southtownstar.suntimes.com

Doyle back at the helm in Manhattan

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:16:25 -0500

After eight years, Jamie Doyle is back in the mayor’s office in Manhattan. After three attempts, he ousted two-term Mayor Bill Borgo in the April 9 election, winning with 47 percent of the vote in a four-man race. Doyle never went away, however. For six of those eight years, he served as a village trustee. “I had a really good feeling this time,” he said. In the first election in 2005, Borgo unseated Doyle by a wide margin. In 2009, Doyle said he lost by 158 votes. This time, the two political adversaries were separated by 307 votes. Borgo earned …

Frankfort, Mokena police blotter

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:32:00 -0500

FRANKFORT WARRANT ARREST: Toni M. Gatto, 24, 1617 W. 183rd St., Homewood, was arrested May 1 on a Will County warrant after a stop at LaGrange Road and Maple Street, police said SUSPENDED LICENSE: Jovanna Crockett, 37, of Kankakee, was charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance after being stopped May 3 at LaGrange and Laraway roads, police said. BATTERY: Justin Coil, 30, 9826 Treetop Drive, Orland Park, was charged with battery, resisting arrest and public intoxication, and Ross Coil, 28, of Joliet, was charged with battery and public intoxication after an altercation May 4 in the …

Brashinger: MJHS geography bee winner has big goals

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:29:31 -0500

Jimmy DiFiore, 12, is going to do more than just hope that the third time is the charm in his quest to be a regional, if not statewide, National Geographic Bee champion. He’s planning for it. Jimmy, a seventh-grade student at Mokena Junior High School and a two-time member of the top 10 contestants in the school’s geography bee (as it is commonly called), took third place as a sixth-grade competitor last year. By tweaking his tactics a bit, he came in first place this year. “I studied a little bit more, and I mostly just hoped that I would …

Community Sports Calendar (Central) for May 19, 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:42:27 -0500

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s Central region, which includes Crestwood, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Manhattan, Midlothian, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Orland Park, and Tinley Park.

LWSRA recreation center breaks new ground

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:29:21 -0500

The Lincolnway Special Recreation Association officially broke ground April 27 for its recreation facility on 5.6 acres in the Heather Glen subdivision of New Lenox. Once completed in early 2014, the 17,000-square-foot building will be the first of its kind in Illinois. It will enable LWSRA to more effectively serve more than 230 area residents who are challenged with various disabilities. LWSRA serves six member park districts: Frankfort, Manhattan, Mokena, New Lenox, Peotone and Wilmington Island. Among its many programs serving children to adults are summer day camps, social activities and sports programs. The LWSRA Recreation Center will include a …

New Lenox, Will County police blotter

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 -0500

NEW LENOX BIKE THEFT: A bicycle was stolen April 29 in the 1000 block of Shagbark Court. RETAIL THEFT: Jamella Denwiddie, 29, of Joliet, was charged with retail theft after she stole merchandise and attempted to return it April 29 at Wal-Mart in the 500 block of East U.S. 30, police said. WEAPONS CHARGE: Matthew Costenbader, 35, of College Station, Texas, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and speeding after a stop May 2 at Sonoma Road and Washington Street, police said. They said Costenbader had three handguns in the vehicle that were not properly stored. DUI CHARGE: …

Providence Men’s Club hosts Celtic Chip-In

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:27:20 -0500

Providence Catholic High School’s Men’s Club will host its annual “Celtic Chip-In” Golf Outing Scramble with a 1 p.m. shotgun start May 18 at Broken Arrow Golf Club, 16325 Broken Arrow Drive, Lockport. The cost is $150 per golfer or $600 per foursome and includes 18 holes of golf with motorized cart, lunch and an early dinner. There will be several raffles and prizes awarded. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information, contact Ed Barrett at (815) 717-3164 or ebarrett@providencecatholic.org. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit students at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. For a registration form, visit …

Southland students embrace Global Youth Service Day

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:27:47 -0500

Lincoln-Way students among first local Global Youth Service Day participants

Frankfort, Mokena police blotter

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:28:01 -0500

FRANKFORT SUSPENDED LICENSE: Russell L. Smith, 32, 8724 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license and not wearing a seat belt after a stop April 27 in the 9500 block of U.S. 30, police said. DUI ARREST: Kristen Trice, 23, 11536 Tea Tree Lane, Frankfort, was charged with drunken driving, obstructing police and improper lane use after an April 27 stop at U.S. 30 and Plank Trail Drive, police said. DUI CHARGE: Brooke Daverin, 27, of Bradley, was charged with drunken driving and speeding after she was stopped April 27 in the 400 block of …

Summer concerts sell out fast

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:18:14 -0500

Think the Triple Play Summer Concert Series in New Lenox is popular? Some of the 5,000 tickets to the annual concerts were to go on sale to the general public May 1, but village residents bought all of them beforehand, Mayor Tim Baldermann said. It’s the first time that all tickets were sold to residents, who get first crack at them. Typically, they purchase about 80 percent of the tickets. “We sold out in three weeks and three days. The people love this event,” Baldermann said. “Some nonresidents have called and complained that it was not fair. This is for …

D159 hiring decisions irk teachers union

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:19:07 -0500

Having agreed to a pay freeze to help District 159’s financial crunch, the teachers union is upset with the school board’s recent pay rate for newly hired teachers.

New Lenox, Will County police blotter

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:44:00 -0500

NEW LENOX IPOD STOLEN: An iPod was stolen from a vehicle April 15 in the 100 block of Hawthorn Lane. SUSPENDED LICENSE: Jeremy Hughes, 20, 432 Maple Road, New Lenox, was charged with driving on a suspended license and speeding after a stop April 26 in the 300 block of West U.S. 30, police said. DUI ARREST: Carlos Juarez, 27, of Joliet, was charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, improper lane use and no insurance after an accident April 27 in the 600 block of U.S. 30, police said. VANDALISM: A mailbox was damaged April 27 …

Suspended Frankfort cop facing new criminal charge

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:43:34 -0500

A Frankfort police officer accused of beating up his ex-girlfriend was indicted on an additional charge of burglary this week. Donald Walsh initially was charged with domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery in July after Mokena police arrested him for allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend at her home. A Will County grand jury indicted Walsh this week on a residential burglary charge as well as the battery charges. Special Prosecutor Dave Neal said he added the burglary charge not because Walsh took anything from his ex-girlfriend’s home, but because Walsh allegedly entered the home against her wishes on the day of …

Brashinger: Family, friends stand up for Frankfort man with ALS

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:26:43 -0500

Mike Meehan, of Frankfort, has three sisters who want him to act like their little brother and let them do something for him. The 51-year-old husband, father and business owner was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in the fall of 2012 after being misdiagnosed for more than a year. The fatal neuromuscular disease spreads rapidly and has no treatment or cure, so it has understandably turned Meehan and his family’s world upside down. Friends and family want to help in any way they can. “He grew up with three sisters who smothered him … like girls …

Frankfort, Mokena police blotter

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:22:00 -0500

FRANKFORT BURGLARY ARRESTS: Katarzyna Lewicki, 33, and Robert M. Calaway, 32, both of Schaumburg, were charged April 15 with burglary in connection with a break-in in the 20500 block of LaGrange Road, police said. They said Calaway also was charged with identity theft. FORGERY: Vicki A. James, 3105 Sherwood Ave., Markham, was charged with forgery and identity theft regarding an April 20 incident in the 9700 block of U.S. 30, police said. BATTERY: Benjamin Draus, 42, 9720 Forestview Drive, Mokena, was charged with aggravated battery of a senior citizen after an incident April 22 at Highland Road and Sauk Trail, …

L-Way East students sign letters of intent

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:59:45 -0500

13 student athletes from Lincoln-Way East High School have committed to compete at the collegiate level, including one who has signed with a Big Ten university. The students, who have all signed National Letters of Intent with colleges and universities from across the country, participated in a recognition ceremony at the school. “This is an exciting day for all of us,” East Athletic Director Mark Vander Kooi said. “They’ve worked hard for this opportunity.” The student athletes who recently signed National Letters of Intent are: Meaghan McMahon; St. Xavier University (basketball), Tommy Fuessel; Northwestern University (football), Justin Corbett; Northern Illinois …