Local News

Panthers gave it a great effort but just couldn’t beat the Bobcats. Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Bobcats Rule Over Panthers

By Dennis Bowling Beecher Coach Dawn Compton was hoping to get off to a strong start against a very competitive Manteno team, and it all started with senior Nate Diachenko on September 13. A mere minute into the first half of the game, Diachenko scored a goal, which gave the Bobcats a momentum changing 1-0…

Pictured is senior Devil Ashley Veltman when the Blue Devils faced Grant Park. –Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Devils Turned It Around with Win Against Dragons

By Dennis Bowling Peotone Coach Kathy Barger was not exactly pleased with the way the Blue Devils started their match against Grant Park, but she was pleased with the outcome on September 11. Peotone senior Ashley Veltman, a talented middle hitter, was able to find her hitting touch and had 12 kills, four service points,…

soccer ball on football field

Devils Beat the Bulldogs

By Dennis Bowling Peotone Coach Ryan Murray knows junior Abraham Horta, who has international playing experience, is a great leader. He also was very tough to defend on September 14. Horta, a highly touted forward, scored a team-high three goals, which included one picturesque goal in the second half of the contest, for a crucial…

The Peotone Old Mill Fest annually celebrates and shares the history of the mill. Photo submitted.

Old Mill Fest 2023 Looks to Give Visitors a Glimpse of the History

By Karen Haave Peotone’s Old Mill Fest 2023 will give visitors a glimpse of 1800s craftsmanship, as well as a look at the windmill that has become a symbol of the village. The festival will take place on Sunday, September 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 427 W. Corning Ave. in Peotone. Admission…

Mayor Therese Bogs and the Board of Trustees were part of the Monee Fall Fest parade. –Picture by Karen Haave.

Monee Fall Fest: Bigger and Better Than Ever

By Karen Haave By all accounts, Monee Fall Fest 2023 was bigger and better than ever. For starters, the weather was nearly perfect throughout the three-day event at Firemen’s Park on Court Street. Friday’s fest included the carnival, live music, bingo hosted by the Monee American Legion, and the always-popular community-wide garage sales. The annual…

Niko Akiyama finished with 165 yards in 16 carries for a Panther win. Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Panthers Pull Out a Win Over the Tigers

By Dennis Bowling Manteno senior Porter Chandler, a very talented 6-foot-3 wide receiver, is one of the best in this area, and he proved that without a doubt on September 8. In the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Manteno was clinging to a 28-27 lead over Herscher. The Panthers sophomore Connor Harrod,…

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Monee Village Board Suggest Alternative Location for Plumbing Business

By Karen Haave A plumbing business proposed for Briar Street in Monee will likely locate somewhere else after village officials agreed to help the owner find a new site. Rockland Oiler sought a variance he hoped would mean he could move his established plumbing business from Hazel Crest to Monee. He said he has been…

Manteno Police Chief Alan Swinford cuts the ribbon at the Manteno Police Dept open house on Saturday while Mayor Nugent and the other attendees look on. Photo by Dan Gerber.

New Police Headquarters Occupancy Set for September 12

By Stephen Nelson At the September 5 Manteno Village Board meeting, it was announced all remodeling and renovation of the new building that will be police headquarters has been completed, and the department will be operating at the facility, 110 Marquette Place South, beginning September 12. The village held an open house and ribbon cutting…

The event’s finale included a “Powering Up” of the Giga Factory using Gotion batteries. Pictured, from left to right, are: David Adams (Gotion Giga Illinois), Michael Boyd (CEO of KCC), Steven Cai (Gotion Giga Illinois and CTO), Sen. Don Harmon (President of Illinois Senate); Gotion Founder Zhen Li; Gov. J.B. Pritzker; Manteno Mayor Tim Nugent; Chen Li (CEO of Gotion US); First Assistant Deputy Gov. Christy George; and Kankakee County Board Pres. Andrew Wheeler. –Photo by Melanie Holmes.

Manteno Chosen as Gotion, Inc.’s, First Facility in North America

By Melanie Holmes Friday, September 8, brought huge news to Manteno in the form of a “Special Economic Event,” as it was touted by the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County. Manteno Mayor Tim Nugent, along with top leadership members of Kankakee County and Illinois, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Senators Don Harmon and Patrick Joyce,…

Beecher beat Coal City 7-1. Photo by Jim Piacentini.

Beecher Soccer Adds Another Win to Record

By Dennis Bowling Beecher senior Ethan Rydberg, who is an outstanding defenseman, was quite pleased with the play of his Bobcat teammates on September 6, as Beecher beat Coal City, 7-1, in a non-conference contest in Coal City. With the win, Beecher is 6-2 overall and have won an impressive four games in a row. The…

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Manteno Chinese Battery Manufacturing Plant to be Located in Former Kmart Warehouse

By Stephen Nelson Governor J.B. Pritzker was in Manteno on Friday, September 8, with some big economic news for Kankakee County. According to a press release from the Illinois Governor’s office, Gov. Pritzker and Gotion joined local Illinois leaders and officials to announce the company’s decision to locate its new state-of-the-art $2 billion electric vehicle…

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Vehicle Strikes Pedestrian in Peotone

At 7:52 p.m., on Wednesday, September 6, the Peotone Police Department responded to a single car crash involving a vehicle striking one pedestrian on Rt. 50, at the intersection with Corning Avenue. The pedestrian, a 61-year-old male from Peotone, was transported by Manhattan Fire Department to St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, where he was pronounced…

College style football on a tee at night ready for kickoff

Panthers Need to Find That Offensive Rhythm

By Dennis Bowling Manteno Coach RJ Haines had some positive thoughts about the Panthers play after Haines witnessed the Panthers offensive struggles on September 1. The Plano Reapers beat Manteno, 29-0, in a non-conference contest on “Wildcat Night” in Manteno. Prior to the game, there was a fantastic fireworks display the full house Panther crowd…

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Bobcats Volleyball Routs Donovan

By Dennis Bowling Beecher senior Katie Jones is a very good floor leader, an outstanding hitter, and her serves were in top form on September 7. Jones, a team captain, in the first game of the match, served nine straight service points and had four kills, to help Beecher rout Donovan 25-4, 25-10 in a…