Free Press Advocate

Dispose of not used prescription drugs safely

Published by admin on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 8:19pm

    National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 27.
    The Wilmington Police Station will offer free safe disposal of prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to noon.
    The station is located at 129 Robert P. Weidling Dr.
    The event is being sponsored in part by the Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community.

Housing assistance no longer accepted

Published by admin on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 8:17pm

    Much of the city of Wilmington’s inventory of subsidized housing units is gone, as the new owner of the largest local complex is not participating in the federal housing assistance program.
    The Wilmington Riverview Apartments on South First Street, purchased in May by a Trust held at the First Midwest Bank and managed by George Realty in Naperville, are no longer accepting housing subsidies. There are seven buildings in the complex, with a total of about 46 one- and two-bedroom apartments, although only some were available with housing assistance.

Former correctional center burns

Published by admin on Fri, 10/19/2018 - 2:03pm

Fire destroyed two vacant buildings in the former state correctional center compound on Route 102 at Warner Bridge Road on Thursday, Oct. 18.
By the time the units from the Wilmington Fire Protection District were within one mile of the scene, they could see the fire. Upon arrival, it was determined that two one-story buildings on the property of the former Women's Detention Center, at 17021 Route 102, were heavily involved with fire.
At that time the incident was escalated to a full still level with additional Water Tenders being requested at the box alarm level.     

City picks up park transfer talk

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 6:51pm

    City negotiations with the Island Park District in the past have literally flashed and burned, regardless of the topic, but the concept of transferring inland park property to the district has not died out.
    City administrator Joie Ziller recently renewed the property transfer discussion with Park District director Renee Chavez, who wants a couple things before the district would agree to accept the Veterans Memorial Park and Children’s Memorial Park.

WBSA lease amended, sent again for approval

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 6:41pm

    A lease between the city of Wilmington and the Wilmington Baseball and Softball Association got a final tune up last week, and was returned to the City Council for approval at its Oct. 16 meeting.
    The proposed lease is modeled on the 99-year lease provided to the Bobcat Junior Football League for the fields on Soldiers Widows Home Road, with some significant differences — a much shorter term and a narrow definition of premises.

City asked to move its stuff, pay up, and de-annex land

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 6:36pm

    The city has been asked to move its electric line off of private property, and to then de-annex the parcel. And while the city was going to be given an easement in return, now there’s money involved.
    Last week, the Water, Sewer, Streets and Alleys Committee reviewed a quote for new electric service to the Chesson Street lift station offered by Clennon Electric, in the amount of $7,000. According to city administrator Joie Ziller, the city lift station is fed by  an electrical service that comes across a privately-owned farm field to Kahler Road.

WPD car show will raise funds to buy toys

Published by admin on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 6:35pm

    The Wilmington Police Department is hosting a car show to raise funds to purchase toys for the less fortunate youngsters of the community.
    The show will be held Sunday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 5 p.m., on the municipal parking lot on the west bank of the millrace, near Nelly’s.
    The cost to display a vehicle is $20. A Best of Show trophy will be awarded.

Fire damages home on Water Street

Published by admin on Thu, 10/11/2018 - 4:59pm

A home on one of Wilmington's busiest's streets was severely damaged by fire at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The Robert Bland residence at 718. S. Water St., the one with the white picket fence always tastefully decorated during the holidays, suffered damage to both levels of the home.

12 years in the nonstop fight against drugs

Published by admin on Tue, 10/09/2018 - 9:06pm

 

Twelve years ago, a small group of concerned citizens and the Wilmington Police Department put together an anti-drug forum to discuss the issues of abuse and ways the community could address them.

Hard work gets her noticed

Published by admin on Tue, 10/09/2018 - 9:04pm

Hard work gets you noticed. Just ask Caitlyn Brown, who is a female succeeding in a male-dominated field. Brown participated last week in a panel discussion with Ivanka Trump, fashion designer, businesswoman and senior advisor to her father, President Donald Trump.
Caitlyn is the daughter of Joe and Danielle Brown of Wilmington, and a 2017 graduate of Wilmington High School. During her teens, she helped at the family business, Brown's Towing, worked the counter at Fisher Auto Parts and got her start in the family hobby  racing.