News

Will County committee deadlocks on mega solar project

Published by admin on Tue, 04/07/2026 - 4:00pm

A 6,100-acre solar development proposed for Will County remains undecided after the Will County Land Use and Development Committee split in a tied vote of 3-3, following weeks of intense public scrutiny and testimony.
The project, known as the Pride of the Prairie Solar Complex (Zoning case ZC-25-129) and proposed by Earthrise Energy, would span approximately 6,100 acres across 96 properties in Manhattan, Green Garden and Wilton townships, generally southeast of the Village of Manhattan, and including properties on Wilmington-Peotone Road.

Coal City Theatre earns top spot in State Finals

Published by admin on Tue, 04/07/2026 - 3:53pm

The Coal City Theatre Department received first place in the Musical Theatre division of the 2026 Illinois High School Association [IHSA] Drama State Series.
The Musical Theatre program at the IHSA Drama State Series is an art form that combines the skills of acting, singing and dancing and encourages creativity. This event lets up to six students present a 10-minute musical review with selections from a published score written for musical theatre.

Helping homeless vets––one cookie at a time

Published by admin on Tue, 04/07/2026 - 3:48pm

Girl Scout Bristol Sjostrom, age 14, has turned cookie season into something much better than even Thin Mints and Samoas. The Gardner resident is turning her hard work into hope for veterans and hometown heroes.
Friday, April 3 blew in with ominous news. Mother Nature threatened intense thunderstorms. The odds of golf ball-sized hail didn’t stop Sjostrom and her mother Marie Sjostrom, from hawking cookies at Petro gas station in Wilmington. She’s determined to reach her goal of selling 15,000 boxes of cookies. If it means risking life and limb, so be it.

Trump proposes renaming IL water towers “Trump Towers”

Published by admin on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:53pm

In what officials are calling a “bold rebranding of American infrastructure,” President Trump reportedly will unveil a proposal April 1 to place his name on water towers across the United States.
Dubbed the “Make Water Great Again Initiative,” the plan would see thousands of municipal water towers repainted in gold lettering and officially renamed “Trump Towers,” regardless of their current height, shape, or proximity to actual skyscrapers.

Walleye Roundup again hits record pace on the Kankakee

Published by admin on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:49pm

What once took hours now takes minutes.
For the second straight year, biologists with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources needed little more than a single pass along the Kankakee River to collect all the walleye needed for their hatchery program — a sign that decades of careful management are paying off in a big way.
Last Thursday, the crew launched their electrofishing boat near the Wilmington pool and quickly got to work. Within just 15 minutes, enough broodstock had been gathered to supply the LaSalle Fish Hatchery for the season.

Heidecke Lake remains closed due to historically low water

Published by admin on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:41pm

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has delayed the traditional April 1 opening of Heidecke Lake in Grundy County to boaters this year because of unusually low water levels caused by ongoing drought conditions.
IDNR staff will continue to monitor the lake and will reopen it once it reaches safe navigation levels. The department expects levels to return to typical ranges as normal precipitation patterns resume. IDNR is evaluating potential options for adding water to the lake if drought conditions persist.

City taking a hard look at improving roads

Published by admin on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 3:33pm

The City of Wilmington is moving forward with a series of infrastructure upgrades, public safety initiatives and community event plans.
Among the most significant developments is progress on the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 road program, a roughly $500,000 investment targeting priority street repairs. Construction is expected to begin in May and conclude by early August, pending IDOT approval.

Coal City schools moving forward

Published by admin on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 3:25pm

Coal City School Superintendent Chris Spencer spent just over a half hour Wednesday evening walking residents through the present—and future—of Coal City Unit School District #1, offering a detailed look at building improvements, enrollment trends and new initiatives during a town hall-style meeting at the high school’s performing arts center.
Speaking to a crowd of about 20 attendees, Spencer said the goal was simple: provide clarity.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday in Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 3:20pm

The Braidwood Park District’s Annual Children’s Easter egg hunt in the Old Smokey City Park will take place on Saturday, March 28 starting promptly at 1 p.m. with the youngest age group. Age groups are as follows:
• 1-3 years (Tee-Ball Field) Parents/Guardians may walk with their children as the children pick up eggs.
• 4-6 years (north boys baseball field) If necessary, one parent or guardian may walk with the child as the children pick up the eggs.

Auto overturns into ditch during two-car crash

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 4:10pm

The Wilmington Fire District responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries reported near the intersection of Lorenzo Rd and Will Rd shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.

While enroute, Wilmington Fire units received additional dispatch information advising one vehicle was upside down in a ditch filled with water. Based on additional dispatch information received enroute regarding the severity of the crash, Lifestar medical helicopter was requested to be placed on standby.