Will County News

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will hold a maple syrup program at Plum Creek Nature Center,  27064 Dutton Rd, Beecher, IL 60401: "CRETE TOWNSHIP  – “Maple Syrup Magic,” 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2020.  Plum Creek Nature Center. From the earliest times, Native Americans and pioneers of the Midwest made maple syrup from the sweet sap of the sugar maple tree. Learn how it’s made, find maple trees on-site and try some real maple syrup. This program takes place inside and outdoors and will involve hiking a quarter mile. Free; all ages. Register by Friday, March 6, at ReconnectWithNature.org or call 708-946-2216." Tapping Maple Syrup.  Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Will County

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is accepting applications for the Summer 2020 Youth Conservation Corps. Details below from Midewin: "Work with us! STUDENTS aged 15-18: Apply now through Friday, March 6, 2020 to be part of the 2020 Youth Conservation Corps team at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie! We will plant native Illinois prairie plants, clear brush, maintain trails and more June 8 to July 31, 2020.  Network and learn on weekly off-site explorer days to nearby natural resources sites. Be part of the historic restoration process happening at Midewin! Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Students will be paid based on federal / state wage standards. Transportation to and from Midewin is not provided. Each student must provide a teacher letter of recommendation along with their application. Send us your application and letter of recommendation from your teacher by mail or email to: MAILING ADDRESS USDA Forest Service – Mide...

The City of Joliet will hold a public forum regarding selection of its new water source on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Cantigny VFW, 826 Horseshoe Drive. The Joliet City Council is expected to vote on a new water source in January 2020.  Joliet needs to select a new water source because its current source--a deep sandstone aquifer--will no longer be sustainable by 2030.  Joliet has studied alternative water sources since 2018 and has narrowed the possibilities to five: Illinois River, Kankakee River, Lake Michigan-DuPage Water Commission, Lake Michigan-Chicago Department of Water Management, and Lake Michigan-New Indiana Intake. The schedule for the December 5th meeting is: 5:00-5:30: Open House 5:30-5:45: Study Presentation 5:45-6:15: Panel Discussion 6:15-7:00: Public Comment The Illinois State Water Survey has studied the aquifers of Northeastern Illinois from which Joliet currently draws water:

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad, Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy steam locomotive is touring the United States.   On Friday, July 26th, Big Boy arrived in West Chicago, Illinois as thousands watched: Big Boy will be on display Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th in West Chicago.  Big Boy will depart West Chicago on Tuesday, July 30th and head west towards Rochelle.  Go here for full schedule.

Workers at the large IKEA Distribution Center on Laraway Road in Joliet and the Distribution Center in Minooka have voted to join the Machinists Union.  IKEA is moving work from Minooka to the new Joliet facility.  Press Release from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers: WASHINGTON, June 21, 2019 –  A group of 186 distribution center workers at IKEA distribution centers in Joliet and Minooka, Ill. voted this Wednesday and Thursday to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). IKEA is in the process of transitioning work from Minooka to its new facility in Joliet. “These hard-working men and women are proud to work at IKEA and do tremendous work for this company,” said  IAM Organizer Dennis Mendenhall , who led the IAM’s campaign. “Yes, joining the IAM gives them the opportunity to negotiate on wages, benefits and work rules. But this campaign was mostly about fairness and a voice on the job, as we...

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie has shared photos of the first baby bison born at Midewin in 2019! A bison herd was reintroduced to Midewin in the fall of 2015 as part of a twenty-year study of the impact of bison grazing on prairie restoration. Photo courtesy of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  Rick Short / USDA Forest Service - Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

For results in the April 2, 2019 election in Will County, go here . Many municipalities in Will County span multiple counties.  To find results from neighboring counties: Grundy County Kane County DuPage County Cook County Kendall County Keep in mind that election night results are unofficial and may not include all mailed, write-in, provisional and early ballots.