dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Hub Arkush: Grading the Bears' draft picks

I really do love the annual NFL Draft , and if TV and radio ratings , web traffic , and social media views are any indication , tens of millions of people agree with me .
This year I began my sixth decade of covering it , and way back 40 and 50 years ago my Dad and I were instrumental in creating independent draft analysis that lead to all of you joining the party .
But enough -- actually , too much -- about me .
Mostly I love it because for three days out of the year all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them has a chance to build a Super Bowl team , and each has the ability to win or lose the weekend no matter how many others win or lose .
That is why so many of us in the business immediately start to give grades to all 32 teams to see who won , who got stuck in the middle and who lost .
But the one thing that drives me to distraction is that the overwhelming majority of the rest of you -- most of you bright , kind lovely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those grades represent , and far too many immediately begin trashing teams and many of the fine young men drafted before they ever even get to put on their new pads .
For the millionth time , please hear me : If you want to know who got the best players and which became better teams , you 're going to have to wait at least two years and often three , when we 'll have a real idea of how good these kids are as pro players .
All we can tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best college football players and more importantly , which teams created the most value or paid too much .
In 2017 Bengals , Broncos , Browns fans and analysts alike were gaga over John Ross , Garrett Bolles and Jabril Peppers .
On the other hand many experts felt Christian McCaffrey , Patrick Mahomes and T.J. Watt had all been over-drafted .
I expect you all get my point , but for how long will you remember it ?
So how should we feel about the Bears ' draft ?
Please keep in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All of these evaluations are consensuses after talking to professional scouts , GMs and coaches representing almost every one of the 32 NFL teams .
I watch a ton of tape , I 'd bet my life at least 15 or 20 times or more as much as anyone reading this column , but I still do n't trust me .
This is from the guys who get paid to do it for a living and whose livelihoods depend on knowing what they 're seeing .
The Bears had a huge need at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they already had on the roster because none of them was good enough .
Kmet is the best tight end prospect in this draft and his ceiling is quite high , so he 's a great get .
But it is n't a great year at the position , so even though he 's the best , he was the 55th-rated player on our consensus board regardless of position , and they took him at 43 , normally not great .
Because of his ceiling , maybe a B -- becomes a B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need at cornerback and Johnson is the third best college corner in this draft and the 24th best player overall , so getting him at 50 is an absolute steal , definitely an A .
Day three gets trickier because once you 're outside the top 100 , players rankings become a lot more subjective .
But the Bears entered the day with their first pick at 163 and then nothing until well into the sixth and seventh rounds at 196 , 200 , 226 and 233 .
That they converted that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 173 and all it cost them was 196 , 200 and a fourth-rounder next year was very good value , according to the standardized draft pick trade value chart .
According to their scouting reports , Gipson definitely could have gone a full round higher , Mooney earlier in the fifth and Vildor fits here .
Gipson has an extremely high ceiling while Mooney 's 4.38 40-yard dash speed fills a desperate need that it looked like the Bears might not be able to fill prior to the trade .
This round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special in the a seventh round is a fool 's errand and these two as football players are both at least a notch below what you might even hope to get .
They do each get a point for joining Barkevious Mingo on the NFL 's all-name team .
Both could prove to be wonderful surprises , but right now they feel like a typical case of Bears scouts thinking they see something that most others are missing .
They 're a C- or a C at best .
So overall how do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College Draft ?
It really was every bit as much fun as I 'd hoped it would be .

Hub Arkush: Grading the Bears' draft picks
In this March 1, 2020, file photo, Utah defensive back Jaylon Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Johnson was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the NFL football draft Friday, April 24, 2020. Associated Press
I really do love the annual NFL Draft, and if TV and radio ratings, web traffic, and social media views are any indication, tens of millions of people agree with me.
This year I began my sixth decade of covering it, and way back 40 and 50 years ago my Dad and I were instrumental in creating independent draft analysis that lead to all of you joining the party.
But enough -- actually, too much -- about me. Mostly I love it because for three days out of the year all 32 teams are equal, every one of them has a chance to build a Super Bowl team, and each has the ability to win or lose the weekend no matter how many others win or lose.
That is why so many of us in the business immediately start to give grades to all 32 teams to see who won, who got stuck in the middle and who lost.
But the one thing that drives me to distraction is that the overwhelming majority of the rest of you -- most of you bright, kind lovely folks -- annually refuse to accept what those grades represent, and far too many immediately begin trashing teams and many of the fine young men drafted before they ever even get to put on their new pads.
For the millionth time, please hear me: If you want to know who got the best players and which became better teams, you're going to have to wait at least two years and often three, when we'll have a real idea of how good these kids are as pro players.
All we can tell you today is which teams got the best college football players and more importantly, which teams created the most value or paid too much.
In 2017 Bengals, Broncos, Browns fans and analysts alike were gaga over John Ross, Garrett Bolles and Jabril Peppers.
Today ...?
On the other hand many experts felt Christian McCaffrey, Patrick Mahomes and T.J. Watt had all been over-drafted.
Today ...?
I expect you all get my point, but for how long will you remember it?
So how should we feel about the Bears' draft?
Please keep in mind these aren't my opinions. All of these evaluations are consensuses after talking to professional scouts, GMs and coaches representing almost every one of the 32 NFL teams.
I watch a ton of tape, I'd bet my life at least 15 or 20 times or more as much as anyone reading this column, but I still don't trust me.
This is from the guys who get paid to do it for a living and whose livelihoods depend on knowing what they're seeing.
Cole Kmet
The Bears had a huge need at the position regardless of how many bodies they already had on the roster because none of them was good enough. Kmet is the best tight end prospect in this draft and his ceiling is quite high, so he's a great get.
But it isn't a great year at the position, so even though he's the best, he was the 55th-rated player on our consensus board regardless of position, and they took him at 43, normally not great.
Because of his ceiling, maybe a B -- becomes a B.
Jaylon Johnson
The Bears also had a real need at cornerback and Johnson is the third best college corner in this draft and the 24th best player overall, so getting him at 50 is an absolute steal, definitely an A.
Trevis Gipson, Kindle Vildor and Darnell Mooney
Day three gets trickier because once you're outside the top 100, players rankings become a lot more subjective.
But the Bears entered the day with their first pick at 163 and then nothing until well into the sixth and seventh rounds at 196, 200, 226 and 233.
That they converted that to these three picks at 155, 163 and 173 and all it cost them was 196, 200 and a fourth-rounder next year was very good value, according to the standardized draft pick trade value chart.
According to their scouting reports, Gipson definitely could have gone a full round higher, Mooney earlier in the fifth and Vildor fits here. Gipson has an extremely high ceiling while Mooney's 4.38 40-yard dash speed fills a desperate need that it looked like the Bears might not be able to fill prior to the trade. This round is a B.
Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons
Hoping for anything special in the a seventh round is a fool's errand and these two as football players are both at least a notch below what you might even hope to get.
They do each get a point for joining Barkevious Mingo on the NFL's all-name team.
Both could prove to be wonderful surprises, but right now they feel like a typical case of Bears scouts thinking they see something that most others are missing.
They're a C- or a C at best.
So overall how do I grade the Chicago Bears 2020 NFL College Draft?
It really was every bit as much fun as I'd hoped it would be.
@Hub_Arkush


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--A song to make you smile: 'Shining Star' by Earth, Wind & Fire

We 're trying to inject a little positivity in the paper ( and on dailyherald.com ) with a daily `` @ @ @ @ @ . ''
It 's designed to help lift you out of your coronavirus funk .
@ @ @ @ @ Shining Star '' by Chicago music legends Earth , Wind & Fire , released in @ @

A song to make you smile: 'Shining Star' by Earth, Wind & Fire
Ralph Johnson, from left, David Whitford and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. Associated Press, 2018
We're trying to inject a little positivity in the paper (and on dailyherald.com) with a daily "Song to Make You Smile."
It's designed to help lift you out of your coronavirus funk.
Today's selection is "Shining Star" by Chicago music legends Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1975.
Send your ideas to suggestions@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--How a 9-year-old South Elgin girl defied the odds after she was born with half a heart

One by one , 9-year-old Breanna Ruud carefully pulls an assortment of long , colorful necklaces out of a bag and places them around her neck .
Each piece of jewelry is made up of dozens of beads varying in shapes , sizes and shades .
If Breanna had to guess , she 'd say there were at least 500 total , but probably more .
And they 're not just for show .
Every hand-strung bead represents a medical experience the South Elgin girl faced in the early years of her life after she was born with a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with different types of therapies : physical , occupational and speech .
The smaller beads are for blood draws or X-rays or CT scans .
Four of the beads symbolize Breanna 's four open-heart surgeries , the last of which took place just before she turned 4 .
And the lightning bolt -- that 's one of her favorites -- represents the pacemaker in her abdomen that keeps her heart beating fast enough .
From her size , strength and spirit alone , you would n't be able to tell that Breanna only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , she brings her `` Beads of Courage '' to school , shows pictures of her surgeries and explains her condition to her classmates .
She wants them to know what she 's been through .
And with one in 100 babies born with heart defects , she wants them to know she 's not alone .
Ashley and Jason Ruud knew something was n't right during their 20-week ultrasound .
They had been through all the scans and doctor appointments before with their oldest son , Caleb .
So when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unborn baby 's heart , they started to fear the worst .
Breanna , they soon learned , had a condition called tricuspid atresia , which was causing the right side of her heart to be underdeveloped .
The rare defect is found in less than 2 % of all congenital heart cases , Northwestern Medicine health officials said .
Learning of Breanna 's heart disease months before her birth was somewhat of a blessing in disguise , Ashley Ruud said .
Though many defects go undetected , the Ruuds were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case and prepare for their long and difficult road ahead .
But as a pregnant mom , she said , the news was simply devastating .
`` It was very daunting to know that she was much safer in me than she was out in the world , '' Ruud said .
When Breanna was born June 7 , 2010 , at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital , she was immediately intubated and transported to Children 's Memorial Hospital , now Lurie Children 's , in Chicago .
Her first open-heart surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days old , a palliative procedure that would n't fix her defect but would make it compatible with life .
As she was being extubated about a week later , Breanna went into cardiac arrest , requiring doctors to open her up again .
All her organs took a hit from that traumatic experience , her parents said , but her heart miraculously `` sprung back to life . ''
For six months , Breanna remained in the hospital while her parents rotated their daily visits and relatives looked after Caleb , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine became grueling , the Ruuds said , and they finally decided it was time to take their daughter home .
The only way to do that was to give her a tracheotomy and keep her hooked up to a ventilator -- and doctors were n't sure whether that would harm her or save her life .
On a Tuesday after school , a few months before her 10th birthday , Breanna twirls around her living room almost instinctively as her 4-year-old sister , Jillian , follows close behind .
With her pacemaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or do anything as strenuous as gymnastics , she explains .
But she does take dance classes -- tap and ballet -- and she just started violin lessons this past year .
Watching her lively , vivacious daughter now , Ashley Ruud says it 's hard to believe there was a time when she could n't eat through her mouth or breathe on her own or ride in the back seat of a car without someone next to her .
That was life for the Ruud family when they first brought Breanna home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But as she grew over time , she repeatedly beat the odds .
Her third major surgery took place after her first birthday .
About a year later , the tracheotomy tube that helped her breathe was removed , and she started talking and eating solid foods right away .
Breanna 's fourth surgery was the most important , albeit the most risky , in allowing her to move forward with a somewhat normal life , her parents said .
It was during that procedure that she received a pacemaker to regulate her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been affected by her defect , Jason Ruud says , including her liver function and brain development .
She 's at risk of developing additional side effects as she gets older , he says , and it 's possible she 'll eventually need a heart transplant .
But although she often has to sit out of gym class , Breanna 's condition has n't stopped her from traveling with her family , or playing outside with her friends , or going on low-impact rides at the amusement park .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , '' her dad said , `` but we just adjust . ''
`` We have the philosophy that her life is a big question mark , '' Ashley Ruud said .
`` We do n't know what the future holds .
There are no guarantees . ''
Breanna 's team of health care workers has become like a second family to the Ruuds .
They 've cared for Breanna in her weakest moments , cheered on her recovery and supported her family through the ups and downs .
One night nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl in her wedding .
So whenever she walks into a six-month checkup with her cardiologist , her mom said , those doctors and nurses are always thrilled to see how far she 's come .
`` I think she really defies what they thought was going to happen , '' Ashley Ruud said .
`` To see what she can do now is just amazing . ''
Though every case is different , she said , the success of Breanna 's medical journey so far has been used to help other pediatric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been through it , Ruud has volunteered to support and talk with parents who are navigating similar experiences .
`` I want to give them that little bit of hope that we were missing , '' she said .
Breanna has done her part to raise awareness for the cause , too , primarily among her peers and teachers at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles .
In honor of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week this past February , she made a presentation to the PTO , sent out flyers and collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for kids with conditions like hers .
It gets boring sitting in a hospital bed all day , she says .
Every morning that week , her principal read a heart-related fact over the loudspeaker -- did you know a newborn 's heart is the size of a walnut ?
-- and Breanna answered a plethora of questions from her classmates , many of whom were previously unaware of her condition .
`` I 've been there , and I know what it feels like , '' she said , `` so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

How a 9-year-old South Elgin girl defied the odds after she was born with half a heart
Breanna Ruud of South Elgin was born with a rare congenital heart defect and spent the first six months of her life in the hospital. She had to have a tracheotomy and be hooked up to a ventilator before she could return home. Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine
One by one, 9-year-old Breanna Ruud carefully pulls an assortment of long, colorful necklaces out of a bag and places them around her neck.
Each piece of jewelry is made up of dozens of beads varying in shapes, sizes and shades. If Breanna had to guess, she'd say there were at least 500 total, but probably more. And they're not just for show.
Every hand-strung bead represents a medical experience the South Elgin girl faced in the early years of her life after she was born with a rare congenital heart defect.
Certain colors correspond with different types of therapies: physical, occupational and speech. The smaller beads are for blood draws or X-rays or CT scans.
Four of the beads symbolize Breanna's four open-heart surgeries, the last of which took place just before she turned 4. And the lightning bolt -- that's one of her favorites -- represents the pacemaker in her abdomen that keeps her heart beating fast enough.
From her size, strength and spirit alone, you wouldn't be able to tell that Breanna only has half a heart. But every year, she brings her "Beads of Courage" to school, shows pictures of her surgeries and explains her condition to her classmates.
She wants them to know what she's been through. And with one in 100 babies born with heart defects, she wants them to know she's not alone.
The diagnosis
Ashley and Jason Ruud knew something wasn't right during their 20-week ultrasound.
They had been through all the scans and doctor appointments before with their oldest son, Caleb. So when the technician left the room after checking their unborn baby's heart, they started to fear the worst.
Breanna, they soon learned, had a condition called tricuspid atresia, which was causing the right side of her heart to be underdeveloped. The rare defect is found in less than 2% of all congenital heart cases, Northwestern Medicine health officials said.
Learning of Breanna's heart disease months before her birth was somewhat of a blessing in disguise, Ashley Ruud said. Though many defects go undetected, the Ruuds were able to meet with cardiologists, familiarize surgeons with the case and prepare for their long and difficult road ahead.
But as a pregnant mom, she said, the news was simply devastating.
"It was very daunting to know that she was much safer in me than she was out in the world," Ruud said.
When Breanna was born June 7, 2010, at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, she was immediately intubated and transported to Children's Memorial Hospital, now Lurie Children's, in Chicago.
Her first open-heart surgery was performed when she was just 3 days old, a palliative procedure that wouldn't fix her defect but would make it compatible with life.
As she was being extubated about a week later, Breanna went into cardiac arrest, requiring doctors to open her up again. All her organs took a hit from that traumatic experience, her parents said, but her heart miraculously "sprung back to life."
For six months, Breanna remained in the hospital while her parents rotated their daily visits and relatives looked after Caleb, who was 3 at the time. That routine became grueling, the Ruuds said, and they finally decided it was time to take their daughter home.
The only way to do that was to give her a tracheotomy and keep her hooked up to a ventilator -- and doctors weren't sure whether that would harm her or save her life.
Beating the odds
On a Tuesday after school, a few months before her 10th birthday, Breanna twirls around her living room almost instinctively as her 4-year-old sister, Jillian, follows close behind.
With her pacemaker, Breanna can't play contact sports or do anything as strenuous as gymnastics, she explains. But she does take dance classes -- tap and ballet -- and she just started violin lessons this past year.
Watching her lively, vivacious daughter now, Ashley Ruud says it's hard to believe there was a time when she couldn't eat through her mouth or breathe on her own or ride in the back seat of a car without someone next to her.
That was life for the Ruud family when they first brought Breanna home, full of worry and uncertainty. But as she grew over time, she repeatedly beat the odds.
Her third major surgery took place after her first birthday. About a year later, the tracheotomy tube that helped her breathe was removed, and she started talking and eating solid foods right away.
Breanna's fourth surgery was the most important, albeit the most risky, in allowing her to move forward with a somewhat normal life, her parents said. It was during that procedure that she received a pacemaker to regulate her heartbeat.
Other parts of her body have been affected by her defect, Jason Ruud says, including her liver function and brain development. She's at risk of developing additional side effects as she gets older, he says, and it's possible she'll eventually need a heart transplant.
But although she often has to sit out of gym class, Breanna's condition hasn't stopped her from traveling with her family, or playing outside with her friends, or going on low-impact rides at the amusement park.
"It's definitely changed the way we live our lives," her dad said, "but we just adjust."
"We have the philosophy that her life is a big question mark," Ashley Ruud said. "We don't know what the future holds. There are no guarantees."
Giving back
Breanna's team of health care workers has become like a second family to the Ruuds.
They've cared for Breanna in her weakest moments, cheered on her recovery and supported her family through the ups and downs. One night nurse even asked Breanna to be the flower girl in her wedding.
So whenever she walks into a six-month checkup with her cardiologist, her mom said, those doctors and nurses are always thrilled to see how far she's come.
"I think she really defies what they thought was going to happen," Ashley Ruud said. "To see what she can do now is just amazing."
Though every case is different, she said, the success of Breanna's medical journey so far has been used to help other pediatric heart patients. As a mom who's been through it, Ruud has volunteered to support and talk with parents who are navigating similar experiences.
"I want to give them that little bit of hope that we were missing," she said.
Breanna has done her part to raise awareness for the cause, too, primarily among her peers and teachers at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles.
In honor of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week this past February, she made a presentation to the PTO, sent out flyers and collected about 600 coloring books, plus Crayons, for kids with conditions like hers. It gets boring sitting in a hospital bed all day, she says.
Every morning that week, her principal read a heart-related fact over the loudspeaker -- did you know a newborn's heart is the size of a walnut? -- and Breanna answered a plethora of questions from her classmates, many of whom were previously unaware of her condition.
"I've been there, and I know what it feels like," she said, "so I wanted to give something back."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Pace, Nagy pleased with Bears' draft decisions

After the last 42 NFL College Drafts I ca n't ever remember visiting with a general manager or coach who did n't feel good about what they 'd gotten done .
Nonetheless Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy seemed particularly pleased with what they 'd accomplished by Saturday night .
Asked if he felt he had his club now ready to make a run at a Super Bowl , Pace pulled no punches .
`` I think when you combine what we did I think that was the goal right , to strengthen our team and come out of this whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like we 've improved our team .
Now we 've got to go out there and we 've got to compete and we 've got to stay healthy but you know we definitely feel like we 're in a much better position . ''
While Pace has taken more than his share of heat for his propensity to deal draft picks like Topps rookie cards , he was particularly pleased with his wheeling and dealing in Saturday 's fifth round .
`` You know guys , we started the draft with three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ended up with five selections within those first five rounds .
`` We identified a cloud of players we knew we could acquire in that fifth-round area of the draft ( Saturday ) .
So , we just maneuvered around to make that happen . ''
Nagy let his boss handle all the nuts and bolts of the operation while he was most interested in celebrating his biggest prize acquired in the team 's opening gambit Friday night .
`` When you see a player of Cole 's ( Kmet ) magnitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career at Notre Dame and just you know , where he 's at growth wise , growing as a run blocker , as a pass protector and then also you can see the highlights of what he can do with that football in his hands he 's the total package .
`` You looked at this guy and you see like , we were joking he 's like RoboCop .
`` You know this guy he can block , he can catch , he can do a lot of good things .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go but local kid , just a super person and a really special player so we 're excited to see the growth in him . ''
It was unclear whether Nagy was making an analogy or he is unaware the Bears have already had a celebrated `` RoboCop '' at the Y tight end but it kind of felt like the latter .
With everything about this Draft being new , unique and unusual due to the COVID-19 pandemic , it was interesting talking with Nagy about his next big challenge -- how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his newest protégés with absolutely no timetable as to when he 'll actually be able to get their hands on them .
Normally they 'd all be arriving in town next weekend for rookie minicamp .
But in this brave new world Nagy became a bit philosophical .
`` Yeah that 's a great question in the fact that the other part that I was remiss in talking about was there 's Xs and Os going on right now in the virtual meetings , '' he said , `` but we 're also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group discussions on different types of topics -- whether it 's just life in general , whether it 's meet and greet and having these guys going into different meeting rooms breaking up , it 's team building , it 's cultural . ''
Nagy acknowledged that things have to be different given the current situation .
`` We 're trying to adjust , '' Nagy said .
`` With these rookies , how do you do that ?
Well they 're going to have a chance themselves to meet each other in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
`` And then they 're going to go back with the older guys , and I think it 's going to be important that the coaches do a good job through their computers of having everybody introduce who they are .
`` It 's certainly different -- you 're not sitting side by side and having conversations -- but they 'll adjust and then we 'll readjust when we get to training camp . ''
Not everything Saturday night came up rainbows and roses though .
There has been an undercurrent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pace is n't doing enough to address concerns about his offensive line and the addition of two developmental projects in the final round did little to quell it .
`` I think some of the moves we made in free agency with ( Germain ) Ifedi , we 're really high on him , and just his transition to the right guard spot .
`` ( Jason ) Spriggs , he 's coming off the injury , but we had big college grades on him .
He 's still a young player .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ little understated is the addition of Juan Castillo as our offensive line coach and what he 's going to bring to the table .
So we feel good there . ''
`` Adding these two guys late is usually is more of a developmental portion of the draft , but I also think that 's one of Juan 's specialties , is developing these guys .
I think he 's proven that throughout his career .
`` So we 're excited to take ( Arlington ) Hambright and ( Lachavious ) Simmons where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like those players and Juan 's excited working with those guys and developing them . ''
Is the GM suggesting that coaching has been as much or more of a problem as talent up front .
If the recently departed Harry Hiestand is feeling like he just had a Greyhound roll over him he would n't be completely unjustified .
And there was one other less than satisfying moment when Pace was asked why for the fifth time in six drafts he failed to claim a quarterback ?
His explanation , `` Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ align for us .
`` Every draft , different positions , there are strengths and weaknesses .
But for us to take any position , it just has to align for us the right way .
`` So sometimes there 's players we like at that position and the board does n't fall that way for us .
`` That 's what happened for this draft and we 're OK with it , because we came away with seven players that we 're really excited about . ''
If that sounds familiar it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times before .
But by the end of the evening the good vibes had definitely ruled with both Pace and Nagy salivating over getting their hands on second round corner Jaylon Johnson and beaming particularly proudly over the Saturday additions they found in that fifth round cloud Pace referenced , edge rusher Trevis Gipson , Cornerback Kindle Vildor and wide receiver Darnell Mooney .
Both believe they may have a special pass rusher behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn , and that Mooney 's 4.38 40-yard dash speed is exactly what the doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course that 's always the issue with these annual lotteries , now these kids have to get on the football field and prove their new bosses right • Hub Arkush , the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly , can be reached at harkush @ profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @ Hub_Arkush .

Pace, Nagy pleased with Bears' draft decisions
Tulane wide receiver Darnell Mooney runs a route against Navy during a 2019 game. The Chicago Bears selected Mooney in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Associated Press
Georgia Southern defensive back Kindle Vildor runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis in March. The Chicago Bears selected Vildor in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Associated Press
After the last 42 NFL College Drafts I can't ever remember visiting with a general manager or coach who didn't feel good about what they'd gotten done.
Nonetheless Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy seemed particularly pleased with what they'd accomplished by Saturday night.
Asked if he felt he had his club now ready to make a run at a Super Bowl, Pace pulled no punches.
"I think when you combine what we did I think that was the goal right, to strengthen our team and come out of this whole offseason process better.
"We definitely feel like we've improved our team. Now we've got to go out there and we've got to compete and we've got to stay healthy but you know we definitely feel like we're in a much better position."
While Pace has taken more than his share of heat for his propensity to deal draft picks like Topps rookie cards, he was particularly pleased with his wheeling and dealing in Saturday's fifth round.
"You know guys, we started the draft with three picks in the first five rounds and we ended up with five selections within those first five rounds.
"We identified a cloud of players we knew we could acquire in that fifth-round area of the draft (Saturday). So, we just maneuvered around to make that happen."
Nagy let his boss handle all the nuts and bolts of the operation while he was most interested in celebrating his biggest prize acquired in the team's opening gambit Friday night.
"When you see a player of Cole's (Kmet) magnitude and what he's done in his career at Notre Dame and just you know, where he's at growth wise, growing as a run blocker, as a pass protector and then also you can see the highlights of what he can do with that football in his hands he's the total package.
"You looked at this guy and you see like, we were joking he's like RoboCop.
"You know this guy he can block, he can catch, he can do a lot of good things. You never know how things are going to go but local kid, just a super person and a really special player so we're excited to see the growth in him."
It was unclear whether Nagy was making an analogy or he is unaware the Bears have already had a celebrated "RoboCop" at the Y tight end but it kind of felt like the latter.
With everything about this Draft being new, unique and unusual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was interesting talking with Nagy about his next big challenge -- how he'll get to know and teach his newest protégés with absolutely no timetable as to when he'll actually be able to get their hands on them.
Normally they'd all be arriving in town next weekend for rookie minicamp. But in this brave new world Nagy became a bit philosophical.
"Yeah that's a great question in the fact that the other part that I was remiss in talking about was there's Xs and Os going on right now in the virtual meetings," he said, "but we're also going to be really big on the group discussions on different types of topics -- whether it's just life in general, whether it's meet and greet and having these guys going into different meeting rooms breaking up, it's team building, it's cultural."
Nagy acknowledged that things have to be different given the current situation.
"We're trying to adjust," Nagy said. "With these rookies, how do you do that? Well they're going to have a chance themselves to meet each other in rookie camp and then spend a week together.
"And then they're going to go back with the older guys, and I think it's going to be important that the coaches do a good job through their computers of having everybody introduce who they are.
"It's certainly different -- you're not sitting side by side and having conversations -- but they'll adjust and then we'll readjust when we get to training camp."
Not everything Saturday night came up rainbows and roses though.
There has been an undercurrent around town for a while now that Pace isn't doing enough to address concerns about his offensive line and the addition of two developmental projects in the final round did little to quell it.
But Pace remains confident.
"I think some of the moves we made in free agency with (Germain) Ifedi, we're really high on him, and just his transition to the right guard spot.
"(Jason) Spriggs, he's coming off the injury, but we had big college grades on him. He's still a young player.
"And I think what's a little understated is the addition of Juan Castillo as our offensive line coach and what he's going to bring to the table. So we feel good there."
"Adding these two guys late is usually is more of a developmental portion of the draft, but I also think that's one of Juan's specialties, is developing these guys. I think he's proven that throughout his career.
"So we're excited to take (Arlington) Hambright and (Lachavious) Simmons where we got them, where the scouts like those players and Juan's excited working with those guys and developing them."
Is the GM suggesting that coaching has been as much or more of a problem as talent up front.
If the recently departed Harry Hiestand is feeling like he just had a Greyhound roll over him he wouldn't be completely unjustified.
And there was one other less than satisfying moment when Pace was asked why for the fifth time in six drafts he failed to claim a quarterback?
His explanation, "Yeah, you know it just has to align for us.
"Every draft, different positions, there are strengths and weaknesses. But for us to take any position, it just has to align for us the right way.
"So sometimes there's players we like at that position and the board doesn't fall that way for us.
"That's what happened for this draft and we're OK with it, because we came away with seven players that we're really excited about."
If that sounds familiar it's because you've heard it four times before.
But by the end of the evening the good vibes had definitely ruled with both Pace and Nagy salivating over getting their hands on second round corner Jaylon Johnson and beaming particularly proudly over the Saturday additions they found in that fifth round cloud Pace referenced, edge rusher Trevis Gipson, Cornerback Kindle Vildor and wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Both believe they may have a special pass rusher behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, and that Mooney's 4.38 40-yard dash speed is exactly what the doctor ordered for their wounded offense.
Of course that's always the issue with these annual lotteries, now these kids have to get on the football field and prove their new bosses right
• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Motorcyclist injured in I-90 crash near Arlington Heights

A motorcycle driver was transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries after a crash Sunday afternoon on the James Addams @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Illinois State Police said the crash occurred about 1:49 p.m. Sunday on @ @ @ @ @ Road .
Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel transported the motorcyclist to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital @ @ @ @ @ for minor injuries .
The accident blocked an exit ramp as well as one lane @ @ @ @ @ Two other motorcyclists stopped to assist the injured cyclist but were not involved in the @ @ @ @ @ Arlington Heights Fire Department .

Motorcyclist injured in I-90 crash near Arlington Heights
A motorcycle driver was transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries after a crash Sunday afternoon on the Jane Addams Tollway near Arlington Heights, police said.
Illinois State Police said the crash occurred about 1:49 p.m. Sunday on eastbound I-90 west of Elmhurst Road. Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel transported the motorcyclist to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment of minor injuries.
The accident blocked an exit ramp as well as one lane for about an hour. Two other motorcyclists stopped to assist the injured cyclist but were not involved in the accident, according to the Arlington Heights Fire Department.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Rozner: A hockey stick, two teeth and small business

When I was 17 , my two front teeth were victims of a hockey stick .
It was n't the only time , but it was among the worst .
This particular hack occurred on a Friday night , so early the next morning I went to see a dentist for an emergency appointment .
Was n't my guy .
Could n't get in to see my dentist , so at 6 a.m. on a Saturday I was in a foreign chair with an unfamiliar doctor .
The two front teeth had been pushed back quite a distance and still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portion of my mouth for a matter of seconds , the new dentist gave me no time to run for the exit .
Rather than prepare me in any way , he simply grabbed those two teeth with his thumb and yanked them back into place .
I 'll put that pain up against any I 've experienced .
Still sweat when I think about it .
Has a certain Steve Martin , `` Little Shop of Horrors '' feel to it , right ?
Funny part is I stayed with that same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few years ago .
Suppose that says something about me .
The teeth , fortunately , survived another 25 years with root canals and miracle patches , until they finally died and were replaced by a pair of very expensive implants .
Now that has nothing to do with our subject matter today , but I enjoy telling that story and when my former doc sees it on social media -- most likely on my Facebook page -- he will fess up .
Anyway , I have a new dentist now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very small business of less than 10 that is currently shut down .
He pays rent at his office , has a mortgage on his house , kids in college and bills to sort through , just like all the rest of us .
So he sits and wonders .
But he 's not taking his family out to dinner , and the people who work at restaurants ca n't pay their bills or buy groceries .
He 's not going to the cleaners or getting his hair cut , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rent and do n't spend any money on their families .
He 's not going to his local pizza place , driving range , gym or mom-and-pop breakfast joint because mostly everything is closed , and all of the people who work at all of those places are n't getting paid and those people are n't spending money at the local shops .
And all of the people who work at all of those local shops do n't have money to spend on all of the things they need to spend money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The doc 's small staff is now struggling with him , which means all of them are n't out doing all of the things they would normally do , paying rent , buying clothes for their kids and spending their dollars at local stores .
And so it goes , around and around and around , this destruction of the economy one person at a time , one small business at a time .
Many of them will never reopen .
Many of those workers will struggle to find jobs again , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most .
Thing is , you can still support the local joints because some are open for pickup or delivery .
It can be done safely and without fear .
And when we are finally allowed out into the world again , if we have jobs and can afford it , we can help the local coffee shop , bar , restaurant , hardware store , cleaners , pizza place and whatever else we can patronize closest to home .
One hundred million Americans work in the service industry .
Small business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And 70 percent of our economy is driven by consumer spending .
No job , no spending .
No spending , no job .
Tens of millions of Americans living on the margins are really hurting right now , bankruptcy and food banks their best options .
A lot of big businesses are open , where many people shop at once , but the small businesses are closed , which makes precisely no sense .
Science , in this case , is in the eye of the government beholder .
Small businesses have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope to be there for them as soon as we 're given the freedom to live again .
I know my current dentist will do his part and , by the way , if you 're looking for one , message me and I 'll get you his info .
As for my retired dentist , I know he will also help support the local businesses .
He certainly cashed enough checks from me off crowns , inlays , repairs and replacements .
I hope he 's enjoying retirement , just so long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story of how he grabbed those teeth without even a consideration for Novocain .
What , you thought I was ever going to forget ?

Rozner: A hockey stick, two teeth and small business
A jogger runs as empty street is seen in down Chicago, Sunday, March 22, 2020. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday issued a stay-at-home order, the most strict statewide action he's taken to date in the effort to prevent further spread of the new coronavirus. Pritzker's order follows statewide schools closures, restrictions on the size of gatherings, and an order for bars and restaurants to suspend dine-in service. Associated Press
When I was 17, my two front teeth were victims of a hockey stick. It wasn't the only time, but it was among the worst.
This particular hack occurred on a Friday night, so early the next morning I went to see a dentist for an emergency appointment.
Wasn't my guy. Couldn't get in to see my dentist, so at 6 a.m. on a Saturday I was in a foreign chair with an unfamiliar doctor.
The two front teeth had been pushed back quite a distance and still bleeding, and after examining the injured portion of my mouth for a matter of seconds, the new dentist gave me no time to run for the exit.
Rather than prepare me in any way, he simply grabbed those two teeth with his thumb and yanked them back into place.
Yep.
I'll put that pain up against any I've experienced. Still sweat when I think about it. Has a certain Steve Martin, "Little Shop of Horrors" feel to it, right?
Funny part is I stayed with that same dentist for 30 years until he retired a few years ago. Suppose that says something about me. The teeth, fortunately, survived another 25 years with root canals and miracle patches, until they finally died and were replaced by a pair of very expensive implants.
Now that has nothing to do with our subject matter today, but I enjoy telling that story and when my former doc sees it on social media -- most likely on my Facebook page -- he will fess up.
Anyway, I have a new dentist now. Good guy with a small practice, a very small business of less than 10 that is currently shut down.
He pays rent at his office, has a mortgage on his house, kids in college and bills to sort through, just like all the rest of us.
So he sits and wonders.
But he's not taking his family out to dinner, and the people who work at restaurants can't pay their bills or buy groceries.
He's not going to the cleaners or getting his hair cut, and the people who work there can't pay their rent and don't spend any money on their families.
He's not going to his local pizza place, driving range, gym or mom-and-pop breakfast joint because mostly everything is closed, and all of the people who work at all of those places aren't getting paid and those people aren't spending money at the local shops.
And all of the people who work at all of those local shops don't have money to spend on all of the things they need to spend money on, mostly at small businesses.
The doc's small staff is now struggling with him, which means all of them aren't out doing all of the things they would normally do, paying rent, buying clothes for their kids and spending their dollars at local stores.
And so it goes, around and around and around, this destruction of the economy one person at a time, one small business at a time.
Many of them will never reopen. Many of those workers will struggle to find jobs again, and they are the ones who need work the most.
Thing is, you can still support the local joints because some are open for pickup or delivery. It can be done safely and without fear.
And when we are finally allowed out into the world again, if we have jobs and can afford it, we can help the local coffee shop, bar, restaurant, hardware store, cleaners, pizza place and whatever else we can patronize closest to home.
One hundred million Americans work in the service industry. Small business is 40 percent of all business. And 70 percent of our economy is driven by consumer spending.
No job, no spending. No spending, no job.
It's pretty simple math.
Tens of millions of Americans living on the margins are really hurting right now, bankruptcy and food banks their best options.
It's heartbreaking.
A lot of big businesses are open, where many people shop at once, but the small businesses are closed, which makes precisely no sense. Science, in this case, is in the eye of the government beholder.
Small businesses have always been there for us and we hope to be there for them as soon as we're given the freedom to live again.
I know my current dentist will do his part and, by the way, if you're looking for one, message me and I'll get you his info.
As for my retired dentist, I know he will also help support the local businesses. He certainly cashed enough checks from me off crowns, inlays, repairs and replacements.
I hope he's enjoying retirement, just so long as he knows I will forever tell the story of how he grabbed those teeth without even a consideration for Novocain.
What, you thought I was ever going to forget?


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Clubhouse Chatter: What's your most vivid sports memory from childhood?

What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume .
Seeing the ball go through Leon Durham 's legs in the 1984 playoffs for the Cubs in game five of the NLCS at San Diego .
As painful as that was as a kid , I ca n't imagine what it was like for die-hard , lifelong Cubs fans .
My sophomore year in high school , our basketball team got to the championship game of this midseason tournament called the Bi-County Tournament .
We had never before in our history won the tournament .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I chased after a ball that was going out of bounds .
I tried to save it and flip it back into play when my legs suddenly fell out from under me and I came crashing to the floor .
Face first .
I broke out one tooth and severely damaged another ( to the point where I eventually needed a root canal and a crown on that one too ) .
It 's sad because I was so happy to win that game .
It was our team 's first championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pictures after the game , where everyone is smiling and laughing and having a good time with the trophy , I had red eyes from crying and I looked sad because I was n't smiling .
It hurt too much to smile and let the air hit that tooth .
The '85 Bears won it all when I was in high school .
It 's hard to explain to kids now just how much that team dominated the conversation in this region .
We hung on every news report during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The games were events .
It was n't a matter of if they 'd win .
It was a matter of by how much .
Walter Payton , the best defense ever assembled and a cast of larger-than-life characters like Jim McMahon , Steve McMichael , Otis Wilson and the Fridge provided many vivid memories .
I remember like it happened 10 minutes ago .
Living in Pittsburgh , I was at church on Dec. 23 , 1972 .
I missed the end of the AFC divisional playoff game between the Steelers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immaculate Reception , '' missed arguably the greatest play in sports history .
Will never forget the look on my dad 's face when I got home and asked , `` What happened ? ''

Clubhouse Chatter: What's your most vivid sports memory from childhood?
What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume.
Seeing the ball go through Leon Durham's legs in the 1984 playoffs for the Cubs in game five of the NLCS at San Diego. As painful as that was as a kid, I can't imagine what it was like for die-hard, lifelong Cubs fans.
-- John Lemon
My sophomore year in high school, our basketball team got to the championship game of this midseason tournament called the Bi-County Tournament. We had never before in our history won the tournament. We were ahead late in the game when I chased after a ball that was going out of bounds. I tried to save it and flip it back into play when my legs suddenly fell out from under me and I came crashing to the floor. Face first. I broke out one tooth and severely damaged another (to the point where I eventually needed a root canal and a crown on that one too). It's sad because I was so happy to win that game. It was our team's first championship in that tournament. But in all of the pictures after the game, where everyone is smiling and laughing and having a good time with the trophy, I had red eyes from crying and I looked sad because I wasn't smiling. It hurt too much to smile and let the air hit that tooth.
-- Patricia Babcock McGraw
The '85 Bears won it all when I was in high school. It's hard to explain to kids now just how much that team dominated the conversation in this region. We hung on every news report during the week. The players were stars. The games were events. It wasn't a matter of if they'd win. It was a matter of by how much. Walter Payton, the best defense ever assembled and a cast of larger-than-life characters like Jim McMahon, Steve McMichael, Otis Wilson and the Fridge provided many vivid memories. I remember like it happened 10 minutes ago.
-- Jerry Fitzpatrick
Living in Pittsburgh, I was at church on Dec. 23, 1972. I missed the end of the AFC divisional playoff game between the Steelers and Raiders, missed Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception," missed arguably the greatest play in sports history. Will never forget the look on my dad's face when I got home and asked, "What happened?"
-- Scot Gregor


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Two killed in I-94 crash near Deerfield identified

Lake County authorities on Sunday identified a Chicago woman and Bronx , New York man as the two people killed last week in a three-vehicle crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Deerfield .
Roberta Harris , 29 , of Chicago , and Christopher Lopez , 28 , of the Bronx , died as a result of blunt-force injuries suffered in the crash at 10:26 a.m. April 21 , Coroner Howard Cooper reported .
Toxicology results are pending , he said .
Illinois State Police said Lopez was driving a Jeep Cherokee south on I-94 just south of Route 22 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck , spun and hit a second truck .
Both Lopez and Harris , his front-seat passenger , were pronounced dead on the scene .
Another passenger in the Jeep was hospitalized with serious injuries , authorities said .
The men driving the two semitrailer trucks were taken to Highland Park Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries , officials said .
Southbound lanes were blocked for more than four hours because of the crash , police said .
Northbound lanes were temporarily blocked also , while a medical helicopter landed on the other side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The crash remains under investigation by state police and the coroner 's office , Cooper said .

Two killed in I-94 crash near Deerfield identified
Lake County authorities on Sunday identified a Chicago woman and Bronx, New York man as the two people killed last week in a three-vehicle crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Deerfield.
Roberta Harris, 29, of Chicago, and Christopher Lopez, 28, of the Bronx, died as a result of blunt-force injuries suffered in the crash at 10:26 a.m. April 21, Coroner Howard Cooper reported. Toxicology results are pending, he said.
Illinois State Police said Lopez was driving a Jeep Cherokee south on I-94 just south of Route 22 when it struck the side of a semitrailer truck, spun and hit a second truck. Both Lopez and Harris, his front-seat passenger, were pronounced dead on the scene.
Another passenger in the Jeep was hospitalized with serious injuries, authorities said. The men driving the two semitrailer trucks were taken to Highland Park Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, officials said.
Southbound lanes were blocked for more than four hours because of the crash, police said. Northbound lanes were temporarily blocked also, while a medical helicopter landed on the other side of the highway to pick up a patient.
The crash remains under investigation by state police and the coroner's office, Cooper said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--5 pandemic isolation tips from mental health pros who live alone

Nicole Yarmolkevich and Carl Evans both live alone and are experiencing the challenges of solitude during the coronavirus stay-at-home order .
But their jobs could give them an advantage over others during this phase of isolation : They both work in mental health .
Yarmolkevich , of Buffalo Grove , hears from clients with severe psychosis , post-traumatic stress , anxiety and depression during her work-from-home hours as a licensed professional counselor for the Amita Health Center for Mental Health .
Evans , of Chicago , works to prevent suicide from his position as director of programs and operations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the know-how to offer suggestions to stay mentally healthy while living alone during the pandemic .
Here are some of their tips : Why ?
Not for its own sake , but to give the mind a sense of forward progress .
`` Negative thoughts , doubts , anxieties can build up if you do n't give your brain a sense of forward activity , '' Evans said .
`` A schedule sets your mind and disciplines your mind to focus on certain checkpoints . ''
A schedule can be `` totally leisurely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it still will `` set your mind and discipline your mind to focus on certain checkpoints . ''
Why ?
To avoid being overwhelmed by negative thoughts or the temptation to compare yourself to others .
`` I 've found a lot of clients get triggered by all the politics that 's involved in all of this , '' Yarmolkevich said .
`` They have a difficult time with taking out the facts they need , so they get stuck in those negative emotions . ''
Another negativity trap comes from social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of providing connection , but also paints an incomplete picture of other people 's lives , Evans said .
During the stay-at-home order , he said , people who live alone need to be especially wary of posts from people showing off all of the crafts they 've made , the desserts they 've baked , the fitness challenges they 've completed .
These posts , he said , can have the downside of making others feel they 're falling short .
`` You want to be mindful to disengage from social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your activities to the productivity illusions you see online , '' Evans said .
`` The important thing for you to focus on is keeping yourself healthy and stable . ''
Why ?
It helps to strengthen the sense of connection and communication more than text alone .
So do n't skimp on the Zoom and FaceTime , even in a world of tweets and Snapchats .
`` I have found that it 's more meaningful , '' Yarmolkevich said .
`` You do n't get the same feeling you do of comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but hearing that voice and everything that goes with it , I think a lot of people are drawing to it . ''
Why ?
An analog activity that does n't involve a smartphone or computer helps keep the mind active and focused .
This does n't have to be anything complex or creative like carpentry or painting , Evans said .
It can be simple , too : `` Wash clothes , clean a space , rearrange something , read a book , fold something . ''
Choose personal ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad if these are n't the same methods used by others .
Why ?
The mind is like a soda bottle , Evans said .
It gets shaken up by challenges like isolation and the health risks and economic fallout of the pandemic .
Everyone can choose different ways to take the top off the bottle that is their mind and relieve some of the built-up pressure .
Maybe it 's running , journaling , laughing , listening to music , playing video games , binge-watching TV , dancing -- whatever .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief and takes your mind off the stress and strain of quarantine -- excellent , '' Evans said .
`` Embrace those things . ''

5 pandemic isolation tips from mental health pros who live alone
Nicole Yarmolkevich, a licensed professional counselor at Amita Health Center for Mental Health in Arlington Heights, advises people who live alone to make sure they hear other people's voices and disengage from pandemic news to stay mentally healthy. Courtesy of Amita Health
Carl Evans is director of programs and operations for Hope For The Day, a nonprofit suicide prevention organization. Courtesy of Carl Evans
Nicole Yarmolkevich and Carl Evans both live alone and are experiencing the challenges of solitude during the coronavirus stay-at-home order.
But their jobs could give them an advantage over others during this phase of isolation: They both work in mental health.
Yarmolkevich, of Buffalo Grove, hears from clients with severe psychosis, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression during her work-from-home hours as a licensed professional counselor for the Amita Health Center for Mental Health. Evans, of Chicago, works to prevent suicide from his position as director of programs and operations for Hope For The Day.
Both have the know-how to offer suggestions to stay mentally healthy while living alone during the pandemic. Here are some of their tips:
Set a schedule or routine.
Why? Not for its own sake, but to give the mind a sense of forward progress.
"Negative thoughts, doubts, anxieties can build up if you don't give your brain a sense of forward activity," Evans said. "A schedule sets your mind and disciplines your mind to focus on certain checkpoints."
A schedule can be "totally leisurely and casual," he said, but it still will "set your mind and discipline your mind to focus on certain checkpoints."
Disengage from pandemic news and social media.
Why? To avoid being overwhelmed by negative thoughts or the temptation to compare yourself to others.
"I've found a lot of clients get triggered by all the politics that's involved in all of this," Yarmolkevich said. "They have a difficult time with taking out the facts they need, so they get stuck in those negative emotions."
Another negativity trap comes from social media, which can serve a positive purpose of providing connection, but also paints an incomplete picture of other people's lives, Evans said.
During the stay-at-home order, he said, people who live alone need to be especially wary of posts from people showing off all of the crafts they've made, the desserts they've baked, the fitness challenges they've completed. These posts, he said, can have the downside of making others feel they're falling short.
"You want to be mindful to disengage from social media and be aware if you compare your activities to the productivity illusions you see online," Evans said. "The important thing for you to focus on is keeping yourself healthy and stable."
Hear someone's voice.
Why? It helps to strengthen the sense of connection and communication more than text alone. So don't skimp on the Zoom and FaceTime, even in a world of tweets and Snapchats.
"I have found that it's more meaningful," Yarmolkevich said. "You don't get the same feeling you do of comfort when you're physically next to someone, but hearing that voice and everything that goes with it, I think a lot of people are drawing to it."
Do something physical.
Why? An analog activity that doesn't involve a smartphone or computer helps keep the mind active and focused.
This doesn't have to be anything complex or creative like carpentry or painting, Evans said. It can be simple, too: "Wash clothes, clean a space, rearrange something, read a book, fold something."
Choose personal ways to relieve stress, and don't feel bad if these aren't the same methods used by others.
Why? The mind is like a soda bottle, Evans said. It gets shaken up by challenges like isolation and the health risks and economic fallout of the pandemic.
Everyone can choose different ways to take the top off the bottle that is their mind and relieve some of the built-up pressure. Maybe it's running, journaling, laughing, listening to music, playing video games, binge-watching TV, dancing -- whatever.
"If that gives you a sense of relief and takes your mind off the stress and strain of quarantine -- excellent," Evans said. "Embrace those things."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--COVID-19 can't stop roadwork season. Here's where construction will affect your drive

On the plus side , working from home because of COVID-19 provides relief from the delays and congestion of summer road work .
On the other hand , perhaps crawling at 10 mph alongside bulldozers is preferable to summer chez the makeshift office in your closet .
Mixed blessings aside , myriad highway construction projects like widening the Central Tri-State Tollway ( I-294 ) are still on -- even as funding from tolls and gas taxes tanks because of a stay-at-home order to reduce spread of the respiratory disease .
`` We have several construction projects ongoing or anticipated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or accelerate work at this time , '' Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said .
Here 's a snapshot of some game-changing projects that could prolong commutes : An interchange between the Route 390 extension east to O'Hare International Airport and the I-490 ring road around the airport is gaining steam .
The interchange will provide a back door to O'Hare and trigger economic development in DuPage and Cook counties , planners say .
As a result , the `` tollway has developed an expanded design for construction to provide direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with three lanes entering and three lanes exiting the west side of the airport , '' spokesman Dan Rozek said .
The interchange will wrap up in three years .
Significant efforts this season include building Route 390 bridges over Supreme Drive and the CTM Railroad , plus a ramp bridge linking northbound I-490 to westbound Route 390 .
Toll road warriors can also anticipate traffic and delays on the Central Tri-State as part of a $ 4 billion widening between Rosemont and Oak Lawn ; this year 's priority is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , IDOT 's epic battle to untangle the infamous gridlock on the Jane Byrne Interchange where the Kennedy , Eisenhower and Dan Ryan expressways converge grinds on .
The leviathan started out at $ 535 million , according to 2013 cost estimates , but has grown to $ 796.5 million , engineers projected in November .
Work on one major prong of the interchange in 2020 started in March with demolition and replacement of the Jackson Avenue bridge over the Kennedy Expressway ( I-90 ) .
Elsewhere , construction of a flyover ramp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Expressway traffic jams near O'Hare is ongoing .
An added twist on the Kennedy this year is replacing the Montrose Avenue bridge that spans I-90/94 near the CTA Blue Line Montrose station .
`` To avoid closing the expressway entirely and to minimize the impact to traffic , the bridge will be removed over multiple weekends with extensive lane and ramp closures , with detours to demo the bridge deck and beams , '' Castaneda explained .
One unique localized project is Kane County 's Longmeadow Parkway , which will be partly funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drivers at the Fox River .
Work in 2020 focuses on a segment between Routes 31 and 25 ; completion is set for 2022 .
You should know • Reconstruction of the Edens Spur near Northbrook , which wraps up this year .
• Building ramps on I-490 linking to westbound I-90 and a bridge carrying traffic over the Touhy Reservoir near Des Plaines .
• Converting the I-55 and Weber Road interchange near Bolingbrook into a diverging diamond design , similar to Elmhurst Road at I-90 or Route 59 at the Reagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on I-55 between the BNSF Railroad and Grant Creek near Romeoville , with lane reductions .
• Rebuilding the I-290 bridge over Salt Creek near Addison .
To learn more , check out IDOT 's list of news about specific projects or the tollway 's project list .
Tollway engineers provided some specifics about connections between Route 390 and York Road in Bensenville .
`` Due to the proximity of Route 83 to York Road and the ramps making up the I-490/IL 390 interchange , direct access between Route 390 and York Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project , '' spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said .
`` The access will be via the new one way frontage roads that have been constructed along the north and south sides of Route 390 between Route 83 and Supreme Drive , and the new two-way frontage road located along the south side of the future Route 390/I-490 interchange between Supreme Drive and York Road . ''
Got a road work question ?
Drop an email to mpyke @ dailyherald.com .

COVID-19 can't stop roadwork season. Here's where construction will affect your drive
On the plus side, working from home because of COVID-19 provides relief from the delays and congestion of summer road work.
On the other hand, perhaps crawling at 10 mph alongside bulldozers is preferable to summer chez the makeshift office in your closet.
Mixed blessings aside, myriad highway construction projects like widening the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) are still on -- even as funding from tolls and gas taxes tanks because of a stay-at-home order to reduce spread of the respiratory disease.
"We have several construction projects ongoing or anticipated, with no plans to stop, suspend or accelerate work at this time," Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said.
Here's a snapshot of some game-changing projects that could prolong commutes:
An interchange between the Route 390 extension east to O'Hare International Airport and the I-490 ring road around the airport is gaining steam.
The interchange will provide a back door to O'Hare and trigger economic development in DuPage and Cook counties, planners say.
As a result, the "tollway has developed an expanded design for construction to provide direct access into and out of airport property, with three lanes entering and three lanes exiting the west side of the airport," spokesman Dan Rozek said.
The interchange will wrap up in three years. Significant efforts this season include building Route 390 bridges over Supreme Drive and the CTM Railroad, plus a ramp bridge linking northbound I-490 to westbound Route 390.
Toll road warriors can also anticipate traffic and delays on the Central Tri-State as part of a $4 billion widening between Rosemont and Oak Lawn; this year's priority is an interchange with I-294 and I-57.
Meanwhile, IDOT's epic battle to untangle the infamous gridlock on the Jane Byrne Interchange where the Kennedy, Eisenhower and Dan Ryan expressways converge grinds on.
The leviathan started out at $535 million, according to 2013 cost estimates, but has grown to $796.5 million, engineers projected in November.
Work on one major prong of the interchange in 2020 started in March with demolition and replacement of the Jackson Avenue bridge over the Kennedy Expressway (I-90).
Elsewhere, construction of a flyover ramp connecting with Cumberland Avenue to ease Kennedy Expressway traffic jams near O'Hare is ongoing.
An added twist on the Kennedy this year is replacing the Montrose Avenue bridge that spans I-90/94 near the CTA Blue Line Montrose station.
"To avoid closing the expressway entirely and to minimize the impact to traffic, the bridge will be removed over multiple weekends with extensive lane and ramp closures, with detours to demo the bridge deck and beams," Castaneda explained.
One unique localized project is Kane County's Longmeadow Parkway, which will be partly funded by a 95-cent toll paid by most drivers at the Fox River. Work in 2020 focuses on a segment between Routes 31 and 25; completion is set for 2022.
You should know
Some other significant highway projects include:
• Reconstruction of the Edens Spur near Northbrook, which wraps up this year.
• Building ramps on I-490 linking to westbound I-90 and a bridge carrying traffic over the Touhy Reservoir near Des Plaines.
• Extending Route 390 between Route 83 and York Road.
• Converting the I-55 and Weber Road interchange near Bolingbrook into a diverging diamond design, similar to Elmhurst Road at I-90 or Route 59 at the Reagan Memorial Tollway.
• Replacing bridge deck on I-55 between the BNSF Railroad and Grant Creek near Romeoville, with lane reductions.
• Rebuilding the I-290 bridge over Salt Creek near Addison.
To learn more, check out IDOT's list of news about specific projects or the tollway's project list.
One more thing
Tollway engineers provided some specifics about connections between Route 390 and York Road in Bensenville. "Due to the proximity of Route 83 to York Road and the ramps making up the I-490/IL 390 interchange, direct access between Route 390 and York Road is not planned as part of the project," spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said. "The access will be via the new one way frontage roads that have been constructed along the north and south sides of Route 390 between Route 83 and Supreme Drive, and the new two-way frontage road located along the south side of the future Route 390/I-490 interchange between Supreme Drive and York Road."
Got a road work question? Drop an email to mpyke@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Duckworth honored to 'be in mix' for vice presidential nominee

Along with fellow senators Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , Tammy Duckworth 's name continues to surface as a possible Democratic vice presidential nominee .
Presumptive presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has n't offered a shortlist but he has said he favors a woman and person of color as his running mate .
U.S. Sen. Duckworth , a Thai-American from Hoffman Estates , said in an interview Wednesday she 's honored to be `` in the mix . ''
`` I have served at the pleasure of a president once before , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama to be assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .
She also served in the Illinois National Guard and lost both legs while a helicopter pilot in the Iraq War .
`` I 've spent my entire life in service to this country .
Of course , I would take any invitation to serve at the pleasure of a president very seriously .
That said , I have the job that I love in the U.S. Senate representing the great state of Illinois .
`` I am honored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix .
I think it 's a good message for working moms everywhere , '' and also positive for Asian Americans and people with disabilities , said Duckworth , who 's included on lists from CNN to Politico .
`` If it goes no further than this , I 'm already very proud that I get to represent all of those interest groups who are so often underrepresented . ''
Duckworth said she keeps in touch with the Biden campaign , doing surrogate work for them since she endorsed him March 2 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call with veterans for Biden .
A Biden campaign official said earlier the campaign `` will run a vigorous vetting process , but no other details are available at this time . ''
State Rep. Fred Crespo , a Hoffman Estates Democrat who has known Duckworth for years , said `` it would be great for Illinois '' if she was chosen .
However , Biden also `` will have to look at the broad picture and who can help the ticket , '' said Crespo , who is a delegate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give weight to a swing-state candidate .
Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle , who stumped for Biden in Iowa and is also a delegate , believes Duckworth 's a serious contender because `` she 's a veteran from a blue state . ''
Duckworth and fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin are part of President Trump 's Opening Up America Again Congressional Group , which held a conference call April 16 .
`` I 'm happy to be on the task force ...
I do want the economy to be moving again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it in a systemic way and not fall back into a second wave '' of COVID-19 cases , Duckworth said .
She said the first 45 to 60 minutes of the call was the `` president telling us how great the testing was going and that we had done more tests than anywhere else in the world ... all of which has been proven to be not true . ''
Duckworth said she was dissatisfied the president and his staff did not answer Democratic or Republican lawmakers ' questions , including how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , told ABC 's `` Good Morning America '' Monday the country is running 1.5 million to 2 million tests per week .
But , `` we really need to get up to , at least , you know , maybe two times that , three times that . ''

Duckworth honored to 'be in mix' for vice presidential nominee
Along with fellow senators Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Tammy Duckworth's name continues to surface as a possible Democratic vice presidential nominee.
Presumptive presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden hasn't offered a shortlist but he has said he favors a woman and person of color as his running mate.
U.S. Sen. Duckworth, a Thai-American from Hoffman Estates, said in an interview Wednesday she's honored to be "in the mix."
"I have served at the pleasure of a president once before," said Duckworth, who was picked by President Barack Obama to be assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She also served in the Illinois National Guard and lost both legs while a helicopter pilot in the Iraq War.
"I've spent my entire life in service to this country. Of course, I would take any invitation to serve at the pleasure of a president very seriously. That said, I have the job that I love in the U.S. Senate representing the great state of Illinois.
"I am honored that my name is even in the mix. I think it's a good message for working moms everywhere," and also positive for Asian Americans and people with disabilities, said Duckworth, who's included on lists from CNN to Politico.
"If it goes no further than this, I'm already very proud that I get to represent all of those interest groups who are so often underrepresented."
Duckworth said she keeps in touch with the Biden campaign, doing surrogate work for them since she endorsed him March 2. That work has included co-hosting a national conference call with veterans for Biden.
A Biden campaign official said earlier the campaign "will run a vigorous vetting process, but no other details are available at this time."
State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat who has known Duckworth for years, said "it would be great for Illinois" if she was chosen.
However, Biden also "will have to look at the broad picture and who can help the ticket," said Crespo, who is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. That might give weight to a swing-state candidate.
Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle, who stumped for Biden in Iowa and is also a delegate, believes Duckworth's a serious contender because "she's a veteran from a blue state."
Duckworth and fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin are part of President Trump's Opening Up America Again Congressional Group, which held a conference call April 16.
"I'm happy to be on the task force ... I do want the economy to be moving again but I want to make sure we do it in a systemic way and not fall back into a second wave" of COVID-19 cases, Duckworth said.
She said the first 45 to 60 minutes of the call was the "president telling us how great the testing was going and that we had done more tests than anywhere else in the world ... all of which has been proven to be not true."
Duckworth said she was dissatisfied the president and his staff did not answer Democratic or Republican lawmakers' questions, including how many tests were needed to safely restart the economy.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday the country is running 1.5 million to 2 million tests per week. But, "we really need to get up to, at least, you know, maybe two times that, three times that."
• Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Museum at Cantigny seeks 'cheer for victory' videos for 75th V-E Day celebration

The newspaper headlines proclaimed `` PEACE , '' confetti rained from the sky and crowds crammed streets to swing dance and toast GIs .
Allied forces 75 years ago on May 8 secured the surrender of Nazi Germany , finally ending the war in Europe .
Before coronavirus closures , a Wheaton military museum had planned a large-scale 75th anniversary celebration capturing the relief and jubilation of V-E Day , or Victory in Europe Day .
The shuttered First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton is now trying to make a virtual observance just as evocative for a fading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The museum has joined forces with Honor Flight Chicago to enlist the public in creating `` cheer for victory '' videos , 10-second snippets that will feature in a digital salute for veterans to watch 75 years after the Nazi defeat .
`` Our first goal here was to commemorate our World War II veterans that had served and are still with us , '' said Laura Sears , the museum 's public programs coordinator .
For her video segment , Sears cut up newspapers to toss confetti reminiscent of the ticker-tape parades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other museum ideas : dress in 1940s vintage fashion ; share family photos of veterans ; dance to big-band music ; or simply express gratitude for veterans in videos you can upload to FDMuseum.org by May 5 .
`` I had one guest send me a really cute video of her children banging pots and pans in celebration , '' Sears said .
Honor Flight Chicago will send the final product directly to veterans who have taken Honor Flight trips to their memorial in Washington , D.C. , their families and those on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to all say thank you in a more personal manner and to be creative with the way that we do it , '' Honor Flight spokesman Doug Meffley said .
The videos are part of the nonprofit 's efforts to connect with veterans while the pandemic grounds all Honor Flights .
Volunteers have been recording Zoom interviews to preserve veterans ' war stories while they 're on waiting lists for trips .
They 've also have been calling veterans during the health crisis .
The First Division Museum is honoring their service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrors of war .
For students , the museum has at-home curriculum remembering the role of the Army 's 1st Infantry Division on V-E Day .
While the world celebrated the victory in Europe , infantrymen were liberating Holocaust survivors from the Falkenau and Zwodau camps in Eastern Czechoslovakia .
Cpl .
Sam Fuller , who would later become a Hollywood director and influence to Steven Spielberg , was ordered by his captain to document the burial of Holocaust victims found by the division 's soldiers , silent footage now seen in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders of the town denied knowledge of the camp , Captain Richmond ordered the men in the town to dress the bodies of the dead prisoners and give them a decent burial , 'so their exit from this world would have some kind of dignity , ' '' museum historians wrote .
Other online educational content includes a V-E Day newsreel and the museum 's Date With History Series on the Ghost Army and the Women Heroes of World War II .
That presentation features Rosie the Riveter , whose mask-wearing likeness now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She 's a great icon for today as well of everybody doing their part to help the greater good , '' Sears said .

Museum at Cantigny seeks 'cheer for victory' videos for 75th V-E Day celebration
People crowd Times Square at 42nd Street in New York City on May 8, 1945, as the V-E Day celebration continues into the night. The First Division Museum in Wheaton is moving its V-E Day observance online. AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman
The newspaper headlines proclaimed "PEACE," confetti rained from the sky and crowds crammed streets to swing dance and toast GIs.
Allied forces 75 years ago on May 8 secured the surrender of Nazi Germany, finally ending the war in Europe.
Before coronavirus closures, a Wheaton military museum had planned a large-scale 75th anniversary celebration capturing the relief and jubilation of V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day.
The shuttered First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton is now trying to make a virtual observance just as evocative for a fading generation of World War II veterans.
The museum has joined forces with Honor Flight Chicago to enlist the public in creating "cheer for victory" videos, 10-second snippets that will feature in a digital salute for veterans to watch 75 years after the Nazi defeat.
"Our first goal here was to commemorate our World War II veterans that had served and are still with us," said Laura Sears, the museum's public programs coordinator.
For her video segment, Sears cut up newspapers to toss confetti reminiscent of the ticker-tape parades honoring soldiers upon their return home. Other museum ideas: dress in 1940s vintage fashion; share family photos of veterans; dance to big-band music; or simply express gratitude for veterans in videos you can upload to FDMuseum.org by May 5.
"I had one guest send me a really cute video of her children banging pots and pans in celebration," Sears said.
Honor Flight Chicago will send the final product directly to veterans who have taken Honor Flight trips to their memorial in Washington, D.C., their families and those on its mailing list.
"It allows us to all say thank you in a more personal manner and to be creative with the way that we do it," Honor Flight spokesman Doug Meffley said.
The videos are part of the nonprofit's efforts to connect with veterans while the pandemic grounds all Honor Flights. Volunteers have been recording Zoom interviews to preserve veterans' war stories while they're on waiting lists for trips. They've also have been calling veterans during the health crisis.
The First Division Museum is honoring their service with digital programming that also shows the horrors of war. For students, the museum has at-home curriculum remembering the role of the Army's 1st Infantry Division on V-E Day.
While the world celebrated the victory in Europe, infantrymen were liberating Holocaust survivors from the Falkenau and Zwodau camps in Eastern Czechoslovakia.
Cpl. Sam Fuller, who would later become a Hollywood director and influence to Steven Spielberg, was ordered by his captain to document the burial of Holocaust victims found by the division's soldiers, silent footage now seen in a museum gallery.
"When the prominent leaders of the town denied knowledge of the camp, Captain Richmond ordered the men in the town to dress the bodies of the dead prisoners and give them a decent burial, 'so their exit from this world would have some kind of dignity,'" museum historians wrote.
Other online educational content includes a V-E Day newsreel and the museum's Date With History Series on the Ghost Army and the Women Heroes of World War II. That presentation features Rosie the Riveter, whose mask-wearing likeness now honors health care workers fighting coronavirus.
"She's a great icon for today as well of everybody doing their part to help the greater good," Sears said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Financial concerns could delay new customs building at Chicago Executive Airport

Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling still plans to build a multimillion-dollar customs facility for international flights , but some officials have raised concerns about spending the money to start the federally mandated project this year .
Driving the financial concern is what airport Executive Director Jamie Abbott said is a dramatic decline in takeoffs and landings this month compared to a year ago due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Probably 60 % to 70 % down in aircraft operations , '' Abbott said , `` and we 're not quite sure yet how that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so forth , which affects our revenues . ''
Airport officials say it could cost $ 3 million for the proposed 4,200-square-foot U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility , which would replace a more bare-bones operation .
The federal government is not assisting with the expense .
George Sakas , the airport 's director of economic development and strategic planning , said the funding would come from available cash , reserves and a loan .
Chicago Executive board Directors William Kearns and James Kiefer at a recent meeting addressed the possibility of delaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I hope that we do n't , '' Kearns said .
`` I hope that we just continue along , but we have to be realistic and think about if there is a point at which we say , 'You know what ?
We 've got the engineering .
We 've got this ready to go , but we ca n't start construction for a year because of revenues or because of other uses for the cash . '
'' Plans call for the new customs building to be on a site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Wolf Road .
The new facility would address federal government demands by increasing safety and providing larger pre- and post-clearance processing areas , bathrooms for passengers , a staff locker room , vestibules and a secured computer network room .
Chicago Executive is co-owned by Wheeling and Prospect Heights .
The Wheeling village board and the Prospect Heights city council get the final say on the airport 's spending and approved a $ 4.6 million 2020-21 budget at separate meetings this month .
Before the Wheeling village board approved the airport 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned customs facility a `` pretty expensive venture '' for what typically are 450 international operations annually .
Chicago Executive handled 74,204 arrivals and departures in 2019 , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
Papantos asked Abbott what would happen if Chicago Executive no longer had a customs facility .
Abbott responded that customs is expected by users of Chicago Executive , DuPage Airport in West Chicago and Waukegan National Airport .
He said user fees are charged by Chicago Executive to the airplanes that receive services from U.S. Customs .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , you 're not necessarily paying for the service , but if you 're using it , you 're definitely getting a bill for what it costs us to operate that , '' he said .
Projections have indicated it would cost the airport $ 225,000 annually to operate the new customs facility .

Financial concerns could delay new customs building at Chicago Executive Airport
This is a rendering of a new multimillion-dollar U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility proposed for the west side of Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling. Some officials have raised concerns about spending money to start the project this year. Courtesy of Chicago Executive Airport
Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling still plans to build a multimillion-dollar customs facility for international flights, but some officials have raised concerns about spending the money to start the federally mandated project this year.
Driving the financial concern is what airport Executive Director Jamie Abbott said is a dramatic decline in takeoffs and landings this month compared to a year ago due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Probably 60% to 70% down in aircraft operations," Abbott said, "and we're not quite sure yet how that's going to translate into fuel sales and so forth, which affects our revenues."
Airport officials say it could cost $3 million for the proposed 4,200-square-foot U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, which would replace a more bare-bones operation. The federal government is not assisting with the expense.
George Sakas, the airport's director of economic development and strategic planning, said the funding would come from available cash, reserves and a loan. Chicago Executive board Directors William Kearns and James Kiefer at a recent meeting addressed the possibility of delaying the customs project to early 2021.
"I hope that we don't," Kearns said. "I hope that we just continue along, but we have to be realistic and think about if there is a point at which we say, 'You know what? We've got the engineering. We've got this ready to go, but we can't start construction for a year because of revenues or because of other uses for the cash.'"
Plans call for the new customs building to be on a site where Hangar 4 was razed in mid-April near Wolf Road. The new facility would address federal government demands by increasing safety and providing larger pre- and post-clearance processing areas, bathrooms for passengers, a staff locker room, vestibules and a secured computer network room.
Chicago Executive is co-owned by Wheeling and Prospect Heights. The Wheeling village board and the Prospect Heights city council get the final say on the airport's spending and approved a $4.6 million 2020-21 budget at separate meetings this month.
Before the Wheeling village board approved the airport's budget, Trustee Mary Papantos called the planned customs facility a "pretty expensive venture" for what typically are 450 international operations annually. Chicago Executive handled 74,204 arrivals and departures in 2019, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Papantos asked Abbott what would happen if Chicago Executive no longer had a customs facility.
Abbott responded that customs is expected by users of Chicago Executive, DuPage Airport in West Chicago and Waukegan National Airport. He said user fees are charged by Chicago Executive to the airplanes that receive services from U.S. Customs.
"So, if you don't use it, you're not necessarily paying for the service, but if you're using it, you're definitely getting a bill for what it costs us to operate that," he said.
Projections have indicated it would cost the airport $225,000 annually to operate the new customs facility.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--A song to make you smile: 'Better Things' by the Kinks

We 're trying to inject a little positivity in the paper ( and on dailyherald.com ) with a daily `` @ @ @ @ @ . ''
It 's designed to help lift you out of your coronavirus funk .
@ @ @ @ @ Better Things '' by The Kinks , released in 1981 .

A song to make you smile: 'Better Things' by the Kinks
Former Kinks' frontman Ray Davies, shown here in 1998, was knighted in 2017 for services to the arts. Associated Press file photo, 1998
We're trying to inject a little positivity in the paper (and on dailyherald.com) with a daily "Song to Make You Smile."
It's designed to help lift you out of your coronavirus funk.
Today's selection is "Better Things" by The Kinks, released in 1981.
Send your ideas to suggestions@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-26--Today's Recommended Read: "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

If you have n't read `` Where the Crawdads Sing '' by Delia Owens , now 's the TIME !
Owens has her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior and studied lions and elephants in Africa for 23 years .
She is the author of three internationally acclaimed nonfiction works , and this is her debut work of fiction .
Oh my gosh .
Here 's the story : For years , rumors of the `` Marsh Girl '' have haunted Barkley Cove , a quiet town on the North Carolina coast .
She 's barefoot and wild , unfit for polite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though she 's had only one day in school .
So in late 1969 , when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead , the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark .
But Kya is not what they say .
Abandoned at age 10 , she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home , taking life lessons from the land , learning from the signals of fireflies the real way of this world .
She could have lived in solitude forever ( would n't be much of a novel then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time comes when she yearns to be out in the world , and that 's where it gets complicated .
So good .
Yes , this book is as good as they say .
• Sandy Koropp is the owner of Prairie Path Books in Wheaton ( prairiepathbooks.com ) .

Today's Recommended Read: "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens
If you haven't read "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, now's the TIME!
Owens has her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior and studied lions and elephants in Africa for 23 years. She is the author of three internationally acclaimed nonfiction works, and this is her debut work of fiction. Oh my gosh.
Here's the story: For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild, unfit for polite society but also a born naturalist even though she's had only one day in school.
So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say.
Abandoned at age 10, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home, taking life lessons from the land, learning from the signals of fireflies the real way of this world. She could have lived in solitude forever (wouldn't be much of a novel then, would it?), but the time comes when she yearns to be out in the world, and that's where it gets complicated.
So good. Yes, this book is as good as they say.
• Sandy Koropp is the owner of Prairie Path Books in Wheaton (prairiepathbooks.com).