Jr. Griffins Youth Football Registration Today

Registration is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the park district administrative office. Read on to find out about costs, what the program offers and how to register online.

The Mokena Jr. Griffins youth football and cheer program will hold its first walk-in registration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Mokena Community Park District Administration Center. The program, in its first year, will offer the following: Tackle and Cheer Divisions (Subject to age as of Aug. 31 and weight) Super Lightweights: Ages 6-8 Lightweights: Ages 8-10 Junior Varsity: Ages 10-12 Varsity: Ages 12-14 Flag Divisions (Subject to age as of Aug. 31) Pee Wee: 6-8 Youth: 9-11 Junior: 12-14 Tackle Registration: $260 Cheer Registration: $150 Flag Registration: $120 There will be a $100 fundraiser participation cost per player and cheerleader. Families with more than one player or cheerleader will only have one fundraiser requirement. …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Jr. Griffins Not Involved in Burros Dispute

In a letter to the editor from the board members of the Mokena Jr. Griffins youth football and cheer program, the group said it was "disheartened" by the dispute between the park district and the Burros about field rentals.

While the Jr. Griffins Board is excited about their inaugural season, we are disheartened by the controversy surrounding the Mokena Community Park District (MCPD) and Mokena Burros as it erroneously infers some culpability by the Jr. Griffins. The situation is complicated and confusing; however, the issues are solely between the MCPD and the Mokena Burros. The Jr. Griffins had no involvement in the decisions of the park board concerning the Burros. In fact, we always expected that the community parks and fields would be shared. Park district resources are shared well in other area communities, and within other sports programs in Mokena. Many of the surrounding communities have multiple football programs and it hasn’t negatively impact …

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UPDATED: Community Reacts to Lost Burros Fields

With the park district not renting fields to the Mokena Burros, one youth football parent "feels like the town is being torn."

Darlene Kruse's 10-year-old son came home from school on Wednesday saying he didn't even want to play football anymore. Kruse estimates about 70 percent of her son's Mokena Burros youth football team, spurred on in part by this week's announcement that the park district won't rent space to the Burros, is moving over to the new Mokena Jr. Griffins youth football team. Until Wednesday, Kruse was considering sending her 10 year old to the Jr. Griffins and keep her 8 year old with the Burros. Now, she's not sure what to do. "Half their friends are leaving and that feels like a competition to them. It feels like the town is being torn," Kruse said. Park district Executive Director Jim Romanek this week said the district would not be entering an…

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February's Four Most-Popular Articles: A Leap Day Look Back

On this extra day of February, a look back at some of the Mokena Patch stories that made the shortest month of the year one of the feistiest ones.

Counting down to the No. 1 most-popular Mokena Patch story of the month, here are the stories that got residents' attention in February 2012. The fourth-most popular story of the month was one of the most heartwarming. Mokena Elementary School conspired with first-grader Hannah Bick's parents the Friday before father Robert Bick was due to deploy overseas with the army. While her father, in full uniform, surprised Hannah with an impromptu talk to her class, the rest of the school's nearly 800 students moved into position outside for a tribute you'll have to see to believe. Read the story and check out the photo gallery. Never underestimate the power of having "cheese thievery" in a headline. Read the story. The No. 2 spot goes to the …

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Football Anger 'Scary,' Hurting Kids, Park President Says

After an incident where he said he was accosted by a Mokena Burros official about the new Mokena Jr. Griffins youth football program, park district President Dennis Bagdon said a few angry people are taking attention away from the kids.

Mokena Park District President Dennis Bagdon said he's worried an incident last week where he said he was accosted by a Mokena Burros official is taking attention from where it should be—on the kids playing youth football. He confirmed an account given by the SouthtownStar, which described an unnamed Burros board member yelling profanities at the president of the park district that, starting this summer, will rent fields to both groups. "It's getting to the point where it's almost getting scary. I felt threatened last week," Bagdon told Patch on Tuesday. "It was inches away from physical violence." He did not identify the official, but said the topic was the Mokena Jr. Griffins, a new youth football program coming to town. For nearly 50 …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: The Mokena Jr. Griffins Start New Traditions

A letter to the editor about the new team from Mokena Jr. Griffins varsity football Coach George Metanias.

The Mokena Jr. Griffins are a nonprofit organization to provide youth football and cheerleading for Mokena and surrounding communities. The Jr. Griffins is open to any youth age 6 to 14. The safety of the participants will be the No. 1 priority with strict weight requirements. The Jr. Griffins will focus on teaching children the fundamentals of football and cheerleading, good sportsmanship, fair play, respect, coordination, competitiveness, promote physical fitness and a fun experience. The Jr. Griffins is designed to obtain input from high school coaches to prepare our players and cheerleaders for the high school level. The Jr. Griffins will represent our community as we compete against teams in the prestigious River Valley Youth Football…

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