News

Custer Township woodland acquired for new preserve

Published by admin on Tue, 09/15/2026 - 4:20pm

The Forest Preserve of District Will County announced Friday it has purchased 126 acres of land in Custer Township that will be known as Horse Creek Preserve – Kang Woodland.
“It’s exciting to create a new preserve after almost 100 years and 24,000 acres under our belt,” said Forest Preserve Executive Director Tracy Chapman. “Horse Creek is the defining natural feature of the property. It serves as an important waterway and habitat corridor, making the decision to name the site Horse Creek Preserve a pretty easy one.”

ComEd substation would be need for data center site

Published by admin on Tue, 09/15/2026 - 4:18pm

A new electrical substation is part of the design for a data center proposed in Coal City.
The plans were a main issue last week at a meeting of the village’s Planned Unit Development Review Committee, held at the Coal City Lions Hall. Representatives from Aligned Data Centers and ComEd appeared before the committee to discuss how power would be supplied to the data center, which is proposed for a 300-acre property at the southeast corner of Reed Road and Carbon Hill Road.

Fall Fest promises full day of family fun in Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 09/15/2026 - 4:14pm

Coal City will welcome the arrival of autumn with a full day of entertainment, activities, food and community celebration when the village hosts its Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The festival will run from 3 to 11 p.m. with activities spread throughout the downtown area. Organizers are billing the event as “a day & night of fun for the whole family,” with a car show, Touch-A-Truck, inflatables, food vendors, a makers court, live entertainment and a nighttime laser light show among the attractions.

A hero’s welcome home

Published by admin on Tue, 09/08/2026 - 4:48pm

After nine weeks of Navy basic training, Remington “Remi” Thomas probably thought she knew something about marching in formation and military ceremony.
What the recent Wilmington High School graduate wasn’t prepared for was the formation waiting for her when she came home.
Thomas received a hero’s welcome Thursday afternoon as Wilmington emergency vehicles, members of American Legion Post 191 Riders and flag-waving residents escorted the new sailor through town and home to Willida Street.

A small town. A world of strangers. One remarkable story

Published by admin on Tue, 09/08/2026 - 4:45pm

As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, we remember not only the tragedy and loss of that day, but also the extraordinary story of what unfolded thousands of miles away in Gander, Newfoundland.
When the United States closed its airspace 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers and crew were diverted to Cander, part of Operation Yellow Ribbon—Canada’s emergency response to safely ground more than 220 aircraft from the sky.

Braidwood man wins $1 million Lotto

Published by admin on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 3:06pm

A Braidwood resident’s birthday celebration became a million-dollar milestone after he won a $1 million Lotto jackpot from a lottery ticket gifted to him by a friend at his birthday party.

The winning ticket was purchased at Gas N Wash, 1951 E. Laraway Rd. in New Lenox, and given to him as a birthday gift. 

"My wife planned a party for my big day," said the winner, who opted to remain anonymous. "One of my friends handed me an envelope with some scratch-offs inside. I never would’ve imagined actually winning."

Big man meets an even bigger man

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 3:32pm

It’s not often Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has to look up to someone.
But that was certainly the case last week when the governor stopped in Wilmington to meet one of the biggest celebrities along historic Route 66 — the 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant.
Pritzker and his running mate, Christian Mitchell, made Wilmington one of the stops on a statewide bus tour launched as part of the governor’s reelection campaign.

Reed-Custer student headed for Times Square spotlight

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 3:26pm

A Reed-Custer Elementary School student’s infectious smile is about to appear on one of the biggest stages in the world.
Henry Ledlow, a second-grader at Reed-Custer Elementary School in Braidwood, has been selected to appear in the National Down Syndrome Society’s Times Square Video Presentation on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Is it time mayor, trustees get better pay?

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 3:24pm

A pay raise may be on the way for elected officials in Coal City.
At their meeting last week, the village board of trustees reviewed a survey from the Illinois Municipal League that detailed what other communities similar in population size to Coal City pay their elected officials.
Trustees currently receive $5,000 per year, which is $492 higher than the average pay rate of the 35 other communities surveyed. The mayoral annual pay of $10,000 is $4,333 lower than the average rate.

Coal City Theatre to presents Come From Away

Published by admin on Thu, 08/27/2026 - 9:29am

AS THE 25TH anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nears, the Coal City Theatre Department will tell the true story of an extraordinary act of kindness that unfolded in the aftermath of that tragic day.
Come From Away is based on the remarkable story of the small community of Gander, Newfoundland, which welcomed thousands of airline passengers stranded when U.S. airspace was closed and incoming commercial flights were diverted. What began as an ordinary day quickly became an international sleepover.