Kendall County Sheriff Dwight A. Baird (left) with members of the new Kendall County Sheriff’s Office bike patrol unit (left to right) Deputy Pamela Krantz-Lee, Deputy John Collins, Deputy Richard Pearson, and Deputy Christopher Phillips. (Photo courtesy of Kendall Co. Sheriff’s Office)

Aurora

Aurora Police releases list of most dangerous intersections

As a reminder to residents to keep their eyes on the road and their faces out of their phones, Aurora police recently announced the top 10 intersections across the city where the most traffic crashes occurred from January through August of this year.

Below are the top intersections and the number of crashes to have occurred.

1. Rt. 59 and Ogden/Rt. 34 (55)
2. Eola Road and  New York Street (43)
3. Indian Trail and Lake Street (40)
4. Frontenac Road and Ogden/Rt. 34 (39)
5. New York Street and  Rt. 59 and Montgomery Road and  Rt. 59 (38)
6. Eola Road and North Aurora/Indian Trail (37)
7. Butterfield Road and Farnsworth/Kirk (34)
8. Eola Road and Ogden/Rt. 34 (32)
9. Galena Boulevard and Smith and Farnsworth Road and Indian Trail (31)
10. Eola Road and Liberty Street and McCoy and Rt. 59 (30)

Kendall

Man points gun at Bristol Township resident

Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for an armed man who pointed a gun at a resident during a Sept. 27 home invasion in Bristol Township.

Deputies were called to the 0-99 block of Park Lane by a resident who told deputies that he was inside of the home’s garage that morning when a white SUV occupied by three men drove into the driveway.

A white man with a bald head exited the SUV, entered the garage and pointed a handgun at the resident. The man then left the garage without saying or taking anything and the SUV took off toward Galena Road.

The driver was described as a white male with short dark hair and possibly a goatee. There was no description of the third man. The SUV possibly had the number 7 toward the end of its license plate number.

Deputies investigated the incident and spoke with residents in the area, but the alleged offenders were not located. There were no injuries reported and the case is still being investigated. This appears to be an isolated incident.

Anyone with tips or information regarding this incident can email detectives@co.kendall.il.us or call (630) 553-5856. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact the Kendall County Crimestoppers at (630) 553-5999.

Sheriff’s Office hires patrol deputy

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office has hired a new Deputy Sheriff to fill a vacant position in the Patrol Division. Travis Kurtz was sworn in on Sept.  26, 2016 by Sheriff Dwight A. Baird.

Deputy Kurtz is already a certified law enforcement officer in the state of Illinois. He will be paired with an experienced Field Training Officer and will undergo a rigorous 16-week field training program.

Kurtz, a Sandwich resident, earned an associate’s degree from Waubonsee Community College. Kurtz was a police officer with the Sandwich Police Department, Sugar Grove Police Department, and a court security deputy with Kane County prior to his employment with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office launches bicycle patrol unit

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the development and implementation of the department’s Bicycle Patrol Unit. The Bicycle Patrol Unit consists of four deputies and a sergeant.

The Bicycle Patrol Unit will be used for regular patrol duty, traffic enforcement, parking control, and special events. The use of a patrol bicycle will allow deputies to become more mobile and visible to the community.

Bicycle Patrol Unit Deputies John Collins, Pamela Krantz-Lee, Richard Pearson, and Christopher Phillips each completed a 32-hour Police Cyclist Class, which is nationally certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association.

During the class, deputies learned how to safely handle their bikes while in traffic and how to use the bicycle when making traffic stops, citizen contacts, and suspect contacts. Deputies qualified with their duty firearm while wearing bicycle safety equipment including helmets and riding gloves.

“The creation of the Bicycle Patrol Unit enhances patrol efforts in our community. Bicycle patrol has been shown to be an effective way to increase deputy visibility in congested areas and their quiet operation can provide a tactical approach to crimes in progress. I commend and extend special thanks to Deputies Collins, Krantz-Lee, Pearson, and Phillips for taking the initiative in starting up the unit,” said Sheriff Dwight A. Baird.

Schools encouraged to participate in Walk to School Day

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is encouraging schools throughout the state to participate in the 20th Annual International Walk to School Day on Oct. 5. Launched in 2000, International Walk to School Day is an opportunity for schools to promote walking to and from school, while also encouraging children to improve their own health in ways that benefit the environment.

Last year, 129 schools in Illinois hosted events.

Schools planning to participate in the event are urged to spend time instructing students on pedestrian safety. For more information and to register your event, visit www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Throughout the year, IDOT promotes walking and biking to school through the Safe Routes to School program. The department supports the program through initiatives such as new sidewalk construction, speed monitoring systems, public education and outreach programs.

Oswego

Associate Superintendent named to Aspiring Women Leaders Program

Associate Superintendent of Community Unit School District 308 Judith Minor has been selected to participate in the prestigious new AASA (School Superintendents Association) Aspiring Women Leaders Program, which aims to help women become school superintendents earlier in their careers and persist once they are on the job.

“We want to congratulate Dr. Minor for all of her hard work and dedication,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin said. “I am proud to see a School District 308 administrator receive this type of deserved national recognition and opportunity for her leadership.”

After a nationwide search, AASA selected 20 accomplished women leaders from school districts across the country to participate in the inaugural cohort of the AASA Aspiring Women Leaders Program. The AASA initiative was launched to help mitigate the impact of social barriers women face in ascending to top leadership positions within school systems and to significantly increase the number of women seeking and becoming superintendents of schools.

“I am thrilled to have been selected to the AASA Aspiring Women Leaders Program,” Minor said. “It is both an honor and a privilege to participate in such an important program that focuses on cultivating the talents and networks of aspiring women leaders.”

Minor and the other women leaders have  exhibited professional excellence and a commitment to their work in the education field.

Upcoming Senior Center events announced

Learn about estate planning and gifting strategies, and how to maximize your gifting through strategic planning of finances during this Oswego Senior Center presentation from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 11.  

The class is presented by David Erickson, Edward Jones and Brian LeClercq, LeClercq Insurance Services. Please register at the Oswego Senior Center, 156 E. Washington St., or call (630) 554-5602.

The following Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join others at the Senior Center for the Caregiver Series. This week’s presentation is called “Blindsided by Caregiving.”

Caregiving can be a sudden onslaught of responsibilities and stress that not only requires time and effort, but also changes the dynamics of the household, relationships and families.

This can look different for everyone and can present challenges that the caregiver may have never considered either for themselves or their loved one. Learn how to navigate these changes and challenges to maintain healthy relationships.

This program takes place at the Oswego Senior Center, 156 E. Washington St. Lunch will be served. Those interested in attending should  RSVP by calling (630) 554-5602. All ages of adults are welcome.

The annual Montgomery Cemetery Walk takes place in Riverside Cemetery on Oct. 5.  An indoor reenactment will be held on Oct. 11 at Village Hall.  (Photo courtesy of village of Montgomery)

Montgomery

Village will host  Indoor Cemetery Walk

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Historic Preservation Commission will present an indoor version of the Cemetery Walk for those who are unable to attend the evening event in the cemetery on Oct. 5. The reenactment presentation on Oct. 11 will take place in the Board Room at the Village Hall, 200 N. River St.

The annual Cemetery Walk takes place in Riverside Cemetery. Guests are led through the cemetery in small groups to meet the fascinating “ghosts” of early pioneers and other residents of the cemetery as portrayed by costumed actors.

This is not a scary event, but an opportunity to learn more about the lives of those men and women who contributed in various ways to Montgomery’s history.

The free indoor presentation is being offered on Oct. 11 by the village of Montgomery. There is no charge and the event is handicapped accessible. The monthly Senior Lunch and activity will begin at 11 a.m. after the presentation. There is a $4 cost for the lunch.

For additional information on this event, call Montgomery Village Hall at (630) 896-8080, Ext. 9023.

–Kendall County News Briefs–