Local News

Chief Anderson the first to donate blood

Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

By Carol Mcgowan / April 25, 2024 / Comments Off on Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

By Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the door. Fire……

Read More
dvn 4 11 24 summit fire1

Summit attic fire displaces 4 families

By Bob Bong / April 9, 2024 / Comments Off on Summit attic fire displaces 4 families

By Bob Bong A fire Saturday afternoon in Summit left four families without a home. One firefighter was injured fighting the attic fire at 7613 W. 60th St. He was treated for a shoulder injury at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and released. No other injuries were reported. “We had a three-story apartment……

Read More
dvn 3 24 25 new BV fire battalion chief

New Bridgeview battalion chief credits crew

By Bob Bong / March 29, 2024 / Comments Off on New Bridgeview battalion chief credits crew

By Steve Metsch Jason Yerkovich, who has spent 15 years working for the Bridgeview Fire Department, may have a new job title but is giving credit where he says it is due. At the March 20 village board meeting, Yerkovich was promoted to battalion chief. He had been a lieutenant. “I told my crew (that)……

Read More
tanker

Chemical spill on I-55 shuts down traffic for hours

By Carol Mcgowan / February 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Chemical spill on I-55 shuts down traffic for hours

By Carol McGowan Chemicals leaking from a semi-trailer truck that was stopped on the right shoulder of Interstate 55 near LaGrange Road in Summit caused the expressway to be shut down in both directions for most of the day last Friday, and caused traffic headaches in the surrounding area. All lanes were closed from just……

Read More
dvn 11 6 Vic Portillo Donation1 2023

Vic Portillo donates Fire Prevention Week materials

By Bob Bong / November 11, 2023 /

Bridgeview State Farm Agent Vic Portillo donated National Fire Prevention Week educational materials to the Bridgeview Fire Department on October 23. The donation includes 100 children’s activity booklets, adult brochures, 10 Tips for Fire Safety Brochures, magnets, stickers, and plastic bags to teach Bridgeview residents about fire safety and cooking safety specifically in accordance with……

Read More
9 11 memorial logo

Summit Fire Department remembers September 11

By Carol Mcgowan / September 14, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit Fire Department remembers September 11

By Carol McGowan  Nearly 30 people gathered Monday morning at the Summit Fire Department on 59th Street to remember the people who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States. The ceremony and prayer service were followed by Summit Fire Chief Anthony Anderson and Summit Police Chief……

Read More
USCG chopper

Indian Head Park calls their first National Night Out a Success

By Carol Mcgowan / August 13, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan  The Village of Indian Head Park jumped on the bandwagon last week with others in the area to take part in National Night Out 2023. National Night Out, also known as America’s Night Out Against Crime, takes place on the first Tuesday in August. It’s an annual nationwide event that’s meant to……

Read More
dvn bv fire deal2

Bridgeview Fire Department partners with Moraine Valley Community College

By Steve Metsch / August 4, 2023 /

By Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Fire Department has signed on with Moraine Valley Community College for a firefighter internship program with an eye on future hires. Village officials hope this will result in well-trained men and women joining the fire department. The Moraine Valley Fire Service Internship Program is for students who want to become……

Read More
Janettas Ortiz

Summit residents voice flooding concerns 

By Carol Mcgowan / July 29, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit residents voice flooding concerns 

By Carol McGowan  Flooding was on the minds of several residents who voiced their concerns during last week’s packed house Summit Village Board meeting. A common theme was that flooding during heavy rains, including those that have hit the village this month, has been a problem for decades and continues to be a major concern……

Read More
NNO 2023 40th anniversary

Local National Night Out events to celebrate first responders, promote community

By Bob Bong / July 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Local 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 More
Facepainting was a hit at Stickney's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. (Supplied photos)

Stickney celebrates Cinco de Mayo

By Carol McGowan The Village of Stickney didn’t disappoint this year with its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Village Trustee Leandra Torres, who is the Co-Chaiman of the Parks and Recreation Commission along with Trustee Jim Hrejsa, said it was a fun-filled day. “We had 774 people attend this year,” she said. “It was free……

Summit Village officials with SD 104 Wrestling Coach Joe Phelan, and Wrestlers 
Gianna Araujo-Dominguez,Ali Arellano-Phipps,Yaili Fortiz, Joaquin Fortiz, and Skylar Arellano-Phipps. Michael Starzyk was not present. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Summit congratulates District 104 westlers

By Carol McGowan At their April 15 board meeting, Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez and village officials presented Certificates of Accomplishment to boy and girl wrestlers from Summit School District 104. Rodriguez read their accomplishments and called them up one-by-one to receive their certificates.  They were given a standing ovation by those in attendance. The girls……

Vern Woyner works on a 2009 Buick Lucerne at his shop, Vern’s Auto Service, in Lyons. He was honored by the village recently. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Auto mechanic Vern Woyner honored for 47 years working in Lyons

By Steve Metsch If you have lived in or near Lyons the past 47 years and needed your car repaired, there’s a good chance you know Vern Woyner. Woyner, 70, has been repairing vehicles in Lyons since 1977. His longevity of expert service has earned him the highest award presented by the village. At the……

new rainbow cone flavors

Rainbow Cone adds 4 new flavors

By Bob Bong Chicago’s iconic Original Rainbow Cone has been evolving over the past few years. First, it joined forces with the folks at Buono Beef and expanded its presence from its original location in Beverly to offer cones at Buono Beef locations and a few stand-alone stores as well as food trucks. Last year,……

Bridgeview Trustee Gary Lewis urges residents to get rid of clutter on the May 11 spring cleanup day. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday

By Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by 6 a.m.……

Sisto Brito

Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence

By Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his grave on……

Helen Welch will perform songs from “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. (Supplied photo)

Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’

From staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics. The evening……

Illinois News

COVID-19 Update: ‘Bridge’ phase to begin Friday as state seeks to incentivize vaccination

COVID-19 Update: ‘Bridge’ phase to begin Friday as state seeks to incentivize vaccination

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News IllinoisJnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state is opening vaccinations to Illinoisans age 12-15, and a major theme park operator is offering 50,000 free admission tickets in an effort to encourage vaccination in that age group. That news came as the governor’s office confirmed the state will enter the “bridge” phase of……

CAPITOL RECAP: State leaders plan to talk to Treasury about stimulus spending

CAPITOL RECAP: State leaders plan to talk to Treasury about stimulus spending

By Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – State officials said Wednesday, May 12, they would petition the U.S. Treasury to use federal stimulus funding to repay borrowing from the Federal Reserve that was undertaken amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The state borrowed $3.2 billion from the Federal Reserve during the pandemic, plus another $400 million borrowed from……

Pritzker’s energy proposal gets first legislative hearing

Pritzker’s energy proposal gets first legislative hearing

By GRACE BARBIC Capitol News Illinoisgbarbic@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois lawmakers continue to push for the passage of an energy overhaul this spring, the Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee discussed the latest proposal to enter the discussion – Gov. JB Pritzker’s Consumers and Climate First Act. House Bill 4074, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner,……

State launches $6 million tourism campaign aimed at boosting post-pandemic travel

State launches $6 million tourism campaign aimed at boosting post-pandemic travel

By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new $6 million tourism advertising campaign Wednesday aimed at attracting visitors to the state and sparking economic activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. The multimedia campaign, featured around the theme “Time for Me to Drive,” showcases various destinations in all parts of the……

Senate passes expansion of maternal care coverage

Senate passes expansion of maternal care coverage

By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed legislation Wednesday expanding maternal and postpartum care in Illinois, as well as changing existing statutes to be more inclusive of different gender identities. Senate Bill 967, sponsored by Elgin Democratic Sen. Cristina Castro, passed the Senate floor Wednesday on a 58-0 vote. It……

Mendoza suggests Illinois due for credit upgrade

Mendoza suggests Illinois due for credit upgrade

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is asking the nation’s three major credit rating agencies to reconsider the state’s credit rating with an eye toward a possible upgrade. In an April 28 letter to executives at Moody’s Investors Service, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, Mendoza argued that Illinois……

Bills allow redistribution of prescription drugs, require menstrual products at homeless shelters

Bills allow redistribution of prescription drugs, require menstrual products at homeless shelters

By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — The Senate Health Committee voted Tuesday to advance two bills which would create a prescription drug repository program and require that feminine hygiene products be provided free of charge at homeless shelters. Both bills have already passed the House and will now be considered before the full……

Special education, hair discrimination bills pass Senate Education Committee

Special education, hair discrimination bills pass Senate Education Committee

By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Senate Education Committee advanced several bills Tuesday, including measures addressing special education, hairstyle discrimination and teaching Asian American history in public schools. Those were among more than a dozen bills to pass the committee, the majority of which passed unanimously without debate or discussion. Springfield Democrat……

High court hears challenge to mandatory life for young adults

High court hears challenge to mandatory life for young adults

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — A man who was found guilty for acting as the lookout in a double homicide nearly three decades ago is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to find his mandatory life sentence without parole unconstitutional. A lawyer for Antonio House argued before Supreme Court Tuesday that his……

WITH PODCAST: Disinvestment, pandemic leave Illinois’ state of mental health care in ‘crisis’

WITH PODCAST: Disinvestment, pandemic leave Illinois’ state of mental health care in ‘crisis’

By GRACE BARBIC Capitol News Illinoisgbarbic@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Rooted in disinvestment and growing amid economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois is facing a statewide mental health crisis due to workforce shortages and accessibility. “It’s been recognized that we are no longer in an emergency, we’re in a crisis,” said Marvin Lindsey, CEO of the……