News

Everyday Hero

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:50pm

After years of constructing custom costumes, the Coal City Theatre Department had built up a stockpile of remnant fabric, and last spring it was used to help essential workers and community residents protect themselves from the coronavirus.

Rather than let the leftover fabrics from shows like Les Miserables, Tuck Everlasting, The Lion King and Mary Poppins sit on a shelf, theatre director Jack Micetich gathered it all up, along with elastic and other necessary notions to put together face mask kits.

Nationally recognized teachers

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:46pm

The Unit 1 School District announced its first National Board Certified Teacher 21 years ago. In the years that have past more than a dozen have achieved certification—nine of them currently on staff.

Board of Education recognizes state speech qualifiers

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:42pm

It’s been a long time since a group of students sat before the Unit 1 Board of Education.

“I can’t tell you how exciting it is to actually have people at our meeting to recognize in person again, that’s very exciting,” Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg said, on a night that six members of the high school speech team were in attendance to celebrate another successful season of speaking.

Graduation, prom, promotion in planning stages

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:40pm

Coal City High School’s senior class will graduate in four weeks and as their final days of high school tick down, building administrators and staff are preparing for the pomp and circumstance.

Principal Chris Spencer announced in a letter to parents last week that graduation will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 16.

“At this time, the plan is to have graduation outside with the students on the athletic field spaced out six feet apart,” Spencer said. In the event of inclement weather the ceremony will be moved inside.

Pandemic relief to aide return to school plans

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:38pm

The Unit 1 School District will receive an addition $1.3 million in pandemic relief dollars, and school officials are prioritizing a spending plan.

“The purpose of this money, as it comes down from the federal government, is for school districts like us to mitigate the impact of COVID-19,” said Jason Smith, the district’s chief school business official.

Will County vaccine clinics will continue to operate as scheduled

Published by admin on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 2:39pm

After the CDC and FDA pressed the pause button on the use of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine for COVID-19, health department officials in Will County said that while they’ll follow suit, the difference will be minimal.

The Will County Health Department announced on Tuesday they would follow federal and state health agencies recommendation to immediately pause the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Monbrum, Mikula moving into administration

Published by admin on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 12:31pm

Two Unit 1 educators will be leaving their classrooms to assume administrative positions in the district.

Rodney Monbrum, a physical education and health instructor at the high school and Corey Mikula, a middle school math teacher, will assume the assistant principal positions in their respective buildings beginning July 1.

The transfer from classroom teachers to front office personnel was approved by the Board of Education on Wednesday [April 7].

Township races decided Tuesday

Published by admin on Wed, 04/07/2021 - 9:12am

The unofficial results show the following candidates as winners. Vote totals [election day and early voting] are next to each candidate.

FELIX TOWNSHIP

SUPERVISOR

* John P. D’Arcy—357

CLERK

Jennifer Ness—188
* Megan Wharrie—271

HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER

David W. Allen—205
* John T. Trotter—268

TRUSTEE [four elected]

* John O. D’Arcy—205
Philip D. Kodat—143
Karin S. Kodat—132
Randy Ness—167
* Kyle Oakes—212
*Ryan Wharrie—300
*Chad Grunwald—229
Charles L. Boyd—194

New mayor in Carbon Hill, Unit 1 Board of Education to welcome new member

Published by admin on Wed, 04/07/2021 - 8:44am

Carbon Hill residents have selected current village commissioner Adam Lee Johnson as their new mayor. He will assume the position from Rich Jurzak who did not seek re-election.
Unofficial vote totals show Johnson handily defeated his challenger Gary I. Smith in a vote of 81 to 5. Smith also serves on the Village Board.

In the five way race for the three available seats on the Unit 1 Board of Education, two incumbents and one newcomer were the choice of voters.

Reed Township voters choose Board of Supervisors

Published by admin on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 10:34pm

In the race for the Reed Township Board of Supervisors, with three of three precincts reporting, the unofficial results show the following candidates are the winners. Vote totals are next to each candidate.

Supervisor

John Guistat (R) - 333

➜ Sherrill Knoor (D) - 431

Clerk

➜ Angie Hutton (D) - 543

Sue Grygiel (I) - 216

Assessor

➜ Melanie Noramczyk (D) - 563

Highway Commissioner