UPDATED: 1:13 p.m., Grace Tucker

Bugle staff

WGN-TV: RHS changes walkout plans

Romeoville High School officials canceled their scheduled outdoor walkout event after being alerted of a threat reported on Instagram.

In a digital letter to parents, RHS Principal Derek Kinder acknowledged a possible threat  to “overall student and school safety.”

Students reported that a threat was made by a Romeoville High School student on Instragram that it would not be safe to go to school on Wednesday (Mar. 14). The post also included a post of a male student holding a black rifle. The post was shared across various social media channels.

Romeoville police made contact with the student Tuesday and determined it was an air-soft gun and the post was not a legitimate threat.

According to Kinder however, “Given the timing. . . we will work with our student leadership representatives and to make an adjustment to our plan for our student to assemble as a sign of unity at a later date and time.”

Kinder went on to state that a police presence would be maintained to monitor other events or activities on the RHS campus.

Though RHS officials canceled the outdoor activity for today, an announcement will be made for students who feel compelled to acknowledge the national movement, setting aside 17 minutes to honor the victims in the Parkland, Florida shooting, to join in the gym for a show of solidarity.

Lewis University has been named a StormReady community by the National Weather Service. This voluntary preparedness program encourages communities to prepare for severe weather. Through this StormReady program, Lewis University has demonstrated communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property; before, during and after an event.

“StormReady communities are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness,” Mike Bardou, warning coordination meteorologist NOAA/National Weather Service – Chicago/Romeoville, said.

Lewis University has several policies and practices in place that exhibit its preparedness for extreme weather and water events:

• The Lewis University Police Department provides a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center for the Romeoville campus.
• An emergency notification system alerts students, faculty and staff of severe weather warnings and forecasts.
• Nearly 50 students, faculty and staff are trained weather spotters on the Romeoville campus.
• Lewis University regularly hosts community seminars and shares information on severe weather.
• The Lewis University Campus Emergency Planning Team has developed a severe weather plan and holds exercises on a regular basis for the Romeoville campus.

“We cannot prevent severe weather, but we can be prepared for it. This StormReady designation formalizes our community’s commitment to preparedness,” Dr. David Livingston, president of Lewis University, commented.

“This has been a community-wide commitment to preparedness for severe weather. Our community has worked together as a team to obtain certifications as weather spotters, continually develop plans as well as prepare facilities and personnel for severe weather,” Neil O’Connell, Lewis University transportation & emergency preparedness coordinator, added. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu/emergencyplanning to find out more about Lewis University preparations for severe weather.

Magid Glove & Safety Manufacturing Company is pleased to announce that they will be going solar. Magid has spent the better part of three years researching how a solar array on their facility could help drive down operating expenses while at the same time provide a strong financial return with the added benefit of being socially and environmentally proactive. Magid recently signed a contract to install a 3.5 Megawatt Solar array on the roof of their Romeoville facility. The array consists of over 10,500 solar panels that will produce enough electricity to offset 100 percent of their annual load. When completed, the system will be the largest rooftop solar project not only in the state, but in the entire Midwest, further solidifying Magid’s position as an innovative, forward thinking company.

“When companies around the Midwest look toward large scale solar power, they’ll be turning their eyes toward Romeoville,” began Romeoville Mayor John Noak. “Magid continues to champion innovation. That investment doesn’t just benefit their company, but the environment as well. It’s great to have leaders like this in the community and I hope more companies look to them and follow suit.”

The strong financial returns were made possible by the recent legislation passed by the State of Illinois that requires the state’s utilities to either produce, acquire electricity from renewable sources, or buy the green attributes or Renewable Energy Credits from companies like Magid who invests in solar energy for their facilities and by rebates from Commonwealth Edison. Additionally, the federal government supports the installation of solar by providing an Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for any entity, including residential, installing solar on their property.

In the coming weeks, folks from Convergence Energy, the project developer, and Continental Electric, Magid’s engineering and installation partner, will be on site beginning their work. As a matter of fact, the first of 13 truckloads of solar panels arrived in the beginning of February.

The array that Magid is installing on the roof and not using electric from Com Ed is the equivalent of reducing over 2 million tons/year of CO2 from being emitted from power plants and over 1,600 tons/year of NOx and over 2,600 tons/year of SO2. The CO2 reductions alone is the same as what over 2.2 million acres of forest could reduce in the atmosphere in one year or the emission of over 400,000 cars driven in one year.

All Rockler Woodworking and Hardware in the Chicago area, Bolingbrook, Orland Park and Schaumburg, are offering hands-on, “Make & Take” project classes throughout April to celebrate National Woodworking Month. Participants can learn basic woodworking skills while handcrafting items and will build a complete project in just a few hours that they can take home. Each class size is limited to as few as three participants and will cost from $25 to $60 with all materials included. Instruction will be provided by Rockler’s expert woodworkers and teachers so no experience or tools are needed.

Projects include a custom knife; a turned handle for a bottle opener, ice cream scoop or pizza cutter; a wireless speaker; and a custom sign. Participants can sign up for any or all of the classes, and they’ll leave with a completed project after each class. Plans, overview videos and materials will also be available online for those who want to make the projects on their own.

The “Make & Take” class series is especially well-suited for beginners or those with limited woodworking experience. Class size is limited so that attendees have access to as much guidance and instruction as needed.

Children under the age of 18 are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must sign a waiver. Each class will last 2 to 3 hours and will focus on a single project.

Classes will be held at Bolingbrook, Orland Park and Schaumburg – click the store links below for more details and to sign up online.

Classes start April 5 and class size is limited so be sure to sign up early!

Bolingbrook:       

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Bolingbrook

139 South Weber Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60490

Phone: (331) 253-0117

Orland Park:            

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Orland Park

15758 South La Grange Road, Orland Park, IL 60462

Phone: (708) 778-3021

Schaumburg:     

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Schaumburg

253 W Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60195

Phone: (847) 310-0447

Make & Take class Projects:

• Custom Knife – mount, shape and finish a custom wood handle/grip on a knife kit.
• Turned Handle – turn a wood handle on the lathe that can be used with bottle opener, ice cream scoop or pizza cutter hardware.
• Wireless Speaker – build a small decorative box and install the speaker components inside.
• Custom Sign – use a plunge router and character templates to create their own sign on a wood blank.

To learn more about Rockler, please visit www.rockler.com or call 1-877-ROCKLER.

Letters to the Editor—

Thank you for the interesting article in the March 15, 2018 Bolingbrook Bugle regarding the solar power installation at Magid Glove & Safety Manufacturing Co. in Romeoville. These types of articles are very interesting to me and provide recognition to local firms that are attempting to do their part in reducing CO2 emissions. As the article points out, Magid will be installing over 10,500 solar panels on their roof. When complete, the project will eliminate over 2,000,000 tons per year of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel sources.

I also want to applaud Magid for implementing a project that will result in major reductions in pollution that contribute to climate change. Hopefully, other firms and organizations will follow the lead of Magid and initiate renewable energy projects. As a member of the Greater Naperville Citizens Climate Lobby, we encourage our entire community to take an active interest and support programs that will reduce fossil fuel consumption and the resulting CO2 emissions.
 
Jerry Crimer
Bolingbrook

By Laura Katauskas

Staff Reporter

In an effort to maintain consistency in teaching math across grade levels, the Valley View School District is considering adopting a new curriculum resource for its middle school classes.

According to a recent report, the district is reviewing Illustrative Mathematics, which was built with focus, coherence, and rigor at the forefront—the three shifts that the Common Core Standards for mathematics requires. This curriculum was co-written by one of the three lead writers of the Common Core standards, is published by a nonprofit open education organization and comes free under a license for the purpose of providing all students an opportunity to engage with a rigorous curriculum.

“This is one of the few curriculums that are truly common core-based,” said a member of the district-wide math committee who reviewed several curriculums. “Common Core is a way of learning and this curriculum provides task awareness and its lessons are about doing learning and discovery.”

The school district reports that for the past six years, middle school math committees have been refining curriculum and assessments to best meet students’ needs, however student outcomes show that though there is growth, it was not consistent over the three grade levels.

The report states that current resources do not provide consistency across all grade levels. “The way our current curriculum is enacted, each concept is taught in isolation, resulting in little flow or connection of ideas across the year. Illustrative Mathematics supports connection of ideas in several ways including embedded review and foreshadowing of content from the next unit,” the report indicates.

The curriculum also incorporates advanced supports for English language learners and students with disabilities. The district believes that consistent lesson structures, development of ideas from concrete to abstract, and suggestions for progression from individual to pair or small group discussion before discussing with the whole class, are design elements within Illustrative Mathematics that support learning in the diverse classrooms in Valley View.

Professional development is key for teachers to support student engagement as is a resource that can be easily shared with families . There are materials in Illustrative Mathematics that would support this including instructional routines and opportunities for students to gain free online access for each unit.

“Instructional routines emphasize a specific goal and gets students to connect that to what they are are learning; what is really cool is that it gets students to communicate with language routines that are more clear and concise. It allows students to be better able to explain what it means and also helps teachers be able to evaluate what they know and what they do on a real-world basis,” said another committee member.

EdReports, a non-profit organization that reviews curricula for alignment to standards and overall quality, recently released their assessment of Illustrative Mathematics as the highest-ever score given to any math curriculum, stating, “The instructional materials show strengths by being well designed and taking into account effective lesson structure and pacing, supporting teacher learning and understanding of the Standards, offering teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards, and supporting teachers in differentiating instruction for diverse learners within and across grades.”

By Laura Katauskas

Staff Reporter

As the remodeling of the former site of Applebee’s in Romeoville has been in the works for months, the incoming restaurant owners are ready to hire.

Owners of the Bee Brothers restaurant announced a two-day hiring event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 23 and 24 at its location, 472 Weber Road. The walk-in event requires no appointments. Hopeful should expect to fill out applications and proceed with interviews.

A family restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, Bee Brothers will be the first foray into the restaurant business for the young ownership group who also run El Ranchito Supermarket in Joliet.

The restaurant is expected to serve breakfast standards, but with a few different, unique dishes.

With its name, the restaurant will serve freshly-made honey biscuits and have a bee-like theme, associating its interior with the colors of the honey producers.

Vacant for more than four years, the former site of Applebee’s will now be home to this new family restaurant.

Applebee’s closed in June 2013 after filing for bankruptcy and closing eight suburban locations in the same time period.

Will County

Unofficial results, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, from the Will County Clerk’s Office.

Voter turnout: 21.58 percent

Governor and Lieutenant Governor, facing off in the fall election

Republican: Rauner/Sanguinetti, 51.7 percent

Democrat: Pritzker/Stratton, 47.98 percent

Will County County Clerk, facing off in the fall election

Republican: Laurie McPhillips, 100 percent

Democrat: Lauren Staley-Ferry, 58.52 percent

County Board Member District One, facing off in the fall election

Democrat: Bob Howard, 27.79 percent

Democrat: Laurie Summers, 50.56 percent

Republican: Keith Ogle, 31.56 percent

Republican: James (Jim) Moustis, 39.69 percent

WHITE OAK LIBRARY REFERENDUM

NO, 53.81 percent

TROY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT REFERENDUM

NO, 66.44 percent

DuPage County

Unofficial results, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, from the DuPage County Clerk’s Office.

Voter turnout: 23.93 percent

DuPage County Sheriff

Republican: James Mendrick, 60.35 percent, to face Democrat opponent in fall election

COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 99 BOND MEASURE

YES, 61.95 percent

Cook County

Unofficial results, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, from the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

Voter turnout: 28.7 percent

Top vote getter will face their Republican opponent in the fall election.

DEM – Board President, Cook County

Toni Preckwinkle, 58.59 percent

Bob Fioretti, 41.41 percent

DEM – Assessor, Cook County

Joseph Berrios, 32.41 percent

Frederick Kaegi, 46.79 percent

DEM – Commissioner, County Board 13th District

Bushra Amiwala, 25.27 percent

Larry Suffredin, 59.36 percent

Daniel Foster, 15.37 percent

By Laura Katauskas | Staff Reporter

Working to transform a unique-sized lot to make way for new development, Holiday Inn will soon break ground on Romeoville’s newest hotel.

The 2.35 acre site along Normantown Road, off Interstate 55, will sit between Creme de la Creme preschool and the Bowlero bowling area.

The new development will consist of a four-story Holiday Inn Express hotel with 96 guest rooms, an indoor pool, meeting rooms, fitness center, business center, breakfast/lounge space and an outdoor patio space.

Mayor John Noak said there is a great demand for hotel space and that the new addition will most likely be the nicest product of its kind in that area, bringing with it other benefits and the possibility of attracting more development including restaurants to the area.

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Romeoville,” said Noak. “Whether it be for graduations or campus visits, sporting tournaments, or work related purposes, these people need places to stay. This new Holiday Inn will give them another option in Romeoville. Hotels are a great addition to the community as it helps market other sites for development such as restaurants and entertainment.”

Not previously designed for hotel space, the configuration of the lot has caused a few obstacles in construction.

“Because of where the roads and the lots are located, we’ve had to work with public works to squeeze in utilities; they are all around this building and cause a lot of things to ripple through this project,” said Community Development Director Steve Rockwell.

Those unique barriers were met with variances to village code and waiving some requirements to allow for the construction of the building.

Rockwell said the developer has accommodated all of the village’s requests to make this project work. Issues such as tree replacement, which is normally required but undoable because of the area, will be balanced out by increased landscaping and masonry work.

Developers and Noak also assured that there will be enough distance from the nearby preschool as to not interfere with their pick-up and drop off schedule for students.

Signage will be taller than average height, but is needed due to its close proximity to I-55.

“We didn’t have a problem with that; we want everyone to be excited to see it and find it,” said Rockwell. “We’ve been asked, why so many variances but it is because it’s a small lot and the developer has complied with every one of our requests.”

The developer is expected to break ground in May and to be complete in summer 2019.

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

In this season’s NCAA Division-I men’s basketball tournament, Loyola-Chicago has been the Cinderella of the dance.

The No. 11 seed in the Midwest Regional, the Ramblers are the Loyola is the fourth No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four since the NCAA Tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

The tournament darling is headed up by 1986 Benet Academy graduate Porter Moser.

Moser, who was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player in 2017, was a three-year varsity starter under head coach Bill Geist.

Moser helped Benet to a 70-14 varsity record and was part of the Redwings’ state-record 102-game home winning streak.

As a senior, he was named Most Valuable Player in the West Suburban Catholic Conference.

After Benet, Moser attended Creighton and was a two-year starter, helping the Bluejays to the 1989 Missouri Valley Conference title and a NCAA Tournament berth.

A year after graduating, Moser joined the coaching staff at his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach. He then spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University before moving to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for one season. He then returned to Texas A&M for two more seasons before spending a pair of seasons as an assistant at University of Alabama-Little Rock.

Loyola coach Porter Moser (Steve Woltmann)

In 2000, he got his first head coaching job at UALR, piloting the Trojans to a 54-34 record in three seasons.

He was then the head coach at Illinois State for four years before leaving after the 2007 season to take an assistant job under legendary coach Rick Majerus at Saint Louis University.

Moser was named associate head coach after spending one season as an assistant coach and remained with the Bilikins until taking the job at Loyola in 2011.

Moser, the 2018 Midwest Valley Conference coach of the Year, is now in his seventh season at Loyola and Has a record of 121-110 with the Ramblers and will compete Saturday in his first Final Four.

Overall, he has a head coaching record of 226-211.

A member of Moser’s staff is Bryan Mullins, who is in his fifth year on the Ramblers’ staff. It is his third season as assistant coach after two-years as the director of basketball operations. Mullins works primarily with the team’s backcourt in addition to scouting and recruiting duties.

During his senior season in 2004-05, Mullins averaged 16.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.3 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game as the Mustangs claimed a school-best 30-4 record and the program’s only state trophy.

South defeated top-ranked Thornton in the state quarterfinals behind Mullins’ team-high 15 points.

The Mustangs then lost to Carbondale in the semifinals, but defeated Rockford Jefferson in the third- game behind 19 points, eight assists and six steals from Mullins.

That season, he was named first-team All-State. He was third team All-State his junior year, averaging 12 points and seven assists per game.

Mullins is not the only Voyager Media area coach in the Final Four hoping to make the ascent through the ranks like Moser.

Former Joliet West head coach Luke Yaklich will be on the sideline opposite of Moser in the national semifinal as he is a first-year assistant under John Beilein.

“Luke was destined to be a college coach,” said Joliet West Athletics Director Steve Millsaps. “When I sat and talked with him when he told me he was offered (a job at Illinois State University), he was struggling with the decision, you just knew he would be putting in the work – and look at him now.”

Yaklich made the jump from high school to the college ranks in 2013, getting hired at his alma mater Illinois State as an assistant under current head coach and college roommate Dan Muller.

Before the start of the 2016-17 season, Yaklich was promoted to associate head coach and helped the Redbirds to a share of the Missouri Valley regular-season title as ISU set program records for overall victories (28), regular-season wins (25) and conference wins (17).

Luke Yacklich(Michigan Photography)

In four years at ISU, Yaklich helped Illinois State to an 86-50 record and two berths in the National Invitation Tournament and one College Basketball Invitational.

In addition to his coaching duties with the Redbirds, Yaklich was in charge of ISU men’s basketball academics along with assisting in recruiting, scouting and working on skill development. In the fall of 2014, ISU established a team grade-point average record with a 2.99 GPA, breaking the previous mark by 0.13 points.

“At the end of last season, coach Muller and I sat down and he asked where I would like to be in three years and in five years and I talked about the possibility of being a D-II head coach or a D-III coach and keep learning and we discussed the possibility of being a high major assistant coach and once that process started – I will never forget that conversation – we were in the office and (coach Muller) said he heard Michigan had some openings and would I like him to call coach Beilein. At the time, coach B said he was not looking to hire anyone he really didn’t know. I respected that, although I was hoping to get an interview and get some experience.

“About a week later, he called back and said a couple things didn’t work and he wanted to talk to me. I talked to coach B that night for about an hour and we talked about family and coaching, philosophy and teaching and it was a great conversation and I quickly realized he was someone that what everybody writes about him is real and someone I would like to work for.”

Yaklich said he and Beilein met in Atlanta and we met for about an hour at the Delta Club at the airport and continued to talk after that set up a meeting again two weeks after that in Las Vegas.

“We met at the South Point Hotel in a deli and oyster bar and about an hour into the conversation, he slapped his hand on the table and said he was going to recommend me for the job,” Yaklich said. “My jaw hit the table as well as the tears. I was really happy to have this opportunity and I was very fortunate to have this opportunity and very thankful coach B took a chance on me.

“What coach was looking for is someone who is a teacher and a learner and someone who is genuine, which is kind of who I will always be as a person and a coach. We had a connection there because he was a high school teacher and he is a family guy and is humble and wants to keep learning and growing.”

Yaklich has been a defensive voice for the Wolverines this season has been a defensive eye for Beilein and aiding in the defensive game play as well as scouting alongside the other assistant coaches.

Before ISU, Yaklich was the head boys’ basketball coach in Joliet – coaching the combined Township program for three seasons and three at Joliet West. He also coached in the AAU ranks with the Joliet Pride and Illinois Wolves.

In his six years in the Joliet high school ranks, Yaklich posted a 104-62 record.

In his final season with West in 2013, he led the Tigers to a 19-8 record and the IHSA Class 4A Lockport Regional title.

His 2009-10 Joliet Township team posted a 24-8 mark and won the Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional. That year, he was tabbed as District 9 IBCA Coach of the Year.

“You have to get into that coaching fraternity – either in the pros or college, they ask for recommendations,” Millsaps said. “Luke was lucky to have his college roommate as head coach at ISU, somewhere he felt comfortable. What a great thing for him. He will be a head coach soon – you just know that is going to happen.”

Loyola and Michigan tip off at 5:09 p.m. Saturday from San Antonio with the winner earning a berth in the National Championship game.

And although Yaklich is one year removed from coaching in the MVC, he said this year’s Ramblers play a different style than before, but with the same attitude.

“This team is different than team’s they have had in the past,” Yaklich said. “They play a little bit different style. At the end of the day, they are a brand new team, but the one constant is that they play hard, they are well coached, they are really skilled and they compete and that is true of all of coach Moser’s team and that is what I have reiterated to our staff is how prepared they will be. That is the culture they brought to the Valley.”

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

For many people, their job is just what they do to pay the bills as they count down the days to retirement.

For Engelbert Humperdinck it is much more.

The 81-year-old s “Release Me” and “The Last Waltz” singer celebrated his 50^th anniversary of his first international chart success last year by releasing a new album.

Humperdinck will bring songs from that album and his other mega hits to Joliet’s Rialto Square Theater on Saturday, April 21.

“I love what I do,” Humperdinck said. “This year is a continuation of my 50^th year in the business and we are celebrating. Last year we did a box set of 11 CDs that was the first seven years of my career and this year we released a brand new album called “’The Man I Want To Be” because I still don’t know who I want to be and I have been in the business 50 years.

“It is an amazing album and has some fantastic new songs which I am thrilled about. This album is a love letter to my wife.”

The new album features new material as well as covers of songs like Photograph” by Ed Sheeran, and “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars.

Mars is an artist that Humperdinck knew of long before the rest of the world.

“He performed for me in Hawaii when the fan club had a party for me and he was only five years old and I told him then he was going to be a big star – but now he is a mega star and now I am recording one of his songs,” Humperdinck said. “It is amazing how our paths have crossed again. I just hope he likes my rendition. I got a great note from Richard Marx thanking me for recording one of his songs.”

The covers, however, are not the songs that help make the album personal to the 81-year-old father of four.

He performs a duet on the album with his granddaughter Oliva.

“There is a song called “I’m Glad I Danced With You,” it is the only duet on the album and it is sung by my granddaughter who is nine years old,” Humperdinck said. “She is wonderful. She is family, but I wouldn’t have put her on the album if she wasn’t wonderful.”

The new material and an all new show is something fans can expect April 21 when Humperdinck arrives in downtown Joliet.

“I always give them something different,” he said. “I try and keep my show fresh when I play a place I have visited before. I never take a break, I am on stage one hour and 45 minutes and I try and keep fans interested.”

By Randy Whalen
For the Bugle

As the only senior starter for the Benet Academy girl basketball team, Tsimba Malonga knew she was capable of scoring.

But after suffering a hyperextended knee and missing a few weeks in the middle of the season, she didn’t always get that opportunity.

So playing in her final high school game, the University of Denver recruit showed what she is capable of. Malonga poured in all 21 of her points in the second half to easily help her North squad double up the South team 88-44 in the Voyager Media Girls Basketball All-Star Shootout, on Sunday, March 18 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.

Benet’s Timba Malinga won the MVP Award

This was the ninth year of the girls game. Malonga is the second Benet player to win the MVP award. Emily Eschoo won it in 2015.

“In the first half of the game, I wanted to get a feel for it,” Malonga said, “Then when I did, my shot was just falling and I just kept shooting. It was just a lot of fun wearing my Benet jersey one more time.”

The 21 points were tied with Plainfield Central’s Hennessey Handy (‘16) for the second most in the girls all-star game. Plainfield East’s Gabby Williams (‘13) holds the record with 24 points.

When Malonga was notified in the final minutes that she was close to the record, she did what many of the great players do. She passed to another player.

As the game went, it hardly mattered as the North led 28-13 at halftime and then scored 60 second half points to easily break the girls record for most points in a game. The previous mark was 81 points by Team Taylor – under a different format, in 2015.

The Valley View School District – 365U was well represented with talent on the North team. Fresh off of leading Bolingbrook to its first sectional title since 2013, Jahari Smith (16 points), Gabby Smith (15 points) and Lynese Johnson (2 points) combined for 33 points.

“I had a lot of fun,” Gabby Smith said. “It was amazing to do. There were some amazing players out here.”

Romeoville’s Brittany Osborne (13 points) also had a nice game as she nailed a trio of 3-pointers.

Also scoring for North was Krystina Wayne (5 points) and Kelle Knopp (4 points) from Plainfield North.

“It was fun playing with different teammates,” Knopp said. “It was fun putting on the jersey again. We have been done for about three weeks now, so we were all joking about if the jersey still fit.”

Sarah Gersch was Jeremy Izzy Character Award Winner

Natalie Takahashi (4 points) from Lisle, Hayley Semple (4 points) from Maine South, Jen Masello (2 points) from Downers Grove South, and Sydney Pardy (2 points) from Westmont. Fiona Spuria from Maine South was also on the North roster.

Pardy and Takahashi were representing the Class 2A schools and enjoyed the chance to show their skills.

“It was super fun,” Takahashi said. “I was a little nervous at the beginning, but once I got to know my teammates, I had fun. None of us wanted to lose. We wanted to break the scoring record of 81 and we were happy to do that.”

The game started slowly, with both teams missing their first few shots. The South had an 8-7 lead on a 3-pointer by Lockport’s Destiny Davis. But Jahari Smith scored back-to-back baskets to put the North squad ahead for good. Up 15-12 the North team closed the half on a 13-1 run for the 15-point halftime lead and cruised from there.

Joliet West’s Sarah Gersch is now into softball season and will go onto play that sport in college at Saginaw Valley State University. But she made an impact not only on the court, but also off of it for the Tigers. That’s why basketball coach John Placher nominated her for the annual Voyager Media Award for her display of character, class and sportsmanship on and off the court.

That was the Jeremy Izzo Character Award, which is named after the former Joliet Catholic Academy boys basketball coach, who passed away in 2010. Gersch was this years recipient an was presented the award after the game.

“Yes, my coach [Placher] told me,” Gersch said of winning the award. “That [qualities of the award] is just what I do. I’m not out looking for an award, but it was nice.

“I played three years on varsity basketball and it was fun. I’m playing softball in college, so it was just fun to be out there playing basketball one more time.”

Gersch had seven points in the game. Her teammate – Dasia Norris was one of the co-scoring leaders of the South team with eight points. The other co-scoring leader for the South team had quite the tale to tell of getting to the game. That was Plainfield East’s Olivia Jenkins, who also had eight points.

Jenkins, however, only played in the second half. That’s because she arrived at the game with seconds to play in the first half and literally wanted to spring into action as she jumped over a chair to take her place on the South bench.

Why was Jenkins late?

“I was attending a musical at my school,” she said of an afternoon event at Plainfield East. When I got out of there I put St. Francis in my GPS and followed the directions.”

There was one problem with that, the GPS brought up the directions to get to St. Francis High School in Wheaton. Getting there and realizing her mistake, Jenkins had to double back and get to the University of St. Francis in Joliet. So a drive that should have taken 20 minutes or so, instead turned into an hour long adventure.

But being the good natured person she is, Jenkins laughed it off. She will attend Xavier University in Ohio in the fall to play soccer. But she hasn’t given up on basketball yet as she might play both sports in college.

But either way, her favorite part of the All-Star game was playing one last time with teammate Maiya Creal.

“It was nice to play with Maiya one last time,” Jenkins said. “We didn’t expect to lose when we did [62-55 to Lockport in the Class 4A Oswego East Regional semifinals]. So we weren’t ready to say goodbye then. This gave us one more game together.”

Creal scored six points in the game. Destiny Davis (7 points) and Taylor Hopkins (3 points), who helped Lockport to its first regional title in 11 years, also contributed. Emily Vollmer (4 points) from Joliet Central and Sam Lordan (1 point) from Plainfield South also scored. Deericka Martin from Joliet Central and Taylor Shingler from Lockport also played on the South squad.

“It felt good to be in this game and be out there to play,” said Hopkins, who was sidelined for about three weeks during the season with a hip flexor injury. “I was glad to get back from the injury and it was just fun to play with everyone. There was a lot of talent.”

By Randy Whalen
For the Bugle

The purpose of an all-star game is to have fun.

There was no doubt that the players on the court during the Voyager Media Boys Basketball All-Star Shootout, on Sunday, March 18 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, had fun. But in the end the South squad had a little more fun. That’s because they rallied to win.

Led by a game-high 25 points from MVP Ryan Saunders from Joliet Central, the South rallied in the second half to come away with a 120-116 victory in the 10th annual event with showcases some of the areas seniors. It was the sixth straight season that the game was held at USF and this was certainly one of the most entertaining.

While not quite as high scoring as the previous seasons 134-122 North win, the game went down to the final minute before the South came away with the win.

Ryan Saunders of Joliet Central was MVP

“I was not expecting it,” Saunders said of winning the MVP. “We were just out there having fun and it was an exciting game.”

He’s uncommitted to college at this time, but after losing 94-91 in double overtime to Bolingbrook in the Romeoville Sectional semifinal, he and his two teammates certainly liked being in the All-Star game.

His 25 points was the fourth highest individual total for a guy in the All-Star game. Ryan Crow from Plainfield North holds the record with 42 points in 2009. Saunders Steelmen teammates chipped in some too as Cameron Blackmon (7 points) and Don Joachim (6 points) had some key points.

But no one was more key than Saunders. The North led 103-96 when Eddie Creal had an alley-opp slam, one of a few in the game for the Romeoville star, with 7:26 to play.

Paging Dr. Saunders.

The South then went on a 13-2 burst, with Saunders scoring 11 of those points. He capped it off with eight straight points, including a rebound bucket with 3:46 to play for a 109-105 lead.

The North took one last lead at 111-110 on a layup by Romeoville’s Kahlil Blakney with 1:59 left. But Blackmon got a layup and Plainfield North’s Brady Miller mashed a slam for a 114-11 lead. Bolingbrook’s Kaleb Thornton tied it at 114-114 on a 3-pointer. But with just over a minute remaining Joliet West’s Michael Smith hit a free throw and Plainfield Central’s Matthews Morganfield (9 points) followed that with a pair of free throws to put the South ahead for good at 117-114.

After a North miss, Miller got the clincher and capped his basketball career in grand fashion. He grabbed a rebound about 6-feet from the basket, but dribbled back out 15-feet to the left corner. From there he let the shot fly and his game-clinching 3-pointer got nothing but net with 38 seconds to play. Blakney added one last basket 10 seconds later, but the South hung on to win.

“It was a big shot and I had to step up and hit it,” Miller said of the 3-pointer. “It was just awesome and fun to play with these guys. As the game wound down, the intensity went up.”

Miller scored 14 points in the game, which will be his last organized basketball one. A three-sport standout, including being quarterback of the football team, he will continue his college career as a pitcher at at Western Michigan.

“I’m going to miss it a lot ,” Miller said of basketball. “But I’m looking forward to an awesome baseball career at Western Michigan.”

Lockport’s Deondre Cooper (4 points) and a trio of players from Minooka – twins Keegan (3 points) and Kyle (2 points) Graebner, along with Brandon Hill (11 points). Charles McKinney (19 points) led four players from Joliet West that wee on the South team. The others were Smith (7 points) along with Derron Williams (7 points) and Darren Williams (6 points).

Early on in the game, the North team jumped out to leads of 6-0 and 11-2. The South squad rallied to lead 25-19, but a 22-6 spurt put the North ahead 41-31 and it extended to a 71-57 halftime lead.

Creal led the North team with 24 points and his teammate – Blakney, added 12 points. Bolingbrook had a trio of players in uniform for the game and they all contributed big by combining for 43 points for the North team. Thornton, who missed a few weeks in the season with a had injury, made sure his last high school game was a good one with 17 points.

“All star games are always the best,” Thornton said. “Everyone gets to show off a little flare. For us, this is the last time we will put on our high school jersey and it means a lot for you guys to do this for us.”

Joey Saracco (14 points) and Isaiah Clemons (12 points) also scored for the Raiders.

Mychale Hyland was the long-range specialist as he drained four 3-pointers and had 14 points for the North team.

“I had fun getting the jersey on one more time and showing out,” Hyland said.

His Downers Grove North teammate – Jake Rozema, added six points. Benet had two players – Jacob Petrovic (5 points) and David Buh (4 points) score. Clyde Singleton (4 points) represented Niles West and Devin Tincu (4 points) represented Lisle.

“This is a lot of fun,” Tincu said. “It is a no pressure game and a completely different environment from the season.”

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

When Gabby Smith stepped on the floor for her first season of basketball for the Raiders, she knew her class could be the one to get the Bolingbrook girls basketball program back on track.

As her senior season wound down – she knew they had done just that.

“I wanted to be the best leader I could for my team and help us get as far as we could,” she said. “I had a really good season and we didn’t make it as far as we wanted to, but I am glad we won the sectional. We have a lot of momentum for next year.” 

On the season, Smith averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game, leading the Raiders to their first sectional title since Chris Smith took over as head coach.

“She grew up so much this year. She matured as a player,” Bolingbrook coach Chris Smith said. “She adoped to the role of putting the team on her back and going after it. That desire, that heart, that was her big difference. She took it personally. That is what seperated her from everyone else this year.”

For her efforts, Gabby Smith is the 2018 Voyager Media Player of the Year.

“Bolingbrook is known for girls basketball and we wanted to get it back there,” she said.

Smith was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All State first team.

She will continue her career next season at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

“It is the perfect fit for me,” she said. “When I visited, I loved the coaches and the school and when I visited there, I loved the team.”

The rest of the first team is:

Cierra Bachmann
Minooka 

Led the Indians with 14.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season. IBCA Class 3A/4A Special Mention.

Kachae Donald
Plainfield Central 

Sophomore guard averaged 14.5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Wildcats.

She was All-SPC, a member of the Oswego East Holiday Classic all-tournament team and the team MVP.

She knocked down a total of 69 3-point field goals, made threes.

Sam Galanopoulos
Niles West

Junior averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2 steals per game for the Wolves. She was named an All-Conference selection as well as All-Tournament at York and Libertyville All-Tournament Team.  IBCA Class 3A/4A Fourth Team.

Olivia Jenkins
Plainfield East  

The Southwest Prairie Conference Player of the Year tallied 18.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Bengals. IBCA Class 3A/4A Special Mention.

Holly Lueken
Downers Grove South

Junior paced the Mustangs with a team-high 17.2 points per game to go along with 7.1 rebounds per contest, while racking up 52 total blocks. IBCA Class 3A/4A Special Mention.

Tsimba Malonga
Benet

Senior missed time with an injury, but still managed 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Redwings. IBCA Class 3A/4A Second Team.

Jen Masello
Downers Grove South 

Senior averaged a double-double of 13.8 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Mustangs.

Brooke Schramek
Benet 

Player of the Year in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, she tallied 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the regional champions. IBCA Class 3A/4A Third Team.

Jahari Smith
Bolingbrook

Senior averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks for the regional sectional champion Raiders.

She will play next season at Central Michigan University. IBCA Class 3A/4A Third Team.

SECOND TEAM

Anaya Brooks
Plainfield South

Despite being limited to only 15 games because of a foot injury, she averaged 12.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Will play at Illinois State next season.

Chelsea Cross
Plainfield North  

Senior averaged 10 points and 8 assists per game, while running the point for the Tigers and being the team’s best defender.

Sarah Gersch
Joliet West 

An IBCA Class 3A/4A all-state special mention member, the senior averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game. She was named to the All-Southwest Prairie Conference team as well as being named MVP of the Oak Lawn Tournament MVP. Won Voyager Media Jeremy Izzo Character Award.

Annaliese Griffin
Plainfield Central  

The 6-foot, 1-inch freshman forward averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and blocks per game last season for the Wildcats. She was named to the All-SPC team. She posted a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds against TF South.

Danyel Middleton
Bolingbrook 

Sophomore is already turning the heads of Division-I coaches while averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists this season.

Sydney Pardy
Westmont 

Sentinel senior led all Voyager Media area scorers 20.2 points per game. She also tallied 14.3 rebounds per game to average a double-double on the season.

Nicole Scales
Maine South

Tallied 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.2 assists to lead the Hawks.

Hayley Semple
Maine South

Senior averaged 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game for Maine South. IBCA Class 3A/4A Special Mention.

Jalysa Stokes
Joliet Central  

Freshman point guard averaged 15.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 assists per game for Central. She was named to the All-SPC team and was All-Tournament at Lincoln Way Central Thanksgiving Tournament and Oswego East Christmas Tournament.

Natalie Takahashi
Lisle 

Despite missing time with injury, the senior tallied 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, including dropping 30 points in the regional opener.

Class 1A/2A All State Special Mention.

Dr. Paul Singh recently spoke with sophomore students at Romeoville High School about his career in the dental profession and the path that took him there.

In addition, he shared the responsibilities (including debt/loans, class hours, schools, salary) and other interesting facts related to the dental profession, which is now ranked No. 2 among the 100 best jobs from U.S. News and World Report.

“You can be whatever you want to be. Just find something you have a passion for,” Singh told Romeoville High School students. “I received a great education here,” the Romeoville High Class of 1987 graduate told students. “My teachers here inspired me. I hope you have teachers that inspire you.”

The fact is the Independence Elementary School and Jane Addams Middle School graduate loved Valley View so much that he named his dental practice after the school district. Valley View Dental has offices in Romeoville, Naperville and Montgomery with a sister office in Yorkville.

Singh helped students understand what it takes to achieve a career in the dental field, pointing out the importance of good customer service and the ability to interact with other people.

“Talk with people. Learn from people, not the internet,” he said. With cell phones, it’s so easy to be distracted and if you spend a lot of time on the internet, you’re not going to develop the interpersonal skills needed to develop professional relationships.”

Becoming a dentist, Singh said, takes a lot of work and up to 10 years of schooling after high school.

“But it’s worth it. Generally speaking, the more degrees you have will equate to a higher level of income,” he added. “Your career decision out of choice, will satisfying your need for autonomy, which essentially means having a job where you can make at least some of the decisions on your own.”

The best high school courses for any career in the medical field are chemistry, math, science, and physics, the dentist said. Plus these days some art, speech and computer programming classes would help as well; and never stop learning, he added.

“Pay attention. Education is a lifelong process. Even now, 20 years later, I still go to continuing education classes.”

Singh is a proud member of the American Dental Association, Illinois Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, Will County Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, and the Academy of General Practice for Orthodontics.

Valley View Dental specializes in maintaining and creating healthy, beautiful smiles. We offer a full array of services including general, cosmetic and emergency dentistry, orthodontics, teeth whitening, dental implants, dentures, crowns, preventative care and periodontal exams. For more information visit http://www.vvdental.com/

Note to readers: Information in Police Blotter is obtained from the Romeoville Police Department and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Individuals listed in Police Blotter charged with a crime have not been proven guilty in court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

FEBRUARY 22

Shawnta Anderson, 22, of Justice, was arrested at 8:07 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Normantown for disorderly conduct.

FEBRUARY 25

Ricardo Albarran, 25, of Joliet, was arrested at 1:11 p.m. in the area of Route 53 and Chambers for driving with a revoked license and speeding.

FEBRUARY 26

Twyla Russell, 27, of Chicago, was arrested at 3:42 p.m. in the 0-100 block of South Weber Road for identity theft and possession of fraudulent driver’s license.

FEBRUARY 27

Jonathan Quiles, 34, of Romeoville, was arrested at 9:23 a.m. in the 200 block of East Savannah for animal cruelty.

MARCH 2

A forgery was reported at 5:47 p.m. in the 600 block of South Weber Road. An unknown person attempted to make a purchase with a counterfeit $100 bill. The purchase was not completed, and the counterfeit bill was left at the business.

MARCH 3

Giovanni Bermudez, 19, of Summit, was arrested at 10:41 a.m. in the area of Weber and Airport roads for no valid driver’s license, no insurance and no seat belt.

Justin Gay, 24, 6 Elgin, Romeoville, was arrested at 9:04 p.m. in the area of Airport and Southcreek Parkway for an in-state warrant.

MARCH 6

Michael Haldeman, 24, of Lockport, was arrested at 1:33 p.m. in the area of Taylor and Troxel for driving with a suspended license, speeding and in-state warrant.

Alexander Kimble-Kline, 24, of Lockport, was arrested at 3:59 p.m. in the area of Normantown and Dalhart for no valid driver’s license, expired registration and no insurance.

MARCH 7

Christopher Navarre, 22, of Lockport, was arrested at 12:42 a.m. in the area of Route 53 and Rock Road for aggravated DUI, driving with a suspended license, failure to signal, improper lane usage, improper turn, no insurance, illegal transport of alcohol and failure to notify of address change.

Susan O’Connor, 51, of Romeoville, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. in the 1000 block of West Romeo Road for an in-state warrant.

MARCH 8

Reymundo Rojo, 41, of Chicago, was arrested at 10:39 p.m. in the area of Dalhart and Crossroads for driving with a revoked license and speeding.

MARCH 9

Evelyn King, 28, of Joliet, was arrested at 3:39 a.m. in the area of Route 53 and Romeo Road for driving with a suspended license, no insurance, expired registration and improper display of registration.

MARCH 9

A burglary from motor vehicle was reported at 5:49 p.m. in the 300 block of Eaton. Unknown person(s) took a wallet from an unlocked vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the residence.

A burglary from motor vehicle was reported at 7:36 p.m. in the 300 block of Eaton. Unknown person(s) took paperwork from an unlocked vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the residence.

Brenda Lopez, 37, of Romeoville, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. in the area of Belmont and Camden for no valid driver’s license.

MARCH 11

A retail theft was reported at 11:23 a.m. in the 600 block of Weber Road. Unknown person(s) took several packages of antacids valued at a total of $147.92.

MARCH 12

Antonio Montalvo-Herrera, 31, of Bolingbrook, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. in the area of Naperville and Six Pines for no valid driver’s license.

Illini Precast ready to improve, beautify property across from Lewis University

By Laura Katauskas | Staff Reporter

As part of the village of Romeoville’s plan to beautify the Route 53 corridor, work will soon be done to clear the area across from Lewis University.

Village documents show that that the concrete plant across from the entrance to Lewis University predates most village codes and was annexed as part of the Material Service Annexation in 1995. Over the years the plant fell into disrepair with large piles of broken concrete left scattered around the site from the previous tenant.

Illini Precast, a company that specializes in pre-stressed concrete for parking towers, bridges, and big box structures, purchased the old concrete plant located on Route 53 across from Lewis University. Last year, Material Service and Illini Precast began the negotiations for Illini to purchase the site and had begun the cleaning process.

Illini Precast recently closed on the property and has begun improving the site, looking to repair the existing building. The company also will be adding a few additions of their own, including a 40-foot expansion to the north end of the building and a new batch plant.

Over the past year, the village and Lewis University have been working to spruce up Route 53 from Renwick Road to Airport Road; burying overhead power lines, adding landscape islands on Route 53, and screening the surrounding industrial uses.

According to the village, in exchange for allowing the new plant to continue to operate as-is and to grant the additional building area and batch plant, Illini Precast will donate 280 feet of precast wall for screening by the Lewis entrance and cover the cost of landscaping.

The move is also expected to improve not only the existing entrance but will possibly include two future access points to the north of the existing access, along Airport Road.

“This is an exciting situation,” said Mayor John Noak. “Not only do we have a new business coming into the area, but they’re immediately improving a property they just acquired and helping us to beautify one of the main entryways into town.”

Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots wants to remind individuals interested in running as an independent, new party or sanitary district trustee candidate in the General Election on November 6, about petition packet availability. Petition packets are now available for candidates. Petitions can be printed out online at www.thewillcountyclerk.com. Petition packets are also available at the Will County Clerk’s Office at 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet. A petition packet sign out list, (from in-person requests) will be available and posted on the Clerk’s website at 3:30 p.m. each business day.

The Will County offices to be elected for a 4-year term are County Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff, and Regional Superintendent of Schools (Will County). County Board Members to be elected for a 4-year term are Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11. Sanitary Districts East Joliet (3 full trustees) and Lockport Heights (2 full trustees) to be elected for a 4-year term.

Candidates must remember the following when collecting signatures: individual must be a registered voter, signatures must be signed not printed, and voters can only sign petitions within the district and/or precinct where they reside.

For the most up to date information on the upcoming General Election, visit www.thewillcountyclerk.com.

Note to readers: Information in Police Blotter is obtained from the Romeoville Police Department and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Individuals listed in Police Blotter charged with a crime have not been proven guilty in court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

MARCH 5

Corinne Roe, 52, of Romeoville, was arrested at 7:18 p.m. in the area of Airport and Budler for DUI, improper lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol.

MARCH 8

Francois Tiako, 46, of Romeoville, was arrested at 12:57 a.m. in the 1100 block of Grand for battery.

MARCH 10

Rey Lopez-Ramirez, 35, of Bolingbrook, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. in the area of Camden and Belmont for aggravated DUI, driving with a revoked license, failure to signal and improper lane usage.

MARCH 13

A criminal damage to property was reported at 12:13 p.m. in the 300 block of Healy. Unknown person(s) damaged nine tires on five cars that were parked in the driveway and in the street in front of the residence.

A criminal damage to property was reported at 12:44 p.m. in the 300 block of Healy. Unknown person(s) punctured the sidewall of a tire that was parked in the street.

James Doolittle, 48, of Romeoville, was arrested at 1:49 a.m. in the area of Dalhart and Corona for speeding and fleeing and eluding.

MARCH 14

Sharnesia Cooley, 24, of Joliet, was arrested at 4 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Romeo Road for battery.

Demetrius Brown, 23, of, Chicago, was arrested at 11:37 p.m. in the area of Independence and Montrose for no valid driver’s license, no insurance and no rear registration light.

MARCH 15

Brian Laibl, 24, of Romeoville, was arrested at 4:02 a.m. in the 600 block of Hudson for an in-state warrant.

Benito Abarca, 34, of Romeoville, was arrested at 12:20 p.m. in the 1000 block of Romeo Road for an in-state warrant.

A criminal damage to property was reported at 3:37 p.m. in the 500 block of Camden. Unknown person(s) appeared to have used a baseball bat to break all the windows on a vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the residence.

A retail theft was reported at 3:48 p.m. in the 600 block of South Weber Road. An unknown person took a bottle of liquor valued at $48.99 from the business.

A criminal damage to property was reported at 5:16 p.m. in the 400 block of Stone Bluff. Unknown person(s) broke out the back window of a vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the residence.

Jose Bolivar-Perez, 46, of Romeoville, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. in the area of Taylor and Wesglen for driving with a suspended license and speeding.

Charles Suggs, 28, of Romeoville, was arrested at 9:44 p.m. in the area of Kingston and Belmont for driving with a suspended license and disobey traffic sign.

MARCH 16

Marius Griffin, 44, of Chicago, was arrested at 1:57 a.m. in the area of McKool and Spangler for aggravated DUI, aggravated driving with a revoked license, no insurance, improper turn and an in-state warrant.

Tammy Ryder, 54, of Romeoville, was arrested at 10:36 a.m. in the 1000 block of Romeo Road for an in-state warrant.

Jose Victor, 19, of Romeoville, was arrested at 11:22 p.m. in the area of Airport and O’Hare for speeding 35+ over the limit.

MARCH 18

A retail theft was reported at 1:21 p.m. in the 400 block of South Weber Road. An unknown person took two computer routers and a plastic storage bin with a total value of $707.98 from the business.

MARCH 20

Andrew Pruitt, 43, of Romeoville, was arrested at 7 a.m. in the 1000 block of Romeo Road for failure to register as a sex offender.

Meghan Dudczyk, 27, of Joliet, was arrested at 7:15 p.m. in the area of Weber and Normantown for aggravated DUI, driving with a revoked license, failure to report accident, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid accident and obstructing identification.

By Laura Katauskas | Staff Reporter

Continuing to ensure students have access to technology, the Valley View School District 365u is looking to further its reach to include Chromebooks for its second and third-grade students in its accelerated program.

The district originally crafted a three-year plan to provide Limitless Learning 1 to 1; providing a Chromebook to all fourth through post twelfth grade students. They completed the initiative in two years and now plan to extend the 1 to 1 resource to all third grade and second grade Challenge students by moving Chromebooks that are now stored in carts to these classrooms for individual use rather than being used as a shared resource.

In addition, plans are to replace older laptops in use for at least for five years used by staff throughout the district. According to the district, these laptops are now experiencing a high rate of component failure with parts that are costly to replace.

The technology department is proposing to replace 835 staff laptops that have reached their end of life, plus 118 building resource / tech spare laptops for a total purchase of 953 laptops. These will be replaced with a new laptop that was piloted by Building Technology Support Staff (BTSS). The new proposed laptops will include superior features that will provide an upgrade as to what staff currently were using.

These projects would be completed over the summer and would be funded through Title 1 allocations and the district’s technology lease funds.