Thursday, July 14, 2011
Chicago Heights resident Dennis Kelly has aspirations of making the jump from college ball to the NFL.
He doesn’t cut his hair. His 6-foot-8, 310-pound frame could be the biblical likeness of Samson. Marian Catholic High School graduate and Chicago Heights resident Dennis Kelly jokes, "Some people have told me, 'Don’t cut your hair, you’ll lose everything.' ” Kelly plays offensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2009. Now a senior, he is preparing for his last hurrah in the collegiate ranks. He carries the same passion for football into fall camp that he had when he was in fourth grade at St. Kieran School. “I remember when I was talking to a parent after a sixth-grade game," Kelly said. "They told me I played with a lot of passion. They could see something in me. When I went to Marian …
41.519971
-87.655015
Marian Catholic High School
700 Ashland Ave, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/former-marian-catholic-football-standout-kelly-prepares-for-senior-year-at-purdue
1724867
/locations/6685057
41.535189
-87.63096
St Kieran
700 195th St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/former-marian-catholic-football-standout-kelly-prepares-for-senior-year-at-purdue
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/locations/6685058
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Together We Cope presented William Dillon with the volunteer of the year award.
You never know what to expect when you ring the doorbell of the food pantry at Together We Cope, a social service agency in Tinley Park. Sometimes you'll see reindeer ears, sometimes long black hair with a witch hat and sometimes no costume at all. That's the kind of entertainment William "Bill" Dillon provides as he welcomes visitors. Dillon was the co-recipient of the 2011 Ted Reimer Volunteer award at the agency. "I try to make things lively around here," Dillon said. "If I can make the people smile, I'll do it. Around the holidays, I always try and do something like wearing rabbit ears or some crazy headpiece. So when the people come through the door, it gets them to smile." Dillon and his wife have lived in Chicago Heights for 40 …
41.535189
-87.63096
St Kieran
700 195th St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/chicago-heights-man-humbled-by-award-from-tinley-park-agency
1725353
/locations/4790754
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Police Chief Michael Camilli, a longtime Heights policeman, turned his health around after the death of Mayor Alex Lopez.
Chief Michael Camilli has served in the Chicago Heights Police Department for 35 years. He began as a patrol officer, then special division, narcotics officer, detective, supervisor, watch commander and finally became the chief after Mayor Alex Lopez appointed him. "I've had some memorable moments," Camilli said of his long career, but helping protect the President of the United States ranks high on his list. "I did security for President Ronald Reagan when he visited," Camilli explained. "He came to Bloom High School. I was a young detective at the time. The Secret Service called upon the whole department to assist. It was amazing to be in a detail in your own hometown at Bloom High School, where I graduated from, working with the …
41.502462
-87.635951
Chicago Heights Police Department
1601 S Halsted St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/police-chief-michael-camilli-living-a-life-inspired-by-an-untimely-death
1836092
/locations/4715000
Monday, June 20, 2011
Joanne Beckmann of Chicago Heights has tinkled the ivory for the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights and the Chansonettes.
During the Great Depression, there was not a lot of money for entertainment. So the parents of Joanne Beckmann bought a piano for $50 and encouraged there two daughters to begin playing. Since then, Joanne has given her talents to a church choir, kids and a group of singing ladies called the Chansonettes, all right here in Chicago Heights. "I began playing in sixth grade," Beckmann begins. "Then I studied organ in college and continued to study up here until my teacher passed away." Beckmann, a resident of Chicago Heights for 50 years, has a paid position as an organist at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights. She has volunteered to do the church's annual Christmas and Easter choral presentations. "I like playing classical music…
41.514235
-87.665536
First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights
900 Thomas St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/longtime-heights-resident-brings-musicality-from-childhood-to-the-church
1724807
/locations/4653372
Monday, June 13, 2011
From building statues to supporting art galleries, Ciambrone is known for his dedication to beautifying Chicago Heights. The city's downturn saddens him, but he hasn't lost hope.
In its heyday, Chicago Heights was the envy of other towns in the South Suburbs. Shoppers came from miles around to buy items from Montgomery Ward, Marshall Field, Kline’s and others. Thousands of men worked at steel plants located on the east side of Chicago Heights. Things have changed. Churches that once stood proud have been reduced to a pile of rubble, replaced with grass. Acres of stores along Halsted are now vacant. Children of immigrants have left for greener pastures. One lifelong Chicago Heights resident has seen it all, but still has a glimmer of hope. He is former Chicago Heights mayor Angelo “Sam" Ciambrone. “I love this city," Ciambone says. "I enjoyed it. I’m still here. The 'last of the Mohicans.' On Halsted, we’re the …
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Charlie Misovye has been with the Drama Group more than three decades and does it all for the love of his craft.
The performance bug bit Charlie Misovye at an early age. At five years old he performed for his kindergarten graduation. That was back in the 1960s. After that, a mothers club at St. Michael's Parish, along South Shore Drive, invited him to perform. “I lip synced before anyone even knew what it was," Misovye said. "It started way back when both of my older sisters went to dance class. I tagged along. When I saw them dance, I wanted to do that. All of a sudden I was taking classes." The classes were only the beginning. Misovye soon began seeing the intangible rewards for his work. "When I was at St. Michael's Mothers Club event, I got up and lip synced to Wayne Newton’s 'I Want Some Red Roses for a Blue Lady,'" Misovye explained. "They …
41.522384
-87.656509
The Drama Group
330 202nd St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/lifelong-heights-actor-hopes-to-bring-new-blood-to-the-drama-group
1725025
/locations/4543715
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Derrick who? This Chicago Heights multi-tasker holds the MVP title at her church.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” —Matthew 7:24-25 To have a good church, there must be a solid foundation of people. Mary Jane Hicks is a strong part of the foundation of Chicago Miracle Temple Church in Chicago Heights. When called upon, Hicks has volunteered in almost every area of her church—from Sunday School teacher to prayer warrior to caretaker for babies at the church’s daycare center. “I was a Sunday School teacher for the primary grades,” Hicks says. “I was also in the Missionaries and the …
41.50246
-87.63893
Chicago Miracle Temple Church
34 E 16th St, Chicago Heights, IL
/articles/mary-jane-hicks-teacher-giver-warrior-for-her-church
1724765
/locations/4473307
Monday, May 23, 2011
Bishop Ronnie White talks about his calling, his Harley and his fallen friend from Tinley Park.
If there were more than 24 hours in a day, Bishop Ronnie White says he would find a way to be a chaplain to even more police officers and firefighters. White is the Chicago Heights police and fire chaplain, the Park Forest police chaplain and the chaplain to the South Suburban Police Chief Association, which serves more than 80 agencies. And he doesn't get paid to do it. White volunteers his time to all of these groups. His full-time job title is Director of Juvenile Services for the City of Chicago Heights. White is on-call all day, every day of every week, and it isn't always easy. “This is a special call," he says. "Some ministers are not cut out to be a police or fire chaplain.” White ought to know what it's like transitioning into the…
Monday, May 16, 2011
Chicago Heights deacon and St. James Hospital chaplain Ray Deabel explains his heartfelt funeral ritual and burying the 'unchurched.'
There is an old phone booth, from the 1950s, that sits in front of Deacon Ray Deabel’s house in Chicago Heights. A Superman costume hangs inside for those spur-of-the moment calls to duty. That phone booth is symbolic for Deacon Ray. This 35-year Chicago Heights resident is known to make quick changes, in heroic fashion. From being a deacon at St. James Hospital, to leading a grief support group, to burying a non-Christian community member, to leading a service for a mobster—the man has a way of seemingly being everywhere at once. Ray could wear that Superman cape very nicely. “I was the first lay (non-ordained) minister in the Chicago Diocese for Communion,” Deacon Ray says. “That was in 1971. I gave communion out at St. Agnes in Chicago…
Friday, April 29, 2011
Jaron Boyd explains how his dance group, the FootworKINGz, ended up on a world tour with Madonna.
On the east side of Chicago Heights, boarded-up homes and abandoned steel factories were the backdrop for a young street dancer named Jaron Boyd. This day, the horn of a train rolling alongside East End Avenue temporarily drowns out a house remix as Boyd shows off his “FootworKing” moves on 15th Street. Jaron is on a short break from doing music videos and touring. He has been on the road with Madonna and worked with a group of younger FootworKINGz that appeared on America's Got Talent. The dancer has evolved into an inspiration to kids in his hometown. How did he get to this point? This is his story. Born to Dance Jaron explains his humble beginnings. I used to play around and dance at family gatherings. I wanted attention. I used to …
Brian Ewers
5:20 pm on Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Way to go Den!!!! Keep it going because its not over after Purdue!!!! more ›