Archive for January 30th, 2018

Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Fire officials in Pingree Grove are taking another stab at asking voters permission to borrow $8.5 million to build two new fire stations, which they say will be better positioned to serve a growing population.

A “yes” to the referendum question on the ballot March 20 would yield a property tax increase of about $90 for a house with a $300,000 market value, Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said. That’s $27 less than the tax increase projected last year, because the district has grown since voters rejected the proposal in April 2017, he said.

The Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District would repay the bonds over 20 years with $2 million from its general fund — at the rate of $100,000 per year — and $6.5 million with the property tax increase that would expire after two decades, Crocetti said.

Informational sessions are planned at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cambridge Lakes Community Center, 1125 Wester Blvd., Pingree Grove and 7 p.m. Thursday at Station 2, 10N980 Rippburger Road, Plato Center.

The district employs 54 firefighters who responded to 1,096 calls in 2017, up from 1,036 calls in 2016. The 50-square-mile district serves about 15,000 residents in Pingree Grove, the north end of Campton Hills, and unincorporated areas. More residences are expected to be built in Cambridge Lakes subdivisions.

The district has three fire stations, two of which — Station 2 on Rippburger Road and Station 4 on Plank Road — are outdated and would be closed and sold if the two new facilities are built.

Station 2 is unstaffed and Station 4 has trailers for firefighters. “They were built as callback stations, they were never intended to be lived in,” he said. The stations are landlocked, but even if they could be upgraded, they are in the wrong spot geographically, he said.

The two new stations, which would have living quarters for firefighters, would be built on land to be purchased on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road, and on Dittman Road about ? mile south of Plato Road. The district has earmarked about $600,000 in this year’s $3.3 million budget to buy property and commission architectural plans.

Tags: , ,

Of interest … the Romeoville Fire Academy

From the HeraldNews.com:

Dean Bushala has been in television for 20 years and worked on shows “Ice Road Truckers” and “Deadliest Catch”. He has been making an independent documentary that will star the Romeoville Fire Academy. 

“I’m trying to get a better understanding of how firefighters do what they do,” Bushala said. “I was here in Romeoville for a week to do some work with the recruits and do some rappelling on the training tower.”

Bushala previously worked with the Downers Grove Fire Academy years ago on a project with PBS and had stayed in touch with many of the members who are now instructors in Romeoville. They’ve kept in touch, so now for this project, it made sense to reconnect.

The project is aimed for a late summer release.

thanks Dan

Tags: ,

Buffalo Grove Firefighter/Paramedic John Kevin Hauber; January 6, 1967 – January 27, 2018

Buffalo Grove FD Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Hauber

Buffalo Grove FD Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Hauber

From Buffalo Grove Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 3177

It is with very heavy hearts that we report that Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Hauber has succumbed to the cancer that he has been fighting for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling

Arrangements for Firefighter/Paramedic John “Kevin” Hauber who has succumb to his fight with cancer. Please keep his Family in your Thoughts and Prayers.

Wake:

Thursday, Feb 1, 2018
Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

15:00 – 21:00

FD walk through at 19:00, line up at 18:30.

Funeral:

Friday, February 2, 2018
St. Mary’s Church
50 N. Buffalo Grove Rd, Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

09:30 – Family prayer at Funeral Home

10:00 – Procession to Church

10:30 – Funeral Mass at Church

From the Village of Buffalo Grove website:

The Village of Buffalo Grove is mourning the loss of 23-year veteran, Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Hauber 51, who bravely fought against colon cancer for the last four years before succumbing to the disease Saturday, January 27, 2018. Hauber was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, which included his wife and four young daughters.

“Kevin fought long and hard all while still on the job protecting the people of Buffalo Grove, which was his true passion. He grew up in Buffalo Grove and became a firefighter because his childhood dream was to protect and serve,” the Hauber family said in a statement.

Growing up, he and his twin brother Jim, also a firefighter/paramedic with the Buffalo Grove Fire Department, idolized the characters on the 1970’s show, EMERGENCY! which profiled the crew of a California fire department. In 2014 while undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Hauber met one of the stars of the show, Randy Mantooth, and was able to explain to him how the show motivated he and his brother to become firefighters. Mantooth signed a picture of them as little boys during the meeting, an experience that Hauber cherished.

Hauber began his full-time career in Buffalo Grove in 1994 as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2004, he joined the Associated Firefighters of Illinois (AFFI) Honor Guard, which exists to provide final honors to fallen firefighters throughout the State of Illinois.

According to Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Mike Baker, Hauber deeply believed in the mission of the AFFI Honor Guard, and always made himself available to serve at events that honored fallen comrades.

In 2018, the AFFI Honor Guard presented Kevin with the 2018 Donald J. Bower Commitment to Excellence Award for his dedication and commitment to the Honor Guard.

“Kevin was a caring, loving person who was always happy and never had anything bad to say about anyone, even when he was sick,” said Chief Baker. “He is already missed.” 

Tags: , , , ,

Fatal crash on I-294, 1-29-18

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

Illinois State Police said one person is dead and three people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash that involved three semi trucks and one passenger vehicle near O’Hare Airport on I-294. The crash happened in the southbound lanes at about 8:15 p.m. just south of Balmoral Avenue. All four lanes of traffic were closed due to the crash before reopening Tuesday morning.

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

fatal truck crash on I-294 1/29/18

Tim Olk photo

Tags: , , , , ,