The Friends of the Yorkville Library will hold a used book sale during the Labor Day weekend at the library. Members of the group picture here are (from left) Mary Nowak, Bobbe Hahn, Jetta Werrline, Sue Fergerstrom, Kathi Murphy, Sue Smithmeyer, and Judy Somerlot.
(Photo courtesy of the Friends of the Yorkville Library)

Aurora

Police teams save trucker after 911 call

Aurora police worked together to save the life of a suicidal man after he called 911 threatening to kill himself on Aug. 12.

Around 8:35 p.m., Aurora officers responded to a parking lot in the 800 block of N. Rt. 59 after the 25-year-old man called 911 and threatened to harm himself. He also told the 911 operators that he was heavily armed and was going to commit “suicide by cop”.

The man was an over-the-road truck driver from San Antonio and when the officers arrived on-scene, he was showing signs of agitation, moving around and in and out of his semi-truck. He also was holding what appeared to be a knife.

The officers proceeded to organize into several teams, known as “react” teams, in order to handle the situation as peacefully as possible for everyone involved. The main react team involved a specially-trained negotiator and Crisis Intervention Team Officer who began talking with the man. The man continued acting agitated and making threats to harm himself and asking officers to shoot him.

As the main react team slowly moved toward the man, the negotiator was able to build a rapport. After about an hour, the man relinquished the object he was holding (which was later found to be a screw driver) and the officers rushed him, taking him into custody without incident.

The man was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.

Police seek info about drive-by shooting

Two, 23-year-old Aurora men reported they were fired upon around 2:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 12, as they stood at the corner of New York and Anderson Streets.

The men told police their vehicle broke down in the area and as they were standing by it, a vehicle passed by with its occupants flashing gang signs. A few minutes later, two men, at least one of whom was armed, approached the group on foot southbound on Anderson and fired multiple shots. The suspects ran northbound while the victims ran westbound to escape the gunfire, according to police.

The only thing apparently hit by a bullet was a tree in the first block of N. Anderson St. There were no injuries.

The victims described the suspects as Hispanic, about 5-foot-8, with one wearing a dark gray or black T-shirt and tan pants. The other was wearing a red ball cap, white T-shirt and pajama-type pants.

Anyone with information connected to this incident is asked to call Investigations at 630-256-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Tips phoned into Crime Stoppers that lead to any arrests are eligible for a cash reward.

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the Culver’s Butter Burgers and Badges Law Enforcement Torch Run Fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Kendall County

Deputies serve up burgers for Special Olympics

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the Culver’s Butter Burgers and Badges Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois

On Thursday Aug. 30, the Sheriff’s Office will be at the Culvers in Yorkville, 1745 Marketview Drive, from 4-8 p.m. to host the ButterBurgers and Badges fundraising event for Special Olympics Illinois.

The Sheriff’s Office will be providing table service for guests dining inside and guests visiting the drive-thru.

The Sheriff’s Deputies will collect “tips” for their service that will be donated to Special Olympics Illinois, along with one dollar for every concrete mixer dessert purchased.

In addition, local Special Olympics athletes will be on hand to meet and greet guests and sign autographs.

ButterBurgers & Badges is part of a month-long initiative by various Culvers’ locations across Chicagoland and other participating locations that includes participating stores proudly displaying “Change for Champions” donation canisters near counter areas.

Funds raised will help Special Olympics Illinois continue its programs that provide year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Oswego

Police explorers host annual Car and Truck Show

The Oswego Police Explorer Post 3525 is hosting its annual Car and Truck Show on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kendall 11 Movie Theatre in Oswego.

The show is open to all makes, models and years of vehicles. Pre-registration is $5 and can be completed online at https://goo.gl/forms/WEo9W4Ffx5ucOXkE3 or by printing the flyer off of the Oswego Police Department’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OswegoPolice/pages_feed/.

Spectator admission is free for the event. Trophies will be awarded at noon in five categories: Top 20, Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Engine and Chief’s Award. There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds from the show and 50/50 raffle will go to support activities and equipment for our Explorer Post.

The Oswego Police Department Explorers Post 3525 is proud to be hosting this event and is hoping that the public will come out and enjoy this event.

Proceeds will support the law enforcement exploring post, which mentors young adults who will be the next generation of law enforcement.

For further information, follow on Facebook or call Sgt. Yackley at 630-551-7300.

District 308 PRIDE Recognition

Winner of the Year recipients

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 recognized the 2017-18 winner of the year recipients of the PRIDE (Proudly Recognizing Individuals Demonstrating Excellence) Recognition Program at various team, department, and staff meetings prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“We are honored to recognize these individuals out of all of our monthly winners for their contributions to our schools and our students,” said Dr. John Sparlin, superintendent of schools. “Through their magnificent work, dedication and commitment, these winners of the year help make District 308 a remarkable place to learn and work.”

Each month, the program recognized two individuals from three separate categories:  teachers, employees and volunteers who demonstrate exemplary commitment, accountability, enthusiasm, student-focus, effectiveness and professionalism. The winners of the year for the 2017-2018 school year are:

Teacher of the Year: Michael Skura

Skura is the department chair of the Oswego High School Art Department and a leader and mentor to many in the district.

Students have best described him as a teacher that gets involved and invests his own time to help better them as students.

Last year, he received the “Art Educator of the Year” award from the Illinois Art Education Association.

Employee of the Year: Duncan Armstrong

Armstrong is a SD308 bus driver and always has a smile, a kind word…….and possibly a trivia question or two for those on his routes. Students go home with a smile on their faces and something positive to say about their bus driver and community when after having correctly answered one of his “Friday Trivia Challenges” correctly, they go home with a prize he was able to get donated from a vendor.

Volunteer of the Year: Brandon Bigus

Bigus is a recent graduate of Oswego East High School.  He always went above and beyond not only in the classroom, but with serving his peers. 

Brandon served as the “go to kid” for teachers and coaches, as well as a source of motivation and assistance among his peers.

Yorkville

Library Friends plan used book sale

Book browsers and bargain hunters will have thousands of titles from which to choose at Yorkville Library’s 10^th annual Used Book Sale during Yorkville’s Hometown Days festivities. Money raised by the sale goes to the library.

Books are priced from 50-cents to $2 and include hard covers and paperbacks. There is a wide selection of children’s and adult books, fiction and nonfiction.

Checks will be accepted for amounts over $5; credit cards are not accepted.

The Friends of the Library group is sponsoring the sale, and individuals may also join the Friends during the weekend event. Membership forms will be available at the sale, and those joining or renewing their membership during the sale may select three free books.

The sale will be during Labor Day weekend, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, and 10 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2 in the Michelle Pfister Room of the Library.

The Friends of the Yorkville Library is a volunteer group of individuals committed to supporting and promoting the services and programs of the Library. The Friends meet the second Monday of each month at 10:15 a.m. at the Library.

The Yorkville Public Library is located at 902 Game Farm Road.

–Kendall County News Briefs–