C.R. Walker

C.R. Walker is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.

Jack McMullen, left, a 2016 Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate, prepares with producer and pregame host Stephen Strom for a game as the play-by-play announcer for the Miami Marlins Radio Network. (Jack McMullen)

Oak Park and River Forest alum Jack McMullen gearing up for year 2 as voice of Florida Marlins

February 24, 2026 at 5:01 a.m.

Jack McMullen, a 2016 Oak Park and River Forest graduate, is at Spring Training in his 2nd season as a radio announcer for the Miami Marlins.

Oak Forest resident Lea Good, a longtime nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, took part in unfurling a giant flag during pregame festivities Jan. 18 at the Chicago Bears playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field, where she was honored as Advocate Health Care’s 2025 Nurse of the Year. (Advocate Health Care)

Longtime Christ hospital nurse Lea Good lauded at Bears game as Advocate Nurse of the Year

February 6, 2026 at 1:24 p.m.

It’s been over 40 years since the Bears last won the Super Bowl, dominating New England, 46-10, on Jan. 26, 1986. Oak Forest resident Lea Good was already four years...

Oak Park and River Forest High School student Matthew E. Bell and Jacqueline L. Malone, of the Support Black Excellence Foundation Inc., participate in a Chicago Fashion Week event in October, where Bell was the event's youngest headlining designer. (Raymon Grove Photography)

Oak Park and River Forest student who headlined at Chicago Fashion Week at 16 preparing for international stage

January 16, 2026 at 5:07 a.m.

Matthew E. Bell became Chicago Fashion Week’s youngest headlining designer; now he's preparing his New York Fashion Week debut.

Navy recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station in Waukegan fill their plates during a previous Thanksgiving gathering at the school in Franklin Park. (Leyden High School District 212)

Leyden students and staff to share Thanksgiving meal, ‘family-style experience’ with 200 Navy recruits

November 23, 2025 at 5:02 a.m.

Leyden East High School in Franklin Park will host 200 Navy recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station on Thanksgiving day.

Phil Crews, center, is surrounded by current and former band members during a June 9 ceremony at Rich Township High School's Fine Arts and Communication Campus in Richton Park where the musical arts center was dedicated in his honor. Crews retired at the end of the school year after 22 years of leading the band program there. (Rich Township High School)

Phillip Crews, who set the beat for Rich Township musicians for decades, retires as school’s band director

July 10, 2025 at 2:17 p.m.

After leading music programs for 22 years at Rich Township high school, Phillip Crews plans to spend more time behind the drum kit.

Hester Junior High School teachers, from left, Kathy Zei, Greg Helton and Cathy Bernath retired at the end of the school year after more than 100 years of combined experience at the school in Franklin Park. (School District 84)

Three Franklin Park teachers retiring after combined century in education

June 10, 2025 at 12:16 p.m.

District 84’s Hester Junior High School in Franklin Park is losing three of its most experienced teachers.

Mount Carmel High School senior Matt Malloy, of Beverly, stands with his Chicago High School Journalist of the Year awards during a recent ceremony at Northwestern University. (Tim Baffoe)

Mount Carmel student named Chicago High School Journalist of the Year

April 30, 2025 at 2:44 p.m.

Beverly resident Matt Malloy won the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago’s High School Journalist of the Year Award.

Triton College alumni, from left, Nicholas Steker, Madonna Fantetti Slepicka, Michele Fiore and Albin Lechowski hold plaques during an April 11 ceremony where they were inducted into the college's Alumni Wall of Fame. (Triton College)

Four Triton College grads lauded on Alumni Wall of Fame

April 21, 2025 at 1:57 p.m.

Nicholas Steker, Michele Fiore, Madonna Fantetti Slepicka and Albin Lechowski received the recognition for making significant impacts.

Garrick L. Smothers holds his winning entry in the Evergreen Park Public Library's Winter Coloring Contest for Adults. "I took it seriously and put a lot of thought into how I wanted to execute the piece,” he said.

Coloring offers outlet for art, mindfulness for Evergreen Park library patrons

March 30, 2025 at 5:05 a.m.

Winners of a recent adult coloring contest at the Evergreen Park library said the practice offers intangible benefits.

New inductees into the Hall of Fame at Moraine Valley Community College, from left, Maryann Lessner, Bill Finn and Renee Strasser, gather for a photo during a ceremony at the college in Palos Hills. (Glenn Carpenter/MVCC)

Bill Finn, the longtime athletic director and coach, headlines MVCC Hall of Fame class

March 24, 2025 at 5:07 a.m.

Longtime coach and athletic director Bill Finn, sports secretary Mary Ann Lessner, and athlete Renee Strasser made MVCC's hall of fame.

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