🌱 Patch AM: How Oak Lawn’s 1971 Cinderella team rose after a devastating tornado

Good day Oak Lawn! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Oak Lawn's 1971 Cinderella team rose after a devastating tornado
• Why a Milwaukee school case suspect ended up arrested in Oak Lawn

Also on today's calendar: Fall Craft and Vendor Fair and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do some birds fly south for the winter? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Record-tying temperatures, with a high of 86 and low of 69 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 83, low: 64.
• Wednesday: Rather cloudy and cooler, with a high of 67 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Jack Danilewicz's book tells the story of Oak Lawn's inspiring state run (southwestregionalpublishing.com) — A new book digs into Oak Lawn High School's dramatic 1971 boys basketball run to the state final, just four years after a deadly tornado devastated the village and the school. Author Jack Danilewicz, whose family lived that season up close, hopes Oak Lawn residents and Chicago-area sports fans alike will reconnect with the team's underdog story and its place in local history.
   

• Milwaukee woman charged in fake teacher case arrested again after alleged car theft (cbs58.com) — A Milwaukee woman already facing charges for allegedly posing as a teacher was arrested again after police say she stole a vehicle in Brookfield and later crashed in Oak Lawn. The incident brought out Oak Lawn authorities, tying a Wisconsin school-safety case directly to local streets and raising questions about how the ongoing investigation may unfold across state lines.
   

📸 Around Oak Lawn

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Lawn

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★ Featured events ★

Sunday October 18
• Fall Craft and Vendor Fair →
  9514 S 52nd Ave, Oak Lawn
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday October 12
• English Together at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  10:00 am
• Tech Help at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  1:00 pm
• Teen Game Night at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  5:00 pm
Tuesday October 13
• Free Movie Matinees: "Michael" (2026, PG-13, 127 minutes) at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  2:00 am
• 2026 SWD PTA 3rd- 5th Gr. Bike to School Event
  Dillon Park, 101 Oak Center Dr, Oak Lawn
  7:30 am
• Baby Lapsit (T) at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  9:30 am
• Who's Got Game: Paint Your Own Pumpkin (R) at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  10:00 am
• Preschool Storytime (T) at OLPL →
  Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn
  10:15 am
• Google Ads & Analytics for Local Business Owners →
  Grove Coffee, 4736 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn
  11:00 am
• October Chamber Member Luncheon →
  Harold L. Richards High School, 10601 S Central Ave, Oak Lawn
  11:30 am
• Community STEAM Night
  Student Cafe - Enter Door S3 Free Community Event
  4:00 pm

📣 Oak Lawn Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Oak Lawn PatchAM possible:

• Jenny's Steak & Banquets — (708) 229-2272
• Encore Car Wash — 8155568338
• Premier Paws at Burbank — (708) 581-1000
• Drop & Dash Laundry Service — (773) 436-1994
• Orland Painting and Decorating Service LLC — (708) 415-2290
• Al Basha Sweets Co — (708) 233-0826
• The Giant Education Foundation

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• St. Nicholas Ladies Philoptochos 53rd Annual Bazaar and Food Fair —St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Read on Patch

• Community High School District 218 posted a job opening for Head Softball Coach in Oak Lawn. Apply here.
• Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Retail Stocking Team Lead - Part-Time in Chicago Ridge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Lawn here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bridgeview

• Justice family builds a free haunt so every kid gets a Halloween (southwestregionalpublishing.com)
• DePaul Takes Down UConn 2-1 for First Road Win (depaulbluedemons.com)

Chicago

• 2 Road Rage Shootings On I-290 In Same Day: Police (patch.com)

Ok Oak Lawn! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why do some birds fly south for the winter?" — Because it's too far to walk..! (Thank you Theresia F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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