Latest news with #Chesterton
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Be great.' Alexia Franco takes that to heart. The Chesterton senior wants to be great for her teammates.
Chesterton's Alexia Franco recalls something that one of her travel softball coaches said. The words continue to resonate with her. ''You don't want to be just good, you want to be great, because there's too much average in this world,'' Franco said. 'As a softball player, that's really important — or as any athletic player in general.' Franco has been putting those words into practice this season. The senior center fielder is batting .347 with a team-high eight doubles, the first two homers of her four-year starting career, 10 RBIs, a team-high 26 runs scored and a team-high five stolen bases after Chesterton topped Merrillville in a Duneland Athletic Conference game on Thursday to close the regular season. 'I've been hitting a lot more this year,' Franco said. 'I've been consistent. I've been focusing more on little things in my batting. On top of that, defense-wise, I've always been a really good defensive player, I'd like to say. 'But it's just been a lot more fun this year. I like being with this group of girls. It's been really nice playing center field with them. The girls are really positive, and they really help keep the team up.' Franco and the Trojans (11-11, 8-6) will play Valparaiso in the semifinals of the Class 4A Chesterton Sectional on Wednesday after the DAC rivals split two games during the regular season. Chesterton has posted its most victories since going 14-7-1 in 2019, the last time the team won a sectional championship. 'We can win sectionals,' Franco said. 'We're doing really well up to this point, and it's definitely within our reach. We have to stay consistent. We don't want to let that 'want to win' die down. 'I've just been going in with a good mental attitude. I like being at practice. I like being around my teammates. I want to do good for not just myself. I want to do good for them. I want to be a team player and do my best out there and really bring all that I can to this team.' Franco has been at the forefront as the Trojans have pushed forward under first-year coach Erin Cochran. A 2001 Chesterton graduate, Cochran played for LouAnn Hopson, the late Indiana Softball Hall of Fame member who founded the program in 1984 and led it for 35 seasons. 'As a senior, she has been a great leader out there,' Cochran said of Franco. 'She is very positive with everyone. If someone starts to feel negative, she always wants to bring them up and get back into the game. One-hundred percent, she's been our best leader.' Franco debuted for Chesterton as a shortstop but shifted to the outfield during her freshman season. She actually grew up as a catcher. 'I was catcher up until I was around 14 years old, and then bad knees and all,' she said. 'They put me in the outfield, and that was my first time playing out there. I'm pretty quick, and it worked out really well, and I've loved it ever since. I love playing center field.' Franco, whose younger sister Emilia is a freshman on the junior varsity team, intends to study dentistry at Indiana University Northwest and become either a dentist or a hygienist. She has already gained experience in the field during the past two years through a program that includes classes at Portage and an internship at a dental office in Chesterton. 'I get to assist the dentist or the hygienist,' Franco said. 'I get to help them suction or perio charting, which is gumline charting, stock and sterilize instruments. A lot of things.' Franco does a lot of things for the Trojans too. 'She's done a great job for us this year,' Cochran said.
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Grieving family sues over physician associate's misdiagnosis ‘to honour their daughter'
The grieving parents of a woman who was misdiagnosed by a physician associate hope a legal challenge they are bringing will honour her. Emily Chesterton, 30, died in November 2022 after twice being misdiagnosed by a physician associate (PA) whom she believed was a GP. Her parents, Marion and Brendon Chesterton, are bringing legal action against the General Medical Council (GMC), with Anaesthetists United, saying that PAs, and anaesthesia associates (AAs) should be properly regulated. Supported by the British Medical Association (BMA), the Chestertons say the GMC has failed in its statutory duty and there has been a blurring of lines between doctors and non-doctors. They are bringing the claim with Anaesthetists United, and say the GMC should produce a scope of practice – a document outlining the activities someone is permitted to perform – so patient safety is assured, and people can have certainty about what is expected from each of the roles. Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Marion Chesterton said: 'To lose a child is so painful, it is not the right order of this world. 'However, to lose a child and then discover it was avoidable is the worst pain ever. 'We do not want anyone else going through the torture we have endured. Physician associates and anaesthesia associates must be regulated thoroughly, they must be properly supervised.' Mrs Chesterton told the PA news agency: 'We're here to honour our daughter to make sure that this doesn't happen to any other family. No more Emilys. 'We're here to ask the GMC to do their job and regulate, it's been assigned to them by Parliament, so they've got to do the job. 'If I didn't do this. I'd just lie down in a ditch somewhere and let the world pass me by. I've had to do it because I was so angry. 'When I found out that PAs weren't regulated I was absolutely devastated, I thought 'this, this is wrong'.' PAs and AAs are neither doctors nor medically qualified, but they are recognised as providing support to doctors and anaesthetists as a part of a multidisciplinary team. At the start of the hearing on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Lambert said: 'This case is not just about regulation of assistants, it is about regulation of the medical profession, and that is how I see it.' Thomas De La Mare KC, representing the Chestertons and Anaesthetists United, told the court: 'At its heart, this case is critically about risk and about the regulation response to risk.' In written submissions, he said the GMC is 'failing to fulfil its regulatory role on an ongoing basis and this court should find that that is unlawful'. 'Fundamentally flawed' Mr De La Mare also said the GMC had failed to produce guidance or set standards either for the doctors supervising associates, or for the associates themselves. It has further failed to 'gather sufficient information to address the question of how it should regulate associates, then lawfully address and answer that question', the court was told. Mr De La Mare added: 'The GMC's foundational premise, never consulted upon, that the system for regulating doctors would be appropriate for regulating associates, was and is fundamentally flawed.' In written submissions, Rory Dunlop KC, for the GMC, said the argument for a defined scope of practice raises the question of whether it would be in the public interest to impose such 'rigid' limits on PAs and AAs. Saying the court has no 'expertise or experience' in this field, he added: 'There might be benefits to public safety of imposing limits of the kind that claimants suggest. 'However, there might also be harm to public safety in imposing such limits, e.g. such limits would prevent PAs and AAs from developing their skills, in a suitable supervised setting, and might inhibit some PAs and AAs from doing work they could be competent to do. 'If so, that would have a negative impact on the stretched resources of the NHS and the capacity of doctors to deal with more complex patient issues. 'That, in turn, would have a negative impact on patient safety by making it less likely that patients can get the timely treatment they need.' He added that no party in the proceedings considers that the GMC is the body best placed to define the scope for PAs or AAs. The hearing before Mrs Justice Lambert is due to conclude on Thursday with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Baptism event and Easter services
Chesterton Liberty Bible Church: 824 N. Calumet Ave. — The church will have 'InterGen Sunday' from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 20. 'InterGen' or Intergenerational Sundays allow parents and children to worship together. Kids ministry for kindergarten through fifth grade will be suspended on InterGen Sundays so kids are able to join their parents in worship. Childcare is provided for ages 0-5. For more information, visit St. Patrick Catholic Church: 638 N. Calumet Rd. — The Rev. Robert McClory will hold the Diocese of Gary's annual Mass of Remembrance for bereaved parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss at 3 p.m. on May 4. Gary Carter Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church: 635 W. 49th St. — The church will have coffee & conversation every Tuesday and Thursday each week from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 219-293-7570.. Cathedral of Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — The Cathedral of Holy Angels will have a mass for people with disabilities in honor of the Year of Jubilee from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27. For more information, email aim4inclusion@ and to RSVP visit Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd, — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Resurrection House Baptist Church: 1968 West 11th Ave. — Tickets are on sale now for the church's 'Standing on God's Promise' event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 28. The event will include worship, prayer, and reflection on faithfulness. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite: Hammond The Emerald Green at the Lost Marsh Golf Course: 129th St — St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church will have an Accessibility to Beauty Gala from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. May 3. The event will feature a silent auction, live entertainment, an open bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by dinner, the conferral of St. Mary's St. Peter & Paul and Myrrhbearers Awards. Black tie is optional. Tickets are $100 per seat, and becoming a beauty sponsor, which includes a table of 8 and acknowledgment at the event, is $1000. To get tickets, visit Highland Bethel Church: 9516 Kennedy Ave. — Bethel Church Chinese Congregation will have Baptism Sunday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. April 20, following the Easter service. For more information or to register, visit Hobart Bethel Church: 703 W. Country Rd. — Bethel Church Hobart/Portage will have an Easter Service at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Services will also be held at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on the Cedar Lake campus, located at 13620 Wicker Avenue, and at 8:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. on the Crown Point campus, located at 10202 Broadway. For more information, visit LaPorte Tracy Church: 1702 E. U.S. 6 — Tracy Church will have a fundraiser through Culver's of LaPorte, 233 Pine Lake Ave, on April 30. Culver's will donate 10% of net sales to Tracy Church to those who tell the cashiers they are purchasing for the kickback. Merrillville Road to Life Church: 7525 Taft St. — Road to Life Church will have a special Easter service at 11 a.m. April 20. There will be worship, an Easter experience, fun for kids, and more. For more information, visit Whiting St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Hall: 2002 Davidson Place— St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church will host its The Bluegrass, Bourbon, & The Bible Revival event on May 2; Doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert at 7 p.m. and a conversation to follow. The event will celebrate Catholic culture and Bluegrass's deep roots in the Region, with a concert by Fr. Justin Bolger, OP, and Fr. Simon Teller, OP, of the Hillbilly Thomists. After their set, they will be joined by Dr. Jennifer Newsome Martin, Director of the Di Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, for a conversation about their music, Catholic culture, and Whiting's imprint on it. Tickets to the event are $35 at the door or $25 in advance and can be purchased on Eventbrite:
Chicago Tribune
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Kentucky baseball commit Rob Czarniecki sticks with basketball at Chesterton. ‘Making memories' is too rewarding.
Chesterton junior Rob Czarniecki cherishes the challenge and the camaraderie too much. Although the Kentucky baseball commit considered no longer playing basketball to focus on that primary sport in which he stars, he ultimately couldn't go through with it. 'It was in the back of my head,' Czarniecki said. 'But the guys, I'm not ready to give that up yet. That's the main thing. 'Being out here with my guys, some of these guys are my best friends. Going out there and competing, that's one of the main reasons. It just gets me excited for the season, making memories with them that we'll be able to talk about for the rest of our lives.' Chesterton coach Marc Urban, who recently set the program record for career victories, respects Czarniecki for sticking with basketball. 'He's a guy that has found value in competing in another sport that's not his best sport,' Urban said. 'It says a lot about a kid that he enjoys competing. My hope, our hope, is that he's a better competitor in his main sport because he's playing a part in our program. That's fun.' Czarniecki, a 6-foot-1 forward, is averaging 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Trojans (15-8), who will play Duneland Athletic Conference co-champion Portage in the Class 4A Valparaiso Sectional semifinals on Friday. Chesterton split two games with the Indians this season. 'He obviously doesn't light up the stat sheet with points, but he's one of the best role guys you could ask for,' Urban said of Czarniecki. 'He defends even though he's undersized at his position. He has the ability to shoot. 'He just makes plays. He's just the kind of kid you really want on your team because he'll do whatever you ask him. He's just enjoying competing and finding a way to win.' Czarniecki also did a lot of winning with the Chesterton baseball team under first-year coach John Bogner last year. That included the Trojans' first sectional title in the sport since 2018. An outfielder and pitcher, Czarniecki hit .489 with seven homers, 38 RBIs, 31 runs scored and nine stolen bases, and he went 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. He was the DAC's most valuable position player, and the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association named him to the Class 4A all-state team. Czarniecki announced his commitment to Kentucky in September, having also considered Notre Dame. 'Throughout the whole process, talking to everybody down there, when I went down on my visit, I had a feeling it was the right place for me,' he said. Chesterton also has proved to be the right place for Czarniecki, who is related to iconic Andrean baseball coach Dave Pishkur. 'We're like third cousins or something like that,' Czarniecki said. 'There's a big branch of it all. Definitely my seventh and eighth grade years, Andrean was really in play for me. I just changed at the last minute. All of my friends were going to Chesterton, and it just seemed right to me. I told my mom, and she said, 'Whatever you want to do.' 'Growing up, I'd go to all the Andrean camps, and I'd always be around those guys. We'd go to games. But I don't know what it was, I just kind of thought Chesterton was the right place for me. It was a good move. I'm happy I made that decision.' So, too, is Chesterton junior guard Logan Pokorney. 'He started at the beginning of the season, kind of our glue guy, bringing us all together,' Pokorney said of Czarniecki. 'But coming off the bench, he plays an important role as well. He just really brings us together off the bench and makes sure we're still flowing in our offense and just makes sure we're doing the right thing. He brings a lot of value to the team.' Czarniecki largely concentrates on doing the small things. 'I just try to bring some energy to the guys,' he said. 'Just go and play good defense, rebound, score some points when they need me to. I just like to come in and improve the play of other guys and just do things that can help the team win.' Czarniecki has managed to strike a balance among his activities. 'He still gets his baseball work in,' Urban said. 'He'll go home and hit in the garage and work on different things. Even with managing your time, doing schoolwork, we're practicing long with our schedule, he's still finding time to work on his game. Those are the things when you get to college, if you have that ability to manage your time, that's big because your time is eaten up so much as a college athlete, and hopefully we're helping him to be prepared when he gets there at that level. 'And if he ever gets to the professional level, his time management is going to be important as well. You talk about high school athletes and what you get out of it, he's getting the most out of his experience right now, which is great.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man who killed Chesterton teacher in high-speed crash gets 5 years in prison
PORTAGE, Ind. — A man was sentenced to five years in prison for killing a Chesterton Middle School teacher in a 2022 high-speed crash. Lauren Thompson, 24, who taught eighth grade at Chesterton Middle School, was sitting at a red light on the evening of Nov. 8, 2022 at the intersection of Willowcreek and Lute. Arthur Schmidt, driving an SUV, was traveling southbound on Willowcreek over 100 mph and slammed into the back of Thompson's vehicle. Thompson's vehicle was struck with such force that it hit a third vehicle and caused secondary collisions between three other vehicles. She died at the scene. Schmidt was airlifted in serious condition. He was charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. Thompson was in her second year of teaching English at Chesterton Middle School when she was killed. 'We are devastated': Chesterton teacher dead following 6-vehicle crash; speed blamed 'Lauren was a shining star on the CMS faculty and was loved by her students and fellow staff members,' Principal Mike Hamacher said in a statement after the crash. 'This is a great loss to our students, faculty, and staff members.' Schmidt was sentenced to five years in prison with one year suspended for probation to follow. 'We are comfortable with the sentencing but uncomfortable that this is the maximum punishment,' family told the Northwest Indiana Times after the hearing. The Porter County prosecutor Gary Germann told WGN News he wanted to explain and clarify the sentence. He sent the following explanation of the sentencing to media, saying if Schmidt was sentenced on both counts it would have been double jeopardy. The max sentence in the case was six years. 'I am told there is a great deal of concern in our community about the result in the above case. This may be the first time in six years I have felt the need to explain and clarify as best I can the decisions we made in a case. Arthur Schmidt was initially charged with two counts: Reckless Homicide and Criminal Recklessness with a Motor Vehicle Causing Death. Both counts are Level 5 felonies and per our legislature each count carries a sentencing range from 1-6 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections along with a maximum of a $10,000 fine. This gets a little tricky but our courts have held that double jeopardy would limit the sentencing in this particular case to a maximum of six years. The facts of the crime are virtually the same so the law of double jeopardy is such that the defendant while he may be convicted of both offenses the convictions would 'merge' for sentencing purposes. Said another way he would have only been legally sentenced on one of the Level 5 felonies. Thus, the maximum sentence in this case was from the outset always six years. It did not matter to us to which count the defendant entered a guilty plea because we could still pursue the maximum sentence which we did. By doing so we saved the family the stress of a week long trial. For us we were able to get what we wanted without the risk and the expense of a trial. For us it was a win/win situation other than our community tragically lost an amazing young woman as a result of the crash. I am not sure this explains the legal/factual issues with which we dealt but I hope this gives the community some insight from the perspective of the attorneys assigned to the case.' His sentencing date is not available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
