Channahon team wins skeet shoot; council creates 'Class F' liquor license

For the second year, the village’s team of police officers and the village president beat out several other teams, including the city of Joliet’s two teams, in the Emergency Responder’s category of the skeet and trap shooting competition held this summer at Downers Grove Sportsman’s Club in rural Morris.

Police Lieutenant Mark Fisher and Officers Brad Bucciarelli, Tom Blanchard, and Kevin Fitzgerald, along with Village President Joe Cook, were teammates on the winning team, and Channahon Police Chief Jeff Wold served as a volunteer. The Channahon team won the cup in 2011, also, with Joliet Police Department taking the traveling trophy in 2010 and 2009.

“It’s a great event,” Cook said as representatives of the team accepted the trophy from ExxonMobil representative Tricia Simpson during this week's village board meeting. “I’m proud to be a part of this winning team in Channahon, and it goes to a great cause.”

Proceeds are donated to the middle schools in Channahon, Minooka, and Troy for their science and math programs.

The village board this week also approved creating a new “Class F” liquor license. The class is for full beer, wine, and liquor sales. The creation was at the request of a local tobacco retailer who wants to expand his business.

The vote was split, however, with Cook casting the deciding affirmative vote. Trustees Sam Greco, Scott McMillin, and Judie Nash voted against the measure, with McMillin saying after the meeting that the business at 24505 W. Eames Street was too close to a daycare center, which is housed in the same strip mall.

Nash said the owner told the board he would prefer a full liquor license, but would have been satisfied with a beer and wine license.

“I don’t think a Class F is necessary,” Nash said after the meeting. “I think beer and wine would be fine.”

The owner of Route 6 Tobacco, Emmanuel “Manny” Rajarathnam, will now have to apply for the newly-created license.

Chief Wold this week also announced a new self-defense training course that will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 21, through Sept. 11, at the Channahon Police Department. The course is in conjunction with the Three Rivers Library District.