Jeff Bonty

Illinois

Court Reporter at Kankakee Daily Journal

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Articles

It’s time to uplug and play at Bourbonnais’ Grove

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS — We are really in tune with our cellphones and other electronic visual gadgets. It is hard not to see a person walking down the street engrossed in their device. The same can be said at sporting events, people eating at restaurants and even when sitting on a bench at a pub lice park. It got Bourbonnais Marketing and Community Engagement Lindy Case thinking. What can you do to at least get these people to unplug, if only for a couple of hours?
Grocery tax helps Bourbonnais fund village services

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS – Like many other communities in Illinois, Bourbonnais is dealing with the state phasing out the annual grocery tax funds on Jan. 1, 2026. State legislators approved Gov. JB Pritzker’s request to eliminate the 1% grocery tax. In August 2024, Pritzker signed legislation eliminating the tax. The state became the 38th to get rid of its grocery tax.
Gaming cafe ordinance gets first reading

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS – Two proposed ordinances regarding a planned gaming cafe each had the first of two readings Monday during the Bourbonnais Village Board meeting. Amanda Irps is proposing Mandi’s Gaming Cafe at 390 N. Convent St. It is accessible via Wilburn Court, which dead ends after about 100 yards. It is the first request to operate a gaming cafe in the village, officials said. One of the proposed ordinances allows for a special use permit allowing for the gaming cafe.
Friendship Festival parade route gets tweaked

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS – Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Jason Sztuba explained a change in the route for this year’s Friendship Festival Grand Parade. The announcement came during Monday’s Bourbonnais Board of Trustees meeting. The family-friendly festival runs from June 25 to 29. The parade, celebrating the festival’s 50th anniversary, kicks off at 1 p.m. June 29.
Bourbonnais trustees discuss sales tax

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS - Bourbonnais officials will hear the first reads for two ordinances that deal with a grocery tax and sales tax at Monday’s board meeting. While the state of Illinois is phasing out its 1% grocery tax that it disbursed to local municipalities, legislators put wording in the bill that allows non-home rule municipalities to approve ordinances to implement their own 1% grocery tax.
Proposed gaming cafe up for vote by Bourbonnais trustees

4 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS — A proposed gaming cafe in Bourbonnais moved a step closer to approval Wednesday. The village’s Economic and Community Development Committee voted 4-0 to send the proposed ordinance asking for a special use permit for the gaming cafe to the board. Trustees Randy King, Jack Littrell, Angie Serafini and Craig Toepfer voted for advancing the matter to the board of trustees. Trustees Bruce Greenlee and Rick Fischer were not at Wednesday’s meeting.
Some off-road vehicle operations in Bourbonnais residential areas now considered nuisance

1 month ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS – Bourbonnais officials are attempting to put the brakes on off-road vehicles. A recent complaint by residents about people operating all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles off road near their homes led Bourbonnais trustees to amend its disorderly conduct and noise ordinance at the May 19 meeting. Mayor Jeff Keast said some residents have voiced concerns regarding some noise issues occurring in the Briarcliff area.
Bourbonnais trustees tab Sztuba interim police chief

1 month ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS - Bourbonnais village trustees approved naming Bourbonnais Police Commander Jason Sztuba the interim police chief at Monday’s board meeting. The 49-year-old Sztuba replaces Deputy Chief Dave Anderson, who held the interim chief job since Chief Jim Phelps retired last year. Anderson retired May 16 after serving with the department for 31 years. Mayor Jeff Keast and the trustees honored Anderson with a proclamation during Monday’s meeting.
Toepfer takes trustee seat on Bourbonnais board

1 month ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BOURBONNAIS - The vacancy on the Bourbonnais Village Board has been filled and the newest trustee is Craig Toepfer. Toepfer took the oath of office during Monday night’s board meeting. Toepfer fills the vacancy left when Jeff Keast was sworn in May 5 as mayor. Keast was a trustee for 10 years prior to being elected mayor this past month. Keast appointed Toepfer to the board to serve the final two years of his term.
Sunday fire in Bradley claims man’s life

1 month ago | shawlocal.com | Jeff Bonty

BRADLEY — A 72-year-old Bradley man died as a result of injuries he sustained Sunday in a structure fire. Eldon C. Childs, 72, was pronounced dead at Riverside Medical Center at 12:03 p.m., Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner said. Bradley Fire Chief Jim Spoon said firefighters responded to a call of a house fire at approximately 10:58 a.m. in the 400 block of North Washington Avenue. The cause of the fire was determined to be improperly disposed of smoking material, Spoon said.