News

Reed-Custer finances in top shape

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 7:15pm

The Reed-Custer School District remains in a strong financial position.

On Jan. 16, the district’s financial audit for the 2018 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, was presented to the members of the Board of Education.

The audit produced an unmodified audit opinion, the highest audit insurance the district can receive.

“Your financial statements present fairly in all the general respects,” said Nick E. Cavaliere, CPA, CFE, a partner with the district’s auditor Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. “That’s what you want to hear, that you’ve had a clean audit.”

City: PACE program successful so far

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 7:13pm

After a half year of offering rides to folks who need a lift around Braidwood and beyond, the city is reporting that the program is showing signs of success.

Earlier this month, city officials announced that rides have increased to near-daily use on Braidwood’s PACE bus, a passenger van leased to the city for public transportation use.

“It’s been six months since we got the PACE bus running, and it’s been terrific,” said city administrator Don Labriola. “We give rides every day, the wheel chair lift is working fine. It’s been a great success.”

Students lauded for achievements

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 7:12pm

The Reed-Custer School Board took a moment this month to honor several Comet seniors who have gone above and beyond in academic and extracurricular achievement.

On Jan. 16, the board recognized RCHS senior Casey Cromp, who was selected to the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All State Conference, which meets this week in Peoria.

District to tweak guidelines for social media groups

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 7:09pm

The Reed-Custer School Board will consider a change to district policies with regard to how teachers and staff use social media to represent the school.

On Jan. 16, superintendent Mark Mitchell presented a draft of a change to the district’s policy on usage and conduct related to social media and personal technology. The change would add language designed to help district administrators keep up with the multitude of social media pages that serve as information centers for various groups, clubs, sports and activities.

School district received its federal funding

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:49pm

    Two fourth grade classes at Stevens Intermediate School missed out on their field trips to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Tuesday, when they were supposed to take part in winter stewardship activities, because the prairie staff was furloughed in the federal government shutdown.

Aldermen double park on property purchase

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:45pm

    While Mayor Roy Strong was prepared to proceed with the purchase of property on North Water Street for a future parking lot, the aldermen double parked on that idea and delayed council action in favor of planning.

Council recognizes staff’s hard work

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:41pm

    The Wilmington City Council handed out a 5 percent merit raise, a $5,000 bonus and a $3-an-hour, 20 percent pay increase at last week’s regular meeting — recognizing a couple of employees who have gone the extra mile for the community.
    Discussion on three compensation proposals took place in closed session at the end of last week’s City Council meeting.
    Upon its return to open session, the council approved a 5 percent merit increase for Police Chief Phil Arnold.

Coal City moving forward with Fifth Avenue reconstruction

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:36pm

    The village of Coal City has a plan to improve traffic flow at Fifth Avenue and Division Street and  directed its engineer to move forward with a final design.
    Engineer Ryan Hansen, of Chamlin & Associates, recently provided the Village Board with a rough drawing of the intended improvements that include widening Fifth Avenue to the north at a distance of approximately 300 feet.

D Construction submits winning bid for Broadway

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:34pm

    It will still be a couple of weeks before it’s official, but the South Broadway reconstruction project has a contractor.
    At a state bid letting in Springfield last week, the Illinois Department of Transportation opened bids for a number of projects across the state. The winning bid for Coal City’s project was submitted by D Construction.

Charged with theft, former Miners treasurer posts bond

Published by admin on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 6:33pm

     The attorney for a woman accused of taking more than $18,000 from the Coal City Miners Youth Football organization has posted bond.
    Following a detailed investigation by the Coal City Police Department, a Grundy County Grand Jury handed down an indictment in November, 2018 formally charging 37-year-old Bridget Hodina, of Cape Coral, FL with theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000. It’s alleged that she took funds belonging to the organization during the   nine months she served as its treasurer.