Thornton Twp. has cop plates taken away
Police with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office recently seized two sets of municipal police license plates from vehicles purchased with taxpayer funds this year by Thornton Township government.
The township lacked authority to display plates designated for municipal police vehicles and the matter was referred to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, according to a spokesperson for White.
“Thornton Township does not have a police department,” spokesperson Beth Kaufman said. “The township may display municipal plates. However, it is not entitled to municipal police plates.”
The office acted on a complaint about improper use of police license plates, she said.
“On Aug. 25 the Secretary of State Police revoked and seized both sets of municipal police license plates,” she said.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office said prosecutors were reviewing the matter.
“We can confirm that we received a referral from the Illinois Secretary of State and are reviewing the information to determine if any next legal steps are appropriate,” the state’s attorney’s office said.
Township residents documented the Aug. 25 raid on social media pages. Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard also is mayor of Dolton, and Dolton village administrator Keith Freeman also works for the township as a senior adviser to Henyard.
“Upon being informed by the Secretary of State’s office that the township’s municipal police license plates were not in compliance with state law and issued in error by the Secretary of State, the township immediately acted
has had so much success in her life, as a vocalist, actor and woman, she is so incredibly humble and true to her South Side roots. She is the kind of person, despite her busy schedule, who is always there to help.”
Some of McClowry’s friends are still part of shows she has taken all over the country. Mary Jonke, a close friend since age 7, assists with the eight 90-second wardrobe changes incorporated in the Cher revue. Her band, Mike Aquino on guitar, Ed Breckenfeld on drums, Klem Hayes on bass and John Blasucci on keyboards, has been performing with her for 16 years.
When she’s not on the road, she’s been in Las Vegas lately for a Legends in Concert residency. Besides her Cher portrayal, the show includes performers representing Adele, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
McClowry’s Cher persona came from an idea from a fan as she was touring in 2015 with a show she produced called “Rock the ’80s,” in which she performed songs from Journey, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Styx and other hit-makers.
“I produced a show where there are dancers, costumes and videos,” she said. “We would perform in various theaters and festivals.”
At one of those festivals,
a fan told McClowry she sounded like Cher.
“So in 2016 I started the Beat Goes On Cher Tribute show,” McClowry said with a smile. “I began to offer that show to my corporate clients in Chicago. The first show my husband videotaped me with an iPad which was a Saturday night. On Monday morning I sent it to Legends In Concert in Las Vegas, first
time I ever played Cher. I heard from them two hours later where I would do an audition via Skype. Two weeks later I was on the road doing a Cher tribute show.”
The show took McClowry as Cher to venues as far away as Australia and Canada, but she doesn’t want to be singled out as a tribute artist.
“I see myself more of a singer, actress and
producer,” McClowry said. “The Beat Goes On is different because I approach it like a Broadway show. There is a plot and there is dialogue. I see this as an acting role.”
Tribute artist “is a Las Vegas term, that’s how they identify us,” she added. “To me it’s just one part of me.”
McClowry also does voice-over work, and writes and records songs. She
teamed up for a duet with Carl Giammarese, lead singer and founder of The Buckinghams, of a new version of the band’s 1967 hit “Don’t You Care,” as well as a new song, “I Will Love You Forever.”
McClowry said she “wears many hats.”
But, “when I’m done at the end of the night, I put everything back in a box and shut it off,” she said. “My mom always tells me people think you just get out there and sing but it’s so much more.
“Unless you’re a professional, they have no idea what it takes to put a show together. I arrange the air travel, the car making sure all the musicians know what they’re doing to what they’re wearing as well as putting the sound and lights together. That’s where the real work is.”
As she prepared to perform last month in Frankfort, it took her two hours to transform into Cher. But it took her years to perfect her act.
“I groomed my character,” she said. “I became better with the makeup and hair. I really began understanding the character of Cher.”
McClowry has come a long way since growing up on the South Side of Chicago and graduating from Maria High School.
“My dream has come true, plus some,” she said. “There has been some extremely good things that have been happening. I’ve just been open to it, I’m where that I should be.”
McClowry will be back in the area Saturday, performing as Cher in “The Beat Goes On” show at the Des Plaines Theater. More information is at www.beat goesonshow.com.