🌱 Patch AM: Frankfort First Grader Wins Poetry Competition

Good day Frankfort! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Frankfort first grader earns statewide honor for powerful original poem
• Frankfort's Zion Gist battles for carries in Michigan State's crowded backfield

Also on today's calendar: Will County Recyclepalooza: Drop Off Unwanted Electronics, Household Hazardous Waste, and More and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 81 and low of 67 degrees.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, warm and humid, temps: high: 87, low: 69. 🌶 Hot!
• Monday: Clouds and sun; hot and humid, with a high of 92 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Frankfort First Grader Wins Poetry Competition (patch.com) — Frankfort families can celebrate first grader Louise McDonald of Grand Prairie Elementary, who has been named one of 39 statewide winners in the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. Her poem, chosen from more than a thousand submissions, explores personal themes alongside other young Illinois poets, and she'll share it at a September 19 celebration in Chicago.
   

• Michigan State football: Previewing the loaded RB room (spartanshadows.com) — Frankfort football fans may recognize Lincoln-Way East graduate Zion Gist, now a second-year running back fighting for depth chart snaps in Michigan State's crowded backfield. A detailed preview breaks down the Spartans' many running backs, transfer additions, and likely roles heading into the 2026 season opener, with Gist competing alongside several other young reserves.
   

📸 Around Frankfort

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Frankfort

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 12
• Will County Recyclepalooza: Drop Off Unwanted Electronics, Household Hazardous Waste, and More →
  New Lenox, IL,
  8:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday August 30
• 2026 Concerts on the Green - Outcast Jazz Band →
  Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Breidert Green Kansas and White streets, Historic Downtown Frankfort
  6:30 pm
• 2026 Concerts on the Green - Outcast Jazz Band →
  Breidert Green Park, Frankfort
  6:30 pm
Tuesday September 1
• Curriculum Night - Chelsea 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
  Frankfort CCSD 157C Frankfort, IL 60423
• FSP (Family School Partnership) Meeting 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  Frankfort CCSD 157C District Office Boardroom
  9:30 am
Thursday September 3
• One Day Only - Craig Bachman Fixture Sale →
  281 Ontario St, Frankfort
  8:00 am
Saturday September 5
• 58th Annual Frankfort Fall Festival! →
  123 Kansas St, Frankfort
  10:00 am
• Labor Day Weekend Tent Sale →
  20601 LaGrange Rd, Frankfort
  10:00 am
• Spaghetti-Eating Contest Championship →
  Frankfort Fall Festival, 123 Kansas St, Frankfort
  3:30 pm
Sunday September 6
• Orland Park Coin & Stamp Show →
  Orland Park Civic Center 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. Orland Park, IL
  10:00 am
• Labor Day Weekend Tent Sale →
  20601 LaGrange Rd, Frankfort
  10:00 am
Monday September 7
• Labor Day Weekend Tent Sale →
  20601 LaGrange Rd, Frankfort
  9:00 am

📣 Frankfort Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Frankfort PatchAM possible:

• The Curve Clinic PLLC — (815) 524-8945
• country concrete inc — (708) 476-0798
• Family Focus Travel — (630) 290-7059
• Clearway Exteriors — (866) 328-1110
• Will County Children's Advocacy Center — 815-774-4565
• Smile Obsession — 8155341779
• Dean's Greens Farmstand at Boley Farm — (708) 275-8353

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Obituary: David L. Stephenson —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
• Obituary: Hildegarde June Schildgen —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
• Obituary: Raul Gutierrez —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
• Hastings announces disaster assistance available to those impacted by summer storms —Matt Marshall Read on Patch
• Obituary: Gretchen M. (Grote) Mayall —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch

• PSG Global Solutions posted a job opening for Shift Lead in Frankfort. Apply here.
• Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Restaurant General Manager - Salary in Frankfort. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Frankfort here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mokena

• Man arrested in Mokena with Molotov cocktails now faces federal charges for destructive devices (chicagotribune.com)
• Obituary of David Stephenson (fredcdames.com)

Monee

• Smash-And-Grab Crew Hits Gaming Machines At Gas Station With Customers Inside: Monee Police (patch.com)

New Lenox

• New Lenox Safe Community Coalition Hosts 'Your Light Still Shines' Community Awareness Event (patch.com)

Ok Frankfort! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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