TribLocal Downers Grove - 08 2 September 2010
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Local election season begins with re-election bid Hinsdale South athletes recognized for Special Olympics performance
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Football team’s insurance will not cover missing \$112,000
By Brian Slodysko
TRIBLOCAL REPORTER
Downers Grove South nixes some fashion
By Brian Slodysko
TRIBLOCAL REPORTER
A Downers Grove youth football organization’s insurance policies will not cover the missing \$112,000 the group’s former treasurer has been accused of stealing. “We do carry director and officers’ insurance… But under those policies fraud or embezzlement is not covered,” said Panther Junior Football President Steve Lowery. The group’s former treasurer, Theresa A. Carlquist, 51, of the 6700 block of Plymouth Road, was arrested on six counts of felony theft, as well as two felony counts of continuing a financial crimes enterprise, Downers Grove police said. Carlquist was the only person handling the league’s finances when \$112,000 disappeared between February 2008 and December 2009, police said. Carlquist is accused of writing herself checks for as much as \$8,500 from the league’s checking account, police said. According to police, the arrest concluded a nine-month investigation that began when league officials contacted authorities after noticing large discrepancies in their account balances. Court records for Carlquist paint a picture of troubled finances dating back at least as far as November 2009, shortly before police started investigating her. According to the DuPage Circuit Court Clerk, Carlquist and her husband Daniel had foreclosure proceedings brought against them by U.S. Bank National Association on June 1, as a result of defaulting on a home \$338,400 mortgage, which they stopped paying in November 2009. Records indicate the couple still owes \$320,054 on the mortgage.
Students who wear short shorts, spaghetti-strap tank tops or let their underwear peek out from the top of their pants are being targeted by school administrators at Downers Grove South High School in a new crackdown on school dress rules. According to Principal Stephan Bild, administrators and faculty are putting “special effort” into cracking down on all students who are wearing clothing that does not cover the shoulders or extend down to mid
PLEASE SEE FASHION, PAGE 3
Panthers Junior Football players practice on Aug. 30.
TribLocal photo by Brian Slodysko
Burr Ridge police to move to new \$5.9 million facility
By Heather MacDonald
TRIBLOCAL REPORTER
Additionally, there is a federal tax lien on the property for \$32,259, and the couple owes JHC investments \$55,157 from a court judgment, records said. They also have a second mortgage on their house for \$37,600, according to court records. At a Panthers Junior Football practice Aug. 30, parents reacted with shock. Many were aware the league was having some financial difficulty and had not been able to provide new pads and jerseys this year, but not many were aware that \$112,000 had gone missing. Panthers officials posted a notice on the organization’s Web site Aug. 30. “That’s a shocker. It’s something you only hear about in the movies,” said Paul Poten-
za, whose son Paul Jr. plays Panther football. “Money is, I guess, the root of all evil.” Lowery said while the parents may not have known about the ongoing investigation, team officials had been open about the organization’s current financial situation. “We’ve worked so hard to make this season happen. We’ve had it posted on our Web site for months that we’ve had financial difficulties. People maybe just weren’t aware,” he said. He said the organization was going to hold more fundraisers in the coming weeks, including a raffle event on Oct. 9, opening day. bslodysko@tribune.com Chicago Tribune reporter Art Barnum contributed to this report.
In the coming weeks, members of the Burr Ridge Police Department will trade their cramped quarters at village hall for a state-of-the-art \$5.8 million facility with stepped-up security and an improved ability to process forensic evidence. Chief John W. Madden said the new headquarters, which had been on the drawing board for nearly eight years, will help the 28-officer force fight crime and serve Burr Ridge residents more efficiently and effectively.
PLEASE SEE POLICE, PAGE 3
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