Kankakee Daily Journal

Feb 3, 2025 | daily-journal.com | Stephanie Markham

Niko Spizzirri is making moves to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome more reptiles. The Momence resident, who operates Spizzirri Reptile Rescue & Rehabilitation from his home, took in about 132 surrendered reptiles and facilitated 52 adoptions in the past year. Spizzirri has made some renovations as well, the biggest one being making his bathroom ADA accessible for visitors to the rescue. Animal habitats are also being upgraded and reorganized, which he hopes to have completed in the spring.

Feb 3, 2025 | daily-journal.com | Felix Sarver

A Frankfort man and woman were identified as the people who were killed in a three-vehicle crash near Peotone involving a garbage truck. Richard Wayt, 77, and Kathleen Wayt, 63, were pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday following a crash in Peotone Township, according to the Will County Coroner’s Office. The crash involved two passenger vehicles and one garbage truck. The crash occurred at U.S. Route 45, south of Offner Road, which is northwest of Peotone and southwest of Manhattan.

Feb 1, 2025 | daily-journal.com | Lonny Cain

Every week I drag part of my life story to the curb. Want to know more about me? Then join me at the end of my driveway on Tuesday night. That’s when I roll out a large trash container, often with only one tightly closed plastic bag. (“How embarrassing,” my wife jokes. “We’re not making enough garbage.”)Wednesday is garbage day. It waits at the curb. Someone else’s problem now. Ha. But there’s more to it than that. Like I said, those containers tell a story.

Feb 1, 2025 | daily-journal.com | Ron Jackson

There is nothing like making a good decision and being reminded how good it was. The positive reinforcement is becoming a regular thing. Since age 12, news consumption has been as important to me as any body organ. Mainly, my source of infusion came via newspapers. The kind you could hold, fold, swat flies, put it away and pick up again. And after it was no longer relevant, you could find several other uses for it. National, regional or local news, it didn’t matter. I preferred newspapers over books.

Feb 1, 2025 | daily-journal.com | Mason Schweizer

As his years at Watseka High School have continued to pile up, longtime athletic director, girls basketball and softball coach and PE teacher Barry Bauer has seen it more times than he can remember. “I see a lot of coaches, every time they get out, what do they always say when they stop? They want to spend more time with their family,” Bauer said. Bauer, who is dipping his toe into retirement as a PE teacher after this year, isn’t beginning retirement for that reason.