signs of Suicide” national program when they teach suicide prevention. She said the organization did not create the program, but that it helps schools implement the program.

Baker said the program is brought to the schools free of charge, and that they will be bringing the program to eighth-grade classrooms at Yorkville Middle School later this spring.

Melissa Molitor, a program director with the organization and a close childhood friend of Elyssa Meyers, thanked the parents for attending Thursday’s presentation.

“We want to acknowledge that this community has recently experienced a tragic loss,” she said.

“There have been other losses in this district over the years, and that’s not unlike other schools across the country. Tonight, your presence, being here, is a critical step towards prevention, and that is to become educated on the warning signs, the risk factors for depression and suicide, and learning how to talk to your child about this often taboo topic.”

Molitor said the team at Elyssa’s Mission has been working with the school for the past two months, facilitating grief groups for students affected by the loss in October.

Molitor said she was a very close friend of Elys-

Tony Scott - tscott@kendallcountynow.com

Melissa Molitor, a program director for the group Elyssa’s Mission, speaks to parents Jan. 26 at Yorkville Middle School at a program dedicated to suicide prevention. sa’s growing up. She said the girl came from a loving home and a loving family, but “faced challenges.”

Molitor said Elyssa was sexually assaulted in the fifth grade, and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

“In about seventh grade she started talking to me about these thoughts of depression and suicide,” Molitor said. “I remember specifically one day in seventh grade, we were sitting in social studies class before it started, and she started showing me cuts on her wrists, and she asked me if I would attend her funeral if she killed herself. I remember sitting there thinking, ‘What is going on? What kind of question is that? If I say yes, does that mean I’m supporting her in this decision? If I say no, am I a really bad friend?

So I kind of sat there and said ‘I can’t answer that.’”

Katie Baker, a program director with Elyssa’s Mission, said if a teen or preteen is struggling, typically their friends will know before their parents or other adults.

Baker said suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10- to 34-year-olds. There are 4,600 youth lost each year to suicide, Baker said. However, she said many deaths by accident are actually deaths by suicide, so the numbers are underreported.

Baker said four out of five people give “very clear warning signs” prior to killing themselves, and they are mostly given to friends and family.

The signs include a marked personality change, a loss in their ability to concentrate and a rapid drop in grades, and having thoughts of suicide, along with

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social isolation, increased anger and irritability.

Baker said access to lethal means, including having firearms in the home, is one of the risk factors for suicide. She said the use of firearms is the most common and most lethal way to commit suicide.

“Having a firearm in the home increases the risk of someone dying by suicide in that home, even if no one has a diagnosable mental disorder,” Baker said. “I’m always so happy to have an audience of parents, because I can’t tell you enough, if you are concerned about your child, if they are in a current mental health crises, if they have a history of mental health crises, I ask you to remove the firearm from your home. If that is not an option for you, I ask you to temporarily remove it from the home until the crisis can pass. Those are the first two best options.”

Risk factors of suicide include negative life experiences – bullying, death of a loved one, trauma, physical or sexual abuse, sexual assault; family stressors – such as divorce, financial difficulties, or a sick family member; stigma – if parents are denying treatment because they cannot admit that their child has a problem.

Another risk factor is lack of acceptance from family and peers, particularly for those students who are LGBTQ-plus, Baker said. That acronym means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and questioning, she said, and the plus “is any other title that someone would use to identify by.”

LGBTQ-plus youth are “four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers that identify as straight,” Baker said.

“When a youth who identifies as LGBTQ-plus comes from a rejecting environment – family, friends, etc. – they are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than their LGBTQ-plus peers who come from an accepting environment,” she said. “So that accepting environment is a huge protective factor.”

Baker said such rejection causes mental health issues in youth.

“What we know is that when parents alienate their child because they don’t agree with their sexual orientation or they don’t agree with the gender that the child wants to be if it’s not the gender assigned at birth, it causes extreme and dramatic mental health issues,” she said. “My action to you is, if this is you, you’re not alone. If you’re not agreeing with this and this has impacted your relationship with your child, you’re not alone. But please get some help. Get some counseling. Join a parent group for those who identify as LGBTQ and get some support.”

Those who want more information on the program can visit elyssasmission.org.

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YESTERYEAR ing to a report in the Record.

The Record offered this editorial comment: “The depression needs not to be so depressing to those who have enough to eat and a place to sleep according to Bishop Wise in a series of Lenten sermons. If this truth were believed by a larger number, we should have a finer and better community in which to live. There would be more happiness and less disappointments.”

February 1927 The Record had this editorial comment: “A great advance in the safety of the public was made last week when President Coolidge signed a law barring the shipment of ‘onehand’ guns from the mails. This will, we hope, prohibit the sale of pistols by mail order houses and at the same time prevent the acquisition of dangerous guns by irresponsible people.”

February 1917 On Feb. 7, 1917, Record editor and publisher H.R. Marshall wrote: “The government of the United States is preparing for war. A force of 500,000 men is expected to be raised to defend the coasts of the country—not for foreign invasion.”

February 1907 “The scarlet fever broke out here Thursday, though apparently not of the virulent kind,” the Record’s Oswego correspondent reported on Feb. 20, 1907. “Immediately everything was done to keep it from spreading. The houses in which any appearance of it was had were quarantined; the school was closed; no Sunday school nor other church services were held Sunday.”

February 1897 “Tobogganing was all the rage during the last week,” the Record’s Oswego correspondent wrote on Feb. 9. “There was a good natural slide down Benton Street from John Young’s, and crowds of young and old enjoyed themselves.”

“The formation of a ‘Library Association’ is now in progress and about 40 members have been signed up so far,” the Record reported from Oswego in the same week’s paper.

February 1866 The Kendall County Record reported that during the evening of Feb. 9, 1867, fire destroyed virtually the entire east side of Main Street in downtown Oswego, from Washington to Jackson streets. Burned were a watch and clock repair business on the corner followed

by Lockwood’s harness shop at 76 Main. J. D. Kennedy owned the next building at 74 Main Street, which was where the fire started due to an over-heated stove pipe, and which was occupied by Hawley’s Grocery Store with Justice of the Peace L. Fowler’s office upstairs.

Total damage to buildings and their contents was set at $12,000, of which just over $7,000 was covered by insurance.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

February 1997 Officials with Lucent Technologies announced that demolition work would begin on the shuttered Western Electric/AT&T plant along the west bank of the Fox River just south of U.S. Route 30 in Montgomery in June. AT&T had halted production at the massive plant with 469,000 square feet of floor space two years earlier.

Montgomery Village President Gary Pregel announced that a tenant had been found for a section of the old Eagle Foods store building on Montgomery Road. Pregel told the village board a furniture and floor covering store would locate in the building. The old supermarket had been vacant since 1984 when Eagle Photo provided by Little White School Museum Foods moved to a new, larger store around the When this photo was taken in February 1962, the commercial building at the southeast corner on Montgomery Road. corner of Washington Street (Route 34) and Main Street in Oswego was the location of the Kopper Kettle restaurant, at left.

February 1992 Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) February 1957 The Oswego Village Board granted pay set up picket lines at Caterpillar’s Oswego Representatives from a Chicago planning increases of 5.5 percent to the four members Township plant near Montgomery. At issue in of the village police department. The highest firm joined by members of the Oswego Plan the ongoing labor strife between the union and paid member of the department was receiving Commission unveiled the first ever comprethe heavy equipment manufacturer was a new a monthly salary of $800, the Ledger reported. hensive land use plan for the village during basic work agreement. a public meeting held in the gymnasium at The Oswego-Montgomery area was no Oswego High School (now Traughber Junior February 1967 longer immune from the influence of gang High School). The Ledger reported that many Montgomery Village Board members voted activity. Oswego Police confirmed that they unanimously to adopt a resolution urging state local organizations helped raise $2,500 to had identified “less than ten” known gang lawmakers to increase the state’s sales tax by have the plan prepared. The Ledger also members among students at Oswego High noted, “Oswego is one of the smallest, if not one half cent. The board also voted to award School. a contract to A & H Radio to install a radio and the smallest, towns in this part of the United As part of the start-up of construction in radar unit in the village’s new police squad car States to have such an official plan prepared Oswego’s new Lakeview Estates Subdivision, and ready for adoption.” at a cost of $7.50 per month. contractors for the developer installed a Oswego-Montgomery area residents new storm sewer line through the existing February 1952 spent time digging out from a record 23-inch Brookside Manor Subdivision north of Ill. Route In his weekly editorial, Ford Lippold, Ledger snowfall that fell on most of northeastern 71. Advertisements for Lakeview Estates publisher and editor, noted that Oswego, like Illinois in late January. The front page of the placed the starting prices for single family all other communities, was home to a “very Feb. 2 edition of the Ledger featured photos of homes in the development “in the $130s.” few individuals who find fault with everything East View Elementary School and the Oswego and everybody. They snipe continually at the Public Library buried in snow. In a somewhat February 1982 school board, the village board, the PTA, the Many Boulder Hill residents were upset by a related matter, the Ledger reported that 11 women’s clubs, the Lions Club, the ministers, Canada geese had been spotted in the village Montgomery Village Board vote that doubled the school teachers, the businessmen, their water rates in the unincorporated subdivision. just prior to the storm. neighbors and so on...and yet, these same Gromer’s Supermarket at the Boulder Hill During a meeting of the Boulder Hill Civic Assoindividuals never vote, never take part in civic Market was open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 ciation, Paul Schuch, Montgomery’s village affairs, and never are honest enough to do p.m., according to an advertisement in the engineer, told an estimated 100 concerned their vocalizing in the open. Yes, there are a lot Boulder Hill residents that the rate hikes were Ledger. of things that are needed to make Oswego a necessary to allow the village to maintain the better place but let’s be constructive about it February 1962 integrity of the village’s water system. and above all...let’s not stoop to sniping.”

The Oswego School District Board and the Oswegoland School Planning Committee isFebruary 1977 February 1942 sued a series of recommendations concerning The Montgomery Village Board voted unanPrompt action by the Oswego Volunteer the construction of new schools to keep pace Fire Department saved the Federated Church imously to send a letter to the West Aurora School District concerning the possible closure with the school district’s rising enrollment. (now the Church of the Good Shepherd) from of Nicholson Elementary School on North Main During a meeting at Oswego High School serious damage by fire Feb. 5, the Record (now Oswego 308 Center), the board and Street in the village. reported. Firefighters were called to the church committee received a report that indicated the at Washington (U.S. Route 34) and Madison The Boulder Hill Civic Association sent a district’s enrollment would double by 1970. letter to the Montgomery Village Board exstreets after the belfry caught fire from a spark Among the recommendations endorsed for pressing concern over the freezing of several from the church chimney. The Record reported water mains in the unincorporated subdivision further study was a plan to construct a new that little damage was done to the wood frame high school to accommodate an enrollment during a cold snap. building or a new organ which was covered by between 750 and 1,000 students. a tarpaulin.

Carr’s Department Store on Main Street in February 1972 downtown Oswego was offering shoppers February 1932 Jane Steele, an Oswego resident and bird a Valentine’s Day toy sale. All toys regularly Surveyors are making a plat of Oswego for expert, reported to the Oswego Ledger that the purposes of selecting a desirable location she had observed American bald eagles during priced at $1 were marked down to 77 cents each. for the Oswego-Naperville paved road, accorda recent visit to the Mississippi River Valley.

11

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

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BULLETIN BOARD

Highlighting students and activities in Oswego and Montgomery-area schools. Email details to news@kendallcountynow.com.

Oswego students win scholarships

Photos provided by Al Benson

Oswego East High School students Paulina Torres (left photo, center) and Amanda Rivera (right photo, center) were among 18 college and high school students named scholarship winners at the 15th annual Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board community breakfast at Gaslite Manor in Aurora Friday, Jan. 27. Also pictured with the students are Adrienne Holloway (left), AHHAB chairperson, and Robert J. O’Connor (right), Aurora mayor. Scholarship winners represented colleges and high schools in Aurora and Oswego.

ON CAMPUS

NEWS BRIEFS Love songs coming to Montgomery through musical performance on Valentine’s Day

Hilltop Gardeners Club to hear from naturalist Mark Harrington at meeting next Thursday

Singer Jenna Constable will provide musical entertainment in the board room at Montgomery Village Hall, 200 N. River St., at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. Constable will sing inspiring love songs in honor of Valentine’s Day. She will sing familiar love songs from every decade as early as the 1940s.

Constable is a vocalist who has been singing in the Chicago area for over 20 years. She has performed at Chicago’s Navy Pier, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the House of Blues. She recently sang the National Anthem at Montgomery Fest and sings in a local band called Asaph. Asaph performs at local coffeehouses and churches to help inspire and encourage people.

This free event is being offered by the village of Montgomery. There is no charge and the building is handicapped accessible.

The monthly Senior Lunch and activity will begin at 11 a.m. after the presentation. There is a $4 cost for the lunch and registration by Feb. 7 is required.

For information, call the Montgomery Village Hall at 630896-8080, ext. 9023.

The next monthly meeting of Hilltop Gardeners Garden Club will feature a program by a naturalist, Mark Harrington, who will share his passion for birds and wildlife. The meeting will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Little White School Museum, 72 Polk Street in Oswego.

Harrington is an Oswego native and retired elementary school teacher. He will share his remarkable experiences with birds and teach how to feed and attract birds year round, how to use various kinds of binoculars and how to plant with birds in mind. In addition to photos and printed materials, he will offer valuable websites, children’s literature titles and illustrations on birds.

Harrington reports for WSPY-FM and writes weekly columns in the Up and Down section of the Fox Valley Shopper.

He has led the New Year’s Day Hike in Kendall County for the past 10 years. He has trained at the Morton Arboretum outdoor education program, the Kane County naturalist program and U.S. National Park programs.

There is no cost to attend and anyone who is interested is invited. For more information, email vgierhart@aol.com.

– Oswego Ledger

Luke Moran, a 2016 Oswego High School graduate, earned a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester and a place on the President’s Honor Roll at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is studying petroleum engineering. Moran, the son of Lyn and Brian Moran of Oswego, will be will be interning with the Chevron Company in Bakersfield CA this summer as a drilling intern.

••• Oswego residents Alyssa Ferchen and Jacqueline Malatia have been named to the fall 2016 dean’s list for academic achievement at Coastal Carolina University. To qualify for the dean’s list, freshmen must earn a 3.25 grade point average, and upperclassmen must earn a 3.5 grade point average. All students must be enrolled full time.

••• Bridget M. Robinson of Oswego was honored by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for attaining a high grade point average during the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

••• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire recently announced Megan Dobbertin and Alyson Simon, both of Oswego, were named to its dean’s list for the 2016 fall semester.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL: YORKVILLE 59, OSWEGO 35

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Yorkville’s Katie Nolan got a taste of fame recently from a familiar name.

Katie Nolan.

Nolan, the host of Fox Sports 1’s “Garbage Time,” tweeted congratulations to the Foxes’ senior of the same name after she scored her 1,000th career point.

“That was pretty cool,” said Yorkville’s Nolan. “I actually knew about her already. My dad looked up my name once and she came up.

We kind of watch her stuff, but it’s really late.”

Nolan is a name that will be remembered at Yorkville for a while.

She scored 10 points with 13 rebounds in the Foxes’ 59-35 win on Saturday at Oswego in the seventh annual Communities vs. Cancer event.

Nolan, already Yorkville’s career rebounding leader, is closing in on another milestone.

With 1,024 career points she only trails Meghan Voiland (1,091) and Kelly Kramer (1,048) on the program’s career scoring leaderboard.

Leaving Yorkville on top would mean a great deal to Nolan, who came to the high school as a freshman from Cross Lutheran.

“The transition to public school was pretty intimidating,” said Nolan, a four-year starter now committed to Division II Seton Hill in Pennsylvania. “People didn’t know me, I didn’t think I would have a chance. The coaching staff is amazing. I owe it all to them for giving me a chance.”

Saturday’s game was an emotional one for Nolan and the Foxes.

Charri Trembley, the mother of Yorkville senior Ellysse Trembley, is currently fighting breast cancer. She was recognized before the game as an honorary captain. Trembley

scored 11 points and Lauren Daffenberg had 15 for the Foxes (20-1), who broke open a 23-15 halftime lead with a big third quarter.

“We just really wanted this one,” Nolan said. “It means a lot to us, especially with Ellysse’s mom having cancer. I felt like this year was super emotional. The first half we played OK, but we turned it on in the third quarter.”

Lindsey Jones scored 10 points and Kira Sneed six for Oswego. The event also held special significance to Sneed, who moved to Oswego two years ago from Chicago. Both of her parents passed away from cancer.

The Panthers (7-15) only trailed 21-15 near halftime after a basket from Angelina Schlinger, but from there went scoreless for almost five minutes during an 11-0 Yorkville run.

“The tale of our season,” Oswego coach Dave Beebe said. “We were competitive in the first half but we can’t put our head down when we make mistakes. We played a good first half against a 20-1 team and then we threw the ball over the place.”

Daffenberg hit back-to-back jumpers, Natalie Malinowski had a basket and Nolan a score during the stretch that saw Yorkville open up its lead.

Nolan picked her spots scoring, but Oswego had no answer for her on the glass.

“Especially with Lindsay [Harrison] out we have to have her stepping up the way she is,” Yorkville coach Kim Wensits said. “Katie’s been that way for four years. We have to make up the lost rebounds somehow and she’s doing a great job of it.”

Both teams are off until the weekend, but it’s a big week. Class 4A sectional seeds are released Thursday.

“I think a three or four seed, that’s what we’d like,” Wensits said. “We’ll see.”

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Oswego’s Kira Sneed (20) splits Yorkville defenders Lauren Daffenberg (left) and Lily Guerra (10) during a varsity girls basketball game at the Communities vs. Cancer event at Oswego High School on Jan. 28.

AREA ROUNDUP

Battle’s shooting pushes Wolves past Joliet Central OSWEGO LEDGER

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Oswego East: Ty Battle poured in 27 points, leading the Wolves past Joliet Central 79-23 on Jan. 27.

Amaya Johns added 19 points for Oswego East (20-3 11-0 Southwest Prairie Conference), which outscored the Steelmen 26-8 in the first quarter and never looked back. Jesinde Thomas chipped in nine points and Sydney Schultz had eight.

Oswego sophomores: The Panthers beat Plainfield East 44-42 on Jan. 27.

Julia Henrikson scored 16 points, including the fourth-quarter free throw to seal the victory. Danielle Dorilio added seven points and six rebounds,

Taylor Tarver seven points and four rebounds and Ashea Lake six points and three steals.

Samara Bosman scored 11 points for Oswego in a 39-31 loss to Plainfield Central on Jan. 24.

The Panthers previously lost to Marian Catholic 46-37 on Jan. 21. Janessa Martinez scored 11 points, and Lake and Henrikson had seven points apiece for Oswego.

GIRLS BOWLING

Oswego: The Panthers finished third in the Southwest Prairie Conference standings following the conference meet on Jan. 28 at Echo Lanes in Morris. Taylor Kies bowled a 1,297 series, good for third in the conference and

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Third-quarter dry spell costs Panthers

13

Alyssa Lang rolled a 1,220 for eighth.

Rachel Clifton bowled an 1,132 for Oswego, Megan Douglas a 967, Shannon Torrez a 943, Cynthia Memming a 399 in three games and Alicia Lautwein a 421 over three games.

On Jan. 24 Oswego bowled a 3, 905 series to top Plainfield Central in the Panther’s final dual. Kies had the high series (685) and game (268). Lang (577), Clifton (573), Memming (546), Torrez (490) and Douglas (466) rounded out Oswego’s bowlers.

Oswego junior varsity: Oswego’s JV team, fourth in the conference during the regular season, took sixth in the conference tournament. Oswego’s Theresa Ronning rolled a 496 series for third place. Brianna Ronning bowled

a 444 for 16th.

The JV team also won its final dual against Plainfield Central, led by Brianna Ronning’s 449 series. Also bowling for Oswego was Viveca Zuffante (443), Lautwein (435), Theresa Ronning (429) and Kaitlin Freundt (391).

CROSS COUNTRY

Waubonsee Community College:

Christopher Pagan, an Oswego graduate and Waubonsee’s top runner, has signed on to continue to his career at the University of Saint Francis in Joliet.

Pagan helped lead Waubonsee to two Region IV championships and two top 25 finishes at the Division I NJCAA National Championships.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

| SPORTS

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Oswego junior joins dad as conference champ

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com Jeremy Swanson seldom dusts off his senior yearbook.

He had a good excuse to do so last week.

Swanson, Oswego class of 1992, was a senior on the last Panthers wrestling team to win a conference championship.

Until last Wednesday.

When Swanson’s son, Allen, won his 145-pound match by technical fall, it clinched a dual win over Plainfield Central and a Southwest Prairie Conference championship, and broke a 25year dry spell.

“He doesn’t talk about his wrestling team often, but I think he talked about it that night for about an hour and a half,” Allen said. “It was cool to be a part of something he was a part of. He likes wrestling, and I like wrestling. It was a great experience.”

That last championship came when Oswego was still a part of the Little Seven Conference. Jeremy’s memories of the conference meet, 25 years later, are like it was yesterday.

“We won the conference meet and we didn’t have a single champion,” Jeremy

Photo provided

Pictured is the Oswego High School wrestling team, which beat Plainfield Central in a dual meet on Jan. 25 to win its first conference championship in 25 years. said. “I was a No. 1 seed and I ended up losing on a last-second reversal. I came back and won my third-place match. We had a really nice team that year.”

Dad’s emotions were just as palpable last Wednesday. Oswego led Plainfield Central 28-24 going into Allen’s match, the last of the night. He won a technical fall in 4:46.

“He said ‘I got this,’ and it was over before I knew it,” said Jeremy, who

coached several of the Panther wrestlers on Oswego’s Team No Ego wrestling club. “It was a proud moment to see that.”

Oswego had several swing matches go its way to wrap up an unbeaten conference season.

Dan Majewski notched a third-period pin at 152, and Joe Majewski rallied in the final seconds for an 11-10 decision at 195. Kevin Alvarez got a reversal with

13 seconds left for a 2-1 decision at 220.

“This group was determined to make history,” Oswego coach Andrew Cook said. “I never count these guys out of anything.”

Swanson is one of those guys.

He was a 33-match winner and a sectional qualifier last year, and has broke 30 wins again this year.

“Allen’s definitely a fierce competitor,” Cook said. “He’s a kid who can be losing and he’ll turn around and pin a kid. He had to go out there last Wednesday and he was definitely ready for that type of atmosphere and pressure.”

Swanson is one of four returning sectional qualifiers for Oswego, along with returning state qualifiers Luke Pradel, Gannon Hughes and Josh Torres. Swanson came two matches away from reaching state last year. Swanson is determined to rewrite history, starting with this Saturday’s regional meet at Lockport.

“It’s been pushing me,” Swanson said. “My motivation is to get to state and get on that podium.”

Making memories like his dad, just not saved in a physical scrapbook.

“It was cool, a good idea,” Swanson said, “but we don’t do those things anymore. They’re all online now.”

BOYS BASKETBALL: JOLIET CENTRAL 59, OSWEGO EAST 38

Harris scores 10 in return but Wolves fade in fourth

By DRAKE SKLEBA sports@kendallcountynow.com OSWEGO – On Jan. 6, Oswego East traveled to Joliet Central for a Southwest Prairie Conference battle between unbeaten SPC squads.

The Steelmen were rude hosts that night, smashing the Wolves, 59-38.

On Friday night, in front of a large contingent of Wolves’ fans at East, payback was on the minds of the Wolves.

The game also featured the return of East’s leading scorer, 6-foot-4 Stephon Harris, who had missed the last three games with an injury.

Trailing Joliet Central, 45-33, with 1:19 left, the Wolves made things inter-

esting. A Harris layup with a minute to go was followed six seconds later by an Andre Hughes steal and score. Joliet Central (16-3, 8-1), missed a pair of free throws and Harris scored again with 0:37 left, pulling the Wolves within 4539. The Steelmen again missed two free throws – they missed nine in the fourth quarter.

After extending so much energy in their comeback, however, the Wolves missed their last four shots and fell, 48-39.

Harris led East with 10 points and hauled down seven rebounds.

“We just couldn’t make any baskets, especially in the fourth quarter,” East coach Steve Szymanski said. “We

played very hard tonight and I am proud of the way we came back. It was it great to have Steph [Harris] back in the lineup. He was, of course, a little rusty after missing action but played well for us. Kijana [Caldwell] was our leader on the floor tonight and played well. Joliet Central is a great defensive team and certainly hurt us with their defense.”

East (11-8, 5-4) fell behind 6-0 and 11-3 in the first quarter before Caldwell (eight points) and Derek Dorsey each nailed a 3-pointer to pull the Wolves within 11-6 after one. Taj Oliver’s six consecutive free throws kept the Wolves within 23-17 at halftime.

With 2:58 in the third quarter, a Har-

ris layup and a Dorsey putback tied the game, 28-28. Joliet Central, behind Jose Grubbs (16 points, eight rebounds, four steals, two assists) rebounded to lead, 36-31, after three quarters.

“We played hard but we didn’t play well,” Caldwell said. “We just couldn’t make our shots. It was great to have Steph [Harris] back in the lineup. I know with him back with us in practice and our games, we will get rolling again.”

“I was a little rusty out there tonight and missed my first few shots,” Harris said. “I played well in the fourth quarter, but we just couldn’t pull the game out. We will work hard in practice and get rolling again.”

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PREP FOOTBALL

East’s Kelly-Martin signs with Iowa, is program’s 1st Power Five recruit

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com

Shaw Media file photo

“He’s maybe the person we needed to take our program to the next level.”

Kelly-Martin, who is the 16thranked senior in Illinois according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings, is one of four Iowa recruits among Illinois’ top seniors. That group is led by Edwardsville senior defensive end A.J. Epenesa, the No. 1 senior in Illinois.

To Kelly-Martin, his signature means a sense of accomplishment.

“I’ve been working my whole life for this moment,” he said. “Since day one I’ve worked as hard as I could to get a free college education.”

LeBlanc won’t be surprised if Kelly-Martin makes a big impact in

the Big Ten. “He’s got special talent,” LeBlanc said. “I think he is a guy that can get an every-down back, not just a thirddown guy. He runs between the tackles better than most people think and he fits Iowa’s system well. They’re a zone team similar to what we did this year.”

Kelly-Martin, who’s already packed on six pounds since season’s end, is ready to compete.

“You could say that’s a goal, to try to play as a freshman,” Kelly-Martin said.

“Iowa coaches made it clear that if I’m good enough to play they’ll play me. If I kill it, you’ll see me playing next year on Saturdays.”

Coming full circle to tell stories to readers Who out there still collects baseball cards?

Long before Twitter and Instagram brought our sports heroes into the palm of our hands, we met them through pieces of cardboard wrapped with a stick of bubblegum.

It’s where my love was born.

Those baseball cards I bought every week at the 7-Eleven counter told so many stories. Where my favorite player was from. What he looked like.

How old he was. And, most important to me, all those statistics permanently burned in my brain like my favorite flavor of ice cream.

I’ve grown older. I no longer collect baseball cards (do they still sell them?).

Now, it’s my turn to tell the stories.

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Joshua Welge, the new sports editor of Kendall County Record Newspapers.

Some of you already know me. Oth-

VIEWS Joshua Welge ers, like the coach who called last week asking to speak to the “sports guy” are still learning my name.

Since I first scanned the agate page for box scores, before I even read my first book, I felt a connection to sports through newspapers.

I’ve lived all over, from Pennsylvania to Connecticut to the cornfields of western Illinois to the south suburbs, Park Forest to be exact, but I feel I’ve come full circle. My father grew up just a short drive down Routes 34 and 30 in Joliet. He remembers towns like Oswego when there were more cornfields than Costcos.

I got my start writing in the city,

in college at Marquette, but I cut my teeth professionally in Dixon (some may know it as the hometown of Ronald Reagan). My writing took me to New York state, an hour from the city, and eventually back to the western suburbs of Chicago 13 years ago.

I’m still learning where all the pizza places and Paneras are in Kendall County, but in a sense I feel right at home. Newark and its stuffed gym reminds me of my salad days covering Rock Falls’ state champions in 1999.

(How do they fit all those people in a place the size of my junior high?)

Oswego East almost IS home, a stone’s throw from where I live with my wife in Aurora.

I’ve covered more big playoff basketball and football and baseball games than I can remember, but that isn’t what I love about my job.

It’s telling stories.

I’ve already shared some great ones here. Like the story of the Plano basketball player who didn’t even “know what basketball was” until a year ago. Now he’s a budding star for a conference champion. Or the Yorkville girl who was scared coming from a Lutheran grade school, and will leave her high school as one of its best girls basketball players ever.

I’ll be waiting to tell those stories, in print, on your computer or on your iPhone. Look me up on KendallCountyNow.com, or on Twitter at @KCNpreps or @jwelge96. If you’re like me, you want your scores, highlights and stories ASAP, and at your fingertips. That’s a good place to start.

Until then, it’s great meeting you.

I can’t wait to find out the next story waiting on the back of the baseball card to tell you.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Ivory Kelly-Martin’s impact at Oswego East isn’t lost on him.

He spent just one year at his home high school in District 308, but the effect of that one season is large. The Wolves went 9-2 in 2016, the most wins in program history.

“The biggest thing was just trying to bring that winning mentality and setting a path for the young kids behind me,” Kelly-Martin said. “We wanted to create a legacy.”

With a sign of a pen, that legacy continues. Kelly-Martin, who committed to Iowa in April, made it official Wednesday in joining the Hawkeyes on National Signing Day. The 5-foot11, 196-pound running back, who won two state championships at Nazareth before transferring to Oswego East in December 2015, is the first player from the Wolves’ football program to sign with a high-major Division I school.

Kelly-Martin, a Plainfield resident, went to Bednarcik and transferred to Murphy Junior High when the building opened in 2012. He came back to the district after three years at Nazareth.

“Having a guy like Ivory, it helps solidify what our program has got,”

Wolves coach Tyson LeBlanc said.

“He’s always been a District 308 kid. It gives something for the little kids, junior high kids to look up to. They know his name. It’s big for him, and it’s big for us.”

Kelly-Martin was one of seven Wolves expected to sign on Wednesday. Defensive lineman Elijah James signed with Central Michigan, defensive back Devin Aguilar with Butler, wide receiver Kijana Caldwell with Findlay, linebacker/safety Tahj Oliver with St. Xavier, linebacker/safety Noah Jackson with Dubuque and receiver/defensive Stephon Harris with Iowa Western Community College.

Oswego wide receiver Elliot Pipkin signed with St. Xavier.

Kelly-Martin made a smashing debut with the Wolves, running for 222 yards and four touchdowns against Joliet West. He led Oswego East to a 5-0 start, the best in the 12-year history of the program.

The Wolves eventually lost to defending Class 8A champion Loyola in the second round of the playoffs.

Kelly-Martin, an All-State pick, ran for 1,286 yards and 22 TDs, and caught 22 passes for 375 yards and four TDs. “He changed the dynamic of our team and our program,” LeBlanc said.

Oswego East’s Ivory Kelly-Martin, shown here on a touchdown run against Plainfield North on Sept.

23, , signed with Iowa on Wednesday. He is the Oswego East program’s first player to sign with a Power Five conference school.

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Senior signs up to be a Hawkeye

15

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017

16

SPORTS BOYS BASKETBALL: OSWEGO 49, YORKVILLE 27

FEELING THE FLOW

Jones’ hot shooting, Panthers’ defense smother Foxes

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com Jaylen Jones knows that a shooter is only as good as his assist man.

Jones, Oswego’s senior guard, was darn good Saturday.

He scored 10 of his 20 points in the first quarter, sparking the Panthers past Yorkville 49-27 in the seventh annual Communities vs. Cancer event at Oswego.

Jones hit three of Oswego’s eight 3-pointers.

“I got most of my threes from my teammates finding me when I was open,” Jones said. “I was just getting in the flow of the game.”

It didn’t take long for him to do just that.

Jones swished a 3-pointer from the left corner a minute in, then came off a screen for a second three. Jones later dropped off a slick pass to Elliott Pipkin for a layup, and knocked down a medium-range jumper. Then he stole a Yorkville pass in the backcourt and hit a short jumper to finish a first quarter that saw Oswego jump ahead 15-2.

“My confidence level felt good,” Jones said. “It definitely boosted the team. It helped us on defense, too.”

Oswego (6-13), which got seven points from Pipkin and six from Elijah Winston, definitely got a boost over the weekend.

On the heels of losses to state powers Bolingbrook and Joliet West, the Panthers bounced back to beat Plainfield East 60-44 Friday behind Jones’ 20 points.

It seemed to carry over.

“It was a much-needed weekend for us,” Oswego coach Matt Borrowman said. “What we went through last week playing two of the state’s best really helped us to see what it’s all about. The kids have been positive all the time, and that’s key.

Winning four or five games isn’t ideal, but the kids have brought it every day.”

They brought it defensively Saturday, particularly in the

“The action [Yorkville] will run with the screens, it can stress you out as a coach. I told the guys that if they’re ready to play defensively we’ll be OK, but if they’re not it will be a long night. Give our kids credit. They set the tone with their defense.”

Matt Borrowman Oswego boys basketball coach first half.

Jones’ deep 3-pointer completed an 18-1 run with Oswego ahead 21-3. Yorkville (9-9) went without a made basket until Javell Moore’s breakaway layup with 17 seconds left in the first half.

“The action [Yorkville] will run with the screens, it can stress you out as a coach,” Borrowman said. “I told the guys that if they’re ready to play defensively we’ll be OK, but if they’re not it will be a long night. Give our kids credit.

They set the tone with their defense.”

Moore scored nine points and Logan Habada added six for Yorkville. The Foxes came into the weekend riding a threegame win streak, but lost at Kaneland 43-33 Friday.

The scoring struggles continued. Yorkville missed all seven of its shot attempts in the first quarter, and it didn’t get better in the second.

“You can’t dig yourselves a hole like that against a team that’s hitting their stride right now,” Yorkville coach Mike Dunn said. “We weren’t ready to play. It’s a complete disappointment, and that’s on me.

They put us in a tough situation defensively. We already struggle to score, but their length gave us fits.”

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Oswego’s Jaylen Jones (10) makes a jump shot over Yorkville’s Jonathon Suarez during a varsity boys basketball game the Communities vs. Cancer event at Oswego High School on Jan. 28.