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I have more than 40 years in the news business and have successfully evolved into an electronic journalist. Comings & Goings and Southland Savvy track news about businesses in Chicago's Southland.

Bethania Cemetery guest stars in new TV series on Investigation Discovery

Kurtis Productions film a segment for a new Investigation Discovery series at Bethania Cemetery in Justice.
By Bob Bong
Desplaines Valley News

Bethania Cemetery, which was founded in 1894 at 7701 S. Archer Ave. in Justice, will make its television debut next week on Investigation Discovery, a Discovery channel spinoff known as ID that features documentary-style programming mostly dealing with true crime subjects.

The cemetery was standing in for a Florida graveyard in a segment produced by longtime Chicago newsman Bill Kurtis, who has made a second career out of true crime re-enactments for such shows as "Investigative Reports," "American Justice" and "Cold Case Files."

The cemetery is the setting for an episode of a new ID series that debuted Sept. 5 called "Double Crossed."

The segment filmed by Kurtis Productions stems from a Florida case in which police trick a woman into confessing that she murdered her first husband by hiding microphones in flowers that surrounded his grave, said cemetery Supt. Randy Leise.

"They had microphones hidden in the flowers and they got her confessing to the murder when she visited the grave," said Leise. "She something like you got what you deserved and they were able to convict her of the murder."

"(Kurtis) does a lot of filming in the Chicago area and liked the look of Bethania," said Leise. "They had 1980s cars in the scenes and clothes."

He said Kurtis also filmed part of the segment in the interrogation room at the  nearby Summit police station.

A spokeswoman for Kurtis Productions said the cemetery was selected because the company was doing a lot of filming in the area for the segment.

The episode of "Double Crossed" is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 on Investigation Discovery, which is channel 260 on U-Verse, channel 271 on Comcast, channel 285 on DirecTV and 192 on Dish.

Pioneer past comes alive at I&M Canal fur trade era re-enactment

Andy "Story Teller" Talley entertains the crowd with a tall tale.
By Bob Bong
Desplaines Valley News

A River Thru History, which took place in Willow Springs last weekend, recreated the history of the Des Plaines Valley during the fur trade era before Chicago became a city.

"This is one of the best annual events along the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, as it captures that magical combination of history and entertainment so well," said Bob Navarro, President/CEO of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"The past comes alive around you in a combination of history, storytelling, music, food and festivities," he said.

Visitors to Columbia Woods in Willow Springs were able to meet fur traders, craftsman, pioneer musicians and entertainers as they gathered along the banks of the Des Plaines River. There were craft demonstrations, a children’s trading post, live animals, storytelling, Native American games, music by Blue Celtic Grass and a skillet toss.

Food vendors served a variety of food similar to what was eaten during the fur trade era including kettle corn, wild rice stew and root beer.

Photos for Desplaines Valley News by Steve Neuhaus

A re-enactor shows some young guests how pottery was made in pioneer days.


Colonial soldiers march through Columbia Park in Willow Springs.

Week 3 High School Football Previews

Argo receiver Drake Walker is tended to
after hurting his knee in action against Ridgewood.
By Phil Arvia
Desplaines Valley News

ARGO (2-0) vs. REAVIS (1-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Reavis High School, 6034 W. 77th St., Burban
THE SCOOP: The Argonauts have 99 points in two games, including 69 in last week's 69-40 shootout with Ridgewood, in which Jason Noel passed for 326 yards and five touchdowns. Reavis can score, too, bouncing back from a 44-16 Week 1 loss to St. Laurence to crush Joliet Central 52-7 on Saturday.

FENWICK (2-0) vs. BROTHER RICE (1-1)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Brother Rice High School, 10001 Pulaski Rd., Chicago
The Crusaders have been a Jeckyll and Hyde act, winning their opener 42-0 then falling at Marist by a 55-14 count. They'd better hope to catch Fenwick recovering from its Saturday road trip to Dallas, where the Friars beat fellow Dominican-founded school Bishop Lynch 32-14. Fenwick won the last time these teams met, in 2010.

OAK LAWN (1-1) vs. EVERGREEN PARK (2-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Evergreen Park High School, 9901 S. Kedzie, Evergreen Park
THE SCOOP: The Mustangs survived four interceptions to beat Phillips in Week 2, as Jacquet McClendon caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds to play in a 35-32 win. McClendon finished with 10 catches for 92 yards. Oak Lawn, after dumping Kenwood 42-19 in its opener, fell to Stagg 36-14 in Week 2.

LYONS (0-2) vs. LEYDEN (0-2)
WHEN: 7:30 Friday
WHERE: Leyden High School, 3400 Rose St., Franklin Park
If it's shocking that Lyons is 0-2, it has to be more shocking how the Lions got there from 0-1. Hosting Willowbrook on Friday, Lyons lost 62-49, as Willowbrook's quarterback, Brian Johnson, threw for 660 yards and seven touchdowns. The Lions have given up 104 points in two games. Leyden is coming off a 38-3 loss to Oak Park-River Forest.

NAZARETH ACADEMY (2-0) vs. MARIST (1-1)
WHEN: 7:30 Friday
WHERE: Marist High School, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago
THE SCOOP: The RedHawks' offense was firing on all cylinders in a 55-14 demolition of Brother Rice in Week 2. Jack Donegan completed 21 of 25 passes for 338 yards and six touchdowns, three each to Flynn Nagel and Nic Weishar. In its East Suburban Catholic opener, Marist gets unbeaten Nazareth, which clubbed Julian 51-0 Saturday after beating Proviso East 35-12 in its opener.


ST. LAURENCE (2-0) vs. ST. RITA (2-0)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: St. Rita High School, 7740 S. Western, Chicago
THE SCOOP: St. Laurence hasn't been tested yet, posting easy wins over Reavis and Gordon Tech. In the latter, a 36-12 triumph, Frank Miller ran for 131 yards on 19 carries, and Bob Kelly threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns. St. Rita backed up an impressive opening win over Marist by crushing Danville 42-7 in Week 2. Mustangs quarterback Tommy Mister ran for 118 yards and two scores, and added a 39-yard touchdown pass, all in the first half.

SHEPARD (0-2) vs. EISENHOWER (2-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Eisenhower High School, 127th Street & Saramento, Blue Island
The Astros have struggled, losing two games by a combined 91-3 count. In Week 2, they fell at Marian 49-3. Now comes a South Suburban Red opener against surprising Eisenhower, which stunned a talented Rich East squad in Week 1 and followed that with a 45-21 win over Urban Prep.

STAGG (2-0) vs. LINCOLN-WAY EAST (2-0)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort
THE SCOOP: The Chargers have already matched last season's win total by beating Hillcrest 28-14 in their opener, and Oak Lawn 36-14 last week. Lincoln-Way East, a playoff perennial which played for a state title last year, will be by far their stiffest test to date.