Brian Matthew Scheldt, 36 of Fairview Heights, died at his residence on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at 12:07 p.m. He was born May 21, 1984, in Litchfield to Dennis R. Scheldt and Wanda P. (Domkoski) Scheldt. He was a welder and loved fishing and hunting. He is survived by his mother, Wanda Scheldt of Livingston; […]
Rep. Bourne unsuspends traveling office hours program
Contributed content by the Illinois House Republicans. LITCHFIELD— After a five-month suspension of State Representative Avery Bourne’s (R-Morrisonville) Traveling Office Hours due to COVID-19, the Representative is resuming her mobile office operations in August. No appointment is necessary, and events are open to all constituents living in the 95th House District. Traveling Office Hours for the month of […]
Manar announces $172 million in infrastructure improvements headed to Macoupin, Montgomery Counties
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. BUNKER HILL – Communities in Macoupin and Montgomery Counties will see more than $172 million in funding for road and bridge projects over the next six years as part of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced […]
Local man graduates from US Army War College
Lt. Col. Matthew Cloud, United States Army Reserve, graduated from the United States Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a Master of Strategic Studies on July 24, 2020. Lt. Col. Cloud is a native of the Gillespie area and is a 1990 graduate of Gillespie High School. He was commissioned in the United States […]
Benld Council adopts $1.8 million appropriation, seat John Balzraine as Ward 1 alderman
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to adopt a $1.8 million appropriations ordinance during the council’s regular monthly meeting, and seated John Balzraine as a Ward 1 alderman, replacing former Ald. Teresa Tucker who resigned from the council last month. The appropriation sets spending limits for the fiscal year that […]
Retired Gillespie teacher wins Partnership’s grand raffle
Joyce Staggs of Bunker Hill is the winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence fifth annual Grand Raffle. Joyce’s prize is $5,000. Joyce taught English for 34 years at Gillespie High School before retirement. She has always been a strong enthusiast of The Partnership. In recent years she has demonstrated her support by putting together […]
Gillespie Police Report: July 12-18, 2020
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020 An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Broadway for a civil issue. An office was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street regarding vehicle damage. An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Francis Street regarding a domestic dispute. Mellanie J. Gustafson, 52, of Girard was […]
School supply help available
Families in Gillespie CUSD 7 needing help purchasing school supplies can pick up an application at the Benld and Gillespie Libraries and United Community Bank. School registration packets are also available at these locations. Applications and a $3 donation per child are to be returned during registration days to the Gillespie Methodist Church parking lot located next to […]
CUSD 7 students will begin new school year with remote learning
Facing an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Community Unit School District 7 students will begin the 2020-21 school as they ended the past school year—with remote learning in lieu of classroom attendance. Newly hired Supt. Shane Owsley announced the measure during a special meeting of the Board of Education on Monday night in the Gillespie Middle School […]
Death of Carole E. Sharp
Carole E. Sharp, age 72, of Staunton, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on Saturday, November 15, 1947, at the Mitchell County Hospital in Osage, Iowa. She was the daughter of the late Rosemarie (Wenninger) and Donald G. Elbert. She married John F. Sharp […]
Death of Gary E. Camerer
Gary E. Camerer, 76 of Gillespie, formerly of Carrollton, died at Carlinville Area Hospital, Carlinville on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 8:34 p.m. He was born on January 17, 1944, in Carrollton to Carl “Ike” Camerer and Tillie (Wollemweber) Camerer. He married Janet K. (Hutson) Camerer. She preceded him in death on January 6, 2000. […]
Death of Frank E. Sabo
Frank E. Sabo, 94, of O’Fallon, Missouri, passed away at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2020, at Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, Missouri. He was born on December 7, 1925, in Gary, Indiana, the son of the late Frank and Helen (Crum) Sabo. He married Doris M. Brikner on December 30, 1964, in Staunton and […]
Death of David Alan Hardy
David Alan Hardy, 55, of Raymond, formerly of Carlinville, and Washington, Indiana, passed away Saturday morning, July 18, 2020, at his residence in Raymond. David was born on July 22, 1964, the fifth of seven children, to John Robert “Bob” and Nancy (Sommers) Hardy in Washington, IN. David graduated from Washington High School in Washington, […]
Death of Royce H. Hester
Royce H. Hester, 86 of Bunker Hill, passed away at his residence in Bunker Hill on Friday, July 17, 2020, at 9:46 a.m. He was born on November 30, 1933, in Dover, TN to Edmond Dan Hester and Vivian (Miles) Hester. He married Glenda F. Green on May 17, 1959, in Trenton, KY. Royce retired […]
Death of Sue (Harper) Hickerson
Sue (Harper) Hickerson, 72 of Hornsby, died at her residence on Monday, July 13, 2020. She was born on January 18, 1948, in Confederate, KY to Pros Harper and Margie (Forsythe) Harper. She worked at Walmart. She enjoyed watching game shows and loved horses. She is survived by her children, Jenna Campbell of Litchfield, Robert Micheal (Tiffany) […]
Manar moves to memorialize MLK Jr.’s 1965 speech at Illinois AFL-CIO convention
Contributed content from the Illinois Senate Democrats. SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 55 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his renowned speech at the Illinois State AFL-CIO’s 8th annual convention, in which he predicted that future generations would look back and honor those who sought to unite the Civil Rights and Labor Movements, State Senator Andy Manar […]
Gillespie CUSD 7 announces in-person registration
Gillespie CUSD 7 announced on Thursday that in-person registration will take place at BenGil Elementary on Tuesday, July 28 from 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday, July 30 from 1 to 7 p.m. The schools request all paperwork be completed before arriving at BenGil. If you […]
Death of Dominic “Dom” William Gray
Dominic “Dom” William Gray, 16, passed away unexpectedly at 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2020, at his home. He was born on November 13, 2003, in Kirkwood, MO to Gary and Melissa (Hill) Gray. Dom attended Southwestern High School. He worked at Cedarhurst Senior Living Community. Dom had a huge heart and an outgoing […]
Trumpy earns dean’s list at Drury
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Earning a spot on Drury University’s Dean’s List is a significant accomplishment; it means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury, a top Midwestern university, according to US News & […]
Death of Charles “Chuck” Vieceli
Charles “Chuck” Vieceli, 77 of Carlinville, formerly of Johnston City, passed away on Sunday morning, July 12, 2020, at his residence in Carlinville. Chuck was born on August 14, 1942, to Frank and Ida (Ottolini) Vieceli in Johnston City. He married Suanne “Sue” Plute on June 19, 1965, in Herrin. They celebrated their 55th wedding […]