Reporter(2 sections) 1 30 14

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So long, Sharon Longtime Regional Publishing typesetter retires See Vorva’s column, page 3

R EPORTER Reporter

THE The 2 SECTIONS 22 PAGES Volume LIV No. 47

Serving Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Worth

‘Sweetheart’ charged in murder of area teacher THE

R EPORTER

By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter

2 SECTIONS 22 PAGES

Volume No. 50 Plenty XLVII of college

What really happened in the Orland Park home of veteran Brother Rice High School teacher Al Filan?     The family of Alisha Walker, 20, of Akron, Ohio, believes that Filan went on the attack and she acted in self-defense on Jan. 18 when she allegedly

stabbed Filan multiple times at his home at 9422 Georgetown Square.     That is the only side of the story that has been made public about this grisly crime.     Police have not provided additional details about the investigation, including what led them to Walker.     Walker told police that Filan, 61, contacted her via Backpage, an Internet

site that includes an adult section with ads for escort services, strip clubs and massage parlors, for example.     Filan was long-time business teacher and coach at Brother Rice High School in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community. He also coached soccer at Andrew High School in Tinley Park.     Walker’s aunt, Dawn Hens-

ley, of Winchester, Ky., refused comment Monday on the firstdegree charges filed against her niece but said, “We’re real sorry for that family.”     She said her husband, Ed, should not have talked to other media outlets over the weekend.     Ed told Sun-Times Media that his niece is “really a sweetheart” who earned good grades

Serving Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Worth

Chicago Ridge is diving into its 100th anniversary with the village’s first family coming together Sunday and a gala being announced for April Page 4 and Page 5

Rakow has some thoughts about the way the Catholic Church handled past ugly episodes Page 6

Our Neighborhood..........4 Sudoku...........................4 Commentary...................6 Death Notices.................7 Crossword...................7 School..........................8&9 Calendar......................10 Consumer.........................11

columnists Jeff Vorva........................3 Bob Rakow........................6 Wine Guy..........................12

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Alisha Walker but started running with the “wrong people.”     During a conversation with a reporter, Ed Hensley said he (Continued on page 2)

Thursday, March 1, 2007

By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter     Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday morning to pay their respects to the family of Yusuf “Yoshi” Ziada, of Oak Lawn, who died apparently of exposure from the cold weather Sunday near the campus of Illinois State University.     Some family members were overwhelmed with grief during a morning visitation service at Hann Funeral Home in Bridgeview. Visitation was followed by a prayer service at the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W. 93rd St., Bridgeview.     Friends from Oak Lawn Community High School and Illinois State University, where Ziada was a sophomore, turned out for the emotional service.     Ziada, 19, is a 2012 graduate of the Oak Lawn Community High School, where he was active in a variety of clubs and activities, school officials said.     “He was a very well-liked kid,” said Mike Riordan, superintenPhotos by Jeff Vorva Jim Les, Lisa Schaughnessy and George Les (top photo, left to right) are happy to be back in business in Hickory Hills dent and principal of the high after a fire in the summer did damage to the Les Brothers building. Aladdin’s Palace Banquet (bottom photo) will be opening school. “He did well academically.” soon in the city.     Ziada was an honor student and earned an academic letter, which are awarded to students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or better over a period of time, Riordan said. (Continued on page 2)

A big thumbs up

Hickory Hills business world getting better thanks to openings and re-openings By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter     Business “is definitely on the uptick” in Hickory Hills, Mayor Michael Howley said.     “We’ve been really pleased with the rebound,” Howley said Tuesday.     The city has witnessed a combination of new businesses filling vacant store fronts as well as existing businesses reopening their doors after fires forced them to close.     One such business is Les Broth-

index Police News.....................2

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Oak Lawn mourns ‘Yoshi’

and high school basketball plus a look at Shepard’s swim team. See sports Oak Lawn re-hires Radice and trustee Streit doesn’t like it one bit Page 3

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ers Restaurant, 7730 S. 95th St., which reopened Jan. 17.     A 2013 fire damaged the interior of the restaurant. The renovated facility includes several new features such as a raised ceiling, fireplace and new booths, Howley said.     “It looks brand new on the inside,” he said.     Les Brothers also has a restaurant in Oak Lawn and that business was recently recognized by the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce. On Jan. 18, owner George Les was named the Oak (Continued on page 5)

Yusuf Ziada

Flaming Grill restaurant getting Ridge bosses hot under the collar By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter     Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar’s patience is wearing thin with the owners of an Asian buffet that has not paid its food and beverage tax.     The owners of Flaming Grill and Buffet were a no-show at a Tuesday morning hearing designed to review their business license.     “How do they just ignore this?” Tokar said Tuesday after continuing the hearing to Feb. 10.     The owners were notified of the hearing several days ago, said Tokar, who added that village would consider suspend-

ing the restaurant’s license if owner’s fail to appear at the next hearing.     The mayor said a notice of the meeting was sent to the restaurant owners via certified mail and a copy was hand delivered.     Restaurants and bars are required to a pay a monthly 1 percent food and beverage tax to the village. Flaming Grill and Buffet has never paid the tax, officials said.     Additionally, the restaurant’s ownership and corporate name recently changed hands, but the new owners have never appeared before the village board for a business license, Tokar said.

The buffet, 101 Commons Drive, which serves a mixture of Japanese and Chinese cuisine, opened in May, 2013 in the former Old Country Buffet location. The restaurant also features American food, desserts and a hibachi grill.     Messages left for restaurant officials were not returned.     In a separate issue, village health inspector Rich Ruge is concerned with the way the Flaming Grill has been conducting its day-to-day operations and said he had to ticket the restaurant earlier this month for some sanitation violations. Photo by Jeff Vorva     Ruge said he made a routine inspection on Jan. 15 and saw The Flaming Grill Buffet’s owners in Chicago Ridge are testing the (Continued on page 5) patience of the village’s officials regarding taxes and sanitation.


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