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Green Garden Residents Express Concerns
By Andrea Arens Several residents attended the Green Garden Township Board meeting Monday, January 10, to address their concerns. The meeting was down a trustee, due to a family medical issue, and the assessor – for medical reasons. The board is also down a clerk, who resigned earlier last year, though that didn’t stop the…
Future Fundraising Efforts to Support Officer Bailey and Sergeant Rittmanic
By Eric Peterson While many businesses have already stood together to raise much-needed funds for the families of fallen Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severely injured Officer Tyler Bailey, there are several other opportunities for community members to show their support. January 23, from 2– 6 p.m.: Northfield Square Mall will use the former women’s Carson’s…
Crime in Manteno, Surrounding Areas
By Melanie Holmes Emotions run high in the face of crime. No one should have to face the wrong end of a gun barrel just for doing their job, but it does happen – as this area knows full well in light of the recent loss of Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the critical injury to…
PHS Coach Updates
The Blue Devils Varsity Boys Basketball team lost to Manteno Friday night, January 7, 33-37, in double OT. Once again, the Blue Devil defense put them in a position to win, but they couldn’t get over the hump offensively. The team showed great resiliency overcoming some injuries, foul trouble, along with a starter out. Mason Kibelkis…
Monee to Hire HR Director
By Karen Haave Monee officials approved an ordinance last week to create the position of Human Resource Director. Village Administrator Ruben Bautista said the job will be part-time and have a salary in the $30,000-to-$40,000 range. “As the Village of Monee has continued to experience economic growth during the past few years, it has had a…
Manteno Police Officers Graduate ISP Academy
By Melanie Holmes Congratulations go to three recent hires for the Manteno Police Department who completed the Illinois State Police (ISP) Academy in November, including Jonathan Dokter, Miranda Sinadinos, and Jacob Nelson. These officers completed 560 hours (14 weeks) of intensive training – a standard of training that has increased during the past few decades,…
Manteno Trivia: January 13
By Melanie Holmes In a previous edition, we featured a visual clue – a photo of a cement marker along a country road whose crown is topped with toys – and asked if anyone could identify the location of the marker. We also asked, “What’s the story behind it?” Since that trivia column coincided with…
2022 Peotone Village Vehicle Stickers
The Village of Peotone adopted an annual vehicle sticker last June. All vehicles parked or housed within the village are required to have vehicle stickers. Stickers can be purchased January 1 through February 15 at village hall or by mail. Passenger cars, pick-up trucks, cycles, motor homes, and neighborhood vehicles (golf carts) are $30. Senior…
62nd Annual Will County Coin Club Rare Coin Show
On Sunday, February 27, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, the Will County Coin Club will host its 62nd annual Rare Coin Show, at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center, 411 S. Larkin Avenue in Joliet. The show features the Pete McCoy youth auction at 1:30 p.m., for ages 14 and under and includes raffles…
Village Board Approves $391K to Remodel Police Department
By Eric Peterson The Village of Manteno held its biweekly board meeting on January 3. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence led by Mayor Nugent, was had by all in honor of critically injured officer Tyler Bailey and fallen officer Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic of the Bradley Police Department., Early on during the…
Death Penalty Sought; Sgt. Rittmanic Honored
By Andrea Arens Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe is seeking the death penalty for suspects Darius Sullivan and Xandria Harris. Rowe appeared in court Monday and is seeking life sentences for Sullivan and Harris. He’s also requesting federal murder charges to be filed against Sullivan and Harris and for federal prosecutors to seek the…
Bradley Police Officer killed, another wounded
By Andrea Arens Updated: At 9:41 pm Wednesday December 29, two Bradley police officers were called to the Comfort Inn on Route 50 on a report of unattended dogs barking in the parking lot. Officers located the vehicle and the possible owner. While attempting a conversation, the officers were attacked by the occupants of the…
Manteno’s Rearview Mirror: A Recap of 2021
By Melanie Holmes The year 2021 will be remembered for a lot of things, including the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine, and the January 6 siege on the capitol. As we move into 2022, we hope for more unity and health for all. Last spring, as frontline workers got vaccinated, businesses, schools, and churches relaxed restrictions,…
Minimum wage hike among new state laws taking effect Jan.1
By Bob Bong and Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois Minimum wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting Jan. 1, while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets. Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect in the…