Established 1930

Are you eager to browse The Midlothian Public Library shelves and check out books indoors again? You’ll be able to starting Monday, August 17! 

Midlothian cardholders and card applicants can make an advance appointment two business days in advance (starting August 14). 

Walk-ins, including non-residents and non-cardholders welcome at appointment times if space available.

Curbside service and homebound delivery still available to those who prefer not to enter the library.

Call 708-535-2027 or visit midlothianlibrary.org/reopening for more information.

Full story available in the Midlothian-Bremen Messenger

Longtime Midlothian resident, since 1923, Glenn H. Drechsel celebrated his 97th birthday on July 17 with a fire truck parade followed by church family, neighbors and family. Everyone was distanced behind the “Cookieman Turns 97” banner from the sidewalk. 

Balloons, banners, cards and lots of love decorated his house, which is the original family home he still lives in! It was an all day celebration with everyone stopping by to bring a balloon or card till parade participation at 6 p.m. Glenn’s sons and wives, with most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were on board to celebrate this special day.

Glenn is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is a longtime member Oak Forest United Methodist Church, now Faith United Methodist, in Orland Park. Glenn was known in town as the “Cookieman.” He had a big blue truck and distributed cookies to retail grocery stores throughout the Chicagoland and suburban area. Glenn also loved to camp and travel with his late wife Lorraine, family and friends.

Glenn is wonderful, kind, generous, an always smiling man, very sharp dresser “watch out gents”, and very much loved by all.

Happy Birthday, with love and gratitude, to Glenn for continued health and happiness!

Full story available in the Midlothian-Bremen Messenger

On July 13, Bremen High School celebrated the Class of 2020 with a walk-through graduation ceremony. Students were assigned a time frame to arrive and were welcomed to attend with two family members. Bremen High School administration and staff worked hard to ensure the event would be safe and memorable for its students. 

Students and family members were welcomed into Bremen High School’s new field house in intervals so social distancing could be maintained. Once in the field house, students walked through a series of photo-op moments with different Bremen themed backgrounds, including a giant 2020 balloon set-up and several Bremen Brave backdrops. 

Students then walked across the stage where they were greeted by Principal Dave Kibelkis and Bremen’s Teacher of the Year, George Charnley who distributed diplomas. Students could also stop to pose and have their photograph taken by both a professional photographer and family as they stood on the stage adorned by the school’s famous slogan in sparkles, “We Have Pride.” Once accepting their diplomas, students collected their yearbooks and/or any school awards they may have received. 

The school’s 2020 commencement speeches, given by Valedictorian, Allyson Reed, and Salutatorian, Cheyanne Burgher, were recorded by Bremen Class of 2020 Graduate, Michael Dudek, who additionally took footage of the graduation ceremony and is in the process of creating a special video for his classmates. When the video is complete, it will be published to Bremen High School’s website (bremen.bhsd228.com), Twitter page (@BremenNation), and Instagram page (@bremebraves). 

Full story available in the Midlothian-Bremen Messenger

Recently, users of the Neighbors App by Ring who live in the City of Oak Forest were notified that the Oak Forest Police Department had joined the Neighbors App, giving the members of the Investigations Division and the Crime Prevention Officer the ability to participate in the Neighbors portal. Neighbors is a neighborhood watch app that provides real-time, local crime and safety information. 

The app can be used to: monitor neighborhood activity; share crime and safety-related videos, photos and text-based posts; receive real-time safety alerts from your neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team.  

This interactive technology allows users of the Neighbors App to voluntarily assist the Oak Forest Police Department with criminal apprehension and prosecution. It is very important to assure residents that their privacy is of the utmost importance and at no time does this program allow any access to camera footage without the owner’s permission. 

Full story available in the Midlothian-Bremen Messenger