Community News
Gillespie Council approves $280,000 tax levy, debates absenteeism
Brenda Masters, CPA, presented the city’s annual audit.
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a tax levy totaling $280,140, but it was the routine matter of approving meeting dates for 2016 that provoked the most heated discussion. The council also accepted the city’s annual audit and approved the purchase of workers compensation insurance and liability insurance on the dams impounding the new and old Gillespie lakes at a cost that is about 50 percent higher than last year.
The 2016 meeting schedule approved by the council calls for the council to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 11, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. The Public Works, Safety and Finance committees will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 28 and Dec. 26. Additional Finance Committee meetings are set for 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 11, April 8, May 6, June 10, July 8, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 10 and Dec. 9.
I can’t just take off. I’m a supervisor, plus we have to have a certain number of cars on patrol in the county at all times.
“I work, plain and simple,” Diveley said. “My schedule is set for 2016. I can’t just take off. I’m a supervisor, plus we have to have a certain number of cars on patrol in the county at all times.”
Diveley said he was aware of comments on social media about his frequent absences from council meetings, and he alleged some members of the council had talked about the issue “behind my back.”
“I wish people would come to me and talk to me about it in person,” he said.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher countered that running for a seat on the council obligated Diveley to attend meetings. “If you can’t do it, you need to quit,” Fisher said, citing previous examples of city aldermen who resigned their seats when their work schedules changed and created a conflict with regular attendance at city council meetings.
“I disagree with that,” Diveley countered, adding that much of the job, in his view, involved fielding citizen concerns and responding to complaints.
Fisher agreed that constituent service is part of the job, but at its core, the position of alderman is a “legislative duty.”
“You can’t fulfill that if you can’t make it to the meetings,” he said.
Ald. Steve Kluthe commented that when an alderman misses a number of consecutive meetings, that alderman is not privy to discussion that may have taken place prior to the time when a specific issue comes up for a vote. “If you don’t have all the information from the previous meetings, you can’t make an informed decision,” Kluthe said.
“Fine,” Diveley said, “this will be my last meeting.” He later said he was angry when he made the statement and would further explore whether or not he should resign from the council.
“I come when I can,” he said. “My first priority is my family. Personally, I don’t think my whole job is just sitting here at this table.”
To be their representative, you have to be here
Diveley was first elected without opposition in 2011 and was re-elected to a second term this year. When he first ran, he said, his schedule permitted him to attend council meetings. When he ran this year, he said he had decided that if anyone else filed for election, he would step aside, in part because of his inability to attend meetings on a regular basis. “No one else wants the job,” he said, adding that he called the City Clerk’s office before the filing deadline to see if anyone else would run for the seat.
Mayor John Hicks brought the discussion to a close, saying, “There’s the meeting schedule. If you can’t make it to the meetings, you have to decide if you need to submit your resignation. It’s your call.”
Brought to a vote, the meeting schedule was approved 6-1 with Diveley voting no.
TAX LEVY & AUDIT
Council members voted unanimously to approve the tax levy for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2016. There were no members of public present to comment on the proposed levy during a brief public hearing set 15 minutes before the start of the regular council meeting.
The new levy calls for the following amounts to be generated from property taxes for the following line items: Corporate, $45,956; Police Protection, $19,782; Street & Bridge, $26,802; Emergency Services and Disaster Administration, $7,657; Liability Insurance, $44,669; Parks, $11,486; Municipal Band, $2,552; Social Security, $80,405; and Library, $40,841.
The council also unanimously accepted the city’s annual audit, which was performed by Fleming & Tawfall Certified Public Accountants, Litchfield. Brenda Masters, an accountant with the firm, distributed copies of the audit and briefly discussed its findings. There apparently were no findings or recommendations for improving the city’s accounting methods. In fact, Masters complimented Krystal Norville, assistant City Clerk, for the records she provided to complete the audit.
There apparently were no findings or recommendations for improving the city’s accounting methods.
Masters also noted that revenues and expenditures for water and sewer have remained relatively stable over the past five years. She took note of a significant jump in expenditures for salaries related to the Lake Account, from about $41,000 in fiscal 2014 to $77,363 at the end of the past fiscal year on April 30. That increase, however, was explained by allocating salary costs when workers from other departments performed work at the lake.
“It makes sense to do that,” she said. “You can raise rates to meet expenses easier than you can magically raise taxes.”
WORKERS COMPENSATION AND DAM INSURANCE
After several minutes of discussion, the council voted to buy Workers Compensation coverage through the Illinois Public Risk Fund and liability insurance for the dams at both Gillespie lakes through One Beacon, an insurance company that exclusively insures government owned properties. The total annual premium for both policies will be $112,284–nearly 50 percent higher than the previous year’s expenditure of about $83,000.
“That’s a pretty good pop up,” said City Treasurer Dan Fisher.
Matt Gazda with Gazda Insurance Agency, Carlinville, said the city has had a good record with Illinois Public Risk for Workers Compensation. Rates have remained stable despite a substantial claim arising from the Water Department. The new rate for Workers Compensation, he said, will be $33,353, which is only slightly more than the previous year’s premium costs.
The total annual premium for both policies will be $112,284–nearly 50 percent higher than the previous year’s
Link said properties downstream from the new lake dam that could be damaged in the event of a breach include a couple of residences, a bridge, farmland and a few outbuildings. Based on those potential losses, the policy would pay up to $1 million per incident, with an aggregate ceiling of $3 million.
There is no insurance available for the dams themselves, according to Link. “They won’t insure dirt is what they told us,” he said.
City Treasurer Fisher, Mayor Hicks and some of the aldermen expressed concerns about the lack of business interruption insurance.
“A million dollars wouldn’t make us whole,” Fisher said. “If we lost the lake, we’d be out of water in a day and a half. There’s all sorts of liability questions.”
Asked whether less expensive coverage might be available through the Illinois Municipal League, Link said IMl probably would not consider bidding on coverage for the city.
“They don’t like to work with smaller cities,” he said, “and they don’t like to bid and get beat, which is what happened the last couple of times. They wouldn’t even talk to us.”
Faced with a current policy that expires at the end of the year, the council opted to accept the policies presented by Gazda and Link despite the significantly higher costs, and directed Link to look into the cost of supplemental mine subsidence and earthquake insurance, as well as coverage for business interruption. The business interruption policy would be for the Water Department as a whole. Ostensibly, the policy would cover the loss of business the city might incur in event the water treatment plant or distribution system is disabled for any reason, not just the loss of a dam.
LAKE LEASES
On a motion by Kluethe, seconded by Ald. Frank Barrett, the council approved an amendment to a lake lot lease belonging to Rita Smith to allow her grandson, Casey Smith, to live at her permanent residence on the lake for a probationary period of six months and the end of which the council will review the issue and determine whether a previously imposed ban should be rescinded. Both Rita Smith and Casey Smith attended the meeting to plead their case for the action.
Kluethe said Casey Smith was barred from lake property in 2004 because of behavior issues. He did not go into detail regarding the nature of the complaint against Smith.
“I was 17 years old at the time,” Smith told the council. “I was a bad kid and I had a lot of problems.” In the decade since he was barred, Smith said he has matured. He has sole custody of his young son, he said. Earlier this year, he said he lost his job and is now working part-time 25 hours a week. He said he and his son want to be able to live with his grandmother temporarily until he can get back on his feet.
“I don’t cause a problem,” he said. “I’m inside most of the time.”
Rita Smith said she wanted the council to approve the measure. “I really don’t have much of anyone else to help me,” she said.
Kluethe said both he and Barrett had interviewed Casey Smith and were of the opinion that the ban could be lifted.
“Due to the amount of time that has passed, I think we can lift the bar and let him live there,” Kluethe said.
“Teenagers mature,” Barrett offered.
Fisher argued, however, that there is no clear protocol for revoking the ban. He asked about who would make the determination at the end of six months whether or not Smith would be added to the lease and what criteria would be used to make that determination. He also questioned whether the council would proceed in the same way if the circumstances were to arise again with other lake tenants.
“We’re painting ourselves into a very uncomfortable corner,” Fisher said.
Barrett commented that in 2004, the “hammer” used to enforce the ban was the threat to revoke Rita Smith’s lease and evict her. She was allowed to keep her lease on the condition that her grandson did not enter onto lake property.
“Our action in 2004 worked,” Barrett said.
In a related matter, the council voted to amend the ordinance regarding permanent lake residences to permit leaseholders to maintain permanent status while using the cabin as a part-time residence as long as that period of part-time residency does not exceed five years. The change was made to accommodate Charles and Diane Patterson, who purchased a permanent residence cabin with the intent of using it as a part-time residence until the time of Charles Patterson’s retirement, at which time they planned to use the cabin as a full-time residence. Previously, city ordinance dictated that permanent residence lots would revert to part-time lots if the owner did not live at the lake full-time.
Charles Patterson said the change was acceptable, though he wasn’t sure he would be able to retire in five years. His current target for retirement is eight years.
“What happens then?” he asked. “Do we come back and do this again?’
“We can’t make any representation as to what a council will do in five years,” City Attorney Kevin Polo said.
Also related to lake lots, the council unanimously approved an ordinance to increase lot rent from $600 per year to $900 per year–the first increase enacted in 12 years. Lake Committee Chair Barrett said the increase will affect about 30 lake residents.
Fisher suggested the Lake Committee should consider an ordinance to increase the rental periodically, based on the rate of inflation or some other factor.
“The $900 rate is fine, but I think we need to key this more to how it affects our overall revenues,” Fisher said. “Twelve years is too long to wait.”
FOP CONTRACT
Following a brief executive session to discuss collective bargaining, the council voted unanimously to approve a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents Police Department employees. The three-year contract calls for raises of two percent in the first and second year, and one percent for the third year. Additionally, the new contract eliminates a $500 sign-on bonus.
The council formerly awarded the contract to replace two deteriorating culverts on Cedar Street to Baxmeyer Construction of Waterloo. Baxmeyer was the low bidder when bids were opened in October with a bid of $169,799.25. The council had delayed awarding the bid at that time because of uncertainty about whether the city would have enough funds available to do both projects.
Mayor Hicks indicated Monday night that the city would be able to do both culverts.
Fisher reported that one of the culverts will require some work to be done on a sewer main at the same time. While city workers might be able to do that work, he suggested it would be more efficient to approve change orders to allow Baxmeyer to do the work once the culvert project begins.
In other action, the council:
- Approved Christmas bonuses of $50 for full-time employees and $25 for part-time employees.
- Agreed to donate $1,000 to a vocational entrepreneurship program at Gillespie High School.
- Agreed to donate $1 per student for an Adopt-A-Class program through Community Unit School District 7.
- Agreed to renew a contract with Homefield Energy to supply electricity for city facilities for one year at a rate of about 5.1 cents per kilowatt.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
There are plenty of ways to keep up on BenGil news:
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter
Follow us on Twitter for the fastest breaking news updates and score updates
Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take
Comments
Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
Comments
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
Comments
-
Community News3 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
-
Police News4 weeks ago
Gillespie Police Report: March 17-23, 2024
-
High School Sports3 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Miners Steamroll Nokomis and fall to New Berlin
-
High School Sports4 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Softball Racks up 3 Wins this Week