Tri-Cities briefs

Soap box derby winners:

The Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby Association has announced the winners from the 2009 All-American Local Soap Box Derby Race. These winners will represent Chicago at the 72nd All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race July 25 in Akron, Ohio. They will compete with more than 500 boys and girls from across the U. S. and five foreign countries for the world title. The winners include: Jeff Shoopman of Gurnee, stock division champion; Melanie Kohout of Geneva, superstock division championship; Sheri Lazowski of Aurora, superstock division champion; and Claire Kohout of Geneva, master division champion.

New education coordinator:

Carol DePue, South Elgin High School's chair for career and technical education, has been selected as the coordinator for Career and Technical Education and director for the Northern Kane Regional Vocational System. DePue started her career in Elgin Area School District U-46 at Larkin High School as a career and technical education teacher in 1995. At South Elgin she has planned and facilitated the development of programs, planned workshops for parents and students, and written grant proposals for new curriculum opportunities.

New watering rules:

Batavia officials tightened water conservation rules to prohibit laying sod or installing other landscaping plants from July 1 to Aug. 31 annually, unless the landowner intends to water it with a private source of water. From May 1 to June 30 and Sept. 1 to 30 people have to obtain permits from the public works department for sod, which will allow them to water it daily for 10 days. After that, it can only be watered on alternate days, just like established lawns, from May 1 to Sept. 30.

A 'more complete' policy:

One of the first things the new College of DuPage board of trustees did after the April election was rescind a series of controversial policies, including the ethics policy that governs political activity of the board and college employees. Monday, the board returned to the ethics policy, giving preliminary approval to an ordinance almost exactly like the one it rejected nearly two months ago. Officials said the only major difference between the proposed ethics policy and the former policy is the inclusion of the state ethics rules the college policies are based upon. "It's more complete," COD President Robert Breuder said.