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Local champion gives back to the community Tyler Morris made a name for himself on the football field at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange, but returned home to Plainfield East High School for the final semester of his high school career in order to graduate early and head to the University of Michigan to play alongside high school teammate JJ McCarthy. The two helped the Wolverines to a national championship a season ago and while he was only a Bengal for a short time. Morris recently gave back to the community. Morris donated a portion of his Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) money to District 202 families in need. Morris delivered $3,000 total in gift cards to his alma mater schools at Liberty Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Middle School and Plainfield East High School. In all, he helped bring joy to more than 40 students this holiday season. The gift cards are for parents and guardians to use toward food, necessities and presents. “They are part of the commu-
nity I grew up in and I feel like I’m in a position where I should help others when I have the opportunity,” Morris said in a release put out by Plainfield School District 202. “Plainfield East High School is overwhelmed by Tyler’s generosity,” Plainfield East High School Assistant Principal of Student Services Heather Boswell said.“Every Christmas season our PEHS staff donate gift cards to help support families that have fallen on difficult times,” Boswell added. “We are so grateful for his generosity and support this holiday season.” Morris caught the first touchdown of his college career in the national semifinal win last seaosn against Alabama – as he took a 7-yard strike heading toward the right sideline in stride, turned up the sideline, eluded Alabama defenders and dove for the pylon for a 38-yard touchdown. This season, he posted 23 receptions for 248 yards and two touchdowns for Michigan, but announced his decision in December to enter the transfer portal and look to play elsewhere next season.
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Morton Grove buys bank building for village use The Village of Morton Grove is proud to announce that on December 23, 2024, the Village completed the purchase of property at 6201 Dempster Street in Morton Grove, Illinois, for future use as a combined village hall and police station. The 1.67-acre property was formerly owned and is currently used by Fifth Third Bank as a bank branch. On the same day, Fifth Third finalized its purchase of vacant Village-owned property at 6210 Dempster Street, just across the street from its current branch. Fifth Third Bank plans to construct a new 2,800-square-foot bank building on the 0.65-acre site in 2025. When construction of the new branch is completed, the Village will begin its renovation and expansion of the 26,500-square-foot building at 6201 Dempster Street for its new municipal facility. Fifth Third will remain operational at 6201 Dempster Street under a lease from the Village until its new building at 6210 Dempster Street is completed. The Morton Grove Park District played a major role in the publicprivate real estate deal. Just days
earlier, the Park District swapped the property at 6210 Dempster Street for a slightly larger parcel of Villageowned land just north of the Morton Grove Civic Center at 6140 Dempster Street. The Park District’s newly acquired property will expand the Harrer Park footprint and bring the Morton Grove Historical Museum buildings under unified Park District Ownership. Since the 1980s, the Morton Grove Village Hall and Police Station have been located at 6101 Capulina Avenue, a former elementary school dating back to 1895 and surrounded by singlefamily residences. The facility was intended to be a temporary location for the Village but plans to relocate never came to fruition. Today, the facility is functionally obsolete, does not meet modern standards for accessibility, and is generally inadequate to meet the current needs of a village hall and police department. In 2021, the Village was looking for options to relocate its Village Hall and Police Station when it identified the underused office building at 6201 Dempster Street,
which was actively listed for sale by Fifth Third but had not garnered much interest from office users. Negotiations between Fifth Third Bank and the Village began in earnest in 2022 and in April 2023, the Village Board approved contracts for the property purchase and sale between the Village and Fifth Third. The parties terminated the agreement in early 2024 but continued to work diligently to resurrect the deal. On December 10, 2024, the Village Board approved revised contracts for the real estate transactions in preparation for the December 23 closings. The future Village Hall and Police Station are a key component of the Village’s 2023 Strategic Plan and achieve a long-time goal for Mayor Dan DiMaria. “This is a cost-effective move that is long-overdue for the Village. We need a village hall and police station that our residents are proud of, but that are respectful to taxpayers. This deal strikes that balance and marks a new beginning for the Village of Morton Grove.”
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