Metra Electric service resumed Monday after last week’s freight train derailment damaged commuter train infrastructure, causing a four-day suspension of service. Trains were running a modified schedule.   A crane was used to upright  and remove the damaged  support structure on the  Metra tracks near Harvey.  (Provided photos)  Metra Spokesperson Meg Thomas-Reile said full[Read More…]

Metra will resume service on the entire Metra Electric Line on Monday, but trains will run on a modified weekday schedule as the agency continues to repair damage caused by a freight train derailment. Some trains have been canceled and others will make additional stops because damage from the derailment has[Read More…]

Metra announced Friday that it will extend its cancellation of  Electric Line service through Saturday, Feb. 2. The agency continues to repair damage to the line’s overhead power system caused by a freight train derailment. Commuters can use the Rock Island Line as an alternate. CTA will honor Metra tickets on the Red[Read More…]

This story was updated at 4:46 p.m. to reflect additional details, including the closure of H-F High School on Thursday.   Two cold students board a  bus headed for Homewood-  Flossmoor High School on  Tuesday morning. The  temperature at the time was  about 4 degrees. (Eric Crump/  H-F Chronicle)   Schools in Homewood District 153 and Flossmoor District[Read More…]

Due to the extreme cold weather forecast for the Chicago region this week, Metra will operate a modified schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 30.  Modified schedules for each Metra line can be found here. The schedules are designed to provide adequate service for the predicted ridership. The schedules will also reduce the use[Read More…]

Every Sunday night, October through April, PADS volunteer Margaret Epperson provides shelter to 30 homeless men in the basement of Flossmoor Community Church.  On Flossmoor’s MLK Day of Service on Jan. 21, the church basement was filled with familiar faces.  “I’ve been coming a couple years now,” PADS client Brian[Read More…]

Nnedi Okorafor loves creating imaginary worlds.    Her latest project is helping create the imaginary African country of Wakanda for Marvel’s Black Panther series.   Moderator Kelly Campos,  right, a librarian at the  Homewood Public Library,  asks a question of author  Nnedi Okorafor during her   presentation Jan. 11.   (Marilyn Thomas/  H-F Chronicle)    “I felt like[Read More…]

Homewood School District 153’s tax collection rate is near perfect, according to the district’s auditors.    Taxpayers paid their property taxes at a rate of 98 percent in 2015 and 2016, according to Tim Fagan of Legacy Professionals, who presented the district’s latest audit report at its Jan. 7 meeting.[Read More…]

  This isn’t actually a Flossmoor  Station beer, but furloughed  federal employees can get  free lunch and beer discounts  at the restaurant right now.  Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery announced Thursday that it is offering free lunch and discounted craft beer to federal employees affected by the government shutdown.  “We really feel for these[Read More…]

The lunchroom at Willow School was crowded, but no one seemed to notice the tall guy in line with second graders.     Superintendent Dale Mitchell  reads along looking over the  shoulder of second graders  as they start reading a new  book in the Magic Treehouse  series.  He followed along to the table, swung his[Read More…]