All on one page….This page of the September 7, 1977 Forest Park Review has a story on the left is written by Judy Topinka. On the right, Jackie Schulz, who wrote the “Talk of the Town” for over 40 years, writes the birth announcement of Dan Novak, current Commissioner of Forest Park.
“Show me what Judy never gets time to do,” reads the caption on the back of this 1988 photo in the Review Archives.
Norman Leinweber, Park District Commissioner, State Representative Judy Baar Topinka, State Representative John Kubik, and Superintendent of Parks for Park District of Forest Park, Dave Novak.
Bob Haeger, Publisher of the Forest Park Review with Judy Topinka, journalist, before her days serving in some of the highest offices in the State of Illinois.

Looking back this last week of Woman’s History month, we highlight a Forest Park Review journalist from late 1976-early 1978, Judy Baar Topinka.  After ten years writing for the Suburban Life newspapers, she was hired by Bob Haeger, Forest Park Review publisher, to cover Village government and local interest stories.  Shortly after she started, she was the lead reporter here and covered the sudden death of Senator, and Mayor, Howard Mohr.    His sudden death, three hours before retiring as a Senator, caused, a shock wave throughout town.

Known for her cheerful energy, she was pragmatic and a straight shooter.   Judy Baar Topinka would later be elected to Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois State Senate, Illinois State Treasurer and Illinois Comptroller.   In 1995, she purchased the Riverside Landmark Newspaper, and sold it two years later to Wednesday Journal Inc. which also owns the Forest Park Review.

Judy Baar Topinka, it is said, kept her keys to the Review office, so she could sneak in once a year to decorate it for Bob Haeger’s birthday.

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