Mural a growing tribute to victims
May 1 marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, set aside annually to remember and learn from the horrors of the Holocaust. Students at Minooka Junior High took the Holocaust unit to a deeper level last year and began a project that is turning into a school tradition.
More than words at stake in naming school
There has long been a rivalry between the towns of Channahon and Minooka. Certainly it postdates my move here almost 25 years ago. But for the most part, I have seen the rivalry as an amicable one.
'E-waste,' white goods collection Saturday
Following the huge success of the 2007 "E-Waste" Collections, the Grundy County Office of Solid Waste Management and Environtech Landfill are conducting a free Electronics & White Goods Collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Environtech Landfill, 1800 Ashley Road in Morris.
In just four months, the members of the newly-created Indian Athletes Leadership Club at Minooka High School has completed more than 1,000 community service hours.
Board recognizes winning students
The Channahon school board recently recognized several district students who scored firsts and seconds in a recent IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest.
Seventh-grader wins poster contest
Francesca Miller likes to draw. Her poster, based in part on her family's energy conservation efforts, landed her a first place finalist award in the Nicor Energy by Design poster contest.
Portlock receives scholarship
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded 73 nonprofit professionals with a Regent Scholarship to attend Institute for Organization Management (Institute), this summer. One recipient was Caroline Portlock, Executive Director of the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Residents protesting new Minooka H.S. name
Although Minooka High School District already named the new school, some residents may maintain a vigil at board meetings in hopes the
board will reconsider.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
MINOOKA H.S.: New principal named
The board of education unanimously approved the appointment of Dean Auriemma as principal of Minooka High School District’s new freshman/sophomore campus on U.S. 6 in Channahon.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Juniper's offers local, homemade fare
Michelle Dupuis, 24, has been in the restaurant biz since she was 16. Last November, she branched out on a business venture along with her dad, Jerome. If you ask Michelle who owns the business, she would say her dad. Dad says it is the other way around.
In all of my experiences being pulled over, which is more than I'd like to admit, I have done the same thing wrong every time -- I've leaned over and gotten my insurance card and license before the officer has even approached my car.
Turning trash to treasure
To make it a habit you have to start them early. This is the thought behind Grundy County's TRASHformations contest. If you teach kids about recycling early, the hope is it will become part of their everyday routine as adults.
Rotarians give tourists taste of Southwest
As a Rotarian, I get a lot of opportunities to participate in things. This past weekend was one of those times when the Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club hosted five business people from Italy on a group study exchange on Friday.
Bus routes joined
For the first time, Morris high school and grade school students will be sharing some bus routes next year.
Village budget in the black
For several years running, the village of Minooka has ended each budget year with all account balances in the black; this year is no different, said Village President Jason Briscoe.
Recycle bins in at county offices
When Solid Waste Technician Lisa Kneller started in Grundy County about a year ago her biggest goal was to increase the county's recyclers.
Student welder wins state honors
It's unusual for a junior to win at state technical school competitions, but Brian LaRou took top honors last month. LaRou, of the Grundy Area Vocational Center, took first place in welding at the Illinois Association of Skills USA competition in Springfield on April 19.
Tree honors Walnut Grove nurses
A tree was planted in Morris last week in memory of two nurses at Walnut Grove Village -- one who died this winter, and the other four years ago.
Golf outing to fund scholarships
The Wilmington School District's Foundation for Excellence organizers are swinging into their tenth annual golf outing.
Morris foundation gets new name
MORRIS -- Last week Julie Buck sat at her desk in the same foundation office, but she had to get used to answering the phone a little differently.
Shorewood Rotary: Helping the world through service
SHOREWOOD -- When you think of eradicating polio in the world, you may envision Jonas Salk and his vaccine. One thing you probably won't think about is the Rotary Club.
11TH DISTRICT: Ozinga puts name in concrete
The county chairmen of the 11th Congressional District today chose Marty Ozinga III to be the Republican nominee for Congress. He will face off in November against the Democratic nominee, state Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete.
I would make a terrible cop. I've discovered I am too easily tricked.
St. Mary Knights to host blood drive May 3
In the amount of time it takes to read this sentence, someone will be in need of a blood transfusion. It happens every three seconds. Amazingly, one donation can save as many as three lives.
New bank moving to Channahon
CHANNAHON -- Forward-thinking business leaders in Morris, Channahon and Minooka have finalized plans to open First Community Bank in Channahon to serve client needs in the growing communities south and west of Interstate 80.
MORRIS -- Music and art programs have been returned to Morris school district and now it is time to bring back technology.
Police: Slow down in residential areas
Did you know speeding in residential neighborhoods represents the single greatest complaint reported to police departments?
Learning to use force
The police may be the law, but that doesn't mean they can abuse their authority. April 8 was the fourth class of the Morris Citizen's Police Academy, but unfortunately due to another assignment I was given, I was absent from this class.
Rotary sponsoring Community Caring Day
If someone offered free blood pressure checks for mom and dad, free eye assessments for baby, a free photo ID kit and fingerprints for junior, information on senior services for grandma and grandpa and a free lunch--all in one place--it would certainly be a day to take advantage of.
The house was packed last Friday as New Community Christian Church in Morris showed off its new quarters in an open house.
MCHS reaccredited
Minooka High School has received renewal on its North Central Accreditation certificate for its ongoing effort to improve quality of education.
Village getting I-55 exposure
Although high school board members have chosen not to name their new school after Channahon, it will be prominently displayed elsewhere later this spring.
Physics class challenge aims for the sky
With an incredible burst of power and noise, a 4-foot-tall rocket launches from a field behind Gardner South Wilmington High School.
Students from the physics class at the school watched the rocket rise in the sky and followed it while shading their eyes.
Morris OKs duplex rezoning request
The indecision of the last couple of months over Shawn Hornsby's request to rezone seven lots for duplex homes in Oak Grove subdivision has come to an end. The city council approved Hornsby's, of 21st Century Developers, request to rezone seven lots from single family to duplex and the preliminary and final plats for Oak Grove.
A news and photo log of the mysterious disappearance of Stacy Peterson of Bolingbrook since the story first broke in October 2007. And the subsequent re-opening of the investigation into the death of Drew Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio.
