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The good, the bad and the ugly. From a reality show winner to a crazed Cubs fan, Bartlett residents have not only made local news this year but national headlines too. After shuffling through thousands of pages of newsprint and clicks online, the following is a recap of the issues and items that hit the village and its residents in 2009.
No. 1
THE STORY Two charged in Bartlett man’s murder
WHAT HAPPENED Carl W. Kuhn, 82, was found dead by police in his home on the 29W400 block of Schick Road in unincorporated Bartlett at about 9 p.m. Aug. 21. Police said Terry S. Bratcher, of West Chicago, and Keith L. Allen, of Chicago, intended to steal firearms from Kuhn. During the burglary, the men smothered Kuhn with a pillow.
WHAT NOW Bratcher and Allen were each charged Aug. 25 with eight counts of first degree murder, one count of armed home invasion, one count of residential burglary and one count of armed robbery with a firearm. Both pleaded not guilty in September. At the time, DuPage County prosecutors said they were considering pursuing the death penalty, and that a date had not been set for their trial.
No. 2
THE STORY Elgin Mental Health patient escapes to Bartlett
WHAT HAPPENED In September, Bartlett police found escapee Maikobi Burks trying to open the door of a home on the 700 block of James Drive in Bartlett. Burks previously had been found not guilty in a triple homicide by reason of insanity. Upon finding Burks, police offered him a ride to the Bartlett train station, before receiving information from Elgin Mental Health Center that he was an escaped patient, and returned him there.
WHAT NOW Village President Mike Kelly expressed his concerns about the escapee at a November Village Board meeting. Police Chief Dan Palmer said he has met with officials at the Elgin Mental Health Center, but is awaiting a written report from them. Since then, health center officials said they have implemented new security measures.
No. 3
THE STORY Bartlett High School alum fatally injured in Afghanistan
WHAT HAPPENED U.S. Army Pfc. Matthew Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, after his mounted patrol vehicle was attacked in Afghanistan in September. Martinek graduated from Bartlett High School in 2007 and worked at Bartlett Hills Golf Course before joining the army in March 2008.
WHAT NOW U.S. Army Pfc. Leonard Gulczynski also graduated from Bartlett High School in 2007 and died Sept. 26, 2008, after his military Humvee veered into oncoming traffic in Iraq. Gulczynski’s family donated a flag to Bartlett High School to commemorate fallen soldiers. Both Gulczynski and Martinek’s initials are written underneath the flag.
The good, the bad and the ugly. From a reality show winner to a crazed Cubs fan, Bartlett residents have not only made local news this year but national headlines too. After shuffling through thousands of pages of newsprint and clicks online, the following is a recap of the issues and items that hit the village and its residents in 2009.
No. 1
THE STORY Two charged in Bartlett man’s murder
WHAT HAPPENED Carl W. Kuhn, 82, was found dead by police in his home on the 29W400 block of Schick Road in unincorporated Bartlett at about 9 p.m. Aug. 21. Police said Terry S. Bratcher, of West Chicago, and Keith L. Allen, of Chicago, intended to steal firearms from Kuhn. During the burglary, the men smothered Kuhn with a pillow.
WHAT NOW Bratcher and Allen were each charged Aug. 25 with eight counts of first degree murder, one count of armed home invasion, one count of residential burglary and one count of armed robbery with a firearm. Both pleaded not guilty in September. At the time, DuPage County prosecutors said they were considering pursuing the death penalty, and that a date had not been set for their trial.
No. 2
THE STORY Elgin Mental Health patient escapes to Bartlett
WHAT HAPPENED In September, Bartlett police found escapee Maikobi Burks trying to open the door of a home on the 700 block of James Drive in Bartlett. Burks previously had been found not guilty in a triple homicide by reason of insanity. Upon finding Burks, police offered him a ride to the Bartlett train station, before receiving information from Elgin Mental Health Center that he was an escaped patient, and returned him there.
WHAT NOW Village President Mike Kelly expressed his concerns about the escapee at a November Village Board meeting. Police Chief Dan Palmer said he has met with officials at the Elgin Mental Health Center, but is awaiting a written report from them. Since then, health center officials said they have implemented new security measures.
No. 3
THE STORY Bartlett High School alum fatally injured in Afghanistan
WHAT HAPPENED U.S. Army Pfc. Matthew Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, after his mounted patrol vehicle was attacked in Afghanistan in September. Martinek graduated from Bartlett High School in 2007 and worked at Bartlett Hills Golf Course before joining the army in March 2008.
WHAT NOW U.S. Army Pfc. Leonard Gulczynski also graduated from Bartlett High School in 2007 and died Sept. 26, 2008, after his military Humvee veered into oncoming traffic in Iraq. Gulczynski’s family donated a flag to Bartlett High School to commemorate fallen soldiers. Both Gulczynski and Martinek’s initials are written underneath the flag.
No. 4
THE STORY Board settles TIF debate
WHAT HAPPENED The village set up a tax-increment financing district in December 1986 to revitalize its downtown. In May, trustees brought up the idea of a one-year extension, which would hinder taxing bodies from seeing additional revenue for another year. The extension was passed with a 5-to-2 vote Oct. 20, but the board also passed an ordinance that said $2 million of the $2.7 million in the fund be directed to affected taxing districts.
WHAT NOW The top three taxing bodies include School District U-46 with approximately $1.2 million, the village of Bartlett with $185,000 and Bartlett Park District with $116,000. Taxing districts can expect refunds from the county in January or February. The TIF will expire Dec. 31, 2010.
No. 5
THE STORY Woman wins $250,000 on ABC reality show
WHAT HAPPENED Bartlett resident Cathy Grosam won ABC’s reality show “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” in August and took home the $250,000 first-place prize. The final game involved contests including removing squid heads using only contestants’ mouths, walking across a lotion-covered platform and filling up cans of paint while on a spinning platform.
WHAT NOW Unable to contact her husband or two young children throughout the month-long taping, Grosam has submerged herself back into the community since returning. She serves as the PTO vice president at Bartlett Elementary School. The family has a trip planned to Japan for spring break.
No. 6
THE STORY Three senior board members step down
WHAT HAPPENED The Bartlett Village Board’s senior members — former Village President Catherine Melchert, Trustee Thomas Floyd and Village Clerk Linda Gallien — stepped down from office in May. New Village President Mike Kelly was elected to office April 7 and officially sworn in May 19. Floyd was replaced by Frank Napolitano and Gallien was replaced by Lorna Giless.
WHAT NOW All new members were elected to a four-year term. Kelly has already played a crucial role in hot topics including the TIF district. The compromise plan he proposed to take $2 million of the $2.7 million out of the TIF fund and distribute that money among the seven taxing bodies was approved in October.
No. 7
THE STORY Emerald ash borer found in village trees
WHAT HAPPENED The Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed in July that the ash borer infested a tree on Newcastle Lane. The emerald ash borer does its damage during its larval stage by eating living tissue of ash trees. The only sure way of countering this pest is by removing infested trees. After checking many additional sites, two more trees in the village were identified with this same infestation.
WHAT NOW Ash trees make up nearly 40 percent of all parkway trees in the village. Although the village continually monitors its parkway ash trees for the emerald ash borer, and if residents observe an infested tree, they should contact Johnson at the Public Works Department at (630) 837-0811.
No. 8
THE STORY Trophy stolen at Bartlett High School
WHAT HAPPENED The “Braggin’ Jug,” a trophy shared between Bartlett and Streamwood high schools, was stolen in April and subsequently returned, but not before pictures were taken and posted on Facebook of about a dozen BHS juniors and seniors with the trophy at a drinking party. A teacher at BHS saw the pictures and notified the school staff.
WHAT NOW Principal Kevin Skinkis said the students could not be punished for things that happened at the party since it took place off campus. When the trophy was recovered, Skinkis said the school was still trying to investigate exactly who stole it and why. He said it could have possibly been a senior prank.
No. 9
THE STORY Resident charged for tossing beer at Cubs game
WHAT HAPPENED John Macchione, 21, of Bartlett was charged with battery and illegal conduct within a sports facility Aug. 13 after police said he threw a beer on Philadelphia Phillies player Shane Victorino at the Cubs game the previous night. During the bottom of the fifth inning Aug. 12, the Cubs’ Jake Fox hit a long fly ball to center field. As Victorino caught the ball, Macchione threw a cup of beer at him, according to police. The Cubs lost the game 12-5.
WHAT NOW Macchione left the scene, but turned himself in the next day after his picture showed up in media reports. Macchione later told news outlets he got caught up in the heat of the moment and hoped his actions wouldn’t taint the Cubs.
No. 10
THE STORY Restaurant seeks village help with landlord
WHAT HAPPENED With $80,000 in debt and sales having dropped by 50 percent since their December 2007 opening, the owners of Ovi’s Pub and Restaurant were unable to pay rent. Co-owner Maria Catanescu came before the Bartlett Village Board Aug. 18, asking city leaders to intercede on the restaurant’s behalf in negotiations with landlord Regency Centers. The Catanescus wanted a long-term lease with a temporary, lower monthly rent, but the landlord told them they could stay rent-free until new tenants were found.
WHAT NOW Ovi’s, at the corner of Stearns Road and Illinois Route 59, closed in September. Regency Centers currently has five vacancies at the Stearns Crossing retail space listed on its Web site.
