Coalers to Honor Hall of Fame Coaches
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IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION COALER SPORTS $1.00 It’s time to cast Coalers slip by Vol. 119, Issue 5 2 sections • 18 pages a Valentine vote Pontiac Not over 75% advertising www.coalcitycourant.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020 | A FREE PRESS NEWSPAPER McDonald’s has plans for new restaurant BY ANN GILL make changes to its restaurant at 2 S. Broadway. would sit further west of its existing location, changed with the restaurant now being owned- EDITOR According to the application filed by Chris include additional parking and expand the operated by Marvin Spence. Stepp, a McDonald’s construction manager, the drive- thru from one to two lanes. Additional details of the company’s plan The village of Coal City is considering a existing restaurant would be demolished, as The existing entrances and exits to South will be unveiled next month, and a public hear- zoning request that would bring significant would the residential structure directly to its Broadway and Division streets would go ing to consider the conditional use request will changes to the intersection of Broadway and west at 65 W. Division St., to make way for a new unchanged, according to Fritz. go before the town’s Planning and Zoning Board Division Street. restaurant and parking facilities. The existing restaurant building was con- at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 17 at 7p.m. McDonald’s USA LLC filed the zoning Although the details are preliminary, Coal structed in the mid-1990’s and has undergone The public hearing will provide the appli- application with the village on Jan. 13 seeking a City Village Administrator Matt Fritz said the some cosmetic and equipment upgrades over cants, as well as the public, an opportunity to variance that would allow the corporation to company has indicated the new restaurant the years. The franchise ownership has also comment on the company’s plans for the site. Coal City prepares to roll out housing rehab program Speed racer BY ANN GILL of Pine Street, the northern EDITOR boundary being Division Street. The village of Coal City is Since the community was excited about the opportunity made aware of its selection, it’s been granted to assist low- Fritz said he’s been fielding to moderate-income home- questions from residents inter- owners complete necessary ested in utilizing the funds to home repairs, but they say it’s improve their properties. going to take some time. Information will be sent to Town officials were noti- all households within the tar- fied earlier this month that get area sometime in March. Coal City was one of 13 com- The letter will outline the nec- munities selected by the essary qualifications, as well as Illinois Department of an application form that must Commerce and Economic be submitted to NCICG. Opportunity (DCEO) to share Once applications are $6.3 million in Community received, NCICG will review Development Block Grant the submitted information Housing Rehabilitation funds. that will then be shared with a It was the village’s second local selection committee to attempt to secure funding for be comprised of Mayor Terry its residents, and the second Halliday, trustees Dan chance application resulted in Greggain and Tim Bradley, a $500,000 federal grant. Fritz and Georgette Vota, Coal City partnered with chairperson of the village’s the North Central Illinois Planning and Zoning Board. Council of Governments Among the qualifications (NCICG) to submit the grant for participation is that a home application and NCICG will be be owner occupied and locat- the agency to administer the ed within the designated grant. neighborhood. “Now that we have a hous- Eligible homeowners ing rehab program, there is an selected to participate would opportunity for anyone within be awarded forgivable loans of the neighborhood to actually up to $42,018 for the actual apply for the funds,” said Matt cost of implementing essential Fritz, Coal City’s village admin- improvements. The caveat is istrator. the homeowner must agree to When he talks about the maintain residency in the neighborhood, Fritz is refer- home for a period of at least ring to the designated project five years. area the village was required to “That letter in March is outline in its application. really something that will let Town officials focused on everyone know what the an area east of Broadway and process will be and what the Photo by Ann Gill south of Division Street where requirements are,” Fritz said. THE CARS WENT speeding down the yellow track as Coal City Cub Scout Pack 466 held its annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday, Jan. the housing stock is older. The The process of selecting 25. Dozens of scouts from Pack 466, Boy Scout Troop 466, Coal City Girl Scouts and scouting parents prepared wooden racers to focus area is east of South the homes, determining the compete in the annual contest. The cars that came to race featured multiple colors and themes, there was even one that included a Broadway and west of the mermaid as a driver. In one of the early races of the day, Girl Scouts Savanah Dick, Samantha Albano, Athena Libner and Victoria Union Pacific rail line to north SEE GRANT, PAGE 2 Burns watched as their cars raced by. Burns derby car won the heat posting a speed of 186.51 miles per hour. JOHN CULLICK GEORGE DARE DENNIS BEST KEN W. MILLER AND KEN P. MILLER JERRY McDOWELL LENNY ONSEN Coalers to honor hall of fame coaches STAFF REPORT Miller, Ken P. Miller, Jerry seven honored coaches to take and now athletic groundskeep- the Coalers, Cullick racked up time athletic groundskeeper McDowell and Lenny Onsen — part in the celebration that will er. 120 wins and had another 172 and he can be spotted walking The Unit 1 School District have dedicated a combined pay tribute to the influence Cullick was inducted into wins under his belt as a coach the hall and fields of CCHS just has a rich athletic heritage, 147 years to coaching the dis- and impact each had on their the Illinois Basketball Coaches at the middle school and from about any time of the day or from conference and regional trict’s student athletes. respective sports and the ath- Hall of Fame in 1988. previous stints at Gardner and night. titles to state championships, A recognition ceremony letes they coached and men- His initial years in the dis- Verona grade schools. As school officials note, and helping rack up those hon- will take place during half-time tored. trict found him coaching at the After stepping down as Cullick led the athletic depart- ors are dedicated coaches. of the Coaler boy’s basketball No one has or continues to middle school level and then in coach, Cullick assumed the ment to unprecedented suc- In recognition and thanks game on Friday, Jan. 31. The do more for Coal City athletics 1978 he was named the head duties of athletic director at cess, in fact the other six hall of for the success of those pro- evening will begin with a social than hall of fame coach John coach for the varsity Coalers, a Coal City High School, a role fame coaches being honored grams, the school district will hour at 5:30 p.m. in the Cullick. post he would maintain that not only found him over- SEE COACHES, PAGE 2 honor seven legendary coach- school’s cafeteria. After teaching and coach- through 1986. seeing the athletic depart- es who have been inducted The community is invited ing at Gardner Grade School, In 1981, his team won the ment, but he took on the task into the hall of fame for their to take part in the event, and Cullick made the move to Unit regional title and would go on of maintaining the outdoor respective sport. The seven the district’s superintendent 1 in 1975. He’s spent the past 45 to claim the title again in 1983 athletic facilities. coaches—John Cullick, George encourages former athletes, years supporting Coaler athlet- and 1985. When Cullick retired in Dare, Dennis Best, Ken W. parents, and colleagues of the ics as a coach, athletic director During his nine years with 2003, he stayed on as a part- The Coal City Courant, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, page 2 WWW.FREEPRESSNEWSPAPERS.COM Coal City Police COAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS Weekly programs for children, teens vided) and parent email. Registration Family Lapsit – 6-6:30 p.m. respond to three and adults meet at various times. Please required. Preschool Storytime – 6-6:45 p.m. check online calendar at ccpld.org. All Friday, Jan. 31 Preschool Storytime – Tuesday, Feb. 4 Adult Book Club - 1-3 children’s classes listed here require reg- 10-10:45 a.m. istration and child must be a Coal City p.m. Visit the circulation desk to pick up crashes in three days Fun Fridays – 3-5 p.m. Drop-in to the a copy of our latest book. Public Library District resident. Children's Spot for fun activities, such as STAFF REPORT Adult Exercise is offered Mondays, crafts and games each Friday afternoon. Tween Girls’ Club - 3:15-4:30 p.m. Boys grades 4-5 will make Valentine Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 AM Adult Teen Fun Fridays – 3:30-5 p.m. Teens - One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash that resulted Exercise is a low impact aerobic workout bookmarks, slime, and heart paper in a temporary closure of a small section of East Division Street. start your weekend off with some fun in designed for adults of all ages.