When people need a police officer, firefighter or animal control officer, a calm voice often is what callers need to hear.

In the minds of the Kankakee Public Works crew, they only did what needed to be done and that was helping a neighbor in need.

The Aroma Park Fire Protection District was put to test after the March 10 tornado that tore through the small Kankakee County community, as this storm hit so close to home for them and their families. Yet the department of 25 personnel, including both part-time and paid on-call.

In the days following the March 10 tornado in Kankakee County, the Grace Christian Academy teacher discovered she was capable of more than she knew; that teacher was Christine Johnson.

The Kankakee girls 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams, both qualified for state at the IHSA Class 3A Bloom Sectional on Wednesday, as did Trinity Noble in the 100 meters, Essence Bell in the 200 meters and Pyper Krieger in the discus.

Milford/Cissna Park's Addison Lucht won three events and qualified for state in a fourth, Clifton Central advanced a plehtora of athletes and Bishop McNamara swept the spring relays at the Class 1A Salt Fork Sectional. That and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

One of two seniors recognized pregame alongside Evi McIntyre, Bradley-Bourbonnais' Lydia Hammond hit a three-run home run and was brilliant in the circle as the Boilermakers blanked Sandburg in Thursday's senior night and SWSC finale.

Local police departments in Bourbonnais, Kankakee and Manteno will be taking to the rooftops of area Dunkin' locations to raise funds for Special Olympics Illinois and the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics bright and early this Friday.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes there is one way to make a connection.

A 48-year-old St. Anne man died when his motorcycle collided with a SUV on Illinois Route 1 at 4000 South Road Tuesday.