Free Press Advocate

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.

Forest Preserve District of Will County picnic and camping permits go on sale Jan. 2

Published by admin on Fri, 12/29/2017 - 1:35pm
Get a jump on fun in the new year by purchasing Forest Preserve District of Will County picnic or camping permits.
 
2018 permits will go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 2. Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at four Forest Preserve visitor centers: Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Monee Reservoir in Monee Township, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. (Please note: Monee Reservoir will be closed for the winter from Jan. 15 to Feb. 28.)
 

15-year-old dies after being shot at church

Published by admin on Wed, 12/27/2017 - 7:01am

Wilmington Police and Will Sherrif's Deputies responded to the Christian Faith Center in Wilmington at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday after the report of an accidential shooting of a 15-year-old victim.

Officers arrived at the 1800 block of South Water Street and were led to the main part of the church where a juvenile male victim was found unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wounf near his armpit. the Will County Sheriff Office reports. A family member and deputies performed CPR until Wilmington parademics arrived.

The gift’s value is in its story

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2017 - 6:21pm

    The Wilmington Area Historical Society values any gifts it receives, from photos to old advertising kitsch from local businesses — but the little things that come with a story are truly the most priceless.
    This month, resident June Kahler turned over a flannel shop towel and key chain from the old Kahler gas station. Depending on the era, the building was also the Hicksatomic gas station and a dog grooming parlor. Today, it’s Lickety Split.

City rejects land donation

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2017 - 6:19pm

    The City Council’s Finance and Administration Committee last week rejected the gift of a lot in the School Meadows Subdivision.
    The lot is a dry detention area located on Ridge Street between Buchanan and Mae Street. Unlike the ponds in nearby Partridge Run Subdivision, it was not dedicated to the city with the streets, water and sewer mains, and sidewalks, and remains in private hands.
    It was identified as untaxed land in a Will County initiative about 15 years ago, and was issued a property tax identification number and put on the property tax rolls.

209-U researching trimester calendar

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2017 - 6:18pm

    Could Wilmington students do better with a simple change in the school calendar?
    Kevin Feeney, the district’s assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, told the Board of Education this month that the preliminary calendar for the next school year has been shared with staff, and should be coming to the board for approval in February. There are few changes from this year’s calendar.

A Christmas miracle: On what is probably their last Christmas holiday together, Emma saves her BFF

Published by admin on Tue, 12/19/2017 - 7:36pm

    Christmas will be bittersweet at the Brick house, knowing that this will likely be service dog Emma’s last, but that if it weren’t for Emma, Theresa Brick wouldn’t have been here for it at all.
    Theresa is calling it her Christmas miracle.
    She is certain that Emma, a now 10-year-old great Dane who was her husband Rick’s service dog until the couple retired her, saved her life earlier this month.