Coal City Courant

Local heroes make holiday happier

Published by admin on Tue, 12/17/2019 - 8:03pm

If it was up to Coal City Police Sgt. Chris Harseim, his new friend, Michael, would have taken home all the toys and electronics he wanted this Christmas.
It was when the two met at the Morris Wal-Mart on Saturday morning that Michael told the officer he was leaning more toward toys and electronics this holiday, but Harseim had a list to follow and as a rule follow is just what he did.

Unit 1 finalizes levy request at $23.8 million

Published by admin on Tue, 12/10/2019 - 5:26pm

‘Tis the season for tax levies, that time of year when taxing districts undertake the task of determining the amount of property tax dollars needed to cover expenses in the coming year, and for the Unit 1 School District the 2019 request is $23.8 million.
The final levy request was approved by the Unit 1 Board of Education at its Dec. 4 meeting. There was roughly a $700,000 increase in requested funding from the tentative levy the board placed on file in November.

Students lauded for academic achievement

Published by admin on Tue, 12/10/2019 - 5:25pm

For a third consecutive month, the Unit 1 Board of Education has recognized the academic achievement of students who excelled on the annual state exam.
After several years of the Partnership of Assessment for Readiness in College & Careers (PARCC) exam administered in third to eighth grade the test switched to the Illinois Assessment of Readiness ((IAR) as the state’s assessment tool. The new test assesses public school students in the subject areas of English/language arts (ELA) and mathematics.

Farm to school

Published by admin on Tue, 12/10/2019 - 5:23pm

Locally grown produce may soon appear on lunch trays at Unit 1 Schools.
Last week, the Unit 1 Board of Education gave its approval for the district’s food service director to apply for a federal Farm to School grant. If approved, the grant would provide the district with $15,000 to purchase a greenhouse that would be utilized by the Grundy Area Vocational Center’s (GAVC) agriculture program.
“With the GAVC ag program being here we really have some unique opportunities for partnerships coming up and this is one of them,” said Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg.

‘Tis the season for giving

Published by admin on Tue, 12/10/2019 - 5:22pm

As dozens of volunteers sorted through brown paper sacks filled with food donations, Coal City Food Pantry Board members Barb Kent and Deb Gowdy looked on with smiles, but also with tears in their eyes.

Festival of Trees opens Friday

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 7:32pm

Volunteers are decking the out the Diamond Banquet Hall for the annual Coal City Promfest Festival of Trees.
The festival, the sole fundraiser to support the annual post-prom celebration, opens Friday, Dec. 6 and continues through Sunday evening, Dec. 8.
Christmas trees, both big and small, are the focus of the event hosted by the Promfest Committee, a group comprised of parents of Coal City High School junior class students. All of the trees, as well as holiday decorations and gift items are up for raffle.

Angels of Hope to host annual vigil

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 7:26pm

An Angel of Hope stands in the center of Coal City’s Campbell Memorial Park, a place for reflection and remembrance, a symbol of hope for all parents whose children have become angels.
The angel statue in the center of the park serves as a place for bereaved parents to find hope for peace and comfort for healing.
The concept is taken from Richard Paul Evans’ best-selling book, “The Christmas Box,” in which an elderly woman grieves the loss of her daughter at the base of an angel monument.

Scouting for food

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 7:26pm

As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Scouts pledge to follow Scout law that requires them to be, among other qualities—helpful, courteous, kind and loyal. Through its annual holiday food drive, Cub Scout Pack 466 seeks to display those characteristics and keep their promise to help others.

Diamond will light up the holidays

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 7:25pm

The village of Diamond will kick-off the Christmas season with it’s second annual holiday lighting ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The event will get underway at 5 p.m. with a lighting ceremony followed by musical selections performed by Coal City High School’s Footnotes show choir at 5:15 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus are slated to arrive from the North Pole around 5:45 p.m. to meet with children and those young at heart. Parents/guardians are encouraged to bring cameras to capture the moment.
Hot cocoa, cider, and other tasty treats will be served.

Former Miners treasurer ordered to pay back stolen funds

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 7:24pm

A former youth football league treasurer has six months to pay back the money she stole from the organization or face time in the county jail.
Bridget Hodina, 37, of Cape Coral, Florida, appeared in Grundy County Circuit Court last week, where she pled guilty to one count of theft over $10,000 but less than $100,000. The plea was entered as part of an arranged agreement.