Curtain closes on Park Forest theater

The final curtain has just come down on the Illinois Theatre Center in Park Forest. The theater company, which is the only equity theater in the Southland, is closing its doors after 36 years, Jonathan Billig announced Tuesday. Billig took over as artistic director of ITC after his mother, Etel Billig, the theater’s co-founder and artistic director, died March 27. “We made our decision at last ...
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/12249767-418/curtain-closes-on-park-forest-theater.html

Published: Tue, 01 May 2012 09:57:43 -0700

Amendment would return local ownership to Wildlife Prairie Park

State legislators are discussing an amendment to return ownership to Wildlife Prairie State Park.
http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Amendment-would-return-local-ownership-to-Wildlife-Prairie-Park-152358925.html

Published: Mon, 21 May 2012 15:48:29 -0700

Park Forest adds Lincoln Highway mural to its collection

Park Forest became the 24th community to receive a hand-painted mural depicting the history of Lincoln Highway. Installed on Friday at 348 Victory Drive, the mural is one of 36 to be installed along the 179-mile corridor by the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition. Another mural is slated to be installed at the end of May on a building on the northwest corner of Lincoln Highway and Cedar Road in ...
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/12171042-418/park-forest-adds-lincoln-highway-mural-to-its-collection.html

Published: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:07:35 -0700

Motorcyclist hit by off-duty deputy in Machesney Park

MACHESNEY PARK — A motorcyclist broke his leg this afternoon when he reportedly pulled out in front of a vehicle on Forest Hills Road and Irving Boulevard.
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1000618724/Off-duty-deputy-strikes-motorcyclist-in-Machesney-Park

Published: Thu, 17 May 2012 21:35:28 -0700

Park Ridge’s Officer of Year faces down ‘policeman’s worst nightmare’

The objects left behind on the kitchen table made Park Ridge Police Officer Steve Tracy’s heart sink. A man’s wallet and house keys. His eyeglasses and — most troubling of all — his wedding ring. “I thought, ‘That’s really not a good sign,’ ” Tracy recalled. Tracy was thinking of the distraught woman beside him, a worried wife who sensed even before opening the door of her home that something ...
http://parkridge.suntimes.com/news/12601849-418/park-ridges-officer-of-year-faces-down-policemans-worst-nightmare.html

Published: Tue, 22 May 2012 08:21:29 -0700

Fix for parking meter cheating heads to Gov. Quinn’s desk

Legislation crafted to end the widespread abuse of disabled-parking placards by able-bodied drivers in metered zones throughout Chicago is headed to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. The bill — filed by state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) in response to the Chicago Sun-Times’ “Meter Cheaters” investigation last year — passed the Senate 58-0 on Tuesday after passing 108-0 out of the House in March. The ...
http://www.suntimes.com/12706163-761/fix-for-parking-meter-cheating-heads-to-gov-quinns-desk.html

Published: Tue, 22 May 2012 13:41:57 -0700

WEDNESDAY'S ILLINOIS PREP ROUNDUP: H-F's Lietz whiffs Oak Forest

Dan Lietz struck out 15, walked two and survived a three-run seventh as Homewood-Flossmoor hung on to shade Oak Forest, 8-6, in baseball Wednesday.
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/caefa7fb-a412-5124-a9e0-39bc036ae2f2.html

Published: Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:00 -0700

Oak Park may see first Harlem lane closures

A leaking water main under the Harlem Avenue at 22nd Street may lead to Oak Park and River Forest residents seeing Harlem Avenue road resurfacing much sooner than expected. The Illinois Department of Transportation, which maintains Harlem Avenue, had planned to start the project in Berwyn and North Riverside at 26th Street. However, in late April, Berwyn officials discovered a “washout” beneath ...
http://riverforest.suntimes.com/news/12319745-418/oak-park-may-see-first-harlem-lane-closures.html

Published: Mon, 07 May 2012 17:16:09 -0700

Dogs help researchers track turtles

OAKWOOD — It's sunny and cool early Wednesday morning in a quiet, mostly empty campground at Kickapoo State Park. read more
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2012-05-24/dogs-help-researchers-track-turtles.html

Published: Thu, 24 May 2012 06:24:04 -0700

Rat rods and other roadsters featured at drag strip

Gene Church admires the monument to tornado victims that will be dedicated noon Saturday at the Accelaquarter Raceway Park during the Cruizin' the Shawnee Car Show.
http://www.dailyregister.com/news/x624600260/Rat-rods-and-other-roadsters-featured-at-drag-strip

Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 12:32:30 -0700