Benld City Council members voted unanimously Monday night to spend more than $11,000 to determine the volume of sludge settled at the bottom of the city’s sewage lagoon and determine the best course of action to deal with it. The council also voted to accept the annual city audit following a brief meeting with the […]
Gillespie Council accepts $100,000 bid for fencing
After years of delay, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night accepted bids totaling more than $100,000 to erect fencing around the city’s water treatment plant and adjacent solar panel field. Collins and Herman Infrastructure Solutions, St. Louis, was the sole bidder for the projects. On a motion by Ald. Wendy Rolando, the council voted […]
Springfield murder suspect captured in Benld on Monday by Gillespie Police
A suspect wanted in connection with a double homicide that took place on Sunday in Springfield was taken into custody without incident on Monday in Benld by Gillespie Police Department. Mark N. Crites Jr., 23, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated arson, and residential arson. His bond is set at $5 […]
Bike MS’s 2022 Gateway Getaway rides take off this weekend
GODFREY – Just shy of 1,000 riders will converge on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus this weekend to change the world for people affected by multiple sclerosis at the 2022 Bike MS: Gateway Getaway Ride. The two-day ride, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), will start and finish Saturday, Sept. 10 and […]
Gillespie man new permanent deacon at local parishes
Deacon Sean A. Caveny, MAPT, has been appointed to assist Fr. Thomas Hagstrom, V.F. with the parishes of St. Michael’s, Staunton, Sacred Heart, Livingston and St. John Paul II in Mt. Olive by Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. Deacon Caveny was ordained in June of 2012. He graduated from Bunker Hill High School […]
MAC art bus receives updates
Written by: Amy Gugger The colorful Artbus from the Macoupin Art Collective (“the Mac”) was in Edwardsville Wednesday afternoon at the Gugger house to get additional storage space and shelving installed by Amy and Chuck Gugger with the assistance of Brandace Cloud, Director of the Mac. Chuck and Amy are experienced handypersons and helped plan […]
Gillespie Caring Center Shepherd’s Closet closed indefinitely
Gillespie Caring Center Shepherd’s Closet will be closed for an indefinite period of time due to remodeling. Shepherd’s Closet is in the front part of the caring center. The food distribution area will remain open during regular hours of Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM.
Granite City woman convicted of murdering Macoupin County man
A 31-year-old Granite City woman was convicted of first-degree murder by a Macoupin County jury on Wednesday, August 24. The conviction stems from a 2015 home invasion in Woodburn that left 34-year-old Cody Adams dead. Chancey Hutson was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder after deliberation of less than two hours. Macoupin County […]
Gillespie voters will consider supporting retirement plans for city workers
Gillespie voters will vote on whether or not to pay a higher tax rate to fund a retirement plan for city employees but the referendum will be next April instead of this November, and the question will be whether or not to fund a retirement plan for all city employees covered by collective bargaining agreements […]
Benld Council hires new sewer operator, increases rental rates for city facilities
The Benld City Council on Monday night ratified the Mayor’s hiring of Ethan Martin as the city’s sewer system operator and voted to approve adjustments to rental rates for city facilities. The action to hire Martin followed a 35-minute executive session to discuss personnel, legal issues and contracts. Martin will replace Randy Gross, who resigned […]
School board hikes substitute teacher pay
During a relatively brief meeting Monday night, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted to increase payment to substitute teachers to be more competitive with other school districts in the area, and voted to make the tentative 2022-23 district budget available for public review, but tabled a measure to buy […]
Macoupin County man sentenced to over 11 years following meth charges
Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison announced on Friday that a Macoupin County man was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months for the unlawful possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. Joseph Greear, 50 of Girard, was charged with the class 1 felony on January 26. The charge was reduced from a class […]
Gillespie Council approves FOP contract, considers tax-supported police pension plan
Gillespie city aldermen voted unanimously Monday night to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police which authorizes substantial wage increases for city police officers. Additionally, the council set a special meeting for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 16, to vote on whether or not to submit […]
Board names Cooper assistant principal for district
Meeting in special session Wednesday night, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted 6-1 to hire Tara Cooper as the district’s assistant principal for the coming academic year. The board also voted 6-1 to accept Cooper’s resignation as Gillespie Middle School principal and to post a vacancy for a building […]
Queen of Hearts resumes in Bunker Hill every Thursday
After consultation with the New Sage House (NSH) owner, Bo Gresham, the Bunker Hill Area Chamber of Commerce announced the Queen of Hearts game has returned with the first drawing held Thursday, August 4. Tickets are for sale at the NSH located at 129 E. Warren St, Bunker Hill and can be purchased any time […]
Benld Council adopts $2.1 million appropriation for fiscal year
Members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt an annual appropriation ordinance limiting expenditures for the current fiscal year to $2,144,662. The appropriation for fiscal 2023 is nearly double the typical appropriation for the City of Benld primarily because of a $640,000 sewer improvement project expected to get underway later this […]
Memorial Behavioral Health taking local calls for 988 crisis lifeline
SPRINGFIELD – People struggling with suicidal thoughts or going through a mental health crisis now only need to remember three numbers to find help around the clock. The new national crisis support line launched on Saturday. Memorial Behavioral Health, which has taken calls for the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Lifeline for many years, […]
Band of Brothers X-Ray Co. Motorcycle Club donates to Project Kid Kare
The Band of Brothers X-Ray Co. Motorcycle Club held their annual Backpack run on July 16 starting and ending at Ceejo’s in Gillespie with proceeds benefiting Project Kid Kare. This year the run donated 25 backpacks filled with supplies and $400 that will be used to cover the student fee. Donations can be sent to […]
Build Benld donates $100 to Project Kid Kare
Build Benld announced on Friday they donated $100 to Project Kid Kare to help the community provide backpacks and school supplies for kids in Gillespie CUSD #7. An average of 150 plus students from kindergarten through high school receive these school supplies on a yearly basis due to the generosity of people and community groups […]
County mails over 1500 notices to ensure voters registration is correct
The Macoupin County Clerk’s office is making routine and legally required updates to the Macoupin voter file in order to ensure that the county has the most up-to-date voter information. “Election security is my top priority,” County Clerk Pete Duncan said. “Accurate and up-to-date voter rolls are vital to secure elections. The notices my office […]