Felix Jimenez Sr., the father of the Oak Forest High School graduate killed in a 2009 stabbing, wants closure. "Everyday, I live with it," Jimenez said. "I wake up thinking about it, taking it to work with me and dealing with it. It's going to be the that way for the rest of my life." "It's in God's hands now." The trial of Derek Grib, who is accused of murder, has been pushed back numerous times since a trial was first set last year. It is now set for Aug. 21 but could face a scheduling conflict from another murder trial that same week. Join the conversation. Like Oak Forest Patch on …
Terry Lipinksi, Oak Forest's fire chief, issued a warning last week about the current drought conditions and how the fire department needs to be called immediately in the case of an outdoor fire. "Please be especially careful when you use your grills and any heat source near dried out grass and shrubs," Lipinski writes. It's too dangerous to use fire pits or open burning or anything were embers are out of control. Watching out for fire hazards will keep us all safe. Read more about Lipinski and the ongoing fire concerns.
Joe Koce, Oak Fest is a nearly year-round event. As chairman, he leads the Oak Fest committee, volunteers and anyone else who takes part of in the planning and execution of the annual festival. Koce will be the first to say that he is one of many people involved and would never take all of the credit. For this year's festivities, the weather is to blame for some less-than stellar days. Heat indices climbed into the triple digits. Festival goers saw heavy rainfall during two days. Oak Fest closed down briefly on Friday because of a powerful storm that blew through. Despite the troubles, Koce …
Jessica Hauss, 19, appeared in the international spotlight this week. The Oak Forest native and graduate of Tinley Park High School is competing against 100 other employees to be Miss Hooters International. The pageant will be aired tonight, June 23 at 9 p.m./10 p.m. EST on the FX channel. The title is awarded annually to one Hooters Girl during the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant. If Hauss wins, she will be the official spokesperson and personality for Hooters, according to the company's website. She will be featured on Hooters national TV commercials, billboards, Hooters Magazine, …
Alex Fitzgerald , a 12-year-old Oak Forest student, was hospitalized for weeks and suffered head trauma that required surgery after an accident near Hille Middle School in April. He came home earlier this week. Over last weekend, Fitzgerald and his family Sunday went to see his teammates on the field for the first time since the crash. The team had promised to go undefeated for the season and, on Sunday, won the championship. Fitzgerald, watching from the bleachers, joined his team after the victory and offered works of gratitude for their effort. "Thanks and nice job," he said. Read more …
Hank Kuspa, mayor of the City of Oak Forest, and other officials want to hear from you. The city is currently seeking feedback from residents, business owners and organizations about where the City should go. The series of Strategic Planning Initiative meetings are part of the effort; before the meetings started, the city sent out questionnaires to people in Oak Forest. On June 5, about 40 people offered what they liked and what they think could be improved about the City. "Many of the comments that you have brought up today are things that the (City) Council and I are well aware of,” Kuspa …
Kyle Funkhouser, a senior at Oak Forest High School, is officially a top high school baseball player in Illinois. The right-handed pitcher was named the ESPNHS Gatorade Player of the Year. He carried a 11-1 record into the Bengals' game against Marion Catholic in the semifinals of the Class 3A Lincoln-Way West Sectional. Sporting a 3.32 GPA, Funkhouser has signed a national letter of intent to play next school year at the University of Louisville. He could also be select in Major League Baseball's amateur draft. Read more about Funkhouser.
A move by the City of Oak Forest to buy a former pizza restaurant is one of the ways to the city can help boost a community that is still reeling from the recession, said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. The City Council approved the purchase this week of the former Numero Uno site at 15426 S. Cicero Ave. for $165,000. The next step is to improve the property and make it ready to sell in the hopes that another business moves in. "For the city, this is a great opportunity to show the business community as well as the surrounding area that we do believe Cicero Avenue has the …
Maggie Crotty, the Democratic state senator from Oak Forest, is pushing for legislation that would create a statewide system for mental health services. Crotty is teaming with the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois on the measure. This group originated the legislation, which would allow the Department of Human Services to create the plan. “Each person who suffers from a mental health disorder is unique and requires different levels of care and attention,” Crotty said. “I am working to ensure that there are choices available for those seeking out mental health services.” …
Troy Ishler became the city's newest City Administrator this week. The position, which had been vacant, is one that supervisors all city departments and makes recommendations to the mayor, among other duties. Ishler is a life-long resident of Oak Forest and had been in the Public Works position since 2005. He also actively volunteers in the community. Read more about Ishler and the appointment.
Laura Clemons, alderwoman for Oak Forest's First Ward, is heading a group of volunteers who want to make a place where dogs can roam. Since 2011, the Bark for a Park committee has worked to bring a dog park to the city. Raising money for the effort, so far, has come from several fundraisers put together by the citizen group. Now, Bark for a Park is sniffing for the grand prize in a national contest. PetSafe's contest offers a first prize of $100,000 and two runners-up prizes of $25,000. For a committee that is just shy of its $10,000, finishing in the top three will more than push them over …
