Free Press Advocate

Substance abuse program opens for teens

Published by admin on Tue, 11/14/2017 - 7:16pm

 

Care for teens now available in Wilmington

 

Troubled teens and their family members seeking help battling drug and alcohol use have a new resource to turn to.

Governor cuts ribbon for General Mills site

Published by admin on Tue, 11/07/2017 - 6:32pm

    Wilmington Mayor Roy Strong and several aldermen joined Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Senator Sue Rezin Tuesday to commemorate the opening of the new General Mills distribution and customer service center in the 2,500-acre RidgePort Logistics Center.
     The new 1.5 million square foot General Mills distribution center parallels Interstate 55 south of Lorenzo Road. It’s been under construction for 14 months, beginning the day the lease was executed. The facility will employ up to 150 people when fully operational.

It was just a rock, but it meant a lot

Published by admin on Tue, 11/07/2017 - 6:29pm

    Marge Van Duyne wants the person who did her a small kindness know how much she appreciated it.
    On Monday she was still bubbling with excitement about her Sunday find. She had been on her way to 11 a.m. Mass at St. Rose and found a simple painted rock on the steps.
    She has been reading stories about kindness rocks and they intrigued her. She clipped the last story she read and was going to get her grandchildren involved in painting and hiding them.

K9 Mao to get body armor

Published by admin on Tue, 11/07/2017 - 6:26pm

Wilmington Police Department’s canine officer, Mao, will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc.
Mao’s vest is sponsored by Cathy Stein of Lincolnwood, IL. It will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Cathy Stein.”
Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

Halloween in the city of witches

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2017 - 6:35pm

    If you’re going to Time’s Square for New Year’s Eve, you get as close to the ball drop as possible. If Halloween is your thing, there’s no better place to experience it than “Witch City,” Salem, Massachusetts.
    Visiting Salem during the bewitching month is something Terry Thomas has always wanted to do, a bucket list item.
    “I wanted to go on Halloween, I thought it would be kind of cool — and it is,” Thomas said Tuesday, after a four-day weekend with friend Cindy Koschetz in the thriving seaport made famous by its 1692 witch trials.

Big cat spotted

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2017 - 6:28pm

    Laney Cherveny is certain about what she saw last Thursday near the city limits. What she doesn’t know is how many other people may have seen it too.
    She was driving north on Kankakee Street approaching New River Road at 10 a.m. when a car in front of her suddenly slowed.

County to hold public hearing on Wesley roads

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2017 - 6:25pm

    Will County Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson will preside over a public hearing Monday concerning the maintenance of Wesley Township roads.
    Nearly 40 residents of the rural township signed a petition stating they feel their roads aren’t being maintained, and asking Ronaldson for relief. The roads named in the petition include Warner Bridge, Town Line, Symerton, Martin Long, Hazelton, Ballou, Indian Trail, Donohue, Goodwin, Danielson, Hintze, Thornton Lane, Thornton, Mary Byron and Byron roads.

Fire district making good on its promise

Published by admin on Tue, 10/24/2017 - 7:21pm

The Wilmington Fire Protection District is making good on its promise to taxpayers to improve its response times, even before the dollars to do so that were authorized by referendum reach its coffers.
The fire district asked voters to approve a referendum last April to do just one thing: Allow it to increase staffing to ensure the fastest emergency response possible. At the time, six people manned the fire station at the north end of Main Street at all times, working 24-hour shifts — until somebody was forced back to their regular job and shifts ran short.

‘Bite Out Loud’ makes local launch

Published by admin on Tue, 10/24/2017 - 7:17pm

    It was a handful even for skilled pipefitter. Yet Keith Phelan didn’t hesitate in grabbing one of Nelly’s famed Wildcat burgers with the camera rolling.
    He needed both hands to get a firm grip on half of the sandwich. He opened his mouth wide and took a bite. He nodded his approval and said, “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
    It was the climax of a video for his new blog, or vlog, “Bite Out Loud” on YouTube in which he intends to feature local restaurants.

City begins talk of water rate increase

Published by admin on Tue, 10/24/2017 - 7:12pm

    City officials agree — it’s time they set politics aside and address a growing need for a water and sewer rate increase, even if it costs them the next election.