• Here’s something to talk about. The Riverfront Trail system in Greater Kankakee is about to take another big step forward. At Thursday’s annual meeting of the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein announced details of a $470,000 federal grant for Phase Two of the project.
• In the pop culture world: Colleen Loggins was all set to write a snarky commentary about Kelly Bensimon from Bravo’s reality TV show, “Real Housewives of New York,” but then she saw the past two episodes (this column was written before the third episode in a three-part series) and decided against it. Read more in Life today.
• In Outdoors: It is the seminal sight of summer, a boatload of people enjoying the weather and the water on Six Mile Pool in Kankakee. But that sight often fails to include life vests, a simple — and frequently overlooked — safety requirement that can mean the difference between life and death on the water.
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Barbara (Obloy) Partyka, 96, of Custer Park, died Wednesday (May 26, 2010) at her home.
Gladys I. Weppler, 79, of Buckley, died Wednesday (May 26, 2010) at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton.
Francis Louise Lawyer, 79, of Onarga, died at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday (May 25, 2010) at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton.
Earl “Dewey” “Du” Tinker, 82, of Montgomery, formerly of Cullom, died May 20, 2010.
Clarence E. Shott, 76, a resident of the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno for the past two years and formerly of Neoga, died Wednesday (May 26, 2010) at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee.
• Byrd is back. Samuel R. Byrd Jr., alleges his jurors were prejudiced and a jury decides today if he gets a new trial.
• Where do readers of The Daily Journal suggest as good dining places? Find out in today’s Best Bites column.
• Twenty-one individuals and eight relay teams will be competing in 32 events at the Illinois High School Association boys’ track state finals at EIU this weekend.
Ellis Charles Martin, 84, of Gilman, died at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday (May 25, 2010) at his home.
Elaine J. (Bick) Basham, 72, of Godley, died Tuesday (May 25, 2010) at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.
Max David Benfield, 52, of Marble Hill, Mo., formerly of Kankakee, died May 19, 2010, at his home.
