Beecher man killed in truck crash

Gary M. Schwartz, 42, of Beecher, died Wednesday morning after the pickup truck he was driving left the road and crashed into several trees Tuesday night, Will County sheriff's police said.

Police were called to Old Monee Road just north of Stuenkel Road about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

According to police reports, Schwartz was driving south on Old Monee Road when he lost control of his 2006 Ford F-150 pickup. It appears Schwartz was not wearing a seat belt.

Schwartz was transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and died at 5 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

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Beecher woman among 4-H stars at Will County Fair

Linda Scharnhorst, a couple generations of offspring, and young Beecher neighbors were gathered at the west end of the horse barn at the Will County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, talking about hay making.

Then, the subject of her induction into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at the recent Illinois State Fair came up.

She's been described as a long-time leader of the Prairie 4-H Club in the Beecher area. "Thirty-one years," she recalls.

"It's longer than that, Mom," said daughter, Courtney Selucky, "Thirty-three."

Maybe so, Scharnhorst admits. "I went through it with all my kids and started on the grandkids."

"I was shocked to get the award," she said of the honor. "I never thought about that. I just enjoy working with kids and their projects. I believe there is a project for every kid and most of them succeed."

She, her husband, Don, and their daughters have helped those kids succeed and that's a major part of what county fairs are all about.

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