New Lenox, Will County police blotter

NEW LENOX

SUSPENDED LICENSE: Juan Diaz, 49, of Joliet, was charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance after a stop Feb. 6 in the 600 block of West Maple Street, police said.

LICENSE SUSPENDED: Juan Colunga, 27, of Joliet, was charged with …

Serving for Feb. 23, 2012

Here is a look at what Southlanders are accomplishing in the military including news from Sauk Village, Frankfort, Chicago Heights, Olympia Fields, Blue Island and Orland Park.

Haiti: Pockets of people fighting for a better world

From sadness, a choir grew.

A child died recently in the St. Germaine program at St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti. Officials at the special needs facility asked a group of local singers to perform at his funeral.

When Gena Heraty, a native of Ireland …

Campus for Feb. 23, 2012

Here is a look at what some Southland students are accomplishing in college, including news from South Holland, Willow Springs, Summit, Lockport, Lemont, Lansing, Justice, Hickory Hills, Burbank, Bridgeview and Blue Island.

Already alone, earthquake brought Haitian man friendship

Antoine Jean was watching TV on the afternoon the earth moved. “Everything shook, including me,” he said. It seemed like an eternity, but then, just as suddenly, it stopped. Jean ran to the roof to pray to God. But a few seconds into his prayer, …

Shots fired at man in New Lenox Township

Shots were fired Feb. 11 at a resident as he walked to his front door in the 14000 block of Summerfield Drive, but the man was not hit, according to Will County sheriff’s police.

The 44-year-old man told police that he parked his van in …

Limp appointed to Frankfort library board

Jeff Limp has been appointed to the Frankfort Public Library District board of trustees, filling a seat vacated when Kay MacNeil resigned last month.

Limp, whose appointment was unanimously approved, will fill the remainder of MacNeil’s term and plans to run for the seat in …

Girls Basketball Player of the Week: Caitlin McMahon, Lincoln-Way East

Caitlin McMahon, of Lincoln-Way East, is this week’s Beggars Pizza/SouthtownStar Girls Basketball Player of the Week.

McMahon, a senior forward, scored 21 points in a Class 4A regional semifinal win over Crete-Monee, then totaled 19 points and nine rebounds in a regional final victory over …

Look hard enough, and you’ll find signs of hope

Drive through downtown Port-au-Prince and it’s easy to wonder what, if any, improvements have been made in the two years since a powerful earthquake flattened large swaths of the capital city and its surrounding areas in 2010. Piles of crumbled concrete randomly litter the landscape. …

For Tinley Park girl’s ‘Army,’ battle goes beyond her fight vs. leukemia

It won’t be long until many schoolchildren are counting down the days until the start of summer vacation — if they haven’t started already. Abby Skarbek, meanwhile, hopes for more class time than she has gotten lately. She just wants to be healthy enough to …

He’s filling essential needs, one cargo  container at a time

John Shattuck is the man behind the stuff. The stuff that will cure the sick, educate the young and heal the despondent. From his Frankfort home, he organizes campaigns to send essentials, and some extras, to various locations in Haiti. On behalf of Nuestros Pequenos …

New site for Mokena business expo, health fair

The Mokena Chamber of Commerce will hold its seventh annual Community Business Expo and Health Fair at a new location this year.

The chamber has partnered with the Mokena Park District, which will host the event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at The …

Q-and-A with Jake Pearson, Lincoln-Way North swimming

Jake Pearson, of Lincoln-Way North swimming, is a two-time state qualifier, finishing 17th in the 500-yard freestyle and 24th in the 200 free in state as a sophomore.

Oak Lawn Lego display features fantastic creations

There were Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, medieval knights, pirates and so much more. It was hard to pick a favorite. But the one thing everyone could agree on was that these intricate Lego creations were amazing. “Oh, wow! Look at that!” was the general consensus …

In Haiti, it’s one miserable place after another

Even before the 2010 earthquake, Cite Soleil was a godforsaken place. The densely populated, incredibly impoverished slum section of Port-au-Prince was notorious for crime, disease and misery. The earthquake only made matters worse. Displaced families took up residence there and some 4,000 convicts who escaped …

Brashinger: Frankfort woman sees the signs to start sign language business

When Monica Blouin’s first child was born nearly five years ago, she and her husband, Tim, were unprepared for a delivery room diagnosis of Down syndrome for their child, Madeline “Madie” Miracles. The condition is the result of an extra full or partial copy of …