Local News
![CRRNH_ObbiesNewOwners_040324 The Obbie’s Pizza sign will remain a familiar sight on Archer Avenue. Taking time out for a photo are new owner John Caputi; his son, Giovanni; and Obbie’s longtime managers, Jim Triak and Jeff Twaragowski. --Photo by Cosmo Hadac](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CRRNH_ObbiesNewOwners_040324-1024x768.jpg)
Obbie’s Pizza to stay ‘unique and delicious’
. New owner vows to serve same popular menu . By Tim Hadac Archer Avenue’s long-time king of pizzerias will continue to rule. Same recipes at Obbie’s Pizza, 6654 W. Archer. Same pizza and ingredients. Same pasta, broasted chicken, shrimp, perch, Italian beef/sausage/meatball sandwiches, sides and pop. Same seasoned, Middleby Marshall pizza oven built in…
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Countryside City Council tackles long list of items
By Steve Metsch Water leaks, a new truck and abandoned vehicles were among a laundry list of items tackled by the Countryside City Council at its latest meeting. They were all from the infrastructure committee chaired by Ald. Mark Benson (3rd). All of the following were approved by a unanimous 6-0 vote on March 13.…
![group picture at Argo Iftar dinnerElkhatib with students Mahdi Ali (from left), Team AlBary, Ghina Albary, Abla Daoud, Minna Sulieman, Iman Ezzhory, Medinah Yusef, and Argo Teacher Nadia Elkhatib. (Supplied photos)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elkhatib-with-students.jpg)
Argo High School holds Iftar Dinner for community
By Carol McGowan More than 100 people gathered at Argo Community High School last week for a now annual Ramadan Iftar dinner organized by Argo teacher Nadia Elkhatib. Elkhatib was happy with the turnout for those coming Thursday night to break bread with the school’s Muslim students and their families. “I will continue to do…
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Pool improvements advance in Palos Heights
By Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights aldermen last week approved contracts advancing improvements at the municipal pool. Alderman Jefry Key motioned for approval of a letter of agreement with the American Institute of Architects between Williams Architect and the City of Palos Heights for the pool improvement project. Since first proposing pool improvements in 2019, aldermen…
![reporter 3-26-24 Green Hills Library Event Palos Hills young people sang their hearts out for karaoke night at a neighborhood coffee house. (Photo by Nuha Abdessalam)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/reporter-3-26-24-Green-Hills-Library-Event-1024x768.jpg)
Teens enjoy Green Hills karaoke party
By Nuha Abdessalam Palos Hills tweens and teens sang their hearts out for karaoke night at a neighborhood coffee house. Green Hills Library invited all tweens and teens for a karaoke night at Strange Brew Cafe on West 103rd Street and 87th Street on Feb. 22. Organized by Green Hill Library Youth Program Coordinator Krisa…
![1 Luis Garcia, of Oak Forest and the owner and chef of Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant #2, 12778 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights. (Photos by Kelly White)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-10-768x1024.jpg)
Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant opens in Palos Heights
By Kelly White When choosing a location for his second business location, Luis Garcia knew he wanted it to be Palos Heights. “I absolutely love it here,” Luis Garcia, of Oak Forest and the owner and chef of Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant #2, said. “It’s a great area, nice clientele and I’m happy to be…
![reporter (3-26-24) garden center photo 3-28 The corner of Crandall and Depot in Worth will be the future site of the Garden Center Services apartment complex. (Photo by Joe Boyle)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/reporter-3-26-24-garden-center-photo-3-28-1024x683.jpg)
Worth Polar Plunge raises record amount
By Joe Boyle The FOP Worth Polar Plunge has been deemed a major success and local officials said the amount raised has set a new record. The annual event, sponsored by the Worth Police Department, took place in a large swimming pool that was put up in the parking lot of the Marrs-Meyer American Legion…
![1 Kris Sumner, Youth Programming Librarian at Green Hills Public Library, is responsible for organizing the Eid Clothing Bazaar at the library, 10331 Interlochen Dr., Palos Hills. (Supplied photos)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-768x1024.jpg)
Green Hills Public Library hosts Eid Clothing Drive
By Kelly White The Islamic calendar has two major holidays each year: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates an entire month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of the sacrifice that occurs during the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage season. It takes place two lunar months after Ramadan. Each Eid…
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Police Blotter
CHICAGO RIDGE DUI Orlando De La Rosa, 32, of Berwyn, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 2:29 a.m. March 8 in the 9200 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he failed field sobriety tests and refused to submit a breath sample. He was also cited for…
![reporter OL Parade5 terry vorderer photo 7-7 Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer rides in the Fourth of July parade in 2022. (File photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/reporter-OL-Parade5-terry-vorderer-photo-7-7-1024x683.jpg)
Oak Lawn seeks participants for Fourth of July parade
By Joe Boyle It may be spring, but it is not too early to talk about a summer parade. The Oak Lawn Village Board approved a resolution Tuesday morning authorizing the submission of a permit request to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the 2024 Fourth of July Parade. The resolution approves the closure of…
![regional 3-26-24 sandburg asst principal Shaw Veronica Shaw](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/regional-3-26-24-sandburg-asst-principal-Shaw.jpg)
Sandburg welcomes new associate principal of instruction
Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education is welcoming Dr. Veronica Shaw to Carl Sandburg High School as its new Associate Principal of Instruction. She begins July 1 and replaces Anita Huffman who was recently appointed as District 230’s Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. With ample education leadership experience, Shaw is currently the Associate…
![reporter 3-26-24 biz expo 4 honey photo 3-28 Sheri Cannataro, of Cannataro Farms, demonstrates the gear she wears to extract honey from a bee hive for visitors who stopped by to see her products at the Hills Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. (Photos by Joe Boyle)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/reporter-3-26-24-biz-expo-4-honey-photo-3-28-1024x683.jpg)
Residents warm up to Hills Chamber Business Expo
By Joe Boyle Spring has arrived but winter continues to leave its calling card. However, that did not prevent the Hills Chamber of Commerce from holding its 10th annual Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. While the temperatures were frigid and windy outside, the spirit inside the school…
![NCOLE ON ZONES Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters speaks about zoning codes at the March 25 council meeting. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NCOLE-ON-ZONES-1024x678.jpg)
Palos Park to tweak outdated village zoning codes
By Jeff Vorva The village of Palos Park has no grand plan to change the village landscape. But officials want to modernize some of its zoning codes. “The village has not comprehensively updated its development regulations since 1960,” Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said at the March 25 village council meeting. “Due to this, there are many…
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SD122 psychologist resigns over Islamophobic posts
By Nuha Abdessalam A psychologist for Ridgeland School District 122 has resigned after hundreds of parents demanded she be fired for social media posts that were pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian. District Supt. Joseph Matise announced at a schoolboard meeting last week that Dr. Laurie Hoke had resigned. “Dr. Hoke will no longer be working with students…
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City wants to buy armory at MDW
. Has been vacant since 2017 . By Tim Hadac For decades, it served military purposes, as well as Chicago’s gateway for Presidents stopping off in the city. But the Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., has been mostly vacant since 2017, when the Illinois Army National Guard ceased operations there and…
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2 charged in Summit junkyard burglary
By Bob Bong Two men have been charged in connection with a break-in last month at the Pick-n-Pull used auto parts store and junkyard in Summit. George Ainalakis, 39, of Carol Stream, was arrested February 26 at the business, while Chad Wickert, 40, of Brookfield, was arrested March 13 by Hodgkins police. Police said they…
![CRRNH_MaryEllenFox_032724 Mary Ellen Fox --Photo by Cosmo Hadac](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CRRNH_MaryEllenFox_032724-1024x768.jpg)
A successful career serving thousands
. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Most folks work for years at their jobs, expecting and receiving little fanfare, then retire quietly. Garfield Ridge resident Mary Ellen Fox planned to retire from her 30-year job in the City Clerk’s Office quietly; and she did, earlier this year. But co-worker Jim…
![PS1 Priscilla Steinmetz, of Orland Park's Bridge Teen Center, has fun March 7 at Congressman Sean Casten's desk in Washington. (Bridge Teen Center photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PS1-768x1024.jpeg)
Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union
By Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer rehabilitation. $947,775…
![20240303_153117 Forest View Village Clerk Laura McGuffey (left) swears in Maria Guzman as a full-time police officer while Chief Bianel Zarate looks on. (Photos by Carol McGowan)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20240303_153117-1024x855.jpg)
Forest View swears in new police officers
By Carol McGowan The Village of Forest View has a new full-time police officer and a newly promoted corporal on the force. In front of a full-house at their February 27 Board of Trustees meeting, Clerk Laura McGuffey did the honors swearing-in Maria Guzman as a full-time officer, and promoting Officer Jorge Sanchez to the…
![dvn Abraham-Kiswani Abraham Kiswani was sentenced to two years for income tax evasion.](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dvn-Abraham-Kiswani-1024x689.jpg)
Burbank businessman sentenced for income tax evasion
By Bob Bong A Burbank businessman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully evading more than $3.7 million in federal and state income taxes. Abraham Kiswani, 54, pleaded guilty last year to a federal tax evasion charge. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah last Thursday…
Illinois News
![Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Board-of-Elections-pic-11-fHvwkv-1024x768.jpeg)
Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…
![DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/240328-DCFS-Hire1-Jp36XB-1024x768.jpeg)
DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…
![Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/capbriefs_scoil_morning1-z6msEc-1024x686.jpeg)
Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance
By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…
![Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IARS-Number-Positions-Filled-by-Subs-and-Retirees-per-Year1-GHaoEu.jpeg)
Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact. That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…
![Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KOEHLER-01951-QZ7PyV-1024x682.jpeg)
Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal
COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval. Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…
![Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-25-PRB-office-AC1-r4NR75-1024x768.jpeg)
Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…
![Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rebecca-Hooks-Pic-11-UqRSy5-1024x576.jpeg)
Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement. Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…
![After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ICC2-kScdKx-1024x683.jpeg)
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
![After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ICC2-kScdKx-1024x683.jpeg)
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
![After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ICC2-kScdKx-1024x683.jpeg)
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…