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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 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.…
Bobcats Take the Pontiac Sectional
By Dennis Bowling Beecher girls softball team is the hottest in Class 2A circles. The Bobcats senior Kylie Cook was in a brief hitting slump. After some extra batting practice, Cook was able to find her hitting groove in a big way on May 26. Cook, an outstanding third baseman, went 3-for-3 at the plate,…
Peotone Village Board Approves Backyard Chickens
By Andrea Arens A handful of chicks lobbied for change, and they won. It was no easy task either. Jolane Walenga, Katherine Mahn, and Amanda Babiarz made it a point to attend every meeting for the past five months, sharing information and reminding the board they weren’t going anywhere. Walenga said, “I wanted chickens last…
L.E.A.D. Meant to Bring Positivity
By Karen Haave For John Henson and his wife, Tracey, L.E.A.D. in Monee is all about bringing “positivity.” Their third annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Monee this month did exactly that. Dozens of police vehicles and supporters from surrounding communities helped get the event underway with the Blue Line Parade that led to the…
Beecher Looking for Half a Mil
By Jeff Vorva Beecher Mayor Marcy Meyer met with the potential new fire inspector and came away with a good feeling. She didn’t name the inspector, who is from SAFEbuilt, a community development service company. But she told the board on May 22 he appears to fit the bill after the village severed ties with…
Manteno High School Announces Graduating Class of 2023
By: Madeleine Willis The Commencement Ceremony for Manteno High School’s graduating class of 2023 took place on Sunday, May 21st, 2023. 145 seniors received diplomas this past weekend. Two students made addresses to their fellow classmates, Valedictorian Nalatie Meyer, and Salutatorian Ethan Godsey. Natalie Meyer, the Valedictorian of the Class of 2023, felt a sense…
Pontiac Indians No Match for the Bobcats
By Dennis Bowling Beecher’s coach Kevin Hayhurst has high expectations for freshman Ava Lorenzatti, Liliana Irwin, Makenzie Johnson. They each delivered in a monumental way on May 23rd. Lorenzatti, a phenomenal hurler, threw six innings of no-hit softball. She allowed one hit in the seventh inning, struck out nine batters, and allowed no walks, to…
Manteno Village Board Approves Legacy Park Improvement Funds
By Stephen Nelson The Manteno Village Board approved spending for landscaping and improvement projects at Legacy Park at its Monday, May 15, meeting. The board awarded the landscaping contract, worth $43,500, to Scenic Landscaping. Trustees also awarded the Legacy Site Work contract, worth $122,711.50, to Kankakee Valley Construction Company. In other business, trustees approved an…
Lorenzatti and the Bobcats Beat the Panthers at the Beecher Regional
By Dennis Bowling Manteno coach Josh Carlile, who is a very good pitching coach, had heard many great things about Beecher’s freshman hurler Ava Lorenzatti. Carlile got to see the Bobcats ace, Lorenzatti, first hand, and he tossed plaudits of praise at Lorenzatti on May 20. Lorenzatti, was on her game, allowing four hits and…
Peotone Airport Project Gets Another Boost From Illinois General Assembly
By Stephen Nelson The South Suburban Airport may soon be reality, thanks to Senate members of the south suburbs. “This is a touchdown for communities across the south suburbs,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey). “This airport will serve as an economic engine for our communities and provide local businesses with access to global markets…
Manteno High School Announces 2023 Senior Award Winners
By: Madeleine Willis Manteno High School held its Senior Awards Night on Wednesday, May 17. At the awards ceremony, many accolades were awarded to the graduating class of 2023. Seniors were recognized for athletic and academic achievements, involvement in the high school and in their community, all while completing half of their high school experience…
Three More Threats After Board Approves Cameras
By Andrea Arens Two more similar threats were found on both Monday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 16, after one was found the previous week. Both said almost exactly the same thing and had the same handwriting, “Shooting May 24,” but they were at different schools. Monday night’s threat was found at Peotone Junior High,…
Panthers Take Out Chicago Christian
By Dennis Bowling Manteno coach Josh Carlile’s triple threat of junior Alyssa Dralle, and sophomores Macy Iwanus, and Ava Peterson, each came out amped up. Chicago Christian was unable to contain them on May 16. In the circle, Dralle allowed one hit and fanned two batters. Iwanus, a first baseman, was 4-for-4, drove in 2…