Press Releases

     Will County health officials said a third rabid bat has been reported. A woman in Crete was reportedly attacked by a bat and sustained two bite injuries.

      The woman was cleaning a swimming pool at a residence in Crete when a bat bit her on the neck and hand. While trying to protect herself from the attack, the women injured the bat and it fell to the ground.

Annual award by American Heart Association recognizes excellent workplace health

     The Will County Health Department has been named a Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association based upon outstanding workplace health. The annual award recognizes exceptional activities that promote health and well-being for employees. 

     “We are very proud to receive this award,” said Sue Olenek, executive director of the health department. “As a public health department, it is important our employees lead by example to demonstrate healthy living for our clients.” 

Workforce Services Division of Will County has announced its July workshop schedule. 

Workforce Services Division of Will County has announced the Mobile Workforce Center’s July schedule, which includes new stops at the Wilmington and Frankfort libraries.

At today’s meeting of the Will County Board, members voted unanimously to pursue additional funds to continue heroin abuse prevention efforts in Will County. The board approved the county executive’s recommended application for a Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.  The proposed work will utilize the Robert Crown Center for Health Education’s heroin prevention curriculum in the Lincoln Way High Schools and the Wilmington Community Unit School District. 

   Officials from the Will County Health Department participated in a statewide emergency exercise to test the county’s response to a potential anthrax contamination on Tuesday, June 14. The exercise simulated a release of anthrax and the process of distributing antibiotics to local residents.

     An emergency POD (point of dispensing) was opened at Lockport East High School to simulate a distribution center for the antidote and employees of the health department followed practiced procedures to safely allocate the antibiotics to residents of Will County. 

Music can pick you up, bring back memories and get your feet tapping or get you dancing in your seat. In some cases it can help you forget pain. 

Kim Hasbrouck of Joliet has earned the Professional in Human Resources designation, the world’s highest standard in the field for more than 40 years. 

     A rabid bat was found dead on June 2 at the Crete Public Library, in Crete, IL. The bat tested positive for rabies on June 3 by the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory. This bat has become Will County's second confirmed case of wildlife rabies for 2016. The first positive case was on May 5 in Braidwood. So far this year, there have been 15 confirmed cases across the state of Illinois.

     The bat was found in a locked, empty meeting room at the library. According to library officials, there was no known human contact with the bat, so no further safety precautions are recommended. 

Sixteen schools were honored by the Will County Land Use Department at the annual Earth Flag Award ceremony at the Rialto Square Theatre.