Over 350 were in attendance to recognize Joliet Township High School partners and volunteers at the Salute to Service Partnership Event on May 2, 2017 at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. The annual event is held to thank JTHS partners who generously volunteer their service and time to benefit the students and high school. Over 500 invitations were sent to JTHS partners. 

At the event, JTHS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl McCarthy presented the prestigious Superintendent’s Medallion to Sue Pritz Bornhofen of the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate; Betty & Reverend Lishers Mahone; Joliet Junior College; and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Will & Grundy County. The prestigious Superintendent’s Medallion is Joliet Township High School’s highest honor awarded for extensive service, dedication, and/or financial contributions. 

Joliet Central High School alumna, Sue Pritz Bornhofen, Class of 1977, graciously opens the doors of the Jacob Henry Mansion in a way that transcends brick and mortar.  Every year, Sue reaches out personally to the high school to offer employment JTHS students.  For the students who work at the mansion, the lessons they learn go beyond service and soft skills such as timeliness or attendance. In addition, Sue eliminates economic barriers that so often exist for families in our community, from donating space, to sponsoring and adjusting prices so that all students and families can attend recognition events.

Betty and Reverend Lishers Mahone have set an incredible and inspiring example of service and leadership in engaging, guiding and energizing students to become active participants in their own education. The Mahones have dedicated their lives to the betterment of the Joliet community by establishing the Betty Mahone Historically Black College Fair and by sharing their time and talents in the Joliet Regional Interfaith Committee, among other incredible causes.  

Under the leadership of JJC President Dr. Judy Mitchell and the Board of Trustees – Patty Deiters, Alicia Morales, Maureen Broderick, Mike O’Connell, Bob Wunderlich, Dan O’Connell and Andy Mihelich – Joliet Junior College delivers quality learning opportunities, empowering JTHS students and the community through academic excellence, workforce training, and comprehensive support services.  They have been an integral partner in offering engaging college & career readiness opportunities for JTHS students through dual credit courses, advisory board initiatives, and their input on JT curriculum committees. As part of JJC’s contributions to JTHS course offerings, JTHS students have the opportunity to take college-level courses while in high school.    

Under the leadership of BBBS CEO Mike Trafton and their dedicated Board of Directors – Mary Ann Murphy Board Chair, Pat Schumacher Vice Chair, Karyn McCarthy Charvat, Monica Bibian, Valerie Barich, Tina Filipiak, Darren VanDover, Brian Schipiour, Joe Carlasare, Pat Harbour, Jen Howard, Lauren Staley Ferry, Richard Rodriguez, Pastor Lonnie Posley and Dick Kopczick – Mentor2.0 is simple in concept, but life changing in reality.  Students meet twice a week during their advisory period with BBBS staff and talk about preparing for their next-steps after high school.  This includes college selection, financial aid, scholarship searches, career activities, and so much more.  Also during this time, they correspond weekly with their mentor via a secure platform.  In the email, they take the topic they discussed in advisory and apply it to their own life and receive feedback and guidance from their mentor. BBBS Coordinators Courtney Bouche and Beata Jedynasty were also recognized at the event. 

“It is truly humbling to know that we have so many dedicated and supportive community members and volunteers that believe in giving back to our students and schools,” said JTHS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl McCarthy.  “I am so grateful for their support.”

JTHS students contributed to the night’s success. Photography services were provided by Joliet West student photographers, JROTC students posted colors, JTHS student ambassadors provided guest assistance, and classical music was performed by the JTHS Orchestra.

View Photos:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/jths204/albums/72157683626644205

– Compiled by Drake Skleba

-Minooka (22-9, 14-4) catcher Nick Airola and centerfielder Jon Butler, led the Indians past Plainfield South 6-5 in eight thrilling innings, for the 2017 Southwest Prairie Conference championship. Airola had three hits and three RBI to lead the Indian attack, while Butler also had three hits and drove in two runs.
Plainfield South (22-9-1, 13-5) was led by AJ Manucci, who drove home a pair of Cougar runs.

Plainfield East 7, Oswego East 5
The Bengals (20-15) won for the 20^th time this season behind Jake Havis and JJ Zwyiciel, each had two RBI for the victorious Bengals.

Romeoville 12, Joliet Central 10
For the first time this season the Spartans (9-23, 4-14) have won two games in a row. Fernando Perez continued his torrid hitting, with four more hits and Jeff Zack added three hits, with a pair of RBI for the Spartans. Tyler Horvath added three RBI for the red-hot Spartans.
Joliet Central (11-18-3, 4-14) was led by Ryan King and JoJo McNair. King had three hits while McNair drove home two Steelmen runs.

Sandburg 9, Bolingbrook 4
Sandburg (18-6, 7-3) grabbed a share of the Southwest Suburban Blue title, with Lincoln-Way East (13-14, 7-3), with the win at The Brook (14-12-1, 5-5). Kellen Quigley drove home a pair of runs for Bolingbrook. Willowbrook 4 DG South 3
The Mustangs (23-10, 13-5) fell in their West Suburban Gold finale in Villa Park on Thursday. Mark Greco had two hits and two RBI to lead the Mustangs. Brett Riegler, chipped in with two hits and an RBI. Tyler Horvath chipped in with three big RBI.

Plainfield North 10, Illiana Christian 0 ( six innings)
The Tigers (25-8) blanked the Vikings in a six-inning nonconference game at North. Gavin Doyle and Cody Harrison combined to throw a two-hit shutout. Connor Peplow had three hits and a pair of RBI for North. The red-hot Anthony Fumagalli,continued to crush the baseball, with two hits and three RBI for the Tigers.

Montini 2, Lockport 0
The Porters (17-15-1) lost in the Sixth Annual Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament at Wheaton College on Thursday. The Porters could only muster four hits against the Broncos, with Josh Bentley picking up a pair.

Notre Dame 7, Maine West 4
Max Rimac continued his hot-hitting with two hits and two more RBI, as the Dons (14-18-1) rolled past the Warriors in nonconference action. Paul Bergstrom struck out 10 in his six solid innings of work on the mound to pick up the win.

Conant 8, Maine South 7
The Hawks (4-26) battled but fell a little short in nonconference  actions against the Cougars. Declan Griffin had three hits for the Hawks while Spyros Vaselopuols drove home a pair of runs.

ICCP 6, Lisle 2
The Lions (12-19) fell in a Class 2A Westmont Regional semifinal on Thursday. Emmett Malavia drove home the final two Lions of the season

The address is the same – ReconnectWithNature.org – but the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s new website has a completely different look and feel and it’s faster, more interactive and photo rich than ever before.

The new website, that debuted May 10, also is better organized and packed with the latest programs, events and District news. Because more and more people are getting their information from electronic devices, the new website can be accessed as easily from a phone or tablet as it is from a desktop computer. Once you punch in the address, the pages will load in less than half the time.

If you’re looking for an event, program or location, the website is better organized to help you find what you are seeking. And if that fails, there’s a more powerful search function.

The website also has more interactive features which will let you scout out your destination ahead of time by viewing the interactive map, which will be available from any page on the site. Each preserve will soon feature a 360-degree photo to give visitors an idea of what they will encounter. Since the 360-degree photos have been incorporated into the website, they’ve been viewed more than 330,000 times, with a shot of Lake Renwick Preserve having been seen 136,000 times.

If you want to know the latest news and program information, the website’s headlines section will keep you up to date on news and major events, while “The Big Picture” takes a multimedia approach to showcase the preserves and their history. If you’re looking for fun, check out the website’s new video library or a new blog titled “The Buzz” that features general interest — and often wacky — nature news.

The website also has a revamped calendar that allows visitors to scroll through the entire list of programs and events, or filter the results based on date and/or location. A kids’ page is chock-full of activity ideas, as well as fun and interesting videos.

In addition, online program registration and the ability to check availability of preserve picnic shelters are coming soon. Work on the new website began in the summer of 2016 and the developer is Des Plaines-based American Eagle.

Visit the District’s YouTube page at youtube.com/WillCoForests to view a video demonstrating the website’s new look and features.

The University of St. Francis has named its dean’s honor list for the spring 2017 semester. Students who have attained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher at the end of the semester in which he or she has taken at least 12 credit hours are named to the dean’s honor list.

Bolingbrook: Gloria Allen, Allison Bowbin, Beatriz Canelo, Sasha Espinoza, Jeanette Evangelista, Antonio Jameson, Courtney Johnson, Abby Kieffer, John Lund, Mayra Marin, Bianca Rivera, Cody Vacik, Isabela Valentin, Jorie Welsh

Crest Hill: Andriana Acosta, Alonte Crawford, Jeremy Grachan, Leslie Juarez- Resendiz, Ashlee Monroe, Nicholas Pillish, Allison Schneider

Darien: Danielle Conrad

Downers Grove: Patrick Cislak

Joliet: Karina Alonso, Giovanni Alvarado, Fatima Babana El Alaoui, Morayma Barron, Nicole Berard, Terrence Blondin, Phillip Bradley, Leah Breier, Alexandra Buchman, Robert Carey, Tina Carr, Hans Concepcion, Teresa Conklin, Jilan Delk, Jessica Deninger, Ashley Dunwell, Brigette Fiday, Christy Ford, Tanice Fort, Kimberly Freeman, Michael Garver, Yessenia Garza, Jael Gilbertson, Estefani Gonzalez, Yareley Gonzalez, Molly Gunning, Nicole Hamilton, Ashley Hare, Brooke Hartnell, Mahmoud Hijazi, Britani Hoyt, Jailen Jones, Jeremy Kollross, Chandler Kowaliczko, Kyle Kurdziolek, Jennifer Law, Eric Lindstrom, Mallory Magee, Adelina Maliqi, Johnathan Marquardt, Maria Martinez, Sophia McClanahan, Daniel McGee, Allyson Mclaughlin, Alejandra Medina, Melanie Mitchell, Lidia Montoya, Natalia Nawrocki, Angelica Osusky, Matthew Oyer, Abygail Padilla, Angelia Price, Jacob Pullen, Joan Quaresima, Patricia Raspolich, Daniel Reyes, Rachel Rivette, Shawn Roberts, Thomas Roberts, Alex Ruettiger, Anders Sandberg, Marisa Sansone, Sarah Schoenrock, Delainey Smith, Jeremiah Soto, Hannah Tadey, Mathew Tuck, Neil Valdez, Violetta Villarreal-Berman, Fabiola Villicana, Diana Viveros, Zachary Watts, Yilin Yang, Mayra Zaragoza

Lockport: Karissa Cockburn, Morghan Dieringer, Melissa Doody, Daniel Duplessis, Rachael Gorecki, Michael Pruchnik, Elizabeth Savant, Allie Skwarczek, John Tague, Nicole Troha

Plainfield: Masliha Ahmad, Melissoy Allen, Alexandra Catalano, Angie Chevere, Catherine Crosson, Kacper Dudzinski, Emily Fishbeck, Caeley Grady, Brenna Harper, Austin Hines, Lauren Kasperski, Julie Kitzer, Autumn Lee, Maria Macias-Bedolla, Angelina Medo, Kaitlyn Nickel, Maeley Poppe, Kayla Rice, Caroline Roberts, Anthony Santillo, Christopher Santillo, Michael Santillo, Cory Schneider, Joseph Schomer, Amanda Scumaci, Lyndsie Ucci, David Valadez, Matthew Vidican, Taylor Wilmoth, Sonia Zizumbo

Romeoville: Gloria Awinongya, Laura Blum, Zachary Buchholz, Allison Byrne, Jennifer Cabrera, Edwardo Callejas, Laura Elsey, Kayla Heriaud, Veronica Ortiz, Khadija Pipkins, Natalie Rozwadowski, Jada Sims, Marilynn Tape, Carmen Velasquez, Dallyce Wallace, Marissa Zupancic

Shorewood: Stephenie Batista, Kelly Clucas, Jacob Crabb, Julie Czerniakowski, Taylor Long, Erin McDonough, Mason Messina, Ryan Peter, Hailey Peterbok, Taylor Ringo, Colleen Uremovic, Alissa Zanelli

Woodridge: Jenean Chanhnourack, Haley Evans

The Joliet Township High School Band Alumni Association (JTHSBAA) is excited to invite alumni back to perform with current members of the Joliet Central and Joliet West bands at a delightful summer concert open to the public.

 The performance is scheduled at the Bicentennial Park for the “Concert in the Park” on Thursday evening, July 13, 2017.  The approximate start time for the event is 8:30 p.m. 

 Alumni interested in performing are invited to attend the following rehearsals:

·         Saturday, July 8th, 10:00 a.m. – Noon at Joliet Central High School

·         Wednesday, July 12th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Joliet Central High School

·         Please visit jthsbaa.org to register.

Conductors for the concert will be Ron Polancich, Joliet West Class of 1971, retired Director of Bands from York High School in Elmhurst, and Mike Fiske, Joliet East Class 0f 1972, retired Director of Bands from Joliet Central High School.

The program will be lighter than past Alumni Band Concerts. Ron and Mike are selecting music fitting a good old fashioned “Concert in the Park” to include marches, show tunes and light concert fare.

 The JTHSBAA Board says, “We are excited to present this new format in which we will be able to share a special musical experience with current members and new graduates of the Joliet High School Bands. We are looking forward to a fun time of music making and reunion as we share this program with our Joliet community. The Thursday evening Bicentennial Park “Concerts on the Hill” series always draw a large and appreciative audience. We hope to see you this July!”

For more information, visit: http://www.jthsbaa.org/bcp071317/.

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

CHARLESTON – Heading into Saturday’s finals, Joliet West senior Melzina Johnson is sitting in third place in the Class 3A long jump with a leap of 18-feet, 18-11.50-inches.

She is one of five area events headed to the finals.

West senior Lataydra Thompson also advanced in the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.11, Lockport senior Jaclyn Greci advanced in the 400-meter dash in 57.82 and Minooka senior Mackenzie Callahan qualified in the 1600 run in 4-minutes, 58.60-seconds.

Lockport’s 1600 relay team of senior Morgan Bollinger, junior Grace Gliwa, senior Kayla Isom and senior Maddie Martus advanced with a time of 3:58.00.

The Minooka quartet of Cierra Bachmann (So.), Emily Johnson (Fr.), Kylie Wissel (Jr.) and Eryn Renison (Jr.) also competed in the 1600 relay and ran a time of 4:05.27.

In the 3200 relay, Lockport’s Isom, Bollinger, Kate Wojciewicz (So.) and Aubrey Friedrich (Jr.) ran a time of 9:40.68, while the Porters’ 800 relay team of Gliwa, Angelica Iwan (Fr.), Skye Aguilar (Sr.) and Jacqueline Mathius (So.)  ran it in 1:45.86 and Joliet West’s 400 team of Johnson, Thompson, Niyah Tucker (Jr.) and Shyasia Baker (Jr.) ran the race in 49.30.

In the 100 dash, Johnson ran a 12.24, while Greci posted a 12.22.

In the 800 run, Isom ran a 2:23.76, while in the 1600 run Bollinger posted a 5:02.49 and Minooka junior Emily Shelton ran a 5:01.07, while in the 200 dash Greci had a time of 25.46 and Mathius a 26.01.

In the field events, Minooka senior Brooklyn Bachmann cleared 9-06 in the pole vault, Lockport senior Drew Litynski triple jumped 36-06 and Minooka junior Sydney Andreano threw the discus 113-07

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

CHARLESTON ­– Heading into the state track and field meet, Joliet West’s Melzina Johnson had posted jumps in the 17-feet range all season in the long jump.

During Friday’s preliminaries, however, she uncorked the best jump of her career at the right time.

Johnson went 18-feet, 11.50-inches and claimed fourth place at the Class 3A finals in O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

“This is a huge accomplishment and I am really proud of myself. I came here felling really confident,” Johnson said. “I had to give it all I had both days and (Friday) I really got the big jump. My PR was 18-6 and I was jumping 17s all year and then yesterday I just jumped 18-11.5 and I am so glad.”

Johnson becomes the highest finisher in the event in Joliet West history and first long jump medalist since Kim Whitener took seventh in 1988. Johnson tied Joliet Township’s Josie Hobbs in 1994 with her fourth-place medal.

Another first for the Tigers was West senior Lataydra Thompson taking seventh in the 100-meter high hurdles in a time of 15.54.

She becomes the first Tiger ever to place in the event. As a combined program, the event saw medalists five time, most recently in 2005 when Megan Thompson placed third, but no one had ever done it donning the black and gold.

Not to be outdone, Lockport set a new school standard, placing the 4×400 relay at state for the first time.

The quartet of senior Morgan Bollinger, junior Grace Gliwa, senior Kayla Isom and senior Jaclyn Greci poste a time of 3:59.03 to place fifth.

The team said they were motivated by how much it meant to their coach to get the event into the finals.

“Coach (Joe) Kravitz started tearing up and he told us that he has never had the 4×400 a team go to finals and that is his favorite event,” Greci said.

Just a few races prior to the 4×400, Greci went out and earned a fourth place in the open 400 with a time of 56.83.

She is also the first Porter to ever medal in the event.

“I never expected to be here in my senior year running two 400s and I am so completely happy and I can’t stop smiling,” Greci said.

Minooka senior Mackenzie Callahan made history of her own, becoming the first Indian to medal in the 1600 run, as she placed second in the race in 4:54.22.

“Going into the race, I was a little nervous because these girls are really fast, but (Coach Kevin) Gummerson has reinforced in me that I can run with the best and I am one of the best,” she said. “I had a general outline is what I wanted to happen, but I just wanted to put myself in the race and see what happened. I knew I wanted to close really hard and I felt I did that.

“If I reflect on my freshman and sophomore year, I never thought this day would come and I would be running 4:54.”

Minooka junior Emily Shelton was fourth in the 3200 in 10:41.82 and earned a medal, while senior Ashley Tutt was 21st in 11:22.20.

The area had several events that competed in Friday’s preliminaries and not advance to the finals.

The Minooka quartet of Cierra Bachmann (So.), Emily Johnson (Fr.), Kylie Wissel (Jr.) and Eryn Renison (Jr.) also competed in the 1600 relay and ran a time of 4:05.27.

In the 3200 relay, Lockport’s Isom, Bollinger, Kate Wojciewicz (So.) and Aubrey Friedrich (Jr.) ran a time of 9:40.68, while the Porters’ 800 relay team of Gliwa, Angelica Iwan (Fr.), Skye Aguilar (Sr.) and Jacqueline Mathius (So.) ran it in 1:45.86 and Joliet West’s 400 team of Johnson, Thompson, Niyah Tucker (Jr.) and Shyasia Baker (Jr.) ran the race in 49.30.

In the 100 dash, Johnson ran a 12.24, while Greci posted a 12.22.

In the 800 run, Isom ran a 2:23.76, while in the 1600 run Bollinger posted a 5:02.49 and Minooka junior Emily Shelton ran a 5:01.07, while in the 200 dash Greci had a time of 25.46 and Mathius a 26.01.

In the field events, Minooka senior Brooklyn Bachmann cleared 9-06 in the pole vault, Lockport senior Drew Litynski triple jumped 36-06 and Minooka junior Sydney Andreano threw the discus 113-07.

Dear Editor,

Several residents in Will County have complained to me about smoke generated from burning of leaves over the past several years. In unincorporated areas of the county the only significant restriction of leaf burning is that it must be at least 50 feet from a neighbor’s home. The 50-foot limit is somewhat meaningless since smoke from leaf burning can travel several hundred feet. Most residents who complain about smoke coming onto their property have respiratory problems that are aggravated by breathing smoke filled air. Residents with respiratory problems must stay indoors seven days a week during the fall or early spring when leaf burning is most prevalent.

I have proposed an ordinance change to limit leaf burning to two days per week on Wednesday and Saturday. This would give relief to individuals on the other five days per week as they would have to stay indoors.

This ordinance change will be discussed at the County Board Public Health Committee meeting on June 1 at 9 a.m. at the Will County Office Building. If you would like to comment, you can send me an email at tweigel@willcountyillinois.com

Tom Weigel

Will County Board member

CLASS 4A REGIONAL FIRST  ROUND

PLAINFIELD SOUTH REGIONAL

Trailing, West Aurora  3-2, in the bottom of the seventh inning, at Legion Field, Trojan Nolan Young, stepped into the batters’ box. With a Trojan teammate on base, Young launched a two-run blast, that left the premises at Legion Field and gave the Trojans a 4-3 Class 4A Plainfield South Regional first-round win, over the Blackhawks.

Sam Condon and Tyler Rosen, led the Trojan attack with two his each. Nick Taviani, picked up the final out of the seventh, in relief of the Trojan starter Rosen, to pick up the win on the mound. Of course, Young’s blast ignited a Saratoga Avenue walk-off celebration, for the super-charged Trojan fans.

Downers Grove North (18-15) will travel to Plainfield South (22-9-1), to take on the regional hosts at 4:30  on Wednesday.

LINCOLN-WAY EAST REGIONAL
JOLIET CENTRAL 8, JOLIET WEST 7
The Steelmen (12-19-1), scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by a three-run bomb off the bat of Ryan King, to send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Ricky Malmfeldt sent Steelmen fans into a frenzy, with his two-out walk-off single to give Joliet Central, the victory over their archrivals from Joliet West (6-24-2). The Tigers were led by Adam Scharf who had three hits and Dylan Loftis drove home a pair of Tiger runs.

Joliet Central will play Lincoln-Way Central (20-8) at 4, at Lincoln-Way East on Wednesday.
HINSDALE SOUTH REGIONAL

HINSDALE SOUTH 2, ROMOEVILLE 1
The Spartans (9-23), battled the regional hosts only to lose in walk-off fashion, in Darien on Monday. The Hornets were only able to muster one hit against Tyler Horvath (six innings) but it was enough for the victory. Zach Swearingen drove home the final Spartan run of the 2017 campaign.

MAINE SOUTH REGIONAL FIRST-ROUND

MAINE SOUTH 14, SCHURZ 1   (5 INNINGS)
The regional hosts made quick work of their guests from Chicago, led by Danny Cerniglia and Spyros Vaselopulos, who each had three hits and drove home three Hawk runs. Danny Touhy, chipped in with a pair of RBI for Maine South (5-26), who will host Evanston at 4:30, on Wednesday.

MAINE EAST 5 VON STEUBEN  5 (8 INNINGS SUSPENDED)
The Demons (7-16-1) and their guests from Chicago, played eight innings before darkness forced a suspension of the game until Tuesday, in Park Ridge.

In regular season nonconference games on Monday…..

Joliet Catholic 7, Lincoln-Way Central 0

Sandburg 5, Downers Grove South 3
Lincoln-Way West 5, Plainfield North 4

– Compiled by Drake Skleba

Lewis University Director of Athletics Dr. John Planek announced on Monday (May 22) that he has hired Samantha Quigley Smith as the 13th head women’s basketball coach in school-history.

“The Lewis women’s basketball program has a forged a formidable path at the Division II level and we certainly feel that Coach (Samantha) Quigley Smith can help us continue on this path of excellence,” Planek said.

Planek will introduce Quigley Smith at 10:30 AM on Thursday (May 25) in the Brent and Jean Wadsworth Family Gallery located in the Oremus Fine Arts Center.

The public is invited to attend the announcement and meet the Flyers’ new head coach. Parking will be available in Lot G and the Oremus Fine Arts Center is located north of the parking lot. If you cannot make it to the press conference, it will be streamed live via www.LewisFlyers.com.

Quigley comes to Lewis via the University of St. Francis in Joliet, where the Fighting Saints recorded a mark of 101-62 (.62) in her five seasons (2012-17) as head coach. She served as an assistant coach for USF in 2011-12 under her uncle and former Lewis University head women’s basketball coach Brian Michalak. Michalak was Lewis’ head women’s basketball coach from 1993-2002.

“I am so very excited to accept the position as Lewis University’s head women’s basketball coach,” Quigley Smith said. “Coaching at the NCAA level and in such a great conference like the Great Lakes Valley Conference has been a dream of mine and I cannot wait to get started.”

Quigley Smith believes that Lewis is a perfect fit for her family.

“What attracted me to the position was that Lewis is a Catholic Institution with a similar value system (to St. Francis),” Quigley Smith continued. “The athletic department has been extremely successful and I certainly look forward to being a part of that!”

While excited for the next chapter in her life, Quigley Smith is thankful for her time in Joliet.

“My experiences at St. Francis have certainly prepared me for this opportunity and I cannot thank them enough,” Quigley Smith said. “USF gave me my first start at a young age and that is something I will forever be grateful for.

“The people I’ve worked with and the student-athletes that have been a part of our success at St. Francis made this decision extremely difficult,” Quigley Smith continued. “I would also like to thank my husband (Greg) and entire family for being so helpful and supportive through the process.

“They have been my biggest fans and I love them for that!”

In the past two seasons, the Fighting Saints have registered a mark of 62-7 (.899) with two Top 10 finishes in the NAIA Division II Coaches Poll, including a No. 1 ranking in the final 2017 poll. Her 2015-16 squad was the first USF team to advance to the NAIA National Tournament in 13 seasons. In that span, Quigley Smith mentored All-Americans in Charnelle Reed and Jordan Giddings.

Last year, Quigley Smith guided USF to a mark of 34-2, helping the Fighting Saints to an undefeated slate in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) and a berth in the NAIA Division II Semifinals. One of those 34 wins was an 80-69 victory in December over then-No. 18 ranked Lewis.

For her efforts, Quigley Smith was named the CCAC Coach of the Year for a second-consecutive season. She was also selected as the Illinois Basketball Coach Association (IBCA) Coach of the Year and a WBCA/United States Marine Corps NAIA National Coach of the Year Award finalist.

Academics are important to Quigley Smith as well, as she propelled USF’s team cumulative grade point average from 2.35 to 3.5 during her tenure. She had several student-athletes with a 4.0 grade point average and had two achieve WBCA Academic All-America status.

Quigley Smith also brings an international flair to Romeoville as she has spent the last two summers as an assistant coach with USA Basketball, serving on the staff of the Women’s U17 National Team in 2016 and the U16 National Team, which captured the bronze medal at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in Puebla, Mexico.

Quigley Smith is a highly decorated former Division I student-athlete, as she played for DePaul from 2006-11. She left the Lincoln Park campus with 1,273 points scored – good for 20th in school-history – and third in Blue Demon history with 484 assists.

The 2006 Joliet Catholic graduate was a two-time All-Big East selection and was named an Honorable Mention WBCA All-American in 2011 and a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award as a senior. The same season, Quigley Smith earned Capital One Academic All-District honors and was the recipient of the Big East Sportsmanship Award.

As a high school senior, Quigley Smith was selected as the 2006 Chicago Sun-Times Female Athlete of the Year as a basketball, volleyball and softball standout. She was a two-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) All-State First Team and Associated Press Class AA All-State Third Team selection in basketball, as she finished with 1,910 career points in a JCA uniform. Following her senior season, Quigley was a Parade All-American and McDonald’s All-America nominee.

Quigley Smith has ties to Lewis, as the Fighting Saints play on Pat Quigley Court – named after her late father (and former Lewis head women’s tennis coach) – in the Sullivan Center named for Lewis Hall of Famer Pat Sullivan (basketball/baseball). Sullivan went on to St. Francis (Ill.) where he coached Quigley Smith’s stepfather Don Strle on the basketball court.

Quigley Smith replaces Kristen Gillespie who was named the head women’s basketball coach at Illinois State in April. She inherits a squad that features 2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the fifth-straight season.

She resides in Shorewood, Ill., with her husband Greg Smith and sons Cooper, Jackson and daughter Logan.

Chicagoland Speedway announced today its 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race will take place Sunday, July 1, moving back to its longstanding, fan-favorite summer date and kicking off NBC’s live race coverage of the season.

“We’re incredibly excited about the return to July,” said Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock. “We always listen to our fans, and this is something they’ve asked for — a time when the weather in Chicago is perfect, kids are on summer break, and families look to enjoy memorable experiences together, especially around the Fourth of July holiday weekend.”

Since its inception in July 2001, Chicagoland Speedway, hosted its NASCAR weekend during the month of July through 2010, before moving to September. The world’s greatest stock car drivers will converge on the Magnificent Mile and a Half to the backdrop of fireworks, camping, tailgating and music as fans will enjoy four action-packed races: ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff

It’s been a long-standing topic of discussion for anyone who has ever been frustrated on the interstate.

For more than a decade, the process has been slowly unfolding to build a new interchange along I-55, to provide better connectibility to Plainfield, Bolingbrook, and Romeoville. A move by the village board this month hopes to further that plan.

The project began when Bolingbrook completed an access justification study for the expansion of the I-55/Route 126 interchange, and Romeoville completed an access justification study for a new interchange at I-55 and Lockport Street.

The Federal Highway Administration determined that both locations had to be included if a phase one engineering study/report was conducted in the future.

In 2009, Bolingbrook and Romeoville entered an intergovernmental agreement to advance the phase one study. The total cost of the project at that time was estimated at around $2.6 million, with a federal grant of $1.469 million allocated to assist with related costs.

But Plainfield wanted in on the project.

“Plainfield was concerned 15 years ago about this project because of the impact of local traffic within our community,” said Allen Persons, Director of Public Works. “In 2003, the village passed a resolution expressing concerns about traffic on Lockport Street, and that the only way the village would approve that interchange would be if there was some bypass included as well. So, that’s what started the conversation.”

In July of 2011, Plainfield entered an intergovernmental agreement with Bolingbrook and Romeoville, where the village agreed to fund 37 percent of the cost of the interstate interchange project as the local share. In return, Plainfield became actively involved in the decision-making process regarding the design of the proposed improvements at both locations.

“At that time, there was an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement that was created, where there was a cost-sharing system set up, where Plainfield could share with the additional costs, and we could all utilize and benefit from the grant that was going to be provided by the federal government,” Persons said.

On May 15, the board approved another intergovernmental agreement based on changes to the project.

Because an extensive amount of environmental studies and reports have been completed over the last seven years, additional funding is required to complete the phase one engineering study.

The updated total cost is estimated at approximately $3.26 million. The new agreement requires all three municipalities to provide additional funding to complete the phase one study report.

The additional contribution that is estimated to be paid by Plainfield is $212,995. This includes a 5 percent contingency that may not be required.

“This gives us a seat at the table in decisions as far as design is concerned at both of the locations, and I believe it helps protect our residents from a future improvement that could be detrimental as far as traffic is concerned,” Persons said.

The engineering firm in charge of phase one, V3 Engineering of Woodridge, is expected to make a presentation on phase one of the project at a future date.

Because the project is wholly dependent on the federal government, there is no official timeline to see ground broken for the interchange project. Persons said as a long-term project, the timeline is expected to be ten years or more.

Information in Police Blotter is obtained from Joliet, Shorewood and Lockport police departments and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Individuals listed in Police Blotter charged with a crime have not been proven guilty in court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

JOLIET

APRIL 11

Pablo Castelan, 46, of Joliet, was cited near Richards and I80 for improper display of registration and no valid driver’s license.

Jose M. Valdes, 48, of Joliet, was cited near E. Washington and S. Briggs or driving while license revoked and improper turn at intersection.

Edgar Martinez, 31, of Joliet, was cited near E. Jackson and Collins for obstructing windows, improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and resisting a police officer.

Marco Silva Flores, 33, of Chicago, was cited near E. Cass and Walnut for no registration light, no valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Alexander M. Perez, 25, of Joliet, was cited near E. Washington and S. Briggs for driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and following too closely.

Alexandra L. Obiero, 29, of Joliet, was arrested on the 200 block of E. Cass St for possession of a controlled substance and was held on two active warrants.

Suspects entered a vehicle on the 500 block of Fairbanks and removed a cell phone.

APRIL 12

Francisco J. Guerrero, 19, of Crest Hill, was arrested near N. Briggs and Sterling for aggravated speeding, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, disregarding a traffic control device, three counts of disobeying a stop sign, reckless driving, fleeing/eluding a peace officer and driver’s license never issued.

Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle on the 3000 block of Tyler and stole a gym bag containing raffle tickets and ID’s.

Jamie Jauregui Jr., 23, of Joliet, was cited near Washington and Arizona for no registration light, driving while license suspended and speeding.

APRIL 13

Samantha J. Brain, 28, of Romeoville, was arrested near N. Broadway and Division for improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and DUI.

William H. Lee, 56, of Joliet, was cited near Charlesworth and Woodruff for disregarding a stop sign and driving while license suspended.

Lousharma Barber, 30, of Joliet, was cited near W. Cass and N. Joliet for driving while license suspended.

APRIL 14

Devon Tyler, 50, of Joliet, was cited near S. Briggs and E. Washington for no valid driver’s license, expired registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Antwoin Calvert, 42, Joliet, was cited near E. Cass and Maple for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, driving while license suspended and improper display of registration.

APRIL 15

Victoria Chmieleski, 43, of Elwood was arrested on the 100 block of E. Zarley for DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, illegal transportation of alcohol and no driver’s license.

Arturo Charmy, 36, of Joliet was arrested near E. Jackson and State Street for improper lane usage, disregarding a stop sign, and DUI.

Sharita Jones, 33, of Romeoville, was cited near Larkin and McDonough for following too closely and driving while license suspended.

APRIL 16

Daniela Munoz, 22, of Joliet, was cited near Collins and Irving for no turn signal and driving while license suspended.  Munoz was held on two active warrants.

LOCKPORT

APRIL 13

Suspects entered an unlocked truck on the 1000 block of McCameron and stole headphones and medications.

APRIL 18

Lauren C. Petty, 28, of Plainfield, was cited near S. State and Harvard for disobeying a stop sign and driving while license suspended.

SHOREWOOD

MAY 2

Farries O’Bryant, 37, of Joliet, was arrested near Black Road and Brookforest Avenue for driving with a revoked license.

By Megann Horstead | For The Bugle

A new source of funding for the Rialto Square Theatre could be announced next week, Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk recently said.

The mayor’s comment followed a presentation by the theatre’s executive director and the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority Board’s chairman updating the public on progress.

The City of Joliet decided to find a long-term funding solution late last year, at which point city budget discussions focused, in part, on how to keep the downtown anchor operational.

Matters took a turn when members of the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority Board resigned from their posts. By Dec. 20, the Joliet City Council approved a $500,000 allotment to the Rialto Square Theatre.

Since that time, the downtown anchor has welcomed new members to its board of directors and a new executive director.

In the past five months, the current Rialto board has accomplished a number of feats: securing a multi-year agreement with VenuWorks to manage theatre operations; finalizing a $600,000 loan from the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation to pay off monies owed to vendors; resuming stage performances and exhibiting involvement in community events.

The recent installation of a point of sales system allows staff to take credit cards at the bar, in addition to ensuring sales and inventory accountability.

The theatre initiated a monthly inventory of food and beverages to better control the cost of goods sold. Staff also intends to roll out an enhanced menu selection for increased ancillary sales during events.

“Since January, we have seen close to 7,500 patrons enjoy a variety of talent on the stage,” said Valerie Devine, executive director of the Rialto Square Theatre. “Please note that this number does not include the dance competitions, recitals, luncheons, weddings and other rental events.”

Rialto Board Chairman Bob Filatto recognizes the challenges the theatre continues to face and said the board must keep this in mind moving forward.

“We must balance financial risk with programming desires,” he said. “The Two Rialto North [Chicago Street] building in terms of retaining and attracting tenants is a deep, deep source of concern. And, of course, we need to look for a dedicated long-term funding source, which is an absolute necessity.”

To date, the theatre is on track to present 35 shows by the end of June. The agreement between the City of Joliet and the Rialto board approved late last year required at least 30 shows to permit the release of the remaining half of the theatre’s allotment.

“Looking ahead with the successful addition of Loretta Lynn, Three Dog Night and the reschedule of Olivia Newton-John, we are anticipating another 4,500 guests and counting, as ticket sales are still selling for those performances, in addition to the many other shows—some that have not been announced,” Devine said.

O’Dekirk credited the Rialto staff and administrators for the work they’ve done.

“It’s what needed to happen there,” O’Dekirk said.

When the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. was finished in 1983, the wall listed approximately 58,000 servicemen and women who had either died in action or went missing in action during the Vietnam War. Because of a fire at a government storage facility in 1973, the U.S. military lost millions of personnel records, including many of those who were listed on the wall. Although the military and other organizations made efforts to recover lost data, 24,000 veterans listed on the wall had no photo in their military records in 2013.

Thanks to a coordinated effort among Illinois newspapers, nearly 100 photos of Illinois veterans have been located and submitted to the Wall of Faces (available at: http://www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces/); however, as of May 1, Illinois still has 528 service members who do not have a photo in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s database.

We need your help. Below is a list of servicemen and/or women from DuPage, Will, Kendall and collar Cook counties that do not have a photo on the Wall of Faces. Do you know any of them? Did you go to high school or serve with one of these men or women? Check your photo archives and yearbooks. Talk to neighbors and former classmates. Please help honor these veterans by putting a face to the name.

According to the VVMF, the wall was constructed to remind everyone that the names on the wall “represent unique people with hopes, dreams and desires—people who were loved and who are missed every day by someone they left behind.”

“It is important for us to honor these people who served and sacrificed for their country. But, we should also remember that they were people, just like us. They enjoyed crazy adventures with high school friends. They had crushes, fell in love and got married. Some even had children. They were people with special talents and many goals. There are so many stories on The Wall—stories of people as diverse as our nation itself.”

Please help honor these young men and women who gave their lives in Southeast Asia. The first step to telling their stories is to locate their photos.

If you locate a missing photo of a veteran, submit the photo to Grace Tucker at gtucker@buglenewspapers.com. Please put Vietnam Memorial in the subject line. The photo does not have to be of the service member in uniform.

The following are not represented in the Wall of Faces:

DuPage County

Steve J. Churchill (Elmhurst)

Roger A. Fessenden (Hanover Park)

Samuel N. Hart (Villa Park)

Richard D. Krupa (Elmhurst)

Stanley D. Montgomery (St. Charles)

Roger L. Pierce (Glen Ellyn)

Michael W. Prengel (Bensenville)

Allan D. Timmerman (Downers Grove) D

Will County

Glen A. Jackson III (Lockport)

Ronald Johansen (Joliet)

John A. La Bundy (Park Forest)

William C. Moon (Joliet)

Charles L. Morrison (Romeoville)

Alvin L. Pemberton (Joliet)

James A. Slagel (Joliet)

Timothy J. Sweeney (Romeoville)

Kendall

William W. Bishop (Montgomery

Collar Cook

Walter R Lang (Niles)

Larry J Peters (Niles)

Norman A Miller (Morton Grove)

Robert E Girsch (Skokie)

Rober Zimmerman (Deerfield)

Louie J McFarland (Evanston)

Michael C Doyle (Evanston)

Stephen A Anderson (Evanston)

Donald F Lekovish (Lyons)

Paul R Staton (Lyons)

John R Van Horn (Lyons)

Charles N Kowalk (Melrose Park)

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

How does a program in the Joliet area replace a coach with bloodlines to one of the top athletic families in Will County?

With another one, that’s how.Lewis University announced welcomed Samantha Quigley-Smith as the 13th head women’s basketball coach in school-history last week.

She replaces Kristen Gillespie, who accepted the head job at Illinois State University after only two seasons at Lewis.

Quigley comes to Lewis from the University of St. Francis, where she posted a record of 101-62 in five seasons on the bench.

Last year, the Saints posted a 34-2 record and were undefeated in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. St. Francis advanced to the NAIA Division II semifinals.

Quigley-Smith was named the CCAC Coach of the Year for a second-consecutive season. She was also selected as the Illinois Basketball Coach Association Coach of the Year and was a WBCA/United States Marine Corps NAIA National Coach of the Year finalist.

“I am really excited to be here,” Quigley-Smith said. “I have to thank my family, it wasn’t an easy decision the last couple weeks, but it is great to be here. I have to thank St. Francis, who gave me my start at the ripe age of 23 years old. I was grateful to have that opportunity to coach and be a head coach at such a young age. I have to thank Lewis and the search committee. I know they had some really great candidates and to choose me, I am really lucky.

“After meeting with the search committee, I immediately felt like this was family and it felt right and the second time I came, just driving up to the university felt right.”

This year was not the first time Quigley-Smith considered applying for the Lewis position.

“When coach Gillespie took the position at Illinois State, I jumped at the opportunity,” she said. “When the position opened two years ago, it was something I thought long and hard about, but the timing wasn’t so great. I felt like now was a good time and I was ready to accept the challenge.

“Not everyone goes to a cross-town rival, but the step up in division to NCAA Division II was big and to be able to be part of an athletic program that has been so successful.”

While she said she has no plans to leave Lewis in the near future, Quigley-Smith said that the idea that the last two Lewis coaches moved on to Division-I jobs was intriguing.

“I would be crazy to say that it wasn’t in the back of my head, but our family is really established in the area and we are not looking to go anywhere anytime soon,” she said. “It does speak volumes about the program that they are producing coaches that are having great success and they are leading coaches to the highest level there is.”

That desire to some day coach at the Division I level is a reason St. Francis AD Dave Laketa knew Quigley-Smith would not be a Saint forever.

“We are grateful to Samantha for the work that she did to turn our women’s basketball program into one of the top-caliber programs at the NAIA level,” Laketa said in a statement. “It has been extremely fun to watch her develop over these past five years, culminating with this year’s undefeated regular-season record and a trip to the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament.

“I know that this was a very difficult decision for Samantha to make with her and her family’s ties to St. Francis, but one that I know will serve her well along her career path. We were glad to give Samantha her first head coaching opportunity and know that she will do well for many years to come.”

Her ties to the community run deeper than just USF.

Quigley-Smith was also a JCA legend, as she was the 2006 Chicago Sun-Times Female Athlete of the Year as a basketball, volleyball and softball standout. She was a two-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State First Team and Associated Press Class AA All-State Third Team selection in basketball. She finished with 1,910 career points as an Angel.

She went on to play for Doug Bruno at DePaul, where she played from 2006-11. She left as No. 20 on the all-time scoring list with 1,273 and was third with 484 assists.

She was a two-time All-Big East selection and was named an Honorable Mention WBCA All-American in 2011 and a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award as a senior. The same season, Quigley Smith earned Capital One Academic All-District honors and was the recipient of the Big East Sportsmanship Award.

Quigley-Smith will not be coming to Lewis alone, as she looks to bring her entire USF staff to Lewis with her, including former Joliet Catholic boys coach and 1974 Lewis graduate Dan McCarthy.

“My intention is to bring everyone over and hopefully everything works with logistics and our graduate assistant getting some credits transferred over, but it looks like everything will work out,” she said. “Dan McCarthy was a huge part for our success and he is a big reason why I am the coach I am today, so I had to have him come over.”

The staff will inherit a team that advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the fifth-straight season and is paced by 2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year Jessica Kelliher.

The Flyers will play at St. Francis in December.

Area job seekers are invited to attend a weekly job fair hosted by the Workforce Services Division of Will County and the Illinois Department of Employment Security from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Workforce Center of Will County.

Among the positions employers will be looking to fill are clamp drivers/pickers, dockworker, facility certified nursing assistants, forklift operator, galvanizing associate, general laborers, machine operator, medical assistant, packers, picker/packer, school bus drivers, warehouse associate, warehouse loaders/unloaders and warehouse material handler.

WSD Administrative Manager Susan Flessner said the events allow job seekers to meet with several employers at once.

“Additionally, job seekers only have to make one trip per week to the Workforce Center to talk with multiple businesses about multiple jobs,” Flessner said.

The weekly events are held at the Workforce Center of Will County, 2400 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100. The day and times vary.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh, whose office oversees WSD, encourages job seekers to be prepared to take advantage of the weekly events.

“Bring your resume, dress for success and be ready for an interview,” he said.

For additional information about the Workforce Center of Will County, go to www.will.works.

By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

CHARLESTON – No matter the sport, no matter time, winning a triple crown is milestone for any athlete.

That is what Minooka’s Soren Knudsen pulled off last weekend at the Class 3A boys state track and field meet in O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Soren Knudsen

Last Saturday, the Indian senior won the 3200-meter run in a time of 9 minutes, 3.41 seconds and also claimed the title in the 1600 run in 4:10.51.

Those two, together with his win the cross country finals in the fall, give him the distance triple crown – something that has not been done in the state’s largest class since 2013 when Jack Keelan of St. Ignatius completed the feat.

“I can’t really put it into words,” Knudsen said after the race. “There was a lot of stress in the last half hour (leading up to the 1600) and I haven’t completely gathered my thoughts. I am usually really calm and joking around and lacking in the nervousness and I tried to still be like that in the two mile, but it was very nerve wracking.”

While Knudsen ran away from the field in the 3200, the 1600 came down to the wire.

“Illinois is the real deal,” he said. “Especially in that 800, 1600 and 3200 distance. The two mile, I was extremely confident in. I almost knew I was going to win, but the mile was uncertain. There are a lot of different competitors out here with a lot of different race strategies and they are different kind of runners than I am. In Illinois, you never do know. If we run this race 10 times, I don’t win 10 times and that is what makes this so special.”

Only a rare accomplishment like what Knudsen earned is enough to trump another incredible performance by Lockport junior John Meyer.

Meyer won the Class 3A shot put title with a put of 65-feet, 10.5-inches. It was his second-straight state championship in the shot put.

Meyer hit his best put during Friday’s prelims.

John Meyer

“I was feeling pretty confident (after that), I knew I just had to go over 65 (feet),” Meyer said. “Usually I get my best marks in prelims and coming into finals, I just wanted to get the state record (  ) but I couldn’t. I was out of tune with my body, but there is nothing I could do. There are points where you just say forget it and just try and throw your hardest and that doesn’t work as all. That last throw I tried to throw as hard as I could and that didn’t work at all. I didn’t stay as calm today.”

Meyer then went on to place second in the discus with a throw of 189-05.

Those two were not the only locals to earn state medals, as Minooka senior Brennan Loughran placed ninth in the pole vault, clearing 14-0.

Another Minooka senior, Colin Marchio, placed ninth in the 100 dash in 10.95 seconds.

A pair of Indians advanced to the finals, but did not finish in the top nine and earn a medal.

Senior Steve Lasinis was 10^th in the long jump with a jump of 22-04.25 and junior Dominic Ruettiger was 11^th in the pole vault, clearing 14-feet.

There were also several locals who competed in the state meet, but did not advance to the finals.

Lockport junior Conor McCarthy competed in the long jump (20-11.25) and the triple jump (40-06.25).

In the pole vault, Lockport senior Andrew Novak  missed on  the opening height, as did Joliet West senior Dalin Lockman in the high jump.

In the shot put, Lockport’s Kevin Pokorski (51-11.25) and Joliet Central senior Angelo Villanueva (50-10.50) both competed in the finals.

Joliet Central junior Oswaldo Guzman posted a time of 1:57.32 in the 800 run, while Minooka junior Brandon Adams ran a 49.23.

The lone area relay was the Minooka 4×400 team of junior Aaron Arroyo, freshman Hector Ramos, junior James Sanchez and junior Brandon Adams, who posted a time of 3:22.85.

Joliet Police Department today announced the arrest of a Joliet 17-year-old for intentionally setting a fire Monday, May 29 at the Old Joliet Prison,1125 Collins Street.

Firefighters battled the blaze at the unoccupied prison that has been featured in television shows and the iconic movie “The Blues Brothers.” By and large, this fire was by 10 p.m. Monday, but police and fire departments remained on the scene to keep their eyes on any hot spots.

Joliet investigators received numerous tips via the Joliet Police’s social media site identifying two individuals after the police released a photo of two youths seen at the prison yard shortly after witnesses noticed smoke coming from one of the buildings.

Detectives located the juveniles and developed further information which led to the arrest of one of the juveniles for one count of arson. It was learned that the arrested 17-year-old juvenile and his 15-year-old friend were at the prison together.

The 17 year old juvenile was sent to River Valley for one count of arson. Our detectives spoke with the other male that was identified, a 15-year-old, and no charges will be filed against him.

Information in Police Blotter is obtained from Joliet and Lockport police departments and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Individuals listed in Police Blotter charged with a crime have not been proven guilty in court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

JOLIET

APRIL 18

Suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle on the 3000 block of Harris Drive and stole a wedding ring.

Suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle on the 3000 block of Harris Drive and stole 10 CDs and some change.

David C. Scholp, 39, of Braidwood, was cited near Caton Farm and Westline Drive for no valid registration and driving while license suspended.

Alvaro Alvizo-Jimenez, 31, of Joliet, was cited near E. Cass and Parks for driver’s license never issued, unregistered registration, and no registration light.

APRIL 19     

An unknown man wearing a white mask and black hoodie was seen entering a detached garage on the 1500 block of Timberline.  The homeowner heard the man and called 911.  The offender left the scene before deputies arrived.  Nothing was stolen.

Suspect(s) entered a detached garage on the 3500 block of Theodore and  stole a wallet, flashlights, CDs, and money out of two vehicles.  

APRIL 20     

Alena Marie Tabor, 21, of Lemont, was arrested at the Will County Courthouse for possession of a controlled substance.

Suspect(s) stole 4 Michelin Super single tires from a property on the 18000 block of NW Front Rd.   

Charron Spann, 46, of Joliet, was arrested on E. Zarley Blvd for criminal trespass to residence and resisting police.

Derrick Oden, 36, of Joliet, was cited near Collins and E. Cass for driving while license suspended and improper use of registration.

Anwanna Pierce, 31, of Joliet,  was cited near E. Cass and Parksfor no valid driver’s license.

APRIL 21

Paul A. Tate, 28, of Joliet was cited near Plainfield Rd. and I55 for driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Jacobo Garcia, 35, of Joliet, was cited near Maple and Elgin for no registration lights and driver’s license never issued.

APRIL 22     

Jeffrey Paganessi, 38, of Joliet, was arrested on the 400 block of Peale for assault.

John R. Hernandez, 41, of Joliet, was cited near 5th Avenue and S. Briggsfor no seat belts and driving while license suspended.

APRIL 23

Marie T. Lane, 31, of Joliet, was cited near Woodruff and Arthur for improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and driving while license revoked.

LOCKPORT

APRIL 18

Alisha Drake, 31, of Chicago, was cited near W. Division St. and S. Gaylord Rd. for no tail light and no valid driver’s license.

APRIL 21

April Svoboda, 25, of Lisle was cited near W. 159th and S. Adelmann Rd. for driving while license revoked, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and no front registration plate.

APRIL 22

William Spencer Nobles, 28, of Lockport, was arrested for three counts of criminal dam to property after he was observed punching residents mailboxes on the 15000 block of S. Archer

.