Farmers Weekly Review

By Karen Haave

Monee will celebrate police officers on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the third annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

There will be free food, a fundraiser, and any K-9 attending will be given a Pup Swag Bag.

The Will County Narcan and 911 dispatch are expected to participate, and organizers said other groups are “talking about showing up,” but have not verified yet.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Although the event has been held at Fireman’s Park for the past two years, this time, because of construction underway for the new pavilion, it will take place at the Monee Reservoir, 27341 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Organizers suggested that participants “bring their fishing poles” and take advantage of the reservoir.

Monee Police Officer Steven Crescenti will again demonstrate his physical fitness, doing 245 “dips,” one for every officer down in 2022.

“Lots of different events will be going on with that again,” noted Monee Trustee Scott Youdris, who serves as public safety liaison for the village. “It’s a chance to thank the officers in our community for the fine work that they all do.

“If you see our officers on the street, wave, say ‘Hi’, stop and talk to them a little bit and make sure you thank them for the fine job that they do.”

Village Trustee John Henson said the Blue Line Parade line-up is at 10 a.m. at Sheepdog Firearms Academy, 25812 S. Sunset Drive in Monee.

“Anybody is welcome to be in the parade,” said Henson, who coordinates the event each year with his wife, Tracey, and Will County Board Member Julie Berkowicz, R-Naperville.

“Decorate up your car, your truck, your motorcycle, squad cars, military vehicles, anything is allowed there. We are even going to bring out a Blue Line race car, so anybody’s allowed to be there.

“They are going to have coffee and donuts. At 10:30 or 10:45 they’ll be leaving. They’ll be going across Monee-Manhattan Road, down Rt. 50 to Pauling, so if you can’t make it, stand out on the sidewalks and wave, and wave your flags and let the officers know that you appreciate them.”

Henson emphasized that the event is “for any and all law enforcement from anywhere. It is just called L.E.A.D in Monee, well, because it’s in Monee.”

Admission to L.E.A.D. is free and open to the public.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 815-412-0109.

Karen Haave is a freelance reporter.