Thursday, October 16, 2025

• No injuries reported when silo collapses in Martinton

No one was injured when a concrete and rebar grain silo collapsed Wednesday afternoon in Martinton. In a press release, Iroquois County Emergency Management says firefighters were called to the Donovan Farmer's Co-op about 10:30 yesterday morning. While there, one of the firefighters noticed a bulge starting to form in the 50-year-old silo. Some of the more than 30-thousand-bushels of soybeans began to be emptied from the silo and the property was evacuated, then just before one yesterday afternoon the silo collapsed. The collapse blocked streets in the area and knocked out power to Martinton. Officials from the power company say they expect power to be returned to the Village sometime today.

• State budget shortfall surges

Illinois is facing a 267-million dollar deficit based on the budget approved back in May.  The reason, according to the state's office of management and budget, is a drastic drop in corporate income tax receipts since the start of the current fiscal year.  Governor J.B. Pritzker's office said the president's Big Beautiful Bill is costing Illinois more than 800-million dollars in corporate and individual income tax receipts.  The FY26 budget includes a hundred-million dollar reserve to cover a budget shortfall, but it's proven not enough, as the governor is calling for agencies to propose changes or funding transfers to cover the remainder.  

• Sheriff Downey on ICE

During Wednesday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Sheriff Mike Downey was asked what he knew about recent ICE activities in Kankakee County. Sheriff Downey said because of State law that doesn't allow local law enforcement to interact with ICE, he finds things out much like everybody else.

Downey pointed out that sometimes people assume when they see a black SUV with dark tinted windows that it's ICE, but he said a lot of different types of people drive those SUV's.

• Overdose deaths down so far this year

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Coroner Bob Gessner gave a rundown of statistics for the county this year. Gessner said the number of deaths from overdose are down.

Gessner said he plans to continue the education process by talking to more classes in different schools in the coming months. 

• Domestic violence a concern in Kankakee County

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County State's Attorney Jim Rowe gave an update on crime statistics so far this year.  Rowe said aggravated battery is the second most prevalent crime in Kankakee County.

• New Animal Control facility maxed out last month

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Animal Control Director Kari Laird gave an update, saying the new Animal Control Facility on Mooney Drive in Bourbonnais was recently put to the test.  Laird credited her staff for working nearly around the clock while the facility was overloaded. 

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