Jerry Shnay

Jerry Shnay is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.

Park Forest police Deputy Chief of Operations John DeCeault processes with other Park Forest police officers Saturday around the Tinley Park High School gym before a celebration of life for Park Forest detective Tim Jones, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at Tinley Park High School. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

Close to 1,000 people gather to mourn, celebrate Park Forest Officer Tim Jones

December 28, 2025 at 11:29 a.m.

Park Forest police Officer Tim Jones was remembered Saturday by about 1,000 people, including officers from 30 area departments.

Members of the community bow their heads in prayer during a gathering in support of Park Forest police Officer Tim Jones March 21, 2016, at St. Irenaeus Church in Park Forest. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)

Column: Funeral for Park Forest police Officer Tim Jones set for Dec. 27

December 26, 2025 at 9:49 a.m.

The services for Park Forest police Officer Tim Jones will include a police and fire salute involving hundreds of area officers.

Park Forest police Officer Timothy Jones, shot in the line of duty in March 2016, on his release from Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton May 26, 2017. (Zak Koeske/Daily Southtown)

Park Forest police Officer Tim Jones dies nearly a decade after shooting

December 4, 2025 at 8:31 p.m.

Tim Jones, a Park Forest police officer, son of the Country Club Hills Chief William Jones, died nearly 10 years after he was shot.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest in 1957. (Trinity Lutheran Church)

Column: Former Park Forest President Ron Bean remembered; last gathering of Trinity Lutheran Church

December 1, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.

The death of Ron Bean, the first Black village president of Park Forest, closed a significant chapter in the town's history and elicited tributes from those who knew him. Janet...

The Park Forest Aqua Center remains closed Oct. 22, 2025. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown)

Park Forest OKs $10 million aqua center renovation with 2027 completion date

November 18, 2025 at 10:59 a.m.

The Park Forest Village Board approved $10 million to redesigned its shuttered 70-year-old aqua center by 2027.

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights, left, and state Sen. Patrick Joyce of Essex during a legislative forum on Dec. 12, 2019, at Freedom Hall in Park Forest. (Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown)

Column: Stalled legislation could lead to horse racing/slot machines in Richton Park

November 17, 2025 at 9:07 a.m.

A bill in the Illinois General Assembly would allow a harness racetrack crammed with 1,200 slot machines in Richton Park.

The sign at Park Forest Aqua Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, indicates the popular swimming pool should open in 2027, but officials in Park Forest are still debating its future. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown)

Park Forest residents indicate support for pared down Aqua Center as village mulls future of aging pool complex

October 22, 2025 at 2:43 p.m.

A survey on what to do with the shuttered Park Forest Aqua Center indicated support for the least expensive option to keep it open.

Protesters gather Saturday, Oct. 18, for a 'No Kings' rally in Kankakee. (Penny Shnay/Daily Southtown)

Column: ‘No Kings’ rally evokes memories of a father’s fight against tyranny

October 20, 2025 at 4:44 p.m.

Before Saturday's No Kings rally, columnist Jerry Shnay hadn't witnessed a large protest movement since 1968 in Chicago.

Jane Nicoll, museum director, adjusts a dolls dress inside the Park Forest 1950s House Museum Feb. 7, 2025, at St. Marys Church's school. The archives of the museum will move to to a basement space at Park Forest Village Hall. (John Smierciak/for the Daily Southtown)

Column: Park Forest Historical Society to find home in basement of Village Hall

October 6, 2025 at 9:51 a.m.

The Park Forest Historic Society archives, stored in the closed Church of St. Mary on Monee Road, will soon move to Village Hall.

The Park Forest Aqua Center in July 2018. (Suzanne Tennant/Chicago Tribune)

Column: Time running out to voice opinion on Park Forest Aquatic Center plans

September 22, 2025 at 12:52 p.m.

Park Forest residents have until Oct. 5 to take an online survey regarding four options for the closed Aquatic Center.

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