Primaries Faced Low Voter Turnout

By Andrea Arens Once again, voter turnout was low. In Peotone, 17.5 percent of registered voters actually voted. Green Garden also hit 17 percent. Monee averaged 15 percent, while Manhattan averaged 14 percent voter turnout. Low voter turnout didn’t help referendums that were on the ballot. The Peotone Park District referendum for a “0.0547 percent…

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Resolution 24-27 Update

Resolution 24-27 “Directing the Will County Division of Transportation to Cease Moving Forward with the 143rd Street Expansion Road Project as Currently Planned” previously was passed by the Will County Board on February 15, in a bipartisan vote, and signed by the Will County Executive on February 16. Four days later, on February 20, the…

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Health Department Announces Positive Case of Measles

The Will County Health Department has confirmed a positive case of measles in Will County. The Will Count Health Department’s Communicable Disease staff is working to collect additional details to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to measles, provide education, and recommend appropriate measures. Additionally, the health department is in close contact…

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Fate Of 143rd Street Widening Project May Still Be Decided In Court

By Stephen Nelson Following a narrow (12-11) vote by the Will County Board in February to cancel a widening project for 143rd Street in the vicinity of New Lenox to five lanes, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant exercised her authority to overturn that cancellation with a veto. She got heat from New Lenox residents as…

Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing

Fatal Crash In Wilton Township

Will County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on March 22 that on 3/21/24 at 4:23pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 1 mile east of Cedar Road, for a two-vehicle personal injury crash with passenger entrapments. Initial reports indicate that the 21 year-old female driver of a Ford Escape, was traveling eastbound on…

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Will County Regional Spelling Bee Winners Announced

Ribhu Chaher, a student at Channahon Junior High, is the champion of the Will County Regional Spelling Bee sponsored by the Regional Office of Education and Exxon-Mobile. His winning word was ignominious. The competition, involving 32 spellers from 32 local schools, lasted 17 rounds. Honorable mention went to the second and third place winners: Second…

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Ad Hoc Old Courthouse Committee Meets

Members of the Ad Hoc Old Courthouse Committee met Tuesday, March 19. During the meeting it was noted a lot of misinformation about plans for the site of the Old Courthouse, currently under demolition, are out there in the public. To clarify, the committee wanted to inform the public that, at this time, no plans…

The Will County Emergency Management Agency hosted their inaugural Public Preparedness Workshop on March 9, providing attendees with emergency and disaster preparedness information. –Photo submitted.

Will County EMA Hosts Inaugural Public Preparedness Workshop

The Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) hosted their inaugural public preparedness workshop on March 9 at Joliet Junior College to increase awareness about emergency preparedness. The workshop is part of Will County EMA’s efforts to provide residents with increased knowledge and training on how to prepare for and respond to disasters. “Increasing disaster preparedness…

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SBA Offers Disaster Loans to Businesses/Residents Impacted by Kankakee River Ice Jam Flooding

County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Allison Anderson issued the following statements in response to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announcing low-interest disaster loans will be available to residents and businesses impacted by the Kankakee River ice jam flooding in January. “I encourage all residents and business owners…

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WCHD Hosting Five Food Bank Mobile Markets

The Will County Health Department will host five Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Markets between March and July. The Mobile Markets are scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on March 21, April 18, May 16, June 14, and July 12, and will be held in the parking lot of the Will County Health Department’s main…

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JJC Freshman Wins NJCAA Women’s Bowling Championship

JJC freshman Madi Lave makes history. The JJC Wolves men’s and women’s bowling teams recently competed in the 2024 NJCAA Bowling Championship at Royal Scot Golf and Bowl in Lansing, Michigan, where Madi Lave earned the Women’s Singles National Title with a final score of 633 after three games of competition. “I haven’t completely wrapped…

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Homer Glen Residents in Passionate Battle with Will County Executive

For several months, the citizens of Homer Township and Homer Glen have been fighting to maintain their quality of life. When you drive between Bell and Lemont Roads on 143rd Street, you get a feeling of rural America – horse farms, large properties, beautiful trees lining the road. There is a sense of calm and…

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Health Department Food Bank Mobile Market March 21

The Will County Health Department is hosting a Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Market on Thursday, March 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., in the health departments parking lot, 501 Ella Avenue in Joliet. Anyone needing food assistance is welcome to receive free groceries. No ID, documentation, or pre-approval is needed. Distribution is on a…

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From the Desk of the Will County Board Chairman:

On March 5, at 10:30 a.m., county board leadership was presented with a last-minute opinion from the State’s Attorney’s Office regarding the procedure for the special county board meeting scheduled for 10:45 a.m. that same day. The bi-partisan members voting in favor of Resolution 24-27, directing the Division of Transportation to cease moving forward with…

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Will County Regional Spelling Bee March 14

This year’s Will County Regional Spelling Bee will be held at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Road in New Lenox, on Thursday, March 14, from 5 till 8 p.m. There will be 32 participants in grades sixth through eighth from schools across Will County. Spelling Bee officials are: Laura Yanchick, pronouncer; Chelsea Bowen, head…

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Will Co. Health Department Adds 10 Naloxone Distribution Boxes Throughout County

The Will County Health Department is making access to the life-saving, overdose-reversing drug Naloxone (Narcan) easier, with the installation of 10 red naloxone distribution boxes located throughout Will County. Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and is available through the Illinois Department of Human Services/Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Access…

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Radetski Sentenced to Seven Years for Child Pornography, Indecent Solicitation of a Child

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Joshua Radetski, 46, of Lake Zurich, was sentenced recently to three years in prison for Child Pornography (a Class 2 felony) and 4 years for Indecent Solicitation of a Child (a Class 3 felony). Radetski pled guilty and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak. On October 7,…

Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing
Manteno Police Respond to Stabbings; Suspect in Custody
Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing
Peotone Police Blotter: March 15 – 22
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Longtime Crete Code Enforcement/Animal Control Supervisor to Retire
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Monee Adding Businesses
Beecher Trustee Resigns; Board Still Trying to Pare Down Price
The new digital only version of The Panther shared its first edition in early March. –Photo courtesy Manteno High School.
New Journalism Organization ‘The Panther’ Debuts at MHS
Village officials and contractors posed for an official picture before groundbreaking actually commences in a couple of weeks. –Photo submitted.
Peotone Village Board Discussed Increasing Spending Authority
Former Illinois State Police trooper who pleaded guilty in relation to deadly crash postpones hearing
Peotone Police Blotter: March 3-14
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Green Garden Moving Ahead with Renovations
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VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
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Monee Eighth Grader Proposes a Community Garden
Pics from the Monee Historical Soc. presentation on the railroad and history of Monee.  Christi Holston is standing and Rachel White is seated on the left. Photo by Karen Haave.
History of Monee Shaped by Railroad
Crete PD posed before their run in the Manteno Lake. –Photo by Karen Haave.
Crete, Monee Take the Plunge
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Thies Park Improvement Bid Won by Bourbonnais Company
Beecher Bobcat Adyn McGinley –Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Bobcats Made History
Manhattan Police Chief Jeff Wold to attend FBI Command Course. –Photo submitted.
Police Chief Wold Selected for FBI Command Course
Monee Police Department took the plunge on march 2. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Polar Plunge Raises $190K-Plus!
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Crete to Celebrate Earth Day 2024 with Week Long Celebration
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Frustrated; Beecher Back to the Drawing Board
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Monee Honors CREW Award Recipients