Patricia Capriotti, 51, has pleaded guilty to using a credit card she stole from an 87-year-old woman while working as an office manager for a home health care company in Bradley.
Capriotti — a former Kankakee County jury coordinator who was fired in 2004 for jury tampering — was sentenced to 30 months probation for unlawful use of a credit card in Kankakee County court earlier this month.
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RSVP by calling Nelda (Langlois) Ravens at 815-932-8979 no later than Nov. 3.
For the unabridged version of this story, subscribe to The Daily Journal's print edition or E-edition
Crafters and vendors are needed for The VFW Ladies Auxiliary Kankakee Post 2857 Craft Show Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Bradley American Legion.
For more information, call Linda at 815-935-1428.
Keith Kibbons doesn't just make lemonade from lemons. He can turn a potential disaster into a work of art.
The 35-year-old mechanical genius from Bradley has been expressing himself in various forms of transportation since 1999. And two months ago, he moved his artist workshop, Kustom Kreations by Kibbons, to its new home at 980 N. Washington St. in Kankakee.
Inside the garage, the artist's work includes a customers' 1970 Camaro, sure to be a future car showstopper. On the other end, there's a four-door pickup truck that Kibbons describes as "jacked to the moon." It's now getting some special paint features.
But out in front of the shop sits the one-of-a-kind motorcycle that tells the story of Kibbons' escape from serious injury.
"It was a 2004 Harley-Davidson that I made into my own personal bike," he explained. "I like to take my [7-year-old] son Neiko on rides with me.
Kenneth Smith knows something about loss.
At 74, the Bradley retiree has seen his health slipping away. He's trying to cope with diabetes and Parkinson's Disease.
Last December, he lost his wife of 52 years, Janice.
And he will soon say goodbye to the home they shared for the last 20 years. He's going to move to Kentucky to live with his son, Scott.
There are a million memories inside the house. Kenny said he still hears Janice's voice there. But there is one more reminder outdoors that he doesn't want to lose.
"I suppose it will be destroyed when I'm gone, but I just wanted to do something for my brother, Monroe, and all of the other veterans who served this country," he explained.
But that hardly explains Kenny's work of art. He built and rebuilt a wall of stones. He wanted to make it just right for his message.
Belson Steel Center Scrap is moving and that means changes for Bradley.
The scrap yard is moving west of the railroad tracks to Bourbonnais on Larry Power Road most likely within the next 18 months, said Bradley Mayor Bruce Adams during Monday's village board meeting. The land where Belson now sits, at the intersection of Larry Power Road and Illinois Route 50, is being eyed by a "big box" retailer and for other commercial uses.
While the intersection is not considered dangerous — there have been few car crashes that resulted in injuries — traffic flow has been an issue. Adams said the new development will help as the entrance to Belson will be closed and relocated to the entrance for the entire Water Tower Plaza complex.
The tax-increment financing district created for the site in 2008 will be used to accommodate commercial development at the site.
Kenneth Smith knows something about loss.
At 74, the Bradley retiree has seen his health slipping away. He's trying to cope with diabetes and Parkinson's Disease.
Last December, he lost his wife of 52 years, Janice.
And he will soon say goodbye to the home they shared for the last 20 years. He's going to move to Kentucky to live with his son, Scott.
There are a million memories inside the house. Kenny said he still hears Janice's voice there. But there is one more reminder outdoors that he doesn't want to lose.
"I suppose it will be destroyed when I'm gone, but I just wanted to do something for my brother, Monroe, and all of the other veterans who served this country," he explained.
But that hardly explains Kenny's work of art. He built and rebuilt a wall of stones. He wanted to make it just right for his message.
Armstrong retirees
Armstrong retirees will meet at 1 p.m. on Sept. 4 at The Family House Restaurant in Bradley.
More than 40 years ago, a Kankakee grade-schooler brought his teacher a railroad lantern without its glass globe — something that re-ignited a passion first kindled for mathematics teacher Clayton Rattin when he was a schoolboy himself at Wichert.
The love of all things railroad.
At Wichert, decades ago, the schoolhouse was just a bit west of the local asparagus cannery and the railroad siding that served it. "I'd go down to the railroad at recess and watch the steam engines back cars in the siding," Rattin recalled of his first railroad thrills. "Of course, I had to run back after lunch."
When his student brought him the incomplete railroad lantern in 1969, Rattin contacted collector Gil Irps, of Aroma Park, who said he didn't have the globe required to restore the Wabash RR lantern, but that half a dozen collectors were planning a sale in his yard and might have one.
For the second year in a row, the village of Bradley is trying to build a bike path on Illinois Route 50.
The proposed path would stretch from Larry Power Road to North Street — a route the includes Northfield Square mall, the Interstate 57 underpass and businesses like Panera Bread, Target and Starbucks. It would also pass the four-way stop at Armour Road, the busiest intersection in Kankakee County.
But Bradley won't build the bike path without financial help. The village agreed again this week to apply for an Illinois Department of Transportation grant that would cover 80 percent of the cost of the $1 million project.
Last year, the village applied for the same grant but was denied.
"Our vision is to make Bradley very convenient to move around," said Lori Gadbois, chairwoman of Bradley's public works and parks committee.
Bradley's bike path wouldn't be the state's first bike path to run parallel to a major highway.
Welcome home celebration for all military
There will be a welcome home celebration for all recently returning military personnel from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Bradley American Legion Post 766, 835 W. Broadway St., Bradley.
All veterans and their families are welcome to attend. The veteran's information, door prizes, children's games, refreshments and soft drinks will be at this event. This event is sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9961 and the Bradley Ladies Auxiliary.
For more information, call the American Bradley Legion Post at 815-939-9113.
