
USF Blood Drive February 15
The University of St. Francis (USF) is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, February 15, from 1 to 6 p.m., in the Assembly Hall Gymnasium at USF’s St. Clare Campus, 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet. For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter “60435” in the red “Find…

New Lenox Students Part of University’s ‘The Sun Serpent’ Production
Lewis University Philip Lynch Theatre’s February production will be “The Sun Serpent,” written by Jose Cruz Gonzalez. This historical and poetic story is about the hope and struggles to find the courage to persist against all odds, while portraying the strength of the human spirit. This play is recommended for patrons 13 years and up,…

‘Meet the Author,’ ‘Date at the Museum’ Coming to Kankakee
On Saturday, February 11, the Kankakee Historical Society will host “Date Night at the Museum, beginning at 6 p.m., at 801 S. Eighth Avenue in Kankakee. Enjoy a unique evening at the museum with that special someone. Dinner is catered by the Bennett-Curtis House, with a “Lady and the Tramp” theme. Tickets may be purchased…

Manhattan Welcomes McDonald’s to Community
New opportunities for growth, dining options, with groundbreaking targeted for April. At the January 17 meeting of the Village of Manhattan Board, trustees approved a special use permit and site plan for the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant at 440 West North Street, also known as Rt. 52, which is just north of Manhattan’s downtown.…

Shrove Dinner
Mark your calendars for St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Council of Catholic Women’s 50th Shrove Tuesday Beef Dinner on February 21. Tickets available soon!

Free Webinars for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. One-in-three teens in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse from a dating partner. These violent relationships have serious consequences for victims – putting them at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide, and adult re-victimization. Clove…

Monthly Mass/Adoration at St. Rose of Lima Chapel
St. Rose of Lima Chapel, 486 W. Merchant Street, Kankakee, will celebrate monthly Mass on Friday, January 27, at 6 p.m. Please enter through the west door under the canopy. An elevator is nearby. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament also is held every Wednesday afternoon from 3-5 p.m. Please enter through the west door. All…

KCC Announces Veterans Service Dog Academy Partnership
American Veterans Service Dog Academy announces partnership with KCC. Beginning January 21, from 8:30 – 11 a.m., at KCC/AVSDA will offer a new PTSD Service Dog Handler Training Program. Through this collaboration with KCC’s Continuing Education Program, enrolled veteran students, with documented medical necessity, will be able to participate and learn the basics of training…

U of I Extension Offerings for New Year
Make Your Own Maple Syrup: The University of Illinois Extension, 1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais, is offering a “Make Your Own Maple Syrup” class on January 10, at 10 a.m. Learn how to make delicious maple syrup by tapping trees in your own back yard. Class fee is $10 and includes instructions and supplies. Register at…

Northern Illinois Food Bank Awarded $4,000 Earthrise Community Grant
Illinois Food Bank awards Earthrise Community Grant to help combat food insecurity in Will County. RISE Grant helps restock local food pantries shelves. To help combat a rise in food insecurity in Will County, Earthrise Energy awarded a $4,000 RISE Grant recently to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The grant will help fund several Northern…

Dear Santa…
Here they are – those fabulous letters to Santa, written by first grade students at Peotone Elementary School. We’d like to thank PES for allowing us a peek at what is on the minds of these young people at this time of year. Make sure you read them all, as it will help with your…

A Stroll Down the Memory Lane of Toys
By Melanie Holmes Toys. We love them, we recall our first favorites, and we are chagrined to find our old-timey toys in the aisles of local antique shops. I recently pulled together a collage of toys with the goal of conjuring smiles. There’s a Slinky, a Cabbage Patch doll, and a pedal car! On that…

Manhattan Sees Property Tax Rate Decrease for Third Consecutive Year; New Village Administrator Approved
Residents in Manhattan should see a property tax rate decrease in the municipal portion of their property tax bill after village officials passed the annual tax levy at last week’s board meeting. This would be the third year in a row the village has reduced the levy, which is roughly 10 percent of the total…

Illinois Supreme Court Assigns Albrecht, Appoints Davenport as Third District Appellate Justices
Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Supreme Court of Illinois announced the assignment of retired Circuit Judge Adrienne Albrecht and the appointment of Judge Linda Davenport as Appellate Court Justices in the Third District. “Judges Linda Davenport and Adrienne Albrecht are outstanding jurists, with distinguished careers in private practice prior to taking the bench,” Justice…

Providence Students Named Illinois State Scholars
Providence Students Named Illinois State Scholars Providence Catholic Principal Paul Houston announced that 46 students from the Providence Catholic graduating class of 2023 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars, representing 26 percent of the class. “We are very proud of our Illinois State Scholars,” said Houston. “This is quite an academic achievement. Their commitment…

Special Needs Basketball Clinic Hosted by Providence Catholic
Providence Catholic Girls’ Basketball is proud to host a Super Celtics Special Needs Co-ed Camp on January 5 and 6. The camp will run in two sessions for both boys and girls. Ages five to 10 may register for the camp session from 10-11 a.m., and ages 11-15 may register for camp running from 11…

Providence Student Leads Mental Health Initiative
Providence Catholic student Kailee O’Sullivan has a goal this year: Promote mental health among athletes. To do this, she is working closely with Morgan’s Message. “This organization was really made to break the negative stigma around mental health,” said Kailee. “The organization got its name from a Duke lacrosse player named Morgan, who had the…

Blood Drive at USF December 2
The University of St. Francis (USF) is hosting its final American Red Cross blood drive of the year on Friday, December 2, from 1 to 6 p.m., in the Assembly Hall Gymnasium, at USF’s St. Clare Campus, 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet. For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org, click on the…

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Hosting Advent Parish Mission
An Advent Parish Mission, “Preparing the way of the Lord…We Hope, We Love, We Heal,” will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 511 N. Conrad Street, in Peotone, November 27 – 29. All are invited! Fr. Bill Stenzel will introduce the mission in his homily “God Makes Promises,” during Masses celebrated at…
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Area News

Henry Guilty in Carjacking Ending in Will County After High-Speed Chase
State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Jordan Henry, 28, of Harvey, was found guilty of multiple counts arising from a Chicago carjacking and subsequent car chase by law enforcement that began at 1802 Diversey Parkway and ended off I-55 in Will County. Circuit Judge Bertani-Tomczak rendered the verdict following a bench trial. Jordan was found guilty…

Reyes Named to NAMI Will-Grundy Advisory Board
Will County Health Department’s Armando Reyes, the Regulatory Compliance Coordinator for the Division of Behavioral Health, has been selected to serve on the advisory board on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Will-Grundy. “The request to participate on the advisory board was a welcome surprise,” said Reyes. “I look forward to bringing my education…

USF Blood Drive February 15
The University of St. Francis (USF) is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, February 15, from 1 to 6 p.m., in the Assembly Hall Gymnasium at USF’s St. Clare Campus, 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet. For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter “60435” in the red “Find…

Glasgow Announces Judge Denies Joliet Man’s Motion to Reconsider Decision Resentencing Him to 90 Years in Prison
Matthew Edwards shot two people, killing one, in 2009 Channahon home invasion. Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak denied a motion to reconsider by Matthew Edwards, 30, of Joliet, who was resentenced on October 24, 2022, to 90 years in prison. On July 7, 2009, Edwards shot Joshua Terdic in…

Nunez Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Induced Homicide
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow recently announced Saul Nunez, 45, of Shorewood, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling fentanyl to a 25-year-old man who died from an overdose in Shorewood in 2017. Nunez pled guilty to one count of Drug Induced Homicide, a Class X felony, and one count of Delivery…

Old Will County Courthouse Demolition Cost Could Top $2.7 Million
By Stephen Nelson At their Thursday, January 19, meeting, the Will County Board awarded a contract worth $168,000 to Kluber, Inc., for engineering services related to the demolition of the former Will County Courthouse at 14 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. Kluber’s services will identify specific issues related to the demolition project, such as asbestos…

Rep. Lauren Underwood Visits JJC to Celebrate Federal Funding for Entrepreneur and Business Center
Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) visited Joliet Junior College to celebrate more than $350,000 in federal funding she secured for the college’s Entrepreneur and Business Center (EBC). This funding will expand the EBC’s capacity to provide no-cost services to new and existing entrepreneurs through education and training to help them build their companies. “JJC is extremely…

Forest Preserve Launches Yearlong ‘Take It Outside’ Campaign, App Challenge
The Forest Preserve District of Will County wants you to “Take It Outside” in 2023. This yearlong campaign is designed to entice residents to get back to nature or discover it for the first time. The campaign also will educate participants about the many health benefits – mental and physical – of spending time outdoors.…

Glasgow Announces 27 Participants Graduate Will County Problem Solving Court
Alumna tells audience that before entering program, “I was absolutely certain my addiction was the end for me.” State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced 27 people graduated from the Will County Problem Solving Courts in a January 19 ceremony at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. To date, 796 individuals have turned their lives around through…

Exchange Club Donates $1,000 to Children’s Advocacy Center
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced the Joliet Exchange Club donated $1,000 to the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. Joliet Exchange Club President Dan Kallan presented the check to Glasgow following a tour of the CAC. “The CAC continually is enhancing and expanding the services we provide children, ages three-17, who have endured sexual…

Will County Community Mental Health Board
On Thursday, January 19, the Will County Board approved County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant’s seven appointments to the new Will County Community Mental Health Board and include the following members. Elnalyn Costa, of Bolingbrook, has been appointed to a two-year term. She is the Will County Board member representing District 11 and is a Fund Administrator…