Will County News

 The Archdiocese of Chicago has announced a special event at Rate Field on June 14th, 2025 to celebrate Pope Leo XIV.   According to the Archdiocese, the event will feature a video greeting from Pope Leo XIV that will contain a special message for the young people of the world.  Gates will open at 12:30 p.m., with a program at 2:30 p.m. and a Mass at 4:00 p.m..  More details about the event will be posted at the Archdiocese website here .  Pope Leo XIV grew up in suburban Dolton and attended St. Mary of the Assumption parish, which is now closed.  Video of the Pope's childhood parish:

  House Bill 1237 passed the Illinois House of Representatives on April 10, 2025 by a vote of 71-40. The bill amends the Illinois School code by requiring school boards to prohibit a school from "from using a native name, logo, or mascot, except as provided in subsections (c) and (e)." Subsection (c), (d), (e): You can read the full bill here , Amendment 4  was adopted and passed on April 10, 2025.  The bill now goes to the Illinois Senate for consideration. Local schools that would be impacted by this bill include Channahon Jr. High and Chaney-Monge District 88.    

  The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has published a website where members of the public can view measles vaccination rates by school.  The website allows for filtering schools by county. IDPH released the following press release about the website on April 9, 2025: " SPRINGFIELD  – With cases of measles being reported in more than 20 jurisdictions around the United States, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has unveiled a new data dashboard to help school officials and members of the public assess the potential severity of any outbreaks of measles, should one occur in Illinois. The new   Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard   makes it easy for the public to find out the measles vaccination rate in any school in Illinois, public or private, and to determine the risk of a child being exposed to measles if a case is introduced in their school. Illinois has had no reported cases of measles since an  outbreak in Chicago in early 2024 ...

 The Forest Preserve District of Will County will hold a "Spring Biking Kickoff" on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 10:00 am to noon at  Prairie Bluff Preserve . According to the event website :  "The weather is warming, and the trails are calling! Come out to Prairie Bluff to get your bike ready for the season and learn about basic maintenance and repair from our partners at REI. Staff from the Orland Park Co-op bike shop and the Forest Preserve will be at the Prairie Bluff Shelter presenting on bicycle maintenance and trail recreation and safety in the preserves. Participants can visit the shelter for the presentation and get swag, trail maps and safety materials then hit the trail for some prairie views to kick off the season!  Have a bicycle you’re no longer using? Bring a Recycle Your Bicycle delivery for us to pass along to  Working Bikes (Opens in a new window) , an organization that refurbishes and distributes bikes locally and globally as tools of empower...

  Hundreds gathered near the site of the old Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet as part of a "Hands Off" rally.  These protests of the Trump administration and Elon Musk's cuts to the federal government were held around the country, and included events in Lisle, Chicago, and Joliet.    View of "Hands Off" rally in Joliet:

  The City of Joliet is seeking resident feedback through a survey to guide its plan for using federal funds. The survey can be viewed here . According to the survey: " Joliet is seeking input from community residents on affordable housing and community development needs of its neighborhoods. The responses will guide the development of the City's Consolidated Plan for 2025-2029, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the expenditure of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The information will also help inform affordable housing funds made available through Will County.   Community input will provide direction on long term goals and types of housing and community development projects that the City can support over the next five years. To learn more about current programs and the planning process, please visit the  City's HUD page . To receive notifications about the plan and additional opportunities to participate...

  Will County Green, a department of Will County's Land Use Department, will host an Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste Collection event at the Bolingbrook Village Hall Parking Lot,  375 West Briarcliff Road,  Bolingbrook, IL 60440  on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Appointments are required and can be made here . To view full rules and requirements, go to the event website here .  Here are some details about what will be accepted at this event: Electronic Items Accepted include: Televisions (limit 2), Computers, laptops, tablets, notebooks, monitors, printers, copiers, mice, speakers, cameras, video cameras, telephones, answering machines, microwaves, radios, stereos, vacuum cleaners, toaster ovens, blenders (no glass), coffee makers (no glass), power tools, etc.  Small scrap metal items also accepted at this event. HHW Items Accepted include: All types of paints/stains (limit 15 gallons), Old/Unwanted medicatio...

 Did you know Dellwood Park in Lockport was built by the Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company in the early 1900s to help bolster ridership on its electric interurban railway?  According to the Lockport Area Genealogical and Historical Society (http://lockporthistory.org/dellwoodpark/dellwoodpark.htm), the park was built between 1905 and 1906. The videos below show some postcards featuring historical views of Dellwood Park, along with their present day locations.  The historic bridges are still very much evident.  With all of today's debate about the role of electric vehicles in our transportation system, it's fascinating to think people arrived at Dellwood Park via an electric-powered streetcar in the early 1900s!

 The Gotion Battery plant in Manteno, Illinois played a role in the Village's April 1, 2025 election. Several candidates opposed to the lithium battery plant under construction at the old Kmart warehouse in Manteno ran for elected office as part of the Freedom Party. According to unofficial results from the Kankakee County Clerk, the Freedom Party candidates are leading for the offices of Village President and Village Clerk, although there are many outstanding mail ballots and all results are unofficial until the County Clerk counts all mailed and provisional ballots.

To view results from the April 1, 2025 election for Peotone, Illinois, go to the Will County Clerk's page   here   and scroll down to the Peotone section. Election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots. View of a demolition derby at the Will County fair in Peotone:

 To view results from the April 1, 2025 election for Manhattan, Illinois, go to the Will County Clerk's page here and scroll down to the Manhattan section. Election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots.

To view results in the April 1, 2025 election for Naperville City Council, go  here for Will County results here for DuPage County results Naperville is comprised of land in both Will and DuPage County. Election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots.

 To see results in the April 1, 2025 election in Wilmington, Illinois, go here and scroll down to Wilmington. Please remember that election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots. Some views around Wilmington:

 For results in the April 1, 2025 Mayoral Election in Aurora between incumbent Richard Irvin and challenger John Laesch,  go here for Will County results go here for DuPage County results go here for Kendall County results go here for Kane County results (scroll down to Aurora section) Aurora is made up of land in those four counties, so results will not be final until all four counties have tabulated votes.   Also please remember that election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots.

 For results in the April 1, 2025 election in Lockport, Illinois, go to the Will County Clerk's page here and scroll down to the Lockport section. Remember that election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots. 

  To view results in the April 1, 2025 election for Joliet City Council, go to:  the Will County Clerk's page here and the Kendall County Clerk's page here .  Joliet is comprised of land in both Will and Kendall Counties. Remember that election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots. 

 To view results from the April 1, 2025 election in Will County, Illinois, go to the Will County Clerk's page here . Remember that election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots.