Eisenberg: The present: golden age or poorly thought-out detour?

It’s nice to look back at the way things used to be. For many of us, there’s that ideal time when everything was right with the world, at least in our minds. For example, I remember the 1970s as a time when I could ride …

Crete man killed when bus he’s repairing rolls over him

A Crete man was killed Thursday afternoon when a bus he was repairing slipped off the jack and rolled over him in unincorporated Lynwood.

Edward J. Randall, 47, of the 25100 block of South Sangamon Street in Crete, was under the bus in the 1800 …

Answer Man: What happened to Columbia Heights?

A long time ago, there was a Southland village known as Columbia Heights, so named in honor of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.

What happened to it?

Well, it’s still there, but folks these days call it by a different name: Steger.

According to …

Glenwood school celebrates Black History Month

Hickory Bend Elementary School in Glenwood on Tuesday marked Black History month with its annual costume parade. First-grader Jonathan Daniels dressed as Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who founded Provident Hospital in Chicago and was credited with performing a prototype open-heart surgery when he successfully repaired …

Around Town (East) for Feb. 12, 2012

Here is a look at events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

Wrong-way I-80 wreck: ‘They killed my son’

A history of family tragedies weighed on a former Steger couple Monday as they made a long, painful drive north from Alabama.

This one hurt the most. They were on their way to the Cook County morgue to identify the remains of their only son, …

Community Sports Calendar (East) for Feb. 12, 2012

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

Q-and-A with Charnelle Reed, Homewood-Flossmoor basketball

Charnelle Reed, 18, of Chicago Heights, is in her fourth season as a guard on the Vikings varsity for Homewood-Flossmoor basketball. She will attend Western Illinois in the fall.

Property Transfers for Feb. 12, 2012

Property transfers for Cook and Will counties. Curious about more home sales in your neighborhood? For more Chicago area transactions, see “recent sales” at www.searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/.

Political unity evading third airport backers

The proposed airport in the south suburbs that Gov. Pat Quinn mentioned in his State of the State address last week is still stymied by feuding politicians, but the battle for its control seems to be heating up. That’s because it’s still not clear who would govern the airport if it’s ever built.

Casting Call for Feb. 10, 2012

Here is a look at open auditions in the Southland and beyond. Casting calls include Apostle Christian Theatre’s “The Death and Life of Everyman,” Curtain Call Theatre’s “You Can’t Take it With You,” Beverly Theatre Guild’s “Little Women, The Musical,” the Drama Group’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and Theater on the Move’s “Annie.”

Man charged with murder in Lynwood man’s death held without bail

A 22-year-old Gary man was ordered held without bail Friday in the Nov. 28 shooting death of a Lynwood man. Calvin Griffin, formerly of Chicago Heights, was charged Thursday with murder, home invasion and kidnapping in the slaying of 56-year-old Eugene White Jr., who was …

Around Town (East) for Feb. 5, 2012

Here is a look at events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

Chicago Heights man robbed at bus station

A Chicago Heights man was robbed about 4 a.m. Jan. 28 by four male teens at the Pace bus depot, 46 E. 16th St., in Chicago Heights, according to police.

They said one of the teens pulled up his shirt, revealing a pistol tucked into …

Community Sports Calendar (East) for Feb. 5, 2012

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

U.S. Rep. Jackson faces first Democratic challenge

The former congresswoman and one-time Mary Kay saleswoman dashed up to the pulpit of the black megachurch and offered stories of growing up poor and raising two children on her own as she tried to win the congregation’s support for her bid to unseat Rep. …