Kane County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

COUNTY

Local mental health programs get funding

The INC Board last week announced awards and grants for 40 community mental health programs provided by 17 agencies in southern Kane County.

Grants total $1,469,000 from the funding alliance of seven local townships providing support to residents.

The INC alliance includes Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Blackberry, Kaneville, Sugar Grove and Virgil townships. Each collects a mental health tax and then work together to maximize planning and funding for the residents for mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services.

INC received 22 applications from local agencies for funding requests for 46 programs totaling just over $1.7 million.

“Local community providers like Mutual Ground in Aurora and Community Crisis Center in Elgin are struggling, despite having laid off staff and cutting back on services available to Kane County residents, said INC Board Executive Director Jerry Murphy. “Local funding, provided by the nine local mental health authorities or 708 Boards, is providing financial support for many agencies and services. These are local funds, under local control, used to address local issues.

While local resources can never completely replace the state funding being lost, it can at least help local agencies to survive the immediate crisis.”

Funded programs will be listed on the INC website (www.incboard.org/) after July 1.

GENEVA

City warns residents of ‘ComEd’ scam

The Geneva Police Department has warned residents of a telephone scam where “ComEd representatives” threaten to disconnect power service unless late payments were made over the phone.

Within a two-hour period June 20, six Geneva electric customers reported to the city receiving “ComEd” phone calls.

“These calls are a scam, and people should not make a payment or provide financial information to the caller,” according to a city news release last week.

Commonwealth Edison is not Geneva’s electric utility provider. The city owns and operates its own electric utility and does not call or demand payment over the phone, city officials said.

Residents and business owners can check the status of their utility bill account by visiting the city’s website at www.geneva.il.us. If people have doubts about the validity of any call regarding their bill, the city recommends contacting the city of Geneva Finance Division at 630-232-0854 or visiting the office at 15 S. First St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents also can report suspicious phone calls to the Geneva Police Department at 630-232-4736.

ST. CHARLES

City again participates in ‘America in Bloom’

The St. Charles in Bloom Committee has chosen the red geranium as 2017 flower as it enters the community in the America in Bloom national awards program  for the third year.

Last year, St. Charles received 5 out of 5 Blooms—the highest rating from the America in Bloom Awards Program. The judges also handed our Landscape Areas an Outstanding Achievement Award and recognized St. Charles for Best Combination of Plants in Hanging Baskets and Best Use of Local Bloom Committee Logo, which were used in the yard signs that were on display at tour stops.

From July 13-14, two program judges will be in St. Charles touring floral displays, landscaped areas and environmental project sites. Judges will also review St. Charles’ heritage preservation, urban forestry and environmental efforts, in addition to community involvement and overall community impression.

“The initiatives we undertake as part of the America in Bloom program have a positive effect on the entire community. And those effects are longlasting,” said 5th Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis, member of the America in Bloom Committee. “We hope the activities that promote environmentalism and beautification of our community become a part of the culture of St. Charles.”

Because this is a community wide program, the St. Charles in Bloom Committee is seeking volunteers to help. For more information or to volunteer, contact Diane Cullen at dianelcullen@gmail.com or Maureen Lewis at mlewis@stcharlesil.gov or 630.584.4622.

GENEVA

Mayor, Council okay Godskesen as clerk

Roger Godskesen was approved as Geneva’s new city clerk last week.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns appointed Godskesen with the advice and consent of aldermen at the June 19 City Council meeting. Godskesen fills the vacant seat previously held by Lynn Landberg, who did not seek another term in office this spring after serving a combined 20 years during two different stints.

The city clerk attends all City Council meetings — and others as required — and prepares full records of those meetings.

Burns selected Godskesen out of a pool of six candidates who applied for the position. The term will run through May 3, 2021.

“The city was pleased to receive a strong and impressive response to the call for candidates,” Burns said. “We are honored that Mr. Godskesen has accepted our invitation to serve and are confident he will do so with professionalism and efficiency.”

Godskesen was a computer programmer for the U.S. Army at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for two years during the Vietnam War. He spent the next four decades in the information technology management field working for such employers as McDonald’s Corp. and First Options Chicago/Goldman-Sachs.

Having lived in the Chicago area all his life, Godskesen moved to Geneva in 2006. He is an active community volunteer with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and as a Fabyan Villa tour guide for Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. Previously, he was a volunteer medical support director at Soldiers’ Angels, a non-profit agency responsible for providing assistance to American military units throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of operation.

AURORA

Aurora seeks to break record for ‘head-banging’

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the release of the movie Wayne’s World, the City of Aurora invites the community to help us the Guinness World Record for the Most People Head Banging Simultaneously.

The Fox Valley Orchestra will be providing the soundtrack with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ performed live on stage before the Fourth of July Fireworks.

The current record to beat is just 320 people. Participation is limited to the first 1,000 people who arrive and are checked into the participation area.

Participants should:

  • Wear flannel or a bandana.
  • Come to RiverEdge Park for the Fourth of July. (It’s free and includes live music, plus food vendors will be around all evening starting at 6 p.m.)
  • When ‘Stairway to Heaven’ plays, that’s the cue to move to the front of the park and a barricaded area just in front of the stage.

*Sing along to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and when cued (you know the part!) head bang!

In addition to participants, Guinness World Record attempts require a number of volunteers to act as stewards, counting the crowds, monitoring participants to make sure everyone is participating, and submitting affidavits about the attempt.

BATAVIA

Fire Department hires Hanson as deputy chief

The City of Batavia fire department has announced the hiring of Craig Hanson as the Deputy Fire Chief.

Hanson previously worked at the Elburn Fire Protection District as an Assistant Chief. Before that, he worked as a Battalion Chief at St Charles Fire Department, and a Shift Commander at Geneva Fire Department.

He holds numerous certifications as well as a Bachelors Degree from Northern Illinois University and a Masters Degree from Benedictine University. He was sworn in at last week’s City Council meeting.

The Batavia Fire Department provides fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the citizens of Batavia and the surrounding Batavia Township and Countryside Fire Protection District.

The department consists of 24 full time members, 12 full time paramedics and 36 part time members.

AURORA

Guns stolen during Aurora home burglary

Aurora police are looking for information on a residential burglary that occurred between 7 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 at a home in the 400 block of Reising Street in Aurora.

According to police, several guns, ammunition and dozens of collector knives worth around $2,600 were stolen. There were signs of forced entry to the home.

Around 5 p.m. the same day, a suspect described as a male Hispanic, about 20- years-old with shoulder-length black hair in a ponytail was seen walking down Reising Street near the High Street Bridge carrying what appeared to be a rifle. The suspect was seen getting into a black, Nissan Rogue that left the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call police investigators at (630) 256-5500; Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000, or submit a tip using the My PD app. If the call to Crime Stoppers leads to an arrest, the caller could qualify for a cash reward.

 

–Kane County News Briefs–