At the May 5 meeting, members elected to the District 161 Board of Education read the oath of office before appointing a new president, vice president, and secretary. One new member, Ashly Giddens, was sworn in, along with Theartris “Tre” Childress III, Carolyn Theard-Griggs and Cameron Nelson. Voters reelected Theard-Griggs[Read More…]
Author: Chris Weber
GovState celebrates Sandy the therapy dog’s retirement
Sandy the therapy dog, a well-loved staff member at Governors State University, had a retirement party on April 22. Though she didn’t say much, Sandy seemed to enjoy the party in the GovState library. She made her rounds, trying to give attention to everyone in attendance, and ensured she[Read More…]
GovState President Cheryl Green dies after battle with illness
Recently retired Governors State University President Cheryl Green died on April 23. An email to the community from Interim University President Corey Bradford announced Green’s passing following a lengthy illness on April 24. Green retired on March 1 after serving as the university’s sixth president for four years. In August[Read More…]
GovState board selects Joyce Ester as the next university president
The Governors State University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve a contract with Joyce Ester, who will officially become the university’s seventh president on July 1. Ester, who was selected from a pool of 62 candidates for the position, has had a long career in higher education. GovState will[Read More…]
D161 recognizes dedicated paraprofessional, announces search for new principal
The Flossmoor District 161 Board of Education #AboveAndBeyond winner for the third quarter of the school year is Mary Ann Crispe, a special education paraprofessional at Western Avenue School. Crispe was recognized at the school board’s April 21 meeting. She was nominated by her colleague Amy Vitale, a second[Read More…]
Marian wins event at SouthWorks Engineering and Robotics Olympics
The seventh annual Southworks Robotics & Engineering Olympics, held at South Suburban College on April 12, engaged area students in an engineering and robotics competition. Martin Leedy, a senior at Marian, built and drove a robot that won a robot sumo match at the event. Homewood-Flossmoor and Marian Catholic high[Read More…]
D161 recognizes All-State Chorus participants
In February, Flossmoor School District 161 students attended the Illinois Music Education Association Elementary All-State Chorus. The students were recognized at the April 7 Board of Education meeting. The students travelled to Peoria for the event. In the morning, they learned and rehearsed songs before performing them in a concert[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2025: New Franciscan clinics serve multiple health needs
Franciscan Health officially celebrated the opening of its new offices in Cherry Creek Plaza with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 19. The grand opening event featured interactive tours of the new adult and pediatric rehabilitation spaces and the new primary care space of Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC. Attendees[Read More…]
D161 second grader honored with technology award
At the March 24 board of education meeting, Flossmoor School District 161 recognized Lindsay Epley, a second grader at Western Avenue School, for receiving the 2025 Infinitec Outstanding Student Technology Award. United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago, a charitable non-profit organization, serves individuals with disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan[Read More…]
GovState names interim president
Note: Chris Weber wrote this story for the GovState Phoenix. As the Board of Trustees works to find a replacement after Governors State University President Cheryl Green’s retirement in early March, Vice President of Administration and Finance Corey S. Bradford Sr. has taken the lead as head administrator. Bradford said[Read More…]