Wolf’s Crossing phase 3 begins

COUNTY

Distinguished budget award goes to DuPage

DuPage County has received a Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association, the highest form of recognition in government budgeting.

The county’s budget is reviewed annually by the association to assess how well it meets nationally recognized guidelines as a policy document, financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device. The county’s budget documents were rated proficient in all four categories including the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories. The award covers the 2017 Fiscal Year, starting Dec. 1, 2016.

The Budget Awards Program has more than 1,600 participants. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

The association is a major professional association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management.

Final phase of Wolf’s Crossing project begins

A portion of Wolf’s Crossing will be closed to traffic for approximately eight weeks between the CN Railroad line and 95th Street began last week and will last approximately eight weeks, pending weather or unforeseen circumstances. Crews will begin work to reconstruct Wolf’s Crossing Road from the point of the temporary connection constructed in mid-May to the CN Railroad line. This segment of Wolf’s Crossing road will be inaccessible to all traffic until work is complete. Signs will be posted that will direct motorists to use a detour route that incorporates Eola Road, Hafenrichter Road and 91st Street. A map of the road closure and detour can be found at www.naperville.il.us/wolfscrossing. This closure is the final phase of a project designed to widen and realign Wolf’s Crossing Road to 95th Street and allow a continuous flow of traffic from the east-west section of Wolf’s Crossing Road to the north-south extension that was completed in phase one of this project. Motorists traveling in this area are encouraged to allow extra time to get to their destination and use caution while traveling through the work zone.

NAPERVILLE

Car insurance claims down; city moves up safe-driving list

Naperville is a relatively safe place for motorists according to an insurance company’s new study.

Allstate includes the city as one of five Illinois municipalities that have been ranked in the top 200 on this year’s list of America’s Best Drivers. The rankings reveal which towns are the least likely to have collisions.

Joliet ranked highest among Illinois towns on the list, which also includes Rockford, Naperville, Aurora and Chicago. Nationally, Joliet ranked 45th; Naperville ranked 65th.

The report took a look at claims data by Allstate-insured drivers in the country’s 200 largest cities, including property damage claims submitted between January 2014 and December 2015. Kansas City came in at No. 1 while Boston ranked last.

Compared to last year, Naperville moved up 24 spots on the list, with an average of 9.3 years between claims and 22.3 hard-breaking events per 1,000 miles.

Youth basketball registration signup begins Aug. 15

The Naperville Park District’s online registration for Naperville Youth Basketball for fall and winter sessions will begin at noon Aug. 15 for residents and at noon Aug. 17 for nonresidents.

This popular program introduces kids to the game of basketball through teams coached by volunteers. Teams practice during the week at school gyms and play games at Fort Hill Activity Center on Saturdays.

The basketball program is part of the programs the park district will offer in the autumn. The 2017 Autumn Program Guide will be delivered to Naperville Park District resident mailboxes beginning Aug. 2. The virtual version of this publication will be available at www.napervilleparks.org beginning July 31.

The guide will feature a variety of recreation programs and events that take place in September, October, November and December, and will include registration information for basketball.

All-City Junior Tennis tourney to use round robin format

Naperville Park District will host the 2017 Summer Slam All-City Junior Tennis Tournament on July 15 with a rain date set for July 16. Matches will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Knoch Park tennis courts, located at 724 S. West St. New this year, the tournament will be played in a Round Robin format in two co-ed, age-based divisions (7-10 years and 11-15 years).

The only skill requirements for participation are that the player knows how to keep score and can serve (or drop-feed) from the baseline. Participants in the Park District’s Junior Tennis program play at no charge and will receive registration information by email.

Those who are not participating in the summer lesson program may register for a nominal fee per event ($6 for residents and $10 for nonresidents). Registration is open until noon on July 13.

Park district presents Shakespeare comedy

The Naperville Park District’s 2017 Shakespeare in the Park program will present a free performance of “As You Like It” at 7 p.m. July 14 at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Sindt Court. The play will be performed by the Midsummer Theatre Troupe, which is known for performing Shakespeare’s comedies in an engaging style that makes the language understandable and brings out the fun and laughter in the story.

“As You Like It” is the story of the heroine, Rosalind, and her journey away from trouble to find temporary refuge in the Forest of Arden. Along the way, she meets many engaging characters and finds love as well.

WHEATON

City to honor deceased war vet

A Wheaton North High School graduate killed in May 2012 during his first deployment in Afghanistan will be honored for his service to his country.

The Wheaton City Council voted recently to erect an honorary sign for U.S. Army Spc. Samuel Watts. The sign will be placed on Karlskoga Avenue, between Wheaton Avenue and Hale Street.

He joined the Army in July 2010 shortly after graduating from high school. The day he died, Watts was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.

The city’s Public Works Department will fabricate and install the sign. It will remain in place for three years. Wheaton installed its first honorary street signs in November 2016 in honor of Wheaton North graduates Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Larson and Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller. Both also were killed in action.

–DuPage County News Briefs–