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OSW EGO LEDGER THU RS DA Y , JUN E 2 , 20 16 • 75 ¢

YOUR NEW LEDGER-SENTINEL • SERVING OSWEGO, MONTGOMERY AND BOULDER HILL FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY

PAYING TRIBUTE Oswego honors our nation’s war dead on Memorial Day / 7

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KendallCountyNow.com

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

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OSW EGO LEDGER KendallCountyNow.com OFFICE 109 W. Veterans Parkway (U.S. Route 34), second floor Yorkville, IL 60560 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday 630-553-7034

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POSTMASTER: Please send change of address forms to The Oswego Ledger, c/o Shaw Media, P.O. Box 250, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0250.

Effective Feb. 4, the Oswego Ledger is the successor newspaper to the Ledger-Sentinel, as contemplated by 715 ILCS 5/5 (e), which was a consolidation of the Oswego Ledger and the Fox Valley Sentinel, published every Thursday in Oswego, Illinois, in Kendall County

by Shaw Media. Periodicals postage paid at Oswego, Illinois, 60543.

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ON THE COVER The Oswego American Legion Post 675 Honor Guard leads the annual Memorial Day parade down Main Street to the Oswego Township Cemetery on Monday. A large crowd of area residents turned out to watch the parade and then attended a memorial service in the cemetery.

See story on page 7.

Photo by Eric Miller - emiller@shawmedia.com

Officials in Oswego honor departing deputy chief

By ERIKA WURST

news@kendallcountynow.com For 26 years, former Oswego Police Department Deputy Chief Nicholas Sikora spent most of his days serving and protecting the residents of his village.

Sikora, who started with the Oswego Police Department in 1990, by way of the Kendall County Sheriff’s Department, has seen his small town grow from less than 5,000 people to more than 33,000 people during his tenure.

Now, he will watch a new village grow, as he heads to Elburn as the police department’s new chief and leaves the Oswego Police Department.

Sikora’s new position is “a great tribute to [the Oswego Police Department] and the village,” Oswego Police Chief Jeff Burgner said during Sikora’s retirement ceremony in front of the village board May 17. “It shows the training, integrity and professionalism this department gives to its employees.”

Burgner was joined by Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird, who, as former Oswego Police Chief, worked with Sikora for years.

“You work with a lot of people and they’re your co-workers,” Baird told Sikora. “...One of the things I’m most proud of is to say you’re my friend. I

learned a lot from you.”

Then, Baird turned to the packed audience to say, “This man’s integrity is second to none.”

“I’m a better person for knowing you,” Baird told Sikora, offering a giant hug.

Sikora, who said he is excited to lead a new department, also said he will miss his old stomping grounds “I’m very fortunate to have come to the village of Oswego when I did,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time here.”

From tornadoes to floods to blizzards, Sikora said he was always kept on his toes.

“I have lots of great memories. I can’t thank everybody enough,” he said. “This really is the premier department in the area. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me in Elburn. That town and department have a lot of growth ahead of it and I hope to bring my knowledge to Elburn in years to come.”

With a huge round of applause and a standing ovation, Sikora’s time in Oswego came to an end, and his new venture began. But, the move also triggered other promotions within the department.

“We got his notice and had to scramble to try to fill the shoes of Nick Sikora,” Burgner said – which was no easy task.

Still, Burgner said he found some

excellent fits.

Three Oswego Police Department members moved up the ranks May 17 as they were sworn into new positions triggered by Sikora’s departure.

Replacing Sikora is new Deputy Chief Bradford Delphey, who was sworn in as commander just a year ago.

“Due to the hard work and time he put in, he’s worked his way up and been able to move up the ranks,” Burgner said.

Delphey was hired by the Oswego Police Department in 1995 and was named Kendall County Officer of the Year in both 2000 and 2004.

“I look at Brad as a great leader in the department and a mentor to his colleagues and peers,” Burgner said before Delphey was sworn in by Village President Gail Johnson.

Sgt. Kevin Norwood was promoted to commander during the swearing-in ceremony as well. With 2,300 hours of training time logged during his career, Norwood was the perfect choice to fill Delphey’s shoes following the former commander’s promotion.

“I’m excited to see [Commander Norwood] move up the ranks and carry on what Deputy Chief Delphey started,” Burgner said.

Lastly, a new sergeant was named to step up and fill Norwood’s shoes.

CIVIC MEETINGS

BRIEFS Fire destroys Boulder Hill garage, two vehicles; no one injured

A fire May 28 destroyed the garage of a Boulder Hill home and two cars parked inside the garage, according to the Oswego Fire Protection District.

The fire district reported they were summoned to the blaze on Circle Drive East on a report of a structure fire at 5:04 a.m.

Upon arrival at the residence, firefighters found a two-story wood frame single-family home with the attached two-car garage in flames.

The fire district reported that firefighters had the blaze under control within approximately 10 minutes of their arrival with minimal damage to the exterior of the home.

However, the garage and the two vehicles were a total loss.

The fire district estimated the loss as a result of the blaze at $75,000.

No one was hurt in the incident, according to the fire district.

Firefighters from the Montgomery and Countryside and Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection Districts provided assistance.

Hillbilly Rockstarz bringing country music to Montgomery Park on June 9 Country music and ice cream will be served up in Montgomery Park at River and Mill streets in downtown Montgomery at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9.

Hillbilly Rockstarz, specializing in covering the latest hits in country music by artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum, along with classics by Johnny Cash and others, will perform.

Those attending are encouraged to bring a blanket or a lawn chair.

The June 9 concert is part of a continuing series of summer concerts sponsored by the village in conjunction with the Fox Valley Park District.

– Oswego Ledger

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.: Kendall County Public Building Commission, County Office Building, Yorkville.

Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Oswego Public Library District Board Building and Grounds Committee, Oswego Campus Library.

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

Downtown Oswego parcel has been cause of much controversy

By LYLE R. ROLFE

news@kendallcountynow.com

would be released if any or all of the property was obtained through eminent domain by a government body.

The district filed a friendly eminent domain suit to obtain the property, Tamblyn said in the letter.

Roger Sanders of Wilson Place, Oswego, addressed the board and said he appreciated and supported the board members, the board’s administrative team and staff.

“Recently there have been public comments questioning trustees’ intentions and finance management,” he said.

He noted that “... suggesting that trustees have acted improperly and with disregard for prudent financial consideration could best be described as a distortion of reality. My suggestion is the board take time to consider options and opportunities and not feel compelled to make decisions that may be more reflective of any one citizen’s personal interests at the expense of long-term public policy.

“I have full confidence in trustees’ integrity and decision-making in relations to public policy,” he said in conclusion.

Although he did not mention the property purchase when asked later, Sanders said he had no objections to the board purchasing the land.

Sarah Skilton, library director, said she attended a meeting of the historic preservation commission that week and noted that the library district’s purchase of the property was on their agenda.

“I confirmed that we had no current plans for the site and the discussion included the possible reuse of the barn for library needs, like a bookmobile

barn perhaps,” she said.

Skilton said the barn was not maintained by the previous owners, which created an immediate need for a maintenance plan. The plan included securing the structure, fixing broken windows and removing all the raccoons.

She said the plan also mentioned removing trees because they are disturbing the barn foundation and could affect future plans for the barn.

When Trustee Judy Roberts asked about the condition of the barn, Skilton said she should look at it and decide for herself.

Skilton said the board’s buildings and grounds committee may also visit the barn.

Board OKs meeting schedule

In other business, the board approved an updated schedule of monthly board meetings. The board holds its meetings on an alternating basis between the downtown Oswego Campus Library at 32 W. Jefferson St., and the Montgomery Campus Library at 1111 Reading Drive in Montgomery, north of Route 30 and west of Goodwin Drive.

All meetings are held at 5 p.m., usually on the third Wednesday of the month unless there is a conflict with a holiday.

All meetings are open to the public and visitors are allowed three minutes to speak to the board by signing up before the meeting starts.

The schedule for Montgomery meetings is Aug. 24 and Oct. 26 of this year and Jan. 25, March 22 and May 24 of 2017. Oswego meetings for this year are set for Sept. 21 and Nov. 16. Meetings for 2017 are set for Feb. 22, April 26 and June 28.

Oswego fire district swears in new members, appoints staff positions OSWEGO LEDGER The Oswego Fire Protection District Board of Trustees and Fire Commission welcomed two new firefighter/ paramedics and appointed two existing members to staff positions during a ceremony held May 23.

Firefighter/paramedics Tyler Roberts and Ryan Marshall were sworn in at the top of the ceremony by Chief Michael Veseling. Although new to fulltime ranks with the district, both have some history with the department.

Roberts was previously a paid-on-call firefighter with the OFPD while Mar-

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Matthew Goodbred was appointed as the OFPD’s first full-time EMS coordinator. He had previously been working as a full-time firefighter/ paramedic while also co-coordinating department-wide EMS responsibilities

for the district on his days off.

The fire district’s vacant assistant chief position was filled with the appointment of Capt. John Cornish. He had most recently been the support services captain, covering a wide variety of roles supporting the chiefs and the OFPD.

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Oswego Public Library District Board members have made no decision on how to use land they purchased in December, board secretary Terry Tamblyn said in a letter to library trustees last week.

Tamblyn was referring to property the board purchased at 19 North St., across Waubonsie Creek from the downtown Oswego Campus Library.

Tamblyn’s letter was presented to the board in his absence.

This was the first time in the past few months that nearby property owners had not attended the monthly board meeting since the board purchased the near 3-acre parcel of land for $175,000 in December.

In his letter, Tamblyn reconfirmed an earlier statement that the board has no plans to develop the land at this time either by themselves or with any other agency.

At the previous meetings, several neighbors have objected to the library district’s purchase and were concerned that the board would raze a three-story 19th-century barn and cut down trees on the property.

Tamblyn said in the letter that when no one else expressed an interest in purchasing the property late last year, the board decided “it would be

in the library district’s long-term best interest to own the property.

“As we have stated in the past, before we do anything with the property, it will be discussed in open library board meetings and we will receive input from the community,” he said in the letter.

He added that during the property review process the library board requested an analysis of records and usage of the property and buildings to report possible environmental issues or historical designations before purchasing the property.

He said nothing was found that would indicate possible environmentally hazardous material associated with the property or historical designations.

Tamblyn continued to say in the letter that the historic nature of the barn is in the eye of the beholder.

He said he contacted the Oswego Heritage Association and the Oswego Historic Preservation Commission for their comments about the property.

He noted that two preservation commission members met with him and toured the barn on May 17. Library board members plan to ask committee members to help them prepare a longterm plan for the property, according to Tamblyn.

In order for board members to show their intent, Tamblyn said in the letter that they may pass a resolution as a library board to not do anything with the property except clean up and secure the barn until they develop a plan of action.

Tamblyn noted that there was a covenant on part of the property by the former owner, saying that the covenant

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LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Library official: No plans for North St. site

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

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OPINIONS OUR VIEW

Metra line would benefit users and motorists

In announcing two weeks ago that they would resume work on engineering and environmental studies to extend Metra commuter rail service from downtown Aurora into Kendall County, Metra officials appeared to want to place the financial burden for the project squarely on Kendall County and county municipalities.

In a prepared statement, Metra Chairman Martin J. Oberman said of the local officials, “They clearly understand the financial demands that will be facing them and I look forward to working with them in the future.” While in another prepared statement, Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno said, “We are humbled that local officials are so convinced of the value of Metra service that they are willing to take on this challenge.”

Clearly, Metra’s top leaders – faced with billions of dollars of expenses to upgrade the agency’s existing infrastructure – are not overly enthusiastic at the possibility of having to divert any of the agency’s limited capital improvement funds to expand their service into Kendall County. The agency has

previously estimated the cost for extending the service into the county at more than $200 million. $200 million is indeed a big pile of money, but taxpayers wary of the potential expense to the county and county municipalities should keep in mind that the extension – if it is ever built – may well be eligible for a significant amount of federal funding, just as the agency’s extension of service to Elburn from Geneva in Kane County was a decade ago. That project, which cost an estimated $105 million, was funded by a portion of an $11.6 billion federal granted award to Metra by Congress in 2001.

Taxpayers should also place that $200 million estimate in context with the cost of other transportation improvement projects. Over the past few years alone the Illinois Department of Transportation has awarded well over $100 million in contracts to improve sections of four highways in Kendall County: Route 47 in downtown Yorkville; Route 34 between Oswego and Yorkville; Route 30 between Route 34 and Route 31 in Montgomery; and Route 71 in Oswego.

The vast majority of the funding to pay for these highway projects did not come out of county or local municipal coffers, but federal transportation funds allocated to the projects by IDOT officials, with the support of local state and federal lawmakers.

The local officials and taxpayers who question the value of extending Metra service to the county should consider that it would not only benefit current and future Metra riders, but also those who will never use it. The opening of a Metra station or two in the county would serve to take hundreds, and quite possibly thousands, of vehicles off already crowded highways daily as more commuters take the train to Chicago and other points east instead of driving already busy Routes 47, 30 and 34.

We’re sure county residents who now sit in the daily traffic backups on Route 47 at the Kane-Kendall county line each day or on Route 30 at Orchard Road in Montgomery would appreciate anything that would help reduce the number of vehicles that regularly use those highways, especially as the county’s population continues to grow.

Kendall County fortunate to be a battle-free zone Reflecting the week after Memorial Day, I guess we can consider ourselves lucky here in Kendall County that no one has ever, at least in historic times, died in a war here.

While the area was inhabited for thousands of years by descendants of the people who immigrated to North America from Siberia, there’s no evidence of organized warfare concerning those earliest inhabitants. Not that there couldn’t have been, of course.

As each cultural tradition from the hunter-gatherers of the Paleo and Archaic traditions gave way to the more sedentary Woodland, Hopewell and Mississippian cultural traditions, it’s possible conflict may have happened.

By the time the first European expedition, led by cartographer and explorer Louis Jolliet and missionary and linguist Father Jacques Marquette, traveled through central and northern Illinois, Kendall County was inhabited by the bands making up the Illiniwek people – the Illinois Confederacy – for at least part of every year.

In turn, the Illiniwek were permanently displaced about 1746 when related bands of Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippewa decided to move into the northern Illinois River drainage basin, but no battles inside the bounds of Kendall County were recorded in either French records or by the Native Peoples’ oral traditions.

For a few decades, it was widely believed there had been a bloody battle between the Fox Tribe and the French

unorganized attack on Black Hawk and a couple dozen of his warriors by a drunken battalion of Illinois militia.

Roger At the cost of three of their number, Matile the angry Sauks, who had tried to surrender under a white flag only to and their Indian allies at Meramech have it fired upon, completely routed Hill south of Plano. The climactic batthe militia, killing 11 of them. tle during which the French attempted The resulting conflict allowed to eradicate the tribe took place in angry Indians throughout northern August and September 1730.

Illinois to settle scores with whites Plano resident John Steward spent who had bullied them and illegally occupied their land. The worst of these years trying to prove Meramech Hill Photo provided incidents was the Indian Creek Maswas the battle site, but in the end his Potawatomi chief Shabbona rode across sacre just across the Kendall County theory was disproved by a succession of historians who uncovered definitive northern Illinois to warn settlers of im- line in LaSalle County where 14 men, pending Indian attacks in May 1832 during women and children were killed. documentation proving the battle octhe Black Hawk War. In Kendall County, the Potawatomi curred well to the south of Meramech chief, Shabbona, and his nephew, rode Hill near Arrowsmith in McLean men, women and children across the like Native American Paul Reveres to County.

Mississippi into Illinois in the spring warn settlers to flee, which they did.

It’s entirely possible, even probaof 1832 in violation of previous agreeble, that some of the Native Peoples But what happened here showed that ments with the U.S. and Illinois state of Kendall County took part in the while the Indians were angry about French and Indian and the Revolution- governments. a lot of things, they didn’t commit The tribespeople had suffered ary wars. And they also undoubtedly mindless bloodshed. For instance, as they roamed the countryside breaking took part in the War of 1812, including greatly during the terrible “Winter of the Deep Snow” of 1830-31, and longed into and burning cabins abandoned by the Fort Dearborn Massacre. But deto return to their homeland in the terrified settlers, a group of warriors spite armies of various nationalities, Rock River Valley. The Winnebagoes arrived at the farm of William and from French to Spanish, to British, to invited Black Hawk’s band to come Mary Harris.

American marching hither and yon back east to live among that tribe, The Harrises, with their seven chilacross northern Illinois during those plant corn and renew their Illinois dren, had fled to Plainfield to await conflicts, again there is no record of roots. But state and federal governrescue by Illinois militia. But Mary any fighting actually taking place ment political and military leaders Harris’ father, elderly Mr. Coombs, here. denounced the Indians’ actions as an was severely afflicted with rheumaAbout the closest we got to real invasion and gathered troops to force tism. warfare here in Kendall County was the Sauks back across the Mississippi.

In 1877, William Harris told Kendall during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

The situation might have been The Sauk warrior Black Hawk led handled peacefully if not for a rash, See REFLECTIONS, page 6 a tribal band of an estimated 1,200

REFLECTIONS

The beginning of each fiscal year, May 1 in Montgomery, is always an exciting time. A new budget year means funding for new projects, staff and equipment. Amongst all of this excitement, however, lies one important, continuous issue: constantly striving to provide the necessary services to our residents without unduly burdening those same residents in the process.

We are well aware that our residents share this concern, and that it goes beyond the village. They also feel the pinch from the schools, townships, libraries, park districts, fire districts and all of the other taxing bodies who serve them in some manner.

The state recognizes these concerns, and in early 2015 formed a Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force to explore ways to reduce the heavy burden on Illinois taxpayers by empowering citizens and government officials to streamline local government through consolidation and eliminating unnecessary state mandates. The committee recently concluded its study and recommended 27 cost-saving opportunities, some of which the village of Montgomery has already embraced.

Implementing some of these recommendations would provide immediate

GUEST COLUMN Matthew T. Brolley cost savings for municipalities, such as recommendation No. 3 to modernize public notice requirements to allow municipalities to publish notices online instead of in newspaper ads.

Recommendation No. 7 that requests the governor insert “if economically feasible” language into any legislation authorizing new unfunded mandates would also reduce costs for local governments.

Other recommendations would require some in-depth planning before implementation, but could have dramatic impacts. Specifically, recommendation No. 12 encourages regional sharing of public equipment, facilities, training, resources and administrative functions. The village of Montgomery fully supports the idea of collaborating with other taxing bodies, where appropriate, in order to share resources, reduce redundancy, and benefit from economies of scale, with the ultimate goal of saving taxpayers money.

Regional coordination of purchases, products and services can help achieve this goal. Along with two neighboring

communities, the village of Montgomery received a grant to study the areas where we could increase efficiency and decrease costs by working together.

Sharing staff and equipment is one of our early areas of focus. Rather than each of us owning a specialized piece of equipment that gets used infrequently, we could purchase one jointly, thereby saving money for each community and having the equipment actually be used on a more regular basis. We are looking at a similar approach to specialized staff when independently, a community may not be able to make full use of an employee’s time, but can when that position is shared between the communities.

We are also working cooperatively with the other public bodies to increase overall effectiveness. For instance, we coordinate with the townships regarding the timing of their road repairs relative to our water main repairs so that we don’t tear up a road that they recently resurfaced. That’s good common sense, and provides efficient use of tax dollars.

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, mentioned in recommendation No. 2, is a key piece of existing legislation that enables local governments to work together and should be protected in the future. This Act en-

ables formal arrangements for shared services between communities.

A larger issue we are considering jointly with neighboring municipalities is a long-term, sustainable water source. Aquifer levels have been declining for decades, and will not be available forever under the current usage levels. While this problem is still some years into the future, we have started discussions on how we might work together towards a future solution, one of which could be a shared water treatment facility.

Certainly the potential exists for economies of scale in many situations that we have only begun exploring. Working cooperatively with other taxing districts can lead to huge cost savings, whether it relates to a waste hauling contract, volume purchasing discounts, or even shared facilities and staff. I believe municipalities should be open to considering these types of options, which could include joint water treatment facilities, shared equipment, and more. I am supportive of any consolidation and cooperation that improves the level of service and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers.

• Matthew T. Brolley is the Montgomery village president.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Another difficult time recalled

To the Editor: In 1968 I was teaching in Shannon, Illinois. It was a very trying, difficult and uncertain time for our country. The 1960s saw the killing of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., destruction and burnings occurred in our cities. I decided to write a letter to the editor of the Freeport Journal-Standard in Freeport, Illinois.

As a teacher, I believe strongly that very bad things had occurred in the United States through the centuries. When can we truly believe that there is equality, freedom, happiness, etc. in the United States of America? We hear so much talk from politicians and presidential candidates who give the impression of being experts on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. But talk is just so many words.

Here are some excerpts from that 1968 letter: (The complete letter is published

on KendallCountyNow.com.)

“In 1967, what is being done to attempt

to change and improve the life of the black citizens of the United States?

People are rioting and that is causing great concern. Riots do not improve the situation, but they certainly indicate that something is drastically wrong. The House of Representatives just passed a bill to deal harshly with those who incite others to riot. This may help to quiet the rioters, but it does not hit at the problems which have helped to build up hatred and to create the disturbances in our cities. ... A proposal has been made by some Congressmen that a commission should be created to investigate the riots in our cities. Maybe there should also be some aid for the education of the members of Congress so that they can investigate some 300 years of the history of black people in America. Maybe then some concrete proposals will come forth to eradicate this blot in our country’s history. ... Let’s hope that this is done before it is too late. An H. Rap Brown calling out for destruction and a Stokely Carmichael in Havana speaking about possible guerrilla warfare in the United

States should be reason enough to cause concern. But, the white Americans might ask themselves just who helped to create the problems which exist today.”

Richard Kastner Boulder Hill

Seek tax relief instead

To the Editor: The protesters at McDonald’s headquarters last week demonstrated just how naive a person can be. The demonstrators want to unionize and earn $15 an hour.

Folks, think about it. At $15 per hour, before taxes and union dues you will earn $600 per week, $31,200 per year. This is based on a 40-hour week.

Franchises could not possibly survive paying workers to serve burgers for $30K per year. Some of you will be let go, others will work for fewer hours at best.

After you pay your taxes and union dues, you will be right back where you started.

You will gain nothing. A minimum wage job is an entry level job that will teach

Submit letters Letters must be no longer than 400 words and must be accompanied by the writer’s full name, address and home phone number. Only the author’s name and city of residence will be printed.

We reserve the right to edit all letters for brevity and fairness. Send letters to letters@kendallcountynow.com or Record Newspapers, 109 W. Veterans Parkway, Yorkville, IL 60560.

basic skills and perhaps advanced skills that will allow you to move on and up.

Protesting at McDonald’s will earn you nothing more than what you already have.

What you should do is write to your Congressman or Senate representative and lobby for tax relief for minimum wage workers. Under a certain amount, you shouldn’t have to pay any taxes, that would help more than $15 per hour.

Don Lass Oswego

5 Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

FORUM Task force’s recommendations would save taxpayers

Oswego adds financial records to new website Finance director: ‘It’s as transparent as can be’

By ERIKA WURST

news@kendallcountynow The village of Oswego’s finances got a little more transparent this week, thanks to the launch of new software aimed at keeping residents in the loop concerning money matters.

Over the last six months, Oswego Finance Director Mark Horton and other village staff members have uploaded thousands of financial records to the new OpenGov platform, which went live on the village’s website last month.

With the launch, residents and those curious about the village’s finances have seemingly unlimited access to nearly every record they could imagine.

“The data goes back to 2003/2004,” Horton said. “All the financial data of the village is on this site. It’s as transparent as can be.”

OpenGov users can filter expenditures and revenues by department, find out how much was spent on snow removal, tree removal, road repair and other projects, and can easily compare the costs by year, thanks to the user-friendly platform, Horton said.

“Trends are easily spottable,” he said, showing trustees a chart that quickly spots a decline in dollars spent on snow removal over the years. Horton said to create all the charts himself

• REFLECTIONS

Continued from page 4 County historian E.W. Hicks what happened: “There appeared no alternative but to leave him [Mr. Coombs] if they would save their lives, and to this he urged them. ‘Leave me to my fate,’ he said, ‘and save yourselves; I am an old man and can live but a little while at best.’ Taking what articles they could, with tearful farewells, they left him and hurried away on foot…

Before sunset the Indians were on the move, eager for scalps and spoil. They struck Harris’ cabin first, and Mr. Coombs gave himself up for dead; but having satisfied themselves that he was sick, they did not molest him.”

In an interesting historical sidelight, authorities eventually rounded up the Indians suspected of perpetrating the Indian Creek Massacre and put them on trial for murder at Ottawa, but the jury acquitted them because none of the survivors could positively

OpenGov website To read the village of Oswego financial records for yourself, visit oswegoil.org/government/transparency.aspx, then click on the “Open Books Oswego” tab.

PREVE

would take hours. A quick click of the mouse pulls up all the information users could want, formulates them into charts, and supplies users with data that they can download onto their own computers.

He gave trustees a quick training of the software during a recent Committee of the Whole meeting.

“Once you figure out the navigation and the filters, you can become a good user pretty fast,” Horton said.

The data, which is uploaded to the site every month, also includes ledgers for every check written by the village over the past five years.

“This is fantastic. I love it,” said Trustee Ryan Kauffman as he listened to the presentation. “This is going to take our transparency to unparalleled levels.”

The board began discussing using the OpenGov software in December.

It can now be viewed on the village website, at oswegoil.org/government/ transparency.aspx, then click on the “Open Books Oswego” tab. identify the perpetrators.

The Black Hawk War was the end of conflict and near-conflict in Kendall County. But that didn’t mean no more soldiers died here. There are many stories about wounded and sick Civil War soldiers coming home to Kendall to die during and shortly after that horrible war.

For instance, prominent Oswego attorney Wright Murphy was invalided out of the Union Army in August 1864 and died at home in February 1865. And Capt. Albert M. Hobbs of Yorkville, who was wounded during the war, died in 1872 after doctors unsuccessfully attempted to remove the bullet that had caused him distress for so many years.

When it comes to avoiding the horrors of warfare, Kendall County has enjoyed great luck, something we all can be especially thankful for this time of year.

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LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Photos by Eric Miller - emiller@shawmedia.com

Area of residents of all ages turned out under sunny skies Monday morning in downtown Oswego to view the Oswego American Legion Post 675’s annual Memorial Day parade through the village’s downtown area followed immediately by a memorial service in the Oswego Township Cemetery. Both the Oswego East High and Oswego High School bands participated in the parade along with numerous area Scout troops. The Legion’s parade and memorial service are a community tradition in the village every Memorial Day. The parade and service are held each year to honor men and women who died while in service to our country. ABOVE: Vietnam veteran John Schwartz gives the Memorial Day address in the cemetery. LEFT: Cub and Boy Scout troops were among those walking in the parade. More photos are at KendallCountyNow.com.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

|LOCAL NEWS

8

OSWEGO POLICE REPORTS Drug, assault charges Oswego police arrested Rebecca L. Smith, 35, of the 400 block of Canterbury Court, Oswego, at her residence May 28 at 10:20 p.m. on charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and assault. Police said Smith later posted bond and was released pending a court appearance later this month.

of Ashcroft Place, Oswego, and a juvenile May 27 at 7:20 a.m. at a residence in the 200 block of Ashcroft Place on charges of domestic battery.

Hit-and-run reported Oswego police took a report of a hit-andrun accident that occurred at a fast food restaurant in the 3400 block of Orchard Road in the village May 27 at 8:05 p.m.

Merchandise stolen Merchandise valued at $735.83 was stolen from a store in the 2700 block of Route 34 in Battery arrest Oswego at 6:56 p.m. May 28, police reported.

Oswego police arrested Daniel Tondu, 53, of Police said they are investigating. the 200 block of Bluegrass Parkway, Oswego, on charges of battery (two counts) at a busiFacing multiple charges ness in the 3500 block of Route 34 on May Oswego police arrested Edgar Herrera Jr., 28. Police said the incident occurred May 14.

20, of the 500 block of Farnsworth Avenue, Police said Tondu is scheduled to appear in Aurora, at a store in the 2300 block of Route court on the charges June 28.

34 in the village May 28 at 7:46 p.m. Police said Herrera faces charges of retail theft, pos- Graffiti damage on bridge session of alcohol by a minor and possession A large amount of graffiti was discovered of cannabis. Police said Herrera attempted to May 25 under a bridge on Route 25 spanning leave the store without paying for merchanWaubonsie Creek in Oswego, police reported. dise valued at $21.77.

Police said the graffiti did not appear to be gang-related. Police said the Illinois DepartArrest two on Ashcroft ment of Transportation, which owns the Oswego police arrested Justin Noel, 18, bridge, was notified and will be responsible

Check forgery attempted An Oswego resident told village police May 25 that someone had attempted to cash a check from the resident’s bank account without authorization. Police said they are investigating.

Traffic violations Lucas R. Perez, 23, of the 200 block of Hillcrest, Yorkville, no valid driver’s license.

Carlos N. Anaya Castaneda, 19, of the 900 block of Front Street, Aurora, no valid driver’s license.

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MONTGOMERY POLICE REPORTS Warrant arrest Montgomery police arrested Ramon Contreras, 47, of the 900 block of Hinman Street, Aurora, after stopping his vehicle for a traffic violation in the 1900 block of Douglas Road in the village May 24 at 7:35 p.m. Police said they arrested Contreras for driving on a Holmes Place burglary A GPS unit was stolen from a vehicle parked suspended license. He was also wanted on a Kendall County Sheriff’s Office warrant for in a driveway in the 100 block of Holmes driving on a suspended license, police said.

Place in Montgomery, village police were notified May 25.

Traffic violations Wellman Avenue burglary Pablo Hererra-Rodriguez, 20, of the 600 Cash was stolen from a vehicle parked in block of Kimberly Lane, Montgomery, no valid the driveway of a residence in the 1000 block driver’s license. of Wellman Avenue in Montgomery, village Jose Hernandez-Guzman, 37, of the 0-99 police were notified May 25. block of Smith Street, Aurora, operating a motor vehicle while its registration is Warrant arrest suspended.

Montgomery police arrested Michael Reed, Angel Guzman, 20, of the 1000 block of 52, of the 100 block of Webster Street, Mont- Fifth Street, Aurora, driving on a suspended gomery, at his residence May 26 at 10:42 license. a.m. Police said Reed was wanted on a Kane Edwin Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 22, of the 400 County Sheriff’s Office warrant for driving block of Broadway Avenue, Aurora, driving on under the influence. a suspended license.

Truck damaged Someone spray-painted a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck while it was parked in the 2200 block of Jericho Road in Montgomery at 6:20 p.m. May 21, village police reported.

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS Multiple citations issued County sheriff’s deputies arrested Pierre Maerques Gilbert, 24, of the 800 block of Fifth Street, Aurora, after stopping his vehicle for speeding 86 mph in a 55 mph zone on Route 71 at Sheridan Road at 11:24 p.m. May 30. Police said Gilbert faces charges of driving 26-34 mph over the posted speed limit, driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Mailbox found damaged A resident of the 800 block of Bohannon Circle in Oswego told village police May 25 that someone damaged his mailbox. Police said the mailbox may have been struck by a passing vehicle.

One hurt in crash Oswego police reported that a Montgomery resident, Augusta Krawczyk, 17, of Montgomery, was injured in a two-vehicle crash in a parking lot on Mill Road at Station Drive in the village May 24 at 3:41 p.m. Police said the other driver involved in the crash, Betty Balla, 61, of Plainfield, was not injured.

for removing the graffiti.

DUI, cannabis charges County sheriff’s deputies arrested Ragene A. Sims, 22, of the 2800 block of Stonebridge Drive, Plainfield, after stopping her vehicle for disobeying a stop light, speeding and improper lane usage on Isabel Drive at Route 34.

Police said Sims was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and • Continued on page 9

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KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS unlawful possession of cannabis. Sims was also cited for disobeying a stop light, speeding, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Chairs tossed in creek Someone tossed two patio chairs valued at $100 into a creek in the 300 block of Chicago Road, Newark, county sheriff’s deputies were told May 27.

Side-swipe reported A Morris resident told county sheriff’s deputies that her vehicle was side-swiped by another, unknown vehicle while she was driving on Route 47 at Sherill Road in Lisbon Township at 4:25 a.m. May 28.

Warrant arrest County sheriff’s deputies arrested Devontae Robb-Turner, 22, of the 0-99 block of Greenbriar Road, Boulder Hill, at his residence May 28 at 8 a.m. on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a prior traffic charge.

released at the scene with no charges, police said.

DUI arrest County sheriff’s deputies arrested Tammy Jean Gretencord, 46, of the 900 block of Ottawa Road, Ottawa, on a charge of driving under the influence in a parking lot in the 300 block of South Union Street, Newark at 8:36 p.m. May 27.

Lawn mower stolen A Craftsman lawn mower was stolen out of a backyard in the 0-99 block of Circle Drive East in Boulder Hill on May 29, according to county sheriff’s reports.

Settlers Lane damage An estimated $100 in damage was done to the north window of a residence in the 0-99 block of Settlers Lane in Na-Au-Say Township south of Oswego May 29, county sheriff’s deputies were notified May 29 at 12:57 p.m.

Pellet gun damage County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident in which someone used a pellet gun to shoot out the driver’s side window of a vehicle parked in the 0-99 block of Larkspur Lane in Bristol on May 23.

DUI arrest Sheriff’s deputies arrested Billiejo Schultz, 32, of the 900 block of Hyte Street, Plano, at a health and fitness facility on Route 34 and Eldamain Road in Plano at 8:15 p.m. May 25.

Police said they were summoned to the facility on a report of a person falling in and out of consciousness. Police said they determined Schultz was under the influence of drugs and had driven to the facility with her 6-year-old child in her vehicle. Schultz was then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and endangering the life and health of a child.

Aggravated battery County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 15-yearold from Plano on a charges of aggravated battery to a person over 60, domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a domestic incident May 27 at 7:15 a.m. on River Road near Eldamain Road in Bristol Township.

Turns himself in County sheriff’s deputies reported that Derrell Wayne Broughton, 45, of Route 47, Sugar Grove, turned himself in to police at the county sheriff’s office in Yorkville May 26. Police said Broughton was wanted on a warrant for assault.

Seneca domestic County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 0-99 block of Seneca Road in Boulder Hill at 9:34 p.m. May 23. Police said a father damaged his son’s vehicle in the incident. But after officers spoke to both father and son, neither party chose to pursue criminal charges, according to police.

Vehicle burglaries County sheriff’s deputies took a report of a burglary to two vehicles parked at homes in the Light Road burglary 0-99 block of East Field Road in Boulder Hill on A resident of the 2400 block of Light Road in May 26. Police said a headlamp and binoculars Oswego Township told sheriff’s deputies May were stolen from the vehicles.

23 that someone had entered her apartment twice between May 20 and May 23 and stolen Arrested after crash $210. Police said they are investigating.

County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeffrey Arrest two in Saw Wee Kee Thomas Spoden, 58, of the 400 block of Fourth Traffic violations County sheriff’s deputies arrested Stephen Street, Aurora, at 4:35 p.m. May 26 on charges Daniel W. Lindsay, 19, of the 100 block of Ray Miller, 21, of the 500 block of Litchfield of leaving the scene of a property damage Union Street, Newark, driving on a suspended Way, Oswego, and Jacquelyn Judith Holmes, driver’s license.

20, of the 1000 block of Kate Drive, Yorkville, at accident and driving on a suspended license.

10:08 p.m. May 26 in a vehicle at Saw Wee Kee Police said Spoden was driving a vehicle that Sheila Marie Hayes, 35, of the 100 block of allegedly rear-ended another vehicle at the Park in Bristol Township.

Dolores Street, Oswego, driving on a suspendPolice said Miller was charged with unlawful intersection of Saugatuck Road and Boulder ed license and disobeying a traffic control possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful Hill Pass in Boulder Hill and then left the scene device. possession of cannabis. Holmes was charged without identifying himself. Police said Spoden Marco Antonio Zepeda-Gramaldo, 33, of the with unlawful possession of drug paraphernawas arrested without incident in the 1200 100 block of Harbor Drive, Oswego, improper lia. A third person who was in the vehicle was block of Lake Street in Montgomery. lane usage and driving without a valid license.

Hubbard Way arrest County sheriff’s deputies arrested Angelo Thaddeius Milaro, 36, of the 100 block of Hubbard Way, Boulder Hill, at his residence May 28 at 2:35 a.m. on charges of domestic battery, obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer.

OSWEGO LEDGER The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously approved two bills this past week sponsored by State Rep. John Anthony, R-Joliet, to protect emergency medical services personnel who are victims of crime while on duty, and to provide for the adoption of retiring K-9 police dogs, respectively.

Both bills now head to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk for signature.

Senate Bill 2947 creates uniform sentence minimums and maximums for crimes committed against EMS personnel, no matter who they are employed by, and clarifies that the definition of “emergency medical services personnel” includes all levels of emergency medical technicians, drivers and pilots.

In an effort to ensure the humane treatment of dogs upon completion of their public service, Senate Bill 3129 provides that a police dog no longer fit for public service may be offered by the county, municipal or state law enforcement agency to the officer or employee who had custody and control of the animal during its service.

If the officer or employee does not wish to keep the dog, it may be offered to another officer or employee in the agency, or to a nonprofit organization or a no-kill animal shelter for adoption.

“These dogs form a uniquely strong bond with their handlers during police service,” said Anthony, a former municipal police officer and Kendall County sheriff’s deputy. “K-9 handlers often spend more time with their dog partner on a daily basis than with their own families. When the dog retires from active police service, the officer should be given the opportunity to adopt them, and if they choose not to, provide a humane alternative for dog’s future.”

“We also need to make sure that the law protects EMS personnel while they’re on the job,” Anthony added. “These men and women put their lives on the line every day to help people in emergency situations. If they are assaulted or harmed in any way while performing their duty, we’re going to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable.”

9

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Alcohol charges after crash Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jaymi Lynn Warrant arrest Amwoza, 20, of the 0-200 block of South County sheriff’s deputies arrested Phillip John Adams Street, Oswego, and a male juvenile, on Menefee, 54, of the 200 block of Fernwood charges of unlawful consumption of alcohol by Road, Boulder Hill, while checking a report of a a minor after the vehicle Amwoza was driving Arrest two on Springdale suspicious person outside a convenience store at 11:13 p.m. May 24 crashed in the area of County sheriff’s deputies were summoned in the 0-99 block of East Merchants Drive in Os- Boulder Hill Pass and Cayman Drive, striking to the 0-99 block of Springdale Road, Boulder wego at 8:04 p.m. May 29. Police said Menefee a fire hydrant. Police said Amwoza was also Hill, on a report of neighbor trouble stemming ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid from people squealing tires and being verbally was taken into custody after they determined he was wanted on an active warrant. an accident and operating an uninsured motor aggressive. Police said they arrested Nicholas vehicle.

David Parello, 20, of the 2000th block of Farmington Lakes Drive, Oswego, on an outstanding Dolores St. incident Sheriff’s deputies observed a domestic vioOut $3,500 warrant and for driving on a suspended driver’s The sheriff’s office is investigating a report of license. He was taken to the county jail pending lence incident in front of a residence in the 100 block of Dolores Street in Oswego Township an alleged fraud case involving the purchase of court proceedings. Police said they also at 11:45 p.m. May 28. Police said a father and a vehicle on Craigslist. Police said a resident of arrested Julissa Rocha, 18, of the 600 block daughter both accused the other of battery, but Helmar Road, Yorkville, paid $3,500 but never of Concord Avenue, Aurora, on a charge of no arrests were made or criminal charges filed. took delivery of the vehicle. battery. She was also taken to the county jail.

Lawmakers pass EMS protection, K-9 measure

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

• Continued from page 8

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

| LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS

10

PREP ROUNDUP

IN THE SERVICE A 2014 Oswego East High School graduate and Oswego native is now serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard one of two forward deployed dock landing ships, the USS Germantown.

Seaman Johnny Grays is a boatswain’s mate aboard the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship operating out of Sasebo, Japan.

A Navy boatswain’s mate is responsible for Johnny Grays preservation work, which keeps the ship looking good and operational.

“The best part of my job is the people that I work with,” said Grays.

“This is a great team with strong chemistry, which helps us work hard and get jobs done.”

Commissioned in 1986, the Germantown is the second Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship. This is the second Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown. Germantown sailors work rigorous hours filled with drills and training to assure that the ship remains mission ready. Their efforts recently were validated by earning the 2015 Battle Effectiveness Award

with a clean sweep of all five Command Excellence Awards.

“Forward deployed means that you have to have the mindset that you are always on deployment, which means being ready at all times,” said Grays.

Navy officials explain that sea duty is inherently arduous and challenging but it builds strong fellowship and esprit de corps among members of the crew.

“I am proud to serve in the Navy and represent my country,” added Grays.

••• U.S. Air Force National Guard Airman 1st Class Ashley Sison graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

She completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force.

Sison is a 2010 Oswego East High School graduate and the daughter of Cynthia and Glen Gros of Aurora.

Panthers fall to Bengals in regional semis to end season OSWEGO LEDGER The Oswego baseball team’s season ended last Friday with a 10-inning battle against Plainfield East. The Panthers had a delayed start to the postseason after the May 25 semifinal game bumped Oswego’s May 26 semifinal game to Friday.

The Southwest Prairie Conference rivals met in the Class 4A Plainfield East Regional semifinal and Plainfield East took a one-run lead after the first inning, and held the slim edge through three innings before taking a 5-0 lead through the middle of the fourth.

Oswego scored four runs in the fourth and added two more in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. After a scoreless eighth and ninth, Plainfield East scored two runs in the top of the 10th and held Oswego for the win.

Plainfield East advanced to Saturday’s regional championship game and defeated Downers Grove North, 7-3, to advance to the Oswego Sectional semifinal June 1. Three SPC teams are still alive in the postseason, as Plainfield North will face Plainfield Central in the first semifinal game June 1 before Plainfield East faces Neuqua Valley.

Oswego pounded out 11 hits against Plainfield East, led by Gabe Panza’s 3-for-4 effort.

Carter Turnquist hit 2-for-6 with an RBI, Cody Peterlin was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Tanner Sohst hit 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Oswego sent four pitchers to the mound, with Luke Torrez earning the start and scattering eight hits and allowing five earned runs in three innings. Colton White went 5 2⁄3 innings, giving up four hits and one run. Turnquist, who took the loss, went 2⁄3 innings and gave up two earned runs and two hits while Cole Aughenbaugh went 2⁄3 innings.

Oswego East varsity: Oswego East lost to Plainfield North by a score of 12-8 on Thursday in the Class 4A Metea Valley Regional semifinal. Senior captains Grant Argyilan, Sam Cummings and Vince Schwartz all had multiple hit efforts to the lead the Wolves against the region’s No. 1 seed. The loss ends the Wolves’ season at 12-19 and a 1-1 record in the playoffs.

Plainfield North went on to Saturday’s regional final and won 12-0 over Hinsdale Central in five innings to advance to the Oswego Sectional semifinal June 1.

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BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

By KRISTIN SHARP

ksharp@kendallcountynow.com

YOUTH BASEBALL

kids have set an example and a standard for what it takes to be successful at conference and sectionals, but more importantly the state level,” Kimpton said.

Oswego senior Steven Strange raced in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 49.06 seconds to take fourth in his prelim heat, but not before injuring his knee before crossing the finish line. Strange was unable to anchor the 4x400-meter relay. Junior Ryan Holt replaced Strange in the relay and led off the event, with junior Jake Smutzer, senior Luke Moran and junior Brian Jimenez racing to a finish in 3:31.45 to take fifth in the prelim heat.

Jimenez was also a state qualifier in the 400, but withdrew to focus on the 4x400.

“We made a decision to pull Brian for the 400 to save him from the 4x4 because all year when he runs both,

• REGIONAL TITLE

Continued from page 12

Photo provided

The Oswego Cobras 13U White baseball team won the Gold Glove Championship. The team includes (pictured, left to right) Derek Torza, Sam Bolander, Brad Rehg, Ryan McCain, Logan Finn, Kaden D’Alessio, Braydon Grabavoy, Adam Dietz, Connor Finn, Nikolas Hampton, Steve Watts and Jack Zieba. The team is coached by Steve Watts, Steve Grabavoy, Jeff Rehg and Dan Torza.

Jenna Veber relieved Scaramuzzi to start the second and was solid on the mound all afternoon, striking out six batters, and the Panther defense did not allow the Wolves to advance a runner to second for the rest of the game.

Veber scattered four hits and one walk over five innings of work.

“I think our nerves came out and we needed to calm down,” Oswego coach Amanda Stanton said. “After that first inning, we held them. We just ran out of the time at the end of the day. We told them not to focus just on this game. It’s hard not to, but think of where we’ve come. We started the season 1-6, and we came all the

his times in the 4x4 were slower and we needed him faster in the 4x4 to get us into the finals,” Oswego coach Jeff Edwards said. “You can’t really predict this type of thing, but after Steven Strange’s 400, he was coming into the finish line and started slowing down and running funny. He ended up having some knee issues and didn’t run the 4x4 because his knee was hurting.”

Strange will head to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (West Point Prep) for the upcoming year where he will run track and field before enrolling as a cadet at West Point Military Academy where he will be a member of the men’s track and field program.

“We had a lot of younger kids who showed a lot of promise this year,” Edwards said. “We’re going to have some good depth in the distance events, and we’ll still be good next year.” way here. Baby steps, but we’re slowly making progress.”

In the top of the seventh, Schultz hit Oswego’s Ashley McCance with her pitch and walked Rebecca Pieroni to put the game-tying run at the plate, but Oswego hit into a 4-3-6 double play to end the game behind the heads up play of Oswego East second baseman Emily Green and first baseman Lauren Alesia.

“This is the first time we’ve ever won a regional championship, so we’re super excited. We were pumped about this game and had a lot of energy coming into this game,” said Oswego East senior left fielder Emma Benson, who went 2-for-3 on the day.

“This is our first one and it was awesome to win it here. Emily [Schultz] did an amazing job and carried us in the circle.”

Cobras 13U wins tourney OSWEGO LEDGER The Oswego Cobras 13U White baseball team took home the first place trophy in the 2016 Gold Gove Classic tournament in Rock Island on May 13-15.

A total team effort from start to finish, which featured strong pitching, hitting and fielding, including an error-free final game, earned the 3-1 championship victory.

The Oswego Cobras 13U White team includes Derek Torza, Sam Bolander, Brad Rehg, Ryan McCain, Logan Finn, Kaden D’Alessio, Braydon Grabavoy,

Adam Dietz, Connor Finn, Nikolas Hampton, Steve Watts and Jack Zieba.

The team is coached by Steve Watts, Steve Grabavoy, Jeff Rehg and Dan Torza.

Oswego Cobras is a nonprofit travel baseball club playing in the Kane County Bronco League for youths in Oswego and surrounding communities.

Cobras develop advanced skills and prepare for high school teams, while learning sportsmanship and appreciation of the game in a family-oriented environment.

Eric Miller - emiller@shawmedia.com

Oswego’s Hailey Morland makes a sliding catch in right field against Oswego East in Saturday’s postseason game.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

The Class 3A boys’ track and field state finals were not the ideal finish to the season for Oswego or Oswego East, but the qualifiers made the most of the opportunities to shine on the big stage in Charleston.

Oswego was represented in the 4x400-meter relay and the open 400-meter dash, while Oswego East competed in the 4x800-meter relay as well as the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint events.

“It was a good experience for the kids,” Oswego East coach Aaron Kimpton said. “Obviously it didn’t pan out the way we’d hoped, but it was a good experience for the kids. They ran the best they could and that’s all you can hope for.”

The Wolves took fourth place in their heat of the 4x800 relay, clocking

a time of 8:01.02 behind the efforts of junior Kijana Caldwell, junior Dylan Zangri, senior Trevor Nold and senior Tanner McQuality.

“It was a little bit slower than what they did at sectionals, but was definitely better than what we did two years ago so that’s a positive sign that the group is performing better and better each year we go down [to state],” Kimpton said.

Oswego East junior Devonte Weathersby competed in both the 100 and 200, finishing fourth in his 100 prelim heat with a time of 11.02 seconds. He later clocked in a time of 22.58 seconds to place third his heat of the 200.

Zangri ended the meet in the 1,600-meter event, crossing the finish line in 4:28.65 to take 10th in his race.

“Having that experience of being down there and seeing what it’s like is really going to help us next year. These

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Panthers, Wolves learn lessons in Charleston

11

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, June 2, 2016

12

SPORTS

PREP SOFTBALL: OSWEGO EAST 3, OSWEGO 0

FLAWLESS DEFENSE

Wolves defeat Panthers to claim program’s first regional plaque

By KRISTIN SHARP

ksharp@kendallcountynow.com The Oswego East softball team came out swinging in the first inning of Saturday’s Class 4A Oswego East Regional championship game against Oswego, and those three runs proved to be all the Wolves needed to clinch the program’s inaugural title.

The Wolves scored three runs on a single and two errors, and although the Panthers held Oswego East through the next five frames, the Oswego were shut out by a flawless Oswego East defense in the 3-0 decision.

“I think we came out hungry and ready to kick some butt. Once we saw after the first inning that we were ahead, that’s really what we needed,” Oswego East shortstop Juvia Davis said. “We were strong defensively, and that helped a lot. We’ve been on a streak. As long as we’re playing like we know how, and we keep playing our game, we can’t be stopped.”

With the win, Oswego East (22-10) advances to the Plainfield East Sectional semifinal on June 2 against Bolingbrook (19-12) – winner of a 3-0 decision over West Aurora in the Batavia Regional final. The Wolves will take an eight-game win streak into the sectional tournament.

“We got hot at the right time. It’s just been great ever since,” Oswego East coach Laura Nussle said. “We played great defense and we protected our plate. You can’t ask for much more. I’m excited about this team.

We’re excited for what’s in front of us – not just next week, but for the next couple of years.”

Oswego East starter Emily Schultz faced the minimum batters to open the game and the Wolves sent all nine to the plate in the bottom half of the inning for a fast start.

Oswego starter Annie Scaramuzzi walked Schultz and gave up a single to Dani Williams before Juvia Davis brought Schultz home on a hard single to left center field.

Williams and Davis advanced on a wild pitch, and both eventually scored on two more wild pitches for the 3-0 score with no outs.

After a meeting on the mound, Scaramuzzi struck out her next batter and induced a fly ball to right field before a grounder to shortstop left the bases

Photos by Eric Miller - emiller@shawmedia.com

ABOVE: Oswego East first baseman Lauren Alesia (22) hugs teammate Dani Williams (10) after the Wolves captured the program’s first regional championship on Saturday. BELOW: Oswego East third baseman Nicole Schussler blocks the path of Oswego’s Jenna Veber to catch her off base for the out in the fifth inning of Saturday’s regional championship game at Oswego East. loaded for the Wolves.

Oswego (10-19) put runners in scoring position in three of the next four innings, but could not get the clutch hit with the Panthers needed it. The Panthers had runners at first and third with one out in the fifth, but a short single back to the mound allowed Schultz to make the play to shortstop, and Davis caught the runner off third.

Schultz struck out the next batter to leave one on for the Panthers.

“Seeing Oswego twice really helped, and this is a game we’ve waited for all season,” Schultz said. “We had great defense.”

See REGIONAL TITLE, page 11