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1 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

FREE TAKE ONE

Addison

Independent

VOL. 17 • NO. 52

WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM

District 88 mourns Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton See Page 5

Classes Begin Jan. 4

Children are virtuall y introduced to langu age arts, literacy, math , social studies, scien ce and nature explorat ion!

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THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 2020

Montini celebrates ‘Season of Giving’ SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent

Montini Catholic students wrapped up their annual Golden Gobbler Thanksgiving Food Drive and immediately after, quickly stepped right back into high gear, collecting money and toys for their Adopt-a-Family and Toy Drive programs. Pictured here, students get ready to help load donated toys to be delivered. They include (front row, from left): Grace Tierney, Kiki Gaughan, Miranda Bon Durant and Leah Smego; (back row): Nathan Camba, Richmond Outlaw, Sam Ruddy, Lawrence Barrett and Mia Ibarra. Story and another photo inside.

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2 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

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Health Department COVID-19 vaccine weekly update First shipment of approximately 13,000 doses expected next week care facility residents and staff.

Long-term care facilities are provided with vaccinations through a Federal program, called the Pharmacy Partnership Program.

Initially, vaccine amounts will be limited and there will be a need for sub-prioritization. Personnel at the highest-risk of exposure to COVID-19, including those who currently work in patient care units, have direct contact with patients, as well as the staff who will administer the vaccines, will be the priority.

DCHD officials are in communication with local hospitals and health care partners to finalize these plans as further information about vaccine shipments is available.

A COVID-19 Vaccine webpage has been launched for the public to stay informed of the latest infor-

mation regarding the vaccine and plans for distribution in DuPage County. As more information becomes available, DCHD will update its website. To view the page, visit dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.

In the meantime, the Health Department urges residents to continue doing their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by: • Washing your hands often; • Wearing a mask whenever outside your home or with anyone not from your household; • Watching your distance, staying at least 6 feet from people outside of your immediate household and avoiding in-person gatherings; and • Staying home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been in close con-

Governor extends Restore Illinois enhanced mitigations Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Saturday, Dec. 12 signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending his statewide declaration through Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, and signed Executive Order 2020-74 to extend Restore Illinois Tier 3 enhanced mitigations, in response to an increase in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic cases.

Region 8 (DuPage County) and all other regions in Illinois are currently under Tier 3 enhanced mitigations, which impact restaurants and bars, health and fitness centers, hotels, indoor and outdoor recreation,

theaters and cultural institutions, manufacturing, meetings, social events and gatherings, personal care services and retail businesses. For more information, visit Illinois Municipal League web site at ilm.org/ COVID-19 Update – November 19, 2020.

Under the new disaster proclamation, public meetings may continue to be held remotely as long as certain requirements are met. Visit ilm. org/FactSheet.

The application deadline for Round 2 of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Oppor-

tunity’s (IDCEO) Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program is on December 15 at 5 p.m.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in a press release announced its daily test data is available online at dph.illinois.gov.

Preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests for December 4-10 is at 9.4 percent, while the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate is at 11.1 percent. Visit coronavirus.illinois.gov to access the state’s Coronavirus website for cases by county.

County officials take oath of office DuPage County hosted a virtual and in-person inauguration ceremony Monday, Dec. 7 for 11 elected officials who were sworn into office.

County Board Chairman Dan Cronin delivered opening remarks, welcoming the new and returning elected officials.

“DuPage County faces significant stresses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “I’m confident we will work collaboratively to bring carefully crafted and thoughtfully considered ideas to the table. These

challenging times require us to demonstrate leadership, to advocate and ensure our residents get the help they need as we face this unprecedented public health crisis.”

County-wide elected officials, who were sworn in to serve four-year terms, included State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, Circuit Court Clerk Candice Adams, Auditor William White, Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen, and Recorder Kathleen Carrier.

The six County Board members elected in November will serve two-

year terms. The following Board members took the oath of office: District 1 – Don Puchalski District 2 – Paula Deacon Garcia District 3 – Brian Krajewski District 4 – Lynn LaPlante District 5 – Amy Chavez District 6 – Greg Schwarze Berlin and Jorgensen are incumbent countywide elected officials, and Puchalski and Krajewski are incumbent County Board members.

All others are newly-elected officials.

County’s RxBOX collects 66+ tons of medication The DuPage County Health Department’s (DCHD) safe medication disposal program has collected and safely disposed of more than 132,250 pounds, or in excess of 66 tons, of medications since the program launched in 2009.

On Friday, Dec. 4, 17 municipalities participated in a DCHD drop-off event where 3,701 pounds of medications were collected. In 2020, the RxBOX program held three collection events, during which 12,093 pounds of medications were collected.

“During this pandemic, we continue to see the importance of the RxBOX program’s efforts to encourage residents to clear out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of their medications,” said Karen Ayala, executive director of DuPage County Health Department. “Safe disposal of unused medications helps address the ongoing concern of substance use within our communities and to reduce the opportunities for these medications to be misused. We are thankful to our municipal partners and the residents of DuPage County

for making this effort possible.”

After collection, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (ILEPA) arranges for the incineration of these medications to ensure they are not reused.

The DuPage County Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce has supported safe drug-disposal through RxBOX and other drug take-back programs.

For more information including a list of items that are not accepted and RxBox locations, visit HOPE DuPage.

tact with a person infected with COVID-19, and contacting your healthcare provider for appropriate evaluation, testing, and care.

Anyone who is seeking testing is reminded of the various options

throughout DuPage County, including the two drive-thru community-based testing sites in Wheaton and Villa Park. For more information, please visit dupagehealth.org/ covid19testing.

COVID-19 updates for DuPage County As of 8 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, there were 52,966 total cases among DuPage County residents, including 841 deaths. Since Saturday, there were 606 new cases and five deaths related to COVID-19.

The DuPage Health Department advised that due to delays from IDPH, data may be incomplete.

Number of cases by town At press time, the DuPage Department of Health reported the following number of COVID-19 cases in our readership communities as follows: Addison 3,355, Bensenville 1,740, Elmhurst 2,674, Lombard 2,726, Oakbrook Terrace 163, Villa Park 1,610, Wood Dale 1,056.

And now for the good news …

Elmhurst Hospital reports that 88 inpatients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 were discharged as of Monday. Since March 24, a total of 1,069 patients have been discharged.

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The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is preparing to receive and distribute the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in DuPage County next week. At this time, the amount of vaccine in the first shipment to DuPage is expected to be about 13,000 doses. The amount of vaccine in future shipments is unknown but weekly shipments are expected.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be meeting to review Pfizer’s application for Emergency Use Authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine. If the vaccine is approved by the FDA, DCHD expects to distribute the vaccine based on a multi-phased approach, with the first shipments designated for the estimated 58,000 health care personnel and long-term

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4A • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

The IndependenT Your Hometown Newspaper 240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126 Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900 The Independent is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126.

Display Advertising: 630.834-8355 Classified Advertising: 630.834-8244 News: 630.834-8244 General Information: 630.834-8244

E-mail: Advertising Department: ads1@rvpublishing.com News Department: Independent@rvpublishing.com Classified Department: Classifieds@rvpublishing.com SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

On Thursday, Dec. 10, Montini junior Reeghan Boyer and senior Nick Fisch help load up food to be delivered to a local food pantry. It was all part of Montini Catholic’s “Season of Giving.”

Administration: Dee Longfellow News Coordinator

‘Season for Giving’ thrives at Montini Catholic

Debra Hamilton Advertising Director

Students collect food, toys despite COVID-19 challenges

Pete Cruger Publisher

Advertising: Brenda Garcia

Subscriptions: The Independent is mailed to the 60101, 60106 and 60181 zip code areas for $15.95 yearly. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $29.95 yearly.

For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.

Reprints: Content appearing in the Independent may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor.

Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: THE INDEPENDENT 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126

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Montini Catholic is currently in the midst of its Christmas season of giving. Although this year the season looks a little different than before, due to COVID-19 regulations forcing sports and other activities to be put on the shelf until further notice.

Still, the spirit of giving at the Lasallian college preparatory high school is alive and thriving.

Students wrapped up their annual Golden Gobbler Thanksgiving Food Drive benefiting local food pantries in late November and immediately after, quickly stepped right back into high gear, collecting money and toys for their Adopt-a-Family and Toy Drive programs in December.

Montini Catholic’s traditional ‘Catholic Charities Adopt a Family’ service program enables students to donate toys and gifts to families facing hardship during the holiday season or throughout the year. This year seven families were ‘adopted’ by the school community.

Homerooms are traditionally busy shopping, donating, sorting and wrapping loads of Christmas gifts for area families during this time of year, but COVID-19 restrictions led Montini’s Campus Ministry leaders to opt for gift cards for the families, instead, just in time for them to do their own Christmas shopping prior to the big day.

During the beginning of December, students and families were invited to donate money towards the purchase of the gift cards.

“We immediately exceeded our goal amount,” said Kelly David, co-assistant Campus Minister and Theology teacher. “We were so grateful that our students and families responded so quickly. The families we adopted this season will benefit greatly!”

Montini’s Peer Ministry group added to the contributions by selling Candy Grams.

“We also decided to sponsor a week-long toy drive this year,” said co-assistant Campus Minister and

Theology teacher Katie Miller. “The toys donated through this will be sent to the children at the Clearbrook and Eisenhower Co-Op agencies in Crestwood, serving families of children with disabilities. Montini alum Katie Laurinaitis ‘04 is a teacher at Eisenhower.

“Our students really make a difference by lifting the spirits of families in need at the holiday time,” said Campus Minister Michael Blanchette. “Each year Golden Gobbler and Adopt-a-Family remind us of what is important in life and there’s no better time than the holidays to reflect on and share our many blessings.”

Addison Trail recognizes Park District hosts December graduates ‘Letters to Santa’ program On Dec. 10, Addison Trail recognized 36 students as December graduates for the 2020-21 school year.

Those students have met the requirements to earn a high school diploma and worked hard to complete those requisite items early.

They have demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a successful future and to be college and career ready.

The 2020-21 Addison Trail December graduates include: Emma Bastian, Briseida Carbajal, Noel Celis, Jennifer Cortez, Carter Cunz,

Jocelyn Delgado, Sariah Fox, Gisselle Gamino, Eric Garcia, Jacob Hagopian, Victoria Kolek, Jessica Krause, Amie Lear, Yubitza Lopez Rodriguez, Ezekiel Lopez, Ruby Macias, Terrell Maghett Jr., Sylwia Malecki, Gabriela Manjarrez, Daniel Medina, Victoria Medina, Leslie Nava, Jasmin Nervis, Evelyn Nino-Ocampo, Ashanty Olea, Marina Pereida, Edy Perez Garcia, Angel Ramirez, Mictzi Salgado, Fatima Sanchez, Natalya Trejo Huerigo, Viktorija Tvaskunaite, Sulmi Marisol Velasquez.

Still time to write Kris Kringle The Addison Park District is advising boys and girls that Santa has left two very special Red Mailboxes -- one at the Community Center and another at the Centennial Rec Center – where kids are invited to drop their letters to Santa.

The mailboxes are available now through Friday, Dec. 18, so get busy writing! Santa Claus will respond to letters by Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

The Community Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Centennial Center is open Monday-Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. as well as Saturday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 • 5A

District 88 mourns Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton

COVID-19 cause of death for former Addison Trail principal; had suffered stroke in October

Comments have been pouring into the offices of District 88 Schools from people shocked and saddened by the passing of Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton, who had contracted COVID-19 and about two weeks Dr. Scott later suffered a Helton stroke, according Superintendent, to school School authorities.

District 88 Helton passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10 in a rehabilitation facility, where he was being treated. Unfortunately, obituary and service information was not available at press time.

“It is with great sadness I share the news that District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton has passed away,” said District 88 School Board president Donna Craft Cain. “Scott had more than 33 years of experience in education and served in a variety of capacities, including as Principal of Addison Trail for 11 years and as Superintendent of District 88 since 2012. He was incredibly engrained in the District 88 community and helped build positive futures for countless students through his contributions to public education and coaching

football, wrestling and track.”

After that, Cain made a plea to keep the family in thoughts and prayers but to respect their Donna Craft privacy as well, Cain especially for District 88 Helton’s three School Board sons, Scott Jr., president Joe and Tommy.

“The family members are incredibly grateful for everyone’s kind words and support, and although they appreciate the thought of phone communication, attempts to visit and flower deliveries, this time is very overwhelming,” Cain said. “Those who would like to send the family messages of sympathy and condolences are invited to do so at dupage88.net/MessagesforHelton.

“Scott had a personal connection with many of our students, staff and community members, and this loss is extremely difficult.”

Cain said support services were being offered at both Willowbrook and Addison Trail high schools.

“I’ve personally known Scott since I joined the District 88 Board of Education in 2004, and his passion and dedication were second to none,” Cain continued.

“He was a tremendous leader, who always put the needs of students first. He was laser focused on making sure we connected with and cared for each and every pupil, and he was relentless in his pursuit of accomplishing our mission to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement. Scott will be greatly missed, and his impact on our schools and community and the legacy he has left behind will last for years to come.”

Helton died Thursday night, leaving the district of more than 3,900 students without its top administrator. He had suffered a stroke in late October, two weeks after contracting COVID-19, Cain said.

Helton spent his education career in District 88 as principal of Addison Trail for 11 years before attaining the position of superintendent.

He made a point to expand dual-credit classes to provide AT students with an easy pathway to a college degree. while still in high school.

Helton also extended more opportunities to those who may have been overlooked previously for the college-level Advanced Placement courses.

“One of the goals was to make sure every student was graduating with college credit or some vocational training,” Cain said.

“He was passionate about keeping the career and technical classes going as well as our arts and our music.”

Helton kept equity issues at the forefront since students from low-income families take up nearly 54% of the student body at Addison Trail and 36.5% at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park.

Before the pandemic forced a switch to remote learning, the district had already obtained a grant from Sprint to ensure students had internet connections.

“He was very much about making sure that everybody had what they needed,” Cain said.

Helton strove to support school systems that feed into District 88, with the mutual goal of providing a seamless transition from middle to high school.

Addison Elementary District

“

He was laser focused on making sure we connected with and cared for each and every pupil, and he was relentless in his pursuit of accomplishing our mission to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement.”

– Donna Craft Cain, District 88 School Board president

4 Superintendent John Langton called Helton a “visionary” adept at bringing people together and forging relationships.

“He was a cheerleader for the entire community,” Langton said.

Helton held a wide range of positions -- science teacher, dean of students, assistant principal and associate principal -- in different schools before coming to Addison Trail.

Outside the district, he coached youth sports and served as the president of the Rotary Club in Villa Park and Lombard, setting in motion a plan to honor a fellow club member and veteran.

The man had never received his high school diploma, having gone to fight in the Korean War. He would have graduated from York High School in Elmhurst. Helton took it upon himself to reach out to the current York principal about getting the man his long-awaited diploma, Cain said.

“That’s the type of thing that he would do,” she said.

Cain said she’s not concerned about a leadership void in the district because of the culture Helton instilled. He was a collaborative, “tremendously supportive” educator who was open to new ideas and suggestions, she said.

“He’s going to live on within the district.”

“What a loss,” Dr. David

Addison Trail students invited to audition for Virtual Variety Show ARCHIVE PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Always part of the bigger community

Always a supporter of the community at-large, pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton with Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at a Villa Park Chamber of Commerce event in 2013.

Helton passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10, after a COVID-19 diagnosis and after suffering a stroke.

Attention, Addison Trail students!

There’s still time to try out for the Theatre Department’s Virtual Variety Show.

The deadline to submit auditions has been extended to Jan. 8, 2021.

Talent of all types is wanted – dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, martial artists, magicians, ventriloquists, etc. All interested participants can upload their talent via the web site.

The Variety Show will be streamed online, free to viewers, and the date has been postponed to Jan. 15, 2021.

The event will begin at 7 p.m., and information to access the performance will be posted at dupage88. net/ATVarietyShow2020.

For questions or more information, contact Addison Trail Theatre Director Anna McSweeney at amcsweeney@dupage88.net or 630-6283365.

Larson, Superintendent of Schools, Glenbard Township High School, District 87 posted on Twitter. “A strong educator, a champion for equity and a great friend. Makes me sad.”

Downers Grove North Wrestling posted that Helton was “a great friend to Illinois wrestling.”

“An amazing man,” said Lori ED. Bein, Ed.D., Superintendent, Arlington Heights District 25.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend Scott Helton,” said Terry Clarke of Elmhurst, who knew Helton as a coach for the Elmhurst Eagles. “He changed so many lives with his coaching, leadership, and kindness. He coached my son Anthony with the Elmhurst Eagles. I had the privilege to coach his sons, Scott, Joe, and Tommy at York. God bless.”

Although services were not announced at press time, they will be on the Addison Independent web site as soon as information is available.

The Independent can be found at theindependentnewspapers.com.

Fenton swim team begins virtual season

Focus on nutrition, mechanics

The Fenton Boys Swim and Dive Team is meeting for a ‘Remote’ winter season this year. The team sessions are from 4:00 to 4:50 p.m. on all days Fenton school is in session.

While you may not consider yourself a swimmer, and you are wondering what to do each day after school for 50 minutes, you might enjoy coming out for the team, via Google Meet. In fact, your family might like that you have decided to become a remote swimmer after school. Our goals this season are to get stronger, get more athletic, learn about nutrition, mechanics of swimming, and grow one’s ability to compete effectively.

If you want to take the chance of being on the Swim and Dive Team without being in the pool please contact Coach Dan Hennebry (hennebry@fenton100.org).

Let him know that you will give it a try, if even for a few days -- remote Swim Team is the ultimate in ‘no cut sport’.

That said, you will learn a routine for training that can be used in most any sport with transferable skills to use for a long time to come, and you might have fun.

6 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

Police Reports Area police departments recently reported the following arrests and citations.

Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims.

Juveniles age 17 or younger are not named.

Dec. 4-Dec. 5 Burglary was reported in the 400 block of N. Ellsworth. Police said an unknown suspect entered an unsecured shed located at the rear of the property and stole a weed whacker and a bicycle sometime between 5 p.m. Dec. 4 and 9:45 a.m. Dec. 5.

Dec. 3 Everett D. Duke, 30, of Oak Park, was charged with phone harassment/ abuse, threaten or harass, and two Addison counts of electronic harassment/ Dec. 5 making a threat in the 800 block of Raymond Martinez, 32, of Glen- W. North between April 20 and April dale Heights, was charged with DUI, 24. The original complaint and arrest failure to reduce speed to avoid an warrant were issued Dec. 3. accident, no seat belt and no insurance in the 700 block of N. Winthrop Dec. 4 at around 12:38 a.m.

Andre T. Boykin, 31, of Maywood, was charged with retail theft/ Dec. 4 possession of displayed merchandise Osmar F. Funes-Merida, 22, of exceeding $300 at a local store at Addison, was charged with obstruct- around 12:01 p.m. Nov. 5. The origiing identification, no valid driver’s nal arrest was made on Dec. 4. license, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving the wrong Dec. 1 way and improper lighting at around Theft was reported in the 500 2:49 a.m. Police said Funes-Meri- block of S. Yale. Police said an unda provided a police officer a false known suspect stole a garbage can name. that was left outside sometime between noon and 3 p.m.

Villa Park Dec. 5 Nov. 30 Armando L. Quintana, 20, of Burglary was reported in the 300 Glendale Heights, was charged with block of N. Illinois at around 9:13 DUI, transportation of open alcohol a.m. Police said an unknown susby a driver, possession of less than pect entered a secure storage locker 30 grams of cannabis, possession of through a neighboring unsecured tobacco by a minor without parental storage locker and stole several paper permission, unlawful possession of good products. cannabis by a driver, failure to report an accident to police authority by a Bensenville driver and no valid driver’s license Dec. 9, 9:37 p.m. in the 100 block in the 500 block of N. Addison at of W. Grand Ave., a complainant around 2:23 a.m. reported that an unknown suspect Criminal trespass to a vehicle changed the name and address on the was reported in the 400 block of N. complainant’s company check and Douglas at around 9:12 p.m. Police cashed it. This case is under investisaid an unknown suspect entered an gation. BEPC2001047. unsecured vehicle and rummaged Dec. 9, 5:08 p.m. in the 300 block through the contents of the vehicle. of E. Green St., a complainant reNothing appeared to be missing at ported an incident of unemployment this time. fraud. This case is under investiga-

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tion. BEPC2001048.

Dec. 9, 8:14 p.m. in the 200 block of S. Mason St., Juan Ozuna-Marin, 45, was arrested for two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and other traffic violations.

BEPC2001049.

Dec. 9, 9:05 p.m. in the 100 block of W. Sonny Lane, Lisandro Lopez-Fabian, 28, was arrested for a failure to appear warrant and obstructing identification, and Jose Carrillo, 23, was arrested for a failure to appear warrant. BEPC2001050.

Dec. 8, 12:37 p.m. in the 100 block of George Street, a complainant reported a financial loss through an online financial loan scam. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001043.

Dec. 8, 1:59 p.m. in the 1200 block of Ellis St., a complainant reported a known suspect unlawfully made transactions using the company’s fuel card at various locations. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001044.

Dec. 8, 11:39 p.m. in the 600 block of N. Route 83, a complainant reported he found his vehicle to be missing from his work parking lot.

This case is under investigation.

BEPC2001046.

Dec. 7, 12:15 p.m. in the 1-100 block of S. York Road, a complainant reported that a known suspect took his iPhone XR without complainant’s permission. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001040.

Dec. 7, 2:55 a.m. near Route 83 and Thorndale Avenue, Hakeem E. Adams, 30, was arrested for driving under the influence alcohol, possession of cannabis by driver and no insurance. BEPC2001038.

Dec. 6, 12:36 a.m. near Addison Street and W. Wood St., Edilberto Bravo-Leyva, 33, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and was issued a traffic violation.

BEPC2001032.

Dec. 6, 2:17 a.m. near W. Irving Park Road and N. York Road, Giovanni Bosques-Luyando, 24, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of ammunition, no insurance and other traffic violations. BEPC2001033.

Dec. 6, 5:48 PM, on the 1100 block of Ellis Street, a complainant reported he found his vehicle to be missing. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001037.

Dec. 5, 7:44 p.m. in the 1100 block of S. York Road, a complainant reported that two unknown suspects took an unknown amount of allergy medicine without paying for items.

This case is under investigation.

BEPC2001028.

Dec. 5, 8:29 p.m. in the 1100 block of S. York Road, Alexander M. Zarco, 23, of Hanover Park, was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and other traffic offenses.

BEPC2001029.

Dec. 4, 4:47 p.m. in the 1000 block of N. Route 83, a complainant reported that the company’s fuel card they leave in the key box at Pilot for their drivers had been used to purchase numerous gift cards by a known suspect. This case is under investigation.

BEPC2001026.

Dec. 4, 6:08 p.m. near W. Green St. and S. Center St., Patryk P. Miodonski, 21, was arrested for possession of controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to provide information, possession of cannabis by driver, no valid driver’s license and other traffic violations and Carter Panopoulos-Warner, 19, of Roselle, was cited for possession of cannabis by passenger and permitting unauthorized driver. BEPC2001027.

Dec. 3, 9:47 a.m. in the 300 block of E. Green St., Oliber Arzeta Hurtado, 40, of Franklin Park, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant.

BEPC2001023.

Dec. 3, 11:36 a.m. in the 100 block of S. Addison, a complainant reported she found a flowerpot to be missing from a displayed in the front of the business. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001022.

Dec. 3, 1:40 p.m. in the 1-100 block of W. Irving Park Road, a complainant reported that her purse was taken from a shopping cart outside, by an unknown suspect. This case is under investigation. BEPC2001025.

Four charged with stealing iPhones from GH Target On Sunday, Dec. 6, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Glendale Heights Chief of Police Douglas Flint announced that charges have been filed against six individuals for allegedly stealing merchandise from a Glendale Heights Target store. Aaren Verrett, 41, of Chicago, Matthew Martin, 20, of Merrillville, Ind., Dante Smith, 21, of Chicago and Terrance Knight, Jr., 18, of Chicago, appeared in Bond Court where Judge Timothy McJoynt set bond at $3,000 with 10% to apply for Smith and Knight, $20,000 with 10% to apply for Verrett and $100,000 with 10% to apply for Martin. The state had asked for a bond of $200,000 with 10% to apply for each defendant. Two juveniles were also charged and were to appear at a detention hearing on Monday, Dec. 7. All defendants have been charged with one count of Retail Theft, a Class 3 Felony and one count of Burglary, a Class 2 Felony.

In addition, Martin has been charged

with one count of Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony.

On Friday, Dec. 4, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Glendale Heights police officers responded to the Target store located at 175 W. Army Trail Road for a report of a Target store employee being struck by an individual who was attempting to steal merchandise from the store. It is alleged that all six defendants arrived at the Target store together in a car driven by Verrett. It is alleged that Verrett parked the car on the side of the store and remained in the car while the other five defendants entered the store. It is further alleged that the defendants went to the back of the store and that one of the juveniles and Martin approached the iPhone display where the juvenile took wire cutters out of his pocket and cut the security wire that secured an iPhone to the display.

It is alleged that at this time an alarm sounded and all the defendants began walking toward the front of the store

with the iPhone, when the juvenile and Martin were approached by a store employee. It is further alleged that Martin punched the employee in the face while the juvenile returned to the display and cut another iPhone from it. It is alleged that all defendants returned to the car in which Verrett was waiting and fled the scene. The Glendale Heights Police Department immediately began an investigation into the matter which resulted in the vehicle allegedly driven by Verrett being pulled over a short time later by Warrenville police officers. All six defendants were taken into custody at this time. The value of the two iPhones allegedly stolen is approximately $4,000.

The next court appearance for all the defendants is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 for arraignment.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt.

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Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 • 7

Rock Valley Publishing

Viewpoint

Dec. 17, 2020• 7

How to end Madigan’s legacy of corruption once he’s gone

By Joe Tabor

The feds are circling Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan in a bribery investigation involving utility giant ComEd. His allies are facing indictments. Members of his party are publicly demanding his ouster as party chair, and they have the votes to deny him another term as House speaker.

It’s tempting to think just overthrowing Madigan will clean up the mess.

But ousting Madigan won’t eliminate Illinois’ ethics problems or disperse power so the state again has representational government. Illinois leaders must throw out the corrupt system Madigan has built over decades.

Three years ago, Madigan celebrated his record as the longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history. Today, it looks as if his grip on power is slipping. As of this writing, 19 state representatives have publicly opposed Madigan’s re-election this January. But these lawmakers won’t just be voting on Madigan: they’ll also vote to adopt the House Rules,

which help determine how much control the speaker has over the legislative process. These rules, coupled with the lack of safeguards against this steady accumulation of power, have led Madigan to where he is today. Without change, a shrewd politician could simply pick up where Madigan left off.

The House Rules establish how business gets done in the legislature.

These rules let the speaker decide which bills get a fair hearing and which quietly die. They allow the speaker to select which politicians receive generous stipends as committee chairs. They allow politicians to gut and replace bills to rush through legislation – such as all 1,581 pages of the $40.6 billion fiscal year 2020 budget, originally a single-sentence bill appropriating just $2.

And, contrary to the Illinois Senate, which sets term limits of the Senate president at 10 years, the House Rules do not limit the number of terms a speaker can hold. Terms as speaker should be limited to prevent another Madigan.

See LEGACY, Page 10

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8 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

Best Value in Town!

Best Value in Town!

This Charming 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom Home has plenty of room to grow, 2,466 sf with an additional 1,502 sf of finished living space in the basement, including a wet bar. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout the 1st floor. The 2 bedrooms on $598,000 NEW PRICE!

This Charming 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom Home has plenty of room to grow, 2,466 sf with an additional 1,502 sf of finished living space in the basement, including a wet bar.

Beautiful hardwood floors throughout the 1st floor. The 2 bedrooms on the main level offer flexibility for a home office, art studio, or an in-law arrangement. The 2nd floor addition features large master bedroom with en suite. Highly efficient dual zoned heating and air conditioning. The oversized lot (63 x 221) has plenty of privacy, yardspace, and a patio space for entertaining. Large 2.5 car garage with walk-up loft. $598,000

What a View!

What a View!

Open and airy 2 bed / 2 bath Condo featuring 11 foot floor to ceiling windows. Beautiful and spacious kitchen with granite tops, stainless appliances and backsplash & ample storage.

Master bedroom with large walk-in-closet, en-suite with double $419,000 NEW PRICE!

Rarest of Opportunities

Rarest of Opportunities

Rare 1st floor master suite on a 3,500sf main level footprint.

Set on a 75x190 meticulously landscaped lot on one of the center of town’s quietest and best streets. Lots of prep for the market - tear off roof (2020), new carpet, fresh paint, $1,299,900 Center of Town with 1st Floor Master

Rare 1st floor master suite on a 3,500sf main level footprint. Set on a 75x190 meticulously landscaped lot on one of the center of town’s quietest and best streets. Lots of prep for the market tear off roof (2020), new carpet, fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors, and new windows. 4 beds, 4 baths, & heated 3 car garage w/ internal staircase to the basement. Chef’s kitchen w/ large prep/entertaining island, large separate eating area, high end SS appliances, w/ vaulted ceilings. And MUCH MORE! $1,299,900

All Brick McDougall Ranch

All Brick McDougall Ranch

This 3 bed/2 bath home sits on a 60 x 168 lot across the street from Visitation Grade School. Hardwood floors throughout the entire first floor, new kitchen floor tiling, Stainless Steel Appliances, Newer Countertops, Breakfast nook picnic table,

This MacDougall Split Level has 4 finished levels with nearly 3,600sf of finished living space. Well-cared by this 2nd owner, this home is a great family home with 4-5 bedrooms, oversized rooms, an eat-in kitchen, master suite with master

This MacDougall Split Level has 4 finished levels with nearly 3,600sf of finished living space. Wellcared by this 2nd owner, this home is a great family home with 4-5 bedrooms, oversized rooms, an eat-in kitchen, master suite with master bath, family room with stone fireplace, home office, a finished basement with tons of storage, attached 2.5 car garage, large laundry room, back deck and huge backyard. Walkable to Jefferson school with bus service to Bryan JRHS and York HS. Also, 3 blocks from the IL Prairie Path. Updates include AC, Hot Water Heater, Furnace, and Tear off Roof. $535,000

$535,000

Sharp Brick Ranch

Sharp Brick Ranch

Walk to Town/Train Location! This solid home has gorgeous HWD flrs a showstopper kitchen w/ open concept floorplan. 3 Bedroom 1 Level Living with over 2,200 sqft of finished living space. All the heavy lifting is done, you can move right in & $369,900

Don’t Miss This One!

Don’t Miss This One!

Attention Builders or Rehabbers. Great potential for building your Dream House located in awesome neighborhood. The home is situated on a 50 x 167. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, stainless steel appliances, full unfinished basement. Tiny Tot

Attention Builders or Rehabbers. Great potential for building your Dream House located in awesome neighborhood. The home is situated on a 50 x 167. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, stainless steel appliances, full unfinished basement.

Tiny Tot Park located just 3 homes away. Close to downtown Elmhurst amenities, great expressway access.

Home needs TLC or build new! $329,900

$329,900

Center of Town

Center of Town

This new Center of Town luxury home’s location puts you within walking distance to everything! Over 4,800 sf with its finished basement - exercise room, rec room, custom bar and wine room! Gracious 10 ft first floor ceilings welcome you to

Attention Savvy Investors!

Well-maintained 3 bed / 2.1 bath townhome in sought after Lancaster Square. Open floor plan w/ hardwood floors & spacious living area. Large eat-in kitchen w/ island, stainless appliances & great storage leads to balcony space. On the

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Walk to Town/Train Location! This solid home has gorgeous HWD flrs a showstopper kitchen w/ open concept floorplan. 3 Bedroom 1 Level Living with over 2,200 sqft of finished living space. All the heavy lifting is done, you can move right in & enjoy! The 167 foot lot offers loads of greenspace, mature, private landscaping! Lovely easily accessible patio area for dining al fresco & 1 car attached garage. HUGE Basement w/ Rec Rm/office space/ TV/Lounge Area for R&R. Potential 4th bedroom & SO MUCH STORAGE! Walk to Hawthorne GSl, Wilder Park/Court Plus/ Whole Foods, the WHOLE Package for the Affordable Price! $369,900

This new Center of Town luxury home’s location puts you within walking distance to everything!

Over 4,800 sf with its finished basement exercise room, rec room, custom bar and wine room! Gracious 10 ft first floor ceilings welcome you to this impressive home with HWF’s & extensive trim & ceiling detail throughout, 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 2.5 car garage, custom kitchen w/ highend SS appliances open to family rm, master suite w/ spa bath, designer plumbing/lighting fixtures, surround sound + more! Equipped with all the bells and whistles - backup generator, central vac, security system, & irrigation system.

1,295,000

1,295,000

Attention Savvy Investors!

$269,900

This 3 bed/2 bath home sits on a 60 x 168 lot across the street from Visitation Grade School. Hardwood floors throughout the entire first floor, new kitchen floor tiling, Stainless Steel Appliances, Newer Countertops, Breakfast nook picnic table, well kept Living Room Fireplace perfect for the Winter months, Finished basement with an additional 4th Bedroom w/ large walk in closet, All Brick 2.5 Car Garage, large spacious deck for Summer months and deep back yard. Low taxes! Close to Oak Brook Mall, Expressways, and More! $410,000

$410,000

Perfect Family Home

Perfect Family Home

Open and airy 2 bed / 2 bath Condo featuring 11 foot floor to ceiling windows. Beautiful and spacious kitchen with granite tops, stainless appliances and backsplash & ample storage.

Master bedroom with large walk-in-closet, ensuite with double vanity sink and large soaking tub. In-unit laundry. Steps to everything in this vibrant Fulton Market / West Loop localeRestaurants, Bars, Mariano’s, Whole Foods, Jewel, CTA, Metra, easy highway access & much more. Well-managed building with Doorman, Fitness Center, Dog Run & Bike Storage. Indoor heated garage is included. Unwind on your private balcony with picturesque Skyline views. $419,000

Well-maintained 3 bed / 2.1 bath townhome in sought after Lancaster Square. Open floor plan w/ hardwood floors & spacious living area. Large eat-in kitchen w/ island, stainless appliances & great storage leads to balcony space. On the 2nd level you will find the primary bedroom en-suite w/ walk-in-closet, two additional bedrooms / home office, full bathroom & conveniently located laundry. Cozy lower level family room w/ gas fireplace & attached 2 car garage. Ideal location is easily accessible to downtown Lombard, Yorktown & Oak Brook malls, shopping, restaurants, schools, IL Prairie Path, train & major transportation routes. $269,900

Gold Coast of VP

Gold Coast of VP

Right when you walk in the door the cathedral ceiling floor to ceiling fireplace will take your breath away! Gorgeous HWD Flrs throughout, Arched Doorways & the Charm/Character w/ the Open Concept/Updates to Envy! Updated Kitchen with $399,900

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Right when you walk in the door the cathedral ceiling floor to ceiling fireplace will take your breath away! Gorgeous HWD Flrs throughout, Arched Doorways & the Charm/Character w/ the Open Concept/Updates to Envy! Updated Kitchen with Bonus 1st Floor Family beats anything on the market! Valuable Features include: New Windows, Roof, deferred maintenance items checked off the list! 3 HUGE BRs, 2 BAs this Home has over 3200 sqft of finished space, plus TONS of great storage space and a HUGE yard with a Trex Deck and Pool AND additional greenspace all within a 5 minute walk to the BEST of Villa Park & Prairie Path! $399,900

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 • 9

Interest rates under 3% and low inventory levels make this a perfect time to sell your home! Call 630-279-9500 for a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS on your home.

Premier Location!

Premier Location!

Rare opportunity to own this updated & expanded brick Georgian that has been lovingly looked after for over 45 years.

Enjoy the quiet single tree-lined block of S Lawndale from your front porch, yet close to all Elmhurst has to offer in this $559,000 NEW PRICE!

Rare opportunity to own this updated & expanded brick Georgian that has been lovingly looked after for over 45 years. Enjoy the quiet single tree-lined block of S Lawndale from your front porch, yet close to all Elmhurst has to offer in this center of town location - shops, restaurants, train. This 3 bed / 2.1 bath home boasts flexible living & entertainment options w/ a great floor plan perfect for today’s owner- Living room w/ gas fireplace, separate dining room, large Great room w/ expanded ceilings & exposed brick accent wall, family room/office w/ walls of windows. Large eatin kitchen w/ solid wood cabinets, SS appliances, backsplash & granite tops, wine fridge & wet bar. $559,000

Double Wide Lot For Sale

Double Wide Lot For Sale

Endless possibilities and potential to build your dream home on this oversized 100x125 lot close to City Centre, restaurants and Metra. Convenient access to all major transportation routes. Top-rated Field Elementary school. Well built 2 bed / 2

Endless possibilities and potential to build your dream home on this oversized 100x125 lot close to City Centre, restaurants and Metra.

Convenient access to all major transportation routes. Top-rated Field Elementary school. Well built 2 bed / 2 bath / 1765 sq ft brick and stone Ranch home is currently on property. Flexicore basement ceiling. Rehab, add on, or build new. As-Is Sale. Value in the land. $279,000

$279,000

Rarest of Opportunities

Built for the long-haul inside and out! Rare, 1st floor master suite on a 3,500sf main level footprint - enjoy all the convenience of single level living while still having a 2-story home with an entertainer’s dream basement offering another $1,299,900

Center of Town with 1st Floor Master Rarest of Opportunities Built for the long-haul inside and out! Rare, 1st floor master suite on a 3,500sf main level footprint - enjoy all the convenience of single level living while still having a 2-story home with an entertainer’s dream basement offering another 3,500sf. 75x190 meticulously landscaped lot on one of the center of town’s quietest streets. Updates: tear off roof (2020), new carpet, fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors, and new windows. 4 beds, 4 baths, and heated 3 car garage with internal staircase to the basement. Chef’s kitchen with vaulted ceiling, large prep/entertaining island, separate eating area, & high end stainless steel appliances. 2 story great room will blow you away with access to the back paver patio and yard from all sides. The basement is great for all ages - shuffle board court, vintage London pub, see-through fireplace, media room, gaming area with huge lightwell, tons of storage and steam shower. Zoned HVAC with radiant heat for the garage and basement. Within a short walk to downtown Elmhurst & schools. $1,299,900

Chic, Modern Farmhouse

2016 built modern farmhouse in sought after Jefferson school district. Covered, bluestone front porch welcomes you to 4 impressive levels of finished living space. Open 1st floor with white custom kitchen with large island, large family room with 1,125,000

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Chic, Modern Farmhouse 2016 built modern farmhouse in sought after Jefferson school district. Covered, bluestone front porch welcomes you to 4 impressive levels of finished living space. Open 1st floor with white custom kitchen with large island, large family room with gas fireplace flanked by built-ins, 1st floor office/e-learning, mudroom with built-in, powder room, formal dining room, and parlor room. The 2nd level offers 4 beds & 3 full baths, with impressive primary suite with walk-in closets and gorgeous bathroom. All bedrooms have bathroom access and large walk-in closets. The 3rd level is a finished yoga/zen/workout space with full bathroom.

Fully finished basement with full bath, bedroom, play area, and rec room with fireplace. Fenced yard with large playset and dog run on side yard. Freshly painted interior, custom window treatments and backup generator. Walk to Butterfield Park, Jefferson/Visitation schools, the Prairie Path, and great highway access. Nothing to do but unpack! 1,125,000

10 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

• Legacy

(Continued from page 7)

This January, state representatives should reject the current House Rules. They can and should be amended.

But change can’t end there. Illinois needs to reform the way it draws political maps. Every 10 years, Illinois is required to redraw voting districts to adjust for shifts in population. But redistricting in Illinois has been used to keep incumbents in power. Earlier this month, 63 candidates ran unopposed for legislative office, including a whopping 52 of the 118 seats in the

Illinois House of Representatives.

This result is entirely predictable: Illinois legislators are responsible for voting on the map, so of course they will do what they can to benefit themselves. And Madigan’s bid for a new term has centered on his argument that he has the power to deliver another map that keeps his people from facing opponents.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Illinois could join the 17 other states that put independent commissions or other bodies in charge of redistrict-

ing – not lawmakers. Voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around.

There needs to be more transparency and accountability in Springfield. Sitting lawmakers should not be able to lobby local governments or state executive agencies, and they should have a “cooling off” period after leaving the General Assembly before they lobby their former peers, as is the case in most other states.

Lawmakers need to provide more detailed financial disclosures and

should have to recuse themselves from voting on legislation in which they have a conflict of interest. Finally, the legislative inspector general needs the authority to open investigations and publish findings of wrongdoing without obtaining permission from lawmakers on the Legislative Ethics Commission, who have a propensity to cover for their own.

Madigan may be down, but he’s not out. Whether he can win back enough votes to get a 19th term as

speaker remains to be seen, but Illinoisans deserve ethics reform no matter what. Changing the House Rules, adopting fair maps and instituting ethics reforms would begin unraveling Madigan’s web of corruption.

Joe Tabor is a senior policy analyst at the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization that promotes responsible government and free market principles.

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Quesadillas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14 Steak, chicken, pork carnitas, beef or vegetable stuffed into a large flour tortilla with Chihuahua cheese, served with sour cream, Pico de Gallo and guacamole on the side.

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Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 • 11

COD seeking to train contact tracers Meeting an urgent public health need while providing employment ed.

“The urgency and the sheer number of contact tracers the country needed was incredible,” Lori said.

“When the need arose, we recognized that we, the College, needed to create a short-term training program to teach people the skills and knowledge they need. And we had to create it quickly.”

“In a matter of weeks, Lori worked with full-time faculty to develop this wonderful program,” said Joe Cassidy, assistant vice president of Economic Development and Dean of Continuing Education and Public Services at COD. “This is a great example of how we can flex as a college to meet an urgent need. It’s also a perfect example of what can happen when we collaborate on-campus and off-campus, with partners like

[the] DuPage County Health [Department].”

You don’t have to be a scientist or a public-health expert to become a contact tracer. To enroll in the College of DuPage program, all you need is a high school diploma (or equivalent) and a computer.

Contact tracers are a diverse group, consisting of many demographics. COD’s program has seen students ages 18 to 72 (the 72-yearold had recently graduated and was hired soon after). And while students come from all walks of life, many fall into one of three categories: retirees, college-aged students or those who were recently unemployed.

For retirees, becoming a contact tracer is the perfect way to fight back against the pandemic. It’s entirely remote, so you don’t have to

put your own health at risk. It can also be a good way to get some much-needed socialization.

For college students interested in the medical industry, contact tracing is a good way to gain some real-world experience in the world of public health. For those who were recently unemployed, a career as a contact tracer is a win-win. The pay is good—contact tracers make up to $28/hour—and the work is fulfilling.

And while there may be no “typical” contact tracer, Lori said the majority are drawn to the program simply from a desire to help their community.

“Not surprisingly, they tend to be the most diligent students,” she said.

This article was presented by Choose DuPage.

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DuPage County Health Department. The Health Department employs numerous contact-tracers, so they knew exactly what skills were needed. With their guidance, College staff tailored the curriculum to focus on these key skills.

“Right off the bat, the Health Department told us they wanted soft skills, like customer service,” Lori said. “As a contact tracer, there are a lot of phone conversations, and these conversations are very sensitive. With that in mind, we incorporated communication skills into the curriculum. We actually have a script that students learn—it’s part of the final exam.”

The program that Lori developed—with curriculum designed

by COD Surgical Technology Professor Kathy Cabai—covers a wide range of “hard” and “soft” skills at the core of contact tracing: from building the student’s knowledge of infectious diseases, to learning how to build rapport with cases and accounting for cultural sensitivities.

The program consists of four modules over four weeks. It’s entirely online; instructors are available to answer questions; and students largely determine the pace over the course of each week.

For those who pass the final exam, the prospects of landing a career are good. There’s no guarantee of employment, but contact tracers are in high demand. Students are often employed by public or private institutions shortly after graduating. Many are employed by the DuPage County Health Department, and they find themselves fighting COVID-19 within their own community.

To date, more than 400 students have enrolled.

While many of us are learning about contact tracing for the first time, it isn’t a novel concept. Tracing has been used to fight a variety of infectious diseases, from the 1918 Flu Pandemic to the 2014 Ebola outbreak. In tandem with other measures—like masks, social distancing and vaccines—contact tracing has been used to reduce the spread of diseases and, in certain cases, eradicate them.

Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Executive at Edward-Elmhurst Health, is the Incident Commander for the organization’s COVID-19 response. He says that contact tracing is a critical component of any community’s response to the pandemic—and it also benefits individuals.

“Contact tracing allows us to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and their contacts, so we can warn them and inform them,” he said. “The more we’re able to do that, the better it’s going to be for all of us. The less community spread, the less chance you have of actually getting COVID-19.”

And while contact-tracing is nothing new, the demand for contact tracers in 2020 has skyrocket-

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When we think of the fight against COVID-19, we tend to think of doctors, nurses, scientists and other frontline workers. But there’s a growing army of individuals— largely consisting of retirees, medical students and those who were recently unemployed—fighting the pandemic from behind the scenes.

Known as “contact tracers,” these trained workers help limit the spread of COVID-19. And now, thanks to the hard work of several individuals and a collaboration amongst local institutions, an innovative new program at the College of DuPage is preparing hundreds for careers in contact tracing.

To date, more than 400 students have enrolled, and many are helping fight the spread of COVID-19 right here in DuPage.

Known as “contact tracers,” these trained workers help limit the spread of COVID-19. And now, thanks to the hard work of several individuals and a collaboration amongst local institutions, an innovative new program at the College of DuPage is preparing hundreds for careers in contact tracing.

When Lori Gache-Garcia stepped into her role as program manager at the College of DuPage, she never imagined that her first year would be defined by a pandemic. And then, over the next three weeks, COVID-19 swept across the nation, Illinois ordered residents to shelterin-place, and the College sent faculty home.

It wasn’t the beginning she expected.

Still, Lori didn’t panic. Instead she got to work.

As the nation faced a public health emergency and an unemployment crisis, the College of DuPage responded on both fronts, introducing a new course designed to train people for careers fighting the pandemic. Working from her home computer, Lori collaborated with College staff and local organizations like the DuPage County Health Department to develop the contact-tracing program.

As a contact tracer, your job is to track COVID-19 and limit its spread. The work is entirely remote. You spend a lot of time on the phone with people who have been exposed to the virus, encouraging them to quarantine and identifying others with whom they may have come into contact.

Contact tracers are often compared to detectives. There is some scientific sleuthing involved, as you follow a trail of evidence, gather clues, conduct interviews and piece together a bigger picture.

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12A • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

Madigan floats income tax increase; GOP leader asks for spending cuts $3.9 billion budget deficit anticipated for this year

By Sarah Mansur CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

As the state government attempts to close a multi-billion-dollar budget hole, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has said he is prepared to vote for an increase to the state’s flat income tax rate should the governor request it—a proposal met with pushback from his Republican counterpart, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin.

The $3.9 billion budget shortfall, projected by the state budget office, that lawmakers will confront this spring has gained an increasing sense of urgency with the defeat of the graduated income tax constitutional amendment at the ballot on Nov. 3.

Voters rejected the initiative that would have replaced the state’s flat income tax with a graduated income tax, which was projected to raise revenues by more than $3 billion annually.

The state’s flat income tax rate is currently 4.95 percent. The rate had been 3.75 percent from 2015

to 2017, and it was 5 percent from 2011 to 2014.

The state budget office has projected budget deficits ranging from $4.8 billion in 2022 and $4.2 billion by fiscal year 2026, according to a report last month from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

That report attributed the sizable budget deficit largely to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many businesses to shut down and led to skyrocketing levels of unemployment.

Madigan’s comments, reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, came during a speaker candidate forum of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus on Dec. 5.

Madigan, 78, has served as speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives every year since 1983, with the exception of 1995 to 1997, making his tenure the longest of any state House speaker in U.S. history.

But Madigan’s support from

his House Democratic caucus has splintered in recent months, following charges from federal prosecutors that allege high-ranking Commonwealth Edison officials bribed close members of Madigan’s inner circle for years with lucrative no-work jobs and contracts, in exchange for favorable energy legislation.

In making his pitch to House Black caucus members, Madigan said he will provide strong leadership that might be necessary if Gov. JB Pritzker asks the Illinois General Assembly to address the budget shortfall by raising the state income tax rate—a scenario Madigan described as “very possible,” according to the Sun-Times’ report, which was based on a recording of the closed candidate forum.

“I’m prepared to vote for that, presuming it’s the governor’s request,” said Madigan, D-Chicago, according to the Sun-Times.

Pritzker dodged a question at his daily briefing Dec. 8 about Madigan’s statement that he would sup-

port a tax hike endorsed by Pritzker.

“I’m focused on the cuts that need to be made in state government, making sure that we’re paring back as best we can, making efficiencies in state government, looking to Republican and Democratic leaders as I already have and asking them for their best ideas about what it is that we need to cut in state government,” Pritzker said.

“And I will say that I have not yet heard back from the leaders about what their best proposals are for what cuts need to be made. And so, I’m awaiting their responses.”

On Dec. 8, Durkin, of Western Springs, called on Pritzker to release the spending cuts his administration requested from each agency leader last September.

Pritzker made that request in an effort to reduce the state’s bill backlog, which was roughly $7.3 billion, as of June 30, 2019. The bill backlog had reached about $7.6 billion as of Dec. 8.

The September 2019 request by Pritzker’s administration asked

each Cabinet director to submit budget proposals that would reflect a 6.5 percent spending cut.

This September, Pritzker warned state agency directors to prepare for a 5 percent budget reduction this year, and a possible 10 percent cut in fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1.

When asked about whether Durkin has drafted his own proposed list of agency spending cuts, a spokesperson for Durkin said he has asked “repeatedly to begin by looking at this list of agency cuts.”

In his letter to Pritzker on Dec. 8, Durkin said he asked the governor to release the agencies’ budgets reflecting a 6.5 percent cut when they spoke by phone last month.

“As of today, I have not received that document, and I am now asking again for the list of spending reductions by agency,” Durkin wrote.

“Speaker Madigan has stated he will work with you on another tax increase, but I hope you will respect the will of the voters and instead look to live within our means.”

Gov. JB Pritzker touts promising vaccine data Positivity rate falls below 10 percent

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Gov. JB Pritzker said the first delivery of a vaccine could arrive in Illinois as early as this week, although it could take several months before it is widely available to the general public.

Speaking at a daily media briefing in Chicago, Pritzker noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had released its analysis of data on a vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech.

Although the state of Illinois is having its own independent team

review the data, Pritzker said the vaccine appears to be effective in 95 percent of the people who receive it, and in 94 percent of people over age 65.

“Illinois will only distribute a vaccine that is deemed safe, and we are one of many states that have established additional review panels, including Indiana, California, New York, West Virginia and Michigan,” Pritzker said. “Our Illinois team is already poring over the analysis released by the FDA on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.”

An FDA review committee was scheduled to meet Dec. 10 to decide whether to grant the companies Emergency Use Authorization to release the vaccine. If that happens, Pritzker said, the first shipment could arrive in Illinois this week.

The drug company Moderna has also applied for Emergency Use

Free mobile COVID-19 testing available at Churchville School Dec. 20 The Village of Bensenville and the City of Elmhurst are co-hosting a drive through community testing site for the second time in the Churchville Middle School parking lot on December 20, 2020.

Free testing will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and anyone in line at 4:00 p.m. will be tested. Churchville Middle School is located at 155 Victory Pkwy.

In Elmhurst, and is conveniently located for both Elmhurst and

Bensenville residents. Testing is available on a first come, first served basis.

Simple nasal swabs will be used and you will be called with results within a few days. You are asked to bring your insurance card, though you can still be tested at no cost if you do not have insurance. Testing is available to anyone, with or without symptoms.

Additional information can be found at: dph.illinois.gov/covid19

Authorization for a vaccine it is developing.

Bonnie Blue, 68, of Chicago, who has suffered from severe asthma much of her life, was among the people who took part in clinical trials of that vaccine. She spoke at a briefing last week to encourage everyone to get the vaccine once it becomes available.

“For a person who has been on life support so many times, for

me to take part in this trial was a huge risk, a risk that my family and friends were not happy that I was taking,” she said. “But I am here.

I’m fine. I did not have horrible side effects from anything.”

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said it could take as long as a year for the vaccine to reach everyone in Illinois. She said the first priority will be health care workers and res-

idents of long-term care facilities.

“We can only allocate the vaccine that we’re actually given, so we’re prioritizing those at greatest risk of exposure and severe illness,” Ezike said. “And then we will continue to move through those established priorities. I hope people will understand that yes, there will be people that get the vaccine before you, but we are hoping for everyone to get this vaccine in the coming year.”

New jobless claims surge in Illinois More than 107,000 file initial claims while continuing claims also rise

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

More than 107,000 Illinois workers filed first-time unemployment claims, a 45-percent increase over the week before as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the state and national economies.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that there were 107,616 new claims filed during the week that ended Saturday, Dec. 5, up from 75,536 the previous week. That compares to 14,798 initial claims filed during the same period last year.

That increase was part of a nationwide trend as the entire country has experienced record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations due to the pandemic. But the increase in new jobless claims in Illinois was sharper than it was nationally.

According to the U.S. Depart-

ment of Labor, new unemployment claims nationwide rose 32 percent over the prior week, to 947,504.

The number of people receiving continuing unemployment benefits has also risen. In Illinois, that number went up 14.5 percent, to 340,919, while nationally it rose 10 percent, to just under 5.8 million.

Gov. JB Pritzker declined to say whether the state’s increase was due in any part to the stricter Tier 3 mitigations that went into effect Nov. 20. Those include closing bars and restaurants to indoor service, closing casinos, video gaming facilities, theaters and indoor recreation centers, and limiting the size of both indoor and outdoor public gatherings.

“Remember that there are a lot of things that affect employment that occurred long before just a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “We’ve seen layoffs at major companies

that were in the works for some number of months now, so I can’t answer that question.”

The Labor Department also reported that 26,450 people filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federally funded program for a class of workers who don’t normally qualify for traditional unemployment.

But state officials have noted that the PUA program has been fraught with fraud since its inception earlier this year and it is unclear how many of those claims are legitimate.

Meanwhile, there was only a 1 percent increase in new claims filed under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, another federally-funded program that provides 13 weeks of additional jobless benefits for people who have exhausted their state benefits.

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14 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

IC Catholic Prep’s Fisher gets hall of fame call Part of 2020 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association induction list

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

Todd Fisher’s journey as a successful girls high school basketball head coach had an interesting start to it.

Fisher, IC Catholic Prep’s current girls basketball coach, was in his second year at then Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park and was coaching baseball there.

“The administrator comes up to me and says they need some help on the girls basketball side and would you mind helping and being an assistant varsity coach,” Fisher recalled. “No problem. I was taught a lot. I was an assistant varsity coach one year and JV coach another year. We go into the next season and the Friday before the season starts there is suddenly a need for a head girls varsity coach in the program. With the admin that time it was one of those, ‘We need you to do this’ kind of things.”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Fisher enjoyed a tremendous run at Walther before shifting over to IC Catholic Prep last season. Fisher’s accomplishments in the sport have landed him a spot in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

The group recently announced its 2020

inductees from across the state.

“It’s very humbling, for sure,” said Fisher. “If you look at the list of IBCA hall of famers, it’s very humbling to be mentioned with that group. There are a ton of great coaches in the area and in the state of Illinois. The first thing I thought of when I found out is it’s truly humbling, and it’s something that when I first started coaching and even up to last year was not on my radar.

That’s not something you think about.

Something like this would be in your wildest dreams.”

COVID-19 pandemic-pending, Fisher is scheduled to start his 22nd season as a head coach. He goes into the 2021 season with a 408-204 career record between Walther and IC Catholic Prep. His 2006-2007 Walther team took fourth in Class A, while his 2012-2013 team also took fourth in Class 2A. In 13 of his previous 21 seasons, Fisher-coached teams won 20 or more games. He is a nine-time IBCA District 7 coach of the year recipient.

“It’s important to say this,” Fisher said. “This doesn’t happen without great players and great coaches along the way. Something like this doesn’t happen without great people. I’m lucky to have had great players and

coaches along the away as well as the support of administrators. It makes you kind of speechless.”

Fisher earned his undergraduate degree from North Central College and his master’s from Concordia in River Forest. When he took the head hoops job at Walther his goal was simple.

“We kind of struggled that first year (1-17) and then kind of improved each year from there,” he said. “When I took over the program needed stability.

The seniors had four coaches in four years. It was one of those things where stability was important and having expectations for everybody was important. And then we went from there.

Again, all of it is not possible without great players and great people to work with.”

Fisher’s second team at Walther enjoyed a 10-win improvement and his third team enjoyed another nine-game improvement from there. His fourth team won a regional title and he was named the now defunct Private School League coach of the year. Three years later Walther was one win away from a Class A state finals appearance.

Fisher also lauded the support he’s received over the years from his wife, Sarah, and children, Brennan (fresh-

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4. Silicon Valley’s specialty 8. Gather a harvest 10. Famed mathematician 11. No (slang) 12. Students use one 13. Type of molecule 15. Play make-believe 16. Large barrel-like containers 17. Touching 18. Treats allergies 21. Calendar month 22. Single 23. Cease to live 24. Brew 25. What ghosts say 26. Geological time 27. Focus 34. Discomfort 35. A citizen of Iran 36. Trip 37. Imitate 38. Makes happy 39. Double-reed instrument 40. Body parts 41. Transgressions 42. One-time emperor of Russia 43. Time zone

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man baseball player at Quincy University), and Lily (will be a freshman at ICCP next year). Sarah Fisher is the head softball coach at Concordia University in River Forest.

“My wife and I are two coaches and that helped us along the way with our kids,” Fisher said. “Sarah has been

great. She has been very supportive.”

And Fisher thanked the IBCA for the prestigious honor. “I have been the all-state nominating committee (District 7 rep) for a long time,” Fisher said. “The IBCA is an awesome group to be part of. I want to thank them for this award.”

Quick study

IC Catholic Prep’s Hall to continue football career at UW Whitewater

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

When Justin Hall came to IC Catholic Prep as a freshman, football wasn’t his thing.

Hall’s sport was basketball, but the gridiron soon came calling.

“Coming into high school I was a basketball kid,” he said. “I didn’t play football until my first year of high school. It was my first time playing. I came into IC and found it was a pretty football school and had just come off a championship. It was something new to try and something new to do. I gave it a try and it ended working out.”

Quite well, in fact. Hall recently announced he is continuing his education and football career at NCAA Division III perennial powerhouse University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

“It means a lot to me especially coming into high school as a basketball kid,” Hall said. “Being able to switch sports and now being able to play this new sport at the next level is something I am very proud of. And I am proud to be able to play at such a great program like Whitewater.”

Hall, a wide receiver and free safety, contacted Whitewater over the summer and ended up attending one of their combine-type camps. “That’s where I met the wide receivers coach and we kept in close contact since then.”

Hall green-lighted Whitewater for more than just its gridiron excellence.

“They have a great business school and that is what I am going to major in,” said Hall, who said an accounting major is a possibility. “They also have a very successful football program. When I got up there to visit I was able to relate coming out of IC having a very successful program here all my years. I don’t know how to exactly put it; It was familiar — all the success they have had.

The coaches also were welcoming and very nice.”

Hall chose Whitewater over the likes of North Central College, Augustana and UW Platteville. “Whitewater has a very nice campus,” he said. “It’s a public school, but it’s not crazy big. They have 12,000 kids on campus. It’s very nice and has a very modern vibe to it compared to some of the other schools.

I loved it. It seemed like there is always something to do there.”

While his football acumen blossomed, Hall continued to play basketball at IC Catholic Prep. However, he dislocated his shoulder after last football season. “I had to sit out last basketball season and right now it’s not looking very good for getting another season (due to the pandemic). That’s

tough. I always have had a love for basketball.”

Hall said the transition into football in high school took some getting used to. “I would definitely say the physicality was something I had to get used to with blocking and tackling, and not having really practiced it before high school,” he said. “It’s something I had to adjust to and get used to. I think being a wide receiver and a defensive back helped my ball skills a lot with getting to the high point of the ball or tracking the ball down. Those things were similar between the two positions. I think playing both positions gave me a lot more options with not only playing, but learning the game.”

The whole IC Catholic football program experience is something Hall said has been hugely beneficial for him. “We have a very strong tradition that we try to uphold,” he said. “Losing isn’t exactly accepted. We come in here every day and we grind and work hard not to lose.

The coaches here have been great. I don’t think I would be the player I am or be in the position I am today without the coaches here. Coach Doherty has been super-helpful with the recruiting process. He sends out a form and we fill it out and we get broken-down film from Hudl (video service widely used in the college recruiting process) so we can highlight our plays and put it on tape.”

Hall is hoping he and the rest of his teammates get to enjoy a senior football season, which if allowed, would start in February with practices. “For sure, I am praying we have season,” he said.

“I don’t think it would be right if we left here without one more go with my guys. This is a season we have waited for a long time — me and the seniors.

This would mean a lot to us. I feel like we have just as much talent as we always have had the last couple years.”

Hall explained he’s been hard at work during the pandemic to get himself ready for the next chapter at Whitewater. “I wouldn’t say I picked up any new hobbies, it was more working out and trying to develop myself and better myself to go to college,” he said. “I am looking forward to Whitewater a lot. I know it will be a grind and I am all for it. I am willing to work my butt off every day to become a better athlete, man and student.”

Whitewater finished 13-2 in 2019 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Stagg Bowl where it lost in the national-title game to North Central College. It was Whitewater’s 10th appearance in the national title game in the last 15 years. Whitewater also won its 37th WIAC title in 2019.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 • 15

Obituary Bluesmyth, just to name a few.

In 1974, he married his second love, Linda Giannini. Together, they raised 3 children/roadies—Minjah, Kimberly and Christopher. Later in life, Norm battled several debilitating health conditions and upon retirement, Norm and Linda moved to the beautiful rolling hills of western Kentucky.

He is survived by wife Linda (nee Giannini), daughters Minjah (Perry) and Kimberly, son Christopher, grandson Miles, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Norman Sr., mother Irene, and sister Linda.

Raise a glass and turn it up because heaven just got a little louder! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray KY 42071.

Memorial services will be held at a later time.

Imes Funeral Home and Crematory, downtown Murray is entrusted with caring for the family of Mr. Normal Duddridge.

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NORMAN DUDDRIDGE JR., 70 Mr. Norman John Duddridge Jr., 70, passed away peacefully at home in Kirksey, Ky., surrounded by family on Sunday, December 6, 2020.

Stormin’ Norm was a loving husband and father, friend to everyone he met, and master blues guitarist. He was a musician’s musician, living and breathing for every note.

His passion for music was rivaled only by his sense of humor! With one foot in the blues and the other in rock and roll, he was born on September 10, 1950, to Norman Sr. and Irene Duddridge. Norm grew up in Villa Park, and attended Willowbrook High School. It was then that he met his first love — the guitar.

His storied career in music includes countless rowdy nights making noise with the likes of Chicagoland legends: The Ikons, Condor, Lord Zipper, Take This, and

16 • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 - Rock Valley Publishing

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