State law with big effect on small community

When new bills and laws are passed by the state legislature, many do not understand the implications regarding the "fine print."
The political environment in Wisconsin continues to be energetic with passionate opinions from both sides of political ideals - including the the 2011 debate over the Budget Bill - which drew widespread protest at the State Capitol.

Union Grove was affected by the new measures which led to an additional hundreds of dollars billed to local taxpayers - a big deal within a small Village of 4,000 residents.

Business development in small community

Small village municipalities often have a difficult time recruiting new businesses into the community for a variety of reasons, but one Village is engaging in proactive efforts to bring them in.

Public Health issues

What a difference between two county-based agencies and the services they provide. My continuous follow up on the developments and difference between Central Racine and Western Racine County Health Departments lasted three months.
It spanned two different jurisdictions to gauge opinions and feedback from elected officials on the satisfaction of both departments.

Village neighbors disagree, create hour long debate

Public hearings in small village municipalities are seldom attended by residents. But there was an experience involving two business owners and a patio owned by one of them. While there was some emotionally charged debate regarding the use of a patio - it was approved.

I continued to follow up on this after the Planning Commission was given notice the club had the desire to modify its agreement in question.

McDonald's sharing space with Government

Big difference in small community

My eyes lit up when I attended a Union Grove Village Board meeting and saw elementary school children attempting to make a difference in a small community.

The customary Village Board meeting typically is about policies and ordinances but the night I attended had a much difference feel to it.

As a dozen school students stated their goals in making a difference and through my observations discovered the Board really focused in on them. They did everything they could to make their aspirations come true at that moment.

Kenosha Days - Perseverance

Perseverance can be the term used to describe my sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and proved to be the first turning point.

After coming forward applying for a lofty position as an Assistant Sports Editor my freshman year for my student newspaper and walking away empty-handed - there was a sense of discouragement.

The same year I applied for the position as a News Intern with the Kenosha News but had the same result as the editorial position with my student newspaper.

A Year Later

While continuing to write as a general assignment reporter along with a sports beat my sophomore year - something caught my eye - an advertisement in the student newspaper looking for an Assistant Sports Editor. The same position I applied for a year earlier.

Made the decision to not apply for the position while still stinging from being passed over the previous year. Little did I know, some of the editors had me in mind all along - which I was not aware of until my junior year when the photography editor told me.

When the hired Assistant Sports Editor did not pan out - I received a voicemail from the Sports Editor in my dorm room with a simple statement:

"Oh, and the Assistant position is still open, might want to give it another shot."

Within two weeks, I became a member of the Editorial Board at the Royal Purple. More surprising was the news I would move on up to the position of Sports Editor by the next academic year.

Hello, Kenosha

Riding out my newfound promotion into the summer, my writers itch raged on and made the decision to contact the Kenosha News regarding freelance opportunities.

It was my first glimpse into daily newspaper reporting with strict deadlines and became exposed to a sport I never reported on: Triathlons.

Officially-sanctioned United States Triathlons with participation from some of the best athletes in the Midwest.

My comeback

After more than six years of being away from the journalism profession due to a myriad of personal and medical issues, 2013 was the year I was able to make a return.

Following my excellent experience as a News Intern with the Lake County News-Sun, my life hit a snag for several years and since the departure - I wondered if I still had the talent.

Enter in Southern Lakes Newspapers, where I previously served as a Sports Intern eight years earlier for two weekly newspapers (Whitewater Register, Palmyra-Eagle Enterprise) and I was able to make my return.

One thing is certain - having a writer make a return to writing was like riding a bike. I still have the perspective of the citizen in mind, although a bit rusty. But it is a restart I have been waiting for since 2007. 

The challenge of writing for two smaller communities is to dig harder for information and generate stories. While attending Village Board and School Board meetings might not be exciting to an outsider, but many small details and items within meetings can be a major story for a small community.

And sometimes being present at Board meetings catches news NOT contained in the meeting agenda issued. 

In order to understand the significance of small items on meeting agendas, a reporter needs to know the history of the community. Learning about the history in two small communities is a hard task but once I am able to get over the learning curve it will be much easier to follow.

It takes a considerable amount of time for a reporter to not only learn the history but also the public officials and what they stand for.

Bank robbery at Gurnee Mills

Banks have grown beyond the typical commercial building people would normally go to cash or deposit a check and now operate inside grocery stores, retail outlets and gas station teller machines.

Gurnee Mills, a large mall located north of Chicago, has an internal bank for all stores conducting business for security and efficiency purposes.

It all changed when a person presumed to have knowledge of inside operations robbed the Chase Bank at the mall and made out with cash and checks.

Gurnee Mills heist may have been inside job

December 13, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

GURNEE - Despite Monday's bank robbery at Chase Bank, Gurnee Mills security personnel remain tight-lipped about security measures. The mall appeared to be business as usual Tuesday after two men dressed in black sweatshirts, pants, masks and gloves brandishing handguns robbed mall employees of cash and receipts Monday shortly before 10 a.m. The assailants were walking up and down the line of employees waiting to deposit receipts and cash, robbing them at gunpoint.

Chase Bank holds the deposits from all the Gurnee Mills stores and is hidden from the general public in a tunnel near the Entry F entrance of the mall.

The two robbers were able to escape into the Entry F internal exit, where, according to police reports, entered an awaiting newer model Chevy Malibu driven by an accomplice.

The exit door is within 10 feet of the bank entrance, making it a possibility it may have been an inside operation.

"It would appear that the individuals involved had knowledge of the daily operations of the bank," Gurnee Police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said Tuesday.

Monday's holdup brings the total of robberies in the county to 10 this year and the second in the month of December. The previous incident occurred at a Waukegan TCF Bank on Dec. 4. Lake County had eight total bank robberies in 2005.

The robbery also adds to the number of Chicago metropolitan area bank robberies, currently at 278, a yearly record, according to Chicago FBI spokesman Frank Bochte. The previous record was held last year with 240 robberies in the Chicago region.

The FBI does not tell banks how to conduct security measures, but does offer suggestions.

Bochte said most banks utilize their own security systems based on the crime rates in surrounding neighborhoods.

"We suggest an investment in a high-quality camera system in order to receive high-quality images to make it easier to apprehend individuals," Bochte said.

The Chicago FBI has been able to solve an average of 75 percent of all bank robberies in the region.

Due to the discrete location of the bank, several shoppers and store employees working at the time of the incident may not have been aware of the robbery.

"I do not know much about what happened (Monday), so I can not comment on it," said Auntie Anne's employee Jose Hernandez. "I feel fine (every time I make a deposit). I feel good coming in here and I never find any problems."

Hernandez added he never noticed any security problems prior to Monday's incident.

Supervisor Robin Nelson of Liz Claiborne is taking a more vigilant approach to the situation by having an additional employee accompany her to make the daily deposits.

The supervisor decided to go against company protocol in adding an additional employee. She added the store manager did not brief her prior to making the deposit.

Several employees interviewed at the mall Tuesday were either not aware of the robbery Monday or may have been given vague information.

Chase Bank employees declined to comment and referred questions to its corporate offices in Louisville, Ky.

Ton Rinka, the mall's general manager, declined to comment on the matter noting the "mall does not discuss security measures with individuals from outside the mall."

Patrick said he was not aware of what security measures the mall took in the wake of the robbery.

The two stores robbed were Fuzzy Navel, a mall kiosk business, and LVL X, a denim merchandise store.

Patrick indicated the information regarding the two robbers were "vague" and there is "not a lot of leads to go on at this point."

Gurnee police are asking people who may know about the robbery to contact them at (847) 599-7000 or Lake County CrimeStoppers at (847) 662-2222.

Encounter with the Chicago Bears... and their wives

With the news of Tank Johnson marring a memorable season for Chicago Bear fans, including a Super Bowl run, the wives of Bear players pitched in to help special needs children with support from their husbands.

Days after talking with Johnson outside his doorstep in the midst of a season in turmoil, it was an opportunity for me to report on the positives the team is doing within a community.

There was one rule they conveyed to media members covering the event, no discussing the Johnson case.

Face-to-face with their favorite players

Bears, wives reach out to SEDOL students

December 20, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

GAGES LAKE - It isn't every day a child gets to meet his dream athlete, but for special needs students at the Special Education District of Lake County, it became a reality Tuesday as they met three Chicago Bears. John Tait and his wife Jeneva are honorary board members of SEDOL and helped organize the holiday party for the students along with other Bears' wives.

"We are giving out gift cards this year, thanks to Target, and we have goodies for the kids this year to give to their parents as gifts," said Jeneva Tait. "The kids don't have much of an opportunity to give gifts to their parents, and with this they can. On top of that, the kids will be getting autographs from the players."

"It is always fun to interact with the kids and answer any questions they may have," said her husband, offensive lineman John Tait.

The Taits were introduced to SEDOL through the Bears organization when they arrived in Chicago from the Kansas City Chiefs. John Tait was looking for an organization to assist in the Chicago metro region.

"This organization helps a lot of kids in the Lake County region, which is where I live now," he said.

The Bears' Charles Tillman and Rasheid Davis also attended the event with their wives to show support for the children.

In addition to spending time with the children, the players also read them holiday books with Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa themes.

Tillman and his wife Jackie sat next to one of his fans during lunch and talked to the child.

"I was kind of scared because I had never met an NFL player before," said 11-year-old Nate, wearing a No. 87 Muhsin Muhammed Bears' jersey. "It feels good to have them with me today. Charles is my guy on defense."

Tillman read a Hanukkah-themed book to the children in rotations with his two participating teammates.

"I am really looking forward to doing this with the kids and be there for questions," he said.

The defensive back does plenty of community service opportunities in the Chicago area.

"I usually do these community service things in Chicago schools, so this is the first time I have been at SEDOL," Tillman said. "The wives deserve all the credit in putting this together."

The wives helped the children arrange arts and crafts for their families.

"I just want to wish the wives well in this because they are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts," Charles Tillman said.

Jackie Tillman was impressed with the turnout of children with around 100 in attendance.

"They are all excited and this is what it is all about," she said.

Injured defensive back Mike Brown was going to attend, but had a doctor's appointment, according to his wife, Erin.

"All three guys have huge hearts and they are always giving back to the community," said Erin Brown. "They give as much as they can in the amount of time they have during the season. Every child deserves attention, and it does take time but it's worth it."

Wide receiver Rashied Davis supports children and the value of education.

"I will do anything for the kids, you know. I am a big fan of education, especially for the kids who need a little extra help," said Davis, who has done projects with children prior to joining the Bears when he was a member of an Arena Football League team.

Marcus, a 15-year-old with SEDOL, was working an arts activity with Davis' wife, Diana.

"It's shocking (to be face to face with a player)," said Marcus. "It feels good to have them reach out to us."

Trip to Illinois state capitol - Court appearance

Commuting from Racine to Waukegan everyday was a long haul, but adding nearly five more hours to the mix was a journey - and enjoyed the quiet drive to Springfield in the wee hours of the morning for a court appearance of a public official.

Departed Racine at 1:00 a.m. and made it to the Sangamon County Courthouse in Illinois by 9:00 a.m. (stopped to rest three times) for the court appearance of North Chicago School Superintendent Sandra Ellis - accused of shoplifting nearly 500 dollars worth of goods from a Wal-Mart.

The story was handed to me by an outgoing retiring reporter from the Waukegan newsroom and briefed me on all the case details and offered suggested routes along the Interstate, which Springfield was a lot further than I imagined, knew a lot of miles were driven given all the "To St. Louis" signs along the way.

When I arrived for security checkpoint and took my seat in the courtroom, the appearance by the superintendent lasted five minutes. And there it was, 9:15 a.m. and my work in Springfield was already finished.

Phoned my news editor by phone and gave him the basic info and would be returning to the Waukegan newsroom in the afternoon to file a story.

As I sat to type out the story, the news editor came out of his office and said:
"We are going to call you time-traveler from now on."

Superintendent trial continued

November 14, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

SPRINGFIELD - North Chicago Schools Superintendent Sandra Ellis' trial was continued again Monday due to the high volume of jury trials in Sangamon County Judge John Belz's courtroom. Ellis is accused of felony shoplifting in connection with an incident July 17, 2005, at a Springfield Wal-Mart. The superintendent is accused of shoplifting $445 in food and liquor.

"We were set for trial today, it got continued on a motion of the defense and the judge agreed," said Sangamon County Prosecutor Gabe Grosball. "The judge had other jury trials today, so he didn't have time to try this case, so that is why the case has been continued to January."

The January court date for Ellis could result in either a trial or plea agreement.

"Between now and January, we will negotiate. I will make an offer and if they take it, it will happen sometime during that week," Grosball said.

The prosecutor added if the defense chooses not to receive the offer, it will become a jury trial.

Despite three continuances, Grosball said, the motions are normal in most court cases, noting that some cases take up to two years to get resolved.

The maximum penalty for felony retail theft is three years in prison and a $2,500 fine, but due to Ellis not having a prior criminal record, there is a chance of probation or some small fines.

Ellis was not charged with shoplifting until six months after the alleged incident took place due to the priorities of the Sangamon County court system, according to Grosball.

"Retail theft cases take longer to file due to possibilities of restitution, but Wal-Mart received all of its property back," Grosball said. "Since Ellis is not in custody, we tend to prioritize more violent crimes such as murders, rapes and other types before retail thefts."

Grosball added that the next scheduled court appearance could be continued if suspects are in custody because judges typically favor trying individuals in police custody over someone who is out on bond.

Ellis should not expect preferential treatment by the judge or prosecutor because of her position as a school superintendent, Grosball said.

"That is not going to cause us to treat this any different if it was (somebody) off the street," Grosball said. "Her position is not going to make me decide whether or not to try this case or to make a certain plea offer."

Ellis has a long history of in public service, most notably as a member of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Terrorism Task Force.

Belz will determine the January court date at a future time.

Background information...

Schools chief charged

February 25, 2006

By Ralph Zahorik

The News-Sun

NORTH CHICAGO -- New schools Superintendent Sandra Ellis was charged this week with felony shoplifting by the Sangamon County state's attorney's office. 

Ellis was accused of attempting to take $445 in food and liquor from a Springfield Wal-Mart store last July 17 without paying for the items. Ellis said the accusation is false and that she never tried to take the items without paying for them. It isn't clear why there was a six-month delay in filing the charge.

Ellis, in a Jan. 31 interview, before she was formally charged, said the arrest was "a mistake" and that she was innocent. She attributed the episode to an overzealous, inexperienced Wal-Mart clerk. "It was mortifying," she said.

According to an account published July 18 in the Springfield State Journal Register based on a police report, police were called to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Dirksen Parkway the day before, a Sunday, to investigate a shoplifting complaint.

A store employee accused Ellis, who lived in nearby Mount Pulaski, Ill., of attempting to go through a check-out line with $445 worth of unpaid groceries and alcohol in tied "recycle bags," a possible felony theft, the account said.

Ellis said the bags were "silver" freezer bags.

The newspaper said Ellis was taken to Sangamon County Jail.

Copies of the newspaper story have been circulating in North Chicago since Ellis was hired last month.

She is scheduled to appear March 1 in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield, said Jennifer Kuntz, a Sangamon County assistant state's attorney. The offense Ellis is accused of is a Class 3 felony and, if convicted, she could be sentenced to probation or she could be sentenced up to five years in state prison, Kuntz said.

Ellis has no history of prior offenses in Sangamon County, she said.

At the time of her arrest, Ellis was working for the Governor's Illinois Terrorism Task Force. She was a UniServ director -- a union field representative -- in Decatur schools for the Illinois Education Association until March 2005.

When Ellis was appointed Dec. 14, the School Board provided a one-paragraph general statement on the new superintendent with no specifics on her employment history, her education or other credentials.

Information on her professional background was provided later.

Ellis, a native of Toledo, Ohio, has a doctorate in education administration from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and bachelor's and master's degrees from Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

She was superintendent of several downstate school districts before she went to work for the IEA. They included the Brooklyn Unit District near East St. Louis, the Mount Pulaski Unit District near Springfield, the Gillespie Unit District near Litchfield and the Astoria Unit District in Fulton County.

Ellis lives in both North Chicago and Mount Pulaski. She has a rented apartment in North Chicago and maintains a home in Mount Pulaski with her husband, Ron Ellis, a retired Illinois state police office.

Health and Wellness

Every individual values his or her health in every aspect including management of mental health issues. There were a handful of stories where I came into contact with people battling kidney diseases and eating disorders.

It also helps to have community support to help people cope with losses of loved ones and organizations reaching out to struggling families.

Easing the pain

Patient comfort comes first in The Pavilion's on-site dialysis service

January 15, 2007

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

Dialysis treatments can be a long and painful procedure. The Pavilion of Waukegan hopes to help patients with kidney ailments through more individualized attention. 

"Once a person goes on dialysis, it means they suffer from kidney failure," said Pavilion spokesperson Aaron Shpayher. The only alternative to defeating dialysis would be to receive a kidney transplant. A person can survive for the remainder of his life with one kidney.

The Pavilion has been open for service since 2000 and the program is geared toward individuals who have chronic long-term kidney failure.

"We function more on the focus of chronic situations," said Shpayher, on the difference between the Pavilion and a full service hospital.

The long-term care facility offers several other services to help ease the emotional and physical pain of dialysis, including television entertainment and an in-house beauty and barber services.

"We have a very bright room with a television and radio. We have the ability to provide them a distraction from the pain," Shpayher said.

In addition to leisure recreation activities, they also offer nutritious meals and social settings for patients to interact with one another.

"Because we are a chronic care facility, the traveling and transporting is much easier," said dialysis specialist Monica Wrobleski. "It makes the treatments a lot more comforting and assuring."

In addition, Wrobleski said the staff can give more one-on-one attention to the patients because they are around the patients more than in a traditional hospital.

"The patients have a better familiarity with the staff," Wrobleski said.

Shpayher said the entertainment offered can be a relief to some patients in the Pavilion due to their on-going kidney problems.

However, due to the pain they endure, most choose to attempt to fall asleep.

The Pavilion also offers religious services to individuals who need spiritual guidance to walk them through the obstacles in their lives. With the high volume of individuals on transplant lists for kidneys, patients appreciate spiritual support to help them cope with what looms ahead.

Dialysis treatment involves three treatments per week with the four remaining days off.

"We have success stories from people on dialysis. Some of come in looking very sick and were able to go out into the community after a few weeks in treatment," Shpayher said. "But they still have to undergo the three-day a week treatment."

The process is ongoing because people will need to remain in the treatment until they receive a transplant.

There is a series of medical professionals to assist the patient in every aspect including a nephrology social worker, kidney dietician, patient care technician and biomedical technician. They also provide occupational, speech and physical therapy.

For individuals who have been suffering for a tremendous amount of time, they offer hospice care to help ease the pain.

Positive support

National organization for eating disorders has roots in Highland Park

October 30, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

HIGHLAND PARK - Christine Reh has found a way to turn a past problem into a positive experience, courtesy of a locally founded organization. 

The 21-year-old DePaul University senior is an intern for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, which has provided support for the illness which plagued her 10 years earlier.

"I am currently working on a project where we are replicating a study on the age onset of anorexia, bulimia and any kind of eating disorder," said Reh. "I am a recovering anorexic and a major in psychology and I am going to hopefully go to graduate school and get my PhD to study eating disorders eventually and get into the field and help people who are dealing with eating disorders."

Reh found the organization online at her St. Louis home when she was a high school student and began receiving support from individuals around the country who visited the online chat rooms and forums. She also called into the hotline when she needed assistance.

The hotline allows the organization's volunteers to refer individuals who suffer from eating disorders to more than 1,800 professionals throughout North America and the rest of the world.

"So far it has been a really great experience for me," Reh said, about her internship with ANAD.

Reh said she has been in recovery for two full years and began having symptoms at 11 years old. Through the support of her mother and father in high school, she was able to come to terms with the illness.

"The recovery process didn't really begin until I was old enough to really begin to take control of myself and I wanted to get better," Reh said.

Vivian Hanson Meehan founded the organization when she was a nurse at Highland Park in 1976 when a family member was diagnosed with anorexia.

Due to the lack of resources then available to medical professionals, she sought to verify the severity of illness and prove it had become an epidemic.

Meehan credits former District 10 State Rep. John Porter for assisting the organization with congressional measures such as parity legislation, where health insurance providers can recognize eating disorders and mental illness as a medical issue.

The organization also has participated in congressional hearings regarding the dangers of certain diets and products pertaining to eating disorders.

The former nurse began the organization without any major expectations and seems surprised by the national and worldwide support of the organization.

Meehan started the organization by putting advertisements in the local paper calling out family members who might have a relative with anorexia.

She received a high volume of response from people who have suffered from the illness or who had relatives seeking more information about the illness. Meehan was challenged by a local doctor to find 2,000 people who suffered from anorexia and her efforts eventually turned into the founding of a worldwide organization.

ANAD has organizations in Germany and was once affiliated with a Canada organization until Canadian authorities threatened to take funding away due to being affiliated with an American organization.

Amanda Elliott, 27, is the national coordinator for support groups. The organization has approximately 250 support groups nationwide and receives requests on a daily basis to form new support groups, according to Elliott.

Elliott said she will stay with the organization for as long as it exists due to the amount of support she received when she suffered from the eating disorder.

Compassionate Friends holds healing vigil on Sunday

December 9, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

MILLBURN - The holidays can be a difficult time for a parent to grieve over the death of a child. The Northern Lake County Chapter of Compassionate Friends is working to help parents who have lost a child by holding a candlelight vigil scheduled Sunday at Millburn Congregational Church. 

"My daughter died in 2002 and I have been going to it ever since," said Jenny Selle, leader of the county chapter. The loss of her daughter was tough for the Selle family due to her daughter being her only child.

Selle's daughter, Lila Marie Ruffolo, a Warren Township High School graduate, died at the age of 24 in an auto accident. She was attending the University of Arkansas-Little Rock at the time of her death.

She believes the timing of the vigil is crucial due to Christmas.

"The holidays are a heavy time of the year (for parents who lost their children) and it can be comforting to feel the support," she said.

Compassionate Friends holds monthly meetings to help parents cope with the loss of their child.

"The main thing is these are people who have been through what we have been through," said Selle. "That is the greatest value (of the organization)."

Selle believes the organization provides more support than a professional therapist because everyone involved within the group can assist each other and understand each other better.

The candlelight vigil has taken place annually in the second Sunday of the month since 1997.

Lake County's Compassionate Friends organization was formed in 1984 to support parents, relatives, siblings and grandparents. Selle said 10 to 15 people come to the meetings every month, but more usually participate in the candlelight event with expectations of around 100.

Only two men attend the monthly meetings on a regular basis.

"One of the reasons why I am in Compassionate Friends with my wife is because it is a family thing," said Jenny's husband, Rick. "I just want to let men know it is OK to come in and talk about it."

Rick Selle mentioned the organization also can help keep marriages strong when a family tragedy of losing a child occurs. "It helps keep the marriage together, we must share the grief and we are in this together," he said.

The worldwide non-profit organization holds the vigil at the same time, making it the largest vigil in the world, according to the organization.

Compassionate Friends chose the second Sunday of December because it coincides with National Children's Memorial Day.

Lake Zurich organization and e-Bay reach out to single-parent families

October 16, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

According to the 2002 Illinois census, 38.8 percent of single-mother families lived below the poverty level. Lake Zurich's Carolyn Gable along with a board of directors is looking to bridge the gap to help struggling single mothers and their children succeed in everyday life. Gable was a waitress with seven children. She now owns a $30 million transportation company based in Lake Zurich. 

"I credit good people, a great customer base and a belief in myself that God can put it all together," Gable said.

New Age Transportation began in 1989 when her company earned its first million dollars.

According to Gable, the biggest jump in the business came in 1999 when the revenue doubled from $4 million to $8 million in one year.

"Once she got to a new level of success with her transportation company, she remembered where she came from," said Executive Director Kathy Gregg on why Gable decided to create the "Expect a Miracle" organization. "She felt she needed to give back to the community."

What started out as a yearly traditional garage sale turned into a worldwide fund-raising effort, courtesy of online auction giant ebay.com.

"She was all for it. We had a garage sale at her house and previewed (the items)," Gregg said.

For the first five years, the organization held garage sales to fund activities for youth in poverty. Then Gregg and Gable's board of directors presented Gable with an idea of an e-Bay store. This September, the first week the sale went virtual, the online e-Bay fund-raiser raised $1,000.

The "Expect a Miracle" Foundation aims to reach out to single mothers who cannot afford to send their children to extra-curricular activities such as ballet lessons, choir workshops and athletic programs.

Since the foundation began in 2001, they have sponsored $200 for each child in the program to participate in athletics.

"When we told a mother of eight kids they could play football, she literally broke down in tears at the Lake Zurich Park District," Gregg said. "Her kids spent all of their lives on the sidelines watching their friends play football."

The organization has touched the lives of 1,000 other single-parent families across the United States.

The "Expect a Miracle" organization donated 52 percent of its proceeds to the inner city of Chicago last year.

In addition, the foundation also has funded a $25,000 summer camp for inner-city children every year since its inception.

"We are reaching quite a cross-section of people," said Gregg, who is still collecting demographic data on diversity.

Gable said the roadblock of the organization is more money is going out than coming in.

Despite the majority of the recipients being single mothers, single or widowed fathers also have been helped by the organization.

A 15-year-old Stevenson High School student and aspiring musical theatre major in college was able to receive funding to attend a trip to New York with her choir class.

"Going to New York will definitely be the best experience because of all the opportunities to perform there," said the recipient in the letter to the organization. "I really enjoy singing and I am looking forward to singing in many places in New York."

A mother of a 12-year-old tae kwon do student wrote a letter of thanks to the organization for funding her son's advancement through a program at a fitness club.

"He will be in the program for three years and is so happy and excited that he can now take belt promotion tests," the mother wrote. "It has been difficult financially for us to afford extra-curricular activities for (him)."

The single mother also indicated in the letter that her son aspires to be a scientist or doctor when he attends college.

In order to apply for a grant from the organization, or for information on making a donation, call (847) 545-1157 or go to www.expectamiraclefoundation.com.

Story of a million opportunities

As I reported on the Chicago Bears Super Bowl run from Jester's Bar in Waukegan, little did I know there was a new millionaire in the crowd of cheering Bears fans.

Multiple customers pointed me in the direction of a man sitting among his friends telling me he just won a million dollars with a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Upon the game-winning field goal by Bears' kicker Robbie Gould, approached the man and gathered his contact information for an eventual story.

Waukeganite hits paydirt with scratch-off ticket

A million to one

January 17, 2007

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

WAUKEGAN - Waukegan High School Counselor Ray Cave is just like any other person. He spends time with his son, hangs out at a local tavern and supports local high school athletics. 

That has all changed since Dec. 21 when he scratched off a game-winning $1 million Instant Lotto ticket, assuring him of $720,000 after state taxes.

"There were only four people in Jesters at the time, including the cook and the bartender," Cave said. "I kept scratching off the winning ticket and the more I scratched it went up from 1,000 to 10,000, and I began shaking the more I scratched it off."

Cave did not believe he won after realizing the ticket was worth a million.

"I had the bartender verify the winnings in a scanning machine and I realized I won. I called my girlfriend, my relatives and they all didn't believe me, which was disappointing," Cave said.

The anxiety crept up on him when he returned to his Waukegan home. He said he was sick to his stomach and "was afraid to go to sleep because he thought he would wake up and realize it was a dream he won a million dollars at Jesters."

His stomach pains over the anxiety caused him to call in sick for the day at Waukegan High.

Despite the winnings, Cave does not anticipate quitting his job as a full-time counselor at Waukegan High.

"Absolutely not. There are too many great kids there. I have been there for 16 years from being everything from a teacher to wrestling coach and now I am a counselor," he said. "I plan on staying there to set an example for my son, Michael."

Cave said he is looking forward to using the winnings to take care of his son's short- and long-term future.

His number one priority after he receives the winnings is to set up a trust fund for his son so he can attend any college of his choice.

"I want him to know that his college tuition is taken care of," Cave said.

The newfound winnings will allow the two Caves to do more extra activities his son would have never dreamed.

"We do a lot of things together, such as going to professional baseball games, fishing. We love to fish. We go fishing around the area here," Cave said. "In the summer we go to the beach. I try to be active with him as much as I can. What I am really looking forward is to is professional events such as football and basketball."

With the expensive prices of football and basketball games, he was unable to take his son to the games prior to his winning ticket.

"He loves football just as much as I do. He is a huge Bear fan and what I am really excited about is instead of saying, 'We will watch the Bears on TV, we will see the Bears,'" Cave said. "Those are the memories my son will remember for life."

The 48-year-old is hoping the wealth will not change peoples' perspective of him.

"I want to stay the person I am. I love the people around me, I love the people here at Jesters and I love the people at Waukegan High School. I want to be the same person," Cave said. "I want to still be able to walk into Jesters and people still greet me as 'Rey' and just be known as someone more financially comfortable."

In addition to being part of Waukegan High, he is a part-time teacher at the College of Lake County's Lakeshore Campus.

"I plan on completing my one-year contract with them and then resigning," Cave said. "I spent every Monday night doing paperwork until 10 and now I look forward to watching "Monday Night Football" here at Jesters."

Cave has a sense of sentimentality toward what he does for a living and stresses the importance of children and the impact it has had in his life.

"I could have made much more money working for a corporation but I felt that my calling was to be in education and work with teenagers and helping them," Cave said. "Instead of receiving financial gain in this, I received what people perceive as priceless, working with kids and watching kids I have seen since grade school mature and grow into a successful young people. For me, that is priceless over any amounts of money."

As he receives his $720,000 lump sum from the Illinois Lottery Commission, he will be working with Great Lakes Financial, his bank, to set up a financial plan.

The newest millionaire was struck twice with lottery fever, winning $10,000 in a previous scratch off at the same place, Jesters at 1500 N. Lewis Ave.

"I had to claim the winnings at the lottery center in Des Plaines and I held onto it and feared it wouldn't be legit when I deposited it into the bank," Cave said.

Jesters will receive $10,000 of the winnings for being the location which issued the ticket.

Jesters' owner Ken Mathis will use the $10,000 for cost of bar operations and due to the slow activity since the holiday rush, will be used to help offset costs.

Arts and Lifestyle

Reporting on local human interest stories centered around unique subject matter can be a challenging task but  conducting research allows for better preparation.

Through my new experience as a news reporter early in the internship in Waukegan after working in sports for five years, adding feature writing makes for a strange twist. And utilizing all the resources I could get my hands on resulted in thorough reporting.

Helps to understand all elements to a story before arriving to interview involved individuals.

Going global

Works by artists from developing countries are showcased at 10,000 Villages

GRAYSLAKE -- In an effort to expose the Grayslake community to different cultures, 10,000 Villages opened its doors to a new set of cultural displays of expression. 

"It was a huge success, it was packed," said store manager Susan Barg on the opening weekend. "We were the top store. We were told we had the top sales of any 10,000 Villages grand opening sale." 

The weekend started in grand style with various cultural experiences designed for individuals of all ages.

"We are hoping that they understand the mission of our store," said store manager Susan Barg. "We are a nonprofit retail store. Our hope is to educate the community on our mission."

The store allows artisans from various countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to have a source of income for their artwork.

"The reason for us is to allow them (the artists) to remain in their countries and lead a productive life," said Barg.

Barg said the company slogan should be "shopping with a purpose" because it benefits the artisans directly. 

The money received by the artisans will help them build and grow their communities from within.

The fair trade organization began the grand opening weekend with an origami workshop designed to target individuals of all ages and then had a performance from an all-women drumming ensemble. Diamana Diya played traditional music from Guinea and West Africa.

The Sunday entertainment featured local musician Andy Young with his hammered dulcimer, wooden flute and tin whistle to convey a musical experience from several countries.

The store will utilize local talent initially but could look for international talent as the store grows.

"We are going to have special events periodically throughout the year, especially during the holidays," Barg said.

The weather was not friendly to outdoor entertainment during the opening, so the entertainment was moved inside. The store manager said it could be considered a good thing because it brought people into the store to look at the artists' work.

"It was really emotional for our volunteers that helped the artisans," Barg said.

Barg encourages local talent to contact the store if they have any special musical talent they can offer.

"They can certainly contact us if they have something to offer," Barg said in regards to local talent.

The grand opening weekend ended with a workshop on table-setting design and how to add an artistic touch to the dinner table.

The Grayslake store is the fifth to open in the state of Illinois; there are some 70 stores open nationwide.

"We buy all of our products from the artisans in other countries and pay them for their services," Barg said.

Barg said the major feature of the store is its offerings of unique handcrafts and artwork not sold in general national retail stores.

The organization stresses fair trade with its artisans.

According to the corporate Web site, fair trade is a partnership "based on dialogue, mutual understanding, respect and direct contact between ourselves and our artisan partners in developing countries."

With the opening of the new store, Barg hopes to form relationships with artists from the developing countries it serves.

You'll be a-mazed

Farm offers a fun and educational experience among the cornstalks

October 12, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

GURNEE - The Kroll's Corn Maze is back. After a sluggish spring and summer season in 2005 when drought forced them to shut down the maze, the Kroll family has re-opened its corn maze. The Krolls purchased the land in rural Waukegan in 1986 and the farm began as a gardening place for Ruthann. 

It eventually evolved into a farm with goats, chickens and other animals in addition to the two major crops: pumpkins and corn.

The Krolls started the farm to provide educational opportunities for families and schools in the Waukegan and surrounding areas of Lake County.

After Randy Kroll retires after the 2007-08 school year as a physical education teacher at Highland Middle School, there will be more opportinities for the family farm to grow.

According to Ruthann Kroll, the biggest challenge is to diversify the curriculum for students of all age groups, ranging from pre-kindergarten to the high school level.

According to Ruthann, the major difference between the Kroll farm and other farms is that they schedule one educational group at a time in order to provide more individualized attention to the group.

Waukegan resident Kirk Burns and his family decided to come to the corn maze when they made their annual Friday night family drive around the city and saw a sign leading them to the farm.

"I thought it was pretty cool to be walking around the corn maze for the first time," Burns said. "It was a challenge to go through it. (Our family) got through it; it took us about 45 minutes."

"This is a better environment than some of the larger scale farms," Burns said. "They (Kroll's) are friendlier and willing to talk to you and explain things to you."

The educational theme for 2006 is soybeans. There are signs posted throughout various checkpoints in the maze with facts and figures about soybeans.

Liz Cozzi, of Lake Villa, visited the farm twice before. She brought her two daughters to experience the animals.

"I think they like running around with the animals here," Cozzi said. "Last year we took a hay ride and the year before I got some great apples. I was really happy with the apples, they were delicious."

Grayslake resident Laura Juarez took her seven month old son Adam to the farm to give him his first Halloween experience and his first pumpkin.

The Krolls began collecting animals when the oldest Kroll son, Tyler, brought some chicken eggs home from school. A neighbor offered the Kroll's an incubator to help hatch the chicken eggs to begin the raising chickens. The family's only daughter, Carly, took pride in raising the chickens and became the family's animal expert..

"The goats came along because my neighbors had goats; we would always see the goats," Randy said. "The neighbors said, 'Why don't you take a goat for your kids, wouldn't it be cute to have a goat?'"

According to Randy, the goats are compared to "puppy dogs" and family members walk them around the farm every day.

Ruthann said her secret wish is to have horses. She would eventually like to raise horses once Randy retires from teaching.

The Krolls' farming lifestyle was a major shift from where Randy began his childhood as a Chicago native. He moved to Libertyville when he was 13. Both Randy and Ruthann graduated from Libertyville High School.

"It was my wife that took interest at first. We got this land and she did all this research," Randy Kroll said, "And then pumpkins started doing well, so we decided to sell them."

The Kroll's three children have different areas of expertise which contribute to the farm education experience.

According to Ruthann, Tyler, who is a freshman at Carthage College, is the "master of the maze" and knows where all of the checkpoints are. Dylan, 14, is considered to be the multi-faceted person of the farm and can be counted on to be the organizer.

School Security

Safety of our children and how authorities handle issues within schools has always been a concern since the day of Columbine in Colorado and one law enforcement agency established a plan of action.

While some issues continue to persist within school districts across the United States, not every fight or melee can be prevented. When a safety concern is raised, communities want to see action done by their police department to minimize further issues.

Mundelein had it's hands full and swiftly responded to disruptions of education and implemented an action plan in event of a mass shooting.

I was witness to a tactical training situation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies at Mechanics Grove Elementary School in Mundelein which included the sounding of alarms and community members acting as victims to prepare and improve plans for the future.

Police have plan if schools come under seige

October 21, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

MUNDELEIN - Mechanics Grove Elementary School went under siege with three masked gunmen as part of a training exercise conducted by the Mundelein Police Department on Friday. At 9 a.m. three armed gunmen started firing blank shells inside the school. 

Subsequently, the fire alarm started blaring throughout the school and the classrooms were locked down. The three fake gunmen were apprehended at 11:30 a.m. A total of six police agencies worked together with school officials to better communicate school crisis situations.

Mundelein Police Chief Raymond Rose invited law enforcement officials from Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire and the Lake County Sheriff's Office to participate in the school crisis training session.

Within minutes, the six agencies responded in teams to search the building for gunmen who were undercover police officers from various agencies acting as the perpetrators.

According to Mundelein Deputy Chief of Support Services Michael O'Brien, up to 60 law enforcement officials teamed up to practice at the elementary school.

"This is our fourth drill we have had, but we have gone to other towns and assisted with their drill," O'Brien said. "Everybody likes to have their own drill. We work so closely with our surrounding departments, we will send off some of our (personnel) to their drills and they will send off some of their (personnel) to our drills."

The exercise has been conducted at other Mundelein schools to familiarize officers with the layout of the school.

Rose said the outside law enforcement agencies are essential because they could be first responders in the time of a catastrophe at any Lake County school.

According to a report by the Christian Science Monitor, shootings are becoming more diverse. What started as an urban problem has spread to rural areas, including a plot at a high school in Green Bay, Wis., involving three teenagers.

"We never thought it would happen here," said Rose, echoing what Green Bay citizens said in the aftermath of the foiled plot.

O'Brien agrees with Rose on the importance of a plan.

"Everyone always says its not going to happen here, well that is reason we employ these tactics. These tactics and approaches can be used in any building and not just in schools," O'Brien said.

Due to school not in session Friday, several teachers volunteered to assist in the exercise.

Mechanics Grove second-grade teacher Kelly Dolan learned more about preventive measures.

"We do have lockdown procedures in our (classrooms), and it also lets us know of standard operating procedures," Dolan said. "Today, some of them were used and some of them we knew we had to change based on the scenario but it was at least a starting point about what we needed to do."

About 40 people from the community also volunteered in addition to school administrators and faculty.

"I was very excited to see the support we had from (Chief Rose) six months ago, helping us to understand why it is important for us to drill," District 75 Superintendent Cynthia Heidorn said.

"From our teachers to volunteer to be a part of this because they want to know how to keep their students safe and what to do in these situations."

In addition, Heidorn said she would always have full support of Mundelein officials due to its strong relationship with the area school districts.

19 Mundelein High students arrested for fighting

December 7, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

MUNDELEIN - Fights outside Mundelein High School over two days have resulted in the arrests of 19 students. On Monday, a fight occurred shortly after school when students congregated at the bus stop and a rival gang member allegedly said something which offended another student. 

"These are just rival groups of kids that don't like each other," said Mundelein Police Deputy Chief Michael O'Brien. "They call themselves gang members." The first incident resulted in three arrests.

Justino Bailon, 19, of Palatine will be tried as an adult with a misdemeanor. The other two were identified as 15- and 16-year old boys.

"(Bailon) lives in Palatine, but (Mundelein) allowed him to finish the school year because his family just moved to Palatine midway through the year," O'Brien said.

O'Brien added when school officials broke up the Monday fight, the remaining participants fled the scene.

"We have one full-time officer that is their school resource manager," O'Brien said. The officer, along with school personnel, reviewed surveillance tapes and were able to identify the students who fled the scene Monday.

Tensions ran high early Tuesday morning when eight students surrounded a smaller group of one or two.

Two of the eight students involved were charged Tuesday with the mob action. They were identified as Eduardo Castro, 18, and 17-year-old Angela Rivera.

Mundelein Police have had a history with the individuals involved in the incident.

"Everybody that was arrested as adults and juveniles were known to our police department because of their prior records," O'Brien said.

There were no injuries stemming from the two fights and police confirmed none of the students had any weapons in their possession at the time of the arrests.

School officials are still reviewing the incident, but all students involved were suspended immediately.

"Anybody that is caught fighting faces an automatic suspension," O'Brien said. "We work closely with Mundelein High School. We have a zero-tolerance policy no matter if they are part of a gang or not."

O'Brien said police are still investigating the incident, but asserted the fight was not planned.

The juveniles charged were transported to Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills.

Eight students involved in melees booted

December 14, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

MUNDELEIN - Mundelein High School officials expelled eight of the 19 students involved in gang violence at the school last week after a closed School Board session Tuesday night. 

"No one likes to expel people from school, but there comes a time when it needs to be done," said Interim Superintendent John Barbini. School officials held hearings with the involved students and their parents Friday night to discuss the Nov. 4 and 5 incidents.

Following the Nov. 4 incident, which occurred after school near a bus stop, the school's police liaison officer reviewed surveillance tapes with school officials to identify students who fled the scene.

Three students were apprehended during the initial incident.

"The services of Mundelein police have been outstanding, and they have been very cooperative in this situation," Barbini said.

The expelled students also have been involved in gang incidents in the school, Barbini said.

The eight students had to sign gang contracts with the school and had to agree to be watched more closely by administrative staff.

The district has offered the expelled students educational alternatives. They will be transferred to the Lake County Regional Office of Education Alternative School in Zion.

Three of the 19 students involved were charged as adults, but Barbini would not indicate if Justin Bailon, Eduardo Castro or Angela Rivera were among the expelled students.

The remaining 11 students will be allowed to continue their education at Mundelein High, but will be subjected to a series of disciplinary actions by administration.

In addition to the eight involved in the gang confrontation, the district also expelled a student involved in an unrelated incident.

According to Barbini, the ninth student was involved in a physical altercation with a school administrator.

"We want to send the message that Mundelein High School is a safe place to learn and work," Barbini said.