Coal City Courant

Deemed dangerous, structures may come down

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 6:45pm

     In the months that followed a strike by an EF-3 tornado the village of Coal City focused on cleaning up the town and removing damaged properties from the landscape, and nearly three years later the effort continues.
    On a recommendation from the village administrator, trustees agreed to move forward with enforcement action on two residential properties.

Musical veterans land big roles in “Les Miserables”

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 6:43pm

In the third installment of Cast Chats for Coal City High School's upcoming production of "Les Miserables," the newspaper sat down with female leads Lauren Phillips and Gabby Cinotto.
Both students will perform as selfless women who are willing to do anything to protect those they love.
Phillips character, Eponine, is love-struck for her best friend, Marius. She is the daughter of the Thenardier’s, although Eponine is more of a protagonist and is willing to lay down her life for her friends.

Unit 1 to host annual Family Wellness Night

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 6:40pm

     Wellness comes in many forms—physical, mental, emotional, financial and workplace to name a few, and all will be covered at this year’s Family Wellness Night.
    The Unit 1 School District Wellness Committee is once again preparing for its annual wellness expo, the seventh to be presented by the district.

Fourth, fifth graders to stage “Beauty and the Beast”

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 6:39pm

     It’s a tale as old as time, and this spring an all student cast will tell the story of a beauty and a beast.
    The story, based on Disney’s Academy Award winning animated feature, will play out on the Coal City Performing Arts Center stage as fourth and fifth graders from Coal City Intermediate School present “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.”
    Zachary Terry has been cast as the prince who is turned into a beast under a spell cast by an enchantress to be played by Bridgette Feeney.

Vehicle acquisition draws ire of trustee

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 6:38pm

    The acquisition of vehicles for the Coal City Police Department drew the ire of a village trustee and an apology from the town’s chief of police.
    Coal City’s long-term capital improvement plan calls for squad car purchases in the next two budget cycles—one vehicle in 2019 and two in 2020. But as calendar year 2017 drew to a close, Police Chief Tom Best learned two area businesses were interested in supporting the department by providing it with a free vehicle.

Backpack Program expands offering

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 6:58pm

     Once a month volunteers gather at Coal City Elementary School to pack  healthy food items into bags for school children needing a little extra sustenance.
    Just over one dozen volunteers came together on Monday to put together the  950 bags of food needed to carry out the mission of the Coal City Backpack Program.
    Since being established in 2014, the program’s mission has been to help children in need begin each school week with a full heart and nourished body so they grow in mind, body and spirit.

Coal City TIF starting to take shape

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 6:54pm

    It took the village  of Coal City seven years to establish a tax increment financing (TIF) district, and its taken about an equal number of years for it to see growth.
    TIF was introduced as a means for stimulating economic development within the village, a way to establish and increase employment opportunities, expand and diversify the local tax base, manage growth and increase overall value and quality of life for the community.

New year, new grant cycle

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 6:53pm

     Community Foundation of Grundy County has announced it is now accepting grant applications for funding in 2018.
    Not-for-profit organizations providing services in Grundy County are welcome to submit applications for grant funding at any time of the year. Grant applications are reviewed monthly on the first Wednesday. Therefore, grant applications are due by the fourth Monday of the month. Application deadlines for the coming year are Feb. 26, March 26, April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26 and Dec. 24.

Rogers, Grove take the stage as thieving Thenardiers

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 6:51pm

     In the second installment of Cast Chats for Coal City High School’s upcoming production of “Les Miserables,” the newspaper sat down with the Thenardiers’—Cody Rogers and Kaylee Groves.
    Rogers, a sophomore, plays the conniving Thenardier, an obnoxious con-man that runs an inn alongside his wife, Madame Thenardier, played by Groves.
    Rogers’ character also presents many problems for Jean Valjean and numerous other characters with his malicious means of getting his way and his pursuit of vengeance.

Post 1336, CCMS partner on veterans project

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 6:49pm

St. Juvin Post 1336 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) once again partnered with Coal City Middle School to send holiday greetings to area veterans.
The Cards for Vets program started in 2013  when Post 1336 quartermaster Jim Richards asked the activity director at one of the skilled care facilities members were visiting if the veterans there received Christmas cards.Post members were at the facility to present service logo tapestry throws to veterans.