News

Area ‘abnormally dry’ headed for drought

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 7:12pm

    It’s been hot and dry this spring and summer, and those conditions are taking their toll on lawn and crops, with no real relief in sight.
    Southern Will and Kankakee counties are officially “abnormally dry,” the first phase of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Just a sliver of nearby Grundy County registers abnormally dry, but dry conditions can be found throughout the county, according to Kathy Wise at the Grundy County Farm Bureau
    “Oh my gosh, it’s dry,” she commented.

City will give VFW some fee relief

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 7:09pm

    Local veterans will get some fee relief when they go to rebuild the VFW hall, but when the city has a cost, the vets will have to pick up that tab.
    The hall built, owned and operated by the members of Malcolm J. Mayo Post 5422 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was damaged by fire in late April 2016. The building was demolished in anticipation of receipt of insurance funds to rebuild, the members voted on a building plan and paid their permit fee.

Approval pending for RidgePort heliport

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 7:07pm

    The approval process is nearly complete for a heliport to be constructed at the RidgePort Logistics Center.

Kinzinger aims for nuclear regulation relief

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 6:31pm

U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger, R-16, is taking advantage of the August recess to tour the district and get the word out about initiatives he hopes to head up when Congress returns to session in the fall.

On Aug. 9, Kinzinger made a stop at Exelon’s Braidwood Station, to announce plans he’s working on regarding HR 1320, also known as the Nuclear Utilization of Keynote Energy (NUKE) Act.

According to Kinzinger, the legislation creates a framework for Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) fees to increase transparency and provide long-term certainty for nuclear plants.

New faces at the head of the class

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 6:25pm

The streets were filled with school buses once again this morning (Wednesday), as students in the Reed-Custer School District filtered back into their schools for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Among the new faces at Reed-Custer High School are five new staff members, including two new ELA educators, a PE teacher, a math teacher, and a new school social worker.

The new teachers sat down with The Braidwood Journal earlier this week to discuss their plans for the upcoming school year.

 

Auto dealer looks to move to EZ Street

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 6:22pm

Braidwood’s EZ Street has been awaiting some new businesses for quite some time. Now, it looks like a specialty auto shop will move in.

On Aug. 6, the Planning and Zoning Board held a public hearing to rezone a parcel of land inside the subdivision from B-3 to I-1, and divide said parcel. The site will be used for expansion of a current auto body business already located in town.

Western Specialty Vehicles has a current location at the corner of Route 113 and the Frontage Road, in the old Chuck Dzak dealership.

The owner is looking to move.

Community comes together for National Night Out

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 6:21pm

 

Hundreds of folks came out to Old Smokey City Park on Tuesday, Aug. 7, for the fifth annual National Night Out event.

Braidwood joined with thousands of other communities in the coast to coast event designed to heighten drug prevention and crime awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

What’s coming to the market?

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 5:27pm

It’s time for another Market Fresh on Broadway farmers market in Coal City.  
    The fourth market of the season is set for Saturday,  Aug. 18,  from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  at Campbell Memorial Park, 580 S. Broadway. The market is hosted by the village of Coal City and Coal City Park Board. Market Fresh on Broadway is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    Locally grown produce, baked goods and handcrafted items are just a few of the items that will be available at this weeks market that welcomes a new produce vendor to the park.

Unit 1 charts future direction

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 5:25pm

It’s a blueprint for the future of Coal City schools.
    School leaders sat down last month to update the plan that gets everyone in the district working on a common set of goals.
    Developed through a collaborative process, the strategic plan not only sets the goals for the year ahead, but outlines objectives necessary for achievement.  Traditionally it includes four themes—health and human services, student learning, long range planning and Unit 1 community.

Use caution when heading back-to-school

Published by admin on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 5:24pm

School opens Friday and the Coal City Police Department reminds motorists to pay close attention to students as they walk and bike to school.
Motorists should be particularly alert around the early childhood center and elementary school where students are just starting to learn their route to school.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 131 Americans died every year in school transporation related crashes and 75 percent of crashes involve young pedestrians heading to and from school.