Plainfield East HS Science Olympiad students achieve record-breaking state performance See Page 3:
Illinois county clerks are preparing for mail voting amid continued attacks, changes
Communication and experience with the process are keys to maintaining voter faith, clerks say
By NIKOEL HYTREK
Capitol News Illinois
nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com
Voting by mail isn’t new. The United States first implemented the practice on a large scale when President Abraham Lincoln insisted on holding the 1864 election and Union soldiers were far from their polling places.
Since the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an even more popular voting method and one of the most scrutinized. In that election, a third of votes counted in Illinois were by mail. Matt Dietrich, the spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections, said it was the first time many Illinoisans had taken advantage of mail-in ballots.
But as 43% of Americans voted by mail in 2020, according to the Census Bureau, it had the parallel consequence of delaying the timeline for ballot counting in several states.
(Continued on page 2 see ‘VOTE’)
Illinois State Capitol. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Every terrapin, snapper, and slider can pop his head out of his shell and smile
As Illinois celebrates World Turtle Day, biologists are urging residents to help protect the state’s threatened and endangered turtle species by preserving habitats, reducing pollution and leaving wild turtles in the wild.
Tom Emery Contributing Writer
Saturday, May 23 is World Turtle Day, and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate in Illinois. The state is home to seventeen turtle species, though seven are either state-threatened or state-endangered. Biologists are working to ensure the long-range future of Illinois turtles, and note that the general public can do much to help.
“Turtles are generally long-lived animals,” said Scott Ballard, the state herpetologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “Habitat destruction or alteration is probably the number-one concern for the future of turtles. Once you destroy or encroach upon a good habitat, you’ve reduced the habitat available for turtles to forage and exist in.”
Species of turtles are found statewide, with a slightly higher diversity in the southern half of the state. By far, the most common species of turtle in Illinois is the red-eared slider, known by its bright red patch on the sides of heads of juveniles and females.
However, the painted turtle, a colorful species described as a “classic pond turtle,” holds the title of official Illinois state reptile, an honor awarded in online voting in July 2005.
The largest of the state turtles is the alligator snapping turtle, which can reach
Saturday, May 23 is World Turtle Day, and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate in Illinois. The state is home to seventeen turtle species, though seven are either state-threatened or state-endangered. Biologists are working to ensure the long-range future of Illinois turtles, and note that the general public can do much to help. Photo by
up to 155 pounds. That species is one of six that are classified as “state-endangered,” joining the river cooter, smooth softshell, Illinois mud turtle, Blanding’s turtle, and spotted turtle. Another, the ornate box turtle, is listed as “state-threatened.”
Turtles play valuable roles in Illinois ecosystems. “Aquatic turtles help maintain the health of lakes and ponds by eating diseased or dying fish,” remarked Ballard. “Box turtles contribute to forests and prairies by assisting in plant reproduction, by eating vegetation and distributing seeds from those native plants. Turtles are good long-term natural stewards of the environment, without question.”
As elsewhere, Illinois turtles face a number of challenges, including the Rana-
Tom Emery
virus, an illness that can kill turtles in large numbers. “We have literally found dozens of dead turtles in certain areas because of this virus,” said Ballard. “But we’re fortunate to have a good partner in the University of Illinois Veterinary School, who is working on testing and treating specimens with the virus.”
(Continued on page 14 see ‘TURTLE’)
(Continued from page 1, ‘VOTE’)
Six years after President Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020, he still claims the election was rigged and that late-arriving mail-in ballots were fraudulent or shouldn’t have been counted.
Nonetheless, it remains a popular method, especially in Illinois, where the process of ensuring voter confidence in mail voting and elections generally falls upon county clerks. In 2024, more than 18% of voters cast their ballot by mail, according to information from the Illinois State Board of Elections. In 2016, that number was 6.5%.
Many county clerks told Capitol News Illinois they’ve developed strategies to boost confidence in voting by mail by relying on transparency, communication and having people experience the process.
“In Illinois, we probably have been doing vote-by-mail longer than most Midwestern states,” Don Gray, the Republican Sangamon County Clerk, said in an interview.
Because of how long it’s been happening, he said the state’s process is well established, and people’s faith grows with the more experience they have with the voting method.
Ahead of this year’s elections, the U.S. Postal Service is making changes that could alter mail voting procedures, Congress is considering the SAVE America Act to tighten voter ID guidelines and exercise more federal control over voter rolls, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether ballots should be counted if they arrive after Election Day.
Illinois officials say they’re ready to handle those changes.
The vote-by-mail experience in Illinois: confidence
In Illinois, anyone who wants to vote by mail simply has to request a voteby-mail application from their county’s election office, fill it out and send it back. Then voters wait to receive a ballot in the mail, fill it out and follow the instructions about how to return it.
Illinois implemented no-excuse mail voting in 2009 and set up a system for permanent mail voting in 2021, which allows voters to sign up to receive ballots without having to request them every time an election comes around.
Pew Research Center polling from
(Continued on page 11 see ‘VOTE’)
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Plainfield East HS Science Olympiad
students achieve record-breaking state performance High School Science Olympiad students delivered a record-setting performance at the Illinois Individual State Tournament, earning medals in seven events and ranking 10th overall statewide
Plainfield – Plainfield East High School is proud to announce outstanding results from the April 25, 2026, Illinois Individual State Tournament for Science Olympiad, held at McHenry County College.
Thirteen students delivered a record-breaking performance while showcasing exceptional dedication, talent, and teamwork.
This year, PEHS earned medals in seven events, setting a new school record and marking a 40 percent increase from last year’s total of five.
Using a medal-based scoring model to compare performance among 38 qualifying schools, PEHS ranked 10th in the state in the individual event tournament.
Medalists include:
• Wesley Fair, freshman, and Prothom Pradyamna, freshman – Engineering CAD, 3rd place
• Kyleah Edison, senior, Zoe Lee, se -
nior, and Lyra Nepomuceno, sophomore – Experimental Design, 3rd place
• Zoha Mumtatz, sophomore, and Kaya Poplawski, freshman – Remote Sensing, 3rd place
• Ira Chakraborty, junior, and Kyleah Edison, senior – Circuit Lab, 4th place
• Mayank Cheruku, sophomore, and Wesley Fair, freshman – Hovercraft Build, 5th place
• Kyleah Edison, senior, and Beatrice Ordeneza, senior – Robot Tour, 5th place
• Kyleah Edison, senior, and Charlie Hidalgo, senior – Rocks & Minerals, 5th place
Additionally, for the first time, students from all four grade levels earned medals, including the program’s inaugural freshman team to medal at the state level.
“I am incredibly proud of our Olympiads for their hard work, resilience, and teamwork,” said Rebecca Scott, PEHS head science Olympiad coach and chemistry teacher.
(Continued on page 13 see ‘PEHS’)
Thirteen students delivered a record-breaking performance while showcasing exceptional dedication, talent, and teamwork.
DOWNERS GROVE PARK DISTRICT
(Continued from page 2, ‘VOTE’)
2025 shows Americans still support mail voting, although Republican support has decreased since 2021. The poll showed support for mailin voting was higher in states where it’s more common. Seven states now have universal mail-in voting, meaning all voters receive ballots in the mail regardless of whether they asked for them.
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 32 countries or territories allow some form of mail-in voting, usually called “postal voting.” Europe has the largest number of countries that allow voters to cast a ballot using the postal service.
“It is not my experience that there is some vulnerability in systemic or large, wide fraud on just a mail program, because I know how we operate and we do it well,” Gray said.
Like other clerks, Gray said he practices full transparency by inviting people to observe how different steps are taken — from how to request a ballot, to receiving it and turning it back in to the clerk’s office, and how it’s processed and counted.
“The more you can expose how you operate, the greater trust and confidence you’ll have in your jurisdiction,” he said.
In Sangamon County, the number of people who vote by mail has increased and so has the number of people registering in the permanent program. Because of that, Gray thinks voters understand the process better.
“And I think it’s going to be kind of the wave of the future,” he said. “It’s one of those pieces that when you engage it and you use it, and you realize how well we do it and how secure it really is, you think to yourself, ‘Why haven’t I been doing this all along?’”
GRAY
The number of people signing up for the program has grown in several areas of the state.
When Democratic Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons took office in 2018, he said only 7,0008,000 people used mail-in voting, but now the permanent vote-by-mail list has grown to almost 20,000.
“So there’s a tremendous increase, but I have been very vigilant about that,” he said. “I’ve been very outspoken as an advocate for vote by mail.”
Ammons has done that in part by using local TV, radio and newspapers
and providing weekly updates about the process through social media and the county clerk’s website.
A similar story has played out in Tazewell County. Though the number of people voting by mail has decreased slightly following the pandemic, it’s still about a quarter of the votes cast. Half of voters still vote on Election Day, and another onefourth do it early, but in person.
“What we’re hearing is that our local folks have confidence,” Republican Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman said. “More questions (are) about the post office. Will it be delivered in a timely manner? How can we guarantee that our ballot is actually there?”
Ballot tracking
Those questions are answered by ballot tracking, which allows people to keep tabs on their ballot and know when it arrives at the election office. Multiple clerks said it was another major piece of confidence in mail voting.
“That allows them (voters) to engage in the process, rather than just assume it’s there,” Ackerman said.
The Tazewell clerk’s office uses a St. Louis-based vendor called KNOWiNK to handle their mail-in ballots, and Ackerman said the ballot tracking was one of the main reasons why they switched from their previous system. KNOWiNK is a nationally recognized company that was set up by former election officials.
The company also has materials for vote-by-mail reminder cards and other bulk mail for clerks to send to voters.
Gray called the tracking system a “beautiful” way to make elections transparent and to boost confidence.
“You know when you put your ballot in the box, right? Hold us accountable, make sure that we got it and that your vote has been validated and counted,” he said.
Current challenges and solutions
As the first mid-term of Trump’s second term looms in November, clerks are navigating a few new developments that could shake faith in the vote-by-mail process.
The United States Postal Service updated language regarding postmarking mail, including ballots. In a January news conference, a bipartisan group of county clerks warned that the new rule could alter when a postmark is applied and what it means for ballot eligibility.
Illinois accepts ballots up to two weeks after an election, as long as the ballot is postmarked by Election Day. The new rule means people who mail their ballots on or a few days before Election Day risk having their ballots rejected, clerks warned.
The March primaries were the first elections under the new rules, and Ackerman said the rule change didn’t have as big an effect on mailin voting as the clerk’s office feared it would.
“I think that is due to the fact that we got information out,” he said.
ACKERMAN
Before the primaries, the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders met to discuss how to handle the change and to spread the word about it. There, Ackerman said he planned to put cards with information about the new rules in the voteby-mail packets Tazewell County voters were sent before the primaries. Those packets also included a voter’s ballot, return envelope and instructions for filling out the ballot and turning it in.
In Sangamon County, 7,317 mailin ballots were returned, and only four were rejected for having a late postmark. Williamson County had 1,206 mail-in ballots returned and 18 rejected because of the late postmark. In Tazewell County, 15 mail-in ballots out of 2,933 were rejected because they were postmarked one or two days after March 17.
“There shouldn’t be ballots that aren’t counted, period,” Ackerman said. “The goal is to have every single ballot counted. In generalized numbers, that doesn’t mean a lot, but to those 15 individuals I’m sure that is a big problem.”
Another challenge could come from the U.S. Supreme Court as it considers whether states should be able to count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive later.
A decision in the case is expected sometime before June 30, and it could lead to Illinois having to adjust how it collects mail-in ballots.
The state elections board is already planning for the ruling and how to communicate new information to voters, Dietrich said. Any time there’s a big change to how elections are conducted, he said, there’s a perception that voting is complicated or that there’s something to worry about, and he wants to reassure voters that the state will make available all the information they need to know.
Misinformation about voting spreads, Democratic Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons said, because some people only engage when it’s time to vote for president or Congress.
“People are not always paying attention,” he said. “So they don’t see the information, or they digest misinformation as much as they do any accurate information.”
He said he asks election judges, both Republican and Democratic, to talk about their experience to help set the record straight. He also relies on local media to share new information. Ammons credits early education for how people in Champaign County adjusted to the postmark change for the primaries.
Ackerman said Tazewell County would handle a change to whether Illinois could accept ballots after the election the same way they managed the postmark change.
“We would have to proactively advertise that change to the public so that they knew to adjust their clocks,” he said. That would mean telling people to mail their ballots at least a week before Election Day.
When reassuring voters, Ackerman said, it helps to separate what’s going on in Illinois from what happens in other states or at the federal level.
“All I can do is try to make sure that they are confident in their vote, their elections here,” he said. “That’s about the limits of where I’m at.”
Still, Ackerman noted that interest in voting by mail and voting early in person continues to increase, especially as people experience the process and realize it’s easy and secure.
“We went from handling a couple hundred ballots for vote-by-mail to having a vote-by-mail list now that’s, I believe it’s sitting at about 12,000,” he said.
President continues to ramp up rhetoric
It took four days to call the 2020 race for due to how long it took to count votes in key swing states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia. That delay opened the door for conspiracy theories about the election.
Dietrich said after 2020 he started getting many more messages and Freedom of Information Act requests for documents related to the election, but in his experience, once people try voting by mail, their doubts about it fade.
DIETRICH
“It is very hard to explain to someone who ¬— if they believe that voting by mail is just rife with fraud and that it’s so easy to get other voters’ ballots and vote them — if they haven’t seen how it works, it’s hard to explain why that’s not the process,” he said.
Since 2020, county clerks have developed strategies to boost confidence in voting by mail by relying on transparency, communication and having people experience the process.
Dietrich said he thinks people’s faith in vote-by-mail has increased a lot over the years, based on the higher numbers of people using that method.
“I think some of those who were skeptical, probably in the 2020 cycle, probably saw that it is, number one, convenient for you, but number two, that it is secure,” he said.
But even as they work to build trust, Trump has continued to criticize mail-in voting, even though records and reporting show that he frequently uses it, including in the 2026 Florida special elections and in 2020.
On March 31, Trump signed an executive order that would delegate responsibility for determining who can vote by mail to the United States Postal Service. The order instructs the USPS to refuse to deliver a ballot to anyone not on a newly created federal mail voter list which would be established after receiving voter roll data from every state.
Illinois is one of 23 states that is challenging it in court along with voting rights groups, and the Department of Justice on May 1 told a judge it has not acted on the order to restrict mail-in-voting.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
How a well-rounded education benefits students
Academic environments have undergone quite a change over the last several decades. Technological advancements have changed the way educators teach and how students learn, but there’s also been a notable shift in what students are learning.
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) has become a point of emphasis in twenty-first century classrooms, and for good reason. The U.S. National Science Foundation notes that a workforce educated in STEM is vital to a country’s prosperity and security.
Opportunities in STEM fields are on the rise as well, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates STEM occupations will grow by roughly 11 percent between 2022 and 2032.
The value of STEM is undeniable. However, students and parents also should recognize the many ways a well-rounded education that includes math and science but also the humanities and social sciences facilitates strong academic performance.
Critical thinking skills
A well-rounded education can instill important and useful critical thinking skills in students. When students direct the bulk of their attention to a single subject or category of subjects, they’re less likely to understand how interconnected coursework, and indeed the world, can be. A well-rounded education can instill in students a more nuanced way of looking at problems and potential solutions. That ability can positively affect students’ personal lives and ultimately their professional lives when their formal schooling ends, as they will be in position to better assess situations.
Comprehension
Tests are designed to gauge students’ grasp of material. Students’ ability to comprehend lessons taught in the classroom is a big part of that, and a well-rounded education fosters strong comprehension skills. A 2018 report from the New York State Education Department noted that research has found that students are better readers after they have been exposed to the language and vocabulary of the natural world, the sciences and social studies.
Crossover benefits
A well-rounded education can help students perform better in all of
their subjects. In 2021, a University of Buffalo academic and researcher studying children and dyslexia made a startling discovery regarding the value of reading and how it affects performance in subjects like math.
The research found that reading proficiency crosses academic domains and actually guides how students approach various tasks and solve problems. That means a well-rounded education that includes reading-heavy subjects, like those in the humanities and social sciences, could actually improve how students perform in STEM classes.
A well-rounded education pays a number of dividends for students. Recognition of those benefits might compel parents to support a curriculum that includes a wide array of subjects and academic disciplines.
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICE
Shaw. Letters of Office were issued on April 30, 2026 to Nellie M. Luckett, 314 Luana Road, Joliet, Illinois 60433, as Independent Executor, whose Attorney of record is Chris D. Rouskey, Rouskey Law Office, 210 N. Hammes Avenue, Suite 105, Joliet, Illinois 60435.
Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Will County, 100 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432, or with the Independent Executor, or both, WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION. ANY CLAIM NOT FILED WITHIN THAT PERIOD IS BARRED. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Independent Administrator and to the Attorney of record within ten days after it has been filed.
E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, vit http:/illinoiscourts.gov/faq/gethelp.asp, or talk with your local Circuit Clerk’s Office.
CHRIS D. ROUSKEY ROUSKEY LAW OFFICE
210 N. HAMMES AVENUE, SUITE 105
JOLIET, ILLINOIS 60435
815-741-2118
IL REGISTRATION NO. 03123595
Published 5/7/26, 5/14/26 & 5/21/26
HERBIE J. SHAW, DECEASED BY ______________________
CHRIS D. ROUSKEY Attorney for Independent Executor
Students and parents should recognize the many ways a well-rounded education that includes math and science but also the humanities and social sciences facilitates strong academic performance.
Publication Summons and Notice (Small Claims) STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, MILWAUKEE COUNTY Case No. 2026SC007856
Plaintiff(s):
ShortTermFinancial, L.L.C dba Americash Loans
2400 E. Devon Ave, Suite 300 Des Plaines IL 60018
VS. Defendant(s):
JAMAR MANUAL
6502 GOLDHABER LN PLAINFIELD IL 60586
TO THE PERSON(S) NAMED ABOVE AS DEFENDANT(S):
You are being sued by the person(s) named above as Plaintiff(s). A copy of the claim has been sent to you at your address as stated in the caption above.
The lawsuit will be heard in the following small claims court: MILWAUKEE County Courthouse
Telephone Number of clerk of court: 414-985-5757
Courtroom/Room Number:
Address: 901 N 9th Street
Address: Room 400
City: Milwaukee, WI 53233 on the following date and time:
Date: 06/17/2026 Time: 8:30 AM
If you do not attend the hearing, the court may enter a judgment against you in favor of the person(s) suing you. A copy of the claim has been sent to you at your address as stated in the caption above. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate (property) you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property.
You may have the option to Answer without appearing in court on the court date by filing a written Answer with the clerk of court before the court date. You must send a copy of your Answer to the Plaintiff(s) named above at their address. You may contact the clerk of court at the telephone number above to determine if there are other methods to answer a Small Claims complaint in that county.
Electronically Signed by MICHAEL F. G. HICKEY
State Bar # 1124679
5/12/2026
DLF Law Group, LLC (formerly Dobberstein Law Firm, LLC) 225 S. Executive Dr. Suite 201 Brookfield, WI. 53005 262-641-3715
Published May 20, 2026
(Continued from page 3, ‘PEHS’)
“Their success reflects a deep commitment to learning, problem-solving, and supporting one another throughout the season. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to elevate our program in the years ahead.”
Across the district, students demonstrated excellence in Science Olympiad this season, with Plainfield North High School making district history with its first appearance at the Science Olympiad Team State Tournament at the University of Illinois.
TAX DEED NO.: 2026TX000107
FILED: 05/04/2026
TAKE NOTICE
County of: Will
Date Premises Sold: December 4, 2023
Certificate No.: 22-00089
Sold for General Taxes of (year): 2022
Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and Special Assessment Number: N/A
Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property Located at: 1900 Lincoln Avenue, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60490
Legal Description or Property
Index No.: 07-01-25-406-016-0000
This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on October 29, 2026.
The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem
TAX
DEED NO.: 2026TX000108
FILED: 05/04/2026 TAKE NOTICE
County of: Will
Date Premises Sold: December 4, 2023
Certificate No.: 22-00925
Sold for General Taxes of (year): 2022 Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality)
and Special Assessment Number: N/A
Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property Located at: 25024 West Lake Forrest Lane, Shorewood, Illinois 60404
Legal Description or Property Index No.: 05-06-20-402-012-0000
This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on October 29, 2026.
the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming.
This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before October 29, 2026.
This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County in Joliet, Illinois on November 19, 2026 at 9:00 A.M. in Courtroom 905, Will County Courthouse, 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432.
You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time.
YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY
Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 29, 2026 by applying to the County Clerk of Will County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Joliet, Illinois.
For further information contact the County Clerk:
Address: 302 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432
or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming.
This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before October 29, 2026.
This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County in Joliet, Illinois on November 19, 2026 at 9:00 A.M. in Courtroom 905, Will County Courthouse, 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432.
You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time.
YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY
Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 29, 2026 by applying to the County Clerk of Will County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Joliet, Illinois.
The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures
For further information contact the County Clerk:
Telephone: (815) 740-4615
P&N PROPERTIES INC
Purchaser or Assignee
Dated: 05/04/2026
CASE NUMBER: 2026TX000107
CERTIFICATE OF PURCHASE NUMBER: 22-00089
Begum Razia
Masroor A. Shamsi
Quratual-aen I Abbasi
KSN Registered Agent, LLC as R/A for Americana Estates Homeowners Association
Americana Estates Homeowners Association
Occupant
Will County Clerk
Claimants, Judgment Creditors and Decree Creditors, if any of the above described as “unknown owners” “Unknown owners or parties interested in said land or lots” 8147-964893
Published 5/21/2026, 5/28/2026 & 6/4/2026
Address: 302 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 Telephone: (815) 740-4615 P&N PROPERTIES INC
Purchaser or Assignee Dated: 05/04/2026
CASE NUMBER: 2026TX000108
CERTIFICATE OF PURCHASE NUMBER: 22-00925
Sowals Inc.
Illinois Secretary of State for Sowals Inc. Law Offices of Lynn D. Dowd Adetoro Ogunmuyiwa as R/A for Sowals Inc.
Sowals Inc. c/o Adetoro Ogunmuyiwa Joel Shupe as R/A for Lake Forrest Homeowners’ Association
Lake Forrest Homeowners’ Association
Occupant
User of 25024 West Lake Forrest Lane, Shorewood, Illinois Will County Clerk
Claimants, Judgment Creditors and Decree Creditors, if any of the above described as “unknown owners” “Unknown owners or parties interested in said land or lots” 10732-964896
Published 5/20/2026, 5/27/2026 & 6/3/2026
(Continued from page 2, ‘TURTLE’)
Humans may also help with several other threats to Illinois turtles. “Pollution reduces the quality of aquatic and terrestrial habitat for turtles,” remarked Ballard. “Collecting for the pet trade also leads to declines in turtle populations.”
The turtle pet trade, hunting and trapping, and other threats to turtles have been addressed by the state legislature at various times, particularly in the Illinois Herpetological Code (510 ILCS 68/), or “Herp Code” for short.
Auto traffic also kills a number of turtles, mainly because they are always found on the roads in warmer weather. “Being cold-blooded, turtles’ temperatures take on the temperature of their surroundings,” said Ballard. “Therefore, when they come out of hibernation in the spring, they like to find areas to warm their body temperatures up. Roads and highways hold heat, and they like that.
“Helping to move turtles off roads is one way to protect them,” added Ballard. “But make sure it is done safely, and doesn’t result in accidents.” Simply straddling turtles on highways is another method, again within the limits of safe driving.
There are many other ways for the average citizen to protect turtles across the state. “Controlling native plant species is also important to maintaining a higher-quality habitat for turtles,” said Ballard. “Also, leaving turtles in the wild assures that adult turtles will be left to reproduce, and not be plucked out as pets.
“If deciding to get a turtle as a pet, obtain one produced in captivity, and make sure that you realize a commitment of 20 years or so,” he continued. “If you can’t make that commitment, then don’t get a baby turtle.” Anyone who is aware of illegal collecting or selling of turtles, especially endangered or threatened ones, may report it to the Department of Natural Resources.
Overall, the outlook for turtles in Illinois is optimistic. “I would say that as long as the concerns for turtle protection stay on people’s radars, and are attended to, turtles will continue to thrive for generations,” concluded Ballard. “Maintaining a healthy environment will allow the turtle diversity of the state to continue to exist.”
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-7108392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com
