the village free press Vol. III No. 51
Legal cannabis a threat to immigrants, activists say, PAGE 6
D209’s Financial Oversight Panel to leave by year’s end
DECEMBER 18, 2019
theVillageFreePress.org
Broadview Park District hosts soulful Christmas, PAGE 2
CHRISTMAS CHEER: Bellwood officer Harvey Hobik shops with Rayjon Johnson, 10, of Bellwood inside of the Forest Park Walmart. More on page 4. SHANEL ROMAIN
State board to vote on final exit Dec. 31 By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
The Financial Oversight Panel — appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education roughly a decade ago to help right the financial ship at Proviso Township High Schools District 209 — will disband this year, district officials said during a joint board meeting between the FOP and the D209 school board held Dec. 10 at Proviso East High School in Maywood. Supt. Jesse Rodriguez said during the meeting that the change will be effective Dec. 31, after the state education board votes on the FOP’s exit from the district. In 2008, amid crippling financial deficits, the D209 school board requested that the state assign the FOP to provide oversight See D209 FOP on page 1
Community rallies to support displaced Bellwood families
Most urgent need among the five families affected by the Dec. 8 fire is cash assistance for housing By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
When the Bellwood apartment building where Irene M. Griffin and her husband had lived for roughly three decades collapsed
after a third-alarm fire broke out on Dec. 8, the couple’s medication was lost in the rubble. “We’re both diabetics,” Griffin said during a recent interview. “I had just started on my medication three days before
the fire. Jackie Flowers, who is with the Bellwood Fire Department, she’s so nice. She paid for our medication, gave us a gift card for Target, and even took my husband See BELLWOOD FIRE on page 9
TIRED OF PAYING ATM FEES?
PAY NO MORE!
LOOK INSIDE TO FIND OUT HOW
1759 N. Mannheim Rd. | Stone Park, IL 60165 708-483-0030 | www.provisobank.com Proviso Community Bank is a branch of Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company.