Ja nuary 15 , 2 0 2 0 Vo l . 2 5 I ss u e 4
your comm u n I T y. your ne Ws . In THI s I ssu e e VenTs
Calendar Events Upcoming events in your area see page 4
sp orTs
Growing pains
Minooka battling past issues see page 5
bu sI ness
Dave Says Dave Ramsey’s Column see page 7
news
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loCal news
Cold, rain doesn’t damper Trump rally in Joliet supporters demonstrated in Joliet saturday morning By mark gregory editorial director
@Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com Several dozen supporters of President Donald J. Trump braved the cold rain Saturday morning to show their support of the controversial 45th president. The rally was held on the corner of Jefferson St. and Larkin Ave. in Joliet in front of the White Castle fast food restaurant. The parking lot of the former K-Mart even featured a place to purchase Trump 2020 flags, hats and shirts. Originally, there was scheduled to be a demonstration opposing the POTUS, however, none was present. The supporters were from all walks of life, not only the middle-aged. white male normally associated with Trump supporters. Amanda Severson, a 21-year-old college student was there flying a pink flag that read “Women for Trump.”
“I am a college student and a Republican and I support Trump,” Severson said. “I think there are a lot of people that are Republican, but voting for Trump you get pushed in the dark. I voted for Trump, but I can’t say I voted for him because I am a woman? I agree with all his values.” Not all the supporters are from Joliet. Indonesian-born Fi Thor and her friend drove from Downers Grove to attend the rally - something she said they do often. “I was born and raised in a very strict, conservative Muslim family. Indonesia is the No. 1 Muslim population in the world and I doubt the Democrats know about that,” she said. “I was born and raised in Indonesia and we don’t have welfare, if you want food, you better get a job. So if I can do it, anyone can do it.” The Republican rally was initiated after Trump became the third United States President to be impeached, and first since Bill Clinton in 1999. The House of Representatives ap-
PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY
supporters spent several hours braving the cold and rain to show support for President donald trump. proved articles of impeachment on December 18, 2019. I am sick of the impeachment nonsense,” said 19-year-old Joliet
resident Ben Gould, who was at the rally with other late-teen supporters. “Trump has made his promises and he has kept him and I can’t stand the
liberals that will do anything to see his demise. I support most of what Trump stands for and I like how he is straight with the people.”
state news
hoops for d86 fundraiser- feb. 1 The Joliet Grade Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence will host its seventh annual “Hoops for D86” fundraiser, presented by ExxonMobil, on Saturday, February 1, 2020 from 1:00–4:30 p.m. The basketball tournament will take place in the field house at Joliet West High School, 401 N. Larkin Avenue, and feature players from Joliet Public Schools District 86 schools. In addition, District 86 administrators will play community members during a game scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The event is open to the public. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for students. Concessions and raffle tickets will be available to purchase.
Entertainment will be provided by cheerleaders from M.J. Cunningham Elementary, Dirksen Junior High, Hufford Junior High, A.O. Marshall Elementary, Pershing Elementary, and Washington Junior High School. Student drawings will also take place during the event. Proceeds from the event will be awarded in classroom grants to benefit Joliet Public Schools District 86 students. Since 2004, the Joliet Grade Schools Foundation has awarded 366 grants totaling over $400,000. For more information, please call Sandy Zalewski at (815) 740-3196 ext. 8204.
Jths orchestra winter Concert on January 15, 2020 The Joliet Township High School Orchestra will hold its Winter Concert on Wednesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in the Joliet Central High School Auditorium located at 201 East Jefferson Street in Joliet. The event is free and open to the public. Snacks and JTHS Orchestra merchandise will be available for purchase (cash only).
Foster named Chairman of House Science Committee’s Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee
C
ongressman Bill Foster (D-IL) was named chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. The subcommittee is empowered with investigative and oversight authority over all matters concerning non-defense federal research. “As a scientist who spent 24 years working at one of America’s great national laboratories, I know firsthand just how critical federal research is to our nation’s ability to confront challenges and for supporting the innovation that maintains the competitiveness of our economy,” Foster said. “American science is being threatened from many directions, and government should be a productive and valuable partner in maintaining its integrity. I am proud to lead the subcommittee responsible for defending that scientific integrity, and I look for-
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) ward to working with Chairwoman Johnson to continue supporting the scientists and researchers at our federal agencies.” “I would like to welcome all of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee Members to the second session of the 116th Congress,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “We made great progress in 2019, and I look forward to another productive year working with our new and returning Subcommittee Chairs and Members as
we continue to pursue a constructive and bipartisan legislative agenda to advance our nation’s research, development, and innovation enterprise and find solutions to the many challenges facing our nation today.” The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over non-defense federal research and development, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It also has jurisdiction over research and development at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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loCal news
Troy students learning about how mail works through letter writing By Brian stanley Bugle staff
@BugleNewspapers bstanley@buglenewspapers.com Students at Troy Hofer Elementary School are learning to correspond with their friends in the old fashioned way – by writing letters. The school has its own unofficial in-school post office called, “Wee Deliver,” which is designed by the United States Postal Service to assist with students’ reading and writing abilities and to teach them how mail works. Hofer’s Postmaster is Assistant Principal Jennifer Tekiela. The school has had the service for the past few years for its students and staff, Tekiela said, but starting last semester, it was opened to family and friends outside the building. “The goal of this program is to inspire the reading and writing skills of our students,” Tekiela said. “We’re super excited to expand it outside the school this year. It’s a good way for the kids to communicate with each other and to engage the community.” Also new to the program this year are classroom addresses. Hofer hallways were given street names over the summer, and each classroom has its
own address. In line with the school’s Be Kind Community goals, street names include Joyful Lane, Peaceful Parkway, Confident Trail, Kindness Street, Responsible Boulevard and Determined Drive. The arts hallway is on Creative Court. Students may write letters to friends, school staff and family, put them in envelopes, stamp them with a stamp, sticker or drawing and address them. Fourth-grade mail carriers meet each day in Sarah Wells’ classroom to sort and deliver the mail. “It sounded like fun when I heard about it,” Hunter Naskrent said. “I liked sending mail last year.” “I like going around the school and delivering all the mail,” Nathan Rainey said. Principal Kristin Copes said she originally got the idea for the in-school post office from Troy Cronin Elementary School Principal Jill Howard, who also has the program in her school. Copes said the fourth graders also learn job responsibility as mail sorters and carriers. They deliver the letters to the classrooms during the recess portion of their lunch periods.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
troy hofer elementary school has its own unofficial post office, where students may send and receive mail. top from left: Postmaster and assistant Principal Jennifer tekiela, social worker and sel Committee member amy giefer, Principal kristin Copes and teacher sarah wells. students from left: dylan gonzales, hunter naskrent, nathan rainey, macey gorsh and lexie grevengoed
forest Preserve distriCt of will County
honors mlk s legacy with day of service at the preserve volunteers should rsvP to 815.722.7364 or rgauchat@fpdwc.org
T
he Forest Preserve District will be hosting a “Day of Service” volunteer workday on Monday, January 20, to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteers who want to spend a “day on, not a day off” as the Corporation for National & Community Service recommends, should show up at 8 a.m. at Theodore Marsh preserve in Crest Hill for this special workday. “Staff will greet volunteers at the Theodore Marsh Shelter parking lot,” said volunteer services supervisor Renee Gauchat. “Volunteers should dress for outdoor activities because they will be busy cutting, stacking and removing invasive honeysuckle and buckthorn from the area so that native flora can
flourish.” Volunteers will be shown how and what kind of woody brush they will be cutting and where the brush will be put once it is cut, Gauchat explained. Each volunteer will be provided safety glasses, leather gloves and cutting tools (loppers, handsaws) and will receive a safety talk. After a few hours of work, the group will be treated to snacks and water. The workday will end at noon. “The Theodore Marsh work is designed to help restore the natural area, which is currently filled with non-native brush, to an open prairie near a wetland,” Gauchat said. “This will prepare the area for seeding later in the spring with prairie grasses and plants. The area will be returned to what it once was before it was left on its own and not managed as a native natural prairie.” Volunteers should RSVP to 815.722.7364 or rgauchat@fpdwc. org. The Forest Preserve’s MLK workday is being held in collaboration
with other Joliet and Will County organizations, including Joliet Township High School District. Some of the volunteers who gather at Joliet Central High School on MLK Day will be recruited to help in the Forest Preserve District’s workday. Gauchat said she is proud that the Forest Preserve has such a long history with this volunteer tradition. “MLK Day of Service has been a standing working day at the Forest Preserve District of Will County for 20 years,” Gauchat said. “The amount of work performed in the preserves during the workday would take much longer than four hours if our crew was there alone. We look forward to the hardy folks who come to the site on this annual workday.” The Forest Preserve District of Will County has numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the year. In 2018, 1,168 volunteers donated 15,219 hours of work. For information on volunteer opportunities with the District, visit the Volunteer Page.
news Briefs
Bertino-Tarrant urges county fire depts. to apply for state grant State Senator Jennifer BertinoTarrant is excited to announce the Office of the State Fire Marshal is now accepting applications for the state’s Small Equipment Grant program. “Our firefighters and first responders work tirelessly to ensure our homes are safe,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “This grant will help provide necessary assistance to help make sure our firefighters have the tools and resources needed to stay safe while protecting our communities.” The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting
and ambulance equipment. Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments are eligible to apply for grants. Ambulance services that qualify as a not-for-profit emergency medical service provider are also eligible to apply. For more information on the application process or to access a copy of an application, Bertino-Tarrant urges fire departments to visit www2.illinois.gov/sites/sfm/ Iam/FireDepartment/Grantsand-Loans/. Applications must be postmarked no later than Feb. 29, 2020 to be considered.
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Calendar
uPComing events in your area wednesday, January 15, 2020 | BuglenewsPaPers.Com
JANUARY 15 ROMEOVILLE artist guild. 4-6 p.m. Romeoville Branch White Oak Library District. Come join us for some social drawing time! Bring your own paper and favorite pens or pencils and we’ll talk about drawing, share our drawings, try some baroque techniques, or just spend some quiet time doodling together. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted. For ages 16 and plus. Registration is required due to limited space. If you are not able to attend, please inform us 24 hours in advance so we can offer your spot to someone else. No shows may be waitlisted for future programs. JANUARY 17 PLAINFIELD sarah Jayne lane. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Plainfield Public Library District. Get ready for a rocking-good time at this interactive, family-friendly concert. Register each adult and each child attending. JANUARY 18 LISLE league of women voters: voter registration drive!. 2-4:30 p.m. Lisle Library District. Kick off the New Year as a registered voter. The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Lisle, in partnership with the Lisle Library District, will offer voter registration. JANUARY 18 WOODRIDGE featured artist reCePtion - mary yeZek. 2-4 p.m. Woodridge Public Library. Members of the community are welcome to meet Mary Yezek and to discuss her artistic methods used to create collages at a reception in the lobby of the Woodridge Public Library on Saturday, January 18 between 2 and 4 p.m. JANUARY 18 BOLINGBROOK winter Carnival 2020. 7-10 p.m. Fountaindale Public Library. Don’t miss our exciting after-hours celebration to kick off our 50th anniversary. Enjoy games, prizes, snacks, laser tag, and meet Anna & Elsa and much more. All ages are welcome to this event. JANUARY 20 PLAINFIELD Canvas art for kids. 1:30-2:15 p.m. Plainfield Public Library District. For Ages 6 to 9. Design your own piece of modern art. Use tape and paint to create a canvas masterpiece. GENERAL MANAGER Vice President - Advertising & Marketing ANDREW SAMAAN 815-436-2431 ext. 104 andrew@buglenewspapers.com
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OFFICE HOURS : Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Published every Thursday at 23856 W. Andrew Rd., Plainfield, IL 60585. Enterprise Subscription Rates: $25 per year within Will County and 60540, 60564, 60565, 60566 zip codes; $30 within Illinois; $50 per year elsewhere. Single copy 75 cents. Periodical postage paid at Plainfield, Illinois 60544 and additional mailing offices. No part of The Enterprise, Bugle & Sentinel, including advertisements, stories, photos or captions, may be reproduced without written permission from The Enterprise.
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BASKETBALL SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL SOCCER TENNIS BASEBALL SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD SWIMMING CHEERLEADING DANCE Bowling girls BasketBall
growing
Pains
minooka going through struggles as it tries to replace graduated seniors By ryan ostry Bugle staff
@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com With the departure of seven seniors from the 2018-19 Minooka roster, there’s been no secret that they have been struggling this year. The Indians (3-15, 0-8), hold five sophomores on their varsity roster, with many being contributors. In their most recent game against Plainfield East (6-12, 2-6), the Indians couldn’t sustain their small momentum pushes as they fell to the Bengals 56-52. “We had to dig ourselves out of a hole in the early part of the game which really hurt us,” said Minooka coach Jeff Easthon. “We were getting a ton of open looks and the girls were running the offense, but we just couldn’t seem to knock many shots down.” The Indians trailed the entire game, and got off to a very slow start to the game behind the Bengals first quarter 3-point percentage at 67 percent. An eight-point lead that the Bengals had over the Indians, which headed into the third and fourth quarter, was cut down by the Indians, but they never found themselves able to tie or take
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seniors lost from minooka last year
the lead. For the Bengals, they were led by sophomore guard Taylor French (17 pts). “This season we’ve had a lot of games where we have had the lead at the half and then gave it away in the third and fourth quarters,” said Bengals coach Anthony Waznonis. “Today, we kept our heads up and kept battling while hitting are free throws and thankfully came out on top.” The Bengals entered the season where the team got off to a slow start with losing seven of their first eight games. Since then, even though they have not gone on a serious winning streak, the Bengals have not put together a losing streak of more than two games at a time since the beginning of the season. Part of the reason why the Bengals have seen more success of late is because of senior point guard Tamia Edom, who has been on the varsity roster since her sophomore year. “She has her opportunities throughout the game where she can put her arm around a younger player and explain what they did if it was good or bad,” Waznonis said. “She’s basically another coach out there.”
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Points my east soPhomore frenCh
minooka has battled this season to replace seven graduated seniors.
PHOTO BY RYAN OSTRY
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6 sPorts
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feature
Bolingbrook Suggs to be honored March 14 suggs is top african-american male high school scholar-athlete for the midwest region By BoB narang for the Bugle
@BugleNewspapers sweditor@buglenewspapers.com
Bolingbrook senior Devyn Suggs is rapidly carving his own memorable legacy. Hailing from a family of athletes, Suggs signed a letter-of-intent to play quarterback at Yale on Dec. 21. In late December, the National Alliance of African-American Athletes selected Suggs as the top AfricanAmerican Male High School ScholarAthlete for the Midwest Region for 2020. Suggs and the other regional honorees will be honored on March 14 at the Crystal City Hilton in Arlington, VA. “I’m beyond grateful to receive an award like this,” Suggs said. “I hold success in academics very close to me. My dad raised me and my sister to value academic excellence. I’m very blessed to receive an award of this magnitude. I’m proud of my work and had a lot of people around me that helped me.” Suggs endured a rigorous process to earn the honor. He had to fill out an extensive application that included an essay and detailed information of his daily academic and athletic life. Suggs said he spent nearly a week on his application, but didn’t hear about his award until a few months later. Suggs, a dual-threat quarterback, led Bolingbrook to an 8-4 record this season and has a 3.8 grade-pointaverage. “I was surprised and it’s kind of shocking and humbling to receive this kind of award,” he said. “Growing up, academics was very important in our household. We all took it seriously. My mom and dad instilled in us how important it was. To receive
an award, outside of athletics, that recognizes my work as a student is very gratifying. There will be a day when football ends, and academics will open up many more opportunities for me.” Family is a key part of Suggs’ life — and success. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Suggs is an imposing and physical player on the football field. But there was a time in his life when Suggs was more known for being the son of NFL and Ball State star safety Shafer Suggs — and the little brother of former Homewood-Flossmoor and Duke standout guard Faith Suggs. Shafer Suggs, a member of the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, played five years in the NFL (1976-80) for the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. Faith Suggs had a standout career at Duke (2015-19). Shafer Suggs is slated to say a few words about his son’s award in a Bolingbrook board meeting leading up to Martin Luther King Day. “I’m really proud of Devyn,” Shafer Suggs said. “To watch him grow through this years, and watch him observe Faith and navigate his own recruiting process and earn this award is special.” Devyn Suggs’ path from younger sibling to star recruit, though, was not an easy one. His mother, Susan Hoster-Suggs, passed away due to melanoma cancer on October 9, 2011. She was 44. At the time, Devyn was just 10 years old. He endured a rough few years, being forced to navigate his early teen years without the aid of his loving and supportive mother. Meanwhile, Shafer Suggs, then 58 years old, had to raise two young teens through a difficult time amid a
busy academic and athletic schedule. “Devyn and Faith have always had a really close connection,” Shafer said. “It’s been truly amazing to watch them navigate the last eight or nine years together. Their mother would be so unbelievably proud of both of them, and would be so proud to watch him achieve this milestone and all these awards. “We had to endure a lot, to be able to get through that rough time was helped because we are very spiritual people. We have all supported each other. We have been through some storms and endured them together. It was rough, just unimaginable what we went through. But our family was able to rise above those adversities because of our faith, our love and by working hard.” Devyn Suggs, no longer the little one in the family, credited his father and sister for guiding him through a difficult process of his life and help set him for athletic and academic success. “I’m very blessed to have such a wonderful family,” he said. “I’ve had many people in my life help me, from coaches, my dad and sister and friends and family to guide me to this point of my life. My dad’s experiences in life and being able to show me what important really helped me. My sister has been a very good aid helping me and guiding me by showing me the proper way to about things.” Faith Suggs, now the director of basketball operations for the women’s basketball team at Long Island University, said she’s excited to watch her younger brother follow in the family’s footsteps in college. “It’s so special to see Devyn achieve so much,” Faith Suggs said. “His life has been the definition of overcoming adversity. I admire him every day for how he carries himself, and from the way he has always worked hard in the classroom is what I’m most proud of. I’m so excited for his next four years at Yale.”
ne w s a B o u t lo Ca l B u si nesses i n yo u r C o mmu ni t y
Business + real estate
wednesday, January 15, 2020 | BuglenewsPaPers.Com
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Column >> dave says
Dave Says: Keep your dignity and work your way out dear dave: My wife and I will both turn 30 next month. We have two young children, and we make a little over $85,000 combined. The problem is we have about $70,000 in debt. Some of it is credit card debt, but nearly $50,000 is in two car loans. Her mom and dad have offered to let us move in with them, so we can save up money and start getting a better handle on our finances, but we’re not sure how we feel about this. What’s your advice?
dear Justin:
Justin
You’ve got a ridiculous amount of money wrapped up in those cars. I’d sell the stupid things, get into a couple of little beaters, and start living on a budget and paying down debt. In your situation, the only scenario
where I’d even consider taking the inlaws up on their offer is one where the stay is for a very short, agreed-upon period of time. They’d have to be absolutely wonderful people, too, and everyone involved would need to know their boundaries. But you guys can get out of debt pretty fast if you’ll just lose the cars. You could even save a little money on the side while you were paying down debt, and buy a better car as soon as the debt was gone. You might love your cars so much that you’re unwilling to make the sacrifice. Not me. I’d rather keep my dignity intact, and work my way out of the mess I created!
dear dave:
dave
I’ve been struggling financially for the past few months, so I’ve been
dave says By dave ramsey
@DaveRamsey daveramsey.com
playing the lottery once a week. To me, the chance to win millions is worth a few dollars a month, even if things are tight.
dear Paula:
Paula
You’ve told me you’re having money troubles, and at the same time you’re throwing money out the window ev-
ery week? Honestly, the small amount you’re talking about doesn’t make a difference. Even if it’s just two or three bucks a week, that action represents a lot of financially irresponsible behavior in your life. I’m going to be very blunt with you. The lottery is a tax on the poor and people who can’t do math. Your chances of winning are bleak at best. Did you know the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292,000,000? There are plenty of other very unusual things that are much more likely to happen to you than winning the lottery. Your chances of making a hole-in-one on the golf course are about 1 in 12,500. Even your odds of having quadruplets are around 1 in 11 million. When times are tough and you’re strapped for cash, the last thing you
need to do is spend what little you have on gimmicks. My advice is to focus on working hard, living on a tight budget that cuts out all unnecessary expenses, and saving every penny you can. Unlike the lottery, this is a plan that works every time. When you start living on a budget and get out of debt, it provides a little bit of breathing room in your life. You might even feel like you got a raise! Don’t let your finances—and your dreams—be hijacked by the lottery.
“For example, River Road north of Wilmington was constructed around 1980 when our county population was close to 300,000. Our population is nearly 700,000 today and it will cost close to $25 million to rebuild the entire four mile stretch of that road. We absolutely need this revenue to keep our infrastructure in a good state of repair.” Republicans were united in their opposition to the motor fuel tax citing widespread opposition voiced by their constituents. “We will receive nearly $10 million
in new revenue for road and bridge improvements from the state over the next six years,” said Judy Ogalla (R-Monee). “Isn’t that enough? How much do we need to tax?” The money from the county motor fuel tax can only be used to fund road repairs and improvements. “This user fee allows Will County to take local control over our infrastructure,” said Winfrey. “Our county is booming with business and new residents and our roads have to keep pace if we want to remain a great place to live, work, and recreate.”
dave Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.
County news
Will County votes to fund road repair
impact fee will fix roads, many over 50 years old
T
he Will County Board voted at their December meeting to move forward with a motor fuel tax to improve safety for motorists with repairs to aging roads, many of which are over 50 years old and built to support a county population that was less than half of what it is today. “We are excited to improve safety
on our roads,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “Our residents want and deserve improved shoulders and turn lanes, better traffic signals, and much needed road resurfacing.” The impact fee will apply to all fuel sales conducted in Will County including truck stops along I-80 and I-55). The Will County engineering
department has a list of road improvement projects from Beecher to Braidwood, to Bolingbrook. Some of these projects are shovel ready but lacked the funding to actually put the shovels in the ground. “Many of these roads were not designed to support our current population and the high level of use they currently receive,” said Public Works and Transportation Committee Chair Joe VanDuyne (D-Wilmington).
state news
Residents to Give Back on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service martin luther king, Jr. day of service is January 20, 2020
M
artin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is January 20, 2020. Serve Illinois encourages people across the state to take part in National Day of Service by volunteering in their community. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was designated a National Day of Service by Congress in 1994. Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” “Illinoisans answer this question each day by helping their neighbors and their community. Volunteerism is the answer,” said Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott McFarland. “We are proud that
Illinois was the first state to honor Dr. King with a holiday, and we are prouder still that Illinoisans make it a day on, not a day off.” Illinoisans have a rich history of service. People can find volunteer opportunities at www.Serve.Illinois. gov. Serve Illinois also wants to recognize those who serve their communities throughout the year and is accepting nominations for the annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize individual volunteers and for-profit businesses. The awards highlight the importance of community service in Illinois. “Each year, millions of Illinoisans
we are proud that illinois was the first state to honor dr. king with a holiday, and we are prouder still that illinoisans make it a day on, not a day off. - serve illinois executive director scott mcfarland
take time out of their busy lives to help their neighbors,” said McFarland. “These volunteers are helping keep children safe, safeguarding the environment, helping people find jobs, and so much more. They improve and save lives each and every
day, and with these awards, we recognize the best of Illinois.” Serve Illinois will present individual awards to one youth (18 years and younger), one adult (19-54-yearsold), and one senior (55 years and older) in each of Serve Illinois’ five volunteer network regions across the state (Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central, and Southern). Serve Illinois will present National Service Awards to one AmeriCorps member, one Senior Corps member, and one for-profit business in each of the five service regions. Nominations are due to Serve Illinois by February 21, 2020. Please visit www.serve.illinois.gov for nomination forms and more information. Serve Illinois will host a ceremony on
April 21, 2020 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield to honor recipients. The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40 member (25 voting and 15 nonvoting), bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state. The Commission is accomplishing this mission through the support of local community-based efforts to enhance volunteer opportunities and the administration of Illinois’ AmeriCorps program. For more information on Serve Illinois, or to find one of more than 2,500 volunteer opportunities in the state, please visit www.serve.illinois.gov.
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deadline for cl assifieds: friday at 11 a .m. Wednesday, January 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com
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9 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com
Phone: 815.436.2431 >> Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. FAX: 815.439.2548 email: classifieds@enterprisepublications.com IN PERSON: Enterprise Publications >> 23856 Andrew Rd. >> Plainfield, IL
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County
news from around the Count y wednesday, January 15, 2020 | BuglenewsPaPers.Com
County news
state news
Durbin calls for Trump Admin to combat domestic terrorism & hate crimes durbin again calls for trump admin to step up efforts to combat domestic terrorism & hate crimes
G
iven the disturbing increase in domestic terrorism and hate crime incidents targeting religious minorities and communities of color, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to Attorney General William Barr and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray calling on them to take the initiative in leading a coordinated nationwide effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement and intelligence to disrupt and prevent these violent domestic terrorism and hate crime incidents before they take place. Durbin met with local community and faith leaders in Chicago to hear about how they have been impacted by domestic extremism. “Far too many communities across the nation have been touched by domestic terrorism and hate crimes. The Federal government must step up to address these threats and ensure that more Americans are not violently attacked because of what they believe or who they are,” Durbin wrote. In May, Durbin along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), sent a letter to the Trump Administration and called out its shifting approach to tracking domestic terrorism incidents to obfuscate the white supremacist threat. More than three months later, Durbin and Booker sent a follow up letter to the DOJ and FBI about what they are doing to combat white supremacist violence. Both letters have gone unanswered.
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Director Wray in July, Durbin pressed Director Wray on the Trump Administration’s shifting approach to tracking domestic terrorism incidents, which has obfuscated the white supremacist threat. At that hearing, Director Wray admitted to Durbin that the majority of domestic terrorism arrests last year involved white supremacists. In March, Durbin reintroduced the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (DMN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI); Senators Chris Van Hollen (DMD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV ), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) also have cosponsored the bill. This bill would enhance the federal government’s efforts to prevent domestic terrorism by requiring federal law enforcement agencies to regularly assess this threat, focus their resources on the most significant domestic terrorism threats, and provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in addressing these threats.
April 1 Stand Up and Be Counted every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each
state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
≠ April 1, 2020: Census Day is observed nationwide. Respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020. ≠ April 2020: Census takers begin
visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. ≠ May 2020: The Census Bureau begins visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to make sure everyone is counted. ≠ December 2020: The Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law. ≠ March 31, 2021: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.
state news
Jesse white awards over $1.2 million in grants to school libraries more than 1.5 million students reached
S
ecretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded over $1.2 million in FY 2020 School District Library Grant Program awards to 684 public school districts. More than 1.5 million Illinois students served by school library programs will benefit from the grants. “As a former public school teacher and administrator, I know our school libraries are very important in helping students learn and prepare themselves for the future,” White said. “Illinois was the first state to implement a school district grant program, and I’m pleased that we can continue to provide school libraries with some of the financial resources they need to produce welleducated students.” From FY 2020 appropriations approved by the General Assembly and the governor, school library grants were awarded based on a formula of $.75 per student, with a minimum grant award of $750. School libraries can use the funds to acquire fiction and/or nonfiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources, as well as to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity. Information about the grant program can be found at: http://www. cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/schoolpercapgrant.html
more info
fy2020 school district library grant Program awards Paid at $.75 per student Will County ≠ Channahon Channahon SD #17 $888.00 ≠ Channahon Minooka Community High S.D. #111 $2,031.00 ≠ Crest Hill Richland School District 88A $750.00 ≠ Crest Hill Chaney - Monge School District #88 $750.00 ≠ Joliet Laraway CCSD 70C $750.00 ≠ Joliet Joliet Public School District #86 $8,064.00 ≠ Joliet Joliet Township High SD #204 $5,052.00 ≠ Lockport Lockport Township High SD 205 $2,817.75 ≠ Lockport Lockport School District 91 $750.00 ≠ Lockport Will County SD 92 $1,080.75 ≠ Romeoville Valley View CUSD #365U $11,813.25 ≠ Plainfield Plainfield CCSD 202 $19,101.75 ≠ Plainfield Troy Comm. Consolidated Elementary SD 30C $2,987.25
DuPage County ≠ Downers Grove Center Cass School District #66 $782.25 ≠ Downers Grove Downers Grove Community High School District #99 $3,687.00 ≠ Downers Grove Downers Grove Grade School District #58 $3,671.25 ≠ Lisle Lisle Community Unit Dis-
trict #202 $1,034.25 ≠ Westmont Westmont Unit School District #201 $916.50 ≠ Woodridge Woodridge School District #68 $2,150.25
Cook County ≠ Des Plaines East Maine School District #63 $2,046.00 ≠ Des Plaines Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District #62 $3,125.25 ≠ Harwood Heights Union Ridge School District #86 $750.00 ≠ Morton Morton CUSD #709 $2,261.25 ≠ Morton Grove Golf Elementary School District 67 $750.00 ≠ Niles Niles Elementary School District 71 $750.00 ≠ Norridge Ridgewood Community High School District #234 $750.00 ≠ Norridge Pennoyer School District #79 $750.00 ≠ Norridge Board of Education District #80 $787.50 ≠ Park Ridge Maine Township High School District 207 $4,741.50 ≠ Park Ridge Community Consolidated School District 64 Park Ridge/Niles $3,405.75 ≠ Skokie Skokie School District 73 1/2 $753.00 ≠ Skokie Skokie and Morton Grove School District 69 $1,180.50 ≠ Skokie Fairview School District 72 $750.00 ≠ Skokie Skokie School District 68 $1,296.75 ≠ Skokie Niles Township High School District 219 $3,416.25 ≠ Skokie East Prairie School District #73 $750.00
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