LP_112316

More documents

Recommendations

Info

12 | November 23, 2016 | The Lockport Legend news lockportlegend.com HTFPD From Page 4 Deputy Fire Marshal Dave Bricker — who has been serving as acting chief since late September — will become the division chief of fire prevention at the start of the new year, the press release said. Bricker is confident in the job Locacius will do. “I’ve known [Locacius] for years; I met him years ago. ... We didn’t reconnect until I got here a little over a year ago, and I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen.” Bricker echoed Locacius’ sentiments on wanting to implement a variety of community programs, adding different individuals will oversee certain areas like senior activities, a car seat program, school talks and other public initiatives. “We’ll sit down and go through different ideas to make sure we are out in the public,” he said. As for his own new role as division chief of fire prevention, Bricker said many of his responsibilities will stay the same, and that he is “looking forward to many more years in a great organization.” Locacius and his wife, Beata, have three daughters — Lauren, 14, and twins, Victoria and Elizabeth, 11. He earned a masters degree Are you reaching 90,000 subscribers? NO Contact Sherry Ranieri! in business administration with an emphasis in public administration in 2010, and in 2015 he obtained his Chief Fire Officer certification, the highest certification offered by the Illinois State Fire Marshal, the release added. Meanwhile, the release said Bricker, of Lockport, earned a bachelors degree in fire service management. He has been active in community organizations for the past 12 years. In addition to the new roles for Locacius and Bricker, a replacement battalion chief, captain and lieutenant will also become effective at the start of the new year. A formal swearing-in ceremony is set to take place Jan. 10. Along with the promotions, the fire protection district officials will swear in five firefighters who have successfully completed their one-year probationary period, the HTFPD said. “Throughout my career, I have been mentored by other firefighters,” Locacius said. “...A big part of who I am is giving back, whether training or doing drills. “It’s not just about spending the day in the office doing paperwork. I like to be hands-on and go out and do drills with the [personnel], pass on my knowledge as it was passed to me. I’m very thankful for the opportunity for me and my family.” Sherry Ranieri FROM THE MOKENA MESSENGER Trustees hear audit report Nov. 14, find village in good position The Village of Mokena is in good financial standing, according to an audit presented to the board of trustees Monday, Nov. 14. “The Village of Mokena can be very proud of its financial strength,” said Bill Hanley, of Wipfli L<strong>LP</strong>, the firm that handed the audit. “There is a very strong fund balance reported. There is almost $22 million of unrestricted fund balance – and $12 million of [that] is with the water and sewer fund, and that is earmarked for future activities and other projects in those areas.” Hanley said the general fund has about $4.2 million of unassigned fund balance, which he called “very good.” “This fund balance represents about 42 percent of a year’s expenditures,” Hanley said. “To say that another way…the Village could operate in the general fund without revenue for about five months, and then you could just draw on your fund balance to pay your bills. So, it is a very strong fund balance being reported.” Hanley said the Village has cash in investments totaling about $23 million. YES You’re one of our valued clients! Sales Director for The Homer Horizon & The Lockport Legend s.ranieri@22ndcenturymedia.com • 708.326.9170 ext.21 “During the fiscal year into June 30, 2016, compared to the prior year, the net position increased by about $1.2 million,” he said. Hanley also said the Village’s bond rating through Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC is AA+. In addition, both of the Village’s pension funds – for the police and for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund – are stable. Reporting by Jon DePaolis, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit MokenaMessenger.com. FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT New Lenox students send love through letters to the troops Every letter was unique — clad with colorful pictures, hand-drawn flags and handwritten notes. Throughout November, hundreds of students in New Lenox School District 122 thanked veterans for their service and wished those serving a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas. A handful of those students from kindergarten through fifth grade had the opportunity to meet Doug Bobrowski, also known as “Dougie Stylz” from US99, and share the letters they wrote to veterans. The letters were “colored with love,“ said Lori Motsch, principal at Spencer Trail Kindergarten Center. “It’s a great way for 5-yearolds to feel connected,” she said. Students from Spencer Trail, Spencer Pointe and Spencer Crossing met with Bobrowski to read their letters aloud. He recorded their voices, and they were aired Nov. 16-18 on radio station US99. Bobrowski said the impact of the event really struck him when he met a 26-year veteran who received some of the letters from schools in the Chicago area and later had the opportunity to meet some of the students who had written the letters. “[The students] are really making a difference, and we really appreciate it,” he said. Bobrowski’s goal each year is to collect 10,000 letters for the troops. “Pointe alone has written over 600 letters,” said Kim Gray, principal at Spencer Pointe Primary School. “We asked our parents to write letters too, so we had a good amount of parents write letters and send them in to school.” Reporting by Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor. For more, visit NewLenoxPatriot.com FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION Tinley Park Village officials honor local youth football team It’s not a story you hear often: football players going 12-0 to win the Super Bowl. What’s more unheard of is that this might be a pattern for the Tinley Park Bulldogs junior varsity white squad, who secured the 2016 River Valley Youth Football championship title for the second year in a row. On Nov. 6, the Orland Park Pioneers lost to the Bulldogs in the final game of the season. Tinley Park officials honored the team for its accomplishments at the Nov. 15 Village Board meeting at Village Hall. Trustee Brian Younker, a former coach for the Bulldogs, recognized the team’s success and ushered all 32 boys and their coaches into the room. The boys, whose ages range from 11 to 13 years old, entered the room with their heads held high and some – not being able to contain their excitement – had smiles on their faces. Mayor Dave Seaman took a moment to recognize the team’s accomplishment. “It’s great to see you guys be successful because as I understand it, this is the second year for some of you in an undefeated status,” Seaman said. “That deserves a lot of recognition, but what also deserved recognition is the effort that you all put into getting it right and doing a team job together.” Reporting by Brittany Kapa, Assistant Editor. For more, visit TinleyJunction.com. FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE Two men identified, Orland man arrested in Nov. 12 firearm discharge Police have identified two men involved in a Saturday, Nov. 12 incident in which gunshots were fired in the parking lot of the 17300 block of Oak Park Avenue, according to a press release issued Monday, Nov. 14, by the Tinley Park Police Department. The release stated Tinley Park police responded to a disturbance at 2:37 a.m. Nov. 12 in the parking lot of 17300 block of Oak Park Avenue. The two men reportedly had fled from the scene in a vehicle. No one was injured by the gunshots, police said. The police later identified those men as Ramsey T. Shelby, 22, of Orland Park, and Ahmad R. Ismail, 22, of Tinley Park. Shelby was charged with two felonies: unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated discharge of a firearm, according to the release. Shelby was later transported to Cook County Jail. Cook County Judge Peter Felice has issued a warrant for Ismail, who is not in custody and is wanted for a charge of aggravated fleeing and eluding. The bond on the warrant reportedly is $50,000. Reporting by F. Amanda Tugade, Contributing Editor. For more, visit OPPrairie.com.
lockportlegend.com sound off the Lockport Legend | November 23, 2016 | 13 Social snapshot Top Web Stories From LockportLegend.com from Sunday, Nov. 20. 1. Girls Swimming: Lockport sweeps sectional meet relays 2. 10 Questions with Andy Sims, LTHS boys bowling 3. Butler School honors 84 veterans at assembly 4. Team 22: Boys Soccer 5. Residents learn to swing dance at local event Become a member: LockportLegend.com/plus “Fine motor centers at the Meader House - geo boards with rubber bands and number counting with clothespins!” Lockport Township Park District from Nov. 16. Like The Lockport Legend: facebook.com/LockportLegend “Coach Dillard kicking off our Monday Speaker presentations with “What Makes an UNCOMMON person?” @c32dillard @ lthsathletics” @LockportHoops from Nov. 14. Follow The Lockport Legend: @LockportLegend From the Assistant Editor Give more than thanks Erin Redmond e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia.com When I think about Thanksgiving, I think about the delicious spread on the table and football games on TV. There is so much planning, cooking and cleaning — among other things — involved that it’s easy to lose sight of what the day is really about: giving thanks. And this year, I have a lot to be thankful for. Having recently moved back to the area, this is the first time in five years that I am able to sit down and enjoy the holiday with my family. I’ll get to dress the turkey with my mother, chase my nieces and nephews around the house, and there’s a high probability Letter to the Editor Learning about consolidation The following is information was shared publicly to districts 89, 90, 91 & 92 in their October 2016 school board meetings: The Illinois State Board of Education School Business Service Division has funding set aside to pay for school district reorganization feasibility studies. It is available on a first come, first serve basis. This study is the only way we can give that I’ll burn the crescent rolls. I am extremely talented in the latter. I can’t express in words how thankful I am to be home to do all this, especially when there are so many — for one reason or another — who don’t have the opportunity to. There are many who struggle to put food on the table on a daily basis, let alone during the holidays. Those in need may be closer to home than we think; they could even be our friends and neighbors. While many of us feel helpless, there are several ways to help lighten the load. This holiday season, a plethora of local organizations are accepting donations for the less fortunate. While I couldn’t possibly list them all, I have included a few below that we should all think about contributing to. The holidays can be especially hard on children of low-income families. Every child dreams of getting presents from Santa and the Homer Township Fire Protection District is making those dreams come true. They are accepting new, unwrapped toys for its annual Toys for Tots donations at Station 1, 16050 S. Cedar Road, Homer Glen. For more information, call (815) 838-5006. The Lockport/Homer FISH Pantry, 604 E. 9th St., Lockport, is a completely volunteer-based organization that helps feed more than 300 hungry families in our area. It is always in need of both monetary and non-perishable donations from canned fruits and vegetables to dish soap. FISH also partners with several churches in Homer Glen and Lockport through its Circle of Love program, which provides diapers and other products to those in need. For more information on the FISH pantry, visit www.lockportfoodpantry. org. St. Dennis Church, 1214 S. Hamilton St., Lockport, is running two programs over the holiday to benefit local families. The first is its Christmas Adopt-a- Family Program in which our town answers on the subject of consolidation. Please note that this would only be the beginning of a long process towards consolidating. After the school boards proceed with these studies, we would then have to collaborate between the districts as to what our community would want our town’s consolidation to look like, if it were to take place. As a community, what can you do to help? Please contact your school board and let them know you are interested in having the study take place. Whether you are for or against consolidation, we cannot make an educated judgement about it, without a feasibility study. We have a choice of staying in the dark about consolidation, or educating ourselves about it with actual facts. Patricia Colella and Karen Hunsaker, Lockport residents an individual or a group can “adopt” a family to provide with gifts for Christmas. The church has also partnered with The Giving Tree, 3016 S. State St., Lockport, which provides low-income clients with basic necessities. St. Dennis is helping collect, sort, clean and pack these donations and is seeking volunteers to help. For more information, call (815) 383-2592, ext. 113. This holiday season, take some time to consider your neighbors who may need some help. It doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s day — if we each give a little, it can add up a lot. Sound Off Policy Editorials and columns are the opinions of the author. Pieces from 22nd Century Media are the thoughts of the company as a whole. The Lockport Legend encourages readers to write letters to Sound Off. All letters must be signed, and names and hometowns will be published. We also ask that writers include their address and phone number for verification, not publication. Letters should be limited to 400 words. The Lockport Legend reserves the right to edit letters. Letters become property of The Lockport Legend. Letters that are published do not reflect the thoughts and views of The Lockport Legend. Letters can be mailed to: The Lockport Legend, 11516 West 183rd Street, Unit SW Office Condo #3, Orland Park, Illinois, 60467. Fax letters to (708) 326-9179 or e-mail to max@lockportlegend.com. www.lockportlegend.com.
Page 1 and 2: LockportLegend.com • November 23,
Page 3 and 4: lockportlegend.com news the Lockpor
Page 5 and 6: lockportlegend.com lockport the Loc
Page 11: lockportlegend.com school the Lockp
Page 15 and 16: the LOCKPORT LEGEND | November 23,
Page 17 and 18: lockportlegend.com life & arts the
Page 19 and 20: lockportlegend.com puzzles the Lock
Page 21 and 22: lockportlegend.com classifieds the
Page 35 and 36: lockportlegend.com SPORTS the Lockp
Page 37 and 38: lockportlegend.com 2 | November 23,
Page 39 and 40: lockportlegend.com sports the Lockp

LP_112316

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?