Southland Prep athlete surprised with banner
Southland College Prep Charter High School in Matteson honored track phenom Amauree “Stix” Williams with a commemorative banner recognizing him as its most accomplished athlete.
The 2026 graduate won the IHSA Class 2A state championship this year in both the 300-meter hurdles and the 110-meter hurdles, following his state championship last year in the 300 hurdles, Southland’s first male state champion.
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During his career, Williams was an Illinois Top Times Indoor Class 2A champion, three-time IHSA state champion, 11-time state qualifier and eight-time state finalist. In the 60-meter hurdles, he was the Illinois Top Times Indoor Classic 2A champion.
The boys’ track team also made history this year with its first sectional championship. The girls’ track team earned third in state last year and had its first state champion in Kendall Gray, who won the 300-meter hurdles that year.
Recycle electronics, prescription meds in Palos Township
Palos Township and the Cook County sheriff have teamed up to offer electronic recycling, prescription drug take back and paper shredding from 9 a.m. to noon July 25 at the township office, 10802 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills.
Electronics accepted include cables, cell phones, holiday lights, monitors, calculators, printers, fax machines, toner cartridges, UPS batteries and car catteries, computers and laptops. One TV will be accepted per household. Paper, which will be shredded off-site at the Cook County sheriff’s warehouse, requires all paper clips, binder clips and rubberbands to be removed.
Prescription medication must be in pill format only, for both humans and pets, either unwanted or expired. Prescription bottles will be shredded to destroy identity or pills may be in unmarked plastic bags. Liquid meditation and sharps will not be accepted.
Details are at 708-598-4418.
Expert discusses state’s archeological record
Those interested in learning more about the state’s archaeological record can do so from 3 to 5 p.m. July 30 at the Midlothian Public LIbrary, 14701 Kento Ave.
Diggin’ Illinois, led by Dale F. Simpson Jr., who has a PhD and is a registered professional archaeologist, will feature a lecture that explores Illinois’ archaeological record and hands-on stations featuring finds.
The program, open to anyone 8 and older, is free and open to anyone regardless of residence or library card status. Register by calling 708-535-2027 or by visiting midlothianlibrary.org.
Andrew students visit Germany
Teachers and students from Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park experienced German culture for 17 days last month as part of the 24th annual exchange with Sichern-Schule in Hamburg.
Along with seeing such things as the Berlin Wall, Frankfurt, Mainz, Marburg and Büdingen, students were surrounded by German culture by living with host families, attending school and taking part in everyday activities such as trying new foods and speaking German.
“One of the greatest strengths of this exchange is that students experience Germany not as tourists, but as temporary members of German families,” Andrew High School German teacher Erika Lupacchino shared via a news release.
In the fall, their German counterparts visited Andrew and the United States, making presentations on German life and culture to language students and visiting Chicago.
Photography book captures Beverly Hills, Morgan Park
A book of Mati Maldre’s photos capturing iconic buildings in the Beverly Hills and Morgan Park neighborhoods of Chicago will be published July 28 by Belt Publishing.
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“Architecture of Chicago’s Beverly Hills/Morgan Park,” along with Maldre’s ongoing exhibit with the Ridge Historical Society, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the district’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Hundreds of duotone photographic images document this diverse group of historic buildings on the city’s southwest side. It includes buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel H. Burnham, Dwight H. Perkins, George Washington Maher, Robert S. Smith and Walter Burley Griffin.
Maldre, a retired professor of photography and art at Chicago State University, is well-known in the area. Copies, normally $60 but now $45, are available via the website, beltpublishing.com.
Moraine Valley shows family films outside
Moraine Valley Community College will host its free Movie in the Moonlight series on a 16-foot inflatable screen at the Gateway, between Buildings F and M at 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Movies include “Zootopia 2” at 8 p.m. July 25 and “Toy Story 5” at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.
Families should bring chairs or blankets to sit on and may bring food and beverages, but alcohol is not allowed. In case of bad weather, movies will be moved inside Building M. Details are at morainevalley.edu/movies.
Blood drive set at Palos Heights library
A community blood drive with the American Red Cross is planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 27 at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave.
Free snacks and refreshments will be available. A pint of blood can save up to three lives. Make an appointment by scanning the QR code available at the library or by calling 800-RED CROSS.
Shredding/recycling day set in Lynwood
A free community recycling event is set for 9 a.m. to noon July 31 – or until trucks reach capacity – at the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, 19901 Stony Island Ave. in Lynwood.
At the event, in partnership with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, area residents can dispose of unused or expired medications, documents to shred and unwanted electronics such as cell phones, printers and computers. Households may bring only one TV for recycling. Learn more at [email protected] or 773-848-0501.
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