Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly today approved legislation to help rank-and-file teachers and school districts address the unique challenges to Illinois’ education system created by COVID-19. Senate Bill 1569 makes a number of changes that help schools adjust to remote learning, including the following: Allows for the […]
Benld Council eyes sewer rate increase
The Benld City Council is poised to increase sewer rates but the amount of the increase and how it will impact consumers’ total water/sewer bills have yet to be determined. The move to hike sewer rates is prompted by a letter from the city’s engineers, HMG Engineers, indicating that local sewer rates must meet a […]
Pelo appointed to County Board seat
Lifelong Staunton resident and business owner, Chi Ebert Pelo, was sworn in as a member of the Macoupin County Board following the resignation of Mike “Mr. T.” Tranter. She will join Roberta “Sissy” Vojas in representing the City of Staunton on the Macoupin County Board. Pelo is the owner of Sugar Petunia Photography and the daughter […]
Manar distributes face shields to local health departments
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. BUNKER HILL – To support local efforts to battle COVID-19, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) partnered with John Deere, the United Auto Workers, and the Illinois Manufacturers Association today to deliver 300 face shields to local agencies in Macoupin, Montgomery, and Christian Counties. Face shields are a […]
Gillespie Council wrestles with KaHo water contract, amends Gillespie/Benld police agreement
After a lengthy and sometimes terse discussion, Gillespie Mayor John Hicks told Rick Verticchio, attorney for the Village of Lake KaHo, that the city would produce a counteroffer to a Lake KaHo proposal under which the village would continue to purchase water from the City of Gillespie. In other action, the council voted during its […]
House Republicans push for localized reopening approach
Contributed content by the Illinois House Republicans. SPRINGFIELD—State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) joined House Republicans from Central Illinois on Thursday for an online press conference where they discussed their caucus’ priorities for next week when the legislature reconvenes in Springfield. State Representatives Tim Butler, Mike Murphy, and CD Davidsmeyer also participated in the press conference. […]
School Board discussion focuses on pandemic response, possible ‘new normal’ for education next school year
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education, once again meeting remotely on Monday night, hired a new Title I Reading Specialist and accepted the retirement of the district’s long-serving Transportation Director but the majority of the discussion focused on the school district’s response to current school closures due to the COVID-19 […]
Gillespie Lake campground and shower house will not open as scheduled
In an about-face, Gillespie Lake Superintendent Gary Thornhill announced the campground and shower house will not be able to open on May 1 despite previous announcements. The lake office remains open but the campground, shower house, beach, and pavilions remain closed until further notice. “Sorry about all of the confusion with my earlier post but […]
Lawmakers push to double funding for local health departments
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. To help local health departments sustain their COVID-19 response efforts in addition to their basic functions, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and other Downstate Senate Democrats are pushing to double state funding to support local health departments for the coming year. Manar’s plan would increase funding for […]
State Rep rejects “One-Size-Fits-All” approach to modified stay home order
Contributed content from the Illinois House Republicans. On Thursday, Governor JB Pritzker announced he will extend the Illinois Stay Home Order through May 30. In addition to the extension, the Governor announced some modest changes to the restrictions that accompany the Order. “While I was glad that some of the common-sense changes House Republicans asked […]
Monetti elected chairman of county Democrat organization
Contributed article by the Macoupin County Democrats. After holding the Macoupin County Democrats’ bi-yearly re-organization meeting by teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pamela S. Monetti of Bunker Hill was unanimously voted chairman of the Macoupin County Democrat Central Committee, succeeding long-time Chairman Mike Mathis of Gillespie. “I’m excited to continue the work started by […]
Gillespie Council agrees to offer police protection contract to Benld
In what appears to be a tentative first step toward disbanding the Benld Police Department, the Gillespie City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to offer a police protection contract to the City of Benld. The Benld City Council is expected to meet in special session Friday night to vote on whether or not to accept […]
Manar encourages mental wellness amid COVID-19 pandemic
Contributed article by the Illinois Senate Democrats. BUNKER HILL – State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is emphasizing the importance of mental health wellness and encouraging Illinois residents to use resources and services available for those experiencing heightened levels of stress related to COVID-19. “This pandemic has cast a great deal of stress into our […]
Bourne demands answers as Governor grants clemency and releases over 1,300 inmates
Contributed article by the Illinois House Republicans. LITCHFIELD—Concerned about public safety in Illinois, State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) joined fellow House Republicans in a letter asking the Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to provide answers to a series of questions prior to the release of inmates from any Illinois correctional center […]
Mayor declares local state of emergency for Gillespie
City of Gillespie Mayor John Hicks has declared a state of emergency for the city of Gillespie in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The declaration followed an emergency council meeting held Monday morning and takes effect today, March 16, and continues until it is terminated by Mayor Hicks or city council action. The declaration […]
Gillespie may consider sewer rate increases
Gillespie water and sewer customers may face gradual increases in their sewer bills over the next few years based on discussion during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the city council. City Treasurer Dan Fisher said the increases are needed not only to maintain the city’s eligibility for state grants and low-interest loans but also […]
House republicans denounce decision to tie school funding to income tax hike
Contributed content. SPRINGFIELD— State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) joined a group of House Republicans on Thursday to denounce Governor JB Pritzker’s decision to place passage of his graduated income tax proposal ahead of a commitment to fully fund education, health care and public safety in the FY21 budget. Bourne, who serves as the Republican Spokesperson […]
Benld approves stronger nuisance property ordinance
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night amended the city’s nuisance property ordinance to strengthen enforcement provisions, approved $4,470 in repairs to a city police car and approved a water tower maintenance contract. With Ald. Dustin Fletcher and Ald. Brian Frensko absent, the council voted unanimously to approve the beefed-up public nuisance ordinance […]
Gillespie Council terminates Water Department employee, hears concerns about potential half-way house
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night heard concerns from residents about the possibility of a half-way house opening within a residential neighborhood but the lion’s share of the meeting was devoted to executive session discussions leading up to a 5-2 vote to terminate a Water Department employee. The council met behind closed […]
Board of Elections, Dept. of Corrections work to correct data error
The Illinois State Board of Elections notified 59 local election authorities on Tuesday that 774 former inmates of the Illinois Department of Corrections may have had their voter registrations erroneously canceled due to a data-matching error involving both agencies. Matching based on information forwarded to the State Board of Elections incorrectly categorized the individuals as […]
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