Free Press Advocate

The trial of the Waterwog

Published by admin on Tue, 09/05/2017 - 7:57pm

    The Wilmington Fire Protection District isn’t sold yet, but if the watercraft it tested at the Wilmington dam last week performs as promised in high water, it may be something the district can add to its swift water rescue arsenal.

FPA prevails in Open Meetings claim against WIPD

Published by admin on Tue, 09/05/2017 - 7:49pm

    The Free Press Advocate was correct in its claim that the Island Park District Board of Commissioners violated state law during a special meeting.
    Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Public Access Counselor agreed with the newspaper’s position that the Park Board had not properly notified the public that it would vote to fill a vacant seat on the board during a special meeting held on April 21, and that the board improperly discussed procedures during its closed session, both in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Feds reject Great Lakes Basin Railroad

Published by admin on Tue, 09/05/2017 - 7:49pm

    The Great Lakes Basin Railroad has been derailed. Last week, the Surface Transportation Board rejected Great Lakes Basin Transportation Inc.’s application to construct and operate the rail line around the Chicago metropolitan area through counties in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
    “GLBT has failed to provide the board with accurate financial information upon which the board can rely to make a determination on the transportation merits of the project,” stated the STB’s Aug. 30 decision.

Two arrested in Island City Storage burglary

Published by admin on Tue, 09/05/2017 - 8:49am

On Saturday, Sept. 2, at approximately 5 pm, Brett A. Hartell, 18 and his friend – a 17 year old male, both of Elwood — were
arrested while attempting to flee the scene after burglarizing the Island City Storage facility on North Kankakee Street in Wilmington.

The burglars were found in possession of multiple tools that they stole from the business.

Encompassing all of geekdom

Published by admin on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 8:08pm

Thommy Evans, the owner of Chic, Geek and Antique, is inviting people from Kankakee to Chicago to come to Wilmington for an Island City version of comic con, Geekin’ on 66. It’s not far to come, he says, if you want to do all this cool stuff.

Skate park’s had its last roll

Published by admin on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 8:01pm

    It’s quiet this week in Northcrest, not because children are back in the classroom, but because the skate park is gone and wheels no longer clatter on metal ramps.

Wrestling Club seeks new practice space

Published by admin on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 7:57pm

    The need for consistency has brought the Mighty Cat Wrestling Club to the Island Park District with a request to use one of its rooms for practice. But the request comes with a cost the park commissioners weren’t ready to make last week.
    The Mighty Cat Wrestling Club serves 4- to 10-year-old boys and girls. It generally holds registration in October and practices start in early November. Participation hovers between 40 and 50, but the club has served as many as 80 pint-sized wrestlers in a winter season.

Leaf vac program likely to be ‘bagged’

Published by admin on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 8:36pm

    The city of Wilmington’s leaf vacuum program is likely to come to an end due to the cost of maintaining it.
    Ken Ewenson, the superintendent of the public works department, told the members of the council’s Grounds and Buildings and Water, Sewer, Streets and Alleys Committees that the program is costly and inefficient.
    “It’s a money pit and a manpower hog,” Ewenson told the committee members.

Group seeks river recreators, stewards

Published by admin on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 8:32pm

    A group is being formed to foster the Kankakee River as a National River Water Trail and area residents are being welcomed into its fold.
    The 133-mile long Kankakee River received the National River Water Trail designation in 2016. It is one of only 22 National River Water Trails. The water trail system was established to protect and restore America’s rivers, shorelines and waterways and conserve natural areas along them, and to increase access to outdoor recreation on shorelines and waterways.

Bridge project slightly ahead of schedule

Published by admin on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 8:20pm

    Although it may seem like there are days when nothing is moving on the rehab of the bridge carrying County Line Road (Will Road) over the Kankakee River, the project is actually slightly ahead of schedule.
    The $2.6 million project began in April. It consists of replacing the bridge deck, guardrail improvements, substructure repairs, slopewall repairs, re-decking of the structure, steel painting and the extension of wingwalls. The bridge is just under 1,200 feet long. D Construction was awarded the project bid last December.