Will County News

Wilmington's downtown merchants' windows are filled with holiday scenes, creating a festive backdrop for Wilmington's annual lighted Holiday parade.  This year's parade is Saturday, November 29th, 2014 at 5:00 p.m..  The tree lighting ceremony is at 6:15 p.m.. Antique store window in downtown Wilmington, Illinois  Antique store window in downtown Wilmington, Illinois  Antique store window in downtown Wilmington, Illinois Christmas decorations on display at The Flower Loft in downtown Wilmington

The South Suburban Council of moveon.org is hosting an educational forum regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership  Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Black Road Branch of the Joliet Public Library.  The forum will be led by Carson Starkey of the Illinois Fair Trade Coalition. Flyer of event made by Moveon.org Trans-Pacific Partnership Meeting in Joliet

A public meeting was held Monday, September 8, 2014 at the Manhattan Village Hall to discuss plans for a possible Medical Cannibus Cultivation Center at Offner and Cedar Roads in Wilton Township.  Since the land sits outside the Village of Manhattan City Limits, the Village has no authority over the site.  The meeting was hosted by White Oak Growers, the business--owned by investors from New York and Connecticut--seeking to operate the cultivation center.  White Oak Growers is seeking one of twenty-one medical cannibus cultivation center permits to be issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture under the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannibus Pilate Program Act.  The Act was signed by Governor Quinn on August 1, 2013 and went into effect January 1, 2014. White Oak Growers stated they will pay above the minimum wage and will seek to employ veterans and people with disabilities.  White Oak Growers stated processing the marijuana plants for wholesa...

August 6, 2014 Joliet mayoral candidate and current City Councilman Bob O'Dekirk released a press release yesterday regarding a bridge over the Des Plaines River to relieve traffic on local roads such as Route 53 in Joliet.  O'Dekirk states he was contacted by union officials claiming to have a plan and private money to build a toll bridge over the Des Plaines to connect CenterPoint with I-80 at Houboult Road.  Full press release from O'Dekirk: "On the heels of yet another semitrailer rollover on I-55 Monday afternoon, Joliet District 2 Councilman, Bob O’Dekirk is calling for an expedited plan to build a proposed truck bypass bridge from CenterPoint to I-80 at Houbolt Rd. "The horrific traffic accident on I-55 last week is a call to action” O’Dekirk said, “these types of accidents and numerous rollovers on both I-55 and I-80 won’t stop until we solve the truck congestion problem plaguing Joliet and the surrounding area.”   O'Dekirk...

By Mary Baskerville ELWOOD—Ron Stephens recently walked from Manhattan, Illinois to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery as part of his 350 mile walk to r aise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.   Stephens, a 66-year old Vietnam Army Veteran, has walked about 20 intermittent days since Memorial Day. Ron Stephens and his wife, Lisa, at the point along Hoff Road where the Elwood’s escort met the Manhattan escort.  Manhattan and Elwood’s emergency services, police, and fire escorts were exceptional, he said. “These guys have been so helpful.” When he expressed his thanks, he said that they simply responded, “It’s our flag too. “God Bless them. The simple faith that people have. It’s symbolic: It’s our country; it’s our flag. And what more worthy cause than to take care of our wounded soldiers?” As he walked along Hoff Road, he learned the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery had b...

By Ann Baskerville Federal Legislation transferring land that was the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant from the Department of the Army to the National Forest Service in 1995 outlined scientific, environmental and land use education and research as founding purposes for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  Midewin is fulfilling its mission this summer, partnering with colleges, high schools, and conservation groups to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds for a common purpose: restoring the native prairie at Midewin. North Lawndale College Prep and YCC students remove invasive species at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie High School Programs Midewin hosts two summer work programs for high school students, the Youth Conservation Corps and the National Forest Foundation North Lawndale College Prep High School Program. The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is made up of six high students from communities near Midewin, including Wilmington, Kankakee, Brai...

The Village of Elwood, Illinois held a special meeting July 23, 2014 at 7 p.m. to discuss "AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 1027 ENTITLED “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE MODIFICATION OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS UPON USAGE OF CERTAIN VILLAGE ROADS” Elwood had passed an ordinance in May restricting truck traffic on certain Village of Elwood roads in an attempt to reduce the number of trucks driving through Elwood and using U.S. Route 53.  Because trucks can currently only enter CenterPoint-Joliet from the south, trucks were getting off I80, coming south on 53, and then going through Elwood to reach the South Entrance to CenterPoint-Joliet. Elwood's May '14 ordinance restricted trucks from using CenterPoint Drive as a through street, among other restrictions . CenterPoint, Union Pacific,and APL Logistics brought a federal suit to remove the road restrictions, arguing they violated interstate commerce laws . At the July 23, '14 meeting, the Villa...

A group of citizens stood on the 127th Street bridge over I-355 holding signs reading "Secure Our Border", "Stop the Illegal Alien Invasion" and "A Nation Without Border is Not a Nation."  The rally was publicized on the Lockport-Homer Tea Party Website.  A woman named Stephanie from Lemont stated she organized the gathering because she felt something needed to be done to secure the border.  Stephanie stated "right now this country has a jobless situation, we have to straighten out our own country."  She stated she is not against helping children who have obviously suffered emotionally because of their experiences, but "it has to stop somewhere." Will County Board Member Stephen Balich was also in attendance and stated we are experiencing "an invasion of the US by illegals" and that some of the unaccompanied minors could have gang affiliations and  "we have enough gang bangers already in the United States."  Bal...

The Will County Threshermen's Association will host its annual Summer Show Thursday, July 17th through Sunday, July 20th, 2014 at the Round Barn Farm Park in Manhattan, Illinois.  Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.  Antique farming enthusiasts will display how steam-powered machines served the needs of farmers in the early 1900's by: sawing logs: Separating wheat from chaff: A wide variety of antique tractors will be on display: Live plowing demonstrations are also planned: The show is a great way to bring history to life for younger children.  For example, parents could create "where was it made?" scavenger hunt for kids.  Parents could ask their kids to look on each piece of antique machinery and write down where it was manufactured. For a full schedule, go here .

Will County Board Member Ragan Freitag is hosting a meeting on the Illiana Expressway at the Wilmington City Hall Wednesday, July 16, 2014 from 5-7 p.m..  The County's ombudsman will be in attendance, as will State Representative John Anthony (R-Morris). "Residents have many questions about the proposed $1.3 billion Illiana project that will cut across Will County and impact property owners in its path," said Freitag. "Elected officials at both the local and state level should provide opportunities and forums for their residents' questions to get answered and their voices to be heard. This is the purpose of next week's meeting in Wilmington." According to Will County's Press Release on the meeting:  "Last August, Will County appointed Michael Hansen to serve as ombudsman for the project and to represent the interests of property owners affected by the proposed Illiana in dealings with the Illinois Department of Transportation. The omb...

By Ann Baskerville According to the Illinois Department of Transportation's South Suburban Airport Land Acquisition webpage , Loyola University Chicago has sold 90.72 acres to the State of Illinois for the Peotone Airport.  The parcel is located at Egyptian Trail and West Eagle Lake Road and was sold for $900,000. The land was donated to Loyola by the late Mary and Anthony Rudis , well-known conservationists and airport opponents who were some of the largest landowners in the Airport Footprint.  As this 2004 Chicago Tribune article discusses, Mr. and Mrs. Rudis donated the land without restrictions on its use. Will County News contacted Loyola for comment on the decision to sell the land and received the following response from Steve Christensen, Communications Director for Loyola: "When the University was originally notified of this bequest, we considered using the land for an ecology station. Since that time, the University acquired nearly 100 acres in Woodstock, Illi...

Due to recent storms and damage at North Island Park, Wilmington, Illinois has cancelled fireworks scheduled for July 5th, 2014.  There will be a fireworks display held on July 25th during the Catfish Days Festival. This 4th of July, let's bring back Made in the USA: Please remember firework events are subject to change by the organizations organizing the event.

Members of Lincoln-Way ROTC and Manhattan American Legion Post 935 conduct Memorial Day Services at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Manhattan, Illinois Members of Lincoln-Way ROTC and Manhattan American Legion Post 935 conduct Memorial Day Services at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Manhattan, Illinois

By Ann Baskerville Meteorologists and support staff at the National Weather Service Chicago's Station in Romeoville, Illinois monitor weather conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to inform more than 10 million citizens in 23 counties of severe weather threats.   Matt Friedlein, Lead Forecaster for NWS Chicago, said that while technological advances have allowed for greater radar precision and more methods of relaying warning information since the Romeoville station opened in December 1991, the NWS Chicago's core mission remains the same: spreading the message of weather awareness and informing the public of severe weather threats.   Friedlein said weather awareness begins with citizens remaining aware of weather conditions capable of producing strong storms and tornadoes.  Using advanced computer models to analyze weather data, meteorologists can recognize the potential for severe weather in a region  days in advance .  For example, five days prior to the...

  The Joliet Junior College Police Department recently held a spaghetti dinner to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.   Police Officer Randy Graves said he would like to thank the JJC Police Department, the entire JJC educational community, and cafeteria for their overwhelming support of Special Olympics Illinois: " During this fundraiser, we sold out of spaghetti in the first hour of the event; we then served mostaccioli; moved on to pasta shells, and finally bow tie pasta to feed our supporters.  We sold more dinners during the first hour than we did in last year's entire Inaugural Event!  Thank you everyone for contributing to the success of our Special Olympics fundraiser!"   Joliet Junior College Police Officers and volunteers serve spaghetti dinners to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.  Jeanne Lindholm, Records Department, JJC Police Department and  Daryl Parsons, D...

Tom Spangler prepares soil for planting in a field that would be bisected by the B3 alignment for the proposed Illiana Tollway. The B3 alignment for the Illiana Expressway would run East to West through this farm field directly East of Symerton Farmer Tom Spangler says if the Illiana Expressway is constructed through this farm field, it will take him much more time to work the ground because of time spent traveling to the part of his farm that would be on the other side of the Illiana Expressway.  Increased fuel costs and the fact that the risk of breakdowns increases the more the machinery is moved weigh as consequences to Spangler's farm being bisected by the Illiana Tollway.

By Ann Baskerville Prairie Volunteers and Boy Scouts spent a Saturday morning helping Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie staff take native prairie plants out of winter storage.  According to Midewin botanist Jennifer Durkin, native prairie seedlings are housed in bunkers during the winter because the seedlings are still developing a strong root system and can not handle harsh winter weather.  The same characteristics that made the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant bunkers good places to store ammunition make them ideal for storing baby plants.  The bunkers's solid concrete covered by earth creates an insulated space that allows the plants to survive even the drastically low temperatures we experienced this winter. Ammunition bunkers in Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  Native prairie plant seedlings are stored in a bunker through winter. Native plants stored inside a bunker at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Volunteers form an assembly line to...

By Ann Baskerville March 26, 2014 Virginia Hamann--whose home and farm lie in the most recently mapped route of the proposed Illiana Expressway B3 corridor-- received a registered letter this weekend from a real estate appraisal company contracted by the Illinois Department of Transportation.  The letter asked Hamann to call the company if she would like the company to come out and complete an appraisal on her land.  Hamann promptly contacted the company on Monday to state no appraisal company would be allowed on her land without a court order.   Hamann, a member of No Illiana 4 Us, stated she has received anxiety-ridden emails from other landowners in the B3's proposed path.  One landowner described herself as "nearing a nervous breakdown" due to the uncertainty regarding if, when, and how her land will be taken.   Virginia Hamann of No Illiana 4 Us responds to emails from landowners in the Illiana Expressway B3's path While the letter Hamann rec...