One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until the last minute to address dental concerns. While some treatments can be completed quickly, others may require several weeks or even months to achieve the best results. Planning ahead allows time for consultations, treatment, healing, and any necessary follow up appointments.

A professional dental cleaning is one of the easiest ways to refresh your smile before a major event. Removing plaque and surface stains can help teeth look cleaner and brighter while supporting long term oral health. Scheduling a cleaning several weeks before an event can help ensure your smile is photo ready.

Teeth whitening is another popular option during wedding and graduation season. Professional whitening treatments can brighten teeth and reduce discoloration caused by coffee, tea, wine, and other common stains. Because whitening results can take time to develop, it is best to start the process well before the event date.

Small cosmetic issues such as chipped or worn teeth are also worth addressing. Even minor imperfections can become more noticeable in photographs. Repairing chips or other visible concerns, such as the aging of previous restorations, can help create a more polished appearance and boost confidence.

At Anew Family Dental in Plainfield, patients are encouraged to plan ahead when preparing for important life events. Scheduling early provides more flexibility and allows time to explore treatment options without the pressure of an approaching deadline.

Anew Family Dental accepts all PPO insurance plans. No insurance? No problem! Save 20-50% on dental services, including orthodontics, with our in-house savings plan, iSmile. Call the office for more details or to enroll and start treatment today.

Anew Family Dental

13242 S Route 59, Ste 106

Plainfield, IL 60585

(815) 495-5602

www.anewdental.com

League organizers are currently seeking teams and gauging interest, with a tentative start date planned for mid-July. Games will be played at the historic Westside Ballpark on Tuesday and Friday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m.

The league’s roots run deep in the community. According to longtime local residents, organized fastpitch softball in the area dates back at least to the 1950s and possibly even earlier. Generations of players have competed under the lights at Westside Ballpark, making the league an important part of the area’s recreational and athletic history.

Community softball leagues have long been about more than wins and losses. They provide an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to stay active, enjoy friendly competition, and strengthen connections within the community. Whether participants are longtime players or returning to the game after years away, the league offers a chance to experience the excitement and camaraderie that have made fastpitch softball a local favorite for decades.

The Princeton Park District hopes to continue that legacy by attracting enough teams to launch another successful season. The atmosphere of playing under the lights on warm summer evenings, combined with the tradition and history of the league, creates an experience that is difficult to replicate.

Individuals, teams, and sponsors interested in learning more are encouraged to contact the Park District for information regarding registration, pricing, schedules, and league details. Organizers are optimistic that with strong community support, another chapter in this longstanding softball tradition will soon begin.

Now is the perfect time to gather a team, reconnect with former teammates, and help keep one of Bureau County’s great summer traditions alive.

For more information, please contact:

Bureau County Metro Center

837 Park Ave W

Princeton, IL 61356

Ph: 815-872-0840

www.princetonparkdistrict.org

As temperatures rise during the summer months, so do electric bills. Homeowners often see a spike in energy costs as air conditioners work overtime to keep homes cool. Add in the cost of running a pool, which racks up an extra estimated $500 per year in electric costs, and summer utility bills can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, solar energy offers a smart and cost-effective solution!

Why Electric Bills Increase in the Summer

Summer is considered the most expensive season for electricity usage. Air conditioning systems consume a large amount of energy, especially during heat waves when they run constantly. For homeowners with pools, the electric costs associated with running pools add even more to monthly bills. Longer daylight hours also mean more activity at home, which can lead to increased energy consumption overall.

How Solar Energy Helps Lower Costs

Solar panels allow homeowners to generate their own electricity directly from sunlight, helping offset the energy needed from the utility grid. With properly sized solar systems, it is possible to produce 100% of your home’s energy needs. This can significantly reduce monthly electric bills and provide long-term savings year after year.

Why Now Is the Best Time to Switch to Solar

With energy costs continuing to rise, there has never been a better time to invest in solar energy. Installing solar now allows homeowners to take advantage of peak summer sunlight while locking in lower energy costs for the future.

Ready to Switch This Summer?

If you’re tired of high summer electric bills, now is the best time to explore solar energy solutions. Contact Stateline Solar today to learn how solar can help lower your energy costs and make your home more efficient all year long.

Stateline Solar

310 W. Main St.

Lena, IL 61048

Ph: (815) 580-3011

statelinesolar.net

As temperatures rise during the summer months, so do electric bills. Homeowners often see a spike in energy costs as air conditioners work overtime to keep homes cool. Add in the cost of running a pool, which racks up an extra estimated $500 per year in electric costs, and summer utility bills can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, solar energy offers a smart and cost-effective solution!

Why Electric Bills Increase in the Summer

Summer is considered the most expensive season for electricity usage. Air conditioning systems consume a large amount of energy, especially during heat waves when they run constantly. For homeowners with pools, the electric costs associated with running pools add even more to monthly bills. Longer daylight hours also mean more activity at home, which can lead to increased energy consumption overall.

How Solar Energy Helps Lower Costs

Solar panels allow homeowners to generate their own electricity directly from sunlight, helping offset the energy needed from the utility grid. With properly sized solar systems, it is possible to produce 100% of your home’s energy needs. This can significantly reduce monthly electric bills and provide long-term savings year after year.

Why Now Is the Best Time to Switch to Solar

With energy costs continuing to rise, there has never been a better time to invest in solar energy. Installing solar now allows homeowners to take advantage of peak summer sunlight while locking in lower energy costs for the future.

Ready to Switch This Summer?

If you’re tired of high summer electric bills, now is the best time to explore solar energy solutions. Contact Stateline Solar today to learn how solar can help lower your energy costs and make your home more efficient all year long.

Stateline Solar

310 W. Main St.

Lena, IL 61048

Ph: (815) 580-3011

statelinesolar.net

One of the most common problems is swimmer’s ear, an infection that occurs when water becomes trapped in the ear canal. Moisture creates an environment where bacteria can grow, leading to redness, itching, pain, and muffled hearing.

Water exposure may also worsen existing ear conditions or hearing issues. Individuals who wear hearing aids should take extra precautions, as moisture can damage sensitive electronic components. Even those without hearing devices may notice temporary hearing changes if water blocks the ear canal or causes irritation.

Fortunately, there are several simple ways to help prevent water-related hearing problems. Drying the ears gently after swimming or showering is one of the easiest and most effective steps. Tilting the head to allow water to drain naturally and using a soft towel around the outer ear can help remove excess moisture. Cotton swabs should be avoided inside the ear canal, as they may push debris deeper or cause irritation.

Earplugs designed for swimming can provide additional protection for people who spend a lot of time in the water or are prone to infections. The Audiologists at Wallace Center for Hearing can fit you for custom swim plugs that assure the ear canals stay dry. It is also important to avoid swimming in water that may be contaminated, as bacteria can increase the risk of ear infections.

If symptoms such as pain, drainage, fullness, or hearing difficulty develop, it is important to seek professional help. Beth Wallace, M.S., CCC-A, at Wallace Center for Hearing can evaluate your ears and hearing and help you seek the proper treatment.

To schedule an appointment with Beth Wallace at Wallace Center for Hearing, please contact:

Wallace Center For Hearing

4127 Progress Blvd

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-3201

wallacehearing@yahoo.com

www.wallacecenterforhearing.com

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until the last minute to address dental concerns. While some treatments can be completed quickly, others may require several weeks or even months to achieve the best results. Planning ahead allows time for consultations, treatment, healing, and any necessary follow up appointments.

A professional dental cleaning is one of the easiest ways to refresh your smile before a major event. Removing plaque and surface stains can help teeth look cleaner and brighter while supporting long term oral health. Scheduling a cleaning several weeks before an event can help ensure your smile is photo ready.

Teeth whitening is another popular option during wedding and graduation season. Professional whitening treatments can brighten teeth and reduce discoloration caused by coffee, tea, wine, and other common stains. Because whitening results can take time to develop, it is best to start the process well before the event date.

Small cosmetic issues such as chipped or worn teeth are also worth addressing. Even minor imperfections can become more noticeable in photographs. Repairing chips or other visible concerns, such as the aging of previous restorations, can help create a more polished appearance and boost confidence.

At Fox Valley Dental Spa in Geneva, patients are encouraged to plan ahead when preparing for important life events. Scheduling early provides more flexibility and allows time to explore treatment options without the pressure of an approaching deadline.

Fox Valley Dental Spa accepts all PPO insurance plans. No insurance? No problem! Save 20-50% on dental services, including orthodontics, with our in-house savings plan, iSmile. Call the office for more details or to enroll and start treatment today.

Fox Valley Dental Spa

502 E. State St.

Geneva, IL 60134

Ph: (630) 333-9462

foxvalleydentalspa.com

Landon Davis, sr., Princeton: The Tigers’ No. 2 singles player went undefeated through the regular season, suffering his only loss in the Class 1A La Salle-Peru Sectional quarterfinals, losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 to finish one win shy of a state berth. He won his bracket at the Mendota Invite.

Evan Downey, so., Kevin Guo, so., La Salle-Peru: The Cavalier duo placed second at No. 2 doubles in the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament. Downey finished 20-11 between singles and doubles, while Guo was 17-14.

Jackson Mason, sr., Princeton: The 2026 NewsTribune Boys Tennis Player of the Year became the first Tiger to win two matches or more at state in coach Connie Lind’s 30 seasons. He finished 18-5 at No. 1 singles and placed third in the Class 1A La Salle-Peru Sectional to earn his second straight state berth.

The Crusaders, coming off back-to-back Class 1A state championships, earned a shot this season for a Class 2A title after Tuesday’s 9-6 victory over Brimfield in the Class 2A St. Bede Supersectional held at Schweickert Stadium in Peru.

“We left a few runs out there, and in these games that can sometimes come back and bite you,” Marquette coach Todd Hopkins said. “But these guys are just playing with so much confidence, and they just find ways to get it done.”

Marquette (37-3) now moves to Friday’s 2A state semifinals at 7 p.m. on Illinois Field in Champaign against St. Joseph-Ogden, which defeated Williamsville 9-0 in the Springfield Lincoln Land Community College Supersectional.

The Indians finished the season 32-6.

Marquette has now reached state seven times, including six of the last eight seasons.

“I think I probably went against every golden rule there is in baseball, but sometimes you have to go against the book and go with your gut,” Hopkins said. “The guys made every one of those moves that could easily be second-guessed work out.”

Starter Anthony Couch (3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) and reliever Griffin Dobberstein (win, 3⅓ IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K) battled before Easton DeBernardi came on to record the final two outs, both with the tying run at the plate.

“Anthony and Griffin really battled for us, and then DeBernardi comes in, he hasn’t pitched but maybe an inning in the postseason, and get the job done in closing things out,” Hopkins said. “They were all amazing.”

“My curveball was just way too off and on today, and I felt like I was locating my fastball well, but then after the second inning I kind of just lost that too,” Couch said. “It was a battle for me, but I just knew I had to keep working on getting outs. I felt like I did a good job of staying mentally tough and just kept hunting for outs.”

Brimfield scored the game’s opening run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Griffin Hougham.

Marquette grabbed the lead in the fourth, scoring four times including a bases-loaded walk by Beau Thompson, a two-run single by Alec Novotney and an RBI double by Dobberstein.

The Indians tied the game 4-4 in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run, two-out single by Dane Fagerburg and a run-scoring base hit by Layne Johnson.

Marquette took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth. Novotney singled in a run, Dobberstein walked with the bases full, and Caden Durdan smacked an RBI the other way to left.

“To be honest, I haven’t been hitting the best,” said Durdan, who also doubled to right in the sixth, and along with DeBernardi lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh. “Today I was just really trying to stay focused and just put the bat on the ball.

“I was able to work a couple counts in my favor and then just relaxed and put a few good swings together.”

Brimfield used a two-out, two-run single by Brody Kenney in the sixth to close to within 7-6, but Dobberstein retired the next batter on a fielder’s choice to hold onto the lead.

The Indians drew back-to-back walks with one out in the bottom of the seventh before DeBernardi came in to get a pop out. He struck out the final batter to start a Crusaders victory dogpile in the infield.

Novotney finished 4 for 5 with three RBIs, while Grant Dose and Durdan each had a pair of hits.

“We really didn’t talk about making it to state again during the season, but we all knew we had everything we needed to do it,” Novotney said. “Neither Anthony nor Griffin had their best stuff today, but those are the days where you have to ramp up your competitiveness to another level, and both of them did that.”

Hopkins said the game was pretty much what he thought it would be.

“Give Brimfield credit, they have a really good ballclub that can really hit the ball,” he said. “They just wouldn’t go away. They kept battling until the final out. That’s why they were here too.”

Hall junior pitcher Luke Bryant and Princeton senior pitcher Ryan Jagers were both unanimously named as first-team all-conference. They were joined on the first-team by Hall senior infielder Braden Curran and junior outfielder Jaxon Pinter along with Princeton junior outfielder Braden Shaw and Mendota senior outfielder Aiden Tillman.

Named to the second team were senior catcher Greyson Bickett and junior infielder Noah Plym of Hall, sophomore infielder Jack Oester of Princeton and pitchers Esten Otero and Dane Doyle, infielders Cal Doyle and Oscar Castaneda and outfielder Quinn Eddy of Mendota.

Honorable mention honors went to senior catchers Stihl Brokaw of Princeton and Brody Hartt of Mendota and junior infielder Geno Ferrari of Hall.

League champ Newman headed up the league with six first-team picks, including senior pitcher Evan Bushman, junior pitcher Michael Morris, junior catcher Ashton Miner, senior infielder Garrett Matznick and junior infielder Liam Nicklaus, all unanimous selections.

Rounding out the first team were junior infielder Braedyn Frank of E-P and sophomore outfielder Jameson Hanlon of Newman.

Eight St. Bede players were named to the 2026 Tri-County All-Conference Softball Team.

Senior first baseman Ava Balestri was one of six unanimous all-conference selections. She was joined on the first team by teammate Lily Bosnich, freshman Hannah Heiberger, senior Emma Slingsby and junior Macy Strauch on the second team with seniors Jillian Pinter and Lili McClain and sophomore Morgan Mercer receiving Honorable Mention.

League champ and state runner-up Seneca headed the Tri-County All-Conference first team with four selections, including senior Tessa Kroll and juniors Emma Mino and Hayden Pfeifer, who were chosen unanimously, and senior Lexie Buis.

Rounding out the first team were juniors Kelsey Cochran and Hunter Hopkins of Marquette, chosen unanimously, and junior Brynna Anderson of Henry-Senachwine.

Putnam County junior Alexis Margis was named to the second team and sophomore Kennedy Holocker received Honorable Mention.

So Crystal Lake South catcher Jackson Lee called timeout.

Conference on the mound, no coaches. Only Lee, starting pitcher Michael Silvius, corner infielders Ryan and John Morgan, shortstop Carson Trivellini and second baseman Nolan Dabrowski were invited.

“I don’t do it often because I trust him so much,” Lee said of Silvius. “But I just called it because it was a high-pressure moment, and I knew he needed a break. [He threw] four straight balls [to the previous batter], so I just gave him a moment out there.”

When play resumed, with runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the sixth and Fenwick threatening, Silvius registered a called third strike on cleanup hitter Jeremy Munoz. The junior right-hander then got Elliott Bastedo to fly out to left fielder Wes Bogda, who sprinted and squeezed the ball down the line.

Silvius retired the upset-minded Friars again in the seventh, preserving South’s 4-0 win in Tuesday’s Class 3A Schaumburg Supersectional at Wintrust Field. The victory sends the Gators to state for the first time since 2022, when they finished fourth in Class 3A.

“It’s awesome,” Silvius said after extending his postseason shutout streak to 13 innings. “This is a dream, but we got to keep pushing. The job’s not finished.”

Next for South (29-9) is Friday’s 1 p.m. state semifinal against Troy Triad (35-5) at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. Triad beat Cary-Grove in last year’s third-place game.

Fenwick (14-21), which endured a 10-game losing streak and finished last in the eight-team Chicago Catholic-Blue, committed three errors, which led to three unearned runs.

“We went into [the postseason] like, ‘We know we don’t have a great record, but we know we’re a good team and we know we can make it far,’ “ said third baseman Jimmy Bonakdar, who went 1 for 2 with a walk and a long double to right field in the seventh. “That’s a testament to the guys we had, the togetherness we had, that we were going to overcome a record like that and make it to this field.”

Silvius gave himself the only run he needed with an RBI single in a two-run fourth. One out later, eighth-place hitter Michael Rathjen lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.

“Senior year, getting to go down to state, I’m just trying to do anything I can to win for this team,” the lefty-hitting Rathjen said.

Rathjen finished with two of South’s nine hits, including a bunt single, and made a diving catch in shallow right field to end the second inning. Rathjen and fellow senior Dabrowski were both 2 for 3, while Silvius – who’s hit safely in four straight games – was 3 for 4.

“[Rathjen] is similar to Nolan [Dabrowski] with him hitting left-handed and having speed,” Gators coach Brian Bogda said. “He really can create some problems on the base paths, so I’m excited whenever he gets on base. I’m excited when he comes up to bat.”

Silvius, who pitched six shutout innings against Deerfield in the Grayslake Central Sectional semifinals, had only two 1-2-3 innings. He got Bastedo to hit into a 4-6-3 double play with two on and none out in the fourth, and then got a grounder to shortstop Trivellini to end the threat.

Silvius finished with four strikeout (two walks), all in the last three innings.

“I worked on my curveball all week. Got that down,” said Silvius, who allowed five hits. “I knew they struggled hitting curves, so I wanted to mix it up, throw some off-speed, and really pump them with the fastball. I just made sure I located. I got outside corner, and then I would spin a curveball right by them. Being efficient and having a defense behind me was really a confidence booster.”

With Fenwick trailing 3-0, the Friars’ AJ McConnell doubled with one in the sixth. Silvius then walked No. 3 hitter Ethan Gonzalez (1 for 2) on four pitches – and out walked catcher Lee to the mound, waving in his infielders.

“He’s got to lead the infield as a catcher, tell us what’s going on, and he sees it all behind the plate,” Silvius said. “He came up to me. He’s like, ‘I’m just giving you a breather. I know you got this.’ He was really hyping me up. Everyone around me believes in me, and I believe in them.”

After surviving the sixth unscathed, Silvius finished off a 93-pitch performance in the seventh with a strikeout, after Bonakdar doubled with two out.

“He was good,” Bonakdar said. “He pitched fastball, curveball, mixed it well and made it tough on us all game.”

Silvius’ coach has seen his school’s quarterback step up in the postseason on the mound, at third base and at the plate.

“We talked the other day about him being the quarterback for our football team,” Brian Bogda said. “He’s a good leader in the sense that he has to make plays and decisions on his own on the football field. He’s transferring that over.”

The rest of the Panthers leapt up and down as they mobbed around him.

Then the Panthers took the celebration outside the fence with family, friends and fans.

Maddox Poole was doused with water by friends.

Eli King wore the player of the game chains.

There were lots of hugs, handshakes and high-fives.

The plaque was passed around for photos, so many photos that one PC player joked his cheeks hurt from smiling.

Everyone wanted to celebrate and document the moment that many likely didn’t anticipate when the season began.

Putnam County defeated Galena 7-4 in the Class 1A Northern Illinois University Supersectional on Tuesday to earn its first trip to the state tournament since 2013 and seventh overall.

“It’s insane,” Poole said. “I think we expected to compete all year, but I don’t know if anybody expected us to get this far.

“It’s good to be put in the history books with everybody else. It’s pretty cool.”

The Panthers (25-11) advance to play North Clay co-op (35-4) in a state semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field in Champaign.

“I’m expecting to compete,” Poole said. “Win or lose, I think we’re coming to compete.”

The Panthers competed Tuesday.

After the Pirates scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning on two hits, two walks and a hit batter to take a 3-2 lead, Putnam County responded immediately.

In the bottom of the inning, Carter Hochstatter singled up the middle to lead off and later scored on a single by King to tie the game.

“That was very important,” King said. “Instead of being down one and having low morale, it just resets to 0-0, and it’s a whole new ballgame. I feel like that was favorable for us.”

After starting pitcher Kade Zimmerlein hit the first batter of the fifth inning, Poole came on in relief and retired the first three batters he faced.

“I knew I was probably going to be the first one out of the pen today,” Poole said. “My offspeed was a little off to start, but I settled in as the game went on. I was just trying to pump the zone and go right at them. I knew my defense had my back.”

The Panthers broke it open in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning.

Jonathon Stunkel, Zimmerlein and Poole hit three consecutive singles to start the inning, with Poole’s scoring Stunkel.

Hochstatter brought in a run with a fielder’s choice, and Poole scored when a pitch got away from the catcher before King laid down a squeeze bunt to plate the fourth run.

“A hot team is a dangerous team,” Putnam County coach Chris Newsome said. “I feel like we’re pretty hot offensively. Hopefully, we’re going to keep that rolling into the state tournament.”

Poole threw a perfect sixth then closed it out in the seventh. After a leadoff double, Poole got a groundout, sacrifice fly and another groundout to end it.

“Kade battled,” Newsome said. “He probably wasn’t as sharp (as usual). He would probably tell you that, but he did enough to get us four strong innings.

“Maddox did a phenomenal job of just throwing strikes and letting our defense work. He’s competed all year long. The moment’s not too big for him, so he’s the right man for that spot.”

The Panthers took an early lead when Mattingly led off the first inning with a walk, moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Stunkel’s single. Zimmerlein followed with a single to plate Stunkel.

Stunkel, Zimmerlei, Poole and King had two hits each. Stunkel had two runs and an RBI, Zimmerlein and Poole each had a run and and RBI, and King drove in two runs.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 17 at the Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville.

Attendees can meet with a treasurer’s office counselor to see if the property is theirs. The counselors also will help participants file claims.

“We have had tremendous success in helping people find cash and property they didn’t even know they were owed,” DeWitte said in a news release. “In fact, we have had instances where constituents have found tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected cash.”

He added: “Right now, the state could be holding inheritance money or funds from a forgotten bank account that belongs to you. Don’t let it remain unclaimed. Stop by to see if you are owed money and take ownership of what belongs to you.”

For information, call 847-214-8245, or email amccarthy@sgop.ilga.gov.

The 33rd Senate District stretches from Lakewood and Lake in the Hills in McHenry County south into Kane County through Hampshire, Gilberts, Pingree Grove and West Dundee down around Elgin through the west side of St. Charles to the northern end of Batavia.

South Elgin police had attempted to arrest the man shortly after 2:30 p.m. outside a residence on Oakwood Lane, according to a news release from the South Elgin Police Department. Authorities said Wasfi M. Farooqui, 56, was wanted on multiple Kane County felony charges.

Instead, he struck a police officer and fled into the residence, barricading himself in a bedroom and threatening to shoot officers, authorities alleged.

Farooqui was taken into custody by Kane County SWAT officers who entered the residence after what South Elgin police said were “de-escalation efforts” and unsuccessful negotiations.

Farooqui has been charged with aggravated resisting arrest, threatening a public official, and two misdemeanor counts of resisting a police officer. If convicted of the most serious crime, aggravated resisting arrest, a Class 3 felony, he could face up to five years in prison.

At the time of the Sunday incident, he was free on pre-trial release connected to multiple other Kane County charges, police said.

Farooqui remains in custody at Kane County Jail as of Tuesday, authorities said.

A police investigation remains ongoing, according to the release.

South Elgin police said they first recognized Farooqui standing in front of the Oakwood Lane residence around 2:34 p.m. on June 7.

When an officer attempted to take him into custody, Farooqui allegedly “resisted and struck the officer, causing minor injuries” before fleeing into the residence, according to the release.

Law enforcement attempted to speak with Farooqui in what police called “an effort to de-escalate the situation” and work toward a “peaceful surrender.”

“While officers maintained a large police presence on Oakwood Lane, an additional command and coordination presence was established at Jim Hansen Park to support the incident response,” police wrote in the release.

Police said SWAT officers eventually were able to arrest Farooqui without further incident.

Several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, Geneva and Bartlett police, Elgin and South Elgin fire departments.

While helping lead the Comets to a fourth-place finish, the incoming senior also took time to enjoy just being back on the court and playing some games with her teammates.

“I’m pretty excited to be back,” she said. “I just like being able to be together and playing against schools we don’t regularly go against. It’s just way better to be playing these tougher schools to get us ready for the season.”

The Comets opened Tuesday’s action with a 24-22 win over Bradley-Bourbonnais and a 36-28 win over Plainfield Central before falling to Wilmington 40-34 in the semifinals and Willows Academy 52-23 in the third-place game.

With Wollenzien, coming off a season in which she earned IBCA Class 2A All-State special mention honors as a junior, and fellow returners Harlie Liebermann and Kamryn Wilkey leading the charge, head coach Shelby Zwolinski said the team has attacked their summer work without missing a beat.

“It was really nice to see in these last couple weeks prior to today’s games, in our open gyms, that we really picked up where we left off,” she said. “We have a solid core of seniors and a couple juniors that got some great playing time last year. They really stepped up today.”

For Wilmington, wins against Clifton Central and Beecher preceded their semifinal win over Reed-Custer. The Wildcats then went on to fall 47-21 to Tri-Valley in the championship game.

With Sami Liaromatis, Keeley Walsh and Nina Egizio, the team’s three leading scorers a season ago, back looking to follow up the winningest two-season stretch in program history, head coach Eric Dillon said he was pleased with how the team was able to hit the ground running Tuesday.

“In the first three games we had moments where the games were really tight, especially in the first half, and we just overcame that,” he said. “I think the girls are really proud of the way that they played. I told them that it that’s a sign as to what’s to come in the season. I can’t wait.”

Clifton Central followed its loss to Wilmington with wins against Coal City and Peotone to earn a spot in the consolation championship game, which ended in a 42-18 loss to Plano.

While there is plenty of work still to do this summer, head coach Henry Hines said Tuesday was a good first step.

“This year we’ve got a solid six [returners] and a bunch of freshmen and sophomores, and they’ve never seen the system, so it will take a while,” he said. “This is only their first day, and they haven’t done anything. If this was two weeks later and we’d been in the gym and doing a little conditioning, this would be a little different.”

Peotone was able to wrap its day with a win in the consolation third-place game following its loss to Central, downing Dwight 45-41.

A familiar face is back on the sidelines this season for the Blue Devils, with athletic director Steve Strough occupying the head coaching role he held from 2008 to 2024 while posting a record of 347-121.

“It’s good to be back,” he said. “I missed it for a couple years, but it was the right decision at the right time. I’m looking forward to get back into it. It’s a really hard-working group of kids here who want to get better every day, and they’re fun to be around already.”

Also wrapping the shootout with a win was Bradley-Bourbonnais, beating Herscher 18-17 to take fifth in the consolation bracket.

The Boilermakers will have lots of new faces this season while senior point guard Abby Bonilla will be back to stabilize things, and head coach Kevin Maciejewski said he was happy with how this group battled through their first game action as a team.

“We’ve got a lot of players who don’t have varsity playing experience,” he said. “The goal was just to compete, and we did that. ...

“It’s wide open for our JV group to step in. We’ll see how that emerges throughout the summer and into the fall, and I’m looking forward to see who steps up.”

The man told staff he was riding his bicycle across the country and, while traveling through Joliet, discovered a tiny kitten alone on the side of the road, the hospital said in a news release.

The cyclist said he searched for littermates and the mother cat without success. With the storm approaching, he said he decided the safest place he could think of to bring the kitten was to the Emergency Department, the release said.

One of the hospital’s ED techs contacted the local animal control while staff worked to keep the kitten safe and separate from patient care areas, the hospital said.

Staff made a bed from warm blankets. Water was carefully offered through a syringe.

It wasn’t long before the kitten had earned a name – Silver Bells, a nod to the hospital and “the joy she unexpectedly brought to the department,” the hospital said in the release.

When someone from animal control arrived, Silver Bells was assessed and deemed a healthy 6-week-old calico.

The officer said the local animal shelters were currently overwhelmed and appreciated the hospital’s willingness to help, the release said.

The kitten then comfortably perched herself on the shoulder of one of the hospital’s Service Ambassadors – Dan Pennick, the hospital said.

“We knew she had chosen her forever home,” said Jill Pateros, director of Emergency Services.

“I’ve been wanting a cat for a while,” Pennick said in the release. “I thought if God wants me to have a cat, he’s just going to put one right in front of me. And that’s exactly what happened. She’s a little miracle.”

Pennick took Silver Bell home with him at the end of his shift.

The hospital also offered the cyclist shelter from the rain, a warm meal, and “a few supplies to support the next leg of his cross-country journey,” the hospital said. “And thanks to (his) compassion, Silver Bells – now named Fantasia of Silver Bells by Dan – found her happy ending.”

County Board Chair Corinne Pierog brought her corgi, Nugget, and Board member Cherryl Strathmann of Elgin brought her mini dachshund Agustus Leopold Booger-Butt Strathmann – Gus for short.

The new fountain has a button to press for the water to come out in a ground-level bowl.

Nugget stepped right up and drank.

Gus, on the other hand, walked around the fountain, sniffed and studied it like he thought he might christen it with a whiz. Strathmann gently steered him away from any leg-raising activity.

Animal Control Administrator Brett Youngsteadt explained how the shelter, benches and doggy water fountain came to be – starting with two $10,000 gifts from the Sylvia R. Snyder Estate and the Sharon K. Zagorce Estate.

“Geneva put in this beautiful path to Peck Farm [Park] since we’ve been here. This is long before me,” Youngsteadt said. “We have volunteers that walk our animals here on this path. What we started to realize is there weren’t any poop stations on the path, so that was the first thing we added here.”

They added a garbage can so dog walkers can come off the path, get a bag – if they don’t already have one – and have a place to drop them to keep the area clean for everyone, Youngsteadt said.

“Then from there, we realized, wouldn’t it be great if we could add a water fountain for the animals? So the first donation came ... (from) the Sylvia Snyder Estate, where we were able to add the water station,” Youngsteadt said.

The fountain is connected directly to the building. With the press of a button, water comes out in a bowl at ground level so dogs can drink. It has a slow drain so the water doesn’t stand and get stagnant or full of bugs.

The water connection also allows for cleanup, should an animal make a deposit.

A second donation of $10,000 came from the Sharon K. Zagorce Estate, which paid for the shelter over the fountain and the benches. Both have plaques crediting each estate accordingly.

“I want to encourage people to come out on this beautiful path,” Youngsteadt said.

Other cash donations paid for the two benches on either side of the fountain, Youngsteadt said, with both featuring dog bones and paws.

These donations came in varying amounts from the public – $5, $10, $20 – to pay for the benches and stone landscaping around the area. The plan is for the county’s Environmental Committee to determine what flowers that are not toxic to dogs could be put in between the rocks, Youngsteadt said.

“It will be a very tranquil area for animals and citizens to enjoy with their pets,” he said.

The water fountain and shelter at Animal Control, at 4060 Keslinger Road in Geneva, is accessible on the walking trails from nearby Peck Farm Park at 4038 Kaneville Road.

Vescogni earned the honor in Class 3A as a pitcher, while Balestri and Oertel were honored in 2A as infielders.

Vescogni was 14-9 with a 1.31 ERA and 266 strikeouts to 55 walks in 149⅔ innings to help the Cavaliers to a 23-15 record and a Class 3A sectional final appearance.

Balestri led the Bruins to 30 wins and a regional title, hitting .514 with 10 home runs, 14 doubles, 60 RBIs and 45 runs.

Oertel hit .607 with 17 home runs, 19 doubles, four triples, 59 RBIs and 55 runs to help the Tigresses to a 21-9 record.

In Class 3A, L-P senior infielder Anna Riva and junior catcher Makenzie Chamberlain were named to the second team, while senior outfielder Karmen Piano was voted to the third team.

In Class 2A, St. Bede senior infielder Lily Bosnich and senior outfielder Emma Slingsby and Princeton senior outfielder Keely Lawson were named to the second team, while St. Bede junior infielder/pitcher Macy Strauch, Princeton senior outfielder Caroline Keutzer, Hall freshman infielder Bernie Larsen and Hall junior infielder/catcher Caroline Morris earned spots on the third team.

In Class 1A, Henry-Senachwine senior infielder Brynna Anderson was voted to the second team, and Earlville junior pitcher/infielder Addie Scherer was named to the third team.

Couch won by receiving 203 of 377 votes cast in an online poll. The ballot also included runner-up Ameliah Weber (Seneca softball), Adam Swanson (Ottawa baseball) and Colin Shields (Newark baseball).

Weekly ballots for the past school year were posted online Mondays and accessible via Facebook (The Times Sports) and Twitter (@jtpedelty), with voting going through midday Wednesday.

Here is a Q&A with this week’s winner:

Do you have any nicknames?

Couch: Ant.

How old were you when you started playing baseball, in what league, and what got you into the sport?

Couch: I was 4, and I played tee-ball in Grand Ridge.

Every kid dreams of hitting a walk-off home run in a big game. Take us through your mindset as you stepped into the batter’s box, and what went through your head when you hit it, and as you rounded the bases?

Couch: My mindset was to advance the runner and do my job. I didn’t think it was a home run, so I was running to second, then I saw it went over,, and I kind of just blacked out.

In your opinion, what has been the key to this run of spectacular seasons the Marquette baseball program has put together?

Couch: Definitely the chemistry. Everyone picks each other up. Also, just mastering the fundamentals of baseball.

What are a few of your favorite ball diamonds you’ve had the chance to play on over the years?

Couch: My three favorite diamonds are University of Illinois, Peoria Chiefs‘ Dozer Field and UIC.

What movie would you say you’ve seen more than any other? About how many times?

Couch: “The Sandlot” about 25 times.

Which of your teammates cracks you up the most?

Couch: Definitely Grant Dose, Billy Gaylen or Blayden Cassel.

If you could see any musical artist in any venue, all expenses paid, who would you see and where?

Couch: Pitbull at Soldier Field.

You and your teammates are going out for dinner to celebrate a big win. Where are you going, and what are you ordering?

Couch: We are going to Chipotle, and I’m getting a burrito bowl with double honey chicken.

Seasonal question: At a cookout, what’s your favorite food off the grill?

Couch: A cheeseburger.

Bottom of the seventh, two outs, tie game, bases loaded. Would you rather be on the mound trying to get the last out or stepping into the batter’s box trying to get a game-winning hit?

Couch: Stepping into the batter’s box.

Is there something about you that people who only know you through sports might find surprising?

Couch: I’m pretty good at drawing.

Do you have any plans for life after high school? Do they involve sports?

Couch: I am going to Spoon River Community College to major in business and play baseball. After that, I want to commit to a Division I college to continue to play baseball and complete my degree.

She waited 30 years to have a player accomplish what senior Jackson Mason did this season.

The PHS senior became the first Tiger in Lind’s 30 years as coach to win two matches at state. Then he added icing on his coach’s retirement cake by winning a third match in the state meet.

Mason placed third at sectional to reach state for the second straight season, having reached last year in doubles. He finished with an 18-5 record.

For all of his accomplishments, Mason is the 2026 NewsTribune Boys Tennis Player of the Year.

He also earned the honor last year with doubles partner Asa Gartin.

“I didn’t plan it this way, but it sure is a good way to go out,” Lind said.

Mason may have even surprised himself by his accomplishment at state.

“The goal at the beginning of the season was to get to state in singles,” he said. “My goal at state was to compete with the kids. I didn’t think I’d win three matches there because I don’t think anyone else has done that at PHS in 30 years. That was really cool.”

Mason had some extra motivation at state, playing for his dad, Patrick, who passed away suddenly during his junior season of basketball.

“I know my dad was watching me on Thursday and Friday, and I know he would be extremely proud of me,” he said.

The Tiger senior had to be at the top of his game both physically and mentally at state, he said.

“It took a lot of mental focus because we were playing at a site (Arlington Heights) with airplanes flying every five minutes,” he said. “It was pretty hot. And I played a kid (Newman’s Joel Rhodes) for my third match that I lost to at the very beginning of the season, 5-7, 5-7, and I ended up beating him in the tiebreaker 10-8.”

He lost his first state match 6-0, 6-0 to Wheaton St. Francis senior Umar Bajwa, a No. 5-8 seed, who finished fourth.

“He was very consistent. Couldn’t beat him,” Mason said.

Mason got on a roll in the consolation round, defeating St. Ignatius College Prep’s Shiven Devnani 6-2, 6-4, Rhodes 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 and Mt. Zion’s Ryne Reatherford 6-0, 6-1.

He met his match in his final round, falling to No. 3 seed Roman Stukov, a senior from Vernon Hills, 6-0, 6-0.

Serving aside, Mason thought he played his best tennis at state.

“My serves were real good at sectionals, but they lost steam at state. [But] it was good enough to win three matches,” he said.

Lind said Mason had a lot of natural ability, but worked hard on his game.

“He was never satisfied. He always wanted to do better,” Lind said. “Him and Landon Davis hit around every day at practice. They would work on certain aspects of the game.”

Mason had an unusual path to state, not being able to play a single match at home this season due to the deteriorating PHS courts.

“It was very weird considering we only had four away meets last year and 14 home ones,” he said. “We only played 14 meets this year, none of them at home. It was just a weird season.”

Mason teamed up for a 25-5 record and state berth in doubles a year ago with 2025 senior Asa Gartin. He said he struggled initially adjusting to playing solo.

“I was like smart because I knew what shots I had to hit. At the beginning of the season, some of them weren’t dropping. But over time, I got better at it,” Mason said.

Mason said his height (6-foot-3) and wing span help him on the court, but more so in doubles play than singles.

“When I did go up to the net, I was more of a threat to the other guy,” he said.

The best part of playing tennis for Mason has nothing to do with what happens on the court, but rather on the way home after the meet.

“The best part for me is on the bus, riding home with the guys. It’s always fun. We bring a speaker and just have a good time,” he said.

A year-round athlete playing basketball and golf for the Tigers, Mason will retire from sports and study meteorology at IVCC before going on to a four-year school.

When asked if we might see him on TV one day doing the weather, he said. “You might. I just like weather. I find it very fascinating.”

I recently tested the 2026 Kia Carnival SX Prestige. Challenging what a family vehicle is supposed to look and feel like, the Carnival has been a huge success for Hyundai. While it checks all the traditional minivan boxes, like space, comfort and practicality, it does so with a design that leans heavily into SUV territory.

My SX Prestige tester featured the stunning Dark Edition package. Imagine a minivan meets the Dark Knight. Yep, this is much more than a child-hauling vehicle. Finished in a black-on-black treatment, the Dark Edition adds 19-inch black alloy wheels, darkened exterior accents, and sleek LED projector headlights that give the Carnival a more assertive stance.

From my point of view, it’s a sharp look, and one that avoids the rounded, van-like appearance that has turned off some buyers in the past. From a distance, it could easily be mistaken for a midsize SUV, which is exactly the point Kia is shooting for.

Under the hood, the Carnival sticks with a tried-and-true V6 powertrain that delivers smooth, predictable acceleration. Fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway, and 21 combined. Those numbers are respectable for a vehicle of this size, though it is not class-leading.

Around town, the Carnival feels composed and easy to maneuver, with steering that is light without feeling disconnected. On the highway, it settles into a comfortable cruise, soaking up miles with minimal effort.

Inside, the SX Prestige trim really starts to justify its price point. With a final sticker of $52,990, expectations are understandably high, and for the most part, I think the Carnival delivers in spades. The cabin is thoughtfully designed, with leather seat trim, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display that keeps key information in the driver’s line of sight. Materials throughout felt upscale, with soft-touch surfaces and well-finished details that elevate the overall experience for driver and passengers.

Of special note is the Bose premium audio system, another highlight, offering clear, full sound that enhances long drives. Meanwhile, the digital rearview mirror provides an unobstructed view behind the vehicle, which can be especially useful when the cabin is fully loaded with passengers or cargo.

Space remains one of the Carnival’s strongest attributes. The second row is generous, offering ample legroom and flexible seating configurations, while the third row is surprisingly accommodating for adults, something not all competitors can claim. Storage is equally impressive, with clever compartments and usable cargo space even when all seats are occupied. Families, in particular, will appreciate the practical layout and ease of access throughout the cabin.

I was impressed with the dual power sunroofs, which bring in natural light and help prevent the interior from feeling closed off. The smart power liftgate is another everyday convenience, making loading and unloading groceries, sports gear or luggage an easy task.

Safety is also a major focus. The Carnival SX Prestige comes equipped with a wide array of advanced driver-assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. These systems work seamlessly in the background, providing an added layer of confidence without feeling intrusive.

The Carnival isn’t without its drawbacks. While the ride is generally comfortable, it can feel slightly firm over rough pavement, especially compared to some softer-riding competitors. Additionally, while the V6 engine is smooth, it doesn’t deliver particularly exciting performance, something drivers coming from more powerful SUVs might notice.

I thought the infotainment required a bit more of a learning curve than most systems I encountered. The interface is modern and responsive, but the abundance of menus and settings may require some time to fully master. And despite the upscale interior, some lower cabin plastics don’t quite match the premium feel found elsewhere in the vehicle.

Kia offers one of the best warranties in the industry. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance, adds significant peace of mind and long-term value.

In the end, the 2026 Kia Carnival SX Prestige succeeds in redefining expectations. It offers the practicality of a minivan without fully embracing the label, wrapping it all in a package that feels modern, well-equipped, and thoughtfully designed. While it may not be perfect, it’s a compelling option for families who want space and functionality without sacrificing style.

• John Stein is a freelance journalist based in Chicago. He has more than 25 years of experience driving, testing and writing about the automotive industry, its latest innovations and vehicle performance.

The city, in partnership with the Mendota Historical Society, Graves-Hume Public Library, Daughters of the American Revolution and Veterans of Foreign Wars, will present an open house of family-friendly activities at the Graves-Hume Public Library that day from 5 to 7 p.m., according to a news release from the Mendota Historical Society.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for Mendota to participate in a national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence,” Mendota Historical Society Executive Director Alex Revzan said.

This event is free.

The activities will begin with a flag presentation, Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will feature a cluster of Revolutionary-themed activities for children using a special passport as a guide.

“Our country has endured a lot and achieved a lot,” Mendota Mayor Dave Boelk said. “We recognize the importance of this 250th anniversary and our opportunity to celebrate it.”

The afternoon will witness a screening of a video featuring several Mendota residents reading the Declaration of Independence to honor the first reading 250 years ago, according to the release.

Currently, there are more than 200 locations in 57 states and territories preparing to participate in this event, according to the release.

In addition to the screening held at the library, all the partner organizations will be sharing the video at 5 p.m. on their social media channels for those who cannot make it to the open house.

“It is a great thing to see when local groups come together to honor history,” said Emily Kofoid, director of the Graves-Hume Public Library. “It really brings the past to life in a meaningful way.”

In addition to the activities at the library, the city will keep the American flags and commemorative 250th anniversary flags up for display during the first few weeks of July.

Representatives from the organization will be on hand with a display and information about the programs and opportunities that they offer individuals with special needs.

Visitors can also enjoy a large display of Roy Rogers memorabilia tracing the life and career of the beloved cowboy star. The exhibit highlights his childhood in Ohio, his years singing with the Sons of the Pioneers, and his movie and rodeo career.

The museum will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Free-will donations benefiting Pegasus Special Riders, Inc. will be accepted.

“Remembering Our Fallen,” a national memorial exhibit, will be at the City Square downtown until 6 p.m. Sunday.

The memorial includes 35 tribute towers with photographs of those who lost their lives in the war on terror, according to a news release from the city of Joliet.

An opening ceremony will be held at noon on Thursday at the City Square, located at 91 N.Chicago St. The ceremony will include the Joliet Fire Department Pipes and Drums and the Joliet Police Department Pipes and Drums.

The memorial is brought to Joliet by Patriotic Productions, a nonprofit organization.

The committee recognizes properties that best meet the program’s criteria.

“Each year, we see incredible displays of color and creativity throughout Montgomery,” Village Trustee Ben Brzoska said in a news release. “Many residents put a great deal of care into their landscaping, and this program gives us an opportunity to recognize those efforts and showcase the pride people take in their homes and neighborhoods.”

Eligible properties must be primarily floral, feature only live plants and include perennial and annual flowers in containers or garden beds. The displays also should enhance the property’s curb appeal.

Beautification committee members and volunteer judges will visit the nominated properties and name award recipients June 17.

Recognition signs will be placed in front of the winning properties. Award recipients are asked to display the signs for a minimum for two weeks.

“Beautiful landscaping does more than brighten a yard-- it strengthens neighborhood pride and contributes to the character of our community,” Brzoska said in the release. “We are fortunate to have residents who invest so much time and care in their properties, and this program is a way to thank them for helping make Montgomery such a welcoming and attractive place to live.”

Residents are encouraged to nominate their own or a neighbor’s property. The nominations will be due June 14. To nominate a property, visit montgomeryil.org.

The scholarships are made possible by memorials, endowments and fundraisers, including the Amboy Education Foundation Golf for Education golf outing. The outing is scheduled for Aug. 7 at Shady Oaks Country Club in Amboy.

Other AEF fundraisers include the annual Beer, Wine and Cheese Gala, held in April.

The scholarships and recipients are:

Nothing Bundt Cakes will be at the festival from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 13 at Washington Square Park, selling their desserts.

“Stop by, say hi, buy a cake and enjoy the festivities,” North Central Area Transit Director Kim Zimmerman said.

For every cake sold, $1 will be donated to NCAT.

This is the first of three partnered events of 2026 between NCAT and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Zimmerman said these partnered events aim to help NCAT meet its local match requirements.

State and federal grants fund NCAT.

“We will also be at Burgoo Festival and one of the Kris Kringle Market days,” Zimmerman said.

Ethan Lord, 24, pleaded guilty to grooming, a Class 4 felony, and to obscenity, a Class A misdemeanor, and was sentenced to two years sex offender probation on each guilty charge, to be served concurrently, court records show. He is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years, according to orders filed in McHenry County court by Judge Mark Gerhardt.

Lord also was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail, but with time served following the filing of charges and day-for-day credit, that term is considered served.

The charges to which Lord pleaded guilty are that he knowingly was in the possession of “obscene” child sex abuse materials that he intended to disseminate, court records. He also pleaded guilty to grooming in that he used an online service to communicate with a child’s guardian and attempting “to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice the child’s guardian to distribute photographs depicting [the] sex organs of the child,” according to court information filed in the case.

In detaining Lord pretrial on May 24, 2025, Judge Mark Facchini noted the “violent nature of the videos” allegedly in his possession.

He was released from jail in November after being found fit to stand trial and was ordered to undergo sex offender treatment, records show.

In exchange for his guilty plea, additional felony charges of possessing images of video depicting child sexual abuse were dismissed, records show.

Senior Ava Balestri (infielder) was named to the first team, seniors Lily Bosnich (infielder) and Emma Slingsby (outfielder) to the second team and junior Macy Strauch (pitcher/infielder) to the third team.

They join three players from Princeton and two from Hall, who were announced Monday.

Princeton Junior Avah Oertel (infielder) was named to the ICA first team, Princeton senior Keely Lawson (outfielder) was named to the second team while Princeton senior Caroline Keutzer (outfielder) and Hall junior Caroline Morris (catcher/infielder) and freshman Bernie Larsen (infielder) were named to the third team.

The total cost of the project, which began in 2024, was nearly $12 million. The project involved converting half of the plant’s treatment process to biological nutrient removal for removing phosphorus. Phosphorus will be regulated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency starting in 2030, and it can be removed biologically or chemically.

Other recent improvements included rehabbing excess flow lagoons that handle water that exceeds capacity of the plant in rain events and high-flow times, and upgrading filters.

“It completed some critical needs for the plant that will last for the next 20 years,” RMU Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning said. “We used to have sand filters. We upgraded to a new system that takes out a lot more suspended solids and filters a lot more water than we were able to in the past. We increased our capacity to treat water by about a million gallons per day. We made some biological nutrient removal upgrades.”

The first phase of the upgrades wrapped up in 2021 and cost $7.4 million. That phase included upgrading headworks equipment, converting aeration to biological phosphorus removal, upgrading the anaerobic lagoon, adding an office administration building and the conversion of the plant’s lab.

Lanning said the plant is in compliance with the environmental protection agency each year. RMU recently started land applying sludge produced by the plant on farm fields instead of taking it to the landfill.

“We’re saving money and it’s better for the environment,” Lanning said. “We recently started doing fish surveys to assess the health of the stream. We want to do the best we can for the environment.”

RMU also has plans to add chemical phosphorus removal to the wastewater treatment plant to ensure it meets future phosphorus limits. Lanning hopes to see the chemical phosphorus removal addition completed by summer 2027, which would give RMU two years to perfect the process before the 2030 deadline. He anticipates those improvements will cost $1 million to $2 million.

RMU’s wastewater treatment plant was built in the 1990s. It has seen about $20 million in investment in recent years, with replacement of almost all mechanical components.

Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows said the completion of the recent upgrades represents the city’s commitment to residents and the environment for generations to come.

“The end result of this project is that what flows in the Kyte Creek is well within the means of what it needs to be to be safe for the environment,” Bearrows said. “On behalf of the city, we thank Adam and his staff for their work on this. The treatment plant is one of those places that maybe isn’t thought about a whole lot. But it’s very needed for our community. Today represents a great upgrade for the next several decades.”

Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, plans to file legislation that follows the megaproject bill model passed by the House in April with more restrictions on the types of projects that would qualify. Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, is also drafting a bill that would allow for more infrastructure funding for the team’s development.

Their proposals come days after the Bears announced they are shifting their focus away from building a stadium in Arlington Heights to Hammond, Indiana, after Illinois lawmakers failed to pass legislation giving the team property tax certainty. Meanwhile, Indiana legislators earlier this year approved a framework authorizing more than $1 billion in public subsidies for construction of a new stadium across the state line. The team has left the door open to further negotiations in Illinois, however.

While the GOP’s superminority status makes the specific proposals unlikely to advance, the lawmakers behind them say they’re trying to jumpstart talks.

“This is a crucial moment for us,” Ugaste told Capitol News Illinois. “This is a large project, economic development, that we do not want to lose. We need much more of that in this state.”

Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking to reporters in Chicago Tuesday for the first time since the Bears’ Indiana announcement, said he would be “happy” to call a special session if lawmakers can unite behind a bill.

He also said he’s been fielding phone calls from the Bears, though he has not spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

He said he’s told the Bears to “decide what their priorities are for the state, ask what they’re going to ask for.”

“And then we want to make sure that they’re talking — as you know, my team has been in the room the entire time and will continue to be — that they’re talking together with the legislators,” Pritzker said.

The governor said he thinks the Bears are “regrouping” and made some “fumbles” over the years that have stopped Springfield from moving a bill forward. Those include holding a 2024 news conference proposing a massive renovation of Soldier Field financed by the state, and recent meetings the team had with Chicago officials that led some state lawmakers to believe Chicago was still a viable location for a new stadium.

“They didn’t show up for the end of session,” Pritzker said. “You got to work the hallways, as you know, in a very, very busy session, you’ve got to really talk to every legislator if you want to get something done.”

Ugaste did not vote for the megaproject bill in the House earlier this spring over concerns residents would be hit with higher property tax bills.

His plan would maintain provisions for local governments to negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, with a developer. However, it would raise the threshold for minimum private investments for a megaproject to $500 million, rather than $100 million under the original House-passed plan. That threshold would have little impact on the Bears, which plan to invest $2 billion for a stadium. The projects must also be for commercial use and, like the original bill, would exclude data centers.

Ugaste’s plan also prevents a project from qualifying as a megaproject if it includes residential development. He said it would prevent school districts from incurring more costs from new residents and help them keep their tax levies down. The Bears’ proposal in Arlington Heights does envision some form of housing being built on the 326-acre Arlington Park site.

“If you include residential development, then you’re allowing a resident to move in, take full advantage of all services and not have to pay the same as everybody else,” Ugaste said.

He added that nothing in his legislation would prohibit Chicago from conceiving a megaproject deal with the Bears, as it would apply statewide. Belief that Chicago could still mount a competitive bid for a new stadium helped sink prospects for a Bears bill at the end of May.

The megaproject framework wasn’t popular in the Senate, Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, the lead negotiator of Bears-related legislation in the chamber, told reporters at the end of May.

“Why would anyone oppose economic development in any of our communities?” Ugaste said. “It’s a benefit to everybody. But mine will also have actual property tax relief for all taxpayers in Illinois.”

Ugaste said he has not presented his proposal to the Bears or legislative Democrats while some details are still being worked out, including how developments could use Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds. Those are bonds that can be used by local governments to finance large tourism or entertainment projects.

He also proposed additional requirements such as mandating new referendums for renewing bonds and only holding property tax levy referendums during November general elections.

McLaughlin’s plan calls for allowing the Bears to spend up to $2.5 billion to build a stadium that the team would own and the state to spend $1.2 billion on infrastructure. Lawmakers had generally been considering about $800 million in infrastructure for Arlington Heights had legislation moved forward.

McLaughlin’s bill would not include the PILOT and instead would set a value for the property that would increase by 2.5% each year over a 30-year deal. McLaughlin told Capitol News Illinois it would also include an oversight committee to ensure local governments don’t shift additional taxes toward other residents and businesses.

McLaughlin said his bill would only apply to Arlington Park, calling it the only viable site for a new stadium in Illinois. He said the municipality demonstrated its ability to host large events when the former horse racing track occupied the site.

“It really answers a lot of the uncertainty questions that the Bears had and I’m hoping that it incentivizes the Bears to maybe rethink Illinois because I think we made the deal too complex,” he said.

McLaughlin was one of a handful of House Republicans to support the original megaproject bill and he represents a northwest suburban district that he said he believes will see regional economic benefits from having NFL games and other major events nearby.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Whiteside County Circuit Court Judge James Heuerman, working alongside Whiteside County State’s Attorney Colleen Buckwalter and Sterling defense attorney James Mertes, ruled Tuesday to again reschedule a Rockford man’s trial because doubt exists as to whether the jury pool selection process is randomized enough to ensure a fairly balanced jury is selected.

The ruling came just one day before the start of Michael Cover’s jury trial on charges of aggravated battery and obstructing a police officer. Cover, 33, is facing those charges in connection with a Sept. 11 fight inside the Whiteside County Jail.

His first trial date, set for Feb. 10, was rescheduled after questions surfaced about how the Whiteside County Circuit Clerk’s Office was selecting potential jurors. Since then, the trial has been rescheduled five times throughout the course of 21 court hearings about the jury selection process and how it is taking place at the state and county levels.

Cover was set to go to trial on Tuesday, June 9, but on Monday morning, the start date was moved to Wednesday as the trio was waiting for a report from the team of University of Chicago mathematicians. That team worked over the weekend to determine if names selected to create jury panels in Whiteside County are being chosen at random.

The report was expected to be completed on Tuesday morning, but it had not yet been received by Mertes on Tuesday afternoon. He said the math team has been reviewing and comparing Whiteside County’s state-provided master jury list of 48,300 names that was then run through a computer program to get it down to a list of 12,500, from which 100 names were selected to become the jury pool.

Mertes told the court Monday and reiterated Tuesday that the initial information he has heard points to a selection that is not randomized, as five of the 100 had also appeared on previous jury pool lists over the past four months, something he described as “statistically impossible.”

Another name appeared on the jury pool list, but not on the list of 12,500 from which the jury pool list was derived, he said.

With questions continuing to linger, Heuerman set a pretrial conference date of July 10 in the lead-up to Cover’s next trial date, now set for July 14. That hearing could include testimony from the owner of a software company, whose jury programs are used in Whiteside County, as well as a jury commissioner, Mertes said.

Mertes also said he would be filing a motion to discharge the current jury pool in light of the math team’s work.

The jury trial, when it does begin, is expected to last three to four days.

The district is raising fees for breakfast and lunch to address rising food and labor costs.

“Current pricing remains significantly below the USDA recommended benchmark of $4.16,” District 308 Finance Director Amanda Sitar said during the June 8 Oswego School Board meeting.

Sitar noted that breakfast prices have increased by only 10 cents since 2017 and lunch prices increased by just 10 cents in 2024.

For elementary school students, the cost of a school breakfast will increase to $1.75, up from $1.60. They will pay $3.50 for a student lunch, up from $3.25.

Junior high/high school students will see their student breakfast increase to $2 this fall, up from $1.85. In addition, they will see the cost of a student lunch increase to $3.90, up from $3.65.

“The proposed adjustment is necessary to maintain financial stability of the food service program and offset continuing increases of those food, labor and operating costs,” Sitar said.

Student registration and curriculum fees will stay the same in the new school year.

District 308 students will return to school on Aug. 20.

Right now, the district is owed more than $5 million in unpaid student fees. Schools are prohibited from withholding students’ grades, transcripts or diplomas because of an unpaid balance on the student’s school account.

“We’re looking at different options in being able to recoup that,” District 308 chief financial officer and chief school business official Raphael Obafemi told school board members.

“We are going to reach out to families and try to get them to set up a payment plan to start making payments on those. If we don’t get the kind of response that we need, then we have to look at other options,” Obafemi said.

District 308 Superintendent Andalib Khelghati said the district is looking at different technologies that could be used to recoup the fees.

“Families are very comfortable these days with new forms of technology,” he said. “We’re very committed to recouping all those funds and ensuring that families have a way to really stand by their investment in our schools.”

Obafemi said families who are eligible for not paying the fees don’t have to worry.

“They’ve gone through the income verification,” he said. “And the same thing applies to reduced fees.”

The district covers about 68 square miles, with students not only from Oswego, but also from Aurora, Joliet, Montgomery, Plainfield and Yorkville.

But Bears general manager Ryan Poles didn’t make a splash over the offseason to boost the unit. Instead, he signed a few rotational players in free agency and selected another late in the draft.

Bears defensive linemen like Gervon Dexter have heard the concerns most of the offseason. Despite the worry, Dexter is confident that the Bears have what they need in the building to make improvements.

“I think we got everybody, we got each player,” Dexter said Tuesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on the first day of mandatory minicamp. “Each person in our room knows what they are capable of, so we don’t look at it as, like, a bad thing. We’re taking it on, and we’re ready to get after it together.”

Dexter matched what Poles and Bears coaches have said for most of the offseason.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen have said that coaches needed to do a better job coaching up the players on the roster. Allen previously said that coaches spent too much time focusing on installing a new scheme last year with a new coaching staff instead of focusing on the fundamentals and technique.

Dexter is one of the players coaches are hoping to get more production from.

He put together one of the best seasons in his three-year career. Dexter played a career-high 17 games last year and finished with six sacks, 11 quarterback hits and six tackles for a loss. But there is still more that Bears coaches hope to get from the former second-round pick.

Coaches have worked on Dexter’s stance and get off after the ball is snapped for most of the offseason to get more production. At 6-foot-6, 326 pounds, Dexter has the frame for a difference-making tackle.

“He’s strong, alright,” Bears defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett said of Dexter. “He can push the pocket, he’s got long levers where he can knock guys back and then play off about block on that. He’s got some sneaky, I call violent, shoulder turn where he can get on the edge of offensive lineman as a rusher. ... We’re working on, man, let’s take the fight to them. Let’s not be so worried about what they’re doing and trying to see everything. Let’s make them worry about us.”

Dexter called the change in approach this offseason night and day compared to this time last year.

He expects fans to see a difference once training camp live hitting starts.

“You’ll see it quickly, like as soon as you turn on it, or you go out there, you’re gonna see it’s a whole different person,” Dexter said.

Dexter will have a lot to play for as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. After Poles selected Dexter in the second round in 2023, he’ll likely see how Dexter responds this season before any contract extension talks.

That’s fine by Dexter. Despite having a lot to prove this year personally, Dexter was more worried about the team as a whole instead of himself.

“I’m looking at it as it’s another year for me to grow as a player, to get better,” Dexter said. “I’m here to help this team win. We didn’t have the end goal that we wanted last year, so I’m here to help get to that goal.”

There were some questions about whether cornerback Jaylon Johnson would look like his All-Pro self after a groin injury derailed most of his season last year. He did so with a couple of nice plays Tuesday.

Jaylon Johnson intercepted a couple of passes by quarterback Caleb Williams in team drills. The first came during a team drill when he read where Williams wanted to put the ball and picked it off. He later intercepted another pass deep in the defense’s territory that ended a two-minute drill.

It was an encouraging practice for him. Some fans were concerned when he missed part of the offseason program. But the cornerback was at both Organized Team Activities practices open to reporters over the past two weeks and came through with big plays Tuesday.

The start of minicamp offered a glimpse into how the Bears will handle the competition at starting left tackle during training camp.

Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie took snaps with the first team during drills. Theo Benedet also took snaps at left tackle while Jedrick Wills Jr., whom the Bears signed this offseason after he took a year off to recover from an injury, did not participate Tuesday.

Jones is expected to get a head start for the role after he started for the Bears there for three years before he was replaced last season. Amegadjie, whom Poles selected in the third round in 2024, is also expected to get a look after he dealt with injuries for most of last year. Benedet also started games at left tackle last year.

Bears coaches won’t get a chance to truly evaluate the competition until training camp, when live hitting starts. But minicamp offers a chance to see how they see the competition unfolding in a couple of months.

The Bears didn’t have any no-shows at the start of this week’s mandatory minicamp.

Cornerback Kyler Gordon continued to miss practice with an apparent injury. Gordon previously missed an OTA practice that was open to reporters and was limited in another open practice.

Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and linebacker T.J. Edwards continued to progress through their respective injury recoveries. Both took part in team activities for the first time in front of reporters during the offseason. Odeyingbo is recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered midway through last season, while Edwards is returning from a fractured fibula.

“We love to see Dayo,” Dexter said. “Him going down last year, I feel like, hurt us a bit. Having him back out there running around, it’s good to see him.”

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and linebacker D’Marco Jackson each left Tuesday’s practice with apparent injuries.

Left tackles Wills and Ozzy Trapilo, defensive tackles Shemar Turner, Neville Gallimore and James Lynch, linebackers Noah Sewell, Ruben Hyppolite and Keyshaun Elliott, running back Brittain Brown and safety Anthony Johnson Jr. all also missed practice.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis granted a motion from attorneys for William Busse, 42, for the judge to conduct a private review of the grand jury minutes that led to the Aug. 29, 2024 indictment against Busse, court records show.

Busse was an officer for the Joliet Police Department until 2021. He faces charges of distributing cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine in 2021 in Lockport, Orland Park and Chicago.

William Hardwicke, an assistant federal public defender, filed the grand jury review motion on behalf of Busse on June 4.

Hardwick’s motion said the defense has “recently become aware of several high profile allegations of misconduct involving this same special June 2024 grand jury.”

The special June 2024 grand jury in Busse’s case, which returned an indictment while former U.S Attorney Morris Pasqual was in office, was the same grand jury that returned an indictment in the 2025 federal case against a group of protesters known as the “Broadview Six.”

The protesters were demonstrating against the federal immigration crackdown in northern Illinois called Operation Midway Blitz.

The protesters were charged with felony conspiracy but the case collapsed following claims of prosecutorial misconduct before a grand jury, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Hardwicke’s motion cited the “Broadview Six″ case, as well as the court transcript published on May 22 by Block Club Chicago that revealed U.S. District Judge April Perry’s comments regarding the grand jury proceedings in the case.

Perry found there was “improper prosecutorial vouching” to grand jurors, improper prosecutorial communications with grand jurors outside the grand jury room and prosecutors excusing grand jurors who disagreed with their case from the deliberations process, according to the transcript.

“In light of these troubling allegations, the defense would like to review the grand jury transcripts for Mr. Busse’s case. The government has agreed to produce the transcripts of all witness testimony before the grand jury to the defense,” according Hardwicke’s motion.

Hardwicke’s motion requested Ellis perform a private review of the “grand jury minutes, including the government’s presentation of law to the grand jury, that led to the return of the indictment in this case.”

Busse’s next court hearing is on Aug. 18.

In 2019, Busse had been arrested twice in New Lenox on domestic battery charges. Retired Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner had recommended Busse for termination in Feb. 28 2020.

On May 5, 2021, a settlement was reached between Busse and the city that led to his termination.

The first domestic battery case against Busse was dismissed after police witnesses were not available to testify. The second case went to trial and a jury found Busse guilty of domestic battery but not guilty of resisting officers.

Following the “Broadview Six″ case, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, as well as numerous Democratic elected officials, have called for the resignation of Andrew Boutros, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García said Boutros “has disgraced the office he leads.”

“Between the baseless Broadview Six case, the ridiculous charges against Marimar Martinez, and the credible allegations of dysfunction and misconduct, he has made it clear that he will put politics above the interests of Chicagoans and other residents of the Northern District,” Garcia said.

As he heads into his final year at Sycamore, Rosenow is proving that the two sports feed each other, and together they’ve made him a state-caliber athlete in both.

“Football practice and games, they just make me way more explosive,” said Rosenow, a Daily Chronicle 2025 All-Area Football First-Team selection and second-place finisher in Class 2A in the shot put. “That whole season builds me toward being way more explosive, then when it’s track season, I just have to get my technique down.”

Rosenow said he spends about once a week during the summer working on throws. The rest of the time the offensive lineman spends at football workouts, which is more than enough to get him in track shape as well.

The formula works. Rosenow won the Interstate 8 Conference and the Class 2A Rochelle Sectional in both the shot put and discus this year. He missed a state title by 0.06 meters, throwing 17.26 in the final.

“I know I got next year at least, be state champion next year,” Rosenow said. “I still have a whole other season ahead of me.”

Rosenow lost to Dixon junior Owen LeSage at the state meet after finishing almost two meters ahead of him at the sectional. Rosenow posted a personal best of 18.11 meters there, nearly hitting 60 feet (59 feet, 5 inches).

Rosenow set the school record in the shot put last year and keeps pushing it upward. While his mark improved by 10 feet from last year to this year, Sycamore coach Matt Koceki said those gains are much more incremental from here on out.

More importantly, Koceki said, Rosenow understands that and is building toward attainable goals for next year.

“Even though he had success as a sophomore, he knew he wanted to accomplish the goals he wanted to,” Koceki said. “It was going to take more than another year of getting older. He really put the work in to hone his craft.”

Koceki said that with Rosenow in on the team’s workouts, he adds a sense of quality and professionalism to them.

Rosenow was also peaking in the discus toward the end of the year, setting a personal record at a home meet on May 1 with a toss of 53.2 meters. He followed that up with the wins at conference and sectionals with similar marks, but was 11th at state with a 47.54.

In 2025, Rosenow was second in the shot put and ninth in the discus. He said that with the Spartans in the hunt for, and eventually winning, a 2A team state title, it made his focus much higher.

He also said that his mindset in practice has to be in a different place, leading into the state tournament. But he also said he’s happy he’s got one more year to compete and is ready to go.

He’s also got his college plans to sort out. He’s got offers for both track and football. NIU offered him a football scholarship in May, but it doesn’t offer scholarships for men’s track.

He said no school has offered him for both sports yet, but Minnesota State has talked to him about competing in both.

“I’d like to do either one, I’m not completely sure which one I want to do,” Rosenow said. “Right now I have better options for football, but I also really like track, so I’m not really sure yet.”

That’s pretty unusual for the small northwestern Livingston County town, which has a population just barely over 4,000 people.

The reason for the increase in traffic was the HOT ROD Power Tour, which launched Monday morning from the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet.

The drivers made their way along the Mother Road in classic cars and trucks, show cars, and modern luxury vehicles heading south toward Rantoul, where they will end their day. Over the next several days, they will make their way toward Tulsa by way of St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.

According to the Route 66 Centennial website, the HOT ROD Power Tour is celebrating 100 years of Route 66, America’s most famous roadway.

On their journey, drivers will trek over 1,000 miles and participate in events along the way.

It’s America’s largest traveling car show, bringing more than 6,000 cars and trucks of all years, makes and models.

“Baseball can be a heartbreaking sport.”

Monday night, that was especially true.

The game against the Redhawks was the Class 4A Normal Community Supersectional at the Corn Crib in Normal. It was a round the Indians hadn’t advanced to since 2012, when they finished the year fourth in the state.

Coming into the season, outside expectations were low by Minooka’s usual standards. Losing CJ Deckinga to Michigan State and Brayden Zilis to Illinois State was significant, while Michigan State commit Zane Caves came into the season still recovering from a football injury.

Petrovic mentioned early in the season having one of his most talented teams ever in 2005. After losing most contributors from that group, the Indians were a question mark in 2006, only to finish third in the state that year.

While they finished just shy of state this season, it was still a heck of a run for this group.

“This was a special group,” Petrovic said. “This was a really special team. The great teams leave a mark on your program, and this group left an indelible mark that will last forever. This team got us back to the supersectional and played the game the right way. They brought everyone together and led by example.

“This senior group, especially, has been remarkable at passing the torch down to the juniors. You’re only as good as that example you set. This is a team that really touched my heart all year.”

The game itself was marked by questions hours before the first pitch. The weather forecasted a flood watch with high chances of rain. With the weather looking unfavorable all week, the IHSA opted to give it a go.

While the rain fell early, even necessitating a brief “wet turf delay,” the game was mostly unencumbered. While there were a few errors early, the game was cleaner than not.

Well, after the first inning anyway, when Ryan Keener put Minooka up 1-0 on a throwing error by the Redhawks.

Naperville Central’s first score was an unusual one as well. In the top of the fourth, Jermaine Kenady attempted to steal second with Grant Umbright at third. Umbright managed to make it home untagged and knotted the game 1-1.

The bottom of the fifth saw Evan Jenks score Gavin McReynolds on a sacrifice fly to put the Indians back up 2-1 and pull them ever closer to the state tournament.

Unfortunately for the Indians, disaster struck later in the same inning. Kenady smacked a single to center field, which scored Mark Williams and tied the game. The same play, Minooka attempted a throw to third, but the ball went into the dugout, sending Ryley Orlanes from third to home, putting the Redhawks up 3-2.

Casey Cooperkawa grounded into a fielder’s choice the next at bat to score Kenady and extend it to 4-2.

The Indians refused to quit, putting runners on second and third with one out the next inning, but Naperville Central picked up a strikeout and a flyout the next two at-bats.

The final inning saw Minooka’s Joey Rutz reach second on a throwing error with Jason Duy up to bat as the tying run. Duy nearly scored Rutz and had a chance for extra bases, but Kenady made a miraculous diving catch to end the game and Minooka’s season.

Caves did his part for the Indians, striking out four and putting the team in a good position most of the night. Petrovic singled Caves out for his outstanding evening and career, along with the rest of his senior class.

Petrovic wasn’t the only one to give the Class of 2026 a shoutout.

“[The seniors] have been really big inspirations to all the juniors,” junior Evan Jenks said. “They’ve been great at leading. I’m so grateful to their example and inspiration. I’m really going to miss them.”

For what it’s worth, the outgoing seniors credited the rising seniors for their contributions this year as well.

“As a senior, I’m really proud of these juniors,” Brady Kozlowski said. “There were some really big shoes to fill, and these juniors filled those shoes. I’m really proud of my guys that stepped up and made a big impact to be leaders right away.”

Kozlowski said he felt this run would be good for the Indians as it should inspire them to take care of “unfinished business.” Petrovic acknowledged that there will be big shoes to fill once again, but also expressed confidence in Minooka baseball moving forward.

As for those who remain, this year provided memories for a lifetime, and the ending will motivate all of 2027.

“As much as I’m bummed out right now, I’m so excited for next year,” Jenks said. “I think we’re going to make an even better run next year. I’m so excited for the next group of guys to come up. I love this team.”

The National Weather Service said hot, humid conditions will persist through Thursday, fueling an increasingly volatile atmosphere capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and flash flooding.

While isolated showers and storms are possible on Tuesday, the first organized severe weather threat arrives Tuesday night into early Wednesday. Forecasters say any storms that develop could produce damaging winds and hail, although confidence in widespread impacts remains low.

Wednesday brings another step up in the threat level. Temperatures are expected to surge into the upper 80s and low 90s, with heat index values approaching or exceeding 100 degrees in some locations. Forecasters are monitoring two potential windows for severe weather on Wednesday: one during the afternoon and another during the evening as thunderstorms develop across Iowa and Wisconsin before moving toward northern Illinois.

The greatest concern, however, remains Thursday.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of northern Illinois under a Level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk, indicating the potential for numerous severe storms. The National Weather Service said the overall weather pattern resembles setups that have produced significant severe weather outbreaks in the region in the past.

The exact timing and location of the most dangerous storms are still unknown. Much depends on whether morning thunderstorms develop and where weather boundaries ultimately set up across Illinois. But current forecasts show an environment capable of supporting all severe weather hazards, including tornadoes, destructive winds exceeding 75 mph, hail larger than 2 inches in diameter, and localized flash flooding.

Residents are encouraged to monitor forecast updates throughout the week, review severe weather safety plans, and make sure they have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially on Thursday.

A break from the heat and stormy weather is expected Friday and Saturday, when highs fall back into the upper 70s and lower 80s.

One of the top forwards in the country, LePage announced Sunday that she will play soccer at Notre Dame after high school. The Crystal Lake South junior had previously committed to Michigan State, but a visit to the Notre Dame campus last week led her to change course.

“Notre Dame has always been my dream school and at the top of my list academically and athletically,” LePage said. “The relationship was really good from the start. I’ve learned a lot about their program, and the coaching staff has always been consistent. From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew this was the place that I wanted to be.”

LePage, who competes for the Rockford Raptors FC in both the Elite Clubs National League and the USL W League, is a two-time All-Midwest Conference First Team selection and the 2025 Midwest Conference Player of the Year. LePage was also one of only 18 players in the country to receive All-American honors from the ECNL in 2025.

As a freshman, LePage scored 38 goals and dished out 15 assists for the Gators. She broke the school record for the most goals scored by a freshman and was the first player in school history to earn IHSSCA All-State honors as a freshman. Her accolades included Northwest Herald All-Area First Team and All-Fox Valley Conference recognition.

“I’m definitely someone who’s ready for a challenge,” LePage said. “I think Notre Dame’s soccer program is elite, and only the elite-minded can survive. I think I’m up for that challenge, and going in, I just want to help the team to a national championship and continue to grow my game. That team is incredible, and to be a part of it is amazing.”

Despite tearing the ACL in her left knee during a soccer showcase in December 2024, LePage returned to full health and aided the South basketball team to a 26-7 record this winter. Playing alongside her sister Laken, a graduating senior and Saint Xavier recruit, Gracey helped the Gators win their first regional championship since 2016.

“I’ve definitely gotten stronger and more powerful, but nothing has really changed,” LePage said. “My body has stayed the same. I have no struggles with my knee right now. I feel like myself, and I think I’m becoming more confident on the field. It’s not constantly in my head.”

Her return to the soccer pitch was just as successful. She was invited to attend the 2026 ECNL National Selection Game held Jan. 10 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. In her second game back from the ACL tear, LePage scored two goals and received Player of the Match recognition. It was an emotional moment for both LePage and her mother, Marisa.

“I was crying, my coach was crying and my mom was crying,” LePage said. “I was out for so long. You kind of forget who you are because sports are really all I know. To be pulled out of that and then to finally be back in that atmosphere, it was crazy. I couldn’t have come back better. It was just such a well-rounded moment for me and my team.”

In the winter, LePage signed to compete with Rockford Raptors FC in the USL W League, a pre-professional league featuring top prep and collegiate players from around the country. Her teammates include former area standouts Gabby Wojtarowicz (Jacobs) and Keira Bogott (Woodstock), who are each playing for Division I soccer programs.

“They always say to work hard and just control the controllables,” LePage said. “When you get to college, it’s all about what you can control on the field, which is working hard and having a positive mindset. They’ve probably been through some challenges and struggles at college, but to persevere through them and stay motivated and not quit are things they’ve told me that will stick.”

LePage comes from a family of athletes. Her mother Marisa was a record-setting basketball player at Northern Michigan and is in the Hall of Fame. Her father Matt played basketball there and is now the head boys coach at South. Her older brother Cooper currently attends Northern Michigan and has played football and basketball.

“They were a little disappointed that I wasn’t going to a Michigan school, but they’re super supportive,” LePage said. “When I texted them, they were shocked, but super proud. They’re very excited.”

“This is not your typical conference or health fair. You’ll be stepping into an experience that goes beyond information. This is your opportunity to connect, learn, and grow stronger in your wellness journey.” Stronger YOU Wellness Experience chair Stefanie Morris said in a news release.

The event’s keynote speaker is GrowthPlay managing director and HX Collective founder Deb Knupp. Knupp will lead a “Whole-Being and Well-Being: Activating the 8 Dimensions of Wellness” presentation. Attendees can explore how wellness dimensions work to support a healthier, more balanced life. The wellness experience also includes interactive and hands-on breakout sessions led by community professionals and speakers.

A Wellness Resource Room is available to connect participants to local organizations. The resource room features bingo cards. Prizes will be awarded.

Sammiches and sides, loaded baked potatoes, nachos, loaded mac and cheese and egg rolls will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. by Rossy’s Food Truck.

Registration is encouraged. Walk-ins also will be accepted. To register, visit go.illinois.edu/strongerYOU or call 815-433-0707.

Early accommodation requests for access needs are encouraged. To make a request, email susang@illinois.edu or call 815-433-0707.

Kirwan, Marian’s head coach since 2022, had named Stanger his offensive coordinator over the winter. Both are Marian graduates.

Said Kirwan: “I told him, ‘I hope they offer this opportunity to you. Let’s keep this thing going in the right direction and keep building this program to where we want it to be.’ ”

Last week, via X, new Marian athletic director Lafeyette Bell welcomed Stanger as the new Hurricanes’ head coach, handing the program over to the 1993 Marian graduate. Before serving 10 seasons at Crystal Lake Central, including a three-year run as head coach that ended after the 2024 season, Stanger was Marian Central coach Ed Brucker’s offensive coordinator for 12 years.

“Super excited at the opportunity,” Stanger said of returning to Marian. “It’s been 10-plus years since I’ve been at the school, so a lot of things have changed. I’m even more excited about Coach Bell’s vision for the athletic department and what he sees that Marian can become.”

Kirwan, who graduated from Marian in 2013, posted two four-win seasons and two three-win seasons. As a student-athlete at Marian, he played mainly defensive end and some offensive line before playing college ball at St. Cloud State and Loras.

Stanger was his offensive coordinator at Marian.

“I loved playing for him,” Kirwan said. “He’s part of the reason why I got into coaching, because of the positive impact he had on me. We hired him as our OC this winter, and I was excited to work and coach with him.”

Stanger’s three-year head coaching run at CL Central included a Class 6A playoff berth in 2023. For the first time in 20-plus years, he did not coach in 2025.

“It was awkward,” said Stanger, who works full-time for the athletic recruiting company Next College Student Athlete, which is part of IMG Academy. “I would sit in my driveway [in Lakewood], make a fire. I could hear stadium noise from a couple of nearby high schools [Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central]. I just tried to take a step back and look at things in a different lens. It was good for me in the long run.”

Stanger said what helped sell him on returning to coaching was a conversation with David Proffitt, who had a successful 12-year run as Marian’s coach before Brucker and later served as head coach at Lake Zurich. Proffitt has coached for Prairie Ridge in recent years.

“He said the best thing he ever did – and for him it was probably 25 years ago – was taking a year off,“ Stanger said. ”He was like, ‘It really opened my eyes. You look at the game differently, things like that.’ [Not coaching last season] did me some good, for sure.”

Marian Central’s players, particularly the seniors, also sold Stanger. He’s gotten to know them over the past few months.

Stanger played quarterback for Marian and the University of Wisconsin, where he was a member of a Rose Bowl-winning team. He inherits a promising QB in Colin Hernon, who started last season and, at 6 feet 4 and 195 pounds, could be one of the area’s best at his position this fall.

Passing the ball won’t necessarily be the Hurricanes’ identity, however.

“I’m a believer that you got to run it just as well as you can throw it,” Stanger said. “Year to year, as a high school coach, your personnel may change, so you got to adapt.”

Kirwan also served as associate director of admissions and advancement at Marian. He said he wasn’t expecting to leave, but he is grateful for the opportunity he had to coach his alma mater.

“It was a special four years for me, coming back home,” Kirwan said. “I can’t thank the community enough. The amount of text messages and calls I’ve gotten over the last few days, since everything came out, the amount of support, it’s hard for me to put into words how thankful I am for all of these people.”

Marian unveiled a new weight room last year, and Kirwan was part of the process that saw it come to fruition. He saw growth in the program in his time as head coach.

“I was lucky to leave a positive mark on a lot of families, a lot of students, whether they were athletes or regular students,” Kirwan said. “We made some huge improvements to that school, whether it was building the new weight room or putting in some more structure in the football program and athletics to help us grow and succeed over the years.”

The key to the best of those flicks is usually one of two things: Adversity or an underdog.

The 2026 Lincoln-Way West softball team had both.

The Warriors won the Class 4A state championship on Saturday with a 6-1 victory over Mundelein. It was the first team state championship in school history.

In 17 years of competition, all of them under coach Heather Novak, no Warrior softball team had even made it past the sectional championship. Following their sectional title victory, each win became more historical than the last.

That culminated in the best piece of history any Warrior could ever hope for. That alone is movie material.

“We’ve been working for this since we were all freshmen,” senior Reese Cusack said. “Our whole team was pretty much seniors. It feels so good to have it all pay off.”

The history alone didn’t make the Warriors such underdogs, however.

Last year, the Warriors didn’t make it past the sectional semis. Their sectional championship opponent [Lockport] finished fourth at state last year. Their state semifinal opponent was Marist, four-time state champs, which finished third last year at state.

Yet the Warriors just kept on finding ways to win.

“We lock in during big moments,” Valparaiso commit Molly Finn said. “Our defense is on lockdown. When bases get loaded, we get out of the inning. We just get it done because we’re very focused.”

“Just get it done” would be the tagline of the movie. No matter what the Warriors had to deal with, that’s what they did, no matter the adversity they faced.

And they faced a lot of it from the start of the season.

Reese Rourke came into the year already the most decorated player in Lincoln-Way West softball history. She was a three-time All-State first team selection at shortstop and came into the year with the school record for career runs, doubles, total bases and stolen bases. She was tied for the lead with career home runs and broke it in the sectional title game.

Yet she very nearly didn’t add a single number to those marks.

Rourke broke her wrist in just the second game of the year and required surgery. She’d hoped to come back during the regular season, but wasn’t able to make a return until the sectional title against Lockport.

That Lincoln-Way West went 23-7 in the regular season without her shows tremendous resiliency. That Rourke’s first game back saw her hit two home runs in a 2-0 win for the first sectional title in program history? That’s something else entirely.

“We really have come so far,” Rourke said. “We’ve been friends for so long, and seeing us all accomplish our dreams together is so great, and I’m so happy for us.”

Beyond Rourke’s injury, the Warriors kept finding ways to win despite adverse circumstances. They trailed Edwardsville in the super-sectional round early. The Warriors even found themselves down 1-0 after one inning on Saturday.

Rourke, a NC State commit, went 0 for 4 against heavily favored Marist. Abby Brueggman found herself in multiple jams during that game. Yet as Finn said, they just got it done.

It was fitting that the team was led by seven seniors, many of whom had been on varsity all four years. To end their careers on a win, the biggest win in school history at that, was a nice way to go out.

Though even with all the glory and tears of joy, Brueggman did acknowledge there was a bit of sadness to Saturday’s win as well.

“It’s kind of a mix of emotions,” she said. “It’s great, but it’s still sad. I’m a senior, and we had a lot of seniors, so that [stinks] and it’s bittersweet.

“I’m still happy, though. I’m still going to be best friends with these girls, so that’s okay.”

Brueggman will head to St. Xavier, Reese Forsythe will go to St. Ambrose and Reese Cusack ships out to Seton Hill, joining Rourke and Finn as college players. That leaves a lot of bats and innings to replace from this year.

Hannah Borchert, Addison Andrieansen and Kaylea Armstrong all came into the year with experience and only earned more throughout the year. Reagan Connolly did an admirable job filling in for Rourke much of the year, and Holly Smith contributed this season as well.

That’s all to say that the cupboard is far from bare and Novak will be back for year 18 to oversee things.

For the seven seniors who closed it out in Hollywood fashion, although, even those returning had to offer a standing ovation for their finale.

“[The seniors] are my best friends,” Armstrong said. “I’ve played with them for three years. They’ve done so much for this program, and I’ll just miss them so much. ... What a way to go out.”

Six of those standouts earned first-team recognition. On the Class 4A team, Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Lydia Hammond earned the first spot on the first team in her career and third overall selection. The Loyola commit was 15-6 with a 2.29 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 119 innings in the circle. At the plate, Hammond hit .378 with three home runs, five doubles, 11 walks, 20 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 82 at-bats for a Boilermakers team that went 24-9 and won their fifth straight regional.

In Class 2A, Wilmington senior outfielder Molly Southall earned her third straight spot on the first team and fourth All-State spot overall. The North Carolina State recruit hit .529 with nine home runs, eight doubles, three triples, 35 walks, 42 RBIs, 53 runs and 16 stolen bases in 68 at-bats for the Wildcats, whose 24-5 record included a perfect 14-0 run through the Illinois Central Eight Conference.

Beecher also went undefeated in conference play, finishing the year 32-1, 14-0 in the River Valley Conference and as a regional champion in Class 2A, where seniors Taylor Norkus and Makenzie Johnson earned first-team honors.

Norkus, a Colgate commit, posted a 23-1 record with 227 strikeouts and a 1.04 ERA in 148⅓ innings. It’s her second straight time making the first team and third All-State selection. Johnson, an outfielder and Northern Illinois signee, is a three-time All-Stater and rookie to the first team after batting .584 with two home runs, eight doubles, 10 triples, 17 walks, 38 RBIs, 55 runs and 13 stolen bases in 101 at-bats.

In Class 1A, a pair of seniors capped off perhaps the most stellar careers in the histories of their respective programs with first-team seasons.

Milford/Cissna Park shortstop Addison Lucht, a Northwestern signee, made her four-sport, four-year All-State career complete with her fourth first-team selection. Lucht had almost as many walks (32) as at-bats (42) and finished with a .690 batting average, 10 home runs, nine doubles, three triples, 43 runs, 45 RBIs and 30 stolen bases for the 14-6 Bearcats.

Gardner-South Wilmington senior pitcher Maddie Simms was named to her second first team and third All-State team after leading the Panthers to the third-place trophy in Class 1A in their first-ever trip to state. In the circle, she went 14-8 with a 2.85 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 145 innings. At the plate, she hit .478 with two home runs, 10 doubles, nine triples, 10 walks, 36 RBIs and 20 runs for the 28-12 Panthers.

Another 13 local standouts made their respective second teams: Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Avery Moutrey in Class 4A, Bishop McNamara’s Rhaya DePaolo and Joslynn Dole, Beecher’s Grace Wuest, Manteno’s Alyssa Singleton and Aubrey Goudreau, Wilmington’s Keeley Walsh and Taylor Stefancic, Peotone’s Sophie Klawitter, Coal City’s Khloe Picard and Herscher’s Chloe Kinkade in Class 2A and G-SW’s Brynn Christensen and Grant Park’s Cheyenne Hayes in Class 1A.

The Boilers’ Shannon Lee was a third-team pick in Class 4A, while Kankakee’s KaLeah Jackson earned the same recognition in Class 3A. Bishop McNamara’s Maddy Weiland, Beecher’s Elena Kvasnicka, Wilmington’s Nina Egizio and Manteno’s Mady Dye and Savanna Watkins were Class 2A third-teamers. In Class 1A, G-SW’s Ella Mack and Kayla Scheuber and Watseka’s Christa Holohan made the third team.