Frankfort, IL|News|
Alpha, Frankfort's 1st Police Dog, Dies
The K9 officer retired in 2011 after hip and arthritis issues forced him off the force.

I was bitten with the journalism bug as a teenager in South Florida, working on my high school newspaper, and I still haven't been cured of it. In fact, it's an exciting time for journalism, and I'm glad to be contributing to it.
A journalism graduate of Indiana University, I've worked in a variety of roles at newspapers and magazines for more than a decade. I started as a sports copy editor and page designer for the Indianapolis Star before moving on to the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune as its arts and entertainment editor. Before joining Patch, I was the managing editor for MKE, a free weekly entertainment magazine in Milwaukee that I helped launch.
It's in my free time that I let my guard down, and my inner geek comes out. I'm a huge movie buff and think comic books are an underrated artform. Also, I love reading up on scientific and technological advances in the pages of Wired and New Scientist. Does that make me a nerd, too?
The K9 officer retired in 2011 after hip and arthritis issues forced him off the force.

Chicago faces Green Bay in a Sunday Night game. Check out the rest of Bears' schedule for the upcoming season.
PLUS: Jeb Bush in Oak Brook | College loses $30K free speech lawsuit | Six Flags to open | 8 escape townhome fire | Gun ban challenged.
A Frankfort man is accused of making the non-emergency calls while drunk, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.
UPDATED: Liquidation sales will begin Friday, but no specific date has been set for when the store will close.
Trains are running upt 50 minutes behind schedule, according to the transit agency.
ComEd didn't know the entire extent of the outage area, but residents around Centennial Park are affected.
The late summer event will add more days and venues this year. Check out the schedule that was released Wednesday.
PLUS: 2 dead in HP fire | African penguin chick hatches | Rigid retired judge's traffic jam | Carjacking chase | $5K fake pot arrest.
Rain, cold and even snow have forced Chicago to reschedule the most games at the beginning of a season in 35 years.
Five pelicans were found dead by state wildlife employees at Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Jasper County earlier this month.
The sale happened at a New Age store in Springfield, and the central Illinois woman had been under investigation since 2015.
The series refuses to wrap up character conflicts in a tidy bow, which is one of the show's strengths.
Arthur Edward Roman, of Tinley Park, must also complete an alcohol treatment program stemming from the 2016 incident.
Arthur Edward Roman, a former Oak Forest cop, must also complete an alcohol treatment program stemming from the 2016 incident.
Two Markham men are accused of pressuring the victim into withdrawing money following an intentional accident, Oak Forest police say.
A grand jury indicted Odell Calvin, 36, with attempting to bring marijuana into a prison.
PLUS: $2K tip on meal | Child sex abuse cases rising | Chicago's 2nd-tallest high-rise? | Cowboys sign DG South grad | ID thefts in Illinois
Find out what other concerts will be at the Tinley Park venue this summer. Who are you looking forward to seeing this year?
The Village Board also approved capital expense budgets to fund projects like the $60 million waste water treatment plant consolidation.