Joliet 4-25-12 by Bugle, Sentinel & Enterprise Newspapers

INSIDE

SPORTS Speedway hosts Q&A with Kenseth

NEWS City drains Splash Station partnership PAGE 3

PAGE 10

Our Village, Our News

www.jolietbugle.com

APRIL 25, 2012

Vol. 4 No. 34

Opening Chicago Street City discusses plans to reopen Chicago Street with transportation center construction

By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter

revision of construction plans for the new Joliet transit center may include the reopening of Chicago Street, and some local business owners are welcoming the proposal. Ray Wesley is the owner of The Red Goose Bakery & Cafe,

which is located on the corner of Chicago and Jefferson streets. The proposed reopening would connect Chicago Street between Washington and Jefferson streets, making businesses like Wesley’s the main beneficiaries. “I actually thought it was approved already,” Wesley said. “I was looking forward to it. I think it will open up traffic from that side of Chicago [Street] and of course increase our sales.”

The Red Goose opened in February, and Wesley also thinks the move could increase her companies sales from deliveries. Mike Trizna, owner of Chicago Street Bar and Grill, 75 N. Chicago St., is also looking forward to a potential reopening of Chicago Street. Trizna, who has owned his bar for 7 years, said he has been trying to get the street re-opened See CHICAGO, page 2

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

News

Giant public sale at former Silver Cross Hospital set A two-day public sale is scheduled to liquidate thousands of non-medical items from the former Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, IL. Everything must go due to their relocation, including furniture, file cabinets, office chairs, recliners, sleeper sofas, kitchen equipment, refrigerators, ice machines, freezers, flat screen televisions, artwork and more.

CHICAGO Continued from page 1 for nearly 10 years. For him, the move would make his establishment more accessible to potential patrons. “Just something as simple as trying to give directions to someone who’s not from around here,”Trizna said.“Now, they have to make six turns before they get here. I think if it opens business will grow exponentially.” Joliet City Manager Thomas Thanas echoed this sentiment, saying that reestablishing Chicago Street as the city’s main thoroughfare would benefit all the businesses in downtown Joliet. However, Thanas cautions that the proposal is still in its infancy. “The reopening of Chicago street is a part of this project, but it really isn’t the focal point of the project,”Thanas said. The proposal was part of a city council memo passed last week, which would allow Knight E/A, Inc., the city’s consulting service for the transportation center

The sale will be held on Saturday, April 28th and Sunday, April 29th in the Francis Pavilion of the old Silver Cross Hospital site located at 1200 Maple Road, Joliet, IL. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Items will be sold cash and carry only and must be removed at the time of payment. Centurion Service Group, LLC

on behalf of the Silver Cross Hospital will be hosting this twoday sale. “We have thousands of items for sale at prices that are really low. Our object is to clean out the building, not to maximize profit, so bring a big truck and your wallet, because it’s cash and carry and we don’t hold the merchandise,” said Erik Tivin, CEO, Centurion Service Group, LLC.

“The county has expressed a willingness to work

with the city, but there are a lot of other pieces to this puzzle that need to be put together before we even get to a conversation about Chicago Street,” Thomas Thanas, Joliet city manager project, to look into a number of revisions to the original bid package. According to the memo, a request by Pace Bus for “better accommodations for bus routing” served as the impetus for the Chicago Street proposal. Before that part of the project can be approved, the city has to clear a number of hurdles. The section of land that would need to be converted to allow for the reopening of Chicago Street between Washington and Jefferson currently serves as a parking area for the Will County Circuit Court and is owned by the county. “We’ve had several conversations with county officials, regarding the plan,” Thanas said. “The county has expressed a willingness to work

with the city, but there are a lot of other pieces to this puzzle that need to be put together before we even get to a conversation about Chicago Street.” One of those pieces would be a substitute parking area for the county. “It’s unlikely the county would give up parking without having some kind of replacement plan,” Thanas said. In the meantime, local business owners are still excited about the potential reopening of Chicago Street. “People will be able to drive up and down and see what’s available,” Trizna said. “Not to mention this is the original route 66, and they blocked it off.” jsamples@buglenewspapers.com

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

City drains partnership in Splash Station water park By Sherri Dauskurdas Staff Reporter

The city of Joliet said goodbye to the water park business after a decade of debt and controversy over the financial partnership with the Park District. City officials voted last week to pay out of its debt obligations with the Splash Station water park by giving the Park District a single lump sum of $950,000 and turning over complete control. The Park District and the city were joint operators of the park, which opened in 2002. The city had agreed to make payments on the water park’s construction

debt obligations in those years when the park failed to make a profit. However, the facility has yet to make any money. Amid looming debt for the city and a yearly required city bond payouts of about $173,000 to the Splash Station, officials finally felt the need to call “quits” on the partnership. The remaining debt, totaling $1.7 million, and complete control over the facility will be transferred to the Park District under the plan.The Park District may choose to keep it, close it or sell it in the future. Councilwoman Jan Quillman questioned the deal for that

very reason, wondering if the city was opting out of any potential gain that could come if the property was sold. City manager Tom Thanas said that would only be the case if the water park began to turn a profit, and he didn’t believe that it would. “I don’t think it will make a profit,” Thanas said. “In 10 years it hasn’t, and six of those years were in a very good economic time when the park was new and there was enthusiasm.” The deal also included several municipal provisions at the request of Park District officials, including a group liquor license for the various Park District

Crest Hill offers bargain to potential developer By Sherri Dauskurdas Staff Reporter

A shopping center in Crest Hill will be auctioned off next month, and the highest bidder could get a great deal, officials say. That’s because the development, located at the corner of Weber Road and Longmeadow Drive, is brand new, never occupied, and in receivership. The property boasts three buildings, four out lots and nine additional acres, and offers more than 43,000 square feet of retail space. Originally valued at $14 million, the auction bidding will begin at a mere $1.5 million. The auction is being handled by Rick Levin and Associates. Built in 2008, the bank-owned parcel is hitting the auction blocks May 2, having been in foreclosure since the original

developers lost their stake in 2008, when the real estate market collapsed. At the time, several retailers were slated to lease space in the building, city officials said. Details regarding road access were being finalized just before the developers pulled out of the project. Bryan Gay, economic development director for Crest Hill, called the facility “one of the nicest” in town, and said he is confident that once the facility is purchased and all the permits are in place, it would be easy to fill with businesses. Some interior finishing work remains, as approximately 40,000 square feet of the buildings are straight,open space. That could cost developers $4060 a square foot, depending on how the potential developers wish to use it, Gay suggested. Additionally, access to the

property from Longmeadow Drive needs to be redone, as the initial construction made it too short. Gay said the city got an estimate of about $300,000 for the road work last year. “The city has as much to gain as anyone by this,” he said, adding that while he’s not working in any official capacity with the auction process, his office is fielding phone calls and promoting it whenever they can. “We have a few foreclosed properties, but none like this,” he said. “It’s never been inhabited, and it’s really ready to go.” Inspections of the property are going on this week. For more information about the auction and property, contact Rick Levin and Associates, 312440-2000 or ricklevin.com. sdauskurdas@buglenewspapers.com

facilities that serve alcohol, a 75 percent discounted sewage rate for Splash Station and a proposed 2.5-acres increase in the amount

of land that developers must set aside for parks in Joliet. sdauskurdas@buglenewspapers.com

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Local library districts form new cooperative By Laura Katauskas Staff Reporter

TimeLine

Bigger doesn’t always mean better and local control trumps bureaucracy—that’s the philosophy behind a new cooperative of area libraries that have joined together to buck a system that spans three states. The White Oak, Fountaindale, Plainfield, Shorewood-Troy, Joliet, and Lemont public library districts came together to form the Pinnacle Library Cooperative early this year.The cooperative is taking steps to move from the Prairie Cat consortium by midJune. Under Prairie Cat, library patrons can request materials from the consortium of more than 75 libraries. However,White Oak Director Scott Pointon, said that though the new Pinnacle cooperative is geographically much smaller than Prairie Cat,

• Legally, district libraries will continue to be a member of Prairie Cat until the current contract expires on June 30, 2012. However, in day-to-day practice this change will be felt much sooner. • As of now, patrons will no longer be able to place holds on items they see in the catalog that are not owned by at least one of the six Pinnacle libraries. This is to start separating the two groups of patrons and clean up the intermingling of the two catalog systems.

as a group it holds an impressive amount of library materials. In fact, these six library organizations collectively hold 1,339,969 items, about one third of all the materials in the entire

• By the week of June 7, the existing catalog will cease to be operational in a “live” setting (i.e. people may still borrow items during that time but because the item statuses will not be updated in the catalog, accuracy will be an issue during that week). • June 14th: All Pinnacle libraries are set to “go live” with the new online catalog. • Between now and June 14th patrons may see some changes in how to borrow materials and place holds.

Prairie Cat catalog. In addition

to the holdings of the Pinnacle libraries, these districts will still be able to access collections from other libraries across the country whenever a special project or more unusual request comes in that cannot be met by Pinnacle-owned materials. One of the main benefits the move brings to patrons is a superior catalog system that is more accurate and user friendly, said Pointon. “It is fair to say that our past/ current catalog system was not up to the task of efficiently sorting the requests placed by all of the patrons in Prairie Cat,” said Pointon. “Thus a major perk of forming the Pinnacle Library Cooperative was the ability of our six member libraries to

establish our own catalog and begin using a superior catalog database and search engine.” The new catalog, from Polaris Library Systems, will have an easy-to-use search engine that will allow patrons to spend their time more efficiently. The Fountaindale Public Library District was excited to announce the new system, explaining it will also have unique features that will give patrons the ability keep a reading history and create user names instead of using library See LIBRARY, page 18

Calendar APRIL 25 Tween Scene: Lockport. 4-5 p.m. at the Gaylord Building, 200 West Eighth Street, Lockport. Tween Scene is just for kids aged 9-12. Each week is a different fun activity, like a writing club, cool crafts, and book discussions. For more information and parking options, call 815-838-0755. An evening of Anime. 6:308 p.m. at the Crest Hill branch library. Do you like anime and manga? Come watch episodes of several series to be announced and enjoy some free snacks.

APRIL 26 Wii for Kids. 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Crest Hill branch library. Play games like Mario Kart, Dance Dance Revolution, Mario Party, and Wii Sports on the big screen. For ages 6 and up. Register with the Children’s Services Desk. Back pain talk and spine consultation. 6 p.m. at Madison Medical Plaza, 301 N. Madison St., Joliet. If you’ve been suffering from back pain and have tried everything with no relief, give the experts at Provena Saint Josephs Medical Center Neuroscience Institute a try. Join them for a free 30 minute talk on the causes and treatments of pack pain. Physical therapists will offer free spine consultations. Call 815-725-9438 to register. Cub Scout Pack 258 Round-

up. 7 p.m. at Elk’s Lodge, 250 SE Frontage Road, Joliet. Boys entering first through fourth grades who are interested in Cub Scouts and their families are invited to find out about Pack 258. Meet scouts and families at this monthly pack night featuring a space-themed cake sale. For more information contact Lindsey Brander at 224-619-0975 or lbrander@ rocketmail.com.

APRIL 27 E.Z. Living R.V. Sales and Service Open House. Come to the open house to enjoy free pop, cookies, pizza and popcorn. Located in Diamond, IL, take I-55 to Exit 236, and go west ¼ mile. Open House goes through April 29. See Yogi Bear on April 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 815-458-9103.

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

call 815-741-2428.

Innerpeace Natural Healthcare Open House. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Innerpeace Natural Healthcare, 1002 Infantry Dr., Joliet.Attend the open house to learn more about natural complementary healthcare. Raffles and complementary service will be apart of the event. Questions about acupuncture, sinus release, massage, hot stones, yoga, blood pressure screenings, guided mediation, Reiki, power plate and infrared therapy will be answered.

Benefit for Jennie Kramerich. Noon to 10 p.m. at Saint Joe’s Park. All proceeds will go to Jennie Kramerich, a 24-year old Joliet native and single mother of one. Jennie fractured her cervical spine last year and was left paralyzed from the chest down. To help offset the cost of current and future medical expenses as well as the structural remodeling of her home, Jennie’s family and friends have organized an all-day event at St. Joes Park, with live music, fun, food and drink, raffle prizes and a silent auction. Your $10 donation includes entry into the park and qualifies you for a raffle drawing. For more information, please contact Valerie Kramerich at 815-416-0341 or visit www.benefitforjennie. webs.com.

Joliet Mall storytime. Noon to 1 p.m. at Westfield Louis Joliet Mall. Come to this free drop-in storytime in the Carson Pirie Scott Court (behind the big tree) to hear great stories, dance to fun songs, create a craft, and enjoy a snack. All ages are welcome.

JWHS Fine Arts Festival. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Joliet West High School,401 N.Larkin Ave.Artwork from academy classes, as well as artwork from Troy Crossroads, Troy William B. Orenic, Saint Jude School, Washington Junior High School, Gompers Junior High School and Dirksen Junior High School will be on display. Concessions will be available for a nominal fee, with proceeds going towards the Academy of Arts and Communication scholarship. Entry to the festival is free of charge.

APRIL 28

APRIL 29

Spring Blossom Bazaar. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 305 E. Black Road, Shorewood. A variety of crafters and direct sales businesses are sure to meet your spring shopping needs for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, and more. For more information

Spring Blossom Bazaar. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 305 E. Black Road, Shorewood.A variety of crafters and direct sales businesses are sure to meet your spring shopping needs for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, and more. For more information

APRIL 30 Monday Kids Club Movie. 4-6 p.m. at the Crest Hill Library. Come to the library to watch your favorite chipmunks in their newest feature film,Chipwrecked (rated G). This event is for children aged 6-12. Register with the children’s services desk. Evening of Anime. 6:30-8 p.m. at the Gaylord Building, 200 West Eighth Street, Lockport. Come to an evening of watching anime from several series and eating free snacks. For more information, call 815-838-0755.

MAY 2 Biography Book Discussion. 1:30-3 p.m. at the Gaylord Building in Lockport. Discussion will be on “A Mother’s Story” by Gloria Vanderbilt. Gloria reflects on her own childhood tragedies while trying to make sense of and learn to cope with her son’s suicide. Pick up your copy of the book at the Lockport reference desk. For more information call 815-8380755.

MAY 3 Game Time. 4-5 p.m. at the Romeoville Library. Play board games, create them, or learn some new ones. For ages 6-12. No registration is required.

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Police Blotter

The following items were compiled from the official reports of the Joliet Police Department. Appearing in the police blotter does not constitute a finding of guilt, only a court of law can make that determination.

Joliet Alejandro Lopez Gomez, 28, 408 Walnut, Joliet, was cited on April 9 on W. Renwick Road and S. Weber Road for no valid driver’s license and operating a vehicle with suspended registration.

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Erin H. Donahue, 28, 6749 Southpoint, Tinley Park, was charged on April 10 at the Will County Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson St., with defrauding a drug test after she was observed with a bottle with a urine sample in it.

Witnesses stated they observed a red pickup truck with a white stripe down the side back into the residence, and three unknown subjects got out and kicked in the back door of a residence on April 10 in the 600 block of Linden Avenue. They then observed the men remove a stove and refrigerator and place them on the bed of the truck and drive off.

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George Zavala, 18, 510 Ohio, Joliet, was arrested on April 11 on N. Bluff and W. Jefferson for possession of cannabis under 30 grams, DUI/ drugs, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, no valid driver’s license and speeding.

Krystal D. Wisniewski, 24, 3740 153rd Place, Midlothian, was charged on April 11 at the Will County Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson St., with defrauding a drug test after she was observed with a urine sample in a hand sanitizer bottle and a rubber stopper hidden in the leg of her pants.

Marvin Grant, 43, 1511 Taylor, Joliet, was cited on April 11 on E. Cass and Highland Park Drive for driving while license revoked and improper lane usage.

Person(s) unknown broke into a residence on April 11 in the 1100 block of Karner Drive and stole a power drill, tile cutter, a Ruger .357 revolver and a box of ammo.

Tyran E. Pruitte, 40, 320 N. Briggs, Joliet, was arrested on April 12 on Ingalls and Plainfield for DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and speeding.

An employee of Welsch Ready Mix, 22645 S. Cherry Hill Road, stated that they were taking down a concrete plant at their Cherry Hill address. Between April 6 and April 9 person(s) unknown entered the property and stole approximately $10,000 worth of steel beams and steel pipes. The employee then went to All American Recycling on New Lenox Road, where an employee there stated that two men had been to their location and sold them the steal. The steel beams and pipes were returned to the employee of Welsch Ready Mix..

Deputies were called to a burglary in progress on April 12 in the 600 block of Sandell Place, where witnesses observed a red van on the scene. Two females and one male were seen removing scrap metal from a vacant home. Thorston Smith, Jr., 24, 217 Barr Elms Ave., Joliet, and the two females, were taken to Will County Investigations, where

they were interviewed. Smith was charged with burglary and criminal trespass to property. M. Williams, 19, 360 11 Jordan E. First Ave., Joliet, was cited on April 12 on S. Chicago and I-80 for driving while license suspended. Person/s unknown stole a 1999 Honda Civic on April 12 in the 1800 block of E. Washington.

Carl Holley, 49, 15131 Sixth Ave., Phoenix, Ill., was cited on April 13 on Fifth Avenue and S. Briggs for driving while license revoked and failure to yield turning left.

unknown kicked 14 Person/s in a door in order to gain entry into a residence on April 13 in the 600 block of W. Zarley Boulevard. Stolen were a 32inch TV, a laptop, a Vizio tablet and two PlayStation 3 systems. Alchere F. Fox, 26, 1123 N. Hickory,Joliet,was charged on April 13 at the Will County Adult Detention Facility, 95 S. Chicago St., with possession of cannabis under 30 grams.

Juan a. Garcia, 24, 514 N. Hickory, Joliet, was

arrested on April 13 on N. Briggs and E. Cass for DUI. Michael E. Rossi, Jr., 24, 18 W. Ninth St., Lockport, was cited on April 14 on Caton Farm and Golfview Drive for no valid driver’s license and speeding.

E. Johnson, 33, 2519 18 Carl Reflections Drive, Crest Hill, was arrested on April 14 on W. Al Wilhelmi Drive and Essington Road for DUI. Jessica Boshears, 18, of 419 Mohawk, Joliet, was arrested on April 14 on Algonquin and Sterling for battery.

Richard M. Sigman, 20, 1412 N. Center, Joliet, was cited on April 15 on Sterling and Walnut for no valid driver’s license, failure to properly secure child under 8 in appropriate child restraint and disobeying a stop sign.

Person(s) unknown broke into a detached garage and stole a 2003 Yamaha mini bike and a 2006 Yamaha ATV on April 15 in the 100 block of Independence Avenue.

Robert L. Guthrie, 34, 130 Davison, Joliet, was cited

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on April 15 on Second Avenue and S. Briggs for squealing tires, no taillights, and driving while license suspended.

Lockport Several residents stated to deputies that around 1:30 p.m. on April 9 they heard several shots fired in the area of Barry Avenue and Central Park. A mail deliveryman also heard the shots and dove to the ground seeking cover. He was not injured.

Person(s) unknown stole several Snap On hand tools from a tool box on April 11 at Mower Service Truck Repair, 20702 Gaskin Drive.

Person(s) unknown stole several power tools from a utility box on April 12 in the 300 block of Robinson Drive.

Donald R. Morgan, age 18, of 100 Ravinia Drive in Shorewood was charged on April 14 on May and Nobes with unlawful use of a weapon.

Person(s) unknown broke into a residence and stole a 44-inch TV on April 15 in the 200 block of Barry Avenue.

Forum Letter to the Editor

Cigarette tax increase supported Dear Editor, On April 19, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has announced a series of initiatives to address the state’s fiscal and public health concerns. Included in his proposal is a plan to increase the state’s cigarette tax by $1 per pack. Illinois’ current cigarette tax rate of 98 cents per pack ranks Illinois 32nd among all U.S. states. The American Cancer Society supports this proposal. The American Cancer Society is pleased Governor Quinn is combining smart fiscal and public health policy. Smoking remains the leading cause of cancer and this proposal will not only reduce the burden on the state’s Medicaid program for years to come, but more importantly, it will save lives and improve the health of people across Illinois, particularly in curtailing youth smoking.

The facts are staggering, and Illinois can and should do better. If the cigarette tax increase passes, we estimate that more than 70,000 youth will never smoke and more than 38,000 current Illinois residents will be spared from premature death caused by smoking. Thus, the proposal’s upside potential to reduce the pain and suffering from cancer and other diseases is enormous. From our perspective, the measure offers remarkable promise to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The American Cancer Society and its legion of supporters commend Governor Quinn and encourage our legislators to adopt this proposal quickly so the lifesaving outcomes can begin. Kristi DeLaurentiis American Cancer Society, Illinois Division

You are invited to use the Forum page of The Bugle to express your opinions about matters that affect our community. Please email your letter to Matt Honold, managing editor, at mhonold@buglenewspapers.com. For more information, call (815) 436-2431. Letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. Please try to limit your comments to 500 words or less. The editors reserve the right to publish, condense, revise or reject any submissions. Opinions printed on this page, whether in Letters to the Editor or in columns or cartoons, are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily of this newspaper, its publishers, editor or employees. Only editorials reflect the views of the newspaper.

Publisher Rich Masterson publisher@buglenewspapers.com Managing Editor Matt Honold mhonold@buglenewspapers.com Reporters Jonathan Samples Sherri Dauskurdas Rick Kambic Laura Katauskas Debbie Lively Sports Reporters Mark Gregory mgregory@buglenewspapers.com Scott Taylor staylor@buglenewspapers.com Editorial Deadlines Calendar & News: 3 p.m. Monday, three weeks before date of publication Letters to Editor: 9 a.m. Friday www.buglenewspapers.com

sweditor@buglenewspapers.com Vice President of Advertising and Marketing Michael James mjames@voyagermediaonline.com Production Director Andrew Samaan andrew@buglenewspapers.com Advertising Sales sales@buglenewspapers.com Published by Voyager Media Group, Inc. P.O. Box 1613 Plainfield, IL 60585 (815) 436-2431 • Fax (815) 436-2592 Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ad Deadlines Space and Copy deadlines for Display and Classified Ads is 3 p.m. Friday before date of insertion. classifieds@buglenewspapers.com Legals, Obituaries and Happy Ads are due at 3 p.m. Friday. announcements@buglenewspapers.com

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Illustrated Opinions

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Schools

Lockport Township High School Porter Players present ‘Willy Wonka’ Lockport Township High School District 205’s Porter Players Drama Club will present four performances of “Willy Wonka” May 10 – 13. Show times are scheduled for 7 p.m.Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances and 2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. Performances will take place at the East Campus auditorium, 1333 E. Seventh St. Admission is $6 for adults and non-LTHS students, and $4 for children under 13 years old and senior citizens. Admission is free for LTHS students with a school ID and Gold Card Club members. To reserve tickets or for more information, contact the ticket office at 815/588-8490. “Willy Wonk” will be performed under the direction of Laura Gilbert, director and producer of the Porter Players; Patrick Deane, assistant director; Ken Frykholm, technical director and scenic designer; Chad Goetz,

vocal director; Brian Covey, orchestra director; Jeni Donahue, choreographer; Tony Lobello, lighting designer; and Kate Froemling, costumer. Members of the student production staff include Kennedy Musich, assistant director; Meaghann Gorecki, assistant producer; Sarah Anderson, assistant choreographer; Amy Rife, assistant vocal director; and Ashley Chaplin and Courtney Plante, production staff. Members of the cast and crew include Stephen Hippleheuser (Candy Man/Narrator), Artie Martinez (Willy Wonka), Casey Ross (Phineous/Philomena), Mitch McLaughlin (Charlie Bucket), Amy Rife (Mrs. Bucket), Antonio Rivera (Mr.Bucket),Sierra Hernandez (Grandma Josephine), Savannah Koszella (Grandma Georgina), Jeremy Grachan (Grandpa George), Brandon Vlach (Grandpa Joe), Mike Sheldon

(Augustus Gloop), Emily Sible (Mrs. Gloop), Alexandra Alontaga (Veruca Salt), Justin Polich (Mr. Salt), Christian Holwerda (Mike Teavee), Amanda Lee (Ms. Teavee), Alaina Frederick (Violet Beauregarde), Sarah Anderson (Mrs. Beauregarde), Drew Gilson (James), Jessica Meaney (Matilda), Nikki Magnusun (Sophie), Josh Zgrabik (Danny), Wade Sofko (Alphie), and John Verhoek (Billy). The musical also features more than 90 additional students as members of the orchestra, general ensemble, Oompa Loompa ensemble, and stage, production and costume crew. Rolad Dahl’s “Willy Wonka,” has been adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald. It features the music and the lyrics of Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.This musical has classic, well-known tunes as well as some new ones.

Take 5

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

H o ro s c o p e s

Across

1 See 69-Across 7 Catch-22 14 Retro headgear 15 Quintessence 16 Breakfast option 18 Mountain Dew producer, informally 19 Slight winning margin 20 Not divided 21 Easy melodies 24 With 51-Across, Presley hit with “glue” in the lyrics 29 Mediterranean smoker 31 “__ Coy Mistress”: Andrew Marvell poem 33 Uffizi display 34 “Big Love” actress Sevigny 36 Asylum seeker 38 “A Clockwork Orange” star 42 Gushed on stage

43 Massey of “Rosalie” 44 Talk with one’s hands 45 Like days of yore 47 “Great shot!” 51 See 24-Across 53 Professional pitcher? 55 Edit out 56 Comedian Hartman 58 Excludes 60 End the chat room suspense, in a way 66 Chaplin’s tramp, e.g. 67 Boorish sorts 68 Non-specific 69 With 1-Across, spend time frivolously

Down

1 Out of the picture 2 Start up after a fire, say 3 Dumbbells 4 Before 5 Tip for a writer? 6 __ gratiam habeamus: Kentucky’s Latin state motto 7 Boehner’s predecessor 8 Plays Simon says with 9 Harley outings 10 Got fed up? 11 Follow 12 Texting exclamation 13 Cancels (out) 17 Like this answer’s position, and what can follow the starts of 16-, 24/51-, 38-, 60and 69/1-Across 18 Macabre master 22 Tepid response to “How’s this?” 23 Tower (over) 25 Home of Nationals pitcher Chien-Ming Wang 26 Try to convince

27 PC key 28 Nautical spine 30 Passbook ID 32 Sonoran Desert resort city 35 Plot device? 37 Work wk. start 38 Prefix with -zoic 39 “The Last King of Scotland” tyrant 40 Lethargic 41 Skelton persona Kadiddlehopper 46 Not of the cloth 48 Standoffish one 49 Like Care Bears 50 “Avatar” extras 52 Ready and willing to do 54 Like a stick-inthe-mud 57 ‘80s tennis great Mandlikova 59 New Testament figure 60 Sticker stat 61 Shoe spec 62 Coastal raptor 63 Prufrock poet’s monogram 64 Cable sta. for vintage films 65 “Gotcha!”

Energy is enervating. In the week ahead, keep your energies directed towards constructive activities. A tendency to let explosive situations develop can cause you to burn bridges you should let stand.

Power put in the hands of certain people can seem pitiless. During the upcoming week, a common-sense approach will give you the upper hand. Remember to be compassionate when appropriate.

Dare to be different without dropping names. In the week to come, social activities offer you a chance to meet people from unique backgrounds and test out new ideas without dumping your old friends.

Temper tantrums must be tamed. In the week to come, a few of your closest contacts might seem temperamental. Your soothing presence could bring things back under control; practice politeness.

You may have plans to conquer the world. Your energy levels rise during the upcoming week - but to maintain the competitive edge, you must be cautious and not risk your financial security.

Those who resent receiving less than their fair share might plot to take it. Sidestep issues that might touch off jealousy or envy in the week ahead. Your competitive nature may need containment.

Don’t accept second best. You don’t mind being treated like just one of the many peas in the pod as long as friends respect your individual rights. In the week to come, group dynamics challenge your patience.

Passions can pile up. You may be inspired by others to make your career or business success a top priority. Don’t be surprised if tensions develop with partners or competitors in the week to come.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. You are inspired in the week to come by others who make their work pay off. Be sure you understand exactly what is required; looks are deceiving

Find a little hair of the dog that bit you. In the week ahead, a tendency to go to extremes could leave you, for example, with sore muscles from too much exercise; the only cure will be more of the same.

Enthusiasm is endemic. When others take charge or make executive decisions, you may be stirred to follow their lead. During the coming week, a taste of the exotic may add spice to your love life.

Love ‘em; never leave ‘em. No matter what challenges upset your life in the week to come, your loyalty and trustworthiness shine through. You gravitate toward relationships that live happily ever after.

SUDOKU

Previous puzzle ’s answers

Previous puzzle ’s answers Jumbles: • SMOKY • FACET • HORROR • SNAPPY

Answer:

What it takes to learn about the stars -- ASTRONOMY

INSIDE: Joliet Central baseball beats Romeoville, page 16; Golf courses making money on warm weather, page 17

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

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Speedway hosts event with fans, Kenseth By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

Most sports fans can buy tickets to their favorite sport, attend the events and cheer on their favorite athletes to victory. For most of them, that is the closest they get.

NASCAR However, for 25 select season ticket holders of Chicagoland Speedway, they had the chance for an intimate question and answer session with Matt Kenseth, the 2012 Daytona 500 champion. The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 29, two days after the scheduled race, but when the race was rained out, the event was postponed. Last week’s event offered the fans a chance to meet Kenseth, have photos taken and get autographs as well as take part in a question and answer session at the W Hotel Lakeshore Dr. in Chicago. “This is an excellent way to be close to him and you can talk to him and he is talking back to you one on one,” said David Bryant of Bridgeview. “They actually make you feel like you are at their level. They are just normal people.” Kenseth talked cars with the fans, discussing the driver’s take on the switch from a carburetor to electronic fuel injector and also showed fans his true personality with his sarcastic exchanges with longtime friend and Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock, as well as funny comebacks to fan questions. One fan asked Kenseth about his son, Ross, who races late model cars at Pro AllStar Series, CRA Super Series, and ASA Midwest Tour races. The fan asked what Kenseth’s involvement is and if his son’s

Mark Gregory/Bugle staff

Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, center, talks with Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock, right, and emcee David Kaplan at a fan Q&A at the W Hotel in Chicago hosted by Chicagoland Speedway.

career will impact how long he races. “My main involvement is I pay for it all,” Kenseth joked. “So, the second part of your question is, I might have to stay in racing longer so I can keep paying for it all.Actually, we just moved him to North Carolina, he is going to Clemson. I like it because he is close (to my shop), I’m not sure he likes it with me being that

close. I am kind of a slave driver and now I know when he isn’t at work when he should be.” Kenseth said all fans have a chance to see his humorous side if they follow him on Twitter at @MattKenseth. “I like Twitter because you can do it at your schedule,” he said.“I was sitting at the airport waiting for my flight (to Chicago), I was sitting around answering

questions. People see a different side of me because sometimes I am smart or sarcastic. I enjoy that part because I am not how I am at the track or in front of the camera. “I am more myself. I like to interact with the fans all the time, but it is different if they come up to you in the garage or when you are busy. With (Twitter), I can pick it up when I’m sitting

around bored and give them more time.” Kenseth finished fourth at the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway, which could bode well for him at Chicagoland Sept. 12. “They are sister tracks,” Kenseth said. “They went up at the same time and are laid out the same. Chicago is fast and fun and I like it.” mark@buglenewspapers.com

sPorts

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

HELPING A

Mark Gregory/Bugle staff

The Joliet area came out in droves to support JCA football player Matt Mammosser (pictured far left in the state title game last season), who is battling brain cancer. Mammo Day raised money through several activities. Brittany Baran, from Crest Hill, tried a putt to win a chance into the Mammo Golf Outing. Cody Hakey (top right), a JCA junior, played in the flag football game and several students and athletes washed cars to raise money.

‘Mammo Day’ a success at JCA By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

When the Joliet Catholic Academy football team walked off the field Nov. 26 after a state-final loss to Montini, the underclassmen had an Aug. 24 showdown with Providence Catholic circled as their next battle. For junior defensive lineman Matt Mammosser,he unfortunately has a battle to fight just to get on the field in the season opener. Not too long after the season ended, Mammo, as he is known to teammates and friends, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has undergone two operations and radiation. He is currently being treated with chemotherapy. As Mammo began recovering, his friend and distant cousin Lexie Dames, a junior at Minooka High School, decided to help the family deal with the financial burden an illness like this can cause. She printed upT-Shirts featuring a football player on the front and “Mammo 91” on the back. Little did she know how that

would snow ball. Co-workers of Matt’s dad at Home Depot wanted to help as well, as so was born “Mammo Day” at JCA. The six-hour event, held on the grounds of JCA, featured food, a car wash, a bean bag tournament, flag football games, face painting, children’s crafts and much more. “I am so overwhelmed at how many people showed up,” Lexie said. “I call Home Depot my family because I have been with them for the last month, so they

might as well be. After I came up with the T-Shirts, they wanted to blow it up and we came up with this. It is amazing how this came together. “People come and get their car wash and the kids want to go into the jumpies and then they stay. I don’t think they have any idea how much it means to the family.” Lexie said she and Matt met roughly five years ago and soon after becoming friends learned their grandmothers were first

cousins. Even at 17-years-old, she felt the obligation to help. “Matt and I met in sixth grade and we were best friends,” she said. “It was to the point where I couldn’t go a week without talking to Matt. I couldn’t just stand and watch Matt go through this and wait for someone else to do something to help. I knew I had to do something.” JCA football coach Dan Sharp was amazed at the event’s magnitude. “What his cousin Lexie and

his uncle Jeff Dames have done in organizing this event in 25 days is remarkable,” he said. “The outpouring of community is great. All the Joliet Catholic football players are out here, tons of Joliet Catholic students are out here, all the parents.This is great.” Sharp is not shocked about is the amount of love shown towards Matt. “If anyone was in need, Matt Mammoser would be the first See HILLMAN, page 13

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Sports

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

JCA wins final game of Conference Challenge Joliet Catholic rallied back from a deficit and only one out left to beat Brother Rice 3-2 in the finale of the fourth annual Southside Conference Challenge at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. Nate Searing’s infield hit with the bases loaded was the gamewinner scoring Zach Melone. The Hilltoppers (14-5-1) got an RBI single from Chris Tschida and a run scored on an Alex Voitik walk. Nick Dalesandro (2-0) tossed two innings of relief to earn the win for Joliet Catholic. A day earlier, JCA split with Carmel, 7-0, 10-0. Ryan Peter went 2-for-3 with

HILLMAN Continued from page 11 guy to come out and help,” Sharp said. “He is so well loved. He has a great personality. He is a great leader on the football team, all his classmates love him and you can see that outpouring today.” The outpouring is not only from the JCA family. “I have seen a lot of my friends from Minooka come out here and that means so much,” Lexie said. “And that Providence people can set aside the rivalry and help Matt out and that is awesome to see.” Team captains from the Celtics and their dads came out to help at the event, as well as the school donating sideline passes for the game as a raffle item. “You have two great communities, two great schools. The rivalry and competition is fierce when we play each other in any sport, especially football,” Sharp said. “That opening game will be unbelievable. But the biggest thing is, they all care for each other. Matt played youth football in New Lenox for the Mustangs, so he has a connection with a lot of those guys. Other local coaches came out as well. “Jimmy Hall, the great baseball coach from Lockport came out and gave things for the raffle and gave money from his own pocket,” Sharp said. “Gordie Gillespie helped out. It is remarkable. This goes to show what a lot of people can do and the great positive energy and love for Matt. It is greatly appreciated.” mark@buglenewspapers.com

two RBI in the first game of the East Suburban Catholic split. •Naperville Central defeated Lockport 4-0. The Porters (118) were held to just four hits on the day. • Joliet West beat Shepard 2-0. Matt Koran hit a two-run home run as Anthony DiNardo picked up the win for visiting Joliet West (11-10).

SOCCER Lockport beat Lane 2-1 in the final game of the Pepsi Shootout. Julie Divita and Jessica Liutkus both scored goals for Lockport (10-3) at the Schaumburg event.

TENNIS Joliet West and Lemont tied for first place at the eight-team Joliet West Invite. Joliet West’s Jack Carney and Collin Skea triumphed at No. 1 Doubles. Joliet Catholic finished third and Plainfield South was fourth. • Lucas Randall placed third at No. 1 singles to help Lockport finish third at the eight-team invite Lockport Porter Invite. Plainfield East tied Romeoville for fifth and Minooka finished seventh.

VOLLEYBALL Tom Poznanski tallied 20

kills as Plainfield Central (97) finished fifth overall at the Minooka Boys Volleyball Invite. The Wildcats beat Oswego (25-22, 25-19), Lockport (25-20, 25-20) and Northside Prep (2512, 25-9) but lost to Metea Valley 25-17, 25-14.

FISHING Minooka juniors Dan Scott and Austin Akers won the IHSA Bass Fishing Sectional at Heideke Lake in Channahon with four largevmouth bass totalling 8.64 pounds.

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Sports

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Hamlin wins in the sun, picker standings stay the same It was Denny Hamlin’s day in the sun. Taking advantage of changing conditions Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin held off Martin Truex Jr. over the final 30 laps to win the STP 400, his second victory of the season, his first at the 1.5-mile track and the 19th of his career. The victory was the 199th for cars bearing the No. 11, breaking a tie for the all-time lead with the No. 43, made famous by Richard Petty, who drove to 192 of his record 200 wins with that car number. No one picked Hamlin in our Picks vs. Pros, but everyone had drivers finish in the top 13. Chicagoland Speedway President had Jimmie Johnson and Bugle reporter Mark Gregory picked Matt Kenseth. Johnson finished third, followed by Roush Fenway Racing teammates Kenseth and Greg Biffle. Truex moved into second place in the Sprint Cup series standings behind Biffle, who leads by 15 points. After a late round of green-flag

pit stops put all the contending cars on the same sequence, the sun broke through the clouds for the first time all afternoon and changed the complexion of the race. To that point, Truex had been dominant, having led 173 laps, but the changing conditions made Truex’s Toyota “wrecking loose” in the words of the driver. Hamlin passed Truex for the lead through Turn 4 on Lap 237 and began to pull away, with Johnson pursuing from the third position. To Hamlin, the sunlight was a welcome game-changer. “Whether it was coincidence or not, our car definitely seemed like, (relative) to the field, was better once the sun came out,” Hamlin said. “I felt like our car lost a lot of grip when the sun came out, but I guess a lot of guys did when that happened. I felt like all day I was behind the 56 (Truex), and his car looked so superior to the field. “We just needed some kind of change -- weather or adjustments or something to get

where he was at -- and we kind of got both of them. In overcast conditions, the cars run a little bit tighter, the grip level’s higher in the racecar, and it’s more of a track-position type race. When the sun’s out, the drivers, in my opinion, are more prominent. “You move around, find the grip, do things in the car to make up for what you don’t have. The slicker the conditions are, the better it tends to (be) for our race team. Luckily, we had that run in sunshine.” As clouds covered the sun once again, however, Truex began to close on Hamlin and widen his advantage over Johnson. With 10 laps left, Truex trailed Hamlin by .772 seconds. Five laps later, Truex had closed to .489 seconds behind. Truex tried to dive beneath Hamlin in Turn 3 twice in the final three laps but couldn’t stick the pass. “Desperation,” Truex said wryly. “I was a little bit faster than Denny at the end, but he was running against the wall right where I needed to be, and

PICK VS. PROS Sprint Cup Series 400 in Richmond Sat., April 281, 6 p.m. FOX Driver

1. Greg Biffle

Pts. Diff. 312 0

2. Martin Truex Jr. 297 -15 3. Matt Kenseth

295 -17

4. D. Earnhardt Jr. 291 -21 5. Denny Hamlin

289

-23

6. Kevin Harvick 287 -25 7. Jimmie Johnson 275 -37 8. Tony Stewart

265 -24

9. Carl Edwards

251

-61

10. Ryan Newman 249 -63 11. Clint Bowyer

227 -85

12. Joey Logano

221 -91

13. Kyle Busch

218 -94

14. Paul Menard

218 -94

15. Brad Keselowski 217 -95 16. Juan Montoya

207 -105

17. Jeff Burton

201 -111

18. Jeff Gordon

200 -112

19. Jamie McMurray 190 -122 20.Aric Almirola

187 -125

Totals through 8 of 36 races

Mark Gregory, Bugle Staff Last wk: Kenseth (4th) Total Pts (8 races): 265 Scott Paddock, Pres., Chicagoland Speedway Last wk:Johnson (3rd) Total Pts (8 races): 258 Scott Taylor, Bugle Staff Last wk: Edwards (9th) Total Pts (8 races): 251 Mike Guglielmucci, WJOL Racer’s Forum Last wk: Stewart (13th) Total Pts (8 races): 239 Readers Last wk: Keselowski(11th) Total Pts (8 races): 229

THIS WEEK’S PICK: D. Earnhardt, Jr THIS WEEK’S PICK: Denny Hamlin

THIS WEEK’S PICK: Brad Keselowski

THIS WEEK’S PICK: Kyle Busch

Brandon Andreason,

Plainfield: Brad Keselowski

To make your pick, email the driver’s name, reader’s name and hometown to mark@ buglenewspapers.com. Picks must be made by noon Monday for the following week’s race. One email will be selected at random to represent the readers.

I was just trying to gain a little bit of ground. “It was desperation -- last-ditch effort -- just trying something. There was no chance to make it work.” Though Truex’s handling ills and Hamlin’s surge to the front coincided with the appearance of the sun, Truex blamed his problem on a bad set of tires for the final run. “I’m just not really sure what to think of that last set of tires,” Truex said. “The car had been really good all day, we put the last set on, and I was just wrecking loose for the first 20 laps of that last run. “Denny was able to get by me,

and once he did, the race was over. The car got better longer in the run, and I was able to get back to him, but I’d get three or four car-lengths from him and pick up the aero push . . .“I guess if we can be this disappointed with second, it kind of shows how far we’ve come as a race team.” • Locally, this week marks the final week fans can purchase NASCAR single-day and race weekend tickets at Chicagoland Speedway for the 2012 season. From now until April 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the GEICO 400 on Sunday, September 16 are as low as $45.

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

Sports

Steelmen beat Spartans By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

Despite a three-RBI varsity debut from freshman Josh Krueger, Romoeville lost 7-5 to Joliet Central Saturday. Joliet Central opened the game with three runs in the top of the first on a double from Zach Goetschel and a single from Max Gawenda, which scored Marcos Vega who had reached on an error.

BASEBALL Goetschel then scored on an RBI single by Mariano Cerda and Gawenda came in when Cody Vancian drew a bases loaded walk. The Spartans came back, putting up three runs in the bottom of the second, as Krueger doubled in a pair of runs in his first varsity at-bat. A play after Krueger’s two RBI double, Nolan Allee scored on a passed ball and tied the game at 3-3. Central came back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on an error, a fielder’s choice, and an RBI single by Wojnarowski. Central added a run in the top of the fifth and Romeoville’s Matt Venn singled in Michael Torres in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-4. The Spartans would get one more back in the sixth, but could not get closer. Tyler Anderson went 2-for-3 for the Spartans, while Goetschel, Gawenda and Vancina combined for four hits and three RBI for Central. Goetschel got the win for Central, allowing five hits, striking out three and walking three. “I was mixing up my pitches and trying to keep them off balance with the curve,” Goetschel said. “I had good control today and keep them off balance and that is how I got the win.” mark@buglenewspapers.com

Mark Gregory/Bugle staff

Joliet Central’s Zach Goetschel earned the win over Romeoville in a 7-5 game Saturday.

www.buglenewspapers.com/outdoors

THE BUGLE APRIL 25, 2012

Weather means profit for golf courses By Scott Taylor Sports Reporter

With all of the warm and sunny weather the area has had since early March, one big business that is booming is the local golfing industry. When average highs are in the 50s, golf courses would be lucky to get a couple dozen or so golfers out for a round in March. Instead, as temperatures have soared into the 60s and 70s, while remaining relatively dry, courses have thrived. “We have more than doubled rounds played over the same period last year,” Bolingbrook Golf Club Golf Pro Eric Aldrich said. “More rounds equals more traffic in other departments. A few (nice) days here or there is normal, but to realize a stretch of such consistently nice weather is definitely spoiling us.” “We’re at 500 percent of where we were last year,” Wedgewood Golf Course Head Pro Jason Shook said. “I’ve been the head pro since 2000 and I’ve never had anything close to this. The course is a month ahead of pace and it looks like it is in late May.” Aldrich agrees that the weather has put golf courses in general in great shape, well above the norm for this time of year. “We haven’t made any major adjustments other than we have had to use some chemicals and fertilizers a little earlier than planned,” Aldrich said. “As it relates to course conditions, we are about six weeks ahead of where we were last year at this time.” With all of the usage, one problem that could arise is

overplaying, which could lead to roughed up greens and fairways by the end of the year. Aldrich doesn’t see that being a problem at Bolingbrook. “We feel that if play continues to grow and we stay ahead of pace, we will have the means to keep up with the additional course maintenance,” he said. Thanks to the cool temperatures, Shook feels the same way about Wedgewood. “I think we’re still fine,” Shook said. “When you get more traffic on the greens, there is the potential for more problems. But the temperatures have been cool, so the course has rebounded great.” While things are going great now, there is no guarantee of an increased profit by the end of the year. If there is a lot of bad weather during the peak months in the summer, they could lose more money than they have taken in during these non peak months, where it is harder for golfers to get off work. “Compared to the grand scheme of things, April is not one of the five biggest months,” Shook said. “If there is a lot of rain in June and July or it is really hot, this would all be for not. Once you lose days or weeks in golf, they are gone forever.” “Our rate structure is different during the prime golf months,” Aldrich said. “Therefore, it increases the liability of lost revenue due to inclement weather.” On the other end of the spectrum is Mistwood Golf Club, which is going through a renovation. That has caused

Scott Taylor/Bugle staff

Tom McNally enjoys the early warm weather at Wedgewood Golf Course.

them to miss some prime money early in the season. “It would be hard for us to tell how many rounds of golf we could have done because of the nice weather since we were closed and did not keep a record of playable days,” Mistwood’s Director of Golf Dan Phillips said. “That being said it would have been nice to be open.” The weather did benefit them though by being able to get the renovation done around the scheduled time. “This spring and mild winter have helped us immensely,”

Phillips said. “The sod and grass seed that we were able to put down last fall have already become established. We planted seed in early March of this year and it germinated in two weeks. I don’t know of that has ever happened before. It helped us in in the laying of new drainage and irrigation. We were also able to construct four new bridges late this winter which gave us more access to the golf course. The nice weather should keep us close to our projected reopening which is Memorial day weekend.”

If you can’t tell by the name of this column, I will be writing this season about my take on all things NASCAR. My first rant By Mark Gregory is pretty straight forward and simple - leave the kids off the track! It seems to me that every time I tune into a race, it looks like its take your son and daughter to work day and for the sake of competitive driving this has to stop. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. I don’t have kids, but I have five nieces and nephews and love spending time with all of them. That is the exact reason I believe drivers should keep the families off the track. NASCAR is dangerous. Cars go nearly 200 miles per hour and unlike other sports,death is always an option. I know that is why the drivers want that final moment with their kids, but in my opinion that takes away their edge. When the last thing you do before you get in the car is kiss your wife and kids, that is still on your mind when you need to go three wide at 190 miles per hour or bump draft an opponent in the final turn for a win. So far this year, cautions are down, wrecks are down and a lot of has to do with less aggressive driving. Is it only because they have their kids on the track pre-race? No, but I’m sure it doesn’t help give them a killer instinct. mark@buglenewspapers.com

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012

LIBRARY Continued from page 4 cards. Patrons also will be able to map where a book is located. Pointon acknowledged that there is some concern over losing materials owned by other Prairie Cat libraries, but says the benefits of a smaller consortium with local control outweighs the quantity of libraries. He explains that the Prairie Cat consortium is geographically huge, stretching from the Indiana state line in the east to the Iowa state line in the west, and from the Wisconsin state line in the north to just south of Starved Rock in the south. The catalog software under the Prairie Cat system was not a match for the sheer size and complexity of a consortium of more than 75 libraries. The geography alone plays into a problem seen everyday at the library districts. For example, a newer fiction title owned by the Lockport branch library is returned and checked in at the Lockport branch. At that moment in time, that may be the only available copy in all of Prairie Cat. The software system would trap that book and send it on its way to fill a request at a library possibly three hours west of here. An hour later, another copy of the same title could be returned to a library three hours west of here, and now that that is the only available copy.That copy would be trapped and sent on its way to fill a hold in Joliet. “We have had books with the exact same title crossing paths east and west, north and south, across the state for years,” said Pointon.

“These types of inefficiencies have cost an enormous amount of dollars that I cannot even fathom in delivery budgets as well as the wasted staff time and effort.” The idea to create a new cooperative came to be as a number of factors began to worry the area library district, including state funding, said Pointon. The State of Illinois funds the service that delivers materials between Illinois libraries, regardless of the catalog consortium to which they belong, be it Prairie Cat or Pinnacle. “The District has had to take a hard and realistic look at that funding and we are not optimistic about the current delivery system remaining in place, considering the economic state in which Illinois finds itself,” said Pointon. “Thus a smaller, more manageable cooperative made much better sense for our future. If the statefunded delivery goes away; we are now geographically close enough to our fellow Pinnacle libraries that we could do delivery on our own without the state-funded delivery.” In addition, Pointon said all library districts, regardless of size, paid the same fees to belong to the consortium and carried the same equal vote. “We felt the governance of Prairie Cat was not efficient,” said Pointon. “Often times issues would be sent to subcommittees and wouldn’t be voted on for months. Our hands were tied and we weren’t allowed to make any changes. Now, being geographically closer and all of the same size and operation, we have the ability to be more progressive. We have more control over own destiny.”

THE BUGLE/SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2012