Coach Matt Eberflus’ team can keep its playoffs hopes alive with a win. The Bears have won two in a row and likely need to win out over the final four games if they want to make the postseason. Right now, the Bears have about a 7% chance of making the postseason, according to The New York Times’ simulator. A loss this week cuts those already slim odds in half.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields returns to the site of his NFL starting debut, when he was sacked nine times against Cleveland in 2021. The QB has come a long way since that nightmare.

The Bears (5-8) and Browns (8-5) kick off at noon Sunday from Cleveland Browns Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Fox. Here are the top five storylines to watch.

1. Joe Flacco’s still doing it

After twice being called up from the practice squad to start games in the past two weeks, quarterback Joe Flacco finally signed with the Browns’ active roster. The Browns gave him a deal through the end of the season. Flacco could make $75,000 for every regular-season win, and the deal is worth more than $4 million if he leads the Browns to a Super Bowl victory, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Joe Flacco’s new one-year deal with the Browns includes $4.05 million of incentives based on winning, per a source familiar with the deal.
 
Flacco will make $75,000 for each of the remaining four regular-season games he wins this season.
 
Then, should Cleveland advance to the… pic.twitter.com/90iHPulBl9

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2023

Since Deshaun Watson’s season ended four weeks ago because of a shoulder injury, the Browns have been searching for an answer at QB. They appear to have found that in Flacco. The 38-year-old threw three touchdown passes last week in a win over Jacksonville.

But at 8-5, and with a stellar defense, the Browns are absolutely in the mix in the AFC.

Flacco hasn’t played against the Bears since 2019, during his only season as a member of the Denver Broncos.

“[He] has been around for a long time,” Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi said. “And the thing that stands out is his ability to make every throw. He’s got a strong arm, really comfortable in the pocket. It’s impressive to see a guy that just got there have such good command of the offense.”

2. Can the Bears slow Myles Garrett?

The Browns boast the No. 1 sack rate among NFL defenses. They are No. 1 against the pass and No. 1 in total yards. Myles Garrett has 13 sacks already this season. He is a monster who the Bears will have to figure out how to slow down.

Bears starting tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright will have their hands full with Garrett, who was the first overall draft pick back in 2017. The Bears almost certainly will help them out with tight ends Cole Kmet, Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan.

“There’s nothing he can’t do,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said of Garrett. “He’s got every facet of a defensive lineman that you would want. The guy can play nose guard, 3-technique, end, he can stand up and be an outside linebacker. He’s got every trait that you really want. He’s a pretty incredible player.”

Fields has allowed 32 sacks in nine starts this season. He has not had a sack-free performance this season, and he has had only one sack-free start in his career. The Browns probably will get home a few times. The Bears might not be able to stop them completely, but they need to limit the pass rush if they’re going to win this game.

3. Can the turnovers keep coming?

The Bears’ defense has had three or more turnovers in each of the past three games. Just about everybody on the defensive side is healthy. The addition of Montez Sweat has worked wonders for the Bears’ defense, not just in the pass rush, either. With Sweat wreaking havoc, the secondary doesn’t have to defend for as long, and the Bears don’t have to blitz their linebackers to create pressure.

The Browns, despite winning last week, still turned the ball over three times. They’ve turned it over seven times in the past three games.

Sweat and the pass rush should find ways to throw Flacco off his game. Flacco was never very mobile to begin with, and he certainly isn’t at age 38. This week, the Bears lost defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a season-ending ankle injury, which will hurt the defensive line. Veteran DeMarcus Walker will have to step up and second-year pro Dominique Robinson could see action this weekend, too.

After Jedrick Wills Jr. suffered a knee injury last week, the Browns now are without their starting tackles (Jack Conklin already tore his ACL in September).

On both sides of the ball, the matchups to watch are in the trenches.

4. Tough road test

The Browns have an underrated home-field advantage at Cleveland Browns Stadium along Lake Erie. Their defense is significantly more stingy at home than on the road.

The Browns are allowing 4.6 yards per pass attempt at home. On the road, they allow 8.2 yards per pass attempt. They’re better against the run, too. The Browns allow 3.8 yards per rushing attempt at home and 4.4 yards per rushing attempt on the road.

Additionally, both these teams really need a win. As Shaw Local columnist Marc Silverman wrote this week, the Bears are playing their first really meaningful game since 2020. But the Browns need this win just as much as the Bears.

The crowd in Cleveland could be a factor. Browns fans are going to make this one tough on Fields and the Bears’ offense.

5. Banged up Browns

Every team is dealing with injuries by Week 15, but the Browns might be the most injured team in football. Watson is out for the year. As mentioned previously, the Browns are missing both original starting tackles on offense.

This week, defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral), center Ethan Pocic (stinger) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) already have been ruled out. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (concussion), linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) are questionable.

Ward is the one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in all of football. He has been inactive for the previous three games as he deals with the shoulder injury. He would be a huge addition if he can play this weekend and would be a tough matchup for receiver DJ Moore.

The Bears, on the other hand, have been remarkably healthy. Ngakoue went on IR this week, but Moore and safety Jaquan Brisker are the only starters listed as questionable heading into the weekend.

“It’s great to have continuity on the lines,” Eberflus said of the team’s health. “On the offensive line, we finally have continuity there. And also on the defensive line, too. Really throughout the whole football team. It’s been great.”

The annual motorcade ran west through the city from the corner of Woodruff Road and Draper Avenue to the intersection of Caton Farm Road and Ridge and featured Santa riding atop a decorated, classic fire truck led by an escort of nine Joliet Police Department cruisers in reindeer formation–including a red-nosed Rudolph truck in the front.

Following Santa was a public works truck on which the Grinch had hitched a ride.

The event is meant as an opportunity for kids to wave goodbye to Santa as he departs Joliet and returns to the North Pole to prepare for his Christmas Eve flight.

The cold, rainy weather did not stop the participants from riding in the open cab of the fire engine nor did it stop residents living along the parade route from stepping out to see off the man in red, even if they did quickly retreat back inside.

The City of Joliet Facebook page provided regular updates of Santa’s location in the city so residents could be sure not to miss the motorcade, and even shouted out outstanding decorations along the route and a crowd that had gathered for the event at Troy Middle School.

The short parade was accompanied as always by Christmas music on the University of St. Francis’ student radio station WCSF 88.7. and began at 10 a.m. It lasted about an hour and twenty minutes before Santa said his farewell until Christmas Eve.

According to Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore, the Christmastime initiative was started in 1909 – when a man published an anonymous letter in the Chicago Tribune calling for good fellows (of any gender) to volunteer to deliver presents (of any value) to less advantaged children on Christmas Eve.

The call to action was published on Dec. 10, 1909. Three days later, according to the Chicago Tribune, 1,011 good fellows had signed up to help 7,610 Chicago children. As word of the good tiding spread, some began to emulate the anonymous gift giving elsewhere. The Goodfellows never became a national organization but the tradition of giving Christmas gifts to children on Christmas Eve has taken hold in DeKalb County.

“It’s a way for people to share Christmas magic with kids who may not receive much for Christmas. They’ll get toys from different programs, Toys for Tots or whatever,” said Christel Springmire, of Sycamore, who for the past 20 years has been volunteering and donating with the Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore.

Organization president Sandy Lancaster, 66, said no one is entirely sure when the initiative gained its footing in DeKalb County but she said she knows it predates her.

“Goodfellows isn’t a national organization. We don’t pay in dues, there’s no hierarchy. ... A group of volunteers in an area decide this is something they want to take on. We think it started in DeKalb, Sycamore in the 1950s,” Lancaster said.

On Dec. 13, the DeKalb County Goodfellows met at Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St. in Sycamore, for a Christmas gift wrapping party.

The numerous gifts wrapped that night were not bought for family members or friends. Instead they will be delivered to 1,111 children by volunteers on Christmas Eve. Lancaster said it’s the second highest number of children in need that Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore have seen since they began.

The volunteers will reconvene at Blumen Gardens Christmas Eve morning before setting out to deliver presents the children. For some, the volunteering has become a family tradition.

Ryan Hannan, 37, has been helping out with the Goodfellows since he was a child.

“My dad has been with the Goodfellows since the ‘80s, so growing up I would always help out with deliveries. And the older I got, and the more I understood the meaning of Goodfellows, made me want to volunteer more. So about 10 years ago I started to really get more involved – I was back from school – and I’ve been on the board now for probably six to seven years,” Hannan said.

Having seen the group grow over the course of this lifetime, Hannan said he think’s the charitable spirit of DeKalb County residents is amazing.

“Every year it grows more. The support from the community is just incredible. Every year we get new people coming, new people shopping, new people wrapping, new people delivering, so the more we can get the word out the better,” Hannan said.

The gifts aren’t the only purchase the volunteers need to make. Boxes, wrapping paper, bows, tape, scissors and gift bags are all needed to give area children proper Christmas gifts. The organization’s leaders also pay for the group’s expenses out of their own pocket if donations fall short, Lancaster said.

Those expenses, however, are something these good fellows are OK paying because they say they understand the impact of their work.

“Goodfellows provides such generous gifts for kids, boots and coats, and mittens and hats, and pajamas and underwear, things that sometimes parents are too stretched to provide,” said Springmire, 65. “And Santa can’t bring all of that stuff.”

Comparatively, during the 2022 firearm season 65 deer were taken in Kendall County and 76,854 were taken across the state.

The preliminary harvest for the first segment of this year’s firearm season, Nov. 17-19, was 49 deer in Kendall County; 53,348 deer total in Illinois.

The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the 2023 firearm season, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, was 14 deer in Kendall County; 22,884, deer total in Illinois.

Remaining 2023-2024 deer hunting opportunities in Illinois include:

• Late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease season, in designated counties only, Dec. 28-31, and Jan. 12-14. A map showing the counties open to late-winter and CWD seasons can be found online at dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/programs/cwd/documents/late-winter-cwd-map.pdf.
• Archery deer season continues through Jan. 14.

GENEVA – The people line up almost like they’re going to see Santa, but they’re here to see if the Crystal Fixer at The Little Traveler in Geneva can repair their precious item.

Nancy Grossman of St. Charles brought in a glass necklace that fell and broke into a few pieces.

“She was recommended by State Street Jewelers because they couldn’t fix it,” Grossman said.

Margaret Nickerson of Sugar Grove brought in a wineglass memento of a recent trip to France that broke on the way home.

Terri Setliff of Naperville dropped off two Waterford glasses and a Lenox wine decanter with nicked edges.

How did that happen?

“Washing them in the sink,” Setliff said.

And Paula von Ende of DeKalb brought in crystal wine glasses and a porcelain springer spaniel with a broken back leg.

“It’s very important to my husband,” von Ende said of the spaniel figurine. “When he was a child, they had springer spaniel named Ginger.”

Mary Lou Gates of Mary Lou’s Crystal Repair in Joliet is the one who does this careful work of crystal repair, as she has done now for 55 years – 40 of them at The Little Traveler – working her magic to fix chips, cracks, breaks and decapitations of people’s crystal, china and porcelain.

“It’s all I’ve ever done,” Gates said. “I never had a real job.”

30 years of traveling

She started as a teen repairing glassware in her parents’ Joliet antique shop, using a lapidary stone polishing machine.

Lapidary machines have diamond belts with different grits that grind and polish.

“I got really good at it so everyone brought me chipped and broken glassware,” Gates said.

For 30 years, she and her husband made their living by traveling in a motor home to antique shows all over Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Gates said they set up shop everywhere.

“Every week, we had an antique show. It was wonderful,” Gates said. “We would fix things at antique shows, invite me to do crystal repair ‘while you wait.’ Bob and I did that our whole life.”

Eventually, they were included at mall department stores such as Carson’s, Bonwit Teller, Yonkers and Bergner’s – and at shopping malls from Fox Valley in Aurora to Charlestown Mall in St Charles, Yorktown Mall in Lombard, Northbrook Court – and of course the Jefferson Square Mall in her hometown of Joliet.

“They’d let us come right into their china departments,” Gates said.

Then one day they were doing an antique show, drawing a crowd when a lady who bought antiques for The Little Traveler invited Gates to bring her service to Geneva.

Probably the biggest thing she repaired was a Tiffany stained glass lamp shade.

“I was doing an antique show in Orland Square in Orland Park and a lady came to me with a basketfull. She was coming down the aisle and I heard things jingling and I thought, ‘Oh boy. Now what?’” Gates said. “The lady said, ‘You have to put this together.’ I couldn’t tell her no.”

The repair required laying out some 30 broken pieces on an eight-foot table and fitting them together like a giant glass jigsaw puzzle.

But she did it.

“And she was ecstatic,” Gates said of the grateful owner.

Then there was the 24-inch cut glass vase brought to her – in pieces – at Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale.

“It was not even recognizable as a vase,” Gates said. “The lady said, ‘This is my vase.’ and I said, ‘OK, I have to believe you.’”

That was another one she could not say no to.

‘Everything chips, everything breaks’

As remarkable as her work is, Gates also thinks it’s remarkable that people trusted her with their heirlooms and valuables.

Not everything is repairable.

“I can repair chips – to a degree,” Gates said. “China plates are not worth it – call and get a replacement. … Everything chips, everything breaks. Even the thick heavy stuff breaks.”

People are so appreciative that she has albums filled with handwritten thank you cards and notes.

She was even featured once by the late CBS news anchor Harry Porterfield, on his segment called “Someone You Should Know.”

Gates starts her day early, about 5 or 6 a.m., going down to a basement workshop after breakfast to begin.

The lapidary belts turn and she said she starts the count of six turns on the rims of chipped glassware.

“I am counting six times inside, outside, on top, then there’s four steps to go from grinding to polishing,” Gates said.

She visits Geneva’s The Little Traveler every three months.

Last month, Little Traveler owner Mike Simon, presented Gates with a plaque in recognition of her 40 years of service.

She cried.

“I am 76 years old. When am I going to hang up the grinder?” Gates said. “I could be 86 and still grinding glass.”

Katie Jenkins said her husband claims it all happened during a field trip to the Volo Bog when they were both just 4 years old.

They were told to hold hands with another child as part of the buddy system. Katie said her husband recalls holding her hand for just seconds before her friend stepped in and took her hand away from his.

The two would reunite in middle school and marry in 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church, where their three children also would attend preschool.

“I don’t remember him, but he remembers me,” Katie Jenkins said.

It’s stories like this that make the church-operated school’s history – which began 41 years ago with just four children and now serves 52 children from pre-kindergarten through third grade – so special to former students and its leaders.

And it is why Pastor Mark Buetow said he believes he was called to McHenry from a church in southern Illinois in 2016 to lead the congregation and build upon the school.

Being head of a church and its school is unique, he said.

The school, Buetow said, provides an opportunity to share the love of Christ with people in the community who may not attend church.

Buetow said students’ families do not need to be church members to attend the school, which he hopes to expand in the coming years to serve middle school-aged children.

“My main goal is kids come in with a smile and leave with a smile, that they are in a loving space ... and they are glad to be here in a safe and fun space,” Buetow said. “It’s like a big family.”

Pam Brackmann, known to her students as Miss Pam, was a teacher at the school from its very first year. She now is retired but visits and volunteers often. She especially loves when she sees her students out in public and their excitement.

“I am always grateful the Lord brings these kids my way and that they had the chance to hear the word of Jesus,” she said.

Brackmann said she has taught generations of families, including members of the Schwalenberg family.

Jon Schwalenberg of McHenry attended the preschool and was taught by Brackmann. His wife, Elizabeth Schwalenberg, attended preschool at the same time but was in a different classroom, so they did not meet until high school.

Last year, their daughter Aubree attended, and even though Brackmann was retired, she spent time in Aubree’s classroom. The couple’s son is preparing to attend next year.

“I feel like the community there is so strong,” said Elizabeth Schwalenberg, whose siblings also attended preschool at Zion Lutheran. “It attracts families to send their kids and grandkids, generationally. There is something about that that I think is pretty cool.”

Brackmann recalled how her students absorbed so quickly things going on around them and in the world, and the lessons learned, especially about forgiveness, faith and prayer.

After 9/11, she said, the children asked her, “Why do they want to hurt us?” Over the years, they’ve also asked about birth, death and where babies come from.

With such tough questions, Brackmann said, she always sought to be honest without too many details.

The students are asked daily who they want to pray for. The children ask to pray for family, of course, but most prayers are for their cats and dogs, Buetow and Brackmann said.

The children are taught that there is nothing too big or small to ask Jesus for. They also are taught that when someone apologizes, they should respond by saying they accept the apology, Buetow said.

“We apologize to acknowledge when we’ve hurt someone,” Buetow said. “We forgive because we are forgiven by Jesus, and so we don’t hold someone else’s sins or faults against them.”

The pastor’s wife, Susan Buetow, teaches pre-kindergarten at the school.

She described the school as “family-centered.” She has students who along with family members have been baptized at the church, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026.

“It’s all about the families,” she said. “At conferences, parents come in, and they just feel like this is part of their home. These kids are my kids all day long. … This is very true. We all believe that here. There is not one teacher or staff that don’t feel they are their children.”

Representatives from the casino company, land developer and local government gathered Wednesday at a ceremonial groundbreaking for what was described as the anchor project in the the Rock Run Collection development aimed at a potential market of 10 million people.

“We want to draw from everywhere,” said Mike Thoma, vice president and general manager of the casino.

Thoma pointed to the 230,000 vehicles a day that pass the site on the two interstates as the reason Hollywood will expand what it has to offer when it moves from its present location along Route 6.

The restaurants will be “best in class” and are expected to cater to a market that won’t necessarily be coming for the gambling, he said.

“With the dining experience that we’re going to offer, we’re going to draw people who haven’t been to our facility before,” Thoma said.

The $185 million casino project also will provide 850 slots and 44 table games. The convention center will be 10,000 square feet. The facility will include a retail sportsbook.

Hollywood Casino expects to employ 515 employees at the new facility, expanding its Joliet workforce by 150 jobs. The construction project is expected to create 450 jobs.

The plan is to open by late 2025 or early 2026.

Hollywood Casino will not have its own hotel, as it does on its existing site, but it will partner with one of two hotels said to have signed tentative agreements to build at Rock Run Collection.

Hollywood Casino, one of 43 casinos operated by Penn Entertainment, is the latest iteration of a casino that was started in 1992 by a local group that named it Empress Casino.

“There’s been a lot of things changed,” said Ed McGowan, one of the original Empress owners who attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The original Empress operated on a riverboat, and McGowan said some of the early customers would hide in the restrooms to avoid being forced off the boat to adhere to a two-hour limit that was in place.

The groundbreaking ceremony paid homage to the Empress but was forward-looking into the possibilities for the casino and what is expected to surround it at the Rock Run Collection development.

“It will truly be a destination unlike any other,” said Diane Cullinan Oberhelman, chairwoman and founding partner of East Peoria-based Cullinan Properties, which is developing the site. “I think it will even rival Las Vegas.”

Cullian Oberhelman offered the 10 million count on the potential market for the casino, saying Rock Run Collection is being developed for a market that is expected to include the Chicago region as well as central Illinois and beyond.

Hollywood Casino is the first attraction to begin construction at the site, which is expected to bring in stores, restaurants and offices in addition to hotels. Construction for new apartments has started.

Doug Pryor, president and CEO for the Will County Center for Economic Development, called the casino “an anchor to bring people to the site.”

Despite the site being labeled as “the crossroads of mid-America” because of the two interstates that cross, development of the land has been a long time coming.

“Those of you who have been around here a long time know that this has been tried before,” Pryor said, referring to a previous developer who abandoned a similar venture after the 2008 recession hit.

State law had to be changed to accommodate casinos with no connection to water, Pryor said. State officials also had to be persuaded to build a new interchange now under construction to provide access to the site.

“This is going to be a game-changer,” Cullinan Oberhelman said, “and a true gateway to Chicago.”

The area will be transformed into a vibrant multi-use event area and open-space park that will serve as a central hub for community activities.

In August 2022, the village acquired the 45,000-square-foot property, situated at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Duane Street. Through an intergovernmental agreement, the village will sell the property to the park district to allow for the development of the downtown open-land park and event space.

“This investment in the village’s central business district by both the village and park district will significantly enhance how and where events are carried out in the downtown area,” Village President Mark Senak said in the release. “It will also serve as a catalyst for increased activity and attract visitors to support our downtown businesses.”

Public engagement has been an integral part of this project, ensuring that the design reflects the community’s input and needs. The park district’s plan envisions transforming the site into a dynamic open space that seamlessly integrates with Prairie Path Park, creating a “front yard” for commuters, Prairie Path users, downtown residents and the entire Glen Ellyn community.

Together, the park district and village will contribute $2.8 million toward Phase I redevelopment costs. Anticipated Phase I redevelopment includes demolition of the existing structure, landscaping, natural grass event and reading lawns, picnic grove, seating nook, terraced seating, play area, seating benches, site safety lighting and a stage. Construction on Phase I is expected to commence in 2024 or 2025, pending design and permitting processes.

“This is an exciting step forward for our community,” Park District Executive Director Dave Thommes said in the release. “The downtown event area and open-space park will be a vibrant hub for recreation and community events.”

The park district is actively pursuing additional funding sources for future project phases, including an overhead covering for the stage, support buildings, stage sound system and lighting, and restrooms. Funding sources being explored include grants, private funding, corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations.

“We are committed to fully realizing the vision for this project,” Thommes said. “With continued support from the community and funding partners, we will create a truly exceptional space for all to enjoy.”

The village and park district have a long history of successful partnerships on collaborative projects, demonstrating their shared commitment to enhancing and improving open space and recreational opportunities within Glen Ellyn.

In addition to the US Bank property, the agreement encompasses a framework for improving and enhancing both Panfish Park and Manor Woods, addressing feedback driven by the community. This intergovernmental agreement aligns with the model established for Village Green Park on Lambert Road, also owned by the village and leased to the park district.

To view the concept design, visit gepark.org/downtowneventpark.

Varintorn Bogaert, 22, grew up helping his mother at their family restaurant in South Elgin, and as of Tuesday he’s a co-owner of Thai Town in Sycamore. He said Tuesday, the restaurant’s first day, surpassed his expectations.

“It was actually very, very good,” Bogaert said. “We ended up selling out toward the end of the day. We were concerned because first impressions are everything.”

His mother, Kalayakorn Bogaert, opened their South Elgin location – the original Thai Town – in 2008 with the help of her mother and a family friend. Both locations sell a variety of Thai entrees, curry and noodles, as well as seafood and duck dishes. Most dishes cost about $13, but others cost more than that.

“We have the world famous dish. It’s called Massumun Curry,” Kalayakorn Bogaert said. “And also we do like a Panang Curry dish. It’s so very popular. Pad Thai is the number one seller.”

Thai Town, 630 Plaza Drive, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and from 4 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner.

Kalayakorn Bogaert said she is elated to cook for customers in Sycamore and credited her son with creating the opportunity for the family. She said her son is “the one who made me a success.”

Varintorn Bogaert said when they began discussing expanding the family business he saw a potentially untapped market in Sycamore.

“We really like this town, and we want to introduce Thai,” he said. “Another reason why we wanted to do this is there’s not any other Thai restaurants out here. There’s only one other one that’s in downtown DeKalb, I believe. We figured we can introduce Thai food to Sycamore because right now people in Sycamore and this area, if they want Thai food they have to go into DeKalb.”

The same goes for confectionary Ferrara Candy Co. and online retail giant Amazon, all of whom have settled into the city since 2020. That’s because local officials involved in enticing the companies to the community signed non-disclosure agreements with the companies prohibiting them from speaking publicly about the business dealings.

So what do these non-disclosure agreements reveal? What role do the secrets contracts play in dealings that have since brought more than $1 billion dollars invested into DeKalb and the promise of substantial job and tax revenue growth?

Chris Goodman, associate professor of public administration at Northern Illinois University, said such contracts may look alike inside of a given industry because the issues are reasonably similar.

He speculated that each deal may be unique prompting all kinds of subtle differences in the agreements.

The agreement may outline, among other things, exclusions from confidential information, injunctive relief and remedies, termination of discussions, survival and required disclosures. In some cases, the contract is signed by a city manager or another city official.

“The non-disclosure agreements essentially prevent the municipalities in most cases from divulging that information to other folks during the negotiation process,” Goodman said. “The company knows all of the offers, but the governments that are involved in those negotiations only know their own. That significantly enhances the negotiating power of the private company in that circumstance.”

Many businesses that have since announced their arrival in DeKalb were known only under code names for months.

Meta’s $1 billion DeKalb Data Center was known as “Project Ventus,” and referred to as such in city public meeting documents and by officials in public conversation. Ferrara Candy Co.’s $100 investment was called “Project Hammer.” Kraft Heinz’s $400 million facility was “Project Wildcat.”

Code names were used though public votes by elected officials were taken on these project plans without residents knowing anything about the businesses at the center of the votes. In some cases, significant tax incentives were approved for the companies by local municipal leaders who were under NDA contract not to disclose what companies were recipients of tax relief.

The latest is Kraft Heinz, which in July announced plans to set up a 775,000-square-foot automated distribution facility on the city’s south side. After the first year of a full assessment, the development will become eligible for a 50% property tax abatement for a period of 15 years, officials said.

Meta’s DeKalb Data Center was awarded a 20-year, 55% property tax abatement plan, already approved by the DeKalb City Council and agreed upon through the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, before the company’s plans were made public. The abatement comes with a stipulation of 50 tech jobs with a starting wage of $38.50 an hour to qualify for tax abatements within the first few years, documents show.

Because Kraft Heinz occupies space in an enterprise zone – an economic tool used by governments to designate geographical areas that offer businesses incentives to put down roots – the development may be spared from paying some of the sales tax on the materials purchased for the construction of the building.

DeKalb’s use of NDAs to entice business

A public records review by the Daily Chronicle of these projects found that City Manager Bill Nicklas signed NDAs before the companies’ decisions were finalized in June 2021 for Amazon, in July 2019 for Ferrara, and Economic Development Planner Jason Michick signed the NDA before decisions were finalized in September 2018 for Meta.

Those NDA contracts, however, were subsequently released to the Daily Chronicle via public records only after the companies announced who they were.

In the case of Kraft Heinz, an NDA was released under a former code name in Project Wildcat in June 2022. When the code name switched to Project Supernova, however, release of a subsequent NDA contract to the paper was denied to the Daily Chronicle by the city of DeKalb in August. In its denial, city staff said release of the Project Supernova NDA could reveal trade secrets or cause competitive harm. In a Tuesday ruling, the Public Access Counsel at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office ruled that the city should not have denied release of the records to the Daily Chronicle.

The city on Friday released its updated NDA agreement with Kraft Heinz but redacted the signatures of those who signed the contract .

Local officials say their use of NDAs is necessary to land these companies in an increasingly competitive business environment these days.

City Manager Bill Nicklas said the city stands behind its use of non-disclosure agreements in working with mega-corporations.

“We’re going to have to sign these agreements,” Nicklas said. “If we’re going to do business with Fortune 500 companies, we are going to have to respect that operations are confidential.”

One lawyer with a Chicago-based civil rights law firm, however, says he believes this type of business dealing is counterproductive to the promise of transparent local government.

In a Dec. 11 email, Loevy and Loevy partner Matt Topic said the use of NDAs in local government to shield potential business dealings with mega-corporations from the public can be harmful.

“Records cannot be withheld simply because the public body has entered into an NDA,” Topic said. “The public body or the company still has to prove that the material would actually cause competitive harm if released or interfere with an open bidding process or other legal basis. Put simply, the government cannot contract away the public’s right to information. They do have a place though, because a company must claim at the time it furnishes the information that it is a trade secret or proprietary (in addition to proving that it actually is), and the NDA is one way to do that.”

Lou Sandoval, president and CEO at Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said he believes the use of NDAs in local government is inevitable in today’s world.

“Given the challenges in trying to protect intellectual property and especially if you’re working in a strategic and innovative fashion, you’re trying to gain competitive advantage and I believe that it has a role,” Sandoval said. “Prudence should govern, but it has a role in putting disclosures out. Obviously, common sharing, especially if you’re a publicly traded company, it helps protect the interests of the company. It allows for the FCC and the like. So, it does have a role. At the same time, it might not be transparent. It creates protections for both sides.”

Other elected officials recently shared their opinions about the use of NDA contracts to conduct city business.

Seventh Ward Alderman John Walker said he is wary of the city’s intentions.

“To me, that’s a red flag for me, to be honest with you,” Walker said. “I honestly don’t understand why they would do that. Then again, like I said, I’m not an attorney. I don’t know the rules or regulations 100%. This just doesn’t make any sense that you release all the other ones, but you don’t want to release that one.”

City Attorney Matt Rose declined comment, saying he’s not privy to what’s at issue to discuss.

The topic at hand, however, is nothing new in government, experts said.

Goodman said the city of DeKalb is not the first nor will it make for the last governmental entity to choose not to be fully transparent about how it is enticing major companies to do business in town.

“For a long time, there’s been economic development incentives similar to what Ferrara or Meta have gotten from the city of DeKalb,” Goodman said. “That’s a pretty commonplace kind of thing.”

Topic echoed that sentiment.

“In my experience, companies make frequent use of these kinds of agreements and broadly claim that they will be harmed from release of any information about them or their products and services,” Topic said. “In litigation, requesters are usually able to get additional information released, though it’s common for at least some material to be withheld. I’m not seeing anything new here: it has been this way for the last 15 years that I’ve been doing these kinds of cases.”

At the same time, private companies are forcing governments’ hand more and more in ways they haven’t alway done in the past, which Goodman said leaves municipalities with little choice but to go along with the negotiations.

“What is new is that that negotiation process is happening behind closed doors and that’s largely because the companies are demanding that,” Goodman said. “That is an intentional thing on the part of companies to force governments to come to the table with their highest and best offer and then the company is free to pick whichever one they might go with.”

Fifth Ward Alderman Scott McAdams said while he’s not privy to the details regarding Kraft Heinz’s NDA release, he heralded the company’s arrival.

“As a general rule, I think that it’s good to have transparency,” McAdams said. “[...] I think that the Kraft deal is fantastic for the city and fantastic for the region. I can’t wait to welcome them as partners.”

Goodman said he believes the way government engages with certain private companies to entice economic development in today’s world is the way of the future.

“They are looking to decrease their own cost in any way possible,” Goodman said. “That can be through reduced land costs, that can be through reduced taxation, that can be through incentives for hiring workers. Those are mostly state programs, not local programs. But that’s kind of what the business side of this equation is is that they’re just trying to drive down the cost of this development to as low as possible. Having some bit of their tax burden reduced by the host community is one component of that.”

Sandoval said he believes the future is ripe for private companies to continue using NDAs to shield their business dealings with government.

“There’s been a lot of instances of insider trading,” Sandoval said. “As the government comes down on interests for providing information that’s not made available publicly to everyone, those are the laws that are in place. It’s a risk management strategy to try to prevent information that would give anybody an unfair advantage to know the trading of stocks and interests in the company from getting out there and some having a competitive advantage versus others.”

Mayor Cohen Barnes likened it to a balancing act having to promote economic development and transparency in government.

“You’ll be in negotiations with a union or a private company, and during the negotiation process, sometimes the deliberation process you can’t release exactly where you stand on a particular item or where a negotiation is in the process because that itself could end up ruining negotiations,” Barnes said. “It could disclose information that someone could then take advantage of the city, let’s say, or advantage of a union. That’s why there’s a lot of things that have to happen in private for a period of time for everyone to enter those negotiations open and honest and be able to advocate on their own behalf.”

Goodman said he believes it’s clear that transparency comes at a cost in the way government is handling economic development.

“That does significantly reduce the amount of transparency and accountability in that process because the public doesn’t get any input into it other than directly electing local officials in that process until afterwards,” Goodman said. “Then, the deal is done and then there’s really no public input at that point.”

Goodman said he believes that the public has a right to know what’s going on in government.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” he said. “We could go back to the situation we had before where this was much more transparent. The incentives still happened. The issue was that companies would not have as much leverage over localities in terms of the kind of incentives that are offered to them. Because of the secrecy, companies can effectively play different locations off of each other because those locations don’t know what’s being offered.”

The 45-acre property at the northwest corner of Interstate 80 and Route 178 was won at auction by La Salle Ventures LLC. The new entity comprises nine local investors, Dr. Paul Perona, David J. Sickley and Dan Eiten. This is at the Utica exit from Interstate 80.

The group pitched the ideas to city of La Salle representatives before bidding on the parcel, according to a news release sent Thursday.

“The city of La Salle was thankful to work with La Salle Ventures prior to their bid and were enthused by the possibilities they had pitched,” Mayor Jeff Grove said. “The city is glad the parcel will remain in local hands, and the city looks forward to helping aggressively market this land for development.”

During its Nov. 27 meeting, the La Salle City Council voted against bidding on the property with a 5-4 tally, with Tom Ptak, “Doc” Lavieri, Joe Jeppson and Jordan Crane voting no.

In November, Jeppson said he voted against the bidding because he didn’t believe the city of La Salle should be in the real estate business. He also was concerned about some developments within the city that have been delayed.

The subject of this site has been undeveloped for 15 years after the proposed Frontier Park consisting of a motel, restaurant and indoor water park failed to get off the ground and the property subsequently foreclosed.

During the November meeting, Grove said the auction for the property was Dec. 12, and the bidding started at $825,000.

The mayor said the property has the potential to be the gateway for 2.2 million visitors to Starved Rock State Park. The city would stand to gather any sales tax or motel tax should the property be developed.

Mark Voss, who owns a successful campground and apartment complex contiguous to the west of the site, said he was looking to expand.

“We are hopefully about to acquire 20-plus acres from the new owner,” Voss said in a news release, “to expand our campground and apartments, as well as other possible opportunities.”

Firefighters responded 3:19 a.m. Saturday to 606 PineTree Road, finding a single-story, brick home fully engulfed in fire with portions of the roof already collapsed, the Streator Fire Department said in a news release.

There were no injuries and the home was unoccupied and undergoing a massive renovation at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is undetermined and not suspicious, the fire department said.

Large volumes of water were used before the fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Engine crews used large master streams in an attempt to bring the fire under control. During the firefight, portions of the home collapsed because of the fire damage. Streator Public Works was called in to assist with a backhoe.

A total of 10 Streator firefighters responded and were on scene for nearly 3 hours to ensure the building was completely extinguished.

Reading Fire Department provided an engine to cover other calls for Streator Fire Department. Vermilion Valley Regional Emergency Communications, Illinois American Water, Nicor, ComEd and the Streator Police Department also assisted.

La Salle Police Sergeant Pete Sines, who coordinated the program this year, said the program does their best to try and fulfill everyone’s Christmas wish list.

“At this time of year no one should have to struggle,” he said. “We want everyone to have the best Christmas. It’s a great program and hopefully, we can continue this or something like this in the future.”

The Officer Santa Program was established nine years ago and provides children with items such as toys, coats, shoes, pajamas and anything essential.

This year the program raised just over $15,000, but they have spent over that to provide for each child.

Sines said this year has had its ups and downs but like always it all came together thanks to the effort of the volunteers and the community.

Topics to be discussed are the Illinois SAFE-T Act and assault weapons ban and their effects on La Salle County residents.

The group will be collecting new and unused children’s coats, gloves and hats to donate to DCFS and the Youth Service Bureau of La Salle County. Bring newborn to teen sized coats.

The group also will have a 50/50 raffle and talk about current events.

Publicity and Outreach Coordinator Lisa Katrein said they knew there was no question on whether they would replace the aquarium.

“Everyone loves it,” she said. “They were all so upset when it was gone. It wasn’t something that we had to do, but it was so popular with all of the patrons.”

Katrein said the library was able to replace the aquarium with funds from the NCC Memorial Foundation in honor of Natalie Conrad and the use of the general fund.

The new aquarium is almost double the size of the previous one, which was 75 inches. The new one is 120 inches and holds 120 gallons of fresh water.

The excitement could be felt, as a small crowd of children and parents gathered to watch the lucky raffle winner, Lilith Mai, 4, of Ottawa, pull back the curtain to unveil the tank.

Tom Smith, owner of Mermaid’s Cove in Coal City, spoke about the species of fish in the tank and asked if the children had any questions – they just wanted to know where he “got” the fish. He answered at his store.

“Right now, we probably got about 50 to 60 fish in there,” he said. “Ranging from cory catfish, which are going to help keep the bottom of the tank clean...we’ve got cherry barbs which are awesome algae eaters.”

Smith said this would be a continual process as they would be adding more plants and fish to the aquarium as time went on.

“This will be an evolving process,” he said. “The plants will grow and we will have to come back and trim them and replant. The German blue rams will pair off throughout the tank.”

Library patrons were pleased the wait for the new aquarium was over and a unique aspect of the local library had been returned.

“The fish tank is an awesome element to the library,” Art Riewaidt, of Ottawa said. “The kids always stop to take a look at it.”

For more information on Reddick Library or to check scheduled events visit https://www.reddicklibrary.org/.

The 2023 tax levy is 4.99% higher than the 2022 actual tax extension of $14.3 million and will result in a decrease of 0.0131 cents in the tax rate. The average $100,000 home that has no change in its assessed value will realize a decrease of about $4.32 in taxes. It should be noted, most home values will have an increase to their assessed value and that will affect their overall tax bill.

In her monthly report, President Tracy Morris updated the board on activities during the past month:

Agriculture Program Co-Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Timmers’ recent presentation at the Illinois Association of Community College Biologists was well received by those in attendance.

Geology Professor Mike Phillips’ recap of the recent LaSalle County earthquake appeared in local and state radio and print media accounts.

Responses to a call to Thank a Teacher/Thank a Staff Member have recognized and thanked 48 faculty and staff members so far.

Classroom desks no longer used at IVCC have been distributed to five area school districts.

In other action, the board:

Learned the spring semester tuition payment deadline has been extended to Jan. 3, giving students nearly three additional weeks to make financial arrangements.

Approved updates on a number of policies relating to board governance and personnel, including employee leaves of absence, paid benefit time, and sexual misconduct and other harassment policy.

Authorized a letter be sent to the Illinois Community College Board initializing the ICCB review and recognition process.

Authorized the 2024 board meeting schedule, under which meetings will continue to be held on the second Thursday of each month except where noted.

Acknowledged that the farm tiling project cost will increase by up to $30,000 because of unanticipated issues uncovered by the contractor.

Authorized agreements with the La Salle County Health Department to use IVCC facilities as additional or alternative space in emergencies.

Received ICCB authorization for the associate in applied science degree for paramedic.

The board also learned of the following:

Appointment of Michelle Carboni, formerly Director of Purchasing, as Director of Auxiliary Services and Purchasing following a reorganization of the Business Services and Finance Division.

Appointment of Heather Seghi, who had served as interim dean, as Dean of Health Professions.

Appointments of Kaitlyn Edgcomb, Student Services Information Specialist in Admissions and Records, and Lea Solberg, Interim Dual Credit and Transition Specialist.

Island Lake police charged Ryan Poltzer, 43, on Oct. 27, with driving under the influence and resisting a police officer, Class A misdemeanors, McHenry County court records show.

Police allegedly found Poltzer in the driver’s seat of his vehicle parked outside his house at 7:50 a.m. and asked him to come to the police station. Police said they smelled alcohol inside his vehicle and that he showed other signs of intoxication, records show.

He also refused a field sobriety test, allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and ran into his garage, according to an order from Judge Tiffany Davis revoking his pretrial release.

Police arrested him and a search of his vehicle turned up 12 open cans of an alcoholic beverage, according to the order.

Poltzer was charged with these offenses while out on cash bond for aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, as well as aggravated battery and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child, according to the indictment.

The incidents for which he was charged in that case allegedly occurred in December 2022, court records show. According to the indictment against Poltzer, prosecutors alleged he strangled a child.

He’s also accused of driving a vehicle while drinking alcohol with two child passengers, according to the indictment. He also is charged with domestic battery for an incident that allegedly occurred in January, court records show.

On Feb. 16, Poltzer was arrested and charged and posted $5,000 of a $50,000 bond the next day and was released from the county jail. These charges were filed before the SAFE-T Act, which does not require cash to be posted for pretrial release, took effect in September.

On Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret O’Brien argued that his pretrial bond should be revoked, citing his latest misdemeanor charges as violations of conditions of his release, according to the petition.

In revoking his bond, Davis acknowledged court testimony that Poltzer has completed inpatient treatment at Rosecrance, and that intensive outpatient treatment is recommended.

However, she also considered the “severity of the incidents” in the domestic cases and the possibility of a relapse and sent him to the county jail.

He is due back in court Jan. 3. An attempt to reach his attorney for comment was unsuccessful.

Nielsen, who lives with cerebral palsy, has been volunteering as a Salvation Army bell ringer for at least 15 years, her aunt and caregiver Tracy Schatteman said.

Nielsen, who can speak with a speech-generating device, said she volunteers so much to bring more awareness to the Salvation Army.

It takes some time for Nielsen to create a sentence with the device, and “60% to 70% of the time, she’s asking to help or pray for someone,” Schatteman said.

“It’s important to help other people,” she said.

This was already Nielsen’s third time volunteering to ring the bell this year. With volunteer and donation numbers down, people like Nielsen are dearly needed at this time, Salvation Army McHenry County Corps Officer Lt. Pablo Rivera said.

Volunteers have been steady for their other programs, but the organization is in desperate need of more bell-ringing volunteers. Having a bell ringer makes “a huge difference” in the amount that gets donated into the kettles, Rivera said.

“The volunteers that bell-ring is how we bring the money in and we’re very low on that,” he said.

Red kettles and bell ringers are typically at locations like Walmart, Jewel, Farm and Fleet and Walgreens around the county. People can also donate online to the virtual red kettle.

Nielsen immediately wanted to sign up to bell-ring in Harvard when she heard volunteers were needed there, Salvation Army volunteer and community relations manager Barbara McDonel said.

“Her desire to help the Salvation Army is such a driving force for her,” McDonel said. “It warms your heart and it’s just so beautiful that she finds a way to give back.”

Other towns in need of bellringers are Johnsburg, Huntley, Spring Grove, Algonquin and Lake in the Hills, McDonel said.

As of last week, McHenry County’s Salvation Army is at 27% of its $234,000 goal, Rivera said. The last day of taking in donations is Dec. 23. The $234,000 goal is determined by how much it costs to maintain the operation in McHenry County for the year, he said.

The organization helps people within the county with emergency needs like utilities, food, rent assistance and clothing and furniture vouchers.

“Sadly but true, they need money to run,” Rivera said.

All donations given in McHenry County stay local, McDonel said. The organization solely relies on local donations since they do not get government funding or funding from the corporate level.

“They’re helping someone in their community that needs their help,” McDonel said.

Last year, the organization was able to help 77 people with emergency assistance, provide almost 3,000 bags of groceries and give almost 2,000 Christmas gifts in McHenry County with the donations, Rivera said.

“We know everybody needs help, but we need to protect our county and help the people in our county,” McDonel said.

Warranty deeds

Secretary of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Veterans Administration to Ryan Padilla, 1312 Sinnissippi Park Road, Sterling, $188,000.

Keith A. and Luann L. Morine to Nathan L. and Katlyn R. Morine, 19110 14th St., Fulton, $14,000.

Fenix Manufacturing LLC to Barak Wierenga, 2001 Ninth St., Fulton, $230,000.

James C. and Mallory K. Hardesty to Gary B. and Margaret Puckett, 303 Park Ave., Prophetstown, $67,000.

Vermave LLC to Jonathan Elliott, 1211 Ave. J, Sterling, $106,000.

Robert W. and Lisa A. Klomann to BJE Future LLC, 501 Fourth Ave., Rock Falls, $43,900.

John J. Lauer to BJE Future LLC, 706 W. Second St., Rock Falls, $30,900.

Halcyon A. Thompson to Bradyn I. Abell, 6 Elm Court, Prophetstown, $100,000.

William W. and Connie H. Pritchard to Larry W. and Wilma Kathleen Smith, 704 Second St., Lyndon, $0.

Joshua M. Osborn to Ronald P. Cook, 1804 11th Ave., Sterling, $104,900.

Mark A. Thatcher to Jacob Wiederaenders and Kelly Lynch, 1308 Quail Court, Rock Falls, $272,000.

James McCune to Margaret A. Koster Trust, Daniel R. Koster, trustee, one parcel on Lyndon Road, Prophetstown, $1,125,750.

James McCune to DLK Funding LLC, one parcel on Lyndon Road, Prophetstown, $1,125,750.

David A. Olsen to Patrick Gaboury, 217 Pine St., Morrison, $109,900.

Cody I. and Jessica Chagas Caldwell to Jason and Kyle Unger, 30565 Thome Road, Rock Falls, $172,000.

Dallas C. and Kayleigh J. Jones to Ryan J. Blackburn, 1903 20th Ave., Sterling, $174,900.

J. Douglas and Penny L. Thomas to R&B of Rock Falls Inc., 708 First Ave., Rock Falls (Sauk Valley Motors), $85,000.

Burdetta A. Siefken to Jeff Cole and Doreen J. Mattes, 302 E. Second St., Prophetstown, $67,500.

Grady D. and Ernestine Daniels to Zed J. Koch, 1408 Third Ave., Sterling, $40,000.

Michael G. Valentine to Steven J. Smith and Rozanna S. Chacon, 1100 Suzanne St., Rock Falls, $122,000.

Daniel Crownhart to TCS Total Property Management, 2704 Locust St., Sterling (Sterling Fence), $270,000.

Eric R. Bird to TEH Rentals LLC, 813 Avenue D, Sterling, $39,000.

Eric R. Bird to TEH Rentals LLC, 208 E. Sixth St., Rock Falls, $39,000.

Trustees deeds

Dale E. Smith Trust to Larry and Judy Williams, 1501 McCue Road, Sterling, $170,000.

Patricia A. Ballard Living Trust, Rachelle L. Matthews, trustee, to Robert J. and Judith L. Edison Trust, 3226 Mineral Springs Road, Sterling, $280,000.

Steven W. Wisdom Family Trust, Beau S. and Abbie L. Rose Wisdom, trustees, to Drew and Shelby Misfeldt, 206 Highland Ave., Erie, $122,500.

Deeds

Whiteside County sheriff and Phoenix J. Starr to Rex Lasson, 1809 17th Ave., Sterling, $42,901.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC to Razorback Capital LLC, 1604 Dillon Ave., Sterling, $16,550.

Whiteside County sheriff and Maribeth Handley to 309 Homes LLC, 14678 Dixie Drive, Morrison, $119,500.

Source: Whiteside County Recorder’s Office

Lee County

Warranty deeds

Brent R. and Brad S. Ehlers to James and Carrie Delhotal, 303 W. Virginia St., Sublette, $151,000.

Patricia A. Marks, Cheryl L. Nauman and Charles A. and Bernard D. Kuebel to John and Patricia A. Marks and Charles A. and Kathy Kuebel, 96 Center Road, Sublette, $160,000.

Charles A. and Bernard D. Kuebel, Cheryl L. Nauman and Patricia A. Marks to Rodney J. and Cynthia M. Rod, 96 Center Road, Sublette, and one parcel of farmland in Sublette Township, $1,544,685.

Skydan Equity Partners LLC to Richard James Vanderhoef, 842 N. Dement Ave., Dixon, $49,000.

Lawrence L. Bruckner to Marla Schienberg, 903 Madison Ave., Dixon, $20,000.

Amy Appelquist and Amanda L. Engelbarts to Christopher R. Near, 1652 Brandywine Lane, Dixon, $214,000.

Jessica Dagner to Brett P. and Emily J. Renner, 502 Bradshaw St., Dixon, $16,350.

Sharon M. and Cassy A. McCoy, also Carey, to Jerome C. and Tina M. Corcoran, one parcel in Lee Center Township, $170,000.

Richard C. Montavon to David A. and Georgann L. Harke, 1411 Douglas Terrace, Dixon. $168,000.

Linda Stephens to Jakob Banbor, block 27, lot 9, Woodhaven Lakes, Sublette, $5,500.

Bryce, Douglas and Lori Erbes to Christopher D. and Jenna Taylor, block 3, lot 36, Woodhaven Lakes, Sublette, $21,500.

Cortney H. Matuszak, also Klein, to Donald Eugene and Lee Ann Terry, block 11, lot 292, Woodhaven Lakes, Sublette, $40,000.

Donene Ende to Larry and Karen Setchell, 1688 River Ridge Drive, Dixon, $337,500.

Calvin A. Bohn to Tiffani Moser, 620 Grant Ave., Dixon, $80,000.

Quit claim deeds

Kurt Kaiser to Jane Kaczmarek, block 21, lots 51-522, Woodhaven Lakes, Sublette, $0.

Rodger Glenn to Richard M. and Laura Jomant, 427 N. Jones St., Amboy, $16,000.

Robbins Road LLC to Rick W. Appelquist Living Trust, Rick W. Appelquist, trustee, three parcels in Nachusa Township, $0.

Trustees deed

James D. and Christine Bannister Revocable Trust No. 1, Old Second Bank, successor trustee, to Vern R. Grabbe, one parcel in Willow Creek Township, $1,909,959.

Executors deed

Charles A. Ballard, Thomas H. Ballard and Colleen Petrosky, co-executors, to Blake and Madison Armstrong, 729 Highcrest Road, Dixon, $253,500.

Source: Lee County Recorder’s Office

Ogle County

Warranty deeds

Kevin E. Tomman to Lucio L. Keokhao, 301 Platte Drive, Dixon, $3,500.

Brian J. Ross to Pretzel City Builders LLC, 207 S. Second Ave., Forreston, $40,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Billy Patterson, 204 W. Second St., Leaf River, $60,000.

Billy and Stephanie M. Garkey to Jacob and Lisa J. McDonald, 381 Red Fox Drive, Davis Junction, $260,000.

Tiffany Cravatta, Eric Dean Brant and Melissa Lee Henriksen to Jacob D. and Dayna J. Greer, 6439 N. River Drive, Oregon, $247,000.

Eric R. Bird to TEH Rentals LLC, 103 N. Jackson Ave., Polo, $20,000.

Carl L. and Bonnie P. Johnson to Socorro G. Castro, 306 Hillcrest Ave., Rochelle, $110,000.

Mark B. Capps to William and Diane Fischer, 705 S. Walnut Ave., Forreston, $165,000.

Hickory Road Farm Partnership to Mark and Terri Swegle, one parcel in Grand Detour Township, $0.

Estate of Lauren T. Binkley and Gretchen M. Binkley to LSFM LLC, 13582 W. Springdale Road, Forreston, $400,000.

Dennis E. Buzzell to Austin Luepkes, one parcel on All Saints Drive, Byron, $18,200.

Dennis E. and Donald W. Buzzell to Austin Luepkes, 538-534 N. All Saints Drive, Byron, $175,800.

The late Richard S. Little by heirs to Michael and Tammy Knoup, 710 S. Eighth St., Oregon, $127,000.

Steven K. and Donna L. Wells to Stacie J. and Jesus R. Cantu, 1743 N. Mount Morris Road, Mount Morris, $183,900.

Byron Legacy Properties LLC to Rockhome Holdings LLC, 531 N. Luther Drive, 617-637 Allison Circle, Byron, $1,151,000.

Quit claim deeds

Krista Watson to Edwin and Janice Kissick, one parcel in Flagg Township, $0.

Stephen Conrad Arves to Nichole Christine Johnson, 706 Adams St., Oregon, $0.

Trustees deeds

Plemmons Family Revocable Living Trust, Debra Pulver, trustee, to Joshua Roop, two parcels in Leaf River Township, $13,000.

Buser Family Trust 919, Deborah A. Buser, trustee, to Steve Swanson Construction Inc., one parcel in Leaf River Township, $45,000.

Marvin K. Eyster Living Trust, Charleen Boudreau, trustee, to Askvig Boys Construction LLC, 1463 S. White Rock Road, Kings, $120,000.

Ross Trust 2013, Thomas Ross, trustee, to Donald R. and Saundra J. Huftalin Trust, Donald R. and Saundra J. Huftalin, trustees, one parcel in Lynnville Township, $120,000.

Floyd H. Odom Trust, Robert L. Odom, trustee, to Robert White, 60 Terrace View Blvd., Oregon, $155,000.

Leaf River Lumber Inc. to Steve Swanson Construction Inc., nine parcels in Leaf River Township, $140,000.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

This mass is for those dealing with the loss of a loved one, facing life separation, coping with the loss of a job, or facing health issues.

“It is a season of nostaltiga and festive gatherings, but when life hits us hard, those cheery sentiments only bring us further down,” reads a Saturday news release. “If this describes you this season, we encourage you to join us.”

This service is open to everyone.

Services will take place at 9 a.m. that morning, and then at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The 6 p.m. worship service will be a family-oriented service.

The 11 p.m. worship service will be a candlelight and communion service. Everyone is welcome to attend any of these services.

The First Christian Church at 455 W. Southmor Rd. in Morris was full of holiday cheer as Santa hosted his annual holiday party, An Evening with Santa.

Children from all around Grundy County arrived to get their face painted, make balloon animals and tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

The Morris Area Public Library also hosted a storytime and book raffle, where Pam Burton read “Merry Christmas, Splat” to the children.

May I start by asking, “What do you love”?

Some people love chocolate. Some people love visiting a cabin by the lake. Some people love a vacation in the Virgin Islands.

In God’s Holy Word, the Bible, it says that King David of Israel loved God more than anything else. Even God was pleased, for God said that David would do everything He wanted him to do. Yet, I present the question: What does God want us to do?

The answer is remarkably simple. He merely wants us to love Him.

A little over 2,000 years ago, the Son of God (Jesus) came to earth for a specific purpose. Of the many things He did during that time, He guided us to call His Father in Heaven, “Our Father”. Imagine that.

He did that as He was simply teaching people how to begin talking to the Heavenly Father. Every one of us reading this had a father, and there are many thoughts of fathers that may come to the minds of different individuals. Some had absolutely terrific parents, and sadly some did not. If you did not have a great father in your life, I am truly sad in my heart about that for you. It would make it difficult for you to understand a perfect Father who is in Heaven.

It would also possibly be difficult to comprehend how much He cares for you and loves you. It truly may be incredibly hard for you to imagine – but it still is 100% true. God does love you and desires the very best for you.

Thanks to the Holy Spirit of God, the Holy Bible captures God’s very words. In the Bible, there is found in what is called, The Book of John, a beautiful declaration – or even better – a promise. In that book in Chapter 14, verse 23, Jesus said to us: “If someone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.”

Truthfully, I was blessed to have superb parents in my childhood. We were a family that knew of God and went to church every weekend. Some may laugh with me – especially if any have ever been in the U.S. Marine Corps, but in the early 1970s I went to the U.S. Marine Corps Boot Camp. It took about three seconds to dreadfully inquire, “Where are you God?”

Every day I desperately prayed, Lord, If I am able to live one more day.

Only a few know how ugly life can become when four drill instructors come walking down the hall. I quickly learned the power of prayer and depending on the Father’s protection. There was even later immense protection for me through the journey in Southeast Asia throughout many countries. With all my heart, I attest that God does protect His children. But note: Why did God protect me? Because I loved God. Plain and simple. There is nothing special about me at all!

This is not about me. Please, do not get the wrong thought here. Every day I commit my life to loving God with all my heart – with all my mind – with all my… everything. And the most important point in this message is this: You can, too.

Raymond Peterson is a pastor with Corner Fringe Ministries – Dixon.

This annual event recognizes 4-H members who have excelled in their state 4-H poultry learning activities. Members of the Illinois team were: Rachel Dickson of Bristol, Madisyn Glenn of Oswego, Faustina Krysciak of Yorkville and Julia Muschetto of Will County.

“This National 4-H event is important for senior-aged 4-H members,” University of Illinois Extension poultry specialist Dr. Ken Koelkebeck said in a news release. “Getting the chance to compete in this event is a testament of their excellence.”

Last year marked Illinois 4-H’s return to the contest with one member competing, and this year interest in the competition led to the creation of a team.

The three Kendall County 4-H members have been working toward this goal for about four years, said local 4-H volunteer and coach Beth Lohrey of Lisbon, who led a group from DuPage and Kendall counties to the state competition in August. From there, Dickson, Glenn and Krysciak ranked at the top for individuals and were chosen for the Illinois 4-H team along with Muschetto.

At Nationals in November, the team, led by Koelkebeck, competed in both the Poultry Judging and Avian Bowl Contests. Skills tested during the Poultry Judging competition include orderly decision-making, using reasoning skills, communicating decisions, poultry dish preparation, food safety and subject matter knowledge of species of poultry, food safety, physiology, nutrition and eggs.

Lohrey, who was on the 1994 state 4-H Poultry Judging team, said it takes knowledge, practice and skill. “These teens have to be able to stand up and give reasons, from memory, to a panel of judges to explain their choices.”

The Avian Bowl stands as a double elimination competition designed for state teams, drawing inspiration from other knowledge bowls. Participants are required to possess an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, encompassing various aspects such as multiple poultry species, food safety, physiology, nutrition, eggs and other pertinent topics. Success in the Avian Bowl demands a well-rounded knowledge base, ensuring participants are well-versed in the diverse facets of poultry and related subjects.

“Outside of competition knowledge, national competitions also help youth learn life skills and introduce participants to careers in the poultry and allied industries,” Koelkebeck said. “Youth learn skills such as leadership, communication, problem solving and decision making.”

Lohrey said the state judging team experience was the highlight of her 4-H career and now as a volunteer, she strives to provide similar opportunities to youth. In fact, the three Kendall County 4-H members now help her with a special interest club to teach younger members about caring for and showing poultry.

“As a 4-H volunteer, I want to share my knowledge and help youth create lifelong memories and friendships,” Lohrey said. “Get out of your comfort zone and try new things and meet people. You only have this opportunity for a short time.”

Financial support for the state 4-H team was provided by the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, the State 4-H Office and the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

All services will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

The church is at 201 N. Hale St. in Plano. For information, call 630-552-3700.

A Kane County grand jury indicted these people on the following charges:

• Jose L. Gallegos, 23, of the 1000 block of West Galena Boulevard, Aurora, for unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

• Edgar Akaniz, 34 of the 1400 block of East Galena Boulevard, Aurora, for two counts of aggravated battery to a nurse.

• Scott A. Konen, 51, of the 0-99 block of Brookstone Drive, Streamwood, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and resisting a police officer.

• Ramiro Saldana Jr., 22, of the 1800 block of West Illinois Avenue, Aurora, for six counts of criminal sexual assault.

• Sergio M. Serna, 22, of the 1900 block of East County Line Road, Maple Park, for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and disobeying a traffic control signal.

• Francisco Moreno-Hernandez, 38, of the 1000 block of Jennifer Lane, Bolingbrook, for three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and 11 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

• Grenlin L. Wyckoff III, 50, of the 1000 block of Sixth Avenue, Aurora, for five counts of aggravated DUI, four counts of driving with a suspended license and two counts of DUI.

• Luis F. Pichardo Balderas, 24, of the 400 block of Hinman Street, Aurora, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

• Aisha T. Lucas, 31, of the 6700 block of South Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, for retail theft of items valued at more than $300 and prior retail theft conviction.

• Daeshaun A. Davis, 20, of the 300 block of West School Street, Plano, for aggravated discharge of a firearm by a street gang member, unlawful possession of a firearm without a FOID card, two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm and mob action.

• Blayre A. Nash, homeless, of Batavia, for failure to register as a sex offender.

• Teaurus J. Lesure, 31, of the 100 block of North 15th Street, St. Charles, for two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of marijuana.

• Marchelo Nelson, 23 of the 4800 bock of West Gladys Avenue, Chicago, for four counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

• Dijon R. Grissette Jr., 28, of the 2600 block of Avalon Lane, Montgomery, for two counts of aggravated domestic battery with strangulation, two counts of domestic battery, unlawful restraint, domestic battery-bodily harm and domestic battery-provoking contact.

• James E. Harris, 27, of the 700 block of Superior Street, Aurora, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

• Andre C. Dotson, 34, of the 300 block of West Le Moyne Street, Chicago, for aggravated assault to a police officer, resisting, domestic battery-physical contact, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal trespass to property after notice.

• Shante J. Mosby, 35, of the 600 block of Spring Street, Aurora, for domestic battery-bodily harm and domestic battery-physical contact.

• Darion L. Johnson, 21, of the 600 block of South River Street, Aurora, for theft.

• Maurilio B. Diaz, 58, of the 800 block of LaFayette Street, Aurora, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

• Johnnie D. Fort, 28, of the 3200 block of West Washington Boulevard, Chicago, for retail theft of items valued at more than $300 and prior retail theft conviction.

• Marcus A. Hill, 44, of the 1100 block of North Bowes Road, Elgin, for forgery.

• Alejandro Feliciano Jr., 44, of the 500 block of La Salle Place, Elgin, for two counts of aggravated DUI and driving with a suspended license.

• Lakeyta Wagner, 37, of the 1100 block of Nantucket Road, Aurora, for driving with a suspended license.

• Noel R. Deluna, 29, of the 100 block of Union Street, Montgomery, for two counts of aggravated DUI, driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

• Braulio Justo-Chavez, 40, of the 1600 block of Kenneth Circle, Elgin, for for two counts of aggravated DUI and driving with a suspended license.

• Dallas Fuller, 24, of the 200 block of West North Street, Leland, for two counts of aggravated battery.

• Carmen Godinez, 60, of the 1700 block of Felten Road, Aurora, for retail theft.

• Kristina P. McWilliams, 32, of the 500 block of Ramona Avenue, Elgin, for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

• Dennis M. Woods, 55, of the 1000 block of Mark Street, South Elgin, for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license, attempted aggravated fleeing of a police officer.

• Rafael G. Franco, 26, of the 500 block of East Chicago Street, Elgin, for two counts of for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

But in the third quarter, the Comets (5-5) erased all doubt.

After outscoring the Cardinals (1-5) by 20 in the penultimate period, Newman coasted to a 58-38 win. The Comets will face Lena-Winslow in the second round 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“We shot the ball a lot better [in the second half],” Newman senior Isaiah Williams said. “We shot 0-for-17 in the first half, and then I think on the first five shots of the second half, we were like 4-for-5. I think that was the big difference.”

The first quarter was back and forth. The Comets started the game on a 9-0 run in the first six minutes, led by a seven-point outburst from senior forward Lucas Simpson, but the Cardinals responded with a 19-2 run through the beginning of the second quarter.

Forreston freshman forward Jonathan Milnes provided the spark, hitting three 3-pointers in the last two minutes to draw within 11-9 at the end of the first quarter.

That momentum continued into the second with a 10-0 opening run. Milnes hit another 3 from the top of the key for a 12-11 Forreston lead with 7:16 to play in the half. Sophomore guard Kendall Erdmann followed with a pull-up jumper from mid range, then sophomore guard Brady Gill buried a left-wing 3 and Erdmann dropped in a layup for a 19-11 Cardinals’ lead with 4:50 remaining.

“We didn’t have No. 32 [Jonathan Milnes] on our scouting report. We didn’t know if he was a shooter or a driver, so I think he just came out and made some shots and surprised us,” Simpson said. “Once we got him covered, I think we were able to get back in a rhythm.”

That’s precisely what the Comets did. Simpson grabbed an offensive rebound and found a cutting Williams for a layup, then made two layups of his own around a free throw to make it a one-point game.

After a Williams steal and fast-break layup gave the Newman the lead, Forreston junior forward Brenden Greenfield took it right back at 21-20 with a pair of free throws as 1:11 remained. That was the score at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Comets outpaced the Cardinals 29-9.

Greenfield pushed the margin to 25-20 with consecutive layups in the first 30 seconds, but the Comets quickly turned the tide.

Williams buried back-to-back 3s from the left corner to put Newman up 26-25, and that was just the spark it needed.

“That gave me a bunch of confidence,” Williams said about the back-to-back 3s. “My coach told me just to go to the corner, and that it’d be open, and that he trusted me to hit it. Having my teammates feeding me the ball with my coach encouraging me, I felt unstoppable.”

Simpson said he could feel the momentum swing from that point in the game.

“That was big when Isaiah hit those shots, because we weren’t hitting anything [before that],” he said. “Once he hit those two, we started making more shots.”

Simpson scored 14 points over the last 5:46 as Newman stretched its lead to 49-30 at the end of the third quarter.

Simpson finished with game-highs of 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals; Williams compiled 15 points and seven rebounds; George Jungerman supplied six points and six rebounds; and Garret Matznick and Cody McBride grabbed five rebounds each for the Comets. McBride also dished five assists, and Evan Bushman added seven points off the bench.

Milnes scored 12 points on four 3s and grabbed three rebounds, Greenfield totaled nine points and nine rebounds, and Gill supplied seven points and three rebounds for the Cardinals.

Rock Falls 81, Stillman Valley 42: At Rock Falls, the Rockets used a balanced attack to beat the Cardinals on Saturday.

Rock Falls was led by Ryken Howard with 16 points, Kuitim Heald with 14 points, Aydan Goff with 13 points and Gavin Sands with 11 points. Goff reached the 1,000 career points mark.

Eastland 71, West Carroll 8: At the Eastland Holiday Tournament, the Cougars built a 29-2 first-quarter lead and rolled past the Thunder.

Eastland was led by Peyton Spears with 13 points, Adam Awender with 12 points and Parker Krogman with 10 points.

Garrett Law paced West Carroll with five points.

Pecatonica 70, Amboy 38: At the Eastland Holiday Tournament, the Indians built a 34-5 first-quarter lead and cruised past the Clippers.

Eddie Jones scored 12 points and Kabe Daniels added eight points for Amboy.

Oregon 80, Ashton-Franklin Center 61: At the Forreston Holiday Tournament, Nole Campos poured in 22 points to lead the Hawks past the Raiders.

Keaton Salsbury and Jameson Caposey scored 16 points each, Noah Johnson scored 14 points and Cooper Johnson added 10 points for Oregon.

AFC was led by Nolan Rueff with 19 points, Aaron Lester with 16 points, Barrett Becker with 12 points and Noah Danielson with 10 points.

Pearl City 53, Milledgeville 46: At the Forreston Holiday Tournament, Connor Nye scored 26 points as the Missiles fell to the Wolves in their first-round game.

Karter Livengood and Micah-Toms Smith added seven points each for Milledgeville.

Polo 56, Winnebago 54 (OT): At the Forreston Holiday Tournament, the Marcos outlasted the Indians in overtime for a first-round win.

Polo was led by Carter Merdian with 24 points, Gus Mumford with 14 points and Nolan Hahn with 11 points.

Girls basketball

Newman 45, Orion 32: At the Polo Holiday Tournament, the Comets took down the Chargers in their pool-play opener, seizing the lead with a 16-2 third-quarter run and never looking back.

Brooklyn Smith led the way for Newman with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals; Jess Johns totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists; Elaina Allen contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals; and Madison Duhon added seven points and seven rebounds.

Polo 35, Forreston 28: At the Polo Holiday Tournament, the Lady Marcos downed the Cardinals in their pool-play opener.

Camrynn Jones paced Polo with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Sydnei Rahn added five points and seven rebounds.

Jenna Greenfield scored 12 points on four 3s to lead Forreston, while Ericka Alexander added seven points.

Polo 43, Newman 42: At the Polo Holiday Tournament, the Lady Marcos edged the Comets to finish 2-0 on the day.

Johns led Newman with 20 points, 24 rebounds and two steals; Smith totaled seven polints and four rebounds; and Duhon added eight points and three assists.

Jones paced Polo with 23 points, while Rahn added nine points.

West Carroll 41, Milledgeville 34: At the Polo Holiday Tournament, the three players scored in double figures to lead the Thunder past the Missiles.

Caitlyn Stingley led West Carroll with 13 points, while Emma Randecker scored 12 points and Karissa Andrews added 11 points.

Oregon splits at Polo Tourney: At Polo, Oregon beat Milledgeville 48-38 and lost 45-18 to Pecatonica.

Against the Missiles, Alease McLain and Mya Engelkes led the Hawks with eight points each.

Boys swimming

Sterling places 5th at Clinton Invite: At Clinton, Iowa, the Sterling swimming co-op placed fifth out of 10 teams with a 132 score.

Sterling’s Patrick Riley, Conner Porter, Peter Garland and James Boze took third in the 200 medley relay (1:54.67), and Dale Johnson, Garland, Riley and Porter tied for third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.57).

Riley added a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 200 freestyle (2:01.54) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.91).

Wrestling

Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament: At Stillman Valley, Oregon edged Dundee-Crown 181-178 for the 16-team tournament championship. Amboy placed 10th with a 48.

Oregon’s Anthony Bauer placed first (157), Landon Ege placed (113), Jackson Glendenning (165) and Andrew Young (175) each placed second, and Nelson Benesh (120), Jayden Berry (138), Ethan Mowry (150) and Quentin Berry (190) each placed third.

Amboy’s Lucas Blanton placed first at 175 and Landon Blanton placed fourth at 120.

Erie-Prophetstown Holiday Tournament: At Erie, Newman posted a 132 score to place third at the 18-team event. Morrison took fourth with a 129, Rock Falls tied for seventh with a 95, Fulton took 12th with a 63, Erie-Prophetstown claimed 13th with a 60, Polo finished 14th with a 39, and West Carroll came in 16th with a 27.5.

Newman’s Brady Grennan placed first at 132, Carter Rude placed first at 144, Daniel Kelly placed second at 165 and Briar Ivey placed third at 138.

Rock Falls’ Logan Thome placed third at 126.

Morrison’s Karder White placed first at 157.

West Carroll’s Connor Knop placed third at 132.

E-P’s Wyatt Goosens placed third at 144 and Tristan Hovey placed third at 152.

Fulton’s Mason Kuebel placed third at 190.

In the girls tournament, Newman’s Blair Grennan placed first at 100/105 and Rock Falls’ Elissa Russel placed first at 155/170.

E-P’s Ryleigh Stephens placed first at 115/120, while Jayda Rosenow placed first at 140/145 and Michelle Naftzger took second at 125/130.

Boys bowling

East Holiday Tournament: At Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Dixon placed fifth out of 16 teams.

The Dukes were led by Clark Bonnewell with a 1,332 series (second-highest individual score) and tournament-high game of 268. Wyatt Miller chipped in a 1,119 and Cody Geil added a 1,107 for the Dukes.

Serena 46, Putnam County 38: At Serena, the Huskers improved to 9-0 on the season with the win over the Panthers.

Serena was led by Paisley Twait (13 points, six rebounds, three steals), Gwynth O’Connell (11 points, four steals, three assists), Makayla McNally (11 points, seven rebounds) and Jenna Setchell (six points, three steals, four assists).

Ottawa 45, Illinois Valley Central 24: At the Ottawa Holiday Tournament, the Pirates opened their own event with a solid win over the Grey Ghosts.

Ella Schmitz led Ottawa with 13 points.

Illinois Valley Central 30, Streator 25: At the Ottawa Holiday Tournament, the Bulldogs outscored the Grey Ghosts 14-5 in the fourth quarter but fell short in completing the comeback.

Maiya Lansford paced Streator with nine points, with Leah Krohe adding six, and Joey Puetz and Mina James four each.

Dakota 32, Somonauk-Leland 22: At Somonauk, the Bobcats fell to the Indians.

Haley McCoy paced S-L with 16 points, while Aubrey Chiavario had eight rebounds, three steals and three assists.

Mendota 44, Earlville 33: At Earlville, Madyson Olson had 11 points — including the 1,000th of her career — 11 rebounds and four steals in the Red Raiders loss to the Trojans.

Ryleigh Dixon had 12 points to lead Earlville, while Addie Scherer grabbed nine rebounds.

Morris 52, Newark 30; Princeton 52, Newark 49: At the Ottawa Holiday Tournament, the Norsemen dropped to 6-6 on the season after the pair of losses.

Fieldcrest 50, Richland County 43: At the St. Joe-Ogden Shootout, the Knights improved to 7-4 on the season with the victory over the Tigers.

Kaitlyn White poured in 23 points for Fieldcrest, while Macy Gochanour added 13.

Boys basketball

Peoria Christian 75, Marquette Academy 58: At the Eureka College Shootout, the Crusaders were defeated by the Chargers.

El Paso-Gridley 47, Seneca 40: At the Eureka College Shootout, the Fighting Irish - despite 22 points from Paxton Giertz - fell to the Titans to drop to 7-2 on the season.

Girls wrestling

Seneca’s Wood, Sandwich’s Strenz finish second at Morris: Fighting Irish’s Kyra Wood at 190 pounds and the Indians’ Ashlyn Strenz at 115 both finished in second place at the Morris Invite.

Also for Seneca, Sammie Greisen finished third place at 135, while Brooklyn Hart won two hard fought matches at 115. Also for Sandwich, Norah Vick at 105 and Jazmin Rios at 145 each finished 2-2.

Boys wrestling

Seneca 2nd at Erie-Prophetstown Holiday Tourney: The Fighting Irish scored 176.5 points and placed nine of 11 wrestlers in the top 6, but fell short of the team championship to Lena Winslow (206.5).

Seneca’s Ethan Othon at 120 and Chris Peura at 215 captured induvial championships, while Raiden Terry at 106, Asher Hamby at 175 and Landen Venecia at 190 finished runner-up. Nate Othon placed third at 157, Jeremy Gagnon fourth at 285, and Wyatt Coop (113) and Tommy Milton (126) each placed sixth.

Ottawa finishes 6th at Metamora: The Pirates were led by a championship from Ivan Munoz, while Ryan Wilson had a second-place finish and Malachi Snyder a third-place finish. Wyatt Wheeler, Marek Duffy and Wyatt Reding all finished fifth, with Andrew Ristau and Hector Valdez each placing sixth.

Girls bowling

Streator 14th at Rockford: The Bulldogs posted a 3,540 to finish 14th at the Rockford East Invite at Don Carter Lanes.

Streator was led by Lily Michael’s 859 six-game series and 212 high game, followed by Lyla Gengler (730), Kaitlyn Pettyjohn (726), Lisa Lopez (648) and Jenna Onasch (577).

Boys bowling

Streator 15th at Rockford: The Bulldogs posted a 4,641 to finish 15th at the Rockford East Invite at Don Carter Lanes.

Anthony Dominic led Streator with a 1,111 six-game series and 204 high game, followed by Cody Taylor (1,068, 202), Izak Gallik (927, 192), Tyson Kolojay (672) and Ian Wheeler (497)

“We kind of told her that they always come out hard,” Boor said. “They want to get us; we want to get them.

“It’s always a very intense game, so (we) just keep our head level and do what we do best and play defense. I think she did a great job of that and the whole team did a great job.”

Photos: Downers Grove North vs. Downers Grove South girls basketball

Indeed, the 5-foot-10 Thulin played with the savvy of an upperclassman. Downers North coach Stephan Bolt gave her the assignment of guarding Downers South senior Allison Jarvis and the results were impressive.

Not only did Thulin hold Jarvis to a mere two baskets, but she also led all scorers with a career-high 15 points as the Trojans rolled to a 43-25 victory. Boor added 12 points and senior guard Hope Sebek tallied 10 points for North (11-2).

“I think she played great,” Boor said of Thulin. “She came out aggressive and she was tasked with guarding the girl who averages the highest points on their team, Jarvis, and she did a great job of being all up in her business and frustrating her.”

Indeed, Jarvis finished with six points on 2-for-11 shooting. The second basket was a 3-pointer with 1:58 left in the game, at which point the Mustangs (6-7) trailed by 20. Jarvis had scored 30 points the night before in a double overtime loss to Willowbrook.

“I took it as just a normal thing,” Thulin said of her defensive assignment. “I have to play my defense.

“Our team had to be there in the help and help if I got beat, and it was just a team effort. If one person gets beat, then our teammates have to back them up.”

Bolt was impressed with the play of Campbell and junior guard Abby Gross, who were effective on the perimeter at disrupting South’s offense.

“Jarvis is a good player and I think Campbell really did a nice job tonight,” Bolt said. “We went through a little bit of a drought in the third and fourth quarter, but defensively we were solid. Kind of did what we do – great defense and share the ball.”

Defense is what the Trojans traditionally hang their hat on, and this year has been no exception. It’s why they didn’t panic despite struggling at the beginning against the Mustangs.

North shot 1-for-13 in the first quarter but led 8-4 as Boor scored six points, including four straight free throws and then a putback of a Thulin miss that gave the Trojans the lead for good.

That was part of a run of 12 straight points, which Sebek capped with a 3-pointer off a Gross assist. The skein eventually grew to 21-2, with a Thulin free throw extending the lead to 22-6 late in the second quarter.

The Trojans did much of their damage at the foul line, where they made 11 of 14 in the first half and 15 of 20 overall. Boor led the way there by making 6 of 8 attempts, including her final five.

“When we’re not getting shots up or our shots aren’t falling, it’s really important to get to the rim,” Boor said. “I think everybody did a good job getting to the rim and drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. We have to be able to drive and get to the middle.”

Hayden Harden and Megan Ganschow each scored eight points to lead South, which pulled within 24-11 on a Harden drive at the 5:45 mark of the third quarter.

But Thulin erupted to score seven consecutive points on a traditional 3-point play, a free throw and then the first of her two 3-pointers. She also finished with four rebounds and a game-high three steals

“She’s the first one to get on the floor, gives max effort every time she’s out there,” Bolt said. “She has a high-level IQ already as a freshman and she has some composure and poise like an upperclassman, so it will be exciting to coach her for another three years after this one. She could be a real nice player.”

Thulin already is having a nice time playing on varsity.

“It’s fun just having the team be supportive of me, inclusive and welcoming me,” Thulin said. “It means a lot to come in as a freshman and have a team that’s there for you and willing to help you get better.”

What is it that makes Thulin stand out? Downers North coach Jim Thomas answered that question with a question of his own.

Photos: Downers Grove North vs. Downers Grove South

“I guess it’s – what doesn’t he do?’” Thomas said. “He took a basketball team to the final four last year, took a football team to the final game this year, and he plays his heart out.

“He is so competitive and so wired to just get after it. He’s going to make plays for you at some point in time, so I’m really proud of him.”

Senior forward and fellow co-captain Jake Riemer, sums up Thulin up this way:

“He’s just a fighter,” Riemer said. “He’s got that dog in him.

“He handles pressure, he handles the ball, he does everything well. He’s the most underrated player, in my opinion.”

The underrated Thulin helped the host Trojans crush the upset hopes of underrated Downers Grove South on Saturday. He had nine points, two assists and one momentum-turning steal as Downers North won the annual crosstown battle 41-37.

The game was a slugfest from start to finish, with both teams erasing seven-point deficits.

Thulin, who will play football but not basketball in college, said none of what occurred was unexpected.

“(Thomas) asked us before the game if we felt any pressure and we all said yes,” Thulin said. “And he said no. Then he listed all the events and all the pressure-filled situations that we’ve been in and said this (isn’t) nothing compared to situations we’ve been in.”

But it had been a while since the visiting Mustangs (8-2) had been in a situation to put pressure on the Trojans. This was a much more typical battle.

“I don’t think we’ve been able to match their style of play the last two years, until today,” Downers South coach Zach Miller said. “If you’re going to take down a juggernaut and a well-coached team, we have a lot to prove, and we showed the type of fight that we’re capable of.

“(Thomas) does such a great job getting his kids to play. They do everything right. I felt like our guys matched that tonight.”

The Mustangs did, starting with their opening 7-0 run which prompted Thomas to call a timeout. The Trojans (8-1) did not score for the first five minutes.

Then Alex Miller tallied five straight points to trigger a 9-0 run, and the battle was on. How does Thulin handle the pressure?

“The biggest thing is just to take a deep breath and play the next play,” Thulin said. “Just play hard, to be honest.”

The Trojans needed to because guards Jalen House and Keon Maggitt helped the Mustangs regain their seven-point lead in the second quarter. Maggitt, who led all scorers with 12 points, split a pair of free throws to give Downers South a 21-14 cushion with 3:46 left in the first half.

But Thulin prevented the hole from getting any deeper by scoring on a layup. Then Jack Crowley made a steal and fed Jack Stanton for a 3-pointer.

But the Mustangs didn’t give up the lead until Thulin made a steal at halfcourt and raced in for a game-tying layup at the 1:36 mark of the third quarter. On the next possession, he found Bobby Grganto for a 3-pointer that gave the Trojans a 31-28 lead.

North never surrendered the lead, though South cut a seven-point deficit to 37-36. That’s when Riemer got a defensive rebound and passed to Thulin, who was fouled and sank two free throws with 12.7 seconds left.

Thulin then went crashing into the scorer’s table in an effort to defend Will Potter, who drew the foul with 9.4 ticks remaining. Potter made the first free throw but missed the second, and Riemer came down with the rebound and was immediately fouled.

Riemer, who had six points and five rebounds, calmly sank both foul shots to ice the victory.

“I knew they were going to foul me,” Riemer said. “We go through those situations every day in practice.

“It’s nothing new. I’ve been there and knocked them down. It’s senior year, stepped up and knocked them down.”

The Trojans knocked down 12 of 15 foul shots, including all 10 in the second half. In addition to Thulin’s two, Riemer and Aidan Akkawi both went 4-for-4.

The Mustangs, though, were 5-for-13.

“There were a lot of good plays out there, I thought, from both teams,” Thomas said. “Zach is doing such a great job getting those guys rolling.

“I thought both sides had great momentum and runs at times and we just hit a couple free throws down the stretch that kind of gave us a margin.”

It wasn’t the big margin of recent seasons, but that didn’t matter to Thulin.

“I ran upstairs and I said, ‘Hey, a win’s a win,’” Thulin said. “That’s all we had to do. It feels good.”

Miller had mixed feelings but liked how the Mustangs battled.

“I’m not happy we lost, but I’m proud,” Miller said. “You’ve got to tip your cap to those guys – they just made a few more plays than we did. I think we’re going to learn from this.”

At Dewitt, Iowa: Princeton ventured into Iowa and brought home three first-place finishes from the Saber Invitational in Dewitt, Iowa on Saturday.

The Tigers finished third as a team in the 14-team field, 12 from the Hawkeye state.

Champions on the day were Augustus Swanson (106), Ace Christiansen (138) and Cade Odell (275).

The Tigers also got thirds from Kaydin Gibson (126) and Casey Etheridge (165) and sixths from Jaydon Cooke (120), Preston Arkels (157) and Ian Morris (215).

Girls basketball

Princeton 52, Newark 49: Camryn Driscoll hit three clutch free throws to lift the Tigresses to a 52-49 win over Newark in the Ottawa Holiday Tournament on Saturday

In other tournament games, L-P beat Pontiac 50-35, Morris beat Newark 52-30, IVC beat Streator 30-25, Metamora beat Prairie Central 52-17, Canton beat Pontiac 65-36 and Ottawa defeated IVC 45-24.

The Tigresses will return to play Morris at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The tournament finals will be played on Friday.

Sherrard 33, Hall 25: The Red Devils played the Tigers even through three quarters, but slipped in the fourth quarter in a nonconference loss in Spring Valley.

“Good effort from our girls, especially on the defensive end. We won the middle two quarters,” Hall coach TJ Orlandi said.

McKenna Christiansen led the Red Devils with 13 points and Ella Sterling added eight.

Alleman 49, Annawan 37: The battle of two state-ranked teams saw the No. 6 2A ranked Pioneers beat the No. 4 1A ranked Bravettes on their home court.

Zoey Vance led Annawan with 11 points and Bella VanOpDorp added 10.

Serena 46, Putnam County 38: The Panthers led after three quarters, but couldn’t hold off the Huskers in a nonconference game in Serena.

Ava Hatton led PC with 19 points and Maggie Richetta added 10.

Boys basketball

Rochelle 70, Princeton 62 (OT): Down 45-40, the Hubs (3-6) rallied in the fourth quarter to force overtime and outscored the Tigers 15-7 in the extra frame for the win over their former NCIC rival.

Jordan Reinhardt and Noah LaPorte each had 18 points for the Tigers, who led 36-31 at the half, and DJ Sousa added 13.

The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Tigers (7-5).

Annawan 52, ROWVA-Williamsfield 49: The Braves opened Lincoln Trail Conference play with a win on the road. The Braves (10-1) got balanced scoring from Tommy Covington with 12 points, Maddux Heitzler with 11, Brady Heitzler with 10 and Drew Wise with eight.

Westmont 56, Peotone 40

Joe Kone scored 19 points and Alexander Konoff added 12 for the Sentinels (11-1), who won their 11th straight game and surpassed last year’s win total with the win.

York 70, IC Catholic Prep 42

AJ Levine scored 23 points for the Dukes. Brenden Molis added 12 and Kyle Waltz 10.

Glenbard West 51, St. Charles North 36

TJ Williams scored 13 points and Dominic Seaney added eight for the Hilltoppers.

Brother Rice 53, Lyons 39

Liam Taylor had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks and Brady Chambers added eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks for the Lions.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Glenbard West 51, Lake Park 32

Lauren Escalante scored 12 points, Sydney Nimsakont 11 and Julia Benjamin 10 for the Hilltoppers.

Nazareth d. Grant

Amalia Dray had 20 points and five steals and Stella Sakalas had 10 points and three steals for the Roadrunners (7-2).

“We got off to a great start in the first, but Pontiac is a solid team and showed it by chipping away and eventually taking the lead midway into the third quarter,” Streator coach Beau Doty said. “The key for us was when that happened, we quickly put together a string of good possessions to grab back the lead, and then extended it. It was a physical game and one we’re happy to come out on top of.

“This was a great week for us.”

Streator, with its seventh consecutive win, improved to 8-2 on the season and completed the successful week at 3-0 after league road wins over Peotone and Manteno. Pontiac fell for the third straight game and is now 5-5.

Streator was led by senior guard Christian Benning, who poured in game-high 33 points, 14 in the opening quarter to help the Bulldogs to a 21-10 advantage. Benning also grabbed 12 rebounds, passed for three assists, swiped three steals and was 13 of 18 from the free-throw line.

“We wanted to come out right away tonight with a lot of ball pressure on defense,” said Benning, who received a number of good screens from senior teammate Quinn Baker to get him loose to the hoop. “Pontiac has guys that can really shoot the ball, so the key was trying to limit the open looks they had. We wanted to also be very physical on both ends of the floor which I think we did a pretty good job with in the first quarter and late in the game.

“Quinn has always set good screens. Most of the time in our offensive sets that’s the key for the guy with the ball either getting to the rim on the dribble or being able to kick it out to open shooters if the defense collapses. He was big tonight helping me get free a bunch of times.”

Pontiac senior guard Riley Weber nearly matched Benning with 32 points and 12 rebounds in the contest and was a key to the Indians cutting the early disadvantage to 33-29 at halftime and taking a 39-38 lead with 4:18 remaining in the third period.

From there the hosts went on an 8-0 run with drives from Benning and Logan Aukland (14 points) off Baker screens, then a 3-pointer from the left corner by Cade Peterson.

“Having a kid like Quinn setting a solid ball screen at the top of the key for one of our guards gets the offense going,” Doty said. “He knows his role and works very hard to be very good in that role. We went to that high screen a lot throughout the game because Pontiac was having troubles stopping it.”

The Bulldogs then used a 7-0 burst - five points by Benning and a layup in transition by Baker - to extend the lead to 54-43 with six minutes to go.

Streator then knocked down 11 of 12 free throws in the remaining time to help close out the triumph.

Baker said that there is nothing better than setting a screen, then watching a teammate score off of it.

“Setting screens is part of my role, it’s something I have to do and something I enjoy doing,” Baker said. “It’s awesome to set a really good screen for one of my teammates that helps led to a basketball. Like tonight, I knew if I set a good screen for Christian, he was going to either score or get to the free-throw line.

Streator is back in action on Thursday against Seneca at the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls, at 1:30 p.m.

“Playing at the United Center is going to a great experience for all of us,” Baker said. “We all grew up watching and following the Bulls. We had a good week this week, so now I think we just have to have a couple of good days of practice and then be focused to play a solid game at the UC.”

Annawan 52, ROWVA-Williamsfield 49

Bureau Valley 65: St. Bede 38

Dee-Mack 44, Roanoke-Benson 42

Illini Bluffs 56, Rockridge 41

Kewanee 49, Riverdale 48

Peoria Christian 75, Marquette 58

Rochelle 70, Princeton 62 (OT)

SOPHS: Princeton 55-44

Sterling 59, Bettendorf 54

Streator 65, Pontiac 56

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Alleman 49, Annawan 37

Camp Point Central 50, Mon-Rose 45

El Paso-Gridley 47, Seneca 40

Eureka 52, Mahomet-Seymour 51

Mendota 44, Earlville 31

Serena 46, Putnam County 38

Riverdale def. Kewanee

Rochelle 53, Genoa-Kingston 38

Sherrard 33, Hall 25

At Ottawa Tournament

L-P 50, Pontiac 35

Morris 52, Newark 30

IVC 30, Streator 25

Metamora 52, Prairie Central 17

Princeton 52, Newark 49

Canton 65, Pontiac 36

Ottawa 45, IVC 24

Joliet Catholic 41, Prairie Central 29

Canton 50, L-P 28

Marian Central 61, Johnsburg 32: At the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic in Richmond, the Hurricanes coasted to a win against the Skyhawks in their first-round game. Madison Kenyon scored 14 points, and Juliette Huff and Abbey Meyer each added 10.

Sophie Person had nine points for Johnsburg. Lauren McQuiston had six points on two 3s.

Crystal Lake Central 49, Round Lake 10: At the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic in McHenry, the Tigers defeated the Panthers in a first-round game.

Wauconda 36, Marengo 28: At McHenry, the Indians dropped their first-round game to the Bulldogs.

Bella Frohling led Marengo with seven points. Gabby Gieseke and Emily Kirchhoff (two 3s) had six points apiece.

Prairie Ridge 48, Grayslake North 20: At Richmond, Addie Meyer had 18 points for the Wolves in a first-round win over the Knights. Addison Gertz had eight points.

Belvidere 53, McHenry 42: At McHenry, the Warriors fell to the Bucs in a first-round game.

Avery Stinger poured in 20 points and three 3s for McHenry. Gabby Grasser had nine points and Lucy Jones (two 3s) had six.

DeKalb 58, Richmond-Burton 28: At Richmond, the Rockets fell to the Barbs in first-round action.

Lakes 51, Crystal Lake South 22: At Richmond, the Gators lost a first-round game to the Eagles.

Marian Central 44, Prairie Ridge 36: At Richmond, Kenyon scored 14 points and Miner tossed in 10 for the Hurricanes (11-2) in a quarterfinal win against the Wolves (7-6).

Adriana Wrzos scored eight points and Ella Notaro added seven for Marian. Prairie Ridge was led by Addie Meyer with 13 points.

Marian Central will play DeKalb in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Prairie Ridge plays Lakes at the same time.

Belvidere 57, Woodstock North 25: At McHenry, the Thunder (5-7) dropped their quarterfinal game against the Bucs.

North, which had a first-round bye, will next face Wauconda at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Crystal Lake Central 54, Wauconda 39: At McHenry, the Tigers (6-7) advanced to the Northern Illinois Classic semifinals with a quarterfinal win against the Bulldogs.

Central will face Belvidere at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Marengo 48, Round Lake 27: At McHenry, Frohling had 10 points and two 3s for the Indians (7-7) in their consolation quarterfinal win against the Panthers. Marengo will play McHenry at 5 p.m. Monday.

Gieseke had nine points on three 3s and Emilie Polizzi had eight points.

Johnsburg 52, Grayslake North 31: At Richmond, the Skyhawks beat the Thunder in a consolation quarterfinal.

Johnsburg (6-6) plays Crystal Lake South at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Crystal Lake South 37, Richmond-Burton 36: At Richmond, the Gators (2-10) beat the Rockets (3-10) in their consolation quarterfinal game.

Huntley 54, Sycamore 47: At Huntley, the Red Raiders outscored the Spartans 21-14 in the fourth quarter of their nonconference win.

The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 33. Huntley (9-2) made 9 of 11 free throws the rest of the way.

Paula Strzelecki led Huntley with 15 points. Anna Campanelli had 12 points and Cassidy Serpe and Aubrina Adamik each added nine.

Antioch 54, Woodstock 47 (OT): At Woodstock, the Blue Streaks (8-5) fell in overtime to the Sequoits in nonconference action.

Boys basketball

Woodstock 43, Belvidere 35: At Belvidere, Spencer Cullum had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Blue Streaks’ nonconference win against the Bucs.

Max Beard added 20 points, Trent Butler had eight points and 10 rebounds, and Keaton Perkins had seven points and 11 rebounds.

McHenry 76, Chicago Phillips 63: At the Romeoville Heritage Shootout, Caleb Jett had 21 points and three 3s for the Warriors in a win against the Wildcats.

Marko Visnjevac had 20 points and two 3s, and Hayden Stone added 16 points for McHenry. Adam Anwar had nine points and two 3s.

Kaneland 70, Johnsburg 57: At Maple Park, Ben Person had 15 points for the Skyhawks (4-7) in a nonconference loss to the Knights.

Ashton Stern had 14 points and Jarrel Albea had 12.

Palatine 44, Hampshire 33: At Palatine, Nick Louis and Ryan Prowicz both had eight points for the Whip-Purs (6-5) in their nonconference loss to the Pirates.

Prairie Ridge 63, Larkin 53: At Crystal Lake, the Wolves (2-9) defeated the Royals in a nonconference game.

Prospect 58, Jacobs 41: At Mt. Prospect, the Golden Eagles (5-7) lost a nonconference game to the Knights.

Dixon 84, Woodstock North 40: At Dixon, the Thunder (4-4) fell to the Dukes in nonconference action.

Boys wrestling

Harvard Sciacca-Holtfreter Tournament: At Harvard, Hampshire took runner-up at the 14-team tournament. Wheeling won with 214.5 points, followed by Hampshire (186.5) and host Harvard (166).

Woodstock (121) took fourth and Woodstock North (40) was 11th.

Hampshire’s Logan Campbell and Joey Ochoa took first at 138 and 285 pounds, respectively.

Also placing first were Harvard’s Rey Romo (113 pounds), Owen Vail (120), Daniel Rosas (150) and Christian Mercado (157), Woodstock’s Zach Canaday (190) and Andrew Ryan (215) and Woodstock North’s Kaden Combs (175).

Joliet Catholic rolls to Whitlatch title: At Hinsdale Central, Joliet Catholic (264.5 points) dominated a 25-team field to win the Rex Whitlatch Invitational. The Hilltoppers were led by champions Max Cumbee (113 pounds), Jason Hampton (120), Nico Ronchetti (190) and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, Dillan Johnson (285).

Lincoln-Way West (165) placed fourth, led by third-place finishers Jakob Siwinski (132), Nate Elstner (190) and Nick Kavooras (285).

Nine placers lead Seneca to second: At Erie, Seneca (176.5) finished second in the 17-team Erie-Prophetstown Holiday Tournament behind Lena-Winslow (206.5). The Irish were led by championship performances by Ethan Othon at 120 and Chris Peura at 215. Seneca had nine place-winners overall.

Farley leads Romeoville to third: At Richton Park, Romeoville (177) finished third in the 15-team RIch Township Raptor Invitational, behind Merrillville (Ind.) (281) and Evergreen Park (177). Romeoville was led by 120-pound champion Brian Farley. Savion Essiot (113), Mason Gougis (175) and Jamir Thomas (285) were runners-up for the Spartans, who had 10 placers.

Walker leads Joliet Central in Wisconsin: At West Allis, Wisconsin, Charles Walker won the 215-pound title to lead Joliet Central to a sixth-place finish in the 24-team E.H. Stech Invitational. Alex Fernandez (132) finished fourth for the Steelmen, who had seven placers.

Girls wrestling

Six local champs at Morris Invite: At Morris, Minooka (163) finished second in the 32-team Morris Invitational, behind Schaumburg (171). Minooka was led by 130-pound champion Addison Cailteux.

Romeoville’s Daniela Santander (100), Morrs’ Ella McDonnell (110), Joliet Catholic’s Grace Laird (120), Bolingbrook’s Katie Ramirez-Quintero (135) and Peotone’s Kiernan Farmer (170) also won championships.

In the team standings, Plainfield South (75) finished fifth, Bolingbrook (73) was sixth, Morris (62) placed ninth, Romeoville (60) placed 10th, Lockport (57) was 11th and Joliet Catholic (54) finished 14th.

Boys basketball

Bolingbrook 69, Hinsdale Central 63: At Orland Park, JT Pettigrew scored 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Bolingbrook (8-1) to the win at the Sandburg Shot Clock Shootout. Davion Thompson added 17 points and Josh Aniceto had 12 points for the Raiders.

Lemont 55, St. Charles East 50: At Orland Park, Alanas Castillo had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Ryan Runaas contributed 11 points and six assists to lead Lemont (8-2) to the win at the Sandburg Shot Clock Shootout.

Plainfield North 64, Sycamore 47: At Plainfield, Evan Czarnik scored 17 points to lead Plainfield North (7-5) to the win. Jeffrey Fleming and Quinten Wiencek added 15 points each for the Tigers.

Warren 71, Joliet West 60: At Gurnee, Joliet West fell to 8-4 despite 14 points each from Justus McNair and Zion Gross.

Yorkville 56, Lincoln-Way East 55: At Yorkville, Lincoln-Way East (5-4) fell just short despite 24 points and four assists from BJ Powell and 22 points and eight rebounds from Karson Thomas.

Ridgeview 63, Gardner-South Wilmington 52: At Colfax, Gardner-South Wilmington fell to 4-7 despite 16 points and eight rebound from Cale Halpin and 13 points and seven rebounds from Bennett Grant.

Westmont 56, Peotone 40: At Westmont, Peotone fell to 1-10 despite 15 points from Brandon Weiss. Ruben Velasco added 12 points and five rebounds.

Girls basketball

Bolingbrook 54, Wayne Memorial (Mich.) 36: At the Best of Michigan Shootout, Trinity Jones scored 15 points for Bolingbrook (11-0).

Morris 52, Newark 30: At Ottawa, Morris (12-2) won its opening game at the Ottawa Tournament behind 15 points and 12 rebounds from Lily Hansen. Landrie Callahan added 12 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots and Makenna Boyle chipped in 11 points.

Johnson, nationally ranked, and a two-time state champion was one of four Hilltoppers to win their weight division and help their club amass 264.5 overall points to claim the top prize for the second consecutive year at Hinsdale Bank Gymnasium.

Warren, runner-up a year ago, would once again take home second place honors with 193.5 points, followed by Sandburg (184.0), Lincoln-Way West (165.0) and DeKalb with 149.5 points.

Downers Grove South, Stevenson, Barrington, West Aurora and Glenbard West rounded out the top 10 at this prestigious tournament which featured 14 state-ranked teams, in addition to over 100 state-ranked wrestlers in both the 3A and 2A classes.

Stewart (18-1), No. 1 at 157 pounds, demolished the field to win here for the second consecutive time.

“We have most of our team back from our state team, and we’re starting to come together all throughout our lineup, so there’s no reason why we cannot get back to dual-team state and do much better than last year,” said Stewart, third a year ago at state, and No. 14 in the latest national polls.

His freshmen teammate, the aforementioned Nobel, now 17-2 after his 7-2 decision over Rocky Seibel (Belleville West, 16-1) is the No. 3 man in the state at 106, and also nationally ranked.

“With great leaders like Aaron Stewart, it’s easy for me to come in as a freshman and feel like I belong on the team,” said Nobel.

Anthony Soto (12-2) would pin DeKalb senior Lamar Bradley (15-5) at 2:55 to win at 215.

Across the divisions, the area had a modicum of success, beginning with Stevenson sophomore Shawn Kogan (15-3) who won his first major of the season after a hard-fought 3-2 contest with Ulises Rosas 17-2) from Glenbard West.

“It felt good to win a title at such an important tournament like this one - but there’s still a lot of work ahead of me,” said Kogan, who took a 3-0 advantage midway through the second period before holding off Rosas.

West Aurora junior Dominic Serio kept his record spotless after an impressive six minutes of work against No. 7 Rhenzo Augusto (Barrington, 16-2) ended in a 11-5 decision in the title match at 150.

“It’s nice to be the No. 2 rated guy at (50) but the goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the year,” said Serio, now 17-0 after his 34 win season last year helped him to advance to state.

Augusto’s teammate, Jimmy Whitaker (14-6) fell in his final to Madden Parker (Sandburg, 18-0) at 126, while Serio watched his mate, No. 4 Noah Quintana (14-3) lose to Aaron Stewart via a technical fall.

Collin Carrigan (Glenbard West, 19-0) cruised to his 175-title after a 22-7 technical fall over No. 8 RJ Samuels (15-2) from Downers Grove South.

“I am feeling really good right now, and even better about my move from Glenbard West, which I now have a two-three minute to my classes,” said Carrigan, who transfered from Marmion Academy during the offseason for his senior year.

Carrigan, No. 1 at 165, left little doubt after bumping up at weight class, with a pair of pins, and tech-falls on his day.

Matty Lapacek lost a heart-breaker to Nicholas Rochetti (Joliet Catholic Academy, 11-3) in their 190-final when the Downers Grove South senior, and returning state qualifier conceded a take-down with 19 seconds remaining in the first overtime session.

Lyons Township senior Gunnar Garelli, is now 18-0 following his 6-4 victory over Jacob Luce (DeKalb, 15-2) at 165, to capture his second major of the season.

Dillon Johnson would be named Outstanding Wrestler (O.W.) by the coaches at the end of the tournament.

Over in Glenview, at the 58th Rus Erb Tournament, Batavia would use four individual titles to lift the championship trophy for the second straight year.

Aidan Huck (138, 17-1) and Asher Sheldon (215, 18-1) won here for the second straight year, while teammates: Ino Garcia (113) and Ben Brown (13-0) at 190 earned their first Rus Erb crown.

The Bulldogs, who were chasing Oswego East by five (140.5-135.5) late in the day, would jump atop the leader board to finish with 161.5 overall points, thanks in part to their victorious quartet.

Oswego East were runners-up with 156.5, followed by Deerfield (143.5), St. Patrick (138.5) and Riverside-Brookfield at 132.0

Grant (113.5) and Buffalo Grove (109.5) were next up in the final standings.

Junior Christian Wittkamp (17-5) would give Grant its lone championship of the day at 165 after his tech-fall victory over Buffalo Grove junior, Chris Chi, now 13-3.

Chi, and Caden Walton (190, 12-2) both champions last weekend at the Rex Lewis fell short in their bid for a second straight week of success.

Vince Jasinski (Grant, 16-4) was second at 106, as was Carmel Catholic junior Matthew Lucansky, now 11-3 after his loss to Robert Zavala from Lane Tech.

Lake Forest senior Seth Digby (17-0) continues to shine at 157 after pinning his way into the final where he dominated Colin O’Grady (16-4) from Oswego East with a 16-4 major decision triumph.

Ottawa tournament: LaSalle-Peru won one of two games and Princeton won its opener on Saturday.

La Salle-Peru opened the day with a 50-35 win over Pontiac. Kaylee Abens led the Cavaliers with 14 points, Addie Duttlinger had 10 points and Jasmine Garman added six.

The Cavaliers lost to Canton 50-28 in the nightcap. Duttlinger had 13 points, Abens had seven points and Elli Sines grabbed 10 rebounds.

Camryn Driscoll hit three clutch free throws to lift the Tigresses to a 52-49 over Newark in the fifth game of the day.

In other tournament games, Morris beat Newark 52-30, IVC beat Streator 30-25, Metamora beat Prairie Central 52-17, Canton beat Pontiac 65-36 and Ottawa defeated IVC 45-24.

The tournament resumes with three games on Wednesday.

Mendota 44, Earlville 31: The Trojans turned the heat on to start the second half, outscoring the Red Raiders 18-4 in the third quarter to turn the tide for a nonconference victory at Earlville.

“We turned our pressure up and turned steals into buckets,” Mendota coach John Hansen said.

Ava Eddy led the Trojans with 16 points and Ella Martin and Bria Frey added seven each.

Earlville’s Madyson Olson scored her 1,000th career point, finishing with 11 points in the game along with 11 rebounds and four steals.

Ryleigh Dixon added 12 points and Addie Scherer pulled down nine rebounds for the Red Raiders.

Sherrard 33, Hall 25: The Red Devils played the Tigers even through three quarters, but slipped in the fourth quarter in a nonconference loss in Spring Valley.

“Good effort from our girls, especially on the defensive end. We won the middle two quarters,” Hall coach TJ Orlandi said.

McKenna Christiansen led the Red Devils with 13 points and Ella Sterling added eight.

Serena 46, Putnam County 38: The Panthers led after three quarters, but couldn’t hold off the Huskers in a nonconference game in Serena.

Ava Hatton led PC with 19 points and Maggie Richetta added 10.

Boys basketball

Rochelle 70, Princeton 62 (OT): The Hubs (3-6) rallied in the fourth quarter to force overtime and outscored the Tigers 15-7 in the extra frame for the win over their former NCIC rival.

Jordan Reinhardt and Noah LaPorte each had 18 points for the Tigers and DJ Sousa added 13.

The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Tigers (7-5).

Wrestling

At Dewitt, Iowa: Princeton brought home three first-place finishes from the Saber Invitational in Dewitt, Iowa on Saturday.

The Tigers finished third as a team in the 14-team field, 12 from the Hawkeye state.

Champions on the day were Augustus Swanson (106), Ace Christiansen (138) and Cade Odell (275)

The Tigers also got thirds from Kaydin Gibson (126) and Casey Etheridge (165) and sixths from Jaydon Cooke (120), Preston Arkels (157) and Ian Morris (215).

At Stillman Valley: Mendota’s Angil Serrano (285) placed second and Gavin Stevenson (113) was fourth in the Stillman Valley Invitational. Corbin Furar (157) placed sixth on injury default.

Adrian Arteaga (106), Cole Kleckner (138) and Madrick Musgrove (215) all placed third in the JV meet.

Men’s basketball

Kirkwood 84, IVCC 55: The Eagles lost on the Hilltopers in a nonconference game.

The Golden Warriors used a relentless defense and scored the first 14 points of the second half to build a big lead in a 58-38 victory over the Rockets in the Day 1 finale of the 24th annual Sterling Shootout on Saturday evening at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

“The first half, I think we definitely came out really slow, and after our halftime talk, we just felt like, ‘Yeah, we’re not playing our game, let’s pick it up.’ We really just got out and ran, and played hard and fast and got transition buckets,” Sterling junior guard Delali Amankwa said. “Defensive pressure definitely opens up transition looks, 100%. We have a lot of fast guards and we’re able to get out and run, so that’s always big for us.”

Sterling (7-6) led 8-2 midway through the first quarter, but Rock Falls (4-10) scored the next six points to tie it. The Warriors then rebuilt the lead to 17-10 early in the second, only to see the Rockets rally again and get within 19-18 and 21-20 in the final minute-and-a-half of the quarter.

But Taah Liberty nailed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left in the first half to push the lead to 24-20, and Sterling surged to start the third quarter thanks to a combination of pressure defense turning into transition baskets and consistent half-court offensive sets.

“That 3 was definitely a good one to end the half on, but even with that, I think we still knew the game was closer than it should’ve been, and we needed to just go out and take care of business,” Amankwa said. “We just came out like the true team we are in the second half.”

The Warriors scored 14 points off 19 Rock Falls turnovers through the first three quarters, and when the Rockets did get the ball into the frontcourt, they struggled to get open against the Sterling guards’ aggressive defense.

The 14-0 run took just over three minutes, and turned a four-point cushion into a 38-20 lead with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

“It was only two minutes, I think, and they put us down by 12, and then after three minutes, it was 18. That’s huge coming out of halftime; you never want that to happen, because it sets the tone for the second half and kind of rolls over into the fourth quarter,” Rock Falls senior forward Claire Bickett said. “Their press picked up a little bit, and we just struggled getting the ball down the floor. They kind of sped us up – they have some very quick, very aggressive guards – and they got us a little unorganized. We just gave them a few too many opportunities in the end, and we didn’t get enough.”

Bickett’s basket ended Sterling’s run, but the Warriors stretched the run to 20-2 after baskets by Amankwa, Olivia Melcher and Madison Austin. Peyton Smit’s basket for Rock Falls made the score 44-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

Joslynn James, Melcher, Amankwa and Natalie Eddinger all scored for Sterling in the first five minutes of the fourth. The Rockets kept pace with buckets from Denali Stonitsch and Bickett, as well as some free throws, but couldn’t close the gap.

“We knew we had to step it up after the first half. We just communicated a lot better and got the ball moving a lot faster in order to get the ball across the court and into the post,” Austin said. “It takes a lot of pressure off me [inside] when our guards do their job on both ends of the court. We just knew what we had to do and how it should be done, and that’s what we did.”

Austin led Sterling with 16 points and five rebounds, and Amankwa added 12 points, nine assists and three steals. Melcher scored 11 points, Joslynn James finished with eight points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Maggie Rowzee chipped in four points and two steals. Liberty added three steals and two assists to her half-ending 3-pointer.

Bickett had game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Taylor Reyna added seven points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals for Rock Falls. Stonitsch and Smit each scored four points, and Stonitsch dished three assists. Nicolette Udell chipped in three points and four rebounds.

With several new starters this year, the Rockets are looking to build on the strong stretches during games early in the season, like when they ran the offense more consistently in the second and fourth quarters against Sterling.

“I feel like we just relaxed. We’re so hectic whenever we play, and we always get so frantic whenever we get the ball, so I just feel like being able to control what we’re doing and control our pace, just having more of a relaxed and patient tone while we’re running our offense is what’s really going to get us through the games,” Reyna said. “We have a very inexperienced team, and I feel like just getting the basics down is what we’re trying to do right now. Practice and learning from games like this are the best thing for us.”

Morris invite: At Morris, Alex Gregorio-Perez took second for DeKalb while both Choloe Cervantes and Carly Duffy took first in their B pools for Kaneland.

Gregorio-Perez was the lone medalist for the Barbs. She was pinned in 3:40 in the 110 title match by Morris’ Ella McDonald after a pin and a major decision to start the day.

Duffing had four pins on the day, including three in the first 40 seconds. She won the 190 B title with a 23-second pin of West Aurora’s Reyna Equivel. Cervantes had three pins, including in 1:36 against Minooka’s Leilani Arnold for the 140 B title.

Dyani Torres was fourth at 130 for the Knights and Natalie Naab was sixth at 140 B.

DeKalb was 12th with 56 points and Kaneland was 19th with 38 points in the 32-team field. Schaumburg edged Minooka 171-163 for the title.

Boys wrestling

57th Rex Whitlatch Invitational: At Hinsdale, Lamar Bradley, Eduardo Castro and Jacob Luce each took second for the Barbs, helping DeKalb to a fifth-place team finish.

Bradley won his first three matches but was pinned in the final at 215 by Warren’s Anthony Soto. Luce won his first three matches at 165 but lost 6-4 in the final to Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli. Castro lost his final 11-1 to Jolie Catholic’s Max Cumbee at 113 after three wins to start the tournament.

Hudson Ikens was sixth at 138, Mekhi Cave was third at 144, Mike Hodge was eighth at 150, Cam Matthews was sixth at 157 and Sean Kolkebeck was fourth at 175 for the Barbs.

The Barbs finished with 149.5 team points, 44 points behind second-place Warren and 115 behind runaway champ JCA.

58th Russ Erb Tournament: At Glenview, Cooper Bode took second at 175 pounds for Sycamore.

Bode picked up pins in his first two matches, then lost 12-10 to St. Patrick’s Devin Nichol.

Also for Sycamore, Gable Carrick was fifth at 190, Jayden Dohogne was fourth at 138 and Tyler Lockhart was fifth at 120.

Sycamore took 11th in the 20-team field with 74.5 points.

Porter Classic: At Niles West, Brady Brewick of Genoa-Kingston went 4-1 at 165 pounds, taking third.

Girls basketball

Rochelle 53, Genoa-Kingston 38: At Rochelle, Ally Poegel led the Cogs with 15 points in the nonconference loss.

Presley Meyer and Regan Creadon each scored nine for the Cogs.

Northern Illinois Holiday Classic: At Richmond-Burton, DeKalb picked up a pair of wins to reach the semifinals on Tuesday.

DeKalb knocked off Richmond Burton 58-28 then defeated Lakes 48-16 to make the final four. The semifinal will be at McHenry.

Huntley 54, Sycamore 47: At Huntley, Lexi Carlsen had 16 points and six rebounds in the loss for the Spartans (10-2).

Monroe McGhee added 12 points and six rebounds while Sophie Klacik had eight points and five rebounds. Megan Brannon had nine points and two rebounds.

Boys basketball

Plainfield North 64, Sycamore 47: At Plainfield, the Spartans lost the nonconference matchup.

Kaneland 70, Johnsburg 57: At Maple Park, Troyer Carlson scored 28 to lead the Knights.

Brad Franck and Freddy Hassan each scored 13 for Kaneland.

JUCO men’s basketball

Kishwaukee 72, Wright 67: At Chicago, Josh Bocher scored 30, Jalen Smith added 14 and Donavyn Sayles added 12 for the Kougars in the win.

JUCO women’s basketball

Kishwaukee 77, Wright 69: Kia Klapprodt had 26 points, seven assists and seven steals in the win for the Kougars.

Mariah Drake added 14 points and six rebounds while Ari Smith chipped in nine points and six rebounds.

The Storm used a quick 6-0 run with the help of an up and under move from Landon Hulsing and a bounce pass off an inbounds play from Bryce Helms to Elijah Endress for an 8-2 advantage.

The Bruins got an offensive putback from Jake Migliorini that cut the Storm lead to 10-6, but Bureau Valley responded with a 17-3 run to end the quarter.

Ball movement and forced turnovers jump started Bureau Valley as Helms again drove and found Justin Moon for the layup. After a Bruins timeout the Storm pressure continued to force turnovers.

“That was about as well as we’ve moved the ball all season so far,” Storm coach Jason Marquis said. “The boys came out and were ready to play. Great on the glass early and the defensive intensity was there as well.”

Logan Philhower then hit a mid range jumper before a steal and layup from Corban Chhim and a Euro step from Helms capped off a 12-0 Bureau Valley run pushed the lead to 22-6.

Migliorini’s fast break layup and the foul stopped the Bruins drought, but after another Bruins turnover Husling’s layup capped off a 17-3 run by the Storm to end the first quarter with a 27-9 lead.

“Boy, if that was a boxing match they would’ve had us on the ground a couple times there early,” Bruins coach Brian Hanson said. “Their pressure really hurt us. That’s where we want to be as far as being composed and pressuring defense and remaining call and collected, but give Bureau Valley credit, they are a good team.”

The Bruins got a pull-up jumper from Halden Hueneburg to start the second, but the Storm responded wit a 7-0 run led by a short jumper from Moon and Hulsing to push the lead to 36-11.

St. Bede then got a bunny shot from Migliorini followed by a steal and layup from Kaden Newman that made it 38-15 Bureau Valley.

Good ball movement continued for the Storm as Chhim found Helms for the easy layup to give Bureau Valley a comfortable 42-15 lead at the break.

St. Bede had 15 points at the break, but committed 16 turnovers to dig themselves a big hole on their home court.

The Bruins’ intensity was better in the second half as Mason Ross made a strong move to the basket to open the third quarter, but Blake Erickson, who was in foul trouble throughout the night, drained a 3-pointer to respond.

Chhim made a tough shot in traffic to give the Storm a 47-17 advantage. The Bruins then got a steal and layup from Alex Ankiewicz and another fast break layup by the Bruins Ross made it 48-25.

But a drive and pull up jumper from Jon Dybeck gave Bureau Valley a 54-29 lead headed into the final quarter.

Dybeck hit a couple more shots in the fourth quarter as the Storm cruised to a 65-38 victory.

“We tried some new things to make things easier getting handoffs on offense and tonight I thought it worked,” Marquis said. “We were able to dribble and find the open guys a lot tonight.”

“Bureau Valley is a team that is always on the move,” Hanson said. “On defense and offense and it creates some easy buckets on the offensive end. We’re young, but I try to remind the kids, ‘Yes we play a tough schedule, but we did last year and it paid off with an upset over Marquette in regionals. So we just have to keep fighting and improve.”

For the game, Bureau Valley was led by Chhim with 15 points and Hulsing with 14.

The Bruins were led by Ross with 12.

The Titans were able to put together a consistent performance from start to finish to hold off runner-up York by a final score of 138.55 to 137.175 as the Dukes had to pull a key all-arounder out of their lineup due to an injury in warmups.

Libertyville posted a season-high mark of 135.475 points to take home the third-place trophy while Prospect edged the host Pirates 133.85 to 133.45 for fourth place. Hinsdale South/Lemont Co-op nipped Naperville North 125.8 to 125.75 for sixth place.

Palatine sophomore Jolee Waddington (9.33 average) won the all-around competition over York runner-up Angela Stangarone (9.31 average) by a narrow 37.3 to 37.25 score.

Prospect’s Megan Goumas (35.55 points) took fourth place overall while York’s Melania Veselovsky (35.4) tied for fifth overall.

“We did lose one of our key all-arounders (Daniella Chavez) in warmups due to an injury, and just to play it safe I pulled her,” said York coach Ashley Samata, whose team had a meet-high 34.225 points on vault. “And regardless of the outcome they still did a great job, they did what they needed to do, we had a strong finish, and that’s all I could ask for.”

Libertyville also had to pull all-arounder Madison Hughes from its lineup due to an injury. But the Wildcats were able to piece together a strong team performance behind Maya Duffy (10th overall), Kenzie Tyrrell, Alyssa Levy, Ella Cobb, Corinne Biedermann, and Ally Humbert to reach their top team score.

“I thought we looked great. We had an injury so we had to pull her (Hughes) from the all-around,” said Libertyville coach Tiffany Owens. “Kenzie (Tyrrell) looked fantastic, she’s been working really hard, and she did great on floor exercise and beam.”

Prospect also hit a season-high score with Goumas getting great support from Annika Dolney, Ava Boesen, and Meghan Smith.

“We had a couple of falls on beam, but other than that it was a good meet,” said Prospect coach Monica Donner. “Floor exercise and vault were our best events, and it was a huge jump from our previous score of 126.”

York’s Hayley Schiltz placed seventh overall followed by Naperville North’s Erin Arnold in eighth, and Hinsdale South’s Emma Glashin in 11th.

“We tried some new stuff here and there, and it was a good invite too with some great teams here,” said Palatine coach Terry Theobald. “Jolee went 37.3 so that was awesome, and floor exercise and bars were her best events.”

Waddington won uneven bars (9.3) and balance beam (9.2) while Stangarone won floor exercise (9.55) and vault (9.5).

“My best event was probably floor exercise (second-place 9.5) today and I had all of my teammates there to support me which was really nice,” said Waddington. “It was nice to finally stick my double (on uneven bars), I’ve been working on it a lot in practice so that hard work has paid off. I’m just grateful to have the support of my teammates, that’s very special to me.”

“I think they really feel like, in the area, they’re just overlooked,” Romeoville coach Devin Bates said. “They hear about all these other girls. They see the scholarships that are going out to other kids in the area. They’re like, ‘Nobody’s talking about us. Why not?’

“They came into the season with a chip on their shoulder and you’re seeing that now. They know every game is going to be a fight and they’re ready for the challenge every night”

The Spartans were ready for Lockport’s challenge Saturday, riding a balanced effort to a 46-35 win in the Oak Lawn Holiday Tournament championship game.

“We haven’t won this tournament in years, so it feels good knowing we’re making history and this is just the first step of many more we’ve got,” senior guard Jaylen Zachery said.

Zachery was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 points to lead the Spartans (12-2).

Senior forward Laila Houseworth scored 13 points and pulled down 17 rebounds and senior guard Jadea Johnson also scored 13 points for Romeoville, which won its seventh straight game.

Laura Arstikaitis scored 12 points, Veronica Bafia contributed nine points and 10 rebounds and Lucy Hynes had eight points and eight rebounds for Lockport (6-8).

The game was tied 20-20 early in the third quarter, but the Spartans outscored the Porters 15-5 over the rest of the period to take control.

Johnson and Zachery each had five points in the quarter, with Zachery hitting a 3-pointer then scoring off a steal to stretch the lead to 35-25.

Romeoville kept its advantage in double figures for the rest of the fourth quarter.

Zachery, who poured in seven 3-pointers in the Spartans’ first game of the tournament - a win over Sandburg on Dec. 9 - was thrilled to be named the event’s MVP.

“It means a lot,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been working really hard to get where I am today. I feel confident and really happy.

“When I do hit the 3, I feel like it’s when we’re in a time crunch of they’re right behind us. I feel like I’m providing something for the team that’s really meaningful.”

Bates certainly agrees.

“Jaylen’s an amazing shooter,” he said. “I think she’s been overlooked, but I guess she’s not going to be overlooked much longer. She’s usually a very streaker shooter but she worked hard to be a more consistent shooter this year. Everybody in the state of Illinois is getting to see what she can do now.”

Houseworth has been blown away by Zachery’s play, and impressed with all her teammates.

“Jaylen Zachary is the biggest improvement I’ve ever seen in my life,” Houseworth said. “It’s amazing. I love the way she shoots. Jaeda keeps improving, Emily (Gabrelcik) is showing herself. Everyone is showing themself. We’ve become more skilled. We’re showing our ability to play, move and score.”

Houseworth also showed what she can do, owning the boards all day.

“Sometimes I struggle to score, so I try to get as many rebounds as I can to make up for it,” she said. “I was trying to get 20.”

Lockport, meanwhile, put up a strong fight but struggled to knock down shots.

“That’s been one of our Achilles’ heels this season,” Lockport coach Darien Jacobs said. “The bright side that I see as a coach is that we’re young with only two returning varsity players and we can build. I like the position that we’re in. We come in every night and we work hard and compete. That’s what we’re supposed to do.

“Then we just have to move on from competing with teams to beating teams.”

“Happy” holidays may be illusive.

If you struggle to feel “happy” during the season, you are not alone. Explore one of the excellent programs to connect with others to share time and experiences.

The McHenry County Mental Health Board has many network partners that offer events, often at no cost. Visit MC708.org and use the search box with words such as grief, depression, holiday blues, anxiety, etc.

Help yourself and your loved ones by trying proven techniques that may bring comfort and even a little joy.

There are a variety of factors that can bring on holiday anxiety and depression, including financial burdens; overwhelming schedules; and high expectations of perfection in gifts, parties and our own performance.

And then there is grief brought about when we focus on memories and losses.

If you’re experiencing any of these challenges, here are some coping tips.

• Although the holiday season can be overwhelmingly busy, keep your routines, self-care and therapy sessions. The holidays can bring up difficult emotions. Allow time to process and explore anything that occurs. Take time for yourself during the holidays and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a long bath, going for a walk in nature, or pursuing a hobby, prioritize self-care to rejuvenate your mind and body.
• In addition to professional mental health care, mindfulness can be a valuable mental wellness tool. Certain practices can be particularly helpful if you are traveling or on an unusual schedule.
• Avoid using drugs and alcohol for comfort. Although the prospect of escape can be appealing, substance use can ultimately worsen your issues. There is a 20% overlap between people with anxiety or mood disorders and substance use disorders, and substances can exacerbate symptoms. When you feel you need a relaxation aid, you can instead turn to a mindfulness tactic or other healthy coping mechanism.
• Some struggle with depression during the winter months due to shortened daylight. Exposure to bright lights, including fluorescent lights, can help ease symptoms. Even for those without depression, walking outside in the sun can be effective for body-centering and calming. Numerous studies have pointed to the mental health benefits of spending time in nature, including stress relief, better concentration, lower levels of inflammation and improved mental energy.
• Another major source of anxiety, stress and depression around the holidays can be examining accomplishments from the past year. Some may experience negative feelings over not being at a place they feel they “should be” in life. Get yourself out of this space by adjusting expectations and setting realistic goals. Prioritize meaningful experiences and activities that bring you happiness rather than trying to meet societal expectations.
• One of the most fulfilling ways to overcome the holiday blues is by helping others. Consider volunteering at a local charity, donating to a cause you care about or simply performing small acts of kindness. Bringing joy to others can create a sense of fulfillment within yourself.
• Take time to reflect on the positive aspects of the holiday season and practice gratitude. Write down or share with others what you are grateful for, the lessons you’ve learned, and the memories you’ve created. Focusing on the positives can help shift your mindset and emphasize the beauty of the season.
• Reach out to those family and friends who are positive forces in your life, either in person or through video calls, and spend quality time together. Sharing laughter, memories and stories can help lift your spirits and remind you of the joyous moments.
• Supporting mental wellness is an ongoing challenge, but it can be particularly difficult during the holiday season. Although the struggle can feel isolating, remember that you are far from alone. Seek help from professional mental health services, maintain your self-care routines, and include mindfulness and gratitude practices into your days as you approach 2024.

Remember, it’s normal to feel a bit down during the holidays, but with these strategies, you can overcome the blues and end the season on a positive note.

Need to talk to someone during the holidays? Download the MCHELP app to access support by mental health professionals 24/7 via voice or text as well as full access to McHenry County Mental Health Board network partners.

In crisis? Dial 988. Discover more than 70 network partners and local support at MC708.org.

Leonetta Rizzi is executive director of the McHenry County Mental Health Board.

“We’re hoping to incentivize pet owners to microchip their pets,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Having pets microchipped, with updated tags, helps ensure that they can find their way home if they get lost. This simple step can go a long way for Will County pet owners.”

This free service is available to Will County residents by appointment only until Dec. 30, according to a news release from the county. Appointments are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in 15-minute increments.

Appointments are required. No walk-in services are available. Residents must provide proof of current rabies vaccination for each pet receiving the microchipping service, according to the release.

“This program will give the gift of permanent identification to pets across Will County this holiday season,” said Will County Animal Control Administrator Anna Payton. “Lack of identification is the biggest challenge in reuniting lost pets with their owners. By increasing the number of dogs and cats with microchips in our community, we can help more animals be reunited with the families who love them. This is a small step we can take to make sure pets are home for the holidays.”

The “Home for the Holidays” Microchip Program takes place at Will County Animal Control, 22452 S. Cherry Hill Road, Joliet.

Requests for appointments can be made by calling 815-462-5633 or by emailing acontrol@willcountyillinois.com.

A microchip is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, that is inserted between the shoulder blades of a dog or cat, just under the skin, according to the release. When a stray animal is picked up by an animal control officer or comes into a shelter, the animal is scanned for a microchip.

All microchips have a scannable number that is connected to the owner’s contact information, allowing for their pets to be returned before entering the shelter system.

Veterinarian hospitals, and even some police departments, have microchip scanners available, according to the release.

Will County Animal Control said residents who come across a stray animal should bring them in for a microchip scan as soon as possible.

Henry Guo, as a sophomore, was an integral part of that title-winning team, taking the third place medal in the 100 freestyle.

He’s a junior now, and he’s looking to head back to state this year and make an even bigger splash.

Saturday at the 23rd annual Neuqua Valley Varsity invitational, Guo won the 100 free and the 100 backstroke.

His inspired performance helped lead Hinsdale Central to the meet win. The Red Devils won 10 of the 12 swimming events, earning 664 points.

Waubonsie Valley finished second and Naperville North was third.

Guo, who took the 100 free in the time of 46.98 and the 100 back with a 51.98, actually credited his experience at state last year as the impetus for his wins Saturday.

“Obviously I’ve been pretty good at the 100 free, but this season I fell like I’ve kind of lacking,” he said.

“I don’t know why, but something just turned on today.”

Guo added that the prestigious 12-team Neuqua invite is an important one, because it gives his squad a chance to size up the competition.

“This meet is a good experience for us because we’re going up against teams that we’ll see at state, teams that will be competitive at state,” said the junior.

“It’s nice to see them now, and see what type of potential they have, so when it comes time for the state tournament we’ll know what to expect.”

The diving competition was held Friday night, and senior Jake Scalise of St. Charles East was victorious with a point total of 451.50.

Individual swimmers from Hinsdale Central who triumphed in Naperville included Matthew Vatev in the 200 individual medley; Nojus Bertulis in the 50 free; Jeffrey Hou in the 100 fly; and Josh Bey, who won the 100 breaststroke.

Hinsdale Central also won all 3 relay events, the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free.

Scoring the relay wins for the Red Devils included swimmers Nate Harris, Brody Marcet, Brandon Suliga, Luke Vatev, Matthew Vatev, Bey, Hou and Bertulis.

Aanomeya Jacquline D. Henry of the 900 block of Cookane Avenue, Elgin, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, two counts of reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs and one count of aggravated reckless driving, all felonies.

During the morning of Aug. 31, Henry was driving a 2002 blue Honda Civic with three other teen girls, headed north on Illinois Route 25 in the vicinity of Kenyon Road in Bartlett, according to the release.

She began to turn left, failed to yield to an oncoming dump truck, which then struck the passenger side of the Honda and pushed it into a cornfield, according to the release.

Tahlulay Henry, 16, the driver’s sister, was pronounced dead at the scene and Kamorra Campbell, 17, of Bartlett, died later at an area hospital as a result of the crash, according to the Kane County Coroner’s Office.

The third teen girl passenger suffered great bodily harm, according to the release.

One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to an area hospital where she died from her injuries, according to a release at the time of the crash.

The dump truck flipped onto its side and its driver suffered minor injuries, according to the release.

The Honda driver was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash and she did not have a valid driver’s license, according to the release.

Henry’s attorney, Joshua Kutnick, said he could not comment about his client.

Anyone charged under the Illinois Vehicle Code is considered by law to be an adult, according to the release.

After the indictment, a warrant for Henry’s arrest was issued and Bartlett police took her into custody.

Associate Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo allowed Henry to remain out of custody while her case is pending but set the following conditions until further order of the court:

• She has a 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. curfew

• She shall not leave the state of Illinois without the court’s permission

• She shall refrain from using any intoxicating compounds including cannabis and alcohol

• She shall submit to random drug and alcohol testing

• She shall have no contact with the surviving victim

• She shall not drive without a license

LoPiccolo set Henry’s next court appearance for Jan. 26.

The Bartlett Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team.

Peter McGrath and Mary Lechtenberg, of Marquette Academy, along with Isabelle Liebhart, of Ottawa High School, were honored.

All three seniors plan on furthering their education at a four year university. McGrath will major in business, Lechtenberg will study architecture and Liebhart plans to be an orthodontist.

Now that buzz is statewide. The bakery, located at 1004 E. Church St., recently was inducted into the Illinois Made program, which encourages residents and visitors to discover the people, products and experiences found at small businesses in every region of the state.

Since 2016, the Illinois Office of Tourism has been selecting a group of local businesses that exemplify the authentic experiences and innovative products made in Illinois.

Yari Aguado, executive director of the Sandwich Area Chamber of Commerce, is proud of the efforts of owner Angie Davis and that her business has been recognized in this fashion.

“She made it on the list and is putting Sandwich on the map,” Aguado said.

Aguado knows firsthand what the bakery has to offer.

“I love everything there,” she said. “I try different things every time I go there.”

January will mark 10 years since Davis opened her bakery. The building previously housed a gas station convenience store owned by her aunt.

“It was known for its old-fashioned candy, and it had a bakery inside of it,” Davis said.

She had worked there over the years, including managing the gas station and bakery. After her aunt retired, Davis thought it was a good opportunity to start her own bakery cafe.

“I wanted it to be like the cafe on the TV show ‘Friends,’ " Davis said. “I wanted it to be a place where people came and sat and enjoyed a sweet treat and had a great cup of coffee and carried on the art of conversation. That’s what I wanted to do for this place.”

Ever since it opened, Davis has been trying to make sure her bakery caters to what the community wants.

“The community has been amazing and extremely supportive,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Customer service is a high priority for Davis.

“We’re very personable,” she said. “I’ve got an amazing staff. Before I used to just do pies by order. But I found that there was a big demand for pies. So I started having them made all the time, and it’s really gone over well.”

Davis takes pride in the fact that everything she sells is baked and frosted and decorated there.

“All the cakes are baked fresh here and I do all the cake decorating,” she said. “We level our cakes that I decorate, and that cake scrap is what we make into truffles or cake bites. We try and save waste. Our bread pudding is made from our day-old donuts. We cut them all up and put them in a bowl and mix it all together and bake it into a bread pudding.”

The employees at Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery arrive at 3:30 a.m. to start making donuts so they are fresh before the doors open at 5 a.m.

Davis takes a lot of joy in cake decorating.

“I love the creativity of it,” she said. “I love that each cake is different, and I love personalizing the cakes. I can really customize and personalize that gift. I feel like the cake is a gift. It’s a gift to that person and a celebration of that person’s life.”

With the holiday season well under way, the bakery is selling its fair share of cookies.

“It’s all about the cookies right now,” Davis said. “Our cookie platters and our cookie tins, that’s what everybody wants.”

And Santa Claus is known to pop into the shop from time to time during the holiday season.

“It’s something that we’ve done for 10 years,” she said. “The kids love it.”

More information about Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery is available at its website, angiessugarbuzzbakery.com or on its Facebook page.

The initiative, called a “No-Refusal” operation, is designed to assist police efforts to obtain a search warrant for individuals who refuse to submit to chemical testing after a DUI arrest, according to the release.

“Everyone is at greater risk when an impaired person is driving,” Mosser said in the release.

“History has shown that more people will choose to drink too much and then drive the night of New Year’s Eve and early Jan. 1. We want people to be responsible and use designated drivers, taxis, Uber or Lyft,” Mosser said in the release.

Assistant State’s Attorneys will be available to assist officers through the search warrant process if necessary to compel a DUI suspect to submit to a lawfully requested blood, breath or urine test, as required by state law.

Illinois courts have held that a person has no right to refuse chemical testing when probable cause exists, according to the release.

Anyone who declines to submit to chemical testing after being presented with a search warrant should expect to face additional charges.

“We partner with police to obtain search warrants so we can get the evidence to prosecute anyone who chooses to compromise public safety,” Mosser said in the release. “My thanks to all in law enforcement who will be working that night. I hope everyone gets home safe including those in law enforcement.”

The State’s Attorney’s Office has been working with local police on the No-Refusal operations since 2008.

The most recent No-Refusal operation, conducted the night before Thanksgiving, involved eight police agencies in Kane County and yielded the issuance of one search warrant against a driver who was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving.

LIHEAP provides a one-time benefit to income eligible homeowners and renters to help with energy bills and for reconnection of energy service. Propane customers are also encouraged to apply.

Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis through Aug. 15, 2024.

Households must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to receive a benefit from LIHEAP.

Residents living in Kendall or Grundy County should call the Kendall County Health Department at 630-553-8051 to make an appointment and to find information on outreach application sites.

Festivities at the Depot included Christmas music by the sixth grade Rockin’ Christmas Band from Emily G. Johns School, food by Chicago Smoke BBQ, cookies and hot cocoa by Kay Mulliner, the awarding of the Ross Greiter Memorial Award to Doug Lyle and best decorated windows to the Chocolate Shoppe.

Will County, according to the CED, leads the state in industrial development and single-family home construction, ranks second among Illinois counties in new manufacturing jobs and is the biggest producer of energy among Midwestern counties.

Doug Pryor, president and chief executive officer for the CED, this month reported the 2023 numbers at a meeting for members of the organization that promotes economic growth in Will County and provides assistance to companies looking to move into the area.

Pryor on Friday said one area of continued growth is likely to come from the push for environmentally friendly energy and development.

“That’s an industry that is evolving quickly, particularly as automotive companies move to make more electric vehicles,” he said. “Those industries are going to continue to expand and evolve.”

The opening of the Lion Electric factory in Joliet for production of electric school buses and trucks was listed among the major developments in Will County in 2023.

The list for Will County milestones also includes

• Ranking among the top Illinois counties for new home construction

* Ranking first in Illinois for industrial development

• Ranking second in Illinois for new manufacturing jobs after adding 1,900 jobs since 2019

Five communities in Will County or expanding into Will County were in the top 10 in Illinois for new single-family home construction, according to the CED. They included Plainfield at No. 1, Lockport at seventh and Joliet at eighth. Naperville and Aurora, which are expanding into Will County, also ranked fourth and 10th respectively,

“You don’t have to go far down that list to find New Lenox, Frankfort and Manhattan,” Pryor said. “They’re all in the top 25.”

Will County is the top energy producer among counties in Midwestern states in large part because of the Braidwood Generating Station nuclear power plant run by Constellation Energy Corp., which is the biggest energy producer in Illinois, according to the CED.

Pryor said Will County’s rating as the top energy producer among Midwestern counties does not include the Exxon Mobil refinery in Channahon Township and the Citgo refinery in Lemont, which are put in another category in which Will County does well.

“We’re also the second biggest refiner in the Midwest,” Pryor said. “They’re bigger than you think, and they’re incredibly important for Midwest fuels.”

The biggest refinery in the Midwest is the BP plant in Whiting, Indiana.

“I brought you toilet paper and paper towels because that’s what you said you needed,” said Davis, a Mount Morris resident. “Now I have to say hi to Luna.”

Luna, Wright’s 6-year-old dog, happily greeted Davis with lots of tail wags and excited barks. The big white pup is one of the main reasons Wright, 69, is now living in a tent at a campsite at Lowden – in the middle of December.

“I have gone through a series of ‘slum lords,’” said Wright, who previously lived in Polo before the apartment building she was living in was cited by the city as unfit for human occupancy. “I’ve applied for housing, but all I can take is one service dog, which Luna is, and one cat. And I have three cats. All I have are my animals, and I am not going to give them up. Stuff [doesn’t] matter to me.”

Wright, a native of Virginia, moved to Illinois in 2011 to be near her father. In 1998, she visited the Polo area and White Pines State Park with her dad.

“I fell in love with Polo,” she said. “My dad took me to White Pines State Park, and it immediately reminded me of where I grew up.”

Her path to living in a tent at Lowden included being flooded from her rental home near Fulton, living out of a storage unit, staying in an unheated garage loft in the Rock Falls/Sterling area (offered by a friend at no charge) and a homeless shelter.

“In Polo, the landlord allowed me to have my dog and cats, and I thought he was a good guy, but then the home was condemned, and I had to move,” she said.

During those months, she continued to seek a place for herself and her pets, and she has applied for housing through the Ogle County Housing Authority.

“This is better than the shelter,” she said, pointing to her three-season tent. “There was too much drama there, and someone stole my stuff.”

During her days at the shelter, the Whiteside County Animal Control took care of her pets.

“They were wonderful. They took care of my cats and dog. I can’t give them enough praise,” Wright said.

She started camping at White Pines State Park and Lowden in April, alternating between the two, adhering to the parks’ 14-night consecutive stay limit.

“I’ve been at this site since the middle of October,” she said.

Without a vehicle, Wright has relied on the kindness of others and one Polo man in particular, Mark McGinnis, who moved her and her belongings to and from each park every two weeks during the summer.

“Mark has been taking me to all the housing meetings, and he knows all about the drama with the landlord,” Wright said. “He deserves a big ‘hallelujah’ because I know he’s missed family events to help me. He’s taken me to doctor appointments. He’s a real hero of this story.”

McGinnis, a bus driver for the Polo School District, said he has known Wright for about two years.

“She is a wonderful lady, and she has done a lot of things. She has all kinds of stories,” McGinnis said.

McGinnis has a handicapped-accessible van and has transported other Polo residents to and from doctor appointments and to grocery stores at no charge.

“They pay for the gas, I volunteer my time,” McGinnis said, noting that the Faith United Methodist Church in Polo also has reimbursed him for gas for trips.

“When her apartment building was condemned, I moved her belongings to several storage units that she had rented. And then, every 14 days, we loaded up my trailer and we moved her from one campground to another,” McGinnis said. “Sarah has kept me quite busy. It’s just something I saw the need to do.”

Wright’s cats are staying with Kathy Wragg, also of Polo, while Wright and Luna stay at Lowden.

Inside her dome tent, Wright has cots, a heater and a small cooking area. The tent is covered in blue tarps to help keep it warm and dry. She keeps water in jugs, collected from one of the park’s public drinking faucets, and has access to electricity at the campsite. She said she has plenty of camping experience.

“I’ve got my snowshoes ready for when it snows,” she said smiling.

Wright said she worked in law enforcement while in Virginia and spent a few years in security for a retail store in Virginia Beach in addition to various other jobs.

She said she was on disability after a back injury but now has Social Security as her sole source of income.

On Thursday afternoon, her mom, Anne Goney, 87, of Abingdon, Virginia, called.

“I hate to see you living like this at your age,” she told her daughter.

Goney said she was thankful for everyone helping her daughter.

“I have been so upset with her, and I just want to thank everyone so much for helping her,” Goney said during the call. “I don’t have money to bring her home.”

A lot of that help has come after a post on social media about Wright’s plight.

Since that post, many people have stopped by Wright’s campsite with supplies to help her during her stay.

Mike James of Dixon brought Wright a tote full of supplies, including a heater, flashlights, electrical cords and small propane tanks.

“I had the heater, but the rest of the items I bought,” James said as he dropped off the tote Thursday afternoon.

And now a group of Oregon residents are working on fixing a donated camper and van for Wright to use.

Mark Parkinson of Oregon first saw Wright while he was walking his dogs at Lowden. He stopped and talked with Wright and knew immediately that he needed to help her.

“She is a lovely woman,” Parkinson said Friday. “I thought, ‘No, we are not going to let this happen. We are going to fix this. We are going to help her.’”

Parkinson has jump-started that effort by donating his old camper and van to Wright. He and other volunteers will be helping get the camper ready at Parkinson’s home Saturday. The van has been made road-ready for Wright by Buttita Brothers in Oregon.

Parkinson plans to transfer ownership of the van and camper to Wright early next week, then help her update her driver’s license, insure the vehicles and get her a new cellphone.

He also has spearheaded a fundraising effort for Wright at the Oregon NAPA store, where he works.

“We have a donation jar at the store,” Parkinson said. “The camper is just a stepping stone, and the van will help her with her mobility. Now we need to raise money to help Sarah.”

Cash donations can be made at NAPA. Wright does not keep cash at her campsite.

“Love and kindness is the answer. Help if you can,” Parkinson said.

A motorcycle rally called “Men With Motorcycles” also is being planned at noon Saturday, Dec. 23, in cooperation with the Ogle County Brewery, an Oregon business.

McGinnis said he has been monitoring the recent outpouring of help for Wright.

“I would love to see her get an apartment,” McGinnis said.

On Friday morning, Charlie and Sherry Kitzmiller of Oregon stopped by with a load of fresh clothes for Wright.

“They did my laundry for me,” said Wright, carrying the bag of clean clothes to the tent. “And a mobile groomer stopped by, and Luna had a bath and nail trim.”

The Kitzmillers learned of Wright when they saw her tent at the campground.

“We drove through the park, but she wasn’t here when we stopped,” Charlie said. “We came back the next day, and we stopped and talked with her. After we talked to her, we knew we were going to help her.

“The snowball was small when it started rolling, but now it is the size of a barrel. People are asking, ‘How can I help?’“

“She’s very sincere,” Sherry said. “And we believe in her.”

Wright said she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and donations.

“This is life-changing,” she said. “When I get the camper and van, I am going to get a job. I haven’t asked for all of this. The heroes are all the ones helping me.”

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St., Genoa, according to a news release.

The meetings will resume being held the fourth Monday of every month Jan. 22.

The Genoa VFW welcomes all honorably discharged veterans and current military service members who have served in a war zone during any war.

For information, email ffb66@juno.com or call 815-901-3834.

Students collected over 25,282 items and $725 in Amazon gift cards as of Friday afternoon, with the automotive students donating the most items at 9,697.

Instructor Natalie Gregoire said the Grundy Area Vocational Center picks a local organization to donate to every year, and this year’s classes decided to do something specific for the military. They selected Operation Support Our Troops America, an organization out of Lisle that sends holiday stockings with things like gift cards, tissues, batteries, and other small things those serving might need.

The kids buzzed around the school Friday morning as the competition came to a close. Those last few hours, as Gregoire predicted, brought along with a surge with classes trying to win at the last second. One class, two automotive students, appeared with a tub full of boxes of hot chocolate. It’s in the name of giving and supporting the military, but it’s also done for a prize: The class that collects the most goods wins a pizza party.

“As of Friday morning, we had about 16,000 items collected,” Gregoire said. “I anticipate a whole bunch of stuff coming in today as a last push.”

That last push came and it came in droves, as students added over 9,000 items to the total just before the final deadline.

“It’s been really fun to watch because the classes have been very competitive, friendly competitive, but they’re very much into it,” Gregoire said.

She’s been updating the standings every day and every day students crowd around it to see the who’s in the lead. The health occupations students started the morning in the lead but got topped by the Criminal Justice students, before the Automotive students jumped up the leader board at the last second. The final top four leaders were Automotive, health occupations, criminal justice and fire science.

Minooka High School student Rylee Boyd, a health occupations student, said every time one class takes the lead, another comes back to take the lead.

“We’re really competitive with the other classes,” Boyd said. “That really encourages us to bring in more for the points.”

For more information about Operation Support Our Troops America, visit osotamerica.org.

Bring strands of incandescent or LED lights in any condition between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays to the Public Works Storage Facility at 820 W. Liberty Dr. Look for signs directing you to the holiday light recycling area just inside the gate.

This program is for light strings only. Do not drop off lawn ornaments or other decorations, and do not put lights in a bag or box. In addition to residents, the city also welcomes businesses, schools and other organizations wanting to dispose of holiday lights to participate in the program. There is no limit as to how many lights you can drop off for recycling.

During the autopsy, the Lake County Coroner’s Office determined that Megan Lewis was 16 weeks pregnant when she was murdered, according to a news release.

Lake County Sheriff’s detectives thoroughly processed the crime scene and located physical evidence that identified Juan A. Vega-Montoya, 37, of the 2100 block of North Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, as a potential suspect, according to the release.

Sheriff’s detectives say Lewis was picked up by Vega-Montoya on Nov. 26 in the area of Cicero Avenue and West Belden Avenue in Chicago. Detectives believe Vega-Montoya began arguing with Lewis in the vehicle. During the argument, Vega-Montoya strangled Lewis to death, police said.

Vega-Montoya then drove home and left Lewis’ body in his vehicle for two days, before dumping her on the side of Hunt Club Road, during the overnight hours of Nov. 28, police said.

On Dec. 11, sheriff’s detectives conducted surveillance in the area of Vega-Montoya’s home. Vega-Montoya was spotted driving and detectives conducted a traffic stop, taking him into custody. Additional physical evidence of the homicide was located inside Vega-Montoya’s vehicle, police said.

After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of concealing a homicidal death for Vega-Montoya.

As the actual homicide of Lewis took place in the City of Chicago, sheriff’s detectives have tendered all investigative information to Chicago Police Department, and it is anticipated they will seek murder charges for Vega-Montoya.

The pantry has looked at whole supply chain from farmer to retailer seeking ways to eliminate unnecessary food waste and help food pantries give away more food. Now they are working with several food distributors to rescue quality produce from being thrown away and redirecting it to its customers and other area food pantries. Much of the produce is donated, while some is sold to WSCP at very low cost.

“Rescuing food is one way we add value to our vision of ending hunger,” Paul Matsushima, director of pantry operations, said in a news release. “We’ve responded to our customers’ request for more fresh produce by partnering with produce distributors like Sunterra Chicago and Atom Banana, as well local produce grower The Farm and online value grocer Misfits Markets. These partnerships help keep our produce bins full and allow us to consistently offer these high- demand items at our in-person market and our online virtual pantry.”

Since March 2023, the pantry has diverted more than 210,000 pounds of unused produce, with 170,000 pounds feeding WSCP customers and an additional 30,000 pounds forwarded to other charitable food organizations throughout the Chicago area, including Beyond Hunger, Loaves and Fishes and Outreach House.

Paul Kolkau, Owner at Sunterra Chicago, said his company has always been committed to striving for zero waste.

“We don’t want to pay to throw away edible food” Kolkau said in a the release. “Retail standards for uniform size, shape and color mean that we constantly have some produce that will go to waste. Sometimes we have more supply than demand. If I can help change a few lives and save money and the environment, why would we not donate perfectly good food to people who need it?”

In addition to rescuing surplus food from area retailers and receiving donations from local small gardeners in season, in the future WSCP hopes to identify more sources for animal protein, fish and additional varieties of ethnic foods to meet its diverse customer base.

The latest gold coin, a 1/4-ounce fine gold American Eagle with a current market value of $650, was dropped Dec. 4 in a red kettle outside the Jewel-Osco in Libertyville,1300 S. Milwaukee, Ave. The current market value of all three coins now totals $2,315.

If there is a serial gold coin donor on the loose, who are they, and what is prompting them to spread these blessings?

One theory is that this holiday season the financial impacts of inflation, skyrocketing food, and housing prices have many local families and individuals struggling to put warm meals on the table, worrying about how they place children’s gifts under the tree, and uncertain about how they will afford to stay in their homes as harsh winter temperatures are approaching. All donations at Salvation Army red kettles meet those needs through programs such as food pantries, clothing, rent and utility assistance, Christmas gifts for children and seniors, and emergency disaster services.

The donations will support programs at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Waukegan, which serves surrounding communities, including Lake County.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign dates back to 1891 in San Francisco. Gold and silver coins donated to The Salvation Army red kettles have become a much-anticipated holiday tradition. But not everyone has to donate gold coins to make a huge impact. Donations, big or small, can be made at red kettles with paper money and coins, digital wallets, and text messages. Donations can also be made virtually at salarmychicago.org

Get Set Spring24 will be a one-day instruction on college startup essentials and time-management strategies that helps ease students into their college studies.

Students get logged into campus technology programs; make sense of textbooks, class formats and schedules; and are introduced to useful resources.

The grant-funded course is free and open to new IVCC students enrolled in 2024, including newly minted high school graduates and adults turning or returning to college.

Enrollees agree to attend the session in person and meet with mentors as the semester progresses, and those who complete those requirements earn monetary incentives.

The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9. Students can reserve one of the 15 seats available by enrolling by Jan. 5.

“We’ve seen the course build competence, confidence and connection. All three are a big deal in college success and retention,” coordinator Tina Hardy said in a news release. “The one-day schedule delivers ‘a quick shot’ of some of the most important college knowledge tips and strategies from the weeklong session. In the past, we’ve seen big gains in computer/technology skills on day one.”

This year’s schedule customizes the Get Set experience and involves the mentors more, Hardy said. It allows mentors to spend more time with students during the semester, delivering individual test-taking and note-taking strategies and other curriculum when students can apply them in class.

Mentors help seal the student-college bond, she said.

College can overwhelm when students realize that expectations for them are different from high school, Hardy said. They’re expected to be independent learners, manage their time, initiate and complete tasks, and adapt to different technology.

“And it’s important to know what your support network looks like and how to access resources,” she said.

About 50 students from throughout the IVCC district have taken the course since it began in 2022. Graduates endorse the program, saying it prepared them for college, helped them to keep up strong GPAs, and gave them confidence to enroll the next semester.

Drew Knipper, an IVCC 21st Century Scholar and student government vice president, recently extolled Get Set’s virtues before a group of prospective students.

“It gave me the confidence to walk into school on the first day without worrying about how to access technology, who to ask questions or how to get help,” Knipper said in a news release. “Get Set pushed me to get involved. I believe anyone who has the opportunity to enroll in the class should.”

For information or to register, visit ivcc.edu/readysetgo or call Hardy at 815-224-0284.

About 7:55 a.m. Dec. 15, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 1100 block of Bellows Way, Volo, for a report of a stolen vehicle, according to a news release. The victim reported that he went outside and noticed his 2022 Kia Stinger was stolen from his driveway. The victim reviewed video surveillance and saw a white SUV pull up to his driveway at about 7 a.m.

Two men, in their late teens-early 20s exited the SUV and approached the Kia. One got into the driver’s seat of the Kia and backed down the driveway, police said.

Sheriff’s deputies worked with the victim to track the stolen vehicle in real time. Sheriff’s telecommunicators were able to find the stolen vehicle driving on the roadway using traffic cameras. Telecommunicators and responding deputies noted the Kia was in a caravan with the white SUV (determined to be a Hyundai Tucson) and a black Dodge Charger.

It was determined the Hyundai was stolen from Lincolnshire and used in an earlier attempt vehicular hijacking with a firearm in Round Lake, according to the release. The Dodge was stolen from Lindenhurst.

Sheriff’s deputies located the caravan of stolen vehicles in the area of Green Bay Road and 33rd Street in Beach Park.

Sheriff’s deputies tried to stop the stolen vehicles; however, the drivers of all three fled. Sheriff’s deputies pursued the vehicles, which lasted about 4 miles. During the pursuit, the Dodge Charger continued south when the Kia and Hyundai turned on a side street in Waukegan.

As the chase continued, the driver of the Kia struck a utility pole in the area of Williamsburg Drive and Berwick Boulevard in Waukegan. The driver and passenger fled from the Kia.

The driver was quickly apprehended by one of the pursuing deputies. The passenger was seen by a witness entering the stolen Hyundai and the driver of the Hyundai again fled.

Nobody was injured in the incident. The driver of the stolen Kia, an 18-year-old, is currently in custody pending review of the incident with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.

From Dec. 15 through Jan. 2, law enforcement across Illinois will show zero tolerance for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving.

“If you’ll be celebrating with festive drinks or other impairing substances, make a plan for a safe ride home before you leave for the party,” DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said in a news release. “Driving impaired is simply unacceptable. That’s why we make zero exceptions and arrest all impaired drivers. There are no excuses.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in the United States in 2021, 13,384 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes each year from 2017 to 2021, with crash about every 45 minutes. These fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving impaired is potentially deadly and illegal behavior.

The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

• Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride-sharing service.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and contact your local law enforcement.
• Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and make arrangements to get them home safely. They’ll thank you later.
• Remember to buckle up.

The holiday enforcement campaign is administered by IDOT with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“One of our important volunteer groups is the Emergency Management Agency,” said Westmont Fire Chief Steve Riley. “We are now recruiting new volunteers for EMA to grow our ranks so that we can accomplish our mission of having a well-trained civilian component to complement our professional emergency services.”

As part of the strategic plan, the village encourages residents to get involved in the community through volunteerism. The spirit of volunteerism also achieves another strategic plan goal of ensuring that Westmont retains its small-town charm.

The village has created an online volunteer opportunities information page and sign-up form on the village website: https://www.westmont.illinois.gov/160/Volunteer-Opportunities. If you have any further questions regarding volunteering in Westmont, contact us at communications@westmont.il.gov or 630-417-0280.

“She would take me with her to the PADS and we would volunteer to help the homeless on the weekends,” Thomas said. “She would also take us to Hines VA to bring books and magazines to the veterans as an occasional escape from the trying memories that may still reside following the years after completing service. We’d go from room to room passing them out and hanging out with the veterans.”

When he started Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats business inside the Elmhurst Metra Station more than a decade ago, Thomas knew he wanted the shop to do more than just serve a good cup of brew. He wanted to use the space to serve humanity. And that’s exactly what he’s doing through his Coffee With a Purpose endeavor.

“Once I opened up my coffee shop, I was looking for an easy way to give back to the community so I thought I’d do a coat drive for the homeless,” Thomas said.

In the drive’s first year, held in the weeks leading up to Christmas 2015, about 3,000 coats were donated.

“I thought maybe if we’re lucky we’ll get 100 coats. And then we got 100 coats in the first 48 hours of the drive,’’ Thomas said. “The community just completely blew us away with their support.”

In its ninth year, the community initiative has grown to include collecting and distributing other necessities, including hats, gloves, scarves, socks, boots, blankets and toiletries, which can be dropped off at Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats from Halloween to Valentine’s Day.

“We collect all winter long,” Thomas said.

He and his crew pack a moving truck with the supplies and make stops throughout the Chicago area distributing the items.

A sorting event took place Dec. 3 at the train station to prepare the donations for delivery. About 30 volunteers showed up to help. Thomas said usually between 15 and 30 people make it to each sorting event.

Coffee is brewed up by the gallons to deliver with the winter supplies, along with baked goods. Bakery items were donated by Rough Edges Confectionary in Elmhurst. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were made by volunteer Jackie Voss.

“We run our coat drive every winter, traveling to the city every two weeks,” Thomas said. “Then we’ll pull up to different tent cities, walk up to the tents and personally invite (the residents) to our truck for free hot coffee and food. And we ask them what they need and we provide it.”

Only about a handful of volunteers go on the runs to Chicago each time.

“We don’t want to come off too intimidating,” Thomas said.

Since its inception, the Coffee With a Purpose initiative has collected and dispersed more than 40,000 coats and Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats has donated 7,500 gallons of coffee, Thomas said.

In addition to collecting donations, Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats sponsors a local charity or family in need every other Friday. The recipient is chosen by customers and Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats donates 20% of the day’s proceeds to the cause.

“It’s really cool to have so many people in the community join us on this,” Thomas said. “And we enjoy doing it.”

Thomas’ grandmother has passed away, but he is more than happy to keep her spirit alive with the annual Coffee With a Purpose endeavor.

“Grandma June truly lived a heartwarming and free-spirited life and was absolutely amazing and I do the coat drive as a way to honor her cherished memory,” Thomas said.

He calls the community’s response “absolutely immense.”

“It’s been an amazing journey over the past nine years working with, and certainly alongside, so many wonderful people right here in Elmhurst, many of which I tend to regard as unsung heroes,” Thomas said. “The warm words of encouragement we receive each time contributions of kindness are delivered continue to give us renewed purpose and light the flame that fuels us to stay the course and look onward in the years to come.”

“A Yule-SF Christmas” will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the University of St. Francis’ Moser Performing Arts Center’s Sexton Auditorium, 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet.

The coordinator of the event is USF alumnus Tim Placher of Joliet, who organizes collaborative music events around the Joliet area, including shows at the Rialto Square Theatre and the summer Porch & Park Music Fest.

Placher said the concert is a great way to introduce the community to USF.

“USF is committed to reenergizing the connection of the school’s performing arts program to the greater Joliet community, especially after the effect the pandemic had on live performance venues such as USF’s,” Placher said in an email.

More than 20 local and touring music artists will perform holiday favorites popularized by Brenda Lee, The Ventures, Vince Guaraldi Trio’s music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Bing Crosby, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, Judy Garland and The Carpenters.

“Every song is a new surprise,” Placher said.

Performers include John Condron, Allison Flood, Brian Motyll, Cheryl Rodey, Josh Nestor, Chloe Briese, Lora Birkey-Kitchell, Dr. Mark Christensen, Tom Maslowski, David Francis, Ellis Wright, Patrick Wright, Will Cooper, Scott Kinsella, Placher, and Nashville touring performers Katie Pederson and Laney Jones.

For most of the year, these musicians “operate as little islands” at area venues, Placher said.

“Our collaboration events give us the occasional opportunity to come together as a community, pooling everyone’s talents into one project that’s fun for both the musicians and the audience,” Placher said.

The community rarely sees and hears so much local talent at one time, he said.

“Even the rehearsals are a community-builder that spills into smaller collaborations throughout the entire year as musicians seize upon the connections they make in our shows,” Placher said.

Plus, the community can connect with regional and touring musicians.

“Touring artists who come to Joliet to take part in our projects invariably become friends who return often, rather than people who treat our town like a one-off stop,” Placher said. “And some of our locals have parlayed connections made in our projects into opportunities in other communities, especially Nashville.”

“A Yule-SF Christmas” is part of USF’s “Music At Moser” series.

Placher will bring a similar show to Wilmington at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Mar Theater.

Buy tickets at martheater.ticketspice.com/a-merry-mar-y-christmas-show.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “A Yule-SF Christmas”

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: University of St. Francis, Moser Performing Arts Center’s Sexton Auditorium, 500 Wilcox St., Joliet. Enter at the Moser Center entrance on the north end of Tower Hall

TICKETS: $20 for adults and $8 for children ages 12 and younger.

INFORMATION: Call the USF fine arts department at 815-740-3367 or visit stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser.

Also, Geneva’s garbage and recycling collection will be delayed one day later than normal during the holiday weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, according to the release.

The week of Dec. 18, refuse pickup will follow the normal Thursday-Friday schedule.

The week of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, refuse pickup will follow a holiday Friday-Saturday schedule.

The week of Jan. 8, pickup will return to its normal Thursday-Friday schedule.

Christmas tree pickup will be free on residents’ garbage days the weeks of Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, but LRS, the city’s waste hauler.

No refuse stickers are necessary during this timeframe, according to the release.

Trees discarded after the first two weeks of January will require one Geneva refuse sticker.

People must place their live trees out with their garbage no later than 7 a.m. on their scheduled day.

Ornaments, hooks, nails, tinsel, garland, tree stands and other hard materials should be removed from the trees prior to disposal. Trees placed in bags will not be accepted, according to the release.

All wreaths and roping should be discarded in the trash.

More information about Geneva’s refuse services is available by calling Public Works

at 630-232-1501 or online at www.geneva.il.us.

Affinity for Gaming, 811 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, will hold the tournament at 1 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.

Admission to the tournament is open to the public.

The tournament will donate half of its entry fees. The entry fee is $50 per player. A donation drive also will be held to raise funds.

The cost of entry to the exhibition game, which will start at 6:30 p.m. inside Sycamore High School, 427 Spartan Trail, is a donation to the Spartan Food Pantry – a food pantry open to families of District 427 students every other Wednesday.

“It’s Sycamore staff – our school district staff – against Sycamore police and fire just to raise donations for a food pantry. So [we’re] keeping it all local,” Sycamore Assistant Superintendent Nick Reineck said. “The police department approached us about this.”

Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters said his department does community-focused events throughout the year and is happy to see the creation of a new one.

He said Detective Ryan Nicholson, who regularly plays basketball at a local gym, was the man behind the idea.

“I think it’s a great idea because, again, it helps people in the community in need, especially this time of year when it comes to food. But it’s just one of the events that officers do,” Winters said. “You know, the goal is really to support the community. It supports us, and makes sure that we see them as our community as they see us as their police officers, and we just get to know each other better. And the side benefit is that a good charity benefits from it.”

Cash donations will be accepted at the door Tuesday. The fundraiser also will accept a variety of other nonperishable items including:

• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Baby shampoo
• Bar soap
• Shower gel
• Trash bags
• Dog and cat food/treats

Reineck said during Tuesday’s District 427 board meeting that he hopes the initiative can be turned into another annual Sycamore tradition.

“It should be fun and for a good cause, so anyone’s invited to come out,” Reineck said. “Hopefully over time we turn this into a big community event to help out our local families.”

He was practicing his golf swing at the recently opened Whitetail Ridge Golf Dome in Oswego. He likes the fact because the facility is indoors, he can work on his swing year round.

“I don’t like to go to too many courses because I feel like I slow my buddies down too much,” Olivares said. “I’m aiming for improvement.”

The facility – built by Yorkville-based Whitetail Ridge Golf Club – has been getting a warm reception since opening in late November at 3360 Station Drive, just west of Orchard Road.

“On the weekends, we’ve got tons of families, parties and groups coming in,” said Alex Balog, director of golf operations for Yorkville-based Whitetail Ridge Golf Club. “Christmas break is coming, so we’ll start seeing a lot of kids coming with their friends when they’re off school. And the holiday parties are going to take off.”

The facility is equipped with technology to help both novice and competitive golfers, such as if they are hitting the ball too far to the right.

“It displays my data, like how far I hit it and where it went,” Balog said, in demonstrating the technology.

And customers can simulate playing on different golf courses such Pebble Beach in California. The facility uses TrackMan Range technology in each of its 30 bays.

Along with featuring golf year-round, Whitetail Ridge Golf Dome also has a restaurant, The Persimmon Room, which also is the name of the restaurant at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club.

The restaurant serves fast casual food. Those who are playing golf at the facility can expect their order to be ready in 10 to 12 minutes, food and beverage director Dave Huerta said.

Burgers, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles and footlong hot dogs are some of the items on the menu.

“This is a very similar menu to what we offer at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club,” he said. “We’ve had lots of good feedback. Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves.”

People can have the food brought to the bay where they are playing golf. The restaurant is open to the general public and people can also walk off the street and have lunch or dinner at the restaurant, which has seating for about 60 people.

They can also order food to go.

More information about Whitetail Ridge Golf Dome is available at its website, whitetailridgegolfdome.com.

Goshert, who dedicated almost 40 years of exemplary service to Sterling, has chosen to direct the donation toward the Classroom Technology Program, an initiative he highly regards, according to a news release.

With more than 50 years of experience and a unique industrial application knowledge base, Sterling Systems & Controls’ custom-engineered and manufactured state-of-the-art equipment and systems use the latest technology and/or components in data management, as well as raw material and production data-tracking, automation and more.

Goshert started at Sterling in the engineering department specializing in drafting and design. His journey within the organization led him from building and wiring control panels to becoming a proficient service technician.

Eventually, he transitioned into sales and became general manager in 1991. He reached the pinnacle of his career as vice president in 1994.

He remains active in Sterling Systems & Controls activities as a strategic adviser.

For years, he has personally supported the Sterling Schools Foundation, recognizing the organization’s influence on the community.

Upon his retirement, Goshert expressed his desire to direct the donation toward the Classroom Technology Program. The program is dedicated to providing advanced classroom technology to students and enriching their educational experience.

With a dollar-for-dollar matching grant, his contribution will amplify its influence, resulting in a total donation of $60,000.

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities Sterling has provided me throughout my career,” he said. “Giving back to the community that has been my home for so long is a privilege.

“I hope that this donation to the Classroom Technology Program will empower students to excel academically and inspire them to consider returning to our community or perhaps joining our team at Sterling after completing their education.”

For information about Sterling Systems & Controls and its commitment to community engagement, visit https://sterlingcontrols.com/about.

New one-year-tag fees will increase by $3 for neutered animals and animals less than one year of age. If an animal is not neutered, the tag fee increases by $10.

New three-year-tag fees will increase by $8 for neutered animals and $22.50 for non-neutered animals. Individuals aged 65 years or older will continue to receive free tags with proof of age.

KCAC has notified county veterinarians of the fee increase so they can let their customers know in advance. Tags can be purchased through veterinary clinics and hospitals throughout Kane County or directly from KCAC at 4060 Keslinger Road in Geneva from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Tags may be purchased in person or by mail. Those paying by mail are asked to follow up in around two weeks to ensure their check has been received.

District 158 also is in the midst of working on a districtwide efficiency initiative, and although teachers currently don’t use Chromebooks, that soon could change.

A potential switch from the Windows computers they currently use was discussed at a Dec. 7 school board meeting.

Officials estimate that the district would save $400 to $500 per device and $75,000 per year if the teachers ditch Windows computers.

Google hardware and software is prominent in the technology officials’ cost-saving measures and proposals.

The district is seeing if it can eliminate Zoom video calling in favor of Google Meet, which is estimated to save $30,000 annually. The plan is to keep Zoom webinar around for school board meetings, among other uses.

The district is looking at two additional potential revenue streams at the start and finish of a Chromebook’s life.

According to district documents, the price of Chromebooks has climbed $40 since 2019, and officials estimated that charging 8,000 students $25 would bring in about $200,000. The district’s enrollment is about 8,500 students, according to the Illinois Report Card.

Board President Andy Bittman asked in the meeting if the school district could keep Chromebooks in students’ hands longer, and officials indicated that they were looking into that.

According to Google’s website, it will provide support for Chrome devices for 10 years.

“Do we really need to give a student four Chromebooks through their life of the 12 years?” Bittman said.

Another proposal listed in district documents is to sell used technology equipment, which officials estimate could generate $50 to $72 per device.

While the district is looking into ways to make the computers less costly, students at the high school are gaining experience with helping salvage old parts of the Chromebooks and making sure the computers are working.

New this year, students at Huntley High School are participating in the school’s IT help desk. In the program, which began in October, students help out with the maintenance of the Chromebooks during their free periods.

The students’ primary responsibilities in the program include testing the computers to make sure keyboard and microphones, among other parts and the computers themselves, work.

Two seniors, Logan Borzych and Varshan Suhirtharen, assist at the help desk and are interested in pursuing computer engineering careers.

Both students said they’ve been into computers a long time

“As a kid, I was always interested in computers,” Suhirtharen said.

Huntley High School mobile tech Matt Precour said that the next step in the program will include students eventually participating in service calls.

These trees can be found at Crystal Lake Home Instead, 241 Commerce Drive, Suite 200, and Georgio’s Chicago Pizzeria & Pub, 75 E. Woodstock Drive. Shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it, unwrapped, to the location with the ornament attached.

Members of the community can also view Amazon wish lists for local seniors through Friday, Dec. 15. Gifts will be delivered to Crystal Lake Home Instead and delivered to local seniors in time for the holidays.

For more information, visit beasantatoasenior.com or call 847-318-3811.

Children will be able to take a photo with Santa and receive a small gift.

Consider bringing a new children’s book to support Mercyhealth’s Books for Babies program, which benefits families in the neonatal intensive care unit. Cash and check donations to the foundation are also welcome.

For more information about this event, call 815-971-4144 or email jurbelis@mhemail.org.

ABATE members, family and friends enjoyed food and refreshments at each stop along with games and prizes throughout the day. Winners of the card hands were Elena Lopez, first place; Pam Baker, second place; and Jim Posten, third place.

The library will be closed Saturday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 25, Saturday, Dec. 30 and Monday, Jan. 1.

Adult programs

Home-school Families Meetup: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Dec. 26, meeting room. For parents who home-school. Children (all ages) and teens are welcome. No registration required. Meet other home-school families in a casual setting. There will be toys and games in the meeting room for children to enjoy. This is not a drop-off program; parents and kids stay together.

Writers’ Group: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, meeting room. Join other writers to discuss your work. In person or via Zoom. Open to adults and high school students. No registration required. Zoom meeting ID: 988 2555 0591 Passcode: 048559

State Sen. Sue Rezin’s Traveling Office Hours: 12:30 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19. A representative from state Sen. Sue Rezin’s office will be at the library to assist constituents with navigating issues they face with any state government agency or program. No registration required.

Card Making Class - Santa Cards: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19. Jennifer Boring will teach you how to make five handmade cards. All supplies provided, including envelopes. Open to adults, high school students and children 10 and older accompanied by an adult. Fee of $5 for each class must be paid at the time of registration.

Book Club: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig will be discussed. The book for January will be “Secrets of Love Story Bridge” by Phaedra Patrick. This group reads a variety of genres. Newcomers are welcome anytime.

Knit & Crochet Group: 10 a.m. to noon, Thursdays, via Zoom. This informal group works on their own projects, discusses types and colors of yarn and helps each other with new or tricky patterns. No registration required. The Zoom meeting link is available on the Programs page of the library’s website.

Knit & Crochet Group: 4 to 6 p.m., Fridays, in person, Diana Hastings Board Room. Led by talented crochet artist Karen Perez. Come knit and crochet with others, or come learn how to crochet. Limited supplies provided. Open to all ages. Children younger than 10 must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

There are several people struggling with different kinds of pain and loss during this time of year. This service provides an opportunity for people to know God’s love and comfort, organizers said.

Light a Candle to remember a loved one. This will be a Holy Eucharist service. Everyone is welcome.

The event will feature appearances by Mario and Luigi, Elsa and Anna, the PAW Patrol team and much more. After the performance, there will be a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with all characters.

Tickets for the event are on sale for $10 each and can be bought online at www.stage212.org or by calling the box office at 815-224-3025 and leaving a message.

Tickets can be picked up at the door. All patrons 1 year and older must have a ticket. All children must be properly chaperoned. Performances may be added as ticket sales demand.

All scholarship applications are to be returned to Sydney Markham in the Princeton High School Student Support Office no later than Thursday, May 2.

The Princeton Memorial Scholarship

The Princeton Memorial Scholarship Fund is to provide scholarship help to graduates of Princeton High School and may be used at an accredited post-secondary educational institution, for the purpose of assisting such students in the securing of a four year college education. Applicants attending a two-year college may apply with the understanding that they are to continue their education to a baccalaureate degree. Financial need is one of several factors given consideration when determining awards.

The Ruth E. Patterson Lang Benevolent Fund

The purpose of the Ruth E. Patterson Benevolent Fund is to make loans or gifts to worthy, needy students, male or female, for the purpose of assisting such students in the securing of a four-year college education. Applicants attending a two year college may apply with the understanding that they are to continue their education to a baccalaureate degree. Financial need is only one of several factors taken into consideration when determining awards. Applicants must reside in either Princeton or Berlin Township 10 out of the past 12 years to be eligible for grants.

Nancy Guerra has worked at Wessels’ Family Farm for longer than she can remember, and by her accounts, Christmas tree sales this year are as good as they’ve ever been.

Wessels’ Family Farm does not offer “you-cut” Christmas trees, where customers venture out into the grove and cut down their tree of choice. The business’ selection of precut trees are highly visible to those passing by on Route 23 in DeKalb, however.

“I think we’ve had a good season,” said Guerra, 56. “We always start out busier, and then a lot of people are getting decorated and getting ready, and then here toward the end, closer to Christmas, it’s a little slower. Most people have their house decked out. We have some that are waiting for college kids to get home.”

Christmas tree farmers across northern Illinois said sales this year are booming, despite a dry spring season and continued inflation.

According to the Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension, 19th century Americans chopped down Christmas trees from their local forests. Today, however, most real Christmas trees in the U.S. are grown as sustainable crops on farms.

Generally that’s the case for precut and you-cut trees in Illinois, too.

Robert Richardson of Richardson Christmas Tree Farm at 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove, started farming the holiday staple when his dad planted trees in 1981 and they were due for harvest five years later.

“It started out slow, like lots of folks, just selling a couple hundred trees for a while,” Richardson said. “We gradually have expanded that, and we expect to sell 6,000-plus [trees] this year.”

The weekend after Thanksgiving was the busiest of the year, Richardson said. He said he suspects that’s usual for most Christmas tree farms.

Bill Holesinger, co-owner of Timber Lane Tree Farm at 7250 Garden Plain Road in Fulton, said his you-cut tree fields had to be closed for the season when they sold 1,000 trees two days after Thanksgiving.

“We just have precuts left,” he said. “We’re probably about four years out where we can leave our field open longer, but we got hit pretty hard the last few years, and I just can’t keep up. So we’ve had to plant more acres.

“The past three years we sold over 2,000 trees each year. We just can’t quite keep up with our fields, so we’re planting more to try, but that’s a six- to eight-year process.”

Holesinger said Timber Lane Tree Farm wasn’t particularly affected by the summer drought. However, he knows of a nearby farm that lost a few saplings that had yet to grow their roots.

“This home farm here survived it pretty good so far,” Holesinger said. “We did get some rain here this fall, so hopefully they’ll be OK going through the winter time.”

Wessels’ Family Farm in DeKalb trucks in trees from Wisconsin, so owner Rob Wessels said he isn’t worried about keeping trees around for the next year.

Wessels, 76, said he thinks he saw an uptick in consumer interest in real trees this holiday season. He’s also noticed that over the years, tree-hunting seems to be more of a family affair.

“It seems to go with family,” he said. “A lot of times when a family gets a little baby, they decide they want to get a real tree so they can start some family traditions with a real tree. That’s kind of a fun thing.”

According to the Illinois Christmas Tree Association – a passion project Richardson and his wife, Carol, created to help Christmas tree farms in Illinois – cutting a fresh inch off the bottom of a tree just before securing it to a stand, and subsequently giving it warm water, is the best way to keep the tree looking and smelling fresh.

The organization has 34 Christmas tree farms listed on its website, but Richardson said the number of member farms has grown to more than 50. Annual membership costs $70.

Richardson said he’s seen the Christmas tree farm landscape change over the past four decades. He doesn’t have to watch Christmas movie classics to imagine pop-up tree shops in the parking lots of malls and retail stores. He can remember those days.

Richardson said he thinks there’s fewer tree farmers around.

“The demand is there. It’s just hard to meet,” he said before mentioning the numerous small tree farms he’s seen close.

At Richardson Christmas Tree Farm, however, he said he’s been able to increase growth.

“We had the luxury of having enough land that we could increase our production and try to keep pace with the demand, which was hard to do,” Richardson said. “For a few years we kind of got backwards. We were selling too many trees.

“We were selling next year’s trees this year, and so we kind of go behind on our production. We’ve been trying to catch up.”

The Illinois Extension lists 21 types of tree species that commonly are used as Christmas trees, including types of cedar, fir, pine and spruce trees.

Richardson said he he thinks supply issues might come from consumers wanting one type of tree over another.

“There’s been a lot of talk the last several years particularly about the Christmas tree shortage, and that’s kind of true, I admit,” he said. “Personally, I kind of think part of that is because many of the magazine or media outlets are going to tell people they should plant or they should choose a Fraser fir for their Christmas trees.

“They’re great trees, but in my area [McHenry County] they will grow here, but they won’t thrive here. We do plant some Frasers. They tend to be kind of narrow and a little bit thinner, but there are alternatives to the Fraser. A Canaan fir is a cousin to the Fraser, and it grows better here.”

Yorkville 60, Plainfield Central 32

Jason Jakstys scored a game-high 16 points for the Foxes (4-5). Bryce Salek added nine points and Kaevian Johnson eight.

Oswego East 52, Plainfield South 40

Joliet Central 58, Oswego 34

WRESTLING

Sandwich 24, Bishop McNamara 22

Sandwich 36, Wilmington 34

Sandwich’s Eddie Hernandez won a 5-4 decision at 285 pounds to give the Indians a dual meet win. Jakob Gruca won an overtime decision at 126 and Miles Corder (150) and Kaden Clevenger (175) earned pins.

York 50, Lyons 46 (OT)

York junior guard Anna Filosa wrote on her hands for Friday’s important West Suburban Conference Silver girls basketball game at two-time defending outright champion Lyons Township.

The words were Score and No Fouls.

She achieved both when they were desperately needed.

Filosa made the go-ahead three-pointer and with four fouls blocked the potential game-tying basket in the closing seconds as the Dukes pulled out a 50-46 overtime victory in La Grange.

”A huge win because we (graduated) our top two scorers. Everyone’s been working really hard to help the team out,” said Filosa, last year’s first player off the bench now averaging 16 points. “We had just enough points but we had a good start, good energy. We had the mentality helping each other out, telling each other we’ve got this.”

Filosa and senior guard Hannah Meyers each had 20 points and helped York (8-3, 4-0 in Silver) survive a gamut of emotions after leading by 20 in the second quarter. Stella Kohl and Olivia Silkaitis each had eight rebounds and Kohl added four assists. For LT (8-4, 4-1), 6-foot-2 junior Nora Ezike had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Elin O’Brien (9 points) and Avery Mezan (8 points) each had two threes.

Kennedy Wanless had seven points and nine rebounds. Meyers had five of the Dukes’ 11 threes, all in the first half. Filosa had her four all after halftime. Filosa’s final three put York ahead for good 47-46 with 1:49 left in overtime and Meyers hit one of two free throws with 27.0 seconds for a two-point advantage. Mezan then made a great inside lob to Wanless, but Filosa blocked the shot, got the rebound and was fouled. Filosa made both free throws with 6.7 seconds left to seal the victory.

”(Blocks by me) not that much. I just saw the girl and help-side defense,” Filosa said. “(Shooting those free throws) was nerve-wracking but to keep up the lead was good.”

”It’s a huge win. They’ve had our number for a couple of years,” York coach Brandon Collings said. “We got the big boards when we needed it. We hit the free throws when we needed it. For us to have the lead, lose the lead and then win it in overtime is huge.”

The Dukes owned a 31-11 lead but the Lions closed to 31-20 by halftime. After increasing its advantage to 39-23 on Meyers’ basket with 5:58 left in the third quarter, York scored just 11 points the remaining 14:02 and fell behind 46-44 early in the overtime.

”We talked about getting a good start,” Collings said. “The last few times, they’re the ones that hit the threes early. We finally got that good start ourselves, got some confidence.”

Ezike scored on a move in the lane for LT’s 46-44 lead with 2:29 left in overtime. Ezike also scored on a putback with 1:00 left in regulation to force overtime at 44-44. York played for the final shot but Kohl’s drive and pass was knocked out of bounds and the ensuing inbounds pass was deflected as regulation time expired.

”We turned it around in the second half for sure,” LT coach Meghan Hutchens said.”The bottom line is York deserved it more. They came out and went for those rebounds and shot well and we didn’t stick to our game plan. I give (our players) a lot of credit. They fought back but we can’t dig ourselves that big of a hole because we’re just not willing to pay attention to the details.”

The Lions also lost in overtime to Whitney Young 46-45 Dec. 3. Ezike was coming off a personal-best 32 points Tuesday against Glenbard West.

-- Bill Stone

Willowbrook 65, Downers Grove South 63 (2OT)

Elle Bruschuk had 27 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four steals to power the Warriors to a double overtime win. Lillian Vish and Ayanni Gusman added 13 points each for Willowbrook. Allison Jarvis poured in 30 points and nine rebounds with six 3-pointers for Downers South in the loss.

Downers Grove North 43, Proviso West 29

Hope Sebek scored 14 points and Kaitlyn Parker 10 for the Lady Trojans.

Montini 56, St. Francis 34

Nikki Kerstein scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers for the Lady Broncos (8-4). Victoria Matulevicius added 14 points and Shea Carver 10.

BOYS BASKETBALL

York 59, Lyons 34

AJ Levine scored 18 points to pace the Dukes.

Thank you to everyone who donated Christmas cards, dropping them off at Oswegoland Senior & Community Center, with supportive preparation by Rhonda Jaras and Pam Rhoads. Despite the cold and rain for Christmas Walk on Dec. 1, senior volunteers including Michele Bergeron, Jennifer Weiskircher, Rozanne Klejna, Ronie Thevenot and Diane Beukelman managed to get 116 cards signed by attendees.

Churchill Elementary’s third through fifth graders signed 225 cards thanks to Principal Piatek and my grandson’s fifth grade teacher Ken McCafferty. Oswego East High School’s Key Club signed 275 cards thanks to leader Michelle Niesluchowski. Grande Park Changemakers Club signed 100 cards thanks to club founder Seema Leigh. Aurora Girl Scout Troop #4785 made and signed 100s of cards thanks to Leader Dara. Montgomery VFW Ladies Auxiliary signed numerous cards thanks to Dara and Secretary Dawn Robinson. Seniors attending the Thanksgiving luncheon at OSCC signed 101 cards. Socrates Café members also signed cards.

“Make & Take a Christmas Card for Your Special Vet” was added last year at Kendall County Democratic Party, 10 S. Main, Oswego. Cards were provided to cut, sign and decorate for your special veteran.

As you can tell, it takes a great deal of collaboration to get over 800 Christmas Cards for Vets signed and delivered to veterans homes in Anna, La Salle, Manteno, Quincy, Hines Blind Center and to Bickford, Symphony at Tillers, Cedarhurst, Hillside, and Alden Waterford, Jennings Terrace, and Symphony of Orchard Valley in Aurora, Oswego and Yorkville.

Judy Siedlecki

Christmas Cards for Vets organizer

Oswego

On Saturday, Dec. 9, about 145 Santas, one Grinch, one Darth Vader and one Mandalorian paraded down Route 47 with one mission: suicide prevention and awareness.

Our destination was Southbank Original Barbecue for cocoa and cookies from the Lopez family. We paused in Town Square for a special performance from Emily Weber’s YPAC Santa Dancers. Photography by Tae Moon. We also had a special appearance from Mrs. Illinois & Friends.

Jen’s Limo Service provided free rides. Salsa Verde Yorkville provided lunch. The event was sponsored by Ryan Homes RyanHomes.com.

A special thank you to Zack Hunter, Ryan Behrens, Rose Olszta, Gina Nance, the Lopez family, Margaret Dillon, Kathy Living, Jen and Nicole, Patty Hagar, Deanna Farren, the Padilla family, Katie and Elijah, Amanda Sidhu, Mary Landreth, Caleb Dykstra, Roy Wickiser and Pinz Entertainment; two thousand dollars was raised for Suicide Prevention Services of America spsamerica.org.

Jen Slepicka

Yorkville

Benet’s highly-touted 6-foot-6 sophomore was the primary target of a physical Marist defense that held and bumped Sularski throughout. He didn’t make a shot in the first or fourth quarter Friday and only took six shots for the game.

But Sularski made a beautiful basketball play out of a bad situation in the biggest moment.

When two Marist defenders met Sularski as he curled off a pick and roll on Benet’s final possession, he lobbed a pass underneath to teammate Colin Stack. Stack, a 7-foot sophomore, was fouled and made both free throws with 43.4 seconds left, providing the final margin in a thrilling 62-61 Benet win in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

“I just came off pick and roll, I just spaced out and tried to attack the defense and there wasn’t room for me to finish so I hit Stack and he knocked down two big free throws,” Sularski said. “I’m just trying to create for myself or others. Whatever is the best route, I’m going to do that.”

Stack scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and also had six rebounds and two blocks. Sularski added 13 points and six rebounds, Patrick Walsh 12 points on four first-half 3-pointers and Jayden Wright 10 points for Benet (10-0, 6-0). Stephen Brown scored 21 points and Darshan Thomas 15 for Marist (8-2, 3-2), but Thomas missed two shots for the win on the RedHawks’ last possession in the final seconds.

Benet coach Gene Heidkamp was impressed with how Sularski handled the last possession when he found himself in no man’s land.

“He showed some poise,” Heidkamp said. “To be honest he didn’t have anywhere to go. Instead of throwing it up for grabs he saw Colin slide behind the defense and threw it over them. He was in trouble, there was no doubt. He was looking for a bailout and Colin made a great move.”

Stack likewise showed poise in knocking down his only two free-throw attempts of the game.

“Gabe drove around the corner, I saw my guy help and so I rotated low so he could get me the ball,” Stack said. “I went to score aggressively and got fouled. I practice free throws a lot, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Gabe does that a lot, makes plays like that.”

The gym Friday was buzzing for the biggest challenge yet of a young, talented Benet team with three sophomores – Sularski, Stack and point guard Jayden Wright – in its top six. It was also a showcase of the state’s top two sophomores, Sularski and the 6-foot-7 Brown.

And it delivered.

Benet led 30-29 at halftime, with Walsh hitting four of the Redwings’ six 3-pointers to overcome eight Marist first-half offensive rebounds. The margin never was greater than four points either way over the final three quarters.

Benet’s Ewola Moukoulou hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the third quarter to put the Redwings up 49-46. Brown’s cutting layup had Marist up 61-58 with 2:01 left before Benet scored the game’s final four points.

“A lot of people were saying we needed a test,” Sularski said. “I think we proved ourselves tonight and played very well.”

Brown and 6-foot-5 Achilles Anderson were a force around the basket for Marist, each scoring 11 points in the first half.

“They hurt us around the basket all night,” Heidkamp said. “I thought we did a better job around the rim in the second half than we did in the first half. I think they had five and-ones in the first half. All that was right at the rim. I thought their kids played a heck of a game. Their size, strength and athleticism was a heck of a challenge.”

Sularski, held to three points at halftime, came alive offensively in the third quarter with seven points. And he scored or assisted Benet’s last five points on three of his own free throws and Stack’s two.

“Time to make plays,” he said. “I just had to make the plays to get us the win.”

“One of those games that were back and forth and came down to getting one last stop,” Heidkamp said. “It was an exciting game, back and forth, but it was nerve-racking to be a part of.”

With a fleet of three pink firetrucks and one pink police car, Pink Heals Joliet is dedicated to supporting local families dealing with a serious illness by providing comfort and financial support.

And thanks to the longtime support of a local car dealership, Pink Heals will make Christmas happen for more than 25 local families in need.

Up until Wednesday, Hawk Volkswagen, 2861 W. Jefferson St., in Joliet is set up as drop-off location for new and unwrapped toys or gift cards benefiting Pink Heals families.

These gifts will go to the children of a parent who has been affected by a serious illness or a child who is battling an illness themselves, Pink Heals Joliet President Angie Caldwell said.

For the past seven years, Hawk Volkswagen and its employees have been providing support to Pink Heals by donating both money and time in organizing both Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families struggling with a serious health issue.

However, the support does not stop there.

Hawk VW also is one of the biggest sponsors of Pink Heals’ three fundraising events – a golf outing, a Mother’s Day walk and a wine-tasting event.

When Damian Gabrus, general manager of Hawk Volkswagen, was approached by Pink Heals and heard about its dedicated volunteers who “all have full-time jobs and other commitments in their lives,” it was symbolic to him “of this country and how communities support one another.”

Raised by his mother and grandmother, Gabrus said, “They were the entire world to me.”

He said it was “traumatic” when his grandmother died from cancer.

This, Gabrus said, was “a huge sign” to partner with Pink Heals.

The connection between Pink Heals and Hawk Volkswagen now is so strong, Caldwell said, that the two organizations are like a family.

“We would not be what we are without the support of Hawk VW,” she said.

As a nonprofit of about 55 volunteers, Pink Heals Joliet, the largest Pink Heals chapter in the nation, is focused on supporting people who are struggling with a serious illness and their families.

Many of its volunteers or their family members previously were recipients of one of Pink Heals’ surprise visits, Caldwell said.

By completing an online form, an individual can request a home visit for “anyone battling any type of illness,” Caldwell said.

“People think when they see pink firetrucks and a pink car we must be just for breast cancer,” Caldwell said. “[But] we are so much more than that.”

Each vehicle is named after someone who had a big influence on Pink Heals Joliet.

“Addison was a 7-year-old girl who passed away from liver cancer and would have turned 18 this week,” Caldwell said.

Other vehicles are named for Caldwell’s aunt Tina; Kris, a married mother of two boys; and Michelle, a wife and mother, all who died from cancer.

Once a visit is planned, Caldwell said, “We will team up with the local police and fire departments in the town we are visiting, and we drive down the street with lights and sirens. The person battling an illness has no idea we are coming.”

When you hear lights and sirens, people think the worst, she said.

But instead, people find “three pink firetrucks and a pink police car along with the local police and fire departments and the individual’s family, friends and neighbors,” Caldwell said.

“We tell the person battling an illness that we love them, support them, and they are not alone,” she said. “For 15 or 20 minutes, if we can make that person forget about what they are battling and feel loved and supported, then we have done our job.”

Gabrus said the visits have a positive effect.

“When you are struggling with your thoughts because you are awaiting test results and hundreds of people drive up to your house to support you, it can be a ray of light,” Gabrus said.

Pink Heals also provides financial support for individuals battling illness that includes help with mortgage payments.

Caldwell said the people battling an illness sign one of the vehicles because the vehicles are “living memorials.”

Founded in 2007, Pink Heals has 61 chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and it has more than 200 pink vehicles.

Many weeks, Pink Heals Joliet is out in the community attending multiple events and visiting numerous individuals in need.

In 2022, Pink Heals helped 111 families and, so far in 2023, Caldwell said the nonprofit has helped 125 families.

“But we are not done for the year yet,” she said.

Jeremiah Dawson, 21, of the 6400 block of South Richmond Street; Isaiah Dukes, 26, of the 8500 block of Kingston Avenue; and Travon Garland, 19, of the 8000 block of S. Paulina Street; appeared at First Appearance Court Thursday each charged with multiple felonies.

Dawson is charged with one count each of armed habitual criminal, possession of a loaded machine gun, unlawful possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

Dukes is charged with one count each of possession of a loaded machine gun, theft of stolen goods exceeding $10,000 but not more than $100,000 and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, according to the release.

Garland is charged with one count each of possession of a loaded machine gun, unlawful possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, according to the release.

On Dec. 13, Oak Brook police received information regarding a vehicle connected to a man who was suspected to be part of an investigation into an armed robbery at a jewelry store in New York.

Officers began surveillance on the vehicle, a blue Dodge, at a shopping center located at 2155 22nd St. Officers followed the Dodge when they observed it leave the parking lot east on 22nd Street. As police followed, the Dodge made several illegal maneuvers before it sped away at a high rate of speed west on 22nd Street, authorities said.

Officers from multiple police departments became involved in the pursuit as well as a Chicago Police Department helicopter. The Dodge came to a stop in the 6400 block of West Higgins Avenue in Chicago at which time all three men exited the vehicle and were arrested shortly thereafter.

When searching the Dodge, police found a loaded Glock 29 with a laser, an extended magazine and a switch that converts the weapon into a fully automatic machine gun and a loaded Glock 19 with a 50-round drum magazine and a defaced serial number. When Dukes was arrested, he allegedly was wearing a necklace valued at about $90,000 that is believed to be connected to an armed robbery in New York, according to the report.

“Public safety is a collaborative effort and the successful apprehension of the defendants in this case is a result of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to ensure the safety of our residents,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “The allegations that these men, none of whom were legally allowed to own a firearm, were heavily armed and led authorities on a high-speed chase during rush hour in the middle of the holiday shopping season are simply outrageous.

“The apprehension of these defendants sends the message that in DuPage County we will use every tool at our disposal, including the use of a helicopter, to keep our communities, retail establishments and streets safe. I commend the Oak Brook Police Department for their watchful eyes, vigilance and complete commitment to public safety.”

“Our efforts in keeping Oak Brook safe through technology, collaboration and pro-active policing were on full display as illustrated by this arrest removing three dangerous and heavily armed felons from the streets,” Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis said in the release. “The use of covert vehicles, effective tactics, technology, drones and air support made these arrests possible. I could not be prouder of the state of readiness in which our department operates and I’m thankful for our partnerships with our law enforcement community.”

The next court appearance for all three men is scheduled for Jan. 8 for arraignment.

Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, when angry colonists dumped dozens of chests of tea into the Boston harbor in one of the more dramatic moments leading up to the American Revolution. The tea party has become etched in American lore, and is often referenced in protests against government or big business.

The origins of the Boston Tea Party arose from a familiar mantra of colonial protestors – “taxation without representation,” since the colonists were allowed no representatives in the British Parliament. Much of the colonists’ ire was directed at the Townshend Acts, a series of moves by the British government to tax the colonies, including a tax on tea.

Tea was a beloved part of colonial American culture, and the British government knew it. American colonists consumed 1.2 million pounds of tea a year – a substantial amount for a population of just under 2.5 million.

The tax on tea grew into a 1773 act which gave the British East India Company a monopoly in the colonies. Several leading colonists, including John Hancock and Samuel Adams, orchestrated smuggling rings for tea, although the cost of smuggled tea was eventually higher than the East India Company product. Not true to the name of the company, the British were frequently selling tea from China.

The Sons of Liberty, a group of merchants and men of trade who espoused the patriotic cause, loudly protested the various taxations. By December 1773, the rampant tensions boiled over as three ships loaded with tea sat in Boston harbor. The colonists vociferously refused to pay the taxes on the tea, or allow it to be unloaded.

The standoff set Boston abuzz as the Sons of Liberty and other patriots clashed with the loyalists of the city. In turn, Massachusetts Gov. Thomas Hutchison, a loyalist, ordered the taxes to be paid, and the cargo unloaded.

Various meetings, some public and others in secret, were held to dispute the tea tax. The largest was a public assembly at the Old South Meeting House in Boston on Dec. 16, 1773, which spilled over into the legendary events at the harbor.

Many of the facts of the Boston Tea Party are debated today. Credible research shows that hundreds of colonists participated, many of them disguised as Mohawks or other American Indian tribes.

The crude disguises were intended to reveal their identities, as the Sons of Liberty and their supporters risked arrest and incarceration. The costumes also were a form of expression, as the colonists wanted to portray themselves as Americans, no longer viewing themselves as subjects to the crown.

In three hours, an estimated 340 chests of tea, totaling 92,000 pounds, on the three ships were smashed open by axes, then dumped into the water. One source equates the loss to more than 18.5 million cups of tea. In today’s dollars, the value was $1.7 million. A total of five different kinds of tea – all from China – was destroyed.

Otherwise, no damage was done to the ships, save for one broken padlock. Contrary to popular belief, the vessels were actually owned by Americans – not the British. The cargo of tea in each ship, however, was property of the British.

Participants even swept the decks of the ships after dumping the tea, and moved all objects into their proper place. Many in the Boston Tea Party simply went home afterward. No looting or thievery of anything on the ships, including the tea, was allowed.

One participant recalled that “we were surrounded by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.” The massive amount of tea in the water left a lingering odor for weeks.

Colonial leaders were actually split in their reaction. In his diary on the following day, John Adams called the tea party a “magnificent movement … this destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm, intrepid, and inflexible, and it must have important consequences.” George Washington, on the other hand, privately criticized the tea party.

The British government retaliated by closing down Boston Harbor until the dumped tea was paid for. The move was made under a new set of laws infamously dubbed the “Intolerable Acts.” Benjamin Franklin, who also disdained the tea party, offered to cover the bill himself, hoping that the harbor would be reopened.

The Intolerable Acts led to the organization of the First Continental Congress in 1774, and inflamed American protests. Many believe that the Boston Tea Party was a flashpoint in tensions that led to the Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775-83.

No one was charged in the Boston Tea Party, in part because the costumes hid the true identities of the participants. A 2012 study found that at least 10 smaller tea parties followed, including in Philadelphia and Charleston, South Carolina. A second tea party in Boston in March 1774 dumped 16 more chests of tea into the harbor.

The actual location of the party now is a Boston street corner, as modern engineering has filled in portions of the harbor. The term “Boston Tea Party” did not arise until the early 1820s, though the words are often used today in conjunction with government protests.

Reenactments of the Tea Party are being planned as part of a large-scale commemoration in Boston this weekend. Activities include a re-creation of the gathering at the Old South Meeting House, a charming, interactive tradition that has been broadcast on C-SPAN in recent years.

Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com

Salvation Army resource development director Steven Hawkins said they found the coin on the evening of Dec. 2 while emptying the donation kettles for the day. The coin was dropped into the kettle outside the Starbucks in downtown Geneva.

Hawkins said the donation went unnoticed at first because it was wrapped in a dollar bill, which he said was clearly intended to keep the donation anonymous. He said they didn’t recognize the coin, but as soon as they picked it up and felt the weight, they knew it was real gold.

“We really appreciate it and want to thank them, but obviously they like to keep it anonymous,” Hawkins said, “But we want them to know how much we appreciate it, and all of our donors this time of year.”

Hawkins has been with the Salvation Army for four years, and said finding a gold coin donation is not unheard of. In fact, it is somewhat of a tradition in Kane County, and he said they receive a gold Krugerrand in the Starbucks kettle almost every year.

“It’s been a tradition around here that we really appreciate and enjoy, the giving of the coin,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said after Christmas they will take the coin, known as a $50 Gold American Eagle Coin, to an appraiser and then sell it. The proceeds will go to the Salvation Army, which he said will likely be used to purchase items to supplement their food pantry.

The Salvation Army has a large food pantry in St. Charles, which Hawkins said has been difficult to maintain in recent years. In 2022 the pantry served 6,200 people, and so far this year they have served over 10,000, which has forced them to use funds to supplement items to keep up with demand.

This year the Tri-Cities Corps has 18 donation kettles out in the community, and are working towards their donation goal of $195,000.

Kids ages 1 to 12 are eligible for the stockings. No sign-up is needed.

Children must be present.

Authorities were called to the two-vehicle crash at 4:28 p.m. at Cherry Valley and Snake roads in rural DeKalb County north of Kirkland and Kingston, according to a news release from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

A 28-year-old man from Belvidere driving a Ford van was injured and taken by Kirkland paramedics to a Swedish American hospital in Belvidere, according to the sheriff’s office.

The driver of the semitrailer truck, Jeremiah N. Haynes, 22, of Sycamore, was not injured.

Both men were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

The semitrailer truck was headed west on Cherry Valley Road near Snake Road when two of the truck’s tires came off the axle, according to the sheriff’s office.

The loose tires struck the van, which was traveling east, head-on. The collision caused the van to crash into a south ditch and overturn, according to the sheriff’s office.

Haynes was cited by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for unsafe equipment, according to the release.

Willie Banks, 47, was charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and violation of a bail bond.

The Joliet Police Department in a news release said Banks “shot and killed 40-year-old Alicia Cole after forcibly entering her home.”

The incident happened Wednesday night. Police have said it was an isolated domestic incident.

Cole, who police said was shot multiple times after calling 911 to report a man entering her home, was pronounced dead at her residence in the 1100 block of Westshire Drive.

Police arrived at the house and found a broken window and Banks inside, police said. When they entered the house, they found Cole shot dead in a bathroom.

Banks was hospitalized that night for an injury to his hand that police said happened as he broke into the house through a front window. Banks, who was hospitalized under police guard, was released from the hospital to Joliet police Friday morning.

Police Chief Bill Evans issued a statement concerning the incident.

“As your chief of police, I must share that my heart aches alongside the family and friends of Ms. Cole after her life was cut short by such a senseless act of violence,” Evans said.

The McHenry County Board this week discussed but did not vote on placing a referendum on the ballot for a proposed 0.25% retail sales tax increase that would change how the McHenry County Mental Health Board is funded.

If the County Board approves the plan Tuesday, the question then would go to voters on the March 19 primary election ballot.

County Board members – many of whom also will be up for reelection on the same ballot – had varying opinions on the proposal.

Board member Theresa Meshes, D-Fox River Grove, had concerns with the timing of the ballot, among other things. She said she supported putting the measure on the November general election ballot.

“I’m not convinced this is ... a better way to tax over property tax,” Meshes said.

The McHenry County Mental Health Board has thrown its support behind the proposal – which would shift much of the board’s funding from property taxes to the sales tax.

Some members, however, have concerns that the switch to a sales tax model would prevent the board from funding developmental disability services they help to fund.

Board member Michael Skala, R-Huntley, brought up concerns about the backstop.

“I want to make sure government can’t go back and double tax me in the future,” Skala said.

Board member Terri Greeno, R-Crystal Lake, asked whether officials would make sure people knew the tax wouldn’t apply to food or medicine and also wanted to avoid double taxing, mentioning the gas tax increase the board enacted in September and subsequent property tax levy increase.

“We want to make absolutely certain that the mental health board has the funding that it needs and doesn’t also have a levy tax on top of it,” Greeno said.

Board member Lou Ness, D-Woodstock, agreed with Meshes that it was too soon to put the referendum out. Ness said she supports the tax but stressed that educating voters is “important.”

“This money would really only stabilize existing services,” Ness said.

County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, called the sales tax proposal a “win-win for everybody.”

“We owe it to the taxpayers to have a significant reduction in the county’s portion of the property tax,” Buehler said.

According to proposed language included in county documents, the ballot question would make clear that the levy for the mental health board would go away if the sales tax increase passes.

The proposed ballot wording also outlines how much a consumer would pay in tax, saying for every $100 of retail spending, the extra tax would be 25 cents.

In Crystal Lake, where the existing total sales tax is 7.75%, the new sales tax would be 8% if the referendum goes in front of voters and passes.

The County Board will vote on it Tuesday night. If the referendum is approved, the increased sales tax would kick in July 1.

The Honeyman family, who own St. Charles-based The Bike Rack, recently bought Oswego Cyclery from owner Art Black. The shop, now known as The Bike Rack, is located at 57 Main St.

“We’ve kind of been concentrating on cleaning, organizing and bringing in new products,” said Hal Honeyman, one of the owners of The Bike Rack.

The Bike Rack has been in business for almost 50 years. Honeyman owns The Bike Rack with his mother, Nancy, his wife, Julie and their son, Dane, his sister, Tammy Simmons and his brother, Lance.

For those interested in buying a bike from The Bike Rack, the owners will do what they can to meet their needs. The Bike Rack will do a custom analysis of their rider biomechanics and movement through the use of high-speed video and pressure mapping.

“If they’ve had an injury, a lot of times we can address their problems,” Honeyman said. “Or we can make them faster or stronger.”

Honeyman likes the small-town feel of Oswego’s downtown.

“It kind of reminded me of St. Charles a few years back,” he said. “It’s just a very close-knit community that kind of aligns with our values. We felt we would be a good fit.”

It also helps that the Fox River Trail – which is largely in Kane County – ends in Oswego. The shop is located near the Fox River Trail and the Fox River.

Honeyman also noted that the Oswegoland Park District’s Saw Wee Kee Park in Yorkville offers “some of the best off road riding in this immediate area.”

“It is pretty challenging off road terrain,” he said. “Between now and spring, we’ll get a few bikes put into our stock that people can take out and try on the trails. There’s just a lot opportunity here, I think.”

The Bike Rack also sells adaptive bikes that are modified to fit the needs of an individual rider. Honeyman said the store will schedule appointments for those interested in buying an adaptive bike.

He founded the nonprofit organization Project Mobility. The group’s mission is to provide children, adults and wounded soldiers with disabilities with adaptive bikes.

His interest in adaptive cycling was spurred on by his son, Jacob, who was born with cerebral palsy.

Lance Honeyman thinks the Oswego location is a good fit and he hopes that customers appreciate their experience.

“We’ve been doing it a long time,” he noted. “We think it will be a good fit. We like the idea of the bike trail being nearby.”

More information about The Bike Rack is available at thebikerack.com.

David W. McGunnigal, 47, of Peru, was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and illegal transportation of alcohol, according to an updated report Peru police issued Friday.

McGunnigal was released with a notice to appear in court.

The pedestrian, whose name remains withheld, was struck and injured by at 5:34 p.m. Wednesday at Shooting Park Road and Plum Street, where the pedestrian was crossing and was struck by McGunnigal’s Nissan Pathfinder.

Law enforcement sources said Friday the pedestrian remains hospitalized in Peoria, but had no updated condition report.

La Salle County Circuit Court records updated Friday did not show a filing against McGunnigal nor indicate whether he retained legal counsel.

He attributed it to having a lot of stress from her job.

Then he had some really good friends reach out to him, saying they were concerned about Erin.

“They said, ‘She’s not the same Erin. We think something’s up,’” he said.

That’s when it hit John that Erin was showing similar signs of the neurological disease, Ataxia, that claimed her father, Lyle Snyder, at age 43, in 1993.

Snyder, who had coached at Sterling and was athletic director at Galesburg, became symptomatic when he was about 36.

“Standing became a little difficult or he got dizzy. He lost his fine motor skills, ability to write or tie his shoes …. He knew something was wrong. All this went on and he passed away,” John said.

While Erin, 43, and her siblings, Whitney and Graham, always feared seeing what happened to their dad, and hoped the disease hasn’t been passed down, it was a 50-50 chance it would.

“I think I was turning a blind eye to the whole situation. Kind of like, ‘Nah (this isn’t happening).’ My first thought went to her dad. ‘Oh my, is this that?’ And fear,” John said.

John got a hold of Erin’s mom, relaying what their friends had said and she agreed something was up and it was very similar to her father’s symptoms.

The Matlicks kept it to themselves mostly for awhile, “trying to keep everything normal,” John said.

But Erin became more and more symptomatic and they knew they needed help.

“Now we’ve got to go to the doctors. Now we’ve got to start addressing this. We’ve got to do something. We need help,” John said.

The Matlicks were referred by Dr. Chris Blanford to a neurologist in Peoria, who pressed them to go to Mayo immediately. John said they ran a gauntlet of tests there, but struggled to come up with answers.

“One time they think it’s this and it’s not that. One time they think it’s that and it’s not that,” John said. “They haven’t figured it out. They haven’t been able to diagnose it.”

They do know it was not good and it was very rare.

“In our world population of nine billion people, Erin is the only person documented in having this thing,” John said. “It’s undiagnosed at this time, because they haven’t figured out which gene it is and what it’s doing. But they know it has been handed down through hereditary of her dad’s side. That’s where it’s coming from.

“What we’ve decided, she has an ultra-rare degenerative genetic disease that has not been diagnosed. She’s symptomatic of Ataxia, but not a specific Ataxia.”

The prognosis is grim. There is no cure.

“It’s only going to get worse,” John said. “How do you fix something if you don’t know what it is? Unfortunately, this is not fixable. This is not going to get better. It’s only going to get worse.”

Driving back from Mayo, after hearing the news they feared most, John said Erin sat up and said “Well, I’m going to fight like Hell. I’m going to fight as hard as I can against this thing.”

Those words have defined Erin’s courageous battle cry: “Fight Like Erin.”

T-shirts were made last spring with the words “Fight Like Erin” emblazoned. John used his artistic skills to create a Fight Like Erin logo combining Erin’s two favorite teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Princeton Elementary School family, where both the Matlicks work, and the Princeton community, with the help of their families and the Rockridge (John’s hometown) and Bureau Valley (where he taught and coached baseball) communities, have rallied around the Matlick family.

Logan Junior High held a “Fight Like Erin Night” fundraiser Tuesday night at Princeton High School, where the Lions teams battled LaSalle Lincoln, with an array of silent auction items, 50-50 drawing and donations to support the Matlick family.

John called it a victory for the Princeton community.

“It’s humbling. When you walk out in the community and see people wear Fight Like Erin shirts. That’s pretty cool and neat,” he said.

John proposed to Erin at Mayo Field, a minor league park in Rochester, Minn, in 2010. They have two children, Ellie, 11, and Nolan, 9, a promising left-handed pitcher just like his dad.

Life has not been easy on Erin. She lost her leg to a farming accident at age 10, she lost her dad when she was about 12 and now she has a terminal disease.

That hasn’t kept her from living life. She may be wheelchair bound, but she’s still going to work every day at Jefferson School in Princeton where she serves as a special ed teacher.

“She’s still going to work. She still puts forth the effort to be friendly, personable, nice,” John said. “When we get home, it’s hard. There’s no doubt about that. She still turns it on for people. That’s awesome.”

But it’s not easy.

“What we do at our house every morning and every evening is no short of miraculous. I believe in miracles, because of what I see every day. I see incredible things,” John said. “Yeah, I take the brunt of this. It’s hard. But if Erin can do this every single day and if she can still go to work and help others, when she needs the help. Yeah, we have a bad day. Erin’s fighting every day. We can all fight.

“Fight like Erin? Hell yeah, fight like Erin. There’s no better way to fight. I tell people you don’t have to fight like Erin. But you can fight your own fights. Step up and fight. ... Erin’s an inspiration. When you’re having a hard day, think about Erin. She kind of knows the outcome, but she’s still going to fight.”

John refers to the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, who lost his fight with cancer in 2015 at age 49, when he talks about how he wants to continue the fight for his wife.

“Stuart Scott said was going to fight cancer for as hard as he could and when he couldn’t fight any more, hopefully someone else would step up to fight it. That’s what we’re going to do for Erin,” he said.

“We’re all going to be better people because of this. It’s made me a better husband and a better man.”

An exact closing date for the store at 918 First St., La Salle, was not given, but it could be Wednesday, Jan. 31, if not sooner.

“I want to thank all the awesome customers that I have gotten to know through the years. I have made many new friends through the store also,” owner Denna Leifheit wrote on the business’ Facebook page. “I truly have loved helping so many of you find the perfect shoe to make your feet so happy.”

She asked those with gift cards to stop it to redeem them.

The Times / NewsTribune / Bureau County Republican is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area. Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email newsroom@mywebtimes.com.