🌱 Coach Fired After Grooming Allegations + Park District Apologizes

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• A teacher from a nearby district has been fired after allegations stemming from his years in Elmwood Park
• The Park District of Oak Park has issued an apology after the name of a program caused controversy
• The Oak Park Public Library is celebrating Black History Month with a new exhibit

But first, today's weather: Becoming cloudy; not as cold. High: 29 Low: 20.

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Here are the top 4 stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. A Riverside Brookfield High School coach has been fired after an Elmwood Park High School student said he “had a sexual relationship with her while she was a high school student.” A Cicero student also came forward and said Dallas Till tried to groom her when he was a student teacher. According to the Landmark, Till is expected to appeal his termination to the state board of education. (Landmark)

2. The Park District of Oak Park has changed the name of an upcoming cooking and history class formerly referred to as “The Transatlantic Slave Trade.” Both the park district and village issued statements after public response to the course title deemed it "offensive, shocking and insensitive." (PDOP/VOP)

3. At least one burglar broke into a home Monday night in the 1200 block of North Ridgeland Avenue. Oak Park police report jewelry and a gun were stolen. (OPPD)

4. All state charges against convicted sexual abuser R. Kelly have been dropped, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced this week. A meeting with an underage girl at an Oak Park hotel was mentioned multiple times during his federal trial in Chicago last year. The former rapper is serving a 30-year sentence on similar charges in New York. (Patch)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Check out the Apollo 17 exhibit at Triton College. (9:30 a.m.)
• Make a snow craft at Oak Park Public Library. (3:30 p.m.)
• Dole Center hosts a kids' magic class. (6:45 p.m.)
• The Oak Park Conservatory opens its online Valentine’s Market. (All day)

From my notebook:

• In honor of Black History Month, Oak Park Public Library is recognizing Black community leaders in the village with an idea box exhibit. (Library)
• Trinity High School students attended a STEAM day at the Field Museum to explore the “Native Truths: Our Voices Our Stories” exhibit. (THS)
• Trailside Museum will host a Groundhog Day celebration tomorrow. (FPDCC)
• Polar bear passes for park district pools go on sale Feb. 4. (PDOP)

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That's all for this Wednesday! See you tomorrow for another update.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.