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Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 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.

Subscription rates: One year, $28 in Kendall County; $36 elsewhere in Illinois and $47 outside Illinois The Oswego Ledger and KendallCountyNow.com are a division of Shaw Media.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2016

• Relevant information • Marketing Solutions • Community Advocates

ON THE COVER Sarah Obert sings “Gesu Bambino” during the 21st annual holiday Crystals concert at Oswego High School on Dec. 11.

See more photos on page 15.

Photo by Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

How do you define Oswego?

Plan progressing to help village stand out

By ERIKA WURST news@kendallcountynow.com “Forward thinking.”

“Business friendly.”

“A regional entertainment destination.”

These are phrases Oswego Village Board members are hoping residents use when describing the village.

“If you’re somewhere in Chicago at a cocktail party and you say I live in Oswego, people get this glazed look,” said Bridget Lane of Business Districts Inc. “Our goal is to change that so people understand the difference between Oswego and other communities.”

BDI was retained by the village in August to work on a Regional Positioning Plan for the community. The goal of the plan is to help define Oswego as a village, and draw business owners, visitors and new residents to the area.

“Branding is a promise to the rest of the world of what Oswego can offer you,” Lane said.

So, since August, members of BDI

have been busy conducting interviews of nearly 1,000 residents and business owners to gauge what they value most in their village, and what makes them proud to call Oswego home.

Lane said what already differentiates Oswego from other Fox Valley communities is its name.

“The name is great,” she said. “And there’s some fun to it.”

Other stand-out Oswego traits included the village’s already established festivals and events, its significant downtown development sites, its quiet geographic riverfront location, and its open space preservation.

After receiving nearly 1,000 resident survey responses, it became clear to Lane that there were certain traits those living in Oswego are most proud.

They cited the words “forward thinking,” “engaging,” “friendly,” “confident,” “intelligent” and “likable” as words that they feel describe their village.

BDI team members used this feedback to help craft a statement they think defines Oswego.

“If someone says why do you live in Oswego, hopefully this will be your response,” Lane said before reading the statement.

In it, Lane says “Oswego is a forward thinking, business friendly, regional entertainment destination where residents and visitors gather in an engaging natural environment.”

Now, this long sentiment won’t be printed on T-shirts anytime soon as part of the village’s marketing strategy. It was instead devised to give BDI an idea of what Oswego wants to represent and how to handle the marketing to make sure the perception is received by others.

“It’s so fun for me to be able to have in a sentence who we are, which we haven’t been able to say across the board for a while,” Village President Gail Johnson said.

The survey results and having the promise statement in hand will help develop Phase II of the Regional Positioning Plan, which will be the road map to developing the village’s marketing plan.

Phase II will include more of creative elements such as logo, tagline, motto and marketing strategy.

County Board OKs $64.8 million budget Estimated property tax rate expected to drop slightly

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com The Kendall County Board approved a $64.8 million budget in a split vote at a special meeting Nov. 29.

Board Chairman John Shaw and board members Judy Gilmour, Lynn Cullick, Matthew Prochaska, Scott Gryder and John Purcell voted in favor of the budget, while board members Jeff Wehrli and Robert “H.D.” Davidson voted against it.

The budget approved by the board includes expenses of $64,798,435, and revenues of $64,261,876.

Prior to the vote, Wehrli voiced

frustration with the board’s finance committee and its chairman, Purcell, about the amount of information available to the public on the budget before it was approved. He also said little discussion was had about the Health Department having to reduce its expenses by $225,000 to help balance the county’s budget.

“The way this has been done is a mockery of transparency,” Wehrli said. “You guys have decided amongst yourselves what’s gonna happen and you’ve put it down on paper, and unless people go and look at it and find it, it’s not discussed. And I find that pretty sad. It’s not the way Kendall County

should be run.”

Purcell responded that he appreciated Wehrli’s concerns, but that the issues were discussed at the committee of the whole meeting in November, finance committee meetings, and with the Health Department. Wehrli said he didn’t think “you ever brought it up at a board meeting.”

According to information from County Administrator Jeff Wilkins, the estimated property tax rate for the county’s portion of a resident’s tax bill is expected to be reduced, from 79 cents to 74.9 cents per $100 of EAV for taxes to be paid next year. He estimated that the owner of a $100,000 home would save $13.76 on their property tax bill next year, provided that the assessment stays the same.

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.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Montgomery Village Board Committee of the Whole, Montgomery Village Hall. (Canceled)

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.: Fox Metro Water Reclamation District Board, Main Treatment Plant, Oswego Township.

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

Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Oswego Historic Preservation Commission, Oswego Village Hall.

Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: KenCom ­Executive Board, County Public Safety Center, Yorkville.

CIVIC MEETINGS WEEK OF DEC. 19-23 Monday, 6:30 p.m.: Montgomery Historic Preservation Commission, Montgomery Village Hall.

Monday, 7 p.m.: Montgomery and Countryside Fire Protection District Board, Station One, Montgomery.

Tuesday, 9 a.m.: Kendall County Board, County Office Building, Yorkville.

Tuesday, 9 a.m.: Kendall County Board

‘3B’ options chosen; 7th- and 8th-graders allowed to stay at current schools

By ERIKA WURST news@kendallcountynow.com

began four months ago. That decision would be up to the board alone.

One major question hanging in the air Monday was about transportation costs if the district decided to allow all incoming seventh- and eighth-grade students to remain at their current schools, and keep busing them as usual until they filter into the high school feeders.

Derek Berlin, the district’s transportation director, said that even in spite of the $400,000 the district will be saving after switching kindergarten students back to their home schools, about $50,000 additional dollars will have to come out of the district’s pocket for two more years to provide those grandfathered students transportation.

About 12 to 13 additional bus routes will have to be created to get students where they are going.

In the end, the board decided that the cost was worth keeping students at their current schools and agreed to

bus the grandfathered middle school students.

Now that the decision has been made, the real work goes into action.

Beginning the week of Dec. 19, parents will be able to access an address locator online that will tell them their children’s new school and feeder system.

Principals will be given ideas then of which students will be shifted or not shifted, and then on the week of Jan. 6, welcome letters will be sent to residents from principals, welcoming new students.

Also beginning on Dec. 19, parents can fill out attendance exception forms. These can be returned up until Feb. 1 when a committee will review the requests, looking at space availability.

High school students looking to remain at their current high schools will be able to do so, but must fill out an exception form and provide their own transportation.

Reminder on snow parking Montgomery tax levy shows OSWEGO LEDGER

Montgomery officials are urging village residents to abide by a village ordinance that prohibits vehicles to remain parked on village streets after snowfalls of 2 inches or more.

In a statement posted on the village’s website, village officials noted that public works crew members were hampered in their efforts to plow local streets during a Dec. 4 snowstorm due to a large number of vehicles left parked on streets throughout the village.

“Parked cars make snow removal more dangerous and time-consuming, which in turn costs taxpayers far more money,” the statement noted.

The statement continues, “Fortunately, due to a very mild win-

ter last year, this wasn’t much of an issue, as only one storm on Feb. 14, 2016, measured 2 inches and not much more. This season, forecasters are predicting a far more active weather pattern with cold temperatures. If the snow is not removed from the roadway while fresh, it will freeze and can cause damage to vehicles and the potential for flooding during a rain event or thaw cycle.”

The statement concludes, “This season the Montgomery Police Department along with Community Development and Public Works will be enforcing this often-overlooked ordinance. Vehicles may be ticketed or towed.

Please consider this a friendly reminder to remove your vehicles from the roadway during snow events.”

small increase over last year’s

By JOHN ETHEREDGE jetheredge@shawmedia.com

The village of Montgomery will collect slightly more in property taxes in the coming year under a tax levy ordinance adopted by the village board in a unanimous ballot Monday evening.

As approved, the village’s tax levy request totals $2,168,461, $31,570 more than last year’s total levy request of $2,136,891.

Prior to balloting on the motion, Village President Matt Brolley noted that the board received no prior comment on the tax levy during a required public hearing.

The newly adopted levy will be applied to property tax bills received by property owners next spring.

Typically, the village’s tax levy ac-

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counts for about 5 percent of the total amount owed on local property tax bills.

For example, last year the village’s total tax rate was 0.5804 for every $100 of equalized assessed valuation.

Based on that rate, the owner of a home valued at $200,000 that did not claim Homestead or any other available exemptions paid $386.93 in property taxes to the village this year.

In addition to adopting the levy, the board also approved special service area (SSA) levies totaling $316,000 for several local subdivisions. The levies are collected annually to pay for maintenance of stormwater detention facilities and other improvements in the subdivisions.

The levies are charged only to the homeowners in the individual subdivisions.

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Thursday, December 15, 2016

Junior high students who were worried about having to switch schools next fall as a result of School District 308’s attendance boundary changes can breath a little easier following Monday evening’s unanimous vote by the Board of Education that will allow them to remain at their current schools.

The board ultimately approved boundary map option 3B at the middle school level, but are allowing for next year’s seventh- and eighth-grade students affected by the decision to remain at their current junior high schools. The new 3B feeder maps will affect incoming sixth-grade students only.

The decision followed a long discussion at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting where board members, again, heard public comments on the boundary map decisions and mulled

over the recommendation of the Boundary Advisory Committee.

The committee came to the board two weeks ago and recommended the elementary level 3B feeder map, agreeing that the scenario is best for the district. The board agreed.

After reviewing three possi ble boundary maps affecting middle school students, the committee recommended moving forward with two possible scenarios, 3B and 3C, and then letting the Board of Education make the final decision as to which boundary map is best.

Board member Lauri Doyle, who was a member of the Boundary Advisory Committee, said the group was leaning toward 3B, which the board ultimately decided was also the better of the two options.

One thing the committee couldn’t decide or discuss was the option of grandfathering students, which has been of much interest to many parents since boundary change discussions

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

District 308 OKs boundary changes

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Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

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OPINIONS OUR VIEW

New year should bring push to improve Rt. 47 We praised Kendall County Board member Scott Gryder back in 2014 when he joined with fellow board member Lynn Cullick to lead an effort to jump-start the planning effort to widen traffic-snarled Wolf’s Crossing Road in Oswego. Now, we would like to see Gryder, in his new role as county board chairman, organize a similar effort to spur the Illinois Department of Transportation to expedite the widening of Route 47 between Yorkville and Sugar Grove.

Anyone who regularly drives Route 47 will understand the need to widen the highway from its current two-lane

configuration to four lanes. Traffic backs up in the northbound lanes of the highway every weekday morning, especially at Galena Road and at Route 30 and Jericho Road at the county line.

Meanwhile, traffic is usually a solid, continuous line of slowly creeping vehicles every weekday evening from Sugar Grove south to Yorkville.

The traffic back-ups are, at minimum, a daily annoyance for thousands of county residents, but also pose a public safety hazard and a hindrance to county and local economic development efforts.

It’s interesting to note that con-

tractors for IDOT are now proceeding with the widening of Route 34 between Yorkville and Oswego, even though the traffic volume on the segment of Route 34 set for improvement is significantly less than the traffic on Route 47 between Yorkville and Sugar Grove. According to IDOT’s own Average Daily Traffic (ADT) figures, traffic volume on the segment of Route 34 set for widening ranges from 13,700 to 14,100 vehicles, while the ADT on Route 47 between Yorkville and Sugar Grove ranges from a low of 14,400 to 16,000.

The coming year may prove to be

a good time for county, other local officials and area state and federal lawmakers to take up the more-lanesfor-Route 47 cause.

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed cutting taxes while at the same time borrowing $1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years to fund a nationwide infrastructure improvement program. If that program ever gets off the ground, U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, should work to bring some of those funds to his district to improve Route 47 and, while he’s at it, Route 30 between Route 47 and Route 31 in Montgomery.

Snowy days create their own sounds, smells going in the door of the chicken house, with its heavy smell of feathers and nesting straw complemented by the Roger sounds of chuckling hens.

Heading back to the house pulling a Matile brand new sled, magnificent in its varDespite the effects of climate change nished wood and red painted runners on our Illinois winters, it still gives me that just the day before were carefully a warm feeling to sit here in my office, polished with a bit of steel wool and in the house my great-grandparents then waxed with the nub of an old candle, it was not too difficult to imagine built as their retirement home, and Arctic explorers or Eskimo hunters watch the flakes fall during an early trudging alongside, sharing the advenwinter snowfall. tures and hardships of a long, frozen Downtown, children and adults, journey fraught with all manner of all dressed in high-tech, down-filled, dangers. Do you suppose a polar bear rip-stop winter clothing, hurry along smells anything like a tail-wagging the sidewalks on their way to and from dog after she’s had a happy roll in the downtown stores. Today’s clothing is snow? lighter and more comfortable and auPhoto provided by the Little White School Museum tos and other pieces of necessary maAfter stamping and sweeping the A snowy day in 1943 at the intersection of Main and Washington streets in Oswego. chinery are more dependable, but an snow from boots and snow pants, that Illinois winter’s cold, wind and snow wonderful kitchen all grandmothers are constants that conjure up memoseemed to possess, with all its special down a deserted village lane, or across for warmth, waiting for clear flying ries of winters and holidays past. wintertime aromas, provided the pera lonely farmstead, a winter day stroll- weather. fect welcome. The cheery cookstove, These days, I chiefly recall those er had plenty of time to get off the road A snowstorm has a smell all its all shiny white porcelain and dull days of decades ago by their sounds when traffic came from behind. The own, you know. It is a sharp, clean black cast iron, warmed the room and and aromas. chains everyone used for traction in smell that puts a person in mind of provided, back behind and next to the The sound of a small boy walking snow and on ice in those pre-snow tire, those stiffly white, freshly frozen bed wall, the perfect haven for a slumberalong a snowy lane with corduroy pre-front-wheel-drive days heralded sheets everyone’s grandmother gathing cat curled up in a cardboard box. pants and five-buckle boots seemed each car and truck well in advance, as ered in off the clothes line in deepest Huge fresh-baked sugar cookies and unnaturally loud during a quiet early the chained tires squeaked and jingled January; an aroma that, I am quite fluted-edged molasses cookies, each morning snowfall. Each step produced and jangled through the snow. sure, certain businessmen would sell a “whoop-clink!” as first one and During a snowstorm, all the regular their very souls for, could it be bottled with three small half-circles indented (creating dark brown smiley faces way then another corduroyed leg noisily and lined up on store shelves. daytime sounds were muffled by the before emojis were a gleam in somebrushed against its brother with a Out in back of the chicken house, dense whiteness as it cascaded to the one’s digital dreams), cooling on the rough-soft sound punctuated by the large icicles hung down from the roof, ground, allowing a keen ear to pick musical jingle of boot buckles. looking for all the world like stalactites kitchen counter added a sweet smell of out familiar noises only now and If the weather was right and the hanging from the ceiling of a prehistor- sugar and spice all their own. then. Here the scrape of a shovel on a The scarf was unwound, the hat snowflakes were too, the tiny crackle concrete drive or walk, there the joyful ic cave. There is a certain unique beauand mittens removed, the thick winter each one made as it landed could be ty in a clear, sharply tapering icicle. cry of a sledder on the way down a coat unbuckled and unzipped. Damp heard – if a sharp young ear was close And nothing seemed quite so warm steep hill. But mostly, it was quiet as enough to a winter coat’s arm. and wonderful as, while still grasping even the noisy English sparrows sat Trudging along a country road, See REFLECTIONS, page 5 that freshly-born crystal clear icicle, hunched with their feathers fluffed

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With 2017 nearly upon us, I wanted to share with you some of the changes that already are happening at KendallCountyNow.com, and what that means for you, the reader.

Starting earlier this month, we began the process of executing one of our biggest goals for 2017: making the user experience online a top priority. We’ve heard the feedback from readers over the past year and a half. Our website is too slow, not streamlined enough; there are too many obstacles when all I want

VIEWS John Sahly to do is find out about a local event, etc.

We’ve heard you, and we’re taking steps to fix it. That starts by making KendallCountyNow.com faster and stripping down some of the most intrusive obstacles.

At Shaw Media, we are making a committed effort this year to faster load

times. You want news. You want to learn about an event. You want to read up on that new restaurant in town. We want to get you there as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean all interactive ads are going away. We still need to pay for our journalism. But you should notice a better experience.

If you’ve noticed this on our websites already, that’s great. We want to hear from you, because your feedback is important to us. We’ve got a few more changes in store for 2017 to make

the experience better, whether you visit us every day or come to us through our Facebook page when something strikes your interest.

Let us know what other changes you’d like to see to make your experience with us better. We serve the community, and that starts by listening to you.

• John Sahly is senior digital editor for Shaw Media. Email him at jsahly@ shawmedia.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Liberals and love

To the Editor: For a liberal to lecture a conservative about love takes a whole lot of chutzpah (this is not a compliment, for those who don’t know the word).

The people who turn to violence and destruction in their protests and demonstrations. The people who use hateful language attacks against conservative political leaders. The same people who sit and watch streaming video of their compatriots under attack (for six hours) and do nothing to help. I could go on but I hope you get the point.

Liberal and love just don’t go together in the same sentence, let alone qualify the left to lecture the right about love.

But more to the point, this is a personal matter.

Maybe it’s just me but I have liberal friends who have been noticeably absent (the word shunned comes to mind) in my life ever since I told them I was going to vote for Trump.

Now, mind you, when they announced to me that they were going to vote for Obama, I felt the same way they looked when I told them I was going to vote for Trump so I know how they feel. But over the next eight years as the liberals proceeded to dismantle our culture, spend

• REFLECTIONS

Continued from page 4 mittens were put on the back of the cookstove to dry, all of it adding a moist wool smell to the room.

Remarkable designs had appeared overnight on the windows, with mysterious, enigmatic, beautiful scenes outlined in shining frost. Who was this wintertime Picasso and why did he seem to do his finest work on Grandmother’s kitchen windows? Jack Frost

consequence. Instead he saved (I use that word loosely) less than half the jobs that were set to go to Mexico by paying off the company with $7 million in tax breaks and who knows what else to its parent company United Technologies who already makes billions off defense contracts. Adding insult to the workers who will still lose their jobs right before Christmas, he said they make air conditioners there when it’s actually furnaces.

So few promises kept, so many tweets to make. If I was a tweeter, I’d remind us how President Obama had saved the auto industry when he came into power saving one million jobs, not just 800 or so.

When he took office we were bleeding 800,000 jobs a month and on the brink Rod Beary Oswego of a depression. Instead he created a momentum of job creation culminating in Too much to include at once 74 months of consecutive job growth and To the Editor: lowest unemployment rate in nine years, We all forget things, but a promise to all while Mitch McConnell and at least the American people by the incoming seven other Republicans vowed from the president about how he would save jobs night of his inauguration that they would at Carrier in Indianapolis, Indiana, should block every proposal he would make have been a high priority to show his good despite how it would help the country. intent for the future.

On top of that, he was still able to lower He said that he would raise the tariff on the debt that had been increased by American companies sending our manuBush’s illegal war on Iraq, whose cost was never added to the budget until Obama facturing jobs overseas for cheap labor, then bringing their product back without a took office. recklessly and without positive effect, screw things up so much on the international scene that they caused vast migrations of people....etc., etc. I didn’t turn my back on my liberal friends. I think they are grossly misguided in their preferences but I didn’t shun them. We continued to get together periodically and have a nice time.

We just didn’t talk about politics. I think they were embarrassed and for my part, I didn’t rub it in.

So, I think the liberals really ought to get off their attacks against conservatives for being mean and heartless. I think conservatives know more about love than liberals will ever know.

did it, was the unsatisfactory explanation.

In this day and age, a snowstorm’s quiet is punctuated by the muffled, mechanized roar of neighborhood snowblowers and pickup-mounted snowplows, but the delighted squeals of snowbound children, sentenced to frolic with sleds and snow saucers for the day, are still also there, provided you’re willing to listen hard and patiently enough.

The musical clinking of tire chains is mostly absent these days – at least

in this part of the country – and the distinctive sounds made by walkers clad in corduroy pants and five-buckle boots have given way to the sleeker sounds of nylon trousers and boots apparently modeled on those worn by Moon-walking astronauts. And our modern double-glazed windows have robbed poor old Jack Frost of his best medium; he must be content these days with fewer and fewer suitable single-pane windows – hardly what the old master deserves.

The constant is the snow itself, cre-

It’s bad when the president-elect tweets lies about having won the popular vote over Hillary because of the millions of illegal votes cast in California without any proof, when there is proof of voter suppression and other voter fiddling in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, just to name a few.

It gets worse when the Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan won’t quash those lies. Paul, it appears, will go along with anything Trump wants because he is so anxious to get rid of our Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare and environmental regulations, just to name a few.

Stay tuned. We are in for some very interesting times ahead.

Judy Siedlecki Oswego

It just isn’t right

To the Editor: The proposal to fund the Morgan Creek Drainage District was taxes on each residential and agricultural property. Taxes would be based on the properties’ impact to the district. Residential properties would be taxed at a rate of $10 per lot • Continued on page 6

ating a thick, soft white blanket that covers carefully manicured lawns and scarred construction sites alike. For all our modem, efficient snow clearing equipment, the dense white of our modern winter storms still slow our bustling suburban lives to an unwanted – but often secretly enjoyed – walk.

The trick is to slow down and enjoy it for what it is.

• Looking for more local history?

Visit http://historyonthefox.wordpress.com.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

Making readers’ experience better at KendallCountyNow.com

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • Continued from page 5

(a typical lot is about 1/3 acre), agricultural at a rate of $3 per acre. Hmmmm.

Most residential developments have retention and detention ponds to both control and filter water before it’s released into the creek. Developments have wetlands designed to do the same as well as to replenish our aquifer. These retention, detention and wetlands didn’t happen by chance, nor were they free.

The developers built these control areas to specifications set forth by our governing bodies and added the cost to the sale price of the lots. We already paid to protect this district.

Regarding the agricultural property, farmland can typically absorb approximately 3 inches of rain after which it runs off carrying dirt, fertilizers and crop residue. Without the use of on-property grass waterways, the silt and debris collect in the ditches and pipes under the roads and eventually restrict water flow, which in turn can potentially obstruct further drainage. The township and county highway departments often clean these ditches along the roads (our tax dollars at work).

These ditches ultimately drain into the creek. In some locations, Morgan Creek has park property on both sides; thus, the park district maintains this portion of the creek with our tax dollars.

The tax proposal for residential property at $10 per 1/3 acre ($30 per acre rate) provides little to no benefit to residential property owners. However, agricultural property owners taxed at only $3 per acre would benefit by having drainage ditches within farmland dredged.

Although the $10 per year tax may seem insignificant, it just isn’t right. I attended a couple of hearings on this matter.

Although the judge hearing this case initially listened to all individuals present, the attorneys for the district promptly requested that only those with filed motions be heard before the court. To file a motion, research all parties, send each your intentions, file with the court along with $144, and you’re in. That’s 14-plus years of taxes. They got me.

An added note, the Kendall County Forest Preserve District has already agreed to pay a yearly fee (our money). Who’s next?

Tom Johannessen Oswego

Christmas Walk thanks

To the Editor: Thank you to everyone who came out to Oswego’s Christmas Walk Dec. 2.

The weather was cold, but there was no

snow until the next day. The Oswegoland Woman’s Civic Club wants to thank all of you who once again bought all of our homemade cookies and signed Christmas cards for veterans in veterans’ homes in Illinois.

We’ve been selling our homemade cookies for years, previously in the firehouse on Main Street, last year at Floral Expressions, and this year at the newly opened Hudson Design House. We want to give a special thanks to the generous hospitality of owners Autumn, Leslie and Amy, who accommodated us so graciously to make this year especially fun and successful.

Hope you’ll come down to the corner of Main and Washington, right across the street from The Marmalade Tree, to see what they have to offer: lots of refurbished furniture, antiques, collectibles, paintings and unique treats throughout the store.

We also want to thank our local – on Route 34 – Olive Garden manager Jessica Anderson who provided us with an Olive Garden basket full of goodies to raffle off.

The winner was Barbara Woods of Oswego. Thanks to all who participated.

Many of you took off your gloves to sign 175 Christmas cards for vets that night to thank them for their service. Thank you to all of you who signed cards then and to Bednarcik, Thompson and Traughber Junior High Schools, Maddie and Evie Sims from Murphy Jr. High School, Oswegoland Park District, Meagan at School District 308 Transportation, Oswego Senior Center, and those who came to the Lions Club Ham Dinner at the American Legion for also participating in getting over 1,200 cards signed for our wonderful veterans.

Oswegoland Woman’s Civic Club members volunteer their time and talents to support many programs, such as Art Appreciation at all participating elementary schools, Celebrate Differences (founded by member Rebecca Christiansen), Hands of Hope, Kendall County Community Food Pantry, Kendall County 4-H trophies, Mutual Ground, and summer campership awards at all five junior high schools. The Christmas Walk cookie sale is one of our biggest fundraisers along with Wine on the Fox raffle baskets in May. For more information or to join OWCC, please call President Kathy Guseman at 630-5545848 or V.P. Judy Siedlecki at 630-5511852.

Thank you everyone and a special holiday greeting to all of you from all of us.

Kathy Guseman, Cynthia Mayer and Carole Houck Chairs, Oswegoland Woman’s Civic Club Oswego

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Shaw reflects on chairmanship

By TONY SCOTT tscott@kendallcountynow.com Yorkville resident John Shaw’s term as a Kendall County Board member, and board chairman, ended this month.

Shaw, 78, had been chairman since 2012 and a board member since 2008. He plans on running for Kendall Township trustee in the April election.

Shaw, who peppered his County Board meetings with jokes and asides, said the key to being a good board chairman is getting independent people to work together. He has likened the chairmanship to “herding cats.”

“The goal of the chairman of the County Board, how I like to characterize it, is to get enough of the cats that are very independent to go in the same direction so we can get something done,” he said.

“It was interesting.”

Shaw said his background in running a limestone business helped him with being a successful chairman.

“My experience in trying to sell limestone products helped a lot, in that, when you approach people to sell something, a product, you have to listen to them,” he said. “You can’t be dogmatic.”

Shaw said he also previously served as an elected Lisbon Township clerk and

a member of the Lisbon-Seward Fire Protection District Board, and said those experiences helped him as a board chairman as well.

“I learned, especially from the township, that not everybody was always on the same page,” he said. “The trustees ... asked a lot of questions. It wasn’t just cut and dried.”

Shaw defended township government in the wake of calls to eliminate townships in recent years.

Proponents of eliminating townships have argued that it is another layer of John Shaw unnecessary government.

But Shaw said townships serve a purpose, and that it could cost the county money to hire staff, for example, to handle the additional road maintenance.

“People are not aware or don’t stop to think about the fact that every township handles the tax assessment in the township, and I think they figured they would have to hire [in the county Supervisor of Assessments Office] at least 11 or maybe 12 new employees,” he said. “Those could very easily be union employees. Then you’d have to hire, I would say 15 new people to work in the Highway Department. And the further south you get and

“My experience in trying to sell limestone products helped a lot, in that, when you approach people to sell something, a product, you have to listen to them. You can’t be dogmatic.”

John Shaw west, it would be the same way. So I think townships are very necessary.”

Looking back on his time as chairman, Shaw said the attempt to change the County Board’s pay from per diem, or per-day, to a straight annual salary, along with eliminating the mileage reimbursement and health insurance benefits for board members, was a “failed accomplishment.”

“This is an ongoing argument that you should not get rid of per diems because that way you can tell who’s coming to meetings and who isn’t,” he said.

“That’s an argument that [former Chairman] Anne [Vickery] and I had.”

Shaw said he didn’t have any regrets from his time as chairman.

“I enjoyed it,” he said.

BRIEF 2 file for Oswego Village Board seats – so far

As of presstime this week just two candidates had filed petitions to run for three open seats on the Oswego Village Board.

The two candidates, Brian Thomas of 114 Spencer Lane and Donnie L. Soard of 390 Andover Drive, both previously filed petitions to run in a Feb. 28 consolidated primary election.

However, since not enough candidates filed petitions, a primary election will not be held, according to information provided by the village. Instead, both Thomas and Soard will have their names listed as candidates in the consolidated election set for April 4.

The petition filing period for candidates seeking to run in the April 4 voting will conclude at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill.

The seats up for election are currently held by Judy Sollinger, Pam Parr and Luis Perez.

– John Etheredge

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How Kendall County’s lawmakers voted on Exelon bill: Senate n Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, did not vote n Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, did not vote n Sue Rezin, R-Morris, yes n Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, yes House n Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, yes n Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, no n David Welter, R-Morris, yes n Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego, no Batinick said he spent much of his Thanksgiving weekend trying to get information about the bill because it’s been changed so many times.

Several changes were made to it on the day it passed. On principle alone, Batinick said he was against the legislation and that the state budget and essential services need to be the first priority over a bailout of a profitable, multibillion-dollar company.

Batinick said that Illinois ratepayers, with the increase, will be

subsidizing electricity for residents of many other states. The power grid that Exelon nuclear plants provide energy for stretches from Texas and Louisiana at the south, all the way north to Manitoba, Canada, he said.

Other Republicans, such as state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and state Rep. David Welter, R-Morris, voted in favor of the bill. Many employees of Exelon’s Dresden, Braidwood and LaSalle nuclear stations live in their respective districts. Rezin’s district includes a large portion of southern and western Kendall County.

“My belief is that supporting this legislation will protect small, medium and large energy users greater than doing nothing,” Welter stated in a news release.

Rezin stated in a news release that the legislation will keep nuclear power plants in Cordova and Clinton in operation, saving thousands of jobs and keeping those communities from economic devastation.

Batinick said the bill was the only big piece of legislation the General Assembly has really worked on since a stop-gap budget was approved in late June. Now, the state will go into 2017 with no budget for the second half of the fiscal year.

MORRIS – John Anthony, former 75th District state representative, is no longer the executive assistant to the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he was making $10,000 a month after leaving his position as state representative.

Nicole Wilson from media relations with the Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed by email that “John Anthony’s employment with the Illinois Department of Corrections ended Wednesday, December 7th.”

“The IDOC does not discuss personnel matters and cannot provide any further information,” Wilson said in the email.

Several calls to Anthony for comment were not returned Saturday.

Records show Anthony made just more than $82,000 this year for his work at both the Department of Corrections and as a state representative.

Anthony, who was appointed to the position of state representative in 2013, announced his resignation from office June 17 of this year for the $120,000-a-year state job. David A. Welter, R-Morris, was appointed to fill the seat in July and won the general election in November to retain the seat.

– Heidi Litchfield

Oswego police stepping up traffic enforcement efforts Oswego police are participating this holiday season in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s special yearend Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign. Beginning Friday, Dec. 16, and continuing into the New Year, motorists will see stepped-up enforcement

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Data shows the decision to drive while impaired can have serious and sometimes deadly consequences. In 2015, 35,092 people in the United States were

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The Illinois House and Senate approved a bill earlier this month that has been characterized as an Exelon bailout by those opposed to it and a job-saving, renewable-energy-­ promoting bill by those in favor of it.

The Senate passed the bill with a 32-18 vote and the House passed it with a 63-38 vote. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the bill Dec. 7.

Exelon stated in June that it would close two nuclear plants – one in June 2017 in Clinton and one in June 2018 in Cordova – if the state did not act on the legislation.

The legislation, which has been modified during the past two years, would give $235 million each year to utilities and allow ComEd to increase spending on energy efficiency. Monthly rates will increase for ComEd customers, but the increase will be limited to 25 cents a month.

State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, came out strongly against the bill when given the chance to speak last week on the house floor. Batinick’s district includes a portion of Oswego Township and the village of Oswego.

Local votes

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Former Rep. Anthony leaves Department of Corrections job

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Local reps split on Exelon bailout

BRIEF

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

| LOCAL NEWS

10

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS County Line Rd. crash A Newark resident, Caleb James Pulliam, 19, of the 2800 block of Route 52, was injured in a single-vehicle crash Dec. 12 at 5:33 p.m. in the 3900 block of County Line Road, Newark. Police said Pulliam lost control of his pickup truck on the ice-covered road. He was transported to Morris Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to police.

burglary that occurred at a home in the 0-50 block of Springdale Road in Boulder Hill Dec. 12.

Minor injury in school bus crash A total of 23 Lisbon Grade School District students escaped injury Monday at 8:15 a.m. when the school bus they were passengers in was involved in a crash in the 13000 block of Apakesha Grove Road in Big Grove Township, according to the county sheriff’s office. Police said Michael T. Sulwer, 66, of the 13000 block of Apakesha Grove Road, Newark, was plowing his driveway in a 1990 Chevrolet 3500 when he pulled onto the roadway in front of the school bus being driven by Emily Z. Friestad, 33, of Bushnell School Road, Newark. Police said Sulwer reported an injury to his thumb in the crash. No other injuries were reported, according to police. Police said Sulwer was issued three citations. Lisbon School Superintendent Michael Rustman told police that all parents of the children who were riding on the bus were notified of the crash, police said.

Minor injuries in crash A Millington resident, Brandon L. Newberry, of the 0-300 block of Grant Street, was injured in a single-vehicle crash Dec. 12 at 3:12 p.m. in the 10000 block of Crimmin Road in Big Grove Township. Police said Newberry apparently lost control of his vehicle and it rolled over, striking a mailbox, fencepost and then a tree.

Newberry was transported to Morris Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, police said.

Burglary investigation The county sheriff’s office reported this week that they are investigating a residential

‘Toys from the Attic’ exhibit now open

Cannabis found in book County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident in which someone placed cannabis inside a book and then sent the book to an inmate in the county jail in Yorkville.

Senior scammed A 76-year-old Boulder Hill resident was the victim of a scam Dec. 8 at 1:46 p.m., according to the county sheriff’s office. Police said the victim received a call from a subject identifying himself as the victim’s grandson. The caller said he needed money sent to a location out of state for legal purposes.

The victim then sent $950 via Western Union to the subject. The victim later learned that the • Continued on page 11

Photo provided

Let Oswego’s Little White School Museum help you get in the Christmas spirit with their annual “Toys from the Attic” special exhibit, which opened Dec. 3.

For this year’s exhibit, museum manager Tina Heidrich (pictured working on the exhibit) has combed the museum’s collections to find a fascinating collection of seldom-seen toys, games and holiday cards that made Christmas such a special holiday for area families during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Oswegoland. The exhibit will extend through January. Regular museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are always accepted. The museum will be closed Dec. 24-26 and on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. For information, call 630-554-2999 or email info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.

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Dan Koukol of Oswego. LeClercq is the former Oswego village president, and Koukol was most reand JOHN ETHEREDGE cently a Kendall Counnews@kendallcountynow.com ty Board member.

Several area residents have filed Filing for highway as independent candidates for Oswego commissioner were Township races this week.

Claude J. Ainsworth The filing period started Monday of Montgomery, Aaron and runs through next Monday, Dec. Grosskopf of Oswego, Robert D. Roger19. The election will be held April 4. son of Montgomery, and Terry Olson Filing for township supervisor of Oswego. were Brian LeClercq of Oswego and Grosskopf is the son of Gary Gross-

By TONY SCOTT

tscott@kendallcountynow.com

kopf, who has served as highway commissioner since he defeated longtime incumbent Jack Walper in 1989.

Filing for township assessor was David E. Maher of Oswego, who is the incumbent assessor.

Filing for trustees on the township board were Tom Yackley of Oswego and Jan Alexander of Oswego. Yackley is a current township trustee. All four of the trustee seats are up for election in April.

Filing as Republicans for Oswego

BRIEF

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

Montgomery incumbents file petitions for April

• Continued from page 10 subject was not his grandson.

Firearm stolen A firearm was stolen from a residence Dec. 12 at 3:30 a.m. in the 11000 block of Fox Road in Kendall Township, according to the county sheriff’s office.

Police said they are investigating.

One hurt in Rt. 71 crash A Yorkville resident, Heather Siebert, 36, of the 5000 block of Fields Drive, was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Route 71 at Van Emmon Road in Kendall Township Dec. 11 at 1:15 p.m., according to the county sheriff’s office.

Police said Siebert was traveling west on Reservation Road when her vehicle was struck by a vehicle being driven by Guadalupe Amezoda Hernandez, 55, of the 500 block of Ashland Avenue, Aurora. Police said Siebert was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, while Hernandez was cited for disobeying a stop light.

Plano man injured A Plano man, Steven T. Gilliiam, 32, of the 4000 block of Klatt Street, was injured in a crash at Route 52 and Grove Road in Seward Township Dec. 7 at 8:21 a.m., according to the county sheriff’s office.

Police said Gilliiam was treated and released from an • Continued on page 12

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were trustees Steve Jungermann of 2109 Emma Ave., Theresa Montgomery Village President Sperling of 1659 Lexington Drive, and Denny Leey of 527 S. Main Matt Brolley and three incumbent village board members filed St. Also filing to run for the position petitions Monday morning at of clerk was Penny FitzPatrick of Village Hall to have their names 1807 Winmont Court. FitzPatrick placed on the April 4 ballot for was appointed to serve as clerk re-election. earlier this year when the previBrolley, who resides at 2127 Emma Court, will seek re-election ous clerk stepped down.

The one-week period for candito a second four-year term as dates to file petitions will end at village president.

5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.

Filing petitions to run for – John Etheredge re-election to the village board

Township races in November were Michael F. Becker of Boulder Hill for township supervisor, Stephen Youhanaie of Oswego for township clerk, Jeffery Christiansen of Oswego for township highway commissioner, and Diane Selmer and Leah Philpot, both of Oswego, for township trustee seats.

Filing for School District 308 Board of Education seats were Toni Morgan, Dominick Cirone and Heather Moyer, according to the Kendall County Clerk’s Office.

11

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Oswego Township, D-308 candidates file to run in April

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

| LOCAL NEWS

12

KENDALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS • Continued from page 11 area hospital.

Harbor Drive arrests County sheriff’s deputies arrested two ­people while investigating a report of a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 100 block of Harbor Drive Dec. 11 at 11:53 p.m.

Police said Lorenzo Juarez Camarillo, 24, of the 1200 block of New York Street, Aurora, was taken into custody on a Kane County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of driving on a suspended license. Olga Garcia, 27, of the 100 block of Harbor Drive, Oswego, was arrested on a Kane County warrant for failure to appear in court on a prior DUI charge. Both suspects were transported to the Kendall County Jail in Yorkville pending court proceedings.

Fraud investigated The county sheriff’s office is investigating a fraud case reported to them Dec. 9. Police said on Dec. 5 a Seward Township resident paid $1,000 to purchase a vehicle online. Police said the online ad for the vehicle proved to be fictitious and the buyer lost $1,000.

Park sign damaged Oswegoland Park District officials told county sheriff’s deputies that an unknown vehicle struck and damaged a sign at the entrance to Saw Wee Kee Park in the 7000 block of Sundown Lane in Bristol Township Dec. 10 or Dec. 11. Police said both the sign and a support post were broken.

Parked vehicle damaged An unknown vehicle struck another vehicle that was parked in the street in the 100 block of Saugatuck Road in Boulder Hill Dec. 10 at 10:20 a.m., according to the county sheriff’s office. Police said the incident is under investigation.

Boulder Hill theft A PlayStation Vita was stolen from inside a residence in the 0-100 block of Greenfield Road in Boulder Hill Nov. 30, according to the county sheriff’s office. Police said the theft was reported to them Dec. 7 and is under investigation.

OSWEGO POLICE REPORTS Hit-and-run reported The county sheriff’s office is investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred Dec. 10 in the 0-10 block of Poplar Drive in Kendall Township. Police said an unknown vehicle struck a mailbox and then left the scene.

Vehicle damaged A Yorkville resident told county sheriff’s deputies that her Honda Fit was struck and damaged by another vehicle while it was parked in front of a residence in the 100 block of Braeburn Drive in Boulder Hill Dec. 9 between 6 p.m. and 6:30 pm. Police said the front driver’s side of the vehicle was damaged.

Forgery reported County sheriff’s deputies took a report of a forgery involving a transaction at a retail store in the 9600 block of Route 34 in Bristol Township Dec. 7. Police said the incident occurred Dec. 6.

Burglary investigated County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a burglary to a residence in the 100-200 block of Long Beach Road in Boulder Hill Dec. 7.

Police said someone kicked in the door of the residence.

Cellphone stolen A cellphone valued at $600 was stolen when it was left on the counter of a gas station in the 17000 block of Ridge Road in Seward Township near Minooka Dec. 7 at 3:10 p.m., according to the county sheriff’s office.

Dog attack An Oswego man and his two dogs were attacked by two other dogs on Seton Creek Drive at Wollmington Way in the village Dec. 7 at 6:45 a.m., village police reported.

Warrant arrest Oswego police arrested Leticia M. Neal, 31, of the 1200 block of Second Avenue, Aurora, on a warrant at a residence in the 300 block of Wolverine Drive Dec. 9. Police said Neal was transported to the Kendall County Jail in Yorkville pending court proceedings.

Park fence damaged Oswego police are investigating a hitand-run crash at Prairie Point Community Park in the 4000 block of Plainfield Road Dec. 12. Police said an unknown vehicle left the roadway and struck a baseball fence, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage.

The park is owned and maintained by the Oswegoland Park District.

Checks, credit cards stolen Oswego police are investigating an incident in which someone stole and cashed a village resident’s checks. In addition, police said the victim’s credit card was also stolen and used on several occasions.

Hit-and-run reported Oswego police took a report of a hit-and-

run crash at Orchard and Mill roads Dec. 8.

Police said the crash occurred on Nov. 30 at 8:30 p.m. when an unknown motorist struck another vehicle and then left the scene. Damage to the victim’s vehicle was estimated at over $1,500.

Iowa man arrested Oswego police arrested Sherman J. Jones, 25, of the 1600 block of 14th Avenue, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on two count charges of domestic battery at a residence in the 400 block of Cobblestone Court in the village Dec. 6 at 8:21 p.m. Police said Jones was detained at the Kendall County jail in Yorkville pending court proceedings.

Vehicle theft investigated Oswego police are investigating the possible theft of a vehicle valued at $25,000 that had been parked on the street near the intersection of McGrath and Majestic Lane Dec. 6.

Facing felony theft charge Oswego police arrested Bonnie S. Jensen, 46, of the 1100 block of Fisk Road, Compton, Illinois, Dec. 6 at 12:55 p.m. at a store in the 3000 block of Route 34 in the village on charges of felony retail theft, obstructing identification and four outstanding warrants. Police said Jensen attempted to • Continued on page 13

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Injuries in crash The drivers of two vehicles involved in a crash on Millington Road at Rogers Road in Fox Township Dec. 8 at 11:48 a.m. were injured and treated at Valley West Hospital in Sandwich, according to the county sheriff’s office. Police said one of the drivers, Jaime L. Stoneking, 32, of the 25000-26000 block of North 4645th Road, Somonauk, was issued a citation for disobeying a traffic control device.

Traffic violations Porchia D. Parkerson, 27, of the 1200 block of Market Place Drive, Yorkville, driving on a suspended license.

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MONTGOMERY POLICE REPORTS

DUI arrest Montgomery police arrested Cesar Ortiz of Oswego while responding to a noise complaint in the 1800 block of Cambridge Drive Dec. 8 at 1:15 a.m. Police said Ortiz has been charged with driving under the influence.

p.m. in the 400 block of Route 30. Police said Szilage was arrested after they learned she was wanted on an Aurora police warrant for failure to appear in court on a prior driving under the influence of alcohol charge.

Hit-and-run A motorist told Montgomery police that another vehicle struck and damaged his 2013 Dodge while it was parked in the 1000 block of Aucutt Road Dec. 7 at 3:01 p.m. Police said the offending vehicle left the scene.

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Theft investigation Oswego police are investigating the theft of $2,000 from a bedroom in an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Farmington Lakes Drive Dec. 4 at 6:59 a.m. Police said they were notified of the theft Dec. 6.

Take theft report Oswego police received a report of a theft of merchandise valued at $500 from a retail store in the 2400 block of Route 34 in the village Dec. 7.

Primrose Lane damage A resident of the 40th block of Primrose Lane told Oswego police that someone

struck her vehicle while it was parked in her driveway Dec. 4. Police said damage to the vehicle was estimated in excess of $1,500 and an investigation is pending.

Multiple charges Oswego police arrested George R. Torres, 18, of the 700 block of Hamilton Avenue, Aurora, Dec. 7 at 1:33 p.m. in the 1500 block of Route 34. Police said Torres faces charges of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of cannabis and failure to appear in court on a warrant.

Traffic violations • Edgardo Aguinaga 23, of the 2900 block of Frank Turk Drive, Plainfield, no valid driver’s license.

• Mario J. Iglesias, 27, of the 0-100 block of North West Street, Aurora, no valid driver’s license and speeding.

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Cannabis charges Montgomery Police arrested Thomas Vehicle burglary O’Leary, 20, of the 300 block of River Street, Property was reported stolen from a vehicle Montgomery, after stopping his vehicle on Montgomery Road at Douglas Road Dec. 12 parked at a residence in the 1900 block of at 2:29 a.m.

Waverly Way Dec. 6 at 2:43 p.m., according Police said they searched the suspect’s to Montgomery police. vehicle found less than ten grams of cannabis Computer tablet stolen and a glass pipe used to smoke cannabis.

A computer tablet valued at $750 was sto- Police said the suspect was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful len from a vendor at a business in the 1000 possession of drug paraphernalia. He was block of Ogden Avenue Dec. 6 at 3:51 p.m., also cited for having an expired vehicle regisMontgomery police reported. tration sticker, police said.

Vehicle burglary Warrant arrest Montgomery police took a report of a Montgomery police arrested Irving Marvehicle burglary in the 2800 block of Rebecca tinez, 21, of the 700 block of Union Street, Circle Dec. 7 at 7:20 p.m. Police said the victim told them that someone stole property Aurora, while responding to a report of a disturbance involving two men in the 2100 block from his vehicle. of Orchard Road Dec. 11 at 10:46 p.m. Police said Martinez was arrested after they learned Theft arrest he was wanted on an Aurora police warrant Montgomery police arrested Jessica Luebbing of Montgomery Dec. 7 at 2:09 p.m. for driving under the influence of drugs. on a charge of theft at a business in the 1000 Traffic citations block of Ogden Avenue.

• Felix Velazquez, 19, of he 500 block of North Avenue, Aurora, driving while license Warrant arrest Montgomery police arrested Donna Szilage, suspended and expired registration.

• Jacquelyn Holmes, 20, of the 1000 block 56, of the 400 block of Montgomery Road, of Kate Drive, Yorkville, driving while license Montgomery, after the vehicle she was driving was involved in a crash Dec. 11 at 6:19 suspended and expired registration.

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LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

DUI charge after crash Montgomery police arrested Christopher Springman of Plano on a charge of driving under the influence Dec. 7 at 1:02 a.m. Police said Springman’s vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Orchard and Galena roads.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

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OHS hosts annual Crystals concert

BOTTOM LEFT: The Oswego High School band Brass Quartet, including members Ryan Davey, Nathan Labora, Delaney Henderson and Julia Wolke, perform “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

BOTTOM RIGHT: The Oswego High School choral group 6 Silly Geese perform the Straight No Chaser version of “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

ABOVE: Members of the Oswego High School choral group Commotion perform “Sparklejollytwinklejingly” on the main stage during the Crystals concert on Dec. 11.

LEFT: Audrey Mikelson sings “Christmas Lullaby.” For more photos from the performance, visit KendallCountyNow.com.

Photos by Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Thursday, December 15, 2016

ABOVE: Nicole Riordan sings “Angels We Have Heard on High” during the holiday Crystals concert at Oswego High School on Dec. 11.

LOCAL NEWS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

Over 400 Oswego High School student musicians presented the school’s 21st annual holiday “Crystals” concert in the school auditorium in four concerts held Saturday and Sunday.

15

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

| SPORTS

16 AREA ROUNDUP

Oswego East gets wins at Joliet Central OSWEGO LEDGER

The Oswego East wrestling team picked up a 45-30 win over Joliet Central on Dec. 8.

At 106, Evan Brauer pinned his opponent in 3:08, and at 113, Ian Smith won a 4-0 decision. Tyler Eby won by pinfall in 53 seconds at 126 to put the Wolves ahead 15-6. Christian Almaza (138) won a 2-1 overtime decision at 138, Nico Patch (145) won by pinfall in 3:47, Andrew Okayama (152) won by pin in 3:02, Ryan Coffey (160) won by pin in 1:08 and Jackson O’Reilly (170) won an 8-2 decision to put the Wolves ahead 39-12. Sean Clabots (285) finished the night by winning in 3:21 over his heavyweight opponent.

Oswego: At the Glenbard East Quad on Dec. 10, Oswego (9-1) posted wins over Glenbard East (40-25), Highland Park (53-18) and Grayslake North (4821) for a 3-0 finish to the day. Aric Nieves won by pinfall at 106 over Glenbard East to go 1-0 on the day. Luke Pradel finished 2-0 on the day at 120, and Sam Saravia went 3-0 at 126 including a pair of wins by tech fall. Gannon Hughes went 2-0 in two different weight classes to score points for the Panthers, and Dan Majewski finished 3-0 at 170 with two pins. Joe Majewski finished 2-0 at 195 and Kevin Alvarez went 2-0 at 220.

Oswego improved to 3-0 in conference duals with a 38-27 win over Joliet West on Dec. 8. Michael Aguirre won by pin at 113, Saravia won a 1-0 decision, Hughes won a 13-3 major, Allen Swanson won by pin, Dan Majewski won by major, Josh Torres won by pin and Alvarez won a 4-3 decision.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Oswego Varsity: The Panthers (26) notched their second win in three games, defeating Plainfield North 55-46 in Southwest Prairie Conference action on Dec. 9. Dylan Engler and Jaylen Jones knocked in 14 points each. Plainfield North was led by Justin Wilson’s 19 points.

Oswego East Sophomore: On Dec. 9, the Oswego East sophomore Wolves traveled to Romeoville to face the Spartans in their second conference game.

The Wolves got off to an early lead behind the strong post presence of Sam Schultz and the rebounding of Kamron Battle. The Wolves led 31-25 at the half, but the Spartan’s pressure saw the game tied in the third quarter. Hot 3-point shooting from Julian Holland and Conner Sinadinavic and key free throws from JoJo Miranda helped the Wolves to a 66-49 victory. Sam Schultz led all scores with 20 points, and the Wolves are now 6-1 on the season.

LEFT: Oswego East’s Andrew Okayama pins Joliet Central’s Santos ­Gunjenley during the 152-­ pound bout of the varsity wrestling meet at Oswego East High School on Dec. 8. BELOW: Oswego East’s Sean Clabots (top) pins Joliet Central’s Elijah Wright in the 285-pound bout. For more photos, visit KendallCountyNow. com.

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Thompson Jr. High 8th grade: On Dec. 2, the eighth-grade team opened the first round of tournament play with a 38-36 overtime win over Jewel. Sam Gwodz hit the game winning shot with 28 seconds left, and tough team defense in the end sealed the victory for the Tigers. Brady Peterlin led all scorers with a game-high 18 points. Thompson lost 40-33 to Traughber on Dec. 5. Sam Gwodz led the offense with nine points while Beau Miller eight points. On Dec. 6, Thompson lost 38-37 to Herget to take fourth place. Beau Miller led the offense with 10 points.

The Tigers ended the season with a 12-9 record. Coach Joe Giarrante would like to thank all the players for their hard work and dedication during the season. Team members included: Larry Alui, Jayden Arocho, Jacob Betsinger, Jake Billhymer, Evan Brown, John Buckley, Matthew Egly, Sam Gwodz, John Harshberger, Chase Hayner, Beau Miller, Markeese Nelson, Brady Peterlin, Isaiah Robles, Landon Sebestin and Brendan Vecchione.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

thers ran away with an early lead after a 17-point second quarter, taking a 3218 halftime lead. Samara Bosman put up three three-pointers, scoring nine points total. Also chipping in for Oswego were Janessa Martinez (8 points, 4 rebounds), Danielle Dorilio (8 points, 4 steals), Mia Lewis (5 points, 4 rebounds), Dyiamon Williams (5 points, 2 steals), and Julia Henrikson (4 points, 2 steals).

Oswego Freshman: The Panthers battled Plainfield North but came up short, losing 37-45. Oswego was led by Lucrezia Juozeviciute with 16 points and four rebounds. Also putting in a strong effort were Jennah and Jennelle Rogers with seven points each, followed by Danielle Daniels with three, and Hannah Bossler and Devin Brown chipping in with two points apiece.

Oswego Varsity: The Panthers (3-5) fell to Plainfield North in a Southwest Prairie Conference road game on Dec. 9, 43-34. Oswego trailed 25-17 at halftime, but outscored the Tigers in the third quarter to close the gap 32-26 heading into the fourth period. Angelina Schlinger led the Panthers with 11 points including a 4-for-5 effort at the foul line while Kira Sneed had eight points.

Oswego Sophomore: Oswego emerged victorious 54-34 against BOYS BOWLING Varsity: The Oswego East team rolled Plainfield North on the strength of Ashea Lake, who scored 11 points a 5,893 at the Lincoln-Way East Invite and nabbed four rebounds. The Pan- last Saturday to place 10th overall in

the Gold Division. Troy Sliwa was 14th individually with a 1,319. The Panthers rolled a 2,673 to place fourth in the Silver Division in the three-game series at the Lincoln-Way East Invite on Saturday.

On Dec. 7, Oswego faced off against Oswego East in its sixth conference match. Oswego shot 2,620 to Oswego East’s 2,972 as the Wolves claimed all 10 conference points. Leading the way for the Panthers was senior Parker Bradford and his 560 series. Will Clark led the Wolves with a 659 series while teammate Travis Sturk had a 641 series.

GIRLS BOWLING

Oswego Varsity: The Panthers took to the lanes on Dec. 10 in the biggest regular season tournament of the year.

Strikefest, hosted by Plainfield North, is an invitation-only tournament which includes 44 of the best See ROUNDUP, page 17

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Oswego HS offers two winter camps

Wolves take H-F to the wire

OSWEGO LEDGER

• ROUNDUP

Continued from page 16 girls bowling teams across the state. The teams competed on a modified oil pattern designed to challenge the bowlers as they tried to impress the dozens of college coaches in attendance.

The oil pattern kept scores in check throughout the entire tournament and no team was able to eclipse the 6,000 mark (200 team average) for the six games.

In the three-game morning round, Oswego put up a solid team score of 902 to start the tournament. The Panthers had two bowlers reach 200 in game one. Junior Megan Douglas shot exactly 200 while senior co-captain Taylor Kies hit 215 to help get OHS going early. At the lunch break, teams are placed into divisions based on their morning team totals.

The Panthers’ morning team total of 2,622 put the team in the silver division for the afternoon. The team scores for the afternoon included 826, 869 and 811, respectively, for an afternoon total of 2,506, good for 10th place in the division.

The Panthers played host to Plainfield North, and Oswego’s team scores of 951, 924, and 975 proved to be too much for North who rolled games of 799, 827, and 830.

The 10-0 victory included all members of the squad contributing to team scores, including senior Taylor Kies who had a career high 698 series on games of 215, 217, and an excellent 266 to cap off her night. Junior Rachel Clifton also had a great night, putting up scores of 220, 202, and 199 for a 610 series.

By KRISTIN SHARP ksharp@kendallcountynow.com With one opening left on the schedule this winter, Oswego East girls basketball coach Abe Carretto took advantage of an invitation to participate in a competitive shootout last Saturday.

The Wolves (8-2) traveled to Homewood-Flossmoor for Battle of the Borders, which hosts the top teams from Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. Oswego East took on host top-ranked Homewood-Flossmoor in the final game on Saturday and suffered its second loss of the season, falling 45-44.

“We had some open looks and out-shot Homewood, so that was good, but we just had a poor night of shooting,” Carretto said. “We were 1-for-8 from the 3-point line, and we had some open 2’s here and there.

A couple rattled in and out, and we missed some contested layups. We just didn’t put the ball in the hoop at the right time.

Oswego East outscored the Vikings in the first quarter and fourth quarter, and despite trailing to start the fourth quarter, the Wolves clawed their way back to take a onepoint lead in the closing minute. H-F hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds to play, and Oswego East could not convert any field goal attempts.

“We had a poor shooting third quarter and they did a good job defensively, so we were down by seven in the first minute of the fourth,” Carretto said. “We came back and tied the game. We hit a few free throws and there was a 3-pointer in there from Christine Corpuz. It was just back and forth until the end. We had an opportunity.”

Sydney Schultz led the Wolves with 14 points and seven rebounds while Ty Battle knocked in nine points and had 12 rebounds and Corpuz had nine points.

Oswego East improved to 3-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference with an 82-29 win over Romeoville.

Oswego East led 16-10 after the open-

ing quarter, but broke the game open before halftime and outscored the Spartans 29-3 in the third quarter en route to the win.

“Romeoville did a pretty good job for the first five minutes. They were putting up some shots, but our defense was pretty good after,” Carretto. “I called a timeout and it was only 13-10. They were sitting around with us, and I had a conversation with the players on the court, and after that we just took control of the game.”

Schultz nearly completed a triple double with 23 points, 12 rebounds, nine steals and five assists while Battle had 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Amaya Johns added 10 points, Corpuz had nine points and Taylor Peck had seven points, five rebounds and four steals. “[Schultz] was all over the place.

We pressed them a lot and we were getting a lot of steals. Schultz had a lot near the half-court line,” Carretto said. “We anticipated well because the trap was good and everyone was where they were supposed to be.”

Oswego East will host Plainfield Central on Friday before hosting its Holiday Classic tournament. The Wolves received a top four seed and will open tournament play on Dec. 27 against Jefferson at 1 p.m.

GIRLS GYMNASTICS

Co-op members learn as they grow Oswego comes in 3rd at triangular meet

By CHRIS WALKER sports@kendallcountynow.com Ellina Butolph, Cassidy Max and Alex Salinas were only in sixth grade when Geneva senior Claire Ginsberg stunned the state by winning the allaround title in Palatine in 2014.

On Dec. 7, the Oswego-Oswego East co-op gymnasts were competing in the same gym as Ginsberg and Geneva, as well as the U-46 co-op team.

Oswego finished in third place in the triangular with a 123.15 while Geneva, which is likely to be a state qualifier this year, wasn’t really threatened by U-46 co-op, winning 138.65 to 132.15.

“I think it was a good meet for us,” said Cassidy Max, now a freshman. “We all had some mess-ups, but we all came together, which was

good. We’re just trying to get better every time and this is a good time to work on our skills.”

Oswego is one of the most unique teams in the state. The squad’s two managers – seniors Micah Carlson and Morgan Giertz – are the lone upperclassmen. Everyone else is a freshman or sophomore.

“They’ve been through this before so they’ve been so helpful for us,” Max said. “Coming from a club background, this is so different.

They’ve told us to just have fun while competing and it’s so less stressful.

We’re all having a lot of fun. It’s a great team environment.”

Butolph led Oswego in the allaround with a 32.2 and was followed

by Max’s 30.35 and sophomore Sofia Panza’s 28.25. Butolph had the team’s top score on vault (8.1), floor (8.45) and beam (8.1).

“Nerve-wise, beam is the toughest to do for me,” Butolph said. “An inch here or there is the difference between sticking it or falling and los-

ing points. I did pretty good today.

I improved from the first meet and that’s what we try to do.”

Sophomore Kaylee Gatenby led the team on bars with a 7.65.

“I’ve got an injury so I could only do the two events,” she said. “I’m still trying to get my old skills back, but the meet went OK.” Salinas competed in three events.

“It was a pretty good meet for us,” she said. “We were off and on. I was most proud of my floor (8.1) today. I added some new skills and it worked out pretty well.”

While Oswego may not be at the same level of the teams it competed against, its youth has its gymnasts optimistic for the rest of this year and the next few ahead of it. Oswego enters the Illinois Best Invite at Wheaton South on Saturday.

“I’ve got a very nice group of girls this year,” Oswego coach Sarah Dugan said. “They come from a good club background and we’re exciting to see what they can do.”

Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Oswego High School baseball staff is hosting two clinics this winter through the Oswegoland Park District.

Spring Training Camp: This clinic is designed to help athletes in grades K-8 prepare for their upcoming baseball season.

The first session takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 14-28 for $50. The second session takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 14-21 for a $40 fee. Register online at oswegolandparkdistrict.org or in person at any Oswegoland Park District facility.

Father/Son Pitching Camp: This two-day clinic demonstrates the skills and drills needed to be a successful pitcher. Camp is designed for all abilities and provides knowledge on the art of pitching, technique and the development process for anyone interested in pitching. The camp will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 at Oswego High School for athletes in grades 5-8. The fee is $25. Register online or in person at any Oswegoland Park District facility.

They earn top seed in Holiday Classic, will open tournament vs. Jefferson

17

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com •

YOUTH BASEBALL

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

| OSWEGO LEDGER

18

BOYS BASKETBALL: OSWEGO EAST 60, ROMEOVILLE 48

19

SPORTS | Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

Photos by Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Oswego East’s Kijana Caldwell (23) makes a layup against Hinsdale Central on Nov. 22. Caldwell had six points and six rebounds against Romeoville in the Wolves’ win on Dec. 9.

Road win keeps East 2-0 in SPC

By DRAKE SKLEBA sports@kendallcountynow.com In Friday night’s Southwest Prairie Conference early season showdown at Romeoville, the Oswego East boys basketball team grabbed its first lead with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Wolves led, 10-9, on a Stephon Harris jumper and led the rest of the way for a 60-48 victory. With the win, East remains tied with SPC newcomers Joliet West (7-0, 2-0) and Joliet Central (5-1, 2-0) atop the league standings.

East (6-1, 2-0) was led by senior forward Tahj Oliver, who had a game-high 18 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Harris also had a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Kijana Caldwell came off the bench and had a big second half for the Wolves, scoring six points and grabbing six boards.

“This was a huge road victory for us tonight, “ East coach Steve Szymanski said.

“Tajh [Oliver] and Steph [Har-

ris] have been our leaders all year and had fine games tonight. Kijana [Caldwell] came out a little tight in the first half but really came on and played well in the second half.

“We have one more game before Christmas and would like to head to the East Aurora Holiday Tournament 7-1. We hope to continue to play well in that tournament.”

Romeoville (3-3, 1-1), shot 26 percent from the floor and was led by DeAndre Heckard, who stuffed the stats sheet for the Spartans. Heckard scored 16 points, hauled down seven rebounds and added six steals.

Sophomore Mike Salter, scored eight of his 12 points in the second half and 6-7 junior Dontia Johnson scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half. He also grabbed eight rebounds.

“We just were not in sync all night,” Romeoville coach Marc Howard said. “In the first half, we missed a number of layups and then in the second half, our outside shots were not falling. We also got

Oswego East’s Andre Hughes (2) looks for a lane against Hinsdale Central’s Jack Hoiberg during the Hoops for Healing Boys Basketball Tournament at Naperville North High School on Nov. 22. outrebounded and have to get the ball more often to our bigs.”

After Harris’ jumper made it 10-9, 3-pointers followed from Oliver and Andre Hughes (11 points) to open a 16-9 Wolves’ lead. After one quarter, East led, 18-12. Oliver had eight first-quarter points.

“All week we concentrated on winning the rebounding game and playing defense,” Oliver said. “Our last couple of games we were a little lackadaisical on defense. Tonight we wanted to make a statement and hold them under 50.”

The Spartans cut the Wolves’ deficit to 28-25 at the half behind Heckard (eight points) and Johnson. Oliver

led all scorers, with 12 firsthalf points. In the third quarter, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Harris took over. He scored 11 points in the quarter, with four huge offensive rebounds, for a 44-37 Wolves’ lead.

“We really concentrated on defense against Romeoville,” Harris said. “They came into tonight’s game averaging over 70 points and we held them under 50. I really concentrated on getting rebounds even more than scoring.”

A Johnson jumper brought the Spartans back within 4439 with 7:10 left. With 6:10 left, Harris stuffed Heckard’s layup attempt for his second block of the game. Caldwell nailed a pair of free throws for a 46-39 lead. Oliver hit 1

of 2 free throws and Caldwell followed with a jumper for a 49-39 East lead with 4:01 left.

Salter scored and had a steal and score to pull the Spartans within 49-43, but that would be as close as the Spartans would get.

“I came in off the bench to cut down on Romeoville’s ability to drive to the basket,” Caldwell said. “I was happy to contribute to this big victory.”

Oswego East will travel to Plainfield Central on Friday to continue SPC action before the East Aurora Holiday Tournament tips off on Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. against Chicago Christian. The Wolves also face Joliet Catholic and Neuqua Valley in Black Division pool play.

Oswego Ledger / KendallCountyNow.com • Thursday, December 15, 2016

20

SPORTS

WOLVES ROLL IN JOLIET Oswego East wrestling gets wins in 45-30 victory at Joliet Central / 16

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Oswego East’s Nico Patch (top) breaks down Joliet Central’s Nico Perez in the 145-pound bout during a varsity wrestling meet at Oswego East High School on Dec. 8. Patch won by pinfall in 3:47, and the Wolves beat the Steelmen 45-30.