Proviso Insider

Bus Program Is A Tremendous Success at Proviso High Schools...

2010-05-05T15:16:00.001-05:00

Forest Park, IL...Proviso Township High Schools are riding high as officials report the positive impact of PTHS 209’s transportation program.

Since the District began its free busing services it has had a significant impact on average daily attendance. In August 2008 the district began to offer free transportation for Proviso East and Proviso West to address truancy rates, improve average daily attendance (ADA), and improve overall student achievement. It was also designed to offer vital support to students and parents. Data collection and analysis shows that the program has done just that, and many students agree.

“The bus has definitely helped me,” said Proviso West junior Noemi Hernandez of Berkley. “I don’t have to walk to school. I get to school on time. I don’t have to pay to ride to school; and when it’s cold, my parents don’t have to pick me up.”

There are similar sentiments at Proviso East.

“The bus helps me and my family so much,” said Proviso East senior Melissa Borjas of Melrose Park. “It helps us save money because now I don’t have to pay for public transportation and it helps me get to school on time. I was having problems getting to school on time. I had to walk over five blocks just to catch the PACE bus to school. Now I just walk right out to the corner and wait for the bus. I’m never late.”

Since the transportation program was implemented, there have been dramatic decrease in the number of chronic late arrivals, while more moderate improvements have been achieved in monthly ADA percentages. In August 2008 prior to implementation of the transportation program, ADA was at 87% in January 2009 the rate was 94 %. Overall, because students are experiencing more time in class, student achievement is expected to improve. At both Proviso East and Proviso West the data shows that the percentage of grades issued in the range of A-C increased, while the percentage of grades from D-F decreased.

“While there are many factors that have contributed to the positive change in school climate, and an improvement in student achievement, there is no doubt that the transportation program has made a significant difference.” said PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart. “I am very proud of how receptive out students and parents have been.”

In April, the PTHS 209 Board of Education received a full report on the impact of PTHS 209’s transportation program. The information was more welcomed news for the Board of Education who, in the past few years, has approved a wave of initiatives that focus on school improvement.

“We, on the Board of Education, are so pleased that this program has accomplished exactly what we hoped it would,” said PTHS 209 Board Member Robin Foreman. “Our students are getting to school safely and on time. They’re spending more time in class and we are seeing improvements all around. Everything that we do is about supporting our students and our communities. This program is one of many that we’ve implemented over the years and we are just delighted to see that it is having such a positive impact.”

Proviso High Schools Removed From Financial Watch List!!!

2010-03-30T10:12:00.003-05:00

Proviso Township High Schools is poised to celebrate. After two years, the school system has officially been removed from the Illinois State Board of Education’s financial watch list.

“With the hard work of the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, the administrators, and the voluntary financial oversight panel, the district has greatly improved its finances and is no longer on financial watch,” said Illinois State Board of Education Division Administrator Debbie Vespa. “They have been working very hard—I know.”

PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart echoed that sentiment and commended her administration for a job well done.

Each year, the state board analyzes school districts' finances and designates them as financially sound, under review, under warning or--in the worst case--on a financial watch list. After implementing an intense deficit reduction plan and working with Proviso stakeholders to better manage finances and reduce deficit spending, PTHS has moved from financial watch to the second highest category.

This feat is especially remarkable considering the financial crisis many schools are facing in the state of Illinois. This month, the Illinois State Board of Education released its annual report on the financial health of school districts. As expected, in the current economy, the picture is grim with few exceptions. However, Proviso Township High Schools has been on a steady school improvement track. Finances have been one of the district’s top priorities. While most school districts have standing deficits of tens of millions of dollars, Proviso’s operating deficit for FY09 was under $1 million. This is a victory that PTHS 209 attributes to the hard work of administration, the Board of Education, and the cooperation of PTHS stakeholders.

“We are extremely happy and proud that our hard work and collaborations are moving our school district forward,” said Dr. Nikita Johnson, PTHS 209 Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations. “That is what it’s all about. Our focus has been on our students. We have had to constantly analyze how we can best serve them; how we can continue to improve our academic programming while also improving and monitoring our finances.”

PTHS 209 Board President Chris Welch said, “This took strong leadership from our Board of Education, and it also took collaboration from all of our stakeholders. So, this is a cause for celebration. Most importantly, it is a strong indicator that we are on the right track in all aspects of our school improvement initiatives. This accomplishment gives us momentum to keep moving forward and to keep getting better.”

Johnson said, PTHS 209 administrators and the Board of Education will continue to work together in order to maintain the fiscal health of Proviso Township High Schools. Administrators remain cautious yet optimistic as a fiscal crisis and funding adjustments at the state level will require school districts statewide to continue to closely monitor finances and spending through 2011.

Former Maywood Mayor Ralph Conner Dies

2010-03-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, Former Maywood Mayor Ralph W. Conner has died.

Conner was born in Maywood and was involved in activities concerning black student support for Fred Hampton.

In the late 1970s Conner worked for the village of Maywood as a commercial loan specialist and served as the economic development director, the enterprise zoning administrator and the director of planning and development. He also served as building commissioner and on the staff for the Zoning and Planning Board of Appeals.

Conner ran for mayor in April 2001. Conner served as village president until April 2005.

He also ran for Proviso Township assessor and Cook County assessor.

Conner was hired as public affairs director in April 2005 by the Heartland Institute.

Charles Flowers Arrested For Theft...Faces Additional Charges!!!

2010-01-14T14:56:00.002-06:00

According to published reports in the Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown and Chicago Tribune, Charles Flowers, the embattled superintendent of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, surrendered to authorities today at the Cook County courthouse in Maywood on public corruption charges.

State's Attorney Anita Alvarez has scheduled a press conference for 3:30 p.m. and is expected to announce criminal charges against Flowers for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the bankrupt agency.
Flowers and the agency are already fighting a civil suit brought in July by the state's attorney's office for failing to repay a $190,000 loan from the county. The suit alleges Flowers defrauded the county because he knew the agency could never be repaid due to its shattered finances.

The charges are the result of a separate criminal probe into allegations that he used agency funds for his own personal gain. Last year, a state audit found that the agency--which handles teacher certification and inspections for suburban schools--was $1 million in debt and accused Flowers of using a work credit card for personal use as well as giving a $6,000 advance to a relative he hired to work for him.

Proviso East Security Official Struck and Killed By Car...

2009-12-12T18:55:00.003-06:00

The death of the 57-year-old man who was killed Friday night when he was struck by a vehicle in Maywood has been ruled an accident.

A Saturday autopsy by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said George Smith, 57, of 929 W. 19th Ave. in Bellwood, died of multiple injuries in an auto vs. pedestrian accident. The accident happened at 1st Avenue and School Street in Maywood, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

The victim, George Smith, 57, of 929 W. 19th Ave. in Bellwood, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead at 8:47 p.m. Smith was employeed at Proviso East High School as a school security official.

Maywood police were not immediately available Saturday night. School officials are preparing to have grief counselors available for students on Monday.

Is Charles Flowers' Office Closed For Good?

2009-12-10T16:40:00.001-06:00

According to the Daily Southtown, Charles Flowers might just be the last regional superintendent in suburban Cook County.

Legislation in the works calls for abolishing the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, as members of a committee backing the measure continue to toil away at a plan to efficiently distribute the responsibilities if the office disappears.

"We need to redesign the system," said Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Des Plaines), who introduced the bill to dissolve the office. "The real problem is the schools are not getting the services they need. I think eliminating that office is the best way to get those services."

Forest Ridge School District 142 Supt. Margaret Longo is leading a committee of academic, legal and financial minds proposing to disperse the regional office's current responsibilities to the three Intermediate Service Centers.

Suburban Cook's regional office - plagued by a lack of funding and being the largest in the state, with more than 140 school districts and 25,000 educators - is the only county in Illinois with the intermediate centers, which are charged with a number of duties other regional offices complete on their own.

The plan would be to work within the regional office's $1.5 million budget, increase assistance and bring the services closer to the teachers, Longo said.

"We understand the fiscal climate of our state," Longo said. "We just want a more effective use of our monies and time."

In effect, a number of districts that have run into roadblock after roadblock with Flowers' office have been operating without the regional office.

"It's been close to a year that I've even had to call them," said Atwood Heights School District 125 Supt. Tom Livingston, who, like many area superintendents, has directed his staff to neighboring regional offices and intermediate offices. "The call-back time, especially when I'd have an emergency like a student who may be considered homeless, was a problem."

It wouldn't be the first time the Legislature voted to do away with a regional office with a reputation of nepotism, bureaucracy and reckless spending. In 1991, lawmakers abolished the Cook County regional office of education, only to establish the suburban Cook County office, thanks in part to some heavy politicking.

With growing concerns regarding current Regional Supt. Flowers - who is the target of a criminal probe by the Cook County state's attorney's office for alleged financial and ethical misconduct - the calls to do away with the office once and for all are now louder than ever.

Flowers did not return calls for comment.

"It's just a shame that someone's lack of leadership and ineptness can cause a whole office to collapse, but if it will better serve the teachers, it has to be done," said Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman (R-Orland Park).

Both Nekritz and Longo emphasize the legislation, which is expected to come up for a vote in the spring session, targets only suburban Cook's regional office, not any of the other 44 statewide. No one even filed for the 2010 race for Flowers' spot, a spokeswoman for Cook County Clerk David Orr said.

A number of Southland districts rely on the intermediate center in Chicago Heights, and they can lean even harder if the legislation goes through, executive director Vanessa Kinder said.

"I think it's a very good, sound plan," said Kinder, who serves on the committee. "We already have a great reputation in our districts, and we're in their back yards."

STILL CLOSED

In a rush to avoid almost certain eviction for failure to pay more than $10,000 in back rent, regional schools chief Charles Flowers packed up the regional office of education and moved into a Broadview office building.

Seven working days later, Broadview officials closed it for not having the proper paperwork - namely an occupancy permit.

That was Nov. 10. As of Thursday afternoon, almost a month later, the office remained closed.

Not that anyone calling the regional office's general number would know. The voicemail message makes no mention of it. Only a message on the Web site reads "closed until further notice."

Numerous calls to the village of Broadview's building department were not returned.

Congressman Danny K. Davis to run for Re-Election for Congress, Drop Out of Race Against Todd Stroger

2009-11-09T13:26:00.003-06:00

According to published reports in the Chicago Tribune, veteran U.S. Rep. Danny Davis today dropped his bid to challenge Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and said he will seek re-election to Congress.

Davis had hedged his bets by filing petitions for the Feb. 2 Democratic primary for county president as well as for the seat in Congress he has held for 13 years. A run for board president would end his career in the House.

"I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for Cook County Board president and instead will run for reelection," Davis said at a morning news conference. He said he likes being a congressman and "I'm good at it."

Davis said he realized that it would be "politically dangerous" for candidates from the same political and community base to run at the same time.
Stroger still faces a crowded field of challengers that includes Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, 4th, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien, the only white candidate for the Democratic nomination.

Black ministers earlier this fall had said they were worried the number of black challengers to Stroger could result in blacks losing the post, which an African American has held for more than a decade.

Davis said he met with Stroger Sunday as part of his decision process. "I talked with (Stroger) about the information I had and I talked with him about about the challenges of the race," Davis said.

Davis said it was a difficult decision but unity was the prime consideration. He said he will make an endorsement in the race but hasn't decided yet who it will be.

Several Democrats have filed to run for Davis' 7th District seat, but could opt to drop out now that he's staying in the federal race.

Todd Stroger Files to Run for Re-Election for Cook County Board President...

2009-11-03T14:26:00.004-06:00

According to the Chicago Tribune, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger late Monday afternoon filed his paperwork to run for for re-election.

By waiting until just before the filing deadline, Stroger secured the last position on the ballot, which is considered second best to the first spot.

"I feel great," Stroger said after filing. "I feel like 150 pounds of dynamite."

Stroger joins a crowded Democratic field for county board president. It includes Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown; Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, 4th; and Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, has filed for both county board president and Congress. Davis will need to choose between the two by next Monday.

Stroger filed petitions with about 22,000 signatures. Nearly 8,150 valid signatures are needed to withstand a challenge. He has been considered politically vulnerable in the wake of a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase he pushed through the county board in February 2008.

Theresa L. Kelly Advised and Supported By Charles A. Flowers...

2009-11-03T14:01:00.005-06:00

Where would Proviso Township High School District 209 be if Theresa L. Kelly and her cronies had won majority control of the school board following the 2007 School Board elections? According to state election records, Theresa L. Kelly received her financial and political support from disgraced Regional Superintendent Charles A. Flowers and his former staffers like Willie Mack. Flowers made numerous donations to her campaign and also sent recorded telephone messages to residents on her behalf. With Flowers as her advisor, would Proviso look like the Regional Superintendent's office? Most observers think so. After a scandal plagued year, Flowers has decided not to seek re-election in 2010, and he is desperately hoping to avoid legal trouble from the State's Attorney's office after his office was raided in July 2009. Voters will have a turn to oust Kelly in 2011. Stay Tuned.

Regional Superintendent Charles A. Flowers Moves Office...

2009-11-03T13:57:00.003-06:00

According to the Daily Southtown, a quiet Charles Flowers sat sandwiched Monday between landlords accused of keeping derelict buildings and tenants with stories of rent checks lost in the mail.

The regional schools chief appeared in eviction court Monday - the deadline to move out of the Westchester space his office leased and pay more than $10,000 in back rent. But before standing in front of the judge, Flowers and the folks of Westchester School District 92 1 / 2 had reached an agreement the judge signed off on.

Flowers, who voluntarily moved out of the school's building Friday, gets 120 days to pay the $10,762 in back rent he owes the district.

School district attorney Jeff Goelitz said Flowers blamed his inability to pay the rent on late payments from the state.

"If they receive the money from the state, they have to pay up within 24 hours of receipt of it," Goelitz said.

Flowers' office is nearly $1 million in debt, according to a state audit. The Cook County state's attorney's office is investigating Flowers for alleged financial and ethical misdeeds and suing him for defaulting on a $190,000 taxpayer-backed loan.

The new location for the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education is at 2600 S. 25th Ave. in Broadview. The regional office's corner space in the two-story office building - which backs up to a warehouse and is flanked by a nearby trucking company's semi trucks - was open to the public Monday.

Flowers' office has been paying back rent in installments, according to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. In July, he was about $20,000 behind on rent for February through July.

State law requires the county board in every county except Cook to provide a suitable space for the regional office. The state hasn't paid out the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education or any other regional office of education since July 1, Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus said.

The state has set aside more than $70,000 in state grant money for Flowers' office, but the comptroller has yet to cut the checks, Fergus said.

"We're backlogged over $3 billion in bills going back to the first of August because the revenues just aren't there," Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes' spokesman Alan Henry said. "I'm sure (Flowers' office is) in the queue somewhere. I'm not sure when they'll get the money."

Flowers, who did not answer a reporter's questions Monday, is due back in court Feb. 8. If he hasn't paid up in 120 days, it's up to the school district to take the next step.

"The board's option would be to go to court to ask the (regional office of education) to make good on the order, to pay up," Goelitz said. "We haven't had that discussion yet."

Costco Looking to Buy Kiddieland Property...

2009-10-28T12:46:00.001-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, an executive of Costco says the discount membership club wants to buy the former Kiddieland site in Melrose Park and open a store there. Dick DiCerchio, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Costco, says "the plans are to go forward" to purchase the property at North and First avenues. "We are interested and have filed a letter of intent with the current property owners," he said. Kiddieland closed on Oct. 4 after operating for 81 years.

Proviso West Football Earns Playoff Birth!!!

2009-10-27T15:30:00.001-05:00

The Proviso West football team has earned a playoff spot for the first time since 1974. The Panthers, 5-4, will play Taft, 8-1, on Friday or Saturday of this week. Stay tuned for further details.

ROE Flowers About to be Evicted...

2009-10-20T12:20:00.003-05:00

According to the Daily Southtown, Charles Flowers has two weeks before a judge will boot him and his staff out of his rented office space - making it possibly the first time a regional schools office has been evicted.
Nearly $10,000 behind on rent for the offices he leases from Westchester School District 92 1/2 , Regional Supt. Flowers has until Nov. 2 to pay up and pack up, attorneys said Monday.

"The board of education [wants to] recoup the unpaid rent, and they want to gain possession of the office space," district attorney Jeff Goelitz said.
Flowers is the target of a criminal investigation by the Cook County state's attorney's office. The SouthtownStar first reported on the alleged financial and ethical misdeeds of Flowers and the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education - which is nearly $1 million in debt.
The Westchester school board filed eviction papers on Sept. 29, and Cook County sheriff's officials served the office Oct. 7. Flowers' office owed $9,933.36 at the time of the filing. That did not include rent for October and November - $3,429 per month - which is about $7,000.
The case was continued Monday after both parties agreed to hold off until Nov. 2, Goelitz said.
"The ROE believes that some of their financial difficulties are due to the state not sending their payments on," district attorney Terry Hodges said.
Even if he makes good on the nearly $17,000, the district wants him out.
This should come as no surprise for Flowers. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests reveal Flowers' office has a sporadic track record when it comes to making rent.
In July, the board sent a letter to Flowers telling him he had five days to make good on the $20,000 in back rent for February through July.
Business manager Julie Stearns proposed a payment plan that entailed almost weekly payments of $5,000, including the initial $5,000 charged to a credit card, documents show.
When the office failed to make good on the entire back rent by the agreed upon deadline of Aug. 21, the board moved for the eviction.
"We did try to work with him," board president Barbara Stanger said at the time.

WHAT NOW?

Charles Flowers has consistently refused to answer questions about the charges of financial mismanagement, but in the past he and his staffers have blamed the regional office of education's money problems on a lack of funding from the state.
State law does require the county board in every county except Cook to provide a suitable space for the regional office.
Cook County's unusual situation dates back to money problems with some of Flowers' predecessors. The state Legislature abolished the Cook County regional schools office in 1994 and resurrected it in 1995 - minus responsibility for Chicago city schools and minus any county funding for an office.
If Flowers is evicted, he still is legally responsible for providing services to the 143 school districts in his area, said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus, who added she was not aware of any other regional office losing its office space in an eviction.
As for the public records, they are covered by the State or Local Records Act, which bans records from being destroyed or abandoned unless scheduled for destruction, said Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler.
"In short, they will have to ensure the integrity of the records by storing them somewhere or otherwise providing for their safekeeping until the matter is ultimately resolved," she said.

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FLOWERS' WOES

Since accusations of financial improprieties at the regional school office surfaced, Supt. Charles Flowers has faced a growing list of problems:
• He's the target of a criminal probe by the Cook County state's attorney's office.
• He's being sued for fraud over an unpaid $190,000 loan from the Cook County Board.
• The Illinois State Board of Education has moved to revoke his professional certificates, which could force him from office.

ROE Charles Flowers Appoints Johnny Diggs To Maywood SD89 Board of Education...

2009-10-01T11:30:00.003-05:00

According to reports, Regional Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Flowers has appointed his former press secretary Johnny Diggs to the Maywood SD89 Board of Education to replace G. Ric Cervone who resigned in August. Diggs was appointed by Flowers after the Board could not agree on a replacement. The Board was reportedly split down the middle for Diggs and another candidate.

Teacher Mourned At Proviso Math and Science Academy...

2009-09-25T16:44:00.003-05:00

In twos and threes, some crying, some talking, students at the Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy spent their lunch hours Friday remembering their teacher, coach, mentor and friend, Tom Dix.

After a long, hard battle with cancer, Dix, 39, founder of the Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy robotics club, died early morning Sept. 17.

"This is an unfortunate loss for the Proviso family. Our hearts go out to him and his family. He will be sorely missed," School Board President Chris Welch said. "He left an impression on PMSA that will live on for a long time. Our robotics program was extremely successful and the kids loved him."

Dix started teaching at PMSA in the 2006-2007 school year. School officials said the innovation lab where the robotics club worked will be dedicated to Dix.

"He took an empty shell and made it into a vibrant lab and used it in the way it was intended," PMSA Principal Ed Moyer said.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology program participant Jackie Moore, team manager for the Chicago Knights robotics team, said Dix was an honored FIRST knight.

"We met in May of 2006 when he was looking to start a (FIRST Lego League)," Moore said. "His passion for teaching and the value of FIRST was so great that he changed schools twice before he started the team."

Moore said of the many people she had helped form robotics teams, Dix was the most persistent and consistently committed.

"Shortly after aggressive (cancer) treatment, he managed to sit in the stands and cheer his team on last year," she said. "That is a memory of him that I will hold dear."

Parent and robotics club volunteer Jocelyn Gougisha said Dix was more like one of the students in the club than a teacher.

"His enthusiasm was like that of the teenagers," she said. "He put his heart and soul into it when he brought the robotics team to PMSA."

Gougisha said Moyer saw that enthusiasm and gave him support.

"You have no idea what it means to this area to introduce the kids to the world of robotics and engineering," she said. "He's inspired friends, parents and other teachers to come in and help. That's his legacy."

Moyer said Dix helped rebuild the physics program and spent countless hours working on the robotics program.

"The first year was entirely his own," Moyer said. "He was incredibly committed to kids and I deeply value that in a teacher. He was an amazing person."

The news of Dix's death spread through the building like wildfire, Moyer said, and many students knew about it before the staff.

"It impacted the robotics students the hardest, but he had made an impact on so many kids," he said. "Kids organized a gathering in his classroom during the lunch periods. It was the opportunity for students to say anything they wanted to. Or to not say anything. Some were crying. Some were drawing. They started signing the first robot they had made."

Moyer said staff wanted to make sure they were there to support students.

"This is our first loss as a community," he said. "It was hard. Today was better. Monday will get a little better still. He would have wanted the kids to go on."

The challenge now is to keep the work alive. The team is solid with students and parents and community volunteers, but Moyer said he has to find someone with the background in science and engineering.

"We will miss (Dix's) leadership. All the things he took care of, we have to make sure those don't fall through the cracks," Moyer said. "We will see who we can recruit. But the kids have put in too much time and effort - this season is going to be for Mr. Dix."

There will be a memorial service honoring Dix at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park. RSVP to Judy Erickson, jemessage1@yahoo.com or call (708) 386-4330. Donations are welcome to PMSA's robotics club and can be sent to Janet Redmond at PMSA.

(This story was written by Mario Bartoletti of the Proviso Herald Newspaper.)

Chicago Sun-Times Ranks Proviso West Football In Top 25!!!

2009-09-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

The Proviso West Panther Football team has been ranked in the Chicago Sun-Times Top 25 for the first time ever. The Panthers, behind the strength of top national prospect Kyle Prater, have started the season 4-0 for the first time in the school's 51 year history. Prater has already been signed the USC Trojans.

Grocery Store Opening In Maywood Soon!!!

2009-09-17T11:55:00.003-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, the Village of Maywood took a giant step forward in finalizing a full-service grocery store by officially closing with Maywood Market LLC and Plaza Bank on Aug. 20.

The title to the 601 S. Fifth Ave. property was conveyed to the store owners and the financing was put in place.

"We are pleased that another major step has been taken so our community can have a full-service grocery store," stated Mayor Henderson Yarbrough Sr. "We eagerly anticipate that by Thanksgiving, Maywood Market will officially open its doors to our village," he added.

Since the closing, the developer has been actively rehabilitating the existing building and planning for improved parking on the site.

Maywood Market will contain a bakery, meat and seafood departments, a deli, frozen food section, fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy perishables. The grocery store will carry a full line of products found in major grocery stores, with a mixture of private label and national brands.

School DIstrict 89 Deadlocked Over Board Vacancy...

2009-09-17T11:51:00.003-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, although seven candidates showed up Friday with hopes of filling a vacant Elementary School District 89 School Board seat, no one was selected.

School Board members interviewed the potential candidates to fill former board member Guy Ric Cervone's seat until April 2011. Cervone resigned from the board seat after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges in July.

Those who were being considered for the board seat were: Johnny Diggs, Hugues Zoffoun, Corey Cooper, Gladys Culbreth, Antonio Favela, Veronica Lopez and Marsha Ballenger.

The board went into executive session to interview all of the candidates. But when the board reconvened in the open meeting, the six members were split down the middle on their selections.

A motion was made to appoint Diggs to the seat, but failed 3-3 due to lack of a majority vote. Board members Maria Urso, Jaime Anguiano and Loretta Gustello voted against his appointment and Lequita Neely, Regina Rivers and Grady Rivers Jr. voted in favor of it.

Another motion was made to appoint Veronica Lopez to the seat, but it also failed 3-3 with the three trustees who voted against Diggs voting in favor of Lopez and the other three board members voting against Lopez.

"I supported Johnny Diggs and we had to narrow it (the field) down and we could not come to an agreement," Neely said.

"Other names could have been called and that's what it boils down to. I wish we could come to an agreement. I had no idea it would be a stalemate. I thought we were going to be able to decide on a board member."

"If you are indecisive, you should abstain," she said. "So that (the vote deadlock) took me by surprise. Are you truly voting your conscience or are you voting to block something?"

The School Board has 45 days to choose a replacement. Rivers said the deadline for the board to choose a replacement is Sept. 28 and believes the board will not be meeting until next month, which is when their next scheduled board meeting will take place.

Illinois School code states that if a school board does not fill the vacancy within that time frame, the regional superintendent of schools has the authority to fill the seat within 30 days.

This isn't the first time the District 89 board has been evenly split in voting on issues. At their Aug. 13 meeting the board was split on whether or not to keep the district's health insurance broker.

Elementary School District 89 serves parts of Maywood, Bellwood, Melrose Park and Broadview.

Cook County Property Tax Bills Delayed!!!

2009-09-16T10:19:00.001-05:00

A due date of no earlier than Nov. 16 is anticipated for the second installment of Cook County property tax bills for tax year 2008, according to information from the Cook County Treasurer's Office.

Final figures to print the bills have not yet been received by the Treasurer's Office. Bills will be finalized, printed and mailed out after other agencies complete their calculations and testing, according to the Treasurer's Office

Bellwood Commemorates 9/11!!!

2009-09-11T13:13:00.003-05:00

The Village of Bellwood commemorated the tragic events of 9/11/01 today with a ceremony at the Bellwood Village Hall. The ceremony was hosted by Bellwood Mayor Frank Pasquale who was back from surgical procedure, and numerous dignitaries from across Proviso Township attended. The Proviso West High School Band and the Bagpipes of Drums of the Emerald Society were the featured attractions and neither group disappointed the large crowd in attendance. Keynote Speaker Rev. Charles Ingram, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bellwood, that the lessons of 9/11/01 should have taught all of us to "Stand Together."

What did you do to commemorate 9/11? What did you learn from that tragic day?

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger Has 10% Voter Approval According To Chicago Tribune...

2009-09-10T12:16:00.002-05:00

According to a Chicago Tribune news poll, battered for championing Cook County's sales tax increase and for hiring friends and relatives, Board President Todd Stroger heads into the election season with a strikingly low job-approval rating and thin support from voters, a Tribune/WGN poll has found.

Only 1 in 10 Cook County voters approve of the job he is doing, and just as few want to see him re-elected following a first term marked by tax and hiring controversies, the poll found.

The numbers are lower than the 13 percent Gov. Rod Blagojevich had just months before his December arrest on federal corruption charges.

Even more unpopular than Stroger is the 1 percentage point sales tax increase that he pushed through the County Board and has repeatedly protected by vetoing repeal measures. More than three-quarters of Cook County voters polled said the tax hike should be repealed.

Stroger's poor poll results come as he prepares to pitch his re-election to Cook County Democratic slatemakers at their endorsement session Thursday. Democratic committeemen are expected to hear from up to four potential challengers looking to unseat Stroger in the February primary: Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown; U.S. Rep. Danny Davis of Chicago; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien; and Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th).

Joseph Berrios, the Cook County Democratic chairman, said the large field of candidates makes an endorsement less likely. "It's going to be tough," he said.

Some Democrats have privately questioned whether Stroger would be a liability on the Democratic ticket for the 2010 general election. The poll found Stroger's support was not much better among Democrats than voters overall.

Fully 70 percent disapprove of the job Stroger is doing, according to the poll of 300 Cook County registered voters. Asked whether they would like to see Stroger re-elected, 72 percent say no.

The telephone poll was conducted Aug. 27-31 by Market Shares Corp. and has an error margin of 6 percentage points. It did not measure support for other potential candidates.

Stroger released a statement criticizing the Tribune poll, saying the sample size was too small and it did not accurately reflect the support he has around the county. Stroger also accused the Tribune of being biased, citing critical editorials in the paper's opinion section.

In a county dominated by Democrats, the survey raises questions about Stroger's ability to muster support for a second term.

Stroger has long counted on African-American support but now faces as many as three other black elected officials in the primary. Only about 1 in 5 African-American voters polled approve of the job Stroger is doing or want to see him re-elected, while more than half oppose him.

In a controversial move, Democratic Party leaders in 2006 chose Stroger, a low-profile alderman and former state legislator, to replace his ailing father on the general ballot. Stroger nevertheless defeated Commissioner Tony Peraica, the Republican candidate.

Stroger persuaded a majority of county commissioners to support a penny-on-the-dollar increase in the county sales tax last year, arguing it was necessary to prevent decimating cuts to the county's vast public-health and criminal-justice systems. He has vetoed three attempts by the board to repeal all or part of the increase.

Critics of Stroger also have frequently blasted him for political hiring in his administration. The highest-profile example was former steakhouse busboy Tony Cole, a former college basketball star whom Stroger personally hired for an administrative post.

Cole, who was making $61,000 a year, was fired in April after less than six months on the job for allegedly lying about his criminal history on his job application. A week later, Stroger forced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Donna Dunnings, his first cousin and a powerful presence in his administration who had twice bailed Cole out of jail.

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica Loses Office Lease!!!

2009-09-02T10:49:00.003-05:00

According to the Chicago Tribune, it looks like Cook County Board Commissioner Tony Peraica might have to find a new district office.

His County Board colleagues have voted to terminate the lease for Peraica's district office after the county Ethics Board alleged that Peraica's landlord donated more to his campaigns than allowed under an ethics ordinance.

In what he described as an effort to avoid a more costly legal battle, Peraica said he already has paid $4,500 to his landlord, Oak Brook businessman and Republican politician Asif Yusuf, to return in-kind contributions of office space to Peraica’s campaigns. Peraica did that after the ethics board concluded Yusuf’s contributions exceeded county limits.

But the Tribune and Commissioner William Beavers (D-Chicago), who is often at political odds with Peraica, later posed questions to the Ethics Board about further in-kind office-space donations from Yusuf to Peraica’s campaigns for higher office, and the panel took another look at the issue.

The Ethics Board now contends that Yusuf contributed an additional $28,000 to Peraica’s campaigns that exceeded the limits on how much county vendors can give to commissioners.
Peraica called the amount “just plain ridiculous” and said it’s the result of his political opposition to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, who is Beavers’ ally.

“I don’t owe a single penny,” said Peraica (R-Riverside). “This is nothing but political nonsense

Life Without Limits

2009-08-28T11:32:00.002-05:00

West Suburban Journal Publisher L. Nicole Trotte wrote an editorial this week called Life Without Limits. Take a read:

Did you know that you were placed on this earth for a purpose? Each and every person is
created in a unique image with a measure of faith to achieve their purpose.

So often we limit ourselves or allow others to put limits on us that keep us from fulfilling
our destiny. I call that leveling. Many times we don’t even realize when it happens to us.

I played the clarinet during my elementary and high school years. I was, in the beginning,
a second-string woodwind. My friend, a first-string woodwind, and I would rehearse
together after school. She would delight in giving me tips to improve my technique. I
applied those pointers in post rehearsal practice for hours and hours. Eventually I would
come to master the lessons.

My hard work and perseverance paid off. I was promoted by the maestro to first-string
woods replacing my friend. Suddenly her enthusiasm to rehearse after school waned.
And she grew distant as did our friendship.

That was my first experience with Leveling: Succeeding beyond a person’s expectations
of what they think you should strive for and achieve. I can remember initially feeling sad
about our friendships demise. However, I grew to realize that that relationship was
conditional and not a true friendship at all.

If we hold tightly to things that limit us, due to fear, intimidation, familiarity or dependency,
they will keep us from the incredible gifts awaiting us.

If you want to go beyond where you are today, don’t be afraid to break loose the chains and
live life without limits. Living without limits has great rewards, keep your eye on the prize.

What does this mean to you? Have you had a leveling experience? For more L. Nicole Trottie articles visit www.westsuburbanjournal.com

Forest Park Hires New Administrator...

2009-08-25T13:18:00.001-05:00

According to Josh Adams of the Forest Park Review, Forest Park has a new administrator. Here's what Adams wrote in the Forest Park Review:

Amid accusations from one council member that the decision is an abuse of the public's trust, elected officials in Forest Park voted 3-2 Monday night to hire Tim Gillian as the next village administrator.

The decision was made after a final closed-door discussion that lasted about 40 minutes. It ends what has been an almost nine-month search. Gillian, a lifelong resident of Forest Park and a former council member himself, outlasted more than 30 applicants for the job.

Aside from service as an elected official, Gillian has no experience with municipal administration. For many years, he ran a large and successful paving company. In casting their votes, each of the four council members offered some remarks. Mayor Anthony Calderone was mum.

Calderone and Gillian are childhood friends. They served together on the council for 12 years, until 2006 when Gillian didn't seek re-election. Over the course of three election cycles, Calderone and Gillian supported each other's candidacy.

Commissioners Mark Hosty and Mike Curry voted with the mayor to give Gillian the nod. Commissioners Marty Tellalian and Rory Hoskins voted not to hire Gillian.

"It was a great experience," Curry said of the hiring process. "I look forward to Mr. Gillian leading our village."

Hosty, too, served alongside Gillian for eight years and the two campaigned together in local elections.

After the meeting, Calderone said he wasn't prepared to comment on the decision other than to say he would prefer such important hires be made with greater agreement. As for voting to hire a political ally, the mayor said he's not concerned residents might view the decision as self-serving.

"I'm not. The newspaper is going to take that position and a handful of people are going to take that position," Calderone said. "I think Tim Gillian needs to be given the opportunity to show what he can do for the Village of Forest Park."

Commissioner Marty Tellalian scolded his colleagues for turning village hall into a private club, and said it would be difficult for taxpayers to measure what's been lost by hiring Gillian over better-qualified applicants. Tellalian ripped Gillian's tenure on the council, pointing to a budget shortfall during his watch over the finance department that resulted in the dismissal of 12 municipal employees.

"He would not get a job with any other village in the state," Tellalian said. "He simply is not qualified."

Anthony Bruno to be sentenced...

2009-08-20T15:11:00.004-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, a sentencing date has been set in federal court for an economic development consultant who pleaded guilty to tax fraud.

Anthony Bruno, 56, and president of Illinois Development Services Corporation, Inc. of Elmhurst, formerly of Melrose Park, is scheduled to appear in federal court Aug. 25 to receive his sentence as part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false corporate federal tax return. His plea also encompasses additional conduct relating to corporate and individual tax returns for multiple years.

The charge carries a maximum of three years in prison and $500,000 fine.

Bruno's attorney, Jeff Steinback, said he believes the plea agreement is a fair one and believes the judge's decision will follow suit.

"The judge we're coming before is outstanding and will make a reasonable decision," he said.

Bruno improperly deducted $186,485 on a corporate tax return filed on July 31, 2006, for calendar year 2001. His company, which was called Gray and Associates until 2003, was ordered in 2000 to pay $186,485 in unpaid federal taxes from the 1980s.

According to the indictment, Bruno "was not entitled to deduct the claimed judgment from (the company's) total income."

Bruno claimed a negative income of more than $100,000.

Bruno was involved with Bellwood on a new Metra station that would serve the Bellwood and Melrose Park and has worked on various tax-increment financing projects.

Bruno, who is also a disbarred attorney, attends regular Bellwood Village Board meetings to give reports to the board on economic development projects going on or being researched in the village by his company.

His company was hired by Melrose Park between 1997 and 2005, most notably on the $41 million project to replace the outdated water system, which has been under investigation by federal authorities and the $50 million River Woods senior housing development.

Bruno's consulting work has earned him more than $1.25 million in fees between 1998 and 2005 from Melrose Park, Bellwood, Cicero and Forest Park. School District 209 has also contracted with Bruno's company.

Proviso Bus Service Resumes August 20th...

2009-08-10T17:16:00.001-05:00

The start of the new school year is almost here! And PTHS 209 will continue to offer transportation to students at Proviso East and Proviso West High Schools.

The bus program begins at Proviso East and Proviso West on August 20th, (the first day of Freshmen Orientation). For ALL students transportation will begin August 24th (the first day of school).

PTHS 209 parents will receive their students’ designated bus stops during textbook pick up (Monday, Aug 10-Friday, August 15th).

All students are asked to arrive at their designated bus stop locations at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled pick-up time in the morning. At the end of the school day (after dismissal) the bus will leave at 3:25 p.m. There are also after school activity buses which leave at various times.

If you have any questions about PTHS 209 transportation program, bus stops, or locations please contact Proviso East’s Transportation Hotline at 708.202.1825 or Proviso West’s Transportation Hotline at 708.202.6299.

Proviso Plays Host To Community Leaders...

2009-08-10T17:14:00.003-05:00

Josh Adams of the Forest Park Review recently wrote about a Community Leaders Banquet hosted by the high school. According to the Forest Park Review, in an effort to bolster community involvement, officials from Proviso Township's high school district invited public figures from across the area to the schools' first ever state of the district address, and hammered home the importance of preparing children for future success.

The dinner event was held Thursday, July 30 at the Proviso Math and Science Academy in Forest Park, one of three high schools run by the district. Superintendent Nettie Collins-Hart delivered a data-packed presentation on both the successes and struggles that are her top priorities, and used a series of charts and graphs to reinforce her plea for widespread support in the classroom.

"This is where we are," Collins-Hart said, pointing to a bar graph of student scores in science. At Proviso East and West, the district's other campuses, fewer than 10 percent of incoming freshman in 2007 were on track for a college education.

On the far right of the chart were scores representing the state average of roughly 78 percent.

"This is where we need to go," Collins-Hart said.

The superintendent displayed several graphs demonstrating that students entering the township's public high schools are ill prepared for the challenges they're about to face. Once those students are in high school, said Collins-Hart, they do show signs of improvement. Compared to previous years, she said, more students are earning college scholarships, more students are qualifying for National Honor Society and more students are enrolling in advanced placement classes.

Yet, according to the most high profile measurements in scholastics today - tests administered under No Child Left Behind - Proviso students are woefully behind. Collins-Hart reminded her audience, as many educators have when talking about the federal benchmarks, that a single standardized test of this nature represents a snapshot, and cannot account for everything that a student might have learned.

"It does tell us something," Collins-Hart said.

To bring more students up to speed, the superintendent laid out a plan that calls for intensive tutoring, efforts to boost attendance while shrinking truancy, and better collaboration between teachers and administrators. All of those improvements will be an uphill battle, however, as the district continues to cut spending and work within a hiring freeze for teachers.

All of which, said the superintendent, is all the more reason for community members to get involved.

"The school cannot do it all," Collins-Hart said.

Listening to the superintendent's remarks were many elected officials within Proviso Township, including Rep. Karen Yarbrough (7th Dist.), Cook County Recorder of Deeds Eugene Moore, school board members from feeder districts and municipal trustees from Hillside and Stone Park. Patricia Granados, president of Triton College, also addressed the crowd.

Foreclosure Help On The Way...

2009-08-10T17:08:00.000-05:00

Maywood is at the core of six west Cook County villages that have formed the West Suburban Housing Collaborative to fight foreclosures.

"If our communities were a wheel," Oak Park Village President David Pope said. "Maywood would be the hub."

Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview and Forest Park make up the rest of the communities involved with Oak Park and Maywood in the effort to access funding from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties.

Maywood was chosen as the leader, under the direction of Community Development Director Lori Summers.

Mayor Henderson Yarbrough said there were no boundaries in fighting crime or foreclosures and the collective strategy was necessary to stabilize housing throughout the six communities.

"The first problem with foreclosures is safety," he said. "Once a house is vacant some people, if they can get in, will go in and camp out.

"Neighbors don't like to see boards on windows; it affects property values throughout the neighborhood," Yarbrough said.

Also the houses often fall into disrepair and the grass grows wild, he said.

"We do have ordinances that will allow us to contact homeowners and if they refuse to do the lawn we can do it ourselves and charge the property," he said. "We'll do whatever we need to do because it's unfair for other people on the street."

With grants from county, state and federal sources, such as Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, villages can acquire abandoned or foreclosed properties, rehabilitate them and put them back on the market.

"Acquiring a home and making the necessary improvements will accelerate the process of getting it back into the hands of private owners who can afford to pay the mortgage for a long time," Pope said. "That will help strengthen the condition of the neighborhood and all our communities."

Yarbrough said Maywood is fortunate in that regard "because the homes are affordable and there are a lot of private investors who can buy them and put them back on the market."

For more information on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program visit HUD online at: www.hud.gov/nsp

Proviso East Graduate Shannon Brown Honored for NBA Championship...

2009-07-13T12:26:00.003-05:00

Proviso East Graduate Shannon Brown of Maywood will be honored on Saturday, July 18, 2009 with a parade in his honor. The parade will kick off at 9am at Lexington School in Maywood. Brown, a 2001 graduate of Proviso East High School and 2005 graduate from Michigan State University, was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers this past season. Brown and the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA World Championship. Brown is the third Proviso East graduate in a row to win an NBA ring. Michael Finley of the San Antonio Spurs won in 2007. Glen "Doc" Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics won last year, and Brown this year. Kudos to these student-athletes aka champs!

State Senator Kimberly Lightford Honored...

2009-07-13T12:24:00.003-05:00

Loretto Hospital, on the Westside of Chicago, will be honoring State Senator Kimberly Lightford (of Maywood) by naming its new Emergency Room after her on Saturday, July 18, 2009. The event begins at 10am at Loretto Hospital. Kudos to Senator Lightford!!!

Cook County Suing ROE Charles Flowers For Unpaid Loan...

2009-07-13T12:21:00.003-05:00

According to reports in the Daily Southtown, the Cook County state's attorney's office is expected to file a civil lawsuit today against the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education and its superintendent Charles Flowers.

The suit alleges Flowers "engaged in a scheme to defraud Cook County" when his office took out a $190,000 loan last year, state's attorney spokeswoman Sally Daly said.

The loan was due June 30. The suit will be seeking full repayment of the loan, as well as interest and punitive damages, she added.

The SouthtownStar first reported the alleged financial and ethical misconduct at the office. Flowers is currently the target of a state's attorney's office criminal investigation, which Daly said was "moving forward." Sources also told the SouthtownStar that subpoenas have been sent out and a Cook County grand jury has convened in connection with the case.

Everything from plane tickets for family members to a trip to a hair salon showed up on Flowers' regional office credit card. He approved a salary advance for his sister, who is employed as his executive assistant, and a friend, who also works in the office, according to documents obtained by the SouthtownStar. A damaging state audit shows deputies were paid thousands of dollars for consulting work they did during working hours while collecting their taxpayer-funded paycheck.

After he defaulted on a June 2008 $190,000 loan from Cook County that he said he needed for operations, the board unanimously supported a resolution calling to abolish the office. Commissioners also issued a no-confidence vote against Flowers and called for his immediate resignation.

Flowers refuses to return calls for comment.

Duaa Eldeib can be reached at deldeib@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5960.

State Budget Stalemate Causing Problems in Proviso!!!

2009-07-03T18:33:00.003-05:00

The State Budget crisis in Springfield has already caused some major problems in Proviso Township. The Proviso Insider has learned that the Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, Inc. (PLCCA), a non for profit organization that serves low income families in the Proviso area, recently laid off at least 20 employees due to funding sources drying up. Specifically, the Teen Reach program, a very successful program run out of Proviso High Schools, was forced to shut down because funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services was recently cut. If State officials don't get their acts together, further social service organizations will suffer.

Proviso School Board President Being Courted for U.S. Congress

2009-07-03T18:29:00.003-05:00

With 7th District U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis exploring a run for Cook County Board President, party leaders are looking for a possible placement of Davis in Congress. One name being bantered about is Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch. Other names being strongly considered are State Representative Karen A. Yarbrough and Broadview Mayor Sherman A. Jones. Party officials like Welch because he's young, and his future is bright in the Democratic Party.

Danny K. Davis Exploring Run For Cook County Board President...

2009-07-03T18:27:00.001-05:00

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is looking into a run for Cook County Board president.

The congressman has conducted a poll regarding his chances and will announce the formation of an exploratory committee "within a few weeks," according to spokeswoman Tumia Romero.

The poll results, which will also be announced within a few weeks, were called "very favorable," according to a release this afternoon.

Davis will seek the input of Cook County residents for the purposes of considering a run for board president, the release said. To that end, he has set up a Web site, davisforcountyboardpresident.com.

The 67-year-old Davis has been in Congress since 1997. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the Cook County Board, having been elected in 1990 and 1994. He also served for 11 years as a member of the Chicago City Council representing the 29th Ward.

Subpoenas Issued In Charles Flowers Investigation!!!

2009-07-03T12:27:00.002-05:00

According to the Daily Southtown, a Cook County grand jury convened Thursday in connection with allegations that a top schools chief misused public money, a source close to the investigation told the SouthtownStar.

Because grand juries - empowered to indict people for crimes - meet in secret, it was unclear Thursday who had been subpoenaed to give evidence in the Flowers investigation. But numerous people in the Proviso political arena are likely on the list.

Charles Flowers' Home and Office Raided by Authorities!!!

2009-07-01T11:20:00.002-05:00

According to published reports in the Chicago Tribune and Daily Southtown, the home and office of Charles Flowers has been raided by the authorities. Cook County state's attorney's investigators raided the home and office of the Cook County regional schools superintendent, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office said.

Investigators executed search warrants on the home of county Regional Supt. Charles Flowers, as well as the Westchester offices of the county superintendent, said state's attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.

There is an active criminal investigation into Flowers' office, Conklin said.

The raids came in the wake of a "no-confidence" vote by the County Board last month that called for criminal investigations in the wake of a highly critical audit that alleges misuse of public funds by Flowers' office.

The no-confidence vote itself came after the state auditor general forwarded to prosecutors an audit showing debt in Flowers' office last year soared to nearly $1 million as he made personal charges on his office credit card and gave a $6,000 cash advance to a relative who worked for him.

In a reply to the auditor general, Flowers said he personally covered more than $9,000 in credit-card charges unrelated to his job.

In addition to asking the Illinois attorney general and the state's attorney to launch criminal investigations, the no-confidence resolution also asked the state's attorney to seek recovery of $190,000 in county funds the board lent to the superintendent's office last year. The loan is due June 30.

Flowers Has Not Paid His Rent!!!

2009-06-26T09:51:00.002-05:00

The Daily Southtown has uncovered the fact that Flowers has not paid his office space rent. The regional schools boss currently under criminal investigation for misusing school money owes nearly $20,000 in back rent for educational office space, documents show.

Only once this year has Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education - headed by Supt. Charles Flowers - paid rent to Westchester Public School District 92 1 / 2 , according to documents received from the district through a Freedom of Information Act request.

From July 2008 to June 2009, Flowers' office should have paid $41,150 for the space at 10110 Gladstone Street in Westchester, which is leased from the school district. It has only made good on $24,004. The regional office shares the building with MacNeal School, a private school affiliated with MacNeal Hospital that services special education students, which also rents from the district.

The more than $17,000 lapse in payment has former Regional Supt. Bob Ingraffia wondering if District 92 1 / 2 's school board will initiate eviction proceedings.

"Taxpayers don't like to see the district losing money," said Ingraffia, who lost his re-election bid to Flowers in 2006.

Board president Barbara Stanger declined to comment on whether the board was taking action to recoup the cash.

"I really don't want to comment on anything at this time that, I believe, is being investigated," Stanger said.

District 92 1 / 2 Supt. Jean Sophie was not in the office Thursday, but has previously refused to comment on anything relating to Flowers' office.

Flowers did not return multiple messages left for him.

During Ingraffia's tenure, the office typically paid rent in advance, which was usually one lump sump annually, he said.

"That was so we made sure we would have a roof over our head," Ingraffia said.

Flowers' rent schedule was more sporadic. Often, he would pay on a monthly basis. There were times, however, he would miss a payment ---like September and October 2007 - and would supplement with two payments the next month, documents reveal. Monthly rent for 2008 was $3,300 and $3,429 in 2009.

The SouthtownStar first reported last week that Flowers was the target of a Cook County state's attorney investigation. A two-month SouthtownStar investigation revealed Flowers padded the office payroll with friends and family, charged thousands of dollars in personal expenses and cash advances to his work credit card and more than doubled the office's debt to nearly $1 million dollars. A troubling state audit officially released earlier this month confirmed those findings.

Last year, the Cook County Board approved a $190,000 for Flowers' office. Commissioners have questioned his ability to repay the loan, which is due Tuesday.

Duaa Eldeib can be reached at deldeib@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5960.

Daily Southtown Says: "Time to Send Flowers Packing"

2009-06-22T11:42:00.001-05:00

The Daily Southtown published an editorial today saying it's "Time to Send Flowers Packing." Here's the editorial:

R eform of state government is an issue to which we are dedicated; some might even say we're obsessed. The list of things to be fixed in Illinois governance is long, depressing, and growing. Add this: We need ways to remove tainted public officials from office.

It's a miracle we're not still stuck with Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Thankfully the state Senate was able to drive him from office after corruption charges. But, there are more poisoned flowers among Illinois' vast fields of elected offices - or, in the latest case, Charles Flowers.

Flowers holds the elected position of Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education Superintendent. He has a record of financial abuse and misconduct dating to his days as board president at west suburban Maywood-Melrose Park District 89.

On Tuesday, the Cook County Board voted non-confidence in Flowers, in the face of months of reporting by this newspaper, and a state audit documenting his arrogant and profligate use of public funds. A criminal investigation is under way.

This should be enough to at least suspend an official, if not boot him entirely. But Illinois and Cook County have almost no way to remove suspect office holders; we'd not be surprised to see some insisting on being paid while behind bars.

Inevitably when the notion is raised of ousting people such as Flowers, responses include "innocent until proven guilty." Let's put that nonsense aside.

Innocence until guilt is proven is a vitally important premise in America. But it has nothing to do with employment, elected or otherwise. It solely means that before we take away a person's freedom, their guilt must be proved in court, to the very high standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt."

In the court of public opinion, or the determination of suitability for employment, this standard does not hold. Nor should it.

Anyone in a non-elected job facing the findings in the Flowers audit would have been fired by now. One questionable expense account is all it takes for most employees to lose their job. Elected officials who love to compare themselves to employees when seeking raises or benefits or perks barely acknowledge this when fighting to stay long after their competence or honesty are shown wanting.

Flowers should go. And there should be means to make his going less torturous and time-consuming.

Situations such as this show why Illinois should re-think the number of offices to which we elect people. As a starting point, electing people to do public service is unassailable, and this element of democracy has largely been brought to the world by America. It goes to the roots of the revolution that gave birth to our great country. And perhaps a return to those roots is in order.

"No taxation without representation" made sense 250 years ago, and does still. No processing of teaching certificates without representation? Maybe not. But that's the primary role of the office Flowers abuses.

That so many such arcane and narrow roles are elected offices is one reason voter turnout for them is minimal. Who among us can truly determine who is suited to such work? (We can determine it after audits and investigations and solid journalism have exposed the lack of it, but beforehand, no.)

Exploitive and abusive people such as Flowers move from one office to another. After his record at the park district (another that shouldn't require election) he was able to become education superintendent.

And while we decry low turnouts for offices such as county board, it's understandable why few vote for lesser offices. But that allows the likes of Flowers to hold such offices through influence within a political machine or among a few who want to enjoy the fruits of his abuse (as Flowers has rained public money on friends and relatives, for example.)

Illinois needs to set legislated standards below which elected office holders can be ousted by higher levels of government, or are automatically required to resign or at least be suspended. Or, despite its own limitations and potential for abuse due to the same low turnouts that bring us cads like Flowers, voters need to be able to recall office holders, using petition to force votes that could expel them from office.

Illinois became a national embarrassment in the months it took to force Blagojevich out. But that happened at the speed of light compared with what it usually takes to purge our governance of such people.

Maybe we need to have David Letterman mock Flowers until he just quits.

Proviso Township Newspapers Ignore Major Scandal at Regional Superintendent's Office!!!

2009-06-21T20:21:00.003-05:00

Local newspaper outlets, the Forest Park Review and Proviso Herald, have completely ignored a major scandal that has been developing for months at the Regional Superintendent's office headed by Charles A. Flowers. The only local source for news on this major story has been the West Suburban Journal. Flowers, who has abused the public's trust and misspent thousands of taxpayer monies, has been the subject of weekly and daily news coverage in major media outlets such as the Daily Southtown, Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and television stations Channels 5, 7, 9, 32 and CLTV. However, the Forest Park Review and Proviso Herald have completely ignored this story. Insider sources say the owners and editors of those two people are nothing more than political hacks aligned with Flowers, and they have as much egg on their faces as Flowers and his backers do. Why do you think these two local rags have failed to cover this major news scandal at the Regional Superintendent's office?

The Chicago Tribune Is Buffaloed By Charles Flowers!!!

2009-06-19T11:25:00.001-05:00

The Chicago Tribune said in a recent editorial that they are buffaloed by Regional Superintendent Charles Flowers. Read it for yourself:

If there's anything worse than a do-nothing local government bureaucracy, it's a do-nothing local government bureaucracy that runs up a $1 million deficit. The Cook County Regional Education Office is all of that and more.

A state audit released last week found so many accounting "irregularities" in the office that Auditor General William Holland passed the report to Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and Cook County State's Atty. Anita Alvarez for their scrutiny.And now the Cook County Board is pleading for Madigan and Alvarez to intervene. Turns out the County Board loaned the office $190,000 last year.

The jaw-dropping findings include:

* Regional Supt. Charles Flowers, a Democrat on whose watch the deficit ballooned, charged thousands of dollars worth of personal expenses -- including plane tickets to Mississippi for family members -- to his government credit card. He also withdrew more than $6,000 in cash advances for which he couldn't properly account.

* Flowers didn't have receipts to support 70 percent of the purchases made on his card.

* At least 46 times, Flowers charged personal and staff meals on his card without properly documenting the expenses. The meals totaled $3,198, including $736 for a staff luncheon.

* The office paid $1,798 in late fees, finance charges and other service charges, mostly on Flowers' credit card.

* Flowers approved $15,000 worth of cash advances to two employees, including $6,000 to his administrative assistant, who happens to be his sister.

* State grant money was used to pay consulting fees of $12,000 and $9,400 to two assistant superintendents who did the "extra" work during their regular hours.

* Flowers' nephew worked eight hours a day and was paid for nine.

* The office didn't record payroll transactions or reconcile its books regularly, spent state money on ineligible items and had inadequate controls on accounting procedures, property and equipment.

* Despite warnings in previous audits that it had to cut expenses or find new funding sources to stay afloat, the office bought 20 computers ($21,000) and a new phone system ($9,300) to replace the one it bought three years earlier. Payroll expenses grew by $146,000.

That $190,000 loan from Cook County-- The loan is due June 30. The office has no way to pay. "We took this man on his word, and unfortunately, we were sidetracked and buffaloed," Commissioner John Daley said Tuesday.

Oh, priceless.

* * *

Here's the most infuriating thing: This office should be dead, gone, kaput. Out of business. And for one brief moment, it was.

In 1991, when the office was blowing money under another regime, then-Cook County Board President Richard Phelan pushed the legislature to kill it. The office exists to process teacher certifications, train school-bus drivers and do other things that could easily be handled by others.

The legislature did vote to kill it. We know. Amazing. That never happens.

We almost killed a useless Democratic patronage haven, until Republicans sniffed out an opportunity to create a useless Republican patronage haven.

They revived it in the legislature and made it a suburban-only office, thinking they could elect one of their own to run it if Chicago voters were cut out of the mix.

The office actually did die for 13 months. Nobody missed it. But it rose from the ashes in 1995 and went on its merry way.

The hapless Cook County Republicans, they couldn't even hold an office that exists only in the suburbs. Democrat Flowers unseated Republican Robert Ingraffia in the 2006 election.

Flowers didn't return our calls asking for an explanation of the state audit's findings. He told the auditor the big problem is that Cook County doesn't give him funding.

The state pays more than $400,000 in salaries and benefits for Flowers and his deputies. And now it's worse than useless. It's embroiled in a spending scandal.

Yes, taxpayers, you were buffaloed. Again.

Criminal Investigation Officially Launched Against Charles Flowers!!!

2009-06-17T15:46:00.002-05:00

According to the Daily Southtown, on the same day the Cook County board issued a no-confidence vote against a top regional school administrator dogged by allegations of financial and ethical misconduct, prosecutors said a criminal investigation is in motion.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office confirmed late Tuesday the Cook County state's attorney's office is moving forward on the findings of an official state audit released last week highlighting the financial indiscretions of Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education Supt. Charles Flowers.

After reviewing the audit that outlined Flowers spent thousands of dollars on personal expenses - including more than $3,000 solely on food and untold amounts for a car and furniture auditors could not locate - and approved cash advances for a family member on the payroll, Madigan spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said the office reached out to Anita Alvarez's office to offer assistance with a criminal investigation.

"These are very serious findings in the audit," Ziegler said. "We are pleased the state's attorney will be conducting the criminal investigation."

At this time, however, state's attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said, he cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation into Flowers.

"We've been actively reviewing information regarding that office," he added.

The actions come on the heels of a two-month SouthtownStar investigation into the office, which acts as an arm for the Illinois State Board of Education in processing teacher certifications.

The only recourse ISBE can take is to revoke Flowers' license, which would render him unfit for the position.

"We're reviewing the audit to determine if there's enough evidence that would warrant revoking it," state board spokesman Matt Vanover said. "He's an elected official."

Commissioners are also wary they will recoup a $190,000 taxpayer-backed loan they approved in June 2008 for the office that is nearly $1 million in the red. The deadline to repay the loan is in two weeks.

The Southtown story was writte by Duaa Eldeib. She can be reached at deldeib@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5960.

County Board Wants Probe Of Charles Flowers Too!!!

2009-06-16T15:26:00.002-05:00

According to published reports, the Cook County Board today expressed “no confidence” in the county's suburban school administrator and called for criminal investigations following a highly critical audit that alleged misuse of public funds.

The state auditor general has already forwarded to prosectors the audit of the relatively small office run by Regional Cook County Schools Superintendent Charles Flowers. The state audit found the debt in Flowers' office had soared to nearly $1 million as he made personal charges on his office credit card and a $6,000 cash advance to a relative who worked for him.

Flowers, who was elected in 2006, could not immediately be reached for comment.

A county resolution, approved unanimously, called on the state attorney general and county state’s attorney to launch criminal probes and for the state’s attorney to recover $190,000 in county funds that the board loaned to the superintendent's office last year.
“We took this man on his word, and unfortunately, we were sidetracked and buffaloed,” said Commissioner John Daley (D-Chicago), chairman of the county Finance Committee. The loan is due on June 30.

The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Elizabeth Gorman (R-Orland Park), who was the only commissioner to vote against the loan last year. She said the audit released last week by state Auditor General William Holland indicated “flagrant corruption” in the office.

The audit noted the office deficit more than doubled to $942,000 from 2007 to last year and questioned whether the office had the “ability to continue as a going concern.” The office did not have receipts to back 70 percent of the charges on Flowers’ credit card and paid more than $21,000 to two assistant regional superintendents for consulting work they did during regular working hours,, the audit stated.

State Auditor Seeks Criminal Probe of Charles Flowers!!!!

2009-06-12T11:45:00.003-05:00

The state's top auditor called for a criminal probe of the Cook County regional education office after an audit found the director, Charles Flowers, repeatedly used a government credit card for personal expenses and approved questionable payments to relatives on his payroll. Click this link to read the full story:

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1619745,flowers-audit--0612.article

Here's a summary of the audit's major findings:

The audit concluded that Regional Office of Education #14:

· had inadequate internal control over disbursements. Because of the overall lack of internal controls, questions as to the accuracy and completeness of the general ledger, and problems noted in other findings throughout this report, auditors terminated work before testing was completed and issued a disclaimer of opinion on the financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2008.

· did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process.

· had liabilities which exceeded its total net assets by $941,844. If the Regional Office continues to operate at the current level without obtaining additional funding or decreasing expenditures, ROE 14’s ability to continue as a going concern is questionable.

· utilized an accounting software package which was not designed for governmental entities and did not provide the internal controls and reporting features required for proper fund accounting.

· did not complete 9 of 12 monthly reconciliations of its bank statements and pooled cash accounts for fiscal year 2008.

· had inadequate controls over property and equipment.

· did not record payroll transactions in their general ledger for 5 months in fiscal year 2008 after they hired an outside agency to prepare their payroll.

· provided cash advances to two employees (Barbara Flowers and Arbdella Patterson) for non-business related purposes.

· paid a total of $1,798 in finance charges, late fees and other miscellaneous service charges on 6 credit cards.

· did not have receipts to support 70 percent of charges on the Regional Superintendent’s credit card. The Regional Superintendent also made numerous personal purchases, took cash advances, and paid for meals (both personal and for staff) on his credit card without properly documenting the purchases and advances.

· paid two Assistant Regional Superintendents $12,000 and $9,400 each in addition to their regular salaries for work completed during regular working hours.

· used Institute Funds for unallowable expenditures under 105 ILCS 5/3-12.

Maywood Police Department Gets New Police Chief...

2009-06-09T11:04:00.003-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald and reporter Jolie Lee, Maywood has a new police chief. According to the Herald, Cmdr. Tim Curry takes over for Police Chief Elvia Williams on Friday.

Williams was hired in June 2006 on a two-year contract.

Curry is a 24-year veteran of the department. Since Jan. 2009, he has been promoted three times.

"I kind of thought that most likely I would get deputy chief and that would be it," Curry said.
"But I had no idea whatsoever I would get the spot (of police chief.)"

Village Manager Jason Ervin made the appointment and said Williams is leaving the department to "pursue some other opportunities."

Williams could not be reached immediately for comment Monday morning.

Ervin said he chose Curry based on the recommendations of others, although he declined to say who made those recommendations.

"The process came through a group of individuals that I was working with on public safety issues," Ervin said.

When asked who the individuals were, Ervin said, "That I'm not disclosing at this time." Asked why he was not disclosing the information, he said, "I'm just not disclosing it."

Ervin said he wanted to appoint someone with leadership qualities and knowledge of "the inner workings of the department." Ervin added, "People respect him."

Curry began his career in 1985 as a patrol officer. He became sergeant of the tactical unit in 1996. In January 2009, he was promoted to commander and then to lieutenant two months later.

Curry will be officially sworn in as chief at the July 7 Village Board meeting.

Proviso Math & Science Academy Holds First Ever Graduation!!!

2009-05-31T10:23:00.002-05:00

The Proviso Math and Science Academy hosted its Inaugural Graduation Ceremony on May 30, 2009 on the campus of Dominican University. The Academy's first class saw 106 students, all headed off to college, graudate in purple and white gowns. Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch told the graduates that he was happy to declare, "We made it." Welch told the graduates that they all made it together after dreaming about the day for over seven years. Welch told the graduates board members were ridiculed and persecuted for just the idea of creating a third high school. But because the Board chose hope over fear, Welch said they pushed forward with the new high school. Proviso Math and Science Academy graduates received over $5.9 million in scholarships this year. Congratulations Proviso!!!

Proviso West Graduates 525

2009-05-31T10:22:00.002-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, a total of 525 graduates from the Proviso West High School class of 2009 marched in red and white robes at the UIC Pavilion Sunday.

"The kids were well behaved and the families were just jubilant," Principal Alexis Wallace said. "The ceremony was wonderful."

The ceremony lasted two hours and was punctuated by a stirring speech by senior class President Javin Cotton.

"It was so phenomenal. As you listened to him -- he wants to go into education, but it was like listening to a future president," Wallace said. "And the way the students received him. It was unreal."

Wallace said a diploma was awarded to a student who had died of leukemia during the school year.

"We also had a young lady who has sickle cell anemia who had to be helped across the stage," she said. "We wanted to put her in a wheelchair, but she wanted to march. She was so brave. And she did get to march, it was beautiful."

Proviso East Graduates 304

2009-05-31T10:20:00.002-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, Proviso East High School grads remembered Sunday a classmate who was killed one year ago.

The district awarded a diploma to student Tawanna Ford who was shot and killed in June 2008. She was on track to graduate a semester early in December.

Her mother, LaDana Ford, walked on stage at the UIC Pavilion and accepted the diploma for her daughter.

The 2009 graduating class included 304 students, most of whom were robed in blue. The top 10 percent of the class wore white, including the two valedictorians who spoke to their class: Dinishia Wolford and Clameirdre Prince.

Families packed the lower levels of the pavilion.

"This is our fourth graduation at UIC," Principal Milton Patch said. "It's great for parents, you never know what the weather is going to be like. So whether it's too hot outside or there's a rainstorm, this prevents that from happening in the ceremony."

School board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch said he has never missed a graduation in the nine years he has been on the board.

"This was fantastic," he said. "The tradition we started of holding the ceremony at UIC gives students the opportunity to invite more people."

Patch said this graduation was a special one for him as well. "There were several students I had graduate as elementary students in 1988 who wound up graduating with me again in high school," he said.

Flowers Uses Taxpayer Money for Personal Fine Dining!!!

2009-05-20T12:06:00.003-05:00

According to the Daily Southtown, Charles Flowers isn't the only one charging family trips on the taxpayers' dime.

Instead of an excursion to Mississippi - which Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education Supt. Charles Flowers purchased for his family on the regional office's credit card - Deputy Supt. Harry Reynolds seems to prefer the cool breeze and sandy beaches of San Diego.

More than $1,700 in charges appear on Reynolds' regional office of education credit card in June 2008 for himself and his wife, Calumet School District 132 Supt. Elizabeth Reynolds, and two other family members, according to credit card statements obtained by the SouthtownStar through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Reynolds did not return calls for comment this week.

Reynolds' district-issued card also includes charges to Chicago's theater district, one bill of nearly $100 at Bogart's Charhouse in Homewood, and car rental charges based in Jacksonville, Fla., documents show.

But that's small potatoes compared to the thousands of dollars Flowers spent on meal or food purchases since he took office in July 2007.

Sometimes, he's used the public credit card to eat out as many as four times in one week. The Clubhouse - an Oak Brook restaurant that boasts a luxurious country-club feel - appears to be a favorite. On Dec. 21, 2007, Flowers spent $863 on the fine dining, statements show. Just two months earlier, Flowers dropped $200 on Oct. 21 and was back on Oct. 23 to the tune of $85.97. In April 2008, he returned to charge $326.32. In total, he frequented the eatery - where specialties include sweet chili ginger calamari and pecan crusted tilapia - seven times, statements show.

The array of Oak Brook-area restaurants reflect a sophisticated palate. Flowers charged more than $430 at Wildfire in January of this year, $133 at Maggiano's, $286 at Papadeaux Seafood Kitchen and $89 at Bar Louie to his regional office's credit card.

But it wasn't all upscale cuisine. Flowers also seemed to have a craving for Applebee's, KFC, Panda Express, Potbelly, Portillo's, Panera and Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood.

In addition to feeding his appetite, Flowers also spent $45 at Yehia and Company Hair Designs, statements show. There were also two separate limousine charges, plenty of purchases at the gas pump, a theater district charge, as well as hotel and rental car payments outlined in Flowers' credit card statements.

Flowers began his tenure with a credit card that had a $5,000 credit limit. That was upped to $10,000, and most recently $20,000.

Flowers did not return calls for comment this week about the credit card charges, nor has he responded to reporters' inquiries about a variety of questionable financial dealings revealed in recent weeks.

A preliminary audit of the office states that Flowers maintains he paid the office back from his personal account but the auditors were unable to confirm that.

Flowers Uses Taxpayer Funds For Trips and Credit Card Advances!!!

2009-05-15T12:23:00.003-05:00

The Daily Southtown did a recent follow up on Charles Flowers. Read below:

The Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education - the same office with a reputation of not answering the phone - spent nearly $20,000 on two phone systems in as many years, according to documents.

A preliminary audit of the office obtained by the SouthtownStar reveals a laundry list of questionable financial charges, ranging from airline tickets to Mississippi for Supt. Charles Flowers' family to nearly $2,000 in late fees and finance charges on regional office credit cards to Flowers' nephew - who is employed as an office floater - getting paid to eat lunch.

"Taking his whole family on taxpayer dollars is extremely questionable," said Pat Rehkamp, chief investigator with the Better Government Association.

Two administrators, whom the audit didn't name, collected their $87,644 and $80,628 salaries along with $12,000 and $9,400 for "consulting services" they did during normal working hours, the report shows.

When Flowers took office in July 2007, the office was more than $413,000 in debt. Under Flowers that more than doubled to $941,000 as of June 30, 2008, and he hired family and friends to work for him.

Three months after taking office, Flowers already was taking out cash advances on regional office's credit card, according to the audit.

The office spent $9,300 on a phone system last year - which went to replace an $8,900 phone system purchased only one year earlier, according to the audit.

Auditors initially arrived at the office in October 2008, only to return in December 2008 because the office was not ready the first time around.

Even with the two-month warning, there still were missing credit card statements, receipts and bank statements.

In a few cases, there was paperwork to support purchases but no documentation to prove it related to regional activities.

When mileage reimbursement was incorrectly totaled, it was paid without the correction, the audit stated. Another employee was overpaid when his hours were miscalculated.

The office is on its third business manager since 2007. Three weeks ago, Willie Mack, the director of ethics and fiscal compliance, was laid off, along with Joe Fogarty, a longtime office employee who worked on teacher certification, and Larry Polubinski, who dealt with special education.

Within the past month, the office was nearly two weeks late with paychecks. Earlier this year, employees had their health insurance temporarily canceled because group health insurance payments weren't paid on time.

The most recent round of paychecks were due May 1, but as off Thursday, employees had not been paid.

"On the surface of it, it looks like a classic misuse of taxpayer dollars," Rehkamp said.

Flowers did not return calls for comment.

Former Maywood Trustee Richard Lopez Convicted by Federal Jury...

2009-05-03T18:56:00.001-05:00

According to the Chicago Tribune, former Maywood Trustee Richard Lopez was convicted by a federal jury last week. A former union officer and two employees of Teamsters Local 743 were convicted in federal court Friday for rigging two elections in 2004.

The three were found guilty on the third day of jury deliberations after a four-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The federal jury convicted Richard Lopez, the local's former secretary-treasurer, as well as Thaddeus Bania, its former comptroller, and David Rodriguez, an organizer.

They are to be sentenced Aug. 27. The local is one of the largest in America and represents more than 12,000 workers.

Peraica Staffer Colin Brady Charged With DUI???

2009-05-01T13:17:00.004-05:00

According to published newspaper reports, Colin Brady, 33, of Westchester, was charged with DUI at 1:22am on April 27, 2009 at Harlem Avenue and Olmstead Road. According to the reports, police said a white Lincoln went through the red light at Harlem Avenue and 26th Street with the driver continuing to swerve. Officers stopped the vehicle and observed Brady unable to keep his head up and explain why he went through the red light, according to the published report. Brady apparently then failed the field sobriety tests and blew a .161 in the portable breath test. Once at the station, Brady reportedly refused to take a Breathalyzer. He was charged with DUI and improper lane usage. Brady is believed to be the same person who was recently a candidate for Township office on a slate headed by Theresa L. Kelly and supported by Regional Superintendent Charles Flowers. Brady is also believed to work for embattled Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica who has had other staffers embarrass him with personal problems.

Daily Southtown Exposes Regional Superintendent Charles Flowers As Financial Failure!!!

2009-05-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

The Daily Southtown newspaper wrote a detailed article exposing the corruption and failure of Charles Flowers as Superintendent. Here's the article and reporter contact information below:

When Charles Flowers took over the reins of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education two years ago, critics were skeptical of his baggage.

Flowers, a former special education teacher and administrator, has a history of questionable financial dealings from his days as board president at west suburban Maywood-Melrose Park District 89. But he came into office in 2007 vowing to root out corruption and bring reform to Cook County public schools.

Once he became regional superintendent, Flowers hired relatives and friends and then began giving employees salary advance loans. Then he went to Cook County government for an emergency loan, which the regional office has yet to repay.

In April, the regional office couldn't make payroll and earlier this year the department didn't pay its group health insurance premiums on time, leading the company to temporarily cancel workers' health benefits.

So where's the money?

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Flowers in the past weeks, he said in a brief conversation this week that he would not comment.

"I am not in front of those documents," Flowers said.

Numerous calls to top administrators in the office also were not returned.

The office was more than $413,000 in debt when Flowers was elected. According to the last available financial audit from June 30, 2007, "If the regional office continues to operate at the current level ... its ability to continue ... may be questioned in future years."

Instead of slashing expenses, the office initially added staff and approved raises for administrators, all of whom at the time held doctorates. Salaries then ranged between $75,244 and $100,325, which in some cases was more than double the pay for the same positions under former Regional Supt. Bob Ingraffia.

Many of the problems at the regional office echo Flowers' troubles as a Maywood-Melrose school board member. In 2002 and 2003 Flowers came under fire for stacking the staff with friends who were paid more than their predecessors and for authorizing frivolous spending on laptops and cell phones for board members in a district with a $3 million deficit. All but six of the 200 laptops were later found in unopened boxes in a storage room by an auditing firm.

Flowers himself had his assets frozen for failing to pay $51,188 in income taxes in the past few years, which Flowers had previously said he was contesting.

Pay advance loans

After Flowers became superintendent in July 2007, he put his two sisters and a nephew on the payroll.

Less than a year on the job, he approved a salary advance of $6,000 to his sister Barbara Flowers, who is also his executive assistant, and $9,000 to friend Arbdella Hayes-Patterson, who oversees the truancy program, according to documents obtained by the SouthtownStar.

Approving what is in essence a loan for employees is unusual, said Marc Kiehna, the president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools.

"I think common sense and law tell us we should have contracts and pay our employees accordingly," he said. "It's not a procedure that I would do. Typically people earn the money that we give them."

As for the legality of it, Kiehna said "I would question it."

Neither Barbara Flowers nor Hayes-Patterson returned calls this week for comment about the loans.

Missed paychecks, cut-off insurance

Last month, the regional office couldn't make payroll, forcing employees to go almost two weeks without pay. Staff received paychecks Monday, which was just within the window allowed by an Illinois Department of Labor law that outlines just how late employees can get paid.

In the April 15 memo Flowers sent to his staff informing them payroll would be delayed, he wrote, "I regret having to take this action, but the funds simply are not there at this time."

With the next round of paychecks due today, a number of workers have said they are worried those checks will also be late - if they come at all. This comes in addition to layoffs within the past couple of weeks and switching some employees from fulltime to parttime, which also occurred in the past few weeks. It's unknown how many workers from the staff of about two dozen were laid off or had their hours cut.

Health insurance for those same employees was temporarily interrupted due to nonpayment earlier this year, a spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois confirmed. Coverage has since been restored.

Since the SouthtownStar started asking questions, employees have described the work environment as "hostile and tense." They've said administrators are "interrogating" employees, looking through phone records and e-mails to see who leaked information to the media.

Unpaid loans

In 2008 and 2009, Flowers, who currently makes $103,234, submitted budgets identical to his predecessor from one year prior - with the exception of a more than $10,000 increase for rent after the office moved, according to documents acquired through a SouthtownStar Freedom of Information Act request .

The approximately $670,000 operations budget does not include about $2.5 million in state and federal grants Flowers expected for 2009, as well as revenue from certification and fingerprinting, among other programs.

But of that expected revenue, the office will not receive $1.7 million from a state truancy grant. For years, the office won the competitive grant, but after Flowers took over and the amount requested went from about $100,000 in 2007 to $1.7 million, the state didn't approve the grant.

What was approved in June 2008 was a $190,000 taxpayer-backed loan from the Cook County Board.

That money was used for operations and has been spent, Flowers said. It is unclear if the office will make the June 30 repayment deadline.

Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman (R-Orland Park) cast the sole "no" vote when the request for the money came in last year.

"All Flowers did was pad it (the staff) with his friends and family and then come to us, to (board president Todd) Stroger, for a loan. How ironic," Gorman said.

After the dissenting vote, Gorman said Flowers' office contacted her to discuss the loan. She said her office called back daily, then weekly, to set up a time, and no one got back to her, which made her even more comfortable with her vote.

"If they can't sit down and meet, that just shows their inaccessibility and ineptness." Gorman said. "If they're this unresponsive to elected officials, I can only imagine what it's like with the community and teachers they have to serve."

Delays for certification

The office is responsible for services to 143 school districts and 400,000 students in suburban Cook County. One of its larger roles is to oversee teacher certifications and licensing.

However, at the top of Southland administrators' list of complaints are long delays in teacher certification and a difficulty getting anyone at the office to answer the phone.

The SouthtownStar attempted to retrieve a list of uncertified personnel in the county through a Freedom of Information Act request, but the regional office said it did not maintain such a list. In addition, the office did not provide a list of personnel for whom the office has received applications but have yet to be certified, saying, "The Illinois State Board of Education certifies educational personnel."

Also in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the ISBE said it also could not provide those lists.

In contrast, the teacher certification specialist at the Will County Regional Office of Education said she could provide a list of certification applications waiting to be processed.

It's gotten so bad, districts are circumventing the office that should act as an arm of the state board of education.

"We go directly to ISBE," Forest Ridge School District 142 Supt. Margaret Longo said of teacher certifications.

In Community High School District 218, Supt. John Byrne said the district has lost potential teachers because the office didn't verify certification in time. Reports and surveys the district passes on to the office on time often arrive late to the ISBE, he added.

"Many of those have to do with financial deadlines," Byrne said.

In his 20 years dealing with the regional office, Byrne said he has never had so many problems.

"I'm trying not to assess blame, but something is missing here. It always worked before."

Duaa Eldeib can be reached at deldeib@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5960.

Economic Times Hit Local Elementary School In District 89...

2009-04-23T08:06:00.004-05:00

According to the Proviso Herald, about 30 teachers and certified staff will not be coming back to work at Maywood School District 89 next year.

At a Special Meeting Monday night, the Maywood School District 89 School Board meeting voted unanimously in favor of the action.

Those who will be let go are part of over 300 teachers and certified staff that work in the school district. The positions were non-renewal contracts.

Along with teachers some of the jobs of certified staff are literacy coaches, technology assistants, teacher assistants and tutors.

Maywood School District 89 Superintendent Thea Perkins said the decision was made in part because of the economy. She said less money is coming in from the state along with the decline in grant money.

She said the district's actions aren't exclusive and these kinds of steps are being taken by school districts across the state.

Perkins said despite the change the district will continue to work hard to provide the best education possible for the students in the district.

Financial Crisis At Regional Superintendent's Office!!!

2009-04-17T13:45:00.003-05:00

David Pollard of the Pioneer Press Newspapers, aka the Proviso Herald, is reporting that employees at the Regional Superintendent's Office, headed by Charles A. Flowers, will not be paid today. Pollard writes that:

Friday will be payday for some, but employees working for Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education in Westchester may leave for the weekend empty-handed. Office employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, say they were notified via email April 15 that they would not be paid on April 17.
Although there is the likelihood the office will not have payroll checks for the office's 18 employees, they still continue to come to work and say they are fearful about speaking out publicly about their predicament.
What do you think should be done? Who's to blame? What's your opinion?

Has Flowers destroyed the Regional Superintendent's office?

Proviso Township Election Winners!!!

2009-04-15T11:12:00.002-05:00

Proviso Township saw incumbents flex their muscle in last week's local elections. One major upset occurred in the Village of Broadview with the incumbents being ousted by a rising star in Proviso Township politics, Sherman Jones. Here's a break down of the election winners:

For Mayors:

Bellwood-Frank Pasquale
Berkeley-Tony Esposito
Broadview-Sherman Jones
Hillside-Joe Tamburino
Maywood-Henderson Yarbrough
Melrose Park-Ron Serpico
Northlake-Jeff Sherwin
Stone Park-Ben Mazzulla
Westchester-Sam Pullia
Forest Park-No Mayoral contest

For Contested School Boards:
SD88:
Drena Lanier
Dorothy Smith
Maria Castrejon
Marilyn Thurman

SD89:
Regina Rivers
Jaime Aquiano
Loretta Gustello

SD92:
Ida O'Neal
Penny Williams Wolford
Andrew Riouse

SD209:
Emanuel "Chris" Welch
Daniel J. Adams
Brian M. Cross
Kevin McDermott

For Proviso Township:
Michael Corrigan-Supervisor
William Daugherty-Clerk
Steven Zawaski-Assessor
Eric Sawchuck-Collector
Tony Williams-Trustee
Don Sloan-Trustee
Meri Herrell-Trustee
Tony Gillian-Trustee

Welch Wins Big In Proviso SD209 Race...

2009-04-10T07:24:00.004-05:00

Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch, who endured the most negative campaign in school board history, won re-election on Tuesday by a landslide. Here's a break down of the votes:

HS Member Bd. Of Ed. Proviso Township 209 - 4yr.
9 Candidates - Vote for 4
Precincts Counted: 120 of 120 (100.00%)
Candidates Votes %
Emanuel ''Chris'' Welch (NP) 7,568 13.56%
Reatha ''Sue'' Henry (NP) 5,724 10.25%
Daniel J. Adams (NP) 7,023 12.58%
Brian M. Cross (NP) 6,999 12.54%
Maria Desena (NP) 4,689 8.40%
Kevin McDermott (NP) 6,842 12.26%
Carlos Anderson (NP) 4,880 8.74%
Rebecca M. Smith (NP) 6,490 11.62%
Arbdella ''Della'' Patterson (NP) 5,614 10.06%

A closer look at the numbers reveal that Welch placed first out of all candidates in Bellwood, Broadview, Northlake and Stone Park. He placed second in Maywood, Melrose Park, and Hillside. Fourth in Berkeley and Westchester, and sixth in Forest Park. Congratulations to Welch and his slate mates Dan Adams and Brian Cross.

Go Vote!!!

2009-04-07T04:41:00.003-05:00

Don't forget to vote today in local elections. The future of our schools, municipalities, park districts, etc are at stake. Make your vote count.

Local Elections Are Here...

2009-04-06T21:56:00.001-05:00

It's time to cast your ballot for local leaders in our towns and municipalities. When you go to the polls on Tuesday, April 7, 2009, here are some excellent choices for your schools in Bellwood SD88 and Proviso High School District 209:

For Bellwood SD88:

Ronald Anderson 186
Patricia Crawford 187
Beverly Graham 188
Lekeya Shearrill 189

For Proviso High School District 209:

Emanuel "Chris" Welch 201
Reatha "Sue" Henry 202
Daniel J. Adams 203
Brian M. Cross 204

Arbdella "Della" Patterson Wants to Close PMSA and Fire New Superintendent!!!

2009-04-03T09:44:00.002-05:00

Arbdella "Della" Patterson, a candidate for SD209 Board, appeared at a candidates forum on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at the Forest Park Library. The forum was hosted by CU in FP. At the forum, Patterson clearly sent signals that she and her crew will close the Proviso Math and Science Academy if she is elected. In response to an audience question, Patterson said the school is not needed. She also indicated the school district needs a qualified superintendent to be put in place, another signal that she wants to oust new Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart. PMSA was recently ranked by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top 50 High Schools in the state of Illinois, and Dr. Collins-Hart was the Superintendent of the Year in the state of North Carolina in 2006. She is a recognized expert on closing the achievement gap.

Hillside Police Chief Applauds Proviso Bus Program!!!

2009-03-31T22:02:00.003-05:00

The Proviso Insider web log received an email at provisoinsider@hotmail.com from Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch sharing some positive words from Hillside Police Chief Joe Lukaszek about the new Proviso Bus program. Here's parts of the email:

On Behalf of the Hillside Police department I would like to extend our thanks to your efforts in establishing a transportation system at Proviso West High School. This service has reduced the traffic both in the morning and afternoon hours alleviating congestion in the surrounding streets of Proviso West High School. We here in Hillside have seen a dramatic decrease in after school activity involving rowdy youths which unfortunately is only representative of their age. We have also seen a dramatic drop in truant students walking around in the morning hours around the streets of Hillside. It is my understanding that this effort had been an ongoing project by both the administration of the schools and the school board itself. We here in Hillside applaud your efforts in making the school day that much safer for both your students and our residents alike.

Sincerely,

Chief Lukaszek

Joseph M Lukaszek
Chief of Police
Hillside Police Department
425 Hillside Ave
Hillside, Il 60162

Proviso Herald Reports On Race For Lindop Board...

2009-03-20T10:56:00.002-05:00

More community involvement and providing more resources for students are some of the issues candidates expressed in their bid for a seat on Lindop Elementary District 92 School Board.

Those running are incumbents Penny Williams Wolford, Tonya Powell and Andrew Rouse with Naema Nunnery and Ida O'Neal also vying for the three seats up for election.

Wolford, 41, has lived in Broadview 19 years and was appointed to the School Board two years ago.

"I feel like as a community member, parent and especially and advocate for students with disabilities I can be an asset to the School Board," she said.

Wolford has attended Illinois Association of School Boards and National Association of School Boards seminars and meetings and says she has gained a lot of knowledge.

"I gained some valuable knowledge to help our school thrive," she said.

She has two children who have graduated from Lindop and her son, who has autism, is receiving services through the school.

If elected, her goal is to be an advocate for students with disabilities and making Lindop Elementary School a household name.

"I want to use the policy to drive Lindop into a Blue Ribbon school and put Lindop on the map so that our children will be able to compete in this global society," she said.

Rouse, 37, has lived in Broadview 10 years and was the board about 18 months ago. He said he brings a different perspective to the board.

"I have a level head and I'm not biased," he said. "I'm the kind of person that points out the things we shouldn't do and when we need to keep focus."

If elected he wants to try to get funds so all the students have their own laptop computer.

"I want to help the students focus on math and science," he said.

He has two children who attend the school and wants to make sure that the various organizations in the village such as the library and park district work together with the school.

Powell, 38, has lived in Broadview for 15 years and is the longest serving member on the board. Her main goal, if re-elected is to make sure teachers stay with the school.

"I just want it to be more consistent and keeping administrators in tact and on board," he said. "It is about children and it's a new day and change is here. There have been drastic changes within the last couple of years with teacher turnover."

She has two children who attend Lindop and says she's passionate about helping the students succeed.

"I'm very dedicated and the children are my heart," she said. "If we don't educate them now they will be lost in the future."

Nunnery, 36, has been on Lindop's PTO Board for five years but wanted to effect more change. That's why she decided to run for a seat.

"I just wanted to get involved in the School Board and effect change and make a difference," she said. "I just want to make sure our children are given all the opportunities afforded to them. Make sure our school becomes the pillar of the community."

She has two children who attend the school and has lived in the village for six years. If elected she said she would make sure administrators are held accountable and the school is using its resources in the best way possible.

Nunnery doesn't take anything away from the achievements the current board has made.

"I do think they are doing a good job, but I'd like to effect a better change and I can only do that by being a part of the School Board," she said.

O'Neal is running as an independent, but did not respond to repeated attempts to contact her.

Proviso Herald Reports on SD88 Board Race...

2009-03-19T13:58:00.003-05:00

David Pollard reported this week on the race for four seats on the Bellwood SD88 Board. Take a read:

Candidates running to fill four Bellwood Elementary District 88 School Board seats all say that education over politics is the priority and it will be implemented if elected.

Ronald Anderson, one of four incumbents, is part of a slate called "Education First Party" made up of three newcomers: Patricia Crawford, Beverly Graham and Leakey Shearill. Anderson said if their slate is elected they will lead by example.

"Our educational background and resumes compared to any other candidates are second to none," he said.

Taking the politics out of running the school district is another pledge he and his running mates stand by.

"If we can eliminate the politics in the district, construction and Stone Park drama, we can increase teacher pay," he said.

He says increasing teacher pay is one of their priorities and believes it would increase student performance. He said the recidivism of teachers in the district is high due to the district's pay.

"We're one of the lowest paying school district's in the state and we're focusing on construction, hooking buddies up and things of that sort," he said. "If you pay teachers right they are going to volunteer after school more. When I was going to school at McKinley Elementary School (in Bellwood) we had way more (afterschool) programs."

He said veteran School Board member's time to make changes in the district has come and gone, pointing out an opponent, Marilyn Thurman.

"Thurman has been on the board 16 years," he said. "We will put education over politics that has deprived our kids of a quality education for the past 16 years."

Marilyn Thurman, who is one of four candidates who make up "Team 88" slate, consisting of fellow board member Maria Castrejon and newcomers Drena Lanier and Dorothy Smith, a member of Bellwood Library Board.

She said her experience on the board has nothing to do with the problems that exist and started when Anderson and others joined the School Board.

"That's a shame," she said. "If you go back eight years that was when we were financially stable. We had more programs back in the district like Saturday tutoring."

She says Team 88 is about education.

"I believe we have the interest of the school district at heart," she said. "I have confidence in these ladies and they are not out for political gain but here for the children."

If re-elected her focus would be getting the children up to par in terms of performance in the classroom.

"My focus right now is our special ed population," she said. "We need to get kids mainstreamed into regular education."

She also says there has been an increase in the district in terms of students who are homeless or unable to afford uniforms.

She said if she had it her way the school year would be extended.

"I'd like to see a longer school year," he said. "They are out so long in the summer. We give our kids too much idle time."

Despite her detractors, the 21-year Bellwood resident has seen the good and the bad in the district and believes her slate will improve the district.

"I haven't given up that dream," she said. "I know we can do better than what we're doing."

Althea Busby, an incumbent, wants to run for a second four-year term because she believes there are some things she started that have yet to be completed.

"We've never discussed things about curriculum and it's time to focus in on curriculum," she said.

If re-elected she would like to see more educational programs in the school that would be more attractive to students. Busby has lived in Bellwood 20 years and says she has no big financial backers for her campaign and that it's grassroots with family and friends helping her out.

She says if re-elected she would have one main goal.

"I want to do what's best for the children," she said. "I do have my own agenda, educating the children of Bellwood. "

Avery Malik Thurman was unavailable for comment after repeated attempts to contact him.

MARILYN THURMAN HAS BEEN THERE 16 YEARS. WHAT HAS SHE ACCOMPLISHED IN 16 YEARS?

Early Voting Starts Today!!!

2009-03-16T13:21:00.004-05:00

Early voting starts today and ends April 2 for the April 7 consolidated elections. Voting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Polling places in Proviso Township are:

Bellwood Village Hall, 3200 Washington Blvd.
Melrose Park Village Hall, 1000 N. 25th Ave.
Whitcomb Building (near Maywood Courthouse), 1311 Maybrook Square, Room 109
Here's information from the Cook County Clerk's Office:

The April 7 election is both a consolidated general election -- with more than 3,000 village, school and township candidates on the ballot -- and a special general election to fill the 5th Congressional District seat left vacant by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Those choosing to vote early do not need to provide a reason or excuse. Early voters are required to display valid identification before voting, such as a current driver's license, state-issued ID card or another government-issued photo ID.

Once a voter has participated in Early Voting, they cannot change their ballot or vote on Election Day. For more information about Early Voting or to confirm your voter registration, visit www.voterinfonet.com.

Recommendations for Bellwood SD88, Proviso High School District 209 and Township are as follows:

For Bellwood SD88:
Ronald C. Anderson 186
Patricia Crawford 187
Beverly Graham 188
LeKeya Sherrill 189

For Proviso High School District 209:
Emanuel "Chris" Welch 201
Reatha "Sue" Henry 202
Daniel J. Adams 203
Brian M. Cross 204

For Proviso Township:

Township Supervisor Proviso
Vote for

Michael A. Corrigan 81

Township Clerk Proviso
Vote for

Readith Ester 83

Township Assessor Proviso
Vote for

Steven J. Zawaski 85

Proviso Township Collector

Vote for

Eric R. Sawchuk 87

Township Trustee 4-Yr Proviso
Vote for 4

Don Sloan 89
Timothy Gillian 90
Anthony "Tony" Williams 91
Mari Herrell 92

Joseph Cross, Father Of PTHS Board Member Brian Cross, has Died...

2009-03-15T13:43:00.003-05:00

Joseph P. "Joe" Cross, Sr., age 78, native of Limerick, Ireland, of Berkeley, retired employee of People’s Gas, former member of the Limerick Pipe Band, Shannon Rovers Pipe Band and the 3rd Division Army Band, and Avid Golfer at Bartlett Hills Golf Club; beloved husband and Childhood Sweetheart of Mary Ann "Maisie", nee Murphy; loving father of John, Joe (Liz), Mary Ann and Brian (the late Sandy); loving grandfather of Jack, Michael, Anna and Kennedy Catherine; cherished brother of of Bety and Kathleen and the late John; devoted son of John and Catherine, nee Noonan; fond uncle of Ginny (John) Detterbeck and Barbara (Kevin) Hogan and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Joe’s family wants to extend a special thanks to the staff at LUMC, especially Dr. Thomas McKiernan and Nurse Mary O’Looney for their kindness and care. Visitation Wednesday, 3:00 p.m .until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, 8:15 a.m. until time of funeral 9:15 a.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, (½ mile North of Saint Charles Road), Elmhurst. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 a.m. at St. Domitilla Catholic Church, Hillside. Interment Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kennedy Catherine Cross Trust Fund, Chase Bank, 11211 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154. For funeral information please call 1-630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com

Education First Party and Students First Party Announce Grand Opening!!!

2009-03-14T14:47:00.003-05:00

The candidates of the Education First Party for Bellwood School District 88, and the candidates of the New Students First Party for Proviso High School have announced the Grand Opening of their campaign office at 5101 St. Charles Road in Bellwood, Illinois. The event will take place on March 21, 2009 from 1pm-4pm and residents can meet and greet the candidates. The candidates of the Education First Party are Ronald C. Anderson, Patricia Crawford, Beverly Graham, and Lekeya Shearill. The candidates of the New Students First Party are Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Reatha "Sue" Henry, Daniel J. Adams, and Brian Cross. More information can be found at www.education1stparty.com or www.newstudentsfirstparty.com.

Chris Welch Keynotes Maywood Rotary Club Luncheon!!!

2009-03-13T10:57:00.005-05:00

The Proviso Insider weblog has learned that Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch was the keynote speaker at the Maywood Rotary Club Luncheon on Thursday, March 12, 2009. Welch spoke to the organization and fielded numerous questions. Among those in attendance were Maywood Mayor Henderson Yarbrough, Trustees Gary Woll and Audrey Jaycox, and Deputy Police Chief Brian Black. Trustee Jaycox also spoke to the group. Reports from those in attendance say Welch and his message were received quite well.

Employees Being Pressured To Donate To Board Members' Campaign In Bellwood SD88!!!

2009-03-05T18:49:00.003-06:00

Sources tell the Proviso Insider weblog that employees in Bellwood SD88 are being pressured to donate to incumbent board member Marilyn Thurman's campaign for re-election. Sources say supporters of board member Thurman are strong arming principals to purchase at least one ticket to an upcoming event, and at least one principal is about to fight back with a lawsuit in court. Thurman, a 16 year board member in the district, is primarily responsible for the district's slide in recent years. More kids have gone on to high school reading at 3rd, 4th and 5th grade level than in school history. Is it time to put Education over politics and dump Thurman?

Maywoodian Chuck Baxter Running Bellwood Schools!!!

2009-03-04T12:54:00.004-06:00

Sources tell the Proviso Insider that Maywoodian Charles "Chuck" Baxter is the man running Bellwood SD88. According to sources, Superintendent Kyle Hastings regularly meets with Baxter and Board member Marilyn Thurman to get his marching orders. The most recent meeting occurred today, March 4, 2009 at Portillo's Hot Dog stand on Roosevelt and Des Plaines in Forest Park. Thurman, a 16 year board member, and Baxter, a Maywood resident, are the main reasons for SD88's educational decline. They have frequently put Politics over Education, and continued to do so when they lead the hiring of inexperienced Kyle Hastings to be Superintendent. Thurman is up for re-election in April 2009 and should be ousted!

Proviso Board Member Dan Adams Celebrates 43rd Birthday!!!

2009-03-04T01:47:00.003-06:00

Proviso School Board Vice President Dan Adams is celebrating his 43rd birthday. Adams, a member of the Proviso Board since 2001, is hosting a celebration at Tom's Steakhouse in Melrose Park tonight from 6p to 8p. Adams is asking that anyone wishing to attend the event donate $43.00 for 43 years to the New Students First Party. To learn more about Dan and his colleagues who are all running for re-election, visit their campaign website at www.newstudentsfirstparty.com.

Quigley Takes The 5th In Close Contest!!!

2009-03-04T01:40:00.001-06:00

County Commissioner Mike Quigley, considered one of the three front-runners for the 5th District Congressional nomination, won the Democratic vote in the primary election Tuesday.

As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Quigley had 10,977 votes with 95 percent of the district’s 486 precincts reporting. State Reps. John Fritchey, D-11th, and Sara Feigenholtz, D-12th, trailed with 8,670 and 7,908, respectively. Quigley spokesman Billy Weinberg cautiously claimed victory at about 8 p.m. — an hour after the polls closed.

“Things are looking very, very good. It matches what we were seeing earlier: People responding to his message of reform and change,” Weinberg said.

And while Quigley’s willingness to “stand up to Stroger” contributed to his popularity, “it’s less about standing up to John or Todd Stroger for the past 10 years than standing for a certain set of ideas and principles, the ideas of honest and open government, transparency and accountability,” he added.

Also running in the Democratic race for the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel, now President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, were three doctors — Paul Bryar, Carlos Monteagudo, and Victor Forys; Chicago Ald. Patrick O’Connor, labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan, former Navy pilot Jan Donatelli, economist Charlie Wheelan, and newcomers Frank Annunzio, grand-nephew of the longtime North Side state representative, and Gary Capparelli, son of retired state Rep. Ralph Capparelli.

For the Republican nomination, Rosanna Pulido led with 695 votes. Advocating immigration control and gun owner rights, Illinois Minuteman militia founder campaigned on a shoestring budget.

She was trailed by real estate dealer Tom Hanson (568 votes), lawyer Gregory Bedell (457), electronic products developer David Anderson (535), retired pro wrestler-turned motivational speaker Jon Stewart (260), and Daniel Kay, a self-described “entrepreneur” and crusader against mandatory motorcycle helmet laws (235 votes.)

For the Green Party, peace activist Matt Reichel led with 152 votes; Deb Leticia Gordils, Northwest Side Chicago businesswoman who wanted to “bail out the people rather than the banks” got 142. Also running were financial analyst Mark Arnold Frederickson, statistician and management consultant Alan Augustson, and kindergarten teacher Simon Ribeiro.

Vote For Sara Feigenholtz For 5th Congressional District!!!

2009-03-03T13:03:00.002-06:00

The race to replace Congressman Rahm Emanuel in the 5th Congressional District heads to the polls on March 3, 2009, and the best choice for Proviso Township residents is Sara Feigenholtz. Don't forget to vote.

Mr. Welch Meets With Mrs. Yarbrough!!!

2009-03-01T10:28:00.003-06:00

A historic meeting of once political rivals took place on Saturday, February 28, 2009between Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and State Representative Karen A. Yarbrough. Yarbrough, who doubles as the Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman, invited Welch to speak to the Proviso Organization, and Welch accepted. According to those in attendance, the meeting that occurred in Broadview was well attended by those anxious to see the two Proviso leaders come together. Welch appeared with fellow Proviso Board members Brian Cross and Robin Foreman. He was also joined by Bellwood SD88 Board members Ronald Anderson and Daphene Walker. Welch, Cross and Anderson are all seeking terms for re-election and all spoke to the organization and fielded a range of questions. One source who attended the meeting say Welch and Yarbrough hugged and exchanged pleasantries. Yarbrough says the Proviso Democratic Organization will not endorse any candidates in the upcoming local elections.

Karen A. Yarbrough Invites Proviso Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch To Speak at Her Organization...

2009-02-25T07:15:00.003-06:00

Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman Karen A. Yarbrough has reportedly invited Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and his board colleagues running for re-election to speak at her organization meeting on February 28, 2009. Rory Hoskins, a Forest Park Commissioner and the President of Yarbrough's political organization, reportedly phoned Welch on February 24, 2009 and extended the invitation on behalf of Yarbrough. Welch reportedly accepted the Committeeman's invitation and will appear to speak about his candidacy for re-election to the Proviso School Board and answer questions. Kudos to Yarbrough and Welch for this effort.

Proviso Math and Science Academy Receives Record Applicants and Accepts Record Class!!!

2009-02-25T07:10:00.004-06:00

The Proviso Math and Science Academy received a record number of applicants for the 2009-2010 freshman class. According to Principal Ed Moyer, the school received of 550 applications, and on Monday, February 23, 2009, the school sent out a record 230 invitations to prospective freshmen. The Proviso Math and Science Academy will graduate it's first Senior class in May 2009, and 100% of those Seniors are going on to college and 100% have received scholarships. To date, PMSA students have received over $1 million dollars in scholarships. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, PMSA ranks 34th out of 50 Illinois High Schools in the Chicagoland area, and 40th out of 641 schools across the entire state. PMSA was the result of hard work by Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Board Vice President Daniel J. Adams, Board Secretary Reatha "Sue" Henry and subsequent board member Brian M. Cross to name a few who deserve credit. Kudos PMSA!

Some Truths About Theresa L. Kelly and Arbdella "Della" Patterson...

2009-02-23T12:16:00.003-06:00

Proviso School Board member Theresa L. Kelly is running for Supervisor of the Township and she is supporting Arbdella "Della" Patterson for Proviso School Board. Here are some facts you should know about Kelly and Patterson:

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly is the longest serving member of the Proviso School Board, and she has routinely abused her position at taxpayer expense.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly has traveled to over 25 destinations at taxpayer expense costing taxpayers more than $25,000 for her excursions.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly never brought back a single report from any of her tax funded excursions.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly was in charge of the Proviso East Wall of Fame, and to date, she has refused to do an accounting of all the money received from the event in September 2004.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly voted against having the Proviso Math and Science Academy.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly has no college education.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly is having her campaign funded by Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, former Proviso Board Member Michael Manzo, and former Proviso Board Member Charles Flowers.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly had the famous cafeteria mural removed at Proviso East in 2002.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly was responsible for firing popular Proviso West Basketball Coach Mark Schneider and having him replaced with former Westinghouse Coach Chris Head who was fired after just one year.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson has no college education.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson is a former employee of Proviso High Schools, and she reported to work whenever she wanted to do so.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson was hired to counsel girls against teen pregnancy, but during her tenure, teen pregnancies were at an all time high at Proviso.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson never filed a single report regarding her work duties.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson went on over 25 excursions with Proviso Board member Theresa L. Kelly and never filed a single report. Patterson and Kelly used taxpayer money to take vacations.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson is receiving funds from Proviso's former lawyers who were unanimously fired by the Board in May 2007.

Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch Nominated To Be A Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer...

2009-02-18T17:04:00.003-06:00

Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch has been nominated by his colleagues in the legal profession to be one of the Top 40 Illinois Lawyers under age 40. Welch, a lawyer for the past twelve years, and a partner in the prestigious law firm of Sanchez, Daniels and Hoffman, LLP, has an impressive legal profile.

Chris Welch graduated from Northwestern University in 1993 and received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1997.

Chris has served on the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Board of Education since November 7, 2001, and he has been President of the Board since April 2003.

He also serves as legal counsel for Bellwood School District 88 and Maywood School District 89.

He has also served as legal counsel in Posen-Robbins School District 143 and ½, Hoover-Schrum School District 157, Niles High School District 219 and Community High School District 218.

Chris is a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and he was the lead attorney in the case of Roxanne Brown v. Bellwood School District 88 (November 2005) in which the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that local school boards have the right to declare vacancies and fill those vacancies.

Chris has also performed legal work for the Villages of Bellwood, Hillside and Melrose Park, and he actively litigates section 1983 Civil Rights cases on behalf of the Town of Cicero.

Chris recently led the successful defense of a civil rights case involving 12 Town of Cicero police officers in which six of them were found completely not guilty.

Chris and his firm also do public finance/bond work for towns and municipalities, and Chris is a certified administrative hearing officer with experiencing serving as the hearing officer in code enforcement court.

He has received the Operation Uplift Hometown Dreamweaver Award (January 2005), the prestigious PLCCA Image Award (June 2006), and he has been recognized by the Village of Hillside (Jan. 2007) for his contributions to Human Rights issues.

After 10 years of practicing law, Chris was named a partner in the firm of Sanchez, Daniels & Hoffman, LLP in July 2007.

Free Bus Rides For Proviso West Students Started...

2009-02-18T14:37:00.002-06:00

The Free Bus Ride Program for students at Proviso West High School began on February 18, 2009. The Bus Ride program began at Proviso East High School on January 20, 2009, and the school district has already seen tremendous impact. Since January 20th, average daily attendance has increased from 68% to 83%. Over 600 kids take advantage of the program at Proviso East and over 700 took advantage at Proviso West on February 18, 2009. Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch said, "This is one of our most successful initiatives in school history. It will save our parents and students money, increase attendance and test scores, and help keep of students safe." Prior to the Free Bus Ride program, students paid $4.50 per day to ride to and from school on PACE buses. Congrats Proviso School Board!!!!

Township Supervisor Candidate Michael A. Corrigan Sells Out Rascals!!!

2009-02-17T14:46:00.006-06:00

Proviso Township Supervisor candidate Michael A. Corrigan recently held a fundraiser at Rascal's in LaGrange Park, and the event was reportedly standing room only. Corrigan, the current Assessor of the Township, is looking to move up to Supervisor, and he reportedly has some powerful help to do it. In attendance at the event were Bellwood Mayor Frank A. Pasquale, Hillside Mayor Joseph Tamburino, LaGrange Park Mayor James Disipio, North Riverside Mayor Richard Scheck, Maywood Mayor Henderson Yarbrough, State Representative Karen A. Yarbrough, and numerous other elected officials across the Township. The election for Supervisor in on April 7, 2009.

Time To Dump Gary Woll & Company...

2009-02-16T13:35:00.003-06:00

The current Maywood Village Board, that includes Mayor Henderson Yarbrough and Trustee Gary Woll, recently voted to settle a lawsuit for $490,000. The village of Maywood missed deadlines and caused delays in a failed grocery store redevelopment, resulting in the village paying a $490,000 lawsuit settlement to the developer, according to court documents.

Springbrook Market and the village executed a redevelopment agreement in December 2005 to bring a full-service grocery store to a vacant building at 5th Avenue and Washington Street. Instead of a grocery store, Maywood got a bill for $490,000. Thanks Gary Woll and Company!!!

Students First Party Candidates Off And Running For PTHS 209!!!

2009-02-13T13:28:00.003-06:00

Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Reatha "Sue" Henry, Daniel J. Adams, and Brian M. Cross are off and running for Proviso High School District 209. Visit their website for more information at www.newstudentsfirstparty.com to learn about them and their accomplishments.

Meet The Education 1st Party Candidates for Bellwood SD88!!!

2009-02-13T11:43:00.002-06:00

Visit this website to learn about some excellent school board candidates running for Bellwood School District 88: www.education1stparty.com

Questions to Ask Arbdella "Della" Patterson When You See Her???

2009-02-12T07:45:00.003-06:00

Arbdella "Della" Patterson is running for Proviso High School District 209. Here are some questions to ask her if you see her:

1. Why did you tell the Forest Park Review that you are a teacher when you are not?
2. What is your relationship with Proviso Board member Theresa Kelly?
3. How many trips did you take at taxpayer expense with Mrs. Kelly?
4. What was your relationship with former Superintendent Greg Jackson?
5. Where do you currently work?
6. How can you do your current job and be on the Proviso Board and be loyal to both?
7. Have you ever been convicted of a crime involving theft or dishonesty?
8. Why are you using lawyers that the Proviso Board unanimously fired two years ago when your current boss was one of the people who voted to fire them?
9. Why do you really want to be on the Proviso School board when two years ago you ran for something else?
10. Does your church even support you?

When you ask her these questions, pay close attention to the answers.

Proviso Board Candidate Arbdella "Della" Patterson Hires Burt Odelson as Lawyer!!!

2009-02-09T21:48:00.003-06:00

Proviso School Board candidate Arbdella "Della" Patterson has hired Burt Odelson, of Odelson & Sterk, Ltd, to represent her in a case before the Proviso High School Electoral Board. The Proviso Electoral Board has been convened solely to hear legal objections filed against Ms. Patterson alleging that she has a legal conflict and cannot sit on the school board. Patterson's attorney is the School District's former general counsel who was ousted unanimously by the Board in May of 2007. Odelson has since filed a lawsuit against the Board President and the Board President has filed one against him.

Resident Allied With Mayor Yarbrough Tries To Throw Opponents Off Maywood Ballot!!!

2009-02-09T15:34:00.002-06:00

According to the Proviso Herald, eleven objections to candidacies for village races in Maywood were filed by Feb. 3.

The objections ranged from challenges to signatures and addresses to claims that candidates were ineligible to run for office due to unpaid water bills, taxes or parking violations.

Objections were raised against all candidates except Henderson Yarbrough and candidates of his Maywood United Party.

The opposition slate is the Maywood Alliance Party, led by Grady Rivers Jr., board president of Elementary School District 89. Also running for mayor are two independents, former Mayor Ralph Conner and Demetrius Davis.

Ten of the 11 objections were filed by Ronald Rivers Sr., who is not related to the candidate Grady Rivers Jr, but is allied with current Mayor Henderson Yarbrough. One objection was filed by Rivers Jr. against Conner.

"I'm confident that everything is in order," Rivers Jr. said.

Davis also said he thinks his objection will be overruled.

"I think it's a horrible practice in Maywood that really needs to stop. It keeps good candidates out of the race because they can't all afford attorneys," Davis said.

A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Maywood Council Chambers, 120 S. 5th Ave.

Maywood Village Board Approves Questionable Contract!!!

2009-02-09T15:27:00.003-06:00

According to the Proviso Herald, Maywood's village manager and village attorney have urged board members to rescind a contract awarded to a company owned by a village firefighter and to instead award the contract to another company -- one owned by the firefighter's family.

Under state statute, municipal employees should not have a financial interest in any contract or work for the municipality.

Dave Lundy, public liaison officer for the Better Government Association, said awarding a contract to a family member of a village employee is legal. However, he said, "It's certainly unwise."

"Half of the problem in government ethics is the perception of government impropriety," Lundy said. "When you have a municipality awarding contracts to members of the family where previously they awarded it to the city worker, it looks like (the municipality) is trying to circumvent the rules."

The village is investigating a similar situation with another village vendor, according to a Jan. 9 memo from Village Manager Jason Ervin and Village Attorney Michael Jurusik. Ervin declined to provide details on the investigation.

In December, the village awarded a contract to Fredderick's Custom Upholstery to re-upholster chairs in the council chambers. The company is owned by firefighter Fred Saffold. Saffold said he made clear his position as a village firefighter when making a presentation about his company in December.

Ervin said at the Jan. 13 Village Board meeting the definition the village used for "municipal officer" did not include public safety officers.

When he found out his company could not do work for the village, Saffold said he recommended Gibson's Corner Custom Upholstery and was "definitely clear" with Ervin that Gibson's was owned by his grandparents.

The Jan. 9 memo from Ervin and Jurusik requested that the Village Board rescind the contract with Fredderick's and award a $33,000 contract to Gibson's.

Saffold was not present at the Jan. 13 meeting, and there was no discussion of Saffold's ties to Gibson's during that meeting.

Ervin said the ownership of Gibson's "was not relevant."

"The question is, Does (Gibson's) violate the statute? The answer is no," Ervin said.

Board members voted on Jan. 13 to rescind the contract with Fredderick's but took no action on the Gibson's proposal. Ervin said the project would be completed "in house" but did not have details on the cost or which department would complete the project.

Welch Wins 209 Election Lottery!!!

2009-01-30T11:46:00.003-06:00

The ballot is set in the Proviso High School District 209 race. A ballot lottery was recently conducted, and Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch won the big prize...Top ballot position. The ballot will look this way:

1. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
2. Reatha "Sue" Henry
3. Daniel J. Adams
4. Brian M. Cross
5. Maria Desena
6. Kevin McDermott
7. Rebecca M. Smith
8. Carlos Anderson
9. Arbdella "Della" Patterson

School District 88 Ballot Set...

2009-01-30T11:42:00.004-06:00

The Bellwood School District 88 election ballot is set. A lottery was recently conducted, and the order is as follows:

1. Drena Lanier
2. Maria Castrejon
3. Dorothy Smith
4. Marilyn Thurman
5. Avery Malik Thurman
6. Ronald C. Anderson
7. Patricia Crawford
8. Beverly Graham
9. Lekeya Shearill
10. Althea Busby

Mayoral Races Across Township

2009-01-28T11:39:00.003-06:00

Maywood
1. Henderson Yarbrough
2. Demetrius Davis
3. Ralph Connor
4. Grady Rivers, Jr.

Melrose Park
1. Ronald Serpico
2. Jesse Martinez

Bellwood:
1. Frank A. Pasquale
2. Jeannette Johnson

Early predictions...Grady Rivers, Jr., Ronald Serpico and Frank Pasquale will win big!!!

Township Race is Mayors versus Yarbrough, Manzo and Peraica...

2009-01-28T11:26:00.004-06:00

For Proviso Township, it appears as if there is a race between allies for the Township Mayors and allies for State Rep. Karen Yarbrough. Here's how the township race looks:

Slate backed by Mayors:
Supervisor Michael Corrigan
Clerk Readith Esther
Assessor Steven J. Zawaski
Collector Eric R. Sawchuk
Trustee Mari Herrell
Trustee Anthony "Tony" Williams
Trustee Tim Gillian
Trustee Don Sloan

Slate backed by Karen Yarbrough, Mike Manzo and Tony Peraica:Supervisor Theresa Kelly
Clerk William Daugherty
Assessor C. Michael Montino
Collector Ivan Williams
Trustee Lennel Grace
Trustee Patrick Doolin
Trustee Colin Brady
Trustee Michael Sheahan

Early prediction: Slate backed by Mayors will win big. Yarbrough will have egg on her face!

(Updated) Elections Filings End for Local Offices...

2009-01-20T12:41:00.006-06:00

Election Filings ended on Monday, January 26, 2009 for local offices across the state including in Proviso Township. Here is a list of some of the filings:

Proviso High School District 209 (4 seats open)
1. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
2. Daniel J. Adams
3. Reatha "Sue" Henry
4. Brian M. Cross
5. Maria Desena
6. Kevin McDermott
7. Rebecca Smith
8. Carlos Anderson
9. Arbdella "Della" Patterson

Maywood, Melrose Park, Broadview School District 89 (3 seats open)
1. Regina Rivers
2. Jaime Anguiano
3. Veronica Bonilla-Lopez
4. Loretta Gustello
5. Gwendolyn Streeter-Walker
6. Angela Lockett
7. Eliazer Chavez
8. Corey Cooper
9. Antonio Favela

Bellwood School District 88 (4 seats open)
1. Dorothy Smith
2. Drena Lanier
3. Maria Castrejon
4. Marilyn Thurman
5. Avery Malik Thurman
6. Ronald C. Anderson
7. Patricia Crawford
8. Beverly Graham
9. Lekeya Shearill
10. Althea Busby

Early predictions: In Proviso 209, the incumbents will win big as they are backed by Township mayors and other elected officials. The slate led by Della Patterson is backed by Rep. Yarbrough, Mike Manzo and Tony Peraica. In SD 89, the Maywoodians will probably split the vote amongst each other and the Melrose Park candidates will all win. In SD88, the slate backed by Maywoodian Charles "Chuck" Baxter and former Bellwood Mayoral candiate David Ireland will lose big. Anderson and his group just needs to stay focused on education.

Proviso School District 209 Begins Busing Program For All Students!!!

2009-01-13T00:46:00.000-06:00

Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and the Proviso School Board announced that Proviso Township High Schools has launched its transportation program!

The program begins at Proviso East on Jan. 20th and at Proviso West on Feb. 17th.

Proviso East parents are encouraged to check the mail for bus route information and to contact the school if bus route information is not received by January 15th.

Students are asked to arrive at their designated bus stop locations five (5) minutes before the scheduled pick-up time in the morning. At the end of the school day (after dismissal) the buses will leave Proviso East at approximately 3:25 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Proviso East Principal Mr. Milton Patch at 708-202-1611. Proviso West parents can look for their students' bus route information to be mailed no later than Friday, January 23rd.

La Secundaria Proviso East tiene gusto en informarle que el servicio de transportación empezara el 20 de Enero. Usted recibira por correo información acerca de las rutas del bus escolar, le pedimos que este pendiente. Si usted no recibe esta información antes del 15 de Enero, por favor comuniquese con nosotros.

Breaking News....Consultant Anthony B. Bruno Charged by United States!!!!

2009-01-09T17:54:00.004-06:00

Consultant Anthony B. Bruno, of Illinois Development Services Corporation, Inc., has been charged in a criminal complaint by the United States government. Anthony B. Bruno was filed in criminal complaint number 09 CR 0018 on January 8, 2009. Records from Clerk Michael W. Dobbins of the U.S. District Court show the case was assigned to Judge Ber-Yeghiayan and Magistrate Judge Ashman. The complaint alleges a violation of Title 26 of the United States Code Section 7206(1) which means the government is alleging that Mr. Bruno either committed fraud or made false statements in a tax document.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagoyevich Impeached By House of Representatives...

2009-01-09T17:52:00.002-06:00

The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114 to 1 on Friday, January 9, 2009 to impeach Governor Rod Blagoyevich. The Governor will now face a trial in the senate, and if convicted, he will be thrown out of office.

Economy Costs Proviso Township Local Newspaper...

2009-01-09T17:49:00.003-06:00

The tough economy has cost the Proviso Township community is best source for comprehensive local news, The Proviso Herald, a pioneer press newspaper. The Herald has been a Wednesday staple for years in the Proviso community, and will print its last edition on Wednesday, January 15, 2009. Pioneer Press Newspapers are owned by the Chicago Sun-Times News Group.

Application Deadline Nears For Proviso Math and Science Academy Admissions...

2009-01-07T16:01:00.002-06:00

Proviso Math and Science Academy will hold its final admissions assessment at 9 a.m. Saturday for students interested in attending the school for the 2009-2010 school year.

Students applying to the academy must participate in an assessment event administered at PMSA as part of the admissions process . It involves a non-verbal ability test and the writing of an essay.

This event, held at PMSA, 8601 W. Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, begins promptly at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end by 11:30 a.m. Students may be admitted for testing at 8:30 a.m.

Approximately 350 students have already completed the admissions assessment for the 2009-2010 school year, according to TaQuoya Kennedy, spokesman for Proviso High School District 209.

Students interested in attending PMSA should contact the school's main office, (708) 338-4100, to schedule an assessment appointment.

All completed PMSA applications with signatures and supporting materials must be submitted or postmarked by Jan. 15.

Reverend Demetrius Davis Announces Run For Mayor Of Maywood...

2009-01-06T11:03:00.001-06:00

Reverend Demetrius Davis of the Proviso Community Church announced in a post on this site that he is running for Mayor of Maywood. Here is the post:

This is horrible! Another example of poor leadership. Even when we finally get a grocery store, it'll take us 5 or more years to recoup the half million we just lost. The very reason I'm running for Mayor of Maywood is to root out this sort of incompetence, neglegence, and reckless spending. This 490K is perhaps more than the village spent all year on recreation. With this type of money we could've hired 10 more men and women to work within the village. We could've hired more police officers to patrol the streets. We could've even given dozens of summer internships to our college students returning home for summer.

My campaign led a protest and press conference on the old site of the grocery store several weeks ago. It's time for us all to stand up to demand a better community.

Pastor Demetrius L. Davis
"Maywood's Next Mayor"

Proviso West Plays Morton For Tournament Championship!!!

2008-12-30T11:30:00.001-06:00

Proviso West High School Panthers will play the Morton Mustangs in the Championship game of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. Both teams are surprising stories this year. Game starts at 8pm. It promises to be fun.

Proviso West Holiday Tournament Begins

2008-12-26T12:32:00.003-06:00

PTHS District 209 Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and the Board of Education invites everyone out to the Proviso West Holiday Basketball Tournament which begins Friday, December 26, 2008. Games will be played December 26, 27, 29 and 30. Catch some good high school basketball where basketball is best. Local favorites Proviso West, Proviso East and St. Joseph are in the tournament as well as state contenders Whitney Young and Zion Benton. It promises to be fun.

Happy Holidays To Everyone In Proviso Township!!!

2008-12-25T15:03:00.002-06:00

Happy Holidays to everyone in Proviso Township.

Sun Times Names Notable Proviso West Alumni...

2008-12-24T11:33:00.003-06:00

The Chicago Sun-Times has named a number of individuals as notable alumni of Proviso West High School. On page 50 of the December 24, 2008 edition, among those listed were:

1. Flozell Adams, Offensive Lineman with the Dallas Cowboys
2. Ray McElroy, Former NFL player with the Bears, Colts and Lions,
3. Famous Hulbert, current varsity football coach at PW High School,
4. Joseph Spagnolo, former Director of PW Holiday Tournament; and
5. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, current President of the PTHS Board of Education.

Kudos to all of the notable PW alumni.