News

Braidwood Chamber of Commerce dissolves

Published by admin on Tue, 12/18/2018 - 7:27pm

The Braidwood Chamber of Commerce is no more.

On Dec. 13, the members of the board officially voted to notify the state of Illinois of their intention to dissolve the chamber.

In November, all four board members submitted their resignation from the board, and voted on their intention to dissolve the civic group and local business network.

The members however balked at the claim that naughty behavior among the board had led to infighting and an organization that was no longer sustainable.

Zoning change could help revamp biz park

Published by admin on Tue, 12/18/2018 - 7:25pm

A developer is looking to breathe new life into the business park on Braidwood’s south side.

On Dec. 10, the planning and zoning board held a public hearing for the Route 66 Business Park, which sits along Route 53 just north of Division Street. The property is owned by local businessman Bob Jones, but is currently under contract to be sold to Mike Guinta.

Guinta wants to rezone the property from outlying business to industrial.

Students recognized for academic excellence

Published by admin on Tue, 12/18/2018 - 7:23pm

 

Nine Reed-Custer High School students have joined the ranks of thousands of students statewide recognized for outstanding academic achievement.

The Comet seniors were named last month as Illinois State Scholars.

On the list at RCHS were Michael Babjak, Alexa Cieslak, Jackson Crater, Casey Cromp, Maggie Meyr, Steven Patterson, Klayton Schott, Thomas Sforza, and Marissa Williams.

Thumbs up for new RCHS cafeteria

Published by admin on Tue, 12/18/2018 - 7:22pm

Future Comets at Reed-Custer High School will be able to spend their lunch hour in an upgraded cafeteria.

In November, school board president Greg Boyer said that the Building and Grounds Committee would recommend moving ahead with plans for an addition to the high school, to add a new kitchen and eating area, as well as access for a concession stand for football fields and other outdoor activities.

Election ballots shape up as petitions are filed

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 7:06pm

    The first day to file a nominating petition to get on the ballot in the April 2 Consolidated Election was Monday.
    Voters will elect representatives to serve on the City Council and the park, school and library boards.

You send your best guy into the hole

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 6:59pm

    Mike Nugent just can’t stop smiling. He retired from the city’s public works crew last week, and he has days ahead of him that are as lazy or busy as he wants them to be.
    Mayor Bob Wiedling hired Nugent to be a laborer on the city crew 29 years ago. Nugent had little in the way of qualifications and just five seasons as a laborer under his belt. But he wanted year-round work, and applied for the job.

TA gets out of the convenience store business

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 6:53pm

TravelCenters of America LLC announced the completion of its sale of 225 stand-alone convenience stores and certain other related assets last week. Included in the sale were gas stations in Wilmington, Braidwood, Diamond, Coal City, Elwood, Manhattan, Gardner, South Wilmington and Mazon.

What’s on your Christmas tree?

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 4:57pm

In 1966, Linda Wrightstone received a card from her boyfriend featuring a holographic bunny wrapped in Christmas lights. The card spelled love for the two, who eventually married.
Thirty years later the couple stopped by a Christmas shop where they spied an ornament that rekindled memories. It was of a bunny wrapped in Christmas lights.
Every year since, they have displayed the ornament and card on their Christmas tree. Without a doubt it is their favorite ornament.

Spencer moving back into a principal’s post

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 4:56pm

Coal City High School principal Mitch Hamann is set to retire at the close of the current school year.  In an effort to ensure a smooth administrative transition, the Unit 1 Board of Education has announced that associate principal Chris Spencer will fill the position when Hamann departs in June.
After several years in the dual role of principal for Coal City Elementary School and Early Childhood Center, Spencer assumed the duties of high school associate principal at the start of the current school year.

Unit 1 students, staff support monument makeover

Published by admin on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 4:54pm

In five days students at Coal City's Early Childhood Center consumed over 740 popsicles. The red, white and blue treats were sold to students with the proceeds going to support a makeover of the Community Veterans Monument.
Students at the elementary and intermediate schools also joined in on the popsicle fundraiser and with a little help from their teachers and school staff who paid $5 to wear jeans to work on a single day in November, the three buildings with some added help from the staff at Coal City Middle School raised over $2,000 for the cause.