The JJC Cheerleading Team. –Photo courtesy JJC.

JJC Competitive Cheer Places Second in NCA College Nationals Debut

The Joliet Junior College competitive cheerleading team is bringing home hardware in their inaugural season. The Wolves earned a second-place finish during the 2024 NCA and NDA College Nationals competition in Daytona, Florida. Competing in the Intermediate All Girl Junior College category, the Wolves earned a final event score of 83.8241. “We feel proud of…

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Will County Launches Child Care Provider Grant Opportunity

Will County launched a grant opportunity for early childcare providers to improve or expand services, with $225,000 made available for licensed providers to pursue grant funding for educational materials, developmental support services, or improvements to physical space and technology. “Our childcare providers are one of the first experiences for our children,” said Will County Executive…

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WCCHC Offering Primary Care Services in Monee

The Will County Health Department and Community Health Center will begin offering primary care medical services at its Eastern Branch Office in Monee, 5601 W. Monee-Manhattan Road, beginning in April. Primary care services at the Eastern Branch office will be available from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., every Wednesday, effective immediately. Appointments are highly recommended…

Blue pinwheels, symbolizing child abuse prevention, adorn the outside of the new Will County CAC as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. –Photo submitted.

Children’s Advocacy Center Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for State-of-the-Art Facility

Event held during Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) recently celebrated the opening of its new location at 1206 Cedarwood in Crest Hill, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The event was attended by State’s Attorney James Glasgow, County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, members of the Will County Board, Crest Hill Mayor…

The Renken family take a moment for a happy family photo with their newest addition - Lucy! –Photo submitted.

Adoptions Now Available Through WCAPS

Will County Animal Protection Services (WCAPS) has launched their new adoption program, allowing residents to adopt pets directly through the department. The adoption program follows sweeping changes to Will County animal welfare policies in response to a nationwide increase in animal shelter populations. “This is the first time in agency history we’ve been able to…

Justin Regular

Justin Regular Sentenced to 30 Years for UP Murder

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Justin Regular, 23, of University Park, was sentenced recently to 30 years in prison for First Degree Murder in the 2020 shooting death of Chikiris Murphy. Regular pled guilty on March 11 and was sentenced on April 3, by Circuit Judge Sarah Jones. On January 6, 2020, 23-year-old…

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JSO Announces Final Concert of 2023-2024 Season

The Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO) is pleased to announce the final concert set of its 2023-2024 Season with Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Sean Paul Mills leading a program of works by Louis Joseph Ferdinand Herold, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and Antonin Dvorak, and featuring trumpet soloist Gilmar Cavalcante. Titled “Rejoice!” the JSO will perform Louis…

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Newquist Will County Board Spotlight of the Month

Will County is one of two counties in Illinois that has the county executive form of government, with its board consisting of 22 members, representing each of the 11 county board districts. Each month they publish the “Will County Board Spotlight of the Month” that features one of its board members. It is their desire…

04.12.24 Z1W Child Pornography_E.Regan

ISP Arrest Mokena Man for Child Pornography Possession

Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 arrested 75-year-old Edward R. Regan, of Mokena, for five counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony). On April 11, ISP agents executed a search warrant at a residence in the 11000 block of Daniel Trail in Mokena. Evidence of child pornography was gathered…

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WCHD Reports Second Positive Measle Case

The Will County Health Department (WCHD) has confirmed an additional positive case of measles in Will County, and the 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 WCHD is in close contact with…

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Federal Funding Secured to Reduce Eastern Will County Truck Congestion

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant announced the approval of $500,000 in federal appropriations for the Eastern Will County Truck Routing Project. The project, aimed at reducing congestion in Eastern Will County, is part of the Fiscal Year 2024 government appropriations packaged approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden.…

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USF Blood Drive April 23

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Help those in need as the University of St. Francis (USF) hosts its next American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, April 23, from 1 to 6 p.m., in the Assembly Hall…

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…

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
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