2021 Year In Review: Stories From 'Miracle' Stranger To TV Show

MOKENA, IL — From a "miracle" stranger saving a boy's life to one resident appearing on a popular TV series, a lot happened in Mokena in 2021. Patch took a look back to find the five stories that helped sum up the year that was.

So, without further ado, let's bid adieu to 2021 and welcome in the new year.

Boy Choking On Candy Saved By 'Miracle' Stranger

It was supposed to be a quick run to the grocery store and back home for the Theodorou brothers and their grandmother. Nothing out of the ordinary. But Saturday's otherwise-routine grocery trip would leave the impression of a lifetime, and the family wondering just who their guardian angel was that day.

Georgie Theodorou, 9, of Mokena was eating some candy while the family shopped at the Jewel-Osco on 179th Street and Wolf Road in Orland Park at around 5 p.m. Suddenly, he began to choke. Fear and panic washed over the boy and his family. His grandmother, Kiki Gatses, grabbed Georgie and tried to dislodge the piece of candy that was preventing him from breathing. But try as she might, the candy would not come free from Georgie's throat.

"He was wheezing and couldn't get it out," said Georgie's older brother, Demetri Theodorou, 11. "I was thinking, if he died, then [my mother] would never see him again."

Staff at Jewel-Osco made a plea over the loudspeakers for someone, anyone, to come help the choking boy. That's when the mystery woman appeared.

"At that moment, my whole world just went limp," Gatses said. "I screamed, and then the woman came. [Georgie's] face was turning red. He couldn't talk. He couldn't do anything other than try to gasp."

"The lady came and asked, 'Is he choking?'" Demetri said. "She did [the Heimlich maneuver] four times, and then, out of nowhere it just popped out."

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Letter Of No Confidence In Ex-Mokena Chief Outlines Allegations

Patch has obtained the letter to the Village of Mokena which details the vote of no confidence in former Police Chief Steve Vaccaro. Twenty-five Mokena police officers voted "yes" to the vote of no confidence in October 2020. The letter was verified by three separate sources who all had knowledge of the letter.

The letter — which originated from the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, a union that represents the Mokena Police Department — outlines as reasons for the vote "a lack of integrity on [Vaccaro's] part, numerous derogatory remarks about female officers and plummeting morale."

The five-page letter goes on to detail specific allegations.

Mokena Names Former Joliet Police Chief As Interim Chief

The Mokena Village Board of Trustees Monday voted unanimously to name former Joliet Chief of Police Brian Benton as its interim chief. Benton will be stepping into the role effective Aug. 30, the day after current Mokena Police Chief John Keating is scheduled to resign.

The move came as a surprise, as there was no mention of the appointment listed on the Village Board's agenda prior to the meeting.

"Over the past couple weeks our chief, Chief Keating, had to resign for personal reasons," Mokena Mayor Frank Fliescher said. "... In the meantime, we moved quickly on this because we needed to fill the slot. We discussed bringing Mr. Brian Benton on board, but we will make that motion tonight."

17-Foot Snowman Created By Mokena Family

One Mokena family is taking full advantage of the snowfall around the Chicago area. Nearby residents and passerby may have noticed the 17-foot snowman created by the Mathews family at the corner of Townline Road and Josephine Drive.

Shannon and her husband Chris built another large snowman six years ago before they had their son. Shannon said her son had heard the stories and always asked if they ever got enough snow, if they could build another snowman.

"We had to beat our previous record of 12 feet," Shannon said. When the family got enough packable snow a few weeks ago, the construction of the snowman began.

Ladders and scaffolding were used to get the height of the snowman, and Shannon said the entire thing was built by hand using shovels and storage containers to pack the snow.

There is a spotlight on the snowman, so visitors and passerby can see it at night. Shannon said the family also used landscaping lights to make and illuminate the eyes, mouth and buttons of the snowman.

Mokena Native Appears On The Bachelorette

The Bachelorette contestant Brandon Torres, who grew up in Mokena, was sent home in the first episode of season 17, which aired Monday on ABC. This season of the long-running show features bachelorette Katie Thurston, who was previously on a season of The Bachelor, looking for love.

Torres, 26, a graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School, now resides in New York. According to his biography for The Bachelorette, he graduated from Northwestern University and works as an auto parts manager in Queens.

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