Braidwood Journal

Voters to decide if Custer Fire should dissolve

Published by admin on Tue, 02/27/2024 - 4:26pm

It's a sunny, Spring-like day in town. At the Braidwood fire station, firefighters are conducting training to better serve Custer Township. They’re working hard, doing their best. After a long, cold winter, all is well.
It has been four months, a third of a year, since Braidwood Fire Protection District (BFPD) officially took over Custer Fire Protection District (CFPD). Braidwood Fire Chief Christopher Jude is relieved that it's over and looks to the future with considerable optimism.

Local heroes awarded for saving injured man’s life

Published by admin on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 5:53pm

On Feb. 13, James Countryman of Godley, and two Braidwood police officers earned the Braidwood Police Department Lifesaving Award, with another officer receiving a Meritorious Conduct Award. Police chief Brett Goodwin organized the ceremony, where he personally commended Countryman and the officers involved.

Braidwood gets help in fighting Custer Park fire

Published by admin on Wed, 02/07/2024 - 3:48pm

The Braidwood Fire Protection District responded to a structure fire at on West River Rd., Custer Park on Saturday, Feb. 3 around 9:45 p.m.
The first firefighters to arrive found a two-story residential home with heavy smoke and fire conditions showing.
Since the home is in a rural area without nearby fire hydrants, BFD called for assistance from surround departments to help transport water.
“We were immediately assisted by numerous other automatic aid agencies in addition to Braidwood resources,” noted Fire Chief Chris Jude in a press release.

Perfect Panthers will need all hands on deck for postseason push

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2024 - 5:21pm

Teamwork has made dream work for the Reed-Custer Middle School eighth grade basketball team as they recently finished a perfect, 20-0 season and their starting five has played a massive role.
The Panthers earned their 20th consecutive victory with a nailbiting, 39-30 win over Coal City during the Illinois Valley Conference Championship game which was also the team's first IVC title in the history of their program.

Illinois drivers can ‘Ditch the DMV’

Published by admin on Tue, 01/23/2024 - 4:56pm

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told Illinois motorists to stay away from the DMV. That’s because Illinoisans can now obtain more DMV services and complete more transactions online.
“Don’t come to the DMV, skip the trip!” Giannoulias said. “The truth is that most people no longer need to even come to a DMV because the services they need are available with just a few clicks.”
Giannoulias noted that 2.25 million Illinoisans will need their driver’s license or state ID renewed in 2024. Of those, more than 1 million, or nearly half, have the ability to renew online.

Sludge building doing its job at Braidwood's WWTP

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2024 - 3:32pm

It’s unlikely that most people give it a second though what happens after you flush the toilet.

But the waste that disappears like magic in the powder room sticks around for awhile, first entering the city’s wastewater treatment plant, then through the oxidation ditch, and eventually it’s reduced to what is unfortunately referred to as “sludge.”

Getting rid of that sludge can cost the city a pretty penny. That’s why city leaders erected a building to house the sludge until it can be hauled away.

That new sludge house got its first real test as winter began.

Road survey to aid Braidwood's maintenance, construction schedule

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2024 - 3:31pm

The city of Braidwood will take a new approach to road work.

This spring, a comprehensive road survey will be created for all city-owned roadways in the city limits.

Last month, the Braidwood City Council approved a contract with Robinson Engineering to complete that survey.

Will County wants to know your transportation priorities

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2024 - 3:29pm

Do you think Will County roads are congested? What roads do you think need improvement?

Will County officials want public input as it embarks on a long-term planning effort to guide the next 25 years of transportation projects.

The “Our Way Forward 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan” will evaluate future priorities through an online survey and workshops.

Braidwood puts its needs in order for 2024

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 4:00pm

If city leaders in Braidwood put together a vision board for 2024, the word that would pop out is “priorities.”

Mayor Karen Hart and City Administrator Tony Altiery said the city has been in the process of creating a list of all items big and small to be addressed, figuring out which items take precedence for the new year, and coming up with plans for how the city will pay for those things.

Braidwood Fire celebrates lives saved in 2023

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:59pm

There are some amazing events in the EMS/fire protection world that capture exactly why those first responders live for their profession.

And one of those is for those first responders to save someone’s life, then see that person standing in front of them knowing that the hard work and dedication of firefighers and EMS mean they are still able to spend their lives with family and friends.

For the Braidwood Fire Protection District, such life saving efforts happened not just once, but three times in 2023.