Free Press Advocate

Wilmington Library offering assistance in registering for vaccine

Published by admin on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 5:53pm

The Wilmington Public Library District is offering assistance to anyone who wishes to register with the Will County Health Department to receive the COVID-19 vaccine shot.

Library Director Maria Meachum said anyone who doesn’t have a computer or is hesitant to apply online can call the library and staff members will step them through the process.

Cast, crew gearing up for WHS performance, ‘Cinderella’

Published by admin on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 5:51pm

The WHS performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is just around the corner.

WHS students involved in the musical have been practicing after school to prepare for their upcoming shows.

The performances will be on Thursday March 11, Friday March 12, and Saturday March 13 at 7 pm, and Sunday March 14 at 2 pm.

Last year’s performance of “High School Musical” took place right before the COVID-19 lockdown started, and was held with a limited audience.

Amazon makes half million dollar investment in Will County

Published by admin on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 5:48pm

A drive along I-55 or Route 53 toward Joliet is all anyone needs to see the increased presence of e-commerce giant Amazon in Will County.

Now, Amazon has pledged funds into the region for workforce and economic development.

On Feb. 25, the Community Foundation of Will County (CFWC) announced that Amazon has donated $500,000 to invest in workforce development and education in Will County.

Remembering Frank Lyons - Common sense policing in a small town

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:42pm

A helping hand. A word of advice. A commitment to the community.

Back when Frank Lyons was the chief of police in Wilmington, being more than just a cop was part of the deal.

Franklin Lyons, 84, passed away on Feb. 6 at the home of his son, Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons.

The elder Lyons became chief of police in Wilmington in 1971, and served the community for 25 years until his retirement.

Unlike today’s appointments for chiefs or police commissioners across the country, which are often politicized, back then, it was about as casual as it gets.

Write-in candidates added to ballot in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:37pm

The field of candidates for Wilmington City Council has grown.

Three residents of the city have filed paperwork to officially become write-in candidates for seats up for grabs in the April 6, 2021 consolidated election.

In order to be considered on the ballot, write-in candidates had to file their notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate by Feb. 4.

On the ballot in April is one alderman seat from each of the city’s four wards, one unexpired term in the Fourth Ward, the office of city clerk, and the mayor’s seat.

Wilmington 209-U administrators happy with academic progress

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:35pm

As the Wilmington School District 209-U continues to host in-person learning, administrators in the district said the school year is going as well as can be expected in light of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Feb. 8, building administrators gave members of the board of education an update of the progress at each of the district’s schools since students returned after winter break. The district started off the second half of the year with several days of remote learning before bringing students back.

Additional property annexed into Wilmington at logistics park

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:34pm

The planning and paperwork needed to move forward with planned expansion of the Elion Logistics Park at I-55 and Lorenzo Road continues, with more approvals this month from the Wilmington City Council.

On Feb. 16, the council approved the fourth amendment to the annexation agreement between the city and Adar Ridgeport Properties, the owners of the logistics park.

The amendment adds 20 acres of property already owned by Adar into the city limits.

Wilmington preps for new fiscal year

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:33pm

The members of the Wilmington City Council have begun the task of putting together budgets for the 2021-2022 fiscal year (FY22).

Members of the Police and ESDA, Water Sewer Streets and Alleys, Buildings and Grounds, and Finance committees spent time during this month’s meetings going over the numbers, both where the city sits in the current year and plans for FY22, which begins on May 1.

Finance Director Matt Hoffman said that as FY22 approaches, preliminary plans for the budget look good.

WHS seniors can apply for over $100,000 in local scholarships

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 5:31pm

Wilmington High School seniors have six days left to write their essays and get their applications in to get local help paying for college.

Every year local businesses and organizations in Wilmington pitch in to make it easier for WHS seniors to pay for college.

Last year 55 scholarships were available for seniors to apply for. This year there are 50 scholarships, many for $1,000 or more, that will be available.

Last year over $100,000 scholarship funds were given. This year’s total will be announced after the awards night.

Wilmington 209-U teachers set to get COVID-19 vaccines

Published by admin on Tue, 02/09/2021 - 5:50pm

Will County remains in Phase 4 of the state’s Restore Illinois plans, with local businesses opened up to partial capacity while masking and social distancing remain the norm.

Vaccinations for COVID-19 are also ramping up in the state. Based on CDC guidelines, the state of Illinois is currently in Phase 1B of vaccination distribution. In this phase, people age 65 and older, frontline workers, and inmates are all eligible for the vaccine.

Those frontline workers include first responders, grocery store workers, and educators.