Plano

Plano Mayor Mike Rennels signed a proclamation designating May as ‘Motorcycle Awareness Month.’ The proclamation celebrated the 38 years of A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, Inc. and the more than 353,000 registered motorcyclists in the state.

Each of the school’s teachers danced out of the school building wearing giant inflatable costumes, ranging from smiling sharks, a chicken jockey, a pink axolotl, a unicorn, a hopping cow, Olaf from Frozen and an upside-down clown.

Teachers and staff members surprised students at Emily G Johns Elementary School in Plano with an inflatables race on Tuesday, May 27. 2025 after the all-school field day to celebrate the end of the school year.

“Anytime we can bring people into our school to share things, the kids and the community benefit so much from it,” Shelley Schmidt said.

Featuring educational activities in both English and Spanish, the booklets are being distributed to schools, libraries, and early childhood centers throughout Kendall and Grundy counties.

Take a trip through time in a historic walking tour in downtown Montgomery. The Historic Preservation Commission is hosting a free walking tour at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 7.

The Indian Valley Theatre recently named Grace Anderson, Keygan Hake, Asher Munar and Brendan Massey recipients of the 2025 IVT Mimi Bryan Memorial Scholarship.

In honor of Memorial Day, a special commemorative lunch for older adults and their caregivers is being hosted at the Plano Methodist Church, 219 N. Hale Street, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 29.

All donations received during the distribution of red poppies is returned to the veterans through the organizations’ service programs.

The Special Olympics of Illinois helps provides athletes with year-round training, personal and social development activities and health education opportunities.

The Plano Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the high school.

The Plano 88 board appointed Mike Jernigan to fill a two-year term that was left vacant after no candidate ran for it during the April 1 consolidated election.

Community members are invited to attend the Plano Food Pantry on Friday, May 16, from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Members of Open Roads Chapter ABATE of IL, Inc. attended the Freedom and Awareness Rally in Springfield on May 4. 

Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville will open on May 24 with new features for guests.

The city council recently approved increasing water rates by 15%, effective May 1, 2025. The water rates charged to seniors will remain unchanged.

The Plano Police Department is covering the first $100 in ice cream servings to community members who attend their “Custard with Cops” event at the Culvers in Plano, located at 6400 Lakeside Road.

The historic Edith Farnsworth House outside Yorkville is offering special passes on the first Saturday of each month from May through November allowing visitors to walk the grounds.

Before construction on the above-ground work can begin, like replacing the curbs and gutters to make the walkways more user-friendly, extensive underground work must be completed.

The Plano city council approved a $29,850 water model study and analysis by the engineering firm HR Green Inc.

To fill a vacancy, a seventh member of the school board will likely be appointed in early May.

A regional youth workforce development foundation has been awarded $1.1. million by the state to help provide career training and mentorship to students, including in Kendall County.

Reports of a threatening message inscribed on a bathroom wall at Plano High School promoted a safety investigation by school authorities.

Former U.S. Marine Corps veteran Steven Olesky celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the arcade playing area of his Plano restaurant Planet Pizza. Planet Pizza is located at 216 Mitchell Dr., Plano, just outside of Yorkville.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin determined that the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and the Plano Police Department acted appropriately in the shooting of a suspect in a Plano homicide in September.

Plano Outlet Store celebrated its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this month. The store offers a variety of outdoorsman recreational products at discounted prices, from hunting gear to fishing supplies.

A variety of items will be on sale as part of a rummage sale at the Plano American Legion this May.

A school librarian in Wheaton is donating one of her kidneys to her best friend’s father.

Sixteen people tried their luck at ham bowling with Dylan Holland winning the grand prize of a 12 pound ham by bowling 172.

Ten Plano High School students competed in the Illinois Design Educators Association State Competition, with eight taking home some medals, including several for best in state.

The Kendall County Community Food Pantry serves not only Kendall County, but DeKalb and LaSalle counties as well. It serves an average of 450 families a week.

Open Roads ABATE of IL, Inc. hosted a Progressive Dinner for its members last March.

Incumbents are returning to the Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees.

Plano School District 88 board is set to maintain its president, welcome back a familiar face and embrace a new one. The updated voting totals include mail-in-ballots.

Writer groups, crafting projects, and kids programing coming up at the Plano Library.

Plano High School is performing “High School Musical: On Stage” for it’s spring musical the weekend of April 11 at Plano High School.

Made in Plano, the "Coolest Thing Made in Illinois" is a pump that was recently used to fight wildfires in California

Plano School District 88 is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the board to serve the remainder of a two-year term.

It’s looking like incumbents will rule the day for Waubonsee Community College board of trustees.

With all precincts reported, the Plano School District 88 board is poised to maintain its president, while welcoming back a familiar face and embracing a new one.

Improvements will include a comprehensive update of both cardio machines and weight training equipment.

Open Roads ABATE of IL Chapter had five representatives – Sam Mataya, Diana Rebechini, Tracey Supan, Cliff Oleson and Linda Oleson – attend Legislative Day in Springfield on March 19 in Springfield. They met with elected officials and shared motorcycle issues with them. 

Concrete is being poured at Fox Valley Family YMCA's $16 million new East Branch facility in Bristol, and investments are being made at their Plano and Sandwich locations. With the expanding services, they are keeping a close eye on federal uncertainties.

The Plano Community School District recently honored 11 exceptional high school students who each were named State Scholars for their stellar academic work.

A Plano man has been arrested on charges of being in possession and disseminating child sexual abuse images.

The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois, which provides services dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation from locations like the Beecher Center in Yorkville, is joining a nation-wide campaign to energize fundraising and volunteers.

Charles Schneider: I believe in local control to determine use of cell phones and technology in the classroom and at school. It is best addressed as a school handbook procedure or school policy.

Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last enslaved people in the country were informed of their freedom.

Sheila Schimandle-Tricarico on a top issue for the district: Transparency - I do not believe that our stakeholders are informed of important information or allowed to be involved in expressing their opinion with a response

Plano High School recently recognized 31 outstanding students at a recent board meeting.