Coal City Courant

Broadway planters can now be planted

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 4:29pm

Mums, ornamental cabbage, native grasses, maybe even some wildflowers will bloom from the many planters that line South Broadway, a decision that is in the hands of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The state agency, not the village, will decide the types of landscape materials that will be placed in the decorative planters, as well as the center median on the north side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail crossing for the fall season as the first planting is part of the overall contract.

Week four at warning level

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 4:25pm

Over one quarter of the state’s 102 counties are at warning level for the novel coronavirus, and although its metrics have improved, Grundy County remains on the list for a fourth consecutive week.
A county enters warning level when two or more of the eight COVID-19 risk indicators increase, and thus is the case for 30 counties including five in the north central region — Grundy, Bureau, Henderson, Henry and Warren, as well as neighboring Will County that is currently entering its second week of mitigation as a region.

Construction of $1.3 billion CPV facility to begin

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:19pm

Construction of a state-of-the-art generation facility in Goose Lake Township will begin now that final paperwork was signed Monday.
Competitive Power Ventures [CPV]. a partnership between GE Energy Financial Services, Osaka Gas USA, Axium Infrastructure and Harrison Street, is building what will be called CPV Three Rivers Energy Center which will generate electricity using natural gas.

Masks are the mandate

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:17pm

The use of a face covering is the rule in Illinois and businesses that fail to enforce the mandate could face a fine.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the emergency rule to enforce mask-wearing as the number of COVID-19 cases were on the rise, the measure seeks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On Aug. 11, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules [JCAR] upheld Pritzker’s rule mandating the use of face coverings across the state.

Great start to an unusual school year

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:15pm

It’s been one week since classes resumed in the Unit 1 School District. And, in the words of the superintendent, it’s been a “great, great start to the school year.”

Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg said he has heard nothing but positive comments from parents and students about the return to school.

Many parents, he said, have offered their thanks for the efforts the district took to ensure students could get back into the classroom. Bugg said many have commented how their child needed a schedule and the normalcy that school provides.

Grundy County’s positivity rate hits 9.9%

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:13pm

Grundy County remains at warning level for COVID-19 for a third consecutive week as it fell short of meeting three of the eight metrics the state utilizes to monitor increased risk.
The county’s positivity rate reached 9.9% according to the most recent data that reflects virus activity for a seven day period ending Aug. 15.

A new chief in town

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:11pm

Jim Seerup has battled his share of fires, aided those injured by accident, been sprayed by a skunk, worked through two tornados even when his own home was destroyed by the winds, and has even taken a few tumbles on the ice. Each time, he got back up to carry on with his duties.

Grundy County remains on COVID watch list

Published by admin on Tue, 08/18/2020 - 5:13pm

Grundy County is among 14 counties in the state at a warning level for COVID-19 and the local health department is asking residents to take precautions to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The county is on the state warning list for a second consecutive week for failing to meet three of the state’s metrics, one being the number of new cases per 100,000 in population.

Unit 1 welcomes new teachers

Published by admin on Tue, 08/18/2020 - 5:12pm

The Unit 1 School District opened its doors this morning and is starting the year with a few new teachers.
Joining the faculty for the 2020 school year are seven educators including an industrial arts instructor, band director and kindergarten teacher.
BECKY BAJAT—Bajat is joining the intermediate school as a full-time teacher after serving in a part-time post at the school last spring.

Unit 1 will limit facilities to in-district residents

Published by admin on Tue, 08/18/2020 - 5:11pm

Youth athletic clubs, dance studios and community theatre organizations are among outside groups that use school facilities for games, practices and performances.
But those groups will be limited on school usage during the coronavirus pandemic, as the Unit 1 Board of Education has amended its facility usage agreements to limit outside visitors.
The addendum takes effect during a pandemic, limiting school usage to just in-district organizations.