Oak Lawn Police Chief Dan Vittorio (second from left) congratulates members of the police department who received promotions and were officially sworn in at the village board meeting Tuesday. They are (from left) Cmdr. Edward Clancy, Sgt. Finbarr Haran and Lt. Michael Hudziak. (Photo by Joe Boyle)
Oak Lawn officials praise police after arrest
3 officers promoted at meeting
By Joe Boyle
Oak Lawn officials applauded the efforts of the village police department after an arrest took place following an alleged road rage incident.
The incident took place on May 10 when two drivers got into a verbal altercation while driving southbound near 105th and Cicero, according to police. After the two drivers pulled over, near 107th and Cicero, one of them walked toward the other and fired shots, hitting the victim twice, reports state.
Police were nearby and quickly were in pursuit of the shooter. Oak Lawn and Alsip police continued pursuing the vehicle onto I-294 but gave up the chase when the driver was reportedly going over 100 miles per hour. Meanwhile, the victim was hospitalized at Advocate Christ Medical Center and is recovering from his injuries.
But while the shooter initially eluded officers, Oak Lawn officials were pleased to report that local police detectives and U.S. Customs agents arrested a Chicago man on May 15 at O’Hare Airport and charged him with the shooting.
Village Manager Tom Phelan said the Oak Lawn police worked diligently to make an arrest after this incident.
“Our thanks go out to the police department,” Phelan said during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday morning. “Even the media, and I don’t want to make this the way it sounds, but they reported on the incident. The media was thankful and told us so. You would think that everyone would thank the police. It is unfathomable what is happening in Chicago. We want to send the message that this will not be tolerated in Oak Lawn.”
Trustee Ralph Soch (6th), whose district the shooting incident took place, was appreciative of the efforts of the police.
“I want to thank the police for making the arrest,” Soch said. “I want to thank the chief (Dan Vittorio) and the police department for their hard work.”
In a related matter, Vittorio wanted to announce a series of promotions within the department. Lt. Edward Clancy has been appointed as commander. Michael Hudziak was sworn in as the new lieutenant. Finbarr Haran was sworn in as the new sergeant.
A larger than usual crowd attended the meeting to witness the appointments. Relatives and friends were also on hand.
“We want to thank all those who have been promoted and the police department,” said Trustee Alex Olejniczak (2nd). “We want to give them the tools so they can do their jobs. Our police officers will find and prosecute those who commit crimes.”
The board approved several items that were placed on the consent agenda. However, one trustee had questions about a proposal to open a massage business in the village.
Trustee Tim Desmond (1st) wondered why this particular massage center was given consideration over others. He pointed out that when Massage Envy opened in the village, it was because the business offered a variety of services besides massages.
Desmond said that there had been some issues with massage businesses in other communities in which services extended beyond massages and resulted in arrests.
Owner Ziaohui Yang, with the assistance of an interpreter, said her business, 4701 W. 95th St., will concentrate on just giving massages for back pain and other ailments. She owns another business in Chicago and has another location in Tinley Park, near 171st and Harlem.
Yang said the business will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. She will have two employees on staff.
After some discussion, the board approved the massage parlor by a 4-2 margin. Desmond and Olejniczak voted against the business.
“We are very concerned about the massage business,” said Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th). “Good luck but the business will be watched very closely.”
Mayor Terry Vorderer also wished the owner the best but added that they will be under observation.
“We want a legitimate business,” Vorderer said. “I will instruct the police to keep an eye on your business.”
The Memorial Day observance will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Veterans Monument at the Village Green. Vorderer encourages everyone to attend.
“When you look at Ukraine, you can see the real importance of recognizing this,” the mayor said.
In other news, the annual Blue Ribbon Walk will take place on Saturday, June 4, at Lake Shore Park. Participants are expected to gather at about 10 a.m. with the walk starting at 11 a.m. The walk is held each year to salute the efforts of not only the Oak Lawn Police Department but police across the country.
Early voting will begin Monday, June 13, in the Village Hall auditorium, 9446 S. Raymond Ave. Early voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Early voting will continue from June 20 through June 27. Those hours will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The final Monday, June 27, early voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Gubernatorial Primary Election will take place Tuesday, June 28.
Local News
Here’s a sure sign of spring
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. How have you been surviving January? This is one month I always hope flies by. If the sun is out, the temperatures are, or feel like they are in the subzero range. If it’s cloudy, which is most…
Justice swears in new police officer
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Justice Village Board approved the recommendation of the Justice Fire and Police Commission to hire Police Officer Kady Sassenger at its January 10 meeting. Her move from the Coal City Police Department to Justice is considered a lateral move, which means the officer transfers from one department to another…
Medeisis promoted to fire battalion chief in Bridgeview
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Fire Department has a new battalion chief. Michael Medeisis, 55, was promoted from the rank of lieutenant at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Bridgeview Village Board. “Hey, hot diggity dog, we’ve got a great guy (promoted),” village Trustee Michael Pticek said. Trustee James Cecott said the promotion…
Retired village employee appointed to Lyons ZBA
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…
Walker teacher Eva Manzke honored by farm bureau
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…
Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors
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 marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters
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…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn senior basketball player Davion Lawrence is 45 pounds lighter than he was last season, but insists his eating habits are the same. He has, however, changed up his training habits. Heading into football last fall, Lawrence and a few fellow seniors wanted to get in the…
Neighbors
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…
Archer Manor Little League starts its 2024 season
Spread the love. Sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted the boys and girls, moms and dads, umpires and coaches, and everyone else participating in Archer Manor Little League’s Opening Day parade and ceremonies at Archer Park. Since 1952, AMLL has provided athletic opportunities for thousands of boys and girls in Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Central…
Dread over car drifters on streets
Spread the love. Reckless drivers take over SW Side intersections . By Tim Hadac At the April meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, a police officer admitted that the drag racing/drifting phenomenon seen and heard in the Midway area in recent years “probably will increase, but we hope not.” The admission was triggered by…
Don’t raise pilots’ retirement age, García says
Spread the love. From staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently led a letter joined by 121 Members of Congress urging House Democratic leadership to reject any changes to the pilot retirement age in a final version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill.…
CTA launches ‘chat’ feature on website
Spread the love. From staff reports Artificial Intelligence has made another step forward at the Chicago Transit Authority. CTA officials recently launched the “Chat with CTA” chatbot, a new virtual automated service featured on transitchicago.com. The communication tool allows riders to report issues, provide feedback and receive answers in real-time. Additionally, it provides the CTA with customer…
New effort to aid kids with disabilities
Spread the love. From staff reports A new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities was launched recently by Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services. Children with disabilities is a population disproportionately affected by the pandemic,…
Dart warns of Sheriff’s Office imposters
Spread the love. From staff reports Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart recently alerted the public of an uptick in telephone and email phishing scams in which scammers identify themselves as a Sheriff’s Office employee in an attempt to defraud victims. Scammers are using the actual names and respective titles of Sheriff’s Office employees to…
It’s ‘Batter up!’ time in West Lawn
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . It must be May because baseball season is here. I recently reported on the West Lawn Little League, whose 2024 season is now underway. Another West Lawn youth athletic association is Midway Baseball Softball Association. Their teams…