Thursday, August 6, 2015 The Reporter
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CR mayor to help oversee Chicago Ridge shaved ice $1.7 billion highway project business no longer on ice By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter
By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar has been selected to serve on the newly formed Central Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) Corridor Planning Council, which will have a voice in a $1.7 billion reconstruction project for the section of I-294 between 95th Street in Oak Lawn and Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont. Justice Mayor Kris Wasowicz was also named on July 23 to the 33-member advisory board, which is scheduled to meet for the first time at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, in Room 219 of Illinois Tollway headquarters, 2700 Ogden Ave., Downers Grove. Tollway officials said in a press release that the advisory board will “provide public input and guidance” as a master plan is drawn up for the I-294 reconstruction project, part of Move Illinois, the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program. “I was pleased and honored to be asked to serve on it by Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett (president of the Southwest Suburban Conference of Mayors),” said Tokar, noting the close proximity of I-294 to his village. As of early last week, he did not have an agenda for the first meeting, but said he was looking forward to being at it. “The Central Tri-State Tollway plays a critical role in the Illinois Tollway system and the regional transportation network, so input from the public and the communities we serve will be an important part of our planning process,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov in a statement. “Working together, we have an opportunity to implement innovative solutions that address travel demand for decades to come while also helping to stimulate economic development and serving local communities’ needs.” Nearly 22 miles long, the Central Tri-State Tollway Corridor is one of the busiest and most complex segments of the 286-mile Tollway system, serving up to 185,000 daily vehicles. In addition to being a main route to O’Hare International Airport, it connects five other interstates–the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), I-190, the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I88), the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) and the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). According to the Tollway Authority, the Move Illinois Program currently includes $1.7 billion for the Central Tri-State Tollway Project, with advance work tentatively set to begin as early as 2018 and reconstruction scheduled for 20202022. In addition to planning for roadway reconstruction, the master planning process will allow the Illinois Tollway to consider improvements to several major bridges and local interchanges, accommodations for commercial vehicles and transit, as well as explore the
The guy who sells shaved ice said he ate some humble pie but hopes his troubles with the Chicago Ridge Village Board are behind him. Kevin Wright received approval from the board in July to add a gazebo with seating to his Sensational Snow business, a seasonal shaved ice business he has been operating out of a house-shaped trailer at 10600 S. Ridgeland Ave. for about four years. But it may have been a case of “be careful what you wish for” because after that request led to a background check that turned up delinquent tax issues, the village suspended his business for nearly two weeks. Wright addressed the issue at the village board meeting on Tuesday, insisting that he is now in compliance. Hearing that, the trustees agreed by a 4-2 vote to give him a temporary license allowing him to reopen for the rest of this season, with the stipulation that he does not add the gazebo until they confirm his information and resolve other questions that they have about the business. Village Clerk George Schleyer said an investigation into the history of the business following the expansion request found that Wright had not paid the village’s one-percent food and beverage tax since it was instituted in 2013. Schleyer said that it was also determined at a hearing that “no sales tax (had) been paid to the state of Illinois. The state didn’t even know he was in business because Wright’s tax ID number had been withdrawn.” The clerk said that he decided then that the best thing to do would be to suspend his business license. “(Having a problem with taxes) is a first for me, personally or professionally,” said Wright. “I am sincerely sorry. I never meant to avoid paying taxes. This is the biggest piece of humble pie I have ever eaten,” he added, adding that he cleared up the matter within 48 hours of being informed about the issue. He said that when he opened his business, he allowed a friend, rather than a professional accountant, to do his taxes, and each year afterward just followed his lead. “I did not even know that a food and beverage tax had even been instituted,” he said. Since it was brought to his attention on July 21, he and Schleyer went over his revenue records and determined that he owed the village a grand total of $243 in back taxes. “You kept track of your sales during that time?,” asked Mayor Chuck Tokar. Wright said he also met with officials from the Illinois Department of Revenue, and settled that debt as well. He would not say exactly how much sales tax he owed, but Schleyer told the board he had received documentation from the state that he was now in compliance. “I’m going to have to learn a lot more about taxes. I’m an engineer by trade,” said Wright, a Chicago Ridge native now living in Schaumburg.
Photo by Jeff Vorva
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar will have a hand in decisions on a $1.7 billion highway project. addition of active traffic management similar to the eastern segment of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project. Tollway officials said the Corridor Planning Council is expected to help develop a common understanding of the issues and concerns that should be considered as the Illinois Tollway undertakes this reconstruction project. Therefore, in addition to mayors from Cook and DuPage counties, the Council membership will include railroad and trucking industry officials, tollway representatives, and leaders of business organizations, such as Donna Smith, executive director of the Bedford Park-Clearing Industrial Association. Move Illinois, the Illinois Tollway›s 15year, $12 billion capital program, is aimed at improving mobility, reducing congestion and pollution, and creating as many as 120,000 jobs in the Midwest. Other Move Illinois projects include rebuilding and widening the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), constructing a new interchange to connect I-294 to I-57, building a new, all-electronic Elgin O’Hare western access, and funding planning studies for other emerging projects.
Hills Chamber Of Commerce golf outing to help Teen Bridge Center in Orland The Hills Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf outing will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Palos Hills Municipal Golf Course, 7301 W. 105th St., Palos Hills. The complete price of $100 includes a $25 donation to The Teen Bridge Center Orland Park, nine holes of golf, golf cart, door prizes and dinner. This year’s golf outing will feature a chipping contest, longest drive, and closest to the pin contests along with a split the pot. For more information, and a downloadable registration form for annual golf outing visit thehillschamber.org or Facebook at facebook.com/thehillschamber. For those who want a registration form/flyer emailed to them, email thehillschamber@gmail.com, or call at 233-6860. The Bridge Teen Center is an innovative grassroots nonprofit community center that was designed around the interests and needs of teens in the suburbs. It is located in Orland Park and serves teens and families from all over the metro south Chicago area and Northwest Indiana area. The mission is to provide free programs during after-school and unsupervised hours where students can develop mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually in a safe environment. For more information, visit their website at thebridgeteencenter.org. OAK LAWN Film group to discuss True Grit, Somewhere in Time and Shawshank Redemption CineVerse, the Oak Lawn Park District’s free weekly film discussion group open to anyone age 17 and older, will show and then discuss three films this August. The group meets from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Oak View Community Center, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn. Participants should check building signage for the room number. For more information, call 529-9028, or visit cineversegroup. blogspot.com
The film 1969 film, True Grit, will be under discussion Wednesday, Aug. 12. The 1980 movie, Somewhere in Time, will be the focus on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and on Wednesday, Aug. 26 CineVerse will show and talk about the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption. Oak Lawn Trustee Streit hosting Thunderbolts family night A Thunderbolts family night, hosted by Oak Lawn Trustee Bob Streit (3rd) will feature the Windy City Thunderbolts against the Joliet Slammers. The event will be held at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Standard Bank Stadium, 14011 S. Kenton Ave., Crestwood. The first 1,000 fans will receive a pint glass from Lakeshore Beverages. Complimentary food and beverages will be included in the Bud Light party deck. Single tickets cost $50 each, or four for $100. Anyone interested in reserving tickets, or sponsoring the event, may call Streit’s office at 422-3600. There are three sponsor levels. The grand slam sponsor will pay $475 and receives four tickets. The home run sponsorship is $375, and includes three tickets. The base hit sponsorship is $275 and includes two tickets. Those who cannot attend, but would like to donate to Streit’s campaign fund, may send checks made payable to Friends of Bob Streit to the campaign office, 9711 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses should be included on all correspondence. More information may be obtained by visiting www.friendsofbobstreit.com.
He said he also had not realized that the state had withdrawn or cancelled his tax ID number because no sales taxes were being collected. Several trustees raised other issues about the business at the meeting, including its exact address, because it is located in the parking lot of a commercial strip. Wright said his lease agreement lists 10600 S. Ridgeland as his address, but Trustee Amanda Cardin said she wants to check that with the property owner. Trustee Frances Coglianese also questioned how he can have an address without being located in a building. Village Attorney Burt Odelson said that since the tax debt, the reason for the license suspension, had now been paid, the board might run into legal trouble if the suspension was not lifted. Therefore, at Cardin’s request, Wright’s business license was reissued on a temporary basis while the other issues were resolved. The vote was approved by a 4-2 margin, with Bruce Quintos and Frances Coglianese casting the two dissenting votes. Wright said he has had to put the plans for the gazebo on hold while sorting out the tax issues, and the temporary license stipulates that his gazebo plans remain on hold until the trustees are satisfied that everything is in order. When Wright questioned wondered why he was being questioned so thoroughly now, after being in business for years, several trustees reminded him that many of them weren’t on the board when he was originally given the license, and they are just doing their “due diligence.” “You’re the one who brought the expansion request to us,” Tokar reminded him. “This was all over a $243 debt,” said Wright after the meeting, asserting that he has lost employees and $1,500 in business during the last two weeks while the shaved ice stand was closed. “I’ve lost a lot,” he said.
LEGAL NOTICE
Community Briefs HICKORY HILLS/PALOS HILLS
Photo by Dermot Connolly
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar presents retiring Chicago Ridge Library Director Kathy McSwain with a gift from the village Tuesday, thanking her for 28 years of service at the library.
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, KANSAS Notice of Hearing- Publication Pursuant in K.S.A. 38-2237 IN THE INTEREST OF- A.O.H. (YOB: 1997) Case No. 15JC53G NOTICE OF HEARING To: Modena Stinette, the mother; You are hereby notified that a petition has been filed in this court alleging that the child named above is a Child in need of care. A hearing on the petition filed by the state is set for the 19th day of August, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Crawford County Judicial Center, 602 North Locust, Pittsburg, Kansas. The parent and any other person having legal custody are required to appear before this court on the date and time shown or to file your written response to the petition with the Clerk of the District Court prior to that time. Failure to respond or to appear before the court at the time shown will not prevent the court from entering judgment as requested in the petition, finding that the child is a Child in Need of Care, removing the child from the custody of parent. You have the right to appear before the court and be heard personally either with or without an attorney. The court will appoint an attorney for any parent who desires an attorney but is financially unable to hire one. The court may order on or both parents to pay child support. Crawford County Attorney’s Office By: Abby Lehman, Juvenile Clerk
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WORTH American Legion Post to host The Rusty Nails at outdoor music fest American Legion Post 991, 11001 S. Depot St., Worth, is hosting a summer outdoor music fest from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. The event will be held rain or shine. The music fest will feature a live band, The Rusty Nails. All are welcome. There is no cover charge. Hot dogs, beverages and raffles will be on sale.
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Notice is Hereby Given that on 9-13-15, a sale will be held at Ed’s Body Shop, Inc., 17713 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477, 708-532-4003, to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Mark A. Kuech 2007 Chevrolet VIN#1GCDT19E078251318 Lien Amount: $12,925.00
Sam Chen, professor of Biology
Teaches general biology, anatomy and physiology, and human anatomy and physiology courses. Earned a master’s degree in nursing and worked for three years as a critical care nurse so he could bring his firsthand knowledge back to the classroom.
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Notice is Hereby Given that on 9-13-15, a sale will be held at G & M Auto #2, 10259 S. Avenue O, Chicago, IL 60617, 773356-7410, to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Jessica A. Terry 2009 Volkswagen VIN#WVWHL73C89E529589 Lien Amount: $7,944.36
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