Local News
By Steve Metsch Countryside resident Christina Bader made sure to bring her three children to the city’s Patriot Day Remembrance last Saturday, marking two decades since the terrorist attacks of September 11. Bader wants to teach her children about what happened that day “to keep the memory alive.” “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years,”…
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By Steve Metsch Township of Lyons trustee Mark Anderson figured it wasn’t his day after he scored a nine on the par-three first hole at Zigfield Troy in Woodridge. Boy, was he wrong. On the 111-yard fifth hole Sept. 14, after struggling with his pitching wedge, Anderson pulled out his trusty 7-iron. He proceeded to…
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By Steve Metsch The Township of Lyons is getting a new bus for its popular senior services that saw 2,300 riders in the month of August. The bus is officially called a “2021 Microbird DS Series 12+2 Wheelchair Bus” because it has room for two wheelchairs. The price tag is $69,860 with an interest rate…
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By Steve Metsch The Democratic Party of Lyons Township Fall Fest reflects what the organization is all about, one official said. Brian Bernardoni, president of the Roberts Park Fire Protection District, said he attends each year to support fellow Democrats. “At the end of the day, this is still a political organization, a service organization,…
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By Carol McGowan School is back in full swing as students from kindergarten to eighth-grade returned to area classrooms last week. At Summit School District 104, PR Media Specialist Taylor Lupo said it was a positive comeback. “After about a year and a half of remote learning, School District 104 welcomed back its students for…
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Officers from more than 300 police departments across Illinois turned out in force at local Dunkin’ Donut shops on August 20 to help raise money for Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The annual event changed its name this year from Cop on Top to Coffee For Champions to better reflect the…
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By Bob Bong Local police will all be hanging out at Dunkin’ Donuts across the south and southwest suburbs on Friday to raise money for the Special Olympics. The event formerly known as Cop on a Rooftop has been rebranded Coffee for Champions and will take place from 5 a.m. to noon Friday. Coffee for…
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By Carol McGowan Three local residents who participated in the 2021 National Club Softball Association World Series were honored last week at the Lyons Township Board of Trustees meeting. Pitcher Krystal Levitske, of Willow Springs, a graduate of Nazareth Academy, and outfielder Natalie Metsch, of La Grange, a graduate of Lyons Township High School, were…
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School District 105, which serves the south LaGrange, Hodgkins, and Countryside communities, will be hosting a preschool screening for children ages 3-5 years old on Wednesday, August 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hodgkins School in Hodgkins. The screening takes about one hour and requires an appointment. Parents must schedule an appointment by…
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By Bob Bong Vehicle owners needing service at a local dealership may find it hard to make an appointment as members of Automobile Mechanics Union Local 701 went on strike Monday after talks with the New Car Dealer Committee failed to reach a new contract. The NCDC represents more than 100 new car dealerships across…
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Midnight Terror is bigger, better, uglier and scarier
By Jeff Vorva Justin Cerniuk, of Oak Lawn, is 31 but his philosophy is the same at it was when he was 10 years old and started a horror show in his front yard. “I’ve always had the same goals since I was 10 and that’s to have fun with a group of friends building…
SD230 joins discussion on special needs field in Orland
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park is not the only government body exploring the possibility of erecting a special-needs baseball/softball field in the village. Consolidated High School District 230 Assistant Supt. for Business Services John Lavelle brought up the possibility of tag-teaming with Orland School District 135 to provide a field for special-need…
Justice board appointments inspectors
New ‘smart’ water meters on the way By Carol McGowan The Justice Village Board made two appointments at last week’s meeting and announced new water meters are coming. Jason Horn was appointed electrical inspector, and Edward A. Shilka was appointed framing inspector for the period to end May 15, 2022. Both appointments were unanimous. Clerk…
New hours for Moraine Valley COVID-19 test sites
New hours for the free COVID-19 testing clinics at Moraine Valley Community College’s sites went into effect this week. The Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) saliva test is being administered in the Moraine Rooms in Building M on the main campus in Palos Hills, and at the extension sites in Blue Island and Tinley…
Zakat Foundation makes its mark on the world
Bridgeview-based Muslim relief agency celebrates 20th anniversary By Jeff Vorva Khalil Demir can’t keep up. How could he? How could anyone? His Zakat Foundation of America turns 20 this year and the generosity of the group is so far-reaching that there is no way he has been able to visit all of the places Zakat…
SD103 teachers union unhappy with district, start of school year
By Steve Metsch The teachers union in Lyons School District 103 is not pleased with COVID-19 cleaning, some paycheck issues and operation of its preschool. Union President Toni Jackman, at the school board’s meeting on Sept. 28, voiced the concerns of the 218 teachers she represents. Three other union members – of the two dozen…
Former Lyons mayor Marie Vachata gets a fond farewell
By Steve Metsch Pat Wideman will never forget the first time she met Marie Vachata. “When I first moved to Lyons 50 years ago, she was the very first neighbor who welcomed me to Lyons,” Wideman said while sitting on a bench outside the village hall. Vachata resided two doors down on 46th Street when…
Illinois News
CAPITOL RECAP: Congressional redistricting hearings begin
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The process of redrawing congressional district maps in Illinois got off to a slow start Thursday when only one person showed up to testify at the first legislative public hearing, which was held in Chicago. Ryan Tolley, policy director for the advocacy group CHANGE Illinois, urged the House Redistricting…
Task force considers changes to qualified immunity for Illinois law enforcement officers
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A new state task force continued discussions Thursday as to what changes could be made to the way state law approaches qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Qualified immunity is a court doctrine granting protection for law enforcement officers and other government officials from certain civil…
Only one testifies at first congressional redistricting hearing
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The process of redrawing congressional district maps in Illinois got off to a slow start Thursday when only one person showed up to testify at the first legislative public hearing, which was held in Chicago. Ryan Tolley, policy director for the advocacy group CHANGE Illinois, urged…
Plaintiffs: New legislative maps dilute Latino vote
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan have filed new complaints in federal court charging that the district maps that lawmakers approved in August dilute Latino voting power and thus violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Mexican…
Officials outline progress in Cairo river port development
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A proposed river port development in the southern Illinois town of Cairo is drawing much attention and interest from companies that believe it could open up greater access to international markets, officials behind the project said Tuesday. The Alexander-Cairo Port District project has been on the…
Report details disparities faced by aging LGBTQ Illinoisans
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Many aging LGBTQ Illinoisans face barriers to health care and financial security and fear discrimination in senior communities, according to a combined report from senior and LGBTQ advocacy groups released Tuesday. The Disrupting Disparities: Challenges and Solutions for 50+ LGBTQ Illinoisans report by the senior advocacy…
Law enforcement steps up efforts to fight online child exploitation
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – State Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined local and federal prosecutors Monday to announce new efforts to combat a rise in online child exploitation in Illinois. The efforts include greater outreach and education for parents and teachers, and a new mobile computer forensics unit that will…
Pritzker order aims to end subminimum wage for disabled people in state contracts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Monday that would prevent companies contracting with the state from paying disabled workers at less than the minimum wage. Pritzker took the action in what he said was a broader effort to try to push federal lawmakers to change…
CAPITOL RECAP: What to know as state’s eviction moratorium expires
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The state’s eviction moratorium will expire Sunday, Oct. 3, and what comes next for renters will likely depend on their county of residence, as county courts and sheriffs will all have different approaches to executing evictions. Susan Simone, director of litigation and advocacy at Land of Lincoln Legal Aid,…
What to know ahead of this weekend’s eviction moratorium expiration
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The state’s eviction moratorium will expire Sunday, and what comes next for renters will likely depend on their county of residence, as county courts and sheriffs will all have different approaches to executing evictions. The original eviction moratorium was issued in March 2020 when the COVID-19…
