Posts by Bob Bong
Shed fire spreads to Orland Park home
A fire believed to have started in a backyard shed quickly spread to the adjacent home Monday night in Orland Park. Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a 911 call at 10:41 p.m. Monday in the 9800 block of Avenida Del Este. Firefighters said when they arrived there was heavy smoke and fire coming…
Read MoreSD104 teacher Eva Manzke named agriculture classroom teacher of the year
Eva Manzke, a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Walker Elementary School in Bedford Park, is the recipient of the 2023 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from the Cook County Farm Bureau. Manzke, who has been a teacher for 30 years, utilizes agriculture across her curriculum with her students. From urban…
Read MoreOwner of Bridgeview X’s and O’s shot
By Bob Bong The owner of X’s and O’s sports bar in Bridgeview was shot in the leg Friday night by a disgruntled patron who had been ordered to leave the establishment, Bridgeview Police Chief Ricardo Mancha said Monday. According to Mancha, the man and his girlfriend were ordered to leave the bar at 7801…
Read MoreWillow Springs urges repeal of SAFE-T Act
From staff reports The Willow Springs Village Board last week unanimously supported a resolution asking the Illinois General Assembly to repeal or revise the controversial SAFE-T Act. The resolution will be forwarded to General Assembly leaders of both parties and those that represent the village. Officials had previously passed a similar resolution at their its…
Read MoreCunningham, McGovern face off in 18th Senate District
By Joe Boyle State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th) has said that taking on crime and keeping constituents safe is a top priority in his district. However, Republican Christine Shanahan McGovern, his opponent in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election, also said that crime needs to be held in check but believes Democrats are not doing enough to…
Read More36th House District: Burke challenged by Robbins police chief
By Dermot Connolly State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), of Evergreen Park, is running for her seventh term in the General Assembly and has a Republican opponent for the first time since 2012. Robbins Police Chief David Sheppard is running against her in the November 8 general election. Both are seeking to represent the 36th District,…
Read More35th Illinois House: Hurley, Hebein square off again
By Dermot Connolly The Nov. 8 election will see state Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th) running against Republican candidate Herb Hebein, for the second consecutive time. Hebein, a retired Chicago police officer, would like to improve on his results on his first run in 2020, when Hurley received 64 percent of the vote. First elected in…
Read MoreShepard students chosen for ILMEA district festival
Shepard High School choir students Aidan Reilly (Bass 1), Carson Steele (Bass 1), Alejandro Gutierrez (Tenor 1) and Ellie Davidson (Soprano 2) and band student Gabriella Scalzo last weekend earned selection to the Illinois Music Education Association District 1 Choir. “These students started working on their all-district auditions at the start of the school year,…
Read MoreHastings presents $610,000 state grant to Orland Fire to enhance 911 system
State Senator Michael Hastings joined officials of the Orland Fire Protection District on October 20 to announce the award of a $610,000 State Grant to enhance the district’s regional 911 emergency system and “save more lives.” Fire Chief Michael Schofield and several Battalion Chiefs joined District Trustee Craig Schmidt who said the grant will help speed up 911 emergency communications among…
Read MoreCounty clerk reminds residents of voting options
As Election Day approaches, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is reminding suburban voters of the options that are available to cast their ballot in the November 8 Gubernatorial Election. The Clerk’s Office also reminds voters that if they have a Mail Ballot that they wish to drop at a secure drop box location, they must…
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