News

Vaccine, booster making difference in COVID patients

Published by admin on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 5:19pm

MORRIS—Even with the increase in breakthrough COVID infections, there isn't any doubt in Dr. John Bolden's mind: when it comes to the COVID patients he has seen at Morris Hospital, vaccinated patients are having much better outcomes than unvaccinated. But being boosted or up to date on any additional doses a person is eligible to receive is making the biggest difference of all.

Next phase of construction along I-80 to begin

Published by admin on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 4:38pm

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced the beginning of the next phase of construction along the Interstate 80 corridor that will modernize Houbolt Road in Joliet.
The state investment in the public-private partnership is $32 million, according to the governor, who continues to highlight the ongoing benefits of one of his major first-year legislative accomplishment, the Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan. The infrastructure plan passed with bipartisan support in 2019.

Flint Creek Wildlife Rehab to the rescue!

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 5:24pm

Dawn Keller drove 1 1/2 hours to get to Wilmington on Wednesday and there was no way she was leaving empty handed.

When she did get her wish, after risking life and limb between the expanses of ice on the mill race, she certainly had her hands full.

She finally captured an injured American white pelican after about a four-hour chase through the cold and snow. After wading to within 10 feet of the pelican a couple of times, before it would scurry away, Keller waited for darkness to make a successful capture.

Wilmington Library set to host second vaccine clinic

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 5:21pm

Folks looking to receive a COVID-19 vaccination will have an opportunity to attend a Will County Health Department clinic in Wilmington in early February.

The Wilmington Public Library District is setting up to host another COVID-19 vaccination clinic, after an two-day event earlier this month proved to be highly successful.

Covid cases increase locally as county positivity rate drops

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 5:19pm

Local school districts continue to add positive COVID-19 cases following winter break.

Reed-Custer Superintendent Mark Mitchell reported that as of the start of this week, there were 31 new cases of COVID-19 in the district, including 13 elementary students, four middle school students, and 12 high school students, as well as two staff members. The district's total cases since the start of the 2021-2022 school year is now at 201, which includes 157 students and 44 staff members.

Railroad study comments due by week’s end

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 5:17pm

Local residents have until the end of this week to submit their feedback in the last public hearing before the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) moves to the next step of its rail assessment study.

Public comment will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 21 as part of an ongoing study assessing the state’s rail system to help identify potential improvements and solutions.

What do you want in your park?

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 3:50pm

The formation of a park district with a community/recreation center and sports fields in Coal City is a long-term goal the village has in its strategic plan. But time may be running out for one funding source that would help pay for a majority of such a project.
The plan, drafted three years ago, guides future development in the village including the reconstruction of South Broadway, attracting new business, an expansion of water and wastewater services.

Students spur community spirit with positivity

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 3:49pm

Need a little pick me up? Just take a drive past Coal City Intermediate School.
Students in Betsy Cowherd’s room decided to partake in a small community project to boost spirits.
Since their classroom is located in the front of the school, it made perfect to engage in a project that all of the community could see.
“We have 10 large windows across our room. We decided that with all of the hard times going on for the past couple of years we would like to use our windows to make our community feel better,” Cowherd said.

Call volume increases for Coal City Police

Published by admin on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 3:48pm

It was a year of change for the Coal City Police Department as the retirement of its chief paved the way for several personnel changes within the department.
Although it will still be several weeks before the organization releases its 2021 report highlighting these changes and other events of note, information shared this month with the Village Board shows total officer activity is bouncing back from a pandemic decline.
Based on the department’s monthly data reports, total officer activity for the year was 5,978 calls an increase of 5.1% from the prior year.

Braidwood man killed in vehicle vs. pedestrian accident

Published by admin on Fri, 01/14/2022 - 12:50pm

Grundy County Coroner John W. Callahan, along with the Braidwood Police Department and Illinois State Police are investigating a traffic crash that claimed the life of a 36-year-old Braidwood man. Callahan reports that on Thursday, Jan. 13 at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Braidwood Police Department and Braidwood Fire Protection District responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash near the intersection of Novy Road and Amenity Center Drive [Shadow Lakes] in Reed Township.