Steve Buresh said several factors contributed to his decisions to close both Plainfield stores. Buresh is now making plans to support the community in new ways.

Joliet community members are encouraged to nominate individuals whose yards stand out for their care, creativity, and overall appearance.

The Sip & Thrift Sale, where every item is just $3 or less, will be Friday and Saturday, May 8-9, at Joliet West High School, 401 N. Larkin Ave.

This screening is part of a broader initiative led by SVVOR and ROE No. 47 to explore the potential development of a recovery high school in the Sauk Valley region, with a proposed location in Rock Falls.

Joliet’s new City Square hosted its first event Friday for what doubled as a concert and car show to mark the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66.

The Minooka QuikTrip features QT Kitchens, which offers a wide selection of grab-and-go items and made-to-order items.

The fourth annual Dement Town Music Fest will take place May 30 along Dixon's Depot Avenue, bringing a full day of live music, food, art and community to help kick off the summer season.

The Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy 4014 steam engine will be making whistle stops in Sterling and Rochelle on Tuesday, June 2, as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Take a look back at those first steps toward recovery after the March 10 tornado as part of the Daily Journal's "Stronger Together: Kankakee County's Recovery" special section.

The walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday at Drauden Point Middle School, 1911 Drauden Road, Plainfield. The cost is $10 day of the event or $5 if you register by Friday.

University of Illinois Extension leadership toured horticulture programs in Joliet and Bourbonnais, the final stop in a statewide visit to all 27 multi-county units.

The annual Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association spring cleanup in Joliet will include free doughnuts, a raffle and a free "thank you, lunch."

The free event will celebrate the diversity of the John F. Kennedy Middle School community, featuring student-organized displays that highlight cultures from around the world.

The honors are a school tradition dating back to 1958 which recognizes two high school seniors who “best represent the ideals of Joliet Township High School.”

While some movement in a school district’s teaching staff is normal, poor teacher retention hurts student achievement and hits districts financially, studies show. It can cost nearly $12,000 to recruit, hire and train a new teacher.

The group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m. at 351 Lily Cache Lane in Bolingbrook.

The projects across the 14th Congressional District, which would come under federal Community Project Funding initiative, range from protecting clean drinking water to strengthening access to quality health care in rural communities to public transit systems.

State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet hosted the first Green Escape Earth Day Event to promote environmental awareness in Joliet on Wednesday evening. Nearly a dozen groups were on hand and some were handing out free plants, seeds and juvenile trees.

Twenty-nine Earth Day projects were completed on as part of the United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties’ annual Day of Action on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

With trash bags and grabbers in hand, volunteers set out on 29 Earth Day projects on Wednesday as part of the United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties annual Day of Action.

OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center is teeing up a new tradition that brings together fun, fellowship and philanthropy with the inaugural OSF Saint Katharine Golf Outing on July 9 at Timber Creek Golf Course in Dixon.

Two Oswego favorite spring events will be coming back this weekend to Prairie Point Community Park.

Bloom Lockport and the Lockport Township Park District are the latest Will County community organizations to launch a community garden initiative, designed to help residents grow their own produce.

Non-hazardous bulk waste such as furniture, dried paint, tires (a maximum of four per residence), used motor oil, appliances, brushes, metal, tin, car batteries, bikes and electronics will be accepted.

The farmers market will be open from 7-11 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday from May through October.

United Way of Lee County invites community members, partners, and supporters to attend its upcoming Campaign Celebration Luncheon taking place at noon Tuesday, May 12, at the Post House Ballroom in Dixon.

Veteran reporter Bob Okon was honored by Northern Illinois University as the recipient of the school’s Illinois Journalist of the Year award

The Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce has announced that Friday, May 15, to Sunday, May 17, will be the dates for the annual Rock Falls/Sterling spring community garage sales.

Tickets are now on sale for IVT’s spring show “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Having trouble meeting new people and growing business connections? Get help at an April 22 speed networking session for Rock Falls businesses.

The Whiteside Forum will host Jessica Tosh on Sunday, April 26, to address the topic of homelessness. Tosh serves as a corps officer at the Salvation Army Sterling-Rock Falls Corps Community Center.

Dixon Public Works Director Matt Heckman received the Dixon Citizen of the Year Award Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Best of Dixon Awards.

The Northwest Illinois Film Office is proud to announce the return of its signature event, the sixth annual Northwest Illinois Film Festival: Shorts‑A‑Palooza 2026.

The event is happening from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the church, located at 409 Center Parkway in Yorkville.

Food Truck Mondays, a monthly event featuring regional food trucks in downtown Amboy, kicks off from 4-8 p.m. Monday in the Depot Museum parking lot in downtown Amboy.

The flexible Healthy Endeavors for Kids curriculum, available in English and Spanish, requires no clinical background to deliver, making it accessible for teachers, youth leaders and community staff, Endeavor said.

Performing Arts Guild will present "Paint Your Wagon" from April 17-19 and 24-26 at the Allure of Pinecrest Grove Community Theatre in Mt. Morris. Friday and Saturday show times will be 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Under Illinois law, citizens aged 55 and older may qualify for a multi-year auto insurance discount by completing the course.

Morrison Community Hospital has announced that Dr. David Powers joined the hospital April 1.

On April 19, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Joliet will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its broadcast ministry

The winner of the inaugural Joliet Chamber Premier Raffle will win two monthly prizes.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The annual gathering honors children whose lives are impacted by abuse and neglect. It also celebrates the CASA Kendall advocates

Sterling Main Street is excited to kick off a season of engines, entertainment and community connection with the Sterling Main Street Car Show on Sunday, May 3, at the Sterling Marketplace in the city’s downtown.

The Sons of The American Legion breakfast consists of biscuits and gravy, pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, tomato juice, orange juice, milk, coffee, and an omelet station.

This 60-minute program is designed to help parents better understand teen driving risks and learn practical strategies to support and guide new drivers.

Guest speaker will be Eileen Detra, who teaches fitness classes, Silver Fit and Sit to be Fit, at Prophetstown Park District.

The Friends of the Lanark Public Library and the St. Wendelin Altar & Rosary Society will be hosting guest speaker and quilter Deb Lindahl and her “Stitching Together Memories” presentation at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 6.

The community with the greatest percentage of its population pleding to conserve water will receive a trophy at a future board meeting.

Restaurants that want to survive in 2026 need plenty of “creativity and adaptability,” according to the National Restaurant Association.

Residents can place household refuse, bulk items (i.e., chairs, couches, and mattresses), and white goods (i.e., refrigerators, washers, dryers, and water heaters) at the curb on their regular pickup day.