🌱 Police Prepare For North Riverside 'Meetup' + Teen Wrestler Punched

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest. It's a busy news day in the area, with local headlines including:

• The shooting death of an Austin teenager.
• Theft reports on the rise in Elmwood Park.
• Local plans for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

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Now, today's weather: Breezy and not as warm. High: 66 Low: 39.

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

1. A 14-year-old girl from Austin died this week after being shot in the first block of North Lorel Avenue. A GoFundMe page has been created for the family of Charity Johnson, who underwent several surgeries at Stroger Hospital to treat her injuries. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. Police are warning residents to stay away from the North Riverside Park Mall this weekend, as social media users are reportedly planning a large “meetup” similar to the one that sowed chaos in the Loop last weekend. Hundreds of teens crowded downtown streets in Chicago Saturday, with multiple reports of violence and 15 arrests. Berwyn police chief Michael D. Cimaglia said a planned gathering at Urban Air in the mall “has the potential for public disturbances and acts of violence” and said the department is preparing its response plans. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

3. Oak Park police are investigating after a teen wrestler punched his opponent following a match. Police were called to the OPRF High School fieldhouse April 8 after Cooper Corder was hit by Hafid Alicea during the Beat the Streets Chicago tournament. "At these next couple of tournaments, I'm going to be known as the kid who got punched," Corder told CBS. "But I don't want that to [overshadow] all of my accomplishments.” His family is pursuing criminal charges. (CBS)

4. Friday is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Unwanted medications can be disposed of at police stations in Oak Park and Maywood tomorrow, plus River Forest Village Hall has a prescription drop box available every weekday. (VRF)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The OPRF Chamber of Commerce cuts the ribbon on the new Smoothie King location on Lake Street. (Noon)
• Celebrate Earth Day with a Nature Play event at Lindberg Park. (1 p.m.)
• Kids can make a planter at Oak Park Public Library. (3:30 p.m.)
• The Ethan Philion Jazz Trio performs at Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum. (7 p.m.)
• See “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Concordia University’s Bergmann Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• The OPRF High School Jazz Ensemble performs at the Nineteenth Century Club. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Chicago’s Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson visited Springfield this week to meet with lawmakers, including Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park. (Paid source: Sun-Times)
• Theft reports are on the rise in Elmwood Park and Franklin Park. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)
• The U.S. Bank building on Oak Park Avenue is under new ownership. (Wednesday Journal)
• Former Hemingway Foundation Writer-In-Residence David W. Berner published a new novella. (Chicago Literary Hall of Fame)

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Featured events:

• 7th Annual West Loop Spirits, Cocktails & Wine Festival with Artisan Delicacies, April 22nd & 23rd (April 22)
• Spring Dance with the Falconaires Big Band (April 22)
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You're all caught up. Have a great weekend!

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.