News Briefs: NTHS GoBabyGo program gets more funding; Lake County Sheriff Will Patrol Lake Again; Free technical training available for local veterans

A donation from the New Trier High School Class of 1981 will allow the GoBabyGo program to continue providing electric cars to children with disabilities, according to information from the New Trier Educational Foundation.

THE GoBabyGo Program makes electric toy vehicles accessible to children with spina bifida and other mobility issues by modifying and adapting the vehicles. Vehicles are adjusted and equipped for young beneficiaries during on-site workshops led by New Trier engineering students in partnership with the Illinois Spina Bifida Association, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and True North.

Funding from the Class of 1981 will allow the program to continue providing needed services for the foreseeable future, the foundation says.

Lake County's new boat for Lake Michigan patrols.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is back on the water

With more than 900 square miles of Lake Michigan in its coverage area, the Lake County Sheriff's Office will resume patrols with the help of a new boat, according to a release from the department.

The Fluid Watercraft inflatable patrol boat was delivered this spring and is equipped with two 225-horsepower engines and can carry 14 passengers, the release said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office stopped its water patrols in 2018 when its previous watercraft was removed from service due to mechanical and safety issues.

The new boat is named for Gary D. Murphy, a deceased sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty in June 1976.

The boat would be stored in a secure dock at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor when not in use.

“The addition of a Sheriff’s Office watercraft to Lake Michigan is very significant,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a statement. “Response time in an emergency is crucial, and having a sheriff's boat will increase the chances of saving lives during search and rescue missions. We are grateful for our partnership with North Point Marina and grateful for their help in allowing us space to dock our boat.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office will coordinate patrols in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.

Free technology academy for area veterinarians

As part of an effort to support veterans as they transition to civilian life, Cook County is offering a free training program that will help them learn valuable skills in the technology industry.

The Chicago Cook Technology Academy is a collaboration between the Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs, Microsoft and National Able Network that will provide veterans with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern technology industry, a county release states.

The 11-week program is free. Previous programs would have prepared 32 graduates, 24 of whom obtained jobs with an average starting wage of $30.27 an hour.

The program is open to veterans living in the Chicago area, including suburban Cook County, who are interested in pursuing a career in the technology industry. Individuals leaving military service are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Tech Academy application process is open until July 14. Interested veterans can apply online.

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