Forest Preserve District of Will County Receives Grants to Improve DuPage River Trail and Rock Run Preserve

Illinois Republican Leader Tom Cross presented a check of $500,000 to the Forest Preserve District of Will County on December 7 for two District projects in Shorewood and Joliet. The grant was awarded to the Forest Preserve by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO).



The DCEO grant was awarded to assist in the development of a section of the Hammel Woods North—DuPage River Trail in Shorewood and Joliet and for infrastructure improvements to the Rock Run Preserve in Joliet.


The DuPage River Trail is an initiative supported by numerous municipalities to create a continuous trail and greenway along the DuPage River from Naperville to Channahon. The DCEO grant will support the construction of 1.5 miles of asphalt bicycle trail that will extend from the existing trail system at Hammel Woods Preserve—DuPage River Access, on Black Road in Shorewood, to a section of the trail already in place that leads to Plainfield Township Park District's Sunset Ridge Park. This new section of trail includes an underpass of Black Road. The activities that will be funded by the DCEO grant include the materials and labor associated with the Black Road trail underpass, wetland boardwalk, fishing overlook on the DuPage River and improvements to the Hammel Woods Dog Park.


The Rock Run Preserve infrastructure enhancements include improvements to the preserve and to the Rock Run Trail. This 10.4-mile asphalt trail runs through the communities of Joliet and Crest Hill. Portions of this trail are inundated with water during wet weather events and are in need of repair.


The DCEO grant will be used to repair two sections of the trail within the Rock Run Preserve and for a new latrine at DuPage River Access.



DCEO is the lead state agency for improving Illinois' competitiveness in the global economy. DCEO administers a wide range of economic and workforce development programs, services and initiatives designed to create and retain high quality jobs and to build strong communities. DCEO leads the Illinois economic development process in partnership with businesses, local governments, workers and families.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross (center) presents DECO grant check to Board of Commissioner Lee Ann Goodson, Board President Cory S. Singer, Forest Preserve Executive Director Marcy DeMauro and Commissioner Brian Smith.

Will County Sheriff's Office Cautions Rockdale, Illinois, Inmate Escaped en route to Statesville

UPDATE December 2, 2011:

The Illinois Department of Corrections along with the Will County Sheriff's Office, the Illinois State Police and the Rockdale Police Department announce the capture of IDOC inmate Cesar Sanchez.

Tonight Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas and representatives from the above agencies announced the capture of escaped IDOC inmate Cesar Sanchez in the town of Rockdale.  Sanchez, who had escaped from a prisoner transport van earlier today was located at a Waste Management facility located in Rockdale, Illinois.  Sanchez was located  shortly after 8:00 p.m. hiding at a Waste Management facility near the location where surveillance camera's observed him jumping from a truck.  Officers were alerted earlier in the evening of the sighting and moved their search to the area.  K9 units initally tracked Sanchez to a lot filled with portable toilets.  Though the initial efforts failed to locate Sanchez the officers continuted to search.  The Chicago Police Department dispatched one of their helicopters to the area to aid in the search and pilots were able to direct ground units to a specific Porta Potty.  Upon closer examintation by ground units Sanchez was located hiding in the waste holding tank of the unit.  He was taken into custody without further incident and turned over to the Department of Corrections.

The search for Sanchez was aided by multiple police agencies from the surrounding area, including the Joliet Police Department, Lockport, Lemont, Oak Lawn, Cook County Sherieff's Police, U.S. Marshalls Service, to name just a few. Sanchez will face new charges associated with his short lived escape at the conclusion of the Illinois Department of Corrections investigation into the incident.

Warning issued by the Will County Sheriff's on December 2, 2011 before the inmate was captured while hiding in a port a potty:

The Will County Sheriff's Office is cautioning residents of the Rockdale, Illinois community to be vigilant for an IDOC inmate who escaped from custody this afternoon. 

On today's date at approximately 2:06 p.m., the Illinois Department of Corrections reported the escape of inmate Cesar Sanchez, M/H, DOC inmate # K55087.  Sanchez, who is serving a 7 year sentence for Burglary regarding a 2006 conviction in Cook County, was apparently in a IDOC transport vehicle in the area of 159th Street and Farrell Road, Lockport Township when he was able to escape from the vehicle and fled on foot.  Sanchez was last seen wearing a IDOC issued tan shirt and pants. He was secured by handcuff's at the time of his escape and reportedly suffered an injury to one of his legs as he jumped from the transport vehicle.  Sanchez is described as 5'06", 189 lbs, black hair and brown eyes.

Latest reports indicate that Sanchez may have fled the Lockport area by way of a delivery truck and reportedly was last seen in the Rockdale, Illinois area, which is located to the south of Joliet. 

More information on Cesar Sanches can be located at the IDOC web site.  His IDOC inmate number is K55087. 

Down Home Guitars of Frankfort Open House December 3, 2011

Down Home Guitars is holding a holiday open house Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their historic Downtown Frankfort location--11 South White Street (inside the Trolley Barn).

According to the Down Home Guitars, the open house will feature student performances, mini classes, store sales and more throughout the day.  Visitors can meet with teachers and learn about new classes for infants and toddlers, teens, group ukelele, flatpick guitar, and more.  Sounds like a great event for the entire family!

Here is a video of the Down Home Guitars float in the Frankfort Fall Fest Parade: