TOP STORIES OF 2008 - 6 through 10

Firefighters salute during an emotional and respectful farwell to Steven "Tiny" Kline, who died unexpectedly Nov. 18, 2008. (Herald File Photo)

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The past year has offered much in the way of significant news stories. Many of which have caused heartache and frustration, but all have grabbed the undivided attention of the Morris Daily Herald readers in one way or another. So, in the spirit of welcoming in the new year, the Morris Daily Herald staff presents the top 10 stories from 2008. The ratings were based primarily on statistics used from the Morris Daily Herald web site. The following is the No. 6 through No. 10 rated stories from 2008. Make sure to visit www.morrisdailyherald.com on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, or pick up a copy of the Friday edition of the Morris Daily Herald, to read about the top story from 2008 along with an accompanying feature story.

No. 6 - Steve "Tiny" Kline dies Firefighters throughout the Grundy and Will County area were stunned after one of their own, Steven "Tiny" Kline, unexpectedly died Nov. 18, 2008. Kline, 37, of Morris, was described by local Fire Chief Bob Coleman as a great big man, but he was like a pussycat. "It was everybody else before him," Coleman said. "Everybody loved him. He loved kids. Part of his job was handling fire prevention for the kids at the schools, and at the fire station." Kline collapsed while on duty at the Stone Park firehouse, and was pronounced dead at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park. The cause was attributed to heart failure. He was given an emotional and respectful farewell by the firefighting community on Monday, Nov. 24, during the funeral at the new Morris Fire Station on U.S. 6, and at his burial in Evergreen Cemetery in Morris. About 250 firefighters in full dress uniform turned out for the tributes. "The grandest man I ever knew," said Morris Assistant Fire Chief Tracey Steffes in his eulogy to Kline. "He came to Morris in 1993. Little did he know he was a miracle of God to this town." If he ever wrote a book about the fire services, Steffes said, this would be the beginning: "Once upon a time there was a fireman named Tiny, and he had a heart big enough for all of us." - By Jo Ann Hustis, Herald Staff Writer

No. 7 - Shaw to run Dist. 54 In May, the Morris District 54 Grade School Board named Teri Shaw to be the next superintendent. At a meeting May 13, 2008, the board agreed to name Shaw, who was then board president, district administrator. The board also agreed that in 2009 she would become superintendent of the district. Following a closed session during the meeting, Shaw submitted her resignation from the board. The board then voted to grant her a three-year contract. The first year, 2008-2009, she has served as district administrator at a salary of $65,000. For the second year, 2009-2010, she will be superintendent, at a salary of $90,000, but working with a mentor. For the third year, 2010-11, she will be superintendent at a salary of $135,000. Since Shaw did not hold the credentials, which would allow her to serve as a superintendent, she agreed to complete the necessary courses. A financial planner, Shaw told the board she had enrolled at St. Xavier to complete her MBA and that she would attend Western Illinois University to obtain her superintendent's certificate. By 2009, Shaw indicated she would have a provisional certificate which would allow her to serve as a superintendent-in-training. By 2010, she plans to have a superintendent's endorsement. Dr. Dennis Broniecki continues to serve as the district's part-time superintendent while Shaw is the district administrator. He has served in that position since Barry Green left in 2007 to take a position as superintendent in East Moline. - By Michael Farrell, Herald Staff Writer

No. 8 - Husband, wife rob Verona bank - twice Two people, who robbed the Benchmark Bank in Verona twice, were sentenced to prison within six months of their arrest. Jeffrey Frojd, 38, formerly of Ransom, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison on Oct. 1 in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Karen McVickers-DeWitt, 37, Ransom, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison on Sept. 16. They were also ordered to pay $13,531 restitution, the total amount taken in the two robberies. Both pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery when they appeared in federal court on June 20. The pair robbed the Benchmark Bank about 10 a.m. on Jan. 23 and 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 11. In both cases Frojd displayed a handgun and attempted to tie up the tellers. Following an intensive investigation by the Grundy County Sheriff's Department, the suspects were identified. They were arrested by DeKalb police on March 11. Sheriff Terry Marketti credited several tips, including calls to Crime Stoppers, with assisting detectives and deputies in identifying the suspects. Although initially charged in Grundy County, federal charges were filed within 10 days of their arrest. They were then transferred from the Grundy County Jail to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago and held on $1 million bonds. - By Michael Farrell, Herald Staff Writer

No. 9 - New schools open, others get facelift Several area school districts opened new schools and additions in 2008. Minooka Community High School completed the first phase of their south campus, located in Channahon, which after much discussion they named Minooka Community High School South Campus -- Channahon, IL. The campus was open in time for the freshman and sophomore students it is housing to start their school year. After nearly two years of construction, the $54.4 million, 283,145-square-foot building was completed and turned over to District 111. The new school has 78 classrooms, specialized classrooms and two gymnasiums, creating 88 teaching stations for the district. The opening of the second school allows for an additional 2,000 plus student capacity. Coal City Community Unit School District 1 also opened a new Early Childhood Center which houses pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students. The new center allows the district to have all-day kindergarten, which also meant adding activities such as music, art and physical education to their curriculum. Saratoga School District 60C also completed work in 2008 on an addition that makes room for an additional 200 students. Instead of building a new wing, classrooms were added where they were needed throughout the school, allowing for class sizes to shrink. In addition to the new classrooms, a new gymnasium was installed and life safety issues were addressed. They also added a new concession stand to remove the existing concession window from the teacher's lounge. The teachers also received a new lounge and work space area complete with copiers, paper supplies and other things to get their class work ready in one convenient area. - By Heidi Terry-Litchfield, Herald Staff Writer

No. 10 - Minooka student escapes NIU shooting A Minooka student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb was there when a lone gunman opened fire Feb. 14, 2008, killing six and wounding 16. "I heard a really big 'boom' sound," said NIU freshman Mike Speek, who was in the classroom when the gunman walked in an auditorium in Cole Hall and began firing a shotgun at students. "I looked up, and I saw the gunman. I didn't see him shoot anything. I heard the sound, and I looked up and I saw him. I ran for the door." The son of Vickie and Robert Speek, he said he has never been more scared in his life than when he looked up and saw the gunman. "That was my most terrifying moment," he said. The gunman, later identified as former NIU student Steven Kazmierczak, 27, killed five students and shot the others before fatally shooting himself. Three victims and the gunman died at the scene. The other two later died. Kazmierczak was a graduate student at the University of Illinois in Urbana. He had received his undergraduate degree at NIU. He had no police record while at NIU. A university spokesman identified him as a stellar student while there. The shooting rampage was described as a very brief, rapid fire assault. About 120 students were in the classroom at the time. All classes and activities at NIU were suspended for about two weeks after the incident. NIU authorities initially planned to raze Cole Hall after the shootings, but later dropped the plan as too expensive. - By Jo Ann Hustis, Herald Staff Writer