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.
More than five years have passed since Denise O'Malley, then 55, shot the retired Cook County officer inside their home on Brighton Lane.
On November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas opened his very first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio at 257 E. Broad St.
Joliet resident Timothy Thurmond, now 49, was arrested by Joliet police and booked into Will County Jail's more than two years ago.
Jeremy Boshears, now 40, has lived in Will County's Jail for eight entire years. At his 2022 trial, he testified Katie Kearns shot herself.
For several years, USF President Arvid Johnson and Bernie the St. Bernard helped light the Christmas tree to kick off Joliet's parade.
Judon Lindsey comes from the 300 block of North Broadway Street. Now he's being detained in the Will County Jail under the SAFE-T-Act.
Crews performed quick attack on the garage and limited the fire spread to the structure.
Joliet Police Detective Peter Ranstead, now 42, had remained on administrative leave following his arrest.
Ryan Obot, age 39, was processed at the Joliet Police Department and transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
James Zelinski was processed at the Joliet Police Department and then transferred to the Kendall County Jail.
The children were released to the care of their grandmother, Joliet police revealed.
Joe's Hot Dogs owner Jill Huffstutler, granddaughter of founder Joseph LaRose, is now exploring the sale of the legendary local landmark.
While Joliet may be the fourth largest city in Illinois, neighboring Shorewood now has considerably more new development underway.
Located in Rockdale, Roc City is one of the only bars in Illinois dishing up a delicious Thanksgiving roll, but only in November.
David Hietschold, formerly of Morris and the 4200 block of Bargo Lane, wasn't present at his trial or sentencing hearing, prosecutors said.
A man and a female juvenile in the home at the time of the shooting were uninjured in the early morning shooting.
It's been a couple of years since Joliet's Brandon Kelly moved his Undisputed Nutrition store next to his Joliet gym on Essington Road.
David Gregory of Shorewood has been the subject of numerous arrests by Joliet and Shorewood police in recent years.
Robert Diaz, 35, visited the Walmart store on West Jefferson Street this week and took merchandise without paying, police say.
In September 2019, Jessy and her husband Ruben Rodriguez opened Sunshine Mexican Cafe, 406 N. Scott St.
