The Daily Herald from Arlington Heights, Illinois • Page 76

PAGE 4 SECTION 1 DAILY HERALD Fox Valley SUNDAY, SKI'TKMISEK 28, F3 Week in review Your chance to catch up on news of the week. Second school: Geneva school officials decided to draw up plans for putting a second middle school next to the present middle school on the west side of town. Geneva Middle School, built to handle about 900 students, has an enrollment of 1,368. Bus problems questioned: St. Charles school board officials grilled Superintendent Francis Kosiel on Monday night about the district's transportation problems.

They asked why so many changes had to be made to get middle school students home earlier each afternoon. Starting Wednesday, high school students began and ended their days 10 minutes earlier and the district will spend an additional, unanticipated $84,000 to lease four buses and add 10 afternoon routes. Kostel said the changes were necessary because of two new elementary schools, more students, new start and end times at all schools, new attendance boundaries and the lengthening of the middle school day. Ex-chief sues mayor: A week after stepping down, former St. Charles Police Chief Don Shaw filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Mayor Sue KUnkhamer, alleging he was fired after blowing the on corruption in city hall.

City officials vehemently denied the allegations. In the lawsuit Shaw, now a St. Charles sergeant, said Klinkhamer chastised him for ticketing McNally's Irish Pub for selling liquor to underage patrons during an undercover police sting because the bar is owned by a "close associate." Shaw also said he refused KJinkhamer's demands to nullify a traffic ticket for another ally, an unnamed local businessman. Mold grievance settled: Teachers and staff members whose health was affected by mold at St. Charles East High School will receive compensation for related out-of-pocket medical expenses.

An arbitrator also ruled the school must restore all sick days used by those employees during thai period for illnesses caused by mold. Cases must be verified by doctors. News this week A sneak peek at what to watch for in coming days. Gorecki to take offensive: Kane County Stale's Attorney Meg Gorecki said she will host a news conference this week to refute allegations in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former St. Charles police chief Don Shaw.

In the lawsuit, Shaw accuses St. Charles officials of fixing a traffic ticket for a local businessman. The lawsuit claims members of the Kane County state's attorney's office assisted in that endeavor. Gorecki says that claim is baseless and called it "a lie." Aldermen wanted: The Batavia City Council will interview candidates for vacancies in the 1 st and 5th wards at a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday on the second floor of the Batavia Government Center, 100 N.

Island Ave. Which bridge design? Batavia's community development committee will cut the 11 options of bridge structures to three during a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave. The city services committee will meet at 7 p.m.

to discuss repair bids for the Wilson Street bridge for minor repairs to be done this fall. Helping people still drives new chief BY AMY E. WILLIAMS Daily llcmltl (JiriKkjiutuleut Katrina Lamkin still remembers when her brother James first talked about becoming a police officer. One of his closest friends at Hampshire High School had just died in a car accident, and James Lamkin was shaken. He said he wanted to do police work, uoinking he might be able to help prevent future tragedies like the one that took his friend's life, she said.

Today, Katrina Lamkin, a nun who works as principal of Ss. Peter and Paul School in Gary, says even after more than 28 years in policing, James Lamkin still is trying to help people through his job and with his caring demeanor. As he embarks on a new career path this week as police chief in St. Charles, Katrina Lamkin feels that attitude will serve her younger brother and the force he is ready to command, well. "Jim is sensitive, and those are hard times when high school guys lose buddies.

He wanted to help people back then," Katrina Lamkin said. "I would say that's pretty characteristic of Jirn still. He's always done what he could do when he could. "I'm proud of him," she said. "(St.

Charles) will have its challenges, but he has certainly had that and more with a much bigger force." James I.amkin, 49, has worked for the Elgin Police Department since 1980, when he started as a patrol officer. Over the years, he worked his way up through the ranks, and most recently served as deputy chief. Lamkin says he never dreamed he eventually would be heading up the police department in one of the Fox Valley's premier communities. As one of eight siblings growing up on a dairy farm in Hampshire, Lamkin says his life all about the farm. Each day, he said, he and liis brothers and sisters had to milk the cows, bale die hay or tend to the corn.

But like many of his buddies at Hampshire High School, Lamkin decided he wanted a life beyond die farm. After high school, he decided to give accounting a try U-46 finances on the table BY TARA MALONK Daily Operating dollars and cash reserves will lake center stage when Elgin Area School District U-46 board members gather Monday nighl. The board will decide whether to adopt a $274.3 million operating budget for the school year that is both balanced and less than last year's nearly $290 million operating budget. A $40 million debt caused by- steady growth in enrollment, limited state revenues and overspending remains a burden U-46 will carry forward. District leaders arc also seeking to replenish a rainy day cash reserve with about $34 million.

To do that, district officials recommend selling bonds rather than issuing a bridge loan in the form of a tax anticipation warrants. A bond sale would raise taxes though by how much is unclear and not require voter approval. That is, unless 10 percent of registered voters sign a petition demanding the bond sale pass voter review. If the board approved a bond sale, residents then would have 30 days to collect the requisite signatures. Board members are expected to discuss the issue during the 7 p.m.

Monday meeting at 355 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. LOOKING FOR A DEPENDABLE CONTRACTOR? connections "CMcagoland's Premier Contractor Referral Service" 1. One coll for All your homeimproYefnenl needs; Additions BASEMENTS Siding KITCHENS WINDOWS DOORS Bothrooms Custom Homes Decks fences ROOFING GUTTERS PAINTING DRYWAU Cabinet Countertops Flooring SUNROOMS SCREENROOMS Carpentry Concrete AND MUCH 2.

We interview and prescreen contractors to verify insurance, licensing homeowner satisfaction 3. Three contractors will call you for your FREE estimates It's Convenient and FREE! 847-934-O1OO www.three-estimates.com A long look at local newsmakers DAVE TONC.K/DAILY HKKAI.I) James Lamkin, the former Elgin deputy police chief, starts Monday as chief of the St. Charles Police Department. and took classes at Elgin Community College. But after a year and a half of working with numbers, Lamkin soon discovered accounting wasn't for him.

As soon as he turned 21 and was eligible to take die tests to become a police officer, he did. "I decided I wanted to do something different, something a little more outside, more challenging, more with people;" Lamkin said. He soon joined the Kane County Sheriff's Department, where he worked for four years. Looking for something less rural, he joined the Hampshire Police Department. A year later, longing for something a bit more exciting, he moved on to Elgin.

"I was a lot younger then and I wanted to see a little busier place," he said. And that he got, he says, as Elgin grew and so did its crime rate. Over the years, Lamkin served in nearly every position in the police department, including working as interim police chief in 1998 and most recently supervising 125 people as deputy chief. Despite the constant pace at work, Lamkin has never been too busy for his family, friends or for fun, those who know him best say. At least once each year, whether his four kids ages 22, 18, 17 and 5 go along or not, Lamkin and his wife, Diane, escape to Disney World.

Though he goes on the rides when other people want to, Lamkin says what he's really a sucker for is the shows. "There's not one in particular. I just like them all. They're fun. I love Disney World," he said.

"It's just a neat, fun, happy place." Recently, Lamkin has been seeing liis favorite place through new eyes. He says he's had such fun showing his youngest child, 5-year-old Megan, all the magic Disney World has to offer. Being a father to Megan and his other children is what Lamkin says he spends much of his time doing. He and his wife like to garden, golf and ride bikes, but the kids are their priority, he said. He did take time out to fulfill one of his life's dreams graduating from college.

In 2000, he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College. And occasionally Lamkin still will get out liis Harley-Davidson, which he's played around town on for about 12 years, but not as much as he used to, he said. However, his friends and family say he always has time for them. Larnkin, who has a natural ability to complete what some may call impossible projects around the house, is generous with his handy skills, they say. Elgin police Detective Sgt.

Jim Barnes says Lamkin helped him roof his house. And just recently he helped his sister Katrina install ceramic tile in her home. He's also finished the basement in his own home. Katrina Lamkin says her brother got his handyman skills while growing up on the farm where their father taught them to do what they could themselves. On the farm, which Lamkin's parents still own but now rent out, the kids also learned to work together to complete tasks, which Katrina Larrikin says she knows will help her brother as he starts liis new job.

"He's used to being a part of the team and working hard," she said. Barnes, too, has seen Lamkin's ability to work with others as a team. Over the years, the two played softball together on the department's team, with Lamkin starting as pitcher. He galvanized the team, Barnes said. "He'll be an excellent chief," Barnes said.

"He's honest, a real fair guy, level-headed and makes common sense decisions. He's not afraid to do liis job, and not afraid to take on tough or difficult tasks. "He's the right guy for the job." IF PAIN STRIKES receive one free cipmplijnen'tary massage with this ad on second" visit. Dr. Felix Williams 25 Years Experience Rehab Chiropractic Herbs Physiotherapy Acupuncturist 63O-584-3999 I hilly lien i Si! FOUNDED 1872 3aily Herald (USPS 032020) is pubished daily by Paddock Publications Inc.

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