You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Toronto police were investigating near an apartment building on Avenue Road on Saturday after two women were struck by a driver near Avenue Road at Tranby Avenue just before 1:25 p.m The women suffered serious injuries Saturday afternoon in the collision near Avenue Road and Tranby Avenue Two women have been seriously injured after they were struck by the driver of a vehicle outside a Yorkville apartment building on Saturday afternoon The two victims were struck near Avenue Road at Tranby Avenue just before 1:25 p.m., Toronto police said in a post on X and police cruisers were parked along the street near an apartment building on Avenue Road as the investigation continued Saturday evening An 84-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries and a 51-year-old woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said in a news release Surveillance video obtained by the Star from Louro and Sons Jewellers a business across the street from the apartment building appears to show the incident on the top of the video’s frame past the Jeep and toward the black vehicle before moving back toward the Jeep and disappearing from view A different person appears to then emerge from the black vehicle before it drives away The person walks toward the right before appearing to turn around to the place where the first person was seen in front of the Jeep the person appears to crouch down and a few seconds later the driver of the Jeep runs over them before stopping a small dog can be seen running from the right away from the driveway and along a sidewalk the driver of the Jeep can be seen getting out of the vehicle Surveillance footage from a Yorkville jewelry business shows two pedestrians appearing to be struck by a driver at an apartment building driveway Two women had been trying to retrieve the dog from in front of the stopped Jeep when the driver moved forward and ran over both of them Officers did not say if the dog was also injured “It’s absolutely tragic to see that they’re two people who essentially got ran over,” said Louis Louro Jr. “The circumstances are tragic and it appears the dog is part of the whole issue Louro said he and his staff were working in their shop when the collision happened but “didn’t pay attention until the police came in.”  “It’s kind of stomach-wrenching,” he said of the video adding that “it really leaves a horrible feeling.”  Southbound Avenue Road was closed south of Tranby Avenue but has reopened Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Upon arrival, two water rescue members entered the water. They were able to help the adult and two children out of the vehicle. The people freed from the vehicle were then evaluated by paramedics, according to the release. There were no reported injuries to any of the community members or firefighters. None of the freed vehicle passengers needed to be transferred to the hospital, according to the release. The Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District was assisted on scene by the Oswego Fire Protection District and the Kendall County Sheriff’s Department. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Up to $525 Million Yorkville Credit Facility Plug has signed a definitive agreement for a secured debt facility with Yorkville Advisors providing for the issuance of up to $525 million of secured debentures The facility includes an initial $210 million tranche which will be fully funded at the initial closing and additional tranches of up to $315 million The initial tranche is expected to close on or around May 2 With the net proceeds from the initial tranche Plug intends to use approximately $82.5 million to retire the majority of its existing convertible debenture principal outstanding with Yorkville which has approximately 55 million associated underlying shares given the conversion price and therefore this refinancing will reduce potential dilution Plug will be reporting its first quarter of 2025 results in early May Plug expects to report revenue of approximately $130 million to $134 million for the first quarter of 2025 Plug expects second quarter revenue in the range of $140 million to $180 million 2025 with approximately $296 million in unrestricted cash the continued reductions in cash usage by leveraging working capital and reducing capex the benefits of additional cost reduction initiatives launched in March 2025 that are expected to drive over $200 million of annual cost reductions and the additional committed financing available under the Yorkville credit facility the Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to support its growth in the near to mid-term Plug has no intention of raising additional equity in 2025 underscoring its focus on disciplined capital management Plug has completed construction of its new 15TPD hydrogen production plant in St Operated through the Hidrogenii joint venture with Olin Corporation this facility strengthens Plug’s vertically integrated hydrogen network and will serve anchor customers including Amazon and Walmart Plug has already taken decisive actions to reduce its operational cost base implementing changes in Q1 2025 that are expected to drive over $200 million in incremental annualized run-rate savings These cost cutting measures — largely completed — include organizational realignment and a company-wide focus on manufacturing and supply chain efficiency The full impact of these cost savings will begin to be reflected in the coming quarters supporting Plug’s continued margin improvement and progress toward profitability “We’ve made the tough decisions and put the structure in place to deliver improved operating leverage and capital efficiency,” said Andy Marsh we’ve taken the right steps to position Plug for long-term success in the hydrogen economy.” 3,016 acres in Yorkville have been slated for data center development along the town’s ComEd transmission station line off Eldamain Road This includes 12 separate development projects either already approved or involving site inquiries with the intent to apply for permit To ensure its data center alley does not turn into a Wild West of developments, Yorkville is proposing several regulations to accommodate the concerns voiced by neighboring residents The proposed specific regulations address building separation minimums from residential properties noise control plans and landscape buffering 3,016 acres have been slated for data center development along the town’s ComEd transmission station line off Eldamain Road This includes 12 separate projects by five developers either already approved or have had site inquiries with the intent to apply for permit These include a 143-acre data center campus by Magnolia Hill Partners that would be 2,600 feet from the Autumn Creek neighborhood especially from the Kylyn’s Ridge subdivision Community members bemoaned the town’s loss of it’s idyllic rural landscape that they claimed was perfect to raise a family City officials say the influx of data center development plans near residential areas is all the more reason to establish specific regulations to ensure responsible growth Within the new regulation proposals being considered by city officials, all applications for data centers must provide a noise study and create a mitigation plan. Officials want to ensure the noise pollution does not exceed the current noise ordinance. The regulation proposals also call for a minimum 500-foot building separation from a data center building to the nearest residential or commercial structure. If within 1,500 feet of a residential structure, all buildings will have a maximum height of 70 feet. Outside of 1,500 feet from a residential area, they may be allowed to be 80 feet tall. The regulations attempt to mitigate light pollution by proposing all lighting devices have a maximum height of 35 feet. The regulations also propose landscape buffer requirements. The proposals seek a minimum 100-foot landscape buffer when adjacent to any non-manufacturing land use, like residential or commercial. They also seek 8-foot tall berms when adjacent to residential subdivisions. The proposal seeks a minimum 100-foot buffer along any public roadway. A public hearing for the proposed text amendments is scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 14 at City Hall. Expand(File photo) Yorkville is building a $30 million public works and parks facility in the Yorkville Business Center The new building will increase the lifespan of the city's equipment and vehicles by storing everything under roof to protect the equipment from the elements a Yorkville municipal plow pushes snow and applies salt on Game Farm Road during a major snowstorm in Yorkville (Steven Buyansky for Shaw Local/Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media) Yorkville’s new $30 million public works and park maintenance facility may become more expensive thanks to federal tariffs. The city hired RC Wegman for the construction project slated to begin later this year. The complex will be built on a 12-acre vacant lot within the Yorkville Business Center that the city bought in 2022 for $1.355 million. “We think that our materials exposure to federal tariffs that have been announced but not yet implemented is about $3 million worth of our total supplies for an upper-end impact of $750,000,” City Administrator Bart Olson said during the March 25 City Council meeting. “That’s coming from RC Wegman and their industry trade groups. If there are tariffs that apply, we will be able to authorize those at a staff level before they are ordered.” The City Council approved adding $750,000 for the potential tariff impact on the project. Any of the budgeted money not spent on tariffs will return back to the city’s coffers. The Trump Administration is expected to place tariffs on construction materials coming from Mexico and Canada, such as steel and lumber, on April 2. Following the meeting, Olson said the city is excited for the new facility because it will help modernize their public works and parks fleets. “Our new facility will house all of our vehicles and equipment under roof which will prolong their lifespan by protecting them from the sun and rain, saving residents money in the long run,” Olson said. “Also, we should see some operational improvements from our new building, like salt storage, salt/brine creation and logistics, and equipment organizations that should have a positive impact on service delivery start time.” The city’s current public works and park maintenance facility was built in the 1970s and does not contain enough roofing space to house all of the city’s equipment and vehicles. ExpandJacqueline Salinas rings up a Brew Den Customer paying with Apple Pay The Brew Den offers vocational ed students an opportunity to gain work skills while working with their fellow students Lately, Yorkville High School’s Brew Den has been brewing up more than just coffee: it’s been serving up opportunities for vocational education students to gain real-world work experience and life skills. The Brew Den opened in 2022 under vocational program coordinator Christina Doom, a vocational ed teacher at Yorkville. “The cart has provided a great hands-on opportunity for students to interact with their peers and practice soft skills worked on in the classroom in a real life setting, “ Doom said. Located within the school’s athletic lobby, the Brew Den is open to students and staff throughout the day’s flex period. Within the past year, the Brew Den has added food items such as muffins and pound cakes to their coffees and beverages. Yorkville Brew Den welcomes their newest edition, the “Brewmobile”, a coffee cart on wheels located in the high school's athletic lobby. (Photo provided by Lilli Mueller) The student-run cafe is part of a transitional skills program where vocational education students develop soft skills, take orders, make drinks and engage with customers. The internship-style program was created to bridge the gap between skills learned in high school, and those required in the workforce. Upon completion, students can go on to work at local businesses like grocery stores or coffee shops. Offering a host of amenities like loyalty programs, delivery options and accepting a variety of payment methods, the Brew Den’s sales have been steadily rising. “Our sales have grown tremendously within the past year,” Doom said. “Forty-five student sales a day for an hour period of time is not bad.” Senior Erica Ladra has become a regular Brew Den customer. “The Brew Den has been a nice addition to my mornings, especially now that it offers snacks,” she said. “And I love seeing my friends behind the counter.” Looking to the future, teachers and students can expect the Brew Den to continue to expand its services to meet the rising demand. With future plans to offer merchandise sold through the Brewmobile, their coffee cart on wheels, opportunities for Yorkville’s vocational education students continue to grow. ExpandYorkville's Callie Ferko (9) swings at a pitch during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday YORKVILLE – Callie Ferko has a rather simple approach to the art of hitting The Yorkville junior swings at the first strike she sees “If I see a strike early in the count I’m going to hammer it and take it where it takes me,” Ferko said We’ve been instilled a lot the importance of placing the ball.” Ferko put that philosophy to good use Wednesday She tripled in her first at-bat and doubled in her second Iowa recruit Kayla Kersting contributed three triples and scored three runs in Yorkville’s 11-1, five-inning win over Joliet West in a Southwest Prairie Conference game. The Foxes (11-8, 3-4) batted around in a five-run first inning and banged out 12 hits in support of starting pitcher Peyton Levine, who struck out seven. Liv Lathen reached base three times. Madison Jadron drove in the lone run for Joliet West (2-15, 1-7). “Hitting where it’s pitched, not trying to over-swing, just hitting the ball where they’re putting it. Their approach was really good today,” Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said. “Defensively, we were solid today. That helps. Consistency is what we’re working on.” Ferko maintained a consistent approach in both her at-bats. She tripled over the right fielder to bring in Bella Phillips with Yorkville’s second run after Phillips had squeezed in Kersting. Next inning, Ferko drilled a double into the right-center field gap, and scored on a Rilee Petrusa double. “She does a nice job of hitting that pitch and going with it, and hitting it solid,” Regnier said. “It’s not a weak ball when she hits it to the right side.” Softball game between Joliet West at Yorkville. Yorkville's Kayla Kersting (10) celebrates on third during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Yorkville. (Gary E Duncan Sr. for Shaw Local News Network) Ferko started her first varsity season batting fourth or fifth in the Yorkville lineup. She’s since moved up to third with Kersting now hitting leadoff, and hasn’t stopped hitting well. “First of all, she’s a competitor and she’s a hard worker. She will outwork anybody else,” Regnier said. “She’s always going to be solid and consistent. She has an off day and expects herself to bounce back. She has really earned that spot. “We’ve moved her up slowly. If Kayla can get herself on and we can move her over, Callie can hit her in.” Ferko, happy at the opportunity, worked to earn her spot. She’s put in the time with her Yorkville team, and on her own with her family. “Our coaches have very detailed hitting stations for us,” she said. “During the offseason I go hit balls with my dad and brother. My brother plays college and my dad loves being out there. We really just enjoy the time together.” Regnier has enjoyed having Ferko on her team, and not just for her hitting. “She will go up and fight every pitch and every at-bat,” Regnier siad. “She has so much energy. Very lively kid in general, people feed off of her. A great kid on the team and in the dugout.” Kersting, Ferko and Brooke Ekwinski each had triples in Yorkville’s five-run first, and the Foxes led 7-0 after two innings before Joliet West went to Jadron in relief. Softball game between Joliet West at Yorkville. Joliet West's Caitlin Jadron (11) makes a diving catch during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Yorkville. (Gary E Duncan Sr. for Shaw Local News Network) Joliet West’s senior pitcher singled in Mackenzie Mielke, who had doubled, for the Tigers’ lone run in the fourth. Jadron threw two scoreless innings before Yorkville scored three in the fifth, Kersting tripling and scoring the final run on a Phillips’ single. “They [Yorkville] came out swinging,” Joliet West coach Heather Suca said. “We have a lot of games this week. We have to be able to put somebody on the mound besides our senior. They have to learn to hit their spots.” Jadron is one of just two seniors that played Wednesday for a young Joliet West team, which did manage five hits but committed three errors. “We put the ball in play, and we’ve been hitting the ball in play. That’s our strong suit,” Suca said. “We’re young. We have to take care of the ball and have someone besides our senior throw.” Yorkville has won three of four since a three-game losing streak, and Ferko thinks the best is yet to come. “I think we have so much potential,” Ferko said. “I truly believe we have a next level in us.” 2025 at 11:00 am CDTExpandLindsay Ingemunson School: Yorkville Why she was selected: Ingemunson scored four goals and assisted a fifth goal in Yorkville’s 5-1 win over Joliet Central She was selected the Athlete of the Week in an online vote Here is her interview with Sports Editor Joshua Welge is that the most goals you’ve had in a game this season Ingemunson: Yes my four-goal game is the most goals I’ve had in a game this season The goal that probably sticks out to me the most is my fourth goal A minutes prior during halftime [Yorkville] coach [Lauren] Hoppensteadt gave me great insight about how to finish my shots more consistently and as soon as I made that correction the ball ended up in the back of the net Your coach said you’ve had a “breakout season” Are you surprised at all at your success Ingemunson: My goal going into the season was to not only have moments of individual success but ultimately do anything I could to help the team be successful So far this season we have shown improvement as a team Many of our games have been hard fought battles that ultimately have not ended our way but that has not changed the team’s drive to keep fighting for more wins I’m really excited to see the program develop in the next two years Ingemunson: I did not play high school soccer last year due to prior commitments from my club team but I knew for sure I would be playing for my high school team the next three years How did you get started in soccer and when Ingemunson: I first started playing soccer when I was about five or six years old I began playing in a local recreational league and after about three years I transitioned to a club team Since I grew up being a very competitive person some of the things I love most about the sport is being able to compete to be better than myself day after day and to see hard work pay off when the ball ends up in the back of the net I also value the relationships the sport has brought me through the years with coaches and teammates Ingemunson: I tried out many different sports growing up but the three that stuck with me the longest were basketball Ultimately I always knew soccer was my top priority I stopped playing volleyball after middle school because it had too many conflicts with my fall soccer season but I’ve continued to play basketball into high school Playing multiple sports has given me many different perspectives as an athlete and I am so thankful I was able to have those opportunities What are your goals for the rest of the season Ingemunson: My goal for the team going into the rest of the season is to continue to grow on and off the field while working to improve our record Many games we are close to pulling out the win but aren’t able to finish our scoring opportunities I think continuing to work together in finding ways to execute will bring us the most success going forward Joshua WelgeI am the Sports Editor for Kendall County Newspapers, the Kane County Chronicle and Suburban Life Media, covering primarily sports in Kendall, Kane, DuPage and western Cook counties. I've been covering high school sports for 24 years. I also assist with our news coverage. ExpandHundreds of people participated in a Hands Off Adam McCall is concerned about how any veterans cuts by the Trump administration will affect him McCall and his wife last August bought a house in Yorkville. The Hands Off! protests have been held nationwide since April 5. Those involved in the Hands Off! protest in Yorkville lined up along both sides of Bridge Street in front of the Yorkville Town Square. Chris Kratsch was walking around with a sign that said “Fork Fascists.” Chris Kratsch was part of the April 19 Hands Off! protest in Yorkville. He walked around with a sign that said Fork Fascists. (Eric Schelkopf) He voiced his displeasure regarding the deportation measures of the Trump administration. Hundreds of people participated in the Hands Off! rally in Yorkville on April 19. Issued by President Franklin Roosevelt on Feb. 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the forced removal of all persons deemed a threat to national security from the West Coast to “relocation centers” further inland – resulting in the incarceration of Japanese Americans. The Trail of Tears was the forced relocation during the 1830s of Indigenous peoples of the Southeast region of the U.S. (including the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole, among others) to the so-called Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman also participated in the protest. “I’m concerned about the overturning of Roe,” he said. “I think a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body is her choice. I want to come out and support people’s First Amendment right to free speech, the right to protest, the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, which is enshrined in our Constitution.” The U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 reversed Roe v. Wade, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion no longer exists. There have been concerns that decision could lead to a nationwide abortion ban. Given that the event was held during Easter weekend, he was impressed with the turnout. “This far exceeds anything I was thinking,” Kauffman said. “I figured it would be just a handful of people.” Yorkville resident Suzanne Waldrop was holding a “Protect our Constitution – Dump Trump" sign. Her father was a naturalized American citizen who fought in World War II as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. “He insisted that we learn about what brought Hitler into power,” Waldrop said. ExpandA scaled-down senior-living community with up to 309 dwelling units is being proposed on the Christie Property The plans include 88 lots from the undeveloped Williamsport subdivision Following Yorkville residents saying they don’t want to be another Oswego and aldermen balking at the idea of more townhomes developers have submitted scaled down plans for the proposed Christie Property subdivision The revised plans completely eliminate the original townhomes and four-plex units that were receiving the most pushback The proposed plan reduces the original 346 dwelling units to 309 dwelling units The plans now feature 100 single-family homes The plans also include 126 age-targeted duplex homes and 83 age-restricted single-family units The proposal by developers Fox River Enterprise features a 136-acre property located south of Fox Road The site includes 88 lots from the undeveloped Williamsport subdivision A new public hearing for the revised development proposal is scheduled for August 13 during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at City Hall This date is changed from the original May 14 scheduled public hearing The developer’s initial proposal received pushback from neighboring residents, the Yorkville School District 115 and city officials at a previous public hearing Then the school district said it was already contending with the capacity issues its classrooms and allowing further growth in the town is unsustainable “The Yorkville school district is full‚” Kreg Wesley the district’s assistant superintendent of business services “We need your support to slow development down and manage the growth.” including Michelle Nicholson and neighbors of the Rivers Edge subdivision said the country setting and peacefulness that they moved to Yorkville for is being lost to uncontrolled development Several aldermen attending the meeting said they wanted the full townhomes included in the plans scrapped, in favor of tradition residential housing. They also suggested replacing “age-targeted” with “age-restricted” because they feared incoming younger families could further overwhelm the school district’s classrooms. City officials also wanted the results of a traffic study on the area and how the development and the necessary parking would affect congestion and density issues. ExpandProject Cardinal is a 1,037 acre data center proposal in the Yorkville area Project Steel is a nearby 540 acre data center proposal The CyrusOne data center has already been approved by city officials Yorkville’s largest ever manufacturing warehouse undertaking is being eyed with a 1,037 acre data center campus 14 warehouse buildings and two electrical substations by Pioneer Development Dubbed “Project Cardinal,” the data center campus will be located at the northwest corner of Galena Road and Bridge Street The site is located in unincorporated Kendall County and currently used for agricultural purposes. Yorkville has made a recent habit of annexing unincorporated parcels of farmland to rezone them for manufacturing purposes Together, Project Cardinal’s fourteen data center warehouses add up to more than 17 million square feet of floor area. If 1,037 acres of converted farmland to manufacturing wasn’t enough, a second developer reached out to the city to convert another 540 acres for a separate data center campus. Developer Prologis, L.P, plans to build the “Project Steel” data center campus at the southeast corner of Galena Road and Eldamain Road. The site will feature 24 data center warehouses, built across three phases, and three electric substations. The site is also currently unincorporated farmland, meaning the city needs to annex and rezone the site. Both the Project Steel and Project Cardinal campuses are located a few miles from the CyrusOne data center development. City administrator Bart Olson said the city has 3,000 acres currently slated for data center development with more than 100 new large data center warehouses to be built over the next few decades. With past data center developments, city officials have assured upset residents that the warehouses will not be too loud. This time, it could be different. “These large-scale developments have the potential to impact surrounding properties due to noise generated by mechanical equipment and facility operations,” Krysti Barksdale-Noble, community development director, said in city documents. To mitigate potential noise pollution, Soundscape Engineering is providing acoustical consulting services at both the Project Steel and Project Cardinal data center campuses. The company will provide a comprehensive review of noise control measures to ensure compliance with the city’s noise ordinance. “Given their scale and operational needs, these developments will involve extensive mechanical systems, including HVAC units, cooling towers, and backup generators, which can contribute to environmental noise concerns,” Barksdale-Noble said. “Proper acoustical planning is necessary to mitigate potential noise pollution and minimize adverse effects on nearby residential areas.” The acoustical planning will include recommendations on noise mitigation strategies and optimal equipment placement. The costs for the acoustical consulting will be completely paid for by the developers. However, the consulting services still need to be approved by city council at their upcoming March 25 meeting. was selected as a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune Lenski poses with a cutout at the game's famed Hollywood studio It’s not often your wildest dreams come true, but when good fortune spun in Becky Lenski’s favor, the Yorkville resident knew she wanted mementos of her parents with her on stage and her two children in the audience. When you are a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune, Lenski said, they teach you to pull the massive wheel toward you first, before pushing it out, spinning it with all your hopes and strength. “Wheel of Fortune is like a religion in my household,” Lenski said. “I grew up watching it with my parents every evening before dinner, and my parents watched it with my kids ever since they were little. Both of my parents have now passed away. They would have loved watching me on the show. They were both definitely on the stage with me.” Lenski is a featured contestant on the Wheel of Fortune airing on ABC on Wed., April 16, at 6:30 p.m, with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White. The selection process wasn’t easy. Lenski submitted an audition video online, first hearing from the show in October 2023. Next, she had to pass two rounds of zoom interviews, the first a personality test, the second, a word puzzle competition against other potential contestants. Then she was told she may hear from them or may not. “It was going on a year, and I hadn’t heard back,” Lenski said. “Then out of the blue, two months ago, I got the email. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. It was my dream come true ever since I was young. It means so much to me and my kids. I first called my son, who was at college, so I could share the jumping for joy. I told my kids, next to having them both, my best day was getting on the Wheel of Fortune.” Lenski said it wasn’t lost on her that should would be representing on the national stage her family, her Yorkville community and her clients she loves teaching as a pilates instructor. She said raising her kids in the tight-knit small-town community, it was a blessing showing the world a slice of Yorkville pride. She said one of her oldest pilates client, a 70-year old woman, is a huge fan of Wheel of Fortune and said she is ecstatic to watch Lenski perform. Lenski said she loves coming in to work knowing she is helping people every day, strengthening their movements, and empowering their bodies and mobility. Lenski said she believes her passion for nurturing mind and body feed into the long-hours playing board games with her family. “It’s about getting out of your head, having fun and creating special moments with your family,” Lenski said. “Your family is not going to be there and young forever.” Yorkville mother Becky Lenski said she couldn't wait to share with her two children the news that she was accepted as a contestant for the Wheel of Fortune. She told them, "next to having them both, my best day was getting on the Wheel of Fortune.” (Photo Provided By Becky Lenski) She said even with those fun family game nights, nothing prepares you for actually being on the stage in Hollywood. “I kept on saying, I can’t believe I’m here, I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Lenski said. “While practicing, I realized the wheel is much heavier than you think. I thought with the cameras I’d be nervous, but because I love the game so much, I felt excited, calm and well-prepared. You are always nervous about not spinning it hard enough. But, I think I did my first spin just right.” Lenski said she felt like she had a little extra guiding help pushing her along. “The lipstick I wore was a lipstick from my mom,” Lenski said. “I wanted to make sure I had something from both my parents. In the 1980’s, Vanna White did a book signing at a store my dad worked in. So, my dad always kept a glossy portrait of Vanna that she autographed to him. I brought the photo with me to the studio. I got it signed again by Vanna. It was my memento from them that they were here with me.” She said her parents would be so proud of her today, and she hopes to instill the same unyielding passion within her own children. “Always keep on pursuing that dream, no matter how crazy it is,” Lenski said. “If you have a passion, never give up on it.” Expand(File photo) Following the swearing-in of new Yorkville 115 board members Leslie Smogor was selected as the board's new vice president and Shawn Schumacher was selected as the board's new president both board members speak at a public forum prior to the election After a swearing-in ceremony at the school board’s April 28 meeting returning board members Shawn Schumacher and Leslie Smogor were voted the new president and vice president of the board Schumacher is taking the role from the previous board president Darren Crawford Schumacher previously served as the board’s secretary Board member Mike Houston is taking over as secretary Smogor replaced the previous vice president Jason Demas New board members Julie Hart and Joseph Rand also took their seats on the board the town’s population growth has exceeded the capacity of the district’s classrooms The necessary construction will likely lead to a public referendum requesting greater funding The school board’s next meeting of the whole is 7 p.m. May 19 in the Yorkville High School Library. Gary Duncan is a freelance photographer and contributor to Shaw Local YORKVILLE — After over 60 years on Yorkville Council Ronald Emerson has stepped down from his seat and former council member Linda Mayhugh will take his place Emerson hasn’t been able to fulfill his duties due to his health council held a special meeting to discuss naming his replacement Six residents threw their hats in the ring and Mayhugh served for four years but decided that she believed she would be a much needed addition to the council and I was on council with Ronnie and with the mayor I just figured I need to step in and hopefully help the village,” she said She added that her goal now that she is on council is to get people doing what they should be doing instead of constantly picking fights with each other Mayhugh referred to Yorkville Mayor Sandy Reisbeck’s recent restraining order against Street and Sanitation Supervisor Jesse Cordery after their very public feud but he was reinstated by council after members deemed it an unjust firing Reasbeck filed a protective order against Cordery but was denied by the court in March “When she lost the petition for that restraining order and I think she knows I’m coming in to back those guys,” Mayhugh said you couldn’t ask for a better person and we need to get it back the way it used to be.” At the same meeting that Mayhugh was named as the new council member Reasbeck made an unexpected motion to name Cordery as the village’s fire chief She said that despite the bad blood in the past she believes that he is the best for the job and wants to get past their problems Cordery said that he wants to get past his feud with Reasbeck and do what is best for the village “I’m incredibly honored to be appointed as the fire chief of our village,” Cordery said “This role isn’t just about leading a department and making sure every firefighter goes home safe after every call “I look forward to serving alongside every member of this department and leading each one of you with integrity and a relentless commitment to safety and excellence,” he added “Together we’ll keep raising the standard for what it means to serve the village.” Today's breaking news and more in your inbox WHEELING — The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan has | https://www.timesleaderonline.com | 200 S ExpandAn event featuring an Easter egg hunt and photos will the Easter bunny is on Saturday (Photo Provided By The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce) Families are invited to take photos with the Easter bunny and participate in an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 19 from 2 to 4:30 p.m in Yorkville The fifth annual event is being held in the Junior Women’s Club Park in Heartland Circle also known as ‘Rocketship Park,’ 1267 Taus Circle The event is hosted by the Bakka Realty Team and the Yorkville Junior Women’s Club Participants can also join in the music dancing Attendees are encouraged to bring one or more toiletry item donations for the Kendall County Food Pantry To RSVP for the event, sign up on The Bakka Team business page or email at rosemarie@bakkateam.com. 2025 at 9:41 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mark A of the 2000 block of Village View Drive in Yorkville is charged with solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire (Kendall County Sheriff's Office)YORKVILLE IL — A Yorkville man is in custody after police discovered his murder-for-hire plot against his ex-wife was arrested April 10 and charged with solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire Yorkville police learned a day earlier that he had arranged with someone to have his former wife killed Officers found the victim and arranged for her safety until the situation was resolved Officials said Hellenthal provided the person he'd hired with information about his ex-wife including her address and how to gain access to her home with authorization to record communications with Hellenthal an undercover police officer posed as a hitman and spoke to Hellenthal who provided details on how to access his ex-wife's residence and offered U.S currency and jewelry as payment for the murder with assistance from the Downers Grove Police Department found Hellenthal at his workplace and took him into custody The Kendall County Cooperative Police Assistance Team helped in the investigation Hellenthal was taken to the Kendall County jail where he remained in custody Friday pending a detention hearing Friday Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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ExpandSeveral parcels of Yorkville have been rezoned from agricultural and residential to industrial manufacturing to permit data center developments Project Cardinal will be a 1,037 acre data center campus Project Steel would be a nearby 540 acre data center campus The CyrusOne data center project has already been approved by city officials The horizon of a town’s future often comes down to parcels of different colors coded onto a map With an influx of industrial projects on the horizon, Yorkville is holding public hearings to discuss the Comprehensive Plan changes to accommodate some of them The current Comprehensive Plan the city seeks to amend was approved in 2016 The plan contains zoning for the town’s properties and color codes the future land use designations that help guide future decision making “It is important to make these changes to ensure the plan is consistent with the approved use or current built environment and is not interpreted incorrectly within the planning horizon,” according to city documents The development projects inspiring the amendments have already been approved and rezoned by the City Council Amending the Comprehensive Plan makes the decisions congruent with the direction of the types of development the city desires to maintain or pursue “The Comprehensive Plan land use map is a guide to future development and zoning decisions but it is also meant to be adjusted when circumstances warrant a change in planning direction in a given area of the city,” according to city documents The public hearings will be held at the Economic Development Committee meeting at 6 p.m. May 6, and at the Planning and Zoning Commission at 7 p.m. May 14. Both hearings are at City Hall. A final approval vote is scheduled for the June 10 City Council meeting. ExpandA medical emergency at Yorkville Middle School resulted in a temporary 'hold' with students ordered to remain in classrooms Students were placed in “a hold” and directed to stay in their classrooms at Yorkville Middle School Thursday as an emergency response team attended to a medical emergency in the school. The hold was deemed necessary to allow the medical responders quick access to the individual and free use of the school’s hallways, according to a memo sent to parents by Yorkville Middle School Principal Bryan Buck. All the school’s students, teachers and employees remained in their classrooms until the hold was lifted. Buck said at no point were any of the students in danger. Yorkville Middle School currently is home for the district’s seventh and eight grade students. Once the hold was lifted, students were able to continue on with their regular schedules. ExpandFILE – Heavy winds damaged several mature trees in the Yorkville area following a storm last year trees are destroyed on the campus of Waubonsee Community College just outside of Yorkville The same storm resulted in large clean-up efforts throughout Yorkville and the surrounding area Sometimes rebounding after a damaging storm takes an act of resilience even if the future starts with 2-inch saplings Following the havoc of hard-hitting storms, Yorkville plans on investing $50,000 to replant trees along the parkways on the north side of town Public Works Director Eric Dhuse said the replanting program is about establishing a legacy that will benefit the town for decades to come “We’ve had to remove several mature trees over the years due to heavy storm damage and natural die off,” Dhuse said “Mayor [John] Purcell wanted us to replant the parkways and help make the whole area more beautiful We’re trying to spruce the area up a little bit We are planting around 120 saplings this spring in the parkways throughout town.” Planting trees increases residents’ quality of life and help serves the community by cleaning the air capturing rainwater and preventing run-off the city would encourage residents to purchase their own trees and then city workers would plant the tree Dhuse said this program differs because these 120 trees are completely paid for by the city as part of the tree replacement program but we also wanted to keep some variety as well with some non-native species,” Dhuse said “Each species was selected because it performs well in parkway environments.” The town’s parks department previously partnered with local students to plant several native trees along the downtown riverbank. Dhuse said after his three decades in the town’s public works department, it’s funny to think the future starts with 2-inch saplings that will take several years to mature. “It feels great; it’s a wonderful feeling planting them,” Dhuse said. “Planting trees and maintaining them will really benefit our parkways.” who will advise on investments and financial products for Truth.fi has a prior relationship with Trump Media and beat out SEC allegations of falsifying investment results in 2018 will guide Trump Media’s new financial services venture in decisions regarding its “America-First” investment strategies which will range from domestic energy stocks to cryptocurrency The firm, headed by Mark Angelo, was tapped this week by Trump Media as the RIA for a new financial services offering from its social media platform Truth Social the investment manager’s affiliate will focus on guiding investments and financial products for the new Truth.fi into “American Growth” categories such as manufacturing energy and other areas that will “strengthen the Patriot economy.” According to a January 2025 ADV Form filing Yorkville had $323.1 million in assets under management The team of 20 people was founded in 2001 and has invested in 705 companies in over 22 countries The advisory has a recent history with Trump Media. According to a July SEC filing one of its Cayman-based affiliates worked with Trump Media to sell up to $2.5 billion of stock to the Yorkville affiliate at a discount to raise cash Yorkville also had a run-in with the SEC in 2012 that was later dismissed by a federal judge the SEC filed a civil suit against the firm and then-Chief Financial Officer Edward Schinik alleging that they intentionally overvalued assets under management and exaggerated returns to hide losses and boost fee collection The regulator alleged that the practice led to pension funds and funds of funds sending the firm more than $280 million in investments which allowed Yorkville to charge them $10 million in fees District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the core claims made by the SEC The judge overseeing the case wrote in the ruling that there was “no material evidence of fraud or negligence.” Later that year the SEC announced that the judge approved a joint agreement to dismiss all claims Yorkville Advisors did not immediately respond to a request to be interviewed about its new role with Trump Media or the SEC case former CFO Schinik is no longer at the firm Trump Media’s push into financial services with Truth.fi made national headlines this week as the president marks his first weeks in office The firm’s board approved $250 million in investments to start the venture which is slated to go live in 2025 after regulatory approvals Charles Schwab will be the custodian for Truth.fi which will allocate funds to separately managed accounts cryptocurrencies and crypto-related securities in addition to “traditional investments.” Alex Ortolani is a New York-based senior reporter with WealthManagement.com with a focus on deals moves and trends in the registered investment advisor space In addition to financial and business reporting he has worked in media relations and corporate communications for tech firms and Fortune 500 companies RIA Edge 100: Growing Rapidly but Responsibly What truly sets peak performing retirement plans apart Tech Stacks & Growth Strategies for Future-Ready Advisory Firms Ask the Experts: Grow Your Practice with Philanthropy: Comparing DAFs and Private Foundations See how advisors are combining active and passive strategies for optimal portfolio results Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199 ExpandThe Yorkville Police Department is warning residents of a scam involving a person posing as a county sheriff's sergeant to demand payments Following reports by several community members who received suspicious calls from someone claiming to be with the county sheriff and demanding money for missing jury duty, the Yorkville Police Department issued a memo warning of the scam. During the fraudulent phone calls, a scammer is telling people that he is a sergeant with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and that the community member must make payments via PayPal for missing jury duty, according to the police memo. “This is a scam. No law enforcement agency will use PayPal or any other non-traditional forms of payment to resolve criminal matters,” the Yorkville Police Department said in the memo. When receiving a phone call that you think is suspicious or fraudulent, the police department recommends calling their nonemergency number at 630-553-4340 to speak with a patrol officer. A meeting in Yorkville on Friday evening discussing the disciplinary actions against a village employee left few answers and many questions Ohio — A meeting in Yorkville on Friday evening discussing the disciplinary actions against a village employee left few answers and many questions village street and sanitation supervisor and fire chief Jesse Cordery was informed by Mayor Sandy Reasbeck that he was being terminated from his position village council met to see what course of action they would take against Cordery "We met tonight just kind of to discuss,” Council President Doug Delvecchio said and we were able to get one side of the story tonight." The meeting goes back to an incident between Cordery and Reasbeck she wanted to talk to me the following day about a 1-on-1 meeting,” Cordery said “I refused to do the 1-on-1 meeting with her because of her numerous lies on me in the past and numerous times threatening my job." The community showed up largely in support of Cordery's employment with some calling for the mayor to be recalled from her position Witnesses say Cordery was approached out-of-the blue and that this kind of incident is not abnormal "We were just standing outside off the clock and she comes over,” Yorkville firefighter Chance Mellinger said “She had waited in her vehicle for us to come up here she is making it her goal to break this department apart meaning that a vote could not be held because the mayor and council members all have to vote to approve a termination came just from the mayor,” Delvecchio said but then she needs council's approval for the termination to stand So why does the termination still stand then since there was no vote on behalf of the four council people It's standing right now because we only have one side of the story and an official vote could not be cast tonight." Delvecchio did say he has had conversations with the mayor regarding the incident and termination The next meeting where the disciplinary action will be discussed is Tuesday at the village building ExpandShaw Local file photo - The Kendall County Coroner’s Office will host a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday in Yorkville The Kendall County Coroner’s Office will host a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday in Yorkville at the Kendall County Government Campus in front of the Richard A this site will also accept used or unused medical sharps for destruction as well as unexpired diabetic supplies and medications for donation to Insulin For Life IFL is a nonprofit that sends donated supplies to help patients in over 74 developing nations Drop offs will be collected in a drive-thru area and no information is collected from participants anonymous and quick method of disposing of expired For more information about county take back events, go to takeback.kendallcoroner.org. The Coroner’s Office can also be reached at at 630-553-4200 or takeback@kendallcoroner.org with any questions. YORKVILLE — It was standing room only Tuesday as Yorkville Village Council unanimously voted to ask Mayor Sandy Reasbeck to resign Council member Sarah Jokovich made the motion “I want it on record that I have lost all faith and she is not concerned about her public seat,” Jokovich said Reasbeck rejected the request and informed council that she will not be stepping down The room was filled with residents who came to the special meeting to voice their support for Street and Sanitation Supervisor Jesse Cordery a Change.Org petition was created by Dawn Lampasone and an in-person petition was created by Cordery’s fiance Krista Woodland Both petitions and the large crowd that gathered to support him said that Cordery was fired unjustly Reasbeck fired Cordery without council’s approval According to both the council and residents in attendance of Yorkville it’s no secret that Cordery and Reasbeck do not get along both of them have said they don’t trust each other to be in a one-on-one meeting together and have both asked for a witness to be in attendance each time they have met Reasbeck apparently informed Cordery they would be having a one-on-one meeting Reasbeck terminated Cordery’s employment Council members and residents both questioned Reasbeck’s motive for wanting to meet with Cordery one-on-one due to it being common knowledge that neither feels comfortable having a one-on-one meeting Reasbeck said the reason for the meeting was for her to reprimand him “The reason I wanted to see him that day was because we do paydays on Thursdays so the checks are put in the administrator’s door with their W-2 to be passed out on Thursday He took the checks out and passed those checks out He went into his boss’s desk and took the checks out of that desk and passed them out,” Reasbeck alleged “That was why I wanted to see him on Thursday to tell him he had no authorization whatsoever to do that.” Council member Doug Delvecchio then asked Reasbeck if Cordery had been authorized to go into that office and take the checks to hand out Delvecchio then informed her that Cordery told him that he has been told to hand out the checks regularly He added that he has tried for months to be a mediator for Reasbeck and Cordery “I’ve said early in 2024 I told him because this hostility doesn’t work in any environment it doesn’t work for any place,” Delvecchio said At that point the residents in attendance broke into various outbursts calling for the reinstatement of Cordery and the resignation of Reasbeck Jokovich added that several village employees have recently quit I know after we have a meeting when these employees are going to have a bad day the next day It’s been a pattern,” Delvecchio said “When a meeting doesn’t go your way He then asked her if she recalled what she told him regarding what would happen if council were to reinstate Cordery Delvecchio then announced that she told him that if council reinstated Cordery The other council members and the attendees asserted that Reasbeck has a tendency to retaliate if an employee does something that she doesn’t like Reasbeck said she does not feel safe around Cordery alleging that he has made threatening posts about her on social media she filed for a restraining order against Cordery Cordery immediately left the municipal building where the meeting was being held in an effort to avoid any legal issues The calls for Reasbeck to resign became even louder once attendees became aware of the restraining order which led to Yorkville’s new Law Director Thomas Ryncarz and Delvecchio attempting to brainstorm a solution council voted unanimously to reinstate Cordery as the village’s street and sanitation supervisor The crowd cheered as Cordery was reinstated and some attendees still yelled for Reasbeck to resign who had gone to the fire station next door and I’m thankful for the residents for showing up in my support,” he said “It’s a little bit of a stress relief because I still need to take care of my family.” Although the two petitions were started in response to Cordery being fired both petitions seeking to remove Resbeck are still circulating Lampasone’s Change.Org petition states: “I am a resident of Yorkville and I’m deeply concerned about the state of our village It’s disheartening to see our once vibrant community spiraling downwards under the current leadership The absence of police presence is particularly alarming and it’s directly linked to decisions made by our mayor.” Although Lampasone’s petition is online Woodland’s petition is an in-person petition that she brought to the meeting on Tuesday evening Yorkville residents took to social media to vent about the situation with one resident “It takes a long process to remove the official.” She added that she believes it would take the remainder of Reasbeck’s term to remove her from office Lampasone said she created her petition because she believes the way Reasbeck treats village employees is unacceptable “These actions from the mayor are not only harming the community’s trust in local leadership but many of us feel that our voices are not being heard,” Lampasone said “The mayor is acting in self-interest rather than in the best interest of the village.” ExpandFILE – The Yorkville Police Department is recommending implementing parking restrictions outside of Grande Reserve Elementary school to improve safety conditions especially during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup periods (Steven Buyansky/Steven Buyansky for Shaw Local N) Yorkville city officials are set to take a final vote on parking restrictions outside of Grande Reserve Elementary School following a public hearing this week The restrictions are designed to mitigate safety concerns raised by teachers and parents of traffic backing up along the street with schoolchildren darting between cars. The Yorkville Police Department recommended parking restrictions following an analysis by the department’s traffic division. The city council will vote on approval of the parking regulations at its meeting on April 22. The police department’s study found that during peak traffic flow school hours, parking from the school property spills onto both sides of Grande Trail, creating unsafe conditions and traffic problems. It also determined that the width of the roadway cannot accommodate vehicles parked on both sides while maintaining a safe and normal traffic flow, according to city documents. To improve safety, police proposed time-restricted limited parking along Grande Trail during designated times on school days, focusing on high-traffic periods, including morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. The department’s proposal includes limiting parking to one side of Grande Trail, the side opposite the school, between Matlock Drive and McLellan Boulevard. The parking restrictions would be in place on school days only, during peak traffic times from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Prior to the public hearing, a letter was sent by the city to affected residents living in the area. The parking restrictions require a majority vote for city approval. ExpandYorkville resident Becky Lenski said she was inspired with a love for Wheel of Fortune from her parents who watched it every evening before dinner Lenski helped instill the same passion within her own two children Read the transcript from our podcast: Becky Lenski a Yorkville mother who recently won big on Wheel of Fortune spoke with Shaw Local reporter Joey Weslo about her experience on the show Like what you hear? You can also download our podcast on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify. ExpandFILE – The Yorkville Public Library at 902 Game Farm Road will be hosting a series of special events and recurring groups all throughout May. (Shaw Local News Network) Helping You Navigate Medicare: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. Drop in to speak with Cindy Fields, a local Medicare expert, to discuss the ins and outs of Medicare and help seniors understand their coverage and the options they have for 2025 and beyond. English Language Learners Classes: Mondays through Saturdays. Free conversation-based classes to help people who are new to the community learn English. Chair Yoga: 10:15 a.m. Thursdays. No class on May 15. Held in the Michelle Pfister Meeting Room, Chair Yoga helps to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve balance, and increase strength and flexibility. Chair yoga benefits adults of all ages and levels of yoga experience. Space is limited. and registration is required. Dungeons & Dragons Group: 4 p.m. Thursdays. Local gaming enthusiasts are coaching new gamers to create camaraderie and a sense of community through tabletop gaming. Meetings are every Thursday evening for 18 and older. Roaming Readers Walking Club: 9 a.m. Fridays, May 2 and 16. Meet at Hoover Forest Preserve, 11285 W. Fox Road, Yorkville, for a walk and to talk about books. Park and meet in the first lot, the one closest to Fox Road, and walk from there. Registration required. Weather permitting. Threads & More: 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 6/ Do you crochet, knit, needlepoint, sew, or quilt? If so, get together with fellow “threaders” for a creativity blast! Come work on your unfinished projects, show off finished projects, and check out what other people are doing. “Threads & More” group is an informal friendly group that welcomes all interests and abilities. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month. This program is for adults 18 and older. No registration is required. Meditation + Mindful Movement: 1 p.m. Tuesdays. Join Cristen Grajeda from Balanced Bluebird Healing for this simple and gentle session to relax, release tension and support self-healing. Learning to Decorate Like it’s a Piece of Cake: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 7. Learn to decorate beautiful cookies, cakes, and cupcakes with Bethany, a certified decorating instructor. Dabblers: Adult Painting Class for Beginners: 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. Learn to paint with Carolyn Kyle. In our fun new art series, learn the basics of painting - each month focusing on different techniques, mediums, or styles. From basic brushstrokes to matting and framing your masterpieces, come check it out and dabble a bit with Carolyn. Lunch Bunch Book Club: 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. The Lunch Bunch is one of the library’s longest running and most engaging book clubs. Past books have included mysteries, historical fiction, biographies and memoirs, romance and best-sellers. Bring your lunch and join the Lunch Bunchers for a lively discussion about great books. Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at noon in the library’s board room. Men’s Book Club: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15. The Men’s Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month for a lively, thought-provoking discussion with people from your community. No registration is required, and newcomers are always welcome. Healthy Cooking with Jess: 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 19. A monthly series on nutrition and wellness after retirement and beyond. Learn to care for yourself in your newfound time. We’ll talk about nutritionally dense foods, what foods that can help you feel your best, food energetics and how to add joyful movement to your everyday life. Certified Holistic Health Coach Jess Stewart will demonstrate how easy and simple cooking healthy can be. Psychological Thriller Book Club: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21. Join a brand-new book club focused on psychological thrillers, mysteries, and suspenseful stories. If you love those gripping tales that leave you on the edge of your seat, trying to figure out whodunnit or how your hero/heroine is going to get themselves out of this jam, then this might be the book club for you. The club will meet the third Wednesday of each month to discuss a different book. Horror Book Club: Meeting date to be determined. Fans of the spooky, the scary, the creepy, and the eerie should join the library for its brand-new Horror Book Club. It will meet on the fourth Monday of each month to discuss a new book each month. Adult Creative Writing Group: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27. Whether you are looking to write the next great thriller, your biography, a short story or even develop your professional writing skills, this program may be for you. This group is for all people who are passionate about words. Its intent is to create a positive, encouraging, honest, and fun atmosphere that will support and motivate each person to achieve excellence in writing. Meetings are held on fourth Tuesday of the month. Art for Everyone: 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 28. Art for Everyone is an accessible painting class designed for adults and teens with physical or cognitive differences. Instructors want to collaborate to create art in an accepting, modification-friendly space. YPL Puzzle Swap and YPL Board Game Swap: Do you have puzzles, board games, dice games or card games you’re done with? Are you craving a new one? Stop by the Yorkville Public Library and swap a few of your gently used puzzles for some of theirs. Prologis one of two firms targeting Chicago Two large data center campuses are being proposed outside Chicago One project would see 14 buildings totaling 1.8GW developed in the Kendall County city of Yorkville real estate giant Prologis is looking to develop a 24-building campus in the city close to a recently approved CyrusOne campus As reported by WSPY News and Shaw Local an application for a 1,000-acre campus known as Project Cardinal is being submitted in the Yorkville area of Kendall County According to Yorkville documents LLC is aiming to develop 14 two-story data center buildings totaling 17 million sq ft (1.57 million sqm) and 1.8GW alongside two on-site substations and a switchyard The property is located northwest of Route 47 and Galena Road The property is owned by Galena & 47th and The Konicek Family Limited Partnership special use authorization for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and preliminary PUD plan approval for approximately 1,037 acres of vacant land across 20 parcels The proposal aims to rezone the parcels from R-1 Single-Family Suburban Residence District R-2 Single-Family Traditional Residence District R-3 Multi-Family Attached Residence District and B-3 General Business District to M-2 General Manufacturing District to allow for a data center campus Each phase of the project is expected to include one building and each building phase is expected to become operational within 24 months of groundbreaking The first building is slated for operation in 2029 Eleven data centers are set to total approximately 1.9 million sq ft (176,515 sqm) and 144MW each with three others totaling approximately 940,000 sq ft (87,330 sqm) and 73MW each The proposal is set to go before the planning commission in June and the city council in July The public hearing for the annexation is to go before the city council in May It’s not clear which company is behind the project. In Yorkville documents Wyoming is listed as the person behind Pioneer Development Yorkville is a city within the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Kendall County, located west of Chicago. Data center operator CyrusOne was recently given the green light by Yorkville’s city council for a 230-acre campus at Eldamain and Faxon roads The project could see up to nine two-story facilities developed Google also has a campus known as Project Cardinal in the works outside Charlotte The city of Yorkville’s projects page also lists another data center project in the works from logistics real estate giant Prologis Project Steel would see the development of a 540-acre campus with 24 two-story data center buildings totaling more than 9 million square feet (836,125 sqm) Each data center would total 400,000 square feet (37,160 sqm) Construction on the first phase is anticipated to begin during the summer of 2027 The site would be fully developed in three phases over the course of 20 years The currently undeveloped site – located between Galena Road and Corneils Road – is owned by the Rosenwinkel Family Trust The site is generally used for seasonal farming The applicants are filing to rezone the parcels from R-1 Single-Family Suburban Residence District to M-2 General Manufacturing District to allow for data center development Real estate investment trust Prologis has traditionally focused on developing logistics and industrial warehouses but has a growing interest in data centers The company currently has 1.4GW of secured power for data centers in its pipeline, with another 1.6GW "in the advanced stages of procurement," according to a January 2025 update It could build out as much as 10GW over the next 10 years The company previously converted a warehouse site in the Elk Grove area of Chicago into a data center in partnership with Skybox. The property was recently sold to HMC Capital Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Expand(file photo) The Yorkville Public Library's adult services developed the 'Roaming Readers Walking Club' as a way for people to engage with other members of the community through their mutual love of literature and nature The group meets twice a month at the Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville to discuss their favorite books Flipping through pages of a book can often feel like treading new paths Hitting the trails, the members of the Roaming Readers Walking Club take their love of literature into the woods. The Yorkville Public Library group gathers twice a month at Hoover Forest Preserve to discuss their favorite authors and the books that have been recently enlightening them the first and third Friday of the month at the forest preserve’s gravel parking lot closest to Fox Road For perennial member and retired high school English teacher the meetings are an opportunity to develop friendships while soaking up the beauty of nature and expanding literary tastes “This is a chance to socialize and talk books We talk about things people are reading and make recommendations We all have certain tastes and favorite authors and I get interested hearing about things I normally wouldn’t have read.” Instead of a traditional book club with set reading lists members of the roaming club are encouraged to explore and share about their own niches to help broaden the literary experiences of everyone in the group Murphy said Hoover Forest Preserve is an enchanting place to explore one’s curiosities about literature and the natural world “We walk down to the river; it’s very beautiful,” Murphy said “Everything is accessible for people around my age It’s peaceful when the leaves are falling and you get that crunch in them.” said the roaming club has been one of the groups he has been most excited about promoting because of the uniqueness it offers for the community “There’s a number of books I’ve picked up that I never would have before,” Curtis said “Literature is all about putting yourself in a different perspective Maybe the author is from a different time period has a different political perspective or a different religion When you share what you have learned from the book it also says a lot about who you are as a person It’s an exciting way to get to know other people.” The library archives each recommended book the group discusses on their website Curtis said when everyone is walking and engaged intellectually the conversations naturally flow in a unique and stimulating way “There’s all the research that says being in touch with nature is a huge part of our physical and mental health,” Curtis said we encourage different types of perspectives to broaden our community Challenging people provides a mental stimulation that goes along with the hike as well.” You can learn more about the group, including viewing past reading recommendations, by visiting yorkville.lib.il.us/roaming-readers-walking-book-club/ or by calling 630-553-4354. Wheel of Fortune winner from Yorkville (John Sahly) What is it like to win on Wheel of Fortune? Becky Lenski ExpandAlong the Eldamain Road and Route 34 corridor in Yorkville seven data center projects stretch across 1,011 acres down this new manufacturing highway the 'data center alley.' (Photo Provided By The City of Yorkville) A stretch of property along the Eldamain Road and Route 34 corridor has seen the Yorkville City Council approve seven data center projects across 1,011 acres The city council is set to vote on another 53.7 acres of farmland for demolition and development at their upcoming April 8 meeting and south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad The rezoning request comes from familiar faces, the Daniels Malinski Yorkville Family, LLP, who already received city approval for annexation and rezoning for data center use of 267 acres at the ‘Daniels (South)’ site west of Beecher Road and Kendall Marketplace City council must approve rezoning the property to manufacturing from its current agricultural and residential zoning The site plan includes a minimum 100-foot landscaped buffer with an eight foot tall berm due to the proximity to the future residential development of Whispering Meadows The developers have also agreed to a minimum 100-foot buffer along the site’s eastern and southern boundaries The plan also contains a 400-foot setback from any of its buildings to the nearest homes in the neighboring residential subdivisions Throughout the year, several residents have voiced opposition to data center developments near their residential areas telling city council they would rather move away from Yorkville than live next to data center buildings City council increased the setbacks of data center buildings in proximity to residential areas but moved forward despite resident opposition The city is seeking a maximum 60-foot building height if located within 1,500 feet of a residential area The developers are requesting the city to permit a 70-foot height maximum Along Yorkville’s data center alley, previously approved projects include the CyrusOne data center campus which will feature nine massive data center buildings on 228 acres at the northeast corner of Faxon Road and Eldamain Road The campus will be developed over 10-20 years with each building expected to generate about $1 million in tax revenue for the city when completed The area also includes the Kelaka and Hagemann Annexation project which involved rezoning 286 total acres to manufacturing to allow future data center developments the city approved 50 acre site for Green Door approved a 138 acres site or Hagemann and Green Door and approved another 154 acre site for Kelaka and Green Door To cap it all off, a few miles from the CyrusOne data center development, Yorkville is considering the city’s largest-ever proposals Project Cardinal would house 14 warehouse buildings and two electrical substations located at the northwest corner of Galena Road and Bridge Street Project Steel would feature 24 data center warehouses located at the southeast corner of Galena Road and Eldamain Road The projects are so massive, the city is approving a sound pollution study to try to mitigate the negative affects on neighboring residential areas. City administrator Bart Olson previously said the city has 3,000 acres currently slated for data center development with more than 100 new large data center warehouses to be built over the next few decades. Expand(file photo) Yorkville city council voted to reauthorize a 1% grocery sales tax The incoming Costco is expected to generate over $1 million in sales taxes annually for the city With droves of shoppers expected to flock to Yorkville’s incoming Costco the generated sales tax is projected to be a huge financial windfall for the city While authorizing a local sales tax to replace the long-established state grocery sales tax that is expiring city officials posed an interesting question Could the generated sales tax help offset the significant increases residents will soon be seeing on their water bills The City Council unanimously reauthorized a local 1% grocery tax at their April 22 meeting This is the same rate that the state has long charged before deciding to eliminate the tax Yorkville currently collects about $300,000 in sales taxes annually, which it incorporates into its annual budgets for things like the their street paving programs However, Costco is expected to be a game-changer The grocery store warehouse is estimated to generate more than $1 million in sales taxes annually Alderman Daniel Transier asked whether the city could use the generated income to offset the town’s water debt service “I see this as a rare opportunity that we have not to take more money from our citizens if there’s a way to apply this tax to the water rate increases to minimize that impact,” Transier said Overall, water bills are expected to jump significantly for several years to help offset the costs of the $100 million Lake Michigan water sourcing project The city is expected to increase residents’ water rates by an average of 20% over the next five years the typical Yorkville household may be paying more than $100 a month for water City administrator Bart Olson said the city could definitely decide to dedicate portions of the sales tax revenue stream to offset the water bill increases with a future vote “My suggestion would be to first see the impact of Costco to see where its revenue comes in at,” Olson said during the meeting “We can look at our net revenue at that point and then figure out what we would like to do.” Olson previously said that reauthorization of the sales tax is a great way to provide stimulus to the city’s budget without making a large dent in the wallets of the town’s residents. This is because signifiant amounts of out-of-town shoppers are expected to spend their dollars at the Yorkville Costco location. In approving the 1% rate, the City Council chose the option to keep the current rate shoppers pay, rather than authorizing either a decrease or increase in the sales tax. Any future changes or reauthorization to the grocery sales tax will be subject to another City Council approval. ExpandThe Yorkville Knights of Columbus and the Yorkville American Legion are hosting a Lenten Fish Fry on every Friday during Lent volunteers from the Knights and Lady Knights of Columbus prepare more than 150 Thanksgiving meals for hungry and thankful seniors at the Beecher Center in Yorkville The Yorkville Knights of Columbus and the Yorkville American Legion are hosting a Lenten Fish Fry every Friday during Lent from 4 to 7 p.m. March 7 through April 18 at the American Legion Hall, 9054 E. Veterans Parkway, Yorkville. Each buffet is an all-you-can-eat event, featuring fried cod, baked cod, fried shrimp, chicken fingers, french fries, coleslaw, mixed vegetables, rolls and butter, said Jim Zbella, Grand Knight of the Yorkville Knights of Columbus. “Stop by for a delicious buffet and support your local veterans and Knights of Columbus,” Zbella said. Each meal costs $15 for ages 13 and older, $12 for ages 6 to 12, and ages 5 and younger eat for free. Carry-outs cost $16 a plate. The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Lady Knights are hosting bake sales at each event and each buffet will feature raffles, Zbella said.