Local News
Park Forest Historical Society News
Show and Tell, Sunday, February 25: Join us on Sunday, February 25, at 2:30 p.m., in Ryan Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, for an informal “Show and Tell” session on YOUR memories of living in Park Forest during the past 75 years. The words “show and tell” themselves evoke childhood memories, but those memories…
BHS Honor Rolls
Beecher High School recently announced students named to the second quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Seniors: Quinton Allen, Alexis Barkus, Katelyn Bol, Adriana Cabrera, Tyler Cochrane, Sergio Delgado, Riley DeRoos, Nathan Diachenko, Julieta Dominguez, Jessica Ellerson, Ariana Fernandez, Giada Garza, Olivia Geringer-Spagnola, Caitlin Gill, Jack Hayurst, Andrew Hering, Austin Hernandez,…
BJHS Announces Honor Rolls
Beecher Junior High School recently announced students named to its second quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honor Roll Eighth Grade: Makenna Albert, Elainna Benson, Gianna Bonomo, Shayleigh Brunger, Layla Campus, Jacob Dabrowski, Stanley Detjen, Madelyn Grooms, Fiona Hagan-Storbeck, Kendall Heldt, Reagan Hewitt, Jenna Huskisson, Carmela Irwin, Alexandra Johnson, Zoey Kolosh, Lindsey…
Beecher Community Library News
Call the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance will be closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A new take-and-make craft will be available February 1. Pick up any…
Beecher Homecoming Leaves Bobcats Undefeated
By Jeff Vorva With no football team, homecoming at Beecher High School comes during the basketball season. The 2023-2024 version of homecoming took place on January 19, as the Bobcats hosted a doubleheader. The girls team took the floor first and beat Donovan, 62-29. The boys followed up with an 85-53 triumph over Clifton Central…
Peotone Men: Attend Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conference
Christ Community Church, in Peotone, is organizing a group of local men to attend the Focal Point Ministries Iron Sharpens Iron one-day conference on Saturday, March 16, at First Nazarene Church, 12725 Bell Road, Lemont, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference is open to all men, including teens. Group registration, through Christ Community…
Park Forest House Museum Celebrating Valentine’s Day, 75th Anniversary
Park Forest House Museum members invite you to “Step Back into a 1950s Valentine’s Day,” on display from February 3 – March 9. The museum is open Wednesday and Saturday, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., plus at other times by appointment, at 227 Monee Road – inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church. One room represents a…
Beecher Community Library News
Call the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance will be closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A new take-and-make craft will be available February 1. Pick up any…
Rep. Haas Hosts Fourth Valentines for Vets
State Rep. Jackie Haas is launching her fourth annual “Valentines for Veterans” program for local veterans. Cards may be dropped off at Rep. Haas’ district office, 370 E. Court Street in Kankakee, through Monday, February 12. The cards will be delivered to veterans residing at the Manteno Veterans Home in time for Valentine’s Day. “This…
Beecher Superintendent Gaham Believes Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
By Jeff Vorva Numbers were crunched and chomped, spit out, and analyzed. But the bottom line is that Beecher 200U is pretty much in line with the rest of the state in reading, below in math, but ahead in science, according to the recently released state report cards. At the district’s January 8 board meeting,…
Beecher Police Blotter: December 19 – January 1
Disclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. December 19, Terry Stinnett, 54, of the 12600 block of Tall Oaks Drive, Cedar Lake, Indiana, was stopped at Dixie Highway and Miller Street for having an obstructed license plate, which the officer could…
Illinois News
Area News
Robinson Sentenced to 28 Years in Stepson Stabbing Death
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Harold Robinson, 57, of Bolingbrook, was sentenced recently by Circuit Court Judge Carmen Goodman to 28 years in prison for the 2017 stabbing death of his stepson. Robinson was found guilty of Second Degree Murder (a Class 1 Felony) following a bench trial that concluded November 28, 2023,…
Will County Families Invited to Kids’ Fair on Presidents’ Day
Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant invites families to attend a fun-filled Kids’ Fair on Monday, February 19, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Troy Middle School, 5800 W. Theodore Street, Plainfield. The free event features interactive and educational activities from local organizations, businesses, and government agencies. “This event is a great event for mom, dad,…
Will County, City of Joliet Begin Local Truck Traffic Talks with IDOT
Will County and City of Joliet officials began preliminary discussions with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on reducing truck traffic on local roads. These discussions kicked-off on January 31, with a meeting between the Will County Executive Office, Mayor of Joliet Terry D’Arcy, State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., and Sec. of Transportation Omer Osman.…
Will County Responds to National Animal Welfare Crisis
New department name reflects change in direction for county animal services. Responding to a national animal welfare crisis, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant announced a series of ordinance changes that aim to expand the role of the county’s animal services. The changes include renaming the county’s animal welfare department to “Will County Animal Protection Services…
Bertino-Tarrant Attends White House ‘Communities in Action’ Series
Visit includes meetings with Sen. Durbin and Congressmen Jackson and Davis. Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant joined elected and community leaders from throughout Illinois at the White House to discuss the positive local impacts of federal investments from the Biden-Harris Administration. “Will County has received historic levels of federal funding under this administration,” said County…
Early Voting Began February 8 at Will County Clerk’s Office
Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry reminds voters they may begin casting ballots during Early Voting for the General Primary Election starting on Thursday, February 8, at the Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago Street, in downtown Joliet. Those who wish to vote early may do so from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on…
Winters Sentenced to Life in Prison
Sentenced for predatory criminal sexual assault/aggravated criminal sexual abuse of five-year-old. Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Vincent Winters, 58, of Joliet, was sentenced to his natural life in prison by Judge Sarah Jones for the predatory criminal sexual assault of a five-year-old girl in 2017. On November 16, 2023, a Will County jury…
25 Participants Graduate Diversionary Courts Program
Program Alum Rudy Gonzalez tells graduates, “If you’ve been through this program, you have everything you need” State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced 25 people graduated from the Will County Problem Solving Courts in a January 25 ceremony at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. The graduation brings to 859 the total number of participants who…
Darrius Brown Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Aggravated Domestic Battery
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman recently sentenced Darrius Brown, 42, of Plainfield, to nine years in prison for a 2018 attack on his then-girlfriend. Brown was sentenced to nine years in prison for Aggravated Domestic Battery (a Class 2 felony), as well as four years for Aggravated Unlawful Restraint…
Will County Hosting Virtual Open Houses on Long Range Transportation Plan
The Will County Division of Transportation (WCDOT) will host two virtual open houses to gather feedback on the future of transportation priorities in Will County. The feedback will be incorporated in the ongoing “Our Way Forward 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan,” which will guide the next 25 years of county-wide infrastructure projects. “This is a…
Forest Preserve’s Site Hosts February 3 Wedding Open House
When Bailey Testerman was first scouting out wedding venues, the bride-to-be said she was looking for a site that was as “green” as possible. “The health of our planet is incredibly important to me…,” she said. “I wanted to reduce the environmental impact of our wedding as much as possible. Choosing an environmentally conscious venue…
Will County Emergency Management Agency Issues Update on Flash Flooding in Wilmington
The Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and City of Wilmington officials responded to flash flooding in downtown Wilmington on the evening of January 25. The flooding occurred suddenly on the North and South Islands, due to rapidly increasing water levels on the Kankakee River. Will County EMA issued a mass notification message to residents,…