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Monee Budget Book Seeks to Make Finances Easier to Understand

By Karen Haave An innovative Budget Book created by Monee Finance Director Darryl Bulliner is making complicated village finances much easier to read and understand. Chuck Rakis, village trustee for finance, announced the book earlier this year, noting it “will provide a format that is optimized for online viewing.” “The book will provide a narrative…

Jeremiah Truhlar loves to compete. –Photo submitted.

Former Manhattan Resident Turned Multi-Discipline Professional Combat Sports Athlete

By: Madeleine Willis Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, and mixed martial arts, are the skill sets for amateur fighter Jeremiah Truhlar. From Manhattan, Truhlar was used to play-fights breaking out between his brothers, as he grew up in a household of 12 kids, and was the youngest of nine boys. “Leading into my teenage years, I…

100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors performed at Union Cemetery on Memorial Day. –Courtesy of the 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors.

Memorial Day Ceremony Held at Historic Union Cemetery

By Karen Haave Memorial Day 2023 marked a renewed interest in an historic Will County cemetery, with a poignant ceremony and an inaugural non-profit group to help preserve it. Union Cemetery, at the corner of 80th Avenue and Monee-Manhattan Road, was established in 1857 and granted Historic Landmark status on October 12, 2002. It is…

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Monee Get a Grocery Store Someday? Maybe

By Karen Haave According to a report during the village board meeting, Monee will be getting a grocery store. Someday. Having a grocery store in town has been a major mayoral election issue for decades. It would almost seem that whoever accomplishes it, can look forward to being mayor for life. “Spoiler alert, this is…

Bobcats take runner up and had a fantastic season. Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Beecher End Season With Loss to Rockets

By Jim Piacentini The game started out rough in the first three innings. The Rockets scored 3 runs on Eva. Coach Hayhurst said they had chances and weren’t able to take advantage of them. The third inning was the best. Bobcats had runners on base but could not capitalize on it. The fourth inning was…

Dixie Barclay poses with one of her favorite gifts from the Manhattan-Peotone Fire Buddies. –Photo by Melissa Eaheart.

Dixie Gets a Visit from Project Fire Buddies

By Karen Haave A little girl from Peotone is on Cloud 9 after a visit from some new special friends. Dixie Barclay recently won an adaptive bicycle through Friendship Circle’s Great Bike Giveaway. The happy three-year-old, who likes to sing and dance, was born with Spina Bifida. She has been through a lot in her…

Adopt a Soldier 22 Kilometer Ruck to combat miltary suicide left Kankakee Walmart proceeding down route 50, had a rest stop at Manteno American legion and concluded at Peotone Fairgrounds on May 28th. Photo by Dan Gerber.

Ruck March 2023 Seeks to Combat Military Suicide

American flag with a canvas and paint texture

Army Strong Got One Man Stronger

manteno american legion post 755

Manteno Legion Memorial Day

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Manteno Boy Scouts

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Bobcats Punched their ticket to State

By Dennis Bowling Beecher senior Abby Sippel has done very well in the classroom and on the softball field. Yet, a real rarity occurred for Sippel, who is the best second baseman in this area on May 29. In the top of the second frame, Sippel did make a rare fielding error. In the bottom…

Krueger speaks at the Peotone Legion Post 392 Memorial Day ceremony. –Photo by Andrea Arens.

Peotone Legion Memorial Day Program Honors Heroes

By Andrea Arens A beautiful, warm day was the backdrop for the Peotone Legion Post 392 parade and ceremony. A generous crowd was in attendance, and the Frankfort Brass Band, led by Peotone High School Band Director Kate Perry, played multiple patriotic tunes. Peotone American Legion’s Memorial Day guest speaker was Senior Master Sergeant Robert…

LaMore Realty wins award in 2023. Photo by Madeleine Willis.

LaMore Realty’s Impactful Service on the Manteno Community

By: Madeleine Willis Manteno native, Gina LaMore owns and manages LaMore Realty, a local brokerage that avidly buys and sells homes in the Kankakee County community. In the year 2022, realtors of LaMore sold 108 properties and bought 76 properties. The total volume of their transactions totals in at $45.6 million. This past April, Gina…

Monee PD raised over $5,400 for Special Olympics on Cop on a Rooftop Day. Photo submitted.

Monee Cops Raised Dough Fulls on Rooftop

By Karen Haave Monee Police officers have proved, once again, that they are willing to give up sleep, or even a day off, to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. This time it was $5,409.37 in the rainy early morning Cop on a Rooftop 2023 at Dunkin’, 5757 W.…