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David P. Funk

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As seen in: Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle, EurekAlert!, SportsBlog, Journal & Courier, The Times of Northwest Indiana, Longview News-Journal, The Herald-Times, The Anniston Star, KPVI-TV (Pocatello, ID), Purdue Exponent, The Elkhart Truth and
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Lansing village president salary increased after heated discussion

Lansing village president salary increased after heated discussion

nwitimes.com — LANSING - The compensation for Lansing's village president will see a 280 percent increase after the next election despite opposition from the man currently holding the position. The Village Board approved a raise to $57,000 on Tuesday. The words "part time" also were removed from the ordinance but "full time" was not added. Village President Norm Abbott's current salary is $10,000 plus an additional $5,000 for being liquor commissioner. By state statute, officials can't raise their own compensation during their current term in office. So, the salary ordinance won't go into effect until after the next election.
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Lynwood fires cop after disciplinary hearing

Lynwood fires cop after disciplinary hearing

nwitimes.com — LYNWOOD | A fire and police commission disciplinary board Thursday fired an officer who allegedly abused a prisoner 16 months ago. The commission ruled against Sgt. Brandin Fredericksen at the conclusion of a five-night disciplinary hearing last week resulting from an incident on Sept. 20, 2013. It followed that ruling by terminating his employment Thursday. "The request for Sgt. Fredericksen's termination was not brought lightly," Attorney John Meehan, who represented the police department, said. "It was brought, as you can now see from the evidence, as the only acceptable and the only just result of the conduct that happened on Sept.
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Granderson hits homer at Lansing Memorial Junior High

Granderson hits homer at Lansing Memorial Junior High

nwitimes.com — LANSING - Curtis Granderson returned to the village where his baseball career began to tell kids their dreams can come true. The New York Mets outfielder had Memorial Junior High School students hanging on every word as he spoke in the school's gym Tuesday. "I want to reiterate to these young individuals that I'm not different than them," Granderson said. "Although I'm older than them, I've come through the same things that they've had to deal with, a lot of challenges that they're going to go through. "Hopefully, me laying forth my path will let them realize that 'Wow, he isn't that much different than me.
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Vlink, C.P. win ninth straight regional title

Vlink, C.P. win ninth straight regional title

nwitimes.com — CROWN POINT - Coach Scott Vlink is content with where Crown Point wrestling will be when he's gone. The outgoing Bulldogs leader watched his grapplers hoist their ninth consecutive regional title plate Saturday in what will be his swan song in the Crown Point gym. "It's solid from top to bottom, from our youth league to our varsity team, Crown Point wrestling is solid," Vlink said. "I feel very good about leaving it in as good of shape as it is." The regional crown is Vlink's 13th and C.P.'s 11th in 12 seasons. Crown Point put 13 wrestlers through to Saturday's East Chicago Central semistate.
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Teen finds fame with 'on fleek' slang term

Teen finds fame with 'on fleek' slang term

nwitimes.com — LANSING | Kayla Newman uploaded a video to the social media platform Vine last summer and unknowingly thrust herself into popular culture. Newman, who uses the online pseudonym, Peaches Monroee, invented the phrase "on fleek" on a video in the Vine in June 2014, and it has taken off with more than 30 million loops (views, for those not initiated to Vine). "It's been crazy but it feels good," she said. "Life is very different." Newman made the video on a whim after having her eyebrows done for the first time back in June.
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Lowell grabs the Old Leather Helmet : Preps

Lowell grabs the Old Leather Helmet : Preps

nwitimes.com — LOWELL | It took a bit for the big ball that is Lowell to get rolling, but once it did it was tough to stop. The Times No. 3 Red Devils used a big running attack to get by No. 6 Crown Point 21-7 Friday for Lowell's first Old Leather Helmet win in six seasons. "It became a war of attrition," Devils coach Keith Kilmer said. "It was two young offensive lines trying to find their way and the one that found it first was the one that was going to take control of this game."
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GALLERY: 'Hands Across T.F. North' : Digital Exclusives: Photo Galleries

GALLERY: 'Hands Across T.F. North' : Digital Exclusives: Photo Galleries

nwitimes.com —
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Munster's Majety is Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year : Preps

Munster's Majety is Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year : Preps

nwitimes.com — MUNSTER | A cucumber. The other side of the pillow. March in the Region. That's what Munster's Saveda Majety is on the pitch. Cool. And that's why the junior is The Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year. "In general, I don't really worry too much about things. Whatever happens, happens," Majety said. "Sometimes over tests, but even then I'm just like 'I'll get what I deserve.' That's probably what makes me stay cool on the ball." A first-year starter in the middle for Munster, Majety's calm, vision and patience led to 14 assists.
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Abbott, Wynsma to figure prominently in Lansing trustee vote : Politics

Abbott, Wynsma to figure prominently in Lansing trustee vote : Politics

nwitimes.com — LANSING | Village President Norm Abbott and Administrator J. Wynsma are not on the ballot Tuesday, but their names have been prominently linked to the campaigns of all eight candidates vying for three open seats on the Village Board. Incumbents Tony DeLaurentis and Mike Skrbina are up for re-election while Trustee Julie Butler is vacating her seat. Saad Abbasy and Elvis Slaughter join Skrbina on Abbott's Lansing Vision Party ticket while Patty Eidam, Mike Gaffney, Maureen Grady-Perovich and Russ Oberman are running as independents. The seats of Trustees Terry Kapteyn, Mike Manno and Mikal Stole are not on the ballot.
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Mercer Cup, league are a part of Times Classic's rich history

Mercer Cup, league are a part of Times Classic's rich history

nwitimes.com — HAMMOND | The Mercer Cup sits in the case at Olympia Lanes. It's been awarded each year to the winner of the Times/Pepsi Classic Class SA since 2007, but its history goes back much further than that. Aaron Bradford and his buddies William Mercer and Clinton McDowell needed something to get them out of the house after retiring from the U.S. Postal Service. So, the three unofficially started the Mercer over 55 bowling league in or around 1965. Bradford is 99 years old and his memory doesn't serve him as well as it once did, so he can't be sure exactly what year it was.
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Cal City continues to purchase, demolish bars

Cal City continues to purchase, demolish bars

nwitimes.com — CALUMET CITY | For years, area residents knew Calumet City was the place to go for a good time. Calumet City was designated "sin city" and a portion of State Line Road was once referred to as the "sin strip." The drag featured bars, nightclubs and strip clubs with roots going back to Prohibition. Later, the area became famous for prostitution and drug dealing. In an effort to make improvements, Calumet City Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush said she made it a priority to curtail the number of liquor licenses the city issues to bar and restaurant owners when she was elected in 2003.
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Charges filed in post-prom wreck

Charges filed in post-prom wreck

nwitimes.com — CALUMET CITY | Charges were formally filed Monday night after a post-prom car wreck resulted in the deaths of 56-year-old Juan Rivera and 18-year-old Aaron Dunigan. David Peden, 18, of Calumet City, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and reckless homicide, according to Calumet City police Assistant Chief Tom DiFiori. Peden tested positive for marijuana, DiFiori said. A backseat passenger, Michael Crowder, 18, of Calumet City, was not charged, DiFiori said. Peden was driving a 2008 Honda Civic east on State Street near Burnham Avenue at 6:40 a.m. Saturday.
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Garza declares victory in 10th Ward race : Politics

Garza declares victory in 10th Ward race : Politics

nwitimes.com — CHICAGO | Susan Sadlowski Garza is claiming victory in her 10th Ward race against incumbent John Pope, saying she won the race by 54 votes, according to a news release from her campaign. In a news release sent to media around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Garza says she won by a 54-vote margin with all 36 precincts reporting, Garza reports she had 5,587 votes to Pope's 5,533. However, the Chicago Board of Elections website states Garza received 5,747 votes to Pope's 5,658, giving her an 89-vote margin.
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Lan-Oak Parks referendum fails again : Politics

Lan-Oak Parks referendum fails again : Politics

nwitimes.com — LANSING | The Lan-Oak Park District failed in its attempt to increase its share of the property tax for the sixth time Tuesday. A referendum requesting a 0.10 percent increase in the property tax the park district levied in 2013, bringing the rate to 0.4090 percent of the equalized assessed value of property was voted down by a narrow margin. A home valued at $100,000 would have seen a tax raise of $26.62. "The town is still struggling a little bit financially. It's unfortunate," Commission Pat Gulotta said. "We'll see in the next couple years what really comes from it."
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Lansing school set to immerse students in Spanish

Lansing school set to immerse students in Spanish

nwitimes.com — LANSING | Lansing Christian students will soon be speaking Spanish in science, math and physical education classes. The school has teamed with a company called add.a.lingua to begin a Spanish immersion program. Add.a.lingua representative Kristi Van Dyk said Lansing Christian will be using an "early total one-way model." "In kindergarten through second grade, students will spend 100 percent of their instructional time learning the kindergarten curricula in Spanish," Van Dyk said. "Instructional time in English begins in third grade and increases incrementally in third through 12th." The program begins in the fall with Lansing Christian kindergartners.
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Portage cruises to 35-point Garry Burkhart win

Portage cruises to 35-point Garry Burkhart win

nwitimes.com — HOBART | The Garry Burkhart Invitational billed as the a last tuneup before the postseason and Times No. 1 Portage looked to be in peak performance Saturday. The Indians cruised to take top honors by 35 points over second-place Lowell. Portage won six weight classes to finish with 233.5 points. The match everyone in Hobart gym knew was the day's main event was the 122-pound final. It pitted Griffith's Jeremiah Reitz against the Brickies' Brendan Black. The state-ranked wrestlers split their two previous meetings this season. Black notched an early takedown and controlled the match for the first two periods.
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Andrean's Krzyston has dedicated his season to his grandfather's memory : Preps

Andrean's Krzyston has dedicated his season to his grandfather's memory : Preps

nwitimes.com — Andrean senior Mike Krzyston wears a memoriam on his shirt, writes it on his head gear and uses it on social media: #ForPapa. It's his reminder that this season he's wrestling for his grandfather, Ed Krzyston, who died of heart disease in October. Papa came to see all of Krzyston's sporting events until stints in the hospital began four years ago. "He wasn't able to see pretty much any of my high school career. His passing kind of drove me a little bit more to wrestle this season," Krzyston said. "I'm glad he can finally see all my matches from up above."
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Cal City officials 'frustrated' with Target closing

Cal City officials 'frustrated' with Target closing

nwitimes.com — CALUMET CITY | City officials say they are disappointed with Target's decision to leave Calumet City, despite their attempts to persuade the store to stay. The big box retailer announced the closing of the store at 1717 E. West Road with 10 others throughout the Midwest on Nov. 4. Those stores will shutter Feb. 1. "I want our residents to know that the city has done everything it can not, not only to attract that Target to this city and keep that business here," Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush said.
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St. Victor's, Loyola mourn death of teacher, physician

St. Victor's, Loyola mourn death of teacher, physician

nwitimes.com — CALUMET CITY | Michael Koller died peacefully at his Oak Park home Tuesday after a long illness. He was 53. Koller was assistant dean for Educational Affairs, chair of the Admissions Committee, director of the Second Year Curriculum, associate professor and president of the Alumni Relations Board at Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine. He also was music director and choir director at St. Victor Parish in Calumet City. St. Victor's website has dedicated it's home page to a memorial for Koller. "Dr. Koller was a kind man, a caring physician and humble servant of the Lord.
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Fishers goal in extra time downs Munster

Fishers goal in extra time downs Munster

nwitimes.com — SOUTH BEND | Munster pushed defending state champion Fishers about as far as it could. A goal in extra time gave the Tigers a win and ended the Mustangs' run at the Class 2A South Bend St. Joseph Semistate semifinals on Saturday morning at Father Bly Field. "We had a great season. We won conference. We won the South Bend St. Joe tournament, sectionals, regionals," Munster coach Val Pflum said. "It's a dream to get this far. I don't think anybody expected us to get here." "This year was a really good year. We should've made it to state," Mustangs senior Haley Collison added.
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Glenwood teachers take ice bucket challenge

Glenwood teachers take ice bucket challenge

www.nwitimes.com — GLENWOOD | Kindergarten teacher Karen Szotek donned a shower cap, swim goggles and a rain coat, even though some of the other teachers at Hickory Bend Elementary School said wearing all that gear was against the rules. Szotek looked at the bucket and suggested there wasn't enough ice. "I didn't sign up for the water challenge," she said. Her tone changed after two of her students dumped the bucket over her head a few minutes later. "It was cold, much colder than I expected," Szotek said. "I did cheat. I admit to cheating. It never pays to cheat. "I still got wet."
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Whiting teen held without bond in cop's shooting

Whiting teen held without bond in cop's shooting

www.nwitimes.com — CHICAGO | A Cook County judge on Wednesday ordered Jeremy Mendez held without bond in connection with the slaying of a retired Chicago cop in March. Mendez, 16, of Whiting, and Jesse Kazmierski, 18, of Hammond, are accused of entering the home of Elmer Brown, 73, at 115th Street and South Avenue G in the city's East Side neighborhood on March 10, looking for money stashed in a safe. Brown was shot in the face and his wife, Mary Ann, 72, was shoved to the floor. Brown was a retired police sergeant and 38-year department veteran.
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Beecher shelter animals clean up O'Hare

Beecher shelter animals clean up O'Hare

www.nwitimes.com — There are some parcels of grass at O'Hare International Airport that conventional lawnmowers just can't get to. As of Friday, a llama, two burros, nine sheep and 27 goats were on the job. The animals are on loan from Settlers Pond Animal Shelter in Beecher. Pinky Janota, who manages Settlers Pond with her husband, Roland, said the shelter gets $65 per animal per season. They graze on grass and weeds from June until November before coming back to Beecher for the winter. "Everyone at O'Hare has been wonderful," Janota said. "(Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino) is a wonderful, wonderful woman and a real animal lover."
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K.V. student manager overcoming multiple brain surgeries : Preps

K.V. student manager overcoming multiple brain surgeries : Preps

www.nwitimes.com — Cassie Cleveland is an athlete. She was playing soccer, basketball and running track for Kankakee Valley a year ago. The junior was shopping with her grandma over winter break last season when she started to lose her vision and feel sick. A CT scan revealed a noncancerous sarcoma tumor behind her optic nerve. She was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for surgery at 2 a.m. on Jan. 6. It would be the first of four surgeries, the last in May. "When I was in the hospital, I was the positive one," Cleveland said.
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