BP to eliminate 90 workers
BP Products North America Inc. is laying off about 90 employees from its Naperville facility. The staffing reductions will begin April 2 and continue through the second quarter of 2009, according to a memo from the company to the city. None of the employees are union members. The layoffs are expected to be permanent.
Naperville man indicted
A Naperville man who prepared federal income tax returns for clients was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding the Internal Revenue Service of more than $450,000, authorities said. Gregory B. Sams, 37, was indicted on 13 counts of federal income tax offenses, including 10 felony counts of preparing false, fictitious and fraudulent federal tax returns and submitting them to the IRS for tax refunds, investigators said. Sams also was charged with two felony counts of filing false federal income tax returns for himself and one misdemeanor count of failing to file his own federal income tax return for calendar year 2005, officials said. According to the indictment, Sams worked as an income tax preparer between 2003 and 2006 associated with GBS & Associates, 1555 N. Naperville Road, Naperville.
Man's appeal denied
The Second District Appellate Court denied the appeal of a man convicted of mob action for his role in a fatal fight outside an Addison burrito restaurant. Troy B. Kindt, 37, Glen Ellyn, was sentenced to a 33-month prison term, but was paroled early last year. A co-defendant served a similar sentence. Authorities accused Kindt of murder, but a DuPage County jury instead found him guilty of a lesser felony. Kindt appealed, largely attacking the prosecution. In a Feb. 4 decision, justices found prosecutors acted properly and, in fact, the jury exercised its power of "juror lenity" in not convicting Kindt of more serious charges. Nick Artman, 24, died after the June 12, 2004, melee in which he was beaten with a flashlight. His brother, Anthony, of Roselle, survived. Kindt was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution, and he still faces a wrongful death suit.
Scholarships available
The Carol Stream Woman's Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a female Carol Stream resident who will be graduating high school and attending college this fall. Applicants are judged not only on their academic merits, but also on their extracurricular and volunteer activities. The scholarship is intended to honor the student who demonstrates strong academic achievements while balancing extracurricular activities, community involvement and strong leadership. Applications are due April 8. Scholarship applications are available through the guidance departments in each area high school. For details, call Karen Wrzesinski at (630) 293-4102.
Teachers to be honored
The DuPage County Regional Office of Education will honor the achievement of the 2007 National Certified Teachers at a reception Feb. 19 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. About 10 percent of all Illinois National Board Certified teachers work in DuPage County schools. Rep. Peter Roskam and DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom will attend the reception, along with several area school superintendents and administrators. For details, call Olga Rammer at (630) 407-5771.
Fire commissioner honored
Carol Stream Fire Protection District Commissioner Hubert Watkins was honored this week for 20 years of service to the agency's board. Watkins, a former Carol Stream police sergeant, began his duties with the fire district's fire commission in 1988, serving as chairman of the panel, which oversees the hiring and promotion process for firefighters and fire officers.