The Rundown: Wrestlers, Verzbicas Triumph, Legal Fees and More Sex Toys

In a close competition for news of the week, sports is a fitting winner in a few ways.

Lukas Verzbicas was humbled by the presence of Olympian runner Alan Webb, as he recognized Sandburg’s star runner as the Gatorade Illinois Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year. Becoming a Gatorade national player puts Verzbicas in the same realm as LeBron James, Candace Parker and Greg Oden.

“I was star struck this morning," Verzbicas said. "Webb is the record holder, and I was just shocked and very excited."           

The Sandburg Eagles wrestlers have triumphed over and over, keeping their streak going strong after victories in the SWSC meet and against Andrew.  Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull’s visit to Orland Park’s Arctic Ice Arena led to such a big crowd that police called in extra help for crowd control. Star struck hockey fans packed the arena to the point where at one point it was between 500 and 600 people over capacity.

It has been this journalist’s understanding that surveillance cameras should be on and recording if they are to work. But not so when a bullet was found on an Illinois Central School Bus vehicle as it was pulling out of Fulton School. All that was seen in the surveillance tape was a blue screen. ICSB is the same company that operated a bus that crashed into the side of Orland Junior High back in November.

Spencer’s Gifts will soon be called to get their store in Orland Square Mall in compliance with state law. In December, $22,000 worth of sex toys and other similar merchandise was seized.  

Orland Park will be footing a $1,500 legal bill to process an objection to a candidate petition, even though the objection was withdrawn a few hours before the objection hearing was to take place.

The Orland Park Public Library has a few proposals to become more energy efficient. The library was also planning on beefing up their security anyway, but after a thief walked away with bathroom items it may be all the more necessary.

On the police beat, an Orland Park man was charged with driving under the influence for the second time in four months, after police said he crashed a car and fled the scene.

Health guru Tina Tuszynski works as a personal trainer when she’s not penning her wisdom for Patch. This week, she showed us a way where people can reap the specific benefits of personal training if they can’t afford solo sessions: small group training.

A ripple of disappointment passed through Chicagoland as the Chicago Bears fell to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. We spent the day at Danny’s Corner, a new restaurant that opened in Orland Park less than a month ago, leaning on fellow Bears fans for support. But even worse, I now have to make good on my wager with Greendale, Wisc. Editor Viviana Buzo and film myself wearing those awful green and yellow colors.

On a much brighter note, Patch sites in the south region started rolling out new features this month, including a column written by our regional editor Dennis Robaugh titled “.” Right now, Robaugh offers round ups of stories throughout the region that have caught readers’ eyes, including a crime-specific edition.

Other new features will be coming this week, including wisdom from our Moms Council (because who knows better?), and a weekly post devoted to kids and teens doing well in some way.

And don’t forget about the adorable Suwanee, who may still need a home.