News

Running in honor of fallen State Trooper

Published by admin on Fri, 01/10/2025 - 9:35am

There was a bone-chilling wind on Saturday but that didn’t stop the heart-warming ceremony put on by Zachary Pruss, a runner with the national Running 4 Heroes campaign.
The Reed-Custer freshman led a one-mile run down Main Street in Braidwood in honor of Illinois State Trooper Corey Thompsen who died in the line of duty on Oct. 18, 2024, when his State Police motorcycle was hit by a truck while on patrol in Champaign County.

Wilmington native awarded Medal of Valor

Published by admin on Fri, 01/10/2025 - 9:32am

“The heavily armed shooter had already killed six people, including three nine-year-old students. The officers rushed to the scene, and as they arrived the shooter opened fire on them.”
-White House Briefing
Jan. 3, 2025

Coal City man dies after being hit by train

Published by admin on Wed, 01/08/2025 - 4:33pm

A 40-year-old Coal City man was killed in a train vs. pedestrian incident that occurred shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday at the North First Avenue Railroad crossing in Coal City.

The Grundy County Coroner’s Office said preliminary investigation indicates a train was traveling north through Coal City after crossing the Rt. 113 crossing when the engineer of the train noticed an individual on the tracks.Emergency braking was applied along with horn however the train struck the individual indentified at Scott Marizza of Coal City. 

2024 was a ‘giant’ year for Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 2:31pm

The year 2024 was, quite literally, a giant one in the city of Wilmington. From the auctioning of Wilmington’s Gemini Giant, to the giant’s return in November––as well as the coming of a Local 150 100,000 square foot training center and a 1.65 million square foot Amazon Warehouse––2024 proved to be a year of growth including the start of a new fuel stop.
Here are some of the highlights published in the Free Press Advocate during 2024.
January
Record flooding

Village welcomes senior housing plan, renews fight for Quiet Zone for 2025

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 2:27pm

As 2024 comes to an end, Coal City is seeking to grow, approving 44-unit senior housing campus. The village looks forward to revamping Bohemian Hall into a community center, and improving the quality of life by fighting for a “Quiet Zone” designation to cut down on noise pollution from the 60-plus trains that roll through town each day.
Here are new highlights in the Coal City Courant during 2024.
January
Setting goals for the year

Run Saturday to honor fallen State Trooper

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 2:13pm

Custer Park teen Zachary Pruss will log his 28th mile as a runner for the national Running4Heroes campaign to honor first responder killed in the line of duty at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, along Main Street in Braidwood.
Pruss will be running one mile for Illinois State Trooper Corey Thompsen, 28, who was working a traffic enforcement detail on his state police motorcycle Oct. 18 in Champaign County when he was killed after being hit by a truck.

Construction of Love's Travel Center up to speed

Published by admin on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 1:53pm

Passersby have noticed progress being made on the Love’s Travel Center being built in Wilmington.
Wilmington mayor Ben Dietz confirmed that a Hardee’s will be part of the Love’s Travel Center.
“Yes, Hardee’s was the selected food vendor for this location and was included in the approval process,” he said.

Wilmington man arrested in fatal crash with State Trooper

Published by admin on Tue, 12/24/2024 - 11:52am

Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 arrested 69-year-old John Fleet of Wilmington, IL for Scott's Law (Class 4 Felony) after a fatal crash Monday night involving Trooper Clay M. Carns.

‘Shop with a Cop’ brings lots of smiles

Published by admin on Tue, 12/17/2024 - 3:23pm

Braidwood’s finest made Christmas brighter for local children and their families.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, 14 children joined the police department in Braidwood’s annual Shop with a Cop event. The celebration began in the most delicious way possible, with pizza provided by Rosati’s of Braidwood. The children, officers, volunteers, and guests fueled up with the shopping extravaganza awaiting them.

Village approves location for Goodwill dropoffs

Published by admin on Tue, 12/17/2024 - 3:19pm

Coal City residents will soon have a convenient location to donate clothes and other items for those in need.
The village board approved a request from Goodwill Industries to open a new collection center at 155 East Division Street.
Goodwill is going to utilize about 2,500 square feet in the front portion of the building last occupied by Ultimate Rides, a truck dealership. The facility will serve as a drop-off location only and not as a retail location.