Rear View

Week in Review: Resignation Call, Gifts from Ellen and Verzbicas Returns

In the past week, you may have missed stories about a BB gun carjacking case in court, another Eva’s Bridal rebirth, bond sales, small businesses on Facebook, cell phone evidence in a murder case, retail theft sting and other Orland Park news.

MONDAY Village Saved Over $2 Million in Bond Sales and More (Live Blog Transcript) A new bike path connecting trails on Wolf Road and 108th Avenue also was discussed Monday night, as were plans for a new McDonald's on 179th Street near Wolf Road. Read the full meeting transcript. Attorneys Done Exchanging Evidence in BB Gun Carjacking Case Lawyers said Thursday that they are finished with the discovery phase of the felony carjacking case against Jonathan Sarolas and April Schmidt, who are accused of stealing the car of an Orland Park restaurant employee with a BB gun. Eva’s Bridals of Oak Lawn Opening Second Location in Orland Park The wedding dress salon will be taking over the former House of Brides location on LaGrange Road. TUESDAY …

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Verzbicas Runs 24th Annual Turkey Trot, His First Race Since Biking Injury

The sold out race welcomed over 700 participants, including Sandburg running star and Olympic triathlete hopeful Lukas Verzbicas, four months after doctors told him he may never walk again after a serious biking accident.

Over 700 runners took their place on Ravinia Avenue Thursday morning prepared to tackle the 2.5 mile cross country path of Orland Park's annual Turkey Trot. The race is a tradition for many Orland Park families, as well as families from surrounding communities. One participant, rising Olympian hopeful and Sandburg alum Lukas Verzbicas, overcame unimaginable odds to run in his first race since enduring serious spinal injuries in July while biking. "I am thankful to get that competitive feeling again," said Verzbicas. "This is something I was born to do and to be feeling this again after all that has happened, I am really appreciative of that." In about four months since his injury, Verzbicas said he was grateful to just be at the race. "I …

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Verzbicas Returns to Racing at Orland Park Turkey Trot

About four months after a bicycle accident nearly ended the record-breaking Sandburg alum’s burgeoning triathlon career, Lukas Verzbicas is back on his way to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Lukas Verzbicas included the hashtag #thereturn in his latest Twitter entry, when he announced he would run Thursday morning in the Orland Park Turkey Trot. The race will be his first since a serious bicycle accident on July 31st in Colorado Springs left doctors initially questioning whether the Olympic triathlete would ever walk again, let alone compete at an elite level. Verzbicas was on a downhill section of a training exercise with USA Triathlon, when he came upon a sharp turn and braked over a patch of wet sand, according to a Philip Hersh report in the Chicago Tribune. The record-setting Carl Sandburg High School cross country runner, who decided about two months into his freshmen year at the University of Oregon to focus on …

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Verzbicas Recovering After Bike Accident and Surgery

Future Olympian hopeful posted on Twitter that he is “grateful” and “lucky” to be alive after the crash.

Lukas Verzbicas is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. His latest challenge will be to recover from surgery after a bicycle accident in the Colorado mountains to resume triathlon training. Sparse details have been released by spokespeople for USA Triathlon, the team with which Verzbicas is quickly becoming an Olympic hopeful for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, other than an accident happened Tuesday, according to a Denver Post report. The record-breaking distance runner and Carl Sandburg High School alum took to his Twitter account to update concerned fans. July 31: “Just in case, I want everyone to know how grateful I am for every single one of you and all your support. Always remember to dream big!” Aug. 2: “Thank you for everyone's …

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Rear View

In the Rear View: Verzbicas’ Running Dream, School Speaking and Community Contributions

We look back at a week of Christmas spirit, check fraud, close driving calls, stuffing choices, volunteering honors and court decisions.

MONDAY College and the Olympics: Best of Both Worlds for Verzbicas Former Sandburg standout Lukas Verzbicas is following a smart path in pursuit of his Olympic dream. Kris Kringle Haus Open Again Thanks to 'Christmas Nuts' Couple Popular and longtime Christmas shop returns to Orland Park for another holiday season. TUESDAY Lone Orland Resident Speaks Out On Lack of Teacher Contract, Walsh Demotion at D135 Meeting The board also approved a tax levy with no increase over the last fiscal year. Who's More Likely to Use Stuffing From a Box? Where does your town rank on the likelihood of using a packaged stuffing mix this Thanksgiving? WEDNESDAY Bare Shelves at the Orland Township Food Pantry Spark Community Response With the pantry in serious …

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The Sports Report

College and the Olympics: Best of Both Worlds for Verzbicas

Former Sandburg standout Lukas Verzbicas following a smart path in pursuit of his Olympic dream.

When the news broke about former Palos Heights resident and Sandburg cross country standout Lukas Verzbicas’ decision to leave the University of Oregon midway through his freshman year, I was concerned. My concerns were alleviated when I learned Verzbicas will enroll at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs as he turns from a career in distance running to the pursuit of his dream of making the U.S. Olympic triathlon team. Stay in school. The message is one worth repeating to young men and women, no matter how gifted they might be in endeavors outside the classroom. Think of it like this: How many 18-year-old phenoms turn down full-ride college scholarships after they are drafted by a major league baseball team, only to fizzle out …

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Rear View

In the Rear View: Dreams Chased and Veterans Honored

We look back at a week of balanced budgets, saying deserved thank yous, running, comic tweaks, education standards and bad texting judgment.

MONDAY Laughing Text Gets Man Arrested After Warning Orland Park man chose the wrong time to send one last message. Adequate Yearly Progress: A Look at the D230 Report Card The school district is above state averages in a number of categories, but is technically not meeting federal standards. Patch talks with district staff about No Child Left Behind's goals that are eluding nearly all Illinois schools. TUESDAY Important Facts About Veterans Day Part II From where veterans reside to how many are disabled, the U.S Census Bureau provides a data-driven look before the upcoming honor day. We bet there are items you didn’t know of. WEDNESDAY Illinois State Board of Education Seeks No Child Left Behind Waiver With a majority of school districts …

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Former Sandburg Cross Country Standout Verzbicas Departs Oregon to Chase Olympic Dream

Lukas Verzbicas, a two-time cross country state champion at Sandburg, is leaving the University of Oregon at the midway point of his freshman year. He wants to train full-time for a spot on the U.S. Olympic triathlon team.

Lukas Verzbicas has decided to run full-time after his dream. Verzbicas, a two-time state cross country champion during his high school days at Sandburg, is leaving the University of Oregon track and field team at the midway point of his freshman year in order to train full-time for a spot on the U.S. Olympic triathlon team. He won junior titles at both the World and U.S. triathlon championships earlier this year. "When we recruited Lukas (Verzbicas), we knew he was a very talented athlete with opportunities in both sports, and we were delighted he chose to attend the University of Oregon and focus on track and field," said associate athletic director Vin Lananna in a new release announcing Verzbicas' departure. "Given his recent success …

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Local Sports Notebook

Sandburg Volleyball Wins Silver Division Crown at Rich East

Adam Zehme's strong play in the nets powers the Sandburg boys soccer team to a pair of victories. Zehme's shutout count stands at 10.

There were some highlights and also a few lowlights. Sandburg played three pool-play volleyball matches Friday to start action at the Rich East Invitational. The Eagles passed their first tests against Downers Grove South (25-23 25-18) and Rich East (25-5, 25-7). Providence, however, proved too much and the Celtics pulled out a 25-11, 25-19 victory. Sandburg shook off the loss and defeated Wheaton-St. Francis (27-25, 25-15). The Eagles reeled off three points after being down 25-24 to win Game 1.  The highlight of the tournament for the Eagles came against Lincoln-Way East when the two met in the Silver Division championship match. Sandburg gained control late in a back-and-forth first game to win 25-22. Then, in Game 2, the Eagles …

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Local Sports Notebook

Sandburg Alum Lukas Verzbicas Mines Triathlon Gold in Beijing

Ex-Eagle long-distance running sensation Lukas Verzbicas captured the world junior triathlon championship on trip to China, then presented his gold medal to an ailing friend.

Sandburg alum Lukas Verzbicas might just be good enough to run in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Over the weekend, he took another giant step toward achieving that goal. Verzbicas was running in the host city of the 2008 Summer Games as a competitor in the World Junior Triathalon in Beijing. He showcased his talent with a first-place finish and displayed a heart of gold, too. According to the Chicago Tribune's Philip Hersh, Verzbicas gave his gold medal to a friend from Geneva who recently was diagnosed with cancer. Verzbicas is one of several highly touted freshmen running for the University of Oregon. The Ducks men's cross country team is ranked fourth in the nation. The Sandburg boys soccer team put together a 7-0 rout of …

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