There will be plenty of ways to honor the sacrifice of our veterans on Memorial Day weekend in the Fox Valley this year. Here is a look at some of the events coming up: Aurora The city of Aurora will honor the service men and women who gave their lives for our country during the annual Memorial Day ceremony and parade Monday. A pre-parade ceremony titled “Expressions of Remembrance” will be held at 11:15 a.m. at the reviewing stand outside the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place. In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 11:58:08 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20277692-418/fox-valley-to-honor-memorial-day-with-variety-of-activities.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20277692-418/fox-valley-to-honor-memorial-day-with-variety-of-activities.html

YORKVILLE — Kendall County and Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union have a new, four-year contract. The County Board has approved the new pact with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, based in Countryside. The contract runs retroactively from 2012 through 2016. For 2012, workers will get a $975 lump sum payment. In the next three years, workers will get increases of 2 percent, 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. In addition, the county and union agreed to cap the salaries of new hires at the current level. In December, the contract will increase a uniform stipend … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 23:26:37 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20308249-418/highway-department-settles-with-union.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20308249-418/highway-department-settles-with-union.html

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Kim Presbrey, an Aurora attorney who died of medical complications following a 2012 single-engine plane crash in Florida. According to court documents, Presbrey was piloting a Seawind 3000 aircraft when it suddenly and unexpectedly lost power shortly after takeoff and crashed into a Publix supermarket roof in DeLand, Fla., north of Orlando, in April 2012. Presbrey and the plane’s one passenger suffered severe burns. Passenger Thomas Rhoades of Illlinois survived, but 60-year-old Presbrey died after a month in intensive care. The Seawind … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:25 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20307901-418/lawsuit-filed-in-death-of-aurora-man-killed-in-florida-plane-crash.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20307901-418/lawsuit-filed-in-death-of-aurora-man-killed-in-florida-plane-crash.html

BATAVIA — The city has made a new appointment for a newly-created Emergency Services and Disaster Agency manager post. During the annual appointment of city officers and department heads recently, Mayor Jeff Schielke appointed Mark Davis to serve as the ESDA manager. Former ESDA Director Jeff Glaser declined to accept the position, the mayor said. “Jeff indicated that he wished to retire,” Schielke said. Glaser had been head of ESDA for 38 years. Davis had previously served as volunteer ESDA captain since 2008. Davis said he was approached for the position a couple of weeks ago. “My duties will be … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 23:31:11 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20308333-418/new-emergency-servicesmanager-appointed-for-batavia.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20308333-418/new-emergency-servicesmanager-appointed-for-batavia.html

From benefits as complicated as health care to as simple as a free fishing license, Jacob Zimmerman works to get local veterans everything they have earned for their service to our country. Since starting his job two months ago as superintendent of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission, Zimmerman’s priorities have been making sure those who served are aware of any aid that might be available to them, and running an office that works to make sure any claims on their behalf are expedited and processed as soon as possible. “There are a lot of benefits that many veterans don’t … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 11:54:53 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20289837-418/new-kane-county-vac-superintendent-working-to-get-veterans-their-due.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20289837-418/new-kane-county-vac-superintendent-working-to-get-veterans-their-due.html

Oswego schools will get a handful of new teachers next year, but several other new hires — from specialized instructors for the Academically Talented program to custodians needed for expanding schools — will have to wait. The Oswego School Board unanimously approved the equivalent of just 12.6 new positions this week, including three teachers for English Language Learners classes, four special education teachers, and two nurses, all of which are mandated by either state or federal law. The board also approved the hire of 3.6 teachers for general education classrooms. But several other recommendations for new staff positions were voted … ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 02:33:02 -0500 http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20258657-418/oswego-adds-teachers-delays-specialty-posts.html http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/20258657-418/oswego-adds-teachers-delays-specialty-posts.html