Will County News

Will County roads such as Route 53, Laraway Road, I-80, and I-55 have experienced increased semi-truck traffic in the last 10 years as new warehouses and intermodals have become operational. The Village of Elwood, site of one intermodal and petitioner in an Illinois Commerce Commission case that resulted in the closing of Walter Strawn Drive , has now launched a website called Safe Roads Illinois .  The website features statistics on truck-related accidents and deaths in Will County and videos of local residents discussing truck traffic in Will County: Here, Meri Knauer, grandmother of 8-year old Madison Frost, discussed her granddaughter's death. Madison was killed when her family's van was struck by a semi. Knauer stated, "We don't want Madison's death to be in vain, enough is enough": A mother discusses her fear regarding having her children driving on Will County roads: A friend of a man killed when a semi struck his car: Elwood Police Ch...

T he Illinois Department of Transportation is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Stone City V.F.W. in Joliet, Illinois on IDOT's Phase I Study to address safety and operations along IL-53. Specifically, IDOT is studying the stretch of 53 from Rt. 52 (Doris Avenue near Nowell Park) to West Arsenal Road in Wilmington. The purpose of the meeting is for IDOT to " obtain public input on the transportation issues in the study area, describe the project development process, and provide information on additional public involvement opportunities "  according to the Illinois Route 53 Study Website .

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk released the following press release regarding the addition of a Joliet Police foot patrol in downtown Joliet: "Joliet--- Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk today announced that two Joliet Police Officers will be assigned to a foot patrol in the Joliet City Center area to increase security for downtown businesses and visitors effective  September 27, 2015     “One of the complaints I heard frequently from both Joliet residents and visitors to our city in the last few years was that they did not feel safe downtown.   Joliet City Center may be one of the safest areas in Joliet due to the presence of the Joliet Police Headquarters, the courthouse and the Sheriff’s department, but all of those uniforms on Jefferson Street can’t be seen for more than a block,” said Mayor O’Dekirk.  “If we want to revitalize downtown Joliet, everyone needs to feel safe in addition to being safe.  The daily presence of two officers patrolling on foot ...

Filmmaker Tom Desch has documented Will County residents' fight against the proposed Peotone Airport for more than a decade.  Desch followed members of the citizen group STAND (Shut This Airport Nightmare Down) as they fought against the State of Illinois' use of eminent domain for an airport whose necessity has been argued for decades.  The State of Illinois now owns thousands of acres of land in the proposed airports footprint, including the former Bult Field, which the State of Illinois now operates as the "South Suburban Airport". Desch's film, The Field, will screen Saturday, October 17th at 4:30 p.m. in the K Building on Joliet Junior College's Main Campus.  Tickets to see the film are free, but should be reserved by calling the Box Office at 815-280-2200. Trailer for The Field: The Field: A Fight or Flight Story Trailer from House Painter Media on Vimeo .

The 112th Will County Fair begins Wednesday, August 26th and continues through Sunday the 30th at the Will County Fair Grounds in Peotone, Illinois.  For a full schedule, go here . Videos from previous Will County Fairs:

Voting on which school to close and taking action on attendance criteria are on the agenda for the August 13, 2015 Lincoln-Way Board of Education meeting.  The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Lincoln-Way Central Fine Arts Center. Facing a financial deficit and placement on the State of Illinois financial watch list, the district must submit a deficit reduction plan to the State. Video from the July Lincoln-Way Board of Education Meeting:

Amazon is building a new fulfillment center in Joliet.  The new warehouse is currently under construction just east of the intersection of Laraway Road and Route 53: Amazon is advertising full-time jobs to be available at the fulfillment center-- http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com/opportunities/warehouse-associate/amazon-hiring-joliet  .