Politics & Government

The Rundown, Jan 1-8: Objection, Withdrawal and Would-Be Thieves Caught

We look back at a week where an objection was filed against hopefuls for the Orland Park Village Board, and then was quickly withdrawn, as well as a few crimes.

Andrea Williams was not happy with the petition filed by the Orland Park United slate.

Williams, wife of Steve Williams who is also running for village board, objected to the petition filed by incumbents Ed Schussler, Patricia Gira and newcomer Carole Ruzich. She believed that Schussler and Ruzich, both of whom are attorneys and notary publics, should not have been allowed to notarize petitions for their own candidacy.

Schussler countered that it has been recognized that notary publics can certify their own petitions, so long as the sheets are not the ones they circulated themselves.

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But on Friday, Andrea Williams withdrew the petition just hours before the objection hearing would’ve taken place.  In a letter she hand-delivered to the village clerk’s office, she wrote that she “had no interest in wasting mine nor anyone else’s time, money, and aggravation” in going through with the hearing, because the three men sitting on the presiding board for the objection hearing all signed the petition for the OPU slate.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Village Clerk David Maher and Trustee Bernard Murphy are designated by state law to serve as the electoral board to rule on objections in the municipal election – and all three did sign the OPU petition.

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Elsewhere in Orland, two Tinley men were caught after they went into the Orland Chateau to take items from inside. An Orland Park woman was accused of taking a different bird from the Chicago Reptile House when she stopped there to drop off her own bird for boarding. And in near-Orland police news, Tinley Park police charged a man in the recent Smokey Top attempted robbery.

In sports, Sandburg’s boys and girls carved out wins against Joliet Central in basketball. With points and rebounds numbering in the 20s, senior guard Jason Viane helped push the Eagles past Joliet Central.  Sophomore guard Ashley Youngwirth’s 13 points also helped propel the Eagles in their win. And two knocks on Joliet Central deserve another, as Sandburg wrestling made their latest conquest against the school, keeping the winning streak alive and well.

Patch spoke with Eagles wrestling coach Eric Siebert about how in his three years as coach he’s been able to guide the team to a great series of victories.

In more regional and state news, the initial bit of data from the 2010 census was released, and about 200 new state laws took effect at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1.

Health explorer Tina Tuszynski, who makes no qualms about her rhythm challenges, tested out Zumba classes that use Latin dancing for fitness.  Heather Blackmore detailed the harm salting can have on plants, even during the dead winter.

Don’t forget about Frollie. Call over to Tinley Park PAWS if you can give her a home.

2011 is here, and as we approach both our 500th article and the end of our fourth month of life, we are all the more excited about what’s coming.

See you around town.


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