W E D N E S D A Y
September 11, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 6 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
History mystery Page B1
River Forest not sold on selling cannabis Zoning board hearing set for October By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
The possibility of legalized sales of recreational cannabis in River Forest continued to move slowly forward Sept. 9 when the village board voted to direct staff members to take steps toward proposing an amendment to the zoning ordinance. The 5-0 vote was taken at the regular village board meeting that followed a committee of the whole meeting at which 11 residents provided input on the question. Trustee Tom Cargie did not attend either meeting. Although the village board supported moving forward with the process, no trustee openly addressed the ultimate issue of allowing recreational cannabis business establishments in the village. Trustee Bob O’Connell noted the action “doesn’t commit us to anything,” while Trustee Patty Henek referred to “starting with the framework” and Trustee Katie Brennan stated a desire to “move forward for further discussion.” Only six of the residents who spoke at the committee of the whole meeting stated an opinion on allowing cannabis business establishments with four opposing and two supporting. Two of the other speakers had questions for police See CANNABIS on page 13
Past, present and future
SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor
George Vuckovic looks for his yearbook picture along with his son, Tesla, during Willard School’s 90th anniversary celebration in River Forest on Sept. 7. Between 250 and 300 former and current students, teachers, parents, board members, administrators and neighbors attended the event. Items on display were donated by the Oak Park–River Forest Historical Society and River Forest residents. For more photos, visit OakPark.com.
HBO probes Oak Park cold-case
Family hopes Golden State Killer documentary shines light on killing of Kathleen Lombardo By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
A former Oak Parker, whose bestselling book helped capture a notorious serial killer, is bringing renewed attention – by way of an HBO documentary series
– to a 35-year-old cold case in Oak Park. The late Michelle McNamara, author of the posthumously published truecrime book “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer,” is credited with helping to spark police interest in the
California case, which led to the arrest of retired police officer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. in April of 2018. Family members of late Oak Parker Kathleen Lombardo, who was sexually See LOMBARDO on page 14
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