I was born in Joliet and grew up across from Nowell Park on the city's far east-side where I delivered the Joliet Herald-News. I attended grade school at St. Mary Nativity on Broadway. Some of my favorite memories growing up revolve around St, Joseph's Park where I played Little League baseball and had several Catholic Youth Organization basketball games.
At 13, our family moved to Plainfield. By the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. As a teen, I made a few extra bucks as a sports stringer for The Plainfield Enterprise taking photos and covering Plainfield's high school football and basketball games.
I graduated with a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University. I have had a strong passion and commitment for public service journalism ever since. I am grateful to have covered so many different places throughout the greater Midwest.
After college, I worked for The South Bend Tribune, the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Omaha World-Herald and on the statewide investigative team for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, where I was based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton for five years.
I'm thrilled to be joining Patch as the Joliet Editor at this point in time when more and more people prefer to access their local news through web-only platforms and mobile devices.
Joliet and Will County always seem to have a lot of news going on, and I will do my best to bring you a superior news product.
Joliet police revealed it was initially reported that Reonah Epting went missing from out of state, but she may be in the Joliet area.
"Their devotion to one another was unwavering, making their passing within days of one another unsurprising."
Joliet's news radio station broke the news revealing how nine hot rods were stolen from the Joliet hotels along Houbolt Road.
McDermott’s leadership role begins formally on August 6 upon the retirement of current Provost Dr. Beth Roth.
The residents were not home at the time of the fire.
On Sunday night, a patron of The Pub in Morris along Gore Road suffered life-threatening injuries after a violent confrontation took place.
The victim states they swallowed a chunk of meth and needed help, Shorewood's police department indicated.
A vehicle crashed through The UPS Store in Shorewood on Monday around 2:30 p.m. severely injuring one employee in the store on Route 52.
Reach out to the Family Support Hotline to report any suspicious activity you see at 855-435-7693, Warehouse Workers for Justice advised.
Jason Bingham lay on the ground and refused to comply with commands to stand, Joliet police said.
Morris police responded to The Pub on Sunday night just before midnight.
Responding Joliet police officers were advised that the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle.
Due to injuries sustained during a fall, Joliet's Fire Department brought Kelvyn Flores Calvillo to Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Donald Green Jr. is the latest Joliet criminal defendant to lose his SAFE-T Act hearing in front of Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins.
The State's Attorney's Office has accused Kenneth Wicevic, 65, of entering the site with the intent of committing a theft of scrap metal.
Sunday's fire happened in Joliet around sunrise.
Thursday's lawsuit was filed in Will County by attorney Thomas Geoghegan of the Chicago law firm Despres, Schwartz & Geoghegan.
Joliet police say the officers immediately began working to disperse the crowd and de-escalate the disturbance.
The Will County Sheriff's Office captured 51-year-old Tonya Veenstra. She comes from the 2000 block of Wilmington's Roberts Street.
Joliet police officers will maintain a consistent presence downtown, including in and around the Joliet City Square.
