VFW Post 2801’s Queen of Hearts jackpot is more than $45,000
The winner’s share in Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801’s current Queen of Hearts contest stands at more than $45,000. The contest’s ticket drawing takes place each Friday night at 8 p.m. The ticket that’s selected from the contest drum during the drawing includes a number on the contest board that has not been revealed. If that numbered space contains the Queen of Hearts, the ticket holder claims the winner’s share of the prize pot. There are now 34 covered spaces on the contest board. The Queen of Hearts is hidden behind one of those spaces. There is also one joker hidden on the contest board. If that joker is revealed before the Queen of Hearts, the jackpot will keep growing, but the contest board will be reset, with 54 covered spaces, representing a full deck of cards and two jokers. Michael Huston of the post’s contest committee is pictured (above - holding the contest drum) as he stands next to his daughter, Melanie Huston, moments before the drawing on Friday, July 25. Lee West purchased the ticket that was drawn from the contest drum. West had written the number 41 on that ticket. The card behind that spot on the contest board was revealed to be the 6 of Diamonds. West (pictured left) won $25 for having his ticket selected during the drawing. The next drawing will take place this Friday, Aug. 1. The post, located at 39 E. St. Charles Road, is open to the public. A five-pack of contest tickets costs $5. Tickets are available at the post during the week and up until a few minutes before each drawing. Contestants do not have to be present at the drawing. One more photo (top left) from after the July 25 ticket selection and reveal shows (left to right) three members of the post’s contest committee—Mike Vitullo, Huston and Mary Agrusa.
On the Confederate side …
Four Seasons Park was the site of a Civil War re-enactment last weekend, with the Confederate and Union armies setting up camp (west side and east side, respectively) to prepare for a skirmish. In one photo (above right), soldiers from Standford’s Mississippi Battery strategize while in another photo (above left), members of the 19 th Tennessee Infantry drill in preparation for battle. Also pictured (bottom left) is Kevin Wright, from the 3 rd Tennessee Cavalry Company B,
with his horse, Nyte. When asked why they chose to serve the Confederacy, one soldier, Steve Stachowiak, replied, “You have to have both sides.” According to the National Park Service, Stanford’s Company, Mississippi Light Artillery, was formed in the fall of 1861 and soon moved to Tennessee. After being involved in several campaigns, such as the Battle of Shiloh, the company was captured in 1864 during the Battle of Nashville.
On the Union side …
Union soldiers also set up camp at Four Seasons Park in preparation for battle with the Confederate Army. In one photo (above left), Corp. Max Kubacki, from the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, demonstrates some of the weapons and gear Union soldiers would have used. In another photo (above right), one of the army’s cannons stands at the ready for the upcoming skirmish. Alison Costanzo, executive director of the Lombard Historical Society (LHS), explained that the Civil War re-enactment began in Lombard as a way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the end of the war, and was originally held at the Lombard Common in October as a “living history day,” but ended up lasting all weekend. “It turned into a great event,” she continued, saying that with many other LHS events and priorities, Lombard-based, nonprofit Stanford’s Battery began organizing the re-enactment event in 2019—although during the pandemic it was on hiatus from 2020-23. “Stanford’s Battery is doing a great job of taking over the event,” Costanzo commented. She added that since the re-enactment is now held at Four Seasons Park, there is “a great partnership with the Lombard Park District.” Information on Stanford’s Battery can be found on Facebook.
Jane Charmelo PhoTos Rock Valley Publishing
Jane Charmelo PhoTos Rock Valley Publishing
Board members approve resolutions for renovations and modifications at Fire Station 81 and the Iowa Community Center
While Ardmore Avenue facility is upgraded, Fire Station 81 will be temporarily relocated to the Iowa Community Center; project is scheduled to be completed by April 2026
Villa Park Village Board members voted unanimously during last week’s special meeting to approve resolutions related to the projects to renovate Fire Station 81 and convert the Iowa Community Center into a temporary fire station.
Board members voted 4-0 during the July 23 meeting to approve a contract of about $1.6 million with Lite Construction, Inc. of Montgomery for Fire Station 81 renovations and the project to construct a temporary fire station at the Iowa Community Center.
A total of nine bids were received for the combined work to renovate Fire Station 81 and house a temporary fire station at the community center building. A public bid opening was conducted on July 1. According to the village, Lite Construction, Inc. submitted the lowest responsible bid.
Fire Station 81, located at 1440 S. Ardmore Ave., is 50 years old. According to information provided by the village, the station “no longer meets modern safety or operational standards.”
The Iowa Community Center, located at 338 N. Iowa Ave., has been vacant since the village’s Villa Park Recreation Center opened at the start of 2025.
Pagan
Asbestos abatement must take place at the Iowa Community Center
In addition to approving the contract with Lite Construction, Inc. during last week’s meeting, board members unanimously approved two separate resolutions regarding upcoming modifications at the Iowa Community Center. One of those resolutions approved an $86,000 contract with Husar Abatement, LTD. of Franklin Park, for asbestos abatement at the building. The other resolution approved a $23,000 contract with Midwest Environmental Consulting Services of Yorkville for project management and air quality monitoring for the asbestos abatement project.
Village trustees Jorge Cordova, Jack Kozar, Deepasriya Kumar and Khalid Sabri voted to approve the three resolutions related to the renovations at Fire Station 81 and work at the Iowa Community Center. Trustees Cari Alfano and Tina Konstatos were absent from the meeting. Village President Kevin Patrick attended the meeting but did not cast votes on the resolutions.
When the asbestos abatement project at the Iowa Community Center is completed, workers will proceed with modifications to adapt the building for temporary
promoted to Deputy Chief of Police
use by the Villa Park Fire Department.
When all of the personnel from Fire Station 81 are relocated to the Iowa Community Center, construction at the fire station will begin. The project to renovate Fire Station 81 is scheduled to be completed by April 2026.
Speaking during last week’s meeting, Villa Park Fire Chief Steve Stapleton said that once the renovations at Fire Station 81 on Ardmore Avenue are completed, the project to upgrade Fire Station 82, located at 102 W. Plymouth St., should begin. Personnel from Fire Station 82 will relocate to the Iowa Community Center during that project.
Stapleton said that the project to improve Fire Station 82 should be “a lot quicker” than the project at Fire Station 81. He said the improvements at Fire Station 82 will include the installation of a shower in the building’s basement.
Stapleton stated during the board meeting that after the Iowa Community Center is modified and used as a temporary fire station, it could be utilized in the future for vehicle storage, or to serve as a temporary location for another village department.
Cordova asks Villa Park’s fire chief how the department will respond to fires south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks
Cordova asked Stapleton during the meeting how the Villa Park Fire Department will respond to calls on the south side of the village when Fire Station 81 is temporarily located at the Iowa Community Center, which, like Fire Station 82, is north of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Fire Station 81, which opened in 1975, is south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, near Willowbrook High School.
“There’s no town that handles a structure fire by itself,” stated Stapleton, who said that at least 20 pieces of equipment respond to a structure fire in the area. He said that firefighters from nearby municipalities already respond to fires in Villa Park, as firefighters from Villa Park respond to fires in area municipalities.
Stapleton referred to a “54-3-2-1” response to a structure fire in the area, explaining that five fire chiefs, four engines, three ambulances, two trucks and a squad vehicle respond to such a fire. He mentioned several nearby fire
departments and fire protection districts that work closely with the Villa Park Fire Department, including those in Oakbrook Terrace, York Center, Lombard, Elmhurst and Addison.
“We all go to each other’s fires every time,” Stapleton said.
Stapleton mentioned that he has an informal agreement with the York Center Fire Protection District that will be in place when Fire Station 81 is temporarily housed at the Iowa Community Center. According to that agreement, York Center firefighters will automatically respond to any fire in Villa Park that’s south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
Stapleton said that once Fire Station 81 is temporarily located in the Iowa Community Center, Villa Park and York Center will put that agreement in writing.
Stapleton stated that when the asbestos abatement project at the Iowa Community Center is completed, the modifications to adapt the building into a temporary fire station will include the installation of garage doors, bay floor trench drains, ventilation equipment, gas detection devices, and a fire door.
Court grants state’s motion to detain Cook County man charged with leading police on a high-speed chase
Villa Park Chief of Police Todd Kubish announced last week that Sergeant Jose Pagan (pictured) will succeed Deputy Chief Dan McCann as Deputy Chief of Police, upon McCann’s upcoming retirement. McCann will retire in late August, ending a 30-year career with the Villa Park Police Department. Pagan has been a member of the department for 23 years, since June 2002. He was promoted to Sergeant in July 2020. During his time in Villa Park, Pagan has been a patrol officer, a tactical officer, a detective, a patrol supervisor and a watch commander. Additionally, he has been assigned to the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team as an operator. He is also a member of the DuPage County Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigation Team (MERIT) SWAT team as a sniper/marksman team leader. Prior to joining the Villa Park Police Department, Pagan served in the United States Marine Corps.
Subject allegedly reached speeds of about 90 mph in a 25 mph zone on Villa Avenue
DuPage County State’s
Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced last week that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state’s motion to detain pre-trial a Cook County man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle.
Jeremiah Funches, 21, appeared in court on July 22 and was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), one count of burglary (Class 2 felony), two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding (Class 3 felony) and multiple misdemeanor traffic offenses, including one count of DUI and one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle.
On July 21, Elmhurst Police officers responded to Kohl’s, located at 303 S. Illinois Route 83, for a report of a retail theft. Upon their arrival, officers met with loss pre-
vention personnel, who advised that a male, later identified as Funches, allegedly entered the store at approximately 10:37 a.m., selected an Adidas backpack, placed clothing into the backpack and then left the store without paying for the merchandise.
Officers learned that after leaving the store, Funches allegedly entered a 2013 Kia Sorento that was reported stolen out of LaSalle County and fled the scene. At approximately 11:48 a.m., Elmhurst police received information that the Kia was in the area and alerted surrounding area police departments.
An officer with the Villa Park Police Department located the Kia in the area of Villa Avenue and St. Charles
Road, at which time the officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop. It is alleged that instead of stopping, Funches fled the officer at a high rate of speed, ignored multiple stop signs along Villa Avenue and reached speeds of approximately 90 mph in a 25-mph zone.
It is further alleged that as Funches turned westbound on Roosevelt Road, he crashed into another vehicle, but did not stop and continued fleeing police westbound on Roosevelt Road, reaching speeds of approximately 78 mph in a 35-mph zone. It is alleged that Funches then crashed into a wooden ComEd utility pole, at which point he was taken into custody.
“Like so many before him, Mr. Funches allegedly tried to outrun the police instead of simply pulling over,” Berlin said. “Speeding through a
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SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing
Jeremiah Funches
Slices of life
Tales of the social media adept—or inept
Here’s a little ditty about me changing my profile photo and name on Facebook. It’s a funny story actually, if you look at it in the right light. I’m telling you all here, because I trust you.
Please, though, nobody breathe a word of this to my kids. They’d never let me live it down.
Here goes:
If you know me, you understand I enjoy creating things, and this often involves watching DIY how-to videos online. Usually it simply ends there. Until today.
Today while on Facebook I fell upon a gifted, creative woodworking site. It was too good to be true! So good, I thought to myself, “Self, you should follow this site.” So, I innocently clicked the “Follow” button.
Unbeknownst to me, the woodworking site did not originate on Facebook. It was simply visiting and had its home base on another Meta site—Instagram.
I was prompted to log into my Instagram account in order follow my woodworking guru. The all-wise Internet asked me to provide my password, or (and here’s the trickery part) OR, I could log in using Facebook.
I don’t have an Instagram
Coming event
Summer reading finale at Villa Park library
Come to Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park on Friday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 to celebrate the end of another successful Summer Reading Program. Enjoy giveaways and a special performance by the Barefoot Hawaiians from 7:007:45 p.m. featuring Hawaiian, Tahitian and Polynesian dances. This interactive performance will be great fun for all ages. Come for the concert and stay for the first Movie in the Park once it is dark. The first 200 people to register for this event will receive a free Kona Ice on Friday, Aug. 8, from 6:45-8 p.m. All family members must register to receive a free Kona Ice. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.vppl. info or call 630-834-1164.
By Jill Pertler Columnist
account—nor an Instagram password—so I decided to take the easy-peasy route and clicked on the Facebook alternative. Next, I was provided with an opportunity to approve and/or change my username (or maybe it was a nickname or just my name—some sort of social media name, anyway). Since I haven’t used Instagram in the past, I contemplated what my new name should be for approximately 20 seconds before typing in something that gave nod to both me and the column I write.
Done deal. (Feeling quite accomplished at this point.)
Somehow, my Facebook photo magically appeared on the new Instagram account, which was okay, but then I thought, “Maybe I don’t want everyone to see this photo on this account.”
I mean, I only wanted to follow the woodworking guy, did I really need a photo for that? Facetious question. I deleted the profile photo and called it a day.
Except.
Except 10 minutes later I went back onto Facebook and my profile photo there was gone! Not only that, but my name had been changed— without my permission! (Except apparently permission was automatic when I changed it on the other site.)
Meta is as meta does, I
guess.
I was in a bit of a panic. I had no photo and a weird new name. (Feeling less than accomplished at this point.)
My first reaction was to find the original profile photo and replace it.
Except.
Except I couldn’t readily find the old photo. It was buried deep within my photo stash and I was feeling the heat of my errors (not to mention the moment). I picked an alternate photo and hit “Post.”
One problem solved. One username change yet in the wings. I thought to myself, “I’ll just change the name back to the old name.” That couldn’t be too hard.
Except.
Except you can’t change your name willy-nilly on Meta. It makes you look like a scammer or hooligan or something even worse—like a bot. Even if you change your name by mistake—totally and completely accidentally— without any intent to become a hooligan or scammer or bot.
You. Cannot. Change. It. Back.
For 60 days.
Meta rules, not mine.
So that is how I inadvertently got a new name and new photo on my Meta accounts this morning.
All because I wanted to learn a little more about woodworking. My bad, I guess.
(So hit me with a two-byfour!)
Jill Pertler is an awardwinning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
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Op-ed: Illinois was once a leader in public defense—we can be again
By Keith Grant and Jeff York
As public defenders, we fight every day to protect the constitutional rights of people who are caught up in our criminal, juvenile, and child welfare courts.
Our clients are poor—we are appointed counsel when someone cannot afford to hire their own lawyer. But in Illinois, systemic barriers continue to undermine our ability to provide effective representation. National evaluations and state reports have exposed that the state’s public defense structure is outdated, underfunded, and lacks necessary oversight and accountability.
Illinois was an early leader in public defense. The legislature established public defender ’s offices and mandated court-appointed counsel in 1949—14 years before Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court case that created the modern right to counsel in the United States. But our laws around public defense have not significantly changed in the intervening 75 years.
the Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation (FAIR) Act (HB3363) this spring. It awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature.
The FAIR Act will create a statewide public defender agency and commission as an essential first step toward adequate funding and effective oversight of the high-quality indigent defense services to which every Illinois resident is entitled.
While public defenders work in all Illinois counties, our state is still one of only five states without a unified agency overseeing public defense. This has contributed to vast disparities in the resources available to defenders and their clients across the state. While many Illinois counties staff physical offices with fulltime defenders, in many other counties, the service is provided by part-time or contract attorneys.
Regardless of the staffing model, public defenders across the state carry often overwhelming caseloads.
prosecuted in Illinois—are at risk of being denied the vigorous defense that every accused person deserves.
A quality system of public defense ensures that every individual, regardless of their financial situation, receives competent, dedicated, and zealous legal representation. It ensures that well-supported attorneys with manageable caseloads have the staff and resources necessary to investigate their cases thoroughly and advocate effectively and without unnecessary delay for their clients.
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We reserve the right to edit a letter for reasons of clarity, space restrictions and libel.
Today, the longstanding problem of over-incarceration is compounded by the huge increase in digitally recorded audio and video evidence that has completely changed both the courts and our work as defense attorneys.
The Illinois Public Defender Association (IPDA) represents the more than 800 indigent defenders, fulland part-time, at the trial and appellate levels across Illinois—from Waukegan to Quincy to Shawneetown.
IPDA’s leadership understands this moment as an opportunity for the state to once again serve as a national leader in indigent defense.
The Illinois General Assembly has since passed
A recent survey by Northwestern University Law School shows that none of Illinois’ 102 counties meet nationally recognized staffing requirements. There are simply too few attorneys and too few non-attorney staff. As a result, already busy defenders are left investigating their own cases and doing tasks normally be done by an investigator, caseworker, or an administrator. This prevents lawyers from focusing on lawyering.
The consequences of this neglected system fall heavily on the poor and disenfranchised members of our communities. Without proper funding and oversight, indigent people—who make up the majority of those
The FAIR Act offers a comprehensive solution to this long-standing crisis. It will create a State Public Defender’s Office to assess staffing and resource needs and distribute increased state funds fairly. It will also establish a State Public Defender Commission, which will oversee indigent defense across the state and provide independence from improper political or judicial influence. The Illinois Public Defender Association supports the positive changes represented by the FAIR Act, giving voice to the Chief Defenders and Assistant Defenders across Illinois who may not otherwise feel empowered to speak on behalf of themselves and the clients they represent.
The reforms in the FAIR Act will improve fairness for accused people and strengthen the integrity of Illinois’ criminal, juvenile, and family welfare systems.
Keith Grant is the president of the Illinois Public Defender Association. Jeff York is a board member of the Illinois Public Defender Association and has served as the chief public defender of DuPage County for the past 15 years.
Good luck to the Prairie Food Co-Op. Will it be able to sustain itself? The place needed a $750,000 government grant to get off the ground. When will it need to ask for more assistance? Consider government subsidies for solar energy and electric cars. If those things were so great, why would the government need to subsidize them? If the subsidies go away, those things suddenly aren’t such great options.
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Yes this is Lombard calling. Now it’s been three weeks since there’s no Lombardian at the Lombard Jewel. What gives? I’ve been trying to buy a Lombardian from over there for all these years and still no Lombardian for three weeks in a row. What gives?
Editor’s note: The Lombardian is no longer available at the Jewel-Osco at 1177 S. Main.
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I can’t believe the U.S. Post Office is raising the stamp price to 78 cents. I sent a card mailed in Lombard to Lombard on May 17 and the card arrived in Lombard July 10. Almost two months. This is ridiculous. Thank you.
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Hi this is Lombard calling. On July 5 we had a youth on an e-scooter hit by a car on Maple and 2nd Street at the intersection. The people who hit him were an absolute wreck and the child was severely injured. I had looked in the paper; there was nothing in the police report and there was nothing in the paper regarding this incident.
I think the police missed a sure teachable moment in not putting this out for the public to hear. I don’t think most people realize how bad this situation is. The young people don’t look, rush out into traffic and Maple is a relatively busy street. Hopefully the child is okay but it should have been broadcast so the people would be made aware. Thanks.
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Hello this is Lombard calling. I just read in the Lombardian about a woman who would not put her hand on her heart for the Pledge of Allegiance. As a retired teacher, I remember saying to my son, who is in the Marines, that a student would not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. He explained to me that is the reason he is in the service. He is in the service to defend the rights of anyone who is an American citizen. If this student did not want to stand for the pledge, it was her right. It breaks my heart when people will not stand for our country. I will bet you more than 50 percent of the student population at this time do not even know the words to our national anthem. Where has patriotism gone?
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I just want to say I just read the Addison news and I’m tired of people in politics being a bully. They’re teaching our kids how to bully; they’re calling each other names; they’re thinking like little kids; talking and calling all kinds of names. I’m 92 years old and I’ve never heard each other call each other names,
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using the “F” word. What are they teaching our young kids? You guys are doing everything wrong. Don’t be a bully, be a man and stand up for what you believe in. Fight that way. But please put it in the paper put it somewhere and let these politicians know they’re acting worse than kids. They’re being infants themselves. Thank you, goodbye.
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So Planned Parenthood is losing federal funding. I am pro-life but don’t judge what choices a woman makes; however, I do not want to have my tax dollars pay for her choice to have an elective abortion. On the flip side, I think Planned Parenthood can still be a valuable resource for cancer screenings, STD testing, family planning, etc. Maybe if they conceded to limit their services to the above, it might bode well for their funding chances. Although here in Illinois, I bet that JB Pritzker will find a way to use our taxpayer dollars to keep Planned Parenthood afloat.
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Reading Raja’s column in the July 24 Lombardian, even though I am a Republican, I cannot disagree with his concerns that a portion of Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) recipients will suffer and lose those benefits, which he said from personal experience is a “safety net” to help people get on their feet. I had a family member legitimately on Medicaid for a short time, and it was a lifeline for his medical conditions. However, I wish the Trump administration, and DOGE, would have focused on the fraud and waste instead of just blanket cuts across the board. I have known a few individuals who have been able to “game” the system to receive Medicaid and SNAP benefits, and rather than punish all recipients, it is these people who need to be “audited” and checked for continued eligibility. And, also do a deep dive into the top-heavy administrators and departments of these programs to remove redundancies that will eliminate the waste. Just my take on it.
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To the contributor in the July 10 issue of Speak Out expressing sympathy for Biden having to take the “blame” for his disastrous four-year presidential term; while I do regret he has obvious cognitive disabilities, not to mention a probably lethal cancer, I do not have sympathy for his, yes his, administration’s performance under his tenure. Biden has made a career out of fence-sitting, going on whichever side of a popular issue of the day would be to secure his stances toward his popularity. He has flipped more on issues and
positions in his career than Simone Biles has ever done in her entire gymnastics profession. This self-proclaimed Catholic abortion supporter, this jelly-spined outright liar, this pompous, self-important egotistical jerk deserves the blame. If someone else were to blame, which I am not opposed to, it should start with his wife Jill, who grew fond of her opulent First Lady lifestyle she did not wish to cede away, and of course that creep of a son of his, Hunter, who selfishly maneuvered his father into his own interests. Let’s not forget his brother and the rest of his family too who led him down the path to eventual, historical ruin.
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The Chicago Public Schools system is broke, but Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have no problem spending millions on illegal aliens? Our state’s Democrat leaders are dishonest and incompetent.
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The stock market is up. Gas prices are down. The border is secure. Illegals aren’t being shipped around the country and given free handouts. The worst of the worst illegals are being arrested and deported. Iran’s nuclear ambitions have supposedly been derailed. I’d say Trump is doing a good job. Illinois liberals, go ahead and whine all you want about Trump. But you might want to take a look in the mirror and consider what Democrat policies (the SAFE-T-Act, high crime, sanctuary state status, bankrupt Chicago schools) have done to this state.
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Seeing as thousands of federal workers have quit, retired or been dismissed since January and Congress has now passed the recession bill to not spend monies previously allocated (more of these to come?), are we taxpayers not due a rebate check from the federal government since we are told there have been huge savings?
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The Illinois Legislature is trying to get the collar counties to finance all public transportation in the five-county area. A real estate transfer tax, delivery fee, tollway surcharge, etc. A new 20-member board, where the governor, Chicago mayor and Cook County board president would each appoint five members of the 20-person board, with one each named by the board chairs of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, would manage area transportation. This is outrageous! The taxing bodies in Illinois led by Governor Pritzker wasted billions of dollars of COVID money provided by the federal government. This money was added to budgets and now that the money is gone,
they have raised every fee and fax they can think of to survive. Illinois does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Since Pritzker took office the State of Illinois budget has gone up by 15 billion dollars. This has to stop. Urge your legislator to vote no and the proposed hike in fees, taxes, tolls, etc. We are all tired of being nickel and dimed to death to the point of financial strain on all Illinois residents.
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Hi neighbors; I would like to see what you think about having three-day-a-week mail service. We really do not need six-day-a-week mail delivery, and getting mail three times a week seems like plenty of time to get whatever it is the carrier delivers. This would keep the price of postage down and probably ensure the future of the post office if they don’t have to pay overtime and have fewer employees.
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To the July 17 issue in Speak Out contributor praising a letter writer who called out Rep. Casten and his bloviating and falsified laden emails ... please do not opt out of those ridiculous emails he sends out, usually against whatever our president does, following his party line stance like a puppy on a leash. As citizens in this congressional district, we need to know what is going through this guy’s mind. He lays it out pretty clear, so pay attention and vote appropriately when the time comes. It is best to know who is against our free way of life and our individual and collective independence, and why.
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Rep. Blair-Sherlock, stop! Remove your name as a sponsor of HB 3438. Adding all these fees and taxes to fund the CTA, RTA, Pace and Metra is ridiculous! The four agencies combined board salaries are about $800,000. To give them more money without reform is absolute insanity! How about one pass, one fare to travel on all four of these modes of transportation? For DuPage and other collar counties to have one seat on a new board and provide more than $43 million is a joke. Illinois does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Be part of the solution not part of the problem. Enough already.
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Gov. Pritzker wants to set up a group to ascertain the effects of Trump’s tariffs on the economy. Hey, Governor, wake up; you are over-taxing the people of Illinois. Why don’t you set up a group to curb fraud and waste in Illinois, possibly to lower taxes? Hey Governor, forget Trump; think about the people of Illinois.
* * * Watching the news about Kohberger being sentenced to life without parole is something to think about. He gets “three hots and a cot” on the taxpayers’ dime after killing four people. We need to get prisoners in prison to start paying for the prison country club as they really don’t have to suffer consequences from their actions. Chain gangs used to be an effective way to pay back society. Maybe planting trees along the highways might be a start or at least picking up trash. Any type of manual labor is a start. Thank you.
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Some of the proposals this so-called Democratic socialist who’s running for mayor of New York City supports are really out there. When he was asked whether he thought prisons were obsolete, he was quoted as saying “I think that frankly, I mean, what purpose do they serve?” Wow! Maybe if he’s elected and they end up emptying all the jails in New York City, they should release all the former prisoners into his neighborhood. Let’s see how fast he changes his mind then.
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Just read that Illinois overtook New Jersey as being the state that has the highest property taxes in the nation. Congratulations to the majority of you who continue to elect JB Pritzker and the big-spending Democrats, including our local state reps and senators. You must love how they tax you to death after you vote for them, so guess what? You get what you vote for! But it’s all good. Look at it this way: You can continue to blame Trump for everything, and still bask in the regressive-leftist utopia you voted for here. Maybe if Pritzker and his rubber-stamp supermajority legislature in Springfield can open just a few more casinos and cannabis dispensaries, and continue to promote Illinois as a top destination for having abortions on demand, we’ll be able to generate more revenue and lower our property taxes.
Coming
event
Blood drive Aug. 6
Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St., Lombard, is hosting a Versiti blood drive Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 2:30-7 p.m. in the Plum Meeting Rooms. Appointments are appreciated but walk-ins are welcome. Bring a photo ID. Donate and receive a Versiti Pickleball set while supplies last. Call 800-7TO-GIVE or visit www.versiti.org/IL to make an appointment. Or, register at heleplum.org.
The Outreach House makes its move to larger location
New home at 700 Springer Drive has triple the space
What started out in 1997 as essentially a grassroots emergency walk-in ministry, The Outreach House went on to add an infant needs outreach and has since evolved to include a food pantry and clothes closet—all in one location for the convenience of the guests it serves.
Now, after moving just under three years ago to 805 S. Main St., Lombard, the non-profit organization has relocated to 700 Springer Drive in Lombard—with triple the space at 15,000 square feet.
The Outreach House Executive Director Catherine Lynott previously said the non-profit had outgrown its 5,000-square-foot facility, in part because “We are serving more people faster than we anticipated,” so she saw the need for more room to provide—and store—donations of food, clothing and infant care items.
At one time, the walk-in ministry was located on Ash Street, behind First Church of Lombard, and the actual “The Outreach House” was so named in 2003 when First Things First infant needs outreach was added.
Meanwhile, a food pantry was located at the adjacent First United Methodist
Church on Main Street since 1981, then added a clothes closet in 2007.
In 2021 the programs were combined so guests could shop in one location.
“The spaces for our guests were getting tighter and tighter,” Lynott explained of the Main Street location, which included a room for infant and child clothing, a room for adult clothing and a grocerystore-like shopping area, complete with a large chest freezer and a wall-to-wall cooler.
With a focus on “dignity and compassion” for food pantry guests, Lynott said it was imperative to expand, and just as with their former location on Main Street (home of the former Lombard Pharmacy), many volunteers from organizations, businesses and companies gave of their time to help Lynott’s vision of a larger space turn into a reality.
The new location contains more office and storage spaces, and space for “order ahead” items, as well as a separate area for a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer in which to store food items; and larger shopping areas for infant, child and adult clothing. The food pantry itself is also larger and still offers the same amenities such as breads and
paint to flooring, to name a few.
Economic
pastries, canned and boxed goods, produce, and refrigerated and frozen items.
Lynott said proudly that “We didn’t spend a penny on any new furniture,” because they brought everything with them and also had some items donated.
“Anything that could move, we brought it with us,” she added with a laugh.
Additionally, “We had tons of volunteers helping with everything,” she continued, from the actual build-out of the former office to moving in just days before opening on July 2.
She said she designed the space and architect Steve Flint donated his services to create the plans, and also had help from Dean Albright, a board member who had a career in retail, and who donated his consulting services at no cost.
A $90,000 grant from the DuPage County Member Initiatives program (through Districts 2 and 4) helped pay for moving the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer from the former location, and also helped pay for the purchase of a dairy cooler.
Other grants included $100,000 in 2024, thanks to
Also, state Sen. Laura Ellman (District 21) helped secure a grant for Fiscal Year 2025 of $250,000 for operational expenses—such as salaries and the lease—the latter of which Lynott said will be in place for 10 years.
Clarion Construction, located in Lombard, also played a significant role in repurposing the space, Lynott praised, saying, “They project-managed the construction piece,” and also, “We reached out to their suppliers and partners.”
As a result, The Outreach House secured $180,000-worth of “materials and labor from local suppliers and contractors,” the director related, from drywall and
Besides knowing that the number of guests increases yearly, Lynott also noted that the need for diapers has also increased, estimating that The Outreach House distributes 20,000 diapers each month.
“We are part of the National Diaper Bank network,” she continued, meaning that The Outreach House can buy diapers in bulk amounts at a reduced cost. The director said one of her goals in the threeyear strategic plan is “to provide diapers to other nonprofits in DuPage County.”
Looking back to when the demolition began in April, and where the food pantry is today, Lynott said she feels such gratitude for all the volunteers, businesses and companies without which The Outreach House could not have expanded.
“People really brought their skills, their time,” she said.
“People really wanted to help,” Lynott continued, especially in the two days before opening on July 2, when volunteers worked in 12-hour shifts over the weekend.
There will be a grand opening, or “housewarming,” as Lynott described it, on Sept. 12 from 3-5 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Local and state elected officials will also stop by.
To offer a “housewarming gift” of a monetary donation, visit theoutreachhouse.org and click on the “Give” link. For more information about The Outreach House, such as days and hours of operation, to RSVP to the open house and learn about “order ahead,” visit www.theoutreachhouse. org.
The OUTreach hOUse phOTOs Rock Valley Publishing
The Outreach House has moved to 700 Springer Drive in Lombard, with triple the amount of space compared to its former home at 805 S. Main St., Lombard. In one photo (above), Executive Director Catherine Lynott is pictured at the welcome desk, where guests check in upon entering the building. Another photo (below) shows the food pantry’s produce section.
the efforts of state Rep. Terra Costa Howard (District 42), who helped secure an Illinois Department of Commerce and
Opportunity (DCEO) grant.
Feds weigh in on lawsuit challenging how Illinois maintains voter registration rolls
By Peter Hancock Capitol news illinois
Suit alleges Illinois fails to properly maintain registration lists
The U.S. Department of Justice added its voice this month to a lawsuit by private entities accusing the state of Illinois of failing to properly maintain a statewide voter registration list, in violation of a 1993 federal law.
In a filing known as a “statement of interest,” the Justice Department said the government has an interest in the outcome of the lawsuit, although the filing stops short of asking the court for permission to intervene as a party in the case.
“This case presents important questions regarding enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act,” attorneys in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in the filing.
“Congress has vested the Attorney General with authority to enforce the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) on behalf of the United States. Accordingly, the United States has a substantial interest in ensuring proper interpretation of the NVRA.”
The lawsuit challenges the state’s practice of delegating to local election officials the responsibility of conducting
regular maintenance of voter registration rolls, including the task of purging people from the rolls when they die or move out of the jurisdiction. Under NVRA, the suit argues, the state is responsible for carrying out that function.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Judge Sara Ellis has indicated she could decide the case at a hearing currently scheduled for July 30.
The DOJ filing comes at the same time the Trump administration has been launching multi-pronged efforts for the federal government to exert more influence over voter registration in the United States, a task traditionally reserved for states.
In March, Trump signed an executive order purporting to require people to show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when they register to vote. That order has since been blocked from being enforced while a legal challenge to it proceeds.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported July 16 that the DOJ has asked at least nine other states for complete copies of their voter rolls, and at least two reportedly have
Coming events
23rd annual Rock & Bowl to help end homelessness
The 23rd annual Rock & Bowl to End Homelessness, an event dedicated to raising needed support for DuPagePads will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 3 p.m. at Fox Bowl, 1101 Butterfield Road in Wheaton. The Rock & Bowl includes up to 30 teams of five. This fundraiser benefits the over 300 neighbors in shelter, including 100 children, currently at DuPagePads Interim Housing Center and on their path to ending their experience with homelessness. In addition to the friendly bowling competition, there will be a “Split the Pot” ticket sale as well as many raffle packages. Pizza, pop, ice cream, and T-shirts are provided for all bowlers. Registration is now open and teams that register by Aug. 1 are automatically entered to win a bowling party for 10, including shoe rental and a $50 credit towards food and beverage at Fox Bowl. https://dupagepads.org/event/ rock-bowl-2025.
Cub Scouts time capsule opening Sept. 10
To all Cub Scout families who had Cub Scouts out of Pleasant Lane School in Lombard for the year of 2000 we are opening the time capsule that was buried 25 years ago at Pleasant Lane School on
turned them over.
So far, the DOJ has not requested similar data from Illinois. Officials at the Illinois State Board of Elections declined to comment on the DOJ filing, saying they do not comment on pending litigation.
Basis of lawsuit
The suit was filed in 2024 by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal advocacy group known for filing Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to investigate allegations of official misconduct.
Other plaintiffs include Wheaton-based Breakthrough Ideas, a conservative advocacy group headed by former Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives; Illinois Family Action, a Christian political advocacy group based in Tinley Park; and Carol J. Davis, identified as a DuPage County resident and member of Judicial Watch.
The complaint is based on a provision of NVRA that requires states to “conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters” if they have died
Saturday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m.
There will be refreshments and reuniting. Due to phone contacts changing and families moving, if you know anyone who was part of the Pack 40 time capsule can you please let them know. Contact Scott Loconti, CM, 630-3794174 if you are able to attend. Hope to see you there.
Plum Library program on Alzheimer’s Aug. 6 Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Resource Drop-in Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 4-6 p.m. Drop in and learn about the signs and symptoms of dementia vs. normal aging, tips for having a conversation with
or changed their address.
The complaint also cites federal regulations that require each state’s chief election officer to submit various kinds of election-related data to the federal Election Assistance Commission, including “the total number of registrations statewide that were, for whatever reason, deleted from the registration list … between the past two federal general elections.”
The election commission collects that data and publishes biennial reports that are delivered to Congress summarizing the information it receives.
According to the complaint, the commission’s reports indicated that much of the required information from Illinois was missing. For example, the complaint notes, from November 2020 through November 2022, 11 Illinois counties reported removing zero voters from their registration lists, suggesting that no registered voters had moved or died in those counties over the two-year period. Twelve other counties reported removing 15 or fewer registrations over that same period.
a doctor, caregiver resources, and healthy eating and exercise information. Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Community Engagement Coordinator, Leann Donovan, will be here to answer your questions.
Senior Resources Fair Aug. 6
To help our older residents connect with the services and programs available in our communities, the office of state Rep. Terra Costa Howard is hosting a Senior Resources Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lisle Recreation Center, 1925 Ohio St., and open to seniors in the 42nd District and their fami-
lies, friends and other interested people. Representatives of senior-focused organizations throughout DuPage County will be on hand to share information about the services they provide. At the event, we will be collecting donations for Operation Support Our Troops-America’s Comfort and Care Package program, which sends packages filled with snacks, food, personal items, and cards and letters to service members overseas. If you’re interested in hosting a table, or if you need more information about our Senior Resources Fair, please contact my office at reptch42@gmail.com or (630) 812-9292.
The complaint described those as “absurdly small numbers,” given that those 23 counties were home to more than 980,000 registered voters.
In a letter to Judicial Watch responding to a request to supply the missing data, State Board of Elections Executive Director Bernadette Matthews wrote that the agency does not maintain such information because Illinois is a “bottom up jurisdiction” where local jurisdictions—including 102 counties and six municipal election authorities – are responsible for maintaining their own voter registration lists.
“This makes sense, as local election authorities are responsible for determining a voter’s continuing eligibility to vote in their jurisdiction,” Matthews wrote.
The plaintiffs, however, argue that NVRA gives states the responsibility for keeping voter registration lists up to date, and they cannot delegate that responsibility to local jurisdictions.
That is also the argument
that the DOJ made in its statement of interest.
“By its plain terms, the NVRA identifies one entity— the state—to carry out the administration of voter registration for federal elections,” DOJ argued.
Defendants’ response
The Illinois attorney general’s office, which is defending the State Board of Elections, has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, arguing the plaintiffs lack standing to bring the suit. It also claims the plaintiffs have not stated a valid claim because NVRA allows states to delegate its responsibilities to local authorities.
Two labor unions—the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Illinois Federation of Teachers—have intervened in support of the state’s position. They argue that they spend considerable resources to ensure their members can vote in Illinois elections and they have an interest in making sure none of their members are unlawfully purged from the voter rolls if the plaintiffs succeed in the case.
Judge orders detention for minor
accused of illegally possessing loaded ghost gun with a 50-round magazine
DuPage County State’s
Attorney Robert Berlin and Glendale Heights Chief of Police George Pappas announced last week that a 16-year-old male Glendale Heights resident has been accused of possessing an illegal high-capacity ghost gun.
The juvenile appeared at a detention hearing, where Judge Kishori Tank ordered that he be detained until at least his next court appearance. He has been charged with one count of aggravat-
ed unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony, and one count of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing a police officer. The juvenile is currently on court supervision for driving without a valid driver’s license.
On July 20, Glendale Heights police officers responded to a call of four individuals allegedly spray-painting graffiti near the 500 block of Sidney Avenue. It is alleged that upon the officers’ arrival, the individuals fled the scene
Court grants state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for woman accused of threatening employers with a loaded gun
DuPage County State’s
Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury have announced that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for an Aurora woman accused of threatening her employers with a loaded gun.
Imani Nickson, 23, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged two counts of intimidation (Class 3 felony) and two counts each of misdemeanor aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.
On July 10 at approximately 11:56 a.m., West Chicago police officers responded to a call of an individual with a firearm at Evans and Son Blacktop, 3N775 Powis Road. Upon their arrival, officers spoke with the female caller, later identified as one of the victims, outside the business.
As officers spoke with the victim, who informed officers that Nickson allegedly had a gun, they could hear yelling inside the building where one of the victims remained with
• Chase
Nickson. Officers entered the building at which time the defendant allegedly surrendered her firearm, a Glock 43x handgun.
Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that Nickson, an employee at the company, entered the building and after a discussion about Nickson not getting paid by the victims, who are the owners of the company, Nickson was asked to leave. It is alleged that instead of leaving, Nickson pulled out the loaded Glock 43x handgun, which does not have a safety switch, pointed it at the two victims, and began livestreaming the incident over Facebook Live. It is further alleged that Nickson pointed the weapon at the face of the female victim and threatened to shoot the male victim. The female victim, who is currently pregnant, escaped the building and called authorities.
Nickson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 4 in front of Judge Brian Telander.
(Continued from page 3)
residential area in the middle of a summer afternoon, as alleged in this case, is a direct threat to the lives of countless innocent pedestrians, including children enjoying their summer break. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in DuPage County.
Thanks to the work of the Elmhurst Police Department and our partners at the Villa Park Police Department, Mr. Funches was apprehended and taken into custody, where he will remain awaiting his trial. Motorists have got to understand, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, you must pull over.
on foot through residential backyards.
Following a brief foot pursuit, the juvenile was taken into custody. When officers searched the path that the juvenile took as he fled, they found what appeared to be a 3D printed privately made firearm (ghost gun) with a loaded 50-round drum magazine. It is alleged that as the juvenile fled the officer, he threw the weapon into a residential yard.
Officers took two of the remaining three individuals into custody following a brief foot chase. One of those individuals was charged with two counts of misdemeanor criminal defacement of property, while the other was charged with one count of misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer and one count of criminal defacement of property. Both of those individuals were released pre-trial.
The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 28 in front of Judge Tank.
Comedian in new video
An Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant will help fund replacement of aging bridge.
Forest Preserve District awarded $1.06
million
for Blackwell’s Cenacle Bridge replacement
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been awarded $1.06 million through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to help fund the replacement of the Cenacle Bridge in Blackwell Forest Preserve.
The project will replace the existing 100-year-old bridge—originally built by former property owners to access a retreat house—with a modern, multiuse bridge spanning the West Branch DuPage River. The current structure is deteriorating beyond routine maintenance and no longer meets today’s safety standards.
The bridge is part of Blackwell’s 0.6-mile Cenacle Trail, which connects Batavia Road with the regional West Branch DuPage River Trail. Its
replacement is a certified 2019 Master Plan project.
“The Cenacle Bridge has connected people to nature for generations, but it’s long overdue for replacement,” said Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard. “With this funding we can build a safer, more accessible bridge that strengthens our trail system and better serves everyone who enjoys Blackwell Forest Preserve.”
The $2.2 million project has also received $300,000 in federal transportation funds and $250,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Engineering is expected to begin in 2025, with construction potentially starting in 2027.
Fleeing from police is not an option and once apprehended you will find yourself facing additional felony charges. I thank the Elmhurst Police Department for their work on this case as well as the Villa Park Police Department for their heads-up work in the apprehension of the defendant. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Jennifer Nielsen for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Funches.”
Funches’ next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 18, for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
Villa Park resident Matt Kissane has worked a deal with Lombard’s Red Oak Disposal Services to produce comedy videos for the company’s website.
“Tom Anderson reached out after seeing some of my other videos I’ve done,” he explained. Kissane has performed in comedy videos for companies including Ace Hardware, White Claw Vodka and Affordable Painting and Epoxy. There are videos on the Red Oak YouTube channel from several other comedic performers, including former Chicago radio icon Kevin Matthews.
Enjoy a night of ’90s nostalgia featuring Boy Band Review, one of the best boy band tribute bands in the country at Cantigny. Relive your best years with this full band, complete with choreography and harmonies, performing nostalgic #boyband hits. Cantigny invites guests to REWIND back to the ’90s and: Throw on your favorite throwback outfit and get ready to dance the night away to live music featuring the biggest boy band hits of the ’90s. Wander through the garden, snap selfies at nostalgic photo ops, and challenge your friends to classic games that’ll take you straight back to your childhood.
Sip on playful cocktails and mocktails from the bar while
soaking in all the retro vibes.
From frosted tips to heartthrob harmonies, this night is your ticket back to the golden era of boy bands and pop dreams.
WHO: Nature lovers, music lovers, fun lovers over 21+
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 9, 7-11:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1S151 Winfield Rd; Wheaton, IL 60189
Cantigny is located approximately 15 minutes from downtown Naperville, 30 minutes from O’Hare International Airport, and 45 minutes from Downtown Chicago.
Tickets are available at cantigny.org/event/cantigny-rewind.
-Early Bird Pricing: $40
-General Admission day of: $45
-Upgraded ticket: $115–enjoy early entry at 7 p.m., premium parking, and 4 drink tokens to keep the good vibes flowing all night long ($135 day of)
All tickets include parking. Know before you go:
-Cantigny is now cashless.
-Swings interactive exhibit will be open for all guests to experience.
Cantigny Rewind is just one event in Cantigny’s Summer 2025 Theme, Feast of the Senses, wherein guests are invited to indulge in the sights, sounds, flavors, aromas, and experiences of Cantigny.
For more information about Cantigny, including hours, permanent attractions, and upcoming events, please visit Cantigny.org.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing Boy Band Review rewind
PUZZLE Page
Sudoku
Fun by the Numbers
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
CLUES ACROSS
1. Popular potato snack
5. Guards the Pyramids
11. Furnish anew
14. Herb
15. Preoccupy the mind continually
18. The lowest adult male singing voice
19. NATO commander (abbr.)
21. A major division of geological time
23. New Zealand parrot
24. Notions
28. Lump in yarn
29. Indicates position
30. Lose hold of
32. Hindu honorific
33. Former OSS
35. Electronic data processing
36. Cost per mile
39. Snake-like fish
41. They start the alphabet
42. Taylor Swift’s tour
44. Intermediate ecological stage
46. Scarlett’s home
47. Of he
49. Ohio city
52. Breakfast item
56. An evening party
58. __ Falls
60. Linked together
62. Mythological spirits
63. Small Eurasian deer
CLUES DOWN
1. Earliest human form: __-Magnon man
2. Flavoring
3. Notion
4. Bundy and Fenwick are two
5. Qualities of sound
6. One who gets paid
7. Expresses surprise
8. O.J. trial judge
9. Pointed ends of pens
10. Shield bugs genus
12. Container for shipping
13. Upper body parts
16. Closes tightly
17. Nigerian World Heritage
Site
20. Volcanic island in Fiji
22. Commercial
25. -__: denotes past
26. They __
27. Confraternities
29. A way to gain a point
31. Parts per billion (abbr.)
34. Brew
36. Badgers group
37. Sailing boat
38. __ Polo, explorer
40. Elder citizen (abbr.)
43. Frankish law code
45. Exclamation of surprise
48. Groan
50. It presses clothing
51. Do not allow
53. Gelatinous substance
54. Common Japanese surname
55. Present in nature
57. Electronic countermeasures
58. Last or greatest in an indefinitely large series
59. Commercials
61. News agency
First 2025 human case of West Nile virus reported in DuPage County
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is reporting the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in DuPage County in 2025. The individual is a Glen Ellyn resident in their 50s.
The onset of WNV symptoms was in mid-July. WNV is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick.
However, approximately one in five people who are infected with WNV will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
Less than one percent will
develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues).
With a rise in recent weeks in mosquito batches testing positive for the presence of WNV, DCHD is encouraging residents to stay safe outdoors by protecting themselves from mosquito bites and the risk of contracting WNV. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat WNV infection in people, so the best way to prevent illness from WNV is to avoid mosquito bites and follow the 3Rs of defense:
• Reduce the number of mosquitos and remove containers outside that hold water.
• Repel mosquitos by using insect repellent.
• Report areas where water sits for more than a week.
Residents are encouraged to check the Personal Protection Index (PPI) on the Health Department’s website for the
most up-to-date information on WNV activity. The current PPI level has been raised to 2, which indicates high numbers of infected mosquitos in most areas and at least one human WNV case.
The PPI widget is updated
by 3 p.m. every Wednesday throughout WNV season. These weekly updates are determined by the Health Department’s vector-borne disease surveillance experts.
WNV activity generally decreases in the fall when cooler temperatures arrive, especially after the first frost of the season. Find additional information at www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html and https:// dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases and-conditions/ west-nile-virus.html.
for robbing five suburban financial institutions
A Villa Park man who robbed four banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to more than seven and a half years in federal prison.
Charles Lawler, 54, entered the financial institutions and presented demand notes while his friend, Tarandle Lee, 45, of Bolingbrook, waited outside as the getaway driver. Together, the pair robbed three banks and a credit union, while Lawler also robbed an additional bank by himself. The robberies were as follows:
• Sept. 22, 2021: Lawler robbed BMO Harris Bank in Naperville.
• Sept. 28, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Old Second Bank in Lisle.
• Oct. 6, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Bank Financial in Westmont.
• Jan. 3, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge.
• April 14, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed DuPage
Credit Union in Downers Grove.
Lawler was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. He pleaded guilty to the first three robberies and stipulated to his role in the final two.
On July 15, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Lawler to seven years and eight months in federal prison.
Lee was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Lee
on all four robbery counts against him. Lee’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Lawler’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-inCharge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Downers Grove Police Department, the Bellwood Police Department, the Woodridge Police Department and the Villa Park Police Department.
Charles Lawler
Media literacy education lacks consistency across Illinois State law requiring instruction was passed three years ago
By Jason Piscia and Dr. Ann Strahle
A survey of Illinois educators reveals a significant disparity in how they interpret a three-year-old state law’s requirement to teach high school students a “unit of instruction” on media literacy.
About one-third of respondents to a survey conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield indicated they spend more than one class period but no more than one week covering the topic, while about 29 percent spend more than three weeks’ worth of class periods. Sixteen percent of schools surveyed discuss media literacy during a single class period over the course of a full school year.
Illinois became the first state in the nation to require public high schools to teach media literacy, which can include lessons on accessing information, analyzing and evaluating media messages, reflecting on how media affects the consumption of information and triggers emotions, and how to engage in thoughtful conversations with people using facts and reason. The state-mandated lessons began with the 20222023 school year.
A key feature of the law is its “bottom-up approach” that gives local schools flexibility to design and deliver media literacy lessons as they see fit, said Yonty Friesem, an associate professor at Columbia College Chicago and a co-founder of Illinois Media Literacy Coalition, a group that helped develop a media literacy education framework that teachers could use to build lessons in wake of the new law.
While the local-control approach made the legislation more politically palatable, the flexibility brings major differences in what the students learn.
“We definitely don’t see the impact that we wanted to see,” Friesem said of the law.
He recalled being asked to speak about media literacy in a high school class. The session lasted an hour.
“That was the unit of instruction,” Friesem said. “Which, yes, they’re correct, it is. But I would prefer it to be a little bit longer.”
Media literacy findings
Further illustrating Illinois schools’ variations on how they handle media literacy education, the UIS survey,
taken in spring 2024, found:
• Less than 82 percent of teachers said high school freshmen received media literacy instruction at their schools. That percentage decreases as students get older. Seniors received the training at 63 percent of the schools.
• One-third of educators reported a student who attends their high school for all four years will experience a media literacy lesson four or more times. Another one-third of teachers say their students will see just one lesson over their four years in high school.
In Springfield, students are receiving the lessons in a variety of ways. Mike Havener, a library media specialist at Springfield High School, one of three public high schools in the capital city, arranges with other teachers to bring their classes to the library so Havener can offer a session that covers media literacy. But even then, he doesn’t see every student in the building.
“I am not reaching with fidelity every student,” he said. “I mean, we range between high 1,300s to almost 1,500 students and just to get that quantity of kids through the library (for these les-
sons) … that is not happening. I can say that I do see every student in some capacity. But that’s not always me teaching a media literacy lesson. They’re coming in for English. They’re coming in to get a book. … I try to sneak it in as much as possible. There are other teachers in the building that do teach media literacy as part of their normal coursework.”
For Heather Danek, who teaches public speaking courses at Minooka Community High School in the Chicago suburbs, media literacy lessons in her classroom are “interwoven throughout the class. It’s not just a one-anddone situation for me.”
“We start within the very first unit talking about meeting the needs of an audience and audience expectations which I think is part of media literacy and thinking about the information that you’re using to create a point, thinking about the way that you’re building an argument using information,” said Danek, who serves on the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition. “And then, as we get further into like research projects, then I do more of the nuts and bolts of things like the true
analysis of sources, looking at quality places to find information.”
‘It’s a pedagogy’ That approach—working media literacy into the everyday educational process—is what will make the lessons most effective, said Michael Spikes, the other co-founder of the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition and a lecturer at Northwest-
ern University. “It’s a pedagogy,” he said. “… Not so much like you got to go take the media literacy class, or you do media literacy when you have the unit, like what we have in the policy. … It’s a way of seeing the world the way you move through (it) more than just saying it’s just a subject that you learn.”
See MEDIA , Page 17
The 2025 Lombard Cycling Classic
The Lombard Cycling Classic returned to downtown Lombard last week. The weather was nearly ideal for the July 22 event, which featured a full day of cycling races on a course with a start/finish line on St. Charles Road near Park Avenue. Cyclists traveled about two-thirds of a mile during each lap around the course, zooming east on St. Charles, south on Main Street, west on Michael McGuire Drive, north on Elizabeth Street, and eastbound on St. Charles. The 75-minute women’s professional race took place from about 4:45 to 6 p.m. The Family Fun Ride then took place for about 45 minutes. The final event of the day—the 75-minute men’s professional race,
took place from about 6:45 to 8 p.m. One photo (above) from the end of the women’s professional race shows the winner—Nicola Macdonald—smiling as she crosses the finish line. The Lombard Cycling Classic was part of the 10-day Chicago Grit (formerly known as the Intelligentsia Cup) series, which included 10 daily races from July 18-27. The cycling series began in West Dundee on July 18, and moved to Glen Ellyn, Winfield and Mundelein before arriving in Lombard. The series continued with events in Brookfield, Northbrook, Elgin and Lake Bluff before concluding in Chicago on Sunday, July 27.
Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing
Family Fun Ride
The 2025 Lombard Cycling Classic, held in excellent weather conditions on July 22, featured a full day of bicycle races on a downtown course. The course’s start/finish line was on St. Charles Road near Park Avenue. The course proceeded eastbound on St. Charles to Main Street, south on Main to Michael McGuire Drive, west on Michael McGuire Drive to Elizabeth Street, north on Elizabeth to Main,
and east on St. Charles. Cyclists covered 1.1 kilometers, or a little more than twothirds of a mile, on one lap around the course. The popular Family Fun Ride, which took place after the women’s professional race and before the men’s professional race, gave children and adults an opportunity to ride on the course for about 45 minutes.
Chris Fox photos Rock Valley
Mariners turn in strong effort at Red Division ‘B’ Meet
Villa Park swimmers race to 23 victories in six-team meet
Several members of the Villa Park Mariners completed the 2025 season by swimming at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference Red Division ‘B’ Meet in Bloomingdale on July 12.
The Mariners competed against swimmers from five other teams—Butterfield, Wood Dale/Addison, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights and Hanover Park—in the meet.
Villa Park swimmers delivered first-place efforts in 23 of the competition’s 58 individual events. There were no relay events in the meet.
Villa Park’s Matthew Kelley-Tellez won four individual titles during the July 12 meet. Swimming in the 8-and-under boys level, he earned his first win of the day in the 25-yard freestyle, which he completed in 29.26 seconds. He added victories in the 50-yard freestyle (which he finished in 1 minute, 4.34 seconds), the 25yard butterfly (44.52) and the 25-yard breaststroke (33.44).
Belle Knudtson of the Mariners also won four individual titles during the Red Division ‘B’ Meet. Competing in the 13-14 girls level, she secured her first win of the meet in the
50-yard freestyle (33.36). She went on to earn first-place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle (1:16.58), the 50-yard butterfly (41.70) and the 50-yard breaststroke (46.41).
Villa Park’s Penelope Kuhl won three titles in the 9-10 girls division of the July 12 meet. She posted her victories in the 100-yard individual medley (1:31.85), the 100yard freestyle (1:16.39) and the 50-yard butterfly (40.51).
Claire Brennan of the Mariners won three races in the 15-18 girls level of the Red Division ‘B’ Meet. She earned first-place finishes in
the 100-yard individual medley (1:21.21), the 100-yard freestyle (1:11.08) and the 50yard backstroke (38.54).
Ariana Knudtson of Villa Park was a two-time champion at the July 12 competition. Swimming in the 11-12 girls level, she won the 50-yard freestyle (35.27) and the 50yard butterfly (49.96).
Thomas Tyler of the Mariners won two individual titles in the 15-18 boys division of the Red Division ‘B’ Meet. He swam to victories in the 100-yard freestyle (1:15.66) and the 50-yard breaststroke (51.00).
Some members of the Villa Park Mariners finished the 2025 season by swimming at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s Red Division ‘B’ Meet in Bloomingdale on July 12. Villa Park’s Belle Knudtson (pictured above earlier this season) won four individual events in the meet’s 13-14 girls division. Matthew Kelley-Tellez of the Mariners, who is also pictured (top left) earlier this season, won four individual titles in the meet’s 8-and-under boys level.
Villa Park’s other individual champions in the July 12 meet in Bloomingdale were: 8-and-under girls: Madeline Dahm (50-yard freestyle; 54.74)
While Villa Park swimmers won 23 individual titles in the meet, Butterfield earned the second-most titles of the competition with its 10 victories. Carol Stream swimmers won nine events.
Willowbrook High School’s dance team held its annual summer dance camp for kids (ages 5-13) at the school last week. The five-day camp concluded with the 45 campers performing for their families during Friday morning’s showcase in the school’s main gymnasium. Members of the Willowbrook team (left) also performed during Friday’s showcase. The dance team will hold a three-day camp for kids from Oct. 6-8. Campers will then perform during halftime of the Warriors’ junior varsity football game on Friday, Oct. 10. The Willowbrook dance team will also hold three one-day mini camps during the 2025-26 school year. Those one-day camps include a Halloween-themed camp on Oct. 18, a winter-themed camp on Dec. 20, and a Valentine’s Day-themed camp on Feb. 7. Each of the mini-camps will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Willowbrook dance room. For more information about the upcoming camps, contact the dance team’s coaches at ccreighton@dupage88.net or mschulte@dupage88.net, or visit the team’s Instagram feed—@wbvarsitydanceteam.
Chris Fox File photos Rock Valley Publishing
Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing
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535 East Maple Street Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 889-1090 www.bbschurch.org
Worship God and learn more about Him with us.
Berean Bible Students Church 535 East Maple Street Lombard, IL 60148
Sunday Worship starts at 10:00 am and is followed by a Message. Sunday Bible Study starts at 11:30 am
(630) 889-1090 www.bbschurch.org
For more information you can reach us at 630-889-1090 or visit our website at www.bbschurch.org.
St. Timothy Evangelical
Lent and Easter Services at 7 p.m.
Sunday Worship at 10:15 am
“The Crucial Hours”
Sunday School & Bible Study 9 am Wednesday Service at 7pm
Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022
Rev. David Ernest “Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You” Jerusalem Lutheran, Morton Grove Matthew 27:15-26
Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022
Adult Bible Study Wednesdays after Service Saturday, August 23, Game Night at 4 pm Everyone is Welcome!
Rev. Paul Spaude “What to Remember When Your are St. Matthews, Niles Seized with Remorse” Matthew 27:3-4
All services are live streamed. Watch on our website or on Facebook. sainttimothy.org
Fourth Lenten Service March 23, 2022
Rev. Jonathan Bergemann “I Will Keep the Passover” Good Shepherd, Downers Grove Matthew 26:18
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To that end, the UIS survey showed schools are working media literacy lessons into a variety of courses.
Nearly 60 percent of respondents said the lessons are included in English courses, 47 percent in history/social studies, 33 percent in business classes, 29 percent in literature and 18 percent in civics. Just more than 16 percent of schools said they deliver the lesson in a separate media literacy course.
Danek said she sees her students displaying media literacy skills, including being more aware of the quality of the information they’re using and being able to find reputable sources in trustworthy places.
Lack of statewide oversight, funding
Still, a deficiency in the law, Danek said, is a lack of statewide oversight to ensure compliance in classrooms throughout Illinois, which leaves many schools, including hers, implementing the law on a “hit or miss” basis.
“If I had this conversation with any curriculum director, or any building principal in the state of Illinois, I would hear the same answer,” she said. “… I think the challenges are communication. … How do we get the message out to people that they need to and should be doing this, and then how do we provide them with the necessary tools in order to do it?”
Another deficiency: The state didn’t set aside funds
to train teachers to teach media literacy.
“I mean, it’s basically an unfunded mandate, right?”
Danek said. “There wasn’t really any money put behind it. So, I think if you want a law that has some teeth, there has to be some money because you’re gonna need to identify ability, the opportunities for professional development.”
Other states’ policies
Just as Illinois school districts employ a variety of methods to teach media literacy, states around the country do, too.
As of the end of 2023, 19 state legislatures had approved bills or resolutions concerning “K-12 media literacy or digital citizenship education,” according to a policy report by Media Literacy Now, a group that pushes for the subject to be taught in public schools.
A study published in 2023 by University of Kentucky professor Daniela Kruel DiGiacomo and others examined state-level legislation and found the measures lack consistency in terms of substance, scope and intended implications.
Most legislation focuses on safety and civility in online environments but fails to address equity concerns adequately. Moreover, there is a notable lack of support in terms of funding, teacher training, and clear definitions of media literacy terms. The study underscores the need for comprehensive and coherent policy frameworks to effectively integrate media literacy education into
the curriculum. Back in Illinois, educators say identifying the skills of teachers and assessing the implementation of the law more comprehensively is another step toward making improvements.
While the UIS survey offers snapshots into outcomes, a statewide assessment is something those interviewed see as a necessary step, perhaps coming from the Illinois State Board of Education.
“Students have to pass a Constitution test to graduate,” Havener, the Springfield High faculty member, said. “I think there should be a media literacy test and that it has equal importance in weight in order for kids to graduate.”
Partisan divide
Another way to promote
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buy-in on media literacy across the state is for educators to fully explain to the public what it entails. Many people, educators say, equate media literacy to fact-checking and news literacy, one part of which is news consumers learning about biases that specific news organizations might have.
Those discussions often become lightning rods for political conflict and create the distrust each party’s faithful have for certain media outlets such as FOX News or MSNBC.
There was definitely a partisan divide in the Illinois legislature’s vote in 2021 on House Bill 234, which created the media literacy education law.
In the House, the vote was strictly partisan, with all 68 “yes” votes coming from Democrats and the 44 “no” votes coming from Repub-
licans. In the Senate, which passed the bill 42-15, three Republicans crossed over to vote in favor along with Democrats.
Illinois Republicans who opposed the measure in 2021, however, spoke in a legislative committee meeting about their beliefs against creating a statewide curricular mandate and didn’t specifically speak against the concept of media literacy.
Friesem said the full concept of media literacy goes beyond the news.
“The main pushback from conservatives is that (media literacy) is liberal indoctrination, which is the exact opposite, because real media literacy … is to learn to ask questions,” he said. “… So it’s not about if you’re conservative or liberal, you’re media literate or you’re not media literate. It’s about …
questioning who is in power, why they’re there, why they’re sending those messages, why people who are not in power are sending those messages, the context.”
Dr. Ann Strahle is interim associate dean and a professor in the College of Public Affairs and Education at the University of Illinois Springfield. Jason Piscia is an associate professor and director of UIS’ Public Affairs Reporting program.
The UIS survey was conducted in spring 2024 by contacting more than 750 high school principals at Illinois’ public high schools, asking them or other faculty at their schools to fill out a 19-question survey about how the media education law is being implemented in their building. Forty-nine responses, all anonymous, were received.
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