Fox Valley 2009 newsmakers

The past year saw familiar faces and those new to the scene made headlines.

They care about their communities.

They care about others. They have passion and perseverance.

They are inspiring and they are the inspired.

They are what makes the Fox Valley unique.

Jason Caudle:

The Carpentersville police officer was hired as a full-time officer a little more than a year after he was struck by a vehicle on Route 25 in Carpentersville.

Caudle, 23, was laying out emergency flares near the intersection of Route 25 and Golfview Lane after a heavy storm the night before knocked out power to the area. A southbound Pontiac Aztec driven by an unlicensed teen from Carpentersville hit Caudle after disregarding a stop sign that had replaced the stop light. The accident caused severe injuries to both legs.

Veteran police officers said the injuries would have ended the careers of lesser officers and that Caudle's will and determination was a testament to his dedication to becoming a police officer.

Richard Dunne, John Prigge and Mike Warren:

These three newcomers to the Elgin City Council took two four-year seats and one two-year term, respectively. Warren filled a vacancy, while Dunne, the leading vote-getter, and Prigge ousted longtime council members Juan Figueroa and John Walters, who had nearly 30 years experience on the dais between them.

Kevin Echevarria:

The lifelong Elgin resident garnered 6,188 votes in the Elgin Area School District U-46 race and the endorsement of the 2,400-member teachers union, but fell short of a school board seat. But Echevarria, who was 21 at the time, earned respected and recognition from the race as one of the city's young Hispanic leaders.

Julio Gomez:

This 40-year-old Algonquin man didn't let getting eliminated from "The Biggest Loser" stop him from reaching his goal and pledge to his family to get fit. The Elgin loan officer cut his weight from 407 pounds to 227 pounds, a difference of 44 percent of his body weight, but barely missed out on a $100,000 prize for people voted off the show.

Kevin Hartmann:

This Elgin firefighter heroically saved a 2-year-old toddler from a burning home in November. Hartmann ran into the home and grabbed the toddler from his high chair as smoke began to swirl around the boy. In 2005, when he was a police officer in Joliet, Hartmann administered CPR to a baby boy who had fallen head first into a bucket filled with Pine Sol and bleach.

Mickey Hogan:

A family teacher at the Ontario House at the Mooseheart Child City and School, she is the de facto mom for 10 young men whose own moms are unable to give the kids what the need.

"She's a mother figure for them," said Scott Hart, Mooseheart's executive director. "When they skin their knee, who do they want a hug from? It's Mickey. When they have a bad day, who do they want? Mickey. To her ... they are her boys."

Marty Jordan:

The 45-year-old St. Charles man died Aug. 1 while saving five young relatives, including his oldest son, Jack, 9, from drowning in Lake Michigan when a rip current sucked them out into deep waters and crushing waves.

Jordan, who spent 25 years as a social worker, was on vacation in South Haven, Mich., with relatives.

Josh Kerber:

The West Chicago soldier came home in November and was greeted by several hundred people at the American Legion hall. Kerber lost his left arm when his military vehicle was attacked in Afghanistan.

Kelly Kirby:

The Algonquin teen holds two national titles in snowboarding. In April, she competed in the USA Snowboard Association's national event for amateurs, held in Copper Mountain, Colo. and took first place in both of the categories she entered in her age group - slopestyle and half pipe.

Although Kirby has competed at the national level before, 2009 marked the first time she had ever secured first-place honors. In the immediate future, Kirby hopes to snowboard in the European Open in Switzerland in January and in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

Alfred "Red" LeFeber:

The Geneva man and Kane County's most senior courtroom bailiff retired on his 90th birthday in November, surrounded by friends and colleagues. He worked for more than 18 years and had a previous career as a banker. He also served in World War II.

Glenn "Max" McGee:

The president of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora had plenty to celebrate this year, especially when his school was named the nationwide winner of the Intel Star Innovator Award for its science programs.

Carole Medal:

It's been a banner year for the Gail Borden Public Library District. In August, the $4.2 million Rakow Branch, the first branch in the library's 135-year history opened on Elgin's west side and in October, the library won the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, which is the highest honor a library could receive. Medal, the library's executive director and Illinois Library Association president, has been a steady, guiding hand.

John Muenzer:

This Elgin man fought through jellyfish and tough currents in the middle of the night to swim the English Channel in July in 13 hours and 12 minutes. Muenzer, a long distance swimmer in college, trained for months to become one of the older folks to swim the channel at age 47.

Ed Ritter:

In April, he successfully unseated Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto. Ritter inherited a village with budget problems and so far has caught some heat for a new $12 million, 100,000-square-foot public works facility that has been planned since 2005.

Thomas Urbik:

The former Wheaton resident who now lives in Batavia was aboard the Liberty Sun when it was attacked in April by Somalian pirates. The crew was rescued by the U.S. Navy and unharmed, but the incident pointed to growing problem with piracy on the high seas.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=346988">Northwest suburban 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346982">DuPage County 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346390">Lake County 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346384">Fox Valley 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>