Will County News

  The Kankakee County Health Department's Facebook page posted a letter from the Department's administrator asking for the public's health in slowing the transmission of COVID-19.  See below for the full letter:  Please see the below letter from John Bevis, the Kankakee County Health Department administrator. Posted by Kankakee County Health Department on  Friday, November 13, 2020

  Press release from Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health: "State Public Health Officials Announce Additional COVID-19 Resurgence Mitigations to Take Effect in Regions 5, 7, and 8 on November 11 Three Regions Advance to Tier 2 Mitigations as Rolling Positivity Rates Continues to Steadily Increase Monday, November 9, 2020 - Governor, Office of the CHICAGO - Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing additional COVID-19 mitigation efforts that will be implemented in Region 5 (Southern Illinois), Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties), and Region 8 (Kane and DuPage counties), beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. These regions are seeing a test positivity rate that remains above 8 percent and continues to rise after more than 14-days under Tier 1 mitigations, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing additional mitigation measures under the state's Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. Region 5

   For results in the November 3, 2020 election in Will County, Illinois, go  here . Results will begin to post after polls close.  Please remember that election night results are unofficial.

  For results in the November 3, 2020 election in Kendall County, Illinois, go here . Results will begin to post after polls close.  Please remember that election night results are unofficial.

For results in the November 3, 2020 election for the Illinois 97th Representative District between Mark Batinick and Harry Benton, go  here  for Will County results and  here  for Kendall County results.  Results will begin to post after polls close.  Please remember election night results are unofficial and may not include all mailed and provisional ballots.   

  For results in the November 3, 2020 election for the Illinois 37th Representative District between Tim Ozinga and Michelle Fadeley, go here for Will County results and here for Cook County results.  Please remember election night results are unofficial and may not include all mailed and provisional ballots.  

 Information on early voting for Will County, Illinois from the Will County Clerk's page:

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has recorded 3 days of a COVID-19 test positivity rate above 8%.  Test positivity was above 8% for October 15th, 16th, and 17th.    Three days above the 8% test positivity rate will trigger mitigation measures.  The data is reported on this graph .

  The Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Will County took action at their October 8, 2020 Board meeting that will lead to the removal of the Hammel Woods Dam in Shorewood.   Full details from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:  " Forest Preserve Board takes action that will lead to Hammel Woods Dam removal   Action taken Thursday, Oct. 8, by the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Board of Commissioners will lead to the removal of the Hammel Woods Dam in Shorewood.  Semper Fi Land Services Inc. was hired to remove the dam, WBK Engineering LLC will oversee the work and the Lower DuPage River Watershed Coalition has agreed to pay for the removal. The removal process cannot begin until permits for the work have been approved by all necessary regulatory agencies. The work will take place in two stages with half the river water at the project site being drained during each phase using water storage cofferdams, said Andrew Hawkins, the Forest Prese

  On Oct. 5, 2020, Peotone School District Superintendent Steve Stein announced Peotone High School would be closed from Oct. 6 to Oct. 19th after two positive COVID-19 cases. Letter posted on the Peotone School District website: "Yesterday we informed you of a positive COVID-19 case at Peotone High School, and unfortunately, we had another positive case today. We do not know if there is any connection between these two cases, or if they are completely separate from one another. After discussions with the PHS administration, our building nurses and the Will County Health Department, I will be temporarily closing Peotone High School effective tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6. The building will remain closed to students through October 19. Tuesday, October 20, will be the first day back for in-person instruction for students and it will be a “B” Day. If your student is considered a close contact due to this positive case, you will be informed separately later tonight via phone and email

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 posted updated Remote Learning Expectations for families on Oct. 6, 2020.   Updated Expectations posted on the District's website are: "October 6, 2020 District 202 Families, As you know, we recently surveyed families and staff about remote learning this fall compared to last spring. We were happy to learn that most families feel remote learning has improved significantly. We were also happy to get some very good suggestions for further improving the system. Based on those survey results, we have updated our Remote Learning Expectations for students. Please especially note these two important changes: Students will now be required to keep their camera on each class the whole time period unless a teacher approves student(s) to not keep it on All classwork/homework is due the next time the class meets Please carefully review these new expectations and be prepared to follow them starting next Tuesday, October 13th. Students w

  As seasons change, so does the landscape at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  The prairie restoration at the Iron Bridge is the second largest restoration at Midewin.  A variety of prairie plants bloom throughout the year, creating new landscapes each season. Early October fall colors at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie:

 The Forest Preserve District of Will County announced October 2, 2020 that motion-activated game cameras photographed bobcats in the Kankakee Sands Preserve in Custer Township. A Forest Preserve District of Will County game camera photographed bobcats, possibly a mother and her kittens, walking in a small open area at Kankakee Sands Preserve in Custer Township recently. The Forest District’s game cameras have detected bobcats in only three other preserves in recent years. (Photos by Forest Preserve District of Will County) Full press release: " Forest Preserve District of Will County game cameras recently captured some rare and exciting photos of bobcats, possibly a mother and her kittens, walking through a small open area in Kankakee Sands Preserve in Custer Township. The cameras, which are triggered by motion, are used in the preserves to document animal numbers and movements. The information obtained by the cameras helps guide the Forest Preserve District's land management

  Illinois Governor Pritzker's Administration announced the Village of Beecher was awarded a Rebuild Illinois grant for a shovel-ready public works project: 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has recorded 4 days of an 8.8% COVID-19 test positivity rate for August 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, 2020.   The last date is reported on this graph , where August 28th and 29th show a 8.8% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.  Region 7 is currently subject to mitigation measures which began on August 26th, 2020.  Mitigation measures are outlined here .

Illinois State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives Natalie Manley will serve on a Special Investigative Committee to "review the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement and determine if there are grounds to discipline Speaker Madigan", according to a statement by Illinois House of Representatives Majority Leader Greg Harris. Full statement below: "Statement from Majority Leader Greg Harris CHICAGO  – Majority Leader Greg Harris released the following statement Wednesday following the filing of a petition by House Republicans to create a Special Investigative Committee: “On Monday three members of the House Republican caucus, including Leader Jim Durkin, filed a petition with the Speaker’s Office invoking House Rule 91, requesting the creation of a Special Investigative Committee to review the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement and determine if there are grounds to discipline Speaker Madigan. The petition w

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has recorded 2 days of an 8.8% test positivity rate for August 28th and 29th, 2020.   The last date is reported on this graph , where August 28th and 29th show a 8.8% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.  Region 7 is currently subject to mitigation measures which began on August 26th, 2020.  Mitigation measures are outlined here .

On August 28, 2020, Joliet Junior College announced its Spring 2021 lecture courses will be delivered online.   JJC's statement read: "Joliet Junior College has announced plans to continue its current hybrid course delivery model for spring 2021. Unless COVID-19 pandemic conditions warrant a change to procedure, spring 2021 lecture courses will remain online, and labs will continue to meet in person in accordance with state and federal safety guidelines. " Full message here .

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 6 days of test positivity increases and recorded an 8.5% test positivity rate for the last day reported--August 27, 2020.  The 8.5% is a .2% increase from August 26, 2020. The last date is reported on this  graph , where August 27th shows a 8.5% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.  

In an August 27, 2020 press release, Exelon Generation announced they plan to retire the Dresden and Byron Nuclear Plants in 2021.  The Dresden Nuclear Plant is located in Grundy County at the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers.  Press release from Exelon: "CHICAGO — Exelon Generation announced today that it intends to retire its Byron Generating Station and Dresden Generating Station in fall 2021, resulting in the loss of four nuclear generation units that together supply clean, zero-emissions energy to more than four million homes and businesses in northern Illinois. Byron, located just outside Byron, Ill., will close in September 2021, and Dresden, located in Morris, Ill., will close in November 2021. Dresden is licensed to operate for another decade and Byron for another 20 years. Together, they employ more than 1,500 full-time employees and 2,000 supplemental workers during refueling outages, most from local union halls. The plants pay nearly $63 million

Will County leaders joined Governor Pritzker in Will County to discuss COVID-19 mitigation measures in response to rising positivity rates:

Governor Pritzker has announced mitigation efforts will begin Wednesday, August 26th in Will and Kankakee County after 3 days of COVID-19 test positivity rates at or above 8%. Details of the restrictions are at this link .

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 7 days of test positivity increases and recorded an 8.3% test positivity rate for the last day reported--August 21, 2020.  The 8.3% is the same as the rate for August 20, 2020. The positivity rate is recorded on this graph , along with other COVID-19 data.   This marks three days in a row with test positivity at 8.0% or above. According to the State of Illinois Plan, "three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling)" would result in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.  More details here .

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 7 days of test positivity increases and recorded an 8.3% test positivity rate for the last day reported--August 20, 2020.  The 8.3% is a .3% increase from August 19, 2020. The last date is reported on this  graph , where August 20th shows a 8.3% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.   This marks two days in a row with test positivity at 8.0% or above. According to the State of Illinois Plan, "three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling)" would result in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. For more information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, go here .

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 6 days of test positivity increases and has reached the 8% positivity rate that after 3 days would require mitigation efforts. The last date reported on the  graph , August 19th, shows a 8.0% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.   According to the State of Illinois Plan, "three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling)" would result in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. For more information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, go  here .

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 5 days of test positivity increases and is one tenth of one percent away from the 8% positivity rate that after 3 days would require mitigation efforts. The last date reported on the  graph , August 18th, shows a 7.9% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.  According to the State of Illinois Plan, "three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling)" would result in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. For more information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, go  here .

Today, August 20, 2020, the Minooka Community Consolidated School District held an emergency Board of Education meeting where it was decided the 1st quarter of school would be held remotely. For the Superintendent's letter explaining the decision in the context of recent Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines for in-person learning, go here . 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Region 7---which includes Will and Kankakee County--has experienced 5 days of test positivity increases. The last date reported on the graph , August 17th, shows a 7.5% positivity rate of COVID-19 tests.  According to the State of Illinois Plan, "three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling)" would result in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. For more information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, go here .

Wilton Township has published an official public notice of a Board of Trustee Vacancy with directions on how interested candidates can submit a letter of interest: PUBLIC NOTICE TAKE NOTICE that Wilton Township of Will County, Illinois, effective as of August 12, 2020 will have a vacant Board of Trustee position. This position was held by a Democrat and must be filled by a Democrat by appointment within the first 60 days. Any interested candidates can submit their letter of interest to wiltontownshipclerk@gmail.com until September 4, 2020. Jody M. Thatcher Wilton Township Clerk

At an emergency meeting, the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Board voted to implement remote learning from August 31, 2020 to September 18, 2020.  The District says it has set a target of September 21, 2020 for a return to blended learning. Full release:

The Board of Education of the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 will meet tonight, August 18, 2020 for an Emergency Meeting to discuss the re-opening of school. This video shows how to watch the meeting online, as well as view the agenda: To go directly to the video log-in page, go here . 

The Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Board of Education will hold an emergency meeting on August 18,  2020, at 7:00 P.M., in the Knights' Round Table Hall at the Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 East Lincoln Highway, New Lenox, Illinois, to discuss the reopening of school. According to the District's Board Docs website, "Due to COVID, stakeholders may provide public comment in person in an Open Meeting or via email. Please email, lstone@lw210.org with your public comment by 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, it will be read aloud at the Board of Education meeting." The only action item on the agenda for the August 18th meeting is the re-opening of School for the upcoming year.

  Each month, the Illinois Gaming Board publishes a report on Casino operations in Illinois. The July 2020 report revealed that across Illinois Casinos, Admissions were down 48.11% compared to July 2019 and Adjusted Gross Revenue was down 28.63%. Taxes that the State of Illinois and local municipalities receives from casino taxes include both an admissions tax (set amount per admission) and a wagering tax (percentage of adjusted gross receipts). Report showing admissions and AGR at each Illinois Casino for July 2020: Report showing data for all of 2020, with bar graph comparisons to 2019  

  Joliet Junior College has received funds through the federal government to distribute to students.  The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) was established by the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. JJC received $2,748,813 to distribute to students. For the summer session, 550 JJC students were awarded $534,600 in CARES Act funds.  For fall semester, students can apply online to be considered for up to $1400 in funds. According to the application page : " Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants are intended to go DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses. Requests will be accepted from any JJC student currently enrolled for the Fall 2020 semester and eligible students will receive disbursements in accordance with the federal guidance for HEERF funding. DIsbursements will no

Before closing for repairs in 2019, the Brandon Road bridge was a favorite shortcut over the Des Plaines River to avoid I-80 or downtown Joliet. Barge traffic did make for frequent delays while barges and boats navigated the locks at Brandon Road, but waiting traffic could take in the nature of the Des Plaines River:

Wilmington School District 209-U will offer full-day, in-person instruction starting on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. The district will also offer a remote learning option for all students.   Wilmington's full plan for the return to school, including safety measures to be implemented such as masks and enhanced cleaning, can be found here . In a letter, Wilmington Superintendent Matt Swick wrote that: " "In order to effectively plan for the start of this new school year, we are going to ask  ALL parents & guardians  to complete an  In-Person and Remote Learning Selection form  for all individual students by Wednesday, August 5, 2020. This form can be found at:  https://forms.gle/QbRFvJ7pCZ8BxaW99   . Please be aware that whatever final selection is made will be in place at least throughout the entire 1st trimester for students in k-8 and throughout the entire 1st semester for high school students."

The Will County Health Department posted a reminder to residents to take social distancing guidelines seriously: "HIGHER POSITIVITY RATES AND OUT-OF-STATE GATHERING BOTH SERVE AS IMPORTANT REMINDERS ABOUT CONTINUING TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES DURING PANDEMIC The Will County Health Department (WCHD) wishes to remind the public that the Coronavirus pandemic is far from over, and that precautions that are advised must be heeded to and taken seriously.  Illinois is seeing an uptick in Coronavirus cases since July 4 th , and the relaxing of requirements on social distancing, mask wearing, and holding large gatherings has been a contributing factor. While Illinois’ Region Seven (which includes Will and Kankakee Counties) showed a seven day run of positivity rate increases as of July 30th, it must be noted that ALL Illinois zones outside of Chicago showed positivity rate increases for at least six days.  (This information is available at  https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?reg