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Palos native Kendall Coyne brings home Olympic gold

REPORTER

KEVIN COYNE’S COLUMN IN SPORTS

THE Volume LVIII, No. 51

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

DECISION 2018

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Thursday, March 1, 2018

MVCC police question person of interest after online threats By Joe Boyle

Cong. Dan Lipinski answers a question during the Feb. 21 forum at Moraine Valley Community College.

Photos by Steve Metsch

Democratic challenger Marie Newman answers a question during the 3rd Congressional District forum.

The $2 million campaign Big bucks at work in 3rd District race between Lipinski, Newman By Bob Bong Campaign spending is ratcheting up and may top $2 million as the Democratic primary race between incumbent Cong. Dan Lipinski and challenger Marie Newman in the 3rd Congressional District heads into its final weeks. Lipinski had more than $1.6 million in his war chest at the end of 2017, according to his filing with the Federal Election Commission. That was almost twice what he raised for his 2016 and 2014 campaigns, respectively. He spent a little more than $600,000 in each of those election cycles. The filing showed that Lipinski’s committee

had expenditures of just under $85,000 during the fourth quarter. As the campaign draws into its pivotal weeks ahead of the March 20 election, Lipinski will be spending a chunk of that cash on direct mailings to voters as well as television and radio ads, Isaac Sancken, his director of communications, said in an email. It’s not unusual for incumbents to raise more money than challengers, and Newman, his opponent in the March 20 Democratic primary, had only $236,000 on hand at the end of December. That included a hefty $100,000 of her own money. Newman’s campaign expenses during the fourth quarter totaled about $123,000, according to the

filing. Her campaign received a major shot in the arm last week after she appeared at a forum with Lipinski that was sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Moraine Valley Community College. A coalition of progressive groups led by NARAL Pro-Choice America announced it would spend more than $1 million on political ads for Newman in the days leading up to the primary. Joining NARAL were the Human Rights Campaign, SEIU, MoveOn, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY’s List. They said they would See BIG BUCKS, Page 9

Candidates square off on issues, ideology before large crowd at MVCC By Steve Metsch The two candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, and — barring a miracle — the next two-year term in Congress representing the 3rd House District, went toe-to-toe for about an hour on Feb. 21. A political forum, not a debate, hosted by the League of Women Voters, was held in a large meeting room in Building M at Moraine Valley Community College. An overflow crowd estimated at about 500 heard from the incumbent, Cong. Dan. Dan Lipinski, and challenger, Marie Newman. Newman took the more aggressive role, taking

shots at Lipinski’s record throughout the evening and talking about changes she would bring to the job. Afterward, she said she thought the evening “did a really nice job of creating a clear contrast between Mr. Lipinski… our value systems and our moral systems. “I think a lot of people don’t understand his voting record and his dangerous views. He doesn’t seem to believe people deserve a livable wage, affordable child care, and paid leave and benefits for folks who work hard. When he says he’s for working families, I find that very hard to believe,” Newman said in the lobby. Lipinski, who saved harder verbal jabs for his

closing statement, said afterward that the format was difficult because he was unable to answer charges levied against him by Newman. Neither candidate responded to frequent catcalls from the audience. One especially vocal Newman supporter left before he was asked to leave. In his closing comments, Lipinski touted being endorsed by the Illinois AFL/CIO and 25 other unions, including the Fraternal Order of Police, and by the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’ve fought for women in the workplace. I’ve fought for fair treatment of women and equal pay See FORUM, Page 9

Police at the Moraine Valley Community College campus in Palos Hills have detained a person of interest they were questioning on Monday afternoon regarding an alleged online threat to students that was sent out through a Twitter account on Sunday night. The Palos Hills Police Department also was involved in the investigation. The alleged threat was sent out on the Twitter STAGG account @MValleydies STUDENT and included photos of CHARGED: an assault rifle and two Palos Hills ammunition clips. The police charge account has since been Stagg High deactivated. However, School student parents contacted the school Monday morn- who allegedly ing and many students made a did not arrive at class threat against due to the online threats. another The person who student. sent the online threat Page 3 had been complaining about being bullied. The Twitter message sent out read: “You and your friends bullied me!!! I can’t wait to kill all you tomorrow haha you will not laugh at me anymore!!! You took away my soul…I’m taking you guys lives! Me and my AR.” Despite the threats, school was still in session on Monday and Tuesday. Traci Hlado, deputy chief for the Palos Hills police department, said the investigation was currently in the hands of the Moraine Valley police. “We did add extra security on Monday at Moraine Valley,” Hlado said. “We did it for security reasons and to help them out, just in case.” Officials from the Moraine Valley police said they continued to hold the person of interest in custody on Tuesday. While continuing to hold talks with the individual, the Moraine Valley police have not charged the person as of Tuesday afternoon. They did not indicate if the person in custody was a Moraine Valley student or if he is accused of sending the Twitter messages. With the addition of the Palos Hills police, security was noticeably tighter Monday at Moraine Valley. As a precaution, security was also tightened at the Blue Island and Tinley Park campuses. Moraine Valley officials said no students would be penalized for missing classes on Monday. A statement was released by officials at the Palos Hills campus that said “the college takes all threats against its students seriously and is following the guidance of law enforcement.” Moraine Valley officials also stated in a tweet on Monday morning that there is no indication at this time that the threat was credible.

Grads and current staff celebrate past and future of Northwest School By Kelly White

Photo by Kelly White

SALES

GREEN TAG EVENT

Since 1956

Lee Harwig, a 1988 graduate of Northwest Elementary School in Evergreen Park, reminisces on her favorite times at the school while browsing through a 1987-88 yearbook.

Lee Harwig can still vividly recall walking every day to Northwest Elementary School, just a block and a half away from her childhood home in Evergreen Park. “My mom used to stand on the sidewalk and watch me walk to school no matter how old I was,” Harwig said. “My parents’ house is still the same. After I married, my husband and I chose to still reside in Evergreen Park.” Harwig graduated from Northwest, 3630 W. 92nd St., Evergreen Park, in 1988, marking 30 years since she walked the halls at her beloved elementary school. “When I think about Northwest, I remember the

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teachers most,” Harwig said. “I remember each teacher I ever had, and I remember the comfort they always gave me. I’m an only child, and did not come from a big family. Leaving my mom to go to school was scary, and the teachers there were always kind and supportive.” Harwig said social media apps, like Facebook, have made it easy to remain in contact with her former classmates. However, the school’s Mustangs in Action Boosters’ Club is making it even easier to reconnect with a 50th anniversary celebration of Northwest School. The anniversary event will be held from 7 until 11 p.m. Friday, March 9 at 115 Bourbon Street, See NORTHWEST, Page 8

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Photo by Kelly White

Allison Grazevich, a graduate of Northwest Elementary School, said she is proud to have her own fifth-grade classroom at her alma mater.

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