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Pickleball Boosts the Budget in Manteno

By Jeff Vorva The boost in pickleball popularity is helping to boost up the budget. The Manteno village budget shot up from $9.5 million in 2023-24 to $13.6 in 2024-25. The board approved the budget at a special meeting and public hearing on April 22, and officials said $3 million of that increase is due…

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Kankakee Public Library News

Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street, recently announced its programs for May. •Lawyers in the Library: In partnership with the Kankakee Public Library, Prairie State Legal Services invites members of the community to meet with a lawyer for free on the second Thursday of every month, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the…

Join Lightways Hospice/Serious Illness Care at Dino-mite 5K Family Fun Run

Proceeds support pediatric care program Runners from across the region are invited to the 11th annual Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care 5K Family Fun Run on Saturday, June 1, at the New Lenox Commons, 1 Veterans Parkway in New Lenox. The event includes a 5K run for ages 14 and older and a Dino…

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Legion Post 392 Fish Fry

Peotone American Legion Post 392 will host its last of the season monthly all-you-can-eat fish fry, on Saturday, May 11, from 4:30 to 6:30p.m. or until sold out. Tickets are $15 for either perch or catfish and include French fries, cole slaw, bread, and butter. Don’t forget delicious desserts, from the Legion Auxiliary, are available…

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Dangerous Intersection A Topic at Board Meeting

By Jeff Vorva The outcry was heard. Manteno Village Board Trustee Diane Dole reported at the April 15 board meeting that there have been a few safety changes at the intersection of 12000 North Road and Illinois Rt. 50, which is north of Manteno but not in the village. “Everyone is thankful to all of…

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‘Success by 6’ Presents Free Trauma/Resilience Summit

Success By 6, a partnership initiative of the United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, is proud to announce a free Trauma and Resilience Summit on Tuesday, May 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene. This free, full-day conference aims…

Manteno American Legion Commander Sean McNamara is ready to lead participants through the 5K course, just moments before the start. –Photo by Tom Asay.

Springfest 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk a Grand Success

On Saturday, April 13, Manteno American Legion was the site of an extraordinary event – the Springfest 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk. Many thanks to those involved who made this event such a success, including the Manteno Legion, Manteno Women’s Auxiliary, Sons of American Legion, Manteno Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Manteno Police and Fire Departments,…

Shannon Moore is new Assistant Vice President and Community Banking Manager at Federated Bank in Bradley. –Photo submitted.

Moore Joins Federated Bank as AVP Community Banking Manager/Loan Officer

Federated Bank proudly announced the appointment of Shannon Moore as Assistant Vice President and Community Banking Manager, effective January 1. Bringing more than 15 years of extensive experience in the banking and mortgage lending industries, Moore is recognized for his exceptional leadership and commitment to community-focused banking solutions. Prior to joining Federated Bank, Shannon held…

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ECDA, Illinois Hispanic Chamber Partner for MWBE Certification Workshop

Local business owners are invited to attend a ‘How to Become a Certified MWBE in Illinois’ Lunch n’ Learn session on May 7, at 11:30 a.m., at the ECDA office, 275 E. Court Street, Suite 201, in Kankakee. The City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency has partnered with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of…

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Riverside Welcomes Kendree’a Hodges to Immediate Care Providers Team

Riverside Healthcare is pleased to welcome board-certified nurse practitioner Kendree’a Hodges, FNP-BC, to its team of immediate care providers. Hodges completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Capella University in Minneapolis and her Master of Science in Nursing at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. Immediate care is intended to provide care for non-life-threatening…

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Join the Movement Against Sexual Violence: Clove Alliance Seeks Volunteers

Clove Alliance, the leading organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence in the Kankakee region, is calling for community members to join its ranks as volunteers. The organization is gearing-up to provide comprehensive 40-hour Sexual Violence Crisis Intervention Training, commencing on April 29, at Clove Alliance’s main office, 1440 West Court Street in Kankakee.…

The sisters drove to French lick, Indiana, to view the total eclipse. –Photo submitted.

Sisters Took an Eclipse Trip

By Karen Haave The excitement over the solar eclipse was not lost on four Monee sisters, who drove to Indiana to experience it first-hand. Eliese “Lisa” Diercks, Christi Holston, Sheila Langenfeld and Nancy Langenfeld take what they have dubbed “The Sister Trip” every year, and this time decided it would be to French Lick to…

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Clove Alliance Welcomes Community at Business Before Hours April 24

Clove Alliance is opening its doors to the community for “Business Before Hours,” a casual networking event coordinated with the Kankakee Country Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, April 24, from 7:30-9 a.m., guests can tour Clove Alliance’s main office building at 1440 West Court Street in Kankakee, enjoy coffee and rolls, and network with other…

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Rotary Jigsaw Puzzles Still Available

In need of a gift? The Bradley-Bourbonnais Rotary Club still has their annual jigsaw puzzle available for purchase, with a limited number of puzzles available at Joy’s Hallmark, Ba Da Bloom Flower Shoppe, the Kankakee County Museum, King Music, Rubber Rose Books and Prints, the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Stefari’s West, as well…

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Merchant Street MusicFest Announces Music Education Scholarships

Merchant Street MusicFest, in collaboration with King Music and the Dave King Memorial Music Fund, is pleased to announce the inaugural MSMF Music Education Scholarship to be awarded at this year’s fest on Saturday, July 27. The scholarship award is for eight free weeks of music lessons, after which the recipient will have the option…

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News for Uplifted Care Community Grief Center

The free Chain of Blessings Workshop will be held on Saturday, April 20, from 10 – 11:30 a.m., and provides an interactive experience for individuals and families to remember the blessings their loved ones gave them. Participants will make a chain of things their loved ones taught them, special characteristics they had, and anything else…

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Riverside Healthcare Presents Baby and Beyond Fair: A Celebration of Growing Families

Riverside Healthcare is excited to announce the upcoming Baby and Beyond Fair, an event tailored for expectant parents, those planning future pregnancies, and families with young children. The fair offers many resources, interactive presentations, and community engagement opportunities, all aimed at supporting families on their journey from pregnancy through early childhood. The Baby and Beyond…

Betsy Youdris drew a full house for her presentation at the Monee Heritage Center. –Photo by Karen Haave.
MHS Presentation Shows Importance of Quilts
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Marion Resigns From Manteno
Culture a Topic Again at School Board
Some of the volunteers and supporters for L.E.A.D. were in the line-up for the Blue Line Parade on Saturday in Monee, including (from left) State Rep. Jackie Haas, Tracey Henson, Monee Police Chief Scott Koerner, Dr. Therese Bogs - Mayor of Monee, Deputy Chief Anthony Lazzaroni, Patrol Officer Jared Hoekstra, and event founder John Henson.  –Photo by Karen Haave.
Monee Celebrates Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Crete Discussed Upcoming Events, Preparing for Memorial Day
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Crete Police Locate Missing Woman
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Beecher School District Upping the Fees
Monee Mayor Therese Bogs and Citizen of the Year, Bill Sawallisch.
Crete-Monee School Board Member Named Citizen of the Year
Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing
PEOTONE POLICE BLOTTER May 10-16
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New Trustee and Groundbreaking Ceremony for Beecher
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VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
Peaches at the Flamm Orchard in Cobden are maturing well in May. At this rate, peach harvest should start around the first week of July in Union County, Parker Flamm said. –Photo courtesy of Parker Flamm.
Peach Output Looks to Be Variable Again this Season
It’s a good year for strawberries, which started early at Flamm Orchards in Cobden and at other southern Illinois orchards and farms. –Photo courtesy of Austin Flamm.
Strawberries Off to Early Start
Paris Van Dyke shows off her new book at her grandparents’ farm. –Photo by Rhiannon Branch of FarmWeek.
Illinois Teen Shares Lessons from Family Farm in Devotional
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DeCaprio Memorial in the Works as MJH Construction Progresses
Lincoln Young, eight, son of Trustee Justin Young, poses with the balloon alien he was excited to get. –Photo by Stephanie Irvine.
Huge Turnout for Manhattan’s Touch-a-Truck Event
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Manhattan’s Village Administrator Resigns
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Liquor on Sunday Mornings, but Limited
Manteno High School Students lined the entrance of the high school on Monday morning to show their appreciation for the teachers at the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week. Many were holding signs and teacher faces and encouraged people to honk as they drove by. Photo by Dan Gerber.
Manteno Appreciates Its Teachers
Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing
Peotone Police Blotter: May 4-8