State Sen. Ann Gillespie Wheeling Township Democrats announced the process for finding someone to fill the vacancy left when Gov. JB Pritzker named State Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-27th) head of the Illinois Dept. of Insurance last week.   The township’s Democratic organization is accepting applications from members of the public who qualify to become the next state senator. A meeting of local Democratic township committee persons is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, when a new senator is expected to be named.  Gillespie resigned from the Senate on Sunday. Her first day leading the i ..read more

Goldman Thursday’s (April 11) death of O.J. Simpson sparked memories of local connections to the football player-turned-actor’s infamous murder acquittal, including the fact that one of those murder victims hailed from Buffalo Grove. Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife, and her friend Ron Goldman, previously of Buffalo Grove, were stabbed to death on June 12, 1994. Simpson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and went on trial, but was acquitted and set free. Goldman, who was 25 at the time of death, was born July 2, 1968, to Sharon Fohrman and Frederic Goldman. He was ..read more

Members of Arlington Squares line up at February’s “Be My Valentine” dance. (Photo submitted) Arlington Squares was founded in 1948 and has been continuously dancing for 75 years. On Sunday, April 21, the club will hold its “Dancing Diamonds” Anniversary Dance to celebrate this milestone. The dance will feature internationally renowned square dance caller Jet Roberts from Alabama and round dance cuer Natalie Sprosty from Iowa. The dance will be held at St. Thomas of Villanova, 1201 E. Anderson Dr., Palatine. “Our club’s 75th Anniversary Dance will be enjoyed by dancers throughout Chicagoland ..read more

State Sen. Ann Gillespie Gov. JB Pritzker announced State Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-27th) would take over as the new Illinois Dept. of Insurance director when Dana Popish Severinghaus retires from that role on Monday, April 15.  Gillespie said her resignation from the senate will be effective on Sunday, April 14.  The 27th Senate District includes parts of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, and Wheeling. Gillespie’s work history in the private sector includes experience in the health care insura ..read more

Flooding seen at the historic Methodist Campground in Des Plaines. Nearly a year ago, Jeff Bilotech, a resident of the Chicago District Campground Association (formerly called the Methodist Campground) in Des Plaines, predicted that he may be evicted from the historical site because of his outspokenness about actions taken by campground leaders. His prediction is on the verge of becoming reality at a time when the city and the campground are locked in a bitter battle over the future of 75 frame buildings. Des Plaines wants those campground structures repaired or demolished to protect the hea ..read more

A worker mows grass on the campground property in Des Plaines on Sept. 23, 2023. (Journal photo) In a stinging rebuke of assertions made by leaders of the Chicago District Campground Association (formerly known as the Methodist Campground), a Cook County judge Tuesday dismissed all eight counterclaims made by the organization that the city of Des Plaines is using its powers to stymie the way it practices its religion. On numerous occasions during the hearing, Judge James Allegretti insisted that the campground’s lawyer stick to the facts of the case involving the city’s demand that it demoli ..read more

Property on Verde Drive just south of Palatine Road. The larger-than-usual lot could be divided in two for construction of two new homes. (Google Earth image) An extra-large single-family home lot on the north end of Arlington Heights will be divided into two properties so that new homes can be built. The property at 1821 N. Verde Ave., just south of the Palatine Frontage Road, was originally two lots. That changed in the 1950s when the Palatine Road interchange was constructed. To make way for the road project, a part of one of the properties was absorbed by the right of way and the home on ..read more

Entrance to Arlington Towne Square off Golf Road. (Google Earth image) A new Korean barbecue will soon open in Arlington Heights near the intersection of Golf and Arlington Heights roads. The restaurant, named Marbling, will be located at 63 W. Golf Rd. in the Arlington Towne Square shopping mall. Owner Jake Han told the village board Monday night that the restaurant would open within the next couple of weeks. Once it does, Marbling will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The village board approved a Class A liquor license for the restaurant, which allows for the retail sale o ..read more

Dorothy Wisniewski After nearly spending the last 17 years heading the city of Des Plaines’ Finance department with the last three to four years being groomed for advancement, Dorothy Wisniewski is about to take on her new role as the community’s city manager. The 43-year-old mother of three boys, ages 17, 14 and 8, will become Des Plaines’ first female city manager this Monday, April 1. She is succeeding Mike Bartholomew who at age 62 is retiring. He has served as city manager for the last 13 years and before that was Des Plaines’ director of Community Development. “I’m ready for it,” said ..read more

The following is data from the Cook County Clerk’s Office on voter participation in the Tuesday, March 19 Presidential Primary Election, including early voting totals in the Journal’s coverage area:    Early Voting Totals March 4 to March 18 Northbrook Village Hall 2,766 Arlington Heights Village Hall 2,765 Wilmette – Centennial Ice Rink 2,597 Schaumburg – Trickster Art Gallery 2,385 Palatine Temporary Village Hall 2,073 Glenview Village Hall 2,068 Mount Prospect Village Hall 1,987 Des Plaines Public Library 1,709 Park Ridge City Hall 1,703 Elk Grove Village Hall 1,312 Niles Village ..read more