Madi Schroeder and Coach Steve Strough are all smiles after she joined the elite 1,000 Point Club. Congratulations, Madi!!! –Photo submitted.

Madi Schroeder Joins 1,000 Point Club!

Blue Devil logo

PHS’s Veltman Signs Indiana Wesleyan University Commitment

Blue Devil logo

PHS’s Schroeder Signs Basketball Commitment

IMG_2624

PHS Veteran’s Day Assembly

Quin Price, cast as Elle Woods, take a bow along with the cast on Saturday November 10. Legally Blonde ran shows on November 9, 10, and 11. Photo by Dexter Arens.

PHS Presents Legally Blonde

Vedette logo

State Report Cards Reveal Chronic Absenteeism a Concern

By Andrea Arens The state report cards were released this week and, while there were gains in academic achievement, it revealed the state still has a chronic absenteeism issue. Pre-pandemic absenteeism was at 17.5 percent. Currently, the rate is 28.7 percent, which is down slightly from last year’s 30 percent. Illinois state superintendent Tony Sanders…

Blue Devil logo

PHS Senior Night Honors Band Members

Matt Gromala is the son of Kim and Dan Gromala and a four-year member of the marching band. One of Matt’s favorite memories was being able to play in the Jazz band. After high school, he plans on going into the trades. Finn Malloy, son of Victoria and Luke Malloy, is a four-year member of…

Blue Devil logo

Blue Devil Dance, Football Managers Honored at Senior Night

Dance Molly Hennke is the daughter of  Jeannette and Robert Hennke and is a three-year member of the dance team. Molly’s favorite memory always will be having danced with her good friends. After high school, Molly wants to be a singer and dancer. Football – Managers Payton Bean is the daughter of Wendy and Shawn…

PHS Best Buddies competed in the Boilermaker games and brought home the wins! –Photo submitted.

PHS Best Buddies Brought Home the Hardware

The PHS Best Buddies competed October 3, in The BBCHS Boilermaker Games and brought home the hardware! Let’s go through their amazing accomplishments. They won the 2023 Team Banner Award and came in first place in the Team Relay Competition, which consisted of Charlie “The Jet” Tucker, Mark Jones, Alicia Hunding, and Mariah “Wheels” Young!…

Pictured from left to right: Carol Zurales, Steve Stein, Brandon Owens, and Wendy Bean. Photo courtesy 207U.

207-U Superintendent Announces Retirement and Replacement

By Andrea Arens Superintendent Steve Stein announced his retirement commencing on July 1, 2024, at the September 25 board meeting. Stein has been with the district for 11 years. Current Director of Curriculum and Instruction Brandon Owens will step into the role as Superintendent. Current Peotone Elementary Principal Carol Zurales will step into Owens’ role…

Letter to the Editor

Letter to Ed: Chisausky

Dear Editor: I just watched the Peotone School Board meeting from August 21 and am horrified by what I saw. Multiple English teachers spoke about a situation at the school where books they have been teaching are now being challenged as inappropriate. Three of my children attended Peotone schools, and I always was pleased with…

The Peotone High School Class of 1963 met for their 60th reunion at Brian’s Place in Monee, on August 19. Classmates who were able to attend are: Backrow: Jerry Mueller, Charlie Denby, Stan Anderson, Roger Rainford, Ron Schubbe, Don Robbins, Lanny Russell, Lane Hafele, and Ron Clausing; middle row - Sandy Yunker Teske, Pat Paterson Piepinbrink, Jane Schroeder Smith, Joy Schroeder Jacobs, Diane Nieland Toepper, Holly Younker Maves, and Dean Lohrbach; seated - Laurel Sippel Baker, Norma Cann Lehnert, Carol Waldhauser Robbins, Mary Lou Krohn Issert, Lois Miller Hamilton, and Sandy Nagel Hafele. Members of other PHS classes were invited and several joined the group. The Class of 1963 was the first PHS senior class to fly to Washington, D.C., and New York City for their class trip. Previous classes had traveled by train. –Photo submitted.

Class of ’63 Holds 60th Year Reunion

Blue Devil logo

Notification of Purging Records – PHS Class of 2018

School records for the Peotone High School Class of 2018 will be purged beginning Monday, July 24. If you would like to retrieve information from your files, please leave a message on the high school voicemail (708-258-3236, ext. 1006). You may pick up the files in the office upon completion. Summer office hours are from…

Blue Devil logo

PJHS Students Honored at Annual SkillsUSA Workforce Development Event

Career and technical students in Illinois earned national recognition and a medal at the 2023 SkillsUSA Championships, held in Atlanta, June 21-22. More than 6,000 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world and covers 1.79 million square feet, equivalent to…

Pictured are representatives of the Peotone FFA. –Photo submitted.

Peotone FFA Chapter Honored at State Convention

Members of the Peotone FFA chapter attended the 95th annual Illinois State FFA Convention June 13-15, along with more than 5,000 other FFA members, advisors, and guests. With a theme of “Electrify,” the three-day event annually recognizes achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team, and celebrates agriculture. During the convention, the…

Blue Devil logo

PHS Class of ’63 Holding 60th Reunion

The Peotone High School Class of 1963 will hold its 60th reunion on August 19. A casual get-together will be held at Brian’s Place in Monee, from 4 to 7 p.m. No reservations are necessary, with food and drinks on your own. Members of other PHS classes also are welcome to attend.

Blue Devil logo

PHS Announces Honor Rolls

Peotone High School recently announced students named to its honor rolls at the close of the school year. Congratulations to the following students! Superior Honor Roll, 4.0 and above Seniors: Yosef Abdeh, Kyle Gaidamavice, Julia Giese, William Graffeo, Cameron Greenquist, Aiden Hamm, Miles Heflin, Yailin Hernandez, Isabella Johnson, Madyson Kibelkis, Eris Lanclos, James Martin, Connor…

Vedette logo
Apartment Complex Has Manteno Principal Concerned
Vedette logo
Monee Water Main Improvement Project Bids Approved
Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen at the March 18 board meeting. Photo by Stephanie Irvine.
Manhattan Board Approves New Well House, Works Toward Finalizing Budget
Vedette logo
Kankakee County Auditor Jake Lee Out After 2 Terms
Beecher Bobcat Adyn McGinley –Photo by Jim Piacentini.
VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
Chief Steve Malone reviews the past year’s operations after the consolidation.  –Photo by Stephanie Irvine.
Manhattan Fire Board Reviews Consolidation, Talks 2023 Data at March Meeting
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
Vedette logo
Longtime Crete Code Enforcement/Animal Control Supervisor to Retire
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