‘Blase’s Style...Is Gone’

Niles village trustees have reacted to a long-anticipated internal investigation that clears current employees of knowingly participating in former Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase’s criminal scheme to strong-arm Niles businesses into purchasing insurance from an associate.

County Clears Deli

No new cases of salmonella were found from a batch of tainted pickles traced back to the deli counter of Niles’ Assi Market in August.

One Year Later...

Niles trustees and village department heads took their first look at a proposed code of ethics final draft that they received shortly before their village board meeting on Aug. 24.

Audit Eyes Village Investments

Niles trustees last week awarded a $7,500 contract to the Selden Fox firm to perform an internal controls audit of village financial practices and its investments.

Current Employees Cleared

No current village employees knowingly involved themselves in former Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase’s criminal scheme to strong-arm local businesses into purchasing insurance, an eight-month long internal investigation, released to village trustees and the Niles Journal Monday, has found. 

Niles Pastor Found Dead Near Harvard

Rev. Darin Berg, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Niles, was found dead today (Wednesday) in a wooded area near Harvard in McHenry County, the victim of an apparent suicide, according to Niles police.

Man Shooed From Rostenkowski Funeral

Niles police responded to a call at St. Adalbert Cemetery to remove a man who wanted to take his political disagreement with former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-5th) to the congressman’s grave.

Salmonella Break Traced To Niles Deli

The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) tracked a salmonella outbreak that hospitalized five people to tainted pickles made and sold at the deli of Assi Market in Niles. Those pickles are being recalled.

Inspection Of Outbreak At Niles Market Lasts 6 Hours

The Cook County Dept. of Public Health (CCDPH) tracked a salmonella outbreak that hospitalized five people to tainted pickles made and sold at the deli of Assi Market in Niles. 

Some Crossing Guards Cut

When Niles schools begin classes in the coming weeks there will be fewer crossing guards helping kids cross local streets because of village budget cuts.

Remembering Dan Rostenkowski

Former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-5th) found his final resting place in Niles yesterday (Tuesday).

Golf Rd. Construction Catches Motorists, Village By Surprise

Eastbound traffic on Golf Road slowed to a crawl and was backed up all the way to River Road in Des Plaines Monday as lanes were reduced to one lane in each direction through northern Niles.

Trustee: No Blase Plaza

Niles Trustee Chris Hanusiak renewed his calls for the renaming of Blase Plaza speaking last Saturday to supporters at his Niles business, Royal Kitchen and Bath.

Williams Lands Wisconsin Job

Former East Maine Elementary School Dist. 63 Supt. Dr. Kathleen Williams was offered a new job Thursday as superintendent of the Wausau School District in Wisconsin.

Jewish Center Closes Doors

“Friendships dated back almost 50 years were forged within the synagogue through social and religious activities,” said Rabbi Edmund Winter, who worked with the congregation for 20 years. “Many will continue, but the central location is no longer there.”

Man Claimed In Collision Executive At Coca Cola

More details are emerging about the Metra train accident that took the life of 51-year-old Timothy Jones of Hawthorn Woods last week. Jones was an executive with Coca Cola Enterprises working out of the company’s Niles office.

‘Blase Plaza’ Waits On September Vote

Niles Mayor Robert Callero told trustees the future of the Blase Plaza sign outside village hall will not come up for a vote at the August village board meeting as expected but will wait until September instead. Callero made the statement at the Tuesday, July 27 village board meeting.

Federal Funds May Flow To Food Pantry

A Congressional appropriations bill that passed the U.S. House could mean $250,000 to Niles Township’s efforts to move its food pantry into a larger space, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Obama.

Donation Forces Resignation

Marimel Lim resigned from the East Maine School Dist. 63 Foundation board earlier this month after two years because Lim says district officials accepted a $500,000 donation to the independently funded Total Learning Communities (TLC) program without telling her the money came from a convicted felon.

Ethics Code Inching On

After eight months of an intensive line-by-line, and in some cases word-by-word review, the Niles Board of Ethics reached a significant benchmark toward completing its new code of ethics for village officials and employees.

Dist. 63 Turning To Reserves, Cuts

East Maine Elementary School Dist. 63 needs to cut between $2 and $4 million from next year’s spending plan. District officials are looking for community volunteers to join a financial taskforce to help find those savings.

Organizers Pleased With Bigger, Better NIKABA Fest

With more people, more events, and better organization, last weekend’s NIKABA Expo and Fest in Niles was a huge success, said the association president, Young Kim.

Where’s Internal Probe Report?

A report on a six-month long internal investigation into what role current or ex-Niles village employees played in former Mayor Nicholas Blase’s scheme to strong-arm local businesses was reviewed by ethics board members last week but has not yet been made public.

Salaries Remain Top Sticking Point In Police Talks

Niles police officers have been working without a contract since April 2008 and the police union and village are in the process of attempting to reach an agreement through arbitration that could wrap up by next month.

Probation, Halfway House For Weiner

Insurance company president Stephen Weiner, a co-defendant of former Niles Mayor and Maine Township Democratic Committeeman Nicholas Blase, was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) for his role in a scheme to strong-arm Niles businesses.

Syms Closing Up Shop

Company officials confirmed clothing retailer Syms, 9840 Milwaukee Ave., near Central Road, will close by July 31.

Sentencing Delayed For Blase Co-Defendant

Stephen Weiner, a co-defendant in former Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase’s federal corruption case, was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, July 12 for his role in a scheme to strong-arm Niles businesses. However, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office said his case was rescheduled for today (Wednesday).

Still No Details On Internal Investigation

7/2 Update: A report on an internal investigation into what role Niles village employees might have played in former Mayor Nicholas Blase’s federal corruption case has been delayed again by new witness testimony, the Journal has learned.

Trustee: Plaza Referendum A ‘Cop Out’

Niles trustees last Tuesday night rejected a proposal by Mayor Robert Callero to place the future of the Nicholas B. Blase Plaza sign outside village hall in the hands of voters this November through a referendum.

Man Reportedly Threatens To Blow Up Cop Shop

He then allegedly told the desk officers and several witnesses, “If you don’t get someone down here to talk to me, I’m gonna blow up this place.”

Supreme Court Ruling Wouldn’t Have Applied To Blase Case

U.S. Supreme Court justices gave a split ruling on the “honest services statute” last week. Their decision would not have helped former longtime Niles Mayor and Maine Township Democratic Committeeman Nicholas Blase who pled guilty to violating the statute in federal court in 2008.

Milwaukee Ave. Work Delayed

Construction on Milwaukee Avenue between Touhy Avenue and Niles’ border with Chicago will continue past the latest projected completion date of July 1 into the middle of the month, said Niles Public Services Director Scott Jochim last week.

Support For Blase Plaza Sign Referendum Dwindles

Niles trustees did not support a proposal by Mayor Robert Callero to place the future of the Nicholas B. Blase Plaza sign outside village hall in the hands of voters this November.

Sentencing Scheduled For Blase Ally

Stephen Weiner, president of Wheeling-based Ralph Weiner & Associates (RWA) insurance company, and a co-defendant in longtime former Niles Mayor and Maine Township Democratic Committeeman Nicholas Blase’s federal corruption case, is scheduled for sentencing on Monday, July 12 for his role in a scheme to strong-arm Niles businesses.

Girl Scouts March For Pantry

Girl Scouts marching in Independence Day parades are as expected as fireworks and American flags, but for a second year Niles Girl Scouts will be marching for something more. 

Allege Niles Man Sought To Buy ATM Skimmer

Federal law enforcement agents from a host of agencies descended on the home of a Niles man Wednesday, taking him into custody for allegedly attempting to purchase an ATM data-skimming device.

Niles Area Stanley Cup Celebration Set For Saturday

Each Chicago Blackhawk will have the Stanley Cup for one day. Saturday is Hawks President John McDonough’s day and he is bringing it home to Chicago's Edison Park neighborhood, near Niles, where he grew up.

Comprehensive Plan In Works

Niles trustees and village officials are working on a comprehensive plan for the village that will create a road map for the village’s growth for the next 15 to 20 years.

Teens Takeover Golf Mill This Weekend

Some teens would spend all night at Golf Mill if they were allowed. This weekend about 75 of them will do just that.