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4 | January 16, 2020 | the mokena messenger news mokenamessengerdaily.com Grand jury revises charges against former LW Central secretary in missing Booster funds case T.J. Kremer III, Editor A grand jury handed down an indictment of 15 criminal charges against Melissa Mc- McGrath Grath, the former Lincoln-Way Central High School athletic department secretary accused of stealing funds from the school’s Athletic Booster Club. The new charges, presented in court by the Will From Jan. 9 County State’s Attorney’s Office Wednesday, Jan. 8, include additional felony theft charges, as well as several of the original charges presented late last year. McGrath had previously been charged after being arrested at her home Nov. 22, 2019, by the Will County Sheriff’s Department with 11 criminal charges, including five counts of theft, two counts of identification theft, two counts of theft by deception and two counts of forgery, according to court documents. As previously reported by The Messenger, Mc- Grath resigned from her position this past June, a month after Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 launched an internal investigation into financial discrepancies in Booster records. The Will County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the case since Aug. 6, 2019, when deputies initially met with administrators in reference to suspicious financial transgressions that had been discovered on the Boosters’ accounting books. At that time, the Lincoln-Way administration reported that an internal investigation had been conducted, and it was thought that McGrath was fraudulently taking money from the Boosters by running two sets of financial books, police said. According to the Sheriff’s Office, an investigation found more than $30,000 in Booster funds Transformation Station opens its doors in New Lenox warehouse 2 were missing from August 2017 through April 2019. The investigation reportedly determined McGrath presented the Boosters with a Booster account spreadsheet that she created and submitted to the district, and that several submitted reports contained forged signatures of members of the athletic club board. The current charges Mc- Grath faces are as follows: two counts of theft, Class 1 felony Category A; four counts of theft, Class 2 felony Category A; one count of theft, Class 2 felony Category B; four counts of theft, Class 3 felony Category B; two counts of forgery, Class 3 felony Category B; and one count of identity theft, Class 3 felony Category B; and one count of identity theft, Class 2 Category B, according to the grand jury’s bill of indictment. McGrath has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The next court date is scheduled for Feb. 25 at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court Will County in Joliet. Mokena resident expands personal training business Mary Compton Freelance Reporter Walking in The Transformation Station, one of the first things one notices are several before and after photos of clients that owner Darin Steen, of Mokena, has worked with. With a grand opening of his new gym, Steen’s excited to change more lives through fitness and nutrition. “I’ve actually been in business since 2005,” Steen said. “Before that, I was a UPS driver for 17 years. I also had a football career end in 1989. I tried out for the Chicago Bears in 1988. I didn’t make it, so it was a finality in that career.” Meeting Steen, it’s easy to understand how he gets clients to change their lives. His excitement for fitness and health rubs off right away. It wasn’t like that for him all the time. He credits his mom and a fitness routine for bringing him out of a dark depression. “After the Bears cut, I was lost,” Steen said. “I didn’t have anything to train for anymore. I began working out and asked the bodybuilders — who were lean and looked younger than me — I asked ‘How do I get my stomach weight off and how do I get ripped abs?’ They began to show me, which was different than football training. They taught me how to eat healthy, so I’ve lived that lifestyle ever since.” Steen’s life changed when he was a winner of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s America’s Next Great Trainer Championship. “One of the best things I bring to my clients is role modeling the true fountain of youth: how to look 10 years younger by mindset work, workouts, eating, rest recovery and people to believe the message,” Steen said. “When they believe the messenger to be genuine and truly care about helping them, [they can] attain goals for a healthy lifestyle.” The Transformation Station is located in a warehouse featuring 17 other small businesses. The warehouse is located at 1333 S. Schoolhouse Road in New Lenox. “The reason that this is such a grand exciting event is because for the first time I have a general membership to a training club for people,” Steen said. He has three personal trainers and plans to service 200 members, he said Co-owner of the warehouse Gary Briden, of Mokena, said he is thrilled to have The Transformation Darin Steen, of Mokena, personal trainer and owner of The Transformation Station, works out in his new facility located in a warehouse at 1333 S. Schoolhouse Road in New Lenox. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd Century Media Station open in his warehouse. “Transformation Station is a great idea,” Briden said. “Darin was located in Mokena, now the space in the warehouse is a larger space for him.” The warehouse is open 7 a.m.-midnight “I bought the building from Panduit over two years ago,” Briden said. “I still have a handful of office space still available. It’s very economically priced. We’re always trying to renovate new things to make it look better. It serves its purpose for us, and we’re able to offer space at a competitive rate. It’s a win-win for us.” A client of Steen’s, Mike Sheedy, of Tinley Park, came out to congratulate his personal trainer. “I’m very pleased with Darin, he’s a great coach,” Sheedy said. “He has given me a food plan and what I should do getting my mind set, thinking positive thoughts. It’s a process, so I’m happy with my progress.” Steen has many goals for his new gym. “My goals are to prove this unique business concept will work,” he said. “[And] to service the members so they can safely and efficiently use our new business mindset. The top goal is to inspire others to become a healthier version of themselves mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.” Owner of The Transformation Station, Darin Steen, poses with his mother, Jean Steen, at his new location in New Lenox.
mokenamessengerdaily.com mokena the mokena messenger | January 16, 2020 | 5 Crystal Brook of Frankfort NEW SUBDIVISION! Hawthorn Preserve of Lockport CLOSE OUT OPEN HOUSE The Ashley The Milford The Erin II The Caitlin 23094 Granton, Frankfort, IL • Starting at the Mid 400’s • Lincoln Way East 210 School District • 56 lots Phase I- going fast • Visit us or by appointment Open Saturday & Sunday 11:00- 2:00pm GOING FAST! ONLY 8 LEFT! 14938 S. Preserve, Lockport, IL • Starting as low as $315 • 2,100 - 2,500 square feet • Visit us or by appointment 10:00am -2:00pm or by appointment Call Jerry or Mike Murphy 708-259-7018 708-774-2427 jmurphy@mallowhomes.com www.mallowhomes.com Call Mike Mangin 312-914-4413 mmangin1234@gmail.com Franciscan Health OUTPATIENT PHYSICAL THERAPY FRANKFORT Wolf Rd. 30 Elsner Rd. 45 10367 W. Lincoln Hwy. FRANKFORT (708) 679-2940 Quality Care Great Therapists in FRANKFORT •Physical Therapy •Speech Therapy Services provided by •Orthopedic Rehabilitation •Repetitive Motion Injuries •Vestibular Rehabilitation •Fall &Balance Program •Post-Operative Rehabilitation •Sports-Related Injuries •Spine Rehabilitation •Nerve Injury Rehabilitation Frankfort
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