Neighbors in the News: Des Plaines officers honored with Life Saving Award
• Des Plaines police officers Kevin Connolly and Jessica Garcia were presented with Life Saving Awards before the Des Plaines City Council meeting on Dec. 6.
Responding to a single vehicle crash with injuries, Connolly arrived on the scene and located the vehicle and driver involved in the crash, who appeared to be in shock.
Connolly also observed what appeared to be two substantial lacerations to the victim's upper thigh along with a great amount of blood loss.
When Garcia arrived on scene she assisted Connolly in applying a tourniquet. Once applied, the tourniquet successfully stopped the bleeding while officers maintained communication with the victim to keep him awake and calm.
The Des Plaines Fire Department arrived on scene and continued life saving measures already put in place by the officers. The officers' calm demeanor and quick thinking during this life-threatening situation resulted in saving a life.
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After a four decade commercial real estate career, Arlington Heights resident Joseph Reed has embraced his love of creative writing and has authored his first novel, "The First Wolf Pack: A Dog's Fable."
When the pandemic hit and coincided with a company takeover and layoffs, Reed decided it was time to pursue his dream of writing.
"After a year-plus of no longer working full time, I had time to think about an unbounded future - not a simple topic," Reed said.
Rather than focus on the negatives of trying to find job opportunities in a marketplace looking for youth, Reed decided to embrace retirement by starting a second career as an author.
Writing under the name J. Daniel Reed, his newly published novel celebrates and teaches about the nobility, genius and spiritual dignity of the wolf in the form of a fable.
Published by Terra3 Communications, the book is written for adults and advanced teen comprehension.
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Heather Ann McCollum (Rolls) has joined the Estate Planning and Administration practice group at Schaumburg-based Lavelle Law as an associate.
McCollum, who spent the last 17 months working for the firm as a law clerk, previously held multiple roles at the Court of Cook County and served as a law clerk at The Law Office of James C. Siebert and Associates, PC.
McCollum holds a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and a bachelor's degree in government from Georgetown University, where she played Division I women's soccer.
"I'm thrilled to be welcomed as an associate at Lavelle Law, continuing the work I've enjoyed over the last year-and-a-half," McCollum said.
"As an estate planning attorney, one of the greatest gifts I can offer clients is peace of mind. Whether clients are planning for generations to come or struggling to manage a family member's estate, I can provide guidance and help clients assemble a comprehensive plan centered around their family's best interests."