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 […]
School Board authorizes $288,000 program to provide computer access to all district students
Meeting via the Zoom video-conferencing system amid continuing COVID-19 pandemic precautions, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night authorized an ambitious $288,000 initiative to provide laptop computers for each district student by the time the 2020-21 school year opens. In other action, the board voted unanimously to hire […]
Reiniesch receives award for Outstanding Citizen
Due to the need for social distancing during the Coronavirus threat, the Genl George Rogers Clark Chapter of the Illinois Society Sons of the American Revolution canceled its annual Outstanding Citizenship award ceremony but the chapter still distributed awards to deserving high school students including Gillespie’s Chance Reiniesch. “These are great high school students whose […]
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 […]
County Clerk reopens recorder’s office
Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan announced on Wednesday evening the recorder’s office opened back up earlier in the day with new changes. The temporary closure that started Monday was the result after three county employees working at the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville were exposed to COVID-19 after coming in close contact with a person […]
County health department using contact tracing for COVID-19
Macoupin County Public Health Department announced on Tuesday they are using contact tracing for COVID-19, a tool the health department has previously used to minimize outbreaks for sexually transmitted diseases and other communicable diseases, but it is a laborious process and is very time-consuming. “Contact tracing is the process of identification of persons who may […]
County Clerk announces clerk and recorder’s office closed until further notice
Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan announced Sunday evening that the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office will be closed until further notice but the closure is temporary. “This is being done out of an abundance of caution all the while balancing the interests of the public and our employees,” Duncan said. “In the meantime, e-recordings will […]
Staunton man suffers life-threatening injuries in weekend motorcycle accident
A Staunton man suffered life-threatening injuries Saturday night after he wrecked a Buell motorcycle around 8 o’clock in the evening on East Olive Street in Staunton, according to Illinois State Police. Benjamin Schwandner, 35 of Staunton, was airlifted to a local hospital after police say he lost control of his motorcycle while traveling at a […]
Positive COVID-19 case exposes three Macoupin County Courthouse employees
Three county employees working at the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville were exposed to COVID-19 after coming in close contact with a person who has since tested positive for the coronavirus, the Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) announced on Wednesday, May 6. No courthouse employee has tested positive for COVID-19 but all employees were […]
Macoupin County reports first COVID-19 death
The Macoupin County Public Health Department announced the first Macoupin County COVID-19 death on Monday, May 4 while also noting two more positive cases were added on Tuesday bringing the county total to 35 cases with 27 of them reportedly recovered. “It was with a heavy heart that the Macoupin County Public Health Department announced […]
Black Diamond Days, Macoupin County Fair canceled for 2020
Two more area celebrations are canceled for the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced on Monday that both Black Diamond Days and the Macoupin County Fair were canceled joining a number of cancellations including Italian American Days, which was canceled in early April. The Black Diamond Days committee and Macoupin […]
County health department announces first COVID-19 outbreak in long term care facility
The Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) announced on Monday the first long term care facility outbreak of COVID-19 in Macoupin County defining ‘outbreak’ status per the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as any facility which has two or more positive cases of COVID-19. The facility was identified as Heritage Health in Staunton. The […]
Beaver Dam State Park reopens after Manar lobbies governor
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. BUNKER HILL – Under the state’s new modified Stay at Home Order that went into effect today, 60 state parks and historic sites in Illinois are now open for recreational outdoor activities, including Beaver Dam State Park. Last week, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources released an initial […]
IDES processes more than 830,000 unemployment claims in last eight weeks
Number of Initial Claims Slowly Decreasing Since COVID-19 Crisis Began SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) today released new statewide data showing the department processed 81,596 new initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 25 and has now processed more than 830,000 initial unemployment claims from March 1 through April 25. This […]
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 […]
Dothager designated Gold Award and Trifecta Award Girl Scout
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) congratulates Rowan Dothager from Staunton, Illinois for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout—a designation she earned through her “Full STEAM Ahead” project. Rowan has also been named a Trifecta Award Girl Scout-a designation she received through earning all three Bronze, Silver, and Gold Girl Scout Awards during her service […]
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 […]
Maple Street Clinic administers over 300 COVID-19 tests in first week, less than 5 percent test positive
The Maple Street Clinic in Gillespie continues to serve as a designated State of Illinois COVID-19 testing site and according to a press release made available on Tuesday morning, the clinic tested over 300 people in the first week with only nine new cases confirmed for Macoupin County. Individuals interested in testing must call […]
Gillespie Lake campground to open May 1, beach to remain closed
UPDATE APRIL 29: Gillespie Lake Superintendent Gary Thornhill said the campground and shower house will not be able to open despite previous announcements. The lake office remains open but the campground, shower house, beach, and pavilions remain closed until further notice. Gillespie Lake Superintendent Gary Thornhill announced Tuesday morning that the campground and shower house […]