Joliet 7-4-18

J U L Y 4 , 2 01 8 V O L . 1 0 I S S U E 42

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FORUM

Celebrating IL Grant’s first march to war was from Springfield to Quincy SEE PAGE 4

SPORTS

Living legends Bobby and Donnie Allison come to Joliet SEE PAGE 7

BUSINESS Dave Says Stop playing with metals; pay off debt

SEE PAGE 9

JOLIETBUGLE.COM

HAVE A HAPPY & SAFE

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

VILLAGE NEWS >> SHOREWOOD

Village to take a look at industrial noise “It’s a quality of life issue”

BY MARNEY SIMON Enterprise Staff @PlainfieldNews news@enterprisepublications.com

Shorewood’s mayor says he’s looking out for neighbors whose homes border an industrial corridor.

On June 12, Mayor Rick Chapman told members of the village

board that he had talked to the police and the village attorney to see if there was anything the village could do about a noisy situation along Earl Road.

“I’ve requested that they look into the Earl Road industrial park problem, butting up against residents, especially to the west,” Chapman said. “The east has a lot of buffering on it from the industrial side, but the west doesn’t.

We need to gather all the informa-

tion we can, legally, to figure out if there’s any way [to do anything].

This is a quality of life issue, and these people are suffering, especially in the immediate vicinity of a brand new business.”

Without naming any businesses, the mayor said that work being conducted along the industrial lane has become problematic, creating noise pollution for homes.

SEE NOISE PAGE 5

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

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CITY NEWS

Council approves downtown redevelopment plan Concept creates ‘urban square’ on Chicago Street

BY MARNEY SIMON Enterprise Staff @PlainfieldNews news@enterprisepublications.com

The Joliet City Council has given the thumbs up to a concept plan that would redefine the city’s downtown and turn one of its most recognizable roadways into a destination.

On June 19, the members of the City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Chicago Street Corridor Plan.

Director of Planning Michael Schwarz explained the concept plan to members of the council before the vote, noting that the plan calls to redesign, upgrade and create green space along more than 11 blocks along Chicago Street, from Ruby Street to Washington.

“Step one is where we are now,” Schwarz said. “This is a concept.

This is not the final design, there will still be opportunities for the

public and for the stakeholder groups… as well as the council to finalize some of the details. The next phase, if, hopefully we can budget for that for this coming budget cycle, would be a design development, where we get into what colors there are, what materials, the actual fun part of the design.”

Schwarz said the concept plan lays out uses along the corridor, but that actual details come in the next phase. Engineering and design documents then follow.

The design features an urban square across from the Rialto Square Theater inside what is now vacant land and a parking area.

Schwarz noted that the downtown area already hosts multiple events attracting 9,000 to 10,000 people to each, including the Festival of Lights parade, Star Wars Day, and Rock the Block.

“This is sort of formalizing that space to be one of the more spe-

cial places in Joliet,” Schwarz said.

The city’s downtown plan first identified a public improvement program and key projects including the reconnection of Chicago street between Jefferson street and Washington street back in 2015.

In 2016, the city applied for a local technical assistance Grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to retain a consulting team for the project. That grant was received in November of that year.

An advisory committee comprised of various downtown stakeholders met several times to review the plans and provide feedback, and a public forum was held in April 2018.

Key elements of the design include a large green space, a flexible stage and raised seating platform, and a “red carpet” pavement connecting the Rialto Square Theater to the park space.

The concept plan includes a library garden, a story teller corner, a water feature, unique lighting,

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF WILL COUNTY

Ribbon cutting for small-dog addition at Dog Park July 6 PetSafe awarded the Forest Preserve District a $10,000 grant to be used for the project Small dogs will soon have their own turf at the Hammel Woods Dog Park in Shorewood.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will host a public ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Friday, July 6, for a new small-dog enclosure that was built next to the existing dog park located in Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access on Black Road, west of Interstate 55.

The 8.5-acre Hammel Woods Dog Park was the District’s first fenced, off-leash play area for canines when it opened in 2002. The District now has five dog parks, but Hammel Woods was the only one without a special area for pint-sized pups until the 2.3-acre

enclosure was built. Small-dog enclosures are restricted to dogs weighing 35 pounds or less. Small dogs can use both small- and large-dog play areas at the dog parks; however, dogs 36 pounds and heavier can only play in the large-dog enclosures.

Dogs attending the ribbon cutting ceremony will not need permits to play in the dog park, but they must be current on their rabies vaccinations. Permits will be required again at Hammel Woods on Saturday, July 7, when the dog park reopens at 8 a.m. Permits can be purchased online at ReconnectWithNature.org or at four visitor centers: Isle a la Cache in Romeoville, Monee Reservoir in Monee Township, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.

Immediately after the ribbon cutting, a dedication ceremony will be held for the preserve’s new water fountain, which has sepa-

rate spouts for people, dogs and water bottles. The water fountain will be available for use by campground and trail users as well as dog park visitors and their pets.

The Hammel Woods project was supported by The Nature Foundation of Will County, Elkay Manufacturing of Oak Brook and PetSafe of Knoxville, Tenn. The foundation worked with Elkay to obtain the water fountain donation, which is being made in memory of Sandy Katz, the late wife of company owner, Ron Katz.

The fountain is valued at $7,000.

PetSafe, a pet products company, awarded the Forest Preserve District a $10,000 grant to be used for the project. The grant was part of the company’s 2017 Bark for Your Park program, which awards funds to build, enhance or maintain off-leash dog parks around the country.

For information on Forest Preserve dog park locations and rules, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.

seating nooks, and space for future large scale public art.

Chicago street served as part of the original path of Route 66.

Other downtown projects completed or underway include the Gateway Center, the Will County Justice Center, and the JJC City Center campus.

With approval from the city council the next phase is design development.

During that phase funding and a schedule will be determined.

Construction document bids and construction will follow.

Per the concept plan, the square will be a vibrant all season gathering place in the heart of downtown, combining green-

ery to a significantly hardscaped downtown.

The new site will be anchored by historic buildings including the Joliet Public library constructed in 1876, the Rialto Square Theatre constructed in 1926, and the University of Saint Francis downtown facility.

The site will be appropriate for festivals, special events, and art installations.

Councilman Larry Hug said he would like to see the city reach out across all wards, and not just those residents and stakeholders closest to the downtown area, since the entire city has an investment in the city and development.

COMMUNITY

Jefferson Street Bridge over Des Plaines River in Joliet closing July 9 The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that a two-month full closure will take place on the Jefferson Street Bridge (eastbound U.S. 30) over the Des Plaines River in Joliet beginning July 9, weather permitting. The closure is necessary to make structural steel repairs.

To complete the repairs, the structure that carries Jefferson Street over the Des Plaines River will be fully closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

A detour will direct eastbound U.S. 30 traffic to go south on Raynor Avenue (U.S. 52), east on McDonough Street (U.S. 52), and north on Chicago Street (Illinois 53) to meet back with U.S. 30. Marine traffic will not be affected.

Jefferson Street bridge is ex-

pected to reopen to traffic in September, weather permitting.

The bridge closure is the first of two stages of repairs on Jefferson Street bridge. An additional closure will be necessary early next year to complete mechanical repairs.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area.

Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www. travelmidwest.com.

For IDOT District 1 updates on Twitter, follow us at http:// twitter.com/IDOTDistrict1.

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GUEST COLUMN

Grant’s first march to war was from Springfield to Quincy Approximately 1,000 men of the 21st Illinois marched about 8 miles the first day before setting up camp

BY GREG OLSON OF THE JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL-COURIER Col. Ulysses S. Grant passed up a chance to have his soldiers ride in train cars.

Instead, he thought it best that they march to war.

So, on July 3, 1861, Grant mounted a horse and led his first Civil War command out of Camp Yates in Springfield, en route to Quincy. The 39-year-old Grant had molded his somewhat unruly troops — members of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment — into a disciplined fighting force.

“There was direct railroad communication between Springfield and Quincy, but I thought it would be good preparation for the troops to march,” Grant wrote in his “Memoirs.”

The approximately 1,000 men of the 21st Illinois marched about 8 miles the first day before setting up camp just west of present-day Riddle Hill near what is known today as the Old Jacksonville Road in Sangamon County.

On the Fourth of July, Grant led his men to Island Grove in western Sangamon County, where they stopped for a while at the home of Capt. James N. Brown, a wealthy farmer and Shorthorn cattle raiser.

“My father, Capt. Brown, sent (my brother), William Brown, out to meet Col. Grant and tell him the people wished him to stop and the troops could rest and enjoy the day with them,” wrote Benjamin Warfield Brown in 1927. “The exercises soon began and Col. Grant and a great many of the soldiers listened very intently to the exercises. Hon. David A. Brown read the Declaration of Independence and the Rev. Peter Cartwright delivered the main address.”

The march on the Fourth covered about 17 miles and ended on the Corrington farm, 9 miles east of Jacksonville.

Years later, William Corrington recalled the soldiers’ encampment on his father’s farm.

“I well remember that 4th of July as I watched Grant and his regiment go in camp just across the road from my father’s home … on the head of the Mauvaisterre (Creek),” Corrington wrote.

“Another reason that I remember it so distinctly was I had my pockets full of firecrackers; had been celebrating the 4th, when by some means, the crackers got on fire, and before I could get them out, they had burned a hole in my new cotton trousers; and as I was standing in front of Grant’s tent that evening, he said, ‘Son, what’s the matter with your pants?’ My answer was: ‘I had firecrackers in my pocket, and they got on fire,’ He laughed and said: ‘I bet you are a Union man,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ I was all through the camp, and the soldiers gave me several little keepsakes I prized very highly.

They were a tired, footsore lot.”

On July 5, the 21st Illinois broke camp and headed west to Jacksonville.

The regiment passed through Jacksonville on State Street late on the morning of July 5. As the soldiers passed the Joshua Moore family home on West State Street, 15-year-old Ensley Moore asked what regiment it was.

“The reply was ‘the 21st Illinois.’ And to the question who is your colonel, the reply was ‘Grant.’ Grant! I had never heard of him, and probably no other citizen of Jacksonville had,” Moore said years later. “But there he was, riding along up the street, his horse moving at a slow walk, an officer on each side of the colonel.”

The 21st Illinois made its way to the Morgan County Fairgrounds just west of Jacksonville and rested. During the Civil War, the fairgrounds was called Camp Duncan and was used for drilling soldiers.

In 1910, A.Y. Hart of Mattoon, who served in the 21st Illinois, remembered the regiment’s brief stay at the

fairgrounds.

“Col. Grant stationed himself at the gate at the fairgrounds and examined our canteens for whiskey,” Hart said.

“One man of my company bought a coffee boiler, stopped the passage between the boiler and spout with wax, filled the boiler with whiskey and the spout with milk, and Col. Grant passed him in.”

After resting at the fairgrounds, the 21st Illinois marched southwest to Allinson’s Grove, about 7 miles from Jacksonville. The soldiers camped there the night of July 5.

The next day, Grant and his command covered about 15 miles, marching from Allinson’s Grove, through Exeter in Scott County and camping that night on the northern edge of Naples, near the east bank of the Illinois River.

On July 8, the regiment was ferried across the river and then marched west on the Perry and Naples Road.

Grant later received orders to return to the west bank of the Illinois River and wait for a steamboat that would carry them to St. Louis. From there the regiment was to board a train for Ironton, Mo. Grant and the regiment waited for the steamboat, but it never arrived because it got hung up on a sandbar downstream. On July 10, the 21st Illinois crossed the Illinois River and caught a train for Quincy. Grant’s men then went to Missouri to reinforce Union troops who were under attack from secessionist guerrillas.

Grant left the 21st Illinois in August 1861, when he was promoted to brigadier general. He would later lead all Union forces in the war.

Members of the 21st regiment, most of whom were from eastern Illinois, later participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Chickamauga, Ga., where they suffered many casualties.

Greg Olson of the Jacksonville Journal-Courier can be reached at golson@ civitasmedia.com.

METRO

NEWS FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

POLICE BLOTTER Note to readers: Information in Police Blotter is obtained from the Shorewood Police Department.

Individuals listed in Police Blotter charged with a crime have not been proven guilty in court.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

JUNE 2 » Omar E. Pena, 35, of Joliet, was arrested at 3:22 p.m. on the 19700 block of NE Frontage Rd., for obstructing a peace officer and Will Co. warrant for possession of a controlled substance. Pena was arrested after the vehicle he was a passenger in was stopped for a seatbelt violation.

JUNE 5 » Christian Giuliani, 39, of Saint Charles, was charged with speeding at 4:48 p.m. on the 1500 block of Rt. 59, after his

NOISE FROM PAGE 2 While some in the neighborhood have decent sound barriers, the mayor noted that homes Ravinia Drive which back up businesses on Earl Road have little to no noise mitigation.

Chapman said he hopes by the next village board meeting there will be a recommendation on how to proceed.

CALENDAR JULY 9 Cruisin’ into Lockport. 6:30-

9:30 p.m. in the Central Square and First Midwest Bank parking lots, 9th and Hamilton. BAND: Logical Confusion (Rock); CARS: Foreign. Shop and eat at our Food Court/Farmer’s Market open 4-8 p.m. There will be family entertainment including face painting, inflatables and free snow cones. lockportpark.org.

JULY 11 Route 66 Street Market. 4-9

p.m. in downtown Joliet, along Chicago Street between Van Buren and W. Jefferson Streets.

Once again the annual market will feature vendors, downtown businesses, community partnerships, live entertainment and featured local breweries weekly.(815)7746066, jolietdowntown.com

JULY 13 2018 Rooftop Summer Music Series. 7:30 p.m. at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 Ottawa St. Joliet. Great Moments in Vinyl. $8/$10 815-723-5201 or jolietmuseum.org.

vehicle was stopped for a registration violation.

JUNE 9 » Name: Emma R. Wilson, 18, of Joliet, was arrested at 5:28 p.m on the 700 block of W Jefferson St. for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

JUNE 11 » Giancarlo Frigo, 56, of Shorewood, was arrested at 1:59 p.m. on the 246l00 block of River Crossing Dr. on Will Co. warrant for DUI.

JUNE 14 » Bonnie L. Johnson, 58 of Joliet, was arrested at 7:34 a.m. near Jefferson St and I-55 for soliciting rides of business on a highway after police officers responded to a roadway solicitor complaint.

JUNE 19 » Name: Michael J. Montalvo, 19, of Plainfield, was arrested near Brookforest Ave., and E Jefferson St. at 10:51 a.m. for possession of cannabis and expired registration.

JUNE 13 » Edward I. Lopez, 27, of Los Angeles, Cal., was arrested at 9:48 p.m. near Brookforest Ave., and Country Glen Dr. on a Will Co. Warrant for resisting and Will Co. Warrant for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

JUNE 22 » D’Angelo J. Terry, 27, of Joliet, was arrested on the 900 block of Vertin Blvd. at 2:49 p.m. for driving with a suspended driver’s license, speeding, no insurance, Will Co. Warrant for driving with a suspended driver’s license and no seat belt

The mayor also noted that there may be little if anything the village can do.

“I hope that’s not the answer, I hope that we can find something to help these people out,” Chapman said. “I was over there tonight, and they were whacking away with an impact gun out back of the business, and that was six o’clock tonight. I don’t think any of us would like to live in that condition.”

Chapman also warned against blaming homeowners for moving close to an industrial park.

“There’s always that can be said, well, they shouldn’t have bought there. Well, that business wasn’t running there when these people bought along that strip,” Chapman said. “I’m hoping that we can find something legally, or if anybody has any ideas, please present them.”

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TAKE 5

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PAGE 7

NASCAR

LEGENDARY

VISIT

NASCAR legends Bobby and Donnie Allison visit Joliet’s Race Fan Rally ahead of the annual race

BY MARK GREGORY Sports Editor @Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

While several thousand people filled the streets surrounding the Rialto Square Theater in downtown Joliet for the 18th annual Race Fan Rally ahead of the yearly NASCAR weekend, there were two men whose credentials outweighed anyone else there.

Brothers Bobby and Donnie Allison, a pair of NASCAR legends, made a repeat appearance to the rally to sign autographs, take pictures with fans and participate in an on-stage question and answer session with WJOL’s Mike Guglielmucci.

Outside of being known for their superb driving skills and for being two-thirds of racing’s ‘Alabama Gang,’ the Allison’s were part of an event that put NASCAR on the map.

At the end of the 1979 Daytona

500, the first live televised NASCAR race, Donnie was involved in a final-lap crash with Cale Yarborough.

Donnie was leading the race on the final and as Yarborough attempted his signature slingshot pass at the end of the backstretch, Allison attempted to block him but Yarborough refused to give ground.

As he pulled alongside Allison, his left side tires left the pavement and went into the wet and muddy infield grass.

Yarborough lost control, hit Donnie’s car and as the two battled for position and control, they crashed into the outside wall in turn three.

The two argued and after it appeared they had settled it, brother Bobby Allison, who was lapped at that point, pulled over and began to defend his brother, resulting in a fist-fight that kept fans coming PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY

SEE VISIT PAGE 8

Parish Plantin of Romeoville gets autographs from NASCAR legends Donnie (left) and Bobby Allison at Joliet’s Race Fan Rally.

TWITTER: For up -to-the-minute coverage of upcoming local sport events going on in your area, follow @VoyagerSport

8 SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM VISIT FROM PAGE 7

PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY

An estimated 8,000 fans enjoyed Joliet’s 18th annual Race Fan Rally.

back for more – ultimately launching the sport into the mainstream.

As Bobby told fans during the onstage event, “Cale kept beating his face on my fist, and that’s my story.”

Other than the fight, one thing Donnie, now 78-years-old, remembers of the day was that he was leading the race and had a chance to win the Daytona 500, a race he joked with fans that he has not won — yet.

Bobby did win at Daytona three times and officially posted 84 career Cup wins – tied for fourth alltime with Darrell Waltrip.

The racing legends have enjoyed their trips to Joliet.

“We have enjoyed it every time we have been here and I ran some of the short tracks in the area,” said Bobby, now 80 years-old. “I never got to run Chicagoland, but I know I would have liked it. “We have enjoyed our careers. He and I have done a lot of things along the way and helped people and given them a hand if they needed. It has been special to do it with my brother.”

If it is up to the brothers, they may not be done attending events in Joliet.

“I enjoy this a whole lot,” Donnie said of Race Fan Rally. “It is very well organized and a lot of great people and I will definitely be back if I’m asked.

“We never get tired of meeting the fans. This never gets old. This is why we raced as hard as we raced all of our lives – because of fans like this and we are still 100 percent racers. We don’t get rich off this, but we have a chance to sell some memorabilia to the fans and let them have a part of what was so special to us.”

Something else that is special for the Allison family this year was the announcement that Davey Allison, Bobby’s eldest son, will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.

He will be joined by Jeff Gordon, Alan Kulwicki, Roger Penske and Jack Roush in the 10th class of the Hall of Fame.

Davey competed in NASCAR from 1985 to 1993 when he lost his life in a helicopter crash at the age of 32.

Davey earned a pair of wins, five poles and nine top-five finishes in his first full-season and was named 1987 premier series rookie of the year. He won 19 races and 14 poles, including the 1992 Daytona 500, before his tragic death.

Davey finished second to his father in the 1988 Daytona 500, as the pair became the first and only father-son duo to finish 1-2 in the ‘Great American Race.’

BUSINESS + REAL ESTATE

NEWS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

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COLUMN >> DAVE SAYS

Stop playing with metals; pay off debt DEAR DAVE, I make about $240,000 annually, and I will be maxing out my 401(k) contributions this year.

I have $60,000 in student loan debt I’m trying to pay off, a small amount left on my home mortgage, plus I’ve been investing in a lot of gold and silver. Those investments are worth about $30,000 right now. In addition to this, I’ve got $10,000 in cash just

sitting in a savings account for emergencies. Should I stop the gold and silver investing, and focus on paying off the loans, or keep splitting my money between them?

ADAM DEAR ADAM, I’d stop investing in gold and silver completely. I don’t put money in precious metals at all, because they have a lousy long-

term track record. My advice would be to cash out every bit of your gold and silver, and put the money toward paying off your student loans. That would instantly cut your student loan debt in half. Then, with your sal-

ary, you should be able to pay off the rest in just a few months.

The key will be to start living on a very strict budget. Don’t spend on anything that’s not absolutely necessary. I also want you to temporarily stop contributing to your 401(k). Do this just until you get the student loan debt wiped out, then pick it up again like before.

If you want to put even more toward retirement, you could check with a quality investment professional — one with the heart of a teacher — to see if you’re eligible for a back-door Roth IRA. When it’s all said and done, Adam, I want you to have 15 percent of

LEGAL LISTINGS

your yearly income going toward retirement.

You already know the value of saving and investing. With your income, once you knock out your debt and begin investing again, you have the very real potential to become a millionaire in just a few years!

—DAVE * Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 14 million listeners each week on 585 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @ DaveRamsey.

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