Bourbonnais

As Sunday’s grand parade finished rolling down South Main Street, the village of Bourbonnais and dozens of dedicated volunteers basked in a bittersweet moment. The 50th anniversary celebration of the Friendship Festival had come to an end.

Visitors came from near and far to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival over the June 27-29, 2025 weekend. Check out today's edition of the Daily Journal for the story.

New water rates for Aqua Illinois take effect this coming week.

Warren and Sharon (Hamann) Ouwenga were married on, March 6, 1965, at St. Peters United Church in Grant Park, with the Rev. Wallace W. Reifsteck officiating.

Mary Kay Beedle, longtime volunteer for the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival and its first princess in 1975, is set to be the grand marshal for Sunday's parade during the 50th annual celebration.

The long-vacant Cigna property in Bourbonnais has been gifted to Riverside Healthcare.

Details of the facilities renovations and addition planned for Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School were explored Tuesday during an operations committee meeting.

Festivalgoers enjoyed the second night of the 50th anniversary of the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The festivities continue through Sunday at Bourbonnais' community campus, The Grove.

A cyclist was critically injured when they collided with a vehicle in Bourbonnais on Wednesday.

im McThenia was selected to fill the vacant seat on the Bourbonnais Township Park DIstrict Board of Commissioners during Monday’s meeting.

Tim McThenia was selected to fill the vacant seat on the Bourbonnais Township Park District Board of Commissioners during Monday’s meeting.

Children excitedly explored the Exploration Station's new Storybook Forest exhibit on Monday, June 23, 2025, during its grand opening event.

Bourbonnais Police officers will be passed the Flame of Hope and begin their role as “Guardians of the Flame” on Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m. for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. The run makes its way south on Route 45 from Manteno.

Bourbonnais Township Park District held the grand opening for its Storybook Forest.

The area’s second Culver's location opened June 16 and is directly north of the Aldi grocery store along Bradley Boulevard, across the street from the Bradley Commons Shopping Center at 2061 N St Rt 50.

It’s time again for the Friendship Festival. The annual five-day celebration kickoffs Wednesday on the grounds of The Grove at Robert Goselin Park.

The Exploration Station invites families and children of all ages to step into a world of wonder as it opens its most ambitious and enchanting exhibit in three decades — Storybook Forest — which will be unveiled on Monday during a free open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bourbonnais village clerk Brian Simeur stepped down after serving in that capacity for 30 years.

Despite heavy rains passing through the area Wednesday afternoon, officers from across the county completed the Kankakee County leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois.

The village’s first gaming cafe received final approval of the Bourbonnais board of trustees during their meeting Monday.

During Monday’s meeting, Bourbonnais trustees approved a 1% grocery tax.

Time wasn’t so kind to the items found in the time capsule buried during Bourbonnais’ centennial celebration back in the summer of 1975.

The 30th annual Relay For Life in Kankakee County once again celebrated cancer survivors, remembered loved ones lost to cancer and raised over $134,000 in funds so far to help improve the lives of those affected by cancer.

During an initial hearing presided over by Circuit Judge Lindsay Parkhurst on Monday, Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe asked for 30 days for the two sides to work on a settlement.

Approximately 500 people flooded the sidewalks of the Kankakee County Courthouse for a ‘No Kings’ rally in Kankakee on Saturday, June 14, 2025, to protest actions by President Donald Trump.

Approximately 500 people flooded the sidewalks of the Kankakee County Courthouse for a ‘No Kings’ rally in Kankakee on Saturday, June 14, 2025, to protest actions by President Donald Trump. For the story, see Monday's edition of the Daily Journal.

Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe filed a complaint in circuit court Wednesday regarding Prime Healthcare testimony before a state agency regarding the sale of St. Mary’s Hospital.

Keith Schweigert absorbed all he could from baseball coaches he played for and coached with, passing it down to his son Brad, the Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball coach. After Keith's recent cancer diagnosis, some of those lessons are being applied off the field.

Bob Steinke is the chairman of the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival. He has been since 2006.

Aqua Illinois said the drinking water advisory issued June 7, for infants under the age of 6, has been lifted.

McColly Bennett Real Estate in Bourbonnais recently announced its top producers for April in its residential division.

Unplug & Play is designed to encourage residents of all ages to enjoy an electronics-free afternoon outdoors at The Grove.

Riverside Healthcare has expanded imaging technology at its Bourbonnais campus which also allows for faster results and shorter wait times.

Bourbonnais is like many other communities in Illinois who are dealing with the state phasing out the annual grocery tax funds on Jan. 1, 2026.

From the first Cruis'n the Square in downtown Kankakee to a Frank Lloyd Wright birthday party, check out these 5 things to do in Kankakee County this weekend.

Behind Lydia Hammond's second shutout of the postseason, Bradley-Bourbonnais defeated Minooka 4-0 in the Class 4A Normal Community West Sectional semifinals Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Two proposed ordinances regarding a proposed gaming cafe each had the first of two readings Monday during the Bourbonnais board meeting.

Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Jason Sztuba explained a change in the route for this year’s Friendship Festival Grand Parade.

Lunchtime Bites and Beats returns for its second year at The Grove at Robert Goselin Memorial Park in Bourbonnais.

While the Patriot Hyundai has established its temporary home in Bourbonnais, construction of its new home in Bradley should begin later this year.

Bourbonnais officials will hear the first reads for two ordinances that deal with a grocery tax and sales tax at Monday’s board meeting.

The architects behind the planning of a $70 million facility overhaul at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School are taking extra time to work out the building’s schematic design.

A proposed gaming cafe in Bourbonnais moved a step closer to approval Wednesday.

From the Sunset Stroll to the Strawberry Jazz Fest, check out these 5 things to do in Kankakee County this weekend.

Five years after his death, the ashes of John Kirnbauer, a man of which little is known, are set to be placed in the Kankakee Memorial Gardens' Field of Honor during a Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery.

It took just over seven minutes to read the 137 names of veterans that have died during the past year with ties to Kankakee County.

Midland Wealth Management, a division of Midland States Bank, recently announced that Peter Riskind has joined as Senior Wealth Advisor, based in Midland’s Chicago office and serving clients throughout Chicagoland and across the country.

A recent complaint by residents about people operating off-terrain vehicles and motorcycles off road near their homes led Bourbonnais trustees to amend its disorderly conduct and noise ordinance at the May 19 meeting.

This year’s Memorial Day Weekend won’t feel much like the unofficial start of summer.

Charging that Prime Healthcare breached its promise when it presented its case to acquire Ascension hospitals in Illinois, including St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe is asking for a state investigation.