Kendall County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

The Traughber Junior High School in Oswego will be sending its Symphonic Band to be a featured concert performer at the IMEA All-State Conference in sPeoria on Jan. 27. (Photo courtesy of Traughber Jr. High)

Aurora

Police Department safe place for online sales transactions

If you want to buy or sell items on social media like Offer Up, Facebook, or the slew of other platforms, Aurora Police want you to please consider using the Aurora Police Department as a safe place to conduct your business transaction.

“We experienced a number of robberies and thefts last year stemming from people wanting to buy or sell items on social media but instead, had those items taken, some forcibly, when they showed up thinking the person with whom they were going to do business was legit,” police announced on their Facebook page recently.

You can conduct your business either in the station’s lobby or in the parking lot. The building is open 24/7/365. If the person with whom you are buying or selling items balks at doing the transaction at the Aurora Police Department, that should raise a red flag that maybe they’re not who they say they are, police said.

Kendall County

More charges stemming from alleged food pantry thefts

The husband of the former, and now deceased, executive director of the Kendall County Food Pantry was arrested Tuesday for felony theft.

The arrest of Kenneth Spaeth, 55, is the result of months-long investigation into the alleged theft of a reported $200,000 from the pantry. A Kendall County grand jury indicted Spaeth on Friday, along with his father-in-law William Crowley.

Crowley also was taken into custody Tuesday, Jan. 17 in Arizona, according to a report on Kendall County Now. Bond for both Spaeth and Crowley was set at $25,000, the report said.

Spaeth was the husband of former Pantry Executive Director Maria Spaeth, who was found dead of an apparent drug overdose on June 21, 2016.

Yorkville Police had raided the food pantry just weeks before as part of an investigation into the missing funds.

Kenneth Spaeth served as treasurer of the pantry up until he and Maria resigned their positions in the wake of the investigation.

A special prosecutor was appointed to the case in July after Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis recused himself from the investigation because he said he may be called as a witness after previously serving on the pantry board.

U of I Extension explores positive aging in free program

“I’m Positive, I’m Aging” is a University of Illinois Extension educational program that will help participants explore the characteristics of positive aging and learn how to make the most of our later years.

Led by an Extension Educator, the program also looks at ageism and how it affects all ages, as well as, the many similarities older generations have with younger ones.

This free seminar is provided in cooperation with the Association for Home and Community Education (HCE) and will be led by an Extension Educator via webinar. It will be conducted 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10 at three local Extension offices – Naperville, St. Charles, and Yorkville. Registration is required by Thursday, Feb. 2 to prepare materials, and space may be limited.

To register for the session near you, contact that county’s Extension office, or email uie-dkk@illinois.edu with the county in which you plan to attend, and the topic, your name, address and phone number.

Illinois Sheriff’s Association announces scholarships

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association announces that it will be awarding over $54,500 in college scholarships throughout the State of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2017-18 academic years.

The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books, and fees only. The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois.

Kendall Sheriff Dwight A. Baird will be awarding one scholarship in the amount of $500.

Applications are now available at the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, 1102 Cornell Lane, Yorkville, IL  60560 or on the website for Kendall County @ www.co.kendall.il.us/sheriff or on the ISA website www.ilsheriff.org.

Students must complete the application; answer the essay question and return all documentation to the Sheriff’s Office in their permanent county of residence by March 15.

Multijurisdictional investigation leads to arrest

On Nov. 17, 2016, Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputies took a report and initiated an investigation for several burglaries to motor vehicles. The motor vehicle burglaries took place in several locations in Newark and Millbrook.

The complainants reported that an unknown subject entered their vehicles without authority and took several items including a credit card in one of the burglaries.

Kendall County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives continued the investigation and during the course of the investigation it was discovered that the stolen credit card had been used without authorization.

On Jan. 6, 2017, the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Michael Thornton, a 20- year-old man from the 100 block of Tammy Lane, Somonauk, with four counts of burglary, all Class 2 felonies, one count of unlawful use of credit card, a Class 4 felony, and one count of unlawful possession of credit card, a Class 4 felony.

Thornton’s bond was set at $100,000, with 10 percent to apply. Thornton is currently in custody at the LaSalle County Jail on another agency’s charges related to this investigation.

The charges against Thornton are a result of a multi judicial investigation including the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, Somonauk Police Department, Sandwich Police Department, and Plano Police Department

Oswego

Traughber band wins All-State honors

The Traughber Junior High School Symphonic Band is one of two middle school bands selected (through recorded audition) to be a feature concert at the IMEA All-State Conference on Jan. 27. This is the highest honor a school band can be given at the state level.

At the conference, teachers learn strategies to better hone their craft, serve students, and be inspired to try new ideas that will keep their classes fresh, energetic and current. In-person professional development sessions, discussions with colleagues, networking events and keynote speakers all provide opportunities for growth. The conference also provides the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sessions and demonstrations given by top music educators from Illinois and from around the country.

High School students from throughout the state participate in the All-State Honor groups through a series of rigorous auditions, which take place in the fall.

The Traughber Symphonic Band will be having a preview concert to present their program to Oswego residents on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at Traughber Junior High School

Plano

Plano police launch Warrant Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, the Plano Police Department will feature images on their Facebook page of wanted subjects who currently have an outstanding warrant for crimes occurring in the City of Plano.

The Plano Police Department is asking for the public to view and share these postings. Citizens are urged not to take any police action themselves, but to contact the Plano Police Department or their local law enforcement agency and provide any information that will help in apprehending these fugitives.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Search #WarrantWednesdays or visit https://www.facebook.com/PlanoPoliceIL.

Yorkville

Free senior tax help

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) is hosting free tax help starting on Thursday, Feb.  2, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will be at Senior Services Associates at 908 Game Farm Road, Yorkville each Thursday until April 13. Call to make an appointment, there will be no walk in appointments.

If you are interested in attending the event, contact Gina R. Dunlap, activity director at Senior Services Associates, at (630) 553-5777.

–Kendall County News Briefs–