News

Championship season for Coaler Scholastic Bowl

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 7:00pm

The definition of a champion is, “a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition.” That’s the perfect description for the Coaler Scholastic Bowl team.
After coming in second at the annual Illinois Masonic Tournament in mid-February, the team dominated the Interstate Eight Conference tournament and then went on to earn the Regional title, the school’s first since the 2004-2005 season.

Unit 1 Schools enroll in Elyssa’s Mission

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:59pm

It is a public health issue many shy away from talking about, however, openly discussing the topic of suicide might just save a life.
Suicide impacts individuals of all ages and as local educators recently learned, its the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 34, with approximately 5,900 youth lost nationally.
It’s estimated that for every suicide death roughly 45 attempts are made with another 250 people seriously considering suicide, according to Kelsey Hoeper, a suicide prevention educator with Elyssa’s Mission.

Coal City businesses celebrated

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:57pm

Rolando’s Furniture & Appliance and Hoffman Transportation were lauded by leaders in Grundy County last week.
A record crowd turned out for the Grundy Economic Development Council and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Annual Dinner held Wednesday, March 13 at Chapin's East in Minooka.
More than 280 business and municipal leaders, and guests were in attendance to recognize the organizations' award winners and celebrate a successful year for the Grundy County business community.

Zero heroes

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:54pm

Few people can claim to have camped out on a frozen lake and fewer yet have slept under the starts in below zero temperatures. Yet, that’s just what a handful of local scouts did to earn the right to call themselves “zero heroes.”
Five members of Boy Scout Troop 466—Tyler Jackson, Connor Patterson, Christian Micetich, Connor Super and Joseph Alabano—traveled with Scoutmaster John Cairns and troop mom Dr. Juli Micetich to the Northern Tier High Adventure Base this month for a long-weekend winter camp.

Bringing Elvis home

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:51pm

    When he steps off the stage, he’ll be Dave again, and maybe for good. Dave Carlson, one of the best known Elvis Presley tribute artists in the Midwest, is going to make what may be his last professional stage appearance in his new hometown of Wilmington next week.
    Carlson always loved to sing, and has been getting paid to do it since 1958; he earned a $5 bill at age 5, singing for a fashion show his mother helped organized.

Barriers to be removed from Island Parks

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:48pm

    They’ve been in place to prevent people from driving on the grass, but last week, city officials decided that when they go, they’re gone.
    The council’s Grounds and Buildings Committee came to a consensus last week regarding the creosote-soaked utility poles that have been used as traffic barriers in the Island Parks for decades. Since the city’s been in charge of park maintenance, it has been the public works department’s practice to dispose of the posts and rails that fail, and not replace them.

Water Street parking ban proposed

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:46pm

    Patrons to downtown businesses will have a while after closing time, but then they will have to get their cars off of North Water Street in a measure that will have the street clear of vehicles for snow removal or street cleaning every day, year ‘round.
    Director of public works Darin Fowler explained that the public works crew is challenged trying to do their work of snow plowing or street sweeping because of the number of cars parked overnight in front of the businesses. Snow route and street sweeping restrictions are posted, and largely ignored.

Pop tabs for a cause

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 5:46pm

If Reed-Custer Elementary students lined up the  pop can tabs they’ve saved since January they’d stretch from here to Wilmington.

That’s about four miles.

Instead, they’re going to donate them to Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn where they will be used to support families of children undergoing intense medical treatment.

It’s estimated that RCES saved about 200 pounds, or about 253,400 tabs, and it takes 63,360 tabs to stretch a mile.

RC staff learns to ‘stop the bleed’

Published by admin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 5:43pm

Educators at Reed-Custer are already armed with the tools to provide their students with a quality education. Now, those teachers and faculty have also learned valuable skills that may help them save a life.

On March 13, teachers from RCMS and RCHS partnered with emergency medical technicians and healthcare professionals from the Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers for a special “stop the bleed” training session.

Van Duyne: IDOT says it will repair ditch

Published by admin on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 6:35pm

    The South Route 53 residents who are affected by frequent flooding due to an inoperable drainage system have reached out for help, and representatives from the county, the township, the area drainage district, the city and the state are working on a fix.