southtownstar.suntimes.com

Oak Forest students take pride in PROUD program

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:22:00 -0500

Oak Forest High School physical education teacher Paige Stryczek and four of her students gave a presentation to the Bremen Community High School District 228 Board about the PROUD Program — People Respecting Others with Unique Differences. Each student spoke about the program and their experiences. Yvonne Munoz said, “The student leaders studied disorders to become acclimated with what they might experience working with other students.” Helwa Saleh spoke about why she took the class. “In elementary school, I saw students who had special needs and were part of the general education curriculum. I want to make students feel accepted, …

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:28:00 -0500

MIDLOTHIAN SUSPENDED LICENSE: Bernard Marciniak, 52, 18836 Wolf Road, Mokena, was charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance June 5 following a stop at 147th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. LICENSE SUSPENDED: Ricardo Herbas, 33, 9836 Massasoit Ave., Oak Lawn, was charged with driving on a suspended license after a stop June 5 at 148th Street and Cicero Avenue, police said. HOME BURGLARY: A laptop computer was stolen June 5 from a house in the 14400 block of Kostner Avenue. DRUG ARREST: James Tolve, 18, 12853 Honore Ave., Blue Island, was charged with possession of a …

Community Sports Calendar (Central) for June 16, 2013

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:27:20 -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.

McGrath: The cost of walking up the down staircase

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:16:45 -0500

It happens mostly to young teachers. Maybe more often to English teachers, whose classes are forums for a variety of communication. Say a student confides in an essay or an anonymous poem that he is attracted to his teacher. Or infatuated. Or in love. How does the teacher deal with the student crush? The question emerges because of a lawsuit recently by a student against Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. Joseph Corlett, a 57-year-old Sarasota, Fla., man enrolled in a creative writing class at the university, wants $2.2 million in damages after he was suspended for three semesters for writing …

Crestwood teen an Evans Scholar to Notre Dame

Fri, 31 May 2013 02:14:57 -0500

You can call Michael Buche a trendsetter. The Crestwood teen is one of the first two caddies to become a Chick Evans Scholar at the University of Notre Dame. He and Anthony La Guardia, of Washington state, will have their tuition and books paid for by the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation. “Notre Dame was my first choice, and they had to start somewhere,” Buche deadpanned. Buche, who just graduated from St. Laurence High School in Burbank, has been a caddie for six years — the past five at the Beverly Country Club after one year at Midlothian Country …

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:10:00 -0500

MIDLOTHIAN HOME BURGLARY: A television, clothing and $2,500 cash were stolen between May 24 and 29 from an apartment in the 3400 block of 147th Street. RETAIL THEFT: Bruce R. Verdone, 25, 14639 Springfield Ave., Midlothian, was charged with retail theft May 28 after stealing a cellphone from Family Dollar, 14446 Pulaski Road, police said. DUI ARREST: Joseph J. Jacobsen, 42, 14557 Turner Ave., Midlothian, was charged with drunken driving May 29 after being stopped at 147th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. POT POSSESSION: Colleen Ibarra-Ortega, 30, 12751 Division St., Blue Island, was charged with possession of marijuana after …

Chicago Gaelic Park hosts 27th Irish Fest

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:52:35 -0500

What has become an annual tradition to kicking off summer for many took place again in Oak Forest during Memorial Day weekend. Irish Fest 2013 featured four days of entertainment, food and refreshment in an outdoor setting at Chicago Gaelic Park. The 27th event included a petting zoo, Irish dog and horse exhibitions and sports contests. Staff reports …

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

Fri, 31 May 2013 21:06:01 -0500

MIDLOTHIAN SUSPENDED LICENSE: David D. Darty, 43, of Robbins, was charged with driving on a suspended license May 24 after a stop at 143rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. DRUG CHARGE: Carlos Peredes, 21, of Chicago, was charged with possession of a controlled substance after a May 25 stop at 150th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. RESISTING ARREST: Maria D. Olvera, 21, of Posen, was charged with resisting police and having expired registration after she was stopped May 25 at 144th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. SUSPENDED LICENSE: Tyrone M. Adams, 27, of Markham, was charged with …

Cook County’s mobile animal clinic ready to roll

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:30:29 -0500

The Cook County Department of Animal Control will kick off the Annual Rabies Vaccine and Microchip Mobile Clinic summer schedule from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. June 4, at the Country Square Plaza parking lot, 5505 W. 127th St., Crestwood. “Each year, this event gets bigger and more pets are served,” Cook County Commissioner Joan Murphy (D-Crestwood) said. “Families are struggling and this is a positive way the county can help residents save money and receive proper care for their animals.” The mobile animal clinic is for Cook County residents only. Pet owners must present a valid driver’s license or …

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:06:00 -0500

MIDLOTHIAN SUSPENDED LICENSE: Carciel D. Williams, 41, of Dolton, was charged with driving on a suspended license May 5 after a stop in the 3500 block of 147th Street, police said. LICENSE SUSPENDED: Miguel Aponte-Perez, 24, 14506 Spaulding Ave., Midlothian, was charged with driving on a suspended license after a stop May 5 at 145th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. SUSPENDED LICENSE: Alexander Leon, 27, of Calumet City, was charged with driving on a suspended license after being stopped May 9 at 147th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. DOMESTIC BATTERY: Roy L. Williams, 48, 3558 W. 147th St., …

Academics (Central) for May 26, 2013

Mon, 27 May 2013 11:43:59 -0500

Here is a look at what Southlanders from the SouthtownStar’s Central region are accomplishing in school. News includes New Lenox, Midlothian, Lemont, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Mokena, Homer Glen and Lockport.

Summer festivals in the Southland 2013

Wed, 29 May 2013 22:54:04 -0500

Here is a look at the summer festivals set for the Southland from May to September. Updates posted on 5/29 include the Starry Nights concert series presented by the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District.

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:52:01 -0500

MIDLOTHIAN BIKE THEFT: A bicycle was stolen May 2 in the 14800 block of Pulaski Road. CAR BURGLARY: A cellphone was stolen May 4 from a car parked in the lot of Durbin’s, 14757 Cicero Ave. SUSPENDED LICENSE: Miguel Perez-Aponte, 24, 14506 Spalding Ave., Midlothian, was charged with driving on a suspended license May 5 after a stop at 145th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. REVOKED LICENSE: Mark Vanwormer, 52, 14612 Clifton Park Ave., Midlothian, was charged with driving on a revoked license, no insurance and speeding after a stop May 5 in the 14600 block of Clifton Park …

McGrath: Mother’s Day (of reckoning) coming for senators

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:10:45 -0500

“This is just a new way of living,” Stephanie Decker told an ABC News reporter. “If the worst thing that ever happened is me losing my legs, I’m good.” The Marysville, Ind., mother traded her limbs for the lives of her two children. And if she had a chance to do it again, she would not hesitate, she said. As a tornado roared toward her small Indiana town a year ago, Decker gathered her two children beneath her body. Seconds later, the funnel cloud slammed into her house, which collapsed onto Decker, crushing her legs, which later had to be …

Midlothian, Oak Forest police blotter

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

MIDLOTHIAN SUSPENDED LICENSE: Tierra Allen, 22, 14749 Clifton Park Ave., Midlothian, was charged with driving on a suspended license following an April 21 stop at 147th Street and Clifton Park Avenue, police said. DUI ARREST: Richard F. Calder, 27, 14644 Kildare Ave., Midlothian, was charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident April 21 after he struck a culvert at 149th Street and Kilpatrick Avenue, police said. LICENSE SUSPENDED: Christopher S. Griffin, 25, of Midlothian, was charged with driving on a suspended license after a stop April 22 at 145th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. SUSPENDED …

Family sues Orland firefighter charged in fatal crash

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:12:46 -0500

The family of a Downers Grove woman killed in a crash in March is suing the Orland Fire Protection District and Crestwood firefighter allegedly responsible for her death. The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court by the mother of Anasis Knox. It claims Patrick Bruce, 45, of Oak Forest, who was off duty, drove recklessly and caused Knox’s death. Knox, 25, was killed March 1 when she lost control of her vehicle after it allegedly was hit by a sport utility vehicle driven by Bruce on 167th Street near Oak Forest. Knox’s family is seeking more than $50,000 …