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4 | November 1, 2018 | The Lockport Legend news
lockportlegend.com
Woman’s remains found in Lockport Township
Bill Jones, Managing Editor
The remains of a woman
who had been listed as a
missing person by Joliet police
after she had been last
seen Oct. 13 reportedly were
found inside of a barrel in
Lockport Township.
Ashley Tucker, of Joliet,
was pronounced dead at
11:08 p.m. Oct. 24, after her
remains were found in the
3500 block of S. State St.,
according to a press release
issued Oct. 27 by the Will
County Coroner’s Office.
The Coroner’s Office was
called to the scene to investigate
“possible human
remains found in a burned
barrel with severe thermal
damage,” according to the
release. She reportedly was
identified by tattoo comparison.
An autopsy was performed
From Oct. 28
Oct. 27, but “preliminary
results are pending further
studies,” according to the
press release. A final cause
and manner of death were to
be determined, pending toxicology
and police reports.
Joliet police are investigating
the death as a homicide,
according the Coroner’s Office,
though police did not
return requests for more information
as of press time.
The Joliet Police Department
posted to its Facebook
page Oct. 15 an image of
Tucker, listing her as 25 years
old — though the Coroner’s
Office said 24. She was last
seen around 11 p.m. Oct. 13
in the Joliet area, according
to police, who were seeking
the public’s assistance in
finding her.
The post also noted she
had a tattoo of “CLEO” on
her left wrist and a tattoo of
Ashley Tucker
Photo submitted
“MONA” on her right wrist.
In an updated post from
Oct. 21, the department announced
it located and took
into custody Peter Zabala, a
person of interest in the disappearance
of Tucker. Police
said detectives thought Zabala
was the last known person
to see Tucker prior to her disappearance,
near where some
of her items were located.
For more on this and other
breaking news, visit Lock
portLegend.com.
Event at Lockport American Legion
offers bounty of healthy resources
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
A cornucopia of bountiful
generosity was the centerpiece
of Gleaner Life Insurance
Society Homer Twp.
Oak Arbor No. 787 Senior
Fall Harvest.
Along with free bags of
seasonal fruits and vegetables,
attendees of the Oct. 17 event
— which was held at the John
Olson American Legion Post
18 in Lockport — had the option
to receive free blood pressure
checks from the Lockport
Township Fire Protection
District and flu shots from
Walgreens.
On top of a variety of wellbeing
resources, the Senior
Fall Harvest was also overflowing
with fun, as everyone
enjoyed an opportunity
to socialize while sampling
complimentary refreshments
that included coffee and cake.
Gleaner Homer Twp. Oak
Arbor No. 787 secretary and
treasurer Ethel Rodriguez explained
that the group eagerly
anticipates the event every
year.
“It makes the seniors happy
and gives them something
fun to do; they look forward
to it,” Rodriguez said. “We
start getting calls in June as
to what’s the date.”
The timing of the event
provided the perfect chance
to take advantage of the onsite
flu shots being administered
by Walgreens. Pharmacist
Bill Powers explained
the importance of this preventative
measure, saying,
“The flu is very hard on the
young and the elderly, so it’s
very important that they get
a flu shot. The flu changes
every year, so that’s why you
need to get a new flu shot
each year.”
Lockport resident Virginia
Perez enjoys stopping by the
Senior Fall Harvest annually
as she finds inspiration
Homer Glen resident Darlene James (left) receives a flu
shot from Bill Powers, a Walgreens pharmacist, at the
Senior Fall Harvest held Oct. 17 at John Olson American
Legion Post 18 in Lockport. The Gleaner Life Insurance
Society Homer Twp. Oak Arbor No. 787 once again put together
the annual event. Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
in the variety of veggies she
receives. “I love to cook, and
I love vegetables,” she said.
“Between my husband and I,
we can always come up with
something to make.
While Perez loves vegetables,
Homer Glen residents
Jerry and Beverly Kurth were
especially excited about the
Harvest’s selection of fruit.
“We’re big into fruit for
breakfast and such,” Beverly
said. “It’s such a nice variety,
everything is here. I just
love that they do this.
“It’s so generous.”
Gleaner Homer Twp. Oak
Arbor’s generosity was showcased
not only through the
Senior Fall Harvest, but also
with a special presentation.
At the end of the event, the
group gave four local organizations
— TLC Animal Shelter,
American Legion Post
18, the Lockport Resource
Center and Shady Oaks Camp
— $500 checks to benefit the
good work being done across
the community.
With the holidays approaching,
Gleaner Homer
Twp. Oak Arbor is gearing
up for a busy season of giving.
Teaming up with teen
volunteers from the Homer
Township Public Library to
create gift baskets for homebound
Meals on Wheels
participants and decorating
a tree for Lockport’s Festival
of Trees are among the
scheduled events.
The organization will also
be hosting Pet Pictures with
Santa — $5 per picture —
Dec. 2 at Old Town Hall
at 16057 S. Cedar Road in
Lockport.
“This group never stops,”
Rodriguez said. “We are a
party of 12, and we really do
well.”
Those interested in getting
involved with Gleaner Life
Insurance Society Homer
Twp. Oak Arbor No. 787
can attend the organization’s
monthly meetings held at 8
a.m. on the third Wednesday
of each month at Homer’s
Cafe at 15756 S. Bell Road
in Homer Glen.