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calendar 2 | February 7, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokenamessenger.com In this week’s Messenger Pet of the Week.............10 Editorial........................13 Faith Briefs....................16 Puzzles..........................22 The Scene......................22 Classifieds................ 25-33 The Mokena Messenger ph: 708.326.9170 fx: 708.326.9179 Editor TJ Kremer III, x29 tj@mokenamessenger.com assistant editor Megan Schuller, x34 m.schuller@22ndcm.com Sales director Lora Healy, x31 l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com real estate sales Tricia Weber, x47 t.weber@22ndcenturymedia.com Classified Sales Kellie Tschopp, x23 k.tschopp@malibusurfsidenews.com Legal Notices Jeff Schouten, x51 j.schouten@22ndcenturymedia.com PUBLISHER Joe Coughlin 847.272.4565, x16 j.coughlin@22ndcenturymedia.com Managing Editor Bill Jones, x20 bill@opprairie.com president Andrew Nicks a.nicks@22ndcenturymedia.com EDITORIAL DESIGN DIRECTOR Nancy Burgan, x30 n.burgan@22ndcenturymedia.com 22 nd Century Media 11516 West 183rd Street Unit SW Office Condo #3 Orland Park, IL 60467 www.MokenaMessenger.com Chemical- free printing on 30% recycled paper circulation inquiries circulation@22ndcenturymedia.com The Mokena Messenger (USPS #025404) is published weekly by 22nd Century Media, LLC, 328 E Lincoln Hwy New Lenox, IL 60451. Periodical postage paid at New Lenox, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send changes to: The Mokena Messenger, 328 E Lincoln Hwy New Lenox, IL 60451 Published by www.22ndcenturymedia.com Megan Schuller m.schuller@22ndcm.com THURSDAY Story Hour 10-10:45 a.m. Feb. 8 Mokena Public Library District. 11327 W. 195th St. Preregistration required. The program is for 2-year-old children. FRIDAY Valentine’s Dinner & Ride Feb. 8-9. Nova Quarter Horses, Inc.,10129 W. 187th St. Share an Italian dinner and horseback riding with a valentine. On Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m. and Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m. there will be family events. On Feb. 9 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. it will be for adults only. The cost is $80/couple and $35 per additional person from same household. Ages 6+. Beginners welcome. SATURDAY History of the Chicago Auto Show 1-2 p.m. Feb. 9 Mokena Public Library District. 11327 W. 195th St. Join the Mokena Community Public Library District as we relive the debuts of the legendary vehicles during a fast-paced, highly visual presentation on the history of the Chicago Auto Show presented by Mitch Frumklin. All attendees will be entered to win a pair of complimentary passes to the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show Feb. 9-18. Mokena Area Historical Society Meeting 8:30 a.m. Feb. 9. Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter St. Mother and Son Valentines Bowl Noon-2 p.m. Feb. 9, Thunder Bowl, 18700 Old La grange Road. Cost includes: unlimited bowling, shoes, pizza, pop, cake and gift. We can accommodate six per lane so if you want to bowl on the same lane, please specify at the time of registration. Pre-registration required. Lincoln-Way Foundation 25th Anniversary Dinner Gala 6 p.m. Feb. 9, Odyssey Country Club, 19110 Ridgeland Ave Suite A, Tinley Park. This event celebrates the 25th Anniversary with a dinner, gala, live entertainment and auctions. MONDAY Basic First Aid Class 6-9:30 p.m. Monday March 11. Fire Station #1, 19853 S. Wolf Road. Learn how to take care of routine injuries such as scrapes, bruises and minor burns. Fee of $25. To register visit mo kenafire.org. TUESDAY Public Saftey Metra Town Hall 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 12. Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort. To address ongoing safety concerns at the 191st Street railroad crossing in Mokena, State Senator Michael E. Hastings is calling a Public Safety Town Hall Meeting. The CEO of Metra Rail, Jim Derwinski, staff and the Illinois Commerce Commission will give a presentation at the town hall. The town hall will also be streamed on Facebook on Hastings’ Facebook page, Michael E. Hastings (@ HastingsforIL), and Mokena Neighborhood Watch. Black History Month: More than a Month 6:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 12. Mokena Public Library District. 11327 W. 195th St. Watch “More Than A Month” as it dives into what it means to be an American and to fight for one’s rightful place in the American landscape at the risk of ridicule or misunderstanding. To register, please call (708) 479- 9663. WEDNESDAY Walking Book Club 9-10 a.m. Feb. 13, Oaks Recreational Center, 10847 W. La Porte Road. Book-it to the Oaks and try something new. Rail Saftey Presentation “Operation Lifesaver” 7p.m. Feb. 13. Village Hall, 1 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox. An informative presentation on rail safety by Metra safety personnel in conjunction with the State of Illinois Operation Lifesaver Program. Operation Lifesaver is a program designed to promote railroad safety and awareness for children and adults of all ages. Contact Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator for more information at dmar tin@newlenox.net. UPCOMING Anniversary of Apollo 11 1-2 p.m. Feb. 16. Mokena Public Library District. 11327 W. 195th St., Mokena. Join the Mokena Community Public Library District to welcome historian Jim Gibbons to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. To register, please call (708) 479-9663. D159 Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 20. Mokena School District 159 Boardroom, 11244 Willowcrest Lane. D210 Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 21 Lincoln- Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at the Knights of the Roundtable at LWC. Girls of the 50’s 1-2 p.m. Feb. 16 Mokena Public Library District. 11327 W. 195th St. This was an era for women like Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Patti Page, Judy Garland and Debbie Reynolds. Enjoy a performance by a cabaret show titled Girls of the 50’s for an afternoon of music and education about how their intertwined. ONGOING Mokena Fire Protection CPR Class 6-9:30 p.m. Ongoing. Mokena Fire Station 1, 19853 S. Wolf Rd, Moknea. LIST IT YOURSELF Reach out to thousands of daily users by submitting your event at MokenaMessenger.com/calendar For just print*, email all information to m.schuller@22ndcm.com *Deadline for print is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication. The Mokena Fire Protection District offers monthly CPR classes for the public. Students are instructed in adult, child and infant CPR and AED. The cost of the class is $35 for Community CPR and $40 Healthcare CPR. Register for specific dates at mokenafire.org. Little Snapshooters Floor Hockey Feb.4-March 25. The Oaks Recreation & Fitness Center, 10847 La Porte Road. This eight-week instructional program is designed to teach children ages 4-7 how to play a floor hockey game. Instruction will cover basic skills such as shooting, puck-handling, and hand-eye coordination while teaching how to play an organized game using a 3v3 format for maximum player participation. For more information, call Mokena Park District at (708) 390-2401 or go to mokenapark.com to register. Little Stars Sports Introduction Feb. 6-27. The Oaks Recreation & Fitness Center, 10847 La Porte Road. This four-week instructional program includes activities designed for children ages 3-4 who are interested in soccer, baseball, floor hockey and kickball. For more information, call Mokena Park District at (708) 390-2401 or go to mokenapark.com to register.
mokenamessenger.com news the Mokena Messenger | February 7, 2019 | 3 Village of Mokena Board of Trustees ‘This is a perception issue’: Metra CEO says crossings working properly Continued issues at 191st Street crossing prompt response from Metra Jon DePaolis Freelance Reporter The safety of train gate crossings was discussed Monday, Jan. 28, as representatives from Metra attended the Village of Mokena Board of Trustees meeting to talk about recent events that occurred in town. In particular, an incident on Nov. 9 involving a Metra train passing through the crossing at 191st Street without the gates going down was detailed. Village Administrator John Tomasoski said representatives of the Village, including Mayor Frank Fleischer, met with Metra Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Jim Derwinski and other Metra staff and board members on Jan. 15. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recent gate crossing events in Mokena, as well as general rail crossing safety. “On Nov. 9, the first six trains running from Joliet into LaSalle Street station … all operated through this sector without any incidents or any issues at all,” Derwinski said. Then, a little after 7:20 a.m., Train 412 approached the signal station at Wolf Road and the signal was “dropped.” The signals govern the actual movement of the train, not a dispatcher, Derwinski said. When Train 412 pulled up on a red signal, the requirement was that the train come a complete stop prior to crossing that signal right before Wolf Road. After getting permission by the dispatcher to go past the red signal, the train proceeded into the Mokena station on Wolf Road to unload and load passengers. Then, it proceeded along the track. But with the red signal, it was required to go at restricted speed of approximately 20 mph. Derwinski said that as the train got closer to 191st Street, a separate independent circuit turned green. By rule, the train was authorized to return to maximum speed in that sector. Normally, that circuit would send a track signal all the way down the track and repeat itself back to turn that far signal red — and lead to the gates going down. “In this case, what ended up happening, was there was a short at that switch,” Derwinski said. “There was a weakness because of that short, where the signal did not make it all the way to the green. That’s why it was red. So, as the train passed Schoolhouse Road and entered into that next section, an independent circuit that is trying to tell the train to go, to go green, it reached the train and that [circuit] turned green. “As [the engineer] started accelerating the train inbound on Track 1, he came up on 191st Street and actually went through the grade crossing at 48 mph at approximately 7:25 a.m. [and] the gates did not go down. The gates did not go down because of the short at the switch. “The engineer did not report this. That is a failure of our engineer. He was supposed to report activation failure.” What followed was that Train 414 came next and Round it up A brief recap of other items discussed at the Jan. 28 Village Board meeting • The Village Board members voted 6-0 to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Will County Emergency Telephone System Board for use of Will County’s mass notification system. • The trustees also voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the economic incentive agreement with Schilling Lumber. crossed the tracks at approximately 48 mph. In that instance, the gates were down. Next, Train 416 followed. As it approached the gate crossing at 191st Street, the gates were down and vehicular traffic had stopped; however, the engineer noticed the gates were starting to come up. The engineer applied the brakes and blew the horn, and the gates came back down. That engineer reported to the dispatcher that the gates “pumped.” Finally, Train 506 followed. For that train, the gates did not come down, and the train crossed the tracks at 52 mph. This incident was caught on camera — later being shared by Metra and becoming a viral video online. The engineer from Train 506 immediately reported to the dispatcher that there was a grade crossing activation failure. This set up a safety protocols until 3:40 p.m. that day when the problem was identified and fixed. After the incidents, Derwinski said from Nov. 9-Dec. 6 Metra internally reviewed the situation and made a rule change to how it operates trains in that sector, as well as for the entire railroad. “Obviously, this is a big concern for the public, and this is a perception issue,” he said. “People need to know that grade crossings are working properly.” Since then, a number of concerns regarding the crossings in Mokena were reported to Metra. Derwinski said that on Jan. 2, a report of gates going up and down was called in. For this case, the gates’ safety protocols look for train movement 4,400 feet from the grade crossing. In this case, it was determined that a train going into an industrial business — but not crossing the 191st Street section — was the cause of the gates going down. On Jan. 14, Metra alleges that a truck struck the gate at 191st Street and pushed it into the right of way. That shut the train down and caused delays. Later that evening, a driver pulled too far forward to the crossing. The train engineer felt he might clip the vehicle if it passed through the intersection and stopped the train. The gates went up, and the vehicle passed through without incident. Then, the gates went down and the train went through. On Jan. 18, at Wolf Road, there was a report of gates not working. In this instance, a train had stopped on the track and the circuit timed out without the train passing through the intersection, meaning the gates went down and up without a train passing through. On Jan. 22, there was a report of the gates being stuck in down position. It was later determined that road salt had caused an electrical short. Derwinski said this is a common occurrence during the winter months. On Jan. 26, a gate was stuck down at 191st Street. Derwinski said a rail broke due to the cold temperature and caused the gates to go into failsafe mode. That meant the gates went down and stayed down until the problem was addressed. Finally, on Jan. 27, there was a report of one gate being down, while the other was not. In this case, there was a frost issue that caused the problem. Derwinski said the crossing lights were in working order during this issue. Overall, as a result of the Nov. 9 incident, Derwinski said Metra took actions to remedy the situation, such as: adopting a new safety rule; looking at new technology for the train cars; inspecting the circuits and equipment in the sector, and replacing all of the insulators there; and cooperating with a Federal Railroad Administration investigation. After several questions from the trustees, as well as two residents in attendance, Fleischer thanked Derwinski and Metra staff for attending the meeting; however, the mayor had sharp words for one particular aspect of the situation. “I can live with equipment that breaks down,” he said. But he was bothered by the engineer who did not report the activation failure. “That I can’t live with,” he said. “I don’t know what you can do to reprimand this person, that’s your business. But I don’t know that as the mayor of the Village of Mokena that I ever want this man engineering a train through my village again. “I looked at those [videos], and each one of those vehicles were missed by a fraction of a second. This could have been a whole different evening tonight. We could have been talking about the deaths of God knows how many people. That I can’t justify.” Bob Spychalski BROKER •CustomizedMarketingCampaign •Freeprofessional&dronephotography •Strongonline&socialmediaexposure •5starZillowagent •LocalResident 630.728.8490 BOB SPYCHALSKI ILC 8509 0318
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