Save the Gemini Giant Organizer Ryan Jandura posed with Greg Peerbolte, president of the Joliet Area Historical Society upon their successful campaign to keep the Giant in Wilmington. –Photo by Stephanie Irvine.

Gemini Giant to Stay in Wilmington, New Home on South Island

By: Stephanie Irvine Beloved Wilmington Rt. 66 icon the Gemini Giant, which stood outside the Launching Pad restaurant on historic Rt. 66 since the early 1960s, has sold at auction for a stunning $275,000. The winning bidder, Customer ID# 213226, turned out to be a friendly bidder. A press release issued by City of Wilmington…

A Fishing Tackle Swap Meet was organized by Jim Argus at the Will County Fairgrounds. –Photo by Karen Haave.

Fishing for a Good Time

By Karen Haave A Fishing Tackle Swap Meet lured anglers to the Will County Fairgrounds recently for a first-of-its-kind event featuring new, used, vintage, and antique fishing gear. Hundreds of tackle boxes were on display, much of their contents handmade. Some of the lures were 50-to-60 years old, desirable for collections not used for actual…

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County Community Health Center Welcomes Genoa Healthcare Pharmacy

Will County Community Health Center and Genoa Healthcare have partnered to provide pharmacy services for the Will County community in one convenient location – within the Will County Community Health Center at 1106 Neal Avenue in Joliet. We are pleased to introduce our new on-site pharmacy services from Genoa Healthcare,” said Mary Maragos, CEO of…

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…

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
Peotone’s Madi Schroeder achieved some pretty exciting accomplishments even though the season is over. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
Bobcat Adyn McGinley #24 led the scoring for the night. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Bobcats Make Elite 8; Super-Sectional Action March 4
Bobcats made program history with the win at sectional over Fieldcrest. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Beecher Wins Sectional, Moves on to Elite 8
Blue Devils Girls Basketball Sectional Champions 2024. Photos by Jim Piacentini.
Devils Take a Tough, Physical Loss at Super-Sectional
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VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
Officer Zairius West was promoted to Sergeant at the February 19 board meeting. –Photo courtesy of Manteno Police Department.
Manteno Park Improvement Approved by Village Board
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Peotone School Board Approves Summer Projects
The Bobcats posed with their Regional Title Plaque after another win in their books. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Two Regionals Won On the Same Night; Beecher Sitting at 32-0
The Peotone downtown streetscape plan was approved at the February 12 board meeting. Photo courtesy the Village of Peotone.
Peotone Streetscape Bid Approved for $3.47M
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Crete Tables Golf Carts
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It Might Cost Beecher, but Mayor Meyer Would Rather Keep Their Water
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Monee Village Board Not Happy About Aqua Proposed Rate Hikes