Coal City Courant

Elam to compete in junior high rodeo

Published by admin on Tue, 06/04/2019 - 7:04pm

Brooklynn Elam, 12, a seventh grade student at Coal City Middle School, has earned a position on the Illinois state/provincial National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Huron, SD June 23-29 to compete at the 15th National Junior High finals rodeo in the pole bending, barrel racing and breakaway roping competitions.
Elam is the daughter of Taushia and Brian Elam, of Mazon.

Best inks new contract

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:24pm

Coal City Police Chief Tom Best is on board for another four years as the village’s top cop.
A 26-year veteran of the police department, Best has served the past seven as its chief, and last week he was re-appointed by Mayor Terry Halliday and his contract was approved by the Coal City Village Board.
Best expressed his appreciation to the mayor and board, noting he’s excited for the opportunity to continue his service to the community and the men and women of his department.

Assumption Parish honors long-time music director

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:22pm

Parishioners and friends of Coal City’s Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church offered their appreciation to the church’s long-time music director with the dedication of a stained glass window.
On Sunday, May 19, the congregation surprised Rita Wise with the unveiling of a stained glass panel dedicating a window in the church narthex in honor of her service and sacrifice to the church.
Wise has served Assumption Parish since the 1980s and she plans to continue serving in this capacity.

Summer kick-off set for Saturday

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:21pm

It’s the last week of school, temperatures are climbing and the village of Diamond is set to get the summer season underway with its first ever Summer Kick-off Celebration on Saturday, June 1.
An event for all ages, activities will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the town park. Local resident Matt Leman will be creating balloon sculptures from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jim Neci will bring his cold blooded creatures to town for a show at 1 p.m. Among the creatures slated to join him in the park are Bubba, a 10-foot alligator, a decades-old tortoise and snakes.

Goose Lake Prairie Cabin Fest is Saturday

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:20pm

The Cragg Cabin at Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area will provide the setting for the 34th annual Cabin Festival.
Set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, Cabin Fest is a day to celebrate pioneer living on the prairie in the 1800s.
Re-enactors in period dress will demonstrate and teach throughout the day. Activities and demonstrations will include old style beekeeping, blacksmithing, crochet, drop spindle angora spinning, flax spinner, quilting, knitter, and tanner.

Hamann finds a home

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:18pm

“In 1986, a young business education teacher with what I hear was a pretty awesome blonde permed hairdo, was hired as a business education teacher and coach at Coal City High School.
“Since that time, Mitch Hamann has worn many hats as a teacher, coach, club sponsor, mentor teacher and union building representative for the high school.

Unit 1 to host summer camps

Published by admin on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 7:16pm

The Unit 1 School District will host a series of youth and high school athletic camps this summer.
The various camps will be held at Coal City High School. The cost to attend is $35 for in-district students and $40 for out-of-district students, unless otherwise noted.
Programs will begin next week as summer weight training for high school students gets underway Monday, June 3, and continues until July 25. Weight training will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. in the high school weight room Monday through Thursday. The cost is $25 per student.
Camps include:

Enlisted Coalers

Published by admin on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 7:32pm

“Being a soldier is more than courage, it's sacrificing yourself for something greater than yourself.”
The anonymous quote accurately depicts seven members of the Coal City High School class of 2019, as each has decided to serve their country as members of the armed forces.
Graduates Joshua Chubb, Walker Hanson, Benjamin Hawkins, Hussien Knittel, Brian Robbins and Kameron Ruhrup intend to join the military, joining fellow graduate Sean McGouirk who enlisted in the Army National Guard in summer 2018 completing his basic training at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri.

Bringing America’s heroes home

Published by admin on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 7:31pm

An effort is underway to bring American’s war heroes home, and the cause hits close to home with one local veteran.
Last September, Charles Brown received a letter from a Department of Defense contractor conducting genealogical research. The inquiry was to determine if he was the son of Charles O. Brown and thus the nephew of John N. Brown.
“John N. Brown was indeed my uncle. From my earliest memory his picture in an Army officer’s uniform was displayed in my home,” said Brown, who serves as commander of St. Juvin Post 1336 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Be a lifesaver, skip the straw

Published by admin on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 7:30pm

On a recent family trip to Texas, Izzy Anderson attended a presentation on the rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtles, and the data presented prompted her to share her new found knowledge with the students in her fourth grade class.
What Anderson shared with her peers about the dangers plastics, namely drinking straws, pose to sea turtles prompted the students in Besty Cowherd’s class to take action.