Pie maker enjoys the sweet life (AP) — Norm Bates, an 86-year-old resident of the Countryside Villas outside of Clifton, has found a unique niche. The former heavy equipment operator now is a blue ribbon-winning pie maker, a legend at the Iroquois, Kankakee and Will county fairs. [...] I still bake some bread and this pie keeps me pretty busy. "[...] if you want to know the secret, I'll tell you," he said with well-practiced grin. I cooked most of the meals when the kids were young. [...] I always did the baking. [...] I take up the whole pie and let the volunteers enjoy the rest.