Tri-Cities Faces of the Year
Thinking about 2008, what names or faces pop up in your mind?
How about:
Fintan Patrick Schiltz: The St. Charles infant came home for the first time in April, having spent the first six months of his life at Children's Memorial waiting for, then recovering from, a heart transplant.
Bill Foster: The Democratic Geneva businessman managed to win election to Congress twice in one year, first defeating Republican Jim Oberweis in a special election in March to fill the remainder of Dennis Hastert's term, then beating Oberweis again in November for a regular term.
Jim Willey: The longtime Elburn president announced late in the year that he will not seek re-election to his post come April.
Doomed aviators: An Air Angels medical helicopter crew and a 1-year-old patient were killed in a crash in Aurora in October.
The Geneva varsity football team: The Vikings made their first appearance in a state championship game in 33 years, led by quarterback Michael Ratay. Unfortunately, a loss in that game to East St. Louis spoiled their perfect season. And not to be slighted, the Geneva girls cross country team, which won a state championship this fall.
Stephen Persinger: The Geneva Park District executive director, who intends to retire in June, was shocked when the park board named the new west-side recreation center after him in August, in honor of his nearly 30 years of work with the district.
Retirees: Bill Kidwell stepped down as Geneva police chief after 35 years with the city, and Geneva city administrator Phil Page prepared his last municipal budget. Bob Popek, who had been a firefighter, fire chief, police officer, police chief and assistant to the mayor in Batavia, decided 48 years was long enough.
Bill Darin: The Batavia fire chief, who worked for the city for 26 years, left at the end of the year to take a job in East Peoria.
Jan Carlson: His departure was involuntary, as the longtime Kane County Board member from Elburn was defeated in the spring primary by Drew Frasz of La Fox. Carlson then chose to leave the board early, and Frasz was appointed to fill out his term, before being elected in November.