Chicago won't see many CN engines if the company acquires the EJ&E rail road. Park Forest will see many, many more. (Photo: CN)

Commentary

One thing is certain regarding the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E railroad by Canadian National: it's not good at all for Park Forest.

There's no other way to put it. Representatives from the Village of Park Forest attended a meeting on April 29 with representatives from Canadian National and returned with information provided by CN that clearly demonstrates that most CN rail traffic will be diverted from the Chicagoland Metro area and end up in our back yard. In essence, Park Forest will be become a town cut in ...
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Ten Ton Challenge Walkers stroll the DownTown Mile. (Photo: VOPF)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Ten Ton Challenge participants were out in force on Saturday, May 3, taking to the streets of Downtown Park Forest for a mile walk. The walk kicked-off at 9:00 am with participants gathering at the corner of Main Street and Cunningham Drive. Sporting their Ten Ton Challenge t-shirts, some chatted with friends while others listened to music during their stroll of Downtown. The walkers completed two rounds of a walk down Main Street, from Western to Indianwood Boulevard.

At the completion of the walk, Christine Blue, Director of the Park Forest Health Department, provided Challenge part...
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A large limb from this tree on Ash Street split from the trunk and fell during Sunday's fierce thunderstorm. (Photo: ENEWSPF)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Powerful thunderstorms hit Park Forest Sunday morning, toppling trees and power lines. A large limb from this tree in a courtyard on Ash Street collapsed from winds that topped 46 mph., narrowly missing one of the co-op units. The EJ&E railroad on Western Avenue were closed for a while also Sunday as crews worked to clear power lines that fell on the tracks. Emergency vehicles from the Park Forest Fire Department blocked traffic on Western until the tracks were cleared.

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– The Village of Park Forest's Department of Public Works will conduct hydrant flushing beginning May 13th, 2008. Fire hydrants are flushed to remove rust and sediment from the water system.

During this operation, water may become discolored from rust. According to village officials, water is safe for drinking and cooking, but will stain clothing during washing. It is recommended that residents do not wash clothes on the day of flushing.

If laundry does become discolored, officials recommend keeping the items wet and picking up a free cleaner during regular business hours in the Water Office at Village Hall.

Flushing takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight. The first area flushed will be the Lincolnwood neighborhoods north of the EJ&E Railroad and Eastgate, on Tuesday, May 13. The area between the EJ&E tracks and Sauk Trail will be flushed on Wednesday, May 14. On Thursday, May 15, the rem...
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Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Police discovered weapons while conducting an inspection through the Crime-Free Housing Ordinance. Detective Beilke was contacted by the owner of four condominium units on May 1 to conduct an inspection under the ordinance. The owner of the property permitted the detective to enter a unit at 23437 Western Ave., Apt. C32. The owner knocked on the door and there was no response. The owner opened the door and the detective announced his office. There was still no response. The detective conducted the inspection and then entered the bedroom of the apartment to check for smoke detectors and window locks. In the corner of the bedroom, Detective Beilke observed two rifles, an AR-15 and a Browning .223 long rifle.

Detective Baugh arrived on the scene and ran the serial numbers of the weapons throu...
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Inter Press Service
By Ahmed Ali and Dahr Jamail*

BAQUBA, May 9 (IPS) - Water supply is drying out in what was once the agriculturally rich Diyala province north of Baghdad. Baquba, the capital city of Diyala, is now running out of water both for drinking and for irrigation.

Water supply has been hit by power failures. The central pumping station has been running short of electricity supply over the last two years.

The pumping station is located between two districts in conflict -- Hwaider, which is predominantly Shia, and Jupenat, mostly Sunni. For two years now, fighting between Sunnis and Shias here has led to reduced water supply.

"The Diyala river passes by the two villages before the pumping station," ...
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Commentary
Inside the First Amendment

By Charles C. Haynes
First Amendment Center senior scholar

At a charter school in Minnesota, what should have been a “call the lawyers” dispute over religion in the classroom has escalated into a “call the FBI” imbroglio involving death threats against school officials.

Allegations of school-sponsored prayer don't ordinarily provoke threats of violence. But Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) in Inver Grove Heights is no ordinary public school.

TIZA is a public charter school named for an eighth-century Muslim leader, housed i...
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(GRAPHIC: PFPD)

"Wanted Flier" Available Here  

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— The Park Forest Police Department has released a sketch of the suspect in the May 3 armed robbery at Tower Cleaners.

The suspect is described as an African American male with light skin (yellow hue), 18 to 22 years of age, 5'9", weighing between 170 and 185 pounds. According to police, the man has long, light sideburns and light chin hair. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, large blue jean pants and white gym shoes at the time of the incident, according to police.

The Pa...
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