Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Des Plaines Mayor Matt Bogusz spoke about what he has learned from other city council members after being sworn into office on Monday.
Des Plaines Mayor Matt Bogusz began his four-year term after being sworn in before a standing-room-only crowd at city hall on Monday. Bogusz thanked his family, friends and supporters, and spoke about some of what he learned working with other city council members. “We all are a collection, a combination of the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned from each other,” Bogusz said. “And I’ve learned a lot from the people I’ve worked with.” Click on the video above to see Bogusz speak about learning from Des Plaines city council members. First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg, Third Ward Alderman Denise Rodd, Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman, Seventh Ward Alderman Joanna Sojka and City Clerk Gloria Ludwig were also sworn into …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The 84-year-old frame shop closed its doors at the end of March, according to a letter from the former business owner.
After more than 80 years in business, Prairie Lee Frame closed its doors for the last time at the end of March. “This comes with great sadness to say that we will be closing the store at the end of this month,” stated Mark Skoczynski, owner of the frame shop, in a letter posted on the front door, dated March 1. The full-service frame shop opened at Prairie Avenue and Lee Street in Des Plaines in 1929, according to Prairie Lee Frame’s website, and originally sold wallpaper and paint, in addition to framing. “Words cannot describe how proud I am of this company and how much we appreciated all your support, but the time has come to move on,” Skoczynski stated. “We leave in good standing and on our terms.” Prairie Lee Frame’s phone number was …
Windows were broken at the Des Plaines high school over the weekend, Journal and Topics Newspaper reported.
Authorities are investigating a possible attempted arson incident at Maine West High School, which occurred over the weekend, Journal and Topics Newspapers reported. Windows were broken sometime between Saturday and Sunday at the Des Plaines high school, according to Journal and Topics Newspapers’ report. Updated, 10 p.m. on May 6: Staff at Maine West High School cleaned up the press box and near the gymnasium, near where the windows were broken late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, and removed the broken glass before police arrived on the scene, Des Plaines Police Chief William Kushner said. A charred neck from a Southern Comfort liquor bottle was recovered from the scene, Kushner said, but no evidence the building caught fire was …
Does the thick stuff matter? Find out the answer.
You may know him as the Sixth Ward alderman in Des Plaines, and, more recently, as acting mayor, but many people are unaware Mark Walsten starred in one of the most popular television commercials of the 1990’s. Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten is seen here endorsing Liquid Plumber. Walsten worked as an actor on a variety of television and film productions during the 1980’s and 1990’s, he said, including extra roles in Code of Silence with Chuck Norris and Weird Science. Walsten, while not a union plumber, ran a remodeling business in the 1980’s, he said, and currently operates a home inspection company. Walsten said the series of commercials, starring him and another actor, Dave Dykstra, received top ratings at the time they were first …
Friday, May 3, 2013
A civil engineering student from Des Plaines is competing with her classmates in a concrete canoe competition.
Chances for success in a concrete canoe competition increase when your team includes someone who grew up along the Des Plaines River, or so it may seem following a recent win for a college in Indiana. Shannon Osiecki, 20, an alum of Maine West High School, with her approximately 25 teammates at the University of Evansville in southern Indiana, are ready to compete in a national concrete canoe meet at the University of Illinois in Champaign in June. Her crew received top honors in a regional competition between about 15 teams in April, Osiecki said, and more than 20 teams of college students will paddle for the top prize at the national competition. The concrete canoe competition has a long history, and this is the 13th year Evansville is …
Did you enjoy the sunshine this week? Share your favorite pictures from the community; click the green “Upload Photos and Videos” button.
When temperatures breached the 70’s and 80’s on Wednesday, residents from Des Plaines and elsewhere in the Chicago area wasted no time retreating outside to soak up the warm weather. After two weeks of rain, flooding, gray skies, and more of the same expected this weekend, on Wednesday babies were wheeled in strollers, dogs jumped for Frisbies, kids huddled in groups outdoors and, as seen in this picture, anglers trekked to local fishing holes. The break in the weather afforded the opportunity to kick off work and hang a sign in the window with the timeless proclamation: Gone Fishin’. A number of fishermen visited Belleau Lake Forest Preserve on Wednesday, which is situated west of I-294 at 2200 Busse Highway, partially in Des Plaines and …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Des Plaines city council is set to discuss waiving permit fees for repairs related to flood damage at its next meeting.
Des Plaines residents may get a break on permit fees for repairs related to flood damage. Alex Dambach, director of community and economic development, recommended the measure, in part, because it would encourage residents to participate in the permit process, which has multiple benefits including compliance with registering for federal assistance, if a disaster declaration is made, according to his memo to the city manager. Des Plaines city council will discuss waiving the permit fees at its next meeting on May 6, according to the agenda. The permit fee waiver would be effective for one year, if city council votes in favor of Dambach’s recommendation as it is stated in his memo. One reason why residents should get all the appropriate …
A team of about a dozen emergency management workers surveyed some of the residences damaged most by the flood in Des Plaines this week.
Two weeks after the storm that caused massive flooding along the Des Plaines River and elsewhere in the region, emergency management workers were focused on completing an overall damage assessment in order to make the case that federal disaster relief is needed. If a federal disaster is declared, funding would be made available to qualifying residents, and loans would be cheaper for businesses to rebuild. Patricia Thompson, spokesperson for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said her agency was working in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local emergency management agencies to complete the second phase of data collection, called the preliminary damage assessment, in 48 counties in Illinois. That work began…
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Des Plaines Police Commander Mike Kozak submitted his resignation letter last week, the Daily Herald reported.
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Tuesday, April 30
Former Des Plaines Police Deputy Chief, and current Police Commander Mike Kozak announced he would retire last week, the Daily Herald reported. Kozak’s retirement comes at a time when a number of lawsuits involving current and former officers are ongoing, according to the Daily Herald’s report, and other personnel-related issues have surfaced. Related:
Monday, April 29, 2013
Flood control projects along the Des Plaines River were planned more than 25 years ago, the Daily Herald reported, but delays and bureaucratic red tape have slowed their construction.
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Monday, April 29
Levee 50 in Des Plaines is the only flood control project completed from a list chosen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more than 25 years ago, the Daily Herald reported. A total of six projects were identified in Lake and Cook counties, according to the Daily Herald’s report.
Otto Quasthoff
9:06 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Levee 50 kept Farmers creek dewatered for the whole event, No flooding along farmer’s creek was noted. What about all the people down stream from where all this water is added to the already swollen Des Plaines River? The people in Campground and the people living around Shagbark Lake come to mind. The Army Core knew that this would add millions (billions?) of gallons of water to the river, yet … more ›