Free Press Advocate

Voters re-elect Dietz as mayor

Published by admin on Wed, 04/02/2025 - 8:02am

Wilmington voters reaffirmed their belief in Mayor Ben Dietz, giving the incumbent a 591-303 win over former building inspector Jayson Walinski and former mayor Roy Strong who had 186 votes.

While vote totals are unofficial until being canvassed in two weeks, Dietz has a solid lead with 55%.

For 1st Ward Alderman, J. Marty Orr leads incumbent Ryan Jeffires 133-106. In the 2nd Ward, Ryan Knight will likely keep his seat against Robert "Bob" Thomas. And in the 4th Ward, current alderman Tom Smith leads Jacob Ragan 125-87

Ordinance would require everyone to carry loaf of bread

Published by admin on Tue, 04/01/2025 - 3:40pm

The Wilmington City Council is considering an ordinance that would require anyone who lives within the city to carry a loaf of bread in their car.

The reason is due to the large flock of domestic geese that continues to block Bridge Street which is a major highway that runs through town. The geese, who have made the north and south island parks their home, frequently stop traffic when they waddle from one side of the Historic Route 66 to the other.

The problem is they are slow to cross and fearless of cars as they associate vehicles with easy food.

Mayoral candidates make final plea to a full house

Published by admin on Tue, 03/25/2025 - 3:35pm

With one week to go in the election to decide who will serve as Wilmington’s mayor the next four years, the three candidates—incumbent Ben Dietz, former mayor Roy Strong and former building inspector Jayson Walinski—took the stage at Tuffy’s Lounge for a public forum on Monday.
Over the course of one hour, 20 minutes they took turns answering 25 questions presented by moderator Ralph “Tuffy” Stevens.

Excitement building over ‘Spring into Wilmington’ event

Published by admin on Tue, 03/18/2025 - 4:00pm

Buying a $20 passport and doing a little leg work could result in someone winning a new vehicle.
It’s just one of the prizes listed in the “Spring Into Wilmington” event, sponsored by the Wilmington Rotary Club, going on now through March 30.
Excitement is growing since Saturday when the shop Wilmington challenge kicked off with three ways to win:
1. Purchase a Passport: $20 entry for a chance to win three amazing prizes.

Candidates share why they want your vote

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 11:31am

There was plenty of common ground between candidates running for city council or for mayor Monday night during a forum that ended up being quite tame.
Pretty much all of them said they were running because they care about the community, wanting to see more commercial and residential development, better roads and sidewalks, and improvement of parks; words heard four and even eight years ago during the previous two elections.

Midewin loses 12 staffers, USDA blames Biden administration

Published by admin on Tue, 02/25/2025 - 3:41pm

In January, the Trump administration announced plans to downsize federal agencies. Though the news was disquieting, few believed this small pocket of Will County would be affected.
The very idea that federal downsizing would hit Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie never occur to those who worked there.
Thus, it was all the more shocking when between Feb. 14 and 18 the Sword of Damocles came down on Midewin. By that time, the U.S. Forest Service had fired 3,400 employees. The 12 from Midewin were the latest casualties. The entire educational staff was decimated.

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.