The Village of Lombard has long maintained that the village bears no responsibility for the debt created by the Westin Hotel. The credit agencies disagreed and lowered Lombard's credit rating as a result and now the village is a party to the LPFC bankruptcy proceeding related to the Westin. Why was Lombard involved in the Westin debt restructuring agreement?

Your question was forwarded to Lombard officials, who responded: "The Village of Lombard does not own the hotel and conference center in question. It is owned by the Lombard Public Facilities Corporation, which is a completely separate entity than the village. The LPFC was contractually obligated to request funding for debt shortfalls from the village every six months. And every six months the village denied paying the debt shortfalls, as the village had the right to do. Because the village did not appropriate for these shortfalls, the village’s credit rating was lowered. It was in the best interest of the village to work with all parties involved to best resolve the issue, in order to improve the village’s credit rating, and to ensure the continued success of the hotel and conference center as an economic anchor for the Yorktown and Lombard area. In addition, the restructuring would eliminate the ability for the LPFC to request that the village cover any future debt shortfalls.  For a video presentation, press releases, and an FAQ related to this issue, please visit villageoflombard.org/hotel."—JAC

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Leave it to MSNBC to politicize the recent devastation in Texas. Instead of focusing on the horrendous situation these folks were going through, the commentator brought up the wall President Trump wants built along the Mexico border. The host and guests presented speculation and conjecture that Trump would choose building a border wall over disaster relief. How callous and insensitive. At least CNN showed restraint by focusing on the plight of the people affected, rescue efforts, etc. Shameful.

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Hey, families, just to make you aware, the last few years have included a bring-your-Bible-to-school day. This year's date is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5. Check it out on bringyourbible.org. Participate in the great freedom we have in our country. God bless America.

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This is in response to the person who questioned the World War II service of an 85-year-old person. I'm sorry, but you did not realize that there was an occupation force in Germany in the years 1950 to 1956-57 and many military people served in Germany after the conclusion of the fighting in World War II as part of the occupation force to rebuild the country. That was his military service with the army. Please don't assume that because you don't know the whole story, that what is printed is inaccurate because it is correct. He was a World War II veteran.

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I'm calling in response to the statement in SPEAK OUT about Donald Trump and the six, seven, eight good things he's done for the country that somebody alleges, even thought he or she never lists what the good things are. It's a ridiculous statement. The only good thing that I think Donald Trump has done for the country is give a lot of material to late night talk show hosts and comedians. Other than that, everything he's done for the country is bad. Thank you very much.

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As the events of the last couple of weeks have shown us, President Donald Trump has demonstrated why he is now, and always has been, unfit for the office of president. Trump has shown a thin and confused understanding of the Constitution and American history, and worse yet, an utter lack of interest or willingness to correct it. He's belittled and lied to the press on a regular basis. Through his reckless style he has already insulted several of our closest allies that could bring us to war with one of our most dangerous enemies. His administration has been a blur of chaos, destruction and deceit from even before he took office. History will not look kindly on those who helped foist him upon the American people; those who put party and power before principal and patriotism, those who made it possible for a man to occupy the White House.

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I was so excited that we got a new Mariano's, but what a disappointment.  First, the store number on the website is the wrong number. Then, when I got the correct number, it rang 18 times before anyone answered. My call was because the pastry we purchased was awful. I was told by a store manager that it comes in frozen from some vendor and Mariano's just thaws them. Really? Very disappointed. This store will be no challenge to Jewel at this rate.  

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It's time to start impeachment proceedings. Enough said.

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Listen up, all you SPEAK OUT readers. This is going to be very harsh. I mean real harsh. The politicians who caused all these debts and excessive taxes to pay for them, I think we should tax all the pension money these politicians are getting and put that back to relieve some of the taxation. That would only be fair. They caused the problem. Let them pay for it. Let's take a portion of their generous pension fund and pay that back so we don't have to be taxed so much. Goodbye.

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Elmhurst calling about the Kmart closing on Route 83. Why does it seem like the only big box clothing stores that are allowed around DuPage County are Goodwill, Salvation Army? Who wants to buy other people's used clothing? Is it that the taxes are too high or is it that Yorktown and Oak Brook malls want to be the one-stop-shop source for clothing; and high prices at that? Thank you.

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Good morning, Lombard. Just responding to the poor soul whose Mass was ruined by three unruly children. Thank goodness the parents bring their children to the Mass. Many young people today don't even believe in God. Maybe next time you attend Mass, offer it up for all the unruly children and pray for them that they may behave better next time. God bless.

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This is to the person who doesn't like that people refer to Donald Trump supporters as stupid. I'll rephrase it. Maybe in the beginning when you voted for him you were ill informed and you fell for all the stories he was telling you, but the simple fact of the matter is you continue to follow this man. You will not look at any of the truths of what he's doing. You say, name all the good things Obama did in his eight years, well I could sit here and name them all but your minds are all so poisoned by Fox News that you would not accept any of the good things that President Obama had done in his eight years in office that now President Trump is getting rid of. It's a sad day when you think of the president of the United States, who is seemingly in cahoots with Russia, whether you want to accept the fact or not, and you don't seem to have a problem with that.