ExpandThe empty lot that will soon be the I&M Canal Gateway in Channahon on Tuesday The village of Channahon announced Monday that construction on the I&M Canal Gateway project at 25450 W The project is being called a significant addition to the city’s natural amenities and “make for better outdoor recreation opportunities on the trail,” the village said in a news release The project is expected to be completed by this summer The I&M Canal Gateway project is funded largely by diesel taxes collected from gas stations around Channahon and will serve as a hub for visitors and residents who want to travel the canal’s towpath a water bottle-filling station and a pavilion with seating The plan also includes accommodations for public art installations which will be spearheaded by the village’s Arts and Culture Commission The parking area will be constructed of permeable pavers designed to be an ecologically friendly and sustainable method of stormwater management “The I&M Canal is one of the most historic outdoor attractions in the state in our backyards in Channahon,” Village President Missey Moorman Schumacher said in the release “We believe the Canal Gateway project will bring far more attention to all that the I&M Canal has to offer for our residents and visitors We’re excited to see this vision come to life and create a vibrant recreational space for all of Channahon.” The I&M Canal Gateway is part of the village’s focus on promoting the natural amenities in town of Aurora was awarded the contract for construction For more information on the village of Channahon and its current projects, visit www.channahon.org or call 815-467-6644 The I&M Canal State Trail sits further down the canal from the I&M Canal Gateway on Tuesday Michael UrbanecMichael Urbanec covers Grundy County and the City of Morris, Coal City, Minooka, and more for the Morris Herald-News Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network 2025 at 12:55 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"At this time there is no threat to the area," Channahon police said on Thursday (File image John Ferak/Patch )CHANNAHON — The Channahon Police Department said a woman using drugs and facing a mental health crisis suffered minor injuries after driving recklessly after 1 a.m and crashing into police stop sticks on Sunset Drive between Sioux Drive and Roberts Avenue According to Thursday's news release from Deputy Chief Matt Brooks Channahon police assisted Wilmington police in trying to find a suicidal person experiencing a mental health crisis Wilmington police tried to pull the woman over Channahon police saw her vehicle near Bluff Road and Interstate 55 the police saw the fleeing motorist near Sioux Drive and she turned south and accelerated at the Channahon police officers and the vehicle crashed into a tree in the median of Sunset Drive near Galloway School Police later realized the woman had already abandoned the moving vehicle prior to hitting the stop sticks A reverse 911 call alerted Channahon residents during the middle of the night to shelter in place while the officers searched for her Channahon police said they used drones to find the missing woman treated for minor injuries and taken to a hospital for further evaluations No officers were injured during the incident and criminal charges are now pending there is no threat to the area," Channahon police declared Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. ExpandDarren Reynolds from Canadian National explains the ins and outs of the project to the Open House attendees People from around the Channahon-Minooka area got their first glimpse at Canadian National’s plans for the Chicago Logistics Hub an intermodal hub it hopes to have open in 2028 The logistics hub would have Route 6 as its southern border the Canadian National track as its eastern border and Sand Ridge Road as its western border Entrances would come off McLindon Road to the far northeast of the property and on the north side of Route 6 to the south. The McLindon Road entrance is a sticking point for the village of Minooka Canadian National sent a letter to the village noting that it believes the ordinance was preempted by federal law according to a June article published in The Morris Herald-News “They’re still talking about 20% of a million – that’s 200,000 trucks extra on Ridge Road and I-80 which is our most accident-prone area,“ he said ”That’ll just add to the problem with the school buses and trucks that we already have and the problem is it sits 93% in Channahon Channahon Mayor Missey Moorman Schumacher said everybody is concerned 50 years ago I was a third grader at Pioneer Path School and it has changed dramatically in my lifetime and we are going to keep it in appropriate places so we can protect our residential areas and keep the industrial and commercial on the outskirts.” Schumacher said the farmer sold the property and Channahon doesn’t really get a say in that The area has been annexed and zoned industrial for 25-plus years the media and public affairs director for Canadian National “Some is a bit more concerned and has more specific questions related to traffic and we’re happy to take those and answer them and we take it back and we see how we can make the project better.” Abecassis said Channahon is a good location for the hub because of its proximity to two highways it’s location between the CSX and Canadian National railroads and it’s proximity to the rest of the Chicago area there will be more people making Channahon and Minooka a permanent residence more big-box stores and more businesses that need to get their goods Canadian National has a website with information on the Chicago Logistics Hub available at cnchicagologisticshub.com and it explains the benefits the hub would bring to the area it would bring about 600 construction jobs immediately and about 6,5000 permanent jobs after the project is finished It also would generate about $20.9 million in tax revenue for surrounding cities said in a news release Tuesday night that she’s upset with the lack of public comment allowed for the project “It’s extremely disappointing to me that Canadian National is bringing this massive intermodal facility without giving the opportunity for the public to comment nor are they listening to the concerns of the very residents this plan will affect directly,” Ventura said “The area is already heavily impacted with increased truck traffic that causes accidents and unsafe driving conditions as additional trucks on the road will add the ongoing problem of air pollution and many of these jobs are low-wage jobs hurting our economy.” Ventura said she is concerned with how it would affect retail shops how it would increase traffic accidents and how it would create environmental problems through air and noise pollution “As any resident in the 43rd District could tell you truck traffic has been a major concern for the area over the last few years – especially with additional warehouses put in residential areas – not just how it affects daily commuting but also the environment," Ventura said then serious consideration needs to be given to the fairness of Minooka.” She said the project will add 3 million more trucks to Interstate 80 and Canadian National needs to use Brisbin Road as the lone exit for truck traffic Offerman pointed out that Brisbin Road is only a couple of miles away with no stop lights or reduced speed limits between the hub and I-80 Train congestion also is a concern for Offerman “We’re looking at a possible 15 miles of trains coming every day and leaving on one single track and we’ve only got two roads north out of town,” Offerman said and this hub would have eight trains coming through town per day Abecassis said he thinks more cargo traveling by train would mean fewer trucks “It’s in our interest to have a very fluid project,” Abecassis said “We don’t want truck traffic that doesn’t help us move goods A top-down map of where the Canadian National Chicago Logistics Hub is proposed 2025 at 4:47 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Nobody was injured putting out the fire (File/John Ferak/Patch)CHANNAHON — The Channahon Fire Department issued a press release regarding Friday morning's fire that caused substantial damage to a business at 242229 West Riverside Drive According to the fire protection district: Agencies assisting at the scene included Troy and Lockport provided area coverage while Channahon and mutual aid companies worked at the scene ExpandThe Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Eagle Watch will be held on Saturday 11 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon (Photo provided by Forest Preserve District of Will County) The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s 2025 eagle watch is about to take flight “We’ll have lots of activities for the whole family indoors and outdoors,” Jess McQuown said in a news release announcing the event “There will be s’mores around the fire and hikes to see the resident eagles across the river families can make a craft and experience an eagle’s superpowers for themselves,” McQuown said In addition to eagle-watching, the event will feature live bird presentations by Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center Two 45-minute sessions will be offered at 11 a.m and a shorter 20-minute meet-and-greet is set for 12:30 p.m. “Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center will showcase a bald eagle as well as several owls,” McQuown said in the release Seating is limited and offered on a first-come so those interested in attending should plan on getting there early an Eagle Eye Scavenger Hunt and food from Lil’ Deb’s Mobile Eats Three 40-minute guided hikes are set for 11:50 a.m. Two 15-minute Talon Talks will be offered at noon (Eagles of the World) and 2:30 p.m Winter is the best time to look for Illinois eagles as they flock to open water to hunt, and the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center is in a perfect spot because it’s located where the DuPage, Kankakee and Des Plaines rivers converge to form the Illinois River “People often dread colder weather at this time of year but freezing temperatures bring bald eagles in large numbers to the water around Four Rivers,” McQuown said in the release “We are lucky enough to have a breeding pair near the preserve but we can see them daily starting in the late fall.” And no matter how cold the temperatures get the eagles know they can fish in the McKinley Woods area where Four Rivers is located even when other rivers are freezing over,” McQuown said in the release “Bald eagles have a diet of primarily fish family-friendly eagle watch event will offer activities for children and adults 2025 at 8:48 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mariano Kotrba IL — Grundy County Coroner John Callahan’s Office issued a press release on Wednesday confirming the body of a missing Minooka man was found late Tuesday afternoon Callahan said a civilian member of a search team discovered the body around 5 p.m Several searches took place over the past week Kotrba was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m Grundy County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Paul Clampitt told Joliet Patch that a gun was recovered near the body and "no foul play is suspected." A volunteer searcher went off on his own toward the west of Cemetery Road and made the discovery Kotrba's body was found along the deer path in the dense woods about one-eighth of a mile west of the Canadian National Railroad overpass/viaduct along the I&M Canal Trail The body was found about 100 yards into the woods Callahan said the family is grateful for the outreach of support in the search for their son and brother the outcome isn’t what anyone had hoped and prayed for but now we ask you give the family privacy and respect during this difficult time," Callahan said The death investigation continues with the coroner’s office Grundy County Sheriff and Minooka Police Department confidential service can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress or those around them with support Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 ExpandIllinois State Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened on Interstate 55 in Channahon Township on Saturday. (Gary Middendorf) A Channahon man died following on a crash over the weekend on Interstate 55 in Channahon Township. Camden Newberry, 33, was pronounced deceased at 3:34p.m. on Saturday Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet Hospital as the result of a single-vehicle crash that occurred on southbound I-55 at mile marker 248, according to the Will County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was performed on Sunday. Final cause and manner of death will be determined following autopsy, police and toxicological reports, according to the coroner’s office. The Illinois State Police are investigating the crash. 2025 at 4:33 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}3 Rivers Cafe will be open on April 1st It's in Channahon along Route 6 at the former village hall property (John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor )CHANNAHON — Tuesday will mark the first day of business for Channahon's long awaited 3 Rivers Cafe Patch first reported about the new restaurant project back in 2023 The owners have spent the past two years remodeling the former village hall property along Route 6 in Channahon The address for the new 3 Rivers Cafe will be 24441 West Eames Street, Channahon. During a Patch interview in 2023, Minooka restaurant owner Ahmad Douglas revealed that his family had acquired the former Channahon Village Hall building near the Rosati's Pizza along Route 6 Douglas revealed that his new Channahon sit-down restaurant is ready to open now that April is here "We're excited to announce that 3 Rivers Cafe in Channahon will be opening its doors for the first time tomorrow at 6 a.m The soups will be chicken noodle and stuffed green pepper .. We kindly ask for your patience as we settle into our new operation and workflow," Douglas informed followers of Brian Bessler's Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide 3 Rivers Cafe will be open in April from 6 a.m Douglas said he plans to expand the hours to include dinner of Channahon (Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Office) A Channahon man charged with attempted possession of a pipe bomb allegedly told police that he intended to place it in a bowl of candy for children “as it was Halloween,” according to prosecutors On Friday, Will County Judge Chrystel Galvin denied the pretrial release of Bill Fossett of Channahon after finding his release would post a danger to the public and no conditions could mitigate that danger 31 offenses of attempted possession of explosives possession of ammunition without a license and unlawful possession of methamphetamine Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Burkhardt petitioned to deny Fossett’s release from jail officers were sent to Fossett’s residence in Channahon regarding his allegations that youths were trespassing inside of his residence hiding inside his home and were “communicating through clicking,” according to Burkhardt’s petition Officers were not able to corroborate Fossett’s claims but they found “multiple handgun magazines” at his home even though he does not possession a valid firearm owner’s identification card On Oct. 31, officers executed a search warrant at Fossett’s residence and found what looked like an explosive device, according to Burkhardt’s petition. The Illinois State Police bomb squad was called to the scene As Fossett was transported to the Channahon Police Department “You guys are arresting me for the pipe bomb cause kids were scaring me,” according to Burkhardt’s petition he allegedly said that he “intended to place the device in a bowl of candy for approaching children as it was Halloween,” according to Burkhardt’s petition An Illinois State Police examination of the bomb revealed that it was empty but a jar of nails was located directly next to the device. Officers recovered about 200 rounds of ammunition from Fossett’s house and 2.2 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to Burkhardt’s petition. 2025 at 8:50 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(File Image via John Ferak/Patch)CHANNAHON — Will County Coroner Laurie Summers issued a Facebook post on Monday letting everyone know that a 33-year-old Channahon died over the weekend from a crash along Interstate 55 The fatality victim was identified as Camden Newberry and he was pronounced dead at 3:34 p.m Newberry's motor vehicle crash happened on southbound I-55 at mile marker 248 The Illinois State Police are now investigating the fatality Illinois State Trooper Josh Robinson provided Joliet Patch with the following summary: The fatality happened near the Route 6 interchange in Channahon Township The 2022 Toyota Corolla was traveling south on Interstate 55 near milepost 248 left the roadway to the left and struck a sign and light pole The 33-year-old Channahon driver was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died of his injuries The Route 6 ramp was closed for the crash investigation ExpandThe village of Channahon unveiled the new branding logo at the State of the Village Address on April 10 ,2025. (Image provided by village of Channahon) The village of Channahon has launched its new brand identity, marking “a significant step forward in modernizing and unifying the community’s visual representation with an easily recognizable symbol and tagline,” the village said in a news release. The rebranding effort, developed in partnership with a5 Branding & Digital, was guided by extensive community input, including surveys, interviews and focus groups, according to the village. The new logo incorporates colors inspired by the village’s landscape, elements mimicking the confluence of both rivers and people in town, and a prominent “C” as the central focus uniting all elements. Channahon Village President Janet “Missey” Moorman Schumacher (Jeanne Millsap) The village’s comprehensive rebranding includes updated materials such as business cards, letterheads, signage and vehicle decals, according to the village. “This rebranding is more than just a new logo; it represents Channahon’s commitment to growth and unity,” Village President Missey Moorman Schumacher said in the release. “From the colors to the tagline, we have created a visual identity that feels both fresh and familiar. Moving forward, we’re going to see a Channahon that feels unified, modern and full of possibility. This isn’t just a new logo – it’s a celebration of who we are and where we’re headed." The new brand was formally adopted by the Village Board on March 3. During the meeting, members of the Channahon Junior High School student council, who were participating in the meeting for Job Shadow Day, were able to share their opinions on the logo options, colors and tagline. Local student council members had “a tremendous impact on the final logo decision,” Moorman Schumacher said. “It was a fantastic way to get the youth and future of our town involved and have their voices heard.” The village officially unveiled the new branding at the State of the Village address April 10, coinciding with updates to the village’s website and digital presence. A driver led Channahon and Wilmington police on a chase early Thursday morning before abandoning the vehicle leading the police to issue a shelter-in-place order for the area around Sunset Drive near Galloway School in Channahon The Channahon Police Department said Thursday that it assisted the Wilmington Police Department in tracking down the driver who Wilmington police initially tried to stop at 1:22 a.m. according to a news release from Channahon police Police said the driver fled and was located again near Bluff Road and Interstate 55 and was found driving north on Sunset Drive near Sioux Drive later the driver then turned around heading south Police said they used stop sticks on the vehicle sustaining heavy damage and starting a small fire The driver left the moving vehicle before hitting the stop sticks and police established a perimeter and issued a Reverse 911 alert advising residents to shelter in place Channahon police used drones to aid in the search and detained the suspect at 2:25 a.m. The driver was treated for minor injuries and taken to the hospital for further evaluation and criminal charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing Police said the driver was having a mental health crisis and was reported to be under the influence of narcotics 2024 at 4:24 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(File image John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor )CHANNAHON — Channahon village officials issued a press release announcing that at Monday night's meeting the village board approved the 2024 property tax levy ordinance The estimated tax rate for Channahon is 0.5492 which is a 6 percent reduction from the prior year’s rate “This property tax rate reduction is a direct testament to the Village Board’s unwavering commitment to responsible fiscal management and keeping our community first in all that we do,” said Village President Missey Moorman Schumacher we’ve worked diligently to lower the tax burden on our residents These reductions allow us to minimize the burden on our taxpayers while still delivering exceptional services.” Increased equalized assessed values and the fiscal responsibility of the Village Board has resulted in the reduction of the Village’s tax rate over the past eight years the Village has reduced its tax rate by more than 20 percent over that time According to Channahon's press release from Sydney Thompson "This foresight and commitment has resulted in an overall reduction in the amount paid to the Village of Channahon each year on a property owner’s tax bill The Village utilizes the various revenue sources to provide services to residents and businesses and is proud to minimize the property tax levy each year." Joliet Patch has reported that over in Joliet former City of Chicago official Beth Beatty has proposed raising the property taxes and the city's fuel taxes for residents and non-residents alike as part of her proposed city of Joliet budget for 2025 Joliet's City Council will vote on Beatty's tax increases in two more weeks Meyer said that Minooka Police teamed up with Channahon Police the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Grundy County Sheriff's Office and Grundy County Emergency Management in trying to find Kotrba Kotrba, who played soccer as a forward/midfielder at the University of St. Francis in Joliet for four years, in 2019 through 2022 Authorities later discovered Kotrba's vehicle parked in the tiny lot along the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail off Cemetery Road and McLindon Road in rural Channahon authorities have not found any of Kotrba's clothing Meyer said the cell tower records obtained by police indicate the last ping for Kotrba's phone was in the general location near Cemetery Road in the vicinity of the Dresden Island Lock and Dam and the Illinois River Shoreline Near Dresden Lock & Dam Draws Attention From Search multiple dogs used by the police to look for Kotrba tracked Kotrba's scent to the area of the Dresden Lock and Dam During these past several days of search efforts Minooka's chief said the search parties canvassed several miles of wooded areas farm fields and areas near the Illinois River and the Illinois & Michigan Canal without locating Kotrba "The K9s led us to the area," Meyer stressed airplanes were used as well as drones and sonar we have no real no updates," Meyer told Joliet Patch on Monday which marks the sixth day since Kotrba's disappearance When asked if anybody fishing or walking along the I&M Canal Trail remembered seeing Kotrba "We're just speaking with the family and friends and trying to gather more information," Meyer added He said that authorities will consider revisiting the area or conducting more searches elsewhere if they receive any new information and leads regarding Kotrba's whereabouts The chief said the authorities have no indication Kotrba was despondent or that someone was trying to harm him around the time he went missing One hopeful possibility is that Kotrba called someone from the parking lot near Cemetery Road and someone picked him up and that he's safe somewhere; the chief said police have nothing to substantiate this theory Minooka police are treating Kotrba's disappearance as a missing and endangered person investigation Authorities plan to monitor the Illinois River over the coming days The chief also explained that morel mushroom hunting season is starting soon so he asked people "to keep their eyes open." 2025 at 11:28 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mariano Kotrba has been missing since Wednesday (Image via Minooka police force )MINOOKA — A Minooka man who has vanished is now the subject of a Facebook plea from the Minooka Police Department The police were out working with Channahon on Thursday night and had no success finding Mariano Kotrba His last location was the area around Mclindon Road and Cemetery Road in Channahon Minooka police said there will be increased police activity of the I&M Canal towpath near Hansel Road as multiple police agencies look for Mariano and people are urged to stay away from that area If you have any information about Mariano or his whereabouts you're asked to call the police department at 815-467-2161 A modern breakfast and lunch restaurant with “liquor options” according to the 3 Rivers Cafe website, recently opened in Channahon 3 Rivers Cafe’s extensive breakfast menu includes Benedicts 3 Rivers Cafe also has a children’s menu with six choices Owner is Ahmad Douglas, who also owns the Teardrop Pancake House at 410 W. Mondamin Drive in Minooka The Douglas family is committed to customer service, according to the 3 Rivers Cafe Facebook page or simply making sure your meal is perfect we will do our absolute best to take care of you,” according to the message on the 3 Rivers Cafe Facebook page For more information, call 815-828-5110 or visit 3riverscafe.com We welcome news about business developments in our communities. We appreciate hearing about local business comings and goings, new hours, expansions, and milestones in the Joliet area. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email news@theherald-news.com. 2024 at 10:55 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}“We’ll have lots of activities for the whole family indoors and outdoors,” said Jess McQuown (Image via Will County Forest Preserve District )(The following edited press release is from Cindy Cain at the Will County Forest Preserve.) “We’ll have lots of activities for the whole family indoors and outdoors,” said Jess McQuown "There will be s’mores around the fire and hikes to see the resident eagles across the river families can make a craft and experience an eagle’s superpowers for themselves.” and a shorter 20-minute meet and greet is set for 12:30 p.m "Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center will showcase a bald eagle as well as several owls," McQuown said Winter is the best time to look for these magnificent raptors as they flock to open water to hunt And Four Rivers Environmental Education Center is in a perfect spot Kankakee and Des Plaines rivers converge to form the Illinois River but freezing temperatures bring bald eagles in large numbers to the water around Four Rivers,” McQuown said family-friendly Eagle Watch event will offer activities for children and adults “The wide range of activities allows visitors to dive as deep as they want into the world of eagles,” McQuown said 2025 at 5:56 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bill Fossett has remained in the Will County jail since Channahon police arrested him at his home on South Deal Avenue where he was making pipe bombs (Mugshot via Will County Jail )JOLIET — After spending more than four months in the Will County Jail 38-year-old Channahon pipe bomb defendant Bill Fossett has hired switched attorneys hiring downtown Joliet criminal defense lawyer Cosmo Tedone who has petitioned Will County's judges to release his client from the jail Court records indicate that Fossett's next hearing is Friday and the matter involves the topic of referring Fossett's case to Will County's mental health court According to one filing from Tedone seeking his client's pretrial release Fossett has no likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution Tedone also informed Will County's judicial system that Fossett has a high school diploma and has lived in Channahon the past four years Fossett owns his home and has three children and pays $1,000 per month in child support At the time of Fossett's arrest on Halloween the Channahon criminal defendant listed his monthly wages as zero dollars for the court records "the defendant makes approximately $150,000 to $200,000 per year" and "the defendant has a potential opportunity to work with U.S During these past four-plus months in the Will County Jail Narcotics Anonymous and Anger Management" and "defendant has no significant criminal history," Fossett's lawyer pointed out In November, Joliet Patch published a story headlined, "Pipe Bomb Intended To Blow Up Trick-Or-Treaters: Prosecutors." Patch reported that Channahon police raided Fossett's house on South Deal Avenue during the early morning hours of Halloween Fossett was arrested at the time of the raid after Channahon police "uncovered what appeared to be an explosive device," court documents show The Illinois State Police bomb squad was called and the Fossett's device was composed of galvanized piping and end caps with a fuse protruding from one end While being taken to the Channahon police station "You guys are arrested me for the pipe bomb cause kids were scaring me?" Fossett explained that "he intended to place the device in a bowl of candy for approaching children Illinois State Police determined the pipe bomb device was safe An X-ray of the device showed it was still empty; however a jar of nails was found directly next to the device Officers also found two more threaded pipes and 200 rounds of ammunition and 2.2 grams of methamphetamine inside Fossett's house Will County has charged Fossett with attempted possession of explosives/incendiary devices possession of meth and illegal possession of ammunition 2024Lion Electric suspended operations at its Channahon Illinois facility near Joliet as the company announced hundreds of temporary layoffs Tuesday.CHANNAHON will suspend its operations at its Channahon facility the company announced in a press release Tuesday The company announced the suspension of operations at the plant as well as temporary layoffs of about 400 workers across the company The layoffs leave Lion Electric with about 300 workers The plant in Channahon opened in July of 2023 and was set to produce up to 20,000 vehicles a year The plant was the first dedicated vehicle assembly plant in the Chicago area since 1965 SEE ALSO: Lion Electric opens electric vehicle plant in Channahon "The City of Joliet has been in close communication with the Lion Electric team over the past few months to monitor the situation The temporary layoff of its workforce has unfortunately affected the Joliet production site the company has received a two-week credit extension from the banks including a potential sale of the business which could lead to the reopening of the Joliet production site." CHANNAHON — The Channahon Police Department announced the arrest of 37-year-old resident Bill Fossett in connection with allegations that Fossett had a pipe bomb inside his house with help from the Illinois State Police SWAT unit raided Fossett's house in the 22000 blocl of Deal Avenue at 5:30 a.m and he is now facing three charges: possession of explosives or incendiary device possession of firearms/ammunition without FOID and methamphetamine possession According to an updated Channahon Police press release officers discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the kitchen along with additional bomb making material Channahon Police and Illinois State Police SWAT established a perimeter evacuated homes immediately adjacent to the Deal Avenue home and issued a “shelter-in-place” order for houses on Deal Avenue between McClintock and Andrew Avenue Specialists from the Illinois State Police WMD team and the DuPage County Bomb Squad were called to safely assess and remedy the device ensuring the safety of officers on scene and nearby residents The device was determined to be safe in its current state though it was constructed in a manner consistent with a pipe bomb type of IED After confirming the device posed no immediate danger and the shelter-in- place order was lifted for residents in the area 2024 at 12:03 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor )CHANNAHON — A Mississippi pot roast dinner for less than $20 Grilled Grecian style pork chops with a side for $15 A 10-ounce rib eye steak dinner with two sides for $25 With business flourishing the past few years at The Grill at Fritz's Pour House Joliet restaurateur Miguel "Mike" Villarreal took a leap of faith this fall by adding another location he opened The Grill At The Office in October The Grill At The Office is at 25520 Pheasant Lane near the busy intersection of Route 6 and Ridge Road near the boundary lines for Channahon and Minooka If you are wondering whether The Grill at The Office is identical to Villarreal's The Grill At Fritz's Pour House Villarreal's Channahon restaurant offers some foods and specials you won't find in Joliet And the atmosphere is different in Channahon Fritz's Pour House on Joliet's Plainfield Road has a cozy The Grill At The Office offers much more sit-down space And while the menus of Villarreal's two sit-down restaurants are not identical much of the menu overlaps and many of the crowd pleasers in Joliet are also available for customers visiting The Grill at The Office in Channahon one of the biggest noticeable differences between the two locations is parking because it's part of a large commercial strip mall The kitchen for The Grill At The Office is closed Mondays and stays open from 11 a.m One of the great features of the Channahon restaurant "So we can accommodate parties," he remarked we can do private parties and corporate parties I think we have one of the larger dining rooms in the area and the bar is much larger." 'We Do Have Different Draws For Both Restaurants' The Grill At The Office has a dining room so big that it features two pool tables and a couple of dart boards "and plenty of gaming," Villarreal noted Villarreal said he's found many of his customers visiting his Channahon restaurant had previously dined at his Joliet restaurant "We do have different draws for both restaurants," remarked Bradley Skoczylas "The specials and staples in Joliet have become more and more a part of our regular menus over here we will get into destination recipes over here and there will be some things you can get over here and some things only over there and a lot of Philly steak (sandwiches) here too." For those interested in Villarreal's seasonal sensation The same is true with the oysters and the pasta dishes that's only a Joliet thing," Villarreal explained The owner and executive chef said the beef stroganoff in Channahon is a beef tenderloin which is different meat from Fritz's Pour House in Joliet Channahon is also the exclusive destination for their homemade meatballs "It's something you can only get here," remarked Skoczylas These Tomahawk Steaks Are Selling In Channahon The Grill At The Office has turned the viral sensation known as the Dubai chocolate bar into a cheesecake And there are appetizers you aren't likely to find on the menu at many area restaurants such as baked goat cheese While most of the dinner menu is under $20 in Channahon there is one item on the menu that costs about $100 The tomahawk steak weighs between 3 and 3 1/2 pounds and believe it or not "We sold at least 10 of them in one week," he proclaimed The Grill At The Office has been drawing people from Morris How does Villarreal want The Grill At The Office to be known steaks and everybody's welcome," he remarked "I want to say thank you to all the surrounding communities for their support and love and I want to give a thank you to Ed and Lena from Fritz's and Chris and Sue from The Office for entrusting us for giving us the opportunity to work here Our goal is to intertwine with our community and give them a unique culinary experience." Villarreal said that this Friday and Saturday only people who purchase $100 gift certificates for any of his three restaurants: The Grill At The Office The Grill At Fritz's Pour House and Jody's Hot Dogs on Joliet's Republic Avenue will get a free $25 gift certificate 2025 at 5:12 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Public open house on Canadian National’s proposed Chicago Logistic Hub Intermodal Facility at Minooka High School South Campus in Channahon Tuesday evening (Image via State Senator Rachel Ventura )(The following edited press release is from Joliet State Senator Rachel Ventura.) MINOOKA — Following the public open house regarding Canadian National’s proposed Chicago Logistic Hub Intermodal Facility located off Route 6 in Channahon on Tuesday State Senator Rachel Ventura raised concerns over the lack of public commentary permitted on the project and the environmental and economic issues that the project could bring to the area Hundreds of residents were in attendance as well as elected officials Some residents were outraged with the project “It’s extremely disappointing to me that Canadian National is bringing this massive intermodal facility without giving the opportunity for the public to comment nor are they listening to the concerns of the very residents this plan will affect directly,” said Ventura I am vehemently opposed to this project as additional trucks on the road will add the ongoing problem of air pollution and many of these jobs are low wage jobs hurting our economy." Canadian National has stated the city’s roads can readily handle the increased traffic with certain modifications Ventura expressed concerns with how this would affect retail shops and increase traffic accidents as well as environmental impacts such as air and noise pollution truck traffic has been a major concern for the area over the last few years – especially with additional warehouses put in residential areas - not just how it affects daily commuting but also the environment then serious consideration needs to be given to the fairness of Minooka,” said Ventura involves rerouting trucks onto roads that are not appropriate like Ridge Road or McLindon Road While land is being acquired by CN from the Village of Channahon Minooka's roads will be used if traffic cannot be directed through the Brisbin Road interchange "This project will add three million more trucks to I-80 It is critical to ensure the Brisbin Road exit is the sole route for truck traffic Careful planning of truck flow is essential Ventura plans to attend any future public meetings hosted by Canadian National on this planned facility as well as public hearings from the Village of Channahon and Minooka Project Will Alleviate Congestion On I-80/I-55: CN Spokesperson Alex Mauthe of DCI Group reached to Joliet Patch and indicated that he is working with CN and wanted to share the following information: "A thorough traffic study with input from the Villages of Minooka and Channahon and the Illinois Department of Transportation was completed and includes proposed improvements to local roadways needed to address increases in traffic No trucks are expected to travel south of Twin Rail drive along McLinden road The project has been designed with two gate entrances one on Route 6 and one on McLinden to minimize the traffic impact on local roads By removing long-haul trucks from highways the project will alleviate congestion on I-80/I-55 and primary continental north-south corridors." 2024 at 1:02 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Located at 25235 W the Channahon store's opening celebration—complete with in-store specials and Casey’s handmade pizza—began on Oct (File image John Ferak/Patch )CHANNAHON — Trevor Brassard turned himself into the Channahon Police Department this week in connection with criminal charges of felony theft When Brassard was an employee at the Casey's General Store in Channahon along Route 6 he was involved in the theft of more than $12,000 during the time period of May 1 until July 11 Channahon Police Detective Ethan Anderson filed the complaint this week at the Will County Courthouse The complaint alleges that Brassard obtained or exerted unauthorized control over the property of Casey's General Store and the value exceeded $10,000 but did not exceed $100,000 Channahon Police Department Deputy Chief Craig Gunty later told Joliet Patch that Brassard surrendered himself to his agency but the former Casey's employee has been released since his charge is not a detainable crime under the SAFE-T-Act Gunty told Joliet Patch that the theft of funds was discovered in late July by other company employees with the Casey's General Store The warrant for Brassard's arrest noted that he is now unemployed and he lives in the 22800 block of South Kathey Drive in Channahon 30 bench warrant was issued by Will County Judge James Harvey News & Reviews News Wire CN sets open house on proposed Chicago Logistics Hub — Canadian National has scheduled an open house for Jan 14 at Minooka High School South Campus in Channahon to discuss its proposed Chicago Logistics Hub intermodal facility an approximately 900-acre facility in Channahon and unincorporated land adjacent to Minooka CN describes the event with no formal presentation or action to be taken Those interested can come and go at any time to examine exhibits and speak with CN representatives The event will be in the main gym at the school The Village of Minooka has said it is concerned about the truck traffic the facility about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago It filed suit in June to enforce vehicle weight limits on McLindon Road which would offer one of two access points to the facility under CN’s plan A CN website says the site — bordered by CN and CSX rail lines and near Interstate 80 — will eventually include 11 new industrial buildings as part of the logistics park adjacent to the intermodal terminal It says it is expected to remove 400,000 long-haul trucks from roadways annually and that it has been designed to minimize impact on local roads following a traffic study with input from the two communities and the Illinois Department of Transportation The railroad also projects the project will create approximately 600 construction jobs and generate approximately $20.9 million in new tax revenue All of the roads surrounding this are already choked with other distribution centers this is the tail end of an EJ&E branch line that used to bring coal up/down from the strip mines in and round Coal City Braidwood and down by the Mazon River in the 1920’s It goes as far as the Goose Lake State Park south of Collins Road today where the original line ends and 2 industrial spurs fan out One goes west across Heidicke Lake to the now abandoned ComEd Collins Power Plant the other spur goes east to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant and a nuclear disposal facility Neither spur has been used commercially in over 25 years but are listed as active CN has an active lift bridge over the Illinois River as part of this line Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands 2024 at 6:16 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bill Fossett was denied pretrial release after police said he intended to use a pipe bomb to blow up trick-or-treaters (Mugshot via Will County Jail )CHANNAHON — Bill Theron Fossett the 37-year-old Channahon man arrested by Channahon police during the early morning hours of Halloween will not be getting out of the Will County Jail anytime soon now that a Will County judge determined that the pipe bomb defendant is too dangerous to let back into the community under the SAFE-T Act According to the pretrial detention filing Channahon police were dispatched to Fossett's house twice between Oct 30 on South Deal Avenue because Fossett called them about kids trespassing inside his house Fossett claimed that there were kids hiding inside his house and communicating with him through clicking Fossett also claimed that the kids were hurt on his property It did not take long for Channahon police to realize that Fossett's version of events was untrue "The defendant indicated he had cameras on his property but that no juveniles were captured on footage due to them 'blocking the cameras,'" prosecutors noted "Officers were unable to corroborate any claim made by defendant in regards to juveniles at his residence." Channahon police found multiple handgun magazines and later learned that Fossett does not have a valid FOID card during the early morning hours of Halloween "You guys are arrested me for the pipe bomb cause kids were scaring me?" Illinois State Police determined that the pipe bomb device was safe Fossett was already on pretrial release out of Grundy County for a felony drug charge 2025 at 3:22 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Channahon teenager Hayden Pearson spent three days in the Will County Jail this week He comes from the 26100 block of South Bell Road (Mugshot via Will County Jail)CHANNAHON — The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow lost last week's effort to keep Channahon teenager Hayden Pearson in the Will County Jail in connection with his charges of child pornography and possessing a fake Illinois driver's license who turns 19 years old in the coming weeks was represented in the courtroom of Judge Derek Ewanic by prominent Joliet defense attorney George Lenard but ordered Pearson to have "no internet access for the pendency of this case." The Will County criminal complaint from last week charged Pearson with child pornography as well as possession of a fictitious or unlawfully altered driver's license The Channahon Police Department filed the criminal complaint The petition to deny pretrial release for Pearson that on Jan Channahon police were contacted by the Normal Police Department regarding a cyber tip involving child pornography posted to Twitter/X that involved an explicit 43-second-long video of a young girl the police learned that two files were uploaded to Twitter/X and the police inquiry "uncovered multiple IP addresses belonged to Illinois State University in Normal and a Comcast address," court records show The police later determined that the Comcast address came from the 26100 block of South Bell Road in Channahon and the defendant's mother "The Comcast IP address indicated an upload location .. This file depicts an unclothed minor in a pose involving lewd exhibition," the prosecutors noted "A review of the subpoena response from Twitter/X included multiple dates on which the Channahon IP address was used to upload pornographic and (child sexual abuse material)." Channahon police went to the Pearson home for a search warrant Pearson "made partial admissions to exchanging photos on Twitter The defendant's phone was recovered and officers located additional images of prepubescent females A search of the defendant's room uncovered a fictitious driver's license with a DOB of October 5 Will County jail records show that Pearson was set free on Feb 2025 at 5:19 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Miguel J was arrested by the Channahon police over the weekend (Mugshot via Will County Jail)CHANNAHON — After spending three days in the Will County Jail a 25-year-old Channahon resident and convicted sex offender has been released from custody and he will be obligated to find a new place to live the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed charges against Miguel G a Channahon sex offender residing within 500 feet of a school The Channahon Police Department investigated the case against Perez who was living at 25038 West Sioux Drive in Channahon knowingly resided within 500 feet of any real property comprising of any school located at 24917 West Sioux Drive in Channahon." Perez learned from the judge that his jail detention was over The offense is not detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T-Act According to files at the Will County Courthouse pleading guilty to criminal sexual abuse in connection with a Joliet crime Will County Judge Vincent Cornelius sentenced Perez to two years of probation Perez was also sentenced to 28 days in the Will County Jail but he did not have to serve that time because he had already spent 14 days in the jail awaiting trial Perez was ordered to pay court costs of $2,794 and a probation fee of $1,200 The initial criminal complaint from Joliet Police Detective Shawn Filipiak was filed in 2019 stating that Perez had used threat or force to have sexual relations with a teenage girl accused Perez of trying to strangle the girl in the 100 block of Twin Oaks Drive In connection with this week's criminal charge, Will County court records and the Illinois State Police sex offender registry are now listing Perez's current address as being in Morris on East Green Acres Drive ExpandChannahon Village President Missey Moorman Schumacher The village of Channahon said it will be able to lower its tax rate for the coming year after approving its 2024 property tax levy request The Village Board approved the property tax levy ordinance at its Monday meeting The estimated tax rate for the village is 0.5492 which is a 6% reduction from the previous year’s rate Increased equalized assessed values due to growth in the village and the fiscal policies of the Village Board have resulted in the reduction of the tax rate over the past eight years Channahon has reduced its tax rate by more than 20% over the past eight years “This property tax rate reduction is a direct testament to the Village Board’s unwavering commitment to responsible fiscal management and keeping our community first in all that we do,” Village President Missey Moorman Schumacher said in a news release For more information, go to www.channahon.org Judy HarveyNews editor for The Herald-News. More than 30 years as a journalist in community news in Will County and the greater Chicago region. ExpandChannahon Minooka Rotary Student of the Month Nyah McCallum (Photo provided by Minooka Community High School) Minooka Community High School student Nyah McCallum,daughter of Lynell and Susan of Channahon has been named the Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club Student of the Month for April and she has achieved high honor roll every semester as well as received her Seal of Biliteracy in American Sign Language She is very involved in extra-curricular activities according to a Tuesday news release: She participates in marching band and has read the school’s morning announcements for three years she has drummed for six different churches in the last five years Band Director Kyle Adelmann nominated Nyah and she she is a model member of the MCHS band program “Because of her high level of musicianship and leadership our percussion section continues to be one of our strongest in the entire band,” Adelmann said “Nyah’s personality will be greatly missed after she graduates and we wish her well on her future musical endeavors.” Nyah said community service is important to her because her community isn’t just her home as much as it is the people who live there with her “Being an active member is who I strive to be in hopes I can make my community a happier She plans to attend Ohio State University and major in finance with aspirations to become a corporate lawyer CHANNAHON — The Channahon Fire Protection District announced that crews responded to a chemical incident at 26332 Frontage Road Americas Styrenics employees informed fire crews they were cooling a rail car containing a chemical material that was experiencing a thermal event and the Channahon Fire District was summoned to assist with the cooling operation Fire crews set up large volume master streams and handlines to assist with cooling the railcar and vapor suppression Hazardous Materials Technicians from Division 15 Hazardous Materials Response Team were requested to the scene to establish air quality monitoring around the property of Americas Styrenics There is no immediate threat to the life and safety of the public Channahon Fire Chief John Petrakis noted in his press release people are asked to avoid the area for security reasons as emergency response team members continue to provide cooling to slow the reaction inside of the railcar The condition within the railcar is improving and is under constant evaluation by the emergency response team Notifications to the Will County Emergency Management Agency and Illinois Emergency Management Agency have been made 2025 at 5:58 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Mugshot via Will County Jail )JOLIET —After spending four days in the Will County Jail 32-year-old Coal City resident Joseph Vancleave has regained his freedom but one of the conditions of his pretrial release is that he must not set foot on the property of Channahon's public library which is known as the Three Rivers Library The Will County Sheriff's Office took Vancleave into custody on Feb 28 in connection with his arrest warrant obtained by the Channahon police force Vancleave is charged with two counts of felony theft The criminal complaint indicates that on Jan DVDs and electronic devices from Three Rivers Library "with the intent to deprive the owner permanently of the use or benefit of said property and the value of the property exceeded $500 but did not exceed $10,000." The second felony charge of theft indicates that in 2019 Vancleve was convicted in Rock Island County of committing a theft and "the people of the state of Illinois .. seek an enhanced Class 4 sentence based upon the defendant's prior conviction for theft in Rock Island County."