Community Corner
Skokie Year In Review: Top Local Stories Of 2017
As we come to the end of 2017, here are some of our top Skokie stories from the past year.
SKOKIE, 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 Skokie over the past year. During the past 12 months, we witnessed plans for a downtown luxury rental development solidified, watched as village trustees narrowly voted to raise the minimum wage and got through a difficult Niles North football season — among other things.
So let's take a few moments to have a stroll down memory lane and peruse Patch's most memorable Skokie stories of 2017, in no particular order:
Racist Snapchat Prompts Niles North Walkout, Student's Departure
SKOKIE, IL — Students at Niles North High School held an unannounced walkout protest Friday afternoon connected to a perceived lack of punishment for a student who posted an offensive image on social... Read more
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Refugee Ban Separates Families In Chicago Area, Unites Aid Groups
After spending five difficult years in refugee camps in Turkey since fleeing his home, 46-year-old Syrian Khaled Haj Khalaf was close to reuniting with his daughter Baraa and his 1-and-a-half-year-old... Read more
Skokie's Plans For 'Luxury Rental Community' Downtown Take Shape
SKOKIE, IL — More than 300 Skokie residents, business and property owners, elected officials, Skokie village staff and interested individuals attended an open house on September 13, 2017 at Village... Read more
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Niles North Football Reinstated, Hazing Investigation Finds No Criminal Conduct
SKOKIE, IL — One week after suspending the Niles North High School varsity football program due to a police investigation into reports of possible hazing, practice has resumed and the regular season... Read more
Evanston Sues Skokie To Enforce Water Rate Hike
EVANSTON, IL — Evanston filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Skokie Tuesday, asking a judge to declare that the water rate it wants to charge the neighboring village is justified. The move... Read more
Skokie Narrowly Votes To Abide By Minimum Wage And Sick Leave County Ordinances
SKOKIE, IL — In a packed Village Hall, the Skokie Village Board voted narrowly Thursday to raise wages and mandate earned sick time, aligning its labor laws with neighboring Chicago and Evanston rather... Read more
Guitar Stolen 23 Years Ago In Skokie Found On eBay
SKOKIE, IL — A guitar reported stolen from a Skokie home in 1994 was rediscovered last month, and it brought back waves of emotion for Nicole Pompa. The Skokie Review reports she was alerted to an... Read more
Family Of Murdered Wilmette Uber Driver Sues Walmart
CHICAGO, IL — The family of Grant Nelson, the Wilmette Uber driver who was allegedly killed by a 16-year-old passenger last month, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walmart. The suit... Read more
Over 30,000 Illegal Cigarettes Seized In Skokie
SKOKIE, IL – In what Cook County officials called the largest cigarette bust this year, undercover tax inspectors discovered that a Skokie tobacco shop had three hidden compartments containing tens... Read more
Fake Uber Driver Tied To 5 Rapes By DNA, Cell Phone Evidence: Prosecutors
CHICAGO, IL — A Cook County judge denial bail Wednesday to an accused Glenview serial rapist accused of multiple kidnappings and sexual assaults of women he picked up outside bars and restaurants... Read more
Dine-In Movie Theater Opens At Old Orchard
SKOKIE, IL — The first of two new movie theaters at the Old Orchard mall opened up this week with six screens. The new dine-in concept from CMX Cinemas hopes to become a "community destination" by... Read more
- Westfield Old Orchard Owner Sold In Megamall Merger
- Lord & Taylor Closing Old Orchard Store Permanently
- Dead Man In Old Orchard Stairwell Shot Multiple Times: Skokie PD
Niles West Coach Says Harassment By Ex-School Board President Made Him Quit
SKOKIE, IL — A Niles West High School teacher and former coach publicly accused the former president of the District 219 school’s board of bullying and harassing him, and the board approved a resolution... Read more
- As Drag Racing Cut, D-219 Board Warned Of Lost Opportunities
- Former D-219 IT Staffer Denied Overtime: Lawsuit
New Italian Restaurant Receives Grant To Renovate Kabul House Site
SKOKIE, IL – A new restaurant set to open on the the site of the former Kabul House restaurant on Oakton Street at Niles Avenue by the end of the year was granted the maximum of $43,000 from the village's... Read more
Instead Of Arresting Teen, Cop Buys His Gym Membership
SKOKIE, IL — A Chicago teen kept sneaking past the front desk at a Skokie gym to play basketball with his friends after his mother could no longer afford to pay for his membership, and after repeated... Read more
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