Community

Twelve basketball teams are hard at work running their plays as they prepare to compete Jan. 26 in the Illinois Special Olympics regional competition at Byron High School.

Lockport Township High School student volunteers helped ShareFest distribute thousands of pounds of food, clothes, and toys to families in need in the lead up to Christmas.

Will County Center for Community Concerns announced Executive Director Kris White will retire at the end of 2024.

The Rock Falls Chamber held its annual Grinch dodgeball event at Rock Falls Middle School for a chance to let kids know and show what they think of the anti-Christmas hooligan.

A passion for the job and a love of family have been fueling a motorcycle repair shop in Sterling for over two decades.

The Joliet fire and police departments hosted their second Active Threat and Mental Wellness conference for first responders to discuss the issues of responding to violence and combating mental health issues in the community and their own ranks.

As church attendance declines across the United States, St. Paul and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Dixon are taking an experimental approach by joining together in a partnership led by a married couple as co-pastors who started Nov. 1 in their new roles.

People from around Grundy County are working to provide donations for the family of Bill and Alex Tabler, who passed away in a fire early Sunday morning.

Panel members include Emily Hammer, executive director of the Whiteside County Senior Center in Sterling; Karla Burn, marketing director at Resthave Care & Rehabilitation in Morrison; and Chris Burks, social worker at Resthave.

The city of Joliet will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Wednesday in the City Council Chambers, 150 W. Jefferson St.

St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church in Joliet will offer veneration of the relic of St. Jude Thaddeus and Mass in honor of the saint.

The virtual auction is open to everyone, with bidding accessible through the United Way of Lee County’s online platform. Participants can browse available items, place bids, and track auction progress all from the comfort of their own homes.

The Sterling City Council designated the last of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds Monday, choosing to put the remaining funds toward building demolition costs and a new fire department training center.

Rock Falls is inviting Sauk Valley residents to experience the magic of its 37th annual Hometown Holidays from Nov. 21-23.

Jacob Newberry plans on going to a four-year college and majoring in computer engineering.

The city of Lockport held a special screening of the first two episodes of HBO's Somebody Somewhere, which shot in the city for it's three-season run, at the Roxy Theater on Wednesday night.

The celebration will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Ebenezer Reformed Church, 309 E. Park St., Morrison.

The village of Plainfield recently dedication its new Emergency Management Agency building as the John J. Konopek Jr. Plainfield Emergency Management Agency Center, a 15,000-square-foot facility located at 14805 S. Wood Farm Road.

The City of Lockport is hosting a special invitation-only screening of HBO's "Somebody Somewhere" season 3 opening episodes at the Roxy Theatre Wednesday night. The show's stars and creator will be in attendance.

Spirits with the Spirits starts at 4:30 p.m. with lessons to learn the “Thriller” dance at the Joliet Public Library at 150 N. Ottawa St. and continues through the night.

Around 800 people attended a trunk-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Crossroads Community Church's Polo campus.

Bob DiLorenzo, who graduated from Gompers Junior High in 1958, got to serve as Principal for a Day after gifting the school old copies of his graduation papers.

The Whiteside Forum will host a presentation given by Mark and Jean Zinnen and Theresa Brandon at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison St., Morrison.

Keynote speaker will be former U.S. Navy Corpsman Raymond Torres.

Twin City Conservatives will host their monthly meeting at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26 at A’s Kitchen in Rock Falls.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 9-0 to build the Cunningham Neighborhood Park conceived as a means to move sex offenders out of a nearby apartment house.

This month’s presentation at the Fulton (Martin House) Museum pertains to the “Underground Railroad” as it relates to the strategic role played by Clinton County, Iowa and Whiteside County in the years prior to the Civil War.

With the help of members of the community and fellow Scouts, Cruz Ocampo made the plans, organized the help and secured the materials to build a cement walkway at the Dixon Church of the Brethren.

Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers has named radiation therapist Sherah Stice as its Fire Starter of the Month for September.

The Mad About Plaid event will take place Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in downtown Rock Falls and at the RB&W District Park at 201 E. Second St. The Lumberjack Show and Beard Contest will be Saturday, Oct. 5, at Selmi’s Family Farm, 1206 Dixon Ave., Rock Falls.

The Community Foundation of Grundy County (CFGC) has committed to working with non-profits serving Grundy County to tackle the larger issue of mental health especially that of children and their families.

Volunteers were able to help complete service projects at Dixon PADS, Dixon Public Library, Lee County Council on Aging, Open Sesame, Bright Beginnings, The Dixon: Historic Theatre, the riverfront, YWCA and Goodfellows, among others.

Door prizes will be awarded and free coffee and rolls will be available.

Scott McMaster succeeds former director Mike Petrick, who was promoted to assistant village administrator for Channahon in August.

Working throughout CGH Medical Center and its clinics, these providers help ensure rural communities have access to safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.

After filming three seasons in Lockport, the HBO series "Somebody Somewhere" will premiere its final season's first two episodes on Oct. 30 at a special screening at The Roxy.

Merger receives state approval from Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which is responsible for approving applications for construction or expansion of health care facilities in Illinois.

The parade will begin and end at Haymarket Square, 317 W. Third St., and Treat Street will continue with a trunk-and-treat event at KSB Town Square Centre, 102 S. Hennepin Ave., and treats at participating downtown businesses.

Police chief says student responsible for making the threat had no plan to carry out any violence and did not have access to firearms.

The Joliet Township Government's Community Violence Intervention and the Nonviolent Cities Project—Joliet will host a reception and walk on September 21 to commemorate International Peace Day.

Morrison’s downtown will be transformed Saturday into an outdoor canvas for hundreds of amateur artists of all ages who gather to Paint the Town.

The newly refurbished park, originally called 10th Avenue Park or School Park, has been under construction for the past few months.

The Whiteside Forum is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that hosts expert speakers and discussions on topics of local interest to the public from a global viewpoint. All events are free and open to the public.

“Beethoven and Friends” is the general theme of the new season.

Starting this week through Dec. 2, Shining Star will accept donations of new kids’ and teens’ pajamas, sizes 3T to adult medium, girls and boys.

The city of Lockport, in collaboration with HBO, will be holding a special advance screening for the Peabody Award –winning HBO series “Somebody Somewhere:" on Oct. 30.

200-foot turbine was inoperable and brought down Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The year's Rotary Club of Joliet’s campaign kicks off Sept. 17. The past year's grant recipients were the Belmont Little League and the Alano Club, both in Joliet.

Dolly’s Book Bash aims to inspire a love of reading in children while providing families with an opportunity to enjoy quality time together. The event is free and open to everyone, with a special focus on families with young children.

The Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Engine No. 4014 made a whistle stop from 1:30-1:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Sterling Marketplace near the Avenue B crossing as part of its eight-week "Heartland of America Tour."