Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved the appointment of Jason Simmons, Brighton, as a part-time ordinance enforcement officer for the City of Benld. Mayor Jim Kelly’s recommendation to hire Simmons was approved on a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, seconded by Ald. Dustin Fletcher. “Anything I can do to help improve […]
School Board defends policy on sports, reopening school
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted on Monday night to formally place the 2020-2021 district budget on file for public review but a major portion of the meeting was devoted to responding to parental concerns about opening the school year with a remote learning format and the suspension of […]
Annual fall festival in Benld canceled for 2020
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce regretfully announced on Sunday that it is canceling the CCCC Fall Festival in Benld which was scheduled on Saturday, September 26. The chamber cited the reason for the cancellation was issues related to the COVID 19 pandemic. “After consulting with Chamber members, the Macoupin County Health Department, vendors, and […]
14 Illinois counties now at ‘warning level’ for coronavirus disease
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 14 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase. Fourteen counties are currently reported at a warning […]
Gillespie Council hires interim attorney, discusses fate of Canna Theatre building
With one alderman sidelined in quarantine, the Gillespie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to hire an interim city attorney to pinch hit for City Attorney Kevin Polo, held preliminary discussions regarding the fate of the Canna Theatre building and pledged to address deteriorating conditions at Big Brick City Park. The meeting was held in […]
Manar announces first phase of funding for small business assistance
Contributed article by the Illinois Senate Democrats. SPRINGFIELD – More than 40 local businesses will see additional aid via funding from the state’s Business Interruption Grant program to help business owners facing economic hardship, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced Thursday. The first round of distribution through the BIG program were released this week […]
Four Gillespie residents involved in Friday’s three-car accident on Route 16
Four Gillespie residents were involved in a three-vehicle accident that happened on Friday, August 7 on Illinois Route 16 near West County Line Road around 12:10 p.m. The other person involved in the accident was from Carlinville. Illinois State Police said the accident happened when Shannon Cooper, 39 of Gillespie, rear-ended Geneva Armour, 85 of […]
Number of Illinois counties at warning level for COVID-19 increases to 13
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 13 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that’s an increase from last week’s 11 counties. A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase. […]
Rep. Avery Bourne co-sponsors resolution to remove Madigan as Speaker of the House
Contributed content from the Illinois House Republicans. LITCHFIELD—Since it was revealed two weeks ago that ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine for a pay-to-play scheme that involved Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, dozens of House and Senate Republicans and a growing number of House and Senate Democrats have called for the Speaker’s […]
11 counties now at warning level for COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 11 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when it experiences an increase in two or more COVID-19 risk indicators from the state’s COVID-19 Resurgence Mitigation plan. Eleven counties […]
Lewis and Clark announces 2020-2021 scholarship awards
Editor’s note: The coverage below is an excerpt containing only Macoupin County Students. View the entire list on Lewis and Clark’s website. GODFREY – Through various opportunities, L&C is empowering students by making higher education more accessible. “Together, Lewis and Clark Community College’s Financial Aid department and the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation have produced stunning […]
Gillespie Police Report: July 19-25, 2020
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020 Charles G. Boaz, 48, of Gillespie was arrested for illegal transportation of alcohol. He was issued a citation with a notice to appear in court. An officer was dispatched to the area of Macoupin Street and Spruce Street for a domestic dispute. An officer initiated a traffic stop at Trolley Street […]
Gift of $2 million to Blackburn College honors Dr. R. Raymond Gantt
CARLINVILLE, IL – Dr. Elisabeth Gantt ’58 has provided a $2 million gift to Blackburn College’s Gantt/Rohatsch Scholarship, first established in 2002 to benefit Blackburn students who have financial need and demonstrate significant academic promise. Dr. Gantt made the gift in honor of her late husband, Dr. R. Raymond Gantt ‘58, who passed away in […]
Four Illinois counties at warning level for coronavirus disease
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported four counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase. Four counties are currently reported at a warning […]
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 […]
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 […]