Montgomery’s historical museum, Settler’s Cottage, will be reopening on Sunday, May 21. (Photo courtesy of Aurora Convention Bureau)

Aurora

Cop On Top benefits Special Olympics

It’s the annual Cop on a Rooftop season presented in conjunction with local law enforcement and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Once again this year, Aurora police are taking to the roofs at five Aurora Dunkin’ Donuts shops from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, May 19 to support Special Olympics Illinois.

In exchange for a donation to Special Olympics Illinois, you’ll get a certificate for a free donut. If you donate at least $10, you’ll receive a travel mug while supplies last and a coupon for a free medium coffee.

The fundraisers will take place at the Dunkin’ Donuts, 1237 N. Eola Road.; 2380 S. Eola; 2681 E. New York St.; 1255 N. Farnsworth Av., and 2112 W. Galena Blvd.

The police will be assisted by Citizen Police Academy Alumni who will be selling a variety of Special Olympics Torch Run memorabilia including T-shirts, pins and hats.

Last year, you helped raise an astounding $12,894 during Cop on a Rooftop.

Kendall County Deputies and Sheriff’s Office employees will also be on top of Dunkin’ Donuts located at 3300 Orchard Road, Oswego from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

subhed: Search warrant turns up guns, drugs

Around 7:15 p.m., May 5, a warrant was executed at a home in the 900 block of Fenton St. After the two men in the home were detained and the home searched, officers allegedly found over 19 grams of cocaine, 362 grams of cannabis, about 54.50 grams of cannabis wax, over 1200 Xanax pills, a .380 handgun, drug paraphernalia and other assorted items.

Charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance was Miles J. Garcia, 23. Charged with felony resisting the police was Lewis C. Garcia, 55. Both men live at the Fenton Street address.

The investigation is ongoing and further charges have not been ruled out.

The charges against Lewis Garcia stem from his alleged attempts at continually trying to keep officers from breaching the home’s door in order to gain entrance which led to minor injuries to one of the SOG officers. There were no other injuries

Montgomery

Settler’s Cottage to reopen next week

Settler’s Cottage, Montgomery’s historical museum, will be reopening on Sunday, May 21 for the summer season.  On Sunday, the museum will be open from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Visitors are invited to stop in to learn more about Montgomery’s rich history in this restored 1840s home owned by Village founder Daniel S. Gray, located in front of the Village Hall at 200 N. River St.

Exhibits include information on Jim Phillips (the local environmentalist known as “The Fox”), AllSteel photos and items, art by Montgomery resident Phillip Basuier, and the Civil War (did there was a Civil War camp in Montgomery). 

In addition, a new exhibit focuses on the 100th anniversary of the United States joining into World War I and the Montgomery soldiers who fought in that war.  The museum is free and is handicapped accessible.

Anyone who has historic photos or memorabilia and are willing to share, contact Debbie Buchanan at (630) 896-8080, Ext. 9003.

Spring cleanup service in the village

Republic Services will provide a free Spring Cleanup service in Montgomery on each household’s regularly scheduled trash pickup day during the week of May 22. 

On the regular pickup day that week, residents may discard unlimited amounts of trash, yard waste, furniture, appliances and up to four tires (no rims).  All trash must be placed in cans, bags or boxes (not to exceed 50 pounds each) and set in an organized manner at the curb.  Brush must be securely tied in a bundle and cannot exceed 4 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter.

Piles of loose trash, electronics, demolition material, concrete, metal poles, liquids and hazardous waste will not be accepted.  No stickers are required.  This is an excellent opportunity to clean out basements, garages and yards without incurring additional disposal costs.

Note that items must be at the curb prior to 6 a.m., as crews will not return to pick up items that are placed out later.  This service is for Village of Montgomery residential addresses only (not businesses or unincorporated areas).

Any questions regarding the Spring Cleanup or any other Public Works services, call the Montgomery Public Works Department at (630) 896-9241.

Melinda J. Renier, new principal at Traughber Junior High School in Oswego

Oswego

Dist. 308 names new Traughber Jr. High principal

Community Unit School District 308 has selected Melinda J. Renier as the principal of Traughber Junior High School, effective July 1. Renier currently serves as principal of Homestead Elementary School and will replace Traughber’s current principal, Tarah Fowler.

“Melinda will be a great addition to the Traughber family. She has proven to be an effective administrator who brings a wealth of leadership experience to Traughber,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. John W. Sparlin said.

Renier has been an educational administrator since 1999. She began her administrative career as an assistant principal at DeKalb Middle School in Waterloo, Ind., before moving to J. R. Watson and McKenney-Harrison Elementary Schools in Auburn, Ind., where she also served as an assistant principal. In 2003, she was promoted to principal of J. R. Watson. She then joined District 308 in 2010 as Homestead’s principal.

“I am honored and excited to begin working with Traughber Junior High School,” Renier said.

While at Homestead, Renier instituted a school-wide social-emotional learning initiative, transitioned the school to the new Gifted Education model, upgraded the school’s technology through fundraising initiatives, guided the school through implementation of new Illinois State Standards with new resources in math and English language arts, and implemented a Professional Learning Community framework and Multi-Tiered System of Supports model to support all learners.

Renier is a fifth-generation teacher, who spent a decade of her career teaching social studies at DeKalb Middle School. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in secondary education and master’s degree in school administration from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Oswego East students achieve Girl Scout Award

Three students from Oswego East High School (OEHS) — Erica Brooks, Jordyn Jones, and Kiersten Rasberry — have achieved their Girl Scouts Gold Awards, putting them in an elite group of high-achieving Girl Scouts.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn and recognizes those girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through Take Action projects that have a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. In 2016, approximately 5,500 girls across the United States received the Gold Award, only about 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts.

On May 20, the Greater Chicago Northwest Indiana Council Gold Award Ceremony will honor Brooks, Jones, and Rasberry, where they will receive their official Gold Award certificates. It will be a busy day for the three students, as they will also graduate from Oswego East High School on this day.

To apply for the Gold Award, a Girl Scout must be in high school and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador. She must also have completed two senior or ambassador journeys, or have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award and completed one journey.

The three OEHS students who earned their Gold Award each completed more than 100 hours executing the seven-step process which includes identifying a community issue/need, researching/investigating the issue, building resources, creating a plan, presenting their plan for approval, implementing their remarkable Take Action project, and delivering a final report to educate and inspire other Girl Scouts to achieve the award.

Oswegrow Program targets new business owners

Oswegrow presents, “What is a Business Plan and How can it Help You: Using Intercept Software to Improve Your Business,” on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. at the Oswego Public Library District, Oswego branch which is located at 32 W. Jefferson St. in Downtown Oswego.

Presented by SCORE, the Service Core of Retired Executives, the presentation will feature information on the Oswego Public Library District’s new software Intercept, a software that can assist you or your business in increasing efficiency and improving your chances of success. Intercept guides you through making a business plan. This presentation will also address key aspects of business planning, whether or not you choose to utilize the software. 

In February, the village of Oswego Economic Development Department and the Oswego Public Library District partnered to form an entrepreneurship and small business center called Oswegrow. Its mission is to help resource and mentor businesses and entrepreneurs in Oswego by providing useful software, space, and business development training.

This presentation is free and open to members of the Oswego business community. For more information about Oswegrow and this presentation, contact the Village’s Economic Development Department at (630) 551-2334 or email cccole@oswegoil.org.

–Kendall County News Briefs–