Kids & Family
The Most Moving Stories of 2013
Refresh your memory of some of the year's most "feel-good" stories from Lemont Patch.
In a look back at the year's most-read stories, Lemont Patch breaks down the good, the bad—and the just plain beautiful.
Lemont High School Elects Special Needs Students to Homecoming Court
Four students with special needs were named to this year's homecoming court at Lemont High School. Three of the students—senior queen Becka Konicki, sophomore prince Isaac Ziebell and freshman princess Michaela Tauer—have Down syndrome.Andy Podczerwinski, who was paralyzed in a tragic accident last summer, was elected junior prince.
"These kids are all great students who contribute a lot to the culture of our school and community, despite the personal obstacles they face every day," said Christi Flores, Director of Special Education Services at Lemont. "They don't always have the opportunity to shine, so I think recognizing them in this way was pretty incredible."
Read more.
Devoted Friend Raises Money for Missionary's Brain Surgery
When Emily Fox's friend was diagnosed with a rare brain condition, Fox knew she'd do whatever she could to help. But she never expected what happened next.
Lemont Patch readers—and others across the country—helped raise $50,000 in just a week.
Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Tornado Debris Travels 125 Miles, Lands in Lemont Yard
Like most children, Eily Brousseau, 8, is terrified of storms and tornados. But following the heavy storms of Nov. 17, the Lemont youngster has a new sense of wonderment over the power of Mother Nature.Eily found debris including pieces of photos, newspaper remnants and personal checks—some presumably carried from the home of a woman named Lisa Hunter in Washington, Ill.—125 miles away from Lemont.
Read more.
Other 'Good News' from Lemont Patch:
Girl Needs a Special Bike — Lemont Says 'We'll Make it Happen Now'
Christmas came early for one Lemont 6-year-old.Isabel Merrion just wants to be like every other kid her age, and be able to ride a bike. A bout with meningitis at 9 days old rendered her with limited mobility—and in need of an adaptive bike to accommodate her small body weakened by a stroke.
Bikes like that don't come cheap, and her parents Jodi and Dan turned to the Lemont community to help pay for the $4,222 expenditure. The pair started a GoFundMe campaign in early November in hopes of raising the money to purchase the bike as a Christmas gift.
Find out what happened next.
Lemont First-Grader Turns Down Birthday Gifts
Lemont resident Layla Topete, 7, is wise beyond her years. This past summer, she told her parents that she did not want or need any gifts for her upcoming birthday in October. Instead, she wanted money spent on donations to a local charity.
Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Read more about this inspirational little girl.
Sisters Rally for Friends Battling Cancer
A group of Lemont youngsters decided they had to find a way to help two of their friends suffering from cancer.
Gracie Meloni, 9, and sister Kylie, 7, dreamed up a fundraiser to support 9-year-old Ellie Cuiching and family friend 14-year-old Nate Newman—both battling brain cancer.
Patch Salutes You: 6th Generation Lemonter Headed to Afghanistan
This shout-out goes to sixth-generation and lifelong Lemonter John Gage Ekkert. Ekkert, 20, is an infantryman in the U.S. Army, who leaves Ft. Drum in New York for Afghanistan on Friday, Nov. 15. Ekkert visited with family the weekend of Nov. 9–10, and the group shared an early Thanksgiving dinner.Ekkert is a 2011 graduate of Lemont High School, and nephew of PFC Leonard Ekkert, who was killed in action in Normandy in 1944.
Leave well wishes for Ekkert this Christmas!
Lemont Football Families Rally to Support Child of Varsity Coach
Volunteers collected donations to support Lemont High School varsity assistant coach Greg Banner, whose daughter Stefanie is battling cancer.
In early August 2013, Banner and his wife, Mary—who reside in New Lenox— learned their now 23-month-old daughter Stefanie was suffering from nephroblastoma, a cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children. To show their support of the Banners, the families of Lemont's football coaches hosted "Make a Difference Day" on Friday night in conjunction with the sophomore and varsity football games against Richards High School.Calm Under Pressure: 9/11 Survivor Talks of Dog who Saved Him
Michael Hingson, blind since birth, told JJC audiences he had to rely on his guide dog Roselle to lead him from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center.
Sometimes being a hero is just doing your job.
That's what Michael Hingson said of his guide dog Roselle, who calmly helped him to safety from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Read more of their inspiring tail (not a typo).Man Buys Billboard in Search of Love
In an age of Internet dating, Gordon Engle has gone old school. And big. He bought a gigantic billboard on the Stevenson Expressway in search of his soul mate.The billboard, which reads, "I'm GORDON. Let's have dinner!" supplies a link to his website, HelpGordyFindLove.com, where those who want to take him up on that meal can let him know. Disclaimer: We're not sure if Gordy is still on the market.
Read more of his "love" story.
It can't all be "good" news. Check out the Top Stories that Shocked You in 2013.
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