Friday, July 11, 2025: Drought updates, river dredging progress, weekend events, a burglary report, and the Newton County Fair.

Drought concerns grow across the region Drought concerns are growing again across the area. The latest map just released today by the US Drought monitor puts about 19 percent of the county in "moderate drought". That number is unchanged from last week, but the other 81 percent of the county is now considered "abnormally dry", up from 64 percent last week. The latest map has six percent of Iroquois County rates as in "moderate drought" with the other 94 percent rated "abnormally dry". Today's map puts 34 percent of Ford County and 48 percent of Grundy County in the "moderate drought" category, with the rest of those counties rated "abnormally dry". More than half of Will County is considered to be in "severe drought".Across the state line, 27 percent of Newton County, 34 percent of Jasper County and 85 percent of Benton County falls into the moderate drought category, with the rest of those counties rated "abnormally dry". Today's map includes data gathered by the drought monitor through Tuesday of this week.  River dredging at Aroma Park almost finishedThe Kankakee County Board's Highways, Waterways and Buildings committee met today and among the topics of discussion was the removal of sediment from the Kankakee River at Aroma Park. County Transportation and Development Division Manager Ben Wilson pointed out that about 240 cubic yards of material from the river on a good day and they estimate there's only about 500 more cubic yards to be removed before the project at Aroma Park can wrap up.  What to do this weekend around Kankakee CountyThe weekend is upon us and there's plenty to do around the area. With a look at a few of the events, here's Nicole Gavin, Executive Director of Visit Kankakee CountyBlock party tonight in MantenThe first ever Main Street Block Party will be held from five til nine tonight in Manteno. Jakob Knox is the Village Director of Marketing and Community RelationsIt all gets underway tonight at five in downtown Manteno.  Kankakee storage units burglarizedMultiple storage units were burglarized 4th of July on Kankakee's North side. According to city police reports, officers were called to a storage unit business on North Entrance Avenue yesterday around noon in reference to a burglary. When officers arrived, an employee showed officers camera footage from July 4th around 11 in the evening of a man cutting a hole through a section of their fence with bolt cutters. Footage also showed the man breaking into around 4 storage units on the property and taking a few bags with him. It's not known at this time what items the man took with him. The investigation is ongoing.Family Fun Day Saturday at Kankakee Library The Kankakee Public Library will have their annual Family Fun Day tomorrow in the Executive Center Parking lot from nine to noon. Assistant Supervisor of Youth Services, Corine Rose, says the free event is open to the whole communityRose says if there is bad weather tomorrow, all activities will be moved inside the library.  You can contact the Kankakee Public Library’s Youth Services Department if you have any questions. Newton County Fair ContinuesThe Newton County Punkin Vine Fair continues today. Fair Publicity Director Corey Groover has a rundown of some of today’s events, The fair ends tomorrow at the fairgrounds just outside Kentland. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text!Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)The voices you trust, beyond the dial.