Mom Arrested for Leaving 3 Small Kids in Car

Jennifer Wirkus left her children, all under the age of 6, in a parking garage so she could attend a court hearing, Joliet police said.

A Crest Hill woman who left her three children, all under the age of 6, in an unlocked car while she attended a downtown Joliet court hearing has been charged by Joliet police with three counts of child endangerment. An attendant for the Ottawa Street Parking Deck, 110 N. Ottawa, discovered the situation at about 9:40 a.m. Friday when she noticed the children in the unlocked car and saw that the keys were in the ignition, Capt. Tab Jensen said. The oldest child, a 6-year-old boy, told police his mother, Jennifer N. Wirkus, 28, of 1701 Nicholson, was at a hearing at the Will County Courthouse, which is about two blocks away from the parking garage, Jensen. The children were taken into the police custody while Wirkus was tracked down at the …

•  27 Comments
• Photos (1)

The Business Beat

Hue Palace, Metro Grill Finish Remodeling

The two restaurants were closed in order to update their interiors, and Metro also expanded into a neighboring storefront.

Last week, we told you that the Subway restaurant located across the street from the Will County Courthouse was closed for remodeling. That location has reopened its doors as have two additional Joliet restaurants that had closed to remodel. Hue Palace, 2779 Black Road, reopened on March 15. They posted photos of the new space on its Facebook page. Those photos are included on this post. Patch reviewed the restaurant in June 2012. Just a couple miles away on Essington Road, the Metro Bar & Grill reopened on Saturday. "We actually remodeled the whole restaurant and expanded to the next storefront," Bobby Hartman, manager said. Watch Patch in the coming days for video on the new space and in the meantime, read about the meal Patch had on its…

• Photos (2)

Teen on Stolen Mini-Bike Crashes at Courthouse, Police Say

Joliet Cmdr. Rich Demick said the boy required stitches after the accident; the mini-bike he was riding had been reported stolen just a days earlier

A 15-year-old was arrested Tuesday after he crashed a stolen mini-bike in the parking lot of the Will County Courthouse, Joliet police said. According to reports, the teen was riding around the lot at about 4 p.m. when a minor accident caused him to fall from the bike and strike his head, Joliet Police Cmdr. Rich Demick said. Police later discovered that the bike had been reported stolen at about 8 p.m. Monday from a home in the 800 block of Wilcox, he said. The boy was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center, where he received stitches for his injury, Demick said. DON'T MISS THE LATEST JOLIET NEWS. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER FOR A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAKE, FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

• Photos (1)

Man on the Street: Will County Republican Rally

A number of Will County Republicans hosted a rally in front of the Will County Courthouse Monday to declare their independence from Cook County-style politics.

•  5 Comments
• Videos (1)

The Drew Peterson Trial: A Story in Videos

If you missed a video along the way, you can watch them by clicking on the link in this post.

The Peterson trial lasted for five weeks. Patch ran videos every day when participants addressed the press as well as videos to highlight significant events or wrap up the week's events. We have listed them in order by category below. 'They Got The Murdering Bastard' Peterson Jurors to Sleep in Own Beds, Getting Back at it in Morning Drew Peterson's Fate in Jury's Hands Wednesday Drew Peterson Lawyers Can't Stop Murder Case From Going to the Jury Last Drew Peterson Witness Called, Closing Arguments Next Week Peterson Shies Away From Spotlight, Lets Son Take Stand Instead Diagnosis Accident, Say Peterson Docs Drew Peterson Defense Launches Case Prosecution Wrapping Up Peterson Case Friday Witness: Drew Peterson Planned Amusement Park Fight …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Drew Peterson Verdict Justice for More Than Just Kathleen

Kathleen Savio's family and Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said justice for Kathleen is far-reaching

•  5 Comments
• Videos (1)

Find All the Drew Peterson News Here

Patch has made it easy to catch up on all the news leading up to and including the guilty verdict.

University of St. Francis Students Chronicle Drew Peterson Trial

6 students in a photography class at USF spent the early afternoon Wednesday at the Will County Courthouse.

On Wednesday afternoon, the sidewalks and benches surrounding the Will County Courthouse were filled with onlookers waiting for the jury to return a verdict in the Drew Peterson trial. Among those in the crowd were six University of St. Francis students who were armed with cameras and chronicling the scene for a photography class. "I'm surprised we don't see more types of protesting," senior Jazzmyne Robbins said. The only protestors on hand when the students were there were husband and wife Al and Mary Konrath. They have been following the trial and have been camping out to be sure to land a seat in the courtroom. The two were quietly sitting in front of the courthouse with a sign urging a guilty verdict. You can read more about their …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Ron Jidzny

1:15 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

"Armed with cameras." The definition of armed means someone is in possession of a weapon. When did a camera become a weapon? I don't expect much from this editor. She has been reporting based on rumors, misspelling words and not proofreading her work for years.   more ›