Oswego Cyclery is getting some financial assistance from the village to renovate the Old Fire Barn building on Main Street. The owner plans to relocate the shop there and have space for other businesses. Photo by Judy Harvey/For Chronicle Media

Aurora

Montgomery man arrested on theft charges

Surveillance images posted onto the Aurora Police Department’s Facebook page reportedly led to the arrest of a Montgomery man who was suspected of using a stolen credit card at a local store. Karlon Hudson, 45, of the 100 block of Boulder Hill Pass, Montgomery, was charged last week with five counts of unlawful use of a credit card and felony theft. Hudson allegedly used a stolen card from a residential burglary to withdraw more than $1,600 from ATMs at local banks and convenience stores on Feb. 25. Surveillance photos allegedly showing Hudson using the stolen credit card at a gas station in the 900 block of North Farnsworth Avenue were posted by Aurora police on March 3. An Oswego resident allegedly recognized Hudson and called police.

Montgomery

New Rotary Club being formed

Some Montgomery residents are looking to form what would be the village’s first Rotary Club. At present, the village does not have a truly local service organization that serves just Montgomery.

Rotary International is a 110-year-old international service organization, which allows local clubs to focus on community projects while also being able to participate in global initiatives. The group will meet weekly on Thursday mornings from 7-8 a.m. at Village Hall, 200 N. River St. A breakfast will be available for a nominal cost.

Oswego

New fire training facility named after Chicago chief

The Oswego Fire Protection District is going to dedicate its new training facility in honor of the late Chicago Fire Department battalion chief who trained firefighters all over the Chicago area. The facility will be named after Raymond Hoff who served the fire department for more than 30 years.

The Oswego Fire District is able to build the new facility with more than $230,000 in state funding and with a land donation from the village of Montgomery.

Event to help prevent identity theft

The Police Department is teaming up with Castle Bank Oswego to offer a free shredding service to residents from 9 a.m. to noon May 9. Residents can bring to the bank, located at 6601 U.S. Route 34, important papers no longer needed and should be shredded. Personal documents to bring include insurance forms, medical statements, credit card and bank statements, among others.

A maximum of three large file boxes will be permitted per person. For more information on about Identity theft and how to avoid it, visit the Oswego Police Department website at www.oswegopoliceil.org and go to the Community Programs and Services link.

Local cycle shop to move into vacant Main Street building

The owner of the Oswego Cyclery, 26 S. Main St., is beginning on his plans to rehab the vacant Old Fire Barn building across the street in order to relocate the cycle shop there and make available for other businesses. Art Black is getting some help from the village through loans and grants, totaling about $184,000. The plan was approved by the Village Board on March 31. Of that total, $150,000 is a loan that Black will reportedly repay to the village over 10 years. Overall, Black will reportedly spend about $750,000 on the project, which includes improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building.

Register for the Monday Miles Challenge

The Oswegoland Park District is challenging the community to log more than 200 miles of walking and running this summer through the Monday Miles Challenge. Individuals or groups, including wheelchair athletes, will meet at Prairie Point Park, 4120 Plainfield Road, every Monday at 6:30 p.m. for 11 weeks, beginning June 1. Check-in will be at the Prairie Point Picnic Shelter between 6 and 6:25 p.m. The Park District will put out an overhead clock to measure progress on the one-mile or three-mile course. Those who attend six of the 11 nights will earn a Monday Miles T-shirt. Register for each Monday Miles event the evening of the run at a cost of $2 per runner/walker. Wheelchairs, strollers and leashed dogs are welcome.

Oswego/Plainfield

Next ‘Chats with the Chief’ scheduled

Residents of Oswego and Plainfield are encouraged to come out to talk with the local police and fire chiefs at the next “Chat with the Chiefs” event at 7 p.m., April 22 at the Plainfield Fire Protection District Headquarters, 23748 W. 135th St., Plainfield. The forum will be hosted by Chief Dave Riddle of the Plainfield Fire Protection District, Chief Rick Neitzer of the Oswego Fire Protection District and Chief John Konopek of the Plainfield Police Department. Those who attend are encouraged to ask questions and take part in a discussion of various public safety matters. Light refreshments will be served.

Yorkville

School District 115 forming education foundation

The Yorkville CUSD 115 is looking for people in the community to serve on a 14-member board of directors for a new educational foundation. The foundation’s mission is to promote positive school and community partnerships. Board members officially would begin serving in July. Community members can learn more about the foundation at an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 20 in the new athletic lobby at Yorkville High School, 797 Game Farm Road.

Regional news

Diocese agrees to settlement with abuse victims

The Joliet Diocese, which includes Kendall County, will pay out $4.14 million in settlements to 14 men who claim as children they were molested by priests, based on an announcement released on April 14. Of the 14 victims, four had actually filed a lawsuit, and the others were part of negotiations outside of court. Five priests named in the settlement, the Rev. James Nowak, Michael Gibbney, Lawrence Gibbs, Myles White and Fred Lenczycki, had been identified by the diocese with at least one confirmed allegation of sexual abuse. But, more allegations of acts occurring over a 20-plus year period and more victims were included in this lawsuit, according to reports. None of the five priests named are involved in active ministry and Lenczycki and White have served prison terms for sex crimes against children.

State news

IHSA fights back on football lawsuit

The Illinois High School Association is seeking to get a class-action concussions lawsuit dismissed, on the basis that if the lawsuit is successful it could end prep football programs across the state. The motion for dismissal was filed April 13 in a Cook County Circuit Courtroom. The IHSA, argues that the organization and its 800 member schools are proactive about managing head injuries among the tens of thousands of high school students who play football each year. The original lawsuit was filed in November 2014 and seeks court supervision over how high schools and the IHSA manage head injuries that occur to prep football players. Previously, IHSA Director Marty Hickman has stated that court-imposed mandates could negatively affect poorer schools, making it too expensive for them to field a football team. The attorney for the plaintiff, has stated improved safety should help high school football programs, not hurt them.

Kendall County news briefs.