news
Gov. Pat Quinn on pension mess: ‘Everything is on the table’
Gov. Pat Quinn took his case for a budgetary crash diet directly to state lawmakers Wednesday, pushing a grim assortment of prison closures and spending cuts in a spending plan that he said wasn’t built around “budget fantasies” but rather “hard realities.” Pension reform must be done “in a way that’s meaningful, constitutional and fair to the employees,” he said.
Guiding himself, others through the chaos
Antoine Jean was watching TV on the afternoon the earth moved. “Everything shook, including me,” he said. It seemed like an eternity, but then, just as suddenly, it stopped. Jean ran to the roof to pray to God. But a few seconds into his prayer, …
Half of special ed teachers to retain jobs at Minooka High
MINOOKA — Half of the special education teachers working at Minooka High School will keep their positions in the 2012 school year. When the district decentralized from the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative last year, it meant all special education teachers would be laid off. …
Minooka High details deficit reduction plan
MINOOKA — While Minooka High School’s $2 million deficit reduction plan will mean a reduction in some employee areas and cuts in supplies and services, the goal is to not affect the students. “(The reductions have) an extremely minimal impact on the kids and that’s …
Proposed intermodal district concerns Elwood officials
ELWOOD — Planning and Zoning Commissioner Floyd Garrett is alarmed about what he termed the state’s plan “to take over Elwood.” Speaking during public comment at a Elwood Village Board meeting, Garrett was referring to the proposed creation of an intermodal development district that would …
Walnut Trail, others, cited for academic excellence
SHOREWOOD — Walnut Trail Elementary School, part of the Minooka Grade School District, is one of seven area elementary schools to earn the Academic Excellence Award from the state of Illinois. Other local schools that earned the award were Channahon Junior High and Three Rivers …
Morris special ed coordinator resigns
MORRIS — Morris Grade School District lost an administrator this week as its special populations coordinator, Todd Gierman, handed in his resignation. Gierman would not comment on the decision after Tuesday evening’s school board meeting, only saying it was a personal decision and replying “no …
Quinn looks to close Joliet youth prison
SPRINGFIELD — The youth prison in Joliet and women’s maximum-security prison in Dwight face closure under a proposed spending plan that Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration described as “the toughest budget we’ve faced.” The governor also plans to close a super-maximum security prison in downstate Tamms; …
March 8 kickoff for Plainfield Relay for Life
Plainfield Relay for Life PLAINFIELD — The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Plainfield will hold its annual kickoff 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 8 at Plainfield Law Enforcement Center, 14300 S. Coil Plus Drive. The event offers information about the society’s mission of …
Joliet’s year-end finances even better than expected
JOLIET — The city’s balance sheet took another leap to the plus side by the end of the year, turning what was expected to be an operational deficit into a surplus. Joliet ended 2011 with a $3.4 million surplus in its operating budget, according to …
Culling optimism from so much hardship
From sadness, a choir grew. A child died recently in the St. Germaine program at St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti. Officials at the special needs facility asked a group of local singers to perform at his funeral. When Gena Heraty, a native of Ireland …
Sheriff busts shop for synthetic-drug sales
DIAMOND — A tobacco shop was busted for reportedly stocking almost $6,000 worth of synthetic drugs last week. Grundy County Sheriff’s deputies conducted an undercover bust Friday morning at Diamond Tobacco, 2435 E. Division St. as part of Operation Smoked Out. Run by the attorney …
Salvation Army much bigger than red kettles
JOLIET — In one section of the building, kids are tutored after school. In another part, people apply for help paying their utility bills. In a different area, 20 computers are lined up for training. This is the new Salvation Army Center in Joliet, which …
‘Top Model’ contestant to grace runway
JOLIET — Bianca Golden of Season 9 of “America’s Next Top Model” will grace the runway this year with local college students at the University of St. Francis’ second annual charity fashion show, Project Couture, at 8 p.m. April 13. Proceeds will benefit Court Appointed …
Developer purchases unfinished Yorkville subdivision
YORKVILLE — Officials here are hoping the recent purchase of the Grande Reserve subdivision will signal the beginning of a rebirth in homebuilding in the city.
At least, said Mayor Gary Golinski, it could be the start of the city getting some of its unfinished …
Fair helps ‘frustrated’ job seekers
LOCKPORT — Alex Woyner of Lockport walked around a job fair on Monday morning clutching a green folder filled with copies of his resume. The 26-year-old graduated from college with a teaching degree in December 2008, a year after the Great Recession officially started in …