Lest 02 23 2017

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Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

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ON THE COVER Oswego Police Sgt. Jason Bastin tries out a bike in the showroom at Oswego Cyclery. Bastin will cycle to Washington, D.C., in May as part of the annual Police Unity Tour.

See story on page 7.

Photo provided

Trial pending on weapons charge Oswego resident also is accused of shooting at police, attacks in jail

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com A trial will soon be set for one of several charges against the man who allegedly shot at Oswego police officers and threatened a massacre in Oswego in August of 2015.

Taylor Cano was scheduled to appear before Judge Timothy McCann on Feb. 15 but was not present for his hearing. He is currently being held without bond at the Kendall County Jail in Yorkville.

Cano’s attorney, Public Defender Victoria Chuffo, as well as Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis and First Assistant State’s Attorney Nemura Pencyla appeared before McCann.

“I was advised by court security at about 8:58 this morning that Mr. Cano

had declined to be transported this morning, so they have not attempted to force him to come here this morning,” McCann told the attorneys.

Since he was taken into custody, Cano has been accused of multiple incidents involving corrections deputies, which have added to the charges he was originally jailed for. Those original charges include attempted murder. OthTaylor Cano er charges now include possession of a weapon or tool in a penal institution, aggravated battery to a peace officer, and aggravated assault of a corrections or probation officer.

During the Feb. 15 hearing, Chuffo said she had met with Cano the day before and that Cano had requested a continuance, or delay.

“He was asking that we continue the case for a few weeks,” Chuffo said.

“He’s in the process of talking with his brother and his father about the situation.”

McCann asked if he could get a trial date for the charge of possessing a weapon in jail.

“Is there a reason why we can’t get a trial date on something so we can get an end date in mind?” he said. “Because at this point we continue to languish without any real direction.”

Weis said his office was ready to proceed with a trial but that it was up to the judge.

McCann asked what date Chuffo was looking at as a next hearing date.

She said March 1.

“If I set March 1, I would tell you that on that date I will set something for trial,” he said. “You need to discuss with Mr. Cano that something is going to be set, and if he chooses to not participate on that date, then I will deem that as a waiver of his right to be present. I would prefer to have him here, of course; we’d all prefer to have him here.”

McCann set Cano’s next hearing regarding a trial for 9 a.m. March 1, with the potential for a jury setting on March 8.

Plano man killed in single-vehicle crash

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com A Plano man was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Galena and Kennedy roads early Saturday morning, Yorkville police said.

Luis Rocha, 27, of Plano was killed when his pickup truck went off the westbound lane of Galena Road, police said.

Police responded to the crash at about 5:45 a.m. Saturday, where they found Rocha’s pickup truck off the road near the southwest corner of the intersection of Galena and Kennedy.

Rocha had been ejected from the vehicle and was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police said it appeared Rocha’s truck had been traveling westbound

CIVIC MEETINGS

BRIEF

WEEK OF FEB. 27-MARCH 3 Monday, 6 p.m.: Montgomery Intergovernmental and Community Committee, Montgomery Village Hall.

Monday, 7 p.m.: Montgomery Village Board, Montgomery Village Hall.

Monday, 7 p.m.: School District 308 Board, Oswego East High School Community Room.

Monday, 7 p.m.: Kendall County Zoning Board of Appeals, County Office Building, Yorkville.

Thursday, 5 p.m.: Oswego Police Commission, Oswego Law Enforcement Center.

Thursday, 7 p.m.: Montgomery Plan Commission, Montgomery Village Hall.

Fugitive wanted on rape, kidnapping charges caught

Federal law enforcement authorities apprehended a fugitive in Oswego Feb. 8. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force took Bruno Rendina into custody in the area of Route 31 and Etsinger Road near the Oswego Village Hall, according to the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office reported that Rendina, 38, was wanted in Union County, North Carolina, on charges of

on Galena when he failed to negotiate the curve and went into the opposite lane of traffic. The vehicle then traveled in the south ditch of Galena Road for several feet before striking the roadway embankment at Galena and Kennedy and becoming airborne. The vehicle landed in a private yard, where it struck a tree, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, pending toxicology reports, police said.

second-degree kidnapping and second-degree rape.

The sheriff’s office said an investigation conducted by task force personnel with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies led to Rendina’s apprehension. Rendina had been a fugitive since Sept. 9.

“The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate fugitives hiding in Kendall County. Fugitives will be tracked down, apprehended and brought back to justice,” said County Sheriff Dwight Baird.

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.

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Attorneys argue media coverage will taint potential jury pool

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com

Thursday, February 23, 2017 *

Attorneys for the two men accused of stealing from the Kendall County Food Pantry in Yorkville told a judge Tuesday they will be asking that the case be moved out of Kendall County.

The attorneys also objected to allowing photographs and audio recordings of the court proceedings, which Judge Timothy McCann overruled.

Kenneth Spaeth, 55, the former treasurer of the pantry and husband of the pantry’s former director, Maria Spaeth, and William Crowley, 77, Maria Spaeth’s father, are accused of stealing between $150,000 and $200,000 from the pantry’s coffers, according to law enforcement sources. Both men appeared in court for the first time Tuesday morning in Yorkville.

Aurora attorney Gary Johnson represented Crowley and Naperville attorney Edward Edens represented Kenneth Spaeth during the hearing.

Representing the prosecution was Charles Colburn of the Illinois Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Special Prosecution Unit, who was assigned to the case in July by a Kendall County judge.

Edens told McCann he would be filing a request for a change of venue, and Johnson said he would be filing the same request, asking that the proceedings be held outside of Kendall County.

Johnson had filed an objection to an “extended media coverage” request from WSPY radio. The circuit’s extended media coverage policy allows for the audio recording, photography and videography of court proceedings.

The media outlet that files the request with the court is then designated as the coordinator for all media outlets who wish to use audio, photography or video.

Edens argued that such media coverage would taint the potential jury pool, and that it would impact the Spaeth children, that the situation was “very painful” to them and that such coverage would cause “damage to their psyche.” Johnson agreed with Edens and said there was “no reason” for photographs or other media recording of the case.

However, McCann disagreed, stating that the Illinois Supreme Court has determined that such media coverage should be allowed unless for a specific reason.

Johnson said Crowley’s home is in Arizona, although he has a place to stay in Illinois, and asked that Crow-

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Defense asks to move food pantry trial

3

Tony Scott - tscott@kendallcountynow.com

William Crowley (far left) and Ken Spaeth (far right) appear in Kendall County court Tuesday morning before Judge Timothy McCann.

Special prosecutor Charles Colburn has his back to the camera, and defense attorney Edward Edens is standing next to his client, Spaeth. Crowley’s attorney Gary Johnson is partially hidden. ley be allowed to travel to and from Arizona. He said his client has a March 15 court date in Arizona related to the case and is out on a $25,000 bond.

Colburn said he would be fine with booking and processing Crowley here in Kendall County, with a recognizance bond of $25,000, with the understanding that the Arizona courts would forward its bond to Kendall County.

McCann agreed on the recognizance bond, which is simply a written promise that he would appear in court in the future, and to allow Crowley to travel so he can make his Arizona court date.

A future court date for arraignment for both men was set for March 28 at 1 p.m. at the Kendall County Courthouse.

Yorkville police served a search

warrant on the pantry and a rural Yorkville residence June 1 of last year, following reports by pantry volunteers of suspicious transactions and possible theft of funds from the pantry’s accounts, according to police.

A week after the police search, Kenneth and Maria Spaeth resigned from their positions at the pantry. On June 21, Maria Spaeth was found dead in her vacation home in Lake Holiday of a prescription drug overdose, according to DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller.

A Kendall County judge appointed a special prosecutor to the case in July. State’s Attorney Eric Weis, who previously served on the pantry’s board, said he could be called as a witness in the case.

In September, the Yorkville police handed over their completed investi-

gation to Colburn.

Indictments were returned by a Kendall County grand jury in January for charges of felony theft against both men. Spaeth was arrested at his family’s home in Lake Holiday, and Crowley was arrested at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to police. Both are out on bond.

The indictments state that both Kenneth Spaeth and Crowley “knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property of Kendall County Food Pantry, being United States currency, having a total value in excess of $10,000, intending to deprive the Kendall County Food Pantry permanently of the use of the property.”

New leadership took over the pantry in August and it now has a new name, the Kendall County Community Food Pantry.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

4

OPINIONS OUR VIEW

District 308 election may prove pivotal Oswego-Montgomery area residents interested in the quality of education in School District 308 and how much they pay in property taxes each year may want to circle Tuesday, March 14, on the calendar.

That’s the day the union representing District 308 teachers, the Oswego Education Association (OEA), will host a public forum for candidates seeking election to the school district’s board of education in the April 4 local election.

The forum will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Oswego East High School, 1525 Harvey Road.

During the forum, candidates will first answer prepared questions and then field questions from those in attendance.

Those who wish to submit a question in advance of the forum can do so by emailing oea.legislative@ gmail.com.

Eight candidates are seeking election to the board. Voters will be asked to cast ballots for four

of the candidates. The candidates are: Toni Morgan, 33 Hickory Lane, Oswego; Dominick Cirone, 202 Woodford Road, Oswego; Heather Moyer, 12 Pomeroy Road, Montgomery; Brent Lightfoot, 1934 Clementi Court, Aurora; Robert Graves, 2436 Albany Court, Aurora; Matthew Bauman, 2929 Manchester Drive, Montgomery; Michael G. McDowell, 36 Afton Drive, Montgomery; Danielle Paul, 2443 Avalon Court, Aurora.

The April 4 election could very well prove pivotal for District 308.

The district is facing a $7.4 million deficit, which will increase to more than $13 million next year without spending cuts or debt relief, according to financial projections presented to the Board of Education at a meeting last month.

The same projections also showed District 308 revenues staying flat in the future due to the state’s

funding formula. District 308 receives 39 percent of its revenues from the state, according to information provided by the district, with most of the balance coming from local property taxes.

The four candidates elected to the board April 4 will have a direct say in setting policies for the district as administrators and staff seek to improve the district’s financial position.

It is entirely conceivable the next board will have to decide if the district should ask voters to pass a property tax hike referendum and/or initiative program or staff cuts to rein in the growing deficit.

To help inform district voters, we look forward to publishing profiles of the candidates in the coming weeks here in the Ledger and on our website at KendallCountyNow.com.

Now is the time for District 308 parents and all other taxpayers to take an active interest in the upcoming board election.

How the Navy names its ships – generally speaking REFLECTIONS Roger Matile If it’s snowing one day, and sunny and warm the next, it must be February in Illinois. Or, come to think about it, just about any time during these global climate change winters we’re experiencing these days.

At any rate, each February, the groundhog is rudely dumped out of his nice, warm burrow by publicity-seeking humans and sees either his shadow or a Valentine’s card, and goes back to sleep until the Ides of March. In betwixt the shadow incident and Mother Nature’s groundhog alarm clock, we usually have some very interesting weather.

But despite the bad weather we Illinoisans take for granted each February, the U.S. Postal Service attends its appointed rounds, with mail carriers braving snow, sleet, rain, crazed Congressional budget-cutters, and angry dogs to bring us dozens of increasingly desperate requests from Publisher’s Clearing House to allow the Prize Patrol to show up at our house.

If you think such contest pleas are junk mail, you’re right, but mail carriers don’t have the luxury of making qualitative decisions about which mail they will and won’t deliver.

Which is, as Martha Stewart would say, a good thing because it provides me with enough material over a month’s time to equal one column. So, with no further ado, here are a number of things I would never have found out if I hadn’t opened all the junk mail that arrived in the mailbox at the Matile Manse each and every day our mail carrier showed up: In general, the U.S. Navy now names aircraft

carriers after public officials, battleships after states, destroyers after sailors, and attack submarines for cities. It used to be that carriers were named for either historic battles (Yorktown, Lexington) or historic naval vessels (Enterprise, Hornet), battleships after states, heavy cruisers after major cities, light cruisers after minor cities, destroyers after sailors, and submarines after fish or other marine life. It sort of shows how the importance of various kinds of ships has changed over the years. By the way, the navy has no more battleships in commission.

February is the shortest month of the year, and is named for the Latin word februum, which means purification. And no, I have no idea why.

Hares are most active in the spring. Their excited behavior – thumping the ground with their powerful hind legs, and jumping up and twisting their bodies in mid-air during the spring – suggested the phrase “Mad as a March hare.” We don’t have hares around here, although they do up in the Northwoods. They’re big, too.

When autumn rolls around, we don’t go over to the rugby field on a Friday night, although history would suggest we should. From 1900 to 1924, the United States was the only double gold medalist in Olympic rugby competition. We beat the French during both the 1920 and 1924 games to win the medals.

Speaking of sports, the longest game in the history of hockey took place in March 1936, part of the Stanley Cup finals. The Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons, 1-0, in the sixth overtime period after the game had ground on for two hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds. It was 2:25 a.m. before the Red Wings won.

Although it didn’t seem to help efficient traffic management much, Washington, D.C., was one of the few cities in the world that was planned before

it was built. Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, drew up the plans for the capital city in 1791.

French. It figures.

They’re not only eager rugby players and city designers, but the French are also apparently experienced at health care. The oldest hospital still in existence is the Hôtel Dieu in Paris, founded sometime after 600 A.D. Think life ends at 75 (which I believe is the new 55)? Romanian pianist Cella Delavrancea (1887-1991) gave her last public recital at the age of 103 – and received six encores from the crowd.

The world’s oldest publisher still doing business is Cambridge University Press in England, where they’ve been cranking out books since their first title came off the press in 1584.

Neanderthal man carries that name because the first fossil of that branch of the human family was found in the Neander Gorge near Düsseldorf, Germany.

Today’s culinary tip: When cooking, a “dash” of any ingredient is considered less than 1/8 teaspoon.

Speaking of cooking, what are the differences between the various kinds of cream? Whipping cream is 30-35 percent butterfat, sour cream is about 20 percent butterfat, coffee cream is about 20 percent butterfat, and half and half is 10-12 percent butterfat. And by the way, get your milk from Guernsey cows, and you’ll be a happier camper.

It takes about 115 gallons of water to grow enough wheat for the average loaf of bread.

Vacation information tip: A cataract is a waterfall with a lot of water going over the edge, while a cascade has only a little water falling over the edge.

Beware the sneaky elephant. Because of their unique, padded feet, elephants can walk and run with surprisingly little noise.

See REFLECTIONS, page 6

FORUM

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When I review our accomplishments in Montgomery over the past year, they tend to fall within three main categories: business growth, infrastructure improvements and improved services.

Business Growth: We’ve enjoyed a great year of business growth, with the huge sugar dome project along Aucutt Road being one of the major projects.

United Sugars and American Crystal Sugar constructed a $44 million bulk sugar storage and transfer facility that can hold 60,000 metric tons of sugar.

Nexeo Solutions, a plastics company, also constructed a new facility nearby.

On the retail side, one of the highlights of the year was the new Binny’s Beverage Depot that opened in November in Ogden Hill. In addition, U-Haul purchased the Settlers Landing Shopping Center and has done major upgrades. A new multi-tenant building was also constructed on Orchard Road, Fullers Car Wash will be opening in the very near future, and we have more projects under way.

We’ve also had success in attracting new restaurants to Montgomery. First

VIEWS Matthew T. Brolley to open its doors was South Moon BBQ at Gray’s Mill in downtown Montgomery, and their delicious smoked meats have been drawing crowds ever since.

Then 9er’s Grill opened on Route 30 in the former Applebee’s building after major remodeling that also includes a huge outdoor seating area.

Most recently, Pig Dog Pub has opened on South Broadway in the former Elmer’s Doghouse. They completed extensive renovations inside and out, and offer a great dining atmosphere with a large deck overlooking the Fox River.

Infrastructure Improvements: Thanks to our citizens who approved a 1 percent infrastructure sales tax in November 2014, we were able to complete more than $1.4 million in roadway improvements during 2016, which was our first full year of receiving that additional revenue.

Our roadway improvement program focused on repaving of 3.9 miles of streets and alleys in the older section of Montgomery. We used an innovative porous asphalt to reconstruct the alleys to improve a local drainage problem that had been vexing residents for years.

We also worked with BNSF railroad to obtain long-needed repairs to the Webster Street railroad crossing and completed repairs to the Mill Street Bridge. And finally, we improved our bike path connectivity by constructing an additional segment of bike/walking path in the ComEd right-of-way on the west side of the village.

Improved Services: Meeting the needs of our residents and providing quality services is always our priority, and nothing is more critical than the water that we provide.

During the past year, we have made improvements to our water system that reduced water loss and improved water quality. We executed a village-wide leak survey and performed repairs where needed. We began feeding polyphosphate at the lime soft-

ening plant to improve water quality, and we refined our automated process for disinfection of water leaving the treatment plant.

In addition, we upgraded our snow and ice removal procedures to include anti-icing applications, which resulted in tremendous cost savings while lessening the negative environmental impacts caused by over-salting the roads. We have also collaborated with Oswego and Yorkville to share equipment and services in order to improve efficiency and save money.

And we did all this while freezing property taxes for four years in a row and offering a property tax rebate to our residents.

I will be reporting on highlights of the past year along with goals for the future in my State of the Village Address on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Montgomery Village Hall. There will be a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by the speech at 9 a.m. and everyone is cordially invited to attend.

• Matthew T. Brolley is the Montgomery village president.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Investigation needed

the months of October, November and December was $251,310 – minus $14,023.44 for meals – bringing a total Rules for election letters of $237,286.56 in revenue to the county.

There were four injuries reported during the threeLetters concerning the upcoming April 4 local election should be no more than 200 words and conform month period. fully with the requirements contained in our letters One report pertained to having urine and feces thrown policy published frequently on this page. To assure at correctional deputy. Second was while picking up fairness, letters that contain specific charges against trays, an inmate hit a deputy, knocking out a tooth. The a candidate or candidates will be considered for third incident was while picking up trays, an inmate publication through our Thursday, March 23, edition. struck a deputy. The fourth involved an inmate striking a Candidates will have an opportunity to respond to any deputy while being given shaving supplies. charges in letters published through our Thursday, The four injuries to deputies were caused by the same March 30, edition. inmate. This inmate resided in Oswego and is the man who was walking down the roads of Oswego with a rifle.

“Man accused of threatening massacre in Oswego in to the rumor mongers, and the Chatty Cathys, I put in trouble at County Jail” was the Nov. 17, 2016 article from a FOIA request to the sheriff’s office to see how much the Record’s online paper, KendallCountyNow.com. revenue this was actually generating.

I hope this information helps to dispel any rumors that First off I need to thank FOIA officer Dee Fuchs for responding to my request and fulfilling it quickly and pro- this is a bad program. An inmate is an inmate no matter fessionally. (I was very impressed.) Also a big thanks to where they came from and you will have incidents no those men and women who work in the county lockup. I matter where they are. There are procedures and protoalso had heard that the out-of-county inmates were cre- cols in place to handle inmates.

So as Sheriff Baird has found ways to utilize his facility ating havoc and injuring guards. My request was for the George Hayner and generate revenue (which goes back to the county total revenue brought in during the months of October, Montgomery November and December of 2016. I also wanted to know and not to his department), why would we question the the work comp. injuries sustained by correctional guards, genius of this program.

Sheriff’s program worth it and if the inmate(s) that created the injury were local To the Editor: Stiles Kendall County inmates, or inmates from other counties. Patrick I heard that the Kendall County Sheriff’s Department Montgomery The results were great for the taxpayers. The total was housing out-of-county inmates, and the county was revenue generated with Sheriff Baird’s program for • Continued on page 6 receiving funding for this program. So instead of listening To the Editor: I just read this morning on the Internet that a Russian spy ship is cruising off our east coast. I guess that’s a plus for the Trump White House. Now they will not be charged long-distance telephone rates to call Moscow and the Kremlin. The ship will be at least 12 miles offshore and the calls may qualify for local phone rates.

All kidding aside, it is imperative that the legislative branch vote to set up an independent investigative team of experts to uncover the degree of Russian involvement in our political campaigns and our national election this past November.

Those Americans found guilty of talking to Russian agents must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of our law, no matter who they are.

The Czech Republic has already uncovered massive Russian interference in European elections, fake news, and political interference (like Poland thinking of invading Belorussia). The Russians have done these things in the past, and they are doing them now. Wake up, America.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

Listing Montgomery’s recent accomplishments

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

| FORUM

6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

• REFLECTIONS

• Continued from page 5

separate terms, 1992-96 and 2000-04. I consistently voted for balanced budgets Schools overspending and against all spending that exceeded To the Editor: a balanced budget. I initiated action for Responding to the Ledger’s editorial on developers paying transition fees for new school funding and District 308 School schools and in 2000-02 we were able to Board President Matt Bowman’s comments operate without a deficit.

District 308 has a record of operating in in a news article that the D-308 deficit deficit year after year and blaming it on the could grow to $13 million, some historical state for not furnishing 51 percent of the facts need revisiting. revenue even though they knew they would In the late 1970s the school district was not get that amount.

Some of the fiscally in debt; however, the deficit was not solely irresponsible actions which created finandue to the state’s failure to pay its share. cial problems are: building more schools Some of the deficit was due to spending than needed and having them vacant while that exceeded known revenues. paying for bonds and upkeep; paying $5.2 In 1985 I worked with John Mihalka million for property for a third high school who chaired a citizens group and with which sits vacant; initiating non-mandated many other concerned citizens’ efforts a programs like all-day kindergarten and Dual referendum was passed to increase the Operation Fund property tax revenue. The Language at all grade levels, to name a few.

Recently the current board approved previous board had initiated a plan to pay selling $14.1 million of bonds for Working off the debt by establishing, by referenCash without voter approval, increasing dum, a working cash fund of $4 million, to the Working Cash total to $26.3 million. pay down the debt, but the newly elected The new money is to be spent on IT imboard spent the money as though revenue provements. and the debt remained. Since then two other working cash bond sales of $4 million The District 308 administration and the board are mainly responsible for the each have been made making the total working cash fund with interest more than increasing deficit due to overspending. $12.2 million but debt remains.

Leland H. Hoffer I ran for school board and served two Oswego

We can do better

To the Editor: Hello, Oswego residents: My name is Brian Thomas, and I am running for Oswego village trustee on the Republican ballot. Let me first say, that if I’m elected, there will be nobody on the village board that will be a bigger supporter of our police, firefighters, teachers, emergency responders and, of course, our military veterans than myself. Also, there will be no bigger supporter of small/big business than myself, but I will not do it on the back(s) of the resident(s) via increased taxes.

I am a conservative Republican that is for lower taxes and limited government. I am running because I believe our taxes are already too high with no end in sight.

The village board just approved $44 million for the downtown TIF district, as well as paid $1.5 million for a parking lot – also known as the old Alexander Lumber property, which will come with another tax increase.

Ladies and gentlemen, we can do better and I ask for your support and vote on April 4. If you have any questions, would like to volunteer or donate, or help in any capacity, please contact me.

Brian Thomas Oswego

Make your money work harder.

1.0

% A.P.Y.

Continued from page 4

The first modern English dictionary, Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1775, contained only about 50,000 words. Today’s average college dictionary has more than 150,000 words, and many electronic dictionaries and unabridged dictionaries have a half million words. Just for comparison’s sake, the Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words.

But the Oxford folks note it is impossible to actually count the words defined. Take “dog” for instance. Is it one word or more?

You can “dog someone’s heels,” you can “dog a hatch” on a ship, or you can pet your family dog.

If you want your own 20-volume OED set, it’s available from Amazon for $625 plus shipping.

Finally, today’s helpful tip: Hands that have been stained with a felt marker can be easily cleaned with hair spray.

• Looking for more local history? Visit http://historyonthefox.wordpress.com.

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OSWEGO LEDGER National Police Week takes place every year in Washington, D.C., to pay tribute to those in law enforcement who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Thousands of law enforcement officers and their families attend or participate in the many events leading up to Peace Officers Memorial Day on Monday, May 15.

One of the week’s events is the Police Unity Tour, which began in 1997 with the hope of raising public awareness for police officers who have died in the line of duty as well as to honor their sacrifices. Their motto, “We Ride for Those Who Died,” deeply resonates with Oswego Police Sgt. Jason Bastin, a 12-year veteran of the department and member of the Oswego Police Honor Guard.

“I have attended both state and national police memorials numerous times and participate in police funerals as part of the Oswego Police Honor Guard. I think it is important to raise awareness of the sacrifice made by fallen officers and the price that is paid by their families,” Bastin said.

This May, Bastin will join other law enforcement officers from all over the country and embark on a journey

For more information or to sponsor Sgt. Jason Bastin on the Police Unity Tour, visit https://secure.e2rm.com/ registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=3539346&langPref=en-CA#&panel1-4.

Photo provided

Oswego Police Sgt. Jason Bastin and Art Black of Oswego Cyclery check the front wheel of the bicycle. that consists of a three-day, 250-mile bicycle ride starting in Somerset, New Jersey, through Philadelphia, then Baltimore, ending in Washington, D.C. The Police Unity Tour ride has grown over the years from just 18 members in the beginning to now in-

clude nine chapters nationwide consisting of more than 2,200 members who have generated more than $20 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Additionally, due to their support, a $1.1 million restoration project that included the re-engraving, coating and sealing of the 18,983 names on the memorial has been done.

The Tour’s chapters will be starting their rides at various locations on the East Coast, but they all finish together at the nation’s capital where they are greeted by a parade of supporters including many of the family members of fallen officers. It’s a trek that takes endurance as well as public support. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $2,000. Bastin is riding with the Southern California Chapter as there are no chapters in the Midwest area.

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, will join a forum on March 3 with veterans at the American Legion Fox River hosted by the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission.

The event will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Fox River, 22 S. 2nd St., in Geneva.

The event will feature representatives from Edward Hines Jr. VA hospital and the VA Regional office (Chicago). Hultgren will address pressing issues with the VA health care system, hear directly from veterans and answer questions at the forum.

“Veterans deserve our utmost respect, and that includes making good on our promises to them,” said Hultgren. “I look forward to joining our local veterans, their families and key representatives from the VA to discuss and address ongoing issues and concerns with VA health care, disability, pensions, survivor’s benefits, job-seeking assistance and other services for veterans. Hearing directly from Illinois veterans and their families informs my work on their behalf in Congress.”

Oswego officer to join benefit ride

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Hultgren will be at veterans’ forum March 3 in Geneva

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

| LOCAL NEWS

8

Oswego OKs $10K for Beats and Eats “This is better than a billboard.

This is something that’s alive ... and brings people to the downtown.”

By STEVEN JACK news@kendallcountynow.com The village of Oswego will again contribute $10,000 to the annual downtown summer concert series Oswego Beats and Eats.

The Village Board voted 3-1 Tuesday night to approve the expenditure to help put on the free Main Street concerts that last year drew about 8,000 people downtown. Trustees Luis Perez, Karin McCarthy-Lange and Ryan Kauffman voted yes. Trustee Pam Parr voted no, while Trustees Judy Sollinger and Joe West were absent.

Before giving his approval, Trustee Perez questioned organizer Macey Brooks about ways to improve the event’s bottom line, which Brooks said showed a small loss in 2016. Brooks said while he also would like to see the events turn a profit, the main purpose of Beats and Eats is to drive local charitable donations.

In its four years, Brooks said about $10,000 in donations have been made to scholarships for local students, autism awareness and support for other charitable community events.

“We’re trying to do more than throw a party,” Brooks said.

Macey Brooks Oswego Beats and Eats organizer

“This is better than a billboard,” he said. “This is something that’s alive ... and brings people to the downtown.”

Village President Gail Johnson said given the state’s budget crisis and its impact on municipalities, the village is examining ways to make village-sponsored events more economically sustainable for the future.

Shaw Media file photo She encouraged Brooks to work The Keith Semple band played for a crowd that filled the street during Beats and Eats, with the village for ways to improve Oswego’s summer concert series on Main Street in downtown last August. profitability this year.

“We want to find ways to make this Parr said she voted no because this, but eventually we need an exit financially viable for both of us,” she told Brooks. she feels like a lot of village time and plan.”

Brooks said he’s currently in the money has been expended on this one The village’s $10,000 contribution event. is used to pay for logistic items like planning stages for this year, but he’s “Last year we spent $10,000 and fencing, staging and portable toilets. expecting a few new features at this put in over 150 man hours,” she said. Brooks said he views the funding as summer’s concerts. Beats and Eats con“That’s a lot to put toward one event. a way to spread the village’s brand certs are scheduled for Saturdays, May 27, July 29 and Aug. 26. ... I don’t mind supporting events like awareness beyond Oswego.

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Pam Woodruff (from left), Woody Woodruff, Mark Woodruff and Sunny Pohlander play a pickleball match at Renwick Park in Marengo.

Oswegoland Park District officials say pickleball is becoming increasingly popular, especially with older active adults. Like tennis, the game is played on a court, but the court is smaller and players use paddles.

By LYLE R. ROLFE news@kendallcountynow.com

Shaw Media file photo

“Pickleball has become very popular and we are getting a lot of calls for more courts.”

Grant Casleton Planning and development director, Oswegoland Park District a court similar to a tennis court.

In other business, the board authorized the installation of new air-conditioning equipment in the Oswegoland Civic Center at 5 Ashlawn Ave. in Oswego. The new equipment will replace a 40-year-old system.

Zielke told board members in a memo that the current system, which is now obsolete, cannot be repaired so it must be replaced.

The project was bid in January, but the alternate bid they were going to accept was deemed “not equal” because

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Last week, on recommendation of Cordogan Clark, the district’s architect, the board awarded the project contract to Ross Mechanical Group for $169,200. The other three bids ranged from $174,600 to $206,600.

Zielke said the budget for the project is only $88,000 because this was the best estimate they could come up with last year during the board’s budget process.

He said the project had not been designed by the architects at that time so the budget was just a guess.

He noted that board members agreed after the first bids were opened in January to postpone the Winrock Park playground project until 2018 to have the necessary funds for the new unit at the Civic Center.

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The Oswegoland Park District’s prior plan to replace two worn-out tennis courts in a Montgomery park has been replaced by a new plan to convert them into pickleball courts, according to Rick Zielke, park district director.

In a memo presented to the park district board Feb. 16, Grant Casleton, planning and development director, said the tennis courts, built in 1992 in the 17.3-acre Briarcliff Woods Park at Route 30 and Briarcliff Road, are in need of replacement.

As originally built, there were two tennis courts, side-by-side in the park.

But responding to the growing interest in pickleball, the park district previously replaced one of the tennis courts with two smaller pickleball courts.

The board accepted a bid from Evans and Son Blacktop to rebuild and convert the courts entirely for pickleball use at a cost of $68,770.

Zielke said the project requires a specialized process, which is probably why they received only two bids.

Casleton said the bid came in higher than the $60,000 that had been budgeted for redoing the tennis courts because redesigning the courts for pickleball requires more materials, labor and different methods. But he noted that they have funds available for the new courts.

“Pickleball has become very popular and we are getting a lot of calls for more courts,” Casleton said in his memo. “In January we met with a pickleball representative to get input on their needs as we designed the new courts.”

Zielke said pickleball has been around for at least 20 years, but only recently came to the Oswego-Montgomery area. He said it has become very popular with older active adults, some of whom are finding that tennis moves a bit too fast for them.

He said pickleball is played on a smaller court like tennis, but with a larger ball similar to a Wiffle Ball and a paddle rather than a racket.

“We have quite a few tennis courts, so tennis players should not have a problem finding a place to play,” he said.

The new pickleball courts will be ready for play this season.

The game was invented more than 50 years ago by residents of Bainbridge Island, Washington. They used homemade wood paddles and a Wiffle Ball larger than a tennis ball and played on

9

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Pickleball to get space at Montgomery park

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

| LOCAL NEWS

10

BRIEF

Grandparents, grandkids make lasting memories

District 308 Board candidate forum is March 14 at OEHS

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Three-year-old Adalynn Axelson of Montgomery is cheered on by her grandmother Jan Becker, also of Montgomery, while tossing bean bags into buckets during the I Love My Grandparents breakfast at Beecher Community Center in Yorkville on Saturday.

The event was organized and hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation and Senior Services.

The Oswego Education Association will host an open forum for the candidates running for the School District 308 Board of Education in the April 4 election on Tuesday, March 14, in the Oswego East High School auditorium.

The forum will begin at 7 p.m.

The candidates will answer prepared questions and will then answer questions from the community.

To submit a question in advance of the forum, email oea.legislative@gmail.com.

Eight candidates are seeking election to the board.

Voters will be asked to cast ballots for four of the candidates.

The candidates are: Toni Morgan, 33 Hickory Lane, Oswego; Dominick Cirone, 202 Woodford Road, Oswego; Heather Moyer, 12 Pomeroy Road, Montgomery; Brent Lightfoot, 1934 Clementi Court, Aurora; Robert Graves, 2436 Albany Court, Aurora; Matthew Bauman, 2929 Manchester Drive, Montgomery; Michael G. McDowell, 36 Afton Drive, Montgomery; Danielle Paul, 2443 Avalon Court, Aurora.

– Oswego Ledger

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LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Photo provided

The Oswegoland Optimist Club Essay Contest winners for 2017 are (from left) Megan Kill, first place; Julia Rhoden, second place; and Claire Berg, third place.

OSWEGO LEDGER The Oswegoland Optimist Club recently announced that Megan Kill is the first-place winner of the club’s annual Essay Contest.

Second-place honors went to Julia Rhoden, and Claire Berg earned third place.

The club sponsors the contest each year to give young people the opportunity to write their own opinions regarding the world in which they live.

The students were encouraged to contemplate the phrase “Chasing Optimism in the Face of Challenges.” Kill will now advance to the district level contest, where she will compete for a $2,500 scholarship.

The Oswegoland Optimist Club is

one of the most active civic organizations in Oswego and the surrounding communities.

The club strives to make a difference in the lives of youth, through events, programs and scholarship opportunities. Oftentimes, there is collaboration with other local nonprofit organizations to support their efforts, as well.

To experience what the club is all about, attend a dinner meeting, held the second and fourth Monday of each month at The Tap House Grill in downtown Oswego. Social hour is at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner meeting at 7 p.m.

For more information about the club, visit oswegooptimists.com or their facebook page “Oswegoland Optimist Club.”

BRIEFS Hilltop Gardeners meet March 9, will discuss container gardens

The next meeting of Hilltop Gardeners Garden Club is set for Thursday, March 9, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Joe Heidgen, owner of Shady Hill Gardens in Elburn, will teach a workshop on container gardens and spring plants.

He specializes in using familiar plants in unique ways to make any container stunning.

Meetings are held at the Little White School Museum, 72 Polk Street in Oswego. Anyone interested may attend. More information is available by calling Diane at 630-551-1970.

Oswego Lions Club to host spaghetti dinner

The Oswego Lions Club will host their spaghetti dinner this Sunday, Feb. 26, at the American Legion Post Home, 19 W. Washington St. in Oswego.

Tickets are available from any Lions Club member or can be purchased at the door the day of the event. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children.

The menu will consist of spaghetti with the Club’s special sauce, salad, bread, dessert, coffee and milk.

To find out more about the Lions Club, call Irv Collins at 630-554-3158.

– Oswego Ledger

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Optimist Club announces winners of essay contest

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OSWEGO POLICE REPORTS Two hurt in Orchard Rd. crash Oswego police responded to a two-car, head-on crash on Orchard Road between Tuscany Trail and Galena Road Feb. 14 at 4:45 p.m. Police identified the drivers of the vehicles involved in the crash as Ralph Conroy, 67, of the 1100 block of Talma Street, Aurora, and M. Eileen Walsh, 49, of the 4600 block of McLaren Drive, Oswego. Police said both drivers were injured and transported to an area hospital.

BRIEF of Sonora Road, Boulder Hill, and Todd Bishop, 53, of the 2000 block of Radcliffe Drive, Aurora, in the 30th block of Jefferson Street Feb. 18 at 2:58 a.m. Police said Mullenback was wanted on a warrant issued in Logan County, while Bishop was wanted on a Will County warrant. Police said both suspects were transported to the Kendall County Jail and were later released after posting bond.

Paraphernalia arrest Oswego police arrested Monica Under investigation Sosa-Casanova, 24, of the 1400 Oswego police are investiblock of Fairway Drive, Napergating an incident in which ville, after they stopped her vehisomeone scratched profanities cle in the 1100 block of Douglas into the paint on a vehicle parked Road Feb. 18 at 10:19 p.m. Police in a shopping center parking said Sosa-Casanova was wanted lot in the 3000 block of Route on a 2015 Kendall Count warrant 34 Feb. 12 between noon and 1 on a prior charge of possession p.m. Damage to the vehicle was of drug paraphernalia. estimated at over $500.

Vehicle damaged Locks found cut Someone broke out the winOswego police were notified dow of a car parked overnight Feb. 20 that locks were cut on in the 200 block of Waterbury several storage units located Circle Feb. 18, Oswego police in the 70th block of Stonehill reported. Damage to the vehicle Drive in the village. Police said was estimated at $300. no items were missing from the units.

Warrant arrest Oswego police arrested Jr. high incident Alexandrea M. Almodovar, 30, Oswego police are investiof the 0-100 block of Field Point gating an incident in which a Road, Boulder Hill, on an in-state student struck another student warrant in the 3500 block of at Thompson Junior High School Route 34 Feb. 15 at 5:20 p.m.

Feb. 14 at 7:41 a.m.

Window broken out Defacement report A window was broken out on a Oswego police took a report of vehicle parked on a driveway in defacement of village property the 400 block of Blue Ridge Drive on Fifth Street at Kensington Feb. 18, according to Oswego Drive Feb. 20. police. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $250.

Warrant arrests Oswego police arrested Bryan Warrant arrest Mullenback, 51, of the 60th block Oswego police arrested Kevin

A. Spencer, 36, of Chicago on an in-state warrant Feb. 19 at 4:37 p.m. on Fifth Street at Wolf’s Crossing Road.

School bus damaged The stop arm on a school bus with 30 children on board struck a light pole in the 500 block of Secretariat Lane Feb. 17 at 3:14 p.m., Oswego police reported.

Police said no one was hurt in the incident, but damage to the school bus was estimated at over $1,500.

Court date pending Oswego police arrested a 17-year-old from Aurora at Oswego East High School Feb. 13 at 12:50 p.m. on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Police said the juvenile was given a court date.

Forgery reported A 73-year-old Oswego man reported a forgery case to village police Feb. 17 at 1:50 p.m. Police said they are investigating.

Traffic citations • Tavaris M. Haril, 25, of the 2400 block of Georgetown Circle, Aurora, no valid driver’s license, speeding and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

• Mariah C. Loera, 18, of the 2000 block of Charles Lane, Aurora, no valid driver’s license and speeding.

• Marcus McKinney, 19, of Marketplace Drive, Yorkville, driving on a suspended license.

• Jonathan J. Marrero, 30, of the 200 block of Meadow View, Aurora, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

• Katarzyna Barlik, 35, of the 1500 block of Cambria Court, Joliet, driving on a revoked license.

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| LOCAL NEWS

12

630-553-7710 630-553-7710 630-553-7710

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Crime Stoppers seeks info on Harbor Drive assault

Anyone with information on this or other crimes is urged to call Kendall County sheriff’s depuKendall County ties and Oswego police officers Crime Stoppers responded on the afternoon of Feb. at 630-553-5999.

7 to a parking lot in the 100 block Callers remain of Harbor Drive in unincorporated anonymous and are Oswego Township for a report of Sketch of eligible for a reward a female that had been cut. The suspect of up to $1,000 for victim reported being cut by an information leading to the arrest of unknown subject with an unknown the offenders, police said. object. The report number for the – Oswego Ledger incident is 2017-0478.

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS Injured in hit-and-run A Boulder Hill resident, Benjamin Rivas, 40, of the 20th block of Seneca Road, was injured Feb. 18 at 3:48 p.m. when the vehicle he was driving was struck by another vehicle on Boulder Hill Pass at Circle Drive East in Boulder Hill. Police said Rivas was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, while the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash fled the scene. Police said the investigation into the crash is continuing.

Clay Court burglary County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a residential burglary that occurred in the 0-100 block of Clay Court in Boulder Hill sometime between 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 5:17 a.m. Feb. 20.

Police said deputies discovered that someone forcibly pushed open the back of a garage at the residence.

Domestic battery County sheriff’s deputies were notified Feb. 20 of a domestic battery incident that occurred Feb. 19 at a residence in the 0-100 block of Rocky Way in Boulder Hill. Police said the incident remains under investigation.

Harassment investigation County sheriff’s deputies are investi-

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Air compressor stolen A compressor was stolen from a locked container in the 9600 block of Route 34 in Bristol Township, according to the county sheriff’s office.

Police said the compressor, which is valued at more than $500, was stolen sometime between last August and Feb. 20. Police said they have identified suspects in the theft and are continuing their investigation.

Motor vehicle stolen County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle from the driveway of a residence in the 100 block of Dolores Street in Oswego Township sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Feb. 18.

Bristol arrest County sheriff’s deputies arrested Matthew Michael Gruzlewski, 39, of the 10-20 block of Division Street, Bristol, on a charge of criminal damage to property while responding • Continued on page 14

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14

Yorkville doctor getting new legal team in sex case

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com

Tony Scott - tscott@kendallcountynow.com

Dr. Haohua Yang (right, in orange jumpsuit) looks on as defense attorney Terry Ekl and Kendall County First Assistant State’s Attorney Nemura Pencyla address Judge Timothy McCann Feb. 15 in Kendall County court.

The Yorkville doctor accused of sexually abusing some of his patients is switching legal teams, he confirmed last week in court.

Dr. Haohua Yang, who lived in Naperville but practiced in Yorkville, is facing multiple counts of criminal sexual assault and sexual abuse related to accusations that he assaulted female patients at his Yorkville practice. Yang is being held without bond at the Kendall County Jail in Yorkville.

Yang appeared before Kendall County Judge Timothy McCann on Feb. 15 to confirm that Naperville attorney Terry Ekl and Chicago attorney Terry Gillespie no longer would be representing him. He has hired

attorneys Robert Motta and Jeremy Jorgenson to represent him instead. Motta and Ekl appeared with Yang in court last week.

When McCann asked Yang if the change in legal teams was at his request, Yang said, “I respect that decision.”

“It’s not my request, but I respect that,” Yang repeated.

When McCann again quizzed Yang about whether he agreed with the decision to change legal teams, Yang said he agreed.

McCann agreed on a status hearing date with the new attorneys at 9 a.m. March 10 at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville.

McCann found Yang not guilty of one of the charges on Jan. 13 following a bench trial, which is heard by the judge instead of a jury.

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS • Continued from page 12 to a report of a domestic situation at his residence Feb. 17 at 9:12 p.m. Police said Gruzlewski caused damage to a door in the incident.

Juvenile faces charges County sheriff’s deputies arrested a male juvenile while responding to a hit-and-run crash in the area of Ridge Road and Route

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By ALLISON SELK news@kendallcountynow.com

Need 2000 volunteers: read names, traffic control, patron assistance and flag assembly Resources: Event comes with a $50,000 price tag, donations welcome Community Participation: youth groups, churches, camps, scouts, daycare/preschools, school groups Fundraisers: March 31 “Salute & Boogie” at Fox Valley Kickers Club, 1015 Harvey Road, Oswego The Healing Field will be “quite the experience,” Krahn said. “It will be quite fascinating to drive down Plainfield Road and see 2,000 flags on display.”

Those who wish to sponsor a flag can purchase one for $40 and the flag will be marked with the name of the loved one, as well as catalogued, so when visiting the Healing Field, sponsors can assist patrons in finding their flag.

“Each flag will stay up until closing ceremonies and then people are free to pick up their flags on July 4,” Krahn said.

Krahn said this first started as an initiative by co-chair Herschel Luckinbill of Montgomery, who brought the Wall to West Aurora High School in Aurora in 2013. He said he and Luckinbill wanted to offer an opportunity for the veterans and residents in Kendall County and surrounding areas to experience

the power of the Vietnam Moving Wall.

“This wall offers a healing process.

When Vietnam veterans were out, it was a different time in America, and most never received the proper respect for being in the service. This wall is a draw that’s hard to explain,” Krahn said.

The wall arrives in Oswego June 29 with a procession to the grounds, and opening ceremonies and wreath laying take place June 30.

July 1, Gold Star families are asked to attend and be honored and July 2, Sunday services will be performed on the grounds. July 3, closing ceremonies will include shared fireworks with the village of Oswego.

During the entire event, volunteers will read the names of those fallen, to memorialize their sacrifice.

Those who want to find a family member, friend or fellow serviceman on the Vietnam Moving Wall will have the opportunity to work with a volunteer who can look up the name on a computer and guide them to the location.

Krahn said it takes approximately $50,000 to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall to Oswego and with help of sponsors, private donors and fundraisers, the money has been steady, but funds are still needed as well as volunteers.

Volunteer registration information can be found on Facebook at “Vietnam Wall Oswego 2017.” Information in person can be found at the Oswego Business Expo on Feb. 25 at the Oswego High School Field House.

Hispanic Heritage Board honors teacher OSWEGO LEDGER School District 308 educator Alfredo Bizzocchi won the inaugural Maria S. Merced Outstanding Teacher award at the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board 15th community breakfast at Gaslite Manor in Aurora on Jan. 27.

In his second year at Boulder Hill Elementary School, Bizzocchi teaches first grade in District 308’s dual-language program.

After earning a social studies teaching degree, he taught in his native Argentina before moving to the U.S. “I always enjoyed teaching because I feel that I could motivate, inspire, and engage students,” Bizzocchi said. “When I moved to the United States with my family 16 years ago I continued teaching as a bilingual educator in second and third grades. I have passion for teaching, high expectations for my students, and truly believe all children can learn and be successful. My hope is to spark in my students love for learning and help them become well-rounded individuals.”

Photo provided by Al Benson

School District 308 educator Alfredo Bizzocchi (second from right) won the inaugural Maria S. Merced Outstanding Teacher award at the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board 15th community breakfast at Gaslite Manor in Aurora on Jan. 27. At left is Aurora Mayor Robert J. O’Connor; at right is Adrienne Holloway, breakfast emcee and AHHAB chairperson. Award sponsor Earthmover Credit Union presented a $250 replica check.

planning business awards OSWEGO LEDGER To help recognize area businesses that generously support causes that benefit the community, State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is inviting residents to submit nominations for her Good Neighbor Business Award to help showcase these local leaders.

“Our area is fortunate to be home to so many businesses that excel at giving back to those in need,” Kifowit said. “Their generosity and kindness is a testament to our community’s character and they deserve to be honored.”

Kifowit is encouraging residents to nominate businesses that either donate their time or resources to local charitable organizations or to needy families.

To reward these businesses and encourage others to take part in giving back to the community, Kifowit will review nominations and regularly present selected area businesses with her “Good Neighbor” Business Award.

Nominations will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and residents can download the Good Neighbor Business Award form from her website, ILDistrict84. com; forms also are available to pick up at the district office, located at 1677 Montgomery Road, Suite 116 in Aurora.

Kifowit will visit nominated businesses throughout the year and present them with a certificate. Past winners include Culver’s, Eagle Academy of Martial Arts and the Montgomery Goodwill.

“I encourage residents who know of a small business or restaurant that gives back to nominate them, so we can recognize their good work,” Kifowit said. “My hope is by recognizing these businesses, we can begin a movement to encourage others to give back.”

For more information or to nominate a business, contact Kifowit’s constituent service office by phone at 630-585-1308, by email at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or by visiting ILDistrict84.com.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Hundreds of volunteers will read 16 names per minute, during a one-hour shift, for 61 straight hours to read the 58,282 names of soldiers who died fighting in the Vietnam War. “This humanizes the person and sacrifice of life that was made, which is what America is all about. This is a respect thing – its very solemn; you can feel the emotion,” Vietnam Moving Wall general co-chair Dave Krahn told the School District 308 Board of Education Feb. 13.

This summer, June 29 through July 3, the Vietnam Moving Wall will set up in Oswego as a part of a joint effort between the village of Oswego, Oswegoland Park District, School District 308, Oswego Chamber of Commerce and Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club.

Krahn, who serves as park district board president, shared the history of the Vietnam Moving Wall and said it was created in 1984, is 253 feet long and has traveled to over 1,300 cities. The wall is a smaller replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The event will be located in Oswego’s Prairie Point Community Park at the intersection of Woolley Road and Plainfield Road and will include the wall, a stage, concert green, equipment display and the Healing Field filled with 2,017 sponsored U.S. flags to honor loved ones, military and personnel.

Ways to help

15

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Update given on Moving Wall Kifowit

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

| LOCAL NEWS

16

ON CAMPUS Zachary Bochenek of Oswego has been granted the Veronica Founder’s Scholarship to study Criminal Justice at Alvernia University in the fall. Bochenek is currently a senior at Aurora Central Catholic High School. To be awarded this $15,000 scholarship, the recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and minimum SAT score of 980 old or 1060 new (21 ACT). “Old” SAT scores are calculated using combined Critical Reading and Math sections. “New” SAT Scores are based on the Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing sections. Students are eligible for only one merit scholarship.

••• The following Oswego students were named to the dean’s list at Millikin University for fall 2016: Benjamin Brawner, Maya Dougherty, Katherine Meyer and Hayley Paladines. Students who attempt 12 graded credits during a fall or spring semester and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher earn dean’s list honors.

••• Oswego resident Sydney Lloyd earned received academic honors for the fall 2016 semester at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. ••• Judson University announced its new graduates during the Dec. 10 commencement exercises. William Naydenoff of Montgomery earned a Master of Arts in organizational leadership. Kate Zak of Oswego earned a Master of Education in literacy.

••• Alexandria Stewart of Oswego was named to the dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for the fall 2016 semester.

••• Marmion Academy recently announced the first semester Honor Roll for the 201617 school year. Several local residents were recognized. Montgomery residents Jason Baker and Charles Rogers earned Highest Average Award (4.5 GPA or above); Superior Awards (4.00-4.49 GPA) were earned by Montgomery residents Blaise Fata and Joshua Harris and Oswego residents Collin Gibson, Steven Malatt and Matthew Lagman; Distinguished Awards (3.50-3.99 GPA) were earned by Oswego residents Miguel Galarza, Kevin Buckley, Alexander Torres, Miles Childers, Kyle DiVerde, Joseph Leurck and Aidan Williams and Montgomery residents Samuel Ochoa, Elias Flowers and Gabriel Ybarra; Honor Awards (3.00-3.49 GPA) were earned by Oswego residents Andrew Jankowski, Nathan Callaway, Andre Cerda and Nolan Braun.

••• Aaron Hubbard of Montgomery received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Dubuque during the December commencement ceremony.

BRIEFS ••• Montgomery resident Raquel Donovan received recognition on the dean’s list for the fall semester at Bradley University.

••• Wheaton College recently recognized local students who were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2016 semester. Students honored include Kirsten Madsen of Montgomery.

••• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently announced Oswego residents Zachary Drew and Bryan Vrbenec qualified for the dean’s list for fall 2016. To qualify, a student must maintain a gradepoint average of 3.5 or better and have 12 hours calculated (B is equivalent to 3.0; A to 4.0).

••• Jessica Edwards of Montgomery along with Oswego residents Colin Page and Stephanie Prentice were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year at Illinois Wesleyan University.

••• Olivia Daylor of Oswego was named to the McKendree University dean’s list for earning a grade point average of 3.60 or higher for the fall 2016 semester.

••• Oswego residents Mark Becker, Savannah Koziol, Erin Mulvihill, Reghan Quick and Loree Thompson are among the students named to the Elmhurst College dean’s list for the fall term of the 2016 academic year. The dean’s list is comprised of students who, during the semester concerned, attained a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0.

••• Amanda Renee Hardy of Oswego was named to Baylor University’s Dean’s Academic Honor Roll for the 2016 fall semester. To be named to the dean’s list, a student must be an undergraduate with a minimum grade-point average of 3.7, while enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours.

••• The Eastern Illinois University David Coon Memorial Scholarship has been presented to Melissa Wolski of Oswego.

This award, established by the family of David Coon, is administered through the EIU Foundation and presented to an EIU student who is a special education major with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The recipient must submit an essay that illustrates how working with students with special needs has impacted their life, and how they hope to impact students with special needs through education.

Wolski, the daughter of Dave and Debbie Wolski, is a 2014 graduate of Oswego East High School. She is studying special education/early childhood special education while attending EIU. ••• The University of Wisconsin-White-

water recently announced that Oswego residents Konor Gengler, Megan Grove, Emily Arenz, Jessica James and Julia Clayton were named to the dean’s list for the 2016 fall semester. These students have demonstrated their academic abilities by receiving a grade-point average of 3.4 or above in a single semester.

••• Iowa State University recently announced students recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the fall semester 2016 dean’s list. Local students honored include Oswego residents Alec J. Bergman, Benjamin Escobar, Samantha K. Frantik, Victor M. Guerra, Christian A. Hernandez, Christopher I. Hernandez, Christian L. Hill, Hannah Marie Loeffelholz, Adam David Lowry, Annika Marie Mikkelson, Morgan Novak, Jared T. Reichardt, Thomas Cameron Roberts, Matthew David Schaschwary, Joshua Bernard Schroeder and Jakob J. Swanson.

Students named to the dean’s list must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

••• Miami University students who are ranked in the top 3 percent of undergraduate students within each division for first semester 2016-17 have been named to the president’s list recognizing academic excellence. Local students named to the president’s list include Emily Wyatt of Oswego.

••• Thomas Michael Carnaghi and Kristina Marie Klingbeil, both of Oswego, have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

••• Luke Moran of Oswego earned a 4.0 GPA for the fall 2016 semester at the University of Tulsa earning a place on the President’s Honor Roll.

••• Oswego and Montgomery residents were named to Marquette University’s fall 2016 dean’s list. Oswego students earning this honor include Gretchen Klug, Teagan Terando and Caroline Westpfahl.

Montgomery students named include Corie Cochran and Nina Doyle.

••• Oswego resident Kathryn Maher graduated magna cum laude from St. Ambrose University with a degree in exercise science.

••• Mount Mercy University recently announced that Jessica Howard of Oswego has been named to the fall 2016 dean’s list. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better, and who are graded (letter grade, not pass/fail) for six or more semester hours, are eligible for inclusion on the dean’s list.

Kiley scholarship fund benefit Friday

The Susan M. Kiley Memorial Scholarship Fund is holding a fundraiser raffle at Scoreboards Restaurant from 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday, Feb 24.

Gift cards donated by various local business and individuals will be raffled off to raise funds to support the scholarship fund.

Each year since 1989, the Kiley Fund, a division of the Oswegoland Optimist Club, awards four $1,000 scholarships to current OHS and OEHS graduates who will be attending Waubonsee Community College. Everyone is invited to join scholarship fund supporters for an evening of fun and food to benefit the scholarship program.

Oswegoland Park District seeks entries for Recycled Fashion Show

The Oswegoland Park District is encouraging aspiring artists and designers to try their hand at recycled fashion in the upcoming Project Greenway Recycled Fashion Show at 7 p.m. April 21 at the Fox Bend Golf Course in Oswego.

Go “green” with natural or recycled materials in this challenge. Repurpose discarded items into an accessory or go all out and create an outfit to walk down the “greenway” in the second annual Project Greenway Fashion Show.

A panel of judges will critique submitted pieces and award a cash prize of $100 to the top look.

Watch the show at Pearce’s Pavilion, Fox Bend Golf Course, 3516 Route 34, Oswego. The cost is $5 per person. Admission includes fashion show, People’s Choice ticket to vote for your favorite accessory, additional entertainment, and mingling with the designers.

Contact Cori Veverka at 630-554-4433 or cveverka@oswegolandpd.org for information about participating or attending the event.

– Oswego Ledger

Oswego resident receives Forward, Together Forward Scholarship

DeKALB – University officials have named the 2017-18 Forward, Together Forward Scholarship recipients, who are selected in honor of the five Northern Illinois University students who were killed Feb. 14, 2008.

The scholars are Juan Cibrian of Mapleton, a junior double-major in psychology and Spanish business and translation; Luis Flores of Oswego, a junior nursing major and family and child studies minor; Mitchell Huftalin of Rockford, a sophomore double-major in communication studies and Spanish business and translation; Zahra Muhsin of Dixon, a senior English studies major and psychology minor; and Tariana Sandkam of Buffalo Grove, a junior nursing major.

These students will be honored at a private ceremony in early March. Forward, Together Forward honors up to five students a year with $4,000 scholarships. The award was established in 2009 and is given annually to five NIU students who display strong character, compassion, ambition and community service.

– Drew Zimmerman

MEN’S BASKETBALL

GIRLS BOWLING

Tallied 208.1 average

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com

Photo provided by Waubonsee Community College Athletics

Dave Heiss emphatically makes his point to a person on the court during a recent Waubonsee Community College men’s basketball game. The longtime head coach has almost seen it all during his 32 years at Waubonsee.

By CHRIS WALKER sports@kendallcountynow.com Watching a 25-year-old lead your basketball team is a rarity in junior college basketball.

It’s just one example of how Dave Heiss has pretty much seen it all as the men’s head basketball coach at Waubonsee Community College.

Consider this – Heiss was just a 23-year-old when he began coaching the Chiefs and now he’s coaching a player who is two years older than that.

Heiss, who is in his 32nd season at the school, recently coached game No. 1,000 of his career. He won No. 600 Feb. 7 as the Chiefs outlasted Prairie State College.

“It’s a little bit hard to believe I’ve been doing this for so long,” Heiss said.

“If you told me I would’ve been here for 32 years I would’ve been willing to bet you my paycheck that it never would’ve happened. I thought I’d move up the coaching ranks and unfortunately that didn’t happen.”

That doesn’t mean Heiss isn’t happy with how things turned out for him.

He’s making a huge impact on the lives of young men both on and off the court and his teams have been quite successful.

“I came to terms with things about 15 or 20 years ago,” he said. “This is where I was meant to be and I get to make a big influence on these young men, incorporating life lessons in basketball teachings in a team environment.”

His teams have won 11 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference titles under his leadership, including most recently in 2013.

His 2008, 2010 and 2011 teams captured the Region IV Division II District B championships, which propelled them onward to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

He also was quite the player himself. He had the opportunity to play for legendary West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman before also playing at the junior college level in Wyoming. He finished up his college career with a couple seasons at Division II Bemidji State in Minnesota.

Heiss, who is also a full-time faculty member in the school’s physical education department, doesn’t expect to be coaching for too many more years.

Another legendary coach at the school, Dave Randall, retired after serving at the helm of the baseball team from 1978 until 2014. Heiss said he likely would not be around that long.

“I’m thinking it’ll be four, maybe five more years,” he said.

The impact he has made, though, will last forever.

“The neat thing that I’ve always told our players is that once you play here you become a part of the coach Heiss family,” he said. “I hear from so many of the guys that played for me 10 years ago, 20, 25 years ago. It’s a neat thing. I don’t remember all the different games. I remember some of them, but you remember those relationships over 32 years.”

DIVING

Sophomore Padlo will head to state meet for local co-op He took 5th at sectional

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com Max Padlo is about to take the plunge.

The Oswego East sophomore, a member of the Oswego-Oswego East co-op diving team, qualified for the state diving meet at last Saturday’s Neuqua Valley Sectional.

Padlo’s combined 387.25 score was the fifth-best at Neuqua, and made him an at-large qualifier for this weekend’s state meet that starts Friday at New Trier.

Padlo’s teammate, Kaku Jalen, had a qualifying score of 352.25 but didn’t advance to state. The 16 sectional champions and 32 highest scores from non-champions advance.

“Max had a pretty good meet.

He squeaked in, which I thought he would,” Oswego-Oswego East co-op diving coach Bob Provost said. “There

was a lot of good competition.”

Padlo scored well on his last three dives of the twisting variety.

“His go-tos are his twisting dives,” Provost said. “Those are the ones we knew he would score high on.”

Padlo, who comes from a gymnastics background, started working with Provost in middle school.

This season he took fifth among 34 divers at the fresh-soph level at the big Hinsdale Central Diving Invitational.

“That was a huge meet for him,” Provost said. “You can see his growth in the 14 weeks from the start of the season until now.”

Padlo’s sectional score is closer to the back of the pack among state qualifiers, but Provost views this as a good experience for this year and beyond.

“I don’t think he gets rattled,” Provost said. “When he misses a dive, it’s not by much. He’s always right there.

The way he dove at practice Monday, I have no doubt that he can go top 16 or top 12.”

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Heiss has seen it all as Waubonsee coach

Kiana Krahulik’s primary sports passion is holding a putter.

The Oswego East junior was her conference’s MVP and medalist in golf last fall. She led the Wolves’ sectional qualifying team, and did so as an individual as a sophomore.

She appears to have some skills with the bowling ball, too.

Krahulik finished 18th at the state bowling tournament this past weekend at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

Krahulik had a 12-game total of 2,497 for a 208.1 average. Teammate Samantha Perez, a senior in her third state meet, was 39th (2,367). Oswego senior Taylor Kies took 47th (2,307).

Not a bad showing for Krahulik, in only her third year bowling.

“She’s an athlete and a competitor,” Oswego East coach Jeremy Hill-

man said. “She had a great two days, 28 pins from All-State [top 12].”

Krahulik first showed up at open bowls as a freshman. By the time her first season rolled around, she was averaging 180. The rest is history.

“She was wearing house shoes and throwing house balls at those open bowls, and she kept throwing down the middle of the lane. We thought we might have something to work with,” Hillman said. “She listens and she’s adaptable.”

The weekend in Rockford didn’t quite match expectations from a team perspective.

Oswego East (5,530) was 15th in the team standings after the first day, Oswego (5,440) 16th. The top 12 advanced to Saturday’s finals. Machesney Park Harlem ended up the team champion.

“As a group we’re definitely disappointed in the outcome,” Hillman said. “We put an emphasis on spares and we didn’t live up to our end. We left a spot of spares on the deck which was the breaking point.”

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Oswego East junior Krahulik 18th at state

17

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

| SPORTS

18 BOYS BASKETBALL: PLAINFIELD SOUTH 55, OSWEGO 54

Panthers tripped up at Plainfield S. Jaylen Jones scores 29 in loss

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com

It’s a little late for a learning experience.

Oswego’s youngsters, two sophomores starting and a third coming off the bench, seemed to have it figured out.

The Panthers had won five of seven. Even in the losses, the Panthers made strides against Minooka and Joliet Central.

They took a step back Friday.

Conference cellar dweller Plainfield South hung with Oswego all night, and made it hurt at the end. Sophomore guard Anthony Marmolejo threw in a 15-foot jumper on a busted play with nine seconds left to beat the Panthers 55-54 in Plainfield.

Jaylen Jones scored 29 for Oswego (9-16, 6-7 Southwest Prairie), his jumper with 31.5 seconds left giving the Panthers their last lead.

“We didn’t come ready to play,” said Jones, a senior guard. “This is a lesson for our young guys that we have to play every single team like the best team in the state.”

Plainfield South (5-22, 2-11) isn’t that, coming in with a seven-game losing streak since Jan. 16. On the Cougars’ last possession Jones knocked the ball away from Joey Saracco on the drive. Marmolejo picked up the loose change, and threw in a jumper.

“I just happened to look down and the ball was there,” Marmolejo said. “I threw it up and it went in.”

Oswego had one last chance, but Dylan Engler missed a baseline runner as time expired.

“We shouldn’t have been in that position,” Oswego coach Matt Borrowman said. “We didn’t come in with the right mindset. The kids were not focused getting off the bus, we weren’t focused in pregame and carried onto the floor. I like to think this is a good learning experience, but this late in the season we’re a little out of time.”

Jamal Fomby had nine rebounds, Charles Coleman five rebounds and the third sophomore Engler 14 points for Oswego, all of his scoring in the first half. The Panthers led 37-34 at the break.

Jones, who shot 11-for-27, scored all but three of Oswego’s points in the second half. Oswego shot just 7-for-33 from 3-point range against Plainfield South’s zone, 2-for-14 in the second half. The Panthers also were 13-for-25 on free throws.

“We knew they were going to play zone. Our coaches had us ready,” Jones said. “It’s on us, really.”

Devin Smith, a 6-foot-2 senior, scored 21 points and Saracco had 10 for Plainfield South. The Cougars surged ahead 47-45 after three quarters, and led 49-45 until Jones answered with a personal 7-0 run. He nudged Oswego ahead 52-49 with a 3-pointer with 4:04 left.

Saracco’s layup put Plainfield South back up 53-52, one of four lead changes in the last 4:04.

“We didn’t make shots, but our issue was defense,” Borrowman said. “We played no defense tonight. They got whatever they wanted.”

Oswego has one game left in the regular season, at home Tuesday against Plainfield Central.

The Panthers found out earlier Friday that they were opening the playoffs Feb. 27 against East Aurora at the Joliet Central regional. The winner gets the host Steelmen the next night.

“We played bad the whole game,” Jones said. “We came in with the mindset that we were going to win this game easily. You can’t think like that. Every game is a battle.”

David Toney for Shaw Media

Oswego’s Dylan Engler (3) makes a basket and gets fouled in the second quarter Friday at Plainfield South. For more photos from the game, visit KendallCountyNow.com.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: PLAINFIELD EAST 51, OSWEGO EAST 48

BOYS BASKETBALL

Next up is Romeoville

By JOSHUA WELGE jwelge@kendallcountynow.com

Offense stifled at regional final Wolves’ rally falls short against Bengals

By CHRIS WALKER sports@kendallcountynow.com This wasn’t the way it was supposed to end for Oswego East.

The Wolves had put themselves in position to make a deep postseason run, but host Plainfield East stunned them 51-48 in the Feb. 16 Class 4A Plainfield East Regional final.

Oswego East had beat up on the Bengals during the regular season, winning by 25 and 22 points in two respective matchups. This time, though, they couldn’t get anything going offensively. Plainfield East countered with several big baskets, especially down the stretch.

“They played great defensively so we couldn’t get into a good flow of things,” Wolves coach Abe Carretto said. “We had a lot of balls in and out or around the rim. We had a ton of looks inside and those shots weren’t falling, and that’s our bread and butter, and our outside shots weren’t falling either.”

Oswego East (24-5) trailed 46-38 with 5:35 left in the game, rallied down the stretch to get within striking dis-

tance, but still missed out on multiple opportunities to overcome the deficit.

“We knew they hadn’t been down in a big game all season long so we felt we had a good chance if we could get them in that position,” Bengals coach Tony Waznonis said. “They hit no threes all game. We did a good job of getting them uncomfortable and that was our game plan.”

An offensive foul was followed by a steal and a turnover before Plainfield East’s Ashley Smoldt knocked down a pair of free throws with 48.6 seconds left to make it a 51-46 game.

Jada Boatright’s putback with 32.5 seconds left pulled the Wolves to within 51-48, but they couldn’t get any closer.

The Wolves forced a turnover with 5.4 seconds left so they had a chance to set up a final shot to tie the game, but Jesinde Thomas’ long desperation 3-pointer was off target.

“I felt we were prepared for games likes this with all the other tough games we played, but when someone is shooting better than you and is on their home court, it’s tough,” Carretto said.“Our shots just weren’t falling.

We played hard so I can’t fault them for that so it’s a tough one.”

Indiana State recruit Ty Battle picked up her fourth foul with 5:04 left in the game, but managed to stay

in the game, scoring a team-high 20 points.

Her free throws with 1:58 left pulled the Wolves to within 49-46 but they’d never get any closer.

“It’s stressful and very difficult when you’re this good of a team and for it to end like this is even harder to swallow,” Carretto said. “This is not what I expected from this group, but it was a tough matchup. I knew if we didn’t shoot well and they did it would be tough. You have to give them credit.”

Ashley Smoldt scored 13 points, Ashley Lewis-Banks 10 and Lotanna Onua 10 for Plainfield East (24-7), which advanced to beat Bolingbrook in Tuesday’s sectional semifinal at East Aurora. The Bengals play in the sectional final Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Benet Academy, which beat Yorkville, 54-39.

Waznonis said it was the best the Bengals have played all season.

“I guess third time’s a charm,” he said. “We played our best game of the year by far. We adjusted well and our senior leadership showed. They’ve been through it all and were ready for this one.”

Missouri State recruit Sydney Schultz, one of seven seniors playing for the final time at Oswego East, added 12 points for the Wolves.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Allan Benson for Shaw Media

Oswego East’s Ty Battle (33) reaches for a loose ball in front of Plainfield East’s Lotanna Onua (4) during the Feb. 16 Class 4A Plainfield East Regional final.

Steve Szymanski isn’t quite sure which Oswego East boys basketball team will show up from night to night.

He’ll take the one in Minooka last Friday.

The Wolves got 14 points apiece from Tahj Oliver and Stephon Harris to surprise Minooka 51-49 in the Southwest Prairie Conference. Derek Dorsey added 10 points for Oswego East (15-11, 9-5).

“It’s the best we’ve played as a team since December,” Szymanski said. “I hate to say we’re a Jekyll and Hyde team, but that’s kind of what we’ve been.”

It was a very good week for the Wolves.

On Feb. 14 they rolled past Plainfield Central 73-55. Oliver and Andre Hughes scored 18 points and Harris added 14.

Then, on Tuesday they topped Plainfield East in overtime behind Oliver’s 32 points.

Against Minooka (20-8, 9-4) Oswego East spotted its opponent an early 8-0 lead, then tied it up. The teams exchanged six to seven lead changes throughout.

“We moved the ball really well,” Szymanski said. “Defensively we were in the correct spots. We watched film on it. It’s amazing to see the difference between that night and a couple weeks ago. Hopefully now they realize what it takes to be good.”

Hughes was hit in the eye and missed almost the entire third quarter, but Dorsey stepped up in his absence. Oliver was big early and Szymanski liked Harris’ aggressiveness.

“He made his moves right away, which is something he’s been struggling with,” Szymanski said. “He got to his moves and went.”

They Wolves have also drawn a 10th sectional seed, and will play seventh-seeded Romeoville on March 1 at the Class 4A Plainfield Central Regional. The winner likely will face second-seeded Joliet West.

“We split with [Romeoville], we each won by about 12 on each other’s home floor,” Szymanski said. “We’d love to get in that regional championship and see if we can give Joliet West a game.”

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Wolves bringing ‘A’ game

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Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, February 23, 2017

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SPORTS PREP WRESTLING

Perfect season for Johnson Oswego resident wins 1A championship for Aurora Christian

By CURT HERRON cherron@shawmedia.com CHAMPAIGN – Although Cameron Johnson is just a freshman, he’s already established a standard for his wrestling program that will be will difficult to beat.

The Oswego resident who attends Aurora Christian capped a successful debut season for the Eagles’ program in the best way possible. He not only captured a championship at Saturday’s Class 1A finals at State Farm Center, but also wrapped up an unbeaten campaign in the process.

Johnson completed a 35-0 season by defeating Bishop McNamara’s Pauley Keane 3-0 in the 106-pound championship match. He was dominant in Champaign, winning his first match by major decision before winning his next two matches by technical fall.

“I’ve been wrestling since I was 5 and I’d never won a state title before, so this is a dream come true,” Johnson said. “I worked hard all year long and really wanted to accomplish one goal. Coming into the season I didn’t know that I would be undefeated but I thought that I had a chance to do something since anything is possible.

“I knew that if I got the early lead, that would seal the match because that’s just when I go to work. This shows that our work ethic in the room is what really has gotten the job done.”

Johnson’s teammate, Noah Villarreal, a freshman who lives in Plano, also reached the title mat at 120 but lost an 11-5 decision to Fulton’s Tyler Fleetwood to finish with a 33-4 record.

The other Eagle qualifier was Zeke Marshall, a freshman who lives in Yorkville, who reached the semifinals at 113 before falling to the eventual champion, IC Catholic’s Joey Bianchini. Marshall wound up claiming fifth place to cap a 31-4 season.

Oswego had four individuals in the Class 3A competition. Two of the Panthers went 2-2 and put themselves in a position to win medals for a top six finish, but fell one win short.

Senior Josh Torres (41-7) lost to the eventual 170-pound champion, Mount Carmel’s David Riojas in the quarterfinals, and then split his final two matches. Junior Gannon Hughes (43-8) lost in the quarterfinals at 132 to Montini’s Fidel Mayora and then went 1-1 his next

Photo provided

Oswego resident Cameron Johnson, a freshman at Aurora Christian, raises his hands in the air after winning the Class 1A 106-pound state championship on Saturday in Champaign.

“I’ve been wrestling since I was 5 and I’d never won a state title before, so this is a dream come true.”

Cameron Johnson two matches.

“We had a great season and made leaps and bounds from last year,” Hughes said. “It just hurts that we came down here and didn’t wrestle our best. But I’m a junior, so I still have next year. I’m not happy, but I am excited to get back to work for next year.”

Panthers junior Allen Swanson (3815 at 145) and senior Dan Majewski (3613 at 160) both went 0-2 in the competition.

“It’s tough to win matches here,” Panthers coach Andrew Cook said Saturday. “You’ve got to be on your game and you can’t let the lights and screams get to your head, you have to be ready to compete for every single match. And things have to go your way, and today, things didn’t go our way.

“But I give our kids credit since they had a great year. They battled and believed in what we worked on with them for a long time. All of these guys have done a lot of good things for this program. We went 20-2 in dual meets, won a conference title and qualified four for

state and a couple of guys were right on the heels of placing. It was a great year and is a testament to the work that everyone has put in in our program.”

Sandwich senior Tommy Dale (356), in his first state meet, lost to the eventual 2A champion at 145, Richmond-Burton’s Gavin Sutton, in the quarterfinals and wound up going 2-2 to miss earning a medal by one win.

“Sometimes, it depends on where you fall in the bracket, but I thought Tommy wrestled tough,” Sandwich coach Josh McCarty said. “It’s a fine cap to his senior season.”

Plano junior Ivan Garcia (16-6) dropped his lone match at 138 in 2A. Yorkville senior Ryan Morris (33-11) did the same at 285 in 3A.