It’s a good problem to have — Stevenson High School keeps winning titles, meaning the village of Lincolnshire has to keep acquiring new signs boasting its hometown Patriots.
This school year, the Patriots have conquered the 8A division, the state’s largest, in football, boys’ basketball, girls’ water polo, boys’ gymnastics and girls’ doubles tennis.
In keeping with the habit of many suburban towns, Lincolnshire displays welcome signs announcing the titles of its high school at the village limits. Brad Woodbury, public works director, said the Illinois Department of Transportation makes those signs, for free — but keeping up with all the new orders has become a chore.
“Being that it seems like every other week we are hearing of another state championship, I need to do some further research to see ifIDOT has any type of parameters or limitations regarding the types of recognition signage they allow,” he wrote in an email.
Woodbury said he has the basketball and football signs squared away, and is discussing the gymnastics sign next.
“Traditionally, they will make anywhere from 2-4 signs to be displayed in various areas of the applicable village,” Woodbury wrote. “The signs are displayed for a period of one year, and then IDOT allows the championship team to keep the signs afterward.”
During the May 26 Village Board meeting, Mayor Liz Brandt made note of Woodbury’s dilemma.
“We are having a busy year with putting signs up,” she said. “Very exciting times.”
The school extended its appreciation and best wishes to Woodbury’s crews.
“We feel badly that we’ve maybe put the village in a bit of a pinch,” said Jim Conrey, Stevenson spokesman, in slight jest. “I guess there are worse things out there.”
