TP_071218

16 | July 12, 2018 | The tinley junction news
tinleyjunction.com
FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE
Orland Park man among hundreds
charged in national health care
fraud investigation
An Orland Park doctor is facing
federal charges after he was among
more than 600 individuals reportedly
caught in a recent national
health care fraud enforcement action.
Several Chicago-area medical
professionals, including four physicians,
are facing charges as part
of the health care fraud enforcement
action, which is being called
the largest in Department of Justice
history, according to a press release
issued June 28 by the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Illinois.
Dr. Florentino Leong, 78, of Orland
Park, was charged with health
care fraud and making false statements
in a health care matter. He in
one of two Illinois cases — the other
an indictment against Dr. Ruben
Inocencio, 77, of Skokie — involving
licensed physicians who falsely
certified patients for home-health
services reimbursed by Medicare,
according to the release.
The doctors allegedly authorized
in-home services, despite knowing
patients were not confined to
the homes and did not require the
services.
Leong was to be arraigned June
28 before U.S. District Judge Manish
S. Shah.
The national action reportedly
was taken by Medicare Fraud
Strike Force. Charges were filed
against more than 150 physicians,
as well as nurses and other licensed
medical professionals, who allegedly
participated in fraud schemes
involving approximately $2 billion
in false billings.
Several doctors additionally were
charged in relation to prescribing
and distributing opioids and other
narcotics, according to the release.
The Department of Health and Human
Services reportedly has initiated
suspension actions against
numerous providers, including doctors,
nurses and pharmacists.
Reporting by Bill Jones, Editor. For
more, visit OPPrairie.com.
FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT
Melissa Etheridge rocks Village
Commons to kick off Triple Play
The lawn of Village Commons
was filled with sunglasses and
smiles the evening of June 30, as
area residents anxiously waited for
headliner Melissa Etheridge to hit
the stage. While the summer heat
and humidity were in full effect,
that could not stop attendees from
rocking out during the first concert
of the 2018 Triple Play series.
The Village’s first concert of the
season featured local Chicago favorite
Empty Pockets, as well as
special guest Dennis Quaid and
the Sharks. But the highlight of the
night came with the headliner: Melissa
Etheridge.
The Triple Play concert series
is a unique experience offered to
New Lenox residents, where for
just $20 per concert, attendees can
enjoy award-winning musicians in
the comfort of their own community.
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann
said he could not have been
happier with the turnout of the first
concert of the series, despite the
heat.
“The weather is absurdly hot, but
everyone here is in a great mood,”
Baldermann said. “So, we’re ex-
Please see NFYN, 17
Weathering the Storm
Wet month of June ends with heat, humidity
Last month’s
weather in review
Mark T. Carroll
Contributing Columnist
Above-normal temperatures
in June
included a hot weekend
in the middle of the
month and a hot and very
humid weekend to conclude
the month.
For the month, we had
five days with the high temperature
above 90 degrees.
Normally there are three
days during the month of
June with the temperature
reaching 90 degrees. The
average temperature for
June at Chicago O’Hare International
Airport was 2.6
degrees above normal.
On June 16, the high temperature
in Joliet reached 93
degrees at the airport. Joliet
Regional Airport reached 94
degrees on June 17 and 18,
with a heat index reaching
107 degrees.
Chicago Midway International
Airport reached
95 degrees on June 17 and
18. June 17 was the hottest
Father’s Day since 1995.
The heat returned to
conclude the month. Joliet’s
airport had a high temperature
of 93 degrees on June
29 and 30, with the heat
index reaching 114 degrees
June 29 and 111 degrees
June 30.
Midewin National
Tallgrass Prairie in Elwood
also reached 93 degrees on
June 29, with the heat index
reaching 116 degrees.
Precipitation also was
above normal for the month
of June. The normal precipitation
total is near 3.5 inches
for June. Flooding occurred
in the far northwest suburbs.
Rockford experienced the
wettest June on record.
The following are precipitation
totals for June in the
immediate area.
• New Lenox, 6.83 inches
• Homer Glen, 6.33 inches
The majority of the
rainfall fell over two periods
— June 9 and 10, and June
20-22.
June 9 and 10
• Homer Glen, 1.98 inches
• Lockport, 1.73 inches
• New Lenox, 1.04 inches
June 20, 21 and 22
• Mokena, 3.51 inches
• New Lenox, 3.02 inches
• Homer Glen, 2.72 inches
Manhattan tornado
At 6:54 p.m. June 26, an
EF1 tornado touched down
in Manhattan. The tornado
was on the ground for 5
minutes, with an estimated
peak wind of 95 mph. The
tornado traveled 1.13 miles
with a maximum width of
100 yards. No injuries were
reported.
According to the National
Weather Service summary
of the tornado, “Damage
was first observed at a farm
along Bruns Road. Two
large trees lost limbs or
portions of their trunk, and
numerous smaller branches
were broken. The resident
reported seeing a mass of
wind and clouds upstream
from this location but not a
funnel. There was no damage
observed in the crops
upstream from this location,
at least what could be seen
from the ground. There was
debris in the field north
of the farm, but no other
damage was visible until the
tornado entered Manhattan
near the park. Damage in
Manhattan consisted of numerous
snapped branches of
various size and at least two
large (greater than 1 foot
diameter) trunks snapped.
Damage in the park was
about 100 yards wide.
Several buildings in town
received just minor damage,
but the post office lost a
portion of its roof covering,
and a building next door had
broken windows, as well as
shingle and roof damage.
The tornado dissipated near
Prairie Street as it exited
downtown. No damage was
seen in the tree line north of
Prairie Street.”
Lightning safety tips
Do not get caught outside.
No place outside is safe
when a thunderstorm is in
the area. Get inside as soon
as you hear thunder. Run
to a substantial building or
hard-topped metal vehicle
as fast as you can.
If you cannot get to a safe
building or vehicle, do the
following.
• Avoid open areas. Do
not be the tallest object in
the area.
• Stay away from isolated
tall trees, towers or utility
poles. Lightning tends to
strike the taller objects in
an area.
• Stay away from metal
conductors, such as wires or
fences. Metal does not attract
lightning, but lightning
can travel long distances
through it.
• If you are with a group
of people, spread out. While
this actually increases
the chance that someone
might get struck, it tends to
prevent multiple casualties
and increases the chances
that someone could help if a
person is struck.
For more lightning safety
information, go to www.
weather.gov/lightning.
The weather for July and
beyond
The temperature forecast
from the National
Centers for Environmental
Prediction for June was
accurate, as above-normal
temperature was predicted.
The NCEP prediction was
for normal precipitation
amounts, though, and June
finished well above normal
for precipitation. The Centers’
forecast for July is for
above normal temperatures
and normal precipitation.
The prediction for August
and September includes normal
temperature and normal
precipitation.
Mark T. Carroll is the president
of CALM Weather LLC, a meteorological
consulting service
based in Oak Forest. For more
information, visit calmwx.com.