Rock Valley Publishing
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Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024
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Independent
VOL. 22 • NO. 2
WINTER-SPRING RE GISTRATION BEGINS JAN. 6 In-District | JAN. 7 General Publi c View program guide on line at BvilleParks.org
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THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2024
Man sentenced to 12 years for fatal DUI crash Crashed into a disabled vehicle on the shoulder occupied by victim
SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent
Addison village staff supports local high school’s veterans organization
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that a former Homer Glen man charged with causing a crash that took the life of 51-year-old John Exner was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Robert Ebel, 55, appeared in Court in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On April 30, 2024, Ebel entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of aggravated DUI—accident causing death
(Class 2 felony). On Aug. 22, 2020, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Ebel was driving a 2015 Tesla at a high rate of speed on I-55 south of Cass Avenue in Darien. As Ebel approached a semi-truck, he attempted to pass the truck on the righthand shoulder of the road and crashed into a disabled Toyota on the shoulder occupied by Exner. Upon their arrival at the crash, authorities immediately transported Exner to a local hospital where he was
treated for life-threatening injuries including a collapsed lung, internal bleeding and injury to his spleen. Exner died from his injuries approximately 13 hours later at the hospital. An investigation into the matter found that Ebel had amphetamine, cocaine metabolite, cocaine and THC in his system at the time of the crash. Ebel will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will receive credit for 958 days he has already spent in custody.
Staff members from the Village of Addison have raised donations for the Addison Trail High School’s Veteran’s Support Organization (ATVSO). This club fosters patriotism and respect for the American flag and military veterans by organizing fundraisers both within the school and the wider community. One of its notable programs, “Wreaths Across Addison,” involves placing donated wreaths on veterans’ graves at St. Paul Cemetery. Village employees raised money to show support for this organization, and presented this donation to club members at the Village Board meeting on Dec. 16. Throughout the year, ATVSO hosts a “Flags for Addison” project. Through that fundraiser, community members can make a $50 donation to have a flag placed in the yard at their business or home. Flags are placed from sunup to sundown on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Sept. 11 and Veterans Day. Proceeds benefit the groups that help deliver the flags and also help fund a scholarship to send Addison Trail students to Washington, D.C., for educational programming. For questions or more information about “Flags for Addison,” contact Addison Trail social studies teacher and ATVSO adviser LeVonne Cescolini-Boyer at lcescolini@dupage88. net or 630-628-3347.
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SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent
‘Shop with a Hero’ helps local families, children
The 18th annual “Shop with a Hero” event on Dec. 14 at Walmart, 1050 N. Rohlwing Road in Addison, helped Addison families and children have a brighter Christmas. Volunteers from the Village of Addison, Addison Police Department, Addison Fire Protection District, and donations from Overton Chicago Gear, the Brown Family, Blue Blaze, Knights of Columbus, Medinah Shriners and Addison Walmart employees brought smiles to the faces of Addison children and their families.
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