The family of 86-year-old Morton Grove resident Leo Belogur is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads the identification of the person that struck and killed him January 4.

The family released a statement Saturday that reads:

“We are devastated by the loss of our father, Leo Belogur, under such horrific circumstances. He immigrated to this country in the late 1980s and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. It is a tragedy that someone can have so little regard for human life as to hit a human being in a crosswalk and just keep driving. Leo was a wonderful father to 3 kids and a grandfather to 7 children. He will be incredibly missed and we are now asking for the public’s help to please report anything they may have seen or know in regard to this incident. If you see any vehicle with significant windshield or front end damage please report it to the Morton Grove PD at (847) 470-5200. We are offering a $10k reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction of the people/parties responsible.”

Belogur was killed around 5 p.m. January 4 when he was struck by a hit and run driver on the corner of Shermer and Greenwood.

Morton Grove Police responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

Belogur was struck on Shermer at Greenwood, a side street located just north of Dempster.

Area Girls Basketball Schedule for January 8-12

Tuesday January 8
CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
Glenbrook South at Maine South 7:30

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Plainfield East at Minooka 6:45

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
H-F at Lockport 6:30
Stagg at Bolingbrook 5

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Downers Grove South at Addison Trail 6

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Lyons Township at Downers Grove North 7:30

NONCONFERENCE
Joliet Central at Crete-Monee 6
Joliet West at ACC 7
Naperville North at Plainfield North 6:30
Waubonsie Valley at Niles West 6:30

Wednesday January 9
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Marian Catholic at JCA 7

Thursday January 10

INTERSTATE 8
Wilmington at Lisle 6:45

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Plainfield South at Joliet West 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Bolingbrook at HF 6:30
Lockport at Sandburg 6

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Downers Grove North at Oak Park 7

NONCONFERENCE
Lyons Township at Romeoville 6:30
York at Maine South 7:30

Friday January 11
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Vernon Hills at Maine East 7:30

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
Glenbrook South at Niles West 7
Niles North at Maine South 7

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Joliet Central at Minooka 6:30
Oswego at Plainfield North 6:30
Oswego East at Romeoville 6:30
Plainfield East at Plainfield Central 6:30

Saturday January 12

NONCONFERNCE
Lyons Township at Downers Grove South 2:30
Plainfield Central at Metea Valley 6:30
Taft at Niles West 1:30
TF  South at Joliet Central 12
Timothy Christian at Lisle 6:45

Area Boys Basketball Schedule for January 8-13

 Tuesday January 8
SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Sandburg at Bolingbrook 6:30

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Addison Trail at Downers Grove South 6

NONCONFERENCE
Hinckley-Big Rock at Lisle 6:45
Islamic Foundation at Westmont 7
Joliet West at Bloom 6
Minooka at Naperville Central 7:30

Wednesday January 9

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Lyons Township at Downers Grove North 7:30

Friday January 11

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Maine East at Vernon Hills 7:30

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
Niles North at Maine South 7:30
Niles West at Glenbrook South 7

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Marist at Joliet Catholic 7
Nazareth at Benet 7
Notre Dame at St. Viator 7

INTERSTATE 8
Lisle at Wilmington 6:45

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Joliet West at Plainfield South 6:30
Minooka at Joliet Central 6:30
Plainfield Central at Plainfield East 6:30
Plainfield North at Oswego 6:30
Romeoville at Oswego East 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
H-F at Lockport 6:30
Stagg at Bolingbrook 7

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Downers Grove South at Willowbrook 7:30

Saturday January 12
DOWNERS GROVE NORTH WINTERFEST
Plainfield North vs. Hinsdale Central 1:30
Romeoville at DG North 4:30

Sunday January 13

TF NORTH
Maine South vs. Leo 2:30

By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle

Back on December 11, 2018, in La Grange, the Trojans of Downers Grove North (14-6, 5-1) were handed their lone West Suburban Silver defeat of the season, to the host Lions of Lyons Township, 38-34.

On Tuesday night, in The Purple Gym, revenge was on the minds of the host Trojans.

After the two WSC rivals battled to a 12-12 stalemate at halftime, DGN opened up an all-out, long range assault on LT in the third quarter.

Three-point bombs, from Trojan 5-foot-10 junior Alexis Parker, seniors Lauren Sebek and Julia Kramper ( six points),  led to a 26-20 Trojan lead at the end of three quarters.

Sparked by Sebek and senior Quinn Stephens, who scored all five of her points in the fourth quarter, DGN, ran away with the 42-28 victory.

6-foot-3 inch Trojan senior Jaylin Harris (four points, 10 rebounds) hauled down four rebounds, handed out an assist and scored two points, to give the Trojans an 8-7 lead after one quarter.

The Trojans and Lions defense took over in the second quarter. The two teams combined for just nine second quarter points and went to their halftime locker rooms deadlocked at 12.

After the Trojans unleashed their artillery barrage on LT (7-12, 4-4) in the third quarter, Sebek and Stephens went on on a fourth quarter scoring spree. The duo opened up a 35-22 Trojan lead with 5:08 remaining.

With 20 seconds remaining in the game, Parker hit from downtown to wrap up the 42-28 Trojan victory. Parker scored 10 points, hauled down four rebounds and picked up four steals. Sebek finished with nine points, while junior Ellie Gross chipped in six points.

With Glenbard West’s (14-5, 6-1) 44-41 win over York (13-7, 4-3) at York, the Hilltoppers remain ½ game ahead of the Trojans in the WSC Silver.

Steelwomen Hold off Crete-Monee
Joliet Central (12-5) jumped out to 17-4 first quarter lead and 29-11 halftime lead, in their nonconference game at Crete-Monee.  The host Warriors rallied, in the second half but the Steelwomen, held them off for the victory.

 Mustangs pick up WSC Gold road win at A.T, 60-41

Downers Grove South (13-7, 6-2) picked up the much-needed road win at Addison Trail, on Tuesday.

Gross Trojans hold off Plainfield North 

On Saturday night, Downers Grove North (13-6), junior Ellie Gross, put on a show in Plainfield. Gross dropped 26 points on the host Tigers. leading DGN to the 45-39 nonconference victory.

The Trojans took a 31-29 lead into the fourth quarter and behind Gross, got out of Plainfield, with the win.

“Thank goodness for Ellie! “ Downers Grove head coach Stephan Bolt said. “She was the only girl for us that could make a shot. Ellie was outstanding!”

Lions Big Third Quarter buries Coal City
Leading the host Coalers only 22-19 at halftime, in the Lions I-8 contest in Coal City Friday night, McKenzie Weaver (8 points) ignited a huge Lion third quarter run and Lisle (14-8, 5-3) rolled to a 50-33 I-8 victory.

Weaver, who had been shutout in the first half, exploded for six points at the beginning of the decisive third quarter.  Lion senior Caitlyn Webber (six points), scored consecutive Lion buckets for a 34-23 Lion lead.

Abby Casmer, led the Lions with 10 points while Audrey Strunwitz, buried a pair of three-pointers for the Lions, in the first half. Emma Rossin chipped in with nine points.

Lions bury Streator in I-8

Leading only 9-8 after one quarter in the Lions I-8 battle with the Bulldogs, led by sophomore Cassidy Allem, the Lions outscored Streator 21-8 in the second quarter and went on to the 61-23 romp.

Lisle burried Streator with a 25-6 third quarter onslaught. The Lion reserves tossed a shutout, in the fourth quarter outscoring Streator 7-0.

 Sophomore Emma Rossin, led the Lions with 14 points. Allen, scored six of her 10 points in the second-quarter Lion run.

By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglemewspapers.com

As the calendar year ended, the White Oak Library District rang out 2018 with style as its branches celebrated with the annual Noon Year’s Eve — an event that allows families to celebrate the new year as a whole since the young children, and some of their parents, will be asleep far before midnight rolls around.

While 2018 ended with a balloon drop and sparkling cider, 2019 was not all the district had to celebrate.

(Photo by Mark Gregory)

“Our fiscal year does not line up with the calendar year, so as of July 1 – the end of the year for us – when we did the stats, it was the second busiest year ever in our history, so that was pretty gratifying,” said White Oak Library Director Scott Pointon. “July through November of this new fiscal year, we are slightly ahead of where we were last year. We are still trending upward. We are still busy and getting busier as far as materials going out the door, but that only tells part of the story of our libraries.

“We are such a community gathering place now. Our meeting rooms, when they are not being used for library programs, they are almost constantly in use by community groups – Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, homeowner’s associations, all kinds of different activities.”

While non-library programs are filling the gaps, it is the branch-generated programs that are the bread and butter of the White Oak District.

“Our library programming is just booming. We are doing more and more stuff and attracting more and more audiences,” Pointon said. “We really have made programming a priority of ours now for a decade. We have tried to pull out the stops and really do a good job for our public.”

He pointed out that there are mainly three types of programming the library offers.

“We have three kinds of programming. We have the repetitive programming – the story hours and book clubs – the things that happen weekly or once a month on a Tuesday. Those are great and important, but they tend to be smaller groups,” Pointon said. “Then there are the one off programming on any topic for all ages – the ones for adults tend to be in the late afternoon or early evening. It could be a Lewis professor talking about the history of Al Capone in Chicago or a cooking demonstration. The third component are the events – they tend to happen one a year and tend to pull in big crowds. The recent Countdown to Noon Year is something we have been doing for years. Some are simple ideas like that, which are a lot of fun and bring a lot of people to come out and enjoy themselves, but others are like Comicopolis, which is huge and brought in over 1,000 people. Our next big fest is at Romeoville and is STEM Fest, which is Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and this is our third year doing it. It kind of was assumed to be an event for kids and that’s great – but this year, we are really going to expand it and it will be for adults, too.”

A luxury White Oak has is the fact that it has three branches — Crest Hill, Lockport and Romeoville and is able to cater programming to the community in each town, while all are still in driving distance of each other to accommodate the entire district.

“We tailor which major events happen at which branch based on the situation of that branch,” Pointon said. “Take Comicopolis – the city government of Lockport has been a great partner for us. They are really into the arts and that is all about graphic novel and comic art. They have allowed us to do things that we might not be able to do in other locations. Romeoville is in the Valley View School District and it is a consolidated school district, which when we want to market STEM Fest, we can market it to one district and it gets out to 15 schools. Our Crest Hill branch is within a very, very short drive of three or four senior only housing developments, so we do grandparents day out there and that is a huge hit. All of those grandparents bring their grandchildren with them and it is an event for preschoolers and seniors rolled into one and it is a really fun event.”

The one thing all the districts share about programming is the cost to the residents.

“We are almost 100 percent funded by local property taxes and our feeling is that our users of the library have already paid their property taxes. We never charge just an admittance fee to go to a program or event,” Pointon said. “The only time we will ever charge for a program is if there is a craft project and the materials are pricy – we may charge just for the supplies and they are getting something to bring home at the end of it. Other than the reimbursement type fees, we never charge anyone for programs and we are proud of that.”

The White Oak District is looking to expand its services and programming into to 2019 calendar year as events like Comicopolis will grow even more.

The White Oak Library District will also try to pass a referendum this spring for the sixth time.

The referendum, which was voted down in November, would have cost the average homeowner less than $20 per year, is being sought to, among other things, increase the hours at all of the three branches.

By Ryan Ostry
Bugle Staff
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com

The Steelmen of Joliet Central never looked back after cruising to a 19-3 first quarter lead en route to a 52-26 win Friday night on the east side of Joliet.

The win was the 300th in the career of coach Lawrence Thompson, Jr.

His wins came at two school’s — Lockport and Joliet Central.

“Trust whoever is working for you is the biggest reason for the success,” Thompson said. “You lay out what you want to have done, and then you trust everyone to do that, you have to stick with it by having patience with yourself and having patience with the kids.”

Central started hot right out of the gate, jumping to an early 11-0 run, with Crete-Monee getting its first bucket at the 2:40 mark in the ball game.

With two key players out of the game for the Steelmen (9-5, 1-1), Thompson knew that the next man up mentality was key for a positive outcome.

“It all starts with Jared King, because he is the leader of our ballclub,” Thompson said. “He tells everyone where to go, calls defenses for us and after [King] made his first couple of baskets, that helped the rest of the guys settle in for the rest of the game.”

Senior guard Demarta Hill-Holmes and junior guard Dakota Joachim were the two men out for the Steelmen on Friday night, but senior forward Keaton Gregory did not miss a beat, leading the Steelmen with a 26-point performance on 8-17 shooting, with seven 3-pointers.

Senior guard Jared King walks the ball up the court en route to a Steelmen victory. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)

“[Thompson] gives me the green light to shoot,” Gregory said. “I work on three point shooting a lot, three point shooting and passing I would say is the best aspect of my game, I just try to be myself out there and see what happens,” Gregory said.

With Crete-Monee inching themselves back into the game after a 9-9 second-quarter battle, the Warriors still had a 28-12 deficit heading into halftime.

Gregory and his offensive crew were just a little bit too much for the Warriors, jumping to a 43-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter, led by the high percentage 3-point shooting.

With the win, Central remains undefeated on its home floor.

Crete-Monee (2-12, 0-2) shot a combined 10-52 from the floor Friday night, while committing 16 turnovers.
While the Steelmen were potent on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, one area of concern for coach Thompson was free throw shooting.

Central shot a combined 4-14 from the line.

“Free throws will be high on the list tomorrow,” Thompson said. “I have to take the good with the bad, with the high execution, some time was taken away from the free throw shooting, so we have to find time for everything.”

The Steelmen will be back in action against the Minooka Indians at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Joliet Central.

Girls Area Basketball Schedules for January 14-19

MONDAY JANUARY 14

NONCONFERENCE
Downers Grove North at Nazareth 7
JCA at Neuqua Valley 7
Maine East at Hoffman Estates 6:30
Plainfield North at Lockport 6:30
Romeoville at Shepard 7

TUESDAY JANUARY 15

NONCONFERENCE
Bloom at Joliet Central 6:30
Joliet West at Coal City 6:45
Maine South at Highland Park 7
Niles West at Schaumburg 7
Plainfield Central at Naperville North 7
Plainfield East at Waubonsie Valley 7
Plainfield South at  Yorkville 7
Westmont at Timothy Christian 7

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
JCA at Marist 7

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Stagg at Lockport 6:30

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Downers Grove North at Hinsdale Central 7

NONCONFERENCE
Bolingbrook at Crete-Monee 6
Mundelein at Niles West 6:30

THURSDAY JANUARY 17

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Plainfield Central at Plainfield South 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Bolingbrook at LW East 6:30

INTERSTATE 8 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Lisle
Westmont

FRIDAY JANUARY 18
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Maine East at Glenbrook North 7

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
New Trier at Maine South 7
Niles West at Niles North 7

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Benet at Carmel 7
Marist at Notre Dame 7

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Joliet West at Oswego East 6:30
Oswego East at Joliet Central 6:30
Plainfield East at Minooka 6:30
Plainfield North at Romeoville 6:30

SATURDAY JANUARY 19

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Leyden at Downers Grove South 6

WEST SUURBAN SILVER
Oak Park at Downers Grove North 3

DEKALB MLK TOURNAMENT
Maine South
Minooka
Plainfield East

FENTON MLK TOURNAMENT
Maine East 11

INTERSTATE 8 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Lisle
Westmont

KIPP CLASSIC
Plainfield North  8 am

NONCONFERENCE

Niles West at Glenbrook North 12:30
Plainfield South at JCA 2:30
Romeoville at Metea Valley 2:30

Boys Area Basketball Schedules for January 14-19

MONDAY JANUARY 14

Maine East at Lake Zurich 5

TUESDAY JANUARY 15
INTERSTATE 8
Herscher at Westmont 7
Lisle at Coal City 6:45

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Downers Grove South at Leyden 6:30

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Hinsdale Central at Downers Grove North 7:30

NONCONFERENCE

Chicago Christian at Joliet Catholic 6:30
Joliet Central at Bolingbrook 6:30
Lockport at Joliet West 6:30
Loyola at Notre Dame 7
Neuqua Valley at Plainfleld North 6:30
Plainfield Central at Bradley-Bourbonnais 7
Plainfield South at Batavia 7
Taft at Niles West 6:30

THURSDAY JANUARY 17

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
Maine South at New Trier 7

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Minooka at Plainfield East 6:30
Oswego at Joliet West 6:30
Plainfield South at Plainfield Central 6:30

NONCONFERENCE GAME
Metea Valley at Downers Grove South 6

FRIDAY JANUARY 18
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Glenbrook North at Maine East 7:30

CENTRAL SUBURBAN  SOUTH
Niles North at Niles West 7

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Nazareth at Joliet Catholic 7

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Joliet Central at Oswego East 6:30
Romeoville at Plainfield North 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE

Bolingbrook at H-F  7 (ME-TV LIVE)
Sandburg at Lockport 6

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Downers Grove South at Proviso East 7:30

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Oak Park at Downers Grove North 7:30

SATURDAY JANUARY 19
GALESBURG MLK TOURNAMENT
Minooka

STERLING MLK CLASSIC
Maine South

WAR ON THE SHORE TOURNAMENT
Bolingbrook at Evanston 6:30

WWSOUTH MLK TOURNAMENT

FIRST ROUND
Benet vs. Plainfield South 930
Plainfield East vs. Morton 11
Joliet Central vs. Huntley 1230
Downers Grove North vs. LFA 2

INTERSTATE 8 TOURNAMENT
Lisle
Westmont

LAKE ZURICH
Maine East

ROMEOVILLE SHOOTOUT
St. Charles East at Romeoville 7:30

NONCONFERNCE
Von Steuben at Niles West 1:30

GIRLS

Through games of 1/8/19

SCORING per game

Annaliese Griffin          Plainfield Central 19.8
Kachae Donald             Plainfield Central 18.8
Jalysa Stokes                 Joliet Central        15.1
Treasure Thompson    Bolingbrook           13.4
Shannon Smith             Plainfleld South    13.3
Mia Bertino                  JCA                           12.4
Danyel Middleton      Bolingbrook            12.0
Jayden Marable          Bolingbrook            10.9
McKenzie  Weaver      Lisle                         10.9
Aniya Mabry                Plainfield South     10.2
Armoni Strickland       Joliet Central           9.9
Ellie Gross                    DG North                  9.8
Katie Kearney             Plainfield Central     9.1
Emma Rossin                Lisle                          8.5
Elena Knebel                Lockport                   8.2
Julia Kramper              DG North                  7.4
Jaylin Harris                 DG North                  7.4

REBOUNDING per game
Treasure Thompson    Bolingbrook          9.1
Annaliese Griffin          Plainfield Central 8.7
Jasmine Bonsu             Plainfield Central 8.7
Shawton Brown           Joliet Central        8.4
Stacey Evans                Plainfield Central 8.3
Fatimah Olagunju       Plainfield South    7.5
Abby Casmer                Lisle                       6.5
Jenna Cotter                Lockport                6.1
Jennifer Krizka             JCA                         5.9
Elena Knebel                Lockport               5.9
Lindsey Oldendorf      Lockport                5.7
Jaylin Harris                  DG North              5.6
Caitlyn Webber            Lisle                       5.5
Jordan Buchelt             Lisle                       5.3
Aniya Mabry                 Plainfield South   5.2
Grace Harris                 Plainfield South   4.9

ASSISTS per game
Ellie Gross                      DG North              4.0
Annaliese Griffin           Plainfield Central 3.3
Molly Hibner                 JCA                         3.2
Katie Kearney               Plainfield Central 3.1
Danyel Middleton        Bolingbrook          2.6
Jenna Hernandez         JCA                         2.6
Jalysa Stokes                 Joliet Central        2.6
McKenzie Weaver        Lisle                        2.5
Kachae Donald             Plainfield Central  2.4
Jayden Marable            Bolingbrook          2.3
Elizabeth Sochacki       Lockport                2.3
Shawton Brown           Joliet Central         2.2
Grace Harris                 Plainfield South     2.1

STEALS per game

McKenzie Weaver        Lisle                       3.9
Jayden Marable           Bolingbrook           3.8
Danyel Middleton        Bolingbrook          3.6
Aniya Mabry                 Plainfield South    3.2
Annaliese Griffin          Plainfield Central 2.8
Jalysa Stokes                 Joliet Central       2.8
Shannon Smith             PlainfIeld South   2.6
Ellie Gross                     DG North               2.4
Katie Kearney               Plainfield Central 2.3
Julia Kramper               DG North               2.3
Payton Grcevic             Lockport                2.3
Jasmine Bonsu             Plainfield Central  1.9
Elizabeth Sochacki       Lockport                1.8

BLOCKS per game
Annaliese Griffin          Plainfield Central    1.8

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Jayden Marable            Bolingbrook           .732
Jaylin Harris                   DG North                .720
Annaliese Griffin           Plainfield Central  .679
Armoni Strickland         Joliet Central         .670
Julia Kramper                 DG North               .660
McKenzie Weaver         Lisle                         650
Jalysa Stokes                  Joliet Central         .640
Shawton Brown            Joliet Central          .640
Danyel Middleton        Bolingbrook            .634
Mia Bertino                    JCA                          .634
Ellie Gross                      DG North                .630

BOYS

SCORING

Fillip Bulatovic         Maine South               14.7
Essam Hamwi          Maine South               13.4
Keaton Gregory       Joliet Central              12.5
Deejay Holmes        Joliet Central               11.5
Dakoda Joachim      Joliet Central               11.4
Dan Crane                Maine South                  8.6

REBOUNDING
Dan Crane                 Maine South               6.2
Fillip Bulatovic         Maine South                5.8
John Gardiner          Maine South                5.2
Kendrick Williams   Joliet Central               4.8

ASSISTS|
Dakoda Joachim      Joliet Central              3.6
Tyler Houck              Maine South              2.6
Deejay Holmes        Joliet Central              2.2
Essam Hamwi          Maine South              2.0

STEALS
Deejay Holmes        Joliet Central              1.7
Keaton Gregory      Joliet Central               1.6
Essam Hamwi         Maine South                1.4

THREE POINTERS
Keaton Gregory        Joliet Central            2.3
Essam Hamwi           Maine South             2.1

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Dan Crane                 Maine South           79.0
Fillip Bulatovic          Maine South           77.0
Dakoda Joachim       Joliet Central          74.4
Keaton Gregory        Joliet Central          74.3
Essam Hamwi            Maine South          74.0
Khalid Griffin             Joliet Central          67.4

GIRLS AREA TERRIFIC TEN BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Compiled by Drake Skleba
Benet                     18-4   Poor-shooting woes sink Redwings vs. Michigan power
Bolingbrook            8-9   Hold off Stagg (14-4, 2-1) for SWSC Blue lead
Minooka                20-2   SPC leaders host  No. 4 in SPC showdown on Friday
Joliet Central         12-5   Steelwomen fell to No. 3, 53-50 in OT at Bradley
DG North               14-6    Revenge is sweet – Trojans bomb LT
Maine South         12-7    Hawks fall to Glenbrook South (15-3) Tuesday
Plainfield South    11-7   Lincoln DePaula’s Cougs’ area’s hottest team
DG South               13-7   Big Road Win on Tuesday at A.T.
Plainfield Central 11-8   Donald is back – look out for Wildcats
Niles West             10-6   Blasted by CSL South leader Evanston

ON THE BUBBLE  Lisle 14-8;

BOYS AREA TERRIFIC TEN BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Compiled by Drake Skleba
Bolingbrook           10-3   Undefeated in Illinois Raiders ready to roll
Benet                      13-3   Redwings ESCC leaders
DG South                11-5   Eagins, Hooker, lead red-hot Mustangs
Romeoville             11-3   SPC showdown at Oswego East (12-3, 2-0)
Lockport                   8-4    Jake Karli runs the show for much-improved Porters
Joliet Central           9-5    Dakoda Joachim and DeeJay Holmes lead Steelmen
Maine South           10-6  Hawks play one of state’s toughest schedules
Plainfield East          8-6   Shumate one of area’s best
Notre Dame           10-7   Sophs Sayles, D’Amico lead Dons
Westmont              17-2   15 consecutive wins for I-8 tri-leaders

ON THE BUBBLE   DG North 10-4, Plainfield North 8-7;  Plainfield Central 7-8; Lisle 10-9

Boys AP STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Class 4A

Belleville West           17-0
Curie                            15-1
Bloom                          15-1
Marian Catholic         15-1
Whitney Young          13-6
Danville                       14-2
Bolingbrook                 9-3
Bloomington              12-4
Evanston                     16-3
Moline                         15-2
15. Benet                    13-3

 GIRLS AP STATE Basketball Rankings

CLASS 4A

Maine West                 19-0
Rock Island                  17-1
Fremd                           18-2
Montini                         17-3
Edwardsville                17-2
Benet                            18-4
Rockford Boylan          17-0
Whitney Young            13-4
Rockton Hononegah   17-3
Mother McAuley         17-1

GIRLS AREA BASKETBALL CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Compiled  by Drake Skleba 

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Maine West                  20-0           5-0
Vernon Hills                  12-7           4-1
Highland Park                7-7            3-2
Maine East                     5-10          2-3
Deerfield                        3-14          1-4
Glenbrook North          4-12          0-5

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH

Evanston                      15-5           5-0
New Trier                     14-4           4-1
Glenbrook South        15-3           3-2
Maine South                12-7          2-3
Niles West                    10-6          1-4
Niles North                     6-9          0-5

INTERSTATE 8
Sandwich                      19-0         6-0
Plano                             15-4         5-0
Reed-Custer                 17-5         1-2
Herscher                       10-9         4-2
Lisle                               14-8         5-3
Wilmington                  10-10       3-5
Coal City                         6-8          2-4
Streator                          4-11        1-5
Westmont                      1-13        0-6
Manteno                         5-16       0-7

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Minooka                          20-2       7-0
Oswego                            12-3       4-1
Joliet Central                   12-5       3-1
Plainfield Central            11-8       3-1
Plainfield South               11-7       2-2
Oswego East                      8-11      2-3
Joliet West                         7-12      1-3
Plainfield North                 5-16      1-3
Romeoville                         4-14      1-4
Plainfield East                    3-15      0-6

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN  BLUE

Bolingbrook                        8-9        3-0
Stagg                                  14-4       2-1
LW  East                             14-4       2-1
H-F                                      11-6       1-1
Sandburg                             9-8       1-3
Lockport                              7-14     0-3

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Benet                            18-4          3-0
Nazareth                      16-1          1-0
MCC                               7-10         1-0
Marist                           14-5          2-1
St. Viator                      13-5          1-2
Marian Catholic            9-7           0-1
JCA                                  7-11         0-2
Carmel                            5-11         0-2

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Proviso East                      13-4        5-1
Willowbrook                     16-9        6-2
DG South                           12-7        5-2
Hinsdale South                  7-11       4-4
Leyden                                8-10       2-4
Addison Trail                      5-11       1-5
Morton                                3-14       1-6

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Glenbard West                  14-5        6-1
DG North                            14-6        5-1
Oak Park                             10-11      5-2
York                                     13-7        4-3
Lyons Township                  7-12       4-4
Hinsdale Central                 2-12       1-6
Proviso West                       2-16       0-8

BOYS AREA CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Courtesy of Jack Gleason hsbball.com

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

Deerfield                       9-7     4-0
Glenbrook North         8-8     3-1
Maine West                  7-6     2-2
Highland Park               7-8     2-2
Maine East                    7-8     1-3
Vernon Hills                 4-13    0-4

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH
New Trier                    15-2     4-0
Evanston                     16-3     3-1
Glenbrook South       11-4     2-2
Maine South              10-6      2-2
Niles North                   9-5      1-2
Niles West                    6-10    0-5

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Marian Catholic          15-1      5-0
Benet                           13-3       3-0
St. Viator                     14-2       2-0
Carmel                         12-8       2-1
Notre Dame                10-7        1-1
Nazareth                      3-12      1-2
St. Patrick                    10-7        0-2
Marist                           8-8        0-2
Joliet Catholic              4-14      0-2
MCC                              1-15      0-3

INTERSTATE 8
Westmont                    17-2       4-1
Coal City                         9-6       4-1
Lisle                                10-9       4-1
Plano                              10-7      2-2
Herscher                         6-10     2-2
Reed-Custer                   7-9       2-3
Peotone                         2-12     2-3
Sandwich                        9-7       1-2
Streator                          4-10     1-2
Manteno                        9-5        1-3
Wilmington                   1-14      0-3

SOUTHWEST PRAIRE
Oswego East                 12-3       2-0
Romeoville                    11-3       2-0
Minooka                          5-10     2-0
Joliet Central                   9-5       1-1
Oswego                          10-6      1-1
Plainfield North              8-7       1-1
Plainfield Central            7-8      1-1
Plainfield East                 8-6       0-2
Plainfield South              5-9       0-2
Joliet West                      2-11     0-2

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Homewood Flossmoor  10-4      2-0
Lockport                            8-4      1-0
Bolingbrook                     10-3      0-0
Sandburg                         10-7     1-1
Lincoln-Way East             7-9      1-2
Stagg                                  7-9      0-2

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Proviso East                    11-3       4-0
Downers Grove South   11-5       4-1
Willowbrook                    9-6         3-1
Morton                             8-6         2-1
Leyden                              8-7         2-2
Addison Trail                    8-9         0-5
Hinsdale South                6-10       0-5

 WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
York                                 15-1         4-0
Oak Park                           9-6          3-1
Downers Grove North  10-4         2-2
Lyons Township             10-5         2-2
Hinsdale Central              4-10       1-2
Glenbard West               11-5        1-3
Proviso West                    3-8         0-4

The City of  Crest Hill reports that Weber Road remains closed between Caton Farm Road and Knapp Drive.

Crest Hill and State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle traffic crash that occurred this late afternoon.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and take another route..

Plainfield – So you think you’re an expert on the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and
Dorothy (and her little dog, too)?

Then take part in the “Wizard of Oz Trivia Contest” at the 2019 Great Read literacy program’s
kickoff event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 31, 2019. The program will be held at the Joliet
Public Library Ottawa Street branch, 150 N. Ottawa Street, in downtown Joliet.

The 2019 Great Read will celebrate the fantastic story that remains a worldwide touchstone for
people of all ages nearly 120 years after Dorothy and Toto first stepped down the yellow brick
road.

Trivia teams as large as five people can register online now or through the Great Read website:
www.greatread.org. Individual competitors will be combined into teams. Light refreshments will
be available. “Wizard of Oz”-themed prizes will be awarded.

The Great Read is a consortium of public and private organizations promoting literacy, reading,
conversation, and community in Plainfield and surrounding southwest suburban partner
communities since 2004.

OTHER GREAT READ PROGRAM EVENTS
 Artists of all ages in participating communities are invited and encouraged to enter the
2019 Great Read Art Contest.

o Enter at your local library where you could win in one of four age groups from
pre-kindergarten to adult.

o Local winners in each group will move on to the final contest to compete for $50
Barnes & Noble gift cards.

o Detailed information and entry forms are available on the Great Read website
(www.greatread.org) and at participating libraries.

 The 2019 Great Read Finale will start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the
Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois Ave., Plainfield. Admission is free.

o The classic film starring Judy Garland will be shown. Attendees are strongly
encouraged to dress up as their favorite character for a chance to win prizes.

o 2019 Great Read Art Contest winners will be announced and prizes awarded.

o Refreshments will be available.

o Books will be given to attendees while supplies last.

Throughout February, community members can also take part in a long list of Great Read-related
programs and special activities at the Great Read’s participating libraries. Program information is
posted on the Great Read website.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The 2019 Great Read is proudly presented by: the Plainfield School District 202; the Plainfield,
Fountaindale, Joliet, and White Oak public libraries; Joliet Junior College; Plainfield Township;
and the Joliet Barnes and Noble store.

The 2019 Great Read is also supported by generous grants and in-kind donations from the
Plainfield Foundation for Excellence, Plainfield Township, the Joliet Barnes & Noble, Voyager
Media, and participating libraries.

Please see The Great Read web site for more information about this year’s program:
www.greatread.org

Thank you to the Joliet Rotary Club who donated over 1,150 dictionaries to all Joliet Public
Schools District 86 third grade students.

In addition to handing out the dictionaries, members of the Rotary shared the Rotary Four-Way Test with the third grade students at T.E. Culbertson, M.J. Cunningham, Eisenhower, Farragut, Forest Park Individual Education, Thomas Jefferson, Edna Keith, A.O. Marshall, Pershing, Sator Sanchez, Carl Sandburg, Isaac Singleton, Taft, Lynne
Thigpen, and Woodland Elementary Schools, looked up words in the dictionaries, and even found
the longest word in the English Language (with 1,909 letters)! The Rotary Four-Way Test asks, “Is
it the TRUTH, Is it FAIR to all concerned, Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER
FRIENDSHIPS, and “Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

(Photo Caption) Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn and Rotary member and Valerie
Devine from the Rialto Square Theatre join Woodland students (from left to right) Jezabel Herrara,
Monica Reyes, and Eduardo Arriaga for a picture with the dictionaries.

Joliet Catholic Academy President/Principal Dr. Jeffrey Budz is pleased to announce the December Students of the Month: Megan Ortinau (Kiwanis Club), Julia Khater (Rotary Club), and Cameron Turner (Lions Club). JCA is proud of the success these students have exhibited both in the classroom and out in the community.

Megan Ortinau, daughter of Eric and Lori Ortinau, currently has a 4.68 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes. Ortinau is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math National Honor Society), English National Honor Society, and Art National Honor Society. She has been awarded academic medals in Algebra, World History, and Theology while at JCA. She is also a member of the JCA varsity softball team. Ortinau has been accepted into the mechanical engineering program at the University of Iowa but is also currently weighing options at the University of Illinois, Notre Dame, and Purdue.

Julia Khater, daughter of Russell and Susan Khater, currently has a 4.56 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes. Khater is a member of National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, National Thespian Honor Society, and received the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award. At JCA, Khater participates in Scholastic Bowl, Drama Club, and the Improv Club (where she serves as president). She is also a member of the JCA girls swimming team, while also participating with the Joliet Jets Swim Team. Khater enjoys playing guitar and violin in her free time and is currently undecided on her college plans.

Cameron Turner, son of Brent and Staci Turner, currently has a 3.61 GPA. Turner is a member of National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and received the English Honors Award during his junior year. Turner is a member of the varsity football and wrestling programs at JCA and received the Leadership and Hustle Awards in wrestling. Turner is also a member of the Weather Club at JCA and serves as a JCA Student Ambassador. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, working out, and flying airplanes. Turner plans on attending Western Michigan University to study aviation with a career plan to become a professional corporate pilot.

By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

Every year in mid January as Christmas decorations get packed away, poor-fitting gifts are returned to the store and resolutions are made and already broken, gone too are the selfless thoughts that come with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
There are no more red kettles and bell ringers in the front of every store, no more giving trees at your place of work and no more thought to stop your busy life to give a pick-me-up to someone in need.
The Joliet Public Library found a way to combat this through their ‘Valentines for Soldiers’ event.
The event, in its second year, offers members of the community to head to the Ottawa Street Branch at 150 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet and create Valentine’s Day cards to be sent overseas. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and no registration is needed.
Art supplies and light refreshments will be provided and classic romantic movies “How to Marry a Millionaire” (11 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.) and the Princess Bride (12:45 – 2:30 p.m.) will show in the background.
“Everyone thinks about this around Christmas, but they are out there year round and could always use a boost and whatever we are able to do, we will,” said Adult Services Associate Patrick Maloney. “Anyone could do it on their own, we are just getting them all together in one place and sending a big package over.”
The event started last year and saw more than a dozen families come out and create cards — a number Maloney wants to keep growing.
And, while he runs the event now, Maloney was quick to point out that it was not his idea originally.
“Last year, Chris Special served on the programming committee with me and she started this up with,” Maloney said. “At the last minute, she couldn’t do the event, so I stepped in and it was a big hit and now, she is in a different department and I am still on the programming committee and decided to do it again.”
The Library partners with Manhattan, Illinois-based Operation Care Package to get the cards to those serving overseas — a task co-founder and president Debbie Smothers said is appreciated.
“We have to make sure we are sending packages year round,” Smothers said. “It is not just the holidays, they need to know that they are not forgotten the rest of the year, too. Our goal is that anytime people put their name on our list, that we keep them on our list the whole time they are deployed.
“It is wonderful when groups step up and help like this. We include cards and letters in each package and we are so grateful everyone’s help. Donations don’t have to be anything major — sometimes the simplest things are what they appreciate the most.”

By Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com

When kids go away to college, there are some common and popular majors they tend to gravitate to, such as accounting, marketing or education.
When it comes to Bolingbrook native Francis Levins, there are other career aspirations circulating in his head.
Levins, who is a Computer Engineering major at Bradley University, is a part of a group of Bradley students chosen to work with NASA on the second phase of the NASA S.U.I.T.S Design Challenge (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students).
“My friend actually went to a conference that was for women engineers and when she came back she me and a few other people if we would be interested,” Levins said. “I had to make a proposal for it and send it in.”
The Design Challenge is part two of the program in which university student teams design and develop spacesuit interfaces and experiences with the Microsoft HoloLens.
Microsoft HoloLens is the first self-contained, holographic computer, enabling users to engage with their digital content and interact with holograms in the world around them.
Bradley was one of the few schools chosen for the first year of the program in early 2018, and students now have this opportunity at NASA headquarters again.
“I think that it’s really cool that they hire and bring in college students like myself to help NASA with their own work and learn a lot more about them,” Levins said. “I like the aspect that I’m contributing and helping them out to design things for the future.”
Students from engineering, computer science, public relations, interactive media and other majors are working across disciplines on this project.
For the second year, they’re focusing on utilizing object recognition and simplistic design using Augmented Reality to improve communications between space and Earth and make space missions more efficient and less stressful on astronauts.
For Levins, being able to capture an experience that he has dreamed about as a young boy was even that much more personally rewarding for the college senior.
“I’ve always thought space exploration was very cool ever since I was young, so getting this opportunity really means a lot to me,” Levins said.
This project is an extracurricular activity for the students and not connected to any course.
They submitted their designs, budget, timeline, and concepts in October, and it was just announced that they are one of the final schools chosen to present their program to NASA and Microsoft.
Levins also added that with not everyone from the group being a Computer Engineering major, the culmination of different majors adds to their group which he then said will make them more successful going forward.
“The way the challenge is set up is that we have about a half a year which is different from last year,” Levins said. “It’s also really nice because we have a lot of people from all different majors, so with that different experience working with other people brings different type of thinking to our group.
“Towards the end of this challenge we actually get to go to the Johnson Space Center [in Houston] and then you get even more hands on experience there, you learn a lot of work place experience. This is really fun to me, I would not mind doing this [after I graduate for a career].”
This is the fourth project that Bradley has participated in with NASA, the team meets every Tuesday evening to work on the project which is led by their Lead Faculty Advisor, Heather Ford.

Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com

On a night celebrating junior guard Jazz Evans eclipsing the 1,000 point mark in her basketball career, the Plainfield South Cougars spoiled the Joliet West celebration by defeating the Tigers 47-39.

Neither ball-club held a lead for more than two minutes in the first quarter of play, and the Tigers got off to the early lead going into the second quarter up 11-9, after getting to the free throw line four times.

Junior guard Jazz Evans brings the ball up the court for the Joliet West Tigers on a night where they celebrated Evans 1,000th career point. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)

Evans (11 points) led the way in the second quarter for the young Tiger squad who only feature three seniors, dropping eight points in the quarter, with two back-to-back 3-point shots at the 3 minute mark.

West went into the locker room at the half up 21-20, after a tenacious first half play.

South senior guard Shannon Smith (18 points) imposed her will on the young Tigers, scoring five quick points in a 9-2 Cougar early second half run.

“All of the credit goes to this team,” Smith said. “You can see it in every practice and every game, we always get one percent better and that really makes a large impact on what we do.”

The Cougars also went down in the record books, tying the record for most school wins in team history with 12.

“That was something I didn’t really want to mention because I didn’t want them to get nervous about it,” said South coach Lincoln DePaula. “The biggest thing is the progress that they have made, the other reason why I try not to make a big deal is because I believe their ceiling is higher than 12 wins.”

South turned up the energy even more on the defensive side of the ball in the third quarter, translating that into a 33-29 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

West regained the lead with 4:15 remaining in the ball game, after a 3-point field goal by sophomore guard Ashanti Brown.

Smith however, again imposed her will with an and-one layup and a fist pump with 3:25 left in the game.

Smith and the Cougars late game offense was just a little too much for the Tigers, with Smith putting the game out of reach with a steal at the 19 second mark in the game, giving the Cougars the victory on the Joliet West home floor.

“We just made some unforced turnovers and threw the ball to them where they created layups,” said West coach John Placher. “When we got close there at the end, we just have to make the play when we have the opportunity, some games we just don’t do that and this is the outcome.”

Alice Miranda’s doctor says her bloodwork is that of a 20-year-old. Alice, 103, has lived at the Timbers of Shorewood retirement community for a decade. According to her daughter, Mary Ann Lehman, everyone at the Timbers knows Alice, loves her and says hi to her.

“They keep her moving!” Lehman said.

Born on January 18, 1916, in San Antonio, Texas, Alice was an only child raised by her mother. Her father died when she was only two years old.

After high school, Alice married a research chemist, and the couple raised five children in Lockport, putting every one of them through college. Her husband died in his 50s, so Alice has been a widow for a long, long time. She isn’t lonely, however. She has 17 grandchildren, handfuls of great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

She never ate margarine which she says is the secret to her long life. (She also walked every single day, rarely ate red meat and devoured fresh vegetables.

Alice is enjoying live at the Timbers, but she does get frustrated when she can’t remember things. However, her long-term memory is excellent. Mary Ann overheard her mother singing an unfamiliar song. Mary Ann discovered the song was from the 1930s. Alice knew every single word.

Icy conditions are leading to schools cancelling after-school and evening school and district-sponsored activities.

COMMUNITY 

• DuPage County Health Department Will Close at 4:30 pm Today
Afternoon and Evening Appointments Rescheduled

Due to the severe weather that is likely to cause icy road conditions into this evening, the DuPage County Health Department’s Public Health Centers in Addison, Lombard, West Chicago, Westmont and Wheaton will be closing at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. All late afternoon and evening appointments are being rescheduled.

The Health Department’s Crisis Hotline (630) 627-1700 in Behavioral Health Services will remain in operation.

All offices will reopen at the regular times on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019.

 DuPage County Health Department clients with questions are asked to please call (630) 682-7400.

• Joliet Center for Disability Services is closing at 2pm and will not have classes tonight

SCHOOLS

• Plainfield District 202 has cancelled all events, including such activities as athletic practices and contests, club meetings, rehearsals, etc.

According to the district, the YMCA Kidzone program WILL operate as normal.

All cancelled activities will be rescheduled as soon as possible as appropriate.

• Woodridge District 68 – no after school classes or meetings

• Richland District 88A in Crest Hill – All after-school events are cancelled

• St. Andrew The Apostle in Romeoville – Faith Formation classes are cancelled. Saturday classes are as scheduled.

• St. Dennis in Lockport – All activities are cancelled. Open House is cancelled.

• St. Scholastica in Woodridge – Religious Education classes are cancelled

• All after school activities for Joliet District 86 are cancelled, as are all events in Joliet Township High School District 204. The district Tweeted out – All JTHS after-school, practices, activities, events and meetings are cancelled today, Tuesday, January 22 due to weather conditions. Activity bus routes will not run this evening.

• St. Mary Immaculate Religious Education Classes are cancelled

• Universial Technical Institute in Lisle – Staff released at 2pm – all classes after 2pm cancelled

• Troy School District 30C events are cancelled. The district web site states “Due to the winter advisory all after school activities and games will be canceled. All students are to go home on their regular scheduled buses. This includes the Boys Basketball Regional away as well as the home GVB games. This will also include all activity buses being canceled.”

• Valley View District 365U after-school activities are cancelled

*Check back as we will update closings as they come in 

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

The Joliet Area Community Hospice facility was the first of its kind in the state of Illinois and now that facility will get a much-needed facelift.

The renovations are required to serve even more of those in need in Will County and beyond.

Currently, the hospice center has 10 beds, but after the $7 million expansion, the facility will have 20 beds and room for four more in the future.

The much-needed addition began with a simple conversation.

“We knew that our Hospice unit was full every day with waiting lists and at our annual dinner last year, I asked [state representative] Natalie Manley about adding more beds to our unit and she said it was a great idea,” said Joliet Area Community Hospice CEO Mary Sheehan. “The next day, I got a call from her office about introducing something to the rules committee and it was approved by all the departments of the government and signed by [then] Governor [Bruce] Rauner in no time flat. So, now we can increase our beds to 20 and we are also changing the space a little bit.

“We want that when you walk through the front door, you feel peace and healing and love from this amazing staff.”

After Manley got it through the House, the legislation, was sponsored by state senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood), pushed through the Senate and was signed into law by Rauner in August.

For Manley, it was her job — but with intimate knowledge of how JACH works.

“My mom came to Joliet Area Community Hospice on July 4, 2017 and she left this world and went to Heaven on July 10 and the more important thing I can tell you is that she got wonderful, compassionate care,” Manley said. “My mom was a single mom for almost as far back as I can remember and she was always our rock and so when you know things are changing, you want her to have the best care possible and the best thing they did while she was here, the staff not only took care of mom, they took care of her children. She would have loved that. My mom was a nurse and she would have loved that. She was able to live the last days of her life with dignity.

“With the legislation, I was doing my job. Joliet Area Community Hospice does not turn anyone away as long as they have capacity — you don’t have to meet any criteria and I don’t think people realize that. A lot of time there is a waiting list and I wanted other people to have the same experience as my family had. It was my honor to do what I could do to make that a possibility.”

So, now that the leg work is done and legislation has passed, JACH has rolled out its “Remembering from the Heart” campaign, hospice is aiming to raise $3.5 million to add beds, spaces for family gathering –­ including a spiritual room and family kitchen. The nursing station will also be relocated to bring nurses closer to the patients.

The board has already allocated the other $3.5 million and as of the public announcement date, JACH had raised $2,178,629 from public donors and center staff.

“Any form of giving is important in this capital campaign. Not everyone is able to be a million-dollar giver and give at that level,” said Vice Chair Tom Vana. “The most important gifts we get are any gift – that could be $5, $10, it is all very important. Please don’t think that if you can’t give $1,000 or $100,000 – every gift here is very important. If you are able to give at a higher level, we do have naming rights starting at $5,000.”

One of the large donors was the D’Arcy family, who pledged $200,000 to help the project come to fruition.

“This place is such a Godsend to so many people and so many families. This building was opened in 2004 and the need has grown so much more since then,” said Terry D’Arcy, co-chair of the campaign. “I have had experiences where I have experienced the love and care here and it is not only terminally ill. It wouldn’t be possible without the staff and volunteers.”

Groundbreaking on the project is set for April 24.

By Brian Stanley

Reconstruction of the intersection of Route 52 and River Road is unlikely to be finished before mid-April.

And it’s estimated the delay from the originally scheduled November 2018 completion date will cost the village another $80,000.

Village officials discussed the project at the Jan. 8 board meeting but rescheduled voting on an extension of engineering services with Christopher Burke Engineering until Jan. 22

Engineer Bryan Welch told the board delays on other federal projects caused a delay in this one. Federal grants were used by the Illinois Department of Transportation to cover 80 percent of the approximately $3.1 million cost. Shorewood was initially expected to contribute $616,000 toward the cost.

The project is widening Route 52 to two through lanes and a left-turn lane in both directions. River Road is being widened to one through lane and right and left turn lanes in both directions. Both roads are also being resurfaced.

The project also required regrading the Hammel Creek channel on the north side of Route 52 and construction of a bridge and path to accommodate pedestrians. Pedestrian access was a federal funding requirement for the project, according to information provided by the village. Nearby Glen Mor Drive is being converted to right-turn only access at River Road to prevent backups into the intersection.

According to village staff updates, rainy days led to some delays shortly after the reconstruction started last spring, but Trustee Dan Anderson told Welch he thought the project should be further along than it is.

“I drive by every day and I saw a lot of (inactivity) out there over the summer,” Anderson said.

Alice Miranda recently turned 103 years old, but her doctor says her blood work is that of a 20-year-old.

Alice has lived at the Timbers of Shorewood retirement community for a decade. According to her daughter, Mary Ann Lehman, everyone at the Timbers knows Alice, loves her and says hi to her.

“They keep her moving,” Lehman said.

Born on January 18, 1916, in San Antonio, Texas, Alice was an only child raised by her mother. Her father died when she was only two years old.

After high school, Alice married a research chemist, and the couple raised five children in Lockport, putting every one of them through college.

Her husband died in his 50s, so Alice has been a widow for a long, long time. She isn’t lonely, however.

She has 17 grandchildren, handfuls of great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

She never ate margarine, which she says is the secret to her long life. She also walked every single day, rarely ate red meat and devoured fresh vegetables.

Alice is enjoying life at the Timbers, but she does get frustrated when she can’t remember things. However, her long-term memory is excellent. Lehman overheard her mother singing an unfamiliar song and discovered the song was from the 1930s. Alice knew every single word.