Community News
Benld Council approves online bill paying system, accepts bid to raze derelict property
Benld Council (archived photo)
With one dissenting vote, the Benld City Council on Monday night agreed to offer water customers the option of paying their monthly bills online, while emphasizing that participation in the program is voluntary. Mayor Jim Kelly also allayed concerns about how quickly the city would receive deposits, noting the company with which the city is contracting will direct deposit payments to the city’s account upon receipt from the customer.
Ald. Jim Tilashalski voted against the motion by Finance Chair Lance Cooper, seconded by Ald. Brian Frensko, to contract with CourtMoney.com to provide online bill payment services to city water customers who wish to take advantage of the program. Ald. Cooper, Frensko, Teresa Tucker and Mickey Robinson voted in favor of the issue. Ald. Peyton Bernot was absent. Tilashalski offered no explanation for his negative vote.
Presenting the proposal to the council, Cooper said he had talked to the owner of the company as well as several nearby municipalities that use the service. Wilsonville and Royal Lakes are among area communities that offer online bill payment through CourtMoney.com, he said.
“I reached out to Shiloh,” Cooper said, adding that the representative he talked to, “said it was working really well and she very much recommended their services.” Using the service, he said, is completely voluntary for customers. Communities using the CourtMoney.com service continue to accept payments by mail or in person, he said.
The cost of the program is free to the city. Customers, however, will pay a convenience fee of $1.75 for payments under $50, or 3.25 percent of the amount for payments in excess of $50.
“I know there are some people on the council that don’t want this, but I think it’s a great idea to offer our citizens,” Cooper said. “It’s strictly voluntary. If they don’t want to use it they don’t have to. It doesn’t cost us a dime. To me, we’d be offering a service to our citizens that we don’t have to pay for.”
Cooper said the company also will provide a credit card terminal free of charge to enable customers to use their debit or credit cards to make payments in the City Clerk’s office
In addition to providing a venue for Benld citizens to make payments to the city from their home computers, Cooper said the company also will provide a credit card terminal free of charge to enable customers to use their debit or credit cards to make payments in the City Clerk’s office—a service the city currently does not provide.
“This has nothing to do with the banks mailing us a check,” Mayor Kelly noted, citing last week’s discussion during a meeting of the Gillespie City Council regarding delays in receiving payments from online payment processors. “It’s a direct deposit to us on the day of the transaction.”
Established in 1994, CourtMoney.com was created primarily as a way for persons to pay court fines and fees online. The company has since expanded, however, to offer online payment services for municipalities and private businesses.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
On a motion by Tilashalski, seconded by Cooper, the council voted to accept a bid of $4,300 from Robert McLain of Benld to demolish and remove the so-called “Carr property,” located at 105 South Fifth Street. The property previously declared a public nuisance and the city was authorized by the court to abate the nuisance. In his bid, McLain pledged to demolish and remove the nuisance property within one week, weather permitting. Two other bids, ranging from $4,448 to $10,000, also were received.
Following a 10-minute executive session to discuss real estate and litigation with City Attorney Rick Verticchio, the council voted unanimously to declare parcels at 408 South Main Street and 111 South Fourth Street as public nuisances. The action sets in motion a process under which the property owners will be served with a resolution calling on them to abate the nuisance or face legal action from the city.
Verticchio reported to the council reported that the court has entered an order enabling the city to seek collection of the cost of abating nuisances at 709 Rose St., 711 Rose St., and 416 S. Main St.
“They’ll either pay us or they will be sold on April 26,” Verticchio said.
Based on Verticchio’s report to the council, city aldermen voted to accept the title to a nuisance property on South Fourth Street in lieu of seeking reimbursement from the owner for the cost of demolishing the home. Verticchio said the owner, Lloyd Gillette, lives in Florida. In response to a resolution declaring the property a public nuisance, Verticchio said Gillette’s attorney called him and said, “We’ll just give you the house.”
“You can pursue it as a complaint to abate a nuisance,” Verticchio said. “But do you want to gamble on trying to get back what we have in it, or take the home?” He said the cost of pursuing the matter could cost upward of $4,500 to $6,500 since the city would have to hire an attorney to argue the case in Florida.
On a motion by Tilashalski, seconded by Frensko, the council voted to accept the house and discontinue further legal action.
Verticchio said he is trying to secure a court date for a hearing to resolve the latest wrinkle in the long-standing case against former resident John Tenikat, who owns property in the 300 block of Park Avenue. The city has a substantive lien against the property for mowing that the city is attempting to collect.
“Mr. Tenikat has filed a counter claim against us,” Verticchio announced. “He called the court and said he is removing the case to federal court.” While Tenikat, a resident of Iowa, told the court he is petitioning the court to remove the case to federal court, Verticchio said the actual petition he filed makes a “preemptive” argument, contending the federal court preempts any claims filed at the circuit court level.
“Removing a case to federal court is about a semester in law school,” Verticchio said. “I don’t think his claim has any merit but Mr. Tenikat is being as difficult as he possibly can be.”
As a resident of another state, Verticchio said Tenikat could possible argue for removal if the amount of the claim exceeds $7,500, which the Benld claim does not. He said he is trying to get a hearing to get a ruling in the Circuit Court on whether or not Tenikat’s petition is for removal or preemption.
“If it’s removed, we have to go to federal court to get it back,” he said. If the Circuit Court agrees that Tenikat has petitioned for preemption, Verticchio said the matter can be heard locally.
AUDITOR’S BID
On a motion by Tucker, seconded by Frensko, the council accepted a bid from Scheffel & Loy Public Accountants to perform the city’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $4,800.
The price is contingent upon whether or not the city uses a cash or accrual basis for its accounting activities. Like other small municipalities, Benld intended to convert from cash to accrual in response to a mandate from the State Comptroller’s Office. The bills, however, are pending in the legislature that would allow small communities to continue on a cash basis for their bookkeeping, if passed and signed into law.
“If they allow us to go with cash, it would be less than that amount,” City Clerk Terri Koyne said.
“We’ve never paid that much for an audit before,” Mayor Kelly noted. “It’s okay for us to go ahead and get them (Scheffel & Loy) hired and hold them off a little to see what happens in Springfield before we have them start.”
CAPONE’S CHANGING HANDS
The council tentatively agreed to issue a liquor license to Tina Fisko to operate a bar at the current location of Capone’s Saloon, pending completion of a background check and other requirements. Fisko said she has managed the business for the past 14 years and plans to change the name of the business when she takes over ownership late next month.
Fisk must pass a background check before the city can issue the license. She must have a city license in hand before she can be issued a state liquor license. Fisk also will be required to obtain Dram Shop insurance before assuming control of the business.
PART-TIME POLICE PAY ISSUE TABLED
At the request of Tilashalski, the council tabled a measure to authorize increasing wages for part-time police office by 11 cents. The increase would put the rate at $15 per hour.
“I’d like a lot more information on this before we vote on it,” Tilashalski said. He noted the city spends 40 percent or more of its budget on the police department. When the council authorized increasing the number of part-time officers from three to four, he said, it was with the provision that it would reduce the amount of overtime paid to full-time officers. “It didn’t work out that way.”
“I would argue with that,” said Mayor Kelly. “Our overtime has gone down.” Kelly said some overtime is unavoidable, such as when a full-time officer has to complete paperwork or complete an investigative procedure before clocking out from his or her shift.
The measure apparently will be brought back for a vote by the council next month.
IMPOUNDMENT LOT PROPOSAL TABLED
Council members agreed to table further discussion of the possibility of building an impoundment lot for vehicles impounded by police, and opted to not open bids from vendors after being advised that the project should be publicly advertised for bids. Ald. Tucker, Chair of the Police Committee, had solicited bids from three private vendors, but Mayor Kelly declined to open the bids after asking Verticchio whether or not the project should be publicly advertised.
Kelly said that since the project needed to be publicly bid, it would be unfair to open the bids Tucker had obtained.
Tilashalski and Frensko debated whether or not the fees collected for impounding vehicles would pay for the cost of the lot. Cooper said he asked the Chief of Police for an estimate about how many vehicles the Police Department impounds and was told about 10 vehicles had been impounded since Jan. 1.
Koyne said 32 vehicles impounded for one day only would generate $3,000 for a year. Vehicles typically are impounded for more than one day.
Frensko voiced concerns about getting stuck with vehicles that might be abandoned by the owner. An abandoned vehicle might generate a bill of $3,000 for impoundment, but only bring in $2,000 if the city gains the title and sells the vehicle. He said such a scenario would result in a $1,000 loss.
Mayor Kelly said he would like to advertise for bids before next month’s meeting so the council will have an accurate idea of how much building the lot will cost.
“Not really,” said Koyne, “because that’s $2,000 you wouldn’t have otherwise.” Even though the bill might total $3,000, she said the city would not actually be out that much money.
Tucker recommended tabling the issue and referring it back to the Police Committee so the committee can research city ordinances to determine how long the city has to hold a vehicle before selling it.
“We can table it if you want,” Kelly said, “But we’ve drug this out a long time.” He said he would like to advertise for bids before next month’s meeting so the council will have an accurate idea of how much building the lot will cost.
“If we’re interested in doing this, we need to get bids,” he said. “This has been going on for quite a while.” The vendors from whom Tucker solicited bids may resubmit formal bids after the project is advertised, he said.
The current proposal calls for building an impoundment lot capable of holding 10 vehicles at a time adjacent to the city shed on the north side of the city. The lot would be lit with lighting already in place and would be equipped with surveillance cameras. Currently, impounded vehicles are placed in an unsecured area behind the police station or sent to a Gillespie facility for which the city pays a storage fee.
DAMAGED BASEMENTS
Kelly reported that the city had received bills from several city residents who claimed damage to personal property caused by water backing up into their basements during recent heavy rains.
“We have never paid for damage to basements,” Kelly noted. “If there is a claim, we can turn it in to insurance. It has to our fault for our insurance to pay.”
Verticchio agreed, saying the claims should be a matter for the city’s and homeowner’s insurance companies to resolve.
“If you decide you’re going to start paying claims, you’re opening up a big box,” Verticchio said.
Frensko suggested the city should start setting aside money annually to fund improvements to the city sewer system, attacking a small section of the system at a time. He also advised homeowners to contact the city as soon as they notice water entering their basements. If the city is notified early enough, he said, it might be possible for the city to address the issue before the back-up causes serious damage.
“They need to call us before it gets to be two or three feet,” he said.
Comments
Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
Comments
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
Comments
-
Community News3 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
-
Police News4 weeks ago
Gillespie Police Report: March 17-23, 2024
-
High School Sports4 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Softball Racks up 3 Wins this Week
-
High School Sports3 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Miners Steamroll Nokomis and fall to New Berlin