Braidwood Journal

Braidwood resident lands Golden Apple honor

Published by admin on Tue, 09/10/2019 - 6:07pm

Casey Cromp, of Braidwood, is only in his first year of college, but he is already making great strides in what is sure to be a successful teaching career.
Cromp, 18, a 2019 Reed-Custer High School alum, has been selected as a 2019 Illinois Golden Apple Scholar. He was chosen because of his drive to achieve excellence and work as an educator at an in-need school in Illinois after college graduation.
Cromp was one of 263 Illinois high school seniors, first or second year college students that were selected for the Golden Apple Scholar program.

Game On: Homecoming week

Published by admin on Tue, 09/10/2019 - 6:06pm

It’s “Game On” at Reed-Custer High School during the week of Sept. 15 to 21 as students prepare to celebrate the homecoming football game and dance.
Festivities will begin Sunday evening at 6 p.m. as students compete in a Lip Sync Contest to kick-start their competitive spirit.
On Monday, students will start off the school week by wearing either pajamas or college gear to class.
Things get goofy on Tuesday; students will show off their best crazy hair-do or clashing clothing. During lunch, students will place their vote for homecoming king or queen.

Local resources available for those struggling with mental illness

Published by admin on Tue, 09/10/2019 - 6:01pm

This week, through Saturday, is National Suicide Prevention Week, and the month of September is National Suicide Prevention Month. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1999 to 2016, suicide increased across the nation. In Illinois, it increased 22.8% across that 17-year period. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2017 suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., resulting in the loss of over 47,000 people. For those between the ages of 10 and 34, it was the second leading cause of death behind unintentional injury.

City waives tap-on fees to incentivize growth

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 6:43pm

Sewer and water tap-on fees are going to be waived for all new construction in Braidwood for the next 18 months, the City Council decided in a 4-1 vote at the Aug. 27 meeting.
The ordinance will allow new residential and commercial buildings to avoid paying the $1,750 sanitary sewer service fee and $500 water connection fee through Jan. 31, 2021.
“Tony (Altiery) checked and found that 93% of the vacant lots in town already have a tap,” Doug Money, public buildings and property commissioner, said at the meeting.

The shelter without a shelter

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 6:40pm

A Braidwood nonprofit agency that provides shelter for the needy is currently seeking a home base.
Safe Harbor Social and Community Services Agency aims to provide services to socio and economically disadvantaged individuals and families who live in southern Will County, southern Grundy County and southwestern Kankakee County.
Part of its mission is to provide transitional housing for people in need, yet it does not have home base to call its own.

Students recognized for achievement in trap shooting

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 6:08pm

Three Reed-Custer students were recognized at the Aug. 21 School Board meeting for their outstanding achievement in the Illinois State High School Clay Target League state tournament.
Superintendent Mark Mitchell awarded the athletes with certificates in front of the Board of Education.
The members of the trap shooting club participated at the league state championships in Bunker Hill on June 1, where they all earned rankings of fifth place or higher in their divisions.

Enrollment slightly down in Reed-Custer schools

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 6:05pm

Enrollment numbers have decreased from last year in the Reed-Custer School District.
The district reported 1,357 students enrolled in its three schools as of Aug. 23, which is down by 52 students from the 1,409 students enrolled on the same day in 2018.
At Reed-Custer High School, the number of students enrolled decreased by only three, with 473 students enrolled in 2018 compared to 470 students this year.

School budget anticipates nearly $1 million surplus

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 6:03pm

The Reed-Custer School Board is preparing to put the stamp of approval on another year of spending in the district, and the tentative budget shows a nearly $1 million surplus.
On Aug. 21 , Superintendent Mark Mitchell presented the Board of Education with the tentative budget for the 2020 fiscal year (FY20), which began on July 1 and runs through June 30, 2020.
The budget includes total spending for FY20 at $25.7 million with expected revenues at about $26.7 million, leaving the district with $960,973 in surplus.

Proposed ordinances allow solicitors, stricter open burning regulations

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 4:25pm

An ordinance proposed at the Tuesday, Aug. 13, Braidwood City Council meeting would allow individuals to solicit alms—donations—in Braidwood.
Soliciting alms door-to- door, on any highway or thoroughfare or other public place in Braidwood — with the exception of organized public charities — is currently prohibited, as stated in Sec. 58-166 of Article VI of Chapter 58 of the City of Braidwood’s Code of Ordinances.
The proposed ordinance repealing this is an effort to comply with the general consensus of the courts in recent cases.

Students encouraged to show ‘Silent Strength’

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 4:21pm

“Today, my positive actions will speak louder than all of my words.”
This was the “Silent Strength” pledge on the back of the shirt that Doug Reavis, motivational presenter, wore while speaking to Reed-Custer elementary, middle and high school students at the end of their first week of the 2019-2020 school year.
On Friday, each Reed-Custer school attended assemblies encouraging them to follow the pledge and practice “Silent Strength” in their everyday lives.