Coal City Courant

Husband donates kidney to save his wife

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2024 - 4:28pm

It was Aug. 31, and Joseph Morris, 29, was experiencing “discomfort,” as doctors prefer to say when referring to excruciating pain
The “water bottle sized” incision in his abdomen was hot and throbbed from the surgery he had endured two days earlier. Not only that, his head was still muzzy from anesthesia, and he was feeling generally unwell. That’s all to be expected when you’ve just had a kidney removed.
Despite the discomfort, Aug. 29 – the day he lost a kidney – is the best day of his life to date. You see, his kidney will save the life of his beloved wife, Katy.

City eyes $12 million senior housing project

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2024 - 4:43pm

If approved by the village board, Coal City seniors will soon have an affordable housing option.
Hunter’s Run, a $12 million townhouse development for people age 55 and older, will enable area seniors to age in place, close to their families and friends.
The developer, North Arrow Partners of Villa Park, are proposing the development of 11.5 acres – consisting of nine vacant lots – at the southwest corner of West Maple Street and South Marguerite Street.

All veterans invited to Operation Firm Handshake

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2024 - 4:07pm

Max Valdez would like everyone to prepare for the upcoming Firm Handshake annual event on Saturday, Sept. 7, by taking their organization's mantra to heart.
“We're here to have fun and enjoy the day. Bottom line: we did our duty, now let's enjoy a day together! All vets are welcome,” Valdez said.
Thanks to the continuing efforts of the Operation Firm Handshake organization, the Village of Coal City recently added the non-profit organization's logo onto its welcome sign at the southeast corner of Carbon Hill Rd. & State Route 113.

Coal City welcomes new teachers

Published by admin on Tue, 08/13/2024 - 4:05pm

Student attendance at Coal City schools began this morning and with the start the new academic year comes 14 new educators.
Staff orientation for new teachers started on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with three days of training overseen by Jennifer Kenney, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction. She was assisted by district administrators and staff members.
Joining the faculty for the 2024-2025 school year are individuals who will work across the district’s academic buildings.

Unit 1 schedules back to school, orientation events

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 3:10pm

Student orientation days and Back-to-School events have been scheduled as the Coal City School District draws closer to the start of a new academic year,
Orientation events will be held on Monday, Aug. 5 at Coal City Middle, Intermediate and Elementary Schools.

A push to quiet train horns in Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 3:06pm

Former mayor Neal Nelson believes the time is right for the Village of Coal City to push for the quieting of trains that rumble through the community.
There’s no denying Coal City residents are bombarded by train horns daily.
Coal City currently has seven crossings. Nelson points out that if the 60 trains (on average) a day initiate their horn three times for each crossing, Coal City residents could hear up to 1,200 horns a day. On average, train horns measure between 110-140 decibels which is the same level of a rock concert.

Preserving a town’s heritage comes with a $2.4 million cost

Published by admin on Tue, 07/23/2024 - 3:48pm

Village leaders took the first step that could someday turn a downtown building into the envy of Grundy County and even northern Illinois.
The Coal City Board of Trustees approved a $725,258 commitment towards a state grant that, if awarded, would allow for the purchase and rehabilitation of the old Bohemian Hall which has been a vacant storefront on South Broadway Street since Coal City Pharmacy closed four years ago.

Coal City gets power back

Published by admin on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 2:21pm

Thankfully, electricity is back on for most of Coal City as ComEd crews worked non-stop to repair a major power line that fell onto Interstate 55 around 9:30 p.m. Monday.

Homeowners north of Division Street got their power back shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday. By 1 p.m., 120 of 2,720 customers had their power back on.

Press problems delay this week's edition

Published by admin on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 11:32am

The July 17 editions of the Braidwood Journal, Coal City Courant and Free Press Advocate are being offered FREE online!

That's because the company who prints us, the Chicago Tribune production facility in Schamburg, IL had a power surge Monday which knocked out its press.

It will be printed hopefully today. We're giving everyone full access to our digital edition. Just click above on the icon for which edition you want to read. Thanks for understanding. We hope to have the print editions distributed later today or Thursday.

Head on down to “Hadestown”

Published by admin on Tue, 07/16/2024 - 4:28pm

“It’s an old tale from way back when.” A story about a young girl—Eurydice—cold, hungry and looking for a better life. And along the way she encounters a young man—Orphes—a song writer who vows to be the man who marries her.
The story of Eurydice and Orpheus is told in the musical, “Hadestown,” set to take the stage this weekend in the Coal City Performing Arts Center.
“It’s a tale of love that never dies, it’s a love song, about someone who tries.”