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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.
585 jobs at stake at threatened local prisons
JOLIET — The city once famous for its prisons will find itself once again in a fight to keep the tradition going. Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget-cutting plan includes closing the state’s juvenile prison in Joliet, which would eliminate 235 jobs. “It’s jobs. It’s work,” Joliet …
MorningStar ‘a blessing’ for homeless veterans
JOLIET — MorningStar Mission now has two houses for veterans and is working on a third. “I think this is beautiful,” said Lou Vargas, commander of the Illinois chapter of Disabled American Veterans, during a tour Tuesday of the newest house. It’s a simple, three-bedroom …
Then & Now: Joliet Dry Goods Co. to Rialto Square Theatre
Before the Jewel of Joliet, the northeast corner of Chicago and Van Buren streets in downtown Joliet was occupied by the Joliet Dry Good Co. In December 1901, Santa could visit the shop and pay just 12.5 cents for a bisque-headed doll to put beneath …
Wanted: Hamburglar
JOLIET TOWNSHIP — Robble, Robble. Now he’s got tools. A Will County Sheriff’s deputy was called Feb. 13 to the 100 block of Anderson Avenue after a garage was forced open. Four saws, a drill, an impact wrench and a screwdriver were stolen. The thief …
Penitents marked with ashes for Lent
Many Christians marked the beginning of 40 days of Lent at Ash Wednesday services. At St. Mary Immaculate Church in Plainfield, parishioners received ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of their mortality and a symbol of their repentance, sorrow and humility. The church held …
D204 substitute teacher fired in duct-taping incident
A veteran Indian Prairie School District 204 substitute teacher has been fired following a bizarre incident, in which the instructor allegedly ordered a student at Graham Elementary School in Naperville to bind his own wrists together with duct tape. The incident occurred sometime Thursday and …
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 …
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. …
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, …
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 …