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Politics & Government

Blizzard of 2011 Heroes, Eagle Scouts Receive Praise in La Grange Park

Village board honors staff for keeping village safe during snowstorm.

La Grange Park public works, police and fire staff received accolades from trustees at Tuesday's Village Board meeting for a job well done during the Blizzard of 2011.

“I heard nothing but compliments from people who were able to safely drive through our community after the blizzard; that is no small matter,” said Village President James Discipio, as he held up a plaque commemorating the hard work of village staff.

Julia Cedillo, interim village manager, said, “The real hard workers and heroes are the employees sitting here tonight.” 

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Added Julius Hansen, director of public works, "I’m very proud of our employees, many who slept over at the village during the storm. Thanks to their efforts, we had no injuries, no crimes whatsoever during the blizzard.”

La Grange Park officials spent more than $11,500 to keep the village streets accessible during and after the storm, Hansen said. They spent $4,868 in overtime salaries for employees plowing the streets nonstop Feb. 2 and 3; $3,700 for salt; $2,000 for diesel fuel and approximately $1,000 in miscellaneous costs.  

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In other Village Board news:

  • Discipio and the board honored residents David Lemkau, 18, and Robert Arredia, 15, for becoming Eagle Scouts. “Not many young men achieve Eagle Scout status; it’s a challenging process,” Discipio said.
  • Trustee Marshall Seeder encouraged village residents to sign up to receive e-briefs each Friday. “The e-briefs are a wonderful tool to find out what’s going on in the village,” he said. Residents can sign up to receive the briefs on the village’s web page, www.lagrangepark.org.
  • Resident Jim McCarthy promoted the Fourth Annual Just Irish Enough parade and community festival to be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 12,  on the 600 block of Newberry Avenue. The event raises money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a charity funding research for childhood cancers. “In the last two years we have raised $65,000 for St. Baldrick’s,” McCarthy said. For more information visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/eventid/1834/eventyear/2011.
  • Village Clerk W. Kerry Brunette reminded residents March 8  is the last day to register to vote in the spring election. Residents can register at La Grange Park Village Hall, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
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