Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound May 10, 2023

Local News

Chicago FOP President John Catanzara addresses the United Business Association of Midway on Oct. 9. Behind him are Illinois FOP General Counsel Tamara Cummings (at left) and UBAM President Anita Cummings. (Photo by Dermot Connolly)

FOP officials share Chicago policing concerns with UBAM

Two Fraternal Order of Police officials from Clearing shared insights about law enforcement at the state and local level at the Oct. 9 United Business Association of Midway meeting. Tamara Cummings, general counsel for the Illinois FOP, and John Catanzara, president of the Chicago FOP (Lodge 7)—former classmates at St. Rene School—were the guest speakers…

Bedford Park and the Chicago Sky welcome guests to the groundbreaking last week of the team’s new practice facility. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Chicago Sky, Bedford Park break ground on $38 million practice facility

It was a groundbreaking event on Oct. 9, as more than 200 people gathered at the future site of Phase 2 of the Wintrust Sports Complex at 65th Street and Central Avenue in Bedford Park. The Chicago Sky, in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park, broke ground on a new $38 million state-of-the-art practice…

Sophie Imielski (left) and Jordyn Hoffenberger were busy hemming garments at an earlier Repair Cafe. (File photo)

Final repair cafe of the year Oct. 19 for Lyons Township

The Township of Lyons will host its final repair café of the year from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the township hall, 6404 Joliet Road. You can bring a wide range of household items in for repairs free of charge, Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg said during the township board meeting Oct.…

Forest View Village Clerk Laura McGuffey (from left), Stickney Township Trustees Laura Kreil, Diane Viverito, Donna Galeher, Forest View Mayor Nancy Miller and Administrator Mike Dropka at the beginning of the October 8 board meeting. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Forest View loses 2 officials in sudden resignations, mayor ‘saddened’

On Oct. 8, the Forest View village board meeting took a surprising turn when two key officials resigned during a portion of the meeting that was closed to the public. Forest View Administrator Michael Dropka submitted his resignation to trustees who met behind closed doors to discuss an “employee personnel matter,” according to the meeting…

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) addresses the community rally on Saturday urging the city to split the 8th Police District in half. Behind her are fellow council members Ray Lopez (15th) and Marty Quinn (13th). (Supplied photo)

Community, officials rally for new Southwest Side police district

Neighborhood residents and local officials supporting the division of the Chicago Lawn (8th) District came out in force for a rally Saturday outside the former National Guard Armory at Midway Airport, which they hope will house a new police station. Police directed traffic as large crowds crossed 63rd Street to attend the 11 a.m. gathering…

Marko Franco ran for two touchdowns in Back of the Yards' win against Gage Park on Oct. 10.

Football notebook: Marko Franco gives Back of the Yards a boost

Mark Morgan had a plan when he took over as Back of the Yards football coach in the fall of 2021. The Bobcats hadn’t fielded a team in two years, skipping the spring 2021 pandemic season. Getting the program back on its feet took some heavy lifting. Back of the Yards went 1-7 and 2-7…

Nazareth's boys golf team won the third sectional title in program history and heads to state Oct. 18-19. Nazareth photo

Postseason roundup: Nazareth boys, girls both advance to state golf

Nazareth boys golf coach Dave Reed didn’t see this coming. A sectional championship? That happened only twice in school history, in 2009 and 2013. Plus, the Roadrunners had not qualified for state as a team since 2019. Heading into this season, there were no sectional expectations. During regional play, the Roadrunners grabbed the last sectional…

Red Star Ludmila, left, and Gotham's Nealy Martin tangle on Oct. 12 at SeatGeek Stadium. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro soccer report: Red Stars clinch playoff spot; Fire names new coach

If the Red Stars had their choice, they would rather have beaten Gotham on Sept. 12 to secure a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. Instead, the Red Stars suffered a 2-0 loss to the defending NWSL champions at SeatGeek Stadium, and 24 hours later clinched a spot in the playoffs when Washington…

Saquan Commings returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown in Curie’s 30-0 win against Mather in Week 7. Photo by Mike Clark

Saquan Commings’ pick-six highlights Curie shutout of Mather

Slowly but surely, Curie is learning how to win again. The Condors were one of the Public League’s top football programs earlier this century, advancing to the IHSA playoffs 11 times from 2005-19 and winning 41 games between 2014-17. But before first-year coach Jarve Lewis-Bey arrived this fall, Curie had only four victories in the…

Mustafa Sulaiman, a familiar figure on the Chicago-area prep basketball scene, is taking over as boys coach at Universal. Provided photo

Universal hires Mustafa Sulaiman as boys basketball coach

Mustafa Sulaiman wasn’t looking for another job, but one came looking for him. Sulaiman is a familiar figure in Chicago-area prep basketball circles as the creator of the Xposure Runs podcast and the Chitown Showcase for uncommitted players trying to raise their recruiting profile. Now he’s also the head coach at Universal. Sulaiman was hired…

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