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Johnny Arteaga bought the property on 701 Jefferson Street in Mendota, formerly The Hub, to create Frankie’s Tavern. The No. 1 priority is to bring back quality fried chicken to Mendota in similar fashion as previous restaurants did for decades. Arteaga is ready to have Frankie’s associated with high quality food, drinks, atmosphere.

Local news
MENDOTA – After a few months of covering the windows and carrying wood and saws in and out of its doors, the Coffee Barn has its windows uncovered and coffee and donuts are now leaving with customers.
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Mendota to honor its fallen heroes on May 26

MENDOTA – The 2025 Mendota Memorial Day Program will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, at Restland Cemetery Memorial Gardens, Mendota. The Veterans' Memorial Council, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4079, its Auxiliary and American Legion Post 540 will be participating.

BBCO's Phalen named woodworking industry's Baldwin Award winner

MENDOTA — Black Brothers Company is honored to announce Director of Sales Todd Phalen has been bestowed the prestigious Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence by the Woodworking Industry Association.

Cardboard vessels take to waters of Lake Kakusha

MENDOTA – The annual Cardboard Boat Regatta saw Mendota High School teacher Joe Hughes’ physics class take their prized cardboard sailing apparatuses to Lake Kakusha on Wednesday, May 7.

Illinois state parks drew highest number of visitors in more than a decade

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois state parks saw more visitors in 2024 than any point in the past 15 years, according to new data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Obituaries
OBITUARIES
Shirley Maloy
JOLIET – With heavy hearts and fond memories, we announce the peaceful passing of Shirley Maloy, 72, on May 4, 2025, at Lightways Hospice & Serious Illness Care in Joliet.
Sarah T. Brandner
MENDOTA – Sarah T. Brandner, 27, of Mendota, passed away peacefully at home on May 13, 2025, with her loving family by her side.
Francis Miller
MENDOTA – Francis (Joe) Miller, 82, of Mendota, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Allure in Mendota.
George Zimmerman
EARLVILLE – George “Ted” Zimmerman, 96, of Earlville, passed away Friday, May 9, 2025, at Serenity Hospice in Oregon, Ill., after a brief illness of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Richard A. King
MENDOTA – Richard A. King, 84, of Mendota, passed away on May 3, 2025, due to heart failure.
Gwenda L. Strouss
MENDOTA – Gwenda L. Strouss, 87, of Mendota, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at Allure in Mendota.
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Sports

Elam's 3 first-place finishes lead MHS girls to 5th place in TRAC meet

Mariyah Elam

MONMOUTH – Three first-place finishes by Mariyah Elam powered the Mendota girls’ track team to a fifth-place finish in the Three Rivers Conference Meet on May 8 at Monmouth.

MHS coaches, administrators react to 'Right to Play' bill

Brock Zinke,
MHS athletic director

MENDOTA – In March, an Illinois House committee advanced a bill that allows high school student-athletes to participate in both school sports and non-school athletic activities in the same sport at the same time.

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Web Extras

AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders

Rescuers need to know ASAP where they

Natural disasters prompt a flood of social media posts. AI can help sift the wheat of helpful information from the chaff of chitchat and misinformation.

What's that racket? 4 car noises you shouldn't ignore

CheapInsurance.com encourages drivers to listen for car noises that can help diagnose a potential problem before it becomes a serious emergency situation.

Two-thirds of U.S. families live with a furry or feathery friend

(BPT) - It's no surprise that people love their pets. In fact, 97 percent of pet owners consider them part of the family, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. To celebrate our …

New study: Americans rate their financial happiness a 4.9 of out 10

(BPT) - On America's financial scorecard, people rate their happiness with their overall personal finances a 4.97 out of 10 — and scores need improvement across the board, as the majority (91%) …