News

Trucker: ‘Help us out, put up a sign’

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 8:14pm

His trip started 712 miles to the east, in North Carolina, along a route he’s driven for years. But this time, when he came through Wilmington, he got a ticket for driving it.
Kenny Hall drives a long-haul truck, and was headed to one of the warehouses in the CenterPoint Intermodal Center. He said he’s the second driver that he knows of who was ticketed by Wilmington police last week for using the city portion of Peotone Road to get to Route 53 to access North River Road and reach Interstate 55.

Flu bug hits the young in number

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 8:12pm

The letter came home from school recently, reminding parents that if their child is feeling the symptoms of flu, home is where they should be. That’s sage advice, since the predominant strains of the influenza virus are more likely to affect children and young adults.
According to Stevens Intermediate School principal Venita Dennis, more than the normal number of students are absent due to illness, although the number of kids out is not unusual for this time of year — flu season, which can last as long as October to May, but typically peaks in December, January of February.

Fishing, bowling are new school activities

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 8:07pm

The School Board approved a bass fishing club with the potential of becoming a sanctioned activity for high school students, and a bowling club at the middle school level is pending approval.
Middle School principal Adam Spicer told the board that the parents of middle school aged students received an email from the district trying to gauge the level of student interest in bowling.
Tom Doud, the owner of Riverfront Lanes, has been encouraging the district to take a look at bowling for a long time, Spicer said.

Drama Club to stage Miscast Cabaret

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 6:14pm

Students from Coal City’s Theatre Department will perform songs from roles in which they would never be cast as Coal City High School’s Drama Club presents its inaugural Miscast Cabaret.
The fundraiser to support Drama Club activities will take place at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 in the Coal City Performing Arts Center. Refreshments will be served during intermission.

Coal City awarded $500,000 to improve housing

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 6:12pm

A federal grant designed to help low to moderate income homeowners improve their living conditions has been awarded to the village of Coal City.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO) announced last week that 13 communities would share $6.3 million provided through the Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation program.
In its second attempt to secure funding for its residents, the village was awarded $500,000

Eliminating barriers

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 6:11pm

Improving the quality of life for all Grundy County residents has been the objective of Illinois Valley Industries since it first open in 1968. The non-profit service agency, assists adults with intellectual, developmental, sensory, physical and emotional barriers to define who they are, what they want to do and how they direct their lives through vocational, educational, social and residential services, according to Stephanie Kessler, the agency’s executive director. In a bit of a history lesson, Kessler explains the agency got its start as Illinois Valley Sheltered Workshop.

Nationally certified

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 6:09pm

In the 20 years since announcing its first National Board Certified Teacher, the Unit 1 School District has eight on staff and nine more in the process.
National Board Certification is presented by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to advance the quality of teaching and learning through a series of standards based on what teachers should know and be able to accomplish in their classroom.

Early morning fire destroys garage

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 6:06pm

A faulty space heater is the likely cause of a fire that broke out in a garage early Tuesday morning.
Coal City Fire Protection District personnel were called to the 400 block of South Mazon Street at 12:51 a.m. when a passerby notified authorities of a fire in a detached garage in the alley behind a residence near the intersection of Mazon and Center streets.
Fire units were on the scene in minutes and the fire was under control within 15 minutes of the initial call out.

Board OKs cafeteria, construction to begin in spring

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 4:30pm

It’s official. Reed-Custer High School is getting a new cafeteria, and students will be eating in it as early as the 2020-2021 school year.
The Reed-Custer Board of Education voted last Wednesday to approve $5.5 million in construction bids for the project, but the total bill is expected to land in the $7.4 million range after factoring in owner costs and fees.
Construction on the 8,805-square foot addition is set to begin this spring.

Vote on new Public Works supervisor divides council once again

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 4:28pm

The Braidwood City Council was split during the Jan. 14 meeting on whether or not to approve the appointment of a new Public Works supervisor.
Fay Smith, commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements, made the motion to appoint Gary Phoebus as Public Works supervisor, but Mayor Bob Jones claimed that it was a job he wasn’t interested in.
“Why are we putting Gary (Phoebus) in charge? He doesn’t even want the job,” Jones said.
“He’s in line for it. That’s what we’re going by,” Smith said.