Coal City Courant

Heritage Day set to make its debut

Published by admin on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 8:07pm

The 34th annual fall festival hosted by the GFWC-IL Coal City Junior Woman’s Club may have a new name and location, but organizers say the fun and friendship the community has come to know is staying the same.
After three decades in downtown Coal City, the club was faced with the decision of canceling the festival or moving to a new location as a detour around the reconstruction of South Broadway.

Five-day parking limit

Published by admin on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 7:43pm

The village of Coal City is putting a five-day limit on the parking of recreational vehicles, a change that comes with a series of code amendments recommended by town planners.
As proposed by the village’s Planning and Zoning Board and adopted by village trustees, residents will be allowed to park recreational vehicles in a front yard driveway as long as it is not blocking the sidewalk or view of the street, and during its season of normal operation, for a period of no more than five days in preparation for a trip.

Local teacher wins drag racing series in a family affair

Published by admin on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 7:42pm

Driving in a field of 72 cars, local drag racer and Coal City High School history teacher Benjamin Baer won his yearly series on Sept. 22, achieving a goal set in 2004.
Baer races with Midwest Super Comp (MWSC), a drag racing group founded in 1988 that travels to tracks in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. The sport is a family affair for Baer, as he competes against his father Bill Baer, of Braidwood, in the series, and his father-in-law Ken Messenger, of Wilmington, serves as his crew chief.

Students connect with coffee

Published by admin on Tue, 09/24/2019 - 7:40pm

The Coal City Transitions Program, established in 2016, believes in fostering independence and self-determination skills to empower young adults within the program to increase skills to be productive citizens within their school and community.
Transitions participants are involved in gaining daily living skills, vocational training, employment, community participation, volunteering, and numerous real life applications.
Over several years, students have had a homemade soap business, a jewelry business and raised chickens to sell the farm fresh eggs all as program projects.

Coaler pride set to shine at homecoming

Published by admin on Tue, 09/24/2019 - 7:38pm

Homecoming is a fall tradition at high schools across the county, and here in Coal City the Coalers are preparing for a busy week of activities and athletic competitions.
For senior Cody Rogers, homecoming is the one time of year to, “go full out high schooler.”
It’s the one week during the school year, he said where academics and extra-curriculars take a back seat just really enjoying high school, having fun and spending time with peers.

GEDC putting Coal City in the limelight for growth

Published by admin on Tue, 09/24/2019 - 7:35pm

The Grundy Economic Development Council (GEDC) strives to attract and retain economic development throughout the county.
In order to provide potential investors with the information needed to make informed decisions, the GEDC has compiled information on the demographics of the county from infrastructure to a skilled workforce.
What began in 1993 as a division of the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the GEDC later broke off into its own entity with a mission to increase jobs and investment through private/public funding.

Dunkin’ moving closer to Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 09/24/2019 - 7:34pm

You might not smell doughnuts yet but Dunkin’ is closer to establishing a restaurant in the village of Coal City, and a deal could be struck as early as this week.
Village Administrator Matt Fritz reports Dunkin’, the new corporate title for Dunkin’ Donuts, has provided the village will a letter of interest in purchasing 25 S. Broadway, a .17-acre parcel.
“Everything we are hearing from them is good,” Fritz said.

Accounting for all funds

Published by admin on Tue, 09/24/2019 - 7:33pm

At the close of fiscal year 2019 the Unit 1 School District had just over $812,000 in its various activity funds. As new requirements come with the way those funds are reported on an annual basis, the district is making some changes of its own.
Jason Smith, the district’s chief school business official, indicated at the board of education’s September meeting that the rules are changing with respect to how activity funds work and more discussion would be held when the members meet for their monthly study session.

Diamond to host electronic recycling

Published by admin on Fri, 09/20/2019 - 2:38pm

The village of Diamond will host a free electronic waste recycling event tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon. The drop off location will be in the east parking lot of Coal City Cob Company, the intersection of North Will Road and East Stellon Street by the village water tower. 

This event is open to Diamond residents only, proper identification will be required to verify residency. 

All electronics are accepted—computers, televisions, monitors, cell phones, printers, keyboards, microwaves, digital clocks, etc. 

Diamond giving its gaming dollars to residents

Published by admin on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 8:18pm

Video gaming has added more than $345 million to municipal budgets since the first machines were turned on in September 2012.
Some municipalities utilize gaming revenue to bolster the general fund, others put the funds toward road repairs, community programming and beautification.
The village of Diamond has decided to give its share back to residential taxpayers in the form of a municipal utility credit.