Week in Review: National Debt Talk, Sports and More Good Reads

Last week we had much politics and sports to talk about. We started off hearing U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on the federal budget deficit in a town hall meeting in Frankfort, IL, reported by Palos Patch editor Dan Lambert. Kirk reportedly said “I don’t want you to walk out of here feeling completely bad about the future of the United States,”  before heading into a discussion on growing federal spending.

Patch Regional Editor Dennis Robaugh reported Monday's Good Read on the Southland featured big lottery winnings, J Lo tears for Chris Medina and a little boy's dreams for a Hooters in his hometown, in a report he called

In the Weekly Business Spotlight, Colleen Kant introduced us to owner Jerry Plienis, who In business for more than 40 years, Plienis said the butcher shop has been in the family for three generations.

In Sports, Marist girls basketball beat Lincoln-Way East 55-38 in the Class 4A Lincoln-Way North Sectional on Monday night. Sports reporter Tom Ritter said the RedHawks used dominant rebounding to cinch sectional semifinal win over Griffins. The day after, Ritter reported that after suffering a December setback to the Spartans, the RedHawks felt like they were Indians over the Marist RedHawks, and advance to Class 3A quarterfinals.

Orland Park cardiologist Dr. Kathleen Drinan In the spirit of American Heart Health Month, Tina Tuszynski reported how Silver Cross Hospital made an effort to raise awareness and educate women  by sponsoring a free program, “Take Heart – You’ve Got Control,” last week.

In local government, we found out that the village Public Works Department workers . We also learned that the village could get reimbursed up to 75 percent of the money spent on snow costs costs incurred during “Snowpacolypse 2011.”

This week's Whiz Kid was , an 11-year-old sixth-grader at who won the school's Geography Bee. Witte said his key to awesomeness is working hard at school, a ton of reading and having fun while doing it. Congratulations!

Oak Lawn Patch editor Lorraine Swanson clued us in on a recent ruling at the last Village of Oak Lawn board meeting. Trustees voted at Tuesday's Village Board Meeting to approve the construction of a , that will be located at 6700 W. 95th St., the current site of Bally Total Fitness.

Chicago Heights Patch editor Christopher Paicely followed the story of a fatal shooting that occurred Friday afternoon. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed Sunday morning that the victim in Friday's shooting death, ruled a homicide, was Derrick Bell, 19, however gave a different address than was previously reported by the Southtown Star. The office said Bell's mother identified him early Saturday afternoon as a resident of the 14900 block of Evers St. in Dolton, IL.

Chicago Heights police Sgt. Tom Rogers told the Southtown the victim and a person of interest, who is now in custody, had a disagreement about the alleged theft of a television.

We had much more news, events and announcements happen this week, so feel free to peruse the site. Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.