The Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees voted at a special meeting April 28 to accept the resignation of longtime Trustee Jim Hickey and appoint in his place Dr. Beth Damas Kaspar. Hickey, who has been on the board since 2009, resigned for personal reasons. Kaspar will serve as a trustee until the next […]
Category: Regional Top News
Distance runner Dylan Jacobs has set records at every level, and he has his eyes on the Olympics
By Mike Walsh Correspondent If there is anything that Dylan Jacobs has learned over the years, it’s that Mom is always right. As youth growing up in Orland Park, Jacobs — now a standout runner at the University of Tennessee — played soccer, baseball and basketball. One day, he decided he was done with soccer. […]
Straz concerned about millions in lost LGDF funds
By Jeff Vorva Other area mayors and boards/counsels have expressed concern over the state taking too big a bite out of Local Government Distributive Fund money, but Palos Heights officials had been mum publicly on the subject. Mayor Bob Straz finally aired his concerns at the May 2 city council meeting over the promised 10% […]
Re-elected Orland trustees lauded, Cultural Center to be demolished
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park Trustees William Healy, Cynthia Nelson Katsenes and Michael Milani ran unopposed in the April 4 election and all three were sworn in at the village’s Committee of the Whole meeting on May 1. Mayor Keith Pekau had plenty of gratitude for this trio. They were all elected to the board […]
Baseball and Softball Wrap | Lizzie Sedakis is a hitting machine for Chicago Christian
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When Lizzie Sedakis was playing t-ball at age 5, her father gave her some advice. Dave Sedakis was not a baseball player in his high school days, but his hitting suggestions resonate with her today. “My dad taught me how to hit,” Lizzie said. “He taught me three points of […]
Pro Sports Report | Fire burn House, prep to host St. Louis in 3rd round of U.S. Open Cup
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Fire topped the House in the battle of Chicago and have a quick return trip to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The Fire beat the House, 3-0, April 26 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kendall Birks scored a brace and Kacper Przybylko had a […]
Area Sports Roundup | Kilbane, SXU heading to golf nationals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Kilbane helped the Saint Xavier women’s golf team qualify for the NAIA nationals for just the second time in program history. Kilbane, a junior, needed a playoff hole to be crowned the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion, and her red-hot shooting on the second day of the conference tournament […]
Recreation pilot programs ready to fly in Palos Heights
By Jeff Vorva Bylut vs. pilot. Palos Heights Alderman Don Bylut was outspoken for his support of a pilot program allowing residents to sample services offered by the recreation department for free. But he was also outspoken about not granting expanded recreation benefits to full-time city employees. The city plans to try out both programs […]
Mahoney enjoys memories of 16-year run as Palos Park mayor
By Jeff Vorva After 16 years, retiring Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney presided over his last full meeting on April 24. He’ll get to bang the gavel one more time on May 8 before turning it over to new mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters. Mahoney did not have a long speech, but he did have a few […]
Pekau, mayors fight for more LGDF money
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau joined a group of several other Chicago-area mayors in Springfield last week to try to get back more Local Government Distributive Fund money. Area mayors have been complaining that the state has been taking money away from local communities and town bosses wanted their voices heard. “We […]

