The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office congratulates Hayley Farren for winning the Illinois State Outdoor Junior Pistol Championship, which took place on Sept. 19-20 at the Illinois State Rifle Association Range in Bonfield. Sheriff Dwight A. Baird (above) presented the Championship award plaque to Farren on Dec. 8 prior to the Yorkville H.S. Lady Foxes varsity basketball game. (Photo courtesy Kendall County Sheriff’s Office)

Kendall County
Fox Metro to construct new wastewater treatment plant
A report stated that the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District will construct a wastewater treatment plant immediately to the south of its existing plant on Route 31, near Montgomery. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency mandated that Fox Metro — which provides wastewater treatment for hundreds of residents in Oswego, Montgomery, Aurora, North Aurora, Sugar Grove, and parts of Yorkville and Batavia — must improve its water treatment facilities in order to meet current requirements. River City Construction, LLC will construct the new wastewater treatment plant, at a cost of $92 million.

Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy Unit seeking volunteers
The Kendall County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy Unit, a volunteer group dedicated to serving residents of the county, is seeking qualified volunteers to serve three hours per month. The Auxiliary Deputy Unit provides support to full-time deputies at special events, and assists in other areas of police work. Anyone seeking to join the Auxiliary Deputy Unit must complete the application process and successfully pass a background investigation. Applications are available at co.kendall.il.us/administration/volunteer-opportunities, and completed applications should be mailed to Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Tracy Page, 1102 Cornell Lane, Yorkville, Ill. 60560. The deadline to receive applications is Dec. 21.

Forest Preserve Dist. looks to fill part-time equestrian position
The Kendall County Forest Preserve District is currently accepting applications for a part-time Equestrian Program Manager. The position is primarily responsible for the management and oversight of support staff, as well as ground maintenance support, equestrian horsemanship lessons, and public programs at Ellis House & Equestrian Center, 13986 McKanna Road, Minooka. To access an application, and for further details, visit www.yorkvillechamber.org. For more information, call (815) 475-4035.

Plano
Group of high school seniors named Illinois State Scholars
Plano High School announced that a total of 11 seniors have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars, presented annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The seniors who earned the distinction are: Trevor Backus, Amber Barkes, Christian Estrada,
Lindsay Hoalt, Mackenzie Kerry, Jaquelin Salcedo, Annie Shirley, Lucas Thoms, Shannon Tierney, Daniel Wittry and Emanuel Zambrano. Illinois State Scholars rank in the top 10 percent of high school seniors from 652 different high schools throughout the state. Selection is based on standardized test scores and class rank at the end of junior year.
Recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships.

Oswego
Warner selected to play in All-American Bowl
Oswego High School senior football player Austin Warner, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive tackle, was chosen to play for the West squad in the 5th Annual Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, set for Jan. 3 at the StubHub Center, on the campus of California State University, in Carson, Calif. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports, beginning at 8 p.m. CST. Warner, who has committed to attend Northern Illinois University, was a Southwest Prairie All-Conference selection in 2015.

Sandwich
Middle School students net honors in national essay contest
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1486 and its auxiliary members announced the winners of the 2015 Patriots Pen Contest, a national, VFW-sponsored youth essay competition in which middle-school students write an essay on a patriotic theme. More than 12,000 students nationwide participated in 2014. This year’s winners, representing Sandwich Middle School, are Seth Weeks (first place), Carter Jackson (second place) and Kelsey Skorup (third place).

DCCF grant to cover high school track resurfacing project
Sandwich School District 430 Superintendent Rick Schmitt and Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alethia Hummel, who’s also a member of the DeKalb County Community Foundation (DCCF) Board of Directors, announced that District 430 was awarded a $4,000 DCCF grant in order to complete a track resurfacing project at Sandwich High School. In a report, Schmitt stated that the resurfacing project reflects upon the district’s overall wellness initiative to strengthen healthy lifestyles.

Aurora
High bond rating boon for park district
As a result of strong and stable financial practices, affirmed by Standard and Poor’s, the Fox Valley Park District has maintained an AA+ bond rating that will create $34 million in savings for taxpayers. The refunding of existing bonds will lower the interest rate on approximately $29.5 million in park bonds, resulting in reduced future property tax liabilities for residents. Interest rates have dropped considerably in recent years, and combined with the excellent bond rating, the FVPD determined it to be an ideal setting in which to pursue an opportunity to refinance and lower future interest payments by 9 percent. Proceeds from the bond sale will be used for the payment of land acquisition for parks, as well as capital park and facility projects involving restoration, construction, maintenance and improvements.

Church assisting family of car crash victim
A car crash on Dec. 4 that resulted in the death of 49-year-old Aurora resident Charles D. Siebel Jr. and injuries to his 15-year-old daughter — an Oswego East High School student — has led to the arrest of a 16-year-old from Aurora, who was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated street racing. The Aurora teen allegedly was racing a 20-year-old Plainfield man when he slammed into Siebel’s vehicle on Eola Road. Siebel’s wife, Julie Siebel, is a second-grade teacher at Wheatlands Elementary School. Donations and cards for the Siebel family are being accepted at New Song Community Church, 2858 W. Hafenrichter Road, Aurora, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. A GoFundMe page for the Siebel family also has been established.

Yorkville
High school speech team earns third-place trophy
Competing in the Morris Invitational, held at Morris Community High School, on Dec. 5, the Yorkville High School speech team earned a third-place trophy among 17 participating teams. Yorkville finished first in 3-of-14 events. Brianna Pickering was a winner in Impromptu Speaking; Nick Miesuk placed first in Original Comedy; and the duo of Connor Lord and Maddey Martin earned first-place honors in Dramatic Duet Acting. Also earning medals were Chad Castilla, Eli Smock, Mackenzie Ward, Matt Schumacher, Sierra Iuro, and the duo of Emma Whaley and Nick Damato.

–Kendall County Area News Briefs–