Jeff Vorva – Page 7 –

Despite the smoky air, crowds gather Friday along the railroad tracks in downtown Lemont to wait for a glimpse of the Union Pacific Big Boy Number 4014 steam engine. (Brett Johnson/Daily Southtown)

Patient Lemont rail fans rewarded with view of Big Boy locomotive

July 17, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Dennis Motyka, of Lemont, remembers growing up and putting together his own American Flyer train setup on his family’s dining room table. “It was not very elaborate,” Motyka said. “Back...

Frankfort’s Lucy Lindgren, 8, gets some climbing in at Fort Frankfort at Commissioners Park. (Jeff Vorva/for the Daily Southtown)

New Fort Frankfort brings smiles to children and adults

July 9, 2026 at 5:10 a.m.

Commissioners Park new Fort Frankfort has new structures, areas for smaller children, two shelters and a focus on inclusion.

Members of the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary June 26 during a Sneaker Ball at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest. (LWSRA)

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association marks 50th birthday as athletes bring home medals from USA Games

July 8, 2026 at 5:01 p.m.

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association in New Lenox marks 50th year as its athletes bring home medals from SPecial Olympics USA Games.

Connie Behnke-Rotondo and Gene Gerardi wave to the crowd Saturday at Breidert Green. They helped put together a Frankfort time capsule in 1976 that was opened Saturday afternoon. (Jeff Vorva/for the Daily Southtown)

Bicentennial beer cans, mugs among finds in 1976 Frankfort time capsule

July 7, 2026 at 9:11 a.m.

Frankfort residents Connie Behnke-Rotondo and Gene Gerardi who oversaw the burial of a time capsule in 1976 were there to open it.

Faith McPheeters and her brother, Noah, of Worth take a slide on Saturday, July 4, at Tinley Park's inaugural Country Fest. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Despite storms, Tinley Park’s inaugural Country Fest packs in the fun

July 5, 2026 at 2:08 p.m.

Thousands showed up despite storms at TInley Park's Country Fest for music and food including ribs and other attractions.

Andi Borucke, of Orland Park, prays during the veneration of the St. Francis of Assisi relic on June 28 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orland Park. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Relic of St. Francis visits Orland Park church 800 years after his death

June 29, 2026 at 12:24 p.m.

A first-class relic of St. Francis of Assisi, a fragment of his bone, was on display Sunday at his namesake parish in Orland Park.

An Uncle Sam stilt walker shakes hands Saturday at the Oak Lawn 250th Independence Day Celebration Parade. (Jeff Vorva/for the Daily Southtown)

Oak Lawn gets an early start in celebrating America’s 250th

June 28, 2026 at 8:42 a.m.

Oak Lawn held an early Fouth of July parade for America's 250th, including a post-parade celebration on the Village Green.

Autumn Hernandez, from left, and John, Tom II, Tom and Shannon McAuliffe will bring a Country Fest event to Tinley Park from July 3 to 5 at the 80th Avenue Metra Station. (Jeff Vorva/for the Daily Southtown)

McAuliffe family to offer Tinley Park Country Fest to mark America’s 250th

June 25, 2026 at 9:48 a.m.

When Tinley Park canceled Ribfest, the Tom McAuliffe clan saw an opportunity and organized the Tinley Park Country Fest.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Justin Dean sprints around the bases on a three-run triple in the seventh inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 19, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

3 Chicago Cubs takeaways from a Toronto Blue Jays series featuring sunshine and rain — on and off the field

June 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

The Chicago Cubs hosted Toronto at Wrigley Field on Friday and Saturday, outscoring the Blue Jays 21-2 in the first 15 innings of the series. But then the bullpen faltered.

Brother Rice’s Ben Adamski (3) returns a serve against Lincoln-Way East during a nonconference match in Chicago on Monday, April 13, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Introducing the 2026 Daily Southtown Boys Volleyball All-Area Team

June 17, 2026 at 1:37 p.m.

Three players each from Marist, which takes third place in the state, and Shepard headline the first two teams.

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