
Worth Police Chief, Tim Denton, and Worth Mayor, Mary Werner, enjoyed coffee together during last year's Cop on a Rooftop in Worth. (File photo)
Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics
By Bob Bong
Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois.
Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be collecting donations until noon.
Anyone who donates will receive a coupon for a free donut. Anyone who donates $10 or more will also receive a coupon for a free medium hot or iced coffee.
This will be the 20th year that Dunkin’ and the Law Enforcement Torch Run have partnered to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes in their local communities.
Since 2003, the event has raised more than $7.6 million for Special Olympics Illinois.
Special Olympics athletes, their families, and special guests will join law enforcement officials to show their support for Special Olympics Illinois.
In honor of Special Olympics athletes and the law enforcement officials participating in this annual event, Dunkin’ will donate $15,000 to the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
Locally, Orland Park police will be busy prowling the roofs at three locations: 11309 W. 143rd St., 14461 S. LaGrange Road, and 15615 S. Harlem Ave.
Palos Heights coppers will be on the roof at 11849 Southwest Highway and at 12807 S. Harlem Avenue.
Palos Park officers will be collecting at 13029 S. LaGrange Road.
In Hickory Hills, officers will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 7847 W. 95th St.
Worth officers will be at the Dunkin’ at 6707 W. 111th St.
Oak Lawn police will be patrolling the roofs at 10801 S. Cicero Ave., 10301 S. Central Ave. and 8940 S. Cicero Ave.
Palos Hills donations will be taken at 10340 S. Harlem Ave.
In Homer Glen, donations will be taken at 14135 S. Bell Road
Bridgeview officers will be at the Dunkin’ at 7949 W. 79th St. in Bridgeview.
Burbank police will patrol the roof at 8049 S. Harlem Ave. in Burbank.
In Brookfield, officers will be collecting at the Dunkin’ at 9208 Ogden Ave.
In Countryside, officers will again be on the prowl at the Dunkin’ at 5500 S. La Grange Road.
In Hodgkins, officers will be collecting donations at the location at 9400 Joliet Road.
Justice police will be at the Dunkin’ at 7801 Archer Road.
In McCook, officers will be at 8147 W. Joliet Road and in the intersection as well.
Summit’s finest will be out and about at the Dunkin’ at 6144 S. Harlem Ave.
In Forest View, officers will patrol the Dunkin’ at 4501 S. Harlem Ave.
Willow Spring’s finest will be at 8424 S. Willow Springs Road
In Chicago, the men and women in blue will be at 5615 S. Harlem Ave.
Chicago Ridge police were not approved to take part this year, but they are selling shirts and hats at Village Hall and at the Police Station to raise money.
Officers will also be at Berger Station, 10236 Ridgeland Ave., from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, to help raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.
For a full list of participating locations, visit coponarooftop.com.
Local News

Girls Soccer | Sandburg’s season ends with heartbreaking loss to Lincoln-Way West
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent It was a tough regular season for a young Sandburg team, which entered the playoffs on a six-game losing streak. The fifth-seeded Eagles put that all behind them May 16, running away with an 8-2 win over 11th-seeded Bloom in a Class 4A Lincoln-Way West Regional semifinal in New…

Girls Soccer | McAuley starts playoffs with rout, but falls to LW East in regional title game
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Hosting a playoff game on its new turf field for the first time, Mother McAuley made it a memorable occasion. Four players scored two goals each and the eighth-seeded Mighty Macs rolled to an 8-1 win over 10th-seeded T.F. United in a Class 4A Mother McAuley Regional semifinal on…

Baseball | Evergreen Park tops Shepard, clinches first conference crown since 1986
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Evergreen Park’s players believed they had a special team this season. That was validated when they accomplished something the program had not done in 37 years. With their 4-2 win over Shepard on May 16, the Mustangs sealed the outright South Suburban Red championship for their first conference title…

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Trinity softball finishes national runner-up
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Trinity Christian softball team finished second in the nation in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series. The Trolls lost to Concordia (Michigan), 8-1, in the title game May 18 at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. They finished 25-20 and won the second most…

Postseason Roundup | McAuley water polo takes second in state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Mother McAuley water polo team won a squeaker and a blowout at the IHSA state tournament before falling in the championship game. It was McAuley’s (21-6-1) highest finish at state since a second-place showing in 2008. The Mighty Macs nipped Naperville North, 7-6, on May 18 in…

Do It Stevie’s Way | Lyons falls to Providence in champ game; Troy Stukenberg earns tourney award
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Lyons’ quest for a Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament championship came up just short, but it was still a memorable day for senior Troy Stukenberg. Stukenberg was chosen the Lions’ Do It Stevie’s Way Award winner at the tournament, which honors former Mount Carmel baseball player Steven Bajenski, who…

College Notebook | Augustana’s Ranieri named CCIW Pitcher of Year
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent This has been quite the spring for Augustana College’s Nadia Ranieri. The Riverside-Brookfield graduate has been chosen Pitcher of the Year in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The junior lefty finished 15-4 with a 1.53 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) while helping the Vikings to an overall…

Chicago man charged in Burbank hit-and-run
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A 21-year-old man has been charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident after being allegedly identified as the driver of a car that struck a Burbank grandfather riding his bike to work last week. Burbank police identified the man as Obidise Walker and said he was also…

Improv comes to OLCHS
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vazzana Teacher Amy Perras has launched a dynamic and engaging improvisational comedy program at Oak Lawn Community High School. The initiative featured talented students such as Safa Ali, Latifa Almatahen, Emily Butnariu, Austin Christensen, Bobby Davies, Nate Diaz, Emma Faucault-Miller, Juno Granados, Quinn Haywood, Collin Kalousek, Omar Marquez, and Amal Shariff.…
Neighbors

Klimek promoted to police chief in Countryside
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch That didn’t take long. Just two weeks after he was named acting police chief, Paul Klimek was officially named police chief by a unanimous vote of the Countryside City Council on May 24. Klimek, 42, had been with the department since 2004 and replaces Joe Ford, who retired earlier this…

Despite attacks, Pekau says he will run again in 2025
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Usually, when mayors get up and give their yearly status reports of their communities, there is a lot of happy-happy-joy-joy talk. Even some of the negatives get glossed over with optimism for change. But when Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau held the 2023 version of the State of the Village…

Adopt-A-Pot program brightens up Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Palos Heights Beautification Committee works hard to do just what its name entails, keep the city beautiful. To provide a spark of greenery and a pop of color outside of local businesses, parks and municipal buildings, the committee hosted an Adopt-A-Pot flower planting day on May 20 in the…

Despite concerns from Orland Hills mayor, Orland Park on board with new Fernway School
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Village of Orland Park officials are giving thumbs-up to a plan to build a new school on the property of existing Fernway Park Elementary School. Fernway is located at 16600 S. 88th Avenue and is a part of the Kirby School District 140 group of schools, but is the only…

Chicago Ridge cancels RidgeFest over safety concerns
Spread the loveBy Dermot Connolly RidgeFest has been canceled this year—and may never be the same again—mainly due to violent disturbances at recent large gatherings in Tinley Park and elsewhere. At the last regular Chicago Ridge Village Board meeting on May 16, trustees were moving full-speed ahead with preparations for RidgeFest 2023, approving contracts for…

Fallen veterans remembered at Lyons ceremony
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch An event that happened 78 years ago is often on the mind of Richard Vachata, but especially on Memorial Day. In 1945, his cousin, Joe Horky, made the ultimate sacrifice. Horky, 21, died after a Japanese kamikaze pilot crashed his plane into his battleship in the Pacific, Vachata said. Horky,…

Area Sports Roundup | State volleyball and lacrosse tournaments will have local flavor
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer When it comes to the postseason, there are rarely guarantees. There are, however, two guarantees this season when it comes to having teams in the IHSA state finals this weekend. Boys volleyball and girls lacrosse will each have an area representative at their respective state tournaments. In volleyball,…

Pro Sports Report | Orlando outshoots Chicago 19-2, loses 1-0
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Orlando outshot the Chicago Red Stars 19-2, including a 6-2 disadvantage with shots on goal, during a May 27 visit to SeatGeek Stadium. That would normally be a recipe for disaster for the home team. But the Stars defense and goalie Alyssa Naeher withstood the barrage, and the…