The Aurora Election Commission, created in 1934, was responsible for election operations within the city limits of Aurora within the counties of Kane, Kendall, and Will.

Aurora

Volunteers needed for Community Service Day

Community groups, Scouts, students, residents and families are invited to come together for a “One Day” service project targeting portions of the Fox River and nearby Fox Valley Park District locations from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 7.

In cooperation with Kiwanis One Day, volunteers will be utilized at various sites to help pick up litter, haul light brush and assist in the removal of invasive plant species. Volunteers will be placed in parks that are closest to their homes, or can start at the Cole Center (101 W. Illinois Ave.), which will serve as project headquarters.

For those who check in at the Cole Center, transportation will be available to and from the various work areas. Breakfast snacks are provided, and a free cookout will be held for volunteers afterward at the Cole Center.

Portions of the Fox River from Ashland Avenue north to the Cole Center will be covered, as will sections of Indian Creek.

Other sites include:

• Blackberry Farm / Gilman Trail (100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora)
• North Aurora Island Park (State Street Bridge, North Aurora)
• South Island Park (Ashland Ave. and Route 25, Aurora)
• Spring Lake Park (McCoy Drive, just east of Frontenac, Aurora)

More than 400 volunteers participated last year, and “the goal is once again to gather as many volunteers together to have the biggest impact we can to better our community,” said Debbie Smith, Community Outreach Manager.

The service day project is a combined effort between FVPD, Kiwanis Club of Aurora, Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, City of Aurora, Aurora Township, Aurora University, Volunteer Fox Valley and Waubonsee Community College.

Interested volunteers should contact Debbie Smith at 630-966-4555 or dsmith@fvpd.net or Pat Divine at pdivine@foxmetro.org or 630-301-6817 to register.

Voters say Aurora Election Commission needs to go

Voters decided to shut down the 74-year-old Aurora Election Commission via a referendum in the March 20 Illinois primary.

More than 56 percent of city voters approved the commission’s dissolution, an action backed by both municipal and county elected officials.

The County Clerks will take over election responsibilities for the counties’ portions of the city.

The commission, created in 1934, was responsible for election operations within the city limits of Aurora within the counties of Kane, Kendall, and Will.

Man sentenced for shooting acquaintance in face

An Aurora man is headed to prison for shooting an acquaintance in the face during a dispute and then fleeing police as they sought to investigate the incident.

Kane County Circuit Judge John A. Barsanti on Friday, March 16, sentenced 56-year-old John W. Sperry to 7 years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A Kane County jury on Jan. 11, convicted Sperry of aggravated battery with a firearm, Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, Class 4 felony.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Greg Sams and Chris Geocaris presented evidence that the afternoon of March 4, 2017, Sperry drove to the victim’s house in the 300 block of Jackson Street, Aurora.

At about 4:40 p.m. Sperry saw the victim in the driveway. The victim walked to the passenger side of Sperry’s 1988 Cadillac Brougham, and the men began to argue. Sperry then pulled out a .38 caliber handgun and fired a single shot at the victim. The shot struck the victim in the cheek and exited from the back of his head. S

Perry immediately drove away from the scene.

Police spotted him in his car a short time later about two miles away in the vicinity of Ohio and Grove streets and signaled for him to stop. Sperry refused and led police on a chase through Aurora’s east and northeast sides, ignoring multiple traffic-control devices and at times exceeding 70 mph. Police took Sperry into custody after his car struck a utility pole at Claim Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The victim continues to recover from his injury.

The sentence is 6 years for the aggravated battery with a firearm offense and 1 year for the aggravated fleeing and eluding offense. The terms are to be served in succession.

Oswego

Senior Center accepting donations for gift shop

The Oswego Senior Center accepts donations of gently used items to sell in their gift shop.

All proceeds are used to support their meal programs, bus transportation, health / educational / recreational programs, hobby shops and other activities.

The gift shop sells jewelry, purses, scarves, home décor, holiday items, games, DVDs & CDs, collectibles, greeting cards, kitchenware, puzzles, books, pottery, picture frames and small stuffed animals.

They do not accept the following: TVs, monitors, VHS/audio tapes; microwaves, magazines, Christmas trees, used/loose Christmas lights, furniture, infant cribs, walkers, strollers or car/booster seats, mattresses, children’s toys, clothing.

Donations can be delivered to the Oswego Senior Center, 156 E. Washington Street in Oswego. Call 630-554-5602 for more information.

District 308 PRIDE Recognition winners for February

Community Unit School District 308 announced the February winners of the PRIDE (Proudly Recognizing Individuals Demonstrating Excellence) Recognition Program on Monday, March 19 at the Board of Education meeting.

“We are honored to recognize these individuals for their contributions to our schools and our students,” said Dr. John Sparlin, superintendent of schools.  “Through their magnificent work, dedication and commitment, these individuals help support our students and staff to work towards their goals.”

Each month, the program recognizes two individuals from three separate categories:  teachers, employees and volunteers. The winners for the month of February are:

Allied First Bank Teachers of the Month:  Bridget Bois, eighth Grade/Special Education, her home school is Thompson Junior High School and Anne Garrabrant, third Grade, her home school is Long Beach Elementary School.

Employees of the Month:  Uzma Rahman, teaching assistant at Wolf’s Crossing Elementary School and Jessica Tynan, a social worker at Long Beach Elementary School.

Volunteers of the Month:  Kerri Boone, who volunteers at Thompson Junior High School with their cross country program and the Tiger Roar 5K and Pradeep Kaur, who volunteers at Homestead Elementary School in any area in the school where help is needed.

The winners each received prizes and gifts from the PRIDE program sponsors:  Allied First Bank, Rush-Copley Healthplex, Huntington Learning Center, Chick-Fil-A, Carson Chiropractic, Costco, Horace Mann, Hennessy’s Riverview Ford, Sam’s Club, Meijer, Papa John’s, Culver’s, Panera Bread, Crunch Fitness, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Portillo’s, Jersey Mike’s, Texas Roadhouse, Windy City Bulls, Rosati’s Pizza, Giordano’s and Quick Signs.

–Kendall County News Briefs–