Free Press Advocate

Diocese of Joliet announces closings, mergers for area Catholic churches

Published by admin on Tue, 02/18/2025 - 4:15pm

Bishop Ronald Hicks, head of the Diocese of Joliet, announced Thursday the closing of four churches–including two in our area. The closures are part of the third phase of the diocese’s restructuring.
St. Lawrence O’Toole Chapel in Essex and St. Patrick in Manhattan, will close effective July 1. St. Patrick will be merged into St. Joseph of Manhattan.
In December 2024, Hicks expressed his thoughts and concerns about the restructuring.
“I wish the reality and data were different,” Hicks said. “I wish we didn’t have to make a lot of these hard decisions.”

New office suites for rent on Water Street

Published by admin on Tue, 02/11/2025 - 4:34pm

Business will soon be booming at 116 and 118 S. Water Street, Wilmington.
On Thursday, property owners and brothers Nick and Zack Martinez were hard at work, putting finishing touches on what soon will be the Water Street Professional Center.
Already, interest in the property is high, with potential renters dropping by with questions several times a week.

Scrap metal now being accepted during electronics drop-offs

Published by admin on Tue, 02/04/2025 - 3:56pm

Don’t throw that old frying pan in the trash bin. Now you can take it and other scrap metal items to a Will County electronics waste recycling drop-off held the second Thursday of the month in the parking lot of the city hall, 1165 S. Water St., Wilmington.
The Will County Electronics Collections is now accepting small scrap metal items including cookie sheets, pots and pans, car jacks, chains, keys, copper pipe and fittings, nuts, bolts, screws, hand tools like screw drivers and pry bars, metal door knobs, silverware, tool boxes, watches, wire hangers, wire screens and more.

Siphoning warm water to combat flooding has been a 37-year project

Published by admin on Wed, 01/29/2025 - 2:27pm

When winter rears its bitter head, residents living near the Kankakee River tend to get a wee bit nervous, and for a good reason.
On Jan. 26, 2024, the river crested to 15.6 feet on Jan. 26, 2024, those living near the river may be a tad nervous this winter. This is especially true after Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) issued a warning about the possibility of ice jams on the Kankakee River.

WHS gym dedicated to past wrestling coach Rob Murphy

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2025 - 4:16pm

Wilmington High School honored retired wrestling coach Rob Murphy on Thursday with a ceremony to rename the high school gymnasium in his honor.
The event took place at the start of an ICE Conference quad meet celebrating Murphy's remarkable career spanning nearly three decades at WHS.
Murphy, who retired in 2022, left an indelible mark on the school and the sport.

City may need a more dependable water source

Published by admin on Tue, 01/14/2025 - 4:16pm

James Gretencord, director of public works, approached the council last week to relay issues about a broken water main, sediment build up on water intake filters and the possibility of the water supply not meeting the need of the city.
Gretencord reported that a water main has broken three times in December.
Meanwhile, emergency maintenance was required to clear the river intake pipes of debris on Dec. 31. The situation was deemed critical.

Wilmington native awarded Medal of Valor

Published by admin on Fri, 01/10/2025 - 9:32am

“The heavily armed shooter had already killed six people, including three nine-year-old students. The officers rushed to the scene, and as they arrived the shooter opened fire on them.”
-White House Briefing
Jan. 3, 2025

2024 was a ‘giant’ year for Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 2:31pm

The year 2024 was, quite literally, a giant one in the city of Wilmington. From the auctioning of Wilmington’s Gemini Giant, to the giant’s return in November––as well as the coming of a Local 150 100,000 square foot training center and a 1.65 million square foot Amazon Warehouse––2024 proved to be a year of growth including the start of a new fuel stop.
Here are some of the highlights published in the Free Press Advocate during 2024.
January
Record flooding

Construction of Love's Travel Center up to speed

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 1:53pm

Passersby have noticed progress being made on the Love’s Travel Center being built in Wilmington.
Wilmington mayor Ben Dietz confirmed that a Hardee’s will be part of the Love’s Travel Center.
“Yes, Hardee’s was the selected food vendor for this location and was included in the approval process,” he said.

Wilmington man arrested in fatal crash with State Trooper

Published by admin on Tue, 12/24/2024 - 11:52am

Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 arrested 69-year-old John Fleet of Wilmington, IL for Scott's Law (Class 4 Felony) after a fatal crash Monday night involving Trooper Clay M. Carns.