🌱 Patch AM: How did Yorkville balance road safety with saving 200-year-old oaks?

And on the Yorkville Patch calendar - Closest to the Pin Contest

By Patch AM Team, Patch Staff

Aug 20, 2026 1:48 AM CDT

Thursday August 20th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Yorkville! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

How did Yorkville balance road safety with saving 200-year-old oaks?
Where does Yorkville football land in the new IHSA playoff picture?

Also on today's calendar: Closest to the Pin Contest and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Thursday: Mostly sunny and less humid, with a high of 82 and low of 56 degrees.
Friday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., temps: high: 78, low: 60.
Saturday: Humid with a stray t-storm, with a high of 81 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Yorkville saving eight 200-year-old oak trees along Blackberry Oaks Golf Course; five trees will be cut down (shawlocal.com) — Yorkville officials have decided to cut five historic oaks and save eight along Blackberry Oaks Golf Course as part of the Kennedy Road expansion, while funding 50–100 new trees around town. The City Council dropped a planned guard rail, balancing IDOT safety standards with residents' concerns about preserving rare, centuries-old oaks near growing neighborhoods and a nearby school.

• Expanded playoff format leads to wildly different projected brackets (shawlocal.com) — Yorkville football is mentioned among schools hovering near the Class 8A/7A enrollment cutoff in a statewide look at IHSA's expanded playoff format. With far more teams qualifying and complex Chicago Public League rules, the projections show how enrollment shifts and three-year win trends could shape Yorkville's potential postseason path in 2026.

📸 Around Yorkville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Yorkville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Closest to the Pin Contest →
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2500 S Arbeiter Rd, Joliet
11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Stacy Antonel at The Law Office Pub & Music Hall →
The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S Bridge St, Yorkville
8:00 pm
Board of Education Meeting
Yorkville Community Unit School District Yorkville High School, 797 Game Farm Rd, Yorkville, IL 60560
7:00 pm
City Council Meeting →
Yorkville, IL Calendar, 651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville
7:00 pm
The Filthy Heathens →
The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S Bridge St, Yorkville
5:00 pm
Parents of Estranged Adult Children Support Group →
1246 N Bridge St, Yorkville
5:30 pm
Economic Development Committee →
Yorkville, IL Calendar, 651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville
6:00 pm
Uncover Hidden Gems & Classic Reads At Yorkville Public Library's Highly Anticipated Used Book Sale! →
Yorkville Public Library, 902 Game Farm Rd, Yorkville
9:00 am
New Fall Library Merch Fundraiser →
Yorkville Public Library, 902 Game Farm Rd, Yorkville
12:00 pm
Little Hopes →
The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S Bridge St, Yorkville
8:30 pm

📣 Yorkville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Baseball Home vs Indian Creek (PHS West Field) →
Plano Middle School Plano, IL 60545
4:30 pm
Softball Home vs Indian Creek (Reaper Softball Field) →
Plano Middle School Plano, IL 60545
4:30 pm
FREE Plano Food Pantry
P H Miller Elem School Plano, IL 60545
6:00 pm
Yorkville Boys Varsity Soccer @ Plano →
Plano High School, 704 W Abe St, Plano
4:30 pm

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 Yorkville PatchAM possible:

Paul L. Buddy Plumbing & Heating — (630) 896-4888
Farmers Insurance - Reid Agency — (630) 384-1008

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

Obituary: Antonio Martinez —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
Obituary: Anita C. Bottomley —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch
Obituary: Sharon Lucretia Parker-Love —Fred C. Dames Funeral Home Read on Patch

O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Retail Service Specialist in Yorkville. Apply here.
Grundy/Kendall HR Consortium posted a job opening for Assistant Boys Volleyball Coach (7th and 8th Grade) in Yorkville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Yorkville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Oswego

Cushman & Wakefield : Multifamily Advisory Group Brokers Sale of 280-Unit Apartment Community in Oswego, Illinois (marketscreener.com)
Thousands in Northwest Indiana Still Without Power as Storm Recovery Stretches Into a Second Week – [your]NEWS (yournews.com)

Montgomery

Hayrides, farm demonstrations at The Conservation Foundation's 20th Anniversary Day at the Farm Aug. 23 (shawlocal.com)

Aurora

2 Public High Schools In Aurora Rank Among 25 Best In IL (patch.com)
Aurora education efforts on lead in water (thevoice.us)

Ok Yorkville! 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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