By Karen Haave Raymond D. Lynch makes turning 100 look easy. The secret to reaching centenarian status, he says, is simple: “I always looked forward to the next 100 years!” But according to a family member, “He loves McDonald’s cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes. He must consider them health foods, since they’ve helped him make it […]
Author Archives: Andrea Arens
Posted inKankakee
Funding For Kankakee Homeless Shelter Still Up In Air
By Stephen Nelson At their February 6 meeting, during a disbursement vote, the Kankakee City Council decided to remove $100,000 in ARPA money, given to the city for various uses following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, from consideration. The reasons given by those rejecting a request for the funds from Fortitude Outreach, which operates […]
Posted inPeotone, Prep Sports Manteno Vedette, Vedette Prep Sports, Vedette Schools
Fantastic Season Comes to an End With a Nail Biting Loss for the Devils
By Dennis Bowling Peotone’s exceptional junior Madison Schroeder played the best game of her career, however, time just ran out for the Blue Devils on February 23, as Fieldcrest eliminated Peotone, 68-64, in three very exciting overtime sessions, to win the Class 2A title game of the Coal City Sectional in Coal City. Although Peotone’s […]
Posted inPrep Sports Manteno Vedette, Vedette Prep Sports
Panthers’ Season Ends With Loss to Pontiac
By Dennis Bowling Manteno Coach Zack Myers would have liked to have pulled off a major upset with No. 1 seeded Pontiac, although it was not to be. At halftime, the Panthers were trailing the Indians by a 43-27 count, and they were not able to regroup after that. Yet, the future looks extremely bright […]
Posted inPrep Sports Manteno Vedette, Vedette Prep Sports, Vedette Schools
Peotone Beat #4 Beecher in Exciting Game
By Dennis Bowling Beecher Coach Tyler Shireman’s Bobcats are the best team in the River Valley Conference, while winning an impressive 25 games. The Bobcat defense, though, did not have an answer on how to contain the phenomenal Blue Devil senior Miles Heflin on February 22. Heflin, with exceptional accuracy, drained a pair of game […]
Posted inPeotone, Prep Sports Manteno Vedette, Vedette Prep Sports, Vedette Schools
Editorial: Thank you Peotone Girls Basketball Team
By Andrea Arens I don’t profess to be a sports person. My kid was always involved in fine arts. My dad was into cars. I usually watch sports with my husband who gives me the play by play and lets me know what calls the refs are making. This year, that all changed. I read […]
Posted inBeecher, Vedette Schools
Beecher 200-U Tries Again
By Jeff Vorva Let’s try it again. The Beecher District 200-U referendum, to try to ease a $1 million shortfall, failed last June and Superintendent Jack Gaham is in the process of making painful cut recommendations to the board. He is ready to make even more suggestions – including only allowing eighth grade teams at […]
Posted inPeotone, Prep Sports Manteno Vedette, Vedette Prep Sports, Vedette Schools
Peotone Routs St. Joseph Ogden, 55-39, in 2nd Semifinal
By Dennis Bowling Peotone senior Madyson Kibelkis is without a doubt, one of the top players in Class 2A girls basketball circles. Kibelkis, who employs that good old fashion midwestern work ethic, joined a very select group on February 21. Kibelkis scored her fourth point, the first of two free throws, which put her into […]
Posted inKankakee, Manteno Vedette New News, Vedette New News
Kankakee County Board Meeting Erupts In War Of Words
By Stephen Nelson A war of words erupted twice during the February 14 Kankakee County Board meeting between member Robert Ellington Snipes (District 18) and Board Chairman Andy Wheeler. The first was during a vote on appointments to the I-KAN Joint Education Committee. Snipes began by requiring the re-appointments, of Tinker Parker and Ray Fairfield […]
Posted inBeecher, Will County
Pheasant Lakes Expansion Met with Opposition
By Karen Haave A special use permit and map amendment that would have allowed expansion of a Beecher mobile home park was taken off the agenda for a Will County Board vote last week. The proposal, if approved, would have added 417 homesites to Pheasant Lake Estates, an all-age manufactured home community on 155 acres, […]