Pregnant Woman, Two Others Hurt in Plainfield Crash

Minivan rolled several times following crash on Lockport Street, according to officials.

Three people were taken to area hospitals following a two-vehicle crash at Lockport Street and Meadow Lane Wednesday evening. Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said a minivan carrying three people  — including a woman who is nine months pregnant — was heading east on Lockport Street when it collided with an SUV that was heading south on Meadow Lane. “It was a T-bone-type crash,” Stratton said. The minivan rolled several times before coming to rest on its side, he said. One woman was able to get out of the van on her own, while the other had to be extricated, Stratton said. The male driver of the van was able to climb out through the sunroof. Two of the occupants were taken to Rush-Copley hospital in Aurora, while the third was …

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Officials: Lockport St. Bypass Could Prevent Downtown Plainfield Gridlock

Study will investigate potential routes for diverting traffic away from downtown if the I-55 interchange is built.

Village officials want to make sure that a proposed Interstate 55 interchange at Lockport Street doesn’t bring even more traffic to an already-congested downtown Plainfield. On Monday, trustees signed off on a plan to pay Joliet-based engineering firm Strand Associates more than $93,000 to explore the possibility of a Lockport Street bypass. In a memo to the board, Superintendent of Public Improvements Randy Jessen said the feasibility study will take a look at several potential routes to build a new road between Lockport Street and Route 126 and the proposed 143rd Street extension. Read: Village: Noise Study Approval is ‘Definitely Progress’ on 143rd St. Extension “It would be just west of Four Seasons Park, and there would be a new road …

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Sheila Raddatz

7:35 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Mixed blessing! If the traffic moves too swift, they won't stop to patronize local businesses--especially if there isn't any major draw to the area. :o(   more ›

Two Transported After Wallin Drive Rollover

Women suffered non-life-threatening injuries in Plainfield crash: officials.

Two drivers were taken to area hospitals after a rear-end collision at Wallin Drive and Lockport Street late Sunday, fire officials said. Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said a woman was driving a Pontiac Vibe through the intersection when she reportedly braked to avoid an animal and was rear-ended by a Nissa Sentra. The impact caused the Pontiac to roll, coming to rest in a field. Both drivers were already out of their vehicles when emergency crews arrived, Stratton said. The driver of the Pontiac was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center and the driver of the Nissan was taken to Rush-Copley in Aurora, both with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Stratton.

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Utility Issues Delay Pedestrian Bridge

Village: Downtown Plainfield project will be substantially completed by mid-December.

The village officials are working to resolve an unexpected utility issue, but said the Lockport Street pedestrian bridge will still be mostly completed this winter. On Monday, the village board inked an agreement with ComEd to relocate overhead lines to allow contractor D construction to safely proceed with the project. “While working out a some of the utility conflict issues has pushed the schedule back a bit, we are confident that D Construction will have the substructure completed by the end of this month,” said Public Works Director Allen Persons. A conflict arose on the east side of the bridge when it was discovered that workers could not safely dig for the new bridge extension without affecting a ComEd switchbox gear and pole. …

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Village Nixes Demolition for One Building; OKs Major Changes for Another

New restaurant planned for downtown Plainfield; renovations could be done by November, owner says.

One Plainfield building owner got the OK to proceed with renovations on a dilapidated downtown storefront, while another was told she’ll have to hold off on demolishing an aging Route 59 home. The board voted to nix applicant Sandra Bennett’s request to demolish the home at 14927 S. Division St./Route 59 — at least for now. With the village working on shaping the future of Route 59 — including using social media and public meetings to get the public’s take on the subject — the board voted that the owner cannot demolish the property until after the Route 59 Visioning study is complete. Planner Michael Garrigan said the study is scheduled to be completed sometime this fall. “This is not a delay for the sake of a delay,” trustee Paul Fay said…

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Mickey O'Neill's Opens Monday

A new Irish pub will open up in the old Finnegan's location on Lockport Street.

Downtown diners will have more options starting Monday, according to staffers at the new Mickey O'Neill's Irish Pub. The bar and eatery is scheduled to open June 4, filling the space vacated last September by Finnegan's. "We could not be more excited," said Caroline Koch, marketing director for Mickey O'Neill's, which joins the family of restaurants owned by restaurateur Charles "Chuck" Rizzo.  Rizzo's other establishments include Rizzo's in downtown Naperville and Charlie's Bar & Grill in Elmhurst. The Plainfield venture is named after Rizzo's grandmother, Mickey O'Neill Ryan.  "She's my mom's mother, and she asked her, 'Are you OK with (Chuck) naming the bar after you?'" Rizzo told Patch in April. The answer was a resounding yes, he said…

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Lysa Heaton

8:38 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012

How about, how exciting that Plainfield has someone committed enough to invest in our downtown?! I think it's wonderful that a family with two other successful businesses have taken an interest in our village. I for one am very excited to support them!   more ›

Cruise Nights Kick Off with a Crowd

Lockport Street was busy on Tuesday night.

These days, many motorists are looking for compact, fuel-efficient vehicles. That wasn’t the case back in the late 1940s when Powel Crosley got an idea that was a bit ahead of its time.  “He had the wrong car at the wrong time,” said Plainfield resident Vern Kujath, who brought his restored 1947 Crosley pickup truck to the first 2012 Cruise Night in downtown Plainfield. Only about 4,000 of the vehicles were ever made, Kujath said. Kujath was just one of the classic car enthusiasts who congregated along Lockport Street on Tuesday night, showing off his compact truck. Kujath said it took three years to restore the truck, which sold for about $900 back in 1947. “It’s just a real unique vehicle,” he said. Other unique cars — including the 1957…

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A Town Called Plainfield

Lambert: Plainfield’s Tie to 1960s Television

The Sonntag family left its mark on Plainfield — and on Hollywood.

The Inquiry One night while plagued with insomnia and watching late night television, an observant Patch reader noted that the program credits included a director’s name that is also found on a downtown Plainfield building. Is there a connection between the television director and the Plainfield building?  The Facts  Jack Sonntag (1914-1977) was a well-known television and movie producer and assistant director throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and was directly related to the Sonntag family of Plainfield for whom the Sonntag Building is named. Today, the Sonntag Building is occupied by MoeJoe’s Cajun & Caribbean Cuisine.   The Sonntag Family and Plainfield Peter and Christena Sonntag came to the United States from Bavaria, Germany …

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Plainfield to Host Public Meeting on Proposed I-55 Interchange Projects

Public comment will be taken at event from 4 to 7 p.m. June 21 at Village Hall.

A new interchange at Interstate 55 and Lockport Street and expansion of the I-55 interchange at 126th Street and Essington could pave the way for smoother traffic flow, less congestion and reduced travel times. But if the projects come to fruition, they likely won’t be completed until 2020, according to Dave Heslinga, director of transportation for V3 Companies, the firm that has spent more than a year working on the phase I engineering study on the proposed projects. But residents will get a look at the proposed alternative designs for the projects — all 11 alternatives, to be exact — at a June 21 open house, scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 24401 W. Lockport St. in Plainfield. The phase I study, a joint effort of the villages …

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Streets Closed Saturday A.M. for Church 5K Event

The race route for the Community Christian Church event includes stretches of Lockport, Ottawa and Van Dyke.

Several roads will be temporarily closed early Saturday morning to accommodate the Community Christian Church's** New Thing Initiative 5K Run, according to the Plainfield Police Department. The race begins at 7:30 a.m. near the Plainfield Village Hall. Participants will take Village Center Drive to Van Dyke Road; proceed on Van Dyke Road to Ottawa Street; proceed on Ottawa Street to Ira Jones Middle School; proceed around Ira Jones back to Ottawa Street; return on Ottawa Street to Van Dyke Road; go south on Van Dyke Road until it ends; the runners will then return north on Van Dyke Road and finish near the village hall. Because of the race route, the following streets will be closed to traffic and parking between 7:15 a.m. and no later …

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Karen Sorensen

9:08 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Sue -- My apologies. The press release said Christ Community Church. I have made the correction in the story.   more ›