Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
New ambulance in Summit Automated lift among many improvements By Steve Metsch It took a few moments, but Summit firefighters were able to figure out how to operate an automated, self-loading stretcher during a demonstration to a visitor. Hey, it takes a while to learn all the bells and whistles in their new ambulance. They…
Shell Lockport to Better Serve Customers with U-Haul U-Haul Company of Illinois, Inc. is pleased to announce that Shell Lockport has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Lockport community. Shell Lockport at 518 S. State St. will offer U-Haul trucks, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes. The arrival…
Read More “Shell Lockport to Better Serve Customers with U-Haul” »
Briefs: Seymour Hersh’s Southwest Suburban roots The hidden Southwest SuburbanChicagoland stories of Seymour Hersh, in Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, and his publication of his own small community newspaper, revealed in his blockbuster new book “Reporter” By Ray Hanania Biographies of award-winning journalist #SeymourHersh leave out a very significant aspect of his career that he describes as having…
Read More “Briefs: Seymour Hersh’s Southwest Suburban roots” »
Orland Fire to receive International Accreditation Status The International Center for Public Safety Excellence (ICPSE) and Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) have awarded the Orland Fire Protection District the highest honor of “International Accreditation Status.” Accreditation affirms that the Orland Fire Protection District’s safety and emergency response duties are performed using industry best practices…
Read More “Orland Fire to receive International Accreditation Status” »
Lipinski directs major grant to MVCC Lipinski Announces $600 Thousand Education Grant for Moraine Valley Community College Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is announcing that Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills has been awarded a $600 thousand grant through the National Science Foundation to help establish an “Internet of Things (IoT)” Coordination Network to bring…
WalletHub lists Best and Worst Community Colleges South Suburban College in South Holland was named as the second to the worst community college in the State of Illinois, ranking 39 out of 40, while Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Heights also struggled in the lowest third of the state’s colleges ranking at only 31…
Read More “WalletHub lists Best and Worst Community Colleges” »
Bandits swept in title bid Despite success, pro softball ignored in Chicago By Steve Metsch Sitting in the stands at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont on Saturday evening, I caught myself wondering a few things as I watched the Chicago Bandits play the USSSA Pride in a do-or-die game. One, why wasn’t it…
60 residents, and pets, rescued from major apartment fire in Cicero Cicero Firefighters rescued 60 residents from a 3-story multi-unit apartment building on the block of 1600 S. 50th Court this morning (Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018) as fire and heavy smoke consumed the building. Two of the residents (one male adult and one female adult,…
Read More “60 residents, and pets, rescued from major apartment fire in Cicero” »
Summer reading succeeds in Lyons Director: Best turnout in the past three years By Steve Metsch “Reading on the Railroad,” the summer reading program at the Lyons Public Library, has been deemed a success. Library Director Dan Hiker said the program was the most successful in his three years at the helm. “We’re pleased with…
National Night Out in Lyons Annual event links residents with village police, fire By Steve Metsch Residents of Lyons got to know their village departments, specifically police and fire, a bit better on Aug. 7. That’s when Lyons, for the third straight year, participated in National Night Out, which was being held in widespread communities…
Jeff Lynne’s ELO impresses Band delivers hit songs in a dazzling concert By Steve Metsch So it took 35 years for Jeff Lynne to bring his Electric Light Orchestra back on the road. It was well-worth the wait. Lynne and this version of his ELO band – which did not include any other original members…
Dryer fire in Orland Park home at 144th Block of Mason Lane The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a house fire located in the 14400 block of Mason Lane at approximately 11:56 PM on Friday night. OFPD Fire companies arrived on the scene and found heavy smoke coming from the sub-basement of the…
Read More “Dryer fire in Orland Park home at 144th Block of Mason Lane” »
Rick Lesser Slated as Candidate in 58th Illinois House District “We need everyday people to fix Illinois for the sake of our children and grandchildren.” Rick Lesser, a successful small business owner and one of the leading estate planning attorneys in Illinois, announced his candidacy today for Illinois State Representative in the 58th District. Lesser was slated…
Read More “Rick Lesser Slated as Candidate in 58th Illinois House District” »
The verdict on Jury Duty in Cook County I received my summons to appear at Jury Duty. I didn’t want to use any excuses having been a reporter covering the court system, being a political columnist who writes about court cases, having been in several legal cases as a defendant and plaintiff in political cases in…
Suburban backyard pool deck destroyed by fire At approximately 10:30 PM on Friday August 3, 2018, the Orland Fire Protection District was notified of a house fire in the 100 block of Windmill Road in Orland Park. Upon arrival, Fire companies found a large pool deck and attached pool house fully involved in the rear…
Read More “Suburban backyard pool deck destroyed by fire, photos” »
Orland Fire joins class action lawsuit to block Opioid addiction The Orland Fire Protection and 13 other municipalities including several from the southwest suburbs have filed a class action suit against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of opioid-based prescription drugs, and 26 other defendants accused of downplaying the negative impact of opioids on users and fueling…
Read More “Orland Fire joins class action lawsuit to block Opioid addiction” »
Walmart Truck Fire Wednesday morning, July 25, 2018 On Wednesday, July 25 (2018), the Orland Fire Protection District received a 911 emergency call regarding a fire at the Walmart SuperCenter store at 9265 159th Street in Orland Hills. Upon arrival, Firefighters found a fully involved box-truck parked against the store building on the east side…
Read More “Walmart Truck Fire Wednesday morning, July 25, 2018” »
“Yellow Submarine” a treat Fifty years later, restored movie is eye-popping fun By Steve Metsch It’s not often an animated movie released 50 years ago can pack ’em in. But that was the case when a restored version of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” first released in 1968, was shown at selected movie theater around the…