I was born in Joliet and grew up across from Nowell Park on the city's far east-side where I delivered the Joliet Herald-News. I attended grade school at St. Mary Nativity on Broadway. Some of my favorite memories growing up revolve around St, Joseph's Park where I played Little League baseball and had several Catholic Youth Organization basketball games.
At 13, our family moved to Plainfield. By the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. As a teen, I made a few extra bucks as a sports stringer for The Plainfield Enterprise taking photos and covering Plainfield's high school football and basketball games.
I graduated with a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University. I have had a strong passion and commitment for public service journalism ever since. I am grateful to have covered so many different places throughout the greater Midwest.
After college, I worked for The South Bend Tribune, the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Omaha World-Herald and on the statewide investigative team for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, where I was based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton for five years.
I'm thrilled to be joining Patch as the Joliet Editor at this point in time when more and more people prefer to access their local news through web-only platforms and mobile devices.
Joliet and Will County always seem to have a lot of news going on, and I will do my best to bring you a superior news product.
Wendy Gessing, 50, worked for several years in Crest Hill at the Pizzas By Marchelloni at the corner of North Raynor and Theodore Street.
Visitation for Christopher Sjostrom will begin at 11:15 a.m. Sunday at The Maple Funeral Home located at 24300 S. Ford Road in Channahon.
Illinois State Police were on the scene of Friday morning's crash involving a car and a semitrailer.
Joliet police chose to investigate one of their own, giving off-duty police officer Kristen Ames a single ticket for the crash.
Rasheen McCorkle is from Romeoville, but Joliet police raided his girlfriend's garage in the 1000 block of North Raynor, court records show.
On Feb. 6, 2024, Marquel Jimerson was on the ban list and Harrah's was not to permit Jimerson to enter the premises, the lawsuit said.
When asked if he would call Lt. John Allen's shooting an accidental discharge, Tomczak said a better explanation is "unexplained discharge."
Manuel Mejia Perez was gunned down on Monday afternoon in an alley on Joliet's southeast side. He was just 13 years old.
Christina Wolfer, age 37, spent three days in the Will County Jail last week. She has hired Joliet attorney Ted Hammel to represent her.
It was alleged that 46-year-old Alfredo Morales then entered his home and exited carrying a handgun, Joliet police advised.
Perez told Joliet's City Council the future site of the Sri Ayyappa Swami Temple is being built near his house near Drauden and Caton Farm.
Manuel Mejia Perez was gunned down on Monday afternoon in an alley on Joliet's southeast side. He was just 13 years old.
Wilmington's Police Department is led by police chief Adam Zink.
The next Joliet City Council meeting is June 3, 2025. The defendants request that the deadline be extended to June 5, 2025.
From live music and food fests to craft beer and fireworks, there's no shortage of entertainment to be had.
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Utilities Department at (815) 724-4220.
Joliet District 86 Superintendent Theresa Rouse received harsh criticism from the men at Local 150 for hiring a Maryland contractor.
Gould Brothers, a long-time Joliet company, was hired to demolish the empty Long John Silver restaurat. It was the last one left in Joliet.
Lou loved family and tradition, always counting down the days to the next big Lakota Family Reunion.
Further details will be provided once they become available, Joliet police said.
