#CentralStrong: Community Asked to Tie Ribbons in Honor of L-W Teen

The message is clear: #CentralStrong.

Lincoln-Way Central High School students and area residents are turning to each other—and rallying around the family of a 17-year-old junior who died Friday after being struck by a semi truck outside the school.

While friends mourn Dylan Wischover, they ask community members to tie dark blue and camouflage ribbons around trees from New Lenox to Manhattan, where his family lives.

Dylan died Friday, Feb. 13, after being hit by a semi truck while crossing U.S. 30 near the school. Visitation was held Monday, and friends filled the funeral home, with the camo/blue ribbons pinned to their clothes. Community members are seeking to extend that gesture to every tree in the area.

“Let’s flood the Wischovers with support in the coming weeks that will be so tough for them,” said Manhattan resident Carrie Mitcheff.

Manhattan Family Chiropractic, 104 S. State St., is also serving as a drop spot for grocery and restaurant gift cards for the family, Mitcheff said.

Friends recalled Dylan as unselfish, outgoing, and funny. Hilda Wischover described her grandson as “a wonderful, caring, conscientious young man.” Dylan is survived by his parents Roger “Charlie” (Sara) Wischover and Hope (Dave) Doornbos, two brothers Derek Wischover and Jacob Doornbos, his sister Kara (Nick) Clum, his grandparents Hilda (the late Roger) Wischover, Robert and Mardis Totten, one nephew Xavier Clum, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

In the days after his death, students poured their grief out on social media.

“Central we are strong. We come together. We will pull together and get through this. If any of my good friends need a ear to talk to I am here to listen. ‪#‎CentralStrong‬,” wrote one student on Facebook.

“So happy to see so many people wearing blue & flannels today #ripdylan #CentralStrong,” wrote one classmate on Twitter.

“Everyone is a family at Central and we’re going to get through this tragedy together. It’s for Dylan #RIPDylan #CentralStrong,” wrote another.