Niles & Morton Grove Year In Review: Top Local Stories Of 2017

NILES, IL — The year is almost complete, so as we wind down the holiday season and prepare to head into 2018, let's take a look back at some of the most notable stories in Niles and Morton Grove over the past year. Over the past 12 months, we saw Burt's Place reopen, an indictment in the case of a murdered Morton Grove SIU student, a water deal with Evanston, trustees vote to block a wage hike, Grainger announce it was leaving and more.

So let's take a few moments to have a stroll down memory lane and peruse Patch's most memorable Niles and Morton Grove stories of 2017, in no particular order:

Niles Teacher Wins First Golden Apple At Nelson Elementary

NILES, IL — Nelson Elementary art teacher Tina Daskalopoulous was surprised Wednesday with the news she had been named the winner of a Golden Apple Award. Winners of the annual awards... Read more

'Muslim Ban' Protests Create New Allies at Chicago, Morton Grove Rallies

MORTON GROVE, IL - Before joining hundreds of demonstrators who flooded into O'Hare International Airport for a second... Read more

• Refugee Ban Separates Families In Chicago Area, Unites Aid Groups

Church Burglary Suspect Arrested

MORTON GROVE, IL — Morton Grove police have arrested a man who they say stole religious artifacts and money from St. Martha's church. Earlier this month, police released surveillance images of a man... Read more

Niles and Morton Grove Could Benefit From Lincolnwood Water Deal

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — Lincolnwood could join Niles and Morton Grove in buying Evanston's water, according to a report in the Journal... Read more

SIU Student From Morton Grove Beaten And Robbed Before Death: Indictment

MORTON GROVE, IL — Prosecutors said the accused murderer of a Southern Illinois University sophomore from Morton Grove admitted to punching him repeatedly and leaving him "dead weight," according... Read more

• Grand Jury Indicts Man In Death Of Morton Grove College Student

Exiting Niles And Northbrook, Grainger Shifts Operations

NILES, IL — The industrial supply company WW Grainger will cease operations in both Niles and... Read more

Park Ridge-Niles School Board Member Resigns Over 'Vagina Screechers' Tweet

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 board member Dr. Dathan Paterno has resigned, saying a Tweet he posted Sunday about last weekend's Women's March was "misinterpreted." His Tweets, which contained... Read more

Burt's Place Is Open Again In Morton Grove

MORTON GROVE, IL — The iconic deep dish pizza spot Burt's Place re-opened Friday, less than a year after the passing of its founder Burt Katz. The bearded legend Katz, founder of the original... Read more

Niles Trustees Vote To Opt Out Of County Minimum Wage, Sick Leave Rules

UPDATE: Wednesday, 1:45 p.m.Niles Village trustees voted 4-2 to exercise Home Rule authority to avoid having to follow impending Cook County minimum wage and sick leave... Read more

More top stories from your neighbors:

• Glenview Year in Review 2017: Top Local Stories
• Evanston's Top Local Stories of 2017
• Skokie 2017 Year in Review