The Oswegoland Optimist Club will once again be holding an essay contest, as well as an oratorical contest, for area students. The first place winner advances to the district level, where there is an opportunity for a $2,500.00 scholarship. Pictured here are the 2016 winners  (left to right), Callista Morgan, first place. Leah Theodor, second place. Morgan Sumowski, third place. For more information, visit www.optimist.org. (Photo courtesy of the Oswegoland Optimist Club)

Aurora

The Second City Comes to The Paramount

What do drunk cousins, overbooked flights and awkward interactions with your boss at the company party have in common? The holidays are full of them. Blow off some of that seasonal steam with “The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue. “

These comedic men and women have made it an annual end-of-year tradition to bring their festive hilarity to Paramount’s 173-seat Copley Theatre, and in a theatre that intimate, you’re never more than 70 feet from all those Second City songs and skits. C’mon – grab some hot chocolate, maybe splash in something special to kick it up a notch and spend your holidays laughing all the way in Aurora. Show runs from Dec. 2-23. Tickets are $36.

Rated R for adult language and content. Visit www.paramountaurora.com for tickets.

Kendall County

Deputies seek jewelry thieves

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information in reference to a theft of jewelry that occurred on Oct. 18 at approximately 4 p.m. in the 0-100 block of Circle Drive West in unincorporated Montgomery.

Deputies said two females posed as medical workers and gained access to the residence. The subjects were last seen departing the area in a dark colored, smaller model SUV. The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office report number is 2016-3324.

Anyone with information on this or other crimes is urged to call Kendall County Crime Stoppers at (630) 553-5999. Callers remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the offenders.

Oswego juvenile charged with armed robbery

On Sept. 24,  Kendall County Sheriff’s deputies took a report and initiated an investigation for a robbery at gunpoint that occurred in the 1500 block of Simons Road, in Plainfield.

The complainant alleged to being battered and robbed by two acquaintances at gunpoint.

Kendall County detectives continued the investigation and on Oct. 28,  the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office charged a 17-year-old male juvenile from Oswego with Armed Robbery, a Class X Felony, Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony, Aggravated Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Criminal Damage to Property, a Class A Misdemeanor.

The juvenile was taken into custody on Oct. 31, and transported to Kane County Juvenile Justice Center.

Sheriff’s Office unveils new evidence processing room

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office has a new evidence processing room that will aid evidence technicians with the collection and identification of physical evidence.

The development and processing of latent fingerprints along with the preservation of biological evidence are some of the things evidence technicians will be able to do in the evidence processing room, which is located at the Public Safety Center.

While the evidence will still be sent to a state crime lab for analysis, the addition of the evidence processing room will help expedite the process identifying physical evidence in criminal investigations.

The evidence processing room will also be available for use by local law enforcement agencies to aid in their investigations. This cooperative effort is aimed at expanding our local capacity for evidence processing throughout Kendall County.

“The addition of the evidence processing room is another great resource now available to local law enforcement agencies to help solve crime in Kendall County,” said Sheriff Dwight A. Baird.

Montgomery

Police warn to buckle up all the time

The Montgomery Police Department is joining in a national effort to send Thanksgiving travelers an important lifesaving reminder to Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and more people on the road increases the likelihood of a crash.

During the 2014 Thanksgiving weekend alone, 341 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide, and 50 percent were not their wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal crash. And for those Thanksgiving weekend crashes that occurred at night, the percentage of unbuckled occupants killed jumped to an unsettling 58 percent.

“Half of all drivers and passengers killed in crashes on Thanksgiving weekend in 2014 weren’t wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crash,” said Deputy Chief Armando Sanders. “This statistic is staggering when we know seat belt use is one of the simplest ways to stay safe when you’re in a vehicle.”

Research reveals that males are more likely to be unbuckled than females in a fatal crash, and that younger drivers are also at greater risk of being unbuckled in a fatal crash.

“Buckling your seat belt should be your first step every time you enter a vehicle,” said Sanders. “Whether you’re riding or driving, traveling just across town or across the country, please make sure you and your loved ones always wear seat belts – this Thanksgiving and every day of the year. Just remember, Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.”

For more information about traveling safely during Thanksgiving, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

Oswego

Scholarship offered by the Oswegoland Optimist Club

The Optimist Club is once again holding an essay contest, as well as an oratorical contest, for area students. The essay contest requires students under the age of 18 as of Oct. 1 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent to compose a 700- to 800-word essay around a central idea. The topic this year is “Chasing Optimism In The Face Of Challenges.”

The contest is designed to develop writing and critical thinking skills. All essays need to be turned in to Ms. Tracey Contino at Oswego High School, no later than Feb. 1, 2017. For complete rules,  visit www.optimist.org. Cash prizes are awarded for the top three placing individuals at the club level. The first place winner advances to the district level, where there is an opportunity for a $2,500.00 scholarship.

Oratorical Contest

The Oratorical Contest is open to students under the age of 18 as of Oct. 1 who have not yet graduated from high school or its equivalent. Students are required to prepare a 4- to 5-minute speech on a pre-assigned topic. The Topic this year is “What The World Gains From Optimism”. This contest is designed to assist youth in gaining public speaking experience and provide them with an opportunity to compete for a scholarship. For more information and complete rules, visit www.optimist.org.

For information on these opportunities, as well as the local Oswegoland Optimist Club, visit their website at www.oswegooptimists.com, or their facebook page, Oswegoland Optimist Club.

Plano

Plano Library holds Fines For Food program

Plano residents, pay your library fines in November and you’ll also be making a donation to the Plano Rockin’ Christmas program, which distributes food boxes to local families in need. Your donation will be used to purchase essential perishable food items such as meat, produce, milk, and butter.

How does “Fines for Food” work?

You can pay and thus donate your entire fine amount if you’d like. Or, if paying the entire fine is difficult, pay what you can, which will then be your donation to the Plano Rockin’ Christmas program and we’ll waive your remaining fines. The minimum donation is $1.

“Fines for Food” can be used for overdue fines only. It cannot be used to pay bills for unreturned items or other fees.

Yorkville

Board of Education members recognized

Individuals who volunteer to serve on boards of education dedicate hundreds of hours of their personal time working to ensure the students who live in their community receive a proper education.

In appreciation of their unselfish, and too often unrecognized, efforts, Yorkville CUSD 115 is joining communities throughout the state to say “thank you” to local school board members during American Education Week and recognize these public servants for their commitment and contributions to public education.

Boards of Education consist of seven school district residents elected to serve four-year terms without pay. Yorkville CUSD 115 Board of Education members are: Dr. Robert Brenart, Dr. Lynn Burks, Dave Dockstader, Dean Fisher, Tom Kozlowicz, Jason Senffner, and Ashley Shields.

“Board of education members must make tough decisions that affect not only our school, but the entire community,” said Yorkville District 115 Superintendent Timothy Shimp. “Their choices impact our daily lives and help our community grow and thrive.”

As community trustees for the schools, District 115 school board members have oversight for an annual budget of approximately $80 million; approximately 6,000 students in pre-kindergarten through high school; more than 850 employees; and nine schools.

–Kendall County News Briefs–