Strategic planning
Gail Johnson (left) and Pam Parr of Face to Face Communications and Training share their expertise and good will with Kendall County Health Department at the recent Board of Health Strategic Planning Kick Off. (Photo courtesy Kendall County Health Department)

Aurora

Youth Law Enforcement Academy seeks participants

Applications are now being accepted for the Youth Law Enforcement Academy sponsored by the APD, Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Participants ages 14 to 18 will tour the police and sheriff’s departments, participate in mock traffic stops; learn about police procedures, evidence processing, the SWAT Team, DEA, FBI; and meet with Kane County State’s Attorneys, judges, elected officials and more. Students will also earn community service hours.

The academy is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 20 to Aug. 3 at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail. An important Parent/Youth Orientation will be held at 6:30 p.m., June 2, at the police department.

Registration deadline is Friday, May 13. Call the Youth Academy Program Director Pam Bradley at the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office: (630)-262-5107 to sign up.

Kane County agencies target drunk drivers

Kane County police agencies will work with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office this St. Patrick’s Day to host a No-Refusal operation targeting drunken drivers.

This is the sixth time a No-Refusal initiative has been held on or near the holiday.

“We enhance DUI enforcement on St. Patrick’s Day because we want to do our part to discourage impaired driving to keep our roadways remain as safe as possible,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “We want people to have fun and support local businesses, but don’t drive drunk.”

The initiative is designed to expedite police efforts to obtain a search warrant for individuals who refuse to submit to chemical testing after a DUI arrest, according to McMahon’s office.

Assistant state’s attorneys are on hand during the event to assist police officers through the search warrant process to ultimately compel a DUI suspect to submit to a lawfully requested blood, breath or urine test as required by Illinois’ Implied Consent statute.

“My goal is to have zero DUIs on a night we do a No-Refusal. Although that hasn’t happened yet, maybe the luck of the Irish will strike,” McMahon said.

According to McMahon, Illinois courts have consistently held that there is no right to refuse chemical testing when probable cause exists. Anyone who declines to submit to chemical testing after a search warrant has been obtained could face additional charges.

The operation will be the 20th No-Refusal since the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office began the program in 2008. In the 19 prior No-Refusals, 131 drivers have been charged. Most have pleaded guilty to DUI, although many cases are pending.

Kendall County

Kifowit proposes stiffer hate crime penalties

If new legislation introduced by state Rep. Stefanie Kifowit passes, criminals who target victims on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other minority status would face tougher prison sentences and be required to make amends for their crimes through community service.

“Hate crimes are a growing but silent problem in Illinois and around the nation,” Kifowit said. “Those who harass, intimidate or abuse people based on the color of their skin, the language they speak, the god they worship or the person they love need to know that their crimes have no place in our communities.”

Under Kifowit’s measure, criminals who commit multiple hate crimes – including assault, battery, damage to property or harassment – will be required to serve the sentence for each crime individually. Current law allows those convicted of multiple hate crimes to serve two or more prison sentences at the same time, reducing some criminals’ overall punishment by years. Kifowit’s House Bill 6076 would also require offenders to perform no less than 200 hours of community service and enroll in educational programs discouraging hate crimes.

“Hate crimes, which single out members of our community, is an assault against the entire community, so it’s only right that those who commit these crimes should be held accountable for their actions,” Kifowit said. “No one should be made to live in fear of violence or retaliation on account of race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other prejudice, and those who continue to perform these acts of intolerance should not only be subject to penalties, but should also be forced to learn about the severity of their crimes.

Oswego

Oswego scholarship opportunities

Seniors graduating from Community Unit School District 308 who have plans to attend Waubonsee Community College in the fall are invited to apply for the Susan M. Kiley Memorial Scholarship, which is now accepting applications through the Student Services at Oswego High School or Oswego East High School.

A total of four scholarships, worth $1,000 each, will be awarded.

This scholarship fund was established 27 years ago as the result of the death of Susan Kiley, a 22 year old WCC student who was killed in a car crash.

The fund is a 501c3, and contributions to the fund may be tax deductible. Contact Bill Powell at (630) 554-2798 for more information.

Community Unit School District 308, is offering a scholarship to students who attended Old Post Elementary School and went on to complete their schooling in the district.

The district is offering the $750 Old Post Elementary PTA Pencilgram Scholarship to applicants who have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and have been accepted to a two-year, four-year or vocational school, according to the district. The students must have graduated from the elementary school and a district junior high school as well.

High school seniors can pick up an application form and find more information about applying at a career center or on the district’s website. Applications are due March 18. Contact Beth Omar, mrsomar@hotmail.com, with questions.

Murder Mystery at the Senior Center

Deadline is approaching to purchase tickets for the Oswego Senior Center’s murder mystery dinner held on April 1.

The Mystery Shop will present “Prime Suspect” in which 50 amateur detectives will help solve the evening’s murder mystery.

Participants are reminded to come dressed to kill, as there are prizes for the best dressed detective and the team of detectives solving the murder.  Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with detectives arriving from 6:30-6:45 p.m., followed by the murder mystery.  Tickets are $25.00, and the deadline to purchase tickets is March 30. Space is limited to 50 detectives.  All proceeds benefit the Oswego Senior Center.  To purchase tickets or for additional information, contact the Oswego Senior Center at (630) 554-5602 or visit www.oswegoseniorcenter.org.

Oswego students honored for volunteer efforts

The Oswego Senior Center recently awarded Community Unit School District 308’s G.O.A.L Program with its volunteer of the month award for the second time in recent months, thanks to the program’s strong efforts.

The G.O.A.L. Program is primarily an online-learning alternative program for at-risk students and is centered in three District 308 classrooms. The G.O.A.L. Program serves all junior high and high schools within District 308.

“The G.O.A.L Program is grateful for its community partners, and we look forward to more volunteer opportunities this year,” said Alternative Education Coordinator for The G.O.A.L. Program Meredith Gerardot.

The G.O.A.L Program has partnered with both the Oswego Senior Center and the Oswego YMCA to create new and unique learning opportunities for its students. Students from the G.O.A.L. Program most recently signed up to help the center with the Senior Center’s Spring Art and Craft Fair.

But, the awards stem from past volunteer opportunities filled by G.O.A.L students.

On Nov. 20, 2015, 11 students in teacher Nicholas Cherwin’s 9:30 a.m. Kinetic Wellness class helped Oswego Senior Center Manager Sandy Pastore and her team set up the center’s cafeteria for its annual Christmas Bazaar.

In January, the Oswego Senior Center recognized Cherwin’s Kinetic Wellness class as the Oswego Senior Center Volunteer of the Month for December.

“Oswego Senior Center is thankful for our neighbors in the G.O.A.L Program for their past help with the Christmas Bazaar and their help on future projects,” Pastore said.

Sandwich

Kindergarten registration begins

The Sandwich School District will be holding Kindergarten registration for the 2016-2017 school year the week of March 28 through April 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. If your child will be 5-years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2016, he or she is eligible for kindergarten. Please bring a state issued ID, a birth certificate and three forms of residency  – one of which must be a rental, lease or mortgage document. No payment is required at the time of registration.

All students registered on these dates will be invited to a special Kindergarten orientation to be held in the spring. If you are unsure which elementary building your child will attend, please contact one of the following schools: Woodbury (815)786-6316, Prairie View (815)786-8811 or Haskin at (815)786-8812.

Yorkville

Yorkville host photo contest

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to enter their best images that capture Yorkville’s beautiful environment, architecture, and vibrant community life. Judges are looking for photos taken at all times of the year and will be judged on overall quality, creativity, and how well the photo portrays the city of Yorkville. The three contest categories are Life, Places and People. All entries are eligible to be featured in citywide publication of print and electronic media. One winner will receive a $100 Yorkville Parks and Recreation Gift Certificate to use towards parks and recreation class and program registration. In addition up to three photos may be selected to be displayed at City Hall at the discretion of contest administrators.

Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 4:00 pm. Parks and Recreation Gift Certificate winner will be announced by April 8.

For contest rules, and to enter, visit http://www.yorkville.il.us/493/Photo-Contest.

Bugaboo Consignment Sale

The Bugaboo Consignment Sale, a semi-annual children’s consignment sale, will be held next month on April 15 and 16 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds in Yorkville. Hundreds of mothers and fathers with gently used books, cribs, swings, clothing, jackets, teaching and craft supplies will be sold alongside clothing, strollers, car seats, sports equipment and some furniture items.

There are certain items that aren’t allowed for sale, and more information about the event on the Bugaboo website, Bugabooconsign.com. The sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 15. On Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., doors will open again and the half-price sale will begin. The fairgrounds are located at Route 71 and East High Point Road in Yorkville.

Tips on what to bring with you, where to park and additional information can be found on the Bugaboo website. Admission to the sale is free. All large purses, bags and diaper bags should be left in your vehicles before entering the sale. Credit cards, cash and checks are accepted.

–Kendall County News Briefs–