Juvenile staff shines during blizzard

The Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011 brought out the best and worst in people.

Some folks banded together while others used the storm as an opportunity to loot and rob stranded cars.

The staff at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center in St. Charles, according to the Superintendent Rick Anselme and Assistant Superintendent Amy Sierra, showed extra dedication, with seven employees even working three straight shifts to ensure juvenile detainees received the services they needed.

Anselme said the center did not close during the state's third worst blizzard of all time. Rather, workers stayed for extra shifts and demonstrated their commitment.

“At the time of their efforts, the courts and many local government offices had

already been closed. In this time of crisis, however, they came forward and gave of themselves for the needs of the Juvenile Justice Center and the minors who are housed there,” Anselme said.

Anselme also noted the following employees worked three straights shifts: Rhea Minas, Brian Howes, Jonathon Martinez, Matthew Mills, Latonya Walker, Amy Dittmer and Melissa Bohr.

Arson charges reducedA 39-year-old Montgomery man avoided prison time last week in an October 2010 domestic dispute in which he was accused of lighting a pile of clothes on fire at a home in which four children were present.

Brian J. Anderson, of the 1700 block of Wick Way, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal damage to property, was placed on probation until July 2012 and fined $1,300, according to court records.

Kane County prosecutors dropped two counts of domestic battery, residential arson and aggravated arson against Anderson.

The arson charges carried a prison term of six to 30 years without the possibility of probation.

The plea agreement was accepted by Judge Karen Simpson.

Anderson's attorney, Thomas Tyrell, did not return messages.

In the Oct. 17 episode, police reports said Anderson grew angry when a female relative returned home shortly before 6 a.m. He pushed her down, he poured gas on a pile of clothes and lit it on fire.

No one was injured. The woman and her four kids, ages 2 through 9, escaped. The woman put out the fire, which damaged only the clothes, a rug and a bush outside the residence.

Training dayFox Valley Court Watch, a group that monitors domestic violence cases in Kane County, will hold its next volunteer training session from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at the St. Charles police station, 211 N. Riverside Ave.

For more information, visit foxvalleycourtwatch.org. The group is seeking volunteers who can attend a morning or afternoon court call once a month.