The Herald News

Romeoville approved a $16,000 contract with Hitchcock Design Group for design work along the Route 53 corridor.

The tornado that ripped through Will County on in 1990 was one of the worst storms to hit Illinois. The twister cut a path through several communities, killing 29 and injuring more than 300. All this week, we'll look back at this devastating event.

Logan Hearn, 9, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his 2-year-old brother Thursday night after the toddler fell into a pool and was found unconscious by his family. As Brendan lay unresponsive, Logan approached his mother and said he would take over. "I just said, 'Move,'" Logan said. "He kind of pushed me aside a little, and just did it," Tabitha said.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after reportedly trying to escape police in a stolen car Friday.

Peter Jenko and his workers have been carefully taking apart "The Duchess," the Rialto chandelier believed to be among the largest crystal chandeliers in the world, and learning a bit more each day about the craftsmanship and artistry behind it. Jenko will share what he knows about The Duchess on Tuesday, when even Rialto Square Theatre regulars will get a unique view of the chandelier.

The Will County Sheriff's Department Fugitive Warrants Unit is seeking the following individuals.

Morris's stalled plans for a Sept. 11, 2001, memorial can now move forward due to action taken by the city council Monday night.

The Crest Hill City Council approved the intergovernmental agreement between Will County and the city to landscape the median at Weber and Renwick roads.

A 6-foot-high statue of Elvis Presley has a new home at Rich Harvest Farm. Keith Rich, son of Jerry Rich, founder of the Rich Harvest Farm and complex along Dugan Road, spent $20,500 this week to buy the life-size statue from a storage area auction of items belonging to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. An Arlington Heights storage company put items belonging to Blagojevich on sale because he did not pay his tab there. Keith Rich said he bought the statute for his mother, Betty.

A team of administrators and coaches is putting the finishing touches on a plan that could alter the minimum grade point average necessary for students to be eligible for co-curricular activities, including sports, at the middle and high school levels in Valley View School District.

Laraway School and Vulcan Materials will present a free health fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the school, 275 Laraway Road.

Two drivers were killed in two separate crashes involving semi trucks Thursday on Interstate 57.

The Jefferson Street bridge could open this afternoon. The bridge, which is a major entry point to downtown Joliet, has been shut down since July 27 for scheduled maintenance.

Police spent Thursday afternoon looking for a man who robbed a bank near the Louis Joliet Mall. Cmdr. Al Roechner said it was 1:25 p.m. when a clean-shaven white man in his 30s walked into First American Bank, 3205 Mall Loop Drive, and demanded cash.

When Jay Darley, 35, attended Forest Park Individual Education School as a kid, his principal was called Mr. D. So Darley thought it was only fitting that he'd take over the name — 25 years later — as the new principal at his old school. "I'm going to be the new Mr. D," he said to some parents and students during Joliet Grade School District's first day of school Thursday.

The Stepan Co. lockout of its union employees at the Millsdale plant has ended. "It's finally over," said Rich Gierut, Teamsters Local 179 president and business manager. "The pickets are down."

A judge Thursday found a Morris man guilty of beating to death his girlfriend's 2-year-old son, State's Attorney James Glasgow announced. Gilbert Knowles, 35, was found guilty by Circuit Judge Richard Schoenstedt on two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of Devin Owens on Sept. 17, 2007.

A Joliet man who brutally attacked his wife over two days last year while his three young children were in the home was sentenced to more than four years in prison Thursday.

The race for Joliet's 3rd District council seat started early when incumbent Anthony Uremovic announced his resignation this week. The seat, like those in all five council districts, is up for re-election on April 2. Potential candidates can start taking out petitions Sept. 21.

The Kendall County Board this week approved a severance agreement with its former director of the Planning, Building and Zoning Department, Jerry Dudgeon.