Friday, December 5, 2025

The Park Forest Police Department is mourning the passing of a beloved officer.  Park Forest Detective Tim Jones has died, nearly a decade after he was shot in the line of duty in March 2016.  He was 24 years old at the time of the shooting, which left him paralyzed.  The department praised Jones, saying he “will always be an inspiration and a reminder of the power of strength, faith, and the unwavering support of family and loved ones.”

 Rensselaer Police report the arrest of a Kentland man after he allegedly tried to meet up wit a 13-year-old girl for sex. In a press release, Rensselaer Police say they were called November 23rd by a woman who said she was with a group of people that pose as underage children online in an attempt to capture child predators. The woman told police she’d been posing as a 13-year-old girl when she arranged to meet a man near a hotel at State Road 114 and I-65. When the man arrived the group confronted him and he allegedly left them and walked to a nearby convenience store. Rensselaer Police reportedly confronted 47-year-old Jeremy Wilkinson who was wanted on a pair of outstanding warrants. Wilkinson had allegedly sent texts to the supposed 13-year-old girl saying he wanted to meet her for sex. Wilkinson was arrested by Rensselaer Police on the warrants and charges of child solicitation. 

The Village of Orland Park is settling a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a former police officer.  Officials say the village settled with William Sanchez for 524-thousand-dollars.  Sanchez sued over allegations the village’s police department denied him a promotion to lieutenant due to racial discrimination.  He also claimed that he was fired for lodging a complaint about the matter in January 2024.  Sanchez served as an officer for nearly two decades.

A Will County Electoral Board is leaving a candidate off the Democratic primary ballot for Will County Board.  The electoral board voted this week that Homer Glen resident Kevin Koukol can’t appear on the ballot for incorrectly listing the wrong district on his statement of candidacy.  Three people filed to run in the March Democratic primary for District 4.  Following a complaint by one of the candidates, it was determined that Koukol wrote that he was running for District 6 on his candidacy papers.  

With the arrival of low temps and frosty wind chills, Riverside Nurse Practitioner Cheryl Hansen gave us some tips on what to look out for when it comes to hypothermia and frostbite.

Hansen added that people with heart disease risk factors should watch out for signs of a heart attack while shoveling snow.

The holiday season brings with it special issues when it comes to fire safety. Manteno Fire Protection District Fire Chief Richard Peterson reminds us there are certain things to remember when it comes to the safe use of candles during the holiday season.

Chief Peterson says you should always remember to keep open flames out of the reach of your children and pets. He suggests using alternatives to open flame candles like battery powered candles or candle warmers as an alternative to traditional open flame candles.

It’s less than three weeks until Christmas, and in a recent conversation with our Mike Tomano, Economic Alliance of Kankakee County President and CEO Angela Morrey reminded listeners to shop local this holiday season.

Morrey went on to say there are more than five-thousand retail jobs in Kankakee County. You can hear the entire conversation with Morrey Friday morning at 9:15 on WVLI.

Despite the frigid temperatures, over 100 people showed up to the Lion Wreathing at the Kankakee Public Library and tree lighting at the train depot in Downtown Kankakee. Mayor Chris Curtis says that crowd included people from inside and outside of the city.

Mayor Curtis also said the city has added more Christmas lights around the train depot this year along with other parts of the city as well.  

The Salvation Army of Kankakee received a surprise when a gold coin was donated to a Red Kettle at the Jewel-Osco in Kankakee Tuesday. According to a press release, the coin is a one-ounce fine gold eagle coin with a current market value of forty two hundred dollars. The donation of gold and silver coins to Salvation Army Red Kettles has been a nationwide tradition for several decades. Lieutenant LaToya Surrat says, “These gold coins will help us fund critical services that help people who need it most in Kankakee all year long.”

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias [[ ah-LEX-ee jih-NEW-lee-us ]] is warning rental car companies about swapping or altering license plates.  Giannoulias says companies can be held liable under Illinois law if their vehicles are used in this manner.  Also, a cease-and-desist letter was issued to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, informing them that all vehicles registered in Illinois must comply with state law.  The Secretary of State says after his office confirmed that ICE agents switched plates on a rented vehicle, the license plate was revoked immediately.

The 40th Annual Bradley Lighted Christmas Parade steps off tonight on Broadway in Bradley. Mayor Mike Watson talked about the parade with Mike Tomano on a recent episode of the Kankakee Valley Community Happenings podcast.

The Bradley Lighted Christmas Parade marches down Broadway starting at 6:30 tonight.

The Christmas Star returns this weekend at Olivet’s Strickler Planetarium. Planetarium Director Madeline Shepley.

The Christmas Star runs tonight at 6:30 and 7:30, the tomorrow at 4:30, six and 7:30. There’s more at Strickler.olivet.edu.

 Let’s find out now what’s going on around the area this weekend. With a look at a few of the event’s here’s Nicole Gavin, Executive Director of Visit Kankakee County.