Mokena Board Eliminates Vehicle Stickers to Give Residents a Break

Lots of lively discussion dominated the Nov. 26 meeting as the Mokena Village Board of Trustees deliberated on eliminating the vehicle registration sticker fee.

Editor's Note: This article has been edited after publication to correct the spelling of Donald Labriola's name. Plenty of passionate discussion surrounded the Mokena Village Board of Trustees' consideration of and subsequent motion to approve an ordinance amendment to eliminate the village's vehicle registration sticker fee at the board's Nov. 26 meeting. The amendment to the village's vehicle licensing ordinance will eliminate the requirement for vehicle stickers, saving residents $13 per car per year.  Eliminating the vehicle sticker program has been proposed by Mayor Joe Werner in the past and was brought up again after the board approved video gaming within the village in October. According to Village Administrator John Downs, the …

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Village Board Honors Chuck Manhart: WATCH VILLAGE VIDEO

The Mokena Village Board and Mayor Joe Werner honored long-time resident and volunteer Chuck Manhart, who died in September at age 80.

Mayor Joe Werner saw Chuck Manhart on the fire protection district board, on the library board, on the planning and zoning commission and on the historical society, but there's one way Werner never saw Manhart. "I never saw him sad," Werner said. The village honored Manhart, who died in September at age 80, in a special ceremony during Monday's board meeting at Mokena Village Hall. Manhart's wife Juanita, his two daughters and two of his grandchildren accepted a plaque and declaration on Manhart's behalf. Watch video of the presentation honoring Chuck Manhart (click on item 5a on the online agenda or go to the 13:28 mark). Manhart was born in 1931 in Darwin, Ill., one of six children. In a 2006 historical society video interview available …

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Jim Peterik Eyes Return to New Lenox for Super Group Concert

The Survivor frontman's concert would feature four classic rockers performing at Lincoln-Way West, with proceeds going to the Lincoln-Way Foundation.

Grammy winner Jim Peterik plans to return to New Lenox this winter for a super-group concert that will benefit the Lincoln-Way High School District. Peterik, who as the frontman for Survivor wrote Eye of the Tiger, ran a music camp at Lincoln-Way Central in July, and now he plans to return Jan. 14 for a show at Lincoln-Way West. PHOTO GALLERY: Peterik, 'American Idol' Finalists Lead Music Camp The New Lenox Village Board must first approve the deal during its next meeting Nov. 14. The concert wouldn't have any cost for the village, but staff would be in charge of organizing it. All the proceeds from the show would go to the Lincoln-Way Foundation, which raises money for various projects and equipment at the high schools. The show, called "…

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Michael Sewall

10:37 am on Friday, December 2, 2011

Thanks for sharing your photos, Rob!   more ›

Know 'Kena

Daily Trivia: Can You Name the Village Board?

A daily look at the town around.

Welcome to "Know 'Kena," a daily look into the town around you. Some days it will be a picture you have to identify, other days a trivia question, historical photo or other goodie from Mokena's past, present or future. The answers will be revealed each week in Saturday's news quiz. Today's challenge is: Name as many village board members as you can without looking it up. Know 'Kena Schedule: Monday: Spot the Spot (See if you can tell where in Mokena the hidden photo was taken) Tuesday: Time Machine (A question from Mokena's past) Wednesday: Sign Language (We blur, erase or otherwise Photoshop a local business' sign and you see if you can still ID the business) Thursday: The Senseless Bureau (We turn to random U.S. Census Bureau data to …

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Bridges of Mokena Might Get a Little Bit Bigger

Village board hears developer's plans to expand southern subdivision.

The Mokena Village Board heard several plans for expansion and appeared favorable to each of them during Monday night's work session. The board reviewed: Also, Corporate Corridors North asked the board to consider subdividing the 5-acre lot known at "Lot 30" on 191st Street into two smaller lots.

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Red Line Motor Sports Plan Cruises Along

Spokesman tells village board he has seven potential investors for auto-themed restaurant.

A possible new business, Red Line Motor Sports, was the only topic of discussion during Monday night's Mokena Village Board work session. The auto-themed sports bar and restaurant would be located at 9716 W. 191st St. in The Boulevard shopping center. It would feature a detail shop, a classroom and two giant turntables spinning cars or motorcycles, 1950s showroom-style, on the dining room floor. The planning and zoning commission unanimously recommended the village board approve the special use permits on Aug. 19. Trustees were generally in favor of the business idea and were only concerned with the source of funding. Spokesman Gary Sendra attended the meeting and told the board information had been sent out to 21 investors, and at least 7…

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