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10 | December 8, 2016 | The New Lenox Patriot news newlenoxpatriot.com You mean, I can schedule my appointment online? Nice! Phones valued up to $20,000 stolen at local store James Sanchez, Editor New Lenox police are searching for a suspect involved in an alleged robbery that took place Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Sprint store in the 2300 block of East Lincoln Highway. At around 6:30 p.m., as a Sprint employee was trying to lock up for the night, the suspect reportedly approached the employee and From nov. 30 forced him back inside the store to the cash register and to an off-storage area where he took numerous phones, according to New Lenox Police Deputy Chief Robert Pawlisz. No weapon was displayed or inferred, he added. Pawlisz said the suspect took up to $20,000 worth of phones and approximately $200 from the cash register. Pawlisz said he was told from officers at the scene that the suspect is a black male, 6 feet tall, thin, about 35 years old and was wearing a long, dark coat with a hood at the time of the incident. Authorities encourage those with information on the robbery to call the New Lenox Police Department at (815) 485-2500. The anonymous tip line can be reached at (815) 462-6111. Police Reports Local charged with possession of suspected heroin Brandon Koniuszy, 23, of 2370 Palmer Ranch Drive in New Lenox, was charged with possession of a controlled substance Nov. 20 in an incident during which he reportedly was accused of committing theft at a local retail store. Authorities reported to the CVS on the 2000 block of Nelson Road in response to an alleged theft Koniuszy committed at the store, the police report stated. While investigating Ko- Please see police, 16 Now you can choose the time and location that’s most convenient for you for these outpatient services: Silver Cross Hospital Main Campus CT DexaScan EKG Lab Homer Glen CT EKG Lab MRI Ultrasound X-Ray Mammography MRI Ultrasound X-Ray West Joliet Urgent Care Scheduling your appointment for an outpatient test or urgent care visit just got easier. Choose a date, time and location that is convenient for you. You will even receive appointment reminders. It’s that simple! Go to www.silvercross.org or call (815) 300-7076. It’s your choice. Healthy Living Guide APPEARING JANUARY 12 TH Reserve your ad by DEC 7 TH Call 708.326.9170 22ndcenturymedia.com ®
newlenoxpatriot.com news the New Lenox Patriot | December 8, 2016 | 11 New Lenox native invests in homes to rehab, give back to veterans Atwell seeks veteran contractors to assist with new business Rebecca Susmarski Contributing Editor Capt. Kirby Atwell recently decided to combine a humanitarian cause with one of his passions, and so far, his decision has yielded great results. The Lincoln-Way Central alumnus and U.S. Army veteran started his own business, Green Vet Homes, over the summer to help homeless veterans find and ultimately own quality homes. Kirby rehabs old or abandoned homes in the south suburbs, then lets veterans rent them via vouchers until they can save enough money to purchase the home on their own. So far Atwell has fixed up and moved a veteran into an Oak Lawn condo, and he also bought an abandoned house in Blue Island so he could flip it and donate some of the proceeds to an organization that assists veterans. “It’s always exciting to find new deals and rehab, and turn an ugly house into something beautiful, but when you can do it and then also add another higher purpose on top of that, it really is much more fulfilling,” Atwell said. “My vision is to give [veterans] the whole package — move them into the house, help them get a job, get them a computer and get them a financial plan.” Atwell majored in business management when he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, but his passion for real estate truly began to blossom during his time in the Army. Following his West Point graduation, Atwell spent two years stationed in Texas, followed by another two in Hawaii and then two in Japan. While encamped, he bought a few rental properties, watched shows about flipping houses and read any book he could find about real estate and investment. He also served as an air defense artillery officer, a patriot fire control enhanced operator and a general’s aide before he rose to the rank of captain and returned to the United States in 2011. Atwell went on to cofound a Mokena flipping business called iCandy- Homes, and took some classes hosted by the stars of “Flip this House.” Yet soon he saw a great need for homes for veterans, as many fell into poverty after returning from the service with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or non-translatable skills. “If you’re a soldier, you’re trained how to get close to the enemy and kill them, but when you come back here that doesn’t necessarily translate to getting a job, personal financial planning and all the day-to-day tasks,” Atwell said. “It’s also very humbling because you’re taking on such a huge responsibility in one aspect, then you come back home and people treat you like the same guy who left. It’s difficult to handle day-to-day stuff when you’re used to doing things that felt like a much bigger role.” Many individuals call Atwell with home referrals, such as people living across the country who inherited a run-down home or those who have been evicted due to unpaid taxes. Once he finds and fixes up a home, Atwell contacts the HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, which refers him to veterans in need. To rehab one home typically takes about four to five weeks, while flipping one Green Vet Homes For more information or to donate materials to Green Vet Homes, call (708) 231-0100, or visit www.greenvethomes. com. takes about eight to 10, Atwell said. Cleaning out the Oak Lawn condo — which had previously belonged to a woman who hoarded items, Atwell said — took the efforts of Atwell and a full crew, and they filled a dumpster with items four times. Once they cleaned and rented it out to a veteran named Joe Stephens, however, Stephens said it was “the nicest place he’s ever lived in,” Atwell said. Atwell makes quarterly checkins with Stephens, who has offered to fix any smaller repairs that might be needed around the home, though Atwell always checks for issues that may have popped up while making his rounds. “I’ve heard of a lot of investors who are afraid to rent to voucher holders, whether it’s Section 8 or VA voucher holders, because they’re afraid they’re going to tear up the place,” Atwell said. “I haven’t done it for a real long time, but the ones I have done — because I’ve done Section 8 [homes] also — how you treat the tenant is how they’re going to treat your place. If you are really respectful to them and are proactive in managing the property, and you stop by and you show that you care, then they take care of it pretty well usually themselves. And they’re going to treat you with respect just as you treated them with respect.” Currently, Atwell’s family assists him with the business. His father Cory and older brother Brock help with the rehab work, and his wife Taryn makes gift baskets for Kirby Atwell looks inside some cabinets at a home in Blue Island he purchased through his business, Green Vet Homes. Atwell invests in the homes to rehab and then allow veterans in need of homes to rent them. Rebecca Susmarski/22nd Century Media the veteran homeowners. Atwell also works with veteran-owned contracting groups to rehab the homes, and he plans to work with such groups full-time and hire veterans in-house someday. He also hopes to eventually pick up one new home project per month to help more of his brothers and sisters-in-arms find good homes. It’s the least he can do, he believes, for others who made great sacrifices for their country. “I was very fortunate with my service,” Atwell said. “It became sort of a passion for mine to work with veterans. I think there’s a shared connection with them.” “10”
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