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Three More Threats After Board Approves Cameras

By Andrea Arens Two more similar threats were found on both Monday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 16, after one was found the previous week. Both said almost exactly the same thing and had the same handwriting, “Shooting May 24,” but they were at different schools. Monday night’s threat was found at Peotone Junior High,…

Pictured, at the ribbon cutter are, left to right: Bradley Oliver, Miles Heflin, Olivia Wagner, Yailin Hernandez, Danica Acton, and Paisley Land. –Photo submitted.

PHS Agricultural Programs Open New Outdoor Classroom

The Peotone High School Agriculture Program and FFA Chapter held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 11, for the program’s new outdoor classroom on the southwest side of the high school. Students from the program, who worked to design and build the classroom, were on hand. The outdoor classroom has been a project of…

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Peotone High School Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorians

The Peotone High School Class of 2023 graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m., at the high school. Honored speakers at the ceremony will be the Valedictorian and co-Salutatorians from the Class of 2023. Valedictorian, Julia Blaine Giese, is the daughter of Debi and Bill Giese of Monee. The co-Salutatorians…

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Park District and School Boards Discuss Expenses

By Andrea Arens A 90-minute meeting between the Peotone Park District Board and the Peotone School District Board resulted in a verbal commitment to continue discussions and form a committee to recreate an IGA between the two taxing bodies. The Park District actually initiated the conversation back in February, when it sent a letter to…

PHS Presented Descendants

Helping Hands Director Beverly Christensen with Peotone Elementary Principal Carol Zurales.

Peotone Elementary School Raised $4K for Helping Hands

In only five school days, Peotone Elementary School raised $3,812.26 to Pack the Pantry with Produce fundraiser for Helping Hands. An additional last minute donation threw the total to more than $4,000. Peotone Elementary Principal Carol Zurales thanked parents and families who donated to this cause. The money will go to the pantry to provide…

back row:  Chloe Hartt, Alexis Herman , Adyson Kosmos, Jillian Richards, Alexis Reed, Katia Veltman
front row:  Kennedy Spada, Mollie Pusateri, Yaretzi Navarro, Grace Kozlowski, Katelyn Leitelt

Peotone Seventh Grade Girls Volleyball Wins Regional Championship

Peotone FFA members, left to right, are: Emma Bialko, Reese Parker, William Bialko, Mark Jones II, Bryce Thomas, and Isabella Johnson. –Photo submitted.

Peotone FFA Advances Two Students to State Proficiency Awards

Emma Bialko and Bryce Thomas of the Peotone FFA Chapter were selected as the District II FFA Proficiency Winners in their respective areas on Wednesday, March 8, at Joliet Junior College’s Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center. As District II Winners, both Emma and Bryce now are among the top five students in the state in their…

Peotone Powerhouse Season Comes to an End

Competing recently in the Section 10 Proficiency Awards were, from left: Emma Bialko, Quinn Pollak, Reese Parker, William Bialko, Mark Jones II, Bryce Thomas, Isabella Johnson, and Joel Myers. –Photo submitted.

Peotone FFA Successful at Section 10 Proficiency Awards

Peotone FFA has had a long tradition of competing with Supervised Agricultural Experiences in Proficiency Awards. The plaques form rows on the walls in the Peotone High School agriculture rooms, dating from the 1950s to the 2020s. This year, students continue to add hardware to that wall. On Wednesday, February 15, eight students competed in…

Peotone senior Mady Kibelkis celebrated 1,000 career points at last night’s win over St. Joseph Ogden. Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Peotone Routs St. Joseph Ogden, 55-39, in 2nd Semifinal

By Dennis Bowling Peotone senior Madyson Kibelkis is without a doubt, one of the top players in Class 2A girls basketball circles. Kibelkis, who employs that good old fashion midwestern work ethic, joined a very select group on February 21. Kibelkis scored her fourth point, the first of two free throws, which put her into…

Peotone Powerhouse Show Choir took 5th runner up in their division at the Manteno Main Event Show Choir competition on February 11th. Faith Miller was awarded outstanding performer. Powerhouse competes next Saturday at the El Paso-Gridley Show Choir Showdown. Photo by Andrea Arens.

PowerHouse Takes 5th Runner Up at Manteno Main Event

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Alleged Threat at Peotone High School

Peotone’s Police Chief took to social media late in the afternoon on Thursday, February 8. He said the alleged threat was brought to the attention of authorities late Wednesday evening and an investigation was conducted immediately involving Peotone Police, the Will County Sheriff’s Department, and the Peotone School District Administration. Through the investigation, it was…

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PHS Announces First Semester Honor Rolls

Peotone High School recently announced students named to its first semester honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! Superior Honor Roll: 4.0 and above Seniors: Yosef Abdeh, Margaret Begley, Kyle Gaidamavice, Julia Giese, William Graffeo, Cameron Greenquist, Mattea Griffin, Aiden Hamm, Kristen Heintz, Isabella Johnson, Madyson Kibelkis, Eris Lanclos, Nicholas LaPapa IV, Connor McCleverty, Sydnee…

The Lady Blue Devils take first in the Blue Devil Holiday Classic Tourney. They move to first in the conference and are 14-0 overall. –Photo by Dexter Arens.

Blue Devil Girls Take Title in the Holiday Classic, Move to 14-0

By Dennis Bowling Peotone Coach Steve Strough’s half time talk to the Blue Devils focused on being more physical in their play, with Peotone senior Jenna Hunter taking his advice to heart on December 29. Hunter, a 5-foot-10 physical forward, scored 12 second half points, and had 10 rebounds to help Peotone beat Joliet Catholic…

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Shopping So Easy It’s Dangerous

By Jenna Mustafa, Peotone High School Guest Writer Makayla scrolled through her phone on social media, saw a pair of green pants in an advertisement, and she didn’t think twice about ordering them. As teens begin finding their own jobs and acquiring their own debit cards, responsibilities are handed to them in the form of…

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Competition: The Secret Behind a Successful Student

By Maggie Begley, Peotone High School Student Guest Writer Every student has their reasons to strive for academic success, whether it may be validation, future job opportunities, or simply to make their parents happy. Many students would attribute their academic performance to competition and the need for success. From loading their schedule with college level…

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Apartment Complex Has Manteno Principal Concerned
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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
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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
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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