Will County Gazette

From Kendall County Times

Professional Development Alliance takes down website; dissolves

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 12 months ago

The 27-year Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”) of the Will County and Grundy Kendall County Regional Offices of Education officially dissolved over the weekend and its website was promptly removed from public viewing on January 1, 2024.

From Kendall County Times

ROE’s Professional Development Alliance officially dissolves

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 12 months ago

The 27-year Intergovernmental Agreement (“IGA”) between the Will County and Grundy-Kendall County Regional Offices of Education, which set up the Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”), will dissolve on December 31, 2023.

From Kendall County Times

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs hosted majestic Isle Casino servers/email for years

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

As early as 2013, the “Professional Development Alliance” (“PDA”) and its government employees were under contract with Vista Learning (See 2013 contract).

From Kendall County Times

$874,000 in improper gifts from contractor to ROE/PDA employees

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

An Agency of the Regional Offices of Education of Will County and Grundy-Kendall County, the Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”), entered into a contract with Vista Learning, NFP, as early as 2013.

From Kendall County Times

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 5: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Resolution misrepresentation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

This is part 5 in a series of articles on the Will County and Grundy-Kendall Counties Regional Offices of Education (“ROE”). Read parts 1 – 2 – 3 and 4.

From Kendall County Times

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 4: Public meeting; PDA dissolution, and Contract cancelation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 4: Public meeting; PDA dissolution, and Contract cancelation

From Kendall County Times

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 3: Scheme and artifice to obtain IMRF

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

This is part 3 in a series of articles on the Will County and Grundy-Kendall Counties Regional Offices of Education. Read parts 1 and 2.

From Kendall County Times

Regional Office of Education acting as independent contractor for private corporation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

This is the first of a series of articles where we will discuss the Will and Grundy-Kendall County Regional Offices of Education, contracts, employees, IMRF, and alleged conflicts of interest.

From Kendall County Times

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 2: Problems with the 2017 contract

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | 1 year ago

This is part 2 in a series of articles on the Will County and Grundy-Kendall Counties Regional Offices of Education. Read the first article (here).

Former Plainfield Township supervisor pleads guilty to wire fraud – sentenced to prison – $1,370,165.04 restitution

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Aug 18, 2023

Anthony Fremarek, the former Plainfield Township Supervisor has pleaded guilty to defrauding a company in which he was one of the 5 partners as well as the CFO and Manager which we covered in this article last November, 2022.

17 news organizations file amicus supporting Edgar County Watchdogs in Il. Supreme Court FOIA appeal

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Aug 18, 2023

Our attorneys for this case, Loevy and Loevy, filed our petition for leave to appeal the Edgar County Watchdogs v. Will County Sheriff FOIA case to the Illinois Supreme Court a few days ago.

Woman on probation for animal cruelty still keeping animals despite judge’s order

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Aug 6, 2023

The founder of a now-defunct nonprofit animal sanctuary in Thawville where hundreds of animal carcasses were discovered in shallow graves in 2019 is now keeping animals at her residence in Will County despite an Iroquois County judge’s order prohibiting her from doing so, an investigation by the Ford County Chronicle has confirmed.

Gov. Pritzker signs bill amending Military Veterans Assistance Act


By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Feb 14, 2023

Governor Pritzker has signed HB2369, or Public Act 102-1132, which amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act (“MVAA”). It became effective upon the Governor’s signature.

Ex-Joliet police lieutenant convicted of felony

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Feb 13, 2023

Something to think about: This police officer, had he been serving this year, would have been exempted from the “assault” weapons ban, free to purchase and possess all the “assault” weapons he pleased, while millions of law-abiding citizens could purchase nothing.

Government funds misspent – VACWC must recover all unspent funds from Geriann Wiesbrook / Hey G Consulting

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Jan 31, 2023

The Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County has released the investigation report regarding the $495,000.00 contract awarded to Hey G Consulting owned by Geriann Wiesbrook.

Appellate court: Will County Sheriff must produce the 911 call recordings requested under FOIA

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Dec 1, 2022

The Third Appellate Court issued its 22-page Opinion/Order on Will County Sheriff’s appeal of Summary Judgment granted in our favor by the Will County Circuit Court on a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit we filed against the Will County Sheriff for denying our access to 911 call recordings dealing with Wesley Township’s Rivals Park.

Commissioner Denise Williams lied about county auditor approving grant

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Sep 22, 2022

In a prepared statement during the Sep 1, 2022, special meeting of the Veterans Assistance of Will County’s executive committee, alleged commissioner Denise Williams made a “statement of fact,” most of which were fact-checked and proven wrong in this article, stating the following:

Veterans Assistance Commission moves to limit public comment

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Sep 22, 2022

The Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County will move to change their bylaws to limit public comments during their meetings, according to the September 13, 2022, meeting agenda (See Agenda Item IX (A)).

Senator Hastings continues with lawsuit to discover who distributed police report his wife filed against him

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Sep 22, 2022

Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings has made new filings in the Rule 224 Motion he filed attempting to find out which public employee had distributed copies of the damning police report filed against him by his wife which alleged he choked her and slammed her into a door, called her a “bitch” and a “whore” in front of the children, and otherwise emotionally and verbally abused her.

Commissioner Denise Williams’ misinformation speech leads to exposing marketing more important than veterans mental wellness

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Sep 7, 2022

We first exposed alleged Commissioner Denise Williams’ false and misleading comments during the last meeting in this article. After listening to it again, we must thank her for exposing yet more problems with the insider no-bid contract issued by the former Superintendent of the VAC.