News

RCHS graduates overcome adversity

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 5:16pm

The 100-member Reed-Custer High School Class of 2022 has walked its last time through the halls of the high school as students.

The 94th Annual Commencement Ceremony took place on Sunday, May 22, back inside the high school gymnasium this year after two years outdoors due to the pandemic.

Principal Tim Ricketts delivered his last remarks to the graduates, sharing with them the pride he has felt watching the students deal with an abundance of adversity that was thrust upon them during the pandemic.

Head of the Class, Reed-Custer High School Class of 2022

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 5:14pm

The top two graduates of the Reed-Custer High School Class of 2022 had an important message for their peers as they exit high school and enter the world as adults: The possibilities are endless.

Valedictorian Natalie Kulach told her fellow graduates that their bond as a small class has been a blessing for the students.

Reed-Custer Class of 2022 honors Mrs. Bugg

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 5:09pm

The Reed-Custer High School Class of 2022 took time during this year’s graduation ceremony on May 22 to honor one of the district’s long time educators.

Graduates Shelby O’Reilly and Haley Buchanan came forward to honor Debbie Bugg, who has served as a PE and Health teacher for Reed-Custer since 1987.

Mrs. Bugg retired this year after more than three decades in the classroom. Mrs. Bugg’s daughter, Megan, passed away on March 9 following a seven year battle with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Wilmington earns grant for downtown parking

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 5:01pm

Grant funding from the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau will help pay for Wilmington’s long-planned downtown city parking lot.

On May 17, city leaders announced that the Heritage Corridor had awarded the city a grant for a new municipal parking lot on Water Street. The grant will help the city complete the planned parking space downtown along Water Street, backing up to the alley that runs along the Mill Race.

Wilmington business owners cry foul at proposed fee increases

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:58pm

The city of Wilmington will regroup when it comes to two measures that would increase revenue into the city’s coffers.

On May 17, local business leaders approached the City Council regarding a proposed increase to business licenses. While that increase was not on the agenda for a vote this month, it was discussed during the May 10 Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Ben Dietz further discussed the issue with business owners during this month’s meeting of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

What happens in Wilmington…

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:55pm

Catfish Days are still two months away, but the Catfish Days planning committee is already finalizing plans for this year's festival.

Festival organizer Marty Orr addressed members of the Wilmington City Council on May 3 with an update on the planning for this year’s event.

"This year is our 24th year, we didn't [hold the festival in] 2020 but we count it because we planned for it,” Orr said. "We're excited about this year, this year's theme is 'Catfish Days is going to Las Vegas,' so what happens at Catfish Days stays at Catfish Days.”

Wilmington Police Department keeps officers busy

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:52pm

Officers with the Wilmington Police Department are keeping busy under the direction of the new chief of police.

During the May 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, Police Chief Joe Mitchell provided aldermen with a variety of data points regarding reported crime and police activity for the month of April.

Missing Braidwood man found dead in Kankakee County

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:36pm

After a week-long investigation into the disappearance of a Braidwood man, Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons reported on Tuesday that the man’s body had be recovered in Kankakee County.

Adam Watts was reported missing on May 7. Watts’ vehicle was also missing.

Lyons said the investigation, which was conducted jointly between the Braidwood Police Department and the Grundy County Proactive Unit though the Grundy County Sheriff's Office, the deceased body of Watts was located in Pembroke Township in rural Kankakee County.

One last performance

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:01pm

The Coal City Theatre Department will take the stage for one final performance before the school year ends.

Welcome to Broadway Revue, will be presented Saturday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. in the Coal City Performing Arts Center. The show will feature middle school and high school students performing musical selections from about a dozen of their favorite stage shows.

Featured musicals include “Moulin Rouge!,” “Hadestown,” “Frozen,” and “Wicked,” to name a few.

The unofficial start of summer

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 4:00pm

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season with barbecues, beach openings and baseball tournaments. It’s the beginning of community festivals, family vacations, summer camps and reading programs. And if you belong to the Coal City Area Club its the season for building sand castles.

Per the astronomical calendar the first day of summer is still a few weeks away—June 21— and the meteorological calendar sets the start of summer for June 1, either way, the days are longer and the temperatures warmer.