W E D N E S D A Y
September 14, 2022 Vol. 43, No. 7 ONE DOLLAR @wednesdayjournalinc
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JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
Special Section: Religion Guide Page 9
Oak Park to draft ordinance ending 24-hour gas stations Part of three recent actions taken to prevent crime By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The tragic murder of 18-year-old Jailyn Logan-Bledsoe last June put renewed focus on the crime perpetrated at Oak Park’s 24-hour gas stations, which has been trending upward in the last few years. The village board has now taken substantial action to combat future instances of lawbreaking by, most notably, directing staff to draft an ordinance that would effectively outlaw gas stations from operating around the clock. “This is a first step we can take in trying to really bring peace to our village,” Trustee Chibuike Enyia said of the soon-to-be created ordinance. The village has had a total of 18 violent offenses take place at gas stations in the last three and a half years; 13 of those offenses took place after midnight, including LoganBledsoe’s murder. The board returned to virtual chambers from its monthlong hiatus Sept. 5 for a jam-packed meeting, during which a significant portion was spent approving measures to
Art departure
After 3 decades on Harrison, Janice Elkins closes Gallery Pink STACEY SHERIDAN’S STORY, PAGE 13
See GAS STATIONS on page 12
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
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