Kane County Bar Association awards top honors, names new president
The Kane County Bar Association named a new president and awarded its top honors at its recent membership and awards ceremony.
The Community Service Award went to attorney Patrick Flaherty, a longtime association member and advocate for people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.
"We have so many talented members in our association of lawyers who seek to lead us where we need to go," said Pat Kinnally, former bar association president and friend and colleague of Flaherty. "Pat Flaherty has taken it a few steps further."
Nancylee Brown, who served as the law librarian at the Kane County Law Library and Self-Help Legal Center, was the winner of the Liberty Bell Award.
The award is a nationally recognized honor for an non-attorney or community organization that has promoted a better understanding and encouraged a greater respect for the law and the courts.
"Unassuming, full of laughter and charm, Nancy has a way of putting those who are in high stress situations at ease," said Halle Cox, law library director.
Catherine "Cat" Battista took home the 2014 Outstanding New Lawyer Award, in part for volunteering as the Bar Briefs Editor and serving as chairwoman for two committees.
Dean M. Frieders, a St. Charles attorney whose practice emphasizes representing municipalities and units of local government, was named the new bar association president.
Foundation offers grant: The Kane County Bar Foundation is accepting grant applications from local nonprofit organizations that want to help meet the legal needs of residents. The foundation has offered the grants since 1996.
The foundation awarded five grants totaling $12,500 last year. In this competitive process, only one application will be accepted per agency per funding year.
Applications are due July 1 and can be found at kanecountybar.org/kcbf-grants/ or by emailing Jan Wade, the foundation's executive director, at director@kanecountybar.org. People interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the foundation can contact Wade.
Academy deadline extended: The St. Charles Police Department has extended the deadline for applications for its second Youth Academy to July 3.
The class will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 7 to 11, and is open to kids 13 to 16.
The academy will discuss careers in police and fire protection and encourage teamwork and self-esteem.
Participants also will be certified in CPR by the St. Charles Fire Department.
Participants must live in St. Charles or attend Community Unit School District 303. Registration packets can be picked up at the police department, both high schools and the main office at Wredling, Thompson and Haines middle schools.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com