slides into third base ahead of a tag from Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cody Freitas during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Thursday
Essenburg led the game off with an opposite field home run that set the tone for the Warriors (16-5, 6-4) in a 6-3 win to earn a series split between a pair of SWSC teams looking to repeat last year’s Class 4A Sweet 16 runs.
“Honestly, we took it really personally,” Essenburg said of Monday’s game. “We were looking forward to this game for the rest of the week.”
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 9Bradley-Bourbonnais' Kason Bynum, right, fields a pickoff throw at second base as Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg dives back during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
Thursday gave the Warriors their fourth win in their last five games, including their second in as many days after handling Downers Grove North 8-0 Wednesday, with Essenburg’s leadoff homer giving them a lead they held throughout Thursday.
The Kentucky commit knew he needed to give the Warriors an early jolt and said he knew just how to do it when he took Liam Martin’s 3-1 offering over the right-center field fence.
“I went up to my coach and said, ‘Hey, right-center gap, I’m putting it over,’ and then I did it,” Essenburg said. “Obviously we got a lot of energy from that that really helped out.”
Martin settled in for the Boilers (15-7, 4-4), as the leadoff homer was the only earned run he allowed in four-plus innings of work. But thanks to a trio of unearned runs, including two more in the top of the fifth immediately after allowing an unearned run of their own that halved their lead to 2-1 in the fourth, Warriors southpaw Michael Pettit was still spotted solid run support.
He didn’t need much, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, a walk and four strikeouts in 5⅓ innngs. Essenburg said he and Pettit worked on his curveball earlier in the week – work that was evident on Thursday.
“I was helping him with his curveball earlier in the week and it definitely showed,” Essenburg said. “He was definitely able to throw that for strikes today and I was proud of him. He did a great job today on both sides; he swung it well today too.”
Lincoln-Way West's Michael Pettit throws a pitch during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The Boilers were poised for a big fifth inning, opening it with three straight singles from Jace Boudreau, Kason Bynum and Freitas. But on Freitas’ knock to left field, West left fielder Peyton Grobke delivered a missile to catcher Owen Weber, who delivered a tag on Boudreau as he slid in.
The Boilers were able to get a run to cut it to 4-2 on Mason Shaul’s groundout later in the inning, but Warriors head coach Jake Zajc knew that damage could have been much larger had it not been for Grobke’s dart.
“I was actually looking for us to keep the guy from going to second to third, and then when it went through, a great throw by Payton and a great catch and tag by Owen Weber,” Zajc said. “Just a huge momentum turn. That was probably the pivotal point of the game there, so that was awesome.”
Sam Frey’s sacrifice fly brought Ellis Johnson home to narrow the deficit to 4-3, but the Warriors once again responded when Ian Hazelip’s single and Essenburg’s bases-loaded walk brought home a pair to give reliever Anthony Vita a little breathing room before closing things off.
While their comeback bid was denied Thursday, Boilers coach Brad Schweigert saw the same fight he saw in Monday’s late-game victory, a quality he’s confident can help them out down the stretch.
“We’re just a gritty team,” Schweigert said. “We know we’re not gonna give up on ourselves. We know we can keep putting up runs and just have a never-say-die mentality.”
Essenburg finished the day 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks. Vita had an RBI triple, walked and allowed a hit in 1⅔ scoreless innings of relief.
Kason Bynum went 4 for 4 with a run to tally half of the Boilers’ eight hits. Martin’s final line read four runs (one earned) on three hits and six walks in four-plus innings.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Bradley-Bourbonnais 1, Benet 0: Lydia Hammond’s two-hit, 13-strikeout shutout allowed the Boilermakers (14-8-1) to win the first game of their host Battle at the Brickyard after Hammond herself hit a walk-off double to score Bristol Schriefer in the bottom of the ninth.
Herscher 10, Gardner-South Wilmington 7: The Tigers (14-9) were down 7-1 before a six-run fifth turned the tide. Keira Ahramovich was 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and a run. RyLyn Adams and Anistin Hackley each had two hits as well, with Adams scoring three runs. Hackley allowed five earned runs on eight hits, nine walks and six strikeouts in a complete game.
Maddie Simms and Kayla Schueber each had three hits for the Panthers (13-9). Schueber had four RBIs and Simms scored twice. Liv Siano had an RBI triple and scored twice.
Donovan 12, St. Anne 1: Donovan improved to 7-8 and 4-5 in the River Valley Conference by plating five first-inning runs and never looking back. Bailey Henneike was 3 for 4 with a home run, three runs and three RBIs. Chloe Ponton hit a solo homer. Lily Anderson was 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Laylah Lou Walters went the distance in the circle, allowing an earned run on five hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Jovi Kunsch had an RBI triple for the Cardinals (2-9, 1-5).
Watseka 14, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 3: Sarah Parsons was spotted plenty of run support Friday, as she allowed three unearned runs on two hits, a walk and four strikeouts in a six-inning complete game for the Warriors (4-12, 1-4 VVC). Parsons also had three hits and scored three runs. Emma Klopp was 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs. Christa Holohan was 2 for 3 with a double, three runs and three RBIs.
Bismarck-Henning 8, Milford-Cissna Park 3: The Bearcats (11-8, 2-5 VVC) totaled 11 hits, but could only push across three runs Friday. Lillie Harris was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. Addison Lucht doubled and scored twice. Just two of the eight runs Kami Muehling allowed were earned in her complete game.
Armstrong 13, Iroquois West 3: The Raiders fell to 6-11 and 1-4 in the VVC Friday. Amelia Scharp, Jordyn Meents and Autumn Miller had two hits apiece, with Meents scoring twice and Miller driving in a pair.
Bishop McNamara 2, Aurora Christian 1: Coen Demack’s fourth-inning single scored Braylon Ricketts for the go-ahead run in the first of two five-inning games between the Chicagoland Christian Conference rivals. Callaghan O’Connor’s first-inning RBI single brought Jacob Lotz home. Preston Payne allowed an earned run on six hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in a complete game.
Bishop McNamara 7, Aurora Christian 2: The Fightin’ Irish improved to 15-6 and 8-3 in the CCC with Friday’s sweep. Jacob Lotz was 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and a run. Callaghan O’Connor was 2 for 3 with an RBI at the plate. On the mound, he threw all five innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts.
Herscher 4, Beecher 0: Herscher improved to 22-4 behind Brock Berns’ five-hit shutout Friday. Berns also doubled for the games’ lone extra-base hit. Gaige Brown had an RBI single and scored. Logan Egerton added an RBI single.
Steven Fezler pitched a complete game for the Bobcats (9-11), allowing four earned runs on five hits, five walks and a strikeout.
Peotone 12, Hillcrest 2: The Blue Devils (8-13) scored five runs in the second and five more in the fifth to earn a 10-run rule win. Joe Hasse was 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Andrew Barta had a three-hit day that included a run and an RBI. Josh Barta and Tyler Leitelt each had two hits, two runs and an RBI. Lincoln Tierney allowed two runs (one earned) in a four-hit complete game.
Watseka 4, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 3: A two-run top of the second wound up being the difference for the Warriors (5-10). Andrew Shoemaker was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Austin Morris and James Newell each had two hits and scored a run. Ethan Price went 4 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits, five walks and six strikeouts.
Iroquois West 7, Armstrong 4: The Raiders improved to 9-9 and 3-4 in the Vermilion Valley Conference Friday. Rylan Pfeifer was 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. Izzy Alvarez was 2 for 3 with a double, three runs and an RBI. Mario Andrade had a two-run single and scored. Pfeifer pitched the first four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, seven walks and four strikeouts.
Dwight 7, Gardner-South Wilmington 0: The Millettes combined for all three of the Gardner-South Wilmington (6-11) hits Friday. Reed was 2 for 4 and also allowed four unearned runs on four hits, a walk and three strikeouts in three innings. Ryan Millette was 1 for 3.
Bismarck-Henning 8, Milford 4: The Bearcats slipped to 10-11 and 3-4 in the VVC. Gage Vogel doubled and scored. Hixon Lafond singled and scored. Lucas Summers allowed four earned runs on four hits, a walk and two strikeouts in 4 ⅓ innings.
Oakwood 17, Cissna Park 0: Skyler Estay, Jream Renteria and Austin Kaeb had hits for Cissna Park (2-15, 1-9 VVC).
Kankakee 3, Beecher 1: The Kays stayed perfect in Southland Athletic Conference play, improving to 13-5 (8-0). No individual stats were immediately available for either team. Beecher fell to 10-10 (4-4).
Wilmington 9, Rich Township 0: Alaina Clark had quite a day, finishing with four goals and three assists to power the Wildcats (5-8). Addison Van Duyne, Kailyn Motykowski, Audrey Powlick and Hannah Basinger also scored, and Mayah Sanchez had an assist.
ExpandA Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 bus waits to pick up students
BOURBONNAIS – Classes have been canceled today for Bourbonnais Elementary School District students following the theft of the catalytic converters from the school buses
“Officers were called to the bus garage this morning for theft of catalytic converters,” Bourbonnais interim Police Chief Dave Anderson said in a text message to the Daily Journal.
Police were still on scene, Anderson said.
The school posted the announcement about 7 a.m. Thursday on Facebook:
Due to an issue at our transportation center, our entire fleet of buses has been left inoperable. School will be closed for today, April 24, 2025. Further communication will be sent out later today.”
Anderson said 21 buses, which is the district’s fleet, were damaged. The buses were all outside at the district’s bus maintenance facility along Career Center Road near the Liberty Intermediate school.
One catalytic converter was recovered at the scene.
Anderson noted the facility is gated and security cameras monitor the site.
He said it appeared entry to the site was gained by digging under the fence and cutting the fence.
The value of catalytic converters is the copper which they contain. The copper can be redeemed at scrapyards.
Anderson said scrapyard operators have been made aware of this situation.
In February, the Troy School District in Joliet had the catalytic converters of 30 school buses taken, according to media reports.
ExpandBradley-Bourbonnais' LyZale Edmon secures first place for the Kays in the boys 4x100 relay during the All-City meet at Kankakee High School on Monday
And Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Malachi Lee wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s really competitive, but that’s how I like it,” Lee said. “When it’s competitive, it gives me that motivation and drive to push even harder.”
That push and drive was evident Monday, not just in Lee, the top-ranked long jumper in Class 3A who was victorious at All-City (6.99 meters), but in all of his teammates as well. The Boilermakers won four of the five field events and got the best out of one of the most competitive boys track fields in quite some time. That allowed them to run away with the All-City crown with 102 points, topping the host Kays (44) and Bishop McNamara (30).
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 17Bradley-Bourbonnais' Kyler Savini leads the pack in the boys 3200 meters during the All-City meet at Kankakee High School on Monday, April, 28, 2025. Savini placed first with a time of 10:46 as the Boilermakers claimed the top five spots in the event. (Tiffany Blanchette)
With Monday serving as the final meet of April, the track and field season is quickly reaching the postseason in coming weeks, culminating with state the last weekend in May. After coming back from last year’s Class 3A State Finals empty-handed, Monday’s display was the Boilers’ mark of hungry progress this spring.
Fortunately for McLain and the Boilers, they were able to get bragging rights on the team level. In addition to Lee’s long jump title, they got throwing wins from Joel Morrical in the shot put (14.93) and Tyrell Berry in the discus (44.57) and a win from Brayden Douglas in the triple jump (11.14).
Lee said that his development into one of the top contenders in the long jump this season has stemmed from hard work, especially on his technique in the air and trust in God.
“You’ve gotta keep God by your side, keep praying. Before every jump, I ask God to provide me with motivation, protect me from injuries and give me confidence in my jump,” Lee said. “And I work hard, too.”
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Malachi Lee leaps during the long jump at the All-City track and field meet at Kankakee Monday, April 28, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
On the track, blossoming college football recruit Lyzale Edmon swept the 100 meters (11.47) and 200 (22.60). Sully Westover won the 800 (2:01.40) and freshman Kyler Savini was victorious in his first All-City in the 3,200 (10:46.43). Jamir Burt won the 110 hurdles (17.16), while the 4x100 of Seth Teague, Isaac Allison, Jordan Fitch and Edmon also won with the unit’s fastest time of the year (42.56).
Kankakee recorded wins from Philip Turner in the 400 (52.37), Clifton Martin in the 300 hurdles (41.27), Dominic White in the high jump (1.85) and from their 4x200 (Zyair Turner, Cedric Terrell III, Martin, Zyon Turner; 1:29.94) and 4x400 (Martin, Zyair Turner, Philip Turner, Zyon Turner; 3:24.94).
Martin and Zyon Turner were two of the seniors the Kays honored after the meet, the last two members of the team’s 2022 Class 2A State championship team and two of the 12 Kays on the boys and girls teams that were recognized, the largest of coach Marques Lowe’s seven senior classes at Kankakee.
Kankakee's Zyon Turner nears the finish line as the anchor on the first-place winning 4x200 meter relay at the All-City track and field meet at Kankakee Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
“I’m super excited for them,” Lowe said. “A lot of them are going to schools they didn’t know they could go to, and their dreams are big.”
McNamara’s Justice Provost won the 1,600 (4:51.29) and was joined by Sebastian Cortes, Jack Purcell and David Quigley on the first-place 4x800 team (8:51.25).
Even though they were shorthanded, down a few girls and sprinter Willie Felton on the boys side, distance coach Jose Martinez was thrilled with how the Irish looked in a crowded field.
“I’m pleased with how the guys did and the girls as well,” Martinez said. “To come out here and compete while missing some pieces, I can’t complain about anything. We had a good effort out there today.”
2025 at 9:14 pm CDTExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 9Bradley-Bourbonnais' Kason Bynum
fields a pickoff throw at second base as Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg dives back during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Thursday
Mason SchweizerMason Schweizer joined the Daily journal as a sports reporter in 2017 and was named sports editor in 2019. Aside from his time at the University of Illinois and Wayne State College, Mason is a lifelong Kankakee County resident.
ExpandA Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 bus waits to pick up students. (Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS – Bourbonnais Elementary students were back in class Friday after the theft of catalytic converters from 21 school buses forced a district-wide closure Thursday.
Borrowing buses from nearby districts, District 53 was able to secure transportation to bring students to school on Friday morning.
The district also worked with its suppliers and mechanics so its own buses could be back up and running for Friday afternoon routes.
“We are happy to report that this afternoon we’ll be running all of our own buses,” Superintendent Adam Ehrman said Friday. “By 2 p.m. this afternoon, we’ll have all our own buses operating as normal, ready to go.”
He said that getting replacement catalytic converters located, secured, shipped and immediately installed was a team effort that amounted to a “logistical Mount Everest.”
“What we thought was going to be a weeklong issue has now been resolved the next day,” Ehrman said.
He said he couldn’t offer enough thanks to the districts that helped by lending the buses.
The districts responded to Bourbonnais’ request immediately, with some even reaching out to offer assistance before calls were placed.
“Ultimately, being able to build on those partner relationships was huge for us,” Ehrman said. “It makes you really appreciative of the community environment, and the greater community beyond just Bourbonnais.”
District 53 received support from the following school districts and companies:
District 53 plans to return the borrowed buses after filling their tanks with fuel, Ehrman said. Small tokens of appreciation will also be sent to their transportation departments.
“Their quick action and generosity made it possible for us to have school as planned today, and it’s a true reflection of the strength and partnership within our educational community,” he said. “We are grateful beyond words.”
Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Dave Anderson said Friday that police were still reviewing security surveillance footage from the incident, which occurred at the district’s bus maintenance facility along Career Center Road near Liberty Intermediate School.
Investigators are looking at any possibility of local people or someone from out of the area for suspects, he said.
“We have heard of thefts like this over the last several years,” Anderson said. “A couple years ago, some other buses in the area got hit. They were just random, like one or two, but to this scale [this hasn’t happened before], at least not in our area.”
Anderson said it appeared entry to the site was gained by digging under the fence and cutting the fence.
Scrapyard operators have been made aware of this situation, as thieves often attempt to redeem the value of copper from catalytic converters.
District 53’s fleet has 24 full 77-passenger buses and other vehicles and transports more than 1,900 students each day, meaning about 82% of its student population relies on bus transportation.
“I think it’s kind of a sobering moment for all districts as they start thinking about – what happens if it’s them?” Ehrman said. “I think we’re probably going to have a lot of strategic conversations.”
ExpandBourbonnais Trustee Jeff Keast has claimed the village's mayoral position. (Provided by Jeff Keast)
BOURBONNAIS — Jeff Keast will be changing titles as a member of the Bourbonnais village government.
On Tuesday, Keast, currently a trustee and member of the Bourbonnais Citizens Party, defeated People’s Choice Party candidate David Zinanni in the mayoral contest.
Unofficial results showed Keast with 1,863 votes (59%) to Zinanni’s 1,291 (41%).
Keast is replacing current longtime Mayor Paul Schore, who he defeated in February’s primary. Schore was running for his fifth term.
Keast has been a member of the village’s board of trustees for 10 years. He is chairman of the board’s Economic and Community Development Committee.
“There is a lot of work ahead,” Keast said. “The top two things on the list are to get a police chief in place and concentrate on the growth of the village.”
Zinanni is the president of the Bourbonnais Township Park District Board of Commissioners.
“We came up short but we made people think about the village’s future,” Zinanni said.
The remainder of the Bourbonnais Citizens Party — clerk Brian Simeur and trustees Bruce Greenlee, Rick Fischer and Angie Serafini — all were re-elected.
ExpandBourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore is honored with a sign presented by Assistant Administrator Laurie Cyr, right, designating the street Schore lives on, Blanchette, as Honorary Paul Schore Avenue at the village board meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Jeff Bonty)
BOURBONNAIS – It was proclaimed Mayor Paul Schore Day on Monday in the village of Bourbonnais.
The long-serving trustee and current mayor presided over his final regular meeting of the Village Board on Monday.
Fellow Bourbonnais Citizens Party member Jeff Keast takes over in May.
Of course, there were ordinances and resolutions to be approved, as well as department leadership reports. But the focus was on the 28 years that Schore has given to serve the residents of the village of Friendship.
Before a standing-room-only crowd of about 80 people in the board conference room, administrators, trustees, department heads, a former state representative, a friend or two, his wife Mary and his son Matt put into words what Schore has meant to the village and to them.
Assistant Administrator Laurie Cyr presented Schore with a framed seal of Bourbonnais that was made out of photos of him at events during his year in office.
She also presented him with a street sign, designating the street he lives on, Blanchette Avenue, as Honorary Paul Schore Avenue.
Cyr recalled being with the mayor when they were in the basement of a house where logs from the first schoolhouse in Kankakee County were recovered.
“There was a house that stood at the corner of 493 S. Main St. There was always talk that we knew that there were logs inside of that house, but we just didn’t know how much was there,” Cyr said while reading prepared remarks. “You and I stood inside of that house when we broke through the plaster and finally got a chance to go down into that basement. And you looked at me and said, ‘We got one chance to save this, kid.’
“And I had demolished a lot of parking lots. I’ve demolished a lot of buildings. But this was the one time that you pushed me, and I drove PSI crazy as we took a house apart.
“And on a cold November day, there were logs that stood on that corner and saw the light for the first time since 1840. We called the Daily Journal that day to get them to come out and take pictures. And it made the second page of the paper because a Burger King opened in another community.”
Eleven years later, the refurbished schoolhouse opened next to George R. Letourneau Home and Museum.
Fourth-grade classes from Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 have toured the home to get a glimpse of what school was like back then.
A big Chicago Bears fan, Schore was mayor when the Bears held their summer training camp from 2002 through 2019 before moving the camp to the Bears’ facility, Halas Hall in Lake Forest.
Packers fan Scott Seaton brought that up during his comments.
Seaton ribbed Schore about the fact the Packers have dominated the Bears in recent years.
“They always left here undefeated,” Schore said.
Like Schore, Seaton was involved in Boy Scouts and became a Scoutmaster just like Schore, who began his association with the organization more than 30 years ago.
“My son is an Eagle Scout. I’ve seen maybe dozens of boys become Eagle Scouts, and it made a difference in their lives forever. They will never be changed – never – never changed from being an Eagle Scout.
“A lot had to do with what you did with them and taught them. So thanks again. Thank you, Mayor,” Seaton said.
Members of Scout Troop 324 brought in the flags to start the meeting. They also gave Schore a plaque for all he has done for Scouting, including hosting Scout Week annually.
Schore’s wife, Mary, shed tears during her remarks, which were heard during public comment.
“I am so proud of your leadership and your service. I wasn’t going to cry. You love this village,” she said. “You have lived here your whole life. And you deserve everything that people have said tonight. So thank you for all your service and everything that you’ve done for the village of Bourbonnais.”
Schore’s son, Matt, thanked the trustees for being part of his dad’s journey.
“It’s by the work that you all have done and ... you felt passionate about this village and about moving it forward and doing things with integrity and class,” Matt said. “And you did it the right way. Thank you so much for being a great leader here. Dad, you really showed how to do it correctly for not only my kids, but for so many other young people that grew up here in the village of Bourbonnais.”
Local politician and former state Rep. Lisa Dugan summed it up best.
Although she didn’t live in Bourbonnais, she said working with Schore was a pleasure. He did what was good for the county.
“I only want to say to those who may not know it, those who may not understand or understand what it takes to do this job, they never took the time to know you. Because you are the most committed, honest mayor I’ve ever known,” Dugan said. “So, thank you for what you’ve done for the village of Bourbonnais. Because it also has enhanced the entire county of Kankakee.”
ExpandBourbonnais Elementary School District 53 (Shaw Local News Network)
BOURBONNAIS – Five members swore an oath to continue to serve on the Bourbonnais Elementary School Board this week.
There will be no new faces on the board, however, as all who earned seats in the April 1 consolidated election were incumbents.
Officer positions will also remain the same.
During its Tuesday reorganization meeting, the board voted to keep longtime member Jayne Raef in her role as board president.
Stephan Moulton will also keep his role as vice president, and Kelly Dunnill will remain secretary.
“Because it was the same board members, it was probably the easiest reorganizational meeting I’ve had,”said Superintendent Adam Ehrman. “Same board members, same people in the same positions.”
The canvassed returns from Kankakee County Clerk Dan Hendrickson, which were certified April 15, showed the final vote tallies for all six candidates running for four-year terms, as well as the unopposed candidate seeking a two-year term.
A total of 3,701 votes were counted in the race for the four-year terms.
The top vote earners were: Jamie Freedlund (2,225 votes), Erika Young (2,221 votes), Betsy Keller (2,055 votes) and Stephan Moulton (1,748 votes).
The two challengers – Kevin Haberzetle (1,312 votes) and Fredda Rodewald (1,176 votes) – did not earn enough votes to unseat any of the incumbents.
Brian Fritz was appointed to the board in June 2023. He filled the vacancy left after former member Nicole McCarty did not run for reelection.
Fritz ran unopposed to complete the unexpired two-year term, bringing in a total of 2,619 votes.
Along with Fritz, the terms of Raef and Dunnill will expire in 2027.
ExpandBourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore speaks during the Bourbonnais village board meeting on Oct. 7, 2024. Schore was upended in Tuesday's primary election by Trustee Jeff Keast in his quest to gain a fifth mayoral term. (Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS — The village of Bourbonnais will have a new mayor after the April 1 consolidated general election.
Trustee Jeff Keast soundly defeated four-term incumbent Mayor Paul Schore in Tuesday’s Bourbonnais Citizens Party primary race.
According to unofficial results, Keast finished with 1,061 votes (60.7%) to Schore’s 686 votes (39.3%).
Just 15% of registered voters in Bourbonnais — of which there are 11,057 — voted in the village’s first-ever primary.
“I’m in awe of the moment, but we have another election to campaign for and win,” Keast said. “We have to bring together the Bourbonnais Citizens Party and work to win an election on April 1.”
Keast will face David Zinanni of the People’s Choice Party in the April 1 mayoral election. Zinanni currently is on the Board of Commissioners of the Bourbonnais Township Park District.
Keast’s victory brings to an end Schore’s 28 years of serving as a trustee and mayor; he was mayor for the past 17 years.
Schore conceded the race at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. At the time he conceded, three precincts were still out and he was trailing by about 250 votes.
“The people voted and this is what they wanted,” Schore said.
“I worked to serve the people. I have lived in this village my entire life. I’ve seen this small village grow into something bigger. I was here to serve the village and its constituents,” Schore said.
This is the third time Schore and Keast faced off in the mayoral race.
Schore defeated Keast in the 2017 mayoral election. Keast was already on the board as a trustee. In April 2013, Schore had defeated Keast.
In both previous campaigns, Keast ran as an independent.
Schore said now it is time to get the three incumbent Bourbonnais Citizens Party trustees — Bruce Greenlee, Rick Fischer and Angie Serafini — and incumbent clerk Brian Simeur re-elected.
They are facing challenges from People’s Choice Party candidates Dondi Maricle, Lindsey Patterson and Mark Steelman. Khamseo “Kym” Nelson is the party’s candidate for clerk.
“There is still something left to do. We have to work to get our trustees and clerk re-elected,” Schore said. “These are good, honest people who have integrity.”
ExpandDavid Zinanni (Photo provided by David Zinanni)
Retired Deputy Sheriff of Kankakee County and current Board of Commissioners (Board President) of the Bourbonnais Township Park District (BTPD)
Board of Commissioners - President of the Bourbonnais Township Park District (BTPD)
Board member (Chair) River Valley Special Recreation
Bishop McNamara High School - Graduated (1982)
Kankakee Community College (KCC)
Northwestern Illinois University (Staff and Command)
Married with 5 children and 12 grandchildren.
The most glaring weakness of the Village of Bourbonnais governmental entity is administrative apathy and their persistent catering to special interest groups and friends of the administration and board. Decisions are based on what is best for a self-serving agenda at taxpayers’ expense. Political cronyism runs rampant in this administration, and taxpayers’ needs are not heard or recognized. A more aggressive approach to economic development is needed for the 6000 N. I57 corridor.
As mayor, my administration and police department would follow all applicable federal and state laws regarding this issue.
My top priorities are: 1) Reduce the tax burden on the Village residents. 2) Public safety and attaining a correct ratio of police officers to residents. 3) Enhanced economic development.
As mayor, I will implement a feasibility study to determine the need for more public transportation. There is a need to enhance public transit for seniors and college students at Olivet Nazarene University. Additionally, I would work with our local transit agency, River Valley Metro, and the Illinois Department of Transportation to apply for local grants to expand necessary services for our residents.
The current administration is rife with conflicts of interest and not disclosing actual or potential conflicts of interest. As mayor, I would implement an annual policy disclosing any actual or potential conflicts of interest. We all work for the taxpayers and should conduct ourselves ethically and legally in our elected office as well as the administration of our duties.
ExpandA voter casts their ballot at Bourbonnais Municipal Building in Nov. 2022. There will be seven polling places open for early voting ahead of the Feb. 25 primary election day, with some voters using a different location for the primary. (Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS – Early voting continues for the Feb. 25 consolidated primary election.
The only race is for the Bourbonnais Citizens Party’s mayoral candidate.
It pits current Mayor Paul Schore against Trustee Jeff Keast. Schore is seeking a fifth term.
Schore and Keast are both members of the Bourbonnais Citizens Party.
This is the third time the two have faced off in the mayoral race.
Schore defeated Keast in the 2017 mayoral election. Keast was already on the board as a trustee. In April 2013, Schore defeated Keast.
The Feb. 25 primary winner will face Dave Zinnani, the Bourbonnais Township Park District board president, of the People’s Choice Party, in the April 1 consolidated general election.
Only voters in the village of Bourbonnais are eligible to cast a ballot.
Kankakee County Clerk Dan Hendrickson said that as of Thursday, 84 early votes have been cast.
Early voting continues through Feb. 24 in the county clerk’s office in the Kankakee County Administration Building at 189 E. Court St. in Kankakee.
Voting takes place during normal office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The office will be open for early voting from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 22.
There will be seven polling places open. Some voters will be voting in a different location for the primary.
• Village of Bourbonnais voters residing in Manteno No. 5 will cast their ballot at Cornerstone Church, 855 W. 5000N Road in Bourbonnais.
• Village of Bourbonnais voters residing in Bourbonnais No. 12 will cast their ballots at the Municipal Building (downstairs), at 700 Main St. NW in Bourbonnais.
• Village of Bourbonnais voters residing in Bourbonnais No. 17 will cast their ballot at The Grow Center, 310 Main St. NW in Bourbonnais.
County Clerk Dan Hendrickson said affected voters will be receiving a postcard this week informing them of this relocation. This is in effect only for the consolidated primary election.
Those with questions can call the clerk’s office at 815-937-2990.
ExpandAlexis McCullough, 17, of Bourbonnais, stands in front of the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, which she successfully completed for her Eagle Scout project, during the dedication ceremony at Marcotte Park in Bourbonnais on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS – The images on the back of the newly-erected Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Marcotte Park symbolize four ideals of military service – homeland, family, patriot and sacrifice.
Though all of the concepts hold significance, one image etched into the black-granite surface is closer to Alexis McCullough’s heart than the rest.
The image representing “family” shows Alexis as a little girl walking hand-in-hand with her dad, Col. Mark McCullough, in his Army uniform.
Col. McCullough died in October 2019, ushering Alexis into the network of Gold Star families just shy of her 12th birthday, and eventually, inspiring her pursuit of the monument for her Eagle Scout service project.
“This moment means more than I could fully ever express with words,” the 17 year old said to a crowd of over 150 gathered for a dedication ceremony on Saturday.
Alexis McCullough, 17, of Bourbonnais, is seen through the cutout in the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, which she successfully completed for her Eagle Scout project, following the dedication ceremony at Marcotte Park in Bourbonnais on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette)
Holding her other hand in the image is her mom, Cassandra, her biggest cheerleader and support system through the process of fundraising more than $120,000 for the monument and surrounding landscaping.
Holding back tears during an emotional speech, McCullough said the monument represents a special area in the community, much like her father’s grave in Texas, which she hasn’t yet had the opportunity to visit.
Currently a Life Scout in Boy Scouts of America Troop 319G in St. George, McCullough said her service project — a necessary step in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout — became a journey of “reflection, remembrance and deep gratitude.”
“It is my sincere hope that this is a space where we can honor the memory, have a sanctuary, a place of peace, and respect those in our village who have endured the loss of a loved one,” she said.
Several others spoke to the significance of the memorial before its unveiling, including local veterans advocates and community officials.
Alexis McCullough, 17, of Bourbonnais, wipes away a tear as her mother, Cassandra, at left, applauds with the crowd as she is introduced to speak at the dedication ceremony for the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Bourbonnais, which she successfully completed for her Eagle Scout project, on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette)
Steve Whitehead, director of development for the Woody Williams Foundation, said the nonprofit was started as a grassroots organization to honor, recognize and serve Gold Star families.
Woody Williams was a World War II veteran who served in the Marine Corps and received a Congressional Medal of Honor.
Williams initially worked with Gold Star mothers but eventually expanded his reach to helping all family members affected by loss.
“Woody dedicated his life to recognizing those who had fallen, those who had served, those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Whitehead said.
The first monument was established in Williams’ home state of West Virginia, but there are now more than 140 across all 50 states.
The Bourbonnais monument was one of two unveiled in the region on Saturday, with another monument also dedicated in Watseka.
“Today is a beautiful example, I believe, of the patriotism and the appreciation we have in this country,” Whitehead said.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe said the community is proud of what McCullough was able to accomplish.
“Many of us know how hard it can be to raise funds locally, and you took that challenge on and you succeeded,” Rowe said. “What you’ve done here for Kankakee County, for all the Gold Star families, is simply amazing.”
Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore, a former Scoutmaster, said he has talked with likely hundreds of Scouts about their service projects over the years, and none have been as ambitious or costly.
Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore speaks during the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument dedication ceremony at Marcotte Park in Bourbonnais on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The project was planned and fundraised for by 17-year-old Alexis McCullough, of Bourbonnais, for her Eagle Scout project in honor of her father, Col. Mark McCullough. (Tiffany Blanchette)
The village partnered with McCullough to select a location and plan for the monument.
“She came in and sat down and had a three-ring binder to hand me with everything listed and spelled out in there,” he recalled. “Now, I meet with development people about multi-million-dollar projects that didn’t come in as organized as Alexis did.”
Schore noted that only a small percentage of Scouts ever complete the rank of Eagle Scout, and those who do so have earned it.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is not a situation where participation trophies are given.
“I’ve never seen a project to this magnitude as an Eagle project,” Schore said. “We are so thrilled to have it here in the village of Bourbonnais and in the county. This is bigger than just here.”
Eric Peterson, superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County and the CEO of Project Headspace and Timing, read a letter of congratulations sent from Gov. JB Pritzker.
“Illinois is proud to have enjoyed your service to our state,” Pritzker’s letter read. “As you reflect on your accomplishments, I urge you to make plans for the future that will build on your past successes. I am grateful for all the ways your efforts have supported a strong future for Illinois.”
Eric Peterson, superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County and the CEO of Project Headspace and Timing, speaks during the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument dedication ceremony at Marcotte Park in Bourbonnais on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The project was planned and fundraised for by 17-year-old Alexis McCullough, left, of Bourbonnais, for her Eagle Scout project in honor of her father, Col. Mark McCullough. (Tiffany Blanchette)
Peterson said the Gold Star concept goes back to World War I, when families would hang small flags called service banners in their windows containing blue stars for every family member in uniform.
If a service member died in combat or service, the family would change the blue star to a gold star. The gold color symbolized sacrifice.
Over the years, the idea grew into the concept of Gold Star families, which refers to families who have lost a loved one in military service.
“The gold star is still a very honored and sacred symbol,” Peterson said. “It represents sacrifice, honor and loss, and it reminds people that military service can sometimes come at the ultimate cost.”
Peterson also recalled his excitement to meet with McCullough upon first hearing about her project idea.
“I was incredibly eager to see a passion to serve those who have served that rivals my own,” he said. “After our first meeting, I knew that this day would come after seeing the passion in Alexis’ eyes and the unconditional love and support of her mother, Cassandra. I genuinely believe that many mountains can be moved that way.”
ExpandBourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore walks along the sidewalk at the new Bourbonnais community campus, The Grove, which open in June of 2024, during his last week in office on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS – Paul Schore had his first brush with politics as a 10-year-old.
He helped his father, Bernard, put up election posters in the village.
Back in the 1960s, Schore’s father was the part-time police chief for the village, which was far from its population growth in the late 1980s and forward.
His father and mother, Marie, built a home on West River Street.
Little did Schore know the impact he would have on the former sleepy, little village for the past 28 years.
In May, Schore’s 17-year run as mayor concludes, when he hands over the gavel to fellow Bourbonnais Citizens Party member Jeff Keast.
Keast defeated Schore in the February primary followed by dispatching David Zinnani in the April 1 general municipal election.
From the get go, Schore said it was never about him.
Back in 1997 then-Mayor Grover Brooks asked Schore to run for trustee.
“I foolishly did. I knew what I was kind of getting into,” Schore said earlier this week during an interview in the mayor’s office.
All but the village zoning map hung on the walls. All that was left in a bookcase were the books and binders he felt necessary for the new mayor.
It has always been about the residents of Bourbonnais for Schore.
“I was just planning on giving back,” he said.
“I still don’t look at this as politics, to be honest with you. I don’t like politics. I’m probably the least political person you’re probably ever going to meet,” Schore said. “I kind of look at it more as a job. There are things that need to get done, and you just go about your job and try to get things done. That’s really the simplest way to do it.”
The late Vera Amiano ran for trustee as well in 1997. Schore knew of her through her job at the Bank of Bourbonnais.
After they were elected, Schore said the two made a pact.
“We kind of made a pact between the two of us that we weren’t cutting any deals. We weren’t going to play any politics,” Schore said. “We were just going to do whatever it took for the village. That was all we were going to do. And we did. I was fortunate enough to serve with her for 20 years. She was a great lady.”
Schore said he will miss meeting and working with the staff. He is proud of all they accomplished.
“That was one of the reasons I ran again, to be honest with you, for the staff. I wanted to see this group collectively stay together,” Schore said. “I kind of felt like we caught lightning in a bottle getting the group of people we’ve got together now.”
Schore and his wife, Mary, will be kept busy by their five grandchildren who live here. The couple has three children – Beth, Mark and Matt.
Schore said he will keep busy with the village’s sesquicentennial, as well as helping with the annual Friendship Festival.
Here are observations from Schore about the past 28 years:
“Well, it was somewhat disappointing [being defeated]. I thought we ran a very clean campaign. I’m not one that likes to get into mudslinging and all those kinds of things. Some of the other people, that’s how they want to do things,” Schore said.
“I think the low voter turnout was substantially an issue. It was what it was. I never looked at this thing as something that I planned on necessarily doing as long as I did, to be perfectly honest with you.
“We just kind of kept going and kept doing things. One thing led to another. My world’s not coming to an end,” he said. “Hopefully, the next person will have the ethics and the wherewithal and the honesty to keep things going, I hope.”
In 2021, the village sold its wastewater system to Aqua Illinois for $32.1 million.
Owners of homes paid a set rate at the time. Aqua already supplied the village water.
Aqua instituted a usage system to tabulate monthly bills.
It has not gone unnoticed by the village residents.
“It was a three-year process, I would say, from when Aqua approached about doing it. I was very much [against] it at first,” Schore said.
“I kept telling them they didn’t have enough money. We started diving into the nuts and bolts of the sewer system and what the real costs were, what the costs were going to escalate to, and what the ongoing repairs and replacements were going to be. We got estimates on what it was going to take and projected out over a lot of years as far as what the expenses were going to be.
“It got to the point where you just started looking at that and what Aqua eventually was offering to buy that. The fact that too, like many, many cities throughout the United States, they’re getting out of the utility business. Government isn’t exactly the best person to run utilities.
“One of the reasons is that the elected officials have a tendency not to want to raise rates and costs to the taxpayers. They try to keep it unbelievably inexpensive and whatever, which sounds very good. Meanwhile, your system suffers.”
“Talk about that. That was a project. That was 18 years. I started on that. I was a trustee, it was a journey,” Schore said.
The Bourbonnais Parkway/6000N Road and Interstate 57 interchange project had a contract cost of $63 million. It opened in 2018.
It gave Bourbonnais and Kankakee County another point where business and industry could build on.
“We’ve already got the million dollars back and what we have gotten off it are property tax and sales tax and gaming tax off entities in that area,” Schore said.
The $65-million PSI, Inc., warehouse project is tentatively set to begin construction in August south of the Road Ranger Travel Center located on the southwest side of the exit.
The interchange and parkway are on land annexed into the village.
Land owners and developers work the deals with the village there to provide the business tax increment funds for building infrastructure, which they pay back over a matter of time.
“It’s local people that own the property up there. It’s going to be up to what they want to do,” Schore said.
“I mean, this is the private sector doing this. They’re the ones that drive that. You know, people think the government just tells different people, ‘OK, you come build here, and you go build there,’ and that’s not how it works.”
The $18.2 million project turned Robert Goselin Memorial Park into a huge drawing card in the village since last June when a majority of it opened to the public.
The project was financed by municipal bonds and money from the village’s three business taxing districts, and interest earned from the $32.1 million the village received selling its wastewater treatment system to Aqua Illinois.
The idea began five years ago with administrator Mike Van Mill and assistant administrator Laurie Cyr and other members of the staff kicking around ideas.
“It just kind of started to snowball from there,” Schore said.
“It was very time consuming, but it was very fruitful. We found out what people wanted.” he said. “I think it’s evident from the use that we’re getting out of that facility. It’s what people were looking for.”
ExpandThe new addition to Bourbonnais Elementary School District’s Liberty Intermediate School sits on the East side of the property, accompanied by new bus lanes and a two-lane parent pick-up loop, as shown in July 2020. (Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS — Bourbonnais Elementary School District officials were left scrambling after the theft of catalytic converters from the district’s bus fleet forced the cancellation of school Thursday.
Late Thursday morning, Superintendent Adam Ehrman could not yet confirm whether or not school would be in session Friday. Updates would be forthcoming later in the day, he said.
“Right now, we are very hopeful that we’ll be able to minimize the problem and get back up and running as quickly as possible,” he said.
In a statement shared with families, Ehrman said the district is “actively working on all fronts to restore transportation and resume school as soon as possible.”
“Earlier today, we were forced to cancel school due to a criminal act that rendered our entire bus fleet inoperable,” he said in the statement. “This deliberate mechanical sabotage has deeply impacted our ability to safely transport students, and we are treating this situation with the utmost seriousness.”
According to the statement, the district is collaborating with neighboring districts to temporarily borrow buses, working with its bus servicing companies to assess and repair the damage, and engaging with parts suppliers to expedite the delivery of critical components.
“While we are encouraged by the tremendous support and willingness to help from our partners and surrounding communities, we cannot yet confirm whether school will be in session tomorrow,” Ehrman said in the statement. “However, we are determined and hopeful that this egregious act will result in only a one-day disruption to our educational services.
“We will provide an update as soon as we can confirm school operations for tomorrow.”
Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Dave Anderson said 21 buses were damaged. The buses were all outside at the district’s bus maintenance facility along Career Center Road near Liberty Intermediate School.
The district’s fleet contains 24 full 77-passenger buses, plus buses for special needs students, two mini buses and three minivans, according to a February update from Transportation Director Scott Austin.
District 53 transports roughly 1,918 students per day, representing 81.6% of its student population, Austin said in his report. In comparison, an average of 52% of students take the bus to school statewide.
As for the missed instructional day, Ehrman said the assumption is it will have to be made up at the end of the school year.
However, he is exploring if there may be exemptions that could be used under the circumstances.
“I hope there’s some type of consideration based on the fact that this is obviously a non-environmental factor, this is an actual criminal act against us,” he said.
ExpandDarrid Britton (Provided by Kankakee County Sheriff's Department)
BOURBONNAIS — A 17-year-old male is in stable condition at a Chicago hospital following a Monday afternoon shooting in the 1000 block of East Stratford Drive.
Acting Bourbonnais Police Chief Dave Anderson said police arrested the alleged shooter, 24-year-old Darrid Britton, of Kankakee. He is charged with aggravated battery discharging a weapon.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe said Tuesday that Britton will be in court on Wednesday.
The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his facial area and upper body, Anderson said. The victim was transferred to a Chicago hospital.
The shooting occurred approximately 5:40 p.m.
Britton came to the village to retrieve items from an apartment in the 1000 block of East Stratford Drive. He was not given the items and an argument started with the victim, Anderson said.
Both the victim and Britton brandished guns, and both opened fire. Both weapons were semiautomatic, Anderson said.
Investigators have not been able to talk to the victim to learn more information, Anderson said.
Britton fired off rounds from outside the apartment, hitting the brick exterior as well as a window of the apartment, Anderson said.
Britton drove away in a vehicle. He called 911 from a business parking lot where he was taken into custody, Anderson said.
A second 911 call came from inside the apartment from a woman. There was a man inside the apartment as well, Anderson said.
https://daily-journal.com/news/crime/teen-hospitalized-following-shooting-in-bourbonnais/article_3c77c044-cd2e-11ef-abfc-23c620304004.html
2025 at 2:00 pm CDTTwo memorial monuments honoring the sacrifices of Gold Star families
those who have lost love ones in active military duty
A dedication ceremony for the Bourbonnais Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is set for 10 a.m
Additional parking will be available at Grace United Community Methodist Church
A reception will follow in the village of Bourbonnais’ Community Room
a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 319G
is behind the planning and fundraising of the monument for her Eagle Scout Service Project
A dedication ceremony for the Watseka Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is set for 1 p.m
Saturday at Legion Park on South Fourth Street in Watseka
Project co-chair Scott Allen said the monument has been in the works since August 2023
the gathering will move to The Silo Pub and Eatery
Established by the Woody Williams Foundation, each monument is a two-sided tribute made of black granite.
One side bears the words, “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument - A tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom,” and the other side tells a story through four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice.
At the center of the tribute is a silhouette of a saluting service member which represents the legacy of loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the nation’s freedom.
More than 140 monuments have been erected across all 50 states and another 49 are currently in progress, according to the Woody Williams site.
ExpandBradley-Bourbonnais' Sam Frey dives into third base after hitting a triple during a home game against Lincoln-Way East Friday
errorless defense and a couple of strong outings on the mound added up to a SouthWest Suburban Conference road win for Lincoln-Way East on Friday
The Griffins (12-2, 4-1 SWSC) built up an 8-0 lead in the first three innings and won 10-3 over Bradley-Bourbonnais (11-5, 2-3 SWSC) in a game that had been rescheduled from Thursday afternoon.
Evan Riiff went 3 for 4 for Lincoln-Way East with a single, a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. The Griffins had 10 hits as a team, working six walks and taking advantage of four Boilermakers errors.
Riiff said the team did a good job working their plate appearances and was patient enough to get pitches they wanted.
“I like how we were taking those early curveballs and just attacking those fastballs we like to hit,” he said. “Those are resulting in gappers and just good things.”
This approach led to the team’s third double-digit run total of the season. Jaden Henry went 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs, Rocco Triolo was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run, and Danny Mackey was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
On the mound, Jack Tamer picked up the win. He started for the Griffins, allowing one hit and one run in three innings while striking out four batters. Ryan Kelly pitched the next two innings, allowing no runs on just two hits to go with five strikeouts.
Lincoln-Way East coach John McCarthy said he was glad to see the team get ahead early, with one run in the first inning, two in the second and five in the third, and that both Tamer and Kelly were able to execute to maintain that lead.
“Bradley is such a great program; we have to get ahead if we want to compete,” he said. “I thought we did a good job getting ahead, and Jack Tamer did a good job pounding the zone. Not only that, Jack Tamer and Ryan Kelly both really pounded the zone.”
The Griffins were able to build a lead in part because of some self-inflicted damage from the Boilermakers. In the Griffins’ five-run rally in the third, the Boilermakers’ pitcher hit a batter and walked two more, all three of whom came around to score Two errors, a passed ball and a wild pitch prolonged the rally.
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cody Freitas fields a ground ball during a home game Friday, April 18, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
Bradley-Bourbonnais had four hits. Sam Frey was 2 for 3 out of the nine hole with a pair of triples, an RBI and two runs. He scored the team’s first run on a dropped third strike with Jace Boudreau at the plate and scored their final run on an RBI groundout from Boudreau.
Coach Brad Schweigert said the missed opportunities on offense and the extra opportunities they handed the Griffins with walks and errors were tough to overcome.
But despite the loss, he said he is happy the team has the chance to respond in Monday’s rematch like they did after dropping the first game of their previous two conference series.
“What’s nice is we get to play each conference team twice this year,” he said. “So far, we’ve split with Sandburg, we’ve split with [Homewood-Flossmoor], so it should be no different here. Hopefully we’ll go take one from them Monday and split with them, and I think we can be right there in conference if we play our game.”
As for the Griffins, who lead Lincoln-Way Central (3-0 SWSC) by a game in the win column and trail by one in the loss column, Riiff said the team has been gaining valuable experience.
“We have a lot of talent and we’re a young team, so when we keep playing more and more we’ll figure out different ways to win,” Riiff said.
McCarthy added that if the team can continue to get pitching and defensive performances like it did Friday, more success will follow.
“I think that’s the key for us, trying to find a way to be consistent every day,” he said. “It starts with our pitching and defense. If we can do those two things, we’ll stay in games.”
BOURBONNAIS – The Village of Bourbonnais is getting ready to celebrate its sesquicentennial
The 150th anniversary celebration kicks off with the Soirée de Bourbonnais – an outdoor formal gala – Saturday
Residents can celebrate Bourbonnais from 6 to 10 p.m
with French-inspired hors d’oeuvres and desserts
live music and an elegant evening of dancing underneath the stars
Tickets are available online at bit.ly/3XFggKF.
Mayor Paul Schore is a lifelong resident of the village, who enjoys studying history while attending school.
“This is important to me,” Schore said about the celebration.
Fifty years ago, the village celebrated its 100th birthday with a summer festival.
That festival was the beginning of the annual Friendship Festival, which will celebrate its golden anniversary in June.
“The village was much smaller then,” Schore said. “The old Triangle was still there along Main Street and the carnival rides were located on the grounds of the Robert Frost school building.
“We are proud of how far Bourbonnais has come in 150 years and look forward to kicking off a year full of fun events with our community and for our community.”
Additional Sesquicentennial events include an official Happy 150th Birthday, an outdoor concert, a Family Fun Day, a French Heritage Weekend and more.
“These events are free admission for families,” Lindy Casey, Marketing & Public Engagement Manager, explained in a news release. “For those who would like to get more involved in the Sesquicentennial celebration – whether through financial support or hands-on volunteering – we welcome everyone in our community to participate.”
Interested parties may contact the Village Administration Office at 815-937-3570 or email at bourbonnais@villageofbourbonnais.com.
In 1875, a referendum was held to allow for incorporation of the community, according to the Village of Bourbonnais website.
Following approval of the referendum, an election was held that May of 1875 for the first village board.
George R. LeTourneau was elected as the village’s first mayor, with board members Francois Sequin, Joseph Legris, Alexis Gosselin, P.L. Monast, Alex LaMontagne, Joseph Goulet, Jacob Thyfault and Len Bessette, according to the village’s website.
ExpandBourbonnais trustee Jeff Keast (Provided by Jeff Keast)
Mayor (village president) of Bourbonnais
Electrical Contractor at Keast Electric Inc
Bourbonnais Village Trustee 10 years (current)
Chairman of Kankakee County Republican Central Committee
mayorjeffkeast.com
IBEW/NECA JATC Trade School - Journeyman Electrician
Married to Jenny, my high-school sweetheart. We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren
As a lifelong Kankakee County resident and third-generation electrician, I know what it means to work hard and deliver results. I’ve successfully operated a business that requires planning, problem-solving, and accountability. I’ll bring the same skills to Bourbonnais, focusing on expanding the tax base, fostering economic growth and ensuring transparency and accountability in government.
The greatest weakness is the lack of transparency and accountability, where decisions are made without proper public input or follow-through. The greatest strength is the people of Bourbonnais—the hardworking families and businesses that make this community great. As Mayor, I’ll bring a leadership style that reflects the values and aspirations of the residents.
Local law enforcement must focus on their primary role: protecting our community. Cooperation with federal agencies like ICE is appropriate when it ensures public safety. I believe in enforcing the law while making sure law enforcement’s resources remain focused on keeping Bourbonnais safe.
1. Economic Growth: Attract responsible development to expand the tax base without raising taxes, ensuring families and businesses thrive.
2. Public Safety: Repair the broken relationship between leadership and law enforcement to ensure trust, collaboration, and safe neighborhoods.
3. Transparency: Implement term limits and ensure public input in all major decisions, so residents know their voices matter. By setting term limits, we’ll foster a government that is more responsive and reflective of our community.
Economic development should prioritize what’s best for the community and taxpayers. I’ll focus on practical, cost-effective solutions like improving existing infrastructure, keeping government spending in check, and ensuring businesses can grow without burdensome regulations. Bourbonnais deserves leadership that prioritizes its people and businesses over trendy policies that don’t fit our needs.
While Bourbonnais may not need a large-scale public transportation system, we can improve infrastructure by maintaining roads, addressing traffic issues, and supporting long-term development that ensures businesses and residents can flourish. Infrastructure investments must be thoughtful and fiscally responsible.
The Village should act as a partner for local businesses by cutting red tape and creating an environment where businesses can thrive. I’ll work with the trustees to promote policies that attract new development, retain existing businesses, and ensure Bourbonnais remains competitive.
My top concerns are repairing the relationship between the Mayor’s office and law enforcement, addressing any gaps in resources for officers, and preventing crime from escalating. I’ll ensure law enforcement has the tools they need and will support policies that protect families and businesses.
Inclusion starts with listening to the voices of everyone in the community. I’ll ensure public forums are accessible to all residents, so their concerns and ideas are heard and considered in decision-making. Everyone deserves a seat at the table when it comes to shaping Bourbonnais’ future.
Yes. Transparency builds trust, and I support requiring officials to disclose potential conflicts of interest. I would enforce this with clear rules and oversight to ensure officials are always working in the community’s best interest.
I’ll make myself available through open office hours, use social media and email as direct communication tools. As a trustee, I receive calls from residents and my phone number is readily available to anyone that has a concern, that will continue as Mayor. My goal is to ensure residents feel heard, valued, and involved in shaping the decisions that impact their lives.
(WICS) — Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 arrested 22-year-old Edward A
ISP agents executed a search warrant at Lohman’s residence on Big Chief Drive in Bourbonnais and collected electronic evidence
The evidence was analyzed and revealed child exploitation materials
ISP agents arrested Lohman on the above-mentioned charges
Lohman was transported to the Kankakee County Jail for a detention hearing
Anonymous tips of child pornography can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) cyber tip line.
Wake and funeral services for the late Gov. George Ryan of Kankakee have been set and will be held in his hometown of Kankakee.
Teachers are thanked here May 8The Daily Journal celebrates educators on May 7th in print and May 8th online.
ExpandAngie Serafini (Photo provided by Angie Serafini )
What office are you seeking? Trustee, Village of Bourbonnais
What is your political party? Bourbonnais Citizens Party
Occupation and employer: Area Manager Essential Utilities - Aqua Illinois
What offices, if any, have you previously held? I have proudly served as a Village of Bourbonnais Trustee for the past eight years.
Education: • Master of Business Administration
Community Involvement: Kankakee County Chamber Ambassador
Bourbonnais Choclate Tour Committee Member
Member of the Board of Directors for the Ray Ollie Memorial Project
Marital status/Immediate family: Mark and I are blessed with three wonderful children: Owen, Mark and Lilly
As a lifelong resident of Bourbonnais, I have been honored to serve as a Village Trustee for the past eight years, actively participating in projects that have shaped our community. My leadership is guided by a commitment to listening to and collaborating with my neighbors and fellow residents to make Bourbonnais the best it can be.
I take pride in building strong relationships with county, state, and federal officials, as well as business leaders, to foster growth and improvements in Bourbonnais. These partnerships have allowed us to secure resources, attract businesses, and enhance community development.
One of Bourbonnais’ greatest strengths is its strong sense of community, commitment to public safety, and steady growth. The village boasts excellent schools and a dedication to economic development, making it a desirable place to live and do business.
However, like any community, there are challenges. A key weakness is the need for continued economic expansion and diversification. While Bourbonnais has seen growth, attracting more businesses and creating additional job opportunities remain essential to long-term stability. Additionally, maintaining infrastructure and balancing development while preserving the village’s small-town charm require careful planning and leadership.
In Illinois there are laws and policies (Trust Act) in place that prohibit local law enforcements cooperation with ICE.
I would encourage our officers to abide by the law, however, I support the Federal government’s actions in deporting illegal aliens that commit heinous crimes like murder, rape, etc. because it is our primary job as government leaders to keep our communities safe.
• Public Safety & Community Well-Being – I will support our police, fire, and emergency services while investing in mental health and community outreach programs to keep Bourbonnais a secure and welcoming place to live.
• Economic Growth & Infrastructure – I will work to attract new businesses, create job opportunities, and improve roads, utilities, and public spaces to support both residents and businesses, all while maintaining our village’s small-town charm.
• Smart & Responsible Development – I will prioritize balanced growth, ensuring that development aligns with the village’s character and that financial decisions remain fiscally responsible.
Bourbonnais is open for business, and I am committed to working with developers to bring smart, community-focused growth to our village. Local leaders and residents should have significant input in shaping development to ensure that it meets both economic and environmental needs. I will continue advocating for policies that promote responsible growth while maintaining sustainability, allowing Bourbonnais to develop without unnecessary obstacles.
We will continue investing in safer roads and better transportation options. One key project already underway is the expansion of Career Center Road, which will improve traffic flow and enhance safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
The Village Board plays a vital role in creating a business-friendly environment while ensuring responsible development. Beyond improving infrastructure, we must actively engage with business owners, developers, and residents to ensure economic growth aligns with the community’s vision.
Additionally, the board should continue to champion local businesses, providing the necessary support to help them grow while preserving the high quality of life that makes Bourbonnais a great place to live and work.
One of my top public safety concerns is ensuring that as Bourbonnais grows, our police department has the resources needed to keep residents safe. With new development occurring along Bourbonnais Parkway and the northern part of the village, we must be proactive in planning for increased demand on law enforcement.
Recently, we hired two new patrol officers who are currently attending the academy, and we are prepared to hire more as our community expands. I will continue advocating for investments in staffing, training, and equipment to ensure our officers have the necessary resources to serve our village effectively.
I will continue working to foster a community where everyone feels welcome, heard, and valued. Open communication and community engagement are key to ensuring inclusion. This includes public forums, outreach efforts, and resident surveys to encourage input on important matters.
Additionally, I will continue supporting programs that bring people together, such as community events, partnerships with local schools, and public safety initiatives that build trust. The Village Board must represent the interests of all residents, and I will work to ensure policies reflect the diverse needs of our community.
By focusing on transparency, accessibility, and community-driven decision-making, we can make Bourbonnais a place where everyone feels at home and has opportunities to succeed.
Yes, I fully support requiring government officials to publicly disclose potential conflicts of interest to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in leadership. The residents of Bourbonnais deserve to know that decisions made by elected officials are in the best interests of the community.
Direct communication is essential to strong leadership. I will remain available to listen to concerns, answer questions, and engage with residents through open meetings, community events, and direct outreach. Transparency and accessibility will continue to be priorities in my service to Bourbonnais.
ExpandFILE – A “Vote Here” sign in front of the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office (Daily Journal/Taylor Leddin-McMaster)
Voters in Kankakee County this election determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.
Tuesday marked the last day mail-in ballots had to arrive at county clerk’s offices and still be counted. Provisional ballots also had to be addressed by that time.
Totals for all counties will be made official this week after they are canvassed.
ExpandVoters receive an “I Voted” sticker upon ballot completion
BBCHS Dist. 307 School Board
Bourbonnais
BBCHS Graduated 1990Kankakee Community College - ElectricalSheet Metal Local 265 Apprentice ProgramOlivet Nazarene University - School of Business
BBCHS School BoardSouth Cook ISC 4 - Life Safety Auditor
Early intervention and addressing difficulties plays a large part in improvement, along with active engagement with all students in order to make reading not only a habit, but enjoyable.
Both of my boys did attend Bourbonnais School Dist. 53 as well as BBCHS Dist. 307.
The schools operated in a balanced budget prior to the ESSER funds and will continue to operate responsibly now that the relief is ending. The ESSER funds helped with returning our students to a healthy classroom post-COVID as well as assisting in credit recovery for those students who were negatively affected by remote learning during the pandemic.
Schools should be a safe place for all of our students.
One of the biggest issues that our District is currently facing would be facilities, which is being addressed with the passing of the referendum. This will address several problems such as state-of-the-art learning spaces, improved performing arts spaces, cafeteria size and spaces, and many other issues.
No matter how we feel, cell phones are here to stay. With the right policies in place, I can see cell phones during school hours being a minimal issue or distraction. We have to remember, not only are they phones, but they are also virtual IDs, computers, and a means to data.
Cell phone policies should allow for certain exceptions which would be defined in the school policies. I also believe that students can be educated on cell phone use and the policies that are in place. With the current cell phone policy at BBCHS, there are truly very minimal referrals made for misuse of cell phones in the classrooms.
Like any type of bullying, providing the proper support to the victim is crucial. Having a proper anti-bullying policy in place, which also includes cyberbullying, is a great place to start.
Yes, with the right training and education. AI is here and will be used more and more in teaching and learning. As a District, we should work to make sure training is in place not only for our students, but also for our teachers.
These plans are already in place. School budgets and expenditures are public knowledge.
Just like anything, proper planning is crucial. Working closely with our feeder districts, we can look ahead to get a good idea of future enrollments and class sizes, which is a good start for future planning.
Supporting our teachers is incredibly important, and I feel BBCHS is doing a great job supplying resources and support, but this should be an ongoing process.
All of our board members are available by email, which is posted on our school website. I am always open to talking to our constituents.
ExpandErika Young (Photo provided by Erika Young )
What office are you seeking? Board member of Bourbonnais Elementary School District #53
Occupation and employer: Former Firefighter/Paramedic; small business owner; stay at home mom
What offices, if any, have you previously held? Board member for the last 4 years at Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53
Education: Kankakee Community College, University of Indiana Northwest
Marital status/Immediate family: I have been married for 12 years to David Young. I have three daughters, Charlotte is 12, Vivian is 10 and Caroline is 7. I also have 4 dogs.
I have three children that currently attend the school district. I have a 7th grader at BUGC, a 4th grader at Liberty Intermediate and a 2nd grader at Alan Shepard. I also attended the school district from 1st grade through 8th grade and I care deeply for this community and the school district.
My role and responsibility as a school board member is to follow federal, state and local law. My number one priority is the safety and well being of the students. I would make sure our policies are followed and I believe communication with our staff, students, parents and community is key. We need to support our students and their families while being obligated to follow the law.
I believe are the top 3 issues our district is facing are growing classroom sizes, teacher recruitment and bus transportation.
I believe cell phones in the classroom are a distraction to students and the teacher. I do think communication from parent to student is important to be available but not during a class. They can remain in the lockers during instruction time.
I am very accessible to the community. I have a district email and I return my emails promptly. I am a very approachable person and I always invite the community to attend our school board meetings.
ExpandFredda Rodewald (Photo provided by Fredda Rodewald )
School Board Member Bourbonnais Elementary District #53
Occupation and employer: I am a retired teacher with 31 years teaching in BESD 53
I am a universal banker at Iroquois Federal Savings and Loan
Education: I am a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University
I have bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction
achieved my Early Childhood Certification from the Illinois State Board of Education before it was part of most college programs
Community Involvement: I volunteer by sewing for various causes as the opportunities arise (i.e.
burp clothes for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Alternative Center
cloth hearts for NICU at Silver Cross Hospital)
I am also a member of Success by 6 steering committee at the United Way
Other community activities I have been a part of in the past are Gigi’s Playhouse tutor
Marital status/Immediate family: I have been married to Rob for almost 38 years and we have two adult children
Being a retired teacher I could talk strategies for days but
that’s not what my job will be as a board member
BESD53 has an extraordinary administrative team and group of educators that maximize the learning impact for our students
As a representative of the community I would make decisions based on what the best overall options are
There are things that are necessary for the district to fund
I think our students and families deserve our best effort in budgeting for now and in the future
We as a community thrive when our schools thrive
Our district administrators have the leadership role in this area
Both of my children attended public school
they attended K-8 in BESD53 and graduated from BBCHS
The district’s role in deciding what materials should be available in the library is much the same as it is in any classroom
There are fundamental things that are needed such as a variety of genres
and content that support the learning taking place within the building
Each library professional has the task of choosing
within the parameters of the district’s policies and practices
what meets the needs of the building’s learners
The portion that goes to our public schools is the highest part of everyone’s property tax bill
Stepping back and taking a look at what comes from this shared community investment is important
As I stated earlier about fiscal responsibility
we need to weigh the options and make the most informed responsible decisions for all involved
I taught in the district during COVID and saw first hand how relief money was being used effectively
There were some magnificent upgrades done that the district had been saving to do in the future
They fell under the COVID qualifications so it got done earlier than expected
Our administrators our smart enough not to count on relief money as anything but short term
Each community and school district is different
I can only speak to Bourbonnais and striving for a safe learning environment
the School Resource Officer and Bourbonnais Police Department have a shared goal of safety and communication between each other
I would hope that providing a high level of safety and security along with communication will continue no matter what the future holds
As with any type of bullying it should be taken seriously and the policies put in place followed
There is a time and place for the use of AI
The appropriate time would be determined by the administration and teachers
The district’s finances are available by contacting the central office. Basic budget items are also available on the district’s website BESD53.org.
I encourage parents and community members to attend board meetings when possible, utilize the website, join community committees, reply to questionaries and surveys when available.
I refer you back to my earlier comment on how items should be chosen for a school library.
Of the expected revenue this school year, 74% goes toward salaries and benefits. I think that’s enough.
I will be most accessible by email, located on the district website.
ExpandVoters receive an “I Voted” sticker upon ballot completion. (Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS — Two candidates attempting to run as independents in the village of Bourbonnais’ April 1, 2025, general municipal election had their names stricken from the ballot.
The action took place Tuesday at the village’s Municipal Center during the Bourbonnais Electoral Board hearing.
Jacob Alexander-Hildebrand filed paperwork to run as Independent for trustee.
Ryan Krusinger filed a petition to run as an Independent in the village’s mayoral race.
Their petitions were challenged by Bourbonnais residents Chester Maricle and Betty Franks.
Maricle is the husband of Dondi Maricle, who is running for trustee on the People’s Choice Party.
Objectors argued the two men could not run as Independent candidates since they had both been knocked off the Feb. 25, 2025, primary ballot.
The election board ruled Alexander-Hildebrand and Krusinger violated state election law that does not allow a person to run in the general election as a member of another established political party or as an independent.
Attorney Scott Erdman said what Alexander-Hildebrand and Krusinger were doing was party switching, which is not allowed by state election law.
“It is a mandatory statute that you can’t do it,” Erdman argued
Krusinger argued he was following the rules provided in the candidate guide published by the Illinois State Board of Election.
“My main objection to this is that running as an Independent is not a political party,” Krusinger said.
Alexander-Hildebrand was not in attendance at the hearing.
Alexander-Hildebrand and Krusinger, along with Chad Meents, had filed petitions to run for trustee as Republicans.
Election board officials ruled, however, all three men’s nomination petitions did not have the required minimum 25 registered voters names.
Maricle and Franks opposed those petitions. Erdman represented them at this hearing as well.
https://daily-journal.com/news/bourbonnais-election-board-removes-two-candidates/article_fd33f1c6-b803-11ef-940d-979fc1265d2d.html
ExpandJeff Keast attends an election watch party Tuesday night in Bourbonnais. Keast secured the mayoral seat over opponent David Zinanni. (Lee Provost)
BOURBONNAIS – Jeff Keast will be changing titles as a member of the Bourbonnais village government.
Keast is replacing current longtime mayor Paul Schore, who he defeated in February’s primary. Schore was running for his fifth term.
Last month, the village started taking applications for the police department’s top spot, which is currently held by Interim Chief Dave Anderson.
Anderson was put in charge of the 29-member department upon the retirement of Jim Phelps.
As for growth in the village, Keast said it is time to bring more business to the Bourbonnais Parkway Exit 318 on Interstate 57.
“We have to be more aggressive in our pursuit of businesses building on the parkway,” he said. “We have to go after them rather than wait for them.”
Zinanni said while the results weren’t what he wanted, he felt the ticket ran a good campaign.
“I met a lot of good people over the past few months. We came up short but we made people think about the village’s future,” Zinanni said.
Keast announced his candidacy in October.
“I won two hard fought battles,” Keast said. “This was definitely a challenge to get from point A to point B. I’m excited to do the work. It’s time for us as a board to move forward.”
The rest of the Bourbonnais Citizens Party ticket – clerk Brian Simeur and trustees Bruce Greenlee, Rick Fischer and Angie Serafini – all were re-elected.
Serafini was the leading vote-getter with 2,000 votes followed by Greenlee 1,701 and Fischer 1,627.
They turned back the challenge of People’s Choice Party candidates Dondi Maricle (1,167), Lindsey Patterson (1,238) and Mark Steelman (1,030).
Simeur defeated Khamseo “Kym” Nelson 1,910 to 1,126.
ExpandRiverfront Bourbonnais (Provided by.village of Bourbonnais)
BOURBONNAIS — On its way to reimagining Bourbonnais’ Riverfront Park, a village family has provided the village more opportunity with a generous donation.
On Monday, trustees approved an ordinance accepting the donation of three wooded lots located next to the park’s western boundary.
The Kenneth and Marjorie Johnston family owns the three parcels — totaling 6.63 acres — which includes 600 feet of Kankakee River shoreline.
The donated land would be for park usage only, according to the ordinance.
Plans for the donation began about six to seven months ago, Mayor Paul Schore said.
According to the ordinance, the village agreed to reimburse the Johnston family for costs associated with the donation up to $10,000, plus attorney’s fees.
Schore said the village would not disturb the wooded acreage.
“There are no plans to expand into it other than add a natural trail for the public to enjoy the area,” Schore said after Monday’s board meeting where the ordinance passed 5-0.
Trustee Rick Fischer was not at the meeting.
Riverfront Park sits on 13.1 acres and includes 1,120 feet of shoreline. It is located in the 1200 block of Canterbury Lane.
The park offers benches, biking and walking trails, fitness equipment, access to fishing, frisbee golf, a grill, a historic pavilion, picnic tables, a seasonal restroom and a Little Free Library.
Riverfront Park is one of 24 neighborhood parks the village maintains, which includes the newest park located in The Grove behind the village’s community center.
The land donation comes approximately a year after the village began plans for updating and renovating Riverfront Park.
It is another in a series of “Imagine Bourbonnais” initiatives welcoming the community to participate in the Master Plan for Riverfront Park.
“Imagine Bourbonnais” is part of the village’s marketing and branding of the village as it moves forward.
Larry Linman, a neighboring property owner to the Johnston acreage, helped bring the village and family together to start the process, Schore said.
“When we started the Riverfront project, this (the land) came about from the meeting [held last February] with the community,” Administrator Mike Van Mill said.
“We are thankful for Larry Linman, who I talked to at Jewel, and he said property might be available. With his help, we connected with the property owners and we are where we are today. For a family to want to do this is very generous.”
The village was in the process of putting together information on the types of things residents wanted to keep and add to the park when discussions began with the Johnston family.
“We had to hold off on our planning sessions for Riverfront Park and what people want to see there,” Schore said. “We can start that up in the future with the added pieces of land.
Assistant Administrator Laurie Cyr said the village held one informational meeting and had one online survey completed on Riverfront’s plans.
The next step for the village is for the Planning Commission and Zoning Appeals to hold a public hearing before the land can be annexed.
If approved by the planning commission it would go to the board’s Economic and Community Development Committee. Approval by the committee advances the measure to the board of trustees, who will make the final decision whether or not to annex the land.
Cyr said it will take a couple of months to go through the process.
https://daily-journal.com/news/local/bourbonnais_news/bourbonnais-family-donates-riverfront-property-to-bourbonnais/article_adbb9b36-d9ae-11ef-9274-0f566a0d5bf1.html
This spring, Kankakee County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities
Early voting has started with voting to conclude on Election Day
To vote by mail, go to kankakeecountyclerk.gov where printable applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found
Early voting has started at the Office of the County Clerk, 189 E. Court St. in Kankakee
Below are all competitive races in Kankakee County with candidate questionnaires and coverage as available
This voter guide will be updated if additional candidates submit their questionnaires and more coverage completed
Genevra Walters: Candidate questionnaire
Christopher W. Curtis (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Charles Steele (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Jeff Keast: Candidate questionnaire
David Zinanni: Candidate questionnaire
Rick Fischer (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Angie Serafini (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Joel L. Gesky: Candidate questionnaire
Annette LaMore: Candidate questionnaire
Cameron J. “CJ” Boudreau (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Sherri S. Crawford: Candidate questionnaire
Margaret “Peggy” Vaughn: Candidate questionnaire
Paul A. Motel: Candidate questionnaire
Michael Barry: Candidate questionnaire
Jennifer Corke-Kafer and Ellen Stringer (incumbent) are running for two open six-year terms
Aaron Alan Shule (28N Range 13W) (incumbent)
Brianne Shule-Whybrew (28N Range 14W) (incumbent)
Only two candidates can win from 28N Range 13W
Cynthia Veronda (write-in) (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Susan Lopez: Candidate questionnaire
Our coverage: “Kankakee school board candidates debate views”
“Kankakee School Board race: More Q&A from candidates debate”
“Kankakee school board candidate temporarily banned from KHS”
“School board candidate charged with misdemeanor battery”
Megan Powell (incumbent) is running uncontested for the open board seat representing the rest of the district
Stephan Moulton (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Kevin Haberzetle: Candidate questionnaire
Erika Young (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Betsy Keller (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Fredda Rodewald: Candidate questionnaire
Jamie Freedlund (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Brian Fritz (incumbent) is running unopposed for a two-year term
Jim Patterson (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
At least one board member must come from the unincorporated area
Our coverage: “Joliet Junior College trustee candidates say programs need broader appeal for more students”
Increase limiting rate on Momence Fire Protection District property taxes
Remove geography requirements on Central School District 4 school board makeup
ExpandFourth-grade science teacher Ashley Birkey asks questions of her students at Liberty Intermediate School on Nov
The Bourbonnais Elementary School District recently made a list of 100 districts nationwide considered to have fully recovered academically from the pandemic
BOURBONNAIS – In the almost five years since COVID-19 upended the world of education
one Kankakee County school district is considered to have made a full academic recovery
Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 was listed as one of 100 school districts across the U.S
to be performing above pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading
Eleven of the districts listed are from Illinois
The list was part of the Education Recovery Scorecard
a comprehensive analysis of student learning across 8,719 school districts
The scorecard is a collaboration among the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University
the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University and faculty at Dartmouth College
It combines the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress
a congressionally mandated test that provides data for the nation’s Report Card
with state test results for about 35 million third- through eighth-grade students between 2019 and 2024
The findings of the third annual scorecard were announced Feb. 11 and reported in a recent NPR article.
District 53 Superintendent Adam Ehrman said the recognition was not only an honor but also a testament to the hard work, dedication and resilience of everyone involved in the students’ education.
“Every decision we made, every challenge we faced and every battle we fought was driven by one mission – not just to survive the pandemic, but to thrive through it,” he said. “Today, we can proudly say that we did exactly that.”
The list of 100 recovered districts referenced data from the past half-decade.
The Bourbonnais school district had an average student enrollment of 2,416, with a decline of 102 students from 2019 to 2024, down to about 2,314 students.
The district’s average percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch was 47% from 2015 to 2019, a number that increased by 11% from 2019 to 2024.
District 53’s rate of chronic absenteeism, which is when students miss 10% or more of days in a school year, was at 15% in 2019; it jumped to 26% in 2022 and then declined to 19% in 2023.
From 2017 to 2019, the district’s math performance was 0.04 grade levels behind the national average. During the same time period, the district’s reading performance was 0.15 grade levels behind the national average.
In 2019, the district’s students performed more than one-quarter of a grade level behind the national averages in both math (0.27 grade levels behind) and reading (0.38 grade levels behind).
Things started to turn around in 2022, when the district’s students performed about one-tenth of a grade level ahead of the national averages in both math (0.11 grade levels ahead) and reading (0.08 grade levels ahead).
In 2024, the district’s students performed more than a quarter of a grade level (0.28) ahead of the national average in math and one-tenth of a grade level (0.1) ahead of the national average in reading.
Ehrman said it was through targeted instructional strategies, data-driven interventions and a “relentless focus on student achievement” that the district saw steady improvements.
“We did not just make it through the pandemic – we emerged stronger, smarter and more determined than ever,” he said.
Despite the positive movement in academics, Ehrman said chronic absenteeism is still a challenge. However, he is encouraged to see the rate decreasing, signaling a trend of reengagement with schools.
Ehrman began as Bourbonnais schools superintendent in the summer of 2020, starting his first full year with the district in the thick of the pandemic as school leaders everywhere navigated remote learning and shifting health protocols.
It was a time of “generational crisis,” with uncertainty around every turn, he reflected.
“We made thousands of decisions – some difficult, some unpopular – but every single one was made with our students at the center,” he said.
Although no state scored above 2019 levels on the NAEP assessment in both math and reading, at least 100 school districts are scoring above 2019 levels in both subjects, the scorecard shows.
As of spring 2024, the average U.S. student remained almost half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement in math and reading.
According to the findings, 17% of students in grades three to eight are in districts with average math achievement above 2019 levels; 11% are in districts that have recovered in reading, and 6% are in districts that have recovered in both subjects.
The highest income districts were almost four times more likely to have recovered in both math and reading than the lowest income districts: 14.1% compared with 3.9%.
The disparity in math scores between students in affluent and low-income districts has grown by 11% since the start of the pandemic, and the disparity in scores between students in predominantly nonminority and predominantly minority districts has grown by 15%, according to the report.
The report concluded that a widespread rise in absenteeism is slowing the recovery, especially in high-poverty districts.
It also concluded that federal relief dollars prevented larger losses in the highest poverty districts.
Each dollar of federal relief improved student achievement by about as much as a general revenue increase, but it mattered how districts spent the money, according to the report.
Although districts were only required to spend 20% of relief funds directly on academic catch-up, more money spent on academic interventions, such as tutoring or summer school, generally resulted in greater growth in student achievement.
BOURBONNAIS — Deputy Police Chief Dave Anderson was approved as interim police chief by Bourbonnais trustees at their meeting Tuesday.
Anderson replaces Chief Jim Phelps, who is retiring. The promotion is effective Jan. 1.
The 55-year-old Anderson started with the department as a dispatcher in April 1991 and auxiliary officer. He was hired in June 1996 as an officer. Anderson has been deputy chief since 2015.
“I’ve been in this situation before when Chief Phelps was on vacation or medical leave,” Anderson said of the appointment. “It may be different come Jan. 1, but I know Chief Phelps is a phone call away. I hope it will be a seamless transition over the next four months.”
The vote was 5-1 to approve Anderson. Trustee Jeff Keast, who is running in the February’s Bourbonnais Citizens Party primary for mayor, was the lone dissenting vote.
Keast said there are issues with Anderson.
One being a no-confidence vote taken by the department’s officers and sergeants in September 2021. The vote was 19-1.
“There are things that have not been resolved,” Keast said. “It needs to come out there [for the public].”
Bourbonnais Police Sgt. Joe Bertrand is a union representative. He said the group has concerns about Anderson’s leadership.
When Phelps announced his retirement, Schore said an interim chief would be named.
The general municipal election is April 1, 2025. Schore said that was a reason for naming an interim chief, meaning whoever is elected as mayor should name Phelps’ replacement.
The police chief is appointed by the mayor and approved by the trustees.
“You cannot guarantee a person you hire from the outside will have the job after May 1,” Schore said. “The deputy chief is the most logical choice in this situation. The No. 1 priority is the safety of the citizens of the village. [Dave] was the logical choice with most of the trustees.”
Schore said the department has an orderly chain of command with the chief, deputy chief and patrol commander.
“This gives us stability and everyone knows who is in charge,” Schore said.
Keast and Schore are members of the Bourbonnais Citizens Party.
The pair will face off in the Feb. 25, 2025, mayoral primary.
https://daily-journal.com/news/local/bourbonnais_news/bourbonnais-approves-anderson-as-interim-police-chief/article_f422ab02-bd78-11ef-b48b-e38c8c3fca8b.html
ExpandBetsy Keller (Photo provided by Betsy Keller)
Bourbonnais Elementary District 53 School Board
Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School--Math and Science Division Chair
Elected for Bourbonnais Elementary District 53 School Board in 2021
Bourbonnais
BS in Microbiology from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and MS in Biology from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
I have been married for almost 18 years and I have 2 children.
Yes, both my son, 12 and daughter, 8 have been students in the district since they were in Kindergarten.
I am always available via my district email. Constituents are also always welcome to attend board meetings.
ExpandDondi Maricle (Photo provided by Dondi Maricle )
What office are you seeking? Village of Bourbonnais Trustee
What is your political party? Peoples Choice
What offices, if any, have you previously held? Bourbonnais Library Board Trustee, President of ILA Trustee Form, Vice Library System Board, President of GFWC IL Womans Club of Kankakee, President of HMC, Sec of Community Arts Council of Kankakee County
Community Involvement: GFWC IL Womans Club of Kankakee, Bradley Lions Club, HMC, Mentor,
Marital status/Immediate family: Allen Maricle , 4 children, Jesse, Kipp, Miles, and Bailey, 5 grandchildren
I believe one of the most important qualities is integrity, the candidates on the ticket I’m running with has that. I feel that success needs to be open minded, good listening skills, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, willingness to dive into a wide range of issues and communicate thoughts in a clear concise and logical manner.
Greatest weakness of the Village is being open and transparent to the voters who live in Bourbonnais. When things are being done behind closed doors it matters. Another weakness is no revenue growth.
Whether local law enforcement should work with ICE depends on a number of factors including the potential benefits and drawbacks of collaboration.
Economic growth- work with the mayor and board of Trustees to come up with an action plan.
Open and transparent- interact with members of the community in many ways both formal and informal.
Fiscally responsibility - not voting for quick fixes but considering long term impact on citizens of the village.
First need to assess if there is a need for more public transportation
Trustees should support local growth and development - it can create jobs, reduce unemployment and improve economic stability.
Police officers face many safety concerns including mental health issues, physical injuries and exposure to traumatic events. addressing them by providing resources, implementing programs, providing information, make it easy for officers to seek help when they need it.
Community engagement- conducting surveys and focus groups to understand needs, creating advisory boards, accessibility to residents,
Analyze demographic data to identify areas with disparities in access to services, evaluate how policies might affect different groups.
Ensure policies are accessible to people with disabilities.
All conflicts of interest should be publicly disclosed. that’s why it’s important to have integrity.
I’m available and accessible most of the time I will be happy to meet with them or talk to them.
ExpandBradley-Bourbonnais' Kason Bynum, left, reaches to apply a late tag on Homewood-Flossmoor's Mateo Morales during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Friday, April 11, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
BRADLEY ‐ In each of the first three innings of Friday’s home game against Homewood-Flossmoor, the Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball team was able to push a run across, but also left eight runners on base, including loaded bags in both the second and third innings.
With their lead narrow through the start, the visiting Vikings were able to take advantage when they had opportunities as the game went on, including on four uncharacteristic Boilermaker errors. After not taking their first lead until the fifth inning, Homewood-Flossmoor broke loose with a five-run sixth to score a 10-3 SouthWest Suburban Conference win in a game called after six innings due to darkness.
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 8Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cody Freitas, left, fields a ground ball in front of Homewood-Flossmoor's Derrick Holmes Jr. during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Friday, April 11, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
"Momentum is everything, especially in high school baseball," Boilers head coach Brad Schweigert said. “We let the momentum go to their side and didn’t respond. We had two chances with the bases loaded to get a big hit and break it open a little bit.
“We didn’t do that, they hung around and you saw what happened,” he added. “We’ve gotta take advantage of those opportunities, especially early in the game.”
Things looked promising early for the Boilers (7-4, 1-2), who saw Jace Boudreau reach on an error and eventually score on a double steal in the first and Sam Frey score on an error in the second to give starting pitcher Mason Shaul a 2-0 lead through a pair.
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Sam Frey touches third base and heads home during a home game agaisnt Homewood-Flossmoor Friday, April 11, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The Vikings tied it with one swing in the third, a two-run double off the bat of Demir Heidelberg, before Byron Sumrall scored on the third Homewood-Flossmoor error of the game to put the Boilers back up 3-2 through three.
But with two outs in the top of the fourth, back-to-back errors allowed Derrick Holmes Jr. to score and once again tie the game 3-3 through four, ending Shaul’s day on the mound. The senior right-hander was largely effective in his bid to provide the Boilers pitching depth in their third game in as many days, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, a walk and three strikeouts.
“I thought he did a phenomenal job,” Schweigert said. “He’s just a competitor, someone where you can put him in a position and he’s gonna compete and do it to the best of his ability. I thought he did a great job.”
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Mason Shaul throws a pitch during a home game against Homewood-Flossmoor Friday, April 11, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The Vikings took their first lead in their two-run top of the fifth, when Heidelberg scored on an error and Jamir Scott scored on a wild pitch. They broke it open with a five-run sixth that included three doubles and a triple, as well as another Boiler error.
“It’s one of those things where we’ve gotta learn from it, for sure, so we’ll talk about it,” Schweigert said of the game slipping away. “But we’ve gotta flush it and move on. We’ve got two more games [Saturday].”
After splitting their SWSC series with Sandburg Wednesday and Thursday, the Boilers started a two-game set with the Vikings that concludes Monday, as well as a doubleheader against Joliet West Saturday. With six games in as many days, Schweigert said the Boilers are going to start to learn how they can piece along their depth as the season reaches the middle portion, especially on the mound.
“It’s still early April,” Schweigert said, “You’ve gotta give guys opportunities and figure out what you’ve got. That’s basically what it was today, and that’s what it will be tomorrow. We’ll have a lot of guys throwing, and we’ll give them opportunities and see what we’ve got.”
Freitas and Cayden Arbour each had hits for the Boilers as Vikings pitchers Chris Hicks and Cormac Saunders each pitched three innings of one-hit ball.
ExpandCharlie Short of Bradley-Bourbonnais finishes the 200-meter freestyle athletes with disabilities heat during the IHSA Boys State Championships on Saturday
Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Charlie Short ended his first and only season of high school swimming on a high note.
One week after a dominant performance at sectionals, Short competed in four events in the Athletes With Disabilities division at the IHSA State Finals on March 1 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont. He wrapped up his brief but successful career by earning a bronze medal, two fourth-place finishes and one fifth-place finish on the biggest stage of the year.
“It was a surreal feeling to be there,” Short said. “I feel like it was a great way to start and end my swim career going to state. It was great having everybody there.”
Short was a member of the water polo team last season, where he was convinced by his teammates to give swimming a try for his senior season. When he approached head coach Megan Dote, who is in her third year leading the program, the two started discussing if swimming would be a possibility.
“When he did come to me, he was just trying to figure out if it would he a good fit, if he thought he’d be able to do it, if we had confidence he could do it,” Dote said. “He wanted to just try it and see where it went. We didn’t know all the logistics. We didn’t know if it was going to work or hurt his body. Ultimately, his health and not being in pain is most important.”
Short has left hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which affects strength and movement on the left side of his body. As a result, he had to figure out the best way to perform each stroke.
“The hardest thing was learning how to swim differently with the way my arm and my leg move, and what I had to make up on my other side to try to PR or just finish a race,” he said.
Charlie Short of Bradley-Bourbonnais competes in the 200-meter freestyle athletes with disabilities heat during the IHSA Boys State Championships on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont. (Sandy Bressner)
But as soon as Short hit the pool to prepare for the season, Dote said it did not take long at all for him to figure things out.
“The second Charlie got in the water, I saw him dive in and was like, ‘holy cow, you’re going to be going to state,‘” Dote said. “I didn’t know what to expect, because he had never swam before. I didn’t know if it was going to be more like ‘O.K., let’s just get this going.’ But he already had the technique down, he had the speed down.
”It was more so just what he had motivationwise in his head and what his body was going to allow him to do, and he never wavered in that. He wanted to continue to do better and get better.”
Short punched his ticket to state by winning all four of his events in the IHSA Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional. He took the 50-yard freestyle (44.17), 100-yard freestyle (1:44.78), 100-yard breaststroke (2:33.62) and the 200-yard freestyle (3:56.77).
Once at state, he managed to shave time in all four events. He placed third in the 200-yard freestyle (3:51.55), fourth in both the 50-yard freestyle (43.94) and 100-yard breaststroke (2:22.77) and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:41.93).
Short said that having his team’s support as he headed down the final stretch of the season was the highlight of his swimming experience.
“The last three weeks of swim, with conference, sectionals and state, everybody was giving me tips, giving me confidence that I needed to keep going and make sure I was in the right headspace,” he said. “Coach definitely helped a lot there with my motivation to keep doing it and do better, and my confidence especially.”
Dote said that she and the team were more than happy to lend Short that support given how hard they saw him work throughout the season.
“Every single person on our team is truly so so proud of him and the work and effort that he put in,” she said. “Even if he’s hurting, he’d always tell me he was great, and I really thinks that speaks volumes. I can kind of see through him when he tries to tell me he’s great and I know he needs to take it easy, which unfortunately is something he has to deal with with his disability. The amount of effort and strength he put in mentally and physically exceeds all else.”
is congraulated by teammate Ty Alderson after hitting a home run during a home All-City game against Kankakee Monday
BRADLEY – The Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball team may not have brought any warm temperatures back with them after their spring break trip to Alabama last week
but the Boilermakers certainly picked back up where they left off on the diamond when they returned home Monday
In All-City action against Kankakee, the Boilers got a three-hitter on the mound from junior Liam Martin and gave him plenty of run support, topping the Kays 14-1 in five innings of action at Carley Field.
The Boilers improved to 5-2 after winning four of five games at the Gulf Shores Classic last week and are halfway to repeating their All-City title. The Kays slid to 1-5.
“We handled our business like we should,” Boilers coach Brad Schweigert said. “We put the ball in play, and that’s what you’ve gotta do, make them make a play. We put together good at-bats, we’re doing a really good job this year of running the bases and doing the little things. We’re just trying to build off of it and get better each day.”
The Boilers scored at least one run in every inning, opening with a four-run first before putting things away with a seven-run fourth. That was more than enough run support for Martin, part of the rotation as a sophomore and who is moving toward the top as a junior.
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 8Bradley-Bourbonnais' Liam Martin throws a pitch during a home All-City game against Kankakee Monday, March 31, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The 6-foot-5 Martin was efficient Monday. The only baserunner he allowed in the first three innings was Bryce Deany, who reached on an error in the first. He allowed a fourth-inning single to Bryce Arceneaux to lose his no-hitter, and the Kays were able to get on the board when Jayden Villafuerte doubled and came around to score on a Deany sacrifice fly. By then, however, the Boilermakers amassed a 14-0 lead and earned the win in five innings by the 10-run rule.
Martin finished the day allowing one earned run on three hits, a walk and eight strikeouts. After being a part of last year’s team that made a Class 4A sectional semifinal, Martin said that as several of his junior classmates join him on the varsity level this year, he’s hoping to play with a contagious confidence.
“Everyone who didn’t play last year, or even who did play last year, just look at what we did last year,” Martin said. “There’s no reason we can’t do that same thing again if we just play with confidence.”
Another returner from last year’s squad, senior Arizona commit Cody Freitas, made his presence felt Monday. He went 4 for 4 at the plate with a home run, a double, a stolen base, four RBIs and three runs scored.
As he stood on the on-deck circle before his third-inning dinger to left field, Freitas looked to the Boilermakers’ dugout, pointed to his bat and then to the left field fence. As he went to the plate, he took the first pitch he saw from Kyree Sykes, a fastball low and slightly in, and put it right where he told his teammates he would.
“I was looking first pitch fastball,” Freitas said. “When I was watching him throw to hitters, it didn’t look like [Sykes was throwing] anything else [on the first pitch], so I was like, ‘It’s probably gonna be a fastball. I’m gonna wait for the first fastball I get and attack it.‘”
Kasen Bynum also had a multihit day, going 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, two runs and an RBI. Former Kay Ty Alderson had a two-run single, as did Mason Shaul and Anthony Konik.
Kankakee's Jaden Villafuerte, right, dives into home plate for a run as Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cayden Arbour fields a throw during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Monday, March 31, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
“The growth that me and my coaching staff have seen this year is tremendous,” Crowe said. " ... We have five starters out right now on a team with basically no returning starters. That’s something we’ve battled with, but all we can do is coach who’s here. We’re gonna try and get better, coach up whoever’s here and we’re gonna roll with what we’ve got. We’ve seen some big improvements with who we have."
ExpandThe Bourbonnais School Board approved a resolution Tuesday to issue $3,805,000 in taxable general obligation school bonds to fund health life safety code improvements at four of the district’s five schools. (Shaw Local News Network)
BOURBONNAIS – Facility upgrades to meet the state’s health and life safety standards are in the future for Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53.
The District 53 board approved a resolution Tuesday to issue more than $3.8 million in taxable general obligation school bonds to fund health/life safety code improvements at four of the district’s five schools.
Shabbona, Shepard and LeVasseur elementary schools and Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center are slated to receive the upgrades. Only Liberty Intermediate was not in need of any improvements.
The district will levy a direct annual tax to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.
“The intention is to keep the tax rate flat,” District 53 Superintendent Adam Ehrman said. “We could have bonded for more, but the intention was strongly that we are not going to go beyond our current tax rate. Keeping that flat not only impacted how many bonds we sold, but how we structured it as well.”
The estimate for the total cost of all the work needed at the four schools is more than $8 million.
The bonds will pay for altering and reconstructing the four buildings to meet codes, as well as purchasing and installing equipment for fire prevention and safety, energy conservation and school security purposes.
Items such as water heaters, mechanical control systems, fire doors and fire alarms at the schools are in need of replacement.
“A lot of that work will take us years to be able to do,” Ehrman said. “This is just preparing us for things.”
For example, the roof at Shepard will need to be replaced in the next two to five years.
The total amount of the bonds decreased by about $45,000 from what was presented during January’s bond hearing because of the removal of a project that would have included replacing old carpeting.
That project wasn’t going to be accepted by the state for a health/life safety amendment.
“We were arguing that the carpet was so frayed that we needed to replace it for a safety tripping hazard, and they didn’t really love it, so we let it go,” Ehrman said.
A series of three bonds are set to be issued, with maturity years of 2025, 2026 and 2027. The principal amounts of the bonds are $1,355,800, $1,416,400 and $1,032,800. Each has an interest rate of 5.25%.
ExpandJamie Freedlund (Photo provided by Jamie Freedlund )
Board Member - Bourbonnais Elementary School District #53
Turn-Key Environmental and Founder of Mattea’s Joy
but I have not held any other political offices
Education: BS Advertising - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Community Involvement: - Member of the United Way’s Women United group
- Volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House and Comer Children’s Hospital
- Founder of Mattea’s Joy, a non-profit committed to bringing care, comfort and community to families with hospitalized children (www.matteasjoy.org)
- Active participant and volunteer with my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Active member of the Kankakee Area Chamber of Commerce
- Riverside Medical Center Heart Ball Committee member
Marital status/Immediate family: Married to Gary Freedlund
Cooper (13) and Kipton (9) and Mattea who passed away in 2010
My role as a board member is to support the smart and insightful decisions that our successful administrators and educators are making while bringing in community input to those conversations. I strive to be both a voice of our community and a cheerleader for the stellar work that’s being done by the district.
Fiscal responsibility should always be a part of any healthy organization and I take seriously my role in the oversight of the financial decisions being made by administrators within BESD53. My financial background as a CFO has made me uniquely qualified to ensure that the decisions that are being made regarding budget priorities and expenditures are aligned with what is best for the students within BESD53 - which I believe is a foreshadowing of the success of our community at large.
I have witnessed the challenges that our district has faced in recent years regarding the highly trained educators in special education and other education sub-specialties. I have supported every effort to maintain market-competitive salaries for those positions that require it to recruit and retain the incredible educators that our district is privileged to have supporting the students of BESD 53.
I have three current school aged children and they all attended public school for all of their years so far.
Cooper - 7th grade at Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center
Kipton - 3rd grade at LeVasseur Elementary
School districts have a responsibility to ensure that materials available to students are both enriching and educating as well as age-appropriate through trust in qualified staff and, if needed, oversight. We support educators in making those choices with the best interest of students in mind and we also can be a part of support for administration to intervene if an educator is not aligned with what is best for kids in those choices.
Our administrative team is doing an excellent job navigating the drop-off of COVID relief money.
I believe that each child has the right to feel safe and comfortable in the place where they are educated. I will support what is best for each child to that they can be as successful as possible in their educational endeavors, which is sometimes unique for each child’s circumstance.
1. Continuing actions that are making BESD 53 a recognized and exceptional place for students to learn and grow.
2. Allowing the community to see the amazing work that the current staff, Educators, and Administrators are doing.
3. Maintaining the fiscally responsible choices that the administrators are making - from creating positive and enriching educational environments to building maintenance - they all affect students and are important.
I support the school district’s current policy of no cell phone usage from bell to bell.
Cyberbullying and inappropriate content access are not what anyone wants occurring and there are systems in place to address that allow building administrators to work with others in support of protecting all students from these actions and content.
I have experienced the benefits of AI in the business world in some, but not all circumstances. However, I am not well-versed enough on the influence or effect of student AI access to know if I would support policy around AI in schoolwork.
Financial transparency is done best when it is presented in ways that those receiving the information can understand. Although reporting is often made public by all school districts, the key is to have understanding around the why and how of the numbers. BESD 53 does a good job of presenting financial information at public board meetings with accompanying presentations that support how it ties back to the district value of excellence in all we do.
Parents and community members are always a welcome and important part of the narrative that drives curriculum and policy changes. Their voices echo in the relationships and conversations that our board have within the community. Board members represent our community and I strive as a current board member to bring the values of our community with me in my role.
Books create a platform for exploration and understanding others that may not be like ourselves. There is a value in our students engaging in content that is rich in experiences, but also very appropriate and suitable to build strong character. Educators that align with the core values of BESD 53 will ensure that this is upheld in the learning environments for students and, if necessary, administration and board action will be utilized to maintain these criteria.
Administrators and educators are the ones that collaborate together to balance appropriate class sizes with the current teacher staffing levels. I have learned in my time as a board member that the positive collaboration between all those working within the district around these issues will foster good solutions for each classroom.
BESD 53 is an exceptional district that is staffed with incredible educators. I have gratitude to be a part of an organization that attracts and retains such a quality group of individuals.
I strive to be a very active part of our community with an open and joyful attitude for all that would like to discuss BESD 53.
ExpandBradley-Bourbonnais' Aaliyah Lanum takes a shot during a home game against Bishop McNamara Tuesday
BRADLEY – Before the girls soccer season started last month, Bradley-Bourbonnais
like scores of other teams around the state
made a list of preseason goals that they hoped to accomplish
they checked the first box on their home turf
Thanks to a furious four-goal rally in the last 15 minutes of the first half, the Boilermakers shut out Bishop McNamara 5-0. Paired with last week’s 3-2 comeback win over Kankakee, Tuesday’s win made the Boilers the repeat All-City champions.
“Playing on this field and defeating the other teams for All-City means everything to them,” Boilers head coach Kristen Powell said. “This was something they made as a goal at the beginning of the season, so to see them accomplish it, it’s one of hopefully many that they’re gonna achieve this season.”
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 10Bradley-Bourbonnais' Harper Tollefson, left, has her crossing pass defended by Bishop McNamara's Lily Walker-Dionne during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
After seeing the Boilers (4-2) turn their speed into offense in their win over the Kays, the Fightin’ Irish (0-3) made it a point to focus their defensive attention on that outside speed, which led to a back-and-forth battle for the first 20-plus minutes Tuesday.
But as the Boilers were able to find opportunities in the box and from the middle of the pitch, they scored in bunches. Aaliyah Lanum kicked off the scoring with a long-distance boot from the top middle of the box 23 minutes into the half, the first of four goals in the final 17 minutes.
Six minutes later, that speed broke free when Nia Lawrence dashed down the left side and found the back of the net. Lanum tacked on another with just more than three minutes left before Rylee Villegas, a Bishop McNamara transfer, put in a long distance boot in the final seconds of the first half.
“Once they saw that we were able to pass and get into the box, and once they realized they were able to follow that up and finish the ball and that they could be fruitful, I think they were just encouraged and continued to work hard on offense,” Powell said of the furious rally that ended the first half.
After the offense took center stage in the first half, the Boilers’ defense and goalkeeper Jocelyn Zettergren took over in the second half.
The Irish got a couple of good scoring looks from Ella Langellier, Ellen Ehrman and Lydia Nugent, but all were denied before Villegas added her second goal in the game’s closing moments.
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Rylee Villegas dribbles the ball during a home game against Bishop McNamara Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
Although the final score leaned heavily toward the Boilers, the Irish and head coach Jason Dionne saw some good moments. They were able to follow their game plan of containing the Boilers’ outside speed for most of the night and had their share of looks in the second half.
With their first three matchups against Kankakee, Herscher and Bradley-Bourbonnais, currently a combined 12-3-1 this season, Dionne knows his team is gaining valuable experience through a tough chunk of their schedule.
“We’re learning how to grow as a team,” Dionne said. “We’ve taken on some tough teams to start the season and we’ve learned a lot. We’re taking that and gonna keep rolling.”
ExpandAn election day voting sign in Bourbonnais (Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette)
BOURBONNAIS – The ballot for village of Bourbonnais’ general election next April will have three less names on it for trustee.
Republican candidates for trustees – Jacob Alexander-Hildebrand, Chad Meents and Ryan Krusinger – were knocked off the ballot following Tuesday’s village of Bourbonnais Electoral Board hearing.
The challenges were filed by Bourbonnais residents Chester Maricle and Berry Franks.
They charged the candidates did not have the minimum 25 signatures on their petitions, according to documents.
All three Republican candidates’ nomination petitions did not have the required minimum 25 registered voters names, the board ruled.
Alexander-Hildebrand and Meents each had only 24 signatures, according to documents.
Krusinger’s nomination petition had only 10 names.
The electoral board is comprised of Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore, Clerk Brian Simeur and attorney Tony Brasel.
Per state law, the senior member of the board of trustees is supposed to be on the board.
However, Bruce Greenlee, who holds that distinction, is running for trustee. The second-longest serving trustee is Rick Fischer, who also is up for re-election.
Thus the Chief Judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit, Thomas Cunnington, made the appointment of the third board member.
The village will have a primary race on Feb. 25, 2025.
Schore is being challenged in the Citizen’s Party by current trustee Jeff Keast.
https://daily-journal.com/news/elections/republican-trustee-challengers-knocked-off-ballot-in-bourbonnais/article_b739c04c-a1f1-11ef-bf7d-cb86245ad074.html
ExpandBradley-Bourbonnais' Evie McIntyre slides into home plate for a run during a home game against Herscher Monday
Hofbauer is one of several new faces on a Boilers team that improved to 2-0. With the graduation of four-year stalwarts Ellie Haggard (shortstop) and Libby Spaulding (pitcher/first base) among others, head coach Haylee Austell said that now that the bar has been set at six straight seasons of at least 19 wins and three straight Class 4A regional titles, they have no plans on letting that standard drop back down this spring.
“We’re here to make sure people know that the standard has been set and it’s our job to raise it,” Austell said. “These girls have done a really good job of stepping into what that looks like, not being afraid of big shoes or whatnot, but just going out and being themselves.”
ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11Bradley-Bourbonnais' Liv Woolman, left, fields a ground ball and looks to tag out Herscher's Abby Overacker during a game at Bradley-Bourbonnais Monday, March, 24, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The Tigers, who saw their three-game season-opening win streak end, were able to load the bases on Hofbauer in the top of the first on a pair of walks to RyLyn Adams and Keira Ahramovich and an error. But the sophomore right-hander bounced back with a strikeout and flyout to get out of the first unscathed.
In turn, the Boilers scored five in their half of the first, including their first two when Hofbauer and Evie Mcintyre were hit by pitches with the bases loaded, following Lydia Hammond’s HPB that loaded them. Another sophomore, right fielder Alayna Sykes, drove in a pair of runs with an opposite field single to right before McIntyre scored on a wild pitch the next at-bat.
With a five-run lead and an experienced catcher in three-year Boilers starter Suttyn Hop, Austell said Hofbauer was able to go back to the circle with confidence after that.
“We have all the confidence in the world in Abbie, and with Suttyn behind the plate we have experience there, being able to be a calming force for her,” Austell said. “Abbie’s only gonna continue to get better, so for her to get out of that, take a deep breath, and then for us to score five runs, she was able to go out in the second and play a little bit more free.”
The Tigers did get some good swings in the middle innings, scoring a pair of runs in the third on an Anistin Hackley double and an Ahramovich single, as well as an unearned run in the third, but Hofbauer finished the day allowing two earned runs on five hits in her five-inning complete game.
“When we start limiting the mistakes in the field, the defensive errors, cut that in half or limit that to zero, limit the walks and hit by pitches, we can put the ball in play,” Tigers coach Mike Cann said. “We scratched three against these guys and had some nice hits. We had a promising first inning, bases loaded with one out. We missed the squeeze, went out, out, and left three on base.”
Bradley-Bourbonnais' Suttyn Hop rounds second base and looks towards third during a home game against Herscher Monday, March 24, 2025. (Mason Schweizer)
The Boilers were able to get to Hackley, one of the area’s top returning pitchers, scoring 12 of their runs (10 earned) on the southpaw on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Hop led the offense with a 3 for 3 day that included a double, a walk, four runs and an RBI.
Alongside senior second baseman Bella Pusateri and junior pitcher Lydia Hammond, Monday’s designated player, the Boilers boast a trio of players with three-plus years of starting experience and success to their names.
And now that she’s a senior, Hop said she feels like it’s her duty to step into a leadership role and show her younger teammates the confidence it requires to be successful at this level.
“I feel like I have to take a role and be a leader, set the tone for them and show them it’s OK to show out,” Hop said. “Just not to be afraid; be yourself when you’re playing. Mistakes are gonna happen, that’s just part of the game.”
Pusateri and Hammond had two hits apiece, Pusateri doubling and scoring and Hammond scoring and driving in two apiece. Eight different Boilers had a hit and eight either scored or drove in a run.
The Tigers got a two-hit day from Abby Overacker, who scored one of their three runs.
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2025 at 10:30 pm CDTExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11Herscher's Gianni Jaime celebrates scoring a goal with teammate Laney Mohler during the Tigers' 3-2 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais on Tuesday
Tiffany BlanchetteTiffany Blanchette has been a photojournalist with the Daily Journal since 2014 and Photo Editor since 2018. She has won awards for her work from the Illinois Press Association and the National Press Photographers Association. She enjoys covering everything from news to sports in the very community she grew up in.