Free Press Advocate

City pursues dam modifications

Published by admin on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 7:43pm

    The city of Wilmington continues its fight with the state of Illinois to keep its river dam while finding ways to prevent any more drownings.
    Mayor Roy Strong told the City Council and the public last week that he plans to erect a fence on and north of the parapet wall for a distance of 50 feet so nobody can enter the water from those areas. Six of the nine people who have drown at the dam since summer 2006 entered the water from the wall or just below it.

School District falls in legal debt margin

Published by admin on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 7:35pm

    School District 209-U has received a clean opinion of its financial statements for fiscal year 2017. Among the findings, said auditor Laurie Pope, CPA, from Mack & Associates, is that the district has fallen within its legal debt margin.

K9 Mao locates drugs during traffic stop

Published by admin on Fri, 09/22/2017 - 3:19pm

Wilmington Police Department’s canine handler, Officer Kris Hopper, saw a the driver of a vehicle commit a few minor traffic infractions at about 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, and stopped the vehicle as it was turning onto the ramp toward Interstate 55 from Lorenzo Road.
When Officer Hopper approached the vehicle the window wouldn’t work so the passenger, Sherri A. Cooney, 50, of Plainfield, opened the door. When she did, Officer Hopper could smell what he believed to be marijuana emitting from inside.

Leaf vac service suspended

Published by admin on Tue, 09/19/2017 - 9:00pm

    The leaves overhead have already started to flutter to the ground, and Wilmington residents who use the city leaf vac service are going to have to find another way to get rid of them. The City Council agreed Tuesday night to suspend the service, effective immediately.
    “It has its ups and downs. People want it, but it’s been a money pit over the years; paying overtime and everything else,” Alderman Steve Evans commented at last week’s Water, Sewer, Streets and Alleys Committee meeting when the members discussed suspending the service this year.

Aldermen ask for legal advice

Published by admin on Tue, 09/19/2017 - 5:34pm

    City officials fear that if they allow liquor stores to have video game terminals, gas station and grocery store owners holding liquor licenses might be asking next. They are seeking legal advice before advancing an ordinance amendment that would allow liquor stores to serve alcohol, which would then qualify them to host video game terminals.

Tour de Cure

Published by admin on Tue, 09/19/2017 - 5:33pm

    The first 2,100 miles Wes Smith pedaled this year were for his health — he rides his bicycle to work and for errands in town for exercise — but the next 100 will be the most important miles. Wes will be riding to raise awareness and funds to prevent and cure diabetes.
    Smith was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1982, during his senior year in high school. Often called juvenile-onset diabetes, T1D is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

Chicagoland Speedway to support PAWS Chicago with donation drive in the name of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Published by admin on Thu, 09/14/2017 - 10:59am

JOLIET, Ill. (September 12, 2017) — In recognition of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final season of full-time racing, Chicagoland Speedway has partnered with PAWS Chicago to pay tribute to his remarkable achievements both on and off the track. Taking Earnhardt’s deep love for his dogs into consideration, a donation drive will be held in his honor during the NASCAR Cup Series weekend Sept. 14-17.
 

Crayons, construction paper and caring

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2017 - 8:46pm
Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25, leaving much of Houston under water, while Hurricane Irma decimated the Caribbean and tore apart communities all across Florida early this week. While residents in the affected areas focus on survival, the rest of the nation has mobilized a massive relief effort. From a nationwide telethon to the smallest supply drive, Americans are showing how much they care.

Real help for addiction comes to Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2017 - 8:01pm

    The Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community and its partners, Riverside Medical Center Wilmington and AMT Counseling, are offering real help for individuals trying to recover from an addiction to alcohol or opioids.

Council authorizes new stop sign

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2017 - 7:58pm
   At the request of School District 209-U, the Wilmington City Council has authorized the installation of a stop sign on South Joliet Street at Laurel Street.
    The intersection is immediately north of the entrance to the campus of the middle and intermediate schools.