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W E D N E S D A Y
April 2, 2025 Vol. 45, No. 39
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Library’s long, difficult search leads to new executive director
Elsworth Carman, the new director, has ties to the library and Oak Park By MICHAEL DRAKULICH Contributing Reporter
The Oak Park Public Library board has found its next executive director in Elsworth Carman, who is currently the director of the Iowa City Public Library. The announcement of his hiring came March 27, just days before a highly contested local election which will determine who serves on the board he works for. Carman will begin his new position May 27. But Carman isn’t completely new to Oak Park or the Oak Park Public Library. He served as manager of the threebranch library’s adult and teen services department and then as part of its experiences and initiatives team. Carman worked in Oak Park from 2011 to 2016.
Spring 2025
Page 13
Oak Park chief shares hiring goals as police staffing woes continue After making changes to attract more police officer candidates, Chief Shatonya Johnson hopes it can make up its 30-officer deficit next year
ELSWORTH CARMAN
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park Police Department still has a lot of ground to make up to reach its staffing goals, according to Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. The department is presently short 30 sworn officers from its target for a fully staffed department, as the department operates at more
See LIBRARY DIRECTOR on page 18
JAVIER GOVEA
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See POLICE STAFFING on page 6
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