The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is conducting extra traffic safety patrols before, during and after the Thanksgiving holiday, with the extra enforcement scheduled to run through Nov. 27.
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“Thanksgiving Eve is fast becoming the one of the biggest drinking days of the year. We urge those who intent to drink on Thanksgiving Eve or any other day, to arrange for a designated driver or other means to get home safely,” Sheriff Mark Curran said. “We want everyone to make it to the table on Thanksgiving Day.”
The patrols will concentrate on behaviors that can have fatal consequences, including impaired and/or distracted driving, speeding and seatbelt violations, officials said.
The extra patrols are being funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Administration grant distributed through the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Giving local youth a voice
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has created its first-ever Youth Advisory Board to help focus on solutions to issues affecting young people.
The youths will participate in various projects and activities to bring awareness to their schools and community on issues such as teen dating violence, bullying, gangs, drugs/alcohol abuse prevention and other trends affecting their peers, according to State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim.
Nerheim said the board will serve as a forum to provide prevention, education and peer-to-peer efforts to deal with issues that especially impact youths in Lake County.
He said it will provide an opportunity for youths to, “be involved, and viewed as partners, in developing programs and providing insight on existing efforts to address our young citizens of Lake County.”
“By engaging with them, we hope to increase the likelihood that existing efforts and future incentives will be accepted and adopted by their peers,” Nerheim said.
The project kicked off Nov. 4 at the Lake County Courthouse when about 45 youths attended a meeting accompanied by parents and guardians. Schools across Lake County were sent information regarding the program and were encouraged to seek involvement from their students.
Nerheim welcomed middle school- and high school-aged youths, and described the functions of each division within the State’s Attorney’s Office. He encouraged the youths to view their involvement as an opportunity to make a difference in their community.
“Adults tend to spend too much time talking at youth, and very little hearing from them,” Nerheim said. “We want to hear their ideas, and allow them the opportunity to have input on how we can be more effective.”
“They know what is happening much better than most adults, and we want to empower them to be leaders among their peers,” Nerheim said
For more information regarding the Lake County Youth Advisory Board, contact Carrie Wings at (847) 377-7824 or Melissa Burke at (847) 377-3000.
New circuit judge appointment
Associate Judge Joseph V. Salvi has been appointed as a full circuit judge in Lake County Circuit Court to fill a vacancy to be created by the upcoming retirement of longtime Circuit Judge Margaret Mullen.
Mullen will retire effective Dec. 31, according to Chief Judge Jorge Ortiz, who said Salvi, appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to replace Mullen, will serve a term from Jan. 2 – Dec. 3, 2018.
Salvi said he plans to run for election to keep the post after the appointment expires.
“Congratulations to Judge Salvi. Joe handled virtually every conceivable type of case as a lawyer and his breadth of experience, knowledge of the law, industriousness and superb intellect served the people of Lake County well,” Ortiz said.
Salvi was appointed as an associate judge in January 2013, and has served in the Traffic/Misdemeanor Division and the Family Division.
“It is a great honor to be appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court, and a privilege to serve the public as circuit judge. I will continue to work hard. I have great respect for the law and the justice system, and being part of it as a judge is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Salvi said.
Salvi graduated from Carmel High School in Mundelein and received his undergraduate degree from Knox College in Galesburg. He earned his Juris Doctor in 1991 from ITT Chicago Kent College of Law, and began his legal career first as an associate, and then as a partner with the firm of Salvi, Salvi & Wifler, P.C. in Lake Zurich.
Cops for Tots
The Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program this year.
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Toys are being collected by the Sheriff’s Office at three locations: The main Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 25 S Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Waukegan; the Lake County Courthouse court security area at 18 N County St., Waukegan; and the Sheriff’s Office substation at 1301 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
“There is no greater joy than the joy of giving, especially to children,” Curran said in announcing the drop-off locations. “Let’s fill the boxes, Lake County.”
Toys for Tots accepts new, unwrapped toys suitable for children through the age of 16.
Ideas for pre-teens/teens include sporting equipment, bags, balls, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars and trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners and hair dryers.
The Toys for Tots campaign prefers not to accept realistic looking weapons or gifts of food.