Will County News

  Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe issued the following press release on Wednesday, December 28, 2022: "Kankakee County, IL –  Earlier today Circuit Judge Thomas Cunnington, Chief Judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit, issued his ruling in the case of Rowe, et al., v. Pritzker, et al.  Judge Cunnington ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs and held the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, specifically the bail reform and pre-trial release provisions, unconstitutional.  The immediate net effect of this ruling is that the pre-trial release provisions and bail reform will not go into effect in the 65 counties that were party to the lawsuit.  The other provisions of the Safe-T Act, such as body cameras, training, etc., were upheld. The Plaintiffs in this lawsuit consisted of 65 counties throughout Illinois who filed suit against Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Senate President Donald Harmon and Speaker of the House Christopher Welch.  Kankakee Cou...

The City of Joliet's Regional Water Authority project was selected for federal funding, as announced by Illinois 11th District Congressman Bill Foster.  The funding is part of the 2022 Federal omnibus spending bill. The Regional Water Authority was one of 15 projects selected for funding in the 11th District.  Joliet will receive  $3,452,972 to "to support the creation of a regional water authority and construction of the infrastructure to bring Lake Michigan water to Joliet and surrounding towns, pursuant to their local agreement, in order to reduce the overall burden of the cost of water on property owners in the region."  The other projects selected for funding are included here:

 The U.S. Census Bureau reported population estimates on Dec. 22, 2022.   Illinois was on the list of states that have lost population: " Eighteen states experienced a population decline in 2022, compared to  15 and DC  the prior year. California, with a population of 39,029,342, and Illinois, with a population of 12,582,032, also had six-figure decreases in resident population. Both states’ declining populations were largely due to net domestic outmigration, totaling 343,230 and 141,656, respectively. "

Early December at Midewin provides an opportunity to witness owls fly across the prairie while the sun sets and golden hour turns to night. Here is a video of owls flying at Midewin in December 2020: Staff at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie are planning two owl watch events.  Please see details below from a Midewin Press Release: "WILMINGTON, Ill. (Nov. 28, 2022) – “Owl Watch” is on now at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, where, in recent years, short-eared owls, Northern harriers and more native grassland birds of prey have been seen in colder months in the area where bison graze at Midewin. Twenty-seven bison – four bulls and 24 cows – were introduced at Midewin as a conservation experiment in 2015. USDA Forest Service volunteers, partners, and staff are monitoring to see if the grazing, wallowing and other natural tendencies of the bison is helping to increase and improve habitat for grassland birds and other native Illinois prairie species. The bison could be h...

  The Kankakee County Board voted to approve the Heritage Prairie Solar Farm at its November 9, 2022 meeting. The solar farm will be built just south of the Will County Border east of Essex, Illinois.  The solar company has approximately 3700 acres under long-term lease and about 1600 of those acres will have panels and other infrastructure built on them. To view the solar farm company's presentation to the County Board and the Board's discussion, you can view the meeting on the Kankakee County Board's YouTube Channel here.  The solar company presentation starts around the 30 minute mark.  A representative of the Carpenters Union spoke during public comment at the beginning of the meeting to advocate for the developer to negotiate a project labor agreement with the carpenters and to include all the trades in a project labor agreement for this project. During their presentation, the developers explained they currently have a Tri-Trade Memorandum of Understan...

  Voters in the Peotone Fire Protection District voted to approve a consolidation with the Manhattan Fire Protection District.   Unofficial results on the Will County Clerk's page indicate election night results were as follows (note this does not include all mailed and provisional ballots, however the margin is large enough to say the referendum passed): Unofficial election night results from the Will County Clerk's page showing the vote totals for the Peotone Fire Protection District Referendum question.  These results are not final and do not include mailed ballots and provisional ballots still to be counted. The Peotone Fire District Board of Trustees posted a letter thanking voters for approving consolidation after the November 8, 2022 election.  The text of the letter is: "Dear Peotone Resident: On behalf of the Peotone Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, we are grateful that the community has chosen a path forward that will allow for a more effective ...

For results in the November 2022 election for Will County Sheriff, go to the Will County Clerk's page here .   The Clerk reports that: " Provisional Ballots cast on Election Day and all remaining Vote By Mail Ballots that are postmarked by Election Day will be counted by Provisional Count on Tuesday, Nov. 22.  Results will be Official after canvassing on Tuesday, Nov. 29." As of Nov. 16, 2022, the Will County Clerk's page was showing Democrat Mike Kelley in the lead:

  To view results for the November 2022 election for the Illinois 19th State Senate District between incumbent Democrat Michael Hastings and Republican Patrick Sheehan, go: here for Cook County results here for Will County results Please remember these results are not final until all outstanding mailed and provisional ballots are counted.

  To view results in the November 8, 2022 election in Will County, Illinois, go here . Please remember that election night results are unofficial and may not include all ballots. 

  For results in the November 2022 Illinois Supreme Court Third Judicial District Election between Democrat Mary K. O'Brien and Republican Michael J. Burke by county:  go here for DuPage County results go here for Will County results go here for Kankakee County results go here for Grundy County results go here for LaSalle County results go here for Bureau County results go here for Iroquois County results

  For results in the November 8, 2022 election between incumbent Democrat Patrick Joyce and Republican Philip Nagel in the Illinois State Senate 40th District,  go here for Cook County results go here for Will County results go here for Kankakee County results go here for Grundy County results. Election night results are unofficial and may not include all ballots.   The 40th Illinois State Senate District is comprised of the 79th AND 80th Representative District: Illinois 80th Representative District Illinois 79th Representative District

  For results in the November 8, 2022 election between incumbent Democrat Anthony DeLuca and Republican Al Kuypers, Sr., go: here for Will County results here for Cook County results Please remember that election night results are unofficial and may not include all ballots.

  A Mobile Illinois Secretary of State Event is scheduled for October 13, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library located at 240 Whitson Street in Manhattan. The event will be held in the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Meeting Room. Services provided include: Driver’s license renewals, state IDs, license plate renewals, organ donor registration and motor voter registrations. You can reserve a time slot with this google form: https://forms.gle/m6Qn92wZtR3GBjhb8 You can contact the library with questions at: (815) 478-3987 questions@mpld.org

  How to find the Illinois Supreme Court District maps for the November 2022 election:

  On Friday, September 16, 2022, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act:

The 60th Annual Will County Threshermens Steam Engine and Antique Tractor Show will be July 21 to 24 at the Steve Spiess Farm at 14151 W. Arsenal Road in Manhattan, Illinois.  The Threshermens Show features living history demonstrations such as using steam engines to saw logs and to thresh wheat.  Before combines, harvesting wheat was done in two steps.  First, the wheat was cut and bundled, then it was put through a threshing machine to separate the wheat from the chaff.  Here is an example of a wheat threshing demonstration at a previous Will County Threshermen's Show:  The 2022 Will  County Threshermens Show is also the Grand Finale for the beautifully restored George Schaaf Museum Tractors.  This is the last chance for the public to see the tractors working before they head for auction.  The George Schaaf Museum Tractor Collection is one of the finest examples of early tractor engineering and history.  Check out some of th...

  Lockport, Illinois will celebrate Independence Day with fireworks at Dellwood Park on July 3, 2022 at dusk. Dellwood Park was built by the Chicago and Joliet Railway Company to give people another reason to buy tickets on the train and opened in 1905.  Check out some videos highlighting the history of the park:

  Joliet's Bicentennial Park along the Des Plaines River in downtown Joliet will celebrate our Nation's Independence with music and fireworks on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Fireworks along the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois Admission is free to the event at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, located at  201 W Jefferson Street in Joliet.  The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:15 p.m..  Food vendors are planned.  Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket for your seating.

 To view results in the Manhattan School District 114 Referendum in the June 28, 2022 election, go to the Will County Clerk's page here . Results will begin to post after polls close.  Election night results are unofficial.  

  To find results in the June 28, 2022 Democratic Primary Election for the Illinois First Congressional District, go to: The Kankakee County Clerk's page here for Kankakee County results. The Will County Clerk's page here for Will County results. The Cook County Clerk's page here for Suburban Cook County results. The City of Chicago Board of Election Commissioners page here for City of Chicago results. Results will begin to post after polls close.  Election night results are unofficial.

  For results in the 2022 Democratic Primary for the 43rd State Senate District, go here for Will County results and here for DuPage County results. The two candidates on the ballot are Rachel Ventura and Eric Mattson.

For results in the June 28, 2022 Primary Election in Will County, go to the Will County Clerk's Election Results page here .   Results will be updated as more votes are counted.

  Press release from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: The Arsenal Worker statue and pedestal, commemorating those civilian workers who lost their lives on the Joliet Arsenal during WWII, as it currently stands on land adjacent to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Photo: Joseph Wheeler, USDA Forest Service, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie   "WILMINGTON, Ill. (May. 2022) – In 1940, the United States Army acquired over 43,000 acres of land in southern Will County to build a large explosives manufacturing plant, called Kankakee Ordnance Works, and an ordnance assembly plant, called and Elwood Ordnance Plant.  By late 1941 the plants were in full production to support America’s efforts in World War II.  There were 77 other similar plants built by the U.S. military, yet at the time of its construction, this manufacturing procurement was revered as one of the largest and most sophisticated.  The Elwood facility loaded over 926 million  bombs, shells, mi...

A sure sign of spring!  Baby bison at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington, Illinois, on May 4, 2022:

  On Friday, April 29th, 2022, Illinois State Senator John Connor announced his resignation from the Illinois Senate.  Connor's resignation statement was posted to his website : "“It is with great sadness that I must resign my position as state senator to care for an immediate family member over the next three months. Being the state senator representing the 43rd District has been the best and most challenging position that I've ever held, and fighting on behalf of the residents of the 43rd District has been a privilege. I want to thank my fellow legislators, both from the House and the Senate, for their partnership and friendship over the years. I want to thank everyone in the 43rd District who entrusted their representation in the State Senate to me. It has been a great honor." Senator Connor submitted his formal resignation Friday and is effective April 30, 2022 at 12:00 p.m." The 43rd State Senate District covers parts of Will and DuPage Counties: Illinois 43...

  The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced lane closures on I-80 in Joliet from March 25 to 28th to allow for emergency repairs and patching.  Here is the announcement from the Illinois Department of Transportation:  " CHICAGO  –  The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that emergency repairs and pavement patching on eastbound Interstate 80, in Joliet, will require lane closures beginning, weather permitting, tomorrow, Friday, March 25. Major travel delays are anticipated, alternative routes are encouraged. Starting at 10 p.m. tomorrow, lane closures will take place on eastbound I-80, between Wheeler Avenue and Briggs Street. Additionally, the entrance ramp from Chicago Street (U.S.52/Illinois 53) to eastbound I-80 will be closed. During that time, a detour will direct motorists to U.S. 52 and Richards Street to access the expressway. At least one eastbound lane will remain open at all times and westbound I-80 will not be im...

  Spread some St. Patrick's Day cheer and join Representative Adam Kinzinger's card drive.  Check out the details from press release announcing the drive: "OTTAWA, IL  – As we get ready to spring ahead,  Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16)  will hold his annual St. Patrick’s Day card drive for the residents of the Illinois Veterans’ Home of La Salle. Members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to participate in celebrating the ‘Luck of the Irish’ with our local heroes by sending cards or letters to share gratitude and appreciation. In making the announcement,  Congressman Kinzinger   released the following statement :    “This year has been another challenging one, but hope is on the horizon. Our elderly population has been at the most risk from the coronavirus, and while we begin to emerge from this isolated time, we cannot forget how important it is to stay connected. Technology is great, but letters and cards are so meaningful and ...

  Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is accepting applications for its 2022 Summer National Youth Conservation Corps. Midewin Horticulturist Jennifer Durkin and Kala Soto Martinez take a close-up look at compass plant at the USDA Forest Service’s Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Students can a pply through March 14 to be part of the 2022 Youth Conservation Corps for eight weeks this summer at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  Photo by Gary Chancey / USDA FS, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Details and application instructions from Midewin: "WILMINGTON, Ill. (February 17, 2022) – High school students can apply through March 14 to be part of the 2022 Youth Conservation Corps for eight weeks this summer at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. The YCC team will assist with projects that are essential to restoring land where the Joliet Arsenal was active, including trails maintenance and invasive species management.    YCC is a national summer youth employment pro...

  Following the 2020 Censure, the Illinois State Legislature voted on new Congressional District Map Boundaries for the 17 Congressional Districts in Illinois. Here is a map of the new 6th Congressional District in Illinois.  Incumbent Representatives Marie Newman and Sean Casten are both running in the Illinois 6th Congressional District Democratic Primary: