21 Students from District 99 Earn All-State Music Honors

Students from North and South high schools in Downers Grove were honored by the Illinois Music Educators Association.

At North and South high schools, both in Downers Grove, 21 student musicians earned all-state Honors in the 2012-213 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Composer Showcase, and Future Music Educators Symposium.  Three students—junior cellist Andrew Molina, senior pianist Ian Williams and senior trombonist Josiah Williams—all of South High, received first chair in the state. Performance auditions were held last October at Carl Sandburg High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the country.  “This is a tremendous honor for these students,” said Glenn Williams, chairman of the fine arts department at South High. “All-State selection …

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Downers Grove High School Dance Teams Head to State Finals

The Downers Grove North Athenas and Downers Grove South Fillies will travel to Bloomington, IL, on Friday and Saturday after placing among the top 12 teams at the 3A sectional in Palatine.

Both Downers Grove high schools have something to dance about. The Downers Grove North Athenas and Downers Grove South Fillies will both compete in the IHSA competitive dance state final Friday and Saturday after placing among the top 12 teams at the 3A sectional in Palatine on Jan. 19. The Fillies finished second in its group behind St. Charles North, with a score of 83.50. The Athenas finished sixth with a score of 75.50. Both teams are set to perform Saturday evening at the state finals competition. This year marks the first year competitive dance is recognized as an IHSA sport. Over the past eight years, the Downers Grove South Fillies have won six state championships through TeamDance Illinois. At a December competition, the school's …

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Downers Grove North Names Two Athletes to Hall of Fame

A ceremony will be held Feb. 2 to welcome North High's newest Hall of Fame inductees.

North High School in Downers Grove will welcome two new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame next month. Athletes Laura DeBruler, who graduated in 2007, and athlete Allison Barrett-Bourn, who graduated in 2001, will both be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. The induction celebration will be held in the main gym following the girls varsity basketball game, which starts at 6 p.m., and before the boys varsity game. Feb. 2 is the cross-town “basketball showdown” between North High and South High Schools; games begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be held at North High, 4426 Main St. Laura DeBruler’s accomplishments include: Allison Barrett-Bourn's accomplishments include: “Both Laura and Allison made impressive athletic contributions …

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United Central Bank in Downers Grove Robbed by Masked Gunman

Police are still searching for a white man wearing a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt and jeans, who allegedly robbed the bank at gunpoint around 11:09 a.m. Thursday.

A Downers Grove bank was robbed at gunpoint Thursday morning by a man wearing a mask, authorities said. United Central Bank, 1303 Ogden Ave., was robbed around 11:09 a.m., according to Downers Grove police. No one was injured during the incident. The man left southbound on foot before police arrived on scene, according to Downers Grove Police Sgt. Harry Andler. The suspect is a white man in a black ski mask, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans, Andler said. Downers Grove police did not immediately release details on how much money was stolen during the incident. The incident prompted "soft lockdowns" at Downers Grove North High School and Herrick Middle School shorty after 11:30 a.m., police said. Although school was not in session…

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Kent Frederick

10:13 am on Friday, January 11, 2013

I still go to the branch. I also still pay my bills by mailing a check. Maybe it's how I was raised. Maybe it's because computers are still prone to glitches. I once ordered a product on line, and the website seized up in the middle of the process. Once the site started working a few hours later, I finished the order. I would up with a double order and had to deal with customer service on …   more ›

Downers Grove Police Investigate School Violence Rumors in District 99, Find No Credible Threat

Police and District 99 officials notified parents Tuesday of rumored incident related to the Dec. 21 doomsday theories.

Unfounded rumors of violent acts at Downers Grove's two high schools Friday—the day many doomsday theorists predict will be the end of the world—prompted an investigation earlier this week by police and district officials. Jill Browning, communications director for Community High School District 99, said a rumor of school violence surfaced Tuesday morning after a student noticed an online comment from another student, who posted about Dec. 21 being the last day in the ancient Mayan calendar and possibly the end of the world. The student who saw the post perceived it as a threat, and reported it to school officials, Browning said. District 99 immediately notified police, who interviewed the students involved and concluded there was no cause…

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J

12:19 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012

Frank, with the heightened security across the nation, I feel as if Community District 99 made the right move. Even if there was no direct threat made, and was later showen to have nothing to worry about, it was better to look into a student made report than to let it go. Somebody felt unsafe, and the district made a good decision to help calm nerves and set aside a comment that could be taken in…   more ›

Emmy Award-Winning Speaker Urges Downers Grove Students to 'Live Freely, Love A Lot'

Students at North High were treated to a special assembly Friday, with guest speaker Mark Scharenbroich offering his take on life, love and self-respect.

Students and staff at Downers Grove North High School enjoyed a unique all-school assembly Friday featuring Emmy Award-winning motivational speaker Mark Scharenbroich. The assembly—sponsored in part by the North High Parents Club, Jostens and Boom Entertainment—focused on Scharenbroich's two secrets for making the most of high school: live freely and love a lot. Highlighting the transformation most students experience between freshman year and graduation, Scharenbroich encouraged students to embrace their interests and passions, and become engaged members of the Downers Grove community. "At what other time do we see so much change and growth in such an incredibly short period of time?" Scharenbroich said. "I believe this is the first time …

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Top November Stories on Downers Grove Patch

Patch recaps top stories of the month of November, including a coyote attack, a map of heroin incidents, DGN's viral video, Bonfield Express and an update on Hunter Himes.

Here are the top 15 most-viewed stories posted on Downers Grove Patch this month: 1. Driver Gets $1,500 Fine, Community Service in Crash that Disabled Downers Grove Teen Parents of 14-year-old Hunter Himes say he won't recover from injuries sustained in February, when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle home from a friend's house.  2. Police: Coyote Attacks Dog in Downers Grove Downers Grove police reports, Oct. 15.  3. MAP: Heroin Arrests, Overdoses in Downers Grove Downers Grove police shared a detailed map last week of heroin arrests, medical cases and overdose deaths in 2011 and 2012.  4. Downers Grove North Lip-Dub Video Goes Viral Students and teachers in the school's Fine Arts Department sing and dance to "It's Always a …

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Downers Grove North Band To Perform in Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Parade

The marching band will be one of only five high school bands in the country performing during the Thanksgiving parade Thursday.

Downers Grove North Band To Perform at Walt Disney World on Thanksgiving

The marching band will be one of only five high school bands in the country performing during the Thanksgiving parade Thursday.

The Downers Grove North band has plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, including a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The Trojan marching band will be one of only five high schools bands in the country performing in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Parade of Bands on Thursday, according to District 99 officials.  More than 150 students will march in the parade through Disney's Hollywood Studios, where they will perform a concert alongside guest artists "The Boston Brass." Parade coordinators contacted North High and invited the band to participate, district officials said. “We’re fortunate and proud of the fact that we’ve developed an international reputation for giving outstanding performances for major holiday events, and…

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Girls Swimming: Downers Grove North's Gabby Sims Wins State Title

Sims, a junior, broke a pool record in the 100-yard freestyle, leading the Trojans to a sixth-place finish at the IHSA swimming and diving finals.

Downers Grove North junior Gabby Sims won her second individual state title in dramatic fashion Saturday, breaking the pool record in the 100-yard freestyle at the IHSA girls swimming and diving finals in Evanston. Sims posted a pool-record 49.57 in the freestyle final—the second-fastest time ever swum at a state meet. She also became one of only four swimmers in Illinois history to break the 50-second mark at a state meet, according to mom Janice Sims. Gabby Sims finished second in the 100-yard backstroke (54:02), the event she won last year. Finishing first was Glenbrook South senior Olivia Smoliga (51.43), who also won the 50-yard freestyle (21.99). Going into Saturday's final, Sims was ranked first in the 100-yard freestyle and second …

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