Sam Rakestraw

Chicago

Reporter at Journal & Topics

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Articles

Prospect Heights To Draft Chicken Ordinance

4 days ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Prospect Heights aldermen made some progress on the issue of keeping chickens and other fowl on residential properties in the city by discussing what will likely be drafted as part of a new ordinance. The draft ordinance discussed at Tuesday’s (May 27) city council meeting will include a 20-bird limit, a cap on 75 licenses for ownership (with 12 months to comply), while a ban on roosters is still pending.
Willow Trails Flood Control Project Billed As ‘Major Improvement’ For City’s East Side

5 days ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Entrance to Willow Trails Park on Apple Drive in Prospect Heights. Aldermen approved a $2,479,324.90 bid from Wauconda-based Berger Excavating Contractors for the Willow Trails Flood Control Project, as well as $206,000 for preliminary engineering services with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, at the May 27 Prospect Heights City Council meeting. The project is funded through a Federal Community Projects Grant available in each congressional district. “There’s only a handful of these that are awarded...
Village Board Puts Focus On Future Possibilities For Downtown Street

1 week ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Prospect Avenue, running parallel to the Union Pacific Railroad through downtown Mount Prospect, continues to grow when it comes to restaurants, residential developments, stores and increased pedestrian and cyclist activity. Considering how the community is using the corridor space, the Mount Prospect Village Board approved spending a maximum of $114,909.20 for a study of the area in order to implement long-term solutions. “There’s the idea of creating more sidewalk space for pedestrians. There’...
Village To Meet With Local Restaurant After Block Party Liquor Ban

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Mount Prospect Block Party attendees wait at beverage tent during preivous year's event. (Journal file photo)At the beginning of May, the village said it will not allow hard liquor sales at this year’s Mount Prospect Downtown Block Party set for July 25-26 -- a first for the event. While beer and wine sales are still permitted, establishments that sell mixed drinks, like Red Barn on Kensington Road, cannot do so this year. Red Barn owner Donald Harrington gave public comments at the village bo...
Mount Prospect Implements 4-Minute Limit On Public Comments

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

The Mount Prospect Village Board tentatively approved an amendment to village code Tuesday (May 20) regarding citizens to be heard during meetings that introduces a four-minute time limit for each member of the public addressing the board. It also implements a sign-in sheet for speakers and limits speakers on the same topic, to avoid repeated and redundant comments. The ordinance also affirms that the board has no obligation to respond to public comments, which has always been the case. “This is...
Prospect Heights Swears-In Council Member Terry Anderson

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

The Prospect Heights City Council meeting on Monday, May 12 served as the swearing-in for Ald. Terry Anderson, who was elected to fill the remaining two years on a city council term for the 2nd ward in the April 1 election. Anderson defeated Alan Schneider, 227 to 200, Cook County election results show. After she was sworn-in, Anderson tended to business with the rest of the Prospect Heights City Council, approving the consent agenda and new business items. Anderson works as a real estate broke...
Prospect Heights Firehouse Expansion Gets City Council Approval

3 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

The Prospect Heights Fire Protection District is planning a remodeling and expansion of its fire station at 10 E. Camp McDonald Rd. During Monday’s (May 12) city council meeting, aldermen approved variations and a special-use ordinance for the work, as well as an agreement that the fire district add and share parking spaces with the city, after coming up short of the required number of spaces. Architect from 845 Design Group, Jamie Zaura, said the new fire station is proposed at 13,835 sq. ft.
Village Orders Green Space Clock Tower For $259,650

3 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Clocktower design approved by village trustees for new gateway plaza at Northwest Highway and Central Road. The Mount Prospect Village Board waived the rules for public bidding and awarded a $259,650 contract to Verdin Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a 35-ft. tall clock tower for the proposed gateway plaza with green space at Northwest Highway and Central Road. The concept of a new gateway plaza on the property, recently purchased by the village at 310 W. Northwest Hwy., was presented at last ...
Dist. 207 Approves New English, Digital History Textbooks

3 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Maine Township High School Dist. 207 board members approved new novels for English classes for next school year, as well as the first reading for a digital textbook for World History courses, during their meeting Monday (May 5). “We would not look at another World History textbook for about five to six years, and at that point we’ll determine whether or not to change publisher or book edition,” said Assistant Supt. of Curriculum and Innovation Shawn Messmer. “The nice thing about a new [digital]...
Maine Township 2025 Graduations Set For May 18

4 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Maine South High School's graduation ceremony takes place on the Rosemont Theater stage. (Journal file photo)Maine Township High School Dist. 207 graduation ceremonies are set for Sunday, May 18 at the Rosemont Theatre, where about 1,529 senior-year students in all will receive their diplomas throughout the day. Dist. 207 has held its graduations on the third Sunday of May for the past few years. Each ceremony tends to run 3-1/2 hours with around 550 students from each school graduating. Direct...