Will County News

Will County is inviting citizens to share their thoughts on the county's transportation future. Will County is creating a long-range transportation plan--Will Connects 2040-- which will delineate how the county will use transportation resources. Will County gained population during the housing boom.  Furthermore, Will County is home to two intermodals that together comprise the largest inland port in North America.  At the open house, the public will be able to provide input on how to prioritize solutions to the increased traffic. The dates and times of the open houses are: April 28, 4-7pm Joliet Junior College 1215 Houbolt Road Concourse C*1031 Joliet, IL 60431 April 29,4-7pm Wilmington City Hall Council Chambers 1165 S. Water Street Wilmington, IL 60481 May 5, 4-7pm New Lenox Village Hall Community Room 1 Veterans Parkway New Lenox, IL 60451 May 12, 4-7pm Governors State University Hall of Honors One University Parkway University Park, IL...

The Forest Preserve District of Will County's  Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville documents the history of the 1700's in the land that is now Illinois.  The museum features exhibits on the Great Lakes Fur Trade and the Potawatomi Native Americans.  The museum recently added a mural by artist  Jeanine Hattas Wilson.   Museum Supervisor Chris Gutmann sent Wilson photos of items on display at the Museum, including its birch bark canoe, and she incorporated them into the mural. The scene is set on the Des Plaines River, as is the museum, and a Potawatomi summer lodge sits across the river in the mural’s background. “That’s definitely my favorite thing to do, working in a museum and public spaces,” she said. “Using murals is a great way to tell historical stories. You want to capture a feeling for a moment. You’re capturing the story in one shot.” The mural cost $9,900 and was paid for with funds from the Forest Preserve's operating fund. Video of the...

Joliet Catholic Academy's Original Victory Light Church, Downtown Joliet Harrah's Casino and Church in Downtown Joliet

Enbridge Energy officials present a donation to the Friends of the Forest Preserve District Foundation on April 9. Pictured from left to right are: Foundation Board member Mike Fricilone, Foundation Board Chairwoman Ann Dralle, Forest Preserve District Board President Suzanne Hart, Enbridge executives John Gauderman and Scott Clark, and Foundation Board member Denise Winfrey.  Photo by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Enbridge Energy recently made a donation to the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County.  According to its website , " Enbridge owns and operates the world’s longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system, exporting 65 per cent of Western Canadian oil and importing 13 per cent of U.S. daily imports as the largest single conduit of crude oil into the United States." The Enbridge Southern Lights Pipeline begins in Manhattan, Illinois and ends in Alberta, Canada. Enbridge tanks in Manhattan, Illinois Enbridge's Li...

By Mary Baskerville MANHATTAN--When Peter Ford, Ken Salamone, and Steve Maslak of White Oak Growers sought a license to grow medical marijuana on a 34-acre farm in Wilton Center, the men said their background in energy development on the East Coast gave them experience in understanding how to follow government regulations and confidence that their Illinois application met all the requirements. Earlier this year, the award went to Cresco Labs of Chicago. Cresco also was named to receive the license in two other districts, including Kankakee County. In a suit filed Wednesday in the Circuit Court of Cook County, White Oak Growers is seeking an injunction to prohibit the Illinois Department of Agriculture from issuing the cultivation center license, and is seeking a court review of the scoring. Ford said Wednesday that the injunction will allow the courts to “examine the decision making process.” “There was an expectation that the law—the law of the land would be follo...

The Illinois Commerce Commission ruled today that the rail crossing at Walter Strawn Road and Route 53 must be closed. Video of closed Walter Strawn Drive in Elwood: The Village of Elwood released the following press release after the ruling: "After a year-long battle, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) unanimously ruled today that the state’s most dangerous rail crossing, located at Route 53 and Walter Strawn Drive in the Village of Elwood, must be closed within two weeks, no later than January 28th, 2015. Joining the Village in support of closing the crossing have been the Illinois Department of Transportation, Union Pacific Railroad, and staff at the Illinois Commerce Commission – the agency that governs rail crossing safety across Illinois. The decision came despite the efforts of intermodal facility owner CenterPoint Properties, which argued to keep the crossing open despite the myriad of safety concerns. “Despite the special interests and clout, justice h...

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