LP_092817

®
lockportlegend.com NEWS
the Lockport Legend | September 28, 2017 | 9
Three men charged with
armed robbery in Lockport
Max Lapthorne, Editor
Three men have been
charged with armed robbery
following an incident
Monday, Sept. 18, in Lockport,
according to a press
release issued by the Lockport
Police Department today.
Vincent A. Kirsch, 19, of
3806 Brenton Drive in Joliet,
Julian E. Brandon, 19,
of 2320 University St. in
Crest Hill, and a 17-yearold
male from Lockport
were all charged with armed
robbery and aggravated unlawful
use of a weapon.
The trio allegedly offered
a ride to a 17-year-old male,
threatened him with a knife
and what he believed to be
a handgun and demanded
his cellphone and cash once
he got into the vehicle in
the area of Parkview Lane
and Lawrence Avenue in
Lockport, according to the
release.
The alleged victim —
From SEPT. 19
who told police he knew
one of the three men
charged — reportedly gave
the men his money and was
allowed to exit the vehicle.
He called the police around
4:51 p.m., and responding
officers were able to
locate and stop the vehicle
that the alleged victim had
described to police in the
area of Bruce Road and
Briggs Street. The vehicle
was reportedly occupied
by three males, and officers
took the three men into
custody. Officers searched
the vehicle and found two
knives and a replica handgun.
Kirsch and Brandon
were transferred to the Will
County Adult Detention Facility
and the 17-year-old
suspect was transferred to
the River Valley Juvenile
Detention Center.
For more on this and other
breaking news, visit Lock
portLegend.com.
‘Doggone Fun’ event comes to library
Submitted by the White Oak
Library District
The White Oak Library
District is to once again
host a DIY Doggone Fun!
program Monday, October
2, from 6-8 p.m., on the second
floor, Meeting Rooms
A&B.
The program is to be held
at the district’s Lockport
Branch Library, at 121 E.
8th St. in Lockport.
Dog parents can celebrate
Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog
Month by attending this
program where participants
are to make healthy dog
treats, dog photo buttons,
and a fun sign that shows
their love for their “fur children”
at home.
Attendees are asked to
bring in a picture of their
dog or dogs.
Anyone who had photo
buttons made at this program
last year are encouraged
to bring in a new photo
of their dog or dogs for another
button. Registration is
required.
To register or for more
information, visit www.
whiteoaklibrary.org, or
contact the Adult Services
Desk, Lockport Branch Library,
at (815) 552-4260.
Will County FY 2018 budget presented at meeting
Submitted by Will County
D-205
From Page 7
cedures regarding the calculation
of class rank and the
use of weighted GPAs.
Currently, the district
uses the traditional policy
of ranking students numerically
based on GPA, which
is weighted based on the
type of classes the student
takes (standard, honors, or
Advanced Placement). The
top two students are named
valedictorian and salutatorian
and the entire top ten percent
of the class is recognized specially.
However, as the array of
classes offered by the school
expands to include more dual
credit and AP classes as well
as advanced elective classes
including art, music, shop,
and foods, the administration
is concerned students will
feel pressured to only pursue
classes that will increase their
GPAs rather than classes they
would enjoy.
“We don’t want a student
who’s passionate about photography
or cooking to think,
I’d love to take this class but
I can’t because if I don’t take
AP my class rank will go
down,” said Principal Dennis
Hicks in explanation of the
proposed change.
At the Thursday, Sept. 21,
meeting of the Will County
Board, County Executive
Larry Walsh presented his
2018 budget. This new $551
million budget is balanced
with a property tax rate 1.5
percent lower than 2016.
The budget proposed by
Walsh reflects the impact
from the state budget and a
projected reduction of $2.4
million in revenue. The corporate
fund, which funds
general operations of county
government, is $197 million
and the special fund,
which is restricted for specific
purposes, is $354 million.
Walsh’s proposed levy
includes $2.1 million in new
property and $1 million in
Consumer Price Index. With
these figures included, Will
County could still have a
property tax levy that is 1.5
percent lower than the 2016
tax rate.
Walsh is also proposing
dissolving the Public Building
Commission due to previous
consolidation of maintenance
staff and the County
Board assuming more direct
If the policy is edited,
it would likely still retain
some form of weighted
GPA, though it could possibly
include an expanded list
of classes with that benefit.
The main change would be
that while students would receive
their GPA they would
not be given access to their
class rank. Instead of having
a valedictorian at graduation
the school would likely
switch to the tiered honors
system of Summa and Magna
Cum Laude used at most colleges.
Details of this proposal
have yet to be fully developed
and the possibility was
left open of still honoring
the top ten percent of the
class separately. The school
would also still retain a list
of students ranked in order
of GPA so the information
could be accessed by scholarship
programs and colleges if
needed for eligibility purposes,
though, proponents of the
plan argued that is becoming
a less common standard.
If the plan were to go
through, it would not impact
any current students
and would be phased in for
the class of 2022. For that to
happen, a plan must be finalized
and a decision must be
reached before new student
registration begins in January.
Police Reports
oversight of the construction
of the Public Safety Complex
and new Courthouse.
He said this move would improve
transparency for county
government and remove
a line item on residents’ tax
bill.
Walsh acknowledged the
continued demands on county
resources, departments,
and services as Will County
continues to grow. He noted
challenges remain ahead
from the impact of the state
budget revenue reduction.
Will County is expected to
lose 10 percent of local government
funding and a decrease
in the personal property
replacement tax.
The FY2018 budget includes
a five-year Road and
Capital plan which recognizes
both ongoing and future
capital projects, allows
for vehicle and equipment
replacement, and identifies
dedicated sources to fund
these projects in 2018.
The draft budget will
now be reviewed by the
County Board which has
60 days to approve it before
the start of the new fiscal
year on Dec. 1.
Will County deputies dispatched
for gunshots fired, no injuries
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched
to the 2200 block
of Fairmont Avenue after
someone in the area reportedly
heard gunshots being
fired. Deputies reportedly
found numerous shell casings
while canvassing the
areas. No injuries were reported.
Will County Sheriff’s
Office
Sept. 16
• Travousia Smith, 25, of
429 Brassel St. in Lockport,
was charged with driving
with a suspended license,
operating an uninsured motor
vehicle and driving with
an expired registration after
being stopped in the area of
S. State Street and Harvard
Street.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Lockport
Legend’s Police Reports
are compiled from official
reports found online on the
Will County Sheriff’s Office or
Lockport Police Department’s
website or releases issued
by the department and other
agencies. Individuals named
in these reports are considered
innocent of all charges
until proven guilty in a court
of law.