Community Corner

šŸŒ± Patch AM: Joliet House Goes Up In Smoke As 4 Fire Stations Spend 1 Hour Getting Blaze Under Control

Spotted on the Joliet calendar: La Gringa ā€” Teatro en EspaƱol en Joliet

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Sunday August 30th Patch AM
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Hello Joliet! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Four Joliet fire stations rush to contain Plaza Drive house blaze
  • Judge's Bar eyes move to new Joliet location near Chicago Street
  • What Joliet's new police chief says his top priorities will be

Also on today's calendar: La Gringa — Teatro en Español en Joliet and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What gets bigger the more you take away? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Partly sunny with a shower, with a high of 87 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Monday: Times of sun and clouds, temps: high: 90, low: 70.
  • Tuesday: Humid with record-tying heat, with a high of 93 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Joliet House Goes Up In Smoke As 4 Fire Stations Spend 1 Hour Getting Blaze Under Control (patch.com) — Joliet firefighters spent about an hour battling a house fire on Plaza Drive late Saturday morning, containing flames that were shooting from the roof. Crews from four Joliet fire stations quickly deployed hoses and ventilation tactics to stop the blaze from spreading further inside the single-family home. The cause remains under investigation by the Joliet Fire Department.
   

2. Judge's Bar Leaving Downtown Joliet Location For New Building, City Council To Vote On Proposal (patch.com) — Joliet residents may soon see Judge's Bar move from its longtime Cass Street spot to a former religious building at 508 North Chicago Street, near St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the original Dairy Queen. The City Council will vote Tuesday on granting a Class B liquor license for the new location, following a liquor commission hearing where parking concerns were raised but the mayor signaled support.
   

3. Mayor D'Arcy Announces New Police Chief: 'I Am Proud To See Him Take This Next Step' (patch.com) — Joliet has officially named Robert Brown as its new chief of police after he served as interim chief and spent 26 years with the department. Mayor Terry D'Arcy praised Brown's long service to Joliet, while Brown pledged to support officers, maintain high standards, and strengthen trust with residents.
   

4. Joliet council member Moreno wants big moves on downtown bridges (shawlocal.com) — Joliet Council Member Juan Moreno is pressing state and federal transportation officials to replace the city's aging downtown drawbridges after an abrupt Ruby Street bridge closure snarled traffic. He's asking for a full explanation of the August 14 shutdown, better communication protocols, and a formal commitment to demolish and replace the nearly century-old bridges that he says are hurting residents' quality of life.
   

5. JJC Launches New Fire Academy (wjol.com) — Joliet Junior College is launching a new 16-week Fire Academy this fall, giving local students a direct path to Illinois firefighter certification and public safety careers. With only 20 seats per semester, the program responds to regional firefighter and paramedic shortages and strengthens JJC's partnerships with area fire departments. Applications for the spring 2027 cohort open Sept. 1.
   

📸 Around Joliet

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Obituary: David L. Stephenson —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
  • New Academic Advisors Appointed in Joliet District 86 —Joliet Public Schools District 86 Read on Patch
  • Back-to-school checklist: Don't forget your library card —Joliet Public Library Read on Patch
  • Joliet Public Library to host Fandom, Arts & Music Expo —Joliet Public Library Read on Patch
  • UPDATE SHES BEEN FOUND Found her in the grass area of I-80.
    Thank you all. Lost dog- Golden Chow Chow. Hello I lost my dog at 6 in the morning today when my parents took her out to the bathroom. They forgot… (Nextdoor Reedwood)
  • My wife found this dog dragging a leash.
    It had been out awhile and kind of unkempt. Found near the Jewel at Caton Farm and Rt 59. It is not chipped or tagged, but obviously someone's pet… (Nextdoor Grand Prairie)
  • On Time Staffing posted a job opening for Inventory Control Clerk in Joliet. Apply here.
  • Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate (Seasonal) in Joliet. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Joliet here.

Ok Joliet! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A hole (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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