Free Press Advocate

Reckless homicide charges announced in fatal Beecher crash

Published by admin on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 5:08pm

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announce the charging and arrest of Sean Woulfe, 25, of Beecher, (formerly of Manteno) on charges of Reckless Homicide in connection with the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Lindsey Schmidt and her children, Kaleb, Owen, and Weston on July 24, 2017.
 
Upon completion of the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office presented its case to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and charging.
 

School outlines plans for viewing eclipse

Published by admin on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 2:58pm

On Monday, Aug. 21, students across Wilmington School District 209-U will be learning about an event that is being called The Great American Solar Eclipse, because it is the first time since 1918 a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the entire continental United States.

The School District has been making plans to ensure that its students can enjoy and experience this once-in-a-lifetime event while ensuring their safety and well being. There are some potential risks with the direct viewing of any solar eclipse.

Two arrested for concealing death of woman found in Kankakee River

Published by admin on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 11:39am

Two men have been arrested for concealing the death of a woman whose body was found July 8 in the Kankakee River off the 29000 block of Readman Lane in Wilmington.

The Illinois State Police was called in to investigate after a homeowner spotted the body about 40 feet from shore. She was described as a white female aproximately 30 years old. An autopsy conducted by the Will County coroner on Monday, July 10, was inconclusive concerning the cause of death.

Body found July 8 in river identified

Published by admin on Wed, 08/16/2017 - 10:22am

The body of a woman found more than five weeks ago in the Kankakee River in Wilmington has been identified.

According to Will County Coroner Patrick K. O’Neil, the woman is Martha E. Sanchez, age 24, of Chicago, who was last seen July 4.

VFW bringing back the Queen

Published by admin on Tue, 08/15/2017 - 8:30pm

    Malcolm J. Mayo VFW Post 5422 is going to get a helping hand from Stone City VFW Post 2199, which will conduct a Queen of Hearts raffle for the Wilmington veterans organization.
    The Wilmington VFW building burned in April 2016. Without its center of operation, the VFW has been struggling to fund its veterans assistance initiatives, and is relying on community donations to do things such as host dinners for the veterans living in area nursing homes and provide an honor guard for military funerals.

City to consider rules for use of golf carts

Published by admin on Tue, 08/15/2017 - 8:18pm

    It’s become a part of small town culture and many communities have adopted ordinances to accommodate the use of golf carts on their local roads. The Wilmington City Council’s License and Ordinance Committee agreed last week to develop guidelines that allow residents to use the popular vehicles to get from point A to point B.

Troop 440 comes to the aid of scam victims

Published by admin on Tue, 08/15/2017 - 7:50pm

    Every day since the day he realized the tree service he hired to remove some dead trees from his yard wasn’t coming back to finish the job, Jerry Hill, 74, has gone out to cut tree trunks into manageable lengths and pile up brush for pickup. Last week, the Boy Scouts came to his aid, and made what was wrong so very right again.

Last bash of the summer Saturday

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 7:00pm

    The Wilmington Lions Club is looking forward to absolutely perfect weather  — a high of 78 degrees — for its annual Party in the Park on Saturday in the North Island Park.
    The event is the community’s last chance at summer fun. It’s completely free, and full of family friendly activities.
    “The Lions wanted to give families the opportunity to do something together before school starts,” explained Lion Darla Neises, the event coordinator.

Nugent named water department superintendent

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 7:00pm

    Patrick Nugent was named superintendent of the water treatment facilities at last week’s City Council meeting.
    In the 20 years that Nugent has been employed by the city, he has worked in all three maintenance departments; public works, water and sewer. He started in the sewer department then transferred into public works, moved up to the meter shop and while his primary duties were meter replacements and shutoffs, he started filling in at the water treatment plant.

Sanitary sewers being televised

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 7:00pm

    Visu-Sewer will be televising the city’s sanitary sewer mains through next Tuesday, weather permitting.
    The project will give the sewer department more information about stormwater inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system, which creates additional load on the wastewater treatment facility.
    The technicians started on Kankakee Street near Laurel on Aug. 8, and are working their way north to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.  
    When that section is completed, they will work on Main Street then finish with Water Street.