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Addison Independent

Redefining beauty

Earlier this month, Miss USA Alma Cooper met with Addison Trail students and shared an important message—“If yocu can see me, you can be me.”

Cooper shared her journey of overcoming challenges and not letting barriers stand in her way. She spoke about being the daughter of a migrant worker and having those closest to her say she would never achieve her dream of attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

A few years later, Cooper not only graduated with honors from West Point, but she was named as a Knight-Hennessy scholar, was accepted to Stanford University to pursue her master’s degree in statistics (data science track) and became a 1st lieutenant and Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army.

After reaching those goals, Cooper set her sights on another way to serve

and joined the beauty pageant arena. In August 2024, she was named as the first Afro-Latina Miss USA.

“Miss USA provides me with a platform to guide, support and hopefully inspire the next generation of leaders— which is you,” Cooper said to the Addison Trail students. “I want you to remember that forward is always forward, no matter the pace. And the only person who can set limits is you—so never be the first one to say ‘no’ to your dreams.”

During her visit, Cooper toured Addison Trail and spoke with cadets in the school’s new U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.

She also met with students who are part of the school’s LADIES group, which provides support and ongoing motivational clinics to help members gain confidence in themselves and realize their true potential.

Miss USA visits Addison Trail to share journey of graduating from West Point, being accepted to Stanford University and becoming a 1st lieutenant

Do you need a REAL ID? Maybe … maybe not

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants Illinoisans to make sure they know if they need a REAL ID ahead of the federal deadline, now less than three months away.

The Secretary of State’s office is proactively raising awareness about the uses of REAL IDs and clarifying that they are not mandatory for driving a vehicle or required for valid identification or proof of citizenship.

The primary reason for Illinoisans over the age of 18 to obtain a REAL ID is to fly domestically on a commercial aircraft or visit certain federal facilities, such as a military base or federal courthouse as of May 7. Individuals who have a val-

id U.S. passport and those under the age of 18 will not need a REAL ID.

The deadline for obtaining the REAL ID has been pushed back multiple times, most recently in 2022 when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the DHS has not provided details on how it plans to enforce the REAL ID Act once the deadline arrives, suggesting it will implement a “phased enforcement approach” over a two-year period, which could allow travelers to board flights with warnings about the requirement.

“Between implementation delays and a lack of clarity about enforce-

ment procedures, the REAL ID initiative has led to a great deal of confusion and misinformation about what is required and how the federal government plans to implement it,” Giannoulias said. “We do know that REAL IDs will not be mandatory for most tasks other than flying, and our employees have been doing an outstanding job at handling this unprecedented demand.”

Giannoulias launched the office’s “Get Real Illinois” campaign last May to raise awareness about the requirements and deadline associated with the federal initiative. The campaign has leveraged partnerships across the state to boost enrollment through a series of REAL ID “pop-up” events throughout the past year.

Giannoulias’ office has experienced an uptick in REAL ID issuances with 628,279 issued in 2022, 864,240 in 2023 and 1.1 million in 2024. In January of 2025, the office issued 128,000 REAL IDs, a record for a single month.

To accommodate the recent demand, the office has increased the number of available daily appointments by nearly 2,500 at the 44 appointment-only DMVs in Chicago

7 deadline

and the suburbs. Because the office’s two “walk-in” facilities in the Chicago area—the Loop and Chinatown DMVs—have experienced longer wait times leading up to the deadline, the office is suggesting that REAL ID applicants make plans to visit an appointment-only DMV to avoid any possible waits.

Currently, just 3.4 million Illinois residents with a driver’s license or state ID—or about 30 percent— hold a REAL ID driver’s license or ID.

Giannoulias also stressed that Illinoisans who need a REAL ID should make an appointment at a DMV to avoid longer lines closer to the deadline or wait until after May 7 to apply if they do not have immediate travel plans.

For Illinoisans with flight plans after May 7, it is recommended they submit their REAL ID application at least 30 days prior to the flight. A temporary driver’s license or state ID will not be accepted as a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

Individuals applying for a REAL ID must do so in-person at an Illinois DMV and are required to present:

• A U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form is also acceptable. If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to provide name change documents.

• Proof of a full Social Security number (SSN). Examples include: a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub with your full SSN.

• Two current residency documents that list your full name. Examples include: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or a bank statement.

• Proof of your signature. Examples include: a signed credit or debit card, canceled check, or current state driver’s license or state ID. Illinois residents can go online to access an interactive checklist to make sure they have the documents they need before heading to a DMV. Some Illinois DMVs require an appointment, so residents are encouraged to plan ahead and visit www.ilsos.gov if they need to schedule one.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Miss USA Alma Cooper (center) met with Addison Trail students on Feb. 11. She also spoke with cadets in the school’s new U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.

Three Cook County individuals charged in theft of high-end SUV; fourth subject faces weapons charges

All four defendants taken into custody after a 130-mph chase

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced on Saturday, Feb. 22, that Judge Kentin Skarin had granted the state’s motion to detain three Cook County residents accused of stealing a highend SUV earlier this month and leading police on a high-speed chase. A fourth individual allegedly involved, Jocelyn Gonzalez, 22, of Chicago, was not detained.

Xavier Carrasco, 19, of Lynwood, Matthew Perez, 24, of Chicago, and Mariano Martinez, 18, of Chicago, each appeared in court on Saturday. Carrasco and Martinez are both charged with one count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 1 felony), one count of theft – over $10,000 (a Class 1 felony), one count of burglary (a Class 2 felony), one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 2 felony) and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding (a Class 4 felony).

Perez is charged with two counts of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (a Class 4 felony) and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding (a Class 4 felony). Gonzalez is charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding.

On Feb. 11, the Elmhurst Police Department began an investigation into the theft of a 2020 Jeep Grand

Cherokee SRT, valued at approximately $54,000, which was stolen from the Al Piemonte Buick GMC dealership at 364 W. Grand Ave., Elmhurst. Following that investigation, it is alleged that at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Feb. 11, a black Cadillac SUV drove in through the overhead service doors at the dealership. It is alleged that a Chevrolet SS arrived on scene and a male, later identified as Carrasco, exited the Chevrolet, entered the dealership, retrieved keys for the Jeep and fled the scene in the Jeep.

The investigation also found that the Cadillac had allegedly been stolen by Martinez from My Choice Motors, located approximately half a mile away from the dealership, at 530 W. Grand Ave., just a few minutes before. It is alleged that a short time later, the vehicles went to a gas station in Berkeley and fled the gas station at a high rate of speed when a Berkeley police officer pulled into the gas station.

On Feb. 20, at approximately 1:15 a.m., while conducting a routine patrol near a car dealership, a Lisle police officer observed headlights in the parking lot. It is alleged that when the officer began to investigate, a Jeep Grand Cherokee that matched the description of the stolen Jeep fled

the scene on Ogden Avenue and entered eastbound I-88.

A short time later, a Villa Park police officer observed the Jeep, with no lights on, traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on I-88. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and began pursuit. It is alleged that the Jeep did not pull over and continued eastbound on I-88, at times reaching speeds of approximately 130 mph.

It is further alleged that the pursuit continued, with multiple agencies assisting including a Chicago Police Department helicopter, onto I-290 eastbound. It is further alleged that in an attempt to avoid spike strips, the Jeep swerved around an Oak Brook police officer, almost striking him, and continued to drive eastbound on I-290, swerving in and out of traffic and reaching speeds of approximately 126 mph.

It is further alleged that near the 17th Street exit, after apparently losing control of the Jeep due to losing the front passenger side tire, four individuals, later identified as the defendants, exited the Jeep, jumped over the concrete median and fled on foot across I-290. With assistance from a Chicago Police Department helicopter, all four defendants were taken into custody following a foot

chase.

It is further alleged that during the foot chase, Perez threw a Glock 20 handgun over a fence and that Martinez was found to be in possession of a magazine that matched the Glock 20 handgun. When searching the Jeep, authorities found a loaded AR rifle with 28 rounds in the magazine and a Springfield Armory 9mm Hellcat that was reported stolen out of Cicero.

“The blatant disregard for the rule of law allegedly exhibited by these defendants is astonishing,” Berlin said. “The successful apprehension of these four defendants sends a loud and clear message that in DuP-

age County, we will not tolerate the type of lawless, dangerous behavior as alleged in this case. We will use every tool available to us, including a helicopter and our partners in law enforcement to go after those who break the law and put the public at risk. We are all very thankful that no innocent bystanders or motorists were injured as a result of the defendants’ alleged behavior. I thank the Villa Park Police Department for their outstanding police work that led to the apprehension of these four defendants. The apprehension of the defendants in this case was indeed a

State Rep. Terra Costa Howard to lead New Dems caucus

Focus will be on fiscal responsibility and economic development

State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard) on Feb. 17, announced the launch of the New Democrats caucus in the Illinois House. Formerly known as the “Mod Caucus,” the 20-plus members of the New Democrats caucus are focused on issues related to fiscal responsibility, economic development, and transparency.

“As Democrats, we stand firmly on the side of civil rights and reproductive freedom, and we do not believe there can be a middle ground when it comes to fighting for our democracy,” Costa Howard said. “We are absolutely committed to the priorities of education, health care, and human services. To us, the question is not where we want to go—it’s how we can get there in a way that respects taxpayers and builds trust with the people we serve.”

The New Democrats caucus includes members from Chicago and Cook County, the collar counties, and downstate communities, Costa Howard noted. “We bring a diverse set of perspectives to this challenge, but we’re all fighting for the same things,” she said.

“The New Democrats will focus on the issues that matter most to our constituents, including rising gro-

cery costs and making ends meet for their families,” said caucus Vice Chair Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago). “Our growing coalition will also ensure Illinois remains a leader in protecting the rights of our residents, including women, the LGBTQ+ community, and the most vulnerable who need our support.”

“I joined the caucus as a freshman member two years ago,” added caucus Secretary Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington. “What I found was a passionate group of legislators who wanted to be as informed and educated as possible in everything we do in the Capitol. I am proud of our work in the New Democrat Caucus, and I am eager to get to work this session with a new name and new leadership.”

Caucus Treasurer Mike Kelly called the name change “more inclusive,” adding: “I am happy to expand the caucus as we work together to make our state government more fiscally responsible and transparent.”

As budget season moves into high gear, Costa Howard said, “Our members are looking forward to an open, collaborative process. We are ready, willing, and prepared to work together to forge a responsible spending plan that works for all of us.”

Xavier CarrascoMatthew Perez Mariano Martinez Jocelyn Gonzalez

Addison Trail students participate in careerexploration experience at electronics company

Last month, Addison Trail students participated in a field trip to Abt Electronics Inc. in Glenview for a career-exploration experience (pictured above). The visit was coordinated by Addison Trail Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Stacey Puccini, and the students are enrolled in various CTE courses and/ or the Heritage Spanish Career Fluency Program at the school. During their tour, students learned about the various careers/ departments at Abt, including car detailing, design center/interior design, HVAC technicians, appliance technicians, installers, woodworking, warehouse, dispatching, customer service and sales.

Scouting for Food Drive now under way

Addison Scout Troop 410 expands food-drive efforts

Several of the local Scout Units have participated in a small-scale Scouting for Food Drive over the past few years.

Because of its success, Addison Scout Troop 410 has been asked to expand this food drive to the entire Three Fires Council—which includes all of DuPage, De Kalb, Kendal, Kane, and parts of Will and Cook counties.

Scouts are going out from now until March 30, putting door hangers on residential doors.

The door hangers ask for people to put out non-perishable food on a certain day; the Scouts will be back around to pick up the food.

So far, 59 Scout units are participat-

ing, and they are putting out 20,500 door tags.

Scouts also have up storefront locations where they will be asking individuals to purchase certain items for the local food pantry.

The Scouts have added a way for people to donate money through the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Each hang tag has a QR code that links back to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Every dollar donated results in about $8 worth of food coming back to the local food pantry.

Scouting for Food started in the St. Louis Council. Their food drive is the largest in the country and collected 1.7 million cans this past year.

More info can be found at: https:// sites.google.com/view/tfc-scoutingfor-food/home

Puzzle enthusiasts wanted for March 14 Shamrock Quest

May the luck of the Irish be with puzzle enthusiasts as they test their problem-solving skills at “The Shamrock Quest,” a community puzzle competition hosted by the Bensenville Park District.

Registration is under way for the event, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood St. in Bensenville.

Teams of three or four will compete head-to-head to complete a

500-piece puzzle in the shortest time possible. The competition welcomes community members of all ages to engage in friendly rivalry, teamwork and fun. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest team.

Teams must register by Friday, March 7 at the Deer Grove Leisure Center. The cost is $45 per team.

For more information on “The Shamrock Quest” and other community events, visit BvilleParks.org or call 630-766-7015.

Coyote sightings increase as mating season begins in DuPage

People reminded to keep pets close this time of year when coyotes can be more bold

Coyote sightings are on the rise in DuPage County as the animals enter their late-winter mating season, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County reminds residents.

Seeing a coyote this time of year is normal as they search for mates and monitor their territories.

“Spotting a coyote isn’t a cause for alarm,” said Forest Preserve District ecologist Dan Thompson.

“Consider yourself lucky and enjoy the rare opportunity to observe one from a safe distance. Whether we see them or not, coyotes are always around, and the more we understand they’re just trying to live their lives, the easier it is to coexist safely.”

Coyotes play a key role in maintaining ecological balance by keeping rodent and small animal populations in check. In winter, they become more visible as they forage for food in open areas with less vegetation and snow-covered landscapes.

Thompson acknowledges that coyotes may appear intimidating

due to their size and can be more assertive during mating season.

“They see other canines, including dogs, as competition,” he said.

“Male coyotes may also be drawn to female dogs in heat.”

To minimize encounters, residents should follow these simple precautions:

• Keep dogs leashed, even in fenced yards, and never leave pets unattended.

• Keep cats indoors.

• If you notice a coyote in the same place repeatedly, alter your routine—they’re creatures of habit.

• If you have a small dog, pick it up when encountering a coyote.

If a coyote comes too close, don’t run. Instead, stand tall, make eye contact and create loud noise to scare it away.

Visit dupageforest.org for more tips on living with coyotes and protecting pets.

In DuPage, coyote breeding peaks in late February or early March. Pups are born in April and raised in dens—often abandoned fox or woodchuck burrows—until late June.

“Coyote encounters can happen any time of year, but they tend to increase during fall dispersal and again now, during breeding and pup-rearing season,” Thompson said. “Most encounters are uneventful, but pet owners should

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County said that coyote sightings are on the rise as they enter their late winter mating season.

always keep dogs leashed and supervised.” For information, call 630-9337200 or visit dupageforest.org,

where you can also link to the district’s e-newsletter and Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok pages.

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Slices of life

The curse of the avocados

I have bad luck with avocados.

I just can’t seem to keep track of them. I shop for them. I put them in my cart. I pay for them. And then, something goes decidedly—or perhaps magically – wrong.

I leave the store with an avocado in my bag and when I come home, it is gone.

I lose avocados like they are socks on laundry day.

And that isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Avocados aren’t small— as fruits go.

I mean, a person could quite easily lose a grape or a blueberry or even a cherry tomato. But an avocado? One wouldn’t think so.

I wouldn’t have, had it not happened to me personally - on numerous occasions.

It started years ago. Back then, I blamed it on my husband. He and I used to go to the grocery store to acquire provisions for supper. On at least two occasions, our list included an avocado (for guacamole).

In the aftermath of the avocado escape, both he and I remembered (clearly) choosing the avocadobecause choosing an avocado of the correct firmness is tantamount to its inclusion in dinner (and guacamole) on any given night. We remembered removing the avocado from the cart to the conveyor belt of the check out lane. We even remembered seeing the avocado in our bag as we walked to the car.

And then, everything gets blurry. Because we arrived at home and unpacked the groceries and didn’t notice the errant avocado(s) immediately because who itemizes their grocery acquisitions on such a specific level so soon after returning from the store?

Certainly not us. We didn’t notice the avocado’s absence until right before dinner - when it was time to prepare the guacamole.

It was at this point it became obvious that the avocado had gone AWOL.

This happened more than once— maybe more than twice, but enough to make me know we were avocado cursed.

And then, unexpectedly, the curse

Coming events

Blood drive March 15

The Fr. Boecker Council 6090 and Christ the King Council 11027

are hosting a Versiti Blood Drive

Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Pius X Social Center, 601 S. Westmore Meyers Road, Lombard. Appointments are appreciated but walk-ins are welcome. Call

By JILL PERTLER Slices of Life

was lifted and my life was filled with avocados anew.

Until this week.

When I purchased an avocado for dinner.

And when dinner time came near and it was time to make the guacamole there was no avocado in my kitchen.

It was like history was repeating itself.

I looked in all the usual places, and came up avocado empty. We ate supper sans guacamole and everyone forgot about the lack thereof - except me.

I just couldn’t let it go.

But I had to. What recourse does a person have when she can’t find her avocado? Not much.

Life went on.

The next day, I followed my normal routine, which included an exercise class in the morning. When I returned to my house around noon, I noticed a weird lumpy shape my driveway. I thought it might be a dead bird. After driving the car into the garage, I walked out to the driveway to examine the clumpy lump.

You’re already two steps ahead of me, aren’t you?

And with that, you’d be correct. The lump was a squished avocado. Apparently it rolled out of my hatchback (or shopping bag) when I unloaded groceries the day before. And then, that morning, I’ve driven over it with the car.

Mystery solved! Give me a Scooby snack.

Or better yet, an avocado.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

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Glowiak Hilton: Budget must balance progress, responsible spending

State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Western Springs, whose district includes Elmhurst, Villa Park, Addison and Lombard, issued the following statement in response to the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal:

“The governor’s proposed budget reflects Illinois’ continued commitment to progress in education, economic opportunities and fiscal responsibility. A balanced budget remains a top priority alongside making smart decisions to protect families and sustain vital programs that serve our communities.

“Investing in education from preschool to college is critical to preparing future generations and building our economy. In recent years, Illinois has made significant strides in improving access to K-12 education, recruiting and retaining dedicated teachers and setting up our students for success. In building on this momentum, I was pleased to see continued funding for career and technical education programs, as well as MAP grants to help students seeking a college degree.

“Illinois has also strengthened its business climate, creating thousands of jobs throughout the state. The governor’s proposed plan includes a frame-

work to support job training programs, entrepreneurship and innovation, while further enhancing our state’s competitiveness.

“As we move forward with budget negotiations, I am committed to working with my colleagues to refine this proposal, ensuring it reflects a responsible and sustainable path forward for our state.”

Blair-Sherlock responds to governor’s budget address

State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, whose district includes parts of Villa Park, Addison, Elmhurst and Lombard, issued the following statement after the governor’s annual budget address:

“I look forward to reviewing the governor’s proposal line by line, and seeing how we can maximize our resources to strengthen support for our schools, public safety and essential services residents depend on. I’m particularly interested in how we can continue to invest in successful early childhood initiatives, as well as lifesaving health care and programming for the disabled and older adults.

“There’s no question this will be a tough budget year, and we’ll have to consider fiscal challenges with our public transportation systems. It un-

derscores why we must always pursue a balanced approach with our state spending so that we have the flexibility necessary to ensure support for issues facing families.

“With Washington increasingly hostile, our budget gives us an opportunity to reinforce our state’s values and priorities. There’s a lot of difficult work ahead, but I’m optimistic that we can build consensus and deliver a final document that works to uplift and create opportunity for every community.”

Statement from the Illinois House New Democrats Caucus in response to Gov. Pritzker’s FY 2026 budget proposal

The following statement was issued by the New Democrats Caucus, led by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, in response to Gov. Pritzker’s budget address:

800-7TO-GIVE or visit Versiti.org/ IL to make an appointment. All donors will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii.

Program on avoiding scams at Villa Park Library

On Tuesday, March 11, at 10 a.m., the Villa Park Public Library and At-

torney General Kwame Raoul’s outreach team will help residents: be on the lookout for the latest scams, protect yourself from deceptive practices, understand consumer rights and actions against fraud. Registration is required. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.vppl. info or call 630-834-1164.

Women’s Day Breakfast March 8

The Annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, hosted by the Zonta Club of Oak Brook, will be held on March 8 in the Harry Caray Ballroom at the Westin Hotel in Lombard.

See COMING EVENTS, Page 7

“We value Governor Pritzker’s commitment to protecting our fundamental priorities with a budget that is balanced and responsible,” said state Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard), chair of the Illinois House New Democrats Caucus. “We are especially pleased that this budget proposal keeps spending almost flat while increasing K-12 funding by $350 million, boosting funding to our public universities, and investing in economic growth and jobs. “As the governor said, we understand our spending must reflect reality, and that we have to live within our means. As we embark on negotiating the details of this proposal, we are encouraged by the governor’s collaborative tone, and we look forward to working closely with the executive branch to craft a thoughtful, workable final budget.”

OUT

Lombard citizen calling. I wanted to thank the Lombard Park District for providing an absolutely wonderful event on Saturday, Feb. 8. It was the Winterfest over at Sunset Knoll and while the weather outside didn’t necessarily cooperate for dog sleds and things like that, it was really a very well organized event and our grandkids, who were in town for the weekend, had a blast. Came home with beautifully painted faces and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. Thank you

So the governor proposes a $55.4 billion budget, and legislators are praising that? I looked back at a document from the governor’s office in 2019, when the “spending plan” was $40.1 billion. How much of that increase has gone toward non-citizen spending? One report shows that from 2021-25 at least $3.3 billion was spent on “welfare” programs for non-citizens. That is shameful when we have so many homeless and hungry individuals in Illinois, and the availability of shelters, especially in the winter, is abysmal, to say the least. Our residents deserve that funding before illegal immigrants get free health care, housing, food and other free handouts from yours and my tax dollars; over which we don’t get a say.

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Most of us knew Trump would start tearing apart democracy; but not this soon. Let’s be grateful the Supreme Court is rejecting most of his craziness. Did you know that Elon Musk’s company receives $6 million every day with their current contract? Check it out; it’s true! I imagine most Republicans will regret voting for Trump soon as their rights, privileges, state and federal museums and parks are closing. We have had to cancel our family trip

this summer to Washington, D.C., as Trump is closing nearly everything that we would like to visit. And this is only the beginning. We should all be afraid and plan for emergencies as little or no federal aid will ever be available while Trump is in office.

Left-wingers frequently push for renaming of military bases, sports teams, pancake syrup and more. It’s amusing that many of these same leftists are upset that Trump wants to change “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America.”

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In January, four Venezuelan migrants were charged with stealing nearly $5,000 in merchandise from a store in Oak Brook. A judge denied the state’s motion to detain them before their trial. That judge is Joshua Dieden. In February, two Ohio men were charged with stealing more than $135,000 in jewelry from a store in Lombard. A judge denied the state’s motion to detain them before their trial. That judge is Joshua Dieden. What’s with this judge? And will the suspects in these cases show up for their next court dates? If they don’t, will anything happen? Our state’s justice system is a joke.

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The State of Illinois has decided to eliminate the one percent sales tax on groceries effective Jan. 1, 2026. At the same time the state will allow all local municipalities to enact a one percent sales tax on groceries. Now our governor can say he lowered the state taxes, when all he did is move the tax. What is the purpose of this? Is he trying to set himself up to run for president and gloat he lowered the sales tax in Illinois? He didn’t lower it, he moved it. The only reason Illinois is not bankrupt is because of the billions of federal dollars wasted during COVID. Our

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governor is a joke. Now the question is; will Lombard and Villa Park enact the local sales tax on groceries? * * *

Again, kudos to the Speak Out Feb.20 issue contributor again calling out our local Congressmen (Casten and Krishnamoorthi) to justify their votes against the Laken Riley Act. If enough good people out there put the pressure on these puppets, they’ll eventually have to respond. But as usual, they are too busy with their bloviations on how good of a job they are doing, or using twisted rhetoric to bash our current president. I could go much deeper on this, but word count restricts me (apparently government officials get all the paper space they want). I, too, again urge both of these party-line-toting idiots (á la Joe Biden’s career; wherever his party leaned, there he was) to use this paper to justify exactly why they voted against this bill. I believe the constituents of these districts deserve an answer for their demented thinking on their voting, but I doubt, as the contributor has wisely stated, that either of these buffoons will respond publicly to this plea. I speak from previous experience in contacting Casten to justify similar idiotic actions, with no responses, ever, from his office. They just don’t want to hear it. * * *

The people who have moved out to DuPage County from Cook County or Chicago understand that DuPage County was very Republican and we’ve had good things here; lower taxes and prosperous times. Please remember that when you’re in the voting booth. Vote Republican.

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Hi. What Musk is doing it makes no sense. Anybody can go and say cut everything. He’s seen no studies, he’s done no analytic things He just

has cut everything in half. First of all you have the government GAO that is the watchdog of Congress to see if there’s wasteful spending. It’s not perfect but that’s the way things should be. He’s cutting programs and everything that have been OKd by Congress already. Cutting these programs and cutting these people from their jobs; they’ve already had to recall back people from the FAA, from the national nuclear Security Agency because whoops, we need them. He has no idea what he’s doing. It’s unbelievable and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Goodbye

* * *

Hey you Trump supporters out there. He’s trying to cut the government spending and all that but what about when he went to the Super Bowl? I Googled it; it cost with security and everything like $20 million and then he went to Daytona and it cost $20 million with security and stuff like that. And he’s trying to cut the government spending and stuff like that but he’s spending our tax dollars on stupid little trips and everything he’s creating with the all these foreign affairs he’s not a good president.

* * *

President Trump said that there are problems in our government. He highlighted those problems and was met with mob action, profanities and ridicule. That does not alter the fact are there problems? Is there waste and fraud in our government? Is education better for our children in the state realm? Should immigrants be allowed to cross our borders illegally? Easy questions. Calling president Trump vile names does nothing to answer those questions. Why is no one answering his allegations?

* * *

I’m glad Trump is trying to stop the war in Ukraine—something

sleepy Joe Biden should have been doing the last three years. But I wish Trump would keep his mouth shut sometimes and not comment on everything. I’m not a fan of Zelenskyy, but Trump is wrong to call him a dictator. The dictator is Putin, who started the war with Ukraine. Then Trump makes these silly comments about Canada being the 51st state and Trudeau being the governor of Canada. And what’s the point of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America? Why does Trump feel he has to inject himself into everything?

Let’s see. For every three or four hostages Hamas releases to Israel, Hamas gets a few hundred prisoners in return. Now I’m reading that six Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This ceasefire agreement is a sham! *

I’m sure Democrats loved it, but I find JB Pritzker’s comments in his State of the State speech comparing the actions that Trump is taking in Washington to Nazi Germany to be disgraceful. At least someone in Springfield called Pritzker out for it. I saw him on the 10 o’clock news and looked him up. It was a Republican state rep from the Rockford area, John Cabello. He said, quote: “It was disgusting. Perception is reality and the perception is that he called every Republican a Nazi. That’s what he did. He needs to apologize, and in my opinion, he needs to resign.” Pritzker and the Democrats in Springfield should thank their lucky stars Trump is around. Trump gives them cover so the focus isn’t on them, and they don’t have to answer for their incompetency as they continue to run this state into the ground.

Lombard Historical Society presents Betsey Means of WomanLore on March 8

Fish & Fetish-Travels in West Africa: A lecture by Mary Kingsley

The Lombard Historical Society (LHS) welcomes Betsey Means of WomanLore as she presents Fish & Fetish—Travels in West Africa: A Lecture by Mary Kingsley on Saturday, March 8, at 3 p.m. in the Carriage House at 23 W. Maple St.

This is a ticketed event. Tickets are $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers and can be purchased at LombardHistory.org. For more information, visit LombardHistory.org, email info@ lombardhistory.org, or call 630-6291885.

Step back into the Victorian Era with an immersive historical theatrical experience. WomanLore’s one-woman performances are adapted directly from journals, autobiographies, and personal writings.

Each production is authentically costumed and designed, offering a fully realized theatrical portrayal of the era.

Among the long list of explorers, one remarkable woman stands out: Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862–1900). In 1893, Kingsley set sail for Equatorial Africa with two objectives: to collect fish specimens for the British Museum

and to study African religions. By the time she returned to England in 1895, she had already gained fame through her published articles. Her first book, “Travels in West Africa” (1897), was an instant success, reprinted four times in its first year. It was followed by “West African Studies” (1899), solidifying her reputation as a leading authority on African cultures. Today, Travels in West Africa ranks No. 7 among the 100 best travel books of all time, as recognized by the National Geographic Society.

Means has adapted Mary Kingsley’s lecture “Fish & Fetish” from Kingsley’s letters, journals, and bestselling books.

Means, a professional actress with over 20 years of experience, has performed with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare on the Green, Blue Rider Theatre, and Chicago Children’s Theatre, among others. She is the artistic director of WomanLore, which brings to life historical women who have made significant contributions through their own words and writings.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

On March 8, Betsey Means of WomanLore will present Fish & Fetish—Travels in West Africa: A Lecture by Mary Kingsley. Means has adapted Kingsley lecture “Fish & Fetish” from Kingsley’s letters, journals, and bestselling books. Mary Kingsley is pictured here.

out& about Jane Charmelo

Chief Wirsing to retire after 30 years with Lombard Police Department

Tom Wirsing has announced his retirement; and will be leaving behind a 30-year career with the Lombard Police Department, most recently as chief of police.

Wirsing began his career with the Lombard Police Department in 1995, working his way through the ranks, including sergeant and then lieutenant, and was promoted to deputy chief in 2011, then chief in 2023.

The Elk Grove Village native, who attended Elk Grove High School, recalled that one of the reasons he became interested in law enforcement had to do with a class he took in school, called a public service practicum.

Students performed acts of community service, and were “rewarded” with visits to places of interest to them; in Wirsing’s case, the local police station.

“It was a unique experience,” he recalled of the class, adding of his visits to the police station that “I had a desire back then to explore it [a career in law enforcement].”

Wirsing went on to attend Western

Illinois University, where he majored in sociology and minored in law enforcement. He then applied to the Lombard Police Department, at a time when he said there was a lot of competition to get into law enforcement.

Once hired, he said he attended the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA), located at College of DuPage, adding that he was in the new program’s second graduating class.

As he worked his way up through the ranks, Wirsing said he kept his eye on maintaining professionalism and high standards within the police department.

According to the village, he played a “key role” in maintaining the police department’s certification in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., or CALEA, which has been considered the “gold standard” in public safety since 1979.

“It’s all about best practices,” he commented modestly.

When asked why he decided to retire now, Wirsing responded simply that

“Thirty years is enough,” and when asked what he plans to do next, replied with a chuckle, “Don’t know yet.”

Wirsing said his last full day will be this Friday, Feb. 28.

Promoted to chief is Deputy Chief Joe Grage, who has been with the Lombard Police Department for 23 years. He has also served as a sergeant and a lieutenant, and was promoted to deputy chief in 2019.

According to the village in a news release, “As deputy chief, he has played a key role in the department’s operations and administration, contributing to its continued growth and professional management.”

In the release, District One Trustee Brian LaVaque, chair of the Public Safety and Transportation Committee, commented, “Deputy Chief Grage’s experience and leadership make him the right choice to lead our police department,” and added, “I look forward to working with him to continue building a stronger and safer community.”

Montini robotics team gears up for state competition and sets its sights on VEX Worlds

Montini Catholic’s robotics team is looking forward to the end of the month when they will once again compete in the VEX Robotics State Competition—to be held Feb. 28 through March 1.

The Broncos qualified for state after their successful finish at the third Great Lakes Tournament on Feb. 15.

“This team dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort to building their robot, and it was amazing to see their hard work pay off with such a strong performance at Great Lakes,” said new coach Don Krystof, who succeeded Pete Farina this year.

Krystof and his team can’t wait to see Montini Robotics compete at state for the sixth year in a row.

“With all the challenges we’ve faced this season we have still managed to overcome and improve,” said senior captain Wyatt Prater, who has transformed into a seasoned Robotics maven during his four years at Montini.

As a sophomore, Wyatt joined his brother, William Prater, in 2023 for the Broncos first trip to VEX Worlds.

“This year we have been to three competitions, Great Lakes 2 and 3 as well as the Great Lakes 3 skills only tournament. Our hope for state is to be top five in the skills category and get an award that will qualify us for Worlds. At Worlds, of course, we want to have fun, but we also wish to get far enough into the competition and make the playoffs for the first

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Montini Catholic High School’s 2024-25 robotics team members are, from left to right: Coach Don Krystof, freshman Andrew Pivoney (Lombard), senior Josh Brunke (Lombard), senior Geethan Siram, senior Wyatt Prater, senior Matthew Silveyra, senior Isabel Jaojoco and sophomore Franklin Barnes.

time in team history.”

Fellow senior teammate, and another highly skilled roboticist, Matthew Silveyra, shares Wyatt’s enthusiasm for state and beyond.

Coincidentally, he too, shared the Worlds’ spotlight in 2023 with his brother, Alex Silveyra .

“I think this season has really lived up to our team motto of ‘Solve one problem - make two more.’ However, despite the challenges we face, we continue to put the time and effort in to do the best we can possibly do,” he said.

“Our season has been a difficult challenge due to fewer members,” added Wyatt. Typically, Montini’s State teams have been comprised of

10-plus members. This year’s team of seven (five of whom are seniors) have worked even harder to make up the numbers.

“We also have some new members in the team we are trying to teach so they continue the successful history of the program. Mr. Krystof has been great and has helped us every way he possibly could have. Right now, we are all hoping we do well enough to qualify for worlds.”

VEX Robotics competitions help students develop STEM skills, like questioning, experimenting and learning in a fun environment.

The competitions also help students develop communication, collaboration and time-management skills.

• Arrests

(Continued from page 2)

team effort and I want to recognize the Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Berkeley, Maywood, Forest Park, Broadview and Lisle police departments as well as the Illinois State Police for their cooperation and assistance in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion. I especially thank the Chicago Police Department for air support that was instrumental in apprehending the defendants once the defendants allegedly fled their vehicle.”

“The alleged actions of those subjects charged are truly disturbing,” Rivas said. “All four subjects showed a blatant disregard for public safety and for the properties of others. The public should be reminded to pull over for emergency lights and sirens. The public should also be reminded that all who commit violent crimes in our area will be met with all lawful resources available to put a stop to these criminal acts. I want

to thank the brave men and women of the Villa Park Police Department for their tireless commitment to arresting all violent criminals who come through our area. Once the subjects were taken into custody it was truly a team effort for patrol, investigations, and our records department to process, investigate and care for the subjects while in our custody.

“The Villa Park Police Department is very successful at taking alleged violent offenders into custody. We do not act alone, and we are thankful to the police departments of Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Chicago and several Cook County Departments for the excellent coordination of tactics, communication, and investigations in this case.”

The next court appearance for Carrasco, Perez and Martinez is scheduled for March 7. Gonzalez’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 17.

VILLAGE OF LOMBARD PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Tom Wirsing is stepping down as Lombard police chief after a 30year career with the department. He said that throughout the ranks, he has always kept an eye on maintaining professionalism and integrity within the deparment.

Obituaries Second ‘50501’ protest

WILLIAM S. BIDDLE JR., 69

William Scott Biddle, Jr., age 69, of Lombard, IL died February 22, 2025 after a brief illness. Scott is survived by his son Darren, daughter Allyson (Matthew), stepson Jason Owens and grandson Liam as well as siblings Michael (the late Julia), Jane (Teresa), and Robert (Raffaella). Scott was the beloved uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

He was preceded by his parents William and Barbara Biddle and sister Sherry Hargrove.

Scott loved his job and travels for SEPRO GROUP and had planned to retire after his upcoming 70th birthday. Scott was a container garden pro, houseplant enthusiast with an amazing cactus and lime tree, a blues music and comedian lover as well as a BBQ expert that could out smoke the best of us. His Sunday mornings were never complete without attempting to finish the New York Times crossword puzzle while listening to his favorite streams on NPR. He looked forward to recreational overseas travel and a long-desired sports car in retirement.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorials to National Public Radio (https://www.npr.org/donations/ support) or National MS Society (https://www.nationalmssociety. org) appreciated.

• Coming Events

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. Megan Radavich, executive director of Zonta International, will be the keynote speaker. Megan will speak about the work of Zonta International and present updates on Zonta’s local and international service projects. Guests are being asked to bring feminine hygiene or paper products to the breakfast. Donated products will be given to local women’s shelters by the Zonta Club of Oak Brook. The cost of the breakfast is $30 per person. Proceeds from the breakfast will go to the Zonta International Foundation for Women. Lombard Bank and Trust is a Gold Sponsor of this event. To request ticket information call/ text 630-988-0625 go to iwdboakbrook@gmail.com.

GPS program March 6

On Thursday, March 6, the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will present “Better Days: Supporting Kids’ Mental Wellness When Things Aren’t OK” with Dr. Sarah Vinson at noon and 7 p.m. via Zoom. Go to GPSparentseries.org for information and the links to these webinars. Vinson is an award-winning triple board-certified physician who specializes in adult, child, adolescent and forensic psychiatry with advanced training in trauma from Harvard Medical School. She is an award-winning associate clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine and adjunct faculty member at Emory University School of Medicine. To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in ad-

VIRGINIA K. GARDNER, 101

Virginia Keller Gardner passed away on Feb. 22, 2025, at the age of 101 following a brief illness. All services are private. Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.

LORETA MIHALI

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Loreta Mihali, of Lombard, formerly of Albania. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Brust Funeral Home. Interment followed at Forest Hill Cemetery in Glen Ellyn. Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094

RITA M. OWCZARSKI, 89

Rita M. Owczarski, nee Gierut, age 89 of Lombard. Beloved wife of the late Daniel T. Owczarski; Loving mother of Danielle (Robert) Budig, Daniel E. (Mary) Owczarski, Lara (Jennifer Lee) Owczarski; dear daughter of the late Walter Gierut and the late Eleanor Gierut, nee Grzyb; devoted grandmother of Natalie (Steven) Roesslein, Jessica (Jacob) Seymore, Alison, and Kate Owczarski; cherished sister-in-law of Christine (Norbert) Bobrowski, and the late Gregory Owczarski; aunt, friend and relative of many.

Rita was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt; a devoted wife; a proud Polish American; a dedi-

(Continued from page 4)

vance, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at gilda_ross@ glenbard.org or 630-942-7668.

Arabic storytime at Villa Park Library March 7

Explore with languages from around the globe. Enjoy songs, stories, games, and rhymes from people who live all around the world Friday, March 7, from 10-10:30 a.m. This program introduces young children to a new language in a casual setting. Presented by Language Labs. Register for each date separately. Registration is required. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.vppl.info or call 630-834-1164.

Plum Library programs

“West by Southwest” Photography by Shehla Khan

Saturday, March 1, through Monday, Mar 31. Enjoy local photographer Shehla Khan’s exhibit featuring scenes of the American Southwest displayed in the Hub and on the 2nd Floor.

Illinois Libraries Present: Exploring Space with Coralie Adam

Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Get an inside look at the space industry with Illinois’ own Coralie Adam from KinetX Aerospace live on Zoom. Register at helenplum.org to receive the Zoom link in your email.

Considering Home Ownership

Wednesday, March 5, at 6 p.m. Learn about the costs and responsibilities associated with home ownership, explore the loan and repayment process, and learn how to find out if you are financially ready to own a home.

cated Roman Catholic; a lifelong Blackhawks fan; and a loyal friend to many. Her unwavering love and support were evident in every aspect of her life-she never missed a family sporting event, school play, birthday party, recital, graduation, or awards ceremony. Her presence was a constant source of encouragement, loyalty, and pride. She will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 21, from Knollcrest Funeral home, 1500 S. Meyers Road, Lombard, to Mass at Christ the King Catholic, 1501 S. Main St. Lombard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic/Philanthropy Institute, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655, are appreciated. Funeral info: 630-932-1500 or www.knollcrest.net.

JOAN M. PFISTERER 91

Joan M. Pfisterer, age 91, longtime Lombardian, passed away on Feb.19, 2025.

Funeral Prayers were held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Brust Funeral Home to Mass at St. John the Apostle Church, 330 N Westmore, Villa Park. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside. Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888629-0094.

held outside Illinois Capitol

Protestors take aim at Trump, call for ‘No Kings on Presidents Day’

Capitol news illinois

A second protest against the Trump administration took place in front of the Illinois Capitol Feb. 17, less than two weeks after the first such protest was held.

The protest was part of the “50501 movement,” which calls for 50 protests in 50 states on one day. This is the same entity that put together a similar protest Feb. 5, which was one of dozens of protests that took place across the nation that day.

Build The Resistance, one of the main websites being used to organize these protests, called it the “2nd National 50501 Day of Action,” and started the protest’s slogan of “No Kings on President’s Day.”

The 50501 Reddit account posted the initial protest posters Feb. 10, which were pictures of President Donald Trump wearing a crown next to the words “President not King,” “President not God,” and “President not Führer.”

Organizers of the Illinois-based protest issued a statement for the Feb. 17 protest, calling it “No Kings” Day. The statement included several national and Illinois-specific requests that revolved around issues including diversity, equity and inclusion programs, LGBTQ+ rights, citizenship rights, immigration, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Tristan Sites, a Lincoln resident who identified himself as one of the organizers of the Springfield rally, said the protest was not simply about Trump.

“We have no kings in this country,” Sites said. “This isn’t about Trump as a person anymore. This is about the fact that Trump and his people are currently trying to systematically destroy the government that makes us allowed to be free in this country.”

As protestors began to arrive around noon, organizers played music from speakers, including a song by Woody Guthrie, titled “All You Fascists Bound to Lose.” They also set up a table displaying copies of the national movement’s press release, a list of chants to be used, markers and cardboard to make signs. By 1 p.m., hundreds had gathered in front of the statehouse.

Register at helenplum.org or by calling (630) 627-0316.

Variety program at Maple Street Chapel March 2

The Variety Program Series at the Maple Street Chapel presents “Paul Revere, Son of Liberty” Sunday March 2, at 3 p.m. Historian Terry Lynch will appear in personification. Revere played a critical role in the fight for American independence. He is known for much more than his famous horse ride to Lexington. Learn how he became a Son of Liberty. Admission is $20. To order tickets or for more information, visit MapleStreetChapel.Org, where you can pay using PayPal or print a mail-in order form and mail in a check payable to “Maple Street Chapel” to Ken Bohl, 213 West Ash St., Lombard IL 60148-2505. Tickets will also be available at the door for check or cash payment only.

Summer internships with Rep. Costa Howard

The office of state Rep. Terra Costa Howard is accepting applications for summer internships at her district office in Lombard. You’ll need excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills, as well as experience with social media and working in Google Docs. Duties will include: Constituent casework, policy research, engaging with constituents through canvassing, social media content creation, attending off-site events and meetings, event planning. If you’re interested, you can email your resume to Reptch42@gmail. com.

At 1:30 p.m. they embarked on a 6-block march through downtown Springfield. Afterwards, event organizers gave speeches and started chants in front of the Capitol.

“I know a lot of people are of the opinion that standing out here with a sign and yelling into the void really doesn’t do much,” Sites said. “I disagree. And the reason I disagree is because it gets people talking about it. The fact that so many people are now involved in this movement and See protESt, page 9

Police Reports

The Addison Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Feb. 10

John J. Diamantouros, 30, of Elk Grove Village, was charged with forgery, displaying a false insurance card and no insurance at 9:34 a.m.

Feb. 9

Osvaldo Rodriguez, 27, of Addison, was charged with DUI in the 800 block of Sumner at 6:28 a.m.

A 21-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery, attempting to disarm a police officer and aggravated battery to a police office at 2:05 a.m.

Feb. 8

Miguel Angel Gomez Lopez, 33, of Bensenville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, obstructing identification and possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle

The Bensenville Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Feb. 17, 5:58 p.m. in the 800 block of Hillside, officers responded to a complainant who stated a suspicious individual rang her doorbell and told her a wire needed to be cut in the back of her house. The individual came into her residence and was persistent on checking the wire. The

near Addison and Stone at 8:11 p.m. Police said the suspect also was issued a warrant.

Oscar F. Lopez Garcia, 23, of Addison, was charged with two counts of DUI, driving while license suspended and no insurance near Addison and Sydney at 12:46 a.m.

A 51-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery and interfering with reporting domestic violence in the 100 block of N. May at 11:49 p.m.

Feb. 7

Arnaldo Contreras, 32, of Melrose Park, was charged with DUI, parking where prohibited, illegal possession of ammunition and no insurance near Addison and Marylin at 3:49 a.m.

Jermaine D. Young, 41, of Bellwood, was charged with two counts of manufacturing/delivering heroin in the 200 block of W. North at 12:19 p.m.

Oscar Zavalza, 24, of Wheaton, was charged with bank fraud/possession of a stolen check at 3:11 p.m.

Feb. 5

A 31-year-old Addison woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 900 block of N. Rohlwing at 1 p.m.

individual left once she informed the individual she was calling the police. The incident is under investigation.

BEPC2500117

Feb. 15, 10:52 p.m. in the 200 block of Roosevelt, Fabian Diaz, 34, of Bensenville, was arrested battery. The suspect was transported to the police station for processing, issued a complaint and a court date, and was released on a pre-trial release.

BEPC2500113

Feb. 13, 2:51 p.m. in the 200 block of Rose St, a victim stated he paid $5,700 to move into a residence on Rose Steet and discovered it was fraud. Signs were put on the front door in an attempt to prevent further incidents. The incident is under investigation. BEPC2500110

Man sentenced to 10 years in fatal DUI crash

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced last week that a West Chicago man charged with crashing into a vehicle head-on killing a man and seriously injuring his wife has been sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Jaime Damian, 22, appeared in Court where he entered an agreed plea of guilty to one count of aggravated DUI—accident causing death (Class 2 felony) and one count of aggravated DUI—great bodily harm (Class 4 felony) in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh, who handed down the sentence. On Dec. 12, 2023, Damian appeared in First Appearance Court where Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state’s motion to deny him pre-trial release.

He has been in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.

On Sept. 14, 2023, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Damian was driving his 2009 Honda westbound on

Roosevelt Road east of Indian Knoll Road, when he crossed over a double yellow line into oncoming traffic and struck a 2004 Lincoln sedan.

The occupants of the Lincoln were identified as Jose Correa, who was driving, and his wife Maria, who was a passenger. Firefighters extracted Jose and Maria from their vehicle and immediately transported the couple to a local hospital for medical attention. Damian was also transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Jose was later pronounced deceased at the hospital after succumbing to injuries he sustained from the crash. Maria suffered a broken wrist and bruises on her legs.

Through the course of their investigation, officers learned that at the time of the crash, Damian had cocaine in his system.

Damian will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Indian Trail Junior High School Library awarded grant

Indian Trail Junior High School Library in Addison is one of only 26 school libraries in Illinois that has been awarded $1,500 to update a section of the school library book collection. This Feed Your Need Grant, a competitive, annual, state-wide grant, was awarded from AISLE (The Association of Illinois School Librarians)/ LBSS (Library Book Selection Service) Endowment Fund and provides funds that must be used for only the purchase of books and/or e-books. The Feed Your Need Grant allows a school librarian to update a particular section of the school library’s collection that is outdated or does not meet the school or district’s curricular standards and/or AISLE’s I-SAIL Standards.

Court grants state’s motion to revoke pre-trial release for man facing new charges of possessing stolen motor vehicle

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Bloomingdale Director of Public Safety Frank Giammarese announced last week that Judge Joseph Bugos has granted the State’s motion to revoke pre-trial release for a Bloomingdale man newly charged with possessing a stolen motor vehicle.

Prior to Judge Bugos’ order, David Guzman, 18, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with one count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 1 felony), one count of possession of burglary tools (Class 4 felony) and one count each of misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, attempt fleeing or eluding a police officer in a motor vehicle, and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

As required by law, Guzman was not detained pre-trial on the above

offenses. Following his appearance in First Appearance Court, the state filed its motion to revoke pre-trial release on Guzman’s previous case that alleges six counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

On Feb. 19, DuPage MERIT SWAT, along with multiple police agencies, went to Guzman’s residence on Oxford Lane to execute a search warrant pursuant to an investigation of a stolen Dodge Durango valued at $97,575 that was reported stolen out of a Schaumburg car dealership on Feb. 14.

It is alleged that as SWAT officers called out the defendant, he ran out of the front door of the home and entered the garage through a side door. It is alleged that after hearing the engine of the stolen Durango in the garage and believing that Guzman may attempt to ram his way out of the garage, officers positioned one of their vehicles on the

driveway to block any such attempt. It is alleged that Guzman began accelerating the Durango into the closed garage door from inside at which time the SWAT vehicle began pushing into the garage to prevent the defendant from fleeing.

Unable to flee the scene in the Durango, it is alleged that Guzman, wearing just one shoe, ran out of the garage and fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, he was taken into custody. Upon searching Guzman, officers allegedly located a key fob in his right pocket that was reprogrammed and able to open, start and move the Durango. Inside the Durango, officers located two reprogrammers, two reprogramming tablets with power cords, a factory issued Dodge Key, and defendant’s other shoe on the driver’s floorboard. Guzman’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 17 in front of Judge Bugos.

Court grant’s state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for convicted felon accused of possessing loaded firearm

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced last week that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a two-time convicted felon who was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded handgun.

Joshua Griffin, 31. of Villa Park, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender (Class X felony) and one count of misdemeanor unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver.

On Feb. 19 approximately 12:16

a.m., the Oak Brook Police Department conducted a traffic stop near 22nd Street and Park View Drive on a vehicle, allegedly driven by Griffin, with suspended license plates.

During the stop, after allegedly observing the odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle, officers conducted a search of the vehicle. It is alleged that while searching the vehicle, officers located a loaded, Taurus, .40 caliber handgun in the glove box.

Further investigation revealed that Griffin is a convicted felon who does not have a valid FOID or CCL.

“It is alleged that earlier this morning, Joshua Griffin, a twice-convicted felon, was found to be illegally in possession of a loaded handgun,” Berlin said. “By law, as a convicted felon Mr. Griffin has forfeited his

right to possesses a firearm. Because of his alleged actions Mr. Griffin now finds himself facing a possible penalty of between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their outstanding work that led to the removal of an illegally possessed weapon from our streets and their ongoing efforts in keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

“Our officers remain vigilant in looking beyond traffic stops and taking guns off the street from individuals that do not legally possess them,” Strockis said. “I’d like to thank our team for continuing to be proactive in keeping our community safe.”

Griffin’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 17 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.

Joshua Griffin

Lawmakers weigh whether to legalize ‘medical aid in dying’

Doctors, disability activists split on support for the controversial procedure

By Andrew Adams CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Lawmakers are considering legalizing a controversial medical practice that proponents say could ease suffering for the terminally ill.

It’s sometimes called “assisted suicide,” although physicians and advocates for the practice prefer the term “medical aid in dying,” or MAID.

While Compassion & Choices—a group that advocates for medical aid in dying policies— found a majority of Illinois voters supported legalizing MAID in a 2023 poll, some critics call the process “barbaric.”

The measure, contained in Senate Bill 9 , is being backed by Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, who told her Senate colleagues at a hearing Feb. 21 that she supports the proposal because of her parents’ deaths. Both her mother and father died after extended battles with cancer.

“You think the toughest thing you go through is watching somebody die, and you know what? It’s not,” Holmes said. “It’s not as tough as watching somebody you love suffer and there’s nothing you can do to ease that suffering. That is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.”

Holmes’ proposal would legalize MAID—a process where a doctor prescribes but does not administer a lethal combination of drugs—for patients whose doctors determine have less than six months to live due to a terminal illness. The patient then administers the drugs on their own at a time of their choosing.

The bill contains several safeguards to prevent abuse, according to its proponents, including a waiting period to receive a prescription, a requirement that the patient receive a terminal diagnosis from two doctors, a requirement that patients prescribed lethal medication have sufficient “mental capacity.”

Friday’s meeting of the powerful Senate Executive Committee was a “subject matter” hearing, meaning no vote was taken. The bill will need more committee hearings, a vote in both legislative chambers and approval by the governor before becoming law.

Ten other states and Washington, D.C., have all legalized some form of medical aid in dying. Oregon was the first state to legalize MAID in 1994.

Advocates for the proposal include patients with terminal illnesses, people whose loved ones used the procedure in other states

and doctors who specialize in endof-life care.

In 2022, Deb Robertson of Lombard was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma—a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer. She asked lawmakers to give her “permission” to take her own life.

“It would give me the option to die peacefully and on my own terms,” Robertson said. “There’s a level of comfort in that.”

Diana Barnard, a doctor in Vermont who offers MAID prescriptions, said most patients have “a very clear understanding” of what’s an acceptable quality of life as they approach death.

“We have now 27 years of national experience with the practice that really shows these laws are working well,” Barnard said.

But the medical practice is controversial among doctors and disability activists.

Benjamin German, a doctor on the West Side of Chicago, said the “problem” with the bill was its safeguards.

“For some of my patients, these safeguards will be just tight enough

• Protest

for lawmakers to assume things will be okay and amply generous to allow abuse to happen,” German said. “People and organizations looking for ways to exploit this law, I fear, will find a way.”

Disability advocates, meanwhile, say they worry about medical professionals mischaracterizing illnesses as terminal, misdiagnosing people or pushing vulnerable or marginalized people to consider ending their own life.

“As someone with a disability myself – I use a wheelchair – I can say firsthand that my life is often viewed as something to pity and not something to cherish,” Riley Spreadbury, an independent living advocate from Joliet, said. “It’s sentiments like these that make me incredibly concerned regarding Senate Bill 9.”

MAID is also opposed by groups that express a “consistent life ethic,” meaning they object to abortion, capital punishment, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Those groups include the Catholic Church and non-religious groups such as Illinois Right to Life.

(Continued from page 7)

so many people are aware of what’s happening is because one person on Reddit made a post and then it happened.”

The 50501 movement has labelled itself as a grassroots movement with no single organizer. Sites said he heard about the movement on Reddit and joined the Illinois-based chat on a Discord server, which he said seemed to “blow up overnight.”

“Myself and a few of the other organizers have a long history in event organization,” Sites said. “We run several small-scale convention events throughout the Midwest. We’re not affiliated, really, but we used that experience as transferable skills in

order to make sure that we were able to put this event together in a way that would keep people safe.”

He said Gov. JB Pritzker is doing an “incredible job” handling and criticizing the actions of Trump and his administration and called Pritzker the Illinois-based movement’s “MVP.” “We also know that our other representatives and our other politicians could be doing more to vocally support the people of this state,” he said “Gov. Pritzker, like I said, his office is doing an incredible job. We want to hear more from the other people in positions of power in the state of Illinois. We want to hear that you are on our side.”

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Sunday Worship at 10:15 am Sunday School & Bible Study 9 am Ladies Bible Fellowship Mondays at 6:30 pm

Lent and Easter Services at 7 p.m. “The Crucial Hours”

Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022

Ash Wednesday Service on March 5 at 7 pm

Rev. David Ernest “Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You” Jerusalem Lutheran, Morton Grove Matthew 27:15-26

Saturday, March 22, Game Night at 4 pm

Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022

Rev. Paul Spaude “What to Remember When Your are St. Matthews, Niles Seized with Remorse” Matthew 27:3-4

Everyone is Welcome! All services are live streamed. Watch on our website or on Facebook. sainttimothy.org

Fourth Lenten Service

March 23, 2022

Rev. Jonathan Bergemann “I Will Keep the Passover”

PUZZLE Page

Sudoku

Fun by the Numbers

Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

on page 22

CLUES ACROSS

1. Greek mythological figure

5. Small amount

8. Play a role

11. River in Georgia and Alabama

13. Water in the solid state

14. Ancient Greek sophist

15. Having a strong sharp smell or taste

16. Fleece

17. Writer/actress Dunham

18. Behave in a way that belittles

20. Comedienne Gasteyer

21. Zoroastrian concept of holy fire

22. Conceits

25. Slowed down

30. Nourishment

31. Midway between east and southeast

32. Fights

33. Comedienne Tyler

38. Standing operating procedure

41. Locks

43. Old

45. Song sung to one’s lover

47. Whale ship captain

49. Moved quickly on foot

50. Volcanic craters

55. Large musical instrument

56. Liquefied natural gas

57. Ethiopian town

59. Not closed

60. A team’s best pitcher

61. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation

62. Disfigure

63. Prefix denoting “in a”

64. Sleep

CLUES DOWN

1. S. American plant

2. Soul and calypso song

3. Fruit of the service tree

4. Continent

5. Albania’s capital

6. Poisonous plant

7. Argues

8. Assists

9. Town in Galilee

10. Russian leader

12. Promotional materials

14. Wings

19. Not odd

23. Expression of creativity

24. Conceptualize

25. A digital tape recording of sound

26. Peyton’s little brother

27. Cost, insurance and freight (abbr.)

28. Difference in potential

29. Owner

34. I (German)

35. Chinese conception of

poetry

36. The world of the dead

37. Sign language

39. Coincide

40. Religious observance

41. Confined condition (abbr.)

42. Polite interruption sound

44. Texas ballplayer

45. Type of sword

46. Abba __, Israeli politician

47. Basic unit of a chemical element

48. Native American people in California

51. Swiss river

52. Hebrew calendar month

53. Easily swindled person

54. One point south of southwest

58. Small island (British)

Can’t-miss events in and around the area

Editor’s note: If you have information on an event in Addison, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Lombard and Villa Park taking place that you would like us to consider listing here, please email that information to: news1@rvpublishing.com

Ongoing

North Suburban Carvers meetings

The North Suburban Carvers meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at the Wood Dale Public Library from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Anyone interested in carving, power carving, wood burning or special finishing techniques is welcome. North Suburban Carvers is a non-profit organization that promotes carving in the Chicago area. For more information, visit: northsurburbancarvers.com .org/calendar.aspx

Saturday, March 1

Law Enforcement Hockey Classic

Bensenville

The Law Enforcement Hockey Classic to benefit Honor Flight Chicago returns for its 12th edition at The Edge Ice Arena. Doors open early at 4:30 p.m. for this exciting, family-friendly evening highlighted by a spirited clash between teams from the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago branch of the FBI. The event includes fun side games like “Chuck-A-Puck,” silent auction and raffle items, and a dedicated family fun area with more games and activities to enjoy before the puck drops at 6 p.m. Adult tickets are $30 in advance and children aged 12 and under are $10 in advance. All tickets are

$40 at the door. Group tickets are available for $20 each for 10 or more by calling the office at 773.227.8387. For more information, visit: www. bensenville.il.us

Medley of Melodies

Elmhurst

Starting at 7 p.m. and presented by the Elmhurst Choral Union at the First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York St., join singers from Elmhurst Choral union for a friendly evening in a casual setting. Enjoy selections in from musical theater, classical and folk styles. Free reception following the concert. Freewill donations will support ECU. For more information, visit: https:// elmhurstchoralunion.org/ Hearts for the Arts.

Sunday, March 2

Spaghetti dinner fundraiser

Villa Park

Villa Park Scout Troop 199 invites all community members to attend its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Alexander Parish Hall, 300 S. Cornell Ave., Villa Park. There is a dine-in option and a carry-out option. Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for children age 5 to 12. Admission is free for children under 5. Proceeds from the spaghetti dinner contribute to the troop’s growth, leadership development and various scouting activities. Tickets will be available at the door. Tickets can also be purchased through any Troop 199 Scout, or by contacting the troop at bsa199VP@gmail. com. The troop will collect non-perishable items at the spaghetti dinner. Those items will be donat-

ed to the Outreach House in Lombard.

Paul Revere, Son of Liberty Lombard

Starting at 3 p.m. at Maple Street Chapel, 200 S. Main St., Terry Lynch of Histories for Kids will perform as Paul Revere, one of the founding fathers, who played a critical role in the fight for American independence. He is known for much more than his famous horse ride to Lexington. Learn how he became a Son of Liberty. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit: www.maplestreetconcerts.org or email: maplestreetconcerts@gmail.com

Saturday, March 8

Fish & Fetish: Victorian Explorer Mary Kingsley Lombard

From 3-4 p.m. presented by the Lombard Historical Society, 23 W. Maple St., join the Historical Society for a theatrical experience step-

ping back into the Victorian Era. WomanLore’s one-woman performances are adapted directly from journals, autobiographies, and personal writings. WomanLore offers a complete theatrical experience, authentically costumed and designed, accurately evoking the era being portrayed. For more information, visit: www.lombardhistory. org/new-events-1

Saturday, March 15

Adult Egg Hunt Elmhurst

Starting at 10 a.m. at Berens Park, 493 N. Oaklawn Ave., and presented by the Elmhurst Park District, this event gives new meaning to BYOB (bring your own basket). Adults will hunt for eggs filled with goodies and have a chance to win amazing prizes. There will be $500 in cash prizes courtesy of sponsor, Kelly Stetler Real Estate. Raffle winners will be called after the event, so be

DuPage County Health Department announces free swim lessons initiative for Illinois children

The DuPage County Health Department’s (DCHD) Protect Swimmers 10 Million (PS10M) Initiative is excited to share a funding opportunity designed to offer free swim lessons for Illinois children aged 3-5 years old through the Pool Safely Grant Program.

This proactive effort aims to prevent fatal childhood drownings. This initiative is focused on public swimming facilities in regions with higher incidences of fatal child drowning.

Up to 10 Illinois public swimming facilities will receive awards ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 each to provide free swimming lessons to Illinois children in need. Public swimming facilities include pools operated by civic and community organizations, schools, municipal-

ities, park and recreation organizations, swim schools, residential communities, and health centers.

Applications are due by Friday, Feb. 28, at 11:59 p.m. Please note that applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Awards will be announced in March.

To apply, those interested are encouraged to review the 2025 Protect Swimmers 10M Funding Opportunity Overview and complete the online application form: https://forms. gle/1egyEkYdRiTR7j4S9

DCHD invites all public swimming facilities in Illinois to take part in this opportunity. DCHD has been a proud recipient of the Pool Safely Grant Program since 2018.

For more information on the PS10M initiative, visit: https://www. dupagehealth.org/231/Pool-Safely

• Events

(Continued from page 13)

sure to stay until the end for raffle winner announcements. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Ages 18 and up, no children under 18 allowed. Register at epd.org.

Sunday, March 23

Village Vocal Chords Lombard

Starting at 3 p.m. at Maple Street Chapel, 200 S. Main St., Village Vocal Chords is a women’s chorus, chartered with the international organization of Harmony, Inc. They will present a program of four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit: www.maplestreetconcerts.org or email: maplestreetconcerts@gmail.com

Saturday, April 12

Spring community recycling event

Addison

The Village of Addison’s Spring Community Recycling Event will be held from 8 a.m.-noon at the Addison Public Works Department, 1491 Jeffrey Drive. It is open to Addison residents only; Must show proof of residency. For a complete list of items that will, and will not, be accepted, visit: www.addisonadvantage.org. For more information, call 630-620-2020 or 630-279-2140.

with our Extreme PaczkiSpecialty Flavors: Cannoli, Fresh Strawberry, Banana, White Chocolate Mousse, Nutella and Chocolate Raspberry! Stay tuned another specialty flavor is being created.

by February 28th

Did you know that dental-related ailments are responsible for the loss of more than 50 million school hours each year? That’s right. Thousands of children miss school every year because of some dental-related ailment. Fortunately, many of these ailments can be prevented through good oral care.

This National Children’s Dental Health Month, make your child’s smile a priority. Take them to the dentist regularly and teach them to care for their teeth properly.

Sports

Rams wrap up regular season with a home loss to West Aurora

Nee drains six 3-point shots and scores 25 points in Glenbard East’s regular-season finale; Rams compete in this week’s Class 4A Lake Park Regional

The Glenbard East boys basketball team closed out its regular season with last week’s 73-63 loss to West Aurora in Lombard.

The Rams finished their regular season with an overall record of 20-10.

Glenbard East jumped out to a 20-11 lead after one quarter of the Feb. 19 contest against West Aurora. The game was a crossover contest between first-place teams in the Upstate Eight Conference’s two divisions. The Rams captured the East Division title, while West Aurora won the championship in the conference’s West Division.

Glenbard East led West Aurora 30-21 with about three minutes left in the second quarter. The Blackhawks outscored the Rams 5-0 in the final three minutes of the quarter to cut Glenbard East’s lead to 30-26 by halftime.

West Aurora, which made three 3-point attempts in the third quarter, outscored the Rams 22-12 in that quarter to take a 48-42 lead with eight minutes to play.

The Blackhawks led the Rams 59-46 with less than six minutes left in the game. Glenbard East rallied to cut the lead to 63-58 with about 3:30 remaining, but West Aurora responded with a 6-0 run to rebuild its lead to 69-58 with less than 1:30 to play.

West Aurora earned its 15 th straight victory and improved its overall season record to 20-8 with its win over the Rams in Lombard. The Blackhawks began IHSA post-season play earlier this week

by facing Downers Grove South in a regional semifinal at the Class 4A Downers Grove South Regional. West Aurora is the No. 5 seed in the Benet Academy Sectional.

“They’re a good team,” said Glenbard East coach Eric Kelly of the Blackhawks after last week’s contest. “I’m sure they’ll do well in the playoffs. They have really good athletes. They played smart and didn’t beat themselves, and they had some guys who made threes.”

Glenbard East junior Michael Nee connected on six 3-point shots and scored a team-leading 25 points for the Rams in last week’s loss to West Aurora. Nee made three 3-point field goals during the fourth quarter.

Junior Sam Walton contributed 15 points for the Rams. Juniors Jacob Marynowski and Danny Snyder added eight points each for Glenbard East. Senior Devin Kraft and junior Norman Loechel provided five and two points, respectively.

The Rams opened the IHSA Class 4A post-season earlier this week by facing Bartlett in a semifinal game at the Lake Park Regional. A win over Bartlett would propel Glenbard East to this Friday’s regional final against either Proviso East or Lake Park.

The Rams are the No. 4 seed in the St. Charles East Sectional. Proviso East is the sectional’s No. 5 seed. Lake Park is the sectional’s No. 12 seed, while Bartlett is the No. 14 seed.

Last week, the Upstate Eight

Glenbard East’s boys basketball team completed its regular season with last week’s 73-63 loss to West Aurora in Lombard. The Rams finished their regular season with a 20-10 record. Junior Michael Nee made six 3-point shots and scored a team-leading 25 points for the Rams in their Feb. 19 loss to West Aurora. Nee (No. 4) is pictured while launching and making a 3-point shot in the fourth quarter. Junior Sam Walton (No. 24) provided 15 points for Glenbard East in last week’s loss to the Blackhawks. The Rams opened IHSA Class 4A post-season play earlier this week with a game against Bartlett at the Lake Park Regional. A victory over Bartlett in a regional semifinal would send the Rams to this Friday’s regional final against either Proviso East or Lake Park.

Conference announced its All-Conference selections for the 2024-25 season. Nee was named the Upstate

Eight Conference East Division’s Player of the Year. Snyder was named to the East Division’s First

Team, while Marynowski received Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition.

Two Montini wrestlers win individual titles in Champaign

Woo and Luif capture championships at the Class 2A individual state meet; six other Broncos post top-six finishes

Two Montini Catholic wrestlers won state championships at the IHSA Class 2A individual state meet, which concluded on Saturday in Champaign.

Sophomore Allen Woo of the Broncos won his second straight individual state title on Saturday. Woo, who won the 106-pound Class 2A title as a freshman, captured the 113-pound championship this year. He prevailed 4-1 in overtime in Saturday’s title contest.

Woo won four straight matches at the state meet in Champaign to raise his season record to 49-5.

Montini junior Kam Luif earned his first individual state championship when he scored a decisive victory in Saturday’s Class 2A 138-pound title match. Luif posted four consecutive victories at the individual state meet to boost his season record to 50-4. He

Meet basketball standout

Davion Thompson in Naperville

this Saturday, March 1

Davion Thompson, a standout sophomore basketball player at Bolingbrook High School who has already received numerous offers from major Division I NCAA programs, will be at Pro Image Sports in Naperville this Saturday, March 1. Thompson will

scored a 15-5 major-decision win in the championship contest.

As a freshman, Luif earned a sixthplace finish in the 2023 individual state meet’s 120-pound division. One year ago, as a sophomore, he placed third in the 2024 Class 2A state meet’s 132-pound level.

“Both Kam and Allen are relentless in the practice room, and their off-season training is outstanding,” said Montini coach Mike Bukovsky after the two Broncos won state titles on Saturday. “They did an outstanding job.”

Six other Broncos who competed in Champaign earned top-six finishes in their respective weight classes. Sophomore Mikey Malizzio of Montini posted a second-place finish in the state meet’s 120-pound level. Junior Santino Tenuta of the Broncos delivered a second-place finish in the 165-pound division.

Malizzio’s season record stood at

41-9 at the end of Saturday’s action, while Tenuta owned a season record of 41-8.

Freshman Erik Klichurov of the Broncos battled to a third-place finish in the Class 2A state meet’s 106-pound division. Sophomore Isaac Mayora finished fourth in the 132-pound weight class. Sophomore Gavin Ericson-Staton earned fifthplace honors in the 285-pound level, while senior Jaxon Lane placed sixth in the 190-pound division.

After winning his first match in Champaign, Klichurov lost in the quarterfinal round. He won his next four matches to secure his third-place finish. Klichurov moved his season record to 49-5 after winning five of six matches in Champaign.

Earlier this week, Montini battled in a dual team sectional, with the goal of advancing to this week’s IHSA Class 2A dual team state tournament in Bloomington.

Two Rams compete in the Class 3A individual state meet Glenbard East juniors Ismael Chaidez and Orlando Hoye participated in the Class 3A individual state wrestling meet, which concluded on Saturday in Champaign.

Chaidez won his first-round match in the meet’s 120-pound level to advance to the quarterfinal round. Chaidez lost his quarterfinal match. He then exited the tournament with a loss in the consolation round.

Chaidez completed the 2024-25 season with a record of 43-5.

Hoye, who competed in the Class 3A state meet’s 190-pound level, won his first match to earn a berth in the quarterfinal round. After losing his quarterfinal match, Hoye won one match in the consolation round before suffering a loss in his next match.

Hoye finished the season with a 35-14 record.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Rams wrap up their season with a loss to Wheaton North

The Glenbard East girls basketball team finished its season with last week’s 68-38 loss to Wheaton North in a semifinal game at the IHSA Class 4A St. Charles North Regional. The Rams ended their season with an overall record of 16-16. Glenbard East faced Wheaton North earlier this month on the Falcons’ home court. Wheaton North beat the Rams 63-49 in the Feb. 3 contest. The Falcons led Glenbard East 35-19 at halftime of the Feb. 18 post-season meeting. Wheaton North’s lead stood at 47-34 at the end of the third quarter. The Falcons, who made three 3-point shots in the fourth quarter, pulled away in the closing minutes. Sophomore Teagan Murphy scored a team-leading 13 points for the Rams in last week’s post-season loss. Senior Erin Brown (No. 10) scored eight points for Glenbard East. Senior Taylour Hodges also provided eight points for the Rams. Glenbard East senior Veronica Witt (No. 15) contributed six points. Wheaton North went on to win the regional title, beating St. Charles North 52-45 in the Feb. 20 regional final. The Falcons advanced to this week’s St. Charles East Sectional.

Glenbard East posts a 2024-25 season record of 16-16

The Glenbard East girls basketball team closed out its season with a 68-38 loss to Wheaton North in last week’s game at the IHSA Class 4A St. Charles North Regional.

The Rams ended their season with an overall record of 16-16.

Wheaton North led Glenbard East 18-13 after one quarter of the Feb. 18 regional semifinal in St. Charles. The Falcons extended their lead to 35-19 by halftime.

Glenbard East sophomore Teagan Murphy delivered a five-point burst in the final seconds of the third quarter to reduce Wheaton North’s lead to 47-34 with eight minutes to play. Moments after making a 3-point shot to cut the lead to 47-32, Murphy stole the ball

and made a layup as the third quarter ended.

The Falcons pulled away from the Rams in the fourth quarter to earn their 30-point victory. Wheaton North made three shots from 3-point range during the fourth quarter, including one long-range shot just before the final buzzer.

Murphy scored a team-leading 13 points for the Rams in last week’s loss to Wheaton North. Seniors Erin Brown and Taylour Hodges supplied eight points each for Glenbard East. Hodges scored all eight of her points during the first quarter, when she made a pair of 3-point baskets and sank one 2-point attempt.

Senior Veronica Witt added six

points for the Rams. Freshman Olivia Nee contributed three points with a 3-point basket in the third quarter.

With its win over Glenbard East, Wheaton North advanced to the regional final against St. Charles North on Feb. 20. The Falcons won the regional title, beating St. Charles North 52-45. Wheaton North is the sixth seed in the St. Charles East Sectional. St. Charles North was the sectional’s No. 3 seed. Glenbard East was the sectional’s No. 11 seed.

Earlier this week, Wheaton North faced Batavia in a semifinal meeting at the St. Charles East Sectional. The winner of that game will meet St. Charles East or Glenbard West in tonight’s sectional final.

Pitts rolls to a 15th place finish at the IHSA girls bowling state meet

Senior Jenna Pitts of Glenbard East’s girls bowling team earned a 15th-place finish in the individual standings of the IHSA state bowling meet, which took place Friday and Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

Competing as an individual in the state meet, Pitts advanced from Friday’s preliminary round to Saturday’s final round by placing among the 30 bowlers who weren’t members of a team that advanced to the final round.

Pitts bowled a total of 12 games at this year’s state meet. She stood in 19th place in the meet’s individual standings after Friday’s preliminary round. She opened the event with a 195 in her first game. She bowled a 236 in her second game and posted a 221 in her third game. Pitts posted a score of 205 in her fourth game on Friday. She finished the day by rolling a 160 in her fifth game and firing a 193 in her sixth game for a six-game total of 1,210.

Broncos win a regional title

Montini Catholic High School’s girls basketball team won an IHSA Class 3A regional championship last week. The Broncos earned two lop-sided victories to win the title at the Elmwood Park Regional. Montini opened post-season play by crushing Chicago’s Golder College Prep 76-3 in a regional semifinal on Feb. 18. The Broncos won the regional championship two days later by pounding Elmwood Park 68-20 in the regional final. Montini improved its overall season record to 22-10 with its Feb. 20 win over Elmwood Park. Winning the regional title propelled the Broncos to this week’s sectional at DePaul College Prep in Chicago. Earlier this week, the Broncos faced Trinity in a sectional semifinal. The winner of that game will face either Glenbard South or DePaul in tonight’s sectional final. The sectional winner will play in the super-sectional at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on March 3. The winner of the super-sectional matchup will earn a berth in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals in Bloomington. Montini led Golder 35-0 after one quarter of last week’s regional semifinal. The Broncos led Golder 43-2 at halftime and 60-3 at the end of the third quarter. Senior Audrey Kinney scored a team-leading 23 points for Montini in its win in the regional semifinal. The Broncos led Elmwood Park 20-6 after one quarter of the regional final. Montini’s lead expanded to 42-15 by halftime and 62-18 by the end of the third quarter. Senior Nikki Kerstein scored 22 points for the Broncos in their victory in the Feb. 20 regional final. Kinney added 14 points. Senior Peyton Farrell provided 11 points for Montini. Senior Lily Spanos sank three 3-point shots in the first quarter to contribute nine points. Senior Natalie Gartlan added eight points.

After compiling a six-game total of 1,210 on Friday, Pitts delivered a similar six-game score of 1,215 on Saturday for a two-day total of 2,425 and her 15th-place finish. Pitts posted an average game score of just over 202 in her 12 games at this year’s state meet.

Pitts opened Saturday’s competition with a 200 in her first game. She then secured scores of 224 and 204 in her next two games for a three-game series of 628. Pitts finished the state meet with scores of 185, 206 and 196 in her final three games.

One year ago, Pitts finished 48th in the individual standings of the 2024 state meet. As a sophomore, Pitts finished in a tie for 34th place in the individual competition at the 2023 state meet. Pitts competed at the 2022 state meet during her freshman year. She did not advance to the final round of that year’s event.

Blazers don’t qualify for Saturday’s final round

Addison Trail’s girls bowling team competed during Friday’s play at the IHSA state meet in Rockford. The Blazers needed to finish among the top 12 teams in Friday’s preliminary round to advance to Saturday’s final round. Addison Trail, one of 24 teams to qualify for the state meet, landed in 20th place after Friday’s action and did not move on to Saturday’s round.

Senior Grace Cannizzo led Addison Trail’s team in Friday’s action with her six-game total of 1,070. Cannizzo fired a 202 in her first game on Friday. She posted a 203 in her second game before rolling a 180 in her third game. Cannizzo concluded Friday’s session with scores of 156, 159 and 170 in her last three games of the day

Senior Angie Ayala bowled a six-game total of 1,051 on Friday that included a 207 in her second game and a 202 in her sixth game. Senior Val Pizzoferrato contributed a six-game total of 1,029 for the Blazers that included a 222 in her second game. Sophomore Alessandra Pizzoferrato bowled a 194 in her first game of Friday’s session and finished the day with a six-game score of 1,013. Senior Amelia Leslie supplied a six-game total of 1,011 for Addison Trail on Friday. Leslie bowled a 211 in her second game of the day.

The Blazers earned their berth in this year’s state meet with their fourth-place finish in the De La Salle Institute Sectional, which took place at Bowlero in Lyons on Feb. 15. The top four teams from each of the state’s six sectional competitions on Feb. 15 qualified for the state meet.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Finishing with a bang! Campbell earns a second-place finish at the state meet

Senior Naomi Campbell of the Willowbrook girls gymnastics team couldn’t have picked a better time for a personal-best performance.

In her last routine as a Warrior, Campbell delivered a personal-best score of 9.525 in the final of the balance beam on Saturday at the IHSA state meet at Palatine High School.

Campbell earned the second-place medal in the state meet’s balance beam competition. Senior Genevieve Herion of the Downers Grove co-op team won the championship on the balance beam with her score of 9.575 in the final.

One year ago, Campbell advanced to the state meet’s final round in two events—the balance beam and floor exercises. Campbell finished 10th in the balance beam and tied for fifth in floor exercises at the 2024 state meet.

Campbell qualified for three individual events, and the all-around competition, of this year’s state meet. The preliminary round of each individual event, along with the all-around competition, were contested on Friday in Palatine. The top 10 finishers and ties in each individual event advanced to Saturday’s finals.

Campbell began Friday’s preliminary round with a strong performance on the balance beam that received a score of 9.475. Campbell wound up tied for fourth place in Friday’s preliminary standings of the balance beam. The preliminary competition of the balance beam featured 34 gymnasts.

Campbell earned a score of 8.85 for her floor exercises routine on Friday. Her performance in that routine was part of her score in Friday’s all-around competition.

In her third event on Friday, Campbell received a score of 9.325 on the vault. She finished the day with a score of 8.275 on the uneven bars.

Campbell compiled a score of 35.925 in Friday’s all-around competition. She landed in 21st place in the state meet’s all-around standings. There were 33 gymnasts in Friday’s all-around competition in Palatine.

Campbell finished in a tie for 21st place in the vault and placed 35th on the uneven bars in Friday’s preliminary round and did not advance to the

finals of those events.

Of the 10 gymnasts who competed in Saturday afternoon’s final of the balance beam, Campbell was the eighth to perform. She delivered her route after Herion, who was the seventh gymnast to compete in the balance beam final.

Campbell smiled after executing an excellent performance on the beam on Saturday. She then shared hugs with Willowbrook assistant coach Karli Wilson and Willowbrook head coach Andy Isaacson. Minutes later, Campbell headed to the awards stand to receive her second-place medal. The top five finishers, and ties, in each event, and the all-around competition, were recognized on the awards stand.

One year ago, when Campbell earned a tie for fifth on floor exercises at the state meet, she became the first Willowbrook girls gymnast to earn a top-five finish at the state meet since Chrissy Pupelis finished fourth in floor exercises at the 1995 state meet.

With Saturday’s showing on the balance beam, Campbell became the first Willowbrook girls gymnast to earn a top-two finish at the state meet since Sheila Roelle claimed a second-place finish on the same event—the balance beam—at the 1984 state meet.

Campbell turned in her second-place effort on the balance beam a couple of months after suffering an injury to her right hand—her dominant hand. On Dec. 10, shortly before Willowbrook’s first meet of the season, Campbell fractured her right pinky finger while practicing her routine on the uneven bars.

That injury, which affected Campbell’s ability to perform in every event (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercises), limited what she could do in her routines for a few of Willowbrook’s regular-season meets.

“It was devastating and frustrating, because it was right before the first meet of the season,” said Campbell shortly after she departed the medal stand on Saturday.

After missing the team’s first meet, Campbell returned to action in a limited capacity.

“I was able to do beam and floor with no hands, so it [the injury] completely altered my routines,” she said.

“I could get in the meet mode, but my confidence wasn’t there.”

In January, Campbell was able to return to compete in all four events.

“My confidence went up with each meet,” she said.

Competing in the finals of two events at last year’s state meet helped Campbell deal with the pressure of this year’s event.

“I was more confident this season, because I’d been here before, but at the same time, I still had my injury in the back of my head, so I had some doubt. But I knew that this was my last time, so I just wanted to go out with a bang.”

Isaacson praised Campbell’s ability to deal with the adversity of her injury and perform at such a high level.

“What a great story,” Isaacson said. “I’ve been around a long time—45 years. That was one of the best comebacks I’ve ever seen.”

Shortly before she began her beam routine in Saturday’s final, Campbell considered that it would be the final performance of her Willowbrook gymnastics career.

“Honestly, I was thinking to myself, no matter what happens today, I’m happy with how I persevered throughout the season,” said Campbell of her thoughts before Saturday’s routine. Campbell, who has been involved in gymnastics for about eight years, is not sure where she will attend school after she graduates from Willowbrook. But she says she definitely has hopes of continuing her gymnastics career at the collegiate level.

Herion, who edged Campbell for first-place honors on the balance beam, won the state meet’s all-around title with her score of 38.075. Herion advanced to the finals of all four individual events. In addition to winning the title on the beam, she placed second on the vault, sixth on the uneven bars and eighth in floor exercises. She also led the Downers Grove coop team, which consists of gymnasts from Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North high schools— to the state meet’s team title with its total score of 148.45.

Warriors’ season ends

The Willowbrook girls basketball team concluded its season with last week’s 7321 loss to St. Charles East in an IHSA Class 4A regional game in Villa Park. The Warriors completed their 2024-25 season with a record of 8-21. The talented Saints, who are the No. 1 seed in the St. Charles East Sectional, led the Warriors 22-0 after one quarter, 46-2 at halftime and 66-12 after three quarters of the Feb. 17 regional semifinal. Senior Ayaani Gusman (No. 10), who scored Willowbrook’s only two points of the first half, added 11 more points in the second half to provide 13 points. Senior Kendall Medinger and sophomore Jada Langston added four points each for the Warriors, who were the St. Charles East Sectional’s No. 16 seed. With its win over the Warriors, St. Charles East advanced to the regional final of the Class 4A Willowbrook Regional. The Saints defeated Lake Park 44-22 in the Feb. 20 regional final to earn a berth in this week’s sectional on their own home court. Earlier this week, St. Charles East faced Glenbard West in one of the sectional’s semifinals. The winner of that game will face Batavia or Wheaton North in tonight’s sectional final. The sectional champion will move on to a March 3 super-sectional at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights.

Warriors conclude regular season with two conference road losses

Willowbrook opened IHSA Class 4A postseason play by facing West Chicago in this week’s regional quarterfinal in Villa Park

The Willowbrook boys basketball team finished its regular season with a pair of West Suburban Gold Conference road games last week. The Warriors lost both contests, dropping a 70-57 decision against Morton on Feb. 18, and falling 59-49 to Downers Grove South on Feb. 20.

Willowbrook completed its regular season with an overall record of 8-22 and a conference mark of 4-8.

Morton led the Warriors 19-13 after one quarter of last week’s battle. Morton’s lead stood at 31-22 at halftime and 55-43 at the end of the third quarter.

Junior Otis Powell scored 17 points for Willowbrook in the Feb. 18 contest at Morton. Senior Filip Palutkiewicz, who made three shots from 3-point range, contributed 11 points for the Warriors. Junior Jaylen Griffin added 10 points, while seniors Mark Murrell and Jaden Royal supplied seven points each.

Downers Grove South led Willowbrook 21-12 after one quarter of the teams’ Feb. 20 meeting. The Mustangs held a 35-24 halftime lead. Downers Grove South’s lead expanded to 55-30 by the end of the third quarter. The Warriors outscored

the Mustangs 19-4 in the final eight minutes to narrow Downers Grove South’s margin of victory.

Powell scored 13 points in Willowbrook’s regular-season finale at Downers Grove South. Griffin provided 11 points. Junior Zach Boynton, who made a 3-point shot and sank all four of his free-throw attempts, contributed nine points for Willowbrook. Murrell and junior Antwain Walker added eight and six points, respectively.

Earlier this week, the Warriors opened the IHSA Class 4A post-season by facing West Chicago in a regional quarterfinal game in Villa Park. The winner of that matchup faced Glenbard West in a semifinal game at the IHSA Class 4A Addison Trail Regional on Feb. 26. Glenbard West is the No. 1 seed in the St. Charles East Sectional. Willowbrook is the sectional’s No. 16 seed, while West Chicago is the sectional’s No. 17 seed. The other regional semifinal in Addison on Feb. 26 will feature a meeting between St. Charles East (the sectional’s No. 8 seed) and Addison Trail (the No. 9 seed in the sectional). The regional final in Addison will take place this Friday, Feb. 28.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing Willowbrook senior Naomi Campbell earned a second-place finish in Saturday’s balance beam final at the IHSA girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine. The above left photo shows Campbell during her performance in Saturday’s final. The above right photo shows Campbell after she received her second-place medal on the awards stand.

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

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NOTICE OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING OFFER ARTERIAL SIDEWALK GAP IMPROVEMENT

Madison Street

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The Village of Lombard previously held a public information meeting for this project on September 26, 2024. At that time, the alignment of the proposed new sidewalk on Madison Street (from Edgewood Avenue to Chase Avenue) was entirely in the Village of Lombard’s rightof-way. After feedback from residents and stakeholders, the alignment of the proposed new sidewalk and/or shareduse path has shifted to be located on Lombard Park District property (Madison Meadow Park). For this reason, the Village is extending an offer to hold an open house public information meeting to discuss the project.

Any interested person who desires that a public information meeting should be held for this project may request a public information meeting be held by contacting the Village of Lombard’s Project Manager. The Village of Lombard Project Manager’s contact information is listed below.

Mike Barbier, P.E., PTOE Village of Lombard – Public Works 255 E. Wilson Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148

BarbierM@VillageofLombard.org (630) 620-5740

Requests for a public information meeting must be received by March 13, 2025. A public information meeting will be held if the public demonstrates sufficient interest. If this interest is demonstrated, it is anticipated that the public information meeting would be held at Lombard Village Hall in April 2025.

This is a federally funded project, and this opportunity for a public information meeting is being offered as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and in accordance with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s public involvement policy.

PROJECT INFORMATION: The Village is proposing pedestrian network improvements along Madison Street from Edgewood Avenue to east of Chase Avenue. The project is anticipated to consist of the construction of new sidewalk and/or shared-use path, pedestrian crossings, and pedestrian accommodations throughout the project limits. Alternatives under consideration have potential impacts to Madison Meadow Park in Lombard, Illinois.

The Village of Lombard is seeking public comments on the effects that proposed improvements to Madison Street will have on the Madison Meadow Park. Madison Meadow Park, which is under the jurisdiction of the Lombard Park District, is a significant, publicly owned recreational park. As such, it is subject to protection under Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966. For the Madison Street project, the Village of Lombard intends to seek a Section 4(f) “de minimis” impact finding from the Federal Highway Administration based on a determination that the project will not adversely affect the features, attributes, or activities that qualify the Madison Meadow Park for protection under Section 4(f). Effects of the Madison Street project on the Madison Meadow Park will include the construction of sidewalk and/or shared-use path

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parallel to Madison Street and connecting to existing shared-use paths in the Madison Meadow Park. Mitigation will include minimizing tree and grading impacts to only what is necessary to construct the improvements, keeping ownership of the property with the Lombard Park District with a temporary easement during construction, and restoring landscaping to existing conditions after construction is complete. The proposed installation of sidewalk and/or shared-use path on Madison Meadow Park property will enhance the recreational and public features of Madison Meadow Park facility by providing additional access and recreational facilities for pedestrians and/or bicycles.

The Madison Meadow Park is also eligible for additional protections from Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

Detailed documentation describing the impacts and mitigation associated with the effects of the Madison Street project on the Madison Meadow Park will be available for review at the Lombard Public Works building from February 20 to March 13 or by contacting the Village of Lombard’s Project Manager.

Maps, drawings, aerial photography, and other project related information is available upon request. If additional information is desired, contact Mike Barbier, P.E., PTOE.

(Published in The Lombardian Feb. 20, 27, 2025)