Bob Okon

4 days ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Okon

It’s been a sweet season for the Belmont Little League, the Joliet youth baseball organization formed in the years after World War II by veterans who came back to their hometown. Bolstered by community support, Belmont has new outfield fences for its Little League park, a ball field of their own for T-ball players, and more improvements in the works. The Belmont Little League was formed in 1951, which gives it a 74-year history in Joliet.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Okon

Neighbors learned more about the Joliet Catholic Academy stadium plan this week, although nothing was official. A meeting organized by neighbors Wednesday night drew more than 30 people, including three Joliet City Council members and a member of the JCA board of directors. No one from JCA was there in an official capacity, but those who came offered some insight into what has been a controversial start for the city approval process for the project.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Okon

The state hospital board meets Monday in Bolingbrook, but recent cuts at local hospital are not on its agenda. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board meets at 9 a.m. Monday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The location of the meeting gives local residents a convenient opportunity to comment on Prime Healthcare’s recent decisions to stop pediatric services at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and obstetrics services at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Okon

Taste of Joliet starts Friday, and vendors were setting up Thursday for the biggest summer festival in the city. For Octavio Del Rio, owner of Backyard BBQ in Joliet, it’s his first appearance at Taste of Joliet and a benchmark moment for him. “I’m from Joliet, and I’ve been coming to Taste of Joliet since I was a kid,” Del Rio said.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Okon

The city of Joliet announced Wednesday that Jayne Berhnard has been promoted to the position of planning director. Berhnard, a planner employed by the city since 2017, has taken on many of the duties of planning director since James Torri retired from the position in November. She is a Joliet-area native, who grew up in Jackson Township and graduated from Joliet Central High School. She now lives in the Cathedral Area neighborhood of Joliet.