A 31-year-old pedestrian was killed by a vehicle in Wood Dale early Wednesday morning Police responded to a crash near the south lanes of Route 83 and Sherwood Avenue at about 5 a.m a man later identified as Jorge Velasquez of Bensenville The initial investigation indicates he was trying to cross Route 83 without having a pedestrian crosswalk signal activated The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officers throughout the investigation The DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team The roadway was closed for several hours while investigators processed the area and anyone with information is asked to contact the Wood Dale Police Investigations Division at (630) 766-2060 Franklin (Photo Provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) A Wood Dale man who allegedly drove through a fatal crash scene in McHenry County was released from custody Monday while awaiting trial Andrew M. Franklin, 64, is accused of speeding through a fatal crash site while police were investigating and driving his car toward an officer, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court. Franklin was charged with aggravated assault to a police officer Franklin made his initial court appearance Monday and was released with conditions including that he must refrain from “direct intentional contact” with the police officer whom authorities allege Franklin almost hit with his car Prosecutors did not seek to have Franklin detained in jail while he awaits trial but asked for conditions of his release that were granted The complaint alleges that Franklin drove his vehicle “directly at” at an officer who was working the scene of the fatal crash and that Franklin disregarded the officer’s orders to stop causing the officer to have to move out of the way to avoid being hit According to the complaint, Franklin also was ordered to stop because he was about to drive through a fatal crash scene. Instead, Franklin kept driving through the scene and fled from the officer, authorities said. A warrant had been issued for Franklin’s arrest earlier in December Rather than stop his car when told to do so because he was entering the fatal crash scene Franklin “continued driving through the scene of the crash According to the complaint, the allegations against Franklin occurred about 11:10 p.m. Sept. 27. Court documents do not give a location of the crash scene, but about 20 minutes earlier the same night, Austin Stanek of Island Lake was walking along Roberts Road near Island Lake when he was killed in what authorities said was a hit-and-run crash. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Mary Marino of Wood Dale created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories A $5.5 million expansion is planned for Wiegel’s Wood Dale headquarters funded in part by Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentives The expansion will enable the company to integrate new  technology to help meet the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy products marking a significant step in Illinois’ clean energy transition Illinois is growing its clean energy economy — and today I’m proud to announce Wiegel’s $5.5 million expansion in our great state,” Gov Wiegel’s investment will not only build critical technology for the renewable energy sector but also create good-paying jobs that strengthen our workforce.” The expansion includes a new facility addition that will increase manufacturing capacity and efficiency at Wiegel’s Wood Dale location as well as the purchase of advanced machinery The new equipment will allow Wiegel to produce copper busbars a key component used in electric vehicle manufacturing Founded in 1941 by Otto Wiegel as Industrial Tool Works the family-owned company has evolved into a global leader in tool and die stamping The business is now led by the third generation of the Wiegel family with Aaron Wiegel serving as president and CEO “We would like to thank all involved for approving Wiegel for this program,” Aaron Wiegel said “Illinois’ continued support in grants throughout our history has helped propel Wiegel to become a world-class manufacturer This investment will enable us to expand into the fast-growing energy transition sector and we’re excited about the opportunities it will bring.” director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity “REV Illinois is changing the way we do business in Illinois Wiegel is an Illinois innovator who has responded swiftly to market changes and their investment in the electric vehicle space will help reduce our carbon footprint while strengthening our workforce.” The REV Illinois program is designed to provide competitive incentives to manufacturers in the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors Wiegel has been a longstanding partner with the state receiving support through Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) and Apprenticeship Education Expense tax credits which have helped the company expand internationally and invest in workforce development Wiegel’s expansion is part of a broader wave of investments in Illinois’ clean energy and electric vehicle sectors Recent REV Illinois agreements have supported companies such as EV manufacturers Rivian all of which are helping to shape the state’s future in the global energy transition This follows landmark projects like Gotion’s $2.4 billion EV battery gigafactory in Manteno marking the largest EV battery investment in state history and website in this browser for the next time I comment For advertising information and rates, you can call (888) 627-8717 ext 212 or request information through the “Advertising and sponsorships“ link Alternative rock band Everclear has been chosen to headline the musical entertainment at Wood Dale’s Prairie Fest this June which drew a large crowd to the Vernon Hills Days festival last year is scheduled to take the stage in Wood Dale at 9:15 p.m “Prairie Fest is evolving with the community So we’re really excited for Everclear and to put Wood Dale on the map,” said Janelle Silva the city’s director of Community Relations She said the committee members who choose talent for Prairie Fest range in age from the 40s into the 80s. Every one of them knew at least one Everclear song Metropolitan Chicago listeners make up Everclear’s second-largest Spotify audience Everclear will likely play its 1995 smash, “Santa Monica,” one of the band’s 12 Top 40 singles The band had four albums certified Gold or Platinum Chicago rock and pop covers band Sucker Punch will open for Everclear at 6:30 p.m Prairie Fest runs from 6 p.m Starting the entertainment at 6 p.m. Thursday, iPOP plays rock pop and hip-hop from the Motown era through the 1990s Praised by the Illinois Entertainer for its “perfect blend of vocal harmonies,” classic rock covers band ARRA closes out the first day from 8:15 to 10 p.m After Everclear brings down the house on Friday Saturday brings a four-band lineup from 3 to 11 p.m. Everett Dean and the Lonesome Hearts opens with a set of oldies and rockabilly covers, followed by Cheap Foreign Cars — highlighting songs by Cheap Trick Saturday’s entertainment ends with Alt 101, which plays 1990s alternative rock by groups such as Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime and Foo Fighters; and Too Hype Crew an energetic group of musicians and dancers who perform old-school hip-hop Sunday’s music starts at 5:15 p.m. with the Tom Petty tribute band, Petty Union. As it does annually, renowned covers band 7th heaven, now celebrating its 40th year closes out Prairie Fest from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m “They have quite the following,” Silva said of 7th heaven She says she is also excited about a nonmusical event Bringing costumes and personas into its temporary ring ZOWA returns after last year’s performance was “a massive hit,” Silva said For details on Prairie Fest, visit the city of Wood Dale’s website at wooddale.com 2025 at 5:15 am CSTExpandMorris Elementary School District 54 Morris Elementary District 54 is searching for a new superintendent to start in July after the departure of Superintendent Shannon Dudek who leaves for Wood Dale District 7 Tuesday The Board of Education has begun its search It is “aiming to identify a leader to guide the district into a promising future.” It said in the news release that it is looking for someone with a commitment to academic excellence Shannon Dudek is the superintendent of Morris Elementary School District 54 the district looks to build on its achievements while addressing opportunities for growth in a rapidly evolving educational landscape,” reads the news release The district requires these documents to apply for the superintendent position: Those interested in the job can send an email with their documents to superintendentsearch@morris54.org Michael UrbanecMichael Urbanec covers Grundy County and the City of Morris, Coal City, Minooka, and more for the Morris Herald-News Office Sought: Wood Dale City Council Ward 1 Previous offices held: Fenton High School board member since 2023 What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it Wood Dale in not a community with outsized problems Some of the issues are good such planning for growth Attracting businesses that are complementary to the community in reputation environmental impact are decisions that would affect the community for 10 This is long after many of those involved in the decisions may have left public service I would expect the council to have criteria for recruiting new business with periodic reviews of contacts and the results This would allow the city to continually adjust its marketing How would you describe the state of your community's finances What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed Wood Dale finances are good with currently 6 months of reserves Without short changing infrastructure to be addressed below I suggest the saying that you have to spend money to make money Companies will review financial incentives as part of their checklist prior to committing to a location Wood Dale has an environment to attract business Plus it recently spent $8 million and built roads to seal a deal with a data center that would result in tax revenues well over the initial cost to the city The decision to commit millions of dollars was controversial but the payback is attractive I also have the opinion if you start digging What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address what project(s) can be put on the back burner Infrastructure is a concern whether old drainage and sewer pipes The water tower will undergo an overhaul to check welds Areas prone to flooding should be a priority due to potential property damage and grants are available to help offset construction costs not every bid comes in within budget or there might be scheduling issues I would expect a plan B project to make the best use of available funds Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council I am currently on the Fenton High School board human resources and various operational policies I believe one must listen to those with whom you don’t agree This can lead to common ground and a solution This also helps avoid a scenario of those who win and those who lose Everyone should have a piece of the win or successful solution and so have an environment to solve the next problem What makes you the best candidate for the job I bring to the citizens of Wood Dale over 35 years of experience in accounting This experience provides me the foundation to ask questions to get behind the numbers to take a close look at the operations and if need be a willingness to “rock the boat.” What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet A look at a few other communities along train lines you see Elmhurst Lombard and Glen Ellyn have a vibrant downtown Many businesses are centrally located and the layout allows residents to stroll and mingle Many pass their evenings entertained with in their own communities These communities also have a strong sense of identity If there were a chance to redirect development in Wood Dale in such a fashion to be more pedestrian friendly There are practical limitations to doing this given the existing business layout however perhaps bit by bit and envisioning how to shape Wood Dale this could come to pass can cast their lines for rainbow trout at freshly stocked Grove Lake at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s “Trout Fishing for Kids” on Saturday to noon at Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve in Wood Dale Kids get a great opportunity to fish the 9-acre lake after it’s been stocked but before the state’s official spring trout season opener on Saturday Family members are welcome to join the kids but may not fish themselves The event is free and registration is not required “What makes this event special is it gives young anglers a chance to experience the excitement of fishing in a fun and supportive setting,” said Dan Grigas fisheries ecologist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Some equipment will be available for loan but participants are encouraged to bring their own gear The entrance to Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve is on Wood Dale Road where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter and Facebook Seven-year-old Sloane Kalina was all smiles as her dad, Derek, helped her cast a line into Grove Lake at the Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve Saturday during the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s “Trout Fishing for Kids” event Kids ages 15 and younger got to fish for rainbow trout that was freshly stocked The event offered kids a great opportunity to fish the 9-acre lake before the state’s official spring trout season opener on April 5 thus increasing their chances of catching a fish Office sought: Wood Dale City Council Ward 1 When I was walking around the Ward 1 I had insightful conversations with a lot of different residents Each one of them had issues they would like to see taken care of As an alderman I would try to find a way to help the community with their concerns as best as I can My goal is to create a seamless band of communication between residents and the city council As far as I know our community’s finances are in great shape we have an awesome team that takes great care in keeping the city of Wood Dale finances top priority many of them voiced concerns about speeding in their neighborhoods retention of businesses on Irving Park road and having a family friendly communal area for residents to gather The decisions on whether a project should be done and the funding of any forthcoming projects should be decided among the city council Many factors play a role in determining policy In management of local government the primary factor would be to identify a need for a policy Our city residents play an integral role in this They are the ones that know ins and outs of what our cities needs are In order to manage effectively the city council needs a liaison who is approachable friendly and willing to listen to the residents concerns with a high regard and able to take action when a need for a policy arises and someone who will follow through with implementation of a solution or development of policy in betterment of the whole city Clear and respectful cooperation between the city council in collaboration with the city residents should be the basis of our policy determination I am a family man who is trying to do good in our town I have ideas of what could be done to better our community I just want to say that reaching out to the community of our residents and finding out what they think requires the city council’s attention will be my top priority I want the residents to know there are people in their city willing to help out with any issues or concerns they may have The Wood Dale Public Library will present “The American Folk Song with Mark Dvorak” on Thursday It will begin at 1 p.m. in the library’s Barbara E. Dunn Meeting Room, 520 N. Wood Dale Road. Sign up via wooddalelibrary.org “I try to mix it up,” said Dvorak who accompanies himself on guitar “The subject of ‘The American Folk Song’ has always been fascinating to me It all started by listening to Bob Dylan while in high school I read the 1972 biography by Anthony Scaduto which led me to Pete Seeger Seeger’s recordings and books that opened the door to the music of Woody Guthrie The songs represent a kind of an ongoing patchwork quilt of struggle And at the very core of these songs — is storytelling Dvorak is celebrating the release of his 20th CD “Live & Alone,” recorded in an empty concert hall during the height of the pandemic lockdown “31 Winters,” which reflects on his long journey through music and teaching The Chicago Tribune has called Dvorak “masterful,” and the Fox Valley Folk Festival describes him as “a living archive of song and style.” Dvorak has won awards for journalism and children’s music and was honored in 2013 with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award from Folk Alliance International he received the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2012 Rich Warren long time host of The Midnight Special radio program named Dvorak “Chicago’s official troubadour.” For information, call (630) 766-6762 or visit www.wooddalelibrary.org Learn more about Mark Dvorak at www.markdvorak.com A Wood Dale man accused of driving through a fatal crash scene in McHenry County was released from custody Monday while awaiting trial is accused of speeding through the fatal crash site while police were investigating and driving his car toward an officer according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court Franklin was charged with aggravated assault to a police officer intentional contact” with the police officer whom authorities allege Franklin nearly hit with his car “directly at” the officer who was working the scene of an earlier fatal crash Franklin disregarded the officer’s orders to stop causing the officer to move out of the way to avoid being hit Court documents do not give a location of the crash site but about 20 minutes earlier on the same night Austin Stanek of Island Lake was walking along Roberts Road near Island Lake when he was killed in what authorities said was a hit-and-run crash A warrant was issued for Franklin’s arrest earlier in December Leah Casey never imagined she’d be using her theater degree to bring life to a puppet Born and raised in Wood Dale, the 30-year-old will be a puppeteer in Manual Cinema’s production of “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster” for the Children’s Theatre Company After graduating from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2017 auditioned at Manual Cinema for a production of “Frankenstein.” The audition included acting in silhouette She had no prior experience with puppetry before this “I went home and I didn’t really think much of it until … my agent said ‘hey “I had no idea what I was getting into — I had no idea what company they were.” Manual Cinema is an Emmy Award-winning performance collective and film/video production company founded in 2010 and innovative sound and music to create immersive stories for stage and screen Casey got the opportunity to work with companies such as Children’s Theatre Company and Drury Lane Theatre “I’ve gotten to try a lot of different things.” This has allowed her to travel extensively performing in other countries including Canada and South America “I was exposed to so much international theater and Scotland is just … gorgeous,” Casey said “That was definitely the most memorable one.” Casey will be playing and operating the puppet Kerry in Manual Cinema’s latest 45-minute production The show is an adaptation by Sarah Fornace and Drew Dir of the books “Leonardo The Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World” by Mo Willems “It tells an important story about empathy and choosing unexpected friendships,” playwright and director Fornace said in a news release and video cameras to bring Mo’s books to life in front of the audience’s eyes.” Casey admires Manual Cinema’s ability to rework stories until they’re perfect those in charge are able to change as much as they want and they’re really good at creating this material and then saying ‘this isn’t working with the story they’ll come up with something else that fits even better and works on the science fiction podcast “Project STELLAR.” Casey says she would’ve been happy with a career in any type of theater but she simply never imagined puppetry would be her future Tickets to “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster” may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/Leonardo or by calling the ticket office at (612) 874-0400 turned an inside joke amongst his friends into a cinematic masterpiece leading to a NATAS Mid-America Crystal Pillar Award nomination in the fiction short film category the production showcases various filmmaking techniques and themes and doesn’t fail to leave the audience in laughter through the addition of comedic scenes Kennedy shares the unique backstory on the creation and development of the character “Dale,” an inside joke between friends for almost 10 years that has inspired the production of an award nominated film and on the GPS popped the Town of Wood Dale “What if there's a guy named Dale Wood in Wood Dale the dealership of Wood Dale?’ And then it just spiraled out of control from there,”  Kennedy said.  Kennedy and his friend wanted to create a film together showcasing their funny Dale Wood dialogues on camera an emergency changed the course of the film pushing Kennedy to think outside the box in conveying this narrative “Nico suffered from an allergic reaction to cashews at a restaurant and because of those cashews I ended up having to make this video on my own,” explained Kennedy I was really excited to do a Dale Wood video what if Dale Wood was having an ad for his dealership on the radio So that was how I came up with the concept.”   The humor aspect would be considered as one of the most prevalent components of this short film A cinematic technique not only adding a unique flair to the production but also aiding in conveying a deeper message.  “The beauty of having a piece of humor is that it allows you to not take yourself too seriously and it gave me the ability to really open up my creativity in a way that a more serious video would have otherwise sort of limited me,”  Kennedy said “The big takeaway would be for people to not take themselves too seriously to have a little laugh,”  Kennedy said when asked about the message of the film Kennedy leaves the audience with a positive outlook and the message of adding humor to the small things in life.  “The big takeaway is just finding the funny in everyday little things on a silly concept and a made-up character that took five seconds to create and has given us years and years of endless laughter you might as well sprinkle in some humor every chance you get and that's kind of what Dale Wood is for us [Kennedy and his friends],” said Kennedy Kennedy credits the obstacles and unexpected surprises in the creation of this film in pushing his creativity “Limitation forcing me to get creative was the origin story of how this video came to be and it opens me up to the spontaneity of creativity in whatever project I have going on in the future.”  Watch the Crystal Pillar nominated work “Let’s Make a Dale” linked here Phone: 312.915.6548 · Fax: 312.915.6955 LoyolaSOC@luc.edu A Wood Dale man has been sentenced to three years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed his stepdaughter was immediately taken into custody on Tuesday He pleaded guilty in October to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol — causing death He was accused of killing Jaylene Escamilla in a crash around 2:15 a.m just southwest of O’Hare International Airport Escamilla and Escamilla’s husband were in the car The surviving passengers told police Moxthe lost control when trying to navigate a turn in the road The car struck a guard rail and flipped over Court records show Moxthe had a blood-alcohol level of .12 Moxthe will have to serve at least 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole and was given credit for 40 days he had spent in jail After last year’s unforgettable performance, two-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway sensation Laura Osnes returns to join the globally renowned Wooddale Choir and Orchestra to bring you the sounds of the Christmas season at an all-new Christmas at Wooddale concert Feel the excitement and joy of the holidays as the best of Broadway and the heart of the Twin Cities come together to serve up a helping of Christmas cheer But the Eagan native won’t be coming without gifts: she returns to deliver a dazzling holiday musical experience alongside some other highly decorated and well-traveled performers in one of the region’s grandest venues Wooddale Choir and the resonant chords of the Wooddale Orchestra The Wooddale Choir has performed around the globe and was the featured choir at the prestigious Midsummer Festival in Rattvik they returned to Europe and performed in grand cathedrals and churches across the continent Immerse yourself in a flurry of Christmas spirit during any of the four Christmas at Wooddale concerts — on December 14 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on December 15 at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Join us in Wooddale Church’s majestic 2,000-seat auditorium and against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the three-story-tall Visser-Rowland pipe organ the largest tracker pipe organ in North America Concert dates:December 14 at 4 & 7 p.m.December 15 at 2:30 & 5 p.m Purchase Tickets Here Mosquito batches collected in Bartlett and Wood Dale are the first to test positive for West Nile virus this year in DuPage County The virus-positive pools of mosquitoes were collected in Bartlett on June 18 and then in Wood Dale on June 27 there have been no reported human cases of West Nile in DuPage public health officials say positive mosquito pools are associated with an increased risk of infection in people Experts recommend following the four “D’s” of defense this summer Drain items that collect standing water around your home or yard Scrub and refill pet water dishes and birdbaths regularly Defend with an insect repellent containing DEET when outdoors and reapply according to the directions long sleeves and closed-toe shoes when outside Dusk to Dawn is the prime time for mosquito activity and when you should EPA-registered repellent outdoors COUNTY OPENS NEWLY RENOVATED SPORTS COURTS IN WOOD DALE COUNTY PARK the fastest growing sport in America to northern Bergen County Executive Director of Bergen County Parks James Koth and local officials cut the ribbon in front of Wood Dale County Park’s brand-new pickleball courts and the Bergen County Parks Department announce the completion and grand opening of two renovated tennis courts and two newly installed pickleball courts at Wood Dale County Park in Woodcliff Lake Wood Dale County Park is now the third park in the Bergen County Parks System to feature the rapidly growing sport of pickleball among its amenities after Overpeck and Riverside County Parks The upgrades cost a total of $965,125 and received funding from the County’s Open Space Trust Fund and the Bergen County Parks Department capital improvement fund “We are excited to announce the opening of newly renovated sports courts at Wood Dale County Park in line with our commitment to providing diverse recreational opportunities for our community,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco “This upgrade is part of our larger initiative to enhance amenities across the Bergen County Parks System encouraging active and healthy lifestyles for all residents.” "In accordance with the 2019 Bergen County Parks Master Plan we continue to upgrade and improve our parks facilities including new opportunities for recreation," said Commissioner Steve Tanelli "We are committed to ensuring that Bergen County residents have access to open space and opportunities for outdoor recreation especially as interest in pickleball continues to grow."  The completion of the Wood Dale County Park sport courts is part of a larger initiative to upgrade amenities across the Bergen County Parks System as outlined in County Executive Tedesco’s 2023 State of the County Address sport court upgrades will begin at Samuel Nelkin County Park in Wallington and the Rochelle Park section of Saddle River County Park Both park upgrades will include the resurfacing basketball and tennis courts as well as the installation of pickleball These renovations will be followed by further sport court renovations at Van Saun County Park and the Dunkerhook and Glen Rock sections of Saddle River County Park Tedesco III taking the inaugural volley on Wood Dale County Park’s brand-new pickleball court Tedesco III poses with community members who played the first pickleball game on the new pickleball courts at Wood Dale County Park Community members playing the first game of pickleball on Wood Dale County Park’s brand-new pickleball courts Bergen CountyOne Bergen County PlazaHackensack County Executive – 201-336-7300 County Commissioners - 201-336-6200 Prosecutor's Office - 201-646-2300 Sheriff’s Office – 201-336-3500 Surrogate’s Office – 201-336-6700 County Clerk – 201-336-7000 Constituent Hotline – 201-336-7330  Facebook Twitter  Instagram About Us | Contact Us | Email Preferences | Help | Donate Subscribe Log In href="/section/business" aria-current="page" 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(Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian) Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0'); }); if (document.body.classList.contains("column-article")) googletag.eventListeners = googletag.eventListeners || {}; googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded = googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded || {}; var handlers = googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded["div-gpt-ad-1576080080820-0"] || []; if (typeof handlers === 'function') handlers = [ handlers ]; var $adContainer = $("#div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0").closest(".Ad").parent(); var adSlot = googletag.pubads().getSlots().find(s => s.getSlotElementId() === 'div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0'); $adContainer.insertBefore($adContainer.siblings(".AuthorCallout").first()); $adContainer.addClass("Ad-container--full-float"); googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded["div-gpt-ad-1576080080820-0"] = handlers; The executive director of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission said the school has shown improvement in the past two years and generally outperforms nearby middle schools operated by the local district. Marta W. Aldrich is the senior statehouse correspondent at Chalkbeat Tennessee. A newswoman for The Associated Press for most of her career, Marta has covered state government, politics, business, education and other Tennessee news. She has served as news editor of United Methodist News Service and features editor of American Profile magazine. Marta is a graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. 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Budget takeaways: What Wanda Halbert’s mistake cost and more Memphis Athletic Ministries closing, will merge with Streets googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1533927466764-0'); }); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1533927600831-0'); }); Sign up for our morning and evening editions Become a subscriber to keep reading Help Log In The Daily Memphian | Contact Us | FAQ | Additional Subscription Options | Work With Us | About Us | Privacy Policy | Donate It's a separate element as animating opacity is faster than rgba() PhotoSwipe keeps only 3 of them in the DOM to save memory window.dmConversions = window.dmConversions || {}; window.dmConversions.conversionEventQueue = []; window.dmConversions.captureConversion = function (conversion) { if (window.PARSELY && window.PARSELY.loaded) { dmc.conversionEventQueue.push(conversion); window.dmConversions.trackParselyConversion = function (conversion) { window.PARSELY.conversions.trackSubscription(conversion.label); window.PARSELY.conversions.trackCustom(conversion.label); window.PARSELY.conversions.trackNewsletterSignup(conversion.label); window.dmConversions.Conversion = function (data) { self.existingContact = data.existingContact; for (var i = 0; i < dmc.conversionEventQueue.length; i++) { "name": user.firstName + " " + user.lastName median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.set?.({ window.median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.remove?.(); median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.remove?.(); var allowAnonymous = await waitForWindowVariable('median_allow_anonymous'); $main.append("*If you do not already have an account please subscribe on The Daily Memphian website prior to using this app There were some very dire statements in a new update from Big Lots about what the rest of the year will be like for the retail chain Reports say there are plans to close 40 stores and the question now is how many of the 29 current Illinois locations will be affected I saw this report today from Ozark Radio News which pointed to a new filing report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission This quote from Big Lots filing will give you an idea of the struggle the company is having right now: "the Company has concluded there is a significant likelihood that it will be unable to comply with the Excess Availability Covenant under the 2022 Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Facility within the next 12 months which raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern" Here are the current Illinois locations of Big Lots according to their website: The filing with the government by Big Lots does not specify what the locations will be of the planned 40 store closings it will be updated once Big Lots announces which stores will close their doors There were some very dire statements in a new update from Big Lots about what the rest of the year will be like for the retail chain. Reports say there are plans to close 40 stores and the question now is how many of the 29 current Illinois locations will be affected.\nRead More Here are the current Illinois locations of Big Lots according to their website: The filing with the government by Big Lots does not specify what the locations will be of the planned 40 store closings 2023 at 4:45 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Prosecutors say Juan Moxthe had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12 after a crash in which his car flipped (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)WOOD DALE IL — A 45-year-old Wood Dale man faces aggravated drunk driving charges after prosecutors said that he was responsible for a crash this month that caused the death of his stepdaughter Juan Moxthe was charged by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office after the crash were traveling on Irving Park Road near O’Hare Airport when Moxthe suddenly lost control of the vehicle and struck a guardrail Jaylene Escamilla was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and Moxthe was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries Police said that he had a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.12 two hours after the crash A 50-year-old woman, identified as Moxthe's wife, and Escamilla's 30-year-old husband were treated at the scene by paramedics Moxthe was released from the hospital on Dec 22 and was charged by prosecutors with aggravated drunk driving causing death on Saturday Moxthe was 100 percent avoidable,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said or use a ride-sharing service to make sure you and your passengers get home safely I offer my sincerest condolences to Jaylene’s family and friends and wish them strength as they adjust to their new reality of life without Jaylene.” Moxthe’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan 8 for arraignment after a judge approved a motion to detain him before trial He is being held in the DuPage County Jail Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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The Wood Dale Park District plans to open the 390 Golf Experience later this summer in place of the former Topgolf on Prospect and North Thorndale avenues The 390 Golf Experience will operate as an extension of the park district's Salt Creek Golf Club and will be owned and operated by the park district after Topgolf left Wood Dale in 2019 the 390 Golf Experience will have a mini golf course and driving ranges Rather than charging based on time spent on activities the 390 Golf Experience would charge customers for balls used at the ranges Park district Executive Director Matthew Ellmann said the facility is in the process of securing a food vendor as well He said the 390 Golf Experience will mesh with the overall priorities of the district I never would have imagined that we would have a place like this of our own,” Ellmann said “I'm really happy to see everything come together and it's a fun way to expand our golf operations.” Ellmann said COVID-19 delayed the opening of the facility the opening was pushed back to this year both for health safety and because of supply issues the facility will need around 50,000 golf balls for the customers and the park district has received less than half that number the park district has also not received ball distribution and retrieval systems for the driving range “We're all really excited about this happening but we are being cautious,” Ellmann said “We're only now coming out of the pandemic and we can't control everything.” the principal at Westview Elementary School in Wood Dale got his second biggest surprise of the year on Friday The biggest came during a pickup basketball game in July when he saved the life of another player by performing CPR after the man's heart had stopped The second came Friday morning in Westview's gym when that man secretly arranged a visit to thank him in front of the school's students and staff "He got me," Buttimer said with a big smile after Sam Ally told the kids about their principal's heroic actions that saved his life The surprise visit came under the guise of a school assembly to wrap up a week focusing on kindness Kids wore ties to the "kindness ties us together" assembly and the program included eight children in the front holding up the letters that spelled out "kindness." Each letter represented a word describing an act of kindness The final "s" was for saving someone's life That's when teacher Melissa Serrano told the kids their principal had saved someone She also said "s" is for "surprise" and asked Buttimer to come to the front as the kids cheered Buttimer looked to the back of the gym to see Ally the other basketball players from that night and Buttimer's family told the kids about how he collapsed on the floor and his heart stopped "If he didn't jump into action as fast as he did I wouldn't be here," Ally said of Buttimer Buttimer and Ally were among a group playing basketball at Oak Lawn Community High School The two men had known each other for about a year after playing together a few nights a week who said he's a "reasonably healthy" 64-year-old with no history of any heart issues was feeling a little more winded than usual After taking a short break during the game Buttimer wrote down what happened when he got home and later shared the drama with Ally The players rushed over after noticing Ally was down at midcourt who just two weeks before had undergone refresher training in CPR started chest compressions while the others called emergency services and found an AED machine in the gym Buttimer gave Ally two jolts from the machine before paramedics and police arrived and took over Ally woke up in the hospital the next morning probably from a long-ago case of pneumonia had stopped the electrical impulses in his heart They said they had no idea how he was still alive "I'll be thanking Al every day for the rest of my life," Ally said He said thinking of a way to honor the man who saved him kept him up at night He contacted Wood Dale School District 7 Superintendent John Corbett who then worked with a small handful of teachers and staff to pull off the surprise Buttimer told the kids during the assembly that all he did was follow the lessons they were learning "The first part of an act of kindness is recognizing the opportunity recognizing somebody else's need and not being a bystander "I think we all did that once we saw our friend Sam was in need." Ally gave Buttimer a pocket watch with an inscription on the outside that read Time teaches us the value of life." The message from Ally inside the watch said Buttimer said he hasn't "felt heroic in any way." "There was no direct confidence that what we were doing was the right thing or going to work," Buttimer said Rich Williams had never stepped inside Tioga Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2149 in his life until he was sworn in as commander in February 2021 The 87-year-old Wood Dale VFW Post was on the verge of closing over a lack of leadership Air Force veteran saw a mention on an online Wood Dale community bulletin board It read the post commander was retiring and if another couldn't be found Tioga would close Having a disability himself - Williams was invalided out of the service after his third knee surgery - he had been thinking about trying to do something for other veterans with disabilities Williams realized he was unwilling to give up a space that gives veterans a chance to connect and help one another implying that if he thought about it too much who told him he was too late; the vote to close the post already had been taken "It's never too late," the commander told him it is at 510 Georgetown Square in Wood Dale "I was more than eager to help," Williams said "I always think it's important that veterans reach out to each other in our times of need." Tioga has about 12 participating members who attend the monthly meetings but it still has a lot of other active members who are loyal dues-payers from video poker machines and from bar sales The banquet hall is booked every Saturday for the next two months and live entertainment is scheduled once a month The Queen of Hearts tournament was put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic and Williams says they intend to restart it once they are convinced enough older residents are comfortable leaving their homes again The post offers bingo but doesn't make much money at it - instead it brings people into the post for a companionable time The money they bring in helps keep the post home in working order and pays for renovations provides seed money for events like the Wood Dale Memorial Day parade the VFW organizes which does solemn ceremonies at veteran funerals and gravesides Post 2149 donated nearly $30,000 to local veterans groups and community charities "$11,700 went directly to veterans organizations," Williams said explaining why not every penny is donated directly to veterans his priority is to grow the post from the 12 participatory members to something more and to reach out to lonely vets "You don't have to do it alone," Williams said of veterans who have no social outlet but when you can talk about what you've been through with someone who understands He'd also like to encourage younger veterans to come "My goal is to get away from the image of the VFW as a bunch of old people sitting around telling war stories," Williams said so some of the younger vets who stop in might say part of what commonly is called the "AMMO troops," who build bombs and missiles on site that meant living and working in Saudi Arabia for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm He also was stationed at Myrtle Beach Base in South Carolina He was in the Middle East for about six months because the enemy didn't know how close his unit was really Williams works at the Roto Rooter Plumbing he says that there is still much to learn about the VFW One thing he has learned is how to appreciate the steady stream of regulars - most of them not veterans at all - who have made the VFW their hangout Last Monday evening a non-veteran family came in Monday nights usually are slow and the post closes early keeping the post open so the family wasn't rushed out "They are true regulars - they volunteer to help out with the parade and decorate the post for events," William said • Tioga VFW Post 2149 is open seven days a week: Sundays-Mondays although it often stays open later on Saturday nights Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com Click here and subscribe today. West Melbourne's incoming police chief is a 26-year veteran of the police department in Wood Dale a smaller city of roughly 14,000 residents just west of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport On Tuesday night, the West Melbourne City Council unanimously confirmed the hiring of Greg Vesta to replace retired police chief Richard Wiley who led the department from September 2012 until August "West Melbourne has identified opportunities and traits of the ideal candidate that you are seeking to fill with the upcoming vacancy I am positive that I would be successful in working with the community to achieve these goals," Vesta wrote in his resume cover letter Police chief contact negotiations underway: West Melbourne names eight finalists to replace retired police chief Richard Wiley New jobs and a $115 million facility planned : Dassault Falcon Jet announces plan to create 400 new jobs at Melbourne airport facility West Melbourne candidates' issues: Candidates focus on infrastructure improvement, potential fire services "The three main themes I learned that the community seeks in their next Chief of Police is to enhance the already strong relationship with the community develop the members of the department for a higher level of leadership capabilities and to take a fresh look at the operations of the department to address the needs of the community," Vesta wrote City Manager Tim Rhode said he hopes Vesta is on the job with "boots on the ground" within 30 days has served as Wood Dale police chief the past 11 years He rose the command ranks: patrol officer from 1996-2000; sergeant from 2000-05; deputy chief from 2005-11; and police chief since 2011 Fifty-four candidates applied from across the nation for the West Melbourne police chief opening 9-10 for interview sessions and a community meet-and-greet at Promise Café and Bakery at West Melbourne Community Park Winter flights introduced : Sun Country Airlines to debut winter flights between Melbourne and Minneapolis-St. Paul Coast Guard medevacs man: Man flown by helicopter from Carnival Sunshine to Melbourne hospital Vesta — who emerged as Rhode's preferred candidate — spent about a week finalizing terms of employment Vesta will earn a base annual salary of $130,000 per year and the city will pay him a $4,000 relocation and moving expense allowance Rhode said Vesta went through an extensive background check. Hurricane Ian delayed his City Council confirmation “(He) and his wife were in town for the physical and polygraph and different items that we had put him through And I had a chance to have dinner with him and he’s really excited," Rhode told council members the Wood Dale City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution honoring his retirement as police chief there He started service with the department as a patrol officer on April 30 The Wood Dale Police Department employed 32 sworn officers last year according to the department's annual report The department also investigated its first murder "in decades." a 30-year-old Wood Dale man was charged with first-degree murder and accused of fatally stabbing his father with a sword according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney press release West Melbourne's police department has 52 sworn officers The city's population has swelled to 28,127 residents across 10.8 square miles according to a recruiting brochure for the police chief job opening The Wood Dale City Council resolution notes that Vesta served as president of the DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association and was a co-chair and founding member of the DuPage County Heroin/Opioid Prevention and Education (H.O.P.E) Taskforce Vesta expects to complete his Master in Public Administration this year from American Military University West Melbourne Deputy Police Chief Rich Cordeau has served as acting police chief during the hiring process Vesta's hiring is the first since West Melbourne voters overwhelmingly approved a 2020 city charter change directing police chiefs to be appointed — and removed — by the city manager West Melbourne had been Brevard County’s lone municipality where the police chief reported directly to a political body the City Council Council approved an employment agreement with new City Attorney John Cary pending successful completion of a medical screening and background check The vote was 6-1, with Council Member Stephen Phrampus voting no. Cary will replace Morris Richardson, who started work in September as Brevard County attorney Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1 Support local journalism. Subscribe today. and their two young girls when the violent winds hit Sunday afternoon "It started hailing and we ran into the tent because we had the girls and we decided to run in there to be safe and I thought he was behind me and he wasn't," Nicole Nincic PHOTOS: Tent collapses in Wood Dale blew away in at least 50mph straight line winds ten-inch diameter interior steel pole fell "He sustained a pretty significant leg injury He was released from the hospital last evening He's fairing very well," Police Chief Mike Rivas said Police are now investigating whether the tent was staked and strapped in the proper manner it's unclear if the tent could have withstood Sunday's strong wind gusts The other concern: were festival goers sufficiently warned that bad weather was coming they didn't do the same thing," attorney Lou Cairo said He filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Nincics He said the family is not in a rush to the courthouse but wants to preserve evidence so as to forensically answer questions about the tent's set-up and warning "Right now our investigators are tracking down any other leads They're working with different companies They're pursuing any leads they have in this matter," Chief Rivas said Nincic was on the merry-go-round with his daughter and his girls were trying to win goldfish "They took him too soon from us," Nicole Nincic said.