Posts by Bob Bong
Comings & Goings: County approves $37 million Central Avenue bridge project
By Bob Bong The Cook County Board of Commissioners has approved $37 million for the reconstruction of the Central Avenue bridge over the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal in Stickney and Forest View. An additional $1.7 million was approved to replace sidewalk curb ramps along roadways throughout the county. The projects are designed to boost…
Read MoreComings & Goings: QuikTrip Travel Center opens in south suburbs
By Bob Bong Oklahoma-based QuikTrip, one of the nation’s leading convenience and gasoline retailers, opened a new Travel Center last week in Lansing. The Lansing location opened July 20 at 17355 Torrence Ave. at the former Kmart site. The new location features a larger lot and a more spacious store than a traditional QuikTrip. There…
Read MoreLocal National Night Out events to celebrate first responders, promote community
By Isabella Schreck Many residents will be able to meet their local police officers and police canines, while enjoying food and fun activities at local National Night Out Against Crime events coming up on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The national event, which has occurred every year on the first Tuesday of August for the past four…
Read MoreDeadline to apply for Cook County property tax exemptions is August 4
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced that the deadline to apply for property tax exemptions is Friday, August 4. Exemptions are property tax savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, saving a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year. The savings from exemptions…
Read MoreNew Moraine Valley president wants to expand programs
By Isabella Schreck As Moraine Valley Community College’s new president, Pamela Haney wants students, faculty and staff to know they are welcome on campus and that she cares about the college and its people – a lot. “I just feel like everyone should feel valued,” Haney said. “People should feel like they’re in a place…
Read MoreChicago rock legend to perform at Krapil’s
By Bob Bong Krapil’s Steakhouse in Worth offers live music on weekends in the summer and when Ambidextrous takes the stage Saturday night they will be joined by a Chicago rock legend. Taking the stage with Ambidextrous will be Ray Graffia Jr., one of the founding members of the New Colony Six. Graffia is making…
Read MoreTogether We Cope’s Back to School program under way
It’s never too soon to make plans for a new school year, so Together We Cope is kicking off its annual Back to School campaign now. The program that serves hundreds of area youngsters in need provides each with a new backpack filled with essential school supplies, plus some teacher requests for things like paper…
Read More3-year-old dies after Oak Lawn crash
Gofundme campaign started for family By Bob Bong A 3-year-old boy has died of injuries he suffered in a vehicle crash on July 16 at the intersection of 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Lawn. Matthew Dushenko passed away on July 18 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn from injuries he suffered…
Read MoreWhat’s the buzz? Floodwater mosquitos are coming
By Isabella Schreck Recent rainfalls have been needed, but with the rain comes mosquitos – and local experts said the area will be seeing more of those pesky bugs for the rest of this summer. “The ones we’re about to heavily deal with are floodwater mosquitoes,” said Mark Tomek, a biologist at the Desplaines Valley…
Read MoreOrland Fire District showcases emergency response services at Open House
The Orland Fire Protection District hosted its annual Open House last week, featuring an assortment of demonstrations of emergency response scenarios. The Open House was held at the OFPD Training Center, 10728 W. 163rd Place. This year’s Open House was held in the evening on Thursday, July 13, to allow residents who could not attend…
Read More