Naperville Year In Review: A Look Back At 2017

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville had its share of ups and downs in 2017. One of the town's most high-profile murder cases was finally resolved in court with a life sentence. Another case involving a fatal motorcycle crash has brought on a drug-related charge. A young boy's suicide led to a conversation about students' rights in the classroom, and the announcement of a Ribfest musical act made national headlines.

Here are a few moments that defined the year for Naperville residents.

Corey Walgren's Death: Not only is this a tragic story of what the boy's parents call a preventable death, it sparked a national conversation about school and police disciplinary policies. Their son's death prompted Doug and Maureen Walgren to start a nonprofit organization, Corey's Goal, to educate teachers, parents, students and law enforcement about constitutional rights in a classroom. Jan. 11 will mark the one year anniversary of his death.

The Believe House Christmas Lights Map: Naperville likes low-cost, family-friendly things to do around the holidays, which is why this map made it to our list. The Nilles-Knoth family was kind enough to let us share their Christmas tree light map with Patch readers across Naperville, which was viewed more than 5,000 times.

Retired Wisconsin Officer Shoots Amtrak Conductor: In May, Michael Case was shot in the abdomen by an 80-year-old man who was later deemed unfit to stand trail. Case recently testified, and shared his thoughts about gun control and wanting to move forward. This story pulled in a lot of commentary from social media.

Talk of Taking Down The Carillon: A June report revealed estimated repair costs for Moser Tower being somewhere between $1.6 and $3.8 million. The Carillon wasn't completed until 2007, and the assessment said it would cost about $660,000 to tear it down. The report sparked a lot of commentary from the public about what should be done with the controversial and beloved bell tower.

21-Year-Old Motorcyclist Dies In Crash Off 75th & Naperville/Plainfield Road: At an intersection known to almost every Naperville resident, a young woman from Maple Park died mid-September in a collision with a 17-year-old boy. Earlier this month, prosecutors said they found meth in the boy's system at the time of the accident. The boy's Dec. 29 court date was stricken and pushed back to Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. for a hearing on the defense's motion to get the case transferred to juvenile court.

Mixed Emotions About Toby Keith Playing At Ribfest: Not everyone was happy that country singer Toby Keith, who sang at President Donald Trump's pre-inauguration concert, was slated to perform June 30 at Ribfest. The announcement even went national with a pundit segment on Fox News. The show ended up selling out quickly, and it's worth mentioning Keith has indicated in the past he wasn't wild about either candidate, anyway. Speaking of Ribfest, an honorable mention goes to our announcement of Steven Tyler playing at the 2018 Ribfest, which picked up a couple thousand likes on Facebook.

Naperville Is 2nd Best City To Live In: No surprise here. Niche.com ranked more then 200 cities based on big data sets from the federal government. Naperville has many opportunities for families, is home to excellent schools and is relatively low in crime.

Elzbieta Plackowska's Guilty Verdict & Sentencing: The people of Naperville have been following this case intently since 2012, when the Poland native stabbed her son, 5, and a 7-year-old girl she was babysitting, in a Naperville home. She was found guilty in September for the most heinous murders Naperville has seen in recent years. In December, Plackowska was sentenced to life in prison.

DuPage County Sues Opiate Manufacturers: The lawsuit itself wasn't exactly a shocker, but it made the list, anyway, because of what led to it, and what could come of it. Not even DuPage county, where the nation's second-biggest city resides, is not immune to opiates. Prosecutors are turning their attention to manufacturers for being responsible for the epidemic, which has claimed more than 80 people this year so far.

Water Street Development: What was once a gravel road dotted with single-family homes is the new site of a booming commercial addition to downtown Naperville. A chic, urban hotel, a 520-space parking garage, classy new dining establishments and shopping offer something new to residents and visitors alike. Naperville hasn't seen an development like this in quite some time.

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