School Board President Mark Hayes and representatives of the Illinois Federation of Teachers Macoupin County Local 528 disclosed Monday night that they will seek federal mediation to conclude negotiations on a new teachers’ contract. The union rejected the board’s initial offer last month alleging the offer did not meet expectations to meet cost of living […]
Timeline set to fill school board vacancy
A new member of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education is likely to be named and seated Wednesday night, Aug. 4, after the board meets in special session to interview candidates interested in filling the seat vacated as a result of board member Don Dobrino’s death. Dobrino, a former Gillespie High School […]
Illinois fully aligns with new CDC masking recommendations
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Tuesday it is fully adopting updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) masking recommendations to protect against COVID-19 and the Delta variant. CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor setting in areas with substantial and high transmission. […]
Macoupin County Courthouse News
Cases filed during July 18- July 24, 2021. Visit the “Court News” category under the “Community News” tab for other editions. FELONIES Ralph Kahl, 52 of Virden, is charged with aggravated battery against a peace officer and unlawful use of a knife in connection with a July 18 incident. Christopher Wortley, 35 of Springfield, is […]
Benld Council tightens mobile home regulations, approves resolution to launch sewer improvements
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve an ordinance calling for an update to the city code regarding mobile homes located within the city limits and approved a resolution committing local funds for construction costs associated with a proposed sanitary sewer project. The ordinance to amend the city code […]
City Council offers Ambulance Service one-year agreement for dispatching services
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to offer a one-year dispatching services agreement for the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service at a cost of $12,000. The measure is subject to approval by the Ambulance Service Board of Trustees later this month. If approved by the Ambulance Board, the council could finalize the agreement as […]
Two vehicle accident in Benld injures two motorcyclists
Two Benld residents had to be airlifted to area hospitals following a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Illinois Route 138 in Benld. Illinois State Police said Monday Delmar VanHuss, 57 of Benld, and his passenger, Katherine McCoig, 54 of Benld, were flown to area hospitals after being struck by a Pontiac Grand Prix while driving […]
Health department offering COVID-19 vaccinations at both Maple and Morgan Street clinics
The Macoupin County Public Health Department continues to report and monitor new COVID-19 cases in Macoupin County and encourage county residents to become vaccinated and to follow recommended guidance. As of July 9, there are 17,961 Macoupin County residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That is 39.64% of the county’s population in comparison to 46.9% of […]
County creates tourist and historic landmarks online map and database
Macoupin County has upgraded its historic landmarks and places of interest website, and it’s asking for the public to help. When the county first started their website over ten years ago, they created a list of sites to see or things to do around the county as a way to promote Macoupin as a great […]
County’s first positive West Nile Virus mosquito pool in 2021 found in Girard
The Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) has confirmed the first positive pool for West Nile Virus in Macoupin County for 2021. A pool of mosquitoes found in Girard tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) on July 9, 2021. The Macoupin County Public Health Department will continue surveillance and testing mosquito pools from across […]
State Farm grants $10k to Blackburn College
CARLINVILLE, IL – Area State Farm agents recently presented a $10,000 donation to support Blackburn College’s “Blackburn and Beyond” program. A federally-approved comprehensive transition program, Blackburn and Beyond is designed to provide highly supported opportunities for individuals with cognitive exceptionality to grow and learn in a college environment. Dr. Cindy Rice is Blackburn’s education department […]
EMS Appreciation Day benefits local first responders
Regional Superintendent R.O.E. #40 and EMS Appreciation Day facilitator, Michelle Mueller, presented $1000 checks to Bunker Hill fireman BOE Yeager and Bunker Hill Ambulance Service Treasurer, Tod May on Thursday, July 1. The Staunton and Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance services each received $200 from the event as well. The benefits were from the EMS Appreciation Day […]
Benld Council approves $1.8 million appropriations ordinance, Awards demolition contracts for nuisance properties
The Benld City Council on Tuesday night approved an annual appropriations ordinance projecting expenditures of up to $1,818,422.76 for the current fiscal year. The meeting was postponed from the council’s regular meeting Monday, June 21, when the council failed to achieve a quorum. Ald. Brian Frensko and Ald. Dustin Fletcher were absent for Tuesday night’s […]
BenGil students graduate from LLCC
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College conferred more than 1,400 degrees and certificates at the college’s virtual commencement ceremony Friday, May 14. The graduate list below is in alphabetical order by hometown and includes degrees and certificates conferred. One asterisk indicates a graduate with honors (3.50-3.74 grade point average). Two asterisks indicate a graduate with high honors (3.75 […]
CUSD 7 teachers reject contract offer
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 teachers union have rejected the school board’s initial contract offer as the current contract ticks down to its final days. About 50 district school teachers, many wearing union t-shirts, attended Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the board in a show of solidarity in support of the […]
LLCC announces spring 2021 President’s and Vice President’s lists
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2021 semester. Full-time students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Full-time students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. Full-time […]
L&C announces spring 2021 honors lists
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College has released the lists of full- and part-time honors students for the Spring 2021 semester. Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized […]
Burns recognized by IHSA, Country Financial
Gillespie High School’s Jack Burns was recently recognized by the Illinois High School Association and Country Financial in part of their spotlight series. Burns recently retired from Gillespie CUSD 7 after 30 years of teaching and coaching. Burns started at GHS in 1986 and has coached track for 28 years and football for 30 years […]
School board selects elementary curricula, hires personnel for upcoming school year
With the 2020-21 school year just concluded, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education met briefly in special session Monday to adopt new math and science curricula for BenGil Elementary School and hire several key positions for the 2021-22 school year. Board President Mark Hayes said earlier he was convening a […]
Gillespie Council approves $7.2 million appropriation ordinance, debates ambulance dispatching counteroffer
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new appropriations ordinance to govern spending during the current fiscal year. Though not a budgetary document, the state-mandated annual appropriations ordinance sets spending ceilings for specific line items for the fiscal year. This year’s ordinance authorizes expenditures of $7.2 million, compared with […]