Manteno Takes an ‘L’ Vs. BBCHS
By Jim Piacentini On Monday, September 16, the Panthers varsity volleyball team had tough going from the get go, as they faced the Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School Boilermakers, but they would not give up. Manteno was led by senior Brynn Nikonchuk, with 7 kills, 3 aces, and 7 digs, but the Panthers lost the first…
High School Golf Highlights
Illinois Lutheran Chargers: The Illinois Lutheran Chargers Golf Team won their match on Tuesday, September 10, on Cardinal Creeks’ north course against the co-op team of St. Anne and Clifton Central. The boys finished with a total of 195 to St. Anne’s 205. The Chargers leading scorer was Eli Potempa, who carded a 43 –…
Area High School Sport Highlights
Golf Peotone: On Monday, October 2, Peotone High School golfers Joe Hasse and Jake Eaheart competed in the 2A Golf Sectional at Wedgewood Golf Course in Joliet. Both players were unable to advance to the state finals, as the cut line was 76, and both players shot an 87. Volleyball ILHS: On Friday, September 29,…
Weekly Golf Tallies
Peotone: On Friday, September 1, Peotone and Kankakee met at Oak Springs Golf Course in St. Anne for a non-conference match. Peotone (182) fell to Kankakee (168). Medalist was Paul Azzerelli with a score of 38. Peotone four count scores were Jake Eaheart 41, Joe Hasse 42, Michael Bettenhausen 49, and Mason Early 50. On…
AI Gun Detection Software Demonstrated at BBCHS
By Andrea Arens You never think violence can happen in a small town until it does. Last week, there was a gun threat at Peotone High School, and it wasn’t the first. Technology can help protect, though. New AI (artificial intelligence) gun detection software can recognize a gun within seconds and send alerts to phones…
PHS Thanksgiving Tourney Action
On November 21, in the Ladycat Fall Classic, Peotone Lady Blue Devils walloped Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, 55-23. For the Blue Devils, Marissa Velasco and Jenna Hunter each scored 16 points, Mady Kibelkis added 9, while Madi Schroeder finished with 8 points. The next day, November 22, Peotone’s ladies again were victorious, beating Andrew of…
Panthers Take Second at Bill Breeden Tourney, Beat Illinois Lutheran/Wilmington
Manteno Varsity competed at the 18-hole Bill Breeden Golf Tournament at the Kankakee Elks on Monday, August 15, and brought home second place in a field of 10 teams. The Panthers shot a team total 355, placing ahead of all but Beecher, who carded a 330. The other schools and scores were BBCHS (365), Peotone…
Peotone Pummels the Boilermakers
By Dennis Bowling Peotone junior keeper Jenna Hunter just recorded her fifth shut out of this season. Hunter’s success is due to the Blue Devils outstanding group of defenders, including sophomores Abigail Chenoweth and Ashley Renwick, plus senior Lia Opitz. The defenders were marking up strong, and they each had many successful kick-outs on May…
Markanich Twins Selected in Major League Soccer Superdraft
By Stephen Nelson Two recent Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School graduates, who are twins, are going to be playing Major League Soccer following their selection in the first and second rounds of the league’s super draft on January 11. Anthony Markanich, a 2018 BBCHS grad and now a senior at Northern Illinois University, was the 26th overall…
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Area News
Bourbonnais Police Chief to Retire in February
By Stephen Nelson At the Bourbonnais Village Board Meeting on Monday, November 18, it was announced by Mayor Paul Schore that Police Chief Jim Phelps will retire in February of next year. Phelps has been at the helm of the Bourbonnais Department for the past 12 years. In his retirement announcement letter, Phelps said he…
Nonprofit Board Bootcamp Training Coming in 2025
Board Bootcamp, an initiative of United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois County and Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, is coming to Iroquois County on January 9. This full-day training is designed to equip residents of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties with the skills and knowledge to serve effectively on a nonprofit board. Board Bootcamp covers…
KPL 18th Annual Lion Wreathing; City of Kankakee Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Kankakee Public Library, in collaboration with the City of Kankakee and Downtown Kankakee, is excited to announce the 18th annual Lion Wreathing and Tree Lighting Ceremony, on Thursday, December 5, from 5:30 until 8 p.m. The evening’s festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m., at the library, 201 E. Merchant, featuring remarks from Mayor…
Riverside’s Vilt Named ‘CFO to Know’ by Becker’s Healthcare
Healthcare system’s Senior Vice President, CFO honored for second year. For her excellence in financial operations and for executing key strategic responsibilities with Riverside Healthcare, Patt Vilt has been recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as part of its 2024 “Women hospital and health system CFOs to know” list. Vilt, Riverside’s Senior Vice President and CFO, oversees…
Kankakee County Board Increases 2025 Spending by $4.89 Million
By Stephen Nelson The Kankakee County Board at its Tuesday, November 12, meeting approved a budget for 2025 of $46,999,784, an 11 percent increase over 2024. Spending will include $70,000 to continue an agreement with the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau for tourism promotion and $25,000 for sponsorship of the Kankakee River Regatta. County Finance…
Riverside Receives Gold Award from American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry
Riverside Healthcare has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2024. The award recognizes Riverside’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. It also signifies Riverside has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart attack patients with levels…
Riverside Re-designated as Military Friendly Employer for 2025
Healthcare system earns honor three years in a row. Riverside Healthcare announced that, for the third year running, it has earned the Military Friendly Employer designation. Military Friendly Employer Award Ratings recognition signifies an organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting the military community and fostering an inclusive workplace environment. In summary, the Military Friendly Employer Award…
Charonn D. Woods, MD, Joins Riverside Interventional Pain Medicine Team
Woods is accepting new patients in Bourbonnais. Riverside Healthcare is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Charonn D. Woods, an interventional pain medicine specialist, to its medical team. Interventional pain medicine providers specialize in minimally invasive procedures to treat acute or chronic pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and other major joints. Dr. Woods…
Republican Sweep in All Contested Kankakee County Board Races
By Stephen Nelson Every Republican candidate running for a seat on the Kankakee County Board in the Tuesday, November 5, General Election was a winner. In the District 2 race between Republican Denise Turner and Democrat Marta Perales, Turner won claiming 71.90 percent of the vote. In the 6th District race between Republican Ryan Marion…
KCC Grad Earns Scholarship, Award from PTK’s Nota Bene Literary Competition
A recent Kankakee Community College graduate has earned a scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Nota Bene literary competition. Kelsey Gioja, a 2024 KCC graduate from Watseka, earned the Reynolds Scholarship and a $500 award for her short story, “Invisible.” “I was really surprised when I learned I had won it and was really…
Emma Cheatham, PA-C, Joins Riverside’s Neurosurgery Team
Cheatham is seeing patients in Kankakee. Riverside Healthcare is pleased to welcome neurosurgery physician assistant Emma Cheatham, PA-C. Neurosurgery is a medical specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions that impact the nervous system, specifically the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Cheatham completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Pacific University in Hillsboro,…
VACKC Appoints New Superintendent Despite Past Budgetary Woes
By Stephanie Irvine The Veterans Assistance Commission is making moves with the appointment of Eric Peterson as its new superintendent, effective October 15. A Superintendent Review Committee was formed in September, and two meetings were held. The first of the two meetings, held September 3, established a job posting to be initially posted internally. Shortly…
Akhil Shori, MD, Joins Riverside Interventional Pain Medicine Team
Dr. Shori accepting new patients in Bourbonnais. Riverside Healthcare is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Akhil Shori, an interventional pain medicine specialist, to its medical team. Dr. Shori brings extensive expertise in the field, utilizing minimally invasive techniques to manage and treat acute and chronic pain, including conditions affecting the neck, back, shoulders,…
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Outbreak
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a common cause of bacterial respiratory infections. These infections are most common in young adults and school-aged children. Infections are generally mild but sometimes can be severe. While this condition is not reportable in Illinois, there have been recent increases in percent positivity from clinical lab data, as well as…
KCC to host Veterans Day Reception, Recognition Ceremony November 7
On Thursday, November 7, Kankakee Community College will commemorate Veterans Day with a reception and recognition ceremony. The day will begin with a reception from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the KCC Art Gallery, on the first floor of the Arts and Sciences Building. A ceremony honoring veterans will be at 1 p.m. in…
