June 3, 2020 Update from the Mayor

June 3, 2020 Update from the Mayor

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 982 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois with 24,471 test specimens reported in the last 24 hours. IDPH has reported a total of 123,830 cases, including 5,621 deaths, including 97 deaths in the last 24 hours, in Illinois.  There are now 113 confirmed COVID cases in Hickory Hills and 3 related deaths.

Protest Report from Hickory Hills Police Chief Charles Hobart

I am happy to report that our police chief confirmed that we still have had no issues with civil unrest in our City to date.   Extra patrols remain in effect.

Armed Robbery Today in Chase Bank Parking Lot

We had an armed robbery at the Chase Bank today of a customer in the parking lot.  The victim was unharmed but was understandably shaken.  The robbers took off with the customer’s purse.  Our Chief was able to recover the victim’s cell phone several towns away and the investigation remains active.  Chase Bank did opt to close their branch for the day after the event.  At this time, the Chief does not believe this crime was directly associated with the civil unrest.

Beware Fraudulent Contact Tracing Calls

Clerk Dee Catizone forwarded me this information from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) that warns residents about fraudulent COVID-19 contact tracing calls as the state ramps up its contact tracing efforts. IDPH has stated that no legitimate contact tracer will ever ask for payment or a person’s Social Security number. Contact tracers will only call to report that an individual may have come into contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and should consider getting tested.

Elsie’s Food Pantry

I try to stay in regular contact with Beth, the Director of Elsie’s Food Pantry, in Palos Hills.  As previously reported, Beth and her other volunteers provide boxes of food to needy families from Hickory Hills and the region.  Unfortunately, the number of needy families has more than doubled since the COVID crisis began.  Beth provided me the message below:

Hi, it’s been very trying here lately. We were supposed to get a 10,000 pound delivery today but all deliveries  got cancelled through the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  All food rescue orders are also on hold. Looks like we will have to shop tomorrow, and we are thankful especially now for the monetary donations. I would have never believed there would have been such an outpouring of generosity!! In three weeks we were blessed with enough money to handle the number of clients, even though the numbers have doubled. The GCFD was given a grant that will supply us with fresh cheese, milk, butter, bread and frozen meats which should be coming soon. Please thank all those wonderful, generous donors from all of us at Elsie’s. Because of the outpouring of help we will be set well into late fall, perhaps even later. The only purchases we will have to make are the essentials that we always seem to run out of; Mac and cheese, pasta, sauce, canned vegetables and fruit, cereal and meat as needed.

Our community is wonderful in so many ways and this is just one more example of how we step up to help others less fortunate.  Anyone wishing to make a donation may draft a check to Elsie’s Food Pantry and leave in the City Hall drop box in the city hall parking lot.  As previously reported, everyone at Elsie’s is a volunteer so 100% of your donation will go directly to purchase food.

First Cicada Sighting

cicada

Can Never Get Sick of Watching These Reunions

What a Catch!

Happy Thursday!

Mayor Mike