Six schools recently received grants from The Kendall County Juvenile Justice Council for their outstanding truancy programs. (Image courtesy of Kendall Co. JJC)

 Aurora 

 Applications accepted for Aurora Citizen Police Academy 

The Aurora Police Department is accepting applications for the spring session of its Citizen Police Academy, which will run for 10 consecutive Thursdays, beginning Feb. 2.

The academy allows Aurora residents and business owners the chance to learn how the police department and its officers function on a daily basis by exploring a wide variety of interactive topics.  The difference between criminal and civil law, gang and drug awareness, use of force, investigations, and juvenile law are among the subjects taught.

Participants also engage in practical exercises that cover building searches, crime scene processing, and traffic stops.  All instructors in the CPA are Aurora Police Officers and the academy is free of charge.

The spring class is the 43rd Citizen Police Academy offered by the Aurora Police since it began in the early 1990’s.

Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday night at the Aurora Police Department Headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail.  Interested applicants must submit to a background check which makes pre-registration a must.  Participants must be at least 21 years old and live or work in the City of Aurora; or own property within the city limits.

Seating is limited. Applications are downloadable by clicking on the police department tab on the City of Aurora website at www.aurora-il.org ; or by calling (630) 256-5342 or (630) 256-5385.  Deadline to register is Jan. 26.

Aurora SNAPP benefits special needs residents 

If you or a family member have special needs, enroll in the Aurora Police Department’s SNAPP Program.

SNAPP, helps residents with special needs and their family members communicate those needs to first responders to better equip them in an emergency.

The program, developed in partnership with the Association for Individual Development, is available to all Aurora residents with mental and physical disabilities as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The program is completely voluntary.

SNAPP features a searchable database available to police officers, paramedics, and other first responders. When officers or other first responders are called to a home, they will be able to look up the address and find information relating to the person and their disability that may help officers respond appropriately in an emergency.

Those interested can click on the link to register yourself or a family member, or print out the form so you can mail it email it to the police department. For more information about the program, contact Det. Jen Hillgoth at (630) 256-5554 or snapp@apd.aurora.il.us.

Aurora wins Best-Tasting Water in Kane County 

Aurora has once again earned the title of Best Water in Kane County.

At the annual Kane County Water Association’s Water Taste Test Contest held last month in Batavia, a panel of judges tasted water from municipalities throughout Kane County and scored the water samples on taste, odor and color.

Aurora proved to have the best water among the 10 municipalities in the contest, which also included Batavia, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Montgomery, North Aurora, St. Charles, Sugar Grove and Yorkville.

This year marks the sixth time that the City of Aurora has earned the top accolades in the contest. The previous wins were in 1998, 2000, 2006, 2008, and 2013.

“None of this is possible without the daily effort of each member of our team,” said Water Production Superintendent David Schumacher. “Whether it is maintaining equipment, operating systems, general upkeep of our sites, processing samples and performing analyses, budgeting for our required supplies, or any of the other necessary tasks to keep the Water Production Division going strong.”

Aurora’s drinking water has also earned state and national recognition both for its great taste and its safety.

The city won the best-tasting water in the State of Illinois in 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

In 2015, the Partnership for Safe Water, a national initiative to improve the quality of drinking water across the country, recognized Aurora’s Water Production team with its Presidents Award.

This most recent win in Kane County advances Aurora to the state water tasting competition this spring where cities will vie for the title of Best Water in Illinois.

Kendall County 

Truancy grants awarded to local Kendall County schools 

The Kendall County Juvenile Justice Council has awarded truancy grants to six Kendall County Schools: Autumn Creek Elementary School, Emily G. Johns Intermediate School, Plano High School, Plano Middle School, Thompson Jr. High School and Traughber Jr. High School.

These schools were honored for outstanding truancy programs to keep kids in school and help students reach their full potential.

Part of the proceeds from the annual SKY 5K run/walk went to these truancy programs.  Proceeds from the SKY 5K also went to scholarships for two local Kendall County students, financial support to six local organizations that help youth, hazing presentations, and our upcoming internet safety presentation.

The next 5K is April 29 at the Hoover Forest Preserve. You can register for the run at https://signup.itsracetime.com/Race/IL/Yorkville/SKY5K.

Kendall-Yorkville Police Explorer post created 

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and the Yorkville Police Department have combined their efforts and formed the Kendall-Yorkville Police Explorer Post.

The post is open to any young adult ages 15 to 21 that live in Kendall County or attend a school located in Kendall County.

Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program which offers young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities.

Additionally, the program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship and patriotism.

The Kendall-Yorkville Explorers meet on the second Monday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office located at 1102 Cornell Lane in Yorkville.

For more information, email policeexplorers@co.kendall.il.us or contact Tracy Page at (630) 553-7500, Ext. 1115.

Kendall County Sheriff’s Tobacco Compliance Check results 

On Nov. 28, 2016, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office completed the first of three rounds of compliance checks to be conducted on all tobacco retailers within unincorporated Kendall County. A total of seven tobacco retailers were inspected and all seven were found to be in compliance with the Illinois tobacco laws.

The compliance checks are performed to determine if local tobacco retailers are complying with state minimum age tobacco laws which prohibit the sale of tobacco to persons under the age of 18.

With the help from a grant awarded by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s “Kids Can’t Buy ‘Em Here” Tobacco Enforcement Program, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Deputies educate tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County on minimum age tobacco laws and the importance of verifying the age of customers before selling age restrictive products such as tobacco.

Fox Valley OAS given special holiday donation 

Just in time for the holidays, a special donation was received by Fox Valley Older Adult Services (FVOAS) from Chapter FO of the Philanthropic Educational Organization. This international organization is comprised of women celebrating the advancement of women; educating women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship; motivating women to achieve their highest aspirations. PEO helps women reach for the Stars.

FVOAS is very grateful to Chapter FO of the PEO for its continued support. This donation will support area Seniors in life enriching programs that improve and enrich vital, independent living, to enhance dignity and self-respect, and to encourage participation in community life. Through the generosity of both business and private donors FVOAS, for the past 44 years, has been able to help seniors continue to live vital and independent lives. Through Active Adult Activities at the Senior Center, Adult Day Service and Home Services, now including 24/7 Private Home Services, FVOAS and its partner, Voluntary Action Center (VAC), assist thousands of seniors in DeKalb, Kendall, LaSalle and Bureau Counties.

Oswego 

Oswego Fire Protection District to award scholarships 

Each year the Oswego Fire Protection District awards two $500 scholarships. The application period is now open and applications are due no later than 3 p.m. April 30.

Two high school seniors will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship to be used at an institution of higher learning. Applications and Guidelines can be located at www.oswegofire.com or picked up at Oswego Fire Station #1 located at 3511 Woolley

Road, Oswego, IL, 60543.

The OFPD scholarships are given in honor of a member of the district that has shown exemplary service to the people of the community. This year, Bert Nease is being honored.

He started his career in 1969 and served as a volunteer firefighter for 43 years. Nease worked for five different fire chiefs during his time at the Oswego Fire Protection District.

Nease exemplified what it means to be a firefighter. He truly dedicated his life to his community and the Fire District.

Those with questions regarding the scholarships can call Capt. John Cornish at (630) 554-2110.