News

RCHS students plan for college and career paths

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:18pm

Students at Reed-Custer High School are digging deep to figure out their next steps after they leave high school.

On Sept. 15, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Danielle Valiente updated the board of education on the Naviance program—the new college and career platform at the high school.

The program provides students and staff with tools to help assess and develop essential competencies that will help those students be successful after high school.

Custer Fire Protection District continues to grow

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:16pm

A day of sunshine and warm temperatures was the perfect setting as the doors at the Custer Park Fire House swung open on Sept. 18, welcoming the public to learn more about their local first responders as they explored the fire house and its emergency response vehicles.

The Custer Fire Protection District held the open house over the weekend to showcase how the department has grown over the past two years, after fire and emergency medical response services were reinstated at the small rural district on May 1, 2019.

Bourbonnais woman returns to the scene of the crime

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:15pm

A woman caught on surveillance camera stealing batteries from the hardware store returned to the scene of the crime to take a few more.
On the afternoon of Aug. 19, the staff of Whitmore Ace Hardware reached out to Coal City Police to report the theft of nearly $500 in rechargeable lithium batteries, the suspect caught on camera placing them in her handbag.
Surveillance images of the woman checking out some of the smaller items she placed in her cart were shared with the police department who in turn posted them on their social media page and it got results.

Braidwood City Council approves assessment of water plant

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:14pm

The city of Braidwood will pay $15,000 for a risk and resiliency assessment, a requirement for all municipal water providers by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The members of the City Council approved the expenditure during their regular meeting on Sept. 14.

“It’s just a study we have to do for the water plant that is required by the state,” city administrator Tony Altiery explained.

America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law in 2018.

Art students get creative with Vincent van Crow

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:12pm

Vincent van Crow is taking up residence in Morris’ Chapin Park this week.
A creation of students from Coal City’s Early Childhood Center and Elementary Schools, Vincent is a 6 foot scarecrow with the face of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh.
The students—kindergarten to third grade—created the scarecrow during their art classes with teacher Julie Brncich for entry in the Scarecrow Stroll sponsored by the GFWC-IL Morris Woman’s Club in conjunction with the Grundy County Corn Festival.

Grundy County using ARP funds to assist public service agencies

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:11pm

Grundy County is committing over $700,000 to the community’s public safety and service agencies by agreeing to cover the cost of implementing new dispatching and records management software.
The cost will be covered through funds the county is receiving as part of the American Rescue Plan [ARP], a federal stimulus plan adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grundy County is expected to receive a total of $9.9 million in ARP funding, however utilization of those dollars must meet established criteria, and the software upgrade is considered an allowable expense.

Facade grants gain popularity in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:11pm

Few people knew about the city of Wilmington’s facade improvement grant program until just this past summer.

The program, established back in 2005, provides from the city a matching grant up to $5,000 for downtown building owners who make improvements on their building facades.

After a new business applied for the grant over the summer, three more quickly followed, with all four approved. Now even more are looking into the program.

Over half of Grundy’s eligible population vaccinated

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:11pm

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports just over half of Grundy County’s eligible population is vaccinated for COVID.
The data, released Monday, shows that approximately 55% of county residents age 12 years and older are fully vaccinated against the virus, that’s 47% of the county’s entire population.
Vaccination efforts continue through the county health department and local retail pharmacies.
A walk-up clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25 on the lawn of the Grundy County Courthouse, 111 E. Washington St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coal City Strong

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:10pm

As people strolled along Broadway taking a look at the classic cars lining the street, Coal City Mayor Terry Halliday stood before a group of residents and community leaders to talk about the state of the village.
For the first time in many years, the village set aside some time for a comprehensive review of the town’s growth paying particular attention to recent improvements and the people responsible for the town’s progress.

Wilmington's downtown parking plan moves to next phase

Published by admin on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 5:06pm

The city of Wilmington will move to the next phase of planning for the downtown parking lot.

During the Sept. 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, city leaders went over the second concept plan created by Reuttiger, Tonelli, & Associates.

The parking lot plan will combine two vacant city-owed properties that sit along the west side of North Water Street between Jackson and Van Buren Streets into much needed additional parking for downtown.