What’s the Going Rate For a Lawn Service in Will County?

As part of our new Smart Spending series, Patch wants to uncover the true going rate for various goods and services in town, so you'll know exactly how much you should pay for what you need. Help us out by replying in the comments.

This week: How much do lawn services cost? How much do you pay for your lawn service? And what does that cover? Just mowing, or does it cover weeding, pruning, planting? Please share in the comments below — we promise we won't judge you! And if you've got a lawn service you love, tell us that too. Here's a sampling of a some lawn-care services companies in Will County: Four Seasons Lawn Care Eternally Green Lawn Care Arbor Care Bill's Lawn Maintenance Noga's Lawn Care Brookside Lawn Corporation Knollcrest LandscapeDesign Smith Brothers Garden Center CNC Lawn Care Quality Cut Lawn Maintenance Mid America Tree & Landscape, Inc. Jim Melka Landscaping & Gardening Center This is the first of an ongoing series, "What's the Going Rate for..." …

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Skunks: Why So Many?

This is the first in a five-part series that looks at why the stinky critters are so prevalent and what you can do to protect your property and pets.

Skunks: Why So Many?

This is the first in a five-part series that looks at why the stinky critters are so prevalent and what you can do to protect your property and pets.

Skunks: Why Are There So Many?

This is the first in a five-part series that looks at why the stinky critters are so prevalent and what you can do to protect your property and pets.

-Story by Dawn Aulet If you live in Will County, you've probably noticed that pungent smell at least a couple of times already: Skunk. It's a sure sign of spring, and chances are very good that the skunk population will be higher in 2013 than it was in 2012. Proof is anecdotal at this point -- "I would say we don't have a good comparison until it's warm," said Sarah Gimbel, of Joliet Township Animal Control -- but it's there. "I was doing some checking around and it seems like, in general, the skunk population is increasing and it has been increasing for several years," said Bob Bryerton, facility coordinator for the Will County Forest Preserve District's Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher. Part of the reason is skunks have few natural …

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Will County Weighs Spending Options: Roads vs. Roofs

Public safety and economic sustainability are two of the key considerations in this debate.

Roads vs. Roofs: Will County Weighs Spending Options

Public safety and economic sustainability are two of the key considerations in this debate.

What’s more important? Up-to-date public buildings or roads? The Will County Board is now faced with this question after a recent study identified a $441 million need in county public building improvements and a $1 billion need in infrastructure improvements, the Sun-Times Media reports. Either project would be funded by Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) tax money. It was originally designed exclusively to pay for road improvements, but legislators have since allowed the money to be spent on public safety as well. There is currently about $45 million in the fund according to Will County Finance Director Paul Rafac. County officials have been delaying a decision on significant public building improvements since the late 1990s. Now, …

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State Extends Local Elections Filing Deadline to 5 PM Dec. 26

The Illinois Senate amends its election code so that candidates in local elections—from City Council to School Board—can submit nominating petitions until 5 p.m. on the day after Christmas.

Unemployment Report: Will County Jobless Numbers Down From October 2011

Although unemployment is down from this time compared to last year, numbers in Will County slightly increased from September 2012 to October.

Unemployment rates in Illinois increased slightly from September 2012 to October, but are still down compared to 2011, according to new figures released last week.  October local unemployment rates fell in every metro area compared to last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. In Will County, unemployment rates fell by 1.4 percent, from 9.5 percent in October 2011 to 8.1 percent in 2012. However, rates did increase by .4 percent in October 2012 compared to September. "Falling unemployment rates across our state and the lowest October rates since 2008 show that that our steady economic progress continues," IDES Director Jay Rowell said in a news release. "We now …

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UPDATE: Cigarette Tax Could be Good for Business

The high cost of cigarettes in Cook County is driving smokers across the Will County line.

Updated: 12:46 p.m. Friday The Cook County Board approved the proposed budget, including the one-dollar tax increase on cigarettes, on Nov. 9, according to WGN Radio. --- Will County businesses that sell tobacco and border the Cook County line may benefit from a proposed one-dollar tax increase on cigarettes purchased in Cook County. The tax increase was proposed by Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle and will be up for tentative approval on Nov. 9, along with the entire Cook County budget. A pack of cigarettes currently carries a two-dollar tax from Cook County. If the proposal passes, the tax would increase the total state and county taxes on cigarettes to $4.98 a pack for residents. The hike keeps prices in the Chicagoland area…

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Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow Wins Again

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow has secured a fifth term in office.

In a year of victories, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow just notched another one. Glasgow successfully defended his office againset upstart Republican challenger Dave Carlson, taking 136,469 of 239,975 election night votes. He will be sworn in a fifth term as Will County's top prosecutor. Glasgow captured 56.87 percent of the ballot to Carlson's 43.13 percent. Election results will not be official until Nov. 27, when canvassing of votes is completed and after absentee ballots postmarked by midnight, Nov. 5, and provisional and grace period ballots are counted on Nov. 20. Glasgow was jubilant after the last precincts results were counted. "I'm looking forward to putting bad guys away and creating innovative prevention programs," …

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