2011's Most Memorable Stories

One thing you can say about Oak Lawn is that it's never boring. From blizzards and microbursts to politics and involuntary possum slaughter, the year 2011 was filled with memorable moments and interesting public access television. Patch recounts a few of them here, not necessarily in any order. We can hardly wait for 2012.

'Petition-Gate'

The first inkling of trouble came in January when village clerk to put a referendum on the April 5 ballot Before it was all over, a quorum of village trustees would for residents at Stony Creek Golf Course. Oak Lawn Tax Watch—the group fielding the petition—voluntarily after village trustees and a private citizen challenged it in court. with the Illinois Attorney General’s office that trustees violated the Open Meetings Act. The complaint was later dismissed. In October, the citizen watchdog group’s 69-year-old chairwoman, by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

Politics is Local

Our election blog with drew a record 279 comments, not counting the many that had to be deleted. In January, former Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 school board president Stephen Trotto attempted to oust his opponent, Jim Melnik, The D229 electoral board including votes in the April 5 election, about the same number of readers that read the story about the paper clip challenge on Oak Lawn Patch.

‘Snowmageddon’

Mother Nature on Feb. 1 through Feb. 2, according to the official measurement taken at O’Hare International Airport. Southland won the bragging rights with 22 inches recorded at Midway Airport, one inch away from the record-breaking 23-inch snowfall of 1967. for village taxpayers including salt, private trucks and overtime for Oak Lawn’s public service workers. And, after fielding complaints all day from angry residents complaining that their streets had yet to be plowed, we went out for a firsthand look at snow removal in the 

‘Landslide Bob’

Oak Lawn-resident and Bob Streit-friend on grounds that Sodaro's circulators had perjured themselves circulating his nominating petitions. for the third district seat on the village board. After several that originally ruled in Sodaro’s favor because of a typo, . Not having the money to fund an appeal, coming within five votes of defeating the long-time trustee. in office by just 11 votes after ballots were canvassed by the Cook County Clerk’s office. Streit blamed low voter turnout for the near upset and said that he "because it energized his base."

Come Hell or High Water

Oak Lawn got belted again June 4, that felled 1,600 trees throughout the village and kept many residents in the dark into the next day. The as stunned residents walked among uprooted oaks and downed power lines. Five days later on June 9, of rain that sent and unleashing torrents of water into village streets. Resident Ken Skertich’s basement after raw sewage ruined his daughter’s American Girl dolls.

Lawyers and Money

After challenging Rahm Emanuel’s residency in the Chicago mayoral election, attorney Burt Odelson turned his attention to some unfinished Oak Lawn business. In April, Odelson unveiled his much anticipated report following a 14-month investigation into alleged overbillings and malpractice by the former village attorneys. The public in open session  which was highly critical of the mayor; the good stuff was saved for the village board's executive session. It was only a matter of days before via a third party. Mayor Dave Heilmann, who skipped the special board meeting, called the report and said tapes from The village board hired a $375-an-hour, Wisconsin-based law firm specializing in white-collar defense. One of the attorneys charged with leading the re-investigation In August, residents learned their village was the Meanwhile, in an investigation that has taken on the taint of a political power struggle among the village board.