Wilmington

The unsettled spring of 1908, which way to turn

Published by admin on Tue, 09/14/2021 - 5:00pm

To quote the great philosophers of the 20th century, the Jefferson Airplane, “life is change, how it differs from the rocks.”
Life in 1908 was changing fast; everywhere you turned there was new decisions to be made. The old was melting away, the new was everywhere you looked, not unlike today when seniors are scratching their head about using their smart phones.

Schooling, ain't what it used to be

Published by admin on Tue, 09/07/2021 - 12:54pm

I frequently give tours at a one-room school house in the Heritage Village in Lockport. I find that most people have no real idea of what education was like in the day. It has evolved in many ways, some for the better, and, in my opinion, some for the worse. Today we look at 19th century education.
The first thing that is different is that there were no “grades.” Grades were a new concept in the 19th century. Early on, most schools operated on the principle that when you learned what there was to learn, you graduated.

Top Catfish Days medallion found in record time

Published by admin on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 5:36pm

It took less than 30 minutes, a record, for the medallion with the biggest prize to be found during Catfish Days.

The Bob Bolser - Country Financial medallion, worth $500 in Wilmington Chamber gift certificates, was found hidden at Memorial Park by the Strong family.

ESDA puts in the work over winter

Published by admin on Tue, 03/23/2021 - 5:03pm

This winter has proved a busy time for the volunteers with Wilmington’s Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA).

ESDA director Dennis Housman gave an update of monthly activity to members of the Police and ESDA committee on March 9.

In addition to traffic calls and assistance for mutual aid through the county, ESDA volunteers also were called to help when someone went through the ice on the Kankakee River on Feb. 19.

Winter wanderings, the cold of 1875

Published by admin on Tue, 03/16/2021 - 3:34pm

Deep snow and ice - another winter is almost gone. We look for those early signs of spring, the crocus, the red-wing black bird, the winter wheat poking its head out of the ground. And then comes March with its wintry surprises.
As I write, sleet is falling, soon to be followed by freezing rain. For many of us, this means one more day trapped in the house or risk sliding into a ditch or worse. So what did they do in the day? Set the wayback for 1875 and climb aboard.

Long awaited turn lanes coming to River Road in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 5:54pm

Anyone who has ever traveled into the city of Wilmington by way of River Road knows that turning right onto Kankakee Street is a “do at your own risk” adventure. While the roadway does not provide a right turn lane, many drivers illegally utilize the shoulder as a turn lane anyway, to avoid being stuck from behind by impatient drivers, often semi trucks, going straight on River Road.

Now, things are about to change.

Pandemic didn’t slow building in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 01/26/2021 - 4:50pm

The novel coronavirus pandemic has caused irreparable damage to businesses across the country.

An economic impact report conducted by Yelp last fall showed that more than 80,000 businesses had closed nationwide since the start of the pandemic, and 60,000 of those were small businesses.

Still, there has been some growth locally during the pandemic.

In December, Wilmington Pharmacy opened its doors. In the fall, two local businesses — Gaby’s Candy and Addilyn Rose Boutique — also opened for business.

November 1860, the election aftermath

Published by admin on Tue, 01/26/2021 - 2:44pm

When I research the presidential election of 1860, I get the feeling that I have been here before, or is it after, because of our most recent election. I see the same words, the same strong feeling, before and after the event. Today we look at election day 1860 and the aftermath.
On the day of the election the Joliet Signal printed the following, “Frauds! Frauds! Frauds! We understand that the Republicans have determined to poll enough illegal votes to save their county ticket. The towns of Frankfort, Homer and Lockport have been chosen as the field for their operations.”

Wilmington city officials remind public of road rules during winter

Published by admin on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 3:40pm

Just a few weeks into the new year, and the region has already endured a handful of significant snow events.

Wilmington Mayor Roy Strong spent time during the Jan. 5 regular meeting of the Wilmington City Council urging residents to be mindful of the rules of the road in Wilmington when it’s time for the plows to come out.

The mayor reviewed the city’s winter snow and ice accumulation clearance guidelines with members of the City Council during that meeting, which was held remotely via the videoconferening website Zoom.

Elion development moves through next step

Published by admin on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 3:35pm

The site plan for a new building at the Elion Logistics Park at Lorenzo Road and I-55, formerly Ridgeport, have moved through the city’s planning and zoning commission.

On Jan. 7, the commission held a public hearing to review that site plan, the next step after the city council approved the annexation and zoning changes back in November. The public hearing was held virtually over the teleconferencing website Zoom.

Elion plans to construct a 500,000 square foot building for Dynamic 3PL.