News

Four-year contract for Unit 1 educators

Published by admin on Tue, 08/15/2023 - 4:30pm

In the final days leading up to the new academic year, an agreement has been reached between the Unit 1 Board of Education and teachers union that includes an annual salary increase of just over 5%.

“The Board of Education recognized that the teacher shortage and inflation has had an impact on certified staff recruitment and retention, post the pandemic,” said a news release issued by the Board of Education following a special meeting on the morning of Aug. 11.

Coming out of the woods may never look the same at WHS

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:56pm

Becker Field, home for the Wildcat football team for the past 76 years, will be brighter than ever thanks to new LED lighting installed last week by Clennon Electric of Wilmington.

Gone are the eight banks of energy inefficient mercury-vapor lights mounted in eight poles. The new lights needed only four poles so the other four will be removed.

“The original poles were not in good shape and needed to be replaced,” noted District 209-U Superintendent Kevin Feeney. “For this reason, we delayed the project one year to plan and budget for the new poles.”

Love’s Travel Center construction could start this fall in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:53pm

After a contentious public hearing last November, the Wilmington City Council approved an Annexation agreement that will allow Love’s to build a Travel Center at River Road and Route 53. But despite the initial timeline to break ground this past spring, dirt has yet to be moved.

This month, the Wilmington City Council approved an amendment to that annexation agreement, fixing an issue that was helping to create the delay.

On Aug. 1, a public hearing was held on that amendment, which included a change to the legal description of the map of the property.

Wilmington sets its sights on the roads

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:48pm

The city of Wilmington is finally moving ahead with much anticipated roadwork projects.

The plan to repave Water Street was slated to get underway this week. While the work did not begin by the anticipated Aug. 7 start date, the plans call for a complete repaving of Water Street from Baltimore/Route 53 to Chicago Street, a much anticipated makeover for the downtown thoroughfare that has been plagued with potholes for the past several years.

Wilmington PD adds to its roster

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:47pm

The Wilmington Police Department continues to work on rebuilding its roster.

During the Aug. 1 regular meeting of the City Council, Mayor Ben Dietz administered the oath to Michael Whitney, the city’s newest police officer recruit.

Whitney is the most recent hire to help fill vacancies that have left the department understaffed.

Braidwood Zoo animals remain caged as property development stalls

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:45pm

More than a year after the City of Braidwood eyed the site of the Braidwood Zoo for potential retail development, there’s still no sign of anything changing at the roadside attraction.

City Administrator Tony Altiery said that at this time, any changes with the property are in a holding pattern.

Development proposal for Division Street in Braidwood hits a wall

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:42pm

A plan to develop 78 acres of the Tryner farm that sits between Division and Center Streets was brought to the city of Braidwood’s Planning and Zoning Board this week.

But the hearing turned into what can only be described as a hot mess, with residents yelling at the developer, the members of the zoning board, and in some cases, each other.

The property, located at 1121 N. Division St., is owned by Ensure Construction, which is operated by developer Michael Guinta.

Unit 1 considers financing $21 million for facility improvements

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:40pm

As the Unit 1 School District implements its facility improvement plan, the Board of Education is researching funding options including the issuance of bonds.

On Aug. 2, the Board declared its intent to issue up to $21 million in working cash bonds to fund priority improvements.

“Intent is the big word there,” said Superintendent Chris Spencer. He wants to be clear to the community that the resolution adopted by the Board does not mean the district is getting the money, rather, “we have an opportunity to if needed.”

Carbon Hill, Coal City awarded improvement funds

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:34pm

Over $1.4 million in federal funding has been awarded to the villages of Carbon Hill and Coal City for public infrastructure and housing rehabilitation projects.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Aug. 4 that the villages were among 54 communities across the state to be awarded a portion of $56.9 million in Community Development Block Grant [CDBG].

Carbon Hill will receive $784,970 for public infrastructure improvements aimed at making critical repairs to water, sewer and drainage infrastructure.

July brought much needed rain to Grundy

Published by admin on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 4:32pm

After a couple of dry months, the skies opened up over Grundy County and dropped 6.31 inches of rain in the month of July. One particular storm brought high winds and tornados.

The storm system that blew in on the evening of July 28 downed trees and power lines in many areas of the county and a tornado struck the Grundy County portion of Minooka with 85 mph winds that crossed into Channahon and 95 mph winds were recorded on the Kendall County side of the village. The National Weather Service has classified the tornados as EF-0 and EF-1, respectively.