W E D N E S D A Y
May 14, 2025 Vol. 45, No. 45
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JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
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SSpecial i l SSection ti Page B1
Who killed Oak You know you want a dog — Animal Care League needs help now Park mobster Sam Giancana?
Oak Park shelter is overcapacity with 65 pups available
NBC5 ready to identify gunman in 1975 murder of Momo, Oak Park’s most notorious mob boss
By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter
With 65 dogs on site and an ideal capacity of 41, the Animal Care League in Oak Park is operating at more than 50% over capacity. Adoptions fell 30 percent in April due probably to economic uncertainty, according to Renee Harlor, executive director of the shelter. Harlor said she has seen an increase in community members tapping into pet food and other supplies offered by the league. “We’re seeing an increase in that, with rising costs of things,” she said. As far as adoptions, “people either can’t care for them or aren’t able to add another expense to their already maxed out lives,” she said. While the shelter typically operates right at capacity, and never under capacity, Harlor said this is the highest capacity she’s seen since starting at the Animal Care League last October. If you’d like to learn more about the newly expanded ACL here are two upcoming opportunities. See ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE on page 8
By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter
KENNY
CHUBBS
CORNELIUS
GABE ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE
HOPING FOR A HOME: Just a few of the companions eager to connect with caring owners.
Nearly 50 years after former Chicago mob boss Sam “Momo” Giancana was found murdered execution style in the basement of his home in southwest Oak Park, veteran television crime reporter Chuck Goudie says he’s ready to SAM GIANCANA name the person who pulled the trigger. Late on June 19, 1975, Giancana was shot seven times while cooking a meal of sausage, peppers and white beans. He was shot once in the back of the head, once under the chin and five times in the face with .22 caliber long rounds. Two months later, on August 19, a 22 cal. High Standard Model M-101 pistol with a See GIANCANA on page 14