Romeoville Patch’s 10 Most-Read Stories of 2011

It's always fun to look back on the year that was. And the news industry is no different. 

Here at Romeoville Patch, we posted more than 2,500 articles this year, ranging from police and fire news to intimate features and a look at the most important issues facing Romeoville.

So what stories generated the most interest? Here's a look back on the most read stories of the year, based on our internal metrics.

10.

Twenty-five-year-old Brandon Regan captured readers’ hearts when Patch profiled his efforts to fulfill his “bucket list,” including a July 17 ride in the sidecar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The Romeoville man is dying of a condition known as degenerative cerebellum, a disease that will eventually cause his cerebellum to detach from his spinal cord. But the illness hasn’t robbed Brandon of his zest for life or kept him from completing the items on his to-do list.

Along the way, Brandon has amassed thousands of fans, who follow his adventures via his Facebook fan page.

9.

In August, the Will County Sheriff’s Department’s Internet Crimes Unit conducted a sting operation to nab 32-year-old Kevin Zebell of Romeoville after the man tried to arrange a sexual tryst with a 16-year-old girl, police said.

Police got involved after the Naperville girl’s father found evidence of an inappropriate online conversation between the man and the girl, according to Naperville Police Sgt. Gregg Bell. An investigator took over the girl’s online identity and continued to exchange messages with Zebell, and the man sent explicit messages soliciting her to meet for sex, police said.

Zebell was arrested at a Lockport restaurant, where he had reportedly arranged to meet the girl, and charged with indecent solicitation and unlawful grooming of a minor. He remains in the Will County Adult Detention Center in lieu of $7,500 bail, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

8.

Owners Nick and Milton Karounos were tentatively scheduled to open their new eatery, located in the old Half Time Sports Bar location, in March 2011.

The second new Romeoville restaurant to open in just six months' time, , 715 N. Independence Blvd., offers craft beers, a full menu, an outdoor patio, pool tables and sporting events broadcast on big-screen TVs.

Plans were also in the works for a banquet facility and hand-wash car wash at the site. Village officials hoped the new restaurant would encourage additional growth along the Route 53 corridor.

“Just the fact that there’s some new development will help the area grow,” trustee Linda Palmiter said.

7.

Hundreds of residents of nearby apartments were evacuated after police received a report that a man, possibly armed with a handgun, was holding a woman hostage in the 200 block of HighPoint Dr.

The standoff began around 7:35 p.m. Sept. 8. Police evacuated neighbors to the nearby as members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Group worked to negotiate with the man.

The situation ended peacefully around 10 p.m. as the man, later identified as 29-year-old Chris Jones of Chicago, was taken into custody. A gun was seized from the apartment at 204 HighPoint.

6.

Readers clicked away as Patch posted a gallery of more than 50 photos of students’ big night in May. Students glammed it up for the dance, which had a “Mystery Masquerade” theme this year.

5.

In April, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved the sale of Gas City’s 50 stations in four states, readers wanted to know what would become of the location at 1300 Normantown Rd. in Romeoville.

Like numerous area Gas City stations, the Romeoville location was sold to . The purchase price was a reported $6.1 million.

4.

The community mourned the loss of English teacher and coach Frank Aguilar, who died in August.

Aguilar, known for his strong work ethic — and propensity to juggle several jobs at once —was the most senior member of the RHS English department. He overcame obstacles including a language barrier to become successful, working over the years not only as a teacher and coach, but also as a sportswriter, entertainment reporter and real estate agent.

He coached girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer and softball during his 32-year career at the high school.

Aguilar’s sister, Linda Mikuta, said he mentored his players both on the court and off, instilling in them the importance of higher education. In some cases, Mikuta said, he went above and beyond the call of duty to help financially struggling students achieve their dreams of attending college.

A dedicated family man, Aguilar was survived by his wife of 37 years, LaVae, and children Renee, Anthony and Vincent Aguilar.

3.

Family and friends said goodbye to Romeoville High School graduate Jeremy Asbell. The 25-year-old had gone missing after his boat capsized in a retention pond in unincorporated Lemont in the early morning hours of Aug. 2.

Asbell’s body was recovered by emergency workers after two days of searching.

Friends remembered Asbell, the father of two small children, as a hard worker and standout athlete. RHS Principal Derek Kinder, who coached Asbell on the wrestling and football teams, remembered him as hardworking and happy.

“That’s probably the best I can describe him—he was happy-go-lucky,” Kinder said. “Just a great kid.”

Asbell is survived by two sons—Tyler, 6, and Landen, 21 months—as well as two siblings, Jeffrey and Alicia. 

Loved ones mourned the loss of 23-year-old Scott Tezak of Minooka, who died in May when his single-engine plane crashed near Spring Hill, Florida.

The student, who was working on a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration, was an experienced pilot who first began flying at age 18. The FAA was investigating the crash,

Tezak is survived by mother Jackie, father Tom, sister Jill, fiancé Sara Gnatz and infant daughter Madelyn. He worked as a mechanic at the Joliet Regional Airport and offered flight instruction through Blue Sky Aero Inc.

1.

Prosecutors were dealt a blow in July, when a state appellate court rejected their bid to use hearsay evidence against murder defendant and former Bolingbrook cop Drew Peterson.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office hoped to use statements made by Peterson’s third wife, Kathleen Savio, in which she predicted her ex would kill her, along with missing fourth wife Stacy’s reported disclosure that he had killed Savio, during his murder trial.

But in a 56-page ruling, the appellate court pointed out that prosecutors missed the deadline to file an appeal.

Peterson faces murder charges in the death of Savio, who was found dead in a dry bathtub in March 2004. He remains a person of interest in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, who went missing in October 2007.