RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside
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Vol. 36, No. 19
May 12, 2021
@riversidebrookfieldlandmark
St. Paul VI chosen as name for newly consolidated parish PAGE 6
Two guilty of conspiracy to commit 2016 Brookfield murder
D96 teachers protest board member’s vaccine remarks PAGE 10
PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Alleged gunman still awaits trial set for later this summer By BOB UPHUES Editor
Two of the three men charged with the 2016 execution-style murder of Brookfield resident Michael Smith have accepted a plea deal and possibly could be free on parole soon. Comfort Robinson, 44, and DeJuyon Johnican, 34, both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a Class 1 felony. Robinson pleaded guilty at a hearing on May 7 at the Maybrook courthouse, while Johnican pleaded guilty on May 10. Both men had been MICHAEL SMITH charged in late 2016 with first-degree murder, a Class X felony that would have carried a prison sentence of between six and 30 years. See SMITH MURDER on page 14
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Matt Huffman (left) of Brookfield, serves as catcher for his 11-year-old daughter and budding softball pitcher, Lily Huffman, on May 8 in Kiwanis Park in Brookfield.
Riverside manager gets new 4-year contract Salary boosted to $190,000; will get 2.5% annual raises By BOB UPHUES Editor
The agenda for the newly constituted Riverside Village Board was a brief one
after the trustees were sworn into office on May 6, but the board’s first official act was a significant one. Trustees voted unanimously to extend the village’s contract with Village Man-
ager Jessica Frances for four more years and raising her salary by 12.5 percent for the second straight year. See FRANCES on page 17
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