–Photo submitted.

Potts Sentenced to 10 Years for Unlawful Use of Machine Gun

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Gralon Potts, 38, of Chicago Heights, was sentenced recently to 10 years in prison for Unlawful Use of a Weapon (a Class X Felony). Potts pled guilty and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Bertani-Tomczak. On August 12, 2023, University Park Police responded to a dispatch for a disturbance…

The Police Chiefs Association will hold its 43rd annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day on May 9. –Photo submitted.

Police Chiefs Association Holding Law Enforcement Memorial Day May 9

The 43rd annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day, sponsored by the Police Chiefs Association of Will County, is scheduled for Thursday, May 9. Details of the event were announced by Tracy Chapman, president of the Association and deputy director of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The event will begin with a 10:30 a.m. Mass…

Cervantes-Diaz Mugshot

Cervantes-Diaz Found Guilty of Child Pornography

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Jose Ramon Cervantes-Diaz, 52, of Bolingbrook, was found guilty recently of three counts of Child Pornography (a Class 2 felony) following a bench trial before Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17. In July 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago received information concerning an individual…

Rep. Jackie Haas –Photo submitted.

Rep. Haas Passes Bill Supporting Law Enforcement

Recently, House Bill 5174, filed by State Rep. Jackie Haas, passed the House floor with a unanimous vote of 108-0. “Today’s passage of House Bill 5174 is a huge win for law enforcement officers and school safety,” said Rep. Haas. “This bill will incentivize retired law enforcement officers to return to work as school safety…

Jenkins Mugshot

Convicted Sex Offender Quinton Jenkins Sentenced to 23 Years for Child Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Quinton Jenkins, 41, of Joliet, was sentenced recently to 23 years in prison for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child (a Class X felony). Jenkins pled guilty March 8 and was sentenced April 24 by Circuit Judge David Carlson. On December 1, 2018, Jenkins and the victim’s…

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…

Community News Logo

Illinois AFL-CIO, Rail Labor, First Responders Applaud Biden Administration for New Rule on Two-Person Crews

The Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois railroad unions, and Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI) applaud the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) for finalizing a new federal rule requiring railroads to maintain minimum two-person crews for most freight and passenger operations. In 2019, the same organizations worked to pass SB 24 (PA 101-294)…

Manhattan FPD

From the Desk of Fire Chief Steve Malone:

The Manhattan Fire Protection District and the Peotone Fire Protection District accomplished something rare in local government. After a two-year intergovernmental agreement, the two fire districts were fully consolidated into one, effective January 1, 2023. This was a monumental task but, in the end, the citizens will see the short-term and long-term benefits from this…

Radetski Mugshot

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,…

Watson Mugshot

Watson Found Guilty of First Degree Murder in 2018 Shooting Death

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that Elijah Watson, 28, of Joliet, was found guilty recently in the 2018 shooting death of Nathan Ballard. Watson was found guilty by Circuit Judge Vincent Cornelius of First Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (a Class 2 felony) following a five-day bench trial. Co-defendant Anthony…

Garvey Mugshot

Garvey Sentenced to 35 Years in Death of Eight-Month-Old Daughter

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that Shanquilla Garvey, 30, of Joliet, was sentenced recently to 35 years in prison in the 2017 death of her eight-month-old daughter Cherish. Garvey pled guilty to First Degree Murder (a Class X felony) before Circuit Judge Daniel Rippy. On December 20, 2017, Garvey was living at the…

Harold Robinson Mugshot (002)

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,…

City of Kankakee logo

Kankakee Police Accepting Applications for Citizens Police Academy

The City of Kankakee Police Department is thrilled to announce the launch of the Citizen Police Academy, an engaging program designed to foster a better understanding between our community and the dedicated men and women who serve and protect. Chief Christopher Kidwell stated: “The Citizen Police Academy is an invaluable opportunity for residents to gain…

–Photo submitted.

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…

New forensic facility and ISP regional facility. Image via the ISP.

ISP Unveils Final ISP Regional Campus Design

State-of-the-art facilities to house patrol, criminal investigation, forensic services, and crime scene command. JOLIET – The Illinois State Police (ISP) unveiled the design for the new Illinois State Police Regional Campus comprised of the Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory and Illinois State Police Troop 3 and Zone 1 Headquarters. The buildings were designed to increase…

Community News Logo

Camp I Am Me Promotes Burn Awareness Week

Helps prevent flammable liquid burn injuries. National Burn Awareness Week is February 4-10, and this year’s theme is “Handle with Care, Flammable Liquids Beware.” Camp I Am Me, by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance – a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children and adults with severe burn injuries, is highlighting the awareness campaign to support its…

Will County EMA Issues Wilmington Flash Flooding Update

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,…

Vedette logo
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
Vedette logo
Green Garden Moving Ahead with Renovations
Sports logo
VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
Vedette logo
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
Vedette logo
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!
Vedette logo
Crete to Celebrate Earth Day 2024 with Week Long Celebration
Vedette logo
Frustrated; Beecher Back to the Drawing Board
Vedette logo
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