District 227 cuts administrators

To save $651,300, Rich Township High School District 227 is consolidating 11 administrative positions into five. Supt. Donna Leak says the cut, along with last month’s teachers cut, will not adversely impact students. Yet, there will be fewer students taking fine arts and career tech education classes because the number of class periods has been reduced from seven to six and students cannot fit those classes in their schedules.

Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra hosts Southland native Morris

When Janet Kuester picked up a newspaper and read that Quinton Morris, a nationally acclaimed chamber musician and teacher, was originally from Park Forest, she said, “I about fell over.”

Kuester is the current artistic director of the Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra, which is based …

What’s Going On for May 17, 2012

Here’s a look at What’s Going On in the Southland including in Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Oak Forest, Orland Park and Richton Park.

District 162 participates in Math Bowl

Matteson Elementary School District 162 students in first through eighth grades recently participated in the South Cook Math Bowl. Timothy Tabor, a second-grade student at Matteson School, received an individual sixth-place award. The district’s first/second grade team won fifth place and included members Leon Dubose, …

Campus (East) for May 20, 2012

Here is a look at what Southlanders are accomplishing in college. News from the SouthtownStar’s East region includes Chicago Heights, Homewood, Matteson, Crete, Flossmoor and Richton Park.

Sears to leave Lincoln Mall

Sears to close Lincoln Mall store next month; sale of struggling Matteson shopping center set for June 1.

Around Town (East) for May 20, 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.

To Your Health: Lower your risk for Alzheimer’s disease

People who continue learning new things are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. So if you have never learned a second language, try it. If you have never learned to read music, or paint or play an instrument, try it.

Community Sports Calendar (East) for May 20, 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.

Matteson, Richton Park police blotter

MATTESON

HOME BURGLARY: A television and jewelry were stolen April 30 from a house in the 6400 block of Blue Sky Lane.

THEFT: Tempelei Stith-Shannon, 25, 253 Eddy, Chicago Heights, was charged with theft April 30 after she stole cash while working as a personal …

Property Transfers for May 20, 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/.

Sad drama: ITC’s final curtain falls

For those in the Southland who love the arts, these are dark days. The Illinois Theatre Center in Park Forest, which for 36 years gave us an option to downtown Chicago for professional theater, has closed, leaving a large void on the area’s artistic scene. …

Matteson woman charged with stealing hospital patients’ IDs

A Matteson woman has been charged with stealing the identities of Northwestern Memorial Hospital patients, including some being treated for cancer, to pay off her personal bills.

Shatina Golden, 35, an employee of the hospital, was charged Monday with one count each of aggravated identity …

Shnay: Newcomers may need a welcoming committee

Please forgive us if we go back over old ground. Two weeks ago we wrote about the imminent change in the format of the current Kiwanis Club Pancake Day. The nearly 60-year-old Pankatron cooker-server would be put in mothballs, and instead of holding the event …

Park Forest teacher brings horse to school during Career Day

Blackhawk Intermediate Center in Park Forest recently hosted a Career Day featuring presentations by a financial planner, a librarian, a marketing representative, a technology and design professional and Blackhawk fifth-grade teacher Erin Elliott, who also is a horse breeder, owner and trainer. Elliott showed students …

Owens receives Phenomenal Woman Award

Rich Township High School District 227 Board of Education president Betty Owens recently received the Phenomenal Woman Award during the Reaching Back Foundation’s annual Awards Breakfast at the Beverly Woods Restaurant and Banquet Hall in Chicago. The Phenomenal Woman Award recognizes women who have made …