Will County News

Centerpoint Properties is constructing the Centerpoint Intermodal Center-Joliet, Illinois . Here are some photos of the construction of the project taken near the intersection of Laraway Road and Brandon Road in Joliet, Illinois: (Click on any of the above photos for a larger view) Here is a photo of Brandon Rd., several homes on this road were bought by Centerpoint and demolished: Here is a video of the homes on Brandon Road in Joliet before they were bought and demolished: Here is a link to the Will County Recorder of Deeds' webpage, where you can search Centerpoint's land transactions. Other Centerpoint-related links: Plan on City of Joliet's webpage

The Will County Fair in Peotone, Illinois, concludes today. The Fair is an annual end-of-summer tradition, dating back to 1903.  Farm families brought crops, livestock, quilts, jams, preserves, garden produce, and baked goods--among other hand-made or hand-raised items--to the fair to "compete" for a coveted Best of Show ribbon: The Fair is a time to celebrate the end of summer, and the Exhibition Hall overflows with fruit and vegetables painstakingly raised throughout the spring and summer: Will County 4-Hers  participating in livestock projects exhibit their livestock during the Will County Fair.  4-H is part of the University of Illinois Extension .  Will County 4-Hers involved in livestock production keep records of all expenses involved with raising their livestock, learn disease-control methods, and how to raise livestock for market.   Will County 4-Hers then have the opportunity to sell their livestock at the Will County 4-H Auction: Local businesses and politic

The Will County Fair continues through Sunday, August 30 in Peotone, Illinois.  In its 106th year, the Will County Fair features exhibits such as: livestock, grains, woodworking, photography, and quilts.  Exhibitors such as 4-H youth and local citizens bring their projects to the fair, many year after year. Click on any of the photos below to enlarge:

Click on any of the above pictures for a larger view. For more info on the Manhattan Farmers' Market, visit:  http://willcountynews. blogspot.com/2009/06/ manhattan-farmers-market.html  .

During  MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann,  MSNBC analyst Lawrence O'Donnell referenced Joliet, IL, while discussing health-care town halls held across the country today.   O'Donnell was asked by Olbermann: "What should we make of Mr. Obama in New Hampshire, skeptics reasonable to his face, others with vile things to say, sort of at the perimeter." O'Donnell responded: "Well now you see why Senators want to be President.  If Barack Obama was doing a town hall meeting in Joliet today, as the Senator from Illinois, he'd probably be getting shouted down a bit, he'd probably be running into Arlen Spector troubles..." View the entire clip of this segment on health care town halls here (Joliet is mentioned around 7:40): Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy

Klingler Pioneer Cemetery, on the grounds of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, offers a glimpse of Will County's farming past.  Klingler Cemetery is one of six pioneer cemeteries maintained by the National Forest Service.  Midewin's website also offers pictures, maps, and an index of everyone buried within the pioneer cemeteries. The Klingler Pioneer Cemetery is located on the east side of Midewin, just off the Wauponsee Glacial Bike Trail, which lies on the old Wabash Railroad, viewable on the map below. Midewin consists of land that was the Joliet Arsenal Ammunition Plant.  The federal government bought approximately 450 small family farms , consisting of about 40,000 acres  in order to create the Joliet Arsenal. Below is the newspaper record of the sale of the Klingler land to the USA. The Midewin trail to the cemetery is lined with hedge trees, which were planted by pioneer farmers in order to have lumber, and some considered the hedge a living fence . The cemeteries sta