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.
Ofelia stated that the defendant has been living at the residence for approximately 9 years and considers him to be roommates.
Officers provided medical assistance until Joliet Fire Department paramedics arrived.
The business would be situated within an existing mixed-use building that has hosted comparable retail businesses over the years.
The applicant has submitted a site plan to the Department of Public Works showing the operation of the proposed drive thru.
Judge Blakey also ordered Ryan Zelek to pay a total of $54,298 in restitution.
In 2018, Michael Kazecki left Joliet to reside at his mother's home in Oak Lawn, and he has remained free and living there ever since.
We appreciate your patience and ask that you drive slowly and cautiously through any construction zone.
Joliet has faced some civil lawsuits in recent years in regard to danger spots where sidewalks or streets are broken or left unrepaired.
Carl Ellis grabbed the child's mother and forced her to the ground and then he struck her, which caused her to black out.
The iconic Merichka's restaurant at 604 Theodore St. remains closed this week, and people are complaining they need a generator.
The female sustained a gunshot wound to the groin, while the male sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm.
Donald Shiner was unresponsive in the southbound lanes, his Trek bicycle badly damaged from an apparent traffic crash with a motor vehicle.
Che Jones, 35, made his first appearance at the Will County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. He was in Courtroom 202 of Judge DeWilkins.
Forest Preserve police officers made the grim discovery on Saturday night after it was dark outside.
Under the old cash bail system, one of Will County's Republican judges, Ben Braun, gave the first-degree murder defendant a lower bail.
In the spring of 2025, Chuck Bretz took over as defense counsel after Michael Trinka could not get along with his Chicago law firm.
A Bolingbrook resident, 19-year-old Alexander Forest refused to leave and began walking further into the store, Joliet police said.
The driver initially declined to identify himself and indicated that he did not require police assistance.
The construction materials taken during the two thefts are believed to have a combined estimated value of approximately $7,000.
He was also found to have active warrants from Morton Grove for DUI and Cook County for resisting a peace officer.
