Posts by Bob Bong
Trinity Christian names Kuecker 9th college president
From staff reports Trinity Christian College announced Monday that the Board of Trustees has confirmed Dr. Aaron Kuecker as the Palos Heights college’s ninth president. Kuecker has served as interim president since April 2022. “Over the past year, Kuecker has shown clear direction and vision for the mission and future of Trinity Christian College. We are excited…
Read MoreHickory Hills native son completes 20th straight Chicago Marathon
By Dermot Connolly Hickory Hills native Steven Rice completed his 20th consecutive Chicago Marathon on Sunday—without losing much time from his first one two decades ago. “I didn’t do badly. It wasn’t my best and it wasn’t my worst,” Rice said on Monday. “What I am finding is, they are not getting any easier—maybe a bit…
Read MoreTokar to step down as Chicago Ridge mayor
By Dermot Connolly Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar is retiring this month, after nearly 50 years in local government. Tokar, a lifelong resident of Chicago Ridge, presided over his last Village Board meeting on Oct. 3, and said he would be watching the next one on Oct. 17 from the audience. “I’ve been contemplating this…
Read MoreLions clubs to hold Candy Days
The Riverside Township Lions Club will join Lions Clubs around the state for Candy Days, which will be held Thursday and Friday, October 12 and 13. Candy Days, held each year in October, annually raise more than $1 million to help the blind, visually impaired, deaf and hearing impaired. On Candy Days, Riverside Township Lions…
Read MoreOrland Township to hold COVID booster clinic
Orland Township will be holding a COVID-19 Pfizer Booster Clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Anyone planning on attending any of the clinics should wear a short-sleeved shirt and arrive in good health. At the clinic, a team of healthcare professionals from Jewel-Osco Pharmacy will administer the COVID-19 booster vaccine to help protect against the virus.…
Read MoreOrland to host Great Pumpkin Party on Saturday
Orland Park will host the Great Pumpkin Party from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, at Centennial Park, 15600 West Ave. in Orland Park. Activities are geared toward kids 1-9 years old. There will be outdoor fun, goodie bags and pie pumpkins, pony rides, marshmallow toasting, hayrides, petting…
Read More26 hurt in Bedford Park tent collapse
From staff reports More than two dozen people at an event in Bedford Park last week were injured when the tent they were meeting in collapsed. Bedford Park Police said they responded to assist the Bedford Park Fire Department at 10:44 a.m. on Thursday, September 14, in the 5600 block of West 73rd Street with…
Read MoreFormer McCook police chief pleads guilty to extortion
By Bob Bong Mario DePasquale, former police chief of McCook pleaded guilty last week to conspiring with the village’s former mayor to extort two businessmen out of tens of thousands of dollars. DePasquale, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion during a brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo. Bucklo…
Read MoreAERO opens new facility in Burbank
By Bob Bong When Queen of Peace High School in Burbank announced it was closing in 2018, the good folks at AERO special education co-op saw a golden opportunity. They purchased the school’s 13-acre site at 7659 S. Linder Ave. in August 2019 for $3.2 million. The plan was to retrofit the high school for…
Read MoreSt. Gianna Fest (formerly Queen of Martyrs Fest) kicks off fall activities
By Joe Boyle Fall begins this week but there is no shortage of activities occurring this month and next in Evergreen Park. Mayor Kelly Burke reminded residents during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night that the St. Gianna Fest (formerly Queen of Martyrs Fest) Family Carnival will take place Friday, Sept. 22, through Sunday,…
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