This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page MACHESNEY PARK — Tis the season for chicken chains to open in the Rockford region A day after Raising Cane’s debuted in Rockford, Church’s Texas Chicken has set the date for its debut in Machesney Park according to the village and managers on site Church’s fills a space formerly occupied by KFC. The KFC in Machesney Park abruptly closed in August along with three others in the Rockford region tied to the franchise owner Several others had closed the same day across the state Church’s Texas Chicken was founded in 1952 by George W It was initially called Church’s Chicken and officially rebranded as Church’s Texas Chicken in 2019 The company is now headquartered in Atlanta There are roughly 770 Church’s locations across the country This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas by Kevin Haas Rock River Current is owned and operated in Rockford IL by Mid-West Family Broadcasting-Rockford (Long Nine By Forrest NelsonPublished: Jan 2025 at 4:28 PM CSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) - The last remaining big-box store in the Machesney Park Mall will soon abandon the shopping center Burlington will move from the mall to the Gateway District on Route 173 the retailer will take over Office Depot’s space at 1524 W This relocation will bring the store to an area with more businesses and foot traffic and work with a smaller footprint “We’re grateful to keep Burlington in Machesney Park,” says Mayor Steve Johnson “This move will bring exciting change to the Gateway District while retaining a great department store.” Burlington is expected to open at its new home in the fall of 2025 By Laura NeuzilPublished: Jan 2025 at 11:42 AM CSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) - A new restaurant option is coming to Machesney Park this spring Church’s Texas Chicken will take over the former KFC location at 1586 West Lane Road. The KFC has sat empty since it closed unexpectedly in August 2024 “This is the first Church’s Texas Chicken location in the Rockford area,” Mayor Steve Johnson said in a news release “We’re happy to see new restaurants choose Machesney Park for their location It gives residents and visitors exciting options.” Johnson described 2025 as full of development news for Machesney Park Church’s Texas Chicken, founded in 1952, is a quick-service chicken restaurant chain with locations around the world. For more information about the restaurant, visit www.churchs.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMACHESNEY PARK Alpine Road were closed for more than four hours while first responders investigated a serious crash which led to an arrest The driver and passenger of the Kia were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries of Rockford was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries White was released from the hospital and arrested He faces one count of aggravated reckless driving Alpine road was closed in both directions until around 11:30 a.m TRAFFIC ALERT: Serious traffic crash 9500 block of N Alpine Road Please avoid the area and find an alternate route while we investigate Reports say one person suffered life-threatening-injuries in the crash The crash is currently under investigation No further information is available at this time Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedIn(WIFR) - Dozens of Illinois communities are alerting residents after “forever chemicals” were detected in their water systems The Environmental Protection Agency explains PFAS are widely used long-lasting chemicals which break down slowly over time Studies have shown exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals According to the Illinois EPA The Illinois EPA explains residents are receiving the notifications because of newly enacted groundwater quality standards For North Park Water District customers the current level of PFAS in the drinking water is below the level of concern North Park Water CEO Kelly Saunders says they are taking steps to correct the PFAS issue by shutting down well number two Construction has started on a new well and treatment plant behind Machesney Elementary to ensure the water remains safe elevated levels aren’t necessarily a cause for immediate concern but it is something that you need to pay attention to to address as quickly as practicable because the important part is to eliminate the exposure so that it doesn’t continue to accumulate,” explained Saunders Saunders says the district’s long-term approach to combating the PFAS issue will be the $61 million treatment plant. She adds, North Park Water has also been awarded nearly $20.3 million in grant funding towards the treatment plant another step forward in ensuring the safety of the water A notice posted on the city of Freeport’s website also says the city’s water is safe to drink and that all water delivered to homes and businesses come from PFAS-free wells To monitor the notices sent to Community Water Systems in Illinois by the IEPA, click here MACHESNEY PARK — Ritchie’s Smokin’ BBQ is preparing to close for up to three months as the owner undergoes a major surgery and recovery process The restaurant will operate with its normal hours through 7 p.m. Sunday, and then it will be closed for an estimated eight to 12 weeks, the owners announced on Facebook. On Wednesday, an online fundraiser was launched to help Taylor and Baron Griep cover business and medical expenses while their restaurant is closed “We want to be clear: We aren’t going anywhere and as soon as we are able we will be open and serving the delicious BBQ we all love,” Taylor Griep wrote on Facebook “This is a very temporary closure for me to get control of some health issues We will post the opening day as soon as we know.” Ritchie’s Smokin’ BBQ has been in business since May 2020 replacing the former Carlito’s Tacos & More Before that the space was home to Pug Dog’s Diner and Pug’s Deli Taylor Griep worked on and off at the restaurant under the ownership of Ritchie Lane, and when he decided to retire the Griep family took over the business in fall 2023 most giving people you’ll ever meet,” Keri Alexander wrote in a verified GoFundMe organized for the family “She pours her heart into everything she does — whether it’s feeding the community one mouthwatering meal at a time Alexander wrote that Griep was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 13 and the disease has reached a debilitating and critical point Griep wrote that the family had no choice but to close the restaurant during the surgery and healing duration are stepping away from their beloved restaurant and physical therapy,” Alexander wrote “Baron will also be out of work to care for Taylor and their two kids — a 13-year-old they home school and their 3-year-old little one — while she recovers over the next 5–6 weeks.” A GoFundMe online fundraiser has been started to help the Griep family cover business expenses while the restaurant is closed and support Taylor Griep’s medical recovery costs To donate, go HERE This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas MACHESNEY PARK — Village officials on Wednesday announced Burlington’s plans to move from its home in the Machesney Park Mall to the Office Depot space in the Gateway District on Illinois 173 Relocating to the 20,000-square-foot space at 1524 West Lane Road is expected to happen in fall The retailer will continue operating at the mall until its lease expires later this year and it completes its move Office Depot is closing its Machesney Park store and consolidating its operation at 6455 E “We’re grateful to keep Burlington in Machesney Park,” Mayor Steve Johnson said in a news release is a national discount retailer with more than 930 locations across the country It offers an assortment of discount clothing The company’s move from the Machesney Park Mall comes after its neighbor on the property, Big Lots, closed in October amid the national chain’s bankruptcy proceedings This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas MACHESNEY PARK — The 21-year-old owners behind the village’s newest salon want you to love who you are before you ever sit in one of their chairs and they want you to feel even better about yourself once you leave Madison Woodman and Jillianne Klinefelter, best friends who met in high school and then trained together at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture in Rockford, celebrated the opening of Rustic Reflections on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting with The Parks Chamber of Commerce just around the corner from Gill’s Diner “Any hair necessities and needs that could be needed in this community we will offer,” Woodman said during the ceremony “and anything support-wise that you also need — even if you just need a chair to sit down and talk about anything — we will offer that as well.” will offer all your basic hair services ranging from stylings and cuts to color They share a goal of helping boost their clients confidence in their looks “Both of us have struggled with self-image,” Woodman said “I want you to sit down and look at your reflection and then leave feeling better than when you came You’re already beautiful coming in and staring at yourself but I want you to feel better when you leave.” Woodman, who took on the speaking roles during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said the death of her 65-year-old grandmother Sandy Darr in 2023 showed her that life is too short not to chase her dreams “She is the entire reason that I’m at where I’m at today,” Woodman said “I appreciate her for still looking down on me and being the brightest star in the sky.” They take customers by appointment and have walk-in hours, mostly weekday evenings and weekends days and early afternoons. (Their hours are update on the Facebook page.) “I have dreamed of being a hair stylist since I was probably 10 years old,” Woodman said this is a dream come true to think about the fact that we’re 21 and own a business in such a large community with so much support behind us.” On the web: Go HERE Email: rusticreflections25@gmail.com Facebook: Go HERE Tik Tok: @rustic_reflections MACHESNEY PARK — A new bar and restaurant featuring Cimino’s Italian cuisine and a wide selection of bourbons and cocktails has opened near the corner of North Second Street and West Lane Road The Parks: Cimino’s Kitchen is the result of nearly three months of renovations owners Matt Brickson and Brad Steele made after buying the former Onyx Bar and Restaurant “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback so far with the people who have been in with the amount of changes,” Brickson said “A lot of people are saying they don’t feel like they’re in the same building.” The new look creates an industrial chic style with a hardwood backdrop to the bar where rows of roughly 40 bourbons and whiskeys are set up for selection with an 85-inch screen at the center flanked by two TVs on each side to rise from the bar to nearly the ceiling The front section of the space is a more traditional bar atmosphere with plush leather high-top seating Past that is table seating designed as a family friendly setting “Our vision came to life and we’d love to have everybody come and enjoy it with us,” Steele said There will still be tweaks to the decor in the coming weeks with a goal to showcase key places and history of Loves Park and Machesney Park The menu features a selection of gourmet and classic pizzas poor boy sandwiches and entrees such as 16-ounce ribeye steak cod Italiano and a honey glazed blackened salmon owner of Cimino’s Little Italy on Challenge Street in Freeport That’s also where The Parks staff trained in preparation for opening in Machesney Park Popular so far has been the chicken George a dinner of homemade and hand-breaded chicken tenderloins with house-made Mama’s sauce It comes with one to three sides depending on the size you order The owners have also seen their first customers flock to Mimi’s gourmet meatballs an appetizer of three homemade meatballs with pesto and the burrata brushetta made with fresh tomato burrata and pesto drizzled with honey and balsamic glaze There’s also a seasonal drink selection with a rotation of different margaritas and martinis who are making their first foray into the bar and restaurant business met at Onyx as customers more than a decade ago Now they’re eager to welcome their own customers to a space created around their vision for a family-friendly restaurant and bar “It’s been a long process: Three months of remodeling “To start with a vision and actually see it come together with a few tweaks here and there is really rewarding.” On Facebook: Go HERE  By WIFR NewsroomPublished: Dec 2024 at 6:30 PM CSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) - A new family-friendly bar and restaurant officially opens in Machesney Park On Dec. 18, the Parks Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Parks-Cimino’s Kitchen at 1001 W The Parks says it offers a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere like a romantic night out or a casual weeknight dinner The bar and restaurant offers 13 TVs for guests to see from any seat in the house and keep up with their favorite sports teams The Parks' menu offers options from Cimino’s Kitchen made from locally sourced ingredients By Forrest NelsonPublished: Sep 2024 at 10:25 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInROCKFORD (WIFR) - A Machesney Park man is accused of killing a woman on N He is being lodged at the Winnebago County Jail He faces two counts of first-degree murder three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon Rockford police responded to the 1700 block of N they found a 26-year-old woman who was shot multiple times She was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries MACHESNEY PARK — National discount retailer Big Lots plans to shutter its store at the Machesney Town Center as part of its latest round of closures as it restructures in Chapter 11 bankruptcy The company listed in a bankruptcy filing 56 stores in 27 states that it would close That list includes the nearly 30,000-square-foot store at 8750 N The local Big Lots closure is one of two in Illinois with the company also planning to close its Decatur store Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept 9 as it prepared for the court-supervised sale of the company to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management “Though the majority of our store locations are profitable we intend to move forward with a more focused footprint to ensure that we operate efficiently and are best positioned to serve our customers,” Bruce Thorn we intend to use the tools afforded by this process to continue optimizing our store fleet in an orderly manner.” Big Lots opened here in late March 2011 as the village was redeveloping the former Machesney Park Mall into what’s now called the Machesney Town Center The store had moved from its home in the Meadow Mart Shopping Center in Loves Park The Machesney Park Town Center is also home to Nestory Park Self Storage, Benny’s @ Nest PCI Pharma Services and Menta Academy Northwest By WIFR NewsroomPublished: Nov 2024 at 11:47 AM CSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) - A 28-year-old man faces more than three years in prison after admitting to threatening law enforcement officers Jacob Balabuszko of Machesney Park is sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison for threatening officers and illegally possessing firearms Balabuszko admitted in a plea agreement that after the FBI questioned him in 2020 and 2021 “Next time you two come to my house unannounced He continued to make threats in a Signal chat group telling others to kill law enforcement officers shoot out their tires and burn down their homes Balabuszko also admitted to illegally keeping firearms which he said allowed him to carry out his threats MACHESNEY PARK — A KFC that abruptly closed in August will be filled with a new fried chicken chain Church’s Texas Chicken is preparing to open its first Machesney Park location and only restaurant in the Rockford area The national chain will open at 1586 West Lane Road. It’s expected to open in spring, the village said in a news release The KFC in Machesney Park closed in August along with three others in the Rockford region tied to the franchise owner Several others closed the same day across the state The restaurant chain was founded as Church’s Chicken in 1952 by George W It’s officially rebranded as Church’s Texas Chicken in 2019 and the company is now headquartered in Atlanta It specializes in original and spicy chicken prepared fresh throughout the day in small batches Its chicken is hand-battered and doubled-breaded freshly baked butter biscuits and homestyle sides such as corn on the cob There are roughly 770 Church’s locations across the country Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.