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Joliet Police say three men fell asleep in the middle of a burglary spree Feb. 16. At 7:48 a.m., officers were called to the 6400 block of Baring Ridge Drive after witnesses reported a suspicious vehicle. According to police reports, officers arrived to find all three men “sleeping inside a vehicle...wearing gloves and all had masks on their faces.” Officers also reportedly observed marijuana inside the vehicle. After rousing the trio, police frisked them and allegedly found Dequan W. Kohnke, 23, of East Chicago, Indiana was... Full story
A 17-year-old died after the occupants of two vehicles exchanged gunfire Feb.7 on Republic Avenue in Joliet. Shots were reported at 12:09 p.m. in the 200 block of Republic Avenue, Sgt. Chris Botzum said in a statement. As police were responding, Jeremiah Frazier was dropped off at nearby Saint Joseph Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Frazier remained in critical condition for a day before succumbing to his injuries on Feb. 9. "During the course of the investigation,... Full story
Three Chicago men - including a paraplegic - were arrested after allegedly robbing a cell phone store at gunpoint Feb. 15 in Joliet. At 12:44 p.m. two masked men armed with handguns entered Verizon Wireless, 2941 W. Jefferson St. Police said the bandits "then took numerous iPhones, iPads, and cash from the register." The pair then fled to a waiting vehicle. No one was injured and a holdup alarm brought police to the scene. Officers spotted the getaway car near Bronk Road and... Full story
A Plainfield man died after being attacked by a family pit bull earlier this month. Devin J. White, 25,died late on Feb. 10 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, according to Plainfield Police. White was the victim of an unprovoked attack by the dog about 9:15 p.m. Feb. 8 at his residence in the 22900 block of Judith Drive. He suffered severe injuries to his arms. "Initial investigation indicates the dog, which was owned by the victims, was unprovoked and attacked for an... Full story
A Spring Valley woman died Feb. 13 in a traffic crash on Route 126 in Plainfield. The collision occurred shortly after 9 p.m. between Meadow Lane and Indian Boundary Line Road. According to Police Commander Anthony Novak a 37-year-old man was driving a Toyota Camry east on Route 126 when he lost control of the vehicle and drove into the westbound lanes. The Camry was struck on the passenger side by a BMW X5 driven by a 58-year-old woman. The passenger in the Camry, Sarah E.... Full story
Shorewood Police used extra patrols Feb. 5 when a terrorist-like threat was posted on social media. Chief Aaron Klima said the "vague and unspecified threat to create a mass-casualty incident in Shorewood, Illinois" popped up in the early morning hours on an anonymous site and was later reposted on Twitter. Klima said surveillance software used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified the threat and the agency notified the Shorewood police. "Due to the lack of... Full story
A pit bull injured four people before being put down Feb. 8. At 9:15 p.m. Plainfield police and firefighters were called to the 22900 block of Judith Drive after the dog bit a 25-year-old man. “Initial investigation indicates the dog, which was owned by the victims, was unprovoked and attacked for an unknown reason,” Det. Sgt. Kevin McQuaid said in a statement. Though responding officers were able to gain some control of the animal, the male pit bull was “immediately euthanized,” due to its aggressiveness towards the officer... Full story
Plainfield expects to welcome a Dunkin' Donuts to the south side of town later this year. While the coffee and fast breakfast mainstay has locations on the other ends of town and neighboring municipalities, it's now "time to make the donuts" for downtown and south end. A house that stands at 15719 S. Route 59 will be razed and developed into the doughnut shop, which will contain a drive through. The site is one of four residential-scale parcels that front St. Mary's... Full story
A Joliet man died Jan. 29 after reportedly swallowing a fatal amount of narcotics while being arrested. Eric D. Lurry, 37, was taken into custody Jan. 28 near Briggs and Washington streets as the result of a drug investigation, police said. According to Sgt. Christopher Botzum, Lurry was brought to the police station at 4:17 p.m. and refused to get out of the squad car. "Officers observed (Lurry) concealing drugs in his mouth...and were able to remove a large bag of suspected... Full story
The Village of Shorewood is planning for a new facility that will centralize public works operations. At a recent committee meeting, village trustees reviewed the proposed $10 million building, which would be constructed on Mound Road where there is currently a dome which stores road salt. "Being spread out across five sites within the village does not lend itself to efficient public works operations," stated a report from Tria Architecture that was submitted to trustees.... Full story
A Joliet police officer is facing drunk driving charges for an off-duty crash that killed a Berwyn officer. Erin Zilka, 35, a 12-year-veteran, was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence after the crash Jan. 19 on Interstate 55 north of Route 30 in Plainfield Township. The passenger in Zilka's Dodge Durango, Charles Schauer, 33, was a 10-year-veteran of the Berwyn Police Department. Zilka has been placed on administrative leave while the Joliet Police conduct an... Full story
Marshalls will open later this year at the former site of Babies R' Us in Shorewood. Village Economic Development Director Kelley Chrisse told trustees the discount department store will begin renovations at the location in the Shorewood Crossing plaza at Route 59 and Black Road. Like parent company Toys R' Us, Babies R' Us shut down retail operations in 2018. Marshalls will occupy 25,000 square feet of the building, leaving about 6,000 square feet next to Staples office... Full story
After months of discussion and public hearing, Shorewood will allow marijuana-based businesses to operate within the village. Mayor Rick Chapman broke the tie among the trustees' vote at the Jan. 14 meeting and a potential dispensary operator could apply for business and zoning permits. Chapman has said no one interested in establishing a cannabis business has approached village staff. "We've (all) had plenty of time to talk to our neighbors and digest the information. For... Full story
Joliet police reportedly found a parolee driving around with a loaded handgun in his car Jan. 13. At 10:15 p.m. officers near Fourth Avenue and Richards Street saw a driver commit a moving violation and attempted to pull it over, according to police reports. The vehicle continued for over a block before finally stopping. Though the driver allegedly told officers a different name and date of birth, records identified him as James L. Faint, 19. Faint was charged with obstructing a police officer, driving without a license and... Full story
The Boulevard may be at the very eastern edge of Plainfield, but it was at the center of Mayor Mike Collins’ recent State of the Village presentation. Machines have been moving earth for the 70-acre retail development which will occupy the borders of Plainfield and Joliet along Interstate 55. The Boulevard project will be anchored by Costco, which is on track to open in November, Collins said. A little more than half of the Pace bus riders regularly using the four routes serving Interstate 55 are connecting to Plainfield. T... Full story
Students at Troy Hofer Elementary School are learning to correspond with their friends in the old fashioned way – by writing letters. The school has its own unofficial in-school post office called, "Wee Deliver," which is designed by the United States Postal Service to assist with students' reading and writing abilities and to teach them how mail works. Hofer's Postmaster is Assistant Principal Jennifer Tekiela. The school has had the service for the past few years for its s... Full story
Plainfield now has an online map that provides historic information as well as direction. The new feature is under Plainfield Historic Landmarks on the village website. The Historic Preservation Committee has designated 20 structures - all near the downtown area - as having historical or architectural significance. All of the buildings are within four blocks of the intersection of Lockport Street and Route 59. The committee evaluates the integrity of design, workmanship, mater... Full story
Plainfield School District 202 has sold a 40-acre site that was once considered for school facilities. Northern Builders, Inc. has purchased the land at the northeast corner of 127th Street and Kings Road for $3.6 million. The plot is located between a residential neighborhood south of the Bolingbrook Golf Club and the rear of a logistics park along Interstate 55. According to the district, the new owners may seek to have the property annexed into the Village of Bolingbrook. “It is the opinion of the school district that t... Full story
Along with the new year, the Plainfield Village Board has welcomed a new member. Patricia “Patty” Kalkanis was sworn on last month and attended her first full meeting Jan. 6. Kalkanis has been appointed to fill the term of former Trustee Larry Newton, who resigned in November after accepting a job in another state. Kalkanis’ term runs through April 2021. “I’ve known from living here in the village for three years that managing growth and population are significant concerns,” Kalkanis said. “I hope I can help with some inn... Full story
An 18-year-old man allegedly ended the year by robbing a Joliet bank. According to police, at 11:10 a.m. Dec. 31 Arus L. Woods came into Merchants and Manufacturers Bank, 601 E. Cass St. "The suspect appeared to have a handgun wrapped in a shopping bag and pointed the handgun at the employees," police said. After the tellers gave him money from the drawers, the robber ran out and was last seen going behind a building in the next block to the west. No one was injured and a holdup alarm was activated. A canine unit arrived and... Full story
Two men were arrested after Joliet police reportedly heard them fire several rounds from their car on Dec. 7. Shortly before 8 p.m. police were in the 400 block of East Jackson Street when they heard gunfire and saw a vehicle speeding northbound on Parks Avenue. Police pursued the vehicle to the 500 block of Clay Street where Angel A. Flores, 20, ran out the passenger door while clutching the waistband of his pants, police said. After a foot pursuit, Flores was taken to the gr... Full story
Shorewood officials sought a second round of public opinion whether the village should permit marijuana-based businesses. But while more than 50 people attended a meeting on the issue last month, only five came to the Dec. 10 meeting. All of the attendees who spoke were in support of making cannabis available. On Jan. 1, licensed dispensaries will be able to sell marijuana and other products to adults. About two-thirds of the first meeting’s attendees also support allowing cannabis sales. “We’ll make a decision in Janua... Full story
A man reported he was shot in the arm while driving through Troy Township last week. At 6:30 a.m. Dec. 3, the 34-year-old victim came to the Food and Fuel gas station on Jefferson Street near River Road to report the incident. Will County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said the man had been driving eastbound in the 26000 block of Seil Road when he passed a white work van on the side of the road. A man wearing light-colored clothing was standing in front of the van. "As... Full story
Plainfield has approved a new salon business in the downtown area. On Dec. 2, the village board unanimously approved permitting Salon Suites to operate in the former's doctor's office located at 24016 W. Main Street. Cynthia Payne applied for the permit. "It will be a one-of-a-kind luxury boutique suite and single chair rental concept for independent stylists and other salon professionals," Payne wrote in documentation submitted to the village. Hair stylists, barbers,... Full story
Truck lots continue to be a divisive topic for the Plainfield Village Board. At the Dec. 2 meeting, trustees voted 3-2 against a semi-truck parking facility slated for the Plainfield Small Business Park at 13611 S. Route 30. “(Two meetings prior) we voted in a truck maintenance yard with 40 spots. I just saw a truck blow through a stoplight. Is this the type of business we want to bring to Plainfield for more trucks?,” Trustee Kevin Calkins asked. Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx noted the property, which is south of the... Full story