I was born in Joliet and grew up across from Nowell Park on the city's far east-side where I delivered the Joliet Herald-News. I attended grade school at St. Mary Nativity on Broadway. Some of my favorite memories growing up revolve around St, Joseph's Park where I played Little League baseball and had several Catholic Youth Organization basketball games.
At 13, our family moved to Plainfield. By the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. As a teen, I made a few extra bucks as a sports stringer for The Plainfield Enterprise taking photos and covering Plainfield's high school football and basketball games.
I graduated with a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University. I have had a strong passion and commitment for public service journalism ever since. I am grateful to have covered so many different places throughout the greater Midwest.
After college, I worked for The South Bend Tribune, the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Omaha World-Herald and on the statewide investigative team for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, where I was based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton for five years.
I'm thrilled to be joining Patch as the Joliet Editor at this point in time when more and more people prefer to access their local news through web-only platforms and mobile devices.
Joliet and Will County always seem to have a lot of news going on, and I will do my best to bring you a superior news product.
Friday marked Jesse Barfield Day at the Joliet Slammers Stadium and Mayor Terry D'Arcy was on hand to honor Joliet's former MLB star.
Raul Martinez, 37, of Wilmington's South Main Street, lost his pretrial detention hearing before Will County Judge Don DeWilkins this week.
Chevy and Jayni will share their behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes about the making of this beloved movie.
Leanna Carpenter became violent and launched into a tirade during an argument with the man, police alleged.
Patch Editor John Ferak reached out to Joliet Park District Executive Director Brad Staab seeking answers on a number of key topics.
Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins has imposed the SAFE-T Act dangerousness standard to keep Joliet 48-year-old Kimberly Linsey jailed.
Mireya Vazquez was processed and released with a Notice to Appear in court. The Subaru was towed from the scene.
It's hard to keep track of how many times the Joliet police force and the Will County Sheriff's has arrested Michael Richter.
For the second straight month, the 18-year-old finds himself in Will County's Jail, but this time, prosecutors are keeping him there.
"I will not stay silent while our state senator treats taxpayer money as a political gift to groups that undermine the police," Reilly said.
The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed the first-degree murder charges on Wednesday for the Plainfield area crime.
After starting his criminal career and sexually assaulting a teenager in Will County in the 1990s, he moved to Florida, prosecutors said.
Richard Ruby, 44, of Joliet was kept in the Will County Jail last week following his arrest by the Will County Sheriff's Office.
There are two cases in recent years that resulted in first-degree murder charges for Joliet people accused of using their cars as weapons.
Joliet Patch wrote about Roberto Huizar, 53, in January when he didn't show up for court. Law enforcement is still trying to find him.
With a bachelor's in criminal justice from University of Dayton, he spent the past two years as campus monitor for Plainfield District 202.
The village said Chief Jason Barten began his career with the Shorewood Police Department in 1999.
Grundy County Sheriff's Office responded to assist the Illinois State Police with a vehicle wanted in connection with an aggravated fleeing.
Surveillance video showed the suspect confronting the victim before striking him multiple times in the face without provocation.
Joliet police made the arrest of the 67-year-old over the weekend.
