April 10

ROMEOVILLE – Dead Town Revival and The Frantic, two eclectic Chicago area bands, are slated to perform at the Hero Helps Youth Rally beginning at 6 p.m. on April 13 at the JFK Fieldhouse on the campus of Lewis University. The youth rally will also feature testimonials from recovering heroin addicts and family members of those lost to heroin. 

According to Paul Lauridsen, event coordinator, the youth rally is designed to share important information about the prevention of heroin and abuse of other drug with teens and young adults in a relaxed atmosphere. 

“We want to bring the young crowd, and for that matter the public at large, into the fieldhouse with the promise of good music,” Lauridsen said. “These young people have powerful stories to tell about the importance of this cause, heroin prevention.”

Hailing from the working class streets of the South side of Chicago, Dead Town Revival is a self-described “punk-n-roll” band with a wide ranging list of influences from punk icons to country hero Johnny Cash.

Frantic is an edgy, four-man band playing power pop rock tunes reminiscent of The Who and The Ramones.

“We are very fortunate to have this great bands performing at our youth rally,” said Lauridsen. “We appreciate their support of our important message.” 

The HERO HELPS event begins at 9:30 a.m. with a keynote address, followed by four concurrent educational sessions, and a panel discussion. For more information about the event, visit www.herohelpsevent.org.

April 2

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced a record turnout at the March 29 Taylor Babec Community Blood Drive at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Heartland Blood Centers reports that 154 people registered to donate at the first Blood Drive located at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office at 121 N. Chicago Street.  A total of 139 units were collected.  During drives, a small percentage of donors are deferred for various reasons.

Jennifer Babec, the Joliet mom who is Heartland Blood Centers’ top volunteer organizer, hoped to beat her prior personal record of 101 units during the drive at the State’s Attorney’s Office. She has been coordinating drives with Heartland since 2008, shortly after her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor, was diagnosed with lymphoma. During Taylor’s three-year recovery, she required intensive chemotherapy treatments and 22 blood transfusions that revived her physical energy and her spirits. 

“The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office was pleased to help an extraordinary mother shatter a personal record while she was performing a wonderful service for our community,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Jennifer worked hard over the course of a long Blood Drive, but her efforts and the cooperation of everyone who participated will save lives right here in Will County.”   

Heartland Blood Centers sent three mobile coaches to the State’s Attorney’s Office parking lot to accommodate the large numbers of donors.

he Blood Drive received a boost when Scott Slocum from 1340 WJOL promoted the event and broadcast live from the State’s Attorney’s Office on the morning of the drive. Dozens of local public officials and other guests visited during the WJOL broadcast to support the Blood Drive and talk with Slocum.

In addition, many downtown restaurants donated great dining certificates raffle to donors including: Chicago Street Pub, 75 N. Chicago St.; McBrody’s, 73 W. Jefferson St.; The Department, 205 N. Chicago St.; Thayer’s 158 North, 158 N. Chicago St.; Gji’s Sweet Shoppe, 81 N. Chicago St.; and the Red Goose Bakery and Café, 56 N. Chicago St.

Glasgow thanked all of the Will County employees who stopped by to donate. He also thanked the secretaries, support staff and attorneys from his own office for their donations as well as their patience and cooperation during the drive, which closed off the parking lot and created a great deal of extra traffic in the lobby. Everyone who participated made the drive a huge success.   

Taylor Babec is now 10-years-old, and her cancer thankfully is in remission. Jennifer, however, has continued to coordinate blood drives so there is an ample supply for other children who need life-saving transfusions.

Glasgow said plans will be made to host another Blood Drive with Jennifer Babec and Heartland this summer.

March 20

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that the Will County Drug Court will graduate 10 people who have successfully completed the program and are living drug-free lives this week.

The Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 at the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet. The public is invited to attend.

Program graduates are from Joliet, Plainfield, Crest Hill, Mokena, University Park, Naperville, Chicago Heights and Libertyville. They join more than 265 others who have graduated from Drug Court since its inception in 1999.

In Drug Court, prosecutors and defense attorneys work with the judge and treatment providers to help abusers who have committed non-violent offenses battle their addictions. Those allowed into the program are carefully screened and must remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find employment, follow through with treatment and attend weekly Drug Court sessions. 

Graduation is the final step in this intensive year-long process. Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes presides over Drug Court. State’s Attorney Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the program in the late 1990s. He was one of the first state’s attorney’s to fully embrace the value of a well-run drug court program.

“Drug Court helps recovering addicts get their lives back on track, and it’s a tremendous value for our taxpayers,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “I can’t stress enough that every dollar we spend on a prevention program like Drug Court saves ten times the money for taxpayers when we compare it to the costs of prosecuting and incarcerating non-violent offenders.”

For more information on Drug Court, go to https://willcountysao.com/ and click on Crime Prevention.

March 14

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that aggravated child pornography charges were filed against a Romeoville man on Thursday.

Jason C. Horton, 33, of 1613 Ashbury Lane, Romeoville, was charged with five counts of aggravated child pornography. The charges are all Class 2 Felonies that carry a potential penalty of up to seven years in prison upon conviction.

Horton was arrested on Wednesday at his house following a two-month investigation conducted by the Will County State’s Attorney’s High Technology Crimes Unit, the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force Chicago, the Romeoville Police Department and the Naperville Police Department’s High Technology Crimes Unit.

Horton was taken into custody after a search warrant was served on his house. Investigators seized three computers during the execution of the warrant. The investigation is ongoing.

Horton appeared in court on Thursday where bond was set at $400,000.  He must post 10 percent or $40,000 to secure his release while awaiting trial.  He is scheduled to appear in court next at 9 a.m. April 4 in Courtroom 405 of the Will County Courthouse for preliminary hearing or arraignment.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

March 2

JOLIET – Loosen your belts a notch for the annual “Men Who Cook” competition.

Roughly 50 local guys will fire up their ovens to cook their favorite home recipes for hundreds of guests at the annual “Men Who Cook” competition from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Pipefitters Training Center Local 597 at 10850 187th Street in Mokena.

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, which is hosting the wildly popular culinary contest, encourages everyone to save the date and arrive ready to eat. All proceeds from “Men Who Cook” will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center, a not-for-profit agency that helps children who are the victims of sexual abuse.

During the competition, amateur cooks will offer bite-size samples of the best home-cooked meals they serve their own families. After making the rounds, guests will vote for their favorite dish in each of four categories: appetizer; side dish; entrée; and dessert.  “Men Who Cook” is a fun and exciting way to support the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center and cheer on your favorite local chef.

The cost to sample the fine cuisine at “Men Who Cook” is an affordable $35 per person; $60 per couple. The price is $10 for children between 6-12; kids 5 and under can attend for free. Don’t dress up; it’s a casual evening.

“Every year I am astounded by the quality and diversity of the dishes our amateur chefs bring to the table at ‘Men Who Cook,’” said State’s Attorney James Glasgow, who founded the Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 and chairs its Board of Directors.  “These guys know how to cook more than a frozen pizza. Guests are likely to find Cajun, Asian, Italian and Polish cuisine on the menu in addition to all kinds of gourmet American fare from every region of our great country. Anyone who leaves hungry just isn’t trying.”

WJOL’s Lynne, Mary and Natalie will return to the “Men Who Cook” Red Carpet this year to greet guests and serve as hostesses for the evening. This year’s special guest will be Jackson, a licensed therapy dog who greets children at the Children’s Advocacy Center as part of the new Paws 4 Kids program.

State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to improve investigations of child sexual abuse cases. The center’s professionally trained and compassionate staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. Children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of hundreds of predators. The staff has interviewed 2,567 children since 2005. 

The State’s Attorney founded the center as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact taxpayers. As a result, the center relies on grants, foundations and fundraisers like “Men Who Cook” to operate.

“The Children’s Advocacy Center deals with the serious problem of child abuse,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “‘Men Who Cook’ allows everyone to have a great time while they support the center’s critical work on behalf of our children. The crowds are large. The competition is fun and fierce. And the food is great. I guarantee an evening you won’t forget.”

Tickets are available on-line at www.menwhocook.info or they can be purchased at the door.  If you have any questions, contact the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4565 or visit on the Web at www.willcountychildrensadvocacy.org, www.menwhocook.info or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/menwhocook