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.
Through this effort, the former correctional facility was transformed into a nationally recognized cultural destination.
Plainfield police notified Joliet that he was in custody on an unrelated case. Here's what police said he ate before lighting the fire.
Crews remained on the scene for 1 hour extinguishing hot spots and checking for extension. The structure did suffer extensive damage.
Hey! Hot Dog owner B.J. Uedelhofen, also a Shorewood area farmer, also will be opening his sweet corn stand open at 601 Ruby St.
Officers located an unresponsive 56-year-old man lying next to a bicycle in the southbound lanes of South Larkin Avenue.
Police said an armed security guard opened fire after seeing the suspect with a handgun, but the shooter remains at large.
It is expected that the mapping project will take 4-6 weeks to complete.
Reginald Holloway faces one aggravated battery crime and four counts of domestic battery after Joliet police arrested him over the weekend.
Defendant Ronald Meimers agreed the reason for the crash was because he was drinking, the petition to deny pretrial revealed pointed out.
The Joliet City Council will vote on the proposed budget amendment at Tuesday night's regular meeting.
The Joliet City Council will vote on the new liquor license at Tuesday night's meeting.
According to the Diocese of Joliet website, Father Anthony Nyamai was assigned to become the new parochial victor on July 1 at St. Mary's.
Back in 2022, Will County's prosecutors charged Dakota Smith for the March 6, 2019 death of Edward Strysik, who died from overdosing.
Merichka's Restaurant has been open for more than 93 years, but for the first time in forever, it will remain closed for the weekend.
A Joliet Bicycle Club annual membership is only $5 when someone bundles it with their registration for the upcoming July 4th ride.
Social Butterfly opened in the summer of 2025. It's located in the 3-TEN Building, at 310 N. Ottawa St.
Merichka's has been a legendary restaurant at 604 Theodore St. in Crest Hill since 1933.
Regardless of the intensity of any potential Thursday storms, cleanup will be extended at least through the end of next week.
HMD Trucking is suing the city of Joliet and state of Illinois in connection with the Feb. 21 deadly crash involving one of their drivers.
Police, Fire and Street Department crews say they are responding to the storm damage incidents as fast as they can.
