
Some of the police and volunteers pose last Friday at the Dunkin’ Coffee for Champions event at one of the locations in Orland Park. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)
Orland Park police hit the ground for Special Olympics
By Jeff Vorva
Things have changed a little bit.
The old Dunkin’ Cop on a Rooftop event has transformed into Coffee for Champions and police from hundreds of communities in Illinois were grounded but still raised money for Special Olympics Illinois last Friday.
“For safety reasons, that’s a smart thing to do,” Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell said. “We can have a little more interaction with people.”
The Orland location at 15615 S. Harlem Ave. was buzzing with activity on August 20 as volunteers and police personnel collected money from those going through the drive-thru. One of the donations came from Oak Forest police. Another came from a man driving a pickup truck with a St. Ambrose sticker on the back who sprung for a box of donuts for the group raising money.
“This is an outstanding campaign – it’s close to my heart,” Mitchell said. “I have a relative with special needs and this hits home to me.”

Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell holds up a mug for sale at Dunkin’ on Harlem Ave. as part of a Coffee for Champions event to benefit Illinois Special Olympics.
Mitchell estimates that over the years, the event has raised between $20,000 and $40,000 each year.
And the Orland cops are not done yet.
Their annual bike ride through town takes place Aug. 29. The 15-mile ride starts at 7:30 a.m. at Fattie’s Pub, 14420 John Humphrey Dr. Cost is $25, and proceeds go to Special Olympics Illinois. For more information contact Ron Kus at [email protected] or call 708-364-4998.
“This is my favorite event,” Mitchell said. “Last year, during COVID, we had a phenomenal turnout. It was one of our best ever.”
There were 161 riders and more than $6,000 was raised and Kus said that it was the most money raised by the event.
Police in Palos Heights and Palos Park also took part in this year’s fundraiser.

Orland Park’s Gail Blummer helps collect some money at the Coffee for Champions event.
Local News

Say man killed little sister with ‘ghost gun’
Chicago Lawn slaying called an accident By Tim Hadac A 15-year-old Chicago Lawn girl was shot in the head and killed by her 20-year-old brother as he reportedly assembled a ghost gun in the family’s third-floor apartment in the 2400 block of West Marquette Road. Shaniya Daniels was struck in the forehead by a bullet…

Charge man with murder in birthday party shooting
Guest of honor shot in the head By Tim Hadac A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated battery in connection with a double shooting at a backyard party in Back of the Yards. Jorge Espana, who police said lives in the 3500 block of West 73rd Street, allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old…

Orland getting ready to welcome Pete’s Fresh Market next year
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park’s Board of Trustees made some decisions for Pete’s sake. During Monday night’s board meeting, the trustees passed modifications of building codes as well as approving special use permits to build a Pete’s Fresh Market at 15080 S. LaGrange Road, a spot that housed the Art Van Furniture Store. This project…

Guinea pigs rescued from Palos Heights dumpster
From staff reports Palos Heights police rescued four guinea pigs last week from a dumpster behind 7500 College Drive. Police said someone saw the animals being thrown into the dumpster on July 28 and called authorities. Police Officer Dave Delaney, Cadet Matthew Kroll and Community Service Officer Matthew Murray, whose father is a veterinarian, jumped…

First responders live it up at Orland’s National Night Out
By Isabella Schreck With a helicopter overhead, police cars and fire trucks to climb into, free giveaways, food, and music, Orland Park’s annual National Night Out looked like it had something for all ages. Residents agreed. “The free hots dogs, the helicopter flying and seeing all of the different vendors makes it a fun event…

Palos Heights cops looking for help from citizens’ cameras
By Jeff Vorva Palos Heights police and the city council are asking residents to SCRAM. Alderman Robert Basso said the police are hoping Palos Heights homeowners with security cameras will join the Palos Heights Police Department’s Surveillance Camera Registration and Mapping program, a.k.a. SCRAM. “It’s an initiative that provides information from their home security camera…

Oak Lawn police defend use of force against teen
Federal lawsuit filed against police department, individual officers By Joe Boyle The 17-year-old who was arrested by Oak Lawn police last week after a brutal encounter with officers after he ran away from a traffic stop was released from the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center Tuesday afternoon. Hadi Abuatelah, of Palos Hills, left the detention…

Yet another artistic triumph for the Boitsov School
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Have you ever been excited about seeing a great film, concert, stage performance or sporting event—so much so that you marked it in red ink on your calendar, months in advance—only to miss it? That’s what happened to me recently, when I…

Oak Lawn residents enjoy National Night Out
By Joe Boyle A large crowd attended the Oak Lawn National Night Out Tuesday night, which did not surprise Police Chief Dan Vittorio. “We draw large crowds every year,” the Oak Lawn police chief said. “Last year, we had a lot of people, too. The year before that we did not have it because of…

Palos Heights police host National Night Out
By Jeff Vorva Throughout the country, police departments held their National Night Out event on Tuesday. Palos Heights continued its tradition of hosting the event near the police station. Easton Daggy, 4, of Oak Forest gets behind the wheel of a fire truck Tuesday at Palos Heights’ National Night Out.There was plenty to do –…
Neighbors

Say man killed little sister with ‘ghost gun’
Chicago Lawn slaying called an accident By Tim Hadac A 15-year-old Chicago Lawn girl was shot in the head and killed by her 20-year-old brother as he reportedly assembled a ghost gun in the family’s third-floor apartment in the 2400 block of West Marquette Road. Shaniya Daniels was struck in the forehead by a bullet…

Charge man with murder in birthday party shooting
Guest of honor shot in the head By Tim Hadac A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated battery in connection with a double shooting at a backyard party in Back of the Yards. Jorge Espana, who police said lives in the 3500 block of West 73rd Street, allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old…

Orland getting ready to welcome Pete’s Fresh Market next year
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park’s Board of Trustees made some decisions for Pete’s sake. During Monday night’s board meeting, the trustees passed modifications of building codes as well as approving special use permits to build a Pete’s Fresh Market at 15080 S. LaGrange Road, a spot that housed the Art Van Furniture Store. This project…

Guinea pigs rescued from Palos Heights dumpster
From staff reports Palos Heights police rescued four guinea pigs last week from a dumpster behind 7500 College Drive. Police said someone saw the animals being thrown into the dumpster on July 28 and called authorities. Police Officer Dave Delaney, Cadet Matthew Kroll and Community Service Officer Matthew Murray, whose father is a veterinarian, jumped…

First responders live it up at Orland’s National Night Out
By Isabella Schreck With a helicopter overhead, police cars and fire trucks to climb into, free giveaways, food, and music, Orland Park’s annual National Night Out looked like it had something for all ages. Residents agreed. “The free hots dogs, the helicopter flying and seeing all of the different vendors makes it a fun event…

Palos Heights cops looking for help from citizens’ cameras
By Jeff Vorva Palos Heights police and the city council are asking residents to SCRAM. Alderman Robert Basso said the police are hoping Palos Heights homeowners with security cameras will join the Palos Heights Police Department’s Surveillance Camera Registration and Mapping program, a.k.a. SCRAM. “It’s an initiative that provides information from their home security camera…

Oak Lawn police defend use of force against teen
Federal lawsuit filed against police department, individual officers By Joe Boyle The 17-year-old who was arrested by Oak Lawn police last week after a brutal encounter with officers after he ran away from a traffic stop was released from the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center Tuesday afternoon. Hadi Abuatelah, of Palos Hills, left the detention…

Yet another artistic triumph for the Boitsov School
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Have you ever been excited about seeing a great film, concert, stage performance or sporting event—so much so that you marked it in red ink on your calendar, months in advance—only to miss it? That’s what happened to me recently, when I…

Oak Lawn residents enjoy National Night Out
By Joe Boyle A large crowd attended the Oak Lawn National Night Out Tuesday night, which did not surprise Police Chief Dan Vittorio. “We draw large crowds every year,” the Oak Lawn police chief said. “Last year, we had a lot of people, too. The year before that we did not have it because of…

Palos Heights police host National Night Out
By Jeff Vorva Throughout the country, police departments held their National Night Out event on Tuesday. Palos Heights continued its tradition of hosting the event near the police station. Easton Daggy, 4, of Oak Forest gets behind the wheel of a fire truck Tuesday at Palos Heights’ National Night Out.There was plenty to do –…