News

Prescription: Fire

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 8:35pm

    Far in the distance, a yellow-gray column of smoke rises above the treetops. A fire, for certain, but one that is beneficial.
    The U.S. Forest Service, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Preserve District of Will County all use prescribed or controlled burns to control invasive species in natural areas. The season runs from mid-October to mid-April, a period when most vegetation and many animals are dormant. The past season was a busy one here.

Park Board starting long-range plan

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 8:31pm

    Long-range strategic planning is about to begin for the Wilmington Island Park District.
    Last week, director Renee Chavez told the Board of Commissioners she’d attended a meeting of South Suburban parks and recreation professionals recently, and that strategic plans were a recurring theme in their discussions. She suggested the board consider starting the process, because a long-range plan is a requirement when seeking grants, which are starting to become available again, and it would provide the board and staff with goals and a way to reach them.

Coal City backs away from parking plan

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:39pm

    The yellow tape was pulled up, parking blocks loaded on a trailer and the signs designating the parkways between Park and Chestnut streets for reverse angle parking were hauled away Tuesday morning.
    Reverse angle parking is gone and it won’t be making a return as the Coal City Village Board approved a South Broadway reconstruction plan that includes traditional head-in angle parking.
    “Common sense prevails,” was the response a Coal City Courant reader posted on a social media post announcing the board’s decision.

Drama Club expands offerings for Coaler thespians

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:38pm

     Coal City High School’s Drama Club will present the fifth annual Broadway Revue, “60 Minutes to Broadway,” this weekend in the Coal City Performing Arts Center.
    This is the first year the club will serve as the sponsor of the musical revue set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4 and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5.
    Formerly under the sponsorship of Jane Swinney and Sherfy Browning, who both retired from the program this year,  Drama Club is now advised by Jack Micetich.

Payton to attend Boys State

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:36pm

    Wills Payton has been selected to represent Coal City High School and Coal City American Legion Post 796 at the 83rd annual session of Illinois Premier Boys State, June 9 to 15, at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
    American Legion Illinois Premier Boys State is a unique program for outstanding high school juniors that focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state. It is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction.

Are you hungry?

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:34pm

     People began lining up well in advance of the scheduled opening and it was a welcome sight for organizers of the Coal City Food Pantry.
    The first of two scheduled visits of the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s  (NIFB) Mobile Food Pantry took place in the parking lot of Coal City United Methodist Church last week with 60 families receiving baskets, boxes and bags full of food ,from fresh carrots and potatoes to hams and ground beef.

Making Coal City green again

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:31pm

In honor of Arbor Day, 170 volunteers, the majority  of them ComEd and Exelon Generation employees, headed to Coal City to continue the revitalization of the village’s green spaces.
It was the second time in three years volunteers came to plant trees. The goal was to begin restoring the tree canopy destroyed in the June 2015 tornado. The powerful EF-3 twister took down an estimated 50,000 trees as it passed through the village.
The Arbor Day planting was organized by the village, ComEd, Trees Forever, iTrees and Spring Grove Nursery.

Council says no to water rate increase

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 7:01pm

Water bills continue to be a hot topic among Braidwood residents who think their bills are a bit higher than acceptable. But despite those complaints filtering into City Hall, an increase in water rates has now been shot down by council members for a third year in a row.

On April 24, members of the City Council voted to cancel a planned 4 percent annual increase for water and sewer bills.

Teens get a taste of local government

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 6:59pm

Eighth graders from Reed-Custer Middle School got a look at how government runs from the inside, after a day spent with local leaders seeing the ins and outs of City Hall.

City Leaders hosted the third annual Turnabout Day on Tuesday, April 24.

Red Carpet Festival returns to Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 6:57pm

Marking a dozen years of celebration, the Red Carpet Corridor returns to Route 66 this weekend, with music, entertainment, food, and more set to enthrall visitors who stop in Braidwood along the 90-mile trek.

The 12th Annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival hits the Mother Road on Saturday, May 5.

And to help boost the event, Exelon’s Braidwood Station nuclear power plant has made a $1,500 donation to organizers.

Representatives from Exelon and the Braidwood Area Chamber of Commerce announced the donation and promoted the event during the April 24 City Council meeting.