It 's a Fall celebration for the Village of Manteno. Weekend fun with a lot of activities, food and smiles – typical of such an event anywhere.  But Manteno’s Oktoberfest, this year, is tainted a bit by a boycott.

Local citizens, including vendors protested the Gotion Company’s involvement. The Chinese battery manufacturing firm was a chief sponsor of the Fest, and several people expressed their reluctance to support participation. Some vendors chose to stay away or withdraw, fearing negative feedback or even retaliation because of the two sides created by the Gotion controversy.

There’s pending litigation amongst Manteno citizens and Village officials over Gotion being granted approval to locate their plant – in a former K-Mart warehouse just west of I-57.

94.1 WGFA