With summer just around the corner comes the return of community cruise nights throughout Will County Auto enthusiasts can get out and show off their flashy and vintage cars while residents take a night to enjoy the summer weather support local restaurants and even take in some live entertainment A spectator walks past the exposed engine of a hot rod during a Cruise Night in Plainfield There are different cruise nights held in the city during the summer hosts a car night (weather permitting) from 5 to 8 p.m Wednesdays from April throughout the summer Bring your car or come check out the cool classic cars Cars and Guitars is held at the Joliet Junior College City Center Campus parking lot in downtown Joliet Stone City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2199 every Wednesday beginning May 7 through September The village of Lemont holds cruise nights from 6 to 9 p.m Food and beverages will be available at local restaurants and from participating vendors The city of Lockport has been hosting cruise nights for 20 years on Monday nights and will continue this tradition this year, holding them weekly from June 2 through Aug. 25. The only exception to the Monday night tradition will be June 9, which is the Monday after Old Canal Days weekend from June 5 to 8 Cars will be displayed down State Street from 4 to 8 p.m. during the events. Each week will feature a different special theme, and cars fitting that theme will be displayed on 10th Street between State and Hamilton. Specific themes can be found on the city of Lockport’s website Car owners can register their cars for various competitions each week to win prizes Concerts are held each week from 6 to 8 p.m Downtown restaurants open and food vendors on-site Plainfield’s summer Cruise Nights take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m There will be no Cruise Night on July 1 to avoid conflicts with Fourth of July travel and celebrations The events are sponsored by the Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce and offer an opportunity for residents to showcase their classic and vintage cars while promoting local businesses and restaurants Each week has a specific theme, the full list of which can be found on the Plainfield Cruise Night Facebook page Cars will be displayed along Lockport Street Cruise nights are from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month throughout the summer in Manhattan – June 11 bikes and community fun for the whole family Cruise night specials are offered at local restaurants The village of New Lenox hosts cruise nights monthly throughout the summer at the Village Commons 16 – and feature live music and food from rotating local vendors The list of weekly food vendors and entertainment can be found on the village website along with information about how to participate. There are no fees, registration or requirements for vehicle participation in events. Vehicles of all makes and models are welcome. The event is for fun, and no awards are planned. Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the activities. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network The views expressed here are the author's own Visit our 6th annual timeline event where we will have reenactors portraying time periods from the Roman Empire into the 20th century They will be encamped throughout the weekend among our original 19th century buildings Come out and explore living history and Will County history in a way that a book cannot provide Monday, 3:00 pmLemont, IL Tuesday, 8:30 amNew Lenox, IL Tuesday, 4:00 pmNew Lenox, IL On Monday February 17th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled to Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports in Lockport for the Lockport Preseason ID This event is perennially one of our biggest on the winter calendar with over 130 prospects in attendance this year and provides our staff one last look at the talent in the area before their spring seasons begin Today, we will continue our post-event process by rolling out the scouting reports for the top overall in attendance from the event. We’ve already released all of the positional reports, found HERE Read on below for a look at all of the top overall prospects from the day possesses bat speed and intent to lift to the pull side at times 71.2 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (86.8 avg.); 327-foot max batted distance tracks down baseball with confidence and actions Plays easy and with advanced body control.Athletic Testing: 7.40 runner in the 60-yard dash; 16.30-inch max vertical jump Positional Profile: LHPDelivery: Simple and balanced delivery Heavy spin with some life through the zone.  T2348 lets the ball travel and uses the whole field 64.5 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (82 avg.); 309-foot max batted distance plays from multiple slots.Defense: Clean defender confident easy hands and quick release.Athletic Testing: 7.73 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.20-inch max vertical jump Swings with controlled aggression.  69.4 mph bat speed with 17g of rotational acceleration.Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (82.6 avg.); 301-foot max batted distance high 3/4 release.Defense: 1.89-2.06 pop time range; C: Works behind the plate during bullpens Quick feet and glove-to-hand release out of the crouch INF: Active footwork and confident/athletic actions soft hands and advanced double play turn.Athletic Testing: 7.13 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.30-inch max vertical jump high-waisted frame with plenty more physical development to come down the road.Hit: RHH 70.3 mph bat speed with 9g of rotational acceleration.Power: 90 mph max exit velocity (81.9 avg.); 334-foot max batted distance gets around the baseball and plays through Athletic Testing: 7.27 runner in the 60-yard dash; 26.00-inch max vertical jump high-waisted frame with some present strength throughout.Hit: RHH repeatable swing and creates all kinds of bat speed and whip 69.4 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (93.8 avg.); 368-foot max batted distance clean transfer and smooth double play turn.Athletic Testing: 7.10 runner in the 60-yard dash; 25.30-inch max vertical jump controls the barrel and creates whip and bat speed 74.5 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration. 65.5 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (87.7 avg.); 293-foot max batted distance showed range.Athletic Testing: 7.25 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.50-inch max vertical jump Compact frame with present strength.Hit: RHH 67.4 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (83.4 avg.); 351-foot max batted distance plays comfortable and with body control on the move Advanced double play turn and run through play.Athletic Testing: 6.99 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.30-inch max vertical jump Positional Profile: SS/RHPDelivery: Athletic delivery level path that generates line drive contact 66.5 mph bat speed with 4g of rotational acceleration.Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (89.4 avg.); 348-foot max batted distance Defense: 1.88-2.01 pop time range; Athletic mover presents pitches and works on-line out of the crouch.  Athletic Testing: 7.45 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.00-inch max vertical jump whole field approach.Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (84.5 avg.); 317-foot max batted distance Accurate throws.Defense: OF: Athletic mover plays through the baseball with natural outfield actions INF: fields the ball out front with confidence ability to play all over the diamond.Athletic Testing: 7.39 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.60-inch max vertical jump 65.6 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (82.5 avg.); 283-foot max batted distance Defense: 2.01-2.12 pop time range; Squared setup behind the plate smooth transfer.Athletic Testing: 7.80 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.70-inch max vertical jump           — Lockport Township officials rejected the possibility of a new land transfer agreement for a possible business earlier this month while keeping some other options open.At their April 14 meeting the Lockport Township Board formally declined to consider the possibility of a Public Act 425 land transfer agreement with the city for a property on 57582 N which is currently owned by Clark Logic.According to Zoning Administrator Doug Kuhlman the inquiry into a 425 agreement was brought to his attention by Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Christy Trammell to which Kuhlman said he would talk with the board about it “but I think I know the answer.”The property located next door to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services on Main Street with Trammell adding in an interview Wednesday that the proposed business would also include a golf simulator The property currently does not have water or sewer running to the building.Kuhlman said the only potential need at the property would be sewer citing Lockport Township water services already technically being available at the property.Kuhlman said he would not support a 425 agreement for the property citing a portion of the State Boundary Commission’s February decision in the request by Tom Lowry for annexing his 38 acres on Buckhorn Road into the city for his reasoning which stated that because there was “availability for water on all four sides of the property and that the land can be developed in concurrence with the city,” Lowry’s request for annexation was denied.“I see no need for a 425 agreement We don’t have any reason to have city water but I asked [Trammell] if they had contacted the Health Department to see if they could use a septic system and the answer is no,” Kuhlman said.Kuhlman suggested that if the Health Department says the owners cannot do a septic system at the property they could do a franchise agreement for city sewer services only without doing a 425 agreement “until Lockport Township gets a sewer system,” which would keep the property in Lockport Township.During discussion Kuhlman said Trammell’s communication “wasn’t a formal request,” with Trustee Rick Daniels quipping “When did Christy Trammell work for Jamie [Clark],” referring to Clark Logic’s owner.“Christy has no say as far as asking “I don’t know,” before recommending the board make a motion to decline the request.Trammell said in an interview Wednesday there wasn’t a formal request for a 425 as her communication with Kuhlman was an inquiry to him to bring to the board on behalf of the Chamber and Clark Logic Trammell said Clark Logic had inquired to her about how to go about the issue of getting sewer and water to the property.The motion to decline was passed unanimously by the board with no further discussion.Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com We are now accepting applications for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam! Please visit joinstatepolice.ny.gov to learn more Troopers out of SP Lockport arrested Michael S NY for Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon -D Felony (4 counts) Criminal Possession of high-capacity magazines- D Felony (9 Counts) Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance – A Misdemeanor (2 Counts) and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree Troopers out of SP Lockport conducted a traffic stop on Hinman Road in the city of Lockport for a tinted During the traffic stop Troopers observed four illegal assault rifles in plain view in the vehicle Troopers contacted Troop A Community Stabilization Unit who responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation  The following were seized: four assault weapons without serial numbers and a small envelope containing suspected cocaine/fentanyl Troopers transported Wrzos to SP Lockport for processing Wrzos was transported to Lockport Police Department and held for centralized arraignment (WKBW) — New York State police announced the arrest of a Lockport man after multiple weapons were seized from a vehicle during a traffic stop Police said troopers conducted the traffic stop on Hinman Road in the City of Lockport for a tinted four illegal assault rifles were allegedly observed in plain view inside the vehicle The Troop A Community Stabilization Unit was contacted and responded to the scene to assist with the investigation and the following were seized: Wrzos was transported to the Lockport Police Department and held for centralized arraignment We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors Lyons 1: Drew Satunas went 3 for 3 at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Porters to a Do It Steve’s Way Tournament win Trace Schaaf struck out six through four innings of work on the mound Montini 2: Zane Schneider collected two hits and drove in two runs for Lemont during a Do It Steve’s Way Tournament victory Shea Glotzbach had two RBIs and Grady Garofolo and Moe Luciano each drove in a run Glotzbach struck out nine through six innings of work on the mound Gardner-South Wilmington 0: Ryan Bumpous went 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI to lead the Trojans to a nonconference win Owen Dunlap drove in two runs and Tracer Brown collected three hits striking out three through three innings of work Riverside-Brookfield 2 (6 inn.): Peyton Globke went 1 for 2 at the plate with a homer and three RBIs for the Warriors during a nonconference victory Conor Essenburg went 3 for 4 with three doubles Hillcrest 2 (5 inn.): Joe Haase went 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run and three RBIs and the Blue Devils picked up a nonconference win Andrew Barta went 3 for 4 with a run scored and Tyler Leitelt collected two hits Lincoln Tierney struck out seven through five innings on the mound Plainfield South 4: Sophia Feminis went 3 for 4 at the plate with a grand slam and five RBIs for the Tigers during a Southwest Prairie Conference victory Addison Conrad went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored Abbey Mayes and Brooklynn Griffith each collected an RBI Abigail Laube struck out three through seven innings pitched Ottawa 4: Emma Mino went 1 for 4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs to lead the Fighting Irish to a Tri-County Conference win Alyssa Zellers and Hayden Pfeifer each drove in a run Pfeifer struck out four through two innings of relief on the mound Lemont 4: Jessica Pontrelli and Natalie Pacyga each had an RBI but Lemont fell in nonconference play Gardner-South Wilmington 7: Kayla Scheuber drove in four runs but the Panthers fell in nonconference action Liv Siano went 1 for 5 at the plate with a triple and Ella Mack and Jo Mate each drove in a run Herscher Invite: Prairie Central and Sandwich tied for first with 56 points Reed-Custer took 15th with six points and Peotone took 16th with two points in a 16 team meet Julian Micetich took second in the 110 meter hurdles (15.1) and Parker Jacovec won the long jump (5.92m) Homewood-Flossmoor Invite: The hosts took first with 197 points and Bolingbrook came in second with 116 points in a seven team meet Bruce Duncan III won the 400 meter run (49.92) Oswego Invite: West Aurora came out on top with 117 points and Seneca took last with 23 points Brayden Simek took second in high jump (1.80m) Pete Struck Invite: Downers Grove North took first with 80 points Joliet West took seventh with 31 points and Joliet Central took 16th with four points in a 20 team meet Ryan Resar won the 3,200 meter run (9:47.55) Nathaniel Gabriel took fifth in the 1,600 meter run (4:22.14) Prospect Invite: New Trier took first with 92.5 points and Lockport took 11th with 33 points in a 22 team meet Nolan Lamoureux won the 400 meter run (48.93) Roger Wilcox Invite: Romeoville finished ninth with 25 points in a nine team meet Shaun Alexander took second in long jump (6.32m) Herscher Invite: Rich Township took first with 54 points Coal City took eighth with 24 points and Peotone took 13th with 16 points McKenna Van Tilburg won the 100 meter run (12.42) the 100 meter hurdles (15.93) and the 300 meter hurdles (46.11) Evelyn Wills took second in high jump (1.52m) Celeste Richards took sixth in the 800 meter run (2:33.58) Bolingbrook took eighth with 42.5 points and Lincoln-Way Central took 11th with 26 points in a 19 team meet Glenbard North Invite: Downers Grove North took first place with 196 points and Lockport took second with 112 points in an eight team meet Sydney Fontaine took second in the 400 meter run (58.52) Downers Grove South 0: Hunter Fash had seven kills and the Porters picked up a Lincoln-Way East Invitational tournament win Drew Miller had 12 digs and Adam Gieser had 10 digs and two blocks Lockport 0: Adam Gieser had seven kills but the Porters fell in Lincoln-Way East Invitational tournament action Ryan Dziadkowiec had 13 assists and Drew Miller had 15 digs Shaw Local News NetworkShaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois Cravers in Lockport offers chicken and beef sandwiches and wings in addition to a variety of sides Cravers has opened a new location at 16541 W. 159th St. in Lockport Cravers offers “authentic Gyro delights” and “crispy beef” options on a menu that is “packed with savory gyro wraps, fresh salads, and delectable sides, perfect for satisfying your cravings,” as stated on the company’s website. and wings in addition to a variety of hand-held options Cravers offers delivery and take out options 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. ExpandEric Strasser (Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Office) A Lockport man has been charged with the 2024 murder of his wife who was found dead from a gunshot wound in a bathroom at a residence in the 900 block of McKinley Court on May 1 Eric Strasser was the only person who was present at the time officers arrived according to a statement from the Lockport Police Department “Eric Strasser was immediately identified as a suspect in Rosy’s death Lockport Police Detectives were able to develop sufficient probable cause to arrest Eric,” police said Eric Strasser’s first court appearance is set for Monday morning in front of Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak. Court records show Eric Strasser filed a petition for divorce on April 29, 2024, and it was dismissed on May 22, 2024. 2025 at 5:46 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Eric Strasser IL — A Lockport man facing three counts of first-degree murder remains in custody at Will County Jail after a court appearance on Tuesday Eric Strasser, 62, wasarrested April 17, almost one year after his wife, Rosy Strasser, 51 died of a gunshot wound. Rosy Strasser was pronounced dead on May 1 in the couple's home in the 900 block of McKinley Court in Lockport Lockport police told Patch they were investigating the circumstances of her death and that her manner of death had not yet been determined "This was a fairly complex homicide investigation," Lockport Police Deputy Chief Ron Huff told Patch this week "Investigators had to wait on various crime lab results and were required to track down and interview numerous witnesses the case was submitted to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review and approval which ultimately led to the three counts of homicide." According to the criminal complaint filed in Will County Court May 1 and said he needed an ambulance because there was an accidental shooting "can you please just get them over here?" and hung up Lockport Police officers arrived at 6:02 a.m and found Rosy Strasser in the bathroom of the home with a gunshot wound and noted that the approximate time of death was 3 a.m. Eric Strasser told the officers where to find the revolver used in the shooting the weapon was on a counter several feet from Rosy and the crime lab was not able to recover any fingerprints for comparison An autopsy also revealed that there was no evidence of close-range firing of the gun A friend said the lacerations and marks on her body had not been there a day earlier and would not tell police any information about Rosy's death Divorce proceedings for the couple had started in January Rosy was doing well at work and had received a promotion and had plans to move out of the home and to a new town the complaint states that Eric complained via text message to a relative about money he had to give to Rosy and that he had been fired on April 26 from his job for falsifying time sheets Rosy Strasser was to receive a lump sum of $65,000 Eric Strasser went to a bar in McCook and stayed there for several hours drinking nine beers with friends and a relative according to video surveillance recovered by Lockport Police The complaint states that Eric's phone location data shows he returned home at 10 p.m and stayed there until he was removed by the police at 7 a.m Rosy's phone data showed she was home all day and night on April 30 Rosy had texted her boyfriend on April 30 saying that Eric had come home drunk and she had also asked her boss if she could take some boxes for moving to Rosy herself (even though she was at home) and finally numerous calls to his divorce attorney Police also found a pair of blue disposable gloves in the kitchen A friend told police that Rosy would wear this kind of gloves while cooking Eric's blood and Rosy's DNA on the kitchen gloves Eric Strasser remains in custody at Will County Jail; the Will County State's Attorney's Office has asked the judge to deny pre-trial release He will appear in court on May 8 for a detention hearing Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. ExpandLockport Police Law Enforcement Center on Monday The Lockport Police Department investigated a felony disorderly conduct case against Matthew Judy involving allegations of a school shooting threat (Gary Middendorf/gmiddendorf@shawmedia.com) A Homer Glen man has been charged with posting a comment on the Facebook page for Lockport Township High School District 205 that claimed there would be a school shooting if the school was not closed 2024 incident led to a felony charge of disorderly conduct against 41-year-old Matthew Judy Lockport Deputy Police Chief Ron Huff said Judy was accused of posting a comment that said “Shut down the school or we will have an active shooter.” The comment was posted on the Facebook page for Lockport Township High School District 205. Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins signed a warrant for Judy’s arrest on April 15. Judy was also investigated over another incident on Dec. 10, 2024, involving a series of emails, Huff said. In those emails, Judy had accused a student of committing murder and warned that the student was on their way to the high school. “Officers were able to make contact with the student and determined that no crime had taken place and that there was no threat to the school,” Huff said. Huff said those messages will be used as an enhancement for the charges related to the Nov. 30, 2024 incident. the Bureau of Criminal Investigation out of SP Lockport arrested Cody M Grand Larceny 3rd degree (D Felony) and Conspiracy 5th degree (A Misdemeanor) SP Lockport Bureau of Criminal Investigation received a report of a burglary at Magic Mist Car Wash on S Transit Rd in the town of Lockport.   The investigation led to the identification of two suspects Investigation determined through the approximate two-month NYSP investigation both suspects were subsequently linked to the following incidents of burglary throughout the Western New York area 01/02/25 – Chaffee Car Wash and Mini – Sardinia 01/30/25 – Magic Mist Car Wash – Grand Island 02/17/25 – Middle E-Z Car Wash – Middleport 03/03/25 – J and N Car Wash – Silver Creek 03/24/25 – Outlet Car Wash – Niagara Falls 03/27/25 – Sardinia Covenant Community Church (ECSO) – Burglary 04/06/25 – Tonawanda Self Storage – Tonawanda 04/18/25 (Good Friday!) – Eden United Methodist Church – Eden assisted by Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and NYSP Troop A Violent Felony Warrants and SP Lockport BCI executed search warrants at multiple locations recovering more than 60 items of stolen property associated with the incidents.  Additionally Tomaka was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun Both suspects were processed then transported to Niagara County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.  2025 at 1:52 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Eric Strasser was booked on three counts of murder in the death of Rosy Strasser (Will County Sheriff's Office)LOCKPORT IL — A Lockport man was booked into the Will County jail on three counts of felony murder Thursday nearly one year after his wife died of a gunshot wound Eric Strasser, 62, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of wife Rosy Strasser, 51 Rosy Strasser was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m in the couple's home in the 900 block of McKinley Court Will County court records show that Eric Strasser filed for divorce on April 29 just two days before Rosy Strasser's death Eric Strasser was arrested Thursday afternoon He is due in Will County court on Monday morning ExpandA rendering of a proposed 7 Brew Coffee that opened in Huntley in 2023 Lockport — The city of Lockport is considering plans for two new businesses, an auto repair shop and a drive-up coffee kiosk. The council’s Committee of the Whole discussed plans for both businesses at its meeting on April 2 and those plans go before the City Council on Wednesday. The auto repair shop would potentially be located at 1603 S. State St., but would need a special use permit, as it is currently zoned commercial and its previous auto repair special use permit has expired. According to Community and Economic Development Director Lance Thies, the property has previously been used for auto repair businesses and already includes infrastructure including a building with two overhead bay doors and vehicle lift. The property owner is reportedly hoping to utilize the space for a new auto repair business with occasional online auto sales being conducted from the shop and specialization for classic car repairs. The Planning and Zoning Committee approved the plan on March 11, provided the owner agrees to more substantially fence in the back of the property and limit all sales and storage to inside the property. Additionally new signage will be required and any proposed lighting changes would need additional approval. The Committee of the Whole voted to approve the plan unanimously, minus the input of Aldermen JR Gilogly and Jonathan Pugh who were absent along with Mayor Steven Streit. The second business up for consideration is a drive-through coffee kiosk operated by 7-Brew Coffee. The proposed drive-through would be located on plot 9B of Lockport Square development off 159th Street near Interstate 355. The property is currently vacant, according to Thies, and takes up only 0.068 acres of land off 159th Street. Thies said that the property was previously planned for a Wendy’s drive-thru fast food restaurant that was never built. The 525 square-foot kiosk would operate a drive-through only business with no indoor seating or sales, which is typical for the brand. 7-Brew operates 360 coffee stands nation wide according to franchisee Chris George. The menu is beverages only and features coffees, teas, infused energy drinks, smoothies and shakes with thousands of mix-and-match creations available, George said. The site would include a double drive-through lane, which would be entered from the south and manned by employees with iPads instead of a traditional speaker-box, and a 250 square-foot cooling unit detached from the building. The Planning and Zoning committee approved the plan after the owners agreed to use building materials that match the neighboring building – which houses Noodles & Co. and Crumbl Cookies – instead of the brand’s typical color scheme. George said that 7-Brew would differentiate itself from other coffee brands in the area because of its appeal to young consumers, describing 15 to 25-year-olds as their “core customers” because of the brand’s social media presence, the customization options and their “fun friendly atmosphere.” The Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to advance the plan to the full City Council meeting on April 16. This work, Rock Island District Crews Perform Maintenance on Chicago’s Lockport Lock, by Frances Candelaria, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright ExpandA Wendy's restaurant could be coming to Lockport after plans for building one near Interstate 355 were approved by the Lockport Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday Lockport — The Lockport Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve plans for a Wendy’s restaurant and drive-thru near Interstate 355. The proposed restaurant would be located at the corner of 159th Street and Adelman Road on a portion of what was originally designated as “Lot 2″ of the Lockport Springs development, west of I-355 and north of the Lockport Square development. The plan requires the lot to be divided into smaller lots for commercial development but does not change the commercial zoning of the parcel. The Wendy’s restaurant would sit on a newly divided 0.87-acre parcel and include a 2,152-square-foot building with a single-lane drive-thru and 27 parking spaces. The only variance requested for the lot is a slightly narrower sidewalk along the building, reduced to 5 feet in width from the usually required 7, in order to reduce the amount of impermeable surfaces on the property. The commission had minimal comments on the plan and recommended it for consideration, along with the division of the property, to the City Council, providing the developer would agree to limit deliveries to the business and provide plans for safety barriers around the outdoor eating area when filing for building permits. If approved by the Committee of the Whole and the City Council this spring, construction would start later this year. (WKBW) — Healthcare workers and union members stood outside Elderwood at Lockport Monday chanting and calling attention to what they describe as unfair wages It’s the first of several pickets planned at nursing homes across Western New York but it’s killing me,” one certified nursing assistant said Workers said chronic understaffing is taking a toll on both employees and residents — and that some departments have been overlooked during recent raises “Some people made a higher wage,” said longtime Elderwood employee Marcie Livergood “But downstairs in laundry and housekeeping Another worker said she had to take on a second job just to support her family “I love working with the residents — they’re the reason I come in But I shouldn't have to work two jobs to make ends meet.” The picket comes as contract negotiations continue between 1199 SEIU and 27 nursing homes across Western New York including bedside caregivers and service staff whose contracts are set to expire April 30 Union organizer Shameka Burnette Mathews says some employers have refused to bargain in good faith “We’ve had to file unfair labor practice charges just to get them to the table,” she said They don’t want to be out here — they want to be with their residents But they also need to take care of themselves and their families.” best and final” offer without a vote from union members — and even changed workers’ health insurance without warning Family members of residents say they’ve seen the impact of staffing shortages Cindy Bucolo says her mother has lived at Elderwood for seven years and has watched the quality of care decline almost bedridden — with bed sores — because they don’t have enough staff to change her,” Bucolo said 7 News reached out to Elderwood for comment and has not yet received it 7 News did receive the following comment from the McGuire Group: This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy ExpandA Lockport Police Department investigation led to a charge of first-degree murder against Eric Strasser (Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Office) A Lockport man charged with the 2024 murder of his wife had reported to 911 she was accidentally shot but then wouldn’t give information regarding her death to police or paramedics New details about an investigation of the fatal shooting of Rosy Strasser were revealed in a petition filed on April 21 by prosecutors Prosecutors are seeking to keep Rosy’s husband, Eric Strasser, 62, of Lockport, in jail as he awaits trial on a charge of first-degree murder Strasser is accused of fatally shooting Rosy Strasser on May 1 just two days after he filed a petition for divorce He told a 911 dispatcher that it was an accidental shooting but he would “not give any information regarding Rosy’s death to the police officers nor the paramedics,” prosecutors said Detectives learned the couple were in the process of ending their 11-year marriage months before the shooting occurred Eric Strasser was “unhappy” about the money he owed to his wife for the divorce and he lost his job with Madden Mental Health Center in Cook County over alleged timesheet fraud Strasser was a stationary engineer, according to state salary records Rosy Strasser received a promotion and a raise at her job She also had a new boyfriend and she planned to move to Matteson with the money from the divorce There’s been an accidental shooting,” prosecutors said When the 911 operator asked how this happened “Can you please just get them over here?” before hanging up the phone A sign at the entrance for the Lockport Police Department Detectives investigated the fatal shooting of Rosy Strasser which led to a first-degree murder charge against her husband Officers arrived and found Rosy Strasser in the bathroom with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head Eric Strasser told the officers the revolver used in the shooting was on a bathroom counter several feet away from her body No suitable fingerprints for comparison were found on the gun Gunshot residue was found on Rosy Strasser’s left hand but none on her husband’s hands Yet there was no evidence of close range firing and gunshot residue was found on kitchen gloves stained with Eric Strasser’s blood and Rosy Strasser’s DNA The day before the shooting, detectives learned Eric Strasser was at a bar in McCook, prosecutors said. Detectives obtained cellphone data showing him returning home at 10 p.m. on April 30. Rosy Strasser was home at the time and texted her boyfriend that her husband came home drunk, prosecutors said. Even though Rosy Strasser was home, Eric Strasser called her at least three times and left a voicemail between 1:37 a.m. and 3:57 a.m. on May 1, 2024, prosecutors said. Eric Strasser had also called his divorce attorney numerous times between 2:32 a.m. and 5:37 a.m., prosecutors said. Eric Strasser made the call to 911 at 6 a.m. but paramedics determined Rosy Strasser’s approximate time of death was 3 a.m., according to prosecutors. This work, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lockport Lock & Dam to temporarily close for construction, by Emily Helton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright ExpandGallery Seven in Lockport is inviting all photographers of any age and experience to submit to its annual exhibition Photographers of any age are invited to submit photos to the annual juried exhibition at Gallery Seven in Lockport “Open Lens XV” is open to “weekend photographers or professionals youngsters or seniors,” and photography submissions may included “digital or film color or black-and-white; all genres,” according to a news release from Gallery Seven Artificial intelligence-generated images will not be accepted and all entries must be digitally submitted Each photographer may submit up to five entries with a $35 nonrefundable entry fee Artist partners of Gallery Seven will jury and judge “Open Lens XV,” according to the release Cash prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Best in Show “Open Lens XV” will run from June 1 through July 7 at Gallery Seven For submission forms, visit galleryseven.net For more information, call 815-260-8800 or email openlens@gmx.us. Become a Sponsor Renovations to the Post Office at One East Avenue in the City of Lockport have wrapped up. Iskalo Development’s $9.7 million project included a rehabilitation of the interior and exterior historic fabric of the building together with renovations to improve the facility for modern use The 31,600-square-foot building offers “move-in ready” boutique retail and office suites for lease and is anchored by Big Ditch Brewing which recently opened a Tap Room and Innovation Brewery The Grigg Lewis Foundation was the first tenant to occupy space in the building The One East Avenue Historic Post Office was opened in 1902 The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 red brick and terra cotta building combines Beaux Arts massing with sculptural detail inspired by classical and Renaissance design The historic rehabilitation and renovation included meticulous restoration of the building’s historic features and modernization improvements including new electrical mechanical and sprinkler systems and elevator installation.Iskalo purchased the building in 2015 and served as the Architect and Construction Manager for the project The City of Lockport was named the Western New York Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Round 3 winner in October 2018 The Historic Post Office received $1.795 million from the DRI as well as state and federal historic preservation tax credits “I’m working to revitalize historic landmarks and the communities that they define and the revitalization of the Historic Post Office will allow Lockport’s rich history to live on through generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “As the first Governor from Western New York in over 100 years I’m committed to providing resources and investment so that all of our extraordinary communities can live up to their full potential.” Founder and President of Iskalo Development Paul B Iskalo said, “The historic rehabilitation and renovation of the Historic Post Office is a great accomplishment for Iskalo Development and downtown Lockport Sometimes the authors at Buffalo Rising work on collaborative efforts in order to cover various events and stories These posts can not be attributed to one single author Often times a formation of a post gets started by one writer and passed along to one or more writers before completion At times there are author attributions at the end of one of these posts “Buffalo Rising” is simply offered up as the creator of the article As one of the region’s most read publications since its launch in 2004 Buffalo Rising’s diverse editorial team delivers a wide range of relevant content to our readers as it unfolds in real time An independently owned and operated digital publication Buffalo Rising provides editorial and critical reviews on all topics that relate to Buffalo Click Here to Share Your Story ExpandThe IDEA state qualifying Lockport Township High School students pose with teachers Rodger Ebert and Jeff Brown at the state competition on April 12 (Photo Provided by Lockport Township High School District 205) Lockport — Lockport Township High School is celebrating a school record set by drafting and design students at the Illinois Design Education Association’s state competition April 12 According to a news release from Lockport Township High School District 205 15 LTHS students competed in eight categories at the state competition and placed in all eight earning five state championships and three second-place finishes Aubree Tovar and Mara Kubis were named champions in the Architecture Design Team event Gavin Monreal took first in 3D Architecture Nathaniel Rowell was state champion in 2D Machine CAD Stephen Reuter took the top prize in 3D Machine CAD and Duncan Kenney-Benson was the winner in the 3D Assembly Modeling category Second-place victories went to David Krzysiak in 3D CAD Modeling; Maha Dissi in Introductory CAD; and the team of Joseph Stroner Jackson Malony and Kyle Stevens in the Engineering Design team event Students qualified for state by placing either first or second at a regional competition Students in the individual CAD contests were challenged to complete complex design drawings within a two-hour period while students in the team events presented projects they’d worked on since January The teams were given “in-depth design problems” and had to present their research models and solutions to a panel of judges comprising architects The “unprecedented” success – the most state championships at the contest in a single year – brings Lockport Township High School’s total state drafting and design state championships to 17, the district said. “Drafting and design instructors Jeff Brown and Rodger Ebert continue to lead and inspire students to excellence in technical education,” the district’s administration said in the announcement. “Congratulations to all our student designers on their incredible accomplishments and for representing LTHS with Porter Pride.” “Five championships in one year is phenomenal,” Brown said. “The students were great. They put in the time and work to prepare, and they really earned it.” Cracks found in both lower miter gates during dewatering have extended the closure of the Lockport Lock The lock closed for installation of new vertical lift gates and sill and seal modifications and repairs January 28 and was scheduled to reopen March 28 the lock will remain closed until sometime between April 30 and May 6 chief of the Waterways Project Office for the Chicago Engineer District provided the update on a videoconference call with the Illinois River Carriers’ Association on February 24 the lock must close for more permanent repairs for another four to six weeks later this year so any closures will prevent traffic into and out of the Lockport pool of the river That will also cut off river commerce between Chicago and the Mississippi River Walsh said the lock chamber’s miter gates were first inspected February 12 with the first gate crack discovered February 19 during a more extensive inspection A crack in the second lower miter gate was then discovered February 21 is the pintle castings for both gates are severely damaged,” Walsh said He said the bushings are also severely cracked Walsh said the cracking in the left lower gate is the worst “but the right is cracked all the way through as well.” “The bottom line is that we cannot operate these gates in their current condition,” Walsh said No spare pintle castings for the gates exist “Both miter gates are likely going to need to be pulled,” he said “There is potentially an option to jack those gates and we’re currently evaluating those risks.” The Corps was meeting with command staff February 25 to begin determining a temporary repair plan that will need to include constant monitoring saying that plan would likely take about another week to finalize One option under discussion is the possibility of placing a carbon fiber wrap around the castings for additional support A team was also investigating the cause of the gate cracking in an effort to reduce stresses on the cracked pintle castings once they are repaired One likely cause was an issue with quoin block contacts The quoin portions of the gates are designed to spread the pressure of water across the entire lock when the chamber fills and opens instead of only on the gate and its pintles the hinges that allow the gates to swing open and closed A heavy-lift crane is needed to remove the gates for repairs The Hercules heavy-lift crane is trapped on the ice-covered Upper Mississippi The Quad Cities II heavy-lift crane is committed to the St Louis District likely until the end of March It is being used on a repair project at Mel Price Locks and Dam He said engineers had also looked at the possibility of employing another crane,but added that there are bridge clearance issues on the Illinois Waterway that make that improbable The repairs that must be completed for the lock to resume operation were not part of the scope of work due to be completed at the site so finding funding to perform the additional interim and permanent repairs could be another challenge Walsh said.“We’re currently working through all the options,” he said Permanent repairs could include new castings “We’re investigating multiple avenues to deliver quality replacement parts as quickly as possible,” Walsh said “We are working to try to expedite as much of this as we possibly can.” The pintle castings were installed in the mid-1980s when the miter gates were replaced No cracking of the pintle castings was identified in that dewatering president of the Illinois River Carriers’ Association said he was left speechless after hearing the update “I told the Coast Guard I considered this an emergency Nobody in the industry was expecting them to come back and say it was going to be closed another 30 days or more.” Bass said he would like to see the heavy-lift crane moved immediately from Mel Price Locks and Dam to get started on repairs since that facility has an auxiliary lock rather than waiting another month for temporary repairs to begin would not be able to ship out waste oil products “The stuff we’re moving out of there can’t be moved by rail or pipeline or truck,” he said had staged additional empty tank barges in the area to hold extra waste oil from refineries to get through the original closure but there weren’t enough available to get through the extended lock shutdown That left companies trying to shuffle resources and accommodate customers so they didn’t have to shut down operations and our customers rely on the information we give them,” Bass said He said he also had in the back of his mind that the Corps of Engineers was forced to close the main navigation lock at Wilson Locks and Dam near Florence September 25 after it found that cracks had developed in both of its lower miter gates including cracked pintle castings believed to have originated with problems in quoin gap spacing That lock is anticipated to remain closed until June 14 after it was determined that it was not safe to reopen the chamber after temporary repairs A permanent solution includes replacement with forged pintle castings and the addition of gate bracing has an auxiliary lock through which one standard-sized barge at a time can transit Walsh said he hoped to be able to disseminate more information to industry about plans for Lockport repairs by February 28 Photo caption: The Lockport Lock on the Illinois River is inoperable after cracks were discovered February 19 and February 21 in both lower miter gates (Photo courtesy of Chicago Engineer District) The event will take place at Central Square, 222 E. 9th St., from 9 a.m. to noon and will feature informational booths from Waste Management, Urban Canopy, Will County Green and Bloom Lockport All four organizations will provide “information about their services and initiatives designed to support environmentally conscious choices” including recycling Waste Management will also be providing vehicles for a touch-a-truck station for children residents are encouraged to bring used bubble wrap and plastic shopping bags to the event for a recycling collection spearheaded by the students of LTHS’ Interact Club The student organization has a goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of plastic which will then be recycled into a park bench Residents cleaning out garages and looking to get rid of bicycles or scooters are also encouraged to drop off these items at the Lockport Police Department Bikes can be dropped off at the police station through the end of April and will be sold through Facebook in May. Corps of Engineers crews have completed installation of an innovative temporary solution designed to return Lockport Lock and Dam to operation more quickly Experts from the Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC) joined the Chicago and Rock Island districts’ team at the lock on March 14 and 15 to secure a carbon fiber reinforced polymer wrap around a cracked pintle socket Pintles act as the “hinges” on which the lock’s lower miter gates swing open and closed ERDC was also involved in attaching strain gages on the pintle castings and gates March 17 so that engineers can monitor the repairs’ performance chief of the Chicago Engineer District’s Waterways Project Office Walsh provided the update on repairs to the Illinois River Carriers’ Association during a videoconference call for industry stakeholders March 17 “Last week we had a lot of really good progress,” he said “The concrete placement on the sills and the vertical gate slots was mostly complete The team was able to blast and prep that pintle casting They got the CFRP wrap applied on Friday and Saturday.” The team also continued machinery pit electric rehabilitation A key planned next step was to refit the quoin blocks where the miter gates touch the lock wall when closed re-establishing contact between the gate and wall so that when the lock chamber fills or empties the pressure of the water is distributed throughout the entire lock and not solely on the gates Engineers believe the faulty quoin gaps caused too much pressure against the gates Walsh said he expected that upper bulkheads would be removed by the end of the week allowing the chamber to be rewatered and new vertical lift gates to be set in their slots they’ll get the new gates slid down into the slots and then we’ll reset the upper bulkheads to be able to do the final fit-up and sealing on those upper gates,” he said We are still on track for [reopening] April 4.” Damage to the lower miter gates at the facility at Illinois River Mile 291 was discovered during a February dewatering scheduled for work on the lock’s upper miter gates Those repairs were initially anticipated to take place January 28 through March 28 After finding cracks in the pintle area of the lower gates the Corps of Engineers initially said repairs could delay the lock’s reopening until late April or early May The new temporary repair allows it to open with an extension of only 10 days from the original schedule Permanent repairs to the lower miter gates will require installation of new pintle castings That work is anticipated to require another closing of five to six weeks’ duration in late fall or early winter “A lot of that is going to be dependent on the fabrication timeline of the new pintle castings,” he said with assistance from the Corps’ Inland Navigation Design Center is making a few design modifications that will involve making the new pintle sockets “a little more robust.” The design also adds additional supports to aid in preventing cracking in the future That design could take another three to four weeks to complete The fabrication timeline for the new pintle castings ranges from four to seven months depending on whether the pintles are cast or machined and on which shop will complete that work adding that he hopes to have more precise timeline information once those determinations are made Walsh also detailed navigation restrictions that will remain in place at Lockport until permanent repairs are made Those include a 90-foot width restriction for all tows while three-piece unit tows locking as a setover are permitted northbound southbound three-piece unit tows cannot be accommodated without the use of an industry provided assist boat to keep the long string off the left descending gate Vessels will be locked together whenever possible to minimize filling and emptying the lock but not if that requires a tow to shove out against the left descending gate The lock will instead utilize the right descending wall as much as possible Recreational vessels are being encouraged to transit the lock in groups Lock operators will note any instances of rubbing or impacts to the gates so that information can be correlated with instrumentation monitoring stress on them IRCA Chairman Terry Bass said he talked to the team working at Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River about continuing site preparation work there while the Lockport Lock remains closed the additional 10 days the Illinois Waterway does not have auxiliary locks so one lock closing halts traffic along the length of the waterway Completing more work now at Brandon Road could mean fewer closures at Brandon Road once the Lockport lock is back open While some construction is ongoing at Brandon Road including the excavation of bedrock from the lower channel the state of Illinois has postponed closing on property needed for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project because of fears that $117 million in federal funding for the project won’t be received according to a February letter to the Corps from Natalie Phelps Finnie director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Phelps Finnie said in the letter that IDNR will delay turning over property for the project to the Corps until May at the earliest while state officials seek written confirmation that the federal funding will be received as outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 Substantial technology installation at the site has also been halted according to the Rock Island Engineer District Featured Photo caption: Ryan Randall and Rusty Stamann apply a carbon fiber reinforced polymer wrap to the pintle casting of one of the Lockport Lock’s lower miter gates (Photo by Kathy Sitko/Chicago Engineer District) The Corps of Engineers is investigating how best to obtain components to repair the lower miter gates at Lockport Lock and Dam as the navigational lock remains closed due to cracked pintle castings and bushings The lock at Illinois River Mile 291 closed for scheduled repairs on January 28 and was originally scheduled to reopen March 28 inspectors found cracks February 19 and 21 so severe that the gates cannot be operated safely An initial assessment indicated the lock will need to remain closed until temporary repairs are completed between April 30 and May 6 with a second closure of four to six weeks later this year There is no auxiliary lock at Lockport Lock and Dam “The team is doing a lot of great work,” Walsh said “They’re looking at every available option They’re doing an incredible amount of research and engineering to try to find the quickest solution that buys us enough time so we can get open as quickly as we can while we work to procure those permanent parts.” Walsh said on a videoconference call with industry on February 28 that the Corps is simultaneously investigating two repair plans one of which could potentially avoid the need for a heavy-lift crane and jacking the gates shaving a week or two off the anticipated closure An engineering team was due to visit the site March 3-4 to collect more information to see if that would be feasible He did not want to give additional details until that determination had been made said that he had spoken to Corps representatives later in the week and he expected another call to update industry during the week of March 10 chairman of the River Industry Action Committee asked why the cracks weren’t immediately noticed when the lock chamber was dewatered Walsh said an inspection team was scheduled far in advance and those completing the work left additional time in the schedule for the dewatering in case of delays due to weather or water conditions so they were not on site for some time after the chamber had been dewatered Walsh said the Corps has determined that lead times for replacement parts needed to complete gate repairs are “at least 60 days out.” The Corps is investigating the feasibility of casting “There are a lot of hypotheticals here and a lot of unknowns that still remain,” he said One bright spot is that the Corps has been successful in obtaining funding for temporary repairs and likely for the permanent replacement parts Walsh asked those on the call if industry would prefer for the Corps to extend the current closure and move forward with the permanent repair said he personally would prefer an option to open as quickly as possible to take care of customers’ needs in the Lockport pool saying it was already difficult to manage resources until a potential late April or early May lock reopening “We’re trying to form up our response plan,” he said Walsh also asked those on the call what major freight movements were being impacted by the closure which has cut off the Chicago area from the Mississippi River petroleum and aggregates were all mentioned cement and raw materials for many different industries in Indiana Those on the call also brought up concerns that customers who change their transportation mode for products are unlikely to come back to the river for future transportation needs “We are looking at every potential engineering plan we can to get this thing back on track,” Walsh said marine operations manager at Heidelberg Materials Midwest said it would be optimal if any additional closures could take place at the same time as other planned closures along the Illinois Waterway while the Corps would try to align closures with those at other facilities as much as possible “The sooner we can get the permanent repairs in the better,” Walsh said “That’s going to be largely dependent on when we can get the funding to do that second closure which is going to require another dewatering That’s going to require a significant amount of money.” When pressed on an estimate for a potential second closure for the permanent repair Walsh said he thinks the Corps likely would target the fall season but he added that easily could change as the Corps determines how to proceed with repairs and what the lead time for parts might be The Corps plans to monitor the lock gates closely until those permanent repairs are made adding that discussion was taking place about instrumentation that could potentially replace the necessity for divers to go down regularly Featured image caption: A view of a pair of miter gates at Lockport Lock and Dam late last year ahead of its ongoing closure for maintenance and emergency repairs (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Engineer District) Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of a $9.7 million historic rehabilitation of the 1902 Lockport Post Office marking a milestone for the city’s downtown redevelopment The project was supported by $1.795 million in funding from New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) the three-story Beaux Arts building—on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989—has been fully modernized while preserving its original architectural character The post office now houses boutique retail and office suites and is anchored by Big Ditch Brewing’s new Tap Room and Innovation Brewery included a full restoration of historic interior and exterior elements alongside upgrades such as new mechanical “The revitalization of the Historic Post Office will allow Lockport’s rich history to live on through generations to come,” said Governor Hochul “We’re showing what’s possible when we invest in preserving our heritage while building for the future.” The Grigg Lewis Foundation became the building’s first tenant signaling momentum for Lockport’s evolving downtown economy The Historic Post Office project is part of a broader $10 million investment through Lockport’s DRI award “This is a catalyst for our city,” said Lockport Mayor John Lombardi III “We’ve created a new destination that celebrates our history and welcomes future growth.” Lockport will be highlighted as a case study during the World Canals Conference in Buffalo this September The New York Department of State will showcase Lockport’s downtown transformation as an example of successful canal corridor revitalization through the DRI program “Lockport is harnessing its canal heritage to spark growth and become a world-class destination.” the DRI has awarded $900 million to 89 communities across the state The initiative aims to transform walkable downtowns into thriving economic and cultural hubs Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected] Lockport (Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Office) A major bust in Lockport has led to 16 felony charges filed against a man accused of possessing cocaine one of which is a “ghost” or unserialized version of the rifle The charges were filed on Friday against Denzel Hawthorne, 28, after deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office searched his two residences on Basil Court and Rosanne Lane in Lockport Federal agents and Frankfort police officers assisted with the search Four of the 16 charges against Hawthorne are class X felonies that are punishable by 6 to 30 years in prison Those charges accuse Hawthorne of possessing pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to deliver those drugs to other people Hawthorne has voluntarily revoked his pretrial release Hawthorne had been on “second chance” probation since 2023 after he pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with a street value of $1,000 in Manhattan, court records show. Will County sheriff's deputies found 14 firearms including three AR-15 assault rifles, various calibers of ammunition and numerous firearm magazines, including several with high capacity, while executing a search warrant on a home in the 16500 block of Basil Court in Lockport on Tuesday, March 19, 2025. (Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Office) During Wednesday’s search that led to Hawthorne’s arrest, officers found a 10-gallon bag containing almost 30 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine and a 2-gallon bag with almost four pounds of the same drugs, according to a court filing from Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Platek. Officers also found numerous baggies containing heroin, as well as more cocaine and methamphetamine, Platek said. They also found three baggies of suspected psilocybin, Platek said. The substance is commonly known as magic mushrooms. Platek said officers also found the following firearms: • Three AR-15 rifles, one of which is a “ghost” or unserialized version of the rifle • A .357-caliber handgun, a .380-caliber handgun and .22-caliber revolver • Two .45-caliber handguns and a Walther handgun Deputies also found at least $101,126 in cash during their search and found $2,590 in cash on Hawthorne, Platek said. More than $98,600 of that cash was inside of a tote bag, Platek said. Hawthorne also had a passport and four driver’s licenses, he said. ExpandLockport's head coach Nick Mraz and the Porters are 11-7 despite losing 10 players to graduation from last season's regional championship team (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Network/Dean Reid) Last season, the Lockport boys volleyball team was loaded with seniors as the Porters finished with a 32-6 record and a regional championship only two players returned for the Porters from that team Lockport has hit a hot streakm winning its last four matches to improve to 11-7 “We had a bit of a rough start,” said Adam Gieser Now we are starting to get some things cleaned up and becoming better as a team We have come a long way already this season They had a lot of experience and knowledge it’s my turn to try to pass that knowledge on to the younger guys.” Porters coach Nick Mraz knew that this year’s team would be vastly different from last year’s “We graduated a lot of guys from last year so we knew we would have some growing pains this year,” Mraz said we won the first set but lost the last two “We have been able to clean up some of the mistakes we were making earlier in the year and keep them from snowballing into big runs for the other team These kids keep grinding and putting in the work The biggest thing is for these guys to get used to the speed of the varsity game That’s a huge adjustment coming from the frosh-soph or JV level to the varsity.” Bolingbrook at Joliet West Regional Championship match Bolingbrook's Trevor Wardlow has led the Raiders to a 14-3 record so far this season Plainfield South has quietly gotten off to a 12-8 start and recently welcomed back Domonic Krejci who missed the first portion of the season while he was playing the male lead in the Cougars’ spring musical Several area teams took part in the 24-team Wheaton-Warrenville South Tiger Invitational last weekend Lincoln-Way West was the lone area squad to advance to the Gold Bracket Plainfield South finished third in the Silver Bracket for 11th place overall, while Minooka and Plainfield North were in the Bronze Bracket Plainfield North took second in the Bronze for 18th overall The other sectional that features Herald-News area teams is the Belleville West Sectional. Both Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way Central are in the 14-team sub-sectional B of that 27-team sectional, with Lincoln-Way East and Rich Township each hosting a regional. ExpandLockport's Giavanna Diciolla (Hart Pisani) NEW LENOX – Wednesday was exactly the kind of day softball teams want to play The cold weather was finally gone and (for now at least) the winds seemed to die down It was only fitting that a great game would go along with such a great day Lockport (12-8) got a typically dominant performance from Kelcie McGraw in the circle. McGraw struck out 14 while giving up three earned runs on three hits and walking one. Addison Way (1 for 3, two RBIs, two runs) and Taylor Lane (1 for 2, two RBIs) led the offense. “It’s so wonderful to have a beautiful day to play,” Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec said. “They are a great team. We knew it was going to be a great competition today, so we’re glad we got to play in some warm weather.” The offense wasn’t there for either team early. Through the first three innings, both teams were hitless with Lockport drawing one walk. Lane got things rolling in the fourth with a double to score Way and Noelle Sustersic to give the Porters a 2-0 lead. McGraw’s bid for a perfect game was blown up in the fifth, the same inning the Warriors tied the score. Kaylea Armstrong scored on an Abby Brueggmann bunt, and Jess Noga drove in Addison Adrieansen on a double to knot the score at 2. The top of the sixth saw the offense continue as Way’s RBI double scored Marcy Curry and Rheanna Slavicek, with Way later scoring on a passed ball. Reese Rourke hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth, but that was as close as the Warriors got. “I was happy I got to go up and help my team,” Giavanna Diciolla said after getting the leadoff single in the fifth that trigged Lockport’s run. “I worked with the mindset of being proactive and getting things started. ... Our team is known for having really good energy, so if we just keep that energy up it’ll stay contagious throughout the season.” Lincoln-Way West (13-6) had moments to be proud of. Tying the game in the fifth and Rourke’s homer in the sixth when things could’ve gone south real quick is the sign of a quality team. Still, coach Heather Novak said she’s hoping to see continued growth from the team. “We’re in Week 8 right now, and we’re continuing to learn and grow from these situations,” she said. “These are the types of games that we want to be in. We want to be challenged, and Lockport’s a good team. This was a good softball game and we’ve got to continue to find ways to work at it and get better.” After a 7-0 start, Lincoln-Way West had a 2-4 stretch before going on a four-game winning streak. Wednesday was the second consecutive loss for the Warriors after they fell to Lincoln-Way East 7-2 on Monday. The Porters also have had an up-and-down season. A 3-0 start followed by a 1-4 stretch. They had a 4-4 run after that, but Wednesday was their fourth victory in a row. All of that is to say in the midway point of the season, there have been ups and downs for both squads (just like the weather). Both teams are focused on improving even further before the postseason comes around. “We’ve just got to keep doing the little things right,” Chovanec said. “We have to keep working hard at practice and keep playing with heart.” ExpandTimothy Russ (Photo provided by Timothy Russ) Director of Facilities at Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C This is my first experience running for a seat in public office Over the years I have participated in local organizations such as the Lockport Township High School Foundation where I served as Vice President for several years The majority of my time has been working in and around our communities’ schools and getting to know so many great families that live in our area Lockport Certified Maintenance Professional (ILASBO) Certified Professional Supervisor (ILASBO) Will County Facilities Professional Group Illinois Association of School Business Officials Member 1. Responsible Economic Development- Continuing to research and investigate realistic advancements and potential business while evaluating what other needs come along with them (parking, parking structure(s), walkways, public safety, etc.) 2. Good Governance and Community Engagement- Residents, rightfully so, expect a lot from their local leaders. One way to have good governance is providing easy access to public minutes and data. Also being transparent continues a line of trust with the residents as well. Using tools like surveys, town halls, and local gatherings are great ways to involve residents in major decision making processes and gives people a chance to give their opinions. 3. Listen to the residents- Be resident focused, be present regularly in my city and ward. Be available and understanding. Be willing to look at all sides and points of view. Crime/ Security: Continuing to support our local police officers and talking to our community members regularly about local happenings. The community does best when it works together against crime. Get the community and youth involved with the police and the educational programs they offer on a regular basis. City Infrastructure: Continue updating city infrastructures in the neighborhoods that need it most. Replace piping, sidewalks, streets, and creating additional accessibility where required for all city patrons. I believe any conflicts should be made aware that could be detrimental to the tax payer no matter the public body. I believe that all candidates and political entities should be required to regularly fill out an economic interest form with their respected area of governance. I would also be as transparent as possible with the decisions and work that I would be doing and would expect the same from the colleagues. ExpandWill County Circuit Court Judge Donald DeWilkins swears in Michael Carroll as the new Lockport City Attorney on Wednesday Lockport — The city of Lockport City Council has hired Michael F Lockport’s previous city attorney, Sonni Choi Williams, was appointed to a judicial seat on the Will County Circuit Court in February after nearly eight years in the role “You’ll be in great hands with Mike,” Thanas told the city council at its April 16 meeting. “He’s got a lot of experience and I think he’ll be here a long time.” Carroll, a resident of Orland Park, has been practicing law since 1995, served as the deputy city manager and chief legal officer for Portage, Michigan from 2020 to 2023, and as the legal affairs officer for Palos Park from 2004 to 2009. Most recently, he was a partner at the law firm of Peterson Johnson Murray specializing in areas including municipal law, litigation and government relations. He also has previous experience in elected office, having served as members of both the Orland School District 135 School Board and the Orland Park Board of Trustees. While at District 135, he served as the board’s vice president and chairman of the finance committee and he served as the finance chairman and public works chairman for the Orland Park village board. “We are confident that Mr. Carroll’s legal experience will serve the City of Lockport well,” said Mayor Steven Streit in a statement announcing the appointment. “His understanding of public governance and legal compliance makes him an outstanding choice for the city,” Streit said. Streit was not present at the meeting when the vote to approve Carroll was held, though the decision was unanimous. In addition to his work and elected experience, Carroll is the vice-chair of the Local Government Section of the DuPage County Bar Association, a member and past president of the Southwest Bar Association, and a member of the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association. He also is a member of the International City Managers Association, and a former president and active member of the Orland Park Lions Club. Carroll was sworn into his new role by Will County Circuit Court Judge Donald DeWilkins and will officially start on Monday, April 28. — Water levels from the Kentucky River are expected to pass a record level near the dam in Lockport According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the Kentucky River is expected to crest in Lockport at 57 feet on Tuesday surpassing the previous record of 56.9 feet The river has already reached the "Major" flood stage Sunday For those living along the Kentucky River in Monterey water is expected to be 4 feet deep in homes closest to the river when the river hits 51 feet "More than half of Monterey floods," NOAA said of the Kentucky River flood impacts at 51 feet A WCPO 9 crew heading to Lockport was unable to reach the community due to high water levels in the nearby town of Gratz The Kentucky River flows along Owen County and through Carroll County before emptying into the Ohio River near Carollton other communities dealing with flooding from the Kentucky River include Perry Park home to the popular Perry Park Golf Resort Carollton is also dealing with high water levels from the Ohio River See NOAA's Kentucky River flood impacts for Lockport below: The Corps of Engineers reopened the navigational lock at Lockport Lock and Dam on the Illinois River April 4 after crews discovered damage to the lock’s lower miter gates during a scheduled dewatering for work on the lock’s upper miter gates in February closed January 28 and was originally scheduled to reopen on March 28 Until an innovative carbon fiber wrap was proposed as a solution for cracked portions of the lock’s pintles the hinges on which the lower miter gates swing the Corps said it might not be possible to open until late April or early May Since there are no auxiliary locks on the Illinois Waterway the closure effectively cut off the city of Chicago and its access to the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River The Corps’ Engineering Research and Design Center joined Chicago and Rock Island crews to install the wrap March 14-15 The Corps has provided weekly industry stakeholder updates throughout the closure Waterways Project Office chief for the Chicago Engineer District The chamber has been successfully rewatered with both new upper gates installed and initial testing and calibration has been completed He said seal fit and shimming the new gates was ongoing The first two boats are awaiting their turn southbound when the lock reopens Part of the repair work involved installation of strain gates on the lower pintle casting Walsh said a five- to six-week closure to install new pintle castings will be required likely late in the fall or in the early winter “We’ll keep you guys posted once we have a delivery timeline,” he said Design for the castings is expected to be complete by the end of April with the order to be placed during the first week of May “I will tell you right now that the replacement pintle sockets are not going to be delivered until September at the earliest “Everybody’s still very confident” of the temporary repairs allowing the cracked pintles to continue to function until the new castings arrive there will be an estimated five or six locking cycles with the fleet moving around and pulling bulkheads to ensure that the lock is functioning well including proximity switches functioning as designed we’re going to make sure we’re communicating that to your guys,” Walsh said thanked Walsh for the communication throughout the closure It will be important to protect the lower miter gates until the pintles are replaced he said it might require a short closure for a dive inspection the Corps has put temporary safety procedures in place Those include a strict 90-foot width restriction which is anticipated to impact only about 10 percent of traffic moving through the lock since most tows transiting it are 70 feet wide or narrower to fit between bridge piers elsewhere on the system Lock personnel are also requiring the use of bumpers and staying off the gates Recreational vessels may be asked to transit the lock in groups Featured photo caption: New upper miter gates are staged for installation in the navigational lock at Lockport Lock and Dam This work, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Interim Repair Plan for Lockport Lock, by Emily Helton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright ExpandTallgrass restaurant dining experience is like stepping back in time harmonizing with the turn-of-the-century Victorian building the restaurant resides in on Friday Giedre and Giedrius Lescinskas of Lockport and their business partners Birute and Ramunas Januskevicius of Highland Park bought Tallgrass Restaurant at 1006 S in Lockport in January 2024 and then reopened it Nov Tallgrass restaurant resides in a restored Victorian building in downtown Lockport “We wanted to make it more accessible and more affordable for everyone and not just a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Tallgrass was nationally known for its classic set-price French cuisine in a restored Victorian building The new owners are maintaining that spirit in updated ways “Lockport needed an upscale restaurant,” Giedre Lescinskas said “and our hope was to revive and start fresh with the same name The owners remodeled the building to create a sense of openness to the small space and transitioned the menu from classic French cuisine to modernized French fusion although the current menu still is based on French cooking methods “We have combined traditional cooking methods fresh seasonal ingredients and global influences into our menu,” Giedre Lescinskas said “We also plan to rotate the menu as the seasons change.” Preserving ‘rich history’ Several years ago the Lescinskases and Januskeviciuses bought the former Norton Opera House building at 1000 S They planned to remodel the Opera House building to its original two levels with a restaurant on the first floor and event space on the second But when they learned Tallgrass was up for sale “My husband and I have lived in Lockport for more than 20 years,” Giedre Lescinskas said “When there were not many restaurants here Tallgrass’ new owners had experienced fine dining only from the customer side But neither could they bear for Tallgrass’ “40 years of rich history” to just vanish So the new owners assembled “an experienced team” to bring their vision to life: dishes that “showcase seasonal ingredients with creative flair and savor a feast for the senses,” Giedre Lescinskas said “With perfectly paired cocktails and wines we aim to create a dining experience that leaves lasting memories,” Giedre Lescinskas said customers can order all menu items al la carte people may order what they like – even just cocktails and an appetizer or only the main dish – rather than commit to three or five courses One of Tallgrass’ popular vegetarian dishes is the Market Carrots featuring a medley of glazed carrots “We wanted to make it more accessible and more affordable for everyone and not just a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Giedre Lescinskas said “We wanted to make a restaurant where you can come on a Friday night and not just your birthday or anniversary.” Current patron favorites include French onion soup and Duck L’Orange – although every items sells very well She said she feels that’s because the menu is deliberately small and focused on very fresh seasonal ingredients and dishes made from scratch Giedre Lescinskas can’t predict customer preference Some days Tallgrass runs out of fillet mignon; other days it runs out of lamb “I don’t know how people make those decisions,” Giedre Lescinskas said with a laugh The owners plan to gradually expand the menu to included a curated cocktail and wine program and host unique events such as chef’s tastings and farm-to-table dinners “We want our customers to enjoy an upscale dining experience without the need to travel to the city,” Giedre Lescinskas said Giedre Lescinskas said the goal was to create a “cozy and elegant space” while keeping the spirit of the former Tallgrass alive and “refreshing the historical elements.” Birute Januskevicius said she loved the “traditional old charm in the space” such as the tall ceiling and the antique furniture “We wanted to keep as much as possible the things that were here,” Birute Januskevicius said orange topped with egg whites and bruleed top owners added windows and a patio for warmer weather to increase space and a sense of openness “The space is still very small that it’s sometimes hard to accommodate walk-ins,” Birute Januskevicius said Birute Januskevicius said reservations are recommended Giedre Lescinskas hopes that within five years Tallgrass will be a “cornerstone of the community” and a “thriving destination known for its exceptional culinary experiences.” the goal is for each guest to experience “outstanding cuisine paired with heartfelt hospitality in a comfortable and welcoming setting,” Giedre Lescinskas said “Our focus is on building meaningful connections,” Giedre Lescinskas “and ensuring every visit is memorable and satisfying.” For information, including hours of operation for January, call 815-838-5566 or visit tallgrassrestaurant.com.