Latest news with #OrlandPark
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Tinley Park man charged in deadly Orland Park hit-and-run crash last month
A man was charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash in Orland Park last month. Robert Barajar, 41, of Tinley Park, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, reckless homicide, disobeying a traffic signal, and speeding 26 miles per hour over the posted limit. Orland Park police said on May 31, around 3:13 a.m., the department was notified by Tinley Park police about a two-car crash that occurred at an intersection on the 15900 block of South Harlem Avenue. Officers determined that Barajar's vehicle was heading southbound on Harlem Avenue when it hit another car, driven by a 23-year-old Romeoville resident heading westbound on 159th Street. The 23-year-old driver suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois, where he died. Police said after hitting the victim's car, Barajar ran from the scene on foot without rendering aid or notifying authorities of the crash. Following an investigation into the crash, Barajar was identified as the driver involved. He was arrested without incident and charged. Barajar was scheduled to appear at the 5th District Cook County Bridgeview Courthouse on Friday.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Orland Park Sting FC Sets Record for Tryout Registrations and Achieves Largest Player Roster in Club History
Orland Park Sting FC, a premier youth soccer club founded in 2016, proudly announces a record-breaking number of registrations for this year's tryouts. 'Our coaches are the heart of the club. Their commitment to helping players grow both on and off the field is what makes Orland Park Sting such a special place.'— Alex Freidine, Director of Orland Park Sting FC. ORLAND PARK, IL, UNITED STATES, May 30, 2025 / / -- Orland Park Sting FC, a premier youth soccer club founded in 2016, proudly announces a record-breaking number of registrations for this year's tryouts, leading to the largest player roster in the club's history. This remarkable achievement highlights the club's growing influence and the community's trust in its soccer programs for children aged 6 to 16. The club attributes this significant growth to its dedicated coaching staff, who are passionate about player development and fostering a positive, inclusive environment. To support the influx of new players, Orland Park Sting FC has added new coaches with years of soccer coaching experience. These coaches bring deep knowledge, professionalism, and energy to every training session, ensuring that every player receives personalized attention and mentorship. 'Our coaches are the heart of the club,' said Club Director Alex Freidine. 'Their commitment to helping players grow both on and off the field is what makes Orland Park Sting such a special place. We're proud of the environment we've built—one that families believe in and players are excited to be part of.' In addition to its youth soccer programs, the club is launching several new community-focused initiatives, including adult soccer training, corporate team-building events, and fitness sessions built around soccer fundamentals. These programs aim to promote physical health, teamwork, and community engagement for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. 'As we continue to grow, we're expanding our reach to offer more than just youth competition,' Freidine added. 'We believe in soccer as a lifelong sport—and we're committed to creating experiences that bring people together, whether they're 6 or 60.' Now approaching a decade of service, Orland Park Sting FC remains steadfast in its mission to inspire young athletes, build character through sport, and unite the community through a shared love of soccer. Alex Freidine Orland Park Sting FC, Director +1 630-673-0721 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- CBS News
Death investigation underway after body of missing woman found in woods near Palos Township
A death investigation is underway after the body of a missing Orland Park woman was found in a wooded area near Palos Township Sunday morning. Reanna Hammad, 21, was last seen Friday around 11 a.m. by her mother at her home. She was described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 145 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black sweater, black pants, and a black hijab. Police said there was evidence that she may have been in the vicinity of Spears Woods near the corner of West 87th Street and South LaGrange Road on the same day. Forest preserve officials confirmed Sunday that around 5:50 a.m., Hammad's body was found in the woods. They said they are performing a death investigation. No further information was immediately available.
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
New suburban Chicago mayor promises equal rights for Arabs ‘disrespected' by predecessor
ORLAND PARK, ILLINOIS: Jim Dodge, who on April 1 won the election to become mayor of Orland Park in suburban Chicago, unseating a predecessor accused of disrespecting and bullying local Arab Americans, vowed that those residents will now receive 'the respect they deserve as community residents, business owners, taxpayers and families.' In an interview with Arab News, he said that every resident deserves to receive the same level of respect 'regardless of their race, religion or national origin,' and irrespective of any particular issue they might want to raise. Dodge's comment related to a confrontation during a village board meeting on Feb. 5, 2024, between the former mayor, Keith Pekau, and 75 members of the Arab American community who asked him to support a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The board had passed a similar resolution on Ukraine a few months earlier but Pekau responded to the Gaza request by brushing it aside, criticizing the residents and telling them to 'go to another country' if they did not like living in America. When Arab Americans attending the meeting protested against his comments, Pekau ordered them out of the chamber, paused the meeting until they were gone, and then reconvened with no members of the public present and continued to berate the community over its request. Dodge described Pekau's response to the residents of the village as 'inappropriate' and 'disrespectful,' adding: 'We are all people who live in Orland Park and we want to see the best things for our community, for our families and for our children. It's about attitude. That's not what we saw at that meeting. 'Nobody should be prejudged because of their race, religion or ethnicity. Orland Park has a strong and vibrant, diverse community of residents and they all deserve respect, regardless of the issues. Arab Americans are no different than any other community we have in Orland Park; Irish, Polish, Hispanics, many others — everyone should be treated with respect and that is what I promise my administration will do.' Pekau's abusive response motivated Arab Americans in the area to make an effort to increase voter engagement in the run-up to the elections. More than 1,000 Arab Americans subsequently registered to vote, which played a part in removing Pekau from office. Dodge, who received 9,539 votes in the mayoral election to Pekau's 6,960, said what Arab Americans had experienced was similar to the experiences of other communities in the village under Pekau's brand of leadership. 'Together, they all brought this important change,' he added. Dodge, who held his first board meeting last week, said one of his first priorities will be to restore the village's committee system, which Pekau dismantled, that allows residents to participate in policy decisions and engage with officials directly on a variety of important issues. He added that he would meet with leaders from all communities to ensure they can engage in this way. Arab American community leaders welcomed Dodge's 'open-minded approach to government and inclusion.' Mohammed Jaber, who serves as a board trustee for High School District 230, which contains three high schools with a large proportion of Arab students, said the approach promised by the new mayor was exactly what Orland Park and its Arab American residents need. 'The most important thing is to be involved and work with one another for the betterment of Orland Park,' Jaber told Arab News. 'It doesn't mean that everyone agrees on an issue, it means that our officials listen and consider the positions and ideas we have as constituents, especially since we are 25 percent of the tax base. That in itself is a major change from the past administration.' Lena Matariyeh, who won a seat on the Orland Township Board of Trustees in another local election on April 1, said past experiences with Pekau and other nonresponsive local elected officials had shown Arab Americans the importance of being actively engaged with local elections and speaking out on community issues. 'What happens in our local communities, like Orland Park, truly matters,' she told Arab News. 'Change begins at the grassroots level and when we come together, regardless of background, we can help shape the future we want to see. 'The recent elections showed an inspiring level of engagement from the Arab American community, and many others who are stepping up, getting involved and making their voices heard. It's about ensuring that all communities feel represented, respected and included in the decisions that impact their daily lives.' Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, praised Dodge for his commitment to respecting all residents, including Arab Americans. 'This is significant that a mayor of a major suburban city has said that he rejects the disrespect the former mayor showed to our community,' Nijem told Arab News. 'Our community came together and we got involved to make change happen, and we did that. We are looking forward to being actively involved in local government issues, to being heard, and to participating in forging the future of Orland Park, which has a large Arab American community.' Arab Americans need to develop stronger voices in their communities, and the wider country, if they hope to increase their ability to help bring about peaceful, positive change in the Middle East, where their origins lie. Arab American candidates won 18 of 36 election contests in the Chicagoland suburbs last month, a feat that surpassed previous voting achievements. Orland Park has more than 58,000 residents and is the largest municipality in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
Chicago Tribune
06-02-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Orland Park to appeal ruling reinstating fired police officer who alleged discrimination
Orland Park says it will ask an arbitrator to reconsider a ruling reinstating a former police sergeant fired last February. William Sanchez had been with the department since 2004 and was fired Feb. 16, 2024. Arbitrator James Dworkin said last month Sanchez was not fired for just cause and ordered the village to reinstate him to his former position with the Police Department and 'make him whole for all losses suffered.' Sanchez sought reinstatement along with back pay. Orland Park, in a statement the firing 'was made for ample cause after a thorough and impartial process' and said officials will appeal the decision. The village said it had 'clear and justifiable reasons for its decision, supported by substantial evidence showing that Mr. Sanchez engaged in conduct detrimental to the operations and leadership of the Police Department.' The village said it would not make any more comment because the matter is still pending. At the time of his firing, Sanchez was president of the Orland Park Police Supervisors Association, a bargaining unit separate from patrol officers that represents police sergeants and lieutenants in the department. Sanchez was hired in 2004 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and that August was assigned as supervisor of the department's traffic safety unit. He alleged harassment and racial discrimination on the part of Chief Eric Rossi and then assistant Chief Brian West. The village hired a private investigation firm, Gold Shield Detective Agency, as well as an outside law firm, Clark Hill, to oversee the Sanchez allegations as well as a charge by West, now retired, against Sanchez. Sanchez lodged complaints with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He alleged he was not promoted to lieutenant because of harassment by West and because of his Mexican heritage, according to the Gold Shield report. After conducting several interviews, Gold Shield determined Sanchez was not discriminated against. West alleged Sanchez and other officers were creating a hostile work environment for him and trying to push him out of his job as he was approaching retirement. The Gold Shield firm said it did find evidence Sanchez contributed to exposing West to a work environment that was 'hostile and unwelcoming.' The supervisors association filed a grievance two days after Sanchez was fired, alleging he was terminated without just cause and was due to his filing a discrimination complaint. Charges drafted against Sanchez were to be heard by Orland Park's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, but he waived his right to a hearing and opted instead to proceed directly to arbitration, according to the village. The hearing was conducted over four days in late August and early September of last year. Dworkin, in his ruling, said the investigator who conducted the interviews was not called to testify over the course of the hearing. 'This arbitrator has held hundreds of arbitration cases over the years and it is very unusual to not have the person who conducted the investigation testify at the hearing,' Dworkin wrote. 'His absence calls into question the fairness of the investigatory process,' the arbitrator said. The arbitrator said the village's deputy police chief at the time testified Sanchez was a 'highly competent' traffic officer, and the then village manager said Sanchez was not fired for poor performance.
