Richard C. Irvin, mayor of Aurora

Aurora

Mayor’s State of the City address scheduled

Aurora’s three chambers of commerce are collaborating to host Mayor Richard C. Irvin’s first State of the City address next month.

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Aurora, will host the 2018 State of the City Address at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.

The event also marks the one-year anniversary of Irvin’s election, and the 50th commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination in April 1968.

The 2018 State of the City Address will bring the community together for a review of the past year and a preview of the year ahead, including many exciting announcements.

A change in luncheon format of past addresses, the 2018 State of the City address will be held in the evening at the Paramount Theatre to allow for greater community involvement.

The 2018 State of the City Address is free and open to the public.

Reserve your seat by registering at www.aurora-il.org/StateOfTheCity or calling 630.256.3010.

Man pleads guilty to 2015 murder of teenager

An Aurora man faces a possible sentence of life in prison after pleading guilty to shooting and killing someone over a small amount of marijuana.

Leon D. Williams, 23, pleaded guilty to the Nov. 7, 2015 first-degree murder of 19-year-old Daniel Sanchez of Aurora. In addition, Williams admitted that he personally fired the gun that killed Sanchez.

Williams faces a sentence of between 45 years and life imprisonment. The murder sentence will include a mandatory enhancement of between 25 years and natural life because Williams’ personally fired the gun and killed Sanchez.

Prosecutors said that on Nov. 7, 2015, Sanchez agreed to sell a small amount of marijuana to Williams and a co-defendant. The three met at an agreed-upon location and Sanchez got into the back seat of a car driven by the co-defendant.

Williams also was in the back seat. They drove to the 600 block of Elmwood Drive to complete the drug deal. While in the car, Williams attempted to rob Sanchez of his money and the marijuana. Sanchez got out of the car and tried to run away when William chased him and fired two shots from a .25 caliber handgun, striking Sanchez in the leg and head. He died later at the hospital.

The investigation led police to Williams and the co-defendant. While being interviewed by police, Williams admitted that he tried to rob Sanchez and shot him twice.

Williams remains in the Kane County jail, where he has been held since his arrest in lieu of $300,000 bail. Judge Tegeler revoked Williams’ bond after accepting his guilty plea. The co-defendant’s case is pending.

Kendall County

Nicor grant fuels transportation for PADS

In a county with limited public transportation, the homeless often have a hard time just getting to the seven shelter sites run by Kendall County PADS during the colder months of the year.

But thanks to a $2,500 grant from Nicor Gas, the long roads to food, shelter, counseling, employment and other services will continue to be open to PADS guests, according to Anne Engelhardt, executive director of the homeless support group.

“The guests of PADS are people who are often unseen, at the margins of our local society,” Engelhardt said. “They are poor socio-economically and suffer from mental, emotional and social issues. PADS strives to help them get to local social services and supports them becoming and staying employed.  Providing transportation is an important way we can help.”

The grant from the Naperville-based energy company will permit PADS to continue partnering with Kendall Area Transit and Yorkville Express, which have been providing transportation to the homeless guests for the past few shelter seasons.

“Nicor Gas believes it’s important to give back to the communities we serve,” said Mark Knox, director of the firm’s resource management forecasting.  “We’re proud to support Kendall County PADS. With our support we can help them meet the basic human needs of our society.”

Knox and his wife, Cheryl, also volunteer at one of the seven PADS shelter that are open one overnight per week from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. through April 14.

PADS guests receive a hot meal, a safe place to sleep, breakfast and a packaged lunch to go. They also receive help with employment, social services and housing referrals. Those who wish to donate or volunteer at a shelter site may call (630) 553-5073 or visit the website at www.kendallcountypads.org.

Older Adult Services unveils recent changes

The entire staff of Fox Valley Older Adult Services has been working on

many changes at Fox Valley Community Center.

You are invited to an Open House on Tuesday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour the changes to the community center and have a lunch, paid for by Fox Valley Older Adult Services and prepared by Sallie of Voluntary Action Center. VAC is FVOAS’ partner in Nutrition and Transportation.

New activities include, game, raffles and entertainment. You can tour changes to the

library, computer lab, VAC offices, adult day service, home services department and remodeled administrative offices.

RSVP for Lunch Reservations at 815-786- 9404, ext. 9

FVOAS offers residents of DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and LaSalle counties active adult activities at the senior center, adult day service and home services. 

For more information on services, fun lunches and new programs, call. 815-786-9404 or stop by the Fox Valley Community Center at 1406 Suydam Road, Sandwich.

Juvenile charged following fatal crash

On March 14, 2017, at approximately 4:58 p.m., the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Walker Road and Arbeiter Road, unincorporated Plainfield, for a report of a single vehicle car accident which struck a utility pole.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies located the driver, a 16-year-old female, being treated for her injuries by Plainfield paramedics. The passenger, a 16-year-old female identified as Alyssa Smith, 2000 Block of River Bend Lane, Plainfield, was located in the vehicle and was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet by Plainfield Paramedics where she was later pronounced deceased.

Kendall County Sheriff’s Detectives investigated the traffic crash and charged the juvenile driver with reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, aggravated unlawful use of an electronic communication device, a Class 4 felony, and aggravated reckless driving, a Class 4 felony.

Sheriff’s issues statement on school threats

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that threats of violence against schools are no joking matter.

“With the tragic and unfortunate rise in school violence, so too rises the responsibility of law enforcement to investigate any and all threats directed at harming school faculty and students,” the department said in a public announcement. “The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office stands steadfast in our commitment to thoroughly and expeditiously investigate any and all threats made against the schools in our communities.”

Deputies urged parents to speak with their children, and let them know it’s not a joke.

“When a person, regardless of age, makes a threat to harm students or faculty at a school, it may seem to some like a youthful prank, but to the Illinois Law Enforcement Community, State’s Attorney Eric Weis, Sheriff Dwight Baird, along with other Chiefs of Police, it is no laughing matter. Threatening violence at a school, personally or through social media, is a crime that is punishable by years in prison.

“The havoc and fear created when someone threatens a school community is real, no matter the intentions of the person who communicates that threat. All threats are taken seriously, and investigating them diverts precious resources. The Law Enforcement community stands united in making our schools safe. In Illinois that means that threats of violence are no joke and those that make them will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Residents can start signing up for the annual Community Garage Sale at the Oswego Village Hall beginning on Monday, April 2. The event is May 18-19. (Photo courtesy of village of Oswego)

Oswego

Sign-up date set for Community garage sale

The Oswego Community Garage Sale, sponsored by the Environmentally Conscious Oswego (ECO) Commission happens Friday and Saturday, May  18 and 19 throughout Oswego.

Residents may sign-up at the Oswego Village Hall beginning on Monday, April 2, to be included in the advertising for the Community Garage Sale.

The fee to be included in advertising is $15. Once the fee is paid, the participant will receive a sign and yard stake to place in their yard during their sale. The list of those participating in the Community Garage Sale will be published on about one week prior to the sale on the village’s website and social media outlets.

The cut-off date to sign-up is Friday, April 27.

After the sale, your garage sale sign and yard stake can be returned to the Oswego Village Hall for a $10 refund.  Return all signs by Friday, June 8.

Visit the village’s Facebook page for a list of sales. Questions about the Community Garage Sale should be sent to eco@oswegoil.org.

Earth Day recycling extravaganza coming up

The village’s ECO Commission will hold an Earth Day Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, April 21, in honor of Earth Day.  The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon at Oswego Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill, Oswego.

The event will include demonstrations of beekeeping and honey, composting, rain barrels, and raising chickens.  Fox Metro will be hosting a drop off for medical prescriptions and EpiPens. Eye glasses, keys, batteries, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, and packing materials may also be dropped off.  There will be a book and bicycle exchange, and a collection of dog-related items for area rescue organizations.  Groot Industries will be on hand collecting electronics of all kinds.

The village in partnership with the Conservation Foundation, is also selling rain barrels.  Place your order before April 17. Rain barrels will cost $55-$60 and can be ordered through Upcycle Products. Choose to deliver the barrel to your home for an additional $5, or choose municipal pick up for no additional charge, to be picked up at the Earth Day event.

At the Earth Day event, in honor of Arbor Day, the village Public Works staff will be planting two trees at the Oswego Village Hall.

This will take place on Saturday, April 22 at 10 a.m. If you would like to be a part of this annual event, be at the Village Hall parking lot near the Gazebo by 10 a.m.

For more information about the Earth Day Event, contact the ECO Commission at eco@oswegoil.org.

–Kendall County News Briefs–