Vehicle sticker designers (from left) Allyson Martinaitis, Sara Garcia, and Zuzanna Pilch pose with Trustee Fran Mills. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Vehicle sticker designers (from left) Allyson Martinaitis, Sara Garcia, and Zuzanna Pilch pose with Trustee Fran Mills. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Justice honors vehicle sticker contest winners

Spread the love

By Carol McGowan

Three Indian Springs District 109 students were honored at last week’s Justice Village Board meeting as winners of the 2022-23 vehicle sticker design contest.

The yearly contest has local students draw a design for the new village vehicle stickers, which residents have to buy annually. The first-place design is then used on that year’s stickers.

Before handing out the awards, Trustee Fran Mills said it wasn’t an easy contest to judge as there were so many wonderful designs, making it hard to choose a winner.

The first-place winner was Sara Garcia of Wilkins Elementary, second place went to Zuzanna Pilch of Wilkins Elementary, and third place went to Allyson Martinaitis of Brodnicki Elementary.

After the awards were handed out, and winners were congratulated by those in the audience, the April 25 meeting got down to village business.

Trustee Melanie Kuban chaired the meeting at the request of Mayor Kris Wasowicz, who was absent.

During the meeting, the board approved $6,000 for the 2022 Village of Justice Car Show, which will be held on August 26.

Trustee Jeff Allen said the planning was coming along nicely as judges have been contacted, plaques are in the process of being made, and vendors have been contacted.

Allen also made a motion to approve a proposal by Enspect Engineering Consultants for installation of a sheet piling retaining wall for the 90th Avenue ditch at a cost of not more than $6,400.  That was approved.

A motion was approved for the village to accept the Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund that was established under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Kuban thanked everyone that came out and helped with the recent food pantry held at village hall.  She said 198 families came to the pantry, and that meant 548 people were helped.

Mills made a motion to approve a $100 donation to Indian Springs School District 109 for their annual Back to School Bash, and to approve sponsoring two holes at $300 each for the Southwest Conference of Mayors Annual Golf outing and a prize basket not to exceed $200 to be purchased with Amazon points.  Those passed.

Mills made a motion to extend the hours for the Finance office on Tuesday, June 28, and Thursday, June 30, until 7 p.m. for the purchase of vehicle stickers, which was also approved.

Trustee Stan Ogorek requested approvals for a few Home Occupation business licenses.  Those were for Marble Expression Inc., for a tile installation/general construction business at 8221 Concord Lane, Unit D.  Another for Cesar Corp., a transportation business at 9219 W. 75th St., and another for GoPro Transportation Inc., a transportation business at 7254 White Ash Drive.

Ogorek also made a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the execution of a highway authority agreement between the Village of Justice and Emaar Properties LLC., that was passed.

He reminded everyone that the village will be working on flower pots for businesses on May 21 at the public works building.  Any help will be appreciated in planting the flowers.

Local News

Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty congratulates Steven Karasek after he was sworn in Jan. 4 as a commissioner on the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Retired village employee appointed to Lyons ZBA

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The Karasek family has a long history of working for the village of Lyons dating back decades. And that history is getting a new chapter. Steven Karasek, 60, who two years ago retired after 36 years in the public works department, has been appointed by Mayor Christopher Getty to serve…

Diane Merrion (from left), CCFB Ag Literacy Coordinator, Eva Manzke, Teacher of Year Runner-Up, Kevin Dougherty, IL AITC Education Director. (SUpplied photo)

Walker teacher Eva Manzke honored by farm bureau

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan School District 104 teacher Eva Manzke was recently honored by the Cook County Farm Bureau for her work with teaching students about agriculture. Students at Walker Elementary in Bedford Park, and Manzke herself were surprised when Principal Amanda Venegonia said they were gathered to honor Manzke, as she had been…

Argo graduate Tom Diaz at junior college nationals in the final straightaway about 50 meters from the finish line. (Supplied photo)

Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Tom Diaz is a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College, and is making big strides with their cross country team. Diaz is also a 2021 graduate of Argo Community High School, and is the first Argonaut to earn All Region honors while pursuing his cross country career. MVCC’s Men’s an&…

Summit native Flip White is a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. (supplied photo)

Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Saul White Jr., better known as Flip White to basketball fans, has been with the famed Harlem Globetrotters for just over 10 years, and has no intention of stopping the entertainment he provides for his fans. White, who grew up in Summit, attended Wharton School and Graves Junior High (now…

Former Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva Former  Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva

College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…

Argo’s Evan Shelton (30) and Will Adams battle Shepard’s Robinson Hale for the ball. Photo by Steve Metsch

Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Corrspondent Argo’s Davonte Evans and Will Adams both knew it was just a matter of time before the Argonauts would find a way to beat Shepard. That time came in the third quarter of a South Suburban Red matchup, when Argo outscored Shepard en rout to a 61-52 on Jan.…

Mother McAuley’s Bella Finnegan launches a 3-point attempt over St. Laurence’s Lilliana Magana as Vikings coach George Shimko looks on in a game on Jan. 11. Finnegan scored her 1,000th career point in the game. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Stagg’s Laila Barakat and McAuley’s Bella Finnegan hit 1K career points; Richards’ Kortz gets 300th win

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Look what Laila Barakat started. The Stagg senior basketball star hit a milestone when she scored her 1,000th career point against Richards on Jan. 8. That was the first of three notable career accomplishments achieved the following week. It was followed by Mother McAuley senior Bella Finnegan scoring…

Rob Cruz

Cruz booted from SD 229 school board in Oak Lawn

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Dermot Connolly There is a vacancy on the Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 School Board, after members voted 6-1 last week to remove Robert Cruz for allegedly violating his oath of office, school board policy and state statutes. Cruz, a property developer, was elected to the District 229 board in…

Shepard's Damari Reed takes on Minooka's Jake Hinders en route to the first of his four victories and the 152-pound championship at the Illini Classic. Photo by Jason Maholy

Marist wrestlers take Illini Classic crown; Shepard’s Damari Reed stays unbeaten

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent When Peter Marinopoulos was a freshman, he served as the Marist wrestling team’s manager when the RedHawks would travel to tournaments. Two years later, he is finishing tournaments on top of the podium. Marinopolous, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A at 195 pounds by the Illinois…

Crime scene tape lies on the sidewalk in front of the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth where two men were shot and killed early Monday morning. (Photos by Linda Bogard) 

Warrant issued for suspected shooter in Worth double homicide

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong  Worth police have an arrest warrant for a man suspected as the shooter in a double homicide January 10 at the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth. Worth police are working with numerous law enforcement agencies to seek the man, who was not identified. Police said the suspect is not…

Neighbors

This Coastal State’s Approach to Flooding May Be a Model for Illinois Communities

This Coastal State’s Approach to Flooding May Be a Model for Illinois Communities

by Laura Stewart, Illinois Answers Project This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. Editor’s note: This is the second story examining government home buyouts. Read part one, which focuses on Illinois’ program, here.   WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – In an area once dotted with single family homes, a one-mile gravel path weaves…

Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session

Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session

By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR, & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s recently concluded spring session, including measures…

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would help the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation expand their newly established reservation in DeKalb County advanced out of a state House committee Tuesday, despite concerns about the tribe’s long-term plans for the property. House Bill 4718 would authorize the state to hand over…

Illinois could be 19th state to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

Illinois could be 19th state to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com After years of negotiations and continued opposition from service providers, Illinois appears poised to prohibit employers from using a federal exemption that allows them to pay individuals with disabilities less than the minimum wage. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established minimum wage law, but created…

Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget

Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the sun rose Wednesday morning.  Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach…

Members of House speaker’s staff sue over ongoing unionization conflict

Members of House speaker’s staff sue over ongoing unionization conflict

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Members of a would-be union representing staffers in House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office filed suit against their boss on Friday, asking a Cook County judge to force recognition of the union. The Illinois Legislative Staff Association, which formed in the fall of 2022, claims Welch’s…

Regulators slash Chicago gas utility’s rate request, setting up likely legal battle

Regulators slash Chicago gas utility’s rate request, setting up likely legal battle

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday once again reduced a request to increase customer rates from Chicago natural gas utility Peoples Gas.  In November, the ICC paused all spending related to Peoples Gas’ controversial “safety modernization program” for replacing aging infrastructure and reduced its $404 million…

Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session

Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session

By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR, & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s recently concluded spring session, including measures…

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Seven months after Democratic Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch advanced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize, members of his own staff on Tuesday blasted the speaker for allowing the bill to languish. The legislation has not seen any action since its passage…

Lawmakers OK bill to require ‘faithful’ electors in 2024, loosen campaign finance rules

Lawmakers OK bill to require ‘faithful’ electors in 2024, loosen campaign finance rules

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Illinois appears likely to join most of the rest of the country in requiring that the state’s Electoral College votes go to the winner of the state’s popular election. The measure is part of a broad package of election-related legislation…