Free Press Advocate

Opponents parade against NorthPoint

Published by admin on Tue, 01/16/2018 - 8:22pm

    They brought their tractors and implements, and even old military vehicles out of winter storage, and came from as far away as Homer Glen to protest a project that threatens more than 2,000 acres of prime farmland in Jackson Township.
    Just hours before the Elwood Planning and Zoning Commission was scheduled to reconvene it’s hearing on the controversial NorthPoint Development project on Jan. 11, nearly 75 farmers and veterans, with dozens of trucks and tractors, lined up on Coldwater Road to parade in protest of the development of the proposed warehousing facility.

Officials want to replace park restrooms

Published by admin on Tue, 01/16/2018 - 8:19pm

    Wilmington residents are proud of their island parks, and this year, city officials hope to make the properties live up to residents’ expectations. Last week, they discussed construction of permanent restrooms and removal of dead and dying trees.
    Mayor Roy Strong is pushing to replace the restrooms in both parks.
    “I’d like to start on both, I dont’ think it would be that hard,” he commented at the council’s Grounds and Buildings Committee meeting last week.

Wait for road repairs coming to an end

Published by admin on Tue, 01/16/2018 - 8:17pm

    The list of streets to be repaired in the next round of pavement work has changed little since it was introduced early last year, and Wilmington officials are hoping that in the next couple of months the city will have enough in the bank to seek bids for a long list of improvements.

Three little words they hate to hear

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 6:09pm

    They shiver when they hear those three little words — water main break.
    The city crew had a big one last week, a break in a 6-inch line providing service to Berkot’s Super Foods and the former Ben Franklin store. It was reported at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, and by the time city workers found a valve to isolate the section that burst, the yards on the south side of Baltimore were flooded halfway to Chestnut Street, and the used car lot’s merchandise was in danger of being frozen in.

Police Officer Castro sworn in

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 6:05pm

    Mayor Roy Strong administered the oath of office to one new full-time and two part-time officers of the Wilmington Police Department last week.
    Luis Castro Jr. is the department’s newest full-time officer. He spent six years in the Army Reserves. Returning to the states after an overseas tour of duty, a friend gave him a tip about a job in Chicago, working security in a high-rise downtown.

City to crack down on truck parking

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 6:03pm

    Wilmington city officials are on a mission to nip some bad trucker habits in the bud.
    The council is paying attention to big rigs after hearing complaints from residents who aren’t happy to be breathing truck exhaust, or being startled from their slumber at the sound of engine braking.

Strong outlines his 2018 to-do list

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 7:22pm

    Mayor Roy Strong stepped into office last May with a focus on reigning in spending and creating new revenue, and many of the initiatives he’ll push forward in 2018 will carry that budgetary theme.
    “The thing I find most important for the city, probably for any city, is the finances,” Strong commented. “We’ve got a tight budget and I remind the aldermen that we can’t have any wasteful spending.”
    Knowing the budget is tight enough that there’s not much to trim from it, the mayor has instead tried to focus on finding more revenue.

Park Board updates policy on sexual harassment

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 7:06pm

    The Wilmington Island Park District Board of Commissioners approved a policy prohibiting discrimination and sexual harassment last week.
    According to Park District director Renee Chavez, the policy updates an existing district policy.
    Each unit of local government is required to adopt a policy to combat sexual harassment under a new state law that was drafted in response to a number of high profile scandals, including a handful of accusations against members in Illinois’ own Statehouse.

Travel ball team 0-2

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 7:05pm

    The Wilmington Island Park District will provide technical support, but won’t do more to help a youth travel baseball team form as a new organization.
    The 10-man Youth 11U Wildcats travel baseball team asked the Park District to be its umbrella organization, which would qualify the team to use school district facilities for practicing.

Park District opens ice rinks

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 7:04pm

    The Wilmington Island Park District announced last week that the ice rinks on the North Island Park baseball field are now open to the public.
    The district is not planning to proceed with its annual pond hockey tournament, the Island City Classic, this year.
    The staff delayed opening registration until it could be certain the ice would freeze and remain frozen. To do that, they had to wait to fill the rinks until the ground froze, which guarantees that the warmth of the earth doesn’t melt the ice in the rink.