Kankakee Times

Shannyn Dockery will be traveling to the state capital to address the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board on the dangers posed by the proposed Gotion lithium-ion battery plant in Manteno. She will speak in front of the board which is holding its 200th meeting on Friday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. in its boardroom located at One Natural Resources Way in Springfield.

“My name is Shannyn Dockery and some of you know that I raise Monarch Butterflies. My house is one of two Monarch Waystations listed in Manteno,” Dockery said in a letter to Manteno residents.

“I grow plants specifically for the Monarchs and other pollinators. Butterflies are very important to me and so are all animal and plant species. I spoke at the last Village meeting on Endangered and Threatened Species. Kankakee County has several in both categories, all that will be even more jeopardized if Gotion comes to town.”

“This Friday I will be traveling to Springfield to speak at the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. I will be informing the board about what is happening in Manteno. (Some are unaware of our town, let alone what the Governor, Mayor, and Village Board are trying to bring here.) I will inform the board of what materials Gotion will be using. And I will be reminding the board of the endangered and threatened species in Kankakee County.”

“The Kankakee Mallow plant and the Sheepnose Mussel should be a great concern for all. With Gotion using water from the Kankakee River, these two species will be in direct hit from Gotion. The Kankakee Mallow plant is only Native to the Langham Island and is only found on the island and one other place (due to people throwing seeds off the train in the early 1900's). The Sheepnose Mussel is also found in the Kankakee River and cannot escape from the toxic chemicals that will be used to alter the return water that goes back into the Kankakee River.”

“I hope that this will bring more attention to what could happen in our beautiful town, river, county, and state. I know that not a lot can be done environmentally right now. But if Gotion breaks ground, we will be ready.”

Dockery, an award-winning educator at Reavis Elementary School, received EarthKind’s inaugural Harmony Hero Award in 2021 for her exceptional contributions to ecology education according to Lansing Journal. Recognized as "Monarch Lady" for her devoted advocacy for the Monarch butterfly and commitment to ecological sustainability, she achieved national acclaim through the EARTH (Ecology, Awareness, Research, Technology, and Horticulture) program at Reavis Elementary. The prestigious award underscores her dedication to environmental education and the positive impact of her program on students.

In comments made to Kankakee Times, Dockery stated that the issue with the proposed Gotion plant should focus on maintaining the area's environment and ecological balance. She highlighted that endangered species could be under threat due to Gotion's use of the Kankakee River as a water source and disposal medium.

The mission of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board (ESPB/Board) is highlighted on its website; it focuses on protecting those species native to Illinois that face the danger of being lost from the wild. The creation of this Board was facilitated by the passage of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act in 1972; the Board is comprised of nine members appointed by the Governor and a non-voting member, the Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR/Department). Members must include at least six naturalists, with at least two zoologists, two ecologists, and one botanist.