10 Years For 5 Lives / That '70s Show / Jewel Suicide / Hammer Man Freed

Miss a day, miss a lot. Let's catch up on the week:

10 Years For 5 Lives: Trucker Gets Decade in Prison For Fatal Crash

A trucker who killed five people when he crashed his rig on Interstate 55 near Channahon was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday.

Survivor, 38 Special & Kansas to Play Taste of Joliet

Three bands that got their starts in the 1970s will be playing this summer’s Taste of Joliet.

Jewel Parking Lot Suicide Victim Was Stateville Prison Guard

A man who shot himself in the head while sitting in a car parked in the lot of the North Larkin Avenue Jewel had reportedly worked as a Stateville prison guard.

Hammer Man Who Bludgeoned Dead Wife’s Head Freed From Prison After Just 21 Months

The Romeoville Hammer Man was freed from prison Friday morning after serving just 21 months for bludgeoning his wife in the head and then hiding her rotting corpse for 10 days.

Wilmington Campground Chaos left Man Disabled and Disfigured: Lawsuit

A vicious attack on a golf cart driver at a Wilmington campground left the man disabled and disfigured, according to a lawsuit filed in Will County court.

Police Dog Gets Free Bulletproof Vest

Hutch, the Channahon Police Department’s dog, will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s

Joliet Birdman Nabbed For Possessing Child Pornography: Cops

A Joliet man with an abundance of birds and five dogs also owned some child pornography, police said.

Junkie Calculator Crooks Hit Target 3 Times in 8 Days: Cops

A Posen man and his lady friend got caught stealing pricey calculators from Target on their third thieving trip to the 191st Street megastore in eight days, police said.

Swastikas, Stars & a Penis Drawn on Tinley Park Sidewalk & Driveway

Swastikas, stars and a penis were drawn on a Tinley Park sidewalk and driveway last week.

Plea From Missing Woman’s Mom to ‘Call Me and Let Me Know She’s OK’

The mother of a woman missing since two days after Christmas said she just wants to know if her daughter is safe.

Wife & Stepson Of Slain KKK Guy Who Recruited In New Lenox Charged With His Murder: Report

The wife and stepson of a slain Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard who once sought new KKK members in New Lenox have reportedly been charged with his murder.

Jailed Man Charged With Stealing Energy Drinks From Meijer Charged With Stealing More Energy Drinks From Different Meijer

A man already in jail for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars worth of energy drinks from the Plainfield Meijer was also charged with stealing hundreds of dollars worth of energy drink — and chips — from the Homer Glen Meijer.

Imprisoned Convict Charged With Joliet Attempted Murder

A convict serving time in prison for hitting a cop in the face after refusing to leave the library was charged Friday with attempted murder.

7-Vehicle Pileup Shuts Down I-55

A seven-vehicle wreck on Interstate 55 shut down all southbound lanes and snarled rush hour traffic.

Tow Yard Terror! Plainfield Man Goes on Rampage After His Jeep Got Hooked: Cops

A Plainfield man terrorized a tow yard after he couldn’t get his Jeep back, police said.

Retired Cop Reportedly Paralyzed From Neck Down in Fall at Gun Range

A retired Chicago police officer was reportedly left paralyzed from the neck down after a fall on his way into the Will County Sheriff’s gun range.

Olivia Newton-John Coming to Rialto

Keeping with the 1970s theme instilled by the recently announced musical lineup at the Taste of Joliet, Olivia Newton-John will appear at the Rialto Square Theatre.

Worker Trapped Beneath Heavy Machinery and Killed: Coroner

A Joliet man got trapped beneath heavy machinery at his job Thursday and was killed, according to Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil’s office.

ALSO WORTH A LOOK

• Ex Slipped Into House, Hid in Bathroom, Ambushed Former Gal Pal and Parents: Cops
• Vicious Housebreakers Hold Man Captive in His Own Home: Cops
• Suicide in Jewel Parking Lot — Man Shot Himself in Head While Sitting in Car: Cops
• Joliet Central Chess Team Invited to National Tournament
• Husband-Killing Stabber Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charge
• Slap in the Mouth Over Popcorn Left in Microwave at Car Dealership: Cops
• Info ‘Trickling In’ About Missing Mom: Cops
• Joliet West to Perform 'Cinderella'
• KKK Leader Who Recruited in New Lenox Reportedly Found Dead in River
• Energy Drink-Stealing Duo Jailed: Cops

ALSO ON PATCH

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