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16 | March 19, 2020 | the mokena messenger news
mokenamessengerdaily.com
FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE
D135 student asked to
stay home following trip
to country considered highrisk
for travel
Orland School District
135 has confirmed a student
was asked to stay
home for two weeks after
returning from a country
with a “Level 3” travel
warning amid international
coronavirus concerns.
The district published
a letter to the community,
signed by Interim Superintendent
John Bryk on
March 9, saying that “early
last week” it was alerted
to news that a student traveled
to a Level 3 warning
country, but “did not spend
time in an area of quarantine.”
The district asked
that student “as soon as the
school was alerted to this
travel” to remain at home
for 14 days in accordance
with guidance provided by
the Illinois Department of
Public Health.
The district emphasized
that no student is “being
assessed or treated for the
coronavirus” in the letter,
but noted a building
has since been sanitized.
District 135 spokesperson
Jen Obright confirmed
the student was “in attendance
prior to the building
CONTACT
administration being notified
about the location of
travel.”
The letter did not state
which building within the
district that is, and Obright
did not provide more information
when asked which
school was involved.
Bryk did not respond
to an email or phone call
seeking that information.
The letter also noted “as
an additional precautionary
measure,” students in
grades K-5 will be eating
their lunch prior to recess
to allow them “the opportunity
to wash their hands
prior to eating lunch and
after recess.”
Reporting by Bill Jones, Editor.
For more, visit OP
PrairieDaily.com.
FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION
Fourth man arrested in
November abduction case
A fourth man was arrested
March 10 in the case
of an alleged abduction of
a woman in Frankfort on
Nov. 16.
David Gilmore, 20, was
arrested at his residence at
132 E. 119th Street in Chicago
by the U.S. Marshals
Great Lakes Regional Fugitive
Task Force, according
to a Frankfort Police
Department press release.
He has been charged
with aggravated vehicular
hijacking, aggravated
kidnapping, aggravated
robbery, armed robbery
and aggravated unlawful
restraint.
On Nov. 16, a woman
told police she was robbed
at gunpoint at the ATM at
the Chase bank in Frankfort.
She reported a man
approached her with a
gun, accessed her accounts
through the ATM and then
left with her in her vehicle,
making several stops to
acquire additional money
and items.
Three other suspects in
the case were arrested Dec.
18 by the U.S. Marshals
Great Lakes Regional Fugitive
Task Force and the
Chicago Police Department.
Justin A. Brown, 20, of
312 W. 34th St. in Steger;
Dontavious A. Harvey, 20,
of 14341 Drexel Ave. in
Dolton; and Terwon Matthews,
20, of 11355 S. Forest
Ave. in Chicago; each
were charged with aggravated
kidnapping, aggravated
robbery and armed
robbery.
Frankfort Deputy Police
Chief Kevin Keegan
said those three are still in
custody at the Will County
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Adult Detention Facility
and awaiting trial.
Reporting by Steve Millar,
Contributing Editor. For
more, visit FrankfortStation.
com.
FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION
Tinley VFW’s first
Veteran’s Patriot 5K run,
walk set for April 5
The Bremen VFW Post
2791 Auxiliary is always
on the lookout for new
events that can help bring
awareness and funds to the
VFW Post, and its veteran
and military programs.
Among the newest events
added to its calendar is the
upcoming Veteran’s Patriot
5K Run/Walk.
The race is to take place
at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 5
— rain or shine — at the
Oak Park Avenue Metra
Train Station. Racers of all
ages and abilities are invited
to participate, and all of
the funds will support the
VFW and its veteran and
military programs.
“It’s a nice, smooth path,
right through the neighborhood,”
event chairperson
Rebecca Sorenson said.
“It’s not very busy, so it’ll
be easy to go back and
forth.”
Sorenson said she does
not have any specific fundraising
goals for this event,
but she is hoping for the
best, noting that she plans
for the 5K to become an
annual fundraiser for the
VFW.
Those interested in participating
in the 5K run/
walk can pre-register online
through March 15
at raceentry.com/races/
veterans-patriot-5k/2020/
register for $25. Preregistration
includes a T-
shirt, pre-race snacks and
water, and post-race food
and beverages. Registration
will be open in person
through April 5 at the
VFW post for $30, with no
guarantee of a T-shirt.
Reporting by Amanda Del
Buono, Freelance Reporter.
For more, visit Tinley
JunctionDaily.com.
FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT
Final site approval nearing
for Arby’s construction
amid resident concerns
The site plans for the Arby’s
coming to New Lenox
have drawn concern from
residents near the location.
The Arby’s, set to be
built at the corner of Route
30 and Tonell Avenue, will
include the demolition of a
single-family home that is
boarded up, and back up to
three residential lots.
The board all voted in
favor — minus the votes
of Doug Finnegan and David
Butterfield, who were
absent — to approve an
ordinance authorizing the
execution of an annexation
agreement at the southwest
corner of Route 30
and Tonell Avenue; an ordinance
annexing certain
property at southwest corner
of Route 30 and Tonell
Avenue; an ordinance rezoning
the property; and
an ordinance granting variances
at the southwest corner
of Route 30 and Tonell
Avenue.
While the board voted
to approve all of the ordinances,
it is still working
with the residents’ concerns
for the placement of
the dumpster for Arby’s,
which in its current plans
is near a residential property.
Resident Donna Skiniotes
asked that it be
moved to the west side of
the parking lot from the
south to avoid smell and
the noise it may produce.
Robin Ellis, director of
community development,
said moving the dumpster
would impact trucks’ ability
to access the dumpster,
as well as keep the fire lane
open.
She added they will not
know if it is possible until
a “full-blown geometric
site plan” is finalized.
Reporting by Sean Hastings,
Editor. For more, visit New
LenoxPatriotDaily.com.
FROM THE HOMER HORIZON
Village invites residents to
give input on community
branding
As the Village of Homer
Glen begins a rebranding
phase, residents are being
asked to articulate what
they think is the soul of
their Village.
Merje Design, a Pennsylvania-based
design and
branding firm, asked various
questions to residents
at a public presentation
and workshop on March
12 at Village Hall.
John Bosio, principal of
Merje Design, said these
community feedback sessions
help poll locals on
how they think the Village
should present itself.
“It sets a tone for the design
process,” Bosio said.
“It gives us an idea of what
to stay away from and
to shape what the brand
should look like in the future.”
Merje set up posters with
various images, ranging
from simple textures, font
styles, images of activities
and celebrities. Two-dozen
residents and Village employees
filtered through,
putting green dots on images
they thought represented
the spirit of Homer
Glen and putting red dots
on those that did not.
John McGary, a longtime
resident, said he
thinks the Village should
go a more traditional route.
“I’m an old guy,” Mc-
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