The Mokena Messenger

03/30/2020

Although it was cut short by the coronavirus, Mokena native and LW Central grad Payton Richards had a memorable, successful freshman season on Florida's powerhouse gymnastics team. Lincoln-Way Central High School Florida Gators Gymnastics

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Perhaps the students at Lincoln-Way Central didn't realize it but just a year ago there was a world-class athlete walking the halls of the school.That was Payton Richards, a Mokena resident who is one of the top gymnasts in the country.Now at freshman at the University of Florida, Richards, who is n...

03/27/2020

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03/26/2020

The Messenger wants to know how Mokena residents are holding up during the stay at home order. What activities are you participating in? What ways are you fighting the boredom? Working from home or finding yourself in a new role as teacher for young children? Send us photos or post them in the comments section of what you're up to for a chance to be published in an upcoming issue of The Messenger. Above all else, please be safe out there and be kind to others during this difficult time.

03/24/2020

Mokena Junior High's seventh-grade girls volleyball team made it all the way to state, then the tournament was canceled.

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Mokena Junior High’s seventh-grade girls volleyball team made a memorable run to a sectional championship and qualified for state for the first time since 2006.The Meteors never got their chance to play at state, though, as the Illinois Elementary School Association canceled the tournament amid th...

03/18/2020

Family First Medical Group has begun offering drive-up coronavirus testing. Read more in this FREE article.

03/17/2020

With most of its team back from last season, Lincoln-Way Central's baseball team feels ready for a big year if/when the season begins. Lincoln-Way Central High School

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Last year, the Lincoln-Way Central baseball team knocked on the door.This year, the Knights hope to break it down.They have an excellent opportunity to do just that, returning eight starters from last season’s squad that reached the regional championship game and narrowly lost 1-0 to Stagg.

03/14/2020

The Mokena messenger is working to keep everyone informed of the latest closings because of the coronavirus in the area. Follow this link to stay up to date: https://www.mokenamessenger.com/coronavirus

03/05/2020

After a historic season for Lincoln-Way Central ended earlier than hoped, the Knights are excited about next season. Lincoln-Way Central High School

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Lincoln-Way Central’s boys basketball team won its first SouthWest Suburban Red title and won the most games of any Knights team since there was only one Lincoln-Way High School. Still, that success does not feel nearly as good without a postseason run at the end of it, and no one in a Central jer...

03/05/2020

From the Village of Mokena:

The Forest Preserve District of Will County may be performing a controlled burn at Hickory Creek Preserve east of Schoolhouse Road and west of Wolf Road today from 9 a.m-5 p.m.
Keep windows closed if you live in the area, and take any other precautions that are necessary.
For questions, call (815) 727-8700.

03/04/2020

There will be some uncontested races on the ballot in local elections.

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The March primary is now just nine days away, set for March 17.

03/04/2020

Scouts were honored at St. Mary Church.

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“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” These are the words all Cub Scouts learn when they first begin their journeys in the program, ...

03/03/2020

Mokena native and Lincoln-Way East grad Grant Leonard nearly gave up baseball before walking-on at Iowa. He's now a record-breaking closer for the Hawkeyes. Lincoln-Way East High School Iowa Hawkeyes Baseball

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Grant Leonard was ready to give up baseball.The Mokena native and Lincoln-Way East graduate went to North Central College in Naperville for the 2015-16 school year, ready to begin his career as a pitcher for the Cardinals baseball team.Leonard went through fall practices and scrimmages and enjoyed t...

03/03/2020

Making a Difference: The Jacob Manka Memorial Scholarship held a fundraiser at Laraway Lanes Bowling Center in New Lenox and approximately 300 members of the community showed up to support the cause.

Hundreds attend fundraiser for teen killed in train crash.

03/02/2020

Looking for a place for a Friday Fish Fry? The Mokena VFW has just the thing, and part of proceeds from the VFW go toward helping veterans and those who are on active duty.

Mokena VFW Fish Fry Fridays return.

02/29/2020

Lincoln-Way Central made sure it wouldn't be sharing its first SWSC Red boys basketball title, beating Stagg in overtime to clinch the outright crown. Lincoln-Way Central High School

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During a timeout with 19 seconds left in regulation of a tie game between Lincoln-Way Central and Stagg, the PA announcer played the Led Zeppelin song “Rock and Roll.”As Robert Plant’s voice boomed out, “It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled, It’s been a long time since I did the...

02/28/2020

A former employee at Lincolnway Special Recreation Association was found to have made "unauthorized purchases" totaling at least $6,500, which the nonprofit organization withheld from the public for almost two years. Read more in the FREE article.

A former employee of the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association used thousands of dollars from the nonprofit for “personal expenses” over a recent four-year span, according to multiple documents obtained by The Mokena Messenger. Acknowledged in a signed separation agreement from May 2018, the...

02/27/2020

The search for the next superintendent of Mokena School District 159 is over. The Board of Education approved a contract for Mark Cohen.

The search is over.Mokena School District 159 Board of Education members voted 6-0 at a special meeting Feb. 26 to approve a contract for the district’s new superintendent, Mark Cohen, effective July 1 and continues until June 30, 2023. Board member Lisa Zielinski was absent. Cohen’s contract st...

02/27/2020

Meet the Editor will take place today from 11 a.m.-noon at EggCetera Cafe.