Youth charged in gun death of friend at party

The 18-year-old son of a Cook County sheriff's police officerwas charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter after heaccidentally shot and killed a friend. Fatally wounded was GeraldStange, 18, of Midlothian. He was shot once in the head byChristopher Langhamer of Midlothian, who hosted a party for more thana dozen other young people at his home while his parents were out oftown, said Midlothian police Capt. John Bittin. Langhamer found a.357-caliber magnum revolver belonging to his father, Ronald, in adresser and began playing around with it, police said. Stange wouldhave been a senior next fall at Bremen Township High School,Midlothian. Bridgeview residents sue Unocal over blast

A group of Bridgeview residents sued Unocal Corp. Wednesday,alleging negligence that led to a July 25 chemical plant blast. Thesuit in Circuit Court charges Unocal "carelessly and negligently"failed to warn residents that the area around the plant wasdangerous. As a result, the residents became sick and sufferedemotional distress after the explosion, said the suit, which seeks$50 million in damages, or a sum equal to 1 percent of the company'snet worth. GOP members pick Carr for County Board

Six suburban Cook County Board members - all Republicans - namedAllan Carr to the vacancy created by the retirement of Joseph Woods.Carr, of Cicero, a restaurateur, is Cicero Township Republicancommitteeman, township clerk, controller and registrar. Board memberRichard A. Siebel said Carr was picked because he "demonstratedsuccessful experience in the area of economic development in CiceroTownship, not only in attracting new inductry but in retainingindustry." He will be sworn in at the Aug. 22 meeting to replaceWoods, of Oak Park, who retired last month. Glendale Heights police chief gets Ore. job

Daniel McCollum, police chief in west suburban Glendale Heights,was selected as the new police chief of Corvallis, Ore. He was chosenfrom a field of 34 applicants for the job, said Richard Rodeman, cityattorney. McCollum, 34, was the top candidate among four finalistsfor the $52,800-a-year post, Rodeman said. McCollum will head adepartment with 40 sworn officers, 30 civilian employees and a budgetof about $3.6 million. Glendale Heights has a population of some23,000, compared with 42,000 in Corvallis. Missing-family report phony; man charged

A North Side man whose phony report that his wife and twochildren fell from a capsized boat in Montrose Harbor was chargedWednesday with disorderly conduct. Ronald Falknor, 30, of 3120 W.Ainslie, who police said doesn't even own a boat, reported his familymissing when he was pulled from Lake Michigan near Montrose Harbor bya passing boat, police said. Two Chicago police boats, two U.S.Coast Guard boats, a Coast Guard helicopter and a Fire Departmenthelicopter made a futile search before police discovered Falknor'swife, Patricia, 27, and two children, Heather, 2, and Seteva, 5, safeat home. Detectives said Falknor first gave an alias of Ronald Grayand a nonexistent North Side address before giving his actual nameand address. N. Glenview Mobile Home Park reprieved

There will be no attempt to evict residents of the NorthGlenview Mobile Home Park until after an Aug. 29 court hearing,lawyers for the park said Wednesday. Residents of the park, at 2000Waukegan Rd., are fighting to prevent the new owner from closing thepark and replacing it with a car dealership. Julie Ansell, one ofthe Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation lawyers representing someresidents, said the closing violates state law. Lawyers for the parkcontend that occupants do not have a "grant of perpetual occupancyrights" on someone else's property.