Kankakee Daily Journal - Shaw Local

The Daily Journal has dedicated its May 14 edition to those everyday people who uplift, inspire and lead by example in their communities, workplaces and families.

Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School will be adjusting materials and reducing some features from its facilities project after construction bids came in about $16 million over budget.

Kankakee cross country coach Rich Olmstead and soccer coach Vincent Mkhwanazi, though not originally from the Kankakee area, have seen the community they love and now call home come together in an inspiring way following March's devastating tornado.

A bar owner who opened her doors during a tornado. A veteran turned trauma therapist. A paraeducator who said she’d never leave her kids. Meet the Kankakee Daily Journal’s 2026 Everyday Heroes, nominated by our readers

A group of Kankakee County military veterans, mainly Marines, continue their call for service well into retirement years.

When people need a police officer, firefighter or animal control officer, a calm voice often is what callers need to hear.

In the minds of the Kankakee Public Works crew, they only did what needed to be done and that was helping a neighbor in need.

In the days following the March 10 tornado in Kankakee County, the Grace Christian Academy teacher discovered she was capable of more than she knew; that teacher was Christine Johnson.

Whether it is doing his job as a lieutenant with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, or as a coach of a traveling baseball team, Russell Belcher is well versed in team work.

The Aroma Park Fire Protection District was put to test after the March 10 tornado that tore through the small Kankakee County community, as this storm hit so close to home for them and their families. Yet the department of 25 personnel, including both part-time and paid on-call.

The Kankakee girls 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams, both qualified for state at the IHSA Class 3A Bloom Sectional on Wednesday, as did Trinity Noble in the 100 meters, Essence Bell in the 200 meters and Pyper Krieger in the discus.

Milford/Cissna Park's Addison Lucht won three events and qualified for state in a fourth, Clifton Central advanced a plehtora of athletes and Bishop McNamara swept the spring relays at the Class 1A Salt Fork Sectional. That and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

One of two seniors recognized pregame alongside Evi McIntyre, Bradley-Bourbonnais' Lydia Hammond hit a three-run home run and was brilliant in the circle as the Boilermakers blanked Sandburg in Thursday's senior night and SWSC finale.

Local police departments in Bourbonnais, Kankakee and Manteno will be taking to the rooftops of area Dunkin' locations to raise funds for Special Olympics Illinois and the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics bright and early this Friday.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes there is one way to make a connection.

A 48-year-old St. Anne man died when his motorcycle collided with a SUV on Illinois Route 1 at 4000 South Road Tuesday.

The Kankakee County Museum will host the 36th annual Rhubarb Festival on Sunday, May 17.

County Board honors longtime Board member Pat Polk.

Herscher's Gianna High tied the girls soccer IHSA single-game record with seven assists in a 9-0 Tigers win, Bishop McNamara's softball team defeated ranked Class 3A Providence Catholic with an 11-4 win and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

After the Tigers took an early 5-1 lead, host Manteno saw Maddy Delya lock in on the rubber and also deliver the go-ahead two-run double in the Panthers' 10-8 win in Tuesday's Illinois Central Eight Conference finale.

Coal City senior Masyn Kuder threw a shutout in the final Illinois Central Eight Conference softball game of her career Tuesday, leading the visiting Coalers to a 3-0 win over Reed-Custer.

The Kankakee Kiwanis Club recently awarded five $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors in the Kankakee area at a luncheon at the Quality Inn.

Ronnie Wilcox, the athletic director at Kankakee for 11 years after eight years as the boys basketball coach, is taking a co-athletic director job at Lake Forest.

Riverside Healthcare announced a $15,000 donation to the Storm to Strength Initiative, which provides emergency assistance and long-term recovery support to survivors.

A fire at a residence in the 500 block of Turnberry Lane caused an estimated $250,000 damage Monday.

An ability-inclusive playground is in progress at Grace Christian Academy, inspired by the story of Kankakee 3-year-old Bedford Erickson, who lives with Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome.

The Boilermakers opened postseason play with their best offensive output of the season, Kankakee girls soccer ended conference play undefeated and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

Junior outfielder Dylan Bayston had three RBIs and saved a pair of runs with a diving catch to end the sixth inning while Tanner Jones was an out away from a complete game as Herscher doubled up ICE rival Manteno 6-3 at home Monday.

Clifton Central's baseball team extended its winning streak to eight with an 8-4 road win over Kankakee Monday, putting together a hot start and withstanding a late rally from Kankakee that saw the tying run come to the plate in the seventh.

Bourbonnais officials are taking time to look into the future growth of the village.

2026 Daily Journal Graduate Section

Meet this week's Daily Journal Athlete of the Week, Herscher junior baseball player Gaige Brown.

The Kankakee City Council is making a substantial investment in the repair of its streets.

The Kankakee Valley Theatre Association will host comedian Pat Tomasulo at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at the Lincoln Cultural Center as part of a fundraiser benefitting the theater group.

Thirty-five Kankakee Community College students were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in April 2026.

A new mother in Aroma Township believed for a moment she would not be able to celebrate Mother's Day with her long-awaited baby girl as the March 10 tornado unleashed upon their home.

Ryan Kettman's go-ahead triple helped Wilmington to a win in extra innings, Preston Payne allowed a hit in four scoreless innings for Bishop McNamara and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek wonders what length of warning is necessary to protect people regarding seemingly things which seem rather basic.

A list of recent births at Riverside Medical Center.

The Village of Manteno is working with owners of properties with uncut lawns to get them mowed.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais boys track and field team broke school records in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays in a solid outing at the Oswego East Invite, Peotone's Sophie Klawitter struck out 18 batters in a no-hitter against Watseka and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

Andrew Kubal pitched a stout six innings and smoked a two-run triple and fellow senior Eric Rainbolt drove in three runs, including a solo homer, and pitched the final inning in Bradley-Bourbonnais' 5-2 senior day win over Stagg Friday.

Behind a three-RBI day from Camryn Stecken and strong pitching from Tessa Krull and Hayden Pfeifer, Seneca's softball team downed Manteno 11-1 Friday in a matchup between ICA-ranked Class 2A teams gearing up for playoff action.

The person accused in the Tuesday shooting in Kankakee that left one man dead and the other with a non-life-threatening injury was ordered detained by a Kankakee County Circuit judge.

The start of Thursday's All-City softball game between Bradley-Bourbonnais and Bishop McNamara had a special guest. Kyler Medina, 2, of Bradley, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The schools made Thursday's game a fundraiser for Medina, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Organizer Aubrey Schuh leads the 4th Annual "The Ride" on May 30, bringing together hundreds of motorcyclists and community members to raise $20,000 for Project Headspace and Timing, a nonprofit supporting veteran mental health.

The Kankakee County Museum’s beloved annual Rhubarb Festival — now in its 36th year — combines live music, local vendors, seasonal food, and historic tours into a single day of community celebration that supports the museum’s preservation efforts.

Coal City's boys track team took first place at the Illinois Central Eight Conference Meet on Thursday, the Coaler girls took second, Wilmington's McKenna Van Tilburg and Manteno's Klarke Goranson each won four individual ICE titles and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

Joslynn Dole and Emma Thyfault homered and Gabby Burnett hit a three-run double for a five-run second inning that was more than enough for Dole in the circle as Bishop McNamara topped Bradley-Bourbonnais on Thursday for its first All-City title since 2019.

The Kankakee softball team downed Thornridge 11-0 Thursday for its fifth win in a row, scoring all 11 runs in the first inning behind a pair of RBI hits from Kaleah Jackson and inside-the-park home run from LaMaryah Smith, her third in two days.